ERGH!

Okay, help me out here. I bought new muffin pans a few weeks ago. I made some cupcakes (I used paper liners) and they totally burned. I thought maybe it was because of the liners because they were from last Halloween. Well, today I tried again with nice new liners and they burned again! The bottoms are totally scorched! And I had set the timer for only 15 minutes even though the recipe said 18 minutes. The tops and middles are perfect - you can tell it is from the liners. What is the deal with that? Is there something about new muffin pans that you aren't supposed to use paper liners or something? I've made muffins several times without liners and they cooked fine.

The really frustrating thing is that I was going to just buy some cheesy cupcakes from Walmart so that I wouldn't have to make any. Now I have to buy them anyway!

Don't forget

Isn't it lovely that Daylight Savings ends the day after Halloween and we get an extra hour?! An extra hour to get ready for church....sleep off the sugar...eat more sugar...wash face paint off our kids. I'm excited.

Fuzzy brain

Isaac has decided that life is too short to sleep. The minute you put him down he wants to be up and playing. And apparently crawling around his crib isn't good enough. And he has also become aware of when we leave the room, which means he's been sleeping in our bed a lot. But that doesn't work so well because he likes to crawl onto daddy. Needless to say, we haven't been getting much sleep lately. I've had a few things I've wanted to blog about, but my brain feels all fuzzy and I can't come up with any insightful thoughts. Add a sore throat, allergies and crazy kids (I think they are really excited about Halloween!) and you've got a crazy mama that can't think!

Seriously, as I type, the kids are wrestling and squealing and our house just isn't big enough!! It's not a misbehaving crazy, just a wild , too loud kind of crazy! Ahhhh! I think I better get us out of the house. We are going to go find some beautiful fall leaves to jump in.

I spent way too long working on this, but it's cute!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

He's on the move!

It's time to teach the kids to keep their stuff off the floor! At less than 5½ months old - Isaac is crawling! His technique is sloppy, but it gets him where he wants to go. And he has started sitting up! This kid is crazy! Rae and Blaise both crawled before they started sitting up, and I thought they were early at 6 months old.








Speaking of Rae, let me brag a little bit more. We went to a parent teacher conference tonight and heard so many good things about how well Rae is doing. She's way above her classmates - especially in reading. I can't take credit for it though, I have no idea how she knows how to read so well! And her teacher said she is so nice to everyone and has never misbehaved. One weak area is following directions - which doesn't surprise me at all. She just doesn't pay attention and I don't think she realizes she needs to listen! So that is something we will have to work on (at home and at school).

And since I've mentioned the other kids, I should mention that Blaise is potty training and is doing pretty well. I'm not making too big of a deal out of it because he's been sick and I think he has allergies and he's a little grumpy lately. But he pooped on the potty twice and has been starting to recognize when it's time to go. Hopefully he'll be completely trained before we fly to Vegas for Christmas. I had given up and was going to wait till after Christmas, but he started to show more interest in it, so here we go, no turning back now! :)

I love my kids! They are all so fantastic and make me so proud!

Eight years ago....

October 20,2001 was the first day that Roy and I met in real life. We had been chatting online for a month or so and he drove to Blythe that day for a visit. That Saturday and Sunday were two amazing days. I got to know my best friend and started falling in love with my future husband. I can't believe it's been 8 years! He just keeps getting better and better! Here are some pictures of us posing in the park where we shared our first kiss. These were taken in April of 2002 - we were trying to work on a pose for an engagement picture. I love you pumpky - thank you for 8 wonderful years!

They are back

Last year I blogged about the asian lady beetles. Well, today at the park I noticed there were a ton everywhere and when we got home they were all over our front door - outside and inside! It is totally creepy, but it is keeping the kids entertained! Rae has about 20 in her bug box already! It's a gorgeous day today. The bright colors on the trees make me happy, I'm feeling a lot better and Blaise has peed on the potty several times today! Too bad it is supposed to rain the rest of the week :(
I guess we better get back outside and enjoy the sun!


