Ultrasound Says . . .

We're having a BOY!!!!!!  I think I am still in shock!

Here's how it went at the ultrasound . . . .

Ultrasonographer: " Do you want to find out what you are having?"

Me: " YES!"

Ultrasonographer:  "What do you already have?"

Me: "We have three girls . . . I think we just make girls."

Ultrasonographer: "Well . . . it looks like you make boys too!"

Me: "WHAT?  Are you serious????"

Can't You Read My Mind?

I have to say that my life would be a lot easier (and so would Ben's) if Ben could just read my mind and not rely on what I say. Many times I say one thing . . . but in reality, I expect him to figure what I really mean. Maybe I am just a girl . . . or maybe I have severe communication problems . . . who knows . . . but this happens every so often.

For example . . . my birthday was a few days ago. I really don't expect that much for my birthday, but apparently I expect more than I got . . . as poor Ben had to learn this week.

So . . . before my birthday, Ben would ask me questions like "what do you want for your birthday?" I would answer him with "don't do that much . . . just get me this or that and call it good". Okay, those kinds of answers are kind of true . . . but kind of not. Of course I want him to do something creative or fun for me on my birthday . . . but I'm not going to say that! (for some unknown reason that I have not yet figured out).

Well, my birthday comes around and Ben gives me the gift I asked for . . . and then "called it good."

All day, I kind of wondered if it was a joke that I thought Ben hadn't planned anything. I wondered if there was some real surprise coming later . . . I did my hair just in case.

But no. There were no plans. He did make breakfast and dinner however . . . and he brought home Chinese food for lunch.

By dinnertime, once I realize that my birthday was going to be EXACTLY what I told him it should be . . . I was pretty mad. I don't hide my madness well . . . and didn't even try to this time . . . so he could tell.

Poor Ben was so confused! Once the confrontation started (after the kids went to bed) he let me know that he could not understand what I could be mad about . . . he did EXACTLY what I told him to do. This was very true.

But . . . why can't he just read my mind and know that it would have been nice to have him take me out . . . to do SOMETHING!

Why can't I just stop speaking in riddles and just start saying what I want or mean? It's not like we just got married.

Bless those confrontations/discussions/whatever you want to call it. I think both of our birthdays will be more fun from now on!

High Expectations

I have high expectations for Sundays . . . something I should have let go of a long time ago. Every week I imagine Sunday as being relaxing, my girls looking nice, going to church, a nice dinner, etc. Today those expectations were not any different . . . but once again I realized I need to throw this very unrealistic ideal out the door. 

Abby and Halle woke up at their normal time this morning . . . but they fight about so many things!  They ended up in time out within 10 minutes of my being awake.   I get the girls breakfast and eventually I get dinner made (in a crock pot . . . my favorite thing ever!)  I get everyone ready . . . except for myself . . . because I'm sure I'll have time to do that later . . . and I won't take that long anyway . . . so I think.  

Finally it is almost time to go.  It is then that I realize that Halle was dressed, but her hair was not done yet.  We hurry and do it . . . and it end's up not looking very done.  I can't seem to find anything to wear as many things do not fit the same.  And I go downstairs to find that Gwen has pulled out her pigtails with ribbons and it is as shaggy as ever!  

We roll into church and sit down, and I notice that Abby is wearing brightly printed underwear. How do I know this?  I can see right through her dress!  

Gwen is all over the place during Sacrament meeting and people sitting next to us start giving her things to do.  Where were the things I brought?  I didn't bring that many things because sometimes I think less is better (give me a break . . . she is 2!)

All of our church lessons today were on eternal marriage or motherhood responsibilities.  I noticed things I could do better during these lessons . . . but then I got home and my kids would argue with me whenever my answer was "no" and we would ALL have meltdowns. Some mom I am . . . Dinner was great though! (Thanks for the Cafe Rio recipes Liz . . . and thanks for eating it with us Rebekah and Doug!)

I Survived Halloween

Halloween turned out to be successful.   Both Abby and Halle pronounced this Halloween as "the Best Halloween Ever!".   And how could they not?  They dressed up, went trick or treating, played some Halloween games, and stayed up late to watch a Casper Halloween movie.   I was able to finish the "Alice in Wonderland" costume . . . but hopefully no one looked at it too closely . . . especially that hem:).  Apparently Abby was very proud of my sewing job though, and  let everyone at school know that "my mom MADE my costume".  What more reward for my grief could I ask for?
 

