For those who ask why I don't like kids in my bed...

...and thats what they do to Jim and I...all night long!

Halloween 2009..late but too cute to not post!

I was so excited for Halloween. The weather was PERFECT and by the end of the night I was giving Lauren's candy back because she was overflowing....I guess when you take handfulls instead of one at a time your bucket fills up mighty quick.



Flower tantrum...so stinking cute!

Grasshopper phobia still going strong!

We FINALLY got Lauren to bed last night, it was pretty traumatic. We had finally convinced her after giving her flashlight to sleep with that there were no grasshoppers in her bed. Then...come 2 am Connor starts SCREAMING and I mean SCREAMING and we ran into their room. Connor was standing on the bed on the very edge next to the wall saying, "Hoppers, hoppers! They're getting me! They're getting me!" Of course Lauren is thinking, since she's fully awake and Connor isn't so she doesn't know that this isn't a dream, "YOU GUYS TRICKED ME!" I know its not his fault, but he is NOT helping me convince his little sister that there are no hoppers in her bed! I don't know if she'll ever sleep through the night again! This nightmare phase has put the black engine one to shame!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

What a nightmare...

Oh mylanta all mighty! Last night was AWFUL! Connor occasionally will have a bad dream and come crawl in our bed. He usually wakes up Lauren since they share a bed and she usually follows rubbing her eyes smiling. Sometimes we take them back to bed, depending on how tired we are and how crazy Lauren is in her sleep. Most nights they stay in their bed all night with no incident

Last night, Connor came in from a bad dream with Lauren in tow. We all went back to sleep....and then it happened. Connor starts hysterically screaming and hitting under the covers yelling from the TOP of his lungs "Grasshopper" Lauren is still asleep but I'm sure hears him screaming and the terrifying man-eating grasshoppers now transfer to her dreams and SHE wakes up screaming from the top of her lungs "Grasshoppers! Grasshoppers! Ah-geet me! HELP!" So now Lilly is crying in the room next door from the hysterics in our bed and Lauren is turning and crawling up me wanting out of the bed. She thinks they're in our bed. Jim takes her and Connor back to their bed where the infestation did not occur and they all go back to sleep. After both were sound asleep, Jim comes back to bed and we finally go back to sleep. We wake up an hour later to Connor DEATH screaming all the way down the hall, of course he AGAIN wakes Lauren up, this time she as joined his nightmare for reals and they are SCREAMING down the hall. I LEAP out of bed adn grab them both, Jim tries to calm Connor down while I try Lauren. Once Connor somewhat wakes up he understands that its a dream...Lauren not so much. I cannot convince her to set foot in the bed, she really thinks they're in there. I can't sent her down cause she thinks they're all over the floor. She won't let me turn out the lights and she is sincerely terrified. We finally all go back to sleep and now she won't walk anywhere in the house alone. She thinks they're everywhere. She's afraid of podying, afraid of walking on the floor, is making me check her clothes before we put them on and after we pull them up after podying. Connor on the other hand, knows that it was a dream and is totally fine. Thanks Con

California Girls trip 2009

Ahhhhh...warm sun, ocean air, bike riding on the boardwalk and SAND EVERYWHERE...in EVERY CREVACE, in your TOES, in your Hair, stuck to your SCALP, and I'm sure I'll be cleaning it out of my kids' bottoms for years to come!




Every year we go to the tide pools...its beautiful, incredible, and SUCH A FREAKING HIKE TO GET DOWN TO THEM! It would be hard to truck down it yourself, but add being the pack mule that has to haul everything down to the area not to mention the HORRIFIC and TERRIFYING trip back! It is wicked steep and windy. The kids love it and you tend to forget the monster of a hill that it is, so you continue to go back every year! This is Heather with her two girls and her friend Melissa who joined us and her little two...all in all we hauled two 5-year olds, one 3-year old, three 2-yr olds, one 1-yr old, and one 8-month old...yup thats 8 kids under 5. CAOS!

Yes...that would be my 3-yr old DELIGHTFULLY skipping naked up that nasty hill and since I'm almost to the top and DYING from pushing all our crap along with my two girls in the massive and extremely heavy double stroller, I couldn't care less

...until I see all the people ready to nominate me mother of the year. Connor wasn't quite listening when I asked him to cover his stuff with the towel. And I was still trying to catch my breath so we just let it be.

My girls spent a lot of time being naked at the beach, lets be honest....its so much easier to just let them be free as a bird and get the whole beach in every crack and crevace, than prying off their sandy swimsuit and diaper while STILL having to clean out the sand from every crack and crevace.





Which because of this, I spent much of my time doing this....load 'em all in and just do the assembly line washing.


But wasn't it worth it?





This year, Heather introduced us to a whole new world of checking out what the fisherman may have caught on the pier...or as she calls them, finding "novelty items." Newport has many piers I'm sure, this one had a lot of fisherman that came for the fun and sport, others to catch what they could sell. They often times catch these novelty items but since they're not what they're after, they just set them aside. I don't know if they throw them in after or what, but these poor things just sit on the dock. One of these days, a fisherman pulled up a stingray and before Belle could get a real good look threw it back. So when he pulled up a huge Macrol (I know I'm not spelling that right, they're in the tuna family...sounds like the term 'Holy Macrol'...I know some of you know how to spell it and are laughing at me right now, thats ok....I'm over it!), which is what all the fisherman are fishing for, Belle ran over and threw that one back. She wasn't going to miss her chance....I'm sure the guy wasn't pleased to say the least. BUT thats not to say that we came back empty handed. Heather and Belle found this LIVE octopus and Connor and I found this foot-long starfish. We took pictures then put them back



We usually find the time to go to the aquarium down to long beach


And of course when you're trying to get a "mom wants a good picture with all her kids so she can blog it later" picture, all we got was Lauren

And my face after none of my kids want a "mom wants a good picture with all her kids so she can blog it later" picture and leave me hanging, looking like an idiot. Thanks Annie for capturing it

Probably one of my highlights would have to be the shoe incident. When we went to the tidepools (you know the nasty hill ones) I had taken off my shoes and forgot them since I CAN'T STAND wearing sandy flip flops and usually just put them in my bag for later. I was SOOOOO bummed. They were my favorite shoes, you know the ones that you wear SO much that they literally form to your feet? They were the best purchase I made when Jim and I went on the cruise with Scott, Misty, and Michael Johnson.. I was so so bummed when I realized it after we had gotten home and if you saw the tide come in you'd know that they were long gone, even if I wanted to drive all the way back and hike back down that ugly hill. Well when Connor and I got the big ole starfish, we figured the tide pools were the best place to set him free (Connor said thats where Patrick's-the starfish from Spongebob-lived and he missed her.) But since this was 2 days and already went to Target and bought me some good for now flip flops, I didn't expect any miracles. We get down there and on the other side of the beach by the rocks was one of them. I was thrilled and thoroughly entertained to find it, thinking that was the end of it....after we were done and were packed up to leave, Annie found the other on the opposite side of the beach floating in the lagoon! Two days and however many tides came in later!


One of our favorite pass times at the anuual girl trip is the biking. The condo we always rent is RIGHT on the beach, seperated by a bike path that runs all the way up and down Newport beach. So...its fun to load 'em all up and go for bike rides. We usually go to one of the parks and play for a bit, then ride home. Lauren has been GREAT at potty training. She's finally to where she goes when she needs to and I can't remember when she had an accident last. However...she hasn't quite learned about the things she can't do even though Connor can. Different plumbing. You can't really fault her when she pulled her pants down in the middle of the playground...front row seats for the hundreds of people going up and down the bike path and pee like Connor. Unfortunately because of the different plumbing it obviously soaked her pants below.


So do you call it a day and go home? NO! I've already lost the running for mother of the year a number of times this week, we'll just let her play naked!





And after days like that...you just need some girly masks!

All in all, a little traumatic with Lilly getting the worst croop she's had and having to get some last minute steroids at the pharmacy (she was much better after that!) and poor Ian's eardrum bursting resulting in tons of pain for him and even more puss coming out of his ear and down his face resulting in no more beach time....it was a fun trip, but its always good to be home. I can't remember a time I missed Jim so much. I felt like I was dating him again and seeing him after we'd both gone home (I was in Vegas and he was in Cedar) except I know I was never as excited as I was when I saw him step out of the garage. Theres something about coming home to your best friend, knowing thats where you were always meant to be that feels so good....feels like home.

PLEASE can anyone tell me why all my stuff that was on the right side is now on the bottom? I have tried everything and its really hurting my OCD brain, like my sister Heather says, I'm going to start "hand flapping" soon if I can't figure this out. My order is off and its hurting my brain!

After losing all our pictures, I'm trying to make sure I keep up the blogging.

A few weeks ago Jim's friend Cole called and asked if we wanted to go horse back riding, we thought Connor would think it was wonderful and we had such a great time. The horse wasn't named yet, so Connor took it upon himself to call him "Stinky." Which is the designated name for all the big ugly stink bugs he brings home.

I think there are phrases that I hope to remember the rest of my life. The phrases that we'll laugh about around the dinner table when the kids are older.

Lauren had just gotten out of the tub, I'm laying on the bed. She climbs up stark naked and says as she pats her bum...."Mom, hold my naked bum!"

We were at the cabin a few months ago. Jim was sitting on the chair holding Connor while we were talking to Scott and Misty. Lilly was enjoying walking all around us in her walker. She's gotten to the stage where she tries to mimic sounds and words. Connor (who's 3) toots on Jim's lap. Lilly's ears perk up and she loudly growled back "Rarrrr Rarrr Rarrrr!"

(and of course the best for last)
A friend of ours husband passed away last week of a long time illness. His funeral was monday and we were in the viewing line. We had just gotten to the casket and the man who had passed away had a bouquet of lolipops in his pocket and holding a bag of twizzlers. I am talking to the widow and Jim is behind me holding Connor
Connor: "Dad, I need a treat"
Jim: "I don't have a treat buddy"
Connor: "That guys does, wake him up and ask him"

Thankfully the widow has a good sense of humor

Needing Prayers...

I was hoping everyone could keep my cousin's twin daughter in your prayers. She was diagnosed with

Myasthenia Gravis

. I know you don't know who I'm talking about but I guess thats what I love most about the gospel. The ability to pray for another regardless of whether you know them like I do. She is struggling and needs comfort and support. I don't want to say names because I don't know if she's ready for the world to know yet, but I do know she needs prayers. Thank you everyone.

So Erika came over tell me about this bug that she about stepped on coming out her front door. I loaded up my kids, went to see it and to say that this disgusting-abomination upon even bugs-most hideous creature I have ever seen was "big" would be a gross understatement. This thing is by far the creepiest thing I have ever seen. Its probably about 3 or 4 inches long, ugly, disgusting, and this picture I found on the internet does not even give it justice. The ones that I've seen out here are more nasty yellow instead of the red. I have been finding what I thought were scorpion skin on my front porch for the past few months, it wasn't until after I saw one of these bugs that I realized it was left over carcauses because these NASTY things eat eachother, and really anything else INCLUDING human skin if it got the chance, and that they are having DEATH matches outside my front door step every night. I cleaned off my porch two nights ago only to wake up to five more heads and dozenz of legs everywhere! The only thing that creeps me out more than these gross creatures is the fact that my back door in the basement is left wide open all the time from the kids running in and out and IF THESE THINGS HAVE GOTTEN IN MY HOUSE I AM MOVING! GROSE!!!!!

I don't know whats more grose...

Her putting the toilet seat on her neck and getting it stuck....

...or the fact that I hurried and grabbed my camera instead of taking it off

Joe Burgess for Cedar City Mayor

My father in law, Joe Burgess is running for mayor. On the 24th of July parade we all wore our shirts and walked in the parade handing out flyers, shirts, and candy. The kids thought it was wicked fun because they got to run in the street and give throw candy at people, doesn't get much funner than that.

Lauren thought this was GREAT FUN!

Until you ran out of candy to give. Nothings funner than your 1 year old throwing a fit in front of everyone at the parade. Nicely done Lauren, nicely done.


Its frustrating to not have the ability to make everyone know Joe the way I know Joe. There are few people on this earth that I respect higher. He has always taught his kids the value of work by example and has always made sure that above all his kids know that it is better to do whats best, not necessarily whats best for you. All the things I know about Joe are what would make him such an asset in this community. But since he does the things that he does because its the right thing to do and not for the "brownie points" he may get, not everyone knows what an amazing man he is.

He is on facebook as well as having a Blog if you are reading this and aren't from around here. This really was going to be a post rather than a political plug, but oh well!

Monday, September 07, 2009

Taking a few newbies out...

I've directed Miss Iron County for the past few years and got really close to last years queen. LOVE HER! I've told her for a while that Jim and I would take her out to attempt wakeboarding. We invited Cole, Necia (her husband was busy), and Crystal (Crystal hadn't done it before either, but we won't dwell on that, will we Erika!) It obviously didn't take much begging to get Jim and Cole to take out 5 cute girls to the lake! (Lauren came along too!)

