My new friend

In the world of a big move comes lots of new friends. Friends are scary to make because what if someone gets attached to you and later on you find out their crazy. Well my new friend I pay tribute to today I believe is crazy, she sits next to me at gymnastics each and every week. Gymnastics is somewhat of a challenge with three kids. Between wrestling Mason the entire time and my friends shocking comments there was always something to look forward to on Tuesday afternoons.

Impression 1: I was told what a disadvantage my kids had because there were more then two of them. (She only has two because of course, she's perfect). They'd have less of my time and be involved in less activities because we couldn't afford it. "Each additional child, is one the less thing they'll all get to do".
Impression 2 shocking comment: Charlotte is allergic to peanuts. She asked me if we can go to chick-fil-a. I told her no, or at least not when Charlotte's with us. She then told me if any kid of hers was ever allergic to peanuts that she would disown that child. I tried to reason with her by telling her that she wouldn't (it's not that big of a deal), saying that you'd look at them, see how cute they were and not even care. I guess she thought I felt attacked because she told me "No, I wouldn't disown Charlotte, I'd disown my kids. I couldn't live with out Chick-fil-a.
Impression 3: Mason had just thrown his bottle after he'd finished drinking it, a bad habit I know. She went on to tell me how her friends son did the same and really hurt her friends head because the son would throw it while they were driving in the car and it would bean the back of her head. Her friend asked her (phyco lady) if her kids ever chucked their bottle when they were finished to which she replied "Is Sydney still breathing. If that was my kid I'd be pulling over on the side of the road and giving them a little smack, smack, smack." Hello???? Oh so I guess I'm supposed to start beating him right now.
Impression 4: (Are you starting to see the things I look forward to hearing each week.) Our internet, phone and cable T.V. are all the same, if the internet is down so is every source of media outlet in the house. I told her how I'd been without a phone all day. To make me feel better she told me that her internet company had recently called and asked her to switch and get a phone through the computer. She told them "What, do I have stupid written all over me?" Which apparantly I do because 30 seconds prior I told her thats how we were set up.

I realize this is the longest, probably boring for you all, grammatically incorrect post ever. There is plenty of confusing "he said, she said". I just had to share the news of my gymnastics friend. I'm switching days of gymnastics to the evenings or Saturdays when Chris can watch Mason, and in a wierd sad way I'll miss the shocking comments. A week never went by with out one, I only filled you in on some of my favorites. I thought it appropriate to finish with a tribute to her. For your own enjoyment I wish you all success in the future at finding a phyco friend to sit with at some extra curricular activity.

A New Monster Lives in our House

Charlotte is her name. The good news is that she loves school, the bad news is that she wants to make sure she doesn't miss it and so she wakes up at the earliest hour. The first few days of school I had to go in her room, shake her around, talk to her, tickle her, carry her downstairs. Well she must have amazing body rhythym because this is no longer necessary. She wake up 1/2 hour earlier then needed like clockwork. We can throw the new cock-a-doodle do alarm clock away.
I can't have her wake up before 7, because there are certain mom jobs I have to do before I need her help, making the lunch, showering, reading, getting ready, all things I'm great at by myself.
Yesterday, she woke up so early came running down stairs yelling "Mom you said we could make stickers today, I want to make stickers" (writing on scotch tape, and ripping the piece off). That activity definately shouldn't happen before 10am, let alone 7am.
Last nigth Chris and I went on a date, she was with the babysitter going crazy when we got home at 10:00. Now school nights, she's in bed at 8:00, so I'm thinking she'll sleep in this morning, after all it's Saturday. However, I wasn't willing to take any chances, so I had a lecture of you stay in bed as long as you can. Then you come downstairs wait quietly on the couch, and read a book quietly. Most importantly don't wake up mom or dad. At 6:30 am, on a Saturday, I wake up to "see Dick run, go Dick go, oh Dick" in a loud voice. My precious sleep had been robbed once more.
What am I to do with this Monster?

