Merry Christmas Mom!

Of Mice and Women

Today, while trying to ready my yard for the new driveway and stairs, I stepped into the shed to get a shovel. It was still dawn and the shed was dark, and very full. I took two steps in and SQUEAK! I jumped out of the shed and slammed the door. While panting and pondering how mice eat people, I decided to stop being a coward and open the door again. I pressed my ear to the door to listen. Nothing. Good, I thought, he's gone. I've scared him away. So I throw open the door and take a step in SQUEAK! This time I froze. I took another step, franticly scanning the ground around me. SQUEAK! Now, realization hits me across the face, and I start laughing. My shoes have air pockets in them and I must have sprung a leak! Everytime I stepped with my right foot I squeak. (this is the part I peer out of the shed, bright red, to make sure the neighboors didn't see me). I also had an epifany today. I came to the realization that I am more like my grandfather then I will admitt. It hit me like a ton of bricks while I was digging up my sprinkler system at 9:30am in 22 degree weather with the ground frozen. Mark had told me the night before that the construction crew would do it if I asked. But here I stood, digging up the sprinklers because I was determined they couldn't do it right. Back of the bus. I had always wondered why grandpa wouldn't accept help at times. Now I live it. Have a great day!!

A bit of this, A bit of that...

What a month....well, we're finally getting our driveway in, probably. They're coming tomorrow to dig out the "bad" dirt and replace it with "Good dirt" and rock. I wonder what makes dirt bad. Anyway, this is good news! I also found out my sister-in-law is pregnant! Yeah! i'm an aunt! Again! I hope it's okay to spill the beans! Names will be withheld to protect the innocent...babies...boy, I'm really not making any sense! Haley insists on "playing" with Shawn, I'm not sure why she thinks he likes to be "patted" so hard he cries, or pointing flashlights in his face and blowing up his nose is funny. I'm thinking she's a little jealous. Mark's teacher called me today to say he had a particularly hard day and his "listening to instructions" issue is getting worse. I really am having a hard time with this issue and welcome advice. I've given him some "practice" situations at home so he knows when it's appropriate to play, and when it's not. Shawn has decided that he doesn't want to lay down by himself, this is eternally frusterating. I'm hoping it's not because he's cutting teeth.....cross your fingers. Marky got teeth this early, it really was a painful time in my life....:( Well, that should get you up on all the "going's on" everyday in our home....cross your fingers we get a white christmas!!
ER

Things I know....

There are some things I know....

1. I will always have incredibly chubby babies.
2. My children will always be loud (I wonder why).
3. Haley was born to push buttons (all kinds!)
4. Marky understands more than I do.
5. My husband will always sup rise me.
6. I will never be able to lose weight while nursing.
7. I am not politically correct, and the harder I try the worse it gets.
8. My comfort is my husbands chaos
9. If given the choice between chocolate and water on a deserted island, I'll choose chocolate, I may as well die indulging myself.
10. I am a mother, at all times, especially when I catch myself "rocking" my baby that I just left with the sitter while standing in line somewhere.
11. I'll never feel completely comfortable going out without my kids. I always feel as though I've lost something.
12. I should never make lists, in the end they don't make sense.

appy urky ay!

Ello! It's thanksgiving and I have a cold. So while my wonderful mother and sister in law prepare dinner in the kitchen I'm stuck on the couch. So far I have watched the muppets try to prepare thanksgiving, a special segment on the today show detailing what not to say at thanksgiving dinner, and cartoons. I am wondering where a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is while I watch comercials for christmas specials. The blackfriday ads are splashed all over as well as news reports about the plumetting economy. I've decided something, the world has become pessimistic. Everyone is doom and gloom. I am not going to give in! I refuse to be all dark on a day we are supposed to be thankful for all that we have been given! I am thankful for my beautiful healthy children, my loving husband, my patient and caring family. I am thankful we have a job, we can afford to feed and cloth our family. I am thankful for jello, and all it's wonder at thanksgiving. I am thankful for opposition and trials. How would I know what to be thankful for if I didn't have opposition in all things! I am thankful for my Savior! For this thanksgiving day made possible by his hand, and the blessing it is to be together as a family to bless this food in his name. I am thankful for all of you and the examples you give me.

Happy Thanksgiving!

ER

One Year Older and Wiser too! (Hopefully!)

