Something Fun

My cousins wife, Emily posted a note to her Facebook page that I thought was kind of fun. She had 22 questions about herself that she asked her little boy to answer. So I took her advice to ask my own kids to see what they would say. Now remember Ethan is 7, Holly 4 1/2 and Mason who is 2 didn't answer any.

1. What is something Mom always says to you?
Holly: Clean up
Ethan: CLEAN UP!!!

2. What makes Mom happy?
Holly: When I brush my teeth
Ethan: I help you out

3. What makes Mom sad?
Holly: Not helping
Ethan: When I don't listen

4. How does your Mom make you laugh?
Holly: When you shake your booty
Ethan: Tickle me

5. What was your mom like as a child?
Holly: She helped her Mommy out
Ethan: You had yellow hair, right?

6. How old is your Mom?
Holly: 28 (I like)
Ethan: 38 (right)

7. How tall is your Mom?
Holly: 38 inches
Ethan: 100 inches

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Holly: Make dinner
Ethan: Sleep

9. What does your Mom do when you're not around?
Holly: Clean
Ethan: Get some turns (that is what my kids say when they mean get to watch a TV show of their choosing)

10. If your Mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Holly: Giving water
Ethan: Owning a fancy house

11. What is your Mom really good at?
Holly: Playing Wii Fit
Ethan: Making dinner

12. What is your Mom not very good at?
Holly: I don't know
Ethan: Spelling (true)

13. What does your Mom do for a job?
Holly: Clean
Ethan: Taking care of us

14. What is your Mom's favorite food?
Holly: Spaghetti
Ethan: I don't know

15. What makes you proud of your Mom?
Holly: Cleaning the playroom (that is their chore)
Ethan: Good Mom

16. If your Mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Holly: Ruby (Max & Ruby on Nick Jr.)
Ethan: Garfield (???)

17. What do you and your Mom do together?
Holly: Clean
Ethan: Make dinner

18. How are you and your Mom the same?
Holly: Birthday (true, I had her on my 34th Birthday)
Ethan: We both like Canada

19. How are you and your Mom different?
Holly: I like TV & you don't
Ethan: Your a girl & I'm a boy (he rolled his eyes as he said this)

20. How do you know your Mom loves you?
Holly: Just because
Ethan: Cause you take care of us

21. What does your Mom like most about your Dad?
Holly: Kiss (giggling)
Ethan: He makes a good steak

22. Where is your Mom's favorite place to go?
Holly: Wal*mart
Ethan: Canada

This was fun to do and it made me laugh. I also saw a reoccurring theme through out, cleaning. I don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing, but this was fun enough I think I will do it again when they get a little older and Mason can answer some questions too.

What a Week!

This week has been a long one, or should I say the last few days have seemed like a week.
Let me first start by saying that there is nothing else like the experience of being a Mother. There are so many times that make you smile and so many times that make you cry but it is those times that make you cry and then make you laugh after the fact that stick with you.
Friday was crazy as Friday's always seem to be especially since we have been having "Family Movie Nights". Friday night we have a kid friendly dinner where my kids can all help ether make it or put their plates together or both. Then we sit down as a family and watch a fun movie that we have rented from the Red Box, just for the occasion. For the most part it is a great night but it takes a lot of effort to make it all work, which of course means that I need some help from the kids to get all of our chores done before movie night can start. Unfortunately doesn't always happen and my patience gets stretched to say the least. This past Friday was no exception and by the time homemade pizza's were eaten and put the movie in I was ready to go to bed while everyone else enjoyed the movie.
Ryan convinced me to just lay down on the couch and take it easy, which I tried but to no avail. Mason was trying to run around with no diaper on because he wanted to sit on the new potty he got for Christmas. I, thinking this might be a good time to encourage him, like a dope, let him. I was rewarded with a big pile of poop in the middle of the bathroom rug, not a foot from his potty. After the great pleasure of cleaning up my son, the bathroom floor and wrestling him into his diaper, I again lay down on the couch in the hopes of some down time.
Just as I was dozing off, Mason who had been playing in his diaper unbeknownst to me wiped his little hand across my forehead. The smearing and the smell woke me out of my vegetative state with a jolt and I once again took my wonderful, loving, cute little boy into the bathroom to clean him up as well as my self. Only Mason can have up to 3 poopy diapers in under an hour. How I love that boy!
This was the most disgusting, mortifying experience I have had as a Mother, thus far. Totally GROSSED OUT does not convey the feeling I had at that moment. But now a couple of days latter I can now smile about it and I'm sure after more time it will be a memory I will laugh at. Fortunately and unfortunately, I am sure this will not be the only experience I will have that will invoke the same feelings I have had these past few days.
There was one really cool thing that I was able to witness with my kids yesterday, though. We were or should I say our neighborhood was descended upon by a ton of birds all at once. I have never seen anything like it and would have never thought that something like it would happen in the deep of winter. There where hundreds of them. Here are a few pictures that show only a portion of all the birds and the three pictures where taken all within seconds of each other. The dark dots are birds by the way.
Here is hoping to a calmer week.

