California Day 1

We drove 10 hours and only had to make 3 stops. It went a lot better than I expected. It must have been so hard for Claire. she has so much energy. She didn't really care for to do the things I brought for her. So for being that board she was very good. Bella was great as always. No breakdowns.

We drove our new car and it did great. Seth drove the whole way. We left at 6am.

Amber took the twins for the whole day and then Laura is picking them up in the evening and taking them over night and the whole next day and then over night. Then my dad and Jan will have them for the last 2 days.

It's been fun to just spend time with the older girls. They have been great together. Playing and laughing and just having a good time.

Tomorrow we are headed to Disney. Can't wait!!

Mothers Day 2010

I never thought I would have 4 kids by the time I was 30. But I am so thankful! I love being a mom and I love each of these amazing kids that make my life that much better!
I love you all so much!

Where have all the good stations gone?

A few weeks ago my favorite radio station was taken off the air. It's been replaced with some lame all music station.

I'm going CraZy!

I've listened to this same station since high school. It's not so much the music that I care about, although I did like it, it's the fact the morning show is gone.
I have the radio on almost every morning. It's entertaining and informative. So without it, I'm going crazy. I've tried to find others but I can't seem to find one that I like.
I've found myself listening to talk radio, and I think that aged me about 10 years.
Any suggestions? Does everyone just use their ipods in the car?
Help!

Much Needed

Last weekend I was able to slip away for a few days with some of my friends from high school for an all girls weekend. I had such a great time! Basically we talked, ate, slept, shopped, talked and ate. It was so fun and so needed.

We missed everyone who couldn't come.

Lovin' It

I started watching this show "Jessica Simpson's: The Price Of Beauty". I have to say that I really like it.
I think it's called a reality show, but I'd almost call it a documentary.
If you haven't seen it she goes around the world to different countries to see what they think is beautiful. I can't believe I'm about to say this about a Jessica Simpson show, but I think it's fascinating. Seth just rolls his eyes when I say that. But seriously I've learned so much. When she was in Uganda she met with a woman who was about to get married. The culture teaches that a woman is more beautiful the heavier she is. So she stayed in a tent for 2 months and only drank milk and was rubbed with butter. She gained over 80lbs!! But she was so honored to be in the marriage tent and be like her mom and aunts.
Anyway I highly recommend this show if you haven't seen it already.

Round 4

This is my 4th year attempt gardening. The first year we were here I had no idea where to start. The second year we got a grip on most of the out of control weeds. And last year we (by we I mean Seth since I was the one doing all the ordering since I was on bed rest) finished the play area. That meant taking out all the over grown weeds, tilling the whole area, putting down bark chips and covering it with all the play stuff.

So this is my year to try and grow flowers.

I have a love hate relationship with them. I love beautiful flowers!

I hate weeds, dead flowers, money spent on flowers and weeds. Did I mention weeds?

This year I am determined that my front and back yard will look beautiful all spring and summer. Am I crazy for thinking I can accomplish this?

The other day I stuck the twins in the stroller and worked on the front yard while Claire played on her bike. And now that we have a totally fenced in back yard I plan to stick the kids back there and work on everything else.

So hopefully by the end of summer I can report back that everything went well.

I can dream, right?

PS If you have any tips I would love to hear them.

Good Times

We just got back from a great weekend in St. George. We met up with some friends and their kids and had a blast!
Lots of swimming (hours on end, to be exact), playing (more like staying up until 1am laughing and talking after the kids were asleep), eating (in-n-out burger), hiking (Zions), picture taking (too many to put on the blog), and relaxing (actually, with 4 kids there really wasn't a lot of relaxing). It was still great, though.
But, will someone please remind me that I have 4 children?!!! I don't know why I have such a hard time grasping onto this idea.
We keep trying to do things that we did before, and are surprised that's it's a little harder now. Well, duh Amy! You're now a family of 6!!

We had so much fun going hiking at Zions. But, this was one of the times that someone needed to remind me that things would be a little different with twins babies and a 2 year old.

Bella did a great job. I was so proud of her. She made it 3 miles with minimal complaints.
The twins and Claire did great on the drive there and back.
So all and all it was so much fun and I can't wait to do it again.

