Oh yeah, the blog...

Well, hello my neglected child. It's only been like 18 months. Not too much has happened... except...

We had another baby.

We are about to build a new house.

We had our 8th anniversary.

My kids have had 1 or 2 more birthdays.

You know... the usual stuff.

I will definitely not make any attempt to "catch up," but I am definitely going to try... TRY, to stay a bit more up to date on our lives. Since I am opposed to scrapbooking(for myself that is, all you amazing people that can do it... I salute you!) I need to have some record of my children's growing up and since printing a blog book is about as simple as it gets... I should make a bit more effort. 

All hallows eve... 2011

I was so glad that there was no trunk-or-treat this year. I feel like it is so anti-climatic. The kids run from car to car and it's all over in ten minutes. Those kids need to work for that candy! As much fun as they had trick-or-treating, they had loads more handing our candy and answering the door.

Side note: costumes are...

Doug=dog, the bounty hunter

Me=not so exciting witch

Toria=Little Bo Peep(had to be the costume from Toy Story, no exceptions accepted)

Rome=Batman

Davin=Elvis

Motorcycle ridin'

I must admit that I am not a fan of the mr.'s motorcycle. But, the kids do love a spin around the block(not the street block, just our little block within the neighborhood... I am a paranoid mom.)

BELATED, I am... My big 5 year old!

I truly deserve the "worst mom" in the world award! Toria's birthday was only three two and a half months ago... way to be on the ball! It was all about "Tangled" and in true Miss Toria form, she knew just what she wanted. Here are some highlights:

Our little gals decorating the braids I made for EVERY girl(yup 16 of them, I am insane!)

The royal cake, not made by me. Thanks Marci, you are A-MAZ-ING!

Owen and Toria. Already this handsome guy has been dubbed by our gal as the future Mr. I think she really would have been just as happy if not another party goer attended. He was our first guest to arrive and once her knight was there, pretty much nothing else mattered.

My pinata... my first attempt at one, and pretty dang spiffy if I do say so myself.

Tug of war with Rapunzel's braid.

Our artist's mural. A BIG hit.
Our Pascal craft/favor... also a bigger hit than I would have ever guessed.

I cannot believe my first little munchkin is now 5. The time really does just zip right by. She is such a good girl. Very smart and thoughtful. She loves to be the "mother" of every group. She puts much more pressure on herself to do what is right, so no need for guilt by Mom. Hopefully that trait sticks around thru teenage years! She is a very talented artist and loves to dance, dance, dance. She is so much better than I am and I know I was blessed enough to be given her so that I can rise higher. Happy Birthday my goober!

3!3!3!

So our little superhero turned three. Rome is such a spark of energy, excitement, and laughter in our home. He is the first to tell me how much he loves me and the first to get angry and tell me that, " you're not my mommy anymore!" He is truly full of gusto in all things. He gives the tightest hugs, the biggest smiles, and wants everything to be..."biggest, biggest, biggest!" Rome is such a joy in our family and I can't believe that three years have passed so quickly. He is the sweetest stinker there is. Happy Birthday my big, little guy!

The big O-N-E!

It happened, just like that. My baby grew up. Already one. I can hardly believe it. It was such a fun yet, sad event. I already miss the tiny baby that he was. But, I am excited for all that is to come.

In true Davin form... he loved his cake. He loves anything that he can consume.

Happy Birthday, my lovey, sweet, chubba chubbs!

A Tale of Two Cities

My children, the two big'uns that is, have a deep and abounding love for The Sound of Music. More specifically the "puppet show." I am thrilled by this, I have fond memories of pretending I was a VonTrapp child and had a giant puppet theater, a wealthy and handsome father and a nanny/mom that sung on bike rides and we jetted thru the hills of Austria. Even as I have been planning a home to build( not anytime soon, just planning out in my head.) I realize the design is that of an enormous entryway(ballroom) with all of the rooms opening to it and intricate railings to look over. Where did this grand design come from? Why the lovely VonTrapp home, of course!

Back on our puppet story, so Toria has been begging for a marionette. And I, being the great Mom that I am, decided we would make some. I found a (quasi) kid friendly pattern.

Scene Tuesday: My three little dumplings and I are strolling the aisles of Robert's collecting our supplies.(See what a good Mom I am!)

Scene Wednesday: Toria, Rome, and I are assembling our marionettes. Rome is not doing much assembling, but rather playing(aka creating chaos) with the feathers and foam. I forgot to mention that we were making "ostrich" marionettes, hence lots of feathers! As Toria wants to do EVERYTHING herself, I am sweetly and patiently guiding her in her efforts. (Really, I am the best Mom ever!)

