HAPPY HALLOWEEN from our swamp to yours

This was taken at the end of a long night, but at least we got a family picture!

Aaron was SUCH a great sport. A couple of weeks ago, I gave him the opportunity to back out... but he said he'd be happy to go along with the family theme. Little did he know, he would get the most attention and be the most uncomfortable. I was planning on going green too, but happened to be in charge of the party and just didn't have enough time to do it. (we all had to get ready in the nursery after being at the church for a few hours....)
I love that Ben snapped this picture spontaneously...
Simon couldn't figure out what was happening to Daddy's face.
Shrek's costume consisted of a white shirt from Aaron's closet, pajama pants he wears often, boots from our winter bin, a pillow from our couch, a $3 (women's) vest from a thrift store, a homemade paper mache helmet (free) and $1 face paint that didn't really match. Total cost= $4.

I found my dress at Savers for $8. I wasn't planning on wearing a wig, but when I came across it for $6, I couldn't resist. My shoes were $2 at a thrift store in Atlanta. My crown was given to me for my birthday, but I had to buy gold spray paint for $2. My hair scrunchies were made from the lining of my dress (which was too short for me to begin with) and my ears were made from some scrap fabric around my house. Total cost= $18.

It was The Donkey's idea to do a Shrek theme this year and he wanted to be The Donkey from day one. We originally planned on him wearing a gray sweatsuit, but it was a sad costume, especially for my child who is most excited about holidays. I bought this costume online for half price. We bought the teeth for $1 at a Halloween store. Total cost= (including shipping) $16.
I have an old tiger costume for the baby & thought Simon would be so cute dressed as Puss and Boots. For a solid week I tried to talk Luke into going as Lord Farquaad, but he wasn't having it. His costume was a bit of a mess. I found a women's dance leotard at a thrift store for $3 and we sewed a tummy in it and also made a sorry tail. The cape is from Ben's Darth Vader costume. The boot covers were made from a bed skirt (along with his belt). His hat and sword were bought at the dollar store. His glasses came from a Sonic kids meal. Total cost= $5.

The dragon costume came from our Halloween bin. Luke wore it when he was 2. It was SO small for Zack and we made him wear his winter boots because the pants were capri length on him. Total cost= free. We lost him for about an hour tonight. He was off Trunk or Treating all by himself and didn't even realize he was lost. By the time this picture was taken, he was SO EXHAUSTED and was cursing me for making him wear those boots..
The Gingerbread Man was a grumpy little bugger. He slept for a total of 45 minutes today and wasn't digging the whole Halloween thing. He spent lots of time in his stroller drinking a bottle. His costume was originally a kangaroo. I found it at Goodwill for $3. I took out the tummy and cut off the tail and it was a perfect little Gingerbread suit for our chubby baby. The fabric paint for the frosting was $2 and the fuzzy gumdrops came out of our craft bin. Total cost= $5.
Halloween only comes around every 365 days (unfortunately) and it's a bummer it lands on Sunday this year. The big debate in our house is whether or not to go Trick-or-Treating on the Sabbath. My husband says no way. (He's a righteous rule-follower and also, he's a big OGRE.) I don't think it's an un-holy thing to do, especially if you're out as a family. Will we go? We're still debating. You can answer my new poll on the right and help us settle our fight.... Although if you side with me, Aaron won't listen to anything that comes from the blog. And if you side with Aaron, I won't tell him about the results..

Hope your Halloween is happy,
and
your buckets are filled with only the good candy.

Cupcakes for Cancer 5k race

Dear Friends, family, and neighbors-

In two weeks I will be running a 5K race to help support my friends' son, Greg, who has been diagnosed with cancer-Burkitts Lymphoma. This fun, family event will be held on Saturday, November 13th at 9:00 am in Westchester Hills housing development in Las Vegas.

Many of you live here and I hope you will join with me either in running the 5K or walking the 1 or 2 mile race. There will be train rides for the kids as well as a 100 yard dash. It should be a lot of fun. Greg and his family will be passing out cupcakes that morning to those who come to support this event.

There are also many of you who do not live close by but may want to help this amazing family by donating or pledging a set amount for each of the 3.2 miles I will run. This is easily done through Paypal or sending me a check made out to Cupcakes for Cancer.

Please visit www.cupcakes4cancer.blogspot.com for more information and to read Greg's story.

Most of us have been touched by cancer in some way. Here is a chance to come to gather and help ease the burden of Greg's family as they endure this trial in their lives. I will run for my love for the Downer family and the battle Greg is fighting. Who will you run for? Will you run with me?

Please let others know about this event and see how much we can do to help the Downer family out. Thank you.

cookie face

Still not physically or emotionally recovered from my girls trip. The thought of blogging about it seems way too overwhelming. But I can post a few pictures taken while I was away.

My husband is incredible. Not only did he hold down the fort, but he fed, bathed, clothed, changed diapers, was on time for 8 AM church, and put the kids to bed at a reasonable hour each night. I received a voice mail from Aaron late one evening while I was gone... He was wrestling with all four boys on the trampoline and accidentally called me. The message is priceless and I listened it to several times while I was away. All the kids were yelping (including the baby) and above all the chaos, Aaron screams "Steamroller!" which is followed by a bunch of groaning children. He is such a fabulous Dad. Oh, and he made chocolate chip cookies with the kids AND took pictures-- which won him huge brownie points.

