Sixteen Years???

Happy Anniversary Brett!

Sixteen years ago today as we waited and waited for Brett to show up at the temple my sisters teased me that he was driving in the opposite direction. I think some days he may have wished he had but he would NEVER admit that to my face - only mutter it under his breath if he knows what is good for him. :)

I on the other hand know what a great deal I got in marrying him and am thankful that he finally DID show up and took the plunge. He has survived the steel business despite getting caught on a sharp hook and setting himself on fire. He has also survived being married to me (so far). I'm not sure which is more dangerous. That remains to be seen.

In sixteen more years our lives will be dramatically different. At least I hope so. I hope our children won't still be crying, fighting, and living with us. It is my dream that they will be well-adjusted adults going to school, dating wonderful women and living in their own places. Hey! A mom can dream right???

You lost what??? Part II

Remember when Brett lost his ring at Lake Powell? That's not all he lost at Lake Powell. Actually come to think of it we lose a lot of things at Lake Powell. My sister-in-law tossed her anniversary ring to her husband right before waterskiing and, well, he didn't catch it. We lose bathing suits, towels, beach toys and water shoes. Of course we gain tans (or in my case burns), great memories and come home with lots of sand in our bags.

On our last Lake Powell trip Brett gained a concussion and lost his two front teeth. Sorry Brett. Yep... I did it. Me. The driver of the boat who hit the waves that threw him from the molecule that resulted in said loss of teeth. He has already had 3 oral surgeries to work on his teeth. He has one more to go to get permanent teeth put in. Right now he has a gap where his teeth SHOULD be and fake teeth that he can wear. He plays with his fake teeth all the time driving me and his brother nuts. "Will you knock it off?" I'm always saying. He leaves his teeth everywhere; on the couch, on the counter, on his bedside stand and then says to me, "have you seen my teeth?" I keep telling him not to leave his teeth lying around.

That leads me to last night when again he left his teeth on the counter. Sunshine was coloring at the counter and it came time to put her to bed. Brett put her to bed and shortly thereafter went to get his teeth. They were gone. Suspicious. You bet. We searched and searched and searched. No luck! I didn't even have to say "I told you so." All I had to do was make the sound, "hmmmmm." The best part was when I heard him go into Sunshine's room and ask our little 2-year-old "where did you put my teeth?" as if she would answer him! hahaha!!!

Serves him right for hiding his mom's keys in a heater vent when he was three. Now that's payback. I wish I could be in all of his meetings for the next month as he tries to hide his gap. I know, I know. That's kinda mean isn't it? I'm trying to be nicer... I really am. But sometimes being right feels soooooo good. Terrible isn't it?

I Can Still Smile

Even after my worst day my hubby has the gift of making me smile ... or should I say his Valentine gift made me smile.

Before I tell you what he gave me I need to preface this with a little story. I got into bed one night (don't be scared... it's a clean story) and my husband says to me "are you wearing socks?" I wasn't. True story.

Let's rewind a little further in time to when I was younger and would watch my dad massage my mom's rough feet while they watched t.v. It always creeped me out to see how dry and cracked her heels were and I thought it was weird - I was sure she was the only one in the whole wide world with feet that looked like that. I guess after the socks comment we need to add one more to the world.

Fast forward to my Valentine's gift. He gave me a nailcare set, a sea salt scrub for removing dead skin and a lotion to put on afterwards to soften the skin. I ask you.. was the gift for me or to preserve his legs in bed??? :) you decide. hahaha!!!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Sunday Blues

I was looking forward to Conference all week end but I have ping ponged back and forth as I listened to the various talks... at times feeling guilty for my faults and weaknesses wishing I was a better mother and falling short each day. And at other times feeling inspired as just the right thing was said to give me hope. Like Carin, I loved President Monson's quote "your future is as bright as your faith." I also loved the talks by Elder Bednar and Elder Uchtdorf because they always seem to say things that speak to my heart. I look forward to rereading their talks again.

I suppose my melancholy feelings this weekend were intensified by the inevitable departure this afternoon as Brett left again to go out of town for work. He was home for 2 1/2 days and left probably for another 4 1/2. He was so awesome to take the boys to the movies on Friday night while I took time to myself to recoup on the couch at home. I intended to do something fun for myself but was too dang tired to move. I guess home renovations and 4 boys back on track with hubby out of town takes it out of a person.

Needless to say, all the boys pray for Brett in every prayer they say that he will come home safe. We miss him so much the second he leaves until he returns. So I'm posting a couple of the goodbye hugs he received today as Brett checks my blog so he will remember that his boys love and miss him. oh and Brett... I love you the most!!!

