Weekend

We're back. We're alive. We're tired. I always love spending a weekend at the HEB foundation, and this year was no exception. I had amazing women with me, and the girls were fantastic. I am tired, my knee hurts, and I think that I could sleep for days. But it was worth it, and a lot of fun. Carl came, made the fires, did the heavy and hard stuff, and then took off with the boys to do fun stuff. They loved it. I'll blog more later - here are some cute pictures of my kids! Notice they are all up in something - that's my kids! Climbers!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Can you believe this is one of the only pictures that I have with my mom? But the one of her and Carlye sure is cute! I hope you have the most wonderful birthday - we love you so much, and are so blessed to have you as our Mom and Grandma!

They didn't have those when I was growing up!

Today, my daughter and I were driving home from church when she began inquiring about getting her very own personal cell phone.

"How old do I have to be before I can have one, mom?"

"I don't know, I'll have to talk to your daddy about it," I said, hoping to buy myself some time.

"Well, how old were you when you got a cell phone?" she queried.

"Ummm, late 20's I think?"

"Wow - you're parents were mean!"

"No," I told her, "they just didn't really have cell phones when I was growing up."

"Nuh-uh, you've gotta be jokin?"

Sadly, I am not. i also listened to cassette tapes. And no, I am NOT old, it's just that my generation invented all the cool stuff. So there.

This weekend I am again taking a group of 40 girls to the HEB foundation for our 2nd annual Princess Academy Camping trip. Carlye has graduated to the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade dorm, and for the first time ever is not going to be in my room. When I told her this, my independent, doesn't ever want to be around her mommy daughter started to cry. Which made me so happy! I know, I know, I'm a horrible person, but I LOVE that my daughter still wants to be in my room. Of course, I have all of the other fears as well, such as the fact that I may have stifled her independence or smothered her into being unable to do things on her own. But then I figure, that my house is big enough that she and her husband and their family can all come and live with us anyway, so it'll be fine.

Oh, and we have two too many in the older girls dorms, so Carlye (out of the kindness of her heart) is going to give up her bed and come to my dorm. She is such a giver. I'm just so proud.

And she'll be sharing a bed with her cousin, Cassie.

Let it snow!

Sadly, my oldest children still had to go to school today. That didn't stop Noah and Victoria from trouncing Carl in a snow ball fight, though! Noah hit Carl right in the face! The smooshy, fast kind of snowball that hits you no matter what you do, and falls apart and gets under your coat and shirt. Carl says Noah won - Victoria says she did!

Wonderful Weekend

My husband and I went away for the weekend for a little bit of R&R, and it was wonderful. I read somewhere that in order to have a healthy marriage while raising your children you should go on a 'date' (time alone, wether at home or not) once a week, and find time away for a night or two at least every three or four months. We have tried our hardest to do this. It doesn't always work out, but it is a definite priority, and our marriage is the better for it. It is so easy to get busy and disconnected as you run here and there and take care of this and work on that. This weekend was wonderful. It was so much fun to spend time with my best friend, just the two of us. Before we left, Carlye and Nathanael told Carl that they "like our house (I think they meant home/family). You and mommy go away cause you love each other, so you won't ever get divorced. And we have fun while you're gone."

Very wise from such young ones! And hopefully we've modeled something that they will remember and take with them into their marriages as well!

One thing that we learned this weekend is that A&E has the most bizarre commercials of any station we have ever watched. Seriously, we were watching Criminal Minds and the commercials had us laughing hysterically. Hand weights that shake, exercise videos that for $1 more will let you try a stripper pole in your home for 30 days, and another exercise video called "Mama wants her body back." I didn't think that Criminal Minds was a show targeted towards women, but apparently the people who buy commercial spots do. Just a little FYI - I don't want to try your products. Well, maybe the stripper pole :).......

Nathanael

My middle child is an amazing child, and this week his daddy and I were reminded why many, many times.

He has been working really hard to earn AR points at school. Reading is hard for him, so these points are difficult for him to earn. There is a store where they can use their points to buy things. So far this year he has bought something for all of his siblings and his cousin Cassie. Then on Tuesday he jumped in the car, "Mom, can we go see....oh, good, you're her Victoria. Look what I got you!" He had bought something for her as well. Thankfully this time he had also purchased a cool sports eraser for himself (I don't want him to think he doesn't deserve things as well). "Colton is the only one I have left to buy something for, and I already know what I want to get him!"

