Joggers and Haunted Houses

This morning I got up, even though I didn't have to, put the turkey breast in the crock pot, and started this scalloped potato thingy. I realized I didn't have enough cheese, so I headed out to the grocery store to get some. While I'm freezing in pj's and a cold car, I see a jogger coming toward me. He is dressed in spandex pants and a winter jacket. He has a face mask pulled, so all you can see is his eyes. Talk about dedication. I have a hard committing to a daily walk cycle in Utah. It seems that there is only a few months a year, where the weather is tolerable. It's either too cold or too hot!

The other part of this post is for Nancy, who was just a baby when we lived in the HAUNTED HOUSE!

For about one year I believe that we lived in a haunted house. The location was by Sunset View Elementary, in Provo, Utah. It was a nice ghost that lived with us, don't get me wrong, it wasn't like I was scared of her. It was just odd. I came down the stairs once and saw an older lady scrubbing out her clothes on an old wash board. She just looked up and stared at me, kinda of in confusion, like why was I there, in her house, but in the same sense not creepy. Another time my sister and I were building the world's tallest snowman, and I looked up in the window. I saw her again, she was just sitting there watching us play. I saw her other times as well, it just became something I grew accustomed to. I remember telling mom once or twice, but I'm not sure she believed me, or if she was thinking was nuts, and she didn't want to look at committing me.

I am sure Abra has some vivid memories of that house. Think of me as insane or not. I know what I saw.

This is my 100th post!!!!!!!!!!

In celebrating my 100th post here are 100 things about me facts, quirks, and bizarre:



1. I have eaten 2 ants in my life.........4th grade in California.

2. I bite my nails, so I have the fake kind on!

3. My best friend's name is Laurie.

4. I have two Bachelor degrees, one in accounting and the other in business.

5. My hair is 12 inches. (Mom won)

6. I have a miniature poodle named Daisy.

7. I have a cat named Kitty (I call her Mama)

8. I love CSI Miami, New York and Reg.

9. Our TV is usually on Animal Planet or Disney.

10. I don't like to cook.

11. I have fibromyalgia.

12. I had 3 kids in 36 months, then twins 6 years later.

13. I been married twice, both to guys named David.

14. I am an Office Manager.

15. I am the oldest in my family.

16. I have a sister that's 6 months older then my daughter and one that's almost 4 years older than my daughter.

17. I listen to talk radio when driving. (I like the traffic and weather updates every ten minutes.)

18. I am LDS.

19. My largest baby I gave birth to was 9 lbs 15 oz.

20. My smallest baby I gave birth to was 6 lbs 4 oz.

21. My middle name is Evon. (Pronounced Yvonne)

22. My next best friend is my Grandmother.

23. I swallowed a pencil in my teen years.

24. I've placed second and third in BC Winter Games, competing in Judo.

25. I use to be a volleyball referee.

26. I love to dance.

27. I have lived in two states and in two provinces.

28. I consider myself from Vancouver, B.C.

29. I was born in Salt Lake City.

30. I love to plan parties for my kids. Where I usually out do myself.

31. My favorite place growing up was an overhang along the riverbed at Hyde Creek.

32. My favorite color is deep purple, however I feel like Barney when I wear it.

33. My dream car has always been a Honda Accord Hatchback.

34. My teeth are perfectly straight, with out braces.

35. I never had a broken arm/leg until I was 24.

36. I am stubborn, but have learned when to break down.

37. I love Chinese food, and can use chopsticks to eat all of it!

38. I make a delicious, but rich, tres leche cake.

39. I had a stalker for 4 months, that now is in prison for horrible things. (To someone else)

40. I witnessed my ceiling collapse when I was in third grade.

41. My childhood best friend, and still is Arrika.

42. My first love of my life was Farron.

43. I sung in a show choir in Junior High.

44. I love to act.

45. I have two nieces and nephews that I wish I knew better!

46. I love to decorate my house for the holidays.

47. I despise snow and the activities that go with it.

48. I will do everything in my power not to drive in the snow.

49. I want to work for DDI Advantage one day.

50. I am part of a wonderful organization called People Helping People.

51. I love Diet Pepsi.

52. I am beginning to think this is harder then I thought, coming up with 100 things.......

53. My favorite management book is Gung Ho! by Blanchard and Bowles.

54. My favorite Disney Movie growing up was Rescuers Down Under.

55. I hate brushing my hair.

56. I would prefer to wear no shoes.

57. I will not take a bath, I do shower almost daily.

58. I love dinner mints, but can't eat too many or my teeth hurt.

59. I cry at everything remotely touching the heart.

60. The last movie I saw was Four Christmases. I thought it was rough and crude humor.

61. I love living in organized chaos.......my life is full of it.

62. I try to plan things in advance, but nobody else seems too.

63. My ears are pierced, but I don't wear earrings. The metal makes me dizzy.

64. I am allergic to watches, my skin gets blisters under the watch part.

65. I collect shoes, but can't wear half of them because they are heeled. At one point I had over 160 pairs.........

66. I love my sweats and t-shirts.

67. I don't wear makeup.

68. I have to have my own quilt when I sleep, will not share it with anyone.

69. I don't have to study too much to learn something.

70. I can still do the splits.

71. My favorite candies are the strawberry hard candies with the filling inside.

72. I never thought I would have twins in reality.

73. Growing up I loved Escape to Witch Mountain and Return From Witch Mountain.

74. I use to want girl and boy twins so I could name them Tia and Tony.

75. My favorite book growing was Anne of Green Gables.

76. My sister, a friend (Stephanie) and I used to pretend to act out scenes from the movie and book. Stephanie always reminded me of Diane Berry.

77. Another one of my favorite movies was Pollyanna.

78. I had a horrible teacher in fourth grade. We called her Mrs. Rumplestilskin. She was very mean; she used to make us write out times tables and dictionary pages. If we didn't get them done, she'd double them. My parents sometimes would help me.

79. I use to sneak down the stairs in Raymond, Alberta and listen to my parents talk.

80. I one of the best babysitters out there.

81. I'd loose my head if it wasn't attached.

82. I take everything I'm asked to do seriously and with pride. I tend to go up and beyond what I need to do.

83. I have a hard time saying no.

84. I love free ice cream cones at Arctic Circle.

85. I have delexyia and I can't spell very good. (Thank goodness for spell check.)

86. I had a motor cycle fall on my back when I was little.

87. I almost drowned several times when I was little.

88. The first boy that every said he loved me was a boy named Marcus. I still have his letter. He was in my first grade class in California.

89. My grandma Layton bought me my first Cabbage Patch doll.

90. I decided I was too big for my dolls/barbies. I gave them to a neighbor across the street.

91. I had a popple named Puzzle that was orange.

92. I have a big teddy bear I got for myself when I got divorced the first time.

93. I had my house burn down in November, the following year my kitchen burned down in July.

94. My crappy beater car was stolen.

95. I love to chew on licorice root.

96. My sister and I use to go caroling together in Raymond, Alberta. I think we did it so much because of all the booty we hauled home. It was like another Halloween!

97. I seriously believe that we lived in a haunted house in Provo. I have told by others they have seen ghosts there too.

98. I am reading two books right now, Success is a Choice by Rick Pitino and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor.

99. I love Micheal McLean's One Heart in the Right Place.

100. I don't think I'll do this every again! (It's really hard!)

Hair Cut?

I completely forgot...........

I went and got a haircut.

My hair was so long I could sit on it.

Guess how much I cut off?

What's in a name?????

I am copying my mother's posting because I thought it would be fun and interesting.

