My Kids...

So, I've been working on my blog book and 2009 was a huge blogging year for me. I did FANTASTIC at keeping up with daily adventures and crazy things my kids did. I realized I haven't done that for a while and I need to, because they are growing up so fast, and soon I'll be writing about the sassy teenagers in my house instead of the silly kids. So here are a couple of tidbits from my kids:

Cooper:

He's arguing with his dad back and forth about who is wierder...

Dad: Cooper, you are a weir-do!

Cooper: Well, you are "Weir---d" (and he uses air quotes to emphasize.

Brody:

"I think Cooper is an Alien and he came here and hatched from an egg."

Gracie:

We were looking at the search engine on her iPod, you know, snooping like all good parents. We found all these references to 'Matty B'. Looking it up, we found he is a young aspiring singer, and when we asked her, "Who is Matty B?"

 she went bright pink, yelled "Nobody!!" and ran in her room and hid.

Now evertime you ask her, she blushes, hides her face, and gets mad...

its hilarious!

Cooper:

Was shopping with my parents and had to go to the bathroom.

 Grampa takes him in there, waits a little bit, then asks "You makin' out ok in there?"

Cooper replies: "I'm not Makin' Out!"

Brody:

He is still my sweetheart, and rarely do I hear anything sarcastic come out of his mouth. I convinced him a couple of years ago I was 25...he still tells everyone I'm 25...

Gracie:

I'm pretty sure we will never make through the teen years....I think I may kill her...just for the fact that she can be soo stubborn and ornery sometimes. Lately, if we have to get after her for doing something she's not supposed to (like the fact she's up until 10 or 11 playing with her iPod instead of going to sleep) its instant water works and "No Mom!!" Drama, Drama, Drama.

Good thing she's so cute...

Seattle Trip!!

Warning! Picture Overload!!

But I had to take lots of pictures, it was sooo pretty, and I am actually kicking myself for not taking more!!

This summer, we decided...well actually, Dustin decided, he wanted to see an Angels game. Well Anaheim is a LONG ways off so we went for the next best thing, 

An Angels vs. Mariners game in Seattle. 

What!?! A trip, to a cool new city, including a ball game, and sightseeing, and beautiful scenery?!!?

Count me in!

But it was a LONG LONG drive. Thank goodness for road side rest stops...they are my friend.

At one, we seen this little swallow that must have fallen out of its nest, it was still downy looking. And the mama was coming a long and feeding it, so the kids wanted to get a picture. None of us could capture the moment quite right.

But Seattle was beautiful. I am a huge fan of Grey's Anatomy, so it is kind of fun to see the city where they portray the show. the kids got a kick out of the huge Ferry boats, watching them load and unload dozens of cars. 

We went to a little lighthouse on the bay and were able to climb up inside to the top. It wasn't very big, but cute, and interesting.

Then we hit the ball games!!

Dustin and Brody went to one by themselves and me and the other two kids stayed at the hotel and chillaxed. Brody thought it was pretty neat he got to go with his dad all by himself!!

And then the next day we went to one as a family. It was great to be back in a Ball Park, nothing quite like it!!

After the game, the kids had a chance to run around the bases!! That's two Ball Parks we have walked around the infield on!!

We did alot of walking around. We had almost a week, but really, there is so much to see, its so hard to take it all in!! Pike's Place Market was really neat. Its a Public Farmer's type market with lots of stalls and shops selling everything from Fresh Flowers, Fresh Foods, antiques, jewelry, to fresh fish!! And these were not your everyday fish. I'm talking fish as big as Cooper man!!

We went to the Gum Wall as well. Seattle is a very 'Artsy' town, lots of art, music etc. going on. One alley, by the Market, is the gum wall, where people come from all over and put their gum onto the wall and add to the Public Art. Every one in the family except myself, thought it was gross. I think my male nurse actually almost had a panic attack thinking of all the germs!!

Then we went to the Space Needle!!

I was so glad it was a fairly clear day so we had a great view of the Downtown and surrounding city. Gracie hated it! She is scared of heights and did not like being up there. I finally convinced her to smile for a picture...

The boys thought is was neat, though, and the nerd in me loved all the signs with facts and how it was built and why. I love that stuff.

