Boys Will Be Boys

I'm not sure which is the greater indicator of my immaturity in relation to the following conversation:

A. That my words began the conversation

B. That I find what was said incredibly funny or

C. That I am unable to type the anatomically correct word that makes the story funny

.

My guess is that the answer is D, All of the above

.

Anyhow, anyone that has three kids, and has gone through the time where at least one or all of them are small can understand the difficulty making it out the door sometimes poses. Such is the time of my life. We don't have all that many places to go, but when we do, it is always a trial of sorts and one that, today, I did not handle all that well. Chloe had preschool today and in trying to get out the door and into the car, I encountered a little girl who did not want to wear her boots, but also didn't want to wear any other shoe option, a little boy who wouldn't walk out the door without his blue Lightening McQueen (which was no where to be seen), and an even littler boy who, after going a week without a car seat ride, didn't want to start today.

.

Five minutes late already, frustrated, and finally to the car, I told Chloe that she needed to get herself buckled and move her toys so that I could latch Adam's car seat into his base. At the same time that Chloe started arguing with me about having no place else to put her things, Adam started up the crying and some (easily put back in place) rubber edging came off the door frame. Having reached my limit, I swore...well my Utah version of swearing, which really I'm not even thinking of the swear words my phrase is replacing, but even with the rationalization is still not something I necessarily want my kids to hear or repeat regularly. Curious as to what I said? Picturing me in the chaos described above, try not to be disappointed when you read...

.

"Freaking A" (I know, right?)

.

Immediately Noah (who we have recently had to have discussions with regarding the anatomical differences between girls and boys) looked at me and said:

"Freaking P*&!s" (replace male anatomy word here - see so immature I can't even type it)

.

Shocked, Chloe (who is the second mom and thinks everything Noah says is bad) said:

"Noah, you can't say that word!"

.

To which Noah shrugged and matter of factly replied:

"What? Boys have p*&!ses"

.

Indeed this is true and with that comment my little man proved in that moment to be more mature than his mom, giving me a laugh on a crazy Friday afternoon.

Try A Little Harder To Be A Little...

Better. A word that I feel like passes through my mind ALL the time. How can I be a better friend, a better mom, a better wife. What if I cooked better, looked better, played better? Why don't I act better, eat better, speak better. The list of things I would like to be better at is endless. Without being too hard on myself, I realize it's okay to want to be better.

Gordon B Hinckley said:

"Each of us can do a little better than we have been doing. We can be a little more kind. We can be a little more merciful. We can be a little more forgiving...We can improve the world about us, in our homes and in our social activities. We can do it if we will be prayerful and faithful.

We can spend a little less time in idleness...that time can be put to better advantage, and the consequences will be wonderful...May we go forward with a determination to try a little harder to be a little better"

So for my year 2011, my goal is simply to try a little harder and make myself become a better person. Some of my goals in that endeavor are to:

Look at my computer a little less

and play with my kids a little more.To be better about keeping my house clean but to not stress so much about the messes kids make having fun.Use my new Bosch mixer to become a better baker. To be better about including vegetables in meals, especially dinner. To be better about my pretzel M&M consumption (a bag of which currently is hiding in my dresser). To develop a closer relationship with the Savior and to be better about teaching my kids the principles of the gospel. To be a better example and invite the spirit into our home more often. To be better about sharing my testimony of the gospel so that my kids will develop testimonies as well. There are a lot of ways to be better and to improve. When I think of all I'm not, the ways I can improve are endless (note to self, try to be better about being nicer to me) but they aren't hopeless. I hope that as I make an effort this and every year to try a little harder than I have before, that my life will be happier and that those around me will be too.

A Whole Lotta Nothin

That's what we've been up to so far in the year 2011. Nothin. Doing nothing has never been so much fun. While Chloe had a break from preschool and we had single digit temperatures, we took advantage of staying indoors playing with new toys and each other.

This little guy is so much fun to have in our home. Yes there is the crying and always wanting to be fed, but he makes us laugh too. I love that he responds to us now. He loves to watch what we are doing and loves to show his approval by giving us huge smiles (one day I may actually catch one on camera). Chloe and Noah love him so much and have been such great helpers. Like yesterday when Chloe "helped" by picking him up and almost dropped him. Or when Noah "helped" by wiping is nose and then put his hand on Adam's face to try to help him stop crying. Great help. Really though, they do try and most of the time actually do help make my life easier.

Adam had his four month appointment a couple weeks late. We put it off as we were waiting for insurance to approve a shot to prevent RSV. The shot is very expensive ($1000 a shot) and has to be given every 28 days. This should have started in November but insurance was slow to approve it. Lucky boy received that along with three other immunizations. He also showed the doctor all the cool things he can do and we left feeling great about his development so far. His last appointment put him in the 1% for weight but this appointment found him back in 0% territory. He is still growing well though, the doctor just attributes the slow down to Adam sleeping though the night and eating just a little bit less. (Yes that's right I said sleeping through the night!!! 10 hours never passed so sweetly) So as of Friday Adam weighs 10lbs 15oz and is 24 inches long.

I have loved watching Chloe and Noah play together. Every day their creativity amazes me. From making up songs to travelling to far off lands, staying home has never been such an adventure, nor has outfit selection, as evidenced below.

Noah really loves Chloe and is almost always willing to go along with whatever idea she has. I love how much they love each other.

