Vacation Days

I just realized that I'm out of them. I had a fabulous weekend in Idaho reuniting with friends and family. True it was only three days but still a vacation. (oh and I'm so mad I forgot my camera, I almost blew the cash on a new one just for the weekend) This morning I was ready for another vacation until I realized I'm out of days and that it's not in my mom contract to take a day off. When I was complaining to Chris he told me to negotiate with the kids and see what they say. I'll see how it goes. If only my personal life mirrored the corporate world in that sense, that X amount of days I could just say "hey, I'm taking it off today". That however is the only benefit I can think of so I guess I'll quit complaining and be glad I'm a mom, no vacation days and all. I'm off to clean or cook or something...

The message I send

Whenever the kids are going anywhere I fill their heads with a million ways to act and not act, warnings, you better not's, etc. "Don't go by the pool, don't eat any food or snacks, use your manners, don't be so hyper, don't be annoying (jk), use the bathroom lots of times to make sure you have no accidents", you get the idea. After listing off my list on the phone with Charlotte the other day I realized that all this time I've been sending the wrong messages. Those aren't really the most important words for her to here. Instead I'm making an effort to change my ways, forget the warnings...I'm going to try harder to tell them how great they are & how much I love them. Those are the messages I really want to be sending.

California

Rozlyn and I just got back from a quick and fun vacation to California. We were able to see my parents on their mission and introduce them to little Mallory Jane. I know the hardest part of my parents mission has been not being able to see their grandkids after the births so we made the special trip out to Cali. Mason and Charlotte stayed with Dad and Rozlyn and Mallory came with me. We were both arguing over who would have it easier that weekend, me or him. Funny how much perspective changes over 8 years of parenting, I'm pretty sure at one point of my life I lost sleep over the anxiety preceeding taking two kids on an airplane, by myself. Chris said the same thing, who would have guessed that having two kids in your care for three straight days with no mom could be such a vacation. Anyway....

The airport is such a happy place. I love how it looks like Mallory is trying to smile for the camera.

Mallory meet Grandpa - Grandpa meet Mallory. I was worried about the stranger danger factor but she loved both Grandma and Grandpa so we were happy.

Isn't she so cute

Rozlyn was greeted with a welcome box full of treats, games, activity books that she could use on her trip. Then she got to go to the store pick out any DVD she wanted and spent a few dollars on whatever she wanted. This is a picture of when she was hungry about 9:00 at night, (11:00 her time) and she wanted a Subway sandwhich. Since we have a million of them here I tried to persuade her to other more novel unique ideas (The Del Taco, ha ha) but Subway was her only dream and Grandma and Grandpa wanted to make it come true. We laughed that three adults went in to Subway for one six inch sub for a 5 year old at 9 at night.

Breakfast - "ROZ" pancake special

In front of the mission office

This is the treat I found when I took Mallory out of her carseat at security in the airport. The dilema, do I hold her towards me, getting it all over me, who doesn't have a change of cloths or hold her out for the world to see what I get to go clean up? What would you have done? I held her out, avoided eye contact with everyone and made a dash to the restroom. Rozlyn still informed me that people were laughing at us.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, sharing some sisterly love on the drive home after they were reunited.
Rozlyn wasn't even a monster for the days following the trip. I didn't know what to expect from her after she got whatever she wanted whenever she wanted it on the trip. She was happy and grateful and I'm so glad for the memory we created. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa.

