Rugg Rats

Oh my...

2010-08-24T21:29:00.002-04:00

It has been a long time. Lets see.... first..First grade that is. Reese started first grade this week. I am not old enough to have a first grader am I? Second...Cami just had her second tooth pop through on the top. No more of the cute toothless grins. She now has four teeth. And speaking of four did you know Ryan is four? he reminds us just about every day. He also asks when he will be five. I think he thinks he will soon be catching up to Reese. He also wants to know why Reese was born before him and why he has to be the little brother. Next I will have to post some pictures but this will be all for tonight.

Not much...

2008-12-16T18:03:00.002-05:00

...is what I have been up to lately. We went to Shreveport to visit Daddy and our Aunt Debbie this last weekend. When we were there, Reese looked at me and said, "Mom why do I have to sleep on food?" I'm thinking, On food? When did we tell her she had to sleep on food. Then she said, "You know, the crouton!!" Meaning the futon. I guess she didn't hear me correctly when I was trying to explain sleeping arrangements earlier in the day.

Ryan is just growing like a weed. Every day he will say a new word and I will think, "Did he know that word before today? If I was a good mom I would be writing all these things down on a daily basis." Oh well my kids will just have to grow up thinking they never had milestones growing up and then go through years of therapy later to fix the problems that I have so negligently placed on them.

I am excited for Christmas. It is here but it is not New York so I will be happy at that.

The absolute cuteness of a 2 year old

2008-12-01T16:57:00.002-05:00

Let me just say that it is a good thing he is this cute. It is the one thing that keeps him alive some days.

At the circus

He thought it would be so funny to climb in the bottom of Baby Ethan's stroller.

So I just kept pushing him and he stayed in there for about an hour.

This is Ryan asleep in the bottom of the stroller. Guess he just needed a place to sit down.

Thank you all!!

2008-11-26T15:05:00.004-05:00

Thank you to all who wrote to cheer me up. I needed it. Let's just say there were a fair amount of tears shed last week.

Now for the update. I think we have the mouse problem taken care of. We called an exterminator and he came over and put down some bait. He said it dehydrates the mice and they go else where looking for water. They start to come out of their hiding places because they are getting desperate and that is why I was seeing a whole bunch all of a sudden. Then on Friday another guy came over and sealed up the house for us. He put wire mesh in the weep holes that were too big and he sealed up the garage pretty good. He also sealed a whole in the wall of the garage which is where he thinks they were getting in to the walls and finding their way to the kitchen where there is a massive hole under the sink. So I think they are gone for good. I haven't seen any new droppings around the house in the last few days.

In the mean time I have been washing every dish in my entire house. I have been to walmart a few times to replace a few of the appliances that were under the cabinet and had mouse droppings in them and couldn't be sterilized in the dishwasher. I have cleared out every cabinet and drawer and vacuumed it out and then wiped it out with Clorox. I hope that gets rid of any and all germs lurking where mice had been.

As for Reese and the school thing we talked to just about everyone we could talk to. We called the Texas Education Agency and found out from the director of school governance (the lady who has the final say on all laws governing public schools in Texas) that the school district is right. Because of when her birthday is (October) she meets the cut off for New York which is in December and misses it for Texas. If she had finished kindergarten she would be allowed to start first grade but since she didn't finish she has to leave. I also saw a lady on the FAQ section that said they just moved from Arizona and there is only 6 weeks left of school and her daughter couldn't finish kindergarten either. It is a bummer but we will get over it. The bright side is that she will graduate from high school when she is 18 and not 17. The other thing I was thinking about is that she can have the whole winter and spring to do things we couldn't do in New York because those things weren't available. It is going to all work out for the best. I have that much faith.

Now on to Thanksgiving. I need to finish a few loads of dishes and finish cleaning the bathrooms so I can have my family over. At least I don't have to make the whole meal. I am doing the turkey and I am buying it already cooked. I deserve to cheat this year. Besides, it always turns out better when I don't cook. I will make dessert and be done with it.

It was brought to my attention that we no longer live in New York so things must be changed, Thank you Andrea.

Again, Thank you all for your words of encouragement. They were greatly needed this past week.

Oh one more thing. Reese asked me where Daddy was and I told her that he is on his way home. She said, "But where is he?" and I told her that he is in Longview. She said, "Longview? What, do they have lots and lots and lots of things that they want you to see? Is that why it's called Long View?" She is so insightful!!

I need some good news....

2008-11-20T09:52:00.003-05:00

I am in need of some good news. I have been through the week from hell and it is only Thursday morning. Let me go through it for you...

...Sunday
Sunday was the primary program and we were supposed to be early to church. There is no big deal in that but it just seems when you can't get to church on time how are you going to get to church early? It is just stressful. Then on my way out the door I smashed my finger in it. OUCH!! It is all black and blue and I can bend it again but it still hurts. Then we get to church and Reese will not go to sit with her class on the stand. She threw a fit and made a scene and refused to go up there. Why does my child have to be painfully shy? And stubborn too? We did get her to go to class though so that was good. When we got home from church I walked downstairs and saw a mouse run across my kitchen cabinet. I screamed and made Golden go to Home Depot right then to get mouse traps. I can not live in a house with mice. Then we went to my moms for Sunday dinner, the typical thing for all family members living in the area. It was my birthday dinner and no one came. Not my two older brothers or their families. Not my younger sister and her family. No one. Except Jennifer and that's because she lives there. What a great day!!

Monday...
Golden got up and left at 4 Monday morning. I hate Mondays. Then I had to be in the house all day knowing there was a mouse in it. I was afraid to go into the kitchen and open a drawer or a cabinet. But things were still not that bad. When I picked Reese up from school we walked down to the park. We stayed out as long as we could. When we went home we had caught a mouse. It was on a mouse trap in the pantry. YEAH!!!! I couldn't make myself dispose of it so I called David Fisher and the saint that he is came over and disposed of it for me. Things are starting to look up.

Tuesday...
Tuesday was my birthday and I thought things were going better until I saw another mouse. He was in the living room just walking across the floor. Fun times. I called Golden and he called an exterminator. He came and placed a few more mouse traps and gave me a few pointers as to how they may be getting in. Oh and it was my birthday. It is hard to feel like a prisoner in your own home. When you can't even open the cabinets or the pantry in fear of seeing a mouse run at you.

Wednesday...
Got up and got Reese to school and decided to find out where the mice are coming from. Looked all around the house and found mouse droppings in every room of the house so we either have a very active mouse or we have a bigger problem than we know. After vacuuming the whole house and scrubbing everything down to prevent disease it was time to sit and eat lunch. It is hard to have to wash every dish when you pull it out of the cabinet before you can even eat. After school I get a phone call from the school and the Data clerk told me that we have to withdraw Reese from school. She has been in school for 3 and 1/2 weeks here so why didn't anyone tell me this earlier? And why did they have to do it over the phone. This is something that should have been done with a conference and not over the phone at the end of the day. After I came out of my shock and got my wits about me I tried to call the school back and of course no one answered their phones. I finally put calls into the school board and emails to the teacher and the principal and no one got back to me. How am I going to tell my 5 year old that even though she has been going to school for a year and a half now and she is half way through kindergarten that she will have to take the rest of the year off and do kindergarten again next year? How am I going to keep a child that can read already and loves school and wakes up every morning ready to go and runs to school away from it?

Oh and Golden is still out of town and I have had to deal with this all by myself. I told him last night on the phone that I would almost be ready to put up with another New York winter if it meant I didn't have to put up with this crap. Almost.

Do you see how come I need some good news. Anybody got any??

If you have never been, GO!!

2008-11-18T09:53:00.004-05:00

In the last year and a half I have had the opportunity to go to Palmyra no less than 8 times. I have been able to walk through the sacred grove and to see where Joseph Smith and his family lived and worked. I have been able to see the hill Cumorah and the pageant that takes place there. How appropriate that I have been able to do this and had the wonderful gift of teaching the lessons from the Joseph Smith book in Relief Society. I am truly grateful to my Heavenly Father for this blessing. It amazes me that He knows just what we need and when we need it and then He finds a way to give it to us. Especially when we are humbled enough to get down on our knees and ask for it. Just another reminder of He knows what is best for us and we need not question it. I am grateful to Him for the opportunity to live in New York and to have my testimony strengthened this last 18 months.

The kids enjoying The Hill Cumorah

Running into the Sacred Grove

The Whitmer Farm House

The frame house on the Smith property

The visitors center

The chapel and visitors center at the Whitmer farm

In the Sacred Grove

Emma's parents grave markers

Josiah Stowell's house

The Aaronic Priesthood Restoration site on the Susquehanna River

Halloween

2008-11-13T22:22:00.002-05:00

I know that it is the middle of November and I am behind on this post. When you move across the country the week before Halloween I would hope you are forgiven when you post your pictures 2 weeks late. It is not like I had any thing else going on right?

So this is what happened. We didn't get to go to the trunk or treat at church because Reese was sent home from school the morning of with a 102 degree temp. She came home and laid on the couch and didn't move from 9:30 in the morning to about 3:00 in the after noon when she rolled over to puke. The next 2 days were filled with more of the same. On Friday, Halloween, the fever finally broke but she was to weak to walk down the street. She didn't even put her Tinkerbell costume on. She sat in the stroller and went to about 5 houses before she made Daddy bring her home. This was the only picture I got of Ryan. It was an interesting week to say the least. But he was a darn cute pirate wasn't he?

ELMO!!!

2008-11-11T17:20:00.002-05:00

Yes that is my son wearing an Elmo costume and no he was not Elmo for Halloween. I bought the costume after Halloween on clearance for only a few bucks and he has worn it more than real clothes since we have had it. Of course he has to also strip off all other clothes to put it on. He runs around like a crazy person until his head falls down and then he runs up to me screaming, "ELMO! ELMO! ELMO!" I am assuming that means he wants me to put the head back on because as soon as I do he is off again. Why is it that kids like being something else so much?

Look at the happiness radiating from his face. Complete joy for a 2 year old.