Halle was Tinkerbell (not homemade . . . but I got over it pretty quickly) . . . and Gwen was supposed to be a ladybug (a costume I made 6 years ago) for the Halloween party the night before Halloween.  But once she saw Abby and Halle putting on dresses . . . she wanted to wear a dress to be "beautiful" . . . so we raided the dress-up trunk.

Luckily on Halloween night, I was able to get Gwen into the ladybug costume.    They all came home with WAY too much candy.  Am I really supposed to let them eat all this stuff?  Any good ideas on how to get rid of it . . . without eating it myself?

What Was I Thinking?

Last year I had this neighbor who made her children's Halloween costumes . . . and then one for herself . . . and they were all a part of the same theme.  Sooo cute!  After that I decided that I was going to be THAT kind of a mom.   We would have homemade Halloween costumes ONLY . . . we would ALL coordinate . . . and my costumes would look AMAZING!   The Halloween costume decision deadline was September 1st. this year.   That way I would have enough time to sew everyone's costume.  

Well . . . the first problem for me arose when Halle only wanted to be a princess.  We couldn't come up with a story book theme were she could be the princess and we would all have something that coordinated . . . or that could easily be made.  I wasn't sure how to make Beauty and the Beast costumes.   So, I told her she could be a princess . . . and the rest of us would be a group "something" else.   We finally decided on "Alice in Wonderland".  Abby would be Alice, Gwen would be the white rabbit, Ben could be the Mad Hatter, and I would be the Queen of Hearts.  I started making Abby's costume first . . . as I thought it would be the easiest.  Well, Halloween is in what . . . 3 DAYS . . . and I am STILL working on it!  I've learned that I don't really like to sew clothing.  How in the world do you hem a dress???  

So apparently . . . I am NOT that kind of mom . . . even though I really wish I was.  And we will NOT have coordinating costumes.  

Halle Turns 5

Today is Halle's birthday.  She is now 5!  Every year I get a little more sad that she is "growing up".   I will never forget how a week or two after Halle was born I actually called the doctor to find out if it was really okay that I was getting as much sleep as I was.  Halle was such a content and happy baby!  Now . . .  5 years later . . .  Halle loves to be a princess, play with Barbies, dress up and be "fancy" . . . and luckily she has not grown out of it yet.  But I get really sad thinking about the day when she will be "too old" to do those things.

Halle wanted a "costume party" for her birthday . . . which of course is of no surprise . . . since she is always in a costume!

The kids played a game that Abby thought of and wanted to be in charge of . . . a "guess how many pieces of candy are in the jar" game.  They also played "hot pumpkin", went on a candy hunt, and played musical chairs.

We ate cake and ice cream and opened presents.

Happy Birthday Halle!

Pumpkin Patch

Fall is here!  I really start looking forward to this in June (summer heat is my least favorite thing . . . unless I am on vacation).  I love the pumpkins, the cold weather and the treats!

Abby has "Fall Break" this week . . . and so it was time to go pick out pumpkins at the pumpkin patch.  The girls LOVE this!  This is a little embarrassing . . . but being the cheap person that I am, on the way to the pumpkin patch  I drove by a grocery store that was selling pumpkins for SUPER cheap.  The pumpkins at the pumpkin patch are not that unreasonably priced . . . I just sometimes take too much pride in saving a buck.  But Abby and Halle were confused of course and quickly let me know that it is much more fun to get pumpkins at the pumpkin patch than at a grocery store.  I quickly agreed and am glad we spent a few dollars more for a happy and MUCH more fun experience.

It is really hard to pick the right pumpkin.  Abby had picked out a couple before she finally was ready to walk away with one.  Halle was able to decide a little quicker . . . despite the meltdowns that happened occasionally.  Halle was probably more interested in the maze that the kids could go through.  Gwen enjoyed it all.  We went to this same place last year to get pumpkins . . . and now I  think we have found our "pumpkin finding" tradition . . . since the girls are already asking if we can go there next year!