QUIET GAME

Brenna LOVES the quiet game. Whenever we are in the car she is trying to make the game happen. A few months ago we were driving for a family vacation and she was holding a stuffed animal on her lap in the back seat. Soon we heard her say,"you lose". We cracked up because we realized she was playing it with her stuffed animal.

MAKING PINS

I am a pinterest addict. I love to go on and pin all the cool things. We went to a BBQ at a friends house and I noticed the cupcakes and meal and multiple things in her home were inspired by pins on pinterest. I realized that I needed to actually do something with all the cool things. My favorite is to pin cool things to do with my kids...so devised a plan and called Ashley. I knew that I would not consistently make time unless I had someone else in on it.

During the summer, while school is out, we have gotten together once a week and had an "activity" - as the kids have come to call it. One person does a snack activity and the other a craft activity. Then we eat lunch. So much fun.

Made gak
Made sugar cookies where each child added their own sprinkles to the mix.
Made ivory soap explode in the microwave and then added food coloring and reshaped it.
Planted plants in flower boxes.
Put faces on cups and planted grass seeds in them to grow "hair".
Made ranchers lollipops.
Made crayons by remelting broken crayons.
Made rice krispy treats with each childs own sprinkles on top.
Made chocolate pudding  and gummy worms dessert.
...

The kids LOVE it.

POOP STINKS

Potty training...potty training...and more potty training. Twin boys are no picnic in the potty department. It has been about 6 months and still their is no guarantee that they have it down. Peepees eventually worked out after a few months but if they are playing and distracted they still wet their pants. But by far the worse challenge has been pooping. No they are no constipated, or holding it in...instead they poop in their pants anytime or anyplace.

We tried everything!!! Rewards. Patience. Time out. Spankings (yep, we were getting desperate). Shane even heard a rumor that someone in the ward got their child to poop by offering the reward of calling "Go Diego GO" on the phone. So he did. Josh pretended and Jackson thought it was AMAZING but pooped his pants the next day :(.

Finally after wearing only long shirts we discovered that if they don't have underwear on they don't poop. They hold it in. So 3 times a day we sat them down to poop on the toilet. After screaming and tears it would come out and then we would call grandma, have treats, and do a potty dance.

CHICKEN POOP

One of Shane's bosses lives out in the country and has a motocross track in his front yard. One Saturday we went over and played on their land while Shane played on the track. They also have chickens and horses, which the kids found fascinating. I was recovering from the night shift and not paying very close attention to my kids as they ran around. One of the other little girls came to her mom and said she was holding the chicken and it pooped in her pocket. We all laughed about it and began a conversation. I soon realized Brenna was talking to me.

In my half listening and nodding way I heard her say, "Mom the chicken should have pooped in the toy truck." 

She repeated it a few times before I said, "Wait...What?...No that would be gross." 

Her reply, while shrugging. "Why I did". 

"Wait...What?...".

 "I had to go peepees so I did it in the truck." 

" No hunny that is gross! You really did that?" 

"Well I dumped it out"

HUSBANDS NEXT LEVEL OF FUN

Shortly after we moved to Oregon the husbands in the family created a grand scheme. They wanted dirt bikes but knew their poor wives would not let them spend a couple grand on them. So...they did side jobs, raced the money and bought some. It began as a harmless trip to the forest to trail ride every few Saturdays. Then it morphed into riding in Sandy at the track, which made the trails seem very lame. Now They ride/race every Thursday at Portland International Raceway on the Motocross track...which is TOTALLY AWESOME...or so I hear. Josh and Shane actually do amazingly well and win trophies most times. They have the same riding style and pace so during the races they are neck and neck. Way fun to watch!!!

I have begun putting Shane's trophies and pictures of him on his dirt bike in his man cave -the garage above his work bench. Mysteriously they have returned to a place of honor on the mantle next to a picture of Christ...glad Shane did not take down Christ to make more room.

HELVETIA HALF MARATHON

I was a tad bit too cocky going into the run. The year before when I ran it, I had trained hard averaging 13-20 miles per week. That race was AMAZING and I felt AMAZING the whole time. This year I had just had a baby two months before. I only had time to run 1-2 per week. I TOTALLY flopped. I ran the first half at 10 min/mile pace but then when my partner left me in the dust I lost all motivation and could not convince my body to go any faster. :(. My time ended up being. 2:28, about a 12 minute mile pace. But I did it and plan on doing it every year....call me crazy ;)

MUSINGS OF A RUNNER

Oh the thoughts I have to entertain myself while I run. I am quite hilarious. ;)

Just because it is sunny in Oregon does not mean it is safe to run in a white shirt. It can rain without notice. 

After a car passes and they tap on the brakes...is it because they are slowing does because I am cute...or because they are wondering if at any moment I will collapse with exhaustion.

Dear 55-65 year-old man running my route of rolling hills, I will catch you tomorrow.

I used to love the challenge of a hill but now I use them as an excuse to cool down.

If a "biggest loser" can do it...the little strong me can do it.

Sunny days make me hate the treadmill.

Walking is harder than running slow.

