8th Anniversary

Rick and I got married 8 years ago today! When you say it like that it doesn't seem very long. I don't mean to say that it feels long, necessarily, but when I look back at everything I am amazed that it all happened in only 8 years. 3 beautiful children and a thousand other things. We have struggled plenty, but we always realize that we have what is most important in this life, an eternal family.

Rick's sister, proud Auntie Bee, was excited to take our children for the night. ALL NIGHT! We've never done that before. At least with all 3 of them. I've hardly been away from my kids ever so it was a lot for me to let her take them, but I knew that Rick and I needed the night to ourselves and soon welcomed the idea. (Sorry this is long, but this is for me, so feel free to read or skip this next part.)

Last night was our ward's trunk-or-treat. It was totally fun and I will post pictures later. So knowing that we were going out to celebrate we snacked on the chili and scones and enjoyed socializing. This was hard for Rick. He'd have liked to taste every type of chili there. Anyway, we stayed and passed out candy to the kids and then Belinda told me she was taking the kids. I was a little sad that they seemed totally excited and not at all sad at the thought of no mommy for the night. We gave a few last minute instructions about bed time. Before they were even gone there were a few phone calls about favorite blankies, lovies, & medicine, and then she said, "I'm fine. I'm prepared. They'll be great for me." So I yelled, "Call me if you need anything," and she gave me a look like, "It'd have to be pretty bad," and they left. Luckily I was so excited that I wasn't sad. I was a little anxious, but I wasn't sad all night. I really enjoyed it.

Rick and I usually only get last minute dates when someone (usually Gma White, Mathew, Or Belinda) says they can watch the kids at the last minute. We rarely get to plan something. I was a little bummed because I wanted to go to a new restaurant or somewhere we don't usually go or use a coupon for a buy one get one at Sweet Tomatoes (soup, salad, bread buffet) or Tucanos (brazilian, lots of meat), but as we couldn't pass on a little chili, this didn't seem practical. So we decided to go to Sizzler. We love their steaks and were able to share a meal and enjoyed it a lot. We wondered about what to do next as there didn't seem to be any movies that we wanted to see. We thought about seeing Mummy 3 at the dollar theater, but decided to see the Incredible Hulk at home from Redbox. Romantic, I know :) But we blew up an air mattress and moved the couch and snuggled as we watched the movie. We usually "hide" in our bedroom when we watch a movie so that we don't disturb the kids. This morning we took our leisurely time getting ready for church including a nice breakfast together. Even though it didn't seem very exciting, it was so nice to not worry about the kids. I really enjoyed spending the time with Rick, but we truly are an old married couple who didn't need anything special or romantic to enjoy just being together. That was the funnest part of all to me.

Today was our Primary program too. Belinda brought the kids back just before church started. I was so proud of Carlyn. She sang in a little group and I could hear her sing every word and she said her part clearly right into the microphone. What a little smarty pants. Annie sang with the next year Sunbeams and it was adorable. The kids were happy to see us, but not super clingy. They did seem a little tired though. When we got home from church the kids were being so funny, like they were happy to be home. Darren kept kissing me and smiling. Annie was trying to sit on me and singing "Baa Baa Black sheep, any any wool. yes sa, yes sa, 3 bags wool. 1 for the masta, 1 for the dame, 1 for the little girl who lived down da lane." Carlyn was telling me everything that happened from the time they left the trunk-or-treat. They wanted to show me every little piece of candy they got at the trunk-or-treat. Then later we were playing a silly game and Rick got on hands and knees and kicked like a donkey. Darren laughed and fell back and kicked his legs up. It doesn't sound too funny, but it was hilarious. He tries to copy everything. I love my cute kids, even when they drive me crazy :)

Giveaway

My friend Jenn has this cool business and is doing a giveaway! Her stuff is so cute and everyone should go enter here. Check out her cute stuff and enter a drawing. Good luck.

What Am I Going To Do With Her?

Okay, so I know I have an ugly couch. I'm okay with that with little kids, but still, I try to take care of it. So, when Carlyn started yelling at Annie that I was going to be mad, I was worried. She had taken a crayon to the couch! A green crayon. The little stink has taken a crayon to almost every surface in my house! I have tried taking the crayons away and just getting them out when I'm there supervising. I had taken them out and the girls were happily coloring in books. Darren was asleep, so I decided to check my email. So when my back was turned this happened. I took her to her "father" (that means she's in big trouble) and luckily he kept his calm and pulled out my "little green." Most of it came out, but it has a green tint now. Thanks Katie for letting me vent to you! Grandma Linda & Maureen were the stars of the show Monday when they brought pumpkins. Each just the right size for each kid. They didn't want to come in or stop playing with them.