We gave Crystal some basic instruction, may I remind you that she was the one that was nervous the most. Pretty well convinced she was going to break her neck. She got up on her first try...stayed up, crossed the wake and everything. It was the weirdest thing I have ever seen. She even had her position perfect on the first try, after a while standing there asked what else she was supposed to do. We didn't know what to tell her because we didn't realize she would actually get up and then just ride the whole time. Must've been the rockin good instruction Jim and I gave her. Maybe we should make an instructional video!

Problem was, we should have had Erika go first so that she didn't think that what Crystal did was normal....because Erika did do really really good, just not freakishly good like Crystal. This was her letting me know she was SOOOOO ready to go!

Now how do you do this again?


I decided to compile a "The Best of Erika trying to Wakeboard" video!

This is Necia, shes a good friend of Coles and I've decided I quite like her as well. I LOVE her laugh! She is super sweet and can wake surf better than any other girl I've seen!



So we did some surfing when Jim and Cole decided they'd surf together. I get such a kick out of watching these two try dumb things together, it gives me a glimpse of what they used to do growing up. They've been pretty close since they were like 14 years old or something and always come up with these hairbrained ideas...


Then they usually always pull it off!

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Poor Lilly!

So my computer crashed and I haven't had one for about 2 weeks now. Thats part of my excuse, the other is since it crashed I have NO pictures for the last 8 months (thats when Jim backed up last). Thankfully I had some on my card still, but I basiclaly only have what I have done on the blog. Can I just tell you how thankful I am that I am a good blogger?!? Thats all I have of Lilly now. Yes I lost the other kids' pictures for the last 8 months too and although I'm way sad about that, 8months is basically Lilly's life.

I did have this on my card still. She LOVES Mac n Cheese, even though she can't physically stay awake she keeps trying!! She does this pretty often. Falls asleep while eating, but only tries to still eat with her eyes closed if she eats Mac n Cheese. My favorite is that she gets mad when she can't find the food cause her eyes are shut! Love it!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Friday, August 21, 2009

Josh's Homecoming...

I have been so excited. I don't know if its that he's our baby brother, or maybe its that I'm more grown up than I was when Scott and Heather came home, but I have been SO excited to see Josh. Of course, I don't know who was more excited....mom or his little nieces and nephews.

Of course he had to take FOREVER to come off the plane, I couldn't wait to see if he looked different. Jim says I'm full of it, but I swear the kid is taller. Hes taller than Scott now, and lots taller than I am...yes I know, I'm not what you would call lengthy, but still...he's totally taller!

I kept looking at him seeing the things about him that were familiar, and admiring the things that I could see where he had grown. One of the things I love most about Josh is his apparent spirit about him that radiates and his good sweet heart. I loved that it was the first thing that I recognized and yet you could tell that he had grown up so much in the last two years. His features are more mature and he had such an incredible glow about him.

I thought she was going to have a heart attack waiting. Mom and Josh have always had a special bond that is pretty evident. There is a pretty big gap between the rest of us and him that he grew up in a lot of ways as an only child. It was fun to watch her and see how excited she was.


Oh and my dad...one of my favorite things about him is to watch him beam with pride when he watches his kids. There are few people on this earth that make me feel like I am on top of the world like my dad does.

But I think my highlight was seeing him and Adam. Its been a gradual change for the rest of us to witness Adam resurface and find himselt, but I'm sure that its incredible to see the change in an instant and to have him there when he's been absent for so long is such an amazing feeling





When Josh left I had gone up with my kids (Connor was 20 months and Lauren was 6 weeks old) and this is the picture of when he left vs. coming home.....



When Josh was getting ready to come home and I was trying to plan the festivities, after talking with Scott and Jim I realized that there was a wide range of emotions that he would feel and that I had no idea what he would or wouldn't be ready for. I always knew that he loved going to the lake with us, but I wasn't sure how he would feel about it so I emailed him a list of posabilities and let him choose. He basically said he'd be down for anything, but never mentioned anything about the lake. So I figured he wasn't ready. After we left the airport we went to dinner and he asked about the blue card hanging from my rear view mirror. I told him that it was our pass to the lake and he lit up...."Lake?!?!" I knew that we definately needed to rearrange a few things and make it happen. It was so fun. The weather was so great and the kids had a great time. Didn't take Josh long to get back in the swing of things!
And of course Jim's signature "You're gonna break your neck on of these times" flips....



Not too shabby, Josh...
The kids LOVED sitting in the bow with Grandma Carter
Lauren's way into her sunglasses lately, she loves putting them on.

How cute is Lilly?
Johhny was boobin about how he was too old, didn't even think he could get up...he was in the water 2.5 seconds before he was riding the ski like a pro. It was so fun to watch how much fun he was having, but as soon as he got back into the boat...he was panting saying, "Man...I gotta start running or something!"

All in all, it was a great trip....very fun and the kids had a great time. The water was perfect and it was fun to spend the time together. Its SOOOO good to have Josh home. So fun to spend time with him.

Happy 1st Birthday, Lilly

If your mom was smarter, she would've combined you and Lauren's birthday this year. It fell on an absolute crazy time and lets just say, Lilly....my sweet little Lilly, you got the shaft. Your uncle Josh came home a few days before and between his homecoming festivities and directing Miss Iron County, your mom's head was swimming, desperately trying to stay afloat. My original plan was to celebrate your first year at the mountain seeing as we had planned to have a slew of your cousins there anyway, but that morning we decided to go to the lake and everyone was having too good of a time to come home. Since you fell asleep on the way home, I planned to do it when we went up on wednesday (Yes....two days AFTER your actual birthday). And of course nothing ever happens when you expect it to, so by the time we got dinner made and eaten, it was late and you were tired. Of course I couldn't find any tape anywhere up there so I couldn't wrap your presents, luckily you are still enjoying the random things that make great toys...

...and thankfully you thought your new elmo airlplane was swell.

As for your cake...well try not to dwell on that too sweet heart. Lets just say, it was a WHOLE lot faster than Lauren's...again, why didn't I combine your birthdays on the ONE year I KNOW neither of you would care?!? I tried with all my might to get you to stay awake long enough to eat some, you didn't care for any of it and everyone else was too occupied with the movie on that they didn't care for any either. I think Jim and Misty took a curtousy piece and we called it good.

So there you have it. If I didn't feel like mother of the year when Lauren locked herself in the car for over an hour, or when Connor was streakin up and down the sreet buck naked, or when he and Jadyn about picked up a baby rattle snake, or when Connor is peeing on the front yard tree's telling me that, "Dad says that trees need water to grow so I'm dis giving them their dinner, mom" I sure felt like it on this particular day.

Lilly, Lilly, Lilly. You are without doubt and no question my sweetest baby yet. You fit the quote "survival of the fittest" because between your cousins and your siblings fighting over who gets to hold you, and having to endure being the youngest of three babies....you have learned to be mighty patient with your mom. I LOVE your cute little growl. You have been growling since you were about 4 months old and have come to be known to Connor and Lauren as the Lilly Monster. Its a very distinct growl and is one of my favorite sounds. I love that your first and only word at the moment is 'Mom' and that you still prefer me over anyone, except for your Grandma Karen. I love your beautiful blue eyes, I love seeing my little brother and sister in your smile, and I love knowing that you couldn't wait to be in my arms, so you came a little sooner than I would have chosen. But now that I have you here, from the moment the doctor yelled, "Its a girl!" I have been so thankful that you came when you did. I've needed your sweet smile and your tender eyes. I've needed your cute neck to snuggle with and have loved hearing you laugh. I love looking at you and knowing that you were always meant to be mine. Thank you for being patient with me. Thank you for knowing that I would struggle some days and for being especially sweet. I love you, love Mom

Monday, August 03, 2009

Happy 2nd Birthday, Lauren Magoo!

YAY!! One birthday down, one to go for Lilly!

Lilly was a pretty big grump till she discovered the treats that came out of the Piniota (how the heck to you spell that?)









I can't Believe you're 2! Didn't we just have your 1st birthay like, last week?This little girl lights up my life. I love how you wakes up a ball of sunshine every morning with a "Good Morning mom, good morning Connor James!" I watch you running around full speed with nothing but a diaper on (seriously, what is it with my kids insisting on being free as a bird and naked?). I love watching you sing the "I'm sorry" song, or watching you mimic Connors every move! I've never seen a girl who loves Paci's quite as much as you do. I've been saying that they are going to "spontaneously" break soon, (I can't stand when kids try talking through Paci's, I don't know why). Its almost like you know somethings up because you hoard them, and can't stand to have any that you can see thats not in your hand, even if that means holding 6 at a time...and will routinely switch them out so that they all have equal sucking time. They must all have different flavors.

I love how you are starting to follow me around and mimic what I do. You like to pretend to put makeup on with me every morning, wrap your dolls in anything from toilet paper to dish towels and rocks them to sleep. You are such a sweet little girl.



I LOVE doing your hair. Your dad would much rather me leave it alone because the crazy wiley hair definately fits your personality more, but I can't stand it. You're pretty good at staying still, I have to say. I don't know if its because you really don't care or if you've given up that fight.


I think what I love most is watching you and seeing so much of me in you. Granted, those are usually the times that you are ringing my bell, but I can't help but laugh knowing what your grandma Carter must've been going through trying to tell a stubborn little girl what to do. Sometimes, I just have to let you eat your birthday cake with your mouth like a puppy or laugh when you lock your self in the car for over an hour while I watch you tearing up my music. I love you Lauren. I'm so so thankful for you. I will miss you at this age, I don't want you to get bigger. I will miss your sweet little voice and the cute little words that you say. I will miss you hugging your brother or that mean look you get on your face when you're told something that you don't agree with. I'll miss you saying, "Jesus...where are you?" When we're walking through the church trying to survive the meetings by finding pictures of Him. I will miss you telling your dad when he leaves for work in the morning that you needm "One more kiss, and one more hug." I'll miss you wanting to always "Hold you mommy, Pwease?" I love you Lauren Magoo...Happy Birthday!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

K....big favor everyone

So I told you the story about the whole mommy model shoot after my family shoot and how you model your shoes and whoever has the the most votes on their shoes gets a free session and a free large picture? The time has come to vote! Please please vote for my shoes...I have already done all photos I need and want right now, so I don't really care about winning for that, but my cute friend who never got her senior pics needs it and I want her to be able to have them done by the best! So please PLEASE go to the Mommy Model site to vote and for more information! You have till Friday the 31st to vote!

Friday, July 17, 2009

Slacking...

Jill... why haven't you called me to repentance? I feel like I've been running so fast that I haven't posted in forever. So...we're just going to do a big random post.

Connor and Lauren love to be the first in to see Lilly when she wakes up. Ususally Lauren runs in with her sweetest little Lauren voice saying, "Uh Morning, Wiwwy...uh morning (good morning Lilly)"

Speaking of Lauren...its almost like she's finally figured out that she was jipped out of the whole "baby experience." She wants more paci's, more bottles, and wants to take anything or do anything Lilly is doing at the moment. This is a "tube-of-fun" as Jim calls it, apparently she was tired.

Aside from the scaryness of her rockin bedhead, this baby girl wakes up EVERY morning with this sweet smile, she is a BALL of sunshine in the morning...she did NOT aquire that trait from her mother. I usually stumble to the bathroom in the morning, with her in tow asking me "Uh doin mom? Uh doin?" And of course she won't stop till I answer. I turn on the shower, de-clothe and she says, "Mom...no pee pee on the floor mom...no no!" Thats usually what I tell her when I get her undressed for the tub or just getting her out.

Connor is such a sweet boy these days, but he's trying to work his way through this whole no nap thing. Especially in the summer, he runs ragged and crashes like this.

Apparently a comfy place to sleep!

One day he was determined to wear his hood all day, to keep his head warm. Mind you its 95+ degrees out, but who can argue with a 3 year old? He looks like Smeegle on Lord of the Rings

This is one of my favorite pictures Emily took... I love while Lauren is feeding Lilly her ice cream, Connor is licking his lips like..."Its good, isn't it Lilly?"

I can't wait to see these three as they get older. Now that Lilly is getting around more and doesn't want to play with me as much as them, they are so cute togther. Don't get me wrong, they have their moments of "SERENITY NOW!!" but are all in all sweet kids

Its so funny to me to see the Dejavu between Lilly and Lauren, I was just putting Lauren in that sink with Connor in the other...oh wait...it wasn't that long ago!

