I heart Craiglist

I've been scouring the internet for a swingset for our backyard. I wanted a fun big one but didn't want to find the not so fun big price tag. I found this one on Craiglist this weekend and jumped on it immediately. I also found 2 guys on craigslist to disassemble it, bring to my house and reassemble it. With the price of the swing set and the price of the installation I still paid less than half of what the swing set would have cost brand new - uninstalled. The kids love it and keep saying "oh thank you mommy, we love you so much" it's so wonderful!

Favorite Things

Alright I got double tagged by both of my sisters so I guess I better participate:

Five of My Favorite Things...
5 TV Shows I Love to Watch:
The Office
Grey's Anatomy
LOST
That's it people, I can't even come up with 5 favorites, because I only watch 3

5Favorite Restaurants:
Mikes
Melting Pot
El Paso
Chipotle
Chick-Fa-La

5 Things That Happened Yesterday
Taught Nick's primary class at church
Missed our friend's baby blessing
Didn't miss the celebration dinner
Took a nap
Watched last week's episode of The Office

5 Things I Love About Fall:
Taking the kids to the park without sweating
Cox Farms
School starts!
Thanksgiving
Taking the kids on hikes while the leaves are changing

5Things On My Wishlist:
A new wardrobe
Abs of steel
Children who listen and obey
An organized garage where both cars can park
House at Lake Anna

5People I Tag:
Jenny
Julie M or U :)
Laura
Brynn
Shalee

Paradigms

Pronounced like "pair-a-dimes" but no, it has nothing to do with money. Basically a paradigm is a way of thinking or a certain mindset. If you need more explanation go here.

Anyway, when I was in high school I worked at an insurance office and my boss was one of those crazy, super energetic people who was all into the motivational speaking scene that swept through the 90's. His favorite "guru" was Anthony Robbins the fire walking, motivational "unleash the power within" infomercial star of the 90's. Every Friday we'd have a staff meeting and we'd be subjected to listening to more Anthony Robbins spouted off so we could "unleash the power within" to sell more life insurance. (The only redeeming factor of the meetings were the muffins and juice).

Even though the Anthony Robbins routine was infinitesimally obnoxious, I did learn one word that stuck with me throughout the years - Paradigm Shift. My simple mind digested it as this - taking your way of thinking and changing it to make yourself better. Now shouldn't I be the guru.

I've often thought of this throughout my life. When I was young I thought grownups never changed. I guess I just thought you got to a certain age when you were "grown up" and that's who you were. When you are young you don't realize that "grown ups" have feelings, desires, and don't really feel "grown up" at all but feel just like you do. We are constantly changing, constantly readjusting who we are, what we are doing in life, and as I like to call it - reinventing ourselves (see, I could totally be a guru).

That is one thing I have enjoyed about moving SO MANY TIMES in the last 12 years. Each time I move I kind of take an inventory of my life, what I like and don't like, and readjusting myself for the next place. Sometimes it's nice having a fresh start where nobody know you. I always try to be a better me and maybe improve in some areas where I want to be better. Does that make sense?

This was a long introduction to what I wanted to really talk about which is this: Sometimes I think we get stuck in a rut and label ourselves as a certain way. Since I've become a mother I have had more challenges, difficulties, and frustrations than ever before in my life. Some things about being a parent are just down right hard. (but the rewards are amazing aren't they!). I think it's easy to give up and say "well, that's just how I am" for example - yelling at your kids...maybe that's how you grew up, maybe you have a short fuse, there could be lots of different reasons for it. But, it doesn't have to be that way. We have the power within us to change things we don't like. That's a God given right we have. We are creators, inventors, individual wonders created by a God who wants us to be better and has given us the tools to do so.

Recently two people have made a big impact on my life or I guess you could say my thoughts of motherhood. First is Stephanie Nielsen. If you haven't read the NieNie Dialogues or C Jane Blogs (links in our sidebar) I now encourage you to do so. What an amazing woman, an amazing family, and an amazing story. I know they have touched many people's lives besides mine - and mostly moms - for good. Stephanie paints a picture of Motherhood as it should be - wonderful, supreme, and the most important job in the world. Since I have found her blog I have literally devoured it, reading everything I can about her thoughts and actions on motherhood and she has made me want to be a better mother, wife, and person.

