The Dangers of Bunk Beds

All three boys share a room and most of the time it isn't a problem. This morning, however, was different. Matthew has some obsessive/compulsiveness. This comes out really at bedtime when he HAS to have his favorite book and baby before he can go to bed. He has to have them all throughout the night as well. He woke up at midnight last night (or I guess this morning) and couldn't find his baby. He screamed until we went in his room and found it then he went immediately back to sleep--that can make for some frustrating nights. Anyway, ONLY he can have his baby and book and heaven help anyone else who tries to take them. This morning Josh tried to take that book off the top bunk and Matthew got upset and wrestled with him. This caused the corner of the heavy cardboard book to fall from the top bunk hitting Daniel, who was on the floor, in the eye. So now Daniel is sporting a new shiner.

Stuff

This weekend was pretty uneventful. Saturday we just ran errands. To make things easier at one store I stayed in the car with Josh, Daniel and Sarah while Aaron and Matthew ran inside to get something. As I was waiting Josh and Daniel decided to pretend being dogs with the barking and panting noises. I was only half way paying attention when I noticed a guy walk by looking at our van very strangely. I then noticed what Daniel and Josh were doing. Whenever they would see anyone walking by our car in the parking lot, they opened their window and made weird animal noises toward them. We have a van with back tinted windows that only open a crack so you can't see anyone in the rear of the van. I can only imagine what the people walking by were thinking.

Today in church things weren't too exciting. Aaron nodded off so I told Josh to give him a wet willy--where you lick your finger and stick it in someone's ear. Josh eagerly said, "OK!" then stuck his finger in Aaron's ear then he brought it back and then licked it--gross! He just got it a little backwards I guess. I didn't ask him to do that again.

My hair is still falling out like crazy. I have clogged the vacuum with all of it off the floor. Anyway, I was commenting on it in front of Josh and Aaron. Aaron, trying to help me out, asked Josh if he thought I would still be pretty even if all my hair fell out. Josh said, "Um...no." That was a big self esteem boost. Kids are painfully honest at times.

Rollin'

Sarah rolled over for the first time last night. This picture is right after it happened when she is wondering what just happened herself. I know she should have done this before now, but, unfortunately she doesn't get much tummy-time. This is a matter of her own personal safety because she has no protection on the ground (especially while on her tummy) with three crazy brothers running around. It is always a good feeling when they progress in their milestones!!

I have a starved boy that lives at our house, but he is only hungry when I get in the shower. The last few days when I have gotten in the shower Daniel has gone to town in the kitchen. Luckily he hasn't gotten into anything he's allergic to! The first time he got into the bread. He couldn't be bothered with slicing it (probably a good thing) so he just ate whatever his little fist could grab. Then yesterday when I got out of the shower Daniel had gotten into the fruit roll ups and left a wrapper trail, a half empty box and tell tale red and green smudges all over his face. I feed him I really do, but he must just get super hungry whenever he hears the shower turn on--crazy kid!

Oops

Yesterday morning Daniel fell asleep on the arm of the couch. Since he had been pretty whiny all morning I let him sleep while I cleaned up. I was upstairs when I heard a big THUD and a scream. While asleep Daniel had rolled off the couch and fallen onto the floor. When he hit the floor it woke him up really fast. When I found him he was crying, rubbing his head and wondering what had happened. I wish I could fall asleep just anywhere like that!

It snowed quite a bit yesterday so when Aaron got home from work he took Josh and Daniel out to shovel the walks. We only have two snow shovels so Daniel got the broom while Josh and Aaron got the shovels. Daniel was just happy to be out there helping while wearing his red boots. We have the red rain boots that he absolutely insists on wearing outside even though his feet freeze--funny boy. Josh did a great job shoveling. That might become one of his chores--one nice thing about having 3 boys!

Sunday

Matthew moved into Senior Primary today. It's hard to believe that he will be baptized this year. Aaron met with his new teachers to talk to them about Matthew and what makes him tick. Everything seemed to go alright today--or else ignorance is bliss, right?!? Daniel moved into Sunbeams. He still seems so little to me! I can't believe how fast my children are growing up! Matthew has some funny quirks about him. During Sacrament meeting he finds the songs we will be singing in the hymnal and makes sure we have a book in our hands whenever the singing starts. Heaven forbid you try and set the book down before the song is over. He will find the hymn again and put the book back in your hands. He also likes to involve the people around us in singing the hymn. Today when the organ started to play, he tapped the lady in front of us on the shoulder not once, but twice and asked her (very loudly) if she would sing his practice song with him. Luckily she is pretty understanding and just played along with him. I am really thankful for people like that because not everyone is. Luckily, we live in a ward with some really good people who are pretty understanding.