Every day I'm so thankful for the cousins that are so close. This was right before the last powell trip and Connor got a pole for his birthday. Why the helmets while they're practicing, I don't know. Maybe it helps the cast. Who knows

One of the bigger experiences lately, was Connor's first stitches. This will go down as one of my least favorite experiences as a mother so far. Having to hold him down to sew his GAPING hole was not my favorite. I was walking Jace's fiance (they're getting married July 25) out and Connor was running in, tripped on the cement stair and smacked his eye on the next step. He was crying, I didn't realize how bad it was till I moved his hand and there was this GAPING hole under his eye. After they stitched him up, mom asked if they checked to make sure he didn't brake any bones, I told her there was no need....you could SEE his facial bones. It was disgusting. But like he said, "mom...I was so big and brave!" This picture doesn't give it justice, but he was definately not wanting me to take it so it was the best we could do.


For the parade, the kids dressed up like clowns and rode their bikes down main street. They thought they were pretty cool. Its so fun to see them get old enough to do things like this.


So Jace's fiance Cassie is one of the sweetest and most soft hearted girl I've ever met. She will be SUCH an asset to this family. She asked me to do her hair and makeup. I was a bit nervous because she really didn't know what to ask for and I didn't want her to look anything but how she wanted to. She had gone to the lake and had gotten burned so I made her put this mask on after I set her hair, (I'm sure hoping she's OK with this being on the internet for the world to see!). As soon as I can I'll post the after pictures from her bridal shoot with Karl Hugh because let me tell you, she looked STUNNING. I lost a bit of sleep over wanting to make sure she looked the way she wanted to, and I was literally in tears when it all came together.

I think that may be it. As for me, I'm just plugging along. As far as my thyroid update...I just had it checked last month and they gave me the all clear. I am off all meds and have been for about 2 months. I've lost a bit more, I don't know if maybe after all is said and done my metabolism is a little screwy...I'm definately not complaining about my built in Jenny Craig system, but it is a little worrysome. As long as its nothing other than that I'm fine with it. I usually feel pretty fine. So thats it...hopefully I'll do better with my blogging mission!

Friday, June 26, 2009

From Emily's Blog

1. Do you have any nicknames?

My brothers growing up always called me Mardog...not my favorite one. My grandma calls me Mari-Dar, but Mari is a nickname, short for Marijeanne (Mar-zhaun NOT Mary-Jean)

2. If the world ended and you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

hmmmmmm thats difficult. Probably Pizza, can I have milk and ranch with it?

3. Morning person or night owl?

Night owl...you don't want to be around me in the morning.

4. How old were you when you had your first kiss?

Hmmmm thats a hard one. When I was in 7th grade, Nick Brown got dared to kiss me with his tongue down my throat. I was so afraid that was what kissing was that I was NOT in any hurry to try that one again. My first KISS kiss was about two years later, but I hate to touch noses that kissing always posed a challenge. I won't intentionally touch ANYONE'S nose other than my kids, (Noses are creapy, not natural!) so when someone kissed me and I realized their nose touched my face it freaked me out.

5. Tell us something embarrassing about yourself.

Thats also a hard question because I really don't embarress easy, but I do dumb things quite often. Probably one of the worst was the time I went to the gym with my sisters and mother in law. I had a hoody on because it was a blizzard outside. It was early in the morning and all the tread mills were occupied. We walked in, went to the coat rack to take our sweaters off, then walked through the treadmills. I got all the way across the room when I got a weird look from a girl on one of them and I realized that I had taken my shirt off WITH my hoody that was hung up across the room in the rack. I have walked across the room without a shirt. I RAN across the room and frantically tried to cover my boobs while getting my t-shirt untangled from my hoody. People are watching me wondering if I am a little off and people are walking in the front door taking second glances at me while I am WISHING I would just wake up from the nightmare where I go to school (in this case the gym) naked. Of course I am thankful for the fact that I live in utah, otherwise I might have had a few MORE people who would have wondered, "why is she wearing a bra over her silky see-through shirt?"

6. What are some of your korky silly fears?

I have a phobia of sharks and not exagerating will probably have a nightmare about them at LEAST every other night. It started when I was 8 yrs old my brother's sat on me and made me watch Jaws. I didn't take a bath for 6 months. Yes, I was the stinky kid on the block. I still won't swim in the ocean except for somewhere like the caribean where I can see below me and although I logically know there's no sharks in the lake you can't tease me about something swimming near me when we're there. I will cry

7. Hobbies, interests, talents?

I love singing, music in general. It is the my heart for sure.

8. Favorite all time movie...

Thats also hard, it changes. I LOVE the Princess Bride, PS I love you, and the Friends episodes I have on DVD

9. What do you spend most of your time doing every day?

Changing diapers and doing my endless mound of Laundry. Laundry is of the devil!!!! Stupid fat hobit laundry

10. If you could have any super hero power what would it be?

Read peoples minds....oooo oooo and that one power that the guy on "Heroes" has, where he can take on whatever power someone has around him. Except I don't want to have to kill someone to get it like he does...oh and I guess in reality no one has super powers to take, so I guess I'll stick with reading minds.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

The shoes...

These are my favorite from the photoshoot Emily took, isn't she amazing? I may start calling in favors to my stunningly beautiful mommy's (Aurie, Venita, Jill, Heather, Rachael...OR ANYONE IN THAT AREA THAT WILL DO IT!) Do you like how I was boobing about getting tricked and wouldn't have done it otherwise, and now I'm making you do it? Seriously guys, its 50 bucks and you get a full shoot with a cd full of shots. You can do what I intend to do which is getting my mom and sister to do it so that I can have a shot of us togther. Emily just moved up that way and needs mommy's that live around there. She's an AMAZING photographer and families up there need to see her talent. I'm being totally serious, click on her blog PS...if you do it Heather, I'll haul mom up and we'll get some of us together. Down here, Emily is booked solid. Her site is filled with galleries that will stun you, but up there not a lot of people (I'm guessing, do you like how I'm speaking for you Emily?) know how talented she is. Her prices are so reasonable and you get so much for what you pay. Not to mention the joy that it is to just hang out with her.

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Our new family Pics

I have been SOOOOO excited for these. I've wanted to get them done for a few months, but something always came up and it got procrastinated. Her name is Emily Clark and she is one of the more talented photographers I've seen. You know how some people decide what they're going to do when they grow up, and some people are born with what they should do when they grow up? Emily was meant to be a photographer. In heaven when all the rest of us were waiting in the various "what talents I'd really like to have while on earth" lines, she had her lawn chair and thermos ready so she could be first in line when it opened. She captures the moments I want to remember. She has this blog that is one of the more efficient blogs I have ever seen. She doesn't need an office staff (although she's so busy she probably wishes she had one most days), you are able to schedule what you want and when on this site. So Kristina's brother had his engagement pics done with her and ever since I've wanted to have her take pics of my kids. I got on her site and noticed that she had this "mommy model" contest that she does every year around mothers day. She posts a picture of your shoes on her blog, whoever wins gets a free sitting among other things. I thought, let be honest....I have some wicked cute shoes. I've got this in the bag! So I we show up for the pictures and get the family ones done, then she said she was ready for me. I hurried and changed my shoes and skirt (which was a black flowy skirt with red roses on it). I didn't want to match my outfit for the family pictures to match my shoes for the mommy shoot so I figured since she was only shooting the shoes who cares, right? She looked up after changing something on her camera and said, "Is that what you're wearing?" I said, " Well...ya. Is it not OK?" She giggled and let me know that she was intending on taking a picture of ALL OF ME, not just the shoes. I'm sure my face went 9 shades of red and I let her know that a 29 year old mother of 3 who BARELY washes her hair twice a week does not need her own photoshoot. What am I going to do with pictures of just me? I was so embarressed. I said, "Just take a picture of the shoes, not me. Its fine, I don't need any of me." She said, "Sorry...thats the deal. Lets just meet again Friday"













The night before I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking I wanted to ask her to instead of me, take pictures of Adam. No one has a good picture of him since he's been gone for so long, and I wanted so much for him to see what I see. The essence that only Adam has, the quality that is so genuine and pure. Not to mention how Handsome he is. She sent me a sample of him and I from the shoot, I posted it a few weeks ago. But in case you missed it, here it is.


Although I know I wouldn't have done the shoot had I not misunderstood that she was intending on showing all of me, can I just tell you how fun it was? There was a time I think I felt attractive and confident, I haven't felt that way in a long time. To have a reason to gussy up and feel beautiful for a day was kind of refreshing. For those of you reading this, I'm really not fishing for compliments, you and I both know that when you get older and have kids the fact that spend most of the day with puke on your shirt, poop in your fingernails, hair in a ponytail from the day before, and fishing poop out of the tub from one OR all of your kids...attractive goes RIGHT out the window. Thank you Emily

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Connor's first talk as a Sunbeam in Primary

So proud of Connor today. He gets shy easy, I didn't think he'd be able to speak into the microphone. But as sunbeams, I guess no one expects an Academy Award Acceptance speech. This is his talk...
I love Daddy, he loves me

We love Mommy, Yeseree

She loves us and so you see

We are a happy Family

I love lauren she loves me

We love Lilly, Yeseree. She loves us and so you see

We are are a happy Family

Sometimes it is hard to be nice

I have to say I'm sorry, Sometimes twice

They say its OK and we play some more

We're a happy family ever more

Father in Heaven smiles to see,
When we are nice and try hard to be
(I couldn't get my scanner to work, I drew a VERY basic happy face)

Kind to His children both you and me,
We have eternal Families

He did SUCH a good job. Loved every minute of it, talked loud, smiled from ear to ear, and was so cute. I wish I got it on tape, but they kind of frown upon that I guess

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Disney Cruise

I have meant to and wanted to post this forever, but finding the time between life and everything else is dang near impossible. I knew it was going to be a big post, so I have been procrastinating it, but maybe I'll do as much as I can and finish later...

Can I just tell you what a blast it was? I am a homebody and rarely want to be gone longer than necessary, and I ALWAYS prefer my own bed...this was the first time since Hawii (5ish years ago) that I didn't want to go home. It was seriously so fun. The kids had a blast, I can't even begin to describe the boat...amazing. On our way...Connor wanted to pull his own bag, well pretty much 24/7. He has this little McQueen bag on wheels and if we were going anywhere, whether on the plane or down the hall to the toilet, this kid had to pull his bag. Most of the kids were on that kick...I loved watching Connor follow Jim around, he felt so important.



We left our house at 4 am. It was rough. The rest of the gang either had different flights to SLC, or drove up the night before. Jim and I had our own flight from Cedar there, I know Bev looked at Lauren's bedhead and was pretty embarressed to be around us, like I told her....at 4 am you're lucky they're dressed period, let alone comb her hair. It was pretty good bedhead

Thank goodness for TV...many of you may be against the whole kids watching TV when they're young, it is the reason I can shower now and again, and how we survived layovers. I was really quite concerned about how the kids would do on the long flights, we got soooo lucky. They slept the ENTIRE time, to and from. The only rough one was the first one to SL, Lauren really REALLY wanted to play in the isle.

Connor is really funny about going somewhere. When we were getting ready to go to the fair, I had been telling him for about a week that..."one more day and we get to go to the fair." He was NOT happy when we drove to Grandma Deanie's the night before and we weren't going STRAIGHT to the fair that minute, he even struggled when I had to stop to get gas. So I knew he was going to have a hard time with the whole one day of traveling, disneyworld, and THEN Mickey Mouse's boat. So we had to do the, "Ok Connor...we are going to fly some airplane's, FUN! Then we have to go to Mickey Mouse's house and ask him if we can go on his boat, K?" That was a big thing. Had to go ask Mickey.

The first time we went on the merry-go-round, Lauren was pretty unsure. Then of course after the first trip it was a fight to get her off. The kids really had so much fun. I wish I were smart enough to remember my camera for Its a Small World, she was in heaven! Her face was awesome!


Taking 6 kids 3 and under poses its own safety concerns. Last time Jim and I went to Disneyland, Lauren ran off and we almost lost her, that was scary. So...we wrote "My daddy 435-691..." Then told them all that if they can't find us to find a mommy and show them their pretty picture mommy/ Aunt Mar drew

So we found Mickey, really buttered up the situation by telling Connor to make sure he asks if Jaxon, Jadyn, Jakey, Chicken Coop (Cooper)..... could come too. And to make sure to ask extra nice. He was so cute. Walked right up, thankfully being so close to the cruise ship's port, I'm sure he knew what he was talking about and nodded really big.


Wiped out. The kids had so much fun, but were SOOOO wiped out by the end of each day.

So the cruises we've been on before, you basically stay in a sardine cracker jack box. It never matters because you're never in there. These rooms were SOOOOO much nicer and roomier (is that a word?) We even had a window, which was so nice and relaxing to sit on the couch and watch the miles of ocean outside. Connor and Lauren thought it was pretty cool.

