My ventings for the day

Not much to post except a slight venting. We spent most of the morning cleaning baseboards and rewaxing the floors. My house was so spotless. Then I spend the rest of the day trying to get the kids not to breath for fear of them making a mess. Sarah was home sick from school, she has what Joseph had/has. We call our Realtor several times to find out when the couple is coming and he never answers. In the afternoon we hear from him and he has had no word from the couple. Point? Here it is Tuesday and still no word. How long am I expected to keep my house spotless with 4 kids? We don't even know if they are still coming AGHHH.

On a lighter note I am about half way through Pride and Prejudice and I love it. I likes both versions of the movie I have seen but the back surpasses them by a long shot. The depth of the relationship and personalities of both Jane and Elizabeth are precious. I relate to Elizabeth in so many ways even in her desire to be more like Jane. I can't seem to read to much at once because I always read it late at night. I hate finishing a good book because I am always left wanting more. I want to know what happens next. I guess that us why I love books that are in a series.

Half way

I saw a picture someone had done on two peas like this and I loved it. I had to scrap it once I saw the picture and I want to put it in Joshua's baby book when I get around to starting one.

A couple from Oregon are coming to look at the house tomorrow and I have high hopes that they could be the ones. There grandparents looked at it over a month ago and think our house would be perfect for them. They "have" to live in the development we are in and they want a custom house. Our house and or friends house are the only two up for sale so hopefully one of us will have some good news tomorrow. They have already sold there current house so...cross your fingers.

Yeah for the hubby!

Ryan got home late yesterday and it is so nice to have him back. We had a nice mellow evening. Joseph slept really well and Ryan let me sleep in. What a great start to this new day.

I made Ryan's Valentine gift while he was gone and gave it to him after the kids went to bed. I had some of our wedding pictures put on a CD and I made some layouts to go in a journal I have kept periodically, I have written in it three times in the past 5 years. I just wrote special memories of us. I also had one of our wedding pictures blown up to an 11x14 and I put it in a frame I painted black then distressed. I loved the way it turned out.






Credits. I used a bunch of different shabby princess free downloads and the one kit I bought was TracyAnn's Love notes from scrapbook bytes

This post is only for those with way to much time.

Hear are the proof of the pictures we want to order. I am so pleased with the way they turned out. Int the whole family onealmost every one looks good. All of the adults do. A few kids are smiling with their eyes closed or looking to high up but noone looks goofy. I am so happy about it.

Because my day has been so crazy I decided to write a day in the life of me. Ok, a few days in the life of me.

Where do I begin? The past few days have been long but productive. I forgot Emma's dentist appointment on Thursday. I guess with all the craziness of Ryan being gone we are just out of routine. Joseph finally feel asleep right before we had to go pick up Jared from school so I had to wake him from his nap. I hate doing that. Then we rushed off to karate and I told the kids they could pick what they wanted for dinner. I didn't want to cook when Ryan wasn't home, and I had just cleaned the stove. They picked McDonald. I order Chillis take out. I love restaurant take out. That way we were all happy. We then got to play in the play place for over an hour. I was in no hurry to get home to an empty house.

Joseph woke up in the middle of the night Thursday night sounding like a seal which meant crope. (I don't know how to spell that) Pour little guy has been grumpy the last few days and now I knew why. So I pick up Sarah from school a little before 11. We head straight for the Dr's and find out he also has a real bad ear infection. So I have to go get 3 different kinds of medicine. One to stop the cough, I guess coughing actually makes it worse, then a steroid medicine, and antibiotics. But first the girls let me know they are hungry so we stop for food.

I was looking for this special photo place to drop of a picture and they have moved so I am driving up and down the street I know their new address is on and I can't find it. I had to stop at a gas station to look them up and give them a call. The girls were quick to let me know we had passed it several times. Who knew? Good thing is they have drive up.

Then we head to walmart and get our prescription. By the time that is done it is time to get Jared from school. I realized I forgot to drop the bill off at the city offices so we head to do that before Joseph goes down for his nap. My pictures are ready so we run and go do that. By the time we got home it was 3:30. The kids were all very well behaved and it was one of those, "Thank you Father," moments.

