This Weekend

It is hard to get back into the groove of blogging!!!

Ok, here are a few reasons why I don't really mind my husband traveling.
1. He comes home so much more willing to help.
2. He tries really hard to make the weekends really count as quality time with our family.
3. Absence really makes the heart grow fonder ;)
4. He comes home with THESE!!! ;) (yes, he is a sweety!)

He has been putting in long weeks at work and not coming home until friday night. Next week, (VALENTINES) he wont get home till friday night either!! So, kindof a bummer, but he has been really sweet trying to make up for lost time!

As a side note: we bought rock band this weeknd (and an xbox 360 to play it on) I would like to think we bought it for the kids, but in all reality, we know who we bought it for!!! ;)

Where I've Been

I have been watching my sister's kids - she just moved out here from out east - YAY!!!
adding her three to mine, that made 6 kids under 6 - WOW!!! i dont know how you moms out there with more than 3 do it!

I have also been in Utah. I escaped the craziness of the 6 kids to go snowboarding and also to go to my sis' baby blessing. It was so much fun! I got to see Lyd's new house (and her new baby!!), owen, little steph, dawn (and fam), aunt steph, sherri, and my cousin jen, more aunts and even my bro in law sam too!! Most importantly, i got to go snowboarding FINALLY!!! For those of you who know me well, you will know that i absolutely LOVE snowboarding - it seriously makes me SO HAPPY
The pic is of me. It snowed a LOT!!! So, we had the most wonderful snow and so much fun hitting the powder! I took little steph with me the first day, but she broke her tailbone. :( The second day I took owen. This run was so much fun! seriously, look at how fluffy that is!!!

ps, utah is absolutely beautiful. i miss the mountains.

Now, I am home.

did i tell you that I had so much fun???!!!!!

This first video is my bro owen doing a five. He was landing this all day, until i got my little phone's camera out... still, i think he is a stud. i keep thinking he is just this little 8 yr old punk... i guess he has grown up!!!

The second video is actually me doing a 3!!! I rented a helmet, so I actually wasnt scared. actually, i used to do these all the time (before marriage) but that was when i was willing to sacrifice my body for fun... one season in particular i had 3 concussions and pulled out my shoulder! now that i am a mom, i am not so willing to do that to myself. somehow, with a helmet, i forgot all of that... i didnt land this one perfectly, but, i must say i was pretty proud of myself!

I think i've done this already...

BUT, lydia tagged me so...

A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.
B. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment, letting them know they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

10 Years Ago: I was a freshman at BYU and LIVIN it up - rooming w/my cousin, snowboarding every other day, having more fun and getting in more trouble than I should ;)

5 Things on my "to-do" list for today:
1- Hang out w/hubby (we just got back from an electronics store)
2- Hang out w/kids
3- Relax
4- Make dinner (or just buy dinner!!!)
5- Take Aaron to a Bday party
OK, in my defense it is Saturday - this is my day to do WHATEVER i want!!!

I Enjoy:
1- Going out w/my hubby
2- Being active and doing FUN things (snowboarding, working out, playing sports, being outside) 3- Eating out - i mean, i LOVE it when someone else does the cooking AND cleaning for me!!!
4- Being a stay at home mom
5- Reading good books and doing logic puzzles

What would I do if I was suddenly made a BILLIONAIRE:
1- Put as much away as I could
2- Get a vacation home in the mountains, another one on a lake with all the associated toys etc.
3- Upgrade my home
4- Hire a personal chef and maid
5- Try my hardest to stay sensible and not get crazy - not give too much to my children so they can still know the value of work - try to be charitable etc...

5 Jobs that I have had:
1- Cleaned my dad's office (LYDIA - despite what you might think, i actually DID clean the office... I vacuumed and took out the trash and did more than just SPRAY WINDEX)
2- Piano teacher
3- Receptionist
4- Computer Science TA
5- Computer Programmer

5 Things People Don't Know About Me:
1- My nose is lopsided
2- I played the clarinet and tuba
3- I traveled a lot when I was younger - even hit Denmark, Switzerland and Germany BY MYSELF when I was just 13 (well, technically...)
4- I love chocolate and eating anything SWEET
5- I once was known to do such things that I could NOT post on the internet.

