Thursday, December 20, 2012

She Walks

So far, only to Mr. E.  Still prefers crawling, as it's a faster mode of self-propulsion.

Love the Frankenstein stomp.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Happy 1st

Happy Birthday to my baby!
Miss M. turned 1 year old today.
She has been a huge blessing in my life and is constantly a joy in our family.  She has by far been the easiest of my three babies.  She is content with life and is easily pleased.  She is an awesome eater, sleeper and self entertainer.  She loves her brothers and will follow Mr. M. around the house wanting to play with them.  She is crawling and crusing along the furniture.  She can stand on her own, but it still makes her nervous.  She waves goodbye and shakes her head yes and no (she is known for crawling towards something she is not supposed to touch shaking her head no the whole time, gets to her destination and proceeds to touch the forbidden).  She has 3 teeth, the bottom middle two and the top front left.  She has almost strawberry blond hair, blue eyes and amazing dimples.  She isn't overly sure about strangers, but quick to smile at those she knows well.  She is a happy, wonderful, amazing addition to our family.
I am so happy to know her.

Friday, November 30, 2012

E's funny

My boys really want a pet.  I really do not want a pet.  Fortunately, for my children, we happen to have several lizards living in our backyard.  To me, this is the perfect solution.  The boys tend not to agree. 
Mr. M noticed that one lizard was doing what looked like push-ups.  E told him that it was a boy lizard and that it is doing the push-ups to impress the 'Lady Lizards' (said in a high-pitched female voice).

He's a funny.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Little Bits

Last week a friend from A's work gave us free tickets to Disneyland.  We kept the boys out of school for a day and spent it at California Adventure.  We had a great time.  Miss M. stayed awake nearly the entire day, which is super impressive since she's not even 1 year old yet.  The boys had fun, loved the new 'Cars Land', and had a great time going on old favorites.  It was a perfect day to go, the crowd was manageable, and I think the longest line we waited in was about 25 minutes, which for Disneyland is super quick.

We went out to dinner last night to Mimi's Cafe.  Mr. M. was quite impressed, he told us he had never been to such a fancy restaurant. 

I have a long list of deep cleaning to do before the Thanksgiving festivities begin.  There are things that really could be done right now, but I prefer to wait until the last minute so my house is as clean as possible when all the joy starts, rather than doing it now and then having to again right before.

Contemplating what to make for my Christmas goodie plate this year.  I didn't do it last year since Miss M. was brand new, so I'm having a hard time figuring out what I should do, if I should stick with old favorites or try some new ones?  Do I want several kinds or just a few really yummy things? 

So glad it finally feels like Fall here in the South Land.  It was so hot for so long that I was just done with it.  (I know... I can hear my AZ friends all the way from here, I have it pretty nice compared to the weather there.  But come ON people, it was never 90 degrees inside my house when I lived there.) 





Saturday, November 3, 2012

Justice

I have been remembering this moment of sweet justice.  I'm not sure why this has been playing itself out in my mind so frequently lately.  Perhaps because I have a Kindergartner right now.

This was back in the day.  None of this homework-doing, sight-word-learning academic type learning.  We are talking REAL world stuff like, your address, how to tie your shoes, how to sit and listen, you know, stuff that will be applicable forever.

I was at the 'listening center' where we sat at a half moon table with 4 other scholars, headphones on listening to a story then colored about what we had heard.  I was very good at listening.  I needed to use the bathroom.  I started to take off my headphones when Kenny (I have not changed his name in hopes of protecting the innocent, he is not deserving) said, "It's not over, stupid!" 

Not wanting to provoke a confrontation I put my head phones back on and continued to listen.  Problem was my bladder was only 5 years old and didn't know that listening center required an extra measure of capacity.  I couldn't maintain the hold. 

I wet my pants.


I sat in my wetness and finished listening center then dutifully shuffled to my next task, preparing for snack.  Mrs. Swanson approached me from behind, put a hand on my back and asked me if I had wet my pants.  Humiliated and scared I admitted the deed and was sent to the nurses office to wear a dry sheet waiting for my mom to bring me a change of clothes.  She brought me a red shirt and purple pants.  I didn't get the snack of graham crackers and orange juice (dipping graham crackers in orange juice is better than one might think).

Oh how I loathed Kenny.  He had brought me to shame.

