CALIFORNIA TRIP Part One -Beach party

My cute 4 year old neighbor just asked me if this was my Grandma. I wa tempted to say yes just to see her reaction.

PERSON OF THE YEAR FOR 2008

Thats right Scuba Steve..move over..we have our new person of the year!

Okay, so if you want to be a transvestite, you might want to check out a few womens magazines, like Vogue, or maybe just watch Project Runway. Lose the sunglasses. The sun has gone down and they are ugly anyways. Good job on matching your socks to your Grandma's dress...but you could seriously use a flat iron. And maybe a touch of pink lipstick to go with the PINK theme. So if you are wondering...Matt DID take this picture...and the she-male did say alot of people ask to take his picture. I am sure people were wondering what this cop was doing standing on the side of the rode taking this picture. CLASSIC.

So for a good time, visit the colorful city of South Salt Lake. Preferrably after the sun goes down. But bring your pepper spray.

Reese's Blessing Day

No, they are NOT homeless...or crazy.

If you look at most people's blogs, their children are generally clean, well-groomed, usually have bows in their hair if they are girls..and well, have pleasant smiles on their faces. When it comes to my kids..not so much. Please let me explain. My children have been living in their bathing suits since the pool opened down the street. Hayley put on her jacket because it was raining outside...which explains the mud. But the poses? And the creative facial expressions? That clearly comes from Matt's side of the family.

SHOTS OR YOTS

This is my conversation with hayley about getting her shots for preschool which we have had many times.

Hayley: "mom, will i need to get my shots soon?"
Me: "Yep, i scheduled your appointment for next week."
Hayley: "Noooooooo!" (screaming like I was about to cut off her arm) "what do they feel like?"
Me: "it feels like someone has pinched you" (now she is more hysterical)
Hayley: " can i just get one?"
Me: "We will ask the doctor if you can just get one."
Hayley: "if he gives me more i will run home."
Me: "but Hayley, you need to get them so you stay healthy."
Hayley: "Will i still be 5 after I get my shots?" (still sobbing)
Me: "yes, you will still be five"

LEAH PIPES IN: " will Joseph get his shots too?"
Hayley: "stop talking about it!!!!"
Leah: " I think Joseph might die when he gets his shots (yots)."
Hayley: "Noooooooooooooooo!!!!"

THANK YOU LEAH FOR BEING SO TENDER HEARTED ABOUT SUCH A SERIOUS TOPIC. THAT IS WHY I LOVE YOU.

PLEASE READ

All I will say is that I went to bed late, woke up with the baby a few times and was NOT ready for Leah to wake up when she did. I AM NOT THE GREATEST MOTHER WHEN I HAVE THE HEADACHE OF POOR SLEEP. So I was not the nicest to Leah this morning. It is hard to be the mother of little ones sometimes. Thats just life.

Just recently, a girl I knew in college lost her 1 year old niece in a drowning accident and her mother has written openly about losing her and the whole grieving process. I am amazed. She has turned her heart inside out and stuck it on her blog. I wish i could articulate how reading her words make me feel. I read them this morning to remind me to love my kids more and to be nicer! Not to long ago i had a friend take his own life and leave a wife and their child. My heart ached for a LONG time. Still does when i think about it. This mother writes even how to treat those who are dealing with their loss. I wish i had this to read when my friend had died. I feel like trials are dark clouds in the distance that you CAN see and that WILL come. I am grateful for her sharing so openly so I may be better prepared. Take a few minutes to check it out. http://www.adailyscoop.blogspot.com/

GROSS

Story #1
For the last few days I have had a TERRIBLE tooth ache. Worse than cramps. Worse than braxton hicks. Worse than learning how to snowboard. I must tell you that I have had TWO root canals on this particular tooth. So the dentist decided to extract it. I made him make it so numb that i did not know my two front teeth existed. But the GROSSEST part was even though I couldnt feel much pain, I still felt and heard the tooth being ripped out of my mouth. it was lovely.

