Happy Birthday Kelly!

I just wanted to pay tribute to my beautiful youngest sister, Kelly today. It's her birthday today and I can't believe she's 14! I still remember her birth like it was yesterday and remember how sweet it was to take care of her during the night the first week of her life so Mom could catch up on some much needed rest. You've grown to be a beautiful young lady and I'm so proud of you! Happy Birthday!

Who says boys can't be culinary

I almost gave up on my kids be handy in the kitchen. Last weekend we decided to have some fun making gingerbread boys since one of our favorite Christmas books is a classic that Greg had when he was a boy called "The Sweet Smell of Christmas." The book has a little bear who smells all kinds of wonderful smells to remind him that Christmas is almost here. Gingerbread boys happens to be one of them. I thought it would be a fun family tradition to make Gingerbread boys every Christmas, and so this tradition begins. Dawson had a blast decorating his cookies - he worked on them for 1/2 an hour! Everett loved eating them - that took about 2 minutes! Sidney is too young for Molasses, so she'll have to wait this one out until next year! We had fun and because I made the dough one day and cut, baked and decorated the next day it didn't seem to take forever. Well, maybe just a little less than forever. Though I wouldn't say its as easy as making chocolate chip cookies, I'm learning more patience to foster the culinary skills of my children.

Another birthday come and gone. . .

Just wanted to let everyone know that I don't feel as old as I look, or should that be I don't look as old as I feel. Okay, maybe the later is more true these days - at least I hope! Raising kids in your 3rd decade of life is definitely not as easy as it probably is in your 2nd decade, but I'm not complaining. I just wanted to tell any and all who read my blog that I'm proud to be 35 and have 3 beautiful young children under the age of 6! I was at the dentist the other day and I told the receptionist that I had 3 kids. She then asked me if Dawson was my youngest kid. Boy, did I feel old then! Here's to living a better 2nd half of my life with 35 years of wisdom under my belt!

Train Ride

When my kids behave well or do random acts of kindness, they get to put sparkle balls into a jar. About a month ago they filled the jar which meant they got to choose a fun activity to go do. So they asked to go on a train ride and we finally figured out a time that would work. So we jumped on the Metrolink in Laguna Niguel and rode the train up to Santa Ana and back. It was actually pretty relaxing and of course the kids had a good time. Dawson said he wanted to take another train trip that lasted all day. Maybe we'll take a train to Utah one of these days. That would be an adventure!

Tagged

So a few people tagged me about a month ago and I haven't gotten around to posting the 7 or so interesting (or not) things about me until now. Sorry! I would tag someone else I know, but I just don't know anyone else who hasn't already be tagged. I'm sure all have forgotten about this and something new has come up, but for those DYING to read something new on my blog, here it is. . .

1. My entire life I've done everything possible to avoid being embarassed. How lame - some of the funniest stories a person can retell often come from embarassing moments. I guess that's why I'm not very funny. Someone please help me make a fool of myself more often!!!

2. When I was little I used to cry at other people's birthday parties because I wanted their gifts, or whatever. As a curse to that, when it is my own birthday I draw as much attention away from myself as possible. It's December 8th, by the way.

3. When I was in 4th grade I was a BIG TIME teacher's pet. Seriously, I had way too many privileges that teachers would probably get in trouble for permitting today. The teacher brought donuts for me every morning, gave me hints to test questions, and let me in the classroom whenever I wanted without supervision. It was kinda cool though!

4. When I was 12 I learned how to sew and made some of the dorkiest clothes you could ever imagine. (Zebra stripes and polka dots.) How could my mom let me wear those things?!?!? Well, at least I can say it paid off later. I made a few of my friends prom dresses and eventually my own wedding dress.

5. Everyone always asks me what my favorite type of nursing was. Well, it wasn't seeing people's faces peeled off during face lifts, and no, is wasn't while assisting doctors stick endoscopes up people's rear-ends, and no, it wasn't while working for a doctor whose patients included celebrities. Honestly, I LOVED working in the ER. Even though I've seen many deaths and open wounds and what-not that most people would cringe at, I just loved the pace, the people, and most of all the excitement. I do miss it.