Last year at the beginning of the year some little boys beat Nathanael up when he defended a girl they were picking on. This year, one of those little boys - Tyreq - is his best friend. "He's getting nice mom, and I tell him about Jesus, too."

"Mom, last night before bed I read the best Bible verse. I saved it so I could show you and Daddy. And guess what, my book says that you are supposed to read the Bible to your kids every day, especially little boys (Carl reads to us every night). And, did you know you should pray for me every day to have good words?"

When he set the table he gave the special day plate to his sister, who had been mean to him all day (okay, his whole life), and was the first to say something nice about her.

When Carlye cried about it being her turn to walk Emmy he quietly went into her room, picked up Emmaline and took her for a walk.

When his Nani gave him a dollar, he saved it to give to his daddy for Valentines Day. He's often used his dollars to "buy dinner for the whole family all myself" and has also been known to take the whole amount and throw it in the offering bucket without blinking.

He rarely asks for anything for himself, can't stand to see others hurting, and is very concerned when people don't have something they need. His teacher said that he is the most caring in the class. "If someone doesn't have something it won't bother the others, but it will bother Nathanael. He'll give them his if he can."

That's my boy. And while we are doing the best we can to raise him, he mostly just came that way.

We are so blessed!

'sigh'

My baby brought home a 'very important paper - Mom, you've got to read it' a couple of days ago. It was the paper announcing that it is time to register our kids for Children's Day Out next year.

It made me cry.

I have 5 1/2 months left before my baby goes to kindergarten, and this chapter in my life - their lives - closes.

And for the first time in 9 years I will not be working at, nor will I have a child, at Children's Day Out.

Chapter 2........






Soccer mom! (J/K - we play the piano and tennis and football!)

In Honor

In honor of changing our diet and eating healthy my body gifted me with 6 extra pounds.

They look great on me.

In honor of eating more healthy foods and trying various vegetables Noah has chosen to fast.

I believe that he is attempting to go 40 days and 40 nights being with milk has his only form of sustenance. And one or two 'no thank you' bites.

In honor of taking the junk food out of the house my husband informed me that most men would starve to death in less than 24 hours at our house.

He looks fine to me.

In honor of limiting sugar in our house Carlye and Nathanael brought home an entire candy store on Friday after their Valentine's Day Parties.

I ate the skittles and threw the rest away.

Finished Bathroom

My bathroom is finally finished. Here are some pictures. Thank you baby!



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Our Golden Valentines Day

Okay, so that's not really a term. But since this is our 14th Valentines Day together, and Valentines Day is on the 14th, this is our Golden Valentines Day! In honor, I will do what I always do - make a list of my 14 favorite things that we've done together (in no particular order)!!

1) Built sandcastles on our honeymoon
2) Had 3 beautiful children (and yes, together - he was there every step of the way through their completely natural births!)
3) Built our house - with our own two hands!
4) Spent my first Mothers Day in Colorado, fishing and hiking. Beautiful!
5) 2 Road trips to Utah
6) Road trip to Vegas (I LOVE road trips!)
7) Couples massage at the Hyatt - yep that ranks right up there!
8) Running together - even though I am 'broken' right now, I LOVE running with my hubby!
9) Surprise picnics on the ranch that Carl has planned
10) Date days!
11) Reading our Bibles and praying together
12) Alaskan Cruise
13) Fishing in Alaska, with a picnic on a private island where they made my rockfish into gumbo and served hot chocolate and bread pudding!
14) Whale watching in Alaska

Happy Valentines Day! I love you, and all of my little valentines, too!

Healthy Eating at Home - or I Don't Love My Children Any More

This week we have done really well with the healthy eating. And I have even been able to wake up early enough to cook my kiddos breakfast every day!! Thank you, no applause necessary. I'm just doing my job.

My children are also enjoying all of the new foods that we are trying in our quest for healthier eating - well, once I've gotten them to try the food they usually do. However, they are not leaping for joy at the opportunity that they now have to try these new and exciting foods. Or, old and boring foods cooked in a new and exciting way. For example, when I made the roasted green beans with shrimp I thought that my sea food loving family would jump for joy. They did not. I didn't even get a half hearted hop. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure it was a very exaggerated limp that was being used to get to the dinner table.

But earlier, as I was preparing dinner, my daughter came in the kitchen to talk to me.

"What's for dinner mom?"

