A Bit About Tyler...

Tyler just had a birthday.  It kind of snuck up on me, as I have been sewing and crafting up a storm for Christmas!  Two days before his birthday, I realized I needed to make a cake! ACK!  Then, I promptly forgot, again.  I remembered the day before and since his birthday fell on a Sunday, I knew I had to make it then (11pm). 

Luckily, the LDS culture tends to be prepared to a fault.  I went down to my foodstorage room and was able to choose from a vast variety of cake mix flavors to find one that would make my easily pleased son happy.  I made several cakes and planned to cut them into various shapes to make a HUGE Ben 10 Omnitrix cake.

I envisioned something like this.

I got a little impatient since it was after midnight and removed one of the cakes before it was cooled and it totally fell apart.  I promptly put that in a ziploc bag and left it on the counter, redrew my design and continued on to make a marshmallow fondant covered, devil's foodcake, strawberry cheesecake ice cream cake.  It was not nearly so ellaborate as I had first envisioned, but it was yummy and I still have a forth of it in the freezer.  The kids and I just had a piece and it is still yummy 2 1/2 weeks later. 

I stayed up working on it until 2am.  Put it in the freezer, cleaned up and didn't give it another thought.  Until, the next morning when I came downstairs after the kids and Tyler was looking at my Ziploc bag of disaster. 

Tyler: "Mom, did my cake break?" 

Me: Yeah Bud. I'm sorry and I don't have time to make another one because I need to make cookies this morning for the dedication of the Stake Center tonight.   But I'll save some cookies for us and we'll have cookies and ice cream for your birthday.  K?

Tyler:  Okay, mom! (Oh, that kid can melt my heart!)

Me:  Sorry next time okay?

Tyler:  Mom?  What's that cake on the counter?

Oops.  I left out the middle part of the cake I cut out to make room for the ice cream. Hmm.

Me:  Oh, that was just something I had left over from another thing.  I was thinking I could ice it really fast with some of that frosting in the fridge (pre-made store bought yicky stuff - I'm not a fan of the tub frosting). 

Tyler: Well, Mom...can I do it?  (excitement building) CAN I MOM?  CAN I DO IT????

Me:  Um, yeah okay.  You decorate it.

Tyler:  Mom! Can you make the frosting green? I want to make it an omnitrix!! And what's this stuff? (the fondant I left out - good one Amy)  Can I use it?

Me: Sure.

He spends the next 40 minutes concocting his own omnitrix and decorating it with his Ben 10 toys. 

He loved his cake!  And who can blame him?  He did a fantastic job on it!  I was pretty proud of the job I did on his ice cream cake, but I am so much more proud of him and his fantastic attitude.  That kid is so positive I could just squish him!  Most people would have been so disappointed their cake died, but not him.  He just went on and did this.  He is such an amazing boy.  I love you Tyler.  You teach me so much every day about having a positive attitude.  Please stay that way and maybe eventually I can grow up to be like you.

Me

AtHLetE,
sEAmStrEsS,
cRAfTY oNE,
I try many hats,
but master NonE.

MaNY prOJeCTs LEft unDONe.
THaNKful i MArRied A pATiENt oNe!

What's that I Smell??

While driving home the kids (mostly Emma) and I had the following conversation.  I was prepping them for cleaning and doing chores, when we got there.
Tyler said something about already having made his bed, so why does he have to do MORE chores!

Me:  Making your bed is not really a chore.  It's just one of those things you have to do before you GET to do your other chores! :)

Emma:  (in a haughty tone) WELL, I DON'T EVEN HAVE A BED TO MAKE, 'CAUSE CARSON!!

My nephew is staying the summer with us.

Me:  Well, he leaves tomorrow. So, you can have your own bed back! (in my best isn't that so awesome voice?!!)

Emma: (disgruntled and surly) Yeah, but it will still SMELL like Carson!! (exhales)

Me:  We will wash the sheets. It will be fine.

Emma: (still disgruntled and surly) YEAH and spray it!

Me: Why does Carson stink?

Emma: Uh, yeah! (snotty tone)

She has the Matkin nose!  (and attitude!!)

Tyler - if only this could last...

"Mom, why didn't you sign me up for summer school?  Is it too late?  Can I go to summer school?"

Sense of Fashion or Just Plain Ol' Stubbornness?

Emma has had kindergarten preview the last 2 days.  This morning she came down wearing a shirt that I tried to get her to wear to preschool on numerous occassions.  She refused every time citing, "It's ugly" along with tears and body jiggles that resembled a tantrum.  Now that it is almost too small it is a new favorite.  It does look quite cute, but why does she have to refute EVERYTHING I say until I leave it alone and it becomes her idea????   :)  If I were to say the sky is blue, she would say it is orange.  And then IF I came around and said the sky is orange, THEN she would say, "No, it is blue."  She just loves to think I know NOTHING!!  I thought that didn't come until the teenage years?!!  I tremble at the thought of what is to come with that girl!!  ;0)

Registering for PreSchool

I've been telling Quincey for over a month that we are going to register her for preschool.  She in turn has been very excited and asking about it quite often.