6. Growing up I LOVED Duran Duran. I was in love with John Taylor. One summer, at the height of their popularity, we kept MTV on all day just to wait for the video for "The Reflex" to come on, which was about every hour. I hung out with 4 cousins and my brother and the 6 of us would go bezerko every time it came on. "Da-nanana, da-nanana." Remeber those days, Dan?

7. My lifelong best girlfriend is my mother. Since I was a young girl we developed a very close relationship that has continued until this day. She has always been such a gentle and kind mother and very patient I might add, unlike myself. There aren't many things we don't share with eachother and I realize what a blessing she has been because she's the kind of best friend that I can't lose touch with.

Hope you had fun reading my dialogue. Do you feel you know me better now? Great!

House for SALE

Okay, so I can finally announce why I've been so busy lately and unable to keep up my blog - well, other than the fact that I have 3 kids. Yes, our house has been on the market for about 1 month now and I've been trying to make it perfect since that time which is an impossible feat. In any case, our potential move was not inspired by the recent changes in the stake, though we are now slightly more motivated knowing that the primary in our new ward may be incredibly tiny - so we've heard. Greg and I can go just about anywhere and adapt to anything, but we have always wanted our kids to grow up having lots of church friends (something Greg and I lacked). In any case, we are so sad to be out of the Aliso Viejo ward, but know that we have made some great friendships and intend to keep them up. At least now we can get the skinny on at least half of the other wards in the Stake to help us choose a place to move to. So we are doing this moving thing a little backwards, but with the real estate market as it is, we figured selling first then buying would be a better option. If anyone reading this has any tips or ideas of how to keep the house clean with kids while our house is on the market, please feel free to offer them. Thanks!

What's that noise?

Often when Greg and I are using the computer we occasionally hear this ever so faint scratching noise. At first we think it is as mouse or rat hiding in the walls, not that it would be the first time in our home, but then after consecutive noises, we remember that we have pet hermit crabs in the room. This year for Everett's birthday we decided to do something extra special and buy him some Hermit Crabs. (Greg's idea.) They used to reside in the kitchen until I figured they needed a better place to reside so I relocated them to our computer room a few weeks ago. Yes, we do forget about them because honestly they are probably one of the most boring pets you can own - kind of up there with aquarium fish (at least they are fun to look at). So tonight as I was blogging I heard the noise again and strangely I again thought "rats", but then I remembered our crabs. So I went to take a picture of the crabs and pulled one out. As I started to dangle one of the two, I realized that he was not squirming as he started dangling out of the shell. Then I realized he was slipping out farther and farther, which only meant one thing - he's dead! The other one is still alive, but poor Dawson will be a little bit sad tomorrow. We also had a fish die on Saturday as well. He's still upside down under the castle in our aquarium. Hmmm, I'm thinking we aren't the best pet owners.

Halloween preview

We had our ward Halloween party this last Friday and the turn out was fabulous. Greg's costume was awesome and even though he is probably about a foot taller than batman's original sidekick, he just looked so great in the costume. I think it was the cape, or maybe the pants that made him look like he was wearing speedo briefs. Been a long time since he strutted around in those - another story, another day. . . anyways, we're looking forward to Halloween night with the kids. Happy Halloween!

Learning Photography

Children are such inspirations for learning photography aren't they? Else what would we put on our blogs, right? Last week when the boys were off at Disneyland I decided to mess around with my camera. Unfortunately Sidney is just a little too inquisitive of the camera, so she tends to look more serious than playful during our photography sessions. I need to take some classes though because this can be so addicting. There is a photographer in the area, Jenny Mason, as most of you know, who takes the most gorgeous photos. What an impressive talent! Maybe someday I'll make that my side profession. I know I'm such an amateur, but thought I'd share some pics of my little darling.

Bates Nut Farm

Way out in the middle of "who would ever live here" is a great place called Bates Nut Farm. Last weekend my spunky sister-in-law invited us to come along for a fun family event. Greg and Dawson were up at the UCLA game, which of course was a great time because the Bruins won. So Everett, Sidney and I went down to the in-laws and had a great time without them. Everett was so proud to climb on top of a pumpkin so big and Sidney was just happy to be out doing something. This was of course before all the fires, so the air was clean and the sky beautiful. Everett was the first to pick out his pumpkin - he's not as indecisive as his mother. The big hit was the popper guns that we purchased shortly before leaving. They've been up in my closet since the day after we bought them. I suppose we might bring them out on Halloween or something. Thanks for the invite Britt - we have a good time and wished we could have stayed for the dinner.

