The longest day

I do have to say that there are some great perks about conference.
1. I do not have to get up and run around crazy in order to get me and my kids ready to go.
2. I do not have to hurry and try and get my house picked up before we leave so that when I get home from church I can just relax instead of cleaning up things.
3. I do not have to get ready and try to find something that will fit these days.
4. I do not have to worry about how we are going to make it through sacrament without any meltdowns.
5. I will usually make a big breakfast of Swedish pancakes, eggs ,bacon and OJ and will be able to eat some of it myself.
6. I get to hear some talks that I am pretty sure were written just for me in order to make me a better person.
7. Jared has no meetings and no visits to make so he is home!!


Now let me dive into why every conference I scratch my head and think why do I even bother I should just read the talks in the ensign when they come out in peace and quiet while my kids are at school.
1. My kids are home with us all day inside (they got in trouble and couldn't go outside, why do I punish myself like that)
2. My kids will not listen to any part of conference. No game, bribe or distraction would work.
3. Landon informed me that BYU (we were watching it on the BYU channel) is the most boring thing and he never wanted to go there. This was actually the funniest part of my long day.
4. We spent more time trying to get the kids to at least be quiet so we could hear than we actually got to hear.
5. My kids would not play in their rooms yesterday.
6. Jared and I were both in bad moods because our kids were driving us crazy.
7. Jared told the kids that next time we are going to the church to watch conference. At which point I told him I am not going to go to the church to embarrass myself with the way the kids act.
8. It was honestly the longest day I have had in a long time.

We have a new rule in our house. Whatever time you get up in the morning is what time you go to bed. My kids are constantly getting up beyond early. Ethan sometimes 5 or 5:30 and then he proceeds to wake everyone else up. He told me the other day he was going to sleep til 11 and then I would have to let him stay up til 11. I said okay that's a deal. The kid couldn't stay in bed if his life depended on it.
So Sat. morning they got up at 6. Since jared was at priesthood on Sat. night I took the kids to that park so they did get out of going to bed at six that night. So Sun. morning they get up around 6 again. Well they were so horrible yesterday with all the fits, and meltdowns I told them they all had to be in bed at 5 pm. Yes 5 pm. So we ate dinner at 4 and they were all in their beds at 5. Jared read to them for a little bit. Landon was asleep for the night by 5:30. Mackenzie was asleep by 6 and Ethan read in his room until he fell asleep. All was pretty quiet until I hear the sound of water on the floor. Then ethan saying why are you doing that. I go in the back and there is landon half asleep standing with his back to the toilet peeing all over my floor. Really? I thought I was done with this stuff for the day but once again my kids made a liar out of me.

Soccer, Dance and Fatty

I am finally getting around to posting these pictures. This year we have the boys playing soccer and mackenzie doing dance. FYI this will be the last year I do soccer. It is hot and such a pain to lug my chunk of a baby (17 lbs at 3 1/2 months), make sure mackenzie is still following behind me, plus take all of the other stuff chairs, snacks, etc. all over the fields at Cal state where they play soccer. I really want to sign the boys up for swim club but if is a little more expensive so we will have to work on that to convince jared. Landon is loving soccer and Ethan likes it when he makes a goal and thoroughly enjoys the snacks and treats that come along during halftime and at the end of the game. If eating were a sport ethan could medal in it. I have only taken pictures during their first games. Jared and I haven't been at a game together since the first one so it is too hard to take pictures when you don't have an extra set of hands to help with other kids. Thankfully my parents have been here to help with going to games when the boys games overlap and to take the two younger ones when I am by myself. So a very big thank you to them.

Then we have the princess. She really loves dance. She listens to the teacher pretty well and follows what they are doing. I am hoping she did not inherit my sense of rhythm. I only have rhythm in my hands while I am playing the piano. This rhythm does not extend to my feet. So far so good for her though. They don't let parents in the class (except on the first day when I didn't bring my camera). You watch the class on a TV. At first I thought it was a little weird but after seeing that some of the girls stand by the door waiting for their parents the first few times I figured out why they do it that way. According to Mackenzie she thinks it is "awesome" she is on TV.

