Total Craziness

A year later

2011-04-08T01:50:00.002-07:00

A year later and I still do not have time to keep this blog, especially with the latest curve ball throw our way. I have started another blog to record our journey and keep people informed with Tyler's health. That one should be updated more than once a year. :)

You can read that blog at Tyler C with EE.

Yes & No / LAST CHANCE OPPORTUNITY!! / Win a $10 Target GC

2010-03-30T14:08:00.010-07:00

Yes.... we are alive.

No.... this doesn't not mean we're coming back to blogging anytime soon.

Yes.... we are having another baby next week.

No.... there WON'T be a blog and/or facebook update when the baby gets here.

Yes.... it stinks to be you if you assumed you would get updates by checking the blog.

No.... that doesn't automatically make you excluded from the latest and greatest. (KEEP READING!)

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LAST CHANCE OPPORTUNITY - SPEAK UP NOW!!

If you want to be in the know, this is your chance.

When the baby arrives, we will send out an email with details and pictures once we're out of post-op and have a room. For those who can't wait that long, we will be able to text.

But this will require effort on your part!

Unless you have already told me you want to be included (within the last week), you are not on the "people to update" list. If you want to be added, leave a comment to this post with either your email and/or cell number. Comments will be deleted as we get them and add you to the list. If you'd rather not leave a comment, you can email us at (the first part of the blog address, up until the first dot) @ q . com

If you don't contact us by this Sunday (April 4th, EASTER!), do not take offense when you are not contacted.

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What's a final blog post without something fun?

I've been a little OCD with getting last minute stuff for the baby. DH says I have gone to Target 4x each week for the past month, I beg to differ. I might average 3x/week but 4x is totally overstating it! ;-)

Either way, one of you will win a $10 Target giftcard.

Here's how it works. Leave a comment with how big you think this baby will be. *Our other babies weighed 8 15, 9 even, 7 3, and 9 14* (If you were already planning on leaving a comment for the "Last Chance Opportunity" above, make sure you leave an additional comment as the email/cell numbers comments will be deleted.) The closest person wins. If there is a tie, the winner will be decided by whoever leaves their comment first. You have until 1pm (AZ time) on Monday, April 5th to leave your best guess. Good luck!

Needing to vent

2009-08-20T21:36:00.005-07:00

Dear Mr. Lego Man,

We have a lengthy love/hate relationship. I can (vividly) recall playing for hours on end with my little brother's Legos. I can also (vividly) recall the envy I had towards my brother as he was (is) the youngest of four girls and my uncle had (has) a soft-spot for the baby of the family, (perhaps because he too is the baby?) which meant that often Christmas'= fresh Lego set for my brother. (I would have to build the complicated parts of the set for him. The older sisters were "too cool" for Legos.) I suppose it was good preparation for becoming a mother of four boys, and now I can build the Lego Batmobile (with four boys playing tag, weaving in and out of my legs) in no time flat.

Mister Lego Man, did I mention DH doesn't play with your creations because he claims he has always been too cool for them? (Do you, too, see a common theme?)

Regardless, as a parent I am becoming to hate you again. Did you ever take into consideration that a 3-year-old may rip off his 4-year-old brother's Star Wars figurine's head and throw it into the abyss (under the kitchen stove).... all because the 4-year-old was being a "poo poo head?" Did you further consider that perhaps that would upset the 4-year-old so much that he would decapitate his 6-year-old brother's figurine and hide it in a spot so top secret, that even the 4-year-old would forget where it was hidden?

I must say, I truly find the crying to be a bit over the top. 12 hours ago I loved you. What has happened?

Could you please make note and in the (immediate) future sell figurine heads al la carte?

Thanks,
Momma of Many Lego-loving Boys

P.S. Did you know that a little hand can spend many days (if not weeks) in the garbage disposal and endure multiple spinning cycles and still come out recognizable? Kudos to your greatly engineered, but overpriced pieces of plastic.

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Dear Mr. Scorpion,

I thought we were past being graced with your presence in our home, but sadly I am wrong. Please do not curl up in my flip-flop and think I will not notice you. You have violated our agreement when you entered our home without our permission. Yes, the boys like to get up close and personal with you, but I would rather not have such relationship with you. Leave me, my kitchen, and our home alone.

Thanks,
Scorpion Hater

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Dear Mr. Scorpion's Friend.

I assumed because your friend didn't make it out alive that you would have got the message. Again, I stand corrected. Just because you were smaller than your counterpart doesn't mean I wouldn't notice you. Do you really think I would allow you to sit 12 inches away from your friend's resting place without calling for DH? Sorry, visiting hours are over. Go home and don't come back. (FYI that was a pun. I know for certain you will not be coming back. DH squished you as flat as a pancake. Your friends might stand a chance in the future if I don't see them, but DH definitely put his foot down with you.)

Thanks,
Still a Scorpion Hater

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Dear Mr. Spider,

I am writing letters to all of my "friends" and clearly you want in on the action... you are casually climbing across the bed as I type this as if I wouldn't see you. Please stay off our bed. If your other insect friends didn't stand a chance, I sure as [*$&@] aren't going to put up with you either.

Thanks,
Don't say I didn't warn you

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Dear Random Ants,

I would greatly appreciate it if you didn't march mindlessly across the kitchen counter. I have personally made sure there is not one crumb left on the one counter you love so dearly. Perhaps you should look somewhere else instead. Hey, if you come back later tonight then maybe there might be some "food" for you on the ground. Go run crazy next to my flip-flop. Watch out though, it might sting.

Thanks,
You do it again, I pull out the Raid

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Dear Terminix Man,

We pay you in advance for your services not because I enjoy picking up all the scattered toys scattered admist our backyard on the day you come to spray, and not because we have nothing better to do with our money, but because I justified the funds as a "necessity" and well spent if I (and the family) didn't have to live with desert-y insects. Please reassure me the money has not gone to waste.

Thanks,
Your Loyal Customer

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Dear Son,

The reason we did not buy a dog is because our financial resources are low after our unanticipated Lego store visit. Admittedly I am thinking the dog might have cost less in the long run and killed all of our bug issues without effort on my (and Terminix Man's) in the here and now. Hmm....

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Dear Mr. Refrigerator,

I am sorry that I will soon tape your face. Unfortunately Squeaky Z likes to search the house for vessel-like objects and scurry over to play with you more times in one day than I would care to recall. He thoroughly enjoys watching your water shoot into the objects he so eagerly pushes against you. It doesn't seem to faze him that his cup runneth over. Actually it is quite the contrary.... He laughs as your water overflows the rim of the cups (and other containers). Although he enjoys watching your water spill down his clothing, down your face, cover whatever box or stool (used to give a height boost), and puddle on the floor, I do not approve. I have extremely enjoyed drinking your purified water but it becomes a bit much when the 22-month-old finds humor in his older brothers slipping and falling (with your aid, of course) in said watery mess. If your dispenser had a lock I would not have to cover you up, but you don't, which leaves me with little options.

Please understand!

Thanks,
It was him, not you

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Ahhhh, I feel much better!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-08-12T12:33:00.006-07:00

Miracles

2009-07-30T20:46:00.008-07:00

For those who have prayed countless times for this family; He has heard and answered.

Miracles do happen, here is proof.

Here is the sister that was ejected from the car, left gasping for air while lying on the freeway. She went from suffering internal bleeding, double collapsed lungs, a brain so swollen that part of her skull was temporarily removed, numerous surgeries, broken legs, and on life support for several weeks, to a 5 year old girl who, well, see for yourself...

All of 'em together

minus this little guy.

Welcome back, Faiza. We have missed you!

*for those who noticed the familiar backyard, yes, this is OUR backyard. But that is a whole other upcoming post, as are the California trip pictures.

Are you serious?

2009-07-29T23:26:00.005-07:00

Do you remember this post? (If you don't, you can click here to read it.)

Well we were busy helping members of this family with their challenges that our life got a little sidetracked. Everything comes at a cost and getting a college education is no different. Last year I spent some time applying for various scholarships in hopes of getting something to help with the financial costs of attending college. Lucky for me, my work had paid off.

I had set aside the week of the due date to reapply for the scholarships.

Life happened. Between losing a baby and losing a dear friend, dedicating time to writing papers wasn't in the cards for me. Helping others is a blessing that comes during a specific time and place. Although I really wanted to reapply for scholarships, I knew that my being of service to others would have far greater blessings than any scholarship could award me.

The scholarship due date was the same day I was invited to Ahmed's burial. Money could wait, but this moment in time could not be paused, even for one second.

A week after the burial the phone rang.

"Hi, there is Jerry with the [city] Chamber of Commerce. How are you doing?"

I paused, not knowing what to think.

"So I'm calling to inform you that you are the recipient of the 2009-2010 scholarship. Instead of awarding a new recipient, we would rather award it to you instead."

*Stunned, still not knowing what to think.* Then finally, "You do realize I hadn't applied for any of the scholarship, right?"

"Yes, we know that. Usually we do not renew such scholarships, but after reviewing the current applicants, we felt it best to renew your scholarship than award it to someone else. We usually don't do this, but after talking with a few people, we're going to do it this time. We feel you desire it more than the others."

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Dear Husband was excited and said, "Congratulations honey. Why don't I take you out to dinner and, if you're lucky, you'll get some money for school while you're at it."

I also got to bring an additional guest to the event this year. Who better else to bring to such occasion than a person who has unconditionally stood behind me in all my craziness than Mrs. Barbara V?

Hey Barb, you must have been lucky too cause Dear Husband "picked up" your dinner as well! *wink*

Summer 2008

Summer 2009 - Nice to see you again, Rich!

Happy Birthday Son, but....

2009-07-29T22:47:00.006-07:00

Happy Birthday Diggs!

Diggs turned 6 towards the end of May. Being the good mother that I am, I have not ~~made time~~ had time to sit down and write about the event. (In all fairness, I did have valid reasons for not posting this sooner: I had finals one week, his birthday party (round one) the following week, end of school stuff for Diggs, my scholarship/awards banquet dinner Wednesday night, and then we drove to California the very next morning. *sigh*)

Anyways, back to Diggs turning 6. As you can see for yourself, he thinks very highly of himself.

["Its my birthday! I am a star!" And a lovely cake with the number six on top because, after all, “6-year-olds are the coolest kids ever.” (I can’t wait to see what we are in for next year.)]

He got to have a “boy” party and invite a few friends to Makutu’s Island. All the boys had fun, but hands down the highlight was getting to see Tate again. (Tate changed schools shortly after the beginning of last year’s school year. I was surprised by how much they could remember about each other (they’re favorite character, favorite color, etc) even though they hadn’t seen each other for 9+ months. Surely I must have already forgotten how 6-year-olds are the coolest kids ever.)

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Diggs had begged us for months for a pet fish.

Let’s just say that I we don’t do animals (perhaps the Pollocks have enough animals for both of our families?), so I would use any excuse to postpone adding an animal to our bunch. “Ooohhh, that sounds like fun. Maybe we should wait until your birthday.”

Quickly the request shifted from wanting a fish to wanting a crab. He ended up hitting the jackpot this year and got both; a crab from us and a fish from a friend.

Meet Nacos (rhymes with tacos) the Crab.

And Batman the Beta (sorry, no pics of Batman - imagine a black beta fish with bulgy eyes).

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Unfortunately, WE (still) aren’t pet people.

Batman survived a little over a week before he went belly up.

Nacos died the following day.

Have I mentioned we are not pet people?

California Trip Part I

2009-07-18T14:45:00.008-07:00

We arrived home safely, and I am happy to report that (most of) my hair is still intact.

Here is a sneak peek of what's to come just as soon as I find a few uninterrupted hours to organize, edit, and upload pictures.

Many more pictures (and stories) coming soon!

Playing catch-up

2009-05-23T23:35:00.015-07:00

I'd be here 'til next year if I were to sit and write out all the stories between mid March and now. Instead, I will spare you the details and get you up to speed via photos.

The boys have climbed mountains,

and helped Mommy in the kitchen.

The California cousins came for a visit: translation, nights spent like this.

They got invited to go visit Uncle J's uncle's "farm." It may not be exciting for some, but check out the entertainment the cow provided by doing this click on the picture if you want to see stuff coming out of its back end

This little boy

loves to play in water, and was in heaven doing this

all afternoon. Meanwhile, the older boys had fun with their new (my brother-in-law's father) Grandpa Pollock and cousins, riding in this.

And went fast like this.

By the end of the trip, there were 2 boys who believed they were real cowboys... especially since they could bravely stand on the fence like this.

A boy turned 3 and had a small party while his cousins were in town.

Mommy thought she would throw a big party the day of his birthday, but didn't anticipate having a miscarriage the day before. Luckily she has some amazing friends who volunteered to throw together a last minute party, Mickey Mouse cake and all!

A boy found a utensil perfect for eating cereal

and a good book to read.

Mommy took a break from this,

and went with a friend to go do this.

And for two seconds, she nearly forgot about how resourceful he's become,

how the Top Secret location of the make-up is no longer Top Secret,

how Mr. G is an aspiring photographer and wants to capture moments like these, even if Mommy just happened to wake up minutes prior

how cocoa puffs sometimes get mixed in with lettuce,

how blinkers randomly get turned on for unknown reasons,

how knives get left in jars,

and an occasional monkey that enjoys a ride.

Mother's Day Tea

2009-05-19T11:54:00.005-07:00

My own "Queen Joolya" crown

N's class threw a Mother's Day Tea; a special event for just him and his mommy. He was excited that the instructions were that he was supposed to serve me and I couldn't do anything. He had surprised me with a pink flower planted in a personalized [read: I love Sonic! I love Sonic heros. Sonic is the best. Mom loves Sonic.] flowerpot, a completed questionnaire all about me, and all the kids sang us songs.

Mommy Facts (according to N)

What's your mother's name? Joolya
What do you call her? Mom
How old is she? 26
How tall is she? 5
How much does she weigh? 130
What color is her hair? Brown
What's her favorite drink and snack? Lemonad and pbj
What does she cook? Chile
What's her favorite TV show? Spider Man
What's her favorite thing to do with you? Snugle
What does she like to do for fun? Trikc my dad (Trick my dad)
What does she do during the day? Sleep
What's the one thing she says to you most often? I love you!

