CAUTION! I'm not sure how this one's gonna come out.

I'm trying really hard not to give into the beast. What I really want to do is curl up in fetal position (as long as I can still pig out and see the TV) and give into the self beating I've got forming in the back of my mind. Why? you ask?
Here are a couple of conversations I've had this week:
JJ: Mom, can you please put him down and pick me up and say, "Sorry, Gibby, not right now."
-AND-
Grace: I'm the only baby you wanted. You wanted a sister for me and got JJ, and Gibson...well, you don't like being pregnant.
However, I am CHOOSING to find Joy in the Journey. Thanks, mom.
I've decided a new year is a great time to take advantage of the opportunity to set some goals and get myself in check.
These are just a few:
#1-Hold ALL of my babies.
#2-Attend EVERY ward temple night.
#3-Count my many blessings-and complain only in my prayers or to Jared, and only when Grace is not listening.
#4-Make sure I finish those stories I start...yes, I really wanted a baby girl BEFORE I found out I was having a baby boy and BEFORE I knew what being a mother to the two of them could be.....and no, I don't like being pregnant. That is why it literally took both Jared and I to know that Gibson was exactly what our little family needed. (Sorry, I felt the need to explain.)
#5-More meaningful Family Nights.
And of course, a recommitment to daily scripture study, exercising and eating right, and probably most important
#6-Act on the Spirit-immediately.
Happy New Year! It's gotta be, right?

Oh please, let SOMEONE relate...
After working until 10:30 last night, then not falling asleep until 12:30AM, then waking up 3 hours later to serve as Bessie, the milk cow, then just staying awake for my 5AM run, then showering, ironing, feeding and dressing my whole family, then carpooling, cutting my mom's hair, eating with the King-Burger King-that is, and braving two stores with 3 very wound up children, (plus 3 more sessions of mooing) this is how it played out...
BESSIE:"S***, S***, YOU LITTLE S***s!!"
GRACE:"MOM?"
BESSIE:"I SAID, NOT ANOTHER WORD!"
GRACE:"MOM??"
BESSIE:"SERIOUSLY!!"
GRACE:"MOM???"
BESSIE:"WHAAAAAAAAAAAT!?!?"
GRACE:"UM, WHENEVER, UM, SOMETIMES WHEN I'M FEELING ANGRY, UM...MAYBE YOU SHOULD PRAY."
Thanks, Grace.

Veteran's Day Getaway

Have I mentioned ever how lucky I am to live near so much family? I'd like to spout about how we have the BEST family, too, and really, who could I offend? I'm somehow related to just about everyone (yep, even Jared...7th or 8th--don't worry, so far our kids are okay) so I am really complimenting any who read this. And if I'm not, I hope you can too appreciate the family you have, because I sure love mine. I got to spend Veteran's Day with my family. Dave and Bec thought it would be fun to go have a picnic and climb around a mini-Valley of Fire called Redstone. What a blast! The kids had so much fun and because of my super sister, Kristin, I did too. Jared had to work and Kristin had the day off(gotta love those federal holidays) so she braved the kiddos with me. And even climbed around a bit:


I was a little slower due to 25 extra pounds on my back:

Fortunately, Uncle James and Uncle Dan were available to save the kids from any sticky situations:



Even our "tailgate party" was a blast!



Seriously, our little trip was just what I needed. So thanks, Dave and Bec, for the great idea! We can always count on you to help us make memories...

PRE-trickortreating:

POST-trickortreating:

I know TECHNICALLY Halloween is over, but I'm still burning off my sugar-buzz. Last night we all met at James and Natalie's for a family Halloween traditional meal(carrot chowder and rolls) and then ventured out on our trick-or-treating. Gibby was sick with croop(sp?) so he stayed and helped Jared pass out treats at our house. It was kind of nice having free hands so I could do this:

Lily, Min, Elaina and Grace

Bec and Z

Min, Elaina, Thomas, Avi and Nathan

the CREW

CJ getting some loot

Nathan and Thomas

Janie Rose and JJ

Sidney

Grace and Avi

Tiffney, Dan, Lucy, Elaina, Thomas and Nathan

Grace celebrating her loot...
Maybe I should have done a slide show--maybe I will! After the Gibson family fun, we headed over to Jared's sister, Kristin's ward Trunk-or-Treat, but like you saw, JJ was already undressed and was ready to gobble his goods. So after one more stop at Grandma and Papa Lamoreaux's (costume reluctantly replaced), we were good and done.



What a GREAT night!

Summer's Over...Or Is It?

After much begging, the girls were victorious. Every day on the way home from picking up our kindergarteners, the strategizing begins...and every day, we either hear how mean and unfair we as their mothers are, OR we are showered with praises and thank yous. Today I am the mother of the year(and so is Tiff, cause that's how it works ya know) because the girls got their way. I have to say, I absolutely LOVE every day they play together-don't so much LOVE the days they fight together-and today has been a great time. Usually they just play in dress-ups, but today they felt the warm sun and thought swimsuits were appropriate:




And of course they had to eat outside

SO SO FUN!

It's not JUST about time...

I can come up with all kinds of excuses why I haven't updated.
-my keyboard banging 8 month old
-my amateur photographs
-great ideas, not so great follow-through
-cup is half empty moods
-A.D.D. (self-diagnosed)
Well, I could go on and on but like I said, ADD.
Jared turned the big 3-0 on the 6th. My plan was to throw him a surprise 30,flirty and thriving party where everyone had to wear pink (in honor of his metro flare) but he caught wind of it, and I had to respect the old guys wishes.:) Got me out of planning a big hooplah-who can complain? (one of my half-empty days..)
So instead, he thought Macayo's sounded great and he requested a homemade german chocolate cake. Here's one of those not so professional photos-


JJ started soccer and finally after 3 games and 4 practices we can say he's loving it. I think we probably should have waited until next season for his dad to be coach--he's not too hip to sharing his attention. This is what the first game looked like:

At least in this one he's not crying!