She is currently undergoing an immense life altering situation after she and her husband survived a plane crash. Her sister has been blogging about the whole situation and they have gotten National Press Coverage because of the huge support they've received from the blogging world. It is amazing how the actions of one person can touch the lives of so many.

On thing Stephanie has taught me is how to enjoy each day with my kids. Get out of the rut and realize how much fun it can be to be surrounded by my little ones each day. They should be my best friends right now and I should be theirs. They are precious and sometimes in the midst of tantrums and poopy diapers that can be forgotten. I'm sure Stephanie has her moments too but she chooses not to dwell on that. She chooses to see her children for the beautiful creations they are and I want to be more like that. I'm not anything like Stephanie, nor should I be. We are two completely different people but, she has some wonderful qualities as a daughter of God that have taught me and made me want to be a better person. Making me "shift" my paradigm from thinking one way to thinking another way and I love to be around people (especially moms) like her - even if its through the cyberworld.

The second person who made me do some deep thinking was Elder Uchtdorf in the talk he gave at women's conference this year titled Happiness, Your Heritage. Since I've practically written a book here I'll make that Pardigms Part II on another day but in the meantime, read his talk if you have heard or read it yet and then you'll know what I"m talking about next time....to be continued.

Early Birds

What are you doing at 6:00 am? This is how I get woken up each morning:

All in a day's work

Just in case you were wondering what kind of exciting life I lead, this is what I did today, and the four sets of sheets, towels, and rugs did not make the photo op. One day, I will miss the noise and messes my children make. I will not miss the laundry.

I also had the opportunity to unclog a toilet, scrub a set of poopy underwear, stop a bleeding nose, and run someone's eyes under water for 10 minutes after they sprayed air freshner in their own face. I am talented enough to drive all the way home from preschool on the highway with one hand on the wheel and the other holding a set of hands in my hand (sorry carpool moms!) since someone couldn't keep their hands to themselves. I am smart enough to not wallow in self-pity when a preschool teacher asked me if I am expecting (seriously? I don't exactly have abs of steel but 1) I don't look pregnant and 2) YOU NEVER ASK!). And now for the nightlife: putting eleven loads of laundry away and mopping my floors if I have any energy left. Somehow, I still love my life. Really. I mean, look at who I get to hang out with all day. He is CUUUUTE.

Yum!

Who could resist eating a face like this? Not me. So delicious... looking at this picture makes me want some more.

Weekend Warriors

So the title really should be week-long warriors because it took us all week to do this and not just the weekend. I'm so happy to have grass! We didn't think we'd be doing any grass until next year but Dave's parents got us started by donating some of the sod they had removed from their yard to put in artificial turf. I had planned on just laying that to have a little grass in the yard but my dad happened to be here the week we got the little patch of sod and well, one thing turned to another and now we have a sprinkler system and full lawn in the backyard! Whoo - hoo! Thanks dad! For the whole photo breakdown go to my Facebook page.

My yard before last Monday

The almost finished project. Still a little rough around the edges because of the work we did on the sprinkler system...that will be my project this week!

First Birthday Celebration

Each baby's first year has flown faster than the previous, and I can hardly believe Gavin is walking around as a one-year old now! I hit my best party planning friend Camie up for some great chili and soup recipes and we had a not-so-small gathering of friends and family to celebrate. It was a fun, noisy affair, and definitely our last large event before getting the carpet installed in the basement/playroom. Here he is with his cupcakes and favorite birthday present.

Family Photo Shoot

I got our family photos back from the amazing Jill Thomas. I had a hard time picking just a few favorites, especially of the boys. You will never find me having an anxiety attack inside a mall store studio again. Jill is awesome.

Why Emma needs a sister

Words

More funny musings said around our household.

Mom: Emma, what did you learn at school today?
Emma: I don't remember...I have one of those things over my eyes that makes you not remember? (think of recently given FHE lesson on the Plan of Salvation)
Mom: What do you mean?
Emma: You know, one of those things that makes you not remember.
Mom: You mean a veil?
Emma: Yeah, a veil, I can't remember what I learned at school today because I have a veil over my eyes. Sorry.