When we got home I set Sarah down to start fixing dinner. In all of 5 minutes or less she had gotten so upset she had kicked off her shoes, pulled her head squeezer off, and started wiggling out of her tights. This is how I finally found her when I went to pick her up.

Christmas break is over tomorrow!! I survived it and more importantly my children survived it as well. It did help that Aaron had off a few days to break up the monotony. I guess it's back to the grind tomorrow. Daniel will be sad Josh won't be around to play his Star Wars game with him. Josh got a Star Wars Wii game for Christmas that Daniel loves to play along with Josh. Josh doesn't like playing with Daniel very much because Daniel attacks everything and everyone he can while playing. That includes Josh. Daniel has done in Josh's character many times--ie Luke beats up Obi Wan Kanobi, or Yoda beats up Anakin etc.--and it usually results in Josh and Daniel fighting instead. It's kind of funny to see Josh get so upset and try to explain to Daniel (who doesn't understand) that he is not supposed to get him. Daniel just says OK and then does it again. They can only play the game in small increments before it gets too bad.

Hair Cuts and Embarrassing Moments

Yesterday I finally caved in and took my kids to get their hair cut. I hate paying for a hair cut so I usually cut everyone's hair; however, I only like doing it outside where there is no mess. No one was very excited about getting their hair cut in frigid temperatures so we went to the local beauty college. First they took Matthew back and he did fine until we went back to where all the hair dryers were on and he started to freak out since he HATES loud noises. We finally got him started after much bribing--I am not above that to make things easier. They got everyone else back and they got to Aaron very last. That meant I was in the waiting area with all four kids until they finished his hair cut. While I was trying hard to keep everyone entertained, a woman entered. She had her hair all done up in a clip in a messy bun--it really did looked nice. Josh took one look at her--mind you there is only us and one other person in the waiting room--and said loudly while pointing no less, "Her hair is SPOOKY!" I was at loss for words. By that time I was REALLY interested in the magazine I was reading and wondering who are these children and why are they calling me Mom? I seem to wonder that a lot...Know that if Josh ever asks anyone if they are a man/boy, asks if you are a Mexican or says they have spooky hair don't be offended--that's just Josh.

Talking about bribery we went shopping the other day and promised the kids some ice cream if they behaved. They did really well so we went to a local fast food place for some juice pops that happen to be Daniel friendly. Since they were just mostly frozen sugar water, we gave Sarah a taste. I thought she would hate the cold, but she LOVED it. She got mad whenever I tried to take it away from her. It was pretty funny to watch her get so excited about tasting real food.

Why is it when you look the worst you run into the most people you know or when your house is a disaster zone that's when you have visitors. This seems to happen to me a lot. We do keep our house clean most of the time, but the few times it turns into a disaster zone that's when people just stop by. We had some surprise visitors yesterday and we still hadn't found a place for all the new Christmas toys--so our house looks like a disaster area. I guess it just happens to keep me humble :). Does this happen to anyone else or is it just me?

A New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Matthew has been carrying around the calendar with him just waiting for it to become 2009. The party animals we are we didn't do a whole lot New Year's Eve or New Year's Day for that matter. The few resolutions I have made are to potty train Daniel--I know everyone is thinking IT'S ABOUT TIME...-- and to lose the extra 20 pounds of baby weight I have gained with Sarah. I will get back on the wagon and start Weight Watchers again soon--until then eat, drink and be merry right?!? I have read somewhere that if you write down your goals you are more likely to accomplish them. I guess we'll see.

In other news my sister-in-law has brought me into the world of Facebook. I still don't know what I am doing, but I do know I have met up with a couple people I knew back in high school. I am trying to figure it all out so if anyone has advice please share! Here's to a prosperous and healthy New Year in 2009!

Daniel is still needing breathing treatments. I guess they have just become routine for him because he actually fell asleep getting one last night.

Sarah is modeling her new Christmas bathrobe after needing a bath because she had another CODE BROWN. Who said parenting wasn't fun?