Mother Freaking Nature Hates Me! Friday Funny? or Freaky Friday?

Mother Nature, well she really hates us this year..... PROOF? you want Proof? ok here is your stinking proof: LOL LOL

This my beautiful mothers day gift from last year:It is now this, not so beautiful heap of metal in the front yard this year: GRRRRR!!!!!!!

After FLYING from the porch to the front yard (yard-ish area) in the nice gust of wind last week. Yeah ain't she swell? Really, Mother Nature, what did I ever do to you??

(and just for fun let's blame Nikki.. LOL LOL I am sure you did something that made mother nature mad at you so that she would blow things all over my yard. tee hee hee p.s. Nikki thinks I use my blog to blame her for thing. She is funny and very sweet.)

And how funny is this: Just to keep things fair and balanced, she also sent up a big wind gust (micro-burst) the next night and hurled Jesse's fathers day BBQ from last year across the back yard and tore off the gasket or valve and hose for the propane and it emptied the tank. Lucky for him the BBQ is still going to work we only need to get a new hose and valve. Unlike my poor swing that is totally toast!!! I am so sad about it too and just looking at these pictures of it when it wasn't dead make me want to cry all over again. Boo Hoo Me! :( And also to make matters worse a few nights later she sent a nice hefty frost (yes in dang MAY!) to freeze my garden and kill Jesse's beloved tomato plants. I am telling you the weather is very strange this year, and I am SICK of it. So today we got to re-plant the garden. And it better not freeze again! So how is that for your laugh of the week?

Friday Funny? or Freaky Friday? LOL

Crafty Goodness and Girl Fun

OOH LA LA!: OK so I am like what almost a month late? But I really wanted to post these pictures because we had so much fun back in April at Scrapbook USA in SLC. We have this little group that gets together every time the expo runs and we keep adding people each time too and that makes it even funner. :) We are loving this tradition. This time we stayed at my house and I loved, loved, loved being the host, since I finally have some room to do it. I know you totally missed sleeping on the love seat huh Amy? I kicked the kids out of their rooms and they slept in the bonus room for a few nights so they were loving it too, thinking it was an extension of spring break. (we got home from spring break Thursday night and the girls started arriving Thursday night too so it was pretty much an extension of spring break) And then we took over the bedrooms and house. It was great. Poor Jesse.

This was such a great way to beak in the new house and I loved taking some time off work to just hang with the girls. Here are the pictures so that I have proof that I actually did get some crafting time. WOO HOO!!!

My total favorite purchase this year was these card kits from Creating Keepsakes. LOVE THEM! I bought a lot of them since I planned on using them as gifts. I am not creative but I love to create and this is a super cool way for me to go. Any time it is pre-thought out is good for me. And each kit makes 75 cards so I was uber impressed. Wishing I could get more actually.

Here are some of the other cards I made that weekend and the bags that I put the cards in for the teachers. These cards were from kits by My Minds Eye. Super Cute Huh? Then the night before mothers day I thought of an even cuter card holder so my mothers day gifts were mondo cutsie. I will try to find the picture and add it too the bottom.

After the expo and after we had shopped till we dropped we stopped of to eat. I took Samantha with me to the expo and she had a blast I found her a great kit that had a 12x12 book and all the matching papers and sticker and etc. for $15 she was in heaven but she got sooo tired and said she couldn't shop any more (after like 3 hrs) and since Nikki was leaving early she was nice enough to take her home. It is along drive that was very nice of her. Here are the ones that when to eat. Subrina, and her Niece, Trissy, Amy w/Trissy's little girl, Marylnn with her tiny baby, And Heidi.
Here is Marylnn and her tiny baby she wasn't even 6 weeks old but ML brought her and came and had fun anyway. We all loved taking turns holding her, and I think mommy had a fun time, and that she really needed the mommy break too. There is no therapy quite like girls nights especially sleep overs, right? Especially for a mom that just had her 3rd baby. It is exhausting.
And here we are just hanging out, scrapping, crafting, playing and eating. I actually had room for 5 fold up tables I was shocked. It was nice we could all fit together in one room area. It was smoochy but nice.
I don't know what possessed us but we were nice and let the kids hang with us this weekend too. Well on Saturday night for a bit anyway. Here are some of my kids and Nikki's kids. Yeah they are bored can you tell? NOT! They loved it. I have to admit having the extra kids around was actually easier because all of my kids had someone to play with. Well, except for Will, but her just loves the chaos. Very true too he never is hard when I have him in a big group. It is when we are trying to deal with him at home in the quiet that he turns into a monster. Strange o kid.
Garyn and Kenzie. They had a blast running around and playing. Now don't they make a cute couple? Yeah, I am thinking Subrina and I should arrange a marriage.... LOL I am sure the will love to hear that in 20 yrs. But he already knows I am nuts.

As you can see it was a pretty successful weekend. Lots of fun and lots of crafting. My kids made tons of scrapbook pages and Samantha's looked better than mine. Another of her many talents. She just can do anything. No fair. Jaden thinks she hogged up all the family talent but he has talents they are just not the kind you can see or win awards for. But they are still very important and useful. I felt the same way growing up I was smooshed in between 2 brothers that were 4.0 students, with lots of abilities. But they (and they will disagree here but it my blog so hahahaha) they were smart nerds and I was social (lucky to graduate too busy dating) so I just pretended I didn't know them even though I was impressed will all that they could and still can do. They stole the talent jeans in our family. Mean of them huh? But really, they did leave me the grand copy-cat, crafty jean and the party planning jean so isn't that all the talent I need? ;)

Before I was a mom...

This is the email Amy sent me and that they read in church today. I loved it and it pretty well sums it up for me. Enjoy and again Hope you had a Happy Mothers Day!

Before I was a Mom

Before I was a Mom...
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom...
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
or Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night, before I was a Mom

Before I was a Mom...
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried myself.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom...
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom...
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom...
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

And I certainly didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

And the 4 reasons that I love being a mom:

It just doesn't get any better than this!

A tear free Mothers Day woo hoo! (Kind of a rant but here for my own personal enjoyment)

I am happy to report that this was a tear free mothers day and that is a good thing. I remember my 1st mothers day. I was so excited to be a mom and loved the idea of getting to celebrate it. Little did I know that mothers day is no more than a day filled with lots of extra work for the mom and that the dads often just forget about it and leave it all up to the moms but then get mad when the moms think that is not fair. Grrrrr... For some reason it seems that every year I end up in tears on mothers day. I think I just have to high of expectations. I mean really wanting to have a nice calm day and not have to scream my face off to get them to get ready for church or wanting my husband to not ignore me 80 times when I ask for help getting them ready for church or etc. And not wanting to be criticized all day for the crappy mom I am and wanting at least some thought of token of acknowledgment for being a mom even it that is just a card and a candy bar. And wanting to not have to go to church on mothers day with rats nests in my hair or wet hair, or wanting to actually for once have 5 mins to get ready and be able to put on some makeup to hide Godzilla before we leave, are all apparently too much to ask for. Even if for just one day. So for sure the answer is that I have simply been setting my expectations way too high.

