Double time

Okay, I've been tagged to do my 6 quirks. There are so many to choose from. In fact, the more I think about it I find out how weird I really am.

1. I'm a joint cracker. I try to crack every thing, toes, ankles, fingers, back. I call it my snap crackle pops.

2. I love to smell things. Especially magazines. I could just sit and sniff the pages for hours. Not the perfume samples just the smooth pages. Sometimes I even rub them on my face. I told you I was weird!! I also like the smell of Nolan more than anyone else. He hates it, but I make him sit with me just so I can sniff on him.

3. I, like Marianne, am so completely competitive. I won't even let my kids cheat to win Candy Land. Judd and I used to play racket ball and if he would beat me I would chase him and try to hit him with my racket. But if he let me win it made me even more mad so he would get chased for that too. I don't beat my husband, I promise. I can't catch him. I can't believe that he still married me after that.

4. I'm a control freak. I love doing things my own way. When Judd comes home from work it throws me all off because I have to share control all of a sudden. I've noticed Madison is the same way. We have lots of power struggles.

5. If the house is a mess I won't cook. I don't know why, but something about having one mess on top of another makes me crazy. Especially if there are dishes in the sink. Everyone knows if they want food they have to pitch in and clean up. Geez, I'm a joy to live with!

6. You would think that because of my control freakedness that I would be a super tidy person, but that's not the case. In fact, I'm pretty messy. My clothes are everywhere. All of you who have to be totally clean to go to bed.... you would hate me. Half the time I fall asleep with my clothes and shoes on and when I finally wake up in the middle of the night I just strip them off and throw them on the floor beside my bed. I never remember to wash my face at night, seriously after everyone is in bed and I've picked things up I pass out. I do all of that stuff in the morning.

Okay, I'm tagging Natalie, Makenna, Kelli and Meg.

TAGGED AGAIN!!

Crazy 8's

Eight TV shows I watch:

Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, The Office, American Idol, So you think you can Dance, Split ends, Shear Genius, and Tabitha's Salon Take over.


Eight favorite restaurants:

Gecko Grill, Cafe Rio, Texas Roadhouse, Thai Basil, Papa Kelsey's, Red Robin, Rosas, chick-fil-a


8 things that happened yesterday... that's quite an eventful day,

ummm... I cut hair, took care of a sick husband, took care of kids, cleaned, hung out at my parent's house, got Red Robin for dinner, watched the presidential debate and changed diapers.


8 things I look forward to:

Cooler weather,
Holidays,
exercising in the mornings
Doing the marathon, actually I am dreading the deadline,
when my kids go to sleep and its quiet,
one day Judd will be done with school,
moving into a bigger house
having more kids


8 things I love about the fall

The colors!! My whole house is in fall colors
my birthday
Thanksgiving and Halloween
the clothes
boots
being able to go places with out sweating your rear off
season premiers of my favorite shows
having winter grass


8 things on my wish list:

new carpet
a new wardrobe when I lose this baby weight
a family vacation
a vacation for mommy and daddy
a baby sitter for vacation
I still want my kayak
a maid, I know that will never happen
a clean back yard

for this one I'll tag....... Jessica Slade, Heidi and Bre

Fire Station

We took the kiddos on a tour of the fire station for play group today. I don't know who enjoyed it more... the mom's or the kids!

The kids learned stop drop and roll and they also were able to sit in the fire truck. We had such a fun time. Not only was it a great play group idea, but it would also be good for a girl's night out!!! Just kidding!

GAR Pictures!

Here we are... the awesomest team ever!!
Rick (with the crazy hair) me and Carter.
Sierra Adventure Sports
Yes, we wore pumpkin shirts. Its okay to be jealous that you don't have one.
This is us at the starting line. We are smiling.
El Rico... the best navigator ever!

Here's Carter right before the humongous wall

Rick and Carter trying to get my rear over the wall

I actually had to have Carter in a choke hold and we helped pull Rick over. That was funny.

Conquered it!And for some reason we were still smiling. Just kidding. We had so much fun! It's almost impossible not to have a blast racing with those guys!

Like I said.... We are awesome!

YAY, I'm Alive!

