Simply the Stones

2011-06-25T05:39:00.000-07:00

Utah here we come! We are busy packing this weekend to take a nice family road trip out west. I am so excited to be there for the 4th of July, where people actually celebrate (ask me sometime what they do here..it will take me two seconds). We head out Monday and will be there for a few weeks. Yay, so excited to see family and friends!

Reverse Pyschology

2011-05-15T18:21:00.000-07:00

Clint again. I forgot to post my favorite picture of all time. Shout out to Golden for getting a photo (and it was his driveway). You're looking at a 2003 Chevy Malibu combined with Jody's reverse driving technique. She claims it was dark outside...

Spring Break

2011-05-15T18:05:00.000-07:00

Clint here. I thought I would give Jody a break for once since she usually does the bloggin' for the family. Here's a few pics from a quick trip to NYC for spring break. The kids wanted to ride a train, so we spent a night in Connecticut and rode the train into Grand Central. (I tried to tell the kids that commuting an hour each way on the Metro-North Railroad isn't very glamorous, but they didn't believe me). Jody let the boys buy these bright blue hats, which it made it easy to keep track of them...

Max, Maddy, and Chase posing for the camera...

The kids playing on the big piano keys at FAO Schwarz...

I have no idea who the dude in the scarf is or what he's so happy about, but that's a polar bear behind him. The bear would swim up to the glass, rub his (her?) back on the wall, and then push off and swim to the other side...

Me with the kids in Central Park Zoo. Jody says I have "beav hair". It's not the first time she's told me that, but I don't know what she means...

More of the kids at the zoo. This was at the smaller zoo a little further into Central Park...

Kids sitting on turtles at the zoo. Can't tell if Chase if happy or not...

Aubrey after a long day of walking around NYC. She held up pretty well. Hope you enjoyed my post, might be a while before Jody let's me back on here...

Goggles

2011-05-11T18:14:00.000-07:00

Our cute, little Aubrey bug always keeps us laughing. Her funny personality comes out more everyday. She thinks she's something else...and she is. We always look forward to her comedy shows. We never know when they will happen, but when it does, we stop whatever we're doing and feed into her self-absorbed, all eyes on me, I'm so adorable routine. She knows we can't get enough of our bug-eyed, bundle of sweetness, and she takes full advantage of it for sure...who wouldn't?

Holy Ears...get it?

2011-05-09T18:59:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I haven't blogged F-O-R-E-V-E-R, and I am a little rusty, that's why my pictures are in the wrong order. I guess you can guess the order they go in... lets make it a game.

My not-so-little-anymore Madison decided she wanted her ears pierced about a year ago when she turned eight. After I told her the process, she wasn't so sure about it, and put the begging to rest for a year. Well it's coming on her 9th birthday and she has been getting the itch again, so we decided to make it a date. She decided to talk her friend, Rylin, into getting it done also. We headed to Claire's the only place to pierce your ears in Ithaca, besides the tattoo place in the Common's (I'm kidding...well, kind of) and started to check out the wide variety of earrings. Let me tell ya, the selection has definitely changed from the silver studs they had when I got mine pierced around the same age. They actually had some really cute ones to choose from. Madison and Rylin both chose some little flowers with different colored jeweled petals. I don't think I got a good shot in the pictures. When we first got there, the girls were in heaven letting their little imaginations run wild of the many dress up possibilities that stood before them. It was so surreal to see my baby with her friend at the mall saying, "cool" and "awesome" about everything in sight. Rylin was the brave one to get her ears done first. She shot a mile out of the chair and had big tears well up in hers eyes, but never let one fall down her cheek. Madison was terrified to say the least and tried to hide her fear by giggling (she is too much like her mom, I remember doing the same thing when I got my ears pierced). As I stood watching her anticipate the pain, I had so many thoughts flash into my mind of being a helpless mother,wanting to take away her fear and protect her from any kind of hurt. I had flashes in the future (the distant future) about her giving birth and wanting to tell her the pain would be for a brief moment, but in the end it would be all worth it. I know, it's two totally different extremes, but the love of a mother is still the same no matter how small or big the situation might be. In the end, I saw my little girl in a different light, she is stronger than I give her credit for, and she handled it with grace and humor. She looked a whole lot older that day, and walked just a little taller, because she overcame her fear, and I was able to walk a little taller knowing that I was raising a confident, beautiful young lady.

Happy Birthday Babe!!!

2011-01-10T07:18:00.000-08:00

My handsome, studly, loving, amazing husband turns 32 today! Happy Birthday Babe! I love you!

(Our camera is broken, no new pictures for a while, boo hoo!)

OBX Thanksgiving 2010

2010-12-21T17:08:00.000-08:00

Once again, we went to Outer Banks, North Carolina for Thanksgiving and had such a great time. This is the view from our bedroom at our beach house.

I love that Chase is our little dare devil and will try anything. He got right out in the water and had a great time boogie boarding with his dad.

Max is a little more timid in the water, but still had a great time. I can't believe he went in without a wet suit. The weather was terrific this year, but still a little chilly in the water.

Doesn't she look like she was born to surf?

There were a lot of dolphins this year that came pretty close to the shore. Clint and some of our friends got pretty close to them in their kayaks.

Madison is our water girl. She is so comfortable in the water, and loved every minute of it.

I love this shot with Aubrey's little footprints.

We look forward to this trip all year round. It is such a nice way to spend the holiday when we can't be close to family. We are already starting the count down to next year.

Halloween 2010

2010-12-21T16:27:00.000-08:00

Better late than never...Chase couldn't decide whether he wanted to be a pirate or Mr. Incredible, so we did both.

This was at the ward trunk-or-treat. Mom & Mand, does Max's face bring back memories of a certain ghost?:) Don't ask me why he was so grumpy. Maddy's ears looks like an aerobic sweatband...lets just say we didn't plan costumes until a couple of days before Halloween.

I threw together this witch costume literally five minutes before we walked out the door. Clint decided not to dress up, therefore, no pictures of him...too bad!

I tried to get a picture of this little girl in our ward, cute, little Nora, with Aubrey. I think they look so much like each other. Maybe you can tell a little bit by the blurry picture. Wiggly girls...they just didn't want to hold still!

Aubrey Bug

2010-12-21T16:08:00.000-08:00

My Aubrey Bug is growing up. For some reason, the minute you can put pig tails in their hair, they no longer feel like your baby....and this was even taken a few months ago.

Montreal/ Part 3

2010-10-27T17:27:00.000-07:00

I didn't get tons of pictures of Montreal (my camera battery died), but it was such a great city. It had a very European feel, the main language is french, and the streets were full of quaint shops. We visited a Science Museum, it happened to be it's 50th anniversary, so we got in free...not too shabby.

Mike, Max, and Clint sitting on nails. Can you tell which one you could feel the most? Mike and Flavie, were gracious enough to let us stay with them while we were there. Yes, all six of us! (Flavie wasn't able to go to the Museum)

Pretty cool that the bubbles actually worked.

