bed time and co-ed baths

So I decided confession time has come around again. I went through the confessional last year, and I can't even remember what I actually confessed? All I remember is I there were sure a lot of you out there airing your dirty laundry for feel goodness of yourself and others.

But, I'm gonna get right into it...I hate bedtime. I love it when it is over, sigh of relief, but the process is aging.

Am I the only one?

I get crazy. I get ancey. I get inpatient. I get annoyed.

All this combined = Mean Mom.

Way more mean than no play-dough mean mom.

(this is wind down time)

Suddenly the bedtime routine comes and I feel like I have no control. They don't listen, they don't cooperate, they have excuses, they whine, and it is often madness. (not that they listen, cooperate and never whine all day long) I feel like I am rather consistent in my efforts with it all, but it seems not to matter to them.

My mom told me she always kinda liked the wind down of bedtime with her kids and the reading to the clean kids all snuggled up. I'm pretty sure she also has selective memory.

I have 2 kids. TWO! Why is it such an ordeal to get 2 measly kids tucked in?

I have been making an effort to try and be positive with the kids around this time. I try and make it fun, but it is not fun.

The problem with Alli is I have to practically force her up the stairs, bribe her to brush her teeth, drag her to the potty and then I end up putting on her pj's for her because I don't want to wait any longer or fight any more. And don't even talk to me about the prayer behavior. Once she is actually in bed with a few stories read and a cuddle for a few minutes she is good to go.



But James is all of the above PLUS needs some serious wind down time in bed which he prefers to have a cuddle mate right beside him for. Now I love a good cuddle with my kids. It's great and I savor it, but every night for 20 mins just laying there while he pesters me is not a true fun cuddle. The true fun wrap himself around and snuggle up so I can smell everything about him lasts for oh 2 or 3 mins before he is suddenly asleep.

The pestering is killer. It's so dang cute I can't even stand it, but that is it, some days I CAN'T STAND IT! I usually just lay there with my eyes closed 'sleeping' hoping he will follow my lead at some point and give in. And when I can take it no longer I say 'James I'm just gonna go get my pyjammas on so we can cuddle more.' I do not return after this. (Derek says I am pretty much setting my child up for complete distrust in his mother. Then I say, good luck tomorrow when I tell him you will be back in a minute when really you are gone to work for they day and you won't be right back) Recently James has been asking to come with me when I pull this one so it's on the out anyway.

(look at grandpa's face, he's all, ummm i did my turn of this with 6 kids...jks, he loves it!)

Back to the bed. I'll say James if you say another word, I'm leaving and no more cuddles. Then immediatly after he whispers in the sweetest voice you have ever heard, 'i love you mom.' Ummm, sound the alarm, I am horrible and don't deserve this kid! I am in full mean mom force and he pulls out the I love you?! Or else he'll stare wide eyed at me and grab my face (for the record I never grab his face, but he takes great joy in doing this to me.) and say in a stern serious voice, 'Mom, no.more.talking.ok? close those eyes right now.' and that is when I see that oh so not so beautiful mean mom reflection of mine.

So, I hate bedtime. What are ya gonna do? Here's the thing. I like my bedtime routine, I really wouldn't change too much about it. What I do want to change is MOI! I really don't want to be a mean mom. (which I know I usually am not) What I really really don't want to be is a NAG! I don't like that 'do this do that don't do this don't do that, hurry up, blah blah blah.' I know kids need a parent in charge, but I feel like at this point I just want to guide them along as they do it. So here it is, attitude turn around TODAY! And I can fully say with a 100% positve attitude tomorrow will be great because I am working and the glorious cousin Alissa is in charge as Derek will be gone too. haha, good luck Alissa. (that is the killer, they are so good for the babysitters!) And really, I can only go up because I am clearly writing this after a night of torture where my cool was lost and my meany-ness was not.



Now there is this bath time. I love bath time. The kids have been bathing together 99% of the time for more than 2 years. I don't even remember them not bathing together anymore. So a while back my mom was wondering when I was going to split up the co-ed bath routine. I hadn't even considered splitting them up. They have a great time playing in there, and it gets them both out of they way while I clean up supper or whatever. Well, when Sadie was here last week James got his own bath because of the size of the tub factor. So now this 'own bath' thing is like a novelty that they both want in on.



