Venting Rampage.....Again!

Last week, I was very busy with various things throughout the week, so the housework suffered. By the end of the week, I was in a ton of pain, because I really overdid it last week, thinking I could conquer the world, and my body reminding me that I really can't.
So, the house is a disaster. I mean a total disaster! I would post pictures of how dirty it is, but let's get real....that would be embarrassing!
So, I start today on my quest to get it cleaned. Now, last week the comment came up with a friend of mine that her husband would not like it well if she expected him to help out around the house! Me however, I do expect Steve to help. I just don't feel like I can possibly do everything by myself. I put a lot of time into my children, making sure all of their various activities are taken care of, the homework, volunteering in their classroom, being room mom for both boys....etc, as the list could go on an on, and I am sure all of you mothers understand! I don't expect Steve to do everything, but he does occasionally do a load of dishes, fold the laundry, and sometimes even cooks dinner. I think I have a great husband and he is very helpful. But, after this conversation with my friend, I started to feel like a total looser that I can't possibly do everything....and stay sane! She was saying that as a stay-at-home mom, it is her job to do everything. However, I think being a stay-at-home mom means that my kids are my job and my first priority! Not that either she or I am wrong.....just a difference of oppinions. I guess I was just left the conversation feeling like a loser!
So, and here is where the ranting starts......Today, I was going to be the perfect stay-at-home mom and accomplish everything. Breakfast was served to everyone, and they were all dressed, in warm clothes straight from the drier! The kids got to school on time, despite the 10 feet of visibility through the fog. Averi and Wyatt both got put down for their morning naps. The cat got fed. I scanned important documents into my computer, only to find out that I can't email them where they need to go, because my computer is malfunctioning! Therefore, a ten minute phone call was made to fix the problem. Then, I made six phone calls to parents to try and get them to help me with the two Christmas parties that the boys have next week on the same day that I am in charge of. I saved the cat from the Christmas tree that Averi stuck him in, and then turned around and saved the cat that Averi locked in our entertainment center. I watered the Christmas tree. I started a load of laundry, and then decided, o.k....now its time to tackle the housework! Remember what a disaster it is because I was in too much pain to clean it last week.
Here are my thoughts on cleaning the house:
* Is it really that hard to put shoes into your bedroom when you take them off?
* Is it really hard to put your dirty socks into the dirty clothes pile?
* When you drink a soda, is it really that hard to take an extra three feet and put in into the recycler bag, than it would be to leave it on the counter top?
* Is it really that hard to put a pencil away in the pencil box after you use it?
* And toys...lets not ever get started with how hard it would be to put a toy away after playing with it!
* Is it really that hard to hang up a towel after you use it?
* It is really that hard to take an extra step to throw a wrapper away instead of throwing it on the ground for Mom to clean up?
* Is it really that hard to put dirty dishes into the sink after you use them?
* Is it really that hard to replace the trash can liner when you take the trash out?

O.k., I think everyone gets the point! The problem is, I have only been cleaning for about 1/2 hour! I'm sure the list will go on and on during the day.
My point, and yes I am finally getting to it is this: Am I the only 'loser' out there that expects help from my husband? And my last thought, I don't think that I have properly trained my family on these various points described above? Hey, it sounds like a good topic for our next FHE!

Wish me luck...I still have to finish cleaning the house, run to the dollar store, run to the grocery store, help the kid with their homework, work on sewing Averi's quilt for Christmas, study at least two sections for my BYU distance course, and mow the front lawn!

Christmas Parade!

The highlight of the evening!
Photographer Ethan snapping away. I realized it is very rare that I ever post myself on my blog, because I am usually the one taking the pictures!

Wyatt all bundled up!

Averi thought this was wonderful...a pink corvette with a princess in it!

All four of my little joys all bundled up.

Last night, I met up with the Hull and White Family, and we all ventured over to the Christmas Parade downtown. Of course when we got there all in separate cars, we lost each other, and I ended up parking nine blocks away and just walking to the parade, and never found Krystal or Michelle again! Can you imagine that in a crowd of 20,000 people?

The parade was really fun, and got me into the Christmas spirit, probably because the kids enjoyed it so much! They were really well behaved, and we had to stay til the very end so that we could see Santa. The kids eyes were about as big as saucers when Santa and Mrs. Claus went by! They were all really excited. It was a cold and fun time, but boy...am I exhausted today!

All I Ever Needed To Know, I Learned In The First Ten Years Of Marriage!

