Thulin Family

2012-02-10T13:38:00.000-08:00

We decided to drive to California and spend Christmas with my family this last year. It was the first time we have been with my parents for Christmas. So as part of their tradition they do a white elephant exchange. Dad got this....and none of us wanted to take it from him. hahahahahaa I love my Dad. We stayed with my sister Becki in her beautiful house in Laguna Nigel. One warm (to us) morning we took the kids for a walk. hahahaha well it was to hot in the 60 degree weather and my poor children were getting heat stroke. Seriously they are little wooses.

So I had the bright idea to take the kids to Hollywood. I though the walk of stars would be fun. I had forgotten how nasty it is there. hahaha But the kids seemed to enjoy it.

Did you know that Godzilla has a star?!!! I guess they don't mean what they use to. hahaha

I have lots more pics to post...just not enough time right now.

Amdrew's back

2011-06-13T15:44:00.000-07:00

So my brother Andrew returned from Iraq this week and we were given one day with him. It was so cool to see him again, especially for the kids. Even Benny jumped out of the car and hugged him when we got there. He is doing great. I can't tell you any cool stories though because he couldn't tell us anything. lol Classified. I understand though, so no complaints. There are still guys out there doing a dangerous job and I would never want to do anything to put their missions in jeopardy.

We spent the last part of Sunday on Fort Lewis base. We basically just went to parks and played. It was so much fun.

Andrew is teaching Isaac to me tough...um I don't think Isaac got it.

Welcome home to our favorite hero.

Not here to impress.

2011-04-01T16:13:00.000-07:00

Ok, I am just sick of my kids. Sorry I know those are the forbidden words for a Mother to ever utter, but...what ever. Some days I am just tired of the whining, crying and fighting. I get tired of give, give, give and then I get very little back. Ya, it is selfish, but once and I while I need to be. Mother's day just isn't enough. Besides my birthday is the week after Mothers day, so everyone thinks I should be ok with just combining the two. NO WAY!!! I only get two days to be selfish a year and I want TWO SEPARATE days. Is that wrong for me to ask? Honestly is it?
I don't exactly have family I can just drop off my kids and go play. Well I take that back, my Sister-in-law is always willing and I try not to over use her. Still it is expensive to hire a sitter for 4 kids. So I just don't get out. Times like this make me really appreciate my Mother. lol She has six of us little monsters, and I know we weren't easy.
Being a Mom is just one of those things that I don't think we really ever truly can prepare for. I thought I knew how I would be. Patient, playful, attentive, loving, and oh so clean. HAH!!! I may be all of those things once and a while but never all at once. It is difficult not to slap the 4 year old who is crying because the 6 year old touched her. Then the 9 year old is lecturing them both because she knows everything. Meanwhile the 2 year old is up coloring on the wall. Then when I tell someone about the 2 year old coloring on the wall they give me this look like "well that's what happens when you don't watch your kids".

AS IF I CAN BE EVERYWHERE AT ONCE!!!

So my hope is that I never forget. I don't want to be that judgemental woman who looks in disgust at a little kid throwing an absolute fit in the store. I don't want to have the thought of why the Mother can't control the child or why is the child such a brat. Maybe, just maybe the Mother can't control the child cause if she actually disciplines the child in public then there is worse criticism assuming abuse. Yep, being a Mother is hard. We need more than just one day. It should be a celebration every quarter. Yah, that sounds good. Every three months I get a day off. Why....well if nothing else I DIDN'T kill any of them. haha

I say all of this but then I see them doing something so innocent and sweet. Then all of that frustration melts away with love. Funny how that works huh. I know one day they will be all grown and I will miss them. But that is not today. If I get it off my chest then I am actually a better Mom, so I will blog it. lol

What grounds me?

2011-03-09T20:45:00.000-08:00

It must be the simple things!! That is what keeps my perspective. The month of March is just ridiculously busy for me. Totally my fault. I have over booked myself by committing to a lot of big things; weddings, events, plays, sewing projects, trips, etc. All of them are things I really want to be a part of, but I didn't consider the time, effort and money that all of these things would take from me. To be honest I am just worn out and none of it has happened yet, just all the preparation. lol

So I have noticed that I am not reading my scriptures or saying my prayers like I use to. I am not giving the proper attention to my children like I should, and I have stopped working out. Hmmmmm now I wonder why I feel empty, tired and frustrated. I was going through some of our family photos and came across this little video of my Benjamin, now 2yrs old. He loves music. I often find him sitting at the piano playing for himself while he sings.

Ok so it gave me perspective. The simple little things like this video remind me of what really keeps me grounded. Small moments like this that make me smile and I forget all the silly things that I think are so much more important. So thanks Benny for reminding Mommy how easy it is to allow "things" to distract me from what I know I need. I need my relationship with my Heavenly Father to be good...I need the relationship with my Husband to be good... I need the realtionship with my children to be good..., and I need to give my self down time so I can be good with myself. :)

How am I gonna see it?

2010-12-07T17:03:00.000-08:00

The reason I posted this picture is because it can be good or bad. Some people see the snow as a pesky nuisance that just gets in their way. It causes everyone to slow down in a world where everyone is in a hurry.

Well that's just what I love about it. I see it as a beautiful cover up of the reality below. It causes everyone to slow down and pay attention to what is going on around them. The world seems to become quiet and peaceful. I see a calming excuse to sit around a fire and play with my kids.

Lately I have been just so weighted down with people who need. People I truly love and feel their pain. I am burdened with the anguish of not being able to really help them and I find myself often on my knees about them. The frustration of not knowing the big picture and having so many unanswered questions to why things do or do not happen.

