Preschool

This year I decided to try homeschooling Brady for preschool and it has actually gone a lot better than I thought it would.  We have mostly been working on learning his letters and sounds that go with them.  He has done awesome and has them all down perfectly.  Now we are learning to write them.  He loves writing them out in flour in a pan, it seems to not only be easier to start out, but he stays engaged in what we are doing a lot longer.  Collin is also enjoying doing whatever his big brother does, he has only learned about 2 letters though :)

Laundry Days

Laundry days happen twice a week at our house and this is the amount that piles up in just 3 days, plus there is more in the kids baskets and loads in the washer and dryer. Its crazy!  I actually really enjoy doing laundry, but hate that the washroom in all the way in the back of our basement.  Last year I started using the Duggars homemade soap recipe and it has saved us a ton of money.  The one thing I changed was to add a cup of Oxyclean to the batch.

 The other thing that I really dislike is that we have carpet so close to the washer. See those nice orange spots... That is what happens when you are trying to pour bleach and the baby grabs the dispenser and spills it all over the carpet. Not my best day, but it could have been a lot worse.  I luckily dumped a bucket of water on it right away and it only bleached the spots I missed. 

So thats what I am up to today. Lots and lots of laundry.  I want to ask if anyone has any secrets that they use to get their white really white.  I try bleach but it doesn't seem to make a huge difference so I am looking for some good tips! 

Oh Mally

 You're are so pretty Mal and look so sweet and innocent and I try to reason with you and make you happy, I really do.  I just don't understand how it is you are dead set on making Everything, Everyday, into MAJOR DRAMA...

I can seriously tell this child that birds fly and dogs bark and she will argue that I am wrong, lol.  I am pretty sure I was exactly the same as her as a child and so as the saying goes " I deserve it".  She is such a little woman already and wants to make her own choices and not be told what to do.  This year has been hard on her I think going to all day school.  She won't and never would admit that she is super worn out by the time she comes home, but I know she could still use a nap.  She has a complete meltdown with in minutes of coming home almost everyday.  Over anything.  In the midst of all this she is still such a good helper and she is the biggest tease and makes us laugh all the time.  She has a good heart and is always trying to cheer up anyone around her that is sad.  I know as she grows she will become a strong girl who is able to stand up for what she knows is right and that makes me happy.  I will just have to look at this strong willed personality in a  positive light.  She is one of a kind and we love her beyond words.

Rich & Famous

I remeber being a teenager and thinking that all I wanted in life was to go to NYC and become a fashion designer or something cool like that. That was my dream to be famous and have lots of money.  I am not either of those things in the worlds eyes, but in my house I am famous and I am the richest woman I know.  All my kids think I am a star at getting their laundry done, I am the best at changing diapers and wiping running noses, and I am a famous for being the cook and cleaning lady of the house.  I might not get paid in real money for all these and many of the other jobs that come with being a mom, but I am certainly richer than I ever would be living any other life.  I have 5 treasures that I get to be a mom to and that bring me so much joy. I am also pretty lucky to have my best friend for a  husband.  I am so lucky that it is possible for me to stay home everyday and see them each grow into amazing little people.  I wouldn't miss it for the world!

Blake looked so funny in these little snow boots that are way to big, he loves being outside and the broom.

 It's funny how much joy I get from seeing Brady and Collin play nice together, it doesn't happen often, so I guess thats why. :)

Chistmas 2010

I am only about a month late in posting Christmas pictures, but that is actually pretty good for me.  Christmas was a lot of fun and the kids got everything they asked for so they were happy.  Santa was extra good to the girl in bringing them a Huge doll house,(that must have taken 3 hours to put together)what a good guy!

This is a wagon for Brady and Mallory's Bitty Twins to ride in, but Blake was dead set that it was for him. Love that little face way too much.

The Daily Grind

I can't help but feel like I am on the show "Groundhog Day"  all the time lately.  It feels like I do the same thing day after day, week after week, and I am getting a little bored...  I wake up, get the kids breakfast, get the girls to school, come home and either get ready or go wait and go to the gym  first, then the rest of the afternoon is cleaning and laundry, girls come home and we do homework, make dinner, clean again, do bedtime.  Don't get me wrong, I love my life and my kids, but I am sick of cleaning the same things EVERYDAY!  I can't believe how the carpet needs to be vacuumed everyday and the bathrooms to be cleaned.  Little kids are such little piggies.  The other thing that just gets so tedious is getting yourself ready everyday, who is so sick of blow drying their hair and putting on makeup after 30 years???  Well, I guess like 16 years cause I didn't do much to myself for the first 14 years of my life:)  The daily grind must go on though, or else the house would be gross and the kids would starve and Brent would not be attracted to a wife that looked and smelled bad.  Anyone else ever feel like this sometimes? 

Treats & Me

What is the deal with me and treats?  I have been seriously trying to lose these last 8 to 10 pds for like 6 months and it is proving to be the most impossible thing ever.  I am very dedicated to working out almost everyday and drink tons of water, but there is one problem...FOOD.  I hate it, I have no will power at all.  I think in the morning that I will be so good and I am until like 7 at night, then I am awful.  I am so addicted to treats, and Halloween didn't help at all cause I am one of those moms who steals candy from the babies Halloween bucket.  I should throw it out, but I don't, lol.    It doesn't help that half the time I am just eating out of being bored.  So, I am making a new goal and letting it out on this blog.  I am going to go 3 weeks without eating sugar, it might be the hardest 3 weeks of my life:)  There are so many people I know that can do this and make it look so easy, I think it is the hardest thing ever.  I swear if I end up gaining weight after 3 weeks I am going to have a sugar party and everyone is invited!