Happy Birthday Lily!!

Thats right, its my little Lily's birthday! The big 6. We started the morning at the donut shop with a "sparkly" donut (that's sprinkles), then off to Chuck 'e' Cheese's for games and pizza, now to The Habit for burgers and shakes. (as i look at this, I realize I look like an awesome mom that doesn't cook for my kids and while we do eat out a lot, I do cook) I am so excited to watch her grow and love all of the new things she learns each day. She is my princess and I love her very much.

Happy Birthday Lily!

No fly list??

Darren is out of town. I feel comfortable telling everyone now that it is the last night and no crazies can show up in the middle of the night after announcing this. :) The week hasn't been terrible. He left on Monday night after the kids went to sleep.

Tuesday was like any other "school day". The kids were a little confused by daddy's car being here and him not. He is in Kentucky, Liam asked if daddy walked there. Too cute!

Wednesday, Liam woke up with a fever. We were already running late to school. The kids haven't been sleeping well and Zachary has started waking up every 3 hours to feed, that is something he has never done. So I was tired and we were running late. Lily dropped to the floor after I told her she needed to hurry and get dressed or we will be late and started whining about how she doesn't want to be late... get off the floor then! So, rushing the kids out the door, I carried Liam and grabbed my keys from the bathroom (that is where they belong, right?!) and he puked all down my back. I heard it coming... sigh. Now all may think this is the worst day I have had or will have this week, wrong! I hate when my kids are sick, but there is something to be said for the hours of sleeping they spend! I got so much done!

Thursday, today... normal day, but I was reminded that there is a talent show at the kids school and I had promised Lily a while back that we would go. It was May 3rd but then the fires canceled it and it was rescheduled for tomorrow. Now I realize it is last minute, but I have contacted 4 girls in my ward to babysit or attend with me and have been turned down by each of them. Not because they are already babysitting another family, but because they are hanging out with friends, or working on a project or one is in a play (can't fault her, I did know about that one, but had forgotten)

So this brings me to the title of my post... am I on a "no fly" list in my ward? I was hesitant to call anyone else in fear of more rejection. I know my boys can be a handful, but it hits hard. :(

Ready, Set, PEE!!

That's right! We are potty training this week! I have 3 boys in diapers. Zachary, I am doing cloth on, but either way, he will be in them for a while. Mike has had a behaviorist coming over the past month and has set up a program for him to start training. Liam is ready, I just have to be more firm about it. Saturday is the big day... Wish us luck.

Appreciation

Darren started school tonight. Yes, that makes for a really long day. The great thing for me, he gets home about 8:30, so we do get to spend some time together. So, mom of the year over here, I swung thought Jack n the Box for breakfast, Taco Bell for lunch and finished it off with Little Caesars for dinner. Hey if your gonna be bad, be bad all the way. While at Little Caesars, the kids were super well behaved. Yes, I did take them all inside, even though it would be easier to leave them in the car, the law is the law. Gathering everything, handing Lily the 2 liter bottle of orange soda, Mike a crazy bread, Liam a crazy bread and me about to grab the pizzas, a lady that had gotten her pizza 3 people ahead of me came running back in and grabbed my pizzas (before you think "What the heck!") and said "I am going to help you with these. Even the kids were shocked, Mike saying "hey, those are mine!" and Lily with the panicked look. She then told my kids "I am going to help your mommy with your pizzas, sometimes mommy's need help and don't ask for it." I was torn, cry on the spot at this ladys kindness or smile and hurry before she changes her mind. I chose the latter of course. I decided in my car on the way home, I needed to give more than a mere "Thank You". She doesn't know me, and we will most likely never meet again, she doesn't read my blog (many people don't) but I wanted to express my gratitude, my appreciation for her simple kindness. It made my reasonably long day feel a lot lighter. 

I thank you...

New year!!

Happy new year everyone! Couple of updates... Baby Zachy is here! (No pics till i can upload them) That's what Liam calls him, Mike says he is Zachary Cole and Lily is in the correct everyone about everything stage and calls him Zachary. He was born November 16 at 9:15 pm after an excruciating 24 hours. He weighed 8 lbs 5 oz and was 21.5 inches long. Yes, he is my biggest baby. And has the most hair! He was taken by cesarean after some scary stuff. He was stuck too and couldn't come out. The spinal tap was beautiful... My epidural gave out after 12 hours and I had been in so much pain, I just fell asleep. Any one who does natural deliveries can just keep to themselves, you don't know my pain compared to yours and it isn't a tolerance level, some people just drop babies like nothing, I don't. ;) he is beautiful and healthy. He has grown so fast already. I feel like I haven't really been able to enjoy him. He will be our last though. Darren goes for the "big day" this month. It is bitter sweet. I love babies, it is the toddlers that make me gray. :)

In the mix of baby and holidays, I decided life wasn't crazy enough, so we moved too. We closed escrow on our new home December 7th. My goal was to be closer to school, but we landed close to the wrong school. We stayed in our ward and only moved 6 block closer to Michael and Lily's school.  I truly couldn't be happier though. We were blessed to find this. It was an answer to not just our prayers. We were ment to find this home, I am sure of that. The kids love it, we love it.

Baseball!!!!

For those of you that don't already know, mike plays baseball in the challengers division for wiki valley little league. This year, the number he picked was no surprise . 7, "cuz I'm 7" . Most of the kids go with their age, but a couple of parents pick their own favorite number. Every year the kids play they are pleased of the same team as the year previous, so again he is a Cardnial. Good thing he looks so dang cute in red. The best part this year though is the number of new players added to the team that are his age and one from his class at school. Lily was stoked that her friends sister is on Mike's team because she has someone to play with, even though she spend most of her time on the field. Her and Liam play the second inning because Mike is pooped by then. So really it is a great family activity to get us out of our house on a Saturday.

Happy V-Day!!

It was a great day. The thing that brought me to tears though... Mike's Valentines notes. He was so excited when I picked him up from school. The first thing out of his mouth was "A tiny CUPCAKE!!" I believe this was from the typical first grade teacher, he goes in there class for an hour and ten minutes each day at the end of the day.
when we got home he went through the box from his class and was thrilled by all of the little gifts and I went through the ones from the first grade class. I told Darren that 20 kids in the class all happened to have brought the Phineas and Ferb notes or the teacher had them on hand just in case. I thought that was great that he got to be apart of the classes note giving. But the tears came when I noticed that 6 kids in the class (yep, I counted) remembered him when they put there notes together at home. I love that he gets to be a part of this class and I know that all of the kids really enjoy him being in there, but to see that he is remembered outside of school really touched my heart. (Way to make his great day mine, but he is mine and so we share this)

Lily loved her Valentines as well. In prep for today she signed her name to all of her notes last night and I put all of the names on. She wanted an extra one with her name just in case people forgot about her and then thanked herself today for being so thoughtful. Goofy kid.

Darren picked up cards for everyone and an orchid for me. He always does for me and one for me from the kids (why I cant be as thoughtful I don't know, but I appreciate his thoughtfulness.) He got one for each of the kids as well and I was shocked that Liam had any idea what a card was, but he turned it over and pulled the card out and sucked in his air (idk how to describe this but it is hilarious ) It was a winner. Dogs or balls = Liam

I started out this year wanting to be excited for all of the upcoming events of the year. I wanted to do something special for each holiday, but as the excitement builds I lose my momentum is the only way I can describe it. I am trying to be excited and trying to let the little things guide me. It may take a bit. I just have to find the balance.