Being Graceful is Overrated Anyway

It must be a rite of passage in the McLaughlin family that at some point our children MUST bang their heads so hard that they actually have an indent from whatever table, chair, stool, bed, floor, etc they hit that immediately swells to a goose egg. And there's a requirement...it HAS to be in the middle of the forehead--you know, a place that hair doesn't typically cover. It doesn't quite draw blood, but I'm sure it shakes that brain of theirs to either make them smarter and wiser or maybe lose a few brain cells? Jury is still out on that one...

Sometimes the war wound stays...forever, as in McKenzie's shiner - right smack in the middle of her otherwise beautiful forehead. I don't remember how she even got that one...probably as clumsy as her mom (aka ME) and ran into the corner of a wall or something when she was a toddler.

Brayden took a dive when he was not quite big enough to sit on his own. I decided to be the cute mom and got excited to take an Easter picture of my first baby...he was 7 months old and capable of sitting, well, sort of. I got him posed all cute on a chair, stepped away to snap the photo, and waalaa...wasn't as balanced as I thought...PLOP..head first onto the hard floor without anything to break his fall but yup, you guessed it, the middle of his noggin. Curt never forgave me for that one--GREAT Easter Pics we got that year. Luckily his wasn't as bad and went away. Now it's just comical and expected when it happens to the younger ones.

Mons spilled out of so many cars, off skateboards, playsets, tumbled down so many stairs over the years that I can't even remember where his war wounds are--I'm sure he takes the cake. In fact, if you feel the back of his head there's a bump so big you'd think it's part of his skull...nope, goose-egg that never went away.

Just the other day Mons pushed Lex (he says it was a 'hug' push..whatever that means!) and she fell smack dab into the edge of the coffee table. When she came up from the fall everyone in unison went "aaahhhhhhhh" because it was that bad. Total indent on the forehead and as we stared we could see the goose-egg form and turn colors. Pretty cool. Nothing a little motrin & DMSO can't help! Just a tidbit...growing up my gma & mom always had this handy dandy supplement called DMSO on hand. It's what is used on racing horses to help with their bruising and sore muscles...it's a little miracle thing you rub onto a bruise or a closed wound and it just heals faster and doesn't bruise as much.

And then two nights ago...Izzie decides she needed a stool for something so she began to pick up this stool that's as big as her (have I told you how strong all my girls are? they have their mommie's genes:). So she trips while carrying it and goes tumbling HARD onto the stool and yup, big 'ole shiner on the forehead! OUCH!

Luckily, we're still waiting for Vivie to declare herself!

Update: We're carryng that clutz theme over to arms, etc. Bray was playing hoops across the street yesterday...tripped over a skateboard, and landed on his wrist in the gutter. I just thought he was being a wuss when he ran home screaming and continued complaining ALL NIGHT! Curt took him to the ER thinking it could be a fracture with the throbbing pain he had still this morning. He sprained it...it's his right hand so no more violin, no writing that book report due Friday (he's boo-hooing about that one!) And no more baseball at recess & P.E.!

It's An Apron...It's A Smock...

This is what I've been up to lately...besides saving a baby mouse and making our home look festive for Christmas. I borrowed Bailey Searle's little apron and made a pattern for it...then went to work! How cute are these little apron smocks?! Of course, the lovely Isabella is modeling hers for me. And they're completely reversible so if one side gets too stained, flip it! I figure all my girls can wear them for art projects, helping in the kitchen (which they LOVE to do), and eating sloppy foods (since they won't wear bibs)

Although, they're so cute, I don't know that I want to see them get stained!!! Sometimes we just have to let things go... They're actually cute enough to wear with a tee underneath with jeans... maybe I'm on to something! I have to say though, it wasn't my idea---saw how darling and practical it was on Bailey and I also saw a similar one on mayfly.com. I kind of went all crazy with the pockets all embellished and cutesy. Now, I just have to figure out how to adapt the pattern for big people! I want one!

Meet our new live-in named MICKEY

update: I came home today & the mouse had already died...maybe it was the glass shards from the fall, or a broken rib----or a broken heart! Just kidding, but now at least I don't have to look at it and wonder what in the world we're going to do with the baby rodent!