Mom's Wish Express...
Wishes for Mom... clean the windows.
Wishes for Mom... I will take care of my brothers!
Wishes for Mom... I will snuggle with my brothers.
Wishes for Mom... I will help my dad cook so you can go to sleep!

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Apparently I have mastered my parental responsibility in preparing our son to become a great husband someday. Even though he's only 5, he knows that the way to a mother's heart is by making her dinner, cleaning her house, watching the children (and making sure they're happy), and letting her take a nap.

I never would have guessed

2009-05-01T21:51:00.002-07:00

On Tuesday, Dear Husband joyfully volunteered to be a chaperon on a field trip. N was excited his group would only consist of him and his friend.

On Wednesday, Dear Husband was nearly an hour late getting home from work. I was beginning to worry and told myself I would give him 20 more minutes before calling the cops to see if he was involved in an accident.

15 minutes later, he pokes his head in the front door and asks the boys to go into the other room. The shirt he wore to work was meticulously crumpled up and in his hand. I could see in his face he was deeply shaken up about something.

M: "I was worried something had happened? Did you get in an acci....."

DH: "No I wasn't, but someone else was. Something told me I needed to stop. "

M: "Is everyone okay?"

DH: "Someone died on the scene. The worst part is, I'm almost positive I know the person who died."

I never would have guessed my son's friend and classmate would make news under such circumstances.

I never would have guessed my Dear Husband would spend a whole day with an amazing child, then the following day find his body lying dead in the middle of the freeway.

I never would have guessed I would be the person informing the school teacher and principal of what happened.

Wednesday morning, I never would have guessed I would spend 5 hours that evening in the ER at the bedside of the sister of my son's deceased friend; drawing pictures, making turkey balloons out of plastic gloves, caressing her hair and frequently kissing her forehead. Normally I don't do blood and guts, but when a girl's world has been ripped apart I do anything necessary to comfort her.

I never would have guessed I would sing the "Mommy loves me" song I sing to my children when they're sick or sad, to help comfort a child who wasn't my own.

I never would have guessed I would be one of five women allowed to attend a burial service that is traditionally NEVER attended by ANY women.

I never would have guessed a grieving mother would look at me, with tears in her eyes, and tell me my husband was the answers to her prayers. She prayed that an angel would come to comfort her after the accident and immediately my husband appeared.

I just never would have guessed.

A new chapter

2009-03-30T15:28:00.007-07:00

We will not be having an addition to our earthly family. Although the outcome is not ideal from our worldly perspective, we are honored to know that we now have a spirit that is waiting for us on the other side.

It was/is bittersweet.

Does it hurt? Yes; words cannot begin to describe the physical and emotional pain.

I am sad, but I am not angry. I can't be.

Long before this spirit was conceived, I knew some thing would be a different. I am glad my Father in Heaven had sent me promptings that something would happen. Of course I didn't have details, but that is part of His plan. If He revealed all details, we would never need to gain a testimony.

Faith is born when we put ourselves out there and do not have a single expectation of gaining anything in return. Faith is strengthened when we continue to follow His teachings, despite the circumstances and final outcome. My ability to survive through this ugly storm is not the result of chance or luck, it is my faith in Him and His craftsmanship. It is through Him that I will be able to bask in His glory someday, with my entire family by my side.

I know He still loves me. Although I was not granted the opportunity to raise this boy on earth, my story does not end.

A new chapter has begun.

He answers prayers

2009-03-28T15:30:00.008-07:00

77 hours ago, I watched an ultrasound monitor display a heart beat 112 beats a minute.

Today is a very much, different story.

I am not in a place to capable of elaborating right now, but I know that He hears and answers prayers. We are never forced to travel our journey alone!

Back in the "limbo" saddle again!

2009-03-27T16:46:00.004-07:00

I have been taking my time in going "public" with our current situation. It's hard to share a story that has multiple complexities. It is hard to share a story that has the doctor puzzled and unsure. Words are hard to come by when all you want to do is scream and cry, but doing so would not solve or fix anything. Ultimately, I have no control over the outcome. Despite my desire to plan every thing to the finest detail, He has decided to show me that some things are out of my control.

To many, it appears as though I've got it all together. In some respects, this is true. In many other aspects, this is far from the truth. Our latest struggle has been a hurdle for me. A big hurdle.

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Flashback: August 2006 - My body became out of whack after having our third child. Brought it to the doctor's attention and was told not to worry because it could be "normal." I know my body and knew it wasn't normal. Little did I know what my un-normal self was in for.

End of February 2007: Positive home pregnancy test. We were elated to be expecting. Early blood tests revealed I had low progesterone. To sustain any pregnancy, levels need to be above 10, ideally above 20. Mine was 8.8. Doctor was slightly hesitant I would make it to the 2nd trimester. Early ultrasound provided relief as the baby was healthy and dated 2 weeks further along than originally thought.

August 2007: Had some spotting and beginnings of preterm labor.

End of October 2007: A healthy, nearly 10 pound baby!

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And now, we are back in our limbo state.

It began with a positive pregnancy test. I had a beta blood test (which measures the quantity of free HCG. HCG is the hormone present during pregnancy) later the same day. Results: Progesterone level at a 5.1, which is very low. Usually that would indicate I hadn't ovulated, but the same test results proved otherwise.) Immediately started on medication. Thank goodness for good insurance because those things are expensive.

Two days later, another trip to the lab (with all four children in tow), for another beta test.

And again two 1/2 days later. By this time, there was definitely extra support from above. The children were perfectly behaved. They knew the drill: come in, sit down, and don't ~~wrestle with each other~~ touch anything.

And again two days later.

And again three days later.

And again two days later.

And again two days later.

And again three days later.

I was relived to hear that the doctor gave up with the testing. It was emotionally exhausting playing the role of a human pincushion. I became numb to the fact I was still bruised from prior pokes, and yet they were sticking me yet again. 1/3 of the time, my HCG numbers would double as they were supposed to, the other 2/3 they would not. On Wednesday, I went in for an ultrasound and things went relatively well.

What we don't know: Lots! We've been told every thing from miscarriage, various chromosomal abnormalities and/or defects, perfectly healthy baby, and every thing in-between.

As of now, what we do know: I should have realized how blessed I was to be so worry-free with the first three pregnancies. There is no longer the simplicity of getting a positive pregnancy test and then seeing the OB 8 weeks later. If it weren't for modern medicine, I would not be able to artificially sustain these last two pregnancies.

Prior to the ultrasound, the doctor said it was a 50/50 chance of going either way in terms of viability. But, in our favor, a heartbeat was detected. It is healthy for the gestational size, but is measuring a few days behind. It is flirting with the healthy/unhealthy growth rate border.

Right now, we remain in limbo; we may have an addition to the family in late fall, or we may not. We are living one day at a time. While we are uncertain of our future and what it will look like, the Lord's plan is not so uncertain. He knows my husband and I willingly accepted this hand of cards before we came to earth.

Now if only I could catch a glimpse into the reasons why. :)

Let the games begin

2009-03-06T10:18:00.006-07:00

N got an award for getting 100% on all of his phonogram and spelling pickles. I don't know why, but they call various tests "pickles." N says he's super cool, Daddy says N's a super pickle!

The next morning, Daddy left a special note before leaving for work.

Embarrassed, N quickly erased the message and wrote,

"Mom wished she could be cool like a super pickle."

And so the games begin.

Not Me Monday

2009-02-16T00:26:00.010-07:00

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

This week, the boys did not follow me around the house, saying Mom.Mom.Mom like a broken record. Clearly any response and acknowledgment I gave was not satisfactory enough because they continued. I did not reply, "Mommy is not here right now... try again later!" just to get them to say something different.

Our boys do not play with their food during meals.

A huge palm tree frawn did not fall 7 feet and land on my leg, right above my ankle. Why would it? This woman does not do 80% of the yard work and palm tree trimming, so clearly I would not be subject to such a battle wound. It's a good thing I chose to wear socks and shoes and not flip-flops.

I did not get all worked up over a comment a guy made in one of my classes. He (a guy who claims to work with special needs children) did not publicly announce his ignorance when he stated that autism is nothing more than just "a learned behavior."

The two older boys were not wrestling after they were instructed to stop. G did not go face-first into N's knee and bust his lip. He did not grab his mouth and come running to the kitchen. In route he did not touch the cream-colored sectional with his fingers, which were of course not bloody. [In case you're wondering who in their right mind has a cream-colored couch in a home that houses 4 small children (and boys at that), I would not know. Surely, it is not us!]

This was not our house during baths/showers.

I have not listened to Third Day's Revelation CD thirty something times already. G's favorite is not #13.

The laundry pile has not managed to find its way back into an overflowing basket, sitting oh-so-comfortably on our bedroom floor. Did it not understand that once I put it away on Wednesday, it needed to wait at least another week before reemerging?

While I was putting the last batch of cookies on the cookie sheet, Z did not dump the entire 2.5 pound bag of raisins on the floor. His older brother did not walk across the couch and smoosh some of the raisins into the cream-colored couch (which we do not have) as I was trying to rescue the raisins. Oh, the 2.5 pounds of rescued raisins.... they did not get put back into the bag, and surely they did not wind up back in the pantry.

Our pillows were not used to build a secret clubhouse.

I did not say, "You can pick your nose" after getting asked what fun things there was to do. N did not quickly shove his finger up his nostril and ask, "You mean like this?"

Why children need a mother AND a father

2009-02-10T11:11:00.006-07:00

This boy's mother would not allow him to go outside looking like this.

His father willingly took this boy (still wearing this ensemble) out into public.

Mom: Aren't you going to make him change first?
Dad: No. Do I need to?
Mom: Have you seen what he's wearing?
Dad: Yah! Do I really need to have him change? We're only going to Costco.

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A father doesn't wear gloves before retrieving a flour tortilla, 5" Batman figurine, and a rubber bouncy ball from the toilet.

What a nice daddy our boys have.

Not Me Monday

2009-02-09T11:40:00.013-07:00

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

This is not a knee-deep pile of clean laundry that has been sitting on our bedroom floor for days and days. This pile is not growing exponentially, as if to scream "fold me already!" In this pile of laundry (that's not mine) is a bunch of nursing bras that I do not still wear. Z hasn't nursed since July so wearing them would indicate that I'm too lazy to pack them away, and surely I am not that lazy.

My husband and his friend are grown men and know right from wrong. That being said, one night after playing laser tag, they did not willingly eat pizza that was leftover at an abandoned table. They were not too cheap to buy their own pizza. My husband does not eat food that is not his, and he does not enjoy eating leftovers. Nope, not him.

Our backyard is not still in the work-in-progress stage. It is not a big uneven mess. And I did not encourage the boys to go see what they could find in the dirt so I could have a few moments of silence.

(In case you're wondering, Z is not like his Mommy and does not go crazy if dirt gets on his feet.)

I did not get my booty kicked in Yahtzee by a 5-year-old boy, two times!

I was in need of more long-sleeved shirts I could wear to church and fell in love with a super soft sweater at Kohl's. I bought it and wore it, ahem.... didn't wear it, before I washed it. (I would not be guilty of wearing new clothing before washing them.) My husband did not accidentally put it through the washer and dryer when it specifically said hand wash and line dry. I was determined to wear it more than once, despite the fact that my forearms go 3 inches past where the sleeves stop. I did not sing the Chris Farley "Fat Guy in a Little Coat" song and laugh hysterically while putting it on.

I do not have 2 little boys who enjoy to get undressed from the bottom down during quiet time.

Last Tuesday I did not have sick children. The 3 older boys were not throwing up while the youngest one had it coming out of the other end. I was holding G over to kitchen sink (full of dirty dishes) while S decided to lose it all over the floor. It stayed in a nice neat pile on the floor and did not splatter over my legs and feet. Baby Z heard the commotion in the kitchen and came to see what he was missing. His eyes immediately spotted the mess on the floor. He did not then proceed to sit smack in the middle of said pile and begin smearing with all his might. What 15-month-old boy would do that? Definitely not mine!

And I do not have a baby who has discovered how to climb up on the couch. But if I did, I would not take the time to document it.

Grandma, Grandma Every Where

2009-01-14T22:17:00.012-07:00

Any time we tell the kids we are going somewhere and "grandma" is mentioned, the questions start flowing. Which Grandma is it? Well, let's see. There is:

Grandma C - the one with Uncle A

Wita

Grandma B - the one that lives with my cousins

Grandma H - the one who calls G "hetta face"

Grandma P - the one with the dog named Bella

Nona

Grandma B

and that does not include the adopted-along-the-way...

Auntie J

Grandma K - the one that turned ** (**= how old she just turned)

Grandma - the one from next door

We've got trouble!

2009-01-14T21:54:00.005-07:00

About a month before his first birthday, this little guy...

decided it was in his best interest to find an alternative to crawling. Having 3 older brothers is tough when you're slow, especially when they take your toys and run. Not any more! Watch out brothers, here I ~~come~~ run.

Slow, choppy baby steps quickly turned into running. Nearly 3 months later, Z can keep pace with all the big boys. Looking for the next challenge, he decided he ought to dedicate a little more time fine-tuning his climbing skills.

I was doing the dishes today and turned my back to put the silverware away. When I turned back around, I had a little boy standing in the open dishwasher. Mission complete! And so it begins.

"Any Guesses?" Reveal

2009-01-03T12:35:00.011-07:00

***Original Post***

There is never a dull moment at our house. Being that there are a few weeks between semesters, we've got to find something to do around the house. Would you like to take a wild guess at what our latest project is? [Those who already know, you're not allowed to guess!]

Here is a hint:

The second hint (of which I don't have a picture to post): a big-o smile on this Momma's face.

Look forward to more pictures either later tonight or tomorrow.

