Give Me Some Sugar

B.A. didn't have candy until she was at least 2.  Rhon was the same way.  But ever since then, they have just gotten younger and younger.  There is no way I would have given a sucker to a 11 month old 7 years ago.  Does this mean the story of his life will be getting away with things he shouldn't?  It gets harder and harder to say no.  

It made him so happy.  He kept pulling it out of his mouth and showing everybody.  Like, look at what my irresponsible mom gave me.  It tastes so good.  I will probably never eat broccoli again!  He wasn't even messy.  He was very efficient.

Beat It

Mads.

He is totally in to music.  On Saturday we went over to Nate's mom's house.  Her husband has a huge drum set.  Mads really surprised me at how well he played the drums.  He is a natural!  Of course I think that, right?  But the most surprising thing was when Mark was playing, he tapped his feet, and patted his legs to the beat.  He was in heaven.  

It made me think of how he is always dancing too.  

He has a signature move.  He spreads his legs out pretty wide and grabs his crotch with both hands.  He started doing this as soon as he started dancing.

I tried to get a picture of it once.  This was taken in May.  It's not very good, but you get the idea.  Then I saw Jut and Jen's wedding pictures.  Their photographer got one of him doing the same thing.  It is way better.  I was slightly embarrassed, but I laughed too.

                                                 

Maybe he will fulfill my dream of being in a rock band.

Regular

Don't you hate it when of all the millions of toys you have scattered around your house, this is what your baby chooses to play with.  

I think he might have lost interest by now, but for about a week, I cleaned these up about 10 times a day.  He knew right where they were and went straight for them.

If you vote for me over at Blokthoughts, I could win an iPod.  Sweet!

Our Favorite Sunday

Our favorite Sunday is not Easter Sunday, or Super Bowl Sunday, or even an ice cream sundae...

It's Primary Program Sunday.  And today's program didn't disappoint.

While the kids were getting settled in, and the leaders were getting ready, I took the opportunity to smile, wave, and make silly faces at my girls.  They each had unique reactions which were indicative of their personalities.

B.A. - Smiled back, waved, and gave cute "I love you" hand signs

Rhon - Studiously and deliberately didn't make eye contact

Dare - Stared right at us but didn't react, acted like she was staring at strangers

The older girls said their parts perfectly and sang the songs beautifully.  Dare had a different story.  

They sat her on the stand right in front of the ledge.  We have so many primary kids that they stick them where ever they can fit them.  You might be thinking this was a bad idea, but I wonder what she would have found to play with if she hadn't had the ledge.  When she got bored with playing with it,  she stood up and leaned over it.  I thought if someone doesn't stop her soon, she is going to flop right over the top.  Someone told her to stop.  Then she got really bored and laid her head down on her arms.  Sometimes she would poke her eyes out and I could tell she was singing behind her arms.  At one point she had her chin resting on her hands with both pinkies stuck up her nose.  Nate said she looked like the poster child for "I don't give a crap!"

I wonder what it will be like with Dare and the two boys.  Oh dear.   

  

Pumpkin Patch

      

                                           

Halloween could be our favorite time of the year.  We like all the fun crafts, and fun baking.  The kids love going to the pumpkin patch and picking their own pumpkins to carve.  I think this year was the find-the-biggest-pumpkin-you-can year.  So we have four huge pumpkins and one little one for G (since Nate and I picked his).  I told them that if they get huge ones, they have to help me clean them out. 

We live in a great neighborhood.  Every year around Halloween we have been "Booed".  A family leaves a anonymous treat outside your door, and you are supposed to leave a treat for two other families.  I has become even more fun since we have let the girls do it by themselves.  We let them pick the families, and make a treat.  Then we drive to the house.  Nate and I sit in the car and watch as they leave the treat, knock, and scramble to find a hiding spot.  I can't help but laugh.  B.A. came back to the car and told us how fast her heart was beating.  They love this.  This has become my favorite Halloween tradition.  

Extra

***   G had some firsts.   ***

First word:  "Hi" accompanied by his one-of-a-kind wave.  It's sideways, like he is waving away a bad smell.  And his hand is limp, so it kind of just flops back and forth.  It's worth seeing for sure.

First bout with mashed potatoes:  I think the potatoes got the best of him.  Ah well, G.  Maybe next time.   

First time pointing:  He walks around pointing and shouting for a good 30-40 minutes, twice a day.  Okay, I don't know how long or often it is, but it is a lot.

First welcome:  For 3 days in a row now, he has heard the garage door open, walked over to the door, and waited for Nate to walk in.  When Nate comes in, he demands to be picked up.  This is followed by some hugs, patting, and kisses.

First tooth:  On top.  He already has two on the bottom.  I think this is my favorite baby look.  It is so hillbilly-ish.

