Christmas 2007

The boys were so excited for Santa to come but at 7 in the morning I finally went and woke them up (whatever happened to not sleeping all night). Jace was really wanting Santa to bring him a bike.... he already has 3 so I told him Santa probably wouldn't bring him that. Instead he got a remote control car and Riley got a fire truck. They were so happy. I got the shoes and perfume I had been wanting so I was pretty happy myself!

We then went up to my mom and dads and had breakfast and opened gifts. My grandparents came by and I was so happy, I very seldom get to see them.

Then it was off to Joshs mom and dads where the kids got even more stuff... we played games and ate late into the night!

Sledding

We went sledding on Sunday.... we are so hllbilly, anytime we get a 1/2 inch of snow we are like "woohoo... lets go sledding", and then we basically sled in dirt! But we went and for all who know me they know I HATE to be cold, so I wasn't even going to go but I am glad I did because it was fun.

Jace has no fear he would go to the top of the highest hill and jump on his sled and go down without any hesitation. Rylan on the other hand went to the smallest hill.

I went down a couple times and it was alot of fun!

A Christmas Program

Jaces had his annual Christmas program on Friday night. I love watching these kids sing... they are soooo cute. One kid stood up there and cried the whole time while his dad sat in the crowd videotaping him and another kept throwing his bell and running and picking it up.

We had a great time and it was a little hard for me since this is Jaces last year in preschool!

Blogging

I know I have been terrible about blogging. My home computer is way to slow to put pics up so I have to do it from my work computer and I have been so busy at work the little bit I have been there and also forgetting my camera that I just haven't had the time. I will get some stories up I promise including... Jaces Christmas Program, sledding and of course Santa!

Mothering Boys

I am the mom of two small boys. I never pictured myself having more than one son. I always pictured myself with at least one girl and of course, a boy. I mean, so many people think the ideal family is one of each gender; I was no different. I assumed God would see it my way and bless me with a boy and a girl. Obviously, the big guy had other ideas. Instead, I was blessed with two boys. It is pretty funny to think about because when it comes to girly-girls, I was it! I was a Barbie playing, doll loving, makeup-wearing, cheerleading, hates the dirt kind of gal! Seriously, if there were a picture next to the word "prissy" in the dictionary, it would have been mine! I was that much of a girl! I didn't like getting dirty, I yelled and ran away from any type of insect, I ducked at any ball thrown at me. I was "that girl" that so many other girls dislike. I was content to stay inside and braid my doll's hair, play with my Barbie Dream House, or read a good Sweet Valley High book, rather than join the neighbor kids outside. Outside meant dirty, and dirty wasn't something I enjoyed. Rarely did I join the other kids in a game outside, and when I did, I didn't stay long. Bugs, bug bites. Yuck. Do you get what I am saying here? I was a total girl! Then I had my first child…a son. I figured that soon enough, we would have another child and I would get my girl. Just like I had planned. We had our second child…a boy. Did I mention that we were not having any more children? So, that daughter thing wasn't going to happen. I can say in all certainty that my sons will not allow me to braid their hair, nor will they want me to sit down with them and play dolls or do makeup. I am fairly certain that their father would not allow me to do those things with them either. So, this girly-girl had to learn how to be a bit more "boyish". What has having boys taught me? It has taught me to loosen up. Am I still a girly-girl? I can be. I am just not as extreme as I once was. I have touched more worms and studied more spiders than I care to discuss. I have learned that the outside is full of possibilities and new adventures, especially when you are four and two. Seeing a turtle close-up is a cool thing! Watching geese fly overhead is amazing. Lying on the grass and looking at the clouds with a four year olds' hand in yours is like nothing I can explain. Who cares that the grass makes me sneeze or that I may get a little dirt on me? I can say in all honesty, that I don't anymore! What is it like being a mom to boys? I know that I have two rug rats who currently love their mom unconditionally. I have free hugs and kisses all day. I take great pride in the fact that a kiss from Mom can make it better when my boys are hurt. I know that I will love deeper for the rest of my life, thanks to those two little men. I will never be able to hear of a child being hurt, abused, lost, cold, sad, whatever, without thinking of my boys. I will never be the same. So, what has having two boys done for this former extreme girly-girl? It is very simple really, those two little boys have taught me to enjoy life in a way I have never experienced. They have opened up so many windows for me, windows that I would never have opened had I not had two boys for my children. I will jump in leaves, roll in the dirt and maybe even put a fish on a hook for my boys, and I will do it all with a smile on my face. Dirt, slime, bugs, you've all got nothing on me anymore!

