Life With Only Three Kids

Can I just say that losing the two teenagers and the husband has made for a laid back and quiet couple of days? Not that I would say two of those missing are that loud, sorry Kelsey I have a no lying policy on my blog, but just fewer bodies in the house helps. Sophie is enjoying being the queen of the little people!

Uncle Mark, Rich Uncle Mark that is, came out to the burbs yesterday and took us to see Kung Fu Panda. Now, I am NOT a fan of Jack Black, but I really liked it. It was funny, and Allie spent most of the movie laughing out loud.

Sophie and I spent most of today watching Season 5 of 24. It is our thing we do together - and it was great to just veg and hang out.

Back to work tomorrow.... Why can't I have the summer off like everyone else????

The Incredible Shrinking Woman

I am the oldest of 10 children. You read that correctly 10. As you would imagine, having 10 kids took it's toll on my mother physically (and I am sure mentally, but that is for another post).

Last summer, she started on a weight loss journey. I have mentioned it before, but seeing her over the weekend reinforced what an incredible accomplishment this is. I have lost and gained the same five pounds for years now, so 180 pounds is amazing.

This time I thought I would show you some pictures. I am well aware my mother will be mad at me, and the before pics are not so great, but it proves the point! And what is she going to do, fire me?

This was a year ago at my brother's graduation. Now, the camera angle is horrible in the best of situations, but you get the point.

This was a few months later. She had already lost weight, but it was a process.

This was over the weekend at Steven's graduation. Since it is the three of them, you can really see the change.

This could be her weight loss add. Yes, she is standing with both legs in one leg of her old pants.

These are just fun pics of her. So, congrats mom!!! You are amazing. And contrary to popular belief, it was not easy for her. It has taken hard work and dedication - oh in case you are wondering, she has NOT had any weight loss surgery!

Congrats Doodles

(Caption to this picture - Steven we are so proud of you - you were here is spirit Meg!)

We have been in Dallas for a few days to celebrate my brother Steven. He is the baby of the family, and only 16 months older than Ryan. He graduated from HS and went through the temple since he has been called to the Sao Paulo Brazil South mission. He reports at the end of the summer, which is great with us because it gives us more time to play with him this summer.

It made for a fun weekend - we got to see Crazy Uncle Patrick, Smart Uncle Michael (we give everyone names in the family), Aunt Shamel and grandma and grandma (we don't have two mommies, just a set of twins who perpetuate their bad speech habits).

Steven is, in many ways, the typical baby of a large family. We have marveled he has stayed alive this long - he was quite precocious as a little one. The biggest example of this is when he almost drove my mothers big mormon van off the back ledge of the driveway (about a six foot drop) when he was about two. He found the key, went out to the car, started it, put it in drive and it inched forward. Matt's quick thinking kept Steven from being really hurt!

Now he is all growed up (sort of). He wants to sit at the adult table, but still reserves the right to play with the kids as often as possible. He will be an awesome missionary, and we will miss him. For now, we will keep playing as much as possible.

More of the Same

Day four of summer break. Is is August 25th yet? Working from home with my five darlings will be a challenge this summer - partly because they think I should be at their beck and call and fulfill all their desires. Partly because I want to be in the backyard swimming with them. If you don't know, I am a sun worshipping fool. I am sure cancer is in my future, but if the Diet Coke doesn't get me, I know the sun will.

I do enjoy the no schedule days of summer, but we have been very very busy with Eagle Project plans (well under way), soccer try-outs (she moved up two teams - way to go Sophie), getting ready for Girls Camp and High Adventure, and of course trying to keep some semblance of a tidy home I am already losing my mind. It is all good. I need to get a program in place to help with the whole watching the little girls and keeping the house clean thing. Any suggestions besides yelling and screaming, because that is what I have come up with thus far. Let's see what Day Five brings...

Nothing Is As Cute As

A little girl missing her two front teeth! That was the highlight of our day.

