100 Days of Happy... Kind of... Well We Tried.

We had wonderful plans to succeed at "100 Days of Happy".

This is where you take a picture of something that has made you happy that day (reaching the goal of 100 days total) and share it on social media. We lasted three. 

Three whole days for these over achievers. :) I'm sure we're pretty happy people in general, just lacking on our follow through.

Here are some of our photos:

Carson created a little Dance he would do every time the song "Boom, Clap" came on the radio. Part of it consisted of him slapping his face which would send his brothers into gleeful hysterics. :)

Lou and Ruckus found happiness in playing the Wii.

Little C thought losing his teeth was pretty spectacular.

This was mine and The Beloved's Happy.
 We had told Little C numerous times to go sleep in his bed, that he wouldn't sleep comfortably on the couch. He disagreed. We walked in about half an hour later and he was out. Looks like the best, most comfortable sleep ever eh?
He was determined and... we laughed.

Ruckus was happy when he received an invitation to a birthday party.

The Beloved's Kids, even his tween, make him happy to return home from work.

The Beloved was happy when I brought him some leftovers for lunch. 

My kids say their Mom makes them happy.
Ahhh. Thanks guys.

Happy, Happy Birthday Lou Dear.

Dear Lou-Dog,
You talked and talked and counted down and talked some more about your birthday -the big arrival of when you would finally receive your Club Penguin Membership. Yes! 
You love games in general, whether they be video games, board games, athletics - you have a competitive spirit my dear. 
Just like your Dad.
And darn it, your mom. :)
For the activity on your birthday you wanted to go see Big Hero 6 with your family. I told you, you could also invite one friend. You decided on Beck from school who is your best buddy this year.
Big Hero 6 was loved by the whole fam and you guys have taught your little sister how to give a fist bump and then go Fa La La La La afterward while fluttering the fingers upward just like Baymax. It's pretty dang cute.
You are a sweetheart my child.
Your teacher at school has nothing but praise for you which makes sense because you are a Pleaser. You love to please and make people happy, especially adults. 
You're always trying to figure out how things work and fit together properly in the world around you. You ponder things I should probably ponder more. 
And when you've come up with an idea about why something works one way and then realize you've maybe figured it out incorrectly you're back to the drawing table. 
Your mind is always at work.
This can lead you to being a bit impatient but you are really working on it. 
When you ask me if I can help you with something you'll use words like, "is now a good time" or if I forget you're waiting on me to do something you'll say, "I'm trying really hard to be patient mom, are you about ready or do you need more time?"
That is a gift. To be self aware of where improvement is needed and then enforcing change. You rock kiddo! Thank you.
This year at school you've also become more aware of other children maybe not sharing the same gospel beliefs as you. 
One of your pal's has been raised atheist and this constantly breaks your heart. We talk about respecting other's belief's and about always showing love and that the best way for others to come to know Christ is by being Christlike. Which you definitely are.
You pray for your friends and get their phone numbers so you can invite them to church. 
I haven't been very good at calling their parents and arranging this, which is super frustrating to you, but I'll do better. 
What a wonderful little missionary you are.
You have a sensitive heart.
When Daddy goes on a business trip or I am gone for a couple days for some random excursion you break down in tears before we depart. You have done this ever since you were old enough to comprehend travelling and being separate from one another.
Thank you for loving your family so.
Yesterday, after you helped me rake leaves in the front yard, I asked you if you had homework and you said, 
"No, but I wish I did". 
(Seriously kid - you grew in my womb? How are you so brilliant?) 
I said, "Why don't you go and read the baby a few stories while I'm finishing up in the front yard."
So you did. Easy as that. 
You love to read.
You read every possible thing you can get your eyes on.
You're getting especially great at reading the scriptures every night and those words are not easy my friend.
Recently I went on a field trip with you to a local bakery. We don't get a lot of one on one time and when I walked into your classroom and rounded the corner to your desk you jumped up and held me tight. 
Oh how I loved that hug.
We had such a great time together tromping through the snow to get our hands on some delicious cupcakes. 
I think everyone in your class thinks they're your best friend because I think you envision them all that way.
You naturally love people and make them feel good.
I love you my sweet boy.
Happy 7th birthday!
Love,
Mom

Dash playing Club Penguin with his new membership.