I think being a parent, one of the hardest choices you have to decide on, is what to name your children. I know I thought of tons of names for my kids...RoseMarie was going to be Oscar Paul if she was a boy......Matthew, my ex wanted Rushin Orion. (I liked Rushin, but not with Orion, I thought it sounded like a comet.) Andrew would have been AnaClaire.....(I'm glad he was a boy, he would have been teased with AnaClaire) The twins, I was thinking of Montana and another state name.....hadn't made up my mind. This was just before Hannah Montana made it big, and I always joke that I could have named them Hannah and Montana..........

Sabrina the youngest twin. Her name means princess in English and from the border in Latin. I like to think princess with spice....that's her, diva through and through! Her name was ranked #196 the year she was born (2006).

Olivia the older twin. Her name means Olive Tree in Portuguese, Latin and Greek. In English her name comes from Olga, meaning holy in several different languages. I think I did could with Olivia, although I am not sure if she fits an olive tree........Her name though in 2006 was ranked #7. Poor girl, she'll be known as Olivia B. for the rest of her life!

Andrew in Latin means manly and the Greek meaning adds strong and courageous. This name is also one of Christ's Twelve Apostles names. My Andrew is definitely a manly boy, soon to be a man. In 2000 the year he was born it was ranked #10 and has not been ranked below #13 since.

Matthew is Hebrew for gift of God. What a wonderful name to have! All children are of course gifts of God, but to have that for a name? Matthew also is a book in the Bible and an Apostle. His name was ranked #3 in 1998, and since then it has never been higher than a 9.

RoseMarie you have to take the two names separately. If you take the name Rose, in Latin it means Flower (a Rose) and Marie a variation of the name Mary, in Hebrew means bitter. Flower Bitter.......I don't know does this describe RoseMarie? I know the flower part does.....good thing we call her Rosie most the time! In 1997 RoseMarie was ranked #2015.

Christina in Greek means Christ- Bearer. She is worthy of that name I do believe. The sight I look on, only went back as far as 1995, were it was ranked #68.

I can't find Kelline anywhere........

Kelli is the closest, but I'll make you go to my mom's blog to get that info, cause I am lazy like that.........but I'll provide the link: http://myrnalayton.blogspot.com/2008/12/whats-in-name.html

Weekend Ketchup

I like that title.........

Friday it snowed, horrible. I asked Johnathan to come and get me. He must truly love me, because he did. He drove for two hours (normally a 40 min drive), in the snow, picked me up, left his car at my work, then went and picked up my daughters. Since the weather was still bad, he endured shopping for boots with us, and then he took us out to Olive Garden! It was a nice treat considering the weather.

It still took over an hour to get home after all that. Yuck. I hate bad weather.

Saturday, we went to pick out my Christmas presents. 4 bar stools for our counter. Now we have a place to sit when we eat!!!! I'll post pictures, but I have to find this adapter thingy I lost from the trip.

Saturday night we headed into town to go see the lights. The girls were as good as two two-year olds could be. I was surprise that the stood still and watched the Nativity presentation so well. Sabrina was with me and loved following the lights around.

We then went inside the visitor center and took the walk way up to see Christ. I remember when I was a little girl and visited Temple Square. I use imagine that I truly was walking up to meet Christ. Today I felt the same peace inside when I walked there with the girls. Sabrina was frozen looking at Christ. Olivia pointed to a little picture she found of Christ and then to the Statue. It was such a amazing experience to see her related the two things together.

Johnathan, Rose, the twins and I then went to the Families are Forever Presentation, thanks to Sabrina's willingness to wander into rooms. It was a nice presentation, however due to the baby deaths in our ward (we had another lady give birth to a still born) and the recent death of Johnathan's Aunt, it was a little sad. I should say happy sad, if that makes any sense.

Then we went off to JB's. This will be the last year that we go to JB's. Bad food, worse service, not worth it.

Sunday was a peaceful productive day. We went to church. Rosie has started going to Young Womens. She's going to start playing basketball on Tuesday nights. Her first game will be Jan 22nd! I also found my hallway!!!!

