Matthew's Birthday

So of course, being the genius that I am, loaded these in backwards order, but such is life.

David was feeling a little bit jealous that the camera was on Matthew yesterday, so this morning after he woke up (while we were still sleeping) he decided to demonstrate his artistic side. Click on pic for a close up. This is the cake we will be having today at Mama and Papa Allred's house for his birthday celebration with his cousins. It was supposed to be Star Wars theme, but Matthew insisted on having the Batman mobile for his pinata, so . . . no harm done, this cake was much easier to make than a Star Wars Yoda or x-wing fighter. Anyway, I think it turned out really cute. Many thanks to my husband. He helped me find a pattern to work and coached me along in the decorating process. (I need to buy a cake platter. All I have is this flat Christmas plate to put cakes on. Kind of ghetto, but it works. And Matthew does not care!)
The City of Plano Balloon Festival
We did not make it out to the festival and felt really bummed about that, but it just wasn't going to happen. Thursday was the biggest "melt-down" day and I needed a breather on Friday. Plus, Ryan had an away football game, and I was not about to tackle an outdoor place with hundreds of people--perhaps even thousands--by myself with screaming children. I felt kind of bad about it, because I knew my boys would love it.
Anyway, we were going for a family walk last night, the last night of the festival, and all of a sudden we look up to the sky to see these beautiful, multi-colored, huge hot-air balloons RIGHT over our apartment complex. It was the coolest thing!
I think we counted close to a dozen different balloons. The boys loved it!

And a new found love for Matt: his bicycle. We sort of tossed around different ideas this year, as to what we should give him for his birthday. He has too many trains already, tons of books, and lots of other toys. We always are so impressed by Carter, Matthew's cousin, who already knows how to ride a bike and scooter--and he's AMAZING at it (NOTE: Carter is about four months younger--Jan., right?). So . . . we sided with this Target special bike. It was right in our birthday budget, and Matthew LOVES it! He was so excited!
It was a little rough going at the beginning, but in the end, he was cruising! He picked up so fast.

And you'll note, he's not wearing any shoes. How safe, Keri! Yes, I know. Unfortunately, we were having a real struggle with him and his shoes. He couldn't get the pedaling right while wearing them. As a result, Ryan taught him without shoes on. It doesn't really make sense, but that's what happened.
The other safety factor--where is this child's HELMET?? Well, I bought him a Thomas helmet. I wasn't trying to, but it just worked out that way. Target was completely out of his size helmets. It was either Thomas, which happened to be clearanced out, or a huge helmet for 7-year-old kids. However, the Thomas helmet did not fit his head when I came home. So . . . I plan to go look for a new helmet for him tomorrow morning. In the meantime, we look like neglectful parents.

The initial reaction was so great!
Matt's first "Power Rangers" soccer game

The name is a top-notch choice, I know. The kids picked it out--imagine?! I don't think that Matthew even knows what the Power Rangers are. He's never seen any of the tv series.
Anyway, he played really well. We were worried about his attention span and cooperation, but he did great. He even kicked the ball several times. Each time, he would look back at us and get our approval. It was so fun to watch!
The most exciting part for him was bringing the snacks for after the game. It was our turn, and being his birthday, we made special smiley face cupcakes (I'd intended on making soccer balls, but they looked so unclose to the actual images that I simplified to SIMPLE smiley faces. And the kids didn't even care--BIG SURPRISE!), gogurt, and grapes. The little boys were in HEAVEN!
After Matthew's game, Ryan took him for a daddy date to see Star Wars: Clone Wars. Granted, we know that this movie had terrible ratings by critics and fans. However, to a little boy name Teus, this was the icing on his cake, the making of his day, month, and year. He had arrived! Ryan bought him a junior pop-corn and HAPPINESS was achieved!

Welcome to Life in the SLOW Lane--Come on Over!

I had a lady almost run into me via her road rage driving skills today. She simply seemed to be in a big hurry. She tail-gated me through the light, held her horn, and then went around me. Next, she proceeded to speed on past me and cut off the guy in front of me. It was a little nuts, and for some reason, I didn't react the way my instincts normally would have. My son said, "Mom, that lady is not driving nice. She needs to swo down!" He then attempted to call her a name. I found myself talking him out of it. "Matt, we don't know what kind of day she's having. Maybe she's really upset or just in a big hurry. Either way, we should not call her car a name."

Over the past week, I have had a lot of time to reflect on the pace of our life, my life as a mom. Some days, I feel like we are way too busy--going to the gym, playgroup, school, feeding the missionaries, soccer practice, softball, etc--not to mention all of the little things like family prayers, scriptures, cleaning the house, etc. But last week something happened.

My husband talked me into reconnecting with some friends via facebook. I'm really not a big-time "my Space" or "facebook" person. But I guess, I really wanted to get in touch with some childhood friends. As I have been catching up with so many of them, I've realized, "Wow, we do live life in the slow lane." So many have asked, but "what else", almost implying that perhaps I'm not so busy with my children. Perhaps, I have a lot of spare time on my hands.

Most days are spent on my knees either in prayer or playing with my kids. We do a lot of horse rides, train table stuff, read about trains and animals, singing, talk about sharing and why it's so important, puzzles, and other activities. I am a referree of many arguments between my boys. I change DIAPERS! Sometimes, little boys spit at me or stick their tongue at me. I'm told, "I want Mama (Grandma)!" Time out is a regular part of our day. I've learned the art of recognizing the oncoming of a melt-down and then actually dealing with one or ignoring one. Either way, my day is never quiet or boring or empty. I feel like we pack so much into it. And although, it's not filled with famous people or wardrobes of fashionable clothes or an office full of people to congratulate me on a good job, it is the life above all else that I prefer.