This morning as daddy brought Ben into mommy in bed:
Mom: Good Morning Benji...give mommy a kiss.
Benji: huh-uh (as he turns his cheek the other way)
Mom: what? what do you mean huh-uh...you give mommy a kiss! (laughing)
Benji: Guck, Guck! (translated yuck, yuck)
Mom: sniff sniff, cry,cry my baby already thinks kissing his mommy is yucky.

Benji-isms

Guck - yuck
huh-uh - his way of saying no an it sound just as snotty as a 16 year old would say it
mease, mease - please please - often said when he sees his siblings reaching for their bowls of Halloween candy
Maammy - mommy, it sounds really cute!

He repeats pretty much whatever he hears and some things come out pretty funny! He has become some kind of a daddy's boy! When he hears Dave come home he runs (sometimes tripping over his own feet) yelling Daddyyy, Dadddyyy! And when Dave is home he wants nothing to do with mom. In fact, a couple of Sunday's ago we were that family in church - you know THAT family. The one that disrupts Sacrament meeting with noisy kids and the up and down up and down routine. We finally stayed out of the meeting by the third time out the door. Anyway, Dave had to take Jacob out for misbehaving and as soon as Dave started walking down the aisle Ben started screaming and wouldn't stop until I took him out to see Dave. I handed him over and he would not come back to me for anything! If I tried to take him away from Dave he would scream. Most mornings you can find them in our big oversized shower at 6:00am taking a shower. I have to admit...although I'm sad my baby doesn't need me as much anymore, it's nice to share the work...I think Dave is really enjoying it too.

I don't have anything cute sayings from Jacob lately. He has been asking an awful lot of questions about babies lately and why we come to earth as babies. I'm a little afraid that the where-do babies-come-from question might be coming soon. One blessing about having c-sections...my answer has always been "the dr. cut my tummy open and took you out". That makes it easy. Ha ha. One day I know we'll have to have the real talk though. I'd rather be the one teaching my kids than someone else. Especially with the craziness out there today!

Technical Difficulties

Life is full of technical difficulties isn't it? If it's not my computer giving me problems it's my body. If it's not my body giving me problems it's my children, and if it's not my children it's my husband. Sometimes it's all four at once! This week it's just my body and my computer. I caught a little cold that I'm trying like the dickens to fight off because I had big plans this week to plant sod and start landscaping my backyard. Luckily my dad is here to help me out and has saved me a lot of work. I'm hoping I'll feel better tomorrow so I can do lots of digging, raking , and hauling.

My computer was giving me problems all week and I haven't been able to get up my pictures! Finally I got it to work so here are the much anticipated Halloween photos.





Carving Halloween Pumpkins (now you see why I don't let Emma do her own hair for school.











The finished product. After Ben was posing with them I felt so bad he didn't have his own pumpkin. The kid is seriously 17 months going on 5.











Trick or Treating at the zoo. A fun little Halloween activity we did the week before Halloween. Emma was barbie from Swan Lake the movie, Jacob was Buzz Lightyear (again) and Ben was a puppy. He didn't care as long as he got candy.













Happy Halloweenie! (stolen from www.the-coffeys.com)














(okay so this is really funny and appropriate for this post. after I tried to publish this post I got a blogger error message that said: conflicting edits. some kind of problem blah blah blah so we're sending you back to your post to try again. ha ha! I'm telling you - it's all about the technical difficulties. If you're reading this post it means I finally got it published!)

Confessions

I just drank a coke after breakfast...this time change is killing me.

Ben is outside playing and he's still in his feet pajamas.

The breakfast dishes are still in the sink and I'm the computer instead of washing them.

Some mornings you just have to be a slacker - today is the day for me.

It's Been a While...

I am officially a slacker blogger. It is so much faster and easier to read what YOU are up to than to get around to uploading photos and tell you what WE'VE been up to. This is going to be long, but here you go.

1. I am officially a loser soccer mom. I started the season off by getting to the first practice 30 minutes late. I missed a game so I could finish my craft at Super Saturday. Then I flat out missed a practice for no reason other than I forgot. Lost a soccer sock. Fortunately that's the only part of the uniform that doesn't have to be turned in. I guess Nick lost the sock so that doesn't officially go on my personal loser list. Bottom line: I'm not quite ready for three sets of practices and three Saturday games for the next 20 years. But Nick had a great time and has not let go of his trophy since the last game on Saturday. Seriously, the thing is never going to make it into a box in my basement when he goes off to college; I predict it will be completely broken by December.


