One of those days...

You know those moms you see in the store with all their kids and they just look hammered and their kids are crazy and running amok? The ones you watch out of the side of your eye and think "Geez, lady get off the phone and control your monsters?" or "Oh, that poor woman." because you actually know that you can't control kids-you can only hope they look like they are well-behaved for a few minutes while you are in public?

The other day that was me. We had run a ton of errands. We had run to Luke's dad's house, the bank, Luke's office, the grocery store, etc. As a treat for the kids I told them we would stop at the Dollar Store for some pretzels and drinks. I got the kids out of the car (we also had one extra - Hunter is a little boy with Down Syndrome. I babysit him a few times a week). I put Hunter in the cart. Quincey on the front of the cart standing and Emma walking (supposedly WITH me - but not doing such a great job of it).

On our way back to the snack section, we happened across a few things I thought we "needed" so I put them in the cart. Emma also found something she "needed" - a "beautiful" ceramic cat. However, this was the same ceramic cat she had wanted a week earlier, but didn't get because she had been pouting. So, this time she didn't waste her time pouting about my saying no. She full on started to have a screaming/crying fit. I just walked off with out her figuring she would stop. About that time my SIL called to tell me some exciting news.

So, just to recap...I'm in line to check out. Emma is screaming/crying "BUT I WANT IIIIIIIITTTT!" at the top of her lungs (which are EXTRA loud - you can relate if you've heard her even talk). Hunter is sitting in the cart yelling "AHHH! AHHH! (He can't speak yet. So, he loudly tries to get your attention.) Right at that moment Quincey takes the opportunity to say equally as loudly as the other two, so as to be heard, "MOMMY!!! I POOOO---OOOOP!!"

I tried to politely get off the phone as quickly as I could while still trying to acknowledge that indeed it was exciting news my SIL had, but that I really couldn't talk at the moment. Then, I took Hunter out of the cart (still yelling AHHHH!), told my darlings (Emma still crying uncontrollably) to come along and I left my basket of stuff at the checkout counter and left-with a face that matched my hot pink shirt!

Fun times! Fun times! So embarrassing. However, on a bright note. I actually had a diaper and wipes with me!

Those darn "granilla" bars!

Tyler has had the flu for the last 2 days, but the thing that made me laugh was this...

Tyler: Mom, I don't feel so good.

Me: Why, what's wrong.

Tyler: My stomach is hurting. I think that "granilla" bar made it grumpy.

Our Little Nurse maid

Emma. What can I say? Emma is a trip! You never know what to expect from her.

A torrent of crying? A gut squishing hug and shower of kisses? A barrage of criticism/disdain?

You ask her to clean something and she is suddenly helpless. You ask her to eat dinner and her arms that were flailing and dancing moments before are suddenly lifeless. Ask her to help you do something that sounds less than fun and she comes back at you with a "I'll help you if you do..."

Anyhow, this child that completely keeps me on my toes has a soft spot for her Dearest Daddy.

I had a cold from last Thursday to Monday. Luke caught this cold on Monday when I started feeling better. He came home from work feeling awful. Emma was so sweet with her sick daddy. Although I might add that she had not a shred of sympathy for me, days earlier.

Daddy came home and wanted to lay down. Emma asked if she could rub his back for him. He said yes, but he was going to bed. Little Emma followed him up to our room and rubbed his back for a while. Then, she sang to him and read him a book.

She came downstairs a good half hour later and told the rest of us, "Shhhh. Daddy is sleeping, 'cause I read him a story and rubbed his back." Such sweetness coming from such a little firecracker. I sure love her. Her daddy appreciated it very much. He thanked her several times and commented to me how she took care of him so well.

THE BIG DATE!!!!

So, in my last post I mentioned going on a big date. Luke's and my anniversary was on Friday. So, he took me out on a date. I was excited. We haven't been out just us, for quite a while. We went to Salt Lake to 'The Roof' (one of the restaurants in the Joseph Smith Building, overlooking Temple Square). That is were he took me the night he proposed. He was going to propose at the restaurant, but he left the ring in his coat pocket. So, then we walked around temple square (me completely oblivious! He had taken soooo long to propose that I just figured it wasn't ever going to happen! I mean we had been dating 11 months and in UDT (Utah Dating Time) that is seriously like 24 years!

Anyhow, we walked around to a remote area of Temple Square and sat on the curb below the Relief Society Liberty Bell? I think that is what it was called. I thought he was really interested in this bell, because he was just standing there. So, I started reading the dedication on it (it's kind of long and hard to read at night). Really he was just waiting until a large group of people had walked further away. Meanwhile, I was still reading the plaque. So, he finally interrupted me and I turned around. He got on one knee and told me that I really made him want to be a better man and that he wanted to become this better man with me. He then gave me my ring and it fit perfectly of course! What a perfect night!