"Shrimp," I answered with a smile, as I continued seasoning the fresh green beans that I had just snapped into perfect little bite size pieces.

Immediately, Carlye sagged against the wall, a perfectly forlorn look upon her face. Silently, she stared at me for a few moments with tragedy filled eyes. When that failed to illicit the desired response from me she sighed loudly. Then, with sorrow dripping from every word, she whispered, "Did you even think about me at all before you did that?"

Shocked at being foiled in my attempt to destroy my children's lives, I added double the amount of shrimp that the recipe called for.

Just to spite everyone.

So there.

Warning!

This is a public service announcement from the National Mothers Warning Other Mothers Association (or NMWOMA).

Seemingly harmless and tidy piles of clothes, or clothes on hangers lying nicely on the backs of couches, have reportedly been flinging themselves violently around innocent living rooms. This extremely dangerous behavior happens quickly and with little warning. Alarmingly enough, young children tend to be present during these barbaric outbursts, and are, sadly, unable to restrain the agitated articles of clothing. If your house is being remodeled and there are no closets to place the said perpetrators in, then there seems to be no hope of catching and stopping these arbitrary acts of destruction.

Be warned.

And be safe.

Ahhhhhhhhhh!

Guess What?

My life is absolutely crazy right now.

Guess Why?

'Cause I don't like to say no or let people down.

What am I Doing?

Covering a gazillion Valentines Day boxes and getting ready for 2 - count them - 2 parties tomorrow.

Know what else?

I'm becoming a BIG fan of not allowing parties in school.


Ha-ha, just kidding.

I think.

Nuggets of Wisdom

My children have been full of nuggets of wisdom this week. I feel enlightened just having been in the same room as them. Tonight for dinner I made a delicious lasagna with zucchini instead of pasta. My family actually liked it! When Noah sat down at the table he shrieked with delight and pronounced that this was his favorite. To this my oldest responded:
"Noah, its NOT what you think. Momma put bikini in the masagna."

Last night the boys slept upstairs in the loft because we are now remodeling their room. Carl was concerned that if they woke up during the night one of them might fall down the stairs, so he left a light on for them. This morning they informed us that they had been up all night long, and to PLEASE never do that again. I asked Nathanael why he didn't turn off the light himself. His nugget of wisdom?
"Because, mom, you told us not to get off of our beds."
Of course. I should have known that their complete and total obedience should have kept them from sleeping.

While moving the boys beds out of their rooms yesterday I discovered a trove of indescribable treasures. In Noah's bed alone there were 12 stuffed animals, 25 Webkins, and 1 Incredible Hulk. 6 books, including Edwina the Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct, and 4 rocks - excuse me, pieces of flint. When I questioned my youngest he said:
"I keep the Webkinz because I love them, my books so I can read them at night, the flint so that I don't lose it, and one of my Webkinz because it is SO cool."

Of course.

On a side note, I began running again yesterday. And yes, I can still do a 10 minute mile. Apparently I can also do the 'ouch my knee hurts so badly I can't climb up the stairs to get in and out of my house or into my bedroom.' Yep, my knee spazzed out. Stay tuned to see if it gets better or if I actually have to cave and go back to the doctor. The last nugget of wisdom I gleaned from my children?

"Mom, it doesn't hurt that bad."

Thank you. That's really good to know.

Confessions of a Thief

Yep, I did. I TOTALLY stole this idea from my baby sister. And I'm not even that sorry, because look at how cute they turned out! Kids Valentines Day Cards for class party - check!

You can go to my sis's blog here to see the real deal. The reason the boys are holding their hands out are because I will cut holes and slide lollipops into the picture so it looks as though they are holding them in their hands. Thank you Heather - you rock!!!

Quick Note

Healthy is NOT what you weigh! Everyone needs to feel comfortable in their own skin. If you eat right and exercise the scale doesn't and shouldn't matter. I don't even get on anymore!!! DO NOT FEEL PRESSURE TO BE ANYONE OTHER THAN YOU!! Cause that's who you're made to be!

A Really Long Post

I am a lazy person by nature. Technically, I'm sure most of us are. I would rather sit and read than go and do something, I would rather pick up food at a restaurant than cook, I would rather throw away all our clothes and start over again every week than wash them (Just Kidding! Well sorta....), and I have learned to really enjoy sleeping late.

I have also learned that this isn't the best thing for me.

