The BIG 5...

And in the words of Kaleb, "It's good to be 5!" and I completely agree.

This little boy has taught me how to clean my toilet seat on a regular basis.
This little boy has taught me that burping and "tooting" is an instinctive trait in all boys.
This little boy has taught me patience.
This little boy has taught me that just when I think I'm about to run out of patience I manage to find an extra dose of it.
This little boy has taught me how unconditional love really is.
This little boy has taught me that screaming and yelling gets me no where.
This little boy has taught me that a little tickle and a big hug goes a long way.
This little boy has taught me that, despite the tough exterior, little boys have a heart gold.

No birthday would be complete without a visit to Chuck E. Cheese.

Kaleb had full birthday cake decorating rights. His only requests were blue frosting, gummy O's, and gummy worms.

I love the next few series of pictures...

I've decided it's almost cruel to give a little boy a bike in the middle of winter. So, for now, it's become a coat rack in the center of Kaleb's bedroom until winter decides to stop winter-ing.

Happy Birthday Kaleb

Life just wouldn't be the same without you!

Dear Santa,

I please want a car.
I want to drive a car with a control and red stuff on the car.
Please give it to me.
Give it to me when it snows.
Merry Christmas Ho,Ho, Ho!
We want you to come in our room and hope we get lots of presents .
Help me be nice.

Kaleb

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dear Santa,

Hi.

I wish you a merry Christmas.

Do your reindeer really fly?

Did they really trick Rudolph and call him names?

Does he really have a red nose?

I'm thankful for you!

Did you check your naughty & nice list twice?

Are they in two pieces or are they in one?

Ho, Ho, Ho-

I LOVE YOU SANTA!

Thank you for all the presents.

Love,

Abrie

PS- I want a water baby

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dear Santa,

I want a BIG Dora.
I want little pet shops.
(Me interjecting) Macie, you can't have little pet shops. You'll eat them.
(Macie continues) I want Little Pet Shops... and I won't eat 'em.

Macie

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dear Santa,

I will keep my list short and sweet this year.
I want a house.
I want a house with a dishwasher and washer & dryer.
I want a house that has a room for each child and a time-out room for me that is NOT the bathroom.
I want a house that has a fenced backyard (biggie size it please).
I want a house with a closet that is bigger than my big toe.
I want a house with a kitchen that gives me the desire to cook.
Better yet, I want a house with a kitchen that will just make dinner magically appear.
I want a house with my very own bathroom and a jetted tub wouldn't hurt either.
Dear Santa, I want need a house.

Yours truly,
Ginnie

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dear Santa,

Please bring Ginnie a house.

Nate

It Officially Feels Like Christmas

Time to don last years two-sizes-too-small snow suits,
your hand me down two-sizes-too-big snow boots,
and your socks that double as gloves,
because, baby, it's c-c-cold outside!


For all you Utah virgins out there, this is what it looks like after a half of a day's worth of snow.

And just in case you're asking yourself, "Who is that little boy in blue and where is Macie?", well, here's the answer...

Poor thing. Not only is she a beautiful little girl, but she makes a cute little boy as well. And notice the socks on the hands. You thought I was kidding about socks that double as gloves. Sadly, I wasn't. She didn't seem to mind too much though, which saved me the speech of, "Macie, you will wear these socks on your hands, dang-it, and you will like it or so help me...".

So I'm thinking it's time to do some winter shopping. What do you think?

Some Day....

When I own a home,
with my very own wall,
I want to be Martha-esque and be as domestic and crafty as a woman could possibly be.
And then,
when that day happens,
I think I'll attempt to make something like this...

or this

images courtesty of diyideas.com

Wasted

Do you follow A Little Sussy? If you don't, then you should start. Now.

Here's the link to her blog, and in particular, her wasted photo shoot that she just did the other day. And tell me, do you happen to recognize any of the "wasted" models? Look closely and you'll see a little boy with crazy hair and funny face that happens to belong to me.

A Little Sussy: The wasted shoot

Duuuuuude!

I experienced nitrous for the first time yesterday. All is can say is that my heart not only belongs to Cafe' Rio's salmon taco's, but it now belongs to nitrous as well.