From the top of the Space Needle, we could see this fountain, so we walked over to explore it. It was huge and sprayed water to music. The kids had fun trying to dodge the streams of water to get close enough to touch it.

We spent another day at this little Zoo. It was fun and relaxing and had a nice little aquarium as well. I think the kids enjoyed the fact we weren't Sightseeing, and doing something a little more fun in there eyes!!

On the way home, we made a stop at Silverwood. I figured with the long weekend, it would be CRAZY!! But it actually was nice, and not too busy. We did the waterpark and then the rides. We convinced Cooper to ty a big Rollercoaster, because he was finally big enough. He was super nervous, but he did it (one big scream at the beginning, eyes closed and death grip on Mom's arm the entire time!!) and when it was done he said:

"Is it going to go fast again?!"

The other kids went on it a couple more times but Cooper declined. He loved the kiddy rides and was so proud of himself because he put his hands in the air on the Little Kiddy coaster.

It was so much fun!

I love taking trips with my little family to new places. I love taking my kids to see new and different things and seeing it through their eyes!! I can't wait to see what our next big adventure will be!!

Sidenote: we seen the building where they make the Boeing Airplanes...biggest building in the whole world. Actually didn't think it was that big when we drove by...until I figured out the 'ants' crawling on the airplanes and the ground were actually employees!!

Day of Thanksgiving...

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I will admit, I have not been feeling very Thankful this week, and I have a bad attitude and I need to fix it. I have a slight problem when it comes to stress. Just a little one. One that causes me to freak out at the wrong times, over react to stupid things, not sleep, think of the worst possible scenarios, and eat alot of chocolate. I am finishing off a large bag of M&Ms right now as we speak.

And really its kind of stupid. I cannot control everything, but I want to.

I cannot make people get things done faster, but I want to.

I cannot plan out the next few weeks to fall exactly where I would like them too, 

when I would like them to, but I want to.

I have a slight problem with Control Issues.

It is Thanksgiving though. A time to reflect and look at all that I have, all that I have been given by my Heavenly Father. And right now, I need to. Because all I can think about is all the stress in my life, how I can't control it, and how I want to and all the other things that go along with it.

Though I am enjoying the M&Ms...

So here is my list of 10 things I am Thankful for:

1. My husband - He is my strength, and my rock. We have had difficulties and pulled through. I have had difficulties and he pulls me through. He makes myself and the kids laugh, and I will be forever grateful for that...especially with weeks like this.

2. My Gracie - she drives me absolutely bonkers...especially now that we are hitting that preteen era, but she is my sun. She is almost always so happy and carefree. She laughs at everything, and is SO GOOD with her brothers. I wish I could be more like her...that's probably why she drives me nuts!

3. My Brody - He is so smart, and kind and thoughtful...and so much like his dad. The quiet shutdown type when he's upset and mad. But the rest of the time, he is a great kid and such a great helper. He helps keep me sane from the chaos.

4. My Cooper - He is my energizer bunny, and I only wish I had enough to keep up with him. He is so silly and goofy. He keeps us all laughing. I'm also grateful for him, because, being the baby, he has reminded me of how fast time goes, and how much I need to enjoy the little things in life.

5. My House - It is warm, it is dry, it is beautiful. I am not a great decorator, but it is my home. It has our families touches everywhere, and I love that.

6. My Parents - I love my mom and dad. I am so grateful for being able to live close again, and I am so grateful for them being in my children's lives. I talk to my mom almost everyday!

7. Dustin's Parents - I am lucky and I have 2 moms and dads! I am so grateful that there are in my kids' lives as well, and that they are so helpful with them. I am so grateful for them raising the son that they did so that we have the Husband and Father that we do.

8. Our families - I'm talking brothers, sisters, aunts uncles and cousins. I am grateful for being so close to so many of them again. I love watching nieces and nephews grow up. I love having family dinners and evenings playing and enjoying together.

9. Our friends - my adopted family. I am so grateful for my friends. I am especially grateful for my friends in California, the ones who pulled me through some of the hardest times of my life, though they probably didn't even realize it! My friends are the family that I have gotten to pick!

10. Our health - We are healthy, our kids are healthy. We do not have to worry about any major medical concerns and I am forever grateful. 