It's not easy living away from family, but sometimes you can meet people that instantly become family. What makes a friend seem like a family member? When they are willing and ready to watch your kids-- for days on end. I had several girlfriends who were swapping my kids and taking excellent care of them. And then when I missed my flight and had to stay another day, I called my sweet friend to ask if she could watch them AGAIN.. she said, "No problem! I just bought everything to make haunted houses! We would love to have them!" There's nothing like knowing your kids will be taken care of AND entertained while you're gone. To be honest, I think they were a little disappointed when I came home :).

he's here for your entertainment

i absolutely love Adam Lambert. I would marry him if I wasn't already married, and if he didn't like men. Mix his music with my dancing baby and we have a winning combination. This video is 2 1/2 minutes long (twice as long as any home video should be, especially if it's shared on the web) but if you watch until the end, you will get a sneak peak of Ben's dancing and I believe it's worth the wait.

There's nothing like coming home to a dancing, walking baby!

hundred-mile sunrise

I know I said I wouldn't be back for a while, but my kids are still sleeping, a load of laundry is swishing in the washing machine and oatmeal is cooling on the stove, so I can justify it.

One of my sisters lives on a golf course in a quaint little city outside Atlanta. From the balcony in her back yard you can see acres of beautifully manicured grass, a silvery lake and a small forest. The trees took my breath away, each shaded with different colored fall leaves. And they were twice as tall as her house. I brought home leaves for my kids... some were bigger than their cute little faces.

As we drove around her neighborhood and city, I rolled down my window and literally hung out my head like a dog... and tried my best to keep my tongue in my mouth. I couldn't help but feel a little cheated for living in Vegas during this time of year. Vegas is so brown and flat and boring. As the plane flew over Georgia and then into Nevada, the contrast was astounding. It made me more depressed to live in such a blah, weather-never-changing kind of place.

And then I woke up. I woke up this morning around 5 AM and stepped outside. The sun wasn't scheduled to arrive for an hour or so. But the sky was preparing for the day. It didn't matter which way I looked, I could see the entire city. The little rocks that we call mountains were dark and behind them was the most beautiful orange backdrop. It went on for a least a hundred miles. The few clouds in the sky knew exactly where to go when the sun came up. As it peaked over the mountains, the clouds transformed into pink cotton candy. They covered the crisp blue sky and I almost felt like I could reach out and eat some. It was in that moment I stopped feeling depressed about living in such an ugly city and felt awe and wonder for the place I call home. There is beauty ALL around us if we choose to see it. And home is wherever my family is.

I am so looking forward to cleaning, cooking, playing, laughing, disciplining, reading, and being in my home today.

I'm home.

I spent 5 nights away from my ever so caring husband and my darling, happy kids. During those five nights in Atlanta with my sisters, I believe I got a total of 15 hours sleep-- and that's being generous... We literally stayed up until 2-3 AM every.single.night. Yesterday I missed my flight-- due to lack of sleep and serious security in the Atlanta airport. So, (lucky for me!) I got to stay another day. I woke up this morning at 4:30 AM (1:30 AM in Vegas time) and I am not sure how or why my body is still functioning now.

I had a wonderful trip, one that will be treasured for always. I am deeply in debt to my husband and my wonderfully fabulous generous friends who watched my kids for me... (Aaron didn't have to take off any work!) I will try to get around to writing about the trip, but I am way in over my head around here. Laundry, school, cooking, SLEEPING, and last minute Halloween planning. I love October and have lots to do before it's over. I may not be back on this blog until November (2011). Peace out.

PS. Guess how Simon greeted me minutes after I arrived home? With three steps. Yes, I missed my baby's first steps while I was away. Was it worth it? Absolutely.

mathematical equation for a fanastic weekend

Me + Airplane - Children + Sisters = exactly how I want to spend a long weekend.

Atlanta, here I come.

...just singing and jumping in the rain...

Ten.Twenty.Twenty-Ten. Awesome date, no? I wish I was having a baby or getting married today. The only exciting thing I did was go to Sam's Club with my kids. Not anything to brag about, but it was kinda funny..

When we went in, the skies were blue. When we came out, it was raining like I've never seen it rain in Sin City. I had four kids, a stroller, a big box of diapers and we literally couldn't see what was in front of us. The entire parking lot was a swimming pool. I grabbed Simon out of the stroller and tried to protect him the best way I could. Ben pushed the stroller (and the big box of Huggies) and Luke followed behind. Zack stood there and screamed like he was getting shot with a machine gun. I told him it was only WATER, but the kid has lived in the desert for 4/5ths of his life and doesn't exactly know what to do when it rains. Simon was also terribly frightened and pulled my hair with one hand and hit me in the face with the other. Needless to say, it was an adventure. I ended up dragging one screaming kid and lugging the other. By the time we were safely buckled in the van, there wasn't a dry eye (or article of clothing) among us. My undies were sopping. I couldn't help but laugh-- and snap a quick picture with my cell phone. This is us on 10.20.2010. not the most flattering shot of me, but I just adore Simon's expression. I am positive he's trying to say, "What the H was that?"
We arrived home and before we could dry off, a few friends came over to play. The boys figured they were already wet, so they might as well enjoy the trampoline. They jumped out there for 45 minutes and only came inside because I bribed them with hot chocolate. Simon and I enjoyed watching from the window-- and grabbed the handy cell for a few more pictures. terrible quality, I know. But great memories. A day like this must be documented because it will be a while before it ever comes again.

because it's wednesday...