Hope you all had a great weekend too. Merry Christmas!

Recycled Pineapple

Okay, for those that don't know..........

I invited my family over for dinner one night. This was about 5 years ago........

I am not a very experience cook. Okay I am, as long as I just have to add water and stir!

I made a ham cooked in pineapple. Yummy! Turned out great.

I was looking at all the pineapples and trying to come up with a dessert.

Pineapple upside down cake, was sounding really good.......but I didn't have any pineapple left.

There was all the pineapple I used in the ham.........

Yep, I did it.

I recycled the pineapple. I used the hammy pineapple and made upside down pineapple cake.

So there now you have it..........laugh as you will........

Christmas Dinner menu 2008:

Turkey Breast, thinking Julianne Potatoes (still undecided), corn of the cob (Sabrina's Fave), Turnip Greens and Bacon, Salad, and ether jello cake, but now that I think about it upside down pineapple cake sounds really good........we even have fresh pineapple...............................

Olivia

Olivia is the oldest of the twins, by one whole minute! Ollie is her nickname and she has the sweetest nature about her. She loves her blankets, always has one or two with her if she can.

Earlier this year we almost lost her! She spiked a high fever at daycare. I felt like a horrible mother, because when daycare called it was about 4:30 p.m. and I asked them if they could wait a half hour because then I could finish my shift at work. They insisted that I come immediately, so I did.

On the way to go pick her up I called the doctor to make an appointment so that hopefully she could return back to daycare the next day if her fever was down. (Daycare has a rule that if a child had a temperature over 102, they need a doctor release to return to daycare.) I have a great team of doctors; one of which agreed to stay later at the clinic to meet us.

I picked up Olivia and made our appointment. The symptoms a high fever that was about 104. The doctor started checking her joints, and when she checked the left hip, Olivia screamed a piercing scream! The doctor looked at me in complete bewilderment and told me to get her to the emergency as quickly as possible, something was wrong.

I gathered up the other girls and off we went to the emergency room. Olivia endured several tests, but with no conclusive results. They gave her some Ibuprofen and sent her home, with instructions to bathe her in cool water and give her fluids and Ibuprofen to reduce fever. They told if at any reason her fever was to spike and not respond to the Ibuprofen to bring her back.

We got home late that night. I didn't get much sleep, because Olivia didn't get much sleep. Around 7 a.m. I checked her temperature. It was 104.2 degrees! I gave her some Ibuprofen, got the other girls ready for the day, and checked it again. In one hour it dropped to 104.

I was pretty concerned, so I took her back to the E.R. On the way, I picked up my best friend for support and continued up to the hospital. We ended getting rear ended and finished the ride up there by ambulance.

The doctor checked her out again and informed me that she did have RSV. That isn't so scary for a child that was almost two, and didn't really explain the high fevers. We were getting ready to leave when the doctor came in with a pretty large needle and a lab tech. He told me that something weird came back in Olivia's blood work. Weird? I requested more information. The doctor explained that Olivia's blood had some bacteria in it. That's not normal, but many times there is contamination that occurs. They wanted to draw some more blood and do the test again. Just in case there really was bacteria, he wanted to start her on some heavy duty antibiotics, hence the large needle.

We were then sent home.

Early the next morning, I received a call from the doctor. It went something like this:

"Are you Olivia's mother?"

"Yes."

"This is Doctor Blank up at Primary Children's Hospital. (pause) How quickly can you bring Olivia in?"

"Why, what's wrong?"

"We need to speak with you regarding Olivia's blood work. We'll probably be admitting her and possibly other things. We need you up here as soon as possible."

My stomach dropped. I was really scared. I had no idea what was going on and almost afraid to find out. I headed back up there for the third time in 40 hrs.

