PB and Play

Thank you Meredith for the PB play dough recipe. I have another recipe but it makes soooo much more and the kids would all have sugar highs by the end of playing/eating it! I suppose we could have saved it..... ;)
Anyhow, we made Peanut butter playdough this afternoon (takes about 2 minutes and then you have afternoon snack AND playtime covered)! The kids had a blast!

See?

Big E made lots of peanut butter cookies! LOL - what a smartie! Ha ha ha!

H trying to get me to eat some...

Bubs unleasing his creativity and making.... a worm. And a smaller worm...

Big E actually ended up making some really cute stuff but I forgot to take pics by then!

H mostly just wanted to eat it (shocker)!

Eventually she got the idea that playing might be fun to do also!

So, here are the recipes. I will give you the new one from Meredith and also the one we have used in the past! Both work great and are edible! (And when I say edible I mean that you may end up eating a worm or two while your kids aren't looking!)

PB playdough #1

1/2 C PB (smooth of course)

1/4 C honey

1 box Jiffy corn muffin mix (cornmeal would also probably work)

Mix, knead, play.

Yummy Playdough (or PB playdough #2)

1 C PB (again smooooooth!)

1 C light Karo syrup

1 1/2 C powdered milk

1 1/2 C powdered sugar

Mix, knead, play!

Hope that you have as much fun with this as we do!

Color Personality

I thought this was sooo fun to do - although I am not sure if I agree. I ended up being a violet. Does this mean I should paint my room? J may not go for it!
I also did my maiden name - which ended up as orange, LOL!
So..... What color are you? Does it fit?





EXAMPLE: Mimi Read 4+9+4+9+9+5+1+4 = 45. 4+5 = 9 = Gold.

NUMEROLOGY KEY TO YOUR COLOR PERSONALITY


Interior designer Ellen Kennon, a color expert with a spiritual bent, analyzes each color personality:

1. Red: The most dominant personality. A visionary and risk-taker: energetic, passionate, tenacious, flamboyant, and courageous.

2. Orange: Balanced both mentally and physically. Happy, loyal, takes each day as it comes.

3. Yellow: Cheerful, charming, magnetic, intelligent, confident, and creative. Somewhat psychic, and enigmatic. A good leader and negotiator.

4. Green: The perfect balance between the physical and mental. Grounded, logical, not easily influenced, rarely judgmental. An intensely loyal friend — and has lots of them.

5. Blue: Optimistic, empathetic, flexible, idealistic, tranquil, patient, devoted. A natural mother.

6. Indigo: A brilliant old soul who is intuitive, sensitive, impulsive, curious, and ambitious, with a great lust for life.

7. Violet: Also an old soul. Intense, cerebral, wise, loving, generous, sentimental, and artistic.

8. Rose: Main qualities are strength, love, and leadership. Turns visions into realities.

9. Gold: Radiates love, joy, compassion, and understanding

To read the entire article go HERE!

***SIGH***

Bubs dresses himself. I am sure that when he put on this shirt this morning he had no idea how true it would be!
Things started out pretty crazy and we barely got out the door in time to get Big E to school. I was so frazzled with the morning that I forgot to pick up my sweet cousin to go walking with me and some friends (sorry again!!!!). I did go ahead and go walking although I wasn't sure if I should..... But it was good and I am so glad that I went - it was / always is soooo fun!
We got home and I made a bottle and gave the kids a snack........ sounds fine right? Well, H was eating and started choking so I put down the baby to help her and she threw up EVERYWHERE... for 30 minutes straight.... I put her in the tub to finish but of course she didn't need to anymore by then! The baby was freaking out cause she wanted to eat so I enlisted Bubs to feed her for a minute while I finished cleaning all the carpet. Then 'lil E starts throwing up everywhere... which, sadly, I am pretty used to but not do much while I am cleaning up big kid throw up!
So H is now back out of the tub and washed and clean and decides she needs to throw up all over the carpet again. At this point I decided I just needed to cry. So I left the room and cried and cried and wondered how am I going to do this? Why was it that we needed to have another baby at this time? I would never trade her for anything in the world, but at the same time it has been one of the hardest things I have done. Perhaps it is because I was not prepared for it being hard? We have never had any problem adding a kid - we have just been able to go with the flow. But this time has been hard. I need a maid, and a live in psychologist, and someone to rock the baby while I cook (not to cook because I love that and it is sort of like therapy for me), maybe a nurse and a gardener too. Is that too much to ask?? Ha ha!

Sorry for the bummer of a post but really, since I went private, hardly anyone really reads it anyway (which is fine) so I guess I can vent if I want!

