Free (OBO)

This kid is not my best friend right now.

How many times can I pull him off the counter before going insane?

How many times can I tell him "no" in a kind tone before I lose my cool?

How many times can I grab him from the street before I decide to never go outside again?

He has already been in time out.

He has already been sent inside for not listening outside.

He has already been forced to clean up his own messes.

He eats soap out of the bathroom, and  in the kitchen sink.

He stands on and IN the toilet.

He plays in the video game basket.

He dumps toys, and runs away.

He dumps books, and runs away.

He empties my cabinets, and runs away.

He pours water everywhere.

He thinks it's fun to see if the girls can read The Friend if it is in a million pieces.

He enjoys chucking the dishes, and shutting the dishwasher when I am trying to load it.

Nothing deters him from climbing on the stove.  Not even the fire.

He bites off all the erasers of our pencils.

He uses crayons to color on anything.

He also uses crayons as snacks.

He screams.

He bites.

He flops.

And worst of all, he still only says, "Daddy".  And it sounds really cute.  No "Momma" yet.  

He decided recently that he doesn't want to sit still while I put a diaper on.  Sometimes they get ripped while trying to fight him.

He figured out how to weasel through the fence into our neighbors back yard.

He learned to climb the stools.  And how he can push them anywhere to aide in his trouble-making quests.

Nothing stops this kid.

I have never known such naughtiness.

My patience has never been tested to this degree.

He still makes me smile.  Even when I am trying not to because I am mad at him.

I love the way his cheeks jiggle when he walks.  The ones on his face, but I'm sure the other ones do too.

Takes The Grease Out Of Your Way

Rhon helping me with the dishes.

Her beauty always amazes me.

Especially first thing in the morning,

when her hair is all over the place.

Free Way

This was Friday.  When it was sunny, but still cold.  

She came to me and asked if she could go outside in this get-up.  B.A.'s jacket, Mads' boots (on the wrong feet), and all with only a leotard underneath.

Mads is sporting Rhon's jacket, spiderman slippers, all with jammies underneath.

Awesome.

Big Fat Winter Size Flakes

This was as we were leaving IKEA on Wednesday.  Look at my poor children without jackets.  I know, it's cruel.  But they are eating a cinnamon roll.  Does that make up for it?

I told Dare to smile and that is what I got.  She is hilarious.  And cold, apparently.

This is what we woke up to the next morning.  I guess I shouldn't be surprised after being here for 8 years.  It happens every year...

Celebration

Dare is definitely one of Mads' favorite people.  She can make him laugh like no other.  I think this was his favorite part of his birthday.  When they were sitting at the counter laughing.  At what?  I don't even know.  She doesn't have to do much.

This is "Tortilla Face".

We went to Rubio's for dinner ($1.25 tacos, remember?).  Grandma and Mark joined us.

Tortilla Face looked so cute on the counter.

Then we went to Leatherby's for ice cream.  

I think next time I will just eat him for dessert.

Fourth

Mads

You are the coolest 3-year old on the planet.

You love to laugh.  Mostly at Dare.

You are an awesome big brother.

You love to eat raw onions.  Yellow, green, red.  It doesn't matter.

Being outside is one of your all-time favorite things.

One of your new phrases is, "That's my problem."  You will tell me something mean Dare did to you then say, "That's my problem!"

Your favorite color is green.

You still let me hug you, but the other day you told me, "You give me lovies all the time!"  In an angry tone.

You are thoroughly addicted to your dark blue fleece blanket.  I'll be honest, it is driving me a bit crazy.

You went to nursery last Sunday for the first time.  We'll see if it lasts.

You tell me you love me and that I am your best friend 10 (ish) times a day.  Okay, you tell anyone you like those same things.

You still love to watch airplanes, and especially the army helicopters that fly by our house.

You like to ride your bike and scooter.

The first thing you say to me every morning is, "Can I have some cereal?"

You make Dad carry you to bed on his shoulder every night.

Most nights you end up in my bed.  Right in between me and Dad.

You like to be contrary.  Just like your oldest sister.

You are super smart.

You are incredibly handsome.

I love you to pieces.

Happy Birthday.

My Baby Poop

For some reason my girls think it is fun to say bad words.  Like AFTER I tell them it is a bad word.  They like to try it out a few times before I tell them to seriously stop saying it.  B.A. saw the title of a Blink 182 song called "Dammit".  I told her not to say it because it wasn't polite.  She must have said it 4 times before I finally got her to stop.  The same thing happened with Rhon the other day.  She said hell and asked a few questions about it, using the word of course.  Nate thinks it is funny and ironic that our kids will probably hear all the bad words from me before him and even friends at school.  We are talking the nice ones, people.  And I don't use the words, necessarily.  They just come up somehow.