So this year I decided to:
#1 plan ahead. Yes a concept foreign to me I know. But I did find the perfect mothers day gifts back when I was at Scrapbook USA in April and I got to start working on them then. (also have the dad's days all figured out) But, did that mean that I was not still working on them at 3 am this moring. Nope I still was but at least by a little after 3 I was done. Better than in the car on the way to the dinner.

#2 SIMPLIFY: Instead of doing 3 dinners in one day we spread it out. I know I am a genius. LOL wasn't even my that did it but is is a great way to go anyway. So on Friday night we took husbands mother out to eat and it was fabulous and great to get to honor her and to give her a night out and the kids always love a nice meal out. Of course Will destroyed the restaurant and I wanted to die of embarrassment but what ever we can't expect too much and he is 2 after all.

And then today we woke up I made my chicken salad sandwich filler and then rushed off to church so the kids could sing to me. ;) Did I make it there with hair done and makeup on? Heck No of course not. But Jesse was AWESOME! He didn't forget that he has to help with Mother's Day this year and he even got me a present. (let me pick out rocking chairs while I was at Walmart yesterday getting my food assignment stuff) and he let me sleep in until 9 and also was very helpful in the kitchen so that I didn't have to take a 1/2 baked salad to the party. Church was fine one speaker read a little story that I had already read in an email earlier this week and I loved it. I saved it and think I will post it here too. It was good. Then after church we went to only one picnic for my mom and it was a nice and relaxed type of dinner. Sandwiches and Chips and salads and lots of chasing the kids but they loved it and it was nice to honor yet another great women. And we are going to his step moms next week for that family mothers day dinner. So it was a nice way to simplify things. Makes it much better when you can enjoy each event as a separate event and not just as a crazy stepping stone in one long day.

#3 I decided thanks to Cecily that I would embrace OMF day. She posted in a great comment on crazymama's blog saying that she celebrates OMF day she said: ...love or hate mothers day? Love it but its not really Mother's Day is it? We've renamed it Oldest Matriarch in the Family (or OMF for short)Day at our house since I just spend the whole time visiting my Mom, MIL and Grandmothers. .....

And you know, that is the thing that I LOVE about mothers day is the idea of celebrating moms! So I decided to not let all the little stuff of the busy day bother me and instead to put my hole heart into loving that I get to celebrate mothers day for the great mothers in my life. And it was great and when I am older I fully expect my kiddo's to pack up their kids and to come and visit me for mothers day. These OMF's in our lives have really earned a day just for them. They have lived through this stage that I am in with multiple little children pecking them like ducks, sadly they have passed the stage of the delightful hand made crooked mothers day gifts and little scribble cards, and past the teen years that I can only imagine and dread and yet they have already survived them, they have lived past the frantic calls in the middle of the night from us as new parents not sure what to do about a sick or non sleeping child and the joy of watchign grandchildren play. They have survived it all the good and the bad and then some and have passed with flying colors. So I would say they have certainly earned the right to a special day dedicated all to them!!!! So I hope you all also had a very happy Oldest Matriarch of the Family Day or Mothers Day or whatever you want to call it. :) I sure did!

Burnt, Melted, and Really wish I could sleep, but the Garden is in

Wow what a day! I am even more red now than I was Tuesday at the track meet. You would have thought I had learned my lesson but nope I am slower than that. My skin is so red. We spent the whole day getting the garden planted. Jesse went a little garden crazy this year. I can't believe how big of a garden he made. sheeesh! He planted 72 tomato plants. I have no idea what we need 72 tomato plants for but ok, what ever. I am on for the ride so here we go. We do bottle each year. I do stewed tomatoes and spaghetti sauce. last year we didn't do a garden because we thought we would be building the house last summer and didn't end up getting the permits until Oct. so I am thinking the one year lack of garden is the bug that has gotten into him this year and made him garden crazy.

We also planted about 70 other plants like, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, a variety of squash, and melons. I am looking forward to the fresh salsa that he makes every year. YUMMY!!! And even though I am burnt to a crisp and I am so stinking tired and have to still work until 2 am, I am glad we have the garden in. It has been lots of fun getting it ready. (now only to start on getting a yard in) The kids helped but mostly spent the day catching frogs and making swamp palaces in the yard for the frogs to play in. Yeah I am sure the poor little frogs love that. Rest assured that all the frogs were returned (escaped) to the wild before end of day. And at least the kids were entertained. Since playing in the mud is all they can do in the yard until we get some energy to actually get it ready for grass.

Oh how I am dreading all that work. It is going to be a huge huge job!! Long story short the reason it has taken so long for us to get our permits to build our house is because we have had water problems on our ground. The final solution to fix the problem was to haul in about 250 loads of rock and dirt. So that our house sits about 4 ft above ground level. So now we have to turn all the fill into a yard by sloping it and etc. And since we are doing that with the little tractor that we borrowed from my FIL we are not going very fast at it. Plus, then we still have to pay for even more dirt to be brought in for top soil. Yeah this is going to be a long summer full of sunburns. I am only beginning. I better invest in some better sunscreen for my almost albino skin. But it will be worth ever single second of it and I know we will even enjoy the process because that is how we are.

And TaDa here is the garden with all the tiny little starter plants in it. Now just to hope the weather will hold up since this has been a strange year for weather. (Please don't freeze and kill all my plants I will cry)

Samantha New Track Star, Missing in Action.....

One of those weeks: a ride on the emotional roller coaster of life... Mostly centered on Samantha

First off I have to say that I am not the only one enjoying my birthday present of the Cricut Machine. Samantha made this cute sign for the door to her room. I love that I actually got her to show some of that cute personality of hers on camera. (she is shy)

Now for the scary story of the day. I had a very busy day with lots to get done. Finishing up my mothers days gifts. And I was sitting here making them around 10 am when I get a phone call from the school. My 1st thought was that Jaden better not be calling to tell me to come get him because my car is still in the shop and I just knew it wasn't Samantha because her class was on a field trip today. It was the school secretary saying that she was calling to see how Samantha is doing. I am like "?????Huh???? what are you talking about?"

So she said "Well isn't she sick? Isn't the why she isn't as school?"

UM so my heart does a leap. I reply in a somewhat panicked voice by now "She better be at school I put her on the bus this morning."

Yeah at this point you can imagine I am starting to think the worst.

So she says "Well, she probably just got marked absent. I will run to her class room and check on her."

Only problem NO ONE is in the class room because they are gone on a field trip. So she assured me she would find out. I told her she better call the bus depot and get the drive on the intercom ASAP and make sure my kid is there. So I hang up start pacing and thinking what the hell happened to my kid? I kept telling myself she is there, she is fine, if anything happened after she got on the bus someone would have seen and would have ran for help, wouldn't they?