Let me just start by saying that Steve isn't an animal lover. He doesn't mind them...he just doesn't really want to have any pets. I have talked before about getting a cat, and he always says, "don't do that."
So, I realized this week, that even though we have been married for ten years, there is still a lot that I am learning about Steve. As everyone knows, Averi is definitely 'Daddy's Little Girl." Well, Averi loves animals, especially cats! She always pretends that she is a pink kitty. Well...Steve has been traveling a lot for work lately...sigh...the last three out of four weeks he has been gone. (I'm not complaining....just stating facts!) So, I decided that it was time to get Averi a kitten of her own. Of course, I didn't tell Steve ahead of time, because he would say no. I just figured I would deal with him later. So, Averi and I went to a friend of a friends house...and picked out our kitten. We named him Louis. He is a very sweet cat, and basically let Averi torture,....I mean take care of him. So, we got the cat on a Tuesday, and I figured that I had until Steve got home on Friday to break the news to him. However, when we called Daddy on the phone to say goodnight, Averi talked to him for about five minutes straight all about her cat named Louis, and how much she loves him, etc, etc, etc.... So, here I am sweating bullets, and I get back on the phone with Steve....I said, "How much trouble am I in?" Guess what he says!...."None, honey, she really loves that cat, and I haven't heard her that excited in a long time!".......I'm just sitting there thinking, "you have got to be kidding me!" I have a feeling that Averi is going to get anything in life she wants, and I am going to be the one to put my foot down to her!

Instead of being happy that he wasn't upset, I learned a very important lesson about Steve and our marriage that night......Whenever I want something, I am just going to go out and get it and let Averi break the news to Steve!

Averi and Louis

Twilight

Last Tuesday, Gretchen, Amy, Krystal, Melissa, and I went and saw Twilight! It was fun to be with the girls, and even better because it has been about two years since I have been to the movie theatre to see an adult movie. The first two minutes, I was disappointed, thinking...how could this be the movie....the acting is so juvenile! I realized that I had to abandon all preconceived notions that I had. After I did, I really enjoyed it! I am looking forward to going back to take Steve to see the movie! Yes, I am one of those rare women where my husband not only read the series, but he read it three times! Hmmm...does that sound like anyone we know?....Lani!

Thanksgiving Pictures

I am once again back blogging, because of a computer crash! I should have posted these pictures a week ago...but, oh well! Our family celebrated Thanksgiving on the Saturday before the actual holiday. We have done this the last two years, so that all of our family...cousins, uncles, aunts, etc....make sure that we can all get together. We celebrated it up at dad and mom's house, and it was truly a wonderful day! After dinner, we went for the traditional walk around the neighborhood. We do this every year now, as we used to take a walk along the golf course out at Nonny and Poppy's house when they were still alive. I love traditions!

Here are some photos of the day!

Cousin Ben and Averi looking out at the golf course.
Wyatt, trying to crawl under all the chairs in the dining room....Look at that guilty look after he got caught!

My cousin Briana's boyfriend Danny. As you can see, he fit right into the family!

Cousin Dylan scaling the walls!

My cousin Cambria, or better known as Bernie!

My cousin Bre holding Dylan!

Twins!

Averi and her new best friend Morgan. As guests for dinner, Morgan and her mom Heather, which is a family that my dad home teaches came over and joined us.

The newest addition to the family.....Zorin! Brady and Cambria's little boy.

Averi...relaxing!

My family....I was trying to get a picture for our Christmas cards, but it didn't turn out to well.

The Burton, Johnson, Smith, and Facer families!


I hope all my family and friends had a very Happy Thanksgiving....and now its time for Christmas!

To Torrie!

Torrie, please come home and cut my hair! My mommy is too afraid to do it, and she doesn't want to hold scissors around me! I like to squirm around a lot now, and grab at anything that I can! Please help me before my hair gets anymore out of control!

Kids Say The Funniest Things!

Leave it to my children to keep me on my toes, and bring laughter to the home. I had the funniest experience tonight......At dinner, it was Averi's turn to say the blessing on the food. She usually does this all by herself! It is really cute to listen to her say prayer. However, tonight, she asked me if I would help her. So, I started whispering in her ear what to say. Somehow, she must have misunderstood what I was whispering, because half way through the prayer, it came out like this:

Mom: "Bless this food."
Averi: "Bless this food."
Mom: "Help it to nourish us."
Averi: "Thank you for nothing!"

I burst out laughing right in the middle of the prayer, and couldn't even help her finish. So, Averi, being the dramatic three year old she is, looks up at me, puts her hands on her hips, and yells A-M-E-N!