The End!

Day 2/Ottowa

2010-10-22T07:01:00.000-07:00

The next day was Ottowa. It was such a beautiful city. Clint and I couldn't believe how clean it was. As you can see, our little pea was so worn out. Just a side note, these pictures have been placed at random.

We went to an Agriculture Museum. They had so much for the kids to do. It kind of reminded me of a small scale, This is the Place Monument. It was quaint, fun, and smelly at times...of course amongst the animals. Above is Madison working on her leather bracelet.

Chase grinding some corn. Along with the corn grinding, they had a corn bread making demo.

Max helping make apple cider.

I love that Aubrey acts like she's a big girl in these pictures. She climbed right up, grabbed a crayon, and took her coloring very serious.

How great are these pictures!!! Clint and I were rolling, it still makes me laugh to see them. I seriously am thinking of blowing them up and hanging them on my wall. All of their faces crack me up.

All of my sweet bugs together.

One of the amazing views overlooking Ottowa. It really was so breathtaking. On a side note: I will forever think of Seinfeld when I hear the word, "breathtaking"...you know which episode I'm talking about? Here's a hint...shrinkage!

Ottowa's equivalent of the White House.

The whole drive was so amazing! We picked a great weekend to travel. All of the leaves were changing, the sun was out with blue skies, the air was crisp, and take a look at the sunset we drove through. It was as if we were going to be swallowed up in the fiery clouds.

I'm sure you can't wait until the last post of our trip...to be continued...

2010-10-18T16:38:00.000-07:00

Our family took a trip a couple of weeks ago to the Thousand Islands, Ottowa, and Montreal. I'm going to do each day of the trip a different post. Our first day was to the Thousand Islands just before the Canadian border. Yes, there are really over a thousand islands, pretty cool huh! It was crazy to see that people actually have their own island with their own house on it. We took a boat tour which dropped us off at a castle. It's a pretty romantic, yet tragic story. The man below in the picture loved his wife so much that he wanted to build a castle for her. It took four years and around 300 men to build it. Just before the fourth year when it would be done, his beloved wife passed away. How sad is that!?

This is her master bedroom. I absolutely love it! I think it's so charming and whimsical.

The grand staircase. Not the best shot of the family. Not a great shot, period. It kind of makes me dizzy looking at it...just a little lopsided and blurry.

The ceiling of the main foyer.

The castle, on it's own island.

Part of the castle, I can't remember what it was used for.

This is a bridge that crosses between the Canadian and American line.

This was Chase during most of the trip, throwing a tantrum. He's such a turd! He would grunt, put his hat over his eyes, and press his head against something.

Two of my loves....with no bums! It's amazing their pants stay on.

It was pretty windy on the boat. I have to laugh at this picture of me, I told Clint that I look plasticky, like a face lift gone bad.

Happy Birthday to Max!

2010-10-15T07:14:00.000-07:00

I love this picture!!! This is just a little bit of the craziness that happened during Max's 7th birthday party. My wonderful husband offered to throw the party this year, and I was more than happy to put the task into his hands. Little did I know he would invite 14 kids, make scary, bloody trick-or-treat bags, and tell scary stories to keep the kids entertained...and the result...the kids had a ball!

My Max is a funny, little guy and sometimes goes against tradition. He wanted cookies this year. I took snicker doodles to his class and he wanted a chocolate chip cookie pie for his party. Who doesn't like cookies?! Oh, and we didn't realize that we were out of candles. Luckily we found that little one tucked away in the cupboard.

The boys had a ball playing 500, while the girls played on the swing set.

I can't believe my little guy is already 7. Our Max is such a hoot. A couple of months ago this is what our conversation was:

Max: Hey mom, can I change my name?

Me: Yeah if you want to, but you have to be older. (Me thinking, where did this come from?)

Max: How old?

Clint: You have to be 18.

Me: What would you change your name to?

Max: (After a little pause) I think I'll change it to George.

Clint and I looked at him with a smirk on our face trying not to laugh.

Max: (Proceeded to say with all seriousness) I think I'll be George Akenemy Dooble!

By this time Clint and I busted up, wondering where in the world that came from.

He is so inquisitive and smart, and loves to read. He says the funniest things and keeps us on our toes. He loves to play any sport, loves to spend time with our family, and still gives me great hugs. Plus and added bonus is I get to share my birthday with him. Yes, I also turned 31 on Oct 5. (Here's an interesting fact: More babies are born around the first of Oct, because 9 months before is New Years...What a way to bring in the New Year, if you know what I mean...)

Apples

2010-10-02T07:38:00.000-07:00

I love the fall, especially in NY. Once again we had our playgroup at Grisamore Farms for apple picking.

Yes, those are over-sized moon boots on Aubrey. It was extra cute to see her scrawny bum & legs with those big, awkward boots.

Oliver and Chase with their matching froggy boots.

We ended up with bags full of apples, wet boots, wind blown hair, and a smile on our face.

(I know, cheesy!)

Back in the Saddle Again...

2010-09-30T08:24:00.000-07:00

So I keep going back and forth on whether I want to keep my blog or not. It has been like the pile of laundry I've been ignoring that keeps stacking up my bedroom wall. It's not like I can ignore it forever, eventually you've got to roll up your sleeves and do something about it. Plus, I'm getting tired of my family complaining about seeing Madison's baptism post. As much as they love her, they are hoping for something new and not getting it. Hhhm, there seems to be a pattern here. (I'm blaming my lack of motivation for everything in my life on the darn Ithaca weather! But in the same breath I love Ithaca this time of year, but that will be for a future post.) So after much pleading from my mom and the fact that we live so far away from family, I am recommitting myself to this thing. So here we go...

And why not start with showing off my new do. My darling, talented friend, Roo, cut my hair for me about a month ago. She did an amazing job, and I don't think my cheesy self-snapshot does it justice. She knows just how to do short hair...and that's a big thing! I was able to donate about 8-9" to Pantene. I always love cutting my hair. I've never been one of those people that gets attached to my hair, and I think it's fun to switch it up a bit.

On a side note...after I had cut my hair, a couple of my friends and I got into a discussion about, if you think you get treated different with short or long hair. What do you think? Do you feel like you get treated differently?

Madison's Baptism

2010-08-03T12:14:00.000-07:00

Our little, Miss Maddy was baptized a couple of week ago on the banks of the Susquehanna River, where the Priesthood was restored. A lot of family and friends came to celebrate her special day. She was even baptized with her cousin, Timothy, whose family drove across the country for the occasion. It was a beautiful day that we will always remember. Madison said it felt like a light bulb had burst inside her tummy the minute she came out of the water. She is such a special girl and so close to the spirit. Her testimony of the Savior is growing everyday. I am so proud of her.

On a side note...I am finding it so hard to blog lately. I don't know if it's the summer and we are so busy, or the fact that I'm just feeling blah about it. I still love to blog stalk people and read all of your blogs...so even though I'm being a slacker...keep posting. Hopefully I'll get out of my funk soon enough!

