Not ready for Christmas!
I am still not quite ready! I didn't even do Brinley's and Brooklyn's hair for the past two days! This week has been crazy with entertaining kids! Morgan and Mason said at the beginning of the week. Mom we can go swimming, to a movie, ice skating and bowling! I said " Do you think I am made of money?" I did take them swimming after I taught on Monday. On Tuesday they had playdates with friends. Wednesday we all went to see Charlottes Web. On Friday we went Ice Skating for Mason's birthday. So that is why I am not ready for Christmas yet. I have one last thing to buy today. I then need to do ALL my wrapping, start and finish a small sewing project for part a present, mop my sick floor, and fold about 10 loads of laundry! I do work great under pressure, and it will get done!

Who Needs Walking?

When you are child number five why walk? Myself or one of her sibblings loves to carry and hold her constantly. She can walk when she wants to, she has to be in a good mood. This picture was taken a couple weeks ago. She was being so silly. B and B would say "Madelyn stand up." She would just stand there and then take a few steps. About two months ago Jon's comments were "Nic we need to practice with her!" How do you make a then 15 month old walk. Well I am happy to report that she is making progress. Her longest stretch is about 10 steps. She still can crawl faster and/or all she needs to do is beg to someone and then we'll pick her up. Some of her first words are mine, stop, mama, and hot. Monique said of course child number five would say mine and stop pretty early! Just two days ago Morgan said "Mom I just love Maddie what would we do without her?" I said I know she is suppose to be in our family!

Christmas Programs

Both Brooklyn and Brinley had small programs at their school for the holiday season. Brinley's was first and she seemed excited to go and sing. When we got ready to go she was hysterical. I was going to have Morgan baby sit everyone but Brinley because Jon was still out of town on business. Well she really wanted Mason to come to her program. So Mason was crying because he didn't want to go and Brinley was crying because she wanted Mason to come. It was a cute program with the Christmas story, lots of songs, and even Santa. Brinley was not wanting to participate in the singing though. Yes, my kid was the one on the front row picking her nose! Nice! Oh Brinley. She is at this funky stage in her life when she wants us to do everything for her. Turn on every light, set her on the toliet, and help her get dressed. She is almost four! Brooklyn's Kindergarten small program was cute. Her teacher is great! Always having cute parties, making fun crafts, and being so sweet!

Garden Pumpkins!
I took these pictures about a month ago and forgot to post them. I wanted to remember all the pumpkins that we got from our garden. This was our first time growing them this summer. Everyone was so excited to see them grow and change into their beautiful colors. We didn't want to carve them too early because they mold very fast in the NW. So the day before Halloween was a Monday this year and also Morgan's Birthday. We were busy doing her birthday festivities that we didn't have time to carve them. So what's the purpose of carving them after Halloween? The kids were sad especially Brinley! But we were able to enjoy our beautiful pumpkins throughout the month of November and have them for our Thanksgiving decorations !

Today Is A New Day!
Well my bummer weekend turned into a bummer Monday! It started when I got in the car with the three little girls to go teach my class at 930 am. My car battery was dead! I was a little stressed because of the time 910 am, but I quickly loaded everyone plus two carseats into Jon's car. (He is still out of town) For some reason his car battery was dead also! Now I was stressed! My next door neighbor was gone. (I was thinking that I could just borrow her car since she already has carseats in her van) My other neighbor wasn't answering her phone. I then called the gym and told them the situation. My neighbor pulled up shortly and ended up jumping the big suburban in the pouring rain. I quickly drove to the gym and taught the rest of my class. I was only 20 minutes late! My monday continued to be busy with carpools to school and volunteering in Mason's class. At Brooklyn's ballet class she had a small nutcracker dance that they had prepared for all the parents. I dropped her off at 3:45 and then was planning on going to the bank and returning to see her dance. Well I don't know what I was thinking but I thought her class got over at 4:45 but it really got done at 4:30. So I am just trying to kill time until I went back to her class. I walk in with Maddie and everyone is getting their coats on and getting ready to leave. I said to Brooklyn "Did you already do your dance?" and she said yes mom. I said to my friend Tammy "Doesn't class get over at 4:45?" She said no 4:30. Now how long have they been going to this class? Since September!!! Well I lost it and I started to cry right there in her Ballet class. My friend and her husband I think felt really bad for me and were asking what they could do. I explained how my day had been and that they caught me at a weak moment. But I am happy to report that Today is A New Day and we'll put our smiles on and enjoy what Tuesday has to offer!

Oh What A Day!