And maybe at some point today I will get a shower, and then I will feel like a new woman! Maybe even a woman with a better outlook and perspective than the woman who is typing this post.

Everyone needs to watch this!

I am sure you have all heard about this by now, but it is one that truly needs to be watched by everyone! It is never worth the time you "save" to drive unsafely. I admit, I sometimes talk on the cell while driving, but I have been trying to stop... and this is a great motivation for me.
For anyone who has never been in an accident (I have sadly been in more than a few...) it is very realistic!

Ellen

The lady makes me laugh. Its true. I was a little put off when I heard her say it is ok to laugh at parents who put their kids on leashes. So, I wrote her an email, and posted the email on her facebook wall. I thought that if there were enough responses maybe she would read it! We will see....
Here is the letter:
I was a bit hurt by the comment about laughing at parents that have kids on leashes. As a Mom of 4 little kids, who has just one hand that works I rely on things to keep my children safe that might seem a bit silly to others. I would rather look funny though, than have my 20 month old run out into traffic and heaven forbid something happen to her.
Next time you see a Mom with a little kid on a leash, stop and think that there might just be a reason for that, and it might be because they love there kids so much that they don't want any harm to come to them.

What do you think? Out of line?
I have got to tell you, those harnesses truly have saved my kids lives on more that one occasion. I don't care if people do make fun of us - my kids are far to precious to risk not being as safe as possible!!!!

Lets celebrate!!!

This year on 8-15 was my 12 year anniversary. I celebrate it alone because for some reason my family thinks it is weird. I love to celebrate it. I feel I was given another chance at life and it is a day for remembering and for gratitude for a loving Father in Heaven preserving me.
So.... it was one year for Nie the day after... and look what her family did! How wonderful and beautiful! I am glad to know that I am not weird to want to celebrate the accomplishments and the goals I have met! Congrats Nie and I know I am not the only one who still prays for you daily, and knows that with the power of your spirit you will do amazing things. We are are capable of doing amazing things, whether we believe that now or not. When we are faced with the impossible, we can conquer things we never would have imagined!!!!

The Breakdown

Yes, I have had a few of these postpartum but lets save the depression talk for another day... Today I want to talk weight. Here is the breakdown... I have just over 30 lbs to lose from what I gained with 'lil E. Plus an additional 10 lbs that I hadn't lost yet from H (she was only 9 months when I got preggers with lil E). Plus and additional 10 lbs that I gained just before getting preg with H because I was so depressed from all the miscarriages (5 in a row). So, there you have it, the breakdown of the weight loss needed! That would be 50 lbs.

Here is the good part! We (my J and I) figured out a rewards system for me! No, not ice cream or a cheat day....I love to read. Loooooove it! LOVE, lOvE, LoVe.... sigh.... Anyhow. I really like the Percy Jackson Book - "The Lightening Thief" So Every ten lbs lost equals a new book in the series and when I have lost it all - A NEW OUTFIT! YAY! We are talking jeans (they are so darn expensive so I NEVER buy the ones I love - Silvers), a cute top or two, shoes AND accessories! SUH-Weeet! I am so excited about this, and I just hope I can stop stressing so I will lose it!

Funny

Bubs, "Mom, I love to kiss so much while I am a little kid, but I think when I am a grown up I am going to love it even more!"

Bobcat?

The following was written by my adorable husband hoping to win a tractor. Can I tell you it just made me MELT!!!! I thought it was sweet, the things he said about me! Awww! He does love my guts!

My wife K and I own a few acres of property outside of a mountain town in Northern Arizona. My main reason for needing a tractor is to be able to help my wife out a little more. Why do I imply that winning the tractor would help my wife out? It would cut my evening and weekend workload down to a manageable size to allow me to give her more of a hand, a hand she needs.

K is closing in on 30 years of age and we have 4 very young children (ages 6, 4, almost 2, and 2 months). For the past 12 years K has been dealing with the effects of a terrible auto accident which occurred on the third day of her senior year of high school. She is one of the youngest people recorded to have suffered a stroke (a result of the air bag nearly taking her head off) and she still suffers from partial left side paralysis. Imagine taking care of 4 little ones and 1 big one (me) with one hand! Nonetheless, K loves being a mother and is a great one.

