Just Monday Morning Stuff

We had a really fun weekend. Nothing too exciting, just lots of little odds and ends.

* HALLOWEEN NIGHT WAS a lot of fun for the twins. Brant and I were just plain tired by Friday night. Their cousins were getting dressed up and getting ready to go trick-or-treating. So, obviously, they wanted to get their costumes on. We told them they could get their costumes on, but it was their turn to give candy. We did not want to go out and hoped this ruse would work. We know next year it will not. They were actually very excited about the doorbell ringing constantly. Just answering the door is fun for them. They were taking turns passing out candy. Then they would wave their little hands and say, "Goodbye! Happy Halloween!" It was so cute. Brant and I were laying on the couch ready for bed--at 8 p.m. Their uncle, Kendall, came home and realized we weren't taking them out. He was not impressed with our lack of parenting in teaching our children the "ways of Halloween." We were laughing about what bad parents we were, but we didn't care. We were tired. He volunteered to take them out and they were thrilled. I told him he could have half of everything they collected. As far as us being losers, I mean tired, tired, parents. I just want to say on our behalf that I have been up for the last 4 nights at 3:30 a.m. because of one or all 3 of my kids. Brant gets up every morning at 4:30 a.m. to get ready for work. So 8 p.m. is really late for us.

* SATURDAY WAS A great day for me! Brant did not have to work. It is one of the few Saturdays that he was not working. He usually picks up all of the overtime he can. This weekend he had off. Although I still got up at 3:30 a.m., I got a break. He took the twins to Walmart to do all of the Christmas shopping. I know we do it a little early, but I hate to shop. Brant loves buying gifts and I love getting things done early. Plus, we really weren't spending very much this year so it's not like there was that much to get. He was also able to ask them which toys they like better because he figured they'll forget about them in a couple of months. I have to say holidays are so much more fun with kids. I hated them when I was single, and now I know why. Kids make it great. I designed our family Christmas card last month--and am now awaiting the trip to Grandma and Grandpas in November to get our pictures taken. We're a little excited about the kids experiencing the holidays. I just want to get all of the tasks out of the way, so we can enjoy it without the rush. So gifts are done, cards are almost done, and all that will be left is fun.

* SUNDAY WAS DAYLIGHT savings so we gained an extra hour. Which surprisingly, made us late to church. We are usually on-time or early. Porter woke up at 3 a.m. I don't know what's going on with him. But, he also woke up Madison and she was not very happy about it. So by 10 a.m. Madison put herself down for a nap. Lane fell asleep and I didn't want to wake Madison up so we waited until she was done sleeping and then left for church. She was actually very happy and much better for Nursery. Brant and I were able to attend a temple prep class. We are very excited about it. We have to go to eight classes and will be finished in December. However, the classes are scheduled for Tuesday nights at 8 pm. That's like midnight for us--but we are still going to go.

* AND NOW MONDAY morning, it's 4:45 a.m. and only Lane is awake. I'm so glad the twins are sleeping. Maybe it was the week long of Halloween parties that kept them from falling asleep or staying asleep. I guess until the next big holiday, we'll have a break. I hope! They were killing me with their middle-of-the night waking. Brant's back at work and we won't see much of him until January. He's going to be working alot of overtime and still is taking welding and crane classes. I honestly can't believe how much we do now that we have kids. We used come home tired from work everyday and "pampered" ourselves when we both had jobs. Our old selves would be very impressed with our new selves. But, we would also laugh and feel sorry for ourselves. Our new selves would tell our old selves that it was all worth it. The baggy eyes, the lack of sleep, no money--it all matters little when some little person wraps their arms around you and says, "I love you Mommy." ADDENDUM: The twins woke up at 4:56--not too bad considering it would be almost 6 a.m. if there wasn't daylight savings this weekend. Maybe we'll get back on track. They crawled into Lane's crib to hang out with him when they woke up. (That's the pic.)

* OTHER SMALL THINGS that happened include: Lane cut his first bottom tooth yesterday. I am concerned about the welfare of his main feeding aparatus now that he has teeth. It could be very dangerous. I lost a part of my back tooth. I'm left with a jagged, sharp edge that cuts my tongue! I have been chewing gum to let gum buffer the sharpness. It will be about 2 months before we get dental insurance. I am actually thankful for this tooth as it is not so easy to eat. I am thinking this will be a good weight loss plan for me. There is always a silver lining.

* MY COUSIN'S FUNERAL was this weekend. He died of colon cancer. He was so young to me. I don't remember him being old. I was so surprised to realize that he was 50. I remember the last time I saw him was in Page not more than 2 years ago. He was with his daughters and stopped by my Dad's house. He was in perfect health. I would have never guessed. My cousin, Kayla, wrote a great post about it on www.http://thelegacylady.typepad.com/the_legacy_lady_online/2008/10/colonoscopy---got-yours-yet.html Death always reminds us how short our time on earth is. And, that hopefully our lives will be a tribute to our families. Jim's certainly was. He was a good person, father, son, cousin, etc. Kayla wrote a wonderful tribute to him. I can't say it much better than she did.