I might be a tiny bit crazy.

Last Monday for Family Home Evening, we had a lesson on being thankful. That was probably good for me to keep in mind while I did what I thought would be something fun with my children. Fingerpainting. Well, lesson learned. I guess that I am thankful that these little boys have fingers to paint with! We were making Indian Corn...an idea I got out of a family fun magazine. I have decided one thing. These people who think of these ideas don't have 3 kids ages 5 and under to do this with. Well, this is what it turned out like.

 This was supposed to be what the corn cobs looked like. Carson's did...sort of. Nate and Log's...not so much!

 I just had to put these pictures on here. The next day Nate and Logan found the swimming goggles. They loved having them over their eyes. Nate wore his to visit Grandma and Grandpa. Logan just wore his all around.

 This is his favorite trick...He says, "Pickle. Pickle." Then you are supposed to cut the pickle and tickle him. He loves that. Then his second favorite thing to do is shake your hand. Then as Grandpa Bob taught him from Dr.  Seuss, say, "Hello Jack. Hello Jake. Shake hands. Shake hands. Shake. Shake. Shake." He is funny. I love to see his little personality shine.

I guess 30 is not so bad...

What a good day it was! 30 is not so bad. I have such cute little family to thank...starting with Logan. He was awake at 5:45. I am sure it was just to wish me a happy birthday. Then Carson and Nate followed at 6. It was so cute to see their excited little faces. My husband surprised me with some very nice presents...hard to do when the wife is 9 months pregnant. I got some running gear and a cook book and CD of Christmas music...which I love. I always feel like my birthday is a gateway to the holidays...I love that feeling!

We picked out a yummy orange cranberry waffle to have for breakfast, turned on the Christmas music, and then I found out that Robbie had invited some friends over from our ward for a little party. He and the kids made cupcakes and a cake!

Here are the boys mixing away

 Look at that little face. It is hard to turn the mixer on just to #2 speed.

 I love this little baby boy. I can't believe in just a couple of weeks he won't be my little baby anymore!

After the cake making festivities, we got ready and were heading to lunch. Carson got hold of my camera. That is never good. We just got it a couple of months ago. He dropped it and it is now completely broken. But, on the bright side, this is a darling picture of Nate and his blue eyes!

I proceeded to tell him that a camera cost what 17 of his new rescue helicopters cost. I was very frustrated. I was remembering last year the day after my birthday and the paint on our carpet...it turned out OK, but was not my best moment. I thought, "Does this little boy want to sabotage my birthday every year, or what?" Then I realized that I was making way too big of deal out of this. So, off we went to Stevo's. YUM.

Then I had a nice long nap. That was good considering that my day started off so early. Robbie's parents came for a visit, and then we all got up and got ready for the par-tay as Nate calls it. I only had to count down every 2 minutes from 5:30. Our friends were coming at 7. We had such a fun time. Everyone was so nice and it was fun to visit. The kids played down stairs. Kids love and unfinished basement. Now I know why.

After everyone left, we went to see the "damage". WOA! The kids had a battle and there were plastic Easter eggs everywhere. Apparently they ran out of those to throw, so they got out a bag of water softener pellets and threw those. They had also disassembled Robbie's trekking poles and used them for swords. That is not so safe. BUT, they had a lot of fun! As we cleaned up for 2 hours strait on Saturday morning, I asked the boys if it was worth it. They both answered a very clear, firm, excited, "YES!!!!"

I agree. It was fun to have a house full of friends to share turning 30 with. So far, 30 has been pretty good. Carson reminded me that morning that I will never have twenty in my age again. Thanks Cars. Then Nate asked, "Mom, how old are you, 21?" My answer...Yes Nate. 21. I am sure that I will forever feel that way! 

Turning the big 3-0!!!

Yes, that is me...turning 30 tomorrow.I CAN NOT believe it.  I have been thinking a lot about 30. Wow. It seems like a milestone. I was just thinking about where I was when I turned 20. I was at Ricks College (having the time of my life, might I add). I had a lot of question marks in my life. My mom had just been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease. I had no boyfriend. I had no kids. I thought maybe I'd go to ISU Dental Hygiene...there wasn't anything too concrete going on.

Fast forward 10 years (which, by the way, seems like a blink)...

My life is pretty constant...not a lot of uncertainty.

Today my day consisted of laundry, dishes, mopping, feeding 3 little hungry mouths, cleaning ketchup off Logan's legs...used for lotion. It is 2:00. I am not showered. I have not brushed my teeth. I feel like a whale. That is what being 9 months pregnant does to a girl. But, I wouldn't change a thing.

Being 30 makes me realize some pretty big things. The biggest is that I am THE MOM. What? I am the all knowing, all loving, all doing person to my kids that my mom was to me. SCARY! I hope that I am up to the task. This is not just for fun. These little boys are depending on ME! Luckily I have an amazing husband who makes up in huge ways for the parts of me that are lacking.

Another thing I am realizing is that once we have this little baby boy in a couple of weeks, I will never be the mother of 3 again. I will always be the thirty something woman responsible for FOUR kids (until I am forty something...I can't even go there). Yikes. I can't think about it too much or I feel a little overwhelmed.

