Check out my Slide Show!

Memorial Day Weekend!

I have always really enjoyed memorial day weekend. In high school it was fun and party weekend. In college it was Lake Powell. Now it's totally different but nice. I live like a block away from the cemetery (I run there about every morning) and this time of year the feeling just driving by is all about family and honoring and good stuff.
I took my kids to the Provo cemetery where my family is and it was awesome (after Colby was strapped into the stroller for playing 'hopscotch'). I feel bad that I don't go back more regularly. My kids are amazing. Jacob brought home a certificate saying he tested in the top 10% nationally in social studies and math (yeah, I know, math?). What a smarty pants--he insists he would've had science too but he wasn't in class that day. Colby is so funny his new phrases are: 'that's asgusting!' and this sneaky 'hee!hee!hee!'. Hope you all enjoy the holiday!

25 Reasons I owe my Mother

A friend forwarded this to me, thought you guys might appreciate it!

25 Reasons I Owe my Mother:

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE. "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

2. My mother taught me RELIGION. "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL. "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

4. My mother taught me LOGIC. " Because I said so, that's why."

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT. "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

7. My mother taught me IRONY. "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. "Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM. "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA. "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER. "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY. "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE. "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. "Stop acting like your father!"

15. My mother taught me about ENVY. "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION. "Just wait until you father comes home."

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING. "You are going to get it when you get home!"

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE. "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."

19. My mother taught me ESP. "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

20. My mother taught me HUMOR. "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT. "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My mother taught me GENETICS. "You're just like your father."

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS. "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

24. My mother taught me WISDOM . "When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE. "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you

Feeling Guilty?

Okay, strangest thing happened today. I came home after shlepping the boys home from a friends house (thanks super-Shauna :). There on the kitchen table was a new digital camera (for me). The Cap'n said 'do I have to have a reason?' At this point frankly, YES! Wonder what he's feeiling guilty about???
Good news is that hopefully I'll upload some new pics of my guys soon! We're dog-sitting my moms little yappie dog. Why do I seem to be the token dog sitter-especially for these pampered rat-dogs. Less than a month ago I took care of The Cap'ns aunts maltese. This dog was seriously high maintenance. I hope I always have something more to do than spoil a little furball. I'm paranoid about someone 'accidently' letting the little dog out and having to call mom and tell her, I've actually thought--when would I tell her? would I wait til she got home? I guess I'd better use the new camera to take a picture so I have something for the LOST posters!!

Food=Friend

Hi. Cheer up! I Miss you! You Rock! Oops! Messages from a friend you say? Of course--Hersey's kisses!!! Emotional eating is no longer subtle, these messages found on the little flags that accompany my chocolate friends have been ignored for so long that when I actually paid attention (instead of wadding it up with the silver wrapping) I was surprised!! Chocolate has always said good things to me but now with these and the wonderful messages on the wrappers of the decadent Dove chocolates they have taken emotional eating to a whole new level! YUM
Father's and son's outing was last night. Macho man took my older boys and left the 2yr old. You'd think this would be fantastic-a relief of sorts for me. So did I, until they came home. How many loads of laundry will it take to recover? Not sure, I'm still working on it because daddy had to go to work so mommy had 3 very tired whiney little punks all day. The meltdowns started early and are still going on. It's only 7:30 but I sent them all to bed already-I started baths at like 5 cause I knew it was gonna get ugly.
I finally planned out a menu today. For some reason I think there is less guilt attached to having mac'n'cheese for dinner if it's "on the menu" :) The weather has been beautiful, unfortunately that means the grass needs to be watered, of course that means it'll just grow and make more work! I'm ready to move. When we bought this place we wanted a 'big yard', how niave we were! I guess as long as the sun keeps shining I shouldn't complain. Schools going fine, aced my first RT test Friday, I'll see if I'm keeping afloat in math on Monday. 5 more weeks of math!!! (too bad there's so many formulas and crud in RT!) Oh well, I guess I don't mind math when there's a practical application-it's all of this "how many possible full houses are there in a normal deck of cards if you have 2 sevens and 3 eights?" Like I care-the only full house I care about is the one in my hand (or not)! Oh well, by the way the answer is :24 (if you care) Run on!

