tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36795204853584167462012-01-30T14:27:15.004-07:00Apples2OrangesDon't try to compare your life to mine. That would be like comparing APPLES TO ORANGES!Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.comBlogger6641100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-31653381086880256192012-01-29T11:50:00.002-07:002012-01-30T12:16:23.163-07:00Highs and Lows January 29, 2012LOWS:
Went to all the trouble to sign Brooke up for dance, get her new shoes, tights and a bag, then forgot to take her to the class.
Flying out to Orange County for a work function for Shawn...and as usual, we were late. We had to catch a later flight, which routed us through Vegas, and we arrived at the hotel with 15 minutes to spare before a Black Tie event.
Stuffed myself to sickness atAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-32669779226899104152012-01-23T11:39:00.000-07:002012-01-30T11:39:09.109-07:00Sunset on a Sunday EveningWe went for a sunset walk yesterday. We actually just wanted to go feed some ducks at the pond. There is a Riparian Preserve behind the local library and it turned out to be much larger than we thought. We wish we had gone earlier to enjoy more of it, but what we did see was perfect. We fed the ducks, and then later, saw the sign that said: “Please don’t feed the ducks bread, it is harmful Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-55344666149485889372012-01-22T21:10:00.001-07:002012-01-22T21:11:58.679-07:00Highs and Lows January 22, 2012LOWS:
Luke had to have booster shots. I really, truly dread taking my kids to get shots. The worst part is when they are babies, and don't know what's coming. That first shot shocks them, and they look up with that look of betrayal at me...and then 3-4 more shots keep coming! Oh, it just kills me. Luke had 2, didn't cry, just said "OWWW!", then freaked out when she started on the other arm.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-50564273920277803042012-01-21T22:11:00.000-07:002012-01-22T22:12:22.130-07:00Make Up Fun…for someone Sugar received for Christmas a Barbie carry all full of Barbie type makeup. She’s been dying to use it. So far we’ve painted her nails multiple times, and she’s sprayed on the glitter perfume. The makeup part, well, I’ve been postponing, mainly because I knew it would turn out like this: Woo hoo! I’m sporting some serious cadaver like makeup! The amount of glitter, purple eye shadow Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-62783747132301881362012-01-17T16:44:00.002-07:002012-01-22T17:12:24.585-07:00I love, love, LOVE Kindergarten!Yeah, ME, I love it, and haven’t been in it since 1979. I really love Kindergarten, especially when I have a child in that grade. They blossom and grow so much. Each one of my kids so far has made dramatic leaps and bounds in all areas of their lives during Kindergarten, and it has been fun to watch.
The biggest change, and the one I am most excited for, is when they begin to read. There is Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-80002652201215045372012-01-15T16:33:00.001-07:002012-01-22T17:10:49.711-07:00New DressIt’s a good thing Brooke likes the clothes I buy for her, because if not, I would be very, very sad. As for right now, I can put her in practically any fancy dress, and she will oooh and ahh over it. I love black and white, and this dress seemed Parisian, girly and just right for Brooke. I can thank Costco for this one.
The only thing she wouldn’t let me do this day was curl her hair---I Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-50857696084776783592012-01-15T14:15:00.001-07:002012-01-18T14:35:03.422-07:00Highs and Lows January 15, 2012LOWS:
It was one of those weeks that had me on errands every day and I never felt caught up.
My Doctor told me that in order to induce me, I would have to have a Bishop's Score of 8. I looked this up and for me to reach an 8, I am in active labor. I'm not happy. I do not go into labor on my own, so if it's not an induction I'm looking at going over my due date. At this point, I'm thinking Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-74673809703479414892012-01-13T11:42:00.003-07:002012-01-22T17:13:29.067-07:008 Months
I’d like to thank my wonderful and talented photographer Luke, who without his OCD type dedication to taking sideways blurry pictures of me, these 2 shots would never have been possible. I included the second one because you can tell that I really truly have a baby belly there, as some people refused to believe the last time I posted. Also, this is the biggest I have ever been at this stage ofAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-78526170000180478742012-01-09T11:24:00.001-07:002012-01-22T17:11:34.373-07:00If you need to use a bathroom, don’t come to my house
Now, I can’t be sure, because I don’t have any evidence and the only eye-witness is a 3 year old who doesn’t understand the difference between truth and fantasy, but I’m pretty sure Luke isn’t entirely responsible for this mess. He was in that bathroom for a long, long time—supposedly going to the bathroom. Unless he is Rainbow Brite and poops paint, he obviously wasn’t going to the bathroom.
Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-25017851061123433852012-01-08T21:36:00.000-07:002012-01-08T21:36:16.037-07:00Highs and Lows January 8, 2012LOWS:
Got sick, bad. It was strep, or staph, or bronchitis, or something...the Doctor didn't even bother with a culture. He saw a white spot on my tonsil, saw my bleeding throat and said whatever it is, this z-pack will clear it up. That man was great. It was weird having an Asian Doctor walk into the room, which was filled with my kids since it was Christmas vacation and say: "YO! You Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-82178730788128895462012-01-08T11:14:00.001-07:002012-01-22T17:11:17.437-07:00Luke is a Sunbeam!
This is Luke’s self-posed portrait before Church on his first Sunday as a Sunbeam. He insists on wearing one of his brothers’ ties every Sunday, which I think is really cute, since his brothers have to be forcibly dressed in their Church clothes and they complain about it every chance they get.
Luke moved up from Nursery to Primary this year in Church. He is my youngest child to begin nurseryAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-50037877696786227022012-01-05T19:14:00.000-07:002012-01-05T19:14:24.052-07:00Highs and Lows January 1, 2012Lows:
I am definitely getting sick. Staying up until 12 every night is simply dumb on my part.
Packing and filling the car for the ride home. It always seems so much harder to pack to come home, than to pack to go somewhere.