I give Joseph his medicine and he is out like a light. The Dr gave me this great idea of crushing up the medicine and sticking it in a snickers bar. I try to give it to Joseph and he just shakes his head no. Great idea but now I have crushed up medicine my son won't take. I felt so funny forcing my little boy to eat candy.

I then take the moment to scrap a page. Thursday night I stayed up for two hours working on something and then my computer crashes and I lose it all. I cried. Then I realized it wasn't really how I wanted it to turn out and I made my first digi scrap purchase. I have made four pages with the kit I bought. I am grateful the computer crashed. Way cuter pages now.

We had a fun night eating popcorn and candy and watching the new Charlie and The chocolate Factory. I am not a fan of Johnny Depp. And the movie just confirmed that all the more. The kids liked it though. Half way through the movie I realize I have eaten very little all day and I am so hungry. I feed the kids but I was to busy to eat myself. So I hurry and eat. When I realized it was past 8 and Jospeh was still asleep I began to really worry. I went and checked on him again and he was still breathing. I tuck the kids in and go back to scrapping. At around 9ish, I wake Jospeh up. I thought, "If he doesn't wake up now he will at 2 or 3 and be ready for the day." So we hang out and watch What Not To Wear. Good thing he doesn't care what we watch. I gave him some milk and more medicine and put him down around 11. I feel this need to finish what I started and finish two more layouts. 3 down. I realize my mind is going so much I need to unwind before I go to bed. I watch some show on HGTV. Not the best and I understand why it is on so late. Then I head for bed.

Jospeh woke up sometime before 5 and was content to play in his crib for some time. Jared got him up about 5:30 and he is ok for about ten minutes. Then he starts yelling my name and I have to actually get out of bed. Note to self, (just get up when you first hear him. You never go back to sleep once you know he's awake.) He insists on eating breakfast right away. He hadn't eaten in 18 hours. I promised the kids a big breakfast. Ryan usually buys them donuts but I didn't want to take all the kids to the donut store, this was before I knew Joseph was sick. We are all tired, Sarah was the only one who slept in, till 7. Once she was up I made waffles with cherries and whipped cream and syrup. They thought that was great. Joseph was ready for bed about 8:30. I put him down and work on one more layout.

9:10 the realtor calls and wants to drop off some DVD's. So I can't go back to sleep like I had hoped. I lay down anyway and tell the kids to get me when the door bell rings. I layed there for 20 minutes and I couldn't sleep, of course. Then he drops by and I am now way more awake then I want to be. I figured my napping window was over so I give up. Yet, hear it is 10:30 and Joseph is still sleeping. Oh what, I hear him.

What lies ahead for this day?

I am sure that was not interesting to any one but I feel better getting all of that out.

The Talent Show

The kids had their talent show yesterday. I understand that I am a very proud mom, but I truly think they did wonderful. Sarah got so nervous the night before. We were going to have her practice one last time before the big day and she started to cry. A very serious and sad cry. I told her that she didn't have to do it and that it was just for fun. She said she wanted to she was just "escared" Sarah has always said it like that. We had a special pray upon her request. When she went to bed she told me that she knew she would be able to do it. In the morning she woke up all smiles and was ready for the show.

Jared said our morning prayer and remembered to pray that Sarah would not be nervous. What a sweet brother. She did request that Emma be her backup dancer. It was so cute. She told me afterwards, "I said a prayer before I went on and I wasn't nervous at all. Some of the other kids were but I wasn't. Heavenly Father helped me." It was said so matter of factly. I guess this is why we are told to be as little children. Their faith is amazing.

Here they are practicing the morning of. Sarah wanted to be dressed like Hillary Duff. It was cute to have her pick out a shirt and hair style. She had me look up Hillary Duff online and this is the up do she said looks like Hillary's.

I will get a camera with zoom one of these days.

Jared amazed me. He carries such quiet confidence. No nervousness from him. He just knows that he is good at what he does and does it well. He told me after words that his teacher told him he did a good job but he didn't hear her tell that to any one else. His form was so crisp and very professional. There was another little boy that did karate and Jared blew him out of the water. I have a bad habit of comparing sometimes. Not all the time, but regardless I need to watch that.

Jared has the most awesome teacher. She is so good with her kids. Her attitude is so positive and really brings out the best in Jared. It is amazing for me to think that she has a husband dyeing of cancer and she still manages to be so up beat. I need to surround myself with more women like her!

