Why I Stalk the Moms of Multiples

My guess is that if you have five babies, toddlers, or teenagers at a time, you have to step up your game and come up with some SERIOUS organization. Well, I think it was the Wilkinson Quints mom who blogged about time savers and how she has a box of toys for each day of the week, and that's the toys that they play with for the day, and then she only has to clean up that box, and the kids don't get bored because they are not looking at the exact same toys EVERY SINGLE DAY! So, while my mom has the kids, I am hiding toys in five boxes, so that I can do the same thing. I didn't do a box for the weekend because they still have all the big toys out, and I figure on those days, Pat is usually home and we can make do. Anyway, I am soooooo excited about how much this will cut down on clean up at the end of the day!

"This is taking like an hour"

Doesn't matter what it is, that is Jackson's favorite saying. How do you teach a child patience when you don't have any yourself!? We went to ride the train (Phoenix's new light rail system) yesterday because it opened on Jackson's birthday-HOW COOL IS THAT? We got there, and we joined the line, but decided to OPT OUT when it looked like the line would take FOREVER! I guessed it would be about two hours before we actually got on, and what do you know, that's what the paper reported today! Seriously though-doesn't it look like a line you would stand in at Disneyland during peak times?


We headed off to Chik-Fil-A because that's where the birthday boy wanted to go, and I kid you not, while we were there, one of the freaks in the play area BIT, yes, I said BIT, Pat's shoe! The kid was probably EIGHT, then he proceeded to stand on one of the tables! There was nothing wrong with this child either. The problem was the dad sitting on the other side of the restaurant READING THE NEWSPAPER! He was seriously BEATING his younger brother, the brother would come out and tell, the dad would do nothing, IT WAS INSANE! Kids had a great time, but I just about LOST MY MIND!

In the afternoon, Jackson threw up. Not an illness, just a side effect of the PNEUMONIA like cough, reflux and too much PHLEGM! So, we took it easy the rest of the day. However, after all of the DRAMA from the morning, I took the time to use my new wine glass I got for Christmas. Pat also found me a really cool bottle of wine, so I took the time to enjoy that as well! The wine glass has a face and says, "Rock Star", on the other side because that's what I am!



Today we went back to try the train again, and this time we got on, but I swear we were surrounded by homeless people, and I am really thankful for my car! Here are my loves walking to the train!

Happy Birthday Jackson!

What an amazing little guy you have become! From your very first word, I don't think you have ever stopped talking. You show such kindness for your sister, and you never pass up an opportunity to help someone out! Love you Jack-Jack!

Cabin Fever

After a dramatic turn yesterday, my Grandpa went to the hospital with high blood pressure. He is doing much better, but Pat, my mom, the kids and I spent all day here, listening to our kids ask us to open a new toy every thirty seconds, so today, I was not staying here. Started out by going to Pier 1 and Target this morning to check out their sales on Christmas decos-I just wasn't happy with mine this year. Then, we headed off to the park for the kids to ride their new scooters. Because it rained all day yesterday, we didn't really get a chance to ride them outside. There was NO ONE AT THE PARK, the kids rode their scooters around the basketball court in their winter jackets like is freezing outside-IT TOTALLY IS IF YOU ARE USED TO PHOENIX WEATHER-and then, we ended our morning out with a trip to Peter Piper Pizza. Nothing extravagant, I just couldn't sit here and listen to the constant request to open new toys.


We also drove around and checked out the houses for sale in our neighborhood. Jackson and Tyler are old pros at that, and I often laugh at Jackson's desire to move and "get a new house" considering all the different places he has lived, and growing up, we lived in the same house from first grade on, and before that, we lived in the house behind that one, so we didn't go far! Now we are right back in the same area, and I love it as much now as I did then. Hopefully 2009 will bring us a "new" house in an "old" area!

ON A SIDE NOTE: Jackson has been referred to as a girl or she TWICE this week, do you think he needs a hair cut or are the people MORONS, you tell me!

Merry Christmas!

