Birthday Xs 3!

Maddox was able to have 3 birthday DAYS this year! Lucky kid! Tuesday was his actual birthday. We have this rule in our house that if you get to have a party, mom and dad only get you one present. Parties aren't cheap! So, they get the choice. Friends for a party, or lots of presents? Of course, what 5 year old wouldn't choose a party?

On Tuesday, we did the usual McDonald's run and he was able to open his present from us. I know what your thinking.... an ipod?!? Mason got one for his 7th birthday and they have been fighting over it ever since. So, they stop fighting and we get quieter road trips!! :-)

We had his party on Friday. Maddox planned all of it! Notice, everyone is their costumes. Yes, he is the one that has to put his costumes on several times a week!

Maddox also planned for us to have pizza, slushy root beer, and cake doughnuts with chocolate frosting and sprinkles!! The games he picked out were kind of old school but new to these kids. Duck-duck-goose, red light-green light, Simon says. I thought, 'Sweet, that's easy!' No, not easy. 5 year olds are pretty tough to entertain. They were better off on their own!

My poor niece Kenady, and Maddox's CRUSH, missed the party. (Yes, I am sure when he is older, he will hate me for putting that in here.) Today, Maddox had day number 3 of birthday DAYS! (How many times can you put day in a sentence??) When we arrived home, he had a nice big present waiting for him on the porch. The kids played out back with it until all the bubbles were gone. Thanks Kenady!! We missed you!


Oh yeah, Mason had crazy hair day at school yesterday! He was pretty peeved that I didn't have any color to spray on it. I've learned that I will definitely need to get some next year!

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY MADDOX!

Maddox turns 5 tomorrow!

Where do I begin with this child?? For those of you that know Maddox, you can agree that there really is no way to explain this child. I've said before that he is just "unique!"
That is the nicest way to say it. I'm sure I must sound like an absolute awful mother, but I do love this little boy! You can't take one look at his little face and not love him. And I have to say, it's a dang good thing the Lord made him SO adorable because that little stinker can push my buttons and drive me over the edge like no other!

Let me just share a few things about Maddox....

1. He walked at 9 months.
2. He climbed on our roof (several times) at 18 months.
3. He is the most stubborn human being I have ever met!! He can not be bribed, threatened, tortured, persuaded, or loved into doing anything he doesn't want to. Just a hint, I was finally induced with him 10 days after his due date!! He is my 9-12er!
4. He finds a way to get what he wants! If we have hidden something on top of the cabinets in the kitchen, he can reach it with out a problem. If there is something no one else can find, Maddox finds it.
5. If something is broken in the house, Maddox broke it!
6. When there is a half used toilet paper role in the trash, Maddox trashed it!
7. If the toilet is clogged, Maddox clogged it!
8. He never has liked his hands dirty. Sometimes he has to wash them between bites!

9. He was doing the dishes by 4 and making his bed at 3.
10. All the trash stuffed in our couches was put there by Maddox.
11. All the borders pulled off in the bedrooms, courtesy Maddox.
12. All the chips in the wall would be from Maddox throwing blocks at them!
13. The nice big hole in Mason's bedroom! That would be Maddox too.
14. All superhero costumes in our house are put on at least 4 times a week. Sometimes they are placed under clothing and worn out for the day.

I know, I'm going on and on about his crazy side! Believe it or not, most of the time we are just laughing at him. The other day we were coming out of preschool and he tripped coming down a dirt hill. Most kids probably would have cried going at that speed but not Maddox. He did a little tuck and roll thing, popped up, and kept right on running! He is just...CRAZY! He is extremely athletic and really not afraid of anything. He will climb just about EVERYTHING in his path!

But what really makes this kid great, is his completely lovable side. He loves to be loved! Cuddle the crap out of him and he is one happy little boy! And really, isn't that all a mother ever wants?? Just to know you are appreciated after all you put up with? I just love this little boy! He melts your heart in a stinker sort of way.

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY MADDOX!!! We love you!

Am I Alone?

This time of year always makes me happy. I know, it probably makes a lot of you happy. How can it not? Not only do you get to enjoy such wonderful weather, but your kids spend all their free time OUTSIDE! YAY!! Of course this is cause to celebrate! But still, this is not why I find myself feeling so happy.

1 I am happy because Coral Pink is less than a month away. For those of you that do not know what this means... 4 days of NON STOP FOUR WHEELING!! Favorite. Hobby. Ever!!

2 I am happy because our coed softball season is starting up in less than a month. Lately, when we have had spare time, Jess has been taking Mason and I out to practice. I can't believe how much I love this. I only started about 6 months ago. Doesn't it suck when you realize you totally enjoy something and you've missed out on it all these years?? Do you have anything like that? (Okay, Mason is on the Dodgers this year. I am still slacking on the picture taking at his games. This picture wasn't even taken at a game.)