Here a couple of cute pictures I need to share:

At least he's inserting it in the right way!
Blaise got this little pumpkin at story time at the library and Roy thought it'd be fun to carve.


My mom sent us a package with this Bumbo chair that she got for a great deal at a yard sale - he likes it!

He also likes to make this face a lot.

And he likes to arch his back like this - it really freaks Rae out when he does it! She thinks he's going to fall out.

Blaise really likes the skeleton my mom sent him. He wanted me to take a picture of it.

It should be mandatory....

...that every husband should get to take at least one morning off every week! Roy doesn't have work today or tomorrow - woot woot! Blaise and I are sick and I think Isaac is getting a bit sicker, so we are just lounging around, enjoying the quiet morning with Rae at school. I have no voice, Blaise is losing his voice, it's cold and rainy and I just want to cuddle up to my two sleeping boys on the couch. But I guess that would wake them up. We were going to do something fun this weekend but it looks like we'll just stay home and get over our colds and maybe do some cleaning. I wish there could be days like this every week!

Mind your own business Walmart lady

Yesterday I bought a pack of three pregnancy tests. The check out lady had asked me how old Isaac was, and as she rang up the pregnancy tests she said "these aren't fun to buy right after having a baby". I wondered if she'd have the nerve to bring up the tests. But I've checked out with this lady several times before and she always has something slightly inappropriate to say.

Why did I buy the tests? Because I didn't trust the two Dollar Tree ones I had already taken. I know I am not pregnant. It'd be nearly impossible. But I'd an excuse for these facts:

-I can't seem to lose weight, and I've even gained a few pounds. I'm not being super strict with what I eat, but I've been worse in the past and haven't had this problem. And get this, the weight is all in my belly.

-I cry at the drop of a hat.

-I suddenly have the desire to watch Baby Story and Deliver Me.

-I'm always "craving" meat. Preferably in the form of bacon or ribs. Hmm, that could explain the weight gain.

But 3 tests later I have to accept the fact that it is all in my head and I need to get a grip or I'll be a big fatty watching TLC all day getting my steak wet from all my tears.

Have you ever been convinced you were pregnant when you weren't?

Dear Blaise,

I'm sorry I teased you with the sour candy, I won't do it again. But could you please do me a favor? Don't poop 5 minutes before it is time to leave! Could you do it before I put on your shoes and jacket? Or, better yet, do it before I change your morning diaper, because diapers are expensive and we need to get the most use out of them as we can. Wait, even better, how about you start using the toilet?! You do that, and I'll stop torturing you. Deal.

Love,
Mommy

He just doesn't learn

I know I've already posted twice today, but I just had to share this video. I guess Blaise didn't remember what we did to him last year and fell for the sour candy again! I like how he keeps tasting it when I tell him to -what an obedient kid!



We went to a parade this morning (and there was one last week) so the kids have a ton of candy. Even Isaac got into the action: (poor little guy has something going on with his eyes)

Take a guess

There is a freeze warning in effect for Kirksville this weekend. It's been about 38 degrees all day, and I've been thinking about when it might snow here. Last year the first snow was November 29th - what do you think it will be this year? Take a guess, and the person who is closest wins a surprise gift from me! My guess is November 14th. Two guesses per family (if both members of the couple read my blog!) And I'm counting snow that actually sticks, not just flurries.

Good deal!

PYP Blog: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Blu- Ray AND DVD Combo pack $9.99 after coupon!


This coupon expires TODAY, but who doesn't love a Saturday trip to Walmart?! This movie is 19.99 at Walmart, and this coupon is for $10 off. I just went and got a copy for the kids for Christmas. Such a good deal I had to pass it on!