So then ah ha I remember the teacher is one of her friends grandma's so I call the mom to get the grandma/ teachers cell phone and guess what she isn't there she is on the field trip too. So then ah ha number 2 call Nikki she may be there she goes on field trips.

So I call her cell phone and she answers.

Me: all calm "are you working or are you on the field trip?"

her: "I am on the field trip"

Me: "Is Samantha there?"

Her: "Ya, why do you need to talk to her?"

Me: wah, wah, wah, boo hoo, hysterically crying "no I am just glad she is with you and alive and safe"

Nikki again: "take a breath! What is going on?"

So I tell her. At that point the school calls back. They had called another teacher on her cell phone at the same time.

See this is how I am. I totally held it together thinking OK I am sure she is there but I want to confirm it. So I take care of that, figuring out how I am going to make sure she made it to the field trip. I didn't really get too worked up until Nikki confirmed that she was fine at which point I lost it, totally bawling hysterically. Once I get the yes she is fine then I cry because I was so glad that she was ok. Just to realize that she is ok and how fast things can happen. Man being a mom sucks. Kids can be such a worry and you just want to lock them up where you can keep them safe, but you know that they have to have a life and that you have to let them go and be on their own sometimes, but it is so hard and so scary. So needless to say this was on hell of a scary day and I don't mind saying that I had the shit scared out of me. You bet ya, I was so damn happy to see my baby girl walk in that door after school today.

And in other news.... she kicked some butt at the Hershey Track Meet on Tuesday:

Running shoes $20

Sun Screen $5

Home lunch $4

Finding out you can kick major A$$ and that you have a real talent: PRICELESS!!

This was Samantha's 1st year to do the track meet. She has been so nervous about it and has been saying things like: I will look so dumb when I run, so and so said this, what if my foot hurts, what if I don't want to run, etc. you know just being her total normal stressed out self. She get all worked up over everything. She totally stressed until she makes herself sick. Now we knew she could run pretty fast and that if she would actually get past the nerves and past her being so self conscious that she would do pretty good in her races and that she would find out for herself that she can do anything she tries. We didn't really know that she was going to kick some major butt and find out that she loves to win and has a little competitive streak to her.

So when I get there her teacher tells me that Samantha is really nervous and that she says she isn't going to run. The teacher will not make them run if they don't want to. But I was determined to get this girl on the track. I love her to pieces but she really stays in her little bubble way too much. She has a very hard time getting out and trying new things or meeting new people. She is SHY very SHY and she is very hard on herself and totally a nervous person. I knew I had to make her at least try this. So I sat in the stands and talked to her for a long time about how she needed to just pretend that she is the only one on that track and that really no one would be watching just her. And she pointed out just how fast it is over and that you aren't on there in front of everyone for very long and then you get to sit with your friends again. So she decides that she is going to give it a try and lines up for the 1st race. 50 meter I think.

WOO HOO GO Samantha GO! She crossed that finish line and didn't have anyone even close to her. (probably figured the faster she ran the less people could see of her. LOL) But oh boy once she caught a taste or victory she was thrilled. She came off after that 1st race and was like "WOW that was fun! I like winning!" uh oh not only have we found a new talent but we have unleashed little miss competition. She finished her other events 1st place too. Then moved into the semi-finals where she finished those races all 1st place too. And then they did her relay and then finals. She did great! She was so exhausted by the end. She came up and told me that she had ran 11 races. (I don't think it was quite that many) But even exhausted when she ran the finals she was amazing. She came in 3rd place in one and I believe 4th place in the other. She has been so proud of her self and keeps telling us. "I am the 3rd fastest 3rd grader in the city" Cute huh!?

I know I am being a bragger mom, but I have to just tell you what I am bragging about.. I am so proud of her for not making up any excuses, for not getting so scared that she either quit or puked or fainted, for not letting other people get into her head and convince her that she couldn't do it so why try. I am so proud of her for getting out there for trusting in herself and for trying. For not just trying but for really going for it, for giving it her all and for really really being brave. This was one of the best experiences and self confidence builders that she could ever have and she really needed it. Way to go girl!! You are a rock star! Looks like there is one crack in the shell and we may get her to come out of it after all.

Grrrrr...... A fast Vent

I hate this day and I haven’t been able to get ONE thing done so what the hell ever. Being a mom is like drowing in an inch of water. It takes a while but eventually it will kill you!

It is amazing what one little boy can do with a bowl or dehydrated refried beans. UGH! only one of the 17 thousand messes he made today.

Sunday Crazy Sunday

Lots to post and so little time. I seem to be in a whirl wind again. (oh wait, that is how I always am. You know that walking tornado thing) I promise to post my crafty scrapbooking fun soon. But today I have to post about our funny dinner yesterday.

Since my parents live across the street and we go to church together we decided to BBQ some meat and I was just throwing together some potatoes and veggies and sides. Not anything big you know, just throwing together some food. So then my mom calls because when she got home from church my brother and his little boy were at her house so she wanted to know if he could come too. So of course, I am like yes bring him over. and then the funny part was that when Jaden went to help dad with the BBQ'r he comes in and says "mom I didn't know Anya and her family were coming" and I was like Uhmmm..... what? neither did I. so I looked out the window and what did I see? 5 more people coming to eat with me.




So we thawed out some chicken and threw some more tatoes into the microwave and ended up having a really fun Sunday afternoon BBQ. The more the merrier I say. It was fun and then not long after eating Here come my nieces Kaila with 3 of her sisters. So they just joined in all the fun. A little Sunday craziness but it sure turned out great. It is a good thing that on Saturday I had decided to brave the rapids and take Will and go grocery shopping even though I thought I was going to die before we finally got him out of the store. but at least I had restocked. LOL


HE IS HORRIBLE TO SHOP WITH!!!!!! grrrrrrrr... He throws stuff out of the cart, throws fits, throws himself from the cart, and basically grabs crap off the shelves and throws it down the isle. And he gets into sooo much trouble and then he cries and then I want to cry and then people make me mad, that are all judgy and grrrr that try to tell me "advice" which is just another way of saying "Hey total stranger you are a bad mom and your kid it totally out of control and spoiled" and to that I want to say "DUH! Ya think?"


And this is all beside the point, of our spontaneous fun from Sunday and I know you are wondering why I am so cool and why my family wants to come and play at my house and so to that I have to admit sadly it isn't me but rather that who can resist the charms of these cute puppies that are grandpa's house??? Yeah you are starting to see what I mean now. Yeah the puppies and also rides on the 4 wheeler with grandpa are the drawing attractions. I just happened to be the one holding grandma and grandpa hostage at the time. Oh yeah and I am sure that Jesse making a fire in the fire pit and making s'mores wasn't at all alluring. (no pictures of that since I was locked up in the office working by then) It was a super crazy and super fun day!!!


Pictures to prove it.......

Ya you know they are so cute! Want one?

This is the one I want. The kids want the brown one. But this one is such a doll and she is so sweet. I would have to call her pepper with all those mini spots.

