I have no idea where this post will go...

I wasn't able to post this past Sunday because we didn't have time for "Me HOUR". That's when Pat takes the kids for a walk or down stairs to play while I do whatever I need to do to make me a better me, for an hour. It can be a nap, weekly scheduling, reading... but I always try to fit a blog post in there too. We had a fantastic get together last Sunday with three families at our casa. Paninis and Italian sodas with amazing side salads provided by our guests. I wish I had taken pictures. We all have three children, so all 12 ran wild down stairs while we socialized upstairs. Over Christmas, my SIL, Stephanie and I decorated her easel chalk board as a MENU BOARD for paninis one night and Italian soda's another. Both parties were so creative and yummy, I decided to do both for our Sunday gathering. I found the Cafe Zupa's panini recipes on their website and took my favorites to recreate at home and give options on our board for guests to order from. I also took the recipes from Torani's (drink flavoring) that I found on line to make Peaches n' Cream Italian soda and Raspberry Cream Italian Soda. Yummy yum yum! I went on a hunt for perfectly tall soda glasses, like my Mother in Laws', and found the exact amount I needed on clearance at our Target! I Think Heavenly Father made it possible for me to find the details I 'needed' to have because He knows how much JOY entertaining brings me and that I will always have my door open for others to come in and enjoy life in an extremely fun, uplifting and clean way :) Like the title of the book my Mother gave me (that summarizes her brilliance) "Why Bother? Why NOT!".

So, that was just Sunday night. Other tidbits from last week...

The kids got their pictures taken for some pretty cute valentines to give their cute friends and family. I had a very fun time making props and creating outfits for the shoot taken by Jacquilyn Avery Photography. I love working with Jacqui because she is so open to creative input and showing the personality of the individual children.

Something Sad:

I took a plate of cookies to a visiting teaching appointment at the park and set them on the car because Autrey kept grabbing them and squishing them in his hands. Yes, I forgot and drove off. And they were so moist and delightful!

Something Rad: Last night I went to a parent meeting for the NEW SCHOOL coming to town that we are enrolling Camden in. We found out our kids are automatically enrolled (great news) and that they break ground for building February 10th (with a fun hoopla the night before). It's called Legacy Traditional Charter school. It's a back to basic school with the leading math and language arts programs out there (Spaulding and Saxton). There is drama and band, sports and clubs with lots of parent involvement. It feels very right for our family at this time!! And I'm very excited we found match.

Something Bad: My kids have been watching backyardagains and Dora for a little too long while I've been writing this random post.

Last bout of info: Both boys have been sick with double ear infections for 2 weeks and Autrey and I have had killer colds this week. Ellie is trying to get out of night pull-ups. Pat was out of town on business for 2 days but is home again, thankfully. We are going rock climbing tonight! I haven't gotten a run in since last Thursday and I'm feeling it, yuck. EVMCA (choir) is AMAZING and I'm able to be right there, which I love! Callings are going great, Pat is LOVING work and life (which brings me more joy than anything). Man, there is so much on my mind that I would love to write but I've got to play with my kids...way more important to me, hence, why I'm a horrible blogger...trying to fit it all in. Someday I'll figure out this balancing act called life, right??

A week in the life...

Silly smiles
Friends!
First day of Choir

Hike



This week was eventful. I don't plan to document the timeline of every week. But maybe when My children are grown, or I am grown, I'll look back to this post and learn something about motherhood.

Monday after dropping Camden off at preschool, we went to the mall to make some exchanges. And cleaned the house/4 loads of laundry. That night our friends, The Jackson's, in town from CHINA, came over with a bunch of old time South Mountain friends to catch up! They have been gone for 18 months. It was a blast to the past having the Moores, Friends, and Jacksons all in the same room together again.

The following morning Camden threw-up at about 7 am. I thought it may have been food poisoning because Pat was feeling a bit barf-ish as well. After texting everyone from the party way too early in the morning, we were able to rule that out but Camden was feeling much better anyhow. We laid low... and snuck in a morning trip to the library. He took a long afternoon nap and felt even better afterward. That afternoon I started my new little job of watching my friend's son (2-3 afternoons a week). She's a photographer and needs time to edit, and Griffin needs the interaction with other kids. It's a win-win agreement. I feel like a better mom having someone else's child around. I'm more fun :) And he distracts the kids from being around my ankles 12 hours a day :) He's only 9 months old but the kids love having him around. Later that night we watched my other friend's daughter, Lia. (YES, both of these friends were made aware Camden had puked that morning... we do what we gotta do :) Lia is adorable. She gets pretty sad when her Mommy leaves but this time Pat came home a minute after she came and Lia sat with him tear free until her Dad came. What?? It's fun to see Pat make the effort to build relationships with our friend's children. I don't think all men do that because they don't have to. I find that endearing :) So that was it for Tuesday.