Aaron and I were singing this while doing the dishes last night (that's right, baby!) and this morning it was still in my head. And because it's Wednesday, I thought it was appropriate to post it again. Have a fabulous team building exercise night tonight!

a trip that changed me

it's 2:30 in the morning. i've been up for a while with a coughing husband and a barking dog. zack came into my room around 1:00 asking to crawl in bed with me because he was "scarwd" and i caved. he snuggled up next to me and two minutes later, both of his hands were pulling my hair at the scalp... that's some scary dream! it took me a couple of minutes to release his grip and since then, i've been awake. i don't like random thoughts running wild in the middle of the night. i feel like there's absolutely nothing i can do (that's productive) so here i am on the blog.

tonight i am going to attempt to write about the trip i took to atlanta with my sisters, almost three months ago. i've tried several times before to document this trip, but the words never seem adequate and i always give up. while laying in bed tonight i realized that it doesn't really matter what i say about the trip long as i write something. i will always know how i felt and as long as i show a few pictures, those feelings will come back. all i need to do is get it in the archives... so here i go.

i have 4 sisters. my oldest is much wiser and more practical than the rest of us. she opted out of the trip because she recently had baby #7 and was in the middle of planning a wedding (she was the caterer, decorator and wedding coordinator. my parents are so lucky to have her for a daughter...) my youngest sister couldn't make the trip either. she was in the middle of a college semester and was getting married (she wasn't in charge, but had a little say in the wedding plans :) that left me and my sisters just older than me... deb and i decided to fly south to atlanta to spend a few days with kristy who recently moved back there. it was totally spur of the moment. i was gone for five days and my husband wasn't able to take a minute off work-- so my friends really stepped it up and made this trip happen for me. i still owe them for the 120 hours of childcare.

nothing really significant happened on the trip. well, accept for the fact that the three of us came back completely changed women. what i mean to say is that we didn't really DO anything out of the ordinary. we stayed up into the early morning hours talking each night. we made dinner together, watched several hours of "sister wives" on TLC, went to work with kristy (she and her husband own a daycare), did a bit of shopping- mostly at thrift stores (it was in atlanta that i committed to being fiona for halloween and only had a few days to get costumes ready for my family). the only thing we really got fancied up for was a weekend LDS conference in atlanta called Time Out for Women.

this was my fifth or sixth TOFW conference. most of them, i've attended with these same two sisters. this particular one in atlanta didn't disappoint. it was uplifting and motivating. i should write about all the things i learned, but it's been three months and i don't really want to pull out my notes from the conference right now (it's now 3 am, people.) but i will share some highlights and pictures.

first of all, before we even entered the conference room, people were asking my sister debbie for autographs. she looks a bit like one of the performers hillary weeks. we thought it was funny that people wanted to take pictures with/of debbie. after it started, it got worse... eventually we made them take a picture together because people could not tell them apart. hillary made it clear that deb was more tan than she was and asked if i could photoshop her in the pictures to look like she'd been at the beach. both hillary and deb are mothers for four girls and spent a while chatting. i also talked to her about my adopted grandma bev olson, who i nominated for a contest hillary held for inspiring people. Bev's nomination won and she and hillary talked on the phone, etc. hillary still remembers her after two years. hillary is an absolute doll and is such a talented performer and speaker. i totally related to this song and this song and this song. worth watching.

i was also able to visit with a friend's mom who spoke at the conference. we were interrupted because people thought deb was hillary... and unfortunately we didn't get to talk as long as i had hoped. but emily watts is such a light-hearted humorus author and presenter. i think i will forever remember her stating that whether we believe it or not, all of our children will eventually learn to use the toilet properly. so looking forward to that! potty-training is my least fave thing about being a mom.

the highlight for me (and probably everyone at the conference) was listening to mariama kallon speak. she was raised in africa and witnessed the murders of her parents and siblings. she survived so many terrible things and found hope after recieving a humanitarian kit (toothbrush and shampoo) from the LDS church. she later found the gospel and ended up serving a mission on temple square in salt lake city. we teared up while talking to her. she hugged us all saying "I love when sisters come together! I miss my sisters so much!" (one of her sister's legs were chopped off right in front of her. she witnessed her being raped and later killed. you can read more of her story here or here or watch part of her story here. you can also buy her story on DVD, but i can't find the link. it's called Delivery of Hope. look it up... she' truly inspiring!

the last night i was there, we met a dear friend from home (wj) for dinner at the cheesecake factory. Lori was especially missed at this dinner. she and monique have always been close. mo is beautiful inside and out. we reminisced about the past.. laughing so hard and cried a lot too while staying until they kicked us out of the restaurant. I just love that girl!

we stayed up EVERY night past 2 am, but one of the nights we had a fashion show in kristy's garage (it was the only place we could be without waking anyone up). i think we laughed the hardest here... i want to say kris almost peed her pants because she thought i was so funny dancing around in this dress. i wasn't planning on posting this pic, but why not? i have no shame anymore. we've shared clothes for years and years... i am not really the same size as my 85 lbs sisters, but we can still trade because we've gone through fluctuation during pregnancy. i love coming home with new clothes and not having to spend a dime on them! just one of the many benefits of having a sister (or 4).

i had SO much fun being in their "backyard". they live on a golf course... in view of a gorgeous lake. addie and carson and i spent some quality time skipping rocks and talking about how important it is to have a dog. i knew before i left for this trip that a dog was in our near future, but i think it my time at the lake with addison and car-car that solidified our decision. i literally saw a picture of Sunny in my head and knew that a Golden Retriever was the right dog for our family. call it inspiration or whatever you will, but those walks to the lake were special to me.

one night (way past our bedtimes) the kids and i played an intense game of freeze tag on the golf course. mind you, it was pitch dark, we couldn't see anything and accidentally ran into each other several times. right before this picture was taken, i pulled out my cell and called my boys. each of them were able to talk to their cousins. i was trying not to be too emotional, but we live too far away from each other! these kids are the most adorable ever. i told the kids that we should move out to georgia for a few years to be with this amazing family while they are young and can make memories together. now i just have to convince the husband.

being away from my husband and children for 5 days was easier than i thought it would be. i missed Simon's first steps... and still don't regret it. i needed to leave. it healed me in many ways. i've talked to kris and deb several times about this trip and we all agree it was life-changing. at the time, we were all going through our own struggles. we had intense therapy sessions and counseled each other on how we can be better in our marriages, as mothers, as sister-in-laws, in the gospel. these two amazing sisters are so special to me. they challenge me to be better, in every way. they are beautiful, sassy, strong, generous, determined and loving. i am so grateful to have them as life-long friends.

one way to keep the screaming baby occupied while mom is making dinner...