Boom a Ring

2008-11-10T10:44:00.002-05:00

We went to the circus!! We saw people do amazing things and saw some pretty scary things too. We saw elephants and tigers and horses and a guy shoot an apple off his own head through a series of bows and arrows. Some really cool stuff. When we got back to the car and I asked the kids what their favorite part was they both said, "The puppies!!" The puppies? The little wiener dogs that ran around and stood up on their back legs and knocked over the little stands they were supposed to be standing on? Stuff we could have seen at the local pet store? Really? That was your favorite part? You mean I could have saved all that money and just taken you to the pet store to see some puppies run around and it would have been just the same to you? WOW. At least I will know for next time.

The Missing Tooth

2008-11-08T17:34:00.002-05:00

Yes, if you are keeping up with the things I write you will know that Reese lost a tooth. We were at the apple orchard and she was eating an apple and all of a sudden she started crying that she couldn't eat it because her mouth hurt. I looked and I didn't see anything so I told her she was OK. I thought maybe she bit her tongue or her cheek or something. Then she started to cry worse and she told me that her tooth hurt so I felt it. I know sticking your hands in someone else's mouth is both disgusting and dangerous but as a mom you do those sort of things. What I found is that her tooth was loose. That was on Friday afternoon and all weekend she cried every time she ate something. That was loads of fun. Then Sunday evening after dinner she was eating a popsicle and all of a sudden she said, "I think my tooth fell out!" She was right. Then the tooth fairy came to visit her.

The new tooth is already starting to grow in and it is super crooked. I can't wait for braces.

First things first

2008-11-04T22:35:00.004-05:00

It has been such a long time that I need to go back and catch every one up. Here is Reese's first day of Kindergarten. I of course couldn't remember to charge the camera battery the night before so it is a picture of AFTER Reese's first day of kindergarten. Hey, better late than never.

Next-- We had a nobodies birthday party. There was a man who got up in church one day and said that today this day was his son's birthday. His wife had died the year before and he mentioned (about 12 times) that he hadn't planned anything for it. The primary president told all the kids that she was going to go home and make a cake for Daniel and all the kids were invited over to sing him happy birthday. Reese really wanted to go. The boy was turning 18. She doesn't even know who he is but she wanted cake. I told her that instead of going over to someones house we don't even know just for cake, why don't we just go home and make our own. She said that it had to have pink icing. So here is our Nobodies birthday cake, we sung and all got to blow out the candles and then ate cake with pink icing.
If Ryan looks confused here it is probably because he is. "If it is nobodies birthday, how come we sang happy birthday 3 times and we are eating cake?"

And last thing for tonight--We went to an apple orchard. If you live in New York it is something you have to do. The kids had a good time picking and eating apples. I bought the most delicious apple cider and fresh apple butter that was just heavenly on my favorite biscuits. It is also where Reese said, "I can't eat this apple, my mouth hurts!" but more on that tomorrow night.

Are you out there?

2008-11-03T22:51:00.002-05:00

Melissa, Are you out there? You do not know how long I have been looking for you, or Andrea or Kristy. I can't seem to find anyone from those years. I just got your comment but there was not a blog attached to it. Are you there? Hello? Is this thing on?

On to other things. Yes we are here and I have Internet again (not that I didn't have it all that time it was just that every time I sat down to blog I felt guilty because of all the stuff I still had to do and I got up and did something else)My life is slowly getting back to normal. We are getting into some kind of a routine and I think it is good for all of us. OH MY there are so many other things that have happened in the last 2 months I don't know where to begin. I will start with pictures(not that there are a ton of those either)

Tomorrow. Changing times twice on 2 consecutive weekends seems to have done me in:)

KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS...(#2)

2008-11-02T21:33:00.002-05:00

We went to heave dinner with some friends tonight and there were about 18 kids running around. One of them found a glow stick and they were all playing with it all night long. Reese ended up taking it home. When I was helping her get ready for bed she said, "Maybe next time we can find another glow stick." I said, "Maybe next time we should just take a lot of glow sticks so the kids have something to play with." (We were outside) And Reese replied, "Yeah, and maybe Pie!"

I rolled on the floor laughing. Pie!! She wants to take pie next time. I am not sure where she gets it from.

Ouch!

2008-09-07T16:05:00.002-04:00

Just realized I haven't posted in a week. Been really busy. School started this week and I feel like HOLY COW!!! How am I supposed to get my daughter up and dressed and fed and out the door and to school on time with every thing she needs. I never could remember my own lunch or homework till, well I just never did. I feel like a failure and we are 2 days into the school year. I feel like I am going to let her down and we haven't even had a full week of school, after all that is me.

Maybe someday I will become a responsible adult and get my life together.

Then again, maybe not.

Cool Stuff

2008-08-29T15:52:00.002-04:00

I know a lot of you have probably seen this but Golden played it the other day and just from listening I thought it was more than 1 person. Pretty cool!!

P.S. For all of you who have asked or for those of you who just want to know...
The plan is to be in Dallas about the 3rd week of October. Golden left this morning to head that way so you may see him around:) We are still looking for a place to rent...any suggestions?

My dad would be so proud

2008-08-27T21:06:00.003-04:00

I know most of you would think I am crazy but this is my favorite part of summer.

For those of you who don't like tomatoes, you don't know what you are missing. There is nothing like a fresh vine-ripened, home grown, hand picked tomato to compliment a summer meal.

These are some of the other things I grew in my garden this summer. I should not really take any credit for it, I planted some tiny plants and went on vacation and this is what I got when I came back. Yes that is a cantaloupe, squash, cucumbers(or dew jumpers as Madi calls them) there are also onions and jalapeno peppers. YUM!!!

This was the biggest tomato. I picked it because it was on the ground and it barely fit in my hand. I know it was not ripe yet but I put it in the window and it ripened in about 5 days. You can see how pretty it is in the picture above.

Now I know it is still August and that it is officially still summer but the last week has been absolutely gorgeous here. The highest it has gotten has been the low 80's and today I took the kids on a walk after dinner and this is what I saw:

Yes those are leaves that are already starting to turn. It is a good thing we are going to be back in Texas for the winter, it is going to be an early, cold, long one here!!

Reese-isms

2008-08-26T00:13:00.001-04:00

Reese always asks me, "Mom, why is the moon following us?" How do you explain that to a 4 year old. When I insist that it isn't, she insists that it is because she saw it at church and now she can see it at home so it must be, right? I have tried and tried to explain it to her she just doesn't believe me. And the other day the sun was setting and she said, "Mom, the sun is almost all the way to his house so he can eat dinner." Apparently the sun has to go home from 'work' so he can have dinner, go to bed and get up in the morning to wake us all up.

The other day I was in the kitchen and I heard Reese saying to Golden who was laying on the couch, "Daddy, you have a fever and a sore throat, You have a bad case of the blues. No I mean a bad case of the chicken pox." I thought it was funny. I can't believe my baby will start Kindergarten next week. AHHHHH!!!

So obvious

2008-08-24T22:04:00.001-04:00

This was a little obvious don't ya think?

You Are Gymnastics

You are agile, expressive, and precise.

You have the drive to practice until you get something perfectly right.

And you have the confidence to perform difficult moves when under pressure.

What Olympic Sport Are You?

What a mess!!

2008-08-21T21:19:00.002-04:00

We went away on vacation and have been home for less than a week and this is what the play room looks like!!

Can you find the kids in there? They got lost and I have to go dig them out!! Just kidding.

Grandma Judy says it looks like the Toys R us truck pulled up and unloaded one of everything into the basement. No my ids aren't spoiled or anything:)

Our week at the beach

2008-08-20T13:20:00.003-04:00

After I read about Janette's adventures at the beach I thought What did we get ourselves into? Then we got there and we had a good time. Our week at the beach went better than Janette's and here is the proof.

I love this picture

Playing in the sand

You can almost see yourself there can't you? Can you hear the ocean?

Reese went around all week filling in the holes left by the sand crabs. I know the picture is blurry but those little things move fast.

She also loved to chase the seagulls and other birds because it was something she could do without having to taste the salt or get burned. You notice she is wearing clothes in most of the pictures, didn't even want to put on her suit.

Nice face

Nice face. When Golden went to get seafood for dinner one night, he had to wait a long time. The lady at the little shop gave him suckers for the kids and Ryan couldn't wait to rip into his.

If you ever go to the outer banks you have to go to the 4 wheel drive area. There are no roads so you have to have 4 wheel drive to get across the sand and there are horses that have roamed wild since the Spaniards dropped them there when they first came to this continent. You can't feed them but you can drive by and see them. They also roam out in the water too.

I know my hair looks pitiful but it the only picture from the entire week that we are all looking at the camera at the same time.

See Honey....

2008-08-19T21:13:00.002-04:00

I am not just lazy, I do it (or don't do it) for you. If I worked any harder you wouldn't be able to stand looking at me!!!

I always had a sneaking suspicion and now I know it is true.

P.S. I saw this at a restaurant in Chesapeake, Virginia!!!

Ryan's birthday party

2008-08-18T15:55:00.003-04:00

Here are the pictures from Ryan's birthday party. I had planned to go to the park and have hot dogs and Nachos and then play some baseball and have a baseball pinata. Then cupcakes to finish the evening. It rained. So we tried to grill hot dogs over cold coals and stood huddled under a pavilion and ate the cupcakes anyway. All Ryan wanted to do was run out in the rain and splash in the puddles.

Runnin' in the rain

The cupcakes

Soaking wet enjoying a cupcake

Hitting the pinata

The pinata hitting back

About the face...

2008-08-06T16:01:00.004-04:00

The other day we decided to go to the zoo. We wanted to go to the zoo up in the Adirondack mountains (which are beautiful) but we decided that a 6 hour round trip was too long to spend a couple hours at the zoo. So we went to the zoo in Syracuse. It was a beautiful day and the kids were ready to go and we were going to go with our friends Cliff and Karla. We went over to their house to pick them up and Ryan ran out the back door and all of a sudden the driveway reached up and tripped him. He was right behind me when I walked out the door and all of a sudden he was laying face first in the pavement. He actually ate dirt. I picked him up and his mouth was full of rocks, dirt and grass clippings. Poor kid. He didn't really cry he just wanted his blankie. When I looked closer at him I noticed he had a huge egg on his head and he had a cut on his nose, and a bruise on his cheek. He also had a scrape on his lip and a small scrape on his chin. It looks like I beat my kid (again, no need to call CPS because I do not, I repeat, I DO NOT beat my child) The goose egg on his forehead was hidden by his hair until yesterday we went to get his hair cut and now you can really see it.