Ryan had to go out of town today and won't be back till late Saturday. Ryan is usually the one who helps get Joseph ready in the morning so this morning when His dad was no where to be found he was distressed. He was walking around the house saying "Dad, dad?" It was so sad. So we called Ryan and Joseph was elated. He wanted to talk all day. When it was time to go he was so mad. Pour little guy. We are going to have to have some serious fun to make up for dad being gone.

Accentuate the positive

On Friday I met with the principal at the kids school. I was feeling frustrated that Sarah's teacher was doing nothing to help her advance. If your child is behind they have special programs but if your child is advanced the do nothing. I wondered if this was just her teacher or the whole school. As the principal talked to me I realized that it is a school thing. Basically, he told me that if I want her to continue to excel I should keep doing whatever I am doing at home with her. He said in kindergarten they are just introducing the basics and if a child already knows that then they will be all the more advanced. He doesn't believe children should be advanced a grade and I do think I would prefer her not to move up anyway. I contemplated it but I thought about her being age 16 or so when all of her peers are 17. She will be forced to grow up to quickly. I think growing up is hard enough, she doesn't need to add any other factors into the mix.

What did I learn? I came to grips with the fact that I have to work with her more at home until we move and then either home school or get her into a better school system. She loves to learn and asks me to teach her more. She wants to be great at math like Jared is. I want her to continue to love learning. The other advantage to her staying where she's at is that she can feel like she is really excelling because she is so far ahead of the other kids in her class.

After the conversation with the principal I was able to let go of my frustration and except my roll as her primary teacher.

I think I have learned this week that life is learning to except what we are given and then find the best in that situation. Things could always be better and if we focus on that we will always be disappointed. On the flip side, things could always be worse. I am going to choose this week to think on that and recognize how blessed I am. I am going to find the good in my life and focus on that. I can only imagine that as I do this I will find greater happiness in anything I need to do.

What a Beautiful Day!

I drove by this park the other day and wondered why we had not yet taken the kids there. It is less then 10 minutes from where we live. The kids had a great time. There were hikes that were to high for the young kids and I think Jared felt slighted. He kept asking "Can't we just go up there??" Ryan will have to take them sometime. I am to afraid of children falling for it to be fun. You can see all of St. George from the tops of the cliffs and I am sure it would be a perfect picture in the spring time when everything is green again. I will miss this when we move. Joseph thought that he should be able to climb even higher. Ryan thinks this should be encouraged. Joseph now climbs my closet shelves to get to where I keep my money. I found out today that this happens because Ryan believes we should help him be good at what ever he tries. He laughed as he was saying it though.

The kids found all sorts of little caves they could climb in and through.

He is such a handsome boy. He didn't want to stop for pictures, he just wanted to explore.

Always ready with a smile. It is to bad a few seconds later she tripped and hurt her knee. She bounced back fast enough though. Later we even found a house built around one of the caves.

I should have stepped farther back for this picture. The are sitting in a small cavity about 5 feet above ground. It just looked like a little seat so we had to put them there.

This one is my favorite. He found this little whole and stuck his head in. As he entered he would growl a fearsome growl. We were all rolling. with laughter.

Over all I would say today was a great day. We started off cleaning the house. Then we had donuts. We lazed around while Joseph took a nap, then we went for our hike. After that we went and got sodas and more laziness. Joseph went down for a second nap while Emma and Sarah fell asleep in front of the TV. Ryan did some computer stuff while I worked on trying to finish up Joseph's baby book. I decided that I am going to try to finish each of their baby books before Joshua is born. I have started with Jospeh and will work my way back to Jared. I will feel finished when they have pictures to cover the first year and then every birthday for the first 5 years. I think I am going to try to keep one Christmas scrapbook instead of putting pages of each Christmas in everyone's albums. I am so far behind on scrapbooking that I have decided to just catch up on the main events. Good luck on even getting that done.

Joshua's first outfit.
I realized that I managed to have children in opposite seasons again.
Do I do it on purpose so I have to buy new clothes?

I stumbled into Old Navy on one of there huge sale days. 50% of the clearance racks. I love when they do this. I had some store credit so it was even better. I bought 3 shirts for me, a shirt and Hooded sweatshirt for Joseph, 2 shirts and a pair of jeans for Joshua, and a track jacket for Ryan. This made my week. The total was about $35. Shut up! I know. I love deals. Then to top it off I bought the cutest pair of Gap maternity jeans for $11. Retail $68. Who spends $68 dollars on a pair of jeans that will only last you a few months? Ok, If I had the money to spend and they really fit awesome, I would.

