Utah- day 1

We always say we will leave "first thing in the morning." That always turns into noon for us. The drive was only 6 hours to Kanab, but because it was pouring rain, it seemed long! When we reached the Kaibab mountain, my anxiety set in. As long as I can remember I have had extreme anxiety when driving over winding mountain roads. If there is a guard rail, I can usually remain somewhat calm, and if not, I'm a mess. I picture horrible things in my head like a tiny swerve of the steering wheel, and our car goes flying over the cliff. My hands get really sweaty too which doesn't help when I'm driving. I remember as a kid stressing in the back of my dad's subarban on any road trip, and especially trips to the lake. Anyways, combine my severe "winding mountain road anxiety" (is there a real diagnosis for this?) with:

• Thick fog
• Pouring rain
  
• Winding roads
• Pitch Black
• No guard rail
• Steep cliffs
• "Watch for ice" signs
• "Watch for deer" signs
• "Watch for cows" signs
• A highway patrol car behind us
  
• A deer running out in front of us

I was seriously stressed. But we made it. We got into town at about 7, and went straight to Grandma Judd's house, then to Grandma Figgins'. Then we went to the Junction to eat with these two knuckleheads.Kosty enjoyed "stuptifying" everyone in the place. We finally checked into our hotel, and crashed. Well, Kosty decided to crash at midnight. Stinker.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am so greatful for two happy, healthy, adorable, funny, loving, and full of personality little boys.

*(no I'm not blogging from Utah, this is a prescheduled post, pretty cool.)

first lost tooth

{this really happened two Sundays ago, but I couldn't find my camera and we were about to be late to church}.

Kosty's church shoes are very wrinkled dark brown leather, and Jer has given them the nickname "brownie shoes." The top of them really do look exactly like a good brownie. So Brayden was pretending to "eat" the brownie when Kosty smacked it out of his mouth, and out popped Brayden's semi-loose tooth! Brayden was a little confused, Jer told him it was his tooth, and he said, "I thought it was a big piece of granola!" It bled quite a bit, but it didn't hurt him, just not quite ready. Oh well, Brayden was absolutely THRILLED, and why? because he doesn't realize that baby teeth are absolutely adorable and white and cute and smooth and perfect and straight...and well, we all know that the adult teeth start out pretty gnarly, a shade of yellow, ridges, large, awkward, crooked. I will certainly miss that cute perfect baby tooth and every one hereafter!

on my mind...

I feel like I haven't blogged or even sat at the computer for weeks, and its really only been like 3 days...yikes. Another boutique done and over, I have 14,000 things to do before we leave to Utah on Wednesday, the list keeps growing for some reason. Last Sunday we put up all the Christmas decorations, to appease Brayden, but we left our Thanksgiving stuff out on the front porch, just to fool you all. We are not weirdos. {Even though we are}. Tonight, we finally gave in to his pressure of putting the tree up. The Christmas music has been on all day long... I love this time of year, I am soooo excited because both the boys are at such fun ages this year! As we were putting up the tree, there was a loud knock, we opened the door to find a bag of cookies and a note from the "secret agents" it couldn't have been more amazing timing. Brayden was thrilled, he has the best Christmas spirit about him. He loved every minute of unruffling the tree branches, drinking hot chocolate, and putting the ornaments up.

Kosty fell in the pool today while we were at Grandma's for Sunday dinner. All the {men} were outside grilling chicken, all of a sudden I hear Jer yell, "KOSTY!" and I just knew... I ran over to see Jer pulling my sweet soaking boy {fully church clothed} out of one freezing cold pool. Not a fun sight to see. Jer said he fell in when he tripped over a big stick he was playing with, and when he was running to get him, Kosty was already swimming to the side and grabbed the ledge. Thank you Miss Pam! Those swimming lessons really paid off. This is Kosty's third time falling in their pool, (all three times there were adults out there with him, thank heavens). I am so thankful even though he was fully dressed and the water was frigid, he kept his wits and knew what to do. What a smart boy.

Oh, and just in case you wondered about his sleeping arrangements...we are back to normal, finally. One late night after he promised that he would stay in his new big boy bed, and he did, he layed there perfectly still for about 30 minutes, then he came out and said, "I ready fo my crib." He went right in and is completely content now. Everything is back to normal, he's just not ready for the big bed.And has a strange way of letting us know that. ;) His middle name should have been "routine," he does not like change.

I'm going to try to do one more post before I leave...its long overdue, and I am such a procrastinator when it comes to downloading pictures!

