Mighty Mighty Rudds

Betty May Chamberlain Wells

2011-05-23T15:49:00.001-07:00

My Grandma died during these last few months of blog boredom. She has been fading for a few years now but had been fending it off. After a final heart attack she was sent home on hospice care to be with her family until the end....during the first few days of being home she told us that she was waiting until her 90th birthday. She died the day before because we think she decided it would be more fun to celebrate with her son, Larry, and her sisters instead. Up there she could dance and eat cake and REALLY celebrate! It was really hard to see her suffering and in the state between life and death for so many days. Grandma was very prim and proper and didn't like being seen without her hair in place and stockings on. She was an old school thinker, dancer and performer. She was fiesty and adventurous in her own right. I miss her lots and was reminded of that today when I went to go clean Grandpa's house and noticed he still has her old hair pins and perfume bottles sitting on her vanity. We are so grateful for her courage in accepting the message from 2 young 19 year old boys and being baptized in the church so that we can have the peace that we will see her again!

Okay, so this is soooo white trash but my Grandma was buried in California and my dad thought it would be really nice if we borrowed that thing (kind of a midget motor home) and drove her to California (that is her in the back of the truck...I know) and let her see the beach one last time before we buried her. I think she came down and turned her body over a few times just to let us know how she felt about it! We looked ridiculous but Grandpa wouldn't let that coffin out of his sight so...sorry Grandma it was all your husband and son's idea!It was the most beautiful cemetery I have ever seen...only the best for Grandma, that was so her.

My kids in the "RV". It was a fun trip for them and the first time they have had any experience with death. The glove lesson has been taught by each one of them at FHE since then, it is now their favorite to teach about the resurrection with the purple glove!

I am sure she is dancing in heaven right now in a beautiful dress designed by Larry and I know my Grandpa can't wait to be her partner again!

catch up attempt #1

2011-05-23T15:37:00.000-07:00

What every woman wants on Mother's Day, a shirtless man vacuuming her house, sticking his bum out no less.
Awesome soccer player, he still beat boxes when he has got the ball.

Reading to the boys, love these moments.

Quattro won a writing award for the district, his Tooth Story won over hundreds of other Kindergarteners. We are very proud!

Tres as a ballerina, so cute.

Tres's 5th Birthday! She is five...HOLY COW!

Holy Moly!

2011-05-03T08:11:00.001-07:00

I have been avoiding coming on here because seeing the date December 6th is so overwhelming and depressing! It has been waaaaay too long and there is a good reason for it.

I am lazy/busy and feeling very uninspired/too inspired! Nothing cool to report on and sooo much to report on at the same time makes for a very difficult time figuring out what to write about...does that make sense?

So anyway, a quicky update to be followed up by a really good update later but now things are way to crazy to get it all laid out.

1. we are moving. June 11th. Just two streets over but still is a lot of work. especially because it is followed up by a lot of stuff that leaves me wishing I could be cloned to get it all done. Including refinishing an entertainment center, 2 captians beds, and a china hutch and making (from scratch mind you) a washer dryer pedastal. Pics when done.

2. I have nothing else to say. Other than my life has exploded into a daily dose of work, taking care of house, running children to and fro, menu planning and meal fixing, saving while spending money, and other really fun blog worthy topics! Sounds fun huh? Ahh the life of a woman.

Now you know why I have not been blogging.

But here is a picture anyway.

See and this is how busy I am-I don't have time to go searching for a picture that is not a close up of my big ol' booty climbing a mountain but who are we kidding is there really an angle that would be better? Not really so, oh well. This is my butt. In all it's glory, harnesses and all.

...hey I do have blog worthy things in my life!

I should just look at my pictures for inspiration...like this picture:

totally inspirational. He's in a bucket. Weirdo. And nice balloon sword.

cards

2010-12-06T15:39:00.001-08:00

want one? address please! if you don't want to post it you can email it to bethyrudd@yahoo.com

Our break

2010-11-14T15:59:00.000-08:00

We actually got away for a few days! I know, it only took us 10 years. It was much needed and it was so much fun. So here are some pics to get you jealous that you weren't with us.

This is me sailing. I was also peeing my pants I look like I am smiling but really the wind just dried my teeth off and stuck mylip like that. I have a little fear of the water and the boat was at "full tilt" and there is a really good reason why it is called that. See the horizon. IT wasn't the one tilted. That was us and for most of the time I was standing in a side lunge just to keep myself from tipping out of the boat. It was awesome and I am hooked! This is hubby. He got to steer on the way back in...aka when it got easy. I decided he is better at driving because he was WAY less tense and I am better at running around tacking and working the lines. I feel so cool that I know what all that means...no really I do. We were on a Capri 38 (called that cause it was 38 feet-again feeling cool)---gorgeous huh? We added this to our list of "things we will own someday" right between beachhouse and private plane. It was so awesome to sail this thing! So much speed and adrenaline! Can't wait to take the kids next time!
Out on open water while out instructor handled things long enough for us to snap a quick picture. This is a very close up shot and i think I may have a receding hairline and I hate that my right eye is a little smaller than my left...it is because I can raise my left eyebrow so my muscles are stronger around that eye. Try as I might I CANNOT get my right eye to follow suit. FYI not that I am critical of myself but seriously who can help it with a picture this close with a flash after 2 hours of being wind whipped and 6 hours riding in the car? blast you digital.

We went here...CA Adventure. We had never been before and we decided that we won't ever go again without visiting Disneyland too, it just wasn't the same. See how clever we are, we stood in front of the R cause out last name is RUDD!?
Mr. Rudd and Mr. Spudd. No relation but the resemblance is uncanny! A little sidenote, when I graduated from BYU we had to write our name and how it was said on a card so that they didn't mess it up by saying "Rude" (yeah it happens) instead of Rudd so I wrote "R-U-D-D rhymes with Spud, like a potato" and then when Tait got his bachelors and then his Masters we did it again. So now I feel a special connection to Spud's not to mention I graduated from Ricks which is in Idaho-you know, where they grow potatos. Hence the picture.Me being scared on the Ferris Wheel. But not just any ferris wheel, a scary one. Seriously, I thought we were going to die and check out that Freaky Mickey chasing me.
This is the best and, yes, I am the white trash that takes a picture of a screen so as not to have pay money to get a picture of myself with a bunch of strangers. (weird concept--have you ever run into someone that you can swear you recognize? check your photo album they may have been sitting next to you on the Tower of Terror) But look at us...and then look at the little girl sitting next to us. Cowards! Disclaimer: it was our first time? yeah, it doesn't help me feel better about it either.
This is us being muppets while waiting for the 3-D Muppet extravaganza. There was no wait at this "ride" and now we know why.
This is us after we left the 3-D Muppet Extravaganza 5 minutes after it started and right after a Do-do bird exploded in my face. Seriously people 3-D isn't a new concept...
This is our friend Olga, she was afraid of getting wait and rightly so because it was getting dark and walking around in wet jeans=chaffing. Some people were making fun of her but I say better to be made fun of for a minute than to be chaffed for hours. Smart, smart lady.All in all I give it 2 thumbs up. Here's to another 10 years! May my sanity last until then.

Wait, do I know that guy?!

Halloweiners a little late

2010-11-14T15:41:00.000-08:00

Now that I have seen yours I will show you mine... (hee hee wink wink)

Spanish Dancer

"I am a robot, I am a robot"

Super girl

"rrrraaaaaarrrrrrr" Dragon going as LL Cool Jay

We went to a Trunk or Treat. It was fun. Tait and I dressed up as Barbie and Ken pre plastic surgery. We won best costume. We were VERY beleivable-I think I should be a little bit offended. I was the before picture.

Now you are caught up on our Halloween. Exciting huh?

He is 6!

2010-10-05T16:51:00.000-07:00

This guys turned six!

This picture pretty much sums him up. A hand on each mouth. Classic Dos.

He is in kindergarten and loves it (most days). He is my nurturer of the family but he is no pushover. He stands up for himself and usually stands up for the underdog too. He loves legos and he claims he is going to be an inventor someday. I tell him it is called an Engineer but he refuses and says he will be "Inventor dos". I say okay. He is my boy and he is my one I turn to when I need to be told I am "lovely" or when I need a spontaneous hug and smooch. He also sweats a lot. That is something about him that makes me laugh all the time. He has an infectious laugh and he has the thickest, darkest hair and just a trace of freckles across his nose. he cracks me up everyday with his little known facts about fish, dinosaurs, hurricanes, trains, etc. He doesn't read stories he only reads non fiction type books where he can learn about whatever he happens to be into in that moment. He is fabulous and I am glad that he is mine and that I get to help guide him to becoming the man he wants to be. Even if it is a pirate.

This kid...

2010-10-05T16:45:00.001-07:00

My baby.

He is just wonderful.

Angel Retreat

2010-10-05T16:35:00.000-07:00

I went away with some of my angels a few weeks ago.

We got away from it all.

We stayed up way too late and ate way too much food.

We dragged the Duece and danced with Cheerleaders.

We shopped and bought and laughed and painted our toes.

It was fun! I highly recommend it.

When I got home I found a clean house, a gone motorcycle, a load taken to the dump, and this...

Someone went to Costco.

How did this happen?

2010-10-05T16:05:00.000-07:00

She's nine and I am 31.

She has been through a lot in her 9 years and I have been through a lot in my 31 and we are both stronger for it...I hope!

She is amazing. So helpful and loving (when she wants to be). She is an excellent writer and very creative. She has already written lots of books and is has a goal of being published and has had me searching for a writing agent since she was 5. She loves her treasures and her room can prove it. She laughs a lot and is wanting to be grown up. She loves to sit and talk with Hubby and I and tell us about her day and just be invovled in the everyday hubbub. She has been my saving grace in so many occasions. She is one of my distractions and a lovely one at that. When I need someone to bring me back to reality she does it and it fulfills me and fills me to the brink. It has been a priviledge to watch her grow and to be a part of her plan. I know we were friends before this life and I am glad she accepted me as her mother--flaws, craziness and all my glory~!

P.S. sorry it has been so long, I haven't been able to get pics up for a while and so I didn't want to post. But now i have lots to catch up on!

2010-08-23T08:07:00.001-07:00

A thief in the night

2010-08-09T09:46:00.000-07:00

I broke into my house yesterday using a library card.

I knew paying the $40 in fines (I like to call it a donation to the literacy of the children of Mesa) and getting that thing renewed would be worth it.

I was a spy in a former life, I am sure of it.

Hubby said it was sexy, I think so too.
Angelina has nothing on me-except maybe three nannies and millions but whatever.

So if you hear someone at your door tonight it may just be me or it may be a thief in the night but if it is me I am probably just trying to steal enough to pay my library fines, I mean donations.

***by the way in case you are a theif in the night and you are reading this I am totally lying to make myself feel like Angelina oh and we have a gun...no guns, big ones and I have a wicked awesome karate kick, just ask the teufels in Mutters. (thanks Billy)

Cause I forget how long it has been

2010-07-16T15:37:00.000-07:00

I look at other people's blogs and how good they are at writing about cool stuff they do and cool things their kids say and then I look at mine and I think, "sure it is fun, but will it really make a difference to my posterity?" ---------then I remember I don't care.

So here is to the last few months!

Sesame Street Live Dos and Tres were GETTIN' DOWN

Elmo told him to close his eyes-so he did, nice how he listens to Elmo and not his mother. These are the memories Tait will have of his 31st Birthday.
Happy Birthday!

Oh what do you do in the summertime?

We like to jump off stuff.

The 3rd of July 2010

You may think that is weird unless you were alive in that year to remember that the 4th was on Sunday. We went to a little community festival--it was a lot of fun and made me feel like we live in a nice, safe world where they whistle the Mayberry Song, until they rolled out the heavy artillery-then I remembered. The armored hummer. The kids loved it.

Bet you guys didn't do what we did next...