Preschool Drama

So kindergarten has started and its going so great. . . . .and now for Rozzie's turn. Since Charlotte started school Rozlyn has been so excited because she wants to do anything that Charlotte does. On Tuesday when we dropped Charlotte off at the school, Rozlyn in her nightgown, went wandering into the classroom crying to go to school. Thursday was her very own big day. I really wanted to keep her at a home preschool, rather then a more traditional school. This was my first error. She was going to Miss Shelia's preschool, a lady who has done it for twlevle years. She seemed like the pro (despite having a 1:12 ratio of 3 year olds), but I knew it would work because it had for all those years. While I can barely handle a 1:3 ratio, I just figured she knew what she was doing. At the conclusion of her first day, Rozzie came stumbling out in her backpack that is bigger then her with the mysterious pink letter. The pink letter indicated that Miss Shelia had recently gotten her Real Estate's license and from time to time the two (preschool and real estate) would conflict. So lucky for us she hired this great assistant, her 18 year old son, Mr Lindon. Hello????? Now instead of the expert we have a teenage boy ALONE with 12 kids. Would any of you be alarmed? Would you ever sign up and pay for your child to attend a preschool where she has an 18 year old BOY for a teacher, by himself with 12 kids? (not to mention he is a home schooled kid - I know there are homeschoolers that turn out great, however my general stereotype is not a positive one). My lesson learned is that when we decided to do a preschool in a home we lost out on alot of professionality and accountability. A public place would not allow a teacher that just came and went as her real estate business permitted. There also would be more then one adult, for emergencies, comforting, bathroom assistance, etc. When Mr. Lindon has to attend to an emergency, call a parent who knows what the other 11 will be doing. In addition Rozzie has bad boy phobia. So no more preschool for Rozlyn for now. She doesn't know the news yet, it will break her heart because she was just so excited. My sister-in-law suggested that I tell her preschool is only one day. She is on a waiting list at several other places. When you wait until August 10th, the slots are usually full. Chris is doing the "break-up" today in exchange for a large desseret. I was to afraid of the confrontation. Thank heavens I can bribe him with sugar to do my dirty work for me.

All about Mason

3 things that scare me:
*Mom's dinasoar sound effects
*The electric drill
*My sisters love

3 people that make me laugh:
*Mom
*Dad
*My Sisters

3 things I love:
*Food
*The gameroom
*Stairs

3 things I hate:
*When the food runs out
*Holding still
*Diaper changes

3 things I don't understand:
*Why I can't be set free on the stairs
*Why mom puts up baby gates
*Why the feedings have to end

3 things on my floor:
*wagon
*books
*horse

3 things I'm doing right now:
*Sleeping peacefully
*Recharging my energy
*Dreaming about stairclimbing

3 ways to describe my personality:
*Busy body
*Happy
*Energetic

3 things you should listen to:
*My new chatterbox vocabulary
* mommy singing
*ESPN sports radio

3 things I want to do before I die (in other words three things my mom wishes for me):
*Marry a girl just like my mom in the temple and have lots of babies
*develop a testimony of my own
*Serve a mission

3 things I love to eat:
*strawberries
*Dannon Activia, its a real boost for my digestive system
*anything else I can find and fit in my mouth

3 things I'd like to learn:
*How to walk so I can play sports
*How to communicate so someone understands me (I have feelings too!)
*How to drink from a sippy

3 babies I tag:*Bailey *Kotter *Mia

The best toy!!!

So I'm always searching for that one magical toy. The criteria is 1)keep my kids entertained for hours 2)Mason can't choke on it 3)it doesn't make noises or sounds that annoy me 4)doesn't cost alot of money. I've found just the toy - pipe cleaners. You might have all discovered them quicker then I did. As for myself and my children we just became familiar with them a few weeks ago. They've given us nothing but happy hours ever since. They make people out of them, letters, spell names, necklaces, bracelets. Even I enjoy scuplting creations with them. We even took them to church because they're even quiet, an added bonus. Anyway if you were slow to learn about these magical toys like me, go grab a bag. I hope they give you an afternoon's worth of time to get something done like they do for me.
As a side note, Kindergarten really happened. Plenty of tears were shed and I fought boldly to contain myself while Charlotte was with me. There should be a prize for that because it was no easy task. She seemed so ready, and acted so brave which gave me another reason to want to cry, tears of happiness, tears of sadness. It's an emotional roller coaster. So she's there as we speak. I'm a short 2 hours away from picking her up and hearing all about her new world. As a tribute to Charlotte here is a picture of her this Monday morning and a picture of her last Monday morning. My crazy wild friend is all dressed up and in kindergarten now.

Little Miracles/The new blue

(Can you believe there are pictures!!! I threw some in of Mason because he has yet to show up and if you ask me, he is pretty stinkin cute!!)

Last night I read a quote: I was told to count my many blessings, I did...and sure enough, I'm missing a few. You might have noticed that I'm not the only blog on the web without a picture anymore. That's right, I got one. One!! It really was a small miracle. I did nothing different then I ever do. I did get greedy and went for two, not so lucky. I'd like to claim that I know the process of posting pictures better then you all, I'm sure I've clicked the "done" step many more times then you. Have any of you emailed the blogger help group a million times to get the same carbon copy response each and every time? My advice, don't buy a new computer, it might seem exciting loaded with features but you might never be able to post a picture again. We've tried everything, taken every security measure possible off of our computer, opening windows to all kinds of vulnerabilities (but hey at least I'd have pictures on my post, right?) Well a family decision has been made and I'd like to introduce you to Chris, my fabulous husband and official picutre poster.
As far as the new blue, I found it to be much more fitting for my username and blog title. It's all about the rain. Here goes one last picture try from the homefront. Unsuccessful