See the brown ones are cute but just not my favorite!

All the kids posing on the 4 wheeler with Grandpa getting ready to go see the pups. Mommy dog trying to get on with them. LOL she loves to ride with grandpa.

Today we baby sat my nephew Scott. He is such a doll and though 2 2yr olds can make quite a mess he is a joy and is so much easier than my Will. And he kept Will entertained. Here they are playing guns with some kind of sticks. Fun Fun

And tonight for FHE we went over and helped grandma and grandpa in there yard getting ready to put in the garden. A great service project for the kids and also a great opportunity for them to learn from and work with their grandparents. Jesse took the kids and they tilled his moms garden so they got a chance to do it for both. I am glad we live close enough for the kids so get so much grandparent time. And that we can help our parents out sometimes. It is nice to help when we can. All in all not a bad weekend I would say pretty great actually!

Spring Break was so much FUN!

SPRING BREAK!

I am back now from all of our fun FUN fun over spring break. I actually got back last week but we were busy at work and home and so I haven't had any time to get online and post. Here is a picture blog (my favorite kind) of the fun, fun time we had in Mesquite NV with the whole famdamily. I love these family trips, and of course so do the kiddos.
So here is the fabulous run down. I know you will be so jealous. LOL

Ok so lets start with about 5 hrs of driving to get to our hotel in Mesquite. We have been going to Mesquite all together as a family for spring break for years. We use to stay in these certain condos but they are now gone, so now we just stay at wherever has the best deal. The kids did pretty great in the car. We stopped and switched with cousins a few times.

Samantha who is only 9 being a brat and hiding under her pillow to show us just how mad and teenager-ish she can be. Ummm yeah can't even remember what she was mad about. Too bad for her she missed out on about 30 minutes of the drive. hahahaha Whatever Deary.....

Since my sisters kids had a dance competition in St. George UT, she and my parents left a few days earlier than us so we met them by the St. George LDS Temple and stopped in the visitors center for a bit. This was a fun addition to the trip. Then after more cousin regrouping and car hopping we were off on our way again.

(Note: I am LDS not FLDS for any people that may be confused or curious. The FLDS people that are one the news are not of the same religion as I am. Thanks for letting me clear that up)

A picture of the raggamuffins eating. While we were there we did much eating. and eating, and eating. We totally go there for the great prime rib that is CHEAP. Yeah we stayed 4 nights 5 days, and I had prime rib 4 times. YUMMY and the delicious Ham Steak and eggs, more YUMMY goodness! So I had to take a picture of us at a restaurant since that is where we were a lot.

Notice the creamer tower that Garyn and Will are making? Yes we do get creative when it comes to eating out. WILL IS A PILL!!! We had to take turns on several occasions with taking him out side. He is just plain no fun to take anywhere. I finally ran by a Wal-Mart and got fruit snacks and other entertainment for meal time. It at least slows the inevitable someone has to leave the restaurant with him bull crap that happens. And yet he looks so innocent huh? Don't let it fool you he is not, but he is cute and sincere and very lovey dovey.

Hanging out outside while Daddy pays the check in the restaurant. We like to take the kids outside and get them out of the smelly, smoky, casinos. Garyn walking on the edge of the fountain/wishing well. Grandpa gave him some change to throw in. Before throwing it he held it high above his head and said aloud (in his very loud voice) "I wish for all the things I ever want in life, and that our family can always choose the right." Now how stinking cute is that? He is just so squishy, funny, cute, and smiley all the time. He is totally squeezable.

Oh an notice the movies listed behind him. One of the casinos has a dollar movie so we went and saw Penelope, LOVED IT!!

And when we weren't eating we were here at the pool. The kids love the water slide. Will loved the hot tub. Don't blame him either the pool was dang cold. It was nice and relaxing... well ok for some it was but not for those with small can't swim babies it was totally exhausting! And Jesse conveniently didn't bring a suit and refused to swim so I got to chase all 4 in the pool alone. Nice huh? grrrrrrrr! But he totally took over watching the kids when we got home and my friends came to scrapbook for 4 days so he is forgiven on the swimming thing. LOL And nope sorry NO fat cow in a swim suit pictures of me to break the computer.

Grandpa (aka my daddy) and Will. We got adjoining rooms and Will just loved to run over to see grandpa all the time. He is like Grandpa's little shadow. And he is usually not such a little shit for Grandpa as he is for the rest of us. It is great he is nice to someone. LOL I have to admit he is actually doing much better now that we are moved and away from the mold. (knock on wood) But, we haven't had a real good bout of diarrhea for a few weeks. I just wish Grandpa could get feeling better too. 2 back surgeries in 1 year and diabetes too. He has been under the weather, but comes on the trip anyway to spend time with the family. Bless his heart. And you know what, the kids will always have these memories of there time with Grandma and Grandpa on trips. They are very lucky.

Some of the crew out side just hanging after the movies. Some people saw different movies so we had to wait for them all to get out. All together on the trip we had my Mom and Dad, My little brother and his wife, my Sister and her hubby and 5 kids, my older brother and his wife and 3 kids, and my other older brother and his wife and they also have 3 kids, plus Jesse and I and our 4 kids. So yeah I wasn't kidding about it being the whole famdamily was I? LOL and we were missing my other younger brother and his wife and 1 kid. And I have one brother that passed away 15 yrs ago so if anyone is keeping track my parents had 7 children. WOW huh! Yeah I know and I have no idea how they did it. I don't even have the patience and energy for 4 of them.

And as I have said before and will say a million times more my mother is AMAZING. And even now we are all gone and married and she is still planning family vacations, picinics, and events. And she is great about finding the best deals so that we can all afford to go. She rocks! And she knows that the family that plays together stays together.

And we also did the go-carts. Jaden having a blast! He loves that he is now big enough to drive one on his own. He could have spent a million dollars on those things. But hey at 11 driving is so cool. This week he went to help feed cows with some people in our ward and they let him drive the truck along as they threw out the hay from the back. So now he totally thinks he Mario Andriette. (no clue how to spell it) He is growing way to fast!

And because I know you are dying to see. This is me and Samantha in our go-cart and what are we doing you may ask? We are totally kicking Jesse's butt that is what we are doing. And yes sometimes Samantha does smile even though her family is sooo uncool. LOL

And last the best of all the game. This is me getting totally bored in the car and thinking I really need to do a self portrait for my blog even if I am a fat cow. So here is me and the totally cute pink cow that Jesse bought me from the gift shop... Whispering... I believe with his um slot machine winnings. LOL We had game credits from the hotel so we used them and won like $60 bucks. Not much for gambling but getting free money was fun. My one brother came out with like $250 off his free game credits. He had the lucky touch this go around.

It was a great trip and was a much needed break. The whole family had a lot of fun and then the same night we got back I had my girl friends starting to arrive for our totally super cool fun girls scrapbook weekend. Ahhhh the bliss. That will be tomorrows post. ;) .....

