A Bittersweet Day

OK-I'm a week behind, but it's been a crazy week.

 

Last Sunday I was released from the primary presidency, I knew for weeks that it was going to happen and I was fine.  However...when I was sitting in sacrament meeting last week and Brother Bailey got up and started releasing us I just started sobbing!!! I LOVE primary and I LOVE the sisters I was able to serve with and I grew to LOVE the kids, each and every single one! So it was hard, a lot harder than I thought it would be! We got lots of hugs and little handmade cards from our little kiddies that will be cherished forever! So it's back to Relief Society for me It's been a LONG while since I've been. Like 5 years long...So today was my first Sunday back in Relief Society and it was good, the lesson by Sister West was awesome!! That's the wonderful thing about the church, it's great no matter where you are!!!

I was in charge of the food for the ward Christmas party last night, this has consumed me for the last month, I'm sure my mom was sick of hearing me talk about it! Love you!  Side note: My favorite "Keep Calm" poster that I've seen to date is:

  Keep Calm

 

   and

 

   Call Your MOM

 

 

Any way, All I can say is that the Lord's hand was helping me yesterday because everything went SO. GREAT! I kept thinking yesterday, man this is going so great but I'm sure once 5:00 rolls around everything is going to get crazy, well 5 came and went and everything just went so smooth! I had a

lot of help behind the scenes and I mean a lot! I don't think I can thank everyone properly.  Nate did

SO (like probably more than me) much work, he was amazing. I am so lucky to have such a supportive husband.

 

 

I decided that the old blog needed to be changed up a bit, I mean Hudson's picture says he's 3 and he

will be 5 in a few weeks! (except his is the only pic I didn't change out...didn't have one that was

"sidebar worthy" We'll work on that tomorrow!) I mean how hard it is to update your profile? Come

on! It was 2 years old!

I had a ton of suggestions on how to fix my problem (thank you!) my sweet friend sent me this message today..."as I was doing a little research I saw that you can add a second admin (second email) to the account and it will give you another GB of space for that user" So I did and It seems to be working!!! Thank You Krissy!! So that will buy me some time for now, then I think I am going to make some blog books.

 

Pinterest: I recently joined pinterest...I know I'm a little late to the game but better late than never.

Right? I am loving it, I've already tried a few things.  The sugar cookie bars were just OK unless you

make cream cheese frosting, don't even waste your time. ;) We are doing a cute little Christmas countdown that is fun for the kids too. I love looking at all the creative things people do and most of

the time I just dream about being creative.

 

A note on journaling:  A couple of weeks ago I got out my old journals from when I was first married

to about Brody as a baby, and I realized how much I enjoyed going back and reading about my thoughts and my life. I was laughing so hard I was crying, and in awe of how positive I was, boy I've

turned in to a grouchy old fart! I was AMAZED at the crap we went through with Braiden, with his

severe allergies and asthma, it's amazing that the poor kid is alive! Anyway that is the reason for this

long boring pictureless post, I want to remember these little things, about the time I was released

from primary and the time I was in charge of the ward dinner. And I will read all of these old posts

and think, man, I was so positive! I've turned into a grouchy old fart. haha! So here's my attempt to

document more of the little things.

 

I put a few of our new family pictures on the sidebar, the family one and the kids one, I love love

love that one of the kids it is adorable!!! The river was so low that they are actually standing on the

riverbed, cool!

Big Changes & A Cry For HELP

It's been almost a month since my last post eek! How did that happen?? First of all here are a few pictures from Halloween:

 

We were so lucky this year and had BEAUTIFUL weather for trick-or-treating so this was all they had to wear, no coats!!! yay!!!

 

Helloooo, little princess, camera's this way. :)

 

This is the original costume we bought for him to wear this year, however, he also dressed up as spiderman for one party and a star wars clone trooper for another.

 

Braiden had officially graduated from nice, superhero type costumes to creepy costumes, not fond of that change.

(Still in the "nice costume stage") Ninja version 2. The ninja costume we already had in the costume box just wouldn't do. (grrr)

After the trunk or treat we came back home and there were still a few straggling trick-or-treaters knocking on doors, I swear the kids had more fun passing out candy than they did gathering it!!!

