Space Chimps

I have just been DYING to see this movie...ok well maybe not me, but my 6 year old niece Sabina has been. So when Jeremy and Chrystina came to visit over the 24th my mom and I decided to take the kids to the movie. Sabina, Trevor, Malakai, Baby Brynlee, Grandma Kitty and I really did have a good time. I was nervous about Kai and how he would do, but he had his "na na" (Sabina) to sit by and at times on so things were all good. During the most climactic part...(SPOILER ALERT!!!)...the monkeys, oh excuse me, Chimps have just crash landed their shuttle after being in space...are they alive or dead?!...the entire theater is silent...when malakai chimes in with "uh oh" in his normal outdoor voice...the entire theater erupted in laughter. My child the comedic genius.

Reflections of Christ

My wonderful friend Denae had this posted on her blog and I had to steal it so that my family and friends could see it. Mom, this will really get you ready for BYUI Education Week. I am so excited.

"I think this slide show will uplift you and touch your heart as well. It reminds me of this month's Ensign article by M. Russell Ballard on using the Internet.I hope you find it as touching as I did.For many years the Mesa Arizona Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has had exhibits on the temple grounds during the Easter season. This year, there was also a 'Reflections of Christ' photography exhibit in the Visitor's Center. The photographer was given permission to photograph Pageant cast members for the exhibit. They traveled to various locations in Arizona that the photographer felt looked like the places in Israel where the events took place and recreated the scenes. The photographer worked with a few other individuals to put together a 5 minute slide show which includes every image from the exhibit set to the hymn 'Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.'Remember when you're watching the video that the photographs are real, they aren't paintings. Maximize the video so you can see it full screen. You can expand the screen to fit your entire computer screen for a better view by clicking on the lower right hand square icon (next to the volume)."

http://mabrystudios.typepad.com/reflections_of_christ/2008/03/reflections-sli.html

Memories...

I am taking a hint from my friend Steph/Maureen and posting about memories. We all have memories of each other...building relationships...things we remember from years ago or a week ago that make us who we are. So, I am going to treat this like a TAG. You are ALL tagged. Everyone who reads this post is challenged to make a comment about a memory you have of me. It can be big or small. It doesn't matter. You all play a role in my life. If you comment...I will leave a memory on your blog as well (unless you tell me not to!)And if you don't have a blog...today is a good day to start one! (yeah, you knew that one was coming....)

My ducks are in chaos!!!

So apparently if you want anything to come to fruition quickly you should blog about it. Well, the general finally signed off on his package. Yes, my hopes and dreams of getting out early have been terminated! My husband is off to Twentynine Palms on Sept 28th. Kai and I will be around for awhile. We have to figure out what to do with the house (sell, rent, burn it down and collect insurance!). Charlie is being very ambiguous about when they will deploy...says he will know more when he checks in and is continually reminding me that we still have time...lots of time. What does he know?! He has never been a planner or worrier. I just don't see what is wrong with wanting all your ducks in a row...months and months in advance! Now am I wrong here?! Right now my ducks are in chaos! Anyways, if all goes the way we think it will all of you here in Utah will be seeing a lot of me (and very little of Charlie) for the next year or so. So no tears...we will deal with that all later. Boy, I love procrastination and denial!!!

Twentynine Palms or Bust!

So it's happened...I don't know how...I don't know when...but it has happened. Three years have nearly come and gone! Charlie is quickly approaching the end of his recruiting days, and while we knew the end was coming we had no idea that his days were literally numbered. He officially checks out of recruiting on Aug 29 and into 7th Marines based in...wait for it...Twentynine Palms, CA on Sept 28th. Yes that's right. We are headed back to the sand box, or at least that is the plan. So many things are still up in the air right now. The General has yet to sign off on his admin. sep package saying that she agrees with the board and we can stay in. In fact, word is she sent it back to the JAG but no one can tell us why. I have secret hopes that she has decided Charlie shouldn't be in the Marines anymore and is just going to give him an Honorable Discharge. We never had plans of staying here. We were thrilled when we got orders to Provo, but always knew we would be leaving. I had no idea that these last few years would change me so much. I have a home, I have family and friends, I have a great job...let's face it...I have a bubble! I love my bubble...I don't want to leave my bubble. So for now in the secret places of my heart I pray to Heavenly Father that we get to stay. But I am not naive enough to believe that I am at all in control. I gave my life and path to Him long ago. If we are supposed to be in Twentynine Palms then I will go. Besides, it isn't that bad once you get past the meth heads, the insane heat and the suicidal devil possessed jack rabbits.

(If you haven't heard the jack rabbit story let me know...it is a good one.) I shouldn't be so down in the dumps. Kai and I won't be leaving for a while. The house isn't ready to be put on the market and Charlie just informed me that they should be deploying again soon...Yeah! Oh, you can't hear it but that was sarcasm!