Then there is fatty, chubabubba, chunky monkey, fat ash, buddha baby, or chunk. These are a few of the names we use for ashton. Honestly the kid is so heavy. I have always had chunky babies but he wins the prize. I now have to put cream in between his rolls. His cousin sent him a bumbo chair a few weeks ago. His fat little legs barely fit in the openings. When you go to pick him up out of the chair, the chair comes with him. I know he will work it all off when he starts to get mobile and then I will miss his chunky little legs and cheeks. I am hoping that he starts to sit up better really soon otherwise I am going to need some surgery on my back to repair it from lifting and carrying the infant seat with him in it. He is still a very happy easy-going baby and for that I am very grateful.

Mcdreamy

Mcsteamy

Jim

Pam

Dwight

Dr. House

Just to name a few.......the joy of new episodes. I love fall TV.

Celebrities

I had said that I wasn't going to bring up anything really political on my blog since I figured who really needs to hear what I think about political things from my blog, but I can't stand it anymore. I am so sick of hearing these people in hollywood who think that if they have made a movie and have a bunch of money that they now have some sort of degree in political science, talk about the people running for office. Does Lindsay Lohan really think that the someone with any sort of brain would really listen and vote for who she thinks would be the best president? That should be a clear indicator of who you shouldn't vote for. Jada Pinkett Smith said she was voting for Michelle Obama. Really? I hadn't gotten the news flash that she was running. I am ready for this election to be over. I hate listening to idiots. When it is an election year they come out the wood works to give their two cents (it is kind of like the fair here in Bakersfield, when you go you think to yourself where have all these people who make people watching so much fun been?) While reading one of my celeb magazines the other day (yes I do read them, I just want to look at the pictures I don't really want to know what any of them have to say) there was a quote in there and I was shocked by who said it since I 110% agreed with it

“I truly believe that people like myself, entertainers in the limelight, should keep their mouth shut on politics. Because at the end of the day, let me tell you what I’m good at: I'm good at writing songs and singing. What I’m not educated in is the field of political science. And so for me to be sharing my views and influencing people of who I think they should be voting for… I think would be very irresponsible on my part.”
Kid Rock explains why he disagrees with celebrity endorsements of politicians.

So this is what this election year has come to......me on the same page as kid rock. Seriously ridiculous.

GIRLS GETAWAY 2008

Our View

So we finally had our weekend and it was the most fun I have had in a long time without my family. We went down to oxnard on Thurs. to stay and then went over to santa barbara on Sat. Our hotel sat right on the beach and had a huge hot tub which we made sure to visit. There were six of us (we were minus one who couldn't go last minute, We missed you Lisa!!) We really didn't have a set plan as to what we were going to do, so we just kind of went with the flow. We all did want to go shopping so we did lots of that. We didn't get a chance to lay out at the beach since it was a little chilly for us Bakersfield girls who are used to laying out in hot hot weather. We stayed up late talking (2 or 3 am) and got up pretty early (7 or so for jamie and I, guess we're old). On Friday we all went and got spa treatments, pedicures, facials, massages. Apparently we all talk too much since the lady giving my sister her facial said, "It is usually not this loud in here." We didn't care though as long as it was us making the noise and not kids (of which totaled 22 kids left between the six of us)

At the spa

Shopped out at the Outlets
While driving around one night we happened to drive past one of the malls and attached to the mall was the biggest target I have ever seen. It was two stories. I have never seen a target like that and it was attached to a mall no less. It is a good thing I don't live near this place or one like it. I am a sucker for target and it has become like costco for me. I can't leave that place without it costing me $100.


