The Rupper Update

Pretty Little Thing

2011-07-18T12:23:00.000-07:00

This beautiful girl turns 8 this month. My baby. My stilt walker. My tree climber. My tomboy. She's a math whiz, a pack rat, and a spit fire. She can eat with chopsticks and write a word with three variations of spelling. She plays piano. She reads Harry Potter. She farts with her armpits and has a grin that melts your heart. She loves learning, camping, cupcakes, and being with buddies. She is her own person.

She is a pretty little thing.

And I love her.

Happy Birthday Monkey!

Sweet and Bold

2011-05-06T20:14:00.000-07:00

Today while walking to the school to pick up the girls with my neighbors, Quinn and his friend Addie fell into stride and their hands slid into one another's with ease. Izzy joined in and for most of the walk there the three of them held hands, talked, and laughed. Angie and I watched and felt a longing for them to stay just as sweet and tender as they were, for time to just stop. We also wished we'd had a camera. On the way home Quinner got ahead of the group and his friend Warren saw him, sprinted towards him, and they too held hands and continued on.

Tonight as I think about this afternoon I feel a little sad. We start out in life so bold, so brave, and, I realize, we often lose part of that along the way. As children we talk to anyone around. We become instant best friends with kids we only just met seconds ago at the park. We make friends of strangers. We hug. We touch. We hold hands. We are magnetically drawn to others. We notice when people feel sad and want to comfort them. Children are so uninhibited. So able to stop and see the beauty of a flower, to wonder at a bug, to notice with awe a rainbow, a sunset, a dandelion. To see that someone needs a friend or a smile and to give it without hesitation.

Children are so sweet. So bold. I think we lose some of that along the way. Quinn had a pocketful of candy from a pinata and on the drive home from the party he'd attended he stated, "oh, there's some laffy taffy in here, Anna likes those a lot, I will give it to her." How often do we look at what we have and think first about who we can share it with? How different would the world be if we could live like our children? If we could be friends with everyone? If we could hold hands and laugh and love as freely as a five year old? If we could love others without hesitation or judgement?

I'm so grateful for the chance to be a mother and for all the learning that comes along with it. Oh, and for my tender hearted Quinn, may he always stay this sweet!

New Thinking

2011-03-24T07:30:00.000-07:00

The other day I was at Becky Higgins blog and she posted this printable which I liked. Go to her sight, she explains it. Basically, if you look at each thing you're doing and think of it as a way to build your relationship with the person you're doing it with, or for, then you will have a new attitude about it. Homework, cleaning my daughter's bedroom, doing laundry with Izzy-these are small tasks which provide time together to be us and talk about simple things. It makes sense. I was thinking about how much I love working on a project with Brett, painting a room or a piece of furniture-it's a relationship building task. I want to work this year on changing my attitude about the things I'm doing and focus on strengthening my relationships.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T08:03:00.000-08:00

Look at these two, aren't they cute!? My baby girl and her Auntie smooching. It warms my heart.

I used to hate Valentine's Day. When I was single it was a day to feel awkward and lonely. A day that felt like a mockery of your solitary situation. Also, a day to binge on ice cream or cookies to feel better about said singleness. One year in Provo a bunch of us had a girls' night where we got together and ate and celebrated our singleness/talked about boys all night. I remember distinctly a V-day in Hawaii my freshman year, my friend Katherine and I holed ourselves up in her room watching Friday, burning incense, eating Cheetos and Chips Ahoy chocolate chunk cookies. She had a long distance boyfriend, I had her, and we had a good time, we laughed and talked all night. Why are these nights so memorable? I think feeling loved is what the day is about, not necessarily romantically, but having someone who knows your heart, who spends time with you, and who loves you for you.

I do admit that I think Hallmark invented the holiday to make guys feel guilty about not being romantic and thus forcing them to buy marked up flowers, and jewelry, and giving them a deadline to do it by. Or maybe a teenaged girl invented the holiday to put her boyfriend on the spot about who he really likes. Remember the candy grams? The girls carrying roses and balloons around at high school? Remember getting awkward gifts from guys you weren't really into? Or having an expectation and then being let down? And now, am I the only woman who grumbles if my husband spends twice as much on a bouquet that Hallmark told them to buy when it could be five times as meaningful and a fraction of the cost on any other day? Also, teddy bears. What grown woman wants a teddy bear!? The commercialism of it all is too much.

At our house this day is usually celebrated with a heart-shaped pepperoni pizza and some pop. Are we classy. Absolutely. I will say though that tonight I think it'll be lasagna, we had pizza on Friday. I usually buy a few things for the kids and we look through their valentines from school together. We make sure that the little guys know they are loved, and Brett and I give each other a cheesy card. Will I perhaps give him a foot rub and buy him a Super Big Gulp of Pepsi? Yeah. Because to us, that is what love is.

Happy day to you all!
I love you!

More Than Just a Little...

2010-12-14T22:45:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas! I've been eating more than just a little fudge, and attending my Jazzercise class, well, just a little. 'Tis the season! I'm not ashamed. And it's not going to end until January at least!

Today I started wrapping gifts and I finally ordered Christmas cards. So, if you're one of the two people who reads this blog, send me your address and I'll send you one. It might be February before you get it, but the minimum order at Costco is 50, so I might send you 25 to make up for my tardiness!

Today I am in awe at how my Mom pulled off Christmas with 9 children and somehow maintained keeping up with friends, sending out cards and family letters, cleaning toilets, making dinner, etc. Yesterday I went through my kids' toy closet and pulled out a big box of stuff to get rid of in anticipation of whatever Santa brings. I'm already having anxiety about the toys I'll be tripping over in a few weeks. I may be somewhat of a scrooge in that respect, but what I love about this season has nothing to do with gifts.

What I love about this season is the music. My Pandora "Jingle Bells" list has been playin' since October! I love the lights, going on drives with hot cocoa, and cinnamon or cider scents in my Scentsy warmer. I love making fudge, press cookies, and toffee. I love eating most of it and drinking milk right out of the jug (that's right Mom!) I love that my little Anna writes letters to Buddy, our family's "Elf on the Shelf." I love that every 30 minutes or so, and/or whenever she sees something Christmassy, Izzy squeaks out in her tiny little voice, "Happy Cwismas Mom!" "Happy Cwismas Dad!" I love remembering times when my little brother Carson and I would go shopping and pick out "the perfect gift" for each family member and buy it together with our paper route money. One year in grade school we bought each of our siblings different colored lucky rabbit's feet. (his gift picking skills have improved, sadly, mine have not!) I love that my kids know why we celebrate Christmas, and that they love to hear about Jesus' birth. I love pulling out my Nativity set each year and knowing that I"ll think of my Mom each time I do and there will be a reverence to it, like when we'd unveil our homemade dough Nativity set as kids. I love that my children have that same light in their eyes about the magic of the season that I had when I was little. Quinn asked today if we should make reindeer treats. Anna prayed tonight that our house elf would find somewhere high to land after going to the North Pole so Max doesn't touch him and cause him to lose his magic. Izzy keeps talking about Santa bringing her "pink stuff." I keep remembering little nostalgic moments of my childhood which endear me to my family. The memories, the beauty of freshly fallen snow, the melody of a song, the smiles and wonder and giddiness all speak of love. What I want is more than just a little of THAT. I want to bottle it. I want to preserve it. I want my children to have memories of times together that bind them. I want new traditions to bring us closer, and I want to continue with old traditions too (that means CHINESE FOOD for Christmas Eve, with or without Caralee!) I want to let go of being stressed about what my house looks like or what I'll be giving as neighbor gifts, and I want to just hold on to the good stuff and focus on how beautiful and sweet and innocent and perfect my kids are. I want to "be calm and carry on." That's what I want for Christmas, more CALM. Now, where do I buy that???

So what are you doing to make this year special? What traditions do you cherish? What makes your heart beat at Christmas time?

Housework Avoidance

2010-10-28T11:06:00.000-07:00

This morning I sucked a nasty boogered metallic pink bead out of Izzy's nose with a straw. Gross, I know. I also saved myself a trip to the doctor, and decided that I'd have a great day afterwards, I mean, what could be worse than putting your mouth to the end of a straw and sucking at a place that mouths and beads have no business going near!?

So, I was right. A good day it is turning out to be. I have one kid at school, two at Grandma Pat's having a Halloween craft day, and that sweet little one is napping as I type. I may or may not have a Dr. Pepper in front of me, and I may or may not also be dipping into the trick or treating candy early. I just received a sweet email from my brother, a box of Halloween goodies from my Mom, and I've had a really great birthday week. Life is good. Thank you everyone for the notes, cards, gifts, etc. Thank you for making me feel special and loved. That's all anyone ever wants on their birthday is to feel remembered, like they matter to someone. It makes sucking slimy beads out of kids' noses really seem trivial, although I'll hold onto that story because I'll want to share it later when Izzy is old enough to realize how funny it is, maybe when she has a kid of her own who likes to stuff strange objects up her schnoz.

So a week or two ago I came across this blog with a list of journaling topics. I've been thinking about how important it is to keep a journal, or to write at least occasionally about life's events and how you feel about them. It helps you remember what you feel, it helps give perspective, it helps get the angry or the mad or the sad out, it helps you work out internal conflicts, and it helps you see your life more clearly, and in your own handwriting. I think too, that writing helps you to sit down and look at your life and see all the good in it, it helps you have a grateful heart. So I do it here on my blog, but during this season I hope too to write in my personal journal about my life at this moment in time.

Sweet and SImple

2010-10-14T07:01:00.000-07:00

This week I've been going through the pictures from this year and conjuring up memories of outings, special occasions, birthdays, trips, and everyday activities. I'm working on an album for Brett and all the while feeling blessed by all of the sweet and simple times we've shared and the silly things too-like this face that Izzy gives me to make me laugh...

This was from a drive through the mountains, eating bagels and enjoying the perfection of fall.

This was from last weekend, we took the kids to the corn maze and they LOVED it! Brett and I, we enjoyed chucking corn kernels at the kids and following them in circles.

This was another drive-a "3 Moose Drive" up Mantua we took recently.

And this is just a sweet picture of my favorite people. Okay, so all of these pictures are from this month, but I have 10 months and hundreds of shots-2010 has been so good.

Have you been through your pictures lately? Nothing makes time feel so short or your life feel so great as looking through pictures of all the big and little events that have mattered to you. Take time today to look through your albums and remember the little happy moments that give life meaning.

Laughter, tears, gas, and anxiety attacks

2010-09-28T16:48:00.000-07:00

So why the picture of my baby brother "Taffy" in his undies on the beach you ask? Simply because it's funny. And because he LOVES any chance to show off those boy thighs of his.

Last week we went to San Francisco to celebrate Browski's 40th birthday by scattering his ashes. There were tears, we had tissue. There was gas, Jill brought Gas X. And there was sadness, but we had some smoothering buggles and laughter to cover that too. There were also rodents of unusual size, but the only remedy for that is to RUN! Dad was good enough to escort us around to see the sights, like the manscaping of Castro, the park, Chinatown, and the area where he grew up. We also did some scavenging for sand dollars, but only came up with 50 cent pieces, Ashley determined that we all had bad credit.

This week as the announced layoffs are weighing in heavily on my mind and I'm working on my first ulcer, I'm trying to stay focused on the good things in my life and the multiple blessings I have right now. I have an amazing family. They are quirky and innappropriate and eat unhealthy amounts of cheese and bacon but they are so much fun, I wouldn't trade them for any other family out there. I have, hands down, THE BEST husband around. Brett truly gets me, he never judges me, he rubs my feet, he laughs at my jokes, he loves my music, and he encourages me and appreciates the little things. I have four healthy sweet kids who are silly and dirty and who's laughter is the most beautiful music I have ever heard. I have a healthy body, my mind however is questionable. So we may or may not have a job at the end of the week, but we still have each other. Sadly, I still have gas too.

Summer Fun

2010-07-26T17:39:00.000-07:00

"What's up?" Our summer has been so busy, the weeks fly by but the days are SO LONG! Anyone else feel that way?

Here are a few shots from some of our adventures...

we've gone camping and fishing,

four-wheelin',

and out on the town.

We've had some laughs,

some cuddles,

and some good times with friends and family.

Some of us have hit milestones: losing teeth, riding a bike without training wheels, scaling stairs, and potty training to name a few.

And we recently welcomed the newest member into our family, baby Hopper.

Oh, and this sweet baby just turned 1!

Life is good. I can't complain too much, but man, I sure could use a maid to cover our tracks!

The Big Ten

2010-07-07T10:48:00.000-07:00

Brett, at this time ten years ago you were sitting in the temple waiting room, anxiously waiting for a bride who was, and still is, always just a little bit late. Here we are with ten years under our belts. Ten years of drives on dirt roads, inside jokes, sarcasm and laughter, moves, camp outs, hikes, bagels, sunsets, movies, births, deaths, Christmas mornings, autumn sweater weather, Scrabble games....and more.

We have such a blessed life with four little fountains of frustration and joy in our hands, and one another to balance out whatever life brings. Thank you Brett for loving me through it all, for getting me through the bad times and for making the good times unforgettable. Thank you for being you and for letting me be me, even when I'm late. I can't imagine my life without you. Thank you for ten incredible years! I love ya Babe!

Fifteen

2010-07-06T12:07:00.001-07:00

I brought Anna to get her hair cut recently. She got a cute little a-line, she couldn't stop looking in the mirror for a few days afterwards, she felt so pretty. So grown up.

A couple of days later I brought Anna and Izzy shopping on a girls' day out. We tried on clothes and bought a few outfits, then went out for Chinese food. On the way home I turned on Anna's music in the car and listened to her belt out the songs. During this Taylor Swift song I looked back at Anna's sweet little smile as she confidently sang along and I started crying. I realized that my baby was growing up. I know she's only turning 7 this month, but I listened to the words in the song and realized that I don't want her to be a teen yet (maybe ever). I don't want her to get her heart broken, or to quit kissing me goodbye, or to want to be with her friends more than her family. I don't want her to care about what boys think of her or to change who she is just to fit in. I don't want those cute little freckles to fade or those twiggy legs to get longer-I'm just not ready!

I keep thinking about that drive, that perfect few minutes when we were laughing and singing and nothing else mattered.

I keep telling my kids to quit growing too.

They don't listen!

What's Up

2010-06-11T13:30:00.000-07:00

Okay, here are a few pictures of what we've been up to recently.

We finally had family portraits done. Remember how paranoid I was about it? Yeah, well, when we scheduled to do it the weather turned ugly within an hour of portrait time. We headed out early and it was windy, rainy, and FREEZING. We were only out there for 20-30 minutes but Amy took some great shots, thanks Amy, you're the best!

Soccer came and went. It was fun, and now we're on to t-ball...

The kids are in awe of all the critters around this place. Anna wrote a report on Killdeer yesterday after observing a few that are nested in the neighborhood. Izzy is LOVING the horses and "sickens"(chickens) down the road too. She brings carrots to feed them and is the most comfortable of all the kids around animals.

Izzy is also wearing herself out on a daily basis, playing SO hard, then crashing so hard.

Last weekend we were in Payson to attend Maddie's baptism and the kids got to go fishing with Papa John.

I sat back and snuggled this guy.

Quinn did some light reading.

And the girls had a good time.

And we got to meet this little sweetie, Avery, our newest tiny little niece,

who makes my Max look like a monster! A skull crushing monster by the looks of this picture!

Oh yeah, did I mention EVERYONE has been worn out lately? Two of these people are truly asleep in this picture, try to guess who...

Oh, and this Squirt, I know I'm in for it and he isn't even 1 yet! I'm tired just looking at this shot. I know the work I'm in for! Luckily he has that cute smile to smooth over my frustration at whatever mess he's making!

Ah, and my Quinner finished preschool last week. Here he is with Teacher Becky. Teacher Becky gets lots of loves from Quinner. He won the "Ladies' Man" award at school, apparently he's sharing the love with all the shorties there too! Such a sweet boy!

Brett got a new toy last month which all the kids are eager to ride on every chance they get.

And, we sold the Brown Trout to pay for the new Banana on wheels. He's off to muddy up the water for some other lucky family while we take to the mountain. Oh, but we will always have the memories...will we ever!

And we have wizards to entertain us as well. The kids now fit into the capes Jill made for the twins and G.G. painted up some wands for some sorcery. If only the kids knew some magic that clears toys and shoes out of the family room-that would be amazing!Oh, and we FINALLY kicked the pink eye and sinus infections. Now we're just down to one ear infection and two goopy noses. Isn't this the saddest picture? Yeah, my girl recovered from that just to turn around and get sick again. I blame it on the weather. Who knows though, maybe we'll all be better in time for summer, whenever that season decides to show up!

Happy Birthday Brett!

2010-05-22T21:15:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Brett! I am so glad your parents decided to keep you despite the little cowboy-booted devil your sister says you were as a child. I think I'll keep you too. No cowboy boots though. (And remember when I asked the other day what we did to deserve Izzy? I think Kristie has the answer!)

Nah really. I think you are the best. The. Best. You are such a laid back guy. Such a good Daddy. Such a thoughtful caring husband. Such a jack of all trades. Who else can whip up a Pottery Barn bunkbed for a fraction of the cost? Who else pounds down ultimate skillets weekly and still manages to lose weight? Who else can sew, juggle, build furniture, repair cars, clean a kitchen in the bat of an eye and answer every question of a four year old boy during a 30 minute drive with patience to spare? Who else can keep their kids captivated nightly with the imaginary adventures of Bob, Bob, and Betty? I could try, but I wouldn't do it right, just ask Anna.

Brett, you are the best husband I've ever had, I really mean it. I hope to never have to replace you. I couldn't find anyone who would know me like you know me. I couldn't find anyone with that same devilish grin of yours either. And let's be honest, there just isn't another guy out there as good as or better than you, not for me anyway. I hope you have a Happy Birthday and know that I love you. I hope you enjoy your birthday getaway with the guys. I'm sure you'll enjoy the gift I got you too. It looks exactly like the mothers day gift you got me. It's yellow, it's in the garage.

Happy Birthday Babe!

I love ya!

For Jill on your Special Day...

2010-05-05T19:51:00.000-07:00

Puma comes and Puma goes

Puma wears pumps and pantyhose

Puma whispers in Brett's ear

he smells something funny, Brett dealt it, it's clear

Puma, he sometimes cries in his beer

over lost love, his dead cat, and the scent from Brett's rear

But no not today folks, Puma's beaming with pride

Jill's graduating, finally, his friend, and his ride (if she can get her Mom to come out and push their car back!)

Jill has earned her Ph D-how do you spell this?

Who knows, don't ask me!

