A little less LOST

This is your warning: STOP reading if you haven't already seen last nights episode of LOST....

LOST was on last night and it was so good! We seriously love this show. Love it! Joseph was studying last night (like he has been for the past 2 weeks straight for his big test that is, um, next week!) and let me tell you, my man doesn't just put his book down for nutin'! Laundry, dishes, kids - nope, but he tossed that book aside when he realized Lost was on last night! Priorities...

Anyway, here are a few of my highlighted moments from last nights show:

• Most revealing moment of the night: finding out that Charles Whitmore was once one of the "others"! Holy smokes, Joseph and I were excited about that! Things are coming together. That was big!!
• Best comment of the night was once again won by my main man Sawyer: "Do you want to stay here in crazy town or help me rescue the geek?" Sawyer crazks me up!
• Sweetest moment of the night: definitely when Desmond called his sweet (and stinkin' cute) little boy, "Charlie". (It took me until this am to realize that it wasn't after his grandfather.) Isn't that so sweet?

Things I feel like we are finally getting some resolution on:

• Why Chaz Whitmore is so interested in the Island.
• and... okay, maybe that was all my resolution, but it seems big since prior to this there has been nothing other than questions!

Here are some things that I am still confused about:

• Who in the heck is Jacob?
• Richard Alpert is becoming an even bigger enigma to me.
• Who is the girl pointing the gun and why do I think that she should mean something?
• Who is that vegetable lady? Was it the lady in the picture that Desmond found at Oxford?
• And who did Daniel hurt?
• And is Daniel good or bad? I really want him to be good, but I have a not so good feeling about that...

Notice that my list of questions are still longer than anything else?! Okay, those are my thoughts, what are yours?

Conversations with a man saving lives - Part 43

Here is an excerpt of a conversation I had with The Love today:

(ring-ring)

J: Yeah?

S: So, why don't you call me back when I call you? I think I may be dying.

J: (sigh) It's been a crazy day, what are you dying from?

S: Well, I noticed these bumps on my palms and...

J: (Interrupts) Do you have fever?

S: No, but these bumps are weird looking...

J: (Interrupts) Do you have them anywhere else?

S: No, but they are kinda weird looking...

J: (Interrupts) You're fine. I'll look at it when I get home.

S: Is there something I should be doing?

J: No.

S: Is there something I should take?

J: No.

S: Am I dying?

J: No.

S: Am I too sick to cook dinner?

J: No.

My poor, poor man. Just trying to make a living and put food on the table for his crazy wife. Yesterday he told me never to call again and, "tell me somethings wrong with the tv." Apparently the two times that I have done that this week, someone has died. I know, isn't that awful? I'm just not sure what would happen to me if I couldn't watch my DVR'd shows during nap time...

Be glad you can't hear me through the internet

"Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

So I am in the beginning stages of planning our next vacation. This is going to be a special vacation, because... it will be sans kids! Our first va-ca without our four Little Darlings!

"Laaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Sorry, I get so excited when I think about it that I break out in spontaneous song!!

We had been thinking about it for a while, but weren't sure we were going to be able to fit in a month long backpacking trip through Europe. And we can't. BUT we can fit in a little jaunt - somewhere together!

"Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Okay, pull it together Sab Mad, so here is where I need your help...where should we go??? I don't want to be gone any longer the 3 or 4 nights, so it can't be anywhere too far because of jet lag (have I mentioned 1000 times that I really want to stay in a bungalow, with a glass bottom, in Tahiti?) We are thinking maybe Mexico or the Caribbean?

"Laaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

Yeah, so I'm looking for recommendations and suggestions. Anyone? Anyone? Please...anyone??

"Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

Better late than never

Here are some pictures from last month that I forgot to post of our trip back home. Too cute to forget about...

My dad thinks he's funny, the girls aren't too sure!
Funny secrets...
Sweet Ella
My big boy...is he photogenic or what?
Gigi and her Twinkies
Breakfast time at Nana's house.
Ella and Pingy. This is Ella's bestest friend and she loves dragging him all over town.
Sweet silly Lily Kate. I love that little nose crinkle!
Lily and Aunt Sarah
The Pigtail Ballerina's
Yummy!!
Nana and her babies
This is what happens when lunch isn't ready and the girlies aren't fed by 12:30 pm!

