ALERT: Children unattended in the Car

You may not know this but I find time in my daily life to accrue experiences for a book I will entitle, "How Not to Become the Mother of the Year" or "How to Fail at Motherhood." One such experience happened recently. Hopefully you will still buy my book even though I'm sharing this sneak peek :)

Jon was away with James at Summer Scout Camp so it was incumbent on me to drive Jacob to basketball practice with the two younger kids in toe. As I predicted Jayson choose this same day to take his one spontaneous naps. I layered him in a diaper to protect the carseat and carried my husky cherub to the car, held the swinging door open with my wonder hip, and tried not to bonk his head. When did he get so long?

I sent Jessica back into the house scrambling for the portable DVD player and movie to keep her occupied and I grabbed my book (yep, you read the correctly. I'm reading). With McDonalds planned for dinner, spare juice pouches in my purse, we were on our way. YES!

I dropped Jacob off at the curb and found a semi-shaded spot in the parking lot to wait out the hour. Jayson slumbered. Jessica set up her cinema. I read and drank my ice water. Jacob practiced. After an hour, I REALLY had to use the bathroom. Jayson was sound asleep. I ran the A/C again for a couple of minutes to keep things cool and asked Jacob to sit with the kids while I ran in quick. I even double checked to be sure the doors were locked so my kiddos would be safe and sound :)

When I came back out side, there was another mom at my car. Two of my kids were out of the car and the car alarm was blaring. Oh great. I don't know what button I pushed on the remote, but the alarm was going off THE WHOLE TIME I was gone to the bathroom. Nice way to be subtle. Lovely.

We're Back - Did you Miss us???

I kind of feel like this past trip was a mix of adventure,

fun,

and an

"I Survived" episode.

Wow!!!

• horseback ride
• bug bites
• dancing at ice cream social
• Jacob's fat, scabbed lip & swollen eye
• fresh scones and homemade cheesecake
• tie dyed t-shirts
• Jessica breaks arm (trip to ER)
• Ottley Family Olympics
• Jon runs 10K
• Kids bring home bags of candy from parade
• bubble blowing
• slip n slide
• Geo-caching
• boating at lake
• James gets the flu
• pizza at the park
• Jayson thinks he can swim without help
• Jessica thinks she can swim with a splint and sling
• Jon's 16 mile mountain bike loop
• Mom gets the flu
• family photos in downtown Salt Lake
• Jessica crafts a a bazillion projects with her non-dominant hand (true sign of creative genius)
• family
• love
• movies
• video games

And just to top it off.... Jon gets the flu for the ride home

Lost: one water bottle & one pair prescription sunglasses

All Girl - Sequel to the Previous Post

I always loved this t-shirt.

All Boy - April 2011

It's exciting and sad to watch our son outgrow his babyhood and be a big boy. He is an independent potty user - sometimes too independent, the details of which I will spare you. He wears shorts now, but initially he just wanted to wear his underwear - Cars, Buzz, or Thomas.

Bye Bye Bottle - April 2011

These are the last few images of Goose with his bottle. He loves snuggling up with a bot of milk. I was trying to decrease his milk intake so I wouldn't always get him a bottle of milk. But it never stopped him. He would just get the gallon out of the fridge on his own and pour one or two or three servings. I once found him with three full bottles.

On our trip to Utah we forgot to pack a bottle. Jayson asked about it everyday for a couple of days and then just dealt with it. When we returned home I quickly gathered all the bottles, but he went on the hunt for them. He had to detox again but I knew it was time to move forward and we both let the bottle go.

I adore the little boy and little girl in these images - playing the leapster in fairy wings next to brother in sleeper pajamas sipping his bottle.

May 24, 2011 - Jacob receives his Arrow of Light

Congrats to Jacob for receiving his Arrow of Light. Farewell to Cub Scouts - on to Boy Scouts.

Just checking in

Alive & Well. Hopping from one activity to the next. Can't catch up. End of school. Trip to Utah with Choral Recording & Performances. Doctors, dentists, urgent care, orthopedist, physical therapy. Photo editing (going VERY slow). Start new cardio regime & calorie counting. Family day at Disneyland (calorie counting out the window). Prep for beach camping. Then more physical therapy, dentist, and neurologist appointment. Oh, and need to schedule oncologist check up & back to school physical. Swim lessons (assuming cast can stay off), find fabulous family photo clothes for our upcoming photo shoot, return to Utah.

Now that you got me thinking about it, we need a orthodontist consult too.

So, I'll see you when I see you :)

Cupcakes - I Can Do It - May 1, 2011

Jayson was on treat for Family Home Evening. He wanted to make cupcakes, not brownies. I thought he just wanted to make the mix and even put the cupcake liners in the pan. But he wanted to do it all. So I let him.

I love you Sweet Independent Goose!!!

Slumber Sweetly My Baby Boy

Seeing my sleeping babies always triggers an abundance of love feelings.

So beautiful.

So peaceful.

So innocent.

So adored.

So thankful.

My Mom ROCKS

So I guess I have to purchase shirts that remind me that being a mother is fantastic. Goose & I spent the day at Disneyland. It started off ROUGH when he took a big bonk to the head in the Small World line. I think he was trying to sit on the chain divider and fell back. I looked over just as his head hit the pavement. It's a horribly LOUD sound. I was ready to cry right there with him.

He showed no signs of concussion and we happily continued our day. He enjoyed exploring Tom Sawyers Island & climbing up and down the treehouse.