Sometimes Great things just happen

I am big on traditions. I always have been I was raised with many many traditions and they are just in me. Perhaps its that I am not a really organized or scheduled type person so I may cling to these little traditions as my way of finding the things that are constant. Or I guess you could say my fly by the the seat of your pants attitude is a tradition in its own way. But either way I just love traditions and I have made a dang sure effort in forming traditions that are unique to our family weather it is egg nog on Christmas eve (from my family) or Christmas bears (his family) or Conference drives (our own family) we like to spend time doing these traditions.

Sometimes it feels like I am always enforcing these traditions. You know the mom job of organizing it, planning it, and making it happen. And I do this not to torture the family but because it is important for me to take the time to build family closeness and for the kids to have family time. But sometimes great things just happen. Like somehow it has just slipped in there this fabulous Flying Kites With Daddy tradition.

Every spring Jesse gets a bug and buys kites and brings them home so that he and the kids can go out into the yard (or this year, um, lack of yard) and fly kites together. He gets great kites with all the fluff (like this year a full on pop out dragon) and also simple little $1 kites for the little kids since he knows they are going to get crashed. Could you imagine such a thing? But it doesn't matter the kites, it is the remarkable way that he makes the kids feel so special about it. He brings the kites home and makes is such a big deal to show them their surprise and then sets aside his time to fly them together. I love this!!!!! I love that this didn't take any coaxing or pushing from me and that he just loves to do it. It was never intended to be a tradition but it has just somehow become one and in my opinion these are the traditions that will make the lasting difference. Not so much the pj's on Christmas eve or mom forcing you into the car to go somewhere for the sake of tradition. But The heartfelt my daddy loves me and loves to spend time with me tradings. Sometimes great things just happen. Thanks Jesse for being a super dad! One more of the many things I love about you!

This is my favorite picture of the day. Garyn in the back yard with his kite. I adore his yellow puddle boots almost as much as he does. He wears them with everything. I am temped to print this in black and white all except the boots and the kite. What do ya think? Can you just see how perfect a day it was for flying kites?

Samantha sitting on the hay. It was a little chilly in the wind so she was flying her kite from inside her pocket. It was cute she was just sitting on the hay enjoying the day.

Jesse trying to get Jaden's Dragon kite up in the air. After the kite flying was over I made him stay our in the breeze and BBQ steaks and boy did they ever hit the spot. It was a Fabulous Friday for sure!

I am going to be taking a small bloggy break because it is spring break with the kids and we have fun things planned. WOO HOO the kids have a week off school and Jesse and I have a week of work this is going to be great!

I am sharing my Birthday!

I am sharing my Birthday! We got a healthy calf today. I am so happy this made the kids day what a nice change than to have all the dead animals we had been having. I am so excited to have this one here healthy and nursing from the momma. WOO HOO and on my birthday so now we have to think up a great name for this new cow born on my birthday. A name keeping in mind that if it is a boy it will be eaten in a year or two, the last ones were named breakfast, lunch , dinner, and snack. I know it sounds insensitive but when you live with farm animals you have to keep it real because you just can't afford to have your kids getting attached to these animals. We encourage them to get attached to the ones that will be around for a while. Anyway isn't is a cute calf? They are so cute when they are little.

What a great day, my kids baked me a birthday cake and my hubby brought me home a cricut machine (scrapbook die cut thingy for those that don't know), last night my mom and dad took us to dinner and gave me tons of cute stuff to decorate my new house with, and now we are leaving to go have dinner with my MIL. :) Very nice birthday indeed. And for any that want to know I am 9 yrs old today. I turn nine every year its a deal that I have had with my dad since the 1st year I turned 9. Oh I didn't mention that he took me to drop off my car for repairs this morning and then took me out for breakfast to McDonald's. I just love a good sausage breakfast with cheese. Oh yeah and I found this great tribute in my email just now from my only sister. (sniff, sniff) so I have to share because I want this to be remembered forever. WOW Thanks Kara!

Happy happy birthday NATALIE dear!

Happy days will come to YOU all year...

If I had one wish then it would be......

You'd win a million dollars and give some to ME!!!

GIRLS... this day, 32 years ago was absolutely one of the BEST days of my life!!!I had prayed sooooooo long for a sister!!! I can still picture the weather, the day,and especially the FEELINGS. I was soooooo stinkin' excited for that baby girl.We have a pic of me holding that little Nat-Nat and you can just see the joy on that 9 year old face!She's been one of my most important people ever since! Isn't she a marvelous lady?What a great mom. What an incredible faithful servant of her Savior. What a fabulous family builder and family historian.What a positive influence she is on everyone who knows her!!And now that I'm tearing up in front of my class, I'd better STOP!!HAPPY BIRTHDAY Baby Nat!!! You will rarely hear it... but I LOVE YOU!!:)

That was the nicest birthday tribute I have ever had. WOWSERS!

April Conference 2008 even better than I expected

Well one thing it for sure, this weekend was even better than I had expected. It was AMAZING and such a great testimony builder. This was a special conference and I have been very excited to be able to listen to President Monson. But what I got was so much more it was unexpected and great.

I turned the TV on and gathered the family for the 10 am session Saturday and I was crying before the 1st prayer was even over it was just amazing. I just felt the warm comforting feeling that you feel when you know you are witnessing something amazing. The solemn assembly was so incredibly powerful. I couldn't have ever been prepared for the strong and wonderful spirit that I felt in my home as my children stood so excited to raise their hands and we stood there together as a family and were able to sustain and support the Prophet. We talked a little about how wonderful it is that God doesn't leave us to go it alone but that he sends us great leaders to help us. And even when we loose one as great as President Hinckley our Heavenly Father has already groomed and prepared someone to take his place. I hope they could feel the spirit as well. I am so grateful that we got to have this experience. It was also nice being that I live in UT and we got to watch a special presentation about the life of President Monson and the kids got to see a little of what I meant by Heavenly Father preparing him for this great work his whole life. It was great. And then his remarks at the very end on Sunday when you could tell he was just speaking from the cuff. Oh how endearing. He has such a great humor and such a fun way about him and hearing him talk about his wife being worried about the 4th quarter taxes. He is so real just a real person so much like the rest of us so humble and yet so amazingly powerful. I am sad that I missed the ear wiggling at the priesthood session on Sat. It sounded great.

The talks were all great. I know that several times I felt as though they were talking right to me and that the talk was given just for my ears to hear it. I always feel this way during conference I am sure that is why I love it so much. Also my favorite talk was the "mom" talk by Elder M. Russel Ballard. I laughed when I told my hubby that it made me feel guilty for always feeling guilty about not being a good enough mom. Can't wait to re-watch it tomorrow. I recorded it all.

