Murphy's Law

Hello fellow bloggers, so I've been without camera and pictures for awhile since the move. So Lara, this ones for you, as it is her pet peeve to put old updates up, that is exactly what I'm going to do!!! I had the pleasure of watching my brothers 4 kids last month for a week while Ryan and Shauna went to Jamaica. They hadn't been on vacation in 11 or 12 years!!! They deserved a break. So I had Reilly-9(big helper and super sweet!), Calvin-6(a spit-fire and Gianluca's buddy), Gianluca(crazy) and Connor-5 (Sweet Dude), Caiden-4(my little buddy), and Allegra-2 (little miss clingy and follower of Reilly!). Luckily I had Joel and Reilly to help me out! That is a lot of kids under the age of 6! I just can't comprehend how sane people would want this many kids!!! As much as I love each of them and their funny personalities, at the end of the day I was contemplating downing anxiety pills, or taking up drinking! I'm just thinking that the Octamom with 8 kids and being single is CRAZY!!!! I have two by myself half the time and they drive me crazy! So if you can handle a lot of kids more power to you! They were actually pretty dang good and mostly entertained themselves. We had fun going to the WT (white trash central) Leo's Pizza in I.F., and the Museum of Natural History in SLC for the Frog Exhibit. I must have been smoking crack when I thought it would be a good idea to take the 6 kids by myself on a field trip. Trying to keep them all together in the same place was like trying to heard monkeys! Thank Goodness for Reilly! She is the most amazing 9 yr old girl I know!

So anyways I have the funniest story to tell about our drive down to SLC w/ these guys. I think Murphy had it in for us that day. You know everything just went wrong that day! Joel and I had errands to run in IF so my Grandma Jody watched the kids for us for a few hours. We were going to leave as soon as I got back. So when we got there, Grandma Jody realized she locked her keys in her car, so we had to wait for 45 minutes for a cop to show up to unlock her car. Of course, he couldn't figure it out, so she had to have the dealership make her a new key and Joel had to go pick it up. In the mean time, Biscuit (Ryan's rat terrier) got loose and I had to chase him around the neighborhood. This little rat was surprisingly speedy! It took me a good 20 minutes, but I cornered him by a chicken coop and drug him back. So finally Joel comes back and Grandma leaves. We load all the kids in the car. By this time is past 6 and everyone is starving. We decided we'll stop at Sam's club to get the kids cheep hot dogs and some snacks for the road. While in route, Allegra starts screaming that her belly hurts and pukes all over herself and the car seat. All the kids immediately lurch over to the opposite side of the car yelling that "it stinks, it's gross!!!" Luckily no one followed suite as Ryan told me later that some of his kids are "sympathy barfers".

Once inside Sam's, Reilly, Allegra and I go to the bathroom and clean her up. Joel was w/ the boys getting them food. Then I go grab a t-shirt in the clothing section and put it on her. Poor thing. We get to the food area and I hand Allegra off to Joel then go to grab some snacks. When I come back I see Joel holding a crying Allegra, the boys running around like maniacs and everyone else in the food area staring at me funny. According to Joel; Allegra threw up on herself and him again. So he holds her over the garbage and the Caiden (the youngest boy) starts sympathy barfing into the garbage can while Allegra's puke is dripping on top of his head!!!! No wonder everyone was staring at me!!! Joel (who is himself a major sympathy puker) was a huge trooper through all of this and didn't even dry-heave once!!! So Joel went and grabbed t-shirt for him and another for Allegra, and we were on our way. We finally get on the interstate and notice the speedometer wasn't working and found out later their was a glitch in the system. So we had to guess how fast we were going the whole way. Poor Allegra threw up two more times, and that was it thankfully! I was dreading the possibility of everyone getting the stomach flu! But luckily we made it safe and no one else got sick!!! Ryan and Shauna made it back a couple days later and had had a blast! We sure had a crazy fun time with those kids!!!!

