Journal

I have decided I need to journal more. The older I get (or maybe the more kids I have), the worse my memory gets. So I decided I am going to do that here. I have tried a hand-written journal, I have a few entries spread out over years. And I don't love my handwriting.

Today, Friday, February 24, 2012:
• I am trying not to have a baby. But I want things done before I have a baby. So I did laundry, the never-ending laundry.
• Jill took the 2 littles to run errands. Which was perfect because then I could return some stuff to Target and get a couple things there. And if I had them, I doubt I would have done it. And I wanted to return the stuff before baby because I know how much Bryan hates returning things.
• I washed and remade the boys' beds before going to Target too.
• I had the big boys clean out and vacuum my car. I hope it looks good :)
• I vacuumed the downstairs. I also swept before I went to Target but Ben ate again so I decided all the floors needed to be done.
• Ben missed refused his nap today. And I decided it wasn't worth the battle today. He is now drawing on a magna doodle while watching The Fresh Beat Band. Before I gave up, he got out of his bed and went straight to Jill's room and got on her iPad. I guess I should be happy that he has napped for as long as he has since Isaac was done a lot younger.

• Tomorrow we have 3 soccer games one at 10am and the other 2 at 10:15am, good thing Jill is going :)

• Sunday we are having Jill's birthday dinner. I still need to figure out what she wants with Pulled Pork. And what cake/dessert she wants.

• After Sunday dinner, I can have a baby. My doctor thinks that is a good goal.

• I don't want to miss the Kindergarten Horse Stick Rodeo on March 2nd.

I don't know how often I will be doing this but hopefully frequently.

For Me to Remember and WARNING: LONG POST WITH NO PHOTOS!!!

I haven't gotten on the desktop since Bryan has set it up, so still no photos since I don't like what the blogging app did to all my photos from previous posts.

Anyway, I don't want to forget some things.

Ben climbs.
Ben climbs out of bed. A big crib. And Bryan's comment to it "3 points of contact" He has been teaching the other boys how to climb down the ladder from attic space in the garage- yes, the others seem to take after me and my dislike for ladders but it is so cool up there (so I'm told), they are willing to go up.
Ben climbs on furniture. The couch. My bed. The boys bed, though I am grateful he hasn't figured out how to get to the top bunk. Yet, anyway. The dining chairs and to the table. Step stools in the bathroom to play in the water. Park equipment.

It's tiring.

Isaac is independent. When he wants to be.
Isaac is a great helper. When he wants to be.
Isaac is also having bites of food he doesn't like. This is a big deal. And there are a lot of things he doesn't like. Potatoes. Noodles. Beans. Most vegetables. Rice. "I like meat. And bread. And cheese."
Isaac can spell his name (he has been able to do this for a while) and is practicing writing it. He also likes to practice writing everyone else's name. Mostly during Sacrament Meeting but he's quiet.
Isaac is worried about the baby in my tummy. Asks on a regular basis if the baby is still there. Does my tummy hurt. Mostly because I can't do as much and I'm not suppose to be doing anything right now. One more week and I think I will feel more comfortable (and more importantly, my doctor will feel more comfortable) doing stuff because they won't stop me from having a baby now.

Austin is reading so well. He asks what things mean. Even though he can read words, he wants to know what it means. For example, tonight while he was reading "'Josh,' laughed Dad" He said "that doesn't make sense" so we talked about what that meant.
Austin loves to help. He likes to be the only one to help. Like he will clear the table all by himself or he will "watch" Ben for me. And he does a good job.
Austin has a great imagination. I only enjoy being on the couch when I can nonchalantly listen in on the playing.
Austin says he doesn't like playing soccer. But he does.
Austin likes being a big brother. He can make Ben laugh all the time and is really good about playing with Isaac.