And despite my feeling guilt for feeling guilt, I was so happy to hear him say that we need to remember that parenting is about the "moments" (and WOW Crystal that is your word for the year totally thought of you. Are you on the right wave length or what?) It helped me to know that it is ok to not worry so much about the next 'thing' then next task or even or checking something off my mental to do list but to enjoy the kids while they are young. I had to have Will and his constant sicknesses and neediness to teach me this, and I have been working on it, even if by being forced by Will to take the time for the moments, but I am glad because this is so important. I need to really remember that the important thing as a mom is that I need to take the time to enjoy them, to love them, to pray with them, and to teach them, because these are the things that will really matter in the end. Not if I had enough fun planned, attended enough events, did enough homework, gave them enough educational toys, make enough posters, did I do enough time outs, do I do too many time outs, was at the school enough, did all the teacher gifts, made all the handouts cute, etc. you know, all the stuff we beat ourselves up with as moms. I need to do my best and just do my best.

Even though now I kind of feel guilty that I got a job because I was sick of feeling like a failure as a mom and couldn't stand it and have to have a pay check so that I feel worth anything. It was a great talk if even for me to realize that a mothers worth is priceless. Though admittedly I am still not ditching the job because #1 now I have the new house to pay for and its not as job optional as it was. #2 because I work at home in the middle of the night when they are all sleeping so I am not missing much #3 because I love having "me" time and I get to do other stuff while working like uhm blog, relax, chat on IM with my friends, do a little family history work, and my new joy extractions, and make scrapbook pages when I actually take the time to. And #4 because even if a mothers worth is priceless I now know that having a price attached to me makes me sane and less homicidal/suicidal. Sad I know, but that's just how it is. I do need to work on the guilt thing though. And if having a job helps me deal with my postpartum depression bad mom issues than so be it.

Anyway it was just a great weekend. The kids had fun having the grandparents over for dinner and of course loved going to the park after conference for a family picnic. Complete with freezing cold wind and a little rain of course. And we even got to take my niece Savannah from Jesse's side of the family with us too so it was double great. Yeah I needed that outing. Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend too.

I just need to post a picture it is driving me crazy

I have 2 entry's with no picture and it is making me nuts! So here is a picture for you:

BUBBLE BOYS!

Cute huh! Yeah the kids are loving my new jetted tub. It beats the heck out of the old pink never could get it clean tub that we just left. This was going to be my Wordless Wednesday but we were busy birthing a calf. Wish turned out the be dead. It was a totally bummer!!!! UGH! This was birth and death week at our house. The momma cat (yeah Mrs fish-heads her self remember too lazy to hunt) had her kittens 5 of them and the were all dead. I told the kids that it was probably because we stressed her out moving her over to the new house. She probably went into premature labor. And my Dad's dog that thinks it lives at our house 1/2 the time, had 5 puppies. THANK GOODNESS they are all still alive and oh soooo cute. I will get pictures of those soon. And as for the calf. YUCK! And the kids were really sad because when the last calf was born our house wasn't done yet so they didn't get to see him much and he is like 8 month old now and just not that cute any more. The other cow looks prego still so we are hoping for a healthy calf from her. We may just go buy one of our own and bottle feed it. That would be fun right? LOL Well ok not fun but at least an experience anyway. We haven't bottle fed a calf for a few years. I don't think Garyn has ever been able to do that and he would love it. Now aren't you glad that my picture for the week was of some cute bubble boys and not of all the depressing dead animals.? What is it with us and the dead animals this year!? Sheesh!

Totally Looking Forward to Conference

It is that time again when we get to participate in LDS General Conference and I am so excited. I have really been looking forward to this session. I can't wait to hear from the new President of the LDS church Thomas S. Monson. For those that aren't LDS and want to know a little about what we believe you should tune in. The sessions are at 10 am and 2 pm Mountain Time and You can watch on Dish Network or on Direct TV or listen by visiting the LDS website here. I can't explain it but I am just excited. The past few weeks feel more like the past few years and it will just be really nice to relax and watch from home and get to feel the spirit. Sometimes being to busy with the kids and our callings at church you start to feel like you are missing the point. It will be a great chance to refocus on the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And to not have to fight the kids. We don't make our kids sit an listen they can so things but they don't get to have the TV's or Radios on except for conference. That way if they are playing with toys or coloring or putting together a puzzle or etc. they are still listening. And amazingly they do get something out of it.

We also have some really fun traditions for conference weekends. That, may be part of my excitement. I have needed a family together outing day for a while. We haven't done anything fun for a while. Just building, packing, moving, going crazy, and etc. For fall conference we usually drive up to see the changing of the leaves on Saturday in between the 2 sessions and have lunch and then take a drive and listen to the second session on the radio. For spring we take a drive and look for the signs of spring. Usually out to the lake to see the icebergs but this year I don't think there are any. Well at least I can't see them from my upstairs window but we are probably going to drive down and look anyway. It will still be fun and nice to spend time just being a family.

And then on Sunday we have dinner with my MIL in between the 2 sessions. This year we are having her at our house since this past week has been totally exhausting for her and since we are LOVE LOVE LOVING having a house that we can actually have guests in. My Mom and Dad are coming over too. It will be nice to hang out and eat. And then after the 2nd session on Sunday. we are going to a family picnic to celebrate my birthday and my nieces birthday and my BIL's b-day. That should be fun too except that I know I will be making my family leave earlier than they will want to be leaving so that I can get home to work. It is killing them that I have to be home and logged in before the sun actually goes down. They want me to move to a later shift. The only bad thing is that if I start later I also finish later and I already don't get off until 2 am so that may be really hard. I also want to change but think I better wait until May because then Jaden can watch the little kids for me in the mornings and I can sleep in. That is the only way it could work. Unfortunately I have to sleep sometimes. DARN IT! That is the one thing that is appealing about the Twilight vampires no sleeping. That would be so nice. Hope you all have a great weekend.

Questions:
What kind of Conference traditions do you have?
Do you make your kids sit right at the TV and Listen?
Do you make them take notes or etc?
Wouldn't it be nice to not have to sleep when the rest of the world is sleeping?

FOOD: It is such a waste of time after all. Eating too. I feel like we spend so much time working to pay for food, shopping to buy the food, making the food, eating the food (ok that part is good), cleaning up the food, and then the whole mess of pooping of the food. Really how much time do you think you waste on food related items? TONS!! WOW did I get off subject here? LOL I know I am nutz for sure

Got the Crazies again and is this almost over yet??? Oh and I feel like CRAP!

I feel like I have always got the Crazies!! This has been such a crazy last few months, weeks, and days, ugh! Can someone please tell me if this moving thing is almost over yet???

