Happy Fall

The night before we left on vacation we headed up to the mountains, for my birthday.
I love taking fall pictures. I love the fall colors. I did not grow up in a place that had much of a season change and we certainly never had any mountains with fall colors! I ordered no pictures be taken of me. I had been packing all day (for our trip) and was not looking very good.

Me time...

My days are busy and sometimes I just can't wait for nap time. For a little moment of quiet. With three little ones going going going all morning it gets hard. *If things go as planned the twins go down for a nap about an hour before school is out. I get one hour alone. On good days I give myself small gifts. I eat my lunch alone, at the table in silence and peace. No one asking for a drink every second or needing my help. No potty trips or crying. I also drink one can of Diet coke. Recently I bought limes so I could add that flavor I love in restaurants. Sometimes I even sit down and watch a show on tivo. I try to force myself not to use it to catch up my cleaning, laundry, or phone calls. No matter what I do that time is golden and very needed! It's only an hour. What do you do for yourself? I can't be the only Mom who needs alone time. I am big believer that we all need to recharge our batteries, we all need to refill our tanks. Sure we could spent every moment cleaning or working, but we would not be the creative happy people we want to be. I could not be the patient mother I hope to be. I also have a girls night out once a week, and Alan usually gets his guy time out too. With so much going on its hard to find the time, but its very needed. It helps us deal with all the craziness if we know we will get a break (at some point). I think too many of us try to do it all and be it all for everyone else. If you are not taking care of yourself, its hard to be that person for everyone else. If you don't find a way to do this, I challenge you to do this. Stay tuned for todays disaster... next post!


Side note: If you wonder why I do not just buy Diet coke w/lime... I do not like Diet Coke w/lime at all, it makes me sick (literally). It tasted artificial and strong. Some things just taste better in their natural form.

Acomplished something...

Last night Alan had meetings at church all night. I invited my sisters to come make cards. Rochelle and Diana (who was there), your cards are finally done and will be on your their way tomorrow. Enjoy!Holly cleaning up (at almost 2am)!

Rochelle's and Diana's prize

Removing the clutter...

We always have kept a toy shelf in our family room. I went to great lengths to make sure it was cute and functional because it would be seen by many. I have spent day after day cleaning toys up, staring at its clutter! Some days I clean the toys up 5 times before nap time! It has become the bain of my days (the toys). So now the girls are older and were only using the baskets to dump and makes messes I decided to take a page from Laurie's book (who recommends keeping all toys upstairs) and moved all the toys (except strollers and a few small items) to the twins room. In one day I reclaimed my family room, gone were the clutter, gone was the mess! Now I find the family room stays clean almost all the time. The twins room is in transition, waiting for me to move them to big girl beds, so the toy shelf sit next to Hailey's bed and...
She is making good use of it! I found her in the morning just like this. Her crib was stuffed to the brim with toys! I did not give all these toys to her the night before! Now the twins room is a mess (but its much better there). Now if only I could remove all the dishes from the kitchen, I guess that won't work.

Spinning...

My head is spinning. I cannot get caught up on anything or get anything completed latley. The laundry and cleaning need attention and I am never home to do it. I just finished a big thing for church (Daddy/Daughter dinner and pumpkin carving) now thats over I hope to get my head above water. I also had volunteering in Jacob's class. While I was at the school I peeked in to Lindsey's class to blow her a kiss. When school ended I waited for Lindsey and she brought two friends. They told me they had to meet me because they thought I was beautiful and looked like I was in my 20's. Lindsey quickly corrected them that I was not that young, I was in my 30's (thanks). Strange how compliments from sweet little 8 yr olds meant the world to me (I must be nuts). Anyway, I hate feeling like I am not finishing anything I start! To top it off the twins, who have known how to get out of their cribs for a while but were too scared to do it, are now getting out whenever they please. I think big girl beds are going to be put up soon (when I can get their room ready for them). My life will never be the same with them out (I swear). I still need to get my cards off to my blog winners, and share my cool birthday presents. Stay tuned, you will hear from me soon (if I do not drown).

Early start...