"So," you may be asking yourself, "how does Charlie feel about this? Is he sad to leave?" Well I just let him read this post and he turned around and looked and me and he was very perturbed. Apparently he thinks this is GREAT news..."it has been" as he informs me, "three years since he has killed anyone!"

Oh how lucky am I!

Where Pee Pee Go?

A few months ago my mom was watching Kai and my baby niece Brynlee. My mom was changing Bryn's diaper when Kai wandered over. He looked at my mom quizzically and asked "Where pee pee go?" I had to explain that Bryn is a girl...different anatomy.

I tell you this story so that I can tell you about what happened on Saturday. My family was at a family reunion in Logan at a park. Things were winding down, many people had left and my mom and brothers and sister in law were sitting in the shade talking. Charlie had long ago fallen asleep near by. So as we are talking I look at my mom and she has this disturbed/bemused look on her face...I turn to see what she is looking at and notice that Charlie is laying on his back sound asleep and he has BOTH hands down his pants! I smacked his foot and started laughing hysterically...I said "Are you afraid it is going to wander off? Like one morning you are just going to wake up and it will be gone?"

My mom then pipes in with..."And Kai Kai will say, 'Where pee pee go?'"

He was embarrassed enough that my whole family had seen...I told him it would only get worse when I blogged it!

Preparing for motherhood!

I know this is LONG...but it is well worth reading. I got this e mail from my sister in law and finally got a chance to read it while Kai napped. I laughed out loud!!!

15 Lessons Before Having Kids

Lesson 1

1. Go to the grocery store.

2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.

3. Go home.

4. Pick up the paper.

5. Read it for the last time.

Lesson 2

Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who are already parents and berate them about their...

1. Methods of discipline.

2. Lack of patience.

3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.

4. Allowing their children to run wild.

5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior. Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.

Lesson 3

A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...

1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. (Eat cold food with one hand for dinner)

2. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.

3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.

4. Set the alarm for 3AM.

5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink and watch an infomercial, or blog, read other's blogs.

6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.

7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.

8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.

9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive) Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together!

Lesson 4

Can you stand the mess children make? To find out...

1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.

2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.

3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.

4. Then rub them on the clean walls.

5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.

6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?

Lesson 5

Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.

1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.

2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out. Time allowed

for this - all morning.

Lesson 6

1. Take an egg carton. Using a pair of scissors and a jar of paint, turn it into an alligator.

2. Now take the tube from a roll of toilet paper. Using only Scotch tape and a piece of aluminum foil, turn it into an attractive Christmas candle.

3. Last, take a milk carton, a ping-pong ball, and an empty packet of Cocoa Puffs. Make an exact replica of the Eiffel Tower.

Lesson 7

Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.

1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment. Leave it there.

2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.

3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.

4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.

Lesson 8

1. Get ready to go out.

2. Sit on the floor of your bathroom reading picture books for half an hour.

3. Go out the front door.

4. Come in again. Go out.

5. Come back in.

6. Go out again.

7. Walk down the front path.

8. Walk back up it.

9. Walk down it again.

10. Walk very slowly down the sidewalk for five minutes.

11. Stop, inspect minutely, and ask at least 6 questions about every cigarette butt, piece of used chewing gum, dirty tissue, and dead insect along the way.

12. Retrace your steps.

13. Scream that you have had as much as you can stand until the neighbors come out and stare at you.

14. Give up and go back into the house. You are now just about ready to try taking a small child for a walk.

Lesson 9

Repeat everything you have learned at least (if not more than) five times.

Lesson 10

1. Go to the local grocery store.

2. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat.

3. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.

Lesson 11

1. Hollow out a melon.

2. Make a small hole in the side.

3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.

4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.

5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.

6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air. You are now ready to feed a nine-month-old baby.

Lesson 12

Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street, Barney, Disney, the Teletubbies, and Pokemon. Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney Channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you're thinking, What's 'Noggin'? Exactly the point.)

Lesson 13

Move to the tropics. Find or make a compost pile. Dig down about halfway and stick your nose in it. Do this 3-5 times a day for at least two years.

Lesson 14

Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each 'mommy'; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.

Lesson 15

Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt-sleeve, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from Lesson 14 above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.

Pictures of my Favorite Kids!!!

Count Your Blessings

Last night after I posted about my bad week I went upstairs, said my prayers and crawled into bed. As I laid in the dark next to my husband I started thinking about how disappointed Heavenly Father would be if he read that post. Yes, I had a very bad week but, in the midst of all my stress there was love and beauty and blessings beyond belief! So this is my post to say all the GOOD things that happened this week!!!

1) I got to spend an abundance of time with the people I love the mostest!!! With 2 birthdays this week we really got a chance to CELEBRATE!

Malakai turned 2 and Grandma Kitty turned 49..again!