Finally, yesterday we got to the "school" and filled out the paperwork to register her for class.  It was a bit hectic, as we had come right when the current morning session was ending and there were children going to various cars, etc.  I finished filling out the paperwork and said, "okay, let's go" to Emma and Quincey.  Emma started to follow me, but Quincey hung back.  When I hear this little voice, "Bye Mommy! I wub you!"  I turned around and she looked so little standing there - not sure where to go, chin down, unsure blue eyes looking at me with eyebrows raised, thinking I was leaving her there, right then. Augh! It just about broke my heart!  She wanted to stay, but her mother was just abandoning her without hugging her or giving her a kiss or ANYTHING!!  I rushed back and gave her a big hug and when I told her I wasn't leaving her today and we would come back another day.  She held my hand and skipped back to the car.

I don't want her to ever let go!  My eyes are welled up with tears again as I write about this, because I felt so badly that she thought I was just leaving without hugs or kisses or anything!  I need therapy, now. That was traumatic for me!!!

Unta Boo

The other night after I tucked all the kiddos in bed, Quincey came into the room and said, "Mommy..."

To which I quickly responded, "Quincey, you should be in bed. Go!"

"But Mommy, I want to tew you someting."

Me (exasperated), "What Quincey?"

Quincey (gushing amazement), "Unta Boo (Uncle Boo - or Matt) can Bwow da wight out in my woom!!" Her mouth dropping open to emphasize her incredulity!

Me: "Wow! That's pretty awesome!"

Quincey: "Yes! And it is AMADING too!!!!

Apparently I am a bad Mom and have never shown her the trick of blowing out the lights at night.  But thankfully we have Unta Boo and At Boo to help remedy my short comings!! My kids may turn out all right, after all!!

The Replacement...

For the last week and a half, Emma has eaten her dinner like an obedient, non-confrontational child.  In the past this has not been her normal demeanor. See pic to the left for her normal demeanor.

The other night, Luke asked her, "Who are you and what have you done with my Emma?"

Emma without missing a beat replied, "I am the replacement."

Luke asked, "Well, where's the old Emma?"

Emma once again without hesitation and a bit of mystery/spunk in her voice said, "She is on a Mission."

Totally cracked us up.  And the even better part is, whenever she starts to struggle with her attitude or wanting to be obedient, I ask her, "Are you the replacement or the old Emma?"  She usually concedes to being the replacement and changes her attitude to a more positive one.  Heavenly Father must have heard my "at the end of my rope" pleas! :)

Stinker Pot Thieves!!

So, last Thursday I was in Walmart with all 3 of my kids. Not a predicament I love to find myself in, yet there I was. My kids seem to fight much of the time at home. Yet, at the store they seem to be best buds and all 3 seem to get this surge of energy and they just feed off each other and go crazy.

Thursday was one of those days. I had gone to Walmart to get the last piece of a project I have been wanting to do. I ordered Moda Fabric Charm Packs on Ebay and needed to get some flannel for the backing on some blankets. My kids were running around the fabric department, etc. I was trying to be fast and wasn't succeeding. In an attempt to distract Tyler from goding his sisters, I asked him to "Put these squares back in these baggies and put them back." I should have added "into the cart." Because my dear, obedient boy (unbeknownst to me) put them back on the shelf with Walmart's packs that are a different brand and not anywhere near as coordinating and cute. Off we went to the milk fridge area. I realized my squares were not there, asked Tyler where they were. "Back on the shelf. You told me to put them away."

AUGH!! Not that kind of away!

We went back to the fabric area. There was no trace of them. $80 worth of cute fabric...gone. Ugh! Forget the $$, do you know how long it takes me to get all the facets of a project together???

Yes, I have checked back with the store several times. They haven't seen 'em.

SpRInG!!

I was sitting here at the computer (ahem, I mean internet - computer would elude to me getting something productive done) and I could hear birds chirping! I opened the window and could hear them better! They sounded so happy! Or maybe that was MY Spirit soaring at their song. They may have been sad and lost, but I am just so happy they are here! What a blessing to be able to have all of these different seasons! However, Spring is my favorite because it means the Winter/cold is OVER!!

The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month. ~Henry Van Dyke

Isn't that the truth! We've been having bee-u-ti-ful weather and the first day of Spring is still 2 1/2 weeks away!! Did anyone else hear it's supposed to snow today? :)

Our little man Tyler was baptized last month.
He was so excited. I think he has a stronger
testimony than I do. He has so many people
that just love him. How could we all help it?

He is soo...

-thoughtful
-full of energy
-snuggly
-appreciative
-excited about life and everything it brings
-full of love for his family
-full of love for everyone
-helpful
-fun
-smart
-willing to try new stuff
-honest
-kindhearted
-and an all around great boy

He bore his testimony last Sunday...