I had to get up at 3:30am this morning to take my in laws to the airport. After I was done I went the gym did my work out. The Gym was actually crowded at 4 in the morning, I even had to do my weight work out first because my cardio machine (there are only 2) were occupied! Then I went to the grocery store made french toast w/ bacon, folded laundry, cleaned the house etc... It's still early. Maybe sleep is over rated, maybe having all this extra time in a day would be worth feeling tired? I also got dressed and ready before the twins have even stirred, pretty cool. I did not sleep much last night, went to bed at 11pm (which IS early for me) and just lay awake most of the night worrying I would not wake up to drive them to the airport (silly). Anyway feeling pretty productive this morning and super glad to have my work out done for the day (along with everything else). Still so many things to do...

Jacobisms

Last week... we were doing some schoolwork and I told Jacob to add an R next to of his name for his last name (there are two Jacob's in his class) and he told me, " I think I would rather put a K instead Mom". Umm that won't work sweetie.

Today...
I lay out my kids clothes every night but last night I told Jacob not to get dressed in the morning because he needed a bath in the morning. So... this morning I wake up to a noise and get out of bed (7:30am) and I go to bathroom to find him in a full bath giving himself a bath! I could not believe my eyes. I am sure I would not want him bathing himself while I was sleeping, but it was so sweet that he was doing it for himself. He told me he can give his own baths now.. which will be great as long as I am awake and supervising it all.

Growing pains...

Sometimes I feel like I do not know what I am doing as a mother. I feel like I pretending to know, but totally lost. I haven't mentioned before what a challenge 3rd grade has been in our family. Lindsey's 3rd grade teacher is well known for being hard and giving a lot of homework. Lindsey was the kind of student who breezed thru school without studying and just brings home good grades, until now. This teacher does not let you get away with that. For example she pretests for spelling and if you pass the basic words you get challenge words (we get those every time). She give vocabulary tests that are killers, all my parent friends and I talk about how we as parents can't pass these. It's not a simple matching test, you have to write a sentence and the sentence has to meet specific criteria. We are learning. We have been working on homework hours every night, and her play time was becoming non existent! Since we could not have that I have had to arrange to get a jump and complete much of it on the weekends so that she can limit her homework to an hour or so and get to play. Anyway... as you know we were on vacation and because of that Lindsey missed some school. So her first day back she came home and had not filler in her vocab so I instructed her so do it the next day so we could begin creating or sentences. So the next day after school she admits she still has not done it, so I call her teacher to ask her how we can do it from home (books in class). She explains that Lindsey said it was home and completed. I was shocked, disapointed, embarassed etc... I just totally freaked out. My kid lied? So I was pretty harsh. She explained that she was scared of being in "think time" and figured she could just go home and finish the assignment later. I believe in natural consequences so she had to immediately had to go to the school and admit it wasn't done and get her book to do it, she was grounded for week and I lectured her endlessly. When Alan arrived home and Lindsey was tucked in bed asleep, he brought me down to earth and helped me realize how totally normal it would be to fib and say a homework assignment was forgotten and completed at home... especially when "think time" was feared in your mind. I had to laugh at my overeaction and remember she is just 8, just learning how to get through all this. This much homework and school has been an adjustment for us all, its a lot of responsibility for her. Lindsey and I did have a talk about the importance of telling the truth even when your scared and the difference of being in "think time" for 5 minutes at school or being a dishonest person and having a much worse fate. She really seemed to get it. Anyway she did complete her grounding etc... and I think she learned a lesson. I also learned that kids makes mistakes and its through those mistakes we all learn and grow. Lindsey was such a sweetheart last night when I was out with her and the twins. I know I am not perfect, I am always trying to improve and I certainly haven't got this parenting thing figured out yet... I have a lot to learn.

Have some fun..

O.k. maybe I am 12 again but we have been having tons of fun with this website. Enter in the info and a phone number and it will call your friend or family member you choose and give them your transformer message. This is especially fun for transforming loving boys and men alike (and silly people like me). LOL! It's fun to make the enemy someone they know.

Transformers message

Contest...

