6 years old and can't stand it!

Oiy! We are in trouble! Tonight we got a dose of just how impatient our 6 (almost 7) year old is:
Gram gave us a special present to open as a family once we got our Christmas Tree up, decorated and were turning on the lights to enjoy for the first time. All the kids were SO excited to get the tree up and open it. Dad has been working out in the garage all day with truck trouble that was not the quick fix he had hoped for. We (Mom and kids) set out to do the tree assembly and lights without him... and would do ornaments with him after dinner. And so we did. But we are shy a few strands of lights! 4 strands didn't make it this year! (ugh) So we stopped and decided to go get more lights after dinner...

Our darling 6yrold has been asking every few minutes (ok *maybe* 20 minutes between...but not much more!) if we can open the present. He has been told no - and explained EXACTLY when we would open it... and *how* we would open it. He knew the answer and yet still asked relentlessly (Any great surprise as to why we didn't tell them we were going to Disneyland until the hour before we left?? Bwahahaha).

After dinner Dad still had a couple of things to wrap up on the truck - and Mom - Having had a very busy weekend with shopping, meal prep, work and little sleep - crashed on the couch for a quick cat nap. 30 minutes later I awoke and noticed a BEAUTIFUL quilt on the chair across the room. I tried to focus my eyes and realized it was something new. And then it dawned on me. Our sweet Gram, whom is so very talented, had made us a special Christmas quilt!! And the present had been opened.

I asked who had opened it - and the older kids were shocked! They didn't know - yet they had been in the room with me the entire time watching Charlie Brown on TV (hence why mom fell asleep! Tee hee hee) 3 yr old little man was asleep too. 6 yr old admitted that he had opened it. He had gone to Dad and asked if "we could open it without him" - to which annoid-with-his-truck Dad replied that he didn't care. (He assumed I knew) And so middleman snuck into the livingroom and quietly opened it without anyone else. Then, annoid it wasn't something more exciting for himself, dropped it into the chair.

Gah! I am so frustrated!! Someone tell me this is normal 6 yr old stuff! I dont know if I can take a month of the same question to the same question until Santa has arrived and presents that I may place under the tree can be revealed! I would expect this from the 3 yr old - but aye aye aye! How annoying. The little pill. Shoot me now December is going to be L O N G!!!

Possible OCD?

I am wondering if my littlest suffers from a blossoming case of OCD! ok...not really...but he is a HOOT about certain things. Examples:
* If he drops anything on the floor it is completely inedible. Forks and spoons must be replaced. Food - regardless of 10 second rules or not - will not pass (or even touch) his lips if it touches the floor. This from the kids that tastes sand in the sand box, eats almost anything - including jalapenos and sauerkraut - and loves to beg for bites of anything anyone else is eating - regardless of their relationship to him - oh! but! it MUST NOT touch the floor! LOL
* Organization. If he has organized it - it must not be messed up. We folded laundry and then I asked the kids to take their own piles to their rooms. My little man was happy to oblige... until I heard peels of death coming from the hallway. He had lost the socks that were balanced on his PJ pile and as a result one set of PJs had fallen to the floor along with all of his socks. He was crying hysterically!!! I asked him what was wrong! (thinking maybe he got hurt or something!) He cried out "Is ruined!! Is ruined!!" He was hysterical because the PJ's were no longer folded properly - and the socks were no longer stacked. I gently calmed him down, showing him Mommy is magic and can re-fold as he gulped back his tears. Then he fearlessly took his pile in his arms once again and marched forward to the bedroom. Whew! Crisis adverted! (btw - he then dropped the entire pile into his drawer like his brothers do and shoved the drawer shut! bwahahaha)
* The latest and greatest - We went out to dinner with the kids last night. He needed to go potty. We went in and I made him stand back and I applied the paper cover to the seat. The conversation went like so:
C- Why you put dat paper on it Mommy?
Me- Because it the toilet might have germs on it honey.
C- Why it has germs on it?
Me- Well lots of people put their butts on this seat, so the paper keeps you safe and clean. (I state while placing him up on the potty to do his business.)
C- (quickly jumping off the potty) I cants go potty on dat potty! I no need go no more!
Me- But why sweetheart? Just hurry and go!
C- I cants. It gots germs. I go at home.