The question of the day is, should I split them up right about now? I really don't want to and the thought of the girl/boy business had never crossed my mind until I showed up at my moms! Alli is 4 and James will be 3 in May. Is it game over for them...and me?
Oh and the other question of the day is do you hate bedtime? do you like it? (if so yeah right, but HOW and WHY?) What do you like/not like? And c'mon folks, let's be real folks, nobody likes bedtime unless you have but 1 child who is a good baby and all you have to do is lay him/her down and that is that. And even then, don't we all love it the moment that door is closed and there is the glorious peaceful silence?

ps, the bishop must read my blog, i now teach mia maids in the young women starting this week, woot woot!

ok fine, i'll blog

I'm just going to pretend I blogged Christmas. I haven't blogged for FOREVER and I think it was because next on the list to blog was Christmas, but I just wasn't feeling it. It was a great great time, but my blog, no Christmas this year. I know you're all devastated.

Really, I just have to get that Christmas morning pic of me to not be the first thing I see every time I come on.

On Sunday I asked Alli what she leaned at church. "I learned 2 guys got kicked out of heaven and we came to earth to choose the right."

I asked James the same thing and he said, "NOTHING! I just play toys and play and play." He is so hyper sometimes.

James and Alli are still pretty obsessed with kisses and hugs before Derek leaves to work. One morning Derek was leaving at the same time as my dad so there were hugs and kisses all over the place. James was telling Derek, "kiss for me...kiss for mom...kiss for Alli...now kiss for Grampa." It was totally awkward, haha, kidding. But James was pretty torn up that Derek and my dad wouldn't kiss each other good bye.

Also, did you know it is now 2010?
Well, since I skipped Christmas I won't skip this little bit to ring in the new year, and a remember of last year. And I really don't feel like putting any pictures on. But I will. I'm going to put in 1 pic per month of last year that includes ME init. Because I wanted to be better at getting myself in the pics, here's proof that I did. There will most likely be repeat pics of earlier posts.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you've never done before?

This is funny. Last year I put 'taught primary' and then laughed because I have been teaching Primary for years and year and YEARS it feels like. Well, what do you think I am doing in this new ward, teaching Primary! YAY, I just love it...

(ok, so no me in all of januaray, but i was hiding in the cardston wind)

2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions and will you make more for next year?

(feb in vegas)

Well, one of them was to run a half marathon and I did 2! So I'll think I'll do that again. And no, I really have no desire to run a full. Karen, you were right. Never run a half first because a half is so fun you know that a full one will be torture!
Also, I am currently drinking 8 glasses of water a day as my resolution. It's good, and I don't have to pee every 5 mins anymore.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes, I had 2 nieces and a nephew and some friends too!

(moonlight run in march)

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Took the year off from that.

5. What places have you visited?

Oh my heavens, New York with my mom and sisters! The trip of my life up to this point. I still dream about that place. I never did blog about it because I forgot my camera batteries.
Also, Derek and I took a little trip to Vegas, good times!

(in new york in april, ...give my regards to broadway...you know the ol song and dance?! and yes of all the new york pics, this is what i choose, for your entertainment)

8. What was your biggest achievement this year?

I ran in 7 races this year. The most since I ran for the college back in the day. It was kinda fun. Now I just have to run them all again this year and beat my times right!

(may, cardston half marathon)

9. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No swine flu, phew.

10. What was the best thing you bought?

I feel like I can't think of anything here. I buy a lot of clothes and I really like them too.

(june, again for your entertainment. can you see my tonsils! don't you wish you knew what we were laughing at!?)

11. Where did most of your money go?

Good ol student Loans. Hopefully I won't have to say that anymore after this year! haha, yeah right.

(july)

12. What song will always remind you of 2008?

Has to be I Gotta Feelin by the black eyed peas. Some crazy dance parties with me and the kids went down to that song.

(august, ahhh summer)

13. What do you wish you would have done more of?

This is my exact quote from last year "hmmm, probably push ups.' And oh my heavens. I just have to brag about the fact that right now I can do 43 REAL push ups in 2 mins. Thank you very much!

