Mary Out Numbered

I Got the Blues

2011-01-14T06:03:00.000-08:00

I miss Spring. I miss Summer. Here's my tribute. These are some pics of warmer days that hold memories I especially love. I love these pictures... it's like a zap back to that moment. Ahh.

The duck pond with my guys, the cousins and slushies from Sonic.

Lazy evening in the pool with my hubby and my monkies.

Jared takes the kids to the tennis courts and teaches them stuff. Pretty cute.

My creature lover.

First day a Salem Montessori School. Look at my beautiful little men, lightly toasted from the summer.

What's a trip to the beach without miniature golf...

the pier...

or Poppa?

So, I like the beach, ok?

When you don't have a pool membership, grandma's backyard and a kiddie pool work just fine!

I feel a little better now.

Christmas Eve!

2011-01-07T10:02:00.000-08:00

UGH! Why do I repeatedly forget to upload my pictures in reverse order. This is the "after" shot. We give the kids new pj's and a Christmas movie on Christmas Eve and watch it together. This year they got Elf... Seriously, that movie is hysterical. I laught out loud in every scene. (Also please note the lamp by Jakes' head. It is a "Leg Lamp" which will remind most of you of another oh-so-funny Christmas movie, A Christmas Story. Jared's co-worker got it for him this year as a gift. "Yay" :/ The kids haven't seen that one... not for a few years.)

Christmas Is in the Air

2011-01-07T08:42:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful Christmas we had. The best ever, actually. For me at least. I felt

the true spirit of Christmas keeping me warm and toasty through the abnormally freeeeezing December.

We made it to the Washington D.C. temple which was the icing on the cake. My sweet children were absolutely thrilled to be there, even McKay, who's just two. He said, "temple" a hundred times, and that alone made it worth the drive and the cold.

We checked out the Visitor's Center and Jacob, Oakley and I caught a Bell Chorus perfomance which was quite cool. Oakley was pretty impressed that a bunch of bells could "make songs".

After we had seen all there was to see, we just let the boys keep themselves entertained. They didn't even get too unruly (gasp!). McKay kept making his way back to the Christus and hanging around there... I am so grateful for the temple, for the spirit that is there and that my children could feel that peace and comfort. I know they are grateful for it too. I hope they always remember that feeling and strive to keep it with them.

We had some fun too. We got an AWESOME snow right before Christmas. It was so fun to look at the Christmas tree and see snow falling through the window behind it. It was picture perfect, like my boys.

McKay got an early Christmas present. This is Roarbert, his Scentsy Buddy. It is the cutest thing ever and has a scent pak inside that smells like lavender. McKay inturn, smells like lavender too... I love to snuggle him (Mack☺) when he wakes up. He smells delicious. (No, this is not a ploy to get you to purchase Scentsy, but I do know a girl... wink, wink.)

Last year we decided that making Gingerbread houses, with the cousins, was going to be our new tradition. Elli and Luke came over, and we had lots of fun. I love making them... so much fun!

I loved making the Christmas tree my 'play area' as a kid. I found McKay putting Star Wars guys in ours.

The End.

Grateful

2010-12-01T06:47:00.000-08:00

I have been reading the blog of an amazing woman. She's a young wife, mom and a mormon. Wife. Mom. Mormon. That's who I am too. I feel like those three words sum up who I am and why I am the person I've grown into. Being those 3 things makes me happy and oh-so-grateful.

I read her blog because she always reminds me of my purpose on this planet. She reminds me that my sweet husband is my best friend, helpmeet and companion. She reminds me that my sweet children are angels from above who need my constant love and guidance. She reminds me that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. He loves me, and because I know this, I have responsibility to share His love with others.

I love that I can read her daily posts and feel better, happier, more grateful. Her name is Stephanie Nielsen. You may have heard about her. Here's her story (click on link below).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHDvxPjsm8E

If you'd like to check out her blog, here it is: http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/

This Just In... A Little Late.