Curse the Dollar Store

About a week ago I had to pick up some little boxes for YW's that my friend saw at the Dollar Store. I really never venture in there because I’m a Super Target one stop kind of shopper these days. I know some day my time will come when I can freely wonder into any store that appeals to me from the window display.
While I’m in the store picking up the needed items I just happened to really like it. I couldn’t believe all the things you could find for a dollar. I walked out with an extra puzzle and some boxes of cute scratch-n-sniff valentines.
Monday, Rozlyn was a really good girl and surprised me by cleaning her whole room including all of Charlotte’s stuff. It was so sweet because she kept coming down and telling me she had a surprise, asking me if I knew what it was and telling me I couldn’t come in her room. As a mom I was ecstatic at what was happening. Not only was she happy and excited about it, but even better, I didn’t ask her to do.
I decide that I need to really reward her for doing something so great, and so I tell her that tomorrow after school I would take her to the Dollar Store where she could pick out any two things she wanted, hopefully sending the message to the other kids that good things happen to those who make mom happy.
Tuesday afternoon I start to get really nervous because of this big freeze that was coming in. When we should have been hunkering down drinking hot chocolate to keep warm I had to brave the elements and take my kids out into the cold so that I could keep my promise.
Before we went in I told myself to be patient because I was sure that Rozlyn would want to look at every single item and that this wasn’t going to be a quick trip. Mason was already being a stinker, throwing a tantrum, refusing to walk and got confined to our extra stroller. Charlotte agreed to push Mason, I was pushing Mallory, Rozlyn was wondering free and we all looked ridiculous. In the store, I found more boxes of cute valentines, we now have at least a few years worth, but it was hard to pick when they were all cute and well, only a 1$. Mason also managed to get a few things within his grasp that he was clinging to in the stroller. The trip took forever, way to long, in the end Rozlyn picked a baton with glitter filled balls on each end a container of bubbles that were grape scented in a grape shaped jug. It was no easy exit with Mason screaming at the top of his lungs as I stripped the toys from his hands, pushing our circus through the doors and running to the warmth of our car.
When we get home, I go to get Mason out of his car seat and find he’s holding a toy. Somehow he smuggled it in his big puffy coat. Grrrr! The girls start freaking out, certain that he’ll be arrested and taken away to jail for stealing. I told Mason that he made a bad choice and that we have to take it back to the store and say sorry. Rozlyn runs inside to play with her bubbles and I break the bad news to her that bubbles are for outside only and it just happens to be freezing cold. She grabs the baton instead. I’m getting Mallory out of her car seat and I hear screaming and crying from inside. I guess Rozlyn ran inside, twirled it around tossed it up in the air and it came crashing down, busting apart and leaving large splattered hot pink stains and glitter all over my carpet in the piano room. Roz is crying, Mason is crying, Mallory is crying and I felt like crying. I think the toy didn’t even last 30 seconds.
Curse the Dollar Store and every good intention I had that involved it. Not even my cute valentines made that trip worth it, and they were really cute.

I love my babes

I had one of those moments last night when it just hit me, like it has before, how lucky I am to be a mamma. It seems like life doesn't slow down often enough for me to appreciate just how great I have it.
I was reading an article in the Ensign on the gift of adoption. The whole article was great but the child's perspective was my favorite. She told of how growing up her mom would often tell her the story of how she came to be their baby, the phone call telling the mom she was born, the dad racing home, seeing the most beautiful baby and knowing that they would love her forever.
While I've never adopted a baby all the memories of each of my own births came back to me. The phone call to Chris, racing to the hospital, seeing the most beautiful baby and knowing then that I'd love them forever. My favorite was always after they were born when they'd taken them away for the bath and they's bring them back to you all clean and swaddled up.
My attitude and perspective has grown and changed with each child. I was so young with Charlotte. I couldn't comprehend the difficulty of situations the future would bring. I definately never imagined her disobeying, being mean or sassy, and if I did I'm sure I dreamt up some awesome parenting I would use to counter her bad behavior. Ha! With Rozlyn I had to figure out how to divide my time and attention. With Mason it was fun and new to have a boy. Lastly Mallory, I've been so emotional with her from the get go. Knowing she could possibly be my caboose I'm so afraid of missing out on any aspect of her being a baby. She by far is my most spoiled not because I love her more but because I've learned how fast this time passes by and how quick I am to forget this stage.
So after my sweet moment last night of realizing how happy I am to be a mom they woke up this morning and were up to their same shinanigans all over again. Grrr!
I have to endure the day with all craziness and business and then they're off to bed again. I'm so grateful for the nightime because aren't kids just impossible not to love when they're sleeping?? I just love to kiss those little warm cheeks and will admit that sometimes I even try to get them to wake up just a little so I can say one last goodnight and I love you. Often I'll go up a few times before I go to bed to do this and even in the middle of the night sometimes. I can't resist. We forget about the day, our hearts are softened and we make it to another day.
Sometimes I feel bad that I got such great kids. Did they really pick me, did they not know how many mistakes I'd make, how short tempered I'd be, how much I'd expect of them?? I really beat myself up about this because I know they deserve the best.
All I know is I'm a lucky mom, I wouldn't trade them for anything.