Fireworks, they are these super cool things that they shoot off and then they light off in different patterns, shapes and colors. They light up the night sky and are very loud.

If you just took this picture at face value and with a little knowledge of my son, Dos you would think that this was some kind of torture hold he had Tres placed in...But you would be wrong, because even though Dos wears a skull and cross bones tie to church and resembles Sid from Toy Story, he actually is dancing with his sister. He taught her the correct hold and everything. He is such a uber sweet kid...most of the time.

Tres was very concerned that I wasn't actually taking the picture so she was making sure.

My exciting life as I know it...my children are wonderful!!!!!!! Posterity, I hope you enjoy. Just remember where you came from and where you are going...wise words from your Great, great grandma. I hope I am dead by now, or that Christ has come already cause otherwise I am going to be one very miserable woman.

Hola, Mi Nombre Es Bethany

2010-07-16T15:09:00.000-07:00

Only in the valley will you find this...
a melted pen.

A favorite melted pen, and when I say favorite I mean FAVORITE. Like once I put up reward posters for a favorite pen when at college and found it, and when on a date with the boy who found it--that was the reward (HA!)...but only because he was cute if he would have been ugly I totally had a backup candy bar in my purse. I like me some favorite pens, just not melted. There is no coming back from this one.

A Kids Club Home Depot Apron...en espanol.

Ich spreche deutsch, y tu? (I speak german (in german) and you? (in spanish) ) I am fluent in two languages at the same time...doesn't do much good really.

and finally, clouds that actually say, and I quote: "Nanee, Nanee, boo, boo you can't catch me." AKA "Liar clouds", as named by dos. Clouds that make us think it is going to rain and then they lie. Thanks for the humidity and the 115 degree heat but take your false hopes and leave (unless you really are going to rain on us this time and then you can stay). We are all far too trusting. Blasted LIAR CLOUDS (said with upturned face and fists as the words echo in my head).

Why do we live here again? (to be answered in February when you are all smothered and crying because it is freezing on Valentines Day when we are out hiking, riding bikes and generally enjoying the 9 months of heaven here!)

Agriculture lesson

2010-07-07T17:56:00.000-07:00

Tres is funny.

She has discovered the magic behind where milk comes from.

She explained to Cuatro that she knows how to make milk.

You take the white powder and put it in a bottle and then put some water in and put the lid on the bottle, the one with the weird bump on it.

Then you shake it.

That is how Heavenly Father makes our milk.

field trip to a dairy farm anyone?

Time Out For Women

2010-06-24T12:23:00.001-07:00

Really the name of this is weird cause I am used to thinking that a Time Out is a negative thing. Like one of those old school wooden chairs that has "TIME OUT" carved in it however, this event is not bad it is good, very, very good.

It is so good in fact that we are doing the "Hope Project" this year, the coolest service project I have ever been involved in, here is a little ditty about it:

http://deseretbook.com/video/view/454

You can register for an earlybird discount now and there are scholarships available!

Revenge of the Gunny Man

2010-06-18T08:13:00.000-07:00

In our home we have a tradition that the "Gunny Man" comes and visits after the alotted cleaning up time. I bring in a sack and sing:

Here comes the Gunny Man
Yum, Yummy, Yummy!
He eats up all the toys

And puts them in his tummy!

Usually this is a fun and funny thing to do as the kids run around cleaning up all the last few things and I come in singing and stomping my feet acting like I am eating up stuff and then being disappointed when there is nothing to eat...However,

This morning it all went haywire...

Dos decided that he WAS NOT going to clean up his room. So I told him that he needed to stay in his room until it was clean (I actually did do this calmly and matter of factly) and then I moved on to the Cleaning of the Playroom (I capitalize it because it is an event-a 45 minute event in our house)with the kiddos that had finished their rooms (don't worry I left plenty of mess for him to clean up too-there is always plenty to go around). A while later I walked down the hallway to give him a gentle reminder that we were going to have popsicles and when his jobs were done he could join us....but he was nowhere to be seen---I was shocked (not really).

(this is on a somewhat tame day)

So I declared-"Time for the Gunny Man!" Panic stricken he ran to his room but there was not enough time ...

Here comes the Gunny Man

"NO MOM NO!"

Yum, Yummy, Yummy!

I have never seen his hands move so quickly

He eats up all the toys

(and clothes and books and shoes)

And puts them in his tummy.

It was finished. Boy sobbing, tummy full, I walked outside to deposit my booty in the trash can.

I know, I know I am a mean mother...but not mean enough because as I looked in the bag I saw "Raja" the stuffed lion he has had since he was a baby, two pairs of shoes (and you know how expensive shoes are), and his spiderman-which he LOVES I couldn't do it so I set it in the front yard and came up with a plan...

I went back inside to finish up the Cleaning of the Playroom and found them all crying and cleaning up their assigned category of toy.

The joys of motherhood.

Seriously, how am I supposed to deal with this?

They finished and I sent them upstairs to eat popsicles. Dos was sniffling and I said I was sorry that we had to throw his toys away and then I reminded him that I had given him chances to clean up and he knows what happens to toys that don't get taken care of-they get eaten...try saying that with a straight face.

The joys of motherhood.

So then, once they were are all settled in front of the "boob tube, brain sucker" (whatever you want to call it) eating high fructose corn syrup on a stick, I snuck outside to retrieve the sack and retreive the Raja from the bowels of the Gunny Man.

IT. WAS. GONE. seriously, who would take a white trash bag with sharpie eyes on it?

My first thought, UNO.

Nice mother huh, something goes missing and I immediately blame my children...I guess not mean as much as just--trained.

Uno denies it with absoluteness and I see no trace of deceit. I am satistfied.

The next solution...someone seriously stole my Gunny Man. Nobody steals my man and gets away with it!!!

I went to the neighbors.

No sign of a masked man or mob stealing away a bag of toys.

Seriously.

Sheesh.

My heart is hurting thinking of all the junk that I usually curse at as I kick it aside when tucking Dos in at night.

I will miss that little tiger.

Those were his FAVORITE flipflops.

Spiderman (screamed to the heavens with upturned fist)!

I walk inside and I hear whispering...mothers intuition tells me something is off...

Aha! The culprits...Uno and Dos in his room huddled around the closet and, and, what could it be but the Gunny Man! I have never been so excited to see a white trash bag with sharpie eyes before this moment! Raja, flipflops and spiderman toys all leapt into view.

Then the realization. A someone had lied...

Dilema: Uno had lied to. my. face. If there is one thing that I cannot and will not tolerate in my house it is being. lied. to. Just ask Hubby he will tell you-ask anyone for that matter. But she had also stole the bag to protect and stand up for her little brother.

Act of heroism or act of deceit?

Yup.

I sent her to her room until I could sort it out.

What to do what to do?

Oh, the joys of motherhood!

I can't let her get away with lying but I am a little proud of her that she cares about her brother.

Crap.

"Uno, you are going to be grounded."

Hysterics.

"Uno, I am not grounding you because you took the bag. I know that you did that to try and protect Dos."

Whimpering.

"Uno, look at me. I am grounding you because you lied to me, a lot. If you would have told me the truth I would have been upset and talked to you but that would have been the end of it. You may not watch any TV or movies today and you will not be playing with friends or anything else that we do today."

Hysterics.

She then tried to slam the door but a toy got in the way (I know, yes we HAD just completed the Cleaning of the Playroom but it WAS 10 minutes later) so she pushed my punching bag over (I know it shouldn't be able to be pushed over but it isn't full of water right now so it is easy)then I told her to pick it up and that "it was okay to be mad but not okay to destroy things" so she picked it up then she moved back to slamming the door and this time she first moved the toys with her kick and then slammed the office door and then slammed the playroom door and then slammed her door.Proof, can't you just see the deceitfull nature in her eyes!

All in all I think that she handled her first grounding well, and so did I and Dos, having nothing to do with the incident) got another chance to clean his room.

I would like to thank the Gunny Man for his help today and now I will go get the Goldfish down for my children to eat. Oh and this all happened before 8 a.m.

The joys of motherhood.

BAH! This is funny!

2010-06-11T11:46:00.001-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql-N3F1FhW4

Time Out For Women...aka TOFW

2010-05-27T10:07:00.000-07:00

Not to be confused with TFOT...which I have done 100 million times. Totally different.

So anyway, you should go cause it is fun.
There are speakers...who are actually enertaining, no High Councilmen allowed.
There is music...not necessarily the booty shaking kind but maybe chair dancing worthy.
There are lots and lots of women...so many in fact that your menstrual cycle may be affected so beware of the estrogen!
There is a mini-Deseret Book store with awesome deals on stuff.
Plus, you get a really, really cute bag just for coming-I get one next week cause I am helping so if you see me around you can compliment me on my cute bag and then I will tell you to pre-register at this website

http://deseretbook.com/timeout/event/103

and then you will and it will be so awesome.

I will see you there!

P.S. I will be the one with the cute tote bag...oh wait so will you. I will be wearing a giant fake flower in my hair...oh wait so will every other mormon woman there. (shout out to JL)
I will be the one looking like the picture on this blog...

If I were a rich man...I mean-traditions, traditions!

2010-05-22T18:24:00.000-07:00

Traditions are a funny, fun thing-most of the time they are anyway. We have a lot. Most are passed onto us from my family (a whole lotta traditions)and some are from Tait's (not as many-broccolli rice casserole on Thanksgiving--yummy). We sort through, weigh all options and then decide which ones to keep and which ones to keep tucked away in our photo albums...notice I did NOT say scrapbooks. TANGENT: I do not scrapbook. I just don't think that my sons will be all that excited to flip through a book filled with baby boy stickers and pale yellow polka dots and bears and the like and I don't think that my girls will appreciate the hours spent making that perfect paper flower or etched glass window pane through which her perfect blessing picture peeks. So, I don't scrapbook but I DO album. I think the pictures organized and ready for their future scrabooking wives (because afterall they will not have anything to scrap because their mothers will have done it already for them) or a future nesting project for my 9 months prego daughters is good enough.

So moving along...

some of those traditions stay there, in the album (lovingly created by me) or can be shared in the annual "family traditions" RS lesson when, inevitably the teacher will ask for experiences with family traditions to share so we can all be blessed by adding MORE traditions to the long list already created by in laws and in bloods alike-you know what I am talking about. Some are welcomed in on holidays, regular days, or just whenever.

There are very few traditions that we, my husband and my children and myself, have created all on our own. Favorites at dinner, warm fuzzies, star the horse stories, van dancing, and the last one of those traditions is the one on which this post is really about (after you get through all the hilarious banter and tangents of thought)-our annual beach trip. Camping on the beach.Our "BEACH BLISS TRIP".

(no relation to Miss)

Enjoy our very own, personalized, hand crafted from scratch, just cause we love it tradition:

making sand animals...I mean they were sea creatures buried in the sand meant to fool passers by...or just the metal detector guy. At least that is the plan the kids came up with.
He did this ALL DAY! Times are tough people.

This is our children's idea of boogie boarding.

Eating at the usual spot...A's burgers. I like having a "usual" spot. It's nice.

Meine Schwester came with us...not sure what that was all about but anywho. It was a lot of fun having her there.

We have been going to Hadleys since I was a kid for their Date Banana shakes.

See...delicious. And they have these new plastic cups if you buy a large so now i have a new cup that I love and no one else is allowed to use it. I have a thing about my cups--another post. However, don't try their dried pineapple...ich. I think they soak it in sugar water first, it is nasty.

And the sun goes down on the coconut tree.

Kitchy tell all

2010-05-12T16:47:00.000-07:00

So I have found that my kitchen counters tell a lot about how my day has gone, the level of chaos in my life, and what I have been doing with my time.