Wednesday Lia's Mom came to my place in the morning to watch the kids while Pat and I went to visit with a financial advisor. That afternoon I picked up Griffin again and we went to the Zoo! I brought Camden and Ellie's bikes and pulled Autrey and Griffin in the wagon. It was actually very fun. The first hour the kids did great. I sort of felt like a super hero. I took in the odd looks from strangers proudly for the first hour with thoughts of "I've got this train of children all under control and we are having a great day at the zoo!". The last 20 minutes, as the babies were both crying, Camden was tiring out, refusing to bring his bike up a small hill...and Ellie had ridden off ahead, my thoughts changed. The strange looks from others intensified and I was absorbed with the thoughts "You're all right! I'm crazy... I've got to get out of her pronto!". Pat has church meetings until 11pm Wednesdays, so that's when I fold the laundry (I washed Monday) and catch up on Hulu. Shows I watch: Biggest Loser, Once Upon a Time, Parenthood and Switched at Birth. Listed in order of most favorite. Thursday Camden started up "Let's Play Music" class. That afternoon we brave a 2 hour hike with Cheryl and her 3 on the South Mountain. We then put Autrey down for an hour nap and woke him up to head out to Choir practice in Mesa. Camden is part of the East Valley Mormon Choral Organization. I thought I would peak my head in to check it out before I left him and waited in the parking lot. I'm so glad I went a little early to take the kids to the restroom! Come to find out, they needed help and have a nursery for siblings who are not in the program. I'm extremely excited to be a part of it without having to find a sitter for my children. Especially since it takes us 30 minutes to get there and it's only 45 minutes long. When Camden came out from choir with his group He said "Is it over? Oh, man!". That's a good sign! We went out for french fries afterward (my bribe to get Cam to go). We also went to my favorite store HomeGoods because it's also out there in Mesa. The kids did great. Until the drive home... They were all so tired from a long day. Camden and Ellie were at each others throats about anything and everything. Camden started throwing a HUGE tantrum. He got out of his seatbelt and came up to me screaming. Luckily we were close to home so I pulled over in a neighborhood I was familiar with and pulled him over me and out of the car. I tripped on the curb and we both fell on the sidewalk on our sides. That just fed his fire, him thinking I threw him out of the car and all, lol. I explained to him what happened, gave him a hug and explained the safety hazards of him being out of a seatbelt and screaming in my ear. He would not be getting back in the car until he cooled down. I sat back down in the car while he screamed like a fire engine. Nothing I said to him made him stop. People were walking by, someone even came over to ask if we needed help. I was calm but pretty baffled as to the best way to handle the situation since I knew he wouldn't be stopping any time soon. I wanted to just wait him out but it really was disturbing the neighborhood. I picked him up and pointed to all the homes around us. I told him that parents were trying to put kids to bed and that his screaming was making that hard for them. He stopped and we talked a bit more. We went home and the kids went right to bed. Poor guy. That was one of those mommy moments that made me want to cry right along with him on the sidewalk.

Friday, Camden went to school and the rest of us went to Costco! After school we picked up Griffin, put Autrey and Griff down for naps, loaded our bikes in the car, and went to the Greers to ride with all of our friends in their hood. After a couple of hours we went home and Pat and I took off to the Temple while my friend watched the kids and put them to bed! It was great to not have to put them down. I've got amazing friends here in Phoenix. Old and new. What a huge blessing at this time of our lives.

Saturday, Pat went to meet up with his friends to participate in the Tough Mudder race. He had a great time jumping in mud and other muddy obstacles over the span of 12 miles. Meanwhile, I watched Lia again and then the kids and I went to a party for Camden's friend Mr. Tony :) I love that he calls his 6 year old friend that. After Daddy came home we ate breakfast for dinner and jumped in the hot tub. Then Pat went to a guy party to play video games and hang out. My friend Kellie came over with her kids because the party was at her house and she was kicked out :) We hung out until Ellie fell asleep in my arms and Camden was asking to go to bed at 8:30. I was asleep by 9.

Unfortunately, I've ended this fun-filled week in a bad mood. What is it about bad moods, anyway? I feel like I should have more control over how I feel or at least know how to change it if I can recognize it myself.

I'm ready for a Girls Night Out. And to go to bed...

