Ah Ha

I figured it out. I've been so sad the last couple of days and couldn't pinpoint the reason. I know now what it is!!! I miss my girls!
I really, really miss my girls. In the last few years, I've lost (by relocating) too many very good friends. We talk as much as possible with our busy lives, but it's not even close to being able to run over to their house to share a bottle of wine and vent about life.
I ran into a friend over the weekend and it made my day. I got an email from another friend yesterday and it was great to hear from her too. But, I think the combination of the two just made me realize what I've lost.
Girls, I love you so much and wow, I miss you. I feel a roadtrip coming on...........

Sometimes you just have to walk away

Mom needs a time-out. Seriously. Yesterday and today are days that have pushed me to my limits and for no good reason. Kids are fine, no big problems there. Everyone is healthy. I have no big responsibilities (aside from the mountain of laundry in my room).
I'm just ornery. Apparently the moon is doing something astrologically that is creating emotional times for me. So, kids are going to a friends house and mom is going away.
Does that make me a "bad" mom? I don't think so. Sure, I could bite the bullet, put on a happy face and just get through the day. But, would tomorrow be better? How 'bout the next day? All I know is that if I say one more mean thing to my kids I may damage them beyond repair. Everyone knows that when mom isn't happy, no one is happy, right? So, time to go find my happy place. And that damn moon better get moving on.....

P.S. I'm not telling you about this for sympathy. I hope that in sharing my motherly frustrations, I can help you feel better about having a bad day now and then. We all have them. I think it's time to make it normal and ok for mom's to need time alone and accept that we can't always be perfect.

Getting to Know Us, Better.

I am going to concentrate on blogs that will help you know our family better. Some of you live very far away, and we don't get to see you as often as I would like. And, I miss you dearly! So, here is my attempt at keeping you in our life. I am going to share with you openly about our family adventures.
Right now, I am a stay at home mom (SAHM). It consumes every waking (and some sleeping) minutes. I am very happy being home with my kids. I help in Ayden's Kindergarten class twice a week. I am actually keeping up with my chores too! I think my mom never believed that I had the capacity to keep laundry clean and off the floor! Whew, glad she was wrong about that one! I am a friend to many people. I think that's the best part of not having a "day job". I can be available to those who need me (kids included). I can say YES a lot more! There have been days that I was a life saver to someone, if I had a job, who would have helped them out? My role as SAHM is very important to me. My kids know me, really really know me. And, I know them. I have been the woman who helped them learn all new things (bike riding, coloring, sharing, reading, loving). I sincerely admire those mom's who work and maintain sanity in their homes at the same time- you are truly amazing. I am so blessed that I don't HAVE to work. My work, although it is unpaid, is so wonderful. I love my job!
So keep checking back. Every day is an adventure and I'll make sure to share them as much as possible.

Jade

When she was a baby, she had no personality. Seriously. She would eat, scream, sleep then repeat. For months on end this was her life. That all changed when she turned one. We had a baby girl- finally!! She giggled, played, cuddled, and danced.
Now at the tender age of 3 1/2, she is a walking tornado. Destroying anything or anyone who gets in her path. She has reverted back to the eat, scream, sleep stage of life (short on the eating and sleeping, so mainly she screams).
She tries my patience to the extreme every day, and I am a patient person. She throws things at me, kicks me, whines incessantly (I really don't think she has a normal voice), sneaks away to do naughty things behind my back, hits her brother...... and on and on.
I couldn't love her more. She is my favorite little girl in the whole world. Every day, she takes a break from wrecking havoc to give me a big hug and kiss on the cheek. She apologizes to me by reminding me that "I still love you mommy". Some of her favorite things are: meekup (make up), dancing, cuddling with whoever has a minute, AYEN (yes, that's how she says it), and her family (Grandmas, Grandpas, Aunts, Uncles, cousins, etc).
She is the most spirited, determined, stubborn (some of her tantrums have lasted for more than 3 hours), lovable little kid. If I can find a way to harness these traits for the good, can you imagine the wonderful things she will accomplish?
Someone asked me recently why I think Jade was meant to be part of our family. I didn't hesitate for one minute, her lesson to me is unconditional love, her lesson to Steve is patience! She is right where she belongs (even if 1/2 of her day is spent in time out!).

