Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!

I have spent the day being pampered by my kids! Their father is training them well! He got up at about 7am yesterday (Saturday) and took all five shopping! My parents were up for a visit, so mom, dad, and I got up around 9 and headed to the commissary! Blake took the kids to do the prep-work and shopping for mother's day.



This morning Grandma and I were treated to homemade waffles, eggs, juice, and milk. At church, we were served caked and punch. The guys headed home with the kids as soon as church was over. I had to help Relief Society clean up (though I didn't....I abandoned my duties! Sorry Pam!). Mom and I got back to the house, and they already had the food nearly done! For lunch we had grilled steak (was very good!), green beans, corn, and hot rolls. For dessert, we got to choose from a variety cheesecake! Also VERY good!





We ate while watching 27 Dresses. The kids did an excellent job keeping our glasses full, and making sure all our needs were being met! We were truly spoiled! What great kids I have!



After dinner came the gifts! The kids gave us both handmade cards, some with seed packets tucked in a little pocket. I guess I'll be trying to grow some flowers! We gave mom (grandma) her very own webkinz! Now she can log on and play with the kids over the net! The kids picked her a Collie, and named her.......Lassie! Go figure. The kids are super excited they can mail and chat with grandma on Webkinz now. We also gave her 2 games for her Wii! Ofcourse we tested them out before they headed home! She got Big Brain Academy, and Game Party. We tried Game Party and it was fun. I SUCKED at everything I tried....SkillBall on the Wii is NOT the same as in the arcade.





The kids (and Blake) totally spoiled me! I got my own wireless guitar to xbox 360! Now I can really Rock it like a Star! hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!That is just too funnY! THough I did complete Roxanne on Expert! I even got 3 stars! (yeah, I know it is easy!) They also got me a great gift certificate to the new Spa in town. I get a haircut, pedi, mani, and a 60 minute hot stone massage. Not sure how I feel about the massage........I dont like people touching me, plus, I am not on the skinny side of heavy! :P There is a lot of me to massage! Plus I usually laugh anytime someone rubs on me....so this could make for a very interesting time at the spa! Boy do I need the mani/pedi though!





So a great mother's day! The gifts are great, and I know I'll enjoy them. The real beauty and blessings of the day come from my kids! We have really been blessed with such wonderful kids! Not a day goes by that I don't think how blessed we are, and look forward with wonder to what lies ahead! In a few short months, Jonathon will get the priesthood, and in a year and a half, KK will go into young womens! Drew will start school this year!.....They are growing up so quickly right before my eyes! Sometimes I feel like I am in the movie, CLICK, and things are flying by and I just can't get the time back! I am really feeling grateful to have such a wonderful husband and fantastic children, not to mention the wonderful mother and father I was blessed to have!

I have blog block.....

I have started about 4 or 5 entries and shelved them all. I guess I have blog block.

I am neck high in field trip forms, teacher appreciation sheets, and end of year stuff for three kids! By the time evening rolls around, my brain is little better than bland mashed potatoes.

One exciting thing has happened in our home recently. Sam has crossed the threshold from baby and toddler into full-blown miniature boy! How is that you say? He is only two, is he not? Certainly he isn't to boyhood yet! Oh, but he is! My proof.....that child cannot hear a "poof" (that is how he says poot) without belly laughing. He thinks farts (did I just use the F-word!) are the funniest thing! Unfortunately for us, Jonathon tries to make him laugh, and our noses are being assaulted in some rather unthinkable ways. It is like a hurricane of putrid air rushing your nose! I certainly hope this amusement is a passing one.....or rather one that stops passing? Oh, and who knew 11 year old boys could do that on demand??????????

Why do my posts seem to always make their way to body functions????? Oh, I have four boys....that's right!

A funny little story....Sam has a very sensitive bum. We learned that there is one product that works well for him. In some ways, it has been a miracle cream for him. The only problem....the products name! So what is it already?????

http://www.buttpaste.com/BLButtPaste.php

Now here is why the name presents a problem. Sam has learned to say "butt paste" (and he has learned to say his own version of Andrew). Anytime he needs a diaper change, he will bring you a diaper, wipes, and butt paste. Shortly after Sam started saying "butt paste" and asking for it anytime he had a stinky. He loves his butt paste. It makes him feel better when he has (as we so crudely call it) BUTT RASH. One day not too long ago I was cleaning the kitchen floor (and NO this inst fiction!:P i do actually clean sometimes!). The tile gets VERY slick when wet. Just as I was warning Drew to be careful, he slipped and fell and bumped the back of his head on the floor. He was crying and saying he was hurt. I immediately went to him and was comforting Andrew when Sam walks up. As serious as he could be, Samuel looks at Andrew. Tilts his head off to the side, obviously concerned about Andrew's head. I am rubbing it and kissing his head where it hit the floor.

