day at the doctor

We took our babies into the doc today. Turns out Simon has bronchitis and an ear infection. He weighs a whopping 25 lbs (75%) and is 34 inches long (98%) at 15 months. He's a big boy and we hope to get him healthy soon. I was praying the doctor would prescribe some meds to get him to stop screaming at the top of his lungs, but we were not so fortunate. I decided to prescribe my own-- it's called tabasco sauce.

Sunny also had a quick visit to the vet. An average 3 month old Golden weighs around 19 lbs. Sunny tipped the scales at 31. The girl's a fatty and we couldn't be more proud! Do you know how many WEIGHT MANAGEMENT plans are out there for pets? A zillion. I will not give my dog an eating disorder. She runs and plays like the best of them so nobody better be teasing her about her big booty. She is such a sweet dog and laid right down for the vet and took her vaccinations like a pro. While in the vet's office, I turned to Aaron and said, "Can you believe we're actually sitting in an animal hospital waiting room?" If someone would have told me last January that I would have a big fat Golden pup, I would have smacked 'em in the face. But she's a keeper, alright! We've applied for a breeders license and can't wait to start making the big bucks by selling her puppies. Well? Someone's gotta be paying for the doctor bills around here.

sicker than a dog

I was feeling a bit sick on Friday and thought about passing on the Zowie Bowie concert... but I have a really hard time saying no to FUN and I usually end up paying for it.

I got a little over 2 hours of sleep on Friday night. Saturday was a busy day with family sports, bountiful baskets, garage sales, baby showers, haircuts for everyone, grocery shopping, etc. I really wanted to take a nap sometime, but it didn't happen. That night, Aaron and I had a date and I begged him to have our date in bed (meaning sleep only.. GYMOTG= get your mind out of the gutter). But he made me go out against my will. During dinner, I felt STAD = sicker than a dog. (where did that saying come from anyway? Are dogs more sick than other animals?)

Today (Sunday) has been a no good, very bad day. Simon, Zack and I stayed home from church. I was looking forward to some much needed rest. But Simon is not feeling well either, and hasn't slept a bit. I wish he was a tiny baby that I could wrap up like a burrito and snuggle up to. He's so big and feisty and doesn't do anything I ask. Aaron was gone most of the day and I just feel terrible. I want to know when I get my day off?

Aaron took a few days off work earlier this month. He was STAD and was able to recover because he got the rest he needed. How is a mom supposed to get better? Where do I call to say I am not coming into work tomorrow? Believe me, I love my position as a SAHM (stay at home mom, don't credit me for that one) but I'm underpaid, overworked and very upset that I don't get an allotted 2 weeks vacation and a handful of sick days.

This coming week is busy. Luke's birthday is on Thursday and we have a lot on the calendar. Family is coming into town for his big 8 and baptism on Saturday. It will be a wonderful week, I am sure, but I would love to take a secret potion that could make me all better and help me prepare for what's to come. I hear sleep is supposed to be the best medicine and I am going to try to get some now.

But first, I want to document what happened at the park yesterday. Zack and Simon were taking turns riding in the wagon. Zack would pull Simon for a while and then they would switch places. Every time Zack got inside, he would scream for me to come over and take a picture of Simon pulling him. I finally listened and snapped a couple. What I didn't get on film was the flight of cement stairs directly behind Zack. Just a few seconds after these shots were taken, Simon pushed the wagon and Zack down the stairs. It was really scary (you can even see the fear on Zack's face in the last shot). By the time I ran over to save him, it was too late. Luckily, Zack stayed inside the wagon. When he landed and knew he'd survived, he got a big smile on his face and screamed, "THAT WAS AWESOME!" I will be so surprised if these two make it to their 8th birthdays.. please pray for all of us.

GNO - zowie bowie

totally last minute girls night out planned and it was a blast. free concert at Red Rock casino, four crazy girls (counting myself), loud 80's music, stop off at Sonic on the way home, lots of fantastic conversation... what else could you ask for?

Kate and Becca posed for this shot JUST so I could get the old couple dancing behind them. The old man was all the way down. Love it!

ps. these are my new purple glasses.
pps. I never should have had any caffeine. It's 4:30 AM and I am still awake. So glad it's Saturday tomorrow (I mean, today.)