It's no secret that with the beauty and comfort of So. Cal. also comes residents of the rodent variety aka mice. They've lived here even long before we moved in and apparently find it quite nice. We have set out traps (yes, the inhumane kind) and recently we put out bait. The whole idea is that they're supposed to nibble at the poison food and then go off to die. So the trick is finding dead mice in nooks and crannies they call home and I call MY STUFF!

Right before Vivie came home we pulled her cradle, stroller and bouncy chair out of the garage only to find that a mouse had eaten through each of these items, leaving months worth of poop along the way--embedded in my fabric. We found the culprit crushed at the bottom of the cradle. GROSS! I had to ditch these baby items and scrounge to get replacements.

Through the summer the battle of the mice not only cost me those baby items, it cost me a handbag (it was left in the garage with diapers, etc. to grab & go.) And I'm sure we've yet to find other goods the mice have adopted as their own.

This morning Curt walked outside and found a mouse scurrying about the kids toys strewn on the garage floor and chucked it into the trash just in time for the garbage truck to take him to his new home at the dump. Apparently the more humane poison doesn't work fast enough because the boogers are multiplying like rabbits and then leaving their babies to fend for themselves.

I must be a very compassionate person. This afternoon as I walked outside to take Lexie to preschool, I was stunned to see a baby mouse huddled on the driveway slowly turning in circles, but still brand new (I'm certain it was a preemie like Vivie!!!) enough that it could not open his eyes or move much. I grabbed my camera, and as I slouched to shoot the pic little Mickey cried! I do not have the heart to send this baby away to the dump so I grabbed a mason jar and he has found a new home. The only problem is Izzie & Lexie are INTENT on petting this creature.

UPS came with a huge delivery so I had them deposit the goods in the garage. The brown-uniformed guy accidentally knocked my baby mouse jar and it went splattering to the ground! I'm sure they thought I'm just a little weird housing a critter like that in a jar. I'm just sure the poor thing now has a broken rib or something--I feel SO bad! As I scooped him back off the ground, he let out more cries--I couldn't bear it! It's now in a new jar-home with little slivers of glass on its furry back and a few cheerios to nibble at.

Curt thinks I'm demented because no matter how much destruction those dumb little mice have caused, I can't bring myself to hurt this one anymore and chuck it. You'll see...when Curt gets home and sees this refugee he will take pity on it too. I know the other kids will love to see it to. And I guess I already know what mice eat---pretty much anything in my garage!

I don't know what's worse--watching the baby mouse die while trying to save it or letting it die at my own hands by leaving it in the trash can!!! Can't do it! Maybe the green poison food will find its way into the jar this afternoon---at least then it will die with a full tummy!

Things they can't do without

I was thinking about the little girls' daily routines and how there are certain things that Lexie & Izzie must have for their world to seem right...or we have a battle on our hands! I started to list those things for all the kids.

So I asked each of them to see if I was right-on. I was....except for they began with naming the gospel, prayer, Christ, & Book of Mormon, health, family, etc. I had to bring them DOWN to the light-hearted matters....I was so thankful for that! It was one of those moments when I felt as if we just may be succeeding as parents of six! That feeling quickly ended when an argument broke out and one of the kids 'stabbed' the other with a freshly sharpened pencil...nice!

This is not meant to be a Thanksgiving post--just a window into the 'things' that make our 'worlds' seem right---(the spiritual and weightier matters are all givens for each of us... duh!!)

as I locate pictures on my hard drive I'll add them to the post! Like anyone cared anyway! This is really for my 'blog book' that I will eventually make...

Curt

• armchair
  
• HDTV
• helmet collection
• diet coke plus (it has vitamins I'm told)
• church books

Shay

• family
• computer/internet
• camera
• project of some sort

Brayden

• football jerseys (namely BYU, Pats, & Notre Dame...they double as a trusty nightshirt too!)
• computer to check the scores
• ipod
  

Mckenzie

• friends to play with
• Rachel
  
• Kayla
  
• High School Musical
  • 

Monson

• blankie
• hoops
• Dunya
  

Lexie

• chocolate milk (carnation instant b-fast)
• sleeping beauty polly pocket
• blankie
• Being rocked by Mommie
• all princess movies

Izzie

• paci (which is causing buck teeth--joys..we've cut the ends off 2 of hers only for her to keep 'adopting' Vivie's pacifiers).
• blankie(s) x 3
• chocolate milk
• dancing
• Caillou, Little Bear, Dora--at least once a day