This picture cracks me up!

32 could be the best number yet!

So, I turned 32 yesterday. Really, it hard to believe that I'm already 32. I made a decision last year that I was going to celebrate my birthdays and not bemoan being a year older. And I have stuck with that decision.

A friend of mine was making fun of me because she didn't realize that I was 32 (apparently she wasn't looking close at me and missed the beginning stages of wrinkles and gray!). I told her in complete honesty that I am really proud of turning 32 and that this is going to be my best year yet.

I'm physically stronger and more fit than I was 5 years ago. I'm more laid back and easy going than I was 2 years ago and I have deeper relationships than last year. Life is just getting better and better. I'm excited to see what 32 holds!

So what does a mother of 4 do to celebrate her birthday? She starts off the day with quiet time with her oldest baby, goes to the gym, shops at the mothership (aka HOBBY LOBBY!), has lunch & deep conversation with an amazing woman, makes some very cool crafty gifts for her in-laws, enjoys a beautiful day outside with her kids, eats a yummy dinner her hubby made (the FIRST time in 7 years he made dinner for me!), has ice cream cake and opens presents with the family and end the great day with relaxing evening watching her DVR shows.

It was a great birthday!

If this is the "hope" that he's promising, I'm not interested

It has begun...

and I'm sick over it.

Ten Things Tuesday...or Thursday

Okay so, I'm a little late for my Ten Things Tuesday post, but it's my birthday WEEK and things have been a little busy! I have SOOO much to be thankful for and this birthday has reminded me of that. I had a night out with my best girls and here is my feeble attempt at verbalizing how thankful I am for them...

1. I am thankful for my friend Rebecca who is gorgeous, hilarious, thoughtful, generous, encouraging and all around one incredible lady. I absolutely love that you keep me laughing and make life so fun.
2. I am thankful for my friend Stacy! Thanks for being one of my "go-to" girls. I always seem to talk to you when there is d-r-a-m-a. You are sweet, kind, and definintely one of the funniest people that I know - you always crack me up!! I absolutely adore you and am so thankful for your friendship!
3. I am thankful for my friend Heidi. Heidi...you are so stinkin' smart and always so willing to go out of your way to help someone. I have seen you in so many situations reach out to take care of others and I really admire and love that about you.
4. I am thankful for my friend Lauren who has more style in her pinky, than I do in my whole body! Really. I love how easy going and soft spoken you are. You have a great sense of humor and are so fun to be around.
5. I am thankful for my friend Maggie who I admire in many ways. Maggie, you are an amazing mom, 1000x more laid back than I am and I so admire that you are still working out hard core while 36 weeks pregnant! I love your heart for the lost and find you to be one of the most sincere people I have ever met.
6. I am thankful for my friend Jess! Jess, I find you amazing. Your inner strength and independence are my favorite things about you. I can't imagine how hard it must be to have a husband that works twice as much as mine, and you do it with such grace and love. My other favorite thing about you is how adorable you are and don't even know it!
7. I am thankful for my friend Karen who is the most organized person I have ever come into contact with! I love that you are always so on top of things for us. I also love that you have such a humble heart and are so willing to serve.
8. I am thankful for my friend Julie. Julie you are just as gorgeous inside as you are out! My favorite things about you are that you are encouraging, thoughtful, strong, humble and very cute pregnant. Thank you for always being there for me in my MANY times of need.
9. And last, but certainly not least, I am thankful for my friend Kellie! Kellie, I love that you are always there for me when I am having crisis. You are funny, kind, generous, loving, good at math and you always laugh at my antics. Oh, and I love that when you make fun of me it makes me laugh! You really are the "go-to" girl when I am feeling lazy and we want to eat out!

God has been so generous in providing these friends at this time in my life. We are all near the same age, with young children and husbands in residency. We understand each others lives and there is nothing more comforting than someone who understands you. Ladies, I love you and am thank God for you all the time!!