I am tagging: YOU

So sad it's funny

So, yesterday was so bad, it was funny.

Yesterday morning, was play day swap at my girlfriend's house. I thought the day would go so well. 11:00 came too quickly, so I picked up my kids plus one more while his mom was stuck at an appt. While I was talking to the kids asking them how much fun they had at their play day, I saw a cop (driving in the opposite direction) slam on his breaks and flip a U-turn. Oh CRAP!!! I wasn't speeding too much, (47 in a 40mph) but apparently, the speed limit was 35... AHHGGGGHHHH

Ticket.

No way I was talking my way out of that. I dont even know how people do that.
Oh well, there's nothing I could do about it.
I pulled into the house and made a lunch for Charity's little buddy and headed out to run a couple errands before taking him to school. I got a lot done in 30 mins and was almost over the whole ticket thing from earlier - really looking forward to taking my kids to McDonalds for another playdate and for me to socialize...
So, I turned off my street and get ready to turn into the school - when, I see the flashing lights AGAIN!!!! (different cop!)

WHAT THE ??????

I knew I hadn't done anything wrong. But, of course, I see SO many people I know in the little school lane... What was THIS ticket for? Expired inspection sticker.

Ticket.

AGGHHHHHH are you serious???? I was so frustrated. This was NOT my day. I headed to KwikKar and got that taken care of. Nate (as expected) messed his diaper while we were sitting in the car place and I couldnt/wouldnt change him there. So I waited for my car to be done and changed him in the car. Of course, it was one of those that smears out and makes a TOTALLY disgusting mess. There was no trash can in sight. So, I drove with dirty diaper IN MY HAND towards McDonalds. I was laughing. I pulled into the parking lot. Charity didnt want McDonalds. FINE. I threw out my diaper and headed somewhere else.

I pulled into TacoBell/PizzaHut - they took forever. My change was going to be $5.51. I hold my hand out and the entire $5.51 in QUARTERS drops all over the drive through. WHAT??? I was expecting 50 cents. The guy came out and only found $5.00 - he said the rest rolled under my car. screw it - keep the 50 cents.

The day got better... but I had to laugh.

Hope you all have a good day today!!!

I knew it...

Well, I hate to say it, but I knew the Cowboys would lose today.
It doesn't make me any less dissapointed.
Maybe the whole team should have gone down to mexico - Romo and Witten didnt TOTALLY suck. I just wish our defense could have stepped up. I wish Crayton could have caught a ball. I wish... I wish...
I think we now see the importance of a December surge. Who cares how good you do in the season. We saw it today with the Colts and the Cowboys - you get too comfortable and dont play anymore through December (well, you can blame the colts loss on some turnovers, but maybe that even helps illustrate my point better) However, by the END of the season, those teams you beat earlier in the year have better chemistry. They have a HEART. They play through injuries and are fighting to get somewhere you just think you deserve.
While we are at it, we can pull the Mavs into this conversation. Last year, they had an AMAZING season. But, when it came down to it, they ALLOWED a team into the playoffs by letting their starters "rest". It was THAT VERY team that fought so hard just to get INTO the playoffs that BEAT them in the first round.
So, do we care how well you play through the year if you cant get past 1 FRICKEN round of the playoffs?
no
Go get some heart and go for a championship - not just for the 1st round BYE...

But, on a happier note...

We got bunkbeds for the boys. We ordered them from www.Bunkbedking.com, for CHEAP and they were here 2 days later (WOW!). of course, charity didnt want to be left out of the bunkbed fun, so she has been sleeping in there with them. Nate loves it, and has done pretty well even taking naps and not getting too crazy (yet) on them. We'll see how it goes.

moved in moms house

For those of you who are wondering what this is...
My parents are not here yet (and I am SOOOOOO excited for them to move here) but their stuff that has been in storage for 5 years in AZ arrived, and I was there to get it in the house... too bad I hadnt seen any of it since before I moved out after highschool, and i had no clue what ANY of it was or where it should go...

So, mom, this is what you will COME HOME to... i went through your house and took pictures... i think we will have a lot of fun going through all this stuff that has been in STORAGE FOR 5 WHOLE YEARS!!! i am getting ready for lots of laughs and lots of "I kept THAT????"

moving is so fun!