Just let me get this out of my system

I'll try not to whine about the weather so much this winter, but let me get a few moans out real quick! Brrr! We haven't had to turn our heater on yet, but I have a feeling we will have to very soon. The problem is that, once you turn it on it's hard to turn it off! I went shopping yesterday for winter clothes. I decided I'm going to be comfy and warm this winter instead of fashionable. And I actually bought myself a pair of winter boots because last winter my feet would always get wet and cold when we walked out to the car in the snow. Living in a cold climate is expensive!

I want to wear my sweats all day. I want to sit on the couch with blankets and watch tv. I want to drink really sweet, rich, thick hot chocolate. But I can't do any of those, so maybe I better turn on the heater so it's warm enough for me to take a shower. I wish the sun would come out. Cold weather doesn't seem as bad when the sun is shining. Bleh. Okay, I'm done. I won't whine about the cold anymore. Suck it up Ashley, it is time for winter.

P.S. I cried watching The Office - anyone else?

I do have a point

I stink at taking pictures. I found something cool at Walmart today and tried to take a picture of it for my blog. I couldn't get a good shot, so decided to just find a picture of it online. When I was looking I found something even cooler.

I can't find what I got, but this is now what I want:



I got the Dr.Pepper one at Walmart. Totally cute and tasty. I really want the Diet Cherry Vanilla one - that is my FAVORITE type of Dr. Pepper. Too bad I already gave my MIL my Christmas list! Aren't these adorable? And with the wind and cold weather we've been having, my lips need constant protection. (Although, this isn't exactly top quality lip balm. I prefer Carmex or Blistex for real protection) Maybe I'll tell Roy to get this for my birthday. The kids are gonna need to wear chapstick this winter and I bet they'd love to use these! But I guess they'd probably lick it off! Man oh man, I totally gotta have this! Anyone else as in love as me or am I just crazy?

Oh no! I just looked at the website of the makers http://www.lottaluv.com/ and I want everything on that site!

Isaac will crawl some day...

More action shots of Isaac's vain attempts to crawl:

Successful morning session

Since we've had kids we haven't been very good about watching/listening to General Conference. Usually we'll listen to it later or read it in the Ensign later. But this year I knew Rae was old enough to have higher expectations for her. So I decided that we'd sit through at least one session as a family. I didn't bother planning to go to the church building, because Isaac does not nap well anywhere but his crib. So this morning we cleaned the house up, ate lunch, set the DVR and prepared to watch the morning session. We started it about an hour late, but it worked out perfectly because Isaac went down for a nap after the first speaker and slept the whole time! Lovely! And how did we get the kids to be reverent? One word. Cookies.

I put this paper on the wall and when they were too loud I crossed off a letter. Totally worked. They also played BINGO with tootsie rolls and got to eat the tootsie rolls when they got 5 in a row. The rest of the time Blaise played in the playroom and Rae worked on a word search, listened a little bit, and looked over her shoulder to check the cookie paper. Now I'm going start some pizza dough in the bread machine, and I think our special word for the next session will be PIZZA. (We just barely finished the morning session, so we might start the afternoon session late) And then sometime tonight and this week I'll have to watch yesterday's sessions. Maybe I'll listen to them on my mp3 player while I exercise this week!
Yes Katie, I copied you.

Roy needed something to keep him awake, so he painted this bank that the kids made at the Home Depot Workshop yesterday. Turned out really nice. (on the front are stickers - he didn't paint that part - he just painted the edges and top silver and the sides and back black)

Chilly morning

It was a nippy 45 degrees when we took Rae to school this morning - time to pull out the winter hats! Isaac looked so cute and cozy, I just had to take a picture



And here's a video of Isaac trying to get himself to sleep on a typical morning in our house. When he wakes up in the morning I change him, feed him and put him on the floor so I can get everyone ready for the day. On some mornings he's ready for a nap before it is even time to take Rae to school. The video is kind of long, so skip to the end where Roy puts his hand on Isaac's head - it is really cute.