I guess it is like the snow. Ya, it is cold and miserable when I sit in it and dwell over the many people who drive so slow. Not to mention the dirty mud mixed into it all. And if I am out in it too long, I freeze my butt off. But really it isn't so bad when my babies are all puffed up in snow close laughing and playing. And if I go inside and look at it from an different perspective it all changes. Sitting by the warm fire looking out the window it is beautiful. I guess perspective is important. How we choose to look at things makes all the difference. I don't have all the answers. THANK HEAVENS! Man, I would never be let alone if I did. lol Sometimes searching for the answers is what causes the greatest strength in each of us.
Just how I am feeling to day.

Curious Benny

2010-11-11T14:39:00.001-08:00

So I came down stairs to a minty fresh smell and noticed the gum packet on the counter.

Next to it was a pile of wrappers......

Next to that was a pile of gum.

Why he didn't eat it you ask? Honestly I don't know, but I am glad he didn't. Can you imagine the mess he would have made when he spit it out. hahahaha

I like it now.

2010-10-25T09:47:00.000-07:00

Ok, so my expression is weird but I wanted to show myself that the hard work is paying off. I have gone from a size 14 to a size 10 since last October. It is a slow steady process that I have been taking. I have changed from eating processed foods and replaced them with more home made items. It takes time but it is worth it. I started with getting rid of a few things in my house. It seems extreme but I threw out the things with High fructose corn syrup, MSG, and any type of Hydrogenated oils. It is surprising how many things have those three ingredients in them. It is also amazing how many easy replacements there are. I am not perfect at it, I still have a few things like fruit sancks and such. I have also really made the effort to make better choices when I eat out. I am finding that my kids and I are liking the healthy choices better then the alturnatives now. They like veggies grilled on the BBQ, and they eat whole wheat bread no problem. Mainly cause it is the only choice. :) We still get cookies and french fries, just not as often.

My point in this post is to remind myself that If I set small realistic goals then I can follow them. I will step it up to the next level soon. That is buying more Organic, but I just can't afford it now. :)

Let's not forget the exersize. I am so lazy. I get board working out to videos. But loosing the inital first 10 lbs was very motivating. I have a few different videos to choose from. They range in different difficulty. I simply pick the one that fits my mood. Which is often lazy lol, but I really try to do something at least 3 days in the week. I hear that 3 days helps maintane and 5 days help you loose. I am loosing though because I have done nothing for so long. :) Pretty soon I will stop loosing and I will have to do more diffucult workouts and more often.

The best part is that now I really like to exercise. I feel better, I get more done in the day, I am more patient with my kids, and I am more turned on for Bryan. (I know gross to you, but it matters for a health marriage.)

So this is my note to self. Healthy eating and regular exercise actally makes me a better person. You know... this is the word of wisdom. People think we Mormons are so crazy for what we believe. Well, I have found the perfect weight loss program. It was givin hundreds of years ago by a Prophet named Joseph Smith. To be honest for those of you who are not members of my faith....I am not preaching... I am stating the facts. :)

So get up and go do something. Even if it is only 10 min a day. You may not get big results but at least you are getting started.

Know what you believe.

2010-10-13T11:07:00.000-07:00

An interesting thing this happened to me just now. Some missionaries from the Jehovah's Witness Church just stopped by. I have to admit that I was impressed with how well versed they were in their scriptures. I was embarrassed how horrible I was at being able to reference my own scriptures. I am a returned missionary myself, and I know very little about the scriptures. How pathetic is that? I really do believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints is Christs Church. I also believe that it is the ONLY Church with the proper authority to act in Gods name. So with that being said...why am I not studying the words of God? Why don't I know how to teach the truth about the fullness of the Gospel? There is no excuse. A new goal that I am going to set. Pick a topic and study the scriptures. If I claim to be Christian then maybe I need to learn more about my Master. Just saying. :)

California here we come. Again and again and again.

2010-09-14T17:37:00.001-07:00

We have had a few trips to Cali this year. Most recently for my sister-in-laws wedding. Missy was married to an old friend of hers from Claremont, Ca. I was good friends with the family and so it is really fun for me to see them married. Not to mention that they are now my family too.

I wanted to post some of the pictures my sister Becki took of my kids. I should add that Becki was my life saver. She totally stepped up and helped me with my rug rats. Thanks Becki you are now my favorite sister named Becki. Ok, lame but I think your totally rad. Is that better. lol

Reality Check

2010-08-10T09:13:00.000-07:00

Have you ever needed to just turn off your brain. Forcing it to think only happy thoughts, and yet you're still falling out of the sky? Much like in Peter Pan when John and Michael got scared and couldn't think of any happy thoughts to keep them in the air.

Reality is an interesting thing. You are forced to see through the mist, so to speak, and see things as they really are. Sometimes they are amazing, and some times they just scare the piss out of you. :)

Even when you are seeing love and joy there is this nagging thought in the back of your head about the unknown. You fight it and focus on the happy thoughts, but there is a reality there that is unavoidable.

This is where Faith comes in. This little glimmer of hope in the unknown. It takes the fear away from you and replaces it with hope. I often wonder why people choose not to believe in God. He is my happy thought. He takes away all my fear and replaces it with hope.

Then, and only then do I see the scary reality with a possibility of joy. I trust that there is a bigger picture that I either can't or don't see. I believe that the artist of this picture loves us and will do what is best for us. Even if it is difficult, He helps us through it all.