2010-11-04T06:08:00.000-07:00

Wow. It's already November. Two months have flown by, and I've kind of just let them. I've been allowing myself to adjust to lots of changes, so my expectations honestly haven't been real high. Survival has been my goal. In June I excepted a new challenge to be Early Morning Seminary teacher. That means, that through the school year, I get up at the butt crack and teach teenagers lessons from the scriptures, M-F from 6:20 AM to 7:10 AM. The first couple weeks were a bit rough while I tried to figure out the logistics and responsibilities of the calling and my family's needs from me as a wife and mom. With 2 months in, I feel like I can breathe and actually update this blog. Jared and the kids are super supportive and bare the burden with me. Jared actually now is my assistant and teaches at least once a week for me, sometimes more. He's so, so helpful. Now that my excuse for not updating is out of the way, on to business.

Oakley started Kindergarten and loves it. The transition for him was much anticipated and caused me much angst, but HE DID IT and quickly jumped in the swing. I'm so proud of him. Often he does not handle changes and separation so gracefully, but he honestly couldn't have done a better job. It helped a ton that his teacher is Mrs. Crotts, who was both Jake and Garen's teacher as well. She is wonderful. We are thankful for her!

Both of these pics were from orientation. It was so fun to take my little man to see his classroom for the first time and help him get excited for his big boy experience. It's so funny to think think about some of the things we moms end up cheering for. I don't want this phase of motherhood to end. I love cheering for these babies and hugging them, squeezing their round cheeks. I am not prepared for them to get taller, mouthier and less huggier.

Dang, that is one handsome kid.

And here are my pictures of the first day of school. Oh, wait. These aren't pictures of my children getting on the bus. These are pictures of the VIRGINIA TECH/BOISE STATE GAME! Why am I showing you these? Um, because on the first day of school. My dad, hubby and first born went to the game in DC and TOOK MY CAMERA WITH THEM. Luckily my mom had left her camera at my house days before, so I at least have some shots, but mom hasn't emailed them to me hence no school pics here. Dad took Jared to the game for his birthday and Jacob got to miss the first day of school and go too. The picture above sums up the game... a nail biting experience, that unfortunately ended in us losing. They had fun though.

My handsome Jakie. I must say it was hard to not have him at home the last day before school started that first morning of school. I felt like the glue that sticks all my kids together was missing.

And, we got a little bored.

Wish I could have been there. I'm not a big football fan but going to a game is so much fun and with all the Tech fans around here, it's fun to be a part of it.

My dad loves Tech football. He and Jared are football buds. I love that my dad and my husband are so close. My dad would hang the moon for Jared. And Jared can tolerate my dad better than any of his own children can. My dad is the most generous man alive. I have not bought a pack of diapers or wipes in years because every Saturday, in his jaunts to Wally World, he gets them for me. I adore him. He spoils me. But he is also CRAZY and can drive a non-drinker to thoughts of consumption. Jared, however, is patient and long suffering when Dad's short cuts become long cuts or when his Mr. Fixit projects spiral out of control, tying him up for hours on end.

GO HOKIES!!!

During fire safety study at school they made fire engines like these. We talked about fire safety at home too and made these for our treat after Family Home Evening.

Garen is a real crack up. He and Jared both thought it was a hoot that this was the gift to: Dad, from: Garen. I love that kid. Look at the twinkle in those eyes. (Garen, I mean.) ☺

Random pic before school.

Oakley got a trampoline for his birthday. McKay LOVES it and really loves jumping with Oakley. McKay adores all his brothers, but he pretty much wants to be Oakley when he grows up. The other day I was changing Mack's diaper and I asked him, "Who loves you?" I expected him to say, like he usually does, "Mommy lu-me." But instead he said, "My Oaky lu-me!" It's true. He does. They are real buds.

See? Told ya.

Farwell, Summer.

2010-09-17T07:03:00.000-07:00

Once again, I forgot that my pictures would load in reverse order. I'm keepin' it short and sweet. For reals... I swear I won't gush with deep thoughts. Just pics and I'm out.

Mack's 2 birthday. He loves Elmo. This cake was tasty, but his head split in two. The rounds weren't evenly baked, and I didn't level them before icing, so where the icing didn't support the sides of the cake, his head split.

A sweet older lady at church has a wonderful pool she is terribly generous with. I was presumptuous enough to ask her if our little fam could enjoy it one Monday night. We had a great time. Here's Jake with a flipper the same size he is.

