Halloween 09

This Halloween was so fun for me to watch my boys enjoy it so much. Tyson loved handing out the 'trick or treats' to everyone that came. Tyson wanted to be a cowboy and Tanner was a monkey (Tyson's costume from 2 years ago). We couldn't find any boots to borrow that would fit Tyson's fat feet, so he just wore sneakers. It turned out good, though, with all the walking we did. We decided to take Tanner in the stroller because he is the slowest walker in the world. He lasted about an hour and then fell asleep. Tyson was full of energy and wanted to go to every door, whether anyone was home or not. When we finally came home, he wanted to go around our town home complex. With all the walking I thought I was going to go into labor, but I felt a lot better after some good sleep. I can't wait until next year to share this spooky-kooky holiday with my children again.

Is it just me...or can I blame it on the pregnancy?

So I have been contemplating whether or not to start a new blog for the sole purpose of having a place to complain and put my pet peeves and writing about things that bug me. It seems I am more irritated lately (due to the fact that I am fat and tired), but maybe I really am just an ornery, uptight, beastly person. I can guarantee many posts of this new blog, if I actually started one, would be about the neighborhood children around here. Is it so wrong for me to want to go outside and play with my own children once in awhile, without being ambushed or mauled by 10-12 other kids who, in my opinion, have no idea what a personal bubble is, and furthermore, must have been trained by experts in the art of bugging people? Maybe these kids just crave attention so badly because they don't get it at home, that they can't help butting into whatever it is we are doing. My first thought is that they are the rude ones, but then I think maybe I am the rude one and I always end up giving in. I don't like being scrutinized by a 4 year old who is constantly asking me what I am doing, why I am doing it, and where I am going. Finally today I told him it was none of his business. Am I horrible or justified? I guess that is what you get when you live in a town home, and had I known it would bother me so bad we never would have purchased one. I long for my OWN back yard where I am in control of what happens and who comes and where I can do things with my own kids, undisturbed. I could go on and on about community living, but that is not the only thing that bugs me. Even little things that people do and say have been driving me crazy, even when it has nothing to do with me. I constantly catch myself thinking how stupid people are and why can't they just think rationally? I really am not a hater, and I would like to blame it on the pregnancy, but I think I really have this disposition and the pregnancy just magnifies it. So, I want to change. I want to be more positive and one of those 'nice' people who never have anything bad to say about anything. However, I know I can't change overnight, and I probably won't start a new blog, so don't be surprised to hear a few more gripes from me at least until I no longer have a bulging belly and I feel like I am more normal.

Sharing my woes

I am now 30 weeks pregnant and everything seems to be going fine. This baby moves a lot like Tyson did, so hopefully that means she will come 3 weeks early as well. A girl can dream can't she? I do have a few hang ups (as always) that I want to share:

• I passed my glucose test with flying colors, but my iron level keeps dropping. They will check it next time and I may or may not have to start getting iron shots.
• I have sciatica from the top of my butt down to my toes on my right side. Not fun.
• When I sit at the computer my left arm goes numb.
• Getting myself dressed and ready is a rare occasion. I'm trying to work on this one.
• I let my kids watch the same movie three times in a row just to keep them occupied and give me some time to do what I need. Right now the favorite movie is Mulan 2. However, Tyson has picked up a song from it called "I want to be like other girls" and goes around singing it. People probably think he is going through an identity crisis.
• I am lacking motivation in all things right now.
• I think I am getting a receding gum line and am long overdue for a dental checkup. Man, I wish we had dental insurance.
• I brushed my teeth so hard that I slipped and gouged myself, which formed a canker and is killing me days later.
• Tyson is 2 for 2 in breaking 2 dishes in 2 days.
• I know I have been slacking in house work, so I got up early before everyone else was awake and deep cleaned the bathroom downstairs. It must have shocked Anthony because he asked me if I was nesting. I better step it up.
• After last weekend, all four of my sisters have had their babies, leaving me to be pregnant and miserable all alone for the next 2 months. Thanks a lot!

All whining set aside, I am actually feeling pretty good and am enjoying life with my little family. I am looking to do a few small projects before the baby comes and am staying busy with family things. Life is good and I am so grateful for all the things I have been blessed with.