Funny story: Whenever Mommy says no, the kids go to Daddy. Luckily, he usually says the same thing I said and then says, "Mommy and I are a team." Carlyn has often told us she didn't like that we are a team because she really wants that candy, movie, etc. The other day, Rick and I were in a heated discussion. Okay, it was a fight. You never fight, right? Anyway, we weren't ready to change our minds anytime soon. Then Carlyn comes in with her hands over her ears screaming, "Stop fighting. You are a team. You are a team!" I thought it was pretty funny and it really did help us to see that we were being stubborn and we should act like a team.

Crazy kids, Crazy weekend

We've had a little sickness at our house this past week or so. Mostly runny noses leading to coughs, but a few days ago I got a little concerned because Darren and Annie stopped eating solid food and weren't sleeping very well either. D, it turns out, had an ear infection :( and Annie just had a bug which led to a sore throat. So antibiotic for D but not A. Anyway, they were already feeling a lot better by Friday. Rick had a pretty bad cold including a cough, but he's feeling much better now too. Then this morning when Annie went potty she screamed and said it hurt. She couldn't actually go either. Then it happened a little while later again. So, since Rick wasn't feeling well anyway, he took Annie to the instacare during church and sure enough, she has a UTI. Poor kid. So now she's on antibiotics too! Luckily Carlyn has been fine and I hope it stays that way.

Onto happier things. Somehow this picture got left off my last post. Annie chose a pumpkin that is the perfect size for Darren (he thinks.) He tries to pick it up and carry it around any time we go outside. Here he is just hugging it. So cute.

The girls were invited to a Princess birthday party for our friend's daughter, Jensyn. This is Carlyn's Cinderella hair. I made a high ponytail and pinned her hair up but it didn't look complete without the blue ribbon. Her hair is so fine and limp that it didn't last long, but it looked so pretty at first. Gold sparkle spray and all.

This is her in her Cinderella dress. Nice expression, Linney. They begged for a little makeup, which I allowed and Carlyn was totally upset that she didn't have matching Cinderella shoes too. What is a girl to do?

I went to a baby shower for my cousin at the same time, so Rick took pictures. Annie apparently was throwing a huge fit when it was time to leave and he didn't get a picture of her except the back of her head. Oh well. She made a darn cute Snow White. I love my little princesses.

This Is What Happens When

I'm stealing this idea from my friend Debbie. She did a post like this awhile ago and as I looked at these pictures, it is what came into my mind.

This is what happens when you have a grandma who loves her flowers and is proud of them and wants to get a picture with my kids in front of them when they had all been asleep in the car only minutes before. Annie wouldn't even go in the picture, Carlyn posed readily, and Darren tried to run away and do something that would give Grandma a heart attack. This wasn't so bad, but look at the colors of those flowers. They are beautiful. I wish I had my Grandma's green thumb instead of the black one I got.
This is what happens when Carlyn is the oldest great grandchild on Rick's side. She loves to hold the other cousins. This is little Brayden that she would have held all night.
This is what happens when Annie finally warms up to people at a family party of people she didn't know very well. She won't look at anyone but me for a long time and then she's best friends with someone, in this case it was Aunt Geneal.
This is what happens when I start snapping pictures. Ha ha even Branden got in one.

This is what happens when 2 of grandma Linda's cousins come in from out of town to see family. They love the little kids and you can't get them all looking at the camera at once.
This is what happens when it is time to go home and great-grandma tries to hold squirmy D.
This is what happens when we should have left 10 minutes ago.
This is what happens when you are a mom who does your kids hair. Occasionally they want a turn to do yours back. Carlyn kept commanding me to not move my head and would jerk it back to center even though I hadn't moved. She was very proud.
This is what happens when 2 sisters play storytime just like at the library. I love this one!

This is what happens when it is a nice day and Annie wants to be just like Mommy pushing a stroller with her baby and I anticipated that Carlyn would want the same so we had a stroller brigade on the way home from preschool.
This is what happens when I put Darren in his booster to get him out of my way while I was making dinner and I put him too close to the counter with the tomatoes on it. Sure he made a huge mess, but I figured he was eating veggies so I didn't care.
Again, this is what happens when you do your kids hair. Carlyn found the hair bag and got Annie to sit still for much longer than I ever could! She even took pictures of it in the "hairdo spot."

Random Pictures

While the men were at the Priesthood session we women went to Training Table. Ok, poor Darren was dragged along. 1 male with 10 females. He grabbed my sweater in the van and hid in it half way and this is what I found when I opened the door. Silly boy! These 2 aren't usually snuggly to each other. Usually it is the opposite. Carlyn was fighting it, but Annie said she just wanted a snuggle. Cute.
Later we went to D's bedroom after hearing his screams. We found Carlyn changing his poopy diaper! She was using a lot of wipes, but was doing a pretty good job. Rick stepped in to finish while I snapped a picture.
This is a typical day with Darren. He fights getting dressed and climbs anything he can.