But finally she's done it, and gets to move on

no more heckling the staff, no more drafts to write on

She's a doctor for sure and Puma's so giddy

she can write him a script to get out of the city

To take a vacation, get away from his problems

Especially the scent coming from some people's bottoms

From the tops of our heads to the places where we stink

We love you Jill, so much more than you think

We're so proud of you, and Puma is too

For what you've accomplished, except for what you did in the mu-u-udroom.

Congratulations Dr. Jill!
Rawr!

Today's Thoughts

2010-05-04T12:30:00.000-07:00

I like this video, and it makes me anxious as well. The scene where the couple is standing in the hallway looking at their family portrait makes me panic. My brother Jim died in the fall. In a helicopter crash. It feels like he just vanished. Disappeared. We don't have a family portrait with ALL of our family in it, and with him. The last pictures taken of all of us were at Caralee's wedding, we don't have one with the 3 youngest grandchildren though. Now it's too late.

I love pictures, hate posing for them, but love to have them after the fact. Pictures are pieces of the past. Tangible memories. Moments that last forever. Something to hold on to... Something to hold on to.

Brett keeps bugging me to schedule an appointment for portraits for our family as we haven't had any since Max was born. Last time I scheduled to have them done Izzy fell and split her face open needing stitches that evening. I feel like if I schedule the event again something bad will inevitably happen. It's a looming feeling. Regardless, I really want a portrait to hold on to this part of our lives, the stages our kids are in now, those beautiful little perfect faces. Even if I'm just being paranoid about things changing, things will change, I know that. Life always changes. I just hope we can get some decent pictures taken so I can quit thinking about it. I also hope that with whatever comes in life, I can feel the gravity of existence with as much optimism and gratitude as Stephanie, and that I can continue to have my sweet family here with me until I'm so old and gray that everyone around me wants to take pictures with me on every occasion to be able to capture their memories of me before I kick it. Also, and God, if you're listening I'd appreciate if I could have Brett's hand in mine until then, and can we die together like in The Notebook? Okay, thanks.

The Green Goblins

2010-04-23T09:29:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we bought goofy matching bandanas, packed our car full of gear and kids, and headed to Southern Utah.

The kids LOVED Goblin Valley and couldn't get enough of playing hide and seek and climbing the weird rock formations.

We also did some hiking in the slot canyons...

Here Brett is probably proclaiming that he is "the King of the Echo People!"

Ashley and Jill, either one of you can come pick up your daughter at your earliest convenience.

Here Max and I are rejoicing that we made it through the night without being eaten by a puma. Brett may or may not have forgotten the tent poles so we camped out under the stars. On a dinner platter-like tarp in open view of the pumas. Luckily we were spared. I did keep a watchful eye on the crew both nights. And according to Brett, my "imagination left nothing to my imagination." I was ready to bearhandedly kill our predators. I'm tough like that.

Izzy enjoyed being toted around and the day after hiking refused to let Brett put her down. Also, she quite likes the paparazzi, "Take my picture!"

Me and my bird legs. If you saw Intervention the other night you'd think I might need one but don't worry, I have plenty of meat in the middle!

Little hiker man. Please don't grow up Quinner-I so love you the size you are!

These two had pink eye but it didn't stop them. They hiked like champs and Anna was our tour guide through the canyon. Apparently she's been there many, many times.

Me and my Sweetheart. Don't be jealous Brett.

If Anna were on Survivor I think she'd win.

My five most favorite people in all the world. Thanks for a great Spring Break y'all! Brett, I appreciate your planning, life is always an adventure with you and I so enjoy the ride (if only we could find the trailmarkers!) :)

This Week's Highs...

2010-04-11T18:14:00.000-07:00

Enjoying an Easter egg hunt last Saturday, just before it snowed 4 inches.

Watching Shane with baby Max, he is so sweet with babies.

Quinn loving some time with Nana.

The exhilaration of both the hunt, and the chocolate found in each egg.

These two pretty in pink girls of mine.

A Few Highs and Lows..

2010-03-29T22:06:00.000-07:00

High: being told randomly today by this girl that I was the best Mom ever. (she only throws words that strong around when she wants something! I may or may not have been shopping for Easter dresses for her at the time but I'll take it!)

Low: I'm not naming names, but someone ate what was to be my late night snack. I only bought one box of these babies because I knew I'd eat them all and someone beat me to it. Low. That was just low. Low. Low.

High: Holding a sleeping baby. One who looks just like my favorite man. Mmmm.

Low: My Izzy is losing her baby fat and becoming a grown up girl. I'm just not ready for that yet!

Highlights

2010-03-05T10:04:00.000-08:00

Top Ten Highlights from our " To Nevada and Back in a Weekend" weekend:
#10 this foxy little dog whose owner actually circled us a few times in the gas station to make sure we could see his fancy canine.
#9 a jumbo sized box of Junior Mints Brett bought me
#8 looking through my Mom's cupboards in awe at all of the food, my usual routine
#7 bringing home all of the chocolate croissants and other Trader Joe's goods my Mom bought for me, she knows what a girl needs!
#6 being away from my older 3 kids, thanks to Nana and Papa!
#5 soaking in the hot tub and visiting with the fam
#4 not having to eat at McDonalds for an entire roadtrip
#3 In N Out Burger
#2 getting a sweet new minivan which fits my hoard of offspring
#1 meeting my sweet new niece Jordyn, "Baby Jordy" for the first time. Tina, you're lucky to have her because she REALLY wanted to come home with me!

Here I Come...

2010-02-26T19:39:00.000-08:00

Dear Double Double,

I'm yearning for you as I write this. I can't stop thinking about you. I'll be waking up early tomorrow to drive out West to meet you. I hope you'll be hot and ready when I get there...let's do it animal style shall we?

See you soon!

Wendy

Good News

2010-02-17T12:56:00.000-08:00

Quinn informed me today that "that teeny bear saw his shadow, that means there will be six more weeks of Valentine's Day." Six more weeks of gloomy weather sounds horrible, six more weeks of showing how much we love each other, now I'm up for that!

At the End of the Week...

2010-02-06T20:27:00.000-08:00

It's been a rough week. Obama proposed to cancel the Constellation program so Brett may or may not be employed come fall, I ran out of my drug of choice, Dr. Pepper, Max got his SEVENTH tooth, we had 1-2 kids waking up nightly, two constantly runny noses, one huge mountain of laundry, that damn groundhog saw his shadow, and cabin fever is here to stay!

I've been grumpy and pessimistic and I need to get over it already. Today Brett uploaded the pictures from our camera and now I will proceed to address a few of the things that are good and sweet and wonderful in life... ...like this sweet face. Mmmm, I love this face.

Check out Max, "The Beav." And Brett thinks none of our kids will look like him! These are definately Daddy's teeth. I love seeing my guys together. I'll be honest, I also love handing the baby off and straightening my left arm occasionally too!

Today we went to Hardware Ranch. The weather was beautiful, the sun was shining, the kids laughed and played in the snow, we pelted Anna with snowballs, we saw elk, we ate bagels, we came home and played Wii and relaxed, it was a perfect Saturday.

My kids love their Daddy as much as I do. This is good. And sweet. And wonderful.

And, as small a thing as it is, Izzy got her first pigtails this week, she's growing up! Not only that, but she does laundry. No joke, she's a good tiny little helper.

I am blessed. Also, I have restocked my soda supply so no worries there!

What are your highs this week?

Music

2010-01-27T19:45:00.000-08:00

I'm looking for some upbeat songs to add to my playlist, songs that instantly put you in a good mood. Songs that put a skip in your step even if it's been gloomy and cold for days and your kids have kept you up half the night and you don't know where to begin on the mess your house has become and you have no idea what to cook for dinner and you don't know when or if you'll get around to showering and you want to commit homocide at least twice and it's only 8 am and you keep finding goldfish crackers ground into your carpet and never have time to yourself because your tiny human shadows follow you, even into the bathroom... you the get point right? I need a maid. I need a nanny. I need a full night of sleep. I'll stick to the things I can afford though: a Big Gulp and some background music to keep me going through the winter.

So, what are your top 3 songs to get you in a good mood?

Winter Fun

2010-01-12T11:45:00.000-08:00

I think we're suffering from the winter blues. It may be a vitamin K deficiency, or the fact that we're total shut-ins because it's so stinkin cold outside, or that we're/I'm lazy and haven't made any playdates...Anyway, Quinn and I found a few crafts to keep us busy last week. First we made pinecone birdfeeders. Brett just carried our Christmas tree out the back and left it in the stand after the holiday so we wired our pinecones to the tree and this morning we had a handful of little bird visitors in the yard. Izzy and Quinner giggled with delight watching the birds. I think it'd be nice to keep the tree around on the patio every year and do this, we'll have birds to entertain the kids and a mature tree in the yard-dead or alive, at least it's something to look at!

Quinn and I also made these window clings, we found the idea on the Family Fun website. We just printed a pattern, put it in a page protector, traced it with glitter paint, and peeled them off to apply to the windows. I think we'll be working on some Valentines hearts too, these were super easy and good practice tracing for my little preschooler. Plus, it's something to decorate our blah house with now that the holiday decorations are down.

What have you found to keep your kids busy this winter? Post your ideas...we could use some...

What I Know For Sure

2010-01-03T19:12:00.000-08:00

Do you read Oprah Magazine? Have you read her column about what she knows for sure? Yeah, she doesn't have kids so I know some things that she doesn't...

I know that no matter how frustrating a day can be, there is nothing so rewarding as the sight of your little one curled up asleep at night. Or your four little ones in my case.

I know that the pay is cruddy, the hours are endless, the nights are often sleepless, but that nothing beats the sloppy kiss of a kid who sneaks up to smooch you out of the blue, just to say he loves you.

I know that my body isn't perfect, thanks to the severe inflation and deflation of pregnancy and that damned gravitational pull, okay, and those vanilla Zingers, but I know that when I sit back and assess my life, I realize that I am truly blessed. I wouldn't change much at all.

What else do I know for sure? That Hoarders is on A&E and I'm addicted...Ironically, a show called Intervention is on right after...

My Short List

2009-12-14T06:29:00.000-08:00

I didn't write a letter to Santa. I did pray this morning though that this man would make it home safely today. All I want for Christmas is more of this. Just a little more of this.

The World Stood Still

2009-11-23T18:37:00.000-08:00

My oldest brother Jim Bradshaw, "Browski," died last weekend, Saturday the 14th of November, 2009. He was the pilot of a life flight helicopter which malfunctioned and went down outside of Reno killing him and the two medics aboard.

My world stood still when my parents called to tell me the news. I thought it was a joke, even had to look up the story, to see his name in print to know the truth. I also had a strong, almost magnetic feeling that I needed to be with my family. I couldn't help but call all of my siblings. I wanted to have Dave with me. I wanted to check to see if Carson was okay, I wanted to touch everyone and cry together and feel safe. I wanted to get rid of the nagging anxious feeling I had.

I just returned from Browski's memorial service. It was good to hear my Dad and brothers share stories about time spent with Jim. I know they agonized over how to relay their feelings and they were amazing. I learned that all of the men in my family are the same in their kindness and hospitality, and in their concern for showing you a good time when you visit them in their homes. And I know that all of them have such big hearts and so much love to give.

After the service the family and close friends joined at my parents' house. The place was packed, it was unbelieveable the amount of friends who came to show their support, all these people who came for my Mom, came to meet my family, came to grieve together. Somewhere in the evening Linus shared a photo tribute to Browski and the room filled in with people sitting everywhere to see pictures of my goofy faced brother and the life and times he had. At that moment the world stood still once again. Two groups of people so incredibly different, there to share in the memory of my brother. Jenn said it right, "it was like world peace there in that room."

I don't know why Jim's helicopter crashed, I'm trying not to dwell on the details of it all. I know that accidents happen and that sometimes we don't get as much time here as we hope to have. I know that there is a spirit who comforts us in times of sorrow such as this. Comfort and peace are the prayers sent up in a time such as this and I have felt strengthened because of the those offered on my behalf. I know I have a Heavenly Father who loves me, I know that. I can feel his love all around me, even in simple things when I stop to take notice. I know that God places people in our lives to laugh with us, and at times like this, to cry with us too. I also know that my family will not be the same without Browski, but that we will pull through. Most importantly, I know that I will see that mug again.

The world stood still, but it will go on.

Confessions

2009-11-09T19:22:00.000-08:00

I've been eating all of my kids' decent Halloween candy when they aren't looking. We all do that right? But there are other things you don't know...

I always eat cookie dough, the raw eggs haven't killed me, which means it's making me stronger right? Raw cookie dough is making me stronger. Huh. Take that MOM!

I have really callused feet, so bad in fact that I'm embarrassed to ever go get a pedicure. I never have.

I LOVE reading The Pioneer Women's blog and I'm pretty sure she and I would be best friends if we knew each other. As it turns out, I think all of her other readers feel the same way.

I neglected my daughter while shopping last week and she fell and split the bridge of her nose open requiring 8 stitches, a few days before we'd scheduled family portraits no less. I think it's a sign. A sign that I should always be allowed to shop alone and I should never have to do family portraits.

I hate having portraits done. Oh the stress. And oh, my googly eyes.

I like helping others when I can but I have a hard time ever letting other people do things for me.

I detest shopping for gifts. I'm a horrible present picker-outer. However, I really dig gift wrapping. I wish Brett would do all of our Christmas shopping right this minute so I could turn on the Carpenters Christmas album and get wrappin'!

I lick the brownie batter spoon, AND I often drink out of the milk carton and eat directly out of the ice cream container.

I drool when I nap.

Also, I hate doing dishes more than any other household chore and I will clean everything around them before touching them. Then, I will leave the dish pile for Brett to clean, because he is much speedier and doesn't mind cleaning if I do the cooking. Yep, he rocks!

I can't watch t.v. late at night without eating ice cream. Western Family's Mudpie is hands down my favorite flav. Why I am out of it right now I do not know...

So, what secrets are you hiding?

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-01T12:59:00.000-08:00

Here are a few shots for the Grandparents of my creepy little critters...

Quinner, this time as a jolly pirate instead of Gangsta Waldo.

Izzy Bean as a little ladybug, completely enthralled with her plastic toy bug prize.

Anna, no doubt casting spells on her frightened little sister, not unlike her Aunt Caralee.

Yep, I saved the best for last. This one is definately coming out when Anna brings her boyfriends home to meet the parents. Naw, I think I'll just have a glossy 11x14 of it hanging in my house from now on.

Hope you all had a Happy Halloween! By the way, did anyone get any Sugar Daddys? Do they have those anymore???

"Where's Waldo" joins a gang

2009-10-29T11:31:00.000-07:00

I tried to help Quinn don a pirate costume for his preschool Halloween party this afternoon. He put on the red and white striped shirt and some tan pants, then a black bandana on the ol' noggin. I drew on a mustache and was going for a beard when he told me that "kid pirates don't actually have beards or mustaches." Fair enough, we wiped his face off then went for the earring and eye patch. "Kid pirates don't have to wear eye patches, they like to see with both eyes," he says. No eye patch then. On the way back from dropping him off I found his earring on the garage floor. As it turns out, now he just looks like Waldo the gangster. I hope he gets into character and jumps some of the other kids at school and steals their candy, or at least just the chocolate stuff.

Uh huh.

2009-10-21T20:07:00.001-07:00

Here you are reading my blog. Do you really have nothing else to do? You might be sitting at your computer, most likely trying to get a break from your kids, possibly your husband even, and thinking, "Ah, what relaxing music." Soon you'll hear the words and start singing along. You're reading this and thinking that I'm crazy but wait for it...UH HUH, yeah, you secretly love Lionel Richie too. Do you know all the words? You can be honest. I think I know all of his songs. I'm not ashamed. I even added his album to my Amazon wishlist. I really doubt that Brett shares my affinity for the music so he probably won't buy it for me, but it's out there now. I'm a Lionel fan. Phew, it feels good to say it out loud.

So tonight I was driving home from Jazzercise all sweaty and happy. I weighed in within 8lbs of my target so that made me glad, but then halfway down the road I realized that my good mood was in fact Lionel induced as well. I think the music takes me back to my childhood days, sitting in the backseat of Mom's tan van just being a kid without a worry in the word. Being easy like Sunday morning even. The other night at the same spot on Main St. I was belting out R.E.M.'s Losing My Religion while it played on the radio. Same thing. I knew every word, even though I have no idea what the song is about, but it made me happy. I will attribute my mood to the workout as well, endorphins certainly do the trick too, but don't you sometimes hear a song that just fixes your mood? Forever in Blue Jeans perhaps? Something from ABBA? Queen maybe? Yeah, come on, you can tell me...

Family Time

2009-10-20T19:12:00.000-07:00

October has been so busy and we have nearly two weeks left to go! Someone please remind me to have my safety check and registration completed for my car next week because I'm pretty sure I'll forget! (That means YOU Caralee, email me a reminder will ya?) Mostly, this month has been chockful of family time and I wouldn't have it any other way. I thought I'd post just a few pictures of the past few weeks...for starters, check out all these cute cousins above. Priceless.

Oh, and we finally got to meet lil' Miss Abbie our newest niece this past week. I'm pretty sure these two will be buddies.

Brett and his Momma. (That's all I'm saying because apparently I brag about my husband too much on here. I will say though that I think his Mom is amazing. I couldn't have chosen a better Mom-in-law in all of the world. I love you Judy Rupper!)

Grandma K passed on and was honored by all of her children and many grandchildren and great grandchildren last weekend. While at the funeral service her sister Gloria told Lisa and me a story of when Grandma went to New York and of how she was floored by the number of people there. I believe she asked Bob where all the people came from and he said, "Well, you and Steve were married, that makes two. You had 5 children who married making 12. And they all had children...they all came from you. It's your fault!" There were a lot of people there and it was neat to think of all the people who came to be because of her. Maybe we haven't reached the population of New York, but she left behind quite a family. I know I married in, but I'm proud to be part of that family.

I know I posted one of these previously, but here is a shot of my baby boy in the arms of his Great Grandmother, Grandma K, one last time. And Brett, so proud to share his son with his Grandma.

Okay, so we FINALLY got around to blessing Max this month. Unfortunately I neglected to take pictures so here's one taken the day after. Pretend he's wearing white and I'll pretend that I'm gonna get the energy to find the blessing outfit and put it back on for pictures.

My Dad came to help bless the baby. He also brought this ginormous piece of luggage which my eldest two fit into quite nicely. Don't think I won't sneak them in next time Dad!

Inside of that huge suitcase Dad brought Christmas, including some leftover ugly sweaters from last years' fandango. We put on the ugos, turned on some holiday tunes (yeah in October Paolo!), and ripped right in. Christmas in October agrees with me. The Sees candy also agreed with me, it became one with me. Thanks Dad!