Again Olivia was subject to more testing, more doctors, more poking. They did an ultrasound on her and found a couple of puss pockets on her left hip. Then they tried to stick a needle in her hip to withdraw fluid from those pockets to do a culture, however she was just to little and they couldn't get anything. She was awake the whole time being a brave girl. She was so sick. I wished I could have endured all her pain so that she wasn't going through it. About 3 p.m the decided to do surgery.

My Grandma and Grandpa came up with their home teachers and placed their hands on her head. She received a blessing of healing. I have a strong testimony that blessings help those that need them, as long as it is God's will.

Olivia was taken into surgery, for about two hours she was gone. I could barely hold myself together. I waited while she woke up, then helped her with a Popsicle. They had to put her in quarantine room, with another child that had RSV. I barely slept all night. The next morning she woke up and was practically back to normal. We played all weekend in the hospital. She recovered quickly and was sent home. She had to have a pick line installed.

After she came back home, she had to receive strong antibiotics through IV for about 3 months. I was so happy to have her home, but sad to see a child learn medical procedures so well.

She had a Staphylococcal Infection.

To this day if she sees wrapping tape, she throws it away. Was really frustrated when I had foot surgery this last summer.

She is so special in my laugh and makes me laugh on a daily basis. I am so glad she is with us and is blossoming into such a beautiful little girl.

Vote for my Niece

Abra has not yet posted this link, but I found Piper was entered into a contest at this link http://www.thebinghamdiaries.com/ so put your clicker there and start voting!!!!!!!!

Sorry Kymberlee. I like you, but I gotta plug my niece. Nepotism......

A new New Years Resolution.

So much is happening around me this season, some good, some bad. I look at my children and think how luckily I am to have such generally healthy, happy, growing children. Johnathan is so nice to us all and he has accepted everyone of my children has his own.

Life overall is good. There is economic stress, Johnathan for his Christmas bonus received a 5% decrease in pay. My plant I work at has until April to show a larger gross profit, or they may be forced to shut their doors. Today we are okay.

I love this time of year. I don't expect much from anybody in the way of gifts, I just like to spend time with my family. I would love to have all my brothers and sisters together this year, but that is not possible, so I really hope the ones that are here will pop in for Christmas dinner. I promise no recycled pineapples this year.

I think that with all the stress around, we just need to be thankful for what we have and who we have around us. You never know what God's plan has in store. Enjoy the time we have now, because tomorrow it may be gone.

I think the biggest regrets I hear when people die is "I wish we had more time." Not, "I should have gotten that special thingy they wanted." I love the fact almost my whole family blogs and we can stay in touch, but I miss all the letters, tangible things I could hold onto forever. I miss seeing the handwriting improve over years. I miss the doodles on the side of the paper. I miss that. I am not one for doing snail mail very well.

This next year close friends and family, my goal is at least once, send a snail letter, and pictures from the children, that you can chose to display, store or throw away. Regardless how sentimental you are, at least I will have the satisfaction that I did something I want from all of you.

I love you all tons and I miss you so much.

Phone calls can change a lot......

I am still teed-off at my ex, however my eyes are full of tears again.

I haven't lived in Herriman very long, however we have an awesome ward. I met this gal Heather. She has one of those amazing houses and about 8 kids. I saw not too long ago, as she hosted dessert at a Relief Society progressive dinner.

Shockingly her baby died yesterday.

She was an adorable baby girl about 4 months old.

My heart drops a little. I think of my children and how I would feel to lose one of them and the thought just makes me shudder.

I don't even want to imagine what the family is feeling right now.

Let's keep the family in our prayers, that they will find peace with God and the strength to carry on during their grieving process.

Sometimes you just hafta yell and scream!

I am sad today. I was sad last night. I am frustrated too. Let's throw exasperated in there too.

This is a venting post. I have to get it out, so I can continue on in life without it consuming my thoughts.

My ex-husband is a self absorbed, egotistic, control freak. Sorry, our children who may read this. I've tried hiding it for years, but I can't anymore.