Little Miss Sunshine

I have 30 something posts already for January and I don't know how that's possible... because I have hardly documented anything on our life. The kids are saying funny things everyday and the puppy grows a few inches every night. I still have so much to catch up on (mostly Christmas posts) but I just don't have any extra time. Homeschooling and feeding my family are my priorities and they keep me away from the computer. Anyway, I wrote this post when Sunny was a week old, but never posted it because I wanted to add pictures-- BLTN (better late than never) even if there are no cute photos to add.

*written 1/2/11
You're never going to believe this, but Zack is the most playful with the dog. The two of them are often wrestling or playing fetch. And by playing fetch, I mean that sometimes Zack runs to her with the ball in his mouth and spits it out by her paws. He loves going to her training classes and has scolded many of us for not doing EXACTLY as the instructor told us. Sunny doesn't bite anyone in the family except for Zack... and we laugh at him when he gets hurt because we all know he was asking for it. Zack's favorite song since we got her is, "Who Let the Dogs Out" but will usually sing it as, "Who let the dog in, who, who, who?" He also thinks he's Sunny's daddy.. that's right, at least once a day he tells her to "Come to Papa!"

Simon is Sunny's biggest fan and worst enemy. He wants her all to himself, but at the same time, he's very jealous that she's taken over his role as the baby of the family. When no one is looking, he lays down on her and opens his mouth when she licks his face. Simon is on the tippy top of the dog's favorite list because he feeds her the most food. I haven't swept under his high chair since we got her! Simon is so cute with the puppy and smacks his lips and pats his knees when he wants her. He also does the same motion when he wants a drink of milk or a piece of candy. It's his universal sign for, "Give me what I want." And we give in because it's just so cute.

Just hours after we opened her, Luke kept saying over and over, "I can't believe we have SEVEN people in our family!" A few days later, he gave us this mathematical breakdown= "There are 7 people in our family, but only 6 humans. There are 5 boys. 4 blue eyes. 3 brown eyes. 2 girls. 1 dog. and zero idiots!"

Then there's Ben. I knew getting a dog would be fun for the others, but Ben is by far the most excited about her and the most responsible. If I was being honest, I would say that without our oldest, we would not have a dog. It has been so rewarding to watch him grow with our new pet. Believe it or not, he sets his alarm every night at 2 AM and takes her potty. He is so diligent and takes his responsibility seriously. Last night, I heard her barking and thought maybe Ben forgot to set his alarm, so I got dressed and headed down the stairs, and was surprised to run into Ben on his way up. He said, "Hey! She just went potty but doesn't want to go back to sleep. I think she'll quiet down in a minute. Get some sleep, mom! I'll see you in the morning."


This is current (written 1/27/11)
*Sunny now sleeps through the night and Ben is happy about getting his sleep, too! We are so proud of our potty-trained puppy! She's hasn't gone potty in the house in over 2 weeks. She's a smart dog and only goes poop in ONE corner of our yard, because that's where we trained her to go.

I have been so pleasantly surprised how easy it has been to adjust to a puppy. Granted, she is the best dog in the world, but honestly it has been 99% positive and 1% frustrating. People say that puppies are harder than babies and I would NEVER agree with that. She potty trained at 3 months old, she eats whatever we give her, she sits and stays when we tell her to, she doesn't throw tantrums, or talk back, or scream or cry. We love her and she is so full of happiness and love she can hardly stay in one place.

All of my free time lately has been spent reading about DOGS... I would have laughed if you told me that a year ago. Anyway, I am convinced to get another soon, but this time a male standard POODLE. Have you ever heard of Goldendoodles? Well, that's the kind of puppies are going to breed. If you're interested, look them up online. They are the smartest, sweetest dogs that have super soft fur and never shed (and are hypoallergenic). They are also very expensive puppies (we would probably sell them for around $1500 a pup and that is on the low end). Anyway, I am on the lookout for a cute male poodle.

How does Aaron feel about everything? I don't know, you'll have to ask him. I do know that he loves Sunny and he is great with her. The other night after reading one of my dog books, I told him that I could totally see myself getting into serious training and dog shows. He rolled his eyes and said he isn't surprised. I think he is annoyed that I love her so much :) But, again, I really don't know how he feels. Last week he called me at lunch and I told him I want to get a male poodle he said (and I quote) "What? I can't hear you. I think my phone is dying. Sorry I can't talk about this right now."