Last Quiet Morning

Really, I am sure I will have lots of quiet mornings because after today all my brood will be home with me. All day long. Wanting to be entertained. While I work. Should make for a LONG summer.

We have spent the week with the end of the year activities. Can I just say I hate the end of the school year? There is TOO much to do. I guess, having five kids is my own fault, but give me a break. Between awards ceremonies, picnics, running to Tomball to get Ryan because his ONLY final was FOOTBALL, trying out for next year's choir...you get the idea.

I wound up my motherly school duties yesterday at the twins picnic. Since Ryan was out of school, I sort of twisted his arm to come with me - it was not that hard to do. Allie and Caroline thought it was so cool their big brother came to their picnics - and all the first grade boys think that Ryan hung the moon. He was the "rockstar" of the picnics. He got out there and played with the kids. At one point I looked up and this is what I saw

Now it is hard to see, but he is the orange dot in the lead, and the rest are all the kids running after him. I missed the best shot when he was out there all on his own with the masses following behind. The Pied Piper of first grade boys (and a few girls). In the end he was drenched in sweat, and the kids loved it.

So welcome summer. Let's hope we all survive!

Memorial Day Fun

The Jones' came over to our inaugural Memorial Day pool party yesterday, and I think fun was had by all. If spalshing, screaming and eating are any indication, it was a big success.

Here is my question - why is it that when the "dads" get in the pool with the kids the craziness increases instead of the othe way around? A full on pool fight involving the super soaker and many many sloppy balls ensued. At one point it was everyone against Ryan and Parker, and they were just fine with that. Those two have had to learn survival skills early - they are each the only boy child in a family dominated by women folk.

I meant to get a picture of the fun fight, but that would have required me to move off my chair, and I was sunning myself. How is that for the truth?

Check this out. I stole it from Sarah's blog.

She brought awesome Martha Stewart treats. She has announced her intention of making fun cupcakes all summer, and we are on board with helping her eat them.

And what does the dumb man I live with say when he sees these? He turns to me and says, "why don't you ever do anything like that?" Nice....

We ended the evening with the Kennington's swinging by for a quick dip in the pool on their way back from Frisco. It was a great day full of swimming and friends.

Three and a half days of school and counting...

The Prom

Ryan went to the Cypress Creek Prom on Saturday night with Jessica. Don't they look cute? I can't believe my baby boy is this old! He did not get home until 6:20 am! I am getting way too old - I can't imagine staying awake all night. All in all the report was a good time was had by all.

Choir Banquet

Kelsey got to go to the Choir Banquet on Friday Night. She and Eric got to go on a date. I was with Ryan to get his tux for prom - more on that later.

I asked Sophie to take a picture of Kelsey and Eric. I not sure what happened, but Sophie told me Eric refused to have his picture taken. Nice...

This brings an end, after today's pop show, of a great Choir year for Kelsey. She has had the chance to go to TMEA and work to improve. I really hope she continues with choir in High School.

Good Job Kelsey. I hope someone takes some pictures at the Pop Show Tonight (I am going to miss it since I am gone). She and a couple of friends are doing Hannah Montanna. Should be fun!

Life Imitates Art

I swear this happened to me today.



Only they did not have another car, I was told to just sit and wait about 45 minutes until they had one for me. (Needless to say I walked away from Hertz and I will NEVER rent from them again). I am in the only hotel in town, Days Inn on the highway and it scares me. I went to Applebee's for dinner, something I never do because it is gross, and it only reinforced my hate of the place. AND, they only had Pepsi. Do you get the feel of this trip? Hell.....

Where The Heck Have You Been?

Have you been wondering that? Or do you not care? Either way, I have been travelling like a maniac and I am TIRED!!!!!

I was waiting to post until I got pictures from Kelsey's State History Day competition - I of course forgot my camera and now I am at the mercy of another mom. They have not come, but post I must. If the pictures ever make it here I will add.

