Motherhood

I just had to take a second to write down a couple of my thoughts. Last night I was talking with some friends about being a mom and the challenges of having toddlers and babies. I have to admit there have been plenty of times I have been frustrated, upset, worn out, fatigued, etc. but I try to remember that this is just a small part of my life. I mean if I live to like 80 or 90 what is a few years with little kids? Not much. When I am old I want to have lots of family, lots of grandkids around me. I mean how much fun is it to get together with family and go on vacations or just hang out? Obviously the only way to have that is to have kids. The most important thing we have is our family and yes having little kids is difficult but nothing worthwhile has ever been easy. I know as women we want to have time to do our own things, to pursue our own goals, but as it says in the scriptures everything has a season. For me I have always wanted to have a career in history, I want to get a PhD, teach college, research, and write. There will be a time for that. If I have one more child, it will be six, seven years until I can really pursue that career full time, but as I mentioned earlier what a small amount of time compared to a whole lifetime. Also, how much more joy and happiness can my family bring me than any aspect of a career. Marina was just doing wheels on the bus go round and round and that made me smile more than any A on any paper. I'm not saying women shouldn't take time for themselves, in fact I think they should because it makes us better wives and mothers to take care of ourselves first. I'm just suggesting we take a step back and realize how short this time is that we have with our little children and try and treasure that time.

We went to a dental convention in Denver last week and once again it was great to see everyone there. It is so awesome that we can be apart for months and months and then get together and it's like we never left. We went to the Denver aquarium with the Ronco family and the kids were immediately talking, giggling, and just being best friends. Of course, I always enjoy a trip to the big city. I did some shopping, dining out, and enjoyed the chaos of the city. Our hotel we stayed at was awesome, we stayed in suite so we were able to put the kids to bed in one room and then hang out in another. It is nice to be able to go somewhere and stay where we want and not just where it is cheapest. You past students know what I'm talking about. So we had a great time, I just wish we could have stayed longer.

Here are the little best friends.

At the aquarium there was a bird, I think it was a macaw, it was screeching very loudly and the girls did not like it. Camryn looked at the bird and yelled, "BE QUIET!!" I had to laugh.

Here's all the kids. Jared and Johnny are getting all grown up. I don't know how that has happened since I have not aged at all.

I have to thank my sister, Staci, for coming with us. I wasn't even going to go because honestly two days by myself with three children in a hotel room is not exactly my idea of a dream vacation. But Josh convinced my sister to come with us and so I went and I could not have done it without her. Staci you are awesome!!

Who loves Oreos? ME!!

Okay so I know I haven't been very good about blogging lately. I just honestly don't like the computer that much, but I am going to try and do better. So our Christmas was a lot of fun. It was the first Christmas we have had at our own house since before dental school. It was nice to not have to pack everything up, but at the same time I really missed my family. Here are some pictures from the past two months.

We have had a lot of snow and the girls love it. At least Alexis and Camryn do. Marina can't hardly walk in her snow boats so she only stays outside for a couple of minutes. But I have to admit it is pretty cute to watch her try and waddle around in the snow. It was nice to have a white Christmas. Although I would have liked it more if the roads were plowed. For some reason they don't believe in plows in this town.

This is Christmas Eve. The girls looked so cute in their Christmas pj's I had to take a picture.


Marina has really learned to ham it up in front of the camera. I just have to get the camera out and she starts smiling and posing.


I have a picture of me when I was a kid with my sister and brother in a box just like this one, so when all three kids got into this box I had to take a picture. And of course, the favorite present is always a box.

I saved the best picture for last. Many of you know that Josh loves to throw the girls around. I finally got the perfect picture of him doing throwing Marina. As you can see he isn't touching her at all. Marina loves every minute of it. I just hope none of our kids get injured!!

So Kentucky!!

We went to see the Nutcracker a couple of weeks ago. The girls really enjoyed it and I was surprised at how good it was. Well, a couple of little boys, around 8 years old, and their families were sitting in front of us. Both of the boys had mullets, BAD mullets. I couldn't help but think, "that is so Kentucky!" Josh and I joked that if only we had a pair of scissors we could chop off the mullet when the lights went down and then slide the scissors under the chairs in front of us. I'm sure the children would have been grateful, but alas we did not have a pair of scissors. My question is do you think the boys wanted their hair that way or did the parents force it upon them? Poor, poor children.

Six Things

I got tagged awhile ago, but it has taken me some time to think of six things to write about. So here are the ones I’ve (well with Josh’s help) come up with:

1. I hate talking on the phone. I’ve always hated talking on the phone even when I was a teenager. I don’t call and order pizza, I don’t call movie theaters, I usually don’t call to make doctors appointments. If there is anyway I can just get Josh to call instead of me I do it. That is why Josh is always the one calling and making plans. I think this phone phobia stems from the fact that I hate looking stupid and I’m always afraid of saying something stupid on the phone. I also think this is one reason I have had a hard time making and keeping friends.

