Venting

I don't even know where to begin. I'm horrible at trying to put my feelings down on writing and to think when I was younger I wanted to be a writer, until I realized how bad I was at English, so sorry for all those English professors! The idiot that I am went and got umbilical hernia surgery last Monday, yea that's right in December. It wasn't anything major but I had to do it before the end of the year due to insurance purposes. I never had been put out before so I was horrified. Let's just say I hope I never have to do that again. A couple of days later Branon had to be gone all day for Basketball but lucky to some really good friends I was able to survive. Then of course the next I had to be fine because Bella was now sick. She was up all night Tuesday and Wednesday and by Thursday she couldn't stop crying. Finally I took her to the Doctor because I couldn't take in any longer. I'm not suppose to lift more then 20lbs but that was thrown out now. She ended up having a really bad ear infection. I asked the doctor if I could have that miracle shot for her because trying to shove medicine down her throat is impossible especially when she is sick. Lets just say by that night she was doing much better and she finally was sleeping through the night again.

So we got hit with a pretty bad Snow Storm Saturday, then Sunday was freezing cold, and then Monday we got hit with another bad snowstorm. I don't mind it so much if I didn't have to go out in it but since we don't have a garage it really sucks. I've been trying to quit drinking soda and I think I learned my lesson on Monday. I got four packs of soda since they were on sale but never got them out of my car. Monday morning when I went to go start the car in the front passenger seat and dashboard there was ice with coloring. Thought that's strange. Look back and it's all over the place because 4 cans had exploded. Still haven't cleaned it up because I've been so busy trying to catch up plus it's too DAMN cold to go out there.

Tonight I had to go to when of those dreadful work party's. Actually there usually not that bad but Branon's work is Celebrating their 20th year so they went all out. First, we had to dress up and normally we just wear whatever. Second, we had to listen to this guy give some speech of how it all started. I thought he would never end so it made the party go that much longer. You know when your at those Fast Sunday meetings and when the Bishop has to get up there to tell the person to wrap it up. Yea, I was wishing someone would do that to him. The plus side of it they had really good food.

Because of this one I've been able to survive the last couple of weeks. She is at the most amazing age and would love to be able to freeze it. She by far as been the easiest of the three at this age. She went to my friend Sarah's house when I got my surgery done. She has a boy that is just a few days older than her and he is crawling all over and I'm sure will be walking way before he is one. I think watching him move all over gave her inspiration to start moving so she now can do the army crawl. She is happy 99.9 percent of the time and loves to pull this face(above), which I get a crack out of. When I put her in her highchair she starts getting all excited and yelling at me because I'm not getting the food fast enough. She eats 3 times as much as Jonas and Bella ever did.

Jonas is a pretty good boy for the most part but when he wants to throw a tantrum he can throw one. Last night he wanted to go to his friends house and when I told him that he couldn't he starting yelling and hitting me(have no idea where he got that one from). He ended up in his room for like an hour because he wouldn't stop. Every time he came out he would start back up. Finally I told him that he needed to get his pajamas on and if he didn't stop he will go to bed without any dinner. Finally he stopped and was a very very good boy the rest of the night.

Now for this one she gives me a run for my money. As soon as Jonas stopped his tantrum she started hers. Who ever thinks 2 is bad I think 3 is way way worse(the age, not how many kids you have). This girl cries over everything especially when she doesn't get her way, or when Jenna is playing with something that she doesn't want her too. I'm pretty sure there are going to be some nasty fights in the future between those two but I'll try not to think about it and deal with the problem that I have now. When she isn't crying she is so happy and sweet. As you can see she loves to help me cook, hopefully she will turn out better than her mother. She is so fun to watch her play with her toys and how she talks to them, I really need to get it on camera. She also hates having her toys picked up. The other day I was putting some of her toys away so I can vacuum in her room and she came unglued because she wanted them out even though she wasn't playing with them. Like I said she cries over everything. Oh, did I mention Branon is gone Monday nights so he missed out on the fun.

Now that I have most of my venting off my shoulders I only have one more. The Saturday before my surgery we went the the community festival of trees. This was the second year they did it and last year was so much fun. They had tons of trees and seemed to be a lot of people for a small town. This year was a disappointment. They had like 5 trees but I guess that's what happens when you live in a small town. I would like to also know where they got their Santa. Doesn't Santa usually have the kids come sit on your lap? He wasn't the most friendly Santa I've seen. Yeah, Bella is finally not screaming her head off either but she also didn't sit on his lap, and as you can see is holding tight to me.