And that's the update on the puppy. If you're thinking about getting one, do it! I waited longer than I should have because I was so afraid I couldn't do it. It's work, but the good kind, that makes your heart grow bigger. We will have cute little puppies in about a year, and if you can't pay for them, I will be willing to trade :) Goldendoodles are SO cute! They look like Goldens with a perm.

bathtime troubles

My camera is out in the car and I don't want to get it. So, using the scanner is my best option at the moment. What did I scan? oh, just a bar of soap I found in the kids bathroom. Someone was hungry during his tub time. (and must have liked what he tasted after the first bite. I am telling you, my baby's taste buds don't work.)

My little boys bathe often. Always in the morning after breakfast but sometimes after lunch and after dinner too. Then there's the occasional lull during the afternoon when I need to clean or teach a math concept. The bathtub is the best place to stick the annoyers and keep them occupied. And Simon loves a good bath before bedtime. It's not unusual to give him 4-8 baths a day. It keeps his little tush baby soft, just the way I like it.

They are usually super happy in the tub. On Sundays they bathe in my room so I can get ready without them running around like wild animals. This past Sunday I decided to get ALL the way ready before they got out of the tub... which means makeup applied, hair curled and heels on. Zack and Simon were happily playing until I was completely ready. I grabbed their towels and went to take them out of the tub when I realized that the water was super murky-- like they were bathing in warm, gray snow. Come to find out, Zack needed to blow his nose while in the tub. He got out, grabbed a new roll of toilet paper and brought it back with him. He claims he didn't put it IN the tub (which I believe him) but he left it in the babymoster's reach.

Everything had discinigrated in the warm water... including the cardboard roll in the middle. I opened the drain and nothing happened. I tried washing the murk out of their hair with clean water from the tap and eventually got them rinsed enough to take out of the mess. But even after they were dry, they had white dust coming off their bodies. Luke and Ben were having a great time blowing in Simon's hair and watching puff fly out. It was quite the adventure.

Twenty minutes before church started, I realized that I needed to plunge the tub in order to get it to drain properly. I guess I could have left it to slowly drain while we spent 3 hours at church, but knew I would come home to an even bigger mess. I took off my heels and my nylons and grabbed the plunger. I scooped wet toilet paper into the garbage and finally got the drain cleared. 10 minutes before church started, I put my heels on for the second time and loaded the kids in the car. We made it before the meeting began and I felt so grateful that Sacrament meeting now starts at 10 and not 8 am. Such a blessing in my life!

Simon was crazy during the first hour (surprise, surprise) and bounced off the pew and hit his head on the hymn book holder on the seats in front of us. We spent much of the time in the hall... He was crying and I was cursing my heels. Why do I get dressed up to walk around with a crying baby? (Someone please remind me why I go to church!) I tried hanging out in the mother's lounge with other blessed women who were feeding their babies, but it was much too crowded. Our building needs a mother's lounge the size of the gym... with 50 recliners. And a coffee maker. Once it got too crowded, I left, asking the other women if anyone wanted a drink at Sonic. They declined because they're righteous.

Aaron spent the day in meetings. I saw him from across the building once and walked up to shake his hand. He gave me a quick hug and sent me into the nursery, where I spent two hours with snotty nosed kids (cute ones). One darling little boy crawled behind tables folded up against the wall...and knocked one down in the middle of the kids. It landed without hitting (or killing) a soul. A small Sabbath miracle, if you ask me. Simon loves it in the nursery and so do I. It's a place I can take off my heels and snack on goldfish without anyone judging me.

The baby fell asleep on the drive home and we ate baked potatoes that Ben kindly made before church. They were delish and I've decided to make it a new Sunday tradition. It's simple, easy for the kids to prepare and really yummy after a long day at church. And there's little clean up... exactly what every tired mommy needs on the day of rest. After we ate, I headed upstairs to take a bath in my clean, drained tub. I read a book and relaxed. When Aaron came home from his meetings, he told me that I have it easier than he does. I wanted to flip him off, but decided to not to. It was Sunday, after all.

The days seem SO long, but the weeks go by quickly. I can't believe January is almost over. Luke's birthday (and his baptism) are less than 10 away. I am really excited for him and proud of the decisions he has made. He will be baptized into a church that requires a lot of his time and dedication. The rewards are so much greater than the sacrifices. I feel so much gratitude for the answers I have received over the years while attending church and reading the scriptures. They bring me peace and allow me to be a better wife, mother and friend. I have a lot to work on, no doubt about it. But I have so much to be grateful for... so much to be happy about. At the end of a long day, I find myself soaking in my tub, thinking about the mini-miracles (tender mercies) that are poured upon me and my family. I'm not sure if life is just a bowl of cherries, but it is very sweet.

pretty Fly for a white chick. LOL.