Why wouldn't everyone want to face life with such a loving and compassionate Father? I am so grateful that I was raised in the Gospel.

My little brother, Andrew, left for Iraq this week. Due to the nature of his job I am not at liberty to give any details about when or where he is. Yep, that doesn't make me feel any better about his safety. lol

I do trust the Lord though. Andrew is strong in his heart and he listens to the Lord. What ever the big picture will turn out to be, I trust in my Father in heaven.

Good luck Scooter, we will keep you in our prayers.

I am so very proud to be your big Sister.

Things to remember.

2010-06-13T21:21:00.000-07:00

Things to remember:

My children asleep, they are so angelic.
Bryan on the floor with four babies sitting on his tummy playing motorcycle. :)
The way my house sounds when the wind blows, it's like being in the woods.
The warmth of the sun.
The way little ones hum while playing quietly.
Baby kisses, their soft little toot less mouths are so sweet.
The way Bryan's eyes twinkle when he flirts with me.
The way Bryan's eyes twinkle when talking to his little girls. It is different but the same. :)
How my boys cuddle me like they will never get enough. (I know that may not last)
The giggle of little girls.
When boys play they make noises, not words but sounds. :)
Wet, suntanned little ones, playing in the sprinklers.
Cold, wet children hugging my hot skin to get warm.

For now I just wanted to remember these things. This all happened today. All of this happiness in just one day. So today I am very grateful. See it there is always something to look forward to. I just needed to be patient.

Just me complaining. :)

2010-06-01T20:28:00.000-07:00

Today is one of those days that I just don't want to be a Mom. I want to be selfish and single with only myself to think about. I know there are a thousand and one reasons why I will not feel like this tomorrow, but just for today I do.

I am burnt out with the needs of others. The cooking, cleaning, the stopping of silly fights. Listening to all the reasons why I am wrong, mean and selfish. Yes, I am so selfish....my kids get the hot baths....I have a luke warm shower. Even if they have been fed my kids always seem to find room for what ever it is I am having, even if it is the same thing they just complained about not liking. The impossible to keep clean house, the nasty pee stains off the toilet, wall and floor. The nasty dirty clothes, sheets and towels.

Not to mention that when Daddy, wonderful and honestly not in trouble this time Daddy, returns from work even he is in NEED. It is never enough and it never ends. That is for all of them. How many hugs and kisses have I given to day? More than I have received.

When I do take a little bit of time to myself I am told I am being selfish and negligent. REALLY????!!!! And for all of this do I get help, or a relief from family? Not very often. And seeing as none but one of them even bother to actually read my family blog, I don't worry about posting this. Some times it would be nice to hear..."You know what Amy, you work so hard and you really do have some pretty well behaved kids. Why don't you and Bryan go away for the weekend and we'll take the kids for you."

Ok, now I am going to get myself into trouble. I just feel so exiled some times. That is from ALL sides of family. grrrr I am really being selfish and spoiled here. Sometimes venting can get carried away and do more damage than good.

So after all of that complaining....:) Katie just came down here and told me how much she loves how much I do for her. So now I am crying and feeling very ungrateful myself.

I think I just need a girls night out. :)

I'm taking the advice.

2010-05-05T13:34:00.001-07:00

So I have been painting these princess pictures for my girls lately.

I have always hidden my art work for such stupid self-conscious reasons. I guess it's just fear. What if I am not any good, or
what if others don't like it. Well I have been painting again and I haven't been worried about what others thought, mainly because I have enjoyed it so much. Not to mention my girls get so excited as I get close to finishing each piece.

I have done 3 now, the two shown and Cinderella, who is being framed, so I will post it later.

My good friend Melissa said something that really made me think. She told me that I didn't give myself enough credit and that I shouldn't be afraid to post some of my work. So although this is very scary for me I feel I need to suck it up and share a God given talent.

I don't expect comments, I just needed to do this for me. As a first step toward being able to maybe sell something one day. Thanks for the boost Melissa.

Just like Daddy

2010-04-28T11:54:00.000-07:00

When ever Bryan does yard work Ben is right there helping.

Ben's trick

2010-04-24T15:13:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the naked baby but this was just tooo funny. Benny figured this out all on his own. LOL yep I am gonna have to keep my eye on this one.

2009-12-19T07:57:00.000-08:00

I know it has been ages since I have been blogging. Life like to trick us into thinking we are always too busy. :) I have spent as little time possible on the Internet these days and more time playing with my kids. I have really seen a difference in them, but to be honest I miss my alone time. I am going to try and get back to my journals...or blogging.

This is our Christmas picture in front of the new house. More to come.

Ooohhh become like little children

2009-09-16T21:49:00.001-07:00

My little family has been though a crazy few months lately...and it is not over yet. I have been....let's just say I have been complaining just a bit about it all. I have been so focused on the injustice and burden it all is that I have lost sight of the bigger picture.

Well thank heavens for children.

At a particularly low time for me my 7 yr old put me in check. We knelt down for family prayer, Katie said it, she basically just thanked the Lord for everything. I mean all of the things we DO have going for us.

She thanked Him that we had a place to stay, that they had cool air mattresses to sleep on. She was grateful that Daddy has a job that makes money for us to get toys, and that our family was all healthy.

My eyes were full of tears when she finished. What a humbling moment it was for this whiny Mommy who is only seeing all of the negative. I understand now why we are told in the scriptures to become like a little child. They are pure and see the world in it's purity. So I am also grateful for the things I do have.

I would list them but really there are a lot.

