Therapy

The best part about being a mom?

When the kids are going crazy, and I'm going insane...I get to spray them down with FREEZING cold hose water.

It's fun for them, theraputic for me.

What's up with the Popeye poses?

Sooo Disappointing

The most disappointing part of my day?
Lunging for a box of Cadbury Eggs I found hidden in the back of my closet...only to find it EMPTY!

We went to Lander, WY last week to look at the IHS facility in Ft. Washakie. After about 25 hours of travel time (Matt did let us stop at midnight at a hotel, but woke us up at 6 am) The most amazing thing we found there was the city park. It had grass and trees and an amazing playground. The toddler area was fenced in. (Major plus)

The other part had all sorts of mazes and forts and slides...It was hard to capture its gloriousness with our camera.The park might be the selling point for us. Otherwise Lander is flat and NOT a thriving metropolis.

One other selling point... Sacajawea was buried at Ft. Washakie. Matt scoured the graveyards looking for her grave. (Kind of creepy. I know.)Matt is in love with the mountains. He took a million pictures. (Like he'd never seen one before) I don't think he's taken even half as many pictures of me as he did the scenery.

We stayed in Jackson Hole the following night so Matt could get his truck in line for the May 1st Antler Hunt on the reserve. When he found the line already forming and his truck wasn't even close to being in Jackson. He kicked the kids and me out at the hotel, threw our bags at us, then raced over with MY trail blazer. (He was 8th out of 100s. He was some what disappointed being so far back in line) It was really interesting to see him in action. I could almost see the exact moment when his adrenaline started pumping and he got Antler Fever in his eyes.

It was scary.


I left Matt and his friends to do their thing and headed to Idaho Falls where Michelle and her girls met me. It was fun to see them. All the little kids played really well together, so even though it was super noisy, it was enjoyable. We made sure to hit all my favorite stores in the one afternoon that I had.

On Saturday we packed the kids up and headed back to Pinetop. Matt brought his truck back so we had to caravan. I don't think I have ever been so exhausted in my life. We were in the car from 6 am until 11pm when I made Matt stop in Flagstaff. I couldn't go on any further. On the plus side, our kids did sooo well. I had Jemma in the car with me. She only fussed when she wanted to eat, which was only 4 times. She's amazing. The boys did well also, but of course they were in the truck with Matt so I didn't hear their squabbles. We got up the next morning at 5:45 am and took off. We made it just in time for Matt to give his Sunday school lesson and Bennett to give his first talk in primary. He did an excellent job.

Wow! I really really don't want to make that ride again. Hopefully we will be able to get a job closer to Idaho in a year.

Sunday Picnic

Yesterday after ditching Stake Conference 15 minutes early (Hey - Don't judge - Can you believe we lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes? We were even early to the meeting. Unbelievable!) Matt and I decided to take the kids on a picnic. (They definelty deserved it after all the fighting, biting, kicking, yelling, and screaming during church)

Due to lack of planning ahead on my part, we had a ziploc of tortilla chips, snack packs of wheat thins, string cheese, an apple, and a bag of chocolate chips ('Cause lets face it...what kind of picnic would it be without desert?) After we spread our lovely meal out on the table, a family of 5 started setting their picnic up on the table right next to ours. We all stared with mouths open and drool dripping as they unloaded their KFC meal, complete with mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, biscuits, and fried chicken. Our meal suddenly lost all appeal. Bennett hopped off the bench and started circling them like a vulture, eyeing the family suspiciously. Matt and I noticed the signs of him going in for the kill, we quickly packed our Wal-Mart sack back up and headed for the park instead.




Jacks loves the swings. I pushed and pushed until my arms almost fell off so I insisted he get out and slide down the slides. He just stood and stared at the swings longingly.



Bennett soon came up requesting we leave.