I made this little cutsy thing a few months ago (Saturday craft day where all you have to do is paint and glue). It's home is on a shelf in our loft and it never reads as it should.
My boys have fun mixing the letters around. When I saw "I am Fly" I knew they were their father's sons. Aaron refers to himself and others as FLY often. In fact, on our first date instead of kissing me at the door, he told me I was "pretty fly for a white chick". Come to find out, he says that to every girl he meets.
Anyway, most of the time these letters are complete rubbish, but every once in a while I catch myself trying to make sense of the new phrase. It drives me bonkers-- not that my kids mix them up but that I spend my day thinking of what those jumbled letters could possibly stand for. I think my favorite jumble is i-Flamy... because it reminds me of the old Flamer-Bamer post (which I won't link or talk about ever again. ahem.)
Anyway, this got me thinking about the acronyms that have consumed not only our teenage texting world, but are common everyday internet slang. I have never LOL and vow that I never will. Don't get me wrong, I laugh all the time, I just don't LOL. I will FYI and JK and FHE and BFF and ASAP and BYOM, I just don't acronym when it stands for something stupid...
LOL isn't as bad as LOLOLOLOLOL. But it's much better than ROFL. Raise your hand if you've ever gotten down on the floor and rolled around because something was so hilarious you just couldn't stand up anymore. Who came up with that anyway? And LMAO makes me swear in my head every time I see it, but doesn't get under my skin like OMG and WTF. These bother me not because of the swearing itself but because people who don't typically swear use the terms loosely... as if it they are "righteous" bad asses or something.

I thought I wrote this on the blog somewhere, but can't find it anymore... So I will tell you again. My husband's co-worker thought that LOL stood for "Lots of Love" and would LOL anytime she heard bad news. A friend emailed her details of her father's funeral and she respond "LOL". Now that's LMAO funny (but not quite ROFL material).

Why can't we use accurate acronyms?? We need shortcuts for things that we actually say! I have decided to come up with my own list. These are a few acronyms I would love to see out in cyberspace:

• TMMS= that made me smile.
• LOTI= laughing on the inside.
• IDGI= I don't get it.
• 2ThsUP= 2 thumbs up.
• NBD= no big deal.
• FCOL= for crying out loud!
• MYOB= mind your own beeswax.
• LLPOF= liar, liar pants on fire.
• EYHO= eat your heart out.
• 2MLSS= to make a long story short.
• ImAE= I'm all ears.
• IDDDU= I double dog dare you.
• KOW= knock on wood.
• H2B= Heavens to Besty.
• KYCU= Keep your chin up.
• YHAFIM= You have a friend in me.
• B2TB= bad to the bone.
• PU= that stinks!
• IBAMU= I'll be a monkey's uncle.
• IFS4U= I feel sorry for you.
• GOYHH= Get off your high horse.
• INJBS@U= I'm not just blowing smoke at you.
• WBTP=waiting by the phone.
• IWBRB= I will be right back.
• QYB= Quit your bellyaching
• KYFC= Keep your fingers crossed.
• BAAE= bald as an eagle.
• IGNF= I'm getting nowhere fast.
• H2RtG= Have to run the gauntlet.
• ICISIC= I came, I saw, I conquered.
• NPNG= No pain, no gain.
• OMDB= Over my dead body.
• BITGOD= Back in the good old days.
• OMTIAMT= One man's trash is another man's treasure.
• BSD= Back Seat Driver.
• URTWL= You are the weakest link.
• IYPWFYGGB= if you play with fire you're gonna get burned.
• AAUSR= Ask and you shall receive.
• BLTN= better late than never.
• BSTS= better safe than sorry.
• LOTBS= Look on the bright side.
• YITDG= You're in the dog house.
• IWCTBWIC2I= I will cross that bridge when I come to it.
• ULLC= You look like crap.
• FRF= Families are forever.
• MTW= Mums the word.
• DYOG= Dig your own grave.
• BAL= Break a leg.
• A&K= Alive and kicking.
• FAAP= Flat as a pancake.
• H&M= High and mighty (not to be confused with the store.)
• IAOTTFLS= It ain't over til the fat lady sings.
• OCW= opening a can of worms.
• IWACOITW= It will all come out in the wash.
• LMA= Leave me alone.
• T2HTS= Time to hit the sack.
• YMGLT= You might get lucky tonight.
• TFTMT= thanks for telling me that. (something we say to our kids after a long drawn-out explanation of something of no importance.)
• CTS= Cut the shenanigans.
• KYSO= knock your socks off.
• ILU4T= I love you for trying.
• IITYO,ITYATT= If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times.
• MMW= mark my words.
• EYD= Eat your dinner.
• SinTO= Sit in time out.
• SHYB= Stop hitting your brother.
• DYFTD?= Did you feed the dog?
• V4M&AYWDWCT= vote for me & all your wildest dreams will come true.
  

