10 things that BUG me tag

I really had to think about this one. In no particular order...

1. Grey Hairs

2. School Fundraisers

3. Tailgaters

4. The house never staying clean for more than 30 minutes.

5. My kids waking up between 4 and 5 am...EVERY MORNING! ( I won't mention any names!)

6. Arrogant people

7. Door to door salesmen

8. Spending an hour shoveling snow, only to have the driveway covered again the next day.

9. Never having enough money, especially when we really need it!

10. Grocery Shopping

and I just have to throw in one more...

11. my kids stomping up the stairs, and slamming the door because they are SOOO picked on!

Thanks for letting me vent Tina! Its good to let it all out! I encourage you all to do the same so, tag...YOU are it! Yes you!

Our Little Cookies

So, I was once told that we have "cookie cutter kids" because they all look alike. People keep asking me who Brylee looks most like, and I never know how to respond, so I thought I would let you be the judge.
First of all, just for fun, here are the main ingredients to our little cookies...

now for the latest concoction...

and finally, cookies to compare!

What do you think?

Someone help me!

So if you havent noticed, Im pretty new at this whole boy thing. Its like Im a first time parent again in a way, because he brings so many new experiences to the table; that I didnt have with the girls. For example this is what I have been dealing with lately...

Can someone tell me why boys insist on running around naked? Now this fascination isnt a new thing, per say. Hes been running from us putting his pants on after diaper changes for a while now, and he figured out how to take his own shirt off a few months ago. It got to the point where he was always running around the house in just his diaper, and I was going to have to accept that. Thats not so bad, right?

Well, right before Brylee was born, he started showing an interest in going on the potty...like daddy does. Great right!? Not so much. Now he has figured out how to take his diaper off every time he goes in it, Yes 1 and 2; and leave it lying there. Even if its just a little wet...off it goes. Then he takes it upon himself to go play...or sit wherever he pleases whether it be on the carpet...or my pillow with his newly contaminated behind; thus requiring extra clean up work for me. This is where I found him today-behind the chair in my room, reading a book. He's hiding because he knows deep down that he shouldnt take his diaper off, since hes been told...once or twice.

Thank goodness it was only wet this time! So we're thinking, he definitely has to learn to go on the potty...SOON! So we have been looking for underwear his size for about a month, and couldnt find any size 2. They only carried sizes 4 and up. Hello! Do most kids in Wisconsin start potty training when they are 4? Finally, yesterday I just bought the 4's. How big can they really be? Okay they drowned him just a little, let alone he is confused about how they are supposed to be worn... So after putting on his cool new over sized underwear, it only took him about 15 minutes to go through 2 of the 3 pairs. And after going through his 2 tantrums for not being able to stay in the tub after cleaning him up...I decided to put the diaper back on. Its not worth it to me right now. After all, he is only 22 months old, and I have a 6 week old baby to take care of. I dont have the time or energy to always drop what Im doing to clean up his messes, or sit with him during a bath every time he has an accident. None of the girls were trained this early, nor did they insist on taking their own diaper off whenever they chose. Is this normal boy behavior, and if so what do I do about it? I heard boys were harder to train, but this is ridiculous! Can he really be ready at 22 months old, or is he just determined to make my life more difficult? Someone tell me how this works, and if there is a secret trick to training boys; because the magic glow in the dark car underwear didnt work in just one day like I was fully expecting!

Speaking of cold...

Everyone else has been posting about the ridiculously cold weather, so I thought I would throw in my 2 cents. I am so grateful for a house with a working furnace! Im sure I wont be as grateful when the bill comes, but at the moment it is a life saver...literally! They cancelled school today because the temp was dropping to a "dangerously" low
-35 degrees. Of course that is with the wind chill, so thats not too bad right? Ryan was out shoveling for only about 5-10 minutes last night, and came in completely frozen! He was complaining how sore his hands were and I was afraid he got frost bite, (yes, he was wearing gloves) so I banned him from going back out to finish. The wind just blows the snow back onto the driveway anyway! So can someone tell me why this freakish weather decides to visit right after we move here? Last year was supposed to be the record in snowfall, and now we are breaking coldness records, on top of even more snow! What did we do to deserve this!? And might I mention, Im sorry to everyone else for apparently bringing this on. Okay, Im not complaining. I love having the kids home where I can listen to them argue all day, and make a mess. No really, I do. I havent left the house, besides church, since Brylee was born. Its just too dang cold! Okay, plus Im a little freaked out about lugging three kids around again. Lets just go back to saying...Im grateful for the warm house...and Ill be grateful for spring. Do not visit Wisconsin in the winter!

