Hair Cuts

My sister in-law is visiting this week and luckily has some sweet hair cutting skills.  She has cut all of our hair . . . but it is Gwen's hair that I am the most excited about.  Gwen has had the shaggiest hair for so long!  Thanks so much Liz!!

Gingerbread House

Yes, this is about what our gingerbread house looked like.  In the past, I have bought the kits . . . and I really recommend those!  This year, I decided to try making homemade gingerbread and using up halloween candy for the houses.  I guess I am supposed to put the house together and let it sit overnight and such . . . I didn't do that.  I wanted to just make it.  It stayed together for a few minutes, and then fell apart after decorating the roof.  We decided to just eat it, something I don't think we have ever done.   Next time, we'll make these things AFTER dinner and not right before!

Let it Snow!

Finally . . . yesterday we had some real snow!

911

I am RELIGIOUS about quiet time/nap time in the afternoons.  Today, after a crazy morning, I told Halle that I really needed a nap.   Abby is home sick today, so Abby, Gwen and I took naps and Halle had "quiet time" downstairs.  

Towards the end of "quiet time", there was knocking on the door.   Abby and Halle came to tell me there was a man knocking on the door.  I thought to myself that it must be a delivery guy that often delivers books and CD's for Ben's side business.  I told them that "he'll just leave the boxes by the door . . . I'm not going to get up right now." 

The guy KEPT knocking.  Halle again came to me, saying that he was still there.  I asked her if she had looked out the window.  She said that she had.  I figured he must be so persistent since he knew someone was home.  He started knocking AGAIN as I was coming down the stairs . . . LOUDLY knocking.  I was so mad. I was thinking to myself . . . "why is he so persistent . . . just leave the boxes on the doorstep!"

I answer the door expecting a delivery guy . . . to find a POLICEMAN. He was on his walkie talkie or whatever it is . . . and told someone that I had answered the door.  Then he told me that he had gotten about 15 calls into 911 . . . from a little girl!  He said he was getting ready to BREAK INTO OUR HOUSE to find out if that little girl was okay or not!  He also said that her calls were getting in the way of other calls.

I was SO surprised, obviously.  And SO embarrassed.   I must of looked like some drunk/unfit mother.   I mean . . . I have no idea how long he had been knocking before I answered the door . . . and then when I do . . . I have just woken up and am a little out of it.

Anyway, I asked Halle if she had been playing with the phone.  She said she had.  I told him I had had no idea, and that I would talk to her about it.

I am just waiting for social services to show up to see if I am a fit mother.  I feel like I must have looked SO suspicious . . . of something!

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!)