One thing good that happen over the couple of last weeks was that I got to go with some good friends to see "Twilight" for the second time. I know can you believe it they have a theater here, and they are already showing twilight. It's only a one screen theater but at least they have one. The first time I went and saw it with some of the same people but we had to drive 3 hours to see it opening day. Although I thought it was a real disappointment the first time I had a lot of fun talking and laughing with friends on the long drive. Second time thought it was much better, probably because I knew all the cheesy parts like "you Spider Monkey"!

Total opposites

Jonas and Bella play really well together(for the most part) but that's probably the fact that they are two very opposite kids. I have no idea where Jenna will fit in the picture yet. I'm pretty sure I'll be lucky if the girls get along since Bella does freak out when Jenna rolls over to all her toys and starts grabbing. Here are some of the things that Jonas and Bella do that are totally opposite. Jonas screams when he has to go to school, Bella screams because she wants to go to school. Jonas hates going to bed, Bella goes to bed when she is tired. Jonas will brush is teeth, Bella cries when brushing her teeth. When I get mad Jonas gets mad back, Bella starts to cry "Mom to be angry" it's harder to get after Bella without her crying. The list could go on and on but I'm hoping Jenna will be something in between to make for my perfect child!

Today this one drove me insane. It started at 10 in the morning and lasted until Branon came home at 5. She got her backpack on and cried all day to have me take her to school. When I told her that she didn't have school today she cried even harder. So I didn't get nearly as much as I wanted done today.

So after all my cleaning and making sure everything was off the floor in the living room it didn't take much for few peanut M&M's to make it on the floor. She was on the floor rolling all around and before long Branon looks down and sees that she has chocolate all over her mouth. As you can see it made a huge mess. Not long after this picture was taken she threw up all her dinner plus two peanuts. Hopefully she will be okay!

Sick, Sick, Sick

Really how many times can you get sick in 2 in half months. It all started on our anniversary and it seems like I'm sick every other week. This time it was probably due to the lack of sleep I got last weekend on my Scrap booking weekend with my friends. Plus all my kids have a runny nose which probably contributed to being sick this time. A month ago I got strep and for those that have not had it pray that you never get it. I had a fever and could not swallow, and luckily to the miracle shot I was better in a couple of days. I have a sore throat now and I hope I don't get strep again.

Last weekend we went to Olive Garden and got horrible service. My friend Heidi is not afraid to say how she fells and got a free dinner out of it, plus a gift certificate for our next scrap booking weekend. Jenna did pretty good but she is at that age that she grabs everything in sight. Jenna dumbed water all over my friend Amy(who is pictured below). I wished she would have slept in since I was the idiot that I was and stayed up until wee hours in the morning. Oh yea ask me how much I got done? None! However I did get my digital programs working again.

8 months and counting

Jenna was 8 months on Monday, it feels like I just had her. Besides not sleeping through the night she has been are best baby, also best nursing baby too. By now I'm done and dried up but since the fact that she doesn't take a bottle very well I'll be going until she is one. She doesn't have any teeth so it's not too bad. Jonas and Bella didn't get teeth until they were one so we should be fine. She doesn't crawl yet but that doesn't stop her from going one side of the room to the other(she doesn't have very far to go since the room is so small). I can see the future from this picture. Jenna will be trying to take things from Bella, then Bella crying. I might actually have a tough one, that would be weird since the others cry over spilled milk. When Bella is throwing a tantrum, Jenna laughing, it makes Bella even more mad, and I'm with Jenna laughing. Oh can I tell you this time change is killing me. I hate when people say "I'm so excited for that extra hour of sleep." It's more like I get up an hour earlier so this morning I'm up at 5:30.

My friend says Jenna is one of the loudest babies she's seen. She really isn't that bad but when she is hungry or tired then that's when she gets loud. She never really cries is more of yelling and once feed then she is quiet, either she is playing or asleep.

We had activities yesterday and the girls new more then I did about the presidents. I'm sure they will be very disappointed when they wake up and find out that Obama won, because everyone of them wanted McCain to win. The reason why was because he wants school to be year round. I will support Obama but please don't make school year round because I'm with the girls I do not like it.

We had our first Snow storm yesterday and woke up to a couple of inches of snow on the ground. This is just the start of the long winters here. Last winter was brutal and I heard we are in for another one. Winter also means basketball season so hopefully I will be able to survive. For those that don't know Branon is an assistant coach for the High School Boys Basket Ball team, so he is gone a lot.

