Reality Check

I hate when blogs are all fluff and no reality. All they do is put out a fake sense of reality to others, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy! I hope mine doesn't ever come off that way. I have problems, too, and many moments I'm not too proud of. Some of my "moments" create such fear in my children they freeze as if afraid to talk, move, etc. Tonight was one of them. Being a Mom is about the most thankless job in the universe. A child asks for clean underwear, and "poof" when they get home there is a stack nicely folded on their bed. A child says they are hungry and "poof" a sandwich appears on the table. A child needs their hair done and "poof" her hair is in a creative new hairdo that Mom has spent time looking up to keep things "fresh". It's not like my children don't say thank you, because they do. But like I always tell them, "it's your actions that show gratitude, not your words!" So tonight, I'm sitting down at the kitchen table helping Boston and Aubrie with their homework, after a long tiresome day of hearing Sophia cry for almost an hour before she finally went down for a nap, and also dealing with my wonderful Aunt I like to call "Flo". Instead of my children, graciously and tentatively, listening to me as I show them how to understand the concept of rounding, or how they need to correct their penmanship if they want their teacher to accept their homework, I get complaints and whining. Boston is whining because he doesn't want to rewrite his sentence, and pushes his paper across the table. So I put him in timeout, and then quickly tries to change his tune before I follow through, which I did. Then, as I try to give Aubrie some more examples to work on, so she can really "understand" a particular problem, she complains that I wrote on her paper and starts to erase. Fed up with the complaining I go to grab her pencil. forgetting she was erasing, and then I realize my finger feels like it's on fire. I look up (or down, I really can't remember) and see the pencil hanging from my finger, and then I look at Aubrie's face, and she says, "Mom, that must hurt!" Then I realized what happened. OOOUUUCCHHH! Then I lose it! I started screaming things like, I'm sick of helping you guys and getting complaining in return, etc, etc. and then I run upstairs as I'm tearing off my apron and slam my bedroom door (I don't know where my kids get that? J/K I never do that, really!). I could tell that Ben was really concerned because he comes up, after giving me a few minutes (smart man) to check my hand. There are still pencil marks, and my finger was so swollen (good thing I thought to take off my wedding ring). He covers me up and turns down the blinds, and then takes off with the kids (to get some dinner) and he didn't come home until their bedtime. About an hour before he returned, I was getting a little bored and missing the kids. I sat there thinking how funny it was that I had it up to "here" with them, and within such a short time I was missing them terribly. Isn't Motherhood funny that way! So now there is proof that my life isn't always a walk through the park, not that you thought that anyway, if you even know me!!!

The Prognosis!

So yesterday, around 9:00, I called and left a message for Sophia's doctor. Not the nurse, but the Doctor. He called me back within the hour and he told me to come right in to look at it. I got to the office and they called me in before some people who were already waiting. (Yeah, I felt a little special:) It was just what I thought it was, a Staph infection. Aubrie had something similar on her little bum, several years ago, and I knew it looked like that. He wrote me up a prescription and I was out of there in under an hour. I told him how I was a little frustrated that the Nurse Practitioner told me it was a bug bite, when I knew that it wasn't. I then made sure to tell him that he does a great job, though. Don't want to bite the hand that so easily works with me:) He told me how he will hear Mom's complain about their Pediatricians when he is waiting for his daughter at dance, etc. It just makes him laugh. I told him he should bring cards. LOL He really is a great Doctor. You know they are good when they don't discount your concerns and they admit that your right! Anyway, her foot should be cleared up soon. The lesson here is to never ignore your mothering instincts!!!

Bug Bite?

Friday was a crazy morning! Sophia woke up to her foot looking like this! Ok, I'm sure your thinking why did she just show me this (and in a large format to boot, YUCK!)I wouldn't thought much about it, until she wouldn't' walk on it and was really fussy. Since I had to volunteer at Boston's school that morning, Ben offered to take her to the Doctor. He left the house at 7:50, with no Dr. Appt. and returned at 8:50! I love our Pediatric Office. Unfortunately, her normal Dr. wasn't there, and the Nurse Practitioner said they were only bug bites. She said they have had a lot of kids come in with bug bites, due to recent humidity. I don't know if I buy it because I have never seen a bug bite like this before, and now it has spread up her leg. I'll be calling the Dr. in the morning. He is GREAT at calling me back and not discounting my concerns. I'll post if anything is different!

