Turning two

My baby turns 2 on Saturday! I can't believe this has flown by so fast. It seems like such a short time ago I was spending my days at the hospital just so I could hold him and praying every night that he would be well enough to come home soon.
Now I spend my days taking pens out of his hands so he doesn't color on the walls and I spend half my day explaining to him that "cookie" is not one of the food groups and he needs to eat other things.
Wade is such a special boy he is so smart he can figure out almost anything he puts his mind to from pantry doors to playing with his brothers game boy to figuring out how to get the chocolate from the table. I am so amazed that he will sit and play with his toys and pretend to do everything from cook meals to kill bad guys. He is a sweet baby and I love him with all my heart so I guess that him being two shouldn't make me feel older but more blessed that he is part of our lives.

Something fun for the new year...

I am so excited for Jan 4th! That is the day my new belly dancing class starts, I am taking it with my Sister Cami and my Sister in law Cami ( I know think how confusing it is when you look at it all on paper.) I have been going to the gym and so far I have lost 25 pounds (YEA ME!!!) I am also doing a yoga class once a week and that is fun I enjoy the chance to relax and stretch. When I saw that the local community center was offering a 12 week belly dance class I jumped at the chance. I am not saying that this picture will look like me in 12 weeks but I think it will boost my self confidence and it should be a great ab work out not to mention that is should be pretty sexy. (Yea ME!!!)

CHRISTmas

I hope in all the craziness of the next 2 days we can all try to remember the real reason we are celebrating. It is easy when it all gets nuts with gift exchanges and cookies to bake and we have to hang out with family oops I mean get to hang out with family to forget that the reason the whole party is happening in the first place.
ST LUKE
CHAPTER 2
1 AND it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2 And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men

Merry Christmas

Top 10

The top ten reasons I haven't been here bloging like I should...

10 Babies choking... Wade had a choking incident with a piece of meat at dinner that resulted in a 911 call, a ride in an ambulance and a trip two 2 emergency rooms. He is fine he didn't have to have any sort of surgery and he wasn't without air for more than about 30 seconds but it was damn scary and not something I care to repeat.

9 Sick kiddos... We have had all 3 kids sick with the "flu" its viral so there is nothing that can be done but give the cough syrup and lots of love. I know they got it from me and I feel awful about it.

8 Sick me...I started this whole flu business but I am sure I got it from the rug rat at the emergency room when we took Wade. He looked like death but his mother kept letting him wander the room. I keep myself between him and Wade and I think that is why I got sick first.

7 quilts, quilts, quilts... For Christmas I made a quilt for each of the kids. In typical Carin fashion I started them 7 days ago.

6 Shopping fun and frivolity... I had to finish the last of the Christmas shopping for the kids and Mike. Okay I admit it I still haven't finished the shopping for Mike. What do you buy someone that thinks its and insult to get clothes for Christmas and buys any toy he wants for himself.

5 oh the weather outside is frightful... I get the "winter blues" when it gets yucky out then I don't feel like doing anything.

4 Its time to make the doughnuts... Well maybe not doughnuts but fudge, divinity, caramel corn, sugar cookies and cinnamon candy.

3 It's Christmas time and all is crazy!

2 It's Christmas time and ALL is CRAZY!!

and the number one reason I haven't been around much...

IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME AND ALL IS CRAZY!!!!!

Where did my little girl go?

My Miranda is becoming quite the young woman, she has always had a mind of her own about things but lately she is hitting the "tween" thing in a big way.
She has declared a ban on anything pink in her wardrobe she thinks that everything she owns should come from "Hot Topic" and be black.
she wants to wear makeup.
she wants high heels to go with her Sunday dresses and she doesn't wear tights she wears nylons.
She tells me about the "cute"boy at school .
she thinks she needs a cell phone
growing up is a good thing too...
she is also her baby brothers favorite person to play with.
she is willing to do chores for money.
she thinks about things a lot more she makes well reasoned decisions about the things she wants to do and the things she spends her money on.