Whew, that's a lot of posting....time to get some ice cream and take a break. Not that I don't love you all, but a girl needs some time alone to enjoy the silence after the house has emptied and the kids have pooped out...

Grandma got her promotion this weekend

2009-10-12T08:40:00.000-07:00

After serving many years upon the earth, that past 40 of which without her companion, and the past 2 with a failing mind and body, Grandma K was promoted from her mortal state and moved on through the veil to be reunited with 3 of her children, her husband, her parents, and her Heavenly Father. She leaves behind 5 children, a slew of grandchildren and great grandchildren, and a legacy of faith and love.

Grandma K was a special woman who conquered many a trial with wit and determination. She was a school teacher by trade, but on the side she taught my husband how to be a gentleman on a date when he was 10, she gave him his sparkling green eyes, and she raised an amazing woman among others, who in turn produced my amazing husband. Grandma could tell terrific stories, she made you feel so special when you went to visit her, and she was a warm and endearing woman who everybody loved.

One time when Brett and I went to visit Grandma in Tooele with our newborn little Anna one of us was changing her on the floor and the lil' squirt sprayed poop all over the front of the couch. We tried to scrub it off but it wasn't working, there was a big yellow stain. I felt so bad, but Grandma just laughed and said it'd be something to remember her by, and to embarrass her with the memory of when she was older and she came to visit. No big deal to Grandma, she was just happy to have us there!

We love you Grandma K, you'll be missed here on earth, but we're happy for you to be reunited with those who've been waiting for so long to see you again!

A long awaited goodbye

2009-10-08T12:59:00.000-07:00

Dear Carson, I am sorry to inform you that Elmo has not survived the winter. He didn't even make it TO winter this year! He would've been 3 this Christmas season, maybe 4. I've been trying to block it out really. I can still hear his song in my head although a new set of batteries couldn't repair him. He will slip away quietly this afternoon, into the big black dumpster. Such a bittersweet fairwell.
Don't worry though, when your baby is born I will lovingly buy her the most annoying toy I can possibly find. Perhaps I will send her an economy sized box of replacement batteries each month as well. E-L-MMM-O! E-L-M-OOO!
Love ya Cars! I can't wait for my new niece to arrive!!!

Holding On

2009-10-05T20:26:00.001-07:00

Do you ever find yourself in a moment and think, "gosh, I hope I never forget THIS." This sunset, this feeling, this giggle that makes your heart burst open, this terrific hike, this perfect day, this feeling of absolute contentment, this most amazing hot fudge brownie sundae, this beautiful little squishy baby smiling at me like I'm the most amazing woman ever, this funny thing my son just said...fill "this" in with whatever your moment is. Now there is no way to capture the perfect flavor, or the satisfaction and full body ache after a backpacking trip, but I've been grabbing the camera a lot lately because sometimes, just sometimes you can capture an image of something so perfect, so pure, so intimate that it takes you back and you can remember that moment and how time stood still.

I love this picture of Izzy and Brett. I hope she still looks at him that way when she's 17 and most likely not talking to me. She's Daddy's girl. They have a good thing goin' those two. It makes me smile.

Yesterday my amazing Mom-in-law hosted a family gathering so that all of her siblings could be together with their Mother and each other. Grandma isn't able to remember us being there and may or may not recall who each of us are, but how special it was to see my husband sharing his son with Grandma K, having a quiet moment together.

Okay, these next few aren't terrific, but I'm holding on to lil' Max, kinda gasping and clinging tightly because I don't want him to grow up and it's happening so fast! I've taken a lot of really terrible shots of him and these are just a few, but gosh, look at this face! The kid has eyes only for me and I LOVE it. I'll have him on my lap and be talking to someone across the room then glance down and this set of blue eyes is locked on me and he's grinning from ear to ear. I don't want to forget this perfect face...

Or this one. This is his, "what the hell face," or possibly the, "my brother/sister is coming at me fast and loud and I can't do anything to protect myself face," or just his, "can someone get that kid some ritalin please face." Maybe it's his "who farted?" face, I can't say.

Yep, I'm also photographing some of the not so pleasant stuff. Here's Anna in a time out. She had a ridiculously fierce stink eye on me but when I got the camera she backed off. She's just that way. Had to turn it around and make it all sad and pitiful looking instead. She's tough as nails and as much as it kills me, I love what a fighter she is. I wanted to capture her fierceness (pretty sure I"ll have other opportunities, probably 12 times tomorrow) because I want to remind her when she's older of the fire she had in her even when she was small. I want her to know that she can throw her shoulders back, that when its a matter worth fighting for that she can look her opponent in the eye and stand up for herself, for what's right, that she was a tough strong little woman and always has been.

The Girls

2009-09-28T08:14:00.000-07:00

This is what we found last night when we went to check on the kids. Izzy isn't used to her toddler bed yet, so Anna told her to snuggle into her bed and close her eyes and breathe deep. Anna told me this morning, "Mom, I have the touch." I believe she does.

Colorado Territory

2009-09-23T20:08:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we visited the Colorado Territory with some old friends from college (and when I say old, I mean YOU Mountain Momma! :) Some of you will know exactly what I mean, when I say it was a shpadoinkle day, or few days as it were.

The men got all geeked out in pads and safety equipment (when we really know that Big Red was the only one said equipment might be required for) and they hit the mountain trails. Luckily they/Brett made it through the day without incident and avoided any need to visit the emergency room before returning that evening.

While they were out, what was there for us girls to do? Shopping. Outlet shopping. Oh, and caramel apples...I'm still thinking about caramel apples...and the killer 50% off clearance sales at Old Navy...and caramel apples...

And see this stunning stunning lady? Uh huh, I'm sporting the required Easy Cheese on the face, a "water UNO" type rule applied during our late night card games...

And this equally stunning creature? Yeah, don't put it past me to include a shot of the one who MADE the stinkin' stinky cheese rule. I'll never look at a can of cheese the same.

Stinky cheese covered "Mountain Momma" and "Adolf" at 2 a.m.

Mmmm...and what is the best thing to wake up to in the morning? Bacon. What's better than THAT? Having three men makin' it sizzle for ya!

We had an afternoon picnic and hike here. I don't think that John Denver was full of !/#$ after all, this place was beautiful!

You guys know that Max's twin was only on loan for the picture right? I'd like this sweet baby returned to me at your earliest convenience. Thank you.

Oh, ain't this the sweetest shot? I think this lil' pumpkin was pooped from all the shopping the day before. She had terrific shopping stamina never before seen in a toddler, excellent training there Karissa! Seriously, what a little trooper-such a mellow happy baby!

Oh, and the show stopper-check out these two! Max, Sarah Jane, if you two hook up in the future I'd be glad to dig this shot out to put in your wedding video.

Thanks for the fun weekend gang. Thank you also Nana Judy and Papa John for caring for the other lil' squirts while we got away. I know I'm pretty much never going to eat Easy Cheese again in my life, but I'd definately visit the Colorado Territory again, and I'll certainly remember the fun we all had together.

And now, I must go eat a vanilla Zinger.

Things that make me smile...

2009-09-12T10:09:00.000-07:00

Max slept through the night the other night. He has been getting up once a night, but a whole night of sleep, yep, that makes me smile.

We camped out for the first time with all four kids last weekend and had a great time. Max is sick of the camera, but notice me? Yep, smiling.

Izzy is in love with her Daddy. Absolutely, without a doubt, hands down, he is her very favorite person in the entire world. THAT makes me smile.

And this picture. Doesn't it make YOU smile? Nothin' like loungin' in your Sponge Bob jam jams enjoying a morning cup of cocoa and some coffee talk.

Ah...and Quinn's excitement for preschool. . . If we could bottle his enthusiasm for school and I could condense it into pills and take one every morning-then I'd have the energy to get everything done by noon with time to spare! Really, I'm just glad that he has something special just for him. But his excitement makes me smile. Nothin' like joy bubbling right out of your kid!

Anna found this empty bird's nest while camping and insisted on bringing it home. I love to see kids so interested in nature. One time when Brett and I went backpacking I found a similar nest on the trail. He laughed at me, but I carried that thing in my hands for a couple more miles out with me to save because I thought it was so cool. My daughter and I share a love for nature. This makes me smile.

Uncle Dave, aka Tom Selleck, (or Superman in this picture-look at that curl!) came to visit last weekend and was forced to hold baby Max while I cut Brett's hair. He says he doesn't hold babies but it was that, or listen to him cry on the couch. Dave opted to hold the baby. Not bad eh? We can't force him to commit to a girlfriend, but we CAN make him hold babies!

Hearing my kids giggle and giggle while they wrestle an uncle always makes me smile.

Oh, and watching my brother being tender with my lil' ones...Dave walked with me to bring the kids to school last Friday and when I looked over at him, Quinn had reached up and was holding his hand. They held hands all the way down the road. Seeing Dave's tender side, and a look revealing Quinn's affection for his big tough uncle...priceless. THAT made me smile. We sure love you Davey!

What could be worse?

2009-08-31T17:08:00.000-07:00

Let me first preface this post by saying that you should be glad that I didn't include pictures.

Last night I thought I might die. Hands down, I'm pretty sure it was the worst night of my life! It all started yesterday morning...I got the kids all ready for church and got there before the meeting started, impressive for me, but then during the opening prayer Izzy let loose a whole belly of chunder all over the pew! My sweet neighbor Chad was sitting behind me and jumped forward to help (I'm guessing he's the puke cleaner of his household, Brett usually performs this duty, however he's backpacking for a few days and really missed out). I wiped up what chunks I could, then gathered my litter of children and headed out while Chad helped clean the bench for me-I totally owe him but I'm not sure how to pay someone back for helping with a thing like that.

Anyway, upon returning home Izzy yacked a few more times so I bathed her and cuddled her on my lap. When she fell asleep I laid her on a blanket on the tiled floor, then she proceeded to barf a few more times all while lying in a vegetative state. The poor girl was so sick which is hard enough for a mother's heart, but my poor nose-my whole house still has a slight chunder scent, could be that mountain of laundry sitting around that I'm still working on.

Well, after a day of spot cleaning, baby washing, nursing Max, and tending the older kiddos I put everyone in bed around 7:30...then my stomach started lurching. The stomach bug hit me from two directions and as I sat on the toilet clutching the trash can I wondered, "what could be worse than this?" What could be worse: getting my period, mastitis, and a bladder infection along with the flu, someone breaking a bone and having to take all 4 kids to the hospital with barf buckets in tow, or Brett having the same thorough digestive tract cleansing while out in the cold dark mountains of Wyoming-I'm pretty sure the guy would run out of toilet paper in that case, now what could be worse than that? Well, there's always being eaten by a bear, that would probably be the worst. Or would it be having a police officer come to my door to report that my husband had been eaten by a bear??? Yeah, I could go on and on but I won't.

Anyway, after a day like yesterday I'm appreciating the little things: Izzy's up and smiling again today, Anna had a terrific first day of first grade, Quinn and Addie held hands while we walked to school to get the girls, the kids cleaned up and went to bed tonight without complaining or throwing tantrums, we found popsicles at a local ice cream shop with character faces and gumball eyes just like the ones I had as a kid (no pink panther ones however), and I just had a good talk with my brother without any torture chamber-like screaming as background noise. Also, I have a 5lb. tub of cookie dough I found in the freezer which I don't want to let take up too much space for too long!

Life is getting back to normal. Now if only I could get rid of the lingering chunder smell around here...

Anna found Jesus... and other highlights of the week.

2009-08-28T21:46:00.000-07:00

Yep, Anna found Jesus this week. Can I get an amen!? He went missing last year and never made it for his debut on Christmas morning, but upon cleaning out the toy baskets this week Anna found Jesus, he was hiding with the dress ups. Sneaky Jesus. Sometimes you'll find him in the strangest places when you didn't even realize you'd missed him.Other news? My baby is HUGE! Yep, what is he now 6 or 7 weeks? (honestly I don't know which). Max is already movin' on to wearing 3-6 month sized clothing. My lil' guy is growing so much and smiling which I love but really, if the guy is gonna get to be a fatty this early, shouldn't he also start sleeping through the night!?!

This has got to be the low of the week (or it was the low, before the stomach flu hit a few of us)...we went out to ATK for the test fire yesterday and it was cancelled, 20 seconds before being set off. Grandma and Grandpa Rupper and John came up for it but alas, it was a no go. Bummer. Quinn was so sad that he missed his nap for nothing. Everyone felt a bit let down. We drowned our sorrow in soda. There isn't too much in life that a Big Gulp can't fix. You and me and five bucks Brett!

Mmmm...this is what I've been doing more than anything this week...kissing on my mini Brett. I love this man, and that man...yeah, I'm confusing myself too.

Oh, and my high for the week was a drive we took last Sunday, roughly six hours, Brett's standard time for a dirt road tour of the region. We ended up stopping at this campground in Idaho which was so pretty and the smell...I wish I could bottle the smell of fresh mountain air.

Oh how I love that crazy husband of mine! Sure, our lives don't have too much drama and we don't really ever go anywhere too exotic, but the best memories we have are of the little things that happen along the way: Anna shouting, "Mom, I found Jesus!", the miracle of her actually cleaning the toy basket out in the first place, newborn smiles, Izzy FINALLY really talking, the joy the kids have in just seeing their Daddy when he gets home from work, the sweet sight of each kid's face when they're asleep, tailgate picnics, watching my man snuggle our baby...all tiny little bits that make up one perfect life.

(note to Brett: A guy was just attacked in Desolation canyon by a bear, just saw it on the news. Please don't get mauled by a bear on your backpacking trip because you're more than just a tiny bit that makes my life perfect, also, I couldn't replace you nor do I want to try.)

Just a few days...

2009-08-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures of what's been happenin' in just the past few days... Okay, I swear that I JUST had this baby and already he's HUGE! Max is growing so fast and I'm more than a little bummed because my lil' newborn is already outgrowing clothes-in just 5 weeks!!!

I love this shot, I feel the same way.

Wish I could so more of this.

These are pictures from a trip to the Ogden Nature Center last Saturday. The weather was perfect, we saw some critters, and when we saw a deer Anna was worried that he would "horn us"

Luckily, nobody was horned. We did have a great time though.

Brett installed an attic fan a few days ago and Anna asked to keep the box, she said she'd sleep in it that night. When we went in to tuck her in at night, we found that she was a girl of her word. Priceless.
My Mom, aka G.G. came to visit and has been lovin' on the kids and helping out with projects, cooking, shopping, etc. Here she is with Busy Izzy.
Sadly, I thought this picture had the whole crew, I forgot Izzy. Better to leave her out of a picture than to leave her at the grocery store though, I haven't done that...yet.
Max gettin' a scrubbin'.
And the biggest news of the week? Anna proudly lost her first tooth.

I'm alive, regardless of how I smell...

2009-07-30T20:31:00.000-07:00

Thursday July 30th: wake up, feed Max. Feed and dress kids. Throw some clothes on and my contacts in, tie up hair and hit the door for swimming lessons. Return home, change kids, feed baby, hit the door again. Go to the library to get Anna her first library card (which to her is pretty much like getting her drivers license!) and a bag of books. Walk to ice cream shop nearby for a treat. Send bad thoughts to the inventor of bubble gum ice cream for the blue stains Izzy's cute shirt will inevitably have. Wipe down kids, go home. Feed kids, put Izzy down for a nap, fold a load of laundry and wash another. Feed baby, visit with Anna's newly adopted B.C. Grandma. Bake birthday cake for Anna who's 6 today. Dinner at Taco Time per Anna's request, she's quite fancy. Trip to Walmart, home to finish cake which ends up looking like a mudslide but tastes darn good. Read some Junie B. Jones, say prayers with kids, discuss highs and lows, and get kids in bed. Sit at the computer realizing that even though I skipped my shower today and I smell like butt, and even though two people quite obviously gawked at my 4 month pregnant looking ponch, I made it through my third week as a mother of four, Anna had a great birthday, I have one terrific husband, four dirty messy sweet sassy kids, and one blessed life, what more could I ask for...okay, well, a bath would be good.

The Sweetest Thing

2009-07-24T13:24:00.000-07:00

Announcing Baby Max

2009-07-10T19:19:00.000-07:00

Here is Maxwell James "baby Max". He was born July 10th at 7:59 am a healthy 7lb 8oz baby boy, 20 1/2" long of baby goodness.

Here is Wendy happy to be done with the ordeal of birth, holding her youngest and oldest.

Daddy with his two youngest. Izzy eventually warmed up to Max, but it took a bit of time.

Quinner loves his "cute brudder". His kissing was not staged. He was happy to have his new room mate in his arms, although his attention span is quite short. Luckily Dad was there to catch the baby when he was finished with him.

Since Wendy is a bit subdued with the burden of birthing this little guy, the extremely proud and happy father is reporting the good news. Late last night around 10:30 Wendys water broke, which started a domino effect of actions that led to a beautiful baby boy. There were many firsts for us, first time Wendys water broke, first time for labor pains and first time that I had no idea how to ease Wendys pains. But, early in the morning, the good person came with the epidural and Wendys pains were subdued and the surgery progressed. All went to plan and now we have a perfectly healthy boy and a healthy recovering mother.

I will let Wendy tell the story as she saw it through her eyes, I just wanted to let everyone know the current status and exclaim my happiness and joy from today's activities.

P.S. I know that fathers always send out the least aesthetically appealing photo's of their wives, so I tried to do my best for Wendy, but no guarantees. Enjoy.

Nesting

2009-07-08T20:03:00.000-07:00

The other day I told Anna about how Momma birds prepare for laying their eggs by building a nest, working strenuously and providing a comfy soft place for their young to stay. I then explained that we needed to work on our home to make it ready for our new baby. About halfway through the day we'd cleaned up one room and messed up another and Anna asked, "Can we be done with the nesting already?" My sentiments exactly.

Really, I gave nesting a go, not because I've had a sudden burst of energy like some pregnant women get, but because I don't imagine another time when I'll get around to doing some of the cleaning that needs to be done around here. The only problem is, once I get down on my knees and scrub the floor, someone inevitably dumps an entire bowl of cereal on it and I get cranky. I'm cranky enough as it is people! So, I've decided that my "nesting" will come in the form of randomly cleaning out an infrequently used closet, stocking up on snack foods and cereal, which is the equivalent for me of filling the freezer with casseroles because it's less work and I'm pretty sure the kids won't object to having crackers with peanut butter for every meal. Also, I'm stocked up on diapers, maxi pads, toilet paper and Dr. Pepper, AND I have coupons for Papa Murphys in my middle junk drawer-what else do I really need to do??? Oh yeah, we're out of ice cream, I'll put that on my list for tomorrow!

