Mommy and Madi Time

I worried about Madison feeling left behind, but it was all for naught. She has such self-esteem I believe she thinks the boys had to go away so that she could be the princess for a day. I let her choose what she wanted to do. Friday night, we painted finger nails. Then, took a bus to McDonald's. We could have walked there faster, but she was insistent on taking the bus. She thought public transit was the coolest thing she has ever discovered.
We rode the bus back home--even though I tried to convince her to walk. She talked to everyone on the bus and even shared her cookies. She would giggle when the bus would start moving because she was so delighted being on it. That night, we watched a Barbie movie we had previously rented from Netflix and saved for this night. She wanted to do more, but I told her the night was over (I was pooped) and it was time to go to bed so we could have another fun day tomorrow.
In the morning we went yard-selling with Grandma. I french-braided her hair into two pigtails. It was the first time I have ever done that for her. She thought it was awesome. She got bored of yard sales easily, though she scored a free Hello Kitty mirror compact and got a Lai Hawaiian necklace for only ten cents.
We got home--and again she wanted to ride the bus--to Chuck E. Cheese. After getting there she ran around and played, but decided it wasn't as fun without her boys. Not that she wanted to leave, just didn't spend nearly as many tokens. After trying several flavors of soda, she decided rootbeer is her favorite. A guy there was encouraging kids to follow him for free tickets. When they all gathered around them, he told them to do the dance he was doing. Madi did it for awhile, then abruptly walked away. I caught up to her and said, what's the matter? Why did you quit? She said, "It's not worth it." By the time got home, the boys were bathed and tired. They all shared stories about each others adventures and both wanted to do what the other did. Dad and I were tired. Tired, but content. Our children are beautiful.

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Fathers and Sons

What a great plan to have all of the dads and boys go on a campout! It gave me treasured time to spend one-on-one with Madi...but I'll talk about that later. This is all about the boys. All of what I am about to tell you is hearsay, as I was not actually there. So, I'll do the best I can to document the tale.
They left on Friday afternoon. Brant actually took the whole day off work so that he could get prepared. He is way over-compulsive sometimes, but if they would have gotten stranded at the campground for a week--they would have lived well.
The boys spent at least a week before talking about the camp out and how excited they were to go. I think that started the momentum. They set up the tent all by themselves. And though Brant was prepared, he forgot to buy "D" batteries for the pump, ergo, no air mattress. They roughed it on the ground. Needless to say, Brant didn't sleep much.
The boys immediately made friends with a group of older boys. Brant said the kids thought our boys were so cool. (I have to agree and totally get their cool factor.) They fish in Lake Lindsay--which is a catch and release--so they took pictures to prove their work. Worms weren't doing much. The boys suggested hotdogs, simply because that's what they would want if they were fish. Surprisingly, it worked remarkably.
They swam in the lake and were carefully guarded by the Bishops daughter, who was serving as a life guard. It's the first time in their lives they were speechless. As soon as she tried to talk to them, they clamored behind Brant. He said they thought she was too pretty to talk to. How do they already get that at their age?
They roasted hot dogs and marshmellows and had a grand time. They told Brant they wanted to move there and that their grandma, mom, and Madi could come and visit them.
The flashlight fashioned around Lane's chest is because he is Iron Man. (Iron Man has a light on his chest.)




What

I am not a girl

I was telling all of the kids yesterday that Jake and Amber had their new baby girl, Ashtyn Arianna Lane. When I said the name Lane said, "What! That's my name and I am not a girl." I tried to explain to him that my name used to be Lane before I got married. He said that it couldn't be my name because it is a boys name--he is a boy--duh! Then I told him that everyone in my family had the last name Lane and that is how he got his name. He said, "They can't have my name. That's my name and I am not a girl." As Lane would say, "He is so much funny."

Ouch, exercise hurts!

I so loathe everything about exercise. Needless to say, I am trying to get into better shape. Like I am a square shape and want to look more like the shape of a triangle, with a few circles on top. Anyway, I talked Brant into playing racquetball with me this morning. Big mistake. Mr. Gold's Gym is a raving maniac--okay, not really, he's just 12 years younger than me. He would not let me stop to rest, drink, or die. We put in a good 30 minutes and I was ready to be rolled home. He insisted that I hop on the treadmill for a "few" minutes. Apparently he thinks few and twenty are the same thing.
Now I am home and can't move. I think rigor mortis is setting in.

3 is here, 2 is gone!