Adam. Adam is my first born. And he acts like it. We remind him all the time, he is not the parent. But he is very responsible. I have had him "babysit" while Jill is getting ready for work upstairs.
Adam likes chores. He says he doesn't but he does. He vacuums. Austin and he clean bathrooms. Today, we had an issue with clothes and some whining. So Adam folded 2 laundry baskets of clothes. He did a great job and wasn't whining (like he was when he got started). And then when Bryan took Austin to soccer practice with Isaac and Ben was napping, he switched laundry, carried laundry up to my room, showered, got clothes ready for school tomorrow and helped clean up dinner.
Adam likes playing soccer.
Adam likes being outside.
Adam learned how to ride a 2-wheeler. And wishes we had more concrete. Like at the old house.
Adam likes being the oldest brother. And he is good at it.

I am impressed with how much Bryan gets done in a day. It is obvious to me since I haven't been able to do very much lately and with moving. I keep thinking things will slow down a little and he can relax a little. But then I remember that he is doing so much, partly because I'm so pregnant. So life isn't going to slow down. If anything, he is going to be even busier with the other kids and soccer just started up again...with 3 of them playing. Life will slow down just as football games start happening, which is what he would prefer anyway :)

Jill is so good. She helps even though she doesn't have to. She watches the boys. She takes them on errands, and sometimes it is one at a time so it's like a special date. She watches stupid shows with me and doesn't make fun of me for watching them. She sometimes takes ALL FOUR BOYS! like the other day, Bryan and I went out and she watched the boys, picked up pizza, had them showered and in bed asleep before we got back.

Me. I get to watch. I get climbed on (I forgot to list that on Ben's stuff). I get heartburn. I limp around. I try to have dinner most days, especially on Jill's work days but sometimes that is a huge challenge. I go to doctor's appts. all. the. time. (it feels like it anyway) Austin reads to me while I'm lying down. Okay, that sounds pathetic. I do more than that. It just feels like not so much since I like doing things for myself and I did vacuum the dining area today after taking the boys to the park and having dinner mostly done (yes, that is me tooting my own horn).

Thankful

I have decided (more than once) that things happen when and how for a reason. Even if it is difficult, there is a reason. I'm not sure of the reason this time but there must be one.

We are moving. I am 8 months pregnant. And I have 4 boys. That need attention and love and food and supervision.

I knew I would be slow moving and not tons of help with the actual moving of boxes. But I thought I would be able to pack everything myself. Turns out, not so much. I thought I would be able to clean (both the house we are moving out of and moving into). Again, not so much. I thought I would be able to help with getting things organized. I must toot my own horn here because I have done more than I had expected with all the previous failures.

Celeste came by on her way home from the temple last week. So she could feel better about leaving her kids with her husband for the morning. And packed a good portion of my kitchen. I really appreciated it but didn't realize at the time how great that was.

I went to a regular doctor appointment the day after we signed papers for the house. I wasn't put on bed rest but pretty close. And instead of going every other week, I'm going every week to make sure I'm not dilated too much.

Bryan and Jill have done SO much this week. Meeting with painters and carpet guys. Loading and moving bins. And loading and moving bins. And moving furniture. And taking boys with them on trips to various places (including the new house and the old house, Lowe's, to get lunch and dinner, the list goes on). And cleaning.

Oh the cleaning. Jill vacuumed and vacuumed and vacuumed after the new carpet was put in. She wiped down baseboards. Cleaned the entire kitchen (even using a Shop Vac). After the painters and carpet guys were done. She cleaned all the bathrooms. She wiped out closets. The list, again, goes on and on.

And Bryan. My dear, sweet, hard-working husband. Actually accepted help. Has worked (the job he gets paid to do) and moved and packed and cleaned and still been a "dad."

And they both have encouraged me to "take it easy" and "are you sure you should be doing that?" and taking over with the boys when I couldn't.

So many people have offered to help. And me, being stubborn and thinking "I can do this," have taken some. But again with encouragement.

On Friday, the "big moving day" of furniture and such, a couple men from the ward came over for a couple hours with their trucks and moved and moved and moved (I never realize how much stuff we have until it is being moved). And my 2 boys that are home with me, we're not. Thanks to Isaac's friend having a "birthday party at Legoland" (he was the only friend invited) and Ben invited over to "play" at my SIL's parents' house. Ben was going to go to Celeste's house and then shortly after I called to tell her "thanks but no thanks" her wonderfully helpful husband showed up. Jill was beyond excited (or maybe that was just me glad that Jill wasn't the one helping Bryan move stuff).

