New Jeans

It's a bad picture... taken with my cell phone. But, you get the point. McKay earned the rest of his $12 on Friday (just in time to go skiing on Saturday) to buy his new pants! He Washed the Kitchen cupboards, washed the dining room table and chairs, cleaned the stove, vacuumed the stairs (twice), washed the banister and the baseboards, dusted, vacuumed the top floor, cleaned his bathroom, cleaned the toy room and washed the doors! So, Monday we headed to Old Navy for him to buy his new pants! But, when we got there and were checking out we found out they weren't on sale for $12 anymore! They were $19.50 - he almost died! I asked him if he wanted to go home and earn more money or go and find some cheaper pants! He quickly decided to go find cheaper pants! So, he found some nice camo pants at Walmart for $8 - he was pretty excited that he made $4 on the deal! He did tell me that he is never going to ruin a pair of his pants again! But, the thing that melted my heart was when he told me "Mom, I didn't think cleaning my bathroom was that bad... If you really don't like to clean bathrooms I would be happy to do them for you"! And true to his word he asked me this morning if I wanted him to clean his bathroom when he got home from school! Yes, he truly is amazing!

Self Imposed Reality Check!

Sooooooo, as I was laying in bed last night replaying my day in my mind and having somewhat of a pity party... I reached for my scriptures - to be honest I was feeling as if it was just one more thing I had to do before I could go to sleep.... when a picture slid out onto my stomach... not just any picture - a really special picture of Travis and I together last summer in the hospital - it took my breath away. I had put it in my scriptures for a couple different reasons: 1. so I would always remember where it was - special picture= special place 2. to always serve as a reminder of how lucky and blessed we are. Suddenly, my day just melted away and i made myself think of the good things that had happened that day. Here they are:

1. McKay was sooo excited because it was Dr. Seuss's Birthday and he got to dress up as a story character for school! He chose Davy Crockett & was beaming as he left the house to go to school.

2. Even though Cannon wouldn't take a nap... and was grouchy & screamed at me most of the day... he melts my heart. When I get out of sight for what he feels is too long he starts calling for me and follows my voice to find me - then he gives me loves - wiggles out of my arms and crawls away - until he comes to find me again in a few minutes!

3. It was a beautiful day when McKay got home from school. So, I sent the boys outside with their boots and snow clothes on and they played for 2 hours. We don't have any houses behind us - and we are set up right against the hills and mountains. I LOVED watching them out the windows as they would venture all over the hills. Many times watching McKay as he so patiently helped Carter climb a rock or mound of dirt. I am so grateful that they truly are the best of friends.

4. McKay was learning about the presidents at school last month. So, he in turn was teaching Carter all about Abraham Lincoln... Carter will then tell me everything that McKay teaches him! Today I kept pretending like I had forgotten Abraham Lincoln's name only because I absolutely LOVE hearing Carter pronounce it "Mabramham Wincoln"! It makes me smile every time he says it!

5. I love that I live close to my Cousin Melissa - and that She and Easton & Macey stopped by today! What a blessing it is to me to have family close!

6. McKay has been working hard to earn his $12 to pay for his pants. We have been doing chores each day - today he got to clean the bathrooms (with help from his mother of course!). But, as we were working together he talked and talked and talked.... I am grateful that he likes to talk to me and tell me everything about his day.

7. McKay had a party at his school tonight for Dr. Seuss's Birthday... He really wanted to go - but, I really didn't want to take Cannon... too many germs. So, James loaded up McKay and Carter and took them to the party by himself! I am grateful that I am married to the kind of man who would do that!

8. I am grateful for my picture. I am grateful for all it symbolizes. I am grateful for all that Travis has taught me. Because as I looked at that picture I really didn't care much about the dinner that didn't turn out or the jeans! Because all of that really doesn't matter and he has taught me that!

Today is a new day! And I am the one who controls whether or not it will be a good day or a bad day. I am grateful for the life that I am blessed with! Today I took McKay to the bus stop. He usually likes to get there early so that he can be first in line! He wants to sit by that cute girl! But, today he didn't get out of the car. When I asked him if he was ok he said "I rather stay in the car with you Mom - I'll get out when the bus comes"! Melt my heart! And today he was the last child on the bus! I put Cannon down for his morning nap at 9:00 a.m. after he went down Rebecca called, and then my Grandma - and then I got to have a really nice visit with Carson as he was driving to Victor. Grateful for family and good friends that are always there. What a good day it truly is!

Do You???