View from our room
Jamie getting a pedicure
Lindsay and Nicole at the spa
Lindsay after her facial

Unfortunately since there were six of us that meant there were at least 4 cameras. I am missing some pictures that we had taken of all of us together. So you will just have to blog hop to the blogs of others who went if you are really dying to see the other pictures. I came home to a house that had been picked up and laundry that had been done and was almost all put away. Jared went above and beyond what I was expecting for him being home by himself with all the kids. We had so many things going on that weekend I was surprised he made it through the weekend still standing. So a very big thank you to him and to all the other husbands for letting us girls get away for a few days. FYI though I am pretty sure we will be trying to make this a yearly thing. Thanks for a great time girls!!!

3 is better than 2....

So in order to make my blog not so long I decided to add another column to it. In my hopes to keep tabs on myself, I will be posting the answer my dreaded question of the day "What's for Dinner?" I will list my meals I have planned and if anyone would like the recipe let me know and I will post it. I will also try to post useful tips I find along my way since I am always on the look out for those. Of course I will also post any great deals I come upon because I love to shop and I sort of like to save money while doing it. If anyone has any great tips, tricks or money saving deals comment and I will post. Thanks for any input!

P.S. it was extremely easy to add the third column and it didn't mess up my background or anything like that. Go to this link if you want to have 3 instead of 2
http://www.zimbio.com/Free+Blogger+Beta+Template/articles/40/Create+three+column+Blogger+template

Labor day and the First day

Warning this will be picture overload. I know there are at least 4 of you at the the hospital right now that will enjoy all of them though. We are awaiting the arrival of our newest nephew Grant. Hopefully he will be born soon!!!!!

Labor Day:

We spent our day off over are Laura Skinner's parents house. Her dad was kind enough to let a whole truck load of people with more kids than we could count over to eat, swim, and play lawn bowling. Yes, the guys played lawn bowling. I thought that there was an age restriction on that game (like 65) but it seemed to be addictive especially to those who are competitive at heart. We had a great time, we wore the kids out and enjoyed what is sure to be the start of the limited number of swimming days remaining.

Ethan

This the shot of landon going in. Sorry it is blurry

This is the shot of him coming out. He pretty much landed belly flop. That didn't stop him though. He kept wanting to do it again and again.

All the boys. They decided that they wanted to taste all the popsicle's. So they took turns tasting each others. Hopefully no one gets sick.

Landon in heaven. The kids loves anything cake-like. A popsicle in one hand a brownie in the other.
Jared, Luke and Brian lawn bowling or Boccie(sp?) ball as it is also called
Yes they are using a measuring tape.

First Day:
Mackenzie started school on Tues. She was very excited and was ready to go. She got to school went right in put her backpack in her cubby and sat down in front of the doll house to play. I thought, I should go tell her I am leaving. When I said have fun she said don't leave. She didn't cry or make a big fuss, she just said it very quietly and looked at me with these sad eyes. I have never been one to get upset at leaving my kids when they go to school, or to even be bothered if when I leave them at school, or nursery and they are crying. When she said that though, I felt a little sad for her, maybe because she is my only girl or maybe because when she said it she wasn't embarrassing me by hanging on my leg while screaming bloody murder while I am trying to walk out the door. I told her I needed to go home and take care of the baby and would be back in just a little bit. Then she was fine and I was fine and we both went about the morning without a single tear shed. If I thought there was even the slightest possibility I was pregnant, I would be concerned because that would be the only other explanation for my sudden emotion to dropping my child off at school for the first time. I am usually the mom you see with the route 44 diet coke from sonic wandering aimlessly through target with the biggest smile on my face and only one child in the basket instead of four. Mackenzie had a great time at school and is looking forward to Thurs. when she can go again.




So that sums up our last week and this past holiday weekend. Our next posts will probably be about soccer and dance which are all getting started, and let not forget my girls weekend. Yes, that is right, jared is taking the kids from Thurs to Sat while I go to the beach with 5 friends. I will owe him big time since on that weekend we have back to school night, soccer practice, 2 soccer games, a birthday party and he is supposed to play the violin at a stake activity on Sat. as well. I hope he is still standing when I get back.