A couple car loads this morning and a few hours of Jill and Bryan cleaning the old house. And me with the boys and the pool fence people. I think we are set. Jill went to her Stake Meetings tonight and we are headed to Sam's Club, since I have been saying "I'll buy that after we move" to almost everything.

Now we just have to "finish" unpacking. And try not to have a baby for a few more weeks, well at least 2 weeks.

And once a desktop computer is set up, I will try to post photos. Until then, Instagram is my photo place right now :)

Catching Up

I have SO much to journal/blog about. Here is a quick recap of the last year since I didn't write a Christmas letter and a lot has happened this year and I need to remember it.

Last Christmas time, we were in California.
For New Year's we went to Utah for Gramma J's funeral.
Bryan accepted a new job while we were in Utah, moving us to Texas a couple weeks later.
We celebrated Bryan's birthday with pizza in a hotel in Midland, TX (there is not a lot in west Texas at 10pm).
In February, Jill and Katie and Odin came for a visit while we had an ice storm.
In March, Jill, Katie, Odin, Mom and Dad came for a visit.
In April, my mom stopped (via plane) on her way to Emily's. Bryan's parents came for a visit and we went to San Antonio to celebrate Easter with Jarrod and Susannah and their kids.
In the end May, we made an unexpected trip to California because of my mom's accident.
In June, we stayed in California and went to Jacob's high school graduation and saw most of the Brown's.
Middle of June, Jill moved in :)
In July, we celebrated the 4th at a Ranger game with Jarrod and Susannah and family. At the end, we went to California- flew with 6 kids (Elena and Annie). Bryan came back to work. I stayed with 4 boys- alone.
In August, Bryan came back to California. Matt came home from his mission and we all wore bleach-dye shirts at the airport. And took family photos with my family= parents, siblings/spouses, kids- a lot of kids.
In the end of August, school started. And soccer started (4 or 5 days a week of soccer)
In September, BYU football game trips started happening. Jill went to the Ole Miss game, in Mississippi. We went to Austin, TX for the UT game and met up with Jarrod and Susannah. Bryan met my dad in Utah for the UofU game. Brian Durr came for a week.
In October, my parents came for Halloween- okay, they came for the BYU v TCU game at Cowboy Stadium.
In November, soccer ended. Jill, Ben and I went to Utah for my uncle's funeral, probably one of the best services I have been too. So grateful for family. The next weekend, Bryan and I and the boys drove to Utah to spend the week of Thanksgiving (Jill flew up the day before Thanksgiving). 5 of my parents' 8 kids were there. And the extendeds are always fun.
So far in December, Bryan's parents just went home Wednesday after being in Texas for a week. We also made an offer on a house on Wednesday. It was accepted on Thursday. Now we (mostly Bryan) is getting everything worked out so we can have the keys mid-Feb. The big boys had an Early Release Day today. We are having our FIRST Christmas at our house. We have been married for almost 11 years and have 4 kids and this is our FIRST time. Can you tell this is a little weird for me?

I have enjoyed the past year. I am surprised on a regular basis what I can handle and what I have learned about myself. I am looking forward to the changes, challenges and experiences that are coming up. The beginning of the year will be stressful but worth it.

Sundays

We have church early. Early like it is the earliest I wake up all week. Like church that is 15 minutes away starts at 8:30AM!
Every Sunday Austin asks if I'm going to take a nap. Not because he is worried that I didn't get enough sleep. Not because he knows how much I love my Sunday naps. But because while Ben and I nap after church, Bryan plays video games. Mostly one game in particular. Zelda. Isaac calls it "Zul-da."

Jill is great. She took this photo and sent it to me.

Soccer Practice

We are enjoying our first soccer season. I feel like we are at soccer more than home these days. And now that we are halfway through the season, the weather is perfect for soccer- cool enough for the players but warm enough the spectators aren't freezing.