Tis the Season

I was reading the Deseret News the other day and came across an article entitled, "Take time to fulfill your desires" by Connie Sokol. It was a really great article but there was part of it that stuck out to me. It said: "As we face our fears, ways come to light of how to develop our dream and people are put in our path at just the right time... to propel us to know and be more. Such a life-giving feeling is a byproduct we all experience from attempting to do something from the soul. As we expand whatever we offer, happiness and energy are infused back into our lives, that rejuvenating oil that greases the daily grind.
What's your soul's desire? What do you need to let go of to make room for?"
What hit me was the part about "rejuvenating oil". I've been struggling this past year. I've found my self "surviving" rather than "living" and not liking it. I've been lacking that rejuvenating oil that greases the daily grind in my life. So as it is the season for making resolutions I've decided to make mine to find my rejuvenating oil. I have no idea what that may be but I think the journey might be just as fun and the destination. Just as I was thinking all of this, someone was put in my path or rather something was delivered in the mail, at just the right time. The Davis Adult & Community Education filer that comes out 4 times a year. As I was looking through it I thought maybe I should take a class on something that peeks my interest, to help me find a passion I can rejuvenate myself with.
This is a scary thing for me. It means coming out of my comfort zone. Relinquishing some control on some of the responsibilities in my life. Which in and of it self is a growing experience. So I went the rounds with myself...trying not to let my fears talk me out of it. I thought "we don't have the money right now" and then I remembered I haven't spent all of the money my Dad sent me for Christmas, which by the way is just enough for the class I have my eye on. I talked to Ryan and he was VERY supportive of me taking the class. It is just for 2 hours, once a week for 6 weeks and I think he can see how much I really need to do something like this. Because if I'm happy everyone is happier. I felt like I was being smacked in the face, with "this is an opportunity, TAKE IT."
So today I take the plunge and make the call to register for my class. I'm taking Basic Digital Photography. You see I find myself being so jealous of my cousin Heather, who just happens to be a professional photographer, not because of her profession but because she has such beautiful pictures of her kids. I don't want to become a photographer but just want to be able to take some great pictures of my kids to cherish into the future without having to go broke paying someone else to do it for me. Did any of that make sense?
Anyway if nothing else I will have an outlet for some pint up creative energy and maybe I will take another class next time around, like maybe pottery or something. Just something to help me find a new part of myself that has been hiding.
So that's it, my New Years resolution, to take the time and energy to develop me. So wish me luck and I challenge everyone to take on the same resolution. Take some time to develop what the good Lord gave you, it will be a worthwhile investment.