***Update***

It started when

was introduced to a 60-lb

and went out to the

and made it look like this

[which was exciting to more than just Mommy]

and when Uncle B can to visit, he was included in the festivities.

At the end of day 1, this

then looked like

and after working day 3, our space looked like

There are 3 types of people.

Type 1 - People who have a pool and hate all the things that [always] go wrong with it. Every time something breaks or doesn't function properly, there is always a "piece of ....." comment uttered, whether it be verbally or internally.

Type 2 - People who love having a pool because they hire a pool company to look after it. These people don't mind paying $40+/month for chemicals alone, $8 for EACH o-ring when they break, $250 for a new motor, $100+ for pool sweep repair/replacement, etc. These people generally tend to work so much anyways, they don't always have an abundance of time to enjoy their pools.

Type 3 - People who do not have a pool and really want one. [Clearly they have not spoken to enough type 1 & 2 people to truly understand what pool ownership is like!]

We are type 1 people. We were paying decent money to maintain something that yielded a small amount of satisfaction. We can [could] only use our backyard for 3 months out of the year. We had a stained concrete slab and an over-sized ~~bathtub~~ play pool crammed into a teeny tiny backyard, and that is it. The remaining 9 months of the year, weeds looking to multiply found refuge out back. And of course a higher electric bill for running the sweep to keep the pool clean for ..... ? [scorpions?] For many months, we had gone back and forth between leaving it as is and ripping it out and making a more 4-boy-friendly environment.

It was around the time fall semester started (and swimming season ended) that our feelings towards parting with the pool grew. Boys need to be boys, and boys need a place where they can be ~~free and roam~~ play. After weighing the pros and cons, we decided our pool-owning season had indeed come to an end. Hopefully within the next three weeks our project will be complete and we will have some

and I won't feel like

In the meantime, this

has become a bad word at our home.

Any Guesses

2009-01-02T14:38:00.003-07:00

There is never a dull moment at our house. Being that there are a few weeks between semesters, we've got to find something to do around the house. Would you like to take a wild guess at what our latest project is? [Those who already know, you're not allowed to guess!]

Here is a hint:

The second hint (of which I don't have a picture to post): a big-o smile on this Momma's face.

Look forward to more pictures either later tonight or tomorrow.

Not Me Monday

2008-12-22T13:58:00.006-07:00

Hooray, my first Not Me Monday. This is a time for me to share all the things that totally did NOT happen this past week. (For the rules, click here.)

Our sweet little G did not pull up the blinds in his bedroom to make the cord really long. He then did not proceed in wrapping it around his little brother's neck. Mr. S does not have a scabbed-over rope burn around his neck.

Big E did not buy me some mineral powder foundation for my birthday that was used to "clean" the bathroom mirror. G & S did not proceed with their cleaning and squeeze half of the new tube of toothpaste on the freshly cleaned mirror doors and in/around our bathtub, then invite Z in to help smear around. Not my children!

I was not excited to hear that even without taking my microeconomics finals, I still got an A in the class. Furthermore, I am not excited that I have 3 weeks off from school.

G did not watch Z play in the toilet after G used it, but before he flushed it. G did not come to tell me to get the camera so I could take a picture of Z having "lots of fun."

I am not needing to finish my Christmas shopping. I've got 4 kids at home and I am not going to take them out to get a few last things, with the thousands of other people out shopping. Nope, not me!

The boys wanted to go play in the rain so I put socks on Z so his piggies wouldn't freeze. But I did not put our 5 1/2 year old's sandals on our 14 month old when he wanted to get down and walk. I did not put Teva-style sandals on a boy who was already wearing socks- that would be disgusting! I did not let him walk around like that and I did not bust up laughing when he looked like he was walking in skiis.

This is for you, Katrina

2008-11-25T22:42:00.003-07:00

I've been busy (to say the least) with all of the end-of-semester stuff and haven't focused 100% of my attention on potty training the poor boy. Every time S goes down for a nap, he ALWAYS takes his diaper off. He hasn't been peeing (thank goodness), just doesn't like wearing a diaper. The other day I told him "keep your shorts on!" as I laid him down. Apparently I wasn't specific enough. He did however manage to put his shorts back on by himself.

Who said you can only fit 1 kid in a stroller?

2008-11-25T22:37:00.003-07:00

On our way to pick up N from school.

C'mon now, who really needs a triple stroller? It appears as though a single stroller does quite well for our little family.

*the white stuff on Z's shirt.... truly, a sucker isn't complete gone until the paper stick has been devoured too!

This will do the trick

2008-11-25T22:31:00.002-07:00

Me: "Umm, honey.... what's that on S's pants?"

Him: "I couldn't find a belt so I used the next best thing!"

Yes folks, those ARE zip-ties.

Fun with the Cousins

2008-10-25T17:20:00.005-07:00

It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt!

*Ava wasn't hurt, S had a [very, very] little bloody nose. Two minutes later, he was back in service and joining the dog-pile.

Our Long Awaited Vacation

2008-10-25T15:45:00.005-07:00

My grandparents moved up to Washington a couple of years ago and we hadn't gone up to visit yet. We attempted to on 3 different times, but something always came up. Nothing was going to stop us this time. We worked it out so I could take the first part of my econ final as usual, and then the second part I would email my answers to my professor by the deadline and give her my scantron Monday morning.

After finishing the first part for one of my finals, I came home, we packed up the van, and off we went. All 6 of us, 3 suitcases, 1 pac-n-play, 1 stroller, 1 baby bjorn, 4 carseats, 3 water bottles, 1 sippy cup, 2 backpacks (filled with toys, books, and food), and 1 diaper bag, were on our way!

Here's a quick recap of what we did:

(As written by N) "Over the break, I... went to Seattle. I went to the Space Needle, held a fish, and beat my Grandpa at Yahtzee."

All of it is true, especially the Yahtzee part! N had never heard of Yahtzee, and before the night was over, he beat Poppa 3 times. [That boy must have some Gage blood.]

Day 1: Off we went. The kids (minus Z) were really good. The 3 older ones were great on the airplane. S was a little scared at take-off and landing, but Daddy kept making faces and telling jokes to keep him distracted. Z cried for the whole flight, minus the 15 minutes prior to landing.... talk about cranky pants!

Immediately we were amazed at what fresh, clean, crisp air smelt like. It had been a LONG while since we have experienced that. Best of all, we got to use our coats... go figure, the middle of October and we got to wear coat! :)

We got our rental and headed north. We arrived to the house about 9pm, unloaded, and the boys immediately found some toys.

Day 2: I slept good. Daddy got up with Z during the night because he was crying, but I didn't hear anything. (Daddy says I did hear Z because I'm the one who woke E up, but I don't remember a thing!) The boys got to meet/play with their "girl" cousins (Gianna and Ava.) We went to lunch, then went around Whatcom Falls. [Z was still crying and being cranky!] We got back, then the 3 older went on the trail with Daddy and Poppa, while I stayed with Nonna and a sleeping Z. The girls were antsy because the boys were taking too long (they were gone for over 2 hours).

Day 3: Attempted to go to Seattle. (note the word attempted!) We were almost 1/2 way there, but Z wouldn't stop screaming. We did a little shuffle of carseats, E & I played musical chairs, offered him some milk, nothing was working. We decided to take him to urgent care because he was extremely irritated with something, and he would occasionally tug on his ears. We headed back and took him to the doctor.

Diagnosis: "He has a stuffy nose and the sniffles. Don't worry though, it can sometimes be confused as something else."

[My thoughts: Are you kidding me? Shall I remind you that we brought 4 kids, 5 and under, on a 3-hour flight flight. We're on vacation and I KNOW that I will hear crying at some point.... I hear screaming and fighting all day long, really, I'm used to it. But this out-of-control screaming that this kid is doing, isn't just me confusing an ear infection for the sniffles! We (people like E & I) don't go to the doctor over a stuffy nose. Sniffles and stuffy noses are just like "he probably has allergies or something" even if it lasts for a few weeks. Did I mention he is the youngest of 4 children?]

Yes, he has a stuffy nose, AND a very strong will for getting his way. If he had an ear infection, we could chalk his fusiness up to not feeling good, but instead, we were faced with the reality of our child wanting his way, and wanting it now! (i.e. not being restrained in a carseat for more than 2 minutes)

After the kids went to bed, we played a little card game.

Day 4: We took 2 cars to Seattle. (the screaming boy was NOT going to have his way. Sorry, but we are on VACATION, and you're crankiness will just have to wait!) E took the younger 2 (who didn't make a peep the whole way there) and the rest of us went in the van. We had lunch, went to the Children's Museum, Space Needle, and Pike's Place Fish Market. N got to hold a fish, and then we found a vendor that will selling fresh donuts. [Yumm!]

On the way back, we took a restroom break and E kept eyeing the Fish Market. I joking asked, "Are you sad you didn't get to catch a fish?" and he immediately [embarrassingly] admitted that he was.

"I wonder if you have to buy it, just in case you don't catch it?"

"Just go ask. If need be, we'll buy a fish so that you can catch it."

Look who's lucky day it was!

Z cried the last 10 minutes of the ride home, but E was still on cloud nine from his fishy adventure, that he didn't really mind.

Day 5: We had a yummy breakfast and left for the airport. After confusion of whether we would get our original flight [they had overbooked the flight by 4, and 3 of us were part of that 4. Towards the end, they would allow 4 of us, but not 5 (Z was a lap-child), which meant that one of us got to go with all the kids, and someone would have to stay. (Did I mention that we had 4 kids, 3 suitcases, 1 pac-n-play, 1 stroller, 1 baby bjorn, 4 carseats, 3 water bottles, 1 sippy cup, 2 backpacks, and 1 diaper bag? All of that, and one adult? Oh, that's funny- Talk about a sight to see!)

At the very last minute, a single guy gave up his seat because he had watched all the drama unfold (our willingness to take a 6.5 hour later flight to make it easier for the airline, but then SW wouldn't compensate all of us becase 3 of us were still "unticketed") BUT we made it home, and on time.

Hooray! We had an absolute blast. The boys had so much fun with their cousins. We loved seeing Grandpa, Grandma, Troy & Julie (and the girls too!). Everything was green (yet another distant memory) and people were nice. Seriously, it's like a whole new world. People don't drive crazy, they say hello, and love being outdoors. Oh, it was awesome. We can't wait for the next time we can go visit.

Here's some pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Poor G

2008-09-27T16:06:00.006-07:00

G wants to be a cuddly big brother, but underestimates his power. He's very strong, and doesn't realize how rough he's being, even when he's just being lovable.

(yes, our children do wear clothing, just not in these pictures!)

ok, that's good. I'm not so sure I like this snuggling thing.

Now I really don't want to snuggle.

I'm screaming because I want you to leave me alone, not because I want kisses.

Here's a happy brother, perhaps he'd like to snuggle.

Nope, not him either!

Let's try this again.... Nope, he still doesn't like it!

S's duck lip (a week later)

2008-09-27T15:46:00.004-07:00

Scenario: I'm cooking dinner, E's in the living room playing with thing 1 and thing 2. S was playing with Z in the boys room.

Disaster waiting to happen: S came running down the hallway, bent over, "driving" the big monster trucks (one in each hand). The rubber tire got funky, caught on grout, S's face planted straight into the tile floor.

Result: Busted top lip, sliced upper gum line from lip to front teeth. Still a happy boy, just with a big-o duck lip! TBD if he'll be joining his brother in the rank of sporting a dead front tooth. So far things look pretty good, but it's still healing.

Alright already

2008-09-27T13:08:00.005-07:00

I am: an overachiever and a perfectionist.
I think: people think we're insane for all we've taken on in the last few months.
I know: outsiders see my side of the family as being closer than we really are.
I want: to be on vacation already.
I dislike: sick babies, people touching my face, and black pens.
I miss: Chicago and it's cold winters.
I fear: that one of our sons will become "lost" again in his own world.
I hear: N & G wrestling in their room, despite it being quiet time.
I smell: nasty! I'm hoping to take a shower after I'm done posting this and finish emailing my world religions professor.
I crave: to stand face-to-face with God and ask him why he had to think so highly of me.
I cry: only when people are not looking.
I search: the internet in hopes of finding solutions to "fix" things I'm experiencing.
I wonder: if I'll ever overcome being a perfectionist, and learn to let things go.
I regret: not busting my butt earlier this semester so I don't have to play catch-up..... I don't totally regret it though because the kids really needed my attention.
I love: my husband and all the things he does for our family.
I care: about my GPA. I expect nothing less than a 4.0 from myself.
I always: over analyze financial decisions.
I worry: that the boys will eat us out of house and home when they're teenagers.
I am not: so good at always eating only because I'm hungry... sometimes the food just tastes really good!
I remember: the first time I was awake during an entire c-section (with the second) and how strange it felt to have him pulled out.
I believe: that God has a sense of humor.
I dance: like a black girl.
I sing: along to songs I probably shouldn't know the words to.
I don't always: follow the dr's recommendation to not use q-tips. (Do I really need to explain how impossible it is?)
I argue: with the kids, but never with E.
I write: papers really, really well... now if only my writing transferred over into my oral conversations.
I win: monopoly every time.
I lose: my cool more times than people realize.
I wish: I could make things the way I'd like to have them, but I can't.
I listen: to music every day.
I don't understand: why some people get things handed to them.
I can usually be found: doing twenty things at one time.
I am scared: for the pain my friend and his wife will endure if their baby does not survive more than a few days after birth.
I need: to take a shower and finish doing my homework.
I forget: what my stomach looked like without a c-section scar.
I am happy: when the kids are playing nicely together AND my house is clean.

Tag #1 done.... #2-3, still to come! =)

Everyone who has read this and not done it, consider yourself tagged!

Mommy always wins!