"I'd like to bare my testimony. I know we all
have great families." *Rush of blood to the face and
hyperventilating* "In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

He was shaking when he came back to his seat. He said,
"I wanted to say other stuff, but I couldn't remember. I
was too nervous." Then, he snuggled into my side until
he stopped shaking from nerves. He must get it from me.
I didn't say everything I planned on saying in my testimony,
either.

SHHHH! Getting the kids out of class early!!

Luke went in to Primary to get the kids out early. He quietly told the teacher he needed Tyler because we were going to his cousin's. Tyler says quite loudly, (okay, he yelled it) "Woohoooo! Superbowl time!" Wouldn't have been so bad if it had just been his class, but Sharing Time, geez buddy!

We need to teach that child a little discretion! "Vagueness Tyler, vagueness. You only tell them what you are really doing, IF THEY ASK!!!"

I guess I haven't taught him everything I know yet!!

Added hillarity, Luke is in the bishopric! Nice example we are setting, right?

The Climb

Tiffany, I was thinking of you on this one.

Emma in the other room belting out Hannah Montana's "The Climb,"

"It's the Clyyyyyyyyyyde, It's the Clyyyyyyyyyyyyyyde!!"

Rag Quilts

Hey Hill,
You were wondering what the baby quilts looked like. Here are two of them. The purple was my favorite out of all the ones I made. I didn't think to take pics of the first few and they were already gone.


This more neutral colored one was an interesting bunch of colors before it was put together. I think it actually turned out pretty cute.

This is what the under side turns out like.

Okay, how cool is this??

This is the picture that was on the LDS Church website and our local news channels of the new temple site here in Payson, Ut.
See that brown house in the upper left corner? Yeah, that's our house!! Yay!!

wHAT do hOt ANd bASketBALL haVE IN cOMMon?

Friday night, we went to a Utah Flash basketball game. Luke got some courtside front row tix with owner's box access, from a vendor he works with! We had so much fun! These are the things Tyler liked the most of the night. The FlashFox and Luke Nevill. Tyler thought it was pretty awesome to share part of a name. I would post a picture of Tyler at the game as well, but since the only one of him looks like he is picking his nose, I won't. (He was only scratching it, but you can only tell that if you look closely!)

It is a little hard to keep a 3 year old from sneaking onto the court when it is just right there to touch. Okay, a 5 and 8 year old, as well! We ended up sitting next to Mark Madsen's folks!Honestly, I didn't know who he is. Luke does and he and Tyler were quite excited that he is the assistant coach of the Flash. Mark's mom volunteered to get his autograph for Tyler. So, she took Tyler's "Flash" jersey (Payson City league basketball is sponsored by the Flash) and took it over to Mark and asked him to sign it and get as many of the players autographs as well. Tyler is so excited! She is going to mail it back to him!

So, not to be left out (however much I would prefer them to be) are the cheerleaders! Emma was just ennamored by these cheerleaders! The fact that she kept taking pictures of them caught their eyes. So, they waved her over and took this picture with her. She was in heaven! Suggestions for helping your daughter NOT be interested in being a cheerleader or girly girl drama queen are welcome! She loves that it can look like she has longer, curly hair in this picture because their hair is draping over her! :)

What a sight we walked out to after the game!

Okay, it wasn't that bad, but the roads were pretty bad with about 2-3 inches of snow.

On the way home Emma asked, "Why is it hot like smoke in here?"

Me: It's me.

Emma: You're smokin'?!

Me: Yeah! Smokin' HOT!!

Tyler: YEAH SHE IS!!!!!

Totally cracked Luke and me up! Emma, was still a little lost. "Wha-?"

Fun Night! Thanks Luke!

Happy Helper

I sent Quincey into the bathroom to brush her teeth. 10 minutes later, I still heard commotion in the bathroom.

Me: Quincey, what are you doing in there?

Quincey: I tleaning the batroom Mom!

The noise I heard had been a scritchy scratchy sound...

Me: Quincey don't clean the counter with your toothbrush! That's gross!

Quincey: I NOT! It's Tyler's tootbrutch!

A few minutes later she came out to report, "Mom, I done brutching my teef!"

I wonder which toothbrush she used? Um, ignorance is bliss! *tuneless whistling"

Please May I Have a Drink?

I will preface this entry with a note of a personal decision Luke and I have made. We decided (when Tyler was a baby) that we would allow our children to take the sacrament after they were baptized. Our hope is that it will be more meaningful to them. There were a few Sundays when our children were less than happy about that decision, as they see everyone else taking it (including their friends). However, it has been a very long time since we have had to deal with one of our children even commenting on not being able to take the sacrament.

Yesterday in church, the water was being passed. After it went by, Emma said, "Mom, I really want a drink!"

Me: Emma, you can have the sacrament after you are baptized when you are 8.

Emma: (in her best mom you are so lame voice) Mom, I know! I just want a REGULAR drink! Not one with the PRIESTHOOD in it!