The Door

So Jackson got a $25 gift card for his birthday from my parents.  I made the mistake of giving it to him and since that time, it has disappeared.  I have been looking for it the last month with no success.  The other day, I noticed the door downstairs had stuff shoved into the man made hole. (You'll be shocked to hear that it was already there before we moved in and we had nothing to do with the making of the hole.)

What it used to look like.

The stuff inside.  

Me at work ruining our door.

The stuff inside.  Dang!  No gift card and only 7 toys.  Definitely not worth busting the door down.

The new hole.  Turns out there's cardboard webbing so where I thought the WHOLE door was filled bottom up, it actually only had 5 toys in it.  LAME - O! 

My Baby E

So I hate realizing it, but my Baby E is growing up, and he is growing up TOO fast.  He is a very loving kid and is constantly hugging people but he also will hit them too so I don't really get how those two go together.  I love his smile and his laugh and wish I could keep that mental image forever (guess I need to video tape so I can.)  He loves his daddy and his papa.  He saw my dad on the computer last week and he was trying so hard to hug the computer and get in there with him.  It was sad.  He is extremely clumsy and his teeth have gone through his lip twice in one month in two different spot.  He always has major bruises and bumps as well.

I just bought a new box of diapers (size 4) and I am realizing I really should have gotten a 5.  That makes me so sad I can't even tell you.  I feel like I am constantly trying to speed time up.  Get them older so they are more independent and I think it will be easier.  I am now wanting time to slow down.  I want my kids to stay little.  I want them to continue to get excited to see me.  I want them to always love to give me hugs and kisses.  I want them to always hold my hand when we cross the street.  And I want to always be there to protect them.  Ahhhhhh.  Please buddies, let's slow things down.

Since this post is about my Baby E, here are some pictures:

Such a loving boy.

This is the picture that made me realize he is growing up too fast.  You can't tell me the way he is eating doesn't make him seem so old and so not a baby anymore.  That's ok.....he is still my baby.

Oh, I should mention, I am headed to the store tomorrow to get a fridge lock.  He figured it out this morning and has already opened it 5 times.  I only wish it wasn't Sunday so I could go and get it TODAY.  

Summer Fun!

I feel like this summer has been a whirlwind.  We have done so much and I feel like I haven't had time to even think.  One vacation after another and one activity after another.  We have had about 3 weeks since the last one and it has been nice, but it still has felt busy.  Last week I felt like super mom because the first three days of the week I took the kids to do fun things.  Monday we went and saw "Incredible Me."  The boys loved it and I enjoyed it as well.

Tuesday we went to play at "Pump it Up."

Jack and Creigh (Love the pose Jack)

Silly E

Silly Jack

We didn't last there too long.  Jack and Tanner started racing and it caused problems....

Seriously, it was tear after tear.  Whoever beat the other person gloated and the person who lost cried.  This went on for about 15 minutes before I had enough.

Day 3 - Wednesday - We went to the Kroc Center.  We had just gone there the week before too, but my kids LOVE it and it is the only pool place I really feel comfortable taking all 3 without me worrying about the risk of them drowning.  They love it.  I didn't take my camera but stole a pic of a friends blog (thanks T).  

I can't believe Jack starts ALL DAY kindergarten in 3 weeks.  I guess we'll have to continue to enjoy this summer until then.

A Prayer

Jackson is a spiritual giant already.  Anytime something is lost, he immediately asks me if I prayed and then insists that we do.  Sometimes being the terrible mother I am, I think, I just barely lost it....I don't need to pray.  I am thankful for Jackson though for reminding me that I can always use that extra help.

About 2 weeks ago I had a lesson on the priesthood.  That next day, Mitch was asked to use it.  Jackson came to me and said his stomach hurt and he needed dad to give him "a prayer."  I told him to tell him when he got home.  Jack didn't see him that night but that next morning as soon as he woke up he remembered (almost 24 hours later) that he wanted dad to give him "a prayer."  He asked him and then he pulled in a chair from the kitchen and sat in the living room waiting.  Jackson has never had one of these "prayers" before, I must commend the primary teachers for doing a beautiful job teaching him. (I'm assuming that is where he learned all this.)  Mitch gave him a beautiful father's blessing and then Creighton sat up there for his.  It was so awesome to watch my husband use the priesthood to bless our family.  

Recent Picture of Jack
He always asks for his picture to be taken if the camera comes out.

