HE'S GOT PERSONALITY

I took the burb to get the alignment done today and while we waited we went to Taco Bell, across the parking lot, for some lunch since I realized I had been so busy since I got up that I hadn't eaten yet today and it was after 1. Anyhow I got AJ and Levi taco supremes and AJ started complaining about it having tomatoes. Our conversation went like this
Mom, " you need to eat the tomatoes to be strong."
AJ, " I don't want to be strong."
Mom, "oh."
AJ, " I'm just going to be a big man."
Mom, " Big men eat their tomatoes."
AJ, "this one doesn't"

At this point the 10 people also eating there busted up laughing. I'm glad we provided them some humor. Anyone who knows me knows I don't give up easily so later when AJ asked why the high chair he insisted on sitting in had a step on it I said it's for little boys who aren't strong enough or big enough to climb up because they don't eat their tomatoes. He gave me a withering stare that I don't think a four year old should possess. He didn't even acknowledge my effort verbally, his look said it all. Needless to say, he picked off all but 2 tomatoes. I still won though because later when he wanted his candy he got rejected since he didn't eat his tomatoes. His retort, I ate 2 of them. I'm fairly certain I'm in trouble with this kid.

WONDERFUL WEEKEND

On Friday R took the boys to the Father and Sons campout. I think it was so cool that it fell on Fathers Day weekend this year. He planned to take them all but settled for the older 3, I wanted him to enjoy it and go back next year. Levi wasn't quite ready even though he thought he was and kept promising to behave if R took him. They had a great time and came back very dirty with lots of stories of roasting hot dogs and "giant marshmellows" and R's "awesome" dutch oven cobbler. My fave story was AJ's most important ( to him) accomplishment... He "pooped on the back of a log". R sent me a pic of the event but I decided against sharing it. I probably will print it out though because AJ's cheesy grin is priceless, I'll save it for future extortion needs. While they were gone I got to go to the temple. It was such a great experience and definitely refilled my spiritual well. Today was my first Sunday doing Presidency stuff since last week I still needed to teach my class. I felt like a fish out of water. I haven't been in senior primary since Levi was born and of course it's a completely different group of kids. I'm pretty pleased, I knew most of the kids by name or at least last name. I'm so grateful for this new opportunity and the blessings it has already brought to my family!!!!

WHAT A KID

On most days, AJ makes me absolutely crazy. He'll deliberately and completely outright disobey and when I ask him why his answer is often, "because you didn't see me". SOOOOO very vexing! Sometimes he just makes me laugh he can be so silly. Sometimes he actually does sweet things and can be just a darling. I'm hoping that as he gets older, he turns 4 in just over 2 weeks, he will grow sweeter and less infuriating. I'm telling you, sometimes I wonder how he's lived this long and if he'll make it to 4.

FOLLOWIN' IN DAD'S FOOTSTEPS

I was watching my friend's sweet little girl last week and AJ was instantly attached to her. Unfortunately He and Levi were equally enamored with her and this caused a great deal of arguing. I'm certain this won't be the last time they fight over a girl. She was completely oblivious to the attention and happy to go wherever they took her, in the back yard, on the couch to watch Dora, into their room to play... you get the idea.

My fave was when they sat down and he very casually put his arm around her and she didn't even notice/care.

GROWING UP SO FAST!!!

Video to follow but... AJ mastered riding a two wheeler without training wheels today. My superstar husband ran along side him all the way to the park and then in the park off and on for all of Caleb's practice and then all the way home again. I estimate about a mile each way but Ryan says not quite that far. Anyhow today we went on a bike ride with Kelli and her boys and about half way through while riding in my trailer AJ announced that he wanted to go home so Dad could take off his training wheels. So... after our ride and some needed park time, we did and He went straight upstairs and got Ryan up and out to the garage to help him. Fast forward to this evening and he was riding alone before they got to the park. My kids have the greatest dad ever! I could never run with them like he does and so far he has done it with 3 of the 4, Levi is still too little, on the first try/day. He gives them the confidence they need and they are off and riding. AJ is so excited and his face was just beaming. He wouldn't let Ryan rest, he wanted to keep riding and riding and riding. Thank Goodness, maybe now he won't fight with Levi over his trike anymore!