Oh, and if my cute family and friends feel bad I don't have pictures of you posted, please know that I love you and am grateful you were there. I am just being lazy and didn't want to do a long post.

Summer

2010-06-28T10:39:00.000-07:00

I signed the kids up for swim lessons again against their will, in hopes that this time they would catch on to the wonderful world of swimming. I have to confess...I am not the best swimmer (ok I can actually just dog paddle and pray that I will make it to shore), quite frankly, I am quite terrified of water...well at least the ocean. I always feel like it will swallow me up any second into it's big, deep, blue waters and you will never hear of Jody Stone ever again. But this is the very reason why I am determined to make my kids great swimmers, so they won't go through life like me, scared to death of water. Isn't that what parenthood is for...to make your children just a little better than you, to give them opportunities to be the best they can be?

Sure enough, they made their dear mother proud. It was so fun to see them this go around become more confident and relaxed in the water, even if I had to take them at times kicking and screaming to lessons. Who knew by the end of this session that they would actually be asking for more? I guess it's time for me to conquer my fear of water and take "the plunge".

Yes, that is a black eye on Chase. He got whipped in the eye by our neighbor with a jump rope. It was one of those times when the mama bear came out in me and I wanted to protect my cub... it took all that I had to not lash out at the boy for not being more careful. The neighbor is ten, so I feel like he was old enough to know better than to whip around a jump rope in in front of my four year old son's face. Then again, am I a careless mom to let my four year old son use a butter knife that is three inches from his face to scoop out his jam ? The kids have had a ball picking the raspberries around our house to make their homemade jam.

Aub's finally started walking and is cruising around everywhere, like typical "Stone-kid" fashion she chose not to walk until 14 months old. It still always amuses me to see their cute, squatty bodies wabbling around...it is too cute!

She has a little bit of curl in the back of her hair also. I'm sure the humidity here really helps it bounce up.

She is also a little talker now, "Mom, Dad, boo, Aub's, and baby" are her favorites. I love to hear her little babbling as she walks around as if she has so much to say. She is growing too quickly...where does the time go?

Lately...

2010-05-31T18:01:00.000-07:00

We've had a lot going on the last couple of weeks. Here just a little bit of what we've been doing...

My beautiful, baby (not so baby anymore) girl turned 8 last week. She is so funny, creative, sensitive, smart, and full of personality. I love that she is so girly, yet can play with the boys. She is always making something like cards, jewelry, purses, and she even designed her cake. She amazes me everyday and makes me wonder what I did to deserve a daughter like her. She has such a wise soul about her. Miss Maddy, the world is at your fingertips! We love our Maddy bug!

Father & Son's camp out...need I say more?! Obviously they had a ball.

This weekend we decided to go to Cedar Pointe (An amusement park in Ohio). It was such a great park. Tons of crazy rides and very family friendly. I had to laugh at the picture above. Chase was the only one in line for this ride, and to top it off, the guy working "Frog Hopper" didn't even know how to work it, so Chase just bounced about a foot off the ground. Chase looks pretty amused, doesn't he?

We decided to give "Frog Hopper" a go again, this time with Max. As you can see it was a little more successful.

This is the only shot I have with the three of them. Not the best picture, but at least we had a good time making lots of fun family memories!

Chase's 4th Birthday

2010-05-18T17:04:00.000-07:00

My cute, little Chase bug turned four last week and what a difference a year makes. He still has chocolate on his face, and his sweet smile, but my little guy doesn't look so little anymore. Can you believe the bottom picture was taken only a year ago?

Madison wanted to make him a present. She is my creative girl and can whip a craft out in a minute. So sweet!

Lucky for me he wanted a worm cake...pretty easy! We love our little guy. He is so funny and always cracks us up. He's so independent and loves to be outside. He says and does things so nonchalant...just like an old man that has been around for years. I love that he still snuggles in and wraps his scrawny, little arms around me, puts his nose to my nose and says, "Mmmooommm!" We are so grateful he is part of our family.

Bermuda

2010-05-16T16:25:00.000-07:00

Clint had a conference that he was participating in that just happened to be in Bermuda..not too shabby huh! So of course I jumped at the chance to tag along. He was in meetings most of the day, so I made my way to the beach to nap, read, nap again, and enjoy my days in the sun. We were still able to spend time together at night and go for morning jogs along the beach trails. It was absolutely beautiful. The water was crystal clear and the sand was white, almost as white as us. I think we were the whitest people on the beach.

The hotel we stayed at even had it's own private beach. As I was snapping a shot at our beach, I accidentally happened to get a shot of some sexy, man wading in the water...oh wait, that's my husband...lucky me! Bay Watch here we come...he just needs to be running in slow motion.

Here's the famous lighthouse on the island. We were able to walk up and look out around the top. My fear of heights made me weak in the knees and I barely made it down the hundred flights of steps down.

The tropical flowers were amazing. This is just one of them that I loved. Oh, and we got to see the most beautiful bright tropical fish. It's pretty neat seeing them in their own environment.

Here's our lizard friend that happened to cross our path.

Overall the trip was awesome!!! A HUGE thanks to my mom and grandma that came out to watch our little skids. I only wish I would have gotten pictures of them. My kids were in heaven not only having one, but two grandma's to spoil them. Seriously they are the BEST and I LOVE them dearly. XOXOXO to you both!

Frog Day

2010-04-20T18:12:00.000-07:00

Don't ask me why the "s" is almost off the page....

It was Frog Day at Chase's Pre-K the other day, so we made these cupcakes and "Froggy Treats" (I thought with a little imagination I could turn a box of raisins into some flies.) Thanks to the Internet I got the idea for the cupcakes. How cute is my little guy?!

Better Late Than Never

2010-04-19T17:16:00.000-07:00

So what that it's spring and there is snow in my pictures?! I couldn't pass up the chance to post about Madison and Max's first snowboarding experience. My most amazing, wonderful husband, and best father EVER, took the kids one Saturday to hit the slopes (ok more like a hill, compared to the beautiful mountains of Utah). They had a ball! I think we've started a fun family tradition...hopefully, next time mom can tag along also.

Piano Player

2010-04-12T18:07:00.000-07:00

Our little bug loves to wheel herself over and play the piano. It's so cute to see her little, puffy hands pounding on the keys. Also, so weird to see how big Madison is getting. I remember when she was Aubrey's size like it was yesterday. She turns eight next month...I'm too young to have a girl that's going to be baptized!

Happy Birthday Sweet Pea!!!

2010-04-09T17:38:00.000-07:00

Wow, has it really been a year?! Our little Aubrey Ann is one today. She is still as sweet as ever and has been such a blessing to our family.

So as I was decorating the cake I couldn't find my piping tips for the life of me, so I grabbed a baggie and made do. Not too shabby, if I say so myself! Now for my favorite part...

She literally licked the plate clean.

My precious, little girl you have brought us so much happiness.