These are just off the top of my head. Imagine what I could do if I had more time! I would turn this nonsensical internet slang language into something worth using. How does an acronym catch on, anyway? And does the person who comes up with it get paid? TITQ= that is the question.

PS=Post Script. the picture above has nothing to do with this subject, but I wanted to LUK= let you know, that I bought this book at the library for a quarter. I will LUK what I learned after I RTB= read the book. STD=stay tuned.

PPS= Post Post Script. my camera is OILL= On It's Last Leg. But we DH2N2RT= don't have two nickels to rub together, so you will have to suffer with terrible quality pictures until HFO= Hell freezes over. DJM = Don't judge me.

What's for Dinner? (follow up)

Who's making dinner regularly? How are your menus coming along? I've decided to post my weekly menu on the sidebar... and encourage you to do it on your own blog. It will help you commit and remind you to get the ingredients BEFORE it's time to make dinner. Cheers!

carrot top

Thanks for the hat/wig, Grandmother! It gets worn often.

date night and dark hair

I dyed my hair dark(er) last week. Not a soul noticed, not even my husband.

It's not that we haven't been getting along, but it seems like we've gotten into an everyday rut. The kind where you spend weeks asking "How was your day today" and even though your conversation varies, it seems like it's always the same. That's how we've been lately.

Last Friday (the night I dyed my hair) we went on a date to Walmart and TJMaxx. We bought cough drops and egg nog and I got a pair of new sunglasses. That seems like the last time I saw him.

Tonight we had dinner at home with the kids. I didn't really feel like going out, but Aaron said I must. We wore comfy clothes and ended up at the park. It was dark which made playing on the teeter-totter more exciting. Then we walked around holding hands and talking about anything other than the kids and work. It was nice, just what the doctor ordered.

On the drive home I told him I felt like watching a really depressing moving like Dead Poets Society or Sommersby. He reminded me that I made him watch Sommersby on our honeymoon. I don't remember that, but he'll never forget. He only sat through it back then because he was afraid to say no (we were newlyweds, after all). After ten years he feels comfortable enough to tell me to watch it on my own.

Men and women are really different. Staying connected takes work. Sometimes I wish we could leave everything behind and go back to that honeymoon suite and pretend that we have no responsibilities (the kids especially). but then I realize that it would erase everything we've worked hard for. Yes, we've worked hard to get to this stressful point in our lives... supposedly we're living the life we've always dreamed of :) It's not a perfect life, but I will take the good along with the bad if it means I get to spend it with him. because I love him even if he won't watch sappy movies with me anymore.

zack5

In 2011 I am making special presents for my kids' birthdays... highlight videos of their lives thus far. I tried combining videos AND pictures and decided it was best to leave them separate. This is Zack's video of pictures only. It's long because- hey, it's for our home video archives. Do not watch unless you want to see a zillion pictures of our crazy Zack. No apologies for the music selection-- these are some of Zack's favorite dancing tunes!

butternut squash soup

My neighbor gave me a new recipe for Butternut Squash Soup and we made it for dinner tonight. OH MY GOODNESS. It was beyond delicious. I tripled the batch because I have a lot of squash and I was hoping for leftovers, but my boys gobbled up every last ounce. Zack (who is not a big soup fan) had three big bowls... He usually thanks me every night for making dinner and tonight he said, "Mom, you deserve a double thank you!" then after his third bowl he said, "I mean TRIPLE thank you." I am not exaggerating, folks. It's THAT yummy. The picture is a copy of the recipe.. I didn't have chicken stock, so I boiled 4 cups water and 3 chicken bullion cubes. I also did one pot of completely pureed soup and one pot with chunky veggies. Both were delish, but I prefer having veggies to bite into.