HOW DO I EXPLAIN IT TO HIM?

We were at Fry's the other day and parked at the end by the garden center. This is the end close to the Vet where we had to put Ricky down last year. Everytime I think AJ has forgotten or understands he says something like he did this day. When we were leaving he told me he wanted to go to the vet and get Ricky back. It was all I could do to hold back the tears right there in the parking lot. I guess because I still feel guilty for putting him to sleep, I wish we could have kept him comfortable longer and kept him longer. We stopped there and I explained, again, that Ricky wasn't there anymore. His body was buried and his spirit is in heaven and we can see him when we get there. I reminded him that Ricky isn't hurting anymore and is playing in water and running around and keeping Gramma and Papa company. He said he wants to go to heaven with Ricky. I didn't know what to say so I just said that someday he will, when Heavenly Father is ready for him to. Even now just thinking about it I'm trying not to cry because I don't want to get them going again. He was such a great dog, he deserved better than to suffer for so long but I still miss him. I don't know what to say to AJ to help him understand better.

THE LAVA TUBES

On our way home from UT we stopped in Flagstaff for a night. I LOVE camping, it's so relaxing and free for the kids to be able to play and make noise and run all over and just be boys. That being said, a night in a hotel was welcome after sleeping with spiders for 3 nights. The next day we went to the Lava Tubes. This was as far as AJ would go even with flashlights. It didn't help that it was downright COLD in there and we were not prepared for that.AJ had plenty of fun climbing on the rocks outside of the cave in the daylight.

Caleb loved it.

Jake loved it too.

Summer Hike

Jake is working on his Wolf and wants to have it done by the end of the summer so for his hike yesterday he got to do the flag ceremony to finish one of his requirements. I am so proud of him. We got up at 430 to meet the other scouts at 530 to hike. AJ and Levi and Caleb went also. We hiked about 2 miles I think. Another testament to the incredible people in our ward, even with AJ whining the whole time, despite promising beforehand that he would walk if I let him come, noone was nasty and so many people offered to carry him and Levi so that I wouldn't have to do it the whole time. The boys all had a great time climbing and socializing. Caleb asked if we could go again today... NO. it's TOO HOT!!! I'm still glad we went. It was worth it. In all the times I've been hiking there, this was the first time we saw wildlife, we saw 2 large mule deer. They were awesome, not at all afraid but very aware and watchful of us watching them. Maybe they were just too hot to run away out of the shade!!!

NIFTY FIFTIES FUN!!!

Have I mentioned how much I love our ward? Just in case I haven't... It's the best ward EVER!! Last night we had a 50's dinner at the diner complete with a classic car show in the parking lot. Our boys dressed the part. Aren't they awesome? The entertainment was stellar. I'm not sure what was my favorite part of the evening, they were all so good, the girl group singing "You Don't Own Me", the swing dancers or April and Amy with their husbands singing "I Need a Man". I think it was probably the hula hoop contests. The Bishop, Brother Proctor and and Brother Lindsay were awesome. Caleb was also in a hula hoop contest. When he was finished I said, "Caleb I didn't know you could do that!" He said, "I couldn't!" His grin was awesome to see. I love his smile. All the entertainment was so great, as you can tell by Levi's, AJ's and Jake's rapt attention. I love our ward. I love our town. Where else do you get tractors at a classic car show? Where else do you get horses riding down the street in front of the church afterwards? The food was great, the party was great for kids and adults, the cars were awesome. We all had so much fun, we stayed up way past the boys bedtime but when we left I asked if they all had fun and got a unanimous YES from the back seat.