GRRRRR

2009-08-06T22:15:00.000-07:00

Sometimes being a good friend means you have to hurt people you love. Not in any mean way ever, but truth can be very good. I get taken advantage of sometimes. It isn't easy to do to me, but it happens. I want to help and I am really trying to be a better person. That doesn't mean that I have time for selfishness of others. I am not a beckon call girl. That is all I am going to say on that. I just want things to slow down a bit so I can get back to enjoying the things that I love most.....my family.

My lullaby

2009-07-31T10:10:00.000-07:00

Years ago I have a really good friend who wrote a song for me. Funny thing is that I still sing this song to my kids as a lullaby. I have changed some of the words tough. Well this friend recently got a hold of me and we were talking about the song. When he found out I still sing it he wanted to know how I changed the words to make it for my kids. So Erik this is for you. lol

If I knew of a way to capture you smile,
You would never see me down again.
If I knew what to say to keep you mine
You would hear those words time and again.

You are the day and the night to me
You are my sunshine and my moonlight
You fill my days with a tender melody
And you bring peace to my nights.

This lullaby was meant from me to you,
Can you see the love in my eyes.
Remember this love will never end
So there's no need for you to cry.

All of the flowers they bloom because of you
Your name on every petal
But those same flowers, they pale in you
My love will outlast them all.

I wrote this little song just for you
I hope you know every word is true
Please remember me when your grown
Cause I'll remember you.

I wrote this simple song just for you
These feelings I have for you not new
You make me laugh you make me cry
When I'm not with you I wonder why

But now you're here right in my arms
I wish it could last forever.

Auntie Missy vist

2009-07-30T08:29:00.000-07:00

Sand Baby

2009-07-29T11:52:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago we went out to Westport to play at the beach. Well it is Washington so it was cloudy and cold. The kids didn't seem to mind a bit though. Here is Benny enjoying the sand. He pooped it out for a few days. lol

More is coming.

2009-07-16T09:21:00.000-07:00

I have been up to my eyeballs in things to do. I have so much I want to post but with my computer on the fritz and trying to find a house in 4 weeks I am not thinking about blogging to much. :) I will be back on track by September. I just gotta' make it through August.

Fathers day

2009-06-29T15:51:00.000-07:00

Late on the post but here is some Fathers day pics. Isaac made Bryan a snake out of clay. It was hilarious cause he was sooooo excited for Bryan to open it that he opened the gift himself. The kids thought is was the coolest joke ever to give Daddy a snake.

Katie drew a picture of Bryan. I totally love this.

Thanks Melissa.

2009-06-26T09:47:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Melissa Sabin for having a birthday and giving us an excuse to go out. Sometimes it is nice to go out one on one with a good friend. We went and had a pedicure. I have only had one other pedicure in my life and that was before my wedding, so this was a fun treat. Don't our feet look pretty. lol

I think I like the picture of my feet better. lol It was such a stress free fun night. Thanks Melissa.

Wade's Funeral

2009-06-18T13:57:00.000-07:00

We went to Spokane last weekend to see some family. My Uncle Wade passed away and so my Uncle Kevin, standing behind me, had a little party in honor of Wade. It was so awesome to see some of my family. My parents, older sister Jenni and youngest brother Andrew came out to meet us there. Man I really miss being around my family. It is always so much fun.

Amy Chruch and Bryan Thulin

2009-06-10T10:01:00.000-07:00

Bryan and I met our freshman year of High school in 1989 in Southern California.
We were good buddies but he moved away only after living there for one year. We kept in touch by snail-mail AKA regular mail. lol

Our first official date was Kent Meridian Senior Prom. Bryan flew me up from California to go to prom with him. It was then in 1993 that we had our first kiss. Actually it was in the Scenic Hill grave yard. I know how romantic...NOT.

After graduation Bryan served a mission in San Bernadino, Ca which was right next to the area I lived. However I was at Dixie College in St. George Utah during this time. I did go visit him in Washington after he had gotten home from his mission.

Shortly after this, in the winter of 1996, I left on my mission to Temple Square in Salt Lake City. Bryan came down to California for my farewell, well back when they did them still. :) He then went up to attend BYU. He stopped by the Square only a few times. We never really dated seriously or anything so it wasn't weird to see him. He usually came with other people too.

In the winter of 1998 I went up to spend Thank-mas with his family. This is Thanksgiving and Christmas combined. It was a little awkward. lol
We were not really even dating and his Mom insisted that I be a part of their family photos. On the back of this photo his Mom wrote, "You look like you belong in this picture." Maybe she knew something that Bryan and I didn't.

About a year later I decided to move up to Utah to date him. This was in the Spring of 1999. We had barley stated to date when his parents decided to use us to help them do family sealing. They came down to do them in the Manti Temple, which is were they were married. Oh and did I mention it was their anniversary. Boy was that uncomfortable. I was just starting to date this guy and the next thing I knew I was kneeling over an alter with his parents. Of course it was in proxy for a parent child sealing but awkward!

Well something worked because we got pretty serious after that. I don't think we were ever separated unless it was absolutely necessary. Bryan just made me laugh...all the time. He was such a dork, but so stinkin' hot.

We had a family picture in which my Mom insisted that Bryan be a part of. Our Mothers had allot of faith in our relationship working out I guess.
In August of 1999 we took a trip to California so Bryan could ask permission from my Dad to marry me.

We were married on June 9,2000. Our wedding was so much fun. I love that it was a foreshadow of the kind of life I was going to have.

I have to say that not only is he still just as much fun as ever, but he still gives me butterflies when I see him. I mean come on the guy is pretty dang hot.