2. I like Hillary Clinton. I know many of you out there will be shocked and dismayed, but I think she is a very intelligent, successful women and I am impressed by what she has done in her life. I also think many people out there who hate her know nothing about her. I am currently reading her book and I have to admit she has done a lot of good in her life. I also believe she would be just as successful, if not more so, if she had not married Bill Clinton (whom I also like). Along this same line, I am a registered Democrat.

3. I hate guns. My hatred of guns started when I was a kid and my dad came home from work and told me his boss’s only son was killed when a neighbor kid was playing with a gun and it accidently went off. I don’t want guns in my house and I never want my children to pretend they are playing with guns. Guns are dangerous and too many stupid people have them. To go along with my hatred of guns, is my hatred of hunting. Just one example, I just don’t understand how anyone could kill something as beautiful and graceful as a deer.

4. I am obsessed with the paranormal. I watch Ghost Hunters, a tv show on Sci fi, all the time. My favorite is Steve. It’s funny to me that he can hunt ghosts and yet be terrified of spiders, heights, flying, etc. Before I started watching Ghost Hunters I didn’t really know if I believed in ghosts, but after watching the show for a couple of years I will admit that I believe in the paranormal. My favorite episode is the one where they go to the Stanley Hotel and they hear a little girl say “hello?” and then laugh! Creepy!!

5. When Josh and I were dating we went camping at Flaming Gorge with some of Josh’s cousins. While there I jumped off a forty foot cliff into the water. It was fun, but I don’t think I will do that again.

6. As most people know, I love history. Most people don’t know (because I don’t think anybody really cares and I don’t like to talk about it) that I have one book review published in The Southern Historian and I have an article that I am working on getting published. Also, I am currently researching for a book I want to write about the Mormon experiences in Missouri during the 1830’s.

Well that’s my six things, nothing too exciting or spectacular. I am tagging Michelle Hawkes, Amy, Crystal, and that’s all I can think of.

Finally, I have a second to write a new post. Life has just been crazy busy the past month. I'll just write a few things that have been going on. About a month ago I was playing Old Maid with Camryn and some other people, and at the end of the game Camryn said to me, "I'm so glad we didn't get the Old Navy!" I had to laugh. Then a few days later, she said to me "Mom, can we play Old Navy?" You can tell where we like to shop. Camryn also said to us, "It's a lot easier to laugh when you are having fun." I can always count on Camryn to say something to make me smile.

Josh and I had our 8th anniversary. On one hand I can't believe we have been married that long but on the other hand I look at everything we have gone through and all the places and people we have met and I realize it has been eight great years. We started in a tiny basement apartment that only had windows that were like ten inches tall. It was quite the dump. For our anniversary we went to California, without the kids. I have to admit it was strange to spend three days with no children. We were walking along a pier and looking in shops and it was odd to not have to say "come back here," "put that down," "be nice," "no you can't have that," etc. It was fun and when the time came, I was ready to get back to my kids. What can I say, I'm a sucker for snuggles from my baby girl.

We had Thanksgiving in Utah with my family. It was the first Thanksgiving with my family since I was pregnant with Camryn, due to our years in Louisville. It was nice to be together again. Unfortunately, my brother-in-law and nephew both had the stomach flu. Thankfully, we didn't get sick.

Well, we had a successful Halloween. Alexis was Batgirl, Camryn was Supergirl, and Marina was a skunk. I have to admit they were pretty cute. It did not take long for Marina to realize that people were giving her candy and she really got into the whole trick or treat thing. Wed. night she was kind of on a sugar high. She would run around like crazy and occasionally let out a scream. I do love Halloween. A lot of people say Halloween is evil and we shouldn't celebrate it because of the association of Halloween and the devil, but whatever I think Halloween is great. Camryn's preschool teacher made a comment that I agree with. She said that Halloween is America's holiday to celebrate children and to let all children know how much we love them. (although there is a part of me that thinks every holiday is like that)

Back to the issue with Alexis and her friend. Through continued association with girl Alexis has pretty much decided that her friend is really not that great of a friend and the obsession with her is over. They are still friends, but Alexis has told me she doesn't want to go over to her friends house anymore. I think the experience has been good for Alexis because she has discovered what makes a good friend.

On a different note, when we went to Denver in Sept I was introduced to a new drink. Deanna told me about a drink she makes with diet Coke and dr. Pepper and now I am addicted. In our home we have named that drink "the Deanna" so whenever I want one I just tell Josh to go and get me a "Deanna." So thank you Deanna!!