1 week and I'm NOT counting

So Monday is here which means next Monday, August 7th, is only one week away. But believe me, I’m not counting. Reality is kicking in that phase 1 of parenting is quickly approaching the end. Charlotte is on her way to kindergarten. Someone needs to hold my hand. Can I make it through? Sadly I wished for many days to end sooner then they did, and now I’m wishing I had so many more. Don’t you hate it when people say “Just enjoy this time your in, it will fly by and you’ll be sad it ended, ” and now I’m saying it. I’m realizing there are so many more things I should have done with Charlotte’s time and plenty of things that I shouldn’t have. The fact is I love her to pieces. She will always hold a special place in my heart because she is my first. Of all the things I hope she’s learned, I hope she remembers how loved she is. So I have one week to spoil her to pieces as my last chance. It started Saturday with our big Mommy/Daughter date. We went and got all ready for school: the clothes, the backpack, the lunchbox, school supplies, a new necklace and some intermittent stop for new bedding. (How will she get the rest the needs without cute sheets?) She went to IHOP for the first time and had a huge pancake. We are so excited her egg allergy is gone. The highlight was the manicure and pedicure which she has asked for, for a long time. Following the nails we went to the pool and had so much fun. It was the best date for both of us and she’s officially ready to go now. Her teacher’s name comes in the mail tomorrow. I keep wanting to hold her, read to her, play with her and I believe she’s starting to think I’m weird. All unpacking is on hold for one week (oh shucks!), because its my last week with her before I send her to the big K. So give all your little ones a big squeeze….and if you have any extras give them to me. I’m going to need it.

Cookies anyone?

If you are well informed on cookies then fill me in. So you see, I'm having trouble posting pictures. I know I'm not the most computer intelligent but I know I'm following all the steps and its still not working. A fix is in the works. I emailed blogger and it has something to do with cache and cookies, both things that sound great, but stop me from putting pics us. Someday.....

Don't talk to them....they're Mormon!!

So the pile of boxes have been reduced to my head instead of the ceiling. We are now sleeping in our newe home, yea!!!! (Our status doesn't really fit the description of "moved in"). The kids have held up suprisingly well. I'm realizing how bad life really was the past three months, which I can say now because it's over with. The people here are so friendly...no, soooooo friendly, which we gladly welcomed. The house is great and we now have room for visitors, so come one and come all. Now need to book in advance, we're not that cool.
So the people we bought the home from are the best ever. Not only did we get the house but a friend to. The real estate market should consider getting new yards signs that indicate if a friend comes with the deal as well. The wifes name is Heather and she was so nice to give us all the neighborhood info, extra furniture, (all nicer then what we previously owned), goodies galore for the girls bedroom, a clean house, fresh landscaping, the whole works!! One more bonus was the large bottle of wine on the countertop with a sweet letter. I immediately wondered what to do with this wine, any suggestions?
The day we moved in Heather came to say hello, as we were talking the missionaries walked past. I waved and smiled, Heather said "Don't talk to them, they're the Mormon missionaries"
I responded by telling her that it was O.K. because we too were Mormon. As she's pulling her foot out of her mouth she says, then you probably aren't going to drink the wine. I told her probably not (you never really know...it had been a realy long week. j/k) We're both feeling embarassed. An hour later our new bishop shows up looking concerned and asking if everything was O.K. Heather, our seller, had been a room mom with the bishop's wife who she knew was Mormon. Heather had left our house, called the bishop to tell them we were home alone, with a truck full of stuff and needed the Mormon support team to move us in. The funny thing is it had already been arranged and we were just an hour ahead of schedule, waiting for the E.Q. to show up. She is just so nice, watching out for us and all. Later I met her at the pool with Charlotte and Rozlyn, while Mason slept and the guys unloaded. She told me she had contacted the Mormons to help us and asked if one of the Mormon wives was watching Mason.
Well the Mormon talk has been huge, at the pool Heathers daughter asked Charlotte, "Are you Mormon?" Charlotte looked confused and replied "I don't know, what's that?" It's time to break out the Brite music "I'm a Mormon, yes I am, and if you want to know what a Mormon is I'm a living speciman...." So all the neighbors now know, from Heather sharing her embarassing "don't talk to them" story, which really makes life easy for us. Bring on the missionary experiences.
This is the worlds longest blog, I'm not a very concise story teller. If you've made it this far you get one final non-PG rated story as a bonus, & I'll leave make it concise..the cable guy saw me in my bare nothings. After the pool the day we moved in the movers were still unloading so I went in my bathroom, paranoid at so many men wandering around, locked myself in, stripped down, and wandered into the closet to grab some clothes to find the cable guy just as scared as I was. So my question to you is, why are the cable boxes in the master closet???