Back to how your tractor will help me devote more time to my dear wife and kids-

We have several acres to mow/weed/maintain. I have an older John Deere riding lawn mower which over the past two years has deteriorated to the point of almost never starting without hours of work. My wife is allergic to sunflowers, the one thing up here besides kids that actually grows great, and so I usually spend a lot of my Saturday trying to get that old mower started or going after the sunflowers with a hand hoe or push mower.
We live a little ways off the state highway on an unmaintained dirt road. We love the location but ever since neighbors stopped chipping in for the road grader, we’ve had foot-deep ruts after snows. And up here, contrary to popular belief about Arizona, it snows. I’ve borrowed my father-in-law’s little tractor a few times and knocked down what I could, but it’d sure be nice to be able to hit those ruts in the spring time as well. Or any other time of the year. I’ve also pulled several neighbors out of snow banks (for some reason, we’re the only ones with 4 wheel drive on this not-so-perfect road), something I do gladly but I’m sure your little tractor would help me keep the road clear so that all of the 2 wheel drivers can still make it out.
Fenceposts? Yeah, we’ve got fenceposts and we’ve got plenty of work on those as well. Termites starting getting to some of our decorative ones and I’ve had to replace several by hand which takes about an hour each. Over last winter I had about 15 go to the termites so there’s about 15 hours. Oh, then there’s the back section of field wire fencing that never got completed by the property’s previous owners. I’m going to need to set upwards of 30 posts back there so that’s another 30 hours of manual labor.
We recently seeded the lawn for the children and because the father-in-law’s tractor was already loaned out, I dug out about 1/2 acre of pure weeds and crabgrass and foxtails using double-sided hoes and shovels. I don’t have to tell you how many hours that took – time that I definitely would have preferred to spend with my wife…watching the grass grow.
Your little tractor giveaway fits perfectly into my plan for teaching my kids financial responsibility. Out where we live everyone lives on acreage but few are able to maintain it sufficiently and many are willing to pay a decent amount to mow their spreads. Since this little tractor is going to last a few decades, the kids will have a great start on their college accounts once they’re old enough to responsibly operate these pieces of equipment. My goal has always been to get an old tractor and mower set up to especially let my little boy get a good start to his adult life. I guess I could modify my expectations and let him use a little newer set up.
Again, please help me spend more time with the lovely wife and kids. Oh, if I do win could you get that equipment here by mid-September? The weeds are starting to confuse the kids (“Daddy, did you see me climb up that giant Kosha tree?”).


Thanks ahead of time,

J

Sleepy sleepy

Lil peace sign...

Lil smiles...

Lil lady asleep again...

Sleep! I didn't want to jinx myself but I guess I can tell you now! 'lil E has been sleeping from 9:30 or 10:00 till 7:00 a.m since she was about six weeks. She now is getting transitioned into the girls room! Hooray!!!!

I am so excited about this but in a way, kind of sad! It is truly amazing how quickly they grow. Next thing you know she will be headed off to college...

A little mushy....

For girls camp this year the Dads all wrote notes to the girls about how proud of them they are and how sweet.... Well, the camp directors had the husbands of the leaders do it too! I didn't get to go to camp, as I had a baby that week but a few weeks ago I was handed my letter. It made me cry. I felt so loved and adored. And I just thought I would share it with you;) Also because I don't ever want to lose it!



K is an absolutely incredible woman. Even though she is sometimes frazzled by the end of the day, she keeps 3 (soon 4) very active kids entertained. Big E, Bubs, and H all love being at home. She does things to stimulate their little craniums, she teaches them important values and most importantly she loves them unconditionally. She preoccupies herself with ways to make each day memorable with the kids. Rarely a free day goes by which she doesn't recommend all of us getting out of the house for a hike or to go to the park or the library. She treats everyone the way she herself wants to be treated even though sometimes she is having a rough day because of what she would call her crazy body.

On the wife scale K is a perfect 10. She makes date nights and memorable family vacations and family home evenings and family prayers and scriptures a priority. I think she must have a tally in the back of her head to be able to keep all these things active in her planning of daily and future events. She loves me unconditionally (which is saying it all) and keeps me out of trouble with my family and hers by reminding me when it's been a while since I've called a grandparent or other significant member of our families. The love she radiates truly permeates all aspects of her life. As stated before, even when she is having a rough day it's not unusual for her to talk about someone who she thinks is having a worse day and figure out some way to try and brighten their day up. She motivates me just because of who she is. When she congratulates me for something at work, it just strikes me with about 10 times as much force as if anyone else would have. A smile from my K is better than 1000 "way-to -go's". I love you K-J

Our song?

