2013 in Status

2013 Facebook updates, newest first:

I had fudge and banana bread for breakfast. Is that bad?

The problem with early Christmas shopping? You have more time to do some last-minute shopping.

I may not have a career and I'm making zero income, but I use my brain everyday. I was on the phone with Randy helping him compose an email about Pseudopylori gland metaplasia to another physician, but our conversation got cut off due to a leaky-bum-emergency. Oh the glamorous life of the stay-at-home mom. I count my blessings everyday that I get to do it. 

I love that when I pick up a crying Jacob he instantly stops crying. What a special power we have. Baby loves his mama and mama loves her baby.

I've been putting off getting the flu shot for me and the kids. Andrew has the flu. The real deal. Never putting off flu shots ever again. Poor kid.

I was raised in CA. But I feel like I'm going home for Thanksgiving.

Connor gets an M&M every time he sits on the potty. The boys get an M&M every time they can convince Connor to sit on the potty. Lazy parenting at its best.

I embarrass myself often, but the last couple of days have been off the charts. I think I'll just go crawl in a hole now. Sacramento, just pretend you never met me. :D

What is your opinion? Is cleaning/cooking/laundry an important part of motherhood? I ask because I spend a good portion of my time doing these things, wishing I had more leisure time to spend it with my kids. Maybe I should get off facebook, too. :)

Connor just told me that I am amazing and that I'm a good boy.

Great. I looked up "science fair display boards" on Pinterest. Now I feel compelled to put some effort into it. Um, I mean *Andrew* feels compelled. Yeah.

I know he's my kid and I might be a *little* biased. But I'm pretty sure Andrew is the most adorable 'Lieutenant Maynard' that ever lived. — at Missoula Children's Theatre.

I don't know why, but I'm starting to get American Girl catalogs mailed to me. That's just mean.

Whoa that was rough. Both boys auditioned for a play (MCT). One got a part, one did not. I'm just glad I was there to pick up the pieces. And McDonald's french fries and shakes helped, too.

Aaaand why did I buy a Costco box of oreos and let it into my house??!??

Please forgive my ignorance. We don't have cable. Honestly, I find out the news via facebook. Don't hate me. So, with that being said, is the government shutdown because the lawmakers can't agree on a part of "Obamacare"? They want to delay the mandatory "everyone has to be on a plan" by another year? Or is there more to it than that?

Sacramento just might make a runner out of me. It probably doesn't hurt that there are no hills whatsoever.

I love that it's October and I can wear whatever I'm in the mood for. Shorts and flip flops, flats, boots, sweaters, short-sleeves, a combination of them all. It's all good! 

From about the age of 14, I was told that my generation was the worst that's ever been. We were named "Generation X." The two generations before us have been called "The Greatest Generation." I've always been a little jealous of that. But as I was walking my children to school this morning and observing other Generation X'ers taking their kids to school, and thinking about my friends and associations that are from my generation, I thought, we're doing a pretty darn good job. We are raising our children with intention. We're working hard to find balance. We're great communicators. We think outside the box to find solutions to our problems. And we're just plain cool to hang out with. So there.

Conversation between our neighbor friend and Josh:
 Josh to Gloria: Is there anything else better than playing?
Gloria: (Pause) God!
Josh: Of course! And when we go to heaven, we're going to have to do A LOT of work.

For women, do belts have to match shoes?

We only have one interview. I have no idea where we'll end up in a year. Will someone please come over and pry me away from the computer so I won't look at any more houses. I need to clean something. Or pay attention to a child. Or write my talk for this Sunday. Here and now, Nancy, here and now.

Randy: I think our family mascot should be the mule.

I've decided that every mom should have a 9-year-old. They are the best.

Whoa. Sacramento soccer is way more intense than Salt Lake soccer. Am I up to the task of being a soccer mom? I don't know.

The baby likes oatmeal. Yay! While I was feeding the baby, Connor dumped the new package of oatmeal in the toaster. Boo!

Not knowing where anything is and friendless on 4th of July. That didn't sound fun to me. So I said a little prayer before church last Sunday that we'd make friends and plans for the 4th. While I was sitting in the foyer with sleeping Jacob, I overheard a cute mom inviting another mom over for swimming, bbq & fireworks. I can't believe I did this, but I interjected and said, "Hey can we come?" I was half joking, but not really. This girl welcomed us and our four banshee children without even batting an eyelash. The boys had the time of their life tonight.

I had my first "Are they all yours?!" encounter today (referring to my 4 banshee children). Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.

Packing, moving, & unpacking. With 4 children. I'm feeling pretty confident saying this: Pregnancy & childbirth is a cinch compared to moving.

The Lambs are in Sacramento! I'm in heaven. Heaven, people.

I'm too tired to think for myself. I need to download a good audio book. That will keep me awake for the road trip. Any suggestions? (p.s. It has to be clean)

There's a cute two year old in my bed. He keeps me company while Daddy is away. He is sleeping right next to me with his knees in my back. I love it.

Joshy (matter of factly): When I grow up, I'm going to rule the world.

Donuts & OJ to anyone's husband that wants to lend some muscle tomorrow. 8:30 a.m.

Simultaneously, I had someone cleaning my house, while I was doing my laundry, while someone was watching two of my children. Oh it was a great day. (Thanks Cortnie! And Maid Pro!)

Joshy to Jacob (Jacob is babbling):

"Are you talking about heaven?" "Keep the commandments? Be good? And don't smash people?"

Oh what fresh hell is this? Connor swallowed a screw.

Do moving companies under quote how much space you will need? I look at our stuff and think there is no way it's all going to fit! And we're far from being pack rats.

