Mother's Day 2016

Aleeya and Iris came home from school on Friday SO excited to give me their Mother's Day creations. I told them they HAD to wait until Sunday since I love a good surprise. As predicted, FIRST thing Sunday morning Aleeya brought in her card/picture for me.

Honestly, kids' Mother's Day cards are my favorite.....and unfortunately sometimes revealing.

"My mom is awesome. She could make 500 dishes in less then 10 seconds. (I'm like a superhero-cook-mom). She makes the Best home made hot dogs. (yikes, did her teacher really see that? okay, okay, so I feed my kids hot dogs sometimes!) My mom can drive me to school less than 2 minutes and it is 15 miles away. (Yes, I drive fast, but not that fast. #busted) My mom helps me do my home-work every-day. (at the expense of my sanity usually) She aways will be the best mom and she will aways love me and so will I. My mom is the most awesome mom I could ever have."

Iris had the sweetest front to her card.

And then there's Camden..... who actually is my most observant child and VERY aware of my feelings and moods. 

"Happy Mother's Day mom! Thank you for being a good and sometimes Bad mom. I love you.

P.S. There I'm done I said it now how about having those twins. -Camden"

Camden captured me pretty well....a "good and sometimes bad mom" #hesaREALIST

I didn't feel the BEST in the morning and Brooks didn't have meetings before hand so I wasn't as involved in getting the kids ready as I usually am. I could hear from my bedroom, "Aleeya, put on Kellyn's dress. Iris, you are in charge of getting Everly dressed. Boys, remember ties and socks", etc. I was just in charge of bringing the hair stuff in the car and I would do the girls' hair when we got to church since Brooks needed to be there early to set up the sacrament.

We get there and I pass out the mints before we go in. Royce steps up to get his and I realize he doesn't have any shoes on.....or socks. 

I questioned him on it and he cocked his head, smiled and said, "BUT, I have my UNDIES on!"

#youwinsome #ANDyoulosesome

Getting out of the van to go in with no shoes. #whatever

No one will notice right. ESPECIALLY since all the kids walked in the very front to sing to all the moms.

After the first two hours of church I really wasn't feeling well and needed to go eat and put my swelling ankles waaaaaaaaay above my head in the yeti for a bit. As I sat there, here comes Brooks bringing Everly outside. As soon as he opened the van I smelled the sewage smell. He turned her around and the whole BACK SIDE of her was sopping wet. Like she fell in a toilet full of pee. 

Weird.

Then as we remembered our morning and how Iris dressed her, it dawned on us, that neither one of us changed her diaper. Infact the last time she had her diaper changed was at 8pm the night before (it was 11 a.m. at this time)!!! Thank goodness I had spare pants in the yeti, but as I sat on the floor of the van I thought, "What a view having that sewage-pee diaper on my windshield and pee clothes hanging on the rear view mirror.

After church I got more notes. 

Camden is REALLY anxious for the twins to get here I guess.

I want to know HOW many moms got cards that started off, "I am happy when my mom is fat...."

(Aleeya)

Emerson is happy when "my mom give birt"...... accompanied by a lot of screaming.

This was the other side of his picture of me pregnant with the twins and then them coming out. It MAY appear like he's flipping them off, but apparently it's a thumbs up.

As funny as the shape of my belly in those pictures may seem, it's really not that off base. In fact I thought I would never post an actual belly picture on here, but the SHAPE my belly takes during a contraction (when the uterus tilts forward) is unlike anything I've ever seen. Here it is during a harder one while I was sitting down.....side view.

See? The pictures are pretty accurate.

 I have certain kids that I DO always worry what will come out of their mouth..... Emerson happens to be at the TOP of that kid list. I got this text from the Music Leader at church in Primary, " Hi Melissa, today we played the matching game with mom photos and names. When yours was matched I asked the children, senior primary, what your favorite primary song was. Without missing a beat Emerson said, ' I'm so glad when daddy comes home!' This had us all rolling!"

I was spoiled by my husband (as usual) on Mother's Day with flowers, a necklace and enjoying my 3.5 hour nap waking up to my requested pancakes with blackberries, mulberries, strawberries and whipped cream.

Oh, and this. Our latest favorite. (I feel like I'm cheating on my family by PREFERRING this Pepsi). There is NOTHING like this. The perfect mini-can, cold in the fridge Vanilla Pepsi. And it doesn't taste as good coming out of any other container. :)

As I sat there I couldn't help but enjoy the sounds coming through the window next to me of all my big kids playing nicely outside a game of soccer. (younger kids asleep)

Siblings playing nicely together really is the best sound a parent could hear. (The losers didn't even come in crying!) Some might argue that silence is, but I beg to differ....I get suspicious then.

I always get rather reflective on Mother's Day and this year I started thinking (after going through my Mother's Day journal) about those years when I just had two little ones at home with me. So many things to enjoy and remember.

When just sitting in a cooler and playing with a hose was enough.

When I had an arm for each kid and a knee for everyone during story time. 

When playing in the mud was all we needed for hours on end.

