Love staying home

I love being a mom. I love staying home with these little darling boys of mine. They crack me up. I've never cleaned up so many messes, read so many books, or laughed so hard as I do with my boys. I love love love them. Thanks Matt, for providing for us so I can stay home. Thanks Levi for helping your brother learn to go potty. Thanks Dylan for the constant silly things you do. Thanks Riley, for being so smiley and way easy going! I'm a happy mom (and wife).

Oooh la la

A new hairdo, and kiddos who are so engaged with the television. (It took Dylan 2.5 years to get to this point. Riley is a natural, and I think Levi had a tv on in my womb.)

His own spot

I love how in preschool and kindergarten classes each kid has his/her own carpet square (usually part of a huge rug) that they must sit in while stuff is being taught. We went to Ikea and found these perfectly sized bath mats for only $3.99 each. It was exactly what I was looking for. Each boy has his own color and he has to sit on it for family home evening, anytime we're playing a game, or when I just need them to pay attention and not jump all over me. It's fantastic!

Quilt

Here is the quilt that I have been working on. I paid someone to do the embroidery... I don't have a machine that does that. Jennifer was very pleased. (Me too)...

Owwwwww... It hurts so good!

I learned how to do REAL push ups yesterday, as well as the correct form to use while doing them. The same goes for squats. Can I just tell you that I hurt hurt hurt today?!?!?!?! It's the feel-good-kind-of-pain!

I made a new friend who is quite surprisingly similar to me. Seriously, it's amazing how much we are alike. Personally, I really enjoy her company and talking with her. (Her name is Liz). Anyhow, there is this group of girls who work out at the gym together and they do this killer routine, which they are trying to teach to me. They all look INCREDIBLE, so of course I shall suffer on my journey to fit into my old clothes (and smaller size). PLUS... I've figured out how stay-at-home moms keep their sanity in my neck of the woods: they go to the gym for happy endorphins and a great social hour, and have someone else watch their kids for a while. Nice!

Only problem is... I haven't figured out how to be productive afterwards at home. I'm working on it though! Anyhow, I'm feeling the squats and push ups and hope that I stick with it.

Fudge

I just made fudge with the boys (and they are currently playing hide-the-racecar and entertaining themselves behind me... Sweet!). Anyhow, back to the fudge. The recipe was entirely sugar, marshmallows, and chocolate. That's my kind of treat, except as we dumped in 4 1/2 cups of sugar I cringed. Yuck. It made me think of my beloved See's Candy. Please don't burst my bubble and tell me truthfully that it is pure sugar. I think it's pure goodness. However, I think half the batch of fudge (at least) will be given away because we cannot eat that much junk. It was a sad thing for me to realize. The boys loved helping though and their eyes got bigger and bigger as we dumped in more chocolate. Too bad we like goodies so much.

A few random things (by Shannon)

Today I wore a skirt with sequins on it to church. I don't think I had 3 boys when I bought it. I think the floor of the chapel has more sequins on it than my skirt now does.

Also, the slip that I am wearing, that I've had for at least 15 years, is unraveling all over the seams. How great that my Mama taught me to sew when I was 5. Thanks Mom.

Baby Riley doesn't like baby cereal. I do! So I have 6 boxes (thank you WIC) to enjoy... it's sort of like comfort food for me. (I know Abby agrees).

Do all boys eat as much as my boys?? I thought I wouldn't have to deal with this constant hunger thing until at least age 12 or so. The other day Levi ate 3 pieces of left over pizza for breakfast, 2 sandwiches for lunch, and snacks in between. Dylan just constanly grazes. At least they do eat fruits and vegetables. Any suggestions???

During church I ate an entire See's candy bar. (Dark chocolate with almonds~ YUM!!) It was just that kind of day. We are feeding the missionaries tonight. I'm hoping the desire to be a missionary rubs off on my boys. I'm sure they'll just torment them (the kids or the missionaries??? Your choice).

I'm excited to take all my coupons to Target. I have been couponing for a while and love love love it. Did you know that Target has coupons on their website? And that Target will take both a Target coupon and a manufacturers coupon for the same item??? It's called stacking, and I have some lovely things to go buy tomorrow. It helps when you're on a budget, which I finally am (It's only taken 31 years).

I have decided that Dylan's super beautiful, big, brown eyes are what help him get out of trouble. When he does something he shouldn't and I sit him down to talk, he looks at me so sincerely and says "Me not do that again". It's just darling and he's so sincere... I just love that kid.

I went to Picture People this past week with a coupon from online for a free 10x13. I'll have to scan in the picture because it's so cute. I took the boys and Matt's phones and they took a cute picture for Matt to put up on the wall in his office.

Speaking of Matt's office, he traded a phone system with someone for a room in their building so that he can have an official "office". Mostly it's because working from home with me and all the boys here isn't working. Why?? Well, if he's here I think he's fair game to help with kids, chaos, and other stuff. You know, I felt bad for men for having to work all their lives but I have now decided that they welcome it as an alternative to being home being useful and dealing with their wife. Just as I was always sure it was easier to go to work, I know now that my husband feels the same way. So bye Matt... enjoy your new office. We'll miss you.

In my spare time (which I fit in whenever I can), I have been working on a quilt for my dear friend Jennifer Wires. Her husband died of a heart attack at the age of 38. I can't even fathom dealing with that. I was sent his favorite shirts and am trying so slowly and patiently (that requires pinning and measuring) to make a nice quilt for her. I am also working on 3 bow orders, and trying to make a huge mass of bows to sell at the California Utah Women boutique (www.cuwonline.com) for October. It's exhausting. Good thing my husband is so helpful. Thank you Matthew!!!

You know, this post is exactly how I talk. I jump around from topic to topic. The only difference is that usually I repeat myself and revisit a topic a few times (thanks Mom for always listening when I constantly do that). Anyhow, I should go hold my crying son. (Dylan lost a sword fight).

It's been fun everyone. Don't forget to give me advice about my starving boys. Thanks in advance.