Something inspiring from the kitchen counter

2009-06-30T11:43:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I picked up the Ensign Brett had left on the counter, open to this talk given by President Monson. I have copied it here because not only is he an excellent story teller, but he has a way of filling your cup when it feels nearly empty. Read it. You'll see...

Finding Joy in the Journey
President Thomas S. Monson

My dear brothers and sisters, I am humbled as I stand before you this morning. I ask for your faith and prayers in my behalf as I speak about those things which have been on my mind and which I have felt impressed to share with you.
I begin by mentioning one of the most inevitable aspects of our lives here upon the earth, and that is change. At one time or another we’ve all heard some form of the familiar adage: “Nothing is as constant as change.”
Throughout our lives, we must deal with change. Some changes are welcome; some are not. There are changes in our lives which are sudden, such as the unexpected passing of a loved one, an unforeseen illness, the loss of a possession we treasure. But most of the changes take place subtly and slowly.
This conference marks 45 years since I was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. As the junior member of the Twelve then, I looked up to 14 exceptional men, who were senior to me in the Twelve and the First Presidency. One by one, each of these men has returned home. When President Hinckley passed away eight months ago, I realized that I had become the senior Apostle. The changes over a period of 45 years that were incremental now seem monumental.
This coming week Sister Monson and I will celebrate our 60th wedding anniversary. As I look back to our beginnings, I realize just how much our lives have changed since then. Our beloved parents, who stood beside us as we commenced our journey together, have passed on. Our three children, who filled our lives so completely for many years, are grown and have families of their own. Most of our grandchildren are grown, and we now have four great-grandchildren.
Day by day, minute by minute, second by second we went from where we were to where we are now. The lives of all of us, of course, go through similar alterations and changes. The difference between the changes in my life and the changes in yours is only in the details. Time never stands still; it must steadily march on, and with the marching come the changes.
This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now.
I am what my wife, Frances, calls a “show-a-holic.” I thoroughly enjoy many musicals, and one of my favorites was written by the American composer Meredith Willson and is entitled The Music Man. Professor Harold Hill, one of the principal characters in the show, voices a caution that I share with you. Says he, “You pile up enough tomorrows, and you’ll find you’ve collected a lot of empty yesterdays.”1
My brothers and sisters, there is no tomorrow to remember if we don’t do something today.
I’ve shared with you previously an example of this philosophy. I believe it bears repeating. Many years ago, Arthur Gordon wrote in a national magazine, and I quote:
“When I was around thirteen and my brother ten, Father had promised to take us to the circus. But at lunchtime there was a phone call; some urgent business required his attention downtown. We braced ourselves for disappointment. Then we heard him say [into the phone], ‘No, I won’t be down. It’ll have to wait.’
“When he came back to the table, Mother smiled. ‘The circus keeps coming back, you know,’ [she said.]
“‘I know,’ said Father. ‘But childhood doesn’t.’”2
If you have children who are grown and gone, in all likelihood you have occasionally felt pangs of loss and the recognition that you didn’t appreciate that time of life as much as you should have. Of course, there is no going back, but only forward. Rather than dwelling on the past, we should make the most of today, of the here and now, doing all we can to provide pleasant memories for the future.
If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly.
Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.”3 We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.
Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of “what if” and “if only.” Said author Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.”4
In the 1960s, during the Vietnam War, Church member Jay Hess, an airman, was shot down over North Vietnam. For two years his family had no idea whether he was dead or alive. His captors in Hanoi eventually allowed him to write home but limited his message to less than 25 words. What would you and I say to our families if we were in the same situation—not having seen them for over two years and not knowing if we would ever see them again? Wanting to provide something his family could recognize as having come from him and also wanting to give them valuable counsel, Brother Hess wrote—and I quote: “These things are important: temple marriage, mission, college. Press on, set goals, write history, take pictures twice a year.”5
Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family. One day each of us will run out of tomorrows.
In the book of John in the New Testament, chapter 13, verse 34, the Savior admonishes us, “As I have loved you, … love one another.”
Some of you may be familiar with Thornton Wilder’s classic drama Our Town. If you are, you will remember the town of Grover’s Corners, where the story takes place. In the play Emily Webb dies in childbirth, and we read of the lonely grief of her young husband, George, left with their four-year-old son. Emily does not wish to rest in peace; she wants to experience again the joys of her life. She is granted the privilege of returning to earth and reliving her 12th birthday. At first it is exciting to be young again, but the excitement wears off quickly. The day holds no joy now that Emily knows what is in store for the future. It is unbearably painful to realize how unaware she had been of the meaning and wonder of life while she was alive. Before returning to her resting place, Emily laments, “Do … human beings ever realize life while they live it—every, every minute?”
Our realization of what is most important in life goes hand in hand with gratitude for our blessings.
Said one well-known author: “Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend … when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]—the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.”6
In the Doctrine and Covenants, section 88, verse 33, we are told: “For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.”
The ancient Roman philosopher Horace admonished, “Whatever hour God has blessed you with, take it with grateful hand, nor postpone your joys from year to year, so that in whatever place you have been, you may say that you have lived happily.”
Many years ago I was touched by the story of Borghild Dahl. She was born in Minnesota in 1890 of Norwegian parents and from her early years suffered severely impaired vision. She had a tremendous desire to participate in everyday life despite her handicap and, through sheer determination, succeeded in nearly everything she undertook. Against the advice of educators, who felt her handicap was too great, she attended college, receiving her bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota. She later studied at Columbia University and the University of Oslo. She eventually became the principal of eight schools in western Minnesota and North Dakota.
She wrote the following in one of the 17 books she authored: “I had only one eye, and it was so covered with dense scars that I had to do all my seeing through one small opening in the left of the eye. I could see a book only by holding it up close to my face and by straining my one eye as hard as I could to the left.”7
Miraculously, in 1943—when she was over 50 years old—a revolutionary procedure was developed which finally restored to her much of the sight she had been without for so long. A new and exciting world opened up before her. She took great pleasure in the small things most of us take for granted, such as watching a bird in flight, noticing the light reflected in the bubbles of her dishwater, or observing the phases of the moon each night. She closed one of her books with these words: “Dear … Father in heaven, I thank Thee. I thank Thee.”8
Borghild Dahl, both before and after her sight was restored, was filled with gratitude for her blessings.
In 1982, two years before she died, at the age of 92 her last book was published. Its title: Happy All My Life. Her attitude of thankfulness enabled her to appreciate her blessings and to live a full and rich life despite her challenges.
In 1 Thessalonians in the New Testament, chapter 5, verse 18, we are told by the Apostle Paul, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God.”
Recall with me the account of the 10 lepers:
“And as [Jesus] entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
“And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
“And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
“And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
“And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
“There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.”9
Said the Lord in a revelation given through the Prophet Joseph Smith, “In nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things.”10 May we be found among those who give our thanks to our Heavenly Father. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues.
Despite the changes which come into our lives and with gratitude in our hearts, may we fill our days—as much as we can—with those things which matter most. May we cherish those we hold dear and express our love to them in word and in deed.
In closing, I pray that all of us will reflect gratitude for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His glorious gospel provides answers to life’s greatest questions: Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where does my spirit go when I die?
He taught us how to pray. He taught us how to serve. He taught us how to live. His life is a legacy of love. The sick He healed; the downtrodden He lifted; the sinner He saved.
The time came when He stood alone. Some Apostles doubted; one betrayed Him. The Roman soldiers pierced His side. The angry mob took His life. There yet rings from Golgotha’s hill His compassionate words, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”11
Earlier, perhaps perceiving the culmination of His earthly mission, He spoke the lament, “Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”12 “No room in the inn”13 was not a singular expression of rejection—just the first. Yet He invites you and me to receive Him. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”14
Who was this Man of sorrows, acquainted with grief? Who is the King of glory, this Lord of hosts? He is our Master. He is our Savior. He is the Son of God. He is the Author of our Salvation. He beckons, “Follow me.”15 He instructs, “Go, and do thou likewise.”16 He pleads, “Keep my commandments.”17
Let us follow Him. Let us emulate His example. Let us obey His word. By so doing, we give to Him the divine gift of gratitude.
Brothers and sisters, my sincere prayer is that we may adapt to the changes in our lives, that we may realize what is most important, that we may express our gratitude always and thus find joy in the journey. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Anna's Party

2009-06-18T20:45:00.000-07:00

These are for G.G. who'd be so proud of our crafting abilities that I had to post pictures...

Anna's 6th birthday is in the end of July but we decided to celebrate now because we'll be celebrating someone else's arrival into the world then and I won't have the energy to make dinner then much less pull off a birthday party. Plus, I'll be recovering from major surgery, an excuse I plan to use for a VERY long time by the way.

Anyway, Anna chose a bug themed party and picked out her own projects and activities for the event, even helped with invitations and tested out our activities.

Here's my lil' Ladybug, all excited for the big event.

We bought a bag of plastic bugs and Brett hid them around the yard for the kids to hunt for, after which we made buggy bracelets-love that Oriental Trading Company!

Anna wanted to eat dirt a.k.a. pudding and crushed Oreos with gummy worms instead of birthday cake. This was fun to put together and MUCH easier than figuring out how to decorate a cake for our theme! We also accidentally put a few trick candles in her cup and she was stunned when they kept lighting back up. Funny blunder.

We found these cute bug aprons at the dollar store which were good because our butterfly painting project was a bit messy. I just realized that we're missing a kid or two here. Oops.

Here are a few cutie bugs in the garden.

Anna got to have her cousin Madison spend the night last night and they had fun doing their makeup, getting their hair done, and giggling late into the night and playing all day before the party.

Dirt.

And this is a shot from last nights' sleepover. Nothin' grounds a handful of kids like a bowl of popcorn! Now that I look at this, I think I need to get myself in bed. I'm pretty tired.

Special thanks to Kathy for the loan of a child, Judy for transporting said kid, Izzy, for taking a nap through the whole party, and especially to Brett, without whom I would have gone crazy. Brett actually had to leave before everyone else did to fly to Florida for work for the week. Poor guy took the red eye flight so he wouldn't miss his girl's special occasion! Thank you for staying to help make Anna's party special, she was so glad to have you here Babe! And thanks to everyone for coming and celebrating my sweet little Anna Bug!

Squishy Babies and Ripe Watermelons

2009-06-14T18:47:00.000-07:00

Brett took this picture of Izzy today while she was enjoying an ice cream cone on the porch. I love this girl! I love her one dimple, her sparkly blue eyes, her sassy little grin. She's trouble but she's also the sweetest thing...when she wants to be, and when you give her sugar of course! Izzy is getting big so fast. She's FINALLY talking and she loves to dance and chase the big kids. She also loves men, like our neighbor Chad. Speaking of, today in nursery we decided that a movie should be made called "There's Something about Chad" because ALL the babies adore him. Chad, if I should go into labor before my help arrives I'll be dropping this sweet little girl off to ya so be around will ya!?

This weekend Brett did the traditional painting of the preggo wife's belly. When I was preggers with Anna it was a turtle shell, with Quinner I was jack-o-lantern bellied, and with Izzy Brett made a Christmas ornament. This time, a cross section of a watermelon. It's a very ripe, very firm watermelon I might add!

Izzy wasn't quite sure what was going on, but she loved watching the painting!

This is all you're getting of the belly Caralee. If we took profile shots you'd realize how big Bradshaw women get and you might never wanna do this. And Tina, I ought to send you a vat of cocoa butter because if that baby has genes like his/her Daddy then you're in trouble-Carson was a fatty! Yeah, look at this thing! And I still have a few weeks to go cookin' this boy!

Any bets on the weight of this guy?

A Few Choice Shoes

2009-06-05T11:53:00.000-07:00

Some people have hundreds of friends and just as many shoes. Me, I have a few good friends, and even fewer good shoes...
Yesterday as I slipped on my shoes and stepped off the porch to plant some zinnia starts in my flower beds I noticed that my shoe felt a little loose. I looked down and to my dismay I found that my flip flop had flipped it's last flop. I am not joking at all when I say that I wanted to sit down and weep. I'm not an overly emotional woman when I'm pregnant, its just that I have had these beloved sandals for more years than I care to relay here and I have worn them an average of 290 days a year during that time. I felt like an old friend had died. These shoes carried me to and from the hospital when I had Quinner and Izzy, they've hiked my feet through Escalante, taken me to Bear Lake, Tahoe, Yellowstone, countless grocery store trips. They go get the mail with me, yes, sometimes I've even worn them to church in hopes that nobody would notice my need for casual comfort. I don't want to leave the house without them. I honestly don't know what I'll do. Last night I found a similar pair of shoes online, but I feel like I've just sold my trusty steed, I feel unsettled and empty handed like I sometimes do at the end of a long book.

I told Brett about my shoes last night and lamented that I had nobody to talk to about it when it happened. I needed support. He told me to get over my stinky ol' shoes already and buy some new ones. These ol' guys are sitting on the patio, I feel like a traitor, but I'm ordering their replacements today, I just don't know how I'll get to the mailbox to get them...

What do you get?

2009-05-26T17:23:00.000-07:00

What do you get when your son decides to wear the training toilet seat as a necklace, but then gets it stuck on his head instead?

You get the camera of course! And a good laugh. Then you send him to show his Daddy/get his father to take it off because hey, that's disgusting!

big kids who say it like it is

2009-05-12T09:53:00.000-07:00

The other day I told Quinn that I felt like he was growing up too fast and I asked if he'd just stop it already. He looked at me matter of factly, shrugged his shoulders, threw his hands in the air and proclaimed, "But Mom, we're humans, and humans grow!"

This girl likes to call to my attention my girth, my wrinkles, and my stretchmarks, but says that otherwise we look just alike. Backhanded as it is, I'll take it...the girl is pretty cute!

Are my kids as blunt and to the point as I am? I think so. But man, I sure love these little humans!

A Packrat's Nightstand

2009-05-07T11:05:00.000-07:00

The other day I was considering what type of nightstand I might like if I were to have Brett build me one. I would definately want one with a drawer that locks as my daughter LOVES to unload everything I have on there and I find myself repeatedly shoving everything lying around back in the cupboard space. I think if I were to request a new one however, it would need to have very limited space because I just took inventory of what I have in my current nightstand and not only is it a tiny chest of random treasures, but it's a free standing small town library...

Here is what my tiny little nightstand is housing:

A thin layer of dust
a lamp, alarm clock, 1/2 pack of breath mints, phone and charger
Unaccustomed Earth- Jhumpa Lahiri- just started it, and probably the only book which will move off the shelf as it does have a due date at the city library
The Tipping Point-Malcolm Gladwell, interesting book on economics, a lender from Brett's bookshelf
The Good Earth- Pearl Buck, a good reminder that my life REALLY isn't as sucky as it sometimes feels, it could always be much worse.
Blackbird House-Alice Hoffman- a favorite fall read which leaves me craving red pears
Replay- Ken Grimwood-about a guy who relived his life repeatedly-really makes you think about it for a while after reading
The Universe in a Single Atom-Dalai Lama-curious guy, I've only just started this one
The Last Lecture-by what's his butt who was on Oprah. Just watch the video clip and you'll get the gist-trust me.
Me Talk Pretty One Day-David Sedaris-He's very gay and very very funny, I love his writing.
The Screwtape Letters- C.S. Lewis-clever, clever devil.
The March '08 Ensign- An Easter issue from last year
elementary school book of brain teasers- I sometimes like to quiz Brett on U.S. presidents-the guy remembers ALL of them!
a daily pregnancy calendar
The Book of Mormon- legally blind sized
pot of mango body butter
bag of colored pencils
my journal
a plastic play cookie
one newborn diaper
2 Barbie shoes, one peach, one turqoise
a savings bond,
a bassinet crib sheet
pens...

You get the point and I would really consider moving some of this, but then...you never know what you're in the mood to read each night. Maybe what I do need though is not a new nightstand, but a lockbox full of candy and cookies and a small fridge holding necessary refreshments and a few pints of ice cream. Oh, and some spoons.

So, what's on your nightstand?

A Few Simple Things

2009-04-28T20:48:00.000-07:00

I'm sure that we each have a mental list of things that would make the world a better place for us. I was just in the shower doing my deep thinking, and yes sadly, this is generally as deep as it gets for me, and here are a few items that would really blow my skirt up:

Baskin Robbins quality peanut butter and chocolate ice cream in my grocer's freezer section. Well, better yet, in a bowl, in my hand.
nightgowns without lace and embroidered flowers, with sleeves, and in colors and prints other than floral pastels-ugh!
clothing that doesn't pinch me off mid-abdomen, doesn't need to be pulled back up or yanked back down, doesn't fit like a tent, and again, in colors that don't make me want to gag
a complimentary brazilian bikini wax with c-section (administered following anesthesia of course) Seriously doctors, this would save our husbands from the humiliation of hearing us retell our pre-op horror stories. Yeah, you kinda wanna hear, but then you don't huh?
a sort of "get out of jail free" card but one that allows me to get out of the next ten weeks instead. God, if you're reading, this would really be a good incentive if you think about it. Hand one of those out occasionally and you'd get a lot more people signing up to accept the babies you have waiting around up there!
Another thing, a "go-go gadget" chocolate milk dispensing finger would be pretty awesome. One that dispenses mocha frappaccinos, and another that dispenses Dr. Pepper...mmm..now we're talking.
Also, I'd love an ice dispenser that shoots out the little pebble ice. You know, the crunchy ice pellets you get at Pizza Hut!? Yeah, I worked at a call center for 2 years JUST because they had one of those ice dispensers. Why can't Whirlpool make a home model with one of these?
Playdough flesh. Wouldn't it be terrific if we could squish our bodies around to be different shapes? For tonight I'd move my turtle shell to my back so I could sleep on my belly. And after the baby's done in there, I'd smooth my abs and mould them to perfection. I wouldn't need to pay someone to fix up my imperfections either! Although, I might dry out easier...this one would take some thinking...

Okay, so what's on your list?

You wanna see?

2009-04-23T20:31:00.000-07:00

Have you seen Jon and Kate Plus 8? Yeah, the woman had litters of kids, and then, after the second set of multiples, sextuplets, she lifted her shirt and bore her flabby abs for us all to see. She knew we all wanted to see her saggy baggy skin AND she then got cosmetic surgery pro bono because some surgeon's wife saw the show and got him to help her out. Nice huh?

So on Sunday as we were arriving to church my daughter told me that she and I look just alike. Well, that we look pretty much the same, except that I have wrinkles and she doesn't. Oh, and then she mentioned the stretchmarks that she doesn't have either. Nothing makes you hold your head up like a proud pregnant hippo like your daughter making mention of your imperfections before you have to waddle in to church late with your slew of stretchmark makers in tow. Luckily I have a pretty good sense of humor. Notice my laugh lines in the above picture? If you have any dermatologist friends would you please refer them to my blog? I'm not so prideful that I'd say no to some botox.

