Louis

Meet Louis, the mischevious Elf on a Shelf.  He's naughty at night.  Liv said, of all things, she went to sleep on one side of the bed (and Mae), and woke up on the other!  Silly elf.  To have something like that happen in the middle of the night, especially to Liv is quite shocking. 

We also found this when we woke.

Liv and Isaac are all over this.  Mae is creeped out by him.  She wouldn't go shut the front door because he was still sitting there with his marker.  Georgia keeps threatening to touch him because his book says he'll lose his magic if you touch him. 

All Hallow's Eve

Big night, Halloween, at our house.  It's the best holiday of the year.  Noah hates Halloween.  He's decided to skip it twice in two years, and he's only 1!  Shaolin Warrior costume was out.  Even if I did stay up until 3 on Saturday to make it.  Quick, think of something we can make from a too small Shaolin Warrior costume next year.

Mother Nature

Mae, on the other hand, who'd refused Halloween last year was ALL for it in '11.  She nearly ruined my bid for better Halloween costumes with her crazy stubborn insistence on being "Tangled" this year.  BUT, we saw some fairy wings at Joann's and her tune changed, thank goodness.  Even if fairy is just above "Tangled" on hierarchy of better Halloween costumes.

I had a "hippy" dress picked out for Liv to wear with an apron including everything Mother Nature would need for creation.  Then Jason told me she looked like Paula Dean and we went with "mystical" rather than "nurturing".

We visited our old haunts.  The kids were insistant on knocking on our old door.  I couldn't do it.  But we saw fabulous Miss Mary, our neighbor "The Cook", Claudia, and RevaBeth, the BEST conversationalist this side of anywhere.  We miss the old 'hood.

We did a few houses in our neighborhood (thanks Sierra for letting us pit stop at your house!), and found out from Georgia's classmate that her nose had taken a swim in the toilet earlier in the day and that she and a buddy had flushed it to see what would happen but she chickened out and rescued it at the last minute.  TMI.

When I told Isaac we were going to visit the Uncles to show them our costumes he got huffy.  "That's 20 minutes just driving."  Meanwhile, Mae's bag handle was breaking under the pressure.  Heaven forbid we miss 20 minutes of candy collection.

Now Georgia's turn to puke.  Noah's won't sit on his fanny because of his diaper rash, and Mae is unfortunately much too thoughtful and has shared her candy with me all day.  I can't resist a fresh milk dud.  Which reminds me of one more Halloween "trick".  Sonic had on their sign last night, "Halloween Special Fresh Corn Dogs $.50"

Fall Sports pt.1

Isaac plays flag football, Liv plays soccer.   It makes our week crazy busy.  For example...Liv practice Monday at 4, Isaac at 6:30, Tuesday Isaac practice at 5:30, Wednesday Liv game at 5:30, Isaac practice 5:30, Thursday Isaac game at 6:30, Saturday Liv game at 9. Phew!  On top of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, church activities, and 15 trillion homework assignments it gets rough. 

This is how we make it through practices...

Mae and Noah are cool as long as we have snacks.

Georgia's on Chloe duty until the first time she sees another dog and George ends up face down on the turf.  Then I'm on Chloe duty.

Georgia knows every "squat spot" at every field in Springville. She is currently studying grasshoppers.

At this particular practice the sprinklers came on.  I squealed like a 9 year old girl and grabbed my camera, leaving Noah to fend for himself.  One more vote for mother of the year.

GA- The Whole Day Through

Today was the second day of school.  We love her just the same.

Hi Brandy,


Georgia is such a cutie (oh yeah, naughty and homely could be really bad), and brings a fun spirit (code for this girl's a nut), to our class. We are, however, having some troubles following directions, and I know you gave me a head's up at Open House on Friday (i.e. keep the child beside you at all times). She is having a difficult time remembering to stay out of the classroom when the teacher is not in the room, like during recess and lunch. And with that, remembering to wait for me to open the door and let the class in (she informed me she'd like to let the class in instead.  I told her that was one of the few fringe benefits of getting a four year degree in elementary education). She also needs to know that she needs to go to the bathroom during recess and lunch or right after when our class goes. (What can I say?)


I talked with Mrs. Morgan and she also told me about the sticker chart and that she had to be right on Georgia for a few months (I've been right on her for 6 years.  Good luck). After that, she said Georgia was a model student! I know we can get right back to that! Sometimes, kids forget how to act in school over summer, so I am confident it won't take long.


Just wanted to give you a head's up!



Thanks!
 
Today Liv had a play date.  Her buddy's brother is in Georgia's class.  He informed her that Georgia has "moved her pin" (on the disciplinary chart), twice.  I repeat, this is the second day of school.  Come on George!  You made it through half a day last year.  YOU CAN DO IT!
 
 
One thing is CERTAIN.  This second year teacher will remember Georgia's name until the day she retires. 
 
 
"Georgia, oh Georgia.  The whole day through." 

I realize this should be a first day of school picture.  Missed that photo op.  What do I look like, a photographer?

Well Where the (^*&+* Ya Been?