Finally!

Katelin is so excited...she FINALLY lost her first tooth. She has been anticipating this for two years! It has been loose for a while, probably because her permanent tooth got tired of waiting and finally started growing in behind her baby tooth! This has definitely posed a cosmetic problem which will require braces down the road, but with our dental genes, we were expecting that anyway. We were a little worried about the tooth fairy, since it got sooo cold (like below 0) last night, but she made it! That is Magic! Katelin woke up happily to a dollar in exchange for her tooth this morning; which of course she already has plans on spending! Right before I pulled it out, she had a massive bloody nose, so she was a little teary eyed for the pictures, but still happy. I figured since she was already crying and bleeding, I would just yank it. (It really wasnt that bad, it was practically falling out by this point!) So now the countdown starts again, waiting for the next one...and the cash that comes with it!

I made this pillow for Madi, and fully intended to make one for each kid, but never got around to it, so they share.

More Brylee

Well, here she is again. I promised I would keep updated pictures on the blog. We can hardly believe she is already 5 weeks old (almost 6). She has already started growing out of her 0-3 month clothes; which makes me very sad since they are so cute and she was only able to wear them a few times. Advice to new Moms...skip most of the newborn sizes and go straight to 3-6 months. It will only drown them for a couple weeks, and it will save you money and heartache! Im doing laundry every other day for her anyway, so she really only needs a couple of smaller sizes to rotate through. You would think I would learn that by the 5th kid right? Some of us (me) are just slower than others I guess. Anyway, she doesn't look a whole lot different to me, other than the size issue, but I see her everyday.

Does anyone know why my pictures keep coming in sideways!?

Finally Christmas

On the morning of Christmas, Madi and Katelin came into our room around 5:45 am. We then proceeded to wake up Alissa and Zack, and head down to check if Santa had come. Present opening began immediately, which included a Nintendo Wii for the whole family. The girls were also happy to receive at least one of the presents they really wanted from Santa. We were a little disappointed that after 3 weeks of trying to keep Zack from opening the gifts under the tree, that by Christmas morning, he had no interest in seeing what was inside for him. He was less than thrilled about he whole event actually. He only wanted to play with everyone elses gifts that had already been opened, which of course made them mad. Even after a peek of what was inside the wrapping paper, he still wouldnt rip it off...instead he just tried to play with it through the opening in the paper. Maybe by his birthday he will get it! After present opening, I made our traditional Christmas breakfast, while Ryan tried to get all the gifts out of their boxes and that frustrating twisty wire off. Even thought there wasnt much interest in eating, we had breakfast and then played the rest of the day. It only became frustrating for a moment when one of the kids started asking for MORE presents! But I think they will have enough to keep them busy...for a few days at least! Thanks to everyone who sent us gifts. They helped make our Christmas special!

The Wii

Zack got a Geo Trax train set, a remote control "bounceback racer", and a Lightning McQueen ride on car. Of course the box is always fun too!

Katelin with her look alike American Girl doll. Santa's elves couldnt make the real version due to copyrights (and they are too pricey to buy), but she cant tell the difference!

The kids got an easel to share.

Brylee had to get her first BYU shirt.

Mom got lots of kinds of games, and Dad got a new coat. Madi got a fashion designer set to prepare for her career when she grows up, and Alissa couldnt wait to get her "Chou Chou" baby.

We always pose with all our gifts for a picture when were done. Here we all are with our stashes!

Alissa also got a sleeping bag, we forgot to put in the picture.