I am in the habit of calling G "Little Caca."  I must say it to the kid 67 times a day.  It's mostly his fault.  If he stayed out of trouble, I wouldn't have to call him anything.  We decided  long ago that caca would probably be one of his first words.  I think it was number three.   

                                          

                                                             

If that is not the cutest thing, I don't know what is.

By the way, "caca" is not a bad word.  I have gotten confirmation that it is just the same as saying poop.  And I like it better than poop.

David

                                                                

 You know, normal kids take pictures of each other when they get a hold of a camera.  Or their room, or clothes, shoes, etc.  Not my daughter.  She takes pictures of naked kids in books.  I don't know if you can tell, but this is David running away without his clothes on.  I guess Dare thought it was good subject matter.

Hey, maybe this is the start of an inspired career.  After all, she wasn't the first one to think a naked David was good inspiration...

This made me laugh even more.  She gets upset when G tries to take her naked David away.

                                                              

Yay for videos!  I'm glad I had someone (Shelle) to help me figure out how to put them on my blog.  iMovie... duh.

Sunny, 68*

I thought today would be a good day to remember last week when the weather was nice, and we spent a lovely day at the zoo.

This week has been snowy and cold.

That kid next to Dare is not G.  You almost just assume it is.  But no, he is someone else's kid.

MoDA

There is an art museum in my basement.  

One day the girls thought their art was good enough to make a museum out of it.  This is just the first phase.  I imagine it will grow and grow.  I love how they named their pieces.  Here are a few of my favorites...

Abstract Girl by B.A.

The House of Doom by Rhon

The Peaceful Place by B.A.

Fire on the House by Dare

Together Forever

Nate and I went to the temple this evening.  And without detracting from the specialness of this event, I have a story to tell.  Our schedule was tight because we went to the Provo Temple to be with Trey his first time through.  We like to start these outings by kneeling together in prayer.  Nate asked the girls to keep an eye on G for a few minutes and we went to our room together.  Mads followed us and said he wanted to pray too.  As sweet as that is, we wanted to say a prayer together alone.  As Nate shut the door and locked it before Mads could come in, he starts throwing a fit outside our door.  We try to ignore it and start anyway.  Mads stops, and shortly after Dare tries to open the door.  When she figures out it's locked she starts screaming mom through the cracks.  I hear her walk away and say something about unlocking it (they can all unlock our door).  So I decide to interrupt Nate and tell her we will be out in a couple minutes.  She stops the break-in, but doesn't leave the doorway.  Then we hear a massive banging on our door.  Not just once, over and over.  It sounds like she is stepping back to get a running start, and ramming her whole body against our door.  Then I hear Dare say, "No, B.A.  They said they would be out in a minute!"  All the while, continuing her rhythmic banging.  B.A. says, "But G wants Mom sooooo bad!"  In between the bangs I can hear G wailing.  I think it was the last few bangs that did it for me.  I break into uncontrollable laughter.  As we laughed and tried to finish up, our babysitter rings the doorbell and Paris barks.  Loudly.  The whole situation seemed so comical to me.

I love my family.  I love that we can laugh together and pray together.  I love that we have 7 completely different personalities all in one place.  And it works.  It is perfect. 

This picture is hilarious, and I think it goes with  my story.  Dare is practically crying.  Rhon looks like she is annoyed and bored all at the same time.  B.A. looks happy that she is on top.  Mads is trying to figure out how to pile on, and G just wants to get in on the action.

Pay It Forward

It's a game!  Games are my favorite things in the whole world!  Thanks Marian!

So, here's how it works: the first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive, at some point during the year, a handmade gift from me.  What is will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise!  The catch is that you must participate as well.  Before you leave your comment, write up a pay it forward post on your blog to keep the fun going (or copy and paste like I did).  Then come back, let me know you're going to play, and sit back and anticipate the arrival of your gift!  Come and play!

Unlike Marian, I will only be sending something to the first 3 people.  Come on people!  I have lots of Rock Band to play in my spare time!

Extra

G now has 8 teeth.

Mads has a new way of talking.  He repeats himself.  For example, he will say, "I need to go pee.  I do."  Or, "I built a tower.  I did."  He does this with pretty much every sentence that comes out of his mouth.  He does.

