Day #7

 

Day #7 A picture of someone or something that has had the biggest impact on you.

So what, I'm gonna break the rules.  I am naming at least 5.  This is my journal and this is how I want to journal it.

Ri is my first baby and that definitely impacted my life.  I will never be the same shallow person roaming the world without a point.  Having kids gave me much more focus, deeper understanding of life, and made me take the spiritual side of my life much less flippantly. Riley is my right hand.  She is a great sister and a good buddy for me. 

Jacks helped me understand boys better.  They need a lot more physical attention.  Jack was another limb on my body until he was about 4 years old.  Jack has a deeply sensitive side that I feel the urge to protect and yet I wish I could toughen him up so that he didn't feel so intensly.  I can see a lot of myself and my parents in Jack.  It's helped me to appreciate my mom and dad more.

Ah, my little piece of ham, my little Maddy Cat.  Before Miss M was born I had a blessing that said she would bring me so much joy.  Boy was that ever true.  She is funny, beautiful, and a screaming genius.  This kid has it all......except for the good eye sight.  I wish I could attribute all of the good parts of Mads to my fantastically honed mothering skills but this kid has taught herself everything; getting dressed, tying her shoes, riding a bike, putting on makeup, reading........this chicklet is the total package. 

I have never been more tired than when I look at this picture of Max.  Max is in constant motion.  He is his own law of physics.  He is sweet and sunny, mean and devious, and super funny.  He asks me all of the time if the cars he sees really transform.  Everytime I say that I don't think so and he answers in return that he does think so.  He's my little bitty baby.  The last of the greatest souls ever sent this way.

That's my guy:)  He's eating a Happy Meal shot.  That would be a complete Happy Meal blended together to make a tasty, vomit inducing treat.  He did it because I thought it would be funny and he likes to make me happy.  He spends a lot of time making me happy.  He impacts my life everyday.  He keeps me on the straight and narrow.  I would surely not be the person that I am (for good or bad) without his constant love and encouragement.  Frankly kids.......he's a stud.

Not pictured are my parents.  They have been fantasticly loving.  I think of how much patience my mom had when I was little and wonder why I didn't inherit any.  I see what an upstanding man my dad is and hope to ever be that smart and have that much integrity.  It has been the best thing in the world to see them as grandparents.  Watching them be happy because ALL of their awesome grandkids has really done my old heart good.

Last but not least, something I am pretty tight lipped about.  The thing that has impacted my life in a big way is my faith.  Ya, I actually have some.  Without the knowledge that I have of eternal concepts, I would be a quivering heap.  It helps center me to be able to see the big picture and know that everything and everyone I  love will go on.  I can mess up with every step I take and I'll still be okay.  I don't have to be perfect.  I can't be perfect.

Day #6

Day #6 My favorite super hero.

I seriously love Wonder Woman.  Great hair, snappy boots, small waiste.........and the ability to super jump and make people tell the truth. Ooo ooo, can't forget the ability to change clothes by spinning.   I spent hours pretending to be Wonder Woman when I was little.  I once made a bionic jump from my bed with such power that I drove my knee into my nose and rendered myself bloody and helpless for an afternoon.  I sometimes contemplate purchasing an outfit like that and wearing it all day.  I think it would really give me the drive I need to finish the laundry.  I pretty much covet her rope of truth.  I would love to take people out to an old wooden shack and tie them up and ask them all sorts of questions.  Bahaha......the power!

Day #5

Day #5 A picture of a place I've been......
Obviously I don't get out much.  This is a picture of Buffalo Bill's in Nevada.  We stopped there on our previous trips to Disneyland.  This would be the buffalo shaped pool and also Jack's favorite part of the trip.  Yep, that's right.  I forked out a couple grand and this is what my kid liked.

Day #4

A Habit I Wish I Didn't Have.......

I'm sure I've spoken of it before, but he actual diagnosis is Horizontal Stacking Disorder with a side of Cleaning Imposed Attention Deficit.....
I love clean counter tops with a bowl of fruit and vintage canisters, but I don't have them.  I love a clean and stylish night stand with a mod lamp and my cool jewelry stand, but I don't have one.  I adore a clean dresser top with a picture of my Nuggets, but I don't have that either. 
Instead I have counter tops covered with homework and tons of little kid art and recipes.  My night stand is covered in scriptures, a dictionary, a mammoth load of books.  And my dresser is covered in Max's movies and loose change.
In theory I can clean all of those things but going from beginning to end is exhausting.  I get so sidetracked by wanting to put EVERYTHING away at one time that it gets nutty. I run from room to room and in every room find something new to clean. 
So I just live with the bad habit.

Day #3

A picture of me and my friends.  My girl Jodi.  My sista Joey.  My friend Heather.  This is the best I could do in the picture department.  Cabo Wabo in Vegas, with food to die for and friends too.  The lady that took our picture kept telling us we had great skin.  I guess I can live with that.