By the way, we miss Texas and the Texas pool. We had such a good time there!!

SLACKER!!

2008-08-04T23:40:00.006-04:00

Yes I know I am a slacker and my mom is probably wondering if I fell off the face of the earth or not but there really hasn't been too much to report on lately. But I do have a couple of funny stories from the last few days.

Today we were down in the play room and Ryan was playing happily, I was sitting reading my book and Reese was about 5 feet away playing by herself. Ryan leaned over to grab something off the floor and he farted really loud. I looked up from my book and asked him, "Ryan, what was that?" He looked around and found his sister and said, "Weese" and went back to playing. He is definitely Golden's child.

The other day Reese said she couldn't fall asleep in her bad and so she came and asked me if she could sleep on the floor. I said sure because I thought she would fall asleep somewhere in her room and then I would go in later and put her in bed. She came to me later and said, "I need a blanket." I told her to go into the hall closet and on the bottom shelf there are some blankets. This is what I found later.

That is Reese asleep in the middle of the hallway (you can see her bedroom at the end of the hall) and she is using a beach towel as a blanket. Yes the towels are kept in the same hall closet as the extra blankets.

Oh and this picture was definitely not taken in Texas. When we walked out of Wal-mart the other day (Is any one else there as much as I am?) this is what the kids did because they were cold. Yea, definitely NOT TEXAS!!!

And here are a couple of pictures of the kids riding a couple of the free carousels around town here. We had a great week with aunt Jessica and William.

And last but not least Happy Birthday to my baby boy!! I can't believe you have lived this long!!(No don't call CPS on me it is just a joke...Jessica knows what I am talking about:)

Ain't he cute? I'll tell you about the face later.

I am sorry, 3 trips to Wal-mart and other fun stuff

2008-07-25T07:56:00.002-04:00

Yes I went to Wal-mart 3 times yesterday. After being in the car with a 4 year old, an almost 2 year old and a 1 year old for 12 hours the day before. You see, it all started...

Last Friday. Reese had been really stuffy and fell asleep in the car. When she woke up she was crying because her ears hurt. Knowing that we were going to be in the car for three days starting first thing Monday morning I took her to a clinic in Plano and had her ears checked. If it was an ear infection I didn't want to have to wait until Thursday (almost a week later) to see a doctor and Reese be in pain the whole time. When we finally got to see the doctor he looked at her ears and said they are not infected but she has soo much fluid in them that it is causing negative pressure and hurting her. He gave me an antibiotic. Well we all know Reese is allergic to Penicillin and so he gave me a sulfur based antibiotic. Reese has had this drug before and was fine so I didn't think anything of it until Tuesday night.

She developed a really high fever, again, and puked everything she had eaten since lunch and started to get spots on her cheeks. We were in Dayton, Ohio for the night and I thought maybe she was playing too hard with her cousins and it was a heat rash. They were running up and down the stairs and playing all sorts of things. They were having a ball until Carter came down and said, "um Aunt Jody, Reese is upstairs Puking!!" So I run upstairs to find that at least it all made it to the sink. Got her cleaned up and put the kids to bed.

Oh it gets better, just wait. When she woke up in the morning, she was covered from head to toe in spots and was itching like nobodies business. It was right then I knew she was allergic to the antibiotic. I didn't give it to her any more, gave her some benadryl and got on the road.

When we got back home at 10:30 at night (an 8 hour trip took 12 & 1/2) she had a hard time going to sleep and when she did she was only asleep for about 2 hours and she was up again. She kept saying she wanted to go to the doctor and get some medicine and that she was really itchy. Finally about 4:30 she fell asleep. She slept until 8:00 in the morning and woke up itchy and cold and so I called her pediatrician. We went in and the doctor said yes it is an allergic reaction to the drug and she wrote a prescription for some steroid to help with the itching. The benadryl was not really helping. So we went to Wal-mart. Trip number one. We went to the pharmacy and the pharmacist said, "It will take about 2 hours" 2 hours? My sister is at my house with Ryan and her 1 year old and I need to get home. Besides who wants to hang out at Wal-mart for 2 hours? Well we left and thought maybe Golden would stop on his way home from work and get her prescription.

Which he did. Trip number 2 to Wal-mart. But when he got there the prescription still wasn't ready and the lady went in to the back and quickly filled the bottle with the medicine. He had to wait a few minutes but she quickly slipped it into the bag and he paid for it and came home. When he got home the missionaries came over and we had dinner. We went to give Reese some of her medicine and all of it had spilled out of the container and was all over the bag. So I called the pharmacy and they said come back in and get some more. So trip number 3 to Wal-mart. We took all the kids after dinner to Wal-mart and finally got Reese some relief to the itching and she slept all night. She is still asleep as I am writing this (which she needs after not being able to sleep for 2 nights).

Now for the I am sorry. As we were leaving Wal-mart for the first time yesterday I was pulling out of the parking space and some old Grandma was speeding through the parking lot and pulled up right behind me and then laid on her horn. When I looked back at her she was yelling and waving her arms and flipped me the bird. I am sorry I didn't see you there before you honked your horn and I am sorry that I am such an inconsiderate driver and I am sorry I made you disgruntled enough to act like that. Now will you come and explain to my 4 year old who saw the whole thing what the middle finger means and why you felt you had to use it? It is a good thing our windows were rolled up because I probably would have to explain some choice words to her as well. A sweet old grandma of all people. What has gotten into people these days?

Other stuff-- We made it home finally and the weather here is just beautiful. The high yesterday was 80 and might be that again today. Jess picked a good week to come. I will download and edit pictures of our trip later. I need to go running before the kids get up.

Again with the energy!!

2008-07-15T15:26:00.004-04:00

Ryan amazes me sometimes. This was after we had been swimming all day and then went back to our cousins house to see them and it was past bedtime but there he was. Playing the wii and loving every minute of it.

You know how kids love to imitate older brothers and sisters? Well Ryan learned to box by watching Reese and he actually wins! The funniest part is the laugh at the end. He sounds like a devil child!!

p.s. You will have to turn your head side ways. I am on someone else's computer and couldn't figure it out. But it is still dang cute!!

YES!!!

2008-07-13T13:25:00.003-04:00

Thank goodness. We are in Texas. We are here visiting family. All of the Family. We are staying with Grandma Judy who we love soo much and appreciate all she has done for us and for letting us stay with her. We will be in town until Monday July 21 and then we have to get back to good ol' New York. But that is o.k. because Golden just got a job offer here(well it is technically Louisiana but he will be able to commute) so we will be back here sometime this fall. I think he is going to start September 1st. You can all do a happy dance now because we are coming back to Texas. (or for those of you who prefer we stay in New York, move and hide now while there is still time.) Between now and then we have a lot to do.
1. Travel back to New York (an adventure in itself)
2. Go to the beach
3. Find a place to live
4. Pack the house in New York
5. Celebrate our 10 year anniversary
6. Celebrate Ryan's 2nd birthday
7. Start Reese in school
8. Whatever else we want to do before we leave, "Back East"

I think we will be very busy!!

I just remembered

2008-07-05T10:10:00.002-04:00

I just remembered a few things Reese has said over the last week. We were in the car working on about hour 19 of our 25 hour trip and Ryan was screaming for something. I asked Reese to see if she could tell what he wanted or what he was reaching for and she said, "Mom, I am really struggling to watch this t.v. show" I just had to laugh. She couldn't glance away from the screen for 2 seconds to see that Ryan had dropped his blanket and all she had to do was reach down in between the car seats to hand it back to him.
Then she was getting dressed the other day and she was struggling to put some socks on. I asked her if she wouldn't just rather wear her flip flops. She said, "I would prefer to wear my brown shoes." There is nothing that funny in these words unless you are a 4 year old.

We miss you daddy!!

We love Texas!!!

2008-07-04T15:43:00.005-04:00

We have been in gone from New York for a week now. Our time in Texas has been spent doing a lot of this:

And some of this:

We love hanging out with Grandmas and Grandpa and lots of cousins. We went to Grandmas work the other day and When we left Reese said, "Mom, I just love Texas. I never want to leave." I asked her if she wanted to go back to New York to live with Daddy and see her things again and she said, "No, he can just come here and bring all of our stuff with him." If it weren't for that little thing called a paycheck. I have grown quite fond of it. It is nice to be able to pay your bills on time!!
We love Texas and we will be back.

Are you hungry?

2008-06-25T22:36:00.002-04:00

As I was running this morning I was thinking about a talk given in church on Sunday. A Brother got up and started by asking us to imagine if we only ate once a day. And when we ate we only took a few nibbles. We didn't even get a whole bite in. Then we would go to a snack buffet once a week. We could eat for a while but there wasn't really a full meal there, only snacks. Then we only took a drink of water a couple of times a week.
Of course this isn't physical food he was talking about, it is spiritual food. Are we spiritually starving? I have been thinking about this a lot. When I am hungry and my blood sugar is low I am very cranky. Everyone annoys me and nothing goes right, ever. Then I eat and I am fine. I can be my nice, loving, friendly, patient self again. I think we are like that spiritually as well. When our spiritual blood sugar is low, nothing seems to go right. Our lives are not bearable and we want to give up. (at least I do) If we Feast upon the words of Christ, then our lives go smoother. Maybe it is just that we are able to deal with things better but no matter what it is, it is easier.
Then I thought I would test this theory. I thought about a lady in our little branch who is the gospel doctrine teacher. She studies the lessons 3-4 weeks in advance. She comes to class with pages and pages of notes about the lesson to share with us. She prays about everything. Lets just say she is someone I look up to spiritually. And I thought, She is NOT spiritually starved. And I wondered how her life is going. She has a severely handicapped daughter, she has MS, she runs her husbands business, she has 3 teenagers, she is going to school full time, her husband is not a member and guess what? She is HAPPY. She is always willing to spend time with you or give you something you need. She gets her visiting teaching done on time every month and she is HAPPY.
Is this just a fluke or are there other people I know that are feasting on Christs words and their life is good? YES!! Our stake president was just diagnosed with lung cancer. He is going through radiation therapy and things should be tough for him and his family. He is another person I look up to spiritually because he is making time to do the things that he knows he needs to do and he is happy. He came to speak to our branch 2 months ago and I couldn't believe how up beat and genuinely happy he and his wife were.
This simple analogy has made me want to be a better person. How many times has someone come over and all I do is complain? How is it that I can go through a whole day with out saying, "I love you." to my husband? Why is it that my kids can get on my nerves for the smallest thing? Why am I not better at fulfilling my callings?
Now I know the answer--I am starving. Are you?