Author Unknown

A Christmas Parade.... without Santa!!

On Saturday they had the annual Christmas Parade in Homedale.... it was sooooo cold!!! The boys were so excited to see Santa on the fire truck... however there was no Santa. Can you believe a Christmas parade with no Santa!! The boys were pretty bummed but they go enough candy to keep them happy.... and Aunt Julie almost got run over by a horse.... that was pretty funny!!!

A pup named...... Katey!

We got a new puppy this weekend!!! My Brother-in-law's 2 dogs had 18 pups and we have been tossing around the idea of buying one... but they were so expensive Josh couldn't imagine paying for a dog. Well he gave in and we got one... she is so cute. She is actually an investment because we are going to breed her and see how that works.

Thanksgiving weekend

This was probably one of the best weekends I have had in along time. On Thursday we had Thanksgiving at Joshs parents house ( my parents were on the Oregon Coast this year, so it was a little less hectic). After we got there Joh procedded to pull the turkey out of the roasting oven by just the bag, he got it about 1/2 way out before the bag gave out and the turkey came down with a crash. After seeing what the turkey looked like I had a really good laugh (I think I was the only one who laughed). Now I am sure this turkey still tasted great (I don't eat turkey, I am scared of it... another story for another time) but it looked horrendous, like it had been run over.

On Friday Josh surprised me and told me he had the day off, we took the boys to the Bee Movie (very cute) and spent most of the day in town. I found my dream car.. and really wanted to buy it but luckily for me Josh is the financially smart one of the 2 of us and he talked me out of it. I am very happy he did that, I don't need any higher of a car payment then what I already have.

On Saturday we left the boys with Joshs mom and just Josh and I spent the whole day in town Christmas shopping, we had such a good time! And we got the boys done!!

On Sunday we spent most of the day at home doing nothing, which really topped this weekend off!

He's 5!!!

I cannot believe it but my oldest turned 5 yesterday! He is growing up so fast. When I was little my parents always made sure that when it was your birthday it really was your special day, I try to do the same for my boys. Jace woke up bright and early and got to open his present from us..... TADA...... Heelys!!! He has been asking us for these for awhile and finally last month he just asked Josh if we would put some wheels in his boots and make them Heelys, for obvious reasons Josh told him no and we decided that he was going to great lengths to get this shoes. So we broke down and got him a pair. Actually my boss's grandson had outgrown his so we got a heck of a deal on these things... FREE!!

Jace had a great day and I am sooooo sad he is getting older. This morning I went to give him a hug and he pulled away from me.... sniff sniff. I said what you are 5 now and can't hug your mother anymore... he stated that was correct! These 5 years have gone by so fast. I laid in bed last night and fell asleep to rembering holding him in my arms for the 1st time, rocking him to sleep, the overwhelming feeling of love I felt for him as a 1st time mother, his 1st smile, his 1st giggle, the times him and I did nothing but lay on the couch while he laid on my chest... I would just turn the TV down and listen to him breathe, his soooo soft forehead, his 1st step, the 1st time he walked up to me and gave me a hug and said I love you momma. I know he is only 5 but man I miss him already!!!!!

Brides and Babies

Last weekend we had a super busy weekend. Baby Shower at noon, Bridal shower at 6 and Bachlorette party at 9.

I took the boys with me to the baby shower because I didn't really have a choice.... Josh had to work. Jace was very confused though because he thought his Aunt was going to be giving birth at the baby shower. He was very excited about the arrival of his new cousin. Once I explained to him that this was a time when we showered baby and mom with gifts he was even more excited that there was presents to open. So excited in fact that he refused to go shopping with his papa for his own birthday present. We all had a really good time and mom got alot of cool stuff!

