I should start out by apologizing for my serious lack of pictures. I made my husband by me a $700 camera/camcorder because the movie picture is FANTASTIC! However, it's not that easy to use. I still don't get it. It supposedly has a great point and shoot, also, but mine only turn out blurry and I can't figure out why mine are so bad. And our Canon Rebel battery takes a handful (maybe 20 on a good day) pics before it dies so it's time to get a new battery for that one, too.

So I've just really been enjoying my summer with my kids. As I was driving to an appointment this morning, I heard a commercial on the radio that said something about getting those kids back in school cause enough summer already. I don't know...for some reason I don't like that those are the ads put out now. It's about how kids are pain to have around and just make everything harder and the smaller family, the better, and so on and so forth. I actually saw on TIME magazine today as I was standing in line at the grocery store that the front page was on how the myth of only child syndrome (spoiled, bossy, bratty) is only a myth and it actually has advantages I was just irritated by the whole thing. While I agree that it is a myth (I happen to think the kid is going to be bratty and spoiled and bossy if the parents teach and allow that behavior...call me crazy) why are we having to point out that maybe one is the way to go? Then the world wouldn't be overly populated and parents would be able to afford more for their kid because there's more money to go around, and blah, blah, blah. I'm just babbling and I got MAJORLY off track of what I actually wanted to say and I recognize that, but I enjoy being a mom. So I turned the radio off and said out loud to my kids "I don't want you to go back to school. I like having you home with me." To which Emma replies that she, too, likes being home with me the best.
I love being a mom. It's the hardest, emotionally challenging, rewarding job in the world. I got go see a two day old baby yesterday cause my friend, Brooke, had her first boy after three girls. It was so fun to hold and kiss and love that little man. I was so excited leaving the hospital and thinking my due date couldn't come soon enough. I am SO EXCITED this time around. I think I have actually gotten more so with each pregnancy. Emma is crazy growing up. She is so tall that she is actually in a size 10 now and only almost 7 years old. She is such a mom at heart. She always talks about how she only wants to be a mom like me when she grows up. and she loved seeing that baby yesterday. She is trying so hard to feel my baby move, but his movements, although getting much stronger to me, are still just flutters to her and she doesn't recognize them for what they are. It will be so fun to welcome another man to our family. Jackson is excited to have even numbers. It's not fair that we have had more girls than boys for two years. He is sure growing up himself. His parents are, too. There are distinct differences between our girls and boy. Our girls are so dramatic and he's just tough. The problem is is that we are barely starting to recognize the taunting that he puts up with before he finally gives in and swats someone and then our girl(s) will start to cry and Jackson gets in trouble. Period. And he never tells his side of the story to stick up for himself. He just lets them tell on him and he takes a punishment. So now that we are paying more attention I have seen how impressive he is. He's working so hard to not hit and being very patient with a sister who is not working as hard to not taunt. He is a tough little stubborn sucker. I love that boy.
Sadi is still a delight. Although she most definitely hit two the past few months, it has mostly been fun and funny to watch her throw her fits and try to get a reaction. It's fun to just sit and watch and then say "are you done now?" and she'll just say yes and calm down and all is well again. It cracks me up. She follows those older siblings most loyally and does her best to climb and jump and say and laugh and sing and act just like they do. It's so fun watching these three when they are just playing so well and having fun together.
This past weekend we came across this horse at a yard sale for $5. Emma has a bit of an obsession with horses right now and this one was furry and soft and big and strong enough to hold her and the others. I told her I did NOT want it and I didn't want to buy it for her. So we made the deal that she would earn it. That was among the best $5 I've spent. I had almost 200 cans of canned goods in the back of the van and she was given a box and the assignment to take as many trips necessary and put them all away in the pantry (I use pantry VERY loosely. I use the shelves/cupboards in the bookshelf in the front room). That girl had to have taken 25 trips and it took her over an hour. I then told her she had to clean the playroom, which is also no small feat, and of course, make sure her room was clean before she earned this horse. I'm sure that was more work than $5 is worth, but I was trying to drive it home that we work for our toys and then take care of them. She did great and worked all day and I didn't have to remind her to keep working like normal. She wanted that horse so it was a day well spent.
I so off to bed. ALthough the next thing I'm going to say will make it sound like I have no reason to be, I AM!!! I spoiled myself today and got cleaning ladies to come over and scour my house!!! But I had to do the prep work like getting all the crap on the floor put away. Which is a three day job in itself. So I have folded and put away A LOT of laundry the past few days and the ladies cleaned today and my house smells and looks lovely!!! Yeah for me! Anywho, off to bed!

MONUMENTAL DAY!

or at least a day to post about. TWO THINGS. First, is that my cousin was doing my hair this morning and found my first gray hair. I did pull it out and and put it on a piece of paper with tape to keep, although I have no idea where I am going to put it. It's pretty important to keep it, though, right? TWO, and more importantly, Sadi was running around tonight without a diaper and told me she had to pee so we put her on the potty and she let it go! We were so proud! I love when they potty train themselves although I'm not counting on this one time meaning that she is potty training herself.

PS

I found out a while ago that I'm having a boy! Just haven't posted it yet!

Goodbye little Jed!

