And it continues....

- Last night when Hayley and Leah were coloring , Leah told me she was drawing a picture of Taylor Swift and her boyfriend in bed...ummm...okay.

- Fascinated with the fact that there are mice (ack!!) in our house, after catching mouse #4 and this morning and seeing it squirm on the glue trap asked if we could keep it because it was soo cute. Just a few minutes ago she reminded me of that mouse and described it as "gorgeous".

-And Reese, cute yet destructive Reese, please STOP licking the glass because i am low on windex. Also, licking cotton balls is not a good idea, unless you are Buddy on Elf, then i would say go right ahead.

Cute...yet, perplexing.

I could blog everyday about something Leah says or does and yesterday she was on a roll. Here are a few..

- While watching a Baby Einstein video with Reese which has puppets and real people she asks, "Mom, are those puppets dressed up as people?"

- Her name for Reese yesterday was "Reese Boob".

- Proudly she tells me "mom, i can spell DVD! ...D-V-D!"

-Disappointed that Matt ate all of the crab for dinner, I offered her fish and she asks "whats fish? is it crab?" No Leah, its fish.

Well, the apple doesnt fall far from the tree . The other day after going over to the church, my car wouldnt start. I was able to get it jump started and went home, and thought it was a good idea to let it run to have the battery charge. Well, after bathing the kids, doing the bedtime routine and watching a few shows, Matt turned it off two hours later.

I could probably think of several other examples about how i have a hollow head, but since its hollow i cant think of any more!

A Visit From Emily (Hermana Stewart)

A friend from my mission came to visit me this weekend with her husband and kids. Some of the memories we made included watching the show "the Big bang Theory" which is HILARIOUS, a yummy Sunday dinner, catching a baby mouse in my house (which i might add should be a sport because it is very difficult), escaping to Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for a caramel apple and Downeast to lust after their CUTE clothes! Thanks Emily for talking, laughing, listening and just being you!

Aggie A-Dawg Aggster

My neighbor asked if i could take a few pics of her little girl Aggie. After I was done , i was reminded how much i enjoy it. My friend Sarah, who is an awesome photographer told me to just buy a black sheet and throw it up on your wall and you have your very own "studio". So, voila!

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY

* Pine-sol . I am addicted. The smell is euphoric to me and it usually means some part of my house is clean and without germies.

*HALLOWEEN -For sure my favorite holiday. 4th of July is a close second. I love that i can hang a "dead foot", as my girls like to call it, and its okay.

* Seeing my girls play WELL together. Sometimes they cant stand eachother but litle do they realize how precious their relationship is and how important they are to eachother.

* The Biggest Loser. I have cried through every episode. Sometimes audibly.

* When Matt wakes from slumber. I love when he emerges from our room peering out into the hall as if he is wondering if its safe to come out into the world of crazy children. This is usually around 2 or 3, right when i can use a little R&R. We will play until he has to go back to work in the pm and now I cant imagine how other women live without their hubbies until 6 or 7!

* Feeding people GOOD food. I love having family or friends over for a meal. Even if its a slice of warm cornbread on a cold day, it makes me happy.

* Finally, my own "a-ha" moments or self-realization when i can clearly see, without feelings of discouragement what i need to improve. Even better, actually improving these things! I have had tid-bits of personal success in the last month or so and it is rejuvinating to me. Watching conference gave me more of these moments.

Will somebody diagnose me please?

So I have asthma. But I was diagnosed with "exercise induced asthma" when i was younger. Strangly, my asthma did not act up at all when i moved to Utah 13 years ago. i only needed my inhaler when i would go back down to California OR if I was going to be anywhere there was a cat. I maybe would use my inhaler 1-2 times a year.

For almost a year now i have been running. I started out running for a few minutes everyday. (I was out very out of shape after I had Reese.) Now i run 3-5 miles a day a few days a week. I have used my inhaler 1 time through all of this.