Scene Wednesday night: I am wondering how long it will be before the marionettes can disappear. I have untangled the strings about 482 times in one hour. And each occasion causes great weeping and wailing. When does the garbage get picked up again?? (Ok, so maybe I am the worst Mom.)

Nine Months!

I cannot believe how amazing this little guy is. He is truly my cherubic angel. (Nearly) always happy, content and cheerful. Unless of course you are taking more than 1.5 seconds to shovel food into his mouth. He is truly insatiable. Eats more than the two "bigs" combined! But, he can eat all he wants as long as I can cuddle, love on and squeeze to my hearts delight. He is crawling and so wants to play with the two hooligans. Please stop growing up.

Side note: his nickname is chubba-chubbs, since he is our biggest baby... weighing in his 9-month visit at 18 lbs and 3 oz.

THANKSgiving take 3

Sleep. Glorious sleep. My sweet munchkin now sleeps for 12 hours... in a row... without waking up... all night long. I have never had a child do this, not at 8 months. Let's be honest, not ever. I know there are those of you out there with babies that do this very early on. I hate you. Ok, I don't hate you, I just wish I had your gift. I have failed miserably in this department of parenting. But, wow... 12 hours. I pinch myself every morning.

Tivo. This was truly an inspired creation. I don't need an entire hour to watch a show. Just zip thru those annoying commercials. I have true and real love for this little box. Only downfall, and I do mean only... I really have no idea of any movies that are ever coming out. But that is what Netflix is for, right?

My blog. It's my little space on the web to vent, brag, put down my ramblings. I don't have amazing pictures on it like Mrs. Jones, nor do I have witty topics with fantastic writing skills like Mrs. Miller, and I'm not funny in any way like Miss McClellan( I am about 95% sure I am not spelling that correctly). But, it's mine, all mine.

THANKSgiving, take 2

It's a hard one today to come up with these.

My husband's job. I am making myself be so very grateful for this one. I AM so grateful that he has a wonderful means of bringin' home the bacon. I just wish that for the last 2 months it did not include 80 hour work weeks and arriving home on Saturday night(make that sunday morning) at 5am. That LDS church can be a workhorse!

My kids sleeping, or rather, lack thereof. I am grateful that my 8 month old has caused me to toughen up and make him cry it out... tonight. (While my husband is still at work.) Give me strength, I am so not good at this one.

The internet. Oh sweet Safari. How much simpler you make my life. When sweet Toria asks me how big beluga whales are, I can head to you for answers. When I don't want to attempt the mall with my clan, I just jump on over and let my fingers do the shopping. How I love thee...

My Mom. This is not a hard one to come up with. She is AMAZING!!!! I do not know what I would do without her. She is the most present and engaging Grandma to my kids and I am immensely GRATEFUL that she is so close to us. Mom, today, and all days you are the best!

THANKSgiving

As I approach the upcoming holiday, I am attempting to focus on the "little big" things that I am thankful for. I can easily put a huge list of "big" things: my husband, my kids, my family, my home, food on my table, the Gospel, the Temple, the Atonement, prayer, my Savior, the list goes on and on. But for the rest of the month I am going to dig a little closer to the surface, or rather, simpler. Maybe with something to focus on... maybe... I will be a more consistent blogger.

Thanks this day for...

Yo GabbaGabba. I mean really, what can cause more excitement and love in a child than our fabulous friends Plex, Brobie, Foofa, Muno, Tootie, and DJ Lance? We went to the "Live" show this week and the pure and utter joy gushing out of my kids as they sang and danced to "Party in my Tummy", "Name Game"(of which I have heard the lyrics... my name is muno, muno, mmmmmm, muno muno, muno... about 2,300 times since), "We don't Bite our Friends" and all the other great favorites. Hey, if they love a skinny guy in an orange jumpsuit, who am I to not be grateful to him and all the rest of the funky bunch?

Modern Medicine. Let me sum up our last three weeks:

Davin: double ear infection, cold, croup

Rome: croup

Toria: cold, croup, ear infection, inflamed tonsils, and possible UTI

Hence (I love it when I can write that! Hence and Thus... no better words in the English language. They sound not only intelligent, but also a bit pretentious.) Hence, I am extremely grateful for good ole' antibiotics.

These are a few of my favorite things

Toria has MANY great loves in her life. They change daily, but the staples remain the same:

Unicorns

The color purple

Anything to do with weddings

Drawing

Barbie movies

Pinto(or Appaloosa) Horses

and Davin

Ten-O-see

We ventured off to the Great Smokey Mountains a few weeks ago and loved it. It's an amazing part of the country... trees as far as the eye can see. So, so beautiful.

