Saying Goodbye

It is never easy to say goodbye! Tell me your hardest experience saying goodbye. I'm interested in hearing everyone else's sad tales as opposed to dwelling on how hard it was to say bye to Andrew today...... (Oh! By the way, today is my 7th wedding anniversary!!!)

Dressing Up for Christmas

I always love dressing up the kids for Christmas. Aurora LOVED her dress (I think she just liked the white fur on it.) I took a few pictures, but this is the only one where one of them doesn't have their eyes closed or looking away. The older two are checking out the TV while I'm trying to take pictures....probably should have turned that off, huh? I know I'm biased, but I think they are all so adorable!!!!

Arts and Crafts

The kids wanted to open their gifts from G&G Robrecht today. I gave in because I wanted them to know what they got them (as opposed to what "Santa" brings). One of the gifts that they opened was a craft. It was making Noah's Ark animals out of pipe cleaners. It was pretty hard but the kids loved seeing the animals "come to life." It was really fun, and just a little frustrating, putting these together. I'm glad I got the pictures when I did because they then decided to "play" with them and most of them are smashed now. HA! Nothing lasts for long in this house!

Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I love this time of year! The time between Halloween and New Year's brings back so many memories. I remember when I was little, we'd always go with Dad to pick out our favorite tree from the Christmas Tree farm. Dad would haul it into the house, w/ Mom pushing the vacuum cleaner around to pick up all the needles. We'd make a thousand trips, it seemed, to the basement to bring up all the ornaments and decorations and then we'd chaotically set everything out. We'd listen to Christmas tapes on the stereo and either Dad or Bub would videorecord us decorating. Molly would always end up dancing in front of the camera and would get reprimanded to move away so we could see everyone else.

On Christmas Eve, we'd have a family dinner and then watch Christmas shows on TV while having snacks. Dad would usually build a fire. Christmas morning was always so exciting! We'd wake up early just to sit in the living room and look at all the gifts and lights. I remember the year we got the Little Tikes kitchen and the Christmas we got the Barbie Dream House. As I got older it seemed a little different without my older brother and sisters there. However, I remember one Christmas when everyone came back and we all spent Christmas morning together. That was a really fun time!

I also remember the Christmas right before I got married. Andrew and I were married December 28th, so that Christmas seemed like a really busy time with a bridal shower, finishing decorations for the reception at the church, and making sure everything was set for me to be moving. But I can remember how I felt so excited and sad at the same time. Maybe everything seemed EXTRA special because I knew that it was the last Christmas I was going to spend single at my parent's house.

And now, this Christmas is a little bittersweet. Andrew has been gone for almost 5 months. He got to come home for a little while during Thanksgiving and he'll be home for Christmas morning (thank you, Sheila & Kevin!!!!), but the Christmas holiday is more than just one day and I'm missing him here everyday. The kids are excited about Santa and all the other things that kids love about Christmas so I'm trying to make this the best Christmas for them.

Hope you all are thinking about how special this time of year is and remembering all those great memories. Happy Holidays to everyone!

Things That Go Bump in the Refrigerator

It's a running joke in the family that I buy green onions and never use them up before they get all "wilty" in the refrigerator. You know what I mean, right? There's always that one thing that you buy at the grocery store (because you forget that you have it already) only to come home and realize that you already had some. And isn't that just great, because you really only needed a little bit of it anyway. Then, the next time you go to the grocery store you pick it up again....and the vicious cycle just starts up all over again. Well, green onions is the culprit in this family. And today I achieved the unthinkable!!!.....I used ALL of my green onions.

Guess it's time to go back to the grocery store.....

