We Scored a 5

So, it has been a typical sabbath day thus far -

twenty minutes late for 9:00 church,

Ruckus gargled his chocolate milk during sacrament meeting, let it slowly drizzle out of his mouth onto the floor,

then proceeded to clean it up with the baby's blanket,

I made note to self never to bring chocolate milk to church again,
Ruckus proudly announced that he had swallowed his gum,

Lou head butted Ruckus gently in the stomach when he got too close to his dragon drawing...

yep, that about sums it up.

The good life. 

The thing is, I have really good kids.

Really fun, kind, hilarious, good kids -

who enjoy killing each other in public.

Such a shame.

But it is okay.

We work on it...

 EVERYDAY.

I know that in five years when Ruckus is seven he will sit there as reverently as Little C does now. Lou will comprehend that Ruckus just thinks what Lou is drawing is cool, he is admiring it, and he will be to the point of understanding that head butting, though as soft as it may be, is completely inappropriate.
I rate sacrament meeting today as a 5;
a little stressful but manageable.
7 or higher is desirable but it's definitely better then the 2 we scored during a nephews baptism a month ago.
Besides those few incidents church was lovely. My aunt and cousins joined us (or maybe we joined them since we were late) and it was delightful to look down the row and see their wonderful faces. That added 2 points to the rating. 
My appearance docked us back down to five. 
When my babies turn about 6 months old my face breaks out every other day and my hair begins to fall out/break off, leaving little shorts hairs all around my face and surrounding the part in my hair. Plus, this time around if I don't use a clarifying shampoo every day I look like a grease bomb. Today, unless we wanted to be 40 minutes late for church, time didn't allow for this mop to get washed.
The disgustingness of it all continues until I stop nursing.
So since my baby turned six months four months ago - I'll just let you know that I am one hot 29 year old babe experiencing puberty once again.
Loving it.

In the Middle of the Night -

Check out what The Beloved does during the middle of the night...

http://pattonartist.blogspot.com/

Don't be afraid, it's only homework... but there is a naked bum... sweet.

 Almost.

Amidst the nakedness of it all, he is still quite the talented fellow.

Good work Dear! You're incredible!

Funniness and Giving into the Man

I have a hard time blogging about the times I "should be" blogging about. Ex - holidays and birthdays. I am bad at it. I still have a ton of wonderful Christmas photos and memories to be shared but ohhhh... since I should be doing that - I just don't want to.

So instead I will share with you a story about the common sense of Ruckus.

For some reason when I married The Beloved I became a shy little lady in the "bathroom department". I don't fart unless by accident or in my sleep :) and if I do I just start laughing and must claim it instantly. When we were first married I couldn't have a bowel movement (that's for you mom ) in the house if The Beloved was home. If worse came to worse I would turn on the water so he couldn't hear anything. I was a little crazy. My mom teased me once saying, "Were you afraid he'd find out you poop?" (I think that was the second time she used the word poop. I'm sorry it came down to that Mom :))  The other day I realized that my oldest two children have come to the conclusion that women don't gas. Which I am fine with but probably isn't fair to their future wives. This lead me to having the following conversation with Lou and Ruckus:
Lou: Mom, girls don't fart.
Me: Nope.
L: But they poop and pee.
Me: Yep.
(Lou nods his head, believing it all)
Ruckus pipes in:  That just doesn't make any sense.
:)
Good logic Ruckus.
Ruckus is a funny little character. Super dramatic/hilarious all wrapped into one.
The other night after going out to dinner he was heartbroken when I told him he couldn't take his Mongolian Barbecue left-overs with him to bed. Funny kid. He can decipher that women not being able to fart is a lie.... but not comprehend why taking slimy noodles to bed isn't an option.
I love it. :)
Now -
Giving in:
My new smart phone.
I've hated smart phones for years. Years. I find them to be another electronic device that keeps people distracted from the moment. I have a hard time with people using their scripture app at church instead of carrying along the REAL thing. I understand using it for the purpose of traveling but.... I love the scriptures, they shouldn't always be replaced by a screen.
I guess my biggest issue is finding a balance. Using your smart phone at appropriate times but not letting it take over your life...
until....
 I was introduced to Words With Friends.
Have you played this game? I am sure you have since I am about five years behind but... it is so up my alley.
When we went to The Beloved's family's house for Christmas I was surrounded by eager Words With Friends competitors - and my eyes lit up with the desire to play.
Conveniently enough, my cell phone died a week ago.
I bought a smart phone, downloaded my coveted little game right there in the store and have been staying up until all hours of the night... dare I say, being distracted? My last play of the night I hit The Beloved with a word worth 87 points and simply put - I was in heaven.
Giving into the Man #2 -
Facebook or not Facebook that is the question.
I am not a fan of facebook. Tis true. I could list out all of the reasons why, which I am sure you'd enjoy :) but lately it seems as if everything is attached to facebook. Ahhh... (frustrated ahhh not happy and peaceful sounding ahhh). 
So what should we do?
I've recently eaten my long held stand of not purchasing a smart phone... do I now give into two things within a week of each other?
Just between you and me, I am so much better at handling gross bodily conversations with my 4 and 2 year old than making these decisions.

