Jane

This is my Jane. She is going through the most interesting stage right now, she has been crazy about taking baths. She wants to take them daily, actually many times a day. All of my kids love the water, and they all love to swim, so I just figured that is why she has spent so much of the past few weeks asking, begging and crying to get in the bath.

Finally, I just asked her, "Why do you like taking baths so much?"

"Because I am cold and the bath gets me warm."

"Can't we just use a blanket to get you warm?"

"No, mom. A blanket isn't warm enough." Then, "Mom, can we move?"

"You mean, move to a different house?"

"Yes. I want a warm house mom, I don't like this one anymore."

I guess we have been being a bit aggresive when it comes to trying to be frugal with the heat bill. It really doesn't help much though that she spends much of her day changing clothes, usually choosing to wear things she'd be cold wearing in the summer.

I'm paying for it one way (heating the water for the tub) or another (heating the house). Choices.

Choices

So, I keep waiting for a "perfect day" to blog about to redeem myself from my last post. I still don't have a camera that works...(my birthday and Christmas are both this month, so yes, Ben, that's a hint.)

Most days start out on the right path, I've made all the beds and picked up the c-r-a-p around the house I spell it. It doesn't seem so awful spelled out, plus, I need to know I can still spell things, I've gotten into workout clothes, all ready to break the 2+ weeks of unworkouts, but before I can actually workout, I remember I have a ward Christmas party to plan and since the Activities Committee is coming to my house in 15minutes, I need to be dressed in real clothes right away. Suddenly, Jane says, "Mom, Sidney has leaves in her hand! Eeeew! Not leaves Mom, poop!!!" Sidney's first and hopefully last poop bath.

Some days start off with me in pajamas, and when my kids come home from school, and I am still in pajamas, I figure I am not going to be able to salvage it, and I just give in to the housewifeness of it all. I finally figured out I am not due to have another day like this and am ready to accept it. As soon as I fix one thing another is bound to unfix.

I have finally come to realize why my day will never be "perfect". It is always a set of choices: Either me or my kids look good. Either the dishes or the laundry get done that's totally because of my dislike for both. Either the ironing or the straightening once I remain stationary for too long, the whole house falls apart around me. Either errands or housework. Either good mom, or good wife or good friend. Extended family or immediate family. Either blogging or facebook. Either scriptures and prayer, or stories and fun and then threatening and not fun before bed. Either the outside of my house looks good, or the inside (or maybe neither).

Since yesterday, I watched kids, had an infusion, picked up from piano, and then drove to dance. I made a terrible dinner and left some of the dishes to do this morning.

Today, I am trying to do some shopping for the ward Christmas party, finish cutting the dead flowers out of my gray flower beds, and finally get a flier out for our neighborhood Christmas party before all of my neighbors get their gifts out and the whole thing will be needless!
But instead, I am sitting in my room, looking at a basket of laundry I need to fold and put away, not to mention a pile of ironing that will soon be tall enough to peek out the window and announce to my neighbors that I also hate ironing!!! Choices.

Bad mom day

I am ready to just admit to it, I am having a really "bad mom" day. I have made each of my children cry for reasons ranging from not feeding them on time to getting angry when they wouldn't get ready for school this morning. I have given them terrible food choices including, but not excluding, butter and honey for lunch, candy for snack, and cereal for dinner! (Ben made breakfast). I have almost totally given up on laundry, dishes, and picking up the house.
What am I doing, you may be wondering? Sitting and coughing (big surprise), nursing and crying (Sidney now has teeth and is apparently not latching well without deep teeth marks whenever I nurse her), and finally getting caught up on reading blogs (well mostly).
I should have just gone to the gym this morning instead of complaining about how sore I am from Saturday's workout. I should have gone to the grocery store choosing healthy snacks to help offset the candy snacks. I should have made cute little notes of apology for my kids after loosing my patience before school. I hate sending them off setting the tone for the day all negative and awful. At least Ben and I went to the park today (haha).
Why am I even stooping so low as to write about this day and showcasing this uneventful, guilt-riddled day? Because last night at our family dinner, we watched a few family movie clips that made me think, "Wow! My parents were/are just about perfect!" Now my own kids will never have to feel bad about their own parenting skills, the bar has been lowered significantly. You're welcome kids.