I think every women deserves to have one pair of jeans that make her feel like a Diva. The kind you put on and can't help but know your hot. They don't come around often enough. But when they do you want to buy one in every wash they make. For me, they are usually expensive so I settle for one pair. Or, they are on clearance and they don't make that kind any more.

What else have I been thinking about? Yesterday Jared and I went on a date to IHOP, his choice. We sat next to a family of 8. I want six children so I was kind of watching them to see how eating out with six children will be. Their oldest looked about 14 and the youngest was about Joseph's age. Pretty good gap. The father seemed very stressed out and kept telling the two boys, about 9 and 11, to sit and be quite. The three daughters, about 14, 6 and ?, were whinny and just bugging each other. A spill happened, the teenager slurped just to get a reaction, the mom raised her voice higher then she meant to. I just smiled inside.

Don't we all have days like that. Where you just feel like you can't get a handle on life. I remember feeling that way with two kids. I think the more children you have the more unexpected you expect life to be. It becomes easier, not because the nature of the thing has change but because your outlook has. You know children are going to raise there voice to be heard in public settings. You understand that someone is going to pick their nose when everyone is watching. Someone is bound to point at an overweight person and comment on how "fat" they are. They usually wait until your cart at the grocery store is to full to leave to start screaming, the kind that doesn't stop.

When I expect my children to be perfect, it is so hard on me when they are not. When I remember that I am here to teach them how to behave and how to be truly happy, I find the most joy out of being a mom. I correct them with love and understanding and patience. I feel a sense of what our Father in Heaven might feel for us. Understanding all that we have the potential to be he doesn't yell at us when we mess up or make us feel as though we have failed, he loves us all the more. I pray I can be the Mom he wants me to be.

My little mansion

In case you can't tell, he is saying "Cheese" Actually it sounds like eese.
When you get out the camera he poses and says that.

Today has been an interesting one. I have a tendency towards having low iron and pregnancy always amplifies that. But today I felt very low on energy and took a super long nap to wake up still feeling exhausted. When I get really tired I cry easily. I say all this to prelude into what happened next.

I drop Jared off at karate and then head to the health food store to pick up a liquid form of iron that is supposed to help. The lady who works there was very friendly until she said this, "How much longer do you have?" With a tone of voice eluding to the fact that I should be done soon. I responded that I was only 4 months along and her comment? "Oh???" I am not that big. I always get comments like that but already? Come on now. Then she proceeded to tell me that her mom had 5 kids in 6 years and that is why her mom is so crazy. Did she not hear me tell her I was pregnant with #5? She went on for sometime about having kids close together and how much it messes with ones insanity.

After all this I did not cry. I simply realized how crazy she was and started to actually feel better. So then we proceed home and we stop at a stop light. I am singing, with the motions, Patti -Cake. I turn to see Josephs face and I catch the older gentlemen next to me watching in utter delight. I made his day! That made me smile more and I felt much more ready to face the long night I foresaw ahead of me.

I think Heavenly Father knows that we need a light boost sometimes. If we look we can always find some way or another that he is trying to lift us up, trying to make us more then maybe we can see. Or maybe even more then we want to be. I think we would settle for mediocrity where as he knows we can become much more. I think of a C.S.Lewis quote I once read about A builder coming into to rebuild a house. Us being that house and God being the builder. He throws out a room here and adds a wing over there. We don't understand the pain or discomfort at times. We could not see the outcome. We thought we were being built into a nice little cottage where as he was building us into a mansion.

I feel like that sometimes. Why does this situation have to be hard? Can't there be an easier way? But then I am able to look back at times that I thought were hard and I didn't understand. I can now see how I have become a better person for the experience. I can see what I was able to learn and gain by experiencing something I would have taken away had I been given the choice. How grateful I am that Our Father, who knows all, is over all.

After dinner I went to a lecture/training in Family History. It was supposed to be hands on but the lady in charge had a lot she wanted to say first. What did I learn you might ask? That I have a lot of clean up work to do. Almost all of my records need to be changed so that they all match a standard form. That's easy but very time consuming. I guess I know what I will be doing with my free time.