P.S. The hardest part is... once we have it- I'll probably love it.
And that is just too much for me to gag.

I Miss You

Dear Dish Network,

I messed up and took you for granted. Two weeks ago when the reps from Directv showed up at my door I should have just been loyal,  said no thank you, and turned them away. But sadly, I was suckered in by their Internet/satellite package that would save us $60 a month.

I miss your perfect little remote that is so user friendly. I miss how simplistic the DVR options are and how all of my shows were never accidentally skipped over due to bad reception. (Yes, our Directv DVR messed up recording the first episode of American Idol. AMERICAN IDOL! Plus, Last Man Standing... and the list goes on.)

I miss how I could record things from TV1 and TV2 but now I have one DVR box downstairs that they claim can record two shows at a time while watching another but ... I don't watch TV downstairs. I watch it after the children are snug in their beds. I've clocked out. I'm ready for my shows, whilst sipping a refreshing Pepsi and biting into a carb filled roll of love.

I hate how I can't pause live TV and how their "skip" button on the remote is really just another way to fast forward. It's not skipping if you can see a line at the bottom of the screen showing your forwarding progress, that's a slide. Maybe they should call it the "slide" button. I appreciate honesty.

I've learned my lesson and I'll remember you dear friend. 

Best Regards.

See you in two loooonnnng DirecTv enduring years. :(

Christmas 2011



Eating Christmas dinner with Buckabu and Papa

Little C reading the Christmas story... while Buckabu tries her hardest to keep her tired eyes open. :)
Side note: my mom is the hardest worker alive - if she takes a moment to sit down,  it's almost guaranteed she'll fall asleep.

Boys in their Christmas PJs

Boys decided to sleep in the same bed on Christmas Eve.

Little C left a note for Santa with a variety of questions, a gift for Santa (Scorpio key chain), and a request for a bell from Santa's sleigh.

Here is what he found in the morning:

Letter from Santa

Boys with dragons from Santa

The boys main present this year was a trampoline.

So in the spring it will feel like Christmas all over again when we bust it out of the box :).

Taking pictures just didn't happen often enough this holiday season so sorry for the lack of pictures of The Beloved and I in all of our Christmas cheer.

I was once again spoiled rotten!

I received a beautiful new guitar that I am smitten over and an electronic keyboard piano. Hurray!

The Beloved has decided he is a watch collector :) so much to his glee, he opened two watches and a tablet.

Merry late Christmas 2011!

Shiner

The other evening the boys decided to play their new Toy Story Wii game. Little C put the disc in and Ruckus went crazy with excitement when the picture came on screen. He started running toward the TV... but forgot to stop :)... and ran right into the entertainment center. Poor little guy.

Outcome:

Here is the best method we came up with to keep his eye iced:

Ice pack tucked in beanie.

Even in distress he is the cutest little stinker.

Productive... I think not

I am not gonna lie -

my kids totally had spaghettios for breakfast.

They requested meatballs for their first meal of the day and I delivered.

It was grand, there were no disputes about unwanted healthy servings just complete pasta engorgement.

Oh beautiful peace.

I am having a getting-back-into-the-regular-routine-after-the-holidays funk.

Little C has been late to school at least half an hour every day, he would sleep in until nine if he could (which is way late for this guy).

Lou and Ruckus have been waking up around 11 and I can't find it in me to ruin a perfectly good slumber, especially when that time correlates perfectly for me to get lost in an excellent book.

I was doing so well working out and eating healthy before the holidays, but this morning I competed with my children for the worst breakfast ever when I devoured 3 cookies in a row.

I finally worked out on Saturday for the first time in two weeks and everything is sore including my gluteus maximus. Which for some reason makes me feel like I should sit down on my booty even more and just relax... because I deserve it. :) Right....