Trick or Treat

For some reason I wasn't too excited about Halloween this year, but I'm not a huge holiday person either. I've been quite down this last week thinking a lot about my mom. I remember she used to love the Holidays and make them so much fun. Then when she died and my dad took over they became depressing. I remember one Halloween my dad offered us money NOT to go trick or treating. Now having kids I try to get into it more but I'm afraid I'm more like my dad, but I did get my kids costumes and we did do the Trunk or Treating. Then we went to one friends house and as you can see Jonas played on the toys. We couldn't do trick or treating since the houses are too far apart where we live.

Jenna did alright but as you can see she's not to thrilled.

I was trying to get a good picture of Bella but she said she had enough.

Olive hands and Pumpkin Carving

When Jonas started putting olives on his hands it reminded me how much I loved to do that when I was his age, oh wait I still do. Of course what he does, Bella has to follow.
Here's Jenna watching us carve pumpkins. She was quite amused.

Yea we finally carved our pumpkins! We usually do it the night before but it looks like we are ahead of the schedule my a night. Plus this is Branon's first time being with us because he is usually out working. I thought it went much smoother with him there.

I have to share a story that has nothing to do with carving pumpkins but it comes up every time I'm carving pumpkins because it has to do with a pumpkin knife. When I was little my cousins lived down the street so we did a lot with them. I apparently got mad at my cousin Allison and when she tried to come get something from our backyard I got a pumpkin knife and told her that if she didn't get out I would hurt her. Okay I probably said kill instead of hurt but I would like to think I wasn't that mean. You wonder where Jonas gets his anger problems.

How do you burn soup?

Let me tell you, tonight was a nightmare. That is a understatement. I've been doing activity day's for a year in half, and tonight will go down as the worse activity for me. We did a Daddy, Daughter activity. Since there are a lot of girls we have two groups; a younger, and older. Lately there are way more older than younger. I've been doing the older group. So the other ladies wanted to get together and do a activity together. All of us together there are 6 of us(leaders) and only me and another lady came. Two ended up sick, one ended up getting surgery, and the other was going to be out of town, so it was things that really they couldn't do anything about. It would have gone a lot smoother if I was not the idiot that I am, and burn the soup. The lady that got surgery made a nice big taco soup and all we had to do is warm it up. There were also two smaller soups but it wasn't about to feed 40 people. I accidentally put it on high and totally forgot about it and the next thing I know, totally burnt the bottom and made the whole soup gross. Luckily two ladies came from the primary presidency to help so we had to run to the store and get some Bear Creek soup and hurry and make it. Let's just say the other soup would have tasted a whole lot better, and we ended up starting 30 minutes late. There are other details that I can put in that made the night a disaster but I'll keep those to myself, plus I'm sure you already are bored of this story.

Horrible Mother

Here are a few pictures of my kids that my friend took. Branon was gone for the weekend and the weather was wonderful so we went out to take these cute pictures. Branon went up to Salt Lake to take two test for his licensee. He got home late last night and then left this morning and won't be home until late tonight. Let me tell you I miss him so much! I don't realize how much he does until he is gone. Saturday night all three of these kids kept me up and only got over 3 hours of sleep. I wish he was here so I could take my Sunday nap to make up for the lost of sleep. Although, while the girls slept, Jonas let me sleep for 30 minutes which is really good for him since he is so loud. I was waken up from him climbing on the counter to eat all the chocolate. No wonder why he is so hyper.

I know, I say too many times I'm a bad mother, but I know I do the best that I can. I obviously am not that bad because my kids do love me, plus they are the biggest mama kids that I know. But what I did today was just horrible, but thank goodness kids forget. When Jonas came home from school today I thought I would be good and do homework instead of doing it right before bedtime. Jenna had fallen asleep in the car so I put her in her room. She had awaken before I was done with Jonas. Bella thought she would be a great sister and go play with her. Well while in there I heard her cry but didn't think nothing of it. Then I didn't hear her anymore but Jenna started to cry so I thought she went into her room and play. When we were done doing homework I got on the phone. Jonas kept saying "Where is Bella, I can't find her." I ignored him for awhile. Then Jonas wouldn't stop so I thought I better go find her. I went into Jenna's room and in the closet I found Bella asleep in there. Jonas said, "Mom is she alive or dead?" Luckily she was alive still but I felt so bad that I never went and checked on her. She ended up sleeping for 3 hours and that is why my kids just barely went to bed.

