The Many Faces Of Me

Remember that movie, "Sybil" with Sally Field? She had the multiple personalities. I think we watched that in Psychology back in High School.

Well, I don't have multiple personalities (that I know of), but I do have several faces that go on thru the day. I thought I'd share with you a few of those faces:

"Ahhh...my kids are cute, I'm not too bad & life is pretty good"

"Hmmm..it's not that bad"

"Okay, seriously, I'm really getting tired of going in that room to quiet down the party animals that are living here"

"I've had it!!! If I have to go in there one more time, I'm going to staple the blinds to the window so they don't pull on them & eat the parts that have fallen off, put super glue on their paci's so they don't throw them out of their bed & then cry, place duct tape over their mouth so they don't scream." Of course I'm kidding people...a little humor has to get you thru sometimes.

A trip to the mall

I am, by no means, a mall person. However, with the "tude" my kids have been giving me lately, I thought maybe we should get out of the house. Our closest mall is 30 minutes away. So, I loaded the choo-choo in the van, the kids & off we went. I've never taken the choo choo to the mall. Heck, I've only taken the kids to mall once by myself since they've been born. I was prepared for the comments & stares. It wasn't bad though. Most people are fairly nice about it.

I get the usual, "you sure have your hands full", "are they triplets?"...those sort of things. I had one guy this evening say, "are they the same age?" I said, "yes, they are triplets." And I had a lady say, "oh, two girls & one boy." I said, "no, two boys & one girl. My son just has long curly hair." And NO...I'm not cutting it! He looks so darn cute. It's not like I had him dressed in pink or anything. For goodness sake, he had on a NIKE basketball outfit.

At any rate, the trip was fine. It was nice to get out. I went to The Children's Place & got some clearance items. I couldn't stay in there long because the kids would grab whatever they could reach as we drove by. Needless to say, we had a few things thrown on the ground. We stopped at Blondie's cookies & I got them each a snickerdoodle cookie. My only complaint about the trip....the constant sweat I had running down my face!!

I need a drink!

Oh man...the whining, the screaming, the fits...when will it end!? Don't answer that.

Whew, these last few days have been a little bit challenging. Today it has been Ms. Iz. The screaming & the kicking is what flips my switch! Three times...three times I put her on the couch today & scold her. What does she do????? LAUGH! Yes, laugh. I'm totally not taken seriously around here. Sometimes I even try to growl or make my voice scary...NOTHIN! And what gets me is when they act like they have no idea what they are doing. They know when they are doing something wrong & when I say something, they go, "huh, huh, huh, huh"...like I'm speaking Spanish!

It is now peaceful...they are napping. I believe I'm going to park my butt on the couch & do the same.

I challenge you to help yourselves & your environment!

In the last few weeks, I've decided to change some things in regards to the way we live. Are you not tired of hearing about all the cancer & diseases that are infesting ourselves, our family, our friends...etc? I realize that our environment isn't the cause of EVERYTHING, but I do believe the way we live is the cause of many things. Think back to when our grandparents lived. I think about my 86 year old grandma Smith. She is a healthy woman who grew up farming & eating natural things & using natural cleaning products. Now, we live in a world full of toxins & harsh chemicals. Back then, you didn't hear much about infertility, autism, asthma, etc. It seems now, that is all we hear about.

I will definitely be the first person to tell you that I'm not a healthy eater...by any means! I eat McDonald's, Wendy's, etc...all the processed crap. I know that is something I need to change; not only for myself but to set better examples for my kids. I love food!

But some things I have changed lately is the way I clean & do laundry. I got rid of all the cleaning products I had. I now use good ol' white vinegar & water, baking soda & some natural cleaning products. I decided to stop using Downy fabric softener and trust me, this was a hard one for me. I loooove the smell of downy! But do you know how many toxins are in our cleaning products? My poor Jonah has asthma, eczema, allergies...you name it! I'm hoping that this change will not only help our environment, but help my little boy.

I would eventually love to get all organic bedding. Financially, right now, it isn't an option. I can start getting a few pieces at a time though. You can even buy organic sheets online at Walmart! There are several resources out there to help. Do some research. You can find lots of recipes for homemade cleaners, etc. Here are a few sites I found to be helpful:

http://change4good.wetpaint.com/

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art22647.asp

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/8088/clngrn.html

Brotherly Love

Yesterday, the kids were playing in the hallway. Jasper & Jonah decided to wrestle. I can't tell you how many times I heard Jonah's head smack up against the wall. He never cried though...they just cracked up. Jonah should have a head of steel now anyway...I mean with all the banging he does on the floor & wall.