37

I stopped counting at 37. That's how many times I lifted and hoisted Kosty back into his crib. Yes, we are back to the crib now, for Brayden's sake. This kid belongs in the Guinness Book for most stubborn, I think I'll call. If my arms look extra buff, you know why.

advice 911

we are attempting to train Kosty to sleep in his new big boy bunk bed, and its obvious that we suck. He went through a stage in his crib that he started climbing out, but luckily I had seen a SuperNanny episode and followed her advice which was to immediately put him right back, with no words & no eye contact. It worked like a charm. It is not working now. This is night 4 of him literally running out every 5 seconds. And he won't go back to his crib either. He's been up till 11 every night since this whole thing started and I'm ready to strangle him! HELP!

picking your battles

I don't know how many times I have heard other moms use the phrase,

"you have to pick your battles."

I think I failed at that miserably this evening. Jer had a migraine all day, the boys and I and half the neighborhood were at the park for a looong time, Kosty missed his nap, and it was almost dinner time, I knew I had nothing to make at home, so I told the boys we could go to Taco Bell. Seriously, the only place we can all agree on. Brayden and I prefer Subway, Kosty and Jer prefer McD's and so we always end up at Taco Bell. Brayden decided he wanted to stay home with Jer, so me and Kosty went together. The plan WAS to eat our food there, and bring the boys theirs back home. Kosty was really excited to eat inside, and asked me repeatedly on the way over. We get there and order and I fill up his cup with water. He starts pointing at the fruit punch, and I tell him we didn't buy a drink, so we are getting water. Well I should have known better, with him missing his nap and all, he always has a melt down when he misses his nap. He threw himself down and started the fit, so I took him outside all the while he was kicking and swatting at me. I tried and tried and tried to reason with him. I really did want to keep my end of the bargain and eat with him inside. He was relentless. All I wanted him to do was calm down and be good so it wouldn't escalate. After about 20 minutes of my reasoning failing, I strapped him in, while he arched and screamed and hit and kicked and made a scene. I knew he so badly wanted to tell me he would be good and calm down so we could eat in there. But his stubbornness would not allow it. At one point of me asking if he would be good, he was nodding and shaking his head at the same time. I'm pretty sure it was the most intense tantrum I have ever seen him throw, and I have seen a few. Even the Taco Bell employees came to my aid with free kids meal toys that he refused as I was walking back in just to grab my purse and our food that had been sitting inside for the entire charade.

The whole way home I kept thinking, what an idiot! Why didn't I just order him a drink, I knew better, I knew he missed his nap, I knew he wanted to sit inside, BUT I knew that if I would have just went ahead and ordered a drink for him that he would think throw a tantrum = get what I want. Dangit. I know Jer would have handled this completely opposite of what I just did. No wonder he likes his Dad better. What was supposed to be a fun little date with my little one turned out to be a nightmare.

Oh, and once we got home and he screamed in his room for another 30 minutes, he came out to find 3 very soggy cold tacos, and then that caused another fun tantrum relapse. Oh boy.

Today I think I handled this all wrong. I am feeling like a crappy Mom tonight!

3.

Bad things happen in threes? is that the saying? anyhow in the past few weeks:

• my camera charger broke
• my vacuum broke
• my wedding ring broke

What is a girl without a camera and a vacuum? Honestly? I am really dependant on those items I discovered. I finally found a universal charger for my camera ($45 later)....and I had to buy a decent vacuum this time ($350 later) I got the Dyson. Finally. He is 11 pounds of magical bliss. We are still in the romantic phase right now, him and I. I will use any excuse to vacuum now. He glides like butter across the floor, he's light as a feather, turns on a dime, and it leaves every fiber of my carpet at attention. He's truly everything I dreamed of and more. I'm just saying every woman out there deserves a good vacuum. This vacuum! Its an investment for the home, kinda like a good stove, good lawnmower, good dishwasher. That's how I see it.

As for the wedding ring, I am still waiting on the estimate, and I know its going to be pricey. The lady told me she "usually steers people away from platinum because of the expensive maintenance." Jer said, "that's funny, they steered me into platinum because it wouldn't need it."

bunk beds

Kosty's favorite book is "Just Me and My Little Brother," (a Little Critter Book). His favorite page is the one of the two brothers blasting eachother with "space wars" guns from their top and bottom bunk beds. He has been counting down the days till he could play space wars with his big brother on his own bunk bed. My mom brought over the other half of the set that we already had, and after a few coats of paint, Jer put it together. You would think it was better than Christmas over here, these boys were thrilled beyond belief! and they stayed up way too late that night. Now if we could just get him to sleep in it!

