Please stay little...

Today Charlie was saying a bad word.  This is a day that I knew would come but dreaded.  I hate that my little birds are leaving the nest and learning things that I would rather them not learn.  Maybe he learned from TV?  Either way, no bueno.  I threatened soap and I think he's afraid.  That's my parenting method.  Instill the fear and hopefully they'll behave cause they think that my wrath is worse.  Ha!  Who ever thought that sweet, quiet Andrea would be scary?

On a positive note, Brandt had the day off.  Cousins came to play.  Dinner was brought to me.  It was beautiful out today with sunshine and like 40 degrees (so hot, right?).  Porter has been sleeping all through the night pretty regularly (and I know I just cursed it).  Lots to be grateful for.

Out with the old, and bring in NOTHING new

I am trying to purge around these parts.  I saw a great quote tonight that I thought was perfect.  It says:
Clean out your closets.
Clean out your mind.
Clean out your life.
You don't have to take it all with you in 2015.
If it doesn't serve you, let it go.

I have a room in my house, affectionately called my "crap room."  It houses my sewing machine, my fabric, books, ironing board, filing cabinets, yarn, printer and cartridges, and anything else that doesn't have a place anywhere else in my home.  It technically should be my "craft room," but it has morphed into the "crap room."  It has to go.  I'm sick of it.  Brandt can't stand it and I'm finally there, too.  I worked a little bit in there today and it feels good.  I only wish I had more time to spend on it.  Little bit here, little bit there is all I can do.  I'll eventually get there.

The boys today spent a good portion of their day outside sledding.  They've created two slides in our front yard, because why would you want to do it in our backyard.  Their slides take them down our whole lawn and they end up in the road.  I yelled at them to create a barricade so they won't slide into the road.  I helped them build one and then it pretty much turned into a jump...into the road.  I don't know.  I figure at least they're playing well together, outside, and haven't died yet.  I think tomorrow the rule is they have to fall off their sled at the sidewalk.  I don't want them run over.

Happy New Year! 2015

It is a new year and time for a new approach. I've said it before and I'll say it again.  I NEED to be a more frequent visitor to my little journal here.  I am going to try to find two seconds each night to record something each day.  Maybe a novel, maybe a quote from the littles.  I have made it through Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Eve.  I was lucky enough to host my families annual Christmas Eve party at our house.  We rotate through the children and it was our year.  Made some delicious brisket, cowboy potatoes, veggies, so good hot cocoa, cheesecake, etc.  It was a good night.  Christmas Day was snowy and magical.  My children are at the PERFECT age for the magic.  I am so blessed and so lucky.  Then last night I hosted, yet again, our annual New Years Eve fondue and fireworks party.  Was a great party, good food, fun company, etc.  I wasn't feeling 100% but today I feel a little better after a afternoon nap and a relaxing day with my family.  Last year I caught the flu after the party so I'm grateful that I'm feeling much better today.  I think the hustle and bustle of the holiday season leaves me a little weaker so I need to not try to be superwoman and conquer the world.

This year I am going to work on my balance.  Balance of my family, friends, church, children activities, hubby time, drea time, etc.  I also want to rid the guilt. I'm not going to feel guilty for other peoples expectations of myself.  I'm not going to feel guilty for not being able to do it all.  Between Brandt's and my obligations of our family with 4 small children, two large church callings, a large extended family, and work to provide for our needs we have felt spread too thin.  Hard to find happiness with that and we need to bring it back in and re-group.  What that looks like, not sure, but we will try to figure it out day by day.  It is the first day of a new year and I am going to try my darndest to have 365 days of really great days.  I'm off to a good start.  One great day down, 364 more to go.

On a side note, Brandt has taught Porter a new trick.  Oooohhh-ing.  Look at those lips.  I could just kiss them.

Cute things and not so cute things

I've wanted to post for awhile now and just can't ever find the two minutes it takes to post.  So frustrating.  We are battling sickness around these parts.  Brandt started us out and Brandt is one that when he get sick he still goes to work.  He was home two days this week if that tells you how he felt.  He got the cold/sore throat/puking thing.  He wasn't feeling too hot after work on Saturday and by the time Sunday was here he was fevered and not well at all.  Missed church, missed family party, missed work, etc.

