Perfect Family

K so I don't know how all of you do it. My house is constantly a mess.
I can't keep up on dishes. I can get the laundry clean and folded but put away?
Not a chance. I barely remember the holidays. And if I do remember
holidays I don't remember to take pictures. We can't be ready for the day
before 11 if it kills us. (I blame that 100% on Jake.
It is impossible for me to get ready with him awake.)
And all this creative crap you guys do?
I would love to do that!
And every holiday your house is redecorated?
I still have some Christmas stuff up.
Have you looked at my front door?
It still thinks its Christmas.
Where do you find the time?
I would love to wake up with a clean house.
Keep up on the dishes.
And the laundry.
Never step on a toy.
Or a crayon.
And have all 3 beds made every morning.
Honestly.
How do you do it?

I would love to look perfect at 9 am when you pick Gracie up for preschool.
Oh, and have Jake be all ready to go too.
But seriously?
Unless I start getting up at 5am
(which isn't going to happen)
I guess this will be my life.
So please excuse my mess.
We just got back from vacation and the clothes
can't seem to find their home.
The snow boots may need to be used again.
So why put them away?
And the bags?
Well they still have clean clothes in them.
That I plan on wearing tomorrow or the next day.
So they'll just have to stay out a little bit longer too.


Oh, and the whole home cooked meal every night?
Does Hamburger Helper count?
Or Macaroni and Cheese?
I know, I know.
Those don't really count.
But how do you go to the grocery store?
I only go when I'm going to run out of milk.
Or I already did.
And then its a mad dash to get the main things
before one or both of the kids are crying
because I forgot to feed them in my rush to get out of the house.
Or someone has to go potty.
Or Jake's throwing everything out of the cart -
A. Because he like to hit you with flying objects
or
B. he thinks EVERYTHING is a ball.
Maybe someday my life will be in order.
And I can take 20 minutes and blog my perfect days events.
After I just spent the last 2 hours scrapbooking it.
In my immaculate house.
With my immaculate hair and clothes.
And perfect children with an outfit for every holiday.
But until then, you're just going to have to deal with the mass chaos my house brings to us all.

18 months!!!

Our little Jakey is 18 months already. I can't believe how fast his little life has flown by!! Some stats on Jake at 18 months:

Height: 32 1/2 inches (55%)
Weight: 24 lbs (25%)

Fave Food: anything really - pickles and hot dogs are probably towards the top
Fave toy: balls (or ba as he says) but really anything he can throw at you
Fave person: Daddy
Fave outfit: nothing!! He would love to run around in his diaper if I would let him. He thought it was great at the doctor today when he didn't have to wear clothes!
He loves to color, especially on the walls.
He loves to take the lids off of things and then put them back on.
He loves to his belly and Gracie's belly. He totally attacks her when she's changing her clothes or getting ready for a bath. Patting her belly or back or whatever he can get too. Its sooo funny to watch. We'll have to try and get it on video.
He love love loves to wrestle with his dad or anyone who is sitting unsuspectingly on the floor.
He is starting to say actual real words in the last couple weeks. Repeating what you say. He's says no amazingly well :), gone, ball, button, daddy, mom (his new favorite thing to do is wander around the house yelling Ma! Ma!), and a whole bunch of other stuff. OH the newest one is mine. Wonder where he got that from.

From 15 months til about a week or so ago we were struggling with the angelic baby :) he was rough and kind of naughty but (knock on wood) about a week ago he came out of it (mostly) and has been so much fun. He even stayed in nursery the whole time last week!! Yay!! He is seriously the funniest cutest little guy. Even though he can't say a whole lot of words you can tell he has an incredible personality. Such a sweetie. He loves to give Gracie her drink when I get them both one or if he finds her blanket he'll bring it to her. Just an awesome kid. He's so cute, in fact, that both Alan and I have a hard time disciplining him because he just looks at you and grins that big ol' cheesy grin and you just laugh at him. Or he goes off for 30 seconds in his baby language explaining what happened and you just can't help but crack up at him!! He's great and we are so blessed to have him. Love you big guy!!

Gracie

Gracie asked me this morning (as she's holding her hands about 6 inches apart) how big is our new baby going to be? Like this big? Then she'll grow bigger and be a big sister huh mom?

Her little face got so sad when I once again had to remind her that we are not having a new baby for a long time.

Poor thing just wants a sister!

disclaimer: I'm not pregnant and Jake is not going to die. Gracie's decided she wants a girl baby and thinks that Jake has to die for that to happen. I keep trying to explain to her that he doesn't have to die for that to happen but she's not quite getting it yet :)

2 quick stories before I forget!

Last Thursday I received a text from Gracie's cute preschool teacher that read: Gracie announced to the class today that her brother Jake was going to die because her mom was going to have a new baby. So I am offering both my condolences and my congratulations" out of the mouth of babes. . . . .

And I totally can't remember the other one and it just happened today. Man. Oh well. I guess I'll add it later if I can think of it.

Oh I remember - I asked Gracie what she wanted to do tomorrow, her answer usually includes a friend and McDonald's. Well, I was a little surprised when she answered "I want to play Barbies with you mom" going back to my New Year's Resolution - I think during Jake's nap I'll be playing barbies with my sweet princess.

New Year's Resolutions!!