Something else I am realizing is that even though life can be a little monotonous, I love being right where I am. I am very content with the relationships I have.  I love my husband. I love my kids. I love my family. I love my good friends. These things make up for the fact that I am sure I will never love laundry, never love dishes, never love mopping...

So, while tomorrow I am turning thirty (I keep telling myself  thirty, flirty, and thriving...like from the movie 13 going on 30), I am so happy to be 29 one more day. This year has been good to me. Looking back there has been so many fun and amazing experiences all with the people I love most. It is awesome. So, in a blink, 30 comes. I will be celebrating by not running the half marathon I had trained for and planned for, but by having my fourth little sweet baby boy. Sometimes the best things in life aren't planned...they just happen. I just hope the next 10 years bring me as much happiness as the last 10 have. Don't get me wrong...there have been trials...major trials. But isn't it remarkable that looking back, I can see only the blessings. I hope that when I am 40 I still feel this way!

One little, two little, three little Indians...

 This year for Halloween, I decided that the most fitting costume for these little boys was to be a group of wild little Indian brothers. So, I busily sewed 3 different, but similar costumes...like these 3 different but similar brothers. It was a little crazy sewing with the help of a toddler. Logan really liked the strait pins. He'd say, "Balls. Balls. Balls." Then I showed him that there were pokeys on the ends. Then he said, "Pokey balls." He loved being right where I was...right in the middle of everything. I said to my friend Haley, "Now, remind me why I do things like this?" She reminded me that it is because it is FUN! She is right.

So, our Halloween festivities began with the preschool party. Here are the two scary Indian brothers.

 Logan wanted his costume on too, but he had to just make do with his feather.

 Look at his skinny body. He is just bones. He loved running around with that feather on!

 Then, better late than never, Friday we went to the pumpkin patch. Once again, Carson is miles ahead of everyone leading the way.

 Look at that strong dad carrying the pumpkins that the boys couldn't. I really couldn't either considering I am already looking like I am carrying one.

 Cute wheel barrow...the boys LOVE wheelbarrows.

 It was freezing. Poor little Logy...red runny nose an all. He was crying by the time we got to the car. We had to cheer him up with "nandy".

 We went to lunch. Then it was home for naps then pumpkin carving. What wimpy kids we have. No one would touch the slimy guts of the pumpkins.

 Carson spent his time taking many pictures. This one is of a decoration he drew with "scary pumpkins saying boo."

 This one is Nate's art work...a scary skeleton. He also drew one of a "weird looking bug."

 Here is Carson's photography at its best.

 The final product...just what they wanted...grumpy scary pumpkins.

 Logan didn't mind the slime too much...he's a little braver than his brothers.

 After carving pumpkins, the boys did some "work" outside. While they were working, Carson said, "Mom, come look at this cute little guy in the window well." So I went. It was a mouse. I said, "That is not cute. It is a dead mouse." I went to get Robbie. Removal of all mice is the dad's job. As I was walking away Carson said to Nate, "It is a cute little guy. I would want a mouse for a pet." GROSS! Never in this house. Then when I came back, I heard him telling Nate, "Heaven really is a nice place. I am so glad." Well, if mice are in heaven...I know quite a few Wayments that won't be there.

Last night, we had our trunk or treat at the church. We had it inside this year. It was a good thing because it rained and rained. So, here are our Indian Braves before we went.

 Our only one that could maybe pass for an Indian...Nate's out with his blue eyes...Logan is out with his blond hair...

 Scary Indian face...

 Look at this little cutie. I love one little red feather.

After trunk or treat, we had a bunch of friends over to our house for homemade donuts and apples with caramel sauce. The kids had been waiting for this all week long. Carson...our social butterfly...said, "I can't believe we get to have a party...with friends." It was fun to enjoy friends in our home.

 So, now it is official. I have turned into my mother. I spent a lot of time this month sewing...and I really don't know how...and cooking. It was all in the name of a good party. Sometimes I wonder what Elaine is thinking of me as an adult. I hope she is liking what she sees and is thinking, "Good thing I taught her how to have a party...it is what life is all about" 

A lesson from a 3 year old...

On Monday night, Carson started throwing up around 7ish. It lasted ALL night. I was up ALL night. We kind of tried to have a down day on Tuesday,  but Logan had cried ALL day. I had not slept one bit. 

Well, Robbie had just got home from work, I was busy in the kitchen cooking dinner for a good friend who had surgery that day, and Carson (now feeling a million times better) and Nate were busy kicking a ball around our empty dining room. Logan was still crying. Of course, it was chaos. All of the sudden there was a huge crash...you know the kind...breaking glass into a million little bits.

Robbie shouted and then went running to see what had happened. Sure enough, the kicked ball had knocked off a center piece off the table in our front entry. My first instinct was to get mad. I was too tired to expend that kind of energy. Then I heard little Nate say to his bawling brother, "Cars...it was an accident. It is OK. It was an accident." Carson ran off crying, feeling so bad that he'd broken the glass. However, my eyes were opened by this sweet insight from a concerned brother.