2008-06-24T12:46:00.002-04:00

SCATTERGORIES...it's harder than it looks! Erase my answers, enter yours, and post it. *Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following...*They have to be real places, names, things...nothing made up! Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same 1st initial. You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question.

WHAT IS YOUR NAME: Jody
4 LETTER WORD: Joke
VEHICLE: Jeep
CITY: Jacksonville
BOY NAME: James
GIRL NAME: Jenny
OCCUPATION: Jockey
SOMETHING YOU WEAR: Jacket
FOOD: Jam
SOMETHING FOUND IN A BATHROOM: jacuzzi tub
REASON FOR BEING LATE:Just lazy
SOMETHING YOU SHOUT: Jerk!

Thanks Sarah!

I would be a millionaire...

2008-06-23T10:51:00.005-04:00

If I could bottle this energy and sell it. I know everyone would have to have a bottle of it and I would be famous the world over. If I could just figure out how to do it....

Other than that, there is not much happening here. There are only 3 days of school left for this year. Then we have 2 months off, then we start school again. Reese will be in Kindergarten. WOW!!! I went into Reese's room the other evening and this is what I found. I think Ryan is getting ready to move to a big boy bed but I want to keep him in his crib as long as possible. We put Reese in a big bed when she turned 2 and she never had a problem with crawling out. I have a sneaking suspicion that Ryan will not be that easy. I have already moved everything in his room to the closet and thanks to Carter we know what will likely happen when he is supposed to be in his room taking a nap and he can climb out of bed.

Reese

2008-06-18T14:30:00.004-04:00

Reese is a funny funny child. She has a funny sense of humor. It is sooo cool to see how she came from us but she is definitely her own little person.
This past weekend was fathers day and she loves her daddy. Ryan was making a few funny noises with his mouth (because he figured out that he could) and Reese said, "Happy Farters day, Ryan!" Then we all rolled on the floor.

The other day we were walking outside and we heard someone cutting the grass. Reese said, "Don't worry Ryan, it is just a mow lawner."

She was walking around the house with a rubber exercise band on her head like a sweat band.

I love her creativity and that she has no preconceived notions about the proper uses for things.
And as soon as she realized what I was doing she ripped it off.

And it seems like the only time she will sit still long enough to have her picture taken is like this. (Unless I want just a picture of Ryan)

Isn't she cute though?!!

Whats that you said?

2008-06-14T08:48:00.002-04:00

Golden found this and laughed out loud. (A rare occasion for him) I thought it was funny just to see the relief on the kids face.

Sorry

2008-06-11T10:55:00.004-04:00

I know I haven't really been good about blogging lately. I really haven't been doing anything but trying to finish up with school and it is finally really warming up here so I have been outside more. You never really know how much you like to be outside doing things until you can't have it and you miss it and winter is here for 5 1/2 months. I never thought of myself as a real summer person but having to be inside for almost half a year makes you think, "I really am a summer person. I miss the sun."

We have been trying to finish up school but it seems to be dragging on forever. We still have 2 full weeks of school before we are out but the next 2 weeks are full of everything. We have a family picnic, trips to the museum, field days, parent appreciation days, kindergarten preparation day (they get to visit a kindergarten class and eat lunch in the cafeteria) and a few other things. Then school will be out.

Other news: Grandma Judy is coming to visit. She will be here tonight and leaves next Wednesday. Reese ran into my room first thing this morning and it wasn't, "Good morning mom." or "I have to go pee" which is usually the case but it was, "Grandma Judy, Grandma Judy!!!" She also told me that she is NOT going to have a cranky day so she can play with grandma tonight.

I have started running. I know, brace yourselves, pick your jaws up off the floor and keep reading. I have been reading some blogs and I was looking at a lady who lost like 100 pounds in a year just by running and eating right. I don't need to lose weight but I am tired of felling tired all the time and being cranky. I also have a friend who runs a couple of times a week and she says it makes everything go smoother. I also have a couple of friends who started a running club. It is mostly for the kids but I think it is just awesome and a lot of the kids from school and the neighborhood are involved. I think it is great and I thought about the example I was setting for my kids and I wanted to do better. Thanks Kevin and Amy. I just know that I feel better when I exercise and since doing gymnastics is kind of out of the question I thought I would run. Those of you who know me and know I didn't even run when I was in shape because I hated it that much will be shocked to know that I actually enjoy it. The first day nearly killed me and I have only been running a mile but today was easy (almost) and I think that I will start to increase my distance. I have found a park really close to my house and it is beautiful and shaded by all the trees and it has a nice path that has the miles marked in 1/4s so I know exactly how far I have run.
Ryan is still here and he is saying more words everyday. I love to see the expressions on his face and the things he tries to say. He really has his own personality.

A lady at gymnastics told me yesterday that she can't believe how alike my kids look. I don't think they look that alike but what do I know.

I know that a post really isn't good without pictures but in typical Jody fashion I have forgotten my camera every time we do something or every time the kids does something goofy. But I will post pictures any way. Enjoy.

Pizza, anyone?

2008-06-05T13:44:00.002-04:00

Last night the young men in our branch decided to have a pizza bake-off. Everyone was supposed to bring an original pizza. One brought a grits pizza, one was a london broil pizza (with steak on it), there was a banana pizza (that was actually quite good) and there was a blueberry and oatmeal pizza. Golden decided he would take a pizza of his own design. It was a chili cheese dog pizza. Talk about barf. He first took some chili and spread it on the crust and then he took a whole buch of hot dogs and cut them up into little bite size pieces and spread them on. Then he took a lot of cheese and sprinkled it on top. Now, if you like chili cheese dogs maybe you would have been bold no brave enough to try it. It just made me want to vomit. The young men loved it. Go figure!!

I knew it

2008-06-04T14:00:00.004-04:00

I have seen this going around and I knew I would be next. At least it is not about me this time.

Husband Tag
What is his name? James Golden Rugg
*How long have you been married? It will be #10 this summer
*How long did you date? 4 months
*How old is he? 32
*Who eats more sweets? Me definitely. I have a sweet tooth the size of my home state of Texas!
*Who said "I love you" first? Him. He whispered it to me when he was hugging me good night not long after we started dating.
*Who is taller? He is.
*Who can sing better? Definitely him. He says he likes my singing but I sound like an animal that needs to be put out of my misery.
*Who is smarter? He is!! He has a total math brain.
*Who does the laundry? Me, but he washed his own clothes before I became a SAHM.
*Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? When you are standing at the foot looking at it, I do. It is closer to the door and hence closer to the children when they wake up in the middle of the night.
*Who mows the lawn? Any one but him. Lately it has been a guy named Bob
*Who cooks dinner? I do and if I am not in the mood to cook we eat out.
*Who drives? He does. He LOVES to drive and complains about my driving so I would just rather relax in the passenger seat than be stressed out in the drivers seat.
*Who is more stubborn? Me
*Who kissed who first? He kissed me. But I wasn't going to stop him.
*Who asked who out first? He asked me out first. He called and asked if I knew how to braid and I showed him how. Then he asked me out to dinner and a show.
*Who proposed? He did
*Who has more siblings? I do, 3 bro and 4 sis. He has 2 sis and 1 bro
*Who wears the pants? He does on some things and I do on other things.

A day in the life of "The Un-doer"

2008-06-02T13:42:00.004-04:00

This is how my day has gone so far.
Get up and get the kids some breakfast. While they were sitting at the table I unloaded and started to re-load the dish washer from last night. Before I could finish the loading process, Ryan was screaming to get down and so I got him down(my first mistake) I should have left him there screaming until I could get done with the dishes because it all went down hill from there. While I was finishing the dishes, Ryan went into his room and pulled all of the puzzles and books off the shelf and threw them around the room. Of course, as soon as I finished the dishes I went in to see what he had done. While I was trying to clean that mess up he and Reese went into the hall closet and played in there (which they do often) and they pulled all the towels out of the closet (which they do not do often) While I was folding and re-stacking towels, Ryan went into the kitchen and climbed up on the table and poured juice all over himself, the table, the chairs and the floor. I went to clean him up and then start in on the table and floor. While I was on my hands and knees scrubbing the juice off the floor, Ryan went into the living room and pulled all the DVDs and controllers to the wii out. While I was putting the controllers and movies back Ryan had gone into his room to get the wipes (which are on top of the dresser.) Apparently he had a stinky diaper and needed to be changed. He sat in the hallway and pulled all but one wipe out of the box. Reese went and stood on them all and said, "This feels good on my feet." When I heard that comment I had to go see what she was talking about and see what Ryan had done. As I was trying to salvage the wipes Ryan went in and spread my pile of papers to go through all over the living room floor. Then it was time to go outside and wait for the bus. Nap time is my saving grace. All this happened before noon today.

A day in the life of "The Un-doer"

2008-06-02T13:42:00.003-04:00

TAG, again

2008-05-23T14:41:00.001-04:00

O.K. Natasha, Here goes.