Runaway

I remember "running away" most every morning when I was little in protest of the daily oatmeal breakfast that I despised. Can you blame me, what kid wants to eat plain oatmeal everyday? Anyway, today AJ got mad that I wasn't making the pasta salad for dinner that he asked for, as I was putting taco salad fixins on the table for dinner mind you. Never the less, he informed he was running away and he walked out the front door. He meandered his way onto the sidewalk and I went outside to clarify. He restated, he was running away to Texas. I said maybe you should have dinner first, it's a long way to Texas, no he said to me. I said well at least tell your dad goodbye, he'll miss you when your gone. Okay he says, so he came into the house to tell Ryan goodbye. Then he decided to stay for dinner after all, at his big brothers urging since it is quite a long way to Texas they reinforced and he might get tired and hungry. Caleb reminded him he would be far from me but he wasn't all that concerned about that and said I could drive him to Texas. Then he asked me to blow off his rice since it was too hot. I said well I think you should practice since after you run away I won't be there to do that for you. He pondered that for a minute and then decided not to run away after all. Smart kid.

AJ is so serious

So, AJ is finally at the age that he can comprehend some manners and etiquette. As most any mother can attest, it's difficult to go to the bathroom without an audience and you can only hold it for so long. Our bathroom is jack and jill style so when I lock one door he runs around through our bedroom to the other one. There's nothing quite as exasperating as a kid crying at each door because they can't get in. Poking toes under the door can only entertain them for awhile. He finally gets that mommy needs privacy. Anyway AJ's vocabulary is expanding quickly but not always politically correct. So he locked me out of the bathroom then bellowed for me to "wipe my butt". I said, "I can't the door is locked, why did you lock the door?" He said, " I need my privates" I think that is my favorite AJ quote. He is also a great listener/mimic. My mom's line when the boys are misbehaving is "look at my face, I'm not smiling, I'm not laughing." Last week Levi was doing something AJ didn't want him to do, I missed what since I was making lunch in the kitchen at the time. I walked into the room in time to hear AJ say to Levi, "no no Levi, look at me face, I no smiling, I no laughing." After I managed to not laugh at his completely serious chastisement I thought to be ecstatic that he wasn't beating him up like usual. He is such a joy and I love them all so much. I make sure to comment on his loving behavior to his brother and tell him what a good brother he is, yesterday he told Levi, " your such a good brother Levi". At least when he is reminding me of what I do wrong he still reminds me what I do right. Besides his darling personality, how do you not love his fashion sense?

More antibiotics

Back to the Dr. today for AJ. Still has an ear infection but we see the ENT on Friday to talk about a third set of tubes, poor guy. He is such a trooper. It amazes me how he can be so cheerful when I know he hurts so bad. I'm sure it's because he is used to pain, having endured it his whole life, between the reflux, the ears and his RAD. He is such an example, only when the pain gets really bad or he is really tired does he get clingy or crabby. Thank goodness Ryan is so understanding and tells me to just sit with him and cuddle him, he needs me and not to worry about the house. I am so thankful for my men, all 5 of them. Everyday they teach me something new or remind me of a lesson I still need to work on be it patience in trials or adversity, cheerfulness, kindness, love, you get the picture. Today Caleb came to me with a handful of pennies and reminded me that his school is doing pennies for patients. He then informed me that he is taking all of his savings from his piggy bank to donate. He is such an example of generosity and selflessness.

Rockin out

The boys favorite game is rock band. It has survived despite the fact that they left the drumsticks laying on the floor and one of the dogs ate them. They had another set but have broken the tips off of them and of course left them laying and have no idea where they are so now they have resorted to playing with their hands or ping pong paddles, my personal favorite. I came upstairs and this is what I saw. Caleb is awesome totally rocking out and getting down. AJ cracked me up getting right up there with him. Jake was totally absorbed in his serious concentration. I'm just glad they are actually playing together and not fighting.