Seriously people, I have the greatest friends in the world. And if I didn't name you, it's not because I don't love you...it's because you didn't take me out to dinner and a movie the other night!!

HURRY - GO!!

Quick note:

I got FREE cosmetics today at Nordstroms, Neiman's, Saks, Macy's and Dillards. There is some class action law suit and if you bought make up there anytime during May 1994 & July 2003 you can get free make up! (Back in the day PRE marriage/kids, I used to shop at the department stores for make-up. Now I shop at Wally's! How things change with kids...)

And in case you are wondering, I will be smelling like Chanel No. 5 tonight at my Girl's Night Out! Now, I gotta go get ready...

It's an exciting week!!!

What an amazing week it is...

Oh, is there an inauguration? Yeah, that's exciting and all, but that isn't what's making my so giddy!

The excitement for me is that it is my birthday week (yep, you read correctly, I did say WEEK!) AND (I'm about to pee my pants with excitement!!) the season premiere of LOST!!!! The best show e-v-e-r! I have missed all my friends - Kate, Sawyer, Jack, Hurley, okay and even you Locke! But I will get to immerse myself back into your world in 2 days! I can't wait!

And then on Tuesday night I'm going out with my bestest girls for a Girls Night Out!! Whoo-hoo! We're going out to dinner and then (possibly) going to see Bride Wars.

On my Birthday Eve (also known as Wednesday night to some of you) we have our menu and drinks picked out for THE BIG NIGHT.

And then Thursday...I turn 32! Is that really possible?...

It's gonna be a great week!

100 things

I saw this little meme on a blog and wanted to play along. The only directions are to bold any things that you have done. Easy huh!? Let me know if you end up playing along too...





1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars. In Colorado - beautiful!
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii. On my honeymoon. Oahu & Maui
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland. Once as a kid & once with Joseph!
8. Climbed a mountain. 14'er
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo. Not a good ending!
11. Bungee jumped. Another reason why not to let your kids go on Spring Break!
12. Visited Paris.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight. Has anyone not?
22. Hitch hiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you're not sick. I was a terrible teen.
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping. No comment.
27. Run a marathon. I'M TRYING!
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise. Dinner cruise...does that count?
33. Seen Niagra Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen and Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language. Does Pig Latin count?
37. Had enough money to truly be satisfied. Working on this...
38. Seen the leaning tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing. Many times.
40. Seen Michelangelo's David.
41. Sung karaoke. Never well.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served in a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Gotten flowers for no reason. Often, I have an awesome hubby!
64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma.
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp.
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the changing of the guards in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.
81. Been to the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the paper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating. Um.. ewww.
88. Had Chicken pox.
89. Saved someone's life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby. Or FOUR!
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a lawsuit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day.

You never know, he could be the next Picasso!

The above picture is a little something that Caleb drew the other day...isn't it amazing? Neither one of my boys has shown much interest in drawing or coloring until this past year. They are both outdoor, rough, physical kids, and sitting down to color or draw hasn't had much appeal. So when Caleb draws pictures like this or Luke colors detailed color pages, I'm always impressed. (The baby sisters on the other hand, LOVE markers, crayons and pens. And one of their favorite activities at the gym is to sit at a little table they have and color.)

The other reason why I am so impressed with the above drawing is because I have no artistic ability whatsoever. When I draw something for the boys it is always met with a look that says, "Really, what is that supposed to be?" Luke flat out rejects my drawings, while Caleb musters up some tact and will say, "That's nice Mommy, where is Daddy?" Daddy is definitely has better artistic skills.

Confessions

I have a secret to tell you.

I don't read blogs. Well, that's not entirely true. There are about 25 blogs in my blog reader and they are mostly blogs of friends of mine. So I rarely read blogs of people that I don't know. I just don't have time to read blogs and I am terrible at commenting (although I am trying to change that!) even though I love comments. I know, hypocritical.