WE LOVE YOU PEA!

It's beginning to look a lot like...

2010-02-25T17:10:00.000-08:00

It looks like Christmas. It smells like Christmas. It tastes like Christmas.

It was a snow day today, so no school. These pictures were actually taken a couple of days ago, but it is pretty much the same, except you need to add another foot of snow. The kids and I decided to make gingerbread cookies, because it just felt a little too much like Christmas. We stayed in our jammies, decorated, and ate to our hearts content.

Chase has been on a kick lately where he wants to wear his clothes on backward, even his pants.

My Little Valentine's

2010-02-16T16:55:00.000-08:00

Three Different Valentine Parties

Two Different Schools

One Ten Month in Tow

I love how Madison is reading her Valentine with so much thought.

This cute, little girl is, Flavia (she's from Spain), and the love of my little Max's life right now. I tried to sneak a picture of her and she caught me in the act. Max came home one day all serious talking about his little girlfriend. He had such a serious look on his face and said in such a serious voice, 'Mom, I still remember the first time I saw Flavia. She walked into the classroom and I turned to Stephen and Yuzo (his two sidekicks) and said, "Who is that girl?" He was so disappointed when she said she wouldn't marry him. But for now they are two peas in a pod, when I walked in the classroom they were opening up Valentine's together...oh, young love!

Max is such a character...just look at that look on his face!

Chase couldn't wait for his party. He's growing up so fast.

So fun to share the day of love with the ones I love the most.

On the Go!

2010-02-02T17:48:00.000-08:00

Look who decided to start climbing the stairs today...she is such a stinker. Chase asked me to go upstairs and get a game out of the closet for him, so I was literally up there for five seconds and came down to see our little pea halfway up the stairs. I about freaked out...she was all smiles with a look on her face of shear pride. Luckily, I was there to catch her as she went to sit down in mid-air.

Chase was the protective brother and basically sat on her to keep her from falling.

It's so sweet to see them together; already such good friends. Aubrey will crawl up to him making kissing noises and Chase will always say to me, "Mom, I love Aubrey!" I wouldn't trade seeing moments like this for anything...the joys of being a mom!

Nothin' Like Fresh Flowers

2010-01-25T17:37:00.000-08:00

I love to have fresh flowers in my house. It brings such a different feel to the room. If only I could have them always. I got these beauts the other day. Thank you Wegmans!

Nine Months...

2010-01-17T06:42:00.000-08:00

Our bug is still petite, crawling, into everything, first tooth, still snuggly, not loving baby food, and still has the sweetest disposition. We love you pea!

Happy Birthday Breyn!!!

2010-01-14T17:21:00.000-08:00

( Wow this picture makes us look pasty! The random lady taking the picture must have had the flash on.)

My amazing, beautiful, sweet friend turned 30 today. Can I tell you how much I love this girl!
Our husbands worked together at Goldman Sachs in SLC, but we didn't have the chance to meet until coming to Cornell. We cliqued instantly, and it felt like we'd known each other for years. She now lives in WI, and I only get to see her once a year over Christmas break when we are both back in UT. She's my kindred spirit and I cherish every minute I get to spend with her. If only we lived closer! She's absolutely beautiful in every way! Breyn- I hope you had a wonderful birthday today! I love and miss you tons!!!

Happy Birthday Babe!

2010-01-11T12:35:00.000-08:00

It was Clint's birthday yesterday, the big 3-1! He started out with a wake-up call at 6:45 am with a menu for breakfast in bed from, "The Best Chef's Buffet". The kids made him an awesome breakfast of Fruit Loops, toast, and milk. That night we had a rockin' party consisting of Candyland and chocolate cake, where the kids marched around singing, "Dad is great! He makes us chocolate cake!". Uuuhmm...I think I need a little credit for the cake. Then we opened up gifts. The kids decided to find a couple of their "gently used" toys as gifts. I thought Max's was clever...four pennies. "Four pennies", you ask? Well three because he's thirty and the fourth one, because he's thirty-one. Can I just say it was the best party EVER...

Maybe next year we can shoot for Connect Four and a white cake? Just maybe...

Confession...

2010-01-08T14:18:00.000-08:00

Ok, I admit it...I have NOT been to the dentist in FOUR years!!!! Until now! I know, it sounds so gross, but anybody that knows me, KNOWS that I practice good hygiene and brush and floss twice a day. So you are probably wondering why I haven't been to the dentist in four years? First of all, I have put myself on the back burner, plus, I didn't have insurance for me while Clint was in school, and oh, did I forget to mention that when I was a kid I seriously had the worst dentist experiences, thus, I have been traumatized and haven't liked going to the dentist. (Disclaimer: I have been a good mom and make sure my kids get in for their twice a year appointments.)
I have to say that my experience this time was quite pleasant. NO CAVITIES..I told you I take care of my teeth!!! So I had to show off my pearly whites (and my pearly toilet???). I even found out that I have extra crazy bones growing on my lower jaw line (you know under your tongue). It sounds weird, I know..but the hygienist said it's somewhat rare, but normal. I would only have a problem if I had to have dentures...let's hope that's never an issue! I can now take myself off the, "I hate going to the dentist!" list. Oh, and can I just say that I have never had my teeth cleaned so well in my life! The hygienist did a great job, for the rest of the day I kept running my tongue across my teeth. Sorry, is this too much information.....

Imagination...

2009-12-07T19:50:00.000-08:00

"Oatmeal Man Puppet", came to life the other morning during breakfast. This little guy entertained Chase for a couple of hours. It always amazes me to see life's little wonders through a child's eyes.

Sitting up. Not quite crawling...not even close. And a whole lotta teething.

OBX Thanksgiving

2009-11-30T17:20:00.001-08:00

I had to start with a picture of our pea. She is getting so big and is such a love bug. I can't get enough of her.

This year we spent a week at Outer Banks, NC for Thanksgiving with friends. We rented a beach house with a handful of other families and spent our days on the beach. We were also able to check out a couple of the historic lighthouses in the area. The one below is the Currituck. Here are some facts...

Number of steps: 214, Height to focal plane of lens: 158 feet, Height to top of roof: 162 feet, Number of bricks: approximately one million, Thickness of wall at base: 5 feet 8 inches, Thickness of wall at parapet: 3 feet

Of course the boys couldn't get through Thanksgiving day without a turkey bowl. Even the little ones wanted in on the action.

Clint and I had a chance to get to the beach by ourselves...it's not what you're thinking! We took a two man kayak out for a spin and only tipped twice. It was such a rush...although I have to admit I now know why they have the term, "You swear like a sailor!" I know...I couldn't help it!

This lighthouse is Bodie (pronounced "body") Island Lighthouse. Here are some facts...

The current Bodie Island Lighthouse is the third that has stood in this vicinity of Bodie Island on the Outer Banks in North Carolina and was built in 1872. It stands 156 feet tall.

Here is a shot of the 10-bedroom beach house. We packed in 7 families (14 adults and 24 kids!!)

