Why...

does Evan scream "DON'T THROW ME DOWN THE STAIRS!" every time I walk past the downstairs with him?

run when you can bike?

isn't chocolate a vegetable?

do cars ignore people on bikes?

does Max like the word "idiot" so much? Because now Evan likes it too.

do children never mind the first time?

does Xander argue about EVERYTHING? It's tiring.

do I love Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" album so much? I could listen to the song "42" forever. and ever.

does Ian like UFC so much?

do I live in a place where the sun blinds me every time I walk outside?

does Ben feel the need to tell?

can't I dance like Katie from SYTYCD?

did I invite nine 9 year-olds over for an end of the year swim party today?

I think I might be insane.

P.S. this post gave me a good laugh all week: http://heplayedseven.blogspot.com/2009/05/its-crappy-job.html

A Memorable Day

We had an awesome Memorial Day. It started off with Tiffany and I going to the Desert Surf & Sun sale where everything was 75% off! Whooppee! Then we headed out to Mesa to a new Mexican food Market (I forgot what it was called) where we got carnitas, pollo asado, tortillas, chips, beans, rice, salsa & dessert emplanadas (the creme filled one was the best). We headed back to Tiffany & Jason's house for a mexican food extravaganza/swim party. It was muy fun!

the boys had fun playing basketball with Ian - I never knew it was such a contact sport!

Later on we headed over to my mom & dad's for an all-american bbq and another swim party!

It was a fun day - hanging out, swimming, eating and even watching some episodes of So You Think You Can Dance. Life doesn't get much better than that!

Typical Sunday

Sunday mornings are hard. We have church at 9:00 am and not one of us likes to put on "church clothes". When I asked Evan to come and get ready for church this morning he gave me the dirtiest look. And then turned his back and marched away, only to come running right back screaming, "I NOT GOING TO CHURCH!" I would have been mad if I hadn't been laughing so hard (really, it was comical).

It pretty much went downhill from there. Our car wouldn't start (dead battery). When we finally got to church Evan was louder than usual. "I want a snack!" "I want my cars!" All the while I'm thinking, "I want peace and quiet!". I finally came up with the bright idea of pulling out some of the super heroes that were in my church bag. BIG mistake. As I pulled out Batman, Silver Surfer, Spiderman, some green dude and Lando - Ben and Max immediately start grabbing saying, "He's mine!" "I want to play!" and then Evan starts screaming, "MINE! MINE! MINE!". I'm trying to get everyone to behave but Evan just screams louder so I have to take him out.

I happen to glance over at Ian as I'm dragging Evan out and I see him chuckling. And then I started to laugh a little.

We are such bad examples for our kids.

How do you get your kids to behave in public? Because I really want to know.

Strike a pose

hey you....

yeah, you.

Don't I look goooood?

Don't Stop!

How cool is this picture? My friend Shannon sent it to me a while ago and I've been meaning to post it.

Yesterday we had an adventure. I got a call at 8:20 from Adam saying that he got a flat tire while taking Ben, Xander & Michael to school. I knew that Xander and Michael would be stressed because they had a performance at 8:45 (Xander only reminded me 6,745 times). I quickly loaded the other two up and rushed over to rescue them. I called the school on the way letting them know that the boys were going to be a little late. They were surprisingly calm and not worried at all.

The performance was AWESOME. And of course I forgot my camera. They sang "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond, "We Will Rock You" (always reminds me of a Knight's Tale), "It's My Life" by Bon Jovi, "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz and "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey (my personal favorite). Most of the parents were singing along. It's nice that the boys are loving music this year and they have a super cool music teacher.

"Don't Stop Believin" reminds me of a show I watched last night called "Glee Club". Funny, smart & cool. LOVED it. Although all the teenagers looked like they were 30 years old.

P.S. Fox picked up SYTYCD for a fall season too! Yippee!

It's coming....

Ian is excited.

The kids (especially Ben) are excited.

My mom, Stacy and Kim are excited.

To say Tiffany is excited is an understatement.

It's finally here!

I have been waiting for this since last year's season finale. It's my all time favorite show on tv - hands down. Ian and I watched some old episodes yesterday and we might have cried during the Ivan/Allison "Why" routine. Mia for sure cried - she admitted it on the season 2 finale. Over here we are big fans of expressing yourself through art. Which is exactly what this show is. I even like the ballroom dances (yes mom, I know they are your favorite).

My question to you is which performers/dances are your favorite(s)? I loved Travis, Benji, Dominic, Neil, Sabra, Twitch & Katie. The "Ramalama" dance, the "Sexy Back" dance, the "Why" dance, the Neyo - Sabra & Dominic dance, the Joshua & Katie dance where he catches her mid-running, All Nap & Tab cheorographed dances, the Lauren/Pasha "Transformers" dance, Neil & Sarah disco where Neil does the back flip...and so many more....

Can't wait for May 21st!!!

P.S. If this post made no sense to you then you are really missing out!

