Much better day

Today is a much better day than yesterday. It turns out that Caleb has an ear infection (so that's what all the crying was about!), James went to school, and Andrew is back to being my happy little buddy! It doesn't take long to forgive our children, and thankfully, our children are always willing and happy to forgive us! Thanks for all the sympathies! I know we all have our bad days. It's what life is about. Plus, those bad days make all the good days that much sweeter!



Last night I came across this blog. It really did make me feel a lot better and thankful for what I have (or don't have). I can't even imagine having 5 toddlers. We all have our challenges. Life is good. We really are so very blessed.

One of those days

It's not a very good parenting day for me. Most days are good, and other days, well, not so good. The boys have had colds that just won't go away, so that means Caleb isn't sleeping very well. That right there makes me a tired and grouchy mom. I was supposed to go visiting teaching today, but it turned into a "drop off a little gift and give a quick scripture" visit. James woke up with his eye a little red, so no school for him. Andrew refused to go to Joy School, which is really unusual for him, so I figured, he must be sick. So all morning, it was chaos with my three boys. Caleb refused to nap, and James and Andrew were fighting/teasing (anyone who has ever been around children knows how that game goes). I desperately needed to go to the grocery store seeing as we are out of food. I was hoping to go during Mark's lunch break, but that didn't happen seeing as he got home at 12:30 and had to be back to work at 1:00. So, I did a really foolish thing. After lunch I took all 3 boys to the grocery store by myself. Caleb cried, which is normal, it's what babies do, right? But Andrew was all over the place. I even had strangers making comments, and that usually doesn't happen unless it is really bad. My favorite one was, (sales clerk to Andrew) "You better go listen to your mom." He had wandered off. So I gave him a choice, "you either sit in this cart, or walk and stay right by mom." He chose to stay by mom. Finally I made it to the check out. They all "helped" me put the food on the conveyor belt. I turned around, no Andrew. I started to call for him thinking he was just around the isle. Finally the sales clerk (unfortunately the same one who made the previous comment), says to one of the baggers, go and see if you can find a little boy wearing a red coat named Andrew. She asks me if I think he would go outside, and I replied that he would not. He knows better, so I thought. During all of this I am trying to hold Caleb who is crying and trying to shhhh James who keeps asking me if he can have some bubble tape. So the bagger comes back with Andrew, who had GONE OUTSIDE, and was trying hard to open the doors to come back in. (I guess automatic doors don't always see little people). The little stinker. I then put him in the cart while holding Caleb and he started crying that he didn't want to sit in the cart. Then, he peed his pants. I was furious. All the while this sales lady is telling me that her children may have gotten lost once or twice, but they never went outside by themselves. Whatever lady. Leave me alone. Once we got home, I just couldn't take it anymore. Caleb went right to his bed (where he is currently napping) and I spanked Andrew's butt, changed his clothes and sent him to bed (after a talking to). Before anyone calls CPS on me, the spank was not hard, just a swat, and don't judge me, you weren't there. It's been a long day. Mark and I were supposed to have a dinner tonight, but I called and cancelled the babysitter seeing as James has a red eye. So there you have it. My day thus far. It can only get better, right?

Latest Happenings

We had a great Thanksgiving. We went to SLC and had dinner with my parents, my little sis, and my brother and his family. That night, the girls in my family (minus my lil sis Kathryn) went to see Twilight. I actually really enjoyed it. I had low expectations going in, and was pleseantly surprised how much I really liked it. I want to see it again and I am going to drag Mark to come along with me. If Mark had a little more hair that he styled standing straight up and wore a sour expression, I dare say he looks quite a bit like Edward! ;)

We (my sisters and mom) also went shopping on Black Friday. We got a few really good deals, but it was mostly just crowded and made me tired. I bought a new camera. It's just a point and shoot, but I am happy to have it. I really want an SLR and Mark is considering getting one for his office, but I am afraid to have an expensive camera just in case I lose it (like I did our last one :() Plus they are so big and bulky.

The day after Thanksgiving we went back home and that night we took Mark's grandma out to Costa Vida for dinner and then back to Mark's brother's house for pie. Here are some pictures of that event. His grandma is turing 99 in just a couple of weeks!! Amazing, right?

I am just about finished with my Christmas shopping. I am currently thinking of a service opportunity to help my kids get in the "giving mode" rather than the "receiving mode." Helping us all remember the true meaning of Christmas. I'm thinking about making bread and delivering it to some our elderly neighbors, and/or donating a few presents/toys to some sort of cause. Nothing too big, just something that we can make into a tradition each year. I once heard of a family having a service tradition each year. The first year they did it, after all the presents had been opened, the father asked each of the children to go choose their favorite toy or item they received for Christmas. The children had no idea what the father was up to at that point. So each chose their most treasured present. Then the father told them that they were all going to go to this families house that he knew of and they were each supposed to give that present to the family. Wow! I know that would have been really hard for me as a child. Don't think we're going to do that, but I really want to start something.

Six babies!

The following conversation took place yesterday.....

James: Mom, you need to have three more babies.
Me: Really? Why do you say that?
James: Because if you have three more babies that means you had six babies. 3+3=6. And I'm six, six is my favorite number, so I think you should have 6 kids.

Perfect logic, right?! I wonder what he will think when he turns 7,8,9, or 10. Sorry, James. NOT going to happen!