(September, family pics)

14. What do you wish you would have done less of?
Nothing, as in, I mean I wish I would have done less of doing nothing. Sometimes I'm lazy, what can I say.

15. What was your favorite TV program?

Do remember that show True Beauty? Yeah I watched it, and I liked it!

(october, my birthday)

16. What was the best book you read this year?

I read a few books last year. I liked a lot of them, but none of them made the love list. I guess that means I need to read more books.

17. What was your favorite film of the year?

ummm, hello 17 again. I'll try not to talk about it anymore.

(november, not a single pic of lindsay to be found, just her foot. but look at that james in his grey sweatsuit.)

18. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?

I always blog on my birthday, check it out if you care. 28

19. What political issue stirred you the most?

I know it is now 2010 but I'm reading the book Where Men Win Glory, and that war in Afganistan, oh boy. I may have a new take on it.

(december)

20. Who was the best new person you met?

Let me see....actually I have met a few new people since moving to Raymond and I they are all great!

Ok, i swear i'll start blogging again.

surprises!

Look at the sheer excitment on Christmas morning.

I TOTALLY surprised Derek with an iphone. He thought I wouldn't do it, but I did because I'm the best wife ever.

Now compare my happiness with my surprise gift of the movie '17 Again' Yep, I'd say it's about the same level. I have watched it appox. 9 times so far and will watch it over and over until I really am 17 again and am with zack efron. (and you are welcome for another good ol christmas morning pic of moi!)

Don't pretend you didn't love every minute of that movie. If you haven't seen it, you can't borrow it, but we can watch it together.


Here's the kids getting their surprises too! James is wearing one of his jersey's over his pj's from Santa. That was about the only option. (see previous post) We packed a ton of stuff into the last week or two. I may or may not blog it.







I think this is our only family pic on christmas. Thanks to my dad who got a new lens and documented the holidays for me!


And one more kinda FUN thing. I am showing up over at the Visible Voice blog tommow for fun. So come PEEK at me just for the fun of it! I just wrote fun 3 times not on purpose and don't feel like thinking of any other words. Anyway, just something a little diferent for me!

merry ruined christmas

It's not really ruined of course, not yet anyway.
Well, my Christmas shopping is pretty much done. Pretty much as in Pete and Gab what do you guys want?!

We went to Edmonton like a month ago or something and that is the last time I took pictures, but they didn't download, so here ya go from forever ago.

(this picture is obviously from oct or november, it's way to ridiculous to have an outside picture with the 7 feet of snow that is here now.)

Alli thinks Santa is visiting Lethbridge this week. She asked if the Santa visiting the mall was the real one, not like the pretend one at the church party. Oh dear. I guess the complete madhouse of Santa at the ward Christmas party wasn't sufficient. So we visited Santa on this freezing freezing (as in -29 without the windchill) cold winter night.

(I know, sorry you have to see this messy face picture that only I think is cute.)

It's worse. James has seen like 3 of his Christmas presents. I thought maybe we could sneak a little train set in the cart and he wouldn't notice. I didn't think he did until he started telling people he has a train and train tracks. Then after the horrendous Calgary trip, noted in the post below, James caught a millisecond glance of the trunk, so short I wasn't even sure he was even looking. Well, we got home and he was like where is my boat? I want to play with my boat!

I'm not sure if Santa has anything James hasn't seen yet. This kid remembers dang it! But I'm not really worried about it for him. However if Alli catches on to anything she might not put it together this year, but since she remembers what present she got from Santa last year (and she hasn't even seen it or played with it since the summer) she might remember the happenings of this year next year and put it all together. But probaly not...

I'm an awesome mom right?


And to top it off, Alli told her Primary class that I'm having a baby. Great. Because I'm not. Her teacher was all to me, "So is there a congratulations in order?!" UMMMM, NO! She has been asking me to have a baby for a few days now. She also keeps talking about our house in Cardston and when we move back with a baby. James has been talking about the Cardston house since we moved here. Don't they know how good we have it here?!



What is going on around here?!

