Adventures With Shadow: My 4 1/2 Month Old Puppy

Shadow does not like the car very much.  At best she tolerates it.  I am trying to get her used to it so I took her with me today to pick up the girls from school.  When she and I got to Lily's school, she barked like the crazy dingo she is and the hair on her back stood up in a Mohawk all the way down to her tail.  On our way to get Rebekah, she roamed the van and ate all the flotsam and jetsam she could find.  Who needs their car vacuumed?

After getting Rebekah, Shadow decided she wanted to sit in my lap.  She isn't the tiny thing she used to be.  She is 30 pounds of lean muscle, hair, and sharp nails.  As I maneuvered  my arms around her to accommodate her on my lap, she got scared and much like a mountain goat going up a steep cliff, Shadow tried to climb up me.  Except instead of a goat, it was Shadow, and instead of a steep cliff, it was my boobs.  She even was able to wedge one of her back paws INTO my bra, THROUGH my shirt.  That is talent, folks!

Her paw pushed so far down my bra as she tried to climb higher that when I finally pulled her foot out, I felt something snap.  Shadow tested the limits of my bra's cup-size and the under-wire in my bra lost. 

Shadow: 1         My Bra: 0

Now I gotta go buy a new bra.  Yes, I have other bras, but they are for working out.  I only had one good bra... well, I used to.  So, if you see me tomorrow before I get a new bra, don't laugh at my uneven lopsidedness.

Time Has Wings

Can someone cut time's wings?  It is going by super fast.

Evan Esar once said, "[It] changes with time: in youth, time marches on; in middle age, time flies; and in old age, time runs out."

Ain't that the truth?

When the girls were still very young, people would give me all sorts of advice.  Some advice was quite helpful, while others, not so much.  The one I remember the most is, "Savor and enjoy this time while they are young.  It goes by way too fast."   In the midst of 3am feedings, stubborn toddlers, and potty training, I could have smacked that person offering their so-called words of wisdom.  I couldn't wait until they were a bit older.  If I could just get through the teething.  If I could just get through the potty training.  If I could just get through the tantrums...  And a myriad of other things that I just hunkered down to just get through.

Yet now, as I look back at when my girls were tiny, I miss those stages.  Now, when I remember the struggles of raising toddlers, I don't remember the struggles as much as I remember the fun times.   The squishy hugs, the wet kisses, the crooked smiles, the hand drawn pictures, the giggles inside blanket forts, seeing the look wonderment in their eyes as they experience things for the first time, and so many other beautiful things that only the really young can bring.  That time flew by so fast.  I understand now what people were talking about.  They weren't stupid, they were speaking from experience.

I feel that this must be why grandparents are better at parenting - they have been there, done that, and miss it.  They don't mind the little messes the young ones create.  It brings to mind all the memories of a happy time that they didn't get to fully appreciate or fully experience due to the daily demands of life.

My mom once said she would take a roomful of 2 year olds than a room full of teenagers.  I now understand.  Don't get me wrong, I love my teenaged kids with all my heart.  They bring me joy beyond imagination.  Yet during the troubling teenage angst of my kids, I can't help but long for simpler times: Which Blues Clues video to watch? Which baby food to try today?   Yet even still, I will try my best not to let the moments now go by too quickly.  Soon enough, they will have grown up, moved out, and start their own families.

Time does fly.  We cannot clip its wings.  We just hang on for the ride and try not to miss the little moments in the now, for those will be big memories in the future.

Father's Day 2013

I am forever grateful for my father.  I would literally not be here without him.  By him holding the sacred priesthood, he brought me back to life as a newborn.  I am sure there were times in my teenage years that he may have second guessed that choice... ;-)  I was not the easiest teenager (to say the least).  I remember one night I snuck out of the house and went to go hang out at a friend's house down the street.  I'll never forget the "Oh NO!" feeling I felt as we heard a knock on my friend's door and opened it to find my dad there to collect me and take me home.  He didn't yell when he saw me.  He just said something like, "Get in the car."