Back to Crazytown!!

AHHH! Finally I can take a breathe! Yesterday was so insanely busy! The little punks spent the day with grandpa in Salem. This worried me for many reasons. He had never changed a diaper for starters and there's the pond, the horse, the electric fence as well as all the common objects these guys can use to create bodily harm. Other than a sunburn they none the worse for wear! They mowed the lawn with the riding lawnmower and went out on the paddle boat and had an overall great time! I actually am very grateful grandpa is willing to have them for the day!
Then there was scouts and cleaning the church and dinner and relief society and dinner and homework and finally bed!
I took a math test today on logic-lame but anytime I can use my suduko skills and get credit for it is good!

Monday, Monday...

Early out days ruin my life. By the time I get Kyler to preschool it feels like it's time to go get J&J. As soon as they come home we turn around and get Kyler. Now I really should be fixing dinner but I really don't want it. Blogging is a great avoidance tool.
I should really have a menu planned. That takes planning and since I have time to blog I don't have the time or energy to plan a menu! (see how I justified my slacking:).
The new camera was a no-go. Each of the boys gave me new cool stuff for my bike. A flat tire repair kit (previously my cellphone). A multitool (what's that for?) and a cyclocomputer that will track how much I'm not riding it:)! It wasn't too bad. Macho-man came home sick from work Friday, then went to a movie with Keyan and then on a search & rescue call (until 730am). Of course he was too tired (and sick) to go to church. I should stop now-I can sense the resentment oozing onto the page! We went to the inlaws and stopped by my moms house and all in all it was a good mother's day.

Thank you to the Math Gods!

AHHH! My math final finally made its way to SLCC. It only took 11 days to get that 50 miles through our beloved USPS. It is done (A).
My respiratory classes started full bore yesterday. Did I say bore? They really aren't bad. We are given time to work on stuff in class which totallt helps me. I get so easily sidetracked at home. Our instructors are pretty casual about the lectures and insist they are there to help us.
We are coming to the end of school for the boys. Kyler only has one full week left and 'graduates' from preschool the next Wednesday. Maybe I'll post pictures since I asked for a new digital camera for Mother's day. Corey insists we don't need one because we have a big fancy-schmancy one he bought for christmas a few years back. I never use it. I want a point and shoot type. We'll see! Happy Mother's day to you all out there, love ya!

Okay, so I stopped by D.I. last night and I found a little bike like the one Jacob and Josh learned to ride on. It may even be the same one. Anyway it is very close to the ground and has wide tires so if it is nice outside today I might try and help Kyler learn today. He is very stubborn though so it will depend on his mood. Or I can clean out his room and drawers so he has some shorts to wear-not that he will. He doesn't handle change well, if I actually do my hair and it's not in a pony tail he tells me to go fix it. If I wear different earings he asks what is in my ears and insists I go change them. When I get him new clothes or shoes he insists-those aren't mine. One day he will grow out of the red dinosaur shirt he wears every other day so we'll have to work through that one. Anyway, off to the next adventure!

I am the luckiest stepmom!

I just got back from Keyan's soccer game. His team won, he really is a great player! He told me tonight he'd rather run for 2 1/2 hours than endure soccer practice for 2 1/2 hrs so I think he's glad that Thursday is his last game for the season. What a great kid! His game didn't end 'til 7:45 and he's supposed to be home by 8:30 (of course we were supposed to have him @5:30). His mom insisted we couldn't switch nights so we (me and the boys) went and got ice cream and took him back. He showed me his prom pics and they were sweet.
It's been crazy town at my house today! I went to school for orientation this morning and am excited! I then went and took the drug screen and went for a run (after I dropped off moms' laundry). Took a shower, Walmart, scouts, dinner then Keyan. Now I'm just kind of sitting here waiting for things to slow down so I can catch up.
Oh, more math drama. The math final I took last Tuesday is MIA. My proctor said she took it by hand in the envelope the school provided and dropped it in the mailbox at the city center. SLCC hasn't seen it. With a zero for the final I still have a 77% for the class but the hitch is that to pass the class you have to get 50% or higher on the miderm & final. What a pain! Math and I just can't seem to get along. Grades were due today so I hope something can be done before my head totally spins around !

