And it was a sad day today . . .

Drew is super good at running to the garage door when it's time to go.  I just have to say, "Drew, let's go" and he's off to the races.

But today, I said the que, he ran, grabbed a bow, got me to put it in his hair, and then he was off to the races.  The bow made it all the way to the car and he was pleased as punch. 

We were expecting some backlash from having two older sisters.  Two very girlie older sisters.

But, oh my goodness . . .

It was a good day yesterday . . .

We're been married for 11 years,

we had a single car garage for 2 1/2

and a 2 car garage for 3 1/2

(which I'd kill for a 3-car now),

but we finally got 2 cars in the 2-car garage.

We had to pack away all the outdoor summer paraphernalia, but we did it and Ansen is loving not scrapping off his car in the mornings.  I am apparently a garage parking hog  . . .

Lisa Besa

Last Sunday the kids and I (Ansen was in Logan at a baby blessing) decided to go visit Lisa at her new apartment.  On the tour she showed us the storage room which had Lisa's candy stash.  In an effort to get some candy, Olivia went with this line . . .  "Those starbursts are sooo cute"  over and over until we finally paid attention and Lisa offered her some candy . . . Jackpot. 

One of me and Lisa's favorite stories from the past . . .

In 2003, Lisa and I got to sit by each other on the plane to Hawaii.  As the drinks were being server, we discussed and decided she would get Sprite and I would apple juice and then we would mix our drinks for a sparking apple juice.  Yummy, right? 

We put the plan in action, mixed our drinks and decided on this occasion (being a plane ride) we should toast and not just any toast, a intertwined arms toast.  We got a little excited and the next thing we know we've poured Lisa's whole drink in her lap.  Since she's not sure what to do, she just sits there while it runs down the seat below her and soaks her entire butt. 

It was funny, actually hilarious, since it wasn't my wet rear. 

Not too much later, I had  tiny baby Addison on my lap (yes, I was mixing drinks and toasting with my sister on an airplane all the while thinking I was old enough to be a mother) and she knocked my tray table and my whole drink spilled all over the front of my lap.

It was funny, just not hilarious, since now it was my lap.

There we sat for the duration of the ride.  Lisa with a wet butt and me with a soaked lap. 
We were two Mormon adults on a plane, who wanted to enjoy a mixed drink and a toast. 

I guess it was just too much to ask for that day.

Motherhood frusterations . . .

So many times, I think to myself . . . did my mom feel like this?  what did my mom worry about?  how did my mom make it through this kind of a day?  did she even have this kind of a day?  what did she like?  what made her laugh?  what little things made her mad, but she just kept it to herself?  what was it like day to day for my mom?

I do talk to her alot, but I think the details fade.  I originally started this blog so that my kids could see what we did, how we made it work, what drove me crazy, what made me smile, and who I really was while in the mist of the hurricane of a family. 

(see that shirt Olivia is wearing -"sweet as cake" . . .

the truth is that sometimes it's a lie, not always, but sometimes.
And that  goes for all of them.)

So, today, here's some of the little things that I just get frustrated about . . .

- I get frustrated when I know you're exhausted, Olivia, and you just won't hold still, close your eyes and let yourself fall asleep.

- I get frustrated that when you girls walk in the door, you drop your shoes, your backpack, your coats, etc. right in the middle of the family room and then carry on. Oh, don't worry I'll get it or I'll just trip over it for the rest of the day my little sweeties. 

- I get frustrated when you know everything Addison. Sometimes I feel like you just won't let me share my wisdom because you already know it all . . . but sometimes, lots of times, you're actually wrong.  So just listen for a second.

- I get frustrated that I have to listen to Miley Cyprus or High School Musical in the car all the time.  If I decide to take a stand, then I have to listen to you whine about it.  I should have never tried to be the cool mom with the cool music. 

- I get frustrated that you leave your toothpaste spit in the sink, the soap on the edge of the counter top, the hand towel on the counter top or floor, the stool in front of the toilet and the toilet unflushed.  Yes, I did try and try and try to teach you.  I'll just keep trying I guess.

- I get frustrated that the thing I probably say the most in my life is . . . hurry, we're going to be late!  Will I ever stop piling it in and find a way to be on time consistently rather than those few successes every week?! 

- I get frustrated that no one likes getting their hair done.  Olivia, you bawl like I just poked your eyes out, and Addison you couldn't be more annoyed that you had to take break to do your hair, though you would absolutely DIE if you had to go without . . . you're getting better though so there's light at the end of the tunnel  . . . maybe.  It's 3-5 minutes of your time.  Let's get over it and move on.