Madison LOVED the water. She was a natural on the boogie board and even took a spin in the kayak with Clint.

Clint doing a little skim boarding.

We had such an amazing time and the week went by way too fast. We are looking forward to next year!

Just a Little Bit Martha...

2009-11-15T16:24:00.000-08:00

Here's a big SORRY to my handful of followers out there (mom), for the long gap in blogging. It's been one of those times when I feel like my life has been crazy, but if you were to ask me what I've been doing, I'd have to reply, "I really don't know..."

So this past Saturday I got to step out of mommy world into Martha world for a bit and let my creative energy flow. A wonderful woman from my church took time to teach us how to combine a little bit of pine, a long stretch of wire, and a WHOLE LOTTA LOVE and you get this big beauty! She made it look so easy and it was. I have been debating on whether to add a bow or not...what do you think?

Deer in the Headlights...

2009-10-28T18:46:00.000-07:00

I love that our lil pea always looks like a deer in the headlights whenever I take her picture. I can't believe how fast she is growing. She's coming up on 7months. FINALLY one of our kids has my baby blues!

On your mark, get set, GO!

2009-10-28T16:16:00.000-07:00

Much to my surprise, my lovely husband decided to sign us up to run a 5K together. At first I was excited, considering I have been talking to him the last couple of months about starting some hobbies together (such as running). Then reality hit...I hadn't exercised for about a month and lets just say I didn't eat the healthiest while we were on vacation. So I thought no big deal, it can't be that bad, only three miles, plus it was for a good cause (cancer research). So on a typical chilly morning here in the east, we strapped on our running shoes and gave it a go...

NO I am not really this white, I am pretty pasty...but not this WHITE!!! The chickadee taking the picture had the flash on.

Here we are after the race.

We gave it our best and finished in 27 min. (Not too fast, but not too slow!)

and the First Place Ribbon goes to.....

My Super-Duper Husband!

No he didn't finish first, but he gets a Gold Star in my book for running with me the whole way(even though he could have left me in the dust), and letting me cross the finish line before him, because he always puts me first. Here's to many more races to come....

Mr Incredible

2009-10-27T12:48:00.000-07:00

Look who I found having breakfast at my house...

He got caught red-handed with his hand in the cereal. Aren't super hero's supposed to be good guys?

Wedding...

2009-10-12T18:25:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of the family while we were at my bro-in-laws wedding.

Aubrey's thumb is ALWAYS in her mouth...cute now, not so cute when she gets older.

Chase was being a stink and didn't want to be in the pictures.

Finally, I got him to sit still...

How handsome is my Clint-ly...lets just say it melts my heart to see him with our girls!

Loved these pictures...so typical of Madison to pose for the pictures and the boys were obviously distracted. Love weddings!

New do...

2009-10-11T17:11:00.000-07:00

I pretty much gave up on blogging for a while. We have been out of town and I wanted to focus all my time on family and friends, but I just had to show you how cute Maddy's hair turned out. My sweet, little girl has been growing her hair for over a year in hopes of donating it, so while we were gone she finally got her wish. I loved her hair long, but I think this is perfect! She looks older, don't you think...

Just Chillin'

2009-09-13T18:41:00.000-07:00

I can't get enough of seeing Aubrey sit in her Bumbo. Her little, squatty body is too much...

Play Hard/Sleep Hard

2009-09-13T18:36:00.000-07:00

Oh the days when you could sleep anywhere and not wake up stiff as a board. Love this little guy!

Back to School

2009-09-10T17:29:00.000-07:00

Just yesterday, Madison started second grade and Max first. They were so excited to go back. They picked out their own clothes, and woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed. Although, I still think Max looks quite sleepy in this picture and kind of resembles the monkey on his shirt. I was definitely one of those proud mothers, waving wildly, with my camera in hand as the bus pulled away...but don't think you'll catch me sporting, "I am a Proud Parent of a Student at *** Elementary!" bumper sticker on my car (Not that there's anything wrong with that!). I'm sure every mom feels the same when they send their kids off to school... pride, excitement, anxiety, sadness, and all the while have a little prayer in your heart that they know how much they're loved, and that they'll always be protected and watched over. It's always hard to let them go, no matter how old they are.

On a lighter note...I remember being in second grade...

*I was in Mrs. Hunsaker's class.
*I mispelled Hawaii on a spelling test.
*Had a crush on one of the Brians (We'll just leave that one a mystery!).
*I got bit by a girl...yes, I said BIT by a girl!
*Loved playing heads-up seven-up in class.
*Was scared to death to use the restroom in case "bloody Mary" was in there.

Aaahhh, the good ol' days! If only my kids can look back on their years of school with a smile on their face and hopefully the good memories will outweigh the bad!

Look what I found...

2009-09-09T05:39:00.000-07:00

So I've been searching forever for a hat, found this one, and LOVE it!!!

First bite...

2009-09-03T19:46:00.000-07:00

Got the bib...

Got the bowl...

Got the spoon...

Got the rice...

Got the bite...

Got the thumb...

Soooo not the best pictures, I was juggling the spoon and the camera...but ya gotta love all the firsts of babies! She was a good eater and actually didn't pull too many faces, but just preferred the thumb.

Sleepover

2009-09-03T19:35:00.000-07:00

With summer coming to an end, the kids decided to have a "sleepover" until school starts. So they made a nest of blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals and have been swapping back and forth from Madison's room to the boys room. Don't you love the smirk on Maddy's face, Max's snoring, and Chase is just along for the ride.

Little Miss Maddy...

2009-08-31T09:13:00.001-07:00

Little Miss Maddy...you have your dad's eyes, but you are oh so much like your mom! You remind me of myself everyday...the good and the bad. You're a crafty little thing and are always making something new. You are so very precious!

So Madison, Max, and I went school shopping and had such a fun little outing. We were trying to find everything on their very long list of supplies and one of the items was a binder for Madison. As far as my eyes could see I was surrounded by tacky, cheesy binders, so not to offend any of you Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus lovers out there, but your folder just wasn't cuttin' it! So Madison and I put our crafty minds together and came up with this...

Blueberry Picking

2009-08-27T17:07:00.000-07:00

Oh the joy of picking your own blueberries! We headed to Grisamore Farm to help ourselves to as many blueberries as we could pick for playgroup today.

I strapped Aubrey in and we were ready to go. I had hopes of getting two buckets full, but....

this was Aubrey about five minutes into the picking! So I settled for one.

Maddy, Max, and Chase

Our tired little crew needed a break. Goldfish, blueberries, and water...yum!

After, we headed up to the actual farm to see the animals. The kids thought it was quite funny to see a goat on a picnic table. We got a few giggles out of them.

We love Grisamore's and can't wait to come back in a few weeks for apple picking. The best is in October when they have it decorated so cute for the fall harvest. They have a children's maze, pumpkin picking, and lets not forget to mention the apple cider. Hooray for Grisamore Farm!