We decided it would be best for mine and Nate's safety if I had a little something to calm the nerves, since last time I was at the dentist I almost punched Nate in the face for giving me a shot. You think I'm kidding, but I'm not. I don't treat all dentists that way, only the one I sleep with.

So they hooked me up to the nitrous and 5 minutes later my feet started to tingle and I felt so chill and relax and the only word that kept coming to mind was, "Duuuuu-uuuu-uuuude". Nate asked me if it was working and the moment I went to reply uncontrollable laughter and obnoxious giggles came out. I tried to control myself, I did. But I was too weak, the laughter took control. I couldn't stop. Tears started streaming from my eyes and Nate's poor assistant- who was meeting for the first time- started cracking up too. I don't think I made a good first impression. Nate looks down at me like, "control yourself Ginnie". He quickly looks at the assistant and says, "Ummmm, I think we need to turn it down just a bit". In between bouts of loud laughter I tried to mutter out, "No, don't turn it down yet" but they couldn't hear me. The least they could have done was let me enjoy myself for a little bit longer. It's a shame.

You know, if I could carry a can of nitrous with me every where I go, life wouldn't be so bad. I could manage the chaos & crazy with joy & laughter. Every time Macie draws on the carpet with mascara I could just hook that bad boy up and it could make that mascara all disappear.

Dear Daegan,

I rarely dedicate my posts to just one person other than myself, but for you... today I make an exception. I'm sure you looked at me with envy the day I posted this little beauty of my family and future family.

With me as a queen and 8 kids (one with the name of Pubert) who wouldn't be jealous? Since you are a close friend and Nate's bush whacking companion I didn't want to leave you out. Yes, Christmas for you dear Daegan comes a couple weeks early this year.

What man wants to be seen driving the family van around with those stickers plastered to the back? I know you Daegan. You need MAN stickers. You need stickers that shout testosterone. Stickers that ooze manliness. Stickers that say, "I can survive in the wilderness for 47 days & nights with just a small paper clip, ball of yarn, and a can of Dr. Pepper".

Well, Daegan, I've got the perfect stickers for you and I took the liberty of naming your 4th & 5th child. (Hope you don't mind)

Sticker A:

And just in case Amy doesn't want to name child 4 and 5 Smith & Wesson I've designed another manly sticker choice.

Sticker B:

Yes, Daegan. Those are the one and only Surefire photoshop brushes, custom designed by yours truly. You will be the envy of Flashaholics everywhere.

Merry Christmas!
(I expect to get at least a little something from you this year. Diamonds would be fine).

Sincerely,
Ginnie

Post-Thanksgiving Thankful List

I am thankful...

• For water that I dare to drink out of the faucet. (memories of this... shutter...)
• For a roof over my head (even if that roof happens to belong to my parents).
• For Cafe' Rio and my new found love of their salmon tacos... my heart belongs to you.
• For the heaven sent, super sponge, magic eraser that can take permanent marker off of walls, tables, and chairs. (It doesn't work so well on garage doors though).
• For hoodies and sweat pants that can double as casual wear and pajama's.
• For Wendy's dollar menu.
• For all the conveniences of life like washers & dryers, dishwashers, and clean mold-free bathrooms. Let's just say apartment living wasn't kind to us.
• For child lock doors that foil Macie's attempt to escape James Bond style on the freeway.
• For backyards and the hope that I will someday own one.
• For nap time. Actually, my sanity is thankful for nap time.
• For Diet Coke and the tingly feeling I get every time I take a sip. I wouldn't call it an addiction... more of an intense love.
• For Wendy's dollar menu.
• For Lysol disinfectant wipes and any other types of degermifiers that make me feel at peace knowing I can sit down on my own toilet seat.
• For divinely inspired epidurals, although I would be more grateful if they just knocked me out completely.
• For a husband that loves unconditionally despite the fact that I'm a deeply flawed individual.
• For three kids that love unconditionally despite the fact that I might very well raise them to be deeply flawed individuals as well.
• For Wendy's dollar menu.
• For lots of other things too many to name like the miracle bra, the flat iron, mascara, 2 cars, the ability to make an awkward situation more awkward, for friends who stroke the ego and tell me things like, "Ginnie, honestly. That spandex does not make you look fat" and "No worries Ginnie, bangs are coming back in"... I am thankful!