Ruckus, Lou, and Beck

Little C and Moo observing the birthday festivities. 

Lou peeking through the bakery shelves at me during his field trip.

I'm sad this is so blurry - but Lou and I had fun being bundled up, walking in the snow to the bakery.

I've Had a Daughter for a Year!

Dear Sweet Girl,

Happy First Year of Life my Love!

You Made it.

I was worried about the rowdiness of life for you in a home filled with busy, busy, let's wrestle and get a little crazy, awesome boys.

But you have thrived gloriously.

I believe the title of Princess has helped your cause quite a bit and 

plus, as it turns out, you like to wrestle a bit yourself and get a little wild. You're perfect.

For your birthday you were kind enough to treat your brothers to a party at Ceramica where you patiently (for about 10 min) and then impatiently for the remainder of the time, watched them paint their masterpieces.  See how nice you are already? :)

You love stuffed animals. Love. It's a  "must squeeze the life out, hold them with all your might while ramming your head into their squishy selves" kind of love. It goes deep.

Of course this required you to receive a massively huge, pink unicorn stuffed animal for your birthday. (Which Ruckus secretly may adore more than you. :) Daddy surprised you with the softest bunny rabbit puppet that he picked up on his way home from a business trip to Portland, that you love with all your might. 

You also received the most sparkly dress I could find because that's the type of mom you've turned me into. You haven't worn the same dress to church once.  Which in my past life of only having boys I would have thought - that's soooooo ridiculous - but in my present state - it seems to make perfect sense. :)

And Girl,

You love you some chocolate. 

One year old Ruckus was definitely a competitor in this department, Moo a bit as well -

but you for sure are the Grand Champion of throwing down a hefty piece of chocolate cake.

You made your Mama proud.

What a precious gift you are.

Your soft, radiating spirit has transformed our home.

It has made your older brothers a little gentler and oh my, how they stand in awe of you.

Little C loves it when I take you to his school so he can show you off to all his friends. Especially the girls. 

You had pink eye last week and looked something fierce. Both eyes  were huge and swollen shut with goobers clinging to every eyelash in existence. It was so sad.

Lou turned to me and said,

She looks bad Mom but she's still pretty cute.

All of your brothers were so concerned about you but you still smiled and shared your favorite word -

Hi.

Hi, Hi, Hi, all day long. 

You also say - "here ya go" and 

"get you, get you, get you" when you're pretending to tickle us.

Anything that makes you happy emits the word "Da Da" from your mouth.

What the world kid? Even while I'm nursing you, you snuggle up to me and say, "Da Da. Da Da."

Your Daddy is your best pal.

Stinker.

But, you do say Mama when you're sad and Daddy is way cool so whatev man, whatev. :)

You're the busiest little human, crawling anywhere and everywhere. You get into the dog food/water everyday and love to rearrange the books and movies at your leisure. Your favorite break-in may be the pantry but it's in a close tie with the washcloth and towel cupboards in the bathroom.

You aren't really a fan of anyone who isn't in your immediate family.

People ask if they can hold you and I think Yes, but she'll hate it. And then I internally hope maybe you'll just smile at them and enjoy your time spent in their arms but -

Never.

You immediately cry and reach back toward the comfort of your little Fam.

I think I'd feel the same way though. 

I'm not even a  hugger which means I definitely don't want to be held and smothered in close to someone else's body. 

Anxiety attack waiting to happen.

Anyway, precious little human,

I am so thankful for you. For the opportunity to have a daughter. 

Thanks for choosing to come to our home kiddo.

I know you are a tender blessing sent directly from our Father in Heaven.

Much Love,

Mom

Under the Bathroom Door.

I have received many thoughtful gifts shoved under the bathroom door whilst occupying the lavatory; magnificent pictures my children have drawn of our whole family holding hands, a sketch of a fiery dragon in the middle of a battle, even a card just to say I love you.

I have complimented many a toe and finger appearing underneath the door from my view spot on my throne.

Even a tongue once.

Always accompanied by a very important, hopeful question,

"Mom, can you see it?"