And now, for my other beauty marks. Do you see this belly? Yeah, that baby in there still has 12 weeks of growing to do. Twelve long, hot bloated weeks...The baby alone will be growing at an average of 1/2 a pound a week, can you imagine what I'll look like when July rolls around? I'm really posting this for my sisters who don't live close enough to poke at the bun in there, but again, if anyone has a friend who needs skin grafting and/or has a doctor friend who wants to trim this thing up for me in a few months and give the ol' girls a lift I'd go ahead and post my belly shots, I'm not shy. But Bradshaw sisters be warned-and this goes for in-laws too Tina, kiss your bikinis goodbye because we have some big fatty baby genes running through our blood! Tina-stock up on your cocoa butter creme now my friend!

Quote for the Day

2009-04-22T11:03:00.000-07:00

A good marriage is like a casserole, only those responsible for it really know what goes in it.

I found this quote today and thought that if my marriage were a casserole it would be cheesy, fattening, and so terrific that everyone would ask for the recipe. I can't tell you what all goes in it, but there are a lot of kindnesses that I don't deserve and a lot of memories and inside jokes that make for a recipe that can't be duplicated. Also, if it were something I were responsible for cooking on my own it would be either over done or cold in the middle. That's why I have Brett. Well, I have him to change my watch during daylight savings time as well, I can never seem to figure that out no matter how I try.

So, what are your secret casserole ingredients?

The Plaid Clad Easter Bunny and the little chocolate maker

2009-04-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

What happens when you tell your husband that he's in charge of packing his own bag for the weekend because you're sick of being blamed when something is missing? Yeah, he forgets to pack shirts and ends up wearing a sexy women's number from the basement at his Mom's place. Mmm...mmm... you go Mr. Purple Plaid Man!

And what happens when your daughter flashes her doe eyes at Mr. Plaid and begs for a bunny? He goes on KSL and finds her one that very night, er, uh, facilitates the Easter Bunny in making her 5:55pm wish come true! And he says he isn't a sucker for this girl!

Hopefully this little critter won't be in the house much...I can imagine the horror of finding Izzy eating "chocolate drops" off the floor...I shutter to think...

Here Plaid Man is pushing the girls in the tire swing and they can't stop laughing. Is the swing THAT fun? Nah, I'm pretty they're laughing at Daddy's shirt too.

And here are a few shots from Baby Animal Days...

Hope you all had a Happy Easter and that you stocked up on Cadbury eggs while you had the chance!

At Least Something...

2009-04-08T09:22:00.000-07:00

I know last week I was complaining about feeling like doing nothing and feeling like I can't get anything done even when I try. So, in taking a more optimistic approach, here are a few photos of the things I HAVE accomplished this week... See the above photo? Yeah, it's an arial view of what most of my energy goes into. This week "Double Double" has grown to the size of a half gallon jug of milk. See, I am doing something Brett, even if I'm just sitting at the computer! I'm growing a baby, performing a miracle while I sit here on my butt typing-top that!

Also, I've allowed my children to explore their creativity. See the crayons and paper everywhere? Yeah, our house is currently scattered with it (still, three days after taking the picture), but Anna is getting some good writing time in, which is one of her goals this month, and Izzy is showing how much she's been walking by leaving a paper trail wherever she goes.

Monday night we went up the canyon and roasted marshmallow Peeps and made smores. We attempted to write up some family goals for FHE but Izzy was insatiably cranky so we opted for a drive after the campfire. Quinn did decide to have a goal of eating hot dogs this week and we did buy some yesterday, so check and check-attempting to have FHE and helping Quinn meet his lofty goals-that's something.

Oh yes, and the only thing I have to show for the winter...Quinn's quilt. Thanks to Linda for lending me the frames and to Bre for helping with the handstitching...I FINALLY finished this bad boy over conference weekend. I cut up a slew of Brett's and Grandpa Jim's old shirts to make a keeping quilt for Quinny with a pattern I found online and adapted. I'm not a terrific quilter by any means and the thing isn't perfect, but it's finished and I'm proud to have seen a project to the end...which really is something for me!

Ah, and laugh if you will, but this week I made rolls from scratch that actually rose and cooked and tasted good. Brett, in July when you're back from picking up another pizza or bag of burritos from Taco Bell, please refer to this post and remember the rolls I made you, back when I used to cook. Also, if you're reading this post and the oven is cold and it's dinnertime, please refer to the first photo and remember the little bun I'm cooking up right now...and remember how much I love Papa Murphy's chicken and garlic pizza and a Dr. Pepper...hint, hint....

Nothing

2009-04-03T09:33:00.001-07:00

What do you feel like doing right now? Nothing? Me too. I have two kids in the tub, one down for a nap, a whole day's worth of housework to do, and I feel like just sitting and veggin' all day. I'm sure Brett thinks I do this all day everyday as our house is usually a mess, and lately I have been doing a lot of nothing, but it sure sucks when anything you have done gets undone by the end of the day. I have two rooms clean right now...we'll see how it looks at 4 o'clock tonight.

Anyway, my question for you all is this, how do you get the house clean, give the kids the attention they need, do homework, make dinner, grocery shop, clean out closets, plan meals, have playdates, and anything else you need to do in a day? What kind of routine do you have? How do you fit in hobbies or personal time? How do you lay out your week to get everything done? Yes, please post what your day to day looks like because I'm in a chaotic slump of mess...I think I'm doing nothing in anticipation of the nothing I'll be getting done when #4 arrives, also because I'm playing the pregnancy card and I'm really tired. I'm avoidant when I'm stressed though, I know that about myself. But, if anyone has ideas I'd sure love to hear them. And then I'll sit for a while doing nothing while I think over whether or not I have the energy to try your ideas out. Also, if anyone is sitting around bored, just reading blogs and you happen upon this, you're welcome to come on over and help out, I'll even give you your choice of chores!

Introducing "Double Double"

2009-03-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

Last night we took the kid in with us for my ultrasound. I'd like to introduce the newest member of the fam, baby Double Double, nicknamed after the most delicious In and Out Burger with double meat & double cheese (don't forget to get it "animal style"). Instead of being meaty and cheesy, both of which I'm sure he will be upon birth, this little guy is a boy-which means that now the Ruppers will have two boys and two girls-we feel complete! Now if only I could get some fries with that...

There was really no question about the sex of the baby. I had a feeling that it was a boy, one of the four times I've ever been right about anything. When the technician ran the scanner across my belly though Brett blurted out, "Oh yeah, that's a boy alright!" Unfortunately Brett was standing behind me when he made the discovery so I didn't get to see his face. There have only been two times I've seen him really show a huge display of joy-the time we found out that Quinn was a boy, and the first time he ate at Lucille's smokehouse(yeah, weird, I know). Regardless, we're both excited and relieved because I knew that we were supposed to have another boy, but we both felt like four was IT for us too, it worked out splendidly.

As for a name, we have been calling him Baby Max. We're thinking Maxwell James. I know, I'm revealing a name I like before we see his face which is weird, but look, you can see his face up there in the 3-d ultrasound right? Although, don't make anything personalized yet people because I may change my mind, I have a few months...he may just be Double Double, or hey Jill-maybe we should go with Sweet D? (We're liking the series you sent-thanks).

Winter Projects...

2009-03-16T08:11:00.000-07:00

If any of you know Brett, you know that he can't sit still, which means that he always needs to have something he's working on. This was his BIG project for winter-he made a bed frame! Brett doesn't play video games and can't be glued to the t.v.-both of which would be cheaper, but he builds things and this I LOVE about him-anything he decides to do he does, usually within 7-10 days. This thing is STURDY, in fact, I'm surprised that he didn't get a hernia carrying the headboard upstairs-it was a near death experience! Once in the room and assembled, he then painted and distressed it and finished off painting the ceiling and moulding he'd installed last winter. Our room finally looks finished! I'm so proud of my man, anytime I see something in a catalog I like he'll make it for me. It seems that every year he makes a few new things for the house. I make cookies and babies and he makes tables, shelves, beds, and the money to fund it all. Yeah, the only problem we have now is that winter isn't quite over and Brett has almost finished the desk he's currently working on for me...he's gotta spend more time in the office to cover the costs of all the time in the garage!

Anyway, thank you Brett for the Christmas, Birthday, anniversary, mother's day, etc. gift. You say it's all those things but I know that you'll be ready for another project by Mother's Day, then another by mid-summer, and another in the fall...I'll start thumbing through catalogs for ideas...

Why Mormons Build Temples

2009-03-13T07:18:00.000-07:00

There's been a lot of hype about the HBO series depicting LDS temple ceremonies in their show "Big Love" airing this week. I think if they do it accurately they might end up putting half of their viewers to sleep to be honest! Brett thinks people will watch and wonder "okay, is that all?" Taken out of context it doesn't really make sense. The church issued a statement on the official website regarding their stance on this issue. They also put up a video entitled, "Why Mormons Build Temples."

I liked the simplicity of Elder Holland's statement about temples in the video, he said, "I can go to the temple and feel close to God, I can feel holiness." The temple to me isn't so much about the ceremony, it's about the feeling I have when I'm there. Closer to God-that's what I feel too when I go there, but I can't portray that feeling in a video, or in writing, it's something you have to go there to experience for yourself. I guess that's what keeps me going back.

Just Life...

2009-03-11T20:31:00.000-07:00

This is Quinner in his new shirt and tie he got for Valentine's Day. Kinda strange when your son is ecstatic about getting clothing as a gift but honestly, it got him excited to go to Sunbeams, and, he looks pretty cute too if I might say so.

Last week when we were getting ready for church Quinn mentioned that his Daddy needs a new tie. I told him that maybe he should pick one out for him. He replied that he did need to pick one out for Brett, because "Daddy doesn't know style." Yeah, he's three.

Here are the kids enjoying the latest snow storm. We got about 15 inches the other day!

Izzy is slowly proceeding to walk, but she's doing just fine at the making a mess stage, she's quite proficient!

Also, she looks innocent, but the girl turns all green and mean if you make her mad! Watch out or she'll bust ya! (Izzy does try to hit with these gloves but they're heavy so it's really funny to watch!)

Random thoughts...

2009-03-09T08:00:00.001-07:00

Do you ever spend the time while you're waiting for your Cream of Wheat to cool sitting at the computer reading the blogs of friends, then friends of friends? Here I am again, in my pink plaid pjs mourning the return of winter after a beautiful sunny spring Sunday, just pokin' around, reading about other girls' lives, wishing they were all my girlfriends and they'd pop in for a visit. I think this is why television dramas are so appealing-I don't have any drama happening other than the daily tantrums of children, which aren't very interesting when they occur so regularly!Winter gives me the blues. I need people. I need to be needed. And I feel so shut in when it's cold out and I'm stuck at home. It's kinda hard to feel like part of the world when I don't have a job that gets me together with other adults, and I don't have a huge social network in this small town where everyone has so much family around to do stuff with. I need my kids to be well so I can schedule some playdates. I need the sunshine to cheer me. I need to find some decent maternity clothes. And, I need to go eat my breakfast...

The Chewy

2009-03-07T13:18:00.000-08:00

Jill, you may hate me for this, but aren't you getting sick of the peanut butter cookies yet? Okay, these I found on the Food Network website and they are chewy tasty chocolatey goodness. The cookies are huge, they're like a meal in and of themselves, get a glass of cold milk and it's the best meal I've made in a while! Anyway, I've made these twice in the past what, ten days probably. I can't get enough of them. Here's the recipe, you're welcome. If you make them and feel guilty about eating half the batch you're welcome to drop the rest off at my house because I'm not shy about eating more!

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown

Ingredients
2 sticks unsalted butter
2 1/4 cups bread flour (I added a bit more)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Hardware:
Ice cream scooper (#20 disher, to be exact)
Parchment paper
Baking sheets
Mixer

Directions
Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
Melt the butter in a heavy-bottom medium saucepan over low heat. Sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda and set aside.
Pour the melted butter in the mixer's work bowl. Add the sugar and brown sugar. Cream the butter and sugars on medium speed. Add the egg, yolk, 2 tablespoons milk and vanilla extract and mix until well combined. Slowly incorporate the flour mixture until thoroughly combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
Chill the dough, then scoop onto parchment-lined baking sheets, 6 cookies per sheet. Bake for 14 minutes or until golden brown, checking the cookies after 5 minutes. Rotate the baking sheet for even browning. Cool completely and store in an airtight container.

Our California Adventure

2009-03-05T07:55:00.000-08:00

Let me start by saying that my children are totally spoiled. I don't buy them any toy they ask for, but I'm a sucker for sugar and I usually end up with a few forms of it in my cart each time I shop. Well, the morning of our departure we stopped in to Payson market and got donuts for breakfast. This one was the size of a toilet seat, no joke, and it was the one Quinn requested so we got it for him. On the way through the checkout line my boy started to cry, saying that we didn't even buy him a treat! Really!? Yeah, spoiled. Rotten. I'm sure the dentist will confirm that next week when we visit him as well!

Okay, so somehow I can't ever figure out how to post my pictures in the order I want. Anyway, these few are of the beach in San Clemente where we visited Carson and Tina.

The kids had so much fun playing in the sand and getting attention from their Aunt and Uncle. Thank you guys for having us and for the perfect day at the beach!

Izzy enjoyed throwing sand everywhere, even eating some too.

Carson and Quinner built and then destroyed a sand castle together. Quinn loved the attention and Carson made it apparent that he needs a boy!

The kids and their Daddy. Yeah did you think I'd post a picture of myself pregnant and in a swimsuit at the beach? Nah.

Okay, so these next few are shots from the tide pools in Palos Verdes, our favorite place to check out the creatures and collect sea shells.

We had a good time looking for critters. Brett was fearless and scavenged an octopus out from under a rock! And of course there were the usual hermit crabs, urchins, starfish, and even a weird slug we'd never seen before.

And of course, Disneyland. We hit the park on a Thursday-I'd definately recommend weekdays because there weren't too many people and this time of year the weather is perfect.

The kids really had a blast. Here they are on Treasure Island.

Quinner was excited to meet Mickey prior to the trip, and Anna was anxious to go on all the rollercoasters. I traded off with Brett and took Anna on Space Mountain right after they got off. As we started getting going Anna yelled that her tummy was feeling funny. I panicked and told her to swallow hard. She kept yelling it and I closed my mouth and waited for her to lose it...luckily she made it but I was a little hesitant to bring her on any other fast rides. She kept wanting to go though and hit Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain-three times in a row! The girl was so happy! With her allowance she bought a journal and wrote about her experience right when we got back to our hotel-funny girl!

Brett just joined the gym this week. I wonder if it was because of the look Quinner gave him here?

Oh, and the Dumbo ride. No trip to Disneyland is complete without riding Dumbo!

These are pictures from a visit to the Long Beach Aquarium where we met up with the Merritt girls. Here's Anna with her buddy Grace.

And the boys feeding the Lorikeets.

Touching the stingrays. Here they tell you that the rays' tails are trimmed every few months, in case anyone is worried about having a Steve Irwin experience. I'll be honest, I thought about it. Then I went ahead and touched. These guys feel like slimy mushrooms. I had a roomate (I won't name any names) describe a guy's lips as feeling the same when she kissed him. Mmmm.

And here I am with my friend Chelsea. We only had three days in town and I would've loved to see everyone from Redondo, but I realized that we'd just need to plan for a longer trip next time so we can visit the old ward, or set up a playdate in the park to meet up with ya'll. Chels was nice enough to meet us here and it was fun to meet her baby Hope and to catch up. I think Brett knew Chels was a MUST for me on the trip so he was kind enough to occupy Quinner while the rest of us girls got reacquainted and enjoyed the warm weather. Thank you Brett! Thank you Chelsea also for coming to spend the morning with us!

And here is one last shot of my baby girl Elizabeth. I think she enjoyed her first family vacation as much as the other kids. She won't remember it, I'm sure, but the rest of us will!

I'm outta here, and yes, I'm rubbing it in!

2009-02-24T07:17:00.000-08:00

Today is starting out as "one of those days"-Anna woke me up to tell me that her cereal spilled everywhere, oh, and that she wet the bed, "but just a little bit." Quinn took off his diaper somewhere in the night and wet his bed as well. I'm not packed yet, or showered yet for that matter, but nothing is stopping me...I'm cleanin' house, throwing some clothes in our bags and we're getting out of here!

Tonight we're going to see Nana Judy, whom we haven't visited for too long. I think Anna is just as excited to see her Grandma as she is for the rest of the trip. Then tomorrow we're headed south. The kids are bubbling with excitement about going to Disneyland and I'm just glad for a chance to throw my flip flops back on and wear my new maternity capris, which I may or may not still fit in when the weather here is actually warm enough to wear them. Also, I'm excited to see Brett's face when his "wrap around porch" is put in front of him at Lucille's smokehouse-it's pretty much the happiest face you'll ever see on the guy. What else? I'm anxious to see my girl Chelsea and meet her new baby, I'm excited to visit my brother Carson and his wifey Tina whom we missed at Christmas, and I'm glad to be going to a place where I can get some In and Out Burger again. I'm actually quite simple to please on a trip, it's all about eating good food for me, the rest is just a bonus!

California here I come...

Small Miracles

2009-02-17T07:19:00.000-08:00

I don't have any really cute pictures. I haven't gone anywhere recently as I'm a total shut in (wait until next week for that), so I'm posting about the feelings I'm left with after a book I just finished. This week I read a book entitled Here if you Need Me by Kate Braestrup. She is a Maine warden service chaplain and the book is her journey of faith through losing her husband, dealing as a single mother of four, coming to know God in her own way, and helping out families who are in the "hinge" of life-when life changes from what they knew to something entirely different as they deal with loss.

I practically ate the book, I read it in a day and the thing I got from it was that there are miracles all around us, but we only recognize them as miracles when we step back and recognize God's love in what happens. One man she worked with asked with dismay, "where is God in this?" upon finding a small girl who'd fallen through the ice and was found dead, a girl who was very much like his own beloved granddaughter. She replied that God wasn't there in the accident, that sometimes these things happen, just as a glass of milk is sometimes spilled at the breakfast table, but that he WAS there in the arms that comforted the parents, in the neighbors who show up with a pan of brownies and tears of empathy when those accidents happen, in the warm dinners that spontaneously arrive in the aftermath, in the peace that surrounds you when you are going through something horrible, THAT is where God is. When you recognize that, hope goes and on and you realize that you have so much more than just the grief, and that miracles have not ceased.