And look, I crossed stitched this just for you!

Gobble, Gobble

Here's hoping your breasts are as good as mine...

Turkey breasts that is. What else would I be referring to?
Seriously people. If I were referring to the other types of br***** I would use another name for them like ta-ta's or jubblies or the sisters. I'm far too immature to use the correct verbiage for sacred body parts. Plus the fact that there would be some tough competition out there. Competition that can use bigger and better words for their "sisters" like jugs or melons or gazongas. If we were talking pre-nursing/pre-childbearing days then maybe I'd have a chance, but post nursing/post child bearing/3-kids-depleting-the-life-out-of-the-sisters days... not so much.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Death By Pictures

I would have never thought that getting your pictures taken could be so physically painful, not necessarily for me, but mostly my kids and for sure Nate. At least I've discovered a new form of punishment, "Kaleb, stop pretending to pee on your sisters! Do you want to get your pictures taken again?!" The same would probably work for Nate.

I feel so on top of things. It's not even December and I have my pictures done... now I just need to make a card, get them printed, write a sweet little message (probably something like "may your Christmas be bright and cheery this time of yearie"), put them in envelopes, write addresses out, put a stamp on them, and send them on their merry way. Hopefully I do better at sending these out than I did sending my thank you cards for my wedding. I got them all written out and addressed, but for some reason I struggled with the getting-the-stamps-on and mailing-it-out part. Better yet, if I fail miserable at sending out cards -which is completely feasible- just pick your favorite family picture, right click on it, save it to your computer, then take it to a photo lab and have it printed yourself. The bigger the better... at least a 16x20 and hang it in a place where you'll always see it, like above your bed. That way it will be the last thing you see when you go to bed and the first thing you see when you wake up. My YheartY feels warm already.

Merilee, my beautiful and talented friend, was crazy enough to accept the challenge of taking our family pictures and I'm so glad she did, because she did -as Abrie would say- a FABLY-OUS job! Now I can actually update the picture on the side with a picture where Macie actually has hair. Happy day!

Now onto the pictures...

Kaleb caught in mid irish dance stepping.

Proof that we are an angelic family. See... we're glowing.
The force is strong with us.

Either Abrie doesn't like us kissing or she's telling us to kiss with tongue. Not sure which one it is.

Grrrrrrrr! So good looking, makes me want to bite him. I'm thinking about blowing this one up to 30x40 gallery wrapped canvas with the words, "I'm too sexy for this canvas" written across the top. You don't think that's too much, do you?


We struggled a bit trying to pull of the serious look. The proof is in the outtakes.

You've seen the pictures, now tell me; which shot is your favorite?

Which picture would you blow up and set in the middle of your dinner table as a center piece?

Which picture would you use to take the place of your TV on your entertainment center?
Which picture would you put on a T-shirt and wear with pride?

Which picture would you turn into a windshield reflector to shade your car from a hot, sunny day?

Choose wisely, the picture you pick might end up on a hot cocoa mug to give to my grandparents.

What's Your POV?

I'm a REALIST. Yep, that's me! It drives my husband crazy, but he promises he loves me anyway.

An Apple a Day...

or 2, or 3.... or 6, or 7.
Do you think if we took all the bites from these apples and added them together it would be the equivalent of at least one apple? I think yes. So at least it's not a total loss.

Macie likes apples.

I mean, really likes apples.

(Don't you think these pictures have a Chris Farley-esque feel to them? Especially that top right one. Proud Mommy moment.)

Looooong Day

Today felt abnormally long. Is it possible to fit 24 hours into a 12 hour time period?

I was stuck at home all day today. Our poor little shagon wagon/mini-van-of-love was in the shop. Did I just write a post about having two cars? Ha, funny!

Back to where I was... it was a loooong day. Here's just a little sample of what I got to experience today;

Run-by-egging- performed by two little kids named Macie and Kaleb. I spent most of the afternoon attempting to get raw egg out of the carpet, off of the kitchen floor, walls and light switches. In my defense I was not the one watching the kids at the time (apparently no one was watching the kids at that time).

Anti-bacterial rubdown- Macie decided to squirt hand sanitizer all over herself and the carpet. I got to clean the carpet a second time. BONUS- Macie didn't need to take a bath tonight.