Night Out...

2009-08-20T18:01:00.000-07:00

It was so nice to go out to dinner with Clint last night. We love to try new restaurants. This was only my second time eating at The Heights and let me tell ya, it never disappoints. We topped our dinner off with their chocolate souffle...it is to die for! I savored every little bite and practically licked the cup clean. Just a little taste of heaven...
(Thanks again Melissa for watching my kids!)

Second Day at the Falls

2009-08-17T19:01:00.000-07:00

Am I just an idiot...I couldn't get the post to go in order. Oh well, I did give the disclaimer at the beginning of my blog that I'm not computer savvy. I need someone to show me all the tricks...any offers?

As you can see, the kids were ready to go for a new day of adventure.

No, I'm not breast feeding!!!

Here's the boat we took to the inner falls.

Can I just say that I was soooo thankful to get on the boat. It was incredibly hot and humid the two days we were there. I call it, "The too hot for sexy!" look. Both Aubrey and I were melted together.

Who knows where Chase was...he was probably off steering the boat!

So it was the coolest thing...they literally take you right up into the middle of the horse shoe. Talk about breathtaking! You've got to experience it if you're ever there. It's well worth the money.

It felt like you were in a hurricane when we got to the bottom of the falls. We were drenched and loving it!!! Aubrey even handled it like a champ...she just had a look on her face like, "What the...?"

Overall we had an amazing time. After the falls, we ended up heading to a little town called Niagara on the Lake (Which was "whimsical" like I always say.). They had a peach festival going on and we got some yummy treats. Luckily, on our way home I was able to pass the border without a passport (which is now required as of June). I was worried I'd be detained and Clint would have to raise our skids all on his own. Goodbye Canada, Hello USA...

First Day at the Falls

2009-08-17T17:50:00.001-07:00

For those who have or haven't been to Niagara you definitely have to go on the Canadian side to really appreciate this amazing Divine creation. It kind of makes you weak in the knees to see it.

Clint and the skids.

Me and my Maximus.

Thought I'd capture a picture of the rainbow. It was extremely hot and muggy, so there was a really thick mist around the falls.

After walking around sweating to death, we decided to head into Macaroni Grill for dinner (Can I just say, "YUM!?")

Then quickly after dinner the guys had to head out for their boys night. One of Clint's business associates gave him tickets to the Buffalo Bills game. Clint was kind of sad because T.O. was a no show (he hurt his toe), but they still had really great seats and had a good time. The Bills even won, "Wahoo!" So us girls decided to go back to the hotel to swim, paint fingernails, and watch a little of the Cake Boss (Thanks TLC!). Sorry, no pictures...I thought it would be cuter for the boys to capture some shots.

Watch out Canada, here we come...

2009-08-17T12:44:00.001-07:00

We had some friends come to visit and last minute decided to see Niagara Falls with them. It's about a three hour drive from where we live. So we loaded 'em up and headed out! Watch out Canada, here we come.... (I can't believe we almost fill up a mini-van!)

On our way there we stopped to see one of the State parks that was on our route. Here's a picture of Taughannock Falls overlook. You can actually hike and see the falls a little closer up. Our family has done it a couple of times.

While we were at the overlook Aubrey became an attraction herself. This has now happened twice while I've been out with her, some tourists will stop and want pictures with her (The last one was a cute, little Asian couple that couldn't get enough of her.). This same guy was quite friendly and was nice enough to take pictures of the family with our camera. He actually gave me his card and I found out he was a photographer.

One of the shots he took of Madison.

Here's a shot with our friends, Ryan and LeAnn.

Aaaarrrgghhh Matey.....

2009-08-13T19:11:00.000-07:00

(Chase, Madison, Halle, Owen, Max, and Tyler)

Here's one last adventure with the Adamson crew before they moved. Our kids have grown up together the past three years. They play so well together. We miss you already!

Our Little Sweet Pea is 4 Months!

2009-08-13T18:27:00.000-07:00

Our little Aubrey is 4 months now and is still just as sweet as can be. I seriously feel like this go -around has been so easy, I just keep holding my breath hoping that it never changes. She was born at 6lbs. 13oz and 18" long. At her 4 month checkup she was only 13lbs. 3oz and 24 1/2" long and is still our little bug. I am just glad that she is so "squishy" as the kids say. She is cooing and laughing and has a darling, gummy smile (although she's a stinker and never smiles for the camera). I adore our little pea and feel so blessed she's mine!

Happy Anniversary My Love!!!!!!

2009-08-10T12:05:00.000-07:00

Gift: Framed Portrait of the Salt Lake Temple

Our journey together started in love,

Finding each other, a gift from above.

Walking hand in hand to the temple doors,

My heart filled with pride, knowing I'd be yours.

Kneeling at the alter, our eyes met in tears,

Holding hands so tight, washed away any fears.

Together we promised to live faithfully,

So we could be joined for eternity.

Our Father in Heaven knew I'd need you,
Helping each other, together this life through.

Each year keeps on passing, going so fast,

We keep building a love that will always last.

A blessing in this life is what you are to me,

My eternal companion, you will always be!

Day Ten...

2009-08-09T12:51:00.001-07:00

Gift: Puzzle

We're just like a puzzle, we fit together so tight,

Two pieces put together, it feels so right.

We had a great connection right from the start,

We saw each other everyday, it so hard to part.

Eight years later our puzzle has grown,

Four more pieces we get to call our own.

Still when you travel, I can't sleep at night,

Your side of the bed empty, never feels right.

Just like a puzzle, our trials can sometimes seem hard,

But we always work together till life deals another card.

Our pieces put together, are placed one by one,

Building a lifetime of love, never to be undone!

Day Nine...

2009-08-08T07:45:00.001-07:00

(Clint videotaping at Chase's birth.)

Gift: A Bookend with a globe on it.

Just like this bookend, you give me support in all that I do,

You're always cheering me on, encouraging me to try something new.

You were there on the sidelines while I was giving birth,

Capturing those special moments, as our children came to earth.

You treat me like an equal partner, you never make me feel small,

You listen to everything I have to say, letting me hold my head tall.

A world of endless possibilities, is what I feel with you,

Walking this life hand in hand, in everything we do.

I couldn't have asked for a better man; the best husband on earth,

Even with all my insecurities, you help me realize my self-worth.

So put this bookend in your office, as a constant reminder to you,

That you mean the world to me, I appreciate all that you do!

Day Eight...

2009-08-07T17:47:00.000-07:00

[At Madison and Bethan's joint birthday party, these lovely flowers stood fearless while a bunch of five year old girls threw water balloons at them (Alex, Dave, Clint)].

Gift: Bag of Laffy Taffy

I love your sense of humor, you can always make me smile,
We get laughing so hard sometimes, it feels like I've run a mile.

You're always up for a good time, you never bear any shame,
Even when you dress up like a flower for a little girls water game.