Carlyn and her friend. Aren't friends great?
This is the kids doting on a little boy I was tending. They just love him. Even Darren.

Follow up to Earlier

Maybe I should have checked this out before I married him :)

What Richard Means

You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily. You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind. A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable. You are truly an original person. You have amazing ideas, and the power to carry them out. Success comes rather easily for you... especially in business and academia. Some people find you to be selfish and a bit overbearing. You're a strong person. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic “Type A” personality. You are balanced, orderly, and organized. You like your ducks in a row. You are powerful and competent, especially in the workplace. People can see you as stubborn and headstrong. You definitely have a dominant personality.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

What My Name Means

I got this from a friend from high school. Some of the things are right on, but some others aren't on at all.

What Bonny Means

You are full of energy. You are spirited and boisterous. You are bold and daring. You are willing to do some pretty outrageous things. Your high energy sometimes gets you in trouble. You can have a pretty bad temper at times. You are well rounded, with a complete perspective on life. You are solid and dependable. You are loyal, and people can count on you. At times, you can be a bit too serious. You tend to put too much pressure on yourself. You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals. You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in. You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising. You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

My Little Guy

I was noticing today how much more communicative my baby D is. Today he signed "thank you" for the first time. Later he was upset and I said I didn't understand him. He grabbed my arm and pulled and made some grunts so I got up and followed him. He pointed to the fridge and made another noise. I grabbed his sippy cup and said, "Is this what you want?" and he nodded his head. Wow! I was so impressed. I love it when they can communicate and tell you what they need or want. We have reached a new phase.

Also, I don't know what is up with him, I'm calling the dr tomorrow, but he's had a lot of really bad diarrhea lately. TMI? Sorry. Anyway, last night after he was in bed he kept crying so I finally went in, changed his diaper and tucked him in again. He was quiet for a minute and then cried. Desperate, I picked him up thinking that I really didn't want to nurse him again, but fearing that was what he wanted. But he was content for me just to hold him in the rocking chair. I rocked him for about ten minutes (he never lets me do that.) It was awesome snuggle time and he settled right down. Well, tonight his bottom is pure red again by bedtime and after I nursed him I turned him toward me for a snuggle. This is the part where he always pushes away and starts to play, but tonight he snuggled me back and started humming. I started humming and it was like he was singing with me. Oh I can't even begin to tell you how sweet it was. It was so special because I've rarely had any times like that with my little D.

Which Character Are You?

I took a quiz on facebook but it was all the Twilight characters. It said I was Emmett. I am not Emmett! :) I like this one better.


Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

Anneliese

I had a big duh moment with Annie today. I've been getting frustrated with her for putting her hands in her mouth. I've also been frustrated because she won't eat anything but is always wanting something to eat. Last night she came up at 3 am and said her teeth were bothering her. DUH! I wonder why in the world it didn't occur to me sooner? Its not like I'm a new mother or anything! I guess that it is just easy to forget from one child to the next. I wasn't thinking about molars, but yep, all 4 of them are coming in. Ugh, I can't believe I missed that one.

Ok, speaking of Annie, I have to tell a funny story. On the way home from preschool we were listening to a cd with primary songs and it was "Follow the Prophet." She said she knew it and was singing along. We sang, "follow the prophet, he knows the way," and she gasped and said, "Mom, does he know the way to aunt Belinda's house?" It was so funny I couldn't stop laughing to answer her.

The Votes are in

Thanks for voting on my poll. Sorry to the 2 of you who didn't really like it. It doesn't actually hurt my feelings, but I do like it, so it is staying. However, Rick and I are working on making a cute header as the current one is blah.

Since that seems like a very short post, I'll tell a story that Anneliese told us. We had just finished a FHE about prayer and Annie started telling a very animated story about a big bear monster. It isn't the same without her cute little voice, facial expressions, inflections in her voice, and her body language, but it went something like this, "I was outside on the swingset and there was a bug bear monster. Yeah! And it was huge and it had 4 arms with really long fingernails! Yes! Ooh, it was so scary and it climbed on my legs and was gonna get me so I runned away. I runned away and it followed me but I was really fast. Then...it jumped up there (on something outside) and it was gonna jump. It was gonna jump on me and get me! Gasp! It was really big and it was a big bear monster and had 6 legs, oh yeah, and they were all long and scary and had long fingernails. I had to run away but it jumped onto me when I was on the swingset and I runned away. Then I hid. I hid in there. It couldn't get me because it was a big scary bear monster but it was looking and looking.

Well, you get the point. It finally ended when Rick said it wasn't ever going to end and she said, "Yeah, it climbed up on the garage and then it jumped and died, but then it got up again and it fell and it was dead." It had to have been 20 minutes long and was hilarious to watch. She's pretty shy around other people, but apparently she's out future storyteller.