I took the day off of church today (a few of you may have noticed my struggling husband in sacrament with the 2 older kiddos) because I am in pain. Its a good pain though! I am just saying yay for me for finally completing the Gilmore Adventure Race yesterday! This was my 3rd year doing it. The first year we were totally lost in the woods and had to quit, last year we were a few miles short of finishing but the race was called off due to horrible weather. But this year we did it!!! It took us 7 hours and 30 miles or so, but we finished and I am soooo happy!! No serious injuries other than bruises and scratches from all the bush whacking, but I didn't fall off my bike once and some of those trails were pretty gnarly (such an 80's word, I love it). Now that I've done that I kind of don't have any plans for the rest of the year. So I am letting you all know, not to brag, but if I tell you I have someone to report to.... I'm signing up to do the PF Chang's Marathon in January. There, I said it. AHHHHH! Yes, 26.2 miles and I'm scared!! Scared bad. I really don't like to run, but I just want to see if I can do it. Just something I want to check off of my "things to do in this life" list. Anyhoo, as soon as I get some pictures of Adventure Race, I'll post them for you all.

Tagged

About my guy:
1. Where did you meet? At one of those silly Young single adult parties. I guess those things are good for something once in a while
2. How long did you date before you were married? Six months
3. How long have you been married? 6 ½ years
4. What does he do that surprises you? He wears Cologne when we go out on dates once in a while. That's always a nice surprise
5. What is your favorite feature about him? His torso, I won't go into details why.
6. What's your favorite quality about him? He is very loyal and dedicated to his family. In fact he is very dedicated to any task he is given and he always works hard to make sure things are done right.
7. Does he have a nickname for you? Tina-weena (no one better repeat that!) or wifey
8. What is his favorite color? Red
9. What's his favorite food? Steak.
10. What's his favorite sport? He loves all sports, but his favorite is basketball
11. Who said I love you first? I think I did, I can't remember
12. When and where was your first kiss? It was at that very same young single adult party. He was pretty smooth back then
13. What's your favorite thing to do as a couple? We just like to be alone. Driving, dating, talking, anything with peace and quiet!
14. Do you have any kids? How Many? yes, 3 kids
15. What is a hidden talent that he has? I think his hidden talent would be dancing. He's always dancing in front of the mirror. He thinks he's good too!
16. How old is he? 30
17. What is his favorite type of music? He likes mostly rock, country and punk. Isn't that a weird mix?!?!?
18. What do you admire most about him? He does anything for our marriage. He always says sorry and puts up with my crap. I am a pretty demanding wife, and he keeps me happy. That is admirable.
19. Do you think he is going to read this? He doesn't even know how to get in to the blog. So probably not.
I'm tagging Caroline, Kelli, Marianne and Alisa

Quote of the day

Nolan "Mom, when Coulson turns into a girl I want to marry him."

Not enough time in the day

I had good intentions to post something but just wasn't sure if there was anything interesting enough going on. Now that last week is over with I feel much better. For any who didn't know, last week was nuts. I was working a lot and I had to plan the Relief Society opening social activity and to top it all off I was asked to speak in church. Whew! I did take some funny pictures though. I thought I would share.Amber was kind enough to let me borrow her bumbo chair. As soon as I brought it in the house the kids thought it was the coolest thing they'd ever seen. They are not convinced it is for the baby. They apparently think its a TV chair. Luckily Madison was at school when this picture was taken. Otherwise there would have been a huge fight over it.

Okay, this is a slide show of events. Nolan was quietly playing at the table, when Madison pranced in and said "How would you like to dance with a fair young maiden my handsome prince?" She was being so goofy that Nolan, being a boy, can't resist being goofy. He got down from the table and they danced the ballroom dance. Until...

Madison lost her footing and fell over. I love when she gets hurt how Nolan just stares at her and waits for a reaction.

The mean scowl. Then without skipping a beat the ballroom dance turns into a wrestling match. Where do kids get their energy???
The other night we had a movie night. Judd and I came into the living and saw that they'd invited their friends.

He does exist and he smiles too. I swear with all of the other stuff going on that Coulson gets the cold shoulder. Poor Guy. I haven't put a picture of him in for so long. Here he is.