And clothes were completely optional

And there was a part of me wondering how magical it was going to be when one of them finally started school....and organized sports. How exciting would that be?!

Or if I would have have a girl to doll up and "play dress up" ALL DAY.

Yet, even with girls there was STILL mud and clothing was STILL optional. Maybe one day my kids would get used to clothes I thought.

Things remained somewhat simple yet the older they get the more involved and busy things get too. 

More kids started school

And I was introduced even MORE into how "fun" estrogen can be.

Yet even though the simplicity of the daily life started leaving and busy-ness happens (I hate being busy), how is it that it ALSO became enjoyable to see your kids excel and be involve in outside interests. And have the WHOLE family involved in cheering them on?

And I STILL didn't have to give up the simple dress-up mornings and nap times!

I didn't know that my heart would swell 100 times more each time a new baby was so welcomed and loved into our home. And also how much messier things can get with more people.

And somehow clothes became VERY important to certain kids.

Then I reach a point when the older ones actually HELP the younger ones. That we pull together more and my burden really IS shared. (I don't remember the last time I've loaded the dishwasher or cleaned up from dinner on a regular basis in a few years. More kids = more jobs to assign. Historic farmers with large families were on to something.....)

I can't remember HOW many years I couldn't WAIT until my older kids could babysit and we could go out on dates more... the time came...(along WITH a "I don't DO poopy diapers" boundaries set in the babysitting.)

I didn't realize I could love so many things about each stage of being a mom and love some NEW things with the next stage. The challenges of one part are no longer challenges of another part....but there are ALWAYS things to love in each stage and new challenges to face.

There are things to miss about each stage too......which reminds me, that there are parts of THIS stage that I will miss and look back with a smile one day as well. One day I might get frustrated at the new "logically minded" growing children with opinions I have now and the next moment I'm just glad to have someone "older" to have a conversation with.

Motherhood is like that. Full of so many ups and downs, stresses and moments of insanity sprinkled with hilarity. A lot of contradictions with the inner harmony knowing everything is right. Times when you just want a break and times when a snuggling toddler is the only remedy for your mood. 

But mostly, thinking back on my short motherhood journey the biggest changes have been in me. For better and for worse. I am who I am because of being a mom. Because of how I spend my days and how I choose to react over and over again. And with the VERY low rate of "successful" days, Motherhood has driven me to my knees....HARD. When I realize the ultimate example of being a parent is just a prayer away for help and reassurance that I can keep doing this and loving it and learning/growing in every stage.

The last two weeks

We've been pretty busy lately..... with sports, preparations for the babies and just life. Things like taking Royce, Kellyn and Iris to the dentist (note to self: Anesthesia does NOT work on Kellyn and she will scream and scream and only my prego body can hold her down), and myself with a cracked tooth.

But when I say "we" have been busy. I mean "we" as in BROOKS. 

The kids have had so many events and things that I just look at Brooks and say, "I can't", or "this one is ALL you" and he does it.

Last week he took Camden, Emerson, Aleeya and Iris to their school fair that they've been looking SO much forward to. I knew it meant the world to them. I told Brooks that the boys can go off with their friends so just keep an eye on Aleeya and Iris. 

Having a great time

He sent pictures so I assumed he was keeping a good eye on the girls.

Then I get a text from some random woman asking for "Iris' dad's cell phone number and if she could meet him by such-n-such ride because her daughter is done playing there with Iris and getting ready to leave." Whatever. They all came home and had a blast.

Iris and Aleeya also had their last soccer games last Saturday (Iris' doughnut party after the game)

 Aleeya gets her red-face from me. Here is "Wheels" after her game. (coach calls her that because she's so fast)

I didn't go to those two games either. 1) because I HAD been to every other one and 2) just thinking about walking up the hill by the soccer field after made me want to cry.

Brooks also took Bronson to his Middle School Sports Banquet. (if you consider pizza a "banquet"). Doesn't Bronson look so handsome/old up there with the rest of the baseball team?!?!

I have been going to some of Emerson and Camden's baseball games though......just as long as I leave Everly home with her older brother. Chasing Everly at baseball games is SO off my list of I-can-do-this things. Thankfully I WAS at this game though and got this picture of Royce with the frog Camden caught for him.

When I sit down at the baseball games I look so funny with this HUGE ball on my lap making it so I can't even close my legs. I usually bring a camping chair so it looks even worse. I took this picture in our room though to (through my mirror with all the kid-prints on it) illustrate the visual. Everytime I sit down I STILL can't believe how huge it is.

Royce took this of me last week while getting dinner on the table. The angle from a kids' eyes and shape of my belly!!!

One of my closest friends was celebrating her 40th with a huge group bowling date. Obviously I couldn't bowl, so I sat and watched, but I didn't want to show up without them remembering that last December when all us women and men folk went bowling that I skunked them all. I wore my ribbon all night.

Although I didn't bowl, I DID win with the largest (and heaviest) "ball" though.

And Brooks pulled out a headband to wear when he bowled to show how seriously he took the bowling this time. Let's just say, it didn't help his score.

Here are the women-folk and birthday red-head in the middle.