Vivie

• thumb
• mommie
• bottle

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

This year our smell of Christmas will have to come from my "Christmas Memories" scented candle and the 'live' wreath that will eventually adorn our front door! Picking out and purchasing a Christmas tree in San Diego just isn't the same as in Utah. No signs of falling snow that makes the ground a muddy slush to wade through--no freezing kids running around just to stay warm and then taking a dive in the snow getting the mud slush all over their clothes, no trying to get the tree strapped to the top of a mini van that was already falling apart. And, no stumbling with it into the house while leaving a huge trail of spiders, critters, and needles all down the hallway along with the slushy mud snow foot tracks. One trip to the local 'tent' on the dirt lot here in San Diego and 150 bucks later it seemed a lot easier, but lacked the memories and fun (and cost twice as much as in UT) so I said NO MORE! We kept our $150 and off to Costco we went.

It was the most painless process this year--no more spending hours to lay out the strings of lights to see which little booger was making the whole string worthless! And the best part, no more vacuuming up the fallen needles daily! Not to mention how the tree is an obvious fire hazard Christmas morning after 1/2
its needles are shed and the scent is long gone and what is remaining is a lovely shade of brown. Or, screaming after each needle-poke when removing the lights and decorations--I got smart one year and wore gloves.

Maybe I'm just trying to make myself feel better for giving up on a long-time tradition now gone. This is a budget-friendly decision and now I think I'll sit back, pour a nice frothy cup of Stephens hot cocoa and enjoy my gorgeous tree and my "Christmas Memories" candle...
That really sounded nice!

Or I'll just clean up Lexie's puke every 1/2 hour and hold my breath so that my gag reflex doesn't get the best of me...and glance at my beautiful tree once in a while. Merry stomach flu..I mean Christmas to us!! I can't remember a time between Thanksgiving and Christmas that we didn't have the stomach flu at some point...here's to hoping it doesn't get passed around for 3 weeks! Vivie thinks the Christmas tree is pretty too...gives her something to slobber & smile about.

Ye Merry Thumbsucker

Don't you love it when babies can pacify themselves??? Vivs just found her new best friend--her left thumb. I just thought it was hilarious how she holds it in there to comfort herself...and then scratch her nose at the same time--or pick it, whatever pleases her! I'm in love with my sweet Viviana!

Lexie's First Day of Preschool...worth it???

Say goodbye to naps for Lex...at least on Tuesdays & Thursdays! We'll see how that goes-she was OUT by 7 pm tonight and cranky cranky cranky. I hope I don't regret this--she could only get 'in' for the afternoon schedule and I figured she would love the social interaction. Izzie wasn't too excited about leaving Lexie to enjoy all the fun since they've been joined at the hip all her life!

I was anxious to hear how it went and this is what Lexie said when I asked what she did: "I don't know. We didn't do ballet though. I wanted to dance!"

Since Lexie didn't get in to the school for the fall I put her in a ballet/tap class instead and called it 'her preschool.' Now she thinks preschool is only supposed to be 1 hour of fun dancing around the room...oooopps. I think I was way more thrilled about the REAL preschool than Lex...bummer.

Thanksgiving...

...In Utah this time around:








family, missed friends, Cafe Rio, Taipan, feeding the horses at Ama's ranch, seeing aunts, uncles, & cousins, BYU football (ha! we rule!), Rod Works, relaxing, eating, wrapped in blankets by the fire, coooold, Sensuous Sandwich, eating, Roberts Crafts, greatly missed 3rd grade teacher, home-cookin' not done by me, shopping, BYU Bookstore, beautiful mountains, making gingerbread houses, Rachel, Seth & the whole Ogden crew, BYU bookstore, fun at Grandma's ranch, Ama rocking my babies, early Christmas presents, eating some more, BYU basketball, candy overload, visiting Pops, Manti Temple, can't fit it all in my car to come back home, shove all the fun into a few days and need to go back soon, did I say eat? Since when did playing catch become a contact sport? We miss Utah for these reasons, but we're glad to be back home enjoying 70 degrees in November. I can visit the changing of the seasons and live in the best season of all in San Diego...

Simple Gratitudes

In light of Thanksgiving next week I'm going to post 'Simple Gratitudes' as I think of them. They may not be the obvious things I'm grateful for like my family, testimony, etc..I guess whatever makes my boat float that day.

