Football Finale

Braxton played his last football game of the season last night. It was a nail biter! They were tied and had to go into overtime. They ended up losing the game but had a great time and had lots of other winning games. Brax is a fast little guy. He pulled lots of flags, had some good blocks and scored several touchdowns! I think that next year he will be the giant on the field with the 1st and 2nd graders since he was almost always one of the taller kids this year. Braxton also had fun having his cousin, Porter, on the same team with him. Good times for sure! Mason, Landen and Abbey also loved all the treats that Aunt Karen provided each game. Mason doesn't stop digging in her purse knowing that SOMEWHERE there is another piece of gum, swedish fish or fruit roll ups. A big THANKS to his coach, Victor Johnson, for the endless hours of practice and patience! He was fabulous.

I am so disappointed that I have ruined my good camera and didn't get any good snapshots. I tried with Abbey's camera but it just isn't the same to not be able to zoom a ton, take quick shots and deal with the dusk lighting. Thanks Abbey for letting me use your camera though! You are always very sweet to share. I guess I should be glad we bought the team picture--too bad we are missing 1/2 his team in it though. Oh well- what do you do?

Strategies

My life is full of them. I am constantly trying to figure out the best and fastest way to get things to work in my favor. Some of my strategies from this morning-

*First and my most important one--keep a positive energy going. The more I show appreciation or compliment on what a good job the kids are doing on something- the more likely they are to continue to keep up working and generally faster and more self-motivated than they were before. They love to "surprise" me and have stuff done that I wouldn't have expected to be finished yet. Surprise away!!! :)

*To avoid a meltdown from Landen and a mess from Mason- all three of us brush our teeth at the same exact time and we all do it in my bathroom. I have moved their toothbrushes and toothpaste right into my cabinet to save me the hassle of fetching them each morning.

*I also have to set the timer on my phone for 2 minutes so that Landen doesn't day dream all morning while brushing and when the timer goes off it automatically signals to him that it is time for me to brush his teeth (we call it finishing his teeth.) This usually avoids another meltdown.

*Putting clean laundry away is tricky. Abbey and Braxton are self-motivated on this one now but Landen isn't. He can't race the older kids cause they smoke him every time and meltdowns ensue.. SO.... he races me. I get to put away my laundry, Bryce's laundry and Mason's laundry while Landen does his. This usually works out quite well. If for some reason I had to already get mine done we have alternative #2- counting. Landen LOVES it when I say, "On your mark, get set, GO!" and then I start counting to whatever number he has chosen. He thinks he is SO tricky cause he will start putting away whatever pile he has chosen as I start to say, "On your mark..." **We can only choose one pile at a time to put away--like pants, or underwear--or it is just too much for him to process and handle. Then we choose another pile and start the whole process over again. Some days I feel so annoyed to do the whole song and dance and think that he should just get his stuff put away but I have to stuff those thoughts back down into some black whole and just be grateful that we have a strategy that usually ends with smiles and the job well done!

*The grocery store. Strategy- go during preschool (only have Mason). Go on days I drive for preschool so that we are already in the car and can easily head over to the store. If going to walmart- park on the pharmacy side - we have to avoid the produce section at all cost till the end of the shopping trip. Try to have my list in order along with coupons I want to use. The faster I get through the store the happier Mason and I both are. Hand items to Mason and let him throw them into the basket of the cart. Be careful to not let him linger with the items or he will rip them open and try to eat whatever it is, shampoo and all. Avoid the treat isle all together--best for both of us! And finally we pick up our produce and make sure bananas, grapes or apples are put into the cart last and hopefully in a spot he can't see them. If he does see it, Mason holds on to a bunch of bananas and we head straight to the check out. Mason is a ticking time bomb cause there is only so long he can stand to see fruit and not be eating it. He did quite well today at the store but there have been a few times I haven't followed my game plan very well and for the sake of me and the other 100 shoppers around us, we purchase a banana at the beginning of our trip and he eats it as we all shop in peace.

One last strategy and I am speaking for Bryce on this one-- make ME think it is MY idea and I am happy to do it--no matter what it is! :) He has me figured out so well! No wonder he goes on so many dirt bike rides! ;)

October 24, 2011

Here I am again- ready to apologize for falling off the face of journaling. I have too much of good life to type about to waste my time on that though. Life is what it is and keeping a "cutsie" journal isn't one of them for me. It has been so long though that I wanted to jot down a few things so as I don't forget them.

First off-- 3 out of my 4 kids have had birthdays since my last entry! I will work on seperate posts to highlight their individualness and fantastic qualities but I didn't want them to think that they were forgotten. Happy Birthday Landen, Abbey and Braxton!!!

I never imagined that having 4 kids would be this busy. The summer went by in a flash--yet I lived every day of it. It was a fun but very hard summer. We had a great time doing swim lessons, playing baseball, dirtbiking a bit with Bryce, camping, swimming, celebrating my wedding anniversary, birthdays, holidays, trips to Idaho and just playing with friends and family. It was never a dull moment around this house. Not until the week before school started did I hear anyone say, "Mom! I'm bored!" How could they have been?! We were running 24/7 it seemed.