These last couple of weeks I have noticed my breathing getting worse. This morning was terrible. After 1/2 mile i am not even paying attention to my music because i am waiting for my body to let me fully inhale. Finally i can and i run a little further. My body feels like i am carrying an extra 50 lbs and i am totally sluggish. AND totally frustrated. The absolute STUPID thing is that my inhaler is empty because i was going to eventually get it refilled because i need it like twice a year. I pushed myself to go 1.5 miles until i was light headed and wanted to throw up.
Now i am at the computer and feeling fine but very discouraged. I know, I KNOW. I will get my inhaler refilled ASAP. But really, why all of a sudden? I dont get it.

So how was your morning?

Good-bye Cheeze Its. Good-bye Life.

Helllllooo South Beach!

Warning: This post will sound totally vain. Most everyone who knows me knows that i am NOT. Vain over what? I mean, really.
But I have hit a plateau. Meaning the #s on the scale have been stuck. I cant complain. I can kind of eat whatever AS LONG AS I run several times a week. But when you stop seeing changes its kind of depressing.
And this is torture because the weather is turning colder and do you know what that means? Warm comfort food. Mash potatoes, stews, bread dipped in soup...must i go on? Not to mention the festive baked goods!
So, no bread, starches, sugar of any kind. No milk even! No fruit even! Just for a couple of weeks.
The funny thing is that i feel great after the first few days of being a BEAST.
So wish me luck. Its also nice to realize that I DO have self-control especially when all of the Halloween candy is staring you in the face!

This is ABSURD.

As I mentioned before, i have PMS, so my OB recommended taking a birth control pill. Yaz, to be specific. i opened up that little information booklet just for the heck of it and this is what i read.


RISKS OF TAKING ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES:
Risk of developing blood clots.
Heart attacks and strokes.
Gallbladder disease.
Liver Tumors
Cancer of the reproductive organs and breasts.


Besides the vaginal bleeding, fluid retention, depression (WHAT??!!), melasma, other side effects are: nausea, vomiting, change in appetite, headache, nervousness, dizziness, loss of scalphair, rash and vaginal infections.

Soooo. ummm. No thanks, I think i will just go for being depressed 3 days out of 30.

Can i butt you please?

I was asking Hayley about her day at school and who she played with. She told me names of two boys and sometimes they play "can I butt you please." Perplexed, I asked what that game was and she said "Mom, its when you are standing in line and let's say I am behind Nick and i ask if i can butt him, and then i get in front of him!"
"No Hayley, you are suppose to ask if you can butt-in!"
Her eyes became evry big and her response was a thoughtful "oooohhhhh".

Miss Independant

Dear Reese,
I would like you to take a look at this picture. You belong to a HAPPY family. Well, happy about 95% of the time. But lately you have not been so happy. I understand that you are getting your two front fangs in and that is probably painful. But you did get 4 molars at once and this seems to be much more difficult. Maybe your fingers hurt from chewing on them so much.
I also recognize that you are usually wearing hand me downs. Probably everyday. Is this hurting your identity as favorite child in the family? Is this what its about? An identity crisis? We all do look alike, with the blonde hair and all. People think daddy and i look like brother and sister. So maybe we can weave in some darker extensions for you, so you can stand out a bit.
I also see your frustrations through the physical abuse. i know Leah runs up to you out of no where and slaps you for no reason, but this DOES NOT mean you can slap me across the face. This needs to stop. ASAP. Along with the screaming. I need my ability to hear. Since my eyesight is failing and other body parts are not quite what they were at 20, I would like to be able to hear. Believe me, someday you will be able to talk and express profound gratitude for what an amazing mother I am and I would like to be able to hear those words.
So, maybe we can work on some sign language together and i can buy those videos that teach you how to read when you are like 2 years old. So then you wont be addicted to Dora like some other kid that I know. Even though the pool is closed, i will let you stay in the bath extra long. And i wont make you eat peanut butter and jelly or tasteless mac n cheese while daddy and i eat Cafe Rio.
I will do my best to show you that i still adore you and want to gobble you up everyday. Because i would like to give you a younger sibling to play with, but how things are going right now I might postpone that for a few years. Love ya kid.
Sincerely, MOM

MEET MILES

So take a look at what the cop brought home. There are simply no words to express how I feel about it. Well, there are..but..you know. He has already ran away once and now I know why the girls were inspired to name him Miles. Reese finally has someone to boss around and she does a good job at it. Good thing he is a rather cute dog. I aint havin no ugly dogs at my house!