My cute O. I caught him floating like this, talking to himself, with his eyes closed. He opened them just as I snapped the picture. I could eat him up.

Mack likes to play around the pool more than be in it. The very last time we went to the pool this summer was the first time he happily allowed me to hold him in the water.

Look at that handsome boy. He is usually pretty busy at the pool... jumping in and out, in and out, in and out. It's exhausting. For me I mean.

This was our last day at the beach in Duck, NC. It was also McKay's birthday. We sang Happy Birthday to him, gave him some Sesame Street finger puppets, threw a couple doughnuts at him, and ran around cleaning the house we had rented before checkout. We then hit the road for a VERY long trip home.

Oakley LOVED the ocean. He was a real beach bum. He played in the surf for hours on end. Garen enjoyed the pool at the house better. As a matter of fact, Garen got down right hysterical the first day at the beach. The waves were pretty rough, and he was absolutely, positively sure that someone he loved was going to be swept away to sea. He is such a loving kid.

Cousin Elli taught Oakley how to swim. He was so proud of himself. I just wish he had picked it up a little earlier in the summer so he could have enjoyed it more.

Amazing, right?

This is Jacob and Luke at the Wright Brothers museum in Kitty Hawk, NC. We went there Sunday, the day after we arrived, and did some sight seeing.

This was the only time our whole fam was on the beach together. I don't love the picture either, but it's the only one I have of us all.

Jacob also enjoyed going to the pool more than the beach, but he couldn't resist a big hole that someone had left and had to climb in.

After rinsing Oakley off with an ice cold bottled water and stripping him of his suit, he lay there all clean and cozy, buck naked under the towel. ☺

Don't be fooled. That's Luke in the pic with Jared, O and Jake. The cousins did sooooo great together on this trip. There was very little bickering. HALLELUJAH!

See the foot prints back and forth on the sand? Yep. Those are his as he evades this photographer.

Poor Dad had pneumonia the whole trip. He was pretty miserable. He and Mom managed to go out for a quick jaunt to see some shops after this picture, but he didn't last long. Thankfully he is all better now.

We saw this crab, and Oakley loved it. He thought is was so cool. He kept talking to it in a little voice saying, "Well hello there, little crab." Then the water would rush up, and they both would scurry away, Oakley in fear that Mr. Crab would find his toes.

This is actually well before our trip, but the darn pictures are backwards. Look at that gleeful face.

So our wonderful, amazing trip to the beach was a superb, farewell salute to summer. We played hard and relaxed well while enjoying time together as a family. It really was a little slice of heaven. Jared and I especially will treasure the memories we made with our little guys on this much needed vacation.

Summer Time

2010-07-26T11:08:00.000-07:00

Well, I don't have anything exciting to share, but I can say that I don't like it at all how my pictures load in reverse order of my selection... just sayin'.

The picture below is my first Cricut project. It is 26" tall and about the same in width. I really had very little part in it other than telling my ultra-crafty-friend that I wanted to do it. She came over and told my machine what to do, and it listened. It turned out so well. All I had to do was hang it. I tried telling my wall what to do, but it didn't listen, so this took a lot longer than it should have. Stupid wall.

I've wanted to get McKay a slide for a while and have tested a few out at yard sales. I refused to pay $50 retail for a plastic slide or $20 for a used and not very sturdy one. So instead I got one free from someone's trash! I walk early every morning with a friend. Someone had set this by the curb with the trash. It's a Step One and is really sturdy. When we saw it, we quickly walked to my car and loaded it up b4 another early riser beat me to it! The kids spent the sweltering morning playing on it.

This is a blurry picture that sumizes Mack's behavior these days... the naughty explorer.

I LOVE THIS PICTURE! I love that you can see his adorable crossbite and the ever present twinkle in his squinty, little eyes. There is something about this picture that helps me invision what he'll look like at a 16 year old. He just looks so big to me here.

This is a picture of my guys and our favorite summer friend, Meleah. She has been spending summer days with us since I quit working in 2006. Her mom is a good friend of mine from work who needed a place for Lee-Lee (as we call her) to pass the summer days. We love her so much and look forward to her coming. She only hangs out with us a couple days a week now since she's older and does some solo time at home, but she is amazing with my kids and is a very special young lady. Serious props to her mom for doing an outstanding job raising her!

