When I was kid, we had a Fisher Price record player.  I remember exactly how it sounded when the record we were playing was scratched and the last few words would play over an over, repeating itself until you tapped the needle.  I think my mental needle needs a good tapping...I feel like my record is stuck, constantly repeating "I want, I want, I want, I want"....I am focusing, trying to get it to say "I have, I have, I have..." I wish it was as simple as just a little tap...

I had a killer Thanksgiving this year.  I think my favorite part of the whole day was way before the food was served.  My grandma came over early that morning to meet me and Amy and prep the meatballs.  Just helping her in the kitchen, and then sitting together watching the Macy's Day parade...it was perfection...one of those moments I will keep in my pocket.  Good company, good food, good times...it was so nice to see Uncle Pete and David, but it just wasn't the same without the ladies of the family...Auntie and Katie, you were missed by us all...

Then Lisa and I thought, hey why not go out shopping at 11?  We didn't get home until 4:30am.  It was nutty.  I came home, watched some tv, slept a bit, and then was up by 9:30.  Damn kids.  Damn phone call from Lisa at 9:30.  I hung out with Steph and sweetie pie Lily pretty much all day, and then yep, glutton for punishment, I went out shopping again and didn't get home until 12:30 in the am...

Saturday we had Thanksgiving again with Kent's family.  After the delicious food we had, Stephanie and spent the day playing Family Feud and Wheel of Fortune on the iPad.  It was just a super chill day, the kids all did pretty well together...and we just got to hang out and relax...but now that I don't have Stephanie's help, I can't seem to win the $20,000 in the Fast Money round...and I miss Lily already...Sunday I got to hold her all during Sacrament...I don't know what it is about her little chubby self, but I could just eat her up...

It was kinda weird having to get up and get everyone ready for school again today.  I let Colton play hooky the last 2 half days, so both my kids had about a week off from school.  I kinda felt a little rusty...and a lot tired...

If anyone still reads this besides my family after 11 long months, and you don't Facebook, I have something you need to know...my cousin Mallary is selling freakin' delish cupcakes at Ranch and Home everyday at the Killian Corn kiosk right in the front of the store.  You should definitely go buy some.  The pumpkin ones will change your life.  And her cream cheese frosting...well, I basically want to bathe in it...

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I think Colton looks like he's about to do a step routine...good form, good form my friend...

Aubrey: mom, I know what 2 + 2 is...7
Me: nope, it's 4
Aubrey:(pointing to the tv) That girl can count to a hundred.  Shes learning math even before she starts school.  We should have done that with me...a more truer statement I have never heard...


Addy with her stuffy nose...

on the swing- Mom, bush me!

chasing a leaf- Dod it mom!

in the morning-mom, my nose iddy(icky)...

Lisa's comment on my post from yesterday made me laugh several times through out the day...so funny...

Tonight we let Colton stay up and watch the last Harry Potter...holy smokes that kid asks a million questions...and he can never say the snakes name right, I'm pretty sure he even called it Linguine once...

Kent, me, and the girls made a little trip out to Ranch and Home to grab a few cupcakes.  Steve and Lisa showed up like 2 minutes after we did...and about 2 minutes later, Lisa, me, and Kent had killed our cupcakes...and I could really go for just one more...to help me sleep...

The global warming weather was a bit odd, but completely welcomed today.  I even went outside and cleaned up the yard a bit...and in case that wasn't good enough, I even played with Addy and took pictures of her...it's like I was super mom or something...I didn't even recognize my own reflection...

Today my mom and I decided to buy the kitchen aid ice cream attachment.  Then we read through the instructions.  And we were all like 'what the what?'  Apparently, you have to make some crazy from mixer-to-stove-to-mixer-to-stove concoction, chill that for eight hours!  Then put it in the ice cream bowl that has been in the freezer for at the very least 15 hours, churn it for 30 minutes, then put it in a shallow dish and chill for 4-6 more hours!  Yeah, I'm pretty sure I could make it to Walmart and back in about half an hour...that certainly beats the 3 day event to make it from scratch...

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Her expressions are limitless...I think it kinda looks like she is threatening to make who she's looking at eat that dandelion,  but she was really just blowing it to pieces...that will plant all over my yard...such a cryptic sky in the background....

with a face like that, who needs math anyway...Aubs was Jasmine for Halloween this year...

I bought my first pair of skinny jeans today.  Not quite sure how I feel about them...if I keep up my habits as of late i.e.-sleeping and eating, they aren't gonna turn out to be such a great investment I'm afraid...

I wish blogger corrected my typos like my phone and iPad do...

This weeks episode of Parenthood gives me anxiety....

Kent and Colton rented the last Harry Potter, and Colton wouldn't watch it with out me...love that kid...