Just in case you care about what is on mine:

a drill
battery charging
staple gun
box of staples
a matchbox police car
a child
two dried peas (from lunch)
grateful jar with dust on it
7 used cups (yes I only have 4 children)
three phones (one which working, one which is charging, the other waiting to be charged)
paperwork for Tres's speech screening
mail
a bottle that has been needing to be returned to my friend for days and everytime we go in there my kids point out that we have Drew's bottle-EVERY TIME.
grocery store ads
grocery store list (which is actually a binder-don't ask)
beach camping menu
Girl's camp junk-EVERYWHERE!
screws
grill pan
cupcake holder (it's red adn cute and I like it)
apple peeler corer slicer
crock pot
with lasagna in it
clean dishes
lunch dishes (see how I refrained from saying dirty)
four dish towels...we are out of paper towels
empty paper towel holder...we are out of...wait I already said that
purse (I will leave the details of that mess for another day-like the day that I organize it, so maybe Julyish)
coupon book (the big one that never gets used but sur takes up a lot of space on my counter
one of those phone organizer things that really doesn't organize anything just sits there getting messier and messier-that will be a post too-someday)
camera
big jar half filled with warm fuzzies
homeschool curriculum catalog
ipod (shuffle not touch)
list of wrist doctors-know any good one's? who am I kidding only old people and athletes hurt their wrists- oh and stupid people who use their hand to hammer things,like drawers.
BYU transcripts (just to remind myself that I will never get into the Master's program that I want and of how totally unmotivated I was the last semester of college-what?! I had a two year old and one on the way)
swimming lesson schedule
project list for work
wrist brace-I know I should be wearing it but it ruins my creative genius
gym class schedule (hahahahahahahahahahahaha, funny- I know)
ibuprofen (take two and then two more and then two more and then two more)
bin of CD's that really need to be gone through and minimized because really who has CD"s anymore...oh probably people who own an ipod shuffle instead of a touch.
A KITCHEN SINK-LOL

Time to go.
Hubby will be home soon and I must powder my nose, adjust my pearls, stick my lips and have the counters cleared off so as to appear completely unruffled by my day. teehee

Coming soon to a blog near you: what is on my desk,what is in the purse, what is in my phone "organizer" thing

Man I should get an award for this blog-it is so entertaining

Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (remember that show?)

2010-04-16T11:42:00.000-07:00

This week my little sister will change her name and marry Mr. Cooper.

Isn't she purty? People sometimes get us confused cause I am purty too. :)

I did her hair-thank you very much. I was very nervous and it took me a long while-thank heavens for TLC (the network not the acronym)-it got us through.

She looks just like me...:) except for the vampire teeth, she didn't get those-sorry sucker (no pun intended).

And Mr. Cooper ain't so bad himself.

She said she felt weird during this picture but I think it looks cool, like a sexy neck cramp...

Good luck this week you two-we love you!!!

VOTE!

2010-03-31T12:15:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

Go to http://pchsportsmedvote.com/ and vote for Ashlyn (one of my YW)- she is the first one on the list!

She is trying for a scholarship and she is AMAZING and really deserves it! You can vote every 24 hours from each computer and it take about 1 second to do!

Thanks for your help!!

Mommy

2010-03-22T08:09:00.000-07:00

From the time that our babies are born we look forward to hearing them say "Mommy" "Mama" "Ma" or anything remotely hinting that they know who you are-the keeper of the meeting of their needs. If your's are like mine they, of course, say Dada first. I say it's because it is easier to roll off the tongue (not because he is way more fun than mommy). But anyway, that first time they say "mommy" it is magical. Excitement fills the air and my heart! They did it and I am-your mommy!
Wheeeeeee! Happy day!
Then they begin to grow and their usage of the word becomes-shall we say-repetitive. Repetitive, to put it lightly. Annoying, whiny, and grating would also be good adjectives.
There are times that if I count the word is used hundreds of times per minute. All with me at the recieving end trying to respond patiently, calmly, and in a timely manner before the word "mommy!" is screamed for lack of quick response on my part or to be heard above the other sounds of "mommy!" coming from the sweet lips of my other verbally astute children.
Wheeeeeee! Happy day! Grrrrrrrr! (said through gritted teeth)
Why was I so excited to hear that back then?
Why don't they say "daddy" afterall that WAS their first word and he is way more fun than me!?

But then yesterday I had the sweetest experience...

I left for a week with my girls. But that wasn't it.

When I came home I was greeted at the door by my boys. I was bowled over with hugs, shouts of "Mommy!!", giggles, and the warmest feeling. It was magical. My heart and the air was filled with excitement of this reunion of our forever family. They said it and I am--the "mommy"!

I may not be as fun as Dada but I am the keeper of the meeting of their needs...and vice versa.

Wheeeee! Happy Day!

Uno the author

2010-03-07T08:46:00.000-08:00

Uno has been working her buns off to complete a book for a writing contest.

You, my lucky friends, get a preview...

Then a thought a wonderful thought, more wonderful than 100 lollipops, more wonderful than 1,000 dollars. If you still think 100 lollipops and 1,000 dollars is better than a crazy thought, you thought wrong. A crazy thought is better than 100 lollipops and 1,000 dollars. You still don’t believe me? Oh, but oh, you my friend you still don’t know what the crazy thought was yet. Well, I think I should tell you that crazy thought of mine. My wonderful thought was telling me, “maybe if I find this something I would be famous!” Now do you believe me? I thought that was a great idea! So I kept moving along trying to see this strange something.

I wonder if she will use a surname...maybe Uno Rudd. Hopefully she won't forget the little people in her life when she is famous.

My Beauties

2010-02-14T09:51:00.001-08:00

Thanks Sassy for the great pics...

Too late to apologi-ize?

2010-02-08T13:13:00.000-08:00

That title should be read to the tune of the song that says-it's too late to apologi-ize. Then it is funnier.

So sorry that I have been a lame-o blogger.

Life has hit a new level of craziness.

And I have no camera at the moment.

Here is what is happening in our neck of the woods, Al Roker.

1. Homeschooling Uno.
2. Working 10-15 hours a week from home.
3. trying to get my car wrapped for money
4. YW
5. Camp Director.
6. Tax Accountant widow.
7. 4 children.
8. my calendar broke-hence the reason why I forgot to make funeral potatoes for -you guessed it- a funeral, how lame am I. I probably ruined the whole day when they were sad enough and then, then they ran out of potatoes too!!!!
9. dinner group-coolest thing EVER!
10. my camera broke-thank you quattro
11. laundry never ends-someone please invent a washer/dryer machine!
12. 3 year old pees her bed still
13. 2 year old wakes up twice a night just to say "hello" and "put me back in bed".
14. 5:15 a.m. "me time"=gym and scriptures in the driveway before entering my dream life-whoever wrote that song "View from my front porch" was just saying that they prefer that because they weren't the one in there with that view and that sippy cup of milk that had probably spilled already 5 times on the couch before he got home to stand outside and sing a song instead of coming inside to help the poor woman out!!!
15. 4 children's clothing, bodily functions, appetites, activities, playdates, need for quality attention (what's that all about-sheesh), "teaching" moments, fights, etc.
16. writing a book-haha as if it could be called that at this point

So there are 16 good reasons why I haven't been blogging.

I have some posts "in my head" (must be read to the tune of in my head song by that chick that sings it-then it is funnier) but no time to record.

Does it count as "me" time what I have to drag my butt out of bed at 4:50 a.m. to go get yelled at in class at the gym and then freeze my buns off in the car while I read?
I think not-I will get on that.

A girl could burn out living this life.

needed

2010-02-06T17:10:00.001-08:00

Have an army tent? I need one.

Pieces of paper

2010-01-28T10:04:00.000-08:00

A long time ago, or so it feels, we lived in Provo, UT and attended BYU. In August 2003 I graduated with my Bachelor's Degree in NeuroPsychology ( I know, I know...it is the study of the effects of brain damage on behavior...whats that you say, "What do you do with that?", you do research mainly and in my case...nothing except change diapers and psychoanalyze your own parenting style and how it is adversely affecting the young and fragile brains of your children). So 1 month after losing my #2 baby and 6 years after starting college (having a two year old complicates the timeline a bit), I took my 2 year old daughter and my grad student husband and I put on the flat hat and big old robe (which I was grateful because at this point my classmates expected me to be prego and no one noticed that I was actually...not) and sat through a very long and very anticipitation filled grad ceremony. The whole time I was thinking, "this has taken me long enough-let me walk already!!!". At the time I thought that completing my college degree with a child was the hardest thing I had done in my whole life-hahahaha-I laugh at you 23 year old self! That being said, hiking up the bazzillion stairs by the RB (oh yeah--9 MONTHS PREGNANT)and then up the stairs to the 3rd floor of the Smith building (for you young un's-it's not there anymore but I used to eat chili fritos and vending machine sandwiches with extra packets of mayo for lunch there--you know, to prepare myself for the hike back down the bazzillion stairs) only to walk in to my horribly awful statistics class (which I had to take 3 times to pass-three times a charm- that is a story for another time!) taught by the teacher from Charlie Brown to have Mr. Wha wha wha ask ME, out-of-breath-gasping-for-air-trying-desparately-to-sustain-life-for-my-full-grown-baby-in-utero girl to pray. Have the spirit, say words, and breathe. You are right! Perfect candidate. Not so easy.

So there I was graduating-finally, a long fight. I was proud of myself. I had done it! And I never had to do it again-until three years later when I decided I wanted my Masters, however, this little reminiscing session may have me rethinking that whole idea.

A name called, tassle flipped, folder handed, short walk and wave across a stage. I had done it. And I had the piece of paper to prove it. A Diploma. Ahhh. That piece of paper meant the world.

That is until 6 months later I got another peice of paper quoting the price of that diploma.

That is the day I had a new paper on the horizon.

I have been staring at that peice of paper on my horizon for 7 years.

Untill....today.

I have been working my buns off (with the help of hubby ;) )to snowball our debt to get that stinking thing paid off. But, my friends, I did it!

Today that piece of paper, that diploma that I hiked BYU campus daily for, that I worked sometimes 3 jobs in addition to my big one for.

I OWN IT!!!!!!!

(anyone know any good loan programs for Masters Students! ;) )

Camp needed! Help!

2010-01-15T12:45:00.000-08:00

So I am YW camp director and I need a place to take my girls for ward camp this year! Anyone know of somewhere awesome that we can canoe and hike-it has to be in AZ and access to water is pretty important. Any ideas?!

He came!!!!

2010-01-13T06:46:00.001-08:00

and then we took lots of blurry pictures.

New stuff

2010-01-12T08:14:00.001-08:00

New Chair

New Hair

New hair in chair.

*posted by Hubby.

Shameless begging

2010-01-06T14:17:00.000-08:00

Okay so I know that you have no reason to want to anything nice for me sicne I have left you all in blog freeze out but I swear it is because I have been muy crazy NOT because I have stopped thinking of awesome, blow your mind posts that I could write. Quite the contrary, in fact, I have deal that may just do that now--
3 months at Fitness Works for $20--I know, I know contain yourself because it gets better
10 free tanning sessions (or trade in for babysitting) and 5 free bring your kids to the kids center passes.

Okay now you can blow your mind.

The details:
You have to live here. Az, the valley of the sun, you know
You have to activate it by the 17th of Jan.
You have to lose 20 pounds and 2 inches or you have to pay it back....just kidding that is just motivation for myself!
You have to get the money turned in by tomorrow night so that I can turn it in to the girl who turns it in on friday-got it?

Oh yeah and here is where I shamelessly beg...if I can sell 20 then I get a free years membership for my family. And let me tell you that I NEED to workout-and so does my family. You should see Quattro-he is addicted to sugar and it shows-he will be my obese child, jsut another statistic if I don't help him.
So for his future, the future of my husbands floobs, and the future of me fitting into my already tight pants is at stake.
So for the children. Please.
I believe the children are our future, let them live and let them workout at Fitness Works...
Please.
For just pennies a day you can change our lives forever.
Please.
Pleeeaase!!
I learned my begging from the best...my children.

Need your pics done?