First time wearing pants and shoes:  He doesn't like it.  He just fell over and laid there.

***   B.A. will drink vinegar.   ***

She has done this since she has been able to drink.  No kidding.  This is a salad bowl with apple cider vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper.  That's it.  She loves it.

***   Nate makes the best salsa ever.   ***

I will make Dare's favorite lunch of quesadillas every day just so I can have something to dunk in the lovely stuff. 

Weekend

All the kids love snow.  On Saturday morning there was snow all over the ground and rooftops.  It always looks so pretty.  Last year Mads didn't get too into it because he was so young.  So it was cool to see how excited he was.  He kept asking to go outside.  This picture is from when he went outside on his own, without permission.  Dare kept asking if we could go sledding.  We would tell her there wasn't enough snow, but she would see that it kept falling and say, "We can go sledding today."  No one played in it because there was never enough.  But it was coming down in big, fluffy, slow-falling flakes. 

G thought it was pretty cool too.  He just stood at the window and watched.  I wish I would have been fast enough to get a picture while he was watching, but if you look closely at this bottom picture, you can see a big stream of drool going down the window.  Yup, that's G's drool.  Awesome.

It snowed a lot on Sunday too.  I think the first snow fall is fun.  It's the snow falls where I have to shovel  for and hour or two that sucks.

Spatial Relationships

I am worn out.

G woke up at 6 this morning.  Coming from a woman who would be perfectly happy sleeping until 8:30 every morning, this was early.  And of course by the time he was ready for his nap- at 8:00 am!  imagine a nap at 8:00 am- the other kids were ready for their breakfast.  Oh well.  It happens.  After he went back to sleep, I took the opportunity to work on the yard.  You know, clipping down all the bushes, pulling weeds, mowing one last time.  All the stuff we need to do before our first snow fall coming this weekend.

I'm going somewhere with this... I promise.

Then I had to go to Costco.  We were out of dog food, otherwise I would have put it off.  Since I was close, I decided to go to IKEA because I needed to get some tea light candle holders for a Halloween craft we are doing.  I knew they would have them cheep, and I was right- $1.49 for 4.  I went to pick up the carpool from school next.  I don't normally do this, but I was right there.  Mads hates when Joshua is in the back seat with him.  I don't know why, except that he cries when anyone gets near him.  So he cried all the way home.  Then it was time to make dinner.  This is G's least favorite time of the day.  Oh, and when I am trying to exercise.  I can't pick him up, and it drives him nuts.  He is like a linebacker.  He tries to block my path, and if I manage to sneak by, he grabs onto my legs and won't let go.  Nate already told me this analogy wasn't funny, so no courtesy laughs please.  It's for me only.    

I know this doesn't sound like a horribly tiring day, but still, I'm beat.  When I get like this I can lose my temper easier.  Noise bothers me more.  I feel like I am telling everyone to tone it down constantly.  All I wanted was to sit on the couch with a blanket and do nothing.  So after dinner that is what I did.  I was proud of myself.  I held it together all day.  The kids were really good, so that helped.  Dare has turned into my best helper.  So I sat there while Nate cleaned up dinner, and I focused on not feeling guilty for that.  I worked hard... I deserved it.

Here is where the story picks up.

Quick side note:  I am a cuddler.  I have cuddled with one or more of my children, and/or husband about 10 times a day for the last 10 years.  Sometimes I force them.  But they love it.  I know they do.  

So when I am on the couch with a blanket, it is the perfect opportunity to come cuddle with me.  Normally this would be welcomed and appreciated.  Not tonight.

This is how it went:

Dare:  "I want to cuddle with you!"

Me:  "No, Dare.  I need my space."

Dare:  "I need your space... I am your space."

Of course, I was laughing too hard to notice her weaseling her way under my blanket. 

I cuddled with her for an hour.

  

Fall

We went to the mountains to enjoy the changing colors, and the falling leaves.

I love this picture.  The the girls are posing and loving the camera, while Mads distanced himself, and is looking so cool and chill.

 

Nate is holding G behind the other kids.  He looks concerned.

Action shot.  A bit posy, but fun nonetheless.

*****          *****         *****

Bitten

                             

Mads needed some of his own "dress-up" clothes.  So I went out and bought him this, a Batman mask, and an army man hat.  It's a little big, but he likes it.

Nate showing him how to shoot his web properly.

Here's Mads' interpretation.

Nate is showing him again with some much needed help.

****          ****          ****

Bedtime for Mads has become a routine.  

Me-  "Mads, time for bed."

Mads-  "Noooo!"

Me-  "Don't say no to me.  Get in bed."

Mads-  "Noooo!"

Nate-  "Come here, Bud.  I'm going to take you to bed."