I don't know how he put up with me and my teenage girl angst.  I am just grateful he did put up with me. :) 

I have many things to thank my dad for (besides the obvious: "Thank you for not killing me as a teenager.")  My love of a variety of music I get from him.  He exposed me to a variety of genres and music artists... from Led Zeppelin to Andreas Vollenweider to Eric Clapton.  He also plays the guitar and I love hearing him play.

My dad helped me learn how to be generous.  He and my mom would have our family do Secret Santa for less fortunate people at Christmastime.

Also, I even though my mom taught me a lot about baking and cooking, my dad also cooked and baked.  I learned a lot from him and how to be experimental with cooking and flavors.  When I was pregnant with Rebekah, he became obsessed concerned with my food intake.  After all, I was growing his first grandchild.  One time, about a month before I had Rebekah, he had me write down what he was doing so if the creation he was making turned out good, we could remember how to make it.  I really enjoyed doing that and watching him play with flavors that I wouldn't image putting together.

My love of games (video and board) come from him.  We make a great team when we play games and opponents beware!  We are extremely competitive and one of our most favorite games to play as teammates is Time's Up.  That and Pictionary... "Is that a mirror? Africa?"  Ahhh, the memories.

Because of my dad, I know how to look up information.  That may sound silly, but before the invention and common usage of the Internet and the ability to google things, I had to learn how to look stuff up.  Not only how to use a dictionary but how to use the topical guide in the scriptures to learn more about a certain subject.  I remember asking him what such-and-such meant and he would say, "Look it up."  At first I thought he just didn't want to talk or didn't know the answer, but I learned later that it was to help me be self sufficient.  Because of that, I became well versed in searching for information.

My dad loves taking pictures and I get that from him.  And those that know me, know I LOVE snapping photos.  I also hoard photos like it is another form of currency.  I may or may not have photos that belong to my parents of their childhood... :-)  Shhh, don't tell them!

Along with taking pictures, my dad was also at school things recording my brother and I.  I do that for my kids because it meant a lot to look out there and see my dad with the video camera.  He was very supportive of me.  I wonder if he still has the video of my 3rd grade play (the one I wrote and the class performed), "The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig."  He also used to let my brother and I put on silly shows and skits at home and he recorded them.  It was from one of those skits that I learned not to say the word, "Bastard."

When we were young, he and my mom would wake us up early so we could listen to the scriptures on records.  Through that, I was shown how important it is to read scriptures daily.  My testimony is stronger because of those early moments.

Even when I say prayers with my family, I think of my dad every time I am the one offering the evening prayer.  The reason being one of the things he would always pray for, I now prayer for: that we would sleep well and wake up in the morning refreshed.

On the day I had my first child, his first grandchild, he was there in the room when I gave birth to Rebekah. (And the birth of Lillian.) I was able to give my dad his first grandchild a few days before his 50th birthday. I am so glad he was there to share in those moments.

Those are just some of the things that I learned from my dad.

I am forever grateful for my dad.  We became closer after I got pregnant with Rebekah.  Something about him becoming a grandfather really changed our relationship and we grew closer.

Thank you, Dad.  For giving me life.

I am all for safety.  Especially when riding in vehicles.  I have even written a paper on the importance of changing school buses to having seat belts. (Note to self: find paper and share at future date.)

That being said, the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) and the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) have many new guidelines regarding rear facing car seats and booster seats. I already was trying to wrap my head around the fact that car seats now have expiration dates. (I am still trying to get that one to compute.)  Now there are new new car seat guidelines.

I feel these are a lot bit on the extreme side.  As a friend said on Facebook when I shared the new guidelines, "In 10 years we'll probably have to put them in bubble wrap before we put them in the car seat!"  Sarcasm aside, I wonder the same thing!

One is to keep kids in a rear facing car seat until they are 2 years old. I don't know about many other parents, but I am the mother where some of my kids have LOOOONG legs.  Had this gone into effect when my kids were younger, the poor things would be all cramped and have to sit cross-legged.  Which some parents say isn't that big of a deal.  And maybe it isn't, for their short-legged kids.  What about long car drives? I know that I couldn't sit crossed-legged on a road trip (despite the fact that I would most likely be driving) for long periods of time.