We made this ice cream cake, and decorated it like a pool, to kick off our first trip to the pool. It was pretty tasty!

The day after the big boys got out of school, we went to the ice cream parlor with the cousins. It was fun. I am so sad that summer is more than half over. Another school year means my children are getting older and that kills me. I know I'm supposed to be glad for them to grow and experience all the good things that come with each year, but I am not, ever--glad for that !! I love the lack of chaos and lack of structure of the summer. Even though days get boring and the house gets messy, I find great comfort in having these boys close by. When I walked into Wal-mart the first week in JULY and saw a 'Back to School' banner I wanted to puke and yell at the manager for wrecking my summer buzz. Sheesh. Darn capitolism.

A trip to the ice cream parlor is tricky for us. We have to request a clean ice cream scooper be used to scrape back the layer of 'contamenated' ice cream so that Garen and Oakley, who both have peanut allergies, can enjoy a treat without requiring an epi injection and trip to the ER. Oakley and Mack are also allergic to milk, so they always get sorbet... clearly, Mack is not complaining. He seriously dug his raspberry 'ice cream'.

I didn't get a picture of Elli. She was with some girls that were also there. Here's Jake, Luke, Oakley and Garen enjoying a taste of summer.

A Fun Filled Week

2010-06-02T14:30:00.000-07:00

This post should really be two, but I'm cramming it into one. My little brother, David, is the drummer in a punk rock band. They played at a local festival, so the family went out to hear him jam.
Here are my mom and dad trying to be rockers. I had to help them get their fingers right (somewhat so) in this one. They both tried to sign 'I love you' instead. They clearly are not your typical punk music followers. They have a hard time with David's choice in music and all the tatts but usually try to grin and bear it.

I love this kid... even with the ugly tattoos. He is a trip to have around and a pretty amazing drummer. He dreams of touring the country but also realizes that that may not happen. So he has a 'real' job too and manages a Verizon Wireless store.

The cousins had a great time watching Uncle Dave. They are his official groupies. We may even get his autograph on this photo sometime. ☺

Oakley plays a mean air guitar. He cracks me up. At one point he leans over to me and has to scream in my ear since the 'music' is sooo loud. He says, "Mom, I can't believe that 4 instruments put together make all this noise!" Pretty insightful!

This is Garen and cousin Elli. For those of you who might remember, Elli had leukemia several years ago. She was on chemo for 2 years but thankfully has been out of treatment and cancer free for 2 years. 3 more to go and she's in the clear!

Oakley, Jake and cousin Luke... who doesn't like to smile for pics. ☺

The Davester himself. He really is pretty great! Part of me wants him to live his dream. The other wants my little brother to stay close to the safety and shelter of home.

Oakley Graduates Pre-School!

Oh, my cute baby! We had a make shift party the evening he graduated. I made some girl friends some cupcakes that day and we used the left overs at the 'party'. No one seemed to care, or notice, that they were pink! ☺

Here's O and O... Owen and Oakley. Owen is one of my great friend's son. It was so nice that they were in school together (along with some Jesstyn and Brandon, a couple other friends from church). It truly helped O, mine that is, adjust to the initial transition of leaving Mommy! It was also great for Mommy when her friends were able to take him back to their house for a post school play date!

This year I've really pondered Oakley's readiness for kinder since he turns 5 just a few weeks before kinder starts. I've prayed, I've talked it over with friends and I talked to the pediatrician. The bottom line is, he's going, and I feel great about it! It's what he needs and I know he will love being at school with his brothers. I say I feel great about it now, but ask me about my broken heart come the first week of school!

This little guy is a hoot. He's smart, and funny, and he's also sassy with a disobedient streak. He has such a spunky personality, but at times, he is super timid. He does not like it one bit, when there is a 'show' to put on... he was nervous to stand in front of everyone and sing, and nor did he want to stop traffic for this picture.

I am looking forward to the next 2 weeks with him at home before the big boys are out of school. I'm trying to spend some good one-on-one time with him before I have to share my time with big brothers. I am so thankful for this little angel that Heavenly Father has placed in my life! I can't imagine going through this life without the joy of motherhood!