OK....so lets talk about the programs on the ship. If your child is at least 3 and potty trained, they have programs and activities ALL day for them to attend. They give you a pager, you drop them off, if they get upset, done, over it, missing you, they page you while you're enjoying the AMAZING spa and you hop over to the elevator and grab em. They have all these disney characters tell their story first hand of what happened, the play area is UNBELIEVABLE....AND they have different areas for different ages. There's like this video game heaven for 11-13ish year olds...seriously amazing. They had a pajama party one night, so many activities. Amazing. Their entertainment/ actors and actresses were phenomenal. I've been on cruises before where it was painful to listen and watch them, nothing like this. Every night there was either a show, HUGE movie, (one night was this incredible earth show, like a nature kind of thing.)


Our first port was Key West. We took a trolley all around and looked at different stuff. The kids probably didn't care about that, but they did like the trolley because it had really big open windows. Anyway we took it to a butterfly farm. So cool. SOOOO cool. It felt like Hell's doorstep in there, it was so humid and hot, but it was so neat.


This butterfly doesn't look too big....

...Till you see Jadyn's hand near it, and there was another one under it, um doing something I hope they were married first to do. I'm sure they were, it was a family place!

So since they made it clear that you couldn't touch a butterfly unless it landed on you, poor Jadyn stood there with her arm out so still HOPING one would land on her, she was pretty disgusted with them for not seeing how great of a landing spot she would be...

..WAY disgusted that Jace was

They also had these beautiful birds.

For being a family place, these butterflys were kind of sluts


Hee hee, that one's fake!




Yes...we are still doing the bag thing

Poor Lauren has to curl her hair even when we know we're having a beach day...mom's got a bit of the crazies!

One of my favorite aspects is the dining...YUM-EEEE!!! So good. Lauren liked the fact that I would let her eat butter with spoon to keep her content long enough for the 5 COURSE MEAL! Love it.


So Jace has been dating Cassie Platt...we LOVE her! She is so cute and is going to be such a good match for Jace. I didn't know that was possible! He's been carrying this stinkin ring around FOR MONTHS. We've known, but had to act like nothing was going on forever...we knew he was proposing sometime on the cruise. I about ruined it when we to disneyworld...I was relieved when the trip came so that we didn't have to pretend ANYMORE! But, I forgot Connor's principal that even though the "trip" was there, we still had to wait till he actually did it. Anyway, we were getting off the shuttle at Disneyworld and I said, "HEY! I just realized when you guys get....not broken up, your kids could have awesome hair (she's got gobs of it, and Jace could put a rug on every bald man in the world)." I realized half way that it was going to be an ugly dig out. So I added, "So you guys can't break up! For the sake of your possible future children's hair, don't break up." Thankfully they're still in the blissful part of their relationship that they walked off with birds chirping all around, deer walking alongside Cassie as they were bantering back and forth about breaking up....COMPLETELY oblivious to the "how I ruined it by Mari Burgess" bomb I had dropped, at least Cassie didn't know. Jace knew and a couple of people did worse and she still didn't know. They are so cute together. They got engaged like a few days in, alone on the top deck waiting for the resturaunt. It was so funny because since they were gone, we knew what they were doing (no not like the butterflies!) And as soon as they walked into the theatre later, Jayme looked at me with a HUGE grin and pointed to her finger.


Usually when most of dinner was done, I took Lauren to the play area. Coop was done too

Some nights are casual dress for dinner, others either semi formal and formal. So fun

Our next port was Grand Caymen and Jim, Jayme, and I dove. AMAZING. I haven't dove in years cause you can't pregnant. I've really missed it. Its so beautiful down there and feels like another world. This is going to be TMI (Too much information) but Aunt Flo decided to have impecable timing and arrive on our trip. Those who know me know I am terrified of Sharks and have (not exagerating) at least a nightmare about them every 3 nights or so....at least. I know Jaws is waiting, he just doesn't have the time to find me, you're only down like 30 minutes or so....I was convinced after seeing that special, during Shark week on discovery channel how sharks can smell a drop of blood miles away...So, I figured I'd wear this freaking hot armor/ wetsuit so it would be harder for him to find me....and you think I'm kidding? I'm so bummed. It was a two tank dive and the first one we went about 80 feet and found out AFTER the herd of HUGE turtles came that our little disposable camera didn't work at that depth. One swam right by me so I reached out and my fingers ran across its back as it swam away, the lady from the diving company we went with was not amused.





Have any of you seen the live version of Peter Pan? If so, picture Jayme singing the "I'm flying song"

I was trying to stay down so Jim could take a picture but it looks like either some yoga pose, or a frog....you choose


This was the bahamas. It was supposed to be Cozumel but because of the whole swine flu, most if not all cruise ships won't go to Mexico right now. I'm so glad, Bahamas was soooooo fun! This is the kids waiting for Grandma and Papa Burgess to hurry their bums!

Nice Jace....I won't mention the similarities!

They had this resort that rooms there range from $280 to $25,000 a night (minimum 4 day stay) It had an incredible aquarium, beautiful beaches, and a ROCKING waterpark. So we took a large van there and planned to just do the aquarium thing.


"Aquarium's that way"


To say this mantawray (SOOO hope thats how you spell it) was huge would be like my mom saysm "The mississsippi is a small stream" I bet it was at least 8 ft long, huge

This is a grouper, huge as well. Jim, Jayme, and I saw one when we were diving this big, I thought it was going to eat Jayme as an appetizer. HUGE. And quite ugly, ahhhhhh sad, hopefully there's a fish out there for everyone.



Everyone look here dangit!! (Oh wait, I'm not looking either. Crap!)




These stupid birds were EVERYWHERE. And let me tell you they were crafty little suckers. They would literally swipe the food every chance they got. I so wish I had a picture of Jim lifting a french fry to his mouth and it took it that fast. So funny. Kids thought that was great.


It was SOOOOOO hot. We were planning on leaving the resort and finding a beach since unless you were a guest, you had to pay quite a bit more to play in their inclusive private beaches. We were so hot and knew that it would be such a hassle to find a taxi to take all of us to another beach, just to find another one to take us back to the boat we decided to pay the extra fee. Glad we did. That will go down as one of the funnest days I've ever had. They had a seperate water park for the kids, it was warm, beautiful and all us siblings were having so much fun just hanging out with eachother while the kids were in 7th heaven. Loved it (Can you see the dolphin?)



I'm so mad I didn't get a picture of the slides and huge kid waterpark. It was seriously so cool. Especially since a lot of the adult slides went THROUGH the shark and predator tanks, my worst fear realized, we all took turns watching eachother's kids while a couple went on rides. It was a blast. To say the kids crashed is an understatement, they walked all over tarnation and swam from one end to the other, they CRASHED! You like the towels on Connor and Lauren? Bev gave them to all the kids for Christmas and good thing Lauren was out, she wouldn't have allowed Connor to have the pirate one otherwise...."MOM!! I Pie-errt!"



I WISH I had more pictures of the boat itselft, I have tons of video, little to no pictures. They had 3 main pool areas. One for 18 and older, the other for families (which also had a like 20 ft large screen TV that played movies and cartoons all day), the other for kids. They had these signs that said, "according to State and Federal Health children who are not toilet trained are not allowed in pool area..." Like Aurie said, all I heard was, "Blah Blah your child can't swim here thereby RUINING your trip because if you think she'll watch her brothers and cousins swim and swim herself you're full of @$%#&!" All of my kids' swimsuits have built in diapers. I got tired of having to find seperate diapers that really don't hold a whole lot of anything, these ones have material that is much more preventative and like I said, its built in. They had these attendants that were there solely to spot out swim diapers to get them out of the pool to prevent any accidents. I figured, how are they going to know Lauren isn't actually potty trained? She's big enough and acts old enough that I figured I'd wait till she did her clock-work morning poo, then take her to the pool, no one would be the wiser. This particular morning, I had been at the spa and was meeting Jim and the kids at the pool. I walked up, noticed a poop nazi standing guard and when she figured out that she was my daughter asked, "Is that a swim diaper" I knew I couldn't lie so I hoped I could make her forget what she was about to ask me. So I launched in...."I found these AWESOME (emphasis on the awesome) swimsuits that have these built in diapers, do you have kids? OH! Just wait, you'll hate having to deal with all the annoying things you have to do to prepare for them, so I just bought all my kids these swim diapers....they kind of run big, like my son over there, he's been potty trained for almost a year now and his has one just because he's so little, and the swimsuit that my daughter is wearing is actually my 8 month olds....I have another baby you know, we left her home because I figured it would be easier......" Thankfully, I have the gift of gab. I'm sure depending on the situation, and who you're talking to its a curse and wish I didn't have it, but at this point, I knew exactly what I was doing and it was my greatest talent. As soon as I turned around, she high tailed it to the other end of the pool, thinking I was a crazy woman that wouldn't shut up. I thought YES!! Crisis everted. Keep in mind that we were in the family pool area because a kid had pooped in the kid area and they had to close it off, put Hazmat suits on, drain it, sanitize it, while all the kids AND their parents glared at the kid and mother who ruined it for everyone. Just then, I turned around, Lauren plopped down on her butt next to the spa and pooped launched everywhere like a poo filled water balloon had dropped instead of her bum. The blood drained from my face, I IMMEDIATELY heard the mission impossible theme music in my head as I grabbed her while the poop nazi had her back turned to me, and as I was trying to discretely sneak her to the bathroom, I slipped and fell down the stairs (way too slippery for my old tread worn sandals) I jumped up, grabbed Jim's arm to hide. Asked him if Lauren had pooped that morning, he said no....yes I wanted to kill him....and told him that his #1 priority in that moment was to take his towel, lay it over the evidence, stay for a minute or two and wipe it up as he went. I ran down to our room, took the 'wow I can't believe even these amazing suits held this in' off her and while she happily jumped on the bed I scrubbed the poop out of the suit (for everyone's sake, I won't describe this. It was by the most disgusting experience of my life...and my bare hands.) Thankfully I forgot Connor's underwear and since I had to wash the ONLY pair Melina and Jaxon let us borrow I had laundry soap. I couldn't put a different suit on her after I told the nazi for an hour how amazing it was because if Jim hadn't completed his mission, she'd know as well as all the other kids' and their mothers and WE'D be EXTRA hated for closing the only remaining pool on a sea day (when you're on the boat all day). Thankfully, he did his job and I did mine.
Our last port was Disney's Castaway Cay Island. It was such a beautiful Island.














Phew! That was a long post! I better sit down!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Adam

There's strength in mighty mountains,
And winds that break and bend
But greater strength than this it takes
For one his soul to mend
Can one ever know the pain
Of the bondsman struggling to be free
Can one ever measure out the hurt
Where there's pain that eyes can't see
I've seen you bend in sorrow
I've watched you tremble with the pain
I've seen you grope for freedom
And I've seen you stand again
There's strength in mighty mountains
And winds that break and bend
But greater strength than this I saw
The day you took your soul to mend
-Marijeanne Carter

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

In Memory of...

This post started out as wanting to share the finished product of "Letter from Avery." I couldn't get it to post just the song, so I figured I'd do a slideshow. Then I realized...what pictures do I have to use? So (and I couldn't ask Candi because she as we speak is ON HER WAY TO IMPLANT THEIR TWO REMAINING EMBRYOS, so I hope this is OK with her)

After following Candi's story (Avery's mom) I saw another link on her blog that lead to a site called, "Loving Leah" I clicked on it and read of a similar situation and thought it appropriate to show sweet little Leah as well. Hopefully everyone has their tissues ready and handy.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I want Candi and Amy to know how much I am impressed and in awe of their faith that gets them through day by day. I can't imagine what you are going through and want you to know that you are both in my prayers. Please keep Candi in your prayers as she is undergoing this procedure tomarrow, and Amy while she and her husband are desperately trying to adopt a baby.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Very Belated Easter

In my defense, I haven't been procrastinating so much as I've needed pictures from my mom's camera to complete my post....and a little procrastination. We went to Grandma Deenie's and had such a good time. Poor Liv was sick so we didn't get to see Aunt Heather, but Michael came with Belle and the world was right for Connor again. We rode the 4-wheelers, the Rzr, fed the goats, ran around, and of course splashed in the mud puddles.

Karen is so so thoughtful. Everytime the kids have gone on a trip or for any holiday, she makes sure they have a basket of goodies. She'll come late at night to put treats in their carseat and toys to occupy their time. So so thoughtful. She gave me this huge bucket of goodies for the kids to open on Easter, they were thrilled


Bev made these dresses for the girls and although she has made some beautiful outfits in the past, this is by far my favorite. However the dress couldn't be quite as cute without being 100% silk....silk on a 1 year old and 8 month old, whatever. They have worn them twice since I have to dry clean them in between. But so so cute



Mom wanted to take the kids on a "walk". The shirt you see Lauren in was a brand new WHITE shirt if you can believe it looking at the pictures. Mom says that it was a bit by bit process. First Connor's shoes got wet, then they were splashing, then apparetnly rolling around in it. They had a great time and she magically got the shirt looking new again. They had so much fun



Lauren doing what she does best, eat

One of my favorite aspects of this trip was that Adam came. It was so fun to spend real quality time with him, I haven't in years. I couldn't get over how blissful it was to be around him.

