Snow Days

So, I think Mother Nature is playing a really mean trick on me. We have had too many "snow days" and I am struggling to find motivation to not just let my children sit in front of the TV or play their video games all day long. After a day or two of neglect (mostly due to me being sick again!) I ventured out to the McDonalds Playland with some friends. It was so nice to see them running around and actually breaking a sweat. Even if they needed to be completely hosed down after 2hours at a germ filled fast food chain.



Russ came home and thankfully spelled me off by getting Kanyon's "Space Derby" rocket painted. They had a great time. It is still not finished but I will post a pick of the finished product when it is.

The "Men" in my life.....

This is an ode to my boys: I love having so many boys in my house! So many little protectors who try most of the time to be such gentlemen. It makes my life wild, crazy and unpredictable. If they aren't jumping off of the couch, running around in circles chasing each other, fighting with swords (and accidentally hitting Ivy in the process), burping, farting, talking to each other with their behinds, telling inappropriate jokes, playing video games and just creating complete chaos. They have their moments of gentle, sweet, considerate, and thoughtfulness. Eli said to me today.. "Mom, next year on Valentines I am going to make you a valentine" Sweet! As the boys had school off for Presidents Day I spent a portion of my day playing the Wii with these three energetic hilarious little guys, of course the games had content that only boys find funny but it was great fun anyway. On Saturday the boys gave me a wonderful late Valentines "day" they all dropped me off to get an hour long massage. (I know!) while I was getting pampered Russ took ALL the kids to the mall.(I know again!) Then they came and picked me up and they took me out to a wonderful lunch. Watch out girls... here they come! I am grateful that not only do I have very handsome boys I have very good boys too!

Happy Valentines!

Here is the Valentines box that Kanyon and I made for his Valentines party. I know it looks like a craft project gone wrong.. Thats because it did! But we like it anyway. It is a hundred or so conversation hearts hot glued to an oatmeal container. My fingers still hurt. Kanyon wasn't so fond of the burning fingers but he did a great job.
I don't know about all of you but my Valentines is going to consist of: Three different school party's (where I am bringing something to each of them of course) Grocery Shopping (because Russ is giving a lecture at work on Friday and is in charge of feeding them breakfast) Making a nice meal for all five of my special Valentines then making muffins etc to feed Russ's work for Friday morning. Wew... I remember the days when I would get roses and taken out to a nice dinner... Should still be a good day! Here's to a Happy Valentines everyone!!

SICK of it!

Yes we are SICK of being SICK! Today is the third Sunday in a row that I have missed church. Although thank goodness I am not the one that is ill this time. After thinking I was going to die last Sunday with my own sickness, I find myself a week later still alive but wishing I was somewhere else other then stuck in a germ infested house all day with "Mom, I need water! Mom, my eyes hurt! Mom, please take my temperature again. Mom, I think I am going to throw up! Mom, my head feels hot! Mom, my throat really hurts! Mom, Can I call my friend to talk Pokemon? Mom, I'm sick!" YA THINK??? I haven't even started on Ivy and her dripping eardrum.... I know I am not the one who should be complaining. This was me last week and my sweet husband took all four kids to collect fast offerings for 2 hrs, while I stayed home in bed and wallowed in my pitiful sickness. But going on three weeks of fevers, chills, cough's I have had it!
I went and bought some Lysol and am planning a Monday Madness disinfecting sweep of our house. Watch out germs here I come. The sheets, clothes, toys, kids etc are all getting disinfected! As I was tending to one of my sick children the other (Ivy) decided to take every tissue out of the tissue box. I guess she got tired of waiting for me to wipe her nose. Well, I hear the call of- Mom I need to torture you more with a recap of my sickness. Hopefully, this wont last much longer.

Gotta love em!

Favorite quote from Eli....

"Mom, stop acting like the boss of me"

Book it!

First of all I am not a big reader. I am lucky to get the book club book read for the month and my scriptures read a little every day. So for me to just throw in a book in the middle of all of that is saying a lot for me. My Mother in-law came out after Christmas and she was reading this book. I think after her week here she thought I must need to read it too. She left it here for me and I finally got around to reading it. I have to say that my eyes have been opened a bit. I do not frequent self-help books but, I am aware that I could always use a little help in making myself better. This was a good read. If nothing else it is a good reminder of the best way to treat others. Just thought I would share. Enjoy!

My Dad.....

These are some pictures of my Dad. Today is his birthday and thought I would share some pictures of him. He was killed in a coal mining accident when I was 13yrs old. And although he is not here to celebrate with us, this is my way of keeping his memory alive. He was a wonderful Father and always liked to have fun. He used to make us (even me) do 50 push ups and 50 sit ups every morning before school. If we had time we would have to run around the block too while we waited for the bus. That was after our 20min drum practice. Him and my Mom were in a band called "The Easy Street Band" and they practiced in our basement . We traveled all around going to their "gig's". My Dad was the drummer and my Mom the lead singer. He was definitely full of life and fun! He even snuck me out of the house when I was 4 to get my ears pierced when my Mom said no. The stories go on and on! I truly do not know how I have survived these last 18yrs without him, but I do know that the lessons he taught me about hard work and family will stay with me forever! Happy Birthday Dad!