I then was giving the bridal shower to my soon to be new sis-in-law. Funny story about buying the gift for her.... My BFF and I went shopping for her present with my boys...again no choice, Josh had to work. We went into Victorias Secret and my kids were absolutely obsessed with the manequins. We then went to Macys and again they couldn't quit touching them. Well Riley walked by and proceded to rub this "manequins" hind end..... only to realize it was not a manequin but a woman in fish net stockings. My BFF was laughing so hard she couldn't hardly move him away from her. We had a good laugh!!! Anywho - so we had the bridal shower (without kids) and had a great time. We also had an awesome time at the bachlorette party... but that is another story for another day and probably not on my blog that my mother reads!!!

So this weekend we are off to Reno for the wedding. The boys and I (who is scared to death to fly) and my very pregnant sis-in-law and my mother-in-law who has a bum knee are flying together on a plane..... that will be a story in itself I am sure!

A trip to the mountains

I keep forgetting my camera but I will put pics of this story up.

Last Saturday me and the boys headed to the mountains so they could see their dad, he had been gone hunting for 5 days and the boys were missing him soooo bad. We left at 8 am and headed out. The whole drive Jace was asking me "are you sure you know how to get there?" I informed him I was completely capable of driving us to the mtns. However in Eagle I made a wrong turn (big mistake when you already have 2 kids who don't think you know the way) and the rest of the trip all I heard was how Jace didn't think we were ever going to make it to see his dad. Well... we made it!

We spent about 4 hours up there and it was absolutely beautiful!!! We had lunch with Josh and just sat around the campfire and talked. We all had a really good time and the best part was the boys slept the whole way back so I didn't have to listen to how we may never find our way back home.

I look so purty!!!

SO last night while me and the boys were vegged out in front of the TV they decicded to do my hair and makeup. Now this process took them along time to do and they were soooo proud of there work. In fact they made me keep everything until Josh got home... so he could see how purty I looked. I was so afraid someone was going to show up at my door and see me like this.

I guess "purty" is in the eye of the beholder.

Halloween Party

My sister-in-laws put on a halloween party for the kids every year! They actually do a really good job at it and the kids always have a blast. This year was no exception. We had the party on Sat. and Jace woke up at 6:30 am ready to go... the party wasn't until 5 that evening so it was quite along day!

After we finally made it there.. the games began. Sack races to start off:

Then it was pin the nose on the pumpkin..... Riley actually did very well (I think he had an aunts help)

Uncle Jeff stole my tail and proceded to wear it around.... really did not go with his cost

Josh even shot a phesant (You might be redneck if you shoot a phesant in the middle of the kids halloween party). To which his brother exclaimed "Yeah Boys, were gonna have dinner tonight! (again.. you might be redneck... oh I don't need to go on)

We ended it all with a big bonfire... which I think only the adults enjoyed that.

The best days

I don't have any pics to post... mainly because I keep forgetting my camera. But I do have a cute story.

Yesterday after I picked the boys up from daycare we were driving home and a song came on... it was a country song and a girl singing about how she misses those days (referring to HS and her 1st love). Jace asked me, "Mom, why does she miss those days?" I thought long and hard and it took me back to HS and and my first love.... I started thinking about how much I missed those days and having no responsibility... just living life! I told Jace "she misses those days cuz they were the best days of her life", he asked me "what were the best days of your life". I thought really hard about this. I loved HS and everything it brought with it... I loved being so carefree and young. I responded to Jace by saying "These are the best days of my life... because I have you and your brother." He smiled at me and just when I thought we were making a very sentimental moment he said "Not always mom" and I said "What do you mean not always?" He replied "Me and my brother aren't always the best days of your life". I just started laughing... How insightful this 4 year old is. I told him some days are harder then others but this is still the best days of my life.... and I meant it.

Off to the Pumpkin Patch

Today we went to the pumkin patch with Jaces preschool class... It was so much fun and the weather turnd out to be beautiful. The pumpkin patch was right by the Snake River and was a beautiful view. First we got to go on a hay ride..... Which 1/2 way into one little boy exclaimed "This is the longest hayride ever", lol.