With that said, the other day I was surfing the net and happened to just start linking from blog to blog. I must have spent an hour or so reading random blogs of people I don't even know. And when I was done I really felt terrible. Just terrible - about myself!

I was reading all these cool blogs of really amazing mommies of all walks of life. Some had careers that they juggled, another home schooled 7 kids, others were into knitting, crafts, design, some ate and fed their kids only organic, some lived on farms while others lived in big cities and had cool looking houses. Some blogs had tons of readers, really cool graphics and witty names. There are some really fascinating mommy bloggers out there with incredible writing skills.

And I walked away feeling completely inadequate. And had a pity party about what a terrible mom I am. I don't knit, feed my kids organic, have skills in interior design all while homeschooling 7 kids and running a corporation...on a farm...with chickens...and lamas. I felt like a total l-o-s-e-r.

But isn't that what we do as moms? We compare ourselves to other moms. We take what we like about all the moms we know, patchwork work it into one very amazing mom and compare ourselves to her. And inevitable come up short. Every time. And then beat ourselves up about it. Does that sound familiar? Okay, maybe I'm the only one who does this...

In any case, what makes me laugh most about my neurosis in doing this is that what I usually like about other moms is unique to them and something that I'm not really interested in. I have no interest in organics, knitting, interior design nor do I even want to live on a farm. While I think these things are amazing, there not for me. So why am I judging myself based on them?

Furthermore why do I judge myself based on snapshots of someone's life? When reading someone else's blog I am only seeing/reading what they are willing to share. Most people don't air their dirty laundry on a daily basis. I know I don't.

Which brings me to my final point, if you read my blog and think I have it all together - please, please don't. I am a work in progress and nowhere near completion. I am just like every other mom trying to figure out how to do this with many mistakes made by me and lots of grace given to me. And I put my underwear on one leg at a time just like everyone else. Sometime I even lose balance and fall over - compare yourself to that! You'll feel better!

I'm going to try hard to stop comparing. Starting now. Ready..set..go!

I'm still here...

I have a couple of minutes so I thought that I would quickly recap the past couple of days that I have been absent. Here are the highlights:

Monday: Cleaned my own house! My cleaners called an cancelled and I seriously couldn't wait a second longer so went to the store, bought some cleaning supplies (I didn't have anything other than Clorox wipes) and cleaned my little heart out. Since I don't heavy cleaning very often it was fun! But I was reminded at the end of the day why we have cleaners. And we aren't getting rid of them anytime soon!!

Tuesday: Did more laundry than any human should ever do in one day. Make that one week.

Wednesday: Went to a new ladies bible study!! I have been really wanting to join a study and have been looking for one that had a good mix of women from all walks of life, had childcare and met at a time that would work to get Luke to school...and God provided!! I'm super excited about the ladies and the topic is prayer. I have high hopes for this study! After the study, Love and I went on a lunch date!

Thursday: Well, so far I went to yoga and on my way home I noticed that I missed a call from my sister. So I called the girl back and she informed me that she is coming here this afternoon for a long weekend!

And that sums up what has been happening around here lately.

In other news, I am really struggling with some decisions that have to be made in the next couple of months. It's time to evaluate the school situations for Caleb and Luke. There are things that I have loved about Caleb's school and things that I haven't liked...at all. Since we are paying a chunk of change to send him to his school, I need to decide whether those things I don't like outweigh the things I do like. I always want to keep options open for schooling the kids - public, private and even homeschool. I am praying about it and would love it if you would pray with me. It really is causing some anxiety.

Another thing that is causing anxiety is my knee. 31 days until my half marathon and the ortho doc said to lay off running for 2 weeks. It has 7 days since I last ran and my knee is still hurting even when I walk. To say that I am bummed is an understatement. I know it sounds so petty, but it really is something that is hard for me right now.

Well, I'm off to make my grocery list.... Thanks for taking the time to listen to me!

Double Trouble

So, this is what happens when I'm on the phone and take my eyes off the twins for five, count them five, minutes...

Busted!

And look what Lily Kate does when I tell them to pick up their mess...falls on the floor in dramatics!