4 monther in da house

I'm in denial, it's true. I really really am sad that Mallory's time is cruising by so fast. She's interactive, she's playful, she giggles all the time, sit's in a bumbo and rolls over. Where has the time gone?? Where's my newborn?? So here are some pictures from the poor parent who doesn't show her off often enough from the past 4 months.



Here are a few fun things about Mallory:
She sleeps in her carseat
She sleeps all night - yea!!
She's very ticklish and quite the giggler
She's a daddy's girl until 8:00p.m. and then switches to a mamma's girl
She loves to bathe
She loves to be outside
She loves when Mason is at school and gets alone time with mom
She sucks her fingers ( I know naughty but secretly I love it, I mean they do look pretty irresistable and it just looks so natural and sweet)
She also takes a binkie
She won't take a bottle
She's afraid of the dark - this is totally true, she will cry and cry in the car at night unless I turn on the interior switch which, so yes I drive around very embarassed with everyone getting a clear shot into our car (the sacrifices mom's make for their babies)
She is so completely loved and adored by all

If my house were a blog

I love the cutest blog on the block website. My sister in law first told me about it and I love it!! Who doesn't want a cute blog?? I may not ever post, but in just a few seconds I can transform my look to something completely new. When I first was playing with it back in the fall I was so excited thinking about the future holidayish possibilities. I couldn't wait for Christmas, birthdays, election day, etc... Now I know that I just changed it from the Christmas background on Jan. 22 but it was only to keep consistent with the rest of my holiday decor that actually still isn't put away.
Since discovering this, it's also made me wish that I had the same powers in my home. I dream of a button I could push to change the paint colors, re-arrange the furniture and put up holiday decor. A place where I could pick out a style from a million template choices. Maybe someday, maybe somehow, if only, if only..

ICE!!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

I'm having the best time having another adult around the pad during the day. Angey is so so helpful, more to come later about our adventures but here is a slideshow of our day at ICE! Angey was sad to see that there were no gold coats this year but only blue. Mallory came with us and was a trooper, she was all bundled up and snoozed away. I did give her the grace of sporting the blue coat on top of her stroller so she wouldn't feel left out. This is my first experiment using smilebox. I'm not sure how it will work. I only wanted a free design so you get the advertisement plug on the side and a neat snowman show at the begining.

I'll paint you a picture

It seems to be the most exciting times in my life are never captured with the camera because I lack the third hand to capture the shot. So instead I'll try to describe three times in the last week that I wish I had a picture of. Not because they were positive or glorious but so that I can remember that hard(or embarassing) times always pass.
Scene 1: Thanksgiving morning. Chris leaves for the Turkey Bowl early so that he can grab the donuts on his way. A quick kiss on the cheek, an I'll see you soon and a be sure to dress warm it's cold outside is what I get from him. Fast forward 30 minutes: Me and the kids unload, they take off running to cheer on their dad, I lag behind with Mallory in tow. We get to the game, I sit down catch my breath and realize that there are no other wives, there are no other children and that it's not very cold outside. I guess nobody here goes to watch, unlike other places I've lived. Did I really want to go, no, but I also didn't want to be the only unsupportive spouse. So there I sat with my children all dressed in our abominable snowmen outfits like the little brother in the movie "The Christmas Story" in the very nice and warm weather outside. At least we got a donut at the end.
Scene 2: Monday morning Mason starts with some non-stop coughing. It never ended. His nose was running non-stop, he had a fever and I had to make a trip to Wal-greens to stalk up on our cold supplies. The Dr. suggested a cool mist humidifier and in desperation to avoid taking him in for a breathing treatment I decided that after 4 kids it was time to buy one. While Charlotte was at piano I decided to make the trip since I'd only be outnumbered 3:1 instead of the normal 4:1. I can't convince Mason to walk (he really was feeling crappy) so in the little drugstore cart he goes. This only means that I have to carry Mallory in her lug-a-dug carseat, push the cart with 1 hand, and hope Rozlyn (dressed in her ballet clothes with tap shoes on) stays right besides me. So there we are making a huge scence, loading our cart with a humidifier, some otc drugs, a few boxes of tissues and a package of pull-ups, with Roz tapping every step of the way.
Scence 3: I'm at Hobby Lobby. You'd think that after my Wal-greens trauma that I wouldn't have left the house again for a week but I only lasted two days and I had to get back out. I thought that with Pet-Co next door as bribery Mason was sure to behave. We had the double stroller with Mallory and Mason and I had to carry one of those little tiny baskets. This should have really limited the amount of stuff I could buy but it didn't. Then I saw the garland I'd been wanting was on sale. My lucky day!! Why I thought shoving 27 feet of thick garland in a little tiny basket would work is beyond me but it doesn't mean I didn't go after it with a valiant effort. After failing miserably, I had an overfull basket, some stacked on top of the stroller so I coudln't see my children or the path ahead and an armfull as well. By a miracle I made it through checkout. All I had to do was load the van, to bad there was so much wind. Mallory's blankie blew away twice, and Mason's coat flew away once, all three times I abandoned kids and merchandise to chase after them. Every time I look at my beautiful stairs I'll remember my Hobby Lobby moment and the garland that was on sale that couldn't wait. (and also, the bribery didn't work, we had plenty of tantrums in the store to deal with as well)