Before

"SPACE WARS!"

After!

grateful

I am so tired, I need to be in bed right now, but I wanted to record what I'm feeling right now before it slips away. This morning I headed off at 9 am to the boutique. I had a hard time getting out of the house, when Kosty requested that our usual routine of snuggling on the couch and watching Elmo not be missed. That boy thrives on routine like no other. He refused his Dad, and I had to leave anyway, with a disappointed little boy sitting on the couch. Guilt. I didn't get home until almost 8 pm...and right when I walked in the door, the boys came running, and I got down on my knees for the biggest hugs I think I've ever had from them. Kosty even patted my back for a good 10 seconds. The first thing he said to me was, "Can you make dinnew?" Yes, you heard that right, it was nearly 8 pm and my kids hadn't eaten dinner. Love ya babe. Men just aren't as in tune as women are, bless their hearts, and that is why we are mothers. He is a wonderful dad though, he had just taken them to the school's family movie night. I felt guilty for missing that too. Jer said when Brayden got home from school, he immediately called out my name and then when he realized I wasn't here, he told Jer, "Mama always makes me a snack when I get home." I know how important this role that I have is at this moment, these are years I will never get back, and it truly is the most rewarding job I could ever have. I know this is where I belong, and that this is the most important work I will ever do. I know it isn't always possible, but it doesn't change the fact that I truly believe every child deserves to have their mom home to answer when they get home from school, to snuggle and watch morning cartoons with, and to tuck them in bed at night. I have had to work part time in the past when Brayden was little, which is much of the reason why I am sooooo grateful to be a stay at home mom. I wouldn't trade it for any paycheck in the world.

first kiss

I never imagined it this way. I never would have guessed that my three year old would have his first kiss before his older brother. Oh man. I should've seen it coming...Brayden has been talking about kissing, and girls, and love, and breaking up, and all this garbage since he started Kindergarten this year. I'm beginning to think Kindergarten is the devil.

We had Alex and Madison over today for some playtime. I was making dinner but heard a big commotion, all kinds of giggles and screams, and "again!" as I walked in to see...it. My innocent little three year old blondie and his innocent little three year old blondie girl friend....kissing...on the lips. Those tiny little lips. Too little to be kissing! It was a set up. It was peer pressure. They were coaxed by their big brothers. Little stinkers.

When I told Brayden to knock it off, he said, "But Mama...I'm obsessed with LOVE! I'm SUPER Love Boy Detective!"
I suppose if there is any girl I would have chosen, it would be little Madison...maybe 14 years down the road. Isn't she the cutest? Brayden asked if they have to get married now. Whaddya say Lori? :)

boutique time

I have the privelage of selling my necklaces at two fabulous boutiques this year. My friend Jenna is taking over the famous boutique that her Mom has done for as long as I've known her! Sugarplums Boutique is this Friday and Saturday in Circle G Ranches on Higley/Elliot.

Shop Chic Boutique is one that some of my very talented friends from my ward are doing, and its Saturday November 22, check the link on the right for more details.

fall festival & Halloween!

Introducing Mario and Harry Potter!

Brayden tells me that Mario is "not really supposed to be a really smile-y Mario."
I LOVE Halloween!! I love everything about it, but especially seeing my boys dressed up as their favorite characters EVER.




















Jer and his little brother and sister

Cede and Me
We've been going to Jer's parents ward Fall Festival for 4 years now, we love it!
they have pony rides..


and a WILD train ride (I'm serious, we were holding on for dear life!)
shaved ice, kettle corn, cotton candy, chili, and hot dogs
& games

Halloween!

Halloween night, we ended up having a bunch of family and friends over, we had hot dogs, chili, 2 kinds of soup and these cute pumpkin bread bowls that Grandma brought over. We had a bonfire out front and roasted marshmallows after we went trick or treating...yes I know, more sugar! I wanted one big picture of all the kids together, but it was kinda crazy & I didn't get it!The Harry Potter Fan Club! (Kosty and Grandpa)Uncle Chase and boys
Looking a little pooped after trick or treating all night

Roasting marshmallows with Nana

Kosty and his girlfriend Madison

Kosty and his other girlfriend Marley

*Oh, and one of our neighbors later that night put on a projection screen on the side of their house and invited all the neighborhood kids over & they watched "Journey to the Center of the Earth." Brayden had so much fun, and I forgot to get a picture of that once again, thanks Julie and Matt!