Our kids think you're hilarious, a comedian they think you are,
But if you get around to asking me, I'm the funnier one by far! :)

Being with you is lots of fun, even if it's just sitting to talk,

I love when we take the kids for a bike ride and we go on a walk.

Your funny little sayings, like "Wackity-shmackity-do!"
This little inside joke, is only humorous to me and you.

You have such an excitement for things in life, you're a little kid at heart,
I'm so thankful to share this journey with you, it's been fun from the start!

Day Seven...

2009-08-06T12:25:00.000-07:00

Gift: Cornell Shirt

I have given you my adoration for your very big heart,
But lets not forget to mention, you are incredibly smart.
I had no idea during our college dating days,
You were humble and modest, never wanting any praise.

You treasure up knowledge; learning is what you desire,

Whatever you put you mind too, is what you'll aspire.

You worked so hard to earn your Master's Degree,

We were there at your graduation, shouting with glee.

Now you go to work; you have little mouths to feed,

You sacrifice so much for whatever we might need.

Your accomplishments are many, I am so filled with pride,

I knew I'd never have to worry when you made me your bride!

Day Six...

2009-08-05T10:14:00.000-07:00

[Clint's mom, Madison, Kathleen, Timothy, Max, and Clint]

(Clint taking the kids to a museum, so I could go out to lunch with my girlfriends.)

Gift: Plate of Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies (Yum, Yum!!!)

You're always lifting up others, and so willing to serve,

That's why I made these cookies; it's what you deserve.

A life full of service, it comes so natural to you,

You're always willing to help, it's just what you do.

You are quick to forgive, giving people a second try,
When you see someone who's in need, you never pass them by.

Looking for good in others, you have such a big heart,

A good example to me, to remind me to do my part.

But the very best service happens within these family walls,

You're always picking up stuffed animals and many toy balls.

You are always so thoughtful asking whatever I may need,

Willing to take all the kids, even if it's just so I can read.

These cookies like you are always so very sweet,

Accept my thanks to you, and enjoy your little treat!

Day Five...

2009-08-04T11:06:00.001-07:00

Gift: Romantic Surprise

You still love to court me and make me feel great,

You know how to romance, and plan a special date.

Phantom of the Opera and dinner for two,

That night was so perfect, spending it with you.

I loved being with you in big ol' New York City,

Anytime I'm with you, I feel so special and pretty .

You never make me feel like a worn out mother of four,

You make me feel like a queen and always so much more.

How lucky I must be to have a husband like you,

To keep our love burning bright, everyday brings something new.

You're thoughtful and romantic, in so many ways,

I can't wait to celebrate our love in six more days.

Day Four...

2009-08-03T19:15:00.000-07:00

Gift: Sheet Music

You have a love for music, you can play any tune,

You love to play the piano morning, night, and noon.

Back when we were dating, in that Southern Utah city,

Listening to you play, made me like you and feel giddy.

Your fingers touch the keys and make such a pretty sound,

Whenever we hear you play, we gather all around.

Your music fills our home with comfort, peace, and love,

This talent started long ago, a gift from up above.

You love to play the piano any chance you can,

Move over Billy Joel; Clint's my "Piano Man!"

Day Three...

2009-08-02T15:08:00.000-07:00

[My handsome man is second from the right (my two handsome men). This is the LDS Cornell Intramural Softball Team: The Champions!]

Gift: Container of Racquetballs

What can I say about my athletic guy,

There isn't a sport you're unwilling to try.

From soccer to basketball and everything in between,

You're a competitive one, but never mean.

You take care of yourself with your active lifestyle,

It shows in everything you do, you go the extra mile.

We are an active family, always playing for fun,

You're even a good sport when you score none. :)

Your bulging muscles pop through your sweater,

You're too hot to handle, what could be better!

I love that as a couple we are athletic and sporty,

Let's hope it pays off, and we live to be two-hundred and forty!

Day Two...

2009-08-01T07:06:00.000-07:00

Gift: Framed picture of our kids

A wonderful father, I knew you would be from the start,

Watching you with our kids has captured my heart.

From wrestling, to reading, and outdoor activities,
You always have our kids saying, "Play more, please!".

You sacrifice so much, for our little kids of four,

They run and they jump, when you walk in the door.

How lucky they are to have a father like you,

They know they will be supported in all that they do.

I couldn't have asked for a better partner in crime,

I am so grateful to raise our kids with you over time.

The very best dad, that's what you are,

The best in the world, the best by far!

Countdown...

2009-08-01T04:37:00.000-07:00

Because you mean so much to me,

I've made a countdown to our Anniversary.

Every day you will receive a little treat,

I'm hoping you will think it's kind of neat.

These little gifts represent why I love you,

And show my appreciation for all that you do.

Here's the first day, it is number one,

Eleven more days are yet to come...

Gift: Bag of Peanut Butter M&M's

These M&M's were there the first day we met,

You popped them in my mouth over a bet.

An instant connection is what we found,

Eight years later and I'm still around.

My very best friend is what I found in you,

You make me feel special, in all that you do.

These past years together have been an adventure, so fun,

Let's keep it exciting, I'm in it for the long run!

So sad...

2009-07-31T14:01:00.001-07:00

(Abby, Me, and Melanie)

My dear friend Melanie moved today. I am going to miss her so much! Her family moved here the same time we did and we became instant friends. She moved here while her husband was going to law school. She had two kids and one one the way at the time, and now we both have a family of six. Our kids have grown up together and get along so well. More than anything I am going to miss our girl's nights (the above picture was on one of our overnighter's). Luckily, her husband got a job in NYC and will move back east at the beginning of next year (they'll be living with family until he starts his job). So hopefully it's not "goodbye", just "see you later"! Miss you too, Abby!

The Big 3-0...

2009-07-29T18:19:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I know I am jumping the gun...I don't really turn 30 for a couple of more months, but I am already gearing up for the big day. I love a party! Some people dread leaving behind their 20's, but I feel like I've been so blessed within these past years, that I can't wait to see what the 30's bring. I feel like I am so much more comfortable in my skin, that the possibilities are endless, and I want to be the best 30 that I can be!

So that's where YOU come in...

I am letting you hold me accountable. By my birthday, I want to be in great shape(lose the last of my baby weight), be more emotionally balanced, more spiritually connected, and all around awesome! So by letting you all in on the game plan, you can kick me in the pants if I am doing anything counterproductive to my goal. Look out 30, here I come....

Hooray for the YMCA....

2009-07-27T08:12:00.000-07:00

The kids are off to summer camp at the YMCA this week. It's Mon-Fri from 8am-5:30pm, so yes, I will have the week to myself (and of course little Aubrey). I am so excited that I've written a list of things to do (yes mom, I am a "list" person) just so I don't end up wasting my time (I tend to get side-tracked easily). I started by putting down things like clean out the closet, organize my paper stash, but then it hit me..."Why spend my time cleaning? When is the next time I'll get an opportunity like this again?!" So I threw that list out the window and started over. Just out of curiousity, what would YOU do?