The kids were on the computer all the time at my parents house. They have this great backyard, yet I have to threaten them to get out there. I really hate parenting inAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-69979535332683833882011-12-30T11:04:00.001-07:002012-01-22T17:11:54.290-07:00Chrissy is a College Grad!
My beautiful little sister Chrissy graduated from BYU in December. She is super smart—she wants to be a nurse and graduated with some crazy Science degree. She is blonde and nice and never, ever had a tantrum or even made a single, solitary mess when she was a child. Which genes we actually share, I’m not sure!
We are all proud of Chrissy for graduating, and we got to go to this super Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-62096700099434225292011-12-25T21:55:00.002-07:002012-01-10T21:58:26.317-07:00A California ChristmasHow much more Southern California clichéd can you get than swimming in the pool on Christmas Eve? When we left the desert, it was in the mid 30’s every night and mid 50’s during the day, so NO WAY was anyone going swimming in any pool out there. Having a spa at Grandma’s makes the pool accessible 365 days a year. Plus, it wears those sweet little angels out—Amen.
From L-R: Tanner, Micah, LukeAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-68467141412671915972011-12-25T16:37:00.000-07:002011-12-25T16:37:13.795-07:00Highs and Lows December 25, 2011LOWS:
Last minute Christmas shopping, wrapping, present hiding, worry and anxiety over whether or not I got everyone something they like, if the kids would all come out even, and if I forgot anyone.
Had to delay our drive to California by a day due to work emergencies. Unhappy children.
The drive to California. I really think it's getting harder, not easier. Troubling.
For the past 3 nightsAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-37424562859784482732011-12-21T16:36:00.001-07:002011-12-22T16:36:57.568-07:00Today he LOVED SchoolWhy did he love school today?
Because of this:
It was a minimum day, the last day before Christmas break. The kids did a gift exchange. There was no real work, PLUS they spent most of the day decorating and eating Gingerbread Houses. A perfect day for 5th grade.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-12242058050847576402011-12-18T20:48:00.000-07:002011-12-18T20:48:25.224-07:00Highs and Lows December 18, 2011LOWS:
The water heater exploded and leaked through the walls and under the floors. It was a painful 3 days of plumbers, restoration folk, floor people and others giving me these huge 5 hour windows during which they would show up and tell me to wait for the next stage. We have heaters and blowers in 2 rooms downstairs, and they had to use the power from the laundry room as well, so I could Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-15000696047773979182011-12-18T16:33:00.001-07:002011-12-22T16:37:13.500-07:00Primary Nativity
That’s Brooke, just to the left of Mary. Each of the kids were able to dress up and help act out the Nativity in Church on Sunday. Brooke was a wonderful angel: Happy, Smiling, Quiet and Still. Cole was in Senior Primary, and I was in class then, so I didn’t come in for a picture. He probably would have been mad, anyway.
Seth and his friend Jacob were Wise Men. Seth fidgeted his way Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-89468372377663151712011-12-16T16:23:00.001-07:002011-12-22T16:37:38.608-07:00Visiting SantaCertain children were very happy to visit Santa Claus at a local hospital in Scottsdale the other day.
One child definitely was NOT happy to be with Santa.
Oh, wait….that’s Daddy in there! Hahahah….how funny, Daddy dressed up like Santa Claus!! I love Santa Claus now!
Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-1256503859319821332011-12-15T10:22:00.000-07:002011-12-15T10:22:04.947-07:00This is my Normal
Just a normal Thursday morning in my house. Can't find time to eat breakfast, find matching shoes or brush his teeth, but by golly, he finds time for mischief.
Cole covered his face in soot, and called himself "Cotton Eyed Joe". (I have no idea who this is or what the reference is.)
Another day in Crazyland.
Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-42788537726004831012011-12-14T17:37:00.002-07:002011-12-20T20:54:12.000-07:00Kinder Cookies and Craft NightThat Shawn….he always tries to pull a fast one on me. His facility went into survey this week, which means his hours are longer and crazier than before, and it’s just stress with the state reviewing every aspect of the building and giving a final grade at the end of it all. Naturally, I assumed that he would not be able to make it to Brooke’s Cookies and Craft Night at School. As we were Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-85174466431837238322011-12-14T14:58:00.003-07:002011-12-14T21:01:49.032-07:00Leggings, Henry Higgins, Natural Childbirth and a Swear Word.I must have pregnancy depression. I’m not usually a depressed person, per se…I’m not the sunshine in the room, bubbly optimistic person either, but to say I am a basic depressed individual would be very wrong.
Lately, I’m just not happy. Everything is getting on my nerves. Everything. Drivers of other cars are the worst. Every other person on this planet is absolutely incompetent behind a Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-47706748700293850642011-12-11T19:06:00.000-07:002011-12-11T19:06:38.140-07:00Highs and Lows December 11, 2011LOWS:
The kids are whining about the measly chores they do every day, so I doubled the jobs and gave them a new chore chart. I spend my afternoons and evenings being a drill sergeant because a kind voice and kind words do not have any effect on them. Not so fun, but hoping it will pay off.
I scheduled too many play dates for the kids this week. They had 3. It is just too chaotic and wild..Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-71563005113468933232011-12-08T20:55:00.001-07:002011-12-20T20:54:36.377-07:00Which one is my kid?Seth’s 3rd Grade Christmas Musical Production.
Shawn was pleased because they actually sang Christmas Carols, as opposed to Holiday Songs.
I was pleased because the entire concert was 5 songs, 20 minutes, show over. Plus, nobody knows me or can connect me to the crazy boy on the back row that made these faces during each and every song.
Other than the fact that it was Standing Room Only, and atAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-39598590707464443122011-12-06T17:59:00.002-07:002011-12-06T18:00:47.529-07:00Jokester
This is Cole’s idea of a joke. Seth agrees with him. I see problems with the local fire department in my future.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-49109843384995834382011-12-05T17:24:00.001-07:002011-12-22T16:37:59.052-07:00Entertaining Themselves Isn’t Always A Great Thing
Sure, they were having fun—except for Brooke who screamed every 2.5 seconds at least—and they kept busy, and were creative and got some exercise.