I let him know, two weeks ago what time frame I could take the boys this year for the holidays. I specified the 24th of Dec until the 4th of Jan. Anytime in between there. He wants me to get them on the 20th of Dec. and bring them back on the 27th.

My son's b-day is on the 29th, besides Christmas, New Years......UGH!

I've come up with several different arrangements, but nothing is good for him. Why???? Because his girlfriend's daughter is leaving that week and it's convenient for them and because the boys need a WHOLE week to play with their Christmas toys at their Dad's house before they go back to school.

Let's see.......the 26th Sabrina has surgery, I have to take a full week off to stay home with her. If she wasn't haven't surgery I couldn't even have that off. I offered to take them the 24th-27th then pick them up the 1st-4th.

Am I being irrational? unreasonable?

For seven years he has had our children every Christmas, every Thanksgiving, every other New Year. I have invited this man who insulted my family and me for years and still does, to every birthday party and important event in our children's lives.

He won't let Andrew get baptized now, he is almost 9. He won't let them attend scouts. He who chastised me for not having time to put them in after school programs won't do the same.

My son Andrew struggles there, because Mary ( his girlfriend) dislikes me. Andrew is the squeaky wheel so to say, so he gets the wrath of her anger.

I guess I can be thankful that he (my ex) chooses to remind me why we are exes and no longer together. I try and pray for him, but it so hard to do when you are doing your best not to picture running him over in your car.

I just miss my boys right now. I wish my ex could see the benefits if we work together, not a part.

I'm drying my tears and taking a deep breath and restarting the day.

Exclaimations of Olivia

In the last month or so Olivia has really blossomed in her use of vocabulary. Yesterday, while driving home Johnathan and I were contemplating what to do with the 4 remaining children while we accompany Sabrina for her surgery. Andrew is my most worrisome child. He has high anxiety regarding this kind of situations, which can be troublesome for babysitters.

Rosie volunteered to watch the boys and Olivia, and reminded me that Andrew would be stressed out and being home with his toys would keep him busy. I mentioned though that if he went with Johnathan and I, that we could talk to him and ease his fears. Rosie said that she would be willing to talk to him if he got to worrying too badly.

Olivia then exclaimed : "NO! I will talk to him."

Andrew is so lucky to have so many loving and caring sisters!

Finally a Picture of Johnathan

Let me introduce Johnathan.

When we first met, we both felt a strange attraction to each other. At the time we were both dealing with our own complicated relationships. Often we were on each other's minds, however due to respect of our current relationship complications, we were barely what you called friends. When our paths did cross, we enjoyed our time together and left a lasting impression on each others mind.

He has since then, not only become my fiance, but my best friend as well. I can share anything with him and him with me. I think my favorite part of this relationship is that we can agree to disagree. We value each others right to have individual thoughts and ideas.


I am not saying that we never have disagreements, but we actually communicate with each other. He has a strong testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith and he loves to listen to Hymns. Although, we have not announced an exact wedding date, the day we run away and elope may come sooner then later.

"I do my thing and you do your thing. I am not in this world to live up to your expectations, And you are not in this world to live up to mine. You are you, and I am I, and if by chance we find each other, it's beautiful. If not, it can't be helped."

(Fritz Perls, 1969)

Just another post.

ggg, rrr,vvvv, ah bay say.

I listen to these sounds beening sung so sweetly, wait rewind, being belted at the top of Sabrina lungs as we drive to work/school/daycare. She sort of has the tune to ABC in her belting so I think that is what she is attempting to sing.

Olivia and Sabrina gave the kittens a soap bath last night. Ugh! I figure if they survived these first 2 1/2 weeks, they'll hopefully make it. I know the girls just want to show love, but the book/movie Of Mice or Men keeps popping up in my head.

Johnathan's Aunt died that helped raise him yesterday. We are driving to Saint George late Thursday night and won't be back until Saturday morning. It's sad, but she was about 90 years old, so it wasn't much of a surprise.