Weird and Weirder

Ben and Luke came to our family first... and I just didn't realize how lucky I was to have such calm, sweet, obedient kids. My two younger boys help me appreciate the two older ones :). Ben and Luke are so kind to one another and set an excellent example for their younger {crazy} brothers. During my third pregnancy, I stressed about having another one... afraid that my relationship with them would change or they would lose the bond they share between one another, but it's still the same, hopefully it always will be. These two are so silly and so giggly. They have a million and one inside jokes and half of the time no one else knows why they're laughing. Last night while setting the table for dinner, they were singing a Christmas duet titled, "Do you pee what I pee?"
They are both so odd-looking... with long, dangley body parts. They move weird, talk weird and look weird. I try not to be annoyed with them (because they are SUCH good boys) but sometimes while watching them, I am reminded of Jeff Bridges and Jim Carey, only they aren't dumb... just weird. Sadly, I have a feeling that this awkward stage isn't going to end any time soon..
If the older boys are Weird and Weirder, then Zack is definitely the Weirdest. He is a ball of fire, spewing one-liners that seem to come out of nowhere. At the park yesterday he recruited a friend by saying, "Come play with us Little Guy." The kid he was talking to was probably 12, but he gladly followed Zack around the playground and the two became instant buddies. Wherever Zack is, a party is waiting to happen. We sure love our Little Guy.
Simon has a Halloween shirt that says, "Here comes TROUBLE" and it speaks the truth! He is becoming quite the handful and knows exactly how to get his way. He loves to sing songs with us in the morning, but he only wants "Wheels on the Bus." When we start singing another song, he screams and hits. We can't help but laugh every time he does it, so bad habits are forming quickly. He's new nickname is "puppy" and it fits him perfectly. He eats the food under the table, gets into garbage cans, begs for attention, will do tricks on command and would drink out of the toilet if we let him. He's the cutest little pet I could have ever hoped for.
Life with these four can be exhausting and mentally draining. But I am so grateful to be their mom. I absolutely love the stage we're in and I wouldn't trade being home with them 24/7 for all the riches in the world. When I am with them--- playing games, reading, teaching, talking, laughing, and even cleaning after them--- I know that I am doing what I was sent here to do. Life isn't perfect, that's for sure. But we are happy and healthy and enjoying one another.. and isn't THAT what matters most?

Since it's Tuesday, I wanted to mention the status of our evening reading adventures. We finished The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and decided to read Rip Van Winkle, too! They were both quirky reads and totally enjoyable. Instead of jumping into Where the Red Fern Grows, we picked up Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. It's spooky and scary and has kept us captivated so far (we're only about 80 pages in). Do we miss the television? Not even a little bit.

"Shummy Likey"

blogging with a baby just isn't happening these days. it's amazing how much i CAN'T get done. With that said, this is going to be as long as my hoodlum will allow.

Yesterday in Sacrament meeting a teenager (who happens to be buddy-buddy with my husband) stood up to give a talk. Instead of saying, "Brother Shumway asked me to speak on..." he left out the Brother and said, "Shumway asked me to speak on..." There was a little chuckle in the congregation and several people teased us in the halls later. Someone asked me if it seemed odd that everyone refers to him by his last name and I said, "Absolutely not. I called him Shumway the first 18 months I knew him and only decided to switch to his first name after we got engaged.."

Shumway was always really fun to hang out with. Our relationship was easy and very natural from the very beginning. There was no game-playing, no dating, no romance-- just good, clean fun. I can't remember exactly when it was, but probably a year into our friendship, he came over to my apartment just after I made homemade cinnamon rolls. They were fresh out of the oven and dripping with icing. He sat down at my table and devoured several. I poured him a glass of milk and he wiped his mouth and announced, "Shummy Likey." My roommates and I laughed over that phrase and repeated it over and over. Since we've been married, I cannot even count the number of times it's been said in our home.

So-- here I was playing Phase Ten with my boys about 20 minutes ago, when my brown-eyed son picked the VERY card he was waiting for. He let out a holler and said, "Shummy Likey!" My other boys laughed... but I totally WIGGED OUT. I know it's been ten years since I've been married to Shumway, but it's so bizarre to hear one of MY kids refer to himself as Shummy. One day I was a carefree teenager with a different last name, and the next minute I am playing cards with a bunch of BIG kids who think I am their mom and refer to themselves as SHUMMY. When did this happen?

If this post couldn't get more random, let me tell you about the way we play Phase Ten... we threw the rules out the window and made up our own phases. They are super awesome. We have a list of rediculously hard phases, like "a run of 9 all of the same color" or a "set of 8". It takes longer to play, but it's way more fun. If you're up for a challenge in cards, come play at the Shummy household.

yes, it can even get more random. We met our new neighbors yesterday and guess what the Mr does for a living? He's a professional poker player. Suh-weet no? After we chatted with them for a bit, I told Señor Shummy that we are totally going to convert him. Talk about a church changing your life (and making you switch careers....)

and that is the end of my computer time today. It was nice while it lasted.

