Happy Father's Day To You!

Happy Father's Day to all you dad's out there. There are a few super special dad's that we like to celebrate at our house. I took turns asking the kids questions about their dad and their grandpa's and we have a few video's to share with you.

(Please note that my voice is super, I mean super annoying and I apologize. Hey, I'm the one stuck with it. Turn your speakers down PRONTO!*warning... screeching tones and patronizing voice may leave you slightly nauseous.)

 Happy Father's Day Scott!!!  

Happy Father's Day Papa Robert!!!  

Happy Father's Day Grandpa Blake!!!

We sure love you awesome Men
and we are so blessed
to have you for our own.

Happy, Happy Father's Day.

Saucy Pants Turns 3!

Sawyer, I love you "HO" much.
Happy Birthday my Sizzle, Fo Shizzle.
You Make me "HO" happy.
I adore you.
I love being your mother.
You are sweet, and good, and kind and loving.

Don't grow too quickly.

Don't  change too fast.

Stay small.

(Well, small for you my giant child.)

Happy Birthday.

Wednesday: Did You Know?

1. Christmas is amazing. I can't believe how much I love ribbon, wrapping paper, and family.  The kids love it too and Kate and Sawyer had so much fun decorating Papa. My dad is a kid at heart and is so patient with the kids. Isn't he cute!

 2. How cute is Sawyer rolling out the cookie dough that came in {this amazing Christmas Cookie Basket from the Folkman's}. You have to check out the link. It is the cutest Christmas Gift idea I've ever seen. Rachel is a genius, just like her mother and always puts together amazing theme ideas. It blew my mind, and my kids were the ones that benefited from the great gift. They had so much fun making and decorating cookies with Nana.

3. Before we left Utah on Tuesday, we hit up the Quicksilver store in Provo. Everything was 75% off and we scored. My favorite purchase was this flannel shirt for Sawyer. Oh my heavens I am in love with it. It cost me a Whopping 2 bucks. So cute.

4. I'm going to stop talking as much about my medical issues. There will be a few more posts, but I'm sure you are all sick of hearing about 'poor' me. So here it is. It is two weeks post surgery and I am FABULOUS!!! I can't believe how good I am. Miracle after Miracle have gotten me here and I feel so blessed to be doing so well. The worst part of the entire surgery was my rash, and the first time they filled up my bladder with fluid.

My catheter got a hole in the bag the night before I had it removed and so I had to double bag it with grocery bags. SO GROSS!!! But pretty funny.

I am TUBE free, PAIN free and I have no holes in my bladder or uterus that aren't supposed to be there! AMAZING! I feel so blessed.

5. Scott and I laid in bed last night while Sawyer was sleeping on the floor. (This happens a lot. Don't ask.) He started telling  us jokes and we were laughing so hard. I can't believe that he is almost 3. I have enjoyed him so much. Everything that he says or does is just magic. I sure have a soft spot for him in my heart. I love all my kids so much, but every mom should have a Sawyer.

6. Today, when I put Kate's hair up in pig tails I made her promise me that she would wash her hair tomorrow. It has seriously been a week since she washed her hair. Gross. She sure clean's up cute though.

7. Wyatt is getting really mobile and really brave. This is him yelling at me for trapping him in the living room with stools. I'm not sure what to do with him. He is everywhere. He is hilarious. And really smiley, as long as he is roaming free.

8. Scott left the house today and exclaimed "we are going to a family movie tonight if the house is clean when I get home." I know that this incentive was for the kids...but good grief, that is still a lot of pressure on me. I better get busy!

9. On Monday, Kimm, Nana and the clan took me and my Catheter to see A Dolphin's Tale (my first public outing with my pee). I cried about 10 times.  I dreamed of being a dolphin trainer as a child and still have a love for the Sea and it's creatures. Great movie. Scott ended up driving the two babies (yes I still call Sawyer my baby) around in the car for most of the movie. Thanks Scott.

10. My first night without my catheter and my first night with a working bladder I had to use the bathroom about every 45 minutes. This is worse than pregnancy. I literally felt like I was going to the bathroom all night long. (TMI I know!) Anyway, tell your bladder that you love it!

How was your Christmas?

What is the longest your daughter has gone without washing her hair?

Do you have a extra soft spot for any of your children?

Saturday In November

Saturday at our house is always a little bit slow getting started. Scott usually goes to the gyms for a few hours to make sure that they are clean and that fresh towels are out, and I try to start the laundry, get the house put together and feed the kids.

We love Saturdays.

Today Kate was obsessed with doing hair, and since I wasn't in the mood {it seriously hurts...just saying} Sawyer ended up being the guinea pig.

This is so funny to me.

Really funny.

We headed over to Dylan's Basketball game. He played pretty good. I haven't seen him play since last year and he has come a long way. He scored 14 points. He is still a head taller than all the other boys.