2009-12-22T20:20:00.000-08:00

I know it may be a little late in the family picture taking season for most of you cause you are all on top of your lives but if you are aren't, like me...

My sis in law, Tassi, took these awesome pics for us last year.

I know you loved them cause I got tons o comments but she is going to be in town for the next couple of weeks if you need any done.

She is so good, she has a great eye and creative ideas---and the best part is she is inexpensive!

And she will even photoshop your bod if you want her to--she sent me a joke picture where she gave me DD breast enhancements--by the way that will never be happening I looked ridiculous. I am happy with my small parts. But if you want a zinger of a family pic for prosperity she can do it, or she can shave off a little here or there, she is better than a plastic surgeon I tell you.

Anyway, leave a comment and I will get you in contact with her.

Hasta mah pasta.

Like my blog you will...(jedi hand wave)

2009-12-21T08:11:00.000-08:00

I can't take it anymore...

I am giving them up to The Force.

A boarding school in the Parowan galaxy.
I will keep you posted on grad dates.

***I know my Star Wars references are off but seriously let me remind you that if you care YOU are a lot lamer (or is it more lame?) than me

Fun. Fresh. Flavorful.

2009-12-04T11:26:00.000-08:00

So it has been a while since my 30th birthday but I have had a good post about it in my mind since then but I have been waiting for a few elements to come together to make it just the way I wanted it.

So hold on to your hats people...

Once upon a time there were these girls Lisa and Me. Aren't we cute? whoot woo!We have spent our last 16 birthday's together (and by together I mean round about, near the vicinityish of the same month).

We spent our 16th together when we were both the last girls in our grade to date.

We spent our 18th together when we were pimpin' it at the institute.

We spent our 20th together...aren't we cute? Whoot.

Oh yeah and did I mention we were here:

Yes that would be the Charles Bridge in Prague. Don't you recognize it from Mission Impossible?

But I have to admit the most memorable birthday that we celebrated together was this year.

Our 30th. Awwww.

So memorable and again, sooooo cute! Wooo.

Oh yeah and did I mention we went here:

A birthday to remember.

As an added bonus I got this card in the mail...Happy birthday to me. Welcome to your 30's.

Terribly Hilarious twos

2009-12-02T06:53:00.000-08:00

Quatro is two.

Definitely.

In the last two months we have been introduced to his new self.

This one has definitely used, to my disadvantage, the fact that he has older siblings to learn from.

He climbed out of his crib sooner.

He talked back sooner...the other day he was throwing all of my pictures off of a shelf and I asked him why and he said "cause". The kid can barely talk and yet talking back comes so naturally.

He climbs higher, throws further, hits harder, runs faster, screams louder, picks his nose earlier, injures himself more often, jabbers more than any other.

He is wonderful.

He loves pushing buttons and watching something happen.

He thinks jumping off of the couch is the best thing ever.

He loves cuddling and blankets.

He LOVES candy...oops.

He is sensitive.

He is tough.

He gets his hand stuck in the garbage truck almost daily and never cries, he just walks upstairs with his new accessory and lets me help him get it out.

He is stubborn. I tell him to stay in bed and he falls asleep on the floor just beside his bed.

He gives kisses and hugs freely.

He captures my heart.

He makes everyone who knows him love him.

He makes me want more like him

...while at the same time reminding me that I don't!

Does anyone know how to get Vicks Vapo Rub out of carpet?

Aren't they lovely?

2009-11-23T09:18:00.001-08:00

MUST SING NEXT FEW LINES

Stranded at the drive-in.

Branded a fool.

What will they say monday at school?

They won't say anything, they will just be totally jealous cause your family is soooo super delicious!

(I added the last part that isn't from the song.)

Went to the drive ins. Perfect place to take the famdam to see a movie-cheap, loud, big open spaces for younguns' to run free!

Nine ye ye years...

2009-11-21T13:19:00.001-08:00

Then

Nine years, four children later.

Hall to the weiner

2009-11-18T10:46:00.000-08:00

Quattro, the king

Uno the scarecrow.

Dos, the Knight doing the knight pose.

Tres, Cinderella doing the Cinderella pose

35 minutes of prep work and 5 minutes into the night...

Us as white trash for a halloween party where we were supposed to dress up as white trash...aren't we so rebellious. and doesn't it look like we have huge heads because of the flash-well hubby does have a huge head but doesn't it look even bigger!?

And now,

A totally cute Halloween poem I found online, for your enjoyment.

Trick or Treat

Smell my feet

Give me something good to eat

If you don't I don't care

(are you scared to scroll down)

I'll pull down my underwear.

Happy Halloween!

pretend it is not almost thanksgiving.

Q-R-S-T-ball

2009-11-18T10:33:00.000-08:00

My jock son, DOS.

Hittin' balls.

He loves giving thumbs up-"it's his thing."

Here it comes, here it comes!

Ready position.

More common position. (boys are so weird-so concentrated on balls)

I am not so sure Dos thoroughly enjoyed his season in t-ball there were a lot of nights where bribery, threats, and chasing were involved in getting him to finish a game.

At the end season party the coach told the group that he hoped they all continued to play and Dos yelled out

"Not me! No way I'm gonna play so--ccer."

Sad thing is, the coach encouraged this decision.

What can I say my son is a boy that needs action!!!

Kickin Booty

2009-11-18T09:40:00.000-08:00

My Uno is awesome.

She is the highest scoring player on her soccer team.

She is quick, aggressive, and agile.

Faster than the speed of digital.

She is eager to challenge herself and listens and applies when she is coached.

She is beautiful and thirsty.

And she, of course, gets it all from me!

Blown images

2009-11-06T06:48:00.000-08:00

I had a few images that have been blown with in the last 15 hours.

1. I had images of me in Utah this weekend spending time with friends who I am desparate to see, my brother and his new wife who I haven't seen since their wedding in July, my little sisters who 1 I haven't seen in a year and a half and 1 who I haven't seen in several months.
Blown because they are staying one day more than I can and still claim I am a good mother.

2. I had images of me taking a spontaneous trip to Disneyland with my two children for free with park hopper tickets from Tait's boss.
Blown because we have four children (not that that is a bad thing but still it kind of blows this plan).

3. I had images of me getting up early and running with our adopted dog for what was supposed to be two weeks and then going to the early session at the temple.
Blown when my son was up for two hours mid-night because he is "going through a stage"

Have a nice weekend.

an excerpt, lucky you

2009-10-28T14:05:00.000-07:00

Uno is writing a book.
It is about a Girhorpi-og. Giraffe, horse, pig, dog animal.
The last of it's kind.
And I quote, "The Girhorpi-og was wadering through the forest when she saw in the distance another Girhorpi-og! She ran to the Girhorpi-og and she said, "I thought I was the last Girhorpi-og! Now I see that I am not. Will you mate me?"

give it up for the sex talk ladies and gentlemen.

bown chicka bown bown

do it like they do on the discovery channel

Gutteral sweats

2009-10-06T12:11:00.000-07:00

The reason(s) for my gutteral region sweating:

Birthday cake

Birthday cheesecake

My waist is so hot! Seriously my mid region has been sweating and uncomfortable for a few days now and it is driving me crazy. Is it a warning from my fat cells..."overload, overload!", the mice that run my organs are working hard causing my internals to overheat, has my cooling mechanism in my waistage arena stopped functioning due to a tumor growing (which would explain the weird bulging), what!!!???? Maybe a message from my biological clock warning against having 5 birthday celebrations in a row. Hey what do you want?! We have two birthdays in three days three families that like to take part...you do the math...that is a lot of cake and crap. My body is reminding me that I am 30 and cannot handle this anymore. Sheesh. Hubby seems to think it is because I have too many layers and I will go ahead and give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he means layers of clothing.

This must be the reason that I see women with guts hanging out of their shirts and over their pants...they have reached the 30 year old pre-menopause guteral hot flash.

Oh well at least my butt isn't sweating yet.

Conference lessons

2009-10-04T15:36:00.000-07:00

1.We need to do more service.

FHE tomorrow we will instate warm fuzzy jar.

2. I love Jeffrey R. Holland

3. O Divine Redeemer never fails to move me...although I always think it starts out sounding a bit like Halloween music.

4. Kids will watch if enough candy is involved.

5. Kids will watch if so much attention is placed on helping them fill out General Cenference packets that most of the talks are ignored by parents..."it's okay, we'll read them."

6.Don't wait for the church to tell you how to fix the problems you got yourself into.

7. Be good. Read scriptures. Say your prayers. Go to church. Do missionary work.

8. Move to Missouri...just kidding...just testing to see if you were watching.

9. I must have gained weight cause my waist is sweaty.

10. Uno needs new shoes.

How I know I am 30

2009-10-03T06:48:00.000-07:00

I am going to spend my birthday being an adult, note-taking conference watcher and a soccer mom.

how I know I am turning 30

2009-10-01T07:47:00.000-07:00

That baby is 8 years old today.

how I know I am turning 30

2009-09-30T07:41:00.000-07:00

A post dinner fast food run leads to indescribable intestinal malfunction.

I will allow the picture painted in your mind suffice.

How I know I am turning 30

2009-09-29T07:41:00.000-07:00

1. I have old injuries that flare up with physical activity, like doing yard work.
2. I classify yard work as physical activity.

how I know I am turning 30

2009-09-28T08:07:00.001-07:00

I chase after and yell at kids in my yard that are playing 007.

Flag to the staff

2009-09-23T08:01:00.000-07:00

This last Saturday we took a little jaunt to Flag to join Prego Tart and her huz to the band on their Anniversary trip. Weird, you may say? We thought so too but we really wanted to go so we put that out of our minds-plus she is like 27 weeks prego so really, romance is pretty much all about foot rubs and late night Cold Stone runs. So anway, it was fun and cool and it reminded us that just because we live in the same state we live completely different climactic lives. They HAVE a fall and we pretend to by driving to Flagstaff and taking pictures in front of the leaves.
See?

Apparently Tres thinks being satan is a silly face.

Obviously, we rode the ski lift at Snowbowl...it started raining just as we were landing at the bottom, PHEW! Stinks for the couple on their way up in shorts and thongs...I mean flip flops...obviously from the Valley, sheesh, tourists.

Evan stayed below with Huz to the band and Prego Tart. Poor kid...yeah he never knew what he missed, thanks Tart for changing a sticky gross pooper, good woman.

Tres and I rode together, it was fun.

You know you love your kid when you will post ugly pictures of yourself only because your daughter looks like a princess...

This is the Oregano's sign Dos peed on. He was taken over by a demon on his 5th b-day.

See.

For your FYI

2009-09-17T09:44:00.000-07:00

Stella's groovin' again...
If you are stumped go here.

Dear Hubby

2009-09-11T09:19:00.000-07:00

Dear Hubby,
So, do you remember when you asked me what I wanted for my birthday and I told you that all I wanted was to pay off my school loans?

Well what I meant to say is I want these .
Love,

CURSE YOU ONLINE SHOPPING + LONG NAP TIME!

10 a.m.

2009-09-09T11:01:00.000-07:00

1. poopy car

2. bloody head

3. gasoline foot

They say bad things come in three's but I still have to iron...

spiritual. overload.