Alex, yesterday, today, and tomorrow

I was getting ready today, thinking about how my kids have grown and how much they are more themselves as they grow and mature. Alex is the one I focused on the most:
Yesterday
Yesterday, Alex was holding a Hot Wheels car in each chubby hand, dragging his “boppy” moons-and-stars blanket wherever he went. He was almost always Ashlyn’s shadow, but just starting to assert his individuality in their playtime. He called her, "Ashy", and still spoke with a lisp. Alex was my cuddler and would let me hold him and read him stories. Yesterday, Alex still needed me to give him a hug and kiss to make him feel better after being hurt! Yesterday, I dropped Alex off at preschool, finding a way to get him playing, so I could leave. He was quiet and shy at first, then, as I picked him up, he told me all about the things they did and was especially happy about the days they played outside on the playground. He would go home after school and dress up in his superhero costumes and play Spiderman all around his room while he was “play cleaning”. He made the swishing noises of webs coming out of his hands while he picked up his toys and shot them into the toy basket. He listened to Tarzan music over and over and made up a little routine of poses and "moves" to the music!
Yesterday, Alex was starting kindergarten and feeling big when he could walk home with the older kids in the neighborhood and Ashlyn. He was making me do his hair “Luke” style since he was obsessed with Star Wars, and took a “life saver” to play star wars wherever we went. Yesterday, Alex learned to tie his shoes, whistle, and blow a bubble. Yesterday, Alex lost his 7th tooth, which he pulled out himself, and then while he was rinsing it off, it went down the drain, so we had to leave the tooth fairy a note! Yesterday, Alex was my little man, a little sensitive, but intelligent and easy-going and so loveable!

Today
Today, Alex woke up, immediately searching for "baby Sid". He loves her completely and a little too smotheringly. Alex told me what he was going to wear and did his hair by himself with water AND hairspray. He finished his math homework before school and declared it, “easy”. Today, Alex will eat "home lunch" his dad made him and be surprised to find a Kit Kat in it. He will see Ashlyn at recess and not get too offended when she acts like he is an “annoying little brother”. He will scooter home with his friends and plan a play-fight on the trampoline after he finishes his jobs. Today, Alex will give me a hug, get a snack, and then start cleaning the sinks and mirrors in the bathrooms, all while talking to Sidney and making her come with him wherever he goes! He will complain about dinner because, " I don't like soup”, then he will eat a small portion anyway in order to get dessert! Today, Alex will take a turn in reading the scriptures with our family, and only need help with the big words. At bedtime, he will spend time with his lamp on looking through Pokemon books and planning what he wants for Christmas! Today Alex will confide in me, tell me run-on stories, and still let me tickle his back at night while I tell him why I love him.



Tomorrow
Tomorrow, Alex will be an excellent swimmer, probably still insisting on wearing goggles at all times near the water! He will be telling us who he likes at school (I hope), and be thinking about what car he wants to drive! Tomorrow, Alex will be getting straight A’s, being teased about being smart and tall, and complaining about having to clean his room and take out the garbage the way I like him to, but still doing it perfectly because it makes me happy! Tomorrow, he will be getting taller than me and be complaining that he doesn’t like the clothes I pick for him. He will be keeping secrets about school, girls, and his feelings, but as long as he still lets me tickle his back, we can still be close! Tomorrow, Alex will make me fear for the future, be proud of the past, and happy for the present.
I love my Alex. I am proud of his accomplishments, I am happy to be his mother, and I truly pray for his future!

jane's new stage

Jane is going through a new stage that makes her as much fun as she is emotional! She has been playing with friends almost everyday and for many hours at a time. I have never had a barely 3 year-old so into friends. She can play all day long, but as soon as dinner is over, she is asking to play again. I have to tell her her friends are all asleep and we can play in the morning. As soon as the sun is up she is asking to go to Lyza's, Jaye's, Camryn's, or Livi's. I have made the imaginary rule that none of her friends are up until 10:00 am. That works great until she sees our neighbors Jaye and Connor on the trampoline and she looks at me all happy, "Mom! Jaye is outside!" as if Jaye happened to wake up early that morning and," Can I jump Mom? I won't go in her house!" since it sometimes takes me an hour to call her home after she follows Jaye into her house.

She is just such a people-person, when the kids bring home friends, she acts like they are there solely for her, and gets outraged when a friend of Ashlyn's doesn't like the "tag-along sister" always being there.

I guess I should be happy the reason they play so long is because they don't fight, they actually share and take turns! New stage, new challenges.

Just Chill-axin'

Lately, my kids' favorite spot is in the pantry. Usually, its for food, but the other day they were laying on the ground with the door closed. I, of course wanted them out, and Alex said, "But mom! We're just chillaxin'" Chill-axin' is a word Alex made up a year ago in Cord De Alene, Idaho while we were on a very long bike ride. He said it meant, "relaxing and chillin' at the same time". I know its a terrible picture, but I am sure you can still get the point!

Lake Powell 08

Lake Powell 2008! I get a little sad this time of year with shorter days and no upcoming vacations. I am finally ready to play catch up on my blog!
Almost the entire Clark clan got together (we missed you Cami and Joseph) in Antelope Point this year (in Page, AZ). It was the first time in more than 20 years we didn't go to Bullfrog, but we made the best of it!
We had a few themes this year:

1. bucket bathing:

Cara and I found it was the best way to let Sidney play in the water (which she loves), but not get splashed by the other kids! It quickly became the thing to do. Jane, of course, wanted in, and Zack found that it suited him just fine as well!