Here are some happenings of the Christmas week:

Pat took the kids to see Santa, and he managed to get one picture of the kids before Santa's elves told him that cameras-other than the one they have-are not allowed on set. Tyler started out crying a little, but she did REALLY well. According to Jackson it is because her big brother was there!


An example of what EVERY single picture I take of the two of them look like-here the kids are on Christmas Eve, and they are all dressed up, and suddenly the camera is in front of them, and they both turn into Spiderman! One day, they will stand and pose for me like "human" children!


Christmas morning at our house is probably the most ORGANIZED event anyone has ever witnessed. This year, there were EIGHT people to distribute gifts for, and we take turns going around and we each open ONE AT A TIME! I have to brag about the amount of self restraint and control my kids have. They know to wait their turn, they don't go out of order, AND they get equally excited about the gifts they have given other people, and seeing what other people get. Rylee even managed to keep her eyes open for a few hours to join in the gift fun!

Check out how tired Tyler is since Jackson ran in to wake her up:


Jackson and Tyler opening a few gifts:





A quick look at Rylee:


AND, for those of you that were not around for Pat's gift to me last year, I will include the picture of the USED tennis racket-I have since gotten a new pink one, but it was the principle of the matter:


This year, I got many nice gifts, including a nice wine glass, but I think my favorite are the "BOOTS", known to other people as slippers, but my kids insist they are boots-think I can get away with wearing them out:


Hope you are all having a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

I think next year. . .

I am going to go on a cruise the week of Christmas! TWO Christmas celebrations down, my kids are wired, I am exhausted, and Pat of course is at work, leaving me with two crazy kids and much to do to get ready for Christmas-THAT HASN'T EVEN ARRIVED YET! I think I am definitely a little "grinchy" this year-good call Laurie! Next year the week of Christmas needs to involve maid service, child care and more than a few STIFF drinks!
Also adding to my "grinchiness" is the fact that the totally awesome Kid Tough DVD players that I was so excited about-SUCK!!!!!!!!!!! Sure, you may be able to throw them down the stairs as advertised, but they don't hold a charge worth a crap! Try explaining why they are going back to the store to a 2 and 4 year old!!!!!!!!!!! ARGH!!!!!!!!!

"All the single legs. . ."

My kids absolutely LOVE Beyonce's new song, Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It), but they are not exactly correct on the words. They like to sing, "All the single legs, all the single legs," and then it gets even better when they switch it to, "All the single arms, all the single arms," and continue to go with as many different body parts that they can possibly think of.

You know you have not known the words to a song and just sang what you thought it was, but to hear your kids do it is HYSTERICAL!!!!

Doesn't this look relaxing!??

I DESPISE OUR NEIGHBORS!!!

And, I don't really care if they read it and see it!!! First of all, I call him Hide-ley-ho Neighbor because he is such a TOOL!!!!! I just don't like him. Pat likes him fine, but Pat doesn't have to deal with their annoyingness, I DO. Lately, they have been doing all these home improvement projects, and they ALWAYS do them between 12 and 2:30, which means that my kids can't nap (and they have been told what time they nap), so here we are AGAIN today, I don't feel well, the kids are OBNOXIOUSLY tired, and there is nothing I can do about it. I wish I could take a picture of him because he is a DORK and then you could see him!

Anyway, they are adopting a baby in February, and I plotting my revenge!!!

PS-hide-ley-ho and annoyingness are not recognized by spell check as words, but I don't care!! I am so pissed off right now!

Because I Needed Another Reason. . .

TO SIT AT MY COMPUTER ALL DAY!!!!! Isn't this chair so amazing!! Thanks for my birthday gift mom! I am just sad I waited so long to use my gift card to get it!

What I Did Today!!!!

Four Christmases

GO SEE IT AS FAST AS POSSIBLE! I actually laughed out loud throughout the entire movie, and I DON'T laugh out loud!

My Sweet Baby Girl!