2009-09-08T15:22:00.000-07:00

Ah fast Sunday.
A day to not eat or drink and get closer to the spirit.
This was my first complete 24 hour fast in over 8 years.
I have been working up to it since I quit nursing Quatro.
It just made fast and testimony meeting magical...
I somehow got put in charge of three of my four beauties while hubby had one.
How this seems to happen I will never know, like I said magical.
Uno thought it was hilarious to reach behind me and grab one hair at a time from my head and yank and then play dumb when I turned around.
Magical.
Quatro has zero volume control. He is either quiet or loud.
This is how our exchanges went:
"Quatro, look these are the stripling warriors. They have swords and they are going to fight."
To which Quatro replies: "HORSEY! OUCHY! YUCK!(spit sputter)" (explanation: Quatro has learned to pretend eat everything that we point out in books and when it isn't food he spits and sputters pretending to spit it out.)
"Look quatro it is baby Jesus."
"BABY! YUCK! (more spitting)"
"Oh Quatro there are bigs on this page!"
"EAT BIRDIES! YUCK! (more sputtering)" Hysterical laughter.
Magically delicious.
In between stories, I leaned over to my right where Dos was being quiet (magical) to see what he was doing. When I did I noticed a very detailed picture.
I asked him about it.
Mom, this is Mount Everest. This is that lady (pointing to the woman crying at the potium) on the top and that picture over there is when the mountain blew up and exploded that lady and this is her blood mixed with the hot lava.
Magical.
Lastly, testimony meeting went very quickly.
Ahh, the magical power of fasting!

Hmmmm?

2009-09-04T17:06:00.000-07:00

My mom is worried about me.

She says I am depressed.

Her reasoning:

my house was dirty and unorganized.

Cry or laugh?

Get it straight

2009-09-04T15:20:00.001-07:00

Okay, I hate that this is all political and stuff but I want to straighten something out.
I don't claim to be a person that knows everything about what is happening in our country. I don't think there is anyone that really does.
I don't trust the news, I don't listen to Glen Beck, I don't like to read the papers anymore.
The only thing that I do know for sure is that I can trust the Spirit and my instincts as a mother. On this point you may also disagree and if that is the case then I am sorry but I will not apologize for this belief. I AM NOT SAYING THAT IF YOU SEND YOUR KID TO SCHOOL YOU ARE NOT LISTENING TO THE SPIRIT. I am saying that something doesn't feel right about this for my child. Maybe she is really impressionable, maybe she is going to get hit by a bus crossing the street that morning, maybe, maybe, maybe. It is that same feeling that keeps me from allowing my kids to run around the house with a knife. AND NO I AM NOT SAYING THAT PRES. OBAMA'S SPEECH IS LIKE GIVING YOUR KID A KNIFE.
Just something feels off.
I have that right as a person and as a mother. To make decisions based on what I FEEL is right and wrong. You do what you want and believe what you want and as long as no one is trying to take away my right as a parent, I am fine.
So don't quote me on anything. Don't think I am trying to sound smart or like I know more than the next person. I am just trying (like most of you) to do what is best for my family and keep my daughter from getting hit by a bus.

By the by: check this out!! I AM NOT CLAIMING THAT IT IS AUTHENTIC OR THAT IT IS FROM PRES. BO OR THAT IF YOU LIKE IT YOU ARE A HORRIBLE PERSON...there is actually really good ideas in it but also some creepy stuff too. It was allegedly shown as a school in Utard and the Principle was quoted as saying during the showing of this in a schoolwide assembly "Whoops. Probably should have previewed this first." I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS TRUE OR NOT BUT IT IS WHAT I HEARD ON CSPAN LAST NIGHT.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL9sOZUf1NQ

Have a nice day!

Curriculum Night

2009-09-02T15:42:00.000-07:00

So I was sitting at my daughter's desk last night listening to her teacher tell me how her days go and it made me feel weird. She has this whole life that I am not a part of, have no say over, and have no idea what she is even studying in Math etc. I mean, I am as involved as a parent can be. PTO, volunteer, Art Masterpeice...blah, blah. I talk to her everyday about school and friends etc.

It just made me feel weird as I went through her desk and realized that at age five I turned her over to the system and haven't really thought about what kind of effect that could have. Is five years of mother's influence all we really get? Cause now I really only see her for a couple of hours a day amidst playtime, homework, and dinner prep and clean up.

I did not like that feeling. I am starting to really think that maybe homeschooling for a few years could be beneficial? I know there is a stigma that follows homeschoolers but from what I see in the kids it produces nowadays I can't say that I wouldn't want my child to be like that...

It seems like it has come a long way since the days of being couped up in the house with only mom and siblings to play with. I wonder if I am missing a tremendous opportunity to hang with a really cool girl! I wonder if she is missing out on a tremendous opportunity to hang with a really cool mom!

I don't really know but I am going to start doing more questioning of things instead of just going along with whatever society is saying is the normal thing cause I really think that having a few extra years to teach them and prepare them for what they are undoubtedly going to come across in life can't be bad and let's face it "Society" seems to be getting it quite wrong these days!

"Thank goodness I was never sent to school; it would have rubbed off some of the originality."
- Beatrix Potter

I am curious about what ye think... what think thee?

Obama's youth, what?

2009-09-02T09:06:00.000-07:00

I think Uno has an appointment on Sept. 8th and will not be in school...what about your child?

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/10582301/President-Obama's-Address-to-Students-Across-America-September-8-2009

a little creepy...I think yes.

Behind, our's not your's

2009-08-31T11:24:00.001-07:00

Happy 4th of July from Colorado!!!

Thank you to Tatum and Chase and his family for the cabin trip!

Osh Josh and Catherine Wells

2009-08-28T12:44:00.003-07:00

My little (big) brother got married...in July but whatever.

The marathon wedding took place in Utard, Salt Lake City to be exact.My brother has a very cool family and now he has a really cool in-law family too!

This is the only picture I have of Dos the whole day. Just so you know, I am tucking in his shirt...for the 600th time that day.

The cute girlies with their cousin Jocey poo.

The wedding bash then moved on to Colorado...or should I say the real party began in CO cause I got to go by myself...or should I say I got to go with my sibs and parental units...or should I say the real party got started when I got to leave the children's at home with hubby and go to CO. See how excited I was...awwww...memories.

My dad was there too but he was taking the picture cause there was no room for him on the bench.

Of course, I brought my butler, never leave home without him.

This picture is one of those pictures that was really awesome as I was waiting for my camera to stop thinking after taking this one that you can barely see.

The marathon ended with an open house in AZ but I don't have any pics of that cause I was running around working and also it takes my parents a good month to get pics off of their digital camera.

Congrats to the newlyweds!!! I love Catherine and her family and I am so glad that my brother finally got hitched to someone cool!

A bowl of cherries

2009-08-27T11:52:00.000-07:00

Good stuff maynored

2009-08-26T14:25:00.000-07:00

I woke this morning to the feeling that I REALLY needed some good news.

I got it two fold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First, Dos got into preschool, morning session, three days a week. Now this may not seem like a big deal to you but he has been on the waiting list for a month now and school starts next week. I was beginning to wake at wee morning hours worrying about him becoming a weird anti-social nut case who spent too much time with is mommy.

Second, Hubby got his very much deserved promotion today!! he has been working so hard to get it and it actually happened! This is great because he got it working on his terms not the firms (fewer hours but quality work, this may sound messed up and that is because it is but the corporate world is messed up and I won't get on that soap box right now) It gives us hope for his future in Public Accounting and it is about time that they give that man some credit for the work that he does and the things that he has to sacrifice more than others. He is the only one in the WHOLE OFFICE (including partners) that has more that two kids and who actually believes that it is important to spend time with them. Plus, he has this super HOT wife that he has to leave behind every morning---if that doesn't spell sacrifice, I don't know what does!

(I feel I should explain this picture...but I am not going to, he was warned that should the behavior continue it would be posted on the www.)

So all in all I am feeling very grateful today and for the first time in a while I am feeling like the Lord has been listening to my whiny prayers! You know that song "Sometimes I thank God (dun dun dun) for u-unanswered pra-yers"?
C-R-A-upside down b.
I don't. :) :)

Plus, I get to go to Teen Elect tonight. Again, this may not sound like a big deal to the average eardrum but when it is the only chance to talk to human's above the age of accountability--it is. Oh and then I get to go and listen to Dr. Hill speak about essential oils!

Good stuff maynored.

Lovely's b-day

2009-08-20T12:11:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to my handsome--I mean cool guy! He hates being called handsome. He also hates me saying goodnight, spikey hair, people laughing at him, and salad dressing.
He is 5.
He is great!
He adds so much to our family.
Like wrestling, running, train noises, and questions about poop.
He is special to me because he came to us after the very hard loss of a pregnancy (miscarraige 17 weeks) and I was nervous the whole pregnancy but all went well and now we have this little boy who keeps us hopping!
My favorite thing about him is that he still hugs and snuggles. He loves his sisters and brothers and can be very sensitive and caring--except when he isn't.
He is wild and crazy but a very good kid. Sweet. Funny. And he has the best laugh, especially when the monster falls on the jax in Monsters Inc. Hilarious.
He claims to have a uterus. We haven't technically had him tested or anything but I am fairly certain it is just uterus envy. No worries: he is ALL boy...he loves dinosaurs, trains, kinex, he thinks burping and farting are hilarious and he asks me (in between his owns sniffs and whiffs) everytime he poops if I want to smell the bathroom. His way of making sure I am aware of him brushing his teeth is to MAKE me smell his breath.
He loves his sunglasses and dancing with his partner in crime-the other half of the Double D's.
I love love my lovely Numero Dos.

Thanks for letting me be your mom.

SYTYCD Summer 2009

2009-08-10T11:43:00.000-07:00

Finale Night with Prego Tart

the warm up's

What Kayla's gone!!!!

It's okay cause we like Jeanine too!

Oh what a night.

feet on the ground

2009-08-04T15:04:00.000-07:00

really. Really? This is a crazy life I have here. Wel, at least the last 6 weeks or so. I am trying to remember the blur of activities so that I can recap but part of me wants to just forget it all and just pick up here...ahh, you thought you had dodged a bullet! Wrong so here goes...

Living nicely in our old home enjoying summer and all of the activities. Had planned on staying until Christmas and so had planned all kinds of things for the summer and beyond. Sprained wrist. Packing for Colorado trip with the Rudd's/Rass./Betts/Reynolds (very fun by the by). Day before we were supposed to leave we got the word that the offer on our home went through and that we would be closing two weeks after we got home from our trip.
Awesome.
No place to live.
Have to pack whole house plus still take care of four kids couped up in house while doing swim lessons and other organized activities all with sprained wrist. Oh and hubby is in busy season (thanks to all those who extend their taxes) so he is of very little use. No offense honey :)!
So I madly begin looking for a place to live. Long story short. Find a place, not near old home. Dangit. But whatever, it is a place and it will work.
So pack. Pack like madwoman...but carefully cause wearing a brace and stuff.
Moving is awful.
Really awful.
Hate it.
Don't want to do it again, but wait, we are renting....crap.
Switch utilities, turn off utilities, clean house (kind of cause really the people payed 85K for that place they can afford to have it professionally cleaned--take that Mr. Wei You), order truck, find movers (give it up for being Mormon), find babysitters, get keys, sign title, sign rental agreement, two trips to house cause we severely underestimated the amount of C-R-A-P we have.
We are in.
Now we madly unpack so we can pack again to send me off with the kids (minus a hubby) to Utard for Brother Oshua's wedding. I am not joking.
So. I. unpack. like. a. madwoman. but. carefully. cause. wrist. still. hurts. Then. I pack. like. a. madwoman. but. carefully. cause. wrist. is. sprained. I go to doctor cause i was apparently not careful enough. More meds. More time in sling.
Did I mention that meds make me drowsy and I have to drive the next day to Utard with a car full of kids (minus a hubby)?
yeah. I did.
Well.
So I left with loose ends all over the place and I forgot about it all for one week. What a week! We had so much fun with the Utard friends the Smith's--what time we had with them. It was a jam packed week of truffle making (more on this later), octomomming it (smith's have four kids too), family enjoyment, and more truffle making.
We are "home" now. I want to go back. School starts next week and I still don't know who is going where, what friends my kids will have, where I have put all of the pens in my house, oh and did I mention the scorpion infestation (okay not really an infestation), yeah and oh I almost forgot two weeks ago we were told that Dos is allergic to all stinging insects--like anaphalactic allergic...so we have sent the property management company a 5 day health and safety notice (good to have a daddy lawyer) so if the problem isn't taken care of within five days then we will terminate our lease...two and two, if you need help--

we move again.