A walk around the lake seemed like the thing to do. It would have been a pleasant walk except half way around, a man who was fishing picked up a snake and started flinging it around. I almost went into hysterics, but a nice young woman walking by informed me that the huge garden snake was harmless...Thanks, I needed that pep talk, it really calmed me down. For the next half of the walk, my mind started playing games with me. Every stick I saw suddenly transformed into a snake. An exasperated Matt ran back to get the car to pick us up at the docks.

After making it back home safe and sound, Jemma and I played in the house (avoiding any creatures that might cause nightmares).

Private Blogs?

Going private?
Why is everyone going private all of the sudden?
What did Oprah say to scare you guys so badly?
Fill me in!
This is really going to impede on all of the blog stalking I do.
Wait!...Is everyone going private because of ME!!!!????

Easter

I love this picture. The Garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem is such a beautiful place.
A few years ago I had the opportunity to visit the garden and the tomb. It was an amazing experience for me. The Garden of Gethsemane is in the middle of the very busy part of the old city in Jerusalem. The city is filled with street vendors, animals and thousands of people. It's a very chaotic, noise, and busy place. However, the moment I walked through the gates to the garden, it was like I was enclosed in a cocoon. It was so peaceful and quiet. I think of all the places we visited on the trip, this was by far my favorite. It became a moment of many that strenghtened my testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
On the door of the tomb there is a plaque that reads HE IS NOT HERE - FOR HE IS RISEN
I love that sign. I am so thankful that our Savior died and then conquered death not only for me but all mankind, so that we could return to our Heavenly Father. This is one of the most precious gifts we have been given, and I hope that I never take it for granted.

On a slightly lighter note. We spent Easter weekend in Phoenix. Matt's parent came to visit, so we all gathered at Matt's brother, Glen's house. I had a great weekend. Mainly due to the fact that the boys were left home and I went shopping with my sister-in-law, Julie, and mother-in-law Beth. Did you know they have a Target Greatland in Phoenix. They do, and it's amazingly HUGE!
We were kind of bummers this year with the whole Easter egg hunting. Our kids didn't do any of it. We filled a basket for them with some candy, and Bennett received his highly anticipated chocolate bunny. We went to church and then had a huge dinner afterward. (I didn't help to cook any of it - so it was not only edible, it was also delicious) By the time we got home Sunday night the kids were happy and hyper, Matt and I were happy and exhausted.

One Of THOSE Days

Yesterday was one of those days that made you want to:

And:

Jemma had her 2 month check-up and Jacks had his 2 year.

Taking 3 kids to the DR. office is NOT fun.

After repeated strategical mauvers made by the boys to flee the office, Drill Sergeant Pediatric Nurse -- a.k.a HUGE Manly Marine Who Should Not Be Working With Small Children -- finally threatened their lives if they made another peep. So I did the only thing I could think of. I strapped Jacks into the stroller and gave him a metal pole to bang on the door with. And Bennett received my Ipod to jam out to. He was really going to town listening to 'How Firm A Foundation' (Does anyone ever say "jam out to" anymore? I don't think I'm not hip on the lingo)

Jemma was first up. I learned that she is perfectly proportioned.

Her stats: 9lb 11oz, 21.6 inches, 15 inch head circumference. All in the 25% for her age.

Dr. Keith was very excited that she's a symmetrical baby.

Jacks (as I've know for a LONG time) is not perfectly proportioned. (The head threw his stats off) He is 95% for his height and 25% for his weight. Looks like he's on his way to being a lanky giant.

After the 2hr office visit, and 3 shots each, we headed to the store to buy the ingredients for Matt's birthday dinner. He requested California Chicken; He got Chicken Enchilladas (It's much easier to make) (I know -- bad wife)

Things were going great until I got stuck behind the cart paying for groceries. Bennett walked backward out of the store and into the parking lot. (Smiling the whole time might I add)

Due to the fact that you never know who has a video camera and will report you for child abuse, he didn't get the spanking I was sooo wanting to give. Instead he received a very stern lecture to which he replyed "I didn't run away, I walked"

To show him who's boss, Jacks and I ate a huge handful of cookies while Bennett wailed about the injustice from the backseat.