Kate and Sawyer went to the game with me. Sauce ate Cheetos and played with his cars. Every time the buzzer rang he got so mad.

Dylan is getting so old. He will be 8 in February. I'm kind of getting sad about it. He seems to be growing on fast forward.

The rest of the day was spent taking a Costco trip {they stole my money again, but I got a fabulous fresh wreath, and a beautiful fresh garland...oh my blessed smells}, hanging up Christmas lights, and just relaxing together.

Oh Lovely Saturday...Don't go.

How was your Saturday?

What did you do?

Sunday Thoughts

This morning seemed really rushed and really hectic. I lost my temper with a two year old, I didn't know what to wear, and I felt like I had too much to do, with too little time. I found myself feeling really guilty on the way to church and I kept thinking to myself that I really needed to apologize for being such a crazy mom. But I didn't apologize; I was too busy putting on my mascara.

It is funny how many times I must have thought to myself, why am I doing this? Sheesh, I want to sleep. Please tell me that I'm not the only one that starts their Sunday's like this sometimes. I felt nervous that we had to sing in church and that my lesson wasn't really "that" prepared. I kept wondering if Wyatt was going to have a blow-out right before we were suppose to sing as a family.

I find that Sunday's are like this a lot for me. I try really hard to pray, sing, feel the spirit, and enjoy the Sacrament, but as a mom with four kids I fall short 99.9% of the time. So I feel bad and that I must be doing something wrong, because every other mom has it perfectly together. And you guys do, right? I think we think this about each other because we tend to be so hard on ourselves. And sometimes we do ask "why am I doing this?"  And I think it is okay to ask. Because every time I think this to myself, I am comforted by the sweet assurance that comes from the Holy Ghost, whispering special promises that it will be alright, that I'm doing a good job, and that there is purpose in all of it. 

And maybe our reward doesn't come instantly. And maybe each Sunday isn't earth shattering. But every once in a while I'll get a glimpse of the reward that is waiting.

It is conversations like this that prove to me that our labors do matter. That the fight is worth it. And that we are raising the 'Army of Helaman' for today.

Dylan: Hey mom. Did Jesus get his cool powers after he died?

Me: Actually he had God's special power while he was living on the earth?

Dylan: Well then why didn't he stop the evil men from killing him? He could have stopped them right?

Me: Ya, bud. He could have stopped them.

Dylan: Well then why didn't he stop them mom?

Me: Why do you think he didn't stop them?

Dylan: So that we can live with him again. Because he loves us.

It is moments like this that things seem crystal clear.

And it is moments like this that my Rewards are evident.

Life seems to be rushing by. The kids are growing so quickly, and before I know it, I will be sitting alone, next to Scott in Sacrament meeting, trying to borrow other people's children.

Dirty...

Sometimes I clean my kids...

And they are really clean...and they smell so good...and they feel so soft...

And it lasts for about 15 minutes.

Credit Card Fraud = Horror...American Express Blue = Love.

Last month Dominic Cifarelli  and Morokath Redman used my credit card to rack up over $6000.00 dollars in Airline tickets. I'm sure you can imagine the anxiety and the panic that I felt when I opened up my credit card statement.

Oh.
My.
Word.

It amazes me that people are okay with being so dishonest.

It totally blows my mind.

Maybe they didn't have a good mom like I did who made them walk back into the grocery store at the age of six and return the stolen candy-bar. Or maybe they just need a Bishop that looks them in the eye's every year and asks them if they are honest in ALL their dealings.

I just don't get it.

Needless to say I felt violated.

So I called up American Express to try and resolve the issue and their customer service was EXCELLENT.

Not only did they treat me like I was the victim, they didn't blame me or try to ask me a million questions. They just thanked me for my ongoing membership and took care of it all for me.

Took.
Care.
Of.
It.

People, this really happened. Like, in real life.


They just took care of it for me.

What?

Amazing. And I promise that this is not an advertisement for American Express. But I will be a Member for Life.

AmEx = Love

Liars = Stoopid (with two o's)

PS. I found this crazy lady picture on the web, but I think it kind of looks like me if you don't look to close and if you blur your eyes a little and if the room is dim. ;)

Curls Gone. Mom Cries.

Someone stick a needle in my eye please. 

Sawyer got a hair cut and it's too short.

His hairdresser stinks.

She is the worst. She's fired. 

Please poke out my other eye too.

And spank my bottom for being the hairdresser.

(In my defense, he was moving around...a lot. But still, I didn't plan on

cutting it so short.)

I'm going to miss those long curls so much.

Good thing he is still cute.

And chubby.

Who am I kidding? I'm still ticked.

Sawyer Has Surgery

On July 29th, Scott and I had to take Sawyer to the hospital at 5:00 AM for Surgery.

When we arrived Sawyer was really happy.

As soon as the nurse came into the room he knew something was up and became

really mad and really worried. When Sawyer was born, we were advised not to have his circumcised.