You see, last summer I weighed in at 147 lbs, which may not see like a big deal, but I am only just barely 5'5" (okay, a tall 5'4"), so this is pretty heavy for me. Not that I really cared that much. I've always believed (and still do) that beauty is on the inside, and so what I looked like on the outside didn't really matter. And, technically, it doesn't. But something happened that slowly began waking me up to the fact that eating right and exercising is about more than what you look like.

Carl and I had always wanted 4 kids. And we faithfully planned and produced those children safely until Noah. His pregnancy was chock full of complications, and so was his birth. Undaunted, we still planned on having our 4 children. 3 miscarriages later our doctor said something that I will never forget - "You are having a hard time carrying your babies because of the extra weight that you are carrying." At the time, I was thrilled to be pregnant because it would HIDE the extra weight I was carrying and prevent me from having to work to lose it (laziness!!!).

I then began a crash diet, and successfully lost quite a bit of weight, but got tired - and lazy - and it fizzled out. I kept off what I had lost, but never went below 147 lbs. No biggie, right?

Then, I started having health issues. They thought they were going to have to do a hysterectomy, and were also concerned that I may have lupus. I was tested for lupus, and informed that I fell in a gray area in between having lupus and not having lupus, and they really didn't know what that meant. If I went through with the hysterectomy I would have to take hormones - and no one loves me when I'm on hormones. No one.

Out of laziness, we again put everything off.

Then, I had a friend give me the gift of working out. At the time, I thought that it was a horrid gift, but I couldn't be more thankful now. I have lost 17 lbs, and I'm down to 130. And I haven't had any health issues in the time I have been working out. I actually feel better.

But things still have to change. I still wake up late at least half of the time and pick up McDonalds or Doughnut Palace for my kids for breakfast. I'll buy processed foods at the store out of convenience. And I find myself taking the easy route and cooking pasta or pizza for dinner when I do cook - or just going out to eat.

"What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" 1 Corinthians 6:19

So, here we go. My family is going to eat healthy. I will give my daughter the tools to take care of her body, and eat healthy foods for her health, not for her looks. All of my children will be equipped with the tools that they need to live healthy and long lives, enjoying them to the fullest, and my husband (as far as I can help it) will NOT have high cholesterol. We will have pizza with Portabella Mushroom caps instead of bread. We will use spaghetti squash for pasta, and not have any more white flour substances in our house. We will start swapping the unhealthy for the healthy, and I will start waking up early enough to feed my family a healthy meal EVERY day instead of randomly.

And I will run a marathon as soon as my knee is better. I should get to start running again by the end of this month!!!!

Oh, and I will not be a food Nazi. My kids will still get to eat birthday cake at parties, and cookies occasionally at school - they just won't be in the house! :)


So there you have it. You will be hearing from me about what we eat and how well it is received. I should be able to write a book on Noah's responses alone! Happy Healthy Eating!

The Stock Show (or A Great Excuse for Kids to Say the Word Poop)

Noah petting a yorkie (pig that is!)



Noah sticking his finger up his nose to 'keep the smell out'


A few weeks ago I went with my youngest son's class to the Stock Show. I learned several very important things.

1) 4 and 5 yr olds LOVE the Stock Show
2) The reason that they love it is because they have free reign to say the word poop as much as they want to, without getting in trouble.
3) Even though they will notice all of the poop in the entire barn, point it on and comment on it, they will COMPLETELY miss the poop right in front of them and step in it.
4) When you step in poop you are instantly and simultaneously admired and regarded as disgusting by all of your 4 and 5 yr old peers.
5) My son does not remember the pigs, sheep or steer that we saw, but he CAN tell you the color of all the different piles of poop he came into contact with. Oh, and the pig who pooped while getting a bath. That was deemed hilarious.
6) I'm so glad that I get to rest for a year before I do it again!!

Twirling

Who Do You Look Like?

A couple of my cousins are doing this celebrity look alike thing. The only celebrity I have ever been told that I look like is Jennie Garth when she was on 90210. I don't really know if that's a compliment or not! And let me just say, it was incredibly difficult to find a modest picture of her on that show!!!

A Special Day

This Sunday two of my beautiful children were baptized. It was an amazing day, and Carl and I are so aware of what incredible children we have. Nathanael is ALWAYS thinking of others, reading his Bible, and doing his best to be the mighty man that God has called him to be. He is always the first in the car on Sundays, the first to quote scripture, and the first to turn to prayer in sticky situations. Carlye told me earlier this week that she knows that Heavenly Father has told her that she is going to do something very special when she grows up, she just doesn't know what it is yet. She told me that it's a really neat feeling to know that there is a special plan just for her.