I got to laughing because they would just go up & completely tackle the other one & just laugh hysterically. Is it wrong that I took pictures? Nah!


Jonah on top of Jasper

Jasper on top of Jonah...Pay no attention to the bra Jonah is laying on. I constantly have to tell Nate to pick his things up!

Jasper

Jasper is all about the camera. It's hard to take pictures because he is always trying to put the lens cap on or take it away from me. You can tell in this one that he was getting ready to make his move.

For The Love Of POOP!!!!!!!!!!

Actually, for the "hate" of poop. I'm so sick of cleaning it up. I've been taking the kids to the potty when they say "pee-pee". Jasper's really the only who says it. So, I take him to sit on their potty & he will sit there a good while. But, he hasn't done anything yet. I thought Iz would be the first, but she seems scared of the potty now. So I'm not forcing it on her...since they just turned 2.

The stripping has gone into overdrive. Two nights ago, I had to go into their room to tell Iz & Jas it was time for bed & to be quiet. Of course, Jasper has no pants or diaper on. I put everything back on him & the next morning he's naked again from the waist down.Ugh.

Yesterday morning I was in the kitchen & I hear Jasper making a little gagging noise. I go into the living room & find him sitting by poop. This time, Jonah is the culprit. So yes, I believe Jasper ate some of Jonah's poop. I go get a wet wash cloth & wash out his mouth & then proceed to pick of the poop from the floor...NICE!

Now, to this morning. I go to get them out of their cribs. Jasper has no diaper on and I see a stream of pee on the floor in front of his crib. I look at Isabel & she is in the corner of her crib. Well, Jasper decided to throw his poop & his diaper on to her crib. All the while, he is saying, "uh-oh, uh-oh". Yea, mama is saying, "I'm so sick of this s@#t!" Not out loud, but in my head.

So...I'm off to change bed sheets & clean their room. I hate poop!

FAN OF THE WEEK!

Yes, friends & family...I finally made it! I'm officially the fan of the week for Aerosmith! Oh yea! If you know me well, you know I love Aerosmith. Check me out! Oh, and yes...I did say I like to have a beer from time to time. Please, no nasty comments :) :)

www.aeroforceone.com

Awesome Picture From Amber

Amber (my sis in law) sent me this wonderful picture. Make sure you don't miss the addition to the family on the right side.

A visit from Pa & Ma Pam

Yesterday my dad & his fiance came by for a visit. The kids enjoyed showing off!

Outside

Here are some pictures from the kids playing in the pools in the backyard. This was a week or so ago. We got a neat pool from Uncle Lee & Aunt Amber for the kids' birthday & then Nate bought another pool so we would have two.


Jonah Splashing

Jonah taking a break in the playhouse

Jasper taking a break at the picnic table

Jasper & Jonah

The Boys with their cars

Jasper going down the slide

Jonah & Isabel

Isabel looking at me thru her toy

Izzy & Jonah

Isabel's Face...PRICELESS!

Yes, Jasper is just in a swim diaper. He pooped in his other one & I had to go in & change him & we just left off his trunks. This is the neighbor's dog...my kids love their dogs.

Jasper

The Fly Catcher!

Sometimes we have a few random flies around the house. I hate flies! They're gross, they make me feel dirty & the buzzing is annoying.

So Nate & the kids were in the living room yesterday & I was in another room (can't remember what I was doing.) I hear Nate say, "oh gross, gross...oh my gosh....ahhh!" I say, "what's wrong?" He says, "Jasper just caught a fly & ate it!" That fly either had to be slower than slow or Jasper is quick draw McGraw! Nate said that Jasper made a face & pulled it out of his mouth...wings & all!

Note to Self: Must teach Jasper not to put EVERYTHING into his mouth

Feeling A Little Better

I think the kids & I are starting to feel somewhat better. We still have snotty noses & a smoker's cough (and no, the kids nor I smoke :). But all in all, we are a bit perkier. I'm able to update my blog without having to have 3 sick babies laying on one sick mama. Hopefully we will be perfect by the end of the week!