Then I got to come home and tuck in my already sleeping children. I just feel so close to them at the end of the day. You give them a little hug and express your love to them. You tuck them in and just watch them. They look so peaceful when they sleep. Your mind is filled with all of the reasons why you love these little people who sometimes drive you crazy.


Just a cute Picture I got yesterday. Joseph likes to sneak into his dad's office when the door gets left open. Sometimes for a quick snuggle. I love these boys.

My life

Shannon tagged me so here goes,

Four jobs you've had in your life:

1.My first Job was for the movie theater
2.I wrapped presents on Christmas at an expensive men's clothing store
3.Then as a file clerk at law firm
4.My favorite was a swim instructor.
* Four movies you could watch over and over:
This one is hard for me because I don't like to watch movies again and again
1. Pride and prejudice
2. Fried Green Tomatoes, Always a classic
3. I will have to get back on this one
4.
* Four places you have lived:
1. Irvine,Ca,
2. Escondido,Ca
3. St. George, UT
4. Redlands, Ca
* Four TV shows you love to watch:
1.What not to wear,(Yes, I think I am an expert now:)
2.American Idol, I am not an absolute have to watch type though.
3.The Biggest Loser
4.Without Trace
* Four places you've been on vacation:
What's vacation?
1. San Fransisco
2. Hawaii
3. Bullhead,Az,
4. Provo, UT
* Four websites you visit daily:
1. My email
2. EBay
3. blogging
4. Some form of research
* Four of your favorite foods:
small disclaimer, I am pregnant and this changes daily.
1. Salmon
2. Cereal. All varieties
3. Smoothes
4. A salmon salad from Johnnie Carinos.
* Four places you'd rather be right now:
1. In the bath
2. Oddly enough folding laundry
3. Scrap booking
4. Starting Joshua's quilt.

Ok, that took to much thought for one day. Here are some cute pics. Enjoy!

These kids love their Dad!

Jospeh's name time came and went and no one noticed. Next thing I know he has disappeared into Emma and Sarah's room. I go to peek at him and he is laying in Emma's bed with a book in hand. He says to me, "Kankie?" Which means blankie. So I tuck him in and he is content for sometime. What child does that? Not mine, at least not very often.
I go to do Emma's hair this morning and I realize that it has finally gotten full enough and long enough to be put in braids. Yeah! I can do fun stuff with her hair now too.
I think they look a lot alike in this picture. Since three of the kids look more like my side I wonder if Joshua will look more like his dad? I love to dream about what our baby will be like.

I love long weekends!

These pictures crack me up. I was trying to get the decorations put away last week

and Joseph would have it no other way. He insisted on dancing on the boxes.

Yesterday was such a nice relaxing day for all of us. I slept in a little and when I woke up Ryan said, "What do you want to do this morning just by yourself?" Wow! How do you decide? I knew that Joann's was still having their sale so I decided to look and see if I could find fabric for the bumper guard. And yes! They had light blue chenille for $5 a yard. When I looked the other day they had none so I was excited. Then I headed over to Christensens to see what there was to see. I came to the conclusion that cute maternity clothes at a decent price only exist online. Which can be hard because you never are sure how it will fit.

When I got home I played a round of Disney trivia pursuit. Now I thought I was a Disney trivia wiz... But I was wrong. EmmaLee got more right then anyone else. It was fun. Ryan played around of risk with Jared and then he started working. The kids and I just hung out and had a good day.

Joseph has decided that Emma can stay Emma and doesn't need to be Emmie any longer. We think he decided this after she started calling him Josie. She said she will keep calling him that until he calls her Emma again. And sure enough this morning when he woke up she was Emma again. Children are such a riot sometimes.

Sarah and Jared have both decided to do their schools talent show. Jared is going to perform a Karate form and Sarah wants to sing Hillary Duff's "Wake Up" Sarah can get really nervous sometimes. I told she could do it if she would sing the song to my family while we were in Vegas. My brother-in-law got out their kareoke machine and she sang away. Her knees were shaking but she did it. I guess we get to endure our first school talent show. I will love to watch my own children, but hours of other kids talents might be well... Interesting. The things we do for our children.

Help!