So I showed up to Volunteer for Boston's class, and she only had about and hour of work for me to do. Thirty minutes of it was copying (BOR-ING) and the other half was reading with about 10 students, individually. I had an hour before Boston's lunch, and so I headed to Karlee's(see places to shop) to pick up Julie's baby gift. It was this bag, with a diaper keeper and some matching burp cloths! Way cute! I ended up with one for myself by accident (a long, expensive accident) and so now I have a new YW bag! I then jetted back for Boston's lunch. He was so funny to watch. First he made sure he was the first to get his lunch. He sat by his "girlfriend", and when she spilt her milk everywhere, he was such a gentleman, cleaning up the whole thing himself (with me giving him a constant supply of paper towels). He didn't waste anytime eating his food, which was pizza, applesauce and baby carrots. He watched the clock closely, making sure he was done with his food the minute they could leave for the playground. He made sure he was walking just fast enough to the playground without having to sit against the wall for "running", but yet be the first one to the tether ball court. He asked me to watch him play a few games, which I was planning on anyway. He did very well, beating every one of the four kids I saw him play. He always talks about tether ball. Like I will say, "How was your day today?" and his response is always based on tether ball.."Oh, it was GREAT because I beat the hard kid today at tether ball", or "it was OK, so and so beat me today at tether ball." What a funny kid!

Later that afternoon, I took Aubrie to dance while Ben stayed home with the kids. After I dropped her off, I met Kayleen to get pedicures. I totally forgot her birthday last Sunday, and so I made it up to her by treating her. It was great to catch up and hang out! She followed me to Aubrie's studio and watched her for a few minutes and then left to catch up on homework. I stuck around and talked with the "dance" Mom's a bit. I have never been the one to sit around and talk it up at the studio. Either I'm watching Aubrie, or not there. But, now that our girls are in this dance group together, I figured I better get more "involved"! Ha!

After dance, Ben and I jetted over to Paradise Bakery to get a quick bite with the Trimble's before Connie Purtyman's birthday party. In the invite it said they would have some snacks, and we knew that wouldn't hold us over. It was fun, as always, catching up with them. It was actually nice enough to sit outside! When we showed up to the party, they were cooking up shish-kabob's and other sides! Snacks???? Ha! Actually, I enjoyed my salad and cookie, and I still had half a sandwich left over for my lunch the next day, so it was all good. We had a great time at the party. There were people from all of the three wards we have been in since we moved here. It was great catching up with them all! I just love our stake. Such amazing people, and so diversified!

After the party, we were going to go to Dramagenics (a great improv place in town) but those plans were postponed (can't wait Trimble's to laugh it up with you guys) and so we stopped by Michelle's and Marco's (some new fun friends in the ward) for some cards and speed scrabble. I was soooo tired, but for all who know me, know that I am not good at giving up fun times for sleep. Just ask the YW who went to camp and Havasupai with me, or Erin for the matter. When I got home I couldn't fall asleep and spent some time on the computer. Obviously, not blogging the evening! Saturday morning came way too quick.

Here is the Saturday rundown.

Julie's shower- Karlee's stuff was a hit!

Leave the shower early because one of Ben's restaurants (no he doesn't own a restaurant, just one he takes care of) had a fire that he had to take care of.

Caught the end of one of the local craft shows.

Came home and went to Chili's with the Lorenzona's. Let me give you a little visual of how this dinner went. We put 6 of our kids at one table by themselves; two 8 year olds, one 7 year old, one 61/2 year old, one 4 year old, and one 3 1/2 year old. The babies sat with us at our table. Considering the circumstances they did very good. I'm sure the couple behind them were not appreciating the loud games of I SPY, but I'm sure the quiet game was their favorite. The worst part was Sophia. She wanted nothing to do with the high chair, so Ben and I took turns walking around with her. Marco and Ben even switched the babies and that seemed to do the trick for awhile. It was way better than cooking, and the company was nice.