This is Connor on those bunji jumping things where they pull you down and let you shoot up way high, some of the kids that were lots older than Connor were a little scared on it, you go pretty high. He was pretty excited

One of Connor's favorite rides is the Ferris Wheel. I stood in line in the heat for about 1 hour before FINALLY making it to the front, only to have the guy tell me that Lauren wasn't tall enough. I said, "Seriously? Seriously! We have waited in this stupid line forEVER!" I just ignored him and went anyway, figuring what was he going to do? Take me down? Thankfully he didn't and we didn't go back

Lauren really struggled with the fact that she couldn't be ONE with the pigs, every chance she got she tried to monkey in with them.

Don't they look like they're conspiring?

Donald was kind enough to wash all the spiders that had been occupying this play set in Grandma's back yard and the kids thought it was loads of fun. Of course there was enough rain that weekend that it was probably a waste of time considering it got washed and washed and then washed some more, it was still very nice!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Who could resist?

McQueen underpants: $8
Dora the Explorer Popsicle: $.75
Picture with your best friend IN your McQueen underpants with your Dora the Explorer popsicle.....Priceless

You're going to think this next picture was posed, they both came in while I was blogging and had the Mickey and Minnie ears on...who could resist that picture? Don't worry, I had them show their muscles to look more manly

Which do you like better?

Beckie and I are trying to find a picture for our CD and I can't decide which,

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Beckie

If only there were more Beckie's in the world...


Beckie and I have been working on songs for the past 4 years. I'm so thankful that I have been able to meet her, learn from her, and have her as my friend. She is such an example to me, never wants credit for her talent... turning the spot on you instead. I hope she knows I love her and I'm so thankful for the chance and blessing it has been to write songs with her. Its such an amazing experience working with Beckie. I hope one day she realizes how talented and amazing she is.




After I heard her song that she wrote for her stake Easter fireside, I've wanted to get back into the studio and finish some of our projects. Spent all day in St George. We got a lot done today, most of 3 songs which when recording is A LOT! We had some of the choir members come down that sang with Mark Leavitt on her song entitled "Continue in my love" Such a beautiful song. She did an incredible job. She needed more guys so I hauled my brother Adam down with me so that he could fill in some gaps.


I'll post some of the finished product.

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Lauren...oh Lauren

This child has made a personal goal of giving me a heart attack. I took the girls with me and mom to go on a Cost Co run. We got home, I had just gotten Lilly out of her car seat and while I was gone taking Lilly in the house, Lauren monkey'd to the front seat like she usually does so that she has a chance to play with the steering wheel and blinker till I can come grab her. As I was walking to the driver side front door, I closed the passenger door shut knowing I would get her out of the driver door...I heard a click. She locked me out, obviously with my keys in the ignition. Before you have a heart attack yourself grandma, no she can't turn the keys and doesn't know how to turn the car on, (believe me I tried for 20 minutes to get her to get the keys out hoping she could push the unlock button on the keys...no dice. She didn't even know where or what they were), and yes...my spare keys were in the diaper bag in the backseat...thanks for the suggestion. I tried everything. She's done this once before to me right after the play group with Lilly in the backseat, but it only took like 5-10 minutes for me and Jayme to get her to push the unlock button. I tried for 30 minutes before finally calling Jim. She was having FAR too much fun to do it. She did push it a few times, or at least it looked like she was pushing it, but it wouldn't work. I think maybe the blinker and headlight games made the battery run low and it wasn't working as well... whatever it was, she was in the car for an hour. Fun


..After trying for 45 minutes, Jim and I finally called the locksmith.


For those of you thinking that my priorites should be getting her out, not videoing it so I could blog it later, I didn't get the camera till I knew I was probably going to have to call the locksmith so I may as well document it so I can get back at her when she's older....clearly thats a must!

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Saturday, March 21, 2009

Jim's Birthday

And I got him a new car!

Well, sorta! Poor Jim was so sick on his birthday. Thankfully we went to the temple and dinner the night before. He likes remote control cars and I figured the kids would love it. Lauren stinks at driving. She basically just goes till she runs into something. So I got Jim this that you can switch from manual so Connor can drive it to remote control so that everyone else can! Pretty funny.

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If you ask Connor how old Jim is he lets you know that..."Daddy is 5, Mom you're 28, and I'm dis Free" I hope I don't fail to let Jim know how thankful I am that he was born and not just on his birthday. He works so hard and is such a good father. I love you Jim

The Black Engine

If this image doesn't inflict horrific images that will haunt your dreams then you don't know what scary is! This book was written in the 1930's and Bev has it in her reading collection downstairs for her grandkids. Connor has been obsessed with Trains for quite some time now, you'd think he'd love this book. For a while he'd make Bev read this one everytime he'd come over. Then he started talking about how the "Black engine scares me" That was the THEME of any conversation you'd have with him. Perfect strangers would get an ear full of exactly how terrifying this Black Engine was. It was all fun and games until the night terrors about this dumb book started. He would wake up, start SCREAMING as he ran up and down the halls. It would take forever to calm him down, another 30 minutes to listen as he told you about how the black engine was going to get him till he finally fell asleep in his dad's arms. I told Bev I was going to go over and personally BURN that stupid book. It got to the point that any time you'd even mention Grandma Burgess, he'd let you know he can't go because the black engine lives there. So a few days ago Bev went and got it, gave it to Connor and told him to throw it away. He did but had to check on it every 5 minutes to make sure its there. We still hear about it but at least now the conversation revolves around telling you that he threw the black engine away and then the garbage man took it away so now its gone. He then told me that theres a tug boat he's scared of too.....are you serious? I told him that he'll probably get beat up at school when he gets older. So a few mornings ago I found them like this. Now he's really sensative about anyone being scared, he said that Lauren had a bad dream and was scared so he held her. How sweet is that? Stupid Black Engine.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

How cute are my kids?

At first when I had Lilly, and for quite a few months after, every day felt like surviving. Lauren wasn't walking and between trying to get all my usual chores done and doing three kids in diapers, I was praying for the day when they'd all get just a little bigger. I can tell you that lately I have been praying for time to stand still. They are so good to each other (most of the time that is) and things are getting to where they are a little more manageable. Lauren....oh Lauren. When I'm not wondering whether or not I'm going to sell her to the Indians, she is so sweet and entertaining. She is SMART! This little girl is a firecracker. She wants to do anything and everything she sees Connor do, gets REALLY mad when she can't do it "Byself" and when Connor wants whatever it is she has at the moment, with her cutest little voice she says, "Eergo." I LOVE watching her naked butt run all over the house. She runs on her tippy toes and that cute little chubby bum makes me want to SQUEEZE IT! She loves to make Connor laugh and loves being a big girl. Poor thing has a lot expected of her at 1 years old, but does such a good job.



Connor is so funny. He is still WAY into bugs and carrying them around, letting them crawl ALL over him. He's in swimming lessons right now and is doing SO good. He can dive to the bottom for rockets, swim from the stairs to half the length under water and thinks he's pretty big. The first two days were pretty dramatic, but once I got him "Magic goggles" and had him dive for Mqueen instead of the teachers boring rings, we were all for it. He's done really good. He LOVES to sing and dance. Jim is pretty worried. He'll be on the bed with me, hear a song and say, "Mom...I just gotta dance." His favorite song at the moment is 'So What' by Pink....he'll dance all day to that and makes Lauren dance with him. He's really good at numbers and letters, loves to read books, LOVES watching Backyardigans in the bathtub at night, and still absolutely adores his dad. He's way into middle names right now....he'll run through all his cousins' FULL names, then when he gets to me and Jim lets us know that we are "Daddy Jim Burgess and Mommy Mari Burgess." Loves going to Primary as long as his cousins are there, otherwise don't even try.

Lilly....oh my sweet Lilly. This baby is heaven sent. I know I have good kids, but this little girl gives them a run for their money...plays with toys contently on the floor....loves to watch and laugh at her siblings, loves eating baby food, and sleeps like the dream baby she is. I just have to lay her down and she sleeps a good 12 hours a night. She was definately meant to be the 3rd baby...especially for how close she is to Lauren. I don't think I would have survived had it been a meanie. My favorite at the moment is her growling...its so funny. Jim and Connor have given her the nickname "Lilly Monster" and it fits. I am so lucky.

My life flashed before my eyes!

So I'm making dinner, (didn't realize I blew a bubble right then...that looks funny), minding my own business, and I'm thinking to myself..."Gosh its hot in here, whats that burning smell?" I look down, and I'M ON FIRE!!!

Heather had made me this apron, (for no reason but that she loves me by the way!), and I'm totally on fire! I start screaming and hitting it trying to get it out and its not...so I just keep hitting. I guess maybe you shouldn't tie it in the front....mental note for next time. Connor and Jaxon come running in, wondering why I screamed.

Me: I caught myself on fire
Jaxon: Why did you do that, Mar?
Connor: Was it an accident?
Me: Yes, honey...it was an accident
Connor: Did it scare you?
Me: Ya!
Connor (as he wraps his arms around my legs): Oh honey...I'm so sorry it scared you!
Jaxon: This one time, when I was little, I burnt my fingers off! Good thing they grew back!

Yep Jaxon, good thing

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Tagged

PICTURE TAG!

Here are the rules.

1. Go to my documents/pictures.
2. Go to my 6th file folder.
3. Go to my 6th picture.
4. Blog about it.
5. Tag 6 people to do the same.


This picture means a lot to me right now. My brother is struggling severly in his life and my siblings along with my parents have gotten together to try and mend our family. My parents are divorced and its not a mend for their sake so much as a mend for all of our sakes. Divorce is such a hard situation that never goes away, but lately (and this is going to sound weird and I hope that it doesn't offend anyone) I've been so thankful for the experiences in my life that have made me ME. I don't think I would change any of them....honestly. I look at the way that it has molded me and in this moment, I feel so thankful. I am so thankful for the chance we've had to mend our family. We've never EVER talked about what happened almost 20 years ago, besides issues we had been through before that and it has been theraputic (ha ha Scott! I'm saying that word too now!) to see everyone else's perspectives and to understand eachother a little better. I feel like I KNOW my family now so much better and I am so so proud of each and every one of them and can say that I have such a solid and strong family where I doubted that before. Again, I apologize for the emotional baggage this blog carries to unsuspecting readers. I am using it for me and I know sometimes that requires giving a little too much personal information. I want my siblings to know how proud I am of them, how thankful I am for them, and that I love them. I want my parents to know how proud of them I am, how brave they are, how much I respect and honor them for the sacrifices they made for us, especially the silent sacrifices which were the hardest to make. I hope they know I recognize now more than ever what they did for us and am so thankful.....and thank you Kristen for tagging me! That really was the picture! Ha ha!

Sunday, March 01, 2009

Wii Fit? More like WE make you look like an idiot!

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My friend Brigett let me borrow her Wii fit game. I've wanted to try it for a while and didn't want to buy it without knowing if I'd like it or not. I LOVE IT! Its finally a game purchase that the WHOLE family enjoys. It has games like the ones the kids like to play, and they can do it well. But it also has actual fitness games like Step and Yoga. The kids loved it, especially Jaxon who was quite good at this Skiing long jump. I can't even do it, but he's pretty good. You have to have really good balance. Anyway. One sunday we had all the family over and had a grand time watching everyone. I would definately recommend this game.

But he didn't like so much when it was someone else's turn....so cute! I love this picture!

I love doing hair and makeup...I wasn't always appreciated for this hobby when I was younger because I'm sure it was disguised as being too prissy because I could literally sit for hours, even sometimes after I went to bed I'd get up to try something I'd thought of, but I LOVE it! My friend Jacey lets me practice most every time there's a dance and I'm particularly fond of doing hers because she has GOBS of hair to mess with. I usually always call her and ask what she's wearing and how she'd like her hair done and she always gives me the same answer, "Um....I don't know, maybe curly half up." I know that its just her way of being easy to work with, but I needed a little more of a challenge. So on the way to St George with Jayme I thought this guy up and I love it!! Sometimes I get to do more girls' hair, that night I did two girls' hair and make up. I LOVE IT!

Friday, February 20, 2009

Ahhhhhh! (thats not a frustrated ahhhh, its the Ahhhhhh after a sweet moment FYI)

Connor thoroughly enjoys when his cousins come over. One of the first things out of his mouth in the morning after we go through the usual phrases like, "Where's dad?" and "I need some more Chocolate Milk in my Mator cup" he always says, "Should we call Jaxon and see if he can come over?" Jake has gotten old enough that unless he's alseep, he's not getting left behind.