Miranda has had it different than the other two kids being the oldest and being the only girl. In some ways she had parents that had no idea what they where doing so we did it by the book and had to learn what worked and what didn't. In the other aspect she is our "little girl" she got all the frilly dresses and cute dolls she could ever use.
I am glad she is growing up so well she loves her family, she loves the Lord and she trys to make good decisions. She is a friend to everyone and wants to save the world. I love my Miranda and I know that she is going to grow up to great and wonderful things.

If the liberals had there way at Christmas

By Kelly Bingham-

It appears that the Christmas spirit has run out for Jolly Old Saint Nick. Several groups and organizations are suing the Santa Clause, while others are calling for boycotts of North Pole products.

The Reverend Jesse Jackson, and other minority leaders, is calling for Santa to step down and resign his post due to racist comments made by Mr. Claus and his adherents. "This is just intolerable," Jackson stated in a press conference. "We cannot have a man in an authoritative position making such hateful remarks as, ‘I’m dreaming of a White Christmas’, or "May all your Christmases be White".

Equal rights advocates are calling for the boycott of goods made by North Pole Products, citing Santa’s blatant discriminatory practices. One activist remarked, "Santa is blatantly discriminatory and a segregationist. Sure, he delivers toys to good boys and girls, but have you noticed that he only delivers them to Christian boys and girls? By his act he is showing a pattern of discrimination against children of other faiths, such as Jewish, Muslim, and even atheist children."

A New Jersey man is suing Santa for an undisclosed sum of money. The plaintiff is accusing Santa of making him become unhealthily obese. "I used to be healthy and skinny," reported the plaintiff in a written statement, "then I saw pictures of Santa. He was fat, but he was so jolly and happy all the time. I wanted to be happy and jolly too, so I started eating and eating and eating. I’m now 360lbs, I have health problems, and it’s all Santa’s fault! He should have warned me that it’s not good to be fat."

A Maryland woman is pressing for Santa to be arrested on Assault charges. "It was awful. He was kissing me underneath the mistletoe last night. I didn’t want to, he forced himself on me. One minute I’m offering him milk and cookies and the next… well … it was just awful. And to make it worse my young child saw Santa kissing me. Do you know how traumatic that was for my child?"

Santa has also angered animal rights activists. Members of PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, are holding demonstrations in front of shopping centers and department stores where Santa is appearing to protest the inhumane use of reindeer. Pamela Anderson, celebrity spokeswoman for PETA lashed out saying, "Reindeer were not born to pull heavy sleds across the world. This sadistic use of cute harmless animals must stop now." Ms Anderson recommended Santa use a fuel powered sled, but this angered environmentalists who responded by saying added pollution by Santa’s sleigh would cause further atmospheric degradation, further deplete the ozone layer, and contribute to global warming. They suggest instead using a solar powered sled for his nighttime deliveries.

Finally, members of Amnesty International are investigating Mr. Claus for possible human rights violations. They are looking into reports that Santa’s workshop is actually a sweatshop being operated by an elf slave labor force. A representative of Amnesty International said that reports have been surfacing of elves laboring in extremely cold working conditions and earning small wages working very long hours. If such conditions are uncovered we then have to determine whether or not elves are human, and fall under the UN Human Rights act.

Santa could not be reached for comment.

Christmas photo shoot done!

Every year I swear I am not doing a photo shoot of the kids for the Christmas card. I have no patience at all so taking 3 hours to make them sit still long enough to get a shot makes me say bad words.
This year we added Wade to the mix and let me tell you if I thought getting the two older kids to sit still was hard I was sadly mistaken.
This scan turned out so much darker than the real picture but you get the idea anyway.
My idea was to have them all in Santa hats but try explaining that idea to a two year old. I have plenty of shots of him pulling the hat off and shoving it in his sisters face. They really are to cute for words and after I get "the Christmas card" shot then I remember why I do this every year.

Why doesn't it feel like Christmas?