Breakfast Time

So I woke up this morning to the dreaded Monday morning knowing that in just a short while kids would wakeup and not only that they'd probably be hungry. Rozzie was the first to arise, in an attempt to catch a few more Zzzz's I bargained with her that if she wouldn't make any peeps we'd have waffles for breakfast (the kind you pop in the toaster). So waffles it was, which really was the easiest for me beacause I just put some syrup on thier plate, give them the waffles whole and then it becomes a finger food, just break off a small piece and dip it.
Well Mason has most recently discovered table food. We were pleasantly suprised on our trip to Idaho to learn from my brothers baby, who is 3 weeks older then Mason that you dont' have to break the cheerios in half. Babies can eat them whole without even choking!!! I could have learned this lesson 2 kids ago. Needless to say we've really expanded our eating horizons since then. The problem is that baby food is no longer a favorite as it once was, in fact he'll hardly eat it. We get more on his face then in his mouth. He much prefers his canned veggies to the pureed variety.
On that same trip , we were highchair-less. Mason and myself were made fun of because I'd just sprinkle some food on the floor and he'd crawl after it, eating away. I now can laugh at myself and realize how bad it must have looked. This morning after waffles they were still hungry, but trying to minimize the amount of work I'd have to do, I just started handing them some of Mason's KIX. So we weren't eating on the floor but we were eating without bowls, sharing from a family pile of KIX generously poured on the middle of the table. This proved to be a great activity. First the KIX got smashed and turned into spicy pepper, "don't taste them they'll burn your tongue", second the mashed KIX became pixie dust, which they smashed with their pitch forks. Then they were taking turns feeding Mason "cheese filled KIX" they claimed that these ones "tasted really good". We all got a good laugh and the game lasted forever. I'd reccommend it to anyone trying to stall a future Monday from really starting.
While I was cleaning up, Rozlyn rummaged through Mason's drawer and showed up in the kitchen in his church clothes. It made me laugh and laugh and so I had to snap a picture so that I could send it Chris and show him the fun he's missing out on.

(So I can't figure out how to post pictures, but they'll come someday)

New Family Rule

Today is Sunday, really the best day of the week. A husband all day long, a nap, talking to friends and family and now blogging (this constitutes as family history, journal writing, right?) So today we were at our almost new ward. We went a week early to recruit help to move us in. We love the E.Q. moving package and you can't beat the price. This is our first opportunity to take advantage of such a service. While at church we implemented our new family rule for the first time: No more then two children can be touching mom at a single time. If two kids are already on me, the third must wait there turn. It might sound harsh, so let me assure you that I really do love my kids to pieces. They're the best. I just can love them better two at a time.

Along with the new ward came a new church time. 9:00a.m. We were so excited to find this out. We have a way of being magnets for the worst church meeting schedules. Over our 4 years in Houston we bounced between 8:30, (which meant leave the house 8:00) and 2:00 schedule. At one time they split the wards in November and we were teased with 10:00, a decent time, until the time switched at the new year, about a month later. The past two months we discovered a new worst time 3:00. That is why we were so excited about 9:00. Chris joked that it would probably be back to 1:00 in January. He was wrong, when we got to church today they announced that in August our ward would start meeting at 1:00, (they change on the school years). We are officially the bad schedule magnets. On the bright side, we do have one more week at 9:00:)

A Great Day!!!

A Great Day!!!
What a great day. From time to time a day comes by that you're so grateful for and you realize life isn't as bad as you once though. Today is one of those days. First off it's Friday (and it's already 3:20), that is just a movie or so away until Chris comes home and I take the weekend off. Second, I braved the impossible and took all three kids (who can't yet swim), swimming and no one drowned, or even came close. Swimming is the biggest ordeal with three, from getting the gear, to sunblock for everyone, to an intermittment snack that won't get to wet and soggy, to the baths when we get home. It's no wonder we hardly ever do and why I'm in such a great moode when we survive it. Third, it's Friday (like I already said) but that means we are finally less then a week away from closing on our house. The countdown can officially begin. Life is only good so long in an apartment with 5 people and next Thursday marks the end. Fourth, the is the best news of all, I got all three kids asleep at the same time (which I should thank the swimming for, along with the Texas heat). This only happens maybe 1 time per month. Charlotte rarely sleeps, and Rozlyn is only sleeping a few times per week, I can't seem to get them to sleep on the same days. On top of that I have to coordinate it with Mason's nap, needless to say getting all three asleep is next to impossible. However it happened today, and I'm always a better mom when that happens. Fifth, I'm now a blogger, which I can thank the sleeping kids for allowing me the time to put it together. I know this all seems very circular but if your a mom you'll understand my excitement because as a mom who has hard days, day in and day out, you have to get excited for the little things.