Skipping Stones

2010-05-11T06:19:00.000-07:00

"I am so busy." I think this and say this a lot. I run and do and cram too much into my days, just about everyday. And I have this NEED to tidy and put things in order every, single day pretty much all day long. Confession: I can't stand for toys to be out! It makes me nervous to have shoes, and back packs and lunch boxes strewn about... all of those things have a special place, and if they aren't in that special place, Mommy isn't going to like it.

You must know, however, that my house is not immaculate, pretty much ever, but there are definitely certain jobs, that if not done, will nag me and cause me distress until they can be marked of the list. So, that being said, I run around most of the day while the big boys are at school trying to wash, and tidy and straighten and put away everything that's out of place. Just about the time the big boys get home from school I complete these mundane tasks just to have to do them over again because, well, the big boys are now home from school.

The reason I rant is to tell you what I'm learning. I'm learning that I'm pretty darn selfish. I spend too much time doing things that are important to me and neglect my sweet little children that are at home, under my wings. This personal flaw of mine, just like the dishes, has been nagging me a lot lately. Sometimes when I hear that still, small, voice in my heart remind me of what I really should be doing, I have the nerve to ignore it and push through the laundry or the dishes... "Just one more job, and then I'll do a puzzle with him."

Why is this? Why do I not soak up every second I can with them? After all, I am completely aware that kindergarten is just a few months off for Oakley and McKay will be 2 in August! My goodness, Jacob is almost TEN YEARS OLD, and my Garen will be baptized next April!! Time is speeding past me, and I know this is happening, yet I am distracted by the stupid dishes?? Ugh!

I'm trying to do better. I'm trying to do better for my children who deserve so much more from their mommy. And because if I don't, I will someday find myself regretting every moment I let pass. Whether you have this problem I have, or you are wonderful about spending quality time with your children, I know you still get the same sinking feeling in your gut that I do, when you think about the day that your children are gone. It's a terrible feeling. Are your eyes welling up with tears? Mine sure are. I can't imagine the guilt I will feel, some time in the future, if I choose the dishes, over these amazing little people that God has so abundantly blessed me with.

We have been doing some home improvement projects and planting a garden for the first time EVER (yea us!) so there was a lot of "catch up" to do this Saturday. We did lots of laundry. The boys folded a mountain of it and cleaned their room. When we were finally finished with our chores, we went to a nearby park and took a walk on the greenway. It was a perfect afternoon to be outside. We even found a little beach where the boys played and skipped stones. You would have thought that I had taken them to an amusement park. They LOVED every second of it and were so excited to point out tadpoles, caterpillars, mosquitoes ☺, and fun shaped rocks. Jacob kept saying, "Mom, this is so fun. I'm so glad you brought us here." I also heard Oakley say, "This is turning out to be a really fun day." Wow. Think if I had chosen to do more dishes instead of taking my kids to skip stones.

One of my favorite wedding gifts is a cross stitched wall hanging that says, "The greatest work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own home." I've always appreciated this most thoughtful gift. Through the last almost 12 years, I have read and re-read this. I have always been grateful for the message and for the knowledge I have of it's truth. Now, do you want to know something ironic? It hangs on the wall, over my kitchen sink.... where I do the stupid dishes.

Talk about a sobering realization. I can't imagine that the "work" Harold B. Lee was referring to was the dishes or anything like unto them. I know what he was talking about.

He was talking about Team Sorenson.

SEVEN!

2010-04-27T07:41:00.000-07:00

This is boy number two, Garen Fielding Sorenson. Gosh, I love this kid! I mean, look at that face, how could I not? Since he was tiny, people have always remarked about the twinkle in his eye and his big smile. Lots of people call him Smiley. Our family however frequently refers to him as Harry. When he was a year or so, his hair started to get curly and was out of control. Jared started calling him Hairy as a result. I changed the spelling, because I can. Garen is not your typical kid. He does not usually request "toys" at Christmas and birthdays. He likes 'real' things... like tool boxes, vacuums, the Touch-n-brush, flash lights, calendars... any practical life thing. Garen reminds me of Thomas the Tank Engine... you know that phrase he always says, "I'm a really useful engine". That's Garen, he likes to help and feel needed. He is Grandpa's assistant whenever anything needs fixin'.