I am so thankful for awesome teachers that fill in the gaps (sometimes quite large) of the spiritual teaching we teach them at home.  I am so thankful for a wonderful husband that honors his priesthood and is able to give us a blessing when we ask for one.  I am thankful for the gift of the priesthood and the blessing it is in our lives.  And lastly, I am thankful for Jackson and what a great example he is to me.  

Today's Crazy

My kids are crazy & creative. Sometimes their creativity makes me laugh. Sometimes it makes me proud. Sometimes it makes me angry. Today I have felt all those emotions. Here is why.

My parents can attest to this story. Jack & I were talking to them on the computer the room over and I swear it was only 2 minutes when I came in the kitchen to find this.

Creigh & E found the dental floss and decided to decorate.

This next video is of the boys singing "Rock n Roll." That is there new favorite song. We had the missionaries over for dinner tonight and my kids were the most hyper I think I have ever seen. This video is probably their 4th encore performance of the night.

The boys made "ice skates" this morning. They taped pencils on the bottom of Creighton's shoes. (Don't mind Creigh's crazy eyes and Jack's crazy smile in the picture...it was the best of the 3 I took.) The funniest part was watching them when they put them on.

This wasn't creative and it just made me plain mad. Right when we walked in the house Easton came and destroyed 4 of the 12 rolls. Completely deflated them. He has definitely earned the nickname Estroyer.

This next picture is just random, but I would like to pose the question:

WHO WAS SUCKING ON E's FACE?

No seriously. That is a full on hicky. No joke. It looks just like one. I cannot figure out where it came from or how he got it. It's not raised at all. It's completely under the skin. I've asked the boys and none are admitting to the crime. Crazy I tell you. Just crazy. (Oh, and don't judge me about the binky. I know he is old. He's my baby and I am definitely getting way to relaxed with him. I know I will pay later.)

So, that's all folks. There are many crazy things that happen each and every day. Those are just the few for today.

I'm Starting My Diet Tomorrow

Yes, that is what I have told myself every day now since I gained X (number will not be announced due to humilation) pounds gained on the cruise. Approximately 41 days later, I am still saying, "I'm starting my diet tomorrow."

Right now I am enjoying the most delicious hot, gooey, blondie and thinking, Yes tomorrow is the day. However, maybe I will start Saturday. But wait, the missionaries are coming to dinner on Sunday. Ummm.....I think I will start Monday. Yes, Monday will be the day.

Farewell, Goodbye, Hope to never see you again

I find the Humane Society outside my door a couple times a week. One morning this was right in front of my house.

I keep thinking we have captured the last of them, but apparently we had a GAZILLION because they keep getting caught. Today was the worst. One was caught a few doors from us and when the guy from the humane society went to lift the cage, that EVIL thing sprayed. Well, I had just left to go to the store for a few hours so I guess the lovely scent went into our air conditioner and was filtrated throughout the entire house. When I walked in, I gagged. So nasty. If you smell me coming, I apologize ahead of time.

My Brain

I went to Sam's Club today. I went to Sam's Club for only one reason. Diapers. I was completely out. My neighbor was too, so I was going to get her some as well. I found this super cool book.

I have been having brain issues, so I decided this was for me. Did I buy it? Yes. What didn't I buy? Yes....Diapers.

I remembered about 2 hours later. :(

And no, I am not pregnant. But I do blame 3 special beings on my memory loss.

Goodbye Ticks, Hello Mosquitos

I leave tick infestation to enter mosquito infestation. Both are nasty little buggers and I am so BUGGED!

This picture shows Easton's mosquito bite right between the eyes.

You can't see it real well, but his bites really swell up.

This was gross. The kids were down out the park for only 2 minutes when I found Easton with 4 blood spots. 1 on the face (you can see) and 3 on the arms. Jackson says, "Mom, I've been killing the mosquitos. Of course E was crying since Jackson kept hitting him. Eww, so gross.

So....I don't know what's worse. I am thinking the mosquitos since I currently have at least 20 and I was the only one in the fam that didn't have one of the ticks burrow in my skin. Jack on the other hand may say the ticks. He had one in a private place and didn't enjoy us digging it out with the tweezers. Poor guy.

I am hoping for a day with less bugs. Not seeing it in the near future, however, so I guess I should just focus on something else I am thankful for......like a home with windows to shut them out.

The Newest Potty Stories

I feel like my blog should be titled, "The Adventure of Potty Training." Perhaps I'll start a new one.

Most of you have heard these stories by now. For those that haven't, enjoy.

We went on a trip. We started and ended the trip with a potty mishap. The first involved our "medium boy" (that's how Creighton describes himself) and the last involved the oldest boy.

