Too Blessed to Be Stressed!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Oh, how I wish that I had a really nice camera. I love taking pictures and especially of my babies. After TC was born, Steve was upset at how terrible our pictures turned out from our hospital stay. We decided it would be a wise investment to get a really good camera. Remember, this was about 8 years ago. Now, I am wishing for the same type of camera that I already have but only I would like for it to be digital. I just can't justify the cost right now. I hate that. Anyway, I will continue to take pictures of my kids with my cheap digital camera and my 35 mm. Someday, I hope to be surprised with a really nice camera for Christmas or my birthday.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

I NEED SOME SLEEP!

Wow! It has been awhile. So much has happened lately, I don't know where to begin. I guess I can start by saying that it is 6:00 AM and I have been awake since 4:00 AM. I just keeping asking myself why. I suppose Jaxon's teeth are bothering him. I guess a little Tylenol won't hurt no matter what it is. He is finally asleep and now I am wide awake. This will catch up with me about 9:00 AM when I am suppose to babysit for 3 other children besides my own. Will I be able to do it?

Well, last month was Dakota's 2nd birthday. Oh, how time does fly. We tried to keep it down played and just have our small little family. I invited my parents over for cake and ice cream, after we finished up dinner and somehow we ended up with 9 kids and a babysitter, too. I think Dakota was overjoyed. I guess there is no such thing as a small birthday when you have such a large family so close. Something I am getting used to since being back home. Don't get me wrong though, I love our large family and I LOVE when we get together.

Twelve years ago, on February 13th, Steve officially proposed. He asked me on December 31st but he didn't fly out to Tennessee until February. Yes, it felt like forever, waiting for him to come. My love for Steve grows every passing year. I remember feeling like something bad was going to happen when we first got married because life was too perfect. Yes, TOO PERFECT! I know, I am a little strange but that is how I felt. I loved every minute I spent with Steve and I still do.

Well, I can't say we really celebrated but we did get to go to dinner with Steve's parents and sister while they were visiting. We had a lovely dinner at Ichabon. I think I spelled that right. We actually split up so that the girls could go shopping and the boys went to see some baseball. Since shopping is one of my favorite past times, I jump at the opportunities. I suppose I could take 3 kidlets with me during the week but....that would be PSYCHO! I am enjoying this time while they are tiny because someday I will miss it.

For Valentine's Day we spent a romantic day changing Dakota's diaper and giving her baths every 15 minute's. She is on medication for her ear infectionS that causes diarreah. Lovely, I know! She had a rough day and so did I. Later that evening Steve and his dad tried to take TC and AJ to a movie but it was sold out. AWE!!! SO they rented Justice League. YEAH! How very romantic?

I remember as newly weds, in the Columbine 7th Ward, hearing that Enrichment was going to be on Wednesday, Feb 14th. I spoke up and asked, "Are you really going to have Enrichment on V-Day?" Wow, the response! I guess, after you have been married a few years, V-Day doesn't mean anything. Yeah, right! Steve and I agreed that night that we would never let that happen to us. Well, at least not until 12 years later, when our daughter is sick. Life happens! I am sure our romantic evenings together will not end. Isn't that how we ended up with 4 children anyway?

The next day, Steve left for Colorado to work for his dad for the week. Some might ask why we live in Tennessee while Steve keeps working in Colorado. It is only temporary. It has actually worked out perfect that he can fit it all in. We are just so happy that he has work and that it isn't a stinky substitute teachers pay! ROUGH!

This week has been full and I am running off of fumes by the end of the day. Maybe, that will just make the time pass faster until Steve gets home. Well, I guess I can go wake up TC now so he can get ready for school. Wish me luck. It's going to be a long day.

Monday, January 19, 2009

And live happily ever after!

About 3-4 years ago, Aunt Dawn gave TC a V-smile game system that Piper didn't care for, too much. She gave him about 4 games along with it. One of those games happened to be Cinderella. I have assumed that TC would rather play some of the other games like Superman or Aladdin. Today I caught him playing Cinderella. I kind of teased him a little bit for playing a Cinderella game and he responded, "hey, I liked that movie." So, I asked him if someday he would marry someone as beautiful as Cinderella or would he want to marry someone like Anastasia?" TC said, "No, I wouldn't want to marry her. She would be grumpy all of the time and make me do her laundry."