The only thing he told me that he wanted for this birthday was a tool that has an extendible arm and a neon green pad on the end, it helps you reach your windshield to clean it (perhaps you've seen the infomercial). I also over heard his big brother "helping" him come up with a list of toys for his birthday... funny that all the things on Garen's list were things that big brother wanted! ☺

Instead of getting him another tool, we asked him if we could surprise him with something. He liked that idea. We got him a DS i. He was really excited and has enjoyed taking pictures with it and setting the alarm to wake him in the morning! ☺ It was fun for him to get this "extra cool gift" before big brother did since he is often the 2nd hand recipient of Jake's old stuff.

Jacob and Oakley LOVE Star Wars and play it all the time. After 7 years of hearing Jake talk Star Wars incessantly, the bug bit him too. Garen, just in the last month or two, as taken to light sabers and action figures. This is pretty huge since he really doesn't do much playing, per say. Oakley knew just which guy to get Garen and insisted that he give it to him for his birthday. I took this the morning of his birthday... the 3 boys, for now, are so good about playing together. I love this picture!

SHOW ME THE MONEY!

Garen likes motorcycles. He likes to display them more than use them though. I let the kids decide what their cake will be each birthday, and they help me design and decorate it. We had lots of fun with this one. We used marshmallow to make bumps in the track and covered them with icing. We also dusted the icing with Nestle Quik, for dirt. He asked that the cake have some fire on it (that made his pyro-dad proud). We rolled out orange, red and yellow Star Bursts and shaped it into flames. His name was also in Star Bursts. I love my kids birthdays! I have so much fun with them making cakes. We always have the family over for their birthdays. Birthdays are something we really look forward to. I also love that all my kids were born in warm months, that way we get to enjoy the out doors. The parties are always on our screened porch. It's a fun tradition.

I
I can't believe my guy is 7. He is so special. Garen is my buddy. When no one wants to go to the store or run errands, Garen always wants to go. He always helps me carry my bags. He also is the first person we go to when we've lost something. He always knows where we left "it". He is funny, and smart and loveable! I am so grateful that Heavenly Father gave me this wonderful little boy. I am so blessed to have him in my life! Happy Birthday, Harry!

For My Peeps

2010-04-16T07:11:00.000-07:00

After reading my friends' comments regarding my wedding dress fiasco, I decided to humor them and put the dress on again... just for my readers (wink). Thankfully, the dress came on this time without event because, remember, it's ripped.

I used the self-timer mode and took these pics myself. They are SO AWESOME! I hope you picked up on my sarcasm. I even tried to pull a few Tyra poses, but sheesh, modeling's tough. I had McKay running in and out and included a few of him. He kept hugging me and stealing my shoes. Embarassingly enough, my face does not show the humor I felt while taking these. In some I look serious. I assure you, I wasn't.

I also got a better look at the rip in my dress. It is along the seem, so maybe someone could repair it and get some use out of it. Consignment here I come!

Loves!

Mare

Oh, The Irony.

2010-04-10T12:53:00.000-07:00

In my husband's closet, because mine's too full, there is a white garment bag. It often spills out of the closet and keeps the door from shutting snugly. It's my wedding dress. I, just like any other girl loved wearing it and kept it thinking that my own daughter might, by some slim chance, want to wear it for her special day or even just play in the darn thing. But, you all know I don't have a daughter... that's a mere fact, no contempt implied.

I also have held on to the dress in the hopes that someday I might be able shed the 'baby weight' and wear it myself one more time for kicks and giggles. Fortunate for me, after lots of hard work, I am now the same size I was then. Since accomplishing this, I had thought intermittently about trying it on but in the business of life, it just got put off.... Until my friend posted something in her blog about having just accomplished this same monumental task. She tried on her dress again and even posted pics on her blog. She looked beautiful! She inspired me.

After reading her entry, I was almost giddy. At that moment, all my kids were running around the house, it was close to supper time. It was just not good timing, but "Seize the Day", right? So off come my clothes (sorry for the visual) and out comes the poofy dress.

