Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Mom! This is Nathanael's favorite picture of you and Daddy, so it's the one I posted. We love you so much and hope you have an amazing birthday!



"Happy Birthday, Grandma! We miss you, we hope you have fun. I wish you were here with us." Love, Nathanael

"Happy Birthday! I love you, we really miss you a lot." Love, Noah

"Happy Birthday, Grandma. You're the best grandma ever. I love you." Love, Carlye

Conclusion

I don't like eating healthy, I don't like working out, and I don't like not being able to walk up and down my stairs or get in and out of the bathtub without my legs and stomach muscles going into spasms. Seriously, I could drown in the bath tub while trying to wash my hair and not have the strength to sit up or pull myself up with my spaghetti arms.

So sad.

My first book review!

Tandem
By Tracey Bateman
I didn't know what to expect with this book, and - overall - I was very impressed with the writing and originality of the story. I didn't know that it was about vampires (since this was a Christian book I didn't expect that), but I thought that Tracey Bateman's take on this overdone hyped up topic was original and refreshing. I loved the originality of the issues that she dealt with in her book and I went from laughing to crying to being offended to finding resolution all in the space of one day. I didn't realize this was a sequel though, and have decided to find the first one and read it. I felt that there were portions that were difficult to understand or that just didn't make sense at first, and that was probably because I didn't have the background from the first book. Final word? Well written, captivating and overall an easy and enjoyable read.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

George Washington (again) and the Spurs game!

First try for a picture of the two of us:

There, this one is a little better (I think?):



Carl and I were given tickets to the Spurs game last night - and it was AWESOME! It was their first game since the Rodeo Road Trip, and so the energy was high. On top of that our seats were phenomenal! I've never been able to sit that close! The game was stressful - they were tied with only a minute left, but we pulled it out in the end! Go Spurs Go!

It was a wonderful date, and I had so much fun with my hubby!

It was brought to my attention that you couldn't view the video of Nathanael, so here we are trying again!

Carlye's story and George Washington

Carlye has been writing stories at school, and I am so proud of them that I asked her to start putting them on her blog. She posted her first one today, so please go and read it and leave a comment. It will mean the world to her! Also, I included a little video of Nathanael. He was George Washington tonight in his school play. We are so proud of our little man!

Carlye's Corner

New Experiences

Friday was a day of new experiences for me.

It started off in a flurry of straight irons and blueberry muffins and children who were late, moving slowly and incredibly forgetful.

After I dropped them off at school I felt as though there was something I needed to do, but then decided it was just because I had been rushing all morning and needed to calm down. In an effort to manage my time well I decided to run to Wal-Mart and pick up a few things we needed.

Okay, my main motivation was the fact that I had run out of deodorant and had to wear Carl's, but still....

So, while I'm in Wal Mart one of my friends calls me, and I realize:

I have a horrible memory and I am a bad friend!

I was supposed to watch my friends little girl, Jasmine, on Friday while she was at work. I forgot all about it, and now she was sitting at her work, with her daughter, waiting for me. I felt super smart.

Later on in the day I was at lunch with one of my dear friends, Penny, and (of course) Jasmine. In times past when I've kept Jasmine she's fallen asleep during lunch because it tends to happen during her nap time. Because of this I was not alarmed when she laid her head down on the table and went to sleep. The waitress was, though, and took the opportunity to tell me that I was a bad mom. I promptly responded that I wasn't her mom. (So there). Feeling badly for Jasmine, I picked her up and cuddled her while I ate and she slept.

Then, something happened to me that has never, ever, ever happened to me before.

Jasmine opened her eyes, looked at me and threw up all over me. Everywhere. And it was pink. And there was a lot of it. And it was running down my legs and into my shoes (I was wearing a skirt). And now the snotty waitress was going to think she was right and that I brought a sick kid out to eat and that really bothered me!

I didn't know how to handle this. So, with Penny's help, I cleaned her up, managed to get the bill paid, and left the restaurant.