I was in UT and it snowed on May 1st. I returned home on Friday the 2nd for three whole hours until Kelsey and I left for Austin. She had made it to the state competition for her history day project. The project rocked, but they did not move on to the national competition. It did give Kelsey and I the chance to be together and that was great. We finished up in Austin and went to San Marcos, outlet shopping mecca. She bought a ton of stuff at Aeropostale for really cheap (rather I bought it for her). We did not get home until about 8:30 PM on Saturday the 3rd.

I had to go to Syracuse on Monday at 6AM for a sales meeting. Got home Wed and we went to Dallas on Saturday the 10th for Kirsten, Pearson niece, and her new hubby's wedding reception (after a very disappoint loss for Sophie's soccer team). We got to spend Sunday Morning with my mom for mother's day, and then we hightailed it home. Or we tried to hightail it home.

Between Madisonville and Huntsville there was an accident that required FOUR helicopters. We turned the engine off. We sat for 1 1/2 hours. Everyone had to go potty. Eric did the manly thing and went in the "woods" on the side of the road. Allie and Caroline had to go, but Eric was being Mr Man and would not "let" them go into the woods, he would just block them right next to the car. Allie refused to pee that way - and Caroline tried but had stage fright. Ryan decided to go into the "woods" and was nice enough to take Allie with him. The picture is Allie victorious in her urination. Nothing like small victories.

Got home and went to College Station all day yesterday. So, I AM TIRED!!! Hear me whine!

I am home for a few days now so I hope to get caught up on my laying around. I have a ton of work to do, but what I really want to do is read The Host - Stephenie Meyer's new book. I will have to work first and play later. It sucks being a grown up!

It is May 1st

And it is snowing in Utah. Need I say more?

Coming To You Live From Sunny Utah

I am at the Utah Library Association. I showed up ready to put my booth together to find I did not have my box which has ALL my stuff in it. Further discovery found out that the box was shipped from the home office and will not arrive until Friday - the show ends Thursday. OK plan B - since I have a double booth, how do I fill it up? Should be fun.

I will leave you with another Allieism. Have a good day - and enjoy the warmth. The high here today is 49. What is up with that?

What A Weekend

It is Sunday evening, and I can let out a big sigh of relief. We made it through.

First thing Saturday morning, at 5:30 am, I took Kelsey to the JR HS so she could go to a choir competition at Fiesta Texas. They drove to San Antonio and back that day. The choir won all superior ratings and they took first place for their division! But, the most miraculous was that Kelsey rode Superman. (Kelsey gets her sense of roller coaster adventure from her mother).

The bus arrived back home at 1:00 am. Eric was on late duty and went to go and get her.

Sophie had a game on Saturday, and they won! They are undefeated and loving this season. Too bad they tied the number one team, so if we keep this up we will be second (and I am one of THOSE kinds of mothers...). Update since I wrote this - Eric logged on to the league website and we are number one! The first place team lost a game!!! Now I am really one of THOSE moms...

The real big thing for Sophie was that she spoke today in Stake Conference. I think that is cruel and unusual punishment to force an 11 year old to speak at Stake Conference, but she did amazing. Her delivery was flawless. My heart was pounding out of my chest because I was so nervous for her, but she did not look flustered at all.

Eric took the little girls and the scouts to the re-enactment of the Battle of San Jacinto. Our bishop participates each year, and they had fun there. It gave me time to work on the garage which is now clean - the last of the unpacking is done! Of course, we still have crap in the other garage to move over....

When you add the two school projects currently underway and the date for the boy on Sat night, it gets crazy, but that is what we signed up for with five kids!

Allie spent all of stake conference drawing, and her cards were FUNNY. I have scanned them and will share periodically. To start with I will give you Kelsey's and Ryan's.

In case you are wondering that is Kelsey on the couch telling Allie to go and get her a coke. Leave it to Big Al to provide us with humor.