He found his thumb.

The stare
No mama can resist a smiling baby

Meet Jeremy

For the past couple of days Madison has been playing with the boys at school. She said she is on the boy team and what they do is chase the girls around the playground. She thinks it is no longer cool to be a girl. This morning I told her to go and get dressed and she got dressed into her brother's clothes. She wouldn't wear a bow in her hair, she didn't even want to bring her girl back pack. This was our argument:

"I only want to wear boy clothes! Can you go to the store and get me some?"

"No Madison, I'm not going to the store today, and besides, your girl clothes are just fine. You don't need new ones."

"I don't want to wear girl clothes!! I want to be a boy. I don't like girls, they scream and act all ignoring (annoying)"

"Heavenly Father made you a girl, its okay to like boy things but you're still a girl."

"No I'm not, my name is Jeremy, I'm a boy and that's final!" (she actually said that)

"Fine, Jeremy, what would you like for lunch?"

Okay, so I gave up! That is very out of character for me. She is taking this really serious. I'm worried. I didn't think they started in on this tomboy phase so soon! Sounding the Alert! I need all of my friends with little girls to have her over for a play date STAT. Call me.

This is her in her boy outfit. She's very happy about it.

My Real Life Fairy Tale

Okay, for any of you who don't know, I am absolutely obsessed with the movie Pride and Prejudice. I have to get my fix at least once a week. Watching that movie makes me so happy!!! I even make the kids watch it and every time I put it on Madison says "Not Mrs. Darcy again!" I think its growing on them now too. Well tonight I decided to watch it again and Judd always goes in the other room because he says its...Gay (how'd you guess) as the movie ends and the incredibly handsome Mr. Darcy is kissing Lizzy, I just think, "wow, if only I could be that way when Judd kisses me." (for some reason I can't take him seriously in moments when he's trying to be romantic) Anyway, I finish watching it and I am smiling and happy and just feeling the romance. I dance my way into the bathroom with a big cheesy grin on my face, imagining that I am in a real life romance novel, and as I turn the corner... the friggin toilet seat was left up! Dang it, feeling of romance squashed! "Judd you left the stinking toilet seat up again!" Maybe I expect a lot. I am a demanding wife, I know, but come on. Where is the love?!?!

Quotes of the day

Madison

This morning was just one of those typical mornings when Madi wakes up and decided everything is going to be a fight. She keeps wearing her old shoes to school, even though I bought her new ones that she picked out herself, but still insists on wearing the old ones that are too small. They've been giving her blisters on her feet that she whines about. I've hidden them, but she still seems to find them. So this morning she comes out with those raggedy old shoes on, despite me, I'm sure, and shows them off.

"Madison, you shouldn't wear those, they gave you blisters yesterday, they're too small" I say, trying to be sensitive, walking on eggshells due to her mood. (I wonder if this is what my husband feels like around me :)
What comes next... stomp, stomp, huff, puff etc...
Well I go to talk to her in her room and she has her children's hymnbook tape playing and she's drawing a picture of me being mean, (which apparently happens often considering the amount of pictures I have that say "Bad Mommy") and she pouts...
"You don't love me! You don't think I'm a child of God"
It was too cute not to laugh. Of course I consoled her. Poor thing.


Nolan:
Today I took Nolan to the museum for youth. The exhibits were pretty lame. There was an exhibit about table manners which he definitely wasn't interested in. He's a little boy, I can hardly get him to eat with a fork! The other exhibit was a Dia De los Muertos exhibit, which in case you don't know means Day of the Dead in Spanish, kinda like the Mexican Halloween. There were skulls and crosses and I just didn't want to go in there because it creeped me out. Well he caught a glimpse and was like "cool, Halloween stuff!" so we had to look. At the very back of the place was this life sized skeleton that they dressed up like a little kid and he was sitting on a bike. Nolan went to check him out, and turns to me totally serious and says
"Mom, we better find a way outta this place in case this guy comes alive"
It was so funny. That kid watches too much Scooby Doo.
Just another adventure in Mommyhood. I wouldn't trade this for the world... most days!