With all the sincerity of a two year old who LOVES his big brother, Sam says to Andrew: "DooDoo, you need Butt paste?" I about died laughing! The fact that Sam calls Andrew DOO DOO just makes it all the more funny! He just wanted to make him better, and he knew that in his world, butt paste made him feel better! Through my tears of laughter, I had to explain to Sam that while that was sweet he wanted to offer his paste to "Doo-Doo (that is how he says Andrew!)", that it wouldnt help his head feel better. Sam just couldnt believe it. Butt paste makes everything better in his world! He said, "No, you get butt paste, feel better."

If only life were as easy to fix as putting something on it called "butt paste!"

When will this mommy learn?

Evidently, I am a slow learner.....

Yes, that is Sam. Yes, that is paint. Yes, there was furniture and carpet involved. Yes, Sam is still living! :) Actually, he didnt even get in trouble, as who was the dumbie that left it where a 2 year old with a pretty long rap sheet could reach it....................?

The good news. It cleaned up easily! The carpet is fine, the furniture is back to white. The shirt is ruined, but Sam cleaned up fine too.....for about 5 minutes! THen he was on to the next mess.

And he knows that word...MESS!

Lazy....yep, thats me!

I think I have realized that I do have goals and ambition in life....and that is to sleep in everyday and do as little as possible once I am up. LAZY. Sadly, like most other things I set out to accomplish, I am failing miserably at the said goals above. I guess being a mom to five kidlets 11 and under doesn't allow much time for me to devote to my "ambitious" goals.
So, instead, I get up at the butt-crack of dawn.Change diapers, make lunches, sign papers, clean, cook, clean some more, feed the boys, etc. All things that are counter-productive to reaching my goals. By the time the evening comes and I have the kids fed one last time for the day and in bed, I finish cleaning whatever mess they've left for me, and rededicate myself to reaching my goals tomorrow. I sure hope, one of these days, I am successful!

Seriously, Blake and I have discussed many times ways to make our family run more smoothly. Treating it like a business (his idea). Deal with it as it comes (my way of thinking). One thing we DO agree on in setting goals. I have always been a procrastinator and a starter (seldom finisher). So, I am trying to get better, and my first step is to make goals. Since I have done that now, I think I'll spend the better part of the week trying to reach those goals. Blake will be so proud I have finally listened to his advice! Think he'll be disappointed in the goals I set ? :)

If only!!!!!!! Hey,maybe tomorrow, if I don't think it is too productive, I'll post the next project I have done. Something I actually completed!

Obviously I am just messing around, though I would love for those to be real goals, my house would implode in a matter of minutes!

Next project

I have been trying to get little projects done every day. In the event we have to sell our house, I am trying to get it looking staged, but still living in it. (With five kids....yeah....ok) Mostly, I just want it to look how I enjoy it. So....Kayleigh's room has been my project of late. Her room is easy. Only one occupant. She is pretty easy to please, and knows what she wants. I may not agree with it, but it's her room. I still want her to have pink and princesses, and bows and pig tails.......



Instead, we have dots, and browns, and greens! Which is cute too! Though she did tell me next time she wants pinks and purples! YEAH!!!!





So, She needed a side table. The Rubbermaid's were screaming....well, they were just saying they didn't belong!





Her furniture is white. So I set out to find a side table I could paint. No luck! I was at WalMart and passed by those little 19 inch decorator tables and thought what the heck! So, 6 bucks later....she has a side table. I bought a cheap round white cloth to top it. Her curtains in her room are actually a shower curtain from Linens N Things. I bought two back when we started her room. So, I cut a 25 inch square for the topper. (in hindsight, I wish I had cut it a good bit larger so I would have draped more....you'll see what i mean) I may find some cute lime green or turquoise solid to cut a larger one to lay under the polka-dotted one.



So here are the action pics....(try to contain your excitement!)