These are of Isaac from one of our many soccer practices.

Ranger Game Date Night

Last Tuesday Bryan got tickets from work for the Ranger game. We tried to find people to go with us since the game didn't start until after 7pm, I was not letting the boys go (it was a school night). But people are busy. So Jill was fabulous, stayed home and took care of the boys- even making dinner!

It was a great game. And Bryan and I rarely go out just the 2 of us, so that was different and nice. Of course I took dorky photos of us, I had to document we actually went. just. the. two. of. us.

Bases loaded and no outs! It was a great game.

Baseball is a little more relaxing :)

Why we don't take more photos of just us.

We hope to get these seats again, they were great.

Ben.

I think I have a pretty good memory, most of the time. But I think maybe I forget how active and investigative my toddlers are. I remember thinking Austin was a climber and even posted blogs with photos of him climbing. Then Isaac came along and was given the nickname "Tornado." And really Isaac has been my most active, challenging and stubborn child but he is so cute and loving that I enjoy the challenge- most some days.

Now Ben is in that investigative stage. I love it. I love that everything is new and exciting. But he has taken everything to a new level. He figured out how to climb on the chairs while at my parents' this summer. So we pushed in chairs. Until he figured out how to pull them out the next day. Then we got home and I was happy with my counter height table and chairs that he could NOT climb up. And then he did. We bought a baby gate similar to the one my mom has- it swings open, it is lovely. It is perfect, if it is latched. Tightly. If you don't hear it click, Ben has figured out how to open it, climb up and close and not-quite-latch behind him so when you pass by the stairs you don't think he is up there. But he is. Emptying Jill's drawers and such. But I still love it. And I LOVE that he LOVES to be in Nursery at church. We are still working on Sacrament Meeting.










Also, even with a rash from head to toe (literally spots under his hair and the bottoms of his feet and palms of hands) from an allergic reaction, he is so pleasant. He screams when he can't communicate what he wants but we just do trial and error. "More cheese. Oh you don't want more cheese. How about milk? Oh just one sip of milk. How about a cracker? Good. We like goldfish. Oh. Maybe Cheerios now. Maybe your tired." I love my 16 month old.

Before Soccer Wound

Adam was hurrying to get to soccer practice. Finished his dinner and being the good boy he is, went to take his plate over to the sink but before sitting down for dinner Isaac or Ben kicked a soccer ball right where Adam hopped down. Sadly, Adam slipped on the ball, fell and hit near his eye on the window sill- this is the window sill kids walk on.
I took photos and everyone wanted their picture taken, well, kind of.

Ben the Climber

While at my parents' house, Ben decided to climb on the chairs around the table. So I kept telling yelling at everyone to keep the chairs pushed in. Then he decided to pull the chairs out and climb from the chair to the table.

I don't know how I forget how much 15mo like to climb and how they want to be held and then they don't want to be held- especially at church. But I love the toddler stage. They learn and grow so much, it is fun to be a part of it. I'm even enjoying Ben's "tantrums." I end up laughing so he ends up laughing.

First Day of School August 22, 2011

I have a lot more to post about but today was the first day of school so I figured instead of trying to catch up, I'll just post about this and maybe get to the past stuff later.
We missed Meet the Teacher night. I'm sad about that because I met Adam's teacher today after school as we were crossing the crosswalk, she was on yard duty. She seems nice but I'd like a little more than "hi, I'm Adam's mom" and her telling me how sweet Adam is before we lose Isaac because he walks runs faster to the car.
I'm hopeful about a great school year even with the goofy photos the boys let me take.

Jill

We love having Jill live with us. Not just because she likes the same USA shows as me or that I was able to go visiting teaching with NO children or that she will run errands with me (and my 4 boys!) but those help :)

She watched all the boys while I went visiting teaching one day and as I was headed home they were heading out to get ice cream cones. So Jill turned around and I jumped in the car. Here are a couple photos from after ice cream. The first one is from the 4th of July at the Ranger game with Ben asleep on her- see she is the BEST.
**I wrote this months ago but couldn't get it to post with photos.