I came home and prepared my lesson. Probably the shortest prep time ever...about a half an hour. I had read over it this past week, and I had an attention activity that took up a lot of time. It was on reading your scriptures. I even had this great handout, thanks Erin, that Ben even used for his class. It was a great lesson, but my new Laurels don't comment like my old ones. I even told them that today! Ha!! I felt like I was talking to the wall most of the time. I hope I'm getting through to them!

Today we swam a little, and then took a short nap. I made a new dish for dinner, Spinach and Mushroom Manicotti. It was yummy! The kids weren't too thrilled about it, but Ethan was the only one who ended up not eating the "yucky stuff" (aka mushrooms and spinach). We put Ethan and Sophia down at 7:00 and the rest of us played CLUE!!! The kids love that game ( and so do I:) Now it's time to gear up for a new week!

When I should be making dinner!

When I should be making dinner, instead I sit at my computer making this cool Mosaic! Oh well, it will make the family appreciate me more! LOL Hope you find some time to do this so I can see it on all of your blogs! Thanks, Erin, for passing it on! 1. Rachel, 2. Mexican SKY, 3. Back from the North! / De retour du Nord!, 4. Fresh Dinner, 5. brad_pitt, 6. Got milk?, 7. The Giants of Africa, 8. Good News Ice Cream!, 9. Dr. Ramona, 10. family love, 11. Happiness, 12. lilian pribyl

To make your own:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.
The questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name (or your blog name or handle or whatever)
Now it's your turn!!

Eiffel Tower and Hexagon

Thursday, Aubrie came home and said, "Do you know why we were supposed to wear red, white and blue today? Because today was the day the Hexagon and Eiffel Tower were hit by airplanes and went down." I missed that History lesson. She was so concerned about it, though, wanting to talk about all the details. When she found out Ben was two blocks away, when the towers fell, she became more interested and wanted to see all of his stuff. She took it to school the next and shared it with the class. Come to find out, one of Aubrie's friends, in her class, lost her grandparent in 911. That really concerned Aubrie, and I could tell she was thinking a lot about it. I hope that gives her greater appreciation for all the loved ones she still has in her life, especially her Dad. We were so lucky that day, and every year I think about how blessed we were that he was kept out of harms way. I also say a heartfelt prayer for all those families who weren't as fortunate.

How I buy myself 10 minutes of peace!

Outside in September??

This is what we get to do when it's under a 100 degrees! I woke up today to an overcast morning! I was LOVING it! It was cool enough for me to take Sophia on a walk, and out in our backyard to play. It drizzled a little, and it didn't even phase her. She had so much fun. I went a little crazy with the pictures. I just can't believe how old she looks! Where is my baby??!!:(

When They're Sleeping!

It's funny how my feelings for my children can change so drastically within a 30 minute time span. Often, when it's bedtime, I get so frustrated with their last minute requests for potty breaks, glasses of water, last minute stories that go on and on, etc. I just want them to go down and get on with my long list of things I need to finish up for the night (this is usually on weekday's of course). Then, once they are asleep, my feelings become much more tender. They always seem so sweet and peaceful! I then want to linger, often sitting by their bedside rubbing their little foreheads. I'll miss when I no longer get to check on my children at night! It's one of my favorite times of the day!

Aubrie feel asleep like this the other night! She is so much like her father, who sleeps on the floor with the floor fan right by his head, about 50 percent of the time! He even keeps a blanket under our bed, so he doesn't have to get up in the middle of the night to get one! Ha! No wonder we don't need a King Bed!

Boston is almost always the first one out!
Ethan always sleeps without a shirt! Take note of his "blanket" that he's had since he was a baby (the Relief Society baby gift).
Our lightest sleeper of them all! I'm surprised I was able to get this without her waking up! We usually crack our toes before we go check on her!

Another Weekend!

