Pasketti Face...

Ok, so I know that EVERYONE has pictures of their kids like this...but it's so dang cute!!! Talia inhaled the spaghetti I made the other night like she'd never eaten before in her life...She also had it EVERYWHERE on her entire upper body...but oh well. She's also intentionally doing the whole "cheesy grin", where she crinkles up her eyes, every time I get the camera out. It's really cute....
And she's talking. I think. It's funny...I don't know if she's really speaking in phrases, or if she's just copying the sounds I make at certain times...like when she's in her high chair, when she gets fussy I've always said "do you want to get down now?" So, now when she's done, she says "get down now", without the enunciation. So...is she really talking, or does she just connect the sounds I've always made to being washed and taken out of her high chair? She does say some other words, understands what they mean....
Another new thing she's doing is to drag our clothes all over the house...out of the clean laundry, out of the dirty laundry, it really doesn't matter. If she thinks we need to put clothes on, she brings us clothes. And she's pretty good at bringing me my clothes, and Cole his clothes. So, Cole put his shirt on her, and she thought it was soooooooo funny...she laughed and laughed.

Dad, I want you to know I made sure I posted just so that you would have something to look at while you were working tomorrow. Love you.

And no matter what Cole posts on his blog, there will be NO "Bat People" created on the property that I live on. The END of discussion.

Back to School!

It's that time of year again...when we say goodbye to the lazy mornings of summer, and say hello to school...and thank goodness for that time of year, because the boys were driving me crazy. Not to say we haven't had a good summer, because we have...but this last few weeks, with the heat, and no pool to go to almost every day (because my mom went on a teacher "field trip", and then she went right back to work, so the last 3 weeks she's only had the pool open on Saturdays)...the boys have been driving each other and everyone else in the house crazy. On top of that, it's been so dang hot, and Talia and Indy are into Everything...I'm ready for things to slow down a bit. The boys were actually a lot more excited to go to school than they look in the above photo...for some reason, they still don't know how to smile, both at the same time, while looking at the camera. They look sooooooooooooooooo handsome in their new clothes, though, and I did get pics of them individually that looked better.
So, since it's up, I had to get a pic of all 3 of my "monsters" in front of our countdown sign. It was actually my idea to have the sign up on the first day of school...but of course Cole couldn't wait, so it's been up for about 12 days. It's kind of in my way, but that's ok...we want the excitement to build. For more intense updates on what Cole's up to, check out his blog.
So, we had a family party for my Grandpa Roy's birthday, which is next Sunday. He's 75, and since we wanted him to be heard by all 30+ of us (with a bunch of loud children playing in the background), my aunt brought her Karyoke machine....and the minute Talia saw the microphone, she grabbed it and started dancing around...it was so dang cute!!

And just an update on Indy...he did great with both his surgeries, it doesn't even appear that his paws hurt him...although I know he misses climbing with his claws instead of just jumping.

A few more things....

So, I took the boys shoe shopping on Tuesday. I was surprised and pleased at the shoes they picked, and also at the price I had to pay. We made a day of it, I took them to Target for lunch, and then I got them something new to wear on the first day...

Wednesday, I went down to the Gateway with my "girls", Breanne and Rachel. We had a great time, my girls got some cute things, I got mostly "replacement" clothes (replacements for ones that are now way to big)...a cute denim skirt, a hoodie, sweat pants, and a black v-neck cotton sweater. And Talia was a perfect angel all day...

Thursday morning, I had my massage, and I must say...I haven't had a headache since. I have never had a massage where my muscles were so tight, and believe me, I felt the difference. By the end, however, I felt much better. I'm a little sore today, but not at all tense, so hopefully I won't have to have my headaches medically evaluated.....
I also finally got a chance to use the cute butterfly crystals to make Talia a bracelet...it turned out so cute!!!!

Only the weekend to get through, and school starts on MONDAY..... YAY!!!!

Busy Busy....

