I've Got Pirates, Do You?

We have 2 pirates in our house these days, occasionally 3 when I play along. The kids have taken a serious liking to the Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (PC). They are obsessed, and watch it 2 sometimes 3 times a day. I know I know, some of you are saying, "but that's too scary for them!" I thought the same thing at first but they watched it and loved it and they haven't stopped watching it since.

A few weeks ago Cameron and I were brainstorming what other movies have pirates in them, and surprisingly there aren't too many. I saw Swiss Family Robinson (SFR) at Costco last week for $7 and snagged it. Andie is in love. She thinks that's the greatest movie these days. Interesting thing is when Cameron was little he watch the SFR all day long. I am so sick of Pirates of the Caribbean that Swiss Family Robinson has been a welcome change, I am sure Cameron would agree.

When we aren't watching one of the two Pirate movies, we are sword fighting with scarves tied around our heads, making pirate hats out of newspaper, or speaking like pirates and placing "arr" and "matey" into every sentence. Andie and I have been discussing, at great length, Brady's pirate birthday party. She is so excited and is positive this is going to be for her, what a sad day it will be when she realizes we are celebrating the birth of, gasps, BRADY. He is more obsessed than Andie which is pretty hard to believe, but he makes such a cute pirate.

Tears

Sunday I cried. I was getting dressed and had my outfit planned right down to the jewelry. I had thought the night before how I could still wear my broken necklace, which is my favorite. I was so excited because I went to Target last week and found two dresses that were originally $50 and I got them for $9 a piece and the necklace was going to give it that extra amount of ump to make me look great. Brady started freaking out and asked for help, when I went to help him I saw that he had my favorite necklace and he broke it to the point where it couldn't be saved.

Now I have to tell you, I had a small meltdown when he broke it the first time, but I took a minute to breath and realized it wasn't as bad as I made it out to be. But this time, I was so upset. I stared at myself in the mirror as I finished up my make-up and the more I thought about it, the more upset I became. You see, that was the necklace I got for Brady's blessing day. We didn't have much money so when I found it, it was exactly what I was looking for and at a great price, I was so thrilled. On the day of his blessing, I wore a red dress, brown patent leather heels and the perfectly matching brown beaded necklace. I got a million compliments on it.

Every time I wear that necklace I get asked where I bought it, and every time I wear that necklace I remember Brady's blessing day. I remember the family members who were able to be there for it. Lindsay's last minute flight to make it, Seth driving from the Bay area to be there, and Karen's early morning flight. I remember all my family and friends from childhood coming from all over the Sacramento area to be there to hear my little brother Clayton speak before he left on his 2 year mission to Madagascar. I remember that was the day my sweet niece Eva was blessed as well. I remember we sat in the overflow because the chapel was so packed with people (thanks to Clayton speaking), and Andie was putting up a terrible fight because she didn't want to sit still. I remember during Brady's blessing, feeling the sweet spirit so strong. I remember after the blessing and during Clayton's talk, Andie took Brady's bottle of breast milk I had pumped that morning and swigged it down. We sat in that overflow trying desperately to suppress our laughter as she announced how yummy brother's bottle was. When I wear that necklace I remember everything about that wonderful day as if it were yesterday.

As I stared at myself in the mirror and thought about the real reason I was upset by this broken necklace, tears began to flow freely. How could I be crying over something so silly? I admit, Brady has broken quite a few of my things in that last week and it was probably the straw that broke the camels back, but there I was, a cryer by no means, crying over a $10 necklace. I will miss that necklace, but I still have a reminder of that special day. I see that reminder first thing in the morning when I wake up and is the last person I see before going to bed at night. The little reminder is begging for itsy bitsy spider ten times a day, and wondering where his softy (blanket) went, and asks a million times an hour if I have seen his binky. That reminder kisses me so sweetly when pronouncing "love you mama". No necklace could replace my little reminder, my sweet little Brady. How I love my baby boy. He makes me laugh all day long. He loves his sister, she is his best friend. His favorite thing is to snuggle on the couch with Daddy. I am grateful for my little reminder, I LOVE YOU BRADY!

Shaving Cream

Every morning when I am in the bathroom trying to get ready there is Brady, falling at my feet throwing a tantrum because he has lost my undivided attention. I used to get so frustrated and stop to hold him. Sometimes I would sit him up on the counter and give him a toothbrush with the water on so he could "brush" his teeth. A few weeks ago I realized that I need that 15 minutes of alone time and Brady gets my attention all day long, it's not going to kill him. I usually leave the door open and sometimes the kids just leave me alone and go play but the other 80% of the time when the tantrums happen, I gently usher him (and occasionally Andie) out the door close it behind him, and lock it. Of course he continues his fit out in the hallway which is fine, I have my space and I know he isn't going anywhere until that door opens. Today was like most, he was having an absolute cow that I would not stop doing my hair to hold him. Out the door he went, in the most loving way possible, and the fit continued in the hall. When the door finally opened there he was, a tube of shaving cream in hand, and cream running down his pudgy little arms. I picked him up and he squealed with delight, I washed him up in the sink and sent him on his way. I walked into my room and there it was...THE MESS OF THE DAY! He had taken that very expensive tube of shaving cream and squeezed it all over the carpet. I just shook my head and repeated "why, why, why??? It's not even 10 in the morning and I have a major mess to clean up!" The mess was relatively minor, but I know the day is still young and there are more messes to be had.

**While typing this, Andie has spilled water on the floor and dropped chips. She is dancing all over the wet chips, oh joy!

