Popsicle Swords

In hopes of preserving my knowledge for future posterity, I showed my children the art of making popsicle swords the other day. Part of me wondered if this was a good idea since visions of someone being stabbed with a popsicle sword kept popping into my head, but the other part of me felt like making popsicle swords is something every kid ought to know. Does anyone else remember making those as kids? I'd hurry and finish my twin popsicle and run to the sidewalk to rub the wooden stick against it until it was nice and sharp. I have no idea what we actually used these popsicle swords for (most likely they just ended up on the lawn, much to my dad's dismay), I just remember them being very fun to make. Of course I got a kick out of making "rock people" as well, so I think I was easily entertained.

Fun, Short, Tag

I got tagged from my friend Lynita, and since it is really short and different from the usual tags I get, I decided to respond.

The rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book (at least 123 pages).
2. Turn to page 123.
3. Find the 5th sentence.
4. Post the 5th sentence on your blog.
5. Tag 5 people.

"I am of a cautious temper, and unwilling to risk my happiness in a hurry."

This is from a book called Becoming Jane, which actually doesn't have anything to do with the movie. It's just information about Jane Austen's life and then has great quotes from all her books that pertain to that part of her life or time period. This actual quote is Henry Crawford in Mansfield Park, which incidentally is my least favorite novel of Jane Austen's.

As for people to tag, I'll just leave that up to whomever reads this and thinks this is interesting as well.

The Flying Bear

Our kids absolutely love the game charades. Every time after our family home evening lesson we ask the kids what game they want to play, and they always say charades. The funny thing is they never ask to play the game any other time, except for family home evening. I don't know if they just think it's a family home evening game or what, but it's so funny to watch them play. They used to think it could only be animals, but tonight we tried to get them to branch out a little.

Hyrum, of course, always wants to go first. He always comes up with the most creative things, and does a really good job acting it out. Then, there's Ella. . . tonight she was so funny we could not stop laughing. She starts off by putting her arms out and flying around like a plane, then when she would get close to anyone she would put her hands up like claws and growl. Jokingly, I guessed a flying bear, and she was like "yep, I was a flying bear". Hmmm, o.k. It definitely paints a funny picture.

Everyone took a turn, and then it was Ella's turn again. Can you guess what she chose to be? A flying bear. Every time it landed on Ella she decided to be a flying bear. I'm pretty sure it was because we all would start cracking up every time it was her turn, because we knew what she was going to choose, and also because of the extremely bizarre choice. It just made me appreciate the simplicity of childhood and the wonder of imagination. Thanks for a fun night flying bear!

Smile!

Logan flashed me the cutest, toothless smiles today! Not the "I have gas" smiles either, but the "hey I know you, you're mommy and I love you" smiles. I would look right into his eyes and smile big and then he would smile right back. Then I'd look away and try it again, and he would get this goofy grin each time. Nothing can compete with the first time your baby recognizes you and smiles!

The funniest part though, was Ben trying to get Logan to smile. Ben was smiling and making silly faces and talking baby talk, and Logan just kept giving him the deer in the headlights look. Sorry honey, you just can't compete with the milk supplier.

Bye Bye Relief Society Arms

I finally did it! After years of saying I was going to join a gym, I finally did it! On Saturday, I signed up for Curves and I'm so excited. I'm really not into gyms and find them really intimidating, but I just struggle trying to lose the weight myself.

My biggest concern is that I have a herniated disc in my back, which makes excercising really difficult. Usually after a day or two of trying to exercise, I end up limping around the house. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can even handle the "gym thing". Especially since I have a year committement.

So, hopefully a year from now I will be writing a blog celebrating all the weight I lost. No more due date questions!

My Due Date?

I think I understand why women suffer from postpartum depression. It's from total strangers walking up to you and asking when you are due! Yes that happened to me tonight at the grocery store. I could of just crumpled into a ball on the floor and cried, but I tried to take the high road and help the extremely embarrassed young lady not feel bad since I did just have a baby a few weeks ago. Non-the-less I came home feeling several pounds heavier.

So, now the battle begins with losing the pregnancy weight, my least favorite part. I'm just so self conscious that people might think I'm still pregnant (gee I wonder why) or worse just really fat.

My husband is so understanding and is encouraging me to go ahead and sign up for Curves Gym since I've wanted to for a long time. I've never had any desire to join a gym, but I think this is more out of necessity rather than desire.

I probably shouldn't be too hard on myself since it's only been 6 weeks and I've already dropped 17 pounds, but it's just discouraging when I realize how much is still left to go and the weight loss has slowed to a snail's pace. I mean it's summer time and I just can't bring myself to go swimming in a maternity swim suit when I'm not even pregnant. I guess I should just be relieved that the lady didn't ask if I was having twins :)

Logan-1 Month

Here's some pictures of Logan at 1 month. He went in for a check-up a few days ago and is measuring almost 10 pounds! That's a record for one of our babies. I think the other kids were around 7 and 8 pounds at 1 month.





*Keep in mind I'm lousy at taking pictures, so there was only a handful I liked after taking 50 or so pictures.

Five Years of Fun

I think I'm suffering from blogger's guilt. There's so many things I want to write down so I'll be able to go look at them again someday, but life has just been so crazy! I don't think anything could of prepared me for how hard life is with 3 kids. I knew it was going to be hard, but I'm still on survival mode every day. Everyone keeps telling me it will get easier, but I'm just wondering if that will happen before I lose my mind.

Anyways, on to everything that I've forgotten to write about. The biggest news is Hyrum turned 5 on the 27th of May. (I might have taken pictures, but I'm not sure.) It's weird because Logan looks alot like Hyrum, and when I hold him I feel just like I did 5 years ago and then I look up and see this huge kid ready for kindergarten.

Both my sisters were in town for his birthday, which I will be eternally grateful for because they helped chase Hyrum, Ella, and a couple of Hyrum's friends when we went to the dinosaur museum. I was so bummed because I'd planned this cute farm theme and we were supposed to go to farm country and then it was freezing cold on his birthday. So, we ended up at the dinosaur museum instead, which the kids didn't mind at all. I still can't get over how big Hyrum looks to me and how much he's changed. Here's some of his favorite things at age 5.

Favorite Food: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and a handful of green chips (the sour cream and onion Pringles.) Oh and he drinks like a couple gallons of milk a week easily.

Favorite Color: yellow (since he was 2)

Favorite Past Times: watching "arcoons" (cartoons) especially the really old cartoons, riding his bike, and playing the wii.

Favorite Toy: his elephant blanket that is almost disintegrated, and any kind of toy weapon or tool.

Favorite Quit Time Activity: art! (which is pretty amazing for a kid that drew nothing but rocks for the first 4 years of his life).

Career Choice: a scientist. He can tell you anything from nocturnal animals to the solar system. He was worried about becoming a scientist at first because they travel to explore things and he thought that meant you couldn't have a family, but I told him scientists can still have families so I think that sealed the deal.

Favorite Family Activity: picnics, playing mario party on the wii, going to Thanksgiving Point, and going to restaurants.

Something Funny About Hyrum: he is seriously as gassy as an old man. I don't think he even notices anymore when he clears a room.

Personality Traits: social, social, social! I feel like an event planner trying to keep this kid's schedule full of fun and friends. He's definitely got a temper or as we call it the Jeykl/Hyde syndrome. Hyrum is also very creative and imaginative.

I really can't believe it's been 5 years already. It's such a challenge to balance wanting your kids to grow up and get out of some of their annoying habits, and still stay your little baby as well. We sure love our Hyrum and can't imagine life without him!