Here's the big change...

Sooooo, we got home from church on Oct 21 and got a phone call, you know "THAT" phone call, the one from the Stake Executive Secretary asking Nate if he and his wife would come in to meet with the Stake Presidency... Uh, OK. I am nothing but a bundle of nerves for a good 2 and a half days, it could be anything really, Stake Athletic Director...yeah, that would be good. But when you are sitting down across from the whole Stake Presidency your hopes for Stake Athletic Director quickly go down the drain! So Nate was called to be the 2nd counselor in the bishopric. Whoa!

The next two weeks were filled with stress (on my part) and a LOT of fibbing (mostly on Nate's part) I only had one person ask me if the new 2nd counselor was going to be Nate and I did a horrible job of lying. I'm sure she had it all figured out by the time our conversation was over. : /

I feel like I have been well prepared for his calling in some ways, he has been the Elders Quorum Pres for half of our married life, YM Pres. and Ward Clerk so I am used to Sunday mornings on my own, I don't know what I would do with myself if he WAS home on a Sunday morning. What I am not used to is sitting by myself in sacrament meeting, my first Sunday the older 2 were worse than the younger 2, WHAT? His first week in he had meetings on 3 nights and Sat was a chaotic mess.  Sundays after church are sad and lonely, that is the best part of the day when we come home and I get to tell him all the things that went on in primary that day. :) It will take some getting used to I am sure! That is the whole point of this life after all, to learn and grow. He is lucky to be able to serve with great people who will help him along the way.

Our sweet niece, little Ruby Rose was blessed on the 4th, the same day Nate was put in the bishopric, it was a big day!!!

I was also asked to be in charge of the ward Christmas Dinner YIKES!!! Actually when they asked me I thought they were going to say "decorations" but when they said "the dinner" I laughed! I can think of a few more qualified people in the ward to do that job!! (uh hem...KARLA) ♥ ya! I understand you can't do every ward dinner so I'm gonna need your help!!!

Last week was book fair at the school, I was in charge. That was a toughie, once the schedule was filled, the biggest job, and the books were set up, the second biggest job, the rest went pretty smooth. Glad it's over though!

We got our family pictures taken on the 3rd we couldn't have asked for a more BEAUTIFUL day!!! in Nov too. Lucky!! Everyone looked great and everyone cooperated, I can't wait to see them!! Christmas cards are coming this year for sure!!! Make sure I have your address! ( or I need to make sure I have your address, something like that.)

Thanksgiving is going to be pretty low key this year, all of our brothers and sister are going to the "other side"...hmm, how did that happen? Any way we are going to eat with Kurt and Terril and do a trail run of the ward Christmas dinner. I'm sure we will go out and buy a paper and look at all of the black Friday deals that we won't take advantage of. :) It's still fun to look, maybe we will catch a movie this year!! Know any good one's coming out?

Brody's Birthday and BAPTISM is coming up in a few weeks WOWEE! Here we go scouts round 2! What do I do? Buy another scout shirt? Braiden only needs it for another 4 months. hmmm.

I need your help...

My blog says that I am out of space, apparently I talk too much and I have too many "picture heavy posts.  Have any of you had this problem? What should I do? I am not very tech savvy but here are a few solutions I have come up with. The blog just wants me to buy more space (surprise) $2/month not much but that is just annoying, don't want to do it. I could stop blogging, yeah not gonna do that one either. I could start a new blog. I worry about that, what if no one reads it any more...what if no one reads it now. hmmm. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated!!!!

Summer? Where did you go?

Just like that, it is gone. Boo! We were so busy, we couldn't even squeeze in a session of swimming lessons.  Bad Mom! Bad Bad Bad Mom! :/

 

 I registered the boys for school this past Monday, and they will start on Monday. We are ready, then again we are not. They found out who their teachers are and they are so excited about them, they are going a little stir crazy here, they are ready to see friends and start learning (right kids?) I am not NOT ready for the homework, the alarm clock, and being on the go. 