Well, here we are, we finished the birthday run (we all have birthdays in September, October and November). One long party if you throw in Halloween and thanksgiving! We are all one year older, and hopefully wiser, we'll see! Shawn is almost 16 pounds now! And not yet 3 months old! We went ahead and bought a larger convertible car seat so he can face backwards until he's a year or 35 pounds! We're praying for Nana and her job, we hope she gets it! Let's see, what's been going on. ... Well, we have to replace the driveway and cap our front porch, fortunately Mark works for a cement company that will do it at cost and I have an uncle who has the equipment and graciously is willing to help us remove the driveway. Bad thing--we're removing it the day before thanksgiving! We'll lay down some boards for everyone to walk on until it's laid down. I have to transplant my roses and rip out our 8 foot shrubs to make room for the cement replacement. That will happen tomorrow I hope, we'll see how far I get! Haley is loving preschool and Mark is great in school. He came home and read his first book the other day, I almost cried! he loves books! He also loves choir and sings to me every day the Hawaiian Christmas song. We're excited for Thanksgiving and seeing nana and Amy and Scott and Jackson. We'll miss everyone else but we're hoping to see you soon! Now that I've rambled on at 10 at night, I'll bid you adieu!

Love,
Me

MORE PHOTOS!

Fall Madness

Sleepy Daddy and Haley on a Saturday afternoon....


One chunky monkey!!


Haley and Mark dancing in the falling leaves.

Shawn at 2 months

this is shawn at 2 months old. He is one chubby baby. All his stats are below in the next post.

Chubby!

Shawn had his 2 month appointment. He weighed in at 14 pounds 10 oz!!! Chubby!! the doctor was suprised he is only breast feeding and still spitting up buckets. He is smiling and cooing now, i'll try to get a picture on the blog, as well as rolling over and his chubby body. The doctor was very suprised about all this and said he acts like a 4 month old baby. Haley thinks he's a doll and I have to keep a keen eye on her. At times she tries to roll him over, or pick him up. She loves to dust her hair in his face, which he doesn't seem to mind much. I could take lessons on patience from him I think. Mark has officially become 6. He's starting to pick on Haley in quiet little ways thinking he'll get away with it. Everytime I catch and scold him he goes to his room and comes back saying he's prayed and said he's sorry. (How can you stay mad at that!) I must admitt he's adorable! Well, another cold wet day for us! Hope yours is sunny and warm!

ER

Pictures!! Cute Kids!!! I'm going as Jodi!

Haley and Mark on life in general.

Halloween Madness!!

I am working on the pictures I promise!!! In the meantime, Halloween is madness!! I get to volunteer for both kids school parties, as well as my normal volunteer day for Mark's class!! I didn't realize the craziness that came with older kids! We have our family party tomorrow at the Barn, it should be a blast, the kids always get excited when I tell them it's at Stacy's, they love the barn, the animals and the kids and craziness that always accompanies that many people in one room! I'm going to try and attach a video of Shawn rolling over for you. Let's see how well I do! I'm excited for November. Things tend to wind down for the thanksgiving and Christmas season. I know what your thinking "What does she mean wind down!" Well, this is my thought, if you enjoy it, then it's not a bother. I enjoy the fall/winter season between Halloween and Christmas so it's not a bother. Mark and Haley are doing great in school, they love it. Shawn is getting bigger and seems to eat more all the time (reason why he's getting bigger!) He has rolls on every part of his body, sometimes more then one. All except his stomach. There he is just solid (solid food!). His hair is growing too! Soon I'll have to start braiding it or give him a trim! Maybe we'll do the "in style" and let it grow over his eyes. I don't know how these teenage boys can see!!! Most kids I see have their hair to their eyelashes! Anyway, I'm rambling. It's late. Love ya!!

New Blog!

Okay, I know, change is hard! I have a new blog because to use more space with pictures on the other blog would cost money! Money I'm not willing to give up if there's a free alternative!!! Don't worry, I've pulled my posts off the other blog and saved them on the computer for archiving. You should be able to log on with your gmail account to post comments, or you can post as anonymous and when you write the post just sign your name on what you write. Let me know if you need help!! As I said before, I'm working on pictures, they'll be slow going until we get a digital camera again. I'm using my film and developing them onto disks. Don't forget to scroll all the way to the bottom from time to time, I'll post polls there! Love you all!!

Erin