Almost peace

So I know Jonas is probably to old to be taking a bath with his younger sisters and he will probably kill me later for this picture but at least I'm not showing is boy part. Branon and I got a little break from the two older crazy/wild children last weekend. Jonas and Bella went to my brother Steve's house. While they were running around crazy and waking up early we were staying at this place in Northern Idaho. Actually this place was in Western Montana at a Bed and Breakfast but we only stayed one night and then we were at a lodge in Sandpoint. It was our first experience at a Bed and Breakfast and it would have been so much more relaxing if Jenna wasn't there, but she did remarkably well. I just wish she would sleep through the night.

Here is Branon and Jenna hanging out. There was a picture of her and me but somehow got erased. I forgot how life was so much easier with just one kid. Although I have to say I did miss Jonas and Bella. As much as they drive me crazy I do love being there mother.

We had an awesome time, things went so much better then I thought, but the last few hours of the trip was living hell. The airplane ride back was a nightmare. Due to the weather the turbulence was horrible and the last 20 minutes Jenna screamed her head off and there was nothing I could do about it. Then we just wanted to get our car and go pick up the kids and get home. Branon went to go pick it up while I sat with Jenna and our luggage. I thought wow he is taking a long time. Jenna is starting to scream and my patience is gone, so I called Branon wondering where the hell he is. He said the battery is dead. Great! The jumper thing that we have in our car is dead too and we have no jumper cables. Apparently nobody as them in their car either. Branon decides to come pick us up but then we got on the employee bus and took the detour and Branon at this point it livid so we get off the last stop and walk in the freezing cold. I was getting mad but I guess it saved a little time instead of going back and getting on a whole new bus. By the time we were suppose to be at my brother's house we finally found someone with jumper cables to get us up and running. We found the source of our problem and it was one of the kids left the light on in the back. So make sure all your car lights are off when you leave you car at the airport.

Roll, Fly, Roll

Right now I'm staring at the ceiling, trying to relax and I count 10 flies. I probably have another 20 in the kitchen. I have to say that is one thing I don't like about living right next to cows. There seems to be a million flies. I probably have tons of them in my van because it only took me 3 hours to clean it out today. Yes I know I had one really really dirty van. If you look at the picture really carefully, way back in the kitchen by the window there is one of those fly stripes. Had no idea what they were until we lived here but you have to have one unless you want to be killing flies all day long. I think they are quite disgusting.

Jenna's first time to roll was back in the end of July but she would only roll onto her stomach and be okay for a minute and then start crying, she hates to be on her stomach. Finally the last few days she has been rolling over and over. Jonas was quite amused by it all. Doesn't take much to get him excited. I've decided my kids take after their parents and are quite lazy(laid back is what we like to call it). My kids have been a little behind on their milestones which is okay with me. I still have lots of time before I have to start chasing another child. I have a friend that had a boy a few days before Jenna and he is crawling everywhere and is starting to pull himself up, before long she will be chasing him around.

Sometimes I have no idea why I have a blog and write. Since first I'm a horrible writer, never has been my strong point. And second hardly anybody really reads it, at least it looks that way. So for those that do read I'm really sorry about my writing skills and grammar. My spelling would be worse if it wasn't for spell check.

Bruised Ears

As much as Jonas can drive me up the wall he is so cute with Jenna as you can see here. He has had a really hard time with reading so I thought this was priceless.

I don't get many pictures with Bella and Jenna since Bella doesn't play with her that much.

For those that don't know Jonas he can say some pretty off the wall things that make you laugh, but I'm sure all kids are like that. Soon after I had Jenna and told him that I had to hurry home so I could feed her. He said, "Dad can feed her with his boobs." Yea, I wished it worked that way. Then later that day he had said, "When I get older, I'm going to feed the baby with my boobs." Then I had to explain the whole boys can't feed baby's and why. He seemed pretty amused by it all.



Well the last month I have been sick on and off but more on. I'm hoping that there is and end but I don't see one. Anyway my patience with my children are totally gone, and it doesn't help when Jenna only sleeps a couple of hours in a night and Jonas and Bella get up at 5 in the morning. Let's just say that night was living hell and hopefully we don't have another night like that. Last night Branon was gone at work and I had just had enough and wished I could snap my fingers and my kids be in their pajamas and in bed. Since it doesn't work that way I resorted to yelling at Jonas for not listening which is nothing new. I must have yelled a little louder than normal because he started to cry and said, "you bruised my ears."