I love Sundays

Well I haven't mentioned that last week during Jake's birthday party our second counselor called and asked if my husband was home... He came over after the party and called us BOTH to be in the middle nursery. Ryan said, "I warned you if you sub'ed for them this would happen. I think he was surprised he got called in with me though. Anyway, our ward has a HUGE primary, there are 2 of many classes and 3 nurseries. We are very blessed. I admit at first I was not as happy about the call as I should have been, I was looking forward to going to relief society. I changed my attitude and I'm enjoying my calling and I'm enjoying having Ryan in there with me. He is great with those kiddos! He knows all of them by name and plays with them and can calm down the criers easily. He is phenomenal. I love him so much and I admire him. I am enjoying watching him with all of these little angels. Today was a great Sunday, although it started out a bit rough. Getting 4 boys ready for 8 am church takes a great degree of organization and preparation. I wasn't as prepared as I usually am simply because of the baptism yesterday. I didn't have time to rewash and iron the boys white shirts so they had to wear short sleeved ones instead. Also I overslept which wouldn't have been an issue except I had to dress more than myself. Thankfully Jake and Caleb are older and immensely helpful. AJ wants so much to be like them that he does his best also. Levi has at least 4 teeth coming in, those are the ones I can see, so needless to say he was crabby but after church we all took naps and that was delightful. The evening, post nap, went happily. Jake made dinner, it's for his Faith In God award. He was so proud and cute with his mac and cheese and peas on the table that he even set. I LOVE MY FAMILY!!! I can't even attempt to count my blessings, my basket is overflowing.

SOME GOOD DIRTY FUN

Today I was trying to clean up and get some stuff done so when AJ and Levi went outside to play in the sandbox I was content. That lasted for about 2 minutes until I heard the water come on. I quick ran outside but it was too late, AJ had the hose in the sandbox and was "making mud". I decided that it was too late to stop the damage so I let them play and planned to hose them off when they were done, thankfully it was a warmish day. I did make him put his underwear back on since he being AJ, was naked again and jumping into the mud hole. I remember when I was little, playing in the mud with my brother and it was good fun so who was I to rob them of the fun?

Too Cute

AJ walked into the room this morning to show me his situps. It was so cute I had to record it. Being the goofball that he is, he was all too happy to oblige me in my request to repeat it for the camera. I don't do true situps but Jake and Caleb had their school fitness testing recently and afterwards Caleb was eager to do pull ups from the bunk bed. I wonder if sit ups were part of his exercise routine that I missed. I love them so much, they are so candid and funny.

WHAT A DAY!!!

Well... Risa has decided she isn't going to be mother of the year. I'm pretty sure I won't either. Up until now I have managed to avoid stitches for any of my boys, we have had some close calls but today was the closest. Levi was sitting in my lap at the computer while I checked my email and looked up a recipe. Quicker than any adult could be he reached up and grabbed the cord for the speaker for the computer. Ryan had put it up on top of the hutch to listen to a cd earlier. Anyway, he yanked and in less than a blink the thing came down on his forehead. It's actually pretty small but it must have hit him just right because it split his forehead open and like all head wounds, blood started gushing. My old lady reflexes weren't fast enough to stop the chain of events but I jumped up for a towel. Jake and Caleb saw the blood running down his face and started screaming, "He's bleeding Mom!" Now Levi is screaming, Jake and Caleb are screaming and I'm yelling at them to calm down. I got them calmed down and they each got me the wet towel I had asked for, what good helpers, since the paper towel was already bloody. When I got the blood cleaned off it was just a little cut, long story short, I put a steri strip on it to butterfly it. I figured that would be less traumatic for him than taking him in for what they would likely only close with dermabond. It seems to be working. Anyhow, while I am holding pressure, did I mention head wounds bleed ALOT, Jake and Caleb went outside to play with their new Nerf dart guns, thank you uncle Sean. AJ as usual had stripped naked and went into the bathroom to get his pants on so he could go out also. I'm still holding pressure remember. I notice that he is much too quiet and has been in there for a couple of minutes so I sent Jake in to investigate. Good thing. He had seen Ryan's razor, I'm not sure how that transpired. He decided to shave. Jake brought him out bleeding and holding his face. Here is where I had to hold it in and not FREAK OUT!!! Seriously two toddlers bleeding from unrelated causes. WHAT THE FREAKIN' HECK!!! This is where the magic mom hands come into play... still holding pressure on Levi's forehead which had slowed to an ooze finally, I cleaned all the blood off of AJ and thankfully, he had only cut his lip. We had to talk about why Dad shaves and he doesn't. It looks like the steri strip is doing it's job and you can barely see AJ's cut lip now. Does this stuff happen to other people? Other than the late afternoon excitement, it was a good day. Seriously.