Today I felt so blessed as I considered the miracles in my life. I have a neighbor who shovels my drive at the first sign of snow and who's done it for me each and every time it snows, he does it quietly and disappears but I know it's him. I have a husband who works so hard so I can stay home to raise our babies, a miracle- especially in today's economy. I have three beautiful children, one on the way and a strong body which is capable of creating and sustaining life. I sometimes take this for granted and feel like this is all too much, but it is a miracle, an absolute miracle. I have a handful of kindred friends who know my heart and who I can talk to about anything. I also have tremendous support in an extended family of siblings, parents, and in-laws who bless my life and my family in ways I'm not even sure I'm worthy of. Do I believe God loves me? Undoubtedly. I feel it in all the small miracles that happen around me, who could doubt God when they sit back and consider the good in their lives?

One Sweet Guy

2009-02-04T19:57:00.000-08:00

Brett, I know you secretly follow my blog, HA! So now that you're here, I just want you to know that I love you. You're undoubtedly the best husband and the greatest Daddy out there! I just came across this picture and I love it, it's just you and your girl totally giggling together and enjoying a moment. I'm always in awe at your love and patience with our kids. You have "the touch" with Izzy, and you are always rolling around on the floor with Anna and Quinner making them laugh until their bladders give out. I love that you can work all day and come home and put a smile on each lil' Rupper face just by walking in the door! Also, I love that you are so carefree about the hurricane aftermath our house looks like on a daily basis while I'm struggling to cook a baby, attack my mountain of laundry, and keep the kids from mutilating each other, and maybe or maybe not making dinner. You truly are the best Brett and I love you so much! Also, don't think this is a post for Valentine's Day because you know what you're getting then...a heart-shaped pizza and a Pepsi. Take that Hallmark company!

January Highlights

2009-02-02T14:19:00.001-08:00

This picture is for Carson and Tina-I think you found the perfect gift for both of my boys! Quinner has been loving playing with his new train set. When he and Brett set it up it literally takes up a whole room. In fact, this past week we switched Quinner into the "green room" just to accomodate said train set. Also, I'm hoping that I'm right in my prediction that we'll have another boy, in which case all I'll have to do is add a crib to the new boys' room. I'll also have to get another crib as the one we have will still be occupied!

This picture hardly does justice to these two Tomato Heads. Brett took Anna on her first skiing outing this weekend and forgot the sunscreen-they are both fried! They had a terrific time though and Anna was excited because her best friend was also on the mountain that afternoon.

Our lil' pink snow bunny

Brett said Anna refused any ski instruction, informing him that she already knew what she was doing. Yeah, I'm officially opting out of teaching her how to drive when she's 16, she's all yours Brett!

Izzy had a playdate last week, these toddlers know how to rock!

Funny kids huh!?!

Okay, so that's all I have for January. I'm pretty much a shut in when winter hits. Also, I've been so tired lately that what we've mostly been doing is reading and napping, neither of which are very interesting to photograph or blog. If you have any good ideas for keeping kids busy indoors please post them here or on your blog because I'm sick of board games and if I continue baking I'll look 9 months pregnant within the month!

Izzy Bear

2009-01-13T11:42:00.000-08:00

These are for Caralee...

I went up to check on my Girl yesterday after putting her down for a rest and found her curled up with her new bear pillow, compliments of Aunt Caralee and Uncle Steve. Isn't this so cute? She's like a little bear cub! I ran to get the camera because this girl doesn't really get too many pictures taken of her, and because all too soon I'll forget her as my little baby. Gosh, I love this baby! Izzy is such a cuddlebug and she thrives on kisses and hugs, she will go back and forth between Momma and Daddy to get snuggled as much as she can. She isn't too vocal-odd for one of my kids, but she sure has a smile that lights up any room!

Random December photos

2009-01-12T07:46:00.000-08:00

Ashley, Taylor, and me dogpiled on Santa

This is a picture from the shooting outing-it's always a good time to shoot crap up!

Even Anna got in on the action!

Somehow I can never get the pictures in chronological order. This is from Izzy's 1st birthday. Ain't she cute!?!

Here are my boys while seeing the lights on temple square.

Oh yes, and here is a photo for the album-Mom and Dad posing with the much hated living room lamp. Sure wish I took an after picture of this thing for Mom, she would've loved it!

Izzy and G.G. sharing some time alone. Also, sharing some Pepsi-yeah Mom, I saw ya!

Oh yeah, and In and Out Burger...so good.

Here is the line up of the "best in show" for 2008. Caralee's sweater had a light feature, Dad's had a glittery nativity, Steve's had some killer shoulderpads, Brett creepin' me out in how comfortable he was in his floral, and Kristy in a beaded beaut.

It's hard to see in this shot, but this is one good lookin' group. Who wouldn't be proud to be seen in public with these bedazzled holiday enthusiasts!?!

Wordy December Highlights...

2009-01-05T19:48:00.000-08:00

Just when I have some time to post some pictures, blogger won't let me do it. Fine. I don't care, I'll just say bad things about you, useless crappy blogger!

I will give a few highlights of the past month, although words couldn't possibly tell you about the beauties who won the Bradshaw Family Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest. I guess pictures couldn't really relay just how good In And Out Burger was either, but we did go twice while in Nevada just to savor the tasty goodness of a restaurant we don't even have in our zip code. We spent Christmas this year at my parents' house and it was good to see the fam and to share in the quirky traditions we've established over the years. We did go shooting and even got Mom out of the car to take a few shots at the living room lamp that she's loathed since the day she moved into the house. There was, of course, Chinese food, a pinata, white elephant gifts, and this year the parents even did a shopping spree where each of us got money, a certain amount of time to spend it, and a chance at a prize for spending right to the penny. Needless to say that Dad's accounting skills might be genetic-we split the prize money between 6 or 7 of us! It made for a really fun trip, especially for me because I got away from the kids a few times to shop just for me, rare. We all had a good time though and it's always so much fun to see the fam, play games, have laughs, and sit around in pjs without a place to go or a thing to do. Thanks Mom and Dad! Thanks to all the aunts and uncles for all the big noisy toys too, we've FINALLY just gotten them put away, but don't think we won't hold onto them for your future kids...nah, there'll be bigger noisier toys to get for them!

In addition to another crazy Christmas, Izzy turned 1 this past month. My little baby is still little, but won't be the baby for long, as we are coming to terms with the fact that she's gonna be a big sister come July. Yep, #4 is in the oven! I do say "coming to terms" because I did just get back into my prebaby jeans after working out all year and petty as you may think it is, I'm kinda bummed to go back to wearing elastic waisted pants, sexy as they might be. I am happy to get to have another little guy though, and kinda flattered that God thinks that I can handle having 4 kids under the age of 6, He has some sense of humor! I've always thought we'd have four kids but the timing of this one caught me by surprise. I'm mostly nervous I think though because I don't know how I'm going to handle ever leaving the house with four kids. I start to panic about the cost of things and the hurricane disaster my house has become, but then when I hear Anna and Quinn laughing and playing together, and when I see them hugging and saying, "we're best friends, we're best friends!" I think about how Izzy and her little brother or sister will be the same and how worth it it'll be to have another little giggling voice, another baking buddy, another dog in the dogpile, another face lit up when he or she sees her Daddy at the end of the day, another look from Brett of utter love as he lays with a curled up baby sleeping on his chest and I think, "Yeah, I think we can handle another blessing around here."

Real Life

2008-12-14T17:27:00.000-08:00

This week I figured out why so many people send photo cards with just the kids on them. If they're anything like me, they hate, I mean absolutely abhor visiting photo studios, and then they try to do pictures at home which end up looking like this one. I actually laughed when I saw this because it's just us, it's so real. Brett's always happy and easy going, the kids are dogpiled on me, the baby is screaming her head off, and I'm just shrugging with a look of, well, at least I'm not paying a sitting fee for this, but I sure could use a Big Gulp! This, by the way, is not the photo I chose for our card-when and IF I ever get the cards done.

So our Christmas is different this year as Brett is away on business and won't be returning until possibly the 23rd, but hopefully this Friday. We've jammed a bunch of this week's activities in over the weekend-we went to see the lights at Temple Square, went to Willard Bay, made ornaments, celebrated Izzy's birthday early, and had hot cocoa. It'll be hard being a single Mom during the first real week of snow and so close to Christmas. I love this time of year and the guy who I cuddle up with on cold nights isn't here to share it with. Also, I have some shopping to finish up and the idea of entering the mall with three kids in tow the week before Christmas kinda makes me want to purposely loose my keys. On the bright side though, we'll be spending a lot of time in our pajamas this week and enjoying Cocoa Krispies for several meals of the day. Also, I'm now free to wrap the Christmas gifts as early as I want and I have the bathtub all to myself! And, when he does make it back we'll get to celebrate by taking a roadtrip to Nevada and gorging ourselves with soda, bacon, cheese, and whatever other fat ass inducing foods my parents' house is always loaded with!

Thanksgiving Weekend

2008-12-01T09:51:00.000-08:00

Somehow I managed to not take a single picture of Thanksgiving dinner. There was a turkey, the best sweet potatoes ever, we were gathered with Kathy & her family at Judy's, it was terrific. Thanks Nana Judy!

I did get a lot of other pictures over the weekend. Here is Brett's and John's project-the tire swing. Tire, scavenged from the neighbor's junkyard, er, uh, yard. Rope, stolen and then returned by Brett, cutting by Papa John, and assembly by my tree huggin' husband himself, who did have his insurance card on him but thankfully didn't need it.

Cost to make tire swing, $3, kids using said swing, priceless.

Saturday we went bowling. This is commonly done by the Bradshaw clan, as we all love any excuse to talk about balls and throw or shoot things, but Judy told me she'd only gone once in her life, and John hadn't gone for 25-30 years! We don't know if Grandma K has ever gone (either does she) but we even had her bowl a few frames and we all had a good time!

Logan, Judy, Anna, Quinn, Madison, Izzy, and me.

Here's a shot of Brett and Elizabeth, can you see her chompers in there? Yeah, she's getting big, but she's still just a sweet happy little squirt.

Quinner's birthday was the day after Thanksgiving. He is now 3 and for his birthday he gave us a gift-he now uses the potty all the time because, "I'm big like Kai and the other big kids!" Yeah, I couldn't be happier!

Nana Judy got Quinner a Spiderman cake which he loved. He was spoiled with so many new toys including a set of play tools and toolbox from Daddy, very popular, and Zingo-a picture bingo game for kids-you weren't kidding Jill- they LOVE it!

Just Wishin...

2008-11-12T07:33:00.001-08:00

What am I wishing for you ask? For today to be over with. Usually I don't wish time away, aside from that last month of pregnancy each time around, but I wish I could go to bed and wake up to Thursday or Friday. Tonight is YW in Excellence night and being the YW Pres. means I don't get to get out of speaking, even with pink eye. I know I should suck it up, I can hear Brett telling me to get over it in my head, and yet the evening looms over me. I passed off conducting on one of the laurels who enjoys talking, and I even wrote out what I'll say, but I get in a panic in front of a group and I'm just a sweaty ball of nerves who mumbles, speaks too quickly, and reads verbatim off the page instead of using appropriate pauses and making eye contact with anyone in the room.

So what do I do when I have a monkey on my back that I don't want to think about? I bake. I'm off to the kitchen right now. What do you do when you're stressed out???

Halloween

2008-11-03T12:14:00.001-08:00

Sometimes I wonder if I took the wrong baby home from the hospital, she has such blue eyes and I don't recall checking her bracelet right after she was born. But, then, I see how much she loves sugar and I know that she's my girl alright! Oh yeah, I guess the cheeks give it away too huh?

Izzy started the night out with a nap on Halloween, she was a grumpy little bear, the excitement got the best of her I guess! She cat napped until the doorbell awoke her, but then she went out trick or treating with the gang and brought in some candy for her parents, thanks Elizabeth!

Doesn't Quinn bear a strange resemblance to Papa John? He was such a sweet little chef, he baked with me in the afternoon (pretty much our favorite activity), then set out to collect AND consume a bucket of candy all in 24 hours time. He is obviously my spawn as well!

Ashley would love this...remember that once cute fluffy clean pink poodle you bought Anna? Its a bit raggedy and more than a bit dirty, but when she found this poodle costume in the store she thought about her pink poodle and HAD to have it.

We hope you all had a Happy Halloween!

October Highlights

2008-10-28T13:44:00.000-07:00

Here's a little Halloween preview of Izzy, our lil' teddy bear. She's such a little cuddle bug!

I've had a few requests to get some pictures of Izzy on here since she never gets posted. Here she is...

Here are some shots from the fire station open house.

We went to the Hogle Zoo this month over the school break. Unfortunately everyone else in SLC did too but the weather was perfect and it was a great day.

Here's a shot of Brett, pre haircut. He decided to shave his head last week. You won't see any pictures of him for awhile.

Here's a rare shot of these lil' guys. Theyr'e usually at each other's throats but it's sweet when this happens.

My New Favorite

2008-10-13T09:50:00.000-07:00

So yesterday I had to teach at church and although I really stunk at my lesson, I still felt okay because I was wearing this cute skirt, and my black boots as well! I just found my new favorite store, Down East Basics. If you live or have lived in Utah you most likely know about it, it's a place which specializes in longer length tops and layering tees. For a girl with a torso the length of a sequoia this place is just a little reminder that God exists! I just got this skirt there-they have really cute skirts and everything is really reasonably priced as well. The selection is limited, but if you're looking for length, check this place out at downeastbasics.com

p.s. they also have long maternity tops as well! (almost makes me want to get knocked up again just because I know the tops will fit me. almost.)

September Highlights

2008-10-09T12:19:00.000-07:00

Nothing noteworthy to any man I know, but last month I weaned my baby. Because nobody really wants a picture to tell that story I've supplied WEEN, a pretty good band instead. I've been away for three nights a week lately and with the coming and going of errands, and Izzy's age I figured now would be the best time. The kid didn't even care, no transitional period for her...only wish my body took it that easily!

"...Who won in the end? I think I did. They underestimated just how much I love bacon."
In case you couldn't tell, these are pictures from a trip we had to St. George with the Smiths and the Hunts this past month. (yes, I pretty much forgot about pictures until the last morning when Brooke gladly posed for me.) Aside from Swiss Days, In and Out burgers, swimming, car injuries, $50 worth of pizza, and terrific deals at the outlets, we all learned so much about pork and the history of swine. We also had fun playing games and laughing into the night. Thanks for a good time guys! I hope we can do it again, and that someone remembers where our time capsule is! Thanks also to Nana Judy for taking Anna and Quinner for us for the weekend!
Another highlight for September, bagels. Brett and I started a tradition of getting bagels on Saturday mornings way back in our college days. We made it to Einstein's last month for some chocolate chip bagels with pumpkin cream cheese and then drove up through the canyon to check out the changing leaves. I think it's a sentimental thing for me because it's something Brett and I always did when it was just the two of us, and it's special now to share it with our kids.
We also made it down to Payson to see the family this month. Brett had to reach his goal of hiking two mountains by the end of the season, so while he hiked Mt. Nebo, Judy and I took the kids to pick raspberries. Our outing wasn't as exciting to the kids as I'd expected, but I really liked picking the berries, and we had some tasty shakes that evening.

And lastly, Peach Days. The Brigham City festival of peaches. I'll admit that I didn't eat anything peachy at the fair. I did however have some most delicious funnel cake. And the kids enjoyed the rides while Brett and I enjoyed the people watching.

So yes, as Brett has pointed out, my memories are mostly linked to food, okay-ALL linked to food! If I could make a scratch and sniff scrapbook of memories though it would be remarkable, and delicious.

Extreme Puzzling

2008-10-07T09:15:00.000-07:00

Anna has given us all a reason to consider puzzle piecing as an Olympic event. This weekend as our girl was putting together a few puzzles with her Daddy and brother she was leaning across the couch and lost her holding on the coffee table, falling and splitting her chin on the way down. As a result, we took our first family trip to the hospital where Anna had ten stitches put in to close the gap. Who knew puzzles could be so dangerous!? Anna was in hysterics about having to see a doctor and what they might do to her, but she walked out of the E.R. with a smile on her face and princess stickers and a sucker in her hands.

Brett and I laughed about it all later because I'd just recently told him that I was surprised that we hadn't had an emergency room visit yet for our children, also, because we have the most benign rounded edge coffee table we could find! I was just glad that he was home when the accident happened to keep the situation calm and to help with Izzy and Quinn while I held Anna's hand through the stitching.

Tagged...

2008-10-01T20:35:00.000-07:00

Okay, Chrissy tagged me and I'm sure I've done this, but I'm avoiding cleaning my house so I'm doing it again...

10 Years ago:

1. 10 years from today I'd just returned from traveling in Europe with the Coppas -I just found my journal in the closet from that year. I'll have some good reading later tonight!
2. I was best friends with Jay Tetzlaff, my "gay but not fessing up to it yet" friend from my Hawaii days. Ah Katherine, remember that infectious laugh of his?
3. I had perky boobs.
4. I could actually remember things
5. I was much, much more spontaneous

5 things on my "to do" list for today:

1. go to lunch with Melissa-mmmm..Cafe Rio-you missed out Bre!
2. planning mtg. for YW in Excellence-laborious, but done!
3. go grocery shopping-eh...maybe tomorrow.
4. clean the bathrooms-maybe after I finish my book...
5. take a shower -luckily I did get to this!

5 snacks I enjoy:

1.gooey brownies
2. cold leftover chinese food
3. a spoon of peanut butter covered in chocolate chips or M&Ms
4. Big Gulps and popcorn
5. Junior Mints-frozen

5 things I'd do if I were a millionaire:

1. have a maid
2. have perkier boobs
3. invent a fridge with a milk dispenser on the door and an ice dispenser with that good crunchy ice, oh, a Dr. Pepper dispenser as well
4. travel
5. pay someone to remember everyone's birthdays for me and to buy them all gifts on my behalf, as I'm crappy at both picking out gifts, AND remembering the occasion for which you buy them in the first place!

5 Places I've lived:

1. Redondo Beach, CA
2. Carson City, NV
3. Provo, UT
4. Logan, UT
5. Laie, HI

5 Jobs I've had:

1. paper girl
2. instructional technology lab assistant-yeah me!?
3. A&W drive through
4. substitute teacher, for like four days
5. custodian

5 people I'm tagging:

1. Bre
2. Brooke Anne
3. Jessica
4. Jill
5. Caralee

Rules: If you've been tagged, you then have to post your tag on your blog and leave me a comment once you've done it. Oh yeah, if you don't have a blog, then you have to start one already! Get to it sisters!

Sorry Brett...

2008-09-29T21:56:00.000-07:00

I didn't want to do it like this. I didn't want to break it to you on my blog of all places, but I think it's time that I told you that there's someone else. He's tall, he's chiseled, and he keeps me up all night. I'm about to go upstairs to him right now, he's waiting in my bed as I type this. And he'll be staying here with me all week while you're away on business. He doesn't mind if I'm just lying around in my pjs, he doesn't care if I cook dinner or not, and he's always there when I need to get away...his name is Ed. Edward Cullen.