30 and 2.5 weeks!!

Me with my kung fu face and Po, in the driveway, when I drove up I thought I was coming to collect him as a birthday present.
Finally 30!! Now 30 and 2.5 weeks since it took me so long to post about this. So far in life my age hasn't bothered me. In fact I've always looked forward to getting older like I did when I was a little kid. I've always been immature, so a bigger number has to help my cause. Or maybe it's because as a youth leader I'm often mistaken for one of the youth (like being asked to dance when I was chaperoning).
Anyway, my birthday was the best, so much fun!! I'd been showered with presents all week, that had to stay unopened but that I could look at to get me excited. On Wednesday, two days before, one of my presents went missing. It ended up being a real scavenger hunt, better then Chris could have planned because Mr. Mason put it in an unknown spot and wouldn't offer us any clues. We searched all night, everywhere, before giving up. I could see the panic in his eyes. It was found late Thursday afternoon in the bottom of the toy cabinet.
Birthday day started with the usual breakfast in bed. For lunch I went to Papa Murphey's and got myself two large take-n-bakes to eat by myself. It seems so glutinous, but I couldn't decide which kind I wanted so I had to get two and heck, it was my birthday. Chris then called and told me he was taking a half day and on his way home. Happy Birthday to me! I got to go out alone, he picked the kids up from school, decorated the house, made me a cake, etc. I told him that if nothing else happened the rest of the day that I'd be perfectly satisfied, I really was having the best day!!
Thursday night he started his quest to find a babysitter so he could take me out Friday night. He called alot of girls who said no. I coudln't watch the rejection any longer so then I called a few. I started to get angry because no one was available and I felt like telling people it was my birthday and guilting them into it, but I didn't. Come to find out all of the babysitters were busy watching my friends kids so they could come to my big SUPRISE party. Friday he found a sweet lady from the ward who he said called and offered because she saw it was my birthday. He told me he had a fun place to take me and the only clue he'd offer is that there'd be people we knew there and that we were going to get our pictures taken. I guess he knew how mad I'd be if I showed up in my sweatpants without makeup to a house full of 30 people for my party looking like a slob. Well played Chris.
The suprise really was a big suprise. He was so tricky. It was so much fun to see lots of friends, eat really good food. Chris was the star party planner covering every detail, keeping it hush, ordering the cake. Should I be worried about just how deceiving he was?? The suprise made me feel so loved, to know that he wanted my day to be special and was willing to go through all the effort to make it happen, having to think way ahead of time. Thanks to everyone who contributed, to those who stole every possible babysitter so they could make it, I'm sp glad you were all there, to Amy for being the most excellent hostess complete with delcious food(I even showed up to her house during my alone time and she had to clear everything out, the cake, balloons, food, I even opened her fridge wandered around, went into the garage and she showed no signs of panic), to Jon for sacrificing your driveway so Po could join us, to Sarah for being the photographer, for all the gag gifts and good gifts alike, for the well wishers that couldn't make it, and mostly to Chris for making it all happen, you win husband of the year - hands down!