After the "longest hayride ever" was over we were taken out to the pumpkin patch and the kids were told they could pick out a pumpkin that they could carry out.... notice they used the word that "they" could carry out. After much searching for the perfect pumpkin Jace found one that was just right for him to carry out... Rylan also found one that he loved... however it was almost the same size as him. I told him he must find a smaller one... which upset him a bit but he went and found one more appropriate for his size.

The Farmer then led us to some apples... and they were soooo good I think I might have to go back and get a few more. The boys had an awesome time and I actually did to.

It will change your life

A friend of mine is thinking of having a baby. Basically her biological clock is ticking… she is now being forced to consider the prospect of motherhood. She asks me “Do you think I should have a baby?” “It will change your life,” I say carefully, keeping a neutral tone.
“I know, I know, no more sleeping in on Saturdays or talking spontaneous vacations.”
But that is not what I mean at all. I look at her trying to decide what to tell her.
I want her to know what she will never learn in child birth classes. I want to tell her that the physical wounds of childbearing heal, but that becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will be forever vulnerable.
I consider warning her that she will never read a newspaper again without asking, “ What if that had been my child?” That every plane crash, every fire will haunt her. That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die.
I look carefully at her manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub. That an urgent call of “MOM!” will cause her to drop a souffle or her best crystal without a moment’s hesitation.
I feel I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood. She might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think about her baby’s sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her child is alright.
I want my friend to know that everyday decisions will no longer be routine. That a 5 year old boy’s desire to go into the men’s room rather then the women’s at McDonald’s will become a major dilemma. That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester will be lurking in the restroom/ However decisive she may be in her own life, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother.
Looking at my attractive friend, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself. That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child. That she would give it up in a moment to save her offspring, bust she will also begin to hope for more years – not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish his. I want her to know that a cesarean scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honor.
My friends relationship with her husband will change but not in the way she thinks. I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is always careful to powder the baby or who never hesitated to play with his children. I think she should know that she will fall in love with her husband again for reasons she would now find very unromantic.
I wish my friend could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried desperately to stop war and prejudice and drunk driving. I hope she will understand why I can think rationally about most issues but become temporarily insane when I discuss the threat of nuclear war to my children’s future.
I want to describe to my friend the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to hit a baseball. I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog for the 1st time. I want her to taste the joy that is so real it hurts.
My friends quizzical look make me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. “You’ll never regret it,” I say finally. Then I reach across the table, squeeze my friend’s hand, and offer a prayer for her and me and all of the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this holiest of callings.

Dale Henson Bourke

Obviously I did not write this but it is one of my all time favorite storys I read before I had children and continue to read it on days I need a pick me up with the kids. I think it is one of the most true storys.

The boys are gone

So the boys left on Friday to go deer hunting. This is the 1st time my husband has taken our oldest (almost 5) son. I told Jace he could go but there was 3 rules he had to promise me to follow.... 1. Don't touch the guns 2. Do not wander away from your dad and 3. Do not go bouncing through the woods like a deer. Josh and Jace thought the 3rd one was pretty funny and started "bouncing" like a deer. I was very serious!!! So they took off on Friday and so far all I have heard is no deer ( I am secretly hoping no deer because I hate the taste of it.)



















So this weekend by BFF (her hubby is hunting to) and I painted my dining room.... I absolutely love it. Now I want to paint the rest of my house! Although I must say I do not like the painting and taping process one bit. After we were done painting we went SHOPPING and out to eat! I love hubby very much but weekends like this sure are fun every now and then!

Helping the house

We live in a house that is over 50 years old.. so maintenance is going to happen. As much as my husband can't stand "fixing" the house it is going to happen. The latest is the shower wall in the bathroom.. it was completely rotten. Literally if you pushed on it it was going to fall through so Josh spent the entire weekend replacing the wall.... which did not make him happy. He thought he had everything he needed but Sunday realized he had to go to Home Depot... and we all know going to Home Depot is alot easier if you go by yourself.... without a 4 year old and a 2 year old... but......