Thursday was great! There were no after school activities and no extra meeting, etc...so we got to stay home and just hang out with the kids! I love when we can just relax! Friday was a busy day, and that is a good thing, too! It helps me forget about how tired I have been lately. No need for worrying about me. I haven't seen a doctor, yet! When I finally get myself in, he'll probably just diagnose me as, "Mother of four and staying up too late", syndrome! LOL

Aubrie had a great time at dance, and Ben got there a little early to watch her. He said she is doing great, and has come far in just a few weeks! I guess the performance group is paying off!

After they got home, Ben and I did headed out for dinner. We had no idea where we wanted to go, and so I suggested we just drive down Bell Road until something jumped out at us. Ah-So jumped out at us! Mmmmm such yummy food! We got right in, too! There was a table next to us that was celebrating someones birthday. There was a guy at the table (looked like the Dad) who kept taking shot after shot. Ben and I watched in amusement as we saw him make a bigger idiot of himself after ever shot. Ben called it "liquid courage". I have another name for it and I can't write it down! LOL Guess I need to repent just thinking of it! ha!

After our dinner, we headed to some friends to play cards. When we showed up, they realized they didn't' have cards. The boys stayed behind and talked while we ran to Jamba Juice for dessert!:) We ended up playing speed Scrabble and talked. Come to find out, their good friends from back east were Chili's coworkers, of mine, when I was in Utah. I just couldn't believe it! I always wondered what happened to them, because they got engaged, married and pregnant so quickly (a shock to all the staff, but all on the up and up) and then they moved to the other side of the country! Anyway, LOVE those type of connections!! Makes the world seem a little bit smaller! So we got a little carried away in conversation (Yeah, big surprise, huh?), and we didn't' get home till 12:00. It took me over an hour to fall asleep, and I still was in an out all night! Don't you hate when that happens!?!?!

I had an early wake up call, 6:00am, from Sophia. I thought I would be dead tired but instead I got in my nesting mood! (NO!!! I'm not pregnant. Impossible really! Well, I guess nothing is impossible with God!) Anyway, I cleaned out some closets, including Aubrie's. Aubrie is appreciating how organized her closet is, and even said in her prayers tonight, "Please help me keep my room organized." Yes!!! Am I finally rubbing off on her? Or is this a fleeting thing? I just can't imagine having a child who isn't like me! LOL After some good cleaning, Aubrie had Gracey and her sister,Jillie, over to play. They had a great time! The girls didn't want to get out of the pool, and they couldn't get enough of Sophia, especially Jillie (probably since she is the baby of the family). Aubrie gets a long with Gracey so well! I'm so glad she finally has some great girls, her age, in the ward! It was hard on her when she was split off from Kate and Sarah. They are like sisters to her. Later that afternoon, I took the girls back home and Aubrie stayed and played with them while I ran to Walmart. Because I got in my organizing mood, I had a long list of plastic containers I needed to buy. My cart was so packed with plastic containers, I couldn't see over my cart! It felt so good to get home and get things in order. I know, I'm a total nerd! I am a total "Monica" (from friends) personality! Ok....maybe not so uptight and not the frizzo hair that she had on that one episode!

Later that evening we had friends over for pizza and swimming. The kids had a fun time, and it was nice to relax in the pool. I haven't done that enough lately! Ben headed out to fight night, and I put the kids to bed, and fell asleep watching a Raymond episode, around 9:45!

Today we made it to church with time to spare. Sophia was good the first hour. It was testimony meeting, and there were several good testimonies, including one from one of my Laurels! Second hour I took Sophia to Nursery. She seemed so young compared to the other kids. Not only that, but I don't' know how she will do in there. They only have 20 minutes to play with the toys, and then they were pulling out play dough. My 18 month old will only do one thing with that, eat it or mush it into the carpet (OK that's two things!). How is she going to mature enough for that in one month? (When she officially goes in.) Third hour was good. Melissa gave a great lesson on having a change of heart, and the testimonies from the girls were so uplifting. We have a great group of girls! I know I always say that, but its true!