I know the list is much much longer, but it would take me a LONG time to write ALL the things I am grateful for. But I'm glad I did write these things. Sometimes when life is hard, stressful and not going our way, we tend to look at all the bad stuff and forget all the good things that are happening to us. The little things that make life beautiful. The feel of the autumn breeze on your skin, the sound of my children's laughter, the smell of pumpkin pie in the oven, the taste of ice cream melting in your mouth. All the little things that make the big picture even better. All the little things that make up life. All the little things that make dealing with the stress and confusion all that much easier.

I am thankful to my Heavenly Father for all my blessings that he has given me and helped me obtain. I am thankful for friends, family and possessions that we have. For freedom and the gospel and the knowledge of the truth. For children and laughter and cool breezes and warm sun.

And for M&Ms...

Back to School

Its back to school and I am excited!!

There is a part of me that is sad, because this little dude is now in Kindergarten.

And four days a week, until lunch he will be gone from me and I will be alone in the house. 

So I am a little sad. I want him to still need me like he did when he was little. There is a part of me that wants to weep and cry because he is getting bigger, but I haven't.

I am sad that they are growing up, and that time just slips by so fast, but I am excited for the time by myself. And that makes me feels bad. It makes me feel a little selfish. Especially when I hear of parents that can't bear to watch their kids go off to school. They are so upset and sad that they are sending their kids out on their own, they actually cry. And then I feel bad, because I have a huge grin on my face.

I was a little teary when the other two went to school for the first time. Gracie was the first and ALL DAY kindergarten so maybe a little more understandable. 

And Brody was just so quiet and shy and I was worried about him making new friends and speaking up for himself in class. I was wrong on both parts...

But little dude is just so excited, I have to be excited for him, and I am sad, but also ecstatic that I have the morning to myself...4 mornings a week...

I get to run and not worry about being home. I get to clean and not have someone follow me and ask me when I will be done. I can read through blogs and emails and not feel guilty about being on the computer. I can write, blog, read as much as I want and not feel bad because there is no one around.

Does this make me a bad mother? Because I'm not sitting at home crying because my baby is at school? Because I have no one here that needs me ALL THE TIME? 

I sometimes think it does and I feel bad that I get excited for my kids to go back to school. 

I have to remember that everyone is different. And everyone deals with things differently. Just because I'm not weepy, doesn't mean I don't love my kids any less. I have to pick him up in a half hour and I am SO PUMPED to listen to him tell me about his FIRST DAY!! I get anxious when the other two are late coming home after school because I haven't seen them all day (especially when they don't come home for lunch) I like having them home for holidays and summer...

But...

I also like time for me. And I like alone me time. 

Hence, why my kids go to bed at 8. I like quiet in the evenings.

I need that time to recharge. I start getting cranky and agitated at about 9:30 pm so if the kids are still up pushing my buttons its not pretty. I NEED that time for ME.

So I can be a BETTER MOM.

So these mornings will be great. Because I will have the time for me, to get some of the stuff done that is harder, or at least not as enjoyable, when the kids are around. Time to recharge and get ready for the afternoons and evenings that are starting to fill up with Play dates, Sports, Dance and Homework.

I have to remember that it doesn't make me a bad mom, because I'm taking care of myself.

So I can take better care of my kids.

Jamie and Jody are moving!!

It was the last time these Yahoos would be together for a while so we needed a BIG picture of them!!

Jamie and Jody and Wyatt and Cole moved to Houston, Texas! Ya for them, Sad for us...

So they came for a few days before their big drive down there. I'm so glad. It is so nice to spend time with family, and the kids had a great time. 

You know, I will miss them, but I'm excited to be able to go see them as well.

 I've never been to Texas, so this gives me a whole new area to discover!! 

And, its a lot warmer there in the winter, so now we have a winter destination 

and a GREAT excuse to go!

I have to go to Texas, I have to see my nephews!!

And I will admit, there are a lot of things I miss down there, so I am even a slight bit jealous.

 Especially the Mexican food. I can only imagine it is SOOO good in Texas! 

Oh, and the fact that it doesn't snow...I hate shoveling the walk!

So we will miss them. But so happy for this opportunity for them. 

Wyatt and Cole are sad, but excited as well. They have a pool in the backyard! Who wouldn't love that!

So, til next summer, Godlonton family, we love you and will miss you, 

but wish you all the best in your new adventure. 

And we hope to be able to spend many adventures with you in your new home!!