St. Patrick's Day

Loved the kids in their cute green outfits.  These show their little personalities so well :)

5 Years!

Brooke is 5!  Holy cow.  She celebrated her birthday in Logan with all our family.  She had a Bell cake, got lots of fun presents, and felt very spoiled.  She loved having everyone sing to her... we did multiple times that day.  Matt calls her our little diva.  You'll see why in the pictures :)

• VERY girly.  Loves dresses, nails, high heels, jewelry, and makeup.
• 42 lbs. (20%) and 3'8" tall (75%) - She towers over all the kids in her class, even the boys.
• Goes to preschool 4 days a week and loves it.  Her teacher says she has a fun, bubbly personality with lots of energy and that she loves to sing and dance.  She is very ready for kindergarten.
• Likes to swim and be outside
• Likes Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift and dancing
• Makes up songs and teaches Cole church and preschool
• Gave her first talk in primary about prophets this month.  I was so proud of her!!
• Licks her lips when she is worried
• Always volunteers to say the prayer... dinner, primary, family, etc.
• Favorite food is Chuck E. Cheese, favorite color is pink and purple, favorite movie is Beauty and the Beast, Enchanted Christmas
• Loves to dress up and act out Beauty and the Beast
• Has a love/hate relationship with our dog.  She loves the dog, the dog hates her.  Brooke thinks Hallie is her personal doll.
• A good helper (most of the time) with the dishwasher, her bed, laundry, and her sister
• My spitting image as a child.  My dad says "paybacks are killer."  Anyone who knew me as a child or teenager knows what I mean :)

16 Months

Bailee is now 16 months old.  She is a spunky little thing.

• Finally started walking mid-March
• Says too many words to count and repeats anything we tell her to.  Some of her favorites right now include fire truck, flash light, back pack, all gone, lotion, treat, cookie, outside, grandma, grandpa, and tweet tweet.
• Wants to do whatever her brother and sister are doing - calls them sissy and Cole
• Loves to play outside
• Likes birds and most any animals
• Eats anything, except bananas still
• Is a pain in the butt at church.  Doesn't like to sit still.  Can't wait for nursery!
• Still a mama's girl
• Still sucks her thumb and must have her "night night" to go to sleep (night night is a pink minky blankie and no other will do)
• Love her crazy, curly hair
• NOT shy, loves to talk to everyone
• Hates to have her hair done and screams everyday
• Obsessed with brushing her teeth.  She will bring me her toothbrush and toothpaste several times a day and say "tee tee tee tee"
• Is ready to sleep in a big girl bed... as soon as we have space!  Tries to climb out of her crib, hasn't fallen yet
• I had to get rid of my high chair because she learned how to climb out of it and onto my counter.  One morning Matt had gotten her up and gave her breakfast.  I was still in bed.  He heard the kitchen sink running and assumed I had gotten up with her.  Nope, it was Bailee, trying to get herself a drink.  We can't contain her!
• Loves to play in the dog food and with Hallie
• Loves the tub and swimming.  Pictured below... One night the big kids were in the tub.  Bailee somehow made it into the bathroom and decided to tub with them.  Only her head though.  I'm sure she was trying to climb in, but managed to only get her head and shirt wet.  Silly little girl.

Mommy Time Out

Today is one of those days.  I need a timeout.  I love my kids and I love being a mom.  I wouldn't trade that for anything.  BUT...somedays I just can't take anymore.  My patience is GONE and  I'm feeling ever more unappreciated.  It seems that the more I give, they more they take.  I've tried explaining to my kids why we have rules and chores and what it means to respect things, but I don't know if they just don't get it or if they just don't care.  It isn't a mom's job to do everything.  Everyone in the family should have to pitch in, we all live here we all live together.

Last night was rough... Matt came home from work and complained about how messy the house was.  Any mom who spends her whole day trying to keep the house clean and trying to keep the kids entertained knows how that feels.  Total insult.   Then, Brookelyn threw a huge fit because she found out we'd gone to the park while she was at school.  She made sure I knew I that I don't love her and I only do fun things when she is at school.  According to her nothing is fair and her life is miserable.  She has no friends and nobody likes her.