Most days they play really good together. Aside from the minor "He's not sharing mom" they get along great. Last night, I could hear something going on. I think Jaxon made Connor mad, so Connor kicked him,
Jaxon grabs Jake's hand and said, "Come one Jakey, we're going home."
Then with Jakey's honery brow he says, "Ya...home!"
Jaxon said, "And we're not coming back!"
Jakey's echoe, "Back!"
Meanwhile, Connor is having a come apart on the recliner because they're going home. I tried for 30 minutes after they left to calm him down, "I want Jaxon to come back! Call and tell his mommy I'll be nice now!" Quite the sad little chicken.

Then...we hear a knock on the door. A very teary eyed Jaxon hands me this card, Connor runs over to him and they hug, and Jaxon without a word runs home....I wish I had it on video. The SWEETEST thing I have ever seen.

Serenity NOW!

Unless your husband comes home after work most days and watches Seinfelt reruns like mine does, you may not think the title is funny. I could hear Connor doing something downstairs and I see that he has dumped a BRAND NEW box of Lucky Charms all over the floor. I don't know if I was livid because growing up you had to strategically pick the friends that were allowed this sort of cereal otherwise never new what it tasted like unless it was your birthday and mom gave you a box OR if it was because I had just spent 2 hours cleaning the basement and didn't want to spend another hour vacumming Lucky Charms that are now strung from one end to the other. Either way, I as MAD!

Pros and Cons of Lauren in her big girl bed...

I haven't been in a hurry to put Lauren in a big girl bed because I think I'm still traumatized from the experience with Connor, and he was around 22 months where Lauren is barely 18 months. BUT she decided that she was part monkey and could get out of anything. I spent one night putting her back in no less than 30 times and thought, "Why am I doing this again? I may as well just do a big girl bed" That afternoon for naps she did surprisingly good, went right to sleep. That night, wasn't too bad. The kids played for a while, Connor fell asleep and she got bored and climbed into bed herself and went to sleep. The next night however, not so much. Let me preface this with that when I was sick, you could always tell how crummy I felt by whether or not my kids looked like orphans...Color blind Jim dressed them. So I spent 2 hours of my PRECIOUS nap time to take all her clothes out and arrange them in outfits. That night, I could hear them playing and figured I'd get just as lucky as the first night....at about 11pm I couldn't wait anymore and went to find this....Kinda made me mad.

Then today I got back from an apointment I had, Kristina was here and said that they were all playing in the sandbox. She told Lauren she could slide one more time then it was time for a nap. Kristina turned around to get Lilly, Lauren slid one more time, walked herself up the stairs, climbed into bed, and went to sleep...!?!?

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

My Prized Possessions

There are items I have aquired over the years that are my prized possessions. Things that aren't prized without the loved ones that gave them to me...

When I was getting ready for Miss Utah I had to find the "perfect" interview suit. Mom and I looked and looked and only found one that "worked." I was sick of the whole thing anyway, so we bought it and figured it would have to do. a few days before I headed up to compete, my Aunt called with one of her infamous "finds." She said, "I don't think you'd be interested in something bought from DI, but I have this suit that is darling...wanna take a look?" Not only did I take a look, but I hucked the stupid suit that we bought at Dillards and this suit became my new interview suit. I was so proud when they asked me about my "stunning" suit in my interview so that I could PROUDLY tell them my aunt bought it for me at the DI. Love it!

If you know my dad, you know what a skilled (even that word doesn't justify) carpenter he is. He has always made us furniture growing up, but nothing quite as beautiful as the cradles he has made for his grandchildren. When I was pregnant with Connor, he set up shop in our toy garage downstairs and made this stunning cradle from plain planks of wood. I am so proud everytime someone asks me where I got it to tell them that my dad made this for my babies.


Who could forget the genuine leather coat Heather carted all around New York on her mission to bring back to me? Not only is it SOOOOOOO cool for being from New York, but it wouldn't be NEAR as cool had she not found it in the trash on the street. Maybe someone got murdered in it!!! SWEET! I love it because it reminds me of all the things I love about my sister. Her thriftiness, her corkiness, her personality, and her love for me. I felt so proud that she'd give it to me instead of keeping it for herself knowing how cool she thought it was too. I look up to her and love being her little sister.

When Aurelie got engaged I had heard that she was making her own wedding dress I had my doubts. Not very many homemade dresses look as beautiful as Aur's did. So when I got engaged I called Aurie knowing I would never find a more perfect dress in the stores. She said, "No you can't borrow my dress, I want to make you one of your own!" I described to her on the phone what I wanted and she sketched out a dress and faxed it to me. Then took scraps of material, pieced them to me and created the pattern from that. She then spent over 150 hours in hand beading alone along the top to have these gorgeous silk flowers that had crystal beads as stems that went down the bodice. She then had all the women that I love in my life (and some little ones!!) handbead the symbol of eternity along the bottom. I loved this dress. I remember when I used to watch Cinderella over and over again when I was little I used to tell my mom when Cinderella swished her skirt beside the fountain that I wanted a skirt so big I could lay on it....it was that and then some. She got the silk from Taiwan and it was the most stunning one of a kind dress. It was so heavy I wore three large petti coats underneath. I loved it because it was beautiful, but I loved it most of all because it was made from their hands to my heart. I won't tell you the part where the dry cleaners ruined it when I gave it to them to "preserve" it. It is costing them $5000 to replace it because of all the work Aurelie did for free.








I remember when I was little I used to love sitting next to my mom during church because it was the only time she let me try on her rings. I always tried to get her to pay attention to something else as soon as the closing prayer was offered because I DESPERATELY wanted her to forget about them so that I could feel glamorous in primary....never worked. When I graduated from high school I never in a million years would have guess she'd give me this ring that I coveted as a child. It meant so much to me because I knew what my dad sacrificed to give it to her. I HATE that my camera doesn't give this ring justice!

Of course my girls' blessing dress. I've watched my mom make dozens of these and longed to have a girl so that I could have one too. It is gorgeous, but unless you watch the tedious and anxiety inducing crocheting she does it won't mean as much. These take her months, sometimes a year to make. If she makes a single bad loop, she has to unravel it sending her back dozens of hours to start again. She will never ever know what this dress means to me. The yarn is so thin and delicate. I can't thank her enough for it, I hope she knows what it means to me and to them one day.

These TINY bracelets symbolize my step mom Karen's sweet heart. Every one of her granddaughters have one for their blessing day. I love it because it reminds me of what I love about her the most....her selfless kind heart. When I lived with them in high school she'd stock the fridge and the pantry with all the goodies that I loved to eat, even though she didn't care for any of it. She sends all her grandkids random notes to make them feel so special and loved. She spends every friday night with my kids and they love every minute of it. They don't come much better than Karen.

This is the picture Jim emailed me BEFORE we got engaged to tease me knowing that he had it! Mean! It symbolizes my best friend, my soulmate, and our eternal marriage.

I love that these things aren't worth much to anyone else what they're worth to me because of where they came from. I love that they mean more to me than most anything else I own. I am so blessed

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

My poor stubborn little girl....like mother like daughter

This is the result of Lauren REFUSING to hold my hand down my moms cement steps because she is a big girl now.

I was always a stubborn child growing up. After I grew out of it somewhat I was always scared that mom's prediction would come true that I would "Get Mine" through my children. Connor came so sweet, submissive and patient that I knew it wasn't him. Lauren....is it. Don't get me wrong, this child is one of the sweeter ones and she is such a joy to be around, but she is a stubborn thing. I don't know if stubborn is the right word, more independant or not liking when something is either not the way it should or someone tells me that I can't do something. It really bothers me.

I chewed my nails till they were bleeding CONSTANTLY till my mom told me when I was about 14 years old that I couldn't quit...

When I was 8 yrs old I was at the pool with my siblings and everyone was going off the high dive. I was terrified of going. Heather bribed me with playing with her dolls in her box, Adam with treats...it wasn't until Scott told me I couldn't that I went, slipped on the top step and did a face plant on the cement below...knocked me out and gave me stitches on my chin....I tried the DAY my dad took them out and fell again, this time on my butt. They took the high dive down after that.

I used to be way ticklish...you could look at me cross-eyed and I'd start laughing. My dad told me that you can't control it, I decided I wasn't going to be ticklish anymore and you can ask Jim...I'm not. Not my feet, arms, nothing.

The rest of these have nothing to do with being stubborn but I Jim thinks its entertaining that....

-I will not touch anyone's nose...they FREAK me out. I'll touch my kids' noses... thats it. If you want to freak me out, thats how
-I am a fanatic about eyelashes. I have horrible eyelashes and will sit for an hour trying to make them work with mascara. If I can't get them to work, I'll wash my face and start all over.

-I have to sleep on the left side of the bed, whether at home or otherwise. I cannot fall asleep on the right side.
-One of my worst fears is throwing up in public. When I was pregnant, especially with Connor, I lived in mortal fear of it happening....I even swallowed it back down when I was at CostCo with Bev and the girls. That took some doing.
- I can't STAND loud eaters...drives me crazy, like scratching on a chalk board crazy, which actually doesn't bother me.
-I can't sleep with my make up on.
-I can't stand the sound of James Taylor's voice...can't stand it.
-I can't listen to recordings of myself, I cringe. It sounds so different outside of my head...that can't be good
-I'm obsessed with mermaids...I was always obsessed when I was younger but still am. I even record those dumb shows on the Disney Channel if I think they'll show them...imagine my dissapointment when I saw that movie "mermaids" with Cher and Wynona Ryder...down right misleading
-I hate Salmon and trout, really anything that swims...but I'll try it every time my mom makes it because it always looks good, then I heave and gag
-I totally have road rage. I've told Jim if I could have a big neon bird sign that I could flip up and down when the horn just isn't cutting it, I totally would. I especially hate when people tail into the intersection to turn to get ahead of the light....makes me mad.
-I love doing dishes, HATE emptying the dishwasher (Kristen, you and I should get together!! She is the opposite)
-I can't even kill an ant without picturing its family I'm taking it from...literally makes me feel really bad. Forget mice. I can't stand when things hurt, I hit a bunny on the way home from the show one night and cried all the way home. I can't purposely hurt anything.
- I love watersports, but I'm afraid of what I think may be in there, I won't get in the ocean unless its like the water in Hawii and I can see down. (I thought I was really bad till my friend Jill told me she has to clap as she jumps in the lake so that they know shes coming and swim away--I'm laughing so hard as I'm typing this, I think thats so funny)

Thats all I can think of...Jim can probably add some. I hope everyone is a little weird.

Sunday, February 01, 2009

One long month...

Its a big day when you can stand all day long and then stand long enough to do your hair. I think I may be seeing the end of this for real, I feel so much better. We went to Cassie's (Jace's girlfriend) game last night, she plays for SUU. What a game!!!! It was so good. I'm not a huge fan of watching sports but it was one of the best games I've ever seen. Cassie is so talented. The game went into overtime and SUU won by just a few points. It was so good. More so it was good to be out of my house, back in civilization. I think the best part was seeing one of my favorite traits of the Burgess family. They are so supportive. Everyone but Melina (she was in Ogden but she's been to the other games) was there cheering Cassie on. They go to all Cassie's games, always come hear me sing or support me in whatever I'm doing. They are amazing. I sat there talking to Jayme loving the fact that I am apart of this family.

Saturday, January 31, 2009

FINALLY!

Birds singing! Trumpets blasting! Halleluia! I have been out of bed all day, I feel almost normal. I am down to just 20 mg once a day of beta blockers to keep my heart down(down from 40 every 6 hours and it still didn't do anything), no steroids, no zophran, no phenegran...nothing! Mom gave me that IV two nights ago, I felt pretty OK that night, pretty OK that morning, then it hit me for another couple hours. I was OK last night, up all night with the girls...this morning I feel wonderful. Aside from being a little week (Who wouldn't? 4 weeks in bed will do it to you). I can't tell you how thankful I am to be on my feet. Thank you to my sweet family and friends who took care of my family, it means so so much. HOORAY!!!!

Friday, January 30, 2009

Update

Dr Grua was really nice. When I walked in he said that he had read his chart that morning and thought that it would be easy and that he had treated a lot of hyperthyroids over the past 20 years. But, he hadn't seen one that felt like I do. He took a lot of blood tests to test the pituatary, the adrenal glands, my thyroid levels...so many tests they had to change arms because the one side ran out of blood...I really thought he would have an answer....everything came back clear. I got that call yesterday morning and it should be good news, right? I cried all morning. For me it was so frustrating to see that my levels were now less than a point high and the day before going my heart had reached 152. Mom called to check on me yesterday afternoon and I told her that Grua said I really should be feeling better soon and that my heart shouldn't be this high anymore and that maybe I should see a cardiologist because he said he had tested everything in his area. Mom said she thought that I could be dehydrated still and that it would speed up my heart...it was worth a try. I got a hold of some IV fluids and the kit to use it, we put 1 liter in and I felt so much better. I got up, helped made dinner, got the kids ready for bed, talked to mom and Michael...when I finally went back to bed after finishing the last two bags my heart was only 107....thats so great. I wasn't nearly as nautious as I had been all day and for the last three weeks. The doctor that gave us the IV kit ordered 10 more so that I could stay on top of it. I'm in a much better mood. I may see the end of this.
Lauren climbed in bed with me to brush my hair...she is so sweet

My bed has an iron canapy thingy around it...it was MADE for a makeshift IV hanging thingy

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Tests, tests, and more tests...

