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Friday Letters

Dear Children, you are all on a roller coaster of emotions that you cannot get off of. Mixtures of such deep sadness of missing dad and such happiness at being with your dad. I am happy you are getting to spend this weekend with him. Dear Dr. Mckay, you are so patient and kind when I bring all four of my children with me and try to entertain them while you cast two of their feet for orthotics. You didn't blink an eye when one asks twenty questions and wants to touch everything and another is scooting around the room singing songs. And you still remember our last conversations and ask me about how my life is going. Where did you come from? Dear Avary, you went on a field trip to the dairy and got to pick a milk flavor and an ice cream. You were so concerned about missing me because I couldn't go you cried and didn't want to go to school. And you didn't like the bus, I thought all kids liked the bus. I think you had fun anyway, I'm not entirely sure. Dear Ric, I am glad you are here to spend time with the kids. Thank you for the book. Dear Thanksgiving, you were good, but strange. I took a nap instead of cleaning. wierd. I laughed and cried. And while basting the turkey the juices shot out hitting me right in the eye. I could have won funniest hime videos with that scene. Luckily there was no else there to see it. Dear Self, I tell the kids it's ok to cry all the time, so I'm trying to tell myself that too. I hate crying, but sometimes you can't help it. I hate heartache. I am glad that the Lord never says didn't you cry about this yesterday.

Friday Letters

Dear Children, It's been a busy week I can't wait for things to slow down. I think you all feel the same way. I threw out a whole bunch of threats of all kinds of things I was going to do with your toys after I tripped over them three times and then stepped on a lego when putting you to bed. I didn't follow through with any of my empty threats, Mother of the Year right here. Dear Split Peas, we were sad to have you end. Hailey and I both learned a lot, I hope I can find more programs like you. I will probably see you again with Kade. Dear Nephew, it was nice to get a little time to hang out even if it was in the ER. Not everyone is so upbeat in that setting, you make me laugh. Dear Sleep, who needs sleep? I DO. I am running on three hours of sleep, that means I don't know what I am going to have come out of my mouth. Or weather I will end up laughing or crying. Dear Hailey, Happy Birthday baby girl! I cannot believe you are eleven, you are growing up way too fast. Your party today was a hit if you measure by the mess that was left over. You were also good Citizen for the month for Gratitude, so proud of you.Love You. Dear Ric, the kids are so excited to see you next week, they can't wait. Dear Self, I decided it was ok to cry this week when I felt like I was drowning, but all it really did was give me a bigger headache and make my face hurt. I hope I got to all the important things.

32

So, this is what 32 looks like on my camera phone. I don't look too excited about getting older.


I slept in, kind of, and woke up because it was quiet. My Mom had taken the kids to the store to shop for me and fed them lunch. I came downstairs to this. That is a bouquet of flowers made to look like a cake, it even had candles and a box of chocolates from Ric. More flowers and yes the kids got me a donut. Ha.


I had my little goofballs, Kade thinks he is so funny making rabbit teeth in every picture. My family and all the little kids sang to me many versions of happy birthday. Those little cousins think they are hilarious.


I ended up with all of this! Wow.


Hailey picked this out, just what I needed, this MAY help me. Ha.


These are from my parents and sista's to work off all of that chocolate the kids got me.


And this is in case that doesn't work I can go buy a new pair of jeans.smile.


Ric got me a new camera to replace the one I dropped three times. Hallelujah! Now Hailey can have hers back. The inlaws got me this Kindle. This came in the mail and surprised me I had a silly reaction cause I really liked it. I think I made everyone in the room as excited as me or maybe just annoyed.


Then...you thought the day was over? My parents and sissys took me out to eat and then to get a manicure and pedicure, or you could call it heaven, which ever. The people gave me a 10% discount for my birthday and asked if I was turning 21. hahaha I said yes cause that is good customer service if you ask me. When we were leaving they said happy 21 now you can drink! My Sis goes "what! she's 32!" Oh well, I was 21 for an hour.

I admit I was really depressed the day before, but I had a great day. Thank you to everyone who thought of me. And thank you for all the gifts, I've never had so many gifts. I hit the jackpot!

Avary's Birthday

The Birthday Girl. My 6 yr old!


Her Puppy-Kitty-Horsey Party


She wanted a cake and cupcakes.


Animal ears. Not that they need any help to act like wild animals.


We collected all of our animals to play with.


Avary letting go of her Birthday Wish balloons. It was so windy they were gone in a split second and disappeared.

Friday Letters

Dear Children, you still have fluid in your ears and apparently some sand too, how am I supposed to flush that out? And now poor Kade has a sinus infection. I am still thankful for medicine. Dear Fall Round Up, that is just what you did, rounded up the chilly air. The schools once a year fundraiser. It was fun, but would have been funner if I had more money so the kids could do the bounce houses and petting farm. It would have been $5 for each kid on top of buying tickets to play the lame games. Luckily we know how to have fun anyway. Dear Barrow's Pizza, like always you are just what a tired momma needs. You are always yumm. Dear Church Craft Day, you had a free picture plaque of the temple for anyone to make. That's my kind of thing. And you found me a babysitter. Score! Dear Sister In laws, I appreciate you driving all the way out for my kids birthday parties, it means a lot to them and me. It makes me feel like you haven't disowned me. Dear Roof leak, it rains so little here I didn't realize how bad you were until I came home to the carpet soaked. What a lovely smell. Dear Lil Sis, when you woke up from your surgery the nurses told me you were crying and asking for me, awww that made me feel loved that you wanted me there. When I came in you told me that you thought they were lying and not giving you any pain killers and you wanted to go home. Sorry for your pain. I'm glad I get to help you while you heal, for the record I would spoil you so much more if there were not so many kids running around here. Dear Hazel, you finally got your ears pierced. There was excitement then crying and cranky and then happy and pretty. You have wanted them so long I'm glad you were finally able to do it. Dear Friday, I am so glad there is no school today. I am going to do what I can to get the kids to let me stay in bed as long as possible then we have a weeks worth of cleaning to catch up on. fun. Plus today is 11/11/11 that is good luck and 3 wishes right. Dear Self, today is the last day of being 31. I have mixed emotions on my birthday I hate getting older and am not where I imagined I would be at 32 and that is depressing, but I do feel like I am on the right road to who I am supposed to be.