But, also it's a completely different experience. There is a lot of poverty, difficult educational opportunities, housing everywhere that I couldn't believe humans actually reside in. I came home with a new and GREATER GRATITUDE for ALL that I have. Seriously, I can't believe how blessed we are.

It was a wonderful time and there was so much to do... our highlights...

Racing at the tracks. This is definitely NASCAR country and there are race cars everywhere!

Hiking in the amazing mountains

The aquarium. AMAZING!!! Best we have ever been to. This is in the penguin enclosure where they swim all around you.

Excuses, excuses

Pretty much anytime that Rome attempts to love on/squish the little guy, it's always the same response.

"But, but he's my brudher."

Count my blessings.

Life, it's hard sometimes. Lately I am tired. So very tired. I know you all do it to, but cooking, cleaning, kids, work, laundry, more work(can I state for the record that I am so over this one, but dang it those flight benefits) the list goes on and on.

BUT, just when I start to feel like I've got it so rough, I am reminded constantly that my life is amazingly blessed. That I have so very much and that my trials are mere compared to so many.

I have a dear friend, really a sister more than a friend. I love her so much and she is enduring the trial of her life. She is so brave, so strong, so much more than she knows. I can do nothing to make her trial go away. But, I can be there, call, hug, love, comfort, and listen. It's not much, nothing close to what I wish I could do. I am constantly reminded by her situation how really, REALY easy my life is.

To her... my heart is filled with love for you, my prayers are filled with pleading for you, and my thoughts are filled with hope for you.

Wisdom

I am constantly amazed at the things I learn from my children.

On Father's Day this year I thought we needed to start a new tradition. Since my Dad passed away 2 1/2 years ago and my step-dad just in the last month... I thought I would have the kids draw them pictures and would would send their "messages" off to them with balloons.

When I first presented this idea to the little ones here was the conversation...

t: why are we going to draw them pictures?

me: i just thought it would be nice to send their father's day pictures to them

t: will they get them?

me: do you think they will get them?

t: yeah...

me: i do too(as I tear up a bit.. because... well, because I am a crier)

t: mommy, don't be sad... they will be resurrected.

Lesson #1 the faith of a child is a beautiful thing

While the pictures were in progress, I asked Toria what she was drawing.

t: A path. Pappi Jim(my step-father) needs a path. He needs to find his way.

Jim was not a member of the church and maybe, just maybe she know exactly what he needs.

Lesson #2 i cannot begin to imagine how well a child's ears can hear the Spirit

I

The "mr."

He will not love me for this but here goes...

10 thing you may not know about my husband:

1) He has a great love for Charlize Theron(really? could you get any more opposite of me? leggy, thin, blonde.)

2) He will not share beverages with anyone. Not me, not our kids, no one. Do I really have any germs that you don't already have?

3) He will keep his nursery calling for the next 25 years, if they let him.

4) He has been in 2 major biking accidents. One time hit by a car and the other he was graciously taken to the ER by some kind hikers who came across an unconscious guy in the mountains(really, no embellishing here!). And I let him ride a motorcycle because...?

5) He was in a movie... treats for those who can figure it out.

6) He would go shirtless at all times if he could.

7) He would buy everything at Costco if he could, it is absolutely his favorite store.

8) And speaking of shopping... he actually likes to go shopping... for clothes.

9) When he gives a gift, it is the most thought out, perfect gift. He really, really goes out of his way to make them special.

10) He hates Oprah.

Zzzzzzz's

8:15 pm

The time I put Davin down to sleep last night

8:45 am

The time my angelic baby woke up this morning

Never had one like this before... home truly can be a heaven on earth

Daddy and Disney

About 2 weeks ago Doug decided to surprise Toria with a quick 2 day jaunt to the land of princesses and Dumbo. They had some fantastic one-on-one time and went like mad thru the park... not having to wait to park strollers and such makes the day much speedier.

And this is what a full day at Disneyland and then a quick trip to LAX turns into...

Payment

I sat on the couch holding our little Davin after a VERY long morning. Clothes had been folded, two older ones napping(or at least "quiet-timeing"), running around done, lunch made, and baby finally content. I was so very ready for a break, really coveting a nap(right, as if!), but really needing to give the little guy some uninterrupted one on one time. I mustered up an enthusiastic greeting to the babe. And he immediately returned the biggest smile( this being his first smile... timing is everything!). Ah, it really, REALLY is all worth it.