I know a mother who only lets her children watch TV for 1/2 an hour a day. Great goal.

But I think this past week we have been competing for the opposite-

"Children, you can only interact with each other verbally or use your imaginations for half an hour a day. The rest of the time really needs to be sucked up through your electronic devices. Whether it be the television, DS, Wii, or Daddy's new tablet; you must be distracted from real life the majority of the time."

Okay.. maybe a slight exaggeration but...

the fact is, the holidays wore me out. I am tired and feeling more than my fair share of

L-A-Z-Y.

So, soon enough you will hear about all of our holiday glee and you will have posts to read that make our family look perfect in every pretend aspect,

 but for now, in my real life -

I need to go brush my teeth because it is almost noon -

and that is gross.

What the?

Who could it be sleeping soundly in the crib?

Our own Little C, who else? :)

I guess he got a little bit nervous sleeping in his own bed and climbed into the abandoned crib instead.

Oh... funny.



Gradual

Notice how my face goes from "trying to ignore you so you'll stop" to

"Ahhhh... he's never going to stop!"

(The Beloved thinks it is funny to takes pictures of me over and over and over again, with the flash on, while I'm in my "sleepy -it's after ten o'clock - can't handle any teasing" phase.

What a stinker. :)

Some of Us are Ready for Christmas...

and others prefer to remain in super hero status.

Little C turns 9

We started out Little C's big day eating breakfast with Santa.

Getting acquainted with Santa

Santa singing the abc's with Lou and Ruckus

The boys had their faces painted "holiday style" after breakfast adjourned.

It was hilarious watching them hold so still while their art was being created.

Birthday Boy

Sidenote: Lou washed off his face before the party because he insisted he appeared a bit too girly. :)

Onto the party:

Little C goofing around with his best buddy from school

Being thrown into the pit

I even played a little bit... and fell on my face two seconds after this photo was taken while trying to stand up. Sweet.

Do you love how almost all the girls are on one side and the boys on the other?

Little C and the crowd so excited to start opening gifts.

Little C posing with his guitar from Buckabu and Papa.

Little C couldn't have loved his b-day more; surrounded by loved ones and friends.

This year for his b-day he got a cell phone (without service) and the last Diary of a Wimpy Kid book from his parents, an awesome remote control helicopter from Grandma and Grandpa, a WWE wrestling ring from his brothers, a guitar from Buckabu and Papa, and way too many other presents from his friends. :)

After Party:

Little C wanted me to take his picture when he got home - doing his best to imitate Justin Bieber. (But Shhhh.... I didn't tell you that)

Little C aka: magilicutty,
 I know every year I probably say the same thing, but I can't believe you're this big. How have nine years gone by so quickly? You are growing like a weed and it has got to stop my friend. You are our early riser and love to get the mornings started by about 7 sometimes 6:30 a.m. You are into collectibles and take every opportunity to start a new collection. You even helped Lou decide on a collection to begin - the both of you chose pine cones :) so he now has a large bag of them underneath his bed. Teasing is your middle  name and has a very distinct laugh that goes along with it,  it automatically tattletales that you're up to no good. Sorry buddy. But, more often, nurturer can also be your middle name. You take the time to make your brothers chocolate milk and serve them up various goodies. You make them forts and entertain them for hours. A couple weeks ago when we were raking up leaves I lost my patience with Lou a little bit for not doing his share. You took the time to go over and speak to him and help him rake up his pile. I was very proud of you. You handled the situation far better than I did. You love to sing and are dying to be famous. You and your closest cousin on my side of the family will speak for hours on the phone discussing your band, and how many hits you'll get whenever you put your first music video on YouTube. :) You love your family. Last week I went and volunteered in your classroom and observed  the students assignment to choose an object in the class and describe it by using adjectives. The goal was for the class to guess your object. Your clues went as follows:
It's lovable.
It's in my family.
It's in the classroom.
Your fellow peers quickly guessed you were describing me.
So sweet.
Remember that you think that when you're a teenager :).
In the summer you would be outside every moment if possible -
riding your bike, skateboard, rip stick, scooter, whatever you can get your hands on.
I know your roll can be hard; being the oldest. I know it requires much responsibility and high expectations, sometimes it's hard to find a balance. You do a really good job. We appreciate you and love your little self so much!
I love you sweetheart.
Happy Birthday kiddo.
Love,
Mama