I'm a terrible, horrible, no good, very BAD dog owner. When I chose Jed as our little dog, I instantly knew I had chosen a dang good dog, but still, apparently he was a dog. I didn't like that he shed (even though i was told chihuahua's didnt shed. it's not true), I didn't like the smells, and I didn't like that he was yet ANOTHER someone that needed my attentions! So I quickly began to despise the little one...and take my frustrations out on the little five pound guy. He so didn't deserve it.
SO without sharing the story that broke the camel's back (because I'm sure you would think I was HORRIBLE) I am just sharing that we said goodbye to him over Memorial Day.
My brother, and a few others, had told me that if I ever wanted to get rid of him that they wanted him and it worked out pretty perfectly for everyone involved. My brother lives alone and needed a companion and Jed is so easy and already house-trained. My kids were most definitely sad to see him go. Especially Emma. He was really her friend more than any of us. But it worked out awesome that we will still get to visit him whenever we go to grandma's house in Idaho. And I know I will like him so much more when I see him and be excited to see him, but he really was so great, I just wasn't up to the task.
In the end, I knew that I wasn't good to him and I would be held accountable for the way I treated him. hopefully, giving him up will be a bonus by then! Anyway, just let I'd fill ya in!

Last Tuesday I was supposed to find out the gender of our little one. I tend to call him our "little guy." However, while I DO want a little brother for Jackson and worry how many more kids i will be able to carry (I have one sorry uterus), I really don't care which I get to have. A little sister for Sadi would be just as fun. I'm sure they would have a blast being best friends and Jackson will do fabulous being the protector of his sisters. And I have no doubt he will bask in the limelight of his fathers attention when it comes to teaching him all the manly tool and carpentry stuff where his sisters probably won't get that much.
Now I'm talking like we're having a girl. I have no inkling what we are welcoming. OH! So a half hour before my appointment the office called to cancel cause my OB is out of town. So I have to wait til Monday. Bummer...
AND if his/her legs are crossed that would bumb me out a little bit, too. It took us three tries with Sadi, the little sucker. However, I'll let ya know!

So Jackson's birthday was almost a month ago! Our little man turned 4 and he is just my sweet little boy! I wanted to put up some pictures from his birthday party. It was small. We only invited four other boys. I admit, I am so intimidated by lots of kids and having to entertain and do games and be in charge. Which is kind of retarded because I got my degree in recreation therapy. Seriously. I just played games and analyzed through college. It was awesome! And I can put an awesome evening of random games together for adults, but kids scare me. SO. We held it at a park and had a fabulous lunch full of lovely gourmet (cough, cough) food. AND I decorated my first cake! It was so fun!
Jackson chose a pirate theme and really the only activities I did was a pinata of a pirate flag (failed to get a pic of that one) and eating and the rest they played on the toys at the park. It was lovely! So in no particular order:





I'd love to put names in here, but since they are not my kids...these are his closest friends from school.



Classic Jackson shot. Picking his nose.



My little stud! Handsome little fella!



Isn't it cute? Not professional, but COME ON! It was my first!


Jackson, I can't begin to tell you how much you mean to me. When I was pregnant with you, I was so scared to be the mother of a little boy. I fell in love the moment I saw you and smelled you and kissed you and fed you and saw you smile and heard your cry and got up in the night with you to spend hours on end being together. You have made your entire family laugh every day from the moment your little personality began to shine. You are my funny man, my miracle, my big helper (because you are always willing to help), my heart melter, my reading buddy, my star wars and indiana jones and spiderman playmate, my friend. Every morning and throughout the day you put a smile on my face listening to you care for your little Sadi. Man, that little sister loves you! You have made it so fun to be your mom. I love your cuddles and kisses and desire to be good. You're the best, son. Love, Mom

Its interesting to me how small things can bring you back to moments in life so quickly and you experience deja vu. I had one of those moments that quickly turned into a little post traumatic stress and I was a wreck for a good half hour until I gained some control of myself. There is an LDS woman that has two kids that follow Emma's violin practice. She has to bring all four of her kids, two of which are Sadi and Jackson's age. I've spoken with her a few times and just last week we asked each others names.
So yesterday as I was leaving Emma's violin practice to go home I walked out to see her three kids still in her vehicle watching a movie. I freaked out. It was over 85 degrees outside and the windows were rolled up. She had an 8 year old in the car with her two babies so I'm sure he could've opened up windows or doors if it got too hot. But what if he didn't? Or he lasted longer than the other two or just fell asleep in the heat? I quickly jumped in their car and just told them I was going to roll their windows down so they didn't get too hot. It didn't scare them. I think they were too enthralled in the movie. I walked across the street to my home and went in my room and. broke. down. Was it any of my business? Was rolling the windows down good enough? It was for a half hour and now it was taken care of. But I HAD TO SAY SOMETHING!!! Would you have crossed that boundary? I barely knew her. However, i got up the courage and wiped my eyes and walked back across the street to pull her out of the violin lessons. I'm sure I made her feel like a terrible mother. Of course that was not my intention. I shared a brief story with her and let her know that I rolled the windows down. She did what a mother caught off guard would do and ran out to check on her kids who were fine and told me she intended to leave the air on in the car, but must have turned the key too far to turn it off. What should I have done? Should I have left it at rolling down the windows and called it good?