Busted!!

Still suprised!!

Embarrassed that there was a montage of old pictures and scrapbook pages on display. This was Chris's idea and he had rounded them all up, I didn't even know that he knew where I kept the stash.

Chris posing with his decoy he used to get us to the party.

Halloween, Airplane Ride, Daylight Savings Rip-Off

Halloween was so fun. I'm feeling sad that it's already over and that we don't get to celebrate for another 363 days. I almost took the decorations down this morning but decided it could wait a few more days. We had so much fun dressing up and got alot of attention out trick or treating. Let's just say that we got the star treatment and our friends, not so much. We made many poor political jokes along the way, (i.e. re-distributing the candy when we got home), even posed for some pictures and shook many hands. So the long awaited pictures.

From left to right: Joe B. - Liz (she was Barack and looked awesome but got to hot in the mask) Barack - Clint, John - Chris and Sarah - me!

I don't know if I like the kiss, the thumbs-up or the inappropriateness of it all better.
Saturday morning Chris was out helping a family move when our friends called to ask if he wanted to go on a "joy" ride. Private planes really do scare me, I've heard so many stories about plane accidents. I asked him not to die, gave him a kiss and away he went with a smile on his face. When he came home (yea!!) he showed me some pictures and video of the landing with that fancy newly discovered record button. Chad, his friend, was in the pilot's seat. What?? This was his friend whose previous flying experience involved a remote control airplane that he managed to crash into a lone standing tree in a large field. Chris could see the look of panic on my face. He's such a dare devil who thinks he's invincible and only fear in life is being buried alive. Completely the opposite of me, I could go on the Dr. Phil show for all of my worries. I'm glad he had fun and survived!
I'm still filling ripped-off by dalight savings. The one free hour of sleep I'm entitled to a year was overshadowed by Mallory's baby blessing, company in town, and getting four kids plus myself ready for church by 9:00. Did we really get an extra hour, because I totally missed out. I didn't even get to look cute for my big comeback, I looked gross. I wish we could re-do this next weekend. Mallory on the other hand looked beautiful and Chris gave her an awesome blessing.

My Record Lengthy Post

Go ahead and skip to whatever is of interest to you

Good laughs from Roz (1st - I'm starving her, 2nd - Not everything with nipples can be milked)
Cleaning with newspaper
The record button
I get by with a little help from my friends
Halloween
I voted


Good laughs from Roz:
1st - Rozlyn has turned into a new kid since starting school. She has always been so sweet and helpful around the house. Let me just say that someone else is currently living in her body. Where did my Rozlyn go?? Please, please come back!! Until then I guess I can amuse myself with her stories. Yesterday morning she refused to eat her delicious breakfast of cream of wheat because it wasn't what she wanted. She does like it and eats it all the time but was being so stubborn. After school she told me how hungry she was because she missed snack. I ask where she was during snack to which she replied - the nurses office. I guess she went for a stomach ache, the nurse asked if she was hungry, Rozlyn said "Yes", she asked if she ate breakfast, Rozlyn said "No", she asked what was for breakfast, Rozlyn said "nothing", did your mom give you breakfast, "no". You get the idea. Thanks for painting a sweet picture of me.
2nd - My friend called after dropping off Rozlyn to report a funny story. Poor Chris is kind of the victim in this one. Rozlyn was talking about how Mallory takes a bottle from Chris. Since she's such a chatterbox you always get alot more information then necessary. She said how Mallory doesn't like the milk from Chris because it's so hairy. Liz was confused and tried to clarify the "hairy" part, to which Rozyn summed up "You know hairy, because he's got hairy boobs" Contrary to Greg Faulker in Meet the Parents Rozlyn has yet to learn that no, you can't milk everything with nipples.

Cleaning with Newspaper
Cleaning glass/mirrors with newspaper really does work the best. I've heard this a million times but have never tried it. I always stuck with my paper towels and always had streaks no matter how hard I tried. I'm the biggest fan of the newspapers, it made me so happy, I'm so glad I tried it. Just windex, wad up some newspaper and away you go. It's amazing.