If you pop over to the quads blog 4tunate (click on the name) you can play their guessing game a maybe win a prize.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

This place is awesome! I grew up going here all the time and its just wonderful. All six of the kids just loved it all!Alan's brother, Mary (his wife) and my nephew Jimmy (who is the sweetest).

Vacation Post #1...

We had a great week in California. We went to Happy Hollow, the pumpkin patch, the beach several times (we stayed in a hotel overlooking the water), San Francisco, Monterey and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Marine World). The girls all went shopping on Monday to the Gilroy outlets we left at 10am and did not return till the kids were in bed and just had a great time.The day we went to Marine world was a bust it poured the entire time till they closed the park and we had to get our money back. We were all soaked and had to change in a Chevy's restaurant before going to another hotel (2 hrs away). It was a great time! A great way to spend my birthday too.

Here are a few pictures from San Francisco, Happy hollow, and our shopping trip...

Ferry ride in SF








Our girls day out...


More to come...

The night before vacation...

Is it just me or does the night before all vacations go bad. I mean you spend the week before cleaning, doing laundry preparing for the packing, doing it all in advance, making lists etc... yet somehow you still never get to bed on time, somehow things are still forgotten and somehow things are always very stressful. Mind you packing 5 people (doing laundry for all 6) is not a small task. Packing for 8 days is a lot of stuff! My birthday was on Friday (10/5) and my mother wanted to take me out the night before out trip to celebrate... we all have to eat anyway right? So I packed all the kids things the night before (the night before) and in the morning. I felt relieved being so ahead. I get the kids in bed, dressed and ready for our 4am departure. I begin getting the odds and ends done. First I have to place my order with my Gymbucks (they would expire before return). I forgot to have it sent to my moms house which was a BIG mistake. It took two hours of phone calls to try and fix that error ( they still sent it to my house in error and made other errors too). Then I am realize one of the twins sets of leather boots are missing. I look non stop till past 2am, never to be found (inside, outside, in the car). I was very concerned because it was dark and if they were hiding outside they would be ruined. I had the swimming suits and cover ups (they have many) laid out for our week at the beach and they are gone too. I don't look long as if they are not where I left them they must be packed. So after many other mishaps and my list checked off I went to bed at 2:30am (to awake at 3:30am). We get the beach and we have one swimsuit (for two girls)! All the rest are not packed... oh well you can always fins swimming suits (not as cute) at the beach. After our week away and several unpacking and packing of all 8 of us we arrived home (with a ton in laundry). We had fun, we are tired! Oh and those leather boots... found outside, somehow they survived a week in rain and snow (who knows how). The swimsuits were kidnapped by the twins and stuffed in a bag behind stuff... I guess they did not want them to come along!

We have winners!!!

Arrived home late... we are tired but had a nice week at the beach!

I used a internet site to draw a random number and came up with #25 which is my sister Diana. My husband claims that this might seem fishy so we did an old fashioned drawing and got #15, which is Rochelle. So... in the interest of fair play both Diana and Rochelle will get a special gift. Rochelle email me your snail mail address and give me a week to catch my breath :) Thank you for every one who reads and comments, you make this a lot more fun. Comments are the best. Congrats Diana and Rochelle.

On the road...

We are leaving for a vacation. I will do the drawing when I return. Thank you so much for all your comments! You can still add your name if you have not already. Be back soon...

Post # 150...

15 reasons...
Why I love blogging...

♥ Meeting new people.

♥ Learning new things.

♥ Book reviews.

♥ Laughing out loud.

♥ Common thoughts, common experiences.

♥ Recording events in my life.

♥ Pictures

♥ Comments

♥ Being inspired.

♥ Writing is a form of venting for me.

♥ Learning about people and their different situations.

♥ Keeping up with good friends.

♥ Sharing my joys and my struggles.

♥ Support from others.

♥ Having my blog to read and look back on as a journal.

I will be giving away some homemade cards and a small treat. So leave a comment and let me know your reading my blog and your name will be entered in my drawing!

Today...