One of those days

I had one of those days (okay, two). You know when you finally get everyone settled down and you think 'really, I obviously wasn't cut out for this!' Okay, maybe it's hormones (hate that excuse-but it's real) or stress 'cause REAL school starts this week or that Corey has been on shift since Sunday but I just feel like I am not as nice as I would like to be. I made Kyler wear pink Dora pullups (after he took the spiderman ones off) because he had like 4 accidents yesterday. Is that child abuse?? He eventually ripped them off too and went to bed in underwear. Colby is a little sassbox-wonder where he gets that and while it is kind of cute now it won't always be.
Wow-whine, whine, wine?(just kidding). I really have the greatest boys in the world, sometimes I just wonder if I deserve them. I mean, they deserve someone who knows what she's doing-so if you meet her let me know. Until then I'll fake it til I make it!!
It's finally beautiful and in the 70's outside, I wonder how witchy I'd be if it was still cold and gloomy? The sushine helps my attitude and as Scarlet says: "After all, tomorrow is another day!"

The stomach flu is upon us!

When I heard Jacob up in the bathroom this morning I knew something wasn't right. I went in in time to hand him the garbage can as he sat there. Corey is on shift today so we had to stay home from church. I usually really enjoy fast Sunday so I'm bummed. I've heard there's something going around so I hope it doesn't get the rest of us.
It's funny, Kyler's favorite show lately is Cinderella. He thinks the mice are funny and LOVES the fairy godmother. He plays magic wands with a pencil and Joshua, who of course spews Harry Potter spells. I told Joshua today 'no curses', he insisted they weren't curses, just chants. At what point does this Harry Potter thing become unhealthy? He just started book 7, this will be the fourth time he's read all 7 books.
Went for a nice long run yesterday afternoon, longer than I'd planned but my knee felt fine,until I slowed down for a cool down walk. It's the strangest thing. I'm sick of it. I started my official marathon training this week so we'll see if I can keep on schedule-20 weeks to 26.2!
The Jazz have the Lakers this afternoon, hope they can handle Kobe!

Bring back GLOBAL WARMING!!!

I am ready for some serious sunshine! Ready to feel the sting of the first sunburn and stick to my leather couches! What is this 50 degree business-I want 80's+! I took Jacob and Josh to the pool last night. They want to try out for the swim team and since we haven't been in the water since last summer I thought I'd better make sure they won't drown. I think Jacob will be okay but I'm still a bit worried about Josh-if he gets tired instead of dog paddling he holds his breathe and sinks til he touches the bottom and bobs back up for a breath. I told him he won't be able to do that when it's too deep! we'll see what happens though! After the pool I was starving so I took the boys to 'the barn' (JCW's). It isn't often I get the chance to be alone with my older guys and it was really nice. We came home and got into our cozy jamas and watched the Jazz beat the Rockets, Hooray!! I let the older boys stay up until half time-mistake I'll pay for until bedtime tonight. ATTITUDES! :( Swimming made me miss the summertime and I can't wait to bake in the hot hot sun!
Oh yeah, I went with Kyler on his preschool field trip to the Bean museum. We didn't lose anybody but those animals were probably more manhandled than they'd been in a long time. Amazing how many 4 yr olds don't understand 'don't touch!'

Booring!

Okay, it had been a while since I sat in a classroom for a math lecture. I'm used to doing stuff online and at my own pace so I read ahead to make sure I would understand the section. What a stinkin waste of time! Oh well, I can do anything for 7 weeks and I guess if I'm bored it's better than being confused.
My knee started hurting after my run on Monday so I bought one of those knee straps and I was able to run this morning. Hope it keeps working because bad knees are in my genes! I get to go with Kyler's preschool to the Bean museum tomorrow...can you sense my enthusiasm? Could be worse I guess. I'm not even going to mention the Jazz game--until it's over tomorrow. Not much else going on tonight. Love you all!