But boy, what a mess! The noise level was akin to a rock concert, and when they were all tired out NO ONE had the energy to lug those mattresses and every single pillow upstairs to put away.
Cole came up with this genius plan and his friend TannerAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-17169305068267377652011-12-05T09:20:00.002-07:002011-12-06T18:00:28.932-07:00My BiographyApparently, I am fascinating enough of a person to warrant my very own biography! Who knew? Seth (aka Setho…he started telling everyone here in Gilbert that he likes to be called Setho, and now people call him Setho when talking to me about him…the eccentric side of his creativity is showing early) asked me some questions, and I thought we were just having a talk about my childhood. He Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-71528431722100482872011-12-04T17:49:00.001-07:002011-12-04T17:51:56.324-07:00Highs and Lows December 4, 2011LOWS:
Am very indecisive about Christmas this year. I've found great stuff on Amazon, but getting presents so the kids feel it is all "even" is a struggle. Well, at least for Cole and Seth--Brooke will be fine with what she gets, and if Luke gets one Lightning McQueen car he'll be good to go. Now I feel way behind since I've bought nothing and my anxiety is increasing.
I went to yoga, and Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-10155323618021140052011-12-03T11:50:00.001-07:002011-12-10T12:03:26.935-07:00SantaAt the end of the infamous ward Christmas party in which Shawn went home for an Advil and never returned, the kids all got to sit on Santa’s lap. I was close enough to hear what they asked for—and surprised that what they asked for was not something on any of the multiple Christmas Wish List’s they’ve made.
Sugar asked for a doll. She never plays with dolls anymore.
Seth asked for Bey BladesAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-49718902930315400412011-12-02T11:37:00.002-07:002011-12-07T11:55:36.939-07:00The Spelling BeeSeth won his class Spelling Bee, which entered him into the school wide Spelling Bee. He kept talking about the prize, which he thought would probably be an I Pad. I had him study the packet of words for 30 minutes every night. Seth has a near photographic memory, so I felt like this was going to be really easy for him. He was motivated, he studied, it was really cute.
The big day came. Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-46180154393931149742011-11-30T11:35:00.002-07:002011-12-02T22:09:36.907-07:007 months
About 10 hours from now, after I’ve eaten dinner and am bloated, I’ll look twice as large.
This is me at 27 weeks, which is the start of month 7. I do NOT have skinny arms, but this picture makes it appear that I do. I do have really badly colored and cut hair, and this picture makes it appear as nothing more.
This is a fat roll picture. I do not let myself get photographed when I am Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-47209159712579494402011-11-27T19:24:00.000-07:002011-11-27T19:24:05.611-07:00Highs and Lows November 27, 2011LOWS:
Cole is doing very poorly in math at school. He has completely forgotten all of his times tables--??? He freaks out when I drill him, and even though he passes all the tests I give him, he fails them at school. Shawn is really pushing me to look into charter schools, and none of them seem to be quite what I'm looking for. I've been looking for private tutors, but have hit a brick wall,Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-3503720438208401222011-11-23T20:33:00.002-07:002011-12-02T22:09:16.285-07:00Thankful
This season, for some wacky reason, the craft bug bit me. I don’t really enjoy making things with my hands—mainly because nothing has ever turned out. I follow directions, but it all sort of gets lost in translation, you know?
This year, I happened to be reading a blog that I love, which is totally weird since it’s a total DIY craft blog. On the day we decided to stay in Arizona for Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-5067556927966855852011-11-22T22:06:00.001-07:002011-12-02T22:08:48.078-07:00Brooke’s Thanksgiving FeastBrooke was so excited for us to come to her Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast. We arrived just in time for the class picture. I’m not sure how the kids decided who was a Pilgrim and who was an Indian, but Brooke was very pleased with being an Indian Squaw.
Here is the entire class with the teacher.
Happy, happy, happy. It’s so nice in Kindergarten: your child is so very overjoyed to have a Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-79304108485170603492011-11-21T14:36:00.001-07:002011-12-02T22:08:12.437-07:00Sharing Time Dress Up
Brooke and Seth were able to play dress up in Primary last week. Each of those kids were dressed up as members of a family and then they acted out certain parts. Seth was the Dad, and Brooke was the Mom. My favorite part was the wig…Brooke’s wig looked great until I snapped this shot with my I-phone.
Man, this made me really miss being in Primary. Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-61177188626318999312011-11-20T17:18:00.000-07:002011-11-20T17:18:15.379-07:00Highs and Lows November 20, 2011LOWS:
My headaches are back.
Kids were late to school twice. I have also accepted the fact that they will not be walking to school this year. I'm the pajama chauffeur, once again.
Luke is seriously anal retentive. I've tried everything, and nothing is working. I hate poop issues.
We invited 6 kids over yesterday to play in the bounce house, and my kids all ended up fighting with each Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-50971635993779492011-11-18T14:49:00.001-07:002011-12-02T22:07:45.877-07:00I do it Myself!The whole “I do it by myself” thing with a 3 year old can be a challenge. He wants to tie his shoes, brush his own teeth, put his seatbelt on, make his bed, start my car….but not poop in the potty. Other than the diaper issue, having a fairly independent child can go one of two ways:
1)It can make life so easy since said child can pretty much take care of himself;
OR
2)It can drive you Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-9837319645184705182011-11-15T12:57:00.001-07:002011-11-24T13:01:16.338-07:00The Picture you wont get, but Awkward Family Photos will, or, the Christmas Card Photo DilemmaFamily pictures are torture. I don’t know how everyone else in America gets all their kids—babies included—to look and smile at the camera at the same time. It’s one of the mysteries of the universe to me.