I cannot tell you, though, how thrilling it was to walk out with bright pink vomit all over the child I'm carrying, my shirt, my skirt, and running down my leg. I don't know if I can every go back to Cracker Barrell again. Seriously, I'm not kidding you. I believe with all my heart that the true walk of shame is walking out of a restaurant covered in vomit.

No really, I do.

The day continued to get better from there. Carlye had an awards ceremony at school that I didn't want to miss. I dashed home, rinsed off, and changed clothes only to discover that my jeans (which are supposed to be 4x too big for me) weren't really that big anymore. Stupendous.

Then, no one sat with me at the awards assembly. And yes, most of them knew me. No, really, it's like being in middle school again and not sitting at the cool kids table.

Then, my daughter was bumped off of Honor Roll because she had a N in self organization and preparation. So, it looked as though I attended an awards ceremony for no reason. Which, I guess, I did. I mean, no one related to me received a certificate, and I was there, so I guess that makes me the weird mom that attends awards ceremony's that her children aren't in. It made it even more fun to see my baby girl sitting there with big tears in her eyes trying not to cry in front of her friends. Awesome.

I met with her teacher afterward and discussed the issue. She said that Carlye is doing great scholastically, but isn't organized. An N always bumps you off honor roll, no matter what. Carlye had lost her folder (they get one a year) and has also left her backpack at home quite frequently. I explained to her teacher that we are trying to teach her personal responsibility, so that's why we don't come running up there to school every time she forgets to bring something. She said that she completely understands. On the way out Mrs. Cruce told Carlye not to forget to bring her violin home.

"Oh, I forgot to bring mine today," Carlye said.

Touche.

Spring is Springing......maybe

It has been beautiful this week! 60's and 70's outside, sunshine, and I have been so inspired that I have actually started planning my garden. I love this weather.

Carl does NOT love this weather.

"You know, it's funny," he told me, "so many people get depressed during the winter. It's cold, windy, there's no sun shine and often clouds. Me, well, I get depressed when the sun starts to shine too much, the humidity goes up and I start to sweat. This is a sad, sad time."

I knew there was something wrong with him before, but I never dreamed that it was THIS serious.

We should all take a moment and pray for him.


And me - he keeps turning on the air conditioner and I am literally freezing to death in my own home.

Happy Valentines Day!

In honor of Valentines Day I usually come up with tons of little projects that will make a teacher smile just as big as a store bought valentine would but guarantee that I go to bed at midnight barely finishing everything and with a sore back.

This year I did WAY better - I was only up until 10:40.

First, we made home made Valentines. Same style as last year, a picture of my kids holding their hands out and then I cut out an opening and stick in a sucker or a pencil or a tiny heart shaped drum (that's what Noah picked). This is, by the way, totally my sister Heather's fault. She thought of it (or copied it) last year.

Then, I worked on my assignments that each room mom had given me.

Cheese, sausage and crackers for Noah's class - check
3 red plastic table cloths for Nathanael's class - check
Cookies for Carlye's class that I decided to bake fresh and place home made chocolate covered strawberries on top of - not yet
Teacher gifts (chocolate covered strawberries) - not yet

So, I washed some beautiful long stem strawberries and laid them out to dry:


Then I put the sugar cookies in the oven to bake:


Dipped the strawberries in chocolate (and pink candy coating!):



Then I dribbled with the other color and wa-la - beautiful strawberries!:


Next I iced the cookies with a pretty fluffy icing, which didn't go well so I smushed the icing and spread it around with a knife. I placed one strawberry on each cookie and then sprinkled non-pareils on the left over cookies.



The teachers gifts turned out super cute! However, I chose not to take a picture of the perfectly adorable paper boxes that housed the equally yummy chocolate covered strawberries. Why? I have no idea!

For my hubby I super-sized a picture that I had taken when we went on our Alaskan cruise for our 10 year anniversary (almost 5 years ago!). It is one of his favorite pictures, and he says that he loves it!


So, Happy Valentines Day! Celebrate the people you love and those who love you! Make memories, eat candy for dinner and laugh with your children. Celebrate love - it is the greatest gift we can give and the most valuable gift we will ever receive.