Gratitude

This is what the McLaughlin Clan came up with-

We are thankful for...

football family good education church home clothes to wear Viviana Faith 'AMA' holidays pigs on the farm GOD the temples basketball my bed a whole night of sleep San Diego weather motherhood loyal friends transportation TV food the gospel ability to travel stars in the sky AMERICA disposable diapers the resurrection JESUS the sand between my toes my baby dolls dark chocolate Christmas The Book of Mormon our many blessings my favorite color purple the internet digital cameras my freedoms BYU football turkey drumsticks on Thanksgiving Santa & his elves my birth MUSIC prayer thunder & lightning Spring nice & helpful teachers friends jumper cables angels that protected Vivie having lots of brothers & sisters the beach manicures & pedicures humor my health my talents dr. pepper after sleepless nights my beautiful family ...and the list goes on but it's time to get cranky kids in bed!

Little Duckies in a Row--Simple Gratitudes

During the middle of THE TRIAL of my life, aka Viviana's pregnancy and the after-math, I was on bedrest for 3 months with five children who needed a functioning mother. Thank heavens for a very capable husband, caring friends, and a loving mother willing to move mountains just to help! With the events of May 9 and post-birth with a 1 lb. 12 oz. micro-preemie I was traveling RT 62 miles to the hospital daily (for 100 days). At first I had to call on friends to drive me when Curt could not because I was not able to drive with my c-section.

On one of these days, my dear friend, Malisa, had just picked me up...I think it was when Viviana was 6 days old. We started out and along the way we had to stop the car for some unsuspecting pedestrians to cross. It was a family of ducks walking across the street...with mother at the head and her 11 little babies following closely behind. For some odd reason it was an awe-inspiring moment--I'm sure Malisa just thought I was nuts. It brought me to reality and at that very moment I was so grateful for Heavenly Father's creation and something so simple as a family of ducks amidst a crazy busy world and life we create for ourselves.

It was a WOW moment for me that we've been given this amazing responsibility to care for our little ones and that they need us in so many ways. For just that moment I was able to leave my crazy life behind to appreciate and awe over this beautiful sight. I'd like to think the little family of duckies was there just for me to see that day and to ponder over at that very moment in time. I even whipped out my camera to shoot some pictures. I'm thankful for sights so simple as a family of duckies in a row as to me they now represent the creation and our responsibilities to one another as well as how very special the calling of 'mother' is. Little did I know that 45 minutes later I would have the privilege of holding our precious 1 lb. 12 oz. miracle for the very first time. Every one of our children needed my attention and somehow, with my amazing husband, we were able to fulfill the vast needs of 6 little ones during this crazy time. I thought I'd lose my mind sometimes. How grateful I am that we were granted a miracle. I think one day I will adopt a family of ducks to live in our yard just to remind me of the sacred yet simple things in life.

Greatest Modern Convenience....Simple Gratitude #3

These 'gratitudes' are in no special order by the way...

I am NOT lame...read on! It really is a simple thing...I'm thankful for my microwave! I just don't know how anyone ever lived without this modern convenience...especially when your husband blows it up the night before Christmas Eve dinner!

Curt needed a timer...easy enough, right? Every microwave has a timer. So after 30, YES 30 minutes of cooking nothing but the glass turntable (apparently he didn't see the button that said 'timer') with some smoke & some sparks the darn thing blew! The cupboards that are housed above and below it were piping HOT for DAYS after this little mishap. It sounds more dynamic than it really was--what was dynamic is how TICKED I was at him for doing what I thought was such a mindless thing! I will not repeat the things that I said. I will NOT repeat the things that I said. That's when ugly mommie/wife really came out! One would think after someone smelled the burning we would have figured it out. Needless to say Curt did the best he could to replace the microwave at 8:00 that night, the night before Christmas Eve '06. I think he really just wanted to get out of the house, but he undid the booboo; Thats all that mattered! Thank heavens for scented candles-stale burn just didn't float my boat.

The reason I thought of this is because much of my food right now consists of the frozen diet variety (I know, you're thinking YUM!) and the microwave is acting up. I've had to use the neighbor's a few times this week and I'm just waiting for this one to blow...during the holiday season. I really should just save the drama and get it fixed before it blows when I really need it. Why was I so quick to loose my cool?!! I really need to work on that. Hey, I was pregnant then, that's it...never again...and this time I REALLY mean it!