And he did. He held it until we got home. ACK! Have a scarred him? Simply by adding a toilet seat shield?? Oye!! What's next with this little pickle of mine??

Lou's Birthday

Sorry I am so slow getting my pictures updated! Trying to get all the California pics uploaded in the midst of a crazy/sick time in my life took up m0st of my play time! LOL

Here is Lou's Birthday pics...

She is trying to be gracious, but doesn't quite understand why she got a sugar dispenser - she didn't notice the seed like bag of stuff inside it...

Then she opens a tote with wood shavings in it... she is starting to get the incling that her year long desire my be coming true...

And then she opens the ball! It IS true! All the "pretty please mommy and daddy - I swear I will take good care of it" letters have worked!!

She LOVES the cage - until her Daddy says "Now you have the stuff you have to earn the hampster! She fell for it for a few minutes...

And then the time had arrived. She was holding her 1st "baby". She was thrilled!!

And it peed down her arm! Bwahahahaha!

Lubby and Kenly LOVED watching it - once they weren't scared of it anymore!

Hello little rodent. Welcome to our crazy home!

And Happy Birthday my little girl!! I can't believe you are so grown up! Yes you are responsible enough for a hampster - you are a little too responsible most days! I dont know how we would ever manage without you!! WE LOVE YOU LOU BUG!!!

Was this such a great idea?

Lou turned 11 - and we gave in and got her the hampster she has been beggin for for over a year for her Birthday. She was thrilled! Here is the run down on only day 3 - and I pray the thing make it in this house!

1st - I drove it home in a fridgid car because the icecream would melt and when I peeked in the box at it it looked like it would slap me if it could.

2nd- the dogs were going nuts over it before I could wrap it's little box - so I set the box on the top of the medicine chest in my bathroom. Yep. It wiggled the box off the shelf and fell 6' to the ground inside the box! It looked at me with complete loathing.

3rd - The cage door got left open the 1st night we had it and we had to search the house for over an hour to find it before the dogs did! The poor thing looked scared to death - as it was Zoey that found it and had it blocked in behind a tote in my closet! and

4th - Emma was holding it, while Sophie watched, and next thing I hear there is a death scream! Sophie was lighting fast and had lept forward, grabbed the thing by the head and was running off with it!!! Yes. We got it away from her without harm - but the thing looked like it wanted to commit suicide living in this house - and I am not sure I blame it! Bwahahaha! I hope it at least makes it a week....oiy!

Lou was in tears and asked "won't they ever be able to be friends??" (LOL) Umm...no sweetheart. It's a rodent. They are dogs bred to catch rodents. Maybe in the Millenium...*giggle*
Who's great idea was this anyway?

I stole this from Peggy's blog--a perfect explanation of what I do all day!

All I could do was laugh when I read this. This is me...

Recently, I was diagnosed with C.A.A.D.D. - Child Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.This is how it manifests: I decide to do the laundry. As I start toward the laundry room, I notice that there are cheerios all over the floor and my house keys are in the cereal bowl. I decide to pick up the cheerios before I do the laundry. I lay my keys down on the counter, put the cheerios in the trashcan under the counter, and notice that the trashcan is full. So, I decide to take out the trash. But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the trash I may as well pay the bills first. I take my check book off the table, and see that there is only one check left, my extra checks are in my desk in the office, so I go to my desk where I find a sippy cup full of juice. I'm going to look for my checks, but first I decide I should put the sippy cup in the refrigerator to keep it cold. As I head toward the kitchen with the sippy cup a plant on the counter catches my eye--it needs to be watered. I set the sippy cup on the counter, and I discover baby wipes that I've been searching for all morning. I decide I better put them back in the bathroom, but first I'm going to water the plants. I set the wipes back down, fill a container with water and suddenly I spot the TV remote, left on the kitchen table. I realize that when I go to watch TV, I will be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the TV room where it belongs, but first I'll water the plants. I splash some water on the plant, but most of it spills on the floor. So, I set the remote back down, get some paper towels and wipe up the spill. Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do. At the end of the day: the laundry isn't washed, the bills aren't paid, there is a warm cup of juice sitting on the counter, the plants aren't watered, there is still only one check in my check book, I can't find the remote, I can't find the wipes, and I don't remember what I did with my keys. Then when I try to figure out why nothing got done today. I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day long, and I'm really tired. I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail.