Back to Disneyland

It's been two years, but we finally made it back to Disneyland with all three kids. They had a great time and surprisingly Sidney was such a trooper given the fact she had just a 25 minute nap until we left. I was so proud of her. Everett did all the scary rides including the Matterhorn and Space Mountain and he didn't show an ounce of fear. Dawson of course enjoyed all the rides and hands down the boys love the Autopia the best - go figure. Believe it or not we gave in and got annual passes, so Greg is now determined to go a lot! He even took them a week after our initial visit which was just two weeks ago. Thanks to the fires, he was smoked out of his office and he took advantage of the shorter work day. Now we need to try out California Adventure. We've never been there.

Sidney enjoying her swing

Sidney has been having a rough week being sick and possibly cutting a few of her upper teeth, but she sure did enjoy swinging in our backyard the other day. She is usually such a sweet and happy little girl. I know when she starts crawling she will be even happier. She is so bored of her baby toys and is always looking around for something to satisfy her curiosity of the world. I just wish babies would stay this cute and small but be able to do all the things that toddlers can do minus the attitude. Sidney can finally say one thing, "Dada". Thank goodness for that because Greg was starting to develop a unloved complex from his little baby girl. She always says "Dada" in the evening, probably anticipating his arrival home. Or when she's really upset. I guess maybe she learns it from me. Whenever things go wrong the kids always hear me cursing their father's name under my breath. Just Kidding!

When I grow up - Sunday Comic Relief

Sundays, though meant to be a day of rest, often end up being quite stressful for me and my children. We seem to spend half of the morning getting ready for church and have only recently been successful at being on time about 50% of the time. Did I forget to mention that our church starts at 1:00 pm? Greg leaves Sunday mornings usually before we all get up, and we will see him for about half an hour when he returns for lunch and then not again until 5:00 pm if we're lucky. His sacrifice is certainly one that brings great blessings to the family, but I have to admit that some Sundays I come home from church wondering what spiritual uplifting I've received from that day. Thank goodness I have children who do their best to cheer me up and make me feel that the sacrifice is all worth it. A few weeks ago Everett came strutting into a room where I was trying to escape for a moment of peace to show me just how much I was missing of him. Apparently he had a lesson that day in nursery about what we become when we grow up. I always thought Everett wanted to be a fireman, but now I ask which do you think he might grow up to be. . . a plumber, or a drag queen? I love how my kids make me laugh!

My Sensitive Son Everett

Most people know Everett as being the more resiliant and tougher of my two sons, but he has a unique sensitivity to others emotions that is quite unusual for his tender age of 3. The first time we noticed it was when he was about 2 1/2 while watching the Prince of Egypt. He was watching the mother put baby Moses into a basket and send him down the river and he started to cry. I could not believe that he perceived the emotion that the mother must have felt or maybe the tip off was the tears in Moses' sister's eyes. In any case, I have a tender spot in my heart for my little Everett because of this. Today he was watching "Cars" and tears welled up in his eyes again after the scene when Lightening McQueen was wisked away to go off to the big race. That's my sensitive little man!

So people ask us if we did anything fun this summer. Honestly with a new baby, it was so hard to plan anything. So when our friends asked us to take a trip to the Colorado River for a weekend getaway my answer was a resounding yes. I didn't even think about how Sidney would do, I just said "Yes" because I was dying to take a vacation! And our family had a great time! Wish I had some sunset waterskiing photos of Greg and I (you could probably see the grin painted across my face from a mile away). But you know how that goes - only photos of the kids seem to matter anymore! I do have to admit that the sense of joy I felt from my own waterskiing experience paled in comparison to the joy I felt as I watched my kids doing their various water activities. That's what having kids is all about!

Let's try this. . .

My writing skills have gotten worse over the years, but I'd love to write a few things here to keep anyone interested updated with our lives. Don't know how often I will get to update this, but I'll try my best. So here goes my first attempt at blogging. . .