Forever Love

The Language of Love

For today's installment of Carin's February challenge I turn your attention to the language of love.  Brett has had to go out of town a LOT lately and this trend will continue indefinitely during this economic recession.  Unfortunately the company has had to bid a lot of out-of-town jobs.  At least we have a job right? :)

Anyways, Brett often leaves at 5:00 am before any of us are crazy enough to get up so when we DO get up at a saner hour we find notes that he has written us or emails he has sent throughout the week.  Sometimes I find notes in odd places later in the week.  For the boys he leaves their note at the breakfast table telling them he loves them and what fun activity/activities he will do with them when he gets home.

This week I found my note here ....

You don't get to read my note.  SORRY!!!!  If I let you read mine Brett might never write me one again!!!!  I can't let THAT happen!!!!  Although I do keep everything remember so I suppose I could just start hiding old cards and notes and pretend they were new ones if he did stop writing me notes.  But that's kind of sad and pathetic... kooky really.  But who ever accused me of being normal? oh wait... me!!!!  I'm ALWAYS saying I'm the only normal one in my family.

But I digress...

Brett also calls a couple of times each day asking me how I'm doing (checking my sanity and how many kids are in time-out).  Actually come to think of it he doesn't actually ask who is in time-out but asking me how I am is a natural lead in to that don't you think?

Each day the boys pray for dad that he will be safe and I pray he won't be a minute late getting home from out of town(for multiple reasons).

We are so grateful for Brett.  He works hard for our family and showers us with love.  Thanks for all you do Brett!

My Sweeter Half

Friday night is our official date night and last night was no exception.  I typically have a craving for Chinese food on the weekends so my husband obliged my craving and we had a great dinner on the east side at a restaurant not far from his office.  Afterwards we had some errands to run because who really wants to get home to 4 boys too early??? I'd rather they all be in bed by the time I get home.

I'm not sure what I did or said to trigger his comment as we were walking into Target but he says to me "I know somewhere deep inside you are nice." ouch!!!  Perhaps I resemble that because then we get into the store he asks if we need a cart and I say "no we are just returning something... unless you wanted to go find a shirt to buy that won't fit you and which you will never return."  (he has a history of buying things and not returning them but do I really need to rub it in???)  

My husband has his .... I wouldn't say faults ... I would say... things that drive me crazy.  But these things are insignificant when I compare them to all his wonderful characteristics.  He is the sweeter half of our marriage.  In no particular order these are some of the things I love about him:

1.  He thinks I'm beautiful (he also has really bad eyesight and a very strong prescription. fortunate for me because I was once described as homely by a family friend... my husband's poor eyesight or the fact that he is desperately in love with me blinds him to my looks.)

2.  He makes me laugh (sometimes unintentionally).  

3.  He is sooooo patient with me and my chronic headaches and migraines (I don't think I would be as generous if the shoe was on the other foot).

4.  He calls me a couple of times a day to check in and see how things are going and always asks if there is something he can pick up on the way home from work.  As sanity is not something you can pick up in a store I have to settle for milk and bananas.

5.  I love his honesty.  Remember I HATE being lied to.  

6.  He never talks bad about me in front of others (I should probably have a New Year's Resolution to do the same for him and not admit that he leaves his laundry on the floor, drinks straight from the milk container (ewww), rewinds to watch his favorite commercials , watches shows that bore me like Bear Grylls survive dangerous situations..why just now he was demonstrating how cold it was and how his knife was stuck to his hand - don't just pull it off he says or you'll take your skin off, to get it off you must pee on your hand - and Bear demonstrates it (thank goodness it was blurred out) .... remember deep down he's sure I'm nice inside.... so maybe one day I'll be as nice on the outside as he believes I am on the inside.

7.  I love his smile and his laugh.  They are contagious.  (sometimes if he is laughing too much I have to investigate because it means a boy/boys are the target of his teasing ... and when ANY dad is on a teasing roll someone ends up crying ... I speak from personal experience) ... still a smile and laugh that melt me.

8.  I love the cute sounds he makes as he is falling asleep.  Little sighs and sweet sounds of contentment (apparently I've recently started snoring... not so cute.)

9.  He does a great job of taking kids with him on Saturdays to run errands so I can have "me" time.  I don't even have to ask.  Thanks Brett!!!

10.  Although I have to draw his attention to my latest posts (I don't know if I'll tell him about this one) or ask him what he thinks about the latest quilt I have made and now he HAS to attend Gospel Doctrine class because I was recently called to teach every other week.  He does  a great job giving me compliments even if the quilt is pink and really... do boys care about pink quilts... and tells me I did a great job teaching my lesson when I'm sure he would much rather be out in the hall having a "meeting" with his friends (and by meeting I mean talking about fantasy football).  