P.S. ugly mommie doesn't rear her head very often, that's why it's such a big deal when it happens! I'm really not a monster....promise.

The BLESS-ED Afternoon Catnap--Simple Gratitude Entry #2

Don't underestimate the value of an afternoon nap! When I was in college at BYU we could go into the women's bathroom and they had these cots and loungers to lie down on--do they still have those??? I'm one of those students who took full advantage of that great concept and occasionally I would go snooze for an hour in between classes--or at least rest my eyes for a few minutes! (maybe more than I'm willing to admit--I just thought this university was so very intuitive on the needs of a woman! Wow was I happy to be at BYU!) The guys never understood why their bathrooms were not so posh. Looking back, it was most definitely for the pregnant students...We ARE talking about BYU here--the Multiply and Replenish Capital, USA! note... I was never pregnant at BYU. I know, hard to believe.

Fast forward to today--with six kids and up before the sun I get super tired everyday. I don't know if you ever get used to it. Yesterday as I was 'surveying' the house and the tornado that apparently whipped through my little corner of Glencrest Dr. (unbeknownced to me-is that even a word?!). Lexie read my body language and said, "Is ugly mommie going to come out?" I'm happy to say ugly mommie did not rear her ugly head thanks to the little catnap I took with my girls earlier in the afternoon!

It's a bless-ed thing when my three little girls all nap at the same time--I can either get some shut-eye with them or do laundry---it's a no-brainer almost every time! No, I really don't take advantage of the nap hour but once or twice a week when I really need it! Did I say I'm grateful to be a stay-at-home mom in this season of my life? And that I CAN take naps every now and then so that ugly mommie can just stay in the closet or in some other hole in my house and not rear her ugly head!!!

The Game of Loves--Simple Gratitudes Entry #1

Maybe it's a 3-year-old thing or perhaps I'm raising the closest thing to myself in Lexie. She can be the biggest drama queen that EVER walked but when she turns the sweet on she can be the biggest lover girl EVER. I hear literally 50 times a day "I love you Mom" and if I don't answer for whatever reason it becomes louder, "I LOVE YOU MOM!!" and if I don't answer again (on the phone or something) she will just keep yelling it louder and louder with increasing anger until I reassure her that yes, "I love you more, Lexie." It's like a game of 'tag, you're it' with professing our love for each other. I LOVE IT and just cherish that my little girl wants to tell me her feelings because you just never know how/if that will change as she gets older. She can brighten anyone's day with her loves and I'm thankful for that in her. She even makes "appointments" to cuddle and rock. Everyday she asks me if we're going to rock just to make sure that I'm 'ON'---like who wouldn't want to snuggle with their little girls? I have nothing better to do! It's part of the routine and she melts down if the routine is broken. What's it going to be like when she goes away to college?! I can already tell she's a romantic. She cracks me up with her loves. I'm thankful for Lexie's ability to vocalize and communicate her feelings and especially her love for me! We need that as mommies! Just as I'm about to publish this post Lexie says to me, "Mom, you're pretty" followed by "Mom, you're the nicest mom ever." Sometimes it's just nice to hear those things from an innocent little girl! I hope she still feels the same way in 10 years!!!! Only time will tell...

Disclaimer: Okay I can hear it now from my kids that read this--YES, I'm more than grateful for each one of you! I'm just thinking of the way Lex spills her undying love for me today!! Love you ALL more!

It's a game of TAG--I'm it! Things you may or may not know about me...

Allison 'tagged' me and so here are some things you may or may not know about me:

I'm grateful that Curt has a career that allows me to be a stay-at-home Mom. Yes, it's difficult at times--heaven knows we sure could use a second income and sometimes I wish I could trade places with Curt just to get a break!! Sometimes I want to poke my own eyeballs out and have to give myself time-outs! That is normal, right??? But there's nothing more rewarding and joyful for this season in my life which will disappear all too soon. I recognize the rewards for this privilege I have of staying home with our children. I'm thankful that MY babe, Curt, has full confidence in me! XXXOOXX

I have this adventurous streak--I have always wanted to hang glide off the Point of the Mountain in Draper, Utah. I never had the chance because I was pregnant for most of the last 3 years we lived there (miscarriage before Lex & Iz). It's not that I'm this crazy thrill-seeker ...maybe it's the desire to 'fly'- Curt reminds me of my responsibility to our six children and at the same time has taken out a hefty insurance policy on me--is he trying to tell me something? Maybe he has tamed me a little bit.