DE-NIED

Hayley just started first grade. So part of my morning routine includes spending a good half hour with her. Just her. Helping her get dressed, doing her hair, reading to her as she eats her breakfast and making sure she gets to school on time.
This may seem like no big deal to the more seasoned mothers, but its a new and special thing to me to have a quiet household and be able to focus on one child.
I have been trying to read scriptures with Hayley while she eats. Or I try and cram in a mini-gospel lesson hoping that those ideas will be in the back of her head all day and help her. I have not been extremely good at this kind of stuff but i want to be.
But yesterday she said to me before she ran off to the playground " And Mom, no kisses, BECAUSE PEOPLE STARE."
Ughhhh. really? No kisses? None? Nada? And she informed me that walking her to school is not necessary.
My eyes started to burn. But i kept my composure. At least she didnt scream "You are a murderer of love!" like in the movie "Dan in Real Life". Which I am sure happens in real- life. So I guess I am okay. For now.

"You are not in charge of me!"

I promptly put Leah in time out after she yelled at the top of her lungs "I am not going to eat your dinner! You are NOT in charge of me!"
Actually Leah yes, yes I am .
Then she screams " and you are not in charge of daddy eeda(either)!!
I replied, "no, Im not, because daddy is a grown-up and you are a kid."
Yelling once again she says, "I am not a kid!"
"Well then, what are you?"
(she is sobbing) she replies, "Mom, i am a people."

And I know you are OBSESSED with medicine, but its probably not a good thing if you offer to give the neighbor kids some cherry Nyquil. But at least you asked the mom if you could administer the medicine. Good job.

Oregon part I- The Beach

Matt and I were able to take a roadtrip to Oregon to visit some family and play at a beach house! Matt's bro Joe and his wife Nikki were awesome and provided a great beach house, yummy food, good laughs and a psycho cat. But good thing they have the most loveable dog who my kids thought was the highlight of the trip, next to catching snakes and swimming in the hot tub. Although the beach was a little colder than i am use to, it was still so gorgeous.

Oregon part II- Murdock the Beloved Dog and family

Oregon Part III -Friends

We were lucky enough to meet up with some friends who use to be next door neighbors and now are tree huggers. I love that I can see these wonderful people and be able to pick up where we left off. I love you guys!

TUDE

Dont let this smile fool you because this child has major attiTUDE! Where did my sweet-swinging-arms-happy-go-lucky-worships mom-child go?
I do realize that she cannot say any words and her vocab is limited to taradactle- (sp?) like screaming, but give us a break child!
The latest development, besides her deafening screams, are: biting me anywhere she can sink her teeth because she thinks its funny when i tell her NO, pinching me anywhere on my body, chucking food for fun, climbing up the bunkbed ladder, having absolutely NO fear in the swimming pool and last but not least, she lays on the floor (usually in church) on her stomach and kicks and pounds her fists while screaming..usually for no apparent reason.
And this is when she is totally healthy. She has had a cold this week so imagine this behavior while being extra clingy and whiney.
Thank goodness for motherly love that helps me endure through all of the chaos.

I didnt know that I was a Deer Whisperer!

Unfortunately this is the only picture I have from Girls Camp. But it was such a blast.

Just a few more that I love.

Fearless Little Fish

My children are fish. They could swim all day. The other night we were at a friends house and both of them jumped off the high dive. In their clothes. At night. I should mention that Chuck E Cheese was a guarantee for their bravery. And did i mention that Reese was screaming to get into the pool?
So this is Matt jumping off the high dive when he was little and they are proudly following his footsteps.

OUR FAMILY PICTURES!!!!!

If you want to see them click HERE

Does anyone else see the resemblance??