Looking so cute, got run down at the zoo today by a little hoodrat going way too fast on his bike! She chipped her tooth the tiniest bit, like you have to stick your face in her mouth to tell, but ARGH! What is with my kids and their teeth!? Needless to say, daddy is not so happy and is preparing his case against the Phoenix Zoo!

The Ultimate Cheesecake Bakery

A little dessert shop in TX and OK that is amazing! They have this INCREDIBLE 1001 Chocolate Chip Cake, and I don't even LIKE chocolate cake, although the more times I have it, the more I think maybe I do! Anyway, I don't know what made me start thinking about it, but I did, and while doing some research, I found that they distribute their desserts to Phoenix, AZ. Anyone know where?? I called the distribution number, but it was out of service. YUM-O!

Mommy needs. . .

Yesterday, on our way to get the most HIDEOUS Christmas Tree you have ever seen in your life. There is NOTHING pretty about it, but it was cold, we had two kids with us, they were more interested in the ugly, inflatable Mickey Mouse, Snowman, Reindeer, etc. than the tree itself. (As a side note: these types of decorations should be banned. I hate them! Sure, they bring a lot of joy to my kids as we drive by and look at them, but they look cheap. Inflatables are meant for birthday parties and carnivals, not your front yard! I am sure this opinion is going to bring TONS of comments!) Anyway, we were discussing what everyone wanted to get everyone for Christmas. Jackson proceeded to tell Pat, "We should get mommy a wine glass, that would be great! One with hearts, caterpillars and giraffes. Mommy is happy when she drinks wine." He wants to buy one at the store and draw on it the things he wants because the store doesn't sell one "special enough for me"! How sweet is that!!???? Daddy needs a reindeer decoration, which I am thrilled about because we need some new Christmas decorations. I am thinking the store he was trying to describe that he wants to go to get it is Pottery Barn-doesn't he have FABULOUS TASTE! I will keep you posted on what he wants to get Tyler.

Just a few pictures of my Santa and Snowman babies!!!

Happy Holidays!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Rylee Rose

BEFORE: How awesome do we look in our gear!???



AFTER: 8 pounds, 8 ounces AND 20 inches long!

Score One for Santa

Santa picked out this Sleeping Beauty Vanity for Tyler the day after Thanksgiving because it was a hot deal at Target. This morning during the morning cartoon segment, they had a commercial for it, and she started shrieking about how it was hers, and Santa is going to bring it along with stickers (Tinkerbell and Sleeping Beauty to be exact), and the beloved Pink Leapster. Christmas has really been scaled back here this year, WE DON'T NEED ANYTHING, and I would rather buy them things when they want them at Disneyland and have it be a magical place, then just buy them more toys they don't need!

My friend, Tamara, is a little apprehensive about taking her kids to Disneyland for fear of meltdowns (this woman is stricter than I am, and her kids are REALLY well-behaved), and I tried to explain that there are no meltdowns at Disneyland. It is the one place I believe in giving into all reasonable requests! Candy for breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen (SURE!), a churro at 10 in the morning (WHY NOT?!), Sprite (OK!), so on and so forth. When you put as much effort into discipline and behavior as we do, it is nice to have a place to go where the kids can have a little fun and know this is the "Disneyland Way"!

SO GLAD IT IS OVER!

Have to admit, I am thrilled today is the last day of November. I know I missed a few days in the beginning, but since finding out about this DREADFUL idea of blogging every day, I have been a dedicated blogger.

As promised, here are some pictures of Jackson skating yesterday!





Today, we have Paige's FIRST birthday party-cannot believe that stinker is already one! These kiddos are growing up soooooooooo fast! Then, this evening, we are going to Mr. Zito's surprise birthday party! I am really looking forward to seeing Alissa since I missed her last night at the reunion. Any ideas on what to bring someone turning sixty when the invitation says, "No gifts!"? I just don't feel right showing up empty handed!

Enchanted Island and Ice Skating!