THANK GOODNESS for friends and family for HELPING ME!! WOW I don't know what I would have done with out them. We have had so much help along the way. And here is a useful note for anyone that ever builds a new house. Once the construction is over and you pass the last inspection and you sign the last paper and get the "go ahead" to move in remember this: the construction is not over yet! I can't believe how many days I have spent sitting at home waiting for the people to come do this or that or hook up this or that or etc. I have felt like so torn the past few weeks. We moved the basics over to live in the new house as soon as we possible could but we still had soooooooooooooo much work to do at the old house. Only we didn't want to go move stuff from the old house we just wanted to live in the new house with out all the junk that we have accumulated over the past 13 1/2 yrs of marriage. So that was the 1st thing that made it hard the next was that we kept having to stay home for people to work on things here. And the last problem was Jesse works days and I work nights so by the time we gets home we only have enough time to haul about 1 load before we have to do dinner and I have to work. Yeah like I said I feel like I have the Crazies!!!!!!! I can't even find time to breath that is why my face is blue.

So Saturday we did the last big moving and cleaning day. My SIL Cheryl babysat my little boys and Jesse and I took Jaden and Samantha and Cheryl's daughter Anya over to the old house to clean and haul. We had to clean out the dreaded shed. UGH!!! After a while my Sister came by and helped me clean. Can I just say that she saved my life by doing this? She is amazing. No one wanted to come and help me clean because the old house has a mold problem that I have been fighting ever since we moved there. Also note if you are going to build a house and you find a rental for "6 months" and they tell you that you won't have to pay a cleaning deposit if you will do the move in cleaning since the guy that lived there was old and had let mold get into the window seals and along the heaters: RUN!!! RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN!!! Don't be naive like me and think oh ok duh I can just do that. Because the truth is that the house probably has a massive mold growing stupid problem in the winters and that you will probably be stuck there with 4 kids for more like 2 1/2 years not 6 months. OK But like I was saying my sister came and helped me clean the mold adobe and we even wore masks while doing the cleaning. See why I am hoping that Will's health gets better now that we have moved?

So we packed hauled and cleaned all day UGH! and Grrrrr. We didn't get it all done and we had planned on coming back to do the rest of it Sunday after church. Yes I am evil that way. It was a tiring day And then I worked until 1 am. They let me off an hour early because it was dead and I was dying coughing (yes still after a month) So I was up late anyway getting my Sunday stuff ready. This week was my week to teach our class (10-12 yr old girls) and My mom was out of town (having fun it the St. George sunshine) so I had to do her music for Primary. That was a treat. NOT!!!! But I did wear makeup in case you are wondering. Yeah I know you were. But I made it easy and we did name that tune and I put lots of songs with actions into the bowl because then I didn't actually have to "lead" the music. I don't really know how to lead but I can stand there and sing and do actions no problem. LOL Oh yeah and the singing was not fabulous. It never is and especially since I am coughing my head off. Also since I had a busy church day and Jesse had a busy church day with teaching his class too we thought we would give the nursery another try. Not to cool! We have great nursery leaders but they are both pregnant and having babies right now and wrestling Will is hard for them. But yesterday we had a sub and she is absolutely fabulous!!!!!!! GO AMY!!! She was doing so great with him getting him to play and to actually be friendly. But of course he knows that we are across the hall in the primary room, so he constantly tries to escape. She just keeps catching him and putting him back in. But can you even believe that the only time I went out into the hall (since I was having a coughing fit and had to get a drink) it would have to be right during one of the times that he was escaping and he saw me. UGH! It was all over then. So he got to spend the rest of the time in the big kid classes with me and daddy. Oh the joy! Yeah I know I have great timing on the being in the hall thing. DANG IT!!!

Did I mention that is was totally snowing when we woke up Sunday? WTH is up with that? Jesse made it happen. He said as we were packing the garage to the fullest of fullness Saturday "well at least the weather is finally good and we will have some time to sort and de-junk before we really need the cars back into the garage" HAHAHAHA Boy was he wrong. He shouldn't have said that. And today he broke the ice scraper trying to leave for work. HAHAHA yeah not funny but really it was funny. Another day that I am so glad to be working from home. But we didn't get any moving done Sunday and today was the last day of the month so when Jesse got home we ran over and got the last of it. Well most of it. We still have the throw away pile to take care of and 3 give away or throw away items in the house too. Anyone want an entertainment center with a TV? or a Computer Desk? or a Table? Hope they don't mind that we still have that last stuff to move. oops. Yes I totally procrastinate and push it all until the due date and this time even past it. grrrrr again. :(

And as for the rest of the day not any funner. I took Will and Myself to the Dr. oh the joy!! I have had this cough for FOREVER, they did give me antibiotics, major ones too, like 4 a day. WOW and he said I have an ear infection starting. Didn't even know that part. My ears don't even hurt just the rest of me does. So sick of being so sick can, I just say. And Will had his blood drawn AGAIN so that we can soon get to the bottom of his problems. Again hoping he feels better soon. Poor kid. If I think I am sick of being sick, I can only imagine how he feels. He doesn't even know what it feels like to not be sick because he has been like this since he was about 6 months old.

Oh yeah and then we went grocery shopping and picked up prescriptions that was a blast for sure. Will kept climbing out of the cart and trying to run away in the store and he chewed though the wrappers of 2 cheese sticks and the best part was in the check out lane I took him out of the cart because the checker lady was worried that he was going to fall because he wouldn't sit down and then when I put him out of the cart he marched straight to the candy and opened up the Rollo's and started eating them. So I had to buy those too. (didn't let him have them though because I didn't want to reward him so I HAD to eat them. hahaha yeah had to eat the yummy Rollo's. poor me)

If anyone reads this long post I will be amazed. But I don't really care because I needed to get it all out of my stupid head. If it is dead tonight at work I am totally going to make a few scrapbook pages because I need that since I am feeling so blue and I will post them too. If I make them that is. Wish me luck! I am working extra hrs tonight because of TV adds, so yeah, I get to be up until 5 am. I know you are totally jealous. LOL Hope I have something funner to write about next time, when I don't feel like crap and venting and blitching about life. I will feel so relieved when the whole move is over.

Wordless Wednesday (with some words as usual)

Wordless Wednesday (with words as usual)

and not so Wednesday but it was when I took the pictures so deal with it.

The joys of working from home. This is pictures is taken from the window of the back door. I had to get onto a training call for work yesterday and even though Will was on my lap most of the time and that I sneakily walked away about 5 times to check on him look what happened! The 2 little boys grabbed about anything they could find and threw it out the back door. You can see the horse and bunnies but there were also things like the remote controls, sippy cups, toys, a shirt, the boxes with the TV cords in them, and some other stuff too. UGH!

And WHY do they do this? Because Mom wasn't looking.

And this is why you shouldn't play pot-tag.

You know running around with pots and pans chasing each other. Come on I know you do it everyday too, just admit it. It's all fun and games until Will gets his head gashed open. It was actually pretty nasty and I should have taken him for stitches but I didn't because Jesse wasn't home yet and I didn't have a car. So he will just have to heal Ah-Natural.

Why does Will seem to be the star in my wordless Wednesdays? Maybe because there just are no words???? LOL

My favorite Easter Picts from this year

Happy Easter 2008!