I am so happy that I chose him. We are still buddies and have so much fun together. Happy 9 years Bry. I still love ya tons.

Playing with Oscar

2009-06-08T07:59:00.000-07:00

Saturday we got to play with our cousin Oscar. The kids always have so much fun with him. We were all cracking up here cause he was so determined to push Katie in the little car. He didn't know she was helping him with her feet. lol

I love how well He and McKenzie get along. These two were playing quietly for about an hour. When Kristi and I went in to see what they were doing we found this. They had totally emptied the toy drawers and covered Kennie's legs. Too stinkin' cute.

Makes me smile.

2009-05-31T16:29:00.000-07:00

I was watching my little family as I sat in church today. I realized that I am a very lucky person. Regardless of what anyone else can see I see happiness. I didn't know that I could be this happy and content in my life. The pains and sorrows that I feel are mostly because of the suffering and afflictions of those around me. I have so many people that I truly love and care about who are suffering in one way or another. It is so difficult sometimes to know that there is little I can do to help them. I guess just listening would be good, but I am not good at that. I have a hard time shutting up and just listening. Thanks to my sister for reminding me to stop trying to solve her problems and just be a shoulder to cry on. :)
So here I am with my adorable family and close to perfect husband. I am a spoiled little brat huh. We have a home, and we have a stable source of income, our children are healthy, and our marriage is pure and strong. Sometimes I almost feel guilty at how many blessings I have. I wonder why I deserve all of this when so many others struggle? I understand that where much is given much is required, but it just feels like there is always more I could do.
How grateful I am that I have such blessings and the opportunity to try and help others. I hope this post doesn't seem like I am boasting or I think I'm all that or anything. I simply feel overwhelmed with gratitude to my Heavenly Father for my life. If anything...it is teaching me to be more compassionate to those around me.

Can you save a blog?

2009-05-26T14:43:00.000-07:00

Does anybody know if there is a way to download your blog, or even a way to save it to a disk or something? I blog for a journal and I don't want to loose all of this.

Do it yourself.

2009-05-20T12:38:00.001-07:00

Isaac has been bugging me all day to do "letters" with him. I try to work on his pre-kindergarten learning during the two younger kids name time. Well I told him I had a few things to do first and that we would have to wait until Ben went down for a nap. Isaac apparently felt this task needed to be rushed. So he cuddled Ben and put him down for me. Love this kid.

GROSS!!!

2009-05-15T10:18:00.000-07:00

So, yesterday at the park my Mckenzie came up to me and said "look mommy I got gum." I asked her who gave it to her and she shrugged her shoulders and said "I did." So I then asked WHERE did you get the gum and she took my hand to show me. We walked under the slide and she points to a pile of A.B.C gum and says "you want some?" After puking a little bit in my mouth I made her spit it out an tried to tell her why it was gross. Man I hope she learns this one. ewwweweww yuck!

Mommy's Day photos

2009-05-11T11:19:00.000-07:00

Yep, this is what it is all about. Mother's Day was awesome!!! I noticed that I have very few pictures of me with the kids. Mainly because I am the one taking the pics. :)

My little Kenzie calls this day Mommy's Day. I like it because I think that it is so important to be both a Mother and a Mommy. To me the difference is that a Mother is the one to nurture, guide, teach and disciplined the children. The Mommy gets on the floor and plays with the kids, she also gets dirty, does crafts, and is at times goofy just to make them laugh. I hope to find a perfect balance of the two Moms, so to speak.

The family did make me breakfast in bed though. I actually woke to the smoke alarms going off. When they brought the food in they, including Bryan, looked so pleased with themselves. I think I had eggs, and hash browns...pretty sure there was sausage and toast. I did see three strawberries but they were consumed by the kids before I even had a chance to smell them. It was so stinkin' funny cause I sat there with 3 little vultures waiting to consume what ever I didn't. lol One kid would say "hmm are you gonna eat that egg?" or "I sure wish I had some sausage." I think I had about two bites of each thing before I ended up giving it to the kids. They had all already eaten breakfast mind you.

We also celebrated my upcoming birthday on Mother's Day. I know I got the sort of got the shaft there but it was totally worth it. Bryan, his parents and a close family friend all pitched in to get me a new couch set. My old couch was a hand me down and pretty disgusting. I will have to post pics of the new couches soon. I am just so excited. I have never had new couches before. We have always had hand me downs or thrift store couches. I just feel so grateful for such a fun surprise. Now I don't have to be embarrassed when we have company over. :)

Daddy loves this part.

2009-04-25T14:30:00.000-07:00

This morning all the babies were crawling all over me and Bryan. This is a ritual of sorts for us on Saturdays. Bryan looked over at me and through a small hole in the middle of little bodies says "this is my favorite". So like any other blog mom I ran to get the camera. It is moments like these that I am so lovin' the blog thing. :)

Is it me or her?

2009-04-20T11:12:00.001-07:00

So Bryan went to Oregon for business yesterday. He will be gone until Thursday, and I think the kids have decided to protest. First last night I couldn't find the wipes. I searched all over the house. I asked Kenzie if she knew where they were and she said in the car. I went out to my car and no wipes. Well then Katie was all distressed because she had left a stuffed animal outside. When I went out back to look for it I found the EMPTY box of wipes. They were indeed in the car. Thanks Kenz...

Then Benny was up AAAAALLLLLLL night just screaming. I still don't know what the deal is. He is just plain pissed off. I am guessing it is teething. Poor little guy he is so sad.