I'm a do-it-yourself-er. Maybe that's not a complete 'unknown' fact. But it gets kind of obsessive at times. I'm the type that has a hard time spending money on things that I can make or do myself. A lot of it is the thrill of a completed project or gained skill. We've saved a lot of money over the years--hey, I even learned how to change brakes on my car last year (thanks to detailed instructions from my brother over the phone and my neighbor's helping hand). I enjoy doing everything from baby bows/flowers, photography, vinyl signs, baby blankies/burpies/lovies, sewing custom drapery, pillows, duvets, painting, designing--you know, all the crafty cutesie homemaker stuff, to tiling, taking out the side of a deck to install stairs (with the help of brothers) and knocking a hole in a fence to install a gate for quick access to school (AF house). If there's a way for me to learn how to do it and the quality isn't compromised, I'd much rather take that route and gain a skill than spend the money to watch someone else do it. The jury is out on whether this is obsessive, frugal, resourceful...or a combination of all of that. (The pics are before/after I transformed my UT master bath from ripping out the carpet, installing slate, to re-staining cabinetry..what a project that was!)

I have a photographic memory for numbers. Whoppee right? Yeah, it doesn't really serve me well for anything but a convenience-I'm not a CPA or anything like that. But I can rattle off my credit card #'s and even their exp. dates, cvc codes and things like our phone number from when I was 5 years old and every address we've ever lived at (since I could read). If I've dialed your phone number more than once then it's probably stored somewhere in my memory bank. With the convenience of cell phones & their phone books I don't use my little 'whopee' memory as much as I could. Just one of those things that was passed on to me from my dad.

I'm proud of this next one----I am 34...been driving for 18 years...and I've NEVER had a speeding/traffic ticket! I can't say that I haven't deserved my fair share of them, but my dad always taught me to drive 'with the rear view mirror. ' I've been pulled over a handful of times, but escaped with a slap on my hand. I realize as I'm writing this that I'm probably jinxing myself, but that's a dang good streak--betcha none of you can say that about yourselves?!!! Shouldn't I receive some sort of major insurance discount or accolade for that achievement???

And lastly, I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be 'when I grow up!' For this season it's an at-home mom. But I've always had the desire to go back and complete a masters degree. I used to think it would be in Special Ed ( I have a BS in Elementary Education), but as life's experiences change my needs, wants, and desires, that goal also changes. Sometimes I think deep down I have the ability to design and pursue opening my very own business of what--don't know yet! Other times my thoughts and passions lie with the pursuit of a medical degree of-sorts...becoming a Physician's Assistant (PA) in Pediatrics. Heck, I'm already half-way there with six kids and the sick days, diagnosis, treatment, etc...or at least it feels that way! We'll see what the future holds.

That took forever...now I tag Marla, Becky, & Poppy--go girls!

Sweet Viviana is Six Months

...and finally on the growth chart for her length! It's only the ONE percentile at 24 1/2 inches, but we'll take it! They're using a growth chart based on her real age, not her 'adjusted age' so it's all just numbers to me!

At six months (3 months adjusted)

Viviana Faith

• is 11 lbs. 4 oz. with rolls in her diaper & is sporting a double chin

• is in love with her little butterfly papasan cradle swing--watches the mobile and lights go round and round and talks to them in her baby babble.

• loves mommie & daddy's voices and all the special attention she gets from five siblings whom adore her.
  

• is getting used to all the noise & especially the "Izzie noise." Loud noise still makes her start to cry and get that big lower "McLaughlin lip..."but she'll just have to get used to it!
  

• coos and jabbers.
  

• gives mommie special smiles that light up the room.

• has no more ROP (retinopathy of prematurity).

• loves to stratch her face even when there's no visible nails to scratch with.

• HATES being restrained in any way...even to have her nails cut (it must remind her of the hospital and all of the necessary poking, sticking, and proding!)
  

• IS SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT! (well, most nights).

• makes her momma one happy gal & completes our family.

She is so sweet & good-natured. Everyone adores the bebe! We all just eat her up...