Christmas 2008

Holiday Greetings

I know I haven't written on my blog for a little over a month....but what a month it has been! My hubbie got to come home for Thanksgiving after 4 months apart and we spent the time cooking and playing with the kids. It was really nice to get to see him. He's lost weight! Where's the fairness in that?? You'd think that my grueling routine of making bottles, baking cookies and changing dirty diapers would have sloughed off about 40 lbs already....but no.....all I have is more hair and a husband who can't wear any of his clothes anymore because they fall off of him.......hmmmmmm...... maybe I shouldn't complain anymore! :)

My kids are really worried about how Santa is going to get into our house on Christmas. I thought about telling them that I would leave the door unlocked. Yeah, not going to encourage that one. So I asked them, "How do you think he's going to get in the house?" My 3-year old said (with a serious look on his face), "Through the toilet, Mommy!" When I could stop laughing I told him that's as good a place as any I guess!! HA! HA! (Still makes me laugh)

We have a Christmas decoration in our house that has little numbers of it that you change to count down to Christmas. Every night before I go to bed I change the numbers....when I wake up in the morning the numbers have always "mysteriously" been changed to "01." I think someone's a little anxious for Christmas. I guess this year will just be the longest Christmas Eve ever!!

Mommy in the Making

My daughter, Aurora, is such a mommy in the making. I always check on the kids before I go to bed and when I went into her room, this is what I found. All the stuffed animals and dolls that she usually goes to bed with were all neatly lined out on her floor and covered with blankets. Can I hear an "AHHH..."? Now if only I can get her to do the laundry.......

The Church Mouse

Church this past Sunday was such a stimulating experience. I was sitting in our usual place in our chapel. We still have an older phase building and the chapel divides into 3 parts with a curtain separating the sections. It's pulled back during Sacrament Mtg though and we sit next to one of those curtains. During the sacrament (when everything is pretty quiet) I looked over at the curtain and noticed a movement. I kept watching and all of the sudden I saw a little head poke out....then the whole body...of a mouse!!! I wasn't terrified, but I didn't want it anywhere near me.

I leaned up ahead of me and told the man sitting in front of me that there was a mouse in the curtain. My intent was just to let him know so he wouldn't set his toddler down near a mouse that might want to play with her. The funniest thing happened though...He saw the mouse and completely froze. I mean, like eyes wide hands shaking froze. It was the goofiest thing I've ever seen. Then, the couple behind me saw the mouse...and then the older couple behind them. This lady kept stamping her feet anytime the mouse came near. That thing was really fast too.

So, with all the foot stamping, shaking hands, frozen eyes, and tiny screeches going on I couldn't help laughing silently through most of the sacrament. Jesse, my 3-year old decided to get in on the action. He noticed the mouse and loudly said, "Look, Mommy, a mouse. He's my best friend! We need some cheese to feed him." Everyone around us was busting up. I'm sure the Bishop thought we'd all gone crazy.

It wasn't until the mouse starting CLIMBING THE WALL that I realized something needed to be done. I found our "take care of the building" guy after the sacrament and quietly let him know that there was a mouse in the curtain. I asked him if there was anything that he could do. His response was very succinct, "Yeah, I'll just wack it!" WHAT??? Are we on the Sopranos or something? But there he came with a wad of paper towels. I wanted to believe that he was just going to catch it and release it outside, but I got this horrible mental picture of his huge hand swishing the life out of it after catching it. WHEW!!

Everyone can relax....once he came over with his wad of paper we never saw the mouse again. It must have heard him say "wack" and decided to hit the pavement...or whatever. I hope it didn't climb the wall and is now residing in the lights above. Oh, ick!! Now I won't be able to sit through church quietly again.

We picked up Aurora's glasses today. She loved them...but I think she liked the case more (it looks like a little pink purse). She said that everything looked bigger. I think that's a good thing. She only wore them for 15 minutes and then took them off. I guess I'm going to have to work on a schedule for her to build up her "wearing time."