- I get frustrated that every door jam of every door in our house is disgusting.  Fingerprints, toothpaste, food, dirt and whatever else I'm not sure.  I swear I clean my house and I swear I have rules about where you can eat food. 

-  I am so frustrated that it is a bitter fight to the end (the end in which I ALWAYS win) to get you, my little boy, buckled into your car seat.  We are in and out, in and out all day long. This accounts for a good 8-10 minutes of my day trying to bend your stiff little body in half, keep you in position with my elbow and forearm, as I wiggle your arms into the straps and finally find victory when the top bucket snapps into place.

But it's okay, because it all means that I get to be a mother.  And I will try to remember that in the mess of it all, I'm just blessed beyond measure to have it.

Dog or no dog?

Sunday would have been Rowdy's 15th birthday.  Good old Rowdy.

Which makes me think . . . should we get a dog?  There's always a good excuse.  Right now we're holding onto, we have no fence.  We also like, we don't have the extra money in our budget right now to care for a dog.  And I'm saving, I just can't bear the thought of picking up after one more family member.

Plus Ansen and I may never agree on what kind, size, inside/outside dog to get.  Ansen and I both grew up with shelties. Diamond died a few years into our marriage and Rowdy just died 2 years ago.  You would think we were both dog people.  I am, but Ansen just gets stoggier by the year.  The deal was a gun for a dog . . . by all accounts I think I should have several dogs by now. 

No doubt the kids (I mean girls - Drew's a big scaredy cat) would love one, absolutely love one.  And I have considered breeding a dog just for who knows why - I guess I think it would be a good "job" for the kids (mostly me) to learn responsibility.

For now, I am satisified to "think on it" for awhile longer or at least until we get a fence. 

The New Routine

Liv and Drew started a new morning routine.

After about 10 "one more hugs" . . . they run to the window and bellow "goood byyyye Daaaaad!" until he's finally out of sight. 

Now that the weather is a little cooler (freezing), the window stays shut.

But now he's out there longer since he's scraping the car windows

(until we finish getting the garage cleaned out).



Halloween 2010

Halloween is usually always a big post, since I really, really love Halloween!

 I love it all - costumes, the ward party, elementary costume parade, class parties, Halloween parties where adults dress up (yes, even that) and the big family Halloween party with Carmel apples, bloody fingers, homemade bubbling rootbear, sugar cookies, spider pretzels, mummy pizzas . . . Happiness.

Ollie decided on Sleeping Beauty.  These princess costumes are the best investment ever since they get worn almost daily for the next 3 years.  Plus my mom has volunteered to whip one up every time and since she's so amazing at sewing they turn out perfect.   

The pre-school spoils -gone in 15 minutes . . . easy.

Addison decided to be Hermione and so here she is heading off to Hogwarts (I mean just plain old school).

I know that I've pretty much brain washer her to love Harry Potter, but I needed someone to share it with. This was an easy costume year since we just borrowed Lisa's Olive Garden Tie, Jeff's old Harry Potter robe and wand, so basically it was just the hair.   Sometimes it's okay to go with easy, right?

And as a side note, my Mom managed to keep this wand safe and sound for a good 12 years . . . Olivia broke it in 2 days.   I have to wonder is it her or is it me? . . . maybe I do not want an answer to that.

We finally found time to carve pumpkins on Saturday.  I don't love the pumpkin part, and really what parent does?  But it's just part of the tradition, right?  and the kids seem to love it. 

Liv wanted a cat and Addie went with a paint/carve combo bat. 

Ansen and I supplied the manpower.

Drew had absolutely no idea what was going on, but loved his pumpkin.  Ansen never got around to carving his annual Yankees pumpkin.  It was kind of sad in really, but when you have to carve everyone else's pumpkins first I think you just loose your gusto for carving.  We should consider this when thinking about more kids.  More kids = more pumpkins to carve.

Our Zoo membership expired on Halloween so we scheduled a family outing to the zoo on Halloween.  Makes sense, right?  It wasn't crazy enough with everything else, we thought we'd add the Zoo.  But we found out it was Boo at the Zoo with trick or treating and boy are we glad we found this little gem.  SO MUCH CANDY! LOADS OF CANDY! and some animals.  

It was pouring by the trick or treating rolled around so we never curled Sleeping Beauty's hair or put on her make- up  . . . besides she was wearing a big, brown winter coat over her dress, running shoes and pants, so who really knew who she was anyway.  Plus every child needs the memory of wearing all their snow clothes over their costumes.