Day #2

Day #2
The blog name.......
It's madness at our house 24-7.  Everyone has their very own distinct personality and everyone is VERY different from everyone else.  In the morning Ri likes to get up early and take the bus.  Jack and Mads have to be dragged from bed and forced to go to school.  Max would rather be cuddling with a blanket and some chocolate milk.  Daddy will normally get up in time to slap on the Kevlar and disappear for about 15 hours.  I might get up early or I might need to be woken up by Ri. 
After school Mads will do tumbling and want to play the piano, read, and play with her friends.  Jack will do anything under the sun to put off homework and chores.  He would rather be playing in the dirt, riding the 4 wheeler or playing with neighborhood friends and dogs.  He doesn't like piano or scouts.  Riles immediately finishes homework, does a chore and is off to ride bikes, play basketball or cook something.  She has lots of friends that live near us and she would be out with then until bedtime if she could.  She has piano lessons and singing, no longer has any use for tumbling, and has a good time at Activity Days (mostly because I am there and I am awesome).  Max wishes he was 8 so he could do what everyone else does.  He thinks all of his brother's and sisters' friends are his.  He loves to dig in the dirt and make lakes and rivers for his plastic dogs and cattle.  He always wants to be on the 4 wheeler.  He has a terrifically hideous break down most afternoons because he is tired but won't nap.  He also is pretty good at helping make dinner.  He really picked up on a lot of household chores because he wouldn't let me put him down for the first 2 years of his life.  Daddy pops in and out, usually for long enough to stir up the kids and then he's back to work. 
Dinner is nuts.  At least 3 of the kids fight over praying.  Max will generally contaminate Mads food so that she needs a new plate. 
No one wants to go to bed even though everyone is really tired.  It is a lot like trying to grab scattering marbles.  There is lots of running around wet and naked having lotion fights.  Everyone wants a different story.  Max wants to be held.  Mads needs her bedtime ritual.  Ri will read for at least an hour.  Jack needs to be hunted like an animal because you can always count on finding him......not in bed.
By 5ish I am mentally shutting down from exhaustion.  If the Dad is around I turn into a zombie and mentally check out.  That's not very often though.  Usually I am not hitting the sheets until late and then I HAVE to read just so that I can do something I like for awhile. 
It's pure madness.  Lots of noise and excitement and movement.  Even though it makes me tired and question my sanity......I love it.  I love it.  I. LOVE. IT!

I Am Original/ Day 1

Straight off.......I totally hacked this idea from another blog.  I might be original in technical terms, but my ideas aren't. 
The plan is to follow this little formula in order to boost my blogging.  I am sure it will take me more than the alloted 30 days.

day 1- recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself

day 2- the meaning behind your blog name
day 3- a picture of you and your friends
day 4- a habit that you wish you didn’t have
day 5- a picture of somewhere you've been to
day 6- favorite super hero and why
day 7- a picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you
day 8- short term goals for this month and why
day 9- something you're proud of in the past few days
day 10- songs you listen to when you are happy, sad, bored, hyped, mad
day 11- another picture of you and your friends
day 12- how you found out about blogger and why you have one
day 13- a letter to someone who has hurt you recently
day 14- a picture of you and your family
day 15- put your ipod on shuffle: first 10 songs that play
day 16- another picture of yourself
day 17- someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
day 18- plans/dreams/goals you have
day 19- nicknames you have and why you have them
day 20- someone you see yourself marrying or being with in the future
day 21- a picture of something that makes you happy
day 22- what makes you different from everyone else
day 23- something you crave for a lot
day 24- a letter to your parents
day 25- what I would find in your bag
day 26- what do you think about your friends
day 27- why are you doing this 30 day challenge
day 28- a picture of you from last year and now, how have you changed since then?
day 29- in this past month, what have you learned
day 30- your favorite song

15 Interesting Facts.......(I know, repetative.....like I haven't done this before).
1.  I hate repetative sounds.  Don't make them around me.
2.  I love it when Max gets tired and follows me around trying to get his hand up my shirt.  Skin to skin contact is very reassuring.
3.  My current obsession is the TLC show Sister Wives.  Like a terrible, terrible accident...I cannot look away.
4.  I carry a book everywhere I go, just like a woobie.  It is my security blanket.  It helps me disengage from the pulic at large and if someone really wants to talk to me, they can talk about my book.
5.  When I was pregnant with Riley I ate only chocolate Pull n' Peels, Hostess Chocolate Cupcakes, and drank Sunny Delight.  Imagine if I had eaten properly what a genius should would be.
6.  I like my kitchen sink clean and void of dishes.  I hate doing dishes though.
7.  I religiously ate either grilled cheese or tuna sandwiches for dinner nearly every night between the ages of 9 and 14.
8.  I worry that when the world ends I won't be home and I will have no way to get to my kids.
9.  I love Halloween.  I love to dress up and be someone totally different from myself.
10.  I had 2 pet rats.
11.  I am stoked to hit Disneyland with my nuggets and my parents.
12.  I was ready for Jason to propose in August and get married in December.  He didn't pop the question until December.
13.  When people ask what I would do different about my wedding......I would have eloped over Christmas break.
14.  Junior Mints are where it's at baby.
15.  I feel like Jack's emotional twin and I hate making him do things he doesn't want to do.....because I wouldn't want to do them either.