Sparkly ears

Hazel has wanted her ears pierced for a long time, but I have waited because it would be in a store and she is kind of.....loud when she cries. Avary told her she would hold her hand and it would be ok. When we got there she didn't want anyone to hold her hand she said she never cries. hahahaha yeah.


After the first ear she cried and cried and wanted me to hold her. She was upset for a good hour.


Once she realized they didn't hurt anymore she was happy and proud of herself.


I laughed when I saw them trying to be like their big sis. They are so funny.

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Definitely what is holding me together.

State Fair

My Sister's friend Byron invited us to go with them and his family to the state fair. I did not want to go, in my mind it was going alone to a dirty crowded place alone with four kids. And I am bound to lose one of them. And I feel like a burden tagging along. They talked me into it. I am glad I went.



The kids love when Byron comes around, he plays like a kid and loves to spoil them.







Fried Chocolate covered Bacon

Foot long hot dog.

Avary was so sick with ear infections, but wanted to go anyway. I pushed her in the stroller until...she found animals.

She loves animals.

As you can see.

They groomed them all including the llama.

Having us come along with his family added five people plus my sisters three plus his big family. He takes them every year. Right off I told the kids not to ask for anything, then his sister told me that if I come to the fair with them I just have to not have a conscience for the evening and let him spoil them and let the kids have fun that's what they do. He spoiled everyone the whole time, it makes him happy. His family was so welcoming and immediately stepped in and helped with the kids as if they were their own. It wasn't stressful at all because they were all keeping an eye on them and doing things with them, going on rides with them and never made me feel like a burden or intrusive or annoying since my kid had to pee probably 15 times. It was nice to be around such nice people. The kids kept saying it was the best night EVER. Thanks Byron and thanks Neighbors we had fun.

Friday Letters

Dear Children, I think we are almost free and clear of having fluid in your ears, hopefully that has been the cause of you not listening to me. Dear State Fair, you were actually fun. Thanks to Byron and his family. Who knew I had such nice neighbors, they are so kind to my kids. That makes you love people. The kids had the best night ever. ThankYou! Dear Halloween, you were so busy but we managed it and everyone had fun. Even if I did step in a cupcake. We all had tummy aches to prove it. Dear Primary program, the kids did so great and like always their little singing voices sharing truth brings me to tears. Dear Hazel, you have been sick with a cough and double ear infections. During your part in the program you had a frog in your throat. No, don't bother clearing your throat especially when you get up there and say "Jesus loves everyone, even the bad people" you sounded like a bad smoker or something. I laughed so hard. Until you fell off your chair and cried through the whole last song and prayer and oh the next hour and a half. Dear Nephew Ryan, Hope you had a great Birthday, it made me happy to see you get baptized. Dear Oldest Brother, I hope that your birthday was a happy one. Dear Dr., we have seen way too much of you this week. It does make me grateful for medicine though. Dear Skateland, you were a fun school party. There were a couple of spills that left the kids crying at bed time. Hopefully they are not lingering injuries. Hazel had to be the cutest skating around in little roller skates. Dear Sweet Girl B, it was fun to hang out with you we should do it more often. Dear Avary, we are finally having your party today. Love you babycakes. Dear Kade, you have been wiped out this week and homework after school is pushing you to your limits. You said "mom, you don't know how hard my life is" I asked what is the hardest thing for you right now, you said "having to watch out for bird poop on the trampoline...I mean thinking about high school, how will I ever get through high school I'm not smart enough...and times tables". My poor boy you need more time to just play. Dear Week, you have been so full we had to choose what things not to do. And so exhausting I dream of a vacation of doing nothing and having my feet rubbed, when I actually get some sleep that is. Dear Self, still reminding myself to be patient with myself, still feeling like I am falling so short of the mark.

This could not be more True.

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Halloween 2011

Oh, Halloween


I was a cat. And Avary made sure that I understood I was NOT a kitty, I am a CAT. Thanks for making me feel old.




How cute are they!


WE had Belle, Cinderella, Vampire, Luigi, Hermine, Mario, Harry, and a Ninja.

Saturday was crazy busy. First thing they went to the primary program rehearsal, from there to their Halloween piano recital, straight to cousins birthday party. Then we got ready for the ward Party Trunk or treat.

The kids had fun playing the games. I had some yummy chili. And of course the cotton candy, the one time a year I eat it and I eat enough for it to be only one time a year. Hazel made me push her around in the stroller and I stepped in a cup cake. Yep, I said a cupcake. Don't ask me how this happens, but it did, and it pissed me off.

I had to get a little gruff with a couple of boys for picking on my nephew. He told them "you are lucky I took care of my temper a long time ago" I was nice the first two times, but the third they just made me mad and I told my Sis who took care of it.Ha.


This is what happens at the end of a long day. Somehow eating waayyy too much candy and junk resulted in your belly and your mustache disappearing. I would like to learn this trick.