AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Brayden has been randomly peeing on the floor, Keaton is teething his final two molars. I have a million things to do in a very short amount of time. I am hoping my kids make survive the week. I am hoping I make it through the end of the week. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Pretty Snakey

One of the things I love most about our neighborhood is there are so many kids always playing outside and usually, most kids are welcome to join them and everyone just plays together and it's great! I do feel bad though, when someone is having a birthday party outside and other kids just happen to walk by and want to join in. Such was the case several weeks back when our neighbors were having a b-day party. Several kids, including mine, wandered over there. I had given "someone" instructions when I left to run errands to watch that our kids did not go over there. However, somehow our kids managed to...LUCKILY for us, our neighbors were so sweet and let our kids stay for a few minutes to enjoy the animal show...that is with this HUGE snake!!

I think my kids are trying to be brave but our secretly pretty scared.

Seriously SO nice again of our neighbors to even let my kids have a turn with the snake. Now if only I can think of some clever way to get my kids to be this tame for me...without the snake...Hmmmmmm...

March of Dimes Walk

So the March of Dimes Walk was yesterday and we went as a family. It was so great! There was literally 1/3rd of the people that have come in the past few years. I think it has been a tough year for people with this economy. And it honestly was nice to have a short wait for some of the fun things they do after the walk (like bounce houses, balloon animals, etc.). So the kids had a fantastic time and we all did as a family.

So here is the poster I made this year...they put these made by some of the moms of babies all over the walk site so you can read them while you go. So cool to learn about some of the amazing miracles.

And all these pictures are in backwards order. Soooo, this was taken after the walk, Keaton really missed his Dad this week and just had so much fun with him yesterday!!

After the walk, Brayden going down the giant slide.
Kylers turn!

Keaton went down the slide with me at one point, but really just ran around everywhere the whole time after the walk.

Jugglers for entertainment...

This was right as we were coming to the finish line...lots of people cheering!!

During the walk, Keaton and his Daddy enjoying some ice cream.

Right before the walk, some live music to get everyone pumped up.

Just before the walk, eating some yummy breakfast (although this was the boys second breakfast of the day).

Thanks again for everyone's donations, love and support. It was a wonderful day for a wonderful cause!

A Kindergarden Graduate!

My BIG baby boy has graduated from Kindergarden, although he still has two weeks of school left. Weird how that works. Anyhow, the big shindig was Friday and I luckily and gratefully had someone watching Brayden and Keaton so I could focus 100% on Kyler. I took lots of pictures and videocamered most of the songs. They sang about 10 different songs, used props, etc. And each kid had a turn saying something into the microphone about the song before it started. It was so cute!

They combined all the Kindergarden classes together for the event and held it in the audiotorium. Soooooo...yes, there are A LOT of kids here.

Most of the kids...not all could fit into the picture!
During a song...
And another song, but this one you can see Kyler...can you find him??
Up close. Doing the motions...

Kinda blurry, but still cute!!

This one is super cute with him calling on the phone...

I wanted to get one of him and me and him and his teacher together afterwards, but he became really shy and didn't want any more pictures. I was bummed, but it was okay. So proud of my little guy for working hard this year to get through his first real year of school. Oh, and by the way, he was disappointed that after the event was over, he had to ride home with me and couldn't take the bus home...yeah, he loves me....but he just LOVES taking the bus. Next year he will be at the new school, no bussing. It's a bummer. But we will survive!!

Whew!

What a week it has been! I decided early on that I was going to fill all the downtime we have with lots of things to do! I wanted this week with Cortney being gone to go by fast, but to also be as fun as possible! Normally when Kyler gets home from school, we work on some homework, make dinner, play with friends and just hang around the house as a family until bedtime. But this week almost every day we have gone to Redbox to get me a chick flick, get the kids a fun movie, run to the store, go to a play place for them to get their wiggles out and then head home just in time to read some books, get ready for bed and lights out. Although this is exhausting, the time of the day when the kids fight the most is before bedtime and this problem has been eliminated!! ALSO, remember my last post where I was freaking out a little about something happening and some weird feelings I have been having. Well with much prayer I have felt at peace. And I have realized that I think A LOT of my crazy emotions have been because of my new stupid birth control that is making me a crazy woman!

No really, it's not too bad. But every once in a while when something totally normal is going on, I feel like I want to burst into tears suddenly for no reason. Don't get me wrong, it's not very often...just once a day or so that I feel totally out of my mind for a few minutes. We might be changing birth controls again if this doesn't adjust with time... Either way, being busy this week has been SO FUN.