The Brady Bunch

You know how you let your kids try out all kinds of sports and extra-curricular activities in an effort to find where their talents and interests lie? Some parents even put their children in every sport year after year so that they are back to back scheduled from basketball to baseball soccer and then football....all year long. I think those moms enjoy the chaos!!! Who wants to take the kids to/from all those practices and games which, let's be honest, really means going through the McD's drive-thru several times a week?! Not to mention your sanity Saturday is no longer that--it's ALL about the kids-ALL WEEK LONG!

I think it wears kids out (and mom& dad too) having so much scheduled for them and doesn't allow a child to be just that...a child. What ever happened to the Brady Bunch and just good 'ole family fun at home? (BTW, Brady Bunch re-runs are a big hit at our house)! We're only missing one INTEGRAL part of that picture.. what happened to our Alice? She's WAY under-rated.

Anyway, the bigger part is that when you schedule a child, you schedule an adult and there's only 2 of us to go around! What gives??? It's a laborious task that we, as parents do for our children...who typically don't appreciate all that goes into the loaded question, "Mom, can I sign up for basketball?"

It really tugs at the bank account and the gas tank especially with six children, four of which are in sports, dance, scouts, achievement days or music of some sort...not to mention school and all its homework, fundraisers, projects, book reports, etc etc. I'm tired just thinking about it!

So, we've given our oldest the time to figure out what it is they enjoy and we think 3rd-5th grade is about the time they can finally decide and hone in on ONE sport and ONE music skill/talent having tried EVERYTHING. And we're sticking to it! (At least this year...)

Brayden fell in love with baseball last spring and because we won't let him continue with Pop Warner Football (concussion last year) he's sticking to baseball until the middle school flag football team becomes an option next year. Ever since he was in K, he's had an interest in violin. We were lucky enough to get him into lessons this year given by the San Marcos Symphony Youth Orchestra. So far so good! Isn't he so grown-up??!!

McKenzie has begged to try tennis, which is a great year-round option here in So. Cal. She just completed her first round and we need to find another instructor...hers more than stinks! She's been playing piano and does quite well but we're also in the market for a new teacher. She and Mons have taken piano for a year through our after school program but it's not individualized enough to keep their interest and develop their skill.

Monson is pretty much great at everything. Not that our other kids aren't. He's just got that extra bit of something with everything he touches. He's a natural athlete and has quickly excelled in everything he's tried. He shoots hoops with his 'best friend,' Mackynzie, across the street (she's 14...and really nice to Monson...you fill in the blanks). Monson just started playing basketball in a league this week and he says he's sticking to it. He's an incredibly talented pianist...he plays by ear. He wasn't great with this piano program we had him in because when you don't care too much about theory and read notes too well you're shoved aside. He composes his own music and adds his friend's guitar into it...amazing. He hears something on a CD that he likes and goes to the piano to figure it out. We need to find him a good Suzuki Method Teacher here so he can fully develop this talent. Who knows what lies ahead for Monson.

Lexie is taking a tap/ballet class once a week that she calls 'her preschool.' I finally got her registered for the local preschool starting right after Thanksgiving. She's already carting around a backpack that's 10x her size just because it has wheels and practices playing school with her baby dolls.

Izzie is just the spunky little 2-year-old. Our friend gave her a talking/yelling/screeching cheerleader doll that her daughter outgrew and I'd like to THANK her for that!! We definitely needed more noise in THIS house! It actually is really cute and funny to see Izzie dance and sing along to the cheer songs, having memorized all of them already...with that same sparkle in her eye that Monson has. Who can resist?

Tomorrow is ALL ABOUT VIVIANA. She turns 6 months....BIG milestone...stay tuned.

The Little White Dress

McKenzie, Alexandra, Isabella, & Viviana

I was going through all of our pictures and wanted to compare all my girls in the little white blessing dress my mom made 8 1/2 years ago for all her granddaughters to use. My girls are the only ones that ended up using it for which I'm grateful (sorry sistas!!!) because now we can have this beautiful handmade dress as an heirloom for our family.
It was a labor of love as many many hours went into making it while we lived in "yucky yucky, Arizona, just outside of Phoenix" (What Brayden used to call Gilbert, AZ).
Izzie and Lexie both looked at their pictures this afternoon and thought they were Viviana. I'm kind of surprised myself who looks the most alike--at least by the facial expression.


Can you tell who is whom?