"Yes, my dear. Such a lovely toe... what a perfect finger! and Wow - that tongue." (um, let's just keep that as far away from the bathroom floor as possible)

Ruckus gifted me an Almond Joy the other day. 

A treat, he said, I could enjoy on my way out.

Unfortunately a few moments later Lou spied my present, reached his little hand under the door, ate half my candy bar and then said,
"here ya go Mom. I saved half of it for you."

What is this funny world I am living in?

I'm not even in the bathroom very long yet I feel like so much is occurring.

Who knew so many heart warming memories could be collected under a bathroom door?

Happy Halloween 2014

Why does Halloween candy rock these parent's world?

Because it basically supplies our holiday goody stock for the rest of the year. Some may say gross - others may say brilliant. If the dark chocolate color fades we just label it white chocolate. :) Yum.

After a couple days our kids forget their Halloween candy exists - The Beloved and I bag all of it up - and it, unbeknownst to the offspring, magically appears in Christmas stockings, Easter baskets, sugar craving parent's mouths - whatev.

Thank you Halloween creators.

The Beloved is the fun parent in this fam. 

I am more sporadic, unplanned fun -

The Beloved is  - let's dress up - make memories - and traditions fun.

Thinking of those things makes me desire a long rest.

This year The Beloved was in Portland over Halloween.

I desperately tried to convince my kiddos to forfeit trick-or-treating for an AWESOME movie! Yes! Who's with me?!

No one was.

I was a horrible saleswoman.  

So since they wouldn't go with my lame plan I took them trick-or-treating at the mall, tried bringing up the movie idea afterward, it was vetoed, and we ended up trick-or-treating with some families in our neighborhood.

Which is a good thing on many levels -

they had a ball,

I did too :),

plus what would we have done without our yearly stock-up of candy?

p.s. Little C really is part of our family. I included the last picture so you can see what occupies most of his time - he's in the background talking on the phone. 

Always. 

talking. on. the. phone.

On Halloween he opted for some friend time.

We missed his guts and I'm sure he secretly missed ours. 

Moo (frog) Ruckus (Red Power Ranger) Lou (Grim Reaper - he called himself a Greaper). :)

Our Sweet Poo Bear.
I could look at this photo forever -
I spoke to my mom yesterday and she says she pulls out her phone once or twice a day to see this cute picture.

Greaper.

Lou showing me his tattoos - Though awesome - check out my tween boy in the background.
Hi Little C! We love you. Hang up the phone and give us your mental presence once again because we miss you. - Love, Your Family.

Towers of Destiny

This is what our kitchen looks like after a Costco run.

My children (The Beloved included :) stack the items as tall as possible while making up different tales about the wondrous

"Towers of Destiny".

Do you Ever...

just look at your kids and think they're the most brilliant, glorious creations ever? 

I do. A lot.

I love discovering what makes their minds tick - 

stumbling upon new passions. 

(Sorry The Beloved. I know your anti-passions :)

This is Colt's new obsession.

Everyday before school he decorates his lunch bag into its own little being.

He has so much fun planning and then piecing these imaginative paper bag inventions together.

He, along with my other kids, is a pretty cool cat.

She's Almost One.

In a couple days it will be this girls turn to feast upon a chocolate birthday cake and try and eat the paper off her presents.

I love this little sweetheart.

Here are a few photos as of late.

Breaking and entering... and then tasting.

Moo sang to her and soaked his feet one day while she was taking a bath. She thinks he's the best thing ever.

Every time I tried to take a picture he'd lean over like this. He's grounded. :)

Eating is her passion.

She was Poo Bear for her first Halloween.
Ahhh.Such a lovely human.

Sweet Victory and Football Romance

I'm not going to lie - 

I was a bit nervous for our BSU vs BYU hot date.

Not because football isn't romantic to me, it's kind of one of my favorite things ever, but because I was going to be surrounded by BYU fans galore -

including The Beloved. (He was raised this way.  But he did accidentally cheer for BSU once or twice! Pretty sexy.)

And my prideful heart didn't know if it could handle the joy of BYU fans, especially those near and dear, cheering deliciously, if they were found victorious.