But for now I will keep my feet on the ground while watching for those sneaky little b-tards (what? that's what they are...satans minions)

get it straight

2009-07-24T08:56:00.000-07:00

Wow. So many people love me. No. I am not pregnant.

I will survive

2009-07-22T13:46:00.000-07:00

Sheesh a meesh.
I am alive.

Just busy.

So-much-to -tell-so-little-time...

(the dashes represent heaving breathes as if running for a long time--that is how I feel)

Clue: am I ready for this again?

update soon must pack for Utard.

Hasta peeps.

House Hunt=ON.

2009-07-01T10:35:00.001-07:00

Needed:

Rental Home

3+ Bedrooms/2+Bathrooms

@ Least 1800 Sq. Feet

Good Schools

SOON.

E-mail bethyrudd@yahoo.com.

Thanks!

June 15th

2009-06-15T08:48:00.000-07:00

First day of summer.
I have a migraine and I keep getting nose bleeds (?).
The heat is sucking the imagination from my brain.
I will post soon.
Bide your time until we meet again.

AT A FLAGPOLE NEAR YOU!!

2009-06-08T08:11:00.000-07:00

I was sent this info yesterday by a friend and I wanted to pass it on. I am going to put in on Facebook too. It could be cool if lots of people did it!! Plus, it would probably make a difference too.

GO TO: flagpolesunite.blogspot.com

You know Dasher and dancer...but do you recall?

2009-06-02T08:21:00.000-07:00

The most popular reindeer of all...

"RUDOLPH THE HORNY REINDEER"

Uno just named her stuffed reindeer and she was yelling it all last night during her 7 year old tantrum.

"I WANT HORNY! I WANT HORNY!" (in between sobs and screams of course)

Ode to red meat

2009-05-31T17:06:00.000-07:00

Today was Stake Conference.
Preparations began early.
A nice bikeride with the family to wear them out to take early naps.
Early lunch.
Early naps.
While they were sleeping I prepped coloring pages, snacks, crayons (a special luxury saved only for Stake Conference), snacks, books, tape, sharpened pencils, four of everything as to avoid fighting, and anything else I could muster up that may occupy their little hands, feet, and brains for a few more moments.
Oh and I napped and got myself ready to go so I could be cheerful and done so all attention could go to children.
Early arrival at the church only to find that the session before us is still happening.
All members of our Stake with enough thought and foreplanning to arrive early (mainly those with children to avoid the wildness of sitting in the gym) were crammed into the foyers, hearts palpetating all awaiting the moment when they could rush for the empty seats in the front.
It was like being at the opening of Last Chance on Doc Marten Day (have to have experienced that).
The doors opened and I quickly scanned to see if there was any chance of getting the pews...no such luck so I headed directly for the folding chairs in the overflow squished against the wall but still on carpet and somewhat protected from open ends that act as a child launching pad out to the isles,the foyer and then the front doors.
Purse down, church bag (aka bag of tricks)--phew saved. I sit and watch the chaos around me...all to the rythym of the prelude music..as I have loved you...man waves arms frantically for wife who is ushering in her five children and looking for a place to sit...love one another...child crying because they have been tripped by trampling mother desparately searching for that coveted pew seat...by this shall men know...small fight breaks out over who's purse was on the seat first...ye are my disciples.
This is Stake Conference.
So now we have the seats and they have gone undisputed. Only 30 minutes until it starts.
Bathroom.
Drinks.
Orange peeled and eaten in a classroom.
Drinks again.
Bathroom, one last time because, "WE ARE NOT GETTING UP TO GO TO THE BATHROOM DURING CHURCH."
Return to find a video camera perched next to our seats on a tripod. The guy setting it up looks and me and says, "make sure they don't bump this."
Funny, funny, little man.
Prelude ends.
Annoucements.
Singing.
Prayer.
So far so good.
Sustainings, always good cause they get to raise their hands.
They opposed every leader in our Stake.
Speaker...temple blah blah blah.
15 minutes into meeting.
Bag of tricks empty.
crayons, tape, prepped coloring pages, once sharpened pencils are now dull, books.
Wait. How did this happen?
I was going to ration activities--no such luck.
I will save snacks for after the intermediate hymn.
Speaker...youth something or other.
Speaker...member...missionary, god's army..
*Pew contention. (or folding chair contention as the case may be)
Arms waving, legs kicking, stern looks here, stern looks there, the sit and turn around finger guesture (you know what I am talking about).
I am sweating.
Speaker...more about missionary work
Where the sam diggity is the intermediate hymn!!!!!??????
1 hour 20 minutes into the meeting
All standing for intermediate hymn...ahhh a moment that is louder than my son practically shouting, "can I stand on the seat? can I stand on the seat?"
Are you freaking kidding me...hymn number 135...go ahead look it up...three verses two lines each. The opening prayer is a freaking sermon and THIS is what we get to intermediate!
1 hour 20 minutes and 30 seconds into the meeting
Bust out the snacks.
One at a time.
Chew slowly.
Ahhhhh
Speaker...General Authority...something about how the children that Jesus taught were probably not quiet either.
HE must have seen,
he just winked at me,
yes he has been watching.
Well there goes any chance of me ever being General RS President (my ultimate goal afterall ;) )
Speaking...speaking...
crackers then dum dums.
Dum dum's are mannah from heaven
1 hour 45 minutes into the meeting
sticky sticks stuck to my skirt and bored children
This is usually the most potent and powerful part of a person's speech but all I am thinking is, "please sit down, please sit down, please sit down."
Five till the hour...he sat down.
It worked.
I quietly announce to my children that it is time to clean up and sing!
JUBILATION!
Closing hymn...Families Can Be TOGETHER FOREVER...heavenly reward? or funny funny joke...Heavenly Father has to have a sense of humor...sung with clenched teeth as I will the chorister to wave her arm a little bit faster.
Children climbing on me, poking me, playing with my hair, pulling on my jewelry,whining to me...
Prayer.
Postlude exodus.

Lessons learned: go to temple more, do more missionary work, loud children are normal

* pew contention is the state of contention found within a pew when the spirit is all around in surrounding pews.

a pound and two bits

2009-05-29T16:24:00.000-07:00

1. Wouldn't it be nice if stress burned calories instead of causing them?

2. Have you ever noticed how it is impossible to actually get full from eating donuts?...sick yes, full no.

Serial Killer or Brother?

2009-05-22T14:31:00.000-07:00

My sister reminded me of this exchange that happened between my children:

"Mahhhm! Dos is poking me with his knife!" said Uno.
To which Dos responded innocently, "No I wasn't, I was trying to cut her head off."
I calmly, while smuggling giggles, said, "Dos, please don't do that. We like Uno's head."

Should I be worried? Nah. Sweet denial is bliss.

Grow and Regrowth

2009-05-20T12:23:00.000-07:00

It is getting warm and you know what that means. Me and my Schick for Women are getting reacquainted. Awww, shaving your legs. I hate it. It hates me. I only do it because others do and if I ever live somewhere where I don't have to or where people wouldn't run and scream in horror, I will stop altogether (except the pits because that is just gross.). I hate that one little patch of hair that inevitably gets missed, usually around the ankle or knee, you know, right where it is sure to not be missed by eyes, only a razor. I hate that it takes so long in the shower when you have children peeping in on you ask, "How much longer are you gonna be!?" (aha, the cause of the missed spots has been identifed). However, I especially hate that when you are done, as if they know that you just spent time and energy getting your legs baby soft and smooth, the goosebumps. The goosebumps that you madly rub away as soon as they tingle in the leggage area. The regrowth-- after all of that foam, and water, and schicking. Hate that too cause now that is one less day you have to not shave your legs.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to just not care about goosebumps?

I have and I didn't care the other day and this has sent me to a very deep place of thoughts about stuffing things (and no not my swimming suit--that is a story for another day) and trying to rub away things that we feel. And now I will share my deep thoughts with you...

It all began when I was driving one day, somewhere, and I had, of course, shaved my legs that morning. I was baby soft and smooth and then a song on the radio cause the tingle to come on in my legs. I started the usual panicky feeling and reached down to rub those little buggers away but I stopped...I wasn't going to fight it anymore. If I was having goosebumps--let them come. I sat there and had the most wonderful feeling. No restraint, just goosebumps. I let it envelope me and wash over me and then just as suddenly as they came, they were gone and I was left alone with my thoughts.

When did I stop allowing things that I feel to envelope me?

How did I learn that behavior? As a child? Perhaps. Do I allow my children to feel their feelings or do I encourage them to stuff them because it isn't "appropriate" or "right"? I have been struggling the last few years with emotions that I don't know what to do with and I have been working hard at working through things instead of rubbing them out as to not disturb my smooth exterior. It feels so good to just be sad if I am sad, or be happy if I am happy, or be depressed if I am depressed. Of course there are healthy and unhealthy ways to deal with those emotions and as we grow up we learn that this is often times situational but maybe if I am in a place where I can't feel it in the way I want to to just shelf it until I can feel it completely and not stuff it away like an old sleeping bag only to be pulled out for the yearly campout.

This little moment in my car allowed me to see how totally freeing it is to just let a feeling envelope you for a moment without fighting it or worrying if it is the "right" way to feel. I think as a women we don't feel things the way we are meant too. We have so many responsibilities that there isn't time to just sit and say, "I am sad. It is crappy and I am sad." I also think we don't allow others to be that way because it makes us uncomfortable to see others not HAPPY (!) all the time and plus we want to fix it. Sometimes maybe it doesn't need to be fixed, just nurtured and strengthened until it passes.

I got home and talked to Hubby about it and we have a renewed effort to help our children express their emotions in a healthy way and in safe places. We also are going to laugh more and cry more ourselves--I don't want my kids to feel like there are proper and improper emotions. They are ALL good and are ALL given to us as part of our mortal experience. I really believe that the Lord wants us to FEEL them ALL and as part of our MISSION ON EARTH (said in a booming, movie trailor voice) we are supposed to learn what to do with each one. That means anger too. That is a tricky one. I have a renewed energy to the cause of allowing my emotions to come through and to not be a Stepford Wife and if that means that I might seem "broken" to others then so be it cause guess what (?!) I get sad. I get happy. I get angry. I get lonely. I get insecure. I get silly. I get discouraged. And I thank the Lord for allowing that. I am grateful that it was that Plan that got chosen...opposition...it is what makes us grow and regrow--and have regrowth. And I want to feel it ALL.

Stink Stank Stunk

2009-05-14T10:36:00.000-07:00

We stink today.

By we I mean Quattro and I

My baby has B.O. and I am not sure why. His head smells funny. I just bathed him so I hope he doesn't have some weird stink condition. He also has this weird poop problem but I will spare you the details. He also wrote on his forehead with a marker but that doesn't stink...well it does but not in the same way. ("where did he get a marker?" you may be asking and to that I reply, "well judge Judy, I like to leave things lying around that will cause further chaos in my day.")

I did a vinegar wash on my hair this morning (a little itchy scalp problem, probably caused by the amount of hair on my head). I stink. I tried to shampoo it out but no such luck. It is there to stay. Sure hope the ladies at my meeting tonight don't mind. Oh well, I will just tell them I spent the entire day scrubbing my house clean...

Stay clear of the Rudd household today...tomorrow you are welcome cause tonight it bath night.

View from the rear view

2009-05-14T09:25:00.001-07:00

We do a lot of driving in the car. School, friends houses, sports activites, school, grandparents houses, school, library, store, zoo...etc. It gives us an opportunity to sing together, play our made up car games (ex"How Now Brown Cow?" "Rhyme Time") together, fight together, and talk about all kinds of interesting stuff.