I am trying to figure out why it doesn't feel like Christmas yet.
I have done all the "preparing"for Christmas things. I have put up the trees, I have hung the wreaths, put up the nativity, lit the peppermint smelling candle but somehow it just doesn't feel like Christmas. Mother nature has even helped out with a nice fresh coat of the white stuff and it's cold cold cold!
Maybe its something about getting older and the year has flown by so I don't feel it's late enough in the year to be Christmas. Maybe its my denial that I have almost no shopping done and usually I have it all done before Thanksgiving, maybe I am just having a hard time feeling the spirit of the season because I have a major attitude problem this year?
What ever the reason I am just going to keep plugging along doing "all the right stuff" and I think I will include reading some of the great Christmas books that are out now as well as reading the Christmas story in the bible. It wont get my shopping done and it wont make me more patient with the people in line at the Toys R Us but I hope it will put me in a better frame of mind for the coming month and help me to remember what this season is all about.

Let it Snow...

I love the first snow of the year! I like it even more when it waits until December to do it but after Thanksgiving is good. I love that when it snows it just seems more cozy. When its just cold and blowy it just seems dreary but throw in a couple inches of the white fluffy stuff instant Christmas card.
I don't even mind shoveling the first snow of the year, the rest of the year not my favorite thing but for what ever reason that first snow is fun to shovel. I think this probably says a lot about me I am like that about many things. If its something I want to do or if I think I have thought about doing it myself then I love it. Tell me I have to do something or make it feel like I have to do it and man I am going to dig in my heels and fight you hard. I guess I should work on that it isn't exactly the way to win friends and influence people, Its not exactly the way to get your one way ticket to the celestial kingdom either.
Anyway back to snow. I love it when its clean and fresh and new, when I have a cozy fire and a cup of hot chocolate. Its not my favorite after a couple days and its all dirty and nasty, don't even get me started on driving in it.

I thought long and hard about something clever to say to end my post today but nothing came so I guess you just get bye for now.

Worlds Greatest Dad!

This is my sweetie! (yes that's always the face he makes when his picture is being taken) Mike is the greatest!

That could be the end of my rambling but then that wouldn't be much fun would it.
Mike is an awesome dad for many reasons, This picture was taken when he took Austin to the air show at Hill Air Force base near our house. He knows all the planes (the numbers, what they do, who uses them, when and why they are used), he knows all the guns and the missiles and all that stuff I think is really boring but that his boys eat up.
He takes us all hiking and is able to tell the kids about the rock formations and he is teaching them to take care of the trails and make them better.
He is an AWESOME cook and for the last 11 years has done about 90% of the cooking at our house. He is willing to play short order cook and make everyone something they like which is why the kids like it better when he cooks.
He is the most supportive and loving person he is always encouraging the kids and me to be better, smarter people, to make the most of ourselves.
He works hard at his job and here in our home. With Mike everything he does he has to do right. (He over engineers and over complicates everything but when he is done its good.)
I love Mike! I love that he is such a good dad! I love knowing that we are going to be together forever.

Afternoon update...

Just when I had decided that all of humanity was a waste of space (I spent the day at the several grocery stores with 3 kids I think my opinion is justified)I see something that changes my mind.
While waiting at the stop light a couple cars back from the bottom of the off ramp to the freeway I saw a homeless man with a sign standing on the corner. The sign simply said hungry. As I sat wondering if I should find some cash to give the man a man in the car in front of me called him over handed him some cash and then gave him a takeout carton from a local restaurant. I am assuming this man in the car gave this poor homeless man his lunch. It made me cry. The man in the car didn't give up his lunch because he wanted to look like a hero, he didn't do it for a tax write off, or because he wanted everyone to know what a generous guy he was he did it because that man was hungry and he had something he could do about it.
I hope I can remember to have a more Christ like attitude when it comes to the human race even after Sam's club with 3 kids in tow.

Why do I even bother...