So Maybe I Am NOT That Smart Afterall

Do you remember a month or so ago, I had a rant about the readability test of my blog, and how it was better than Sarah's? I was high and mighty and very very wrong.

This is what I have discovered in my very scientific and thorough research. It is counter to what you think. If your blog has a readability score of elementary school, it means you know how to write a coherent and readable sentence that contains all the good stuff - subject, verb (I almost just wrote vowel which would only back up my theory), period, etc. The higher the rating the more educated you need to be because what is presented is not clear and concise.

My niece Hannah, whom I love and I think is the best most smartest 14 year old niece in the world had a readability of genius. Hannah has a type of dyslexia and the written word is not always her friend. That is what sealed the deal for me. (and by the way I think Hannah is a genius - and pretty cute as well).

So, there you go. For all of us who were walking around patting ourselves on our backs thinking we are SO SMART, not so much. I proclaim loudly that Sarah is smarter than me. Was there any question?? But now I do know how to use manicheism in a sentence - see I can be taught.

Isn't It Great To Be The Mom?

This morning as I was asked my 100th question of the morning, it was does 30 mintues equal an hour, I was struck by how our children view their mothers as the smartest people on earth. Stay with me here. They ask everything from what's for dinner, and then ask if they like said dinner, to where is my _______?

We have to know the basics of all the major subjects - science (how come my finger moves like this?), math (what is 1/2 cup plus 1/2 cup?), English (no Allie, worser is not a word), etc. etc. Then when you add the whole being their moral compass thing, it can get overwhelming.

The great thing is - they think we really do know it all. That is until the magic day when the fifth grade math stumps mom, and the perfect persona is shattered.

But how cool is it that for a while, someone thinks we are perfect? Now don't get me wrong, dads are important and cool as well, but they are just not around as much.

It reminds me of something I have heard attributed to Brigham Young (don't know the source of even if it is true, but it works for me). He said if he could only educate his sons or his daughters he would educate his daughters because they would raise the next generation.

So moms, bask in your perfection while it lasts. And even after the perfect persona has been shattered, you will still get your fair share of where are my shin guards. This is what makes us moms.

Spring Is In The Air

This morning I went out for a run. I strapped on my water belt, yes I am a total nerd, gto my ipod, and did my four miles in the 94% humidity. As I was running I had two observations.

Even in the heat and humidity, it was wonderful to be out running. I kept getting a whiff of Jasmine. It smells so good. We had some at our old house, and we need some at the new house. As I would run by and breathe in the good smells, it would make me smile. The pic is from my neighbors house - they have a big bunch of the stuff and it is great.

Second observation. I am old (if the above paragraph about flowers did not let you know that I am old, this will). I was listening to my ipod, and Only The Good Die Young by Billy Joel came on. I LOVE Billy Joel. I have seen him live twice. I loved all his stuff.

I remember going to the Hill Cumorah Pagent in 1984 with our ward and my friend Heidi came with us. She and I have been friends for uh 28 years now, we were in different wards growing up, but were the same age (except I was two days older so I am the older more mature one of us), so we became great friends. We roomed together at BYU, and still keep in touch today.

Anyway, I digress. On that trip we were listening to said song and she told me she had just read in some book that the lyrics were bad and it was not the type of song a good LDS young woman should listen to . We both said, What? we LOVE this song, and hummed merrily along the whole way up and back. We would show those "old" people that they don't know what they are talking about!

Fast forward 24 years. It comes on today, and it hit me. It is really not appropriate. I love it, and will keep listening to it, but it is not appropriate. Trying to convince a young girl to give up her virginity? Not OK. Which makes me old. I am agreeing with the old people who say things like, "you call this music?" (I have heard myself say that to Ryan on more than one occasion, but can't we all agree that RAP is NOT music?)

So there you go. I am old. I enjoy smelling flowers, and think Billy Joel is inappropriate. It's all downhill from here... Next thing you know I will be commenting on the firmness of the peas for dinner, right Heidi???