As you can see the boys were not going to let that happen!! So Josh headed off to Home Depot with both boys and I got a couple hours to myself. I love it when that happens!!

My next project is reapainting my dining room.. My kitchen is done in Sunflowers so I am painting it a light yellow... which is another issue with my husband because he asked me the other day "Yellow?? Like Bumblebee yellow?". He thinks it is going to look terrible. One wall in my dining room had wood paneling on it and I was so sick of it... so last night while Josh was still at work me and the boys started ripping paneling off.... with a fingernail file cuz that was all I could find.... Josh was not impressed with my choice of tools. It worked great until it broke! After we pulled off the paneling we saw that it was this horrible green underneath... I am telling you these people that built the house have no style whatsoever.

I am painting this weekend while hubby is gone hunting (so I don't have to hear how yellow is going to look horrible). I will post the results.

My Little Superheros

My boys love to dress up in anything that flys, crawls, shoots and so on. You would think that by now I would have learned to not buy their Halloween costumes more then 1 day before Halloween.. but NO.. every year I buy them as soon as I see them (afraid the cute ones may sell out) and then of course I have to try them on the boys to make sure they fit. And then I can't get them out of the costumes.

















Rylan has recently decided he likes to dress up like mom.. which by the way my husband does not find amusing in the littlest. After all he is a BOY! I think it is cute that he wants to be like me and am trying to cherish it because I know soon enough he will want to be just like daddy.. just like his brother is. ( Note how he has on my shoes and my purse)

I Love my boys

My boys are at a really fun time.. sometimes frustrating but always fun. I made the mistake of telling Jace the other day that I wanted to hold his hand because someday he would not want to hold his mothers hand... he responded by saying "always mom, I will always hold your hand." I told him that when he grows up and moves away to go to College he would proabably not want to hold my hand and this was where I made the mistake. He got very upset and said he did not want to move away and asked me why in the world I would kick him out of the house and make him live somewhere else. He even had nightmares about it. I explained that he could live here and long as he wanted and I would never "kick him out". I love that he still thinks I am perfect...

Rylan on the other hand is starting the terrible 2's.. he has started to yell at me to "change my diaper mom" or "get me something to eat momma" leaving out the pleases and thank yous. I have discussed with him several times that this is inappropriate behavior and that he will be in time out when he feels the need to scream at his mother but we all know it is very hard to reason with a 2 year old. But this time is also so fun.. I am trying so hard to hang on to that last bit of baby left in him. We have recently started potty training and it is very hard for me... just another milestone come and gone. My baby is almost toilet trained.....

A Trip to Hells Canyon

It was my mother-in-laws birthday this weekend and she really wanted to take a drive and get out of town. They have been remodeling there house for the last 4 months or so and she needed a break. Joshs family is rather large so going somewhere with all of them is never a small feat.

We all loaded up ( 4 cars) and headed out on Saturday at 9:00.. only 1 hour later then planned (hey we are getting better)

















Of course we couldn't make it out of the driveway without the boys yelling at each other.

We saw so many animals along the way
















Including this goat with a collar on it... don't see that everyday!

Josh was so excited to get to the reservoir so he could fish... that is all he had been talking about for pretty much the whole week and was determined to get there and fish as much as possible.

















But by the time we had stopped at the 5th or possibly 6th gas station along the way.. the excitement had left and the irritation had set in. Hey we were traveling with a pregnant lady!


We finally made it to the park and Josh went straight to his pole and put it in the water. he fished and fished and fished and finally it paid off.

















He caught a 3 inch fish with his 9 foot pole. Good job hunny!!! Thank goodness he doesn't have to catch our meals for us!

All in all we had a great day... we didn't get home until almost midnight that night but had such a good time.. and what a beautiful area!

Starting to blog

So this girl I work with blogs all the time.. one day in passing she gave me the link to her blog and she probably doesn't know it but I am addicted to it.. I love reading the latest in her life.
So - I am going to try this on my own. Wish me luck!