Branon is looking at a job in Northern Idaho and I haven't yet decided how I fell about the whole thing. You ask Jonas and he doesn't want to move at all. You ask Bella and she says "I want to live at McDonald's." You can tell where she likes to go.

Trying to be like Martha

This is me trying to be like Martha Stewart. I'll be honest cooking is not my best talent but I thought I would give it a try. It was a pampered chef recipe and it didn't look anything like the picture but it turned out pretty good. Of course anything with chocolate is good.

Jenna's starving so a Jiffy box had to do while she had to wait for the real food. I watch 3 other kids the same ages as mine. Yes, it feels like I have twins, so for those that have twins I have no idea how you do it 24/7. I can barely do it a few hours a day. This picture of Jenna looks so much like Branon to me. No one has said she looks like me. Most people say she looks like Jonas who everyone said he looked like Branon. My brother Eric told me when Jonas was little there is no Rawlings in him. You decide for yourself who Jenna looks like, but baby pictures she does look more like Jonas.

Bella's real 1st haircut

Here's the before picture, also her first day of Preschool.

Yes I finally did bangs, even though most people told me not to. I just was never able to have her hair down because it was always in her face and it drove me crazy. Plus she takes after me when it comes to getting her hair done. As a little girl I had to go down the street to have my aunts to have my hair done, because I wouldn't let my mom or older sister do it. Also, Branon prefers it down.

I had to add this picture because I loved her expression.

Since I don't have a updated pictures of Jenna, here are a couple. You can see why I love her still when she wakes up at night and I'm so dead tired. She is so worth it. Bella has done quite well with Jenna even though I think there is some jealousy there since she never plays with her. I ask her if she loves Jenna and she says "no mommy, I love you." Until the other night she was making Jenna laugh so hard and ever since then Bella has been a little more into her. A good laugh was all Bella needed.

I will post more picture of the last month since I finally got our laptop back and can upload my picture now. Maybe I will be blogging more.

Mama's Kids

So my two other kids are big time mama's kids, and it drives me crazy. I had hope that Jenna would not turn into one but at her 6 month check up she apparently made me think she will end up like the other 2. I think she was really smart and new what was coming, those horrible shots. When the doctor was looking her over she was crying and kept reaching for me. I really wish I could post a picture of her and the other kids, it's driving me crazy not having our laptop. Everyone says she looks like Jonas and she is also like Jonas off the charts when it comes to height. Her length is 28 inches, and weighed in at 16.14 lbs. Tall and skinny just like Jonas. She still doesn't sleep through the night which is driving me crazy. Up until her appointment she was waking up twice, but since then it's only once which isn't too bad. That was only a few days ago so I'm not counting on it. I have a friend that has a boy just a few days older then Jenna and he is rolling all over getting up on is knees and getting ready to crawl. Not Jenna, she is so laid back just watching the older kids run around but as no desire to join in. The only thing she does is roll and that is just once right onto her belly and after a few minutes she starts crying. I let her cry for awhile hoping that she can learn to roll back over but no luck yet.

To my Love ......

I love you. I know that doesn't come as any big surprise and that I've told you a thousand times before... But our Anniversary seems like a good time to tell you just how much you mean to me.... I love you even on days when the sun doesn't shine and the supper burns and our nerves are on edge.... when it's easy and when it takes all the patience in the world. I still love you, no matter what... And of all the people in the world, you're the only one I'd ever want to share my life.

author unknown

So our nine year anniversary was on August 28 but I got really sick that day and I'm finally feeling better. I'm sorry that you can't see these pictures but I can get my point across. If you notice our wedding picture he has lots of hair and I think I would like to say I look thin. Now if you see the other picture of us you can see he doesn't have much hair and I'm not quite so thin. That picture was also taken 3 years ago so you would hate to see what we look like now. I can't upload my pictures to this computer or else I would love to post one. So that's what 3 kids and nine years can do to you so I hate to see what I will look like at my 20 years.

It feels like the last nine years have gone by pretty fast and then we think of everything we have gone through and it seems like a lifetime. I wouldn't not have chosen anyone different to go through these experiences with. The poem puts it better then I would. Because this is how I would put it. He puts up a lot from me, and I put up a lot from him, and that's why we make such an awesome couple. I'm looking so forward to the next nine years.

