Nice Shot

Dare eating a banana.  I couldn't help taking her picture.  She looked so cute with her cheeks full.

Contrarian and PTC

My kids oppose me.  All of them.  Some more than others, of course.  B.A. is the worst.  If I told her the sky was blue, she would look at it, look me straight in the eye and say it was not.  I always knew Mads was most like her, and this conversation  didn't surprise me a bit. 

We were at church and he noticed a picture of Joseph Smith in the grove.

Mads:  "Two Jesuses.  Mom... two Jesuses."

Me:   "You think so?  Actually one of those is supposed to be Heavenly Father."

Mads:   pause...    thinking...     "Nope.  Two Jesuses."

**********

We had parent teacher conferences this last week.  It is nice to hear that your kids are doing well and enjoying themselves.  All of their teachers are great.  B.A. will soon be done with spelling.  No more spelling ever.  She has a memory like Nate.  We learned that she told one of her teachers one day that she loves school, and she likes her teachers a lot, but she really likes to be at home with her family.  She told her teacher that she wished they could just come over to her house so we could all just be together all day.  I was touched.  I'm not the most perfect mom in the world, but my kids like being at home, so I must be doing something right.  The thing I remember most about that night is G walking to the door, looking at us, waving good-bye, and walking straight out the door.  Stinker.

Extra

G jumps on the bed!  The dude isn't even one yet and he JUMPS on the bed.  He climbs onto Mads' bed, stands up, and starts jumping.  I'm afraid.  Very afraid.

Two things Mads says that I love:

"I'm sorry."  He usually says I'm sorry Dadda because he thinks that it what it says on the last page of the book David Gets in Trouble.

When I ask him why for any reason, he says "cause".  Then...

Me:  Cause why?

Mads:  Be-cause  (it actually sounds more like... tuz... beetuz)   

I can usually get him to say them both in the same conversation when I ask him why he is sorry.  We both laugh, because he knows I love it. 

I decided there is nothing better than a husband who is nice to you.  Oh wait... a husband who is nice to you and cooks amazing food!

Dare and Mads played in the snow today.  They loved it.  They both had frozen snot coming out of their noses.  I am so excited to go sledding and snowboarding.  

My muscles get sore from playing Rock Band.  I figured it must be a good work-out then... right?

I love November, but it is a crazy-busy month.

Rhon said something funny the other day.  During FHE, we were talking about fire safety and what to do if there was a fire in the house.  During the review she summarized in her characteristic matter-of-fact way, "We wake up our sisters, go to the front door, go outside by the mailbox, and watch our house go down."  

An unfinished basement is perfect for Family Night Basketball.  I wish I would have taken a picture.  

The person who decided to have Daylight Savings Time must not have had a baby.  Instead of waking up at 6:30, G wakes up at 5:30.  Oh well... it's good for me (not really, I'm trying to stay positive).

Sugar, Sugar, SUGAR!

Mads didn't want me to spray his hair again, so I just did the mohawk.  Turns out, I liked it better this way.  G did not want to take a group picture.  B.A. had to hold him for me.  I looks like it is just short of choking.  But I got the picture.  That's what's important... right?

G fell asleep while we were trick-or-treating.  The little bugger won't take an afternoon nap anymore... already.  I guess the warm suit and the stroller ride was more than he could take.  (my pictures are out of order and I didn't feel like fixing them)

The weather was so nice.  I think the low was only supposed to be 56 degrees.  I think we have been having record highs this week.  It sure beat snow and/or 20 degrees.  Two things we have had to deal with on Halloween.  There were TONS of kids out.  Sheri stayed at our house to pass out candy, and it was gone.  She even brought some of her own.  I couldn't believe it.  I love seeing so many kids out.  It seems so festive.

I was seriously lucky to get him to sit still for a half a second.  That is B.A.'s pumpkin behind him.  She said it was half cat half reindeer.  I love it.  I thought it was very creative.  Rhon's is the one with one eye, and Dare's is the one with three eyes.  Dare actually drew hers on the pumpkin herself.  It gave it such personality.  I loved them all!  

Sugar Please

The Trunk or Treat was last night.  I took their pictures  because I wasn't sure their costumes would make it.  The other day when Dare tried hers on, she put a run in her tights, and got blood on it.   And she was wearing it for about 4 minutes.  

I don't know why I didn't take any of G.  Probably because I was running around like a crazy lady trying to get everyone ready.  Nate had to go to the church early to help with the Young Men's booth. 

B.A. has wings, but she couldn't wear them in the car.  I told her she and Rhon should switch costumes because that is more like real life.  I know that is mean.  But she had to see it coming.  Right, B.A.?  

I tried putting eye liner on Mads.  He didn't like it.  When I sprayed his hair, he didn't like it.  But when he realized he can wear a costume, say trick or treat and he gets a bag full of candy, he was having the time of his life.  Tomorrow should be fun.  

I am thinking getting the kids ready for Halloween more than once a year is a dumb.  I don't think I can do it tomorrow.  I can already feel the stomach ache of stress coming on.   

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.