Monday, November 24, 2008

Baby Names

Hi Y'all!
OK, here is a real list of considered names:

Aaron Adam Brooks Carsen Dylan David Garrett Gavin Hunter Isaac Jared Jeremy Nathan Noah Tanner.

What are your favs???
Jen

Sunday, November 23, 2008

???


I did not know what to call this post.... "the unveiling", "me and my belly", "look how big I am"...... Nothing seemed to ring in just the right way. So if you feel inspired about a great title, let me know.

But here I am in my sixth month of pregnancy. Everyone is so kind and tells me how little I look.....most of the time....then there are those comments, "Are you SURE you aren't having twins???" And "wow, you have really popped out!!"

I tell people it is my sixth baby and I can't help it, but the truth of the matter is, I just get a big belly when I am pregnant, don't know why, that's just how I am. :) I'm OK with it. It all goes away eventually, usually; I've never had a sixth pregnancy before so we'll see won't we. If you don't see pics of me for awhile..... :)

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

One more piece

Sometimes the week schedule is like a huge complicated puzzle where you are just trying to fit all the pieces together just right and still have happy kids. I am having one of those weeks. For example, our dog needs to go to the groomer desperately. (she and I can't even be in the same room) So I call them and the ONLY time I could get her over there was between 8:30-8:45 AM on the way to Andrew's preschool, after I dropped off Mandi and her friend at their school.

I know everyone understands. We all have weeks like this so you will also understand how one more piece to the puzzle can just upset the whole picture. (this analogy is only half-working) :) So anyway, in the middle of all this, Ben's crown falls out. So I call this morning and they can fit him in at 11:30. "OK, right after my stake meeting and right before my trip to buy cans for Mandi's canned food drive" No problem I think, fits perfectly.

But during weeks like this, I forget to factor in my newly tempermental two year old and dear Andrew who is happy to do whatever but I really try not to abuse his good-naturedness.

So there we are at the dentist, fun place, movies, video games, you name it. And they call Ben back. I go to follow but Audrey won't come. So I leave her in the waiting room, watching Nemo. Not the smartest mom move, but what could I do? Then I check on her every few minutes. Andrew is sort of back by us playing video games. Then just as they come to see Ben in his chair, I hear Audrey screaming at Andrew. She likes to boss him around, but apparently he didn't want to listen. So I go to try and get her but she stiff bodies me and screams about not coming. Anyway, then I try to go back to Ben but she cries that I am leaving her, but she won't come. You've all been here at some point. So I leave her, screaming in the hallway and go back to talk to the dentist. They want to take more x-rays. (ridiculous, they ALWAYS want more x-rays) I would have fought them on this, but I had little willpower left. So we did that and all is well to put the crown back in. Audrey is now running down the hall crying, looking for me. She finds me just when they are trying to get Ben to bite down on the crown and he is screaming in pain with his mouth open, refusing to bite, while the lady is telling him to hurry so the cement doesn't seal without the crown being in place. So we are saying, "you can do it Ben, just bite, one more time, blah blah" while Audrey is officially freaked out by seeing her brother and just at this point, Andrew comes to find us. Not wanting to ruin his good opinion of the dentist, I quickly lead him down the hall back to the games, hearing Ben's cries behind me as I walk away. ETC etc etc.

We finally made it out of there alive.

And the saddest part about all this is, that there are plently of great friends and places where I could have dropped off the kiddos, but I simply did not have time to get them there.

OK, I feel a little bit better sharing. :)

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Fall Letterboxing


I love to go letterboxing in the Fall. It is just crispy enough outside to have some real fun. And the change in the seasons brings out the adventure/explorer in me. Going to find a new box is the perfect excuse to be outside and visit new places.

You can find boxes where you live too. Find the clues online and you will be amazed when you follow them that there is actually a box hidden where they lead you!!
http://www.letterboxing.org
http://www.atlasquest.com

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Share the Wealth!

I have been thinking alot about taxes lately and I am slightly bothered by the cartoon I posted. I LOVE it and think it is hilarious. But if taken seriously, it is not exactly how I feel. For example, I DON'T think that someone who has less than I do is lazy.

But I DO really think it should be my decision how I choose to share any small extra we might save up. I DO really LOVE to share. But how can I if the Government takes every last little bit I had to give to others? And then Congress votes on how to spend my hard earned precious dollars. They are precious because they could be used to help the women I love at our local Battered Women's Foundation or to send packages to our soldiers overseas or to feed the homeless in our shelter downtown or to give gifts at Christmas time to all the different Santa's Helper programs.....etc. I have treasured the little bit of extra we have had to share and felt such joy in giving. It has made all the difference in my life and some of the most valuable memories of my life. If you tax the heck out of a person, you take away all that freedom of choice and therefore the joy of giving and helping redistribute the wealth by personal preference. SO, there you have it, one more reason to vote REPUBLICAN!!

Saturday, November 1, 2008

What makes it special?

For us, October 31st is special when we make time to keep up with our traditions! I had a really great (although exhausting) Halloween this year. Below are some highlights. I even took a picture of my new favorite Halloween beverage!






I also found some new reasons to really like this holiday. I LOVE to touch base with the moms and dads that come knocking on the door with their kiddos. I LOVE the cute kids that come. This one couple was taking around their 4-6 month old dressed like a bunny. SO cute! It is really great to make so many kids so happy all in one night. And I loved all of the things I got to do with my kids to make the day special for them. I won't mention all the reasons this day is not my favorite. I am on such a good warm fuzzy roll. :)

Dove Self Esteem Fund