Today I watched the second Work and the Glory with the kids. Aubrie and Boston were really into it! I was emotional already, and I cried so much during the movie. Some parts just made me realize all that Joseph Smith sacrificed to bring the church back on the earth. I think any other man would have given up, after being beaten, tarred and feathered, and experiencing so much loss, but he rose above it all, to do God's will. How amazing it would have been to be on the earth and know him in person. I also felt so spoiled how I get to enjoy all the wonderful blessings of the church without the persecutions that the earlier saints experienced! Though I often get discouraged at the evils that are rapidly engulfing the earth, what a blessing it is to be a member of the church at this time!

I Know He Loves Me!

Today I received another witness to the fact that God knows each of us, individually! He knows everything about us. He knows when we are happy, and knows when we are down! He wants to help us, and many times the only way he can is through others. I always try to listen to the promptings of the spirit, even when the thing I'm prompted to do seems ridiculous. Sometimes I never know what ever becomes of me following his will, but I just have to believe that I did the right thing. Today I was feeling down and alone. I don't know why? I foolishly let some dumb things get to me. I do that sometimes. Not often, but it does happen. I was standing at my kitchen island, while Ben and the kids were out swimming, and I felt like I wanted to cry. Then the doorbell rang. I quickly wiped a few tears that had already escaped me, and answered the door. There was one of my Laurels, from the old ward, with a card and a box of candies. It wasn't a girl that would normally stop by, and I was so surprised to see her. She thanked me for being such an amazing leader, and had specifically bought me these candies while on a trip. I had forgotten that I had given her a care package to take on her trip, and that was her way of thanking me. Before she had the chance to leave, another car pulled up and it was Terri P. and her family with a plate of cookies. Then the tears came. They came because I knew that God loves me, and wanted me to realized how much I was loved. Through these people, he was able to do his work. So I encourage you to go off those small promptings, even if you think they may not make a difference, because you never really know!

Steak and Mani-Pedi's

So we didn't make big plans for the Labor Day weekend. Traveling with a 16 month old is quite the challenge, and the last trip wore me out. There is nothing like having their own toys and bed close by. I knew we would have more fun hanging out by our pool than juggling something else. I know, by next summer, everything will start to change. I'm just trying to enjoy this stage of Sophia's life before it ends too quickly. It's hard doing that when I'm frustrated with her. So right now, I'm trying to avoid situations that make me feel like that! Of course, I can't avoid Sunday's! So what was I talking about?? Oh ya, Labor Day. Anyway, Ben suggested we invite Matt and Nicole over for a lunch BBQ and swimming. We cooked up some steak and hot dogs, and had a fun time. They left around 1:00, and then as I was getting ready to take the kids to see the Mummy, my Mom walks in with all these groceries. She had work that day, so we were a little confused. When we asked her, she said she took off early for the BBQ. Ben and I had no idea what she was talking about!! She bought steaks and all the typical BBQ sides. Ben and I just looked at each other, thinking "steaks, again?!" We didn't' have the heart to tell her that we had already done that for lunch, because she seemed so excited to have Joe over and have fun. So after the movie, we came home for more steak. Needless to say, my stomach didn't feel so great the next day!
Here is a picture of some of Ben's handy work! He disappeared with Sophia for a few minutes, and came back with her toes and nails painted! What a cute Dad! He always painted Aubrie's toes when she was little, too! I love that he likes to do that kind of stuff for his daughters!
So, when I went in last time to get my haircut, he didn't have time to do color. So yesterday I go in to get it colored. The next thing I know, he is cutting it! I'm thinking, "what the heck are you doing buddy? You just cut it, and besides that, Terri just cut it this weekend!" So I say (because I'm too chicken to tell him straight up that someone else just cleaned up his mistakes this past weekend) "Wow, did my hair grow already?" He was all, "Just want your haircut to be on the same schedule as your color!" What the heck!?!?! Did he not already see it was shorter!?! I wish I could just not be so nice, for once, and tell the guy what was up! When I said I wanted it as like Katie Holmes, I meant her first short haircut, not the current one! YIKES! Ok...maybe a little exaggeration!
This week we have been working on memorizing the Family Proclamation! The kids get their favorite cereal for memorizing the first paragraph. Aubrie memorized it and got Lucky Charms. Then she asked if she could share. I was wondering if that was a nice gesture, or some plan they are conjuring up. "You memorize the paragraph this week, and you the next and we'll just share the treat?" I'll never know! I like to believe Aubrie is being generous.
While I'm on that subject, Boston did something very generous. I have to post this, because over the weekend I seriously started to feel like I failed when it came to my children. (Anyone else ever feel that way?) They just kept fighting, to the point that I took away all video games and TV! Anyway...back to the story...Ethan has been saving for a tool box, and he finally saved enough allowance to buy it. For some reason Boston gave Ethan four dollars right before we went to buy it. I was thinking that maybe Ethan didn't' have as much as I thought he had. As I was dropping Boston off at piano, right before we hit Walmart for the Toolbox, Ethan said, "I have the best brother in the world", with a huge smile on his face. That made my heart smile!!! Well, it turned out he didn't' need Boston's money, and when I told Boston that, after piano, Boston said, "I know Mom, but he would have to use up all of his money, and I wanted him to have some money left over". He can be so thoughtful! Of course, Aubrie was trying to borrow the left over money, while we were at Walmart, for something she found in the checkout line! She is definitely an opportunist! Of course, she paid it back! Also, the kids passed the Service Star off (refer to earlier posts) 5 times today. I think when you start getting really discouraged, Heavenly Father sends tender mercies your way to say, "Be of Good Cheer My Child...Your Doing Better Than You Think!"