We went to a certain restaurant and I was quite enjoying my food. Creighton said he had to go to the bathroom and Mitch took him. Soon after, Creighton came out and Jackson went in with Mitch. Creighton and Easton went into the play place. I noticed Creighton wasn't really playing. He soon came out and said he wanted to go back and talk to dad in the bathroom. He was walking funny. He got about halfway from me to the bathroom when IT fell out of his pants. No joke. Right in front of a lady eating her lunch. Yes, IT did. Horrified, I jumped up, grabbed a napkin and did a bowling move where I crouched down and scooped it up as if nothing happened. But, oh yes, something did. I ushered him to the bathroom to Mitch's delight, ushered Jack out. Sent Jack and E to the play place and threatened them not to open the door until I got back. I then went and rummaged through to find new clothes. What a lovely start to the day.

To end, my oldest son, after being asked TWICE 5 minutes before if he needed to go to the bathroom, alerted me that he had to go to the bathroom in his frantic voice. There was nothing I could do. Mitch had left me alone on the curb of the airport with all the travel bags, a sleeping Easton in a car seat, a Creighton, and a screaming "I've got to go" holding the crotch child. I told him, "I'm sorry. I can't take you to the bathroom." He then proceeded to scream, "I'M PEEING, I'M PEEEEEING, I'M PEEEEEEEEING." as he was peeing his pants right there in front of dozens of people. Then crying, "Mom, you made me pee my pants, you made me pee my pants." Yes, I made you pee your pants. That's why 5 minutes ago I asked you if you needed to go when I saw you do a little dance, but you said No. Yes, I am the one that made you pee your pants.

To the unfortunate woman and man at the restaurant and to all the unfortunate people at the airport: I'm sorry my kids subjected you to their bodily functions. I can only imagine your horror. I felt that same emotion. I feel it quite often in fact.

Jackson's 5th Birthday Celebration

This post is just over a week old and I seriously can barely remember anything about the day. I guess you'll just have to hear about what I do remember which will probably make it less boring anyway.

We started the day with Jackson and Creighton's first swimming lesson. They loved it and they did awesome. For lunch Jackson requested Jimmy John's (Yay for me....I wasn't looking forward to the usually requested McDonald's). The boys reminded me why I don't go in public with the 3 of them alone, but we made it through it.

With the time crunch from the cruise and having company and also for just pure lack of organization skill, I opted for a birthday party at "The Amazing Pizza Machine" instead of trying to come up with a themed one here. Plus, we didn't want Mitch scaring the children again if we dressed up as Chewbacca or something.

Jackson was spoiled once again. He got a science kit, some magnets, a job chart (maybe that was more for me, but he was excited), a foam rocket, a remote control helicopter, a memory game, Elmo DVD, Homeward Bound (loved this movie when I was little...thanks Mary and Marty!) and some other gifts I am sure I am forgetting. Oh yeah, I just remembered, my mom sent him GIANT marshmallows. Why? I don't know. But, they are giant. I am sure it cost her 3 times the cost to ship them then they cost themselves, but we are excited to make some really yummy smores. Thanks Mom.

I made Jackson a baseball cake. The type of cake has always been a big deal to my kids and Jackson has had many ideas of what he wanted, but his last requested type was a baseball cake. It just so happened that I owned a baseball cake kit. Yes, that is right. Back when I was the super coolest girlfriend EVER, I made Mitch this cake for his 18th birthday. However, I do not remember it taking SO long. I must have really loved him and knew he was the one, because I have to say I almost gave up dozens of times making this for my oldest son. I stuck with it though and he got his baseball cake.

Thankfully, many of the parents came with their children to help and I left Easton home with one of the parents too. This resulted in children not being lost and I am sure they are thankful for that as well. I didn't realize how chaotic ten 3-5 year olds would be running around a place that has so much to do and see, but yes, it was scary at times but we made it out alive with only one in wet pants and had some good laughs along the way.

My favorite part was when Mitch decided to ride the rollercoaster with the kids, but none of them wanted to sit by him. He ended up sitting alone and there weren't any left by the kids so instead he is sitting off by himself, in his business clothes, and looked like a pedifile that heads there after work everyday. So sweet of him to be willing to go with him and we all knew he wasn't a pedifile so it's ok.

Once again, I can't believe my little Jackson is 5. He has grown up so much this last year and I can't believe he will be going to Kindergarten in just over a month and will be there ALL DAY, 5 days a week. He will have more influence there than he will at home. Scary! I will have to make sure he is prepared. I know I'm not.