Until about a year and half ago (when Quatro was born) we crammed our little family into Val, our tiny Honda Civic (see below for story of how Val became Val). We had to purchase three new car seats so that we could fit all of in it at one time. We used to go crazy with three babies in the back crying at the same time and all wanting us. Hubby used to count how many times they would say "Mommy" in a minute. It was a lot. We were in this car a lot.

So you can imagine how excited I was when we decided that since we were having a fourth baby (and you thought it was a surprise, really it was just me really wanting the freedom of having my own car--how ironic that now I have four kids and am afraid to leave the house with them alone) we would have to buy a second car, a mini van! Most are reluctant to give up the compact car image for the more cumbersome one of a minivan-mom.

I, however, was not.

I just wanted them spread out and not able to touch, hit, pinch, or kick one another. I wanted rear AC, room to move, space between each child (as if that would fix the fighting!)back speakers, doors that openes with the push of a button, and removeable seats. But my favorite part of this new arrangement was this little ditty, my little rear view:

I see the greatest things in this little rear view.

**Driving in civic was like driving in a refrigerator box/fridge is cold/ ice is cold/ The Iceman/ Val Kilmer="Val" (try to keep up)

Lemony lemon goodness

2009-05-08T15:46:00.000-07:00

Needed: lemons. Have some? Need some. Let's get together...yeah, yeah, yeah.

Sand, sand, and sand

2009-05-06T19:50:00.000-07:00

We camped. We played. We soaked up the sun. So good to be together as a family.

My Darlin' Doo

2009-04-29T21:03:00.000-07:00

She's three! Tres is three!
She is really something special. She makes my heart happy.

State of our state

2009-04-28T15:44:00.000-07:00

Definition(s) of "limbo":

1)an imaginary place [wrong]

2)not knowing the result or next stage of something and powerless to influence it [correct as usual Uncle Friday]

3)West Indian dance in which the dancers keep bending over backward and passing under a pole that is lowered slightly each time [until it finally crushes the dancer into the ground and leaves him or her pulverized by the unbearable weight of the pole]

4)states of oblivion, confinement, or transition [keep talking, whoa (wo) keep talking-what movie?]

5)Medieval Latin: on the border of hell [yup]

I hate buyers that back out.

S.O.S.

2009-04-24T11:54:00.000-07:00

NEED HELP.
IT HAS BEGUN. MUST BUY SWIMSUIT. NEEP HELP.

VOTE BELOW

http://www.modestswimwearsolutions.com/swimsuitpictures.htm

http://www.modestswimwearsolutions.com/swimsuitpictures.htm

http://www.wholesomewear.com/page-4.html

*If you don't know that I am kidding--you will never never never know me ooh ohhh ohhh.

A few ear treats

2009-04-23T12:23:00.000-07:00

As requested I have reinstated a playlist.

It is fun.

A collection of tunage that is sure to please the ear(s)--well at least MY ears, I don't know about your's and to be frank, I don't really care. You can mute it if you want but if you do that you may just miss the goat.

The first to hear it gets a prize.

Not really but it did make hubby laugh and I must admit that is my sole intention on this earth.

want wet pants?

2009-04-21T16:41:00.000-07:00

Watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftyohovQFdg

Hubby is the one in the black robe.

9th grade renactment of Romeo and Juliet also featuring Brandon Cotter, Cody Clark, Stephen Brower, Laryy Kerby, and Jared Hendrickson.

There are many things that attracted me to my hubby in 9th grade...this is not one of them.

High on high school

2009-04-19T18:18:00.000-07:00

So this weekend has been a blur of High School activites and that, combined with the fact that I have to stretch everytime I stand up after sitting for more than a minute or limp to my next destination, is making me feel a little bit old. No, I don't want a whole bunch of comments trying to refute that fact or telling me that being young is a state of mind. I am getting older...and I am okay with it. I have just been confronted with it head on this weekend and thus this post is born.
It started with my little sis's (Abby Dabby) musical (Suessical the Musical to be exact) on friday night. I was waiting in line between two groups of her peers; a group of greasy looking boys wearing "socal" jerseys (skinny arms sticking out of large holed tank tops)wishing that they had some sort of facial hair that could be recognized as a goatee and not just a few stray pube's on their face (sorry if tmi but just stating what I know you all are thinking when you see this) (oh and they were wishing that--not me) and another group who were the mormon kids turned bad-you know what I am talking about- they were using all kinds of filthly language like "what the damage" and "beeotch"-getting as close as they could without actually getting into trouble in case thei bishop or mom's visiting teaching comp was lingering nearby.
Yes, it was wonderful and to make matters worse one of the greasy pube face boys kept talking to me, trying to be funny...wait could this be flirting...sick once and sick twice when he was mortified when my husband of 9 (almost) years and my four children came running to their 29 year old mother.
I guess boys that age don't get the whole wedding-ring-face-touching done to deter unwanted guesstures of flirtatousness--I think that is only the tip of the ice berg of what they don't get but whatever.
Now, you might think this would make me feel younger--but it didn't just mildly like a teacher convicted of molesting one of her students...sick three times. Plus, any feeling of youth that had come over me due to this nasty sort of high school humor and germage floating through the air came to an end when the ticket girl called me...ready yourself...gulp..."ma'am". Really. really now. Ma'am. Thanks.

My sister did awesome in the play by the way--very fun and cute.

Okay so on with the weekend.
Hubby and I went to Prom. That is right. Prom. Just a little thing we like to do relive our own High School Prom night. Only now we are the old and cheesy photographers that we always made fun of at Prom. Yup.
We, partially to earn extra mulah and partially to have an excuse to get away together, work the busy dance weekends for a photog studio here in town. It is scary. Very scary.
So scary, in fact, (scary reason number one)that when a balloon popped I was so scared I almost hit the deck, but after glancing over at the armed police officers highered by the school who were standing by the metal detector rented by the school, I felt better because they seemed unphased. Phew not gunfire.
So scary, in fact, (scary reason number two) that I am thinking about somehow surgically attaching my daughters clothing to her body before she leaves for school...shampoo could work as a mild detergent right. I might be onto something here. Or at least attaching her undies (and no NOT a thong thank you very much) and bra to her body, only to be unattached the morning of her temple wedding where she will be sealed for time and all eternity to boy whose mother has done the same (only not a bra-that would be weird) oh and possibly made him wear boxing gloves while out on dates.
So scary, in fact, (scary reason number three) that I am thinking about never allowing my children to listen to music ever again. Maybe I could convince them that have gone deaf and we could all learn sign language. I wonder if they make a pill for temporary hearing loss...only until they are old enough to realize that you should ALWAYS listen to mother...so maybe after their first child is 2. This would also prevent them from dancing-or maybe it would be better described as girating against whomever or whatever is standing nearby; girl, boy, table, pole, large star that was once hanging from the ceiling as decorations as your High School Prom. (that was scary reason number 4)
So all in all I am completely out of touch. I am old. I get annoyed by greasy boys in tank tops, music, dancing, stylish clothing and getting called ma'am. Oh yeah and I can't stand up without creaking and limping for a few second before my muscles remember that they do actually bend and move with the flow of my body.
So I am older. But not only am I older but I will now have the weirdest kids in school--mission accomplished-maybe people will stay away from them and let them be and think what I want them to be and think!!! :)

2009-04-14T11:28:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k

200 dancers put this on in Belgium.
I am feeling better.

2009-04-14T10:25:00.001-07:00

Okay so today has been one of those days.
I have been feeling completely out of control with my house. I have one of those houses that I swore I would never have. Slimy, dirty smudges on my walls, stains spotting the carpet, and lately an usuall smell coming from heaven knows where.
It looks like I have been spending my time watching Dr. Phil and The View.
In reality I have been busting my ars trying to stay caught up with it all.
I spend my days putting out fires and there is no extra time to do any kind of extra anything.

So my question is...do I give into the chaos and just go with it or do I continue to fight it?

Today I was getting my meager attempt at a workout with my good friend Billy Blanks I was, of course, being interrupted every few moments by one child or another with one problem or another. Button this, water please, hold me, open this, peel this, etc., etc. The Double D' had already dumped every toy known to the Rudd family out on the playroom floor but I was okay with that because that is what a playroom is for and it is manageable. They then moved and were playing quietly (first indication of trouble) in Tres' and Unos' room. So after a few sets of side kicks I decided I have better check on them. All of Uno's Polly Pockets and the rest of her "treasures" were spread across the floor and all of the blankets and stuffed animals from the bunk beds were on top. The culprits were hiding in the closet because they know that Uno's stuff is off limits when she is in school, that is why it is in her room.
Big trouble.
So I spent the remainder of my workout interrmittedly punch, squat kicking (exercising not punishing--not that kind of parent--yet ;) )and "strongly urging" my Double D's to clean up that mess. It took them until 15 mintues before we were supposed to leave for Tres's playgroup. Of course I hadn't showered yet because I was playing police woman and I knew that I desperately needed to get to the store becasue we were completely out of diapers so I quickly jumped in to rinse off . I was only in there three minutes. I came out to see my mineral powder foundation spread across the tile in my bathroom. I quickly used a hand towel to scoot it over so I could at least get out without making mineral mud and then I quickly threw some clothes on and ran out to get the kids shoes on and jump in the car. I would clean that mess up later.
That sounds easy, right?
I walked down the hallway to find a thick pink line all the way down the hallway. I followed said pink line to a beautiful art creation on the familyroom wall and my computer chair.

I walked around the corner to find my 3 newly stocked snapright containers full of cereal dumped on my family couch and floor.
Three minutes.
New record.
What do they have to say for themselves? "Sorry mom"
Sorry my freaking ars, except the real word in my head.
Needless to say there was no playgroup, no snacks, no store, which means no diapers. One hour, many threats, and four times setting the timer later they had the mess cleaned up and they know that they will be eating cheerios for a very long time.
It was 9:30 a.m.
The crappiest thing about this is that I have myself wondering what I did wrong with my kids to make them think that this is okay. Really now they are almost 5 and 3. Shoudn't they know that dumping cereal on the floor isn't okay. Or at least they should know it because I have told them over 100 times that it isn't.
I was a good kid. Why am I being punished?

I think fighting it will be the death of me. I have no idea what I am going to do about the diaper situation.

P.s. I just threw away every single playdough apparatus that we own because they wouldn't clean it up. They are all crying.

Is it bad that I have a small ounce of satisfaction that I finally figured out what will get throught to them.

Like I said one of those days....maybe after naps it will get better? I will let you know.

Very original post ahead

2009-04-13T16:49:00.000-07:00

Easter. I know everyone and their g-ma's vet has a post up today about Easter so I will lemming my way to one also.

We do Easter bunny on Saturday and then we went to an Easter celebration at my G-parents retirement community (it was funny). It was raining, which is highly unusual on Easter, so they moved all of the games inside and this is where they moved the obstacle course...in the exercise room. It was my kids favorite room. Tres must have done it 30 times before we left. I was impressed with her coordination. On Sunday we had a nice breakfast and devortional before church. It was nice. That was our Easter. I don't feel like elaborating or being cute so...the end.

P.S. I know you can't see it but I L-O-V-E-D my dress...it is the first Easter in many many years that I got a new dress and I lucked out the night before. I looked hot- no wink or anything. I did and it took me a long time to get there so I will take full credit thank you.

leotard lessons

2009-04-07T15:29:00.000-07:00

I have discovered the secret to motherhood.

This teal leotard, which once belonged to my sweet sister in law who donated to the Rudd family dress-up trunk, has become my new best friend.

Reasons why it makes me a better mom:

1. No matter what you are doing your kids think you are playing with them...any housework- you become the servant to the wicked queen, sitting at the computer-you are now a spaceship captain manning the control panel, fighting with them to clean up-the evil queen that puts you in the dungeon if you don't clean...see what I mean? It is all good cause you are always dressed up. (except your seven year old will probably tell you you look freaky-she really shouldn't tell me things like this because I will now make a mental note on my list of "things that will embarrass Uno when she gets in high school")

2. It is really hard to take yourself seriously when you are wearing a teal leo over your clothes so you have a tendency to yell less because really, you start and then you catch a glimpse of your lumpy bumpy shape in the sliding glass door and then you remember how this moment is going to look SO much worse when it all plays back in your movie at judgment day simply because not only do you sound crazy but you LOOK crazy too. I speak from experience on this one. It works.