So, I am living with these 2 things as constant companions here....

Seriously, I have had a cold since before Thanksgiving. Sometimes it is a little better, and sometimes it is a LOT worse. Last night was one of those nights - On top of not being able to breathe or get comfortable because of congestion, I was up at 2 with my ears throbbing in pain, and I have had the chills and a fever. AGGHHHH... So, I have loaded up on tylonal and nyquil and all morning I curled up on the couch and let my kids just roam free while I felt sorry for myself. BUT I wasnt feeling any better. So...

Plan B: (from my mom) When you are sick, dont just curl up and feel sorry for yourself, get up, clean your house, open the windows, get some fresh air, and you will feel lots better. Well, I did just that - well, my house isnt perfectly clean yet, but I did my dishes, sanitized counters, mopped the floors, opened all the windows, picked up etc.. i guess i should vacuum real quick... but (although my ear ache is coming back and i have a headache and my nose is a constant clogged/dripping faucet) i feel better.

Thanks mom.

Joe, Joe, Joe

Here is something that will make you chuckle:
We were sitting in Sunday school, involved in a little whispering discussion (yes, we are that disruptive couple). Joe got frustrated with me, and trying to point out some inconsitencies in my actions, said "You are just like a democrat!". I giggled. Was that supposed to vex me more? So, I said this is going to land on my blog. He said he was looking forward to it.

So, yes, I married a nut. But I really do love him! Thanks for making even our arguments interesting JOE!!!

Now about them Cowboys:

Please excuse this little blurb... needing someone to listen to what I am thinking and Joe is out of town...

I have been a Dallas Cowboys fan since I can remember. I have a faint memory of my mom jumping up and down cheering for Danny White when we lived in Plano (I must have been 6 or 7 years old). I remember proudly wearing my Cowboy’s super bowl T-shirt when I lived in New Jersey as a young teenager (amidst a sea of Giants fans). As a 13 year old girl, I could proudly say I LOVED my BOYS, and would happily rattle off names and stats of the greats like Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Troy Aikman and their coach Jimmy Johnson. I also remember all the disappointment felt in the years after. I remember feeling a gentle surge of hope when Bill Parcells and then T.O signed on. Now, in the era of Wade Phillips, and Tony Romo, can we pull out a big victory? I hate to say it, but I am VERY skeptical - too skeptical to even think we can get further than our little BYE week in the playoffs.

Right now, we are partially blaming some blonde bimbo for the decline of our quarterback. In the last 4 weeks, the word IMPOTENT better describes what I thought was one of the best offenses in the NFL. Blame whatever you want, but if you can’t score a touchdown simply because you’re down ONE wide receiver, you have bigger problems on your hands.

As for Romo: where did his game go? Earlier in the season, he used his head and actually scrambled for a couple first downs. In the last few games, he looked a bit too similar to a bad Favre – slinging a bad or dangerous throw rather than scrambling to that yellow line. Doesn’t he see it RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF HIM??? ;) He once told another dame that he needed to concentrate on the game. Can’t he repeat that?
Dear Jessica, I need to save my legs for the game. Did your dad set us up because he is really a Cowboys hater? Convenient. I will see you in February. ps your dad is crazy.

So, now, (along with the other Cowboy fans) I am hoping for a miracle. Hoping T.O. can play. Hoping Romo will pull his head out. Hoping Terry Glenn comes out as strong and as awesome as he has ever been. Hoping Terrence Newman gets better, and Roy Williams learns how to tackle… do I need to continue? If all these things come together, we have a shot at losing to the Patriots come February.

The Ranch

So, we went down to the ranch for a few days (even while Cherry and Dawn were here visiting us!!). I managed to steal Lochlin and Braeden away from everyone and they came along with us to join the fun there. It was so fun, and quite difficult to come back. Here are some pictures of the property:

We have so much fun riding around on the 4 wheelers and MULEs, playing games, riding horses, and simply playing outside - i LOVE how you can just let the kids out and you really dont see them until they want food ;) Mostly, they just wanted hot chocolate, and pretty much that is all Loch and Brae lived on for the time they were there! Anyways, we are so glad Dad and Trish bought this property, and we look forward to spending many weekends here!!! (i mean, who wouldnt???)