Don't laugh--if this isn't you yet, your day is coming."

Faith and not Fear

I was reading in the news today about how we are in a recession - and it is to last 14 months more. I find it interesting that 1- they can "know" such a thing about the length of time it should last and 2 - That they have denied it this long. In fact the article stated that whomever it is that is so high up that needs to declare such a thing still hasn't "officially". I laughed to myself.

OK. If you dont know of at least 2 people in your sphere of influence that have lost their jobs -raise your hand. If you haven't had your budget stretched to it's max with increasing fuel and then food costs - raise your hand. If you didn't have or know someone who has a home that had a huge increase in value only to have it tumble - raise your hand. The media seems to think saying "we are in a recession" will cause panic and turmoil. Um. Ok. I think we all know it already. It's as if the green clouds are over us, the winds are blowing, the hail is falling and you can see the twister, but no ones going to say it out loud until we are up inside it waving at one another across the funnel?

I read these articles and for some reason I feel peace. There are brief moments of "Oh no! what if?" however I keep going back to my journals. We have been through rougher before in our little family. And as a society we have weathered worse before. Faith and not Fear seemed to be the general theme this year in the counsels from our General Authorities... and I like their "news forcast" better. They dont lie to us. They never have. It is lovely. They dont wait until we are swirling around to tell us the truth - they tell us from the get go... and it is our own choices if we dont listen and heed their counsel.

This recession likely will effect my own little family in real ways. We are self employed and we rely on others wanting to spend to make ends meet. That is the nature of construction and of real estate. We have no huge savings. Have some decent food storage - though not as much as we should. But I know Heavenly Father will comfort and guide and bless us through any struggle that lay before us. Faith and not fear. What a freedom that is. And deep down I lean toward - in the grand scheme of eternity... will 14 months of eating my food storage and going back to the very basic basic of needs really be that hard to endure? Credit can be rebuilt. Bodies can withstand a few less take out meals...and we won't die eating oatmeal and tuna fish daily for weeks - we have done it already! LOL! I have a beautiful family that can be mine for eternity - I have great friends that I love and love me - I have great spiritual leaders and love and care and watch over me and I have a Heavenly Father who is mindful and has promised "it all shall be for thy good". There is no fear. Thanks media - I am looking elsewhere for guidance. *wink*

About Jestin

(At least this one isn't about me :p) :D Happy tagging! All about my hubby! (and now you are tagged! LOL)



1. Full name: Jestin W. O. D. (*grin*)
2. How long have you been married? 12 1/2 years
3. How long did you date? We dated almost 3 years to the date before we got married
4. Who eats the sweets? we share
5. Who said I love you first? He did. It was all really sappy - "I like you - but I am dating your bestfriend" etc etc... sadly for my best friend we were SO meant to be. :)
6. Who's taller? He is - by half an inch
7. Who sings better? I do - but I love to hear him when he does - he doesn't realize he is a tenor with great posibility! LOL
8. Who is smarter? Depends on what we are smarter at. I am the book learned one - he is the common knowledge one. We compliment one another.
9. Who does the Laundry? I do. I am not crazy about having him do it - it is the one thing he can not ever have to worry about! (if I die before him...would someone teach my sweet hubby how to load the washer?? LOL)
10. Who pays the bills? I do. He knows about most of them - but the juggling makes him nutso - so I just do it
11. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? He does - he is furthest from being woken up by kids since he gets up early for work
12. Who cooks dinner? I do - unless he's home -then we always cook together. :)
13. Who drives? he does - unless I beat him to the steering wheel! LOL
14. Who admits they are wrong? We both easily admit when we are wrong. We dont love to have anything unbalanced in our relationship.
15. Who kissed who first? I dont remember - Coulda been mutual - We were in the back of Quinn's parents Station wagon - they were dropping me off after a date.
16.Who asked who out first? He did. We went to band concert at another highschool to work off tardies. Romantic huh? LOL
17. Who wears the pants? I think I do - but really he does! LOL Actually there is not a lot of pants wearing around here - at least in the hypothetical sense! We don't usually run around here naked or in kilts! In case you were wondering! LOL
18. Why do you love him? He is my soul mate. I have never had a better friend. He completes me - as cliche as that sounds!