I went and scooped my sweet little heartbroken 5 year old boy in my arms. I asked him if he meant to. He said no through sobs. I then said it was an accident. Then the Spirit helped me recall something from my childhood...similar to this...and how my mom reacted. I told him about a beautiful crystal dish that was on the piano at our house. I was standing in the doorway. Brandon threw a wiffle ball at me (I am sure it wasn't unprovoked). I was in the door way right in line with this dish. I ducked. The ball smashed that dish into a million little pieces. My mom came running. She wondered what had happened. Then she asked me, "Why did you duck?" I said because the ball was going to hit me. She said, "I am sad the dish is broken, but I am glad you are not hurt."

No one got in trouble. No one got yelled at. I learned one lesson at that time...that I was more valuable to her than that vase. So, as I recalled this to Carson, I wanted him to know that he was more valuable than that centerpiece. I hugged him and dried his tears. It was a tender moment.

Sometimes I am quick to react. I need to be slower to react so that I can act appropriately. I am so thankful for the wisdom of a sweet 3 year old to help me see that it was an accident. I am also grateful for the wisdom of a dear mother who taught me that people are more important than things. Here it is almost a week later...I've hardly thought about that glass, but I have thought about Nate and my mom countless times and the hurt feelings of a sweet little 5 year old that were spared because of their wisdom.

Rise and Shout!!!

On Wednesday a couple of weeks ago, my aunt called me and said that their 4 season tickets to the BYU vs SDSU game were available. I told her that I'd talk to Robbie. After all, BYU foot ball is really his thing. We'd talked about taking the boys, but it wasn't something that we ever got the tickets for. I was fine either way. When I called Robbie, he said, "Let's do it. And don't tell the kids. Let's surprise them when we are on our way." Later in the evening, I got back to my aunt and told her we'd love the tickets. I had been off the phone 5 seconds when Robbie said, "Boys! Guess what! We are going to Provo on Saturday and going to the BYU football game!" Some surprise.

We packed up and headed out for Provo on Friday morning. We ate and the infamous Red Iguana. The kids loved it as much as their dad. Then in was on to Thanksgiving Pointe and our hotel. When we got there, behind our hotel was a super fun place called Cornbellys. It was a fall harvest fun land. We went there and the pics speak for themselves! (besides that we kept losing Carson...that boy has a mind of his own!) 

The most fun slides ever! I even took Logan down 8 months pregnant in a skirt...if that doesn't got Mom of the Year Award, I don't know what does!

 This was a favorite...the water pump. Look at the determination on Nate's face!

 The boys loved these bikes. Nate even rode the pink one. They were fun!

 This is on the cow train. Nate wouldn't ride this, but Carson and Logan LOVED it!

 Look at them laughing together!

 Spider man!

 I am glad we tried the kiddie corn maze before we decided to take the kids to a big one. One turn around a corner and we'd lose them! Carson, of course, our born leader, wanted to take charge of the way.  We kept losing him!

 The treat of choice: Blue Cotton Candy

 Here is a race track that the boys and Robbie rode through.

 Nate is the King of the Haystack!

 After Cornbellys, Carson begged for another trip for Mexican food to "that place we ate at for lunch". My pregnant, sensitive, and still full tummy thought otherwise, so we opted for Subway. Then it was back to the hotel for swimming. Robbie took the big boys and I tried to get Logan to sleep. He wasn't having it. He waited for his brothers and when they got in bed, he finally went to sleep.

The next morning all before 9, we ate breakfast and swam. Then, we were was on our to Provo. We walked around campus and then took our kids to the BYU shopping Mecca...the Bookstore. Carson kept saying, "Look at all this BYU stuff! WOW!" They especially loved the candy counter. Here they are enjoying their treats. With these 3 little boys all decked out in BYU gear, a pregnant mom, and a BYU gear dad, we were the totally typical Mormon family. I loved it!  

 Here we are out side the stadium. The band kids kept walking by. Carson and Nate were wide eyed with wonder at their shiny instruments. They told each one, "You are so cool." or "I like your instrument." or "You are awesome!" It cracked me up!

 Logan wasn't about to miss out on the fun. It took all his might, but he made it to the Cougar.

 A nice band girl offered to take our picture.

 Finally, we are inside. I grew up with a dad who's motto was if you were late for batting practice, you were late to the game. Well, then I married a man just like that. Here we are practically the first ones there. I love these two brothers...so excited.

 During the game, Carson asked me, "Mom, how do I get in that band?" Carson, don't you want to play football. "No, I want to be in that band." We'll see what he thinks when he is 16. He was mesmerized by the drummers.

 Cougar Tail...YUMMY!

 Logan fell asleep right as the game started. Nate was soon to follow. They slept almost the whole first half.

It was a great day for our family. BYU won. The band was great. The food was yummy...so yummy that Carson threw up popcorn all night when we got home! They keep asking us when we are going back. It was so fun. Our seats were right by the portal on the end. It was very easy to go in and out. If we can have those seats, maybe we'd take them back again and again! They LOVED it!