You've been BOOed

Last week we were BOOed by new neighbors (we know who you are and we love you for it :). We made some goodies of our own and took them to friends on our street. Our boys had so much fun door-bell ditching that every day since they've been begging to do more. Since we were already planning on making sugar cookies, we decided to decorate a few dozen more and BOO ten other houses. My kids were literally GIDDY with delight. Tonight Aaron was playing tennis, so my four boys and I filled our car with decorated cookies and drove slowly around our neighborhood... ringing doorbells and running. Simon and I waited in the car (with the lights off) and couldn't help but laugh each time the boys came back to the car and screamed, "That was AWESOME!" They were caught only once and they thought that was "sooo freaky!" When we were finished they said, "Can we please do this again tomorrow?" Probably not, but maybe next holiday...

The best (and most confusing) part of the night was when Zack kept asking when we were going to deliver cookies to the FAT GIRLS. I was wracking my brain thinking about which neighbors Zack would think are fat. I told him several times that we should never call anyone fat, especially a GIRL. He was annoyed and said, "Mom. You KNOW Sister Fat Girl. She has blonde hair and she used to be my teacher!!" Oh, yes. Sister Fackrell lives right around the corner from us and she is going to LOVE when I tell her what Zack thinks her name is. She isn't a fat girl, btw.

If you want to start your own neighborhood treat delivering, head on over to

http://www.beenbooed.com/

starting the day the right way

While making breakfast this morning, I saw this out my kitchen window:
Can you see what a struggle it is to jump with a baby (who is drinking a bottle?)
This is what happened when I told them to pose:
This is what happened when I took the baby's bottle away:
God has been good to me.

story time

Happy Tuesday!

I woke up bright and early this morning. Fall in Vegas is perfect. Crisp before the sun comes up and warm and breezy in the afternoons. It should be about 90 degrees today and we are going to try our best to do school outdoors... on a picnic blanket... in the shade.

But I'm not here to talk about the weather. I am hoping to start a tradition of spending Tuesdays writing about the books I love.

After we got rid of the television at the end of the summer, I found there was a lull in the evenings. Dinner was over and it was too early for bedtime... so we were all kind of twiddling our thumbs, wondering what to do as a family. Emptiness, space and quiet allow for inspiration and I know I was inspired to start a new family tradition.

While thinking back about my own education and the decision to homeschool my children, I kept returning to the fact that I had spent 16+ years in school, but hadn't read any good books. After I graduated from college, I came across a list of the top 100 best books ever written-- the Classics. And out of those 100 books, I had read ONE. (Les Miserable, which I read for my own entertainment, it wasn't ever an assignment for school.) Now, don't get me wrong... there are many children who are educated in school who do read the classics, but it wasn't the case for me and I wanted something different for my children.

So-- although we read all sorts of stories during the day, we've started a new family tradition of reading a classic book each month in the evenings. Usually we are up in my bed (or on the trampoline) but I picture us curled up by the fire during the holidays or under a big tree in the spring. Reading to my children makes me feel like I've accomplished what I set out to do that day.. I believe that reading aloud to our children is one of the best things we can do as parents. After spending many months reading books that are entertaining (but really not worth our time... ei, Fabelhaven, etc :) I had inspiration to turn to the Classics... stories that are on listed on "the best books of all time" for a reason.

We started in September with Swiss Family Robinson. This was a great book to begin the "school year". None of my kids had seen the movie and that made it even better. The book is quite different from the Disney version. There are four sons in the original version (perfect for our family) and in the book there is no Roberta.. or pirates for that matter. But there is still lots of adventure and excitement. We finished the book just before the end of the month and celebrated by popping popcorn and watching the movie together.

In October, we started The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. It is captivating and funny... and it keeps us on our toes, although it's not as spooky as I was expecting. Many of the words are too big for my kids to understand, but we read aloud and then explain the story for the little ones to grasp (just as we do while reading the scriptures). We also bought a children's classic literature book with pictures of the characters of the story, which definitely helps. I think this will be a great tradition to read every October when the Halloween decorations come out.

I don't have the entire 12 months planned out, but I do know that in November we will take on Where the Red Fern Grows. I've seen the movie, but have never read the book. Sad, I know.

In December it will be A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I haven't ever read the original myself, so I am really looking forward to it. And because it's a short book, I would also love to read Little Women, which is a fantastic story for the holidays... even if I do have four boys!

The list for 2011 is longer than we can take on... The Jungle Book, Oliver Twist, Moby Dick, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, The Secret Garden, Peter Pan.. I can promise you, we will have a love story for February-- Pride and Prejudice or Jane Eyre? I just can't decide!

I am hoping that over time, we will find books that become family favorites and we will look forward to reading year after year. And I would LOVE to read Les Mis together as a family, but I will have to wait until my boys are a bit older to understand what an incredibly inspiring story it really is.

If your children are young or you feel intimidated by the originals, look for children's classics that are illustrated and tell the stories simply. After time, you and your child will become so familiar with the story that the original will become less daunting. That has definitely been the case for me and the kids in my house.

This post is going to have to end now.. I have a baby squealing at my ankles (who is chewing on a toothbrush and rubbing wetness on my feet.) I want to end by asking if you have a favorite story-- one that was read to you by a favorite teacher, your parents or a classic that you've discovered recently?

no time for editing or backspacing. sorry it's so choppy!
Happy Tuesday! Happy reading!

just another manic Sunday

I wish I could give this post the time it deserves, but Monday morning is here and I've got other business to attend to.