I LOVE being a mom! Each time the boys learn something new or stop playing for a moment to come tell me that they "wove" me or kiss me, it melts my heart. Tonight, for FHE, Matthew was so excited to learn about Daniel and the Lions' Den. When we got to the part about the actual lions and explained that Daniel was locked in the den with them, his eyes got so BIG, and he said, "You're kidding me!" Ryan and I both started cracking up. David has started praying in his own language, but he kneels and says "Amen" clearly. They do so many sweet things throughout the day. And it's those little moments that I live for. This is the most difficult job I've EVER had, but it's by far the most rewarding as well.

Heavenly Father has blessed me so much with a wonderful little family and extended family. I could not ask for a better support system. I'm so grateful to an eternal companion who communicates with me so well. We can be honest with each other and confide in each other our true, most inner thoughts and feelings. And he works so hard to keep me in the home. This is so important to me and to us. Although many days, it would probably be much easier to send the kids to a babysitter and go to a desk job, I am so grateful that I get to stay home. I feel really blessed. Bring on the Thomas videos, t-ball games, and PTA meetings. I'm excited to be a MOM!

Attempted Family Day

ZOMBIES . . .
I always said I would never use the tv as a babysitter, but my kids definitely got their share of Thomas, Wizard of Oz, and every other DVD we own this weekend. We were so sick, and although, this pic was taken on Thursday night at the beginning of my sickness, middle of David's, and beginning of Matt's, I am ashamed, but grateful. I laid on the couch mostly. But we made ammends for that today. Each of us was feeling better, and so . . . we read lots of books, played our hearts out, did puzzles, cooked our entire dinner together--even David helped and tried to eat while we were making it, and spent QUALITY time together.
Labor Day weekend, we attempted to do an all-day family date. Unfortunately, Ryan and David were both sick with the stomach flu, so it was a short day. We attempted eating out--not a great choice in Country Burger. And then Ryan's dad warned us about the lake we went to: White Rock Lake. Apparently, it's in a really bad part of Dallas on the outside of the park. But the sights around the lake were actually really nice. There were many nice spots for fishing, a great bike trail and running trail around the perimeter of the lake, and great places for picnics. We had fun, I guess, but Ryan and David were both too ill to be out. And we were a little dissappointed in the Lake. Okay, anyone who has been to Bear Lake can attest to this from the pics below. Where's the beach or the mountains surrounding the Lake? Why can't we see to the bottom of this landmark? Not to be a pessimist or down on it, but I don't swim in anything, I can't see the bottom of. It's just a rule of them for me.
Any guesses as to what object Ryan is holding??

Across the lake were many really fun colonial type homes or maybe I should say "plantational". I keep forgetting I'm in the South.
Although there are no mountains or beaches here, Dallas does have some really beautiful trees and greenery.

Poor little man. He was so sick.

Grease Monkey

In spite of our family puking our gutts out all weekend and other charming symptoms of the stomach flu, I decided I needed to get my hair cut. This has actually been a LONG time wish since I moved here, but have never had time nor known a source to go to. I finally decided to bite the bullet and do it. And my mom paid for it actually--thank you!

Anyway, it really doesn't look that different in style. Bijon, the hair dresser, gave me more layers, thinned out some things, and gave me long bangs. Excitement.

The best part though, is that my hair is no longer stuck to the side of my head with a halo of frizz on the outside. Since I've moved here, my skin has decided to be 15/16 all over again, and my hair has looked like I Have never wash it. SICKNESS!!! I was feeling so helpless and really down about it, which probably sounds so shallow and stupid. But I've never felt so dirty or grimy before. Obviously when you camp, you're supposed to be that way, but when you can't even blow dry your hair all of the way, because of the oil--there's a problem.

Bijon recommended Nioxin, and I'm so happy to say that it's working. My hair now shines, has some of it's color back(Although, a lot of my hair has gone gray/white since I've moved here. Wierd, I know, but it's in my blood too. Both my older sister and younger brother started graying at 16!), and it's not stuck to the side of my head anymore!

HAPPINESS achieved! I feel like a girl again!

Phases

David is probably in the most phases right now. He has to do whatever Matthew is doing. And part of that is a jealousy phase too. For example, he'll want nothing to do with me, but if Matthew comes and cuddles with me, he immediately throws himself down on the ground, starts screaming and crying, and throws his cup. Then, if that has not given Matthew the clue to leave me alone, he takes care of it himself. Fun times--not so much. We're also big time into the tantrums. Matthew's were not NEAR this bad. What happened?? Or did I just unremember these things? Both of the boys love to be goofy and dress up in things that make them look funny. They always make silly faces and create little dances to go with them. I guess girls just want to look pretty--my boys not so much.
The diaper. I was sitting in our room, discussing something with Ryan yesterday, when David came to me with a wet diaper in his hands. Of course, I was upset and told him how disgusting that was to get into the garbage. FREAK OUT! So I grabbed it and washed his hands and threw it away. Well, we finished our discussion, and the next thing I know, I look down, and David is laying butt-naked on our floor happily, playing with a car. What gives?? We do NOT run a nudist colony in our home; why do our boys think it so necessary to remove their clothing??!
More dress up. Today it was flats. Many days it's heels. Sometimes, it's Dad's running shoes. We never know, except that David definitely has a shoe enfatuation.
More jealousy phase. I'm not sure this one ever ends with my boys. "Mom, if you're going to take David's picture, I need mine too." Then he made a silly face.