I am trying to decide on how to make Joshua's quilt. The colors are a little different but pretty close. I would love your opinions.

Here are some pictures from my nephews party.

I think noone grows out of blowing bubbles
Joseph on the other hand thought that they tasted good and kept trying to
put the wand in his mouth.

Is this picture just the most precious? I have to make time to scrap it.

The kids were playing catch the jellyfish. If you have ever seen sponge bob,
this should make sense.

Friday night we slept at my Mom and Dad’s house. I never sleep well when I am not in my bed. I lay awake and tried to think of what we would name the baby, how we would decorate his room, what his baby book would be like, and how I would design his baby announcements. All the things you can’t think about until you know what the baby is. I came up with a color scheme for his room and baby blanket. I think I will use the same color scheme for his baby book. As far as his birth announcement, I have no idea yet.

My mom and I went shopping to Joann’s the first thing in the morning. I knew what I wanted and so it was a hard to find. I had decided to make a blanket that is light blue, cream, a slightly darker blue, and brown. I think I want to make a striped rag quilt but I am still not sure. Maybe I will put squares mixed with stripes.

We then went to My nephew Ethan’s 8^th b-day party. It was sponge bob and the kids had a blast. A lot of playing and candy, what more do kids need? We discovered that Joseph loves salt water taffy and Emma is a great sharer. Sarah saw that she had her Dad’s favorite candy in her bag and took it to him. I love when kids are thoughtful like that. I had a headache so we really didn’t get to visit like normal. It was still a nice little get away.

Joseph is finally starting to warm up to my Mom. He is so funny sometimes. He would even take things from her without thinking twice. That’s a big step for him. He had a snack when we got there Friday night and my Dad was sitting next to his booster seat. He would scoot far to the opposite side just to ensure he wouldn’t be touched. He can be so shy but he is starting to warm up to his grandparents.

My parents bought strawberries and oranges while we were there and we were blessed to be sent home with some. I made strawberry pie today and it was very good. Speaking of recipes I have a new favorite. It is Avocado Salsa and so good. We ate it with shrimp tacos but really it could go with any fish dish or just with chips.

Avocado Salsa:
1 small onion, quartered
1 jalapeno, quartered, seeds optional
1 garlic clove, smashed
4 medium tomatillos, (about 8 ounces) husked, rinsed, and coarsely chopped
1 Hass avocado, peeled, seeded, and cut into chunks
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped

Put the onion, jalapeno, and garlic in a food processor and finely chop. Add the tomatillos, avocado, and salt and pulse until chopped but still chunky. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the cilantro.

We still have not sold our house but I am still optimistic that it will sell soon. Do you know how stressful it can be to try to rush and make your house spotless when you hear someone wants to look at it right away? I consider myself a decent housekeeper but there are times of the day when it just isn’t so clean. Or there are just days when you have been running all day and the house has been neglected. Any normal person has those days. But when those days come and you hear that someone is right out front and would you mind if they came and took a peek, AHHHH! I do my best and have trust that Heavenly Father will take care of the rest, really, that’s all I can do.

Joshua Enoch

We got our ultrasound this weekend at it's a boy. Joshua Enoch . I love it. We have never done a 4-D ultrasound before at it was so neat. I love that you can see the embilical cord and everything! The nurse was so excited. She just kept saying over and over again, "It is obviously a boy, noone can mistake that fact." She gave us several pictures of his "boyness" The lady was very funny.He kept moving his hand back and forth in front of his face. To his left is the cord and
to the left of that is my abdominal wall. How cool is that?

I love this pic because you can see his toes so clearly. If you look carefully you can find his leg up above his toes and the ambilical cord at the top of that. To the right you can see where the cord connects to his tummy and then below that, HELLO, boy!

Jared asked how we new it was a boy. So I got out this pic and showed him his leg then pointed to what was in the middle and said, "See that? That's how you can tell." His response? "Oh."

Sweet little Joshua. You can see his little nose and mouth and spinal cord. So cool.

Serenity

This is my latest and I spent way to long on it. This picture was taken the day of our big family shoot by my sister-in-law Erynne. She did an awesome job. Credits? The only scrap item I used are the staples from shabby princess.This is dedicated to Shannon. She inspired me to make this list.

