stinky diapers, toots, belches

"I like stinky diapers!" This is what Adam told me yesterday while I was changing him. He said it in a high pitched, excited voice. I told him I didn't like stinky diapers and he insisted he liked them. This boy toots like a grown man. This boy belches like a grown man too. The tooting he can't control quite yet, but the laughing about it... Well, when you have older siblings that laugh every time you do it, of course he's going to do it again. The belching is just plain nasty. Craig and I don't belch so he didn't learn it from us. I think that just like the tooting, he happened to belch, got a reaction and there you go. This is one nasty, BIG boy. If he weren't cute every once in a while he would have been put up for adoption by now!

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Come on people!

It seems like lately there has been a lot in the news about childhood obesity and other kid issues. Like this morning, I caught an interview on tv about how companies are pushing the princess and girly stuff to younger and younger girls. There was an author that said girls are learning at a younger age that looks are important and that they need to be sexy. She mentioned the show " Keeping up with the Kardashians" Who in their right mind would let a child watch that show? It's bad enough for adults, but come on! Why are people blaming the media, advertisers, companies etc... for how their kids are turning out? Who is responsible for what shows are watched, what toys get bought and played with? Who buys the happy meal? Yes, companies advertise to target kids, but the kids are not the ones buying these things! Your kid is not fat because there's a toy that comes with his meal. That kid is fat because YOU chose to buy the meal. Toys are not making kids fat. Parents are responsible for what they allow their kids to eat, watch, play with and wear. I wish more people would take responsibility for their choices. Just because something is on tv, in a magazine, at the store or your kid asks for it doesn't mean you have to let them watch, read or buy it. Come on people!

Good/Not So Good

Good: My back is SO much better. It really makes me appreciate my body.

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Not so good:

We're getting more snow. About an inch today and I think more Sunday. I'm done with it. The black slush is quite ugly.

Misc.

The 3 munchkins making snow angels. All bundled up!

We had another snow day! The snow isn't any good for snowmen or snowball fights, but the kids still had fun playing in it. Seeing the snow all smooth and glittering last night was quite beautiful. Too bad we couldn't have had this over spring break!

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I slept much better last night. Woke up pretty sore and in pain though. I finally got some prescription pain medicine. Hopefully the chiropractor can get it taken care of in the next couple of visits.

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This is just me rambling... I have been thinking a lot lately about relationships. Especially friendships. Why are some so complex? What makes some friendships great and uncomplicated and others not so much? Is it because women are, well, women! Is it because as women we tend to judge each other or compare ourselves to our peers? Is it because we analyze things too much? Why is it so hard to just give people the benefit of the doubt? For a while I had a friend that I felt made no effort to keep in touch. We were friends in Idaho and then we both moved. When I would talk to her or email her she said she appreciated me keeping the communication going. But it was rare if she made contact first. What do you do with that? With all the technology we have and the many means of communication I really don't find it that difficult to keep in touch with somebody. A quick email, text... it only takes a couple of minutes. Are people really that busy? I can honestly say that I think, and as far as I know, that's my most complicated relationship. There's one woman I can think of that has complicated and sick relationships with EVERY single person in her life. Male and female. I believe she thinks the problem lies with everybody else. It's not her. I can't wrap my brain around that. I feel sorry for her. Anyway... just something that's been on my mind for a few weeks.

Snow and cold weather & misc...

We finally got our first BIG snow storm of the season. It was so bad that school was cancelled 2 days in a row. That's a first since we've lived here. It's been pretty cold so the snow hasn't completely melted. There's supposed to be another snow storm later this week.

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I hurt my back Friday night and I am still in a lot of pain. Unbearable pain. I've gone to the chiropractor twice and he said he hopes to have me better by Wednesday. I have a bad feeling about this though. I can't sit or sleep. Walking seems to help for a littel bit. Hopefully it gets better VERY soon.

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Audry won her school spelling bee! She and Cooper had told me they were competing and the date but then they came come and said they had already done it. Early. Audry falied to tell me she had made it to the finals on the date they originally told me. So missed it. Now she's going to the county spelling bee in February. Looking forward to that. Hope she does well.

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This past weekend was a weird one. Cooper left school early to go on a campout. Audry went home with a friend and spent the night there. So Friday night was just the 3 little ones home with Craig and me. It was odd not having both Cooper and Audry home. Sometimes it's just one or the other that isn't home. They are getting older and growing up so fast.

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I have noticed Cooper's attitude improving quite a bit. Not sure what's changed, but I'll take it.

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Adam had become quite the little liar. The other day he asked Craig something and he told him to ask me. I said : "We'll see." Adam turned right around and told Craig I had said yes! Stinker!! He's only 2. He's going to send me to my grave early.

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Lauren continues to worry me. She is so ready for school, except emotionally. She still cries all the time for the smallest things. We have tried talking to her, but nothing seems to work. It's really worrying me. I don't want to keep her home, but I don't want to send her to school when she's such a mess. She still has a little while, so hopefully she will improve.

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We got an email from Caleb's teacher, Mrs. Harding a while ago. She was expressing her concern at his lack of motivation and concentration in school. She said that whenever it ws time to get to work he stalled in any way possible. Either by going to the bathroom, talking or just goofing off. She said she would like to recommend him to the gifted program but only if he could show her that he could do what was asked of him. We've had many talks with him and I hope they are doing some good. He has had a couple of instances where he got in trouble for talking at lunch but I think it's the stupidest thing, so I don't get after him for that. She doesn't want to have a spring parent/teacher conference so I hope that's good news. He still really enjoys karate and we've told him that's something that will get taken away if he doesn't get his act together.

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These kids!!! They're going to make me go gray early and put me in the looney bin.

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Good: realizing the other day that nobody in our family has gotten sick this winter. Yet. We'll keep our fingers crossed.

Not so good: Not having strong enough pain medicine to get rid of this paiful back :P

a GREAT Christmas

Christmas has come and gone. Already! I am always sad when it is over. It seems to go by way too fast for me. There's something about the feel of Christmas. Most people seem to be nicer, kinder, a little more patient. Then it just disappears. I try to keep the Christmas spirit going all year.

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The kids all really liked their Christmas presents. Cooper got a new desk top computer. Audry got an mp3 player. Caleb got the Wii game he wanted, Super Mario Smash Bros Brawl and the classic controls to go with it. Lauren and Adam each got a battery operated 4 wheeler. They really like those. They only go about 2 mph and have no turning radius, but they still have fun. We had a couple of days when it was unseasonably warm so they got to take them outside. Craig got a bunch of running clothes and some work clothes. Not very exciting. He got me a certificate to get a massage. Already went and got it! It was heavenly. If I had the money, I would get one about every week.

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Craig has been home since the 23rd!!! It has been great. He really spoils me and has done so much around the house. The kids have enjoyed having him home. It has been nice not to have to go to any activities and just play. We needed that.

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Now it's back to reality. Starting tomorrow we have church at 9am!!! :p One good thing about that is that we'll still have plenty of time to nap once we get home. I have to substitute in primary tomorrow too. Dreading that. At least it's just this once. School also starts Monday. The kids are not looking forward to that. I wish their break was just a bit longer.

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Even though we have had some weird weather, we still haven't had snow. There were a few flakes one day but nothing major. I figure if it's going to be this cold, it might as well snow. We did have a thunderstorm early yesterday morning. That was pretty cool. It shook the house and even made me jump a couple of times.

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Last night we had the Allen's over for New Year's Eve. We had yummy food and played Sequence. They didn't stay until midnight since they have little kids. Our 3 little ones didn't make it till midnight either.

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We had a great year and were so blessed. Hope this next year is just as good!

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