I go to unzip it, but the zipper is a bit stuck at the bottom, yet undeterred, I step into it and begin trying to get it over my hips. Roadblock! I quickly find that these hips aren't what they used to be and that the dress wouldn't be slipping over them. The next option is to try taking it over my head. This is the part where you should wish that you had been a fly on the wall.

I begin to try and pull the thing over my shoulders. It was soooo close. I just knew that if I wiggled and tugged a little more, I'd get it. So, wiggle and tug I did. And then I was stuck. It was hung up just below my arm pits and wasn't going anywhere. Couldn't get the dang thing on, couldn't get the dang thing off. Picture it! My arms are stretched over my head and the dress is stuck on my bust. By this time my 6 and 4 year old are in the room sitting on my bed asking tons of questions. "What's that you're putting on Mommy?" "Why are you wearing it like that Mommy?" "Why are you laughing Mommy?" And all the while I'm dumbfounded that I am literally 'stuck' in a mass of tulle. I then call my oldest in to try and rescue me by monkeying with the zipper. He tried his hardest but couldn't do it. With no other choice, I just have him yank the dress hard, till I'm free. Of course, it ripped, but at that point, I seriously didn't care. Despite the rip, I was able still to zip it up and get it on. I headed straight for the mirror. But guess what. SO NOT WORTH IT!!! While it fit, I was utterly disappointed. It wasn't nearly as pretty as I remembered , and though I thought I chose a classic style, it was really outdated, not to mention the stain that was on the boddess. It was really, pretty ugly!

Ha! I laughed my way through the whole event and laugh now while re-telling it. I've thought about selling my dress but with a stain and a rip, who would buy it? I've thought about throwing it away, but that just seems wrong. I'll probably take it to the Goodwill or something. Don't tell my mom though. She'd kill me.

The moral to this story: If you're thinking about trying on your wedding dress to make yourself feel good for being slim again, DON'T DO IT! Instead, keep it in the bag, and preserve the memories you have of yourself in it on your wedding day! If you want to feel like a princess again, go to the spa and get a facial!!!

Boys Will Be Boys

2010-03-02T13:35:00.000-08:00

I'm reading a book about raising boys. It's a great book and is rather enlightening in many ways. As I have been reading, I have realized that girls are different... I mean beyond the obvious physical differences and the notorious emotions, little girls do not behave like little boys. It never hit me, until the author pointed out in his book, that little girls are generally more tranquil and calm. How would I know? I grew up with 3 brothers and no sisters. I grew up in a house where wrestling was frequent, bones got broken and Mom often said, "I told you so" and in that order.

I thought my boys behaved like children. Instead I've learned, that they behave like boys.

Let me tell you about them.

My boys are always loud.
My boys are always moving.
My boys always find a way to eek the words "poop" and "pee" into the conversation.
My boys can turn anything in to a weapon.
My boys like to stand and or jump on all furniture.
My boys constantly quote movies, tv shows, and past conversations.
My boys are forever making noises, of all kinds.
My boys think burping and farting should be permissible at the dinner table.
My boys eat, and eat, and eat.
My boys love to wrestle.
My boys hate wearing shirts with collars... it's t-shirts all the way.
My boys like to do everything fast (except chores and homework).
My boys like to watch tv really loud!
My boys like to make fun of each other.
My boys plug their ears when a Barbie commercial comes on tv.
My boys never use napkins.
My boys like to see things blow up (thankfully this is just a spectator sport at current).
My boys get stinky, really fast
And on, and on.

Let me remind you of their ages. 9. 6. 4. 1.

Fast forward. 17. 14. 12. 9.

HOLY SHNIKEES!! What am I going to do?? If I think that my home has much in common with the zoo now, imagine what it will be like in a few short years! They will big. They will be smelly. And they will be hungry... all the time!

Do you feel sorry for me? "Yes", you say?

Well, don't.

Let me tell you a little more about my boys.