P.S. Sorry for the long story. It had to be documented!!!
P.S.S. Here is a montage of our week together to the musical talents of They Might Be Giants, Here Come the 123's. We listened to these guys anytime we were in the car.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I'm just putting this out here...

Why is it that when I finally have free time, meaning no kids wanting me to entertain their every minute, no temper tantrums to control, no teasing to stop, no fights to break up, no kids to feed, no messes to clean up.... the list goes on, that I don't want to do anything except lay on the couch and watch T.V., as the clothes that have been unfolded in my laundry basket continue to pile up and there are still boxes to unpack!!! Life is crazy! There is never enough time to do everything! I'm exhausted!

So that's it. I don't have any cute pictures because I can't find my camera's battery charger, so there. This was boring, but I will put up this random cartoon clip that pretty much sums up my life right now, or at least how I feel!!!!!!! (Carol I stole this from your blog!)

Feliz Cumple Abu Maggie!

Well we just wanted to give a special birthday shout out to my very special mother-in-law! She is an amazing woman who will do anything for anyone. She is very selfless and always sacrifices her time and money to help those in need! She has helped us a million times in a million different ways and we will always be indebted to her! The kids wanted to send a special birthday wish to you today! We woke up to a winter wonderland AGAIN today, so the kids put on their snowsuits and went out. In fact, they are still out there! I apologize in advanced for the horrible camera work, the sun was in my eyes!!! Happy birthday and we love you!!!

P.S. Push pause on the music on the right hand side of the page so you can here the kids' birthday message.
P.S.S. I know I need to update my music!!!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

2 months later!

Well, since I haven't had my own computer since December, I finally have had a chance to download Gianluca's birthday party pictures, taken by my good friend Betsy. Anyways, As a last big get together for him (and since we had no place to give him a birthday party) we decided to have it at Pump It UP. He invited a ton of friends to come and go crazy. I wish I had one of these in my back yard, or even in our basement. It is such a good energy drainer. Anyways, his theme was BEN 10. He is so into this cartoon it is a little crazy. But I must say that I actually enjoy watching this with him. His best friend Aidan got him hooked on it. Anyways, it was so fun and it makes me really homesick for my amazing friends in Houston! Gianluca really misses his friends! So here are the pictures from his party.

We just moved to South Jordan two weeks ago. Joel's mom flew in on the 17th of March and watched the kids for us while my parents and I flew out to Houston. We had one last dinner with some of our friends and then took off the very next morning in the U-haul while my parents drove our van (lucky dogs!) It was a crazy two days. We drove 11 hours the first day, and then we had a 14 hour day on Friday. We got into SLC @ 11 PM. It was actually really fun just chatting w/ Joel and seeing all of the pretty scenery. Although some parts of New Mexico are definitely the armpit of the world! We had so much help in getting here and then my sister Darci and her family helped move us in, along w/ Joel's brother and aunt. We are really blessed!

It has been crazy weather and constantly snowing, so we haven't gotten to meet too many people, although I know when it gets warm the neighborhood will be swarming w/ children. So until then, Gianluca is completely bored. I just signed him up for Karate and swim lessons. Alley is also signed up for swim lessons, but can't take dance until she is potty trained. It is a work in progress.

Speaking of Allegra, my aunt Karen is a very talented photographer and she just took some incredible pictures of Allegra. Here's a link to her blog... http://www.karenaphotography.blogspot.com/ Thanks Karen!



She refused to wear the hat at this point!

Gypsy Woman

Hey, I just wanted to state that I am alive and somewhat breathing. At any rate our lives consist of living in and out of a hotel that is the size of my old bathroom, staying at my all to generous friends house, and I'm seriously considering taking up drinking coffee at this point. Okay now, don't be apauled.... I said I'm considering it. Not that my caffine addiction to Coke is much better. Anyways, we are holding up considerably well, besides the fact that I almost cry...or do... everytime we drive by the old house. I wonder what the new owner would think if he came home to us just hanging out on the couch. Allegra is always telling me she wants to go home. It's sad.
Joel's class is very time consuming and hard. But I am proud to say that he is getting high A's on all of his tests this far. He'll be done March 13th. We can hardly wait to be done!!!! And get back to a normal life style!!!!

