Bullies! and Snow hats!

I was babysitting today.. I think We need a lesson on Sharing............
I'm just teasing.. She's really a darling litle girl. Just Two years old and thats all the explanation she needs!

This is the darling Snow hat that Jeane made for Mattie.

She made one for him last year too.

when she brought it over we tried it on right away.

when I took it off him, he picked it up and tried to put it back on himself.

My little Linus

Mattie Loves his blanket.
Especially when he is tired. He'll drag it across the room and put his arms up letting us know that he's ready for bed. I’ve made him three of these Fleece tied blankets so that he can tag the knots, but this red ‘cowboy’ one is his favorite.

silly!

disclaimer: Taylor is really quite handsome.. he just doesn't photograph well EVER! He looks super doofy in these pictures but I couldn't find one that wasn't him cheesing it up!

Okay this makes sense


Funny Thing about the girls? Taylor is their Step-Dad!
you know they say you hang around someone long enough,
you start to look like them!
True? I guess so!

Snow

I went on about how depressed I was yesterday with the Muck outside.
Then it began to snow.
I typically loathe it come winter. Its cold, its wet, its not fun to drive in, and unless I can afford to go Snowboarding, I find it a nuisance and nothing more.
But then Comes Mattie. Just like the dog, he has taught me to appreciate something that I once found annoying.
The girls were with their dad last night so Taylor and I decided to do a little Christmas shopping. I opened the van door to unbuckle Mattie, his eyes lit up and he pointed at the falling snow asking us “what the heck is that?” with a simple “huh?”. Taylor picked him up in his arms and as we tried to cover him with his blanket he deliberately pushed it off, tipped his face upward, opened his mouth and squealed! He giggled and blinked the flakes from his eyelids leaving Taylor and I no other choice but to join in. It was one of those moments in time that just holds its breath a second or two.. He was so much fun to watch. It made every flake worth it.
My spirits are lifted now and I think I can appreciate the beautiful blanket of white that covers the valley for a while. (at least until the muck makes it turn black and slushy).

Another long dreary day

Another Long day at work.
I think the grey weather is hitting me.
I do this every winter. Its called Something and it has to do with the short dark dreary days of winter with no sunshine. some kind of seasonal depression I think.
I Need Sunshine. I need to be outside.
I need to not feel so tired and depressed.
I LOVE how pretty my living room looks, all festive and happy. Then I look out my window and its Dark, and mucky and COLD..
SPRING...... Now that's my season!

Four

Four Jobs I have had in my life
1-Dan's Grocery store: bagger, checker, florist, baker
2-CNA for Children with severe disabilities
3-GAP
4-CNA @ University of Utah Hospital

Four Jobs I wish I could do/Have
1-Professional Photographer
2-Own a Vacation Ranch and take people out on outdoor adventures like horseback riding, 4 wheeling, snow mobiling etc
3-Something in Marketing.. ( I took Marketing classes in college and really enjoyed it)
4-Graphic Designer

Four Movies I would watch over and over
1-Ever After
2-any girlie movie like Mean Girls, Two weeks notice, Wedding Planner, etc etc...
3-Love Action movies too...........
4-See above

Four Places I have lived
1-Salt Lake city
2- Oregon
3-Cottonwood Utah
4- Downtown Salt lake city : )


Four TV shows I watch
1-Greys Anatomy
2-Bachelor (when its on)
3-I like watching "making the team" the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders
4-Anything that catches my eye when I don't have kids shows on..........
I also like watching E channel.. I am a Celebrity addict...

Four places I have been
1-Hawaii
2-Bahamas
3-Canada
4-Key Largo


People who text me regularly
1-I don't even have a cell phone!!!
But I'm sure Steph would Text me...


Four of my favorite foods
1-Stuffing and Mashed potatoes
2-Tofu
3-Mexican food (well, not lately)
4-oh yeah......Crepes and Nutella!!!!


Four places I’d rather be right now
1-on Vacation with my kids (Disneyland!!)
2-In the Bahamas with my kids (and a Nanny!)
3-Traveling abroad (with my kids AND A NANNY)
4-Did I say on vacation?

Four friends I am tagging
1-Megan
2-Angie N
3-Kaylin
4-?


