Monday, December 7, 2009

Christmas Pics

So, we all got dressed up yesterday.
Must've been all the snow clogging my brain, but we look cute, right?
(PS - Steve was cute too, he just didn't want his picture taken.)






Abby Walking

So, Abby is desperately trying to learn to walk. (We're hoping that if she doesn't figure it out before Christmas, her 18-mo old cousin will show her the ropes.) She just gets so excited that she forgets that her head is the heaviest part of her body and that if she leans toward her target destination, she'll find it with her face. So, usually the color commentary play-by-play for Abby walking is:

She's standing. She's leaning. She's walking. She's walking. She's falling. Ooo-Oh! Uh, she fell. She's up!
(See video, below).

Christmas Pageant 2009

So, Saturday night was our ward Christmas pageant. Jake was a shepherd (and his stuffed Bambi played a lamb), Will was a shepherd in training (meaning he wore the costume but for reasons having to do with his general speed, agility, and curious nature he was barred from being on the stage. He's two, right?), Abby was the tired baby in the hallway, Sam was a wise man (who was told to read his part slowly and then sounded like someone had dialed the speed down on an old turntable), Dad was with the tired baby, and Mom played the piano. Enjoy the pics.
(ps - the shepherd in blue on the left is Sam's friend David, and then the little random kid on the right is just a random ward kid we love named Blue).

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

For Eric: So Funny I Had to Share

This is the muppets doing bohemian rhapsody. Frankly, it's hilarious. Though, let me say that if you don't know the original then maybe it isn't that funny. Smiles to you especially Eric!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

First Day of Preschool

Jake got one of the few coveted Title I spots in the district preschool. We have a lady in our ward who called us to tell us that there were only a few spots and would my Jake be interested. Uh, wait let me think about that - free preschool, four afternoons a weeks, and they bus? Am. I. interested? Yeah. So we ran and got the paperwork and he got tested and Monday the school bus came to pick up my big boy who looked so little climbing up the steps to get on the bus. His teacher is Miss Brenda and he LOVES school. Although he is wearing the Bumblebee shirt under his cookie sweater - to help him be brave.

Note, the dog sitting in our yard in the picture of Jake getting on the bus is not our dog. It's Libby the next door neighbor's dog. All the bliss of dog ownership without the stress and the poop detail. Let me just say though - Koda LOVES Will. He also tried to get on the bus to preschool, but like Mary's lamb, had to hang out at home with the rest of us. Enjoy the picture of Koda and Will, too. Also, Abby hates Koda and screams like he might be trying to eat her everytime she sees him.



Abby Lou Who

So, I'm usually not much for torturing pigtails into Abby's hair. Neither is she for that matter. In fact, she screams like a banshee if you start acting like you might be thinking about touching her hair. Usually she just looks sort of McCartney-esque circa 1964. But then I gave her a toothbrush to play with and turned her into Abby Lou Who. Isn't she cute?

Payback (or We Need a Marianne, Stat!)

So, 11/11 which was, incidentally Veterans Day, was also the Thanksgiving Feast at Sam's school. For two weeks he's been telling me this. Telling me he was a Native American (not an Indian) and that his Native American name would be Blue Horse, which wasn't really as cool as his friend's name - Arrowhead. Notes came home from the teacher hinting that there would be some costuming for the Feast, but the only instructions involved Sunday shirts for the pilgrims. Seeing as Sam was a Native American, I thought I was off the hook.

Then, morning of, Sam comes screeching into my room insisting he must have a costume for the Feast. WHAT?!?!?! I yell. I've asked you everyday for two weeks if you need a costume and you've said no. Needless to say I was being paid back for the all times I announced to my mother at like 11:30 pm that some major league project was do the next day and oh, I don't have any poster board.

So, drawing upon what little creativity courses through my veins (it's definitely not life sustaining) I channeled my inner Marianne and the memories I had of Thanksgiving feasts of yore and cut and taped a brown paper grocery sack into a Native American vest and tied it with Will's bootlace. (Have I mentioned that I'm usually allergic to craft-oriented activities? They make me break out in multi-syllabic cursing and encourage the invention of new phrases and words.) But we survived. The thing looked vest like and didn't fall off. Then Sam decorated it with Dakota symbols. (Apparently we have a budding Robert Langdon among us) and then insisted I draw on his face. My markers, paint, and virtually every other craft supply I own is trapped in the garage. So I used black liquid eyeliner. The result was a cross between an outfielder and a catholic on Ash Wednesday (it's supposed to be a triangle and line a Dakota symbol for something - ask Robert (I mean Sam)) - in a brown paper sack.

enjoy!
ps - I love you Mom! and Marianne!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Halloween

Our little transformers - Megatron, Bumblebee (Mom, I'm wearing my bumblebee shirt under my costume), and Optimus Prime!














The fairy princess. Mad props to Trish who made the skirt. The headband barely survived the pictures and the shoes didn't last much longer. Have I mentioned Abby hates shoes? Wonder where she gets that from?



















