ABOUT TO POP

I am not someone that is a big maternity photo taker. Perhaps if I was not so tired and busy...and looked cute half the time I might take more photos. I am 35 weeks and becoming silly looking. I bump into things with my belly if I am not careful. Everyone says, "don't you remember what you looked like with twins". I don't...thanks to God's gift of blocking out the horrible parts of pregnancy. People seem surprised that I still have a month. They act as though I should pop any minute. But I am still one hot mama when I do dress up. ;)

***This is a really awful picture, but it is the best I can find today.***

COLOR CODING

Since birth I have dressed Jackson in the outfit with blue and Landon is anything else. It turned out to be an easy way to tell the brothers apart. Landon has been just fine in any other color until about two weeks ago. He has decided that HIS color is red. I have also realized how particular he can be.

He will only wear his red jacket.

His shirt has to have red somewhere in it.

He wants to eat out of the red bowl at meals.

We were trying to play UNO and if he had a blue card in his hand he would stop the game because, "No, this is Jackson's card".

I picked him up from nursery at church and he had a mask with Jackson's name written on it. They said Landon's was originally blue but they had to switch because he quickly made it clear that blue is for Jackson.

When he water paints, he only uses the red out of ALL the colors in the paint set.

Anything yellow pink or purple is Brenna's in his mind, which also causes trouble. Part of me feels that he just needs things that are his instead of sharing all with Jackson, but I am not sure how safe it is encouraging the fixation on red, or OCDs. What a silly kid.

AN ANNOYING HOBBY

I think that a man strumming and singing along to an acoustic guitar is VERY ATTRACTIVE...so I bought Shane one for Christmas. I brought it home and wrapped it ASAP. I tried to avoid Brenna so that she would not spill the beans. I really did not think that she knew what it was.

One day she said, "Dad, do you want to know your present? It is...a secret!!!" I was so happy that maybe one of Shane's presents would be a surprise.

The next day. "Dad, do you want to know your present? It is...a GUITAR!!!"

He could not resist. He waited a few days and then just HAD to open it. He has been strumming ever since. Him and Jayson spend most evenings with their guitars messing around, and then when they get home they play some more until the wee hours of the night.

It is so annoying because...I am neglected and have been replaced by a guitar. ;)

PREGNANCY IS HARD

I have noticed that as I hit the third trimester I hit a new phase I need to learn to cope with. I noticed that I was tired and mildly irritable at work; which NEVER happens, I adore my job. I noticed my exhaustion has hit an all time high. I have ZERO motivation and cannot keep up with my life.

I have realized it is my next learning experience. I have to learn to cope with it. I have finally come to a few facts:

Running is not compatible with pregnancy. I can always start again when I pop this little girl out.

My days of gaining only 25 lbs are over. My body is worn out and not acting like it should since the twins over stretched it. But if I gain more than 35, I will be devastated!!!

If my kids watch more than one movie per day...I am not a horrible mother.

My husband adores me and when he asks what he can do for me, I will actually think of something instead of doing it all myself.

I will try to be friendly even when I don't feel it. It is possible to be exhausted and wear a smile.

I will take this time to read the Book of Mormon like that have done before the other births and enjoy having my feet up and relaxing.

BRENNA SLEEPS IN "HER" BED

Three kids in one room was not working. They would get on Brenna's bed and we would hear about it. Also, Landon would cry in the middle of the night because Jackson had snuggled up next to him and stole his blankie.

A friend at work gave me a loft bed for free. Free turned out to mean that "it had been sitting in her barn for YEARS, and needed some work". Thank goodness Shane is handy. He ground down the rusty places and the old chipped paint, and we repainted the fireengine red color, white.

It looks brand new and Brenna LOVES it and has been sleeping in her bed ever since. Some mornings she doesn't want to get out of it.

SPIDERS

Gma and Gpa Rowley live on some property. If Jackson is playing too far away or in something we don't want him to, we say "watch out for spiders". He gets a fearful look on his face, puts his hands in the air, and runs towards us screaming.

Okay it sounds HORRIBLE, but it is hillarious to watch.