Tomarrow I see a specialist who only deals with Thyroids. Everyone else I've talked to don't for sure whats going on. They have their guesses, but nothing for sure. I went to the ER a week ago saturday and the doctor on call said that he expected my thyroid to be in the 20's for how high heart has gotten (152 bpm), how much weight I've lost (15-20lbs in month) and for how I feel. I throw up at least once every day. I didn't throw up yesterday, but I came mighty close. My thyroid right now is only 2.97...thats it! Shouldn't I feel better? Normal is only 1.65. I'm so frustrated I can't tell you. I have all my hopes in this guy tomarrow. If he doesn't know, I seriously think I might lose it. I've had my galbladder along with most everything else in my abdomen checked, head CT, EKG, more blood tests than I can count along with a whole lot of IV's to hydrate me. I look like druggy. When I went in a week ago, they gave me some fluids and I felt great aside from my heart for 2 days, then I started throwing up again...went back in Thursday and I felt pretty OK for 5 hours then started trhowing up again....WTH! I've been in bed for most of 3 weeks. My apt is at 7:30 in St George and this guy is holding all my hopes.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Good Days....and not so much days

I ended up staying in bed for two weeks. 1. Didn't have the energy 2. Passing out, and feeling like I was going to pass out 3. Way to nausiated For the last 4 days of those two weeks I threw up constantly. I remembered when my sister Heather was pregnant that after she threw up enough to make her so dehydrated she couldn't function, she'd go to the hospital and get hooked up to an IV. I decided it was worth a shot. I went to the ER last Saturday and they hooked me up, literally. After a few liters I went home. The next morning I felt like a new woman!!! Did my laundry, cleaned my house, and stayed up most the day. Jim got me this heart monitor thing and when it would get to 125-ish, I'd sit down. We even took the kids for a walk. Lilly and I felt cooped up so we rode the RZR behind the kids while Jim walked with them.



(thats Connor and Lauren in the jeep, Jaxon on the tractor, Jadyn in the tractor's trailor)
The next day felt alright, not super great like the day before, but pretty OK. I made it to WalMart...wasn't a great idea. I thought for sure the checker was going to have to carry me out. The next day wasn't all that good, I spent a lot of it in bed. I went to lunch with my friends...WAY not a good idea (not the company, but I thought for sure I was going to throw up my yummy ninja) and went and saw my friend Doug (I used to take care of his wife when I worked for a Home Health agency....he hadn't been feeling good, we sat and threw eachother pity parties...then he told me his brother got attacked by a GREAT WHITE SHARK when they were younger and he was a dive instructer and I know this part is random, but had to slip it in there..scary!). The next day, (yesterday) I spent most of it in bed, only threw up once. I'm starting to think that maybe I am metabolising water too fast? Maybe thats whats making me feel so rotten. Because the day after they hydrated me, aside from my heart, I felt totally normal....it was so great. I think mom needs to take up stealing and steal me a few bags and hydrate me every so many days. Can you work on that mom?

Can I just tell you the very hardest part for me is asking for and recieving help? Bev came yesterday to clean my fridge, (so sweet), and I sat there hating every moment...appreciated her at the same time. It embarresses me so so much. My sweet sisters, Bev, and mom take my kids every day and its so hard from me. Yea, I miss them...But the hardest part about it is relying on them. My kids are having a great time playing with their kids, so they don't care, but I am learning that it is so much more important to allow people to serve you than to serve sometimes. I think that I have really hurt my sister in laws feelings because I never ask them to take my kids unless I have to, and its not because I don't trust them but because I'd rather die that put them out...isn't that funny? You could probably ask either of them, or my moms whether they felt put out or not and they'd probably laugh at you. The day after my great day, I called the ward and asked who I needed to talk to to cancel the dinners the ward was bringing once a week (Jayme, Melina, Mom and Bev supply the other days). Melina gave me that what have so I didn't go through with it (hee hee I love you!), but it is so hard for me. Then I think about it and theres few things I enjoy more than making someone dinner, or taking their kids, or cleaning Misty's house when she was so big and pregnant that she couldn't bend over, or anything else like that because of how good I feel. I am not allowing someone else to feel that and its only my pride that keeps me from it. I do love when people brought me treats though...that doesn't bother me in the least! I hope everyone knows that when I'm a brat and act unappreciating, its not that I don't. I hope you all know how much I love you, how loved and cared for I have felt these last three weeks. I am learning. It usually takes me a while, but I am learning.

One big holiday post...

I've been meaning to post this. Christmas was great, Not only have I been sick, but I can't find the card that has christmas pictures on it. So, I am going to mooch off my family's blogs....here's Melina's of Christmas Eve... it was probably my favorite Christmas I have ever had. My family doesn't have Christmas or Christmas Eve on the actual days, its hard to get all of my siblings together so we end up having it when we can. So, Jim and I have spent all our Christmas holidays with his family which I do love because they do traditional stuff...watch Christmas vacation most every Christmas eve and wake up and do the Santa thing early. Up until last year, we even spent the night at his parents house and my mother in law even puts out Santa stuff for her in laws. She's amazing. Well, this year was so special to me because my parents came for Christmas Eve dinner and we even got Adam to come. We did the Nativity thing and mom, Adam and I sang carols. It was so fun to have some of my family there and feel like it was a traditional Christmas.

Over the holidays we had a lot of family visit and we played every day. We also went sledding, but I am going to mooch off Heather's blog for most of those events...too lazy and she did a great job! I will post a video of it...but here's Heather's.

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We also went to Sand Hollow, the place where Connor's dreams come true. This kid loves the water. He love the diving board and the hydrotube the best. Its funny to watch kids twice his size who are too afraid of going down at all or needing adult assistance. He just climbs up, goes down...swims to the side and does it again. Lauren even got to the point where I'd have to go down first to catch her so she felt like she was doing it by herself.





My brother and his wife Misty were there too.....this is the only picture I have to prove it...its Sara and her gymnastics liatart on (Misty remembered everything BUT swimsuits!)

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Friday, January 16, 2009

Update...

I had an uptake scan yesterday and the day before. It was a three part scan. Basically they give you a tracking pill (radioactive so it would glow) to see what the thyroid was doing. They couldn't find hardly any in the thyroid. The doctor called and said that there are only two possible outcomes of that. 1. I was sneaking into Heather and mom's medicine cabinet and stealing their thyroxine 2. Its a virus that caused it. He said that your thyroid basically has a pool of reserve thyroxine, I got a virus that attacked it and made it shut down making it dump all its reserve into my body (hence my symptoms of too much thyroid). He said that it takes about 6-8 weeks on average for it to circulate completely then it will go Hypo for about 6 months, then go back to normal. He said given that I passed out on Christmas, I'm in this at least 5 weeks. He said that the first of February, we'll do another blood test to see what my levels are, and test it once a month from there. As soon as my levels go down, he'll give me replacement medication, continue the blood tests to see when it goes back. Out of all the outcomes, this one is definately the best. Any outcome would make me "wait it out", this one at least resolves itself where the other outcomes wouldn't (I LOVE YOU JILL!!!!)

Until then, he said to slowly come off the beta blockers. Yesterday I stopped by the office on the way home from the hospital and my heart never got above 105 beats a minute (thats so great for me), thats with only 20 mg of beta blockers, I can take up to 40 and had been taking that much for the past few days. So, I would guess I'm on my way down. Poor Jayme, Melina, Bev, Jim, and mom are keeping their fingers crossed. Thank you to everyone who has made us dinner, taken our kids, cleaned my house, called or sent emails. Thank you for caring, thank you for helping where you can. I appreciate everything!

Sunday, January 11, 2009

I'm still here...sort of.

So, about a month ago I didn't feel great, it felt a bit like pregnant sick. Went to the doctor and wasn't pregnant. Still didn't feel great, doctor thought I was just stressed. Then, christmas morning I was flipping scones at Jayme's house and felt a little funny, room started spinning. Jim came over to stand next to me while Joe said the prayer, as soon as I closed my eyes I fainted. I thought I was just too hot. For about a month, I had this lump on the bottom of my throat, right next to my collar bone (don't know how to spell that). Went to the ENT to see what it was. He asked if I was tired, nauseated (don't know how to spell that either...feeling a little dumb), and if my heart felt like it was skipping beats. I told him that I was feeling all those things. He ordered tests and found out that my thyrpoid was off the charts (the lump is actually my swollen thyroid), was producing way too much thyroxine, sending too much to my heart making it overwork, (which explained why it said my heart was reading at 137 beats a minute (normal is 80-100).

I have been in bed for a week now, I lose about a pound a day. The elevated heart rate makes me feel like I've run a marathron by going to the bathroom. Wipes me out and makes me feel like I've been hit by a train. Always really hot. At first, I made it out of bed long enough to do laundry and dinner, next day just dinner, next day just to the bathroom and back. The doctor put me on Beta Blockers, had to increase it 3 times because my heart was skipping a beat a few times a minute and trying to keep it under 110 beats a minute. He said that whether I have Graves Disease, (body's immune system attacks the thyroid) or Hyperthyroidism (over active thyroid) theres nothing they can do till the thyroid calms down. He says my thyroid will do this for a while, go way down to where it makes no thyroid at all and then hopefully go back to normal. He said that overall, it takes a few months to go back to normal, I'm hoping I'm in this at least a month, I'm guessing its what made me feel crappy a month or so ago and why I passed out at Christmas.

So....I'm not ignoring anyone, I am still here. And can I just tell you how amazing my family is? Jim has the kids majority of the time, Jayme, Bev, Melina, Karen, and my mom have taken their turns with them so that he can get a little work done. They have kept us fed and have cleaned my house. I am truly blessed and thankful to have them. I'm sitting here wondering whether to post this or not, its sounding more like a pity post than an update, but I use this blog as my journal and not that I want to remember this or think I'll forget it, it is what it is. Hopefully this is short lived, its getting old!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Letter from Avery...

I have felt so guilty and have learned an incredible lesson through my friend Candice's trial.. Back when I got pregnant with Lilly I really struggled in the beginning with it. The end of Lauren's pregnancy was so awful that I wasn't sure when I would be ready to get pregnant again. I always felt a twinge of guilt every time I cried or complained about Lilly's pregnancy because I knew Candice's situation, but I also remembered literally begging my Heavenly Father to bless me with a baby for 4 years. I remember one night, I was about 6 months along, I had just found Candice's blog and I clicked on the beginning so that I could catch up with the details of Avery's Pregnancy and birth. You really should click on it and read it for yourself, but I remember reading the part where they knew after months of tests and ultrasounds that the daughter that they had given everything to get wouldn't live past birth. Candice described the feelings and emotions as she wrote that the only relationship she would have with Avery would be in the womb, and that she was so thankful for every single kick, every movement, and was thankful for every second Avery was still in her tummy because in there she was safe and alive. In that exact moment, as I'm literally reading those words, Lilly was doing flip flops in my stomache and I immediately felt an overwhelming sense of not only guilt, but gratitude for this sweet little Lilly girl. I cried and cried.

I called my friend Beckie. We love to get together and write songs. Beckie is hands down one of the most talented song writers I've ever met. I told her to look at Candice's blog and told her I wanted her to help me write a song for her about Avery. Beckie didn't write a single note for three months, only prayed and fasted about it...wanting it to be perfect for Candi. She read on Candi's Blog where she wrote a letter to Avery and came up with the idea of "Letter from Avery." We got together, she rewrote some wordes, I rewrote some words, and came up with this song. She'd play a chord and I'd sing her what melody I heard in my head. Can I just tell you how amazing Beckie is? The poor thing has to deal with my minimal music theory...I'd tell her, "No...no, its more like a dun-dun-dah (while I play my imaginary piano)" and she can miraculously makes sense of that and change a key here and there.

When we were working on it, we sat on my Aunt Venita's piano bench stumped. Some of the words worked, some didn't. I was pregnant at the time, about 1 month shy of having Lilly, and I remembered that night reading Candi's blog and how guilty I felt for my attitude about the pregnancy, and I tried to think of what was happening inside me...then those words came to me..."I lived close to your heart, as close as I could be I knew the sound of its beat, I know the song you sang to me." Which is probably the only thing I really contributed to the song. Aside from a word here and there to make the phrase singable, Beckie did most of the writing. Then Beckie came up with a duet at the end to have her daughter Tori sing. So sweet.