While reading said article I thought I was safe from these new guidelines... Nope!  According to the new guidelines: "New Boostering Recommendation: Children should ride in a belt-positioning booster (that means a high-back!) until they are at least 4 foot, 9 inches, AND 8-12 years old.....Best practice is also waiting until children are 80-100 pounds as well." Goodness, thankfully Lily is 12 years old and over 4'9"!!  Yes, she is a hair under 100 pounds, but I am not stressing it much.  Although, we have always joked that Lily is so skinny that she would have to bring a booster seat with her on her first date when she is 16 years old.  Now, it is almost a reality! If more guidelines come our way in the next few years, she very well may have to bring a booster on a date.  I can just see it now, "Hi, , can you help buckle me in?"

Yes, that sounds absurd, as do some of these new guidelines!

Hello, World! I'm Baaaaaack!

It has been almost 2 years since my last blog post.  I kind of got bored with my blog for a while there.  I keep thinking, "Oh, this would make a great blog post."  But then I never write about it... So, I am going to write about what is going on in my life right now.  You're welcome. :)

The boys left less than a week ago to go visit their mom for the summer.  I miss them already.  Yes, I miss those two stinky teenage boys.  They make me laugh and see things in ways I never would normally see things.

While I was in SLC to take them to the airport, the day before their departure, I was able to visit with some extended family I don't get to see that often.  It was an absolutely awesome evening.  I wish we all lived closer but thus is life.  I took some fun photos of the get together but I haven't gone through them yet.  But all should beware... I am sure I got some awesome not-so-flattering photos of people eating!  You will have to check those out on Facebook.

Today is the last day of this round of FGI8.  FGI8 stands for Feel Great In 8.  It is an 8 week program where you eat healthy foods, do acts of kindness, and lots of self improving.  This was my 4th round (I believe) and even though I have not lost as much weight as I would like, I am still on the better side of the scale than I was a year ago.  At my largest, I weighed 183 pounds.  That may not sound like a lot to some, but to my small 5'3" frame, it is!  Currently, I weigh 167 pounds.  I am trying so hard to get to that 163 mark, just to have lost 20 pounds total.  I am a work in progress, so it is ok. :)  My husband has been doing fabulously though.  Why is it that men lose weight faster than women? It just isn't fair! I blame Eve. Ok, so it isn't Eve's fault, but it just isn't right that men lose weight quicker.  Although I am green with envy, I am proud of my awesome husband's weight loss journey.  He started one round after I started.  All in all, in one year, he has lost 51 pounds!!!! That is a small child!  That is a sack of flour from Costco!  (Yes, I use Costco items as gauges of measurements.)  I am so happy that he is eating healthier and been able to get off of insulin! That is a HUGE bonus!!!  No insulin means his body is healing itself!  (Look away..... *awkward happy dancing*)

Another thing going on right now that makes me happy are my two girls.  They have been doing great this summer with not uttering the words that every mother dreads hearing 15 minutes after school gets out, "I'm bored!!"  They have been OUTSIDE and UNPLUGGED most days!!  I love that more than they probably love hanging out with their friends and such.  Oh, and another HUGE thing that happened this summer, Rebekah FINALLY learned how to ride a bike!!!  Yes, she is 14 years old. Yes, she just learned how to ride a bike.  And yes, I couldn't be prouder.  I wish I could take the credit for nagging nudging her in the right direction to learn, but it was her friends.  Thank heavens for great friends!!!

Tomorrow I get my permanent filling for the redoing of the root canal gone wrong, taking a left turn at hell and staying there to vacation for a month.  I will have to blog about that another time.  I am just hoping all goes well.