Things that made me fall in love with Luke...

1). We could ride in the car and not talk and the silence wasn't a bad thing.

2). When you ask Luke a question, he may not answer you for 5 minutes or even acknowledge you spoke! But that just means he is really thinking about the best answer.

3). His icy, but sensitive, blue eyes.

4). His sexy, bald head. (I know my spirit knew Luke would be bald by the time I met him again here on earth because I have always been attracted to bald men with dimples!)

5). His amazing singing voice! We went to a Boyz II Men concert when we were dating and he sang all the songs to ME! I felt so special! (Later I found out he wasn't singing to me! He was just singing. Hmph.)

6). He gets any project he starts completed (and in a timely manner, too!) That is something I really admire, since I have an infinite number of incomplete projects and ideas of projects I "want" to do.

7). When he says he will do something, he does it.

8). He is honest.

9). He treats me like a queen. Something I don't deserve since I am seriously just a princess with issues!!

10). He is such a great dad!

11). He is thrifty.

12). He is a tease.

13). He plays sports with me and with the kids.

14). He is athletic.

15). He strives hard to be worthy of the Prieshood he holds.

16). He helps around the house! Every Saturday, he rounds up the kids and we ALL clean for a couple of hours. He is not afraid to chip in during the week either. He will vacuum, do dishes, clean bathrooms, whatever to help me out.

17). He is in CONSTANT pain with his back and I seriously forget that all the time because he NEVER complains and continues to do whatever needs to be done (even if he will pay for it later).

For our big date, we went the roof and to Temple Square, just like we did 10 years, 3 months ago. He was my bestfriend then and he is still my bestfriend now. A couple of things are different now. We are better friends and not so quiet around each other. Okay, I am not as quiet as (I pretended) I was when we were dating). We now have 3 munchkins, we are a bit older and wiser (I hope).

Every once in a while, what ifs can creap into your head and make you wonder what is going on in the alternate universe of your life and I am soooooooooooo thankful that mine has turned out the way it has. I can't think of anything I would change in my life at this time. We have those everyday struggles, but nothing big. I often wonder when my trials are going to start -- NOT THAT I AM ASKING FOR THEM! But, I often ponder that these little everyday things are my trials because obviously I haven't mastered them yet! Hopefully when I grow up, I will be able to react with love in all situations! Luckily, I have the bestest hubby in the whole world and it doesn't take a whole lot of patience to be married to him.

I love you, Luke-y!! Thanks for 10 awesome years and here's to 50 more! - even though I know you say you won't live that long! :)

My Mom's Not Really My Mom...

As I am up in my bathroom doing my hair/makeup for my BIG DATE tonight, I have my windows open. My children have friends over to keep the busy and out of the aforementioned hair. So, I hear Tyler and his friend out on the playset talking. I didn't really pay attention to what they were talking about until I hear Tyler say, "My Mom's not REALLY my mom." Jason said something inaudible before I got closer to the window. Then, Tyler says, "Well, she's not my mom. She's my babysitter." Uh! INGRATE!


I call out from my second story window, "Whatever! You turkey-buzzard, Tyler!" Which shocks him. He is not used to the windows being open. Although he should be used to an eaves-dropping mother. Anyhow, he lets out a yelp, followed by a fake, mocking laugh at me.


Turkey-buzzard ingrate 7-year old!

And God said "HA! You need to be humbled!"

So, 15 minutes (literally) after my last post, I went downstairs and blended my breakfast drink. As I tried to pour it in my cup, it JUMPED out of the blender and all over the floor!

HMMM.... I wonder where my accident prone kids get it??!! Question of the week. Let me know if you figure it out.

In NON-procrastinator Style...

I actually COMPLETED a project!!!!
I started and finished recovering these in 2 1/2 hours!

We have had them for about 7 months and they
were stained beyond stained! So, they have been off-white
and stain colors: including, but not limited to rootbeer,
crayon, milk, juice, RED crystal light, PURPLE crystal
light (why a mother would let her kids drink things those
colors is beyond me! She must not be very bright. *sigh*),
mud, etc.

Actually, the 2nd day we had them Emma ripped the
plastic (on purpose) temporarily left on the cushions and spilled
rootbeer precisely into the tear (on accident). Both types of
actions REGULAR occurances. UGH!!

One friend made the comment to her husband, "Yeah, if you
heard some of the stories about Emma, you would feel much
better about the accidents that happen at our house."

And this time they have THICK plastic covering them! I
guess we'll see how long they withstand Emma! But, I like
them for now!

Hmm. I will look on the bright side. Emma gives me the chance
to change things up at our house.