I'm going to my happy place...

OK, so I was planning to blog yesterday about Justin's birthday party. BUT, I am still to exhausted to talk about it. I think that it was quite possibly the most obnoxious two hours of birthday I have ever experienced! Now, don't get me wrong. I love all of the little boys in his class. They are all so cute and for the most part, really good most of the time. But Monday afternoon was a different story. I decided to do the party right after school, thinking that it would convenient for parents and me. Who wants another evening or weekend activity right? I was mistaken. Apparently, right after school it the WRONG time to have a party. You see, after sitting in class all day, 11 little 8-year-olds want nothing to do with any organized activity of ANY kind!!!!! It was CHAOS! I was yelling so loud and they couldn't even hear me. We totally blew through the two activities I had planned, and chocolate cupcakes and Kool-Aid, well, I will let YOUR mind go there, cause I don't want to relive it. Not only was I totally irritated, but Justin was completely overwhelmed. I just felt so bad for him. So, it was a bust, and next year we will most definitely pick just a friend or two to help celebrate. Whew. Two down, one to go. Hopefully, Travis' friends won't give me such a run for my money!

Enough of that. So instead of posting the few pictures I actually took, I decided to hang up a few of my time with Miss Kendyl last week. All in all, we had a great week, with Wednesday being the only fussy day. But, that was easy to diagnose, she just needs her morning nap, and didn't get a good one in thus making the rest of the day kinda grumpy. I have days like that, so why can't she?!?!? Isn't this funny! She is totally becoming a drooly monster...thinkin' there is some teeth around the bend maybe? Her mother will be mortified that she is hangin' out in her onesie not looking all cute, but she needed some space after her diaper change! I truly have forgotten how much time you spend in a day moving an infant from one activity to another, feeding, changing etc.... and I have to admit, I don't miss it! Sometimes, Travis will disappear for a couple of hours upstairs playing...and then I have to go find him to make sure he is still alive! But, it was fun to cuddle on her for a few days, and sit in front of the fire and take a break while she ate. She is really getting more interactive, and loves to watch what is going on all around her. And, the best part is, she only had ONE totally nasty diaper! Lucky me!! She saved it all for her momma in the evening. Smart girl she is! I can't wait until she is up on all fours and crawling everywhere! That will be fun. So there is my happy place for today. Now onto something productive besides blogging. :)

4-H Weekend

Here is my handsome 4-H man with his lovely bunny Abigail! This weekend, Yamhill County sponsered their 4-H small animal show, the Critter Romp, at the fairgrounds. Jared showed his rabbit Abigail and his little chicken Rosy. He got blue ribbons in both cases, and did pretty good, considering he hasn't done any showing since fair this last summer. It gave him a good idea of what he will need to brush up on before fair this summer! I always seem to have a really hard time getting the boy to smile...he always looks like he has just seen a ghost. I think that is the Horton in him?!?!?! I am always in the back grinning like a total goofball, but usually all I get is a smirk...AHHH! He is just not a "get in front of a crowd" guy, which is exactly like his DAD! They tend to be the shy one in the background...I guess that is why we are together...opposites attract right?!?! On the other hand, I think Justin is WAY MORE like me...take a look at the difference:
Yes, Justin can't STOP smiling! That might not work in his favor when it comes to competition! He gets the giggles really easily, so hopefully with age and maturity, we can get that under control. This is Justin and our other bunny, Zoe. He did a show and tell thing with all of the other little Cloverbuds there. Most have older sibilings that were there for show, so this keeps them occupied and makes them feel important too!
Rosy the banty hen, showing her stuff!
So, now that this function is over, all I have left is Justin's birthday party with his friends today, and then I am done with activities for awhile! I had four activities in the last two weeks to do/plan, and I am going nuts! Looking forward to a little break tomorrow to catch up!

Reality TV is so addicting...

OK, so for those of you who don't know...I watch a little reality TV. I know, I know, WHY? Why are we American's SO in love with other peoples business? Why do we want to watch people be totally humiliated or hurt on national television? I don't think I can answer that, but I will tell you that I secretly enjoy it....but I also HATE it sometimes! It can be SO stressful! From American Idol to Survivor, The Bachelor to Amazing Race to Biggest Loser(which I usually watch while eating a big bowl of Ice Cream)...even Dancing with the Stars for cryin' out loud...they get your hopes up then crush them in an instant...they get you emotionally attached to these people you don't even know, then send 'em packin'...AHHH! What is a girl to do?