Holidays

Now that the kids are back at school and Ryan is back at work I have some time to sit and write about the holidays.
Ryan was off of work on vacation as soon as the bank closed on the afternoon of Christmas Eve till today, so we have had him home to enjoy for almost 2 weeks. The kids like having him around, although they don't like having to watch so much football but Ryan was a good sport and shared the TV which made my life a lot easier.
Christmas Eve was quiet night with just us at home. We made breakfast for dinner (a first for us on Christmas Eve) and then opened one gift each. P.J.'s all around, even for Ryan and I. After getting the kids through the tub and in their new P.J.'s we sat down and read the Christmas Story. I found a board book at Deseret Book that put the Christmas story in a language the kids could understand. They always have too many questions about what this or that word means when we read right out of the bible. So the book was a great hit, it even covered the Book of Mormon's side of the Christmas Story which was great.
We then got Santa's treats all ready, a Coke Classic (which Ryan said was Santa's favorite) and a cookie w/ carrots for the reindeer. There was a little bit of an upset as I put the Coke in Santa's mug and didn't keep it in the glass bottle. Ryan was sure that Santa would prefer in be kept in the bottle while the kids and I was sure that we needed to use the mug, after all Santa is the only one to drink out of it. Oh well it's only once a year and "Santa" should be happy with the Coke or maybe next year he will get milk. ;)
The kids all went to sleep really well for it being Christmas and all but then again the Melatonin that I put in their chocolate milk did help a little. Now before anyone get all up set, Melatonin is natural and won't hurt anybody. I don't feel guilty about it as they needed their sleep and I needed my sanity. So it all good.
Christmas morning dawned with Ryan and I wakened by all three kids laughing and singing while jumping on Ethan's bed. They couldn't get up stairs as we had put the baby gate across the stairs. They knew not to come up until we came and got them. This was around 8 a.m not too bad for a Christmas morning. Ryan tried to get the video camera going but the tape he put in ended before it even started. So the only video we got was a few minutes on my camera that has a video mode on it. This is the first Christmas since Ethan was born that we don't have the whole morning on tape. Sad I know. Next year I will make sure we have tape and everything is ready to go, rather than just assuming that Ryan has it all done.
The kids were all excited. Ethan got his Imaginex Bat Cave he had asked Santa for as well as a Diji from Mom & Dad. Holly got a trunk full of Fairy dress-up stuff from Santa and the Ikea flower night light she wanted along with a couple of other flower wall hanging to finally finish her room from Mom & Dad. Mason got his very own drum set from Santa and a frog potty w/pull-ups from Mom & Dad. Do you think I want him out of diapers? Mason was and is so cute playing his drums, here is a video clip of him playing them:

We had a great Christmas, the kids all loved what they got even though we cut back a lot this year on gifts. Which made it a good Christmas for Ryan and I so we didn't got through the after Christmas guilt that we have suffered in the past for spending too much.
After we opened gifts and had some time to unwind we started getting ready to head down to Midvale to Ryan's parents place. But before we left we were able to talk to my Dad for a bit as well as my little brother Scot. We didn't get time to call my Mom, besides the kids like to talk to her via web-cam. So we were going to try her when we got back.
Once in Midvale the kids played while the adults opened their gifts, which was nice. We were able to just visit and have a good time without all the craziness. The kids came in latter. We got both of Ryan's parents "Suggies", you know the blanket with sleeves. Rhonda is always cold and Jim has lost so much weight this past year we though he might be feeling the cold a little more than last winter. Of course Rhonda's had a book light to go with it for her long hours of reading. They seemed to like them, I hope they did. We received a very cute picture type frame from Ryan's sister Liz. It is very cool and even more so because she made it. Ryan's sister Annie and her husband Dan had our names for Christmas and received some fun block letters spelling out "family", which were also homemade. I love homemade gifts, can I just say. We also received many other fun things from Ryan's parents. The kids received a little "Webkinz" along with a gift certificate to Target from Ryan's parents as well which was a huge hit! Ethan and Holly love "Webkinz" and I liked the fact that Ethan didn't get any more Legos that he got for his birthday. At least with a gift certificate I can steer him clear from the evils of Legos.
Ryan's Grandma Naomi and his Aunt Kathy came over for dinner of Mexican Salads for dinner. You know with the yummy rice, sweet pork, etc. So very Good!!! I have to say that it was the most relaxing, fun and enjoyable Christmas we have had with Ryan's family, even Grandma Naomi seemed to be in a good mood. It was just nice, not too much craziness, everyone getting along, just nice.
We headed home after much fun eating and Merry Christmas' all around. Once home tried to get my Mom on the web-cam before the kids went to bed but couldn't get her to answer. Sorry Mom but we tried for almost 45 minutes. The kids had gathered all of their favorite gifts together to show her but oh well no luck. We should have set up a time with her but we will know for next time.
The week after Christmas was just fun and laid back. My Dad had very generously sent us some Christmas money so Monday morning Ryan took all the kids to spend their gift certificates and money on even more toys. Ethan completed his Batman Cave with the Joker van, Mr. Freeze and the Bat Copter. Holly got a play mixer w/bowl, play food and a Little People Fairy Tree house. Can you tell she likes fairies? And Mason spent his money on a Little People Garage. He loves to put the cars at the top and watch them go down the ramp over and over again. They each got other little things but they all had a great time shopping with Dad and playing with all the fun new toys. Thanks again Dad, Jim & Rhonda for the spending money.
Monday afternoon I had to go back in for another shot in my back. It didn't hurt as much as the last time but I sure don't like the pain that I go through after the fact. I will only have to go back in once more and then hopefully I will be done. If not I will have to go in and be put under to have it taken care of. So here is to hoping.
For New Years we went over to our good friends the Ropers; hung out, watched the new Star Trek Movie and enjoyed lots of snacks. The kids got to pop poppers and make noise at 11 pm before going home. Thanks Jen & Craig from having us over it was really fun.
Once we got home, got the kids ready for bed and gave them their "New Years" hats, etc., Ryan took them outside at midnight to light off fireworks. Ethan & Holly thought that was the coolest thing ever. Mason wanted to be outside but was too cold and watched from the window. After the kids didn't want to go to bed, they didn't want to miss any of the "Happy New Year". They just didn't understand that, that was it. Holly is still asking about the "Happy New Year", so I guess that my explanation isn't the best. How do you explain it to kids in a way that they understand? I guess I figure it out, I'll just have to keep trying.
All in all we had a great holiday and it was a little sad to have it end, but we now have a great new year to look ahead too. I hope that everyone had as great of a holiday season as we did and that we all have an even better new year. Just think...a whole new adventure awaits!