I picked up Oliver from school Monday and he slowly walked out and I knew something was up.  "Mom, I  can't wear my reindeer hat cause my head hurts."  Oh no.  That is the start of it.  He came home, went downstairs, went to his bed and put himself down for a nap.  That folks is sick.  So sad.  He's evolved into fever, cold thing and currently is that way.  Mostly just a cold now.  Tuesday Charlie came home and has a headache, too, and a bit of a runny nose, but he still feels well enough to go to school.  And then last night it hit me and Porter.  Oh dear.  So sad when you are so small you can't blow your nose, not sure how to suck when your nose is all clogged, and we HATE the nose sucky thing.  HATE it.  I was worried that he was going to be up all night as the afternoon/evening were horrendous, but my blessed child slept until 7:45am.  Thank you thank you.  Currently enjoying nap #2 today so I think he's embracing some rest while he feels so crummy.

But the cutest thing.  When I grabbed O on Monday, he said to me, "Mom, Porter can't sleep in my room today.  My bref is going to come out of my mouth and go into his mouth and he will get sick."  Wise words, my boy.  I didn't listen and kept Porter in his crib and apparently O's "bref" made its way to Porters mouth and now I have more sickies.  Oh Sad.

Ramblings

Two things I want to go over today.  First, Oliver.  I took Oliver to preschool today.  I dropped him off the same time a few other kids were being dropped off.  Oliver was taking an especially long time getting out of the car (was in the far back, had to get his bag, needed to kiss and say goodbye to Porter, etc) so when he finally got out we went around the corner of the car and there was a mom and her son there.  She said to me that her son, Luke, was wanting to walk into preschool for the first time without her but he wanted to wait and walk with Oliver.  So Oliver went right over to him and stuck out his hand and held Luke's hand while they walked away.  So sweet.  A few weeks back I was picking up O and most the other kids were already picked up.  O saw me and was running to get in the car and a mom passed me and said to me, "So-and-so (couldn't hear the name) LOVES Oliver."  I love that O is making friends and having an effect on the other kids in his class.  I told Brandt this and said that Oliver is like me where it takes him awhile to warm up to a situation but then he turns into Brandt.  Outgoing, and sometimes outspoken.  He foresees him being a bit of a class clown.  Wouldn't really surprise me.

Other thing.  So the twins walk home with my friend's two kids every day from school.  She told me earlier this week that they wouldn't be there Friday to walk home with Charlie and Dylan.  I planned on just walking up to the elementary school and walking home with them.  Today happened and I forgot.  It was 1:30 and I was about to put Porter down for a nap when it hit me.  Oh crap!  They are out of school!!  So, I put Porter on the ground and told Oliver to stay with him and I'd be right back.  I ran outta the house and up the street.  I was nearing the school and passed a group of 3 boys from our neighborhood and Charlie and Dylan were walking a little bit behind them.  I apologized and said I forgot to get up here sooner.  They told me that they asked the 3 boys if they could walk home with them and the boys responded with, "No, you're not our responsibility."  Excuse me?  You are all walking the same direction.  They told Charlie and Dylan to call their mom and Charlie told them that they don't have phones.  But don't let them borrow yours, just leave them.  That's how we treat our neighbors around here apparently.  I am pretty mad about it.  If I ever hear of my kids not helping a younger kid in the neighborhood I will flip out.  It takes a village and I can't believe that those mom's wouldn't tell their kids to be nice to everyone and to help everyone.  Oh well, enough of my rant.  The boys were good and walked the way they were supposed to.  It's tough letting them grow up and be responsible on their own.  Do I want them going by themselves everyday?  No.  But I'm grateful that they know how to get home in case of an emergency.

Reminders

Nothing like receiving a disc in the mail of your recent family pictures to remind you how lucky you are.  Man, oh man...I sometimes struggle with being pulled in all directions and being the one responsible to keep everything in check and accounted for, but then I look at my beautiful family and remember what it is all for.  I have FOUR healthy, handsome, smart, GOOD boys.  I ran into Costco today.

(side story: woke up this morning to freezing temperatures.  Told the boys they had to wear winter coats today.  Went to pull said winter coats from closet only to find that Dylan's is missing.  Looked everywhere in the house and it is not here.  I assume he wore it to school last spring on a cold morning then left it at school cause it was warm in the afternoon.  Anywho - no coat.  30 degrees outside.  Had to go to Costco to check out their coats.)