2008-09-21T21:35:00.001-07:00

I have a lot of pet peeves. One of them (besides the "usuals": black inked pens, people touching my face, people touching my butt, people stepping on my feet, loud noises, clutter) is doors being slammed. It's a scar I've carried with me ever since traumatic things happened during childhood, and I haven't been able to overcome it. Something about slamming doors just brings out the craziness in me. A few weeks back, G was a little over-the-top for me. He was being horrible (licking- saving it for another post), so I asked him to go to his room. Of course he didn't listen the first time around, so I waited 30 seconds and then instructed him (again) to go to his room. He stomped his foot and did the "uuhh, no" thing. Ok, apparently he needed a little helping finding his room. I took his hand and guided him to his room. He threw himself on the ground in protest, but I left it (him) alone and walked back into the other room. Just as soon as I reached the kitchen (it's the first place you reach when exiting the hallway with their rooms) he slammed his door. Umm, did he just do what I thought he did? His 5 year-old brother quickly confirmed what I thought I witnessed before I could even finish my thought.

I walked back to his bedroom, opened the door, and warned him not to slam his door again. If he did, he wouldn't like the consequence. I turned around, walked back down the hall.... WHACK! Oh, nuh-uh, he didn't just do that.

As I was walking back to his room, I could hear him fiddling with the knob. By the time I got there, he had locked the door. You wanna play that game, little boy? Mommy can play too. The difference.... MOMMY ALWAYS WINS! I don't care if Daddy at work right now, you will NOT be doing that in this house...

Try slamming your door now, Mr. G!

*update: after 2 1/2 days, he "earned" his door back. He hasn't done it since.

I know, I know

2008-09-17T22:57:00.004-07:00

It's been forever! Things have been very, very busy to put it lightly. Our camera finally bit the dust [it was 4.5 years old- prehistoric in the tech world] so we were without a camera for almost 2 months. We finally got around to ordering a new one so we would have something to take pics with for G's birthday party. I finally got around to uploading pics from the old memory card and stumbled across these from 2 months ago...

More posts to follow (hopefully soon)...

Summer School 2

2008-08-13T22:48:00.002-07:00

Here's to a bunch of catching up. There's 3 other posts that follow this one, but I made sure to include pictures for those of you (you know who you are!) that only look for pictures and don't read any of the journaling.

It has been about 3 weeks since the last post. Yes, we are all alive and well. Our family is still intact after my summer classes and E's closing shifts (minimum) 4 days a week. I'm so glad they're over. The routine went a little something like this....

6:00 Wake up and shower (if I was feeling generous)
7:00 Class starts
9:20 Get home
9:20-10:30 Finish dispatch
10:30-11:55 Attempt to spend "quality family time" without thinking about what was due the following day
11:55 E leaves for work
12:30 Put kids down for naps
2:30 Leave to pick up N
3-8:30 Chaos/crowd control (snacks, N's homework, dinner, baths, etc.)
8:30- ? Get 4 kids to bed, start laundry, get dishes done, pick up around the house
11:00 E gets home
?- 5:59 Finish a minimum of 2 assignments per night, in addition to one weekly 4 page research paper (typed, SINGLE SPACED)
6:00 Repeat

Looking back at the stacks of work that I have completed, I'm very proud of myself. Just shy of 40 assignments, all packed into a 5 week session. I managed to survive, largely in part to a fabulous husband that supported me. He would sleep in the office while I worked on assignments, and woke up whenever I needed some input. He sometimes carried the load of a single parent on the weekends while I did research. I am looking forward to having a more relaxed, further spaced out fall semester - at least as normal as it could be with the little last minute twist recently thrown in. (for those curious, NO, the twist does not equate to pregnancy)

Summer 2's grade.....

Darn straight! 96%

First Day of School

2008-08-13T22:19:00.006-07:00

N started kindergarten: 1 kid down, 3 to go! I'm a little (2 1/2 weeks) late, but this is the first time I've got to sit down to blog in a long time.

I had class the same day so I went in as usual, then midway through I ran home so we could all take him to school, then off I went back to finish my class. N is doing really good. It was interesting to pick him up the first day and explain why he got a stick taken away. :) We don't blame him because we never put him in preschool and raising your hand to talk isn't something they strongly enforce at primary. He said, "Mom, Mrs. J took away a stick because I kept forgetting to raise my hand before I talked." I asked him why he kept forgetting and he said that it was because his teacher was asking lots of questions and nobody said anything. "Mom, I had to tell her the answers because I know everything and the other kids don't know anything." Hmm, I wonder where he could have picked that up from?

Lining up with his classmates

is his backpack big enough? he picked it out himself

"Have fun! Don't get in trouble because I'm not coming back until 2:40 to pick you up!"

Our Fishies

2008-08-13T22:07:00.003-07:00

We're so excited that we've gotten so much use out of our pool this summer. Yay for all of our kids who love to swim! [update for those who didn't yet know: N has nicely "adapted" to swimming. He prides himself on being able to swim the entire length of the pool. We just needed a few lessons from Mrs. Laurel and a new pair of goggles.]

Camping

2008-08-13T21:21:00.002-07:00

You read that right.... CAMPING. We went camping: well, sort of. For everyone who says, "yah right, you don't camp," you're totally right! I am not a big camper. My idea of camping is visiting the dirt, then retreating to a hotel room in the evening where I can shower all the nastiness away. Sitting around for hours and not being physically active just isn't my cup of tea.

We decided to have a little family outing during my 5 day break between summer sessions back in July. We went up to a lake that's about 45 mins from here. It was horrible to say the least. The elevation is barely higher than where we live, so the 110 degree heat was not escaped. To make matters worse, our assigned campsite was about 20 yards from the bathrooms that weren't equipped with flushing toilets... Sweltering heat and a glorified porta-potty- Fabulous! But who cares about that when the campsite is 20 feet from the swampy part of the lake? I couldn't wait to jump in! [note the sarcasm] I was constantly reminded how much I love camping. For the record, I did not complain once. Perhaps it was due to the much thought out planning of taking 2 vehicles. We knew there would be no way our 7 1/2 month old would share a tent with us and get a decent amount of sleep. Once the sun started to set, I brought the younger 2 boys home. Words can not express how wonderful the car's AC was. The whole drive home I couldn't help but reflect on how miserable I was, but it was all worthwhile. It was a temporary inconvenience for an experience we could share with the boys. The following morning, Daddy and the older 2 were supposed to come home around noon-ish. I laughed hysterically when they walked through the door before 8. Apparently camping (in a tent) at that location in July isn't what it was cracked up to be. We have learned our lesson.

Thinking Outside the Box

2008-07-24T22:23:00.006-07:00

At some point between him laying down and waking up, his brothers decided to go in his room and throw him something over the railing so he wouldn't be bored while in his crib. He knew that Mommy never gets him out until quiet time is over, so he had to get a little creative and use what resources he had. I went to go get him up from his nap and, low and behold, our sweet boy has (once again) demonstrated his brilliance. Can you guess what we are currently working with S on? It's true... sometimes you just got to think outside the box.

Or in this case, inside the box! What else would you use a lego box for?

On a side note, did I mention he loves to help us clean? About a month ago we started taking him into the bathroom to get him used to the idea of peeing in the toilet. We'd give him a little privacy so he wouldn't have to perform in front of an audience. He got to the point where he would pull off his diaper and say, "I go potty!" and run into the bathroom. I'd wait a few minutes then go check on him to see if he was done. Every time it would be wet around the rim and we'd have a Wa-hoo-you-went-pee-pees-in-the-big-boy-potty-yay-for-S! dance and never gave it much further thought.

A few weeks pass and one day he pulls off his diaper, says "I go potty!" and off he went. I went to go check on him and saw that it was all wet around the rim. I begin to dance the special dance and start singing when.... wait a minute..... why is he running away? Better yet, what's in his hand? S, get back here. Aaahh, holy crap! He joyfully walked back over to me and handed me ["mom, I clean!"] my toothbrush, my WET toothbrush. Further investigation proved that the liquid on the rim was not urine, but the toilet bowl water that came from Mommy's "cleaning" brush. I love you too, S!

Almost There

2008-07-24T16:52:00.003-07:00

Summer School Update

3 weeks down (23 writing assignments) , 2 more to go

It's not as bad as I thought it would be, but I hate always being tired. I seem to be maintaining a 95% but we will see what happens... It has been "fun" pulling all-nighters at least twice a week. The nights when I get lucky enough to get 3 hours of sleep, 6:15 comes way too fast! 8 more days.... 8 more days.... I can do it!

Summer School 1

2008-07-11T10:37:00.004-07:00

The grades have been posted for the English class during the summer 1 term. I got...

an A (96.4%)

Any Takers?

2008-07-10T15:52:00.003-07:00

Up for grabs

#1: 5 years old
Focused: if allowed, can sit in front of the TV playing video games all day
Talented: insists that he's better than anyone else (including Mommy & Daddy)
Confident: has a big head but "that's because there's an even bigger brain inside of my big head"
Sharp: Very good memory, can recall things that happened years back and what you offered in a negotiation 5 months ago, that has yet to be delivered
Trained Monkey: will mimic you to a T: "That's really great G, you're doing a good job. Now leave me alone for a while so I can finish what I'm doing."
Will ask daily, "can I go to school yet?"

#2: 3 years old
Dedicated: will fight tooth and nail to convince you he's really 5 years old and just as big as his other brother and his brother's friend CM
Handsome: a mini Joaquin Phoenix
Outspoken: must always get the last word in
Determined: will go out of his way to get whatever he wants. "I want new undies" No, you can't have new undies. "Oopp, there's a little drop of pee pee on my undies so I better go get new ones on"
Great teacher: (see example in #3)

#3: 2 years old
Comedian: finds humor in taking diaper off while in the crib, moving cherished blanket to the corner, aiming his king in-between the slats in order to clear the crib, and pee on the floor, bonus points it accomplished while also making #4 laugh hysterically
Great Student: has been trained (from #2) to yell "eeehhh!" as a way to express your opinions
Smart & Rich in Omega-3: Fish fiend, can pack away a bag of goldfish in a blink of an eye. If he's done eating them, he knows that they are to be placed back in their proper environment: a bunch of water.

#4: 8.5 months
Mobile: Can crawl/slither his way to anywhere he'd like to get
Artist: uses spit-up as the paint and carpet/tile/rug/wherever-he's-at as a canvas
Vocal: can yell and squeal louder than anyone
Resourceful: climbs on top of his brothers to wrestle, but quickly gets off before he can be the one to get blamed for his brothers screaming

Wanted
Chef: prepare at least 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 2 dinners, and well as snacks for every 30 minutes. Have beverages on the table before food is presented or you will hear about it.
Maid: clean the toilet (and surrounding area) after every use, approximately every hour. Wipe down the table after all breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks. Clean the sliding glass down, inside and out, daily. Be sure to vacuum rooms that were vacuumed earlier that day. Address the cob webs that have collected dust. Sinks should be clear of any dishes.
Secretary: Take messages, organize, and keep an ongoing shopping list. Must remember where everything is at any given moment.
Nurse: Tend to the wounded after getting at battle. Willingness to deal with blood on a daily basis.
Accountant: Pay all the bills in an timely manner. Find alternative means of keeping budget consistent while prices of everything soars.
Handyman/woman: fix the 50 cent toy that, heaven forbid, fell apart.
Gardener: Ensure all the weeds are pulled and bushes are trimmed so the neighborhood nazis (aka HOA) don't leave a sticky note on the front door.
Laundry Service: Scrub ketchup/mustard/barbecue sauce/spaghetti sauce/poop out of clothing. Iron, fold, and put away.
Personal shopper: Find clothes for everyone's constantly changing sizes. Accountable for not running out of food and having backup Goldfish, for #3, a plus.
Student: Make sure all the assignments are completed, free from any bodily fluid, food, or beverage before turning in.
A Good Wife: Needs to have undivided attention and spare time to sit down and listen to husband and occasionally go on a date.
A Good Mother: Needs to provide undivided attention. Willingness to sit and "watch" child's accomplishments helpful. Brush kids teeth, get them to bed at a reasonable time, read the books they each picked out, all the while trying not to yawn. Must also act as though you hadn't realized you have all boys and you don't have a little girl when someone points it out.
Detective: Figure out where the funky smell is coming from and then determine what is it.
A good Sunday Member: Must not lose it and yell at the kids when they start fighting during Sacrament meeting.

Did I mention there is no salary involved for these services?

Madness

2008-07-10T13:40:00.007-07:00

So the past few weeks were busy to say the least. Lucky for me, I have a mother who is awesome and is willing to help any opportunity she gets. I love you Mom!

6/27- Wake up in pain. Both ears hurt but I've got homework to get done. Start homework, then get a phone call that my sister is coming to stay with us the following Friday. Later find out that they won't be coming after all. Emailed my rough draft for peer review and got time to relax and holy crap my ears are really hurting now.

During the night I wake up in excruciating ear pain and start taking some leftover Percacet from the C-section. It wears of quickly so I alternate between that and lots of Ibuprofen every time I wake up (every 2 hours just like clockwork)

6/28- Wake up @ 5:30a in complete misery. My ears are totally infected and have become very swollen. I can't seem to break my 102 temp and become very nauseous. Go to urgent care, get prescribed antibiotics and Vicodin as I'm almost out of Percacet. To add to the joy, the nausea takes over and I start throwing up. (it was fabulous considering I had only ate some bread and crackers for the prior 24 hours). Life must carry on for at least another day as my final draft English paper is due by midnight and I still have until Wednesday until the class is over.

6/29- Still running a fever. Call urgent care and am told to either come in for a shot (that may not be effective) or go to the ER. By this time, my ears are completely swollen shut! I love my life. My fabulous husband and TB (the guys initials, no, doesn't stand for tuberculous) give me a blessing in hopes we can avoid an ER visit.

By this time, I can't hear a darn thing which I would normally sign up for but I can't enjoy it as the pain is miserable. We go to the ER and they run through all the questions (of which the husband has to answer for me because I can't hear) and then take a look at my ears. The dr. took a look and said, "wow, impressive!" and ordered a CT scan. Meanwhile, I'm put on strong IV antibiotics as well as a morphine drip. CT scan results: (in non-medical terms) double ear infections with scar tissue indicating I've had chronic ear infections. (Really? That's news to me! jk I've had ear problems my whole life, it's just something I've learned to embrace. I get one AT LEAST every other month but I don't let it get in my way because quite frankly, I don't have the time to sit around to dwell on it. This one was way beyond my "don't think about it" superwoman powers.) Referred to ENT in addition to adding to my list of meds.