Mads-  "No.  Me do it."

Nate-  "Yeah.  Let me walk you in there."

Mads-  as he is getting his blanket  "Me do it!"

Nate-  "No.  I'll do it.  Let me take you."

Mads-  as he is walking toward his room  "Nooo!  I'll do it."

Nate-  in faux resignation "Okay." 

Then Nate looks over at me with a knowing smile.  We do this every night, and every night I laugh.  Sooner or later he will become wise to it, but right now it is effective and entertaining. 

Don't You Hate It When...

... you can't find the bathroom in the middle of the night.

***As told by Dare.  My 4 year old darling.***

Okay... so I have been Pull-Up free for quite a while now.  And I have to tell you, what a hassle it has been.  The main problem is... I still have to pee!  It was so nice to just lay in my bed and do my business.  But my mom got tired of buying those wonderful panty-diapers.  So now I have to wake-up and get out of bed.  I guess waking-up is not the problem... um... so much.  I just can't find the toilet.  My bladder feels so full it makes me cry.  All I can think of to do is run around my room crying.  Is it not in my room?  I'll pull my pants down just in case it materializes here soon.

Nope.  No toilet.

Maybe if I find the door, the toilet will be on the other side.  It's the hallway.  Is the toilet here?  I can't remember!  I'll just run up and down the hallway while crying to see if I can find it.

Dang!  No toilet.

There is a light on over there.  I'll go toward the light.  This looks right.  It has the right kind of floor, and the color white is everywhere.  

Crap.  I'm in the laundry room.

I will pull up my pants now so I can run faster because this is getting urgent.  I'm going to run this way.  Ouch!  I just ran face first into a wall.  What is wrong with my vision?  I'm crying, crying, CRYING.  Oh good.  I knew if I cried loud and long enough my mom would come to help me.  She is pulling me.  I don't think I can hold it.  There's the toilet.  I knew it was around here somewhere.  All I have to do is sit.  My mom is saying something to me.  What is wrong with my ears?  I can't understand a thing.  Oh... I forgot to pull my pants down.  What?  She is talking again.  Oh... I forgot to put the toilet seat up.  Sheesh.  She seems kind of crabby.

Ahhhh.  Much better.

Good night Mom.  See you tomorrow when I will remember nothing of this.  We will probably repeat the whole process tomorrow night.

I took a picture, but it does not do her confusion justice.  I am not exaggerating.  She does this EVERY night.

I'm playing along with the fun over at Blokthoughts.  Hope you had a laugh.

Tears

Rhon came home from school with tear streaks down her cheeks.  She had a problem, and there was nothing I could have done.  It was more difficult for me than for her, I think.  She is only 6.  There is no reason she should have to deal with sadness on her own.  It breaks my heart.  I keep picturing her crying all by herself, with no one to comfort her.  No one she trusts.  I can't do it.  I can't handle it.  I don't know what I'm going to do.

The whole family got sick.  Except Dare.  She somehow always manages to stay well.  G has massive diarrhea.  I can handle that.  Changing 15-20 diapers a day doesn't bother me.  It is his diaper rash that is the problem.  I know it happens with diarrhea.  I did everything I could think of to prevent it.  It still came.  And it is bad.  He is in so much pain.  I just want him to be comfortable.  I do what I can, but mostly... I'm helpless.

Today in Relief Society, the teacher related a story about someone she knows whose 16 month old baby drown in his own back yard.  I feel sick.  I can't bear to think of the pain this mother is feeling.  

Tears.  Tears.  Tears. 

Make Way

We were so happy to be able to go to Jut and Jen's wedding this last weekend.  It was such a wonderful ceremony, and I was very glad to be there.

I didn't take very many pictures all weekend.  It was kind of hard to do.

 

The boys looked so handsome.  The girls looked beautiful.  We were supposed to be at the temple at 1:45, and I started to get everyone ready at about 10.  I didn't have time to do the girls' hair and we still barely made it on time.  I don't know why it takes us so long to get ready. 

 It was dreadfully hot outside.  

Of all the kids, Mads liked dancing the most.  I had to practically drag the others on the dance floor.  

See that fountain?  That was the first thing I saw when I walked in.  I knew I had to be on my toes watching Dare and the boys around it.  They were interested, but it seemed to wear off.  While they were doing the garter thing, we went back over there for another look.  When we were done, I picked up G, and told Mads, "let's go."  I thought he was following me, but the next thing I see is Melissa trying to get my attention over to a soaking wet 2 year old.  I expected a leg maybe, or even his head from tipping over, but no... it was his whole body.  Shoes, pants, hair, even his cute little green tie.  Every inch of him was soaked.  He fell completely in.  I'm just glad someone was there to pull him out.  I wasn't at all surprised that of all the kids there, mine was the one who fell in the fountain.  I guess statistically my chances are better.