This morning I swear I only went in to get dressed. I wasn't on the phone or the computer. I went into my room for like 5 minutes and when I came out this is what I found.

She doesn't seem a tad bit sorry does she, ha ha ha. At least her brother has a solution. Yep...eat it off the ground. Well they are cute so I'll let them live. I'm off to Walmart for more cereal. :)

Mommy has a helper

2009-04-13T14:22:00.000-07:00

So most mornings are pretty busy and crazy. I feed the kids and get Katie to go to school about the same time. While I was getting Katie out the door McKenzie decided to take over my duties for me. So like any other blog crazy mom I grabbed the camera. Here is my 2yr old feeding my 7 mth old. ha ha ha

Oh Mckenzie....!!!!

2009-04-08T20:28:00.000-07:00

When your 2yr old disappears and gets really quiet...find them quickly. You'd think I'd know this by now, I mean it is my 3rd time going through this stage. Kenzie went missing... I followed the signs of the little monster. One was that one of my drawers in my dresser had been emptied out. Next was the medicine box was trashed. Now before you judge me to harshly for leaving medicine sitting out let me explain. Isaac had just cut his knee and I rushed in, grabbed the box from the top of the closet, rummaged through it for band aides and ointment. I ran back into the other room to stop Isaac's bleeding knee. That's when she decided to strike. Kenzie had gone through the first aid box and not only taken out all of the band aides, but taken the paper off and stuck them on the carpet.

I finally found her hiding in my closet eating the cough drops. Scary huh! At least is was only cough drops and not Advil or something. Crazy kid...I swear the other kids didn't do this. Or maybe I just paid more attention to what they were doing. I really would like a giant hamster ball for each of my children. Then they wouldn't make messes or get into things..... actually they'd just put huge holes in the walls. I am so looking forward to having grand kids....oh the wonderful Ideas I am going to give them. Whoa ha ha ha

Baby talk is my favorite!!!!

2009-03-31T11:51:00.000-07:00

Fat lip.

2009-03-31T10:47:00.000-07:00

If you can see the little cut on his cheek there. He has another one inside his upper lip. He'll be fine, but a word from the wise...7 month olds can't stand on their own. lol

Good one Mommy

2009-03-29T22:11:00.001-07:00

Missy and her cute baby, Brody, have been up visiting for a while now. We have been spending all the time we can possibly find with them. The kids just adore him, and I think Isaac has a secret crush on Missy. Who can blame him.

When ever Brody is around Isaac and Katie are all over the kid. They giggle and laugh at his little noises and farcical expressions. We are all just so in love with him. Well Sunday we all went up for his blessing in church. Afterwards we went to the Grandparents for family get together and photos of course. It was nap time and the kiddos were all Hungary so photos were a bit tough. In all the craziness I picked up Kenzie in one arm and Benny in the other arm and headed down stairs to get them changed. I put both kids on their feet so they could stand and get dressed. Do you see my mistake? I put them on their FEET TO STAND. BENNY CAN"T STAND. So he face planted into the couch and split his lip. Kenzie was crying cause of all the commotion, and I didn't' realize Benny was bleeding. It was all over my church clothes and I only fit into a small number of shirts these days. lol. Poor Benny and his bloody lip. If that isn't bad enough he has already been sick. Last night he was up all night throwing up and with the runs. Then Mommy drops him on his face. Good job Mommy. ha ha ha It's a really good thing babies forget all this stuff we do wrong.

So in memory of him prior to the fat lip, here's a picture of the cute litle guy. Remember that 7 month old babies don't usually have the ability to stand.

Duh... Mommy!!

I'll get pictures of his lip in the morning. I didn't have the heart to take pictures yet.

Ok... I'm over it.

2009-03-26T11:08:00.001-07:00

Sorry about the drama earlier. I'm a bit hormonal. lol Thanks for all the kind words and for not being judgemental. We all have those days where we wake up and say "this is my life?" Then realize we like it this way. Love you all.

Mommy blues

2009-03-25T09:03:00.000-07:00

I don't like to be chubby. I know, I know what you are thinking "then do something about it" I get that. You see before I had children I would wake up at about 7:30am and go for a jog with my pooch. It was sunny and nice outside and I would just run and think. Now I get maybe 4 hours of sleep at night, I am up with sleepy eyes at about the same time 7:30am, but it is a whole new world. I wake up to either a crying baby or a 4 yr old boy begging to play the WII. Then I wake up Katie and fight her about getting ready for school. Then I make 3 bowls of cereal, open one can of baby food and feed the masses. Next I rush to make Katies lunch, cause I always forget to do it the night before, and listen to her cry while I attempt to brush her hair. Hair brushing isn't a Chinese torture treatment, but man you would thing so by the way she acts. Finally she is off to school, LOVE CARPOOLS!!!!
Then it's back to the kitchen to clean up all of the spilled cereal and milk. Usually by this time Ben, the baby, has decided that he must be attached to my hip. So now I attempt to do dishes with one hand. I usually give up and go get the kids dressed, there is usually a few phone calls to answer in there. I have to admit that these calls from friends help me to NOT beat the children sometimes. So their lives are owed to you. lol
Now usually I take a few minutes and let everything go and jump on facebook or blog. During this time there is usually a few fights and a crying baby. Now it's like 10:00and I haven't eaten breakfast and I am still in my PJ's.
I'm sure that there are a million and one things I am doing wrong, and everyone has advice to how to make changes. But reality is I just don't have it in me to get up at 5:30am to workout, especially when I am usually up at about 3:30 to feed Ben. I have tried the workout at night thing...by about 4:00pm I am soooo tired that the idea of the treadmill just bugs me. The only thing I really do these days is WII fit, which I love cause I can play it with Isaac in the mornings.
So I am chubby, I am a bit lazy maybe and I am defiantly unmotivated. I am not really looking for advice, cause let's face it I probably won't take it. I knew being a Mommy was going to be a challenge. I knew that I would not be skinny forever, and I also know that it is ok to feel crappy once and a while. So what is my silver lining? What is my goal to work toward?
My kids won't be little like this forever. They are growing up so fast and I don't want to miss any of it. I spend a lot of time just playing with my kids. I am doing a little bit of exercise and I do eat a lot healthier. So maybe now is my time and season to bond with my babies. It is hard to have little ones. Sometimes it feels like they suck the life out of me. But really they are my life right now. Maybe I can focus more on how much fun I do have with them. I can worry about getting fit when they are in school and I am looking for things to do during the day. Actually that makes me feel a lot better. :) I just need to take it slow and be ok with taking it slow. Do what I can for now and decide to be happy.