Four things I am looking forward to next year
1-Vacation with the kids this summer
2-Summer
3-watching the kids enjoy the trampoline their getting for their birthdays
4-Time with my Family and friends


Four People I’d like to spend an hour with
1-Justin and Pam from Impact
2-My Husband (and not just when the kids are in bed)
3-a Professional Photographer who was willing to teach me some things
Jason Mcgrew
Tara Whitney
Audrey Woulard
Haley Bean
Wynona Robinson
4-I'm trying to think of a movie star I'd like to spend an hour with but there are too many to narrow it down

The weekend re-cap

This past week has been wonderful. It made going to work today much harder than usual.
Wednesday I was thrilled to take the girls to see Enchanted.
Just the girls and me, no boys allowed. I LOVED having each of them on either side of me with no distractions to ruin the moment. I loved their enthusiasm. I was even happier when the movie was really really good!
Thanksgiving was so laid back. We enjoyed good food and delicious desserts without even lifting a finger.. We spent the evening as a family that night and I thoroughly enjoyed getting the Christmas stuff out, especially listening to Taylor whistling tunes as he strung the lights.
Friday We went to Brunch with My sister and her new boyfriend, whom we hadn’t met yet. My Mom and Brother came too.. It was fun to sit around and get to know him a little. It was even more enjoyable eating yummy IHOP pancakes……..mmmmmmm
the Cason's came over and spent the ENTIRE afternoon and evening with us.. I LOVE it when friends come over and make themselves comfortable. It’s a great feeling. The kids ran amuck as usual while Ang and I sat in the kitchen (as usual) cooking, chatting, and shooing kids away (lovingly ofcourse). We watched a movie on my lap top in the living room so that we were away from the chaos yet still in ear shot of them. We watched “Tuck Everlasting” which I thought was very cute. (Thanks Steph for the Movie)
Megan was relentless and finally convinced us to allow her to spend the night at The Cason’s house. She’s done it a few times before so I wasn’t worried about her plus I knew that it meant they’d have to come back the next day so I was all for it!
Saturday Was another Full day of playing, cooking, and movie watching. We rented The Santa Clause 3 from Redbox and all of us sat around clapping and cheering while we watched it. Even the littles..
And Now, I sit here at work.. a Slow Sunday afternoon listening to the hum of the computer and Nurses rushing by instead of the playing and giggling of my children…….
Oh well…
4 more days………

Technical difficulties.....

Megan here for Jessica. She's experiencing technical difficulties. Hopefully she's up tomorrow.....

Black Friday

I USED to work at the GAP.... I only mention that because on days like today I reflect back on that time in my life and wonder how I ever did it. Black Friday at any retail store is CRAZY busy.. All the work and the hype that goes along with this one day of the year .....
contests for the most sales....
Tons and Tons of stocking,
and people.. oh so many people!!
THAT is why I do NOT go to the Mall on Black Friday. I Know better!
Plus.... That's what the Internet is for........

We had a great day today hanging out with the Cason's, relaxing in the comfort of our nice warm home..
Hope those of you who dared to shop made it out alive!

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from My family to yours.....

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((trying to download a picture

but Blogger is apparently having a temper tantrum...))

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Thanksgiving was great. We spent a wonderful afternoon at my parents house visiting and eating yummy food

Afterwards we went home and broke out the Christmas decor.

We usually do it the day after Thanksgiving but with Taylor's and my own schedule we don't have another day off together for a few weeks..

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Mattie was excited when we turned on the lights.

and the girls had a great time unwrapping everything and placing it around the living room.

Enchanted Girls Night out.

The girls and I went out tonight.

Just the three of us.

A Girls night out.

We had a wonderful time at the movies.

We absolutely loved it!!! It was so funny I was laughing through the majority of it.

Afterwards we went to Cold stone for some yummy ice cream.

It was SO nice to spend time with them doing something fun and relaxing.

I'm planning more of these in the future.

Please not her hair again!!!