Sick, Sick, Sick

UGH! I'm so over this. Everyday this week someone has been sick. Well, mostly all of us. So today I feel like total S*&t! Not sure what it is. I have the chills (and yes, they are multiplying & I'm losing control) and then I start sweating like an anorexic girl in front of a buffet! And not to mention, I can't breathe out of one nostril...it's always the same darn one too! Then I have 3 toddlers who want to be on mama's lap at all times & all she wants to do is sleep. So, yes...I'm giving myself a pity party. Anyone else always get summer colds?

Jonah

Jasper

Isabel

One more thing...

I thought Dog The Bounty Hunter started tonight & it doesn't. I was looking forward to chillin out with Dog, Beth, Leland, Baby Lyssa & Duane Lee. Youngblood will not be on this season and he will be missed by me. It starts tomorrow, so that gives me something to look forward to! Peace out Bra's & stay off the ice!

It has not been a glorious day

Yep, it's been one of those days. Yesterday, Isabel had a temperature & just felt like crap. She just laid around most of the time & took a little longer nap. And trust me, that is completely out of the ordinary for that girl. Normally she is the one who is waking the boys with either her screaming, singing or atomic butt drops on her crib....or a combination of all three! We got thru the day.

Today, Jasper has the fever. And Jasper is usually the one is outgoing & mischievous. I think Isabel is back to her normal self because she threw a big ol' tantrum this morning...screaming, kicking, the whole sha-bang! I'm sitting in the living room & Jasper is just laying on me. I feel so bad for my kids when they are sick. I hate when they don't act like their usual selves.

Isabel climbs on the couch & tries to sit on me. She gets angry because Jasper is laying there. She screams, kicks and shows you that she is not one bit happy. Then Jonah crawls up there & tries to lay on me. So I'm trying to fit all of them on me so no one is left out. That's a hard thing to do with 3 toddlers. I mean, I do have a big ol' belly so I thought...well, maybe I can fit them all on there. Nope. Which I guess means I'm not gigantic. But still, I hate to leave one out.

We ended up going to my grandma's house so I could cut her hair. We stayed for about an hour. Poor Jas just laid on me. We came home & I fed them. I held Jas the whole time. Isabel screamed her head off. I'm stressed & hungry. Think I will go fix a couple of hot dogs. Here's hoping that Jonah doesn't have it tomorrow.

The Huffman Song

For some reason, I can't get this song out of my head tonight. My sister, Ash, always comes up with such clever songs. Don't get me wrong, I'm pretty darn clever, myself. But, her whole family will know the song...and sing it! Trev (my nephew) and Ash are very well at this song. It goes a little something like this:

"Isabel & Jasper & Jonah Cale, Jonah Cale, Jonah Cale......Isabel & Jasper & Jonah Cale, we love so well!"

"Jasper & Jonah & Izzy T, Izzy T, Izzy T.....Jasper & Jonah & Izzy T, we love you three!"

"Jonah & Izzy & Jasper B, Jasper B, Jasper B......Jonah & Izzy & Jasper B, we love you three!"

I think that's it, right Ash?

I no longer have babies

I swear, everyday my kids grow more & more. They are no longer babies. Some day's it makes me sad. Time really does go by fast. These kids are a blast. Sure, there are times where I'm pulling my hair out. But I'm so blessed to have them. And they amaze me every day. They each have their own personalities. They each look different. But they are all mine...ALL MINE!

"Time, don't let it slip away; raise your drinkin glass; here's to yesterday"
Aerosmith-Full Circle

Costco

We decided to get a membership to Costco. Of course, the nearest one to us is about 45 minutes away. Let's hope this memebership pays off. It is a neat place though...lots & lots of bulk. Of course I took a few pictures with my phone. I like the fact that the carts could hold 2 kids up front. A big plus!

"YUCK"

Ahhh...my girl! We came inside from playing in the kiddie pool out back and decided to strip the kids down. They were wet from being in the water & we were going to give them baths before dinner. So they were all running around the front room when Izzy looks down at Jonah's "willy" & says "YUCK." It was hilarious!

MONKEY BARS

I got the kids this really cool thing for their birthday. It is like monkey bars in the shape of a dome. They can climb on top of it & play underneath. I think they are still a bit too short to climb yet. But they really enjoy it!