Shampoo

I have decided to start a new daily topic on my blog, "Mess of the Day". What do you think? I can't begin to tell you about the outrageous messes my children make on a daily basis that I get to clean up! For the most part, I tend to get the major messes up for all to read but that is just because I need to vent. So for your entertainment and so you can see that your children really could do worse things, I will post ALL of our daily adventures in mess making. I must say that most of the time I end up laughing after the fact but there are a few that haven't YET made it to the "now that I think about it, it's pretty funny" list. Since these things didn't happen in your house, I am sure you will, even on just a small scale, find it humorous.

HAS YET TO MAKE IT TO THE HA HA FUNNY LIST:
1. Industrial sized bottle of shampoo emptied onto the carpet and all over furniture
2. Elmer's school glue smeared and dried onto Grandpa's vizio flat screen and TV stand
3. Andie's "poo fest" in the family room and all over the flat screen
4. The Jello packets sprinkled all over the freshly cleaned "poo fest" spots in the family room
5. Every. single. key. lovingly ripped from Cameron's brand new work laptop
6. Almost an entire 5 gallon jug of Sparklets water drained onto the kitchen floor

I would LOVE to tell you that I "sometimes fabricate" my stories so they are more entertaining for blogging purposes, but unfortunately, my children are really THAT destructive!
It would be a terrible understatement to say that my children keep me busy, they actually keep me exhausted! I am so grateful that I have been given the opportunity to be their mom and all the adventures they create. To have them here with us makes all the frustration and cleaning worth it! Until the next mess...

To My Kids

Dear Andie and Brady,
Why must you continually drive your Mommy crazy? Brady, everyday you seem to be more busy than the last, I can't keep up with you, please give me a break soon. Andie, what in the world is up with the new high pitched scream for no reason at all? It hurts my ears. The water that comes in giant jugs and is PAID for every month is not for your entertainment. How many more times do I have to talk to you about it before you no longer play in it? I am getting really tired of mopping the kitchen floor, soaking up the water from the carpet, and then washing the towels just so I can clean up a new mess 3 hours later. Seriously, the watering hole game is getting old. Brady, I just bought new toothpaste yesterday, today you squeezed the entire tube out all over the bathroom. If you weren't so cute I would have beat you. Children please understand that I can not afford to buy you Jamba Juice everyday, Brady quit throwing a fit for it, it will not fix the situation. Andie, everything does not belong to you, please let your brother have a toy every once in a while I am tired of the screaming. Andie, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stop embarrassing me in public restrooms! Yes I know they stink sometimes, so does everyone else in there, you don't need to announce it (although, you wouldn't have to use them if you would just pee before we left the house). And no, a few weeks ago my panties didn't get an owie or need a bandaid they just needed for you to shut your mouth and not go on about it for 5 minutes! Brady, thank you for emptying A SECOND tube of toothpaste today...maybe now Daddy knows why I ask him to keep the bathroom doors shut and maybe he will even practice it.
Brady thank you for being a cuddle bug, I love holding you early in the morning, kissing your chubby hands and smelling your hair. Promise me you will always look up at me with those big green eyes and say, "momma, love you!" it's the best. Andie thank you for being my best girlfriend and always up for a shopping trip. The conversations we have in the car are priceless and I love spending time with you. You promised you would always stay 3 and I am going to hold you to it. You guys are the funniest two kids and you keep us laughing constantly. Thank you for loving eachother so much, I hope you grow up to be best friends.
Thank you for being my kids, I love you two so very much. You certainly keep me on my toes, and eventhough you drive me absolutly nuts I cherish every moment I have with you! I love you Andie and Brady!
Love Always, Mommy

Cake Box Cookies

Last night I went to a friends house and we did some baking. She found a cookie mix for funfetti cookies that taste exactly like the cake and they were so delish! I brought some home and everyone asked that I make them again. I could not find the cookie mix so I decided to try it with the actually funfetti cake mix instead and they turned out beautifully! I am so excited to try it with other kinds of cake mixes.

Here is the recipe:

Cake Box Cookies

1 Cake mix of your choice

1 Stick of butter; slightly melted

1 Egg

Pre heat oven to 350.

Mix well together, I found it works best to mix it together with your hands. Scoop out the dough on a greased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 mins or until the bottoms are slightly brown. The packaging suggested frosting but the cookies are rich and delicious by themselves. Prep time: about 5 minutes.

New Year

Every New Years I make the same number one goal, TO LOSE WEIGHT, and every year I don't follow through. This year as I was pondering my goals before Christmas I decided that my excuse of being overweight because I had kids is no longer acceptable, I mean c'mon, Brady is 18 months! I started dieting and exercising the week before the new year and it was so much better than waiting to start. I have lost 2 lbs this week and I am looking forward to losing lots more. I am really committed this time and it feels great! I hope to make 2010 the best year yet!

Some of My 2010 Goals

1. Lose weight

2. Get out of the house and take the kids to do more activities.

3. Enjoy and look forward to going to church.

4. Have more date nights with my husband.

5. Take a family trip somewhere that isn't visiting other family (sorry guys).

6. Be more understanding of others.

7. Read more

8. Learn how to make greeting cards (something I have been wanting to do forever).

9. Go to the temple more often

10. Potty train Brady

Andie started Primary today, oh my gosh, she was so good and she loved it. She is already talking about going back next week. Brady went into Nursery today for the first time. He doesn't officially start until next week but I brought him in to get a feel for it. When I took him out he cried, "my kids, my kids!" I am really looking forward to enjoying church next week for the first time in 3 years!