The record button
My handy dandy digital camera takes video. I know I'm Wilma Flinstone when it comes to technology so I'm strictly a point and shoot kind of girl. Who cares what all those buttons are for, I'll never need them because I'll never know how to use them. Each time I get a new "toy" I have great intentions to read the users manual and get full use out of the product. So today at Mason's Halloween parade, he was being hilarious. He was walking so so so slow, with his eyes closed. I guess he thought that if he couldn't see us we couldn't see him. He was the leader of the line and that line wasn't going anywhere! He kept walking in the wrong direction and crashed into a chair before being redirected. He even was waving with his eyes closed. I was dying of laughter watching him and wishing so badly that I had brought a video camera to capture the priceless moment. When I mentioned this to my friends they told me my camera could probably do it and voila, we've got video. It didn't start until they were making their third loop, I also let it run to long and ignore my voice of excitement at my newly acquired skill. Mason is the "grazing" giraffe in front with his eyes closed and being held by the teacher (to speed the parade up).


I get by with a little help from my friends:
Or alot. I am surrounded by the best friends. They have been so generous of their time in helping me before and after having this baby. I've always been a social girl and depend more then my fair share on the friends. I really didn't see my kids for two weeks after I got home. My friend Liz who carpools with me refused to let my drive or pickup for three weeks, I was granted privileges back only after begging, I didn't cook for a month and the list goes on and on.
Today my car wouldn't start and of course I freaked out because I thought the world might end if Mason missed his Halloween parade. My friend Heidi graciously packed up her son, came way out of her way and hauled me, Mallory, car seat, car seat base, huge diaper bag, Mason, booster seat, huge school bag with lunch box and nap mat to his school which was way out of her way. She knows I'm crazy but never mentioned it once or made me feel bad. (She also took Mason last Friday so me and my girls could go to a birthday party and see the topless Zac Efron in HSM3. It went long and she kept him for an extra hour hauling him around on her errands.) I digress...she dropped me off at his school and even offered to come back and get me when it was over. I passed because how much can I put one person out in a day. So there I was with all of my gear on the sidewalk looking like a hobo because I knew Tanya was inside and without asking her knew she'd be willing to take me home when it was over, because she does anything and everything for me whenever I need it. She even boiled chicken for me once because she knew I prefered it over canned. What a friend!
Fall is my favorite time of the year. Since Mallory was brand new when the season started Debbie hooked me up with loads of cute Halloween things so my home could be festive when I wasn't up to it. If there is anything cute or well decorated in my house it is because Debbie has held my hand and performed a rescue mission to help me along. She's amazing, you can check out more of her stuff on her blog and just look at my entry way, I'm in love with it!!

There's a million more kind stories not listed here. So to each of my friends those mentioned, and so so many more, I say thanks. I've been brought to tears with the kindness you've shown to me.

Halloween:
Speaking of Halloween, just look at these adorable kids. Charlotte was Fairy Vidia. She was so happy to have sparkly hair and high heels. Rozlyn was me, a mom. I love making the kids costumes but couldn't commit this year. I told Rozlyn I'd buy her one instead and gave her a million choices. She just kept saying she wanted to be a mom. The good news is that it was totally free!! We were also all glad the Mrs. Brady wig made a comeback for a 2nd year. Mason saw this Giraffe costume in Babies R Us back in August when he had his pictures taken. It was love at first sight. I tried to distract him with many other possibilities but with no success. Why?? I don't know but I think I'm the nicest mom in the world for buying it, I mean really a giraffe, why??


I voted:
I did it!! This was such a hard decision for me. It seems like such a no-brainer for everyone else, they love Obama or they love McCain. I myself was more of a fence sitter, unimpressed with either candidate. I knew I wanted to vote and needed to do it early but couldn't find the motivation to do it. McCain is certain to win Texas so why go through the effort when I have little love for both men. If I keep my vote secret then it really won't make a difference but if I share who I picked and why, put a sign in my yard then maybe it will. In the end, I voted for John McCain. I was a little emotional in line to vote, I felt a great deal of grattitude for this nation and that we all get the right to vote. Democracy is a blessing and I'm proud to be an American, there's no fence sitting on that.