Here is the little table before I began torturing it.

(and yes, I am aware the tablecloth needs to meet the iron. Not gonna happen! Sorry)

Next I cut the square of fabric from the shower curtain material. I used Singer NoSew double sided tape to create the hems as I did not feel like sewing. I probably could have even left the sides raw,but this gives it a nicer finished look.

Once all four sides were completed,

I began attaching the beaded fringe with Fabri-tac Adhesive.

Let it dry, and here is the finished project!

I have a lime green oversized alarm clock I am going to replace the inside to match her room. It was a freebie I picked up at playgroups swap table. So look for that project in the next while.

I'm definitely no Martha Stewart! Maybe oneday, if I can get her to have it clean long enough, I'll have to take a picture of the whole thing......

It could happen?

The Artist Strikes again!!!!!!!!

Two posts in one day....can it be?????

Yes, so my apologies to the victims!

If you'll recall a few weeks ago, I posted about the major art project that little Sam decided to undertake while I was cooking! (that'll teach me!) I am happy to report, the wall is now marker free. The trim work is mostly marker free. I just need to spot paint over where the magic eraser wasn't so magic. The couch, well, i flipped the cushions over, and the rest we are just pretending isn't there! (did i mention the couch is barely 18months old!....newer than the toddler that drew on it!) Thank goodness it is dark fabric and not really noticeable.

Well, it seems the infant artist has struck again. This time using washable markers (thank goodness), and his canvas this time:

Doesn't he look so sad that he got caught?????

Here, take a closer look......

Yep, he sure is upset. You know what I wonder? Why is it when I am looking for something to write with, ANYTHING...pen, pencil, marker....they are nowhere to be found? But, when I leave Sam alone for oh, five seconds, he finds a plethora of marking utensils to choose from?

I got locked out!

So, i haven't posted in a while because I couldn't get logged in! It said my password was incorrect, which I knew it wasn't.....so not sure what happened there!

A LOT has been going on around here. First, I spent a good amount of time getting the house ready to show. We had planned to put it on the market the 1st of April. Some friends knew someone who was moving here in May, and told them about the house, so I had to get it ready earlier for a preview. That went well, they liked the house, but bought something closer in. Turns out that is fine, as....we aren't moving. Not yet anyway.... only time (and a job) will tell.

Oh, yeah, by the way, Blake resigned from his job at Aldi on the 1st of April. When I saw the email in my inbox, I thought for SURE it was an April fools joke. No joke. He did it! And it has been amazing! He sounds So much more alive and happy. Like a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders. He still has great respect for Aldi and the people he worked with, but it just wasn't the right job for him (or our family, most importantly). So, we are back on the job hunt.......:) Any ideas?????

Luckily for you readers, there are no poop or puke stories to be had this posting! I'll refrain from bodily functions for a while (on the blog anyway). A big Congrats to my friend, Nicole, who had a beautiful baby girl yesterday! I am always a bit jealous now when a friend has a baby, as my birthin' days are over! Though, that is also cause for GREAT celebration! Bryce will sometimes ask if that is a baby in my tummy! Nice. *note to self....if your kid thinks you look pregnant, it is time to hit the gym or something other than Ben and Jerry's! (though I LOVE Phish Food!) Oh well!

Here is something I passed time with while i was locked out of my blogger.....

Project: Saving the Ottoman from the Trash

This is the lovely Target Pleather Storage Ottoman I purchased less than a year ago. Here is a hint to all you other moms with 4 boys, one with great talent for poking holes in fine pleather. BYPASS IT! Or, if you do choose to buy it, just get it over with and grab a pencil and poke away.

I couldn't toss it since there was little wrong with it other than its innards coming out and holes through the pleather. So......

I removed the top from the hinges. Pulled back the dust lining on the bottom, and positioned it on the fabric where i wanted it. (I found a nice curtain panel on clearance at WalMart that matches some of the other fabrics I have bought for the house) I started stapling the fabric right over the pleather and under the dust lining.

Here is what it looked like when it was all stapled up. I attached the hinges back, and put it on the ottoman. It isn't fabulous, but it is a lot better than the beat up pleather look we had going on.

Hopefully, I can get another year or so of use out of it before the boys have totally destroyed it!
Tomorrow, I'll post how I made a valance for my dining area using a table runner, fabric glue, trim, and Velcro! Aren't you excited!