Although everyone here on this blog knows that I am not happy with Ali’s hair, Ali is oblivious to that fact and to spare her feelings I have not, and will not admit to it.
I’ve told her at least 30 times in the last 4 days that I think she looks darling and that her hair looks fine. She is Beautiful after all.
So what do I do with her “best friend” who when Ali asked “do you like my hair?” screams and says, “ Aaahhhhh, You look like a BOY!” and runs screaming in circles around her. ?
And then to my Ex’s Mother, who last night simply says to Ali “Your hair is like mine, it doesn’t look good short.” “ You should have talked to me first”. As if she's the authority on Ali's hair.
What can I do but hope it grows fast, and that her spirit isn’t crushed….

Graffiti Girl

I pulled in an 11 hour day at work today, so all I have energy for is to post another picture from the 'Gully' yesterday..
Here's my little Graffiti girl.
I'm off to watch biggest Loser........

Down in the Gully

This afternoon we went down to the 'Gully' with Jeane and her grandsons.
We thought we'd take advantage of the warm weather because tomorrow we're supposed to dip back down in the 30's.The kids had a great time throwing sticks into the creek.

There is a park nearby and we took a little cracker eating, post balancing pit stop.

I can't say I'm looking forward to the cold weather. I'm not one for Snow unless I can afford to go Snowboarding.... ahhh snowboarding.. Taylor proposed to me while we were Snowboarding.........

anyway..
so I washed the girls hair and blow dried it out..
I think I was able to make Ali's not look so masculine......... I am terrible at doing hair but I think it looks better.......
Before ............................................and ..........................................After what do you think??

dwelling......

All right, so After the Hair disaster we had at the “salon” yesterday I’m re-thinking my previous craving for a new do. My poor beautiful baby girl looks like a boy, and I didn’t even recognize Megan today when her back was to me……. Her pretty blonde curls are gone.
I’ve thought about doing something fun to my hair for quite awhile now, but haven’t had the energy to spend a few hours at a salon, (nor have I had the cash)… I thought about doing a bob and maybe even going a little darker….. a change for awhile…
I think the girls’ hair is enough Change for now.
I think at the present, I’ll keep my hair as it is…. In a few months when the girls’ hair has grown out, then I might be a bit braver. (and NOT at Super Cuts)
Is it really terrible that I’m dwelling so much on Hair?

Saturday post

In Kaysville again.. just can't seem to stay away.

The girls got their hair cut today.... I'm afraid to say that they butched poor Ali..... its bad........real bad...... So bad that I want to cry about it. It hurts me to look at it,(Not at her because she IS beautiful no matter what) but the hair.............. SO SHORT!!!!!!!!!! I pray it grows fast......
They cut Megs MUCH shorter than I'd have liked , but her's is salvageable at least...... guess that's why people pay big money for a good hair cut and not 10 dollars at the super cuts.....

I love this Love Love Love it!

I could watch or listen to the entire thing for hours, Days, weeks, Months.... and still not tire of it.

Four A.M.

Its 4 o'clock in the morning. We're up with a sick baby. I hate the indecisiveness that takes place when your child is sick To take them to the Dr or Not .. Do you wait? Do you go? will they think you're over reacting? Can they even do anything for him? ugh.... All I know is that I want someone to fix him and fast..... poor little guy.. He's 14 months yet we have him here in our bedroom in the baby swing so that we can be right next to him..

Sick Baby

We got a sick baby.......

I just hate it when they're sick, and helpless.

TV again and Flu Shots

So we did it. We went two weeks with out Television (well sort of). I feel like we did pretty well. I admit I watched it after the girls had gone to bed, and I’m pretty sure they snuck it in at their dad’s house… It was a good eye opener for all of us, and really confirmed the fact that we don’t need to have it on all the time. We’ve set the new mind Vegging TV watching rule to ONE hour a day. And that even seems to me more than necessary. I’ll also be much more selective on what they are watching. I think I prefer movies over the shows they were consistently watching. Megan spent her hour yesterday watching Taylor’s Underdog Cartoon movie.. That, I think is much better than Sponge Bob.
Oh, and for those of you wondering…
Yes, I did get my Flu shot.. And I lived to tell about it…now we just get to talk Taylor into getting his!

"Cuz, I AM a rocker girl!"

When I work LOoooonng hours at work, it seems like my personal life disappears. I have no idea what is going on at home, or with the kids.