When Porter and I were leaving Costco, I loaded our new coat into the 4Runner and put Porter in the backseat.  I noticed across the way there was a mom loading up her minivan and she had a boy maybe 3 years old with her.  She was taking awhile to get everything in (and I only noticed this cause there was a car waiting to take her spot).  As I was returning the cart she was wrangling the flailing boy into the backseat, yelling at him that keep it up and she'll spank him again.  So, obviously, she spanked the boy, then was throwing him in the car.  Couple things.  I have swatted my kids bums before.  Not enough to hurt them and just my light swat was enough to get them to know I am serious and they never repeated the behavior again.  This is like when they were two.  Am I a fan of that discipline?  No.  I don't feel it is very effective nor does it make me feel good to hit my child that I love so much.  So when this woman is doing that in a busy parking lot, it made me cringe a bit.  And then it made me think of my 3 older boys.  I have NEVER had to deal with them flipping out like that.  We've never had big tantrums at stores.  They are relatively well behaved.  I can go to the store, to a restaurant, and not worry that they'll flip out.  It isn't tolerated by us and they know it is not OK to behave that way.  I am lucky.

That little occurrence today reminded me that I have it pretty good.  I was able to go get a coat for my son so that he isn't cold at recess because I have a husband who works so hard everyday to provide money for me to do that.  Our needs are met.  A lot of our wants are met.  We have children.  That in itself is a blessing held very dear to my heart.  And to boot, they're children that are amazing.  Is there anything else that I need?  No.  I have so, so much.

Update

In addition to Oliver's "traditional" preschool that he goes to 3 days per week, I have him signed up with the State of Utah's online preschool program as well.  That entails that he is on the computer at least 20 minutes 5 days a week, no exceptions.  I was thinking the other day, he is required to do his "homework" (that's what we call it) and we find the time.  I need to find the time to sit and write a little ditty 5 days a week.  Shouldn't be too hard, right?  I'm always thinking of things that I should record but I never sit down to the computer to do it.  So lame that we can always come up with an excuse.  ALWAYS something to clean up or do so this is just 17th on the list.  That being said, here's a brief update on the Jensen clan.

We had Halloween.  Charlie was Darth Vader.  Dylan was a Storm Trooper.  Oliver was Venom (the black/bad spiderman apparently).  And what was I???  SICK!  I missed Oliver's preschool program.  I missed the Halloween parade.  I did go over to a friends on Halloween night to share our pumpkin stew for a little party before trick or treating, but that's as far as it went.  I wasn't going to go and last minute B convinced me to go so off I went with no make-up, no cute-ish clothes, no shower.  Oi, what was I thinking???  Oh well.  I guess you gotta love me how you get me.

Dylan started the sickness.  He was sick the week before me, missed 3 days of school.  Had a headache, fever, sorethroat, no voice.  Next week, BAM, I got it.  This week Brandt has had the pleasure minus the fever.  Oliver has also been a little snotty but no sore throat or fever or anything, thank goodness.

Daylight Savings has just about killed me.  I have VERY emotional boys this week and I assume it is because they are up at the crack of dawn.  The other day I woke up to hearing a party going on in Porter and Oliver's room.  Before 7.  I have a strict, stay in your room until 8 rule.  Yeah, I was not amused to say the least.  I'm hoping we're nearing the end of the out of control time switcheroo.  In fact, it's 3pm on Saturday and I have the boys (minus P) in their rooms hopefully taking a little snooze.

We finished up Brandt's side job.  It turned out beautiful.  I was so done with it.  It dragged on all summer so we were in upheaval mode for months.  I finally get to park in my garage again and it is glorious.  It has been so fun to have Brandt come home from work and either go to swimming lessons with me and the boys or just sit and watch a show.  Wow, to have a daddy that isn't rushing out to work on something.  What a change!

Soccer season has ended, hallelujah!  It was fun but it is nice not having 2 nights of practice and games all day.  It wasn't near as bad when Charlie and Dylan both played cause they played on the same team.  Oliver joined the mix this year so everything was opposite.  Two practices and the game were rarely at the same time or back-to-back.  I'd have a game at 10 and a game at 1 or something like that.  And they're on Saturday mornings so it was just me runnin the herd.  Exhausting.

But, alas, we don't know how to survive unless we're C.R.A.Z.Y. so I signed the kiddos up for swimming lessons.  I try and cram as much in during the winter months cause i don't like to have them do lessons in the summer (too busy).  So we're in our first session of that, and I'll probably sign them up again before Christmas.  I gotta get the boys swimming well before summer as their little floaties are a little too snug for my growing boys.

I guess that's about it.  I have to (I mean get to) go to the Utah game tonight.  Playing Oregon.  Gonna get killed I think.  Kickoff isn't until 8pm.  Whhhaaaaa??  Yuck.  My couch seems lovely at that time of night when it is like 40 degrees outside.  Oh well.  Date night I suppose.  Gotta take what you can get.  Until next time.....