Today has been a big day for little Jackson. This morning, we went to a friend's birthday party at Enchanted Island, a small amusement park of sorts, it was a beautiful day, and the rides were perfect for Jackson. Now, he is off learning to ice skate before he starts his hockey lessons in January! I am desperate to know if he likes it. I figured Tyler would hate it, so the girls stayed home! More to come tomorrow!

Whole Again!

I must have sensed something in the air yesterday as I wrote my bitter post. Thanksgiving last night was a DISASTER, it probably would have been better if Katie did go into labor! Jackson misbehaved the entire time, until finally, we had to gather all of our stuff quickly and make a BEELINE for the door. I don't think I have ever left Thanksgiving dinner at 5:46 before. After a tear filled ride home, he went to bed, we watched the Cardinals lose miserably, and headed to bed ourselves. Isn't it amazing how cute he can be one minute, and yet two hours later, he is the DEVIL!

This morning, Pat and I hit the stores bright and early, and I got EVERYTHING I saw in the ads that I wanted. So therefore, aside from the prince costume my son so DESPERATELY wants, I am completely done shopping for them. Skateboards, scooters, cameras, GAMES, Hot Wheels toys, Sleeping Beauty vanity, Leapster games and a few new DVD players for the family since we apparently go through DVD players like it is going out of style-hard to pass up when they were only $25 at Target. If they last until next Black Friday, FINE WITH ME!!!

My house is almost completely decorated for Christmas, need to load the presents in our suitcases to hide them, ISN'T that CREATIVE-Pat's idea, and then we are going to have a completely lazy day playing Wii and wrangling the kids! Needless to say, Jackson has been a gem this morning because he was SUPER PISSED that we had to leave last night.

I Don't Deal Well with Change

My sister called this morning, she was having contractions every two minutes last night, so she went to the hospital, they sent her home. She has severe back pain, so she said if it didn't go away by 1, she was going back to the hospital. I was not excited. I am immediately annoyed that we are going to have to alter our Thanksgiving plans. Should we bring the turkey dinner to her, are we bad people if we go eat while she is in labor, etc????? Anyway, she took a shower, she feels better, so as of now, the annual Thanksgiving day plan stands. I don't know if I will be able to give up my early morning shopping if Ms. Rylee makes an appearance tonight. I may have to be a bad aunt and visit her after the sales are over! Whatever the case, Miss Thing has plans of her own!!!

AND, I would like to state for the record that when I spell check Rylee, it is WRONG, but if I type Riley, it is RIGHT! HA HA Kate!

I think this is the most selfish blog I have ever written, and to think it was written on a day when I should be so thankful. I need an attitude adjustment. Hopefully the turkey, potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, and pumpkin pie will do the trick!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING ALL!

Indoor Golf and Peter Piper Pizza

One would think since we did those two activities this morning, the kids would take longer than an hour and a half nap, BUT my mom and uncle are hanging out today, so it makes them a little more bearable. Off to finish Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and Oprah's Favorite Things show! Happy Thanksgiving ALL!

P.S. Oprah's Favorite Things show this year is all "affordable" items! I don't know about you, but I am EXCITED about that! Last year I went and tried the Blood Orange Gelato because it was one of the only things I could afford. . .who knows what I will buy this year!!

Calgon Take Me Away!

A few days ago, I wrote about how I thought I would need more than a weekend to recover from being around my kids, now I think I need like a month. They are needy, whiny, annoying, irritable, argumentative, smart mouths that I need a serious break from. I think I have screamed, "JACKSON!", about a million and one times today, and I have told Tyler to, "KNOCK IT OFF!" (referring to her whine/cry), about a million and two! One day, I have to be with them ONE WHOLE DAY by myself this week, and I cannot even stand it. I was thinking about running out for a bottle of wine to start at nap time, but I think today I am going straight for the hard stuff.

OK, when I used Google Images to find the above picture, it also gave me this, and I almost used it, but realized it didn't say anything about Calgon on it, so maybe you guys wouldn't get it, but I still wanted to share!

Kim's Fundraiser and MORE!