You're the best sweetie and a love you the most!!!!

The Making of a Pumpkin

First take five boys (I'm including Brett as one of the boys) and gather them around the kitchen table.  Next - everyone draws a picture of a pumpkin face and you end up choosing one mom finds on the internet... go mom!!!  Dad draws it on the pumpkin... go dad!!! Get one giant pumpkin with its top cut off.  

Have boys roll up their sleeves in preparation for the messy job ahead.  

Loosen the insides of the pumpkin and order your unwilling boys to scoop out the slimy pumpkin innards with their bare hands. 

 Tell them to ignore the stinky pumpkin smell and keep on digging in!!!  

Firmer orders must be given to your oldest boy who appears to be hanging back and letting younger brothers do all the work (he's no dummy!!!)   

"No you are not done yet" you tell them... "aren't you having fun?" you ask.  "did you just put that in your mouth?" you say.  

Be sure to have at least one  tactile intolerant child so you can catch moments like these...

While dad cuts out the face, play with the pumpkin cut-outs.

Test your pumpkin with a candle to be sure it will light up well enough on Halloween.

The end result.... a Star Wars storm-trooper pumpkin and boys now with clean hands and happy faces.  

Thanks to Brett for an awesome cutting job on the pumpkin!!! Thanks to M. for surviving the whole process.... I know it was hard for him but he kept on participating anyways, bless his heart.

Lake Powell...done for this year!

Yes we are finally done with Lake Powell for this year. Poor Hornet Head (our latest nickname for our youngest boy). He managed to go one day without asking to go to Lake Powell or praying to go to Lake Powell or mentioning Lake Powell since returning home. Obviously it is his favorite place on EARTH!!! (he hasn't been to Disneyland yet)  

We went with the Gibsons this time and had lots of fun... at least I had a lot of fun each day teasing Roger about various things. My favorite was the return trip home when I got the better cashier at Wendy's and she gave me a large Frosty for free... Roger's cashier was just rude and ate his french fries that fell onto the counter. hahahaha!!!! sorry Roger... you lose!!!  

Cozette made great meals... she can cook at my house anytime... please??? like tonight for example??? and she was willing to ride the molecule with kids. Roger was brave enough to ride the molecule with Brett while I pulled them with the boat. He bragged that he wouldn't fall off the molecule. hahahahaha!!! little did he know..... he should have had a heart to heart with my nephew first before speaking those words aloud. I tossed them off like a pregnant woman tossing her cookies in her first trimester!!! The kids were laughing hysterically when we hit the waves and their dads tried to hold on for dear life. It is a sight to see. Every dad should ride the molecule with their kids watching. I'm just sorry I couldn't drive the boat and take pictures at the same time.

The kids also had fun going on hikes with dads, 

playing in the water, 

fishing,

going behind Roger's boat on the tubes, building sand castles and of course... lizard hunting.... 

I had fun taking pictures, eating, driving the boat, eating, taking a nap, eating, looking at the stars, eating and watching Brett be afraid of the bats (and Roger be afraid of a little mouse...okay turns out the mouse wasn't so little....it was the size of a size 9 shoe).

All in all, a great trip!

Big Feet, Little Feet (oops I mean Baby Feet)

So I was hanging out with my camera my kids and Dede's kids last night and baby Chase (we call him baby Chase in our house to differentiate him from our grown up cousin Chase) and I were comparing our feet.  I told him he had little feet and I had big feet.  He said "no no I baby feet!".  I stand corrected and the name baby Chase becomes even more solidified. :P

I showed Brett the picture I took of our feet and Brett shuddered and said in horror something to the effect of "why would you take that picture!!!!  I thought the picture was kind of cute other than the fact that I needed to redo my nail polish ... so I looked again to see why the drama and sheer disgust on his face.  Still puzzled over his reaction I asked what was up?  Why I didn't realize it in the first place.... Brett thinks I'm beautiful (blinded by love obviously) but the one physical flaw I possess in his eyes is that I can spread my toes .... hideous isn't it???  All I have to do to get a rise out of him and repulse him is ... you guessed it... spread my toes.  He can't stand it!!!  I'm thinking of enlarging this picture and putting it on canvas and hanging it somewhere conspicuous in our house. hahaha!!! 

So what is your physical feature that you don't like?  me... it's my chin... or should I say the lack of chin.  I once made a high school mask for theatre class and someone picked it up off a desk and said "who's mask is this? it has no chin." thank you very much! point made.  Anyway if you are brave enough to share your least favorite and/or your favorite physical feature....