2. Halloween. I am so glad it's over and we can move onto my favorite holiday. After two church trunk-or-treats, two school parties, two school parades, a very fun friend/neighborhood party and regular old trick-or-treating, I went with Jenny's philosophy this year of just letting the kids pig out and eat until they got sick. It has been quite effective in quickly getting through the stash although my light colored carpet is not happy when they insist on sleeping with their candy and drooling it all over the floor when they wake up and have 10 pieces for breakfast. Gavin alternated between being a cute cow and gorilla, Ryan refused to wear the monkey costume at most of the events due to a strong preference for the too-big dress-up "ree-ow guy" (translation: fireman), and Nick insisted on squeezing into last year's fighter pilot jumpsuit.

3. We've got another climber. Gavin is taking a few steps here and there but not walking, which I was expecting since his brothers were running by now. He turns 1 on Friday and I've been cooking up a storm for his celebration this weekend. I walked into the kitchen today and found this:

4. With as much relief that Halloween is over (or maybe more?!), I am so glad the elections are finally over. I am not an Obama fan, but I came to terms with the fact that a Republican was not going to win this election a long, long time ago. I came close to foregoing my right to vote when we showed up to find a 3 hour line in the morning, but the second time was a charm. The elections were quite the topic amongst kindergartners even. Someone convinced Nick that Obama was okay since he was "only going to raise our taxes a little" until Shawn started taking "just a few" of his beloved Pokeman cards as an object lesson and Nick retracted his position. This morning he woke up and when Shawn told him who won he said "Obama won? Oh no! Not again!"

5. My brain cells have continued to implode. I raced from Nick's parent-teacher conference to my doctors appointment this morning. I am late almost all the time, everywhere I go. Today I was really early. Like a whole day. They were kind enough to see me anyway.

So our lives tick on. I hate the moments when Nick cries or talks back to me, when Ryan starts whacking on people or blatantly disobeying me, and when Gavin wakes up earlier than I'd prefer, but I love these crazy kids more than anything. I love hugs and kisses from the older boys, Gavin snuggling and laying his head on my shoulder, Nick excited to show me his schoolwork when he gets off the bus, Ryan sweetly consoling a sad Nick with his favorite teddy bear, and best of all, wrestling and tickling each other at bedtime and then listening to Nick read books to us before turning out the light.

Questions??

Why is it only 7:00 am and it feels like lunch time? Oh yeah - it's that blasted daylight savings time that rears it's ugly head every year. I've ranted about this before so enough said.

Do the younger children come out of the womb smarter or do they just pick stuff up. I've thought all of my children are exceptionally bright (and I'm exceptionally biased of course) but Benjamin keeps blowing my mind. At 14 months he brought me a diaper when he pooped in his, and handed it to me to change him. He does stuff like this all the time. Yesterday, I started counting to 3 because he was doing something naughty (I haven't done this with him yet but I thought I'd try) I said "one" he looked at me and said "two" and giggled. I giggled back and said "three" and he said "four, five, six, seven". His just barely 17 months old for goodness sakes. I had no idea he knew numbers already.

Did you get out and vote already? I did. Don't forget to vote!! BTW, what are all the news stations going to talk about after the election? It's all they talk about. It's sure been an exciting race though hasn't it?

Do 3 year olds have hormones? I swear they must. I'm on my second 3 year old now and it is the strangest age ever! Some days they are so great and the next day it's like - "who is that child?"

Are there rules to Facebook? What if you get a friend request from an old high school acquaintance who wasn't a friend but a friend of a friend and you don't really want to be their friend? If you click ignore do they get a message letting them know you don't want to be their friend? Or should you just let the request sit in your inbox indefinitely without answering. What if you run into this person when you go home to visit and they know you don't want to be their friend? Do you talk to them like nothing happened? Hmmm....life can get so complicated.

Oh, and on a side note - sorry if my post about the phone company was overly negative - and thanks for letting me rant about it.