Are You Kidding Me #25

I feel like the most commonly asked question I get is, "Do you really go grocery shopping with all your kids?".
Well yes and no. I try to never go to the grocery store during the day with all the kids. The only reason I even attempt is if we have nothing in the fridge.
I look like a freak show as you can imagine.
Actually I ran into someone, who will remain nameless, from my ward, last week at the store and when she saw me she just laughed. Not even a hello! Thanks Jonell.
Ok, I would have laughed too, if I had seen this. One reason it's so funny is because I can't see when I'm pushing the cart, because I'm so short. So I end up pushing the cart and leaning to one side.
So in order to make this happen. I have to get one of the carts with the steering wheel. I buckle Claire in and then put one twin in the cart part and the other on the top where the child would normally sit. Then the food on the bottom.
And yes Claire has stolen a nuber of things when we shop like this. The problem is I never notice until we're out of the store and getting in the car. And no I don't return anything. There is no way I'm packing everyone back in the cart to return a Readers Digest and a Twix. (Just some of the random things she's taken).

The only grocery store I don't mind going to is Costco. Since the cart is bigger the carriers fit better. We tend to go to Costco once a week. I like to time it around lunch so the kids can get lots of samples and then end with lunch.

shopping at Costco

from the look on their faces I'm not sure if they enjoy shopping

Easter

This morning Bella woke up bright and early. She came in asked me to get Claire out of her bed so they could play with the toys and books they got in their Easter baskets. Then it was off to find eggs.

The girls had so much fun. Bella was great and shared some the eggs she found with Claire. I was so proud of her. I didn't even have to ask her.

Claire loved all of her eggs. She walked around with her basket all morning. once she figured out there was candy inside she was even more excited.

It was a great way to start Easter and conference morning.

Blessing Day

We finally blessed the twins! I know what you're thinking. You haven't blessed them yet? How old are they?
Part of the reason we waited so long was because we didn't take them to church for almost 4 months and then we had family things the other months. So that's why they are almost 7 months old.
Crazy! I never thought I would wait that long.
It was a great blessing. Seth did a wonderful job. If you were there and couldn't hear anything, it's because the mike was never by his face. Long story.
I was able to hear everything he said and I thought it was perfect.
It was so nice to have all of our family and friends (all 60 of you) there. We missed everyone who couldn't be there.
I was thinking Seth was taking pictures and he must have assumed I was taking pictures so that explains why we don't have a lot.
It was such a perfect day. Sydney and Breanna were such good babies.

My amazing friend Kim made these awesome cakes. If you're interested in having one go to Parsons Bakery and ask for Kim. I think they turned out wonderful! Thanks again Kim!

The girls with their cakes

Jami, Chad and Beth

Cute Linds has come to all of my kids blessings

Laura, Emmie & Melanie

My great parents who let us have the lunch at their house.

Deep Breath...Everything's OK

A few nights ago Seth and I went out and left all the kids with a baby sitter. Well not just one baby sitter....TWO!
Our normal babysitter, who we LOVE is only in 7th grade and I was worried that 4 would be a lot for her. Plus one of the main reasons I love her so much is that she plays and makes crafts with the kids the whole time. No movies, or computer. So I was worried that if she spent her time with the twins then the older girls would be left alone.
Anyway I found another girl, who is in 8th grade, and who came highly recommended.
We were both very nervous when we left. The only people who have watched the twins are family, so this was a big deal for us.
But we didn't need to worry. When we got home we found everyone fast asleep and the twins were happy as ever.
The feeling quickly turned from delight that all the kids were fine to sick to my stomach when I remembered how much I had to pay.

Scripture Reading

While reading the scriptures this morning
Bella: "Mom I think I've heard this part before".

My Big Kid

Today I registered Bella for Kindergarten!

I can't believe the time has come. All of the sudden I understand what all the mothers before me meant when they said you blink and your kids are grown. I seriously feel like that. In fact I was feeling so emotional that I just did a post (I only saved it for my journal, I won't bore everyone else with it) about what each of my kids is like right now. I know I think I'll remember but the truth is I won't if I don't write it down.

I have to admit that I'm a little sad that Bella is going to kindergarten. She's totally ready and I know she'll do great. But part of me is sad that this is the last time she'll be with me all day every day.

Ok now, I know I'm going a little overboard. Considering the fact that she has been going to preschool for the last 2 years and it's only 2 1/2 hours a day which is the same as kindergarten. But there's just something about going to real school with a bunch of kids that I don't know.

Deep breath Amy! You have 5 more months before you need to start getting all worked up over nothing.

I don't know why she makes these weird faces. She had so much fun. She went right with all the other kids and took a tour of the school and the class room. She was most excited about seeing the play ground.

Bella and her friend Tanner

Kids Update

I was thinking the other day about each of my girls personalities and thought I should joural how they are right now.

Bella- Loves to play make believe. She is very good at playing pretend. She is just as social as ever. Always wanting to play with friends and go places. She loves to spend time with mom. I feel like she is always wanting me to spend time with her and play games, color or just watch a show.