Granny and Papa were here for the party

Malakai realized that he does LOVE his Granny!

2) I went on a date with the SEXIEST guy I know...my husband! After all the stress of the beginning of the week we went to the movies and snuggled in the dark...movies are so much more enjoyable when you don't have a 2yr old running up and down the aisles and throwing popcorn.

3) I have a sure knowledge that FAMILIES ARE FOREVER!!!

This life is not the end. If we follow the plan our Heavenly Father has set out for us I KNOW we will be together with our loved ones again!

4) My husband is still alive! Yes, he is injured...but he can walk (sorta) and he can think (thank God for helmets!)

5) We have insurance...We have the best health insurance in the world!

6)I LOVE my job! I might not like going to work all the time but I make good money working 2 nights a week...really only hookers can compete with this schedule! I LOVE the people I work with...I truly do consider them all my friends...some are just closer than others.

7) Instead of spending the night running my tail off at work...I got to spend it washing my van (it is very shiny!), blogging and sleeping next to my husband in my nice soft bed.

8) I still hate Arizona, but Jeremy and Chrystina and the kids can finally be a family again. No more getting on a plane monday morning to commute to work. No more single mom stuff for Chrys. AND after 8 years of marriage they finally have their own home that they can do whatever to and NOT have to ask a landlord. We will miss you but, I am SO happy for you!

9) I got to eat a lot of birthday cake! Now, that in and of itself is something to be glad for.

I know my Heavenly Father loves and cares about me. I am so grateful for the blessings He gives me each day and I am going to try to recognize them more!

Busy, Crazy, Crapy, Sad, Stupid Week!!!

So I haven't posted a lot this week because as I mentioned before this has been a busy, crazy, crapy (are there 2 p's?), sad, stupid week!!! Honestly, most of the week I have felt like Kai looks in the above picture. The story is too long to post, and honestly just needs my dramatic verbal touch to make it complete, but here are the basics: Speeding ticket, Crash (the Hulk is having some SERIOUS "alone time"), Emergency room, funeral (Crash and ER are not related to funeral...lucky for Charlie), Work (not with any of my good friends...Although I think Steph was there for like half a second...stupid princess shifts!) AND it was a really busy shift with a patient that fainted on me twice AND I talked to all of my doctors except 1 in the first 3 hours!!!, Emotional breakdown by husband ("We don't talk about that anymore" says Charlie), Said goodbye to Trevor and Sabina and twins and sent them to live in Arizona (I HATE Arizona...Stupid Arizona with affordable housing and job!), Got put on call for work, called into work, then sent home from work ALL in the same hour (stupid 7th floor and their dumb lack of need for 1 more nurse...Ohh upside, got to see Maureen and Monica and Chris...All who I love!)

And the week isn't even over!!! What a week...by the way, my mom's birthday was on the 10th and Kai's was on the 11th, those days had their happy moments.

Kai's Birthday Party!!!

So eventhough Kai will not officially be 2 until Friday the 11th, we celebrated with a party on Saturday! We had a great time...lots of food, family and fun. The kids went swimming in the back yard. I think the pictures are evidence of the fun they had.











Only one ouch! Trevor was stung by a wasp on his shoulder blade. But our good ol' Wyoming girl Lisa came to the rescue with a benadryl and mud compress and soon he was splish splashing with the rest of the gang. when the kids were done swimming and all cleaned up we had cake and ice cream.

I have to say that I was very pleased with the way it came out. Kai couldn't wait to try out his new VROOM VROOMs.

My mom was the one that thought up the idea of using sparklers for candles...he thought that was pretty neat. But I had to have tradition, so I lit the 2 candle and tried to get Kai to blow it out...Apparently that was old school because he took his motorcycle and smashed the candle, extinguishing the flame. Some men can do anything with duct tape...my kid can do anything with vroom vrooms. Then it was time for presents! Wow, this is one well loved little boy.

Uncle Wyatt and Aunt Lisa got him his own AWESOME helmet and gloves. Now he can ride safe while riding on his own VROOM VROOM that Charlie and I got him.

It is a Harley Davidson Big Wheel aka Kai Kai's Vroom vroom. This was the perfect gift. It makes motorcycle noises and has a ton of buttons to push. His little legs aren't quite long enough to reach the petals but he scoots along rather well on his own.

It was a long, wonderful day. Kai was so tired that he fell asleep on my bed while brushing his teeth. Man, if he would go to bed that easy everynight. Thanks to everyone who came. We love you all! And for those of you who missed it...maybe we can do a redo next saturday! The pool is still up and ready to go.

The Grand Parade!!!