First grade, Kenny and I did not share a teacher.   No pants wetting, no mismatched clothing, no more being robbed of snack time.  I dodged the bullet that year.

Second grade, justice was served: Kenny was held back to first grade.

I guess wasn't so stupid after all.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Joy

I've been reflecting on how many times in my life I've felt real joy.  We are taught in 2 Nephi 2:35 that we are meant to have joy in our life.  I have also been personally promised that I will have joy in my children.  In the pre-earth life the hosts of heaven shouted for joy at the decision to come to earth and use our agency.  I am generally a happy person, but I believe that joy is greater than a general happiness. 
The most recent moment that I remember actually shouting for joy was when I found out that my brother was a match to donate a kidney to my dad who was on the waiting list for a transplant.  The feeling of peace to not have to worry about my dad's health, the love I felt for my brother for his sacrifice, and the overwhelming sense of gratitude to my Heavenly Father for His mercy toward our family overcame me and I literally shouted for joy.
Other times in (relatively) recent memory of true shouts of joy are the days I found out I was pregnant with each of my children.  Again the relief, peace and gratitude all mixed together ended with a shout for joy.
I recently attended the baptism of one of the boys in our Ward Primary.  I am not related to him but I know him and am friends with his parents.  When he was baptised you could feel in the room a collective, silent, shout of joy. 
At the marriage ceremony of my brother-in-law and his wife, in the celestial room, you could, again, feel the collective, silent shout of joy.
What do all of these experiences have in common?  The feeling of the Spirit of God, prompting gratitude to Him for His great blessings.  I learn in Galatians 5:22 that the fruit, or products, of the influence of the Holy Ghost are love, joy, peace...and faith.
It is a personal goal of mine to make more time in my life to feel the influence of the Holy Ghost and focus on remembering those moments of true joy.

When was the last time you felt the need to shout for joy?

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Come Back

I have been contemplating my blogging comeback for a while and have been putting it off for a lot of reasons, none of which are any good so I will spare you the effort of hearing them.  So I will just give a run down of major events

The past several months since I've posted have seemed so busy, busy, busy.

We had an excellent summer.  The boys did a lot of backpacking and hiking while the girls stayed at home and slept in beds.  We went swimming a lot at friends pools.  Mr. A and I went paddle-boarding with some friends, it was our first time.  It was fun and easier than I expected.  A's brother got married and we are super excited for a new sister-in-law.  The Haltermans from AZ came to stay with us for a few days (we literally live less than 6 miles from the beach and less than 20 from Disneyland.  We love having company so if anyone wants to come stay, please do!).  My nephew Jacob (E's most favorite being in entirety) stayed with us for a week then E went to stay with him for a week in the Bay Area.  We had a family reunion with my side of the family at Lake Tahoe.  E went to Cub Scout Day Camp, which he thought was the best thing ever.  I got a new bike so we have been doing some family cruising. 

Lots and Lots of fun!

My new goal is to blog every Friday, starting tomorrow. 

Contemplating topics....

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

She crawls

The little lady crawls, she just started today.  She thinks she is pretty hot stuff (and she is).
It's fun to finally see the things that she has been just dying to be able to do, but been unsuccessful at until self-propulsion was possible, like messing with the DVD cabinet, looking out the window at birds, chasing after me when I don't take her with me from room to room.
Have I told you how EASY this baby is?  She is quite possibly the easiest baby ever.  She isn't at all as high maintenance as everyone has told me girls are.  She cries when she's hungry or tired.  She eats baby food well and when you lay her down to sleep she just does it.  She is happy and smiling almost always and loves to watch her brothers. 
She likes to look at animals but more specifically dogs.  She loves going for walks and being outside.  She loves swimming.  She dances when she hears any sort of music, but really loves the Powell Electric commercial.
She is wonderful!

Monday, September 24, 2012

Happy 9!

Mr. E. is nine-years-old today.

Happy birthday to my favorite blond boy! 

Nine things about Mr. E:

1.  He is very smart.  He is an excellent reader and excels in all subjects at school but math and science are his favorites.

2.  He is very tender hearted.  He genuinely always wants to do what is right.  He loves to make people happy and is always confident that people love him.