Appointment Crazy

The kids and I made a round of doctor's appointments early this week. Regan had a well child visit with the pediatrician early Monday morning. Everything was going great! I had bribed the kids well and I thought this was going to be a breeze. Regan was smiling, the kids were quietly playing in the waiting room. This is SO not a big deal, right? Yeah, right! As soon as we went through the door to our room with the nurse, I knew with the instincts of a very scared mom that things were going to bust wide open. It started when Aurora and Jesse decided that the chairs in the room were "not soft" and there were no "toys" in the room. So, Jesse decided to search the room and collect every piece of garbage off the floor (who would have thought the doctor's office would have so much trash? Maybe I need a new dr?). Then, Aurora started complaining that her "tummy is so hurting, mommy!" Jesse was obsessed with the trash can. FLIP, BANG, FLIP, BANG, FLIP, BANG (up and down went the lid). Regan was wailing at the top of her lungs because anyone except me was within 2 feet of her. Bless his heart, the dr just kept going with his nicely rehearsed speech, of which I could've recited by heart. Heellllooo? Did I look like a new parent? I already knew that you aren't supposed to put your baby on the bed and walk away? Is this really what I'm paying for? After everyone got there shots (Regan) and flu mists (Aurora and Jesse) we went home to recuperate. Well, at least I did!

The next day, Aurora had an eye doctor appointment....her first ever. I thought she would do okay. She knows her alphabet and she likes being the center of attention. I brought the candy and the toys...I was going to be prepared this time. How hard could this be? Did I not learn anything from the day before? As Aurora sat in the chair in the room, I began to get nervous. They put up the screen with all the letters on it and asked her what the first letter was. I guess she couldn't see it because she just started to sing the alphabet....Jesse joined in also. So, the doctor put up the pictures for her. Again, the first picture is?...."Umm, I think it's a birthday cake." YES!! That one's right! Next?..."Ummm, I think it's a basketball." OKAAAAYYYY, it was a boy on a bike...close enough. Next?..."Umm, I think that one's fog." (jaw drops) WHAT??????? FOG????? Oh, what did I do to deserve this? I guess Jesse was embarrassed after that too, because he started yelling to her what they were. "It's a car....It's an airplane..." One right after the other. I was furiously trying to cover his mouth while stifling a laugh. I couldn't believe my crazy kids. After all that, the doctor said she needed glasses. So, now we will get to experience the pleasure of a 4-year old in glasses. JOY!

FOG???

Fall is in the Air

I love this time of year...the weather is cooler, the breeze is blowing, the trees are changing colors, and the MOST important part - it's darker earlier (so my kids don't complain about going to sleep sooner). I've been busy this week redecorating my bedroom and pulling up all the dead plants in the yard and replanting new plants. I only have about 45 mins to an hour between when my kids go to bed and when it's too dark outside to do anything, so I have to do everything outside in stages. I know...I know...I could do it during the day, but then my kids want to "help" with everything. The last time they both competed in "who can get the wettest" contest and then I had another load of laundry to do and mud to clean up. Easier just to wait.

Redecorating the bedroom was a lot more fun. I picked a color scheme and then just went from there. Out went the TV also....now that Andrew is gone, I don't watch it in the bedroom anymore, so the room already looks bigger. HA! HA!

Somthing funny happened this week that I just have to tell everyone about. My older two kids, Aurora and Jesse, like to play in Aurora's room for a while during the day. I was walking past her room and I heard Jesse start moooing. I peeked inside and saw Jesse on his hands and knees on top of Aurora's bed and Aurora had a bowl underneath him pretending to milk him. She said, "You have to squeeze the udders to get the milk, Jesse." WOW! I just bust out laughing! Then, I laughed even harder when I realized Aurora had pinned her hair clips to the front of Jesse's shirt and pretended they were the udders. I recently found out they had learned this from an episode of "Blue's Room." What a hoot! My kids crack me up all the time!

Sigh....Moan....Sigh

I always say prayer individually with my kids before they go to bed. Jesse, my 3-year-old, doesn't like to say his prayers anymore. He used to love it! I guess he's too grown up now. I try to encourage him by starting it and then waiting for him to continue. I think he knows what I'm trying to do and he's already starting to rebel at the tender age of 3. Here was our prayer tonight:

Mom: "Dear Heavenly Father...."
Jesse: "thank you for this day. In the name of Jesus...." (very fast)
Mom: "THANK you for our blessings."
Jesse: sighhhhhh...."in the name of Jesus....." (very fast again)
Mom: "PLEASE bless Daddy in Utah."
Jesse: sighhhhh/moan....."in the name of Jesus Christ...." (very fast yet again)
Mom: (trying not to laugh) "PLEASE help us to sell our home soon."
Jesse: SIGHHHHH & head shaking..... "in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen" (very, very fast)
Mom: "Please bless Jesse James that he will sleep well tonight. In the...."
Jesse: SIGHHHHH & more head shaking.... "NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, AMEN!!!" (very, very, very fast as if he's afraid I'll start all over again)

It was too cute....I hope he didn't see me laughing. I tried to hold it in until I left the room. I think I'm going to have to practice more with him soon. Maybe Heavenly Father has a sense of humor too.