-What were you doing 10 years ago?
I was getting ready to get married. I was finishing as much school as I could and surviving on pasta and late night kisses.
-Five things on my To Do list today?
For tomorrow:
1. Shower (we played outside all day today and I am starting to smell like it)
2. Do some laundry
3. Do another load of dishes. We had people over and a lot of food today (Memorial Day) The dish washer is going now and went this morning as well. It will be going first thing in the morning too.
4. Get Reese to school on time.
5. Spend less time on the computer and more time with my kids.
-Five of my favorite snacks?
This changes all the time since I love just about anything sweet or anything salty. Oh who am I kidding, I just love food. It is my favorite sport, eating.
One thing I love now is girl scout cookies (until they are gone) and yogurt covered cranberries. I also like to eat left over candy (Halloween or whatever the last holiday was) Like I said, I just love to eat.
-What would I do if I suddenly became a billionaire?
Hire someone to do my laundry and dishes. (How lame is that?)
I would by a dream house and SAVE SAVE SAVE. Make my husband quit work so we could spend more time together. I would not buy a coat for $17,500.
-Three Bad Habits?
Procrastinating on everything. My mom calls me molasses in January because I am always behind or moving slow. I think deep down I am just lazy. (That's 3 isn't it, Procrastination, moving slow and being lazy)
-Five Places I have lived?
Carrollton, Texas
Provo, Utah
Arlington, Texas
Mesa, Arizona
Plano, Texas
Allen, Texas
McKinney, Texas
Henderson, Nevada
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Upstate New York
-Five Places I have worked?
North Texas Gymnastics
All American Gymnastics
BYU (Just summer camps)
Allen Gymnastics
The Colony gymnastics
(Anyone seeing a trend here?)
-Five things people don't know about me?
*Math was my best subject in school and I loved statistics and epidemiology.
*I have a hard time reading non-fiction books. They are just very slow and dry for me.
*I can remember almost any ones name, especially if I hear and see them speak. I just remember how their mouths move and how it makes their voices sound. My husband thinks I am a freak because I can remember sports people that he has only talked about once or twice.
*I love movies. I love to quote lines from movies and insert them into conversations and see if any one notices or put them in totally inappropriate times just to make people laugh. Don't quote me any movies though, I only remember the ones I like.
*I like to pull weeds. Especially if I am stressed. There is something therapeutic about it. I like being outside and being in the quiet and making things look orderly. My mom probably just fell off her seat. She had to bribe us just to pull weeds when we were growing up and I hated it then. There was always something more fun to do. Now I am sad that I don't have much of a flower bed because I can be finished weeding it in about 10 minutes. Mowing the lawn is another story all together.

Ryan words

2008-05-23T13:30:00.003-04:00

I was thinking of the funny things Ryan says and how I know what they are. If someone who doesn't know him walked into the house and he started talking no one would be able to understand him. Here is a list of my favorites.

Kankie = Blanket
new knacks = fruit snacks
un = done
NO! = NO!
Deese = Reese
buh buh = toothbrush
bee bah = baseball
ellow = Yellow or hello depending on if he is eating jelly beans or not
papack = back pack
nink = drink
hurtz = church
us = bus
gook = book
now = down

He is such a cutie!!

Really?

2008-05-19T13:55:00.004-04:00

So the high here today is supposed to be in the 40's. Really? I thought we were done with the coats and gloves and hats and things. This weather just makes me not want to do anything. But it is probably my fault. I started to put away all my sweaters and long sleeved shirts this past weekend and so I probably brought it on myself. I really don't have anything else to blog about but I have a huge pile of papers on my desk and I definitely do not want to go through them so here I am. Don't believe me?

Yes it is that bad and I would do anything to avoid dealing with it right now. There is probably a treasure under there. Maybe that is what I need to tell myself in order to get it done.

O.K. I'm diving in. If you don't here from me you will know where I am. Call the coast guard and send them to my house to help me out....

p.s. I just got a call from a friend who is working on the other side of town and he said it is snowing there. I want to go back to Texas, or anywhere it doesn't snow in May!!

The greatest show on dirt

2008-05-15T17:30:00.004-04:00

Today we went to the baseball game. It was a 10:30 a.m. game and we took the kids and went to the ball game. Little did we know that it was Baseball in Education day at the ballpark and there were 3,000 screaming 5th and 6th graders. Do you want to know what the most annoying thing in the world is? 3,000 5th and 6th graders screaming and screeching at the top of their lungs. My ears have still not quit ringing. I am sorry I do not have any pictures because I forgot my camera. It is a bummer too because Ryan was sooo cute. He was wearing his ball cap and he was sitting in a huge seat and eating a hot dog. All like he had done it before. I know, I know, this really diminishes the view some of you had of me but if you think forgetting my camera is bad you should see my desk right now. I think there might be a lost pet under all the stuff. I will take pictures for you and post them tomorrow.

Any way the slogan they had all over the stadium is the greatest show on dirt. If you don't believe me check it out yourself.

www.bmets.com

Misc...

2008-05-13T23:10:00.003-04:00

Not much has happened here this last week and that is a good thing. We are growing, playing, learning, and getting along just fine. Ryan still likes to wear his sisters clothes. It is finally starting to warm up here and things are beautiful. We spent the afternoon playing outside at a friends baseball game. The kids loved getting outside to play and I loved watching them run and climb and tumble in the grass. Here are some recent pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Happy Mother's Day to Me!!

2008-05-12T21:15:00.002-04:00

So I got home from church yesterday and I turned around in the car and this is what I found.

Then I turned around again and this is what I found:

And after seeing both of my beautiful children asleep at the same time I thought, "Happy Mother's Day to me!!"

She can be so sweet...

2008-05-06T20:23:00.003-04:00

We were riding in the car the other day and Reese told me a story about what happened in school that day. She said that a couple of the girls were fighting and Dakota decided she was not going to be friends with Hannah anymore. This hurt Hannah's feelings and apparently she was really sad. Reese told me that she went up to Dakota and started singing the friends song. "You know like we hear on the radio. You gotta have old friends, cause old friends are the best in the world."
She wanted the girls to be friends and she was singing them a song about friends. How sweet?!?

Then today she told me that they were playing princesses and Kendall was Ariel and she was Belle and Hannah was Cinderella and Allan was Snow White. I said, "Allan was Snow White?" and she said, "Sure he was, what other princess is there?" It was a good thing I was driving and she couldn't see me laughing. So Allan is Snow White!! I don't think his dad knows about this!!!

MY LITTLE PRINCESS

Looking Back

2008-05-02T13:55:00.003-04:00

I found some old pictures of Reese today and I was wondering how alike the kids looked when they were 9 months old. Here are the pictures. You be the judge. Who looks more like who?

They grow up so fast don't they?

To my children

2008-05-01T12:29:00.003-04:00

I just wanted to take a minute and write a note to you both. I know lately that you think I am the worst mother in the world. I am horrible because I won't let you have cookies for breakfast. I am just totally inadequate because I don't want your brains to turn to mush by watching t.v. all day long. I "never, never, never let you do anything fun," Reese and I never let Ryan get away with anything like climbing up on the counters where the knives are kept. I know, I am just awful. Maybe someday I will learn to lighten up and then you won't hate me so bad.

I have news for you both...GET OVER IT!!! I am sorry that we don't do fun things 24 hours a day but you are still a very spoiled little girl. And Ryan, I know I won't let you climb on just anything but you haven't broken a bone yet and that is more than I can say for your sister.

P.S. Does any one know when the terrible 4's end and the terrible 1's phase out?? If you do could you let me know so I can see some light at the end of my tunnel??PLEASE!?!?!

That's my boys!!

2008-04-30T16:15:00.002-04:00

You will all be happy to know that Golden took the day off and took a friend to New York city in order to sit at Yankee Stadium and watch a ball game. I don't know which Golden likes more, being in New York because it means he has a job or being in New York because it means he can go to the city and watch a baseball game. He was soooo looking forward to today.

When we woke up this morning Ryan was in his room talking and guess what he was saying? "Baseball!!! Baseball!!" Of course it was ten to 6 and he was screaming at the top of his lungs but it made Golden so proud. I rolled over and said, "Your son is calling you!! Get up and get him."

2008-04-28T11:25:00.002-04:00

Do you know how many times I have sung "The Popcorn Song" in the last week? Too many to count. In fact I dreamed that I was being attacked by a large popcorn tree. Not a tree with lots of little white flowers but a tree that was full of popcorn. And if any of it fell off, more would just pop in its place. I tried to run but I was under water because I couldn't move fast enough and so I turned around and tried to bat it away. It didn't seem to work. I thought maybe if I ate the popcorn faster than the tree could produce it, the tree would lose some of its power. Then I woke up.
Happy Spring Everyone!!

Third time's a charm...

2008-04-25T13:02:00.006-04:00

So after trying to post this two times yesterday and something happening both times I decided I would quit for the day. Plus I needed to go make dinner. I know that it really is Friday but I know how much you all love this so here goes..

Useless Information Thursday

There are more than 150 breeds of horses in the world.

The normal body temperature for the Clydesdale horse is 101 degrees Fahrenheit.

With nearly 11 million horses in it's borders, China is the leader of all nations for horse population.

Thoroughbred horses are so thin-skinned their veins are visible beneath the skin especially on the legs.

Though small, the Shetland pony is strong. It was once used to haul heavy cars in coal mines.

Rhinos are in the same family as horses and are thought to have inspired the myth of the unicorn. A rhinoceros's horn is made of compacted hair.

Enjoy!! Have a good one!!

2 things

2008-04-23T22:45:00.002-04:00

I was reading an article in the paper about Turn off the TV Week and I decided that my kids watch too much TV. It is really amazing what Reese can come up with to play when she is not in front of the TV. This week she has played store (She came and raided all the silverware from the kitchen so they could buy it at the store), I have heard her singing songs that I didn't even know that she knew(making up some funny words about snowmen to the tune of The Spirit of God), she has been very creative with the toys downstairs (making them all talk to each other) and she has asked me about friends and relatives she hasn't seen in 6 months to a year. Isn't it great what happens when you turn it off!!

Number 2--My poor son has the chubbiest legs. Here is a good picture of the rolls on the inside of his leg. Reese had rolls but by the time she was almost 2 they had gone away. Poor Ryan will probably have thunder thighs forever, he comes by it honest!!

Notes to myself...

2008-04-22T13:24:00.004-04:00

I have learned a few things in the past week and I figured I should write them down or I will never remember them.

1. Never give anything covered in whipped cream to an angry toddler. Especially one who likes to throw things.

2. Never tell a 4 year old that you want her to sit still and look pretty so you can take her picture because whatever she has in her hands will end up in front of her face.