(It is not as traumatizing as it sounds)

BRENNA THE THINKER

Brenna has hit a new stage. She is becoming a thinker. She has begun asking deep questions.

A little back ground...There is a black CNA at work that says whatever she likes. She came to me one day and said, "Oh you are pregnant!?! I was wondering because I noticed that your butt is getting HUGE!!!" She then went on for 15 minutes about it in front of everyone. It is a curse of my pregnancy with girls. I now just embrace it.

Anyway Brenna asked me: Mom how is Cynthia going to get out of your belly?

Me: (Simply) Through my bumbum. (I suppose I could have showed he my scar from past c sections but not all babies come out that way)

Brenna: Yuck. Sticking her tongue out.

A few momments later...

Brenna: Mom is you butt getting bigger because Cynthia is ready to come out?

IT'S A GIRL!!!

Oh thank goodness!!! Brenna has been talking to "Cynthia" since I was barely showing. We ask her, "but what if the baby is a boy?", "No (duh, silly), Cynthia is a girl"

We are so excited. We are not sure if our boys are more of a handful because there are two of them or just because they are boys. We also are excited to nicely round out of family. Chances are that I will get severe baby hunger again a year after Cynthia is born but...right now I am wondering what the heck I am thinking; four kids seems like PLENTY. ;)

HOUSE WORK VS EATING

I have realized that housework is a lot like eating dinner. If you eat all the favorite/easy stuff first you have no energy/room for the rest...and it goes undone, day after day.

LANDON'S LANGUAGE CONFUSION

No matter how hard I try, I cannot convince him the names of objects he has already taught himself.

Any bike: a purple bike (because Brenna has a purple bike)

Any bear: a gummy bear

Any drink other than milk (juice, soda...): chocolate milk

Pants: panties (yikes!!! we work on this one a lot)

Gum: welcome

...the list goes on. I will add on as they come to memory.

BICYCLE WITH PEDALS

Last March for Brenna's birthday we bought her a purple bike. She had begged for a bike for a whole year before we gave in. After 2 hours, the fascination wore off and she would not ride it...and especially NOT with pedals. This whole time she has been riding the brother's skuut and completely stubborn about her purple bike, even up to last week.

Brenna: No, I don't want to ride my purple bike with pedals. (as tears pour down her face)

Mom and Dad: Why not?!!? Tucker (her best buddy) LOVES his bike with pedals and goes REAL fast.

Brenna: ??? (deep in thought)

The NEXT day she hops on her purple bike and begins to ride all by herself like a pro!!! She definitely takes after her Dad and does things on HER own time.

BOYS NEED TO BE TAUGHT

The cousins of my children are all boys. They seemed born with an instant knowledge of trucks and motorcycles and their sounds. My boys are a little behind.

Jackson was playing with a motorcycle and I said, "jump it Jackson". He began to jump it, "jump, jump, jump" as he did. Shane freaked out. "No, no, no! This is the sound when a motorcyle jumps, "Ni..ni.niiiiiiiii"

Shane has now been shopping for trucks, trailers and motorcycles to play with the boys.

BRENNA IS SILLY

As a mother the ONLY way you survive is by tuning out some of the time. Shane frequently says, "Clarissa, will you answer Brenna. She has been asking you a question for the last five minutes."

When Brenna asks for something and I do not answer, sometimes Shane will answer. Her reply is, "No dad I was talking to mom." mainly because she does not like the answer he gave...which is usually "no". If I then answer and it is also a "No", she says, "No mom I was talking to myself" or "I was talking to Cynthia (my unborn baby)".

LANDON CRIES WOLF

As a mother you quickly learn to distinguish between cries. There are the serious ones and the whinny ones; the tired ones and the help me ones. Landon has learned the difference and is using it to his advantage.

Gma Karen was over and I put the brothers down for a nap. Landon began a blood curdling cry shortly after he was put to bed. Karen as a mother-in-law never butts in on my territory but as a gma she softly said, "shouldn't you check on him". I ran upstairs and burst into the room. Landon was still screaming but looked fine as he sat with a picture book in his lap. "Landon what is wrong?" and in a happy Landon voice replied, "look mom...a ball!", as he pointed to one of the pictures.

