Signs Your a Mother

- someone has tried to staple your hair

- you have driven to and from the Elementary school 4 times today

- you've cleaned yogurt off the bottom of your foot

- someone has licked your back pocket TWICE today

- you've done 5 loads of laundry, and...there's more to be done

- you brushed someone else's teeth this morning

- you celebrated this morning when you realized it was just you and your husband in the bed

- you used the blowdryer to heat up a 5 year old before school

- you had a contest to see who could eat all their lunch first

- you've measured someone's muscles

- you've given one child 2 baths in one day- one to get clean, one to keep him busy so you could clean

- you caught someone using markers on a doll's face

- you've smelled underwear to determine where they need to go

- you said nothing when someone hit himself in the head with a piece of glass from a picture frame and it shattered in his lap...natural consequences were enough there.

- you've turned on Diego 5 times today

- you've been kissed more in one day than a soap star

Gas Pains

My heart sunk when the engine light came on a few days ago. 

I was driving Scott to the bus stop when I heard the faint ding and the little engine picture lit up. crap.

What could this mean?

All I could think of was that engines are expensive.

I finally called our neighbor, whom we absolutely admire and are deeply indebted to, to take a look at it. 

He came by today and hooked this cool little machine up to the car that would tell him why the engine light came on.  

Here we go...

He read the little machine, slowly walked to my gas tank and flipped open the cover.

I had not screwed the gas cap on, it was just dangling there.

I grinned sheepishly.

"Could that really make the engine light come on!" I squealed.

"Yep" was the response.  

I screwed it on and the light turned off. 

Count your many blessings name them one by one, oh, and don't forget to screw on your gas cap!

in my defense:

The last time I got gas I had a 15 cents off per gallon coupon, thus my gas was around 1.70/gallon.  Unheard of.  I think I was so excited when I finished filling up that I simply forgot to screw the cap on.  And I'm pregnant.  There. 

More Dentist Trips

Today I took Chloe & Asher to the dentist.  Cole came along to get a little cavity filled (no shots needed) and Aidan came because I didn't have anyone to watch him. I just recently switched dentists for the kids .  My kids all do very well with the dentist and such I just thought they needed someone who understood kid's teeth better.  I was tickled when it was announced that neither Chloe nor Asher had any cavities!!! YEAH!  They were both thrilled too.  Asher also has quit grinding his teeth at night.  (At one point he tried to talk us into putting a t.v. in his room so he could relax and then not grind his teeth in his sleep.  Creative, huh?)  Chloe's got some major crowding and I guess we can start rubbing our nickels together now to save up for braces in the future.   I think the switch to a pediatric dentist was a good one.  Their office is so fun for kids.  Because Aidan didn't have any work done today, he didn't get to pick another prize like Cole did.  He was very disappointed.  The dentist had to smile when Aidan piped up, " If I get a cavity, then can I have another prize?"  I made him a deal that if he doesn't get a cavity next time I'll buy him a prize.  

And now to see if you are all as confounded as I was. 

On the way home Aidan asked me, "If a place says it's a place does it have to be that thing?"  

That's a direct quote.

I thought for a minute and said, "Yes".

He replies, "So the Naked Brothers Band has to be naked?"

New answer, "No".  "And where did you hear about the Naked Brothers Band!?"

OUCH!E

Yesterday Aidan went and played with a friend.  He came home bleeding.

Seems his mouth met up with someone's head.

First I noticed the bloody lip, but upon closer examination I noticed 3 of his top teeth had blood coming from the gums and were lose.  

Fantastic.

This poor kid is going to have all his teeth knocked out.  Remember the porch incident? 

Well, today ironically, he had a dentist's appointment.  

The dentist noted, indeed he had been hit quite hard in the mouth.  Let's hope those permanent teeth still decide to descend.  

His gums today are somewhat swollen and bruised.  

The real kicker to this whole story....he never shed a tear.  

To celebrate a decade of Chloe

Chloe is 10 today!  I cannot believe that in 2 short years she'll be going into Young Women's!  AHHH! I decided to celebrate our 10 years of Chloe I'd list my top 10 reasons I love this girl:

1. She's always thinking of others

2. She loves to create

3. She's an excellent example for her brothers

4. Behind that sweet demeanor lies one aggressive soccer star!

5. She reminds me to be a better person, simply by being

6. She loves vegetables

7. She's an excellent foot massager

8. She makes friends with ease, and has all different kinds of friends

9. She still kisses me goodbye every morning

10. She finds joy in doing what's right.

I love you Chloe.  What a special gift we received for our first child. 

I'll never forget the day I was laying on my bed and I was quite pregnant with Aidan.  Chloe told me she'd rub my feet. 

She had just turned 5. 

While we were sitting there she looked up at me so sincerely and said, "Mom, I'm so glad Heavenly Father sent me to you".  

I couldn't have said it any better myself.

Happy Birthday sis.  

Footie Jammies for ALL

Asher and Chloe decided they both wanted a pair of footie jammies.  You know what I'm talking about right?  The pajamas with feet in them that zip all the way up...for babies.  I wasn't sure that they made them in their sizes even, but I obliged and told them they could earn some.  So they went about doing extra chores and I took them to Target. 

Lo and behold, they had footie jammies in their sizes, and on sale.  So they each picked out a pair.  They put them on at home and really loved them???  

Well, after I put everyone to bed I went down to the office to help Scott type up a homework assignment.  I could hear Asher over our heads in bed making all kinds of strange noises.  After we finished I went up to do one more kid check.  

This is what I saw when I walked in to check on Asher.

             

I was cracking up.  

The kid had his head completely in the blinds and was sound asleep with his face smooshed on the windowsill!  I love it, all zipped in his footie jammies sleeping skewampus.  (I sure have used some interesting terminology today).  Anyhow, I thought it was good for a laugh. 