I am a frugal shopper. I don't go once or twice a year and buy my kids a ton of clothes for school or anything like that. I am constantly buying little things here and there- Really, not all the time...constantly was probably a strong word. But I always buy things on sale and at thrift stores. So I buy things here and there as I see them and build up. I do buy things in bulk if for example like this week: all winter clothes are on major clearance. So I buy things a size bigger, or two sizes maybe for the next winter for the kids, etc. So this week I totally scored on some high quality adorable stuff and I am SO EXCITED about this!! I know, the silly things we mom's get excited about. But I really love finding a normally $25 sweater on sale for $2. YUP, a high quality sweater for $2. So naturally I bought several in different colors/sizes, etc.

Anyhow, BLAH BLAH like you want to know all this. I am just relieved that the week has gone well and the kids have been good and I have done so much shopping...I might have to throw in this post that I (a naturally busty girl no matter how small I get), have had some major weight loss in a certain area that required buying myself something new to "support them" and I am the smallest there I have been since I can ever remember! Now most people don't want to shrink there and get smaller. I DOOOOOOOO. I won't go into detail, but let's just say I feel so proportionate and normal. This is nice. I am VERY happy about this. :)

Now, we miss our Daddy!! Especially this little guy, who even though is a MAJOR mama's boy, has been yelling "Daddy" all day to every male he sees. For reals. It's so cute! I know he misses him.

I know he wants to cuddle with him.

And this crazy thumb sucker actually fell asleep in the middle of the floor of the living room on Tuesday. WHAT??? I know, so crazy.

Let's see what the end of the week brings. Hopefully more sales! And Friday Cort comes home. And Kyler Graduates Kindergarden. YAY!

The Dilema

I have had a dilema. It has been bothering me and on my mind for the past few weeks. I know I am a worry wort and worry too much about things, but I just haven't been able to shake the feelings I have had today.

So I will tell you the dilema, the solution and we'll go from there...

My awesome, amazing little Sis graduates from College (ASU) this Friday. Originally I planned to go down for the big event with the kiddos. Cort is out of town this week, perfect time for me to get away without missing anything, so that was the plan. I mentioned to my little Sis I was thinking of coming down, but never actually told her I was coming. Then, unknown to my sister until she reads this, I was actually going to tell her something came up and I couldn't go...but then surprise her the night before the big event at a family dinner. I had it all planned with my mom and sisters, I was going to call the house from down the street while she was there and tell her I missed her, etc....then walk through the doors while she was there. My sis LOOOOOVES surprises, and I knew it was going to be the perfect surprise for her. And it would be so fun for all of us.

Well, then the dilemas came. The biggest dilema was I learned Kyler's Kindergarden Graduation is the same day. I thought about it and decided, you know what, I am just going to miss it and that's that. I really want to be there for my sister on her big day. The more and more time passed, the more and more I felt completely uneasy about something...I just couldn't put my finger on it, but I just felt uneasy about the trip itself. So as more time went on, I realized the day after my sisters graduation is The March of Dimes walk (which I know I could miss because thousands of people are there and I did raise money for it...) but I also have a big poster made this year to put up at the walk site...then later the same afternoon if my sister in laws baby shower. THEN if I were in Arizona, I would have to leave no later than Monday to come back because Kyler has maditory Kindergarden testing on Tuesday.

Now, I love to drive. I have no problems doing the 11 hour drive there and back by myself, we have done it a million times before. Me and the three kids do at least one of the ways there by ourselves when we go usually...but this time, maybe because my thyroid has been off and I have been extra tired these days, this time, I have been feeling nervous about the drive there and back by myself. And this has NEVER bothered me before.

So the combination of all these things meant me missing 3 big events, 1 of them extremely important to me, and basically spending 2 days of driving and 3 days actually in Arizona with my family. I thought and thought and thought about it. I talked to several family members, including my little Sis, and all of them were so supportive and understanding of my situation.

The truth is, I unfortunetly miss family things all the time. My neice was baptised last weekend (not to mention the many neice and nephew baptisms I have missed in the past), I missed my bro. Mark's college Graduation and numerous other family events. Now that I have a family of my own, and their own schedules, it's harder and harder for me to drop everything and make the trip. But this trip I REALLY wanted to go and knew that I would see my Dad and Brother and his wife who all live in Tucson without making a trip to Tucson myself. That was also appealing.