Saturday-

highlights:

• soccer practice in the morning
• crafts at the church in the afternoon
• Halloween shopping
• country western dinner in the evening
  

low points:

• staying up until 2 am cleaning to get ready for Sunday

Sunday-

low points:

• not getting enough sleep the night before
• Simon pooping in the tub (there's a first time for everything)
• Ben feeling under the weather
• Luke not being able to find his belt
• Zack spilling breakfast all over his shirt and tie
  
• This ALL before 8 AM church.
• getting spit up on during Sacrament meeting.. nothing 15 wipes couldn't handle.
• crying during a special musical number-- "I love to see the Temple" sung by sweet girls from the Primary. I want a daughter!
  

highlights:

• uplifting meetings. We have an incredible ward.
• Simon going to nursery (he's not of legal age, but he LOVED it.)
• finding out that Whitney's husband (who serves in the bishopric with Aaron) was the one who wrote Whitney's comment on the Houston, we have a problem post. I am still laughing...
• Aaron calling the police on a man who walked in the church claiming to be Jesus. (He was wearing a tank top and shorts and smelled of alcohol.)
• eating brunch together as a family... buttermilk french toast and fresh strawberries
• taking a much needed nap
• playing cards with the kids (Phase Ten and Skipbo are our faves.)
• Zack wearing "zip-up feety" pajamas
  
• reading scriptures on the trampoline after dark

bring on the weekend

It's been an extremely busy week and all I can say today is TGIF. I was planning on taking a drive up in the mountains to play with a few homeschooling friends this afternoon, but I just don't have enough steam. Instead, I would like to do the following:

• change the sheets on our beds check
  
• play Skipbo with the kids (and kick their trash) check (and check)
  
• clean up last night's dinner check
  
• rock my baby who has a fever check
  
• clip my kids fingernails check, check, check and check
  
• take a nap check
  
• make caramel apples check (yum!)
  
• read check, but only Dr. Suess and Magic Treehouse
  
• call my mom check
  
• finish the Halloween decor check
  
• get ready for a hot date with a hot guy check (Chili's and Ross)
  
• try to go to sleep at a decent hour (10 PM. Not too shabby.)

Just looking at this list makes me happy. The most important things to do are sometimes the littlest things.

Hope you have a relaxing, content weekend!

Seven items of business on October seventh

1. Simon is 11 months old. It's amazing how much he has grown in such a short time and how much he has changed our family. He is a happy little thing. He isn't walking, but the boy gets around. He hardly ever wants to be held. And if you pick him up, he does an awesome little "giddy-up" dance... by kicking his legs at your side as if to say, "Well, don't just stand there! Aren't you going to take me somewhere??" This kid is going places-- and fast.

2. My friend, Jane, wrote an inspiring book review on Simplicity Parenting. I told you a little bit about it last week, but Jane's post is much more thorough. Check it out HERE. And make sure to listen to her music. It's super groovy.

3. We entered a Wizard of Oz photo contest. I wasn't allowed to upload the professional picture.. but I had a few taken from my camera... and I thought, "Why Not?" The Grand Prize is a family trip to Hollywood. You must know that it's my lifelong dream is to be in Hollywood with my family (ha!) In order to win, we need your help. Vote for us HERE. Voting ends at the end of November, but I don't think we stand a chance against the dog dressed as Dorothy... :(

4. Fall is here. I never thought it would happen in Vegas, but it's nice and chilly. I wore earmuffs this morning while out running and it was so crispy outside! Our closets are officially stocked with long sleeves and sweaters. Love! I am hosting a Ladies recipe exchange tonight at my house. I am making spicy chili and homemade cornbread. Others are bringing Halloween-festive foods. If you're a lady and you live in Vegas and you're not doing anything tonight, come to my place at 6:30 for dinner.

5. My first poll is a total bust. You haven't helped me whatsoever. All five costume ideas are neck-and-neck. ?? But thank you for voting anyway :) and I must ask-- Does this black background bother you like it bothers me? Yes, it's festive, but it gives me a headache every time I read.

6. Cindy hasn't contacted me since I told the world that she's having birth control issues. She's a busy college student who also happens to be planning a wedding, so I am sure she's just occupied with other things. But what if she's mad at me? You're not mad at me, are you Thinny? Don't you appreciate all the advice? Don't hate me... okay?

7. He texted back. Yes, he did. This is how the conversation went down: Clinton @ 3:45 pm: Has Benjamin turned in his second scantron test? Me @ 3:53 pm: You can always do condoms... Clinton @ 6:58 pm: I am assuming this text wasn't intended for me. I think it's hilarious that he waited three hours before replying. I have yet to respond back. My husband thinks I should say: Maybe it is. Maybe it isn't. But I would rather avoid it altogether. If one of you can come up with a truly brilliant response, I will text him back... and I may just send you some Halloween goodies for being so creative. Let's entertain each other for a bit. The contest is open now and will end when I find a winner.

Houston, we have a problem.

My husband and I are having texting difficulties. We send texts to the wrong people. Wanna hear what we said?

The first one is mild. I meant to text Aaron but sent it to Aileen, a new friend in the ward. Obvious mistake-- since those A names are right at the top of the list. I typed it at a stop sign and sent when the light turned green. Big NO-NO to text while driving. (I'm sorry, Oprah!!) The text read:

"Thanks for paying to get my van fixed. We are off to the library and story time at the mall... I will try to pick up a gift for baby Oliver and send their package today."

Aaron probably wondered why I was short with him when he called 20 min after I sent the text and asked what I was up to that day. But I didn't put two and two together until Aileen texted me back saying, WHUUT? We laughed it off no prob as I welcomed her to the neighborhood :) PS. I bought something for my new nephew that day and still haven't mailed off the package. I'm a loser, baby. So why dontcha kill me?

Second texting error was made by Aaron. It was intended for me, but went to his tennis buddy, Kevin. We had just left the park for lunch and were planning to leave for AZ later. The context is funny:

"I love you even if you're a closet alcoholic. Taylor should be relaxing this weekend as long as we don't get into a fight on the way there. See you tonight!"