Rebekah leaves for the Trek on Wednesday.  I am slightly worried that she will have a difficult time, but part of me hopes she has a slightly difficult time.  Now before you think I am a nut job (which is also possible), I just want her to experience the joys/pains of the trek.  I sewed her an awesome pioneer apron without a pattern.  That's right, I rock! :)

Right now, Bill is making me breakfast and I am so excited to see what he creates!  Then it is off to church to be spiritually fed.  I love going to church.  I look forward every week to getting away from the regular hubbub of daily life and feast on spiritual things.  Sure, I need to feast every day, but let's face it, I am not there yet.  I will be, one day.  I am just happy when I read my scriptures every night for a few minutes.  Which is leaps and bounds better than I was doing a year ago, where I would read maybe once a month.  It is all in the baby steps. Next baby step: toilet training! Wait, that isn't right...

Have a happy Sabbath day!

Life is a Dance

I have been trying to climb out from under the stuff in my life.  Stuff that I kept or let my daughters keep - as a security.  I don't know how or when my life became so overwhelmed with stuff, but I know it didn't happen overnight like I want to believe.

Yesterday started a huge, long process of gutting out my house - in hopes to simply my life more.  I started in the girls' room.  It will take me more than just a few days.  They had stuff in there they had as babies! Seriously, their room had almost no room to move around in.  It was like an episode off of Hoarders.

I filled up my van with bag after bag of stuff.  I crammed it full and took it down to the DI.  It felt so wonderful to let that stuff go.  I feel freer.  I feel better.  I feel carpet under my feet... That is an accomplishment if you know what that room looked like.

I keep thinking of why I kept so much stuff and why it became like a security blanket.  I still don't know fully why I have kept all that I have.  I have too many emotional attachments with stuff.  Every time I saw something that the girls played with when they were babies, my heart would start to ache - missing that brief moment in motherhood.  Plus, that was a time when their daddy was still alive.  That doesn't mean I am not happy with my life now, because I am.  But the stuff was a reminder of simpler times - times before heart-shattering moments.  Times when my girls were tiny, when they still looked up to me with their big eyes and open hearts.  That isn't to say they don't look up to me or have open hearts anymore - but back then I was Supermom and knew everything!

I am not saying I am baby hungry (ok, maybe a little) but I just really miss my little girlies.  They are growing up WAY too fast.  Rebekah is 12 and Lily is almost 11.  I am entering a whole new chapter in life - the teenage years!!  I have been in that for a few years now with Nate and Justin, but I have heard from many moms that teenage boys are WAY easier than teenage girls.  Which scares me because my mom cursed me with girls just like me.  So I want to say this to Karma - STAY AWAY! :)

Ok, I have lots more to do today.

Ugly Houses

I know that my house is not that pretty.  I am hoping to be able to have siding put on the side of my house in the next two years.  The weather (and kids' accidental moments from last winter) has not been kind to the exterior.

That being said, when people purposely choose ugly exteriors, it is a whole different thing.  I really wish I had a picture of this one house I drive by every time I take the kids to middle school.  It is located in a really nice neighborhood but has some barf-inducing pillars in the front.  I am not one to hate pillars; the ones of the White House are quite lovely.  This house though, it is one story with pillars.  Not nice pillars; short squatty pillars that practically hug the white stucco front walls. They were not even thin pillars; oh no, they are quite girthy.  Squatty and girthy - not what you want when it comes to pillars (among other things...).

These "pillar" community members who owned the house lost it to the bank.  I am guessing they spent too much on the home building loan to get those grandiose and pretentious (not to mention beastly) pillars that they went bankrupt.  Only someone with such magniloquent ambitions could even contemplate such atrocities.  I should know all about people like that; my dad used to be a construction worker in southern California for rich people.

A few weeks ago, as I was driving the middle school carpool, I noticed one of the pillars had fallen over.  It was a miracle! I told all the kids (there are four of them) that I had actual magical powers because I happened to be mulling over in my head illegal thoughts of doing that neighborhood a favor and knocking one of those pillars down.  Then I saw one of the pillars on the ground seemingly crying out for someone to break it to dust; to put it out of its shameful existence.  I am 100% certain that this pillar tried to commit suicide but I told the kids it was my mind that made it fall over.  At first, the kids (remember, we are talking middle school age kids) believed me.  I had to break it to them that I really wasn't magical, but by being a mother, I still have mommy magic powers and that one day they will become adults and have children of their own and then they will receive their own mommy or daddy magic powers.

