Beauty and the Beast

Usually the guy is the beast, not in our case.  I'm a beast.  It runs in my blood. I had 2 grandmas that were take charge kind of women, and a mom that owns a dad.  Poor Jase should have done his research before busting out the old ring a ling 11 years ago.  But....too late now sucker!

 This has been a year full of crap for both of us, but luckily we had each other. And luckily each day gets a bit better.    I also had no idea what I was getting into. I didn't care more than the fact that he was hot and a great kisser, but luckily he's a hard hard hard worker, great with kids, and although it drives me insane a lot, it would have drowned us if he weren't....super optimistic.  We really are the most opposite people ever, just like puzzle pieces that fit perfectly.  Wow, super cheesy.  But seriously, Where I suck, he's great, and where he slacks, I pick it up, so it works.

and yea, we have both lost about a pound of hair in the last 11 years, and things have drooped, and lines have formed (especially in my forehead...someone knock the scowl off my face next time you see me!) But luckily where our youth has gone, our kids have picked up.  They're awesome little Jason/Kristal people.  Can't wait to get another in March!!!!!

my boys...

I haven't written much lately about how cool my boys are.  I'm really really sad that Pearcen might be our last baby boy. It makes me sad. He's so sweet, and loves to hug and kiss and be held.  I love it.  He also is easily offended and yells, "no", "don't" a lot.  HE's pretty extreme both ways.  I love that I get to spend all day with him.

 This guy is hilarious and getting to be more and more helpful everyday. Id on't know what we'd do if we didn't have a Jaden in our house.  He loves to play with the other 3 and feels bad when one of them is sad.  He's loving all of his new friends here and can't wait to get into a soccer league after the holidays.

 This boy.  Ooooh, I miss this boy.  Whole day kindergarten is ridiculous!  I pull him out every few days at lunch cause I need him around.  When Pearce gets into his bratty moods, Boss does all he can get get him out.  He's my peacemaker. We had a good time with him this morning at the breakfast table trying to teach him to cross his eyes.  ha!

My own elf...

One of the things on BOston's Christmas list is one of Santa's elves. I asked him why he wanted one and he said, "I want one to come and wook for me".
Genius!

This kid goes through the produce like crazy. Actually, he goes through food like crazy, so I try and keep veggie and fruit plates out everyday, cause he WILL shred through them.

a lot

So I figured since I can't find my cord to upload the pictures I've been taking of the kids, I'd just write about my life.
Average day, 2 garbages go out...at least a load of laundry each day, 2-3 meals from scratch, 2-3 snacks, sweeping 3-4x, wiping the whole floor with a rag 1-2x a day (should be more, but my knees hurt), toliets once every other day, dishes 3x a day, vacuum once a day,  3-5 diapers a day, sometimes clothe, sometimes not, grocery shopping 2-3x a week, farmer's market once a week, walk the kids to school, walk to pick them up, haircuts every 4-5 weeks, festive craft or goodie, ugh, every other day, exercising 30-60min a day, sleeping 2-5 hours a night, figuring out family picture outfits out of the old clothes boxes that I've been sorting through...which 2T is missing so that's throwing the whole thing off, organizing the cousins gift exchange, take a kid on a lunch date once a week, take a husband on a lunch date once a week, go on a date once a week,  organizing Thanksgiving, missing my old house 45-65x a day, take the kids to the park 3-5x a week, wiping boogers 4-10x a day, looking for boston  at least 20 minutes of my day, homework 1-2 hours a day, cuddling with everyone on the couch and falling asleep once a day.

After figuring all of this out, I realize "where all the time goes".  I wish I could eleminate the homework, sweeping, laundry, boogers and vacuuming and take more time for the rest.  I told the kids I would let them each pick an activity, ie, dance, karate, soccer, voice after the first semester when we see how well they've caught up in school.  My older 2 are for sure going to be doing fine, and I really don't' want to add more stuff to our day, but there's really no extra out for them so I know they need it.  I wish they didn't have to go to school so much.  Ugh!, School is dumb! and I'm extremely grateful that they are able to go. ha!

Every Sunday I'm amazed at how strong my motivation and determination are to be a better mom, wife, sister, daughter, aunt, PERSON...and how honestly by Monday morning, it's GONE! I want to go to church everyday.  Ok, that's not true, but I do want someone to come give me a lesson every morning right when I wake up before I have time to consume my mind with the millions of things that I need to do that day.  I know I can just open the scriptures, of pop open the Ensign and be enlightened, but when you have someone there, actually telling their stories, or their lessons, it's so much easier.   I really want to be a better mom on Mondays.  I'm going to start with that.  A better mom on Sunday and Monday for now.  I'll work my way up.  The love and Logic class i take with my sister really helps me be a good mom on tuesday. I'm able to keep my cool all day and think about the lessons learned.  last week the lesson I really underlined was, "Never let your kids see you lose it, get angry, be mad".  Keep your cool.  And it's helped a lot.  A LOT!  Especially since my sweet little Boston has turned into tantrum these last 2-3 weeks.  he's super stressed and acting out.  Going from half day, learning letters, sounds of letters, numbers 1-20 to all of a sudden, full day phonograms, spelling tests, reading, counting by 5's and 10's.  I'm just about ready to pull him.  We'll see after this week.
But goal for now: better Monday mom!

Pearcen

trains, trucks,  shoes,  eatting, sandbox,  bananas,  hugs,  pointing,  high fives,  "mooo",  laughing,  singing,  "mam.....mam....MAM!",  grandmas and grandpa, aunts, cousins, big eyes, playing in water, playing with Boston,  naps,  pushing garage door opener,  walks,  car shopping carts,  cookies,  kisses.

Boston

Eating, eating, eating,  reading books,  playing with Pearce,  eating,  helping in the kitchen,  following Jaden,  serving,  laughing,  bikes, parks,  cookies,  No David No,  forts,  sneaky,  airplanes,  trains,  eating,  tricky,  funny,  wonderer,  grapes,  going to the movies, cuddling with mom,  eating.

Kamryn

Art,  Doodling,  tickling mom's feet in the morning, DON"T like hair combed, homework, math, all of my grandma's and my grandpa, checkers,  boots, Book of Mormon,  cooking, Go Fish,  skip-bo,  Uno,  Mr. G's,  soccer,  Violet red,  pink,  P.E.,  computer lab,  Dolphin Tales, Puss in Boots,  going to the movies, Sea World.