IS THIS FACE TROUBLE?

Oh yes it is! I always thought I was a great mother. My kids never throw tantrums, they are very well behaved and they listen for the most part. Well that was before Reagan arrived. Anything my first two were, she is the complete opposite.

She definitely keeps us on our toes, you can't turn your back on this sweet little one for two seconds or trouble begins. She has been on the move since she was 6 1/2 months old and she began to crawl. Since that time she has never looked back. Some of my favorite moments recently include...

Biting through the toothpaste tube. (She loves toothbrushes and has discovered she likes the taste of toothpaste as well.)

Unscrewing the lid to her sippy cups.

She helps herself to whatever she wants in the pantry and cupboards. If she is not tall enough she pushes a bar stool over and climbs up to reach it, crackers, candy, peanut butter or cereal. This would also include getting into the cabinet with the medicine.

Climbing into the kitchen sink or bathroom sink and getting stuck under the faucet.

Climbing on the table and dumping the salt out.

Opening up Dan's hair gel and rubbing it all over her and her clothing.

Running away and laughing every time she knows she is in trouble or has something she shouldn't have. Last week she ran away from my mom in the Wendy's parking lot and she was at the front of the car hiding.

Running up the church isle laughing as I am chasing her during sacrament meeting.

Getting the stool out of the cabinet in the bathroom to reach what she wants in her closet (She knows where we hide the Binky's.)

Climbing into the tub and turning on the water fully dressed.

All kidding aside, she is the sweetest, funniest little girl and she is growing up so fast. I can't believe the words and sentences that are coming out of her mouth. She repeats everything you say. The kids even taught her today to say "Shake your booty" while she is dancing. She loves hugs and kisses and can't go to bed without giving everyone in the family a hug and kisses goodnight. She loves her big brother and sister and giggles when she makes them laugh. She loves to wear pretties and is adamant about what hair bows she wears each day. She thinks she is so big and she is very proud of herself.

What fun and craziness she brings to our home!

LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT

While visiting St. George over the holiday weekend. We left my parents with our kids and Melissa's little one as well. In order to persuade my parents to watch the children so we could have a weekend amongst adults, we bribed them with a babysitter one evening, so they would have the chance to go out for the Valentines. As we were loading up the car to head out of town, Emrey arrived to watch the kids. I had already given Mom the instructions for the weekend and left money on the counter for her to pay Emery when they arrived home; however when my parents did arrive back at the house the money had mysteriously disappeared. Emrey mentioned that Jaxson was playing with some money (and it seemed like more than what I six year old would have), but he told her that it was his and she left it at that. My mom in a panic woke up Jaxson and asked him where the money was. He was delirious and didn't know what she was talking about, or didn't remember where he had put it. So they sent Emrey home without the money and told her they would get it to her sometime tomorrow.

The following morning we called my parents to see how the evening went, so my surprise they told me the story of the missing money. My mom stated that they had found the money, it was in Jaxson's room next to his bank. I asked to speak with Jaxson anyway because I was upset that he lied and stole the money.

Jaxson got on the phone and I proceeded to ask him why he took the money. I also asked him why he lied to Emrey about the money. I definitely laid on the guilt trip of being a thief and a liar and that I was very disappointed in him. I told him Heavenly Father was also disappointed in him and then I asked him if he wanted to go to jail? I decided his punishment should be taking the money directly to Emrey and apologizing to her for taking it and not being honest. I thought about grounding him after all was said and done; however I didn't want to punish my mother.

Six has been a difficult year for Jaxson, first he was our little "vandal" and now he is stealing and lying. I hope seven is better!

HONEST VALENTINES

Dan and I went to St. George over Valentines weekend with Melissa and Chip and some of our closest friends. As we were leaving Friday night, Madison handed me our Valentines that she had made especially for us. I threw them in the bag and waited until the next morning to read them. I handed Dan his Valentine which read...

Daddy, Happy Valentines Day. I love you so much and I couldn't wish for a better dad. You will always help me when I need it. You are awesome. Love your daughter Madi.

As I opened mine, I didn't know whether to laugh for cry. The inscription read...

Mommy, Happy Valentines Day. I love you so much and never want to lose you! Even though you can get mad and make me sad I will always love you. You are the best mom a girl could have. You are awesome. Love, Madi

MEANEST PARENTS

Being a working mom, dinner is the last thing I want to think about when I come home. Because if I don't plan ahead it is usually 8:00 before we sit down to eat. Trying to stay ahead of the game, I occasionally make freezer meals and stock the freezer, so at least we can eat by 7:00.