We'll be in Springville for a few days this month. What are some fun & inexpensive things to do with banshee children in Provo/Orem?

Joshy: Are we going to take Jacob with us when we move?

When I get irritated with my husband, he somehow manages to throw back lines from Pride & Prejudice. Then I bust out laughing. How can I get mad at a man that quotes Jane Austen?

Boys have bottomless pits for stomachs. I'm constantly preparing food for these people.

The basement is packed. The rest of my house is a disaster. But the basement is packed.

Put the crazy two-year-old down for a nap. Don't put the crazy two-year-old down for a nap. This is my daily struggle. (I pay the price either way.)

Waiting @ the airport with just baby boy in tow. A little unsettling leaving the rest! But this mama is sure looking forward to girls weekend!

Should I dress for Salt Lake weather or San Diego weather. Hmmm. Choices, choices.

I have a navy Johnnie Boden maternity maxi dress that needs a good home. Any takers? It's a magical dress - it got me through all of my pregnancy (and I don't do pregnancy pretty) plus 5 months postpartum.

Randy is officially licensed to practice medicine in California. It only took three months to make it happen. ;)

The hair on Jacob's hobbit ears is starting to fall off. So sad.

I shouldn't have looked up the calories in a Costco turkey & provolone sandwich. Ignorance is bliss.


Mark Twain is on my mind. We are watching a documentary about him and he said something that I just love, "There will be no laughter in heaven." I totally disagree, but I love the point he was trying to make. Only when we face the hard stuff will we know and truly appreciate the joys in life.

Oh poor fourth child. So sorry we had to let you cry to sleep tonight. We can't hold you every minute. :(

Monday: I love having all my boys home. Hey, wouldn't it be fun to home school?!

Friday: Nope. They can go back to school. I'm good.

We found a lovely rental. Great square footage. Nice neighborhood. Great school. Lots of neighbor kids. Walking distance to a park and the school. Less than a 10 minute drive to the med center. So glad the search is over. (And my cute roommate from college who set Randy and me up went over there to look at it for us. She helps me find a husband...and a house!)

It's house hunting time and I'm a nervous wreck! Aaaaahh! Short commute. Good school. Enough room for FOUR children. No creeps for neighbors. Budget friendly. I'll be glad when this part is settled.

This joke got a lot of miles at our house. My boys laughed and laughed. Then took their own chocolate bunnies and reenacted the scene. Too too funny.

Aaaaah! Someone hijacked our debit card!

The laundry is caught up and all three levels are clean. It only took me 4 months to figure it out. I think the fog of newborn is beginning to lift.

We had a miraculous winter - no sick kids! Not even a single runny nose. First day of Spring - two out of the four are sick - a nasty one, too. Just hoping little baby boy doesn't get it.

The crazy 2-year-old kept hopping out of his crib. Finally, I said, quite pathetically, "Mommy needs to eat lunch! Mommy needs a break! Please stay in your bed and go to sleep!" The crazy 2-year-old said, "Ok." And stayed in his bed and went to sleep.

I was feeding the baby. It got very quiet. Not good with a 2-year-old on the loose. I thought he was getting into the crayons, he had gotten into them earlier, and most of them were broken already. I was too comfy cozy with the baby to do anything about it. Yes, he did get into the crayons. But when I heard him turn the bathroom sink on, I knew I was in trouble. Cetaphil lotion. The whole tub that I had just opened. Everywhere. Well, speaking from experience, at least it wasn't Eucerin lotion (Andrew). Or maple syrup (Joshy). Only one more 2 year old to get through.

For those of you that are moving this summer and are summoning the courage to start packing, I just wanted to pass along that there are an ENDLESS supply of very nice moving boxes at the loading docks behind the college of nursing. I got there about 8 am this morning, they already had picked out the good moving boxes and set them aside for people that wanted them. I hauled 30-40 boxes in one trip.

Oh Joshy, it's just too hard to be good sometimes, isn't it? He earns a sticker (10 gets him a date with mom or dad) if, by the end of the day, we've deemed him *mostly* obedient. Yesterday, a superb day. Today, not so much.

I'm taking swim lessons! And learning how to breathe right is hard.

1st baby - you can't wait for them to sleep through the night. 4th baby - it's sad when they sleep through the night.

Randy had the day off today. And what did he do with it? He spent the day with boys so I could go to a step class and then shopping at the outlets. Now that is true love.

Boo Downton Abbey. Horrible.

Jacob had his big day of testing at Primary's. He doesn't need surgery! It is very likely that his renal issues will resolve with time. So relieved!

I don't think I'll ever tire of watching Pride & Prejudice. I've probably watched it at least 100 times.

I hit the jackpot when it comes to mothers-in-law. Love that woman!

Going into medicine is a money pit. And a time pit. And a pain-in-the-butt-jump-through-hoops pit. Just sayin'.

Oh I love being a mom of boys.

Tried the toddler bed for two days with disastrous results. So back to the crib and life is good again. Now the toddler bed is back in the basement and when Connor walks by it, he says, "Rooaaaaarrrr!!" I'm taking that as his way of saying he just wasn't ready.

Oh I hope Deborah reads this...
Earlier tonight, the conversation went like this:
Josh: When I was at Grandma & Grandpa's when you had the baby. Grandpa told me to pull his finger....
Josh: But Grandma didn't want me to pull her finger. She's too young.

My crazy 2 year old went right to sleep for his nap today! Sure beats last night's 1 1/2 hours of jack-in-the-box shenanigans.

Left for the gym at 5 pm, got home at 7 pm and didn't even make it to the gym. Note to self: Stay home next time it snows. Duh.

No more errands with four children, thank you very much.