Ayden

My heart is full with this post. I had an emotionally challenging evening with Ayden, and not for the reason you may think. We both grew last night. Here's the story:

Yesterday, there was a Ballroom Dancing assembly at Ayden's school. Exciting, right? Ayden was pretty impressed with the blond boy dancer, he wants me to dye his hair blond today. At some point during this assembly, a fellow kindergartner got sick and threw up. Ayden was close enough to this boy to witness the whole thing. He relayed the event to me when I picked him up from a birthday party that afternoon.

During dinner time last night, Ayden was not his usual self (annoying his sister, talkative, or pretending to eat). He pretty much sat there, looking morose. I had the feeling that he was getting sick. I told him he didn't have to eat if he didn't feel like it, so he went up to his room. I followed and insisted on him talking to me. I asked him all the usual questions, "does your tummy hurt?" "Do you feel like your sick?" "Are you tired?" I got a round of NO's as response. So, I ventured further asking him about the boy getting sick. At that moment, his whole body collapsed into tears. "Mom, I liked him, he had cool shoes, I wanted to be his friend!" He gave me the impression that he believed the boy would no longer be at school. He was so upset, his whole body was rocking with his sobs. I was dumbfounded. I didn't know what to say, so I did the best I could. I explained sickness to Ayden and how it happens no matter where you are and people always get better. I told him this boy would most likely be at school again on Monday. Then he could tell him that he liked his shoes! He was taking it in little bits at a time and slowly calming down. But, it wasn't enough.

So, we prayed. Jade joined us and hugged her brother while I asked God to help his friend get better and help Ayden understand. We also thanked God for the wonderful things Ayden had experienced that day. It did the trick, by the time we said "Amen" he was totally and completely calm. My heart was filled with so much love that I started crying (totally confusing the kids).

Ayden's heart is huge. And it's size makes it so much easier for him to be hurt. I want to build a wall around that heart and keep it safe. I pray that the love and compassion he has now for people continues to grow, despite the terrible things he will endure as he has more and more life experiences.

Big things await this boy, but for now, he is helping his mom in more ways than he will ever know.

Back the Truck Up!!

A monumental thing happened yesterday. A really, really big thing.
AYDEN READ A WHOLE BOOK BY HIMSELF!!!!
I had such mixed feelings. Proud of him for sure, but at the same time it's another milestone that is now behind us. I can see him growing up right before my eyes and there is nothing I can do to stop it. Wow, wow, wow.

Using their words.....

Ayden: "Mom, there is this skate park in St. George and it is totally SICK, it's like OLD SCHOOL."
Further inquiry proved that SICK is equal to COOL and OLD SCHOOL is somewhat like an old VOLKSWAGON. Reminder: he's 5 and his dad is Steve.
Jade: "I'm a Princess in my TOWER". She is currently dressed in a hand-me-down, flaming pink, dance recital dress. She also has a crown on her head and makeup on her face. Her TOWER is her room. Now, if I could just get her to make friends with some magical mice and get that tower cleaned up!!!!

Halloween- a week late!

Mom was Cleopatra, Dad was a Toga Man, Ayden was a skeleton, Jade was Cinderella AND Tinkerbell. Too much fun was had by all.

Crazy Hair Day

Jade does not let me do her hair. That is, unless I strap her down with duct tape and force her head into a vice like hold- she will of course be screaming so much by this time that she may also be vomiting. So, I don't do hair. This is why I was so excited for Crazy Hair Day!!!! Ayden gave me permission to put his hair (which he is growing out) into many piggy tails. By the time we were done, Jade was jealous and let me do the same to her hair!! I was in heaven. I know, it's lame being so fulfilled by putting pig tails into my kids hair, but it's the small stuff that counts, right?

A picture is worth a thousand words, so here's a bunch of them!

At the Las Vegas Bug-O-Rama. No, this isn't a bug, it's a Ferrari (Vroom, Vroom)!

The boys had a beard growing contest in honor of the hunt. Gross.

Jess and Jessica with all of the small people.


Story Time!!


Grandma, going down the bumpy slide at the corn maze. Pretty good for an old lady, huh? Just kidding Mom- You're amazing.

One of the montsers haunting the corn maze.


Caterpillar races.

You remember these death traps? Yes, they can still be found in Altamont Utah!!

I went with Ayden on his Fall Fieldtrip. It was so much fun!! He still thinks I'm cool and let me sit by him on the bus!!!

Help Fight Childhood Cancer!