When I woke up the girls from their nap Hailey was zonked out so I got Sydney up and left Hailey to sleep. After a half hour Hailey was up and Sydney was begging to join Hailey in her crib. It's been an hour (yes you read that right) and they are still playing in her crib. I keep checking on them asking them if they want out and they keep saying no. Can you say GLORIOUS! I have folded and washed several loads of laundry, picked up, vacuumed. I wish this would happen more often. Today having twins has a benefit.

Stay tuned... my next post is 150. Who knew I had so much to say? One lucky poster will win a little treat giveaway for comments on that post (I will draw a name). So be sure to leave comments. You don't have to have an account to leave a comment. It will be a fun way to find out who is actually reading my blog, so don't be shy. I like to know people are reading!

and the joys of potty training continue...

Let's call this stage a "work in progress". The girls are pretty reliable about telling me they have to pee, almost too reliable. Try going to the mall with three little ones in tow, you have an hour till kindergarten starts. So you have them use the bathroom before you enter the mall, then they have to go before you actually enter the store, then before you get anything done at the said store another announces an emergency needed trip... you go to the bathroom again (nothing), then before the next stop both announce a need to go the bathroom again (so you go) niether produces anything, you get the car to head to school, time is short now... they both announce again they have to go to the bathroom. That's five trips (many false alarms) in just one visit. This scenerio happens in places like Costco, the mall, forget church and nursery (we are in the bathroom the whole time). Things are getting better they are more aware of when they actually need to go now. Although they don't often feel that need at the same time so I still end up being in the bathroom a lot! Accidents are decreasing. EXCEPT one little problem. Sydney just doesn't poop in the potty. She has only done it three times in a month! Nearly all accidents occur at naptime or bedtime (nothing can be done about that) but even when she can go she generally does it in her pants. We have bribed and it worked once (she did it last saturday) but at her bribe trip to McDonalds she had another #2 accident (unbelieveable) . I am trying to be patient, but this is really frustrating. Any tips? Hailey is doing great.

In case you need a laugh...

Taking two chatterboxes to the bathroom can be very interesting too. The other day they told someone good job when they heard her pee coming. They also told someone that they were making a stinky smell complete with big sniff sniff noises and when Alan took them to the bathroom he caught one twin (while he was helping the other) looking her head under the stall at someone. They also fight over who gets to flush everytime! Oh the fun!

Brrr It's Fall...

Last week we awoke to warm temps and kept the air on all day to keep cool. It was still in the 80's. Yesterday Fall rolled in. It rained and it poured and its down right freezing. The mountains even had a dust of snow at the tops. The temp inside my house is just 64 (at noon)! I already miss summer!

Sydney (L) Hailey (R)

Last week the girls wore these outfits with just the shirt as a tank and sandals. This week we have several layers on and boots!

Park city...

Every year we go up to Park City to ride the Alpine slides. We usually wait till fall is approaching and the air has a crisp feel. The mountains were already changing, and it was beautiful. This year Sydney and Hailey joined us for the ride!

If you were a twin...

You could ask her to get your wipe (toilet paper) when you use the potty (and she would comply).
"Sydney I need my wipe please".

Someone would know if you were missing...
At the funeral luncheon (at our church) there were a million little ones running around and Hailey came to us and said, "Where is the other one"? It was then we discovered Sydney was missing. She was quickly found with Lindsey safely in another room.

Even sleeping can be emotional...
When I found Sydney this morning she was crying hysterically. When I asked her why she told me, "Hailey doesn't love me". Hailey then yelled " o.k I love you Sydney". All was better.

If you have to go potty you would need to make sure your sippy cups and other essential toys are safe. So you would go through all your precious items and tell sissy to leave them alone for a minute.

When you ride in the car you could have a spit out water war and laugh until you were almost crying (mommy doesn't like this though).

Someone would be there to motivate you even in life's most personal tasks...
Your sister could tell you with great emphasis why she loves to poop on the potty and the rewards of this process (Sydney is still struggling with that one).

You might fall down the stairs backwards. So... watch out when you walk down stairs because if your sister needs some balance she might grab you and make you fall down in her place. You then would blame her and say she pushed you which is not so ... she just was trying to save herself.