To send my kids to school on a week we have a holiday? I didn't today I figured they could watch cartoons and eat crap at home and I didn't have to get dressed to drive them to school to do it. Does this make me a bad mom? I guess when it comes down to it I have a tolerance for the school system but over all I am not thrilled with it.
I am tired of teachers around here complaining that they don't make enough money when the way I see it they don't do a whole lot. They get every holiday off and usually don't bother to do anything in the week leading up to the holiday. They get the whole summer off. They have "short" day on Wednesdays and have short days at least once a month plus a day off for "teacher work day". I think its a load of you know what that they complain they don't make enough! They make as much as any other college graduate and have total job security try to find that in the "real" world.
Who wouldn't want a job that you have a minimum of 3 months vacation, work Monday to Friday, 7 hours a day, get anywhere from 1 to 7 days a month off for some holiday or "work"day, get to go home early every Wednesday, you can send home anything you assigned but didn't feel like doing with the kids so mom and dad have to do it, and make 40 grand a year.

Okay I know that this isn't the case with every teacher in every school district in every city in every state. However it has been my experience with teachers while going to school and now with sending my kids to school. I am grateful for the teachers my kids have had that truly care about the kids and teaching them something. I am grateful for the time and energy those teachers put in they should be paid more. But it doesn't work that way see teachers have a union and heaven forbid we pay the ones that do a great job more and get rid of the ones that are incompetent. I know several teachers and the men and women I know are of the they deserve more kind unfortunately they don't teach where my kids go to school and where my kids go to school they could use a good old fashion house cleaning when it comes to teachers.

What is a Squirrel?

Scientists believe that squirrels appeared early in message board history, During the Two Peas in a Bucket Era.
Squirrels are some of the most popular and easily recognized animals because of their curiosity, liveliness, and all night gab sessions.

Squirrel behavior has been heavily influenced by the animal's dependence on certain foods. Diet Coke/Pepsi, chocolate (especially Canadian and German), Smarties, Marzipan and Salt and Vinegar potato chips.
A good memory and a keen sense of smell help squirrels find and retrieve the food hidden from squirrel children.

Second only to food in importance for squirrel survival is the availability of scrapbook supplies
A squirrel usually has more than one scrapbook store and can move quickly to an alternate scrapbook store if threatened.

Most people enjoy squirrels as neighbors and want to protect them.
Many species of tree squirrels may become used to people and seem quite tame. Squirrels should not be kept as pets, however, because of their wild nature.
I enjoy the squirrels I know a great deal they are a huge part of my life and I am so glad they are. I hope they are a part of my life for a long long time to come.

Medieval Torture?

I hate the dentist! I think they are evil!
That being said I need to go I have a tooth that is making the whole side of my face ache. One would think in the 2 or 3 thousand years that the art of dentistry has been being practiced that they could have found a way to not cause as much pain as they are trying to help? I have to wonder if the ADA doesn't have some sort of test to make sure only sadist become dentists? Do you suppose that leaning on the needle until it feels like its coming out your cheek is a required class or just an elective?
love to type more but I must go medicate.

It's Finally Friday!

I am not really sure why I wait for Fridays to come along. I find that my weekends are the busiest time of the week. Most Saturdays I don't stop running from early to late and don't even get me started on Sundays.
This Saturday will be different however because I have cleared my calendar so we can go to the new Harry Potter movie, We have had tickets for a couple weeks now and every time I get in my wallet to get something I see them and giggle.
I love the Harry Potter books, I love them more than the movies but the movies are pretty dang good.
I love to read, reading is a great escape for me. I feel like I climb into someone's else's life when I am in a good book. I am sad when something sad happens, I am thrilled when something good happens, I mourn for the loss of these wonderful people in my life when the book is over. I don't get that as much with a movie, maybe because I have to many outside distractions at a movie. Kids wanting popcorn, or for me to explain the plot, it's always to cold at the theater and so that distracts me, there is always someone who has seen the movie first and wants to tell the person next to them what is going to happen next, or the guy who's cell phone rings right at the climax of the whole movie spoiling the mood.
Don't get me wrong I love a good movie, I love to eat greasy popcorn dripping with fake butter and salt (my arteries are clogging just thinking about it!), I love to take a step away from reality for 1 hour and 59 minutes, I like to snuggle up to my sweetie and put my cold hands on his tummy my head on his shoulder and escape to another world.
I know that the kids will enjoy this movie as much as I do for a lot of the same reasons but mostly I hope that they enjoy going out as a family and having a good time. That when they are older and they think about our family they remember the fun we had sitting in line to get the very best seats we could and giggling at the people that came in costume but mostly I want them to remember that we shared time together and it was good.