So anyway, I thought about it, and finally prayed about it and knew my answer. I need to be here. But the crazy thing is, there is not this huge relief with my decision. I still feel guilt for not being able to go...but more than that, I don't know why, I just am worried about something. I don't know why I feel uneasy...I PRAY and HOPE that I am just being my typical worry-wart self and that I am just tired. But I have this small fear in the back of my mind that something is going to happen just around the corner...

I know Heavenly Father is watching over me and protecting me and my family. I know that because I am listening to his guidance and by staying here, I am making the right choice...I am going to put all my faith in that and put this into the Lord's hands. I am going to let go of this uneasiness in the back of my mind and just relax.

And even though I am not there for the big event, I am there in spirit and will always be there in spirit with my family. I am just lucky to have a family that is so close. And I am lucky that they are so suppoprtive of me, even though I live away and have to miss these family events that are so special. Love to you all my family!!

Mother's Day, Part Two, I AM A MOM

I became a mother for the first time around 6:20 in the morning on March 20th, 2006. I can't really explain what ever my life was like before I had children. My life really changed, but it has been an incredible journey ever since. I feel especially blessed when I look at the circumstances around all three of my children's births. I am lucky to have 3 very healthy children now, no matter how long the road has been to get them that way. Some days as a mom are so long I don't think they will ever end...or at least I don't think they will end with all my children ALIVE! But however bad some days might be, the WONDERFUL days more than make up for it! I am so blessed to have 3 beautiful BOYS. And blessed to be a MOTHER. I can never let myself take motherhood for granted (although I know sometimes I do). I must never do that!

I have the most beautiful children, inside and out. I absolutely love how I can pinpoint certain features in my children both physically and personality wise that are like myself. Not that I want that with certain qualities I may have, but I love knowing that my kids take after me in some ways...let's just hope the good ones stick!
I love that my kids stay small and cuddly longer than the average kid- it makes it so much fun!
I have the best job in the world and LOVE being a MOM! Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day, Part One, for My Mom

I am lucky to have a Mom that I am very close to. She is one of my best friends. I was thinking back yesterday to how our relationship was even from the time I was little, as well as when I was a teenager. I was thinking to myself, how can I get my boys to be as close to me as I was to my mom? When I was 14, 15 years old and went to church dances, when I got home, my mom and I would sit on the couch and talk for a while about every detail. Even when I told her I kinda liked a boy, she was sensitive to be incouraging in the right ways. She was always very good about letting me know my boundaries without pushing me away. I knew I could tell her anything and she would just listen. She was so comforting to talk to. Sure, I rebelled around 17 years old and gave her a run for her money, but I always knew deep down that she was always just trying to make sure I was happy and keep me from making choices that would lead me away from that. I am SO LUCKY to be blessed with such a wonderful mom.

I try to be the best mom I can be to my boys and only hope that I can be as close with them as I am with my mom.

Even when we weren't quite sure where Brayden came from with his see-through hair and bug eyes as a baby...HA HA! She saw me through the very hard time in my life of having Brayden so early, so suddenly.
And is such a great grandma to me kids and all her grandkids. She treats all of them the same and goes above and beyond what I think most grandmas would do!

Thanks Mom for all the you do for me and my family. I am lucky to have you in my life and hope that I can be as good of a mom as you!

I also want to tell my sisters and sister in laws (even my sis who doesn't have kids yet but is a super amazing aunt to all her nieces and nephews) and Mother In Law- You are ALL examples to me and there is so much I have to learn from you still. Thank you for letting me talk to you/vent to you about mom questions I have, and thanks for not judging me when I don't make the best parenting choices myself. I think you ALL are amazing in your own way and I appreciate you and am lucky to have you in my life.

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mother's, Grandmothers, Sisters, All WOMEN~Wishing you a day of getting spoiled rotten!

The white haired boy and the dark haired boy

What a week! Monday was a sucessful trip to the doc to check on my weight loss goals and thyroid. Thyroid was low, which truly did not surprise me because the last two weeks especially I have been feeling realllllly tired. I thought it had a lot to do with allergies, some to do with the thyroid as usual. I still think it's both, but my medication was adjusted, so in about 4 more weeks when it starts to kick in I am hoping to get some more energy. I did not have a ton else going on this week, or maybe it just felt that way because I was truly dragging. I still worked out 4 days, taught 1 class myself, ate really healthy, etc. I just feel so drained from allergies by 6 I fall asleep on the couch and enjoy a catnap. Then I wake up with enough energy to read, blog, watch a little tv, straighten the house, then off to bed around 11, maybe 12. Yes, I know, part of the problem is I go to bed so darn late and then Keaton has been waking up around 6:15! Not enough sleep either I guess.... No cure for the true night owl!