Love you JW!

Cried Myself To Sleep...

I spent the day Christmas shopping today - go me! - but left Em to tend whilst I did. I came home to Cam wearing a hot wheels watch - long story short he has been looking through my blanket box at the end of my bed (where I had luckily only hidden 2 gifts so far) and found the watch I stashed there for Caleb for Christmas and decided *HE* wanted it. He wasn't sure who it was for, but he wanted it. He opened the package and was wearing it when I got home. WHAT!?!?!?!?! He KNOWS better than that!! Granted he's almost 7 - so he's still a little kid - but that was WAY too bold!! ACK!

I took the watch away - I sent him to timeout for a lengthy time where he fell asleep - I gave him the talk about how I disappointed and hurt I am - and asked how he would feel if it were me etc. - but I got the standard answers and a fit - mostly because he was forced into time out when everyone else was playing the Wii. I am not sure if he *really* gets it!! And I CANNOT have him snooping around this year! He is NOT an age will keep his mouth shut and if Santa "drops things off early"/gives stuff he has found hidden!! EVERYONE of his friends/and all other people he knows will know about it! I don't want my kid to be the one ruining magic for all the other kids in town!! HELP!! Any great ideas to nip snooping/stealing?? I can't think!

The many "hats" a Mother wears...

(idea from a dear friend, and so I made my own list:)

Alarm clock, Cook/Chef, Baker, Gospel Teacher, Maid, Banker, Janitor, Potty Manager, Toothbrush Timer, Butt Wiper, Snuggler, Room Checker, Academics Teacher/Tutor, Human Reminder System, Psychologist, Physician's Assistant, Astrologist, Geologist, Geographer, Mathmatician, Proofreader, Typist, Beautician, Head Cheerleader, Referee, Prayer Rock, Financial Manager, Budget Planner, Accountant, Personal Shopper; Vacuumer of Bedrooms, Living rooms, Halls, Stairs, Curtains, Couches, Cars, Shelves and Dogs; Hairstylist, Vacation Planner, Navigation Device, Barber; Family Home Evening Planner, Repairman of Bikes, Broken toys, Washers, Dryers, Dishwashers, and Faucets; Waiter of Food that kids think looks yucky but is good for them and "oh mom it tastes good" food and food that they won't eat and would rather go to bed hungry for, and "Mom can you get me another roll?" when you have just sat down to finally eat your own cold meal; Carpenter, Back Scratcher, Nose Wiper, Plumber, Home Decorator, Warden, Ironer, Journalist, Primary Worker, Confidant/Secret Keeper ("Johnny" must never know he is loved!), Activities Commitee Member, Photographer, Temperature Tester, Home Office Secretary, and Fashion Police; Painter of Walls, Ceilings, Doors, Shelves, Bookcases, Picture frames, Stools, Crafts and Fingernails; Gardener of Flowers, Trees, Fruit, Vegetables, and those little styrafoam cups full of dirt and the un-named seeds; Washer of Clothes, Bodies, Hair, Walls, Ceilings, Carpets and Dishes and the resident "germaphob"; Canner of Tomatoes, Applesauce, Tomato sauce, Spaghetti Sauce, Vegetables, and of course Pear Honey! Food Dehydrator; Hostess, Duster, Computer Tech, Drama Inhibitor, Hanky (at least if you have seen any of my shirts! LOL) Party Coordinator, Manicure/Pedicurist, Librarian, Realtor, Friend, Scrubber, Chauffer, Middle of the Night Pharmasist, Respiriratory Tech (at my house anyway!), Maker of: Scrapbooks, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks, Outfits, Costumes, Pajama's, school treats, and chores ("mom! why do you always make me do them!?) Organizer of all Rooms, Garages, Drawers, cupboards, pantry, Papers/Mail, School Papers, Bills, Pictures, Books, Music, Movies, Toys, Stuffed Animals and Social Events. Purchaser of Food, Clothes, Toys, Home Decor, Happy Meals, Furniture, and Presents (for all the in-laws too!). PDA for entire family, including Dad. And sacred liason for Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Toothfairy. ...Anything I missed??