Calling all Bloggers!

Ok...for some reason I'm having problems putting my friends blogs who are private (you know who you are) in my Google reader! So if any of you blogger experts know how to do that, or know how to make them some what accessible so I don't' have to retrieve the addresses from and old email, I would greatly appreciate it! I could be sending this via email, but I figure my blogger friends would see this first before email! LOL Thanks for taking the time to blog! It's a great way to still feel connected to my friends, amongst our busy lives! How did people do it in the old days?! LOL

Running on Empty!

Friday was exhausting! Ben and I were up till 3:30 talking, and 6:30 came way to fast! The kids had dentist appointment's at 1:00, so I knew if I got up and showered early, I could nap while Sophia napped. An hour and a half seemed like 20 minutes. It was so hard to get up and going. While I was waiting in the lobby with Sophia, I could hardly keep my eyes open. One of the ladies who was adoring Sophia asked, "You have 4 kids?" I replied yes, and she said, "You are crazy!", in a nice tone, thankfully! I just said, "I'm normally not this tired, I was just up late! It's really not that bad." I don't' think she believed me.

We'll we made it out of the Dentist office with 3 cavities. Aubrie has to have two fillings and Boston needs an extraction and a spacer. The dentist was assuring me that most of it is genetics, because he thought I might take it personally! I just laughed. I told him that I floss twice a day and brush several and still get cavities, and Ben wasn't' introduced to floss until he met me and he never has anything wrong with his teeth. So I know its genetics! Too bad my genes were passed on to my kids, because now it will cost us 500 dollars! The dentist did warn me against fruit chews. He said they pull out sealants (which they did with Aubrie) and fillings! So Friday was a sad day for my children as I banned "fruities" (as my MIL calls them) from the house!

After the dentist office, was dance. I dropped Aubrie off and came home for a quick 30 minute rest, while Sophia napped. Ben on the other hand was golfing, and I have no idea how he made it through 5 hours of golf on no sleep. I figure if he wants to torture himself, that's his prerogative. After Aubrie's dance, and Ben's game, we met up with some friends for dinner. When we got to their house, there were about 6 girls there having a fun "beauty night". Their daughter, Gracey, is friends with Aubrie. They realized it would be fun for her to join them, so Ben and Taylor went and got Aubrie while Terri showed me some of her decorating magazines. Aubrie was excited for the change of plans! We then headed out for dinner. We ate at Fajitas (I probably don't have to tell you what we had!). We did learn, however, that there is such thing as Fajita B.O. Our clothes stunk so bad! As soon as we got home, we stripped our clothes off and showered! Anyway, after dinner, we hung out at their house for a bit, and then DRAGGED Aubrie out of there! I was so ready for bed! Right as we were about to fall asleep, a huge storm started to hit. Being the kids we are, we ran outside and watched the storm for about 20 minutes. It was so windy, and the lightening reminded me of the storms we had in Oklahoma! It was awesome! Finally, we called it quits and went to bed.