Eat at Chili's Monday September 29th and help fund cancer research and treatment for children. All profits from that day go directly to St. Jude Children's hospital. If you aren't familiar with St. Jude's, they are an amazing resource for families who are affected by childhood cancer. Regardless of a patient's ability to pay, all children receive the best cancer treatment available.
Take your family out for a fun night and know you are helping families across the nation as they face one of the toughest challenges imaginable.
P.S. Try the new Chocolate Chip Molten Cake- It's absolutely delicious!!!

Jade is a BIG GIRL!!!

Two big things have changed for Jade in the last week.
1. She started Preschool. She loves it and is making some wonderful friends.
2. The Binky Fairies (thanks V) visited and she has been binky free for three days!!!
Honestly, I didn't think we would ever succeed in getting those damn binkies out of her life. Ugh, if I would have known the struggle that followed, I would never have put the first one in her mouth! Steve is amazing and while I was helping my dad paint his house over the weekend, he did the dirty deed and made the binks disappear. I'm doing a happy dance. I would post a few pictures here, but alas, they have been moved around on my computer and I can't find them!!! Steve is amazing. Smiles!

A Day on the Razr

We have a lovely friend (don't tell him I called him lovely, k?) who owns a Razr. He was gracious enough this past weekend to entertain us on it. The boys, six of them, piled into his truck and headed out to Three Peaks. They had a load of fun. Then, they came home to entertain us girls.
This is Ayden and Devin pretending to be daredevils.

Here is Steve and Ayden at Three Peaks.

Here is friend, trying not to dump his son out the other side.

Here are the girls going for their ride. Jade said it was "so fast!!!"

A Day at the Fair

I love my town. It's small, friendly, clean, beautiful and full of great activities for kids. The Iron County Fair does a free kids carnival on the opening day of the fair. It is SO fun. This is the second year we've gone and I remembered the camera this time! The kids had a blast. They got their faces painted, dug for gold, had an old fashioned shoot out, raced in gunny sacks, golfed, decorated cookies and so much more! Hooray for the county fair!

Sniff

Well, a new page has been turned in our family's adventure book. Ayden is officially a "school kid". He started Kindergarten this afternoon. Here is a picture of him outside school. Jade, of course, wouldn't leave his side. She says it's not fair that he can go to school but she can't. I told her I would miss her so very much. She decided that she can wait a while to start. Ayden was on cloud nine today. I'm not sure how I feel. I'm very excited for him, but somewhat meloncholy about the whole thing. I know this was an inevitable part of having kids, but it makes it feel so real. They really do grow up fast. I want to stop time and keep them little forever.

Ayden loved picking out his clothes for school and here he is modeling for me. I think one of the things that makes me the saddest is that I have forgotten so many memories of when he was a baby already. I have a hard time recalling exactly how we got to 5 years old, ya know? Time is slipping by and not only am I unable to stop it, I am also forgetting all the small things that got us here.
This last picture is Ayden and one of his best friends in class today. Ayden actually has about 4 kids in his class that he is really good friends with and I'm sure he's already making more friends. He's so big-hearted when it comes to forming relationships with other kids. I love that about him. He includes everyone and has a special knack of finding the kids who need friends the most. It makes me very proud and I know that skill will help him become an amazing young man. Sniff, sniff.

A work in progress

I have many projects planned for my backyard. Grass, trees, flowers, deck, pool table, hot-tub, stereo system, and the list goes on......
But, with the help of a very dear friend, Steve and I finished the first of our many projects- the sandbox!! The kids had a blast playing on the huge pile of sand on the street. It was like a magnet to the neighborhood kids. The minute the dump truck left, the kids were here in full force. On bikes, with shovels and Tonka Trucks. It was so fun. Ayden and Jade had sand on every inch of their bodies. I'm sure my name was a cuss word for a few of the moms in my neighborhood!
Now, we are just saving our pennies for the next project- the deck.

We made it to the lake!!!

Oh baby, this is one of my very most favorite things in the world!!! Boating, or just playing in the water. Our very good friends finally, yes finally, got their boat water-worthy and invited us along to play with them. Such good times! The kids loved it, Jade is just like me- a little mermaid in training. I LOVE THE WATER! Enjoy the pics!

No Such Thing as an Ordinary Day.