Sunshine After the Rain

I am going to get really personal here and tell you and the world that I have really bad PMS. I will spare you the details of despair but I will tell you that it is not just cramps and mood swings. It is a dark and deep hole that I find myself in that I dont know how to climb out of. It is the scariest place I have been, emotionally, and it makes me wonder how people deal with depression on a daily basis. It makes me have a tremendous amount of compassion for them.
So on a lighter note, I am out of that hole and i am standing in the sunshine. i am content and i feel steady and ready to take on the daily tasks awaiting me. I feel refreshed and my mind is somehow clear even though my eyelids are still very heavy. So i am just going to take time to tell my family what i love about them.
Matt- I dont know why but I never thought i would find myself in my thirties watching the Simpsons with my spouse. Last night you begged me to watch it with you and I am so glad i did. We laughed so much, as we do EVERY DAY..TOGETHER. And i realize that laughter is vital for our love because the world we live in and YOU work in is a serious and scary place. Thank you for that laughter and ALL of the MANY wonferful things about you. I could go on and on about this man...
Hayley- YOU are my beautiful burst of sunshine. I love that we can have conversations now and I am fascinated with your fascination with the world around you. As you get older, I see why Heavenly Father gave you to me first. As you go about dreaming of being a mermaid while you sing Taylor Swift songs, I am terrified you will grow up too fast. I want to protect you and cradle that kindness that is in you but let you experience all of the things in life that will make you better.
Leah- Oh Leah. You are just a bag of skittles. So sweet and colorful. But a sticky, chewy, scattered mess when opened. I cannot believe that a 30 lb being can make me feel all that you do. You make me laugh like crazy but you can make me crazy. I know this is just a chapter in your book of development and i will someday miss your care free way about you..which is commonly expressed through your hair-do. Yesterday you asked me if we could see Michael Jackson in his box (casket). You were bummed when I told you that was not possible and then you went on about something else. You are one of a kind. Stay bright. Stay happy. Stay funny.
Reese- I LOOOVE how you swing your arms now when you walk...like there is a happy tune you hear that no one else can. I think that YOU are MY happy tune. Although you are the constant tug on my leg (and you occasionally pull down my skirt in public)all you want is to have me hold you, be near me, do what i am doing and see what i see. Every morning we lay in bed together while you drink your bottle and you are not content unless our faces are touching and my arm is around you. Then you are my shadow for the remainder of the day. Nothing in this world can produce the feeling a mother has for her child. It is God-given and nothing, nothing compares. I think it is God's way of letting us feel what He feels for us.
Motherhood is ALOT of work. It is hard and it is, I think, the toughest part of this life exam. But how else would i be able to feel this joy ? Especially after feeling moments of darkness. I need my burst of sunshine, my laughter, my skittles and my happy tune. :)

Quite the Party!

For Hayley's 6th b-day we had some neighborhood friends over to celebrate. Hayley's original idea was to have a "Taylor Swift" party and dance around and sing to Taylor Swift with her taylor Swift hairdo. I couldnt really picture 6 year old boys enjoying that, so we went crazy with pizza and ballons and pillowcases and candy. i am continuing the traditional "Tootsie Roll monster" that originated from my dad who kindly passed the torch to Matt to be be the new monster. It just involves 1 "sleeping" adult who can growl at kids and handle being surrounded by gobbs of candy without eating it. And the kids loved it..well, all the kids over 5 years of age. Anyways, Hayley had a very happy birthday.

Mini Palos Verdes Reunion

I was able to have a little reunion at my house with friends from the Palos Verdes stake! One of my favorite things is catching up with people from my childhood. All of these people i dearly love and it was so fun to see them. Hopefully more people will come next time!

HOME

Why, why, WHY is that not me standing on the beach?!!! UGGGHHH. It almost causes me physical pain to even look at the picture. Because you see, i spent many summers on that beach, without a care, without knowing how i was aging myself by just LYING there. My worry then was making sure my tan lines were just right. But soon, I will take my kids to that beach and i will tell them lots of stories as i am smearing SPF all over them. Someday. Hopefully soon.
(Thanks to Jenn who took that picture while in Palos Verdes..she shares this love too.)

THE PRAYER OF ALL PRAYERS

This was Hayley's prayer tonight:
Dear Heavenly Father,
thank you for all of the rain today. It was so beautiful. Please dont let my mom do any more work today or tomorrow. And thank you for all this STUFF you made for us.
Amen.

Love that girl.