3 I am happy because I no longer freeze when I am running, but I have not yet been forced in doors. Although, I have been a little bummed lately because my knee really hurts when I run long. I had to miss my half this last Saturday. :-( I did start physical therapy though and it turns out that my foot radius isn't great for a runner AND I have week hip muscles. Both of these cause my knee to get the pain as it is the mid point between the two.

Now, I do realize that the three things that make me the happiest right now are all very active. I always feel like I don't fit in with other women when it comes to what gets me excited. If I have the choice between getting out there and playing sports or sitting back and doing well, pretty much anything else. It will be the sports every time. Am I really that alone in this?? There has to be others of you out there. And if there is, I would really like to hook up. Especially those of you that like soccer. I have been really missing it since the only rec leagues play on Sundays. Jerks! But anyway, do keep it mind, I don't claim to be great at any of these. I just LOVE them!! :-)

Okay wow, this post became a little longer than I expected. Sorry!

Just A Little Update

When Jess is home, time flies!! I feel like I just posted about him finally getting a day off and it has now been over a week. It has been absolutely wonderful having him get home on time. I feel very spoiled.

So, in the last week, here is what has been going on at our house....

1. My blog book came!! I am so happy with how it turned out. It took me a couple of hours to get it the way I wanted. I then uploaded it, ordered it, and a few days later it was sitting on my porch. This was my main purpose in starting a blog so I am excited to see that it turned out! :-) For those of you interested in purchasing you blogs in a book, the website is http://www.blurb.com/.


2. Friday night was opening night for Henderson Little League, which is always a snore fest, BUT Mason's team was one of the lucky teams that had a game that night. It was so much more fun to watch his game this year. His coordination has really picked up in all areas. They played him at second base, which he was totally excited about. Although he is usually the biggest on his team, he is also usually the youngest. Thankfully, this year he is not the youngest but not the oldest. So he is able to still learn with out being the worst. Anyway, he is doing a great job! If I were a better parent, I wouldn't have forgotten my camera. I will make sure I bring it to the next game. :-)

3. After Mason's game, which got over at 9 pm, we headed up to Brianhead with just our kids. We didn't arrive until almost 2 am, but it made for a pretty blissful drive with all the kids asleep, and by kids, I mean Jess too. :-)
We decided to take the trip to really get some quality time as a family since that has been lacking lately. I won't go so far as to say the time was "QUALITY" but the non stop eating, WII, and movies were wonderful!! :-) The snow was up to the balcony out front so the kids were able to sled with out going to far away. It was a lot of fun!


4. We finally cut Jess' hair!!! Picture coming soon.

5. Claire moved out and the devil moved in! We are very upset about this move. :-(

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

What Causes This???

So, you have seen what my husband looked like yesterday morning. Now I will tell you what causes this. 35 straight days of working!! And when I say working, I don't mean 8 hour days. No, his days would range anywhere from 12 to 16 hours. For at least the last week, he would leave our house at 4:30 am and not return until 9:30 pm. Some nights were even 10 pm.

But still, you might be thinking, what would cause a picture like this?? Well, let me explain further. So, Sunday morning he left our house at 4:30 am and returned at 3:30 pm. YAY!!! He gets to see his kids! Now don't get too excited. He ate with us, jumped in the shower to get cleaned up, and left for work again at 5:30 pm. He didn't return until 3:00 am. So, I am thinking that almost 23 hours of work and no sleep would do this to a person! You be the judge.

To explain just a little further... he has been working on the new M resort that opened up Sunday night at 10 pm. They wanted him back there and NOT looking like a construction worker for the opening in case they had any problems. Problems would occur, I assume, when you try to crunch 6 months of work into one month. But hey, that's just what I think. Anyway, it went off with out a problem, and on Monday, Jess had his first day off in 35 days. YAY!!!!

My New Obsession!

So lately I have been obsessed with the Glenn Beck show. I think he is absolutely fascinating to watch. What keeps me going back to him is that he is always filled with so much emotion, no matter what he is talking about. He is blunt, straight forward, often angry, and funny. He says what he means and he means what he says. He never hides where he came from, what he has become, and who he is grateful to for the change in his life...



Of course, after finding this video, I like him that much more!

Blogger In Real Life Party

For those of you that know Marylin, she is hosting a Blogger In Real Life Party at her house this Friday. So, if you want to catch up, binge, and get away from the kids for a night, COME! It will be fun! Isn't her invitation cute? :-)



Okay, so I am sure some of you are so sick of my grocery posts, but I can't help it. I am sick to death of the money I used to waste at the grocery store! Hopefully these posts will show those of you that aren't already doing Grocery Smarts, to get on board. It is SO worth the effort! My friend Lindsey is actually an instructor so if you want to set something up, check out her blog.

Yesterday I went to Albertsons....

Total Value- $329.19
Total Savings- $225.45 (68%)
My Cost- $103.74 (I still have $20 in Albertson Vouchers to use!)

So, looking at this picture, who thinks my family is bound to gain weight??