They made out like bandits in the candy department.  Trick or Treating plus the Zoo. 

And Drew . . . Drew had the time of his life answering the door all night with me . . . he was a little more generous with the candy than I would have been though.

He wore the same clown costume as my brother Jeff wore almost 20 years ago.  I made the little yarn poof balls on the front in 4th grade.   I remember so clearly my darling little baby brother - the cutest clown ever.  And this little boy is just as cute of a clown.

I feel like we've been openly and aggressively eating candy for weeks now even though it's really only been 7 days.  What makes it really unbearable this year is Drew since he's a little addicted sugar-holic. 

So maybe in retrospect the Zoo was not a good idea . . .  

So easy costume year thanks to my best ever Mom!  I love Halloween!

Drewy

He figured out the joy of corn on the cob. 

(And I just realized that the food on his plate looks not good, so in case this helps,

 it's a baked potato with toppings and more corn.)

Just when I think we have finally found every LAST marker in the basement, he finds me looking like this and I know there's at least one more . . . somewhere.

This is our cute little neighbor and  he loves to rub her "balb" (as Olivia says it) little head.  He wants to kiss her too, but if he could just please rub her head . . .

He still has to hold onto his ear to fall asleep. His hand has kind of drifted in this picture, but we know he's finally ready to settle down when he goes for his ear.  

And he's still a binky baby - which we haven't tried to stop yet.

He loves reading now.  I was afraid that since he was my 3rd and I haven't read to him as much as the girls that I had damaged him already.  But now he randomly brings me one of his four favorites periodically throughout the day and just LOVES the 3 minutes we spend reading.

Yogurt . . . it's just the best! And it's even better when he gets to feed himself.
(See Olivia peeking through the back-love it)

Still LOVES balls . . . all kinds of balls.



He's into animals now.   He does the dog, cat and cow sounds now.  They can all be done almost equally well with the binky in though. 

The Slimie Limies!

Addison was up for doing soccer again this year.  Ansen coached Liv's team this year, so I was the parent "in charge" of Addison and Ansen was "in charge" of Olivia.  And though the drive was longer, I got the better end of  the deal since this year they were

actually playing soccer

with positions, strategies, goalies and real points! 

I can't believe so much changed in just one year!

 Addison was awesome as goalie!  She knew when to wait, when to charge, and was quick with the throw back which threw them (the other team and usually half of our team) off every time.

And since Ansen was always busy coaching at Liv's game, I always got a side kick - Drew.  But I just had to keep him behind the chairs and bring him his own ball.

Addison Leigh

We just got Addison's 2nd grade pictures! 
It instantly made me so proud and happy to see this cute little face peering our
through the plastic window of the envelope!

- You're a reading fiend.  You're into Romona right now, but you fly through books and are an excellent, excellent reader!  It makes my life so much easier . . . thank you!

- You sleep with your bent knees straight up in the air.  Dad and I can't figure it out, but it makes us smile every night when we check on you before we head off to bed.

- You still love school.  The early morning are a little hard, but we make it.  Monday I even offered to let you skip since it was a minimal day with still 2 recesses, but you, of course, still wanted to go.  You pick your own clothes out, but still want me to do your hair just right, which I'm happy to accommodate.

- You love the Yankees!  You have inherited your Dad's passion for the Yankees and you know who the enemies are  . . . all of our friends and neighbors that love the Red Sox.  Your Dad and Grandpa Hatch are so proud.

- You are an adult stuck in a child's body.  Someone asked me what it was like with 3 adults living in our house taking care of the family and really, it's not too far from the truth.  Maybe we expect too much from you, but my gosh, it's just your nature and I am so grateful for that. 

- Right now, you like to design clothes, modest clothes of course.  Your sketches are all over the house.  You also write books, like the one about the Candy Dragon that you wrote for Banna and Branda's Anniversary.

- You are a worker!  You always get the job done and rarely let me down.  You know how to get your work done fast so you can get back to your life . . . please don't forget that.
 

- You really are the best big sister.  You enjoy our little Drew and his cute little baby things and you're always great with our wild Olivia.  You girls rarely fight, but the secret is, I think that's mostly because of you.

- You are a money saver!  Thank goodness!  You're saving for a trip to Disneyland - hopefully we can help you with that soon . . .