My troubles

1. Why am I wired and wide awake all morning when Mallory is sound asleep and I'm home alone and when it's 3:00 and on, all the kids are home, I'm dead tired and really need a nap. I even just laid down buy Mal because I know I'll be exhausted later on but got bored because I'm not sleepy right now. Any really boring books to recommend those usually put me to sleep no matter what time of day it is.

2. I've given up my #1 BYU fan status for the night. They're in Fort Worth and I'm not going. I never thought the day would come. My world's greatest husband even offered to go with me, sit in some parking lot with Mallory and text me when she got hungry so I could run out and feed her. Can you believe the sacrifice he was willing to make for me? To ease my sadness I'm enjoying the game in the comfort of my own home and treating myself to some pizza. The trouble is I can't decide if I should just do pizza or get some wings to go with it and am not sure where I should order it from. Seems dumb but honestly I've been thinking about it all morning (every time I remind myself of the game).

3. Should I vote for Joe the Plumber or Joe Six-pack?

I do realize that I have a really really great life for which I feel extremely blessed when these are my top three problems for the day.

Funny Journal Stories

I have a little journal I keep for each kid where I write down all the funny things they say and do and big life accomplishments. We spend lots of Sunday's reading them outloud and laughing about the crazy things they've done in years prior. Here are two recent Roz stories that were to good to not go public. (and not very PC)
#1
Roz - Mom, if my friends have brown skin does that mean they were born in Mexico??
Mom - Maybe
Roz - so do you think it's a good idea if I see someone with brown skin to say "hola"?
(it made me smile and wonder what her definition of brown skin is, she has every ethnic group in her class and all of their skin is brown, so who knows, there's going to be some confused little cute Indian girl when Roz says "hola" to everytime she sees her.)
#2
Sunday night we were going over the 4th Article of Faith and trying to help the kids remember the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel. They guessed faith, repentance and baptism by immersion but were hung up on the fourth. Chris and I tried to prompt them by singing the song and seeing if they could fill in the blanks. As soon as we got to fourth, laying on...Rozlyn interupts with "a seed" and Chris and I keep singing the right words, laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. Rozlyn said in an excited way "oh I was so close, I guessed laying on a seed, but it was really laying on a pan for the gift of the Holy Ghost". Apparantly her whole life she's heard and thought you had to lay on a pan to get the Holy Ghost. She was sure going to be confused in March at Charlotte's baptism, good thing we could clarify. I now can't get the song out of my head, and of course I have to sing "laying on a pan" because it makes me laugh.

Charlotte now has a journal of her own and those entries are precious as well. Here's what she wrote on Sunday. (I left her spelling and grammer unedited, including her lack of periods, I know she inherited these weaknesses from me)
"Mom had a baby it was a girl her name is Mallory Jane Graham she is adorabel she has a breathing whisler in her throght Dad dosen't like it he said it was to sleep wit her doing it mom loves it she said she always falls asleep with her diong it. she was the tallest one and the chubbiest one dad called her chubs in the hospital. then he stoped and strted calling her malpal thats her nickname now caus every buddy in her family calls her that sometimes I call her Malls but not often"
Maybe I need to get out more but it totally cracked me up.

That tricky husband

Yesterday we were hanging out in the kitchen and Chris pulls out an envelope and asks me if I wondered what was in it. Way back when we got our 20 week ultrasound I begged and pleaded to let this baby be a suprise. I'd always found out in the past and knew this might be my last chance to have the suprise. I tried to convince Chris for the 20 weeks prior but he never consented. A week or so before the ultrasound he realized I'd given up my fight to convince him of how fun it would be and he came up with this plan. We have the ultrasound, the tech writes down what it is with a picture and puts it in an envelope for us to take home. This way he could look if he "needed" to and I could be suprised. Part of the deal was that I couldn't know where the envelope was and I couldn't know if he knew or not. A month later I found the envelope, in a drawer all sealed up. I was proud of Chris that he hadn't looked and I guess I convinced myself that he wasn't going to look and kind of forgot about it all together.
So he looked!!! He knew what it was a month early. That rascal, I'm so proud that he was able to know without me ever finding out or leaking any clues at all. The poor guy had to spend many nights up late discussing the impossible boy names. I'm so happy that he was able to know and that I was able to be suprised and it worked out for both of us. What a tricker!!!
Here are some more picutres just for fun. I can't believe it's almost been two weeks!