The Potty Problem

You know how your friends who are mom's that have kids in school have told you that everything changes once your kids start school? And you're like "okay, yah, I know" but deep down you're thinking how life *should* get easier because you are down one child during the day so you don't really know what they have to complain about?? Yah, that. I TOTTTALLLLLY "get it" now and understand how enormously complicated everything becomes...not to mention HOMEWORK, which, btw, is really for the parents.

So just last week I learned that Kyler (7) has been "holding it" ALL DAY until he gets home from school because the toilets at school are gross. WHAT?!!! He will pee all day long with no problems and run out without flushing, but only ONE time in the entire school year this year did he go to the bathroom #2 in the toilet at school. ONE TIME!! I always noticed how he walked through the door after school and headed straight to the bathroom, I just assumed it was his time of the day to go. But wow! He says whenever he goes in the bathroom the toilets are always full of icky grossness so he holds it. I told him he should flush it and then go, but the thought of that grosses him out. I cannot say I blame him at all. I just don't think he should hold it that long either. And I am sad that I am just now learning about this considering the school year is almost over. CRAZY! We are working it through though...hence the one time he has gone now...I still can't get over it.

*SIGH*- So it's true. Everything, and I do mean everything, changes once you have a kid in school. You will just have to see for yourself.

PS.*****Please keep your fingers crossed that I can go to Zumba tonight folks. I am having major withdrawl!!******

Easter Sunday

I must admit, I wasn't quite as organized and ready for Easter this year as I thought I was. For example- I totally forgot to do baskets for Cortney and me...but I had the kids done no problem. I guess thats who really counts, but I try never to forget to include Cort and I on stuff like that. Anyways, I also made the boys ties! It was awesome. My awesome friend Christy has 4 boys of her own and makes amazing things- but the best part is that they are simple- and my friend hosted a class for those of us who wanted to learn and showed us step by step. They were so much easier than I thought- and as long as you follow the steps- they turn out great!!! I am quite proud ;)

So here is Brayden being his silly typical self for a photo with his basket...

Kyler with his ;)

I tried and tried to get one of Keaton but he would not look up for more than one second! Every single one was a complete blurr. BUT I didnt push it too hard considering he woke up, came down and found his basket and BEFORE having any candy proceded to throw up all over. POOR KID! The flu again? Really? But the weird part is he didnt cry, he didnt lay down, he just kept playing. He barely ate anything all day, but no fever. Just weird.
So I still dressed him up nice and we all went to sacrament together, but we did not want to send him to nursery with whatever bug he had, so Cort took him home and put him to bed.
But here they are: Dont the ties look great!!! I know, Keatons is huge- but I really did make it that way on purpose. There is something so stinking cute about a little boy with a big tie. It's a weakness of mine really- I know some people think it looks tacky, or crazy but I LOVE IT!! My little men, all of them!

This one is so great of Kyler and Brayden...how come all three boys don't cooperate all the time for pictures?!!

And that's that! So Keaton woke up this morning with a fever. And drank two full sippy cups of water/juice and then threw it up everywhere. Poor kid. He seriously cant afford to lose any weight. And when he is sick, he is so sweet. He just wants to cuddle and be sweet. He even says please and thank you still to everything. He has been asleep since 10:30...and it's 1:00 as I am typing this.

Lets hope it doesn't last long!

You Gotta Have Friends!

I am lucky to have great friends in many places. And every other year or so my high school friend Marisa comes to Utah for something and I get to see her! It is so great to have facebook, e-mail, blogs and other such resources to keep in touch with friends we otherwise would not get to talk to as much. I LOVE it when someone calls and says they are stopping through so we can have a short and sweet visit (of course I love long visits too!;)) Anyways, it was very short, about 2 hours together, but it was great!

And of course every time we talk, we wish we lived closer together so we could actually see each other more than every few years!
But we will take what we can get!

I feel so blessed to have such great friends everywhere in my life! Thanks Marisa for another great visit! Love ya girl!

Do you need to laugh today?

Brayden: "Mom, remember that hooker I played with the other day and got in trouble?"
Me: "the hooker?....do you mean the hook?
Brayden: "Yeah mom, that hooker thing that I broke."
Me " Brayden, it's a HOOK!"
ooooooh the things kids say...still can't get this one out of my head!

Hope you are having as good of a day as me! ;)

Baseball has begun!

2 years ago we put the boys in soccer and it was a disaster! Part of it could have been that 2 weeks into it I had Keaton and was back and forth from the NICU, buuuuuut, I really think they were too young, not ready and just not interested. So we held off on sports for a few years and thought this year we could try a new sport! Baseball it is. Kyler and Brayden are on different teams and that does make it for a busy season, but so far, so good. This week they each had their first game.

Here we go with Kyler in the outfield. Just twiddling his thumbs really... (he's furthest back)

Yawning... Okay, no seriously he really does seem to like it, but he is getting used to it... Up to bat!