Story #2
Leah pulled down her pants and peed on my neighbors grass.

CHUNK OF LOVE

So...I am more in love than ever before. I love her double chin, her squishy thighs and her MULL-HAWK (mullet+mowhawk). Its fabulous. And her hair is now growing in blonde which is still untameable so it looks like her hair is suspended above her head. Its quite the sight. She has slept through the night 3 times so far. She smiles alot and uses every ounce of energy to try and talk to me. Her baby acne is finally gone and she just gets cuter everyday.

Home Sweet Home

I love, love, love where I live. In the 6 homes on my side of the street there are TWENTY- TWO kids all under the age of 14. And all of them have awesome parents. This summer has been so fun. My kids want to be outside all day. And now the pool is open down the street. If anyone is looking for a GREAT place to live, come visit us!

REESE...to comb, or not to comb...that is the question.

Fourth of July...my FAVORITE holiday.

Here we are having fun with our sparkles...i mean sprinklers...uh, i mean SPARKLERS. Thats the word. I think that maybe half of my brain was thrown out with the placenta which leaves me with nada. Zip. Zilch. Nothing people. But I DO remember how to eat hamburgers, hang out and watch my husband play with fire.

LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM.

BEAR LAKE 2008 - I LOVE YOU GUYS!

Dearest Reese,
I just wanted to inform you of a few things and apologize for some others in this letter here. So FIRST, I would like to tell you that I am sorry that I pushed you out of that warm womb and into this crazy household. I know you miss being curled up into the fetal position because everytime I try and burp you, you get in that position thinking that I might just put you back. Not gonna happen. And I know you miss your pool and your rope. I am certainly sorry that you feel like a bobble head right now. Your neck will be stronger soon and mommy wont let your head fall off. I am also sorry that its hard to uncross your eyes sometimes. Just know you wont see double for long. You do not have two mommies. And you WILL get control of your arms and legs soon. I am sorry that you were pulling your own hair tonight and you did not know how to stop. That was sad. i am also sorry that the inside of my upper arms and my neck dont produce milk. I know you think they do, but they dont. So, I am NOT sorry that I want to kiss you non stop. I just love your little expressions and your little newborn noises, even when they wake me several times a night. i love that you try to suck on Leah's face everytime she holds you and that you give your two big sisters smiles even if its just gas. That makes them so happy. I love the peach fuzz that covers your body and every perfect finger and body part. I love that you have one of your Daddy's dimples on your right cheek. You are so lucky because I always wanted a dimple. Thank you for being a sweet , peaceful and perfect little person who has made me calmer and want to be better. I love you Reese...more than you will ever know. Love, MOM

Bear Lake or Bust!!!!

Something that I love about Matt's family is that they are really good at taking FUN trips. We have done several family reunions at some awesome cabins in some beautiful places. We tried out Bear Lake a couple of years ago and it was one big party. Six out of the seven siblings all came which means lots of kiddos too. Hayley loves being with her cousins. I love being with my in-laws..but especially their TOYS. So here are some pics. We are heading up there in a few days and adding Dave's new boat to the mix. Yahoo!!!!

" It matters not our circumstance, be we humble or arrogant, poor or rich, free or enslaved, learned or ignorant, loved or forsaken, we can address Him. We need no appointment. Our solicitation can be brief or can occupy all the time needed. It can be an extended expression of love and gratitude or urgent plea for help. He has created numberless cosmos and populatedthem with worlds, yet you and i can talk with Him personally, and He will ever answer." -Richard G Scott

A Glimpse of My Life

First of all, I could just sit and hold Reese all day. She is my little peanut! OOOOH, I am so in love! And my cute Leah...WHAT do I do? Right when I am about to go CRAZY, she does something funny , like this. Maybe she got cold? We will never know.

Back to normal..almost

I am soooooo happy NOT to be preggers anymore. I still have quite a bit of shaping up to do, but I feel great!