Fourth day of school

So first day of school for Jonas was last Thursday but I am now finally blogging it. This picture was taken on the first day but he wouldn't look at me and told me that he didn't want is picture taken. I think he was pretty embarrassed. Next time I will have to take the picture before we go to school. He started kindergarten and he qualified for all day. I know I shouldn't be bragging about it since those are the kids that need extra help but let me tell you the house is very quite from 8 to 3, and I love it!

Never been so excited about poop

So I've been working on potty training Bella for about a month now and it took a few days to get where she would go pee but she would not go poo I tried bribing her but that never worked. So today I finally told her if you don't go poo in the toilet the monster is going to come get you. It might not have been the best according to the toilet training books but I don't care because it WORKED. I was jumping up and down with excitement and screaming. Lets just hope that she continues to do that.

Note: the picture of Bella is over a year old but that's the most recent picture I have of her on this computer.

Zucchini for baby food?

So if you have never planted a garden before make sure you never plant 8 zucchini plants unless you are willing to eat it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. I didn't realize that one plant produces 10+ zucchini's. We were gone to Lake Tahoe for a week and we came back to see a ton of huge zucchini's. I'll have to post later about my trip to Lake Tahoe because I like to show pictures since I fell like the picture tells the story. My laptop is broken, it's getting fix, and that is what I put all my pictures on. I have no clue how to put pictures on my desktop. Anyway back to zucchini's. I was eating them raw for dinner so Jonas wanted to try and of course what Jonas does Bella has to do. Only if I had my camera to show you their faces, let's just say you could tell they didn't like them. After Jonas had a bite he said "Mom, is this baby food?"

If you have any great recipes that require Zucchini or have a great way in cooking them please let me know.

Tribute to my Mother

The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is this the long way?" she asked. And the guide said: "Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning." But the young mother was happy, and she could not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed them in the clear streams; and the sun shone on them, and the young Mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this." Then the night came, and the storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said, "Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come." And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children, "A little patience and we are there." So the children climbed, and when they reached the top they said, "Mother, we would not have done it without you." And the mother, when she lay down at night looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday I gave them courage. Today, I have given them strength. And the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth, clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped and stumbled, and the mother said: "Look up. Lift your eyes to the light." And the children looked and saw above the clouds an everlasting glory, and it guided them beyond the darkness. And that night the Mother said, "This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God." And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the Mother grew old and she was little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill, and beyond they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And Mother said: "I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them. And the children said, "You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates." And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said: "We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence."
Author Unknown

Wow time goes by fast, 19 years ago today my mother past away from cancer. I was nine years of age. My memories are fade but I know I had the best mom in the whole world. Even though she is gone she left a wonderful example that I hope that I can become like her. I know she is watching over me and I hope that I can make her proud.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Son like father. We went to a car show on Saturday Jonas got to be so lucky to sit in this little version of a old car. For those that don't know Branon's second love is old classic cars.

Happy Birthday Branon!! So this is a day late but for some reason the Internet was not working yesterday. We didn't get to celebrate yesterday since he is gone all day and all night on Monday's so we got to celebrate it on Sunday. We had some friends come over and have pie, ice cream, and I had to have my favorite strawberry shortcake. He got a tree and chocolate for his birthday so not a whole lot but I got him a i pod for fathers day. He complains that we have no trees so that's why I got him one for his birthday.

The pictures are suppose to be swithced around but I couldn't figure that out.

Depressing

I talked to my sister today and she said my blogs name is so depressing. Sorry if you take it that way but let me tell you the reason behind the name. I live around all these over achievers, they cook, sew, scrapbook, decorating, and in my eyes there houses our spotless, but I guess when you live in a small town there is not a whole lot to do in the first place. I have no problem sitting down watching a show, surfing the Internet(you have to shop on the Internet since there are no stores around), and my favorite playing solitaire. Which I know aren't bad things but I probably do them a little more then I should. So that's were lazy comes from. Crazy is because I have 3 kids and if you are a mom I'm sure you understand that sometimes your kids can drive you crazy.

Potty Training

I need some major help. Bella who turned 3 in June is the most stubborn girl. She knows how to go pee in the toilet but she refuses. I try to bribe her with candy, toys, and even a bike. She said she doesn't want a bike, I guess I was hoping that would work since that worked for Jonas. They say girls are a lot easier but I would like to differ with that. So what do I do with this stubborn girl???