Gianluca's birthday is this coming Sunday. Super Bowl Sunday again! That is when he was born. The Super Bowl where Janet Jackson exposed herself on national TV. Awesome. I was sitting in the hospital room recovering thinking "Did I just see that??" Good Times, good times.

So this post is very Random and no I don't have any pictures to post right now as my camera is at the hotel. But that will come soon enough! This is random, I know... I'm sleep deprived!!!!

I'm Feeling a Little Vaclempt! (Don't know how to spell that!)

I have less than a week in my beautiful little home and I am terribly sad about it! I just hate to leave here and leave all of my memories and friends. But I know that this is a good move for us and that it is a huge blessing for Joel that he loves his job finally after all of these years. To do something you love is a blessing indeed! So anyways, Here are some pictures of the first home we really made together. We moved here in June 2006 one month before Allegra was born and have created memories and friends to last a lifetime! For that I will always be grateful! To my friends and home, You will be missed immensely!!! I love you!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

A little break from the mundane...

So I'm up to my ears in packing, one of the things I hate most in life! And I thought I'd write about one of my biggest loves in life... my kids. I seriously think I have a major crush on Gianluca (not a sick and twisted one okay! I'm his mother!!!!) He has been so funny lately from his booty dance to just the funny things he says. So I wanted to write a few out before I forget:

1) (note: this day was a crazy day and The Dude was not listening what-so-ever! I had to tell him repeatedly what he was supposed to be doing to the point of raising my voice before we had to go, here is what he said in the car-ride following)

G) Mom, did Jesus make everything?

Me) Yes he did (proud he was even thinking of Jesus)

G)Why did Jesus make mom's that yell?

Me) (in shock!) Why did Jesus make little boys that don't listen to their mommy's?

G) Well you yelled at me at the house!

Me) Well if you'd listen, I wouldn't have to yell at you to get your attention....


AAAh, it's a vicious cycle isn't it! Once you get started on that, it seems the whole day is that way! But that sure made me laugh! I swear he is 4 going on 14!

2)

G) Mom when you leave me I get so sad that I cry. It just breaks my heart! But when you get back, POOF! I'm happy again!

3) Why is it that anytime we go to the store the Dude feels the need to go #2?? Almost without fail. And he is a man for sure because he takes his time! I'm always like, "Gianluca, are you finished?" While Allegra is running around touching every possible thing in the bathroom. And he always says, "Mom, You have to wait for your poo poo to come out!"

4) Yes, I've been known to curse now and then... maybe a bit more. But upon finding Gianluca making a disaster out of something I usually say "Dude, what in the hell are you doing????" Now, he likes to use that term every once and awhile and always in the perfect context. "What in the hell!!!" When he sees something crazy or what have you. I'm not proud of it, but I sure think it's funny. And I really don't consider hell a swear word. Maybe I'm just rationalizing, but there are a few others I'd like to add to the list as well.....

5) Mom can I have to some chocolate? Can I get it from your secret mustache? (secret stash :)

6)After leaving Chick-Fila, the Dude was really wound up and acting crazy. I told him he wouldn't be able to go to Aidan's house if he didn't chill out. So he looks at me w/ a big sigh and says "Mom, Can we discuss this later?" The little shi%^&!!! I almost could have killed him!!! And then it was pretty funny! He started laughing and told me he got that line from BEN 10!


There are a million more, but I can't think of them being distracted by boxes half packed and what not!!! Anyways, every mother adores her children I know, but I am definitely enjoying the age he is. He's a little person and really thinks about the world around him. At this age they are so full of passion, curiosity, very forgiving... I think I really understand what Jesus means about being more childlike. Gotta love these munchkins!!!