3.  He is a very loyal friend.  Once he loves you, it is with a passion.

4.  He is very responsible.  He can be relied on to fulfill any assignment or duty.

5.  He is brave.  He is always willing to try to overcome any fear that pops up.

6.  He earned his yellow belt in jiu jitsu.

7.  He has been going backpacking with his dad frequently and loves it.  It is a very special time for the two of them.

8.  He is a great helper.

9.  He loves Heavenly Father and isn't afraid to be a missionary.

I love this boy!

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

First Day of School

Today is the first day of 3rd grade for Mr. E. and the first day of school ever for Mr. M!

E is now in what they call 'upper' grade levels so he goes to school for 45 minutes longer than last year. 
He is excited to see all of his friends and to be able to play on the big kids playground.  He gets to ride his bike to school (we are very lucky that we live less than a football field distance from his school, it's a straight shot too, nowhere to get lost.  You can see the school yard from my kitchen window).  He is most looking forward to recess, lunch, computers and science.

Mr. M woke up bright and early and sang all morning "It's school day, It's school day, It's a great day!"  He is so excited to meet new friends and is ready to learn.  He is a 'Later Gator' so he gets to go to school a little later than E and gets out about 40 minutes before his brother.  He also gets to eat lunch at school. 

It's a good day.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

And Done

Yes, ladies and gentlmen, Alicia has completely P90X.

It was hard, but after getting in to the swing of things it got so that I didn't dread it everyday. 

I lost all my baby weight plus 5 or 6 pounds.  I'm very proud of myself.  Now I will take a few weeks off and start again after kids go back to school, which will put me done right around Christmas time.  Then I will start again before our big trip to Hawaii next May.

Take THAT Tony Horton 

Saturday, June 30, 2012

If you have an ice cream maker and you like yummy stuff, make this recipe.  You won't regret it.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Happy 5!

Mr M. is:
1.  Funny, this boy makes me laugh daily, he love to dance, sing, be silly and active
2.  The best sharer ever!  He is so willing to share what he has it astounds me.
3.  A champion self entertainer.  He can play by himself for hours and hours.
4.  Determined, if he sets his mind to it, he can do it, every time!
5.  Five years old!  Today!

Happy birthday my big boy!

Monday, April 23, 2012

Ow

I started P90X on Friday -- Owwww This system is no joke, it is really tough. But I'm gonna finish it. My friend Katie is doing it with me. It's great to have someone here with me to laugh with when we need a light moment through the pain. I haven't taken my before picture yet, but probably will tomorrow when A. is home. I'm pretty sure I will not post them, maybe at the end, we'll see. Miss M. got her first tooth a few weeks ago -- Owwww, she said. I'm a little sad that she's started so early. Her little gummy smile will be gone soon, and I love that gummy smile. I guess I'll fall in love with a new toothy one. Started teaching Mr. M. how to read using the SRA Distart Reading Program. Sometimes his brain says Owwww. This is an amazing teaching program that I used with E. and he picked it up quickly. Mr. M. is a little slower going, but their learning styles are different, I have to remember that. He loves to look at books and be read to, it will be fun for him to do it himself. He starts Kindergarten this year, I'm hoping this will help him have a leg up. He's a smart boy, he'll get it and he will be so happy. A. is thinking about competing in the Olympics for his profession. It's been several year since he's trained to compete, so he's starting to really push himself. Sometimes he says Owwww. E. scored his first touchdown in football on Friday night. He didn't say Owwww, I just had to tell everyone what a proud mama I am of him. On the way home he wanted to know if we could start partying to celebrate, it was 830pm, past bedtime so the partying had to wait a few hours.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Normal V. Boring