Saturday was one of those days where we didn't have a schedule, but many things to keep our day busy. We fit in a Walmart shop, of course, and I kept busy with laundry and various other cleaning projects. Terri Price came and fixed my hair. There were some spots that were bugging me, and she (being the great perfectionist hairstylist that she is) made it look better. Anyone looking for a new hairstylist? She is great! She brought her daughter, Gracey, while she was here, and her and Aubrie had a fun time making a fort in the window well in the front. Here are some pictures of Aubrie and Boston in it. They have a water cooler in there, along with some other "essential" items. They keep looking for things to add to it. Yesterday, Aubrie bought some flowers to plant right by it. They also set up a "hammock" in the tree right in front of it! I love it when kids get creative! They actually let me in it! Guess I'm fort worthy! Oh, here is a chance to check out the new "Do"!

Ben stayed busy planting more tree's around the pool! That poor boy's hands are so chewed up from all his hard work. I told him he should have worn gloves. I just think he wants a good excuse not to rub my back! J/K He also stayed busy putting up these new umbrella's that he scored at Home Depot! I LOVE them. Our other ones were having some issues and these were a nice replacement. I love watching our yard fill in. It's my sanctuary from the heat and world!

Today was another crazy Sunday morning. When the power went out Friday night, our bedroom clock got reset to the wrong time....therefore so was our alarm. We made it to church just as they started the opening song. Sophia did much better this week. She made it through more than half of Sacrament meeting and half of Sunday School. My Mom took her home third hour. It was a combined meeting. They spoke on the Family Proclamation and encouraged us to memorize it and how it would benefit our families to do so! So next week starts the memorizing. I remember when Aubrie was a Sunbeam, the primary memorized it. She got half of it memorized. If she can do that at four, I have no excuse. They gave us laminated cards with the Proclamation on it. I handed one to Aubrie as we got out of the meeting, saying in an excited tone, "Look what I have for you"! She just handed it back to me. I guess once was good enough for her! LOL Or she was more concerned with whether or not she would see Zachary in the halls! Can you guess what our next couple of Family Home Evening's are going to be on?

Tonight, some new friends that just moved in the Ward, had us over for dinner. They came from Atlanta, and knew our friend, Brad Olsen. It's such a small world, especially being a member of the church. We had a fun time with them, and the kids got a long really well. They have four kids, also, who are all the same ages as our kids. Their oldest is in Aubrie's class, at school. The wife reminded me so much of my friend, Janeen Hammond, from North Carolina. She is really nice and so is the husband. Ben and I were talking about all the great people we are surrounded with in this area. It is so true! Isn't it great how there are always friends awaiting you, no matter where you move, being a member of the church? (Only a bonus to all the other great blessing that come from it!) As we move or our wards are split off, we feel that more people are added to our great circle of friends! I just wish I had more time to talk and hang out with them! I guess that's what retirement is for! Ha! Oh, that and my grandbabies!!!!

Who cares? Not Aubrie!

Yesterday was a little busy, but everything fell into place nicely. I'm finally beginning to embrace the busy nights. Weird, I know! I used to dread them and get all stressed out, but now they add a nice flow to the evening, all the way till bedtime! Too much time around the house makes me stress sometimes, watching all the hard work getting the house organized, be undone so quickly! Last night I felt like I was quickly approaching a different stage in my mothering life, as I stayed up putting Rhinestones on Aubrie's dance shirt. How did I get here so fast? When I'm sewing patches on scout shirts, I think I will have that feeling of , "I'm not a young Mother anymore"! Anyway, one of the Mom's from dance said it only took her 20 minutes to get the shirt done. Guess I don't' have the skills, because I only had to do one side and it took me much longer than that! I'm glad we bought it big, because I don't' want to have to do it again next year! (Beside that, it was expensive!)