I suppose the obvious answer would be to quit watching them...but TV is so boring these days, what would I watch? There aren't any good sitcoms on really, Grey's Anatomy is only on one night a week, and HGTV gets a little dull sometimes. I love the Food Network, but Jeremiah usually loudly protests anything on there in the evening...he would LOVE it if we could spend the evening watching the History channel, but if I wanted to go to sleep at 8 pm, I would just head to bed! Sometimes, there is a good movie on the 50 billion movie channels we get, but that is rare. Outdoor Network always has something he would love to watch, but all of the gunfire usually brings the kids right back into the family room, being boys and all, then we have to put them back to bed...UGH.

I quit watching The Bachelor several years ago, because after the billionth time of it never working out, I got uninterested. Now, I am totally amazed that the show even exists! Why do people keep watching it? In hopes that THIS one might work? Who knows. But, after my hiatus and seeing this season's previews, I thought I might give it a whirl again. This guy seemed to have his head on straight and I thought he might make a good choice....HMMM. My hopes of that have been dashed, once again. He sent my favorite girl home this week. Idiot. Why did he choose to send the mature, level headed, decent girl with some personality home? I don't even know this guy and he makes me want to pound my head against the wall! I totally cried this week! What is the matter with me?!?!?! And right before bed too! It's a good thing my eyes weren't puffy when I got up the next day...then I would feel like the Biggest Loser!!

This is my pick for Biggest Loser...she is hilarious and I hope she is totally successful. American Idol has it's top 12, Survivor is in Week 2 and the contestants for Dancing with the Stars are picked! Yikes! How will I keep up with it all?

How about you all? I know you watch it too...just admit it!

Sugar Coma....

My children were totally high on sugar when they went to bed last night!! I do not know how they slept...each one of them was full to the brim with goodies, and were still asking for more. It gave me a gut ache. All of our parties went well...the kids have such a good time handing out Valentines!

This is Travis' classmate Shawn, who really wanted to hug him...this is their class singing their Space Ship song...they have been learning all about space and the planets and such over the last month. I am AMAZED at how much he has retained! He was rattling off facts about the sun and naming the planets the other night to my mom-Wow!

Justin's class party was busy too...they played candy bingo, and enjoyed LOTS of sugar, then went outside and ran it off on the playground. Suprisingly, nobody puked!

This is his teacher, Mrs. Switzler. She is as cute as a bug, full of energy, and about the same height as Justin. She is soooo amazing with the kids, and they all love her. She is especially special for Justin, because she too has horse fever, so they can share their passion of horses in lots of ways!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

My Valentines

These are my sweethearts. Aren't they cute? We have been preparing for Valentine's festivites this week...getting cards written out and picking treats to take to class parties on Friday. That means I will be in the kitchen most of tomorrow! For boys, this holiday is pretty much about how much candy they can accumulate and eat. It has NOTHING to do with LOVE. :) But, I hope one day it will. I pray that they will be able to find that one person in life that they cannot live without...the one that makes their heart go pitter patter...the one they miss when they are apart...the one that makes them smile on their dark days...the one that they can share their goals, secrets, successes and failures with...and, of course, the one that likes their Mom :)

I hope that they see these things in their parents...although some days we are not the best example of a perfect marriage, I think we do a pretty good job of showing them what makes a good relationship, and what love looks like. The good days and the kinda ugly ones, but two people who can always come back to one another and remember why they fell in love in the first place. We have never been big on Valentine's Day...not saying that I wouldn't love to get something, but we just have never really had the means to go all out on this holiday. Over the years, I have gotten a box of chocolates here and there, and maybe a flower or two, but no jewelery, or anything fancy. A few years ago, Jeremiah started a journal for me that he writes in on special occasions...our "Notebook" I guess. It has truly been the best gift ever, and something our kids can read someday...and hopefully appreciate! The only thing I know for sure is that I could never do "life" without him. We have had a lot of really good times and, like now, some really tough ones, but we are always there for each other to lean on and that is worth everything to me. We have the three best gifts of all...those three stinky little boys that stole OUR hearts the day they were born.

So sweet...