Oddly enough, a couple of days later, by some random act, the vacant house's fallen pillar was up again; sort of jammed back into the small slot made for it.  I could tell it was ashamed because a few days later, it was on the ground again.  To make things even weirder, the next time I drove by, by golly the pillar was back up!  Who keeps trying to revive this pillar? Let it die in peace!

Well, up until a few days ago, this house was still vacant and a sad "For Sale" sign begged people for attention.  Someone saw this ugly duckling and decided this was the house for them.  As I drove the kids to school today, I saw construction workers graciously taking down the rest of those pillars.  I could hear the sighs of relief from the downed pillars.  They are finally at peace.

"Hunter" Holiday

I remember this time 6 years ago.... It was my first October living in southern Utah and I was wracking my mind to figure out why there was a 5-day weekend in this month called "Harvest Holiday." It didn't take long before I was told it was not so much a harvest holiday as it was one for hunters. There are so many hunters in Utah that I guess they figured it would be easier to make it a vacation so kids wouldn't miss school because this weekend deer hunting is open to the youth as well.  Yes, some families go hunting together.

As much as I wish I could go hunting, I am just grateful for the nice break in the regular schedule of waking up early.  Plus it is the end of the first quarter of school and they need the break as much as I do.  Although, I don't think that the kids really get more rest since we all stay up late playing games, watching TV, or hang out with friends.


Yesterday the 5-day weekend is going to be long!  Lily listened to the same song over and over and over and over and over while Rebekah was listening to a different song over and over and over, as well. Lily had her headphones on so she was singing rather loudly.  As I sat on the couch, one ear was hearing Lily singing, “My, my, this here Anakin Guy, maybe Vader someday later, now he’s just a small fry...” And the other ear hears, “Everybody was kung-fu fighting…”

I tried tuning them out but on about the 20th go around with the same song, Lily was singing rather loudly and sang, "...because Queen Amadonna wanted to..." We all started giggling. We tried to help he pronounce it right but she just embarrassed.

This is going to be an interesting 5-day weekend. :)

Orchestra Recital

On Wednesday, October 13, Rebekah had her orchestra recital.  She is in the beginner class and a lot of the kids in her class had never even touched an instrument.  Rebekah takes piano so she knew some basics but never touched a cello before.  I was so proud of her.  She did a great job!

 Rebekah and Lily

Rebekah practicing.

She is not playing here (note the bow is not in her hand).  She just posed. 

Silly Lily.

 Serious Lily.

Pawgers and Mawgers.

 Justin waiting for the recital to start.

Justin looking at the program.  The cool design on the front was designed by one of the students.  It is a guitar tree. :)

Nate just waiting out the whole thing.

Lily was playing with Nate's hair.

 My beautiful Bekah.

This is Rebekah's class.  Her teacher is the person two people behind her.  She is a fantastic teacher and I am very grateful for her.

Rebekah amazes me with her budding musical ability.

My 33rd Birthday

Last Friday I turned 33.  I am older than the age I still picture my Aunt Marianne being from when I was a child.  Why is it that when you get older, people you know that you don't see day-to-day stay the same age?  Aunt Marianne is now in her 50's but she will always be in her 30's to me. :)

Aunt Marianne's daughter, Sarah, one of my most favorite people on the planet, brought her family down here to Cedar to spend time with my family.  She made me this adorable cake:

Why yes, it is on Tupperware.  :)  I love me some Tupperware.  This is actually a relatively small cake.  Except the height.  It was 3 layers!  Last month when I was visiting family in SLC, Sarah and I talked about possibly making a smaller cake for me to eat like I was turning one but I couldn't use my hands to eat it.  Thus, the cake you see here.

She is finding enough spots for 33 candles.  Yup, she is awesome.

Flaming birthday cake!  Seriously, this thing was HOT!  Just check out my face in the next picture!!