It's Always Fun When Grandpa And Grandma Come

I flew home on Friday night, and my parents beat me down here. They were coming to see the new house, see the twins perform in the fine arts festival, see Sophie's game, see Kelsey perform in the fine arts festival, and finish Ryan's merit badges with him. Quite a lot in a short period of time!

They were troopers and we did everything. The twins and Kelsey did great, Sophie's team won, and Ryan has two blue cards ready to go! (now all we are missing REALLY is the eagle project!!! get going boy) It was great to have them here - even living close we don't see them as often as we would like. They have been travelling up a storm here lately - to Matt's graduation, to Patrick's basic training graduation, and to see us in the last three weeks. I think this is a sign of things to come - if you have ten kids, and they grow up and have kids and do great things, you will be busy.

You can see Allie has on a necklace in the pic (that was outside the HS). She asked my mom to put the necklace on her so that mom could tell she and Caroline apart. That is Allie, always thinking of others.

My mother has lost 166 pounds since last April 1. Yes you read that correctly - one hundred sixty six pounds. She looks great, and her health is 500% better. She has had type 2 diabetes and it was really bad for a while. She is now on NO insulin! It is great to have her running around like a kid. I pulled into the driveway and she was playing four square with Allie, Caroline and Sophie! That was a picture I needed. I got no pics of mom, but will have to get one when we go up there next!

So, thanks mom and dad for all you do. We love you and love it when you come. They left with about 50 drawings compliments of Allie and Caroline! That is what it is all about.

It Takes A Mighty Good Husband To Be Better Than None

Stacey left me this quote on a recent post, and I totally agree. I am lucky enough to be married to a mighty good man, and this is our 20th anniversary. Today. Tax Day. While I am in Dallas at a show.

To celebrate I thought I would show some pictures of us through the years. Some did not scan so great, and most are embarassing. But hey, it is us.

This is when we were dating, December 1987.

A picture from our wedding day. We were married in the Dallas, Texas Temple. We were the last wedding in the temple before it was remodeled. We had to move our wedding date up four months to make it before it closed to renovate for a year! My parents thought we should just wait a year. We did not think that was such a great idea. Now that I am closer to the parent end, not the daughter end, I can see some wisdom...

A picture from our first year of marriage while we were both students. Scary hair and all. Circa 1989ish.

Mid 90s. We were in San Antonio for Eric to run the marathon. I wish I knew a date - post 1992... They say the mind is the first to go.

Our first cruise was for our 10th anniversary. We never had a honeymoon, so this was our chance. It was great.

It is a good thing we went on cruises since this was our only time to have pictures taken. This was about 2000.

My brother and sister-in-law got married in Vegas - in the temple. So we had a chance to get away and enjoy the Vegas Temple, which is gorgeous!

This is post twins, a few years ago. Maybe 2003 ish...

And, here we are 20 years, and five kids later.

We many not be as young as we once were, but I can say I love Eric more today than I did when we got married. I am grateful he is a mighty good husband, and we are in this together!

The Letter Jacket

Ryan got his letter jacket today. I can't believe it! It is making the fact he will be a senior and leaving before I know it all the more real.

He ended up lettering in German. He has played football since he was in 7th grade - and will play his senior year. He would not be able to order his jacket until well into the football season. Due to the fact his friend was the Pres of the German Club and had been dragging Ryan around to all the activities, Ryan earned enough points to letter in German.

Did not know you could letter in German, but oh well.

He is excited because he has his jacket now, and the football players will not get them for a while.

So, here he is. My baby. Wearing a Tomball letter jacket. I guess the thing here is you put your last name on the jacket, and then you can put your first name, your nickname, or even a scripture in the "tail". Ryan chose his nickname.

Yes, his nickname is Mormon. Even the coaches call him Mormon. It keeps him on his toes. Nothing wrong with having to live up to the fact that EVERYONE knows your standards!

So there you are. This makes me old - lest you forget it is all about me!