So I snapped picture just before the kids attacked. I do this for every Christmas and Easter. It drives my kids nuts cuz they have to sit on the stairs and wait for my picture before they are allowed to enter the room. My mom did this I do this get over it. Besides it makes it more exciting. I sit in there and say "Oh wow wait until you see this" You know helping with the anticipation thing. It is fun to look back at these photos from each year too.

The kids waiting on the stairs for me to get my stupid pictures so that they can get their stupid candy. LOL They look so tired and they all woke up at 7:30 Notice the new addition to the family? Yes a 5th child, a furry one. Another long story from a long week. The short is this: Jesse said "When we get the house built I am getting a dog" I didn't know he meant like the same week. Oh well he is cute anyway.

The after Church, we are all dressed now Family Picture. Nope I don't have on any make-up and I had only 2 hrs of sleep. I know you are all ashamed aren't you? LOL LOL Should mention that I didn't do my hair either but thanks to Nikki and her genius scissors that wasn't the problem for today just the make up I guess. LOL Ok I will stop with the sarcasm now, really. Also again notice the fur baby. Also Nikki's fault but no scissors involved.

p.s. Am not taking the time to edit these photos. The little kids get to hunt 1st in the front yard. Here is Will loving the egg hunt. He really got it this year and was like egg crazed...... until......

Yes until he found a loaded water gun on the lawn and decided that his Easter Egg Hunt is going to be hunting the other kids and squirting them. He is cute and as a side note he isn't sick this week. WOO HOO!!! (knock on wood) Hoping he stays healthy enough for a few days so we can run his blood this week, again.So then the big kids line up for their egg hunt in the back yard.

Samantha, I just had to put this in because it is such a cute picture of her. She loves the Hannah Montana shirt the Easter Bunny brought her. Go Bunny!

My almost 16 yr old niece Sierra actually hunting. How does Helen get a teenager to hunt for eggs...............Just stuff them with money of course. Yes she is a genius too!Isn't Sierra a doll. I don't think I have seen here this excited about the hunt since she was like 4. LOL See the $$ signs in her eyes. Oh wait that is money. hehehe
And here is the Dad of that teenager acting like a kid himself riding on the worlds tiniest motorcycle. Now that my friends was funny. All the dads had to take a turn. And yes one of them did crash and was at the Dr. today with knee problems. LOL Men!

Does it kind of make you want to sing the "ne na ne nanene" song from the Wizard of OZ? You know where the Witch is on her tiny little broom. Well, It made us sing it. I didn't get a very good picture so just trust me it was funny and they look like some kind of cartoon image these big guys on the little bike that is made for like an 8 yr old.

Easter and totally Blitchen here!

Ok so I have been crazy busy and I have so many things that I need to post but I am going to just have to take a second to Blitch. (Blitch is blog bitching a term made up by crazy mama of 6 whom I have never met but who's blog I totally stock everyday and love love love her) Anyway I love her term and that totally fits how I am feeling at the moment., so I am stealing it. Also we did have a good Easter.

Ok 1st the blitch session. Do you ever feel like "why the hell do I even bother going to church?" Easter totally snuck up on me this year. Why did it have to be so dang early and in the middle of my move anyway? HUH? So I was having bad dreams about the Easter Bunny forgetting to come to the house and etc. Long story short it was a crazy week (that will come later) and I ended up at Walmat at 3 am. Yeah I am fabulous and organized I know, shut up. Can I just mention that I saw like 12 other Easter bunnies there too. And have to note that I was not the only Easter Bunny shopping in PJ's. So, between my nieces pageant Saturday night, working until 2 am, Easter Stuff, and getting my Sharing time lesson ready I only got less than 2 hrs of sleep. So, Yeah I am sure I looked just fabulous my fat tired self up there in front of the whole primary......

So at some point one of the ladies in my ward, another teacher that was sitting in the back by my husband totally leans over to him and says "What can't your wife find her make up? Did it get lost in the move?" Yeah WTH?? He said he was shocked that she would even say something like that but especially right to him. Really?? I mean are you serious? And Ok so yes my make up bag did just happen to get lost in the move and I can't find it yet. (I didn't even pack it I put it right in the front seat, its probably still in the car somewhere hiding. And even though it is true she is still a Giant B for saying that to my hubby. UGH!!!! Not to mention that I only got 2 hrs of sleep between Easter bunny shopping at 3 am and preparing my dang Sharing Time, which I had to make a hug ordeal out of because I tend to get way to carried away with and spend way to much time on. And really who is she to judge me weather I look like crap or not?? grrrr Maybe she was "just kidding"

Between that and the guy that talks to my baby every week and says stuff like "oh Will, I see you are not in nursery again." and "Hi Will are you ever going to start going to nursery?" Never talks to me just talks to my 2 yr old as if he really understands him and just totally does it just to put a dig in. But that is this whole other issue completely. Will does go to nursery but he can open the door so he doesn't stay and the poor girls in there are both pregnant and have their hands full enough with all the other kids the last thing they need is my kid out in the parking lot or lost or something. So whatever dude! Just let me deal with my own kid and his non-nursery problems ok!? Anyway sometimes when you get so judged just for doing the best you can it makes you really wonder "Why the Hell do I even bother?" Oh wait I remember why its so you can get spiritually uplifted and learn to be less judgemental right? LOL Just kidding but you know some days are just irritating! Anyway whatever I feel better now. Just needed to blitch it out! LOL LOL Julie I love your word!!

Other than the rude comments the day was great! The sharing time worked out great and it was a truly fabulous and actually spiritually uplifting Easter Sunday. We took the kids on a field trip to visit the Garden of Gethsemane. Had one of the male teachers dress up as an angel (my mom made the costume) and he led them out of the church around the back and out onto the grass on a small hill out there. Then one of our Bishopric members was out there and spoke to them about the garden and about how important Christs sacrifice was for all of us. The kids were actually pretty quiet and attentive. It was a nice experience. After that the Angel lead them back inside where my class put on a presentation about "Gaining a testimony of Easter" Mostly from the friend March 1986 adapted by me, and with a matching game thrown in. My mom is song leader so we had the songs intermittently with the program. Again adapted to fit for us. It went great. My mom also made them treats and we made them bookmarks to take home so it was great.

Then we got home the kids had more candy from the mornings baskets, I threw together a potato salad, the kids had more candy, and then we went to my Mom's (Across the street) for Easter Dinner, more candy, and the Annual Cousin Egg hunt, oh and more candy too. LOL It was a blast and since the house is here now the kids were both at grandmas and at our house so we got to share the mess. They were riding 4 wheelers back and forth and playing games and that was fun, until I kicked them all out so that I could get on to work at 8. Poor kids! ;) I should say poor dads. They were riding the 4 wheelers and mini bikes in front of my office window. So they got kicked off. LOL I have to see if i got a picture of them on the mini bike that was funny! Dad like the kids toys better than the kids. Anyway the kids finally conked out about 10 and they slept great in their sugar induced comas. LOL I hope you all had a Happy Easter too! I will post my favorite photos from Easter this year.