Ok, you probably have a song with your hubby... we discussed that not long ago. But do you have a song with your kids?
I do, these songs remind me of certain moments and are sort of theme songs that I sing often to these kids...
Big E - "In my Daughters Eyes", & "Blessed" by Martina McBride. Also - I remember bawling to the 2nd verse of "I am a Child of God" when she was a few weeks old and I felt so helpless and alone. That verse will forever be hers.

Bubs - "Little Wonders" - Rob Thomas,

H- "I never saw blue like that" - Shawn Colvin, Hannah's blue eyes kill me!

'lil E - I still don't really have one which is so sad!!!! I need to listen to something other than "Wiggles" and "Wicked" so I can get one with her!

My little ones in heaven - "Fly" - Celine Dion I can't listen to this without bawling. I know I will meet them someday, meanwhile I will try to be the best Mom I can to the ones here!

It's just a little kiss!

As we were leaving church yesterday my J gave me a kiss. He had been at meetings all morning and was headed to hospital visits. I missed him....
I got in the car and Big E, "That was so gross Mom, people could have seen you"!
Oh NO! Not that! I would hate for anyone to know that your Dad and Mom love each other....

Yummy

Harvest Rice Dish , Orange Crush Cookies , Helado de Especial... Come over and see what new yummy stuff we are cooking up at the food blog!

...just more of me to love...

"...Becky believed she was impervious to the threat of adultery, with Felix or anyone. Even if she was hit in the head and forgot she was in love with her husband, even if all her moral convictions and sense of basic human decency were surgically removed from her brain, she always had that post pregnancy body as a very last resort. No chance she's allow any man to see her naked besides the man who had gotten her pregnant four times. You broke it, you bought it, baby."
From the Actor and the Housewife by, Shannon Hale

Post pregnancy bodies....YuCh! Can I tell you that when I read this I just laughed and laughed! I dread going to Dr's, massages, swimming, anything where people will see the stretch marks and saggy-ness that is my body post 4 children. Even after I lose all the baby weight (which will hopefully happen in the next century or so...) I will ( I always do...) still look at myself and think, "It sure is a good thing I love those kids so much and that my J still loves me." And you know what? He does, he really does. Even with an extra 50 lbs he thinks I am beautiful. My kids think that I am the greatest because I bake them cookies and let them play in the mud. My body is important, yes. I need to keep it healthy and strong and I am working on getting it how I want it to be, but meanwhile I am trying to focus on the fact that this body houses my spirit. And that spirit is strong, and loving, and fiercely loyal to all I love and what I know is right and true. While I may not look on the outside how I would like to, I am so grateful to know that is not the most important thing. The most important thing's are my relationships with my husband and my precious children. The most important thing's are the relationships I will take with me after this life. The most important thing is that we, as a family, can live our lives well and be together forever!
Now I just need to remember this as I step on the scale after working our 2 hours a day for weeks and the scale still has not budged.... I love my kids... they were soooo worth it! :)

Privacy accomplished!

I did it, I feel so relieved and I know it was the right thing! Please remember to check back on us sometimes, and thank you for your support in the decision!
Also, if you know someone who didn't get me their email in time please send it to me and I will add them (Camille - I didn't get Nicole's... and I know there are others...) But I would love to have all that would like to read be able to so.... just let me know! Thanks!!!!
Check back soon cause I am going to post the cutest thing Jonathan wrote... AWWWW!

Oh - and I deleted all the comments with your emails on them... but thank you for all the sweet and kind words! I love you back!!! :) And now, the comments are back on and you don't even have to do the annoying word verification anymore, because... it's private!!!! And you don't have to have a google account to comment! Hooray for all the fun changes! Now, I am off to watch Shreck 3 with the kids! :)

Privacy PLEASE

Ok - I have been thinking about it for quite some time, but I am finally going to go private. After hearing a few too many scary stories.... it is past time. So....... Please leave a comment or email me with your email so I can invite you! This includes all of my relatives who read but never comment. I will turn the comments private so you don't have to worry about anyone else seeing your email!
I am sad that the world is such that I have to do this, but if anything were to happen to one of my kids I could never forgive myself!

**** Oh - and my food blog will remain public;) YUM!

Also - please comment ASAP as we will be going private soon.

And.... I will continue to post for the next few days and repost this so it is at the top.... so scroll down so you don't miss anything (I have been doing scheduled posting and the whole week is already set so.... ;)

Back to school

"Back to school, back to school, to prove to Dad that I'm not a fool" - Name that movie!

Today was Big E's first day back to school! She was so excited and ready for it!

I thought that her hair turned out so cute this morning! And a little sassy, just like her!

All loaded up...
Lets GO!