I am not going crazy!

I recently have moved. During this move I misplaced my plates, silverware, and odd and ends of dishes. I didn't remember packing them, although they weren't at the old house. I really was beginning to think I was losing it. We searched high and low, Rosie and Johnathan helped out at times, until last Saturday.

I went to the old house to clean the yard, and much to my surprise came across several bags of garbage that were behind the house. I started to but them into the empty garbage can, when I heard some clanks. I looked into the bag and found several dishes.

Being a kid growing up I had a Mr. Nobody living in our family. It's a lot easier having a Mr. Nobody when you have a lot of siblings. Mr. Nobody hid veggies, track mud, shoved things under the bed, left lights on, and in one instant got into some mice poison. However Mr. Nobody doesn't fly over very well when the family unit at home full time is, a mom, an eleven year old and twin two year olds.

I know that I didn't place the dishes in the garbage bag and haul them out to the backyard and hide them for me to find one surprisingly chilly Saturday. I highly doubt the odds are that the twins packed them out to the backyard, considering the bag weighed more then them. Through process of elimination we would have to assume that the eleven year old has had her hand to this mystery of events.

At last no, it was Mr. Nobody! I swear I am positive. However, whether or not who did it, I have decided to allow Mr. Nobody to contribute to my household and pay my eleven year old's cell phone bill for a while. After all he is a member of the family!

Weekend Ketchup

This weekend was too busy for me! I had fun though.

Friday night Johnathan and I joined his brother and his wife for dinner and a movie. We saw Four Christmases.......it was dumb. I laughed at the areas shown in the previews, and at the end, but I wouldn't recommend it.

I completely finished my Christmas shopping, Yeah me! I know you are all jealous!

Saturday I attended a workshop through People Helping People. I will receive an award Thursday night for accomplishments I have made.

Then I got my car emissioned and inspected!

Then I went grocery shopping.

I stayed up late, getting a head start on wrapping presents for the family. Wrapping not Rapping. Uncle David couldn't understand why the twins would enjoy RAPPING now so much, but in their older years, they wouldn't care so much for it.

Sunday, we went to church, sort of. We made it to Sacrament meeting. Sabrina was so ornery that she had to do a time out. She also burped so loud the people around us starting laughing! We took them to nursery and went to Sunday School. Then Sabrina had a stinky diaper. When we stop to get a drink from the water fountain, I noticed her cheeks were flushed! I felt her head and she she had a little fever. No wonder she was ornery. We went home early and all took naps. Nancy, that's why I never called you back!

Sunday night, we felt refreshed and joined our Layton Family for the annual Christmas party. It was fun to chat amongst my family and see how much the little kids have all grown!

Meet Andrew

Andrew, my baby Bubba!


I joke and say Andrew was the most planned out of my children, but really he wasn't.

I like the fact all my children showed up in my life as surprises.

Andrew was my baby for six long years. He is a difficult child, unless you understand him. It's hard for me, because he wants to come back and live with me, but his Dad says he can't until he's been good for a whole year. He's eight, nine in March.

I can always count on him climbing into bed with me to watch morning cartoons. I hope he never gets too old for that. He watches over his sisters like a hawk.

He probably is the most like I was growing up.

Andrew has ODD (oppositional defiant disorder). It has been hard, but to see him go from a baby into toddler, preschool, kindergarten and now into a young man, I want to cry.

I am so proud of him. I love all my kids dearly, but he is the squeakiest. (Parents should understand that term.)

Okay, enough mushy.....Story time........

My most vivid story was when the twins were born. Andrew was in Kindergarten then. Since I was having the twins with a planned c-section 5 weeks early, Andrew and I went to a huge hospital to have some tests done.