I try to think why life is so crazy for me and then I take a look at some "normalities" of my life:

*With the kids being out of school for the summer it must have thrown Landen for a major upset. We had bathroom accidents almost daily (and many times it was multiple times a day), fits every morning cause he wasn't the first one done making his bed, fits every time we went somewhere cause he wasn't the first one to the car, screaming fits if he was the last one out of the car and had to close the door and random fits for any other reason under the sun. Man, can that kid throw fits?!!! (I am just glad it has toned down SO much since school started. I was beginning to wonder if Landen was going to spend the rest of his life in "time-out".) I tried hard to help him understand that we aren't "racing" to do everything but that didn't seem to do any good. He is definitely my emotional child--on both ends of the spectrum!

*Mason is a "go-er." He doesn't talk- he just does it himself. If he wants food- he opens the pantry or the fridge. If he wants a drink- he slides the stools around and finds a cup that somebody has left on the counter and drinks out of it. Needless to say- this usually leaves a mess with it all. Just this morning he emptied out the box of Honey Bunches of Oats cereal and had 3 seperate piles on the counter (and a huge mess on the floor of the ones that had escaped) just to fish out the raisins from the box. If only he would just talk and say he wanted rasisins-- I have a 3lb bag sitting on the shelf above that is just waiting to be eaten!

*Mason is a "sneaky go-er." He is so quiet about most things that he does that you don't realize he is doing stuff until it is done. Like- unrolling the toilet paper off the roll, emptying the wipes container, one wipe at a time, exploring Braxton and Landen's junk drawers, unwrapping gum that he has fished out of Bryce's laptop bag, using the toilet plunger as a walking stick, rearranging the bathroom cabinet supplies and hauling extra shampoo, toothpaste, lotion--which is his FAVORITE all over the house. I know it sounds like we don't watch this kid, but we do! He can open child locks, open doors, climb on the stools to get to the kitchen counter and much much more. He is one smart cookie! I had him buckled up in his high chair the other day having a snack and there was something across the room that he wanted so he started throwing is body forwards and backwards to get his chair rocking and low and behold, he moved his whole high chair (that doesn't have wheels) across the room till he reached what he wanted. WHAT?! This kids is barely 18 months old! Maybe I have forgotten what kids do-- but holy heck! Then he just looks up at me with these big blue eyes and gives me the cutest smile with a look of innocence that says, "What-- I wanted ____ and I couldn't reach it." But of course, he doesn't say a word.

*Relief Society- this has been the 2nd hardest calling in my life. (The 1st time I was Primary President was the hardest--I think; for lots of different reasons.) There is always something to be done and I enjoy doing so much of it. I think that the hardest part is trying to fit in all of the things I need and want to get done into my already crazy life. The activities are probably my hardest part to deal with. As a good friend put it, "It is like you have to plan a big party for people who are too busy to come to it." I struggle with trying to figure out what activities would be best for the ladies in our ward and will they meet their needs. I am so grateful when people volunteer or if anyone ever wants to create a little activity of their own. With my life being so crazy busy it is hard to think that other people might be looking for things to do- but I know that they are out there cause I used to be in that spot. And I also know that even being so busy, I enjoy time out with the ladies every once in a while.

*Of course there is the usual cooking, cleaning, dishes, laundry, yard work, etc... that needs to get done. Rides to piano lessons, football practice, trips to the grocery store, school projects, last minute birthday presents help to fill in any empty cracks of time that might be wasted on relaxation. I have to say though- I love having laundry to fold at night cause I get to sit down and watch a little t.v. without feeling guilty about it. That only happens 2 nights a week but to watch a show and fold all of the laundry in the same hour- LOVE IT!

Speaking of which-- I need to get back to work. My energy is sapped from having the stomach flu yesterday and I needed to take a break so I justified getting on the computer to journal for a minute while Mason is taking a nap. It is "early out" day today for Abbey and Brax so they will be walking in the door any moment. Time for homework, football practice, dinner, FHE, baths, more laundry, dishes, etc...

I am not complaining-- just documenting the current state of life. It won't always be like this-- and in many ways that makes me sad. So for now-- I have a smile and a forever long "to-do" list that I am off to get "to-doing!" :)

An update on life....

Life is good! I can't really complain. It is even better that the house is quite, all of the kids are asleep and with the lights not on... I can't see all of the housework that it awaiting me! :)

I am totally worn out today. We have had a fun day of swimming at the PG pool for Strawberry Days and watching Braxton play baseball. It was our turn for treats and I made round sugar cookies and frosted them like baseballs. They were cute. I am proud of myself for only eating 2! (yes- that is good for me!) Mason was getting REALLY restless at the end of the game so I let him have one of the extra cookies. He was head to toe frosting! And so was the stroller. After a dinner of spaghetti tonight-- I wondered why I was doing this to myself. Not planning the best dinners as far as cleanliness.