Kevin texted back confused and Aaron replied, "sorry. wrong Kevin." He didn't want to have to explain that his wife is a closet alcoholic, but the thought of him saying the big L-word to another Kevin made me laugh even harder. I am not a closet alcoholic, btw. And we did not get into a fight on our drive to AZ... or on the way home.

The third one happened today. And it's terrible. It went to a man who is my son's academic adviser from his online school. I never call him or text him. In fact, the only reason why I have his number in my phone is so that I can avoid his calls. The text was intended for my little sis, who just started on birth control and hates it. Can I announce that on my blog Cindy? Anyway, this is what I sent her him:

"You can always do condoms..."

As bad as that sounds, the one I sent before about crazy female hormones could have been worse?? I am trying to see the bright side here. If he ever texts me back, I will be sure to let you know...

And these are the days of our lives. Sometimes it just feel so good to laugh at yourself.

PS. Anyone have birth control solutions for my sis? I was on the NuvaRing for a couple of years and loved it. But I got pregnant with Zack while using it... and he didn't turn out so well.

disturbing questions and emails

This post isn't going to be as interesting as the title sounds... just giving you a warning upfront.


For some time now, Zack has been asking some rather odd questions. They are so out of the blue and so far stretched that I can't seem to write them down fast enough. He usually wants to know what I would do in a life or death situation (it's the superhero in him, I'm sure.) A typical question goes like so: "Would you get your head chopped off my a helicopter propeller to save the whole world?" I should have nipped these in the bud when they started, but I can't help but ponder the question and then answer truthfully. Yes, it might be a little disturbing, but it's thought provoking and I just can't help but turn it into a discussion.

On our way back from the library yesterday, Zack proposed: "If you HAD to give away one of your kids forever, who would you give away?" The good motherly answer would have been: "I wouldn't give away ANY of you! I love you all too much!" But that's not what I said. I answered truthfully. If I HAD to give away one of my children, I would have to give away Simon. Sad, I know. But it's the truth. He's the youngest and will have very little memories of our family... and it would be less painful. After I answered, I asked Zack if he thought I would give him away and he said, "Well, I am cute, but I do make a lot of messes." Which really means, he asked because he wanted to know if he was cute enough to counter balance the mess-making. And he is.

The older boys are still emailing constantly. They usually send them to each other (and occationally to Daddy and the grandparents) but recently, I've been lucky enough to join in on the fun. Here are some from last month--- these were all sent on the same day.

*****

Hi Benny Boy.

I love that my oldest child has blue eyes and freckles. Did you know that when I was pregnant with you, I thought I would never have a blue-eyed baby? With dad's brown eyes, I thought he would dominate over me. But now we see who's the most powerfulest! Blue eyes rule!!!! Brown eyes drool!!!! (shh! don't tell Luke).

And just remember, when we play Rummikub, I will NEVER go easy on you. You have to win fair and square. Good luck, sucka!

Love,
Mom

*******

Hi Mom,

Thanks for the email. I dont need you to go easy on me. I can beat you in any game with a broken arm!

Love Ben

******

Dear adorable, squishy, large-headed Luke,

Guess what chicken butt? Simon is grumpy and doesn't like it when I email you. He's jealous of your large head.

Do you know who my favorite kid is? The one with brown eyes. (shh! don't tell Ben!)

Do you know what 500 X 5,678,456 is? if you know the answer, email me back. If you don't, you'll have to move out of our house by next Tuesday.

Love you,
Mom

******

Hi Mom,

the answer is 2839228000 you never said I couldnt use a cowcullator.

from luke

*****

Minutes after I sent them these emails, I overheard Ben say, "Hey! She told me the same thing!" Am I screwing up my kids? Probably. But we're having a good time in the process.

Yesterday we got an email from Aaron's mom that our boys loved. It's a ton of random "Did you know" facts. I will share a few of the kid's favorites. If you want the whole email, LMK. I am not a forwarding kind of girl, but if you want it, I will forward on :)

I am not my body.

*this post may be more appropriate for my private blog. But after giving a lesson to my children on the importance of treating our bodies with respect and love, I thought I would share with you too.

My home has been quiet and peaceful lately. So quiet that my thoughts are getting louder and deeper. I have been pondering several ideas recently and wanted to get it down on "paper" while it's fresh and new.

Some time ago, I watched nienie's Mormon messages video about her new life after the airplane crash. One of the most powerful thoughts from that message (at least for me anyway) is "I am Stephanie Nielson, and I am not my body." That line, I am not my body, has stuck with me over the last few months. What does it mean to me? It hasn't been a pressing thought, but one that has been in the back on my mind for some time.

Yesterday, as I was watching my little son, a light bulb turned on and I received an answer to this thought. My four boys and I were playing on the carpet for what seemed like the majority of the afternoon. Little Simon is so entertaining these days. He is standing for longer periods of time and is so proud of the big (and little) accomplishments he has each day. He is also learning actions to songs like "popcorn" and "the wheels on the bus". He gets so excited and swishes his arms back and forth when we sing about the wipers on the bus. We clap and giggle for him... which makes him clap and giggle more. It was a simple experience, but it felt so profound and important to me.

After I put Simon in his crib, down for the night, I felt a deep respect for him and the relationship he has with his body. He is trying to hard to coordinate his thoughts with the motions of his hands. It takes so much effort to balance those little feet and stand for 60 seconds. He is not his body, but he is working with his body to accomplish the things he desires. They are in partnership... they are working together beautifully.