We always pick up a lady on the way to church but last Sunday another young man needed a ride to church. I know it's hard to see him with all the kids in the Yeti though...... #camoflauge #blendsrightin

Speaking of the Yeti..... Sunday is always game night around here. "LCR" has been our family favorite for a while (mostly because we like seeing the winner and the losers reactions) but a friend of ours gave us the game "Yeti in my Spaghetti" that all ages could enjoy.

I promise, we REALLY did enjoy it. (Especially me, since I won the tournament)..... despite what this video may show! (Mom, this video of how good of losers we are creating is just for you)

Tuesday we REACHED my midwife's goal of
37 weeks!!!!!

This is actually a HUGE deal in twin-dom with 57% of twins being born before 37 weeks. Now it's a they-can-come-healthily-anytime-now zone. (Brooks' goal for me is at least 38 weeks though).
To celebrate 37 weeks we went to Walmart late at night and bought ourselves a bunch of treats. I really only felt like an ice cream Snicker bar.
I think Brooks is jealous he doesn't have a built-in tray to eat off of.

I realize the shirt looks like it's about to tear in two.


Yesterday I had my ultrasound to find out that the lower baby is now FINALLY head down!!!! Holy answer-to-prayers!!!!! I don't know how many more minutes a day I can hang upside down off my bed, so I was relieved to hear SOMEONE flipped. They are both measuring in the six pound range and look great. 

Then after I went to my appointment.
I always get all crampy after appointments so I really didn't get dinner done in time last night at all, so it was a pizza kind of night. We drove over to Little Cesar's and as I sat there I looked down at my toes that I TRIED to reach and paint (I wish I could say the girls did it but this horrible job was all me). And yes, I wear slippers around town now.

I normally would go in the drive-thru, but it was so long and I needed to drop Emerson off at baseball, so I went in. As I waddled in I guess some lady in the drive-thru saw me. While I was ordering she yelled through the window,

"Hey, you havin' twins ain't you?"

"Yes m'am I am." (some people really take a risk to ask even though I could very well have said no!)

Then she starts waving her hands and shaking her head repeating,

"I KNEW you is, I just KNEW you is".

I am choosing to not include the random and ever-present comments from people in Walmart. But don't you think for a second that I don't text them to Brooks with a few of my thoughts! haha

10 and 2

On April 14th Emerson turned 10!!!!!

Double digits.

I could tell he was worried his birthday was going to stink since I'm on low energy mode. But that crazy kid STILL got his breakfast he requested and a REALLY cool lunch (Wendy's and pop) delivered to him in the cafeteria. He was BEYOND excited. 

He had a baseball game that day as well. When he got home we were able to give him our presents to him and eat some strawberry pie.

Junk box time. 

He ended up with four mini cans of orange Fanta in it too. This kid and his pop (which he never gets but is his FAVORITE thing)

Money/card from Grams and Grampy

And an action figure. He thought it was pretty cool.

Money/card from Grandma and RA. This is his face after he saw that it was addressed to "Camden" instead of him. haha

And we gave him a new scooter. Which he needed....but didn't realize he REALLY REALLY would get excited over.

He said it was the best birthday ever. 

Which was a HUGE "PHEW-moment" for me because like him, I thought his bday was going to stink.

The next weekend he took some friends to Gravitopia for his party.

Well, actually BROOKS took them, while I stayed home with the younger two. For SOME reason we thought it was a good idea for me not to be jumping on trampolines.....

Dodgeball

Emerson with his friends.

Then he came home to a table that looked like this:

Ice cream sandwich cake w/ Yu-gi-oh cards on top and a Pop-Pyramid which he thought was the coolest thing ever. #popaddict

He and his friends played with his presents and played with water guns running around like boys do for his party.

And Princess Everly ALSO had a birthday this month. The BIG TWO!!!!!!

The morning of her birthday she had a new ride-on toy waiting in the living room, attached to three balloons and balloons all over the floor that her older brothers and sisters blew up for me.

It was kinda her heaven.

The kids were like, "doesn't she get a cake?", "is she going to have a piñata or a party?"

"Um, no. She's 2. Has ZERO idea what's going on, we've had a TON of cakes/pies with Emerson's birthday recently and considering I couldn't even blow up BALLOONS, I'm thinking a party/pinata and anything else for a clueless toddler are out of the question."

Then they stopped asking.

She was so thrilled all day with her balloons though.

Everly has always been such an easy-going, sweet temperment baby/girl for me. It's something I could always count on to counter other moody females in the home.

Until. Now.

I don't even know WHICH switch was switched but ever since she turned two I've got a different girl who now knows how to scream, throw fits, scratch, hit and punch. It's so perfect she learn those things right before the babies come.

I remember my mom always saying that having babies 18 months apart or 3 years apart were so much better then 2 years apart. Even all my other kids around two years old I think, "I'm so glad the baby is already 6 months old right now, having a newborn now would be tricky."

Well, here I am, with my FIRST "Terrible Two" lady about to welcome two more.

#heavenhelpme

#heavenhelpHER