Right before swinging...he hits the ball and runs to first!

Now we have Brayden in outfield! (head down in the middle)

Mom, what are you doing?

Swing batter batter swing!

So cute!

And while waiting to bat...what better to do than climb the fence!

So we are going to learn a good balance of homework, home life, family time AND baseball because so far it just seems crazy! But we are loving it, the boys are loving it and I think it will be great! So exciting for all the fun changes going on with my boys...but this does mean they are growing up...which is hard.

Buttons!

Notice anything new ========================> I finally got a button...I must admit that although I am pretty good at figuring out computer stuff, I had issues getting my button to work for a while. but no more! So GRAB IT! Post it, share it, and all that good stuff! XOXOXO

Hats...and the flu

So it has been a rough couple of weeks, yes? Cortney is recovering well from his surgery, but the first two weeks were the pits! My Grandma's passing and going to Arizona, that's obviously hard to go through...and well then yesterday I got the FLU! I can't even tell you the last time I had the flu so bad. I typically don't run a fever when I get sick, even if I feel like I have one, I usually don't. Well, yesterday I had a fever of 102.6 so I knew I was really sick! Anyhoo, I am MUCHO better today. THANK HEAVENS. And can I just say that Brayden and Keaton were saints yesterday and I was able to stay in bed all day! And my hubby helped so much as well, so I am sure that's one of the reasons I am better so quickly.

Which brings me to my next topic, HATS! I have discovered that I pretty much love a good, cute, fashionable hat.

Can you tell in this picture that I haven't washed my hair in three days?! Thats why I love me a good hat! For days like today when I don't have the energy to shower but know I will be going somewhere later where I will see someone and want to look somewhat decent. AND it hides the baggy shadows under my eyes! ;)

I know, not the most exciting post in the world. But it needed to be said, right?! Heres to no more flu!

Pretty, Pretty PLEASE?!

Hey friends and family! Would you all do me a huge favor and "follow me" on my business website? Pretty, pretty please? I know most of you follow my business on facebook (thank you for that!) and I am currently in the process of creating a button, so it would be easier to follow me. But in the meantime, I am trying to build up my followers so I can host my very own giveaway for one of YOU.

So check it out...and follow me! THANKS. LOVE YOU ALL!!!

www.lizzyluu.blogspot.com

Elizabeth

~Colleen Lois Mills~

A week ago this past Friday, my sweet Grandmother, my Mother's Mother, passed away at the age of 81. It was not a total shock- she had been on and off of hospice for about 7 months. But it all just happened so fast. I will spare the details as I really don't even think I can go there right now...but I will just say this. Yes, it's all true. When someone you love dies, you go through all the stages. Shock, sadness, anger, more sadness, etc. You feel guilty you did not spend more time with them, you go through all the memories in your head over and over just wish that you could have them happen again for real. I had NO CLUE how sad I would feel from this loss. Especially since we have been preparing for it as a family for a long time. We knew it would happen.

This pic I wasn't in...but it was taken in front of my Grandma's old house in Prescott. 99.9% of my memories are from this house and I miss it so dearly!

Nicknamed "Big Red" for her beautiful striking Red hair that she wore into behives in her younger days, she had a vibrant personality that I like to think I take after a little. She truly worked her way to the top all on her own and always took care of anyone and everyone. My mother is that way. I will tell you that I can handle her loss okay... it was going through my Grandmother's things that tore me to pieces. Bringing up so many memories, making me wonder certain things, just going through it all without her there was so hard and I truly do not know how my mother, Aunt and Uncle have been able to do it. I have a new appreciation for the strength my mom has shown through everything over the past several years she has taken care of my Grandma. I am so blessed to be able to have a few nice treasures of my Grandmothers to keep in the family and keep her legacy strong.

This picture was taken exactly a week before she went into a coma like state. She wasn't feeling well and the start of her true illness was showing already, but we are ALL so grateful she was able to hold her first great-grandchild from her last grandchild! (Does that make sense?)...My little sis is the youngest of all the grandchildren and had her first baby...and we almost wondered if she stuck around so long during her final weeks so she could meet him in this lifetime...

Don't worry, I am not in a deep dark depression like I may sound in this post. I am so happy my Grandmother is in a better place and that she is with my Grandmpa and her son who passed away at 18 months old. I am SO GRATEFUL for the plan on salvation and for the chance I have to see my Granmother again someday. She has left an amazing legacy behind. I am happy to be part of it. I am especially happy that I could spend some quality time with her before she passed.

All the emotions of this has really made me want to be a better wife, mother and friend to all. I want to leave behind a wonderful legacy as well. It really does make you focus on what you are doing with your life! I can't take for granted FAMILY and how important they are to me.

So here's to YOU Grandma! I love you so much!!

Colleen Lois Mills

March 16th, 1930-March 25th, 2011