It's been such a busy week for me...getting the kids and school stuff all wrapped up....but looking at everyone else's blogs, I don't feel that guilty. It seems everyone else is too busy to post too.... Talia had a fun time playing with her younger cousin Hunter on Sunday. Well, actually, she enjoyed taking away every toy she saw him playing with, and playing with them herself. Kyle had Pack meeting this week, and we thought he was getting his Bear badge...but we are 1 required short. He did, however, get 2 beads, the belt loops for the things he passed off at scout camp, and his Whittling badge...we're very proud of him.
Last night was Back to School night, and the family fun fair. Christie, it was really fun, and came together great, you did a good job. The boys wanted to do the climbing wall (I did too, but I Cole hadn't made it yet, and I had Talia with us)...they made it about 1/2 way up before Kyle got too tired, and Alec got scared of the height. I can't keep this cat out of the dryer, the kitchen cabinets, off the table and counters...anything open. I spray him with the spray bottle, but he just goes off, gives himself a bath, and is right back up to no good...I don't have 1 toddler, I have 2. Indy is currently spending his second night at the Vet...he was neutered and front de-clawed yesterday. He cried all the way, and I had a hard time handing him over. After all, I've had surgery, I know how he's going to feel for the next couple of days. Hopefully, he won't be mad at us....

And yes, my disclaimer is back up, although in a different form. And my only explanation is that if you don't understand the purpose of a blog, and can't relate to the fun, just don't read it. No one likes to be talked about behind their back.

Can you say Trouble ?

I'm really glad I wasn't home for this...apparently, Talia disappeared while Cole and the boys were working on something...they started looking for her (one of those "why is it so quiet?" moments". Talia had gone into the bathroom, shut the door, and she and Indy were having a ball destroying the roll of toilet paper and the box of Q-tips...and of course they were being soooo quiet! We've been trying to keep the bathroom door shut, so that things like this don't happen. Oh well...the pic is cute.

It's been a long week, and I'm looking forward to my TuesWedThur off....I need to get the boys school shoes on Tues...Weds I'm running down to the Gateway, and Thurs I'm getting a much needed and long overdue Massage! Hopefully it will help with the headache I've had pretty much since the beginning of July....

Going's on....

A lot going on at our house over the weekend...but first I have to explain my new "Disclaimer". Apparently, a friend of mine at work overheard a bunch of people talking about my Blog. Someone made a comment about how I posted specific info on my sex life on my blog, and how that was really inappropriate considering that I've made no secret at work that I have a blog, and that people are welcome to view it. When she told me, I think my jaw hit the floor, I was that shocked. Then I tried to remember where I had posted anything that might be construed that way....and if someone thinks it's bad of me to say that the chemistry between me and my husband gets hotter all the time, I feel really bad for them. But I'm also feeling a little betrayed, since I looked at the schedule for who was working the night the comments were made, and quite a few people I consider friends were working. I don't know exactly what was said, who actually read my last post, and who was actually making comments as opposed to just listening. I do know, however, that no one defended me, so my feelings are a little hurt.

So, now we have our own little Vampire boy. Alec lost both his front teeth on Saturday...actually, Cole pulled them out because they'd been loose for WEEKS...and we were tired of Alec being afraid to wiggle them. For the first day or so, it was really hard to understand what he was saying...but it's gotten better. And the new teeth are already poking through.... And my daughter also seems to be as accident prone as her brothers...no tears, no crying, but she came up from playing at the bottom of the stairs (we have a gate up at the bottom, so she can't get into her brother's stuff, but there's a space at the bottom she likes to play in)...
Looking like this...and I really couldn't get a great pic of the bruise on the side of her eye.

It never seems to bother her though....

So, even though I was cranky from lack of sleep, I took the boys school supply shopping yesterday. It went well, except (get ready for the rant)...Kyle is required to have a SPECIFIC model of calculator for school. NO ONE carries this model in the store, I have to order it online. It irritates me that although legally, the school isn't allowed to ask you to bring anything, I have to order online and pay shipping for this calculator that I can't easily obtain locally.

I also went through all the boy's clothes yesterday. I took everything from Kyle's stuff that doesn't fit but is still in good condition, and put it away for Alec to use in a couple of years. I had them both try on anything I didn't know for sure if it fit, and I'm pleased to report that all they really need for school is jeans (because they wear those out), and Kyle needs a few more shirts. Alec has TONS of stuff that still looks good. I will probably get him something new for the first day of school, and something new for pictures in a month or two, but that's all. I'm really excited that they haven't outgrown everything.

Through Good Times and Bad...

This weekend marks 13 years since I married my soul mate in the Bountiful Temple for time and all eternity. We've had our ups and downs, but our marriage just works for us. It's definitely not a typical marriage from most standpoints...we're not typical people. We have the most equal parenting time that I have ever encountered in a marriage. The kids would just as likely want Cole when they're sick as want me. I really think that's saying something. Some things about my Soul mate....