I left the room and later the same cry began. Fool me once, shame on me...but fool me twice is just embarrassing. Now I let him cry it out. I know that someday I am going to go in and find him with a limb stuck or something serious and I did not check on him.

BUNK BEDS

We bought some bunk beds on Craigslist. They are fantastic. We planned on The brothers using them and then getting Brenna something else. Well Brenna was SOOOO excited about the "top bed" and we could not convince her that it was not for her. The boys share the bottom separated by a body pillow.

Now we have a sleeping room, with only beds and anything/everything else in the room out of reach and the light bulb is unscrewed. We also have a play room, with toys and books.

When we packed up the cribs I knew I had moved into the next phase...the "put them to bed over and over stage" otherwise known as the "No nap stage". I have been dreading this stage for awhile. With help of scary daddy...nighttime it is working out.

Nap time I have been sorry to see go. I cherished those few hours daily. But if course I found a solution. I put up a crib in Brenna's room for Cynthia (hopefully it is a girl) and if the boys are desperate for a nap, I put the culprit (usually Landon) in the crib. They fall asleep. YEAH!!!

Another downfall is the early rising in the morning. The first night they woke up at 6:30am!!! They usually slept until 8:30am everyday (Yep I was lucky).

ANOTHER DIFFERENCE

If you could not tell the brothers apart Jackson thought of a clever way to help you out. He was riding on the motorcycle on Uncle Jayson's lap, when they hit a bump, and Jackson's front teeth got bonked hard. Thank goodness they did not break or fall out...but they are turning GRAY.

YEAH I AM PREGNANT!!!

I have finally over the miserable stage and am actually very happy right now.

My energy is only 75% what it was but my kids get cared for and dinner is done more often. I play with my kids, take them places...life is almost back to normal.

I am at a very awkward stage in my body shape. I look just pregnant enough that people probably just think I am fat. The rolls when I sit are unbearable.

I am hungry and can finally eat whatever I want. I am a little worried about this. I have to remember I am only eating for 2 not 3 like last time.

CONFESSIONS

Confessions of a Pregnant mother of a girl plus twin boys. Disclaimer: some entries may be disturbing.

I was always SHOCKED to hop into a mother's car that had trash, food, and toys all over the place... I am one of those mothers.

Besides my car, I am still a freak about my house and will work until I am vomiting if I know that someone might be coming over. I am more relaxed on regular days...not by choice but lack of energy.

I LOVE going to work. I LOVE a little piece of freedom and friends. Yet also fully believe I would be a better mom if I were not exhausted 2 days a week.

My belly is popping out far sooner than it is supposed to. Sometimes I have to wear a squeezer.

My children are a mess, especially when eating.

About once a week the boys go to bed with milk.

Brenna watches cartoons while I take a nap with the brothers. Sometimes we sleep for 3 hours. That is a lot of cartoons.

I cook dinner maybe once a month. Otherwise it is cereal.

If the clothes they have on are soft enough...they wear them as jammies.

I drive out of my way to go to Taco Bell for a bean burrito when I have the craving.

Fully believed that this pregnancy was RUINING my life...but at 13 weeks I can feel that the awful part is waning.

Extra fearful that this unborn baby will not be prefect. I hope God knows that twins was trial enough for one mama.

Cannot eat sweets. One gummy bear can make me sick for the rest of the day...yet I feel that I am gaining weight faster than I should. Not fair.

POTTY TRAINED???

Sunday the Nursery Leader pulled me out of class and said, "Is Landon potty training? He said he needed to go potty, so he went into the bathroom, pulled down his pants, undid his diaper, and sat on the toilet." I said, "No...at least not officially"

It looks as though the time has come...and I will have to break down and do the teaching.

GIRLS ARE DIFFERENT

Brenna found two toy motorcycles in the toybox. A big one and a small one...

Brenna: Daddy will you play motorcycles with me?

Shane: Sure!

He grabs the big one and begins with authentic motorcycle sounds and jumps.

Brenna: No daddy!!!

Shane: ???

Brenna: You are the mommy and I am the baby!!!

Shane: ???

Brenna: Mommy , I am hungry...waaaaa!