I am recommitting myself to this blog.  I swear.  I will do as I did with my 5th grade students many moons ago.

*Raising my right hand* "I, Brandy D do solemnly swear to update this blog for posterity and sanity, at least twice a month."

So without further ado (what's ado?  Is that even how it's spelled?) Here we all are.  Well and accounted for.  Fat and happy.  So what else is new?  I'll keep you posted.  I solemnly swear.



Happy Father's Day!

My Dad's the greatest around. He's reaping the rewards of parenthood by grandparenting all these crazies plus tiny Samantha, brand new.

Jason, your reward will come in about 15 years when we get to grandparent :0) It's not my cooking that keeps you coming back, so it must be the kids.

x0x0x0x0

Is it too much to ask for all of them to look at the camera?

Crazy cute Georgia.

Handsome, smart Isaac.

Dramatic beauty Liv

Sweet Mae

Big baby Noah

The written word for our children is a fantastic outlet.  Especially for prolific Olivia.  You saw Isaac's checklist in one of my last posts.  Here are some other writing samples I may submit to Random House...

One of Liv's love notes that we find on our pillows.  She goes to bed at 8:30, to sleep at 11ish.  Only after she's written us a note of some sort.

Jason promised a trip to Chuck E Cheese. 

*read left column first, then right.

Liv brought this home yesterday from a classmate.  Jason was relieved that he spelled worse than our kids.

Pepperoni theft: punishable by an apology letter.  I wonder if they follow the 3 strikes rule.

And Georgia has gotten in on the action recently.

I'm not sure which ten days she was gone for.  I guess I better be more attentive.


Liv wrote this fractured fairytale for school.  Page 3 concerns me.

In town?  We don't even have a bar here.  I blame it on High School Musical.  She watched it for the first time a few weeks ago.  I knew it was trouble.

Not to worry, some tall  guy named Bob saves the day at the end of the story and Mae becomes queen.  Come to think of it, didn't hear anything else about her drunken father.  Check the next few episodes of  "Intervention".

Noah, collector

Noah News Flash:

He's big

REAL BIG

he's collecting poundage: about 15

And lots of clothes. from 0-9 months in 3 (months)

Collecting for his ark:  1 bear so far.

1 little, 2 little, 3 little....

Use your best James Earl Jones or Barry White voice.  Say,"Ve-ee--e-ee-er-ry s-ll--ll-ll---oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-www-lll-ll-llly"

That's how you mother 5 children.  So unfortunately what should have gone out at Christmas will now go out near Valentine's Day if I'm lucky, and by Thanksgiving we should have Easter dresses, and Santa could be bringing Halloween costumes. 

More kids makes me a better person because patience is a virtue I could acquire no other way.

So enjoy our "xoxo." Holiday greeting.  It may be the last til 2039 or so, depending on Noah's sleeping patterns and Mae's determination to never poop on a toilet.

{Shoot me now, before Noah potty trains.}

Hypothetically Speaking

2  Fridays ago received a call from LDS Family Services.  This is the 2nd time they had a hypothetical situation for us to consider.  The other times they had a baby in their arms.  If LDS Family Services has a hypothetical situation for you it will more than likely be good (if you're in the business of increasing the amount of offspring in your home).  Jason asked the social worker to please burn our file following the finalization of Mae's baby brother. 

She was due in 2 weeks.  By the following Wednesday (when our birth mother officially asked if we'd be her baby's parents), she was due Tuesday.  When we met with her Friday it was her due date.  ? So here I sit, madly editing photos from my latest session so that tomorrow I can be a labor coach. 

This will be the first time I've been at the birth of one of my own children.  Irony's cool.

I've run 4 reference letters around town, 3 to friends, only one can go to a family member.  Luckily, our Bishop lives next door, so I just walked his over. 

Uncle Jeremy leaned toward Quadraivon or Scout.

Had 3 health evaluations filled out by our pediatrician, which left us 3 more to do at an instacare for a total of $252, about 2 hours, and a near accident when I had to run Liv back to pee in a cup.  Wetting, not car.

Text from Grandma Helen: Anything but Abner.

Filled out private health insurance forms online (federal law), and finally purchased a policy afer about 3 hours devoted to answering "no", "no", "no", "eczema", "no".  Searched for our marriage license (they must keep an original in our file), went to West Valley for a preliminary background check, and sent Jason to the Social Security Office to get a temporary card for our federal background check. 

Call from Grandpa Dan and Grandma Wendy: Ezekial.  Or Deuteronomy.  We can call him Dude.

Saturday entailed a 4 hour visit with our social worker for familial, marital, and individual interviews followed by a Home Study, but only after we answered online questions about our family of origin, finances, health, marriage, and 47 (I counted),  questions each about everything from our feelings regarding adoption to our house, neighborhood, and community. 

Begged my sis-in-law for names and she and Marcus sent Jase.



Now I've got to get another fire alarm and a carbon monoxide detector.

I wanted Charlie.