Happy Anniversary..umm, a few days late!

I actually came home from the hospital ON our annivaersary......SO, HERE'S TO : 3 kids, 8 moves, 6 jobs, 7 reptiles, 7 guns, 87 boxes of wheat thins, approx. 3, 451 fountain drinks and LOTS of kisses later. Love you Matt.

TWINNERS

I seriously cant get over how much Reese looks like Leah when Leah was a newborn. See for yourself.....

My THREE Little Girls!

Reese was born May 23rd and weighed 8 lbs. We are SO happy to have her here!

My Mothers Day Present

My cute Matt planted flowers for me for Mothers day. i am pretty sure this was done at 3 am. I was very, very impressed.

I thought I was looking in the mirror...

Looks like there has been some fooling around on the farm... I am sure grateful that my baby isnt kicking me with its HOOVES..and that i dont have to try and get comfortable on some hard dirt.

A much needed Girls Night Out....

This last Saturday i was able to go out to dinner with some old roomates whom i consider some of the most treasured people in my life. We had such a great time. It is so wonderful to have people in your life who have contributed to the other chapters in your life and who REALLY know you. Even though we dont see eachother very often we can always pick up where we left off, laugh with one another and walk away from just those couple of hours feelings grateful that they have been and will be part of your story. I love you girls!

Let's take a closer look and answer some questions...

Would you think that I am pregnant with twins just by looking at this picture? Probably. Do I want to burn, shred and obliterate every piece of maternity clothing that I have? Absolutely. Will i miss waddling to the bathroom every hour and a half almost every night? Nope. Will i positively throw up just by the thought of someone touching my protruding, extra sensetive belly button? YES, YES and YES. Do i regret addopting Taco Bell's "fourth meal" idea? Yeeaahh. In this picture, was i storing food in my cheeks for later? Maybe. Will the South Beach Diet book become another book of Holy Writ in a month or so? Its very likely. Will Matt get jealous of the quality time i spend with Tony Horton on the P90X workout videos? Yes! Am I worried that my water might break in a public place and that I will hear over a LOUD speaker that "we have an amniotic fluid spill on isle 3!" Uh-huh. Am i excited for a giant needle to go into my back so i dont feel the pain of labor? Heck yes. Am I DYYYING to see my baby's little squished pink face for the first time and hold her close to me? Umm, yeah. Will i hug, kiss and love all over this sweet baby I have been so ecstatic to meet and feel like I want to cry my eyes out? Absolutely and positively. Will all of the waddling, aches , pains, trips to the potty, lack of sleep and weight gain be worth it? YES!!!

So, Daybreak has a freakin' lake! And its stocked with fish! We took the girls there to other day and they were SUPER excited. They would have dove in if we let them. That is Matt sitting on the dock with them. What a cute dad.

I love my family...

Matt and i had a awesome weekend. It was seriously one party after another. On Friday we had a going away party for a friend who he worked with on the Highway Patrol. we fired up the grill and ate some yummy hamburgers and hotdogs. i think we had almost 18 people over. Then on Saturday we had an early Mothers day celebration with Jenn, Rich and their kids along with Catherine, her son Laird and my mom and dad. And yes , we fired up the grill again and had a fabulous time. Since we had so much food left we had all of Matt's family over which consists of 10 adults and 14 kids. Two words..TOTAL BLAST. I love,love , love being with family and friends. And who can resist a BBQ on a beautiful day? Check out the "exotic" sister Catherine..WHERE did she COME from?

WHAT HAPPENED?!!