I can call and check in but more often than not I get a brief distracted description of what everyone’s doing, and then It's back to work.
I've got one more work day this week (I've worked the last 3) and then I'll be home again, and I can kick back and relax with the kids. (After I clean the house and catch up on laundry of course).
I'm hoping that the weather will permit me to do a few more pictures of the kids outside.
I'd really love to get something worthy of a Christmas card......

The other night my Sister Steph brought over two great big bags of new shoes and clothes for the girls (its an Aunt thing) and although I was a little sketchy on some of the outfits, The Girls LOVED everything they saw.
They both immediately threw together their favorite outfits and set them out carefully to wear the next day.
Megan chose a "rock star girl outfit because" as she informed us "I am a rocker girl".
She looked so cute I couldn’t stand it!

Look at those bright Pink Leopard print leggings!

Ali looked equally cool in her cropped Rock star sweatshirt complete with hot pink and blue hearts and graffiti ( I didn’t get a picture of her because SHE WOULDN’T SIT STILL LONG ENOUGH!!) She got a few pair of really cute jeans that had fun appliqués on them totally "teenagerish" as Ali put it...
Ali told me that Stephanie is the only older person she knows that has such good style!
I wonder what that says about me??

Pictures!

I had so much fun visiting my friend Megan up in Kaysville this weekend .
We ran around looking for fun places to take pictures.
I think we found some pretty good ones!
Hope you love them as much as I do Meg!

Check out my Flickr for more

Family Defined

I spent years coveting faultless appearing families. Couples who looked like they’d never fought a day in their lives. The young parents swinging their 3 year old between them the look of adoration in their eyes. The picturesque Thanksgiving Dinner Table complete with Grandma and Grandpa, Aunts, Uncles, and cousins giggling and making faces at each other across the room at the ‘children’s table’. Perfect right? Or is it?
What is Family?
Is it blood?
Is it a bond?
Is it Love?
Is It conditional?
I’ve had many opportunities in my life to see what the word “family” could mean.
What I’ve come to believe is that It is Not perfect.
It is Not blood.
It IS different for many people and it IS Unconditional.
It’s LOVE, TRUST, and FORGIVENESS.
It’s who willingly comes running when we’re down or need a hand. It’s whom you want to be there for when you know they need you and it makes you feel wonderful knowing you’re their for them. It’s all of those things and more. It doesn’t have requirements, and it isn’t perfect.
Thanksgivings like that only happen in commercials, but that doesn’t mean what happens at our own table can't be wonderful.
What is Family to you?

Saturday post

Another beautiful day..
Spending the day in Kaysville. Will be back soon..

Fall

Today was a perfect day for raking leaves.

or Throwing them....

It was an incredibly beautiful Fall day today, warm weather, bright sun, blue sky, and Fall colors in every direction.
We spent some time over at Jeanne's house. A close neighbor who acts much like a grandmother to me and feels much like one too. She took me under her wing over 5 years ago when I moved into this neighborhood struggling as a single mother on my own. She sat with me at church every Sunday giving me the courage I needed to keep going back. She let me talk, and she listened. She did many things for me back then , and still does. We share stories, and News.
We walk the children to school each morning , her with her grandson, and Taylor or myself with our own. In the afternoon we walk again, an unspoken understanding that we wait for each other. Its comforting. she calls when things don't look right at our house.. An odd light on.. a strange car.. You might think it was a bit much, but It's not. Its proof that she is watching over us. Proof that she cares. I am so grateful to have her. She is a blessing in our lives.

Parent Teachers conference

Ali does "not write like a third grader" she writes "exceptionally well".
I already knew this because she writes short stories and tells us stories all the time.
I was worried about her Hyperactivity in the classroom. I worried because here at home she literally bounces off the wall like a super ball.. She does somersaults UP the stairs, cartwheels in the living room, and watches TV (when we Are watching TV) upside down on the couch. Those of you who know her, know I'm not exaggerating.
I was surprised and relieved to hear that she maintains herself really well during school and saves all her energy for us at home.
Megan is doing fine, and it was a surprise to her Teacher when I asked about her behavior. In fact, she had no idea that Megan had been "punching Jack" for weeks! She said that Jack is very quiet. (I feel a Little worse knowing that).
Anyway she hasn't had any other problems so I guess I count my blessings!
Mathews top teeth FINALLY broke through a day or two ago. He got his first two teeth at 5 months and for 8 months we've waited for more. A third side bottom tooth snuck in about a week ago, but otherwise He's been eating table food with only two bottom teeth for a very long time! 2 of the 4 are still working their way out so he's been quite fussy. I can't complain too much because with his fussiness he's also been very snuggly.