~~I call my mom~~ husband calls my Mom to see if see can come help on her way to Texas. She books her flight and is coming the following day.

FYI, I'm extremely OCD about cleaning my ears regularly. I clean them at least 2x a day, if not more. I can't stand stuff being in my ears. I love Q-tips and hate ear drops!

6/30- Go to ENT. The front office staff (consisting of girls, 99% of them who have bleach-blondes [not a hater, I too once had the same super blonde hair] with boobs double the size of my beyond engorged working boobs, a waist size of our 5 year old, and weighs perhaps a little more than our baby) are really dumb but they're "cute" so what more can I expect? Just please make sure that you tell them your name twice, spelling it the third time around. Get ear wicks crammed into my ears... bluntly put, they are the equivalent to having ear tampons... to force them open so that the ear drops can go in and all the infection can drip out. Love it! Prescribed 2 more prescriptions.

Instructed to never use Q-tips again. Are you kidding me? I can't have Q-tips but I have to continue my ear drops. Talk about torture! For all of you fellow Q-tip fanatics, apparently you're not supposed to use them in the first place. The "proper" way to clean your ears is to, after taking a shower, put a tissue on your pinky finger and wipe whatever is right at the ear opening. What kind of nonsense is that? Luckily, I'm not much of a proper person but we'll see how long I can try to act as though I am. :)

My Mom flies in and takes care of me and the boys while Daddy goes back to work. I'm pretty much useless by now so my Mom quickly takes on all the responsibilities around the house.

7/2- Big course portfolio, 3 different assignments, due for English. I tried my hardest to have them at least appear like the same person who wrote all the other papers completed the portfolio. There's only so much you can do while on heavy painkillers for 5 days straight. Luckily I almost had 100% in the class so even if I did horrible on the final, I should still probably get an A.

7/3- My Mom leaves for Texas. :( Another ENT visit, looks like things are improving and I won't have to be admitted to the hospital. Hooray! I didn't have time for that anyways. I can hear out of one ear, but the other is still closed. Have to come back Tuesday to get my ears vacuumed out.

7/4- 4th of July. Still out of it and start getting headaches. In case you're wondering, this still sucks.

7/7- First day of Summer 2 term.

7/8- 3rd ENT visit. N went with me and very loudly kept asking me, "Mom, when are they going to start hurrying up and call your name already? It really stinks in here so I think they should open the door and call your name so we can go into a different room." (Thanks for that insight son!) They hired a new girl, who (I'm sure by pure coincidence) looks identical to the other girls, but turns out to be even dumber. People, do not work in a medical office if you have do not have any medical background knowledge! The patient shouldn't have to explain medical terms to you so you can understand what you're writing in their chart.

Specialist findings: "all the gunk from the infection has settled right against my ear drum, making it impossible to vacuum out at this time. I'll prescribe you some new ear drops you'll use 2x a day for two weeks. Come back then and we'll see if we can do it then. Remember, no q-tips!"

My thoughts: ok, you can take away my q-tips, but you can't then give me ear drops. It's either yes q-tips and yes ear drops, or no q-tips and no ear drops. You can't co-mingle the two!

The ENT specialist read my thoughts and reiterated the instructions. What a stink butt, no wonder he's not married! lol

7/10- Still not 100% better but I'm working on it. One ear feels like an infection may be coming back but I can't tell if it's an infection or my superwoman weather barometer readings of the pressure changes that are happening all this week. (My ears can predict whenever there are pressure changes in the air. It's just another hidden talent I've been blessed with as a result to my chronic ear infections while growing up.)

Until my 2 week follow-up of a follow-up appointment, I'm left with the following feeling:

You have NO idea!!

Sad Day

2008-07-08T15:50:00.007-07:00

I've got a gazillion things that I need to post on here, I promise I'm working on them. I'm also playing catch-up with reading everyone's blog. It's been a long, long time. I just started my second summer term yesterday so here we go again, but until then.....

Does this picture say enough?

I don't normally follow this nonsense reality TV show but I caught bits and pieces of the last episodes while channel surfing when I was still nursing. I realized it is Tuesday and I missed a big finale. While doing online research for an English paper, I took a break to see what happened last night. Despite all my yelling, "Don't do it, don't do it! Don't you dare send him home!" at the TV, he was still sent packing. The computer has now heard my opinion and the DH got a phone call at work because let's face it, this is some important stuff here. lol But seriously, what the heck was she thinking?

Hang in there Jason, America loves you!

Shame on Daddy

2008-07-07T09:41:00.005-07:00

They played a little game of "how well do you know your son/Daddy" in Primary on Father's Day. Daddy was informed ahead of time so he could wear a tie that could be cut. Each time they got an answer wrong they would cut a little bit of his tie. It was hilarious!

"What's your Daddy's favorite dessert?"
Carrots

"What size are your Daddy's shoes?"
17

"Where was your Daddy born?"
Umm, I can't really remember....Probably in the desert with scorpions.

"How much does your Daddy weigh?"
25 pounds

This is what he came home with-

Putt-putts

2008-06-23T14:57:00.002-07:00

Sums up my world without using words!
N is the T-Rex, S is the little dude, & G is the pig

White bootays

2008-06-23T11:50:00.004-07:00

We've gotten more use out of our pool in the past few weeks than we have in previous 3 years. The boys have gotten really tan and have developed distinct tan lines. Z hasn't gotten as much sun as the rest of them, but we're working on it.

They even got new diving rockets. G has no fear and will swim to the bottom of the pool (in the deep end) to go retrieve them. We've got a fishy on our hands! N's expression pretty much sums up his interest in swimming. He'll jump in and swim, so long as his head doesn't have to go underwater.

He saw me taking pictures of the older boys and when they were done, he ran over to the wall, stuck out his booty and was shaking it, all the while yelling, "cheese!"

Yippee, $ for me!

2008-06-15T21:07:00.005-07:00

This will be our 4th summer here. Do we love it? Not necessarily, but we are firm believers in finding good in wherever you are. Given the twists and turns we've been dealt in our life, we feel as though we can't complain about where we've gotten or how we've gotten there for that matter. We know we are where we should be and (hopefully) doing what we're supposed to be doing.

Choosing to go to school was tough. I felt as though there were a thousand other things that I should be doing with my time and school would consume lots of time. [Any of you who know me know I'm a complete numbers girl. The numbers have to work, that's just how I operate.] Our initial plans a year ago were for me to go back to school and we based that off of the tuition back in CA. We did the math and decided we would forge ahead and do it. We put the house up for sale and... well ok nevermind, God didn't want us to move back to CA. (silly us, thinking we knew what should happen) As the next summer approached, we knew that God had made his point and we weren't going to try to sell the house, but we would still continue with my school plans.

I go about my business and look into going to school here instead and hold up! No, this can't be! Seriously, tuition is how much? Initially we based my going to school on $xx each class (remember, I'm a #'s lady) but now it's going to be 3.5x that amount?!?! Aaahhh! Serious second thoughts because we planned for the original amount but not the 3.5x the amount price. Talk about sticker shock.

After much praying and informing Heavenly Father (just in case he hadn't been fully aware of the situation) that I was very uneasy about the immediate financial costs but would leave it up to him. In all honestly, it made me feel better just in case it didn't go right, at least (in theory) it wasn't me making the final decision. Sounds lame I know, but that's me. :p

So we ponyed up and start saving what little we have so we could afford to pay for school without sacrificing what has become "necessities" for our family. Summer 1 tuition, paid! Slightly painful, but we did it. Summer 2 tuition, paid! Hurt a little more, but it's for a good cause. It's not like it's going towards some fancy smancy electronic gadget or something, it's an education for crying out loud. Fall tuition's due date is rapidly approaching... aahhh, brace yourself, it's gonna be a doosy.

I was in the shower and ..... [ring ring ring- no I take that back, it rang we wish you a merry christmas because we still haven't changed the ringtone; just preparation for this year, that's all] you hear E on the phone then the talking stops and he comes in to say, "uumm, I think you may have just gotten a scholarship." I immediately warn him that he can't tease me like that, that's one place he didn't want to go. I quickly finished my shower and returned the phone call.

"Hi, this is Karen from the Chamber of Commerce and we've selected your essay as the recipient of our 2008-09 scholarship." Alright! It was exciting to know that people acknowledged my hard work and my essay stood above those other thousands that also applied. The following week, E and I got to go to the sit down dinner (400 people in attendance) and smooze with all the big wigs of the city. For those of you who live by us, OMG words wouldn't describe how awesome our city is. Getting invited to attend this awards banquet was an amazing opportunity. We got to see first hand all the hard work people have put in, to make our city what it is today. We also got to see the recognition that the Chamber of Commerce gives to people from large companies, to Mom & Pop shop owners, city police officers, and well as teachers and principals throughout the school district. All the more reason to enjoy where we're at right now.

Add that awards dinner to the scholarship that will cover 1.5 semester's tuition and I am one happy lady. Once again my Heavenly Father has given us blessings when we're doing what we're supposed to be doing. I want to send a big thank you to Mrs. Barbara and Joshua for watching our little monkeys so we could have our "date night" dinner.

really, it's 100 degrees outside and we're going inside a tent?

But it wasn't your ordinary tent, it was a tricked out version. Ya know, the kind with chandeliers, big screen TV's, and an ice cold AC

these guys work for the company that sponsored my scholarship

I pitched in some $ (100% goes back into the scholarship account to be awarded to other students) and got to keep the centerpiece. Isn't it cute?

Yes, we're still here!

2008-06-15T18:54:00.011-07:00

Indeed it's true, we're still here. It's been about 3 weeks since the last post. Here's yet another recap...

Sam entertained himself while I was taking a shower. Just as I was getting ready to open the shower door, Nate came running in saying, "Mom, hurry, come see what Sam did!" I went to the kitchen and saw Sam sitting at the table with his usual. [he thoroughly enjoys getting the egg carton, bbq sauce, ketchup, and salsa out of the fridge to line them all up on the table.] He threw his hands up into the air and gives a big smile. He was so proud of his accomplishment. Everything got put back into the fridge and this time I tie the fridge shut. I go and take a shower, get out to dry off and here comes Nate again, "uumm, Mom, there's a mess now." In to the kitchen I go to find this. In his defense, he did get the towel to clean up his mess. [I've taught them well and he knows it's in his best interest to at least attempt to clean up his mess before Mom comes.] But seriously, does he really not know how expensive 18 of these are nowadays? Why don't you choose something that doesn't cost a lot of money, like water, little boy?

I caught a glimpse of heaven; isn't this what it's like? Aaahhh, 3 sleeping boys!

Sam has learned how to redeem himself. I suppose we can't be too mad at him because he's still so darn cute! Why else would we keep ski boots in the closet for?

Better Batter Baseball is the new favorite at our house. Nate got it for his birthday and it is getting well used. [You step on the red circle at home plate and the little cage automatically lifts up the next ball for you to bat.]

Zeke isn't our little baby anymore. It's a sad fact of life. Our little boy is 7 1/2 months old now. He rolls around anywhere he needs to get and can slither backwards. I went to get him out of bed yesterday and caught him on his hands and knees rocking back and forth. Oh come, that's means trouble is right around the corner.

Sam is ready to be potty trained, even if that means he takes matters into his own hands. He obviously knows something that we don't. Shortly after his 2nd birthday, he decided that whenever he needed to pee, he would take off his diaper and run to the bathroom. He is now a proud member of the "let's pee on the rocks when we're outside" club. If Mommy would just get on the ball and encourage him a little more (i.e. be ready and willing to clean up accidents) he could possibly be potty trained in the next month or so. We'll see!

3 weeks down, 2 more to go. I am more than 1/2 way done with my first summer session. I currently have 100% in my English class. It's not nearly as bad as I predicted, but ask me when the next session starts and I have to be AT school at 7 am. [I'm NOT a morning person at all. The world couldn't possibly have a reason to be awake sooner than 8.... those of you who have seen me before 9 am know that I'm a grouchy, stinky mess and let's be honest, you know it wasn't because I wanted to be awake.]

(Perhaps only Becca will find this humorous) Our potato masher, memory card, and cellphone are all outback next to the couch. Wait, scratch that, the potato masher has been located. The memory card and cellphone are next to the couch outback. Any of you wondering, the couch is at the bottom of the pool. Still can't see it? Go back outside and check again and don't come in until you find it. hahaha [it's what we'd tell the kids when the adults were playing cards and wanted the kids to get lost] Are you lost or confused? Good, take 99 North and get off at Shaw, then make a left. Guarantee you'll find it on Shaw, everything is just off Shaw!

Call me Zebra Woman! I was babysitting for my friend and lost the cell phone. It was somewhere between her house and mine, but not quite sure exactly where. We went a few days and without much luck in finding it, we went and got a new one. The boys think it's the coolest thing (besides Braxton wearing a baseball hat and listening to an MP3 player- that's for you HB) that we have a "zebra" phone.

The Razr cellphone has been located. It was by the couch, just happened that it was a different couch at a different house. The memory card has yet to be found and is still next to our couch outback.

The car is fixed and has new tires. The tires hardly had any tread left and we're better safe than sorry. We bought them at Costco and love them. [E says that it feels like it's gliding because of them being filled with nitrogen.] Anybody wondering what happened with the car when it was broken a little while back, you'll need to ask E about that! That's his story to tell. Let's just say that whenever you need to take wheels off for anything, it's a good idea to make sure you put them back on and tighten all the lug nuts.

E's bike has a flat tire. Yah, that's right- you fix one thing and something else has to give. It just happened that the thing that gave happened to be his back tire on the ride home, 1/2 block from his work. I thought that him pushing his bike home was funny, have you seen him carry a bike home?