Claire- The most active child! The only time she sits still is when she is watching Sesame Street and even then she gets up and walks around. She knows lots of words, shapes and numbers. She repeats everything and catches on very fast to anything new. She also loves to do whatever Bella does. She is very good at playing by herself or playing with others.

Sydney- She is starting to catch onto how to eat solid foods. She loves to talk to her sister Bre. She is very good at getting into the crawling position from her tummy. She also loves when her big sisters come around to talk and play.

Breanna- She can almost sit up by herself. She is also good at eating solids. she loves when her older sisters come around to play and talk.

I was wrong

There I said it.

That's a big deal.

Ask my husband.

I don't like admitting when I'm wrong

A few letters

Dear Claire,
In the future I would really appreciate it if you would not stick your hand in your diaper and then eat the poop that you found in the diaper. Also if you do choose to do it, please only do it once not twice in the same day.
I in turn will not make you take a freezing cold shower to get clean.
Another thing..I know when you're sick it's not fun. But giving me dirty looks and saying "no mom", when I stayed up with you all night is not cool.
Love, Mom

Dear Twins,
Thank you for being so happy and staying healthy all week!! Sorry we had to cancel your blessing. One day soon you'll get your special day!
Love Mom

Dear Grandpa & Grandma,
Thank you for saving the day over and over this past week. We couldn't have made it without you. Your grandchildren and I are forever in debt. We love you,
Love,
Amy & Girls

my helper cleaning the babies and cleaning the kitchen
After playing hide and go seek and having some much needed one on one time(thanks Sissy)
Not the best picture of us. But this was the best I could get.

A few days before the Chinese tea party, b-day party, the birthday girl brought Bella over a dress to wear. She and all the little girls looked so cute in their dresses with their pretty chop sticks in their hair.

Amy & the terrible horrible no good very bad day

The last few days have been really hard on me. Claire woke up sick last week in the middle of the night. Seth took her to Primary Childrens Hospital where they said she had croupe. It's just a bad viral cough. It will go away on it's own and there is nothing to give her. I slept with her for two nights because she was in so much pain and just plain messerible.

Then one morning she woke up and kept saying her ear hurt. I made an appointment for the doctor. It was a crazy rushed morning. BElla was getting ready for school and I was trying to get everyone else ready to go to the doctor. Bella's ride came and as I was putting the twins in their car seats claire reached down her diaper and got dirahera poop and ATE it!!!! I was so sick to my stomach and mad. I threw her in a freezing cold shower and then got her ready to go. I put one baby in the car and when I came back in she was touching the other baby. I know she doesn't understand that she's sick and can't touch them, but I got mad at her. She ran to her room crying. After I came back from taking the other baby to the car I went to her room and gave her hugs and kisses and she promised she wouldn't touch her poop again.

The doctor said she had a really bad ear infection and gave us some medicine.

After we were done we picked up Bella from school and came home. I was getting the twins out of their car seats when Claire went down her diaper AGAIN and touched the poop. This time she didn't eat it but she did wipe it on her pants.

I threw her in another cole shower but this time made it even colder. I was sooo mad!!!

Already?

I can't believe the twins are old enough to eat rice cereal!
They both seemed to enjoy it. Although, they almost always have a smile on their face!

Just a lazy day

Bella and Claire coloring on my bed, while the babies blow spit and talk to themselves in their crib. What a relaxing day.

Love

I debated posting this. Usually when I write something this personal I leave it just for my blog book, but I thought I would put this out there to show everyone how much I love my husband.
I got thinking today how lucky I am to have such a great husband. Having been on the the side of a not so great marriage I realize how blessed I am.
Here's just a few of the many reason I love Seth.

1)He is an amazing father. He's the one who gets up with sick kids in the middle of the night and cleans up throw up. He's also the one who took Claire to the ER earlier this week at 2am.
2)He never rats me out when he knows I'm fibbing about something, to someone else.
3)He gives the best back massages
4)He never complains when he has to stay home with all the kids so I can have a girls night. This is impressive, because I like to have a girls night at least once a week.
5)He's a good son and brother. He is fiercely loyal to his family
6)He listens and actually cares about all my lame stories I tell him when he comes home
7)He gives the best sincere compliments
8)He honors his priesthood responsibilities
9) He tolerates my birthday celebrations
10)He makes me laugh. So important!!
I'm feeling a little emotional these days. I even cried during Celebrity Rehab. And after hearing the lesson in Relief Society today about Love (Say It, Mean It, Show It) I thought I needed to tell him and everyone else how much I love him.