On this particular evening, I was heating up some chicken rolls, when Jaxson came into the kitchen stating he didn't want chicken rolls while proclaiming he didn't like them. (This is a standard replay from Jaxson, because he doesn't like anything these days unless it is pizza, hot dogs, mac and cheese, spaghetti or taco's.) The funny thing is, everything that he now doesn't like are things he has been eating for years and has always liked. It's not like I am trying new foods out on the kid. Dan and I proceeded to tell him that it wasn't nice to always complain and that he needed to eat his dinner. He kept going on about how he was only going to eat his rice and strawberries, when I said "I think Jaxson may need to go to his room after dinner, because he has a bad attitude." After this comment Jaxson decided he would go to his room now and skip dinner instead. Dan told him to come back and that he needed to eat his dinner. He ran up the stairs anyway yelling "YOU GUYS ARE THE MEANEST PARENTS IN THE WHOLE WORLD!" I followed him. He shouted back Saying "You hurt my feelings everyday." I then told him, you also hurt my feelings everyday by telling me you don't like dinner. His next comment was "You hurt me feelings every minute of every day." I would like to say I am calm during this whole process; however because I am inpatient I was not. I told Jaxson he needed to come down the stairs and listen to his dad or he was going to get spanking. I counted to three and he still didn't listen. At this point I chased him up the stairs and brought him down with me.

Madi and Dan could over hear us in the kitchen while they were eating dinner and Dan turned to Madison saying "This is not going well." When I brought Jaxson back into the kitchen I sat him down at the table and told him he was to sit there while we ate. Madi and Dan were trying not to laugh as he sat there and sulked.

He put his head down and didn't say a word. As we were eating, Dan and I began talking about it being family night and playing games, but because we were the meanest parents in the world, I guess we wouldn't have family game night. Jaxson started to perk up at this point saying he wanted to play games. By the end of dinner we were surprisingly not the meanest parents in the world. Amazing how things change when your children want something. Jaxson said "Can we still play games?"

The only thing I kept thinking was, this is only the beginning of years to come!

We did end the night on a good note, playing Blokus and having desert.

A LITTLE HELP FROM ABOVE...

During the last basketball game Jaxson told his coach what an incredible player he was, this week presented a new story. It's nice to know Jaxson relies on someone else, besides his "confident self" to get the job done.

After the basketball game ended the boys were thrilled because it was there first win! Their coach, Rusty Bentley was congratulating the boys telling them what a great job they had done when Jaxson chimed in with "I knew we would win, I prayed to Heavenly Father to help us."


I guess I'm OK with a little confidence if he knows who to ask for help when he needs it!

WHO NEEDS THE DOCTOR?

This is a little embarrassing to admit, however if you truly know me it will not come as a big shock.

Reagan has been sick this week with the stomach flu. I took her to the doctor yesterday afternoon, just to make sure their wasn't anything else going on. During her routine exam the doctor took her temperature and was worried that it read 105 degrees. That along with her being dehydrated, he decided it would be best to send her up to Primary Children's hospital to receive some fluids. After sitting in the waiting room for over two hours, we finally got admitted into a room. After another hour of waiting they finally proceeded to get Reagan's IV set up. The first nurse couldn't find a vein (probably because she was dehydrated) and decided to call in the "Expert" IV team. Once they arrived they proceed to turn down the lights and use a special light which allows them to see where her veins are. During this process, I was on the other side of Reagan, holding her hand. As she is screaming, because they can't find a vein, I can see them wiggling the needle inside her arm (because of the special light) and I started to get sick.I tried turning away, but still in the process of consoling Reagan, but I knew it wasn't going well. I could feel that I was going to pass out. The doctors brought me over a chair, made me sniff alcohol and stick my head in between my legs, all while they are still trying to find a vein for Reagan. It did take them two tries, the poor little girl. After the IV complete, I still was not well, so they brought me in some apple juice and finally I told them I needed to lie down with Reagan in her bed. This served as two purposes; one - it made Reagan feel better to have me close and two - I was able to regain my composure and be the soothing mommy again. Who is the grown up in this scenario? I guess I should have been really embarrassed; however I was too sick to even think about it at the time.

I do have to say that even with Reagan being as sick as she was, she still let her strong personality come through. After the IV experience, she didn't want anything to do with the doctors. they brought her in a Popsicle and a teddy bear and she would not touch either one. That's my girl!

CONFIDENCE...NOT A PROBLEM

We don't have a problem being humble in our home, just everywhere else.

The story goes like this... We were having dinner with the Bentley's when Rusty said I've got to tell you something that Jaxson said to me today. At the basketball game, during the third quarter I had Jaxson sit out on the bench with me. Jaxson looked at me and said "Rusty, what are you doing? You can't pull me from the game, I'm the best player on our team!" Rusty just laughed and said "Jaxson, I know, but everyone has to take a turn sitting out."