Shane: ???

COLD SORE CREAM

For the majority of my life, WHENEVER I get slightly stressed, I develop a huge cold sore that takes over the area under my nose. It is a curse that I am trying to learn to live with. Over the years I have discovered a few tricks to make it go away faster. Diaper rash cream is the best cure. The whiter and thicker the cream, the better.

I have received a lot of teasing over the years but I learned today that at least one person in my life thinks it is COOL.

I bought a new tube from the store and left it in a bag on the counter. Jackson found it, opened the package and put a single dab under his nose. The cream was found no where else. When he was done he just closed the package and put it back.

CHA-CHA

When Shane and Jayson were younger they danced and preformed in a dance group. Denise Nuttall the instructor teaches teens all over the valley for free...and wins competitions for her dances. She wanted to put together an adult dance so she called up some of her past students who are now married and grown.

We did the cha-cha to "Uptown Girl". We were still finalizing the choreography a few days before the dance...so we were all terrified that we would embarrass ourselves.

It all turned out at the performance, except for a few slip ups. The whole experience was a BLAST. It was fun to dance with Shane...usually it is disastrous...and we gave up dancing together. This experience brought back some hope.

LIFE AS PREGO

Just a few weeks ago I was full of energy and full of life. I was running like crazy. I was super mom, able to take care of my kids and keep the house clean. I was giggly and fun-loving...

This pregnancy is SOOO hard. I am EXHAUSTED all the time. On the verge of vomiting ALWAYS. SOOO hungry, yet have to force myself to take a few bites. Dehydrated because water is GROSS. Irritable because I feel tired and heavy yet have 4 people that need me every minute.

What is good about being pregnant? I will have another sweetheart soon. The discomfort will only last a few more weeks. And...my boobs are getting bigger ;).

A GIRL

We joke that it is a girl. Since we first found out I was pregnant I named it, Cynthia. Now it is Cynthia Louise and nicknamed Cindy Lou. It is natural that we would want a girl next, but if it is a boy, we will be so happy.

Last time we had a girl, we named Brenna within minutes. With boys names it took us months and months and then daily pressure in the hospital. We named them 4 or 5 days after they were born. We have no ideas yet.

A GIRL

We joke that it is a girl. Since we first found out I was pregnant I named it, Cynthia. Now it is Cynthia Louise and nicknamed Cindy Lou. It is natural that we would want a girl next, but if it is a boy, we will be so happy.

MORNING SICKNESS

I have had a hard time believing I was pregnant...until today. Life seemed just as it always has been. I have been able to have enough energy to tend to my children and my home, and still run 5 miles three times a week.

Last night at dance practice I noticed that my husband was extra stinky...I thought it was something he ate, that was not sitting well. Then today the nausea, the lack of energy, the dizziness set in...and now there is no doubt that I am pregnant.

I have decided that God is very gracious that he lets us forget the past pregnancies. If I had known what I know now...I would not have been so excited about it. It is not THAT bad. Probably a 3 out of 10 compared to most, but just uncomfortable enough to notice it and change my lifestyle a bit.

***As an addendum...it is getting worse by the minute. I am miserable...

BRENNA

Brenna is the cutest, sweetest, funnest, funniest girl I know.

She carries around a little stuffed horse, which she named, "Spot". Spot is with her at all times. They play, they sleep, he sits on the table next to her as she eats. It is adorable.

She is so affectionate. She is always telling me, "I just love you so much". She also says it to anyone else that plays with her for longer than five minutes. She is always trying to hold hands. She chases after anyone, and everyone to give them a goodbye kiss and a hug.

She is a little show off. She loves dancing and singing in the center of the room. Her and Tucker will practice a dance downstairs and then come up to show everyone.

She has this beautiful, wild, and untamed curly hair.

She just has the funnest little personality. She is soo playful, and such a joke-ster.

PREGNANT

I am hoping for a girl. We have already been calling her Cynthia. Shane is rooting for twin girls and then be done. I told him that Heavenly Father knows me better than that.

I have been severely baby hungry for about a year but I figured that I was just a little off my rocker. As soon as I began to get over it and focus on running...Shane got baby hungry.