I did me a little Christmas shopping this afternoon.  I thought it would make me cheer up a bit...but holy cow, I swear prices have doubled since last year...and all that decision making, so not good for me.  I feel like I might be getting a holiday ulcer...I might need to eat twice the danish butter cookies to calm myself....you know, and then return my new jeans...

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quite possibly the worst toy out there for little girls right now...it's just eww...I could not believe my eyes when I saw it on the shelf...the box says "Shave Ken for his big date with Barbie!"

So, today the day really, truly started at Amy's house when we got together with my Aunt to make meatballs.  She has showed us a few times, but we have yet to try them on our own.  It's usually just us girls, but today Easton and Kent came to learn the tricks of this family tradition trade.  Thank goodness they were there to mash up all 8 cups of bread crumbs, 32 eggs, and 8lbs of raw pork.  It really is the worst part, for me anyway.  Raw meat gives me the eebie jeebies...I enjoyed myself so much.  My grandma stopped by, we asked questions about her mother and how it was way back then...it made me feel nostalgic for a time I was never really a part of...I hope someday I will find myself in a kitchen full of the strong Italian women I know and the women before them....and holy cow, those meatballs we made today, with the recipe straight from Italy...to die for...

Today was my first official Sunday in the Relief Society Presidency.  This is what I learned...

1-if I had to take a Gospel Doctrine test in order to qualify for this calling, I would fail.  Completely.

2-I felt like a total tool when I realized I was the only one asking questions, and not just simply making comments to add to the lesson

3-I worry they will think they made a mistake asking me to do this

4-I feel like the kid who showed up to class with no pencil, paper, or books

5-I have some stellar people in my life who took the time to ask me how it went today and offer words of encouragement...I am blessed...

Here's to looking at the glass half full...and stepping way far out of my comfort zone...like the other side of the planet far...

I just have to say, I think my kids are kinda great.  I know I make fun of them, and complain about them, and say how they drive me batty, but holy cow, I have kids that make me feel pretty freaking loved.  I don't know how else to say it.  I love how much we laugh together.  I don't know if laughing the whole time Colton was telling me about how he hurt his leg helping my dad today counts, but it's close enough....I'm just feeling super greatful for my kids I guess...

Tonight we face timed with Denice for a bit.  It was super fun.  We haven't seen her since the beginning of October.  I can't believe it has been that long.  Being on the phone with her tonight made me realize how much I miss visiting with her...

Last Thursday night Vikki and I went to the premier or Breaking Dawn that Alicia organizes.  I had such a fun time hanging out with her...I have no idea why we don't do it more...and thanks to Alicia, we were deemed seat savers and didn't have to wait in the crazy line.  Little did I know how many people were gonna be all kinds of mad that we were saving 9 seats in the middle of the theater...

I watched a bit of the Music Awards tonight.  Bruno Mars is a midget, Adam Levine sounded like garb, and Chrisitna Aguilera looked a bit chunky if I do say so myself...


Addy's voice is by far one of my favorite things right now...totally worth the 3 year wait...

My next favorite thing is currently my danish butter cookies in the giant tin I bought at Costco.  At this rate, all my hard work to lose a few pounds will be a battle lost to seasonal cookies....

New Girl makes my week.  Quoting it is the best.

On the Sing Off last Monday Ben Folds really liked a group, and he said "Thumbs aloft gentlemen" while giving them a complete 2 thumbs up.  I have repeated that about a million times this week, and it always makes me smile...

I am in desperate need of a feel good book, preferably set in the South.  Every book I get is more of a downer than the rest. 

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Kent took this pic of us on his phone...a bit blursula, but I love it just the same...Aunt Cheryl made a few test meatballs to check the seasoning, we all sampled, and after a few bites I thought maybe we needed a bit more garlic salt...we ended up leaving it the way it was, and when my grandma came over later she said they were good and then a few minutes later said "maybe they could use a bit more garlic salt"  I practically shouted "that's what I said!"...I was so tickled that she thought they same thing...I know, cheap thrill, but it made my day....

I am so very happy to announce that in the past few weeks Addy no longer calls Colton "uh".  He is officially "Co".  I love hearing her tell him "Bye Co!" when he leaves the house...

I have totally been meaning to start blogging again everyday for like a month, but somehow I slipped into a horrid hormone coma and it seriously jilted my every intention.  It was super crap.  It kinda felt like maybe once or twice in a day for a very brief period the hormone fog would lift a bit, just enough for me to see glimpses of how my life actually was, and not how I felt about it, but then it would settle in again and back into my lifeless coma I would go.  But, I am feeling like I might be on the road to recovery...

In that time however, my goal to not yell at my kids anymore turned into a mere pipe dream...good thing they don't seem too scarred....