INDIANA JONES

Anyone who knows my boys knows they are an adventurous bunch. Yesterday AJ and Levi went out into the backyard to play but within moments the fun hit a snag. AJ tried to swing from a rope that was tied to the fort. I'm not positive but I'm pretty sure he tied it up there. Anyhow it didn't go well as you can imagine. He was crying and kept repeating "Jones do it, Jones do it." He apparently saw some scene where Indiana Jones was swinging on a rope/vine. I tried to explain that it was TV and he can't do it. He still insists Jones do it and so can he. Looks like he is following in his brothers' foot steps.

Another week come and gone

I missed church again this week. This time it wasn't because my kids were sick or because we were out of town. This time it was because my boys are all boy. Yesterday AJ was playing at the park with his brothers. I was in the front yard washing the truck and mom was over watching all of them while I did. She got busy with Levi for a second and in that second AJ does what he has done many times before at home on a smaller slide and rode his radio flyer down the slide. He hit the bottom and fell off, cried for a minute and got up so fast that in the 10 seconds it took to get to him, he was already up and going back down for another try. Fast forward to later in the evening a couple of hours and he is whiny and limping. Insert the music here, DUM DUM DUM DUMMMM. He kept saying his leg was broken but since Jake and Caleb say their arm/leg is broken evertime they get hurt I figured he was mimicing(is that spelled right?), anyway I didn't worry too much. I did the nurse thing and moved it and felt for swelling, heat, crepitus etc. None of the above. I gave him motrin and put him to bed. Fast forward to this morning. He has been crying all night everytime he moved or was moved and still limping this am so I took him to the emergency room. Let me just say, 4 kids in the ER on a Sunday morning is almost as painful as the $125 copay. Four xrays and 2.5 hours later, no break. I don't know if it's just a pulled muscle or deep bruise I can't see but after a hot bath soak tonight he was finally not crying everytime he moved it. Life with boys is never dull that's for sure. Thanks to my mom for helping me and especially for coming over today so that I could take a nap this afternoon. so this video is what they were doing but on a bigger slide. This weekends slide is half that size and not so steep.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Buddha Belly

Out of the mouths of babes...OK...I always tease AJ about his buddha belly when I tickle him. When he wants me to tickle him he pulls his shirt up and says buddha belly only in AJ speak it sounds more like boooda bedgy. Anyhow I know I slacked off on exercising and watching what I eat during the holidays but I'm back on track now and AJ reminded me why I'm working so hard. The other morning while I was sitting at the table eating my shredded mini wheats he pulled up my shirt and said "you boooda bedgy." I said no I don't have a buddha belly and he very firmly said "yes, you boooda bedgy". That's great. Needless to say I have really gotten back to my routine this week and have ridden my bike and or done my PT workout everyday except yesterday, I took a break because my legs were dead from the day before. So... my new years resolutions...? First, be more patient with my kiddos. I want them to have fun memories and that means I need to let them be kids and clean it up later. Second, make memories with them. Third, tone up and slim down. I'm down to my high school size, I want to be down to my college size or at least in between the two. I'm keeping it simple and I think I can make it.