As I fill out addresses to the Christmas cards I’m sending out with the picture that was the most acceptable, I decided to share some pictures that, well, weren’t. Not even close. Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-48527331287998595962011-11-13T19:01:00.002-07:002011-11-13T22:00:32.841-07:00Highs and Lows, November 13, 2011
LOWS
I was on vacation all week, so I can’t really say there were any lows. The airline lost our luggage, but it came later that night so it all worked out.
Have to speak in Church next Sunday. This is always an extremely dreaded experience for me.
HIGHS
Shawn and I had 5 days of no children. Our Hawaii vacation that didn’t happen actually worked out, because I found out it rained all week Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-11775441021791421752011-11-12T18:48:00.001-07:002011-11-13T22:00:19.263-07:00They can't all be happy at the same time
5 people in a bathtub...doesn't sound too fun to me. That's why I never take a bath--even in awesome bathtubs like this one--because I will always have company.
The kids crowded in here one at a time and by the time Sugar squeezed in, Seth was not happy about it. I'm surprised it isn't Shawn frowning...I know I would be if it were me.
Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-76160786761121476722011-11-10T21:56:00.001-07:002011-11-13T21:59:54.109-07:00Shawn’s 40th BirthdayShawn’s birthday turned into a week long celebration. He deserved every ounce of love and attention he received. Shawn is one amazing guy and I am so happy he is mine!
40 is a big deal, so why not celebrate for a week? In total, he had 4 Birthday desserts, one for each decade. These were just two—the ice cream sundae with all the waiters singing “Happy Birthday” to him, and this insanely goodAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-77515670125800898872011-11-07T09:55:00.001-07:002011-12-11T19:12:53.976-07:00My Kids ask to go to the DoctorsI found this great pediatrician. I call him great because he is some kind of expert in asthma. He gave me a list of 8-10 steps that both Cole and Seth had to follow in order to get the asthma under control. Then he gave me all of these free samples for the meds. Definitely great in my book.
My kids have their own reasons for thinking he is great.
His dog comes to work with him and visits Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-87012877884026774252011-11-06T20:55:00.000-07:002011-11-06T20:55:56.803-07:00Highs and Lows November 6, 2011Lows:
Cole and Seth have had really bad asthma/allergies. When the weather abruptly changes--in either direction--they get sick. Last week Cole had a fever, and last night Seth was up all night barfing. Not just asthma and allergies anymore.
The Luke poop situation. I even tried laxatives and he's still holding it in. Poor kid.
Every night I am waking up multiple times to multiple people Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-75457851498340348822011-10-31T19:15:00.001-07:002011-12-11T19:12:32.513-07:00HalloweenJust a note to myself for next year: feed the kids cereal or toast for dinner on Halloween. They are way too excited for a real meal, and it’s not worth the hassle or preparation. It’s not like I went all out, though. I made Sloppy Joes, had a vegetable platter for me and made this divine punch someone brought to Seth’s class party. It’s basically 1 part Ginger Ale, 1 part Strawberry Soda, Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-46020954949568158212011-10-31T13:47:00.001-07:002011-12-11T19:13:09.814-07:00Cole’s Class PartyCole’s 5th grade class had a Halloween Party and once again I could go since siblings were invited, too.
Per Cole’s very specific request, I brought in store bought sugar cookies with orange frosting and sprinkles. I noticed just about everything else there was hand made. This is the first school the kids have attended that didn’t require store bought, unopened food for all parties.
I really Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-27592231948877823032011-10-30T10:05:00.001-07:002011-11-15T10:09:23.596-07:00Pumpkin CarvingEveryone took pumpkin carving very seriously this year. They each had these fantastical ideas about how their pumpkin should look—even Luke who wanted me to follow a certain picture and make a ghost pumpkin. I LOVED carving pumpkins when I was a kid. It was such a holiday ritual that it wouldn’t have felt like Halloween if we hadn’t done it. Almost every single one of my kids hates pulling Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-45783438734630341322011-10-29T11:08:00.001-07:002011-11-13T21:59:34.274-07:00Trunk or TreatThis new ward didn’t have a Trunk or Treat…I think that’s blasphemous. Then again, they have a tiny Primary, so maybe they thought it wasn’t worth it.
It worked out, because it gave us the perfect excuse to head back to our old Phoenix Ward and attend that Trunk or Treat. As soon as we got off the freeway I felt like I was going home…I really miss Phoenix and Desert Ridge
The parking lot wasAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-2059175557999348782011-10-28T10:55:00.001-07:002011-11-13T21:59:18.702-07:00Halloween ParadeThe kids like their new school…mainly because on the first day they all got candy and no homework.
They also like the bit about being able to wear Halloween costumes to school—no other school they have attended allowed that. I liked that I was invited to the class parties—and told young children were welcome…another first.
We started with the parade. The Kindergartners wore their pumpkin Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-68849548658632534362011-10-25T22:31:00.002-07:002011-11-16T10:21:15.818-07:00Shawn’s Hobby and my love for In N Out
One day Shawn told me he joined a triathlon training group.
HUH?
It’s with a lot of doctors that he works with, and he claims it is an important relationship bond with a certain hospital/insurance group. All I know is that it requires him to work out for at least 1.5 hours a day, 6 days a week. That includes loooong bike rides, jogging, weight lifting and swimming.
Under normal living Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-58494635824271299352011-10-23T17:05:00.000-07:002011-10-23T17:05:05.704-07:00Highs and Lows October 23, 2011LOWS:
The move. It's boxes, boxes everywhere, and nothing important in them that I really need. And we spent 3 days going back and forth between Phoenix and Gilbert to get the last bits of junk and to clean.
Change.
I really, really, really miss my old friends and ward and the school for the kids.
The kids didn't get into the school I wanted them to because we aren't in the boundary and Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-51650497509144889822011-10-22T20:01:00.001-07:002011-11-13T21:59:03.144-07:00Knitting, crocheting or just plain cheating?Our brand new ward held a service day on Saturday.
