Two minus One Equals Bummer

Last week, I had some van issues. I noticed that it wasn't staying cool when I drove around in the heat, which usually means I'm running out of coolant (we have a leak in the reservoir, so we have to fill it often.) I told my mom that I should probably add more liquid, but then promptly forgot.

Friday, after driving it around a bit, I stopped and smoke and steam POURED out. I was at Walmart, luckily, and decided to get some coolant among some other things. After getting ALL of my shopping done, I went out to the van with the boys, set Cameron to work buckling Jake in, and I filled the van with the coolant.

The noises coming from the van were NOT normal, it sounded like a big ol' monster truck or something. As I got to the Learning Center, where Cameron does developmental therapy, the van died. I took Cam in, and spent the next hour trying to get the van started. (Thankfully, Jake fell asleep, and wasn't too bothered by my "mechanics.") Finally, I decided that I needed to let the van cool, and called Steve to save me.

Since then, I have tried to drive the van, but it's met with the same results: billowing smoke from the tail-pipe.

Steve looked under the hood today and noticed that the upper hose is trashed.

It looks like we're back to being a one-car-family again. Bummer. :(

I Need a Change

I've been stuck in a rut for a while. I've found myself getting more and more ornery and grumpy with my family and it's not fair to them. Saturday I had a complete break-down and lost my mind....and my poor children were there for it. Afterward, I felt HORRIBLE! I'd said things I didn't mean to say, and did things that I vowed I'd NEVER do (Cameron got the spanking of a lifetime....*blush*) I don't EVER want to lose it that bad, ever EVER again.

I need to do things that I don't normally do.

SO, I've made a few goals...

First off, I'm making the boys breakfast. I need to make sure that they're well-fed and happy in the mornings, that SHOULD help the day run smoother.

Secondly, I need to apologize to my boys for the upset that I've caused....it will be hard, but I HAVE to do it.

Third, I'm going to make up my mind to be happier and more calm with my rowdy boys. It's the least they deserve.

Wish me luck.

Jake's also been a bit under the weather lately, it's not fun, and he's just a miserable little poop. :( He fell asleep on Steve Saturday night, just burning up with a fever, but INSISTING on having his "bankie!"

Right now, he's up in my bed, cooling off with daddy....I should go and figure something out for the poor guy. Again, wish me luck!

Baldy-McBald-Face

He did it....when I was not at home (because he knew I'd keep trying to convince him to keep his hair...)

Up close...yup, it's really *THAT* white! Cute man, with or without hair! (Love you, honey!)

My Late Night Companion....

Yup...just me and the birthday balloon....

At least it's getting some exercise by moving around the living room. (My fan in the window is blowing it across the ceiling...it makes a soft scraping noise....it freaked me out before I figured out what it was...)

Wedding and House Sitting

Yup, my week was filled with a wedding (that actually was only 2 of the days, but it was a biggie...) and then I was house-sitting the rest of the time. Steve's brother, Andrew, FINALLY married his girlfriend last Saturday. They've been together for about 4 years now, and they have a 2 1/2 year old son. We were VERY happy for them and it was a beautiful wedding. The cutest thing was when they'd walked everyone down the aisle, their son laid at the top of the stairs on his belly watching. He had THE best seat! Steve's aunt Verna came from Bonners Ferry for the wedding and his Uncle Dick came from Boise. It was great to see both sides of the family represented.

Aunt Verna made Andrew and Camille a beautiful quilt, and had them wrap themselves up in it. So cute!

My boys were anxious to get things done, they were VERY hungry, and dinner wasn't served until after the wedding.

Then they wanted more family pictures...it got hard smiling for so long. Eventually we started making faces of our own.

It was a busy day, but one that we were glad to be able to be there for.

Then as soon as we got back in town from the wedding, we packed things up to spend the week at my mom's house, house-sitting. I was also supposed to help care for my handicapped uncle. The week went well. Steve and I had been asked to talk in Sacrament Meeting today, and we spent a LOT of time trying to find information for our talks. I'm glad to have it all over with. I loved my topic though...how Heavenly Father is our perfect example of being a parent. It helped me think of how I parent my own kids and what I need to improve on.

Late last night, my guys all decided that they wanted the same "hai' cut!" I took the clippers, and buzzed all three of them within an inch of their lives...okay, well, within 1/8th of an inch of their lives. Steve is threatening to shave it all off completely. I don't want him to, but he's determined. Stay tuned for THOSE pictures.

It was a busy week, but one that I didn't have a problem doing.

Congrats to Andrew and Camille! And YAY!! My parents are home, which means I am too! :)

You Haven't Missed Me, Have You?

Sorry to have been SO out of commission lately. I'm actually not even at home right now, but house-sitting for my mom and dad while they're on vacation.

When I get home, to my OWN lovely fast Internet, I will update on my last week or so. :)

Monsters?

Yesterday I took the boys out in the GORGEOUS weather to the park. They actually played NICELY. Cam would gently lift up Jake and set him in the toddler swing and gently push him. It was one of those times when I WISH that I'd had a camera...total Kodak moment! They even played on the slide, Cameron helping Jake when he was scared and teaching him that it's okay.

Today, we're yelling at each other, fighting over the same toy (Jake's birthday balloon which Cam REFUSES to give to Jake....he just loves tormenting him) and screaming and growling.

Why is it that late at night, around bedtime, my kids turn from sweethearts into monsters? WHY!? I want my kids, not these....creatures. This is NOT what I signed up for.

More Birthday Pictures

My lousy cake-decorating skills.Jake kept trying to blow out the candle before we were done singing.

Once the candle was out, he begged to blow the candle out again, and again....finally he was ready to eat the cake, and he just dug right in.