Now onto the white haired boy. I have been trying realllly hard to not scream and pull my hair out every time this kid does something crazy. Cause lets face it, I would have had no hair by a long time ago. And no voice from yelling. So this week when he did a few not completely naughty but a mess for me to clean up anyways kind of a thing, I tried to make the best of it, explain why its not the best choice, but that I know next time he will make the right one, and move on.

For this pic I think he was truly surprised here when I said "wait, don't wash it out yet, let me get the camera!" He was in the bathroom for a long time when I finally went in (cause I started to also realize the water had been running a long time). He said his hair was dirty, so he decided to wash it when he washed his hands. Yup, YOU probably can't tell that a lot of that white in his hair is actually soap!

When his hair gets wet, it is pretty transparent and almost disappears, so this picture is good cause you can still see his hair! But it really is covered in soap, you just can't tell cause the soap is white...and so is his hair color!
The weather here has FINALLY been decent. We have had decent weather off and on for a few weeks, but seriously, it will last for two days then get freezing again for at least 4. I am pretty sick of it. So this week, I decided that on the days that the weather is nice, we are going to take advantage of it and spend as much time as we can outside. After aerobics on Wednesday, we were playing outside and the neighbors girls came over and I decided to throw a last minute picnic on our porch before Jadie (neighbor girl) and Kyler go to the bus stop for kindergarden. It was really fun. The kids all ate really well because they were having a good time. But as you can see, none of them really cooperated for the picture, and the sun was pretty bright that day.

The brown haired boy...well, he's naughty. Not so much my sweet angel anymore. When we are outside, he runs for the steet. He looks at me right before the steps into it (as I am running to him) and smiles, I yell "No Keaton, No." He just keeps running. He also throws thing from the top of the stair railing to the bottom. I have been putting him in his crib, lights on, door open and telling him "time out." I really can't tell if it is working because he just lays down and sucks his thumb. I try to walk him through picking up the toys he threw. But he just laughs and thinks it all a game. I KNOW that he KNOWS it's naughty...I know he just loves my reaction and the attention he gets when he does it, but I don't know quite how to take care of it the right way...we are working on it, but in the meantime, I am worn out from chasing that kid!

I must tell EVERYONE who I have sent an e-mail to from my hotmail account that I am SORRY. My computer had a virus- apparently a pretty nasty one cause it has been sending messages all week to people. We are working on getting it OUT!

I am still doing great on my diet. Last week I slowly introduced two new carbs, but they are still really healthy foods. This week I have had a whole wheat tortilla two days in a row. I am not pushing it or rushing into anything with adding carbs. I want to do it slowly and appropriately not to gain back any weight, as I still have 9 pounds to go to be at my pre-pregnancy weight. I will never go back to eating like I did before, but I also know that some carbs are healthy and am just trying to be careful about how I am eating ;)

Speaking of which, I decided to reward myself with 1 cookie this week. That's right, one cookie. I have been craving chocolate chip cookies for a while and spent 45 minutes searching for healthier, alternative ways of making them so I can enjoy it without feeling like I am completely blowing it. I found a recipe that got rave reviews and the calorie count, carb count, etc. was the best of most I have seen. The cookies turned out YUMMY!! So now you need to make some!

3/4 c. granualted sugar3/4 c. packed brown sugar1/2 c. butter, softened1/2 c. canola oil 1 tsp. vanilla 1 egg2 c. whole wheat flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 c. semisweet miniature chocolate chips.
Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, beat sugars, butter, oil, vanilla, and egg with electric mixer on low speed unilt belnded. Beat in flour, baking soda, and salt until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips. On ungreased cookie sheet, drop by rounded tablespoobnfuls about 2 inches apart. Bake 7-9 minutes or until very light golden grown (centers will be soft). Cool 1 minute before removing from cookie sheet to cooling rack.
One cookie: 110 calories, 6 g fat (2g saturated, 0g trans), 10mg cholesterol, 65mg sodium, 13g carbs, 1g protein.