2. exercising:

Yep, that's Alex, one-arm push-uping and my sisters doing a triceps move he is trying to copy in the background!

3. showing off talents:

We had a talent show one night where Ashlyn showed off her hip shaking, Alex sang a song with (no kidding) 7 verses, Jane tried to do the splits with the help of Brittany and Cara, Sean showed off his now famous switch leap and the younger girls danced to "Fabulous"!

4. Arm-wrestling:

My sister, Brittany (20) went head to head against the best of the kids (first Connor, then Shailee, finally Rilee) and won (barely). Sean thought he'd show Christina that he has quite an arm too!

5. Wrestling:


Those who couldn't arm-wrestle, showed their skills on the mats! Ashlyn and her cousin Saydie got down and dirty! Alex and his cousin Spencer leg-wrestled.


We also spent time swimming (Alex can find a "sword" anywhere), boating (Sean's boat), playing games (the boys: Alex, Spencer, and Zack at the table playing with dice), just relaxing together (my brother Jeremy and his son Carson).
Lake Powell is one of our favorite destinations! Last year, I realized my kids were just getting to were they loved doing all the things I like to do! This year they were a whole lot of fun! Both of them waterskiied, (Ashlyn is the only one pictured, since I had to feed Sidney when it was Alex's turn), cliff-jumped, tubed, knee-boarded, and went on the wave runners. We went down the slides, made up games in the water, and jumped off the houseboat. Yay! I love my family!

How else can we get everyone together in one place? For almost all of the cousins to be together and really love each other is quite a treat! I will also admit, I really enjoy being with my own siblings and their spouses, we just don't get to see enough of Jer and Meg's family.

These kids are always going to have great memories of LP! Thank you Mom and Dad!!!

Side note: I see pictures of my friends on their blogs, and I think, "It's so great to see them!" or, "Look how great her hair looks!" These are the only two pictures I made it in! Sweet!
The end!!!

Quickie Tag

I have been tagged a few times during my inexperienced blogging efforts and I finally decided this was the one to get me blogging again! Thanks Shawna!
I am taking the liberty to change it up a little...

4 places I would visit over and over

• Florence, Italy (okay, I was young, unmarried and probably had a skewed idea of romance, but still, it was my favorite city I visited in Europe)
• Machu Picchu, Peru (intriguing history, amazing views, beautiful hikes)
• anywhere, Hawaii (sun, warm beaches, waterfalls, hikes, clear ocean...)
• Bejing, China (the olympics definitely rekindled my idealized love for it)

4 people who call/text (I wish)/email me regularly

• Ben
• Janelle
• Chelsea
• my kids (It's hard being so popular)

4 favoite foods

• Filet minon (I like the "meatavor" thought, but can't quite commit)
• asparagus (actually almost any vegetable done right)
• gourmet pizza
• yummy breads

4 places I'd rather be

• right here, being lazy on Labor Day
• please refer to the list from #1

4 movies I'd watch again (I don't like to watching movies over and and over)

• Annie (the original from when I was a kid)
• Dan in Real Life
• 10,000 BC (just saw it last night and can't stop thinking about it!)
• home movies of my childhood

4 (5) bands/groups I love to listen to

• Angels and Airwaves
• Yellowcard
• The Killers
• Cake
• Beatles (one of my all time favorties)

4 people I'd like to read answers from:

• Kayce
• Lilet
• Britta
• Cortney

180.5 (something) miles of insanity!

Ben has this drive to do things most people would wonder why: hiking tall mountains, running marathons, and as of last year, he wanted to run the Wasatch Back. The Wasatch Back is a relay race of 180 + miles from Logan to Park City! It took more than 28 hours to complete, yes, that's all night long.

Ben doesn't have what he considers a "runner's body", and though he has run three marathons and a few half marathons, in this race, each of the 12 runners run three "legs" of the race ranging from "very hard" to "easy" runs (I'd really like to meet the expert who gets to slap those labels on). This year he helped get a group of friends and friends of friends to run this insane race. They are the "Ragnar Refugees"

I'm pretty sure spending almost 30 hours in a suburban full of stinky guys cheering each other on through awful runs in obscure towns of Utah makes you life-long brothers.

This is Craig, Steve, and Ben before they ran, then Ben while running in the heat of the 1st day.

Ben is happy and relieved after his first run.

Ben's sister Heather let them use her suburban.

The first runner, Allen is getting ready for his 7 miles!

Wayland, Craig, Justin, Steve, Allen, and Ben

The whole group of Ragnar Refugees! These guys are champions!!!

I can't wait to find out what Ben is dreaming of next! I can't imagine being more impressed!