2008-05-25T23:38:00.004-07:00

It's been a crazy few weeks. Here's a recap... (I know that you may not have time to read all of it so the italicized part will give you the just of it)

Grandpa & Grandma P came to visit. We went to Schnepf Farms for the first time. Everyone had a blast. There was a petting zoo so they got to get up close and personal with some billy goats. Luckily Daddy and Grandma P don't mind getting dirty and went in with them. (There's no way you would catch mommy in there with those dirty, stinky animals. Yuck!) We then ventured over to the peach orchards to pick us some peaches. As we were walking we forgot that Sammy's little legs don't walk quite as quickly as ours do. After we noticing we were a man down, we turned around and saw him way in the distance. He was walking along with no care in the world. Poor punky doodles.

Summer has arrived! We survived our first 110 degree day for this year. We broke record highs 2 days in a row, and then it dropped down to the mid-70's. It was nice to see it cool off so I could catch a picture of our cactus flowers. We got lots of rain the next 2 days. I let the boys play and ride their bikes in the rain and Daddy, being the good Daddy that he is, taught them how to jump and splash in the gutter water. (Again, something that you won't find mommy encouraging) Gabriel, Sam, and Daddy built a rock dam and raced leaves to see whose leaf was faster. Nathaniel opted to cry at the top of his lungs because, "everyone is using my river rocks and that makes me very sad!"

Nathaniel turned 5 yesterday. He is very excited because that means that he only has to wait 2 more months before school starts. (Previously the requirements were waiting until July AND having to be 5 years old. "I'm 5 now so that means I'm almost in school!") Which reminds me about his kindergarten testing. For those who have already heard this story, skip the next 2 paragraphs.

Nathaniel completed his kindergarten testing. The school tests each kid to get an idea of where each child is. When we got there, 1 kid was already testing. A teacher immediately took Nate back while the other 3 boys and I waited. A few more kids arrived after us. One by one the kids would come out with their testing teacher having completed their test. The teacher held their hand and walked them over to their parent. The teacher would ask them, "what do you tell them?" Every kid was hesitant and would keep their head down and say, "umm, ahh, umm... I don't know." The teacher would ask them again and after the same response, the teacher would say, "(so-n-so) is ready for kindergarten!" The teacher would advise each parent of what the student needed to work on over the summer.... "she doesn't know all her colors and shapes", "he needs some work on recognizing his numbers and letters", etc. Meanwhile, Nate still hadn't come out and people who came in after us were already leaving. I started to get a bit worried.

A minute later I see the door fly open. Nate was running out, stopped to turn around to say, "Bye. Thank you!" He came over with a big smile and says, "Mom, that teacher told me that I'm really smart and that I'm coming to kindergarten." I smiled. (like they didn't tell the other kids that, right?) The teacher then came out and said that he did a really good job. I asked what he struggled with and what we needed to work with him on. She paused, thought for a little while, and then said, "well..... he sometimes grips his pencil the wrong way. So I guess you could work with him on that." Despite his occasional improper pencil holding, my big boy will be starting school.

Our good friends put their house up for sale. They moved to Utah in 2006 and have since decided to stay up there and sell their house here. I have offered my services to make sure that even though they aren't here, somebody will make sure everything gets taken care of.

I got my first ticket. I thought I was off the hook until I went to check our mail and SURPRISE! Here's a ticket and your pretty little picture the camera at the intersection snapped of the incident. Had the front tires been 6 inches further into the intersection I would have been fine, but that wasn't the case.

E started riding his bike to work. We purposely bought our house in the area that we're at, knowing that if something ever happened, we wouldn't be that far from his work. A few days before Mother's Day, I was on my way home from shopping and noticed and strange noise coming from the car. E drove it and heard the same thing. Our neighbor owns his own auto shop so we talked to him and he said that he would have to take it out to his shop to determine exactly what it was. No big deal- his work is 3.5 miles away, gas is a million dollars a gallon, and he has been wanting to be more physically active. What better opportunity? Which is cool until...

E's bike chain broke. He was on his way home, in the middle of a busy intersection, he was peddling but not moving. He was 20 minutes later than usual when (the boys and are were outside playing and) I see him turn the corner pushing his bike. I couldn't help but laugh because (1) I'm a mean wife like that and find stuff such as this amusing, (2) a guy E's size pushing a bike is already funny, and (3) I thought that he was kidding at first.

Our van sucks! I know, not a big surprise. After the bike chain broke and we didn't have the right tool to fix it that night, I went and dropped E off at work. When the boys and I got home, they really wanted to ride bikes and play in the front. I decided to multi-task and clean the van out while they were playing. Once I got everything out, I couldn't help but to complete the job by vacuuming it out. I moved the drivers seat forward to vacuum behind and underneath it, went to go move it back and nothing. The seat will recline, lift and lower, go forward, but not backward. This may be convenient if we were small people with short legs but we're the exact opposite. I tried to maneuver my way into the seat without success. I would have personally drove that piece of junk to the dump had I'd been able to drive it. (Heavenly Father was definitely looking out for me!) Our friends down the street came over to look at it. (Him: Is E at work? Me: Yes, he's gone until late tonight. Him: Why is his car still out front? Me: The guy hasn't had a chance to fix it yet. Him: Oh, that's right, he's riding his bike now. Why didn't he ride his bike today? Me: {trying desperately to not break down crying in front of him while pointing to the corner where the pathetic bike laid, chain dangling still dangling} Did I mention that's broke too? Him: Are you going to pick him up tonight? Me: Did I mention the seat is broken and I can't drive it?) He was gracious enough to educate E on how to uninstall/reinstall a seat from a van so it's all better. It no longer goes forward or backward but that's ok, at least we can drive it again.

We have things to break. After our fiasco, our eyes have been opened to realize that at least we have things that can break. There was a time when we only had 1 car. There was a time when we didn't live 3.5 miles from work. There was a time when we were broke and couldn't afford to get things fixed. We have been very blessed and fortunate to be able to have the "nice things" that can break on us, as well as the means to be able to repair them. Of course this realization came during God's joke when I wasn't so happy that he was getting a good laugh but I can now be grateful.

I let the boys go wild with fingerpaints. Not a big deal to you, but a huge step in me overcoming my OCD tendencies. Things have to be a certain way and messy hands are definitely not within the parameters of those certain ways. So long as they didn't have clothes on while painting, they could do whatever they wanted so long as they headed straight for the tub immediately following. Nate decided to put his hand prints all over his body. Gabriel wanted to smear paint wherever he could reach. Sammy couldn't figure out why the paint would transfer to whatever he touched. He scratched his ear, it smeared off, he wiped his face, it smeared off. He drove him crazy. In the end, they had lots of fun.

Picture Time

2008-05-07T19:27:00.007-07:00

We've FINALLY got a family picture. The last one we had done was when Nate was 7 months old and I was barely pregnant with Gabriel. 3 boys later, we've managed to get good current ones. Hooray! Here are some of the boys.

(To see it enlarged, just click on the picture)

Oh happy day

2008-05-05T14:34:00.004-07:00

Well hello again!

My exact thoughts when I stepped on the scale this morning. At first I thought that our scale was broken, but after 7 attempts it kept saying the same thing. Baby Zeke is barely over 6 months old and (starting at what I weighed when I went in to deliver) I've managed to lose 52 pounds. The number I saw today I haven't seen in more than 7 years. I'm excited but looking forward to saying goodbye to it and hello to smaller digits next weigh-in.

Name that Coronado Kid

2008-05-01T22:30:00.007-07:00

Seriously, I could name a million other things I could be doing right now but here I am blogging. I'm waiting for Daddy to get home and uploading and organizing pictures in the meantime. Pathetic I know, but it's better than blog hopping right? :)

How well do you know the Coronado kids? Here's a game of guess which boy. I mixed 'em up so it's somewhat challenging. (BIG hint: one kid doesn't have the same advantage as the others) You don't need a special account to play. Click on comment at the end of the post and leave your guesses. (blog stalkers, you're more than welcome to play too! lol) I'll post the answers later. Here you go, good luck!

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

Diggies blanket and toy

2008-05-01T22:13:00.003-07:00

Some things just never change! I went to go check in on the boys to make sure they were asleep and was taken back to a moment 4 years ago. The choice of toy may change but the concepts still the same.

2008

2004

Microwave Fun

2008-04-26T21:50:00.004-07:00

(Diggies) "Mom, hurry and come here. Somebody made a mess and that's not very good."

I wouldn't classify this as a new trick, just a finely tuned talent. Mommy had been trying to get stuff done around the house so a boy's gotta do something to keep himself entertained. Why wouldn't Superman and a pair of plastic toy pliers want to go in the microwave? It doesn't bother me, especially since he hasn't discovered the start button quite yet. Notice the blue cup is full of water- he feels very accomplished every time he fills up a cup using the water dispenser on the fridge. He will then dump the water from cup to cup, taking a drink from the last one.

I took a picture of his work and he came running in from the other room shouting, "No! Me! Stop!" (quickly climbed onto the chair) "Cheese!" What a sweet boy!

5 1/2 days down

2008-04-17T13:51:00.007-07:00

...5 1/2 more to go. DH has been part of an "opening" of a new store. (translation: they go from completely empty store to open for business in 10 days. further translation: 11 hour work days, 25 minute commute opposed to normal 6 minutes, and daddy working for 11 days straight.)

Meanwhile, other happenings-

I'm all registered and start school next month. I have 1 class for each summer session (total of 2 classes) and then will have 3, possibly 4, classes for the fall term. I want to hurry and start already, but look at my forever long to do before school starts list and am reminded why it's a good thing it doesn't start for another month.

This Saturday, Nathaniel has a kindergarten test.

We made upside down pineapple cake for the first time. Thing 1 and Thing 2 had fun eating leftover pineapple while Sam enjoyed licking the bowl. It must of been better than I thought because when I sent leftovers to work with E, 2 of the ladies hid it so they wouldn't have to share with anyone else.

We discovered Tumbleweed park for the first time. It is the boys new favorite and they meet "new friends" every time we go. They got a bit frustrated because their new friend from yesterday isn't the same new friend from today, but they got over it fast.

Zeke has made great improvements and will smile back at us. We're still working with him, but are excited to see him smile again. Yay for interactive babies!

Placement tests

2008-04-02T13:17:00.005-07:00

As if raising 4 little boys isn't enough to keep me busy and challenged, I'm finally taking the steps to go back to school. {don't be acting surprised or shocked, most of you who really know me would have already known this and aren't finding out by reading this post!...and to think you thought you knew me} It's something I've wanted to do since we got married, and the time has finally arrived. It stinks because we're too wealthy to ever get any assistance or financial aid but too poor to be considered middle class. (Kinda like bigger than the skinny, too skinny for the fat - Refer to #84 of 100 things about me ) The fact that we have pinched our pennies and not relied on the government as our only safety net should an emergency or crisis arise has bit us in the butt again. Suck! I've never gotten a free ticket and once more, I get to be the person who busts their butt for everything because, well, "God knows of your capabilities". {yah, about that, I think we need to talk! It's so very kind of you to think of me so highly but seriously, when is my sit back and enjoy the ride time coming?}

I took the placement tests today and luckily my ego is still intact. :o I was scared to death going into it, but after reviewing my scores, it seems as though my long educational pause to have children hasn't entirely turned my brain to mush. The test goes by where you're at academically and not by a percentage correct. Here's how I scored...

Reading Comprehension (range from 0-116) Score 95
Recommendation- Congratulations, you're exempt from having to take the critical reading.

Sentence Skills (range from 0-92+) Score 113
Recommendation- Honors English 101 {Honors Eng 101 isn't the basic course, it's the highest advanced class you can take your first semester.. believe it or not there 3 classes below it}

Algebra (range from 0-119) Score 109
Recommendation- Advanced College Mathematics, plane trigonometry, or precalculus.

Not so bad considering I have yet to take any college courses. It's still up in the air as to how many classes I'll take this summer and fall. Being as I have a husband who works 50 hour weeks with a rotating schedule and 4 kids at home, I don't know how much will be too much. I'm off to register for classes, but we'll keep you all posted.

Sam turns 2

2008-03-30T20:58:00.005-07:00

It's hard to imagine that just 2 years (and a day) ago we were in the hospital, welcoming our third son (first Arizona baby) into this world. At birth, he was nearly 2 pounds smaller compared to his brothers at that age, but he has since made up for lost time and can show them who's boss. It's fun to see such a good little baby become such a fun loving boy with the cutest laugh. (Anyone who knows Sam knows of his distinct laugh - it's completely contagious.) Happy birthday Sam-I-Am!

This is for Abbey

2008-03-30T20:38:00.004-07:00

I've been tagged... but not in the way you're probably thinking. I was holding Zeke and reading my friends blog post about her little girl having a poo explosion and couldn't help but laugh because I could recall all the times it happened to me. I was like, "yah, that hasn't happened in a long time. I don't miss those days." No sooner had I finished that thought and stood up I quickly realized that my luck had run out.... suck! This isn't exactly what I expected to look down and see.

I was trying to manuever him out of his outfit (it was brand new and the first time worn) without getting it everywhere but of course it only made matters worse. It was all up and down my leg and all over my clothes, all over his back. Oh Mr. Zeke, why must you be so mean to your mommy?

It's someones birthday

2008-03-25T13:38:00.011-07:00

Happy Birthday Braader/Uncle Ben-A-Men!

To the countless hours spent playing with legos (hospital with ambulance edition) and lincoln logs, to the boy who would pretend to be the horse from Man from Snowy River and galloped around the house, to the boy who could lip-sync the intro of Aladdin (with lamp in hand), to the boy who grew up having 5 mothers and now has 7, to the boy who built a bird bath from a trash can lid, to the brother who has touched many hearts, to the brother who shared Christs' love to the Italian people, to the boy who has since turned into a man and will someday be the best husband and father... this is for you!

Happy Birthday! (I still can't believe that my little brother is 23.) Enjoy your picnic in the park and I promise next time you'll actually get to take part in the fudge eating festivities. We love you!

Easter Sunday

2008-03-24T12:41:00.004-07:00

It's a bit challenging to get all of them looking at the camera at the same time. 2 will look while the other 2 are off in la la land.

or maybe just one will cooperate and 3 will be in la la land

Want some candy?