After cleaning up the house a bit, I felt a reverence and respect for my baby and the things he teaches me daily. I retired to my quiet bedroom and pondered the phrase that has been in the back of my mind for some time. "I am not my body." My body is not me, but rather my partner, my friend. I am a person who feeds off of good relationships. What kind of relationship do I have with my body? Do I respect it? Honor it? Am I proud to call it mine?

I love myself, don't get me wrong. I am confident and happy and know I have a lot to offer the world. But when I look in the mirror, I don't love what I see. I feel frustrated. I am critical. I am mad it's taking me so long to lose the baby weight. But it's not even the extra weight that bothers me. I've been skinny several times before-- and my relationship with my body has always been a disappointing one. I can always find something I want to change, something that just isn't how I want it to be. I expect too much from it and it will never be able to please me.

And then I made a mental list of all the wonderful things my body has done for me. It's given me 31 years of happy memories. I've never had a broken bone or a major surgery. I don't get sick often. I am strong. I can jump and skip and run with my children. Oh YES! My children! This wonderful, fantastic, amazing body of mine has given me four beautiful children! It went through miscarriages and fought to carry and nurture my most prized possessions, my boys. It has been so good to me. And I am not respecting it or treating it as I should.

I thought of my body as an abused friend, one that has worked hard and been obedient since the beginning.... only to be scolded and ridiculed by it's owner. I wouldn't treat a stray dog in such a way. How could I be so cruel to something who has only been good to me? A friend would never nitpick or criticize constantly.. and if they did, they wouldn't be a friend for long. How can I ask for forgiveness? Will it accept my apology?

I laid very quiet and listened to my heart beating steadily in my chest. I breathed slowly and felt my lungs fill up with air. I wiggled my fingers and toes. I thought of my soft skin.. the skin that stays soft even though I don't care for it properly. I pictured my freckled face-- the one that never gets washed at night but remains acne-free. "I am not my body." My body is, in fact, a temple, a priceless gift. I best treat it right and love it for what it is. It is beautiful and good and strong.

And then I told my body THANK YOU. "Thank you for putting up with me all these years. Thank you for working so hard without any appreciation. Thank you for not only bearing my children, but giving me the energy to keep up with them. I will repay you by being more aware, by giving you the nourishment and exercise that is needed. I will try my best not to be critical and judgmental. I will love you for what you are."

What kind of relationship do you have with your body?

Are you treating it kindly and respectfully?

Do you recognize all that it does for you?

How can you show your appreciation for the body you have been given?

The Halloween countdown...

I am not going to tell you how much I love Halloween... because you already know.

I am not going to tell you that you're lame for not dressing up because it's not for everyone. And I don't like to judge people just because they're un-fun.

I am going to tell you that we've narrowed down our list of costume ideas. And we're getting excited!!

We're doing a family theme this year... because my kids came up with it themselves and it's the only way I can convince my (un-fun) husband to join in the festivities.

In order to pull it off without spending a lot of money, I am going to need to pull out my trusty sewing machine and get to work. I haven't used it since last October....

If I can't convince my man to join the club, I will have to do fallback on some runner-up ideas.

For this reason, I am holding my first POLL.

Listed the the right are a few costume ideas we've discussed. Vote if you want. Don't if you don't. The results may or may not have an effect on what we decide to do.

If you have any other crazy, spectacular costume ideas.... do share!

oh! the places we go!

On Friday, just hours after my sister and her girls left us, we packed up our minivan and drove to AZ. We spent GC weekend with my MIL & FIL.

highlights of the weekend: Grandparents!, enjoying the cool weather- and wearing sweatshirts, picking loads of fresh tomatoes, collecting rocks, garage-sale shopping, Aaron going to Priesthood session with his Dad, visiting with my cousin and seeing her grownup kids, shooting BBguns and slingshots, playing Shrek chess and the Wrong Game, throwing water balloons, laughing about Stan marrying a deaf and blind blond-bombshell, catching toads, being with the wonderful parents that raised my wonderful husband, listening to inspired messages from the leaders of our church.

lowlights of the weekend: Zack throwing up on the drive (and the rest of weekend), listening to the baby scream for HOURS in his carseat, not watching conference because we wanted to visit instead, Simon shoving a sucker stick up his nose so far that it bled profusely, realizing that 375 miles is too far away to live from family.

When we pulled in our driveway at 10 PM last night, Aaron and I turned to each other and smiled. It was exhausting and probably a bit crazy to do last minute, but it was definitely worth it. Life is all about family and making memories together. This weekend was nothing but that.

(too lazy to add pictures... maybe later :)

back to being the single white female.

My sister and her 4 girls drove away about an hour ago. I feel all alone in my female-ness and don't quite know how to catch up... not just on the blog, but on everything-- housework, sleep, laundry, etc. We've spent 7 solid days playing, laughing, touring the city, shopping, cooking, jumping, reading stories, swinging, getting hair cuts, dancing, hiking and swimming. How does one recover from such a week? There are lots of pictures to post and much to write about, but the laundry must get washed and folded first and foremost. We have an important weekend to prepare for.

I can only share a quick collage of 8 good-looking faces. These girls are so silly and hyper! In seven days, we didn't have to break up a single fight between our kids-- and that makes being together so easy. We are all so sad to see them go!

PS. Just need to mention that if Debbie and Brent ever happen to die, Aaron and I get sole custody of these four beauties. Is it wrong to kinda, sorta wish that something would happen to their parents?

PPS. We had a really difficult time choosing the ugliest face of Luke's to put on the collage. This one probably should have made the cut, but the spit-line grossed me out too much.... (check out the size of those hands and that tongue! eww!)

PPPS. Happy birthday to my wonderful grandma Roma. We are thinking of and missing her today.