One of the services we could participate in was knitting baby caps for local hospitals. This was the best bet of all my choices. What really surprised me was that Seth didn’t want to hang out with the kids, but wanted to learn how to make these caps.
There was this round plastic circle with pegs, and the work was very repetitive and easy. Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-9530379709160552282011-10-10T14:41:00.001-07:002011-11-13T21:58:44.411-07:00Moving AgainI used to wonder about those people that moved every 1-3 years. Why would they do it, I mean other than job transfers? How could you possibly CHOOSE to go through a move? I figured those people burned bridges and had to move on, or were seriously ADD and got bored with an area really quickly or some other sort of nonsense.
Joke’s on me…we’ve now moved 3 times in 1 1/2 years. How’s that for Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-67587950157433966732011-10-09T09:04:00.000-07:002011-10-11T09:20:14.855-07:00Highs and Lows October 9, 2011LOWS:
Moving. What a hassle. We have a lot of junk that I didn't notice until I had to start packing. I am the queen of throwing stuff out. If we haven't used it in the last 2 months, if it's sat in the same place since we moved here a year ago, if I consider it clutter or it's broken--trash. I've made every single person in the family mad at me by throwing things out. Haha...I win. Crap Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-68639031381335225602011-10-07T11:49:00.001-07:002011-11-13T21:58:21.979-07:00The Tower of Babel Bedtime PhenomenonI’m not sure how it is in anyone else’s house at bedtime, but around here it’s chaos. It’s like the tower of Babel: I give instructions, and not a single person understands me. It’s as if I am suddenly speaking some incomprehensible foreign language.
Brush teeth: saalksng ldjn.
Put on Pajamas: qorik lire mewsliu.
Get a book and get in bed: alkjd,d wlek…lskjfoiu,lskjdfoiuw. I actually Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-56978872342139949222011-10-03T10:57:00.002-07:002011-10-06T14:50:22.239-07:00A Monkey Wrench in my Life’s PlanThis was Luke 24/7 until he was about 17 months old. Shawn would tell you I exaggerate, but he wasn’t home very much then so frankly, how would he know?
All of my pregnancies have been hard—really hard. I am sick for a solid 20 weeks and by sick, I mean one puke session away from being hospitalized for dehydration. It’s constant, painful and just plain torture.
Pregnancy is painful Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-22891393175475821852011-10-03T09:32:00.002-07:002011-11-02T09:39:15.747-07:00Luke’s 3rd BirthdayI love 3rd birthdays…mainly because the child is no longer 2. 2 is hard in my house.
3rd birthdays are really easy to pull off and the birthday child is usually very easy to please. No work, big rewards, good for me.
Luke wanted pizza, a Cars cake and a rocket ship. No problem.
We had our pizza, we played with some balloons. Luke opened presents, then we got out the cake.
This would be so Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-66630474389530650842011-10-02T18:05:00.000-07:002011-10-02T18:05:14.181-07:00Highs and Lows October 2, 2011LOWS:
It is still hotter here than most summers anywhere else in the world.
Luke, Cole and I all have little colds. Not enough of a sickness to stop us from doing anything, just the stuffiness that keeps you up at night kind of annoying cold. I love Tylenol Cole PM!! It works for about 6 hours which is more sleep than I get without it.
It seems like our cars are just falling apart. Luke Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-35120487201157542252011-09-26T10:58:00.001-07:002011-09-26T11:00:28.218-07:00He's 90% sweet and 10% pure trouble
I feel like I complain about Cole and his lack of focus and general hijinks a lot, and that I forget to point out what a true sweetheart he is. Since he's the oldest, I think Shawn and I expect more out of him than the other kids, and I know from being the oldest how much I hated that. I feel bad when he gets caught in one of my Mean Mommy tirades simply because he is in the room. I feel bad Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-25619176970020100492011-09-25T19:19:00.000-07:002011-09-25T19:19:54.637-07:00Highs and Lows September 25, 2011LOWS:
Luke used my cell phone as a hammer, so I had to get a new screen. 3 hours, 2 Apple stores and $108.00 later, I have a new screen. This was the phone I just had replaced last month. No matter where I had it, my kids find it.
I'm procrastinating packing, and I think the worry over the packing is worse than the actual packing.
Cole has a head cold and it's moving over toward me...bad Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-35314819249396960182011-09-18T09:06:00.000-07:002011-09-21T09:30:59.480-07:00Highs and Lows September 18, 2011LOWS:
The air went out in my car this week and I had 4 days of no a/c. Fortunately it was not the week of 112 degrees, but at 98 degrees and the windows down, we were all stuck to our seats with sweat. On Thursday--my big carpool day--the heat gave me a migraine that lasted for days. I broke out the vicodin and thanked heaven for modern medicine.
Thursday carpool day...I hate this afternoon Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-30852421953844625012011-09-17T16:21:00.002-07:002011-10-06T16:49:13.036-07:00Naked CowboyI fondled the real Naked Cowboy of NYC way back in 2004. It was awesome because I had my hand on the very firm butt of some stranger in a pair of underwear and my husband took the picture! That thought brings a smile to my face every time.
Just on a side note, my family hates this picture of me because they say I look weird. Yes, I have a goofy expression on my face what with my tongue Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-22187995909680045572011-09-16T15:00:00.001-07:002011-10-06T15:04:40.769-07:00Scooter PeopleFor some reason or another, I found myself taking Cole and Seth with me to the grocery store. This is never a good thing. I always spend way more money than I plan on doing, since I use treats as bribery to keep them from embarrassing me. Most grocery store trips with them have always ended up with some stranger or store manager feeling the need to have a parenting discussion with me.
On thisAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-23912290903210999102011-09-11T19:01:00.000-07:002011-09-11T19:01:33.278-07:00Highs and Lows September 11, 2011LOWS:
After school insanity. Serious note to self: have only one child in a sport at a time.