I'll have to post a pic of all of them in their footie jammies later.  Aidan is earning his today, and I'll have to see if Cole is still willing to wear his since I accidentally zipped him up in his...you know what I mean. 

It was traumatic for both of us.  

Anyhow, here's to footie jammies and the joy they bring.  

Teacher for a day....or two, or three?

I really love to take pictures.  And I've loved messing around on Photoshop Elements.  However, I have very, VERY limited knowledge there.  I mess around and such, but it only takes me so far.  I've never taken that big jump and tried actually reading something about the program.

Lucky for me I happened to bug Em and ask if we could video chat or share screens(love you Mac)  or such and she could show me some things. After using John as our liaison and then promptly dismissing him after it worked, we connected online. (thanks John) My one or two questions quickly turned into a session of several hours.  

It was AWESOME!  

It's  was so nice to have someone with so much knowledge explain, and work my mouse for me.  Remembering everything she taught me will definitely require some hands-on training, but I am so excited to try some stuff out.  

Anyhow, here is just a very small sample of something she taught me that she did with just a few quick clicks of the mouse, and isn't it cool?  

Thanks again Em!

Daddy Weekend

I know I've posted something like this before, but I had to do it again.  

When Scott is home all weekend Cole just sticks to him like glue.  He has to sit right next to him at dinner (as in scoot his chair so it's touching Scott's chair), he makes Scott give him horsey rides, watches "ego" (Diego) while laying on Scott's stomach, and generally just makes Scott play any game he can come up with.  On Saturday I was busy cleaning the house while the kids were at Primary Activity.  

Cole was busy bringing out board games to play with Scott.  

Eventually he got a ball and decided he wanted Scott to play catch with him.

"Get on the floor Dad" he yells as he runs upstairs to get the ball.  

He came back with a little basketball.  They passed it back and forth. 

Then Cole decided to up the ante and got out a large silver bowl for Scott to throw the ball into.

Scott laughed at the challenge thrown before him, and of course complied. 

And then, like any good physical therapist, he really pushed his Dad and gave his Dad the large silver bowl and got a small pot for himself that Scott now had to try and get that ball into.  

I just loved watching and laughing.  

Who needs to go to physical therapy when you've got a kid like this around.  

Thoughtful Baker

This morning I laid out Scott's church clothes and went about my business getting the kids ready.  When Scott made it to the bathroom to get ready I noticed he was really sweating.  I asked him if he was alright and he said he thought he had a fever and he really wasn't feeling well.  So he headed back to bed.  We went to church without him and Chloe began thinking of something she could do for her Dad.  This is what she came up with.  All by herself, she baked this cake in two round pans, frosted it, layered it, decorated it, and we lit the candles and served it up to the sick man after dinner.  Isn't she amazing!  All by herself!  And it was fantastic! 

KIndness

I took Scott to the bus stop yesterday morning, in a blizzard.  It was difficult to see the road and it was slippery.  When we arrived his power chair was covered with snow.  I dusted it off the best I could and he loaded up.  He wore a jacket and some gloves.  I'd say he wasn't really prepared for the snow.  Unfortunately, he doesn't have the luxury of sitting in his car until the bus pulls in and then running to the stop.  So he unloaded and waited at the curb as the big flakes covered his glasses.  I was really feeling bad and hesitated leaving the park and ride. 

Then I noticed a lady with a large umbrella approaching Scott and sharing her umbrella.  I pulled up to him and noticed it was our sweet neighbor Cindy.  She and her husband ride that bus in the morning.  I was so grateful for her kindness.  

It snowed all day on campus and Scott was soaked.  He had his bed warmer on all night, but failed to warm up.  

Today, he wore his winter coat. 

Fort?

I found Cole this morning, building this fort.  

I'm not sure he really understands the purpose of  a fort, but he sure enjoyed gathering random junk and making a huge pile.  Please note the 9x13 glass pan he is SITTING IN!

Happy Voting

Aidan:  Guess, what someone in my class said that wasn't even a funny joke?

Me:  What?

Aidan: He said he was voting for Obama.

Time Change.... BONUS!

Yes, we totally forgot about the time change this morning.  We were about half way ready for church when it hit me.  Suddenly, we had an extra hour to get ready for church. 

When does that happen?   

Scott has decided he doesn't not prefer "extra" time before church for the following reasons:

I had time to floss his teeth, clip his eyebrows (yes, I said eyebrows), clean out his ears,  get him out a tie and force him to wear it, etc. 

 He really loved it!

Boy did he look fantastic today- he even had a fresh haircut.  I love that he will just sit there with a "get this over with"  look on his face while I go about my "manscaping", if you will.  

Love you honey.  Happy Daylight Savings.

Merry Christmas!

I am about to totally "out" myself, but I have to.

Last year Aidan got this amazing Roboraptor dinosaur.  

It was remote controlled and had all these cool features, like it can tell when something is in front of it and stop and sniff it, etc, etc.

Well, guess what?  I never bought enough batteries to get that thing running.  

I know, Great Mom Award!

So, I saw it the other day and decided it was time. 

We filled that thing up with $20.00 of batteries and turned it on. 

It has been the center of attention.  It makes Cole squeal and the kids all love it. 

Well, tonight they left it in "Roam" mode while they all headed up to shower, or bathe, or do whatever would make them smell better.

I was busy typing Scott's architecture notes and kept hearing some strange sounds.  

Scott was finishing his dinner. 

"It's like Jurassic Park in here", he mutters from the table.  

I walk in the kitchen to find our Christmas dinosaur has crossed the floor and is attacking Scott's wheelchair!

Happy Holidays!