Well, this week has been absolutely crazy. My mom and I have been trying to spend as much time as possible with Trevor and Sabina before they move to Phoenix next week. We have been trying to make it memory making time. So on that note we decided that even though we were running on empty and no sleep we would get up and hit the parade! This was not simple matter. I had to get up at 6:30 am!!! I dont' do that...I mean I am either up all night at work or I am up at 9/9:30 am. I am not a morning person. But, for this memory making time I sacrificed...kudos for me! Anyway, we loaded up 3 kids, 1 stroller, 4 bottles of water, lots of patriotic gear and headed out! And surprisingly enough we got there on time so there were still open spaces. I don't know why we worried about it though. The kids started in their own space but slowly encroached on people around us. They borrowed this blanket, they ate their cookies...yeah we were definately glad for kind people around us.

After the parade we headed over to the Freedom Festival and the kids got their faces painted.

Sabina made a very beautiful Statue of Liberty.

Arrr me mateys!!! Trevor made a very cute pirate. I was very glad the paint came off easy with wet wipes.

I was a little worried about Kai getting his face painted. He doesn't have the longest attention span and I didn't want him to end up with half a gecko on his face. But, he surprised me and did relatively well.

It was a LONG, but pleasant day, and I won't soon forget it! Glad we made the effort...I suppose life is too short to sleep the day away (Ok I am going to start this slowly...Tuesdays and bank holidays I'll get up early!)

The Hulk!

I would like to introduce everyone to the newest member of our family...The Hulk! This is Charlie's new bike that he just bought today. Now, I have to tell you why he bought a new bike. Last night he was supposed to meet us after pictures for dinner. Well, he called me and said that he was at Deseret Industries in Provo and that I would probably need to come and get him. Apparently, a couple of bolts had jiggled loose over the months and now his entire front faring (front part of the bike with headlights and all...very important!) was hanging by wires. Problem? YES. But fortunately, Escape Motor Sports was across the street and he found some bolts that would at least keep it together long enough to get home, so I didn't need to come get him. Well, then he called me again. He got the front part on but when he went to start it his clutch cable snapped...again this is an important part and no, Escape Motor Sports didn't have that part. So my brother picked him and his broken bike up in his truck and drove him home. This morning Charlie scoured all of Utah county and Sandy and there was not a clutch cable to be had anywhere. There was however, this beautiful new bike. Anyway, long story short, my husband searched all over the county for an unavailable clutch cable, found a new bike, got approved for a loan, bought the bike AND went for a 3 hour ride all in one day! It is amazing what he can do when properly motivated. So why has the tile in my bathroom taken 3 months?! Wonder how I can get him motivated to do that!?!

Good news: Toys R Us has a bike just like Daddy's for Kai.

Bad news: It says "Groovy Girls" and costs a fortune!

Now, this is more like it! Maybe when his feet touch the ground...Until then, they ride with Daddy and Uncle Wyatt.

Before the ride Sabina informed us that "girls don't like motorcycles...they like ballet."

After the ride she said, "When I am a teenager I am going to buy a motorcycle."

Next big seller at Christmas

On Wed. I was at my mom's house getting ready to go take the kids' pictures and Malakai comes up to me and says, "Momma come!" So I follow him into the play room. He then proceeds to crawl into this box that is not even 6 inches tall. He looked so weird and funny I had to take a picture!


I am sure this new toy will be ALL THE RAGE come Christmas...now how to market it?!

I am thinking of calling it "Baby TOO Real" with a disclaimer: College Tuition NOT included!

Kai's 1st Haircut!

Kai got his 1st official haircut on Tuesday. He looks so funny in that black cape with just his little head sticking out. He kept tilting his head towards his shoulder as she was shaving the sides. Maybe it tickled. In any case, he held very still after I started bribing him with M&M's. I had to finally give in and pay somebody to cut his hair since everytime I did it he ended up with a buzz cut, even if that wasn't what I intended. He looked very handsome for his pictures with his cousins that we had taken on Wed. (That is a whole other story...6 kids, 5 under the age of 3. I am pretty sure I had a mini stroke when I thought that was a good idea!!!) Anyways, at $10 a pop his hair better not grow too fast.

Big boy!

I am just realizing now how my son is truly a little boy and no longer my baby. We went to the park on Monday and he no longer needed my help on anything (except the monkey bars, but I blame myself for that. I have very little upper body strength and fear that because he is genetically prone to this he will always need my help on those stupid bars!). They even have a little rock wall and he climbed it all by himself.

You moms that have more than one child are probably thinking I am the dumbest person alive, but he did it all by himself!!!

This not being needed thing is new to me. Wow him leaving for college is going to suck!

Yeah for Denae!!!

So thanks must be given out to Denae for my BEAUTIFUL blog! I appreciate the downtime at work, makes it so that we can get the really important stuff done. Stuff like changing my template and font color. It looks gorgeous and I am very grateful. From now on I am going to just tell Denae all my stories and let her blog them! Just kidding.