We made a batch of homemade rolls and it was perfect for a chilly night. Yummy! Hope you enjoy... (sorry I didn't take any pictures. I will be more like pioneer woman in the next life.)

yesterday... all our troubles seemed so far away.

Yesterday we:
went to storytime at the mall (free carousel ride at the end)
hit the "big" library in town
ate at cafe rio for lunch
grocery shopped
played with homeschool friends
scrubbed the bathrooms
hung out with Keyonna & Sam
drove to Blue Diamond
hit the "little" library
played at the park
blasted music on the way home
had leftovers for dinner (mashed potatoes, roast and stuffing)
took Ben to scouts
went to bed early


It was a great day. Simon wasn't sure what to think about the carousel ride. He didn't say a word, just looked at the ground the entire time. When it was over, he kinda wanted back on. I wore a hat and [matching] tennis shoes all day. We can't get enough of this SUMMER weather! But it was super crispy this morning... so it might not last :(

We love those Trader girls. Simon has never liked them and it's hilarious. Each time they babysit, they treat Simon like he's a newborn. They change his diaper 12 times and want to dress him and undress him-- because that's what you do with babydolls. But Simon ain't nobody's baby, especially tiny teenagers who weigh less than he does. So he screams if they come near him because he's afraid they are going to take off his clothes. We all laugh about it because as SOON as we pick them up and they hop in the car, Simon goes buzzirk. A few months ago, we dropped them off at home and when they left the car, Simon stopped screaming and let out a huge sigh of relief. Ben sat pondering the situation for a minute and finally said, "Mom. I don't think Simon likes black people." I laughed and tried to explain that our baby is not prejudice. He just wants to be left alone and they always want to hold him.

On MLK day, we taught Simon all about the acceptance of other races and he's finally changed his ways and stopped screaming when they are around.... But he's still super wary of them. Check out this picture Samantha took on the drive home. He's saying, "I got my eye on you, girl. If you try to change my diaper one more time, I'll karate chop you!"


ps. If texting while driving is a no-no, how dangerous is filming behind your back while driving? Simon was extra chatty after the girls got out of the car and I wanted to record it. We were just in our quaint little neighborhood, so don't work yourself into frenzy. I promise I'll never do it again.

pps. i was kidding about the whole acceptance lesson on MLK day. We did no such thing. But Simon does much better around them, and I am so glad he's not a hater anymore.

ppps. Is American Idol worth watching this year? We still don't have tv, but can find it online. I just don't know if I can watch it without Simon. It was all over for me after Adam Lambert's season. There will never be another who can perform like him.

we run without a leash

I am not documenting our puppy's life like I should... and I kinda feel sick about it. She has doubled in size since we got her. She's humongous and has learned so much in the past few weeks. We really love her (and I don't love everything, despite what some of you think :)
I really enjoy getting up with her in the mornings. She is so excited to see me and is the best running partner. I think she and I are a lot alike. She is gorgeous, smart, charismatic... jk. What I mean to say is that when I run with her, she doesn't want to be pulled. She will walk with a leash and does just fine, but when I let her loose, she is so much happier. We are two girls of the same heart-- carefree, fun-loving and obedient only when we are given the freedom we need to explore. Of course, she has a leash when we cross any busy streets or when other dogs are around, but when I can give her liberty to run wildly, I do. And she loves me for it.
Today I took my camera on our run. I wasn't able to get great footage because she was at my feet the entire time, but this is what I do have. Don't judge me because I wore different shoes. You try being a fashion diva while dressing in the dark at 5:45 AM.

Great weather + an obedient dog + the sunrise = my kind of morning.

the sketchbook

Zack received a nice sketchbook for his birthday from someone who knows him well! He went to town on it before bedtime last night. Aaron came to bed much later than I did and told me that I needed to check out his sketchbook in the morning. I was expecting a masterpiece when I opened the book. I was thrilled to see that he drew our whole family.. each person on their own page! I am in love and plan to frame them and hang them in a special place in our home. After I flipped through the pages, I came to his last drawing.... and realized why Aaron told me I needed to "check it out". I would tell you about the drawing, but I would rather show you. Let's start from the very beginning (a very good place to start).

and last, but definitely not least....