My kids fight. A LOT. No one seems to get along. I always have to explain a very obvious compromise, but no one is interested. Can we say "selfish"?
I like the YMCA, but I am spending way too much time there NOT working out. We are there for 2 basketball practices, and they are in the evening Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-21845844379565638192011-09-10T08:48:00.001-07:002011-09-30T08:50:31.996-07:00Rock Climbing WallAfter Cole’s basketball game on Saturday, the YMCA finally had their rock wall ready to climb. Seth and Cole went up really quickly—too fast for a picture. But Sugar and Luke took their time, and once they made it to the top, they wanted to do it over and over again.
Sugar quit half way up the first time, but once she saw the boys do it, she gave it another go and made it.
Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-66240027966297317652011-09-07T12:13:00.001-07:002011-10-06T14:47:26.245-07:00Pack MeetingMost Cub Scout Pack Meetings are pretty commonplace. The September Pack meeting had a special visitor, and therefore it was memorable. Also, my kids beat the crap out of the poor special visitor, and the shame I felt will stay with me for quite some time.
The Phoenix Sun’s mascot—and I don’t even know what he is called other than the Pack Leader’s brother—visited our troop and handed out Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-27293181712954473682011-09-05T11:59:00.001-07:002011-10-06T14:47:55.418-07:00Labor Day with the CousinsBrett, Lisa and Company came out to Arizona for Labor Day Weekend. They stayed at this fun hotel in Peoria that we had stayed with them three years ago.
In September 2008, I was 9 months pregnant with Luke. Sugar wasn’t quite pool safe, and Shawn stayed in the room the entire time because it was too hot for him. Honest to gosh…who’s the pantywaist in this family now?
Brett played with the Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-76412130485358861712011-09-04T20:08:00.000-07:002011-09-04T20:08:28.885-07:00Highs and Lows September 4, 2011LOWS:
This week started the carpool craziness. I shouldn't complain too much since it's only T/W/TH, but those days are chock full of afternoon driving. Thursday is the worst, where I'm gone from 3:15 --7:30. Homework, dinner and chores all suffer. Isn't there a more experienced Mom Manual for this phase of mothering that I could consult for tips and tricks?
This freaking heat. 110 Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-57942204335623276152011-08-28T19:35:00.000-07:002011-08-28T19:35:38.765-07:00Highs and Lows August 28, 2011LOWS:
Monday: Luke locked me out of the house for 15 minutes while I was unloading groceries. It was 110 degrees. I tricked him into opening the door by lying about having candy and Popsicles.
Tuesday: What was meant to be Luke's first day of Pre-School (and my first ever time with all 4 children in school at the same time) was thwarted thanks to a flat tire with a razor blade in it. The Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-56251348355543658842011-08-26T19:28:00.001-07:002011-12-11T19:13:36.217-07:00Luke’s First Day of Preschool…ever!Not to be left out, Luke had his first day of preschool. We actually missed the real first day, because I had a flat tire and the tow truck took 2.5 hours to arrive just to spend 90 seconds inflating my tire enough for me to get to Big O Tires. I was so bummed. Luke didn’t really know any better, so at least I didn’t have a very sad and disappointed child to deal with as well.
As I got Luke Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-58808875020114061352011-08-24T10:13:00.002-07:002011-08-31T09:16:47.635-07:00The wrong kind of Sugar in the vending machineWe went bowling yesterday with my friend La Dawn and her kids. Everything was fine until the end, when we were paying for the games, and the kids were in the arcade. I thought all was well…until Cole ran over to me telling me there was an emergency and I had to come RIGHT NOW. He does this regularly as a joke, so I had to really look at him to know if he was joking or not. He wasn’t. He ledAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-43806661890881184702011-08-21T07:10:00.002-07:002011-08-22T07:28:51.889-07:00Highs and Lows August 21, 2011LOWS:
Had a few mornings of tears, tantrums and trouble getting these kids off to school. The tears were Sugar's, the tantrums Seth and the trouble, naturally, was Cole. I now have an open/closed kitchen policy in which it is open for breakfast for 15 minutes. If they miss it, they go to school hungry. Cole is the only one this is a problem for, and he's bypassed the consequence by grabbing Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-59551924517284294232011-08-18T14:17:00.001-07:002011-08-24T14:19:36.722-07:00Hillbilly ShowerAnother one of those dust storms came through Phoenix. We thought it was just a big rainstorm blessedly coming to cool us off. Shawn called us just in the nick of time to get inside. We still got plenty of dust in our eyes and lungs to last a lifetime. Once the bulk of it passed, and it began raining, I let the kids outside. Surprisingly, it rained hard for a good hour. I grabbed a lawn Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-66386406425579478672011-08-17T19:43:00.001-07:002011-12-11T19:14:14.702-07:00What the kids do when they should be workingIt was a typical afternoon around here. Homework, jobs, free time. I was working with Sugar in her room because she was crying and flailing about over having to put away 10 articles of clothing. Seriously, the drama, no matter my reaction, is always present.
Suddenly Seth ran into the room and told me Cole was in trouble. He brought me into my room to find Cole all tied up.
The boys were Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-42860333681100853672011-08-15T14:37:00.000-07:002011-09-21T14:38:42.661-07:00My Wishful Thinking
This is not going to happen anytime soon. He can get himself completely dressed--head to toe--even change his own diaper, but he refuses to use a potty. I tried everything. I know, I know..."When they're ready, they'll do it." Blah, blah, blah. It would be nice if my needs fit into his time frame, but that hasn't happened with my other 3 kids, why should Luke be any different?
One day Shawn Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-1535075089010926412011-08-14T20:25:00.002-07:002011-08-14T20:29:12.262-07:00Highs and Lows August 14, 2011LOWS:
Getting all of the last minute items ready for School to begin. The school suggested each child bring in 48 glue sticks. Seriously. They each brought one package of 6.