Right Of Passage

Today was our Primary Presentation at church. AHHH! That precious time of year when the children in our ward stand up and give us all they've got: booger picking (& eating in some cases), hair pulling, burping, tripping, panty flashing, etc. As I sat there, a baby on one leg, and a toddler on the other, I tried to see past the people sitting in front of us to witness my firstborn in her very first Primary Presentation. The Joys of Motherhood, I thought. But as the first song started, I looked around and couldn't see Aurora anywhere. My son said, "Where's Aurora?" and I had to tell him that Aurora was up there SOMEWHERE and that we should just keep looking. Frantically I looked back and forth, leaning this way and that way. My kids probably thought their mom had lots her marbles, but I was NOT going to miss this right-of-passage. Little did I know that my daughter was sitting up there, arms crossed, refusing to sing and complaining that she wanted her Mommy. So much for a right-of-passage!! I'm glad I didn't know then (as I was debating if it would look silly to stand up and watch with both kids on my hips) that it was all the leader could do to keep her up there (Aurora's a strong girl). However, about half-way through the program I finally saw her stand up and start singing. Whew! That was a close one.

We had been practicing her part at home the past few weeks, and let me tell you - I don't know who wrote this presentation, but I don't think they were thinking about the actual AGE of the kids when they assigned parts. A 10-year old had a part that said, "Tithing helps pay for temples" while my kid (with 4 years of experience on this earth) had a part that said, "and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female;" ......HUH???? No wonder none of the Sunbeams had their parts memorized! But she did a great job anyhow!

Well, it was a fun day for one and all. Only 2 falls, a couple of heavy breathers and 2 class clowns. Not a bad way to pass a Sacrament Meeting. And my daughter's right-of-passage happened without any major catastrophes. I can't wait until next year!!!

Play Date

I took the kids to the park today for a play date with some other mother's in the ward. We just started up again when school started and we meet every Thursday. This was the first time I'd been able to get out to one. They always happen during Regan's morning nap, but she was up this morning so I thought, what the heck? Let's get ready and go.

I was the only mother there with THREE kids (all under the age of 4, I remind you!), and it was a nightmare running from slide to swing to monkey bars to stroller and then back all over again. I think I lost 10 pounds just from all the runnning. Who thought these play dates were fun? At one point I had all three of the kids in swings and as I started down the line (push, move to the right, push, move to the right, push, all the way back again) I felt like the human version of a robot. I looked around at all the other mothers, sitting and talking, and I felt like maybe play dates just don't work when you have more than 1 child with you. I guess I should've read the fine print before I packed everyone up. At least I got the exercise, right?

Visiting Nightmares

My Visiting Teachers know that when they come to my house, anything can happen. I should have trusted my first instinct and put the kids to bed first. But heck! My kids get such a kick at telling someone else all their stories, and what videos they like, and how yucky their diapers smell, and how they like "boogers", and how they fought today and got in trouble.....get the picture?

I should have known things were going to go downhill when my Visiting Teachers showed up and Jesse started yelling "BOO!" every 15 seconds. He then would wait for the expected laugh (Regan loves this game). When no giggling ensued, he proceeded to tell one of the VT's to yell "BOO" to the other, thus satisfying his need to perpetuate mayhem. After a stern warning, he then decided he was going to crawl all over their shoulders, legs, arms - pretty much everywhere. It was like WWF wrestling between two grandmothers and my 3-year old. I was hiding my face in shame, hoping nothing broke on any of the contestants.

