Keeping it Real

I sit here tonight, with a couple blog posts in my mind that I've been meaning to write for the past few weeks.  But instead of journaling about the fun and exciting things we've done (which honestly isn't much) or the thoughts that have been on my mind, the overwhelmingness of my life is spilling out of me instead.

Here I am in my mismatched jammies at 8:30 on a Wednesday night completely exhausted.  I have been nursing a split lip, stiff neck, slightly kinked back, and incredibly sore eye for the past couple days.  I was dreaming of a hot bath, in our over-sized tub, where I could finally finish up my book for book club next week.  Yes, that would do the trick...with some quite music, sweet smelling candles...ahh, I can just feel myself feeling better.

Well, hubby got home half an hour ago in desperate need of a shower, and once he mentioned the word "shower" our little Summer (or Subba, as she calls herself) ran up stairs yelling adamently "showah, showah".  So as I sit here typing, all the hot water for my much anticipated bubble bath is literally going down the drain.

Of course, this is my life.  I've got a teenager who is always asking for something, and usually mad at me about something, and always wanting to go somewhere.  I honestly have no idea how to be the parent of a teenager.  I thought, I'd be good at it...I thought wrong.  Most of the time I feel like a jerk.  I've got a toddler who wants to be carried around the kitchen all day or walk in the middle of the street or mess up absolutely every speck of the house that might just be a little bit clean.  I've got a kid that wants to watch tv all day and another who wants to play on the computer all day.  And the toddler who wants to play with them all day.  And a husband who rarely gets home before 8o'clock at night.

Life is hard...in an easy kind of way.  I can't begin to think that I have it rough...I know I don't.  But some days it feels like I'm at my limit.  Some days I just wish I could take a time out of my own.  Don't get me wrong, I know I am blessed.  Every. Single. Day. I thank God for the gifts He has given me.  But it doesn't mean it's not hard.

Motherhood...it's not for the faint-hearted--for real!

Christmas Sunday

Much to my dismay, our family wasn't together for Christmas Sunday this year.  So instead of being sad and crazy about it, I decided just to force the kids into their Sunday best and take a picture on Wednesday when we were all together again.  Okay, that might be a little crazy...but I don't care.  Traditions are at stake...and my children are beautiful...and they are growing up so fast...whatever, I don't need a reason, I'm the Mom.

You would never know from these pictures, but Summer was ridiculously uncooperative.  It is seriously a miracle that they turned out as good as they did!

Look at these beautiful children!!

 And my wreath!!

Merry Christmas 2015!!

A few fails this year...like PJs that didn't fit, and somehow I forgot to buy batteries...oh and the gravy.  But it was still a magical, exciting, wonderfully full Christmas.

 This year, Summer and I were the first ones up...at 7:15am!  I was shocked!!  By 8am, we couldn't wait any long, and so we went and woke everyone else up!!


 

 I think Tyson had the most presents this year...

 

 This might be my favorite picture of Christmas this year...it's just so Christmas to me.  The slippers, the mess, the toys...LOVE.

 

Kya got her remote control helicopter, even though the last two we've owned didn't last longer than a couple weeks.

 

One of my favorite gifts...

 

One of Tyson's favorite gifts...

Jordan opted out of present pictures this year:(  But she got a lot of clothes...and had a wonderful Christmas too!

It's coming...

It's funny how Christmas seems forever away, and then all of a sudden its FOUR DAYS away!!  I love this time of year!  We managed to get the most beautiful tree again and our house feels magical.

Summer insisted on climbing the ladder to decorate the tree.  She has been pretty good about leaving the ornaments alone...except the Mickey Mouse stuffed ones, which I am totally fine with her playing with.  The nativity sets are another story...all three baby Jesus' are carried around, fed, kissed, and put to sleep multiple times a day. 

 Tyson could barely reach to put the star on top...actually we had to cut the top a little to make it so he could reach!

My favorite room in the house now.

A Trip to the Store

Mike asked me why I ever let her out of the shopping cart.

All she wanted was...

...this birthday card,

 to play for hours with this train (while pooping her diaper),

Hello Kitty shopping cart AND this popper, 

 dolly accesories (of course),

 to pet this dog for an hour,

 to empty all these tubs of lego body parts,

to play house at the American Girl store (how could I ask her to leave her babies behind?!), 

to pet this dog, at least a dozen times,

and to carry this kitty around the entire time at Target!

If I kept her in the cart the whole time, then I wouldn't have to rip toys out of her hands and drag her out of every store kicking and screaming.  What fun would that be?!

Halloween 2015

Another great Halloween...

 

Costumes this year were a lot of fun:

Kya wanted to be Batman...cutest Batman I've ever seen!!

 Summer just had to be Minnie Mouse!

 And this was Tyson's year to be a Zombie...his costume turned out AWESOME!

I just wore my flannel and painted on some freckles to be a farmer:)  Here we are before the ward party/trunk or treat!

Jordan didn't get to go to the ward party, or trick or treating...but she did kinda dress up for school

We managed to carve pumpkins the night before Halloween (L-R, Kya's, Summer's and Tyson's)

Our good friends from California were visiting for the weekend, so they came trick or treating with us!!  It was a lot of fun!!  And the rain stopped just in time for trick or treating.  The kids didn't last too long, and Summer managed to stay out the entire time!!  Maybe because Dale held her half the time...and she got a few candy bars:)

 

 Kya and Sophia were so happy to be together again!!  They have been best friends since 3rd Grade, and it was so cute to see them together after 2 years apart...it was like no time had passed at all! 

Double Digits...if you can believe it!!

How is it possible that my little boy is TEN?!  In so many ways, he'll always be my baby.  I love his tender heart and sweet innocence.  He is smart, kind, sporty, funny, friendly, caring and super cute.  Love him more every day!

 The only school day I will ever make pancakes, is on someone's birthday!!  And pancakes are Tyson's favorite:)

He requested cheesecake instead of regular cake, which made things really easy for me.  And since the boys were going bowling...

It a rare occasion when you get to have you party on your actual birthday and this year it worked out that way.  We had only four more boys but boy were they crazy wild!!  A great birthday for a great kid!

More than just a check on a list

I think I need a re-do on our trip to the pumpkin patch!!  Just like last year we had to leave Daddy behind, rush to the farm to pick out our pumpkins and then rush home to make it to our other activities.  I don't like that!  I want to stroll around the beautiful pumpkin patch, browse through the cute store, play fetch with the farm dog, let Summer spent half an hour washing pumpkins...and of course take TONS of pictures!  Oh, and I want the teenager to WANT to be there too!  I want it to be more than just something to check off my to-do list!!

 Take a picture on the pile of pumpkins: Check!

 See how much everyone has grown: Check!

 Find a wagon to take down to the patch:  Check!

 Take individual pictures with the pumpkins:  Check!

 (the non-cooperative teenager)

 Wash the pumpkins:  Check!

We may just need to go back...