The Santa is watching you is not working as a disipline tool. (what the heck?!)

Alli had her first ballet performance. I took no video or camera. We'll just pretend they never had a Christmas recital.

But, good news. It's been so long since James had an accident in the pants that I can't even remember when it was, YAY!

Other good news, Alli wanted to cuddle with me 'for forever' today. So we did, until 9 o'clock this morning, it was the best.

And the talented Rebecca Cooper is doing a mini giveaway photo session for the spring. I want to win. So don't enter!

mom jeans

welcome back to me. who know how long i will stay...

So we have been doing the same old this and that. Having fun and all that. Apparently not having enough fun to have anything to write about though.

And I put up an eyes closed picture of the kids last post and really had to do just one more of them.

We just got back today from a ridiculous weekend. Derek and I planned a trip up to Calgary for this very weekend a while back when football was FINALLY over and before too much Christmas fun began. So Friday after school we decided we were ahead of this so-called blizzard warning. Well, we got past Lethbridge and met the 'so called blizzard.' It kinda gave a whole new meaning to the term white-out. I'm not even exaggerating one bit when I say we were in a complete white out for more than half the trip from there. I'm talking I can about 1 foot in front of the car. Derek said, the roads weren't bad, it was just bad visibility, to which I replied. Yeah, I guess the roads weren't bad if you don't consider 2 small black strips of ice covered highway bad roads.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!!

(this is from the internet, I would have been glad if that is what it looked like. We would not have been able to see the ruck in front.)

I was literally sick to my stomach. I kept trying to fall asleep so I wouldn't have to look, but I couldn't. When we finally made it to Susie's house almost 4 hours after we left (normally a 2 hour drive) I was so tense I had a headache and a backache and a sore neck. So THANK HEAVENS we made it. I NEVER would have gone if I knew it was that bad.

I think it was worth it, as we drove past the ditches before Calgary littered with cars and semi's. We dropped the kids off at Susie's with a babysitter and went out to eat with them. The kids were so lucky (and Susie and Ryan so kind) to stay over there and Derek and I stayed in a hotel and went on Saturday to do our Christmas shopping.

Did some good shopping. Pretty much started and finished shopping in one day. Now one to the title.

I got the kids some goods and thought I'd fancy myself a new pair of jeans for Christmas. Now, this is quite the task of life of many women. I was blessed for many years to be able to buy whatever jeans from wherever with no worries. Sale on jeans? I'm there, no matter what the style, looking and feeling not bad. Then came a child, and it became a little more difficult to find that fit, but the second, near impossible now. You know, it's got to hit you at the right place around the middle while keeping the bum and thighs looking well. And speaking of the bum, gotta keep it, and those lovely love handles TUCKED IN. Easier said than done. I swear, I cannot attend a girls night where the topic of good jeans and baby names do not come up!

Well, I hit up a bit of a sale at the gap. I grabbed a few styles in various sizes and colors. The job is not done right unless you try on 17 pairs I'm quite sure. And then it happened. I pulled up a pair. They felt just right. Snug with a slight stretch. A nice little boot cut look. Slim but not too slim through the thigh. Buttoned up just below the waist giving me that TUCKED IN feeling....wait...buttoned up just below the waist? I turned around too stare at my own rear end. There it was my friends. The biggest mom bum I had ever seen on myself. I almost laughed outloud. I had never seen myself that way before. I showed Derek and he knew something wasn't quite right in the front. Then I showed him behind and how high it went up, and the disaster that was my bum. He gave a little chuckle, and said, 'umm you can't get those.' So the jean search continues as it will for life I'm sure.

But I have one secret I'll tell about those dang mom jeans. I LOVED how they felt! There I said it. And hey, the 80's are back, so I'm thinking anytime now, since we're already wearing the skinny's, we'll jack 'em up again too.

Butt...I guess there is no way those are comfortable.

I have nothing

(Please note James)

I have nothing to say these days. I don't know what it is, but I just don't have it on the blog lately. I must be getting blind in the monotony that is life. Nothing wrong with that because I'm happy and life is good, just makes for a boring blog the last couple months I guess.