I think I will go take a nap now.... *GRIN*

Day 4 - Beaches/San Diego

1st look at the ocean!! We drove down the coast on Sunday and to stay in San Diego.,,these beaches were on the way...

It was c-o-l-d this day!

But we all got wet anyway!!

Emma and G'ma Annie lookin' for shells

Hey Bubba! Wha'dya think???

Found a piece?

It was so cute! Caleb got knock over by a wave within a few minutes of arriving (we are talking summersaulted in the air into the water!) and he was mad for a minute and cried... but that dare devil emmerged and he kept challenging the waves to come get him and then he would run. The fear was gone! LOL

Disneyland - Day 3 - The last half

On this day we were smart! We took the kids back to the hotel after the island adventure and ordered in Pizza. I did some laundry and took a nap with Caleb while Jess and the older kids relaxed in the pool. It was perfect! They were re-charged just enough to make the rest of the day fantastic!

We went on Star Tours this day - Cameron was thrilled he got to "be in outter space"...but the highlight was Buzz LightYear of Star Command!

The line was pretty short...

And it was interactive! You got to shoot "lasers" at the bad guys to earn points...

This is my all time favorite pic!! GO JESS 'n CALEB!! (and by the way...nice mouse ears! tee heehee)

We headed over to Pirates for one last ride, and the Haunted Mansion again :)

and we took turns going on Indiana Jones (caleb was again too short :P ) and while Jess & Emma went, the boys and I jumped on the Jungle Cruise (cool and creepy at night!) We shopped...

The boys all got snakes! (eewww) We ran over to the new Nemo's Submarine ride (cool tip a cast member told us: If you are IN line before midnight they will let you still ride! We got there at 15 minutes to midnight - and we were on the ride AT midnight! - All other times we tried to get on that ride the wait was 75 minutes PLUS with no fast pass!) It was a fun little ride and a neat way to end our Disneyland Adventures (riding the newest ride last...) After that, Main Street was open until 1am so we night owls shopped 'til they practically kicked us out. AHHHH!! WE LOVE DISNEYLAND!! We can't wait to go again!!

Disneyland - Day 3 Continued

The kids wanted to play on the island this day... Caleb really liked to watch the boats...

So we hopped on a raft and ventured over...

there were trails to chase, caves to explore, waterfalls, ship wrecks and more...

"we found some pirates booty!!"

And then they found the motherload! It was such an adventure!

And Emma and Mom found a beautiful spot under a cool tree (did I mention it was about 90 degrees the days we were at the parks?) next to a waterfall... it was lovely!!

We played on the island for over an hour... it was a good explore! That's for sure!

Day 3 - Lunch at the Blue Bayou

It has been my dream to eat at the Blue Bayou in Pirates of the Carribean since I was a kid. And so...since most all of Disneyland we had let the kids lead... this was our one adult moment... and the kids did AWESOME! (sorry for the crumby photos...I forgot to up the ISO!)

Daddy & Ma

Cammer & Bubba

Lou Bug chatting with her Grand's...

Ahoy Mateys! The boys thought the people on the ride and the ambiance was wicked cool!

Caleb liked the carrots! Bwahahaha!

I have to admit: I have done it. Not sure I will do it again. The food was fancy...that is for sure... but when they brought us our salad I almost snorted my rootbeer! It was a head of lettuce cut in half, drizzled with ranch... and underneath it was a few other veggies (like 5-6 pieces of other veggies LOL) and some small squares of ham. Cody didn't enjoy the look of the menu...and reluctantly ordered Salmon. The boy LOVES plain lettuce... so without dressing he was the happiest boy alive when them there salads came out! It was a riot! The Monte Cristo was yummy... but next time...with kids... we will go back to New Orleans Square for the huge basket of chicken fingers and fried mozarella sticks! LOL! (Though we may have to get a number and go in just for their Cookie Boat Fudge Sundae... oye! TO ---DIE----FOR!! And it was HUGE!!