He was really worried about the babies and me. He watched through his fingers covering his eyes, as they stuck this big needle in my belly to check the fluid. "That's not hurting the you mommy?" "Don't poke the babies," he cautioned the technician. He watched as the alien like pictures moved in the crowed dorm. "Those are them?" "Do they have skin?"

We moved on to another room, where they hooked me up to a monitor and watched contractions and magnified the heart beat. I should him when the lines spiked, the babies were active. He watched patiently for about 45 mins, letting me know when the girls were active. (Thanks Andrew, I needed you to tell that!)

He loved to wheel me with the nurses help around the hospital to the car. He climbed in the car, smiles on his face. I went to climb in the car, and my water broke!

He was so excited! The babies were here! I guess God finally put all the pieces together! (see previous post on Andrew's sayings) I never had seen such a huge grin on such a little guy's face! He was such a proud brother, and still is!

I how I Feel Right Now.........

Emotions...............not Physically

I have a new car, with a CD player, and put in an old Christmas CD in it. My Dad made it for me years ago. I love Christmas music. I love Christmas Lights. I love the Christmas Season. I could do without Christmas Day.

I love giving, I love the atmosphere, but the actual day....

I am thinking next year, when my life is more together.....HA! Like this'll ever happen, I want to do the 12 days of Christmas. That way Christmas day we can focus just on family and the Christ part.

As soon as the twins are old enough, I want to go and volunteer our time doing a service project as a whole family.

I want to spend more time with my family. Life can change so quickly, and I don't ever want my kids to say Grandpa Who?

I really need to get a web cam and Skypee, so I can stay in touch with my sisters more, and our kids can know each other.

Growing up I loved knowing everyone. I knew my mom's cousins, their kids, etc. I loved that. I loved having cousins around, and truly knowing them.

When did life became so complicated? I remember not to long ago, life was fun.

I'm not saying there aren't any fun moments, but I could do without the traffic, text messages, emails, inpersonalizations. I miss getting hand written letters in the mail. I've saved pretty much all of them! Nancy's, David's, Abra's, Josie's even Erica's books she send. I have notes from Grandmas, Aunts, and anyone who thought so kind to write.

This year, I pulled the last five years worth of Christmas cards out. I have the last one from Grandma Conrad. I cry a little every year I've pulled it out.

Life still goes on. I have work to do today. I house to put away tomorrow.........

Sabrina....Medical Update.....

Just a quick note to let everyone know,

Sabrina is having surgery on her sinuses on the 26th of December. This isn't the huge one she may have to go through, but the doctor hopes that she'll be part of the 50% that this more minor surgery, will cure.

I will post more, sometime, life is hectic.......I feel a need to blog more, comment more, but I can't feel it right now.........

Back to reality.....

Okay, I survived the accident, still sore and bruised, but life is returning to somewhat normality?

I need to set up a desk at home, or get a wireless adapter. I also need to find my USB adapter for my memory card on my phone, I got a few pictures to add to the blog, but not yet.

I have a concussion, that they hope will go away by Friday, I am hoping too. I see a chiropractor and massage therapist three times a week. I have returned to work now, as much as I can. I am ditsy a little, but who really would notice that change, right?

I have a new car, we bought at an auction. If this one gets wrecked, I'll make a profit!

Rosie won first in literature on a essay she wrote for a contest at school. She got a trophy and a couple tickets to a show at the planetarium. The essay was under the topic WOW!. She wrote an essay about her Great Grandma Layton, a Woman of Worth. Get it?

We are going to frame her essay and give it to Grandma for Christmas. Shhhhhhh......don't tell her!

The twins are so into the terrible twos/threes.....ugh! They just have to touch and get into EVERYTHING! They are fascinated by makeup and powders. I think I'll outlaw makeup in my house, I don't wear it.......

This age is such a hard age, because although they have the ability to open, climb, move, maneuver, reach, balance, squeeze, etc., they don't have the cognitive ability to see after maths.
Or maybe they do and they don't care! It's very exasperating!