Here is how Aubrie went to school this morning! Contrary to what you might think, I'm not a mean Mom making my child go to school like this. Here is how it went down. Last night I rolled Aubrie's hair in sponge rollers, per her request, so she would have a curly pony for tonight's performance. When she woke up this morning, her hair was still a little damp. I told her she wouldn't be having curls for her performance because they hadn't set yet. She told me to just leave them in and that she didn't care! I was like, "You don't care if you go to school like this?" She didn't! I have to give her props for not caring about what others think! There is NO WAY you could have gotten me to wear those to school. When I dropped her off , there was a group of older kids staring at her as she got out of the car. I saw Aubrie look in their direction and then turn around and happily walk off. Funny how some things mean nothing to her and she lets them roll right off her back. I wish I could do that more!

THE HAIR THE EVENT

Aubrie had a great time tonight at her performance! Ben took her and made it a daddy/daughter date! Aubrie had to get ready and practice on the Mercury practice court, during the whole first half of the game. They were the half time performance. So that meant Ben had to sit through half of the game by himself. He said he had never seen so many masculine women under one roof in his whole life! Ugh! I try not to think of it since my sweet daughter was performing for them. Anyway, Ben said she did GREAT! After the performance, they left (having no interest in staying for the second half) and Ben took Aubrie out for dinner. Of course, she picked Ah-So. When it comes to food, that girl is high maintenance! She's worth it! We are so proud of her!

THE DINNER SCARY CHOPSTICK/ BEVERAGE SWORD POSE?!?While they were out, I enjoyed a night with the boys. They chose the dinner menu (noodle with white sauce and applesauce). Then I let them stay up late with a movie of their pick. They chose Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (no surprise!). This whole week, they have been waking up early and finishing all their chores just so they could play Lego Indiana Jones (the video game) before school!

So lately I have been frustrated with Sophia, feeling like she is way high maintenance and so needy. I just didn't' remember any of my kids being like this. Then today I watched Erin's girls for a few hours while she went and had lunch with Libby and Eliza. Sophia was so EASY while they were here, and then it hit me! DUH!! My kids always had someone to play with! Aubrie had her first friend Ryan who was her age, and they played almost everyday! After that, my kids were so close together, they always had each other. So it's the 3 year gap that's been killing me! Time for some play dates! Even after they left, Sophia hung out and played with the toys in the family room for about an hour. She NEVER does that, but instead motors around the house getting into everything and anything. Her favorite things are unrolling the toilet paper, getting into the kids plates and cups, throwing things off the balcony (which means they land on my wood floors in the dining room. Good thing they are already distressed), and getting the kids toothbrushes. Gotta love it!

"How else am I supposed to eat this thing?"

Though she acts like she doesn't understand anything, I know better. Today, after finishing a bag of yogurt melts (the yummiest toddler treat around), she walked over to the trash and threw it away and went back to finish the ones that were on the family room floor. She also is trying my patience with tantrums. I don't remember tantrums this early! Unfortunately for her, she is #4 and I know better than to give in, and it no longer bothers me to be carrying a screaming baby through Target. In fact, I often do it with a smirk on my face thinking "your not going to get anywhere with me Missy!" My favorite time with Sophia is when I'm rocking her to sleep. She is so busy, it's my only time to hold her! I wish that she would let me do it more. Guess she is too much like her Mama...likes to keep busy! Of course, I wish she would take after me in the, "can sleep anytime" category! Here is a Sophia funny! Sophia has been a thumb sucker since she was an infant. Lately, when she sucks her thumb, she has also been sticking her index finger up her nose. I guess since it's already sticking straight up in that direction, she might as well put it somewhere. Usually it's just one hand, but this picture is showing double duty!

My NEW responsibility chart! They do their "white board" chores before school and everyday they are in charge of a room. The names are velcrod (therefore interchangeable)! The most coveted and easiest job of the house is Living/Dining!:) The Boys Star Wars movie night! Notice the shirts. They got these free magazines (Star Wars of course) at the movie! Luke Skywalker meets Woody (or Jessie)?!