Simple Pleasures
1. Hearing my children laugh
2. When all of the clothes are clean and put away.
3. When you peek at your kids and they are acting tenderly towards each other.
4. Creating something that makes you feel good. Such as my latest layout.
5. Late night talks with Ryan
6. Truly connecting with friends
7. The words I love you
8. Snuggles with children
9. The perfect pair of jeans
10. Being submerged in a good book

Pet Peeves
1. Dirty socks and shoes on the floor
2. When you think someone is listening to what you have to say, but they really aren't
3. People who get mad at the drop of a hat and have a very, very hard time forgiving
4. The question being asked over and over again, "What's for dinner."
5. Name calling

Will I ever understand?

We are coming home from karate yesterday and Emma declares that she wants apple juice. She had just had an apple and drank apple juice before we left the house so I told her she could have water until dinnertime. What then followed was one of those experiences where you sit back and wonder what in the world is going on in their mind. She screamed for 10 minutes straight that she wanted apple juice. After no success in try to reason or distract her I ignored her, yet she still continued. But what I wonder is this, does she do it to drive my crazy and thus submit to her will? Tempting as that is, I know giving in only makes the next fit last even longer. Or, does she just really think I don't understand that she wants apple juice because if I understood I would give it to her. Or, my last thought is that she just gets so worked up and frustrated that she really doesn't know what else to do. She thinks, "Life is unfair and I am wronged because I can't have what I want when I want it." So she just says the same thing over and over again because she does not yet know how to express her feelings.

I choose to think it is the last. It is the easiest to forgive. I somehow found humor in the situation and Jared and I had a talk about why little kids do such silly things. What doesn't drive you crazy makes you stronger, Isn't that how the saying goes?

And for anyone wondering I just barely put my Christmas decorations away on Monday. Why would I rush to put them away when Joseph loves taking the ornaments off and scattering them all over the house?

Pure delight.

I really think that being a mom has perks no other job does. These kids can make you laugh in a way that you never thought possible. When you are single and involved with yourself you may laugh and it may be a full hearty all over laughter. But rarly does it stay with you for weeks or even months. and sometimes even years. What mom doesn't remeber the laughter they felt the first time they saw their child really laugh. I mean really laugh. The kind that makes their whole frame shake. Or when they finally figure out what a joke is and try to come up with their own never fully getting the concept. But I think my favorite is when they say something that really makes no sense at all yet they are sure they should be understood. I love this job I have been blessed with. We have decided to give the kids allowance that is not dependent on their doing their jobs. We explained to them that doing jobs is part of being in a family. I am hoping that by doing this they won't grow up asking, "How much do I get paid to do that?" I have tried many different things and when they get paid a set amount per job or group of jobs, anything like clearing their plate, they ask the "how much do I get for that" question. We have story time every night before bed. The kids can participate if their jobs are done other wise they have to spend that time finishing up what was left undone. While see if this works. It seems to be working so far.

We went garage sailing on Saturday and the girls got these dolls for 50 cents each. They seem to love them. The came with clothes and the girls will put them in their jammies or get them ready for church. I have two little mommies in the house. Precious.
Emma got the talking Dora house for her birthday and several extra rooms and pieces for Christmas. It is huge when they set up the whole thing. They don't like to do it when Joseph is around because he likes to play King Kong and knock it all down.
Joseph is my fashion child. He loves to put on every one else's clothes and especially their shoes. He gets so excited when I let him try on Jareds stuff. I took just him with me to the shoe store the other day and he had a blast. He tried on several heels and cried when I had to put them back. The funny things they do.


Just a little cute note while it is on my mind. Joseph has adopted a nickname for Emma. Emma and Jospeh have a special bond. They have the most time together and play really well. Emma was the first name he said that was very clear. He would pronounce the A at the end very clearly. Well, yesterday while we were at Gymnastics he was looking for Emma. He started calling out "Emmie, Emmie?" Then the rest of the day and all day today he has been calling her that. We don't call her that so I wonder where he came up with it. SO cute though. I love to watch their relationships develop.

My not so little, little boy.

I am dedicating this blog to my oldest son Jared. He got his picture taken in primary for his baptismal picture. Wait, what? That means he is going to be 8 this coming year. I don't think I am fully ready to be the mom of a n 8 year old.