Your name would not be just Hailey or Sydney because your sister would call you "My Sydney or My Hailugh"...


You would know the number two better than any other number. You will have learned you should always need two of everything to avoid being snatched from. Better to take care of sissy first so you can have yours without a fight.

You could wake up at 3am and laugh and giggle just like it was morning. Mommy would be shocked and go in and tell you both to go back to sleep though.

And at just three you could already try and trick people and switch names (and succeed).

If you get hurt outside someone will come tell mommy to help you...

Someone will help you get your shoes on or off.

You would learn young the powers of negotiation. If she has something you want, find something better and make a trade...

Yes if you were a twin you would never be bored!

Bonus...

Opps I had to add two more of my favorite devices.

6-My camera, the digital Canon Rebel. This camera is the best thing I have ever bought myself. Digital became big over the last 10 yrs but this camera has mastered it. High megapixels with a SLR and no delay. I could not live without this thing! I really am in love with it! I have the Canon Digital Rebel XT.

7-I also use daily my wireless headphones, by RCA. I have had them for 3-4 yrs. I love being able to watch t.v at night with the sound down (so Alan can sleep). My lil sister got these when she got married and I know she will agree they are awesome. Warning though... its hard to go to bed when you can stay up all night watching your shows (quietly) that you tivo'd.

Top 5 tech advances...

I have been married ten years and in that ten years a lot about life has changed. It got me to thinking about my top 5 technological advances. No they don't change the world for better (atleast not always) but they make me happy. So here they are (in no particular order).
1- My cell phone (cannot live without it and I did not have one before I married)
2-Tivo (I have had this for 6 yrs)
3-The internet (it was out before but it really took off in the last 10 yrs).
4-My Ipod (this one I have only had 6 months)
5-Ebay (I have been a member since 1999)

I am sure I missed some really important ones, so post yours on your blog!

My Grandpa...

Please forgive me for sharing this but my Grandpa was such a wonderful man I want have him remembered. I really appreciate all your sincere thoughts in the comments, it means a lot!

Ivan O. Jensen
Ivan O Jensen 1915 ~ 2007 The winter of 1915 in Brigham City brought unusual amounts of snow, an influenza outbreak and in the wee morning hours of January 29, Ivan O Jensen. Ivan was born to Orville and Cleopha Jensen. He is the brother of Matilda CamilleLarsen and Carolyn M. Champion. Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather, Uncle, Brother and Friend. The greatest of "The Great" generation. He had a never ending love for his family and a strong testimony of his Savior. Ivan graduated from Box Elder High School and attended Utah State and Weber College. He faithfully served in the LDS Easter Canadian Mission, where he met a sister missionary who later became his eternal companion. Ivan and Marguerite Christensen were married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple in 1941, a wise decision for the past 66 years and in the eternities to come. They have six children: Karen (Rex) Alldredge, Roberta (Paul) Barstad, Kathleen (LaVere) Terry, Ivan Orville Jensen, Mary Ann (Dennis) Golightly, and James (Mardi) Jensen. They have 22 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren. Ivan held many church positions. He enjoyed collecting books and clocks as well as hunting, fishing, and writing poetry. He was frugal, and could fix just about anything. He always had a nickname for everyone, and drew mice (his trademark). His love for building and investing is evident in the many custom homes he built in the Bountiful area with his own stamp of quality. He was a determined and hard worker. Ivan's family wishes to thank our friends, neighbors, Rocky Mountain Hospice and all who have offered their love, support and prayers. Ivan will be remembered and missed by all those who love him. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Thurs. Sept. 13, 2007 at the Bountiful 14th Ward Chapel and family may call Wed. evening from 6-8 p.m. at Russon Brothers Bountiful Mortuary, Interment-Bountiful City Cemetery. Online guest book at www.russonmortuary.com Published in the Deseret News on 9/11/2007.
Guest Book • Flowers • Charities