Anyway, I gave it to Candice last night. TERRIFIED. We were both so worried that it would sound like we were trying to assume what Avery would think or say. There's such a fine line between comforting and inflicting more pain. I was so relieved that Candice liked it, we were relieved I should say. Thank you Candi for allowing us this opportunity, for letting us borrow Avery for a few months, for your incredible example of faith and endurance. I'm so grateful to have you in my life again. Here's the song... (the lyrics are under it)

Friday, December 19, 2008

Happy 3rd Birthday Connor!

I cannot believe you are 3! These past few years have flown by so so fast. You love riding your bike, playing with Lauren, giving Lilly kisses, playing with Gasser (Jaxon next door), watching Lightning McQueen for the umpteenth time, playing with your "dirty McQueen," "tongue McQueen," "New Mac", "Sleeping Mac," "Radiator Springs McQueen," and "Mator." It took a while to learn all your names for them in order to find them at 3 am when you get up to let me and daddy know that if, "you get me sleepy mac, and I'll stay in bed...k? K, goodnight" I love how tender hearted you, how good you play with your cousins, how much you love going to work with Dad, your big brown eyes that wake me up with morning breath right in my face.... I love hearing your little voice down the hall, I love when you get right in my face when I'm not paying attention to you and talk real quiet like a grownup. You're such a good big brother and we love you. Love, Mom

I could be mixing mashed potatoes and you'd hear the beaters and come running, hoping that it was cake! You love eating the beaters and licking the bowls

Thanks for the help Connor! Actually, thank you Melina for OCCUPYING Connor while I made it!

Monday, December 15, 2008

Sad!

Lauren battled a nasty ear infection last week. I had to fight to keep her temp under 103.8, needless to say no one got sleep in our house for a solid 4 days. I Guess you have to sleep where you can when you can.

Our Trip to SLC

Heather and Michael went to California for Michaels meetings I think. She had asked Mom to go up and stay with the girls while they were away. Mom enlisted me and my three monkeys (not smart). Let me tell you what, we had kids, kids, and more kids. This was me entertaining the troops while mom was on shower shift

Lilly wasn't amused. She layed like this for quite a while during a diaper change. It didn't seem to bother her, but she looks miserable

I've been willing Lauren's hair to grow, she has been making progress, but until she gets something to REALLY work with, I have to play with my nieces hair. Poor Isabelle with her long, beautiful blonde hair had enough of me. I forgot to get a picture of day two which was even cuter, but I've been wanting to try this one out since Lilly's Blessing when I saw how cute Becky's Mckell looked.

Probably the highlight of the trip was going to the Discovery museum. I love these places that allow kids to do things that make the wheels turn. It has a place where you can shop, take the groceries home, cook, garden, police cars, farm animals to play on (not real ones) and the water area that I tried to distract him from as long as I could. They have this area that has balls that you can crank them through tubes, send them across, around, over, and every other which way you can think of. The kids loved it. Then, they have an area blocked off thats just for crawlers. They have you either take your shoes off or put booties over them so that they can keep the floor clean for the rug rats. So cute





Then they have more upstairs where you can do more of the same things, but it also has an area where it shows you how news rooms work, it even has a green wall that kids can stand by that makes it look like they're in the middle of a storm or whatever. They even have a helicopter donated by the hospital that the kids can monkey in and push buttons and all that, it was really cool.


Thanks mom, it was fun!

Making Room

I've had Lauren sleeping in Connors room for about 2 months now, which has been working out great. I've been meaning to put all her clothes in his closet so that I didn't have to worry about waking up Lilly to get her dressed and stuff. But, Connor's closet was already maxed out. I saw these organizer thingy's on Onestep ahead and thought they looked Handy. Keep in mind when you looked at these pictures that I didn't take ANYTHING out and I added more than three times what was in there....
Before:

After:

Pretty impressive I'd say

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Do you cry, or laugh? Thanks Marylin!

Best Man Ruins Wedding - watch more funny videos

Friday, December 12, 2008

Flash Back Friday

I moved to Logandale NV the summer before 1st grade. I knew Brooke before we moved because my dad and Brooke's dad were in Rookie school together, Jacki I met soon after and Heidi moved a little while later to the Valley. These girls were my very best friends growing up and we spent every day together, got into a lot of trouble, did a lot of stupid things and loved every minute of it! After I moved to Cedar when mom remarried, I lost Jacki. Brooke called me last week and told me she found her. I talked Jacki into coming and staying with me from Sunday to Wednesday, it was the first time I had seen her in 15 years. Brooke came up monday night and we all went to dinner together


Then we all went back to my house and ate treats and played phase 10. This one looks like one of us tooted, (I feel funny saying toot, but Jim doesn't like the word Fart so we'll go with it). I don't think we did at that point, but it looks like that.


Leave it to Brooke to pose with her leg in the air...nice! As you can see by how red my face is I was laughing SOOOO hard. Poor Jim probably felt like he was hanging out with a bunch of 14 yr olds....

Heidi came up the next day, did our hair (SUCH an amazing job). Then of course we played phase 10 again, this time at the table and a little more civilized.

Now, I know the rules of flash back friday, you have to have old pictures. I don't have any of us, I know they are out there, but probably at my mom's house. So, I dug up my old 7th grade year book, right before I moved and found these. I don't know how Jacki didn't sign my year book, but maybe she did on a page I couldn't find...
This one's Brooke's

This one doesn't apply, his name is Jimmy Bledsoe and Brooke Married him, I had to include it because he must HATE this picture! So awesome! Didn't think that whole, "I'm going to play the flute thing even though I'm a boy" thing through...

This one's Heidi's

Thank you for being there for me when I needed it most, thank you for incredible memories, thank you for giving me best friends for life.

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

So cute!!!!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Friday, November 28, 2008

So Thankful...

I'm so thankful...I have so much to be thankful for this holiday. I'm thankful for my three beautiful children and to hear them laugh, its one of my favorite things in life. (Even though NONE of them would laugh for me, Lauren would only laugh when Connor made her and apparently Lilly will do it for Grandma...)

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I'm so incredibly thankful for my patient husband, for the amazing father he is, for the way he plays with his kids and for the way they know that he loves them.

I am so so grateful for my family, both immediate and extended. I have been so blessed beyond words, sometimes I feel guilty for the life I have. I hope my family knows that I love them, that I'm so thankful for their love and support, that I am aware of all the things they do for me and my family. Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Birthday to me Part 2

I just had to post this of the kids making my "birthday cakes"...and then washing off that and the banner mess. Love you Wiscombe girls!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Happy Birthday to ME!

This year was exceptionally great. Thanks to everyone who called me and wished me a Happy Birthday, Yes Aur...Jim told me you called, thank you. I've been wanting to go see the Bodyworlds exhibition for quite a while, Jim says I'm morbid but I'm completely fascinated with that kind of thing. It was amazing. My favorite part was the area where they showed you all the embryos and babies...it was so amazing to see the 12 week old that was so so tiny and yet had perfect hands, fingers, toes...looked just like a tiny baby. So amazing. Then, Heather, Michael, Jim and I went to the California Pizza Kitchen for dinner and then saw Twilight. I really thought that Stephanie Meyer did a poor job at casting Edward because the guy I saw on the previews did not compare to the Eward in my head....I stand corrected. So Hot! I LOVED Alice, didn't care for Jasper or Emmett, Bella's acting kinda bugged me at some points, LOVED the baseball scene....thought Victoria was especially well casted. I liked it. Then, we went to go pick up the kids who were at my Aunt Venita's and there was this bigger than life banner hanging right in the entry... So cute!!! There was little plates that said "Lilly's cake for Mommy," "Connor's cake for Mommy," and "Lauren's cake for mommy." Lilly's was of course the beautiful (still waiting on the pictures from Heather Wiscombe so you can see how cute) cupcake that had a single candle and pretty little sprinkles. Connor's was recognizable as a cupcake and that was it, Lauren's was a crumbled cupcake mess...obviously no one helped them so they were absolutely genuine! So cute. Then at the bottom of the banner was this little poster that said, "M is for Mommy...we love our Mommy, she washes our hands, she washes our feet, she washes our bums and kisses our cheeks!" It didn't make sense till I notices Lauren, Lilly, and Connor's handprints AND Lauren's lips, bum, feet, hands...and whatever she could talk them into dipping! Thank You Venita and girls for making their day so special. You always go out of your way and it was so nice to have a quiet dinner and movie knowing that my kids were happy and taken care of.


Heather MADE these flower bows for my birthday, I saw the ones she had in Liv's hari when we were at the beach and begged her to make me some, she surprise me with a whole bag of them...I couldn't wait to try them out. Jim got me a new kitchen table to match my house (YAY!), Melina got me the CUTEST black dress I'll be showing off at church sunday, Mom got me stuff to take off the dead skin on your feet, and Bev got me a Bootcamp Workout....SO GREAT! It was such a great birthday, and although I am the big 29 I'll be the FIRST to remind you that I am STILL in my 20's!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Our newest thing.....

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Friday, November 14, 2008

Paci

Lauren, more so than my other kids, loves her Paci. She prefers one in her mouth as well as one for each hand, and if you watch her, she'll rotate them. Bev says one must taste like Chocolate, perhaps the others taste like strawberries or something because she'll change em out. Its pretty funny. She equally enjoys her morning bottle so of COURSE she's not letting go of ANY of them.


For my grandma's sanity let me reassure you that my kids can't get in the dryer (here and here) without me opening it first, they definately can't turn it on even if I wasn't there. They've kind of moved on from the novelty of it thank goodness, but when Lauren does get her dryer itch, I open it up for her while she plays and I read a book. Now she's more interested in how many items (usually my shoes which is also a new novelty favorite of hers), she can cram in there. I just love them!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Learning to use a spoon...

The little milestones in our house make my day. The little things that just make life a bit easier. Now, you may look at Lauren and think, "What is this accomplishing?" Well, although she looks like a mess....


...Its a step in the right direction! The problem is that although they start to figure out how to use it better which decreases the mess they make which intern decreases the mess YOU have to clean up, she still can shovel it in faster using her hands...and until that spoon can pick it up, she's not wasting time. This is food we're talking about here, Lauren is a Git'er'done kind of girl.

The Cupcake Goddess

My friend gave me this, isn't it so cute?!?!? Her daughter makes them. You can see more on her website at http://www.thecupcakegoddess.com/ Scroll down till you see the gallery on the left hand side...here's some of my favorites

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Jadyn and Cooper

Jadyn and Cooper came over, the four of them had so much fun. First had a bubble bath...obviously,


Then we got to get on matching jammies of course (not a great picture but the only one I could get them all in the same shot...

Then we have this bubble machine that will blow thousands of bubbles at once (and without you passing out), Connor and Cooper loved it.

My day at the Grocery store...

Alright Jill...if this doesn't show TRUE friendship, nothing will. My GOOD friend Jill and I were talking yesterday, I was telling her about how I go to the grocery store with three kids and make it work. She begged me to take a picture of it and blog it. I can't tell you how embarressing it was to ask someone to take a picture of me at the grocery store, as if I didn't attract enough attention with a 2 month old strapped to my chest as my 1 yr old screams and my 2 yr old throws stuff out of the cart as we pass by...cute.

Now, there are some absolute HAVE TO'S when you go to the grocery store, the first one being you have to park close to the cart thingy...so that when you're all done putting groceries back in, its not too hard to get all three from the cart to the car without too much hassle.

Second HAVE TO is getting a cheap little purse that can sling over your shoulder so that you don't have to not only pick up the items Connor has hucked out, but you also have to pick up the tampons your 1 year old is throwing out...cute

Third HAVE TO is you need a little purse that has a clip for your keys(refer to above picture) so that you don't have to go through the get all way done, all three kids back in their THREE carseats buckled, groceries in the back ready, cart put away, just to find out that your 1 yr old who was playing with the keys so that she would survive the grocery trip has dropped them right in the middle of the cereal isle and you have to strap the 2 month old back on, put the kids back in the cart, and go back into the rechid store in tears again.....cute

Fourth HAVE TO is you have to have a sling for the 2 month old. We tried for a while putting the car seat up front with Lauren BURRIED in the main cart, poor thing was up to her ears. I really didn't want to ask a stranger to take a picture, thankfully I ran into Leah Brown from our ward who was happy to help...cute

I really should have waited till the other element to my grocery shopping experience was a little more accurate, I don't wash my hair but maybe once or twice a week (thats counting sunday) so I'm SURE that it adds to my frazzled look with the three kids, I just happen to have a lunch date later, no not with Jim, I don't wash my hair for him anymore, our ward split and some of the sisters that I'M GOING TO MISS SEEING EVERY WEEK are going to lunch later...otherwise, my hair and makeup would not be done. Love you ladies!

Soooo So Cute!

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