Bryce is again missing out. He is currently in Texas and will be heading to LA tomorrow. He has had to travel quite a bit the past few weeks so we miss him. He works super long hours when he travels and comes home wiped out. I am glad that he is still loving his job and always has lots to tell me. I just try my best to keep it all straight so I can ask meaningful questions.

Baseball consumes our evenings. Braxton has games on Monday and Wednesday nights. Landen has games on Tuesday and Thursday nights. I love cheering my boys on! Some days are a bit more hectic to get there than others. Landen can't seem to focus enough to get his stuff ready (shoes on, mitt in his hand and buckled in the car). He finds lots of other things to do along the way. My agenda minded personality wants to blow a gasket every time. And sometimes it does. I am trying hard on that though. His random thumbs up, winks, hugs and raised eyebrows from across the counter during dinner at me make me laugh and melt. He should probably try winking at me a little more during his fits....

Abbey is loving gymnastics again this summer. It makes me want to consider her doing it year round. She is amazingly flexible and is cart wheeling all over the place!

More Mason just cut 3 teeth this past week! A top molar on each side and a bottom tooth next to his two little middle teeth. He hasn't been the happiest camper. Not bad, but not the happiest.

We survived our first week of summer. It was almost constant bickering, power struggles, life isn't fair complaints and so on from the kids. I was ready to go NUTS! It always takes about a week for them to figure out how to get along all day long. Today was much better so I hope that we are on the road to peace and friendship around here... or I am on the road to the looney bin!

I am still going running in the mornings. With Bryce being out of town it hasn't worked out for me to go every day but I am getting out at least 3 - 4 times per week. I am now up to 2 1/2 miles with still some good hills in that distance. I could probably go further but I still want to stick to my 30 minute workout time and I need enough energy to keep up with the kids all day. I am seeing some improvement on my stomach and I know that my legs are a bit more toned up. I am frustrated though because a lot of my stomach roll issue is skin and I don't know what I can do about that, except surgery to remove it. And that isn't happening any time soon... or ever in my penny-pinching future.

Oh- one more thing! We are going somewhere for our anniversary!!! This next week we will be celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary! Usually we celebrate by going somewhere for dinner (in mid-July). With Strawberry Days, Father's Day, Landen's birthday, etc... our anniversary always gets pushed aside. This year with Bryce being gone so much-- I needed some time and a good break! We get to go to away for the weekend and my sister, Karen, is taking the kids! WAHOO!! Bryce has asked me a few times what I want to do... and of all things that he can't believe I am saying... is SIT! I LOVE to go, go, go but I am tired, tired, tired! I just want to do NOTHING! I am sure that won't last super long but I can't wait for a completely relaxing weekend with my favorite person. Homestead... here we come! In a few weeks. :)

Braxton playing coach-pitch baseball

Braxton has now moved up to coach-pitch baseball. He is a great player and a real "go getter!" He seems to be loving it and his favorite part is wearing cleats. He wants to wear them all day, every day. He doesn't understand why I get upset when he wears them to run around on the wood floors in the house. Hmmm....

I wished that I would have gotten a better shot of his big hit! He has a great coach, Victor Johnson, who is helping to teach them a lot about the game and some strategy to it.

Braxton got to have a chance at being catcher today. He did pretty darn good.

He is dashing off to 1st base!


Of course Braxton has to slide into every base, especially home plate. I am just glad he wore a pair of ripped jeans for the game. It might be worth getting a pair of baseball pants for this kid or everything is going to be grass stained and torn to shreds.

Landen playing t-ball

Landen's 1st year playing t-ball! He seems to be having a great time! He is on a team with several of his friends and he has a fantastic coach who is SO patient with the kids!

Landen turned his hat sideways cause "he can't see to get the ball if it is on straight!" This is serious business!

Landen is in the middle of this hussle for the ball. Everyone wants to be the guy to get it! So much so that while Landen was a runner on 1st base he had a little misunderstanding of what he was supposed to be doing. He intently watched his teammate hit the ball and instead of running to 2nd base he ran after the ball, wrestled the other team's player to the ground and it took a grown man to peel him off of the kid and to peel the ball out of Landen's hand. He was SOOO excited that he got the ball!!! ...Then he had to run to 2nd base. I was on the ground rolling! (and was no help to the situation) Luckily in all if it-- nobody was hurt.

Landen- keeping his eye on the ball.

A big swing and he is off!

T-Ball at home

After a fun Saturday playing in the little kiddie pool with neighbor friends, Landen and Mason played a little bit of t-ball. Landen was so sweet to help Mason and the two of them were getting along fabulously!!!

Thanks to my great friend, Stephanie, for taking these fantastic shots! I took some pictures but they didn't turn out nearly as good as hers.

I love Landen's tongue sticking out in concentration! It was fun to see them laughing and having a great time together. I hope it will continue on later in life!