Time goes so quickly. My baby is already 3. I told him I don't want him to grow up. He said he doesn't want to grow up either; he will just turn three and stop. He is such a sweet son and is a total momma's boy. No complaints here. He is a peace maker and very thoughtful of others. He loves to hang out with his big brother and sometimes listens to his big sister. All three of them are very close. He is really into super heroes now and Flash is his favorite. He thinks he can run as fast as Flash. He loves going to Nursery every week and talks about being a Sunbeam so he can go to Primary with Madi and Porter.
We still act out our scripture study. The kids really get into it. He always volunteers for the biggest part. He was Abinadi, King Noah, and Alma--as he kept stealing the show. When I told him he was going to be burned at the stake, he said, "I don't wanna die, Mom!" So, he wanted to change the story.
He was very lucky to have a birthday party on Friday before his birthday. His Grandma Smith organized a party. In addition to my three, there was their cousin Bella and their friend, Jarius. The kids made cupcakes with grandma and she took them all to the dollar store buy him presents. Friday night we took the family to St. George and stayed at Travis'.
My kids think "Uncle Travis'" house is like Disneyland. They love it there. I am not sure if it is the big house, the cousins, or the pool. But, they always ask to go to his house. On Saturday, we had an informal day long party. The kids all went swimming and the adults looked on--it was too freakin cold to jump in. But, we couldn't convince the kids of that. Travis and Haley (who are partially insane) jumped in later. Haley with her clothes on...let's just say our family doesn't need any alcohol to get crazy. (For the record, there was no alcohol.) We ate pizza for lunch and then opened presents.
Lane went crazy over the superhero cape his Aunt Haley made for him. He got way too many gifts from all of his cousins. Later, they set up the slip n' slide he got on the side yard. The kids spent the rest of the afternoon sliding across the lawn, and being sprayed by cold water.
We decided to vote on our favorite 80s movie and have an adult slumber party. Footloose won--however, we couldn't get it on Netflix. Brant, who was pulling hard to watch Bloodsport, ended up getting a few new movies at Redbox. The kids had no problem falling asleep after a long hard day of playing with cousins. It was great. Lane kept saying, "I am 3. Three is here! 2 is gone."

Feeling like a drowned rat

We moved into our new place a couple of days ago. And of course, are slowing moving in and getting all of the utilities set up. Our gas wasn't scheduled to be turned on until today. But, I was really dying for a shower. I have an appointment later today and did not want to be sticky and stinky.
I called the gas company--hoping to get an estimated time of arrival--but got the standard "sometime this afternoon." I spent an hour talking myself into toughing out a cold shower. I had everything ready and decided to go for it. At 12:04 I jumped in and took the quickest shower of my life. At 12:08 the doorbell rang.

I'm not a "chew-kee" and other isms

Sometimes I want to just wrap up everything the kids say and save it. They are so hilarious. I am going to try to remember some of the things that have made me laugh recently.

Lane told me, "I'm not a chookie! Mom, tell Porter to stop calling me a chookie!" I asked him what a chookie was. He wouldn't tell me. Finally, later in the day he said a chookie was a twin--and he's NOT a twin--Porter and Madison are. Do not call him a chookie--he doesn't like it.

Madi asked me what Kindergarten was...I explained the whole school system of K thru 12. Then I said, after that you get to go to college. They teach you whatever you want to be. For example, if you want to be a teacher you go to teacher school; if you want to be a doctor, you go to doctor school; and if you want to fly planes you go to pilot school. She said, "Do they have Princess College?"

Porter and Lane like to watch the Ironman cartoon series. One day Porter was singing the theme song to me..."I'm a man on a mission..." We turned it on the TV so they could watch it. When it started singing, "I'm a man on a mission," Lane said, "That's what a mission is! I want to go on a mission!" The boys are both very excited about going on missions now.

When Lane thinks something is really funny he says, "That's so much funny!"

Belated Happy Mother's Day

I'm a little late talking about Mother's Day, but at least I missed the blog rush. Rhonda helped the kids paint the cutest little pots and they planted daisies in them. It was very sweet. Our ward in Summerlin is so amazing. I really have missed it. Every year for Mother's Day they make a huge brunch that is so delicious. We had homemade bread--the really good kind--that tastes soft like rolls. They made sandwiches, fruit platters, lettuce salad, and desserts of every kind. It was awesome! We watched church videos on Mothers. It was very cool. And, after Sacrament Meeting, they gave all of the Mothers Utah Truffles. It was fun!
In the morning, I called my Mom to wish her Happy Mother's Day. The kids got on and talked to her too. She said she missed all of the breakfasts she used to get for Mother's Day. Funny how those were so silly--and I don't think we made that good of a breakfast for her--but that is what she missed. I can totally understand now that I have little ones. They are so sweet and innocent and love you so much. The best part of being a mother is knowing that you are number one to your little ones. They love so much and unconditionally. I do believe they are here to teach us more than we teach them. What sweet little angels.