Typically Two

Our Wade he will be two on December 31st and he is already two in every way. He will keep busy for hours with Matchbox cars or he chases the cat around the house just so he can give her a hug. He is demanding, loud, throws fits and hates to bath and I wouldn't want him any other way.

Some of my favorite "wade-isms"...
-When he sings along with the Barenaked ladies "It's All Been Done".
-When you come home he tackles your knees and screams "Mama".
-The answer to every question is "NO!" even when he is shaking his head yes.
-How much he loves his sister. When we pull into the parking lot at the school he sings the Miranda song while we wait. It goes kinda like this "Unda,unda,UNDA!!!,unda".
-When He and Austin play cars together and they are both on the ground pushing little cars going "brrrrrrummm brrrrrrummmm".
-He is totally fearless! He climbs the stairs, our bed, his high chair, he dives into the chair in the living room when he is standing in the dining room, he loves the slide, he loves when daddy swings him, he will stand on your shoulders if you let him.
-I love that he loves spicy food. He will eat chips and salsa that makes grown men cry, he eats curry, he loves mint and cinnamon. My baby the hot head! I couldn't be more proud.
-He wants to read and will sit next to me while I read a book and read one of his own. He turns the pages and says "nice" at each page.

It took a lot to bring our Wade into this world at times I thought I was going to die before this pregnancy was over but he is so worth every thing I went through. He is such a gift and a blessing in our family we love him with all our hearts and souls. I couldn't imagine life with out our Wade.

Gratitude

I know its corny and expected near Thanksgiving to talk about gratitude but it has been on my mind a lot the last week or so and I wanted to share a few thoughts.
I received a gratitude journal and on the cover is this wonderful quote unfortunately the person that put them together didn't attribute it to anyone. I will share it with you and maybe someone can tell me who it is...
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend, Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow."
I loved that! I am reminded I have so much to be grateful for, a free country, a loving family, a warm home, awesome friends and pants that are 2 sizes smaller than the last pair I bought.
Thomas S. Monson said "Let us have gratitude for our friends
true friends put up with our idiosyncrasies. They have a profound influence in our lives" I feel like I have some "true" friends and I am grateful for them I hope they know that is the case.
I have a great family they make me crazy but they are wonderful.
I hope during this Thanksgiving we can all remember we have so much to be grateful for and remember to give your sister a hug even if she got away with everything growing up cause she was the youngest and your were the oldest, Give some money to that man standing on the corner even if you are sure it is going to pay for the BMW he has parked around the corner, Be thankful for the fire in your oven from the turkey at least you have an oven, but most of all be grateful and remember to thank your Father in Heaven for all we have.

Gratitude expressed to our Heavenly Father in prayer for what we have brings a calming peace a peace which allows us to not canker our souls for what we don't have. Gratitude brings a peace that helps us overcome the pain of adversity and failure. Gratitude on a daily basis means we express appreciation for what we have now without qualification for what we had in the past or desire in the future. A recognition of and appreciation for our gifts and talents which have been given also allows us to acknowledge the need for help and assistance from the gifts and talents possessed by others
Robert D. Hales

Welcome to Cyberspace...

It had to happen sometime and I suppose now is as good a time as any. I have been bitten by the Blog-bug so I thought I would give it a whirl. I am not promising that it will be clever or thought provoking, I don't even promise it will always be spelled correctly but it will be my thoughts, my family and my life.