Hard to believe that next year Bubs will go too. It is 4 years and 5 years for H and 'lil E so we have a long way to go before I get a clean house! ;) Thank goodness!

4th

I seriously could have written THIS. I mean, not as well, but is soooo well describes how I feel about my 4th!

"Because Jesus Christ suffered greatly, He understands our suffering. He understands our grief... Sometimes the very moments that seem to overcome us with suffering are those that will ultimately suffer us to overcome."

Joseph B. Wirthlin

Sister can I help you?

"Sister's, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters. Caring, sharing, every little thing that we are wearing"..... Name that movie!

H LOVES to help her little sister. She is always bringing me binkys for her, handing me her bottle, or a burpcloth, or a diaper...

Here she is trying to shove a binky in 'lil E's mouth (a common occurrence because H figures that if it solves all of her life problems then it must do the same for 'lil E!)

"Good girl, good girl - oh ya" - That is what H says whenever she "helps" Mom!

All dressed up....

Big E saw a new hairdo that she wanted me to try on her. (Obviously this was a couple weeks ago - since her hair is now chopped off!)
I am game if it doesn't involve braids...

I think this one turned out pretty cute!

And H even let me do hers!!!!

Of course this was my secret weapon.... letting her spray herself in the face the whole time! She cracks me up!

The Boulders... Take 2

Here we are again at one of our favorite places... this time with friends! (This was last week...)

The kids are all checking out a blue beetle that Jackee found!



Whoa there - H was trying to pick it up and I was trying to stomp it! So funny!

The crew! What a fun day we all had together!

Even the little dirty faced H!

This is our day camp this time!

Jackee is having a baby soon (Monday) and she still made it out here to let her kids play! She is a wonder woman! Seriously!!!
*By the time I actually posted this - it is D-Day for Jackee!!!! Good luck today! Our thoughts and prayers are with ya!

We sure love you guys and can't wait to do it again!

Go ahead... make me cry!

We received a package the other day....



I opened it and started crying. I couldn't help myself! How incredibly kind and sweet... and FUN!

Bubs agrees, he is one happy boy!

Seriously. He may never take off this shirt again!

H with her new favorite book and an outfit I can't wait to get on her!!!!

And Big E, calmly opening her gift...

What do you think? Is she excited?

What did I tell ya, he ran straight to his room and put on this shirt! He also wore it the next day....

All for 'lil E - sooo cute! The big girls asked if they could "help" her play with the wooden dress up doll... but we are putting it away for a couple years for 'lil E! What a precious gift!

And here is another fun one! On the left is H's baby. On the right is 'lil E's new baby! Aren't they cute? They look like BFF's to me!

Aunt Debbie has a knack for picking out our kids favorite "loveys". Bubs Giraffe and little blue blankey, H's baby and we will see about 'lil E...

This is one really happy future chef!

And her assistant!

How can we thank you enough and Aunt Debbie and Uncle Leo?!?! We feel so loved and are so thankful for you thinking of us! What a wonderful surprise!

#7

#7.....




No, we are not having another baby ( Our family of 6 is not going to be 7 ANY time soon...) it is our 7 year anniversary! What a wonderful day! It is always so fun to look back and remember all the dating, and the engagement, and the wedding.... Remember why we started this (sometimes) crazy family in the first place. Because we fell in love. And not just a little, A LOT. Enough to say that we would love each other through thick and thin in this life and eternity. And when you look back, J must have really loved me. He knew he was getting himself involved with someone who had serious problems... and he married me anyway. Thank heavens for that, and for him.


I truly do love him soooo much, he still makes my heart skip a beat when he walks in the room. I spend part of every day thinking about him, about us, about when I can get him alone again....

He is a great husband, a wonderful father, and his devotion to God is something I always have and always will admire. He is an amazing example to me of service and doing what you know is right and true.




So here we are at 7 years. What a wonderful place to be!



*I have sooo many great wedding pics that someday I will get scanned into the computer.... meanwhile these are pictures of pics so they don't look ThAt great... but you get the general idea -right? We got married...

New Hair!

Big E has been wanting to chop her hair since school got out, but we held her out till it was going to start again. She chose the cut and she loves it... So do we!!!
It was her first time going to a salon to get it cut (usually I just do it in the tub) so it was quite an event!
What do you think?
The back.

From the side

*The best part - She went to bed with it damp and woke up with it looking like this! All we did was brush it and put a little hairspray on it!!!! pErFeCt for school!!!

And of course Bubs needed his done too. I did it so it isn't nearly as fabulous as E's.

But he sure is a cutie...

Buds