Tyson's birthday

Tyson's birthday was simple, yet he was completely satisfied. We just stayed home and played around and took it easy. His birthday kind of snuck up on me so I didn't plan a formal party or anything. I wasn't about to let all the stray neighborhood kids in my house, so I made cupcakes for Tyson to take outside and share with his friends. He thought that was so fun. He is such a giving person. No doubt I ended up with a herd of kids at my door asking for more cupcakes. Sorry, when they're gone-they're gone. I opted to do a simple cake this year. A regular old 9x13 but I decorated the top like a small race track and put cars on it. I even forgot to take a picture of the cake by itself, probably because it didn't live up to any of the previous cakes I made. Anyway, Tyson got all the Disney Cars characters and couldn't be more thrilled. They are his favorite thing and he kept saying "oh my gosh" and "oh my goodness" and "wow". It is so fun when they are so happy. We had our cousins over for cake and ice cream and we had a great time playing and visiting. One thing that made Tyson laugh especially hard was having his cousins sing Happy Birthday to him on the phone. Thanks for the presents and calls and helping us celebrate our sweet boy's special day.

State Fair

So this year we happened to be in Salt Lake during the State Fair. My younger brother showed a lamb in the fair so we decided to go check it out. The judging took a really long time and it was really hot in the building. The kids grew really restless, but Brian took 1st place in his class and 3rd place overall, so it was worth the wait. That is pretty good considering there were 200 plus lambs there this year. Melissa and Jaeley

Tyson trying to stay entertained.

Tanner sleeping on the grand stand.

Future farmers of America...

Bunking up with grandma at the hotel. Fun times.

The few days prior to this, we drove out to Denver to see Andrea's new little baby boy. It was a short trip, but always fun to see their family. Grandma's van has a dvd player in it and the boys traveled wonderfully. Thanks to Andrea for letting us invade her home.

I think after a long week of traveling and being in a hotel, I was quite irritated and short-fused. My sweet husband took me on a date Friday night to the Roof restaurant and to a short program by the Tabernacle Choir. It was a nice break. I have such a thoughtful husband.

I think my children were a little thrown off as well because they were being kind of naughty, fighting over anything and everything like who got to push the elevator button. I was about to strangle them by the end of the week.

the real reason for going to the state fair

Showing the lamb
Setting up the lamb
Getting judged

Winning 1st in his class

09-09-09

So, it has been awhile since I have posted, and not much has happened in our lives. School started, but my kids aren't in school so it didn't affect us much. I'm just happy some of the neighborhood kids are in school all day so they aren't constantly knocking on my door and ringing my doorbell. I'm such a antisocial person, and Tyson is the complete opposite. He is the type that would walk off with a stranger because he is so friendly and thrives on having friends and constantly playing with friends. Because he is my oldest, I am still trying to figure out this friend thing. Trying to monitor who he plays with and how much he plays with other kids. I don't see the need for a 3 year old to be playing with friends daily. I would rather him play with Tanner. When I make him stay inside he comes up with the cutest things to do and I love to hear him playing with and talking to his toys. I know I can't shelter him forever. I am trying to follow Joseph Smith's advice when he said "teach them correct principles and then let them govern themselves." Tyson and Tanner are good kids, but they have learned some not so nice things from the kids around here. Here are some of the phrases they have picked up:

• "I'm gonna call the cops on you."
• "I'm not your friend anymore."
• "You're not the boss of me."
• "You need to change your attitude."

There are a few others, but I can't think of them off the top of my head. I really try to keep a close eye on them. We have a neighborhood bully that is Tyson's age and twice his size. He bloodied Tyson's nose last week because Tyson was trying to put our toys away like I had asked him, and this kid still wanted to play with our toys. Tyson didn't cry, but Tanner has been laid out a few times by this kid. He no longer plays with my children without my supervision. Being a parent is hard, but I feel more sorry for Tyson because he has to put up with me learning the ropes of parenthood.

On a different note, I started officially potty training Tanner and it is going fairly well. It will be nice to be diaper-free for a couple months before the baby comes. I'm excited for the baby, but I'm not too anxious yet. I like spending this time with my boys. Another week and I will be into my third trimester. My sister just had her baby almost 4 weeks early and I would welcome that kind of time frame for me, but won't get my hopes up. All I know is that if my appetite doesn't change post pregnancy, I'm going to have to take some serious interventions. I am a glutton and I don't know how to stop myself. I fear at this rate, the next few months will not be pretty, nor will I. The only good thing is that I can pawn most of it off onto the pregnancy and delay taking the blame. I am extremely excited for cooler weather and hope it comes soon. I have a few fun things planned before the holidays hit, but the holdidays should be way fun this year, even if I am large with child.

Rewind

This is the last of my pictures from the summer that I wanted to post. These were from the weekend of the 24th of July and we made a homemade/makeshift swimming pool in the back of grandpa White's truck. The water was freezing but the kids still played in it. Aunt Jenny brought some water balloons and they were the kids' favorite thing. Thanks for a great time time.