G's new nick name is Moto Moto.  Because we like his zestiness.

We went to a U of U gymnastics meet last night.  The girls loved it.  The two younger ones.  B.A. didn't go.

I bought Cocoa Krispies and Pop Tarts at Walmart last time.  What is wrong with me?

In fact, I don't think I have made a warm meal in 2 days!

Rhon has been screaming a lot.  For fun, of course.  But it sounds like she is dying, or watching someone die.  An activity we must cut off immediately.

March is the month of spring!  We are so excited.

Mads has a fever.  Why can't we be healthy?

Dare is developing a bad habit of never doing anything for herself.  She is constantly asking either Mads or Jack to everything for her.  And they will do it!  "Thanks Jackie Love."

March 7, 2009 is an exciting day.  Very exciting.

I just realized I said something about all the kids but B.A.  Since I can't think of any news about her, I asked her for some ideas.  She came in here and started to squawk.  When I looked at her like she was crazy, she said, "What?  I'm a velociraptor."  Then she said, "Well, bye bye" and ran off to play video games.  

Quick story:     The other night at dinner Rhon asked if we could pray like Muslims.  It seemed totally random.  Then she got down on the floor and asked which direction Mecca was, then demonstrated how they pray.  She threw out her pretend prayer rug, knelt down and bent all the way over with their arms stretched out.  Dare took a special interest in this demonstration.  She wanted to pray like Muslims too, but she kept calling them Muglins.  Nate thought that sounded like Islamic non-wizarding folk.  Dare decided they do it that way because they must not have tables to rest their elbows on.  This conversation was in now way disrespectful.  We explained that different religions have different ways of praying, and Heavenly Father is happy when anybody prays.  

The Games

G is super sick.  I am just sitting on the couch with him in my arms.  I will probably be here most of the day.  The other day I was wishing he would let me hold him the way he did when he was 6 months old.  Now all I want is for him to feel like himself again.

I have been looking at my pictures.  I found these and thought they were entertaining.  They were taken in November.

If there is ever a bag of mini marshmallows in our house, you can guarantee that we will end up throwing them at each other.  If you haven't tried this game, you are missing out on all kinds of fun.  Marshmallows are perfect because they fly well, and they don't hurt if you miss or if they hit a tooth.  I love starting this game by telling the kids to open their mouths as big as they can.  They will just sit there with their mouths open until they have a marshmallow to chew up.  In each picture there is a small, bright-white flying object.

Miss!

With G, it's just like chucking something at him.  He hasn't quite grasped the concept yet.

That one is going to make it.  Admittedly, it is hard to miss that cavernous opening.

Don't judge because my counter is so messy.  It looks like we were baking something.  Sheesh!

Love and Beauty

The kids and I were able to attend the Draper Temple open house on Wednesday.  I knew it was going on, but it didn't occur to me to take them until last Sunday.  I sometimes don't even consider activities because they seem out of my capabilities.  When I looked at the reservation schedule, I realized Nate would not be able to go with us.  I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I had to give my kids this opportunity.  I'm glad I did.  It was really nice to be able to show them the beautiful rooms and tell them what they are for.  I think they liked the Bride's Room the best.  As we walked through the men's locker room, Rhon said, "This isn't as pretty as the Bride's Room."  They were thrilled with the mirrors in the Sealing Room.  I kept lifting them up one at a time so they could see themselves forever.  I remember going through the San Diego Temple as a kid and being glad for the experience.  I hope they can remember it.  They were so good.  Even Dare.  EVEN MADS.  G, not so much.  But I did go at his nap time.  Luckily we just kept moving, and didn't give him time to get too bored.  But you know how they say it is a silent tour?  Not with my clan!  G was kind of loud.  I'm just glad he didn't puke on one of the super nice white chairs.  (Or carpet, or couch, or curtains, etc.)

Here we are at the church having cookies.  We dubbed this the "Cookie Room".

This was as close as I could get to getting all 5 of them in the picture.  As you can imagine, G did not want to sit still.  Especially after not being able to run around for the last hour or so.

These crack me up.  The four all giving me fake smiles, and G playing in the dirt.

P.S.  I called Aspen before we left to ask about the possibility of strollers.  Aspen didn't think I could bring one.  Then Aspen texted back and said that she would take G for me.  That was so nice of Aspen.  I seriously contemplated it before telling Aspen no thanks.  You rock Aspen!

That is 6 times!!!