The age 7 has brought so many new things. My little man is growing up before my eyes. There are times he does things that are very grown up. Like take care of his little brother. Today he got Joseph from nursery and got Emma from her church class. When I found them they were walking towards my class holding hands. HE likes to get Joseph out of bed in the morning and they will play in their room for awhile. They have a special bond. He also likes to play mediator with his sisters. Not always in the most gracious way, but he tries. He will recount stories to me and explain the moral or point with great clarity, he understands right from wrong and will tell me about things the kids do at school and how he recognizes how silly or wrong they are being. He manages to handle his problems with grace. A few weeks ago a boy was picking on him and he didn't fight back or act meanly towards this boy. We talked about it and he said we should pray for the boy. As it turns out this little boy watched his mom die last Christmas season. So we were very understanding of why he might be having a rough time. As an adult that would be hard for me to handle. Jared tries to help his siblings do what they should, not always with grace. He doesn't require the same kind of disciplining or reprimanding that the other children do. He mostly knows what he is supposed to do and he does it. I had to take a privilege away from him a few weeks ago and I realized how long it had been since I had to really discipline him.

Now on the flip side, age seven has brought some not so pleasant changes. He no longer sees the need to shower, and if he does shower, why wash your hair or body? Right? And change clothes or wear PJ's, that just takes to much time out of what he really wants to do. And did I forget to mention the biggest one of all, he really truly has learned the art of teasing. He has master what makes his sister tick and how to get under their skin with out me seeing. This is one thing I have never fully understood. Why do all children feel the need to tease each other. I remember my brothers doing it to me and I watch my nephews and Ryan's family. They all do it, just with their own style. He loves to leave his backpack and shoes every where and any where but where they should be. I told him if he did it again I was going to through his stuff away. Well, he did and I hid his stuff. I think I shook him up pretty good and hopefully he won't do that anymore. I had an idea tonight. If it happens again I will take away his stuff and charge him 25 cents to get them back. Maybe then we won't have to worry about it.

The point of all this you wonder? Basically to say that I love watching them grow up. I love the different stages and there are always things you are glad they leave behind. My mom said that to me once, "Every stage brings wonderful new adventures and traits you never miss." It helps me to not be so sad when I realize they have grown out of a stage I love. Jared seems not to need me so much and wants much more to do with his dad. They have spent much more time together and it is good. But I do miss my little baby needing me. He still likes to talk with me and tell me everything that is going on in his world but I can see him searching for dad's approval so much more.

My other point to all this is to give mom's a glimpse forward. I remember when Emma was born. I felt so overwhelmed with three little people, (Jared just turning three,) needing so much from me. I wondered at my own abilities. At that age you truly are everything to them. You provide for every want and need. It is a blessing but sometimes it feels as though life will always be just a little challenging. Then they grow up a little and you miss that. You miss being able to just kiss the sadness away. Enjoy the tantrums, laugh at them. Realize this is not who they are it is just them trying to figure out this confusing world. Snuggle them while they let you.

Ok, enough of that. I sound like I am sending one of my children off to college. I guess what stemmed all of this was an e-mail I got form my Aunt Carol. She was telling me about her children growing up and I asked her if it was hard to see them get married and her reply was, "When my children were little it never occurred to me that they weren't actually mine! You hear the old saying that they are just lent to you, but you don't really comprehend it during that stage in your life." These precious ones are Heavenly Fathers children first. And then ours. Hard to remember that sometimes.

I get very sentimental when I am expecting a new little one.

Here is my little man.

And just a few other pictures.

Aren't we the cutest? When I cut my bangs I had several people tell me how much we look alike. She looks like pictures of me at that age. I love it!

The next set of pictures are of the new guest room. Emma and Sarah wanted to sleep with each other so often that I thought we would try having them share a room again. So with about $20 I changed Emma's room into a quest room. I made all the pillows and put in different pictures in the frames. Changed the ribbon hanging on the wall and changed the accessories on the shelf. We had all pink in there But I didn't have a pink king bedspread. Thus the few changes.
Both of these dolls were presents from each Grandma.

The shells on the shelf were a gift from a couple we know who just got back from a mission to Africa. She brought those shells from the shores there. How thoughtful!

We did put in box springs and a frame. We had to clean out our storage room to get to it first. Another New Years resolution started.

You can't really tell but the pictures have the cutest scrapbook paper that matches the ribbon. They also have flowers in them.