I don't have much to say about this last picture. In fact, I am speechless. When we asked Zack what possessed him to draw it, he said, "I drew walls squishing him and spikes on the floor, so he'll die!!" That explains everything, doesn't it?

What I DO know is that Zack is dope. He's artistic and spicy and oh so funny! He's been surprising us with his crazy personality for the last 5 years. And we're gonna keep him around for a while longer... satanic drawings and all.

Mormon mommy bloggers

THIS article has been emailed to me five times already, so I think I will share. Have you read it? I loved it... but I guess I need to get "out" more. I hadn't heard of any of the other mormon mommy bloggers except for NieNie and CJane.

It's amazing how VAST blogging world is, and yet, how it makes us all feel a little more connected to one another. Three cheers for good Mormon moms who inspire others to live life to the fullest by simply writing about their own.

Zack's birthday (anticlimactic)

Today Zack turn's five. I spent several hours putting together a "best video clips" of Zack's life. But can't get it to upload or burn on a dvd. The kids and I watched it on the computer and were in stitches the whole way through. It's amazing how much laughter one child can bring into your home. I've been terrible at recording the funny things he says lately, but I must report that each time he comes back after walking the dog, he opens the door and says,"Zacky's in the hiz-ouse!" Oh boy-- is he ever!
Today we had a little party with a few friends in the neighborhood. He opened lots of fun gifts and ran around like a wild man. It's been fun to spotlight him the last couple of weeks, but now that his birthday is finally here, I am over it. I think that birthday chain should only be 5 days.
His favorite present of all was not the big tub of cheeseballs (although he was overjoyed when he opened them). Daddy always wins by picking out the best birthday gifts. Zack has been playing with this punching bag all.day.long.
Hoping to get things worked out with the video... if not, we're working on something else. So sick of being at the computer. No more bloggy today. Happy Birthday, Zack!

ps. our puppy is getting big.
pps. Happy MLK day.

bountiful baskets

Have you heard of fruit and vegetable co-op, Bountiful Baskets? If not, you need to check out their website and see if they are in your area. You pay $15 for a basket of fruit and veggies. They also have yummy breads, mexican baskets and boxes of fruit in season. Yesterday I picked up my basket and got so giddy looking at the loot. I am planning my meals this week around this produce.. (a new butternut squash soup recipe and a vegetarian spinach artichoke penne dish.) If we fall in love, I will add them to the recipe link. Our fruit bowl (which are the only "snacks" my kids are allowed to have in between meals) is overflowing with sweet goodness!

pretty boy

sometimes I think we could pay off all our school loans if we'd just let this boy compete in baby beauty pageants. It's all I can do to keep from growing out his hair and curling it into shirley temple ringlets.

He was SUCH a stinker today. While running errands, I wanted to pull over and leave him on the side of the road. He has a high-pitched scream that literally makes me wish I was deaf. I would do sign language for the rest of my life if I could get him to stop screaming like that. But then he flashes those lashes and shows his dimple, just enough to make me forget all my worries.

make family dinner a priority

Thanks to everyone who linked up to the dinner time tips! For those of you who still want to spread the word, this should make it easier for you.

Copy and paste this picture code to your side bar (design tab, add a gadget, html code). Let's make the world a better place, one family meal at a time!

<a href="http://www.fairlyhappy.com/2011/01/10-dinner-time-tips.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg214/ajshumway/familydinner-2.jpg" width="160" height="160" /></a>

How Eating at Home Can Save Your Life

THIS article was written a couple of days ago on the medical benefits of eating meals together as a family.. Be sure to check out his links... all fabulous!

park, puppy and presents!

it's friday night and Aaron and I had plans for a hot date at the bookstore. but when it came time to leave, we looked at each other and knew it was best to stay home. Aaron has been sick all week and needs some down time. I've had an extremely long day and sometimes all I want to do is nothing.