Yes, we are past the middle of January I know. This month has literally FLOWN by.
Literally.
I got a phone call on Friday reminding my to get Jake's 18 month immunizations done. When did he turn 18 months? Or 17 for that matter? I'm confused. But I guess its time. And its time to get some pictures done of the sweetie too. So anyways, back to my New Year's Resolutions:

1. Lose weight. I know everyone has that one and it shouldn't matter what we look like but it does matter what I feel like. And when I look in the mirror I feel like a fat slob. Which is lame because I really only have 10 (15 at the most) pounds to lose. Which really isn't a lot. BUT I have absolutely zero willpower to make that happen. Because I do exercise. I mean for cryin' out loud I teach dance over 15 hours a week. But I eat like crap. I don't think there is one day this month (Sunday's don't count) that I haven't eaten out. Disgusting!! And I love my treats. So here is my written goal to not eat out as much and a whole lot less treats!!

2. Take more pictures. I've seriously slacked in that area (I think its because I'm not a huge fan of my camera. Its old and needs to be replaced.) But like I said before. . . When did Jake turn 18 months?? And he is the cutest little guy I really should be following him around with a camera. And Gracie's just beautiful and sooooo photogenic. I should be following her around too!! (I did get a new video camera that goes with me EVERYWHERE! I love it!)

3. Spend more time with my kids. Ideally I'd like to have an hour (give or take) of just one on one time with them each day. Get to know them better, have them know me. I can't tell you how many times Gracie asks me to play with her and I tell her I can't. Because laundry, the dishes, or whatever is more important. When its really not. So I know that it won't happen every day because life happens and cereal gets "spilled" (dumped and then jumped on) on the floor and that really can't stay there it does have to be cleaned up but I am going to try to let the house slide some more or save it for later when they are asleep and I'm going to enjoy my kids more because boy, does time fly.

4. I want to exercise my self control and start reading more. There are so many good books out there and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE TO READ! But I don't do it because if its a good book I can't exercise the self control and put it down. I will stay up all night reading until I finish it. Really, ALL night. Which is why I stopped reading. I can't afford to do that. I need to by a timer or something that tells me when to stop.

5. I want to read the Book of Mormon. And I don't mean read it, I mean REALLY read it. Mark it up, write thoughts in it. I really want to know what's going on in there.

6. I want to be a better teacher. This falls in several categories. Home being the first one. I want to start teaching my kids the gospel. So many little ones know SO much about the gospel because their parents teach them so well. And I don't know where to start. But I'm going to learn (Family Home Evening is where I'll start I think) and I'm going to teach them. Church being the second. I teach the Laurels and I'm the worst. I'm reading my lesson Saturday night going Oh, crap I have to teach tomorrow and I don't even know what lesson we're on!! So I want to really take the time to prepare my lessons and have the spirit guide me through them. And lastly dance. I love those girls and what I am doing and I just really want to be prepared each and every time I go so that they can see the love I have for it and they can love it as much as I do AND they can learn and have something to work on.

7. And lastly, (I think) I just want to be a better person. A better mom to my kids, a better wife to my husband, a better friend to my friends and rekindle some lost friendships that life has gotten between, a better teacher, sister, daughter, and most of all a better daughter of our Heavenly Father. I want him to be proud of me and my accomplishments.

January 5 2010

So, I'm so far behind it doesn't even sound fun to catch up but I love to have the stories in here and look back on them! And I'm already forgetting some of the stuff. It will be awhile before I am able to get to all the fun stuff. We are still alive (I'm really sorry I am a terrible terrible friend which is probably why we don't have many :) j/k) With Alan's job and mine we hardly have time for ourselves. We have once again hit the rush (as we call it) where we start pulling all nighters and calling in favors and extra help. This is a hard, busy, fun time of the year. The
conversations at 3 in the morning are always fun to think about the next day when your trying to be patient with your kids but your so tired from only 3 hrs of sleep that you can hardly function. And its hard to not EVER be with Alan. Oh I see him, but its more of a casual acquaintance as we are both glued to the computers trying to catch up on all the orders and customer service that goes with his career. And I usually have to call it a night before him so I'm asleep when he gets home and he's out of here so fast in the mornings all I really get is a good morning and a quick
kiss goodbye. But I'm really ok. I know I've complained and ranted and raved and made a big deal but in my defense I was used to 8-5 and holidays/weekends/and every other friday off. Then to go to this???
That would be hard for anyone and now that I know what to expect I can plan for it. (We love playdates!! Or at least I do because it keeps the kids busy and I can get a little caught up on our house) But I really am doing just fine, it is hard but I am good and it does end!

The kids are great growing big and sassy and mischievous. Oh, Jake is all boy and sure keeps me busy making sure he's being somewhat safe. He LOVES to climb on things now and his balance isn't super great so you really have to watch him, but he loves it and the only way to learn is to try right? And he's totally starting to learn words. He's always said a few mama dada woof and moo was about it. But seriously in the last few days his words are getting sooooo much better, clearer, and more of them. Ball, button, he tries to say Gracie, he says "here you go" and bye and has the cutest wave I need to get on camera. It is the cutest thing. And I know he says more but I am incredibly tired and I should be asleep but its so peaceful at the moment.

Gracie is Gracie. She is the sweetest, smartest little thing but she has a stubborn streak (Ms. Melinda will attest too) and she is getting a little attitude and some major defiance but we are working on all these things. She always keeps me laughing and is a TOTAL momma's girl (Jake leans towards Daddy) and always has a funny story.

Oh, and I've been a serious slacker on taking pictures. Our camera is wearing out so it kinda bugs me. . . . a lot to take pictures because they aren't as good as I'd like.

So this was way longer than I was planning! I was just going to write a little on the busy-ness of the business and that we are still around please don't think that I forgot about you because I didn't. I'm just trying to keep some sanity :) which means I don't make very many phone calls. But we love you all and I really hope you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! (Posts coming!!) and are ready for 2010 because I am!!!