3. It makes you very conscious of the tummy your children created for you and it motivates you to stand a little taller and suck it in. Plus, if you look bad you have a good excuse. Those lumps and bumps are just your clothes underneath, right? That doesn't really make me a better mom but you get the point.

Warning: After wearing it for more than an hour you may forget about it and walk your teal little lump bumpy self down the street to get the mail and then not realize it until it is to late, you have been spotted by the homey's as they saunter off of the school bus.

They don't really get that I was actually a super hero on my way to retrieve the secret code that, if fallen into the wrong hands could destroy the world. yeah that's it.

post scrabble sunday fun

2009-03-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

*Disclaimer: Hubby's head, although large, is not twice the size of mine...it's a camera trick.

Hey there is a hole in that rock!

2009-03-30T14:43:00.000-07:00

Beautiful weather, beautiful kids, beautiful...15 year old in a bikini?!

I have been trying to do more stuff with just me and my kiddos and so we decided to go hike Hole in The Rock at Papago park (really more like a slight jaunt up some man made stairs but carrying a 25 lb 17 month old on my back made it a hike). My kids are pretty great. (before I get into the bikini subject I will wow you with the beauty that is my life ;) )

So now I will vent about the bikini girl. I was just trying to enjoy a nice, wholesome activity with my kids when we stumbled upon a swimsuit photo shoot! "Awesome!" I thought to myself, "just what my 7 year old daughter and (almost) 5 year old son need to see." How am I going to explain these young girls strutting their stuff for the cameras while trying to look as sexy as possible? Maybe a good time for a lesson on modesty or maybe agency?

So anyway. This girl was probably around 15 years old. It was creepy. Her mom must have been there and when she saw me with my four kiddos she said "Wow you are a brave woman!" I said, "Funny- I was just thinking the same thing about you!" We both laughed then I asked her how it was to watch her daughter model a swimming suit. She said it took some time to get used to. I am wondering--what possessed you to go past the shoots that you weren't used to!?! (it's like coffee being an acquired taste...so are crickets but you don't see me going in for a second helping)Maybe the $$$---I mean college IS very expensive these days and who wants to watch their 15 year old daughter stoop to maybe..oh I don't know...flip burgers or serve up smoothies at the mall!

Later I asked Uno how she felt about that and her response was, "I thought it was weird that she was wearing high heels on a mountain. Also, she had a weird belly button."

It was fun and maybe I should send a thank you note to the mom for providing me with a teaching moment with my kids and also for providing us with some entertainment from her 15 year old daughters weird belly button.

Tag'n fun

2009-03-30T14:25:00.000-07:00

5 things I was doing 5 years ago:
*Struggling to get homework done and still be a mommy/wife
*Living in Provo, UT
*Wondering how I would ever find time for myself one whole child!
*Learning how to live on nothing (hey wait-I am still doing that!)
*Still naturally blonde and skinny

5 Things on my to do list today:
*Plan FHE
*Iron (always on my list because I hate it)
*Fold and put away laundry
*Maintain little to no spirit of contention until bedtime
*work on some proofreading

5 Things I would do with a million dollars:
*Pay off van/school loans
*Go to NY
*Rent a beach house for Rudd family reunion (not that we don't have one almost weekly as it is!)
*Downpayment on land for Wells Homestead
*Save the rest--a mill doesn't go very far these days!!

5 Places I have lived:
*Anchorage, AK
*Elkins/ Davis, WV
*Denver, CO
*Vienna, Austria (does a semester count?)
*fairfax County, VA

5 Jobs I have held:
*Wilderness counsleor for troubled teens
*waitress
*Motherhood (the store not the state of being- although that too)
*Therapy assistant for abused children/ women
*Transcription/ proofreading

5 things I want to be doing in 5 Years:
*survive PhD school
*have all of my children be alive (happy would be a bonus!)
*Get Master's Degree
*Be settled in wherever we will be living then
*Be a happier and a better person

5 people I tag:
Jamie
Janell
Lauren
Lindsay
Lisa

bunched panties

2009-03-19T14:05:00.000-07:00

I am aggravated to day for a few reasons. I will vent now.
1-I am sick. I never get sick. I usually just ignore it, take a pill and go on with my day. It is not working. Mom's aren't allowed to get sick. I have managed to avoid it for a number of years. It has caught up with me. I guess this is my punishment for not being pregnant, my body will get me one way or another.

2-It is almost 90 degrees here. This is aggravating. It is March. It should be 76 degrees. This is the time of year that makes up for the 6 months of hell that we endure here in the summer/ fall/ part of winter. You can blame it on global warming if you want to. I tend to lean more toward cyclical environmental changes but whatever. I have a tendency to beleive the opposite of whatever Leonardo Dicaprio is preaching. Remember he isn't really the "King of the World" that was just a movie. I am not all that sure about the research they have done either about this whole thing. The ice is melting. Yes. But if you read what real scientists (not Al Gore and his team of highlypaid "scientists") are saying this has happened before and it will correct itself...or maybe not and maybe it is just the end of the world (but I am all for that--2nd Coming baby-yee haw). We will end in a big ball of fire caused by me not changing ALL of my lightbulbs to the really annoying, swirly ones that turn on in a delayed strobe light effect that makes you pause and ask, "I did just hit the right button, right?" Whatever the cause, it is too hot for March and I wish that it would just stop cause I don't have capris yet that fit me and I won't have the money untill the first of the month to buy them and then I should really get my wheat grinder that I keep saying I will buy. Those 50% off sales at Goodwill get me everytime!

3-The AIG Scandal: what the sam diggetty. How dare they take taxpayer money and actually give it to people who work!!? I have never heard of such nonsense. Seriously. Nobody seems to care that in my neighborhood alone we have a whore house, two drug houses, and a drop house...all being funded by guess who...taxpayers. yup, that is right! But is anyone calling them into question them about how they are spending their money? Nope. Now, don't get me wrong, I am not against these programs. I fully intend to take advantage of the help when we are so poor and living the student life again, but I also fully intend on repaying my debt to society and bettering my situation in the long run...oh and I don't run a brothel from my master bedroom. We should be paying people to work not "work it". I guess some would say-"well it is different--they are poor and the AIG employees are not." This is true so I say let's gather all the people with money and just behead them. Anyone know anything about the French Revolution? Let's just behead them all and all the people that wish they had money and start over. But wait, if we did that who would be an advocate for the Polar Bears? Hasta Leo. (okay I don't hate Polar Bears...hmmm...although they do maul small children in Bethel, Alaska--they seem so nice on the PBS specials on the disappearing ice) Okay, so I went into the questioning of the AIG guy yesterday thinking that he was a crazy, selffish bugger that deserved to be beheaded but then they started questioning him and holy cow...it all made sense. It felt awful though to watch him have to defend his employees and their families as these men (rich men I might add) tore him up. This is what happens when government gets too involved...I had a flashback to 1984- the book not the year. Moral of the story: Nothing is ever free-especially not when it comes in the form of a government bailout.
I don't know the whole story and I don't claim to be an expert or a political stalwart but something stinks and it isn't just Quatro who is pooping in my lap as I type. This country needs to stop listening to talk radio and The Insider and start thinking for themselves. Look around...does this look good? Read...read something other than People Magazine and Cosmo and learn about this stuff. Make up your mind one way or another, don't let it be swayed by who your favorite celeb is or who is getting the most buzz on TMZ. It is aggravating me...alot. I think I will move to Canada (oh wait my Passport expired)...or maybe Kolob?

I am done venting. Someday I will probably read back and think...man I was wound tight...I should have relaxed and just watched Oprah/The Today Show/Dr. Phil (insert any pop culture news show) a little bit more...they had it right all along!

I need to go change a few diapers now and pick up my son from preschool and daughter from her school. This is real life...I need to remember that.

Do you have a sue pie?

2009-03-16T12:21:00.000-07:00

A year ago I was here:

and I was wearing this:

Today I am going here:

and wearing this:

We've come a long way baby.

~for those of you confused by the title of this post HAVASUPAI (or pronounced have a sue pie) is a beautiful hike into the Grand Canyon that I have wanted to do for a long while. I in no way wanted to confuse only to entertain and peak interest. I regretably (or not so much) apologize for the stress i may have caused your brain functioning or malfunctioning, whichever is more accurate.

Small parts

2009-03-05T08:02:00.000-08:00

Disclaimer: *If you are a male reader (that is weird-get back to work :))you may be cautioned that the below reading may contain girly talk...you have been warned.

I have small parts.

My ears, my baby toe nail, and my chestage area.
My ears:
4 1/4 cm long, they have been that big since I was two years old and have not changed. Tres is two and her's are 5 cm. Don't ask me how I know that, or what tempted me to actually measure my ears against my daughters. I have always known that I had small ears...due to many people on the left and right of me looking over and stating "Oh my gosh you have tiny ears!" Also, when I got my first Ipod (birthday of '08-yes I am aware that we are a little behind-we got our first cell phone at Christmas of '07) and the earbuds killed my ears and don't stay in unless I insert them at a very specific and awkward angle.
Note to Apple: ear discrimintation is a serious offense. Ears are made in all sizes and so should ear buds be.

This is not my ear.

My baby toe nail:
Tiny. I have to paint the skin around it to make it look normal. It is the size of a quarter if a pea-on a good day. On a bad day I clip it too close to the skin and so it is pretty much nonexistent. TMI? Too bad-you should have stopped reading at the disclaimer. I am really okay with this one because, afterall, it is just a toe and who really notices a baby toe-I just try to keep my feet moving very quickly so that no one can notice it-now if I could just get rid of that space after my baby toe where it looks like an extra toe should be.

This is not my foot.

My chestage area:
2 A cups-4 nursing kids-8 years= negative A cup

My mom offered to buy me prosthetics, need I say more?

This is not my chestage area...too perky.

I am grateful for my small parts.

Someday when I am menopausal and gaining weight and the rest of me is getting bigger beyond my control I will still have my few small parts.

Our house is a very very very fine house

2009-03-04T12:23:00.000-08:00

So as I have mentioned in previous posts we are selling our house.

We want to enlist the help of my blogger lemmings...we need a place to live when our house sells.

We are looking for a place to live---cheap.

We are trying to save up because Tait is going to go back to get his PhD, yes he already has his Master's but he wants to teach.

So if you know anyone who has a rental that wants a good tenant who will take care of your place let me know!!
We are looking to move in Juneish or sooner if it is a grrreat deal or if our house sells before then.
Thanks, now go on about your business folks.

Funny tidbit

2009-03-03T10:28:00.000-08:00

Dos is funny...and here is proof (not the picture...keep looking.)

Hubby told Dos to go in and get in bed and then hubby continued to get the girls down...

Hubby entered Dos's room a few minutes later only to find that Dos was not, in fact, on his bed as he had been previously instructed but was spread eagle, face up on the ground.

Hubby inquired..."Dos, why are you not on your bed?"

To which Dos replied, matter of factly, "Da-ad! I am pretending to feel the power of God. Shhh."

Thank you very much animated scripture series for your interpretation of feeling the "power of God".

Big Brother

2009-02-26T13:32:00.000-08:00

Okay so first they make us strip at the airport, then they take away our precious Evian, next they take pics of us picking our nose on the freeway all in the name of Homeland Security--and now this...

there is a website out there where our drivers licenses are listed for the whole world to see! Pics and all...if that isn't enough to make you want to remove it then I don't know what will motivate you.

Go here and you can request to have it blocked from public view...

http://www.license.shorturl.com

Thanks Lisa for saving me from abduction...or worse...public humiliation.