Finished

It is now just 3 "sleeps" till Christmas, and the stockings are finally hung. This year I decided to make new stocking for everyone. The ones we had were too big to fill and so I thought this would be the year. I bought the material back in 1997, just a year after I was married with the hope that I could use it to make a tree skirt. So it has been sitting in my "sewing" bin all this time.
Since I was feeling a little "Martha Stewart-ish" this year I pulled out some news paper and made my own pattern and had enough material to make the long awaited tree skirt as well. So they all match, which is very important to our little Holly. For some reason she is totally into things matching and she is only 4! Although I have to admit what she thinks matches, doesn't always.
Anyway after much trail and error they are finally done. If you don't look too close they are not bad for my first attempt at such a project, all from scratch. I'm very proud of the tree skirt because it turned out the best. I don't know, there is just something about making something all by yourself from start to finish. It's just a great feeling knowing can accomplish something like that, although not perfect, I'm still happy and proud of my self.
The kids love them and really like having their initial on the top so they can tell who's is who's. Mason has even tried to ware a couple of them around the house. He just can't understand why you would put socks on the wall and not ware them, he makes me smile.
The cats like the tree skirt because it is quilted and comfortable for them to sleep on. We don't have any gifts under the tree yet, on account of Mason. He sees gifts and wants to open them NOW. So to save me a little bit of sanity we have decided to wait until the week before Christmas to put anything under the tree. I start wrapping tonight while Ethan and Holly are off to dinner with Ryan's parents. Then the fun begins....keeping everything wrapped and a surprise till Christmas morning. Wish me luck!

Christmas Preschool Program

Today was Holly's Christmas Program for her last year of preschool. She has been singing the songs for it for a couple of weeks now, which has given me my Christmas music around the house. We were able to get front row seats and saved one for Dad. Ethan was in school and was pretty upset that I wasn't going to go check him out of school (that's what they call it, really) for the program, so it was just Mason, Ryan and I watching and cheering Holly on.
This year she was a cow in the nativity scene, which she wasn't too happy with at first. Then I explained to her that the cow was a very important part to have because the cows were the ones to sing the baby Jesus to sleep after he was born. That made her feel better, so when she played her part today she was all smiles.
Holly also played Blitzen, one of Santa's reindeer's. I didn't get a picture but I got a video clip:




She did so well and was such a great little singer. At the end they had Santa come in and gave each child a chance to sit on his lap and tell them what they wanted for Christmas. She then got a candy cane, a gift from her preschool teachers and a gift from the gift exchange. Afterwards she got a hamburger and frys from McDonalds for lunch. So all in all she had a great day and her Dad and I couldn't have been prouder.