At least, he has sense enough to know already what type of girl he will not marry!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

All together now, SMILE!

sorry steve i promised i would post a picture of the kids from this week. jaxon is sleeping on my numb leg right now so i will make this quick! I just have to say that is so hard for me to get all four of my kids to smile right at the same time. How hard can it be?

My Babies!

I’M TRYING NOT TO FORGET some of the most precious moments that come with each child. Each child is so different and each has their own unique personality and interests. I have many sweet memories. I hope that my children each realize how they are very special to me and that we can love each of our children exactly the same despite their different personalities.

TC is and will always be my trial and error child. I know it is sad that the first child has to be tested in so many different ways. I guess we have to have one to learn with. I guess I could also look at him as my teacher. He teaches me how to parent the rest of my children. He also tries to be the parent sometimes, too.

One memory of TC that I love was when he would get up from his nap, he would throw his stuffed animals out of the crib. I remember one day going in his room and sitting in the floor and throwing all of his stuffed animals right back at him. He thought it was hilarious and so we just kept throwing them back and forth at each other for a really long time.

At that same age (around 2 ½) he said the funniest thing to me that I will never forget. He used to watch Dora the Explorer. Dora has a friend named Boots that she travels with to each destination. Along the way, sometimes Swiper the Fox will steal things from them and then finding the missing item becomes a game. When Swiper the Fox steals an item he throws it into the bushes and says, “You’ll never find it now.” So one day I was sitting with TC in his bedroom floor after his bath and cleaning his ears with the Q-tips. TC grabbed one of the q-tips and threw it across his room repeating to me “You’ll never find it now.” He was such a funny kid!

My favorite memory of AJ has to be watching him get on his big wheel and riding down the hill behind our apartment in Rexburg. It just looked hilarious and I was so shocked that he would be so daring at such a young age to do that.

AJ makes a lot of funny comments and I think he enjoys making other people laugh. I can’t help but enjoy his sweet side. I love when he comes into the bathroom while I am putting my make-up on and says, “Mom, you are so pretty.” What woman would not want to hear that? Of course when he gets in trouble he sometimes tells me that I am not pretty anymore but somehow I know he won’t stay mad for long.

Dakota had the funniest position that she liked to be in. She would bend over and look at you through her legs. It always cracked me up. I think our time at night when I rock her to sleep will be a favorite memory, also. She loves to sing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

Her funniest saying right now has to be when she sees something gross, she always says “Eeww!” Yes, I know it has been really hard to get her to talk anyway, but she does say what she needs to….Eeww!

If I ever find my picture of Kota looking through her legs upside-down,

i will post it!

My favorite memory with Jaxon is when he hugs me. He really does hug me. I have never had any of my kids give me a real hug. They always let me hug them, but it is like pulling teeth to get them to give me a squeeze. Do I stink that bad? Jaxon puts his little arms around my neck and gives me the best little hug that his short little arms can give. I absolutely love it. Right now he only says… Dadadadadada!

Last but not least, Steve. One of my favorite past times with Steve is our long walks. Our 5 hour walk around Rexburg after Thanksgiving '96, Walking around Clement Park, walking and shopping at Cherry Creek Mall, 16th Street Mall, Park Meadows Mall, Southwest Plaza Mall, Colorado Mills Mall, and Hamilton Place Mall.....Oh, and how could I forget Grand Teton Mall. I loved our walks around Buena Vista, Breckenridge, Dillon, Silverthorne, Durango, Yellowstone, downtown Denver, Walnut Street Bridge, Idaho Falls, Temple Square, Provo, and I am sure I am forgetting some great ones. I love the places we have been and can't wait to do it some more.

My favortie saying that Steve always says is, "It is better to remain quiet and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."

I guess, I love that because I usually can't keep my mouth shut. I suppose, I remove all doubt over and over again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I still love it.