For Christmas, we made our parents books with photos of the past year. The one for my parents was made by all of my siblings and we were able to get a picture of all the grandkids together. I was going to post this picture earlier, but as my parents hadn't seen it yet, I had to hold off til Christmas was over. What a cute group of kiddos. Adam & Chloe McBride, Camden Morris, Jack Fuller, Raegan Morris, Hadlee Larsen, Noah McBride, Allie Solomon, and Riley Morris

Merry Christmas!

Christmas' with little kids cannot be beat and we had so much fun this year with our holiday celebrating. One of the highlights leading up to Christmas was an activity my mom put together called the Amazing Christmas Race. In teams we raced to several stations that included:

Dressing up (Chloe as a pregnant Mary) and traveling a path to Bethlehem

and counting out our taxes in the form of corn kernalsWe also followed a yarn path to find the star, sang Away In the Manger, and each wrote something that makes us grateful for our Savior.
The completion of each task was rewarded with puzzles that when put together followed the scriptural account of the birth of the Savior. I know this required a lot of work, but we had so much fun and enjoyed celebrating the real reason we celebrate. Christmas seemed to come fast this year, which is surprising because of the amount of times daily I was asked when it would finally get here. Despite their conviction that the day would never come, they did finally wake up to find it was finally here!

We enjoyed spending a portion of the day with family and are grateful for all the gifts we received

We, as well as our house, have yet to recover from Christmas fun and the kids already are asking when it will be Christmas again.

The present I am most grateful for? My beautiful family - I could never want for anything more!

Merry Christmas!

Grandparents

Grandparents. The very word make me happy. I think of fun times with my own grandparents. Looking forward to the first flight on my own to visit the Hubbard grandparents in Texas. Riding in golf carts and watching lightning with the Johanson grandparents in Georgia. Christmas Eves with a visit from Santa and the nativity. Cereal for breakfast Sundays were a favorite with Grandpa Hubbard, the vacuum at Grandma Johanson's, not so much. My memories are endless and the love I felt has always stuck with me.

I consider it a blessing that my children get to know their Great-Grandparents, and GREAT they truly are. Both sets live out of state and yet my kids know them because of the time they have taken to visit us and be a part of the things that happen in our lives. On the most recent visit we got to see both the Johanson and Hubbard grandparents during Thanksgiving. I am kicking myself for not getting a picture of my kids with the Johanson side, but was glad that my sister Amy was able to snap a few pictures of my kids with the Hubbard side. This trip wasn't the most fun for them as Grandma had to have emergency surgery on Thanksgiving day, but we were grateful for the visits we got to have. I love all my grandparents so much.

Grandpa Johanson above

Grandpa & Grandma Hubbard belowWhen I think of my memories of being a kid and look at our parents with my kids, I know that they are having the same experience that I had - creating memories that are filled with love. My kids love the very mention of getting to do anything with either set of grandparents and I am grateful for the legacy of loving examples that are in my family that hopefully someday will continue through me.

Piglets and Polka Dots

Scene: My family room, 2:30 am. Nothing of value is on the TV and yet I'm awake, feeding my hungry child. As delirium begins to set in, my mind starts to ramble, and it is then, in a flash of genius, that I create my own joke. Feeling pretty proud of myself, and sure that Laffy Taffy will want to publish it on their next set of candy wrappers, the next morning I decide to tell Joe my brilliantly corny creation.

"What would happen if pigs could fly?" His response: "I don't know, what?"
Laughing, I respond "The bacon would be out of this world!"

Ahahahahaha. Wait - Joe is not laughing. Instead he shakes his head at me and tells me that I should never ever share the joke with anyone ever again, that's how bad it is. So what do I do? Tell it at a Christmas party, embarrassing him, and post it on my blog, so it will forever be remembered.

The other night, Chloe and I painted our nails. We had fun. Each finger got a different color and we added polka dots to finish off the look. Chloe was so proud of her pretty nails that she wants to invite all her friends over to have their's painted too. See, some of the stuff I come up with actually is cool!

I can't finish my post without a picture of my two favorite boys. One who likes to scowl and the other who has finally learned how to smile. I'll let you pick which is which. (Oh I crack myself up)

Gifts & Blessings

I love this time of year where I get to think about all the things I'm grateful for and all the gifts I've been blessed with in my life.

I am grateful for the gift of being a mother, for having children that make me laugh (and sometimes cry), and for getting to be a part of their lives.

I am grateful for the gift of love. I love my children, they love each other, and we all love their dad I am grateful for the gift of sleep, even if I'm not always the one getting it.
I am grateful for the gift of the gospel and the many blessings I experience as a result of having it in my life.
I am grateful for the gift of a worthy, righteous husband and for his opportunity to bless our sweet, healthy Adam this past Sunday.
I am grateful for the gift of family who took time to be with us and share our day.
I am grateful for the gift of having a testimony and for the opportunity to share it - even if it isn't often enough
I am grateful for the gift of peace, that when Adam's blessing shirt went awol I was able to see the bigger picture and realize that only having a onsie under one's vest doesn't negate the words and spirit of a blessing.
I am grateful for the gift my Savior gave in coming to this Earth, living perfectly, atoning for my (and all of our) sins, and giving His life so that I could be the recipient of so many gifts.
In a time when the receiving of temporal gifts often overshadows the true reason we celebrate, I am grateful for my eternal gifts to know that all the gifts I receive are blessings from a loving Heavenly Father and that I can never repay all I have been given.
I am grateful that I know that doesn't mean I shouldn't try.

Our first (although blurry) family picture