After a couple of rounds, he decided to become a little charmer.... "I love your shoelaces!" he said lovingly to one of the sisters. SHOELACES? My boy needs some lessons! Although, it was kinda cute and she was flattered. So, I guess all's well that ends well. Welllllll - at least it ended. As to "well"? They had their noses (and mouths, and maybe tongues) plastered to the window until the minivan drove out of sight....

Reminder to Self: Wash windows before house showing on Saturday!

Crazy Fantasy

I have so many things to do within the course of the day that I don't usually get it all done. (Can I hear an "Amen!"?) Between the laundry, dishes, feeding the munchkins, and keeping the house in pristine order for showings I really shouldn't be doing the most crazy thing....competing in a fantasy NFL football league.

Can you believe it? I sit down during the week and pour over the player reviews, recommended lineups, switching players in and out......it's really a very complex and exhausting process. When game days are here, I'm glued to the computer yelling at the players on my team to get more catches, stop fumbling, kick those field goals, etc. "HOLD THEM, DEFENSE" can be heard down the street in my neighborhood. I don't even care what teams win as long as my players do well. Hey! I can now talk the talk and walk the walk. OK! So there's not really a walk involved unless you count the swagger I do when I beat my opponent. But no one is around to see it, so does it really count?

Anyway,....this has really taken all that extra time I thought I'd have with my husband out in Utah working. If there's not a man to keep you occupied right now, sign up for a fantasy sports league! All the testosterone - none of the dirty socks!

Wake Up Call

I used to get a wake up call from my 2 oldest kids every morning in the form of yelling in my ear, "Mommy, wake up!" (said in a singing voice). They are like little drill sargeants. I tell them, "It's too early..." Why do I even try? They reply, "But the sun's up!!! Come on Mommy!" and then they just generally whine until I get up.

This continued for weeks.....But HALLELUJAH!!!! Today they stomped into my room, hand-in-hand, to face the monster (that would be me in the morning). "Mommy, wake up!" (still with the singing voice - how do they learn that?) And I said, "Why don't you guys go to Aurora's room and watch a movie and play?" And do you know what happened? They AGREED!!! It's 8:45AM and they are still in that room playing and watching movies......Has someone kidnapped my kids and replaced them with obedient robots? This is the best morning EVER!!

Now if only I can convince my 10-month old to do the same, but she kinda has a thing for her bottle in the morning. Separate the two and I'm toast!

All Natural Fertilization

A few weeks ago our grass was completely brown. Then, we got a lot of rain all in one weekend. After it dried out a little I looked out the window and what did I see?

HUGE MUSHROOMS!

I could see probably 6 or so of these huge mushrooms. Of course, we are trying to sell our home and I don't think fungus in the yard screams "Buy Me!" so I had to figure out a way to get rid of them quickly. I tried kicking them and that just made me scream thinking they were going to explode green goop everywhere. (I think I saw one breathing). So after stomping around a little in my "hazmat" outfit I decided just to call a friend to come mow the grass. He's former Air Force so I don't think he screamed when the lawn mower sliced these mushrooms to bits.

Maybe I can use this as a special buyer incentive: "We use green methods in improving our grass. Landscaping includes all-natural fertilization" or some such nonsense. I'll have to think about this some more and pray the "alien mushrooms" don't reappear.

Creating a Masterpiece

Birthday parties are so much fun when you are little. My son, Jesse, just had his 3rd birthday (he's been telling everyone he's 3 for a year already) and he wanted to Cars cake...you know, Lightning McQueen. It took me a total of 5 hours to make this cake. This includes the time it took to make SEVEN DIFFERENT colors of frosting and cleaning up the mess afterwards. Seven coffee mugs later, this is what I used to mix the colors in - not what I was drinking, my counter tops were marbled (red predominately) and my hands and face looked like a clown attacked me. The icing was already drying out and I had to rearrange my entire refrigerator to make room for this infamous cake. Jesse ooohed and aaahed.....and then he and his sister gobbled up half of it in one sitting. Their tongues and lips (and fingers and nose and even a few eyebrows) were bright red and crumbles of cake could be seen in their hair and as I watched in awe I thought to myself.....This was totally worth it!!!!