This past few days have been crazy without Jon being in town. I was going to take the kids to the movie last night, but when I got there I realized that I had looked at the wrong day. The times of the movies changed for the weekend. M/M and B/B were excited to see Santa Claus 3! We left the theaters with Brinley crying, Morgan pouting and me being upset with everything! We ended up going home and watching a Christmas movie that I had recorded. Saturday was going to be a better day (I thought). I had to run some errands in the afternoon. One of them included looking for something to go with this dress that I bought last weekend. Don't you hate it when you can't find what you are looking for? I went all over the mall, Kohls, Target, and even Walmart! I was frusturated and upset about that plus the fact that there were millions of people everywhere I went today. The holiday shopping season is in full force! I finally made it home to Morgan upset because we couldn't go to the park because by now it was almost dark! I was planning on going to a holiday ornament exchange. Well I ended up being 45 minutes late. Everyone had cereal for dinner except for Morgan. (The joys of not cooking when the husband is out of town) Mason and Maddie were taking a bath. They were playing and having a great time for about 15 minutes. Mason was blowing bubbles in the water when I noticed a floatie (from Madelyn). She has never pooped in the tub before! I was screaming! I immediately had everyone exit the poopy water. I told Mason to go take another shower in my bathroom and brush his teeth! That was a sign that I should stay home tonight and not go to the ornament exchange. I went for about an hour, and came home to happy kids. Although someone gave Madelyn a milk sippy cup without a stopper! So I found drips of milk through the kitchen, up the stairs, down the hall and finally into the bonus room! Now I am recording this so I won't forget how crazy my life sometimes is. I just wrote my to do list, and I am feeling very behind! " Oh what a Day"it has been!

Hunting For Our Tree!
We went and cut down our Christmas Tree last weekend. The weather was a little cold but no rain. The kids had a great time picking it out, helping cut it down, and then drinking hot cocoa. On the way home Jon said "Wasn't that fun?" "Or would you rather blow the dust off a box that I get out of the attic and then we put up the tree?" I have been talking about getting a fake tree, but I guess he is not quite ready for that. I was shocked when Mom and Dad finally broke down last year a got a fake tree. I don't know many people that get real trees anymore. The Jackson Five will continue the real tree tradition. We now have it up and all decorated. We put the finishing touches on the Christmas decorations last night while blasting the Christmas music. Now all we have to do is the outside lights. We'll see if that happens. Jon is very nervous to get on the roof, and our neighbors usually put up our lights. Morgan said that he should do it this weekend. It would be a good surprise for me when I get home on Sunday!

Morgan and I got up early on Friday morning to do some shopping. We were first going to Fred Meyer for their half price sock sale. Well, I woke up LATE! We were suppose to get up at 5 am, but I rolled out a bed at 6:20 am. When I woke up Morgan she said "Mom what if they run out of socks?" I am happy to report that Freddies didn't run out of socks. We were gone for 4 hours of fun and crazy shopping, which included Morgan getting her ears pierced!

November Snow Storm?
When the forcasters talk about snow in the NW you never know if you should believe them or not. Well this time there were right. It snowed on and off on Monday and into the evening. The kids had a great time playing in it, having a snowball fight with dad, and sliding down the neighbors driveway. It was a perfect family night activity! Maddie watched from the window but then got really jealous. I bundled her and myself up and we joined in the fun for a little while. Morgan's comment was the best. When she saw it starting to snow she said "I am so excited we are going to have a white Christmas!" (It will be long gone by then) The snow didn't melt yet and it snowed into Tuesday, the kids even started school late so they were able to enjoy it a little longer this morning.

November 22, 2006
Ten Years Ago
It has been ten years since we moved to the Northwest. I got on the airplane with my little Morgan ten years ago today. It almost seems unbelievable that it has been that long. I was talking to a friend about living here that long a couple of weeks ago. She said how long have you lived here. I told her ten years. I then thought I have lived here almost as long as I had lived in Michigan.(I was born in Michigan and lived there until I was eleven) So this has almost been the longest I have ever lived somewhere in my entire life! As a kid I wanted to live in the same place for elementary, Junior High, and High School. But we moved a lot. But now that I am doing that with my own children it seems weird. I love living here in the Northwest, but also think "do I want to live here the rest of my life?" We will see, but for now I am just amazed that it has already been ten years! Wow how time flies!