-  You have my humor and you crack a lot of sarcastic jokes that I actually think are hilarious.  I love it when you say, "Oh Mom" because the joke was just too stupid. 

- You are so aware of everything now . . . my phone calls you listen to, the e-mails you read over my shoulder, our family calendar . . . Ahhh, I hope I'm a good example since I know you're taking it all in. 

- You like to explain everything, because clearly you know everything.  You always try to take over the Family Home Evening lessons and usually over do it was the details, but we love you for it. 

Addison, I have always thought that our Heavenly Father blessed me, by sending you to us first.  You were the perfect baby while Dad and I were working and finishing our Master's, you were such an adorable child and we really couldn't do what we do as a family without you. 

It's a Witch!

We have made the Gardener Village Witches a yearly tradition now, but it seems like we go with someone different every year. 

2005

Just with my one and only - Addison. 

We met my cousins and theirs kids there for a wet, puddle-jumping day.

I'll never forget this day since it's the day we found out we were having Olivia.

2006

My two cute little girls with Addison barely holding on.  I don't have the pictures to remind me, so I don't remember who we went with us - dang it, but I think it was Amanda, Jamie and Kristie & co.

2007

This year was definitely with Amanda, Jamie and Kristie.  This kids were so little and cute plus Olivia was tied into a stroller - the makings of a great day.  I do think I'm going to have to stop saying these kind of things, because we're headed into the toddler stage of our first boy and I can tell, it's going to give us a run for our money..

2008

We did go this year too, and I do remember that I was mad that I forgot to take pictures!

2009

We met our neighbors, the Stillings and Woods up here this year.  We had been rear ended in our new van so we had a rental car that day and after this headed up to meet Ansen at the zoo . . . big day.  Baby Drew was there, but no pictures of him.

2010

And this year we went with Banna.  We dressed for Winter weather and it turned out to be Fall weather.  We did find all the witches, but Banna talked the girls into a treat somewhere else to avoid the line for a cookie.

Oh, what?!  You don't like the fabric store? 

We got a little distracted and Drew was sure to call it to our attention.

Olivia Kate

- Max and Ruby is your favorite TV show.  We usually get you all ready for pre-school and then you watch Max and Ruby from 9-9:30.

- You still have to have a sippy to go to bed . . . with ice.  You rarely ever drink it, but it's a bedtime must.

- You have NO focus.  It takes you 30 minutes to get dressed, it takes you 20 minutes to empty the garbages, it takes your 40 minutes to eat dinner (unless it's chicken enchiladas - one of your favorites) you can't clean up to save your life . . . you're constantly distracted by everything.  The moment you decide to focus though, WOW, you can achieve anything - you're very crafty. 

 - Turns out you are a singer too!  Yesterday at the primary program, you and Addison did a solo together.  Your voice, your smile and your eyes were so sweet.  But the sweetest thing was the big, excited hug you gave your sister when she joined you at the microphone right before the song started.  For just a second, my heart stopped. 

- You have finally figured out how to live without your sister while she's gone to school.  You can find your own little things to play with and you're starting to figure out a way to rope Drew into your little plans.  Today you found all the Easter eggs in the Decor closet.  You set up a big Easter egg hunt.  I found you and Drew running around the basements with your baskets hunting for eggs. 

-  You love your brother and sister.  You are always very concerned for both of them and thinking of them.  You save them treats, you worry about Drew with a babysitter, you HAVE to give Addie a hug and kiss before she leaves to school or you spend the 20 minutes after she leaves moping and crying that you didn't get to give your Addie a hug. 

- You don't usually change outfits like your sister did, but you go through about 3 pairs of PJs every night in the 1-2 hours that you have them on before bed.  And then you've usually gone through a pair or two before breakfast the next morning.  We're not sure what's going on, but it's your thing. 

-  You know all your letters and you're starting to read . . . when you're focused.  You love it. 

-  You always have an issue - your  panties need to be adjusted, the seams on your shirts are itchy, the bow on your undershirt is bothering you, the sweater is rubbing your neck, your sock is twisted in your shoe . . . "Mom, I'm trying not to freak out, but my panties . . . my shirt is . . . this is rubbing . . . " Ugh.

- You wake up bright and early and you ALWAYS have a smile and a little giggle ready to go. 

- Oh, and you have finally stopped crying through every shower.  You're still a little tense about soap in your eyes, but it's something we can manage.

- Oh and Olivia, one more thing . . . I LOVE your hair!  You have the best hair . . . one day you'll thank me for that, but you'll always hate me for your knees and your fair skin!