Soooo, when I made these, I used milk chocolate chips...I just HAD to! And I have had several people tell me that instead of butter, they substitute at least half of the butter with applesauce. I had heard they turn out moist and yummy without the fat in butter. Just an idea. Not really healthy still, but a lot better than it could be for a cookie!

Finally, as I head into the weekend, I feel tired... but the house is clean, the kids are asleep, I have finally updated my blog and finished my book. I think, despite my crazy allergies at the moment, that is will be a nice evening and a nice weekend!

Grumps

Do you ever have a day where you are just a grumpy grumps to everyone for no reason??? Well today was one of those days for me.

It actually started out very nicely. Only in Utah do you have stake conference at the actual Conference Center in Salt Lake. Typically our stake conference isn't held there, but today it was. And me, being niave, actually thought when they told us our stake conference was there that it was only OUR stake. But it was all of Davis County's as well. I actually could invision us sitting close enough to the stand to possibly meet President Eyring. I don't know WHY I thought it was just our stake, especially because I wondered why OUR stake of all of them in Utah would get this opportunity. I must have missed something somewhere down the line.

Soooooo, got up this morning, got me and the boys ready, Cort and I loaded them up and off we went. Conference itself with 3 kids and NO SNACKS (cause your not allowed to bring food in the conference center), was difficult. The older boys were okay, but Keaton, up and down on my lap, throwing toys, crying and then 5 minutes before it ended, he fell asleep.

So for some crazy reason, this is where the grouchiness kicked in. Not when Keaton fell asleep, but when I was trying to leave the conference center keeping him asleep, wearing high heeled boots where we parked a mile away and my pursekept falling off my shoulder and the wind was blowing my dress up. I didn't really say or do anything grouchy at that time, I just sorta felt it.

When we got home, I was starving. The kids were starving, and I felt suddenly so completely exhausted it was hard to hold my head up. Like REALLY. I don't know whats up.

This is when I suddenly remember I forgot to take my birth control last night. DARNIT! Seriously, this is going to mess up my cycle that is already messed up. And this is why I am grouchy.

So, too much information, but I'm gonna tell you anyways cause I need to vent. So I have been on the same birth control since I was 18 and had to start taking it to prevent cysts (cause I got one removed that was almost 2 pounds and the size of a cantelope)...anyways. It took us a few months to get me on a pill that didn't completely mess with me and that was it. So after I'm done nursing every baby I have gone back to the same kind and it has been great. However, after Mr. Keaton, I have had periods every 2 weeks that last 2 weeks long! Seriously. I waited a seriously long time to switch kinds because A. This pill doesnt make me crazy emotional and I have minimal cramping and B. I know it doesnt make me gain weight. So I really didn't want to switch, but 2 week long cycles?? No fun. So I decided to switch. My doc told me about a kind you take for 3 months straight with no period. Then repeat. So you have a period once every three months. I deserve that for sure! So this has been my first month taking it. And my second week into the pills I forgot to take a pill one night. I NEVER forgot this usually because I have been doing this for YEARS. At night, before bed. No biggie. So the next day, I remember and take it and continue on. But the day after that, I cramp, get SUPER emotional and am on the verge of tears for two days and then start my cycle. It was short, but I thought this wasnt supposed to happen...So Is this because I missed the one pill or is this because this is the time I would have started on with my old pills? I just dont know. So a week later, today, I forgot to take my pill again last night. What is wrong with me? So today, I am RAGING hormones to my hubby. I feel like nothing can go right, when in fact, nothing is really going wrong. I am just MOODY and mean. Sorry honey! I recogize I am being crazy, but I just don't know how to control it.

So now, is all this typical to adjust to a new birth control? Is it because I keep forgetting to take pills? I don't know. It just so happens I have a docs appointment tomorrow anyway to see the progress in my weight loss (which is now a WHOPPING 21 pounds peeps!). I feel great, am soooo close to my goal weight, can start to see the definition in my arms starting to come back again and am feeling so good. OH, except that I am bloated and a hormonal mess. So I am hoping it all clears up soon so I can be nice to my hubs and children again. They miss their happy mommy, because I have been exceptional happy these days from all the hard work and weight loss. Just not with this new birth control emotional mess! We shall see where this goes...but if you are my neighbor or someone I talk to daily, I am sorry if I snap at you tomorrow. let's hope NOT! Here's to a hopefully good week!!