 

 

I will miss their morning plasma car races.  Every morning after breakfast they run out there and ride until they are tired or until they are sick of the dog licking them in the face.  ew.

 

Hudson starts preschool after Labor Day, I am so nervous about it. I hope he has grown out of the "don't leave me, mommy" thing.

 

Joslyn gets to hang out with me, one more year and she can start dance. I can NOT wait, it is killing me. :) I took the kids school clothes shopping a couple of weeks ago, can't miss out on the Old Navy $10 jean sale.  Anyway, I think Joslyn got more school clothes than the boys did, and she is not even going to school. Little Stinker! That's an only girl for ya.

 

 

We made our count down chain for our Disneyland vacation coming up, I don't know who's more excited, me or the kids.

 

Braiden started football, the first practices of the season are SO hot, so what gets returned to me is one very hot, sweaty, hungry, thirsty boy. Loves every minute of it though.

 

We've had a fun and busy summer, we did everything we hoped to do, well except swimming lessons. ;)

Two Choices

I have two choices:

1- Go with my hubby and stay in a luxurious hotel in Scottsdale AZ, spend some much needed time together...just us. A chance to lay by the pool and read a book all day if I so desire. A trip to the spa?? Shopping in stores that this small town Idaho girl can usually only dream about. My wardrobe could use some freshning up. Eating at yummy restaurants--oh and did I mention spending time with my hubby- kid free?!?!

OR

2- Stay home with my sick kids.

Believe it or not I want to go with option #2 wwhhhhaaaatttttt??? Is this girl crazy or somethin'?

Let me explain... I would feel so terrible leaving my sick kids with anybody, I would hate to make other people sick, because it's a bad one! First Joslyn was sick and miserable for a week- a week. Not kidding the day that I thought she was returning back to her old self Brody came down with "It." His only lasted about 5 days- wasn't that nice? And yesterday he said, "mom I'm feeling good" So I sent him off to school. This morning we went to get Braiden out of bed for school and saw that he had obviously gotten... "IT." PALEEEZZ.  Now it's not a matter of- if, it's a matter of -WHEN Hudson gets "IT." And if Nate and I don't get "IT" it will be a miracle. Going from the track record of "IT" Braiden should get better in the next 5-7 days.
And... just hearing about this incident over the weekend seems to have rattled me to the very core.
I just want to stay home and take care of my babies-big and small.

A Few Things

::  I am soooooo excited for zumba tonight, I really need it today.

::  I bought these pretty apothecary jars and filled them with pink and red candies, the only problem- I can't keep them full, it's not me I promise! ;) maybe that's why I need zumba tonight. :)

::  I am considering putting Hudson's dresser drawers under lock and key-he changes his clothes 5 times a day.

::  Baby girl cut her third tooth-my kids are slow teethers-I'm OK with that.

::  Speaking of that baby girl, she keeps me on my toes.

      -If the door to the linen closet is open she is tearing Kleenex out of the box and eating toilet paper.

      -If the door to the pantry is open she is pulling boxes of cereal off the shelves and helping herself.

      -If the door to any given bathroom is open she is playing...well never mind.  Let's just say I had to wash her hands about 10 times yesterday and change her clothes about 5 times.

      -She loves to "help" in the kitchen unloading the dishwasher, taking out the garbage, sweeping the floor. She is always "right there" when you need her. ♥ 

      -She won't stay sitting to save her life-  she sits in her highchair for about 2 min then she finishes her meal standing, and I have my arm out  ready to catch her. She even stands in the grocery cart. JOY!

      -She crawls around the house pulling up the vent covers-just because she can, she doesn't want to play with them she just wants them out of place.

::  Who needs zumba when you have Miss. J?

::  I am going through Kindle withdrawls-I need a good book, any suggestions?

::  It's happening again, more pink and red candies disappearing--that darn Hudson.