2008-03-23T19:08:00.005-07:00

The phrase works like a charm, most of the time.

Pics

2008-03-19T19:13:00.006-07:00

Do you see a color pattern here?

"Giddyup Diggies!"

Hey Sharp Tooth

2008-03-13T15:33:00.007-07:00

Last night the boys were outside riding bikes and running around as usual and Sam tripped (again!) on the sidewalk. His mouth was bleeding for a little bit but stopped without a problem. As I got him out of the tub I noticed a little something different in his mouth. This picture doesn't do it justice, but he's got a chip on the bottom corner of his top tooth. Watch out big brothers- here comes Sharp Tooth the T-Rex and he just might eat you!

{we've now got one who will soon start losing his baby teeth, one with a grey dead tooth, one with a chipped tooth, and one who hasn't got his first tooth in yet. You name it, we've got it! Talk about variety}

More pics

2008-03-11T15:29:00.003-07:00

Visiting Grandma at work

Grandma getting to show off her newest grandson

Grandpa and Daddy took the boys on the merry-go-round

Nate getting some air on the Wadsworth's trampoline

Kissing cousins

Random pics from the past month

2008-02-28T14:05:00.005-07:00

a common sight at our house around bedtime (even when Sam is crying, he still smiles!)

l-r in back: Daddy, Me, my Dad, Ben, Liz, Justin
front: Sam, Kennedy holding Zeke, Gabe, Diggies holding Grayson, MacKenzie

Can you tell whose is whose? (click on the pic to enlarge)

Uncle Justin spotted something on the drive back to our place. They couldn't help but pull over and catch it

hhmm, I wonder where he learned to do this?

Diggies and his woman

100 random things about me

2008-02-21T11:30:00.009-07:00

I've thought about posting random stuff but could never pull myself to doing it. 100 things is a lot so I may shorten as I get further along.... we'll see how long it takes and how much I have to think as that's usually the determining factor in whether or not I complete something. Get comfy because here we go! You know me, but did you know this?

1. Never in a million years did we think we would have four cute (not kidding… they're cute – we have seen ugly kids before!) boys in 4½ years.

2. Except for with Mr. Zeke, I have really easy pregnancies. I guess the same could be said for the delivery as they have all been c-section. My job is to tell them when everything is numb, lay there patiently while my insides get rearranged, then smile (and cry) when I can take a deep breath again and our sweet punky doodles starts crying.

3. Speaking of pregnancy, I've been blessed with being able to lose all the "baby weight" by the 6 week check-up, if not sooner. I figure it's God's compensation for the extra baggage I've carried the rest of my life.

4. We have more kids shows recorded on our DVR than shows for ourselves. We love being able to record stuff and not live our life around a TV programming schedule.

5. I have an obsession with contemporary, modern, funky stuff, which of course leads me to the next thing...

6. My favorite colors are silver, chocolate brown, blue, and lime green (all of which you can find throughout our house)

7. I am extremely straight forward and everyone around me can usually tell what I’m thinking. I’m very open about stuff and will talk to most anyone. I sometimes come across as a snob because I’m very confident.

8. I'm a little overly independent and will think of every excuse to never ask anybody for help, but will drop everything at a moments notice to help a friend.

9. I used to consider myself lucky if I got a shower by noon, but now that we have 4 kids at home all day, that has since changed to getting one before going to bed. Daddy considers himself lucky if Mommy has showered and brushed her teeth before he comes home!

10. We love our iPod nano. 2 years ago, CompUSA had a $200 store rebate towards anything in their store if you signed up for a new cell phone plan… Efren got the cell phone, I got the free iPod.

11. We're both spontaneous so you can usually find us doing something very last minute.

12. I'm extremely competitive and always up for a challenge, hence my fascination with family history.

13. Pet Peeve #1 - People touching my face. I will start to back away if I have the smallest sense that something/someone is getting a little to close to my face. I'm a freak, I know, but I swear it's a genetic thing because my sisters are the same way.

14. Pet Peeve #2 - A messy house. It hurts my head to see things not in order and perfect. I think this is why I’m so horrible about consistently updating the blog because blogging takes a back seat to keeping the house clean.I don’t have time for that because my house would be a tornado zone.

15. Pet Peeve #3 - People who wear socks and sandals, especially people wearing flip-flops. People, people, people – don’t wear socks with sandals!

16. When I put the laundry away, it's organized by first color, then regular collar/collared shirts, then by short sleeve/long sleeve. For this reason, I love putting the laundry away... heaven forbid the green short sleeve shirt be sandwiched between 2 white long sleeved shirts. =)

17. Baby things we love.... we're a (double electric) Medela pumping, Bumbo sitting, Baby Bjorn carrying, Dex Stage 2 Dura Bib wearing, and Graco traveling family. We should have bought these the first time around with our first kid and not waiting until our #2, 3 or 4.

18. I only write with blue ink pens. It doesn't even have to be the expensive ones. We were at my sisters house once and they had an abundance of black pens. Hidden way in the back I hit the jackpot by coming across a few blue ones and went to use them…. one by one… and all of them were dried up. Aaaahhh, you’re kidding me!

19. Pre-Motherhood I was a queasy lady - fast forward almost 5 years and boogers/runny noses, spit-up, vomit, blood, poop and the newborn poop blow-outs (for those of you who don't have children yet, yes, there is a difference!), I handle ‘em all.

20. 99% of the time, I'm the household bug killer. Scorpions, spiders, pincher bugs, you name it, I'll kill it - it's usually followed by a long "eeeehhhhh" and a funky dance, but nevertheless, I killed it.

21. I hate dirt! It takes a lot for me to walk outside barefoot. If I'm working in the yard, I have to wear gloves because dirt may get under my nails. This also filters to my shoe choice for the day.....

22. I have “I'm going to work in the yard” shoes, “I'm working out” shoes, “I hope my feet don't get to sweaty while wearing these” shoes, “I'm looking good!” shoes, "Pay close attention so I don't walk too close to the dirt" shoes, and of course my "old faithful" flip-flops. Unfortunately I think I might have shared this trait with Diggies.

23. I don’t touch raw meat. I'm going the extra mile for you if I prepare a meal that requires me to do so. I can usually get by with using a knife and fork, but if I gotta get all down and messy, consider yourself a lucky person.

24. I'm a little (....or maybe a lot!) sound sensitive. You'd never know it since we've got 4 kids, but the loud screaming and yelling still gets to me.

25. I had chronic ear problems growing up, mostly in one ear. Ear infections are a common thing for me, as are ruptured ear drums and the occasion draining. I am partially deaf in one ear, but can hear the high frequency pitch that the electronic sensors give off when they're turned on.

26. We have a little tradition around our house, and it's called New Years Nachos. The phrase is interchangeable and can become Christmas Nachos or Thanksgiving Nachos when need be. The tradition started with I asked Efren if he wanted anything special for New Years. His request of course was nachos and now anytime the whole family gets together, at least one person will ask where Efren's New Years Nachos are.

27. In Efren's world, anything can be turned into a sandwich. I wish I were kidding, but it's true. Efren will eat a minimum of 5 sandwiches in a weeks time. It doesn't have to be a specific kind, anything works..... chicken, ham, PB&J, tuna, pulled pork, spaghetti, whatever you've got, he'll throw between 2 pieces of bread. (In case the spaghetti one peaked your curiosity, he says it’s quite delicious. I’ll take his word for it)

28. I love the way little babies curl into a little ball when you pick them up. I also love the way babies heads rest so perfectly between your shoulder and neck.

29. I always slightly tilt my head while taking pictures. If I don’t think I look good in a picture, it’s probably because my head isn’t in the properly tilted position.

then now

30. In my “youth” (mid-late teens) I had super blonde hair and was a fake ‘n bake regular.

31. My favorite phrase that I learned from my sister is it happened on the way. In most situations it really did, but other times I’m just lazy. Stuff always seems to happen a few minutes before we walk out the door and I don’t feel like changing clothes again (whether myself or the kids/baby). It quite the phrase though as it works for nearly everything.

32. I have never been to Disneyland. Rumor has it that I went as a newborn, but I have yet to see any evidence of that. Efren’s got me beat as he has been twice.

33. Neither one of else has read any of the Harry Potter book collection, nor watched any of the movies.

34. I have read (and own) all of Dan Brown’s books.

35. Speaking of books, it’s not in my best interest to read any literature if I’m the slightest bit tired as my mind won’t turn off and I become different characters in the story and weird things chase me.

36. Our favorite shows include October Road, Private Practice, Brothers & Sisters, Law & Order, Grey’s Anatomy, and Biggest Loser.

37. We are contemplating buying Rock Band because we played it at a friends’ house and thought it was the best.

38. For those of you with children and have seen Veggies Tales - no, we have NOT been to Boston in the fall.

39. My favorite perfume is Victoria Secret’s Heavenly. It truly lives up to its name and can cover up most any funkiness I may produce!

40. I love pumpkin pie, minus the crust. My new favorite is the Pumpkin Cobbler from Costco. If you haven’t had it, stop everything and go buy it now!

41. On the (sometimes frequent) occasion that I eat pie/cobbler out of the pan, I never just cut a piece and it eat it, that would be way too easy. Instead I have like a 1/8” sliver all the way across. Efren can tell if I had some pie because instead of it being 1/2 gone (and a 1/2 circle) it’s more like a smaller version of what a 1/2 circle once was.

42. When I was pregnant with Nathaniel, I told Efren I needed to go to TGI Friday’s and get the Sizzlin’ Chicken and Cheese because the people on the commercial were happy while they were eating it and I thought it would make me happy too!

43. I’m a perfectionist so having #42 not together with #2 and 3 is driving me crazy!

44. But since we’re going out of order, I totally craved protein all the time with Zeke. I discovered tortilla chips and peanut butter are quite a yummy combo.

45. I still have 2 baby teeth and will someday need to be yanked out as they don’t have any adult teeth to knock ‘em loose.

46. We still are amazed that 3 of our 4 boys got my blue eyes and not daddy’s browns.

47. Just in case you’ve ever heard about baby Isabelle…. Yes, we do talk about her as if she is part of our family. We thought #3 would be a girl, it was a Sammy. We thought #4 would be a girl, it was a Zeke. All the while, the boys still ask about their sister Isabelle. At church in Primary, both Nathaniel and Gabriel were sharing with everyone how they have a sister that is still living with Jesus. The other day Nathaniel asked if worms die. I explained that everything dies, just like people, and goes back to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus. Nathaniel quickly said, “oh mom, that’s where Isabelle is. When you die and go live with Jesus, you and her could have a tea party and that would probably be lots of fun.”

48. We both have “stupid” accidents – Efren ran into a post while playing football, I ran into a parked car while riding my bike. In my defense, I was looking in the opposite direction and so it doesn’t count. It’s still stupid, but it makes me feel better. Efren said his doesn’t count because he still caught the football. Yah, whatever Efren!

49. The best things about having all boys...

…When they start picking their own clothes, it was be acceptable for them to not match.

…Someone will get hurt and it’s ok for me to give them a hug and then send them on their way.

…There can be hand me downs without any commotion.

…(if we wanted to) We could have all 4 of them share one room.

…Not having to deal with all the emotional drama that girls bring about.

…They can make a toy or game out of most anything.

…Mommy can build anything out of Kid K’nex (numerous years of lego and Lincoln log practice from playing with my little brother)

…saving a ton of money by not having to buy accessories, make-up, clothing, and shoes.

…I can fix everyone’s hair in less than 5 minutes.

…Having plenty of strong muscle to help around the house.

…Ensuring that in 20+ years there will be 4 fabulous, caring gentlemen that will be complete marriage material.

50. The worst things about having all boys…

…Dreading the day when 2 shopping carts full of food from Costco is considered just picking up a few things.

…Hearing “I’m soooo hungry” an hour after eating.

…Auto insurance premiums for 3 teenage boy drivers at one time.

…Nobody understanding why it would take anyone more than 10 minutes from getting in the shower to walking out the door.

…Always getting questioned why I’m the only one without a king.

…(During the dating years) Having an endless line of dumb girls calling and coming by the house. I guess it comes with having such a large selection of choices.

…Cleaning toilets and the surrounding areas which falls victim to their dangerous line of fire.

51. I am a shower woman. Of course this only applies on the few days I get a shower in, but something about sitting in dirty water isn’t so appealing to me. I think I’ve taken all of 2 or 3 baths since we’ve been in this house. Our master bathroom has a big separate tub that is the designated boys bathtub/ spot for storing the baby bathtub/ washing dirty feet/ soaking a big batch of dirty clothes with Oxi Clean tub.

52. When I do take a shower, I can not take a shower without washing my hair. My brain goes into “eeehhh!” mode and I can’t finish unless the hair has been washed.

53. After 19 hours of labor and then an emergency c-section with our first boy, we opted to having c-sections with all of them. I’m very grateful for this choice because both Gabriel and Zeke were born weeks earlier than their due date and still weighed 9 lbs, and 9 lbs 14 oz and there’s no way they would have made it out the other way.

54. I’m waiting for the yellow teeth thing to come back into style. =) They say you’re not supposed to whitening while your pregnant or nursing, and I have fallen into one of those categories for the last 5½ years.

55. I’m super excited that we are part of the nFS (new FamilySearch) live because of the area we live in. I only started playing around with it, but I know it will be 10x easier to do Family History research.

56. I’m not a big flower person. I like daisies, and a single rose every now and then, but I can’t stand the smell of flowers. The smells reminds me of what dead people smell like. My MIL sent me some flowers….. the kind from edible arrangements and they were fabulous, I loved them!

57. I have curly toes. They curl so much under that when I wear certain sandals, it looks as though I only have 4 toes. =)

58. Everyone in our house owns more clothing than I do. Our walk-in closet is maybe 2/3 full. I can always justify buying them clothes, but rarely buy stuff for me.