So what else is there to do in a time like this but find a tag and tag yourself so you have something, anything to blog about to get things going again.

I found this tag over at visible voice. She's a crack-up. I guess you just have to make jokes to get through when you live where she does! Well, I've been sneaking on her blog off and on for awhile as per Rhonda's advice. Turns out, she sneaks on me here and there too! COOL! If we all started fessing up, think of the webs we could weave!
Anyway, on to the tag. They are all the same, but different. So read on if you want to see my family pics from Rhonda dispersed throughout your in-blog entertainment.

Your Hair:

LOOOOOONG. The longest it has ever been ever and I love it. I have the occasional dream that I get a huge chop of a haircut and it's cute, but I'm devastated inside in that dream. So I'm not ready to lose the locks yet. The last time I had a chop was 3 years ago at Christmas, right before Brooke's wedding here. I loved it there and I do sometimes miss short blond hair. But if we are keeping score, I get checked out way more when I have long hair, even in the mini van. (c'mon don't pretend you don't notice when you get checked out) and who doesn't love that once in a while?!

Where is your cell phone?

in Derek's pocket

Your Mother:

Good, Great, Grand. I mean where would I start? We live with her, she is a saint (you too dad!)

In the mountains where she belongs! (I make fun of her for how much she goes hiking, mostly cause I'm jealous)

Your Father:

A genuinely good person. If he wasn't my dad and was a guy I knew I would still have the same respect I do for him.

(how can you not respect a __ year old guy who wants to try out his new wakeboard?)

Your Favorite Food:

Seriously, I love all food. I'm not picky. Put something in front of me and I'll most likely eat it. I'm actually trying to remedy that slightly. I don't exactly have that teenage metabolism anymore, dang it. I need boundaries. But I enjoy chocolate and bread in all forms and a good casserole....(please tell me i got a laugh at that)

Your dream from last night:

It wasn't a haircutting dream. I do dream all the time, but I don't remember, I had to share a bed with the sickie James and he is a manic in his sleep too. Kicking me all night.

Your favorite drink:

Derek makes good drinks. I like the margaritas and pina colada's, but lately I want starbucks hot chocolate. (any flavor with will do) There is this dang distance factor in the evening when I'm cold and craving one.

Your Dream/Goal:

I should probably have some of these.

What room are you in:

Kitchen, James is sitting beside me eating an orange. errrrrrr, go to bed!

What is your hobby:

I should really get some more of these, but I'm content right now. I still like to run and workout. Also, I'm doing piano lessons and I crave to be good at it, but I'm not. That's about it.



What is your fear:

I'm not going there. I hate talking about it enough that I don't want to write about. I said it on here at one point in time and I'm just not up for right now.

Where were you last night:

Working.

Something you are not:

I'm not really passionate about anything. Sometimes I wish I was, but that's just not me I've found. I think if I didn't have kids, I would go back to school and either get my degree in nursing or do something interior designish. I would love to be smart enough to work in a real ER. Or to get all the swirlling in my head decorating ideas organized and really find my true style and DO it! But the whole kid thing is workin for me right now.



Muffins:

Just waiting for the bananas to over rippen!

Where did you grow up:

Here. Good ol small town Raymond. Blah boring, but I love it!

The last thing you did:

Swept the kitchen floor

What are you wearing:

Jeans and a black shirt, exciting, I know.

Your TV:

my friend.

Your pet:

no thank you

Your friends:

the BEST!  I have many.  Here are a select few having a hearty laugh while the waiter played photographer.  Apparently I got a real kick out of it.  And how embarrasing that I'm wearing the same shirt as in the fam pics!

Your life:

Not bad. Derek has a good job. We are healthy and happy. I'm really trying to focus on the little things with my kids these days. Just enjoying them. I don't want to waste time feeling guilty about the things I might not be the best at as a mother or in life. It's not fair to me or my family.



Your Mood:

Not a good mood, not a bad. Just here, kinda lame I know.

Missing someone:

Always.

I wasn't going to do it, but ok, I miss Jacklyn all the time. Sometimes I don't, but mostly I do. Is that pathetic? Well if it is I don't think so.

Please don't hate for this picture Jack, I love out lipstick.