After jumping on the trampoline in their undies, I made my kids get dressed. We did some chores, made a few cupcakes and then headed to the park to meet our homeschooling friends, like we always do on fridays. Of course we brought our dog because big dogs are the most fun to play with outside.
I've learned a few things about being a pet owner in the last couple of weeks... I could do a post just on this subject alone, but I think I'll wait and make a top ten list.. Anyway, one thing I've learned in a major way is that dogs are people magnets. Maybe this is an obvious thing to you, but it never was to me because I was never personally drawn to them. The rest of the world is, apparently. EVERY time we take her out in public, we end up having lengthy conversations with strangers. I like having conversations, but pet conversations are different kind of conversations. I don't mind telling them about my dog (her name, how old she is, how well she behaves with our kids, etc.) but I don't want to hear about their dog or it's life history. I should wear a button that says, "You can pet my dog, but please don't tell me about yours." I hear so many random stories and odd facts about how often their dog poops and which doggie kindergarten classes are the best, and which nursing home their dog ended up in. I have been opened up to a whole new world and I am not sure I like it. Most of the time it's not too bad, but some people don't understand that I have a dog AND four kids. They completely ignore the fact that my kids are crying or have to go to the bathroom or are running across the busy parking lot while we casually chat. Anyway, this is not why I am writing this post. I will save the rest for another day....
We brought cupcakes to the park so we could sing to Zack and share them with our friends. It wasn't a party-- just a cupcake fest. While I was dishing out the cupcakes and trying to get the candles to light (which never happened) Simon and the puppy took off. They are great little playmates, but sometimes they get into trouble. Sunny ran across the grass to play in the sprinklers and Simon happily joined. He came back SOPPING wet... we had been at the park for a total of ten minutes. I really didn't want to leave because my older boys love (and need) the outside time with their friends and I love (and need) the great conversations I have with the other homeschooling moms, but I didn't have anything for Simon to wear. We stripped him down, put on a new diaper and took a coat from a girl who wasn't wearing it. His shoes were still wet, but we put them back on and he pranced around the park in a pink coat and air walks. It was a funny sight... and I tried to pretend like he wasn't mine.
I am so grateful we don't live in a freezing place... because he was warm and happy in his pink coat. We were able to stay for a couple of hours and Simon remained happy and busy...
problem was, we had to give the coat back when we left the park, and I needed to stop at the store to get some milk. I thought about going home, getting him dressed and then coming back to the store, but I just couldn't do it. My reputation wasn't worth the wasted 20 minutes and Simon was happy to be naked. That's right. I took him into the store with only a diaper on. I got a few weird looks from people who wondered why I was allowed to have 4 kids, but I didn't give a tiny turd. If I would have brought the puppy into the store with me, no one would have even noticed my naked baby. I am telling you, dogs are attention-suckers.

(wish I had a picture of Simon in his skivvies... didn't think to stop and take one... bummer.)

While in the store, Luke and Zack were really acting up. They were hyper from the park and Luke kept touching Zack where he didn't want to be touched (his shoulders). While in the check out lane, Luke poked Zack's shoulder and Zack turned around and pushed him into the cart. As if having a naked baby wasn't drawing enough attention to me and my four kids. But I didn't lose my cool. My new year's resolution is still fresh in my mind, so I remained calm and quietly told my fighting boys that they had to HUG each other until we were out of the store. They were both not happy about the punishment but quickly gave each other a big hug and giggled while squeezing as hard as they could. The checker complimented me on my well-behaved boys and said to the bagger, "Look at those darling boys, they can't stop hugging each other. They seem like such great friends!" I smiled and said, "I know. They are just the sweetest boys ever." and then I smacked them out in the parking lot..

We arrived home to a BIG box on our doorstep! It was a Christmas package that got delivered when we were in Utah, and then taken to the wrong post office. We've been trying to track it down for a couple of weeks now and it finally came! Oh boy... it was worth the wait. It was like Christmas morning all over again. Simon's Godmother (more details HERE) sent the most thoughtful and wonderful presents for the entire family. The boys each received new pajamas (Simon got four darling, soft pairs!) And the toys are just perfect... she must know what little boys like! Dominoes, tinkertoys, art supplies, a cuddly teddy bear and a jack-in-the-box for Simon Patrick.
She was also inspired to send me a binder of family favorite recipes! I am so thrilled about this and feel privileged to make some of these delicious meals for my family. (is the coloring messed up in this picture or do I look deathly white in person?)
Simon is sleeping with his teddy tonight. The presents couldn't have been more thoughtful.. Having a Godmother is awesome!!!! Why didn't we have one for our other boys? jk.
And lastly, this picture is for Aaron's mom. The boys play EVERYDAY with their lego set you bought them for Christmas. Ben took this picture (and a video I will upload later) just for you. He wants you to know that they've built everything and they love it! Thank you!
Here's to a happy, healthy weekend.