Yesterday

Yesterday was a hard day. It seemed as though bad news came from every direction. Life can be so unbelievable at times. People who fight for their right and desire to live every day - when the odds are stacked against them, and then there are others who simply do not. Some days pain can be everywhere you look, permeating every step that you take, every person whose eyes gaze into yours. Sometimes things don't make sense, and sometimes - even though you think that you know what the words are that you should say - you are unable or incapable of saying them.

A little girl that I taught lost her daddy yesterday. No one really understands how or why. Children will now grow up without their father. A wife is left dealing with tragedy.

All we can do is pray for them.

And I am so thankful that we can pray.

Yet, even though it's the most and best thing that we can do, sometimes it just doesn't feel like enough. But it is. It always is.

To My Sisters, Cousins and Friends

Happy Valentines Day! May you watch this and laugh hysterically (the hysterics will be because we are so exhausted) and may your husbands watch it and get inspired. Love you all!


I don't know why it's putting 2 videos up there - I keep editing it and changing it and in preview it is fine, but then it does this out here. Oh, well - you only have to watch one (unless you want stereo - haha!)

Bad Weather Day!

My children's faith in the power of prayer has been strengthened due to the fact that it 'snowed' just enough last night to cause the powers that be to cancel school. The day has been spent exploring the creek (things are so much cooler when they are frozen), playing battleship against each other on Webkinz world, and then trekking up to Nani's house to visit their cousin Victoria.

I also discovered that you can use the iBook app from iTunes on an iPod touch. It's free, and there are many, many, many free books (that I have already read!) that I was able to download for Carlye.

PLUS! I was able to download a Kindle app (for free) onto my phone. THEN, I was able to download the Scarlet Pimpernell (for free) onto it as well.

What a great day!!!

Oh - and Angry Birds has a Valentines Day version! Nothin' says lovin' like blowing up pigs shaped like peas!

A Noah Day

Today, Noah wore two left shoes to school. One that fit and one that was two sizes too big. They were the same color, though.

He also had a pair of underwear fall out of his jeans while waiting to be picked up from school. He thought it was hilarious.

Then, a few hours after he had gone to bed he came and told me that he was done cleaning his room.

I wish that I could clean in my sleep.


I'm pretty sure that I could go without the rest, though.

Best Super Bowl Commercial!

Noah runs around using the force ALL the time. His favorite place is any time we are in front of a motion activated door. He always has to use the force to open the door for me before we can go in our out. So, obviously, I LOVED this commercial!

Because you asked

For those of you who wanted to know, our invalid is doing well. He is being spoiled rotten by his entire family and waited on hand and foot. The kids bought him several movies to watch while he is taking it easy - Inception, The A-Team, RED, and Iron Man 2. He has been in more pain than other people suggested he would be, but I think it's because of the cauterization - most everyone else we know just had theirs cut and tied. Everything went well.

Hmmmm, that seems like a really odd thing to say.

So there is your report on Carl.

Cheering up?

I can only assume that my children's behavior this morning was for the sole purpose of cheering me up and helping me to realize that I would never - on purpose - want any more children if the ones that I already have are going to act like this!!! Either that or aliens abducted them and sent evil robot children to take their place. I'm not sure which.

First of all, Noah woke up before 6:00 this morning. Just because. When I sent him back to his room he spent the next hour banging the buttons on his quilt against his bed frame in an attempt to wake up Nathanael to talk to him. At 6:30 Carlye began screaming for Nathanael and Noah repeatedly. When I made it into her bedroom she informed me that there was a mouse and she wanted them to come and get it. At this point I was so irritated I told all of them to get up and start getting ready for school. Upon the revelation that there was indeed school, and no, it didn't snow last night like 'they' said it would, two of my children completely fell apart. Stomping their feet and crying they did their best to project their feelings about the injustices of the world onto the rest of us. Adding insult to injury, we had Maple and Brown Sugar Malt-o-Meal for breakfast (in a feeble attempt on the mom's part to put warm food into her children before they trekked out into the 17 degree weather), which is quite clearly poisonous to 6 year old boys. The morning finale was a series of events, including throwing a fit about having your hair put in a pony tail, fighting with your brother over who's hat is whose and where they are, gasping in disappointment at the lunch that has been packed for you and flinging yourself out the door when it is time for you to walk your dog.