LEAH..where do I begin? i will be SHOCKED if she makes it to her 4th birthday. So I told you about jumping from the top bunk which led to her insisting that her 8 month pregnant mother carry her around. FYI..not fun. Then the other day she pushed a stool up to the microwave while i was cooking oatmeal and opened the microwave when it beeped, lost her balance and was dangling 3 feet above the floor, holding on to dear life. You should have SEEN her face. Priceless. You know you are an unhealthy blogger when you consider re-dangling your child from a microwave for a good photo OP. Yesterday, hayley informed me that Leah tried to hang from the garage door while it was opening. i was not a witness, so this info may be fabricated, but it would not suprise me. NOW its time for a CONFESSION. Feel free to leave nasty comments..the other day was a BAD day for me. I am not sure why but everything made my blood boil. And as I was driving with the kids in tow, my precious soda spills all over my front seat...and my reaction? And I quote " oh S*#T" . I know, I know, bad mommy, bad mommy! And since Leah has selective hearing for everything destrucutive and nothing constructive (and cant say her S's yet) she asks "mom. why ye yay YIT?" So there you go. And I have just come to the conclusion that just maybe she was in the birth canal a little too long.

Parenting Skillzzzz

So today after church, Matt and I were sitting on our front porch. We usually ask our kids what they learned at church that day. Matt asks Hayley what she had learned and her reply was "umm.... stuff". He asks her twice more. She's not sure. AND THEN HE SAYS as he spots what he thinks is a dime out of the corner of his eye.."If you tell me what you learned at church I will give you money." UMMM...WHAT? What was that tactic? I was laughing so hard that she thought Daddy was joking and blew off the conversation. Then we ask Leah. Response: nuffing. What did you learn about? Response: playing. Did you learn about Jesus? Response: nope. i also feel the need to mention that Leah jumped off the TOP bunk last night and i thought she broke something. Dont worry people, we have this parenting thing under control...right?

Doughnuts anyone?

As i mentioned before, I just had my 30th birthday. And as one of my suprises, Matt took the time to do THIS. If you read my "about me" on my blog, I mention that i would like to eat powdered doughnuts all day on my birthday. Well guess what people, powdered doughnuts have CHANGED! I dont know if these were simply not fresh, but after testing the 6th box (no joke) they were all kind of gross..they had a chemical flavor to them..like they had been sitting at the doughnut plant alittle too long. Sad huh? If anyone knows where to find really yummy powdered doughnuts, let me know. i have only 6 weeks left to splurge a little before I shed the baby weight.

Happy Birthday Babe!

CRAZY TURNS 3!

We just celebrated Leah's 3rd birthday! I seriously cannot believe it has been 3 years since she was born..one of the BEST days of my life. I am a firm believer that birthday celebrations should last longer than 1 day, so we have been doing lots of fun things like Chuck E Cheese, going to ride horses and harassing the animals at the petting zoo. And of course a birthday extravaganza with lots of cousins, good food and presents. So here are a few shots of the fun. I love my Leah-lum.

No furry pets in this house..

This picture is for Judy Hribar and Kathy Garnica.

Motherly Love

Sometimes i cannot believe the words that come out of my mouth in response to the behavior of my 2 almost 3 year old. I understand that this age can be difficult, but I am having a hard time drawing the line between age appropriate behavior and just plain craziness....for my 2 year old that is. I have concluded that I am already crazy... here are some commonly used phrases that are uttered..
Leah! get off the counter!
Stop putting your toys in the fridge!
Please dont kiss the snake..she might bite you.
Get your hand OUT of your pants!
Stop gagging yourself..you might barf.
DONT bite your toenails!
Please stop stepping on your sister!
Do NOT drag Jax (our lizard) around by the leg OR tail!
No, you CANNOT play with the mealworms..they are Jax's dinner..take them OUT of your pocket please.
Please dont spit on the floor
WHY did you pee on the floor? Again?!
Stop licking the glass!
No, you cannot watch Gremlins..it will give you bad dreams!
PLEASE, PLEASE dont clog the toilet..we have exceeded our toilet paper allowance.
No, we cannot go back to Tarzans treehouse until you get therapy!
Okay, so the last statement is not actually uttered, but almost.

I just wanted to let everyone know that my mom voted for David Archuletta TWENTY ONE times last night. So if you wanted to vote for him and didnt, dont worry, she took care of it.