Shane is in charge when it comes to baby making because I am not on any form of birth control. He went from begin VERY careful to being very careless. After a few months of timing it just right, I finally asked him if he was intentionally trying to get me pregnant. He said I am not "TRYING" but I am not opposed to it either. He says that we are good parents, who can raise our children right and with the gospel and if we want another we should go ahead and have another.

Last month when I had my period he was really disappointed. So when I was a week late this month he is OVERJOYED!!! I am too. I love my children.

LITTLE TERRORS

What happened to my little angel boys??? I think that terrible twos has arrived.

Landon says, "NO", to everything. He says it also right after I say it to him. Drives me bonkers.

Jackson hits if he doesn't like something you did or said. I just flick him back and then it turns into a wrestling match. He does like to hit his brother though, which is the biggest problem.

They are extra whinny and opinionated. Heaven help me survive this time.

MY PARENTS

Dawn posted this picture online. I am blown away. Now I can see where I get my good looks ;)

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE BABIES

Over the weekend we spent time with a old friend and his wife. They have been married for 5 years and are just beginning to think about starting a family. The wife said that she has a lot of friends who married and had children right away and they have really struggled...she did not want to do that. This theory sounds very enciting.

I waited a year after marriage to begin a family. I am soo glad I had that year with Shane to learn and grow together. For the most part having children was barely a struggle when it was ONLY Brenna.

I would be lying if I said that adding twins to the mix was a cakewalk. It has been rough...but amazing and fun and brought SOOOOOO much joy to my life. Yes, there are days that I want/need a break. That the crying and constant needs are exhausting but I ADORE spending time at home with my children. We play all day and laugh and snuggle and love. It is GREAT. So great that I constantly hunger for more children.

SELF POTTY TRAINING

Brenna always goes potty before getting in the bathtub. For a few months now the brothers try to do it also. They just sit there for a few seconds then say "all done".

Landon seems like he is going to be the first out of the twins to use the potty full-time. At first he would stand in the tub and pee. He would aim for something floating the the water, or try to fill a toy with urine. But...at least he recognized when he needed to go...Right?!?

Over the past week Landon has really shown signs of interest. He has gotten out of the tub FOUR TIMES and done pee-pees in the potty. Most of the times he even climbed on the toilet and did it himself.

Am I ready to potty train twins??? Absolutely not. Diapers are not breaking the bank and it is going to be very messy trying to clean up the mistakes of two children.

VOMIT

Jackson has ALWAYS had a weak gag reflex. Whenever he is near me while I change Landon's poopy diapers I can predict a dry heave or two. Sometimes if he cries hard he can vomit also.

Well today proved how weak his reflex is. I knew that I was a REAL nurse when I could hold the vomit bag for a patient and not vomit myself. Jackson has a lot of practicing to do...

I babysat Ashley's kids while she spent the afternoon with her mother. Tucker kept complaining of a upset stomach but then would say, "It is better now" and play a little until he was back lying on the couch again. Two minutes before Ashley returned Tucker vomited EVERYWHERE. Jackson thought it was gross and vomited in THREE different spots while I was cleaning up Tucker's mess.

Heaven help me!!!

HALF MARATHONER

Wow!!! What a rush!!! I had a blast. I ran 13 miles in 2 hours 16 minutes. I was very timid with my speed because I was not sure if and when I would hit a wall. I took it easy and seriously think that next time I could do a little better.

I ran with a friend from work named Jewel. She ROCKS!!! She is like the energizer bunny and shared her energy when my was low. We laughed and joked as we ran. It went a lot faster then I thought. Miles just breezed past without even realizing it.

There were quite a few hills around Henery Hagg Lake. We nicknamed one of them Everest and brag that we ran to the peak WITHOUT supplemental oxygen.

I am already planning the next few that I want to run. I LOVED it.

GERMS

I dread all of my children being sick at once. It is exhausting. Since I am a nurse my germ phobia comes into full force when they are contagious. I try to avoid it from spreading but inevitably...it does. So after the last illness, I decided to try another approach and I vowed that if any of them got sick again I would make them all drink out of the same cup, or use the same spoon just to get it over with instead of it dragging on for weeks.