On Being a Mom

So I'm to the point now when I am starting to grow out of my maternity clothes, so that makes people ask, "Whoa, when are you due?" Always fun. Last night we had a Christmas party to go to and I was struggling to find something to wear that wouldn't look like I was going to bust out of the seams. I finally settled on the white shirt and same ole' pants. I finished getting ready and rushed into the kitchen where Hudson was yelling from his highchair "DONE...DONE...DONE" So I scoop him out of the chair only to get his dinner "mess" on the front of the white, only decent thing that fits shirt. UH, I give up.

Friday night we took the kids to A Christmas Carol. I thought it was a little too scary for little kids. Brody kept asking if we could go home and was plugging his ears and closing his eyes half the time. Even Hudson had his face buried in Nate shoulder and was whimpering. And believe it or not, my kids are not ones to get scared in movies. I told Nate that I liked the Mickey Mouse version better. ;)

Nate and I went to Boise this past weekend and left the kids with Kurt and Terril. We had to get Christmas and Birthday shopping done. We made a huge dent in the list (only a few little things left) and we got some great deals. Gymboree was having 25% off the entire store and I had a coupon for 15% off my entire purchase...Needless to say I went hog wild for the baby, Nate just stood there and rolled his eyes. After a huge day of shopping I was exhausted so we went to dinner and Nate took me to New Moon (what a guy!!) It was so fun to get away without the kids, love em', but it's nice to have time together too.

Catching Up

I am getting burnt out from all this posting, I'm sure you are too. Yesterday was one of those days with kids. Just FYI stubborn mom + stubborn child don't mix. There were a couple of times that I just had to put a fake smile on and say "I love you Brody" Dinner could not cook fast enough for my starving 1st grader "you are such a mean mom" tears and all. All because I was cooking potatoes and not rice. After they had a little something they were good as new. Why do kids do this I ask??? They were perfectly normal, then the visiting teachers come and they start bouncing off the walls and wrestling and playing soccer right in the middle of it all!!! Then the second they leave, calm once again. hmmmm. WHY??

Well now I get to catch up on my list.

I am thankful for:

1. Preschool- because Brody loves it. He has so much fun.
2. Mousse and hairspray- My hair would be pretty scary without it.
3. Braiden- who helps me fold clothes and put them away.
4. My piano- it helps me unwind, also "Love One Another" provides excellent background music to wrestling.
5. Visiting teachers who bring an uplifting message, though shouted over noisy children, it was still uplifting.
6. Bed time- need I say more.

Silly Tooth Fairy!!

Sometimes I feel like the blog is a good place to brag, or to paint a perfect little picture of our lives. Well there is no bragging and no perfect pictures, not today. I screwed up and I feel HORRIBLE! Braiden went to the dentist yesterday and got 2 teeth pulled (I'll talk about that a little bit later) So if you are a kid and you have to go through that what is the one thing that you would look forward to about loosing teeth? Yes, it's a visit from the tooth fairy. I bet you can see where this is going, yes the tooth fairy FORGOT to come!!! He put his teeth in the little box and carefully placed them on his bed post, morning came and he sat right up in bed and looked on the bed post to find, nothing... he said, "Maybe she couldn't get the lid open" ahhhh {{tear, tear}} I've never actually cried while writing a post before. I am a horrible mother. I guess the tooth fairy will dish out double tonight. He is such a sweet boy, so innocent, I hate to see him growing up.

Now that you know how imperfect I am and that I screw up (on a daily basis) I want to tell you about the teeth pulling. I want you all to know that we aren't teeth pulling happy and that we don't do this for fun. We actually got a consult from the orthodontist who told us to get those teeth out of there, so his permanent teeth will come in more straight and there will be less ortho work to do later on. He was very brave and tough through the whole thing, I was proud of him. I will have to take a picture of his toothlessness and post later.

We have family pictures later on tonight, wish us luck!!

On another note, my friend Niki is doing this on her blog and I thought it was a great idea. List 3 things everyday that you are thankful for until Thanksgiving. So here it goes.

1. Lidocaine, so Braiden didn't have to feel his teeth coming out.
2. Lessons learned, I will never forget to be the tooth fairy AGAIN. (I hope)
3. A sweet, innocent, forgiving child.