I fancy myself a fun person. I enjoy a good laugh and will usually do anything if dared to, crave travel and adventure, and love me a good party; but today my friend Gina and I were discussing whether we are normal or boring.
I don't watch any of the 'Real Housewives of...', have never seen a whole episode of 'Survivor', 'Jersey Shore' or 'Big Brother'. I just don't crave that kind of drama. I don't think it's fun or entertaining to be mean spirited to others, nor do I think it's funny to watch people who do nothing but get drunk, make fools of themselves and have no other ambition in life than to sleep with as many people as possible. I just don't understand the draw for these 'reality' shows. If they do reflect reality, it's a sad world we live in.
I try not to gossip, when some one tells me something personal, whether it be in strict confidence or not, I don't pass that information on to others: it is not my story to tell. It would hurt my feelings massively to hear someone say something about me that isn't true or that I thought was shared in confidence.
While I require girls' night occasionally, I prefer the company of my husband over anyone else in the world. We enjoy each other. We rarely fight, have never really yelled at each other, never belittle one another. We are happy. We don't hold grudges, if there is a problem, we solve it together, no 3rd party required. We try to be kind and respectful to each other. Each of us sacrifices our pride regularly. I don't enjoy hearing others talk about their husbands or men in general as if they are stupid, insensitive, incapable, blundering idiots. A. is none of those things, and I don't think it is helpful to any relationship to harbor those kinds of feelings about someone. I'm not saying my marriage and relationship is perfect, there are times when he frustrates me (mostly when I want him to read my mind and he can't), but it is an excellent one.
My children are not a nuisance, they bring me joy, they make me laugh, they test me and regularly drive me crazy, they also are actively molding me into a better person.
I try not to swear. It is inappropriate that so many people on 'reality' TV use foul language in their everyday lives, and shame on the editors for using so many clips of their subjects featuring a swear word. Sure it is bleeped out, but anyone watching knows what is said based on context. Why does anyone even need those words suggested?
I don't believe in going in to debt for super cars (we have a very adequate used one), extravagant vacations (an adventure is best enjoyed when it is planned out and saved for), expensive clothes (I'm still wearing some of my maternity pants because I don't fit in my pre-pregnancy clothes and I refuse to buy more until I've lost all of my baby weight). In fact, any debt, no matter the size, stresses me out: a lot. My motto is the cheaper the better and free is best.
I grew up in Nevada and have never gambled in my entire life; not even put a nickel in a slot machine. The odds of a return are never high enough for me. I will never take my family to Las Vegas for vacation. Anyone who says that Las Vegas has made itself 'family friendly' is fooloing themselves. There is a problem when my children would have to divert their eyes from the bill boards so they don't see something they would have a hard time forgetting. There is a problem when I have to explain to my children what the fliers say that are handed out on the street. There is a problem when those 'video games' for grown-ups look an awful lot like an arcade. I won't subject my children to those problems.

So you tell me: am I normal or am I boring?

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Friday, February 3, 2012

Just Thinkin'

This weather is perfect, strange that it's January, feels like it should be April.

E started flag football this week, something new to see if he loves or not. He's been going with A to the archery range, and loves it. Uh-oh, here comes another expensive hobby.

I will not feel bad about sitting and staring at Miss M for extended lengths of time. I am in love and it's totally acceptable. The dishes will still be dirty, the floor will still need to be vacuumed, the laundry will still need to be folded. But she will only be this small for a very short period of time, and I'm drinking her in until I'm full.

I took all of my maternity clothes and any boy clothes that Mr. M has grown out of: all the baby stuff, toddler stuff, to the DI bin. A small part of me is a little sad. I love my baby boys and am mourning their growing too big for a lot of things, both physical and emotional.

Last week my feelings of missing my mom were thicker than usual. I'm not sure why, but I'm glad that the salve of happiness is returning.

A will be starting a new work schedule in April. It will be a 4/10 work week instead of 3 weeks of 3/12 shifts and 1 week of 4/12 shifts. I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand his days off will be predictable, and he will be at home more on the days that he has to work. But it sure is nice having him home at least four days per week most of the time.

The sick stomach is making it's rounds through our family. I sure hope it skips the baby. The good news, it seems to only last 1 day.

I'm mad at Netflix right now. For some reason it isn't streaming through our BluRay player. A could explain the reasons to you, but I'm not down with all the technical jargon, he told me why, but it didn't stick to any of my brain. I just know that my evening routine post boy bedtime is off without my British dramas to watch while I'm cooing at Miss M before her 10pm bedtime.

I must have 'hack into my online accounts' written somewhere in the web o' sphere because both my email and my iTunes accounts have been hacked in the last 2 weeks. I'm glad that iTunes figured out that I probably didn't buy 5 books with titles written in Asian lettering and refunded my money.

I'm going with my sister and sister-in-law to Italy in seven years. I've started saving my pennies already. Anticipation is something I excel at so the next 84 months should be interesting.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Miss M

Here are the much anticipated pictures of our Little Miss M. The one with Mr. M holding her she's yawning, not crying.