Kids Today

Autrey is 18 Months, but the size of a two year old+. He is the strong and silent type. He doesn't have many words he chooses to use. Occasionally Mama, Nana (which translates to anything he wants. Usually food), Dada, and ba. He makes car noises and an occasional Moo for cow. Most importantly is his Yes: uh-hu and No: uh-uh. He pushes Ellie a bit, Loves to get on top of Camden and wrestle and throws tantrums that consist of him throwing something and litarly stomping off to stand by a wall. It's kind of funny to watch. Ryan told me Pat use to do the same thing as a little tike. Autrey is a good sleeper but his eating is starting to resemble Camden's... picky. Pat and I laugh that he's made of In-n-Out and M&M's. I'm afraid that may be the problem because it sure sums up what I can get him to eat without a fight. Oh brother.

Ellie is 3 1/2. She is also wearing clothes a bit bigger for her age. She is a sponge, loving to learn and has a killer imagination. Her Elephant is alive and has friends, appointments, favorite songs, doesn't always chose the right, eats crazy snacks and has a birthday party at least once a month. Ellie is learning to write her letter and would never admit pink is her favorite color so don't assume it. She is very good at cleaning out the dishwasher but I believe that might be autrey's job now because he's pretty good at it too. I'm thinking her next family chore will be laundry collector and sorter. Ellie loves to play mommy. She sings all the time. Ellie can hold her own in a fight, well a verbal one at least. She and Camden still have at it on a daily basis but she love love loves Camden. Ellie does not like to be put on the spot but when she choses to be the center of attention she's a riot. She makes me laugh everyday. This weekend she helped me pick out an outfit for a date with Daddy. She was soooo into it. I really enjoy our little "girl moments" like that. She loves to do nails, hair and buy new clothes. She's still super bossy/ goes for what she wants. Pat loves Ellie hugs and kisses. She's the best at spontaneous squeezes. Ellie will be starting preschool at Happy Apple this Fall and probably soccer. She was really good at gymnastics this past fall and wants to take dance and art. Right this minute, she is riding her new bike from santa with Daddy and Camden and is rocking it!

Camden is finishing his last semester of pre-K before kindergarten!! I can't believe 2012 I'll have a kid in school, well, 2 I guess. Camden is reading rather well and just starting to take interest in writing better. He became a fantastic swimmer last summer, since we got a pool! He got a Wii for Christmas and now looks forward to playing mario cart as often as we'll allow. I think we'll be making deals with chores and reading for minutes of mario cart. How to keep this all organized??! Camden is tall and lean, totally different body type than Ellie's and Autrey's. He is a good helper and loves to make others laugh. He loves new jokes and to be silly and random. He's doing well in school but I can tell by his prayers that he really just wants to have fun. Every prayer of his has a sentence like "please bless me to have fun..." I've never heard Pat nor myself say something like that so it must be important to him. His teacher agrees, Camden can't wait to get out and play. I'm interested to see how kindergarten is for him. Camden can't hear me very well these days. I'm not sure if its selective hearing, ear infections, wax build up or damage of some sort. Hoping its not the latter. Camden is still sensitive. When He and Ellie struggle, he occasionally tells me she broke his heart. It's been a fantastic year watching him grow. He's been taking a music class the past six months and is also joining a children's choir. We hope all of our children gain an appreciation and ear for music by taking this music class called "Let's Play Music". We can't wait to get him on the soccer field next fall too!He is a GOOD boy with a great smile.

This is our update! And here are a few pictures!

We're Ba-ack!

I'm not sure what kicked me off of Blogging. I don't even look at others anymore, SORRY! Well, I'm going private, hoping to be able to blog more with more details as a memory keeper for the family.

Pat's amazing brother, Ryan, spent all sorts of hours right after Christmas, putting a photo slide show together. Each of Pat's siblings contributed 50+ pictures of highlights from 2011. I'm hoping to download all of those pics from our family on to my blog to account for the 9 months I missed last year. Or maybe I'll skip that step and just make a book out of it for our family. That makes more sense, since the purpose of this blog is to later put it all into books to document each year.

Before I do a few posts here to catch up on the kids and Pat and I, I want to close this with a quote by Ellie this morning: "Mom!! Look, a present!!" Together we looked out the window and appreciated a pink tinted sunrise sent from Heavenly Father. I'm so glad she can feel in her 3 year old heart that a sunrise, sunset, pretty clouds or rainbow is a gift from heaven. We've talked about it being a way for God to tell her that he knows her and loves her. She get's it. How cool is that. This is a tradition that I think my brother Shea started and I cherish it!