Me Madi, Me Strong

Vicki and I used to joke that if the two of us could be one woman, we would be the perfect woman. I am starting to think Madi may just be that girl. She is a nerdy intellect like me that loves to talk to large groups of people. But, she has this athletic side that certainly does not come from me. I can't believe how tenacious she is at such an early age. She loves to run--and run faster than everyone else. She loves to be strong. Recently, she made it all the way across the monkey bars and has been so excited to show everyone. She wanted me to come and see so we walked to the park. However, she had showed her Grandma Smith how she could go across four times in a row earlier in the day. By the time she showed me she just couldn't get all the way across.

Think you can sleep anywhere?

The balmy Vegas weather has given ample opportunity for nice walks. I took the kids to McDonalds--we walked. It was a mile and a half away. They took turns walking and riding in the stroller. On the way back, they were all tired and didn't want to walk. Lane crawled in the bottom and Madison and Porter climbed in the front. I don't know how he managed to do it, but Lane fell asleep.

Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these

While in the supermarket checkout, an elderly lady noticed our two cases of Dasani water. She asked if they were on sale and Brant told her that they were. As she hesitated, Brant assumed she didn't want to have to get out of line to get one. He offered her one of ours, and said he could retrieve another one. She said oh not that's okay. He kept insisting until she finally said, "Well thank you, but I wouldn't be able to get it into my house." She quickly dismissed it saying I'll just have my son-in-law run in and get me one later this week. We felt kind of bad, because it would be hard to imagine not having the physical capacity to carry a case of water. But, sensing it was a source of pride to her, we didn't push it.

As we went out to our car, we loaded our groceries. I didn't think much more about it. Brant noticed that she was just barely leaving the lot he said, "You know, I'm going to follow her home and give her one of our water cases." We followed her home...I was afraid she was going to think we were stalking her. She actually pulled over a couple times waiting for us to pass her. The second time she did, Brant pulled up next to her and said, "Hey, I'm not stalking you, I just wanted to bring you a case of water." She was so grateful.

She led us to her house and Brant carried the water in. We talked to her for a minutes and found out that her husband had passed away just four months earlier. She said it had been hard adjusting to not having him around. She was 81 years old--and she looked great!

Brant does these random acts of kindness all of the time. He doesn't think that it is a big deal and that he doesn't do anything that nobody else does. I admire him so much for his compassionate heart. I think that woman was so touched that he did that for her. She tried to pay Brant and he wouldn't take her money. When she kept insisting, Brant said, "How about you just give me a hug." I wish my eyes were more open like Brant's to help those in need. The world would be so much better if we all were more like him.

9 years of wedded bliss?

I can't believe how quickly 9 years can pass. When I was single, I was resigned to the fact that I would never marry. At the "old" age of 31 I finally married. At 40, 31 seems pretty hot. We've had ups and downs, and downs, and downs, and some ups. I wish I could say all is well and that its been the best nine years of my life, but that would not be true. However, I do think that through all of our trials, I am learning more about the boy I fell in love with. He has grown into a man over the past nine years. He has become a better person than I was. Now I trust his judgment more than mine. We have been like two cats fighting in a cage. Ironically, no matter what he does to me or I do to him, we keep coming back to each other. This time, we're trying to minimize our weaknesses and improve our strengths. Maybe we'll never overcome the addiction we have to each other. Maybe we'll learn how to really love. Maybe we'll do better this time around.

Brant sent me a gorgeous bouquet of flowers for our anniversary. He never buys a cheap bouquet of roses, they're always amazing. I get so many compliments (as I put them on the front counter at my work.) There are a group of guys that come into eat all of the time. They always tease me about my flowers. (Because I get them alot.) One time someone else had gotten flowers at work. They were a modest bouquet. The guys came in as asked if I had gotten flowers again. I said, "These flowers are too small to be mine." They laughed because it was true...I get giant boquets of flowers. Brant also sent me a Bath and Body Works basket too. I am so lucky! We're getting a room in Vegas tonight. I'm not sure what to expect...but he said there was a huge surprise there.

Sunday, Sunday

I spent the weekend with the kids and Madi kept asking me to tell her stories about when they were babies. I finally opened up my blog and started reading stories and showing them pictures on my blog. I can't remember alot of what happened and it was fun to read the stories. There are some naysayers that don't think blogging is that important, but it's a form of journaling. After today, I can only say I wish I was doing it more! I love my kids. They are amazing and remind me how I need to live.

So much to say...

I have so much to say and so little time to say it. All I can say is that life has been so hectic. It makes me wonder just how much of it I choose, and how much of it chooses me. I have been trying to focus on being positive and getting rid of things that don't really matter in life. Time is so precious it is easy to spend and have nothing to show for it.

I've been to two funerals in just the past two months. If nothing else, you really, truly reflect on life. One was for a 2 year old and one for a 50 year old. Either way, life is too short. I want to be grateful for every minute of every day. I love my family. They make life worth living. I am so thankful for so many things in my life.

Someday I'll have time to write more!