Look what I can do!

2009-03-23T21:58:00.000-07:00

This is Daddy's little trick. He does this with all of the kids at this age. I just love it, and so do the babies.

At it Again.

2009-03-21T11:20:00.000-07:00

So either she is just really slick or I am a bad mom. Ummm don't answer that question though. McKenzie, McKenzie, McKenzie... I WAS MAKING DINNER!!!! I guess I wasn't fast enough. She snuck in, grabbed the rice crispys oops I mean crispy rice, and made her own little snack. She could have at least opened the box on the right side. Now it is opened at both ends. Lucky for her she is stinkin' cute.

"Don't worry about me Mom I've already got it covered."

Just Keeps gettin' Better

2009-03-16T13:37:00.000-07:00

Wednesday is Bryan's birthday. I was looking through some old photos of us and realized that I am still just totally in love with this guy. What is even more fun is that I genuinely like him as a person. I mean that I enjoy his company and feel that he is my favorite person to hang out with. Dorky as is sounds he really is my best friend. I guess I am just feeling grateful for him lately.
So happy birthday Big-B.

He still gives me butterflies.

Boys

2009-03-13T12:02:00.001-07:00

So Isaac was playing a video game and I heard Ben giggling and making all sorts of noise. When I went in to check on them I saw that he too was "playing" the game. I asked Isaac what he was doing and he said "Benny was board just sitting here so I gave him a bamote (remote)" Oddly enough Isaac was right... Benny just wanted to play too.

At leat they are playing together. :)

Glad I'm not the only one.

2009-03-11T13:53:00.000-07:00

Ok so I was talking to my Sister this morning and the funniest thing happened to her. Due to a distraction (me) she locked her keys in her car. She called AAA to get someone out to unlock her door for her and when they were in the process of this fun task she noticed that BOTH of her back doors were indeed unlocked. I sure hope that AAA guy was hot cause she paid for that service. ha ha ha
I have totally done stuff like that. I am just glad I got to laugh at her for it.

Attack of the Lizard

2009-02-26T08:43:00.001-08:00

Ben has a favorite stuffed animal that he sleeps with. I like it too because Lizards are my favorite animals. Well yesterday he fell asleep playing with it and I found him like this. Well I thought it was cute.

2009-02-11T14:21:00.000-08:00

McKenzie will wear her underpants for short moments now. This video was just so cute cause she was dancing with joy for the princess undies. lol

McKenzie's Death Wish

2009-02-04T10:43:00.000-08:00

So last night I almost killed one of my kids. My 2 yr old has decided she doesn't want to wear diapers anymore. I know what you're thinking...potty train. No, you see she doesn't want to wear clothes either. She enjoys the natural look if you know what I mean. Last night she took off THREE POOPY diapers. I cleaned the kitchen, hall way and bathroom floor. Not to mention the 3 baths I have to give her because of the poop smeared all over her naked body. Lovely. Well at bedtime she did it again and Mommy snapped. I yelled, screamed, and spanked. I looked her in her adorable little face and said "do not take off you diaper again...do you understand." She looked at me with her big brown eyes and said "note" which is Kenzie for nope. I had to take a deep breath and then walk her to the poop on the new carpet, pointed at it and said "yucky" she agreed. Then made her clean up the mess. In my own head I was sure this wouldn't happen again.
This morning I walk into her room and found a naked baby. I could smell the poop, but she had covered it up so well with the books she pulled from the bookshelf, the clothes she pulled from the drawer and the barbies, which she was now distracted with and enjoying. Needless to say I just cried...then laughed...then took another deep breath and began the clean up. One day I will be able to tell her this story when her kids are doing it. That will be sweet.

Ski trip with Daddy

2009-02-04T09:45:00.000-08:00

Bryan took the kids skiing for the first time. This is Katie.

Here is Isaac.

And here are my kids playing buy a dumpster. Nice Daddy!

ARE YOU TALKIN' TO ME?

2009-01-24T17:36:00.000-08:00

You really don't know who you're messing with.

Bryan's Scout Camp

2009-01-24T09:40:00.000-08:00

Bryan took the scouts on an overnighter to build snow caves. I thought some of these pics were cool so here you go. I'm not sure who this is but it is a really cool picture.

Here are those who went. They got to go snowmobiling.

Ok...so this is how you get into the snow cave. I am a mom of two boys and this just made me so nervous.

Until I saw what they actually slept in. This is why it is better we Mom's just don't know what happens at scout camp. So what happens at Scout camp...stays at scout camp.