Ella continues to clean the mess while sister picks up one bow and looks at it.

Ella says, "Um, do you think you could put down the camera and ask that girl to help me out?"

Nana and her babies

(Still catching up on Christmas pictures)

My mom cracks me up...she got polar bear jammies for the kids and...for her too! Here are some the attempts to get 5 kids to all look at the camera and smile. FYI - The happy cooperative twin in all the pictures is Lily Kate. Ella wasn't in the mood to have pictures taken.

Lily Kate loves her Nana!

I don't remember this in my job description

Six and a half years of being a mommy and tonight I did something that I never even imagined I would have to do, much less actually do.

I plunged a bathtub. Yep, the b-a-t-h-t-u-b.

Ugh, so gross!

Lovey is working, so after I took the kids out to dinner with some friends I came home and started bath time. The boys were running around the house naked and unable to use their bathroom (a whole other story) so were waiting patiently wildly for the girls to finish in my bathroom.

I got Little Kate out and was dressing her when I heard Ella saying, "Uh-oh...uh-oh...uh-oh" over and over again. I very hurriedly finished dressing Lily and went to see what Ella was up to. She had pooped in the tub and was pointing at it saying, "uh-oh."

"Uh-oh" is right.

Christmas in January?

I have done a very poor job with my job as photojournalist, so here is some catch-up on our December. Consider yourself warned: there are lots of pictures!


Happy Birthday Jesus Party: We had a party for Jesus, decorated cookies, had lunch and let the kids play. It was a fun, chaotic morning with lots of little kids!

The next pictures are of our annual cookie decorating fest:

(Caleb's very nicely decorated cookie.)

Caleb's School Play:

( I love this picture of "Joseph" and the sheep crawling on the floor. They were soo cute!)

Christmas Morning:

(The following pictures crack me up! They are Caleb's face while opening his "best Christmas present ever" his Nintendo DS! This child is so dramatic...gets that from his papa!)


(And this is what my Darling little Twinkies did during the opening of presents: rifle through the diaper bag and wander the house. They liked the bows on the presents, but had little interest in opening anything. We tried to rip the paper in hopes they would want to come and help, but instead Ella just ran thinking that we were tricking her into trouble since she normally gets into trouble when she rips paper.)

(Here they are with their babies. Aren't they cute feeding their babies?! Caleb got them their tu-tu's for Christmas. So cute!)
(Top picture: Ella's done with the present thing and wants breakfast! Bottom picture: The Christmas cookies I made for our neighbors.)

Who says there are no such thing as miracles?

We haven't eaten out in SIX days....alert the media!

Works for Me: What to do with those Christmas cards?

The ideas below are so not mine... I stole them and LOVE them!

It was a great Christmas card season at the Mad House. We got around 60 and words cannot express how thrilled I was to read each and every one of them. Typically, I have NO interest in going to get the mail and if The Love wasn't here, the mail would just sit in that mail box. But when Christmas season rolls around, I literally stalk our mailman, hang out at the mailbox and pounce him when he arrives. (How'd you like that visual?!)

When I get a Christmas card I pour over it and make Lovey listen to all my, "Can you believe how big ____ has gotten?" or "____ has 6 kids now! Can you believe it?" or "I cannot believe how old ____'s kids are! Don't you feel soooo old?" And on, and on.

I love Christmas cards and after Christmas is over have never liked the idea of throwing them away. I have kept them for years. Then a couple of years ago a friend of mine gave me the greatest idea. She keeps them in a basket by the dinner table and each night after dinner they read a card and pray for that family. So we have been doing that for a couple of years. My boys LOVE IT! They really look forward to it at dinner. And then I send that person a note the next day to let them know that we prayed for them.

So then what do I do with the cards after that? Well, that's where I stole another idea...

I got a photo album and put our Christmas card & letter in it and all of the cards and letters for that year too. It has been so fun to look through the past years pictures to see how the kids have grown, new babies have been added... So fun!

I keep all the letters in an envelope and just display the pictures.

Here is our picture from last year along with our letter.

Works for me! For more ideas, head over here.