From the mouth of Mya.

"Mom. I peed. In my underwears." (we're hearing this FAR too often)

"I'll just sneak out" (when I told her she couldn't go out in the snow in her shorts)

"Mom, just walk a day in my slippers."

"I hope Cinderella has her clothes on 'cause I don't want to see her boobies." (while talking about going to Disneyland)

"My uncle Burk is in jail." (she announces this to whoever will listen and she says it like she's quite proud)

Camp Steiner

My brother Chad has a friend who helps run Camp Steiner, a boyscout camp up in the Uintas. We went up there with the intention of camping. And then it snowed. And I wasn't ready to depart this life frozen in a tent at a boyscout camp. So we "fished" at the lake in our parkas, Mike the pyro built us a fire, my dad the dutch-oven master made us some dinner, and we packed up and went home. Jaida was not happy we weren't camping, but I don't camp when it dips below 30 degrees.

One of our many outside activities.

Swine flu and being pregnant.

Symptoms of swine flu (pardon me, H1N1):
--body aches
--headaches
--extreme fatigue or tiredness
--vomiting

Hmmm....sounds an awful lot like being pregnant. How will I know if I've got pig flu???

Speaking of pregnancy, I've got 11 weeks left (10 if I can talk my doctor into inducing a week early, which I plan to do even if I have to camp out in the hospital).
I feel like I've been pregnant for at least a year.
I'm getting fatter by the second.
I'm really tired. All the time.
Nothing sounds good to eat except pizza, cottage cheese (I never usually eat that stuff), and tacos from Del Taco (yea, gross, I know). All foods that can't be good for a developing fetus.
My girls think the big mound on my stomach is somewhere they can sit and be carried around.
It's already impossible to sleep. And when I do, I'm surrounded by mounds of pillows. Good thing we have a king sized bed.
I got my flu shot today, but do not plan on getting the swine flu shot unless someone can persuade me otherwise. My doctor didn't succeed, maybe you can.
I apologize to my baby ahead of time for a Christmas-time birthday. I did not plan it that way, but things happen which we won't go into on a family friendly blog.
My kids aren't allowed to go the hospital when I have a baby because of the stupid swine flu. So. Lame.
And yet, despite all the fallbacks of this thing we call pregnancy, I am forever grateful that we get to add another member to our family. And though I absolutely despise being pregnant and am baffled by those who like it, I'm thankful. So, so thankful.
Here's to stretch marks, clothes that cut off my circulation, and belly buttons that poke out.

Jaida turns FIVE!!

We had Jaida's birthday party the day before her birthday. The night before her birthday we had a sleepover in the tent in the front room. We gave her a new sleeping bag. She opened it and then ran to the bathroom and threw up (in the picture below where Mike's holding the sleeping bag you can see her face--she's not feelin' good). And continued to do so all night long. She was sick all morning on her birthday. Lame for her. So we just hung out at home. That afternoon she felt a little better so we took her to the movie theater to see "Up" and then went to dinner at Friday's. Nothing like some Popcorn and greasy chicken fingers to help an upset stomach.

J's 5th birthday party.

Was her birthday really 2 months ago? Time is flying, and yet, when being pregnant, it's moving so slowly.

For Jaida's birthday party this year, we did a campout in the front room (which is slowly being converted into a photography studio).

We pitched a tent, had a fire that my dad so cleverly made, ate hotdogs and dirt cupcakes, made juice-box dolls, opened presents, and found lizards buried in balloons in the tent. Thankfully Jaida's birthday happened before Kindergarten started or we would have had a LOT more girls there. She's made lots of friends in Kindergarten which isn't surprising. Social little girl.

Potty Training

I knew it couldn't be that easy. The first week or so of potty training with Mya went so smoothly I was quite surprised. It was much easier than I dreaded (because potty-training blows). The "easiness" lasted about 2 weeks. And now. . . .now Mya thinks the potty is optional and will use it when it's convenient for her. Otherwise, she thinks it's perfectly fine to go the bathroom wherever she feels like it. And she feels no remorse nor does she try to hide the fact. She just strips off her wet clothes and continues on like nothing happened. And yes, I have found her multiple times in the front yard that way. Awesome for the neighbors.
I've done my best to be patient and understanding. The patience and understanding are long gone. So a few days ago when Mya came up to me with no pants or underwear on and announced "Mom, I peed in my underwears. Because I wanted to. Can I have a starburst?" all in one breath, I had to turn and walk away.
And then I laughed. Because that's what I do.