Hey Kristen, this pic is so funny. When I saw these of the boys jumping this creek I asked "none of them fell in right?" Bryan shook his head and said "your such a Mom."

What will he say next?

2009-01-15T19:57:00.000-08:00

Isaac is taking a sports class at the YMCA, which is a Christen organization. At the end of class the coaches asked the kids to share something that they cared about. Well, my kids said "I care about Jesus..." I was so proud of him until he quickly followed with ..."cause if you don't care about Jesus you go to Hell." Maybe it's a good thing he thinks that. ha ha ha

Do you still love them?

2009-01-13T22:12:00.000-08:00

How do I even start with my emotions today? Due to respect for a loved one I can't go into detail with my thoughts, so good luck with this post. I have such a hard time with the anger and bitterness in the world today. Why do we try to hurt those who hurt us? I have to watch someone I love dearly be treated like a horrible person. Her name is being drug through the mud and because she is such an amazing person she is just letting it happen, for the greater good. It is so hard to understand why there is so much hate and meanness. I know people get sick of us religious freaks, but wouldn't it be so nice if people actually did act like Jesus? I am starting to really look forward to the day that Jesus is in charge again and we can just be happy. I know, I know I sound like a Miss America candidate with the whole world peace issue. ha ha ha Seriously though wouldn't it be nice to be able to allow your kids to play outside without worrying some creep with take them. Or to be able to go for a jog all by myself along a beach and know that I won't get attacked. People today seem to be fighting a war within themselves. What's worse is that they don't even see it happening until everyone around them gets so sick of the bitterness and negativity that they all leave. Then what is left? Some day he'll see what he has caused, and it will be to late. I must sound crazy but now it's out there so what ever.

2009-01-10T17:11:00.000-08:00

So with all of the flooding in Orting the Governor came down to see what kind of damage occurred. She flew in on this Army Helicopter and I took the kids over to see it. When we went inside Katie said "Now this is freakin' cool." So I guess Mommy needs to be careful how I talk cuz the kids are listening. ha ha ha I'm such a freakin' idiot.

I used a Blogging Consultant

2009-01-10T17:09:00.000-08:00

Ok, so Lauralee Chamberlain just came over an took my blogging experience to a hole new level. Now let's see if the hubby and kids ever let me keep up on it.

Still Learning

2008-12-31T13:01:00.000-08:00

So I guess I have a lot to learn still about myself. I learned today that holding in a frustration about others hurts everyone involved. Sometimes those unfriendly confrontations can heal wounds that should have never been made. Unfortunately some wounds just take a long time. I find myself making judgements when I haven't gathered all of the facts. Please tell me I am not the only one. And even if I feel I have been wronged by another it isn't my responsibility to change their actions. I am only in charge of my own. I choose to be offended or hurt, and that is difficult to control at times. Some times I look at myself and just don't like who I am becoming. I am so grateful for repentance and the chance to make a change for the better. So how do we do it? Everyone has some two cents about how to be a better person, but nobody can change my heart but myself and the Lord. Thank heavens I always have my Saviour to pull up the slack.

Snow in Orting!

2008-12-28T18:53:00.000-08:00

Just before Christmas we had a bunch of snow, so naturally we took the kids sledding. We met up with some friends of ours, the Chamberlains, and had a blast in the snow.

Merry Freakin' Christmas

2008-12-10T17:14:00.001-08:00

So...we thought we could do Christmas pictures with the kids this year. We must have tried to many different shots because this is how most of them turned out. Ha Ha Ha. I just have to laugh because sometimes as a Mommy I asume that my way is always the best way, and then my turns out like this and I have to humble myself. I am really trying to use more positive ways to teach my kids. I am a Mother who yells first and then listens last, and I am trying to change that. Katie, my almost 7 yr old, is a smart little thing and she is able to communicate better now. I am slowly learning that sometimes I just need to listen to her. Let me tell you that this is so hard sometimes. But I guess that's what makes me the Parent right...the ability to "control" my emotions and act rationally. At least that's how I'd like to be. :) Any way just my thoughts.

Learning

2008-12-05T13:48:00.000-08:00

I am going to post some pic of Benjamin soon as I get some. I am learning how important it is to keep taking photos of my kids. I have so many of Katie and Isaac and very few of the other kids.

Baby Benjamin

2008-10-10T09:13:00.000-07:00

Our little guy is growing up quickly. He is now trying to make sounds and the other kids are just loving it.

Benjamin Cooper

2008-09-16T13:59:00.000-07:00

The whole family at the hospital

2008-09-16T13:57:00.000-07:00

Update

2008-09-16T13:48:00.000-07:00

I am slowly learning how to use blogspot so please be patient. Bryan and I are still in Orting, Washington. We had planned on moving by now to a little bigger home, but with the current market we havn't had much luck selling our home. It is frustrating but what can I do but try and make this house work for us. It is tight with 6 people in 1059 Sq Ft, but lucky for me my kids are pretty little still and I can make it work if I have to. We did have a baby this year. Little Benjamin Cooper was born on aug 18, 2008 (just one day after Isaac's 4th birthday) The kids call him Benny...I am still getting use to that nickname. I am doing well enough and learning how to be a nice Mommy with little sleep and three little ones at home all day. My Katie is in first grade this year and is gone most of the day. I miss her but nap time is nice when the other three are asleep and Katie is at school. I can clean, take a nap or a shower, or I can play online. Anyway I will try to keep this updated better.

The Kids

2008-01-08T20:50:00.001-08:00

2008-01-08T20:45:00.001-08:00