My boy and me.

I feel that, since I documented Elijah's bad boy ways, that I should also report his improvements. Since the older two went to school, he and I have been having the most peaceful, easy-going, and fun times together. I am constantly stunned at how easy one kid is. Especially one who entertains himself for hours with his toys, his baths and his dog "Touder" I no longer feel like the activities director, where all summer I was trying to keep three kids happy, but never feeling like I was playing along. Now, I can really relax and step into his 3 year old world and remember just how sweet, smart and silly this boy is.

Here's how we have been spending our time.
























(he doesn't even notice that is training wheels are pink...courtesy of Madeline's old bike)




It feels like such a special time for he and I. Wanting this times to last is probably the one thing that makes me want these last 3 months to last a little longer.

Leggo this Prego!

Another mile stone, so another picture. 90 days left of this process, and I have hit doldrums. 3 months sounds like an eternity to me right now and I just want to unzip this fat suit and feel some freedom. People keep telling me how small I look and I just want to say, "Are you kidding me!!! Can you see my butt?" (Notice the careful placement of my hand on my hip to hide this incredible sight)

A friend of mine dropped off some maternity clothes for me. I was so excited until I took a closer look and saw that they were all smalls or mediums. Even worse was when I tried some of them on and got a huge blow to my delicate self esteem. The truth is, that no matter how I try, I just get enormous when I'm pregnant.

Jason and I went to the temple yesterday and he got the giggles when he saw me in the celestial room. At the pool we saw another pregnant woman, who looked amazing in a little bikini and Madeline said "Look Mama, she's pregnant like you, except she's just pregnant in the front." At the gym, I kept feeling like the young guys were looking at me like I scared them or like I grossed them out. When I asked Jason if that was true he said, (before taking the pause to think it through) "Yeah, their probably a little grossed out by it.......aaahhhhh, you know.....'cause they haven't seen a lot of pregnant ladies" I am supposed to go in for another appointment next week, but I am putting it off, just so I don't have to hear the speech again about not gaining too much weight.

It's not that I wish I wasn't in this predicament, I just wish it wasn't so stinking long!!!! Nov. 29th is just too close the December, and too far from Labor Day.

Still, the closer it gets, the more magical it feels. Even with the fourth baby, the whole thing just amazes me. So many things have to work out, so many little miracles to grow the baby are happening without my knowledge. I am just starting feel the fear of delivery, the questioning of my ability to keep up with this crew and praying that we get the happy ending we are hoping for.



Who is this person in here? What does she think about all of these noises she is hearing from our family? Who will she resemble? What personality will she add to the mix? WHAT WILL HER NAME BE????? What does she have to teach us?

I am feeling the first pangs of love, and the anticipation of meeting her can be too much to bare. I know that when I see her little face, smell her new baby smell and kiss those smooth, squishy cheeks, these 3 months will seem like a small sacrifice. So, while she keeps on cooking, I'll keep on day dreaming about the activities, abilities and attire that I miss so much. So ready to leggo of this prego!

My new hobby

Thanks to yet another calling in enrichment, and thanks to yet another Fabulous Friday, I have found a new craft. It's easy, it's cheap, and I am a bit obsessed. It's called Felting, and I first saw it on Martha Stewart months ago. In an attempt to have an original craft, I have delved into this new world.

All you need is a felting needle, some roving (wool), and some creativity. There are no stencils, but I do steel ideas from the web and from cake designs. I have just been taking my kids clothes or getting some from the thrift store and going hog wild after my kids go to bed.



If you want to find out more just google "martha stewart felting" or look it up on u-tube.

School's In

Well, I survived this long summer! It was a challenge to keep the troops happy, as they did not have many friends and I didn't have a solid network of moms to swap and share the load with. (oops, I ended with a prepasition...I guess I need to go back to school) My kids spent a lot of time playing with each other and I think, in many ways, this pulling in as a family was good for us. Still, you better believe, I was very excited for some structure and some calmer days with fewer personalities to appease.