Sam had a costume parade at school and couldn't wear his transformer mask. So he was harry potter. cute, eh? He did have a scar, you just can't really see it here. His dad also found him a wand in the backyard which completed the ensemble.

Autumn Leaves

Happy Abby and friends in the autumn leaves.















































And this shot courtesy of budding photographer Jacob, who said: "I told you I wouldn't drop the camera!"

Family Pictures, Take 2: The FAM

So, here's the family pictures. Contrary to the evidence provided below, we really do know how to smile. Just not all of us, all at the same time. Gmas, if you want copies, just let me know.







Family Pictures, Take 1 - The Boys

So, not long ago, we rousted Joe and Michelle out of bed on a Saturday morning and attempted to take some family pictures. This is the first set - all boys. Aren't they cute?




















x











Naughty and I Know It...

Here's some pictures of the little princess climbing on Mommy's desk. She knows she's not supposed to, especially since the keyboard tray which she pulls herself up on rolls out. OUCH! But, she knows the mystical secret lies on that tray, in the drawer, and if she could ever crest the summit on top of the desk itself. I mean, really, if Will consistently gets in trouble for being up there - it must be where the good stuff is. Enjoy!

Friday, October 23, 2009

They are ONLY GREEN BEANS!

When I was a kid - back in the dark ages - kids had to stay at the table until all their food was gone. No arguments or discussions. I consulted with my husband - same thing at his house. You were not excused from the table until you finished everything on your plate. I don't ever remember a time when I tried to test out what would happen if I simply refused. I was a kid who didn't really like punishment of any kind and tried to avoid it at any cost. So I ate...everything on my plate.

Now, I'm sure I didn't do it quietly. I probably whined like crazy about whatever horrifying vegetable had managed to land on my plate. But I ate it. And actually the only thing I really remember having to eat that made me absolutely sick to eat was chicken divan.

Never heard of it? Oh, you're lucky. Chicken divan is this weird sort of chicken, cream of chicken soup, broccoli, and cheese casserole concoction. The broccoli is slimey and it make everything else in the casserole taste like slimey broccoli. I remember the only way I could force it down was to wash every bite down with kool-aid. Which, God bless my mother, she always offered as a way to get through the hard meals. (for another friend of mine it was ketchup.)

But I digress...

As I speak, I am in the middle of a showdown with my four year old. I made roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, and GASP! green beans for dinner tonight. All at the table were happy for this meal, but Jacob was not...

"I don't like roast beef. You know I don't like roast beef." (this coming from the child who devours with world record speed "daddy pizza" which has ground beef on it. seriously.)

Okay, I cave, you only have to eat mashed potatoes and green beans. (we're not even going to talk about my children's bizzare aversion to sauce - of any kind)

It is now after 8, dinner was served at five, and said child is still wandering around the table crying:

"I don't like green beans. I tried one and it was not good. I'm not even hungry. I want to go to bed."

See, my husband and I decided to go old school - make him stay at the table till he finished eating. Only he must think we're bluffing.

He continues, through tears and a tissue...

"This was a stupid idea. Who's stupid idea was this? I don't even like stupid greens beans. I can't eat this. I can't. I CAN'T! I CAN'T DO IT! I'm not even hungry. I want to go to bed. Can I please go to bed? I'm not having a good time. This is stupid."

NOTE: this child also hates going to bed. Even when he's so tired he can barely stand, he will still refuse to go to bed. And he's begging for bed. Also, stupid, to Jacob, it like a four letter word. So, he is, in actuality, cursing at me in a way. Lastly, he must be where he can see me at all times to ensure that I can hear his rantings, know how stupid this all is, and potentially cave.

I am reminded that when we first tried to get this child to sleep through the night, he would cry and cry until we came for him. HOURS. When we did come for him, he'd stop and we'd rock him and put him to bed. The next night, he would cry for the exact same amount of time it took us to break the night before and then fall asleep exhausted. We found out he was just breaking us - timing us and waiting us out. Did the same thing with nursery.

But I digress, again.

Seriously, they're just green beans. GREEN BEANS!!! Not a shred of chicken divan in sight.

Seriously.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

New Clothes...Photo Shoot

So, with the changing of the season, Abby got new clothes. Thanks Grandmas! Abby doesn't like to put clothes on...it's like a WWF match to try to get her dressed - especially for church where there are multiple layers and various and assundry "piece parts" as my mother would say. So, I dressed her, undressed her, and redressed her for her too-cute 9 month photo shoot. Also be aware that Abby won't sit for pictures. You set her down, she flops over and makes a mad dash for the camera - must investigate. That, coupled with my definite lack of picture-taking skills, made for an interseting photo shoot to say the least. The entire experience was topped off by big brother Will who disappeared for a few minutes (not a good sign) then reappeared saying, "I a sick boy," and then threw up. Such are the days of my life...








































Abby is also really into patty cake, as seen in the photo and the video. Sorry I shot the video sideways, but you know.