I am feeling so overwhelmed with the holidays approaching.  I feel like so many things are totally up in the air, and I just keep suppressing it all.  Did I mention we are moving?  Like 6 houses down the street and around the corner?  And that almost eveyone thinks we're crazy because of it?  But we won't be moving until after Christmas.  So it feels weird to pack, and weird to not pack.  Did I mention that just this last Sunday I was called by my Bishop to be the 2nd Counselor in the Relief Society?  That's like a full on adult calling.  When he asked me if I would do it, I sat there for a minute and then said "Seriously?"....Lots of changes are a coming and it just makes we want to go crawl back in bed....

Addy is talking a ton, and I am loving it.  She makes me smile like a million times a day when she says something new or funny...and then I think about how it is so time to potty train her...dread...

Last week my mom and I went to Colton's school assembly for Veterans Day.  We both cried so much I'm pretty sure people assumed we have a family member currently serving or that died in action.  The coolest part is they have the kids bring pictures of family members that have or are serving and they post them up all over the gym on red and blue stars.  It was so awesome to see both my grandpas up there.  It makes me feel so bad for never having taken the time to really think about what Veterans Day meant before...it was a great experience.  Then we met Amy and Lisa and their kids for breakfast at Magills and compared assemblies.  It was a great day.

Other big family news, Danielle had the most precious baby ever!  Little Emery Lyn is super sweet, and doesn't feel so little if I'm being honest...I can't wait to go back and snuggle her...

Which reminds me, of another story...of how sad I was to miss Lily's baby blessing.  I had everything ready to go, we were supposed to leave Sunday morning at 7:30.  And then, Addy puked all over our bed at 3 in the morning.  So the car load went from the 5 of us, to Kent and Colton.  And then Kent sent us pictures of Lily, and Aubrey and I were even sadder we didn't get to go.  She is adorbs.  Aubrey just kept talking about how much she wanted to see Stephanie...it was super sad...

Poor Addy had caught the stomach bug that Aubrey had the week before.  The one where Aubs threw up at school.  Twice.  I felt so bad for her.  When I got to the school she looked so sad!  She was feeling better by the end of the night, and very excited to learn she couldn't go to school the next day...

Ok, so I think this long list of randomness has gone on long enough...I was kinda hoping that if I started blogging and putting all my crazy thoughts down on "paper", maybe I wouldn't feel so overwhelmed...it might take a few days...But I feel like even though I totally bombed my New Years Resolution, I want to go out with a bang.  The year is almost over, scary enough, and I don't want it to end with some post last dated in October.  So, I am re-resolving to finish the year the way I started...writing a bunch of nonsense....

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Seriously, who's kid is this?

***I started this post like 2 weeks ago.  I think it's time I posted it and just move on...***

Tonight I was putting the kids to bed when Colton remembered he hadn't done his homework page.  I told him to do it quickly, and if he stopped to watch tv at all, he was grounded tomorrow.  Aubrey was right next to me and said...

 "I never get grounded huh mom?"  I said, "not yet, but you're getting close with your  attitude."  She said "you don't about me" I responded "Oh, I know all about you miss"  she replied "you don't know about me when I am somewhere you're not.  Oooh, I schooled you"

Heaven help me.  She said it all so matter of fact.  She already thinks I'm an idiot.  Seriously, Heaven help....

The other day my mom took the kids to McDonalds for dinner and they came home with the Halloween Happy Meal buckets.  Addy was looking at the bucket and noticed the tiny little McDonalds "M" on the side.  She pointed to it and said "mom, fries"  I'm so proud....


On Saturday Colton came downstairs all upset because he had been collecting change all morning and Kent took it from him and added it to the big change jar. I was feeling kinds bad for him, so our conversation went a little like this...

Me: if you clean the family room, I'll give you 50 cents
Him: I want a dollar
Me: then you better do 2 jobs
Him: I'll clean the family room for a dollar
Me: I'll give you 50 cents
Him: I'm not gonna do it
Aubrey: I'll do it mom!
Him: NO Aubrey! Mom said I could it!

They both ended up cleaning it together with minimal complaining....miracle in itself...so anyway this morning, Aubrey says to me 'thanks mom, for the 50 cents....Colton, did you thank mom?' and my sweet son replied, 'I cleaned the family room, doing the job was my thank you'


Last week I was at Toys R Us and Amy called me and said she was at Payless shoes, and they had these really cute scarves on sale for $3 and it was buy one get the second half off, and I should come meet her there so we could get some...She had me at black and white stripes....anyway, the moral of the story is, as I was paying for it, I totally said "This is such a good price, you can't even buy the yarn for this cheap."  as the words came out of my mouth...well...I was totally like 'whoa.  When did I turn into my mom?  That is exactly what she would say...why I am suddenly all old and stuff'...it left me feeling uncool and motherly, and just all wrong...no insult to my mom, it's just that obviously I don't remember my mom so much as a mother of 3 young kids.  I remember the things she said more as I got older, so for the most part, I call her for advice, or I think 'what would my mom do in this situation?'... it's not often that I think of us a twinners...so it was just so weird....that's an awful lot of paragraph about nothing at all....

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the girls at the pumpkin patch...