He ALWAYS makes a face at me when I take his picture. Then he laughs, because he is surprised that I actually took the pic of him making a face....I have many, many pics like this... And this....
But I also have wonderful memories of him like this with all our children....

And although sometimes his Halloween obsession is hard on me, I love the way he uses it to express his incredible imagination and creativity....and I love that he takes over Halloween, so I don't have to worry about it!
I think most people want to be married to their best friend...and still have chemistry and sparks there. I can honestly say, I married the perfect man for me...he understands my moods, my need for sleep (and he makes sure I get my sleep, the sweetheart :)), and the chemistry is still hot, and gets hotter all the time.....
I can ALWAYS depend on Cole. Whether it's the kids, the house, my family, or his, I can lean on him and he can hold the weight of my world. When I'm stressed, he's the ONLY person that can calm me. When we were in high school, I had tension headaches and was on a daily prescription to deal with them. When we became a couple, my headaches faded away, because he was able to drain my tensions like no one else. Cole also understands me like no one else, and I hope he can say the same thing about me. I'm very, very blessed to be his wife.

I Love You, Cole. Happy 13th Anniversary. 13 is lucky for us.

Score!!!

So, I got to go home from work last night after being there about 4 hours. I decided to take Cole dinner, so I called in an order to Olive Garden. I had some time to kill, so I went to one of my favorite stores...A store I should never go in to just "Browse". I can NEVER get out of there without spending money. So..here's my Score....(and I can't figure out why the pic keeps uploading sideways, so I guess you'll all have to turn your heads.... And this next pic is of the Tag on the jeans...I am dying at the number....(in a good way!)
I haven't been able to wear a 5/6 since I was first married. And, quite honestly, I know these pants are more generously cut for more curvaceous figures, but still....I really just went into Maurices because I knew my 7/8 jeans were loose (I just bought them in April, but...) and I wanted to see if I could fit into the 5/6's. Of course, when they fit perfectly, I couldn't help but buy them...and a bunch of other stuff that I found. So, now the weather just has to cool down so that I can wear them....Oh, and I have to get the brown pants hemmed, because I wasn't able to find them in a short size...the trials of being 5'2".

Life is busy...but overall pretty good!

Well, I feel like it's been so crazy, but it's been a pretty good week. First of all, on thursday, I had a great day with my mom.... My grandparents were unable to use their tickets to the Utah Opera Festival up in Logan, so we went to 2 plays on Thursday...we saw "Into the Woods" (one of Cole's favorites!)and Aida....it was so good...we really enjoyed it. It was fun to go to plays again too...One of those things Cole and I haven't had a chance to do since we had kids. We really hope someday to have season theater tickets...

Then, today was busy because of our Primary Activity....

Our "Goliath" boys....
The other kids get ready to "slay" the Goliaths with water balloons....
Mindy let herself get pelted with the extra water balloons (she's a better sport than me!)...but the kids all seemed to have fun....Although there were a couple of incidents with my own kids. Alec, who is at that stage where he has a hard time losing and a hard time not being first, COMPLETELY lost it today...I was trying to explain that he had to wait his turn, and he wouldn't always get to go first...etc etc...and he kept getting madder. Finally I told him that if he was going to behave that way, he would be very LAST. Then, to my complete astonishment, he took a swing at me, and smacked me on the chin. It HURT, especially since I've had a headache that's been pretty constant for the last few weeks...and I had only had 4 hours of sleep. I was so mad...so Alec went and sat in the car for 10 minutes (with the windows all down, and in the shade) and didn't get to participate in that particular activity. But, of course, that wasn't all...while I was letting Alec apologize and come back to the activity, Kyle (who is magnetically attracted to cement) slipped on wet cement and hit the back of his head HARD...he had a HUGE bump, and I could tell it really hurt him. Drama, Drama Drama with us...

After a long afternoon nap (Talia and I slept for 3 1/3 hours), we went swimming at my moms. This week signals the end of our swimming summer...my mom is going on a teacher field trip next week, and the day after she gets back, she goes back to school, so it's weekends only from now on. After we swam, Cole, Talia and I went to Lowe's to pick up our Staircaps for our floor, and a couple of more Transition strips...soon the floors will be completely finished.

And the long day got to Alec too....

Cole went to check on him, and found him sound asleep on the couch...the funny thing is...his fingers were still pushing the buttons!!!