Do you ever have one of those days that no matter what you do you can't make your children happy... they argue with each other... complain about what you made for lunch & all during their homework... the baby screams at you all day & I mean ALL day... you need a hair cut REALLY bad and you are having a bad hair day... you try a new recipe and it is one of those that your husband tells you "it's ok if you don't make this again".... maybe because you forgot a key ingredient - and it didn't have anything to do with the fact that the baby was screaming at you from the highchair and the boys were crying while they were standing in the corner... You accidentally dry "those" jeans that you don't like to dry... you get yourself and your kids all ready and out the door to find that your husband decided to take your car to work leaving you with his car and no car seats... (granted he was taking it to get an estimate because I got rear ended AGAIN!) but, you are still standing there really wanting to get out of the house and can't... I have to admit that these days are few and far between... but, I am ready for this day to be over!

Randomness!

The beloved tape measure!
After I made McKay's pillow Carter asked me if I would make him a shirt.... I don't know where the idea for a shirt came to him from - But, It was easy to do! I downloaded a bunch of different images and he picked out the Charley Brown because he said "It kinda looks like me"! Which, it kinda does!

• Life is just kinda being life - I'm just trying to keep up with three little boys! Monday night we took the boys to the Utah State basketball game. James had been to a couple of them this season and thought the boys would like to go. Their fans are known for being a little wild and crazy and we did have to have a talk with McKay about sportsmanship on the way home! Thanks Trevor for the tickets!

• Yesterday McKay came in and was watching me clean the toilet when he said "Mom, sometimes having your job be a Mom is really disgusting"! How little does he know how disgusting and rewarding it can be at the same time!

• Tuesday night I needed to run a couple errands and James told the boys we could go get some Aggie Ice Cream - They asked if we could go to the DI instead! I had to laugh that my kids wanted to go to the DI instead of getting ice cream! I have to admit that the Logan DI rocks! I've been there stocking up on canning bottles for canning this summer!

• McKay has seriously grown three pant sizes since he started school... I feel like I have had to buy him new pants every month! So, when he came home from school today and had torn a new pair of pants on purpose I was livid! I had just got him those pants a couple weeks ago! So, I told him that he had to earn the money to buy himself a new pair of pants! AND that he couldn't play the Wii or go skiing until he was done! Old Navy has their jeans on sale right now for $12 - So, I told him he had to earn $12! He was lucky that Moe (My Mom) offered to pay half - So, now he is downstairs right now with a toothbrush cleaning the stove! AND since I didn't get the boys bathroom done yesterday I think he can clean that too after Carter wakes up! He can see just how disgusting the job of a Mother can be!!! And Mom you better only send $6 - he needs to learn a lesson! If you send more I am keeping it!!!

• Cannon has seriously taken over my tape measure! If you even try and take it from him he growls at you! Carter has actually dared to take it away from him to only quickly give it back! They are only .99 cents at Hobby Lobby - So, last night I bought another one for myself! ONLY, to have Carter take it this morning! I guess those little push button tape measures are just too cool! But, I told Carter if he wanted it he had to pay me a $1 for it! (Man, this post is really making me sound like a strict Mom!). So, he went and got me a dollar out of his piggy bank and gave it to me! When I asked him where he got his dollar from he said it was from Moe! Thank goodness for Moe - she is just saving my kids all over the place right now!!! *** When Carter wasn't looking I put his dollar back in his piggy bank!***

• Cannon LOVES Pa (James' Dad). If Wayne walks into the room Cannon goes crawling to him saying "Pa, Pa, Pa"... over and over! It's a good thing he says "Mom" too! But, those are his only two words! If I am holding him and Wayne walks by Cannon seriously jumps to him - And if Wayne is holding him and you try and take him he holds onto Wayne for dear life - turning his head and totally ignoring you! So, last night I was holding him and Wayne came to take him... AND for the first time Cannon wouldn't go to him! At first I was sooo excited thinking that the Mom had FINALLY trumped the Grandpa! But, then I realized it was just the ice cream I was feeding him! And sure enough as soon as the ice cream was gone he wiggled out of my arms and crawled over to Pa! At least Carter is still a Mama's boy!

• I hadn't read a book since I was pregnant with McKay... and while I was on bed rest with him I read the whole Work & The Glory series in a couple months! So, since we haven't had cable in almost four months I started reading again! In the last four months I have read 10 books! I need something to do after my kids have gone to bed and my husband has fallen asleep on the couch at 8:30 p.m.! That and I am getting a whole lot of sewing done! I have to admit that I am a lot more productive without cable!

• I Love that Carter is at the stage right now where he keeps talking about how he is going to marry me when he grows up!!! McKay tells him that he has to marry another girl and Carter informs him "that is gross! I am marrying Mom"! I'll take it while it lasts!