Mom, Just Tell Me the Truth!
This afternoon, Morgan asked me "Is Santa Real?" I actually can't believe that she made it this long in believing in Santa. I said "Do you believe in Santa?" and then I let her ponder that for awhile. About a half hour later she was down stairs just hanging out on the couch. She said she was just tired. After I had put all the other kids to bed, Morgan was helping me get out our Christmas decorations. I said to her Morgan it's time for you to know the truth. I told her that Dad and I are Santa Claus. I felt so bad because she immediately started to cry. She said "I knew it, that's why I was lying on the couch earlier because I was sad!" I comforted her that it was ok to feel this way and told her that Santa will still give her presents. She then said "so do you eat the cookies, and milk?" I told her yes and she continued to tell me how she will make us (Jon & I) cookies and hot chocolate on Christmas Eve. I also told her that she must not tell her Brooklyn, Brinley, and Mason! It's sad that she doesn't believe anymore, and it's sad that she is old enough to know the truth about Santa Claus!

True Blue Cougars

Our family loves BYU! Grandma Baldwin gave Madelyn My First BYU book last year for Christmas and Brinley has loved it ever since! She especially loves the Cougar Fight Song, and had us sing it to her every night for about six months. This past summer we visited BYU campus and took this picture. The kids loved the BYU creamery, book store, and running around the campus grounds. What fun memories it brought Jon and I. We did say to each other, "Can you believe that we went here fifteen years ago and that we now have five kids!" WOW! I thought that this post would be appropriate now since the cougars are having a great football season! They are ranked 23 in the nation. I follow BYU football, but not quite like Uncle Al! When we went to the BYU bookstore this summer we all got BYU t-shirts. There were so many cute ones it was hard for us to pick just one! Hopefully one day we will be visiting Provo, and our children in Cougar Town!

My Crazy Life!

I am pretty much on the go most of the time, but some weeks are more hectic than others! I wrote down everything I did one week just so I could remember what those weeks are like. This was my week two weeks ago.

Monday: teach at 9:30am, my turn to drive preschool carpool at 12pm,(also class picture day for Brinley), my turn to drive to Kinders to school at 12:45pm, pick up preschoolers @ 2:30, my turn to drive to ballet for Brooklyn at 3:45pm, soccer for Mason @5:30 pm, took dinner to a friend at 6pm, FHE, Nightly Routine!

Tuesday: Went VT at 9am, Mommy & Me music time 10-11 am for the 3 little girls, Ballet for Morgan at 4:00pm, Teach my class at 6pm (plus my boss was going to evaluate me that night STRESS!! but she was a no show!), Enrichment Committee Meeting at my house 7:30-9pm. Nightly Routine was all Jon this night!

Wednesday: Teach at 9:30am, three parent-teacher conferences all back to back, Brinley's Halloween party at school,birthday party for B/B to goto, Mason to a friends for playdate, Piano lessons for M/M.

Thursday: Gymnastics for Brinley at 10am, Volunteer at school 12-1:30pm, watch a Stephanie's kids 3-5pm, Cub Scout Pack Meeting 7pm without Jon because he had Stake Meetings.

Friday: Field Trip with Brooklyn to the Pumpkin Patch 9am-12pm, was suppose to VT but got canceled, Ballet for Morgan 4:45-6pm, Mason's soccer from 5:30-7pm.

What a crazy week! This was one of the busier! This was on top of laundry, cleaning, cooking, homework, and all the things we do as mothers! I know one day I will look back at these days and long for them. So as my good friend once told me "Nicole this is the season of life you are in right now, so enjoy it!"

I have decided to become a fellow blogger. I am not sure who will be reading this besides my family but it is a good way to keep a journal. I have been reading Monique's blog and have thoroughly enjoyed keeping up on her family(even though I talk to her on the phone quite frequently). Like Monique I want to be able to remember funny and cute things the kids say, or post pictures of crazy things they may do, or just talk about my hectic life! So here's to my first post that we will call "What an Incredible Night"
For Halloween our family dressed up as the Incredibles! It was very fun and I have to say we were the hit of the ward party. My brother and sister-in-law wore the same costumes last year, so we stole the idea from them. The kids resisted a little bit at first, but they loved becoming the Incredible family. Brinley would watch the movie to see her character, (Edna, the costume designer) and as she would watch it she would say "Mom I don't want dadddy to do that". Mr .Incredible would sometimes get beaten up, and thrown around. Jack, Jack (the baby) catches on fire in the movie and she started to cry because she thought that would happen to Maddie. Brooklyn was a little sad because she thought that she didn't look like the babysitter. She got some braces put on her teeth the day before Halloween but they all fell off. We all had tons of fun that night and got lots of yummy candy! As we were talking after family prayer that evening Morgan, Mason and Brooklyn all said "Mom we had fun tonight but can we pick what we want to dress up like next year?" I said , I guess!

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