More Happenings

I figured that I would take a couple of days to update everything. After Halloween then came Ethan's 7th Birthday. We went down to Ryan's family the Sunday before and had a party with them. Uncle Shawn has his birthday just 3 days before Ethan and so we celebrated both birthday's together. We had a great dinner and then cake w/ ice cream and gifts afterward.
On Ethan's birthday, day he woke up to find a new bike from Mom & Dad. He was so excited he had to go right outside and try it out, although it was a little cold. Latter that day we had a bunch of his friends over for a party. All the kids had gotten out for American Thanksgiving the day before so it all worked out to have it in the middle of the day. We ordered pizza's, played pin the tale on the donkey and of course more cake w/ice cream. Everyone love the prize bags and the party was a hit. Now almost a month latter I'm still trying to get Ethan to write his thank you notes. He is old enough now that he can write them out on his own, but he thinks of it as work and so he is slow to do them.
Thanksgiving was the next day and I got up early to put the turkey together and get it in the oven. I found all the Martha Stewart Thanksgiving recipes and really wanted to try them out. I even made stuffing the old fashioned way with bread, vegetables and the whole 9 yards. It all turned out great if I do say so my self. The only bummer was that Ryan was in bed sick the whole day and only got up to eat, which he only did because I told him that if he was too sick to eat then I wasn't going to go to all the trouble of making a big dinner. Ryan's parents went to California this year and all his sisters had their in-law's to go to so I was just cooking for us. He didn't want to miss out on the dinner or the left overs so he got up. We had a nice small, low key Thanksgiving, which was just fine with us.
Ryan was sick in bed for 6 whole days. We were pretty sure it was the swine flu as he had all the symptoms and was told it just needed to run it's course. He still is not feeling 100% more than 3 weeks latter. But on the bright side he doesn't have to get the swine flu shot. Mason had a much milder case and the rest of us got away with not getting it. ;)
I put up the Christmas tree the Monday after Thanksgiving, only to find out that our lights on our pre-lit tree were dead. So we had to get a new one, all I have to say is thank goodness for Wal*mart sales. I have been decorating and re-decorating (thanks Mason) little by little ever since. I am working on making stockings today. It's my first time doing all by myself, even making my own pattern. Once they are done I will post a picture of them with the matching tree skirt. As you can tell I've been feeling a little "Martha Stewart-ish" lately.
That brings us up to date and I'm sure we will have a lot to post as the holiday's progress. The kids are already bouncing off the walls and we still have 14 days to go. But I will admit that it is kind of fun with the magic so alive and to have three little ones to keep it going. I just have to make sure I remember all the magic that my Mom was so good at when I was growing up. It has evolved over the years but if there is a question I can't answer then my kids are the first ones to say let's get Grandma Bo on the web cam. She is the resident expert on all the magic of Christmas, as it should be. So that years from now that will be one of the great things my kids and remember and share with my Mom...Christmas. Which makes me happy.

Too Long....

Once again my life has picked me up and run. It's times like these that you look around and say "Holy Crap how does time slip by so fast".
Since my last post we had Halloween which was really fun this year because one, it was really warm and I didn't have to bundle my kids up to go trick or treating, and two because it was Mason's first time going out. Ethan surprised me this year by wanting to be Dracula. I really thought he would want to be Iron Man or something, I even offered to get him a new costume but no he just wanted teeth. We had almost everything else.
Holly had to be a fairy this year. Last year was a princess and she told me that she had to be the fairy this year since her name was "Fairy Princess Holly Bug". The logic of children...who can argue with it?
Mason of course had to be a devil. I got red hair stray and got his Mohawk going with it, because I knew he would never keep horns on. It fit him so well.
The kids had so much fun going around our neighbourhood. Now that we have been here awhile we know more people, thus making it more fun for them. Ryan went out with them and I stayed home to pass out candy. We had more trick or treater's this year, again because we have been here longer and more people know us.
Mason started getting tired after a while but Holly was such great big sister to him. She took his pumpkin up to each house with her and asked nicely if she could get a candy for her little brother. She really impressed her Dad with the kindness she showed. Great time and great memories.
We have such great kids. They drive me crazy on a daily basis but it's the little moments in between where I can really see how we have been blessed. Holly and Mason are getting closer each day. I think they are bonding more because they are spending so much more time together, just the two of them while Ethan is in school all day. I will often come into the room and see them sitting beside each other and Mason will have his hand behind his sisters back.
Ethan and Mason are getting closer too now that they are sharing a room together. Mason feels like he is more a part of things and Ethan has been trying harder to be a good big brother.
You see, Mason just LOVES Patrick who lives across the street. He will see Patrick and just run right up to him and give him a big hug. I think Ethan has been a little jealous of Patrick and so he has been working on being nicer to Mason. Just the past week Ethan has been coming home from school and Mason will run and give him a hug. I can just see the big smile on Ethan's face when that happens.
Life has been crazy and I've been going in too many directions lately. But at this Christmas season we need to look at what we do have and not dwell on what we don't. I think that will be my New Years resolution this year. To take more time for the things that matter, to see the good things.