Yeah, I've been reading the Twilight series and it's all consuming. Thanks a lot to all of you who've recommended these books because not only have I neglected my family, but the house is a wreck, the laundry is piling up, and I'm not sleeping because I'm dreaming about vampires when I'm not curled up with one of these books. Most of all, I'm embarrassed because these books aren't the best literature, they're, well how do I classify them? I guess you'd say the story is a bit of a high school romantic horror genre if that's possible. I know I'll hate the movie, and I kinda hate myself for loving the books, but I've gotta get through them this week so I can get back to my life!

And Brett, if you're reading this, please know that you're my one and only. I mean, even if the writer makes necking with a vampire sound sexy, and even if they're totally rich, she also writes them as being permanently icy cold-you know that alone would kill it for me. I do hope you'll forgive me for my obsession though and come back to me this weekend. I could sure use some cuddling with a non-fictional warm blooded man.

Random happy moments...

2008-09-16T12:27:00.000-07:00

I've been grabbing the camera for ordinary things, lots of them, because I feel like time is flying by and I don't want to forget all the simple moments that make me happy.

First is a shot of Brett and Baby Iz. Brett's giving me a ridiculous look of, "uh, why are you taking a picture of this?" And I of course took the picture because it was a sweet sight for me. I've been gone three nights a week lately and when I come home, there's nothing as wonderful as finding my man snuggled up with our lil' sleeping girl. Brett, you are such a good Daddy!

Here Brett's taking the entire car engine apart to change the starter, not because it was urgent, but because he needed a project to do. Always always, a project! Sexy sweatband eh?
This shot, I didn't even stage. These two are usually fighting over everything and here I caught them, sharing their crayons, their coloring books, even sharing a chair. Lately they've been making forts and playing school-since Anna started kindergarten these two have been playing much better when they're together.
And these last two are of my sweet little "Baby Brownie" -I don't get nearly as many shots of her as I have of the older kids, life just happens around her and I neglect to photograph every cute little thing. I apologize in advance Izzy because your scrapbook is gonna be crap compared to Anna's and Quinn's, I don't have the time or the pictures!

Elizabeth is FINALLY crawling, she has two teeth, and she lights up whenever she sees me-she's MY girl Brett! She's still pretty long and skinny, and still the sweetest happiest baby ever!

Christmas shopping

2008-09-09T12:05:00.000-07:00

Yep, I'm decorated for Halloween now and already thinking about Christmas (Brett, if you're reading this I know you're rolling your eyes right now!) So I'm wondering, do any of you start shopping way ahead of time and just hide stuff away until December? Every year I think I'll shop ahead, then we wait and end up among the millions of people packed into the mall in the winter, growling under our breath at the swarms around us, who're stuck in the same long lines doing the same thing. Does anyone have a head start already this year? And when and if you do buy stuff early, where do you hide it so your kids won't find it, and so that you'll remember it???

Random thoughts

2008-09-04T14:39:00.001-07:00

Is it too early to put up Halloween decorations? Brett says so, but I disagree.

Also, do the rest of you sit at your computer and blog surf between baby feedings, getting kids to and from school and folding loads of laundry? I keep checking other blogs and getting bored when new posts haven't been done, but I'm lazy about mine. ..I guess if I knew if anyone read this thing I'd put more into it. (Yes Moms, you can click on "comment" down below the post and say something, then I'll think about posting more pictures of your grandkids for ya!)

Also, has anyone seen my two older kids??? I'd better go find them, it's suspiciously quiet...

August Highlights

2008-09-01T16:02:00.001-07:00

August has been one busy month!

The most notable and recent event, at least for me personally, is that of being called as the ward Young Women's president! Yikes! I'm a little overwhelmed to say the least, but I'm excited too because I get to go hang out with teenage girls and pretend that I'm still young, that, and I get to go to Girls' Camp next year...well, if they don't kick me out for being a bad influence before then that is! Here's that little temple picture from the personal progress booklet, remember that? Yeah, I guess I have to get the girls to do something in there. They have no idea what's comin'! Aw...aren't these kids cute? These are my two older kids with the kids they're betrothed to, who are conveniently siblings also. I don't have a shot of the babies, but the younger kids'll be set up too.

Quinner and Ashley, aren't they a cute couple? I'm hoping to save this picture to put on their wedding announcement, showing that they've been together since they were toddlers. These shots are from camping this weekend, it was good fun, thanks for the invite LeighAnn!
Here's a shot from the Rupper Reunion earlier this month at Bear Lake. This is Nana and Papa with all the grandkids.

Yeah, and this is the stir-fry I made with vegetables grown in my very first garden. Zucchini, onions, carrots, peas...it tastes better with a little pride cooked in there!
Here is a photo of Anna with her very first fish!
Yes, more from the garden. Aren't these tomatoes pretty? My Mom and brother Taylor came to visit this month and I didn't take any pictures of them here, but we did make some tasty salsa (and when I say "we" I mean "Mom"). We also went shopping and had a good visit.
And here is Anna on her first day of Kindergarten. Yep, one in school, two to go! I could lie and say I was sad about her first day at school, but I was really pretty excited for Anna to have someone else to spend part of her day with!
That's it! That's the month at a glance. I'm glad it's over because it was B-u-s-y! It was great though too, but I love the fall above all other seasons so I'm anxious for what's to come...

It's a Party!

2008-08-19T20:28:00.001-07:00

Hi Daddy, Izzy here! I just wanted you to know that I've tried to be good while you've been gone...
I did get some hair extensions, don't they make me look older? Don't be mad, it was Anna's idea, she made me do it... But then Momma gave me too much to drink, and we started rocking out to Hannah Montana...it's really a ragin' party here when you're gone. I hope you come home soon, wouldn't want you to miss out on all the fun! I love you Daddy. Momma loves ya too!

Happy

2008-08-16T20:11:00.000-07:00

Last week we spent at Bear Lake for the Rupper Clan Reunion and it couldn't have been better! Here are a few shots of the kids having fun with the family, it made me so happy to see them playing with their cousins and running around giggling and playing ALL day at the beach.

In this shot is Quinner is lovin' on Jaida, aka Corndog (as her calves are the color and size of a crispy delicious fried weiner. Mmm... I love corndogs, I love that toasty little Jaida too!)

Here Madison, Kaitlyn, and Anna are hanging out on the porch swing of the cabin, just being giggly little girls.
And here Izzy is checking out Great Grandma Rupper and her cousin Sydney.

Thank you Judy for all the hard work you put into planning the reunion, and for the great food too! Thanks a million!
-Wendy

July Highlights

2008-08-04T14:31:00.000-07:00

The biggest news in July...Anna-she's officially five years old! Is five too young to get into clubs???
Also, and yes, I am posting it because it was a major breakthrough...Quinner deuced it in the right spot!
I wonder if we should order a child sized iPood t-shirt for Quinner to match Bretts!?!

This month the kids took to the waterslide at the public pool...Anna can't get enough of it now!
Izzy also got her first tooth, and she chews on everything!
She also finally sits up.
Izzy had her first campout this month, it appears as if she got her first smore too, but nah, maybe next year.
Snuggling up with Daddy in the tent

Anna wanted to go rollerskating for her birthday. We had a slumber party, with one friend, Chloe, as that is all I could handle, it worked out nicely. The boys, skating the night away.
My glitter Girl and her pink cake.
Birthday donuts.
Here's Anna with her Hannah Montana CD-her new obsession. Since her birthday she likes to have alone time in her room with her music blaring while she applies enough sparkly makeup to put a tranny to shame. Today we bought her a Hannah wig which she proudly wore through the mall on the way home. This kid is a crackup!

Saturday Night

2008-07-27T17:34:00.000-07:00

Mamma Mia!

I went out to see this musical with the girls last night and I LOVED it! (click on the title above to see the trailer) The bride I was in love with a little bit, she reminded me of my best good college girlfriend Katherine who is also gorgeous with knockout lungs, and, well, who doesn't know all the ABBA songs and secretly love to sing them? It was hard not to want to sing along, okay, I kinda wanted to dance too! Aside from the music, (if you can forget the fact that Pierce Brosnan looked like he was trying to pinch one out each time he attempted to sing) the show was really funny, really really funny! A disclaimer I will add, be sure to leave your husband behind while watching this movie. I was glad to have seen this with the ladies as I could just imagine the groan of my husband if he were there with me, and the complaint of "ugh, ANOTHER song!?!"

Eating My Vegetables...

2008-07-24T11:34:00.000-07:00

I have quite a lot of zucchini up in the garden and having already put some in a pasta dish and a stir fry I was bound to try something baked next. I found this cake recipe online, it has orange zest which makes is YUMMY and I replaced the glaze with a thick fudge topping (1 tub of cool whip and a cup of chocolate chips melted, mixed, and poured on top of the bundt cake). Mmmm...twenty seconds in the microwave and it's a moist slice of gooey heaven, I think I've found my new favorite dessert! This cake is beautiful, tasty, AND it counts as a serving of vegetables, so I ate the rest today as an appetizer before lunch, because I needed it! I would've posted a picture but I ate the thing too fast. Maybe I'll have to go get some more zucchini and start over...

Chocolate Zucchini Cake Recipe

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups regular all-purpose flour, unsifted1/2 cup cocoa2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda1 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon cinnamon3/4 cup soft butter2 cups sugar3 eggs2 teaspoons vanilla2 teaspoons grated orange peel2 cups coarsely shredded zucchini1/2 cup milk1 cup chopped walnuts or pecansGlaze (directions follow)
Method
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
1 Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder, soda, salt, and cinnamon; set aside.
2 With a mixer, beat together the butter and the sugar until they are smoothly blended. Add the eggs to the butter and sugar mixture one at a time, beating well after each addition. With a spoon, stir in the vanilla, orange peel, and zucchini.
3 Alternately stir the dry ingredients and the milk into the zucchini mixture, including the nuts with the last addition.
4 Pour the batter into a greased and flour-dusted 10-inch tube pan or bundt pan. Bake in the oven for about 50 minutes (test at 45 minutes!) or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan 15 minutes; turn out on wire rack to cool thoroughly.
5 Drizzle glaze over cake.
Glaze: Mix together 2 cups powdered sugar, 3 Tablespoons milk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat until smooth.
http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/000621chocolate_zucchini_cake.php

Another Reason to Love Watermelon

2008-07-18T13:37:00.000-07:00

Watermelon May Have Viagra-effect
ScienceDaily (July 1, 2008) — A cold slice of watermelon has long been a Fourth of July holiday staple. But according to recent studies, the juicy fruit may be better suited for Valentine’s Day. That’s because scientists say watermelon has ingredients that deliver Viagra-like effects to the body’s blood vessels and may even increase libido.
See also:
Health & Medicine
Heart Disease
Hypertension
Erectile Dysfunction
Plants & Animals
Food
Agriculture and Food
Soil Types
Reference
Erectile dysfunction
Berry
Seedless Fruit
Hyperglycemia
“The more we study watermelons, the more we realize just how amazing a fruit it is in providing natural enhancers to the human body,” said Dr. Bhimu Patil, director of Texas A&M’s Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center in College Station.
“We’ve always known that watermelon is good for you, but the list of its very important healthful benefits grows longer with each study.”
Beneficial ingredients in watermelon and other fruits and vegetables are known as phyto-nutrients, naturally occurring compounds that are bioactive, or able to react with the human body to trigger healthy reactions, Patil said.
In watermelons, these include lycopene, beta carotene and the rising star among its phyto-nutrients – citrulline – whose beneficial functions are now being unraveled. Among them is the ability to relax blood vessels, much like Viagra does.
Scientists know that when watermelon is consumed, citrulline is converted to arginine through certain enzymes. Arginine is an amino acid that works wonders on the heart and circulation system and maintains a good immune system, Patil said.
“The citrulline-arginine relationship helps heart health, the immune system and may prove to be very helpful for those who suffer from obesity and type 2 diabetes,” said Patil. “Arginine boosts nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same basic effect that Viagra has, to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even prevent it.”
While there are many psychological and physiological problems that can cause impotence, extra nitric oxide could help those who need increased blood flow, which would also help treat angina, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems.
“Watermelon may not be as organ specific as Viagra,” Patil said, “but it’s a great way to relax blood vessels without any drug side-effects.”
The benefits of watermelon don’t end there, he said. Arginine also helps the urea cycle by removing ammonia and other toxic compounds from our bodies.
Citrulline, the precursor to arginine, is found in higher concentrations in the rind of watermelons than the flesh. As the rind is not commonly eaten, two of Patil’s fellow scientists, drs. Steve King and Hae Jeen Bang, are working to breed new varieties with higher concentrations in the flesh.
In addition to the research by Texas A&M, watermelon’s phyto-nutrients are being studied by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service in Lane, Oklahoma.
As an added bonus, these studies have also shown that deep red varieties of watermelon have displaced the tomato as the lycopene king, Patil said. Almost 92 percent of watermelon is water, but the remaining 8 percent is loaded with lycopene, an anti-oxidant that protects the human heart, prostate and skin health.
“Lycopene, which is also found in red grapefruit, was historically thought to exist only in tomatoes,” he said. “But now we know that it’s found in higher concentrations in red watermelon varieties.”
Lycopene, however, is fat-soluble, meaning that it needs certain fats in the blood for better absorption by the body, Patil said.
“Previous tests have shown that lycopene is much better absorbed from tomatoes when mixed in a salad with oily vegetables like avocado or spinach,” Patil said. “That would also apply to the lycopene from watermelon, but I realize mixing watermelon with spinach or avocadoes is a very hard sell.”
No studies have been conducted to determine the timing of the consumption of oily vegetables to improve lycopene absorption, he said.
“One final bit of advice for those Fourth of July watermelons you buy,” Patil said. “They store much better uncut if you leave them at room temperature. Lycopene levels can be maintained even as it sits on your kitchen floor. But once you cut it, refrigerate. And enjoy.”
Adapted from materials provided by Texas A&M University.

June Highlights

2008-07-07T11:25:00.001-07:00

Uh, in case you weren't aware, the magic starts in Fernley Nevada, in a boarded up shutdown casino. Great huh? This was a stop we made along the drive to Nevada on our way out to the Bradshaw Sisters' reunion. Jill was so nice to fly into AND out of SLC so she could drive out and back with me and the kids-she's the best!
We spent 10 days in Nevada, hangin' with the fam, playing at Tahoe, crafting, eating, hot tubbing, and just relaxing. Here's Quinner with "Gwampa" just swinging and enjoying one another-they're so sweet together!
Jill and Dad organized a surprise 60th Birthday Bash for Mom while we were all in town including several of her friends from long ago. Here is a great shot I got of Mom and her brother David. Mom got a slideshow roast and some really great gag gifts. The party was good fun and quite a shocker for the old lady! We love you Mom! Happy Birthday!!!
Carson and Tina were part of the surprise for the party. I was excited that they came so they could meet their new niece, and because I knew Tina would hold Izzy all night long. Aren't these two cute with a baby? Get on it already you guys!
Here is Anna with her cousin Sara-they had a blast together and Sara was a little Momma to my girl-even reading books and tucking her in for bed-Sara, you're welcome to come stay with us anytime!!!

This is a hike we did early in the month. We gave the kids "bug boxes" (disposable tupperware containers with holes) to hold their finds and they each had a scavenger hunt checklist of things to find along the way. We got these guys to hoof it two miles AND they loved it! I wish I could say that the caterpillars enjoyed the day as much.
Here Anna and her new BFF are posing before the baked potato museum-yep, that's right! Only in Idaho folks! We went to Island Park with Noah and Kaila to their family cabin for a weekend, but we had to stop here along the way because who doesn't love a baked potato???
Here's Quinner trying out one of the Lifferth's toys. He's a natural eh?
The boys and the Tetons. We took "the scenic route" which is a nice way of saying "the extra six hours of drive Brett likes to add on just to avoid driving the same road twice." I was pleased actually-Yellowstone was beautiful and the whole drive was so pretty, AND the kids stayed happy all the way home.
This is just the best-these two kids instantly clicked and played for three days without incident-that's a record for my girl! I love how little kids are effortlessly instant friends with anyone. Thanks again Lifferth's for having us along-we had a blast!

My Dad is Better than YOUR Dad!

2008-06-15T16:44:00.000-07:00

Remember bragging about why your Dad was better than anyone elses? Well, my Dad is still better! Here are a few reasons why:

Even though you might make him crazy (and when I say you, I mean Dave) He still doesn't off you. (He might shoot you point blank "on accident" right Kristy? But he generally doesn't lose his cool too often). Nine kids and we all still have our heads attached-that's pretty incredible!

My Dad is one easy-going, laid back kid of guy, looking at this picture you'd think it's because he's usually intoxicated huh? Nope, just so easy going that even his eyelids take it easy-they do in most pictures-unfortunately a few of us kids inherited this trait!

My Dad honors his priesthood. Here he is with us this spring when he came out to join Brett in the the blessing of our new baby Izzy. Dad is always willing to give a priesthood blessing to his kids, I remember him doing so each school year before we started back at school.

My Dad loves to have fun! Here the kids were all jumping on him, playing "Dog pile" like we did when we were little. Even the family dog gets in on the fun!

My Dad is supportive of big decisions, like buying our first home...

Or getting married. He wants to see each of us kids happy in our lives and he tries to show his support to each of us in the way we need it.

What I love most about my Dad lately is watching him interact with my kids. I feel his love for me by the way he treats my children, with kindness, patience, and tenderness. My Dad is not only a great big joker, but he is such a sweet Grandpa to my kids and still a source of strength and an example to me as well. Thank you for all that you do Dad!

I love you!

-Wendy

My High and Low for Today

2008-06-10T21:19:00.000-07:00

The Iz is getting to that squishy, marshmallowy delicious stage of babyhood when you just want to strip the kid down and snuggle up with all of those soft rolls of chub. So, I do. I love this baby, she is such a sweet little thing and at the end of the day, there is nothing better than curling up with my baby girl on the couch. No, I lied, seeing my husband curl up with her-knowing he 's as sweet on her as I am-now THAT is the best! This family thing rocks!

I'm sometimes in awe of the responsibility of raising kids, maybe 'in a panic' is a better way of saying it. I'm in charge!?! I'm the boss!?! Really? Me? But I'm honored too to be trusted to care for these little people for a short time before they go out into the world on their own. It's empowering to know that God trusts me enough to send me these little strong spirits, He must think I'm woman enough for the job of teaching them. I hope He's right!