Pre-school jitters from Sugar. Multiple times this past week, while watching TV, eating dinner, or coloring, she would stop and yell: "I'M SO EXCITED!!!" She had a hard time sleeping, concentrating and being good. Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-83985770352597880862011-08-11T11:31:00.001-07:002011-09-28T11:33:23.195-07:00First Day of School 2011First off, the main point here is: We (meaning I) made it through the summer! Whew!
We have a 5th grader, a 3rd grader and a Kindergartner…my babies are growing up! Gotta love Seth’s foot on the cactus. Boys….
I was able to drop Luke off at Tessa’s house—bless her heart 9 months pregnant and all—so that we could walk the kids to school and stay in the meeting for Kindergartners. This Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-18645483087751160642011-08-08T14:54:00.000-07:002011-09-21T14:59:03.522-07:00Meet the TeacherAll of the kids were able to meet their new teachers—including Luke. I have somehow got really lucky that my friend Tessa’s next door neighbor wants to teach preschool and since it’s her first year, she agreed to take Luke, even though he isn’t potty trained and he’s the youngest by a couple of months. SCORE!!!!!
Luke’s meet the teacher was first, so we all headed over there. Almost all of theAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-53718695116441222262011-08-07T19:14:00.000-07:002011-08-07T19:14:29.103-07:00Highs and Lows August 7, 2011LOWS:
We have crickets in our bedroom wall. They get busy between 1:00 am and 5:00 am. Shawn and I are playing musical beds and getting kicked all night by little people.
The sibling fighting. They all need to be muzzled.
Luke has adopted a banshee screech for communication. Also, he sits on the floor to poop, making it impossible for more than a smudge to come out. I'm changing 10 Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-22586418962191425192011-08-05T14:58:00.002-07:002011-09-28T11:32:53.382-07:00Diamondbacks GameShawn got some tickets to the Diamondbacks game from work, so we headed downtown. I was not looking forward to wrestling Luke in the stands. Church is hard enough, but at a game, with people yelling, jumping up and down and eating tons of junk food? Sounded impossible.
This is what he did most of the time, I was just glad we were in an empty section.
This stadium was pretty cool. It was Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-87769509316434430312011-08-02T14:34:00.001-07:002011-09-28T11:34:09.982-07:00Pinetop—FishingAfter our big hike, the next day we decided to keep it easy. It actually rained, so we all sort of hung out in the back yard on this big porch with swings, and watched the rain. Once Sugar, Luke and I went down for a nap, Shawn took the boys horse back riding. They got really muddy, and really liked the horses, even though they didn’t do anything crazy like Cole wanted them to.
Later we Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-83800246056857472842011-08-01T21:04:00.003-07:002011-09-29T12:03:35.915-07:00Pinetop—the HikeAfter arriving back in Arizona in the dead heat of summer, Shawn and I realized that with about 3 weeks left to kill before the kids started school, we needed to get out of this heat somehow—and fast. We decided to go up to the White Mountains in Eastern Arizona to a town called Pinetop. At over 7,000 feet elevation, it just HAD to be cooler than Phoenix.
It was a gorgeous drive. After we Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-90497119712951076502011-07-24T20:07:00.000-07:002011-07-24T20:07:59.915-07:00Highs and Lows, July 24, 2011LOWS:
I was so busy every day this week that I wished for one day with absolutely nothing to do. It didn't happen.
The kids played musical beds just about every night. Luke peed on me one night. Seth got a bucket full of sand in the bed another night. I am dang tired.
The drive back to Phoenix. Or the drive to OC. Either way the kids are rough.
Seth giving lots of teenage attitude. Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-90000233351625160082011-07-21T09:12:00.001-07:002011-09-28T11:34:52.956-07:00July, in a nutshellFor most of July, the kids and I stayed with my parents in Southern California. They did 2 weeks of Adventure Playground with their cousins, and then a week of the beach. There were birthday parties and visits with all cousins on both sides. It was lovely. Luke and Sugar and I mostly stayed out in the backyard all day soaking up the cool weather. It was sooo nice. Since I had lost (or so IAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-87799241273928436392011-07-03T14:25:00.001-07:002011-07-08T14:49:53.416-07:00Highs and Lows July 3, 2011LOWS:
This was one of those weeks that was jam packed with appointments and places to be, and I was totally overscheduled. I might bge home for 10 minutes before having to race out to the next place. Craziness was my theme for the week.
With what little time I hade at home, my laundry was way behind schedule, as in people were all out of underwear. It didn't help that a certain boy of mine Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-74868351156383243182011-06-30T15:46:00.001-07:002011-09-28T11:35:30.469-07:00Summer ain’t pretty round these partsI really, really, really, really miss our big backyard in California. I miss the livable weather. I miss our swing set and climbing dome and dirt for the kids to dig in. I am so out of sorts here in Arizona in the summer. My wonderful friend Shelly once told me that summer in Arizona is terrible and everyone is fat because it’s too hot to go outside, so you just play video games all day and Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-53596544212942681192011-06-30T09:36:00.001-07:002011-09-28T11:35:47.419-07:00Another SwimmerThis summer Luke learned how to swim. I thought it would take much longer. But it just clicked, and we were in water a lot.
He started out always wearing his floatie. This one worked the best for him..we had tried all the others.
Shawn and I would spend 10 minutes or so making him swim back and forth to us with no floatie. At first he just floated underwater, like a scuba diver. Slowly he Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-6500108978619819442011-06-25T13:12:00.001-07:002011-09-28T11:36:09.501-07:00Dance Recital 2011This year, Sugar’s dance class was the only class that was put in with the Company Recital on Saturday night. This meant that they got all the ooohhh’s and ahhh’s from the audience who wasn’t sick of little girls staring at each other and kicking the wrong foot at the wrong time by the time their number came up! It was a big deal for all these girls. They thought they were hot stuff. They Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-89703545684554773672011-06-24T12:07:00.001-07:002011-09-02T12:11:16.162-07:00Daddy Daughter Date NightI LOVE having a daughter! One of the best parts about her is that she is all girl, all the time. When she does something, it is as girly as girly can get.