3. Don't let your toddler dress himself. If you do, be prepared for this:

4. Last but not least, be sure to stand clear of a one year old when he has a bat in his hands. You may even have to sneak up behind him as you try to grab it out of his hands making sure he doesn't take your head off.

Hats

2008-04-21T13:34:00.004-04:00

I was going through my last set of pictures and I started to notice a theme with Ryan. He likes to wear hats. I don't know why I never noticed this before but all these pictures are from the last month.

Here he is enjoying a corn dog. (Yes he does have 2 shirts on because well I don't know why?!?)

Here he is after we went on a walk this last week. For those of you wondering, he is sitting in a stroller inside the house. It seems that he likes to ride in the stroller as well. He also wore this hat when we went to the Zoo and he wore it all day. Those were 2 things Reese hated to do, wear a hat and sit in the stroller. She always wanted to get out and push.

Daddy was happy about this one:) and then he (Golden) added the sunglasses. My little girlie rock star, with out pants.

A winter hat.

Climbing on the crib. It is a good thing he hasn't figured out how to climb out. I dread that day. Again with out pants.

Progress Report

2008-04-19T14:12:00.002-04:00

O.K. so here are the things we actually accomplished this week. (Unfortunately so did the rest of the state of New York who was also on Spring break)

1. We did make it to the mall in Syracuse. I bit the bullet and drove up there and we had a good time. Reese was happy because they have a build-a-bear shop in that mall. It is the closest one. Ryan would not let go of his horse and so we rode the carousel a couple of times until I could bribe him with ice cream to get off.

2. We didn't make it to the germ infested Discovery Center that is pretty lame any way. We did however make it to the zoo in Syracuse. It is a ton better than the one here. We went early one morning and went to the zoo, then the mall for lunch and the carousel. The kids had a good time and I learned that Ryan likes to sit in his stroller. He actually had a fit when it was time to get out and go eat. Who would have ever figured, the boy likes to do something better than eat!!

3. We didn't go to the park but we did go on a nice walk. We walked down to the ice cream shop that has been closed all winter and opened up again lately and ate ice cream. YUMMY!!

4. Check. Not only did we go to breakfast but we had a slumber party. We put Ryan to bed and got all of our pillows and blankets and went down to the playroom and ate popcorn and cookies and stayed up late watching t.v.

5. Did it. We went to get the oil changed and I needed to get the tires rotated as well. They said that will take an hour and 1/2. It is a good thing it is across the street from Target. We can always seem to waste time (and money) there.

6. We tried to play with Caleb this week but every time we went to play they were busy. They are really active in their church so they are always rushing off to one service or meeting of some kind.

7. Done. Now I just have to remember to take the books back later this week.

8. Went to the Binghamton zoo and the Syracuse zoo. See #2.

9. I made a deal with Golden to go to Rochester on our next ward temple trip. We will eat at the Cheesecake Factory then (Sometime in May)

10. We cleaned out Reese's closet but not Ryan's. Reese told me that she needs more clothes to fill up her drawers now that we took out all the bulky stuff. Her drawers have been bulging all winter with sweaters, sweat shirts and long sleeved shirts. Now it seems so empty!

It has been a really busy week!! I can't wait for school to start again!!

It's Thursday...

2008-04-17T14:38:00.003-04:00

...And you know what that means. Time for some useless trivia.

Numbers

-Smokey the Bear's zip code is 20252.

-Dirty Harry's badge number is 2211.

-Approximately 60 circus performers have been shot from cannons. At last report, thirty one of them have been killed.

-In an episode of the Simpsons, Sideshow Bob's criminal number is 24601, the same as the criminal number of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables.

-The Chinese checkerboard has 121 holes.

-The wheel on the game show Wheel of Fortune is 102 inches in diameter.

Laundry

2008-04-15T22:41:00.004-04:00

In the last week I have found
-one sticker
-one tube of chap stick
-one neon yellow pen
-two pictures of strawberry shortcake
-4 rocks
-$.09
-one ring
-a bracelet
-a watch
and one folded up 3x5 card with stick figures on it

All in the washing machine or dryer while doing laundry. It is time to start checking pockets with fervor. Luckily nothing was ruined.(I think)

Spring Break

2008-04-14T00:24:00.004-04:00

This week is spring break. I would think that we have had enough time off school. No wonder we don't get out until the end of June!! Here is the list of stuff I told Reese we would do this week.
1. Go to the mall in Syracuse (because it is a real mall and they have a food court and a carousel) So who cares if we have to drive for an hour and 1/2 just to get there.
2. Go to the museum. A small dirty place that is going to be packed with every other kid that is not in school this week. Good times!

3. Go to the park. It is supposed to be in the 60's and it hasn't snowed in like a week:)

4. Go to breakfast. It is one of our favorite family things to do since Daddy doesn't have to be "At the office."

5. Get the oil changed in the car!! I know it's not a very kid friendly thing to do but it has to be done this week.

6. Play with Caleb. He lives across the street but it seems like we never have time to do anything together.

7. Go to the library.

8. Go to the zoo. We have a membership and haven't been all winter, maybe because they close for the winter. (And it only takes about 1 hour to see everything they have and it is only 20 minutes away)

9. Maybe Golden will take us to Rochester and we can eat at the Cheesecake Factory. YUM!!

10. Clean out her closet and get out her summer clothes. I haven't even been able to let her wear short sleeved shirts b/c of the cold. She has been wearing her flip-flops around the house for the last week and it makes me want the warm weather here. Maybe if we get out the shorts and sandals we will trick the weather into thinking that it is time to be warm. I also need to do the same for Ryan. He has lots of things that he has outgrown over the winter and I have just thrown them into the closet.

Check back at the end of the week to see how many things we actually got done.

Oh-I almost forgot! Taxes are due this week. Maybe we should get that done too!!

Transportaion

2008-04-10T14:08:00.004-04:00

Reese is talking about transportation all this week and to honor this unit of study here goes:

The Kansas City Railroad used to stop their trains to allow the passengers to shoot at passing buffalo.

Traveling by air is the safest means of transportation. More people are killed
by donkeys annually than killed in plane crashes.

It would take more than 150 years to drive a car to the sun.

More than 10 percent of all the salt produced annually in the world is used to
de-ice American roads.

I think a large percentage of that is used in upstate New York.

Have a good day!!

Congratulations!!

2008-04-09T14:35:00.002-04:00

Ryan no longer sleeps with a pacifier. It has been a long week and a couple of sleepless nights but I think he finally has it. He is really growing up.

Bye-Bye paci!!

We are going to the beach this summer and Reese keeps asking me when that will be. I tell her when there is no more snow and it is really warm outside and the sun shines a lot. Yesterday it was in the 50's here and the sun was out all day. No heavy coats for us, just sweatshirts. We were on our way home from the store and Reese asked me, "Mom, are we going to the beach tomorrow?" and I said, "No, why?" she said because it is finally warm and you said we are going to the beach when it is warm!" Sorry I really need to be specific with her don't I.

On conference Sunday we spent the whole day at a friends house watching conference, eating and hanging out. We got home late that night after dinner and both kids had fallen asleep on the way home. When we got home we quickly put the kids to bed and started getting ready ourselves. I walked by Reese's door and she was still awake and she looked at me and said, "I need to brush my teeth." And I know it was a horrible answer but I told her she could do it in the morning. She looked at me really funny and said, "But just think of all that food I ate today." Trying to hide a laugh I told her she could go brush as long as she hurried and got right back in bed.

Meatballs and snow forts

2008-04-08T16:19:00.002-04:00

Ryan is SO cute when he eats. He is a very good eater and he loves meatballs. The other day he was sitting at his chair and he wanted to make sure he had every last drop of spaghetti sauce and so he picked up his plate and licked it. What can I say he wanted to make sure he got it all.

No it is not a fort made out of snow but it is a fort we made inside because we couldn't go outside because of the snow. It is a few weeks old but I thought it was very creative of Reese. And they played in their "house" all day. And yes it is attached to the front door.

P.S. it is finally spring here. The sun is out and it is almost 50 today!!(And it hasn't snowed in almost a whole week!!

Eat your heart out Carter! (or at least your cream)

2008-04-07T23:31:00.003-04:00

This one is for Carter!

One day I went into my bedroom and this is what I found:

Yes that is Ryan sitting on the floor of my bedroom with a tube of cherry flavored chapstick in his mouth. I watched him for a few minutes and this is what I saw him do.

Yes he is sticking his finger in the tube and digging the chapstick out in order to eat it. This is what it looked like.

And this is what he looked like when I took it away from him. I guess he wasn't finished yet.

My kid may be weird but at least he wasn't eating this. (Right Carter?)

Grandpa would be proud

2008-04-04T13:17:00.006-04:00

My dad, who is in the construction business should be very proud of Ryan. Just look at the latest 'Favorite Toy.'

My little Handy Manny!

Thanks for letting us have a great time Grandma!! We love you and miss you already.

Todays bit of useless information...

2008-04-03T15:12:00.001-04:00

...is all about animals.

It is physically impossible for pigs to look up at the sky.

Deer can not eat hay. They do like to eat marijuana.

Moose have very poor vision. Some have even tried to mate with cars.

Jaguars are scared of dogs.

Flamingos can live up to 80 years.

And last but not least, Eagles mate while airborne.

Now everyone can say they learned something interesting today!

Someone get me outta here, quick!!!

2008-03-30T20:49:00.002-04:00

Look at this. In the last couple of weeks Golden told me I am officially a Yankee. I got New York plates for my car and now this. I am losing one of the best parts of me!! Someone rescue me quick!!

You Are 60% Texas

At first, you seem Texan... but just because a chicken has wings don't mean it can fly.

How Texas Are You?

Reese was talking about her back pack in the last couple of days and she was saying it with a northern accent like all the kids at school say, "Back pack." It is really starting to scare me.