Vehicle:

The van is making a weird noise. I still reach for the clutch when I drive it. (the other car is a standard)

Your Favorite Store:

I like stores. I just like going in them, and I'm a SLOW shopper, so I usually go alone or drag the kids to make it even slower and yet less productive at the same time.

Your Favorite Color:

I don't know, Green I guess

When's the last time you laughed:

Oh laughter. It would take too much background and too long to type and then you might not even laugh, so I won't but oh James. If anyone watches SNL I'll tell you the story.



Your best friend:

The one and Only. So hot.



One place you go over and over:

ummmm, crazy?

One person who emails you regularly:

I'm not a regular email kinda gal, but I chat to Susie regularly.

Favorite place to eat:

This is where I am weird. I mean I like most foods, which in return means I don't have a definite place I LOVE to eat. I just like going pretty much anywhere that I don't have to cook.

Where do you want to be in six years:

Wow, 6 years. I would be happy being right where I am right now in life. (minus living at the parents, did you have a small heart attack mom?) Things are good, and I can't complain.

TAG You're IT!

I have loads more pics, but I'll spare you.  I'm so happy with them!

Hope this was all as exciting for you as it was for me!

don't worry, i'm still a slacker mom.

I think I do things pretty much the same living with my parents. I try not to get in their way too much. I clean up after the lot of us most of the time, just like if we had our own place. (own place...sigh) And so my routine may involve a little nap here and there.

Last week I was reading the kids some books on the couch. The next thing I knew I woke up to THIS!


Falling asleep in the afternoon while reading is no surprise for me even when I thought I wasn't tired when I sat down. When I woke I thought I must have been sleeping for an hour with the mess. The kids had got into the games cupboard as you can see. I jumped up (for fear of the time and my mom or Derek would be home any second) and looked at the time and realized I could not have been asleep for more 5 minutes or so. 5 MINUTES! Not bad kids, not bad. I let them keep playing with all the stuff for over an hour. They weren't wrecking anything, so I decided why not. And I made supper. Derek did see the mess (and helped me with the looooong process of cleaning up) but my mom didn't, phew. I guess she'll see it now.

We are really liking living here. I'm so glad my parents are happy to have us here for a while until we figure out what is next for us. The kids really like being around the grandparents, and being here whenever anyone else in the fam is here for a visit. My parents are gone to their condo in Arizona right now for 2 weeks, so we are really partying it up here...really.


On Monday we decided to go in the hot tub for fhe. We don't take the kids in very often, and I don't know why. They LOVE it! It's like a mini swimming pool. I decided to snap a few pics

This picture cracks me up, clearly she was getting some coaching from Derek for this pose.

Let's all get a good laugh at Derek's face in this picture

Maniac

On a final note, that has nothing to do with me being a slacker mom or a fun hot tub mom, tomorrow is Remembrance Day. Neither of my grandpa's served in the war for various reasons and I'm not quite sure I remember exactly why. Mom Dad, remind me? Both of Dereks' grandpa's served in the war. Derek's sister Mindy wrote about this on her blog. She wrote some good things and has good pictures.

The one thing I have heard grandpa Hicken say is how when he was over in the the war in the army, he and a friend saw all the planes and thought it would be so cool to be doing that. So they asked if they could change to the air force and they did. He flew on over 20 missions (or more maybe?) and they were all successful.
When I was 14 or 15 my family went to France. While we were there we went to a couple places that were affected by the war. I remember rows and rows of crosses, and I remember a little tiny village that was still there in ruins. If I remember right the small place got attacked and pretty much everyone was killed. There was a tiny cemetery filled. Almost incomprehensible.
Derek loves learning about the history of all these things. (he would love to teach social studies) Me, I haven't been as into it. But I do have a deep respect for all those that served in the the war and are serving right now. We are so blessed to be in a country where we are free. It doesn't matter all the politics of the war when it comes down to the people who are serving and putting their life at risk. When you hear stories about what happened in the war, you can't help but be affected by them. My mom usually always took us to the cenotaph in Raymond for the ceremony on Remembrance Day growing up. I sometimes thought it was annoying to do on our day off school, but I understand now.