I judge the difficulty of my run by the redness of the blotches on my arms.

I get an adrenaline rush whenever I pass someone.

What is the point of running the trail through the neighborhood, if no one at the park to see me and give me a pat on the back on Sunday?

MY LIFE IN A NUTSHELL

Except the house is amazing and my hair is in a bun and I have stretchy pants on. ;)

SPECIAL ICE CREAM CONE

On Brenna's birthday I was on Baskin Robbin's website looking for a free birthday cone coupon, Brenna saw a yummy cone and wanted a picture of it. They would not print so I printed one off google images. She carried it around until we went to Dairy Queen to get a ice cream cone with her buddies. At the cash register she showed her picture and said, "Can I have this one for my birthday?" The cashier went and whipped it up just for her!!!

WEDDING PHOTOS 2

***When Shane first saw the picture of him walking with the brothers he said, "Whoo, is that what I look like?... I am 'GOOD-LOOKING'"

WEDDING PHOTOS

***My "friends" say I should be a model. ;)

CYNTHIA MY ANGEL

I have the BEST baby in the whole world. She is never a burden. She sleeps well, eats well, sits contently and smiles all day. When she is tired she closes her eyes. No fussing around. She is SOOO beautiful. Sometimes I look down at her on my lap and she is just smiling like I am the person she loves most in the whole world. I am literally and completely in heaven. Thank you, thank you, thank you for my special gift from heaven.

***Not sure if you can see her shoes but...Ashley and I made them!!! Navy shoes are impossible to find in newborn. They were so BEAUTIFUL but only stayed on for a few seconds at a time.

NUMBER TWO

Potty training "the pee pees" took a week until no mistakes. The "poopies" have proven to be the most difficult concept for them to grasp.

There are a few reasons why I think they do not understand it is uncool to poop their pants. First, I waited too long to potty train. They had been fully aware that they have been pooping their pants for awhile now. Second, I give them a few glasses of milk a day which firms things up so it is not a nasty sludgy mess when they go in their pants.

When they do go in their pants we take them to the toilet and put it in and flush, showing them that poopies go in the toilet not in their pants. Now they are even more confused. They get so excited when they put it in the toilet themselves. They some and get us, "I did it!!!". It doesn't count if they do it in their pants and then put it in the toilet.

We are at a loss. Someday I hope it will click.

RUNNING AGAIN

Waiting the six weeks after C-section seemed impossible. This last pregnancy has been the worst as far as extra weight hanging around. I am running again and it feels like I never stopped. I do the majority of my running on the treadmill at 9pm. Whatever it takes.

LANDONS ZTUZ-ZTUZ

Landon came to me one day complaining that he wanted his "ztuz-ztuz". He cried for a day and a half before he found it and brought it too us. Turns out "ztuz-ztuz" was his nickname for his favorite red pants.

POTTY TRAINING

I ran to the store for milk before Shane went to work and when I got home...all hell had broken loose. Walls had been colored on, food had been spilled, the furnace was turned up to 80 degrees and Shane was pulling his hair out. I thought, "maybe he will have more sympathy or appreciation for my mad skills." at the same moment he yelled as he went out the door to work, "By the way, the boys are in underwear and we are starting potty training TODAY...love you."

I have to admit, potty training twin boys seemed DAUNTING. Whenever I thought about it I could come up with a list reasons why I or they were not ready yet. I probably would have never done it if I did not get the push.

The first few days were pee everywhere. Then they got the hang of number one. YIPEE. THeir bottoms are so cute in their little Go, Diego, Go underwear.

BRENNA TIME

Brenna had her time each day with mama before the baby was born. After the brothers went down for their daily nap she had about an hour with me and only me. We played games and did her letters. Since Cynthia, I have tried to give her a little one-on-one time each day bit at times it is difficult. Her disappointment came on gradually and blew up one day.

At first it was seen when Shane yelled from downstairs, "Brenna, I love you!" and he heard the reply. "Yeah, but I bet you love Cynthia more."

Then a day of tears about a week later revealed the full weight of her feelings. "Mom, you never want me ever since Cynthia came out."

Now I try to play with her. She doesn't just want to be with me, she wants my full attention...for just a little moment each day. That is doable.

CINDY LOU

Everything extracurricular in my life has been on hold for the past two months. Life is way too BUSY to keep up with...but GREAT. 1/5/2012 Cynthia Louise was born at 11:03 AM, 7 pounds 10 ounces, 20 and a quarter inches long. She came out screaming and screamed until she was put in her mamas arms...not only because she loved me but because she was HUNGRY and wanted the milk and knew exactly where it was and how to get it.

3 weeks later she continues to be the perfect baby. She is so even tempted and sweet. The only time she cries is when she is hungry...and if delayed for too long...she screams.

She is SOO BEAUTIFUL!!! Her head is perfect because she came out my belly. Her fingers and toes are long and elegant like her mamas. She has a pretty little nose.

The brothers ignore her except for a small moment each day when the stop and hold her tiny little hand before running off again. Brenna loves her and wants to feed her, change her diapers, and carry her everywhere. She has been disappointed by how little she is able to help feed her.