Stats

Einstein
11 years old

blue eyes

blond hair

right-handed

loves girls, sports, swimming & his dad

(he really didn't want his picture taken)

Drama
9 years old
green eyes

blond/brownish hair

left handed

loves bionicles, x-box, swimming & ice-cream

(btw, if his head looks a little weird it's because Ben was sitting behind him in this picture)

Dr. Jeckyll/Mr. Hyde
5 (almost 6) years old
blue eyes
brown hair
right-handed
loves bionicles, Spongebob, superheroes and Ben

Crazy

2 1/2 years old
green/grey eyes
blond hair
left-handed
loves his binky, his sippy, the movie Cars and his mama

It's so interesting that both Evan and Ben have green eyes and are left-handed and they look the most alike (in my opinion).

I think 3 of my kids look alike. But one of them looks totally different. Can you guess which one? Here's a hint:

A date & a know-it all

On Monday Ben and I went on a date. First we went to Golden Spoon, my favorite place for frozen yogurt. Ben got chocolate malt with mini chocolate chips. I got strawberry with chocolate sprinkles. We sat, ate and chatted. That kid is AWESOME.

Next we went to the library to get books for Ben's report on the Blue Whale. Which is due on Thursday (tomorrow). I felt bad because I kept forgetting to take Ben to the library (but to my credit, he never reminded me!) so he's been trying to write this report in 2 days. And he's actually almost done, except we have to listen to Xander spewing facts at us and telling us that if Ben writes "The biggest blue whale is 100 feet long" he will get in trouble because "doesn't everybody know that the biggest blue whale on record was 108 feet long?" Next time we won't need to go to the library - we can just list Xander as our source.

Things I liked about my weekend...

-Friday night sitting on the couch with Ian and Evan, watching the duo from Once singing on PBS' Artist Den. So beautiful (and the commentary was so funny).

-Spending part of Saturday with my mom and Kim, seeing 17 Again (again!) and eating lunch at the OG (my mom's choice)

-Hanging out with Tiffany Saturday night - shopping at Fashion Square (and getting the BCBG purse below - regulary priced at $118 for $20!!!!!!) Eating dinner at LGO and getting gelato from that dreamy dred-locked Italian guy (mmmmm...)

-Singing with my children in church for Mother's Day.

-Hearing my mom speak in church on Mother's Day. She is my idol and inspiration!

-Visiting with my in-laws and eating an awesome steak & shrimp dinner.

-Reading more of Ink Death.

All and all a pretty good weekend...how about yours?

P.S. yes, I know my eyes are closed in that picture but my mom looks better in that one then the other one Ian took and seeing as it was Mother's Day and all....

Thoughts on mothering

After I had Ben I sank into a deep depression. Part of it was feeling fat and unattractive but most of it was feeling so inadequate and overwhelmed. Everyday around 7:00 I would start to cry. And cry. EVERY DAY. I finally went to my doctor who wanted to prescribe me anti-depressants. The problem was that I was nursing and that Ben was allergic to formula - so essentially I HAD to nurse. And I couldn't take the medication while nursing. It was the lowest I have felt in my life.

A lot of people gave me advice. But the best advice I got was from my mom. She told me to read my scriptures and pray. I ignored that advice at first, but as I became more and more depressed and more and more desperate I was willing to try anything. As I read my scriptures and prayed (almost every minute!) little by little the light began to creep back into my life. I began to feel hope and happiness again.

I think about that time in my life all the time. And what might've happened if I didn't follow my mother's advice. I'm so glad I did. (I love you Mom!)

Being a mother is so many things. It is joy in seeing your child take his first step. It is worry when you hear a loud CRACK and realize your boy has fallen and hit his head on the tile. It is pride when your child hits a grand-slam. Or desperation when he is lost and no where to be found. Being a mother is a roller-coaster of emotions. It is being able to deal with anything, anytime. It's knowing when to hold on, and when to let go. But mostly it is loving. It is serving and loving these little beings that God has blessed me with.

Recently, Sarah asked her readers what their favorite part of being a mother was. My favorite part of being a mother is watching my children grow. Listening to Xander recite a book from memory at 22 months. Seeing Ben's determination in learning to ride his bike without training wheels. Listening to Max sound out words as he learns to read. Hearing Evan say, "I love you!" for the first time. Watching them and being a part in what they are becoming.

I just hope I don't screw them up too much.

It's hot

In honor of 100 degree heat, we headed over to a park with a splash pad yesterday.
I loved watching Evan run through the spraying hoops - that is until he started to suck on the holes with the water coming out. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger is my motto.

Max loved sitting on the water geyser, pretending he was peeing. When he yelled, "Hey look! my weiner is peeing!" I turned the other way and pretended he wasn't mine.
Evan thought Max was weird.

We left after an hour due to my uncontrollable sweating. Good times.

Today...

...I have the "blahs". I have too much to do. Not enough time to do it. And I feel like doing nothing.

Today I want to go to the movies. And eat lots of popcorn and redvines.

Today I wish I could swim with my kids. And get a tan. And maybe read by the pool.

Today I want to pack up the boys and go to the cabin. And feel cool air and smell pine.

Instead I am stuck at home with a busy 2 year old and a 5 year old that is mad at me for giving his brother too much Cookie Crisp this morning. My ears are still ringing from the verbal beating I took.

I need a nap.