The trip wouldn't have been complete without someone getting sick.  And sure enough, Nate and Mads have been super sick the last couple days.  This has happened the last four trips to Arizona.  I'm starting to get suspicious. 

Sale Ends

Did you hear about that jeans sale at Old Navy?

A month or so ago, they had all their jeans on sale. $7 for kids and $12 for adults.  When you have five kids to buy jeans for, this is something you just can't pass up.  I didn't get there as soon as it opened like I had planned.  Mainly because my husband stays up until all hours (3 or 4 A.M.!!!) playing Xbox with his brothers, and can't get up in the morning.  So when I did get there, the line was horrendous.  I am talking an hour wait!  They had the people snaking through the whole store.  I'm not a happy shopper, and lines are not my thing, and since I had my whole family with me (we always do our Saturday outings together), I left.  I put down all the jeans I picked out, and left.  Oh well, I didn't actually care that much.  The girls' jeans are normally only $14 each anyway, so 50% off isn't that much... right?  

Then we went to the Farmers Market.  There is a different Old Navy right by it.  I decided to check it out.  It was an hour or so later, so the lines were gone, but so were most of the jeans.  I found a few for the girls, and a pair for SCM.  There weren't any for Mads.  As I was walking out I passed the table with women's jeans on it.  I don't need any jeans, and I have been waiting to get down to a proper size before I buy any new clothes.  But for $12, I thought it was worth a look.  I ended up buying 2 pair that were a size smaller than my current jeans.  I figured I was losing weight, and I would be able to wear them soon.  

A couple days ago, I tried on the jeans.  They fit perfectly!  I was pretty excited, even though it is still a size (or two) bigger than I want.  I was down a jeans size, and I didn't even have to squeeze in.  I immediately pulled the tags off and threw a shirt on.  I was off to do my grocery shopping.  

I went to Smith's first.  Then to Costco.  Oh how I love Costco!  The carts are big, the aisles are big, the food is big, and unfortunately, my tab is usually big.  The kids were great.  The day was rolling along smoothly.

We were listening to my favorite CD on the way home.  I didn't hold back today.  I was singing and swinging my hands around beating my air drum.  Okay, I'm not actually that lame, but the visual was funny, right?  We were about half-way home when I put my hand down on it's usual resting spot.  I sort of wedge it in between the outside of my thigh and the car seat.  I noticed something on my pants.  Is that what I think it is?  No. No. Nooooo!

Yup.  It was the sticker that shows the size of my jeans.  Not a little sticker.  A big, long sticker that says the size like 26 times.  As if you couldn't see the first one, it screams it at you... 26 26 26 26 26 26.  That is obviously not my size.  Unless you were at Costco, you aren't going to find out.    

Picture my face as the realization flows over me.  Not only was a wearing the stupid sticker on my stupid pants the whole stupid day, which is embarrassing on its own, but I was telling everyone what size my stupid fat pants are.  Why couldn't it have been a size 6?  Then all the people, who politely looked away without telling me, might have been thinking... wow! she has such a cute size 6 tush!  Or... why couldn't Old Navy have gotten their stickers wrong, just this once, and it could have showed a size 4.  Then at least, the people would have been more confused than appalled at my jeans size.

Horrible, terrible, rotten, smelly, puky, dreadful day.    Vile.    Awful.

P. S.    This is not the first time this has happened.     

Avant-Garde

Photo by Shelle

Last night I woke up crying because of a horrible dream.  One of my kids died.  I'm not going to go into details (it's not something I want to remember). I couldn't go back to sleep for quite a while, and as I laid there, I realized something.  All the kids were there, and they were all playing their roles.  The roles I have given them.  B.A. was over-emotional, and mostly concerned with herself.  Rhon was kind and dependable.  Dare was bouncy and disobedient.  Even though she looked at me while I told her the rules, she completely ignored them.  Mads was obstreperous and independent.  I realized that I have labeled my children.  In any given situation, I could tell you who would act what way.  Although I think it is good to know my children, I don't want to label them anymore, at least with the negative stuff.  There isn't really anything negative to say about Rhon.  See, there I go again.  She has the label of being the perfect child.  Not that that is bad, but I'm sure the other girls notice.  I've decided it is okay to notice behaviors that are common to their personality (B.A. is usually bossy), but I want to try not to assume she is that way all the time, and that it is something she can change, not just think oh that's the way she is.  

Dana and I were just talking yesterday about how we can appreciate our kids more.  I am aware now that my labels are not appreciative at all.  I feel terrible that I have suppressed them in a way.  I going to stop doing this right away.  Try at least.  It is my goal to see the behaviors separate from the child.  I love those little punks.  I hope they know it.