My high today is realizing that I have the coolest job around-being a "stay at home Mom," I realize too that it's such a rare blessing. Some may think it's selling out on a career, and it might be annoying that all I talk about is my kids, but my work is, quite literally, my life. And, it's a wonderful life. I wouldn't want it any other way.

My low today...hmmmm...it's probably just that I took on all the calories I just burned off working out by eating a few cookies. Not a big deal when you've got such a good high-not to mention a good sugar rush!

What is your high and your low today???

May Highlights

2008-06-03T21:28:00.000-07:00

This month our Lil' Izzy started chunkin' up. So much in fact that she started eating everything in sight. I don't think she even realized that she had a toe-hold on herself here! Oh I do love this picture. I can't wait to show it to her future boyfriends.
These next two are to show off my little zebra girls, not yet as popular as The Cheetah Girls, but so stinkin' adorable in their matching suits. I told myself I wouldn't be a Mom who dressed her kids alike, but Anna and I found baby swimsuits at the dollar store of all places and this one matched a swimsuit Anna got from Aunt Jill and Aunt Ashley last year, we couldn't help ourselves!
Yeah, and the answer is "NO!" to anyone who might wonder if I'll be posing in my zebra suit along with these girls. I am more into giraffe print myself.
Here is our scurvy pirate, Captain Jack. Chrissy came to visit this month and while we were busy scrapbooking we made the kids all mustaches and they "played pirate" out on the boat. I couldn't find my camera in time to get shots of all the kids, but they looked grrrreat! Argh!
Quinner and I made homemade pudding pops this month with chocolate pudding, cool whip, and crushed Oreos. Mmmm...my affinity for frozen confections has grown. So has Quinn's.

Brett took this picture of Elizabeth last weekend. I feel bad that we haven't taken too many shots of her, but this one is really quite sweet, a perfect reflection of what a happy easy little girl she is.
This is Quinner and his buddy Kai, playing with their "dig-ohs and dump-ohs" otherwise known as diggers and dumpers. We have a few patches of dirt left in the yard and the kids are constantly scooping dirt and driving it around the yard. Who needs a sandbox when you have dirt eh? Also, it's a good excuse for why I haven't planted anything in said flowerbed, the kids just NEED that space, I respect their needs.
Meet Princess Fiona. Brett called Anna home from the neighbors the other night and this is what our daughter looked like! I knew he was part frog and he'd passed it on to her, which explains the croaking I keep hearing at night!
For any of you bored enough to read my lengthy previous post, yes, Brett did survive the river. I will answer affirmatively that we did indeed bake and eat a dessert for and in behalf of him in his absence. I'm such a nice wife though that once we received proof of life, we made up for eating his cupcakes by baking a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, it was the least I could do, especially after he froze his chances for future posterity off in that river for a week!
This month was the end of preschool for Anna, here she is with her teachers. After the graduation ceremony when we were running errands I looked in the back seat and saw my girl tearing up and silently wiping her eyes. I asked what was wrong and she started sobbing the saddest little cry and said, "I just miss my teachers so much!" I know Cris and Michelle loved my girl and I'm glad that she had such a great start to her educational experience. Thanks to her teachers for making it so special for her, it warms my heart to know that she was loved enough that my child feels a sense of loss at the end of the school year, it's a bittersweet ending.

Happy Birthday Brett!

2008-05-20T21:36:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately Brett is on a river trip for his birthday this year. He is not here to have the cake which I will inevitably bake and devour for him in his absence, so I thought that I'd post some love for him on my blog, should he happen to look at it upon his return. (And, should he live past the tumultuous rapids and ferocious bears that I in my paranoia have imagined to be summing up his existence even as I type!)

Brett, here are 31 things I love about you Babe...

1. You have the sexiest smile. I remember how you looked at me when we first met and mmm...that smile... You also took great pride in your fabulous teeth and even carried a toothbrush with you in the cargo pocket of your pants. You might actually be a little vain about your beautiful smile after all huh!?!

2. I love that you will always do the dishes. I have them waiting in the kitchen for you right now. Okay, maybe for your birthday I'll give you a vacation from the kids AND I'll do the dishes!

3. You are the world's best Daddy. You are so sweet with our children and much more patient than I am. You take the time to listen to them, to wrestle with them, to snuggle them, and, of course, to read Moo Who? and I Will Never, Ever Eat a Tomato over and over and over...

4. I love that you encourage me to do things just for me and you're proud of my accomplishments. I love that you are proud of me for going to Jazzercise (we both know that I need major validation here!). I love that you take the time to look at each scrapbook page I make, and that you are always willing to take over when I need to get away from the kids, even if it means that you're stuck with three little grumps while I'm relaxing in a hot bubble bath. You validate my needs as a wife and it makes me proud that I was smart enough to land a guy like you!

5. You are a jack of all trades-you can do ANYTHING and you're never afraid to try something new. Have you given gourmet cooking any thought???

6. I love that you always have to have a project. Sure, this can be expensive, but you are always going, always thinking, always creating...if the rapids and bears don't get you, and of course, if you can escape heart disease, then you will live forever with full mental capacity like your Grandfather who still skiis and designs webpages at 93!

7. You have a very easygoing, easy to like personality. You like pretty much everybody and can get along with anybody regardless of how different they are from you.

8. You are optimistic. You think positively and you ground me when I start getting down on something.

9. You share in my affinity for a good movie, a greasy pizza, and a Big Gulp. There may be a discrepancy on the definition of "good movie" but we both know that the Super Big Gulp is an essential part of any balanced weekend.

10. I love it when you build me things. Not cakes, which I do like, but whenever I see shelves or a table in a Pottery Barn catalog you're happy to make it for me for far less, and I'm happy to brag about what a handy man I've married.

11. I love your two gray hairs. I'm only in my twenties so I don't know what it's like going gray, but I love how well you've aged Brett, you look distinquished. You make the thirties look good!

12. I love what a history buff you are. If we chose teams for Trivial Pursuit (you know, if we had friends to play board games with) then I'd definately chose you on my team because you know all the presidents, when all the wars were, what the battles were called, who lived when and where and what they all did...you know a lot of history. And you know that if we were playing Cranium, well then, I'm your girl-as long as I don't have to do the humming questions.

13. I love that you love to take drives, especially in the fall. I love that you'll stop every ten feet on drives through the canyons so I can grab leaves to press too.

14. I love you in a sweater, mustard yellow or any other color.

15. I love that you can make a joke and lighten up tense situations. This usually works, unless I'm angry with you, in which case your jokes all of a sudden aren't so much funny as they are a feable attempt to dig yourself out of the hole you've created.

16. I love that when the jokes aren't working, you finally come around and say your sorry-it works everytime.

17. I love your Swan Dance

18. I love that I'm the english minor, and yet anytime I challenge a word you've used it's always in the dictionary. Lucky. I challenge you to a game of Scrabble anyway.

19. I love what a geek you are. You are always looking at things from an engineer's perspective, thinking about how a structure is made or how different mechanisms work. Me, I'm just glad there are people like you who understand it and make it all possible!

20. I love it when your foot reaches over and rubs mine in the night. It's an "I love you" without words.

21. I love that you'll play The Newlywed Game over and over with any group of people even though we usually always lose. But I know your toothbrush is blue and you know mine is green, everything else just doesn't even matter!

22. I love that you let me be myself and you don't have an agenda of what you expect of me. I'd love it if you came up with a "to do" list for me though...that'd be pretty funny!

23. I love that you support my staying at home to raise our children. Even when money is tight, you know that I'd rather be here to hear all the cute little things our kiddos say and to witness them rolling over and starting to walk and talk-that those things are more important than having a nice boat, designer clothes or furniture that isn't second hand. I appreciate the opportunity you afford me to stay home. Plus, the Brown Trout is a killer boat and you know it! It's vintage Baby!

24. I love that you love nuts. Because when someone makes the mistake of buying us an assorted box of See's candies, I know that half of them don't have to go to waste, you actually prefer those nutty guys!

25. I love that you love bacon and cheese and all things fried. Were we made for each other or what!?!

26. I love that we know each other well enough that we can interpret one another's thoughts from what is said. Like when we're on a dirt road on a mountain and there is an alternate route, when you say "I wonder where that road goes?" I know it really means, "I don't know where that road goes, do you mind if we drive it for the next two hours?" Or when you ask where something is and I say, "I don't know," you know that what I'm really saying is, "I might know, but we both know I'm too lazy to go get it."

27. I think Jemaine said it best: "Brett, you've got it go-in' o-o-on!"

28. I love that you're a hard worker. Anything you do you put your all into it and you don't stop until it's finished.

29. I love that you're assertive, you get your point across and get your way but you're polite about it.

30. I love that you are the best man I know, AND that you're mine. Unless you think the thing you and Reid have is worth a shot. He he he.

31. I love that you're in your thirties and I'm in my twenties. You're an old man Brett!!!

I love you Babe! I hope you know that, even if I'm a crappy gift giver and the best idea I've ever come up with on my own was a Dwight Schrute bobblehead doll! I hope you have/had a great birthday. Now I'm off to make your cake for me to eat later...

Happy Birthday Ariann!

2008-05-20T20:15:00.000-07:00

I am usually embarrassed every year when I call Ariann for her birthday and realize that I've called a month early, only to forget to call or send a card the following month. I'm crappy when it comes to birthdays, but I never let go of a good friend, and this is one girl worth celebrating, even if I'm a month, or a few days off... (it really is May 21st isn't it???)
Happy Birthday Ariann!!! I'm posting birthday wishes to you for a special day. I'd like to write a few of my favorite things about my good ol' girl, thirty of them as she is 30 this year! Here it goes...

1. Ariann has been my best friend since junior high/high school-my "go to girl" who I call with all my BIG stuff, and who I can call about all the little stuff too. (it's rare to find these kinds of girlfriends, I know, I've looked!)
2. Ariann is judgemental, in a motherly protective cougar sort of way and she will claw the eyes out of anyone who crosses someone she loves.
3. Ariann will tell you when you have a zit ready to burst or a dangling nose monkey-she doesn't want you to be embarrassed, and she doesn't wanna look at the thing and pretend it's not there-it's not her style!
4. Ariann knows a good deal when she sees one. One year she bought me a skirt and when I opened the gift she said something to the effect of, "yeah, it's cute huh? I only paid 3 bucks for it on clearance, now will you wear it tomorrow so I can steal it?" She also steals clothes, but I've never loved that so it doesn't get it's own number.
5. Ariann sometimes returns clothes. You do have to go to her house and dig whatever you want back out from under a pile however.
6. Ariann always lets me cry on her shoulder, even if it's wasted tears over some stupid guy who she knows is stupid. She will also then tell you how stupid said guy is. (Pretty much my whole junior year she was running to get me tissue!)
7. Stove Top stuffing with sour cream, need I say more?
8. Ariann, my diabetic friend, has been known to smuggle cadbury creme eggs home in her bra so her Mom wouldn't find out. (Diane, if you're reading this, it wasn't my idea!)
9. Ariann will dress up in ridiculous clothing and shamelessly strut her stuff in public. I'd post pictures but it would draw too much attention!
10. Ariann isn't shy when it comes to buying bras with high fiber content, the more padded the better!
11. Ariann has an infectious laugh, a laugh that makes you laugh just hearing it.
12. Some of my fondest memories of high school are of my best friend and I lying around on the floor of my bedroom just talking and laughing, talking and laughing all night long.
13. Ariann knows my deep dark secrets and loves me anyway.
14. Ariann and I used to have secret meetings in the library otherwise known as "doctor appointments" to the attendance lady, where we'd try to read exerpts from steamy novels aloud to each other without laughing and we'd end up cracking up, peeing our pants a little bit, and getting seriously dirty looks from the librarian. We nearly got banned from the public library. Ariann, you're trouble!
15. strawberry daquiris in Pam's laundry room and harrassing Chris Miller. Yeah, you remember!
16.Ariann has always stood up for me, even if what someone else was saying was true and it just wasn't nice of them.
17. Ariann has always had a firm testimony of the gospel and has held me up with her faith when mine was lacking. I remember what amazing letters you'd write me during our freshman year Ariann, you'd write just what I needed to hear and you supported me from hundreds of miles away. I know that God loves me because he provided you in my life to help me through some really bad times, and to laugh with me during the good times too. I remember one time when you asked how I knew that there is a God, you are my answer. Your friendship is proof that God exists.
18.you aren't afraid to tell someone if what they're wearing makes them look fat.
19. also, you'll say what alot of people think but don't say. Sometimes you say it a little too loudly, but it's funny nonetheless!
20. you love cheesy love music. Your iPod is probably full of Air Supply, Chicago, and Eric Carmen isn't it?
21. you know how to recycle your paper, Grandma Dot would be so proud!
22. you tell good stories, even if you REALLY REALLY exaggerate.
23. you like to make people feel good...
by telling them that some hot guy is staring at them, only to find out later that said hot guy's friend thought I was constantly checking him out. Yes, remember when you unwittingly made me John Franklin's stalker??? Yeah, that 7th grade crush is hard to break huh? It's okay, we both know he's really gay, a guy that good looking HAS to be gay!
24. You're willing to admit that you had a crush on John Franklin. I never did. Never.
25. You flew back to go to our reunion with me and the best part of the whole thing was just being with you.
26.You know what you want. Yes Travis, if you're reading this, she knew she wanted to marry you since senior Prom night, since Senior Prom night!!! And you get what you want don't you Ariann! You go girl! (P.S. way to go with the iPod Travis, I think Ariann's post shamed many a husband!)
27. Ariann, you are someone who I can be myself with, you don't put on any fronts and you're so fun and easy to be with.
28.you get crazy about funny things, like not going in your yard because a snake might come after you, or wanting to flee Florida for fear that a gator will eat your babies. I think I get this nutty paranoia from you! (this week Brett is going on a river rafting trip and I'm afraid a bear will eat him, I even added into the clause of him going that his travel companions would have to find me a replacement husband should mine meet an untimely death!)
29. I love that you are still my same friend after all these years. Our families may change, our state of residence too, but I am always just a phone call away from someone who loves me. (Hopefully I'll make that call on time this year eh?)
30. I love that you are in your thirties and I'm still in my twenties. You're a freakin' old woman Ariann!!!
I love you Girl! I hope you have a special day!
-Wendy

April Highlights

2008-05-07T19:39:00.000-07:00

I'm glad April is over as I just realized, it's monthly highlight time! With that said, it is also time to pay the mortgage as well. Caralee, if you're reading this, email me later and remind me to do that will ya?

Probably the most recent excitement at our house has been the new swingset we bought last weekend, a little advance purchase on that economic stimulus package! This is it, it's huge, and now I finally have something within the fenced yard to keep the kids from escaping! The only problem now, is that my kids require additional friends to enjoy said swingset with. I'd better get stocked up on Otter Pops.

I posted this picture because sadly, it's the only decoration I have to display between now and, well, fall, but it doesn't matter, Spring is here!!! We'll be outside so much now that it's time to focus on the yard instead of what's going on inside...

Two weeks ago we went shopping for shrubs and bushes for the yard. While I went back to the car to calm Quinn and feed the baby, Brett and Anna continued shopping. They came back with a pair of these hanging flower baskets. Aren't they beautiful!?! Okay, this picture is a poor representation, but I wanted to post my tulips for Mom. I've been so proud each time a daffodil and tulip opened over the past several weeks. I'm just amazed that something I planted actually grew! Maybe there's hope for that garden after all!
This is Quinner and his new hammer. Our ward is sponsoring a pinewood derby open to everyone and Anna and Q worked with Daddy this week to design their cars.
What a proud little boy!
Izzy is growing before our eyes. This month she rolled over for the first time and she grabs at and chews on anything she can. She is still just the easiest sweetest baby ever, I don't know how I got so lucky!

Here is Anna at Baby Animal Days attempting to pet Wilbur.
Ah yes, Brett couldn't stand the sight of his boy riding a pink and purple tricycle so he got the little guy a big boy bike. Aight he cute? Yeah, he still rides the pink bike most of the time though, don't tell his Daddy!
"Somebody's been sleeping in my bed." Here is my little Goldilocks. Quinner has been sneaking out of his bed at night and climbing into mine. A couple of nights a week we find him like this when we head to bed. He's hard to resist snuggling up with and Brett often cuddles in with him until I pull him away and return him to his room.
I remember convening in my parents' bed on Saturday mornings as a kid to snuggle in and watch cartoons. Yep, I even remember all those "mice" that would squeak out under the bed too. We don't have mice, but there are some barking spiders. Two little cuddlebugs.

Little Known Facts

2008-04-21T12:36:00.000-07:00

Sometimes Brett asks me to tell him something about me that he doesn't know, it's led to some interesting story telling... you really have to dig after knowing each other for nine years! Did you know that one time Brett rode a horse in a parade wearing nothing but a loin cloth and an indian headdress? Uh huh! That's right!

Yeah, here is some personal trivia on me, maybe not as incriminating as his:

Quite often when I see random people in public I try to come up with who they are a mix of... for example: I look like a mix of Geena Davis, Sally, from The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Pheobe from Friends. Also, Daron Williams on the Jazz team looks like a mix of my brothers Carson and David-a perfect blend of the two, it's true. Brett laughs when I do this but I'll tell ya, I'm pretty right on every time!

I've had several nicknames: When, Wendy Pie, Gwendolyn, The Mailman (not for the same reasons as Karl Malone), Woodstock(I wore every hand-me-down Jill gave me), Wheredy Clipshaw, Hot Mom (I'm conditioning Quinn to call me this when he wants something-it makes me laugh and it makes me happy to help the little guy!), also Weiner (Erin Hopper's Mom called me that-yet another reason to dislike Erin!) and Babe-how Brett usually gets my attention.

I can walk away from a movie or from reading a book when I'm already halfway in the middle. If it sucks it sucks you know!?!

I sometimes judge a book by it's cover. I've read several books just because I liked the jacket.

I hate housecleaning. Hate it. I usually only thoroughly clean if someone is coming over to stay the night. This applies to washing dishes as well. In fact, I hate washing dishes so much that I do them SO SLOW...I carry this from childhood. My Mom and I would fight over why the dishes weren't done, then I'd clean them, but I'd mope and do them ever so slow. Brett usually takes over at our house, he'd rather do them himself than watch me wash like a slug. He usually does all the dishes every night, I'm a very lucky woman!

I lie. I do. I tell lies when someone asks, "Do I look fat in this?" if they really do I'm not saying! It's benevolent so I feel fine about it. P.S. Don't ask me to go shopping with you because I won't tell you what I think. Now if you have a nose monkey or a big nasty zit that needs popping I'll let you in on that, that's for your benefit too! Also, I like to embellish when I tell stories or relay an incident that happened. I exaggerate, but I tell a good story!

So? What don't I know about you?