PS. As I post, Sam is reading his take home book, Will is destroying his brother's homework, and now Abby has thrown up. Have I mentioned, I need a vacation from barf?

Monday, September 28, 2009

And then Soccer!




On the heels of Black August and Sam starting full-day first grade at a new school, we also started Sam and Jake's first soccer season. We've all spent two (sometimes three) nights a week and Saturdays at games and practice. The last games (not that I'm counting down or anything) are Oct 6-7. Here's my Silver Knight and my Green Goblin. (PS the Green Goblin wears his lucky bumblebee shirt under his jersey to every game - it makes him brave!

Black August

So, August 2009 will forever be known as Black August. In addition to turning thirty, Will made 5 trips to the doctor (including an ER visit), and I spent over $200 in doctor-related fees. UG! The last time I was in at the doctor, I asked if I could get a punch card - you know, four visits and the fifth is free? Here's the play-by-play:

August 4: After two weeks of grungy green nose, I took Will to the doctor - sinus infection.

August 6: On the way home from a bike ride, Sam crashed his bike into a tree limb that was secretly hiding a very large (about the size of a gallon milk jug) hornet's nest. Black hornets. Darth Vader Bees of Death. He got stung several times and so did I in our frantic run home. After immediately getting him some benedryl (to ward off the swelling) I went outside to help Steve with the bikes, etc. While gone, Will drank and/or poured the rest of the benedryl out. The pediatrician didn't answer the phone, so I called poison control for advice. They booked Will a room at the ER. Two hours later - the ER doctor confirmed that while caution was to be lauded, there was absolutely nothing wrong with him.

August 23: After another few days of fever, stomach pain, and general yuckiness, I take Will back to the doctor. They think he might have appendicitis. While he lays semi-conscious in my lap they do a blood draw and other yucky tests to tell us he has, instead, a virus. Lucky no surgery. Unlucky - no treatment.

August 27: After telling the boys to stay out of the closet in Uncle Stephen's recently vacated room, they all went (of course) straight for it. In so doing, Sam ran Will's pinky finger over with the mirrored closet door. Huge gash - all across the knuckle. I can't get it to stop bleeding, so we go into the doctor for a super-glue-ing and a blue splint. (see photo.) In addition, he was supposed to keep the dressing on (and clean and dry for three days). Needless to say, we had to get additional new dressing materials after his foray into the neighbor's recently delivered top soil.

August 31: After suffering from raging allergies, Sam rubbed pink eye into his eyes. Both. And then shared with the rest of the kids. YES!

Now you know why I went mysteriously Blog-silent.

Monday, September 21, 2009

I Must've Done Something Good...

*Note to all: this is a picture-less post. Not because I don't have pictures to post, just no time to post them.*

So my Mom often tells me to pay attention to those songs that randomly go through your head. Not the ones that were on the alarm clock this morning (don't ask me when the last time I used an alarm clock was - 4 kids, enough said) or the songs that you've absorbed into your subconscious from your children's preschool programming (Veggie Tales is a big culprit of this at my house). No, the songs that just arrive in your head, you find yourself humming and singing and if you're not paying attention come and go before you're even aware that they're there. (homophone.)

So, Friday afternoon I was freakishly cleaning my house. We'd gone for too many days of sick and tired, followed abruptly by an emergency call from my office. The house was a pit. So, freakishly I moved from room to room scouring. The crowning achievement for any and all who have ever been to my house was that I MOPPED THE KITCHEN FLOOR. On my hands and knees - with a scrub brush. It was a miracle. As I'm scrubbing, I realize I'm humming. As I'm humming, I stop to identify what I am humming.

<> "Perhaps I had a wicked childhood. <> Perhaps I had a miserable youth. <> But somewhere in my wicked, miserable past, there must have been a moment of truth.

For those of you non-musical people, this is a song from The Sound of Music. It's the song Julie Andrews sings to Christopher Plummer after she decides she doesn't want to be a nun, she wants to be his wife, and the mother of his 7 children.

So now, as the dutiful daughter. Why was this particular song in my head, I wondered. Please note that at this moment of scrubbing all of my children were taking a nap, as was my husband, except Sam who was at school. As I pondered this random song, all I could think of was how true it was for me.

Despite all the young women's leaders who thought me impossible and washed their hands of me, despite all the horribly awkward and other totally punky moments in my life, I must've done at least five good things. For in my life I have four little people and one big person who are "standing here loving me, whether or not they should." As I pondered this random song, I suddenly, in the midst of my mopping felt very, very blessed.

Thank heaven for Moms.

Monday, July 6, 2009

July Already?

In case you've wondered where we've been the last month - see here: http://www.landcruiserchronicles.blogspot.com/

We also went to St. G-

Father's Day - St. George Temple.












And Abby - SIX MONTHS!