It was lovely.

I'm going back to bed.

I'm sad

I can't sleep very well right now because I am sad. Today my husband is going to go in for a procedure that will, in essence, make it impossible for us to biologically have any more children. I am heart broken.

Please understand, we have prayed about this. We know it is the right thing to do. I mean, Noah is only 6 years old and I have had 5 miscarriages since he was born. It is quite obvious that I cannot have any more children - and I can't just keep having miscarriages, either. I mean, there is a line that needs to be drawn. Emotionally and physically there is no way Carl and I could do that again. I'm still just so sad.

I've always wanted four children. My entire life I saw myself with two boys and two girls living on a ranch in that perfect little girl picket fence dream that so many of us have.

I know that I'm blessed. Please don't mistake my feelings for ingratitude. My children are amazing, and healthy, and I KNOW that my family is complete. Yet, even though I haven't successfully carried a baby to term since Noah, it somehow still hurts to have the illusion of the option of having another baby taken away.

My aunt told me once that you know you're done having children when your health or theirs is involved (not in those exact words, but you get the gist). I know that we are there. And quite honestly, I can say that I am one of those people who would just keep having children because I love them and I love being a mom so much. If Heavenly Father didn't make the decision for me I know that I couldn't make it for myself. I LOVED being pregnant! I LOVED taking care of my children as infants and toddlers. Middle of the night feedings didn't bother me. Grocery shopping with a gazillion kids didn't bother me - I've taken 6 under the age of 5 on many occasions.

Of course, I never really want to potty train again, but I mean really - who does?

And now that my daughter is getting older I am realizing how very blessed I am to only have one daughter and two boys. It really is true what they say - girls get more difficult as they grow older (or maybe just the ones that act exactly like their mommas) and boys get easier. Of course, one of my boys started out so difficult there wasn't a whole lot of ways to go except for up! Haha! (side note, he really is an amazing child, just a very strong willed toddler - but I wouldn't have had it any other way!).

Sorry, I know I'm rambling. And this might not make a lot of sense being that it is 2:30 in the morning here. It's just helping my heart to get this out. I have beautiful nieces and nephews on both sides of our family whom I love and adore as much as my own children. I am very blessed to have little ones all around me in addition to my own three children.

And I am so very thankful.

But today - just for today - I'm going to be sad and cry. Just a little.

And I think that's okay.

Brrrr - and Princess Ball Pictures (Finally!)

This is a picture of our bathroom window - frozen from the inside!!!! It is 16 degrees right now!!!



Jodi and I in front of the Eiffel Tower



Dancing with the girls - Carlye is standing right in front of me, can you see how cute her hair is?!?!?!



Daddy Daughter Dance



Nathanael escorting Princess Lili to her table after she had been "announced"



Carlye, Victoria, Lili and Emeri dancing in balloons



Carl and Carlye posing in the carriage



Posing with my handsome son!



Collapsing after the ball with Victoria, Nathanael, and Carlye


The Princess Ball was wonderful! Our theme this year was Paris, and we decorated everything in Hot Pink and black. We made cake plates out of glasses and plates that we bought from the Dollar Tree and then siliconed together. Then, we covered them with black paper and poodles around the base, and placed pink and white striped cylinders with black polka dots on top of the plates. They were finished off with bejeweled eiffel towers on the top. We hung Christmas lights, built a Cinderella carriage out of 100 percent recycled materials (plywood, electrical conduit, duct tape, ribbon and tulle). It was wonderful. The purpose of this evening is to 100% spoil our girls. No boys are allowed (well, Nathanael and Tate were there, but they were escorts and waiters), and the girls were served a fancy meal, had a Daddy/Daughter and Mommy/Daughter dance and a fun evening where we made (or tried to make) all of them feel like Cinderella.