OH, he's such a fun boy!

Happy Birthday, Baby boy!

It's hard for me to believe that it's really been two years since Jake was born, but I have to say, those have been the most fulfilling years. I love that my sweet Cameron has a fun brother that loves him as much as I love him.

I love the laughs I've had thanks to Jake...he's such a little entertainer.

He has shown me what it's like to be the mom of a typical little boy, and I sometimes wonder if I'm really up for the challenge.

But, I know that he's such a joy in our lives and I'm so grateful for him!

For his birthday, he got some things early: a tricycle and a drum. So he opened up a boring present (clothes) and a fun one...two Superman/Batman capes that my friend made. He wanted to wear his cape to church.....he says "I FLYING!" when he wears it, and then he takes off.

Happy birthday, SuperJake....we love you SO much!

Ressurection Time? I Think So...Free For All Friday is back!

I've been pretty bad at blogging lately. I think the lure of Facebook and other things has kept me from updating my blog or telling my stories here. It's almost easier to type up a simple status update rather than the whole story on my blog. So I have a solution: Free for all Friday is back.
For those who don't know: If you want to ask me a question – and anything goes – here’s your chance. You can ask about whatever you wish, no holds barred. I’ll either answer honestly, or I’ll tell you that I won’t answer.

Ready....Set.......GO!!!

Answers

Jewelle said...
What is the funniest thing the boys have done this week?

Jewelle:

Jake's is easy to remember....I might have to come back when I think of Cam's.

On Tuesday night, we were at my parents' house. It was my mom's birthday, and I had bought her some obnoxious things: a funny card (she said it wasn't as funny as I thought though), a cake, and a balloon. The balloon was a hit....for Jake. He would NOT leave the thing alone.

After playing with it for a while, he found a water balloon, uninflated. He took it to my dad and asked him to blow it up. My dad began blowing it up.

Now, imagine if you can: Jake, standing next to my dad's recliner, watching intently while another balloon is inflated. My dad, turning a little purple in the face, because, well, water balloons aren't MEANT to be blown up. And finally, my dad's black Pomeranian, LuLu...innocently lying in his lap.

Suddenly, the balloon popped. LuLu took off, running. Jake jumped backward....and my dad started laughing. My younger brother began chasing the dog, trying to comfort her, and Jake was in AWE of the loud noise.

At this point, the rest of us are busting a gut because LuLu's reaction was SO funny. Soon, Jake begins throwing blankets around, swinging his head back and forth....HE'S LOOKING FOR THE BALLOON!! Oh, my gosh! We are laughing even HARDER now....

Oh, it was SO funny! Jake never DID find the balloon.

Camping Highlights?

Camping this last weekend was....well, adventurous? My parents went up first, and ended up getting stuck in their giant motor home. They called me (thank heaven for cell phones) and asked me to bring up my dad's (*HUH*) truck. They also asked me to bring up a tow chain, not a rope, a CHAIN! I immediately called my brother, who was at my parents' house, and asked him to see if he could find a tow rope and chain. After a while, he called me back to say the tow rope dad had was frayed and he could NOT find a chain.

I braved Walmart (the day before the big holiday weekend. Insane? I think so...) and found a few things in the "towing" section. I bought a new tow rope (towing up to 5,560 pounds) a tow chain (that tows up to 5,000 pounds) and a ratchet tow chain, thingy, (that tows up to 2 tons). I took all of my stuff, that I had carefully packed in my van, and threw it into the truck's extra crevices. I turned on a movie for the boys to watch, plugged in 6 of my favorite CDs and took off.

After arriving, I was shocked to find that they WERE stuck, but at least they were off the main road. We ended up staying put that night, and all of us slept in the RV.

The next day I was anxious to get my tent up (for me, it's not really "camping" unless I'm under a thin layer of nylon, hearing wildlife and rain (or snow) above me.

Within 10 minutes, we had the motor home pulled out of it's hole (not without problems though, the jack would NOT come up, but we found the manual and my dad fixed it). Then we were off to an alternate site. The place we ended up was not nearly as pretty as the spot where we'd been stuck, but it was nice. We quickly set things up and camped out. I did a LOT of relaxing, while my boys ended up playing with Grandpa (he's their hero...)

Saturday night we made a fire, with lots of wet wood, and roasted marshmallows. I have to admit, I haven't had a good toasted marshmallow in YEARS and these were heavenly. As soon as we had finished, within a minute or so, it stopped dribbling and began snowing. The flakes were quarter sized. I was going to have Jake sleep in his playpen, but since it was SO cold, I ended up letting him sleep with me...which makes a LOUSY night for me, but at least he was warm.

The next day wasn't too bad, especially considering the snow from the night before. We did our own version of church, because there weren't enough seats in the truck for everyone, and we relaxed. After church at home got out, Steve came up with my grandparents. They stayed for dinner and dessert (yummo, cobbler, my specialty) and we had fun. I haven't missed Steve like that in a long time.

The next day was beautiful! But it was also our last day. We packed up early in the afternoon and took off. On the way down the highway, my parents' motor home had a compartment open up, they began losing toys. I hurried past them and got them to pull over. I locked ALL the underneath compartments and we were off again.

Once home, I felt completely gross, and smelled of campfire, but it was a great weekend.

The funny part came after. My dad was talking to my mom about what a great weekend it was. He said that he thought the boys had fun, but that I had been a little grumpy. My mom mentioned that I had PMS. My dad stopped and said, "Oh, well, she was GOOD then!" (*giggle* No offense taken, it's true, I was grumpy, but not as bad as I have been known to be in the past when I have PMS...)

Overall, a great time and lots of fun!