I really should have put my hair back before this point, but luckily, no hairs were harmed in the extinguishing of this cake.

 That flame ball cake was so warm that it started to melt the frosting.  I am just testing it out first; no use in burning my taste buds!

 After my tongue gave me the all clear, I tackled that cake!

 Mmmmm, yummy carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and what appears to look like a snotsicle.  Rest assured, it is only frosting!

 I am having a hard time eating that cake.... I think I bit of more than I can chew! (pun intended!)

Working on the side.... I LOVE cream cheese frosting!!

 I wish I would have had a picture of the moment my head was SHOVED into the cake by Gabe and Nate, but Gabe was the photographer as well, and he knows how my camera is like my 5th child, so he opted to just shove my head and forgo the picture.  But who cares? Check out my face! AH!  If you really want to see the video of my head getting shoved:

 I could seriously not breath!  After all was said and done, I was cleaning out my EYES as well!!  Bet you didn't know that eyes can eat cake, too!

This is my only revenge: SEE FOOD!!

 

 This is the cake for everyone else.  Sarah did a GREAT job getting all those sprinkles on only the sides of the cake.  It was DELISH!  (so was my cake, considering my nose and eyes were eating it, too.)

We spent Saturday watching General Conference together. We had a huge breakfast of french toast (two different kinds, cuz I am awesome that way), chocolate chip pancakes, sausage, homemade hashbrowns, scrambled eggs, and orange juice.

 

During conference, we played conference bingo, doodled, ate, and pretty much had a blast.  Can I just say how much I LOVE having an HDTV??  It was like the Prophet and General Authorities were IN my house talking just to our family!!

While the boys men went to the Priesthood session, Sarah and I played the Wii together.  After every Priesthood session, the guys go out for ice cream after. Every family must have the same ritual because Bill says that all the ice cream joints in town are packed like a fat kid in a pair of stretchy pants three sizes too small.  Ok, Bill never described it that way, but that is how I imagine it.  So they went Cedar Nut and Candy because they have milkshakes there as well.  They also sell Anderson Dairy ice cream by the half-gallon.  It only cost $3.50 a half gallon!  They brought us some so us ladies (and little Christian) didn't feel left out.  They got us two kinds:  Pistachio Almond and Cookies & Cream.  Ohhhhh, it is sooooo creamy.  So creamy and tasty that right now as I type, I started to salivate.  Makailah (who is 5) wanted some green ice cream (the Pistachio kind) and so we gave her some.  A few moments after tasting it, she tells her mom, "I don't like this ice cream.  It tastes like, um..... butt."  It is a good thing I used the bathroom earlier or I surely would have had an accident!

That night, before we ate the ice cream, Gabe, with the help of Nate and Justin, made some hot wings! They were killer!  I don't have any pictures of it because no one wants to see ANY of us chowing down on chicken wings.  You may think you do, but trust me, you don't.  It was like a murder scene with a side of bleu cheese.

 

We watched X-Files whilst licking our Frank Red's Hot fingers.  Then us adults busted out our awesome Wii Bowling moves.  I am proud to say that I dominated and annihilated the whole bunch.  I feel it is God's way of making me feel better about the fact that it is always the opposite when we bowl at the bowling alley; it is a good day when I bowl in real life anything over 99 - even with bumpers!

Sunday morning, I made Cream of Wheat and banana muffins.  Conference was extremely good.  Both sessions were very filling to my soul.  Between the sessions, we played "Don't Eat Pete!" that Bill's mom made for Nate when he was a little boy.  

 

 "Hmmmm, which one should I choose?"

 The look on Makailah's face makes me giggle.  She just picked up Pete and we all loudly whispered (didn't want to make her cry by the yelling), "Don't eat Pete!!"  And she wasn't sure what to do, so in a panic, she ate Pete!!  Our hearts go out the the surviving members of Pete's family.

 Gabe deciding which one to eat, hoping it isn't Pete.

 After a few choices, he just picked up the whole sheet and dumped them in to his mouth.