Today, I spent the morning cleaning up breakfast, doing laundry, making beds... the normal morning routine.  Before we moved the kids were really good to help with chores... they knew that daily they had to put away their laundry, make their beds, and unload the dishwasher.  Since we've moved trying to convince the kids to help with chores is a daily battle.  They tell me that I'm the mom and its my job.  Finally, I threatened to cancel Brooke's birthday party if they didn't mind.  I don't like being a mean mom but I find that when I've tried to be nice, tried to give rewards for doing good, and tried explaining why it is important to do chores-- I just resort to being mean and punishing.

While I was on the treadmill (only for a half hour) they got out all the toys again that we'd just put away.  I don't mind messes, I know that's what kids do.  It is when they make mess after mess after mess and don't put anything away.  In our tiny apartment it gets cluttered pretty fast.  Before I know it they have every toy out and then refuse to clean up because the mess is too big.  I walk out of my room and can't even walk down the hall because there are blankets, barbies, dolls, trucks, and my kitchen utensils scattered everywhere.  Again, it turns into a battle and I usually end up cleaning up by myself to avoid the crying and fit throwing.  Thats another thing I can't take.  If you have a reason to be crying, that is one thing.  I'm happy to help solve a problem, but if you are screaming and crying for no reason it is pretty hard to deal with.  I lose my patience really fast and I wonder how mom's deal with babies who cry and cry and cry.

I try so hard to be a good mom but some days I just feel like I'm failing.  I try so hard to love unconditionally like Christ did, but I find myself on my knees often begging for help and for forgiveness.  I'm trying to teach them to do what is right and to feel the spirit but it seems like lately more often then not, they cry, I cry and its all a big fat mess.  I'd give anything today to take my kids to the neighbor and go to the temple, but when you live far away and in an apartment complex where you don't know anyone that is not an option.  Matt is my only out and by the time he gets home from work he's tired, ornery and the last thing he wants is for me to leave him with the kids.  I don't mean to complain or ask for sympathy, I'm just frustrated and today has been one of those days that I need to vent.

Valentines

Brooke wanted to write letters today to her cousin's in Virginia for Valentines Day.  I helped her spell but she did the rest by herself.  She did such a great job!  She is learning so much so fast.  We are so proud of her.

Cole made one for Michael too but I forgot to take a picture before we put it in the envelope.

Sick

Seems like we have had a new sickness every week since Christmas at our house.  We've had everything from the stomach flu to nasty viruses.  And we just keep passing them around... hoping this month is better!

I was sick all last week.  I missed a 10 mile run Saturday and 3 more runs early in the week.  If you know me, you know I must feel like crap not to run.  Then it was Bai's turn.  I knew she wasn't feeling well when this is how I found her one afternoon... asleep on the living room floor.  The next day she broke out in a horrible rash... doctor said it was just a virus.  So far no one else has gotten it!

Children's Museum

Early in January I went to Discovery Gateway with a friend from our old neighborhood.  The kids loved it so much I bought a membership.  We've been back several times and even my little Bai has lots to do.  It is hard to get pictures because they never hold still for very long.  I HIGHLY recommend it if you live in the area.

Cole loves dressing up and driving the firetruck

I could not get her out of this car.  She loves driving like the big kids.

She also loves that she can stand up to the water table.  I keep hoping she's going to walk soon... she's totally capable and will often just stand all by herself for a few minutes, but will never take more than a couple steps.  Lazy!

Bai Boo

Just cause she's cute :) and getting WAY too big!

The Power of Life

I was reading on this blog today and came across a topic that I think is very controversial among women.  Go read #2 on it and read this article as well.  I'm curious to know what YOUR opinions are.  It is not a secret that I had my tubes tied after Bailee was born.  My reasons for doing it are personal and it wasn't a spur of the moment decision.  A lot of thinking and prayer went into it, but I never even realized the Church's stand on it.  If they feel that strongly about sterilization, I think they need to make it more widely known.  I think there are lots of people in the same boat as me, prayerfully making a decision without even considering that the Church might oppose it.  I want to know what you think.