The rest of the day was spent fighting with Bennett on whether or not it's naughty to run away. With him declaring "Your not angry mom, your sad. Not angry, just sad, okay?" I also managed to do some laundry, NOT burn dinner, and get cupcakes frosted, all before Matt got home. (This is where I pat myself on the back)

At the end of the day it was all worth it for 2 reasons : chocolate frosting and ice cream were involved, plus my sweet and adorable kids go to bed at 7:30 pm. (Whew!)

Mirror Image

Every once in awhile I look at one of my babies faces and see myself reflected back so clearly

For Sale

2 Incredibly comfy couches / ALL 14 detachable cushions included

OR

2 Incredibly infuriating boys / Who love to make "bean stalks" w/ all 14 detachable cushions

(Every-single-time-I-leave-the-room! Off go the cushions!)

I really need to stop reading them fairy tales.

Should Have...But Didn't

-I didn't take a picture of my cute boys, sippy cups in hand, strapped into their car seats squealing "Grandma's house! Grandma's house!" (little did they know I had a 14 hour car trip planned for them before we made it to 'Grandma's house!')



-I definetly didn't take a picture of the greasy, bald headed police officer who gave me a ticket just outside of Moab, Ut. (Come on! I HAD been driving through endless no-man lands. Hadn't seen A car for hours. Had 3 screaming children in the back. Where was the mercy!) (I guess I did deserve it...I was speeding...just a little...only 18 miles over...um, 65...endangering my babies lives...SHEESH! Why didn't he arrest me!)



-I didn't take a picture of the boys acting like caged animals in the hotel room, crawling in and out of the desk, jumping from bed to bed as I answered the door to an annoyed hotel manager who delivered the requested crib at 11 pm. (Thanks HB for helping me out, I know you had LOADS of fun)



-I didn't take a picture of the beautiful weather I brought with me to Idaho Falls, all the way from Arizona (I AM amazing)



I did however take pictures of Jemma at her blessing.



Matt arrived the following week and on Saturday the 21st we blessed Jemma down in Grace. It was soooo nice to be with our families.




As you can tell by Jemma and Jacks faces, it had been a long day. The rest of us were faking our smiles. (Except Bennett, we bribed him with a peanut butter cookie. He was happy)

We left Grace at 3:50 pm, hoping to make it to Moab that night.

-I didn't take a picture of the deer we almost kissed in Spanish Fork Canyon. Matt was looking at something I was pointing to on the opposite side of the road. (He was shocked by the deer...I was shocked he was actually listening to me...he usually tunes me out)

-I didn't take a picture of Bennett throwing his fist in the air exclaiming "Ha Ha Sucker!" as he finally wrestled away the blanket Jacks had a death grip on. (I wonder where he got that kind of language from? Hmmm. Matt, do you have any idea where he could have heard that from?)

-I didn't take a picture of the near hurricane (or tornado, since we are in the desert) winds that kept visibility low for the entire 8 hours it took us to get from Moab, to Pinetop. (Seriously, it was so bad! There was so much sand blowing that we couldn't see anything most of the time)

-I didn't take a picture of us bah-haing (is that how you spell it?) through the sand dunes that relocated to the middle of the highway.

-And I definetly didn't take a picture of Matt, using his video game skills to dodge the herd of sage brush blocking our way through the road. (Do sage brush travel in herds? It certainly seemed so.)

-I didn't take a picture of our dust encrusted family as we excitedly exited the car. Emptied our shoes of sand before we entered the spotlessly clean house (Thanks Matt for cleaning before you left. I know I didn't!)

-And I finally did NOT take a picture of the suit cases that mysteriously exploded in our house over night. (Weird how that happens) (Spotlessly clean house, no more)

And just think...in a month we get to make the same trip all over again! Yea!!!

See Matt -- He Can Talk!!

Matt doesn't believe me that Jacks can talk. So Ha Ha Matt!!! I caught him on camera saying "Oh man!"
PS. I'm sure this is purely a "proud mom" video. So you don't have to watch if you don't want to. I'll understand.