 However, the Pete in this game was not going to give up, so it stuck behind.  (Look close at the pumpkin face - click on picture if you need to - you will see a yellow Pete.)

 While I was waiting in the other room for them to reset the board and choose a new Pete, I decided to go all out.  I am one sexy mama!

 Before I decided to take on the game, I thought Justin was just looking like he really needed a kiss from my REALLY DARK lipstick.  His eyes said yes, but his arms said no.

 

 I got his forehead, after much wrestling, then went in for the kill: his stomach!

 He wiped most of the kiss left over his right eyebrow, but this time, his eyes are not saying anything nice at all!!  Also, I would just like to apologize to all you who are checking out my messy house.  What do you expect when you have one room emptied into other rooms in the house (I am painting a room) and then you add two younger kids into the mix??  Not to mention the older kids that I truly think were messier than normal because they were hoping I wouldn't notice and blame it on the younger ones..... who knows. But, like I mentioned earlier, I love Tupperware, thus the cool Thatsa Bowl!!  Then you have a smattering of papers, a cup, a box to mail my cousin Summer a care package, play dishes, white board markers, and many other fun items.... I know, you are totally jealous, you wish your house was this messy right now.

 I am not sure if this is Pete or one of his many loved ones.  But it sure was tasty!!

 Christian wanted a turn.

 I think his face says it all.

 

 

 

Now time for some male bonding.....

 

 Dontcha just feel the love between Gabe and Justin??

 What do you get when you mix two supposedly grown up men and a fifteen year old pubescent boy??  An atomic wedgie!!!

 They really went in for the kill!!

You know the phrase, "there are no words"?  Well, that doesn't apply here, I get, "there are SO many words."  The first word that comes to mind is effeminate.  Not only does it look like Gabe is whispering sweet nothings into Bill's ear, Bill is wearing his oh-so-"manly" Strawberry Shortcake band-aid.  All the while, you can see poor Nate writhing in the background from that fallout after that atomic wedgie.

 

During this wartime of atomic wedgies and gender confusion, Makailah and Lily played dress up.  (I am so glad Gabe and Bill did not play dress up.)

 She wanted to wear the same thing I was earlier.  I think she looks a million times better than me.

 Here we have Lily in a costume from 2 or 3 Halloweens ago!  And we explained that just because she can still fit it, it doesn't mean she should wear it.  Now if only some people out there in the world would just learn that lesson, all of our eyes could be spared... but then again, there wouldn't be much on that website: People of Walmart. 

 There we go, this is what it is supposed to look like on a little girl.  Plus Makailah had to add the pom poms.  No matter how some people like it or not, some little girls are just going to be extra girly.

 And I shall call her, "Lilliana Jones!"

Lily wanted to show off her weird feet!

Aw, for cute!  Christian really likes Bill.

After we put the kids to bed on Sunday night, we did something that the kids would freak out if they knew what we did..... we played the Wii on Sunday!! We NEVER play video games on Sunday, but we did anyway.  We played Raving Rabbids TV Party.  I LOVE any Raving Rabbid's game and I was laughing so hard that I started coughing.  And as I mentioned before in this entry (and here) I have a problem when it comes to the dangerous mixture of laughing and bladder control.  When you throw coughing (or throwing up or sneezing) into the mix, you better run for cover or at least for some galoshes.  Thankfully, disaster was averted since I run fast.

The next day, we all went out to eat while the kids were in school.  Being an adult has many drawbacks, but there are some fun perks!

I had a fantastic birthday weekend.  Thank you Sarah and Gabe for coming to visit!!

3 to 1 Days Left

Ok, so here are the last few days of our advent calendar.



3 Days left until Christmas

Rebekah and number 3.

The kids with new ornaments for the trees and Kit Kats.

2 more days!

Lily and the 2nd present.



Everyone got their own tin of cookies and a treat. These are their favorite cookies.

ONE MORE DAY!

Nathan and the last present.

They each got something called PopBalls. They are really fun and pop really high into the air. And each with a Kit Kat.