59. Beyond milk and bread, chips and salsa are staples at our house.

60. We’ve been to Tyler Perry’s play Madea goes to Jail. We were among the few lighter folks, but we had lots of fun. We love Tyler!

61. Weird pregnancies food cravings…. with #1 – milk, cheese, and peanut m&m’s (I was not a regular milk drinker prior to children), with #2 – milk, ice cream, and cheese (see a pattern here?), with #3 – anything with red sauce and spicy (thought it might be a girl), with #4 – protein… and lots of it! Steak, chicken, more steak, more chicken, I couldn’t get enough meat (thought it’d be a girl for sure)

62. I read the fine print to everything. Even if it’s stuff I already know, I still read it.

63. I used to work at a bank. I was Efren’s sugar momma. I was a teller, opened new accounts, sold annuities, handled all the customer service issues, and some lending.

64. I made up a song when Nate was only a few days old to get him to calm down (he was a very colicky baby) and it’s called Mommy loves me. The boys request it ewguarly, especially when they’re hurt.

65. (in case you haven’t noticed) We never call our children just one name. They’re Nathaniel, Gabriel, Samuel, Ezekiel…. also known as Diggies, Gabers, Sammy, Zeke…. also known as Digs, Heta face, Sam-I-Am, Zekey…. also known as Nate, Gaber-goos, Bonkers, Zeekey Weekey… also known as Batman, Robyn, Scooby Doo, and ? (he doesn’t have a name yet) One thing is always the same, they’re all my punky doodles, baby baloogas, and my pumpkin pie, and Mommy is always Catwoman!

66. I’m extremely particular as to what my children and husband wear. It’s not that it has to be a particular designer or anything, but it has to have a certain style. Of course, it’s usually in one of my favorite colors as well.

67. I love Savers. I know lots of people who won’t shop at 2^nd hand stores but love the clothes the boys wear. I’d say about 50% of their wardrobe is from a thrift store. A few weeks back I found some cute Tommy Hilfiger button-up oxford shirts for $1.50 a piece, super cute brown Dickies dress shoes for $2. The key is to still be selective while shopping at these kinds of stores.

68. I have a dollar limit at stores. For instance, if I’m at Savers, I won’t buy anything over $6 because… it’s 2^nd hand. If I’m at Target, I won’t buy clothing that is more than $15 because… I’m at Target. Obviously the limit changes with whatever store I’m at as the $6 and $15 rule doesn’t work when I’m at the mall.

69. We love Craigslist.

70. From time to time we entertain the idea of trying for a girl, but then we take into consideration that God has a sense of humor and would probably send us twin boys just to have a good laugh.

71. I love shopping at TJ Max and Marshalls.

72. I haven’t scrapbooked anything for our albums since Nate was a baby. I do stuff for other people, but haven’t made time for our stuff.

73. I have really, really cute scrapbook paper that is referred to as my pizza box paper (translation, it’s so cute that I don’t want to cut it, but take it out from time to time to remind myself how cute it is)

74. I find that painting to be very cathartic. I’ve painted our whole house from top to bottom (minus a few ceilings in a couple rooms) and could always use a friend that needs the inside of their house painted. Efren hates doing it so he does kid patrol while I go about my therapy.

75. We love to travel. It’s a bit challenging with 4 kids, but we love it nonetheless.

76. Depending on the day, I go back and forth between wanting a professional career and being a busy at home mom when all the kids are in school. Efren assures me that I don’t need to do anything until all the kids are in school, and then I can figure it all out. Ya hear that guys? Mommy can’t do anything per Daddy’s orders. Unfortunately the weeds in the front yard didn’t get to memo that I’m off duty for the next 5 years.

77. I’m a big GH fan. I’m not so excited that the added the “not so modest” Claudia Zaccara to the picture. Put some clothes on woman!

78. I will only swim in places where I can see to the bottom. You won’t catch me dead swimming in a lake.

79. I can never decide whether I want my hair short or long. I like the look of slightly longer hair, but hate the time it takes to blow dry and fix it because…

80. I have the thickest hair I’ve ever seen. I (kinda) love that the postpartum hair shedding phrase that is naturally thinning my hair out.

81. My husband enjoys me being pregnant because he says it makes him feel really smart. (my brain works at 33% capacity during pregnancy)

82. When we turn the lights out at night time, I can’t see in the dark. Efren would be able to tell you whether your eyes were opened or closed, or in which direction you were looking. Not me – you turn the lights out and everything is black until morning!

83. I don’t know what I would do without the internet. Yes, I know life would go on but at a much slower pace. I like having the convenience of being able to google just about anything I’d like to know.

84. I wish my body (and brain) would hurry up and figure out what size it wants to be. I get frustrated with different areas of my body that are too big for average people, but too skinny for the big people. Where am I? Am I a fat average person, or skinny fat person? I don’t know!

85. I have the awesomest husband in the whole wide world. He is so good to both me and the children. He’s also patient and puts up with all my stuff… he’s pretty much heard it all.

86. I am an avid DDR (dance dance revolution) girl. Don’t mess with me and my dance pad.

87. I love 4 seasons, especially the beginning of spring. It’s so pretty to see the flowers blooming while the remnants of snow melt away. It also happens to include my "colors". (see #6 if you're confused)

88. We have been married for almost 7 years. During that time, we had 4 children that were born in 3 different states, owned 3 homes, and moved 7 times.

89. We miss Chicago. Someday we would love to live there again, but not while the boys are still at home.

90. Motherhood has made it me a bit more relaxed. Well not entirely, but having so many boys, I’ve come to terms with some things being disposable. For instance, our lovely Sammy got a hold of a pen and drew all over our light sand colored microfiber sectional while daddy was on duty and I was out shopping. When Nate was Sam’s age, he drew on our nubuck leather couch and I totally flipped. I surprisingly didn’t get upset with Efren over Sam and the sectional incident. I just said, “well, you know we’ll be needing a new couch in 5 or 6 years anyways so whatever.”

91. We love all the deals daddy gets from work. Our iPod speaker, original price $215, our price $40… Dyson ball vacuum, original price $539, our price $215… Simple Human stainless steel trashcan, original price $107, our price $35.. Henckel knives, original price $600+, our price, $200

92. We don’t own any pets. We figure that having 4 boys is more than enough to pick up and clean up after. Perhaps when the kids get old enough to take care of the pet, we’ll get something. Maybe a fish, yeah, I could handle a fish. A dog? Not so much. I don’t do the messy hair all over the house thing. Cats, oh, cats are just dumb and I’ve got enough of that in my life already.

93. Around our house, we can make a song about pretty much anything. Even if it’s just 1 line, the kids will sing it all day around the house. For instance, the other day Gabe had to go potty while I was nursing the baby and he was asking what he should do next. I was a little busy and I told him to, “pull up your undies” so all day the boys were singing, “pull up your undies! Pull up your undies!”

94. Our UPS guy thinks we run a daycare because of all the kids that we have.

95. I used to think that I was busy with 1 child….. haha that’s funny. Now looking back, I’m positive that I had no clue what busy really meant. In 5 years from now, I’ll probably be saying the same thing about my spot in life now.

96. Most of our friends are older than us. Not intentionally, but because of our family dynamics and size, it puts us in the younger of the older folks category.

97. I have a bad habit of being a wee bit judgmental. I would give you an example and justify why I am, but in the end, I’m still judgmental.

98. When I was in 3^rd grade, I was convinced that Steve Urkle was really a white guy with black make-up. My sister was at band camp and there was a guy that they nicknamed Steve Urkle and I assumed he was the real deal. A few months later at school, I was trying to explain to a black boy that Steve Urkle was really white. He of course laughed at me, but it didn’t matter because I had met him and knew the truth.

99. My favorite scent is vanilla bean.

100. I can’t eat the same food more than twice in a row. You give me something 3 times in a week and I probably wouldn’t eat it.

Boys will be boys

2008-02-20T16:07:00.009-07:00

How true it is! Last week when we were pulling out that bush in the front yard, the boys were playing in front of our next door neighbors house. Sam kept running from their driveway to the street and back again. We don't worry much because we were both out there, as well as our neighbors, not to mention we live on a relatively quiet street. Our curb is kinda funky though, and it's not flush with the gutter, it's the kind that curves up like a big-o speed bump. Sam was thinking he's hot stuff because he recently perfected running over them without falling...... until of course mommy and daddy are busy ripping out a bush. He tripped over the curb and totally ate it. This is the aftermath of his fall. Luckily the bump on his forehead had already gone down, but he was still left with a lovely bruise under his nose.

Of course the accidents don't stop with our boys! A few days after Sam's incident, I was on the computer while the boys were having quiet time. I heard a loud crack and just assumed that the boys were playing with toys and broke something. I went into their room and asked Diggies what they were doing and he insisted that he hadn't done anything. I asked him again and he gave me the same answer. I went and did a quick check on Zeke, he was still sleeping. Where the heck did it come from? On my way back from the living room, I glanced in our front room and noticed the front door window seemed a little "clearer" than normal. I went to inspect it and sure enough, the bottom of the window glass was broken. The boys across the street had been playing baseball with a wiffle ball (the small plastic balls with holes) and hit it just right to leave a lovely impression on our door. (click on the picture to enlarge it to see the get the full effect) We totally couldn't be mad at him... he's a boy and it's a window. You put those two together and something or someone will get hurt. When he told his mom about it, he admitted that he was sad that of all the neighbors it had to happen to, it happened to "the nice neighbors who always bring us yummy treats". Like they say, boys will be boys!

My Husband Loves Me

2008-02-09T09:59:00.002-07:00

Foreword: Description - The European Sham (aka Euro Sham) is the pillow covering for a large square pillow that typically measures 26x26. This is the first layer against the headboard, then you arrange your Standard/Queen shams or King size shams. In front of that you place your smaller accent pillows. This layering effect with different sizes and shapes and patterns is how to design a luxurious, inviting bedding ensemble!
Having said that, there is a lady from church that went into Efren's work and was asking about different decorating ideas and bedding options. Obviously since he oversees the soft side (i.e. bed linens, towels, window treatments) he is knowledgeable about bedding specifics and mentioned something about decorative pillows. He shared with her different ways to incorporate pillow options and recommended using some Euro Shams. She then asked if Euro Shams were the new and hot thing in the design world. "Nope, actually they've been around for quite a while." (she said that <she's from> doesn't carry Euro Shams up there!) He then recommended pairing her choice of shams with a new sheet set that just arrived to finish her look. She was quick to then comment that he must be gay because he knew a little too much detail about interior design for a man. Woman, that's his job! You're in a home decor store, not Target or Wal-Mart. I'd hope the employees would be capable of giving advice on how to successfully decorate and furnish the home the way the professionals do.

So my "fabulously gay" husband has to work on Valentine's Day, but still wanted to do something special for me. He told me I had to leave the house for at least an hour so he could finish his gift, so I decided to go shopping. While I was out, I looked at all kinds of stuff, but was looking in particular at new bedding. I wanted something simple but elegant, but with not too much happening. We bought a Pottery Barn bedskirt while in Chicago, but never found a Comforter or Duvet that we really liked. The pillows were ok because it was something we already had, but nothing special. Whatever... I don't want to spend $250-$400 on new bedding right now, especially on something that I didn't love. I called to see if I could come home and got the thumbs up. When I came home, he asked me to follow him to our bedroom. (uumm, ok. that question could get men in some serious trouble!) He asked me to turn on the lights to see my Valentine's Day gift and guess what I saw? It's a new bedding set! He's been collecting the ensemble for quite a few months with the extra input of everybody at work. Once again, Mommy was left in the dark while everyone else knew what was going on. It's ok though, it was a great surprise and worthwhile. You wanna know the best part? Since it's by Nautica, everything he got was well over $1,000 dollars worth of merchandise but by being patient and waiting for it to go clearance, he got everything for $85. Wa-hoo! Mommy is one special lady. We have finally graduated to designer bedding. Our bedroom now matches the quality throughout the rest our house. I bet that woman would like a "gay" husband like mine now! :p

BEFORE

AFTER

2008-02-08T13:40:00.001-07:00

Stuff you might know about my DH.... or not!

What’s his name? E (aka known as "big ba-noo-noo" to the Wisor kids)

How long have you been together? July 2001

How long did you date? 19 1/2 months from first date to wedding

How old is he? 28 (he claims that he looks exactly the way he did the day we got married, but over the years his eye sight has improved. So much in fact, that now he can finally see his bald head and gray hairs in his goatee)

Who eats more? E!!

Who said I love you first? Depends on who you ask.... it's kinda like the who kissed who first story

Who is taller? E's 3 inches taller

Who is smarter? I am by far (unless he has it his way and I'm pregnant, then we're about even)

Who does laundry? We share the duty of starting it, but I do all the folding and putting away

Who does the dishes? 90% of the time it's me

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Don't know which side you'd consider the right side, but I have always slept on the side closest to the door

Who pays the bills? Me

Who mows the lawn? Nobody! (we don't have any grass. I prefer doing the yard work and he prefers sweeping and mopping..... we consider it an even trade)

Who cooks dinner? We both do. It really depends on what shift he's working

Who drives when you are together? We take turns (Sometimes when we have lots to do, we decide to both drive and take 2 cars, hit a few stores together and then split up. I am always entertained to see him in the van with all the who-la-gins because there's always one bond to be throwing a fit. It's fabulous cause I can see it, but I don't hear a thing!)

Who is more stubborn? lol.... the kids? (who probably get it from my side but I'm positive the it skipped over me hahah no?!?)

Who kissed who first? Let the record show it was him, regardless of whatever his distorted version may be

Who asked out who first? Umm, I guess him. He kept asking me to bring lunch to him at work. I lied and said I had to work, thinking I would surprise him. I went and got his lunch, stopped by his work to surprise him, and got REJECTED!! He already ate and said he wasn't really hungry. (Seriously? It was Carl's Jr, and when has anyone seen Eturn down food?)

Who proposed? He did

Who has more siblings? I do. He's got a younger brother, while I've got 3 older sisters and a younger brother

Who wears the pants in the family? We both do, but his are bigger! :p