Flu Shots!

We're getting the dreaded Flu shots today..
Taylor and I get ours for free at work, but the kids get to go to their Pediatricians office tonight.
They know were going, and they're both freaking out.....
Megan keeps saying "its just a little 'beep' that's all, right mama?"

I'll let you know how it goes.

Later....
Flu shots are officially done for the year! Wahoo! we got to the clinic early and there wasn't much of a wait. The girls fought over who would go first, so it fell on poor Mattie . I had them each look at me and count to ten but I didn't get past the number 5 before it was done and over with.
Tradition always calls for a double scoop of ice cream after shots, so it was off to Baskin Robins when we were through.



Confession:
Yes, I get my shot free at work.................................
NO I haven't gotten it yet! ..........
I admit it! I'm scared!!!

Taylor admitted the same thing today and we both snickered at each other while the kids were in the back seat dreading their own!

Working Mother.....

That’s my title?
Its a touchy subject for some of us.
There are those who Love to get up and go to work everyday, Who feel the Power and Authority of being in the workforce. Then there are those of us who resent it envying our neighbors who stay home in their sweat pants all day keeping up the laundry, and baking cookies. (don't throw tomato's, I KNOW that's not all Mom's at home do! TRUST ME!)
I worked full time through all three of my pregnancy's, I worked while nursing all three of my babies, dragging my plastic bottle filled diaper bag to the locker room 3 times a day to pump. I've worked while my children were at home sick. I missed field trips and school parties.
I Am a working mother. Not by choice but by necessity.
There is a piece of me that yearns to wake up everyday knowing that I am at home raising my children, nurturing them and teaching them, molding them like I imagine they should be. To be home for the PTA and Room Mother duties. To be home when they've had a rough day at school, or to hold Mattie right before his nap when he's extra snuggly. To maintain my House so that it doesn’t look like a stampede of elephants ran through it. To wear loungy clothing and Jeans everyday instead of business attire that binds, and bunches... and not just "part time" as it is now.
work.......
I Love knowing that I contribute to such an awesome hospital. I love the Dr's and Nurses I work with. I love the kids, I love what I do and I'm good at it.. I quite enjoy the fact that I can sit for hours without having to get up and get someone a cup of milk, or change a poopie diaper. I get to BE an Adult for a while. I have friends, and colleagues to talk to.
The stress......
Its Exhausting to work a full day and come home expected to make dinner clean up, bathe kids, do hair, feed baby, put kids to bed, and Then do the laundry, do the dishes, etc etc etc.....
And then I have a "day off" only to run errands, shop, and Clean clean clean the house some more.
So then I get to choose
Catch up on housework and laundry? or Spend the time with the kids knowing that I will be going back to work the next day....... What would You do? I usually choose somewhere in-between.
I guess my point to that one is that if you come over to my house, Don't expect the floors to be shining. (Taylor cleans sometimes too, i have to give him that, but that’s not as often as it should be.)
Stress Two......
The inconsistency in child rearing that goes on when I'm at work and Taylor is home with the kids.I hate the fact that I'm not there everyday to instill the consistency and rules, that I know the kids need.Don't get me wrong, Taylor is an Excellent Daddy, its just that there are things that I know would be different if there was more consistency. Plus then I'd have my own self to blame when they're being snotty instead of wondering what goes on when I'm not around.
When I was a single mom working full time, My kids went To Daycare.. I didn’t mind it as much. I guess partly because I didn’t have a choice, but also because I knew that when I picked them up, it was ME, and ME alone that was raising them. CONSISTENTLY, plus having them at daycare meant that I could bring them home to a clean house and just worry about the eating bathing and putting to bed part.. With them home all day with Taylor that part of its broken too.. And so Why am I so resentful of the fact that Taylor is home with them more than I am? Shouldn’t I be grateful?
Its strange because people tell me all the time "oh, you're so lucky to have a schedule you can work out with your husband so you can both stay home with the kids" I guess it SOUNDS good? I work 4 days, he works 3...(I guess they don't realize that this only allows for one day off together a month).
I AM grateful they get to spend time with Taylor.. (wish it were me......)
Shouldn't I be grateful that I have a great job?