Funny things and Easter

2008-03-27T08:23:00.004-04:00

I always wonder what is going on inside Reese's brain. Sometimes she will let me have a little insight into her thought process and I am either shocked or am rolling on the floor, laughing my guts out. Yesterday we were driving in the car and she said, "Mom, why do the clouds follow us?" I don't know how to answer that. I know that they aren't following us but how do you explain that to a 4 year old who looks out the window and sees them "following us." Then she was saying, "That cloud looks like a shoe, and that one looks like a horse and that one looks like a tree. Hey, that cloud looks like a cloud." It made me smile.
This morning she came into my room and told me that John came to school yesterday with a note in his backpack that said his mom had a baby boy. "John Mars has a new baby brother and his name is Matthew and he is 6 feet tall." Me, "Are you sure it said 6 feet?" Reese, "Yes mom, 6 feet!" Wow that is one huge baby!

We had a good Easter. We went to church in the morning and then came home to have a nice dinner. It was bitterly cold out (still) so we had our egg hunt inside. Ryan found about 3 eggs and then lost interest so Reese found all the rest. We couldn't find the last egg but yesterday (Wednesday) we were down stairs playing and Ryan kept saying, "Egg, egg, egg" He was standing in front of a small shelf of toys and Golden went to look and see what he was saying and he had found the last egg. He really enjoyed the candy in it!!

Monkey Boy

2008-03-26T07:42:00.003-04:00

This one is for you, Janette. (and Ryan too)

Here is how it happens. I know most of you have heard me talk about how Ryan climbs in the oven and here is proof. There is also one of him climbing on the table. I guess he just wanted his cereal.
Yesterday I heard him grunting and the chairs being scooted around the floor of the kitchen. I went to check on him and he was trying to get the M&M's that are on the top of the cabinets. I am not really sure that he thought that one all the way through. What was he going to do when he got standing on top of the cabinets and couldn't reach the candy? I am not sure that he could even get down if he had gotten that far. He really has to be watched.

Do you know what today is??

2008-03-25T09:15:00.003-04:00

Do you? Let me give you a hint.

Look at the t.v. in the background.

Yes it is opening day of baseball season. It is a big day at our house. I bet no one else you know set the alarm so they could get up and watch the first game of the season which is taking place in Japan and started at 6:00 a.m. our time. Golden did. Can we just say he is a little bit excited? In fact he has baseball fever so bad that he went yesterday and bought the kids their first mitts. Reese's is pink and purple and lights up. On the inside is printed, "Girls Rule!" and has flowers on it. I think it is very appropriate.

Golden took Reese downstairs this morning so she could watch the game with him and they started throwing the ball around. Then Reese wanted to hit the ball off the Tee. He gave her some instructions on where to stand and how to hold the bat and she hit it right at him. It was a really good hit and it left Golden with a large red welt on his chest and left him rolling on the ground. I said, "See what happens when you give the girl some instruction?"
Then Golden had just set the ball back up for her to hit again and gotten back in position and he had just barely turned around and she hit it again. A line drive to his chest. This time the red welt was three inches higher on his chest. She had hit him 2 times in a row.

O.k. it was funnier when it happened this morning:)

Reese

2008-03-24T21:12:00.002-04:00

Do you ever feel like doing this to your kids? Only sometimes I think I would actually tape up the box and send her to Outer Mongolia (Where ever that is.) In the last week I have cleaned pen, pencil and/or marker off of walls, doors, room decor, fingers, cheeks, little brothers, beds and my desk. I finally had to tell her that if I found anymore "markings" where they do not belong that I would start taking toys away. Then I shut her in her room for half an hour. I hope she gets the point.

Now don't be calling CPS on me she is the one who climbed in the box and I never shut it. See, she is smiling.

Easter

2008-03-22T21:55:00.001-04:00

In honor of Easter:

What Your Easter Egg Says About You

You are truly optimistic, open, and hopeful.

And your optimism gives you the courage to live life adventurously.

You love new experiences, ideas, and challenges.

You see life as a fluid, growing process.

The Easter Egg Personality Test

2008-03-22T21:37:00.002-04:00

What???

2008-03-21T16:14:00.002-04:00

OK so I am a big dork. Either that or I have been out of it longer than I know. This weekend is Easter. On the school calendar they hand out at the beginning of the year there is a break this weekend. I knew that. There are lots of Catholic people here so there is no school and most of the businesses in town are shut down for Good Friday and there are lots of people going to church. I knew that. I also was aware that there is no school on Monday (I am not sure why). So I scheduled a haircut appointment for Thursday thinking that Golden could come home and work for a few hours while Reese was at school and Ryan was down for a nap.
So we wake up on Thursday and I get the kids all fed and dressed, do another load of laundry get Reese ready for school and then get myself ready to go get my haircut. Golden comes home and I leave. All he had to do was put Reese on the bus that stops outside our front door and put Ryan down for a nap. I get a text message about 30 minutes after I walk out the door that says, "No school today." What??? There is no snow on the ground and I had not heard that they were going to cancel school. So I called Golden at home and he said that they waited for the bus and when it was 15 minutes late he called Amy, (the girl who lives across the street that has a pre-school student also) and asked her if he missed the bus. She said, "Uh- NO!! There is no school today." When Golden called me and told me that I felt like the biggest dork and Reese was disappointed that she got all ready to go and couldn't even go.

I am sorry Reese!! I guess I need some help with my memory.

2008-03-20T22:05:00.007-04:00

Back to the land of the living...

2008-03-20T00:06:00.002-04:00

Warning: Those with out children will want to skip today's blog. If you have a weak stomach you may want to avert your eyes.

Yes, We have had it. I have seen enough puke and diarrhea in the last week to last me a lifetime. That is it. I declare that no one in my family is allowed to get sick any more. Ever. Including and especially me. I am exhausted.

Enough with the bodily functions in the middle of the night already. Reese was up at 2 a.m. and had to wake me up just so she could go potty.
The night before that I was up in the middle of the night washing chunks of puke out of children's hair and doing laundry (which I would not have to do if my kids didn't sleep with blankets) And if it's not puke it's poop. For the last 2 weeks Ryan has woken up diarrhea everywhere. No not just running down his legs but up his back, up his front and oozing out the front of his pajamas.

I told you this was gross.

Tuesday I was up at 5 a.m. puking my guts out and couldn't stop all day. Yes there comes a point where your body wants to puke but there is nothing left in there to puke then you are just gagging and choking. That is always barrels of fun.

OK, OK enough with the gross-ness. Today I feel better and I have about 12 loads of laundry to do and need to go to bed.

Broccoli anyone?

2008-03-17T12:55:00.002-04:00

I couldn't resist. It made me laugh which I needed today!

Someone has too much time on his hands!

Today's piece of information you don't think you need to know and probably don't:

It takes an avocado 13 months to go from a bud to a fruit big enough to be picked. They have to mature on the tree but will not ripen until picked. Avocados can be stored on the tree for up to 7 months. That is why we have avocados year-round.

P.S. I think I need some 7-Salsas

Golden

2008-03-16T11:47:00.003-04:00

I would just like to say that I have the most awesome husband in the whole world. He works hard, is a great dad and puts up with all my nonsense. I love you with my whole heart and appreciate all you do for me and our family.

I love your funny faces and all the smiles you put on my face!!

Reese and Daddy taking a nap after church last week. It was too cute not to preserve forever.

Welcome Spring!

2008-03-14T12:33:00.003-04:00

Here are some recent pictures of the wonderful New York landscape. I couldn't resist taking pictures because the sun was out and it really looked kinda pretty. Come on Spring!!!

Today's useless piece of information:

When the Titanic sunk, there were seventy-five hundred pounds of ham on it.

Now don't feel just that much smarter!

Lookin' Good Billy Ray

2008-03-13T13:41:00.002-04:00

Yes. Ryan is wearing a purple and green striped shirt, wearing sun glasses, carrying a pink tinkerbell purse and doing who knows what to the poor baby doll. Wow; he makes his daddy proud.

Big Wheels and Super Heros

2008-03-12T13:28:00.003-04:00

Since it is still the middle of winter here and it is snowing again today :( I thought I would post some pictures of how the kids entertain themselves when we don't go outside. Ryan was riding Reese's bike and of course as soon as Reese saw it she had to help him. I love the helmet. After all, you never know what kind of obstacles and trouble you might run into while riding your bike in the basement.

I thought it was funny that I found this since I recently posted about it. Isn't it funny that my weakness is cold. I really need to get out of here. I think Golden would agree about my mode of transportation:) What is your Super Hero Name and powers?

Your Superhero Profile

Your Superhero Name is The Detective Storm

Your Superpower is Mathematics

Your Weakness is Cold Weather

Your Weapon is Your Kinetic Lasso

Your Mode of Transportation is Broom

What's your Superhero Name?

YUMMM!!!

2008-03-11T13:14:00.000-04:00

Ryan had his first ice cream sandwich last night after dinner. He is at that stage where he wants to do everything himself and if you don't let him he screams. I couldn't help him but he certainly enjoyed it!!!

No way!!!

2008-03-10T20:22:00.003-04:00

Miracle of miracles...Both of my kids were asleep before 8:00 p.m. tonight. Of course Reese was asleep in the doorway of her room but she is asleep. She had walked over to the hall closet and pulled a blanket out. She is about 3 feet away from her bed and Penguinny is all tucked in but she is sound asleep.

P.S. Her room is not normally this messy but she likes to pull out her books at bed time when she is supposed to be going to bed and then falls asleep on them.

Super Heros

2008-03-07T13:35:00.003-05:00

So my sister said her kids got a book of how to become your own super hero. They came up with Donut guy and Noodle man. They each have specific powers and can do some great stuff. They have capes and masks and everything. But this got me thinking. What kind of super hero would I be? What kind would the kids be? I think Ryan would be Climbs-in-the-oven-Boy and Reese would be Whines-till-she-gets-her-way-girl. Their powers would include making peoples ears bleed by screaming and keeping the bad guys occupied by standing on the open oven door(when it is off of course.) Ryan's insignia would be obviously a big oven and Reese would have a pink or purple or pink and purple cape and a mask with fake tears running down the cheeks.