The thing that makes this picture so amazing is that he actually took his shirt off to surf down the stairs. Steve, my lovely husband, taught the kids this lovely activity. Surfing, or body boarding down our stairs. They haven't broke any bones yet, but have had some monumental fights over whose turn it is. I can't help but smile, knowing that these memories will stick with them forever.
This is what I found as I exited my bathroom one morning, kids in hats, reading books- my books. Their imaginations are so wonderful, but often get them into loads of trouble. Like the time Jade thought she was a talented hair cutter- resulting in the very short bangs you've been seeing. Or the day when Ayden took a few cans of spray paint to his skateboard- resulting in his lifetime ban to the garage. Good times.

Camping- in a Cabin!!! (does that still count as camping?)

Hooray!!! We achieved our first successful overnight trip to the mountains. And, unlike last year, we did not get rained out! Some fantastic friends of ours invited us up to their cabin at Duck Creek last weekend. Amazingly, we had some free time and were able to go for one night. Camping in a cabin totally rocks!! In comparison to "tent" camping, we fit everything we needed into two duffle bags and a cooler. What a difference that makes! When we got to the cabin it was indeed raining. But, the benefit of a cabin- we were dry and had plenty of space to play cards, put puzzles together, play hide and seek and annoy the crud out of each other!! Dinner that night was a little adventurous. The power was out for about 45 minutes (the exact 45 minutes that we were trying to boil water for the spaghetti). But, kudos to the men who restore power (you know who you are), we were able to enjoy dinner at about 9:00 that night!

The cabin had three rooms on two levels. The top level was one huge room with beds from wall to wall. The main floor had a family/dining/kitchen room and another bedroom. Yes, we had a bathroom-running water!!! So, that night there were 9 of us in the huge upstairs bedroom. Now, Bash men have the curse of snoring. It only took 10 minutes before Steve AND Ayden were tossed down the stairs to the family/dining/kitchen room. The rest of the night was fairly uneventful- minus Jade falling out of bed and Elaine wondering if she was next to be tossed down stairs if she made any noise!

Here are a few more pictures of our trip, like always, I didn't do a fantastic job of getting good pictures, but you'll get the idea- it was a blast!! Oh, the fire ring above was built entirely by the kids!!
Thanks to Adam, Nicole and their amazing families for sharing with us!

This is "Team Bash" trying to capture a squirrel. We actually chased it into that pipe. The, the kids proceeded to bang on the pipe. I'm thinking the poor thing died of a heart attack. The squirrels were everywhere. They would come right up on to the deck and steal food! It was very entertaining for the kids (and parents too!)

Here are all the kids trying to entice the birds to land on their hands. Journey, the oldest, actually had a bird climb on to her finger to eat some seeds!! The rest of the kids were too impatient.

Our treasure hunt resulted in a major discovery!! The kids found an old, and I mean OLD, teeter totter. It was so cool! They had a blast taking turns rocking each other. Callie, the youngest, kept saying "up now down" or "I'm flying!"

In this last picture, the kids were getting overly anxious to eat. You know how kids are, they sense dinner time and their "annoy mom" instict turns on full force. Well, luckily and thankfully, we had a seasoned mom with us who took the responsibility of entertaining the kids while the rest of us got dinner ready. Elaine is, well, she's just about as amazing as they come!! This is her leading the kids in a round of "BINGO". We love her.

Playing Catch-Up!

Well, I've been a slacker! Sorry. It's been a busy Summer-as usual. Here are some pictures of what we've been doing. Earlier this month, the kids and I spent a week in Northern Utah with family. While we were with Dad, we drove to Upper Stillwater. This is my favorite place to be! When I was a kid, we would camp there along with our extended family. We fished, built forts, waded in the ice cold water and had a fantastic time. This year, the water was flowing over the damn. The canyon is deep and the water made such a loud noise. It was great to see. The kids had fun throwing driftwood back into the lake.

Here's Jade, being her lovely self. They were trying to hit fish with their wood. Jade didn't see any fish and spent about 30 minutes screaming over not seeing fish. She's three.











My dad took us to Park City to ride on the Alpine Slide. I haven't done this since I was a very little girl!! It was lots of fun. The boys were racing the girls and due to an equipment malfunction, the girls won!!!!







Here is the winning team!! Jade and I rock!
This is just a random shot of an amusing day. I had put Jade down for her nap, sent Ayden to play outside and then headed for my garden. I was busy weeding when I heard Jadies little voice talking to Ayden. So, I snuck up on them and this is what I saw. Jade in her sunglasses, cowgirl boots, and two pairs of panties. She was too cute to be in trouble, lucky girl.