Honey & cheese crackers- Kaleb and Macie decided they were hungry so after rummaging through the pantry they found Cheeze-its and a jar of honey. If cheese crackers taste so good by themselves just imagine how much better they would taste with a jar of honey squeezed on them. In the process of their culinary creations they managed to spill honey all over the carpet and yet again I find myself down on my hands and knees scrubbing the carpet.

*Note to self: Only buy a home with all wood flooring.

Do You Smell That?

No, not the stench of an unshowered mother of 3 and no, not the smell of the bathroom that is still waiting for me to clean. The other, more pleasant smell.

It's the smell of freedom and it smells sooooooo gooooood!
(insert Mel Gibson's freedom call from Braveheart here)

It has been a long time coming -4 years and 4 months to be exact- and now Nate and I have joined the ranks of multiple car owners every where. We now own not only one, but two cars... (tear).

I am a firm believer that money can't buy happiness. However, money may not be able to buy happiness, but money can buy things like cars and having a car makes me extremely happy.

Now I'm all prepared for your next question, "What kind of car did you get?". I'm so glad you asked. We got a completely modest car that we could afford on our humble budget. The 2009 hummer H3, with custom rims, chrome grill, leather seats, built in fridge, smoothie maker, pencil sharpener, seat massagers, third row seating that doubles as a porta-potty (because who wants to make unnecessary stops to the bathroom), and it can parallel park itself, Oh, and we will be riding in cost-efficient-style because this baby runs on vegetable oil and baked beans... you don't think it's too much do you?

*

*

*

OK, so maybe I stretched the truth just a bit. We did buy a car, but the only thing that our car has in common with the one above is that it has 4 wheels and it drives. We bought a Honda accord and part of the initiation of living in Utah is owning a Honda of some sort and having stickers like this plastered on your rear window.

I've got the Honda covered. Now I just need to work on the stickers...

Because It Makes Me Laugh...

Church talent shows have been taken to another level.

Check it out right here...

The Syncro Swim

It looks like Abrie and Kaleb have some pretty tough competition.

Got Snow?

When we woke up this morning the world looked like this...

Which, to Kaleb and Macie, meant that breakfast should look like this...

(Notice the empty bottle of snow cone juice. It got emptied on their first few shots of flavored snow. I'm not sure what round this is.)

This is probably the best breakfast I've never made.

What can I say? Eating snow is one of the joys of being a kid. I just need to remember to give them the It's-probably-not-a-good-idea-to-eat-yellow-snow talk before they make this a habit. Also my Mom walked in and saw them eating the snow and said, "Ginnie, they say on the news that the first snow is always filled with pollution". My response to that is -as Mindi put it so eloquently- in the words of Kanye West "N-n-now that, that don't kill us can only make us stronga"

Happy Election Day!

Don't forget to vote for the Hoff!

Happy Halloweenie Re-cap

( Lovely pumpkin drawing compliments of Abrie)

Pre-Halloween celebration:

Some families have cute thought-out costumes that correspond with each other... and some families find whatever they can laying around the house (including bright neon blue *spandex pants) and throw it on, then call it good.

*I've found they key to wearing spandex is to make sure that you wear the spandex and not let the spandex wear you.

Here are most of my nieces and nephews on my side of the family.

Halloween:

Abrie was a good witch at first, but then quickly switched to the dark side because "bad witches get to wear make-up". Macie was a butterfly princess. Kaleb could not make up is mind of what he wanted to be. His list was; spaceman, superman, cowboy man, dash from incredible's, nacho libre, and a "normal boy". Finally we decided on the HULK.

Don't mess!

Happy Halloween!

How Sad is This?

You see a pile of dirty laundry.
I see a husbands desperate cry for help.
I see a husband who is so afraid that his wife's not going to do laundry for another two weeks.
I see a husband that feels the need to save his socks to the side neatly and lined up to ensure a quick retrieval if he has to re-wear them again; which sadly in his case, is completely feasible.
I see a wife who's tired of doing laundry.
I see a wife who's glad she bought two weeks worth of underwear for the entire family.
I see a wife who should have probably bought an extra weeks worth of socks as well.
I see a wife who will be running to her local Walmart tomorrow to invest some extra pairs of socks.

Who knew laundry could say so much about a person.