My boys tell me they love me multiple times a day.
My boys adore babies.
My boys like to help.
My boys, though they get stinky often, polish up beautifully and smell like soap after a warm bath.
My boys are compassionate.
My boys love family.
My boys play together.
My boys love scripture stories (especially the ones that involve weapons and battles).
My boys love to listen to primary songs to fall asleep.
My boys tell me I'm pretty even when I feel ugly.
My boys give me hugs and kisses all through out the day.
My boys tell me they like my hair when I come home from a haircut.
My boys love to talk to me and tell me about their day.
My boys often ask me about my day.
My boys are great about sharing with each other.
My boys only require 2 pairs of shoes. Play and church.
My boys very often say 'please' and 'thank you'.
There is of course more but best of all, my boys show me love, patience and forgiveness daily.

So, don't ever feel sorry for this mom of all sons. For me, there is no competition. I am the only woman in their lives. And while, at times, I may feel a little out numbered and exhausted, I usually just feel loved and extremely blessed to be the only woman vying for their attention (at least for now).

My Husband Rocks!

2010-01-21T15:48:00.000-08:00

So, one day back in November, I was feeling really lonely for my far-away-friends and family of the west. It had been a long time since I had visited my dear ones out that way, and I was actually pretty sad and in the dumps over it. Well, a couple days later, Jared came home from work and told me that my Christmas present was in my email account. To my surprise and great delight, he had purchased one round trip ticket to UT... ONE meaning, I was going A-L-O-N-E... ie. No children for a whole week, to do what-the-heck-ever I wanted to do. How, and when, I wanted to do it. SA-WEET!

I farmed out the kids to amazing friends and family and left my dear hubby A-L-O-N-E with four rambunctious boys. Everything, so they say, went swimmingly well here at home. (Detour... Usually when I'm gone for even a few hours, upon my return, bits and pieces of information are involuntarily purged from my little people's consciences... Things like, "Mommy, while you were gone, the babysitter forgot to put the railing up on McKay's crib and he fell out." or, "Mommy, while you were gone, I ate a whole pack of cheese singles. You get the picture.) So far, the worst I've heard that occurred during my absence, is that there was a fair amount of McDonald's consumption.

My trip was Jan. 6th-13th. I spent the week with some of my favorite people.

The two lovely ladies above were two of my awesome companions from my mission in Chile. As companions in the mission, we laughed our guts out and worked our butts off... so, the bond we formed was rooted in good soil. Now, some 14 years or so later, they are the type of friends that make me want to be a better person but also make me feel good for being me. I feel like they are the sisters that I biologically I didn't get... sisters from another mother.

Friday night, myself and some other West missionaries (Detour... the Chile, Santiago West mission was/is the best mission so we like recognize our affiliation with her by referring to ourselves as "West missionaries")... as I was saying, me and my peeps got together at a condo in Park City that an amazing friend hooked me up with. We played a card game called Wackee Six. (It's like Skipbo on crack... hence the name Wackee.) We laughed a ton and reminisced. Oh, and we froze our booties off. The water heater and the heater didn't work for a bit so we warmed ourselves by the oven... then some of the super smart company I was keeping figured out the pilot light (it was much more difficult than it sounds, seriously).

After this short retreat, Sara and I met up with two college friends that we both love to pieces. I have not kept in very good contact with them but will reform. It was so great to be with them again. They were both wonderful examples to me as a 20 year old. They helped me, whether they knew it or not, prepare to serve a mission. And it was just like "they" say, we "picked up right were we left off" It was constant chatter and laughter for our whole visit... best therapy ever! I love those girls and will be talking to them much more frequently. I forgot to take any pictures of us 4 together... lame!

Then that evening I drove up to Logan to see my great family of "in-loves" (that's what my mother-in-law calls us marital additions). They are so fun to be with. They all are so stinkin' funny. We laugh a lot and eat a lot too... pretty good combo. I got to see the whole clan, minus those who live in Brazil (hmmm, maybe Jared will send me there next). I love Logan and my family there. It's nice to feel like you have two places to call home.

I guess I'll shut up now about my little vaca. but must say that the time away from the sometimes mundane and predictable days of stay-at-home-mom stuff, left me feeling rejuvenated and darn blessed. I am so grateful for the wonderful relationships that I have with all these people and am thankful that God sees fit to bless my life with individuals like these. So, like I said before, my husband rocks! Sending me on this little get-away, was what I needed to remember that I have a wonderful life, with wonderful relationships (both near and far). Can I get an, "Amen"?