Me I would be super mom of course. My magic powers would include but would not be limited to being able to fix a great nutritious dinner every night and having the laundry folded and put away within an hour of it being done. I might also be able to teach my kids all the important things they need to know with out ever losing my temper and have them perfectly dressed every time we stepped out of the house. (Maybe this would only be my superhero character in my dream and in real life it would be more like Yells-at-the-kids-and-the-laundry-is-always-wrinkled-Mom)

What would your super hero be and what kind of powers do/would you have?

Better late than never

2008-03-06T14:29:00.004-05:00

I know these are a little late but what can I say, that is my life for ya.

Besides, you all need to know how much we love and miss you.
Now for the fun stuff!!
Todays piece of useless information follows:

According to British law passed in 1845, attempting to commit suicide was a capital offense. Offenders could be hanged for trying.

Now aren't you glad you took time out of your day to read that!! Time well spent;)

Now you can have your phone and eat it too...

2008-03-04T11:35:00.002-05:00

I am always afraid that there will be something gross or too mature for Reese on you tube but I found something that she likes to watch.
If you are in the mood for another great song here goes.

Misc...

2008-03-03T15:36:00.001-05:00

First a funny story. We were at Walmart the other day and Reese and I walked past the shoe department. As we did we passed a mirror. Reese looked right in it at herself and said, "I love you!" I don't think that she knew I was listening and I almost had to do a double take but that is what she said. I had to hide the giggles to myself and keep walking. She really is a nut job.

Second, my glasses broke. I have lost one too many battles with children and they finally gave out. It does not just need another screw, it needs some serious tape or maybe a saudering iron. They really just broke right at the corner. The funny thing is that they are still wearable, they are just a little crooked on my face.

Next, Golden got a new toy, can you guess what it is? Let me give you a hint.

Yes it is a punching bag. He is really becoming a big fan of Ricky Hatton and boxing.

I got a new toy. Yes I know that I have had it for a while now but I just got my new plates and I still love it.

And lastly I am going to put Ryan in charge of anything that has to do with the computer. Do you think he will measure up?

Baby Boy

2008-03-02T15:44:00.005-05:00

I know this picture is a bit fuzzy but you have to admit it is a good look. He has on Reese's backpack, Reese's snow boots and his blanket. I think that is my cell phone he has in his hand as well. The back pack is almost bigger than he is but he loves to wear it and pretend like he is going to school. He is growing up too fast.

Winter Wonderland

2008-02-29T14:08:00.003-05:00

I know most of you are getting ready for Spring and getting ready for Easter. I am still digging out of winter. I guess that I have been spoiled most of my life with 6 months of summer and now I am paying for it with 6 months of winter. These are out my back window. Pretty but I keep thinking of the mess and how much I am going to have to shovel just to get the car usable.

There is more snow than table in this picture. HELP!!

Can anyone find the snow man that the neighbor kids made? My kids have not really played in the snow because I just don't want to go out and get in it. I am such a bad mother.

Just remember this post in another month when the high is 90 and you are sweating like crazy. I will still be wearing boots and gloves and scarves and big coats.
I am now certain that the whole global warming thing is a big hoax. Winter will never end!!

That's going to hurt in the morning

2008-02-29T00:04:00.002-05:00

Don't you wish you could sleep just about any where? With your head hanging off your bed? I went in to check on Reese tonight and just had to take this picture. Yes that is a book, a hard cover book in her bed. After she was supposed to be in bed Golden saw her crawling from her bed to the bookshelf a couple of times. She is such a hoot!!

What is your inner hair color?

2008-02-27T10:42:00.002-05:00

I found this quiz on line and guess what it said about me?
MY HAIR SHOULD BE PINK!!!!
How crazy is that. I don't know that I agree with it but it is a fun thing to do.

Your Hair Should Be Pink

Hyper, insane, and a boatload of fun.

You're a traveling party that everyone loves to follow.

What's Your Funky Inner Hair Color?

Funny words

2008-02-26T14:42:00.005-05:00

Reese came up to me the other day and said, "Mom, that sure is a funny word." I replied with, "What word is that?" and she said, "DOINK!"

Yes that is a funny word and I am not quite sure where she heard it but it got me thinking. What is the funniest sounding word you heard today?

Here is my favorite:

Sphygmomanometer

When Reese has the Camera...

2008-02-25T19:33:00.003-05:00

...this is what you get.

At least this one is cute!!! (Even if it isn't in focus)

Waffles anyone?

2008-02-21T15:23:00.004-05:00

A lady in my branch came over the other day and brought her 8 year old son with her. We wanted to watch a movie so Reese and Hayden went downstairs to play. This is what Hayden shared with Reese and whenever Reese has seen me on the computer in the last few days she has asked me to play this. I find myself singing it all day long. Thanks, Hayden!!!

Random thoughts...

2008-02-20T16:35:00.002-05:00

Here are a couple of non-related random thoughts that I have had lately.

1) Did you know that Albert Einstein could not speak fluently in his native toungue until he was 9 years old. His parents thought he was retarded. There is hope for me yet.

2) Did I mention that I hate the cold? My knuckles have started to crack and bleed because they are so dry. I am ready to be warm.

3) I was listening to the radio yesterday (Kidstuff) and the Rug Rats theme song came on and one line stuck out to me. I think it is appropriate to my life.
"Rug Rats, Rug Rats, who is raising who?" I feel like sometimes I am being raised by my kids.

Oh the Places you'll go

2008-02-15T13:56:00.002-05:00

This is a map of the places that I have been. Interesting to ses how it maps out. I think I have the south covered. I will have to work more on the North:) Try it for yourself. Have a good Day!!

create your own personalized map of the USA
or check out ourCalifornia travel guide

BRRRRRRRRR!!

2008-02-11T14:04:00.000-05:00

Thats it. I am moving to someplace warm. It is about 10 degrees outside right now and with the wind chill it is -15. I am sitting downstairs with gloves on my hands because IT IS SOOO COLD!!! My neighbor across the street was in Florida for the whole last week. I am jealous. I want to live somewhere warm. I keep seeing the commercials for the HGTV dream home and I want to be there now. I am tired of grey skies and snow boots and wearing big bulky sweats. I want to wear shorts and go swimming and see the sun every once in a while.

Ok enough about me and my cranky-ness for the cold. The kids....

Ryan was wearing this shirt the other day and every time I walked away from him and came back he had his arm out of his shirt like this. I couldn't understand what was making him do this. He just wouldn't keep his arm in his shirt. It looks like he is wearing some toga like outfit and no matter how many times I put it back on him he would take his arm out again.

My chair fianlly bit the dust. Since we have moved so many times the chairs for my kitchen table have started falling apart. At least no one was sitting in it when this happened. We moved the table and ramaining chairs downstairs (for crefts and sewing) and We got a new one that fits 4 chairs and a bench. Now when we have people over to eat we don't have to stand holding or plates and shoveling our food like we were raised in a barn.

What Movie?

2008-02-05T22:02:00.000-05:00

Does any one know what movie this picture and the words that came out of my mouth when I saw him go to?

Bathtime Bums

2008-02-02T18:52:00.001-05:00

My kids are sooo cute sometimes it just kills me.

Here are some pictures of them actually playing together in the bath tub. I think it is cute even if they will hate me later for it.

New Tricks

2008-01-28T21:27:00.000-05:00

Ryan has learned 2 new skills in the last week.
1) He learned to jump. He thinks it is soo cool when he gets both feet off the ground at the same time but he always falls down on his bum.
2) He learned to take his pajamas off. I went into his room one morning to get him and this is what I found:

Can you say watch out Elvis!!!

Oh yeah and nice hair!!!

A very bad week....

2008-01-16T21:17:00.000-05:00

I have had one of the worst weeks in the history of my short little life. It all started last Wednesday night. I spent more time laying in my crib coughing than I did sleeping. When I got up on Thursday I was really tired and grouchy. But it was the day mom and dad decided to go to Pennsylvania to buy a new car. Do you know how long it takes to buy a car. It is not like going to the grocery store. It takes a long time. On the way home that night Mom decided to take me to the doctor. When we got there I had a temp of 103. WOW!! Then the doctor told my mom to take me over to the hospital for a chest x-ray. He thought I had pneumonia. As it turns out I didn't. That was a good thing but I didn't get home until almost 10:00. That is really late for a little boy who normally goes to bed at 7:00. Friday and Saturday were rather uneventful but on Sunday my mom put me in that horrible place called "Nursery" I didn't like it so I cried almost the whole 2 hours. (Except for the 20 minutes when I fell asleep) On Tuesday I woke up at 5 am and cried for an hour and a half then went back to sleep. When I woke up at 7:30 I laid on the floor flailing my arms and legs and grabbing my head. I cried then too. I think I had a bad headache and nothing anyone did could make me feel better. On Tuesday I was playing downstairs with Reese and she pushed me over. I fell face first on the concrete floor and busted my lip badly. I have a scratch on my forehead, a big fat lip and I look like I have been in a fight. I hope this week goes better.
Ryan

KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS...

2008-01-10T13:27:00.000-05:00

Some funny things Reese has said lately:

1. We were at breakfast at Denny's the other day and we happened to be seated right next to the window. We could see our car from where we were sitting. I asked Reese if she new which car was ours. She said, "Yes it's right there" and pointed to it. I then asked her how she knew it was ours and she replied, "Because it is the dirty one." I know I need to wash my car but come on now. It wasn't that dirty. Ok Ok maybe it is that dirty but so are all the other cars in the parking lot. Every car has that salt, dirt, sleet, slushy mess all over.

2. Reese wanted to buy some galoshes last week while we were at Wal-mart and I refused to buy them for her. She threw a fit and I told her that if she wants to bring her money next time and buy them she could. We went to the mall and found a pair that fit her that were on clearance for $4. We bought them. So now she has a pair of galoshes. She really doesn't need them but she likes them and wore them around for 3 straight days. A few days later she came in to me and said, "Mom, where is my other galosh?"

3. Goldens car died and he had to get a rental while it was out of commission. Reese wanted to ride with him after we took him to pick it up. He said, "OK." We moved car seats and she got in the rental. On the way home, Reese said, "Hey dad, Where is all the trash?" Golden just laughed and said, "It's not our car so there is no trash." She said, "Well we put the trash on the floor of our car, why didn't they?"

Maybe I do need to clean my car.