As we were leaving lunch LOOK who we ran into!! Our "other" favorite Jack! LOL!

Cam's Favorite! Disneyland - Day 3

Cam's most prized possesion! Autopia here we come!!

Cam drove Dad! They had a great time!

Cody drove Caleb and I. It was a lot of fun! Both of our drivers asked we adults to push the pedal because coordinating the two was too difficult... hmmm... hope that gets better before the next decade is up boys! Bwhahaha

SO much fun!!

Jess and Cam in the red car, G'ma Annie and Emma in the brown one waving at us and Papa raced behind us in his own car! :)

Disneyland Vacation - Day 3

We rode the street car down Main Street. It is amazing what you see when you aren't watching where you are going/keeping the kids together. Main Street really is darling! And so very clever!

We wandered through Tommorow land a lot, and Adventureland. We went through the Futurama Home (where Tom Morrow lives *wink*) The kids and the grown-ups alike enjoyed the futuristic innovations...

Caleb was in awe!!

The boys and Buzz!

We let everyone shop quite a bit...and then we headed for Cam's favorite...

The End of Day 2 - Disneyland

So...after being kicked out of Toon Town for firework prep, we headed over to the rides that were practically vacant as everyone was finding parade spots...and rode Autopia again (for our cute Cam...he had his driver's license after all!!*wink*) While standing in line they all quizzed Grandpa (my dad) about the Matterhorn and agreed to try it. It was a HUGE hit!! Cody's only complaint was that Emmalee sat behind him and screamed in his ear non stop! LOL! Cam rode with Dad he said he liked it...but "*doesn't* want to go again this time at Disneyland". I rode with Caleb. (He was finally tall enough! LOL - oh! which...little annoyance... he can't ride Soaring over California where he doesn't move *that* much... but they let him on the Matterhorn where I must use my large endowedness to try and squish his head between to keep it from ripping off while I hang on to the sled for dear life on all the turns? hmmm... whatever.) He L-O-V-E-D it! He jumped out of my lap at the end and yelled "YES! Wet's do dat agwin!!" Oh boy! We have a little dare devil on our hands! Tee hee...

We then took the kids to do a little shopping. They loved the laynards that they each got because I had booked with my Rewards Visa card, and so each bought themselves a couple of pins for theirs. I found the perfect one for Caleb:

Bwahahaha!!!

We were all starving at this point... funny how you get so caught up in the fun & food is easily forgotten!... and so we headed back to Main Street USA to find something to eat... but the fireworks were about to start and it was packed!! We found a little spot on Main Street where we would all fit and sent Jess forth to scavenge for food. Now here I interject that:
1. We had been up since 6:30.
2. My kids are late sleepers.
3. We have had a very sedetary lifestyle with our crazy lives the last year+
4. Emma had had an emotional day with the ear piercing incident.
5. Our feet hurt.
And 6. Emma is just like Jess when she is hungry... she is not diabetic... but responses and mood suggest otherwise! LOL
At that moment our sweet Emma lost it. She plopped down on the road and started to cry. Then she started to scream at me. She didn't mean to yell... but she was shaking and crying and having complete meltdown. (NOT normal at all... at least not to that degree! Bwahahaha! *pre-teens* ((insert rolling eyes))) She yelled that she was hungry... she didn't want the snacks in our pack... she was tired... she didn't care about the fireworks... that she couldn't stop yelling...and she didn't know what was wrong with herself!! Poor baby was on system overload! I really thought this experience would come... but I wasn't prepared for it to be her. I called Jess and said "Nix the food and the fireworks... meet us at the firestation and we are outta here!" It was only 9:30...but she/they were done. And so, we never actually watched the fireworks show while we were there... we saw some of them from other places in the park, and that was enough. :)

We ate some cold cereal in the room and they were out!!

We even let them sleep in the next day and skipped the Magic Morning Early Entry to Toon Town. Them happy was more important. And the next day was AWESOME!