I couldn't end this post without these pictures. Look who's found her thumb.....

Day at the Park

2009-07-22T17:01:00.000-07:00

One of the great things about living here are the parks. It's such a family friendly place. You have to take advantage of all the sunny days you can get...those who live here know what I mean. Aaaaahhhh, the sunshine!!!!

3 Months

2009-07-21T18:39:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how quickly Aubrey is growing. She is so bright-eyed and happy. We can't get enough of her. We love our little pea!

Viewers Beware...

2009-07-20T19:06:00.000-07:00

Poor little guy, huh! We have had quite the trauma the past couple of months with our boys. Both Max and Chase have broken out into massive hives within weeks of each other. I didn't get pictures of Max though, I wish I had. The pictures of Chase actually look pretty good compared to what he really looked like. These pictures were taken after an epi-pen shot and the hives had really gone down.

Max was the first. I got a call from the school nurse at 9am saying that Max had a stuffy nose and that he just wanted to go back to class. I thought, "She's calling me about a stuffy nose!" Then around 1pm the nurse called again with a little more concern in her voice and said, "Uhhhm, Max has broken into hives and you need to come and pick him up." So I was thinking, "Hives, no big deal." When I arrived the nurse was on the phone with a panicked look on her face, talking to a pediatrician, wondering if she needed to give him an epi-pen or to send him to the ER. I was thinking, "What in the world? Epi-pen, the ER? What a crazy nurse! It's just hives!" (Keep in mind I hadn't seen him yet.). So I turned around and the poor thing was absolutely covered in massive hives from head to toe. His nose, ears, and eyes were swollen, with raised flowered patches literally all over. He was so calm and takin' it like a man. If it were me, I would have broken into sobs thinking I was going to die. Luckily, his breathing wasn't bothered, and we headed over to the pediatrician (with Aubrey and Chase). Right when the doc. saw him she said, "Uhhm, I'll be back. He needs an epi-pen." So by this time school is out and Clint dropped Madison off at the doctors and had to go back to work. So there I was with all four kids...one happy family! We ended up being there for about three hours for observation. His hives started to go down, but he still broke out on and off for about three days.

Then about a week and a half later I checked my phone around 9am and had a message from Max's teacher saying that his eyes were really swollen. Then literally a second later Clint called from work saying that the school nurse had called him saying that she had given Max an epi-pen and called an ambulance to take Max to the ER. By this time I didn't know whether to pop the nurse in the chops for overreacting or to panic because this time it must be really serious. So I pawned Chase off to my dear friend, Jeannette, and off I went to the school. Sure enough there was the ambulance with my puffy-eyed, little guy inside. There was definitely no need for an ambulance, but to follow procedure they had to take him to the ER to be checked. The ER doc basically said he could be allergic to anything under the sun and good luck trying to find out (Hey thanks!). So his regular pediatrician said to follow up with an allergy specialist.

As for my little Chase-ter, he broke into hives the morning of July 3 and I was thinking, "Are you kidding me? What next?" So we didn't panic (unlike a certain school nurse we know), and decided to just treat him with Benadryl. It seemed to work a little bit, but by the next morning his hives had gotten much worse and he had fevered through the night. So I took him to the Urgent Care, because the pediatrician was off for the holiday. Chase was just screaming and crying because it had gotten so bad. Finally, by the third hour we were there, I told the doc just to give him the epi-pen just to control the outbreak, and within minutes it had gone down. We ended up being there a little over four hours. We were sent home with a couple of prescriptions and told to keep an eye on him. He ended up breaking out on and off for about a week, and was also referred to an allergy specialist.

That brings us to today, I finally took the boys to see the specialist. To make a long story short, the doc basically thinks that their outbreak was caused by a viral infection. Max will still go back for further testing only for seasonal allergies, and Chase is good to go. I have to give my little guys a hand, they really handled all of this like a champ! Let's cross our fingers that we have seen the end of those blasted hives, and hopefully the school nurse can take me off speed dial next year! :)

Cake Anyone...

2009-07-17T15:49:00.001-07:00

So just this week I have made rice crispy treats, muffins, zucchini bread, and now this cake. I need help!!!!! I am an emotional baker! You must be thinking with all these baked goods that I am an emotional basket case. There's something methodical in mixing the eggs, flour, sugar, etc. Just for those few moments of mixing I can tune out the whining, ignore my messy house, and forget about the fact that I still haven't gotten dressed for the day. In the end I get an instant satisfaction that all my hard work paid off, that by just mixing a few simple ingredients you can get a "masterpiece" as Madison always says. Wouldn't it be nice if raising kids were that way? I just need to realize that all of the hard work that I put into my kids will one day be the best double layered, lemon, berry cake I have ever made...my "masterpiece!"

So in the same breath of saying that I've had an emotional week and tired of whiny kids, I have to say that I am one lucky mom. My sweet, little Max has been surprising me with little bouquets of flowers the past couple of weeks. He'll pick them from our yard and even go to the extent of tying a bow around it. He's going to be quite the heart breaker...look out all you little ladies!

2009-07-14T18:23:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my favorite pictures that show just a little of our kids personalities.

Madison has always been our sassy girly-girl, accessories and all. I have always said she is our 30 year old trapped in a 7 year old body. She has an old soul about her and can lighten any room.

Max is our thoughtful, little man. He has always been curious about the world around him. He is always building, collecting, and discovering. He is one of the sweetest, little guys you will ever meet. He gives the best hugs.

Chase is our adventurous spirit. He is such a rambunctious, little guy and has such a funny sense of humor. He is always hamming it up and thinks he's the funniest person in the room. He can always make you smile.

Aubrey has such a calm disposition. She is very content and has a sweetness about her. She was born with the cutest peacock hair that always sticks up and I mean ALWAYS sticks up. We love our little sweet pea!

My man is a kid at heart (My fifth child!). What is there not to love!? :)

2009-07-13T16:59:00.000-07:00

So here are my FOUR, beautiful children (Max 5, Madison 7, Aubrey 3months, Chase 3). I can't believe I am a mother of four, but I can honestly say they are the best thing that has ever happened to me next to marrying Clint. This is the best shot we could get of all the kids on Aubrey's blessing day. Poor Chase has the "Clint Syndrome" and always manages to pull a face for the camera.

Here is our little sweet pea. Aubrey was born on April 9 and has been such a wonderful blessing ever since. She has the sweetest temperament and is such a good baby. We just can't get enough of her!

2009-07-13T15:43:00.000-07:00

So I am pretty much one of the last people on earth to start a blog, but because I have so many friends and family that I want to keep in touch with....here I am.

I have been hesitant to start a blog, first of all, because I am not the most computer savvy person, and second, I can pretty much talk myself out of anything, hence, the reason why it's taken me so long. (Did I just really say, "hence"?) I usually care way too much what people think and sensor myself, and I thought this would be the perfect way to have an outlet to stretch myself and let others get to know me, as quirky and crazy as I may be. So here we go.......