So I'm totally just venting here...Not really fuming about it or anything.. just on my mind I guess.
I think we all wish we had it a little differently........

One Week down

So What do I think about TV now that its been off for a week?

• I thought that I needed it to distract my children so I could work. I learned that there are MANY other things to distract them.
• I was used to the background noise. I found that silence is golden.
• I thought that it was entertaining. My kids are funnier.
• I thought my Children would Hate me. They don't even miss it!
• I hoped it would encourage them to spend time together.... Ali was reading Megan a story when I peeked in on them tonight.

that single moment makes it all worth it.

One More week.

Or more?

I'll enjoy the silence.

Day Seven.....What's TV?

Mathew was SOOO wonderful for me at church today! He slept through Sunday school and snuggled in my arms through half of relief society.. I was in mommy heaven..
We did have a few more TV comments today than there has been. I think for all of us, it just sounded so good to sit back and watch a movie. I didn't cave though.. I'm holding strong..... And actually its getting a bit easier.. I'm realizing just how much we didn't watch it, but had it on in the background for no reason..
The Girls and I worked on art projects for the rest of the day, including a walk to the school for a few pictures ( I consider that my art project). The weather was Gorgeous but No one was in the mood to cooperate so I didn't get any really good shots with the three of them together. (its so much easier with other peoples kids!) I do love the one below where they're all distracted in their own little way. I think Megan was checking out a booger......
oh well. I have a few more weeks for Christmas cards!
Ali is entering this years "Reflections" contest at school, and did a really great job on a drawing of herself helping with Special Olympics. I'll take a picture of it when she's all done..

Day 6 Did I say Fabulous?

Today was great!

we had friends over to play and then spent an hour playing outside in the crisp fall air.

Ordered in Chinese and danced around the living room to YouTube videos of High school musical songs. (click for a little taste)

Another (Megan's favorite)

Meg has become addicted to my computer. I think that's fine.

Still No TV

Funny?

Megan thinks this is funny..

I'm not surprised..

Photo Shoot, and No TV day 5

Day 5 without TV.. I did so much better today.

Might have to do with the fact that I was pre-occupied doing a sibling photo shoot!

I had SO much fun doing this one. I have wanted to do these specific shots for awhile now, and I think they turned out Fabulous!(click to hear)

Ali and Meg are both at friends houses for the night, (which they are probably filling with as much free TV time as they can).

Here are some pictures from the shoot today.....

Check out my flickr to see more.........

Fall and No TV day 4?

Day 4 No TV.. No big deal. When I got home from work we went to my Parents to celebrate my Mom's birthday, then we came home and enjoyed dinner together with all 5 of us home (that doesn't happen often). We played games together before bed, and I got to catch Greys anatomy half way through.. Yeah!

Halloween continued..........

Our church does an annual Trunk or Treat in the church parking lot. They play music, serve donuts and hot chocolate, and everyone tricks out their trunks. Then the kids run amuck and you don't even have to worry about it because they're totally safe!

Good times!

Taylor was "Sherlock Holmes"

after the trunk or treat, we went over to my parents house to show off our costumes. The girls wanted to trick or treat around their neighborhood so we started walking. We walked FOREVER! I couldn't believe it, they were die hards! and I think I deserve a medal for trekking 5 blocks in leopard ballet flats!

Ali said this was the best Halloween she's ever had, and Megan totally agreed with her. (the first time they've agreed on anything in months) so I think It was worth it.

by the way, Day 3 No TV........easy for the girls. Hard for me....

I bought a bunch of paints for the girls to do crafts with.. Megan LOVES painting and that kept her busy for a good portion of the day.

I had a hard time not flipping it on while she was painting!