Can you believe a bowling tournament and silent auction this past Saturday raised $17,000 for Kim and her battle with cancer. It was amazing to see all the people there. I didn't get to bowl, but I did get a haircut, ASU Basketball tickets and Roadrunners tickets, so that was really exciting!! I love charity events. I am in desperate WANT of Phoenix Suns tickets. And not just any seats, but REALLY GOOD SEATS! I know that is horrible right? There are so many other things to spend money on, and I should be grateful that I get to go to a Cardinals game next month, hockey, Diamondbacks about every other minute, so I think I just want the Suns tickets because they are not always falling in my lap-the whole want what you can't have! They had a few tickets at the event, but the cost was driven up high, so I past. I should have bought them because the money went to a good cause, BUT Christmas is coming, we are headed to Disneyland, and I am a responsible US citizen that will be footing the bill for the bailout package for YEARS AND YEARS to come!

Anyway, another fundraiser for Kim that you might all be interested in is going to be held at the Happy Valley Johnny Rockets from 11-5 on Sunday December 7th! 20% of ALL sales will go to Kim and her family throughout this devastating time!!! So, come on out, grab a burger and fries, treat your kids to a shake, and know that it is all going to a good cause. You all know I will NEVER turn down a HAMBURGER, YUM!

Really Relaxed!

I had a great day hanging out with friends, having a great lunch at Maria Maria-SO GOOD! The chips and guacamole rocked! Then we went to see Happy Days at Gammage! So much has changed around ASU, it is amazing! Isn't it amazing how all the rest and relaxation can go right out the window when you walk in the door and your husband tells you that your daughter is sick, BLAH! No fun, hopefully it was a fluke!

Saturday Fun Day

Park, Card Night, and Foosball! This was just the kick off to all the festivities that we will be participating in throughout the week! WHOO-HOO!

Are you sick of me yet?

Ever since I heard of November being National Blog month, I have been determined to follow through and have a blog for every day in November that I have known about the whole thing! However, today I feel like blogging for the sake of blogging is just stupid! I have nothing to say, my kids were at school all morning, and I went on a walk and to a friend's house. Not much to report from in our house. Gearing up for an exciting week with Uncle David, YAY!

Do you ever. . .

-wonder why BYO alcohol places charge a corking fee???
-think no one is listening to you???
-think someone else's opinion is ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS and tell them so???
-think your kids are DEVILS, truly sent here to test all of your limits???
-think a weekend get away just ISN'T long enough???
-ask if the cashier will take your expired coupons, we are entering a recession after all???
-go more than 48 hours without showering???
-test the limits of your friendships???
-wonder what age it is acceptable for the kids to get out of bed, make their own breakfast, turn on cartoons, while you stay in bed???
-think about where your children should attend grade school more than twenty times a day???
-go months without balancing your checkbook???
-hate the sound of your own name???
-worry about those you love dying???
-call your children brats???
-wonder what life could have been like had you chosen a different path???

Blessed

I was lucky enough to go this morning to witness Paul become a US Citizen. To see all the people there, and to witness a man come from ICU, gathered to become a citizen of this great country, it was pretty amazing. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera, so I have no pictures, but there would not have been a lot of amazing pictures of Paul because there were 2,178 people becoming citizens today. The event was held at University of Phoenix Stadium, and it was CROWDED!!!

Also today, I received Jackson's "report card", and it will be no surprise to anyone who knows him that "We (teachers) love observing Jackson's verbal interactions with his peers and adults. He appears to put great thought into his ideas and how he expresses himself." Under language development, there was a special note stating how GREAT he is when he expresses himself verbally. I don't know where he gets this love of talking! HA! Anyway, I am very thankful that I have a little chatterbox on my hands. I will just remind myself that it could be SOOOOO MUCH WORSE!

And, since I am stuck in the 80's, I unfortunately cannot scan in Jackson's class picture or individual pictures, but they ROCK! So cute! The photographer they use is EXPENSIVE, but soooooo worth it!