I don't know why I didn't get any photos of the 2 big boys. They probably were too fast getting inside and getting cleaned up :)

July 4th

Happy 4th of July! (just a little late)

Bryan's brother and family came up from San Antonio. They came over for dinner on Sunday. Monday we went to the Bennett's for swimming and food before going to the Ranger game. I can't remember what we did on Saturday, probably something luxurious like yard work.

I have photos on a real camera but I am on the couch and my camera is in my purse in the car and I can't be bothered with that.

Isaac on the way to the Ranger game



Austin, Ben and Jill at Ranger game



Jill holding sleeping Ben



Ben asleep



The game was good. The fireworks were good. It was a good 4th.

I Apologize

Sorry. I gave some siblings a hard time (via the blog) about not blogging. And even posting photos they have texted to me. And here I haven't posted in a while. Truth is I have TONS of photos, especially on my phone, that I could post.

Some reasons I have not blogged:
1. I'm lazy.
2. I have 4 kids, so does that cancel out #1?
3. we have been busy, see #2.
4. I had a week not that long ago that I was only home one day and I did a little laundry but sewed most of the day.
5. I'm getting excited about taking all the boys on a plane ride in a few days, so my mind is occupied with mental lists of what I need to pack- I have NEVER flown with so many kids.
6. The splash park is a must with my Sonic drink and so that means I can't blog if I am drinking my Route 44.
7. I've decided that sewing is a priority these days. Maybe I should rephrase that, getting fabric ready to sew is a priority.
8. I don't want to move so many photos from my phone to instgram (see #1).
9. I only blog for myself and Dad and Matt but Matt hasn't emailed any photos for a long time so I don't feel so bad.
10. I will blog soon. Maybe not until I'm in Cali and everyone has gone to Brazil- but no promises because I always think I will have more time in Cali than I actually do. Plus, Bryan is coming back to work so me with 4 very active boys and no dad to wrestle with them or take over when I am done is going to be challenging. Why am I excited again?

Photos Sent To Me Via Text

I appreciate the people I blog stalk for blogging since my siblings don't. I thought Matt would appreciate these photos. I've been trying to blog a little more Matt. I will try to get on the desk top to blog the photos I have on my little camera. But the phone blogging will have to do.

I have more from Jill but I think I already blogged them. Jill and Katie/Ryan are great at sending me photos (hint, hint family competition).

Ryan was bored in the car






Caro having a bath in my parents' sink



Edie with curls, apparently pigs fly




Edie walking Bosco




Mike's lunch one day




Joanna in her car, Mike doesn't send many photos :)




Isaac wasn't happy when Jill and Katie took my 3 older boys somewhere when we were in California for my mom (end of May beginning of June). He did get over it and was happy.



Isaac's feet in the cup holders when he was mad.

My Hair

I generally like my hair. Lately it has been falling out, a lot. I'm used to loosing a lot but this is ridiculous. And after each kid it changes. After Ben (maybe after Isaac I can't remember really), it couldn't decide if it wanted to stay curly or go straight-er-ish. I have noticed it more lately. For proof of how crazy my hair is I took photos this morning BEFORE doing it, AFTER sleeping on it wet.

This is right side, the pretty side.




This is the left side, the very confused side.



See, CRAZY. And I don't know what the back looks like. ever.

While the boys fall asleep...

I play on my phone quietly.

Sometimes I have headphones on listening to Pandora while I play.
Words With Friends, so if you could try to play about 9pm Central Time during the summer that would be appreciated. And 8pm Central Time during school.
Catch up on FaceBook.
Emails- read and reply (hopefully)
Blogs- but it seems like not so many people blog these days, I believe that my sisters still have a brother serving a mission in Brazil that would love to read their blogs and see what is going on in their lives hopefully with some photos. Just saying.
Look up houses, I think I need to put the trulia app on my phone.
Or like last night, photos to instagram.

Here is a small sample of what I did last night.