But they weren't!

BSU played a really great game.

And my heart soared.

But, I was still kind - tried my best not to be boastful -

I'd like to say out of compassion but mostly because I know they'll meet again.

With a healthy BYU quarterback. One day.

And I'm sensitive when it comes to my Broncos.

So, I tried to be on my best, yet enthusiastic behavior.

Plus, I was able to hang out with The Beloved, who I really, really like.

Did you know he opens the car door for me still?

He's a keeper. Love that kid.

Go Broncos - final score

55-30

Whoot Whoot!

The Beloved wore a BSU shirt underneath his BYU sweatshirt because my Dad said a complete Cougar Fan couldn't occupy his seat.  ( We benefited from their season tickets whilst on their mission - Thanks Mom and Dad)

My cousin Nick and his wife Kim ended up sitting three rows behind us - such a fun surprise!
Can you see which team they supported?

The Beloved's brother Jordon and his wife Amy were also in attendance - Hurrah! We love them -
but they were also sad supporters of The Cougars. What the World? :)

Go Boise State!

Shopping online. Yes, I'm addicted. A bit.

And Ebates and I have become close.

Have you used Ebates? 

If no, and you buy stuff online occasionally, than you should.

I got a huge, fatty check back last year after all of my Christmas purchases were made, which is an extremely beautiful thing to receive in the mail after a spendy holiday.

If you know you're going to buy something online go to http://www.ebates.com/  first - they have hundreds of stores - find your shopping destination and then click on the link. 

For example, today, I knew The Children's Place was (is) having some mighty sales (like bought jeans for approximately $6 a piece with coupon code bigherosweep20 - you should go there too. : )

So I logged into Ebates first, clicked on The Children's Store link, and will now receive 2% back from the total amount spent. 2 % isn't great but it's better than nothing. Their awesome deals, 6% back and larger, are displayed on their home page.

Anyway, I thought I'd share the love.

Happy Shopping.

p.s. this sounds like someone paid me to advertise for them - they didn't -

but they should right? :)

Get Off My Back.

Who knew an act so kind could send me into a 5 minute depression last week?

As a fun, Fall surprise a friend brought my family over some delicious caramel apples.

Looking at them made my mouth water. 

I was so appreciative for the first 30 seconds and then I thought -

I suck.

I have never made caramel apples.

I haven't taken anyone over a Fall surprise....um, ever.

And then I started making up this huge list in my head why my friend was perfect and was I lacking E.V.E.R.Y.W.H.E.R.E.

Because I knew that if she could bust out caramel apples than she must be -

The perfect mom,

her house is spotless,

she's a scriptorian for sure.

If she can cook, she can craft,

and her brain must be huge and all powerful because she served a mission and graduated from college.

And I - am none of those things.

What the?

Where was all this garbage coming from?

How could such a lovely act of service send me into a wallowing hole of self pity?

Before this moment I really thought I was doing okay in life and now, all of a sudden, I suck?

Satan is so very cunning.

He used a moment of goodness to tempt me into being insecure and ashamed.

I had to slowly go through my thoughts and correct them one by one.

First off, I have never made caramel apples. Why - because I don't want to,

kind of sounds like death to me.

Second, my friend is awesome -

is her house spotless? I have no clue. I've only known her for about a month and I've never stepped foot into her house. 

Do I kind of want it to be messy?

Yes, once in awhile. :)

Does it matter if the glorious talents and accomplishments I've gifted to her in my head really exist?

Only if it makes her happy and brings her joy.

Do I suck?

About 5 days out of every month I may - PMS is a killer these days.

But, I'm good. 

I'm me.

I don't make caramel apples but I really appreciate my friends who do.

Some days I am such a great mother and then there are moments when "Mom's gonna lose it" protocol is enforced by my children. 

I can make some really outstanding meals.

Sometimes those meals are purchased at Burger King and Little Caesers.

 I am really great at buying crafting materials and having my sister Angie create them for me.

I am not a scriptorian but I love the scriptures.

I know my worth is great in the eyes of God.

P.S. My kids and I crafted little tithing cans together.

We had a really fun time.

Sometimes I rock.

Satan get off my back.