My blessed friend Sarah brought every baby item in the history of world with her from Seattle (she likes all the awesome names I like), and all of the outfits I'd ever need for the first 6 months of this child's life.  The ox in the mire, I washed them on Sunday and they sit in the laundry basket as I type, even though Isaac cleared out 3 of his drawers and scooted his clothes in the closet to make room for his little brother.

Isaac likes Elliott.

Uncle Isaac thinks I have to get names from outer space because we know someone with every name he liked.

 

I've been through every baby naming site on the internet to finish with Samson, Raleigh, or Elisha.  We'll see what the little bugger looks like.

the next morning...P.S.  I forgot to mention that Liv wants Harry Dial.  But you have to say both, Harry Dial.

Today before the induction I've got to get us an adoption loan.  Whether you call them or they call you, it's got to be paid for :)

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

My kids this morning instead of attending Church.

Grab a snack.  This is going to be a long post.  In reading in the Book of Mormon I've been trying to impart the importance of journaling to my offspring, so I decided to "journal" in an attempt to make some good of the day.  And, my Aunt Louise cussed me out for not posting enough pictures of said offspring.  I'm also feeling guilty about sluffing Stake Conference.  

The Good: The girls are back in their room with new texture on the walls and ceiling, and new paint.

The Bad: Sans moulding.

The Ugly: Mae fell between the bed and the wall and shimmied under the bed as she wailed at 3:54 this morning.  She came to sleep with me which means that one or more body parts fall asleep, but not my entire being.

The Good: Sunroc had a $5 rebate on their awesome paint.

The Bad: It ended yesterday and I forgot to get the rest of it to finish the rest of the house after it's textured.

The Ugly: It's called "Solitaire"...as in solitary confinement?  Is it grey, is it purple, ugh?  It better look awesome when it's all done. 

The Good: I have a new pantry!   I knocked out a wall, framed the pantry and around the fridge. 

 I even moved an outlet, a light switch and a light fixture.

The door you see used to belong to a broom closet around the corner. 

The Bad: Don't tell a code inspector how low that outlet is now. 

We missed the era when that paint (yes it's paint, not paper) was awesome.

The Ugly: That big new fridge has been broken for 2 weeks.  The compressor that usually lasts longer than the hinges on the doors.  Gone. 

Sunroc and Home Depot have gotten 1/2 of our money this week.  McDonalds and local gas stations, the other.

And my kids look like hooligans.

*Refer back up to the last photo

The Good: She knows the meaning of  "potty", "toilet", and "bafroom", and has the most delicious booty you've ever seen in a pair of Elmo undies.  *we don't say "panties" it sounds so icky.*

The Bad: She will go when I take her, but not on her own.

The Ugly:  She's pooped this week at the library and Isaac's soccer game. 

More Good: Jason and his bro. Jeremy are awesome drywallers.

The  man and his mud.

I found this lenoleum under the carpet in the closet I was working on.  I like to call it "Walking on Sunshine"

The sunshine one gets from fried green tomatoes.  Thanks mom for planting this year since we couldn't!

Homemade bread.  When we were out painting baseboards yesterday, our self-proclaimed nosey neighbor brought us some homeade bread.  It goes swimmingly with our homemade apricot jam!  And I'm pretty sure it tastes better when you cut it on a cutting board that has sheetrock dust on it.

More Good: Jason re-hung the swing and now my kids don't feel nearly as abandoned.

The Bad: I missed pear picking.  Apparently it's not the same as any other kind of picking.  So when I went to see if they were ready I just found them all on the ground already.

The ugly: The project behind the swing that we can't finish without a bobcat.  A dog run that was very well made and very unneccesary.

The Good: My kids love school.

They all got great teachers and are making friends so now it's just Mae and Me in the morning.  We should start a radio show.

Georgia got to go to kindergarten at school instead of homeschool.

The Bad: It was- open the playdough and see ya' mom!

The Ugly: Note the refrigerator pictures once more.  One of those yellow papers magneted to the front lists the school schedule.  While tearing down walls Wednesday last (the second day of kindergarten), I watched the clock intently for 11:30 so I could pick up George on time.  Then I realized at 11:15 that she got out at 11:05!  Then I realized  it was Wednesday, which is early out day so Jorge had been sitting in the office waiting for me since 10:50.

The Ugliest of all:  I've been late to get her twice in two weeks.  I suck.

The Good: Chloe had her 2nd Birthday on September 9th.  Commemorated with a bath and a party.

The Bad: She hadn't had a bath since we moved in two months ago.

The Ugly: She peed on the plastic in the dining room and we had to clean the plastic and the floor.  Ick.

The Good:  I get to do flowers for a really cool couple next weekend.  I did a bouquet for pictures this week.

There is no bad or ugly in this situation!

The Good: Finished my first Half Marathon in 2:36!  No resuscitation or iv fluid required!

Apparently my kids are singing barbershop and Jason is beat boxing.

Everyone was at the finish to cheer me on!  Last time George had to use the can and they missed it.

The Bad: I've only been running once since my race.  If I'm going to make a habit of it I should really make a habit of it.

The Ugly: Which, it turns out is VERY good.  My running pants sagged as I ran.  I spent a good portion of the race tugging them back up :) 

Phew!