Gibson has been keeping me quite busy. He is such a great baby, but he has become quite the mama's boy. Fortunately, Jared won't let him get away with it and he helps a ton when he's home, but UNfortunately, that isn't all that often...o well.

This is right before he realized he wasn't in my arms.

Grace is doing so well in school! She is the Newton Navigator this month and I am so proud of her. She got to pick a gift certificate and she chose In-N-Out (so proud) and insisted we meet her dad for lunch. Wish I'd had the camera-she was pretty excited. This will have to do:


I think Gibson has cried enough for one morning-and JJ has only asked for a bath 3 times...wish me luck!

I guess I should have already known, but I just had a big realization that I am no longer--cool.
For a long time, the missionaries coming to my house for haircuts have just been that-missionaries getting free hair. But today, I actually said, "You kids.." Who says that? Only really old, dorky soccer moms such as myself. Now there are plenty of good things about being an old soccer mom. For instance, I am at one with all-yes, ALL-of our bodily fluids and functions. I can, in fact, fix a well balanced meal in very little time, just from what is currently stocked in my home. Though more is desired, I can actually survive on 2 hours of sleep. So what if I wore these clothes yesterday? I didn't get dressed until 5:30pm, so technically they are still clean...that's just a little spit-up..
No, young ELDERS, I don't know of much fun to be had unless it involves a park, some lunch and shade or water. But I CAN make up any rhyme or song that teaches some fun lesson about not picking your nose, but do pick up your clothes...
So cool? No, but fun, I am! Booyah!

www.thatcrazykishkumen.blogspot.com

For some reason when I try to add David to my list, it won't let me, so here is his blog address. He really gave us a good scare and I am so relieved he is ok...I have proof on my camera from our campout this weekend, but it's gone missing. I guess you'll know when I find it!

I don't know what else to do.

My big brother, David Scott, was admitted to the hospital yesterday. What we thought was a bad strep infection has turned out to look like more. He's having a kidney biopsy today and probably won't get any results for 3-4 days. Rebecca is not feeling well either, so please keep them in your prayers. I've never been any good at the waiting game, so after checking out what I could on WebMD, here I am on my blog.

So really, it's just about...me!

Here we are, only 2 days later, and I can already wonder what all the fuss was about.

Not only did she like it, she LOVED it and I have to say, so do I! I have a membership at Gold's that includes childcare, so I'm really gonna love this. I dropped her and Elaina off and headed to the gym, got a great workout, picked them up and then headed home. I won't get dressed every day until noon, but at least I won't have to stay in my workout clothes ALL day, swearing not to shower until I've actually worked out, then going to bed completely defeated.. It sure beats the 5am workouts.

I've decided all the worries I have will still be there whether it's kindergarten or college, so I better just keep on trying to do what I know I need to as her mom, and trust in that...so really, suprise, suprise, it's just about me!

Kindergarten Blues

Whenever the subject of kindergarten has come up, I have felt sympathy for those involved; the nervous little ones and the nervous big ones. But I guess this is just like everything else, you just don't know until you know. What has surprised me is why these tears are coming. My little Grace is going to a great school. Her Grandma is going to be there for whatever little thing that could possibly EVER come up. I can't express the comfort that brings. Her cousin will be with her when I drop her off and when I pick her up, and she is going to be in the classroom right across the hall. Again, what comfort.
Why then, do I have this nagging anxiety? Could it be that from here on out, our life as we know it is going to be different? Perhaps that my sweet little child is now closer to knowing things that will change how she sees the world? That this secure world she knows might introduce her to her own insecurities? Hold on, I need to blow...my nose...and wipe...my eyes...
Yes, I have considered home schooling. Yeah right.
I know, I know. This is something she needs to experience. She will grow and become better. I will too-and in no time I'll be wondering what all the fuss is about. But right now, I just want to cry. And so I will.

Grace's Recital

Our little dancing diva! She and her cousin Elaina (Tiff's daughter) had a blast at Brenda's Dance Studio. So fun!

Teething Bites!

My poor little guy has been miserable trying to cut his top two teeth. So I thought I'd make him less miserable and do this! :)

Who Needs the Rainbow Club?

So yesterday I woke up wanting to go out for breakfast, but after thinking harder, I realized I should use the dang groceries we already have and skip the getting ready portion of our program...The kids had a good time cooking and I had a great time cleaning up. (Blogs are supposed to be positive, right?) The eggs were only a little crunchy, but Jared's a great sport. Voila! Breakfast is served.

Everyone say Cheese-E Pizza!

On our way home from Pine Valley, we braved a little pizza party at the Pizza Factory. The kids always have an absolute ball together. The poor busboy, though. As we were leaving, it looked like demo-day at our table...I think more food landed on the floor than in their mouths. That's okay--a quick trip to the bathroom(so quick, huh Michelle!), 6 suckers, 6 handfuls of quarter-candies and 2 refills later, we were on our way home. I always hate when a trip ends and reality takes over. Thanks for a great time, guys!

This is ANOTHER Super Sissy Moment! We went to Disneyland in May, and she made the trip a huge success. I have officially extended the you-are-invited-on-every-trip-we-take invitation that expires NEVER!

Sissy Saves the Day!

Thank heaven for Kristin! Like I said, I am completely computer illiterate so Jared's sister, Kristin (aka:Sissy), came to my rescue. I was totally stuck so I called her and she ran over and got me up and running. Now I just have to keep it up....

I'm getting nowhere fast on my blog...probably because I am a scatter-brained-computer-illiterate...just a thought. But it is a new week and so I will once again recommit and try harder.