Sept. 11th 2001

I jarred awake by a phone ringing, it seemed something was wrong, and it was. I never wake up without turning on the t.v. anymore. I will never forget the horror I felt seeing what was happening on t.v and then suddenly the buildings fell. I did not feel safe and I was very far away. Later that day I had my first doctor appointment for my pregnancy with Jacob. It was very busy and chaotic at the office so they offered to do an ultrasound to make up for the length 3 hr wait. As I sat there, knots in my stomach, I saw the new life coming into our family and I suddenly felt peaceful. In the midst of all this confusion this child was a miracle to me. I wondered what world this child would grow up in, what he was being born into. Jacob was born later the next year and he brought the joy and the peace only a new life can bring. I will never forget that day, the people who lost their lives, and seeing my new miracle for the first time... helping me remember life would go on and be o.k.

Today...

We lost my Grandpa. I know he lived an amazing life and that he was suffering, but there is never enough time. I will never have been ready to let him go. I know this is especially hard on my Grandma. She slept in a chair in his room the last two nights so she would be with him and had a difficult time letting him go today after he passed. I am very grateful he was able to come home the last month and be with us, and pass on with his family and loved ones there. I am very sad today and will miss him deeply!

I'm It!

I was challenged to tell 8 random thing about myself. This was hard for me!
1-I was nicknamed "Maggie Pie" as a child because I never stopped talking. I still talk a lot, and I find this characteristic in Lindsey as well.
2-It's easy to hurt my feelings and I never tell people when they do.
3-I have never tasted any seafood, and only eat certain meats (chicken, some beef). I just have an aversion to it, especially if it takes time to chew.
4-I did not learn to drive till I was 17.
5- I love Anne of Green Gables. I believe you have kindred spirits in your life.
6- I have had a lot of weird things happen to me...
To name a few
A- swallowed a penny at 3 that got stuck in my throat and had to removed at the hospital days later.
B-Choked in 5th grade, awful experience, could not breathe for what seemed like forever, people attempted to help me but were unsuccessful (scary). Finally my teacher did the Heimlich and got it out.
C-I am Rh-
D-I was hit ice skating a little over a year ago (by a little 16 year old speed skating) I was knocked out and had a concussion. I received 15 stitches in my lips and mouth! A plastic surgeon had to fix me up! My bump was the size of a golf ball and eventually all the blood from it drained to my eye and made me get a black eye (my eye never hurt). Hailey got a black eye the same day, we were a real pair! My black eye lasted a whole month!


E-Being diagnosed and successfully delivering my miracle Monoamniotic twins.
6- Although I grew up in California (northern) I never went to Disneyland till I was an adult. Alan took me when we were dating. Now we go all the time!
7-Growing up I always loved children, babysat as often as I could. I used to be a nanny before I was married or had kids myself. One of the families I worked for was a baseball player for the SF Giants. It was such a interesting job.
8- I have only had one pedicure and it was only a month ago!

So I am supposed to tag other blogs, most of them have already been tagged so...
I tag: Kristi, Steph, Kirstencan, Erin, Brad or Jen (quads), Angie (Maggie and Natalie's mom) and anyone who reads and doesn't have a blog can do it in the comments if they want! Can't wait to read all of yours!

Jacob's Big Day...

Jacob went off to kindergarten yesterday. He was overjoyed and confident and that was wonderful! What a great kid!





When I picked him out he was the first out of the classroom and ran right into my arms. I am so glad he's not too old for that yet!!

Our weekend getaway...

After ten years of marriage we finally took a weekend get away. We left last Saturday for the long weekend. It was amazing. Alan and I went to San Francisco. It was perfect because we both grew up there and spent a lot of time their while we were dating, we even got engaged next to the Golden Gate bridge. We relaxed, ate and just enjoyed being together. No stress, no worries, just plain wonderful! I highly recommend it!
The weather was perfect, we drove up the coast on Hwy 1, Union square, Fishermans wharf, half moon bay, they even had a 24 fitness a block away, and with all the good food I wanted to eat I had to hit that spot for sure!

Me where we got engaged

City view

Sea Lions

The city behind me...

Driving the bridge...

Near the spot where we got engagedWatch out if you go shopping and spend a long time in a store that has a helicopter kiosk outside...