They actually haven't been sick so far this winter. And it is my fault for bragging out loud about it because Landon got sick. I woke up from a nap after the night shift and Karen said that Landon had a fever and would not swallow. I took him to urgent care on Shane's lunch break just to assure it was not strep and not pass it around.

On a side note. As a nurse I feel extra silly bringing my children to the doctor at the first sign of illness. I began to feel, as I sat in the waiting room, that all eyes were on me saying, "isn't she used to this as a nurse? Why is she so quick to bring him in? He doesn't even look sick." I felt like turning around and taking him back home. I audibly cheered when the MD told me that he DEFINATELY had strep, and he was glad I brought him in.

Anyway...I called Shane with the news as soon as I left the MD's office. Then when I walked in the door I found Jackson lying in Landon's blankie drinking out of Landon's sippy cup!!! I fully predicted another trip to the urgent care the following day for Jack Jack. Shane was fired from babysitting for... a half a day.

ENDLESS CYCLE

We have subconsciously been doing this for months but it just clicked. Shane is VERY likable and fun to be around. He has always been the life of the party and had friends swarming around him. I like him too and when he is home I try to be near him but I have begun to feel that he was avoiding me. Whenever I enter the same room as him...I realize that within the matter of minutes he has moved again.

I had to really ponder on it. Does he like me? Did I shower today? Is he just tired from work? Then I realized the "cycle".

He moves away from the noise of the kids
I move to be near him
The kids realize I am gone and move to be near me
Then Shane moves to get away from the kids again
...

NEW LOOK

I have regressed back into comfort and neglect when it comes to makeup and clothes. Since I have been hardcore training for the half marathon it seems worthless to do my hair only for it to get sweaty or rained on. I also put on my running clothes as soon as I get out of bed to prepare for a minute that I might be able to squeeze in a run.

I came home from work early one night and Shane shyly confessed that he found a program online and was giving a picture of me a makeover. I have to give my husband props. I fully expected to find me with bigger boobs and a smaller tushy. When he revealed the picture it was me with makeup, new hair style and jewelery. I had various types of hairstyles and colors, but the one he settled on loving the most was my natural color with highlights.

Brenna got into it also and there was one with bright pink hair and lipstick. She told him that it looked SO BEAUTIFUL!!!

MY NICKNAME

I have had various nicknames in my time but the latest is not my favorite. Shane calls me his "baggy woman". After having twins I have to really think about his meaning before I react. He calls me his "baggy woman" for another reason. I love to keep things organized and one of the cheapest ways I know is with zip lock baggies. They are in every room and every drawer of our house.

MOM IS A BAD EXAMPLE

Out of all of my children, Jackson is my mimic...possibly the reason that I find him the most hilarious. ;) But it isn't always a good thing.

On Sunday, during the quiet part of sacrament, Shane said that Jackson found a scratch on Shane's arm. Jackson quickly started looking for one on himself. He finally found one, and then very loudly said, "Oh man...shoot....crap".

As if that wasn't bad enough. The speaker, as a natural part of her talk, mentioned that we as parents have to be a good example because our children will mimic us...the people in the next pew turned around and said' "Are you listening to this?'

I am glad that I was not there, I would have died with embarrassment. I had no idea that I was so uncensored. I am going to have to work on that.

BRENNA IS 4!!!

WOW...does time fly!!! For birthdays I always make a special cake. Brennas this year was more difficult...possibly because she was helping. It is lop sided and not to my liking. But...she LOVED it.

CHAIR REDO

Shortly after we were married we got a free table and chairs. It is the ugly rod iron base with the glass top. The chairs were in serious disarray, so we redid them. After 5 years...the chairs needed help again. So with a little more pain and some cute fabric...whalla.

MR POTATO HEAD

I made these for Ashley as part of her Christmas present and just now got my set done. The kids LOVE them. They are made out of fleece/felt. There is a cowboy with boots and a gun; man with glasses; woman with earrings and a purse; boy with a baseball; and girl with earrings and a doll.