Rollerama

On Saturday we went to a double birthday party at the Rollerama. I had never heard of the Rollerama, and being exceptionally gifted at roller skating, I was incredibly excited about this particular birthday party.

My joy was somewhat dampened by the 45 minute drive to the roller rink. However, once I arrived, I realized that it was totally worth it.

My children and both of my nieces strapped on their skates and headed for the floor. It didn't take anyone very long to realize that if you valued your life - or your balance - you should stay far, far away from these children. As a mom, I was completely shocked, though, at my children's lack of balance and coordination. At their age I could effortlessly skate and perform the entire Sisters song and routine from the movie White Christmas, and so could my sisters. We performed it often in our drive way, much to the joy of all of our neighbors. I'm surprised we didn't end up in a musical somewhere. Truly! We contained a prodigious amount of roller skating skill. Which I sadly (and surprisingly) did not pass on to any of my offspring.

After MANY bumps and bruises, along with a lot of laughs, we came home. After 3 hours my children really were no better than when they began, but are insistent that we return soon. There is something to be said for dogged determination, though. My children were even willing to forego hot dogs and lemonade to keep skating!

Princess Ball 2010

Carl and I head up the Children's Ministry at our church, and one of our programs is called Princess Academy. This program is for girls in Pre-K (4 yrs) up to 5th grade, with 4 classes within the program. Last year we began the tradition of having a formal ball for the girls. Only parents, grandparents, etc. are invited - and absolutely NO BOYS are allowed. During the ball there is a formal banquet, and several of the girls are presented with a tiara and a Bible. In order to earn their tiara's they must be faithful to attend class, memorize scripture, and perform service projects. This year the girls raised money and shopped for the food pantry, filled a Big Brothers Big Sisters stocking, sang and visited at the nursing home on several occasions, and more. Almost 200 people attended this year, and it was so much fun! The girls danced with their daddy's to Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman, and they danced with their mommy's (yes we did) to I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack. It was wonderful, and I am so blessed to have been a part of it! Here are some fun pictures:

Deborah, Jodi and I:


This doesn't really do them justice, but we made BEAUTIFUL chocolate covered strawberries for dessert - there were also cupcakes, but they weren't as amazing!:


Nani watching the dancing:


Some of the girls dancing:



April, Jodi and I and all of our girls:


Carlye and Cassie:


Carlye and I:



Mommy and Daddy with their little princess:

Internet Abandonment

I'M BACK!!! Did you miss me? For some inexplicable reason our internet was turned off - including email. Carl had paid the bill, but by the time we noticed on Friday there was no one at the office to help us. Soooo, we had to wait all weekend, and just now it came back on! Aren't you glad? Carl laughed because I had internet withdrawals (mostly blog withdrawals, but what do ya do?) and has threatened to disconnect our internet so that he sees me more (haha!). I do, however, have much to post. I would do it now, but my lap top is inaccessible at the moment, and it has all of my snazzy pictures on it. Here is what you have to look forward to, though:

1) Pictures from the wonderful and amazing Princess Ball
2) Pictures (and maybe even video) from my children's trip to the Rollerama
3) Pictures (hopefully) of Carlye and Nathanael's baptism on Sunday
4) And in all of the above you should get some glimpse of my haircut

In other news, the remodel is going well, and hopefully I will have pictures to post of the bathrooms before the end of the week. The house has been painted, and as soon as they finish the trim and the driveway I will take pictures from outside to post. Next week we will start on the boys room, and they are SO excited because they get to sleep upstairs in the loft while the wood floors are being put in and the walls are being painted. Such simple joys. I can pretty much garauntee I would NOT be as excited about sleeping in the office, but maybe that's just me. Everyone is doing well in school, and Carlye has hit 100 AR points at school - so she did get her Accelerated Reader shirt. She's on the last Fablehaven book, and has gotten into quite a bit of trouble for telling portions to her brothers. Noah has had nightmares for a week now, and I had to have the "just because you're old enough to know this is pretend doesn't mean they are old enough to know it's pretend SO STOP TELLING THEM THE STORY OR I WON'T LET YOU READ IT" talk with her. Thankfully, it worked, and the scary story telling has come to an end. Well, my bread is beeping, so I better go. More to come......