Sawyer was born without much of a foreskin and the Pediatrician felt it was in his best interest to wait until he was a little older to see if he would even need to have it done.

Well, we waited and at his check-up we were told that it was up to us if we wanted to do it. 

We decided that it was better now than at the age of 14 or something.

I will just give you my opinion for a second...

ONLY BABIES SHOULD BE CIRCUMCISED.

Don't ever wait. It was horrible.

The Doctor's gave Sawyer a drug that was suppose to make him really loopy.

It took a while for it to kick in.

Luckily the nurse had a Thomas Book and this helped Sawyer calm down 

quite a bit as the drug started to take it's effect.

It was so sad seeing him so upset. Luckily, they waited until he was under anesthesia before putting his IV in.

Scott wasn't going to come with me this morning, but I'm so glad that he did. Sawyer weighs a ton, plus having Wyatt with me also would have just been too much.

The saddest part was when they came to take him for surgery. He didn't want to lay on the bed, so the Dr. held him in his arms and Sawyer wrapped his arms around the Dr.'s neck and then Sawyer just stared at Scott and I as they carried him towards the Operating Room. Both Scott and I said to each other that we will never forget that moment. It was SWEET and AWFUL at the same time.

This photo is after the Surgery as Sawyer is trying to come out of his Anesthesia. He was so upset. 

He cried and screamed for a LONG time.

Scott walked the halls with him for two hours. Scott has strong arms because I wouldn't have been able to make it 15 minutes. At one point Scott rolled past the room where I was on a big  office chair with Sawyer in his arms. It thought this was so funny. He stole the chair from someones office.

This is my favorite picture. The lighting is terrible, but it is what I remember from that moment.

A father taking care of his son.

No Greater Love.

We took Sawyer to Toy's R Us to pick out a new train. This lifted his spirits a lot.

The next week was really hard for him. He still ran around and played, but he would stop sometimes and cry a little and grab his diaper and say OW-eeeeeee.

Good Heaven's please don't ever do this to your child.

He is all better now, but it was sad.

AND EXPENSIVE.

Sawyer Splits His Eye Open...

At 10:30 PM Thursday night, Scott and I heard Sawyer Screaming from downstairs. It was the kind of scream that you know means BUSINESS. I had left Sauce on my bed watching a TV show because he wasn't tired due to a late nap.  I went to change a load of laundry and quickly glance at my email. (Stupid Computer). Before we knew it, Sawyer had crept downstairs to crawl into bed with Dylan. In his attempt to hurry into Dylan's room, he tripped on something on  the floor of Dylan's room and smacked his head on the side of Dylan's bed. Scott was the first one downstairs and carried Sawyer upstairs to me. I immediately could tell that he needed stitches. I started panicking because I couldn't imagine how a 2 year old could possibly hold still enough for stitches right next to his eye. It was bad. And the worst part is that he had just had surgery the week before and was already traumatized from it.

I thought through my options and decided to call our dermatologist who is also our neighbor and friend. He answered the call and by 11:20 PM Sawyer was all taken care of. 

I am so grateful for people that use their skills to help others. 

It was pretty horrible having to restrain my baby. Scott held his body super tight and I held his face and head. He was fighting us so bad that he now has broken blood vessels all over his face and neck. The cut was SO close to his eye that it ended up needing 5 stitches.

I'm sorry but his face is so sweet.

He looked like he had been in a boxing fight.

And here is a video of him getting his band-aid on and the finishing touches.

His cry makes my heart hurt.

 And I love how he just collapses into Scott when we tell him it is all over.

We took him straight to Wal-Mart and let him pick out a new train.

 This put a smile on his face immediately!

We also took him to McDonald's for a smoothie.

Your parent's love you Soy Boy!!!

All photo's taken with I-phone so not great quality.

Pre-Grandma Camp 2011: Centralia, Washington

Last month I was given the gift of a lifetime. 

My Mother-in-law Shawna took my kids for an entire week.

She drove to Blackfoot and picked us up and drove me and the 4 little monsters all the way back to her home in Washington. I spent one day with her at her house and then she kicked me out and sent me packing to my best friend and sister-in-law Amber's house. She kept Dylan, Kate and Sawyer, and Amber's girls, Samantha, Amy and Hallie, and Amber and I had the whole week to spend shopping, playing, eating out, watching movies and playing with the babies.

It was Heaven.

I'm not sure if she will be up for it again. My kids are a little naughty.

I'm hoping it is like child-birth and by the time next year rolls around she will have forgotten that Dylan and Kate fight like Cats and Dogs, and she will want to do it again.

It was AMAZING for me and such a needed break.

We fed the ducks.

We taught Saywer how to jump on the tramp.

It was so kind of her. She is amazing and I am so lucky to have a 2nd Mother like her that loves my kids so much. She raised great kids of her own and I enjoy watching her teach my kids such important life skills.

Shawna you Rock.