Golf is no longer an "old man sport"

I took Madison with me to go golfing this morning. Boy, was it an eventful day! We met my dad and my mother in law at the golf course. There was the perfect amount of us to have 2 people per cart and Madison sure loves to cruise around with papa on the golf course. But when we were beginning to tee off on the first hole, a guy that worked there asked if a man could join our party. We didn't care, but he was going to ride with my dad in his cart and this upset Madison. If any of you know my dad you know that he is a big man, and this guy was not small to say the least. He was a goofy guy though, and of course he became one of Madison's best friends in no time. She insisted on riding with them, so it looked so funny to see tiny Madison smashed between these big guys cruising in the golf cart. Right away she ended up chasing a baby bird that couldn't fly, so that kept her entertained for about 10 minutes. Then a coyote ran right by us with half of his breakfast in his mouth, disgusting. She then made it her job to be the score keeper and started giving papa scores of 30 or 17. She quickly got the hint that a zero was a good score. So there were lots of those... but not for me, I played like crap, but that's beside the point. Before papa would hit she said "get a bird papa", in which she meant birdie and drew a picture of a bird on the score card. He was happy about that one. She also got in some good practice, but wasn't very patient. She would try to hit the ball with the club and miss then she would throw her club, stomp off and pout. Just like here mama!! The best was when I let her drive the golf cart. She had fun with that one. We swerved all over the place and almost threw Grandma overboard. Other than the heat, the horrible sun burn and the crappy score, we still had a great time. I did learn one thing... 18 holes of golf is a lot more entertaining when you bring a 5 year old along. She sure did take a huge nap afterwards. The moral of this story, for any ladies with husbands who golf... make them take a kid next time. See what they say, it will be funny. Madison and Papa checking out the hopping bird
Madison doing more exploring

Madi being silly, note the big guys in the background
Kinda hard to see, but these were the hot ladies on the golf course. Yes... that's Judd's mom, I know she looks like she's 20 years old, but its really his mom.

Moody Madi

This is a picture of Madison when she was 3. Just more proof that this probably began at birth.

Madison is 5 going on 16. That girl has too much attitude for one little person. I guess that its just typical of being the oldest girl. Today, for instance, we were practicing reading and she starts to get really lazy and want me to read for her. She gets all dramatic and slouches and convulses, makes weird faces and even stranger noises.

"I don't want to read anymore, its too boring. I never want to read again!" she whines.

me-"Well how are you ever going to learn or have an imagination? What about your I love Dad shirt? you won't even know what it says anymore, what about...."

"Mom, would you be quiet?!?!?! I'm trying to focus!" she says in the snobbiest tone possible.

Or this

"mom, can I play on the computer?"

"As soon as your toys are picked up"

Stomp, stomp, huff, puff, eye roll, mean face and hands on hips all at the same time.

You gotta love girls.

Little Blabber Mouth

Quote of the day:
Nolan is so funny. He came up to me and said all of this in a rush with hardly a breath in between sentences.
"I love you mom, and I love dad too. If I had an I love mom shirt and an I love dad shirt I would wear my I love mom shirt first and my I love dad shirt second, because I just love you. You are so pretty. I love Coulson too. He's so little and cute. But I can't hurt him, If I hurt him the Lord will say (in a deep voice) "don't do that Nolan" so I can't hurt my baby brother, but he's still cute and little"
Holy moly I don't know how his brain works that fast. I was exhausted just listening to it.

Super Dad

Judd has done this with the kids since they were tiny. As the months go by and they get bigger his push ups get fewer and fewer. He'd better start hitting the weights a lot heavier so he's ready for Coulson!

Nutritious and Delicious Breakfast

A couple of nights ago the kids told me that they were going to make me breakfast the next morning. That had me a little worried because I know how big of a schemer Madison can be. Those kids wake up every day at 5:30 in the morning!!! 5:30 people!!! So I knew that there would be no way to stop them if they had their minds made up, and they don't forget anything they commit to doing. I would be snoozing and they would be destroying my kitchen quietly and there's nothing I could do about it. Anyway, all of my fears were for no reason because they actually didn't make a mess and I was able to wake up to this beautiful nutritious breakfast. There's nothing better than a twix, a crusty day old bread stick some crackers and a pear. Its the thought that counts!