Getting Prepped:

Making lunches. (Yes, I have my kids make their own lunches. Jason thinks I should make it for them, as his mom did for him, but I find that their are many important skills to be gained by them doing it themselves. ie. how to spread peanut butter, learning to make a balanced meal, and cleaning up after one's self. I'm sticking to this one :)



admiring the new supplies


"good luck" calls from the grandma's


At last, the big day!!! Yes, they got up at 6:00am, yes, they were ready by 7:00 and yes, we had to find ways to entertain them until the bus came at 8:24. Elijah's preschool didn't start for a few more days, but he was right in step with the big kids, even packing a lunch for his back pack.









And they were off. Jaxen to third grade and Madeline to first! They were so excited, I love the rush of a new school year. All of us were beaming with anticipation...





everyone, but the left-behind bro. He watched as his two playmates loaded up and left his with his boring old parents.



His sadness only lasted until we got back home. He suddenly realized that he was the king of the castle, with two guilt-ridden parents ready to appease his every whim.

A week later, it was his turn. Two days a week he will be going to his "pony school". It is the greatest little school, and yes, they do give the kids rides on their miniature ponies.



Mom going overboard:
After looking at the pictures from the first day of school, I was a little freaked out by how old my kiddos have gotten. How does it happen so fast? When Jaxen was a baby, I felt like he would never be old enough to go to preschool, much less the 3rd GRADE!!! Feeling a bit nostalgic, I decided to also document the second day of school, because hey, who remembers what they wore that day??? We will remember now.

Be ye not fooled!!!

Behind this innocent face, lies the the master mind of manipulation and the king of humble pie for his parents. Elijah is a charmer and a flirt. He teases and has a quick humor. He can work a room and always seems to find the cutest girl in that room and somehow ends up on her lap getting hugs.

His naughty nature has been emerging at an alarming rate over this summer and I must say I find myself not sure if I should laugh or cry at his antics.

He's been getting lemon juice on his tongue in a lame attempt to curb his appetite for words like "kill", "hate" and "stupid" When I do not answer him right away, he growls loudly "MOOOOOM, I said..." He comes out of the bathroom with bottoms off, just to get us to laugh. He runs up to me after a shower with dad, ripping off his towel "You wanna see me "maked?"" He belches in sacrament, announces every toot and asks "can I have a 'nack an' 'rink an' watch a show in the p'ay room?"(can I have a snack and drink and watch a show in the play room) at least 100 times a day.

I have been at my wits end the past few weeks, but then he topped in all in one "bad boy" moment. Gathered at the Stake BBQ last night, among the friends I grew up with, the first time seeing many of them in years, he went missing. I was spinning in circles to locate him among the dozens of kids. Then, to my shock and horror, there he was... next to a tree, surrounded by eating families, pants around his ankles, peeing on the tree. Was he off to the side? No!!! Smack dab in the middle, in full view of everyone, my son dropped his drawers and urinated amongst the diners.

In a blur I ran and pulled up his pants, carrying him off to the potty as he screamed "No mom, I'm all done, I peed it all gone"

What could I do???......I kept running, my mind questioning my parenting and wondering where I went wrong.

Once I was ready to return I was bombarded by old friends telling me how funny that was and that yes, many, many people witnessed the whole thing.

Thanks Elijah. Thanks for keeping me humble and for taking away any pretense I might have had. AAAHHHH!!!!!

Reunion

These don't happen very often for our family, and our family is much smaller than many, but it still was a BIG deal for us!!!! Eating, laughing, touring and some friendly competition. We kept it easy, we keep it fun and most of all, we kept it classy!!!!



(the two Adams sisters)




(the Howard sisters)
























(Hey angie, can you send me the big group picture????)

Pierced!!!

Roaming the mall, waiting for dad to pick out some new sun glasses, we passed by Claire's.

"This is so boring!!! (Madeline)
"Well, you could get your ears pierced?" (Mom--knowing that Madeline had declared with no uncertainty that she NEVER would get her ears pierced)
"OK, let's do it"
"OH......Okay......aaaahhhh.....let's go ask dad first"