Christmas

So, here are the pics from Christmas!!! It was so much fun to have all these kids together!!!

Well, Aaron and Nate were supposed to be wearing some cute pjs... they at least went to bed in them...

The kids LOVED everything they got! Aaron got a bike, and an air hog. Charity got a pink leapster and some barbies, and Nate got a play guitar! they didnt get much else ;)

Funny story: Nate LOVES to play in the water - it is easiest to get to in my bathtub. He also LOVES his guitar. He walked around dancing with it ALL morning long - it was ADORABLE! Well, the two dont really go together... but nate didnt know that. We found him - he had plugged up the tub and filled it to the point of almost overflowing. he was also using his guitar as an oar!!! AGGHHHH!!!! oh well. i wrote the whole thing off - but then, my genious of a spouse fixed it. ;)

So Far

So, Cherry and her kids came out to visit from NJ. Dawn and the rest of the Howey bunch are here too!!! This has been so fun! Here are the pics of our little visit so far. We are hoping to get Cherry out here on a more permanent basis, cause we love having COUSINS!!!
We also went and met our friend Koya and her baby and her girlfriend for dinner. It was a really fun reunion!

ok, so the last picture is one VERY interesting story.

Sunday morning, I had to be at church early to do my THING... (singing, violin & piano)

anyways, just before my alarm went off... Nate walked up to me - with his hands full of YOU KNOW WHAT!!! he had climbed out of his bed, taken off his diaper, and smeared it ALL OVER THE CARPET. there was even a nice little trail to my bed. it took 45 mins to clean up. then i had a cold shower. and no time to really get cute or even get my kids taken care of before i had to go to church!!! it wasnt the best morning ever. Anyways, i came home from church, and still smelled the stink... apparently in my haste to clean the carpet, i didnt even look on the other side of the door!!! AGGHHHH!!!! Well, I have since done a more thorough job and tons of laundry... merry christmas from nate! ;)

under the tree

so, every year, we have a train under our tree. the nice one we had last year is out of commission....

so, we got this little one. the kids LOVE it. i LOVE it. HOWEVER... this is the state of the tree now. it is really hard to keep the ornaments on the tree when UNDER the tree is so much fun!

check out all the nascars that come and watch. sometimes they get to ride the train... other times, the nascars are hit by the train... they like to see the whole thing get de-railed... fun times ;)

notice the state of the nativity at the fireplace... i guess that is the whole purpose of the toy nativity - cant hurt (except nate LOVES to get into the fireplace rocks... and those are SOOO annoying to clean up!)

Saturday:

I took the kids to the ward Christmas party... but I left early to go to the work party... Thanks to my girlfriend, my kids stayed there and got to see santa... and i got to go out... ;)


Joe and I went to the work party. It was nice. They had great food and entertainment, and lots to do and see. we danced and ate and had fun. I didn't look my best, but it was ok. I SOOOO wish I would have gone shopping one more time... everyone needs the perfect little dress... but i just went with something old and comfortable. We got there at 9 and stayed till 10:30. (i expired)... all the young singles were ready to keep partying... MAN I FEEL SOOOO OLD!!! AND LAME!!!

A little explanation

So, you want to know how i get coordinating outfits?
How about I tell you how I get decent family pictures each year.
here is the original family picture:
I got rid of a few frizzy hairs and SOMEONE's unibrow. I also (very poorly) got rid of the crap in the background. But, i think it looks too fake, so i ...
zoomed in, and changed nates' green diamonds to red, and aaron's stripe to red.
then i overlayed sepia... and like magic, a picture emerges where we look kindof coordinated...
Last year, I morphed my kids heads in from other pictures (because none of them cooperated at the same time)!!! Basically, we always look like CRAP in our photos... but with a little magic, i can get something presentable. all i can say is YAY PHOTOSHOP!!! YAY for Spencer K. teaching me how to use the GIMP one summer while i worked with my dad - photoshop is just like it - YAY also for marrying a GEEK who loves computers and gets me photoshop and the cooresponding literature so i can read up and keep learning cool things!