Isn't this SWEET? Nothin' better than a good lookin' guy and an adorable baby.....AHHH. I must say, he is loving this baby thing again and we are always fighting over who gets to hold her first! Not who HAS to hold her, but who GETS to hold her...strange concept when it's not your own! But....one thing still holds strong.....we STILL argue over who HAS to change her!! :)

Birthday Boy

Here he is...the Birthday Boy! I cannot believe he is 8 already! We had to put together a poster about him for school, and in digging through photos, I of course had a trip down memory lane that was dotted with tears. Just the other day he was little, his binki and blanket his constant companions. He was such a cuddly little guy, and believe it or not, VERY quiet. He was the only one out of my three that up until he was a year old, I could set in one spot with a basket of toys and he would still be there an hour later! He talked and walked later than the other two...just did things on his own schedule...come to think of it, he STILL does. Justin is NEVER in a hurry as those of you who know him can attest to. He just moves at a slower pace. Maybe I can learn something from that...in my constant hurried pace it drives me nuts sometimes, but I really do try and remind myself that he is just being who God created him to be. He is a classic middle child, who really would have relished being the baby...but in any case, he is all about justice and fairness, and he will let you know! He is a bit stubborn at times, but those brown eyes make just about everyone MELT. He has a goofy streak, and his belly laugh is seriously contagious! He has a passion for horses and hunting/fishing, so we will see where that takes him. Whatever he chooses to do, he will be great at...as long as it doesn't start to early in the morning... :)

Jared and Travis looking on....

He enjoyed all of his presents...here, the sought after Bass boat to go with his Dodge Dually pickup. He also got a big boy watch just like Jared's (much to Jared's dismay...it is hard being the oldest and coolest ya know), a big boy Bible and cover from Grammy, some new Wranglers from Auntie Kim, Uncle Sean and Kendyl, a truck and horse trailer, a new coat, a really awesome Horse puzzle book, a play kayak and fishing accessories to play with and the ultimate....a Nintendo DS from Grandma Rita and Grandpa Steve...

We also celebrated with Uncle Mark, Aunt Kelly, Uncle Kenneth and the rest of the family a few weeks ago, by going out to dinner at one of Justin's favorite spots...Izzy's...

Alex and Dove were there... So, that was Justin's birthday, over for another year! I am sure this year will go by just as fast as the last one did. We love you buddy!

Momma is DOWN...

So, I was planning on doing a post three days ago to commerate Justin's Birthday, which was last Thursday, but it seems my body had other plans....by that, I mean that I have been on the couch nursing Vicodin and ice/heat since Friday morning. UGH. ALL I did was reach down to pick up the vacuum cleaner cord, and POP! went something in my back. Now, I am not familiar with any kind of back trouble other than a few aches and pains here there, so until this morning, I had NO idea what had happened to me other than the fact that I felt like dying! The pain was a little show stopping, and Jeremiah actually had to come home from work and move me up to our bed...all the while enduring my screaming and crying. LOVE...that is what love is:) I think I left claw marks in each of his shoulders...haven't looked yet. The doctor called in some Vicodin, and I haven't moved much at all. Didn't realize how much I took for granted all the movin and shakin I do in a day until I couldn't move at all!

This has bothered my boys quite alot...I find them just staring at me laying on the couch...apparently this is quite disturbing to them as well...me being not able to move!! Travis keeps asking me if I am ever going to walk again! The worst part is, I was four hours away from going to the beach for a womens retreat with church friends...DANGIT! They of course, had a wonderful time, and the weather was beautiful I hear. I guess there is always next year. I don't think I will try and leave with a clean house next time...:) Maybe I should just give that whole thing up anyway...don't want to risk hurting my back again?!?!?

Anyhoo, I went to see dear Dr. D this morning, and she informed me that I have an SI joint that is seized up...whatever that means...well, it means I can't stand up straight. So, off to Physical Therapy I go tomorrow, in hopes that he can fix this whole mess up right away, and I can go back to normal. Jeremiah has had great fun making fun of my "newly found gait"...he says I look like my Grandmother did when she was older, all cock-eyed to the side. Hey, whatever works to get me from Point A to Point B. Also have a muscle relaxer to use at bedtime, so hopefully that will help as well.

When I find my camera, I will post pictures from Justin's 8th birthday...he enjoyed it and got some great gifts. Until then, off I go to find more ibuprofen, and hopefully I won't end up on the liver transplant list for taking too much!