LOST JACKETS

Since birth Jackson wears blue and Landon wears brown. One day I was looking for their jackets and could not find them anywhere. I checked both cars, the laundry, all rooms...I was stumped.

I woke up the next morning with a faint recollection of looking in my rear view mirror and seeing a blue and a brown piece of clothing in the road. I sent Shane out before work and sure enough he found a brown jacket and a blue pair of pants.

As if that is not weird enough. Where was Landon's blue jacket? Shane found it the next day about a half a mile away in the road also. They had probably been out there for a week.

Laundry did the trick and the brothers are now warm again.

MY BODY TYPE

I hope that this is not one of those, "you just had to be there" moments, but I cannot resist posting it...I want to remember and relaugh about it later.

Since I was young I have been trying to pick out people who may have my body type to see if my view of myself is the same as the truth. Silly, I know. I have not done it for YEARS.

Valentine's Day I pointed out a girl from behind as she walked to the bathroom. Shane looked just in time to see her disappear around the corner. We all waited for her to come back to see if indeed she did have my body type.

When she came back we ALL burst into tears because from behind it turns out I am thinner...but from the front she is OVERLY endowed and I must have high hopes for myself!!!

NEW CAMERA

I know that my blog is sorely neglected. My camera was trash and since our move and new computer Shane did not want me to install the old software but to buy a new camera instead. It has been a few months but I finally got one. Nothing overly fancy but at least I can begin adding pictures to my blog post again.

TRAVEL TRAILER

I know how no one likes to hear about the doom-n-gloom but it remains in the back of my mind constantly. Since we sold our condo I feel liberated. I feel that if something huge were to happen we could pack up and move to where family is up the hill.

One of the huge things that I did recently was allowed Shane to buy a travel trailer. It is 21 feet and has a bathroom, kitchen, heat, refrigerator, sleeps 5-6. I figured that it was warmer to camp in but also a place to live if we had to move up the the house...if we became desperate. Shane and Jayson are actually in the process of destroying (that is what it looks like at this point) their parents land and building a shelter for the travel trailers. They had a "back hoe" (or whatever that thing is called) leveling it and taring out tree stumps. They found some old telephone poles on craigslist for cheap and are in the process of building the roof. Quite the project.

It is AMAZING though. We hit the jackpot. I cannot wait the camp it up this summer.

MESSES

I am afraid that I am a failure. Raising twins you have to neglect a few areas in order to survive. The area that this is most prominent is in meal time. It seems to have been the only time raising the brothers that I get a moments peace. I let them do their thing and it is easier to clean them up afterwards then watch/feed them.

It is not pretty. Jackson eats a lot like the Beast does in the movie. It is very messy and very comical. He has discovered that it is easier to use his hands rather than the spoon.

They do not love bibs and know how to remove them. I end up changing their clothes after most meals. Sometimes they get done before I realize and sticky hands run a muck.

I am excellent at keeping my house clean but need to work on teaching my babies how to eat nicely. I think they are old enough to know better by now.

OLD FRIENDS/ENSIGNS

It seems wrong to throw away the words of the prophet and apostles. I had all my Friends stored up from 2010 and had no idea what to do with them. Storing them forever seemed silly. So I got creative...and tore them apart.

I put them in sheet protectors and divided them into sections: Activities, Coloring pages, and Short stories and comics. The sheet protectors allow for the activities and coloring pages to be colored on with dry erase markers and used again and again.

We use it at church and the kids are CRAZY about it. I do have to worry about the brothers and dry erase markers but the washable kind seem to come out in the wash if any "UH-OHs" happen.

DOUBLE SHOWER

If you don't enjoy an intimate peak into my life then do not read this post...TMI.

I LOVE taking showers and baths. If I could justify 2 showers a day I would. Perhaps I still have Arizona blood in me and love the heat of the hot water.

I also LOVE taking showers with my husband...TMI...but I get freezing cold if he has the water, and as thin as we are, we cannot both fit under the shower head. So there was only one solution...get my brilliant plumber brother-in-law and my intelligent husband to make a removable double shower head. Since we are renting, we cannot tare into drywall and re plumb, so as ugly as it is...we LOVE it. It screws in and screws out for when we move to a new place.