Shawn has been taking the kids out to dinner individually every week as part of Father/Child bonding time. They talk about life in general and set goals. It’s fabulous and I’m so glad he does this. On Brooke’s night out, he took her to aAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-37821871515147348112011-06-22T11:45:00.000-07:002011-09-02T11:48:44.340-07:00Swim MeetEverything is great about swim meets, except for 2 things: one, keeping Luke busy and away from the pool where he tries to jump in; and two, trying to tell Cole that winning isn’t everything. Here is the deal about Cole: he’s a slow kid. Not mentally—that boy is light years ahead of sharp as a tack. I mean moving…he meanders, lingers, stops to smell the roses, pauses, thinks, looks, Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-18893967680696319682011-06-19T20:51:00.000-07:002011-06-20T21:12:55.661-07:00Highs and Lows June 19, 2011LOWS:
Oh, the incredible amount of driving across the greater metro Phoenix area I have done this week. Back and forth multiple times at least 4 days this week. At least my car didn't squeak anymore every time I turned it on.
I had to call 9 girls in order to find a babysitter. What a hassle. I love the babysitters that I use and am always a bit nervous trying out someone new.
2 hours Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-43354788105002674882011-06-16T14:35:00.001-07:002011-09-28T11:36:32.815-07:00Slide Rock SedonaWhen Mom and Chrissy were here, I seized upon the extra adult supervision help and headed up to Sedona. I’d heard there were natural rock slides and that they were a must do. I researched it and found out that it’s real slippery, and gets very crowded. So we all wore sturdy shoes and headed up early. It was one of those “must do” places for sure, and we will do it many more times.
That’s ColeAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-59311613857024232392011-06-15T10:51:00.001-07:002011-08-31T10:53:21.988-07:00A day at the Duck PondNow that the kids are on the swim team, I’m back in the carpool circuit. Most days it’s an easy drop off/pick up. But today I decided to take Luke to the pond that is right next door to the pool.
For some reason, Luke has always liked birds. I think it’s because they fly, and he is obsessed with airplanes. So feeding the flock of birds was our first task.
After all of our bread was gone, Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-11398103576754628182011-06-12T19:22:00.001-07:002011-06-12T19:25:08.168-07:00Highs and Lows June 12, 2011LOWS:
I am having anxiety attacks about not updating my blog. I haven't scrap booked since I was in Maui with my parents in '09. I haven't written more than 1 sentence in Luke's baby book. I feel like I am completely failing my duties as family chronicler. Publishing my blog from '08 was on my Bucket List a year ago-still hasn't happened.
Speaking of Bucket Lists, it was a bust this year. Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-27285836496639388162011-06-11T09:11:00.001-07:002011-08-31T09:17:31.795-07:00Mud ManiaScottsdale puts on this Mud day once a year. Mud is like catnip to Cole, so we decided to check it out. It was insane—as in you had to be bussed in, and wade through masses of muddy people, and try not to pass out from the 105 degree heat. Cole loved it, but Seth was in one of his blacker moods, Sugar was excited but timid, and Luke wanted nothing to do with getting dirty. Made for an Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-81755020840728797852011-06-10T15:57:00.001-07:002011-08-31T09:16:19.231-07:00Fun in the Sun…but only if you’re in the water!Summer is fully upon us. 100+ every day. My kids get a little tired of the pool. I’ve instituted big Pool Days once a week and invite as many people as I can. This has been a huge hit because with friends, anything can be fun. But even with super-duper pool day with friends, they get bored. So we decided to try a splash pad.
I love splash pads—no one can drown. I can get misted and coolAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-34302030065938467832011-06-09T11:25:00.001-07:002011-09-02T11:49:09.288-07:00Swim TeamThanks to a very good stroke clinic at the YMCA, Cole, Seth AND Brooke made the local swim team. But seriously, that’s not saying much, since there were at least 10 kids that looked as if they were drowning every time they swam a lap!
I was so excited, and the totally amazing, stars were aligned and angel’s singing part: the kids were all excited as well! I got a carpool system all worked Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-43963076936811156632011-06-08T09:15:00.000-07:002011-08-31T10:39:37.072-07:00When's Nap Time?
This is pretty much how I feel all the time now that the kids are out of school.
Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-61131010794456578732011-06-06T07:53:00.001-07:002011-06-29T08:01:26.989-07:00Sometimes kids do listenThe other day Cole asked—totally randomly—if he could do the lesson part of family home evening. We have one of those assignment boards—and we never change it because the same people always do the same things. I always do the lesson.
Imagine my surprise when Cole asked if he could give the lesson. He told me he needed to get some supplies, but that it was going to be great…”especially for the Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-86597219042592545682011-06-05T20:42:00.000-07:002011-06-05T20:42:38.178-07:00Highs and Lows June 5, 2011LOWS:
First week of Summer under my belt. It's gonna get ugly around here real quick.
Getting the kids to do basic chores is always a fight. Cole is the best worker--always has been--and at least he does it without fighting me, but Seth more than makes up for it with his bad attitude. I'm breaking out the Popsicle stick chores that we did last year.
I didn't cook this week and it was chaos Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679520485358416746.post-26428437854172661552011-06-02T18:11:00.001-07:002011-06-29T08:02:27.090-07:00Last day of dance class and group picturesThe last day of dance class came. I was sad. Not so much for the class itself, but for the every other Thursday that I didn’t have to drive and Sugar went to Kosette’s house ALL DAY. Heaven!
This is the entire class, and one of Sugar and Miss Megan.
A week later we had pictures, and it was a zoo. Well, it was a zoo of a zoo, really. We were told to be there at 10:30, but by noon we still Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09337640114633097389noreply@blogger.com1