SO - courtney, even if you dont match for your family pics this year, it can ALL BE FIXED!!! ;)

Shopping help?

So, Joe's work Christmas party (cocktail party at the 4 seasons) is coming up, and I really wanted to get a nice little outfit. (I am always looking for an excuse to get something new!!) So, I went to the mall today thinking I could find something. I got there at 10 am. By 1:30 (the time i had to leave to get Charity from school) I had successfully bought several things, AND returned them. I did manage to buy the new Glenn Beck book... ;)

What is my problem? 1. Chalky white legs. 2. The modesty issue. 3. The boyish build. 4. DO I NEED TO GO ON???

What do you guys wear when you go out? I tried so many different dresses, and combinations of strapless or halter or slinky dresses w/jackets or boleros - but jackets and boleros RUIN the cute ones...

Looks like I am wearing something old and boring... :( Does someone want to go shopping FOR me???

3 sweet things

Ok, if you are lucky, you will get another post from me later because my kids are playing in my little piano recital this evening...

Anyways, here are 3 of the SWEETEST things in the world:

1. Nate - he was being VERY quiet. I found him. He found the water bottle. What is with this kid and water? And honestly, I don't understand the whole squirting yourself in the face for fun thing...
2. Charity: I couldnt help myself- she is so STINKIN cute! 3. This is probably the sweetest thing ever. Yesterday, I walked out front to see this. I quietly watched for a minute, ran in and got my camera and Aaron was still GENTLY teaching Nate how to ride a scooter. Seriously, a tear came to my eye - what a sweet older brother! When he turned around and noticed me, he was just so excited and said: "Look mom! Nate is learning how to ride Charity's scooter!"
I am so lucky to have these kids!!!

hey look, an update!

So, I am updating again... this time with pictures from our little gingerbread making adventure yesterday.

I have always felt that adding more people adds more fun. I guess you could also chalk it up to my SHORT attention span? Anyways, I knew if I did gingerbread houses with only my kids, it would last 5 minutes and I would have lost my patience (or become side-tracked)... SO, we had the Branns and the Walls over to make AWESOME graham cracker houses. We actually had some fun. Even the moms got to do their own. Here are the pics from the event:

Ok, by next week my life should slow down a bit more and I will be more diligent with my blog...

Just have to get through my piano recital now... and finish decorating the school stage...

why am I decorating all these things? I dont decorate.

Last Week

Last week was pretty fun. I "got" to decorate the international room at our stake's nativity exhibit. It is pretty big and we usually get the local highschool choirs to come sing and lots of people come etc....

Anyways, back up about a month. My girlfriend called me and I told her I couldn't teach her kids piano anymore. However, since she had me on the phone (and I felt like I just disapointed her), I was softened and she was able to rope me into being in charge of a room for the exhibit this year. She told me to get a comittee together and come up with a plan for the international room. um... what just happened?

I got some girlfriends to help me. I also had some LATE night inspiration come to me when one of my kids was sick in the middle of the night.

So, here are the pictures of how it turned out. One of my girlfriends did the vinyl lettering for me in a couple different languages, and I did some other languages over the map of that country in the frames you see scattered through the room (i.e. over an antiqued Italian map, the same Luke 2 scripture was translated in Italian I did french, chineese, hungarian, and more...). I have to say I was pleased with the result. In previous years, they used the different country flags to make it international... BUT I liked how the Luke 2 scripture said to ALL PEOPLE and i just went with that. Anyways, thank you to Becky, Ruth, Susannah, and Amy and Kim for helping me. ALSO thanks to Carrieanne, Wendy R, Wendy W, Alicia, and Ruth for taking my kids!!!

Where's my fairy?

I drove home last night from our Thanksgiving vacation in Houston (in the rain with a screaming baby and no husband). I got home 15 mins before choir. After choir (luckily it wasnt at my house), I had to go to the store because I was completely OUT of food. I made taquitos for dinner. I put the kids to bed. I unloaded the car. But that was as far as I got. Now, where's the cleaning fairy that will unpack and put all this junk away?

Anyways, here are the pictures from Joe's dad's ranch. We had so much fun there. It was absolutely beautiful.