Swiss Peas

What are Swiss Peas? Here is my version. The other day, I needed to run an errand. It took me over 30 min. to try and get my 3 boys in the car. They wouldn't do it and it was a battle the whole time, I was fighting with them. Once I pulled out of the drive way, I really let them know how mad and angry and disappointed I was. They actually felt bad because they even apologized. But I was still fuming. On the way to the store a song came on the radio. I cranked it up and we all enjoyed jamming in the car to it. And at the end of the song as we were pulling in the parking lot Jax said "I'm sure glad the Black Eyed Peas song came on early enough so that I could hear the whole song before we had to get out of the car." I agreed with him and then we talked about how it was such a fun song "I Gotta Feeling... tonight's gonna be a good night". And it truly put me and all of us in a good happy mood. So thank you to the BEPeas! And the "Swiss" part, well I ordered "Swiss Family Robinson" from Netflix for our family to watch. And the boys LOVED it! I have always loved it. A great fun adventure for the family. I am so glad we watched it. I had forgotten about it over the years and it has been many years since I had seen it. But it was still just as fun as an adult.
So a shout out to a song, a movie and my husband. Poor Greg, spent all week getting tasks done like, cutting the boys hair, grocery shopping (since I can't really do it anymore being pregnant and not walking very well) so that on Saturday he would have nothing to do, zero, nadda. He wanted to have a relaxing day to play and have no work. And then at 11 am, he noticed a huge bubble in the downstairs hallway. We had a water leak. The upstairs toilet has been acting weird for over a month, and I guess we know why. So a few hours later, some repairs, and amazing handyman husband, and voila! It is fixed and we still had a relaxing Saturday night.

Yo BoBaby!

My baby Bodie is no longer a baby. Although he is my cute little delight. He truly is my sunshine. Good days, bad days, days where I'm ready to rip my hair out over the other two boys, Bodie always calms me and makes me smile. He is the best. He is happy and he loves to be loved and play. His babble is so cute. He's a good eater, sleeper, and loves being silly. I just came from his 18month check up. He is my little chunky monkey. Weights like 28 lbs. and is about 85 percentile in height.

We took him to his first time in nursery at church on Sunday. I'd like to say he was so good and it was a success. But he was traumatized and hopefully he'll forget and still go back. He got his finger smashed in a heavy door. After an hour of crying, we thought maybe it might be broken, it was all swollen. So I took him down to insta-care. Isn't this the cutest little chubby x-ray? His hurt finger is his index finger.
No bone is broken, just smashed cartilage. He screamed for about 2 hours straight. I couldn't calm him down. He voice was horse and raspy. Poor thing. After some Tylenol and a little nap, he seemed to be fine. Except now he has a little croup cough.

Everything else in the household seems to be normal. Going to school, work, boys fighting, mom being tired, Jax getting a bloody nose about every other day, teaching Creed to act nicer and be kind to others. Ooh, Greg and I were able to go on 2 dates recently. That was a highlight.

Every time Greg and I stop and think about this baby boy coming, it is trippy, we can't believe how soon he will be here and how different it will be to have a new born again, and that this is the last child and we will be done bearing children. Have I mentioned how trippy it is?

Now we need to work together and decide on a name. I told Greg we should just call him Buddy. That can be his name. Then we can call him Buddy, and won't have to "pick" a real name. He didn't even smile when I gave the idea? I knew someone called Buddy once. But maybe that was a nickname?

2,920 days

Greg was always pleased with our wedding date. Feb. 1, 2003. He would tell people about his idea of the symbolism behind that date, and show on his fingers that 2 people (February being the 2nd month of the year) become 1 (meaning February 1st) and then will become 3 ('03), meaning the expansion of our then future family. Gosh, and now we are going to be 6! We've had a great 8 years.

Now for a posterity memory.

Below we are the groom and bride. We had just exited the Salt Lake Temple and were greeting our loved ones for pictures outside. Everyone left shortly after and we stayed with some of my family and the photographer to continue.

By the end of the "photo shoot" we had to hurry back and change our clothes because we were going to be late for our luncheon. We dashed up there and they started with out us. Hello!! Why start without the the main people? Anyways, we enjoyed yummy food and lots of stories of Greg. I joke with Greg and say how it was an all-about-Greg luncheon (everyone seized the moment to tell funny/embarrassing stories about Greg)...was the bride there? Kidding of course.

After that we went back to our apartment and I tried to get rid of my little headache and grabbed our overnight bags and went to check in at our hotel. We stayed our wedding night at the Grand America Hotel. It was a great place. Unfortunately our room had heating/cooling problems the whole time. The thermostat was broken. But I don't know that we noticed THAT much...

After the reception we were both starving, so Greg ran into a 7-11 downtown to grab some munchies. I don't know why we didn't take any food from our reception? Must have forgotten. Then the next day we flew out to Cali for our honeymoon.

If I could have set foot in the back part of our storage room today, I would have found my box that has my wedding planning stuff. And then shown a picture of the cake I wanted and what it was supposed to look like. This is my cake below. I did like it. But it really looks quite different from what we were planning. It does have an "L" monogrammed on it. I remember hoping people would realize it was for Lorenzon and not Laurie. Then the cake decorator stuck snowflakes on it. I didn't like that part. But they were supposed to sparkle and shimmer with the surrounding candles. That didn't quite work either. But, in the end I guess it doesn't matter. It sat in the reception room and then was cut up in the end.

I gave Greg very clear instructions on how to "feed" the cake to each other. He loves to play and be fun and crazy. So it could have been a disaster. We were both very nice and clean giving each other a bite of the cake. No smeared chocolate or icing.

For our one month anniversary we pulled the top out of our freezer and cut into it. Had a few bites, then tossed the rest I suppose. I really don't remember. We figured, a month in a freezer is better than an entire year. And I didn't want to store it that long for that tradition. I do remember pulling the beads off and enjoying the moment with my new husband, who obviously didn't do his hair after a shower in this picture. :)

prego cartoons

So here are a few funnies. I can't say that I've actually ever thought this about being pregnant. But I know Greg sure has.
Hopefully you can read the small print. Oldies but goodies. I love it when people tell me how I look. And it comes out all wrong.

Right now my favorite is "I am huge. When are you due?" Then I tell them not until April. Even though I look like it could be next week.

People always ask me "how are you doing? Hanging in there?" And I like to say, yeah, more like hanging out there. Just to be funny.

So 2 1/2 months to go. I can't believe it's coming to an end. Taking care of 3 other children sure takes time away.

People always say things like, enjoy your nights while you can because when the baby comes, you'll be up in the night and tired. But I say, ha! I can't wait for the baby to come so I can actually get some sleep and won't be as tired as I am being pregnant! Right now I dread night time. But I sure love any naps I get.

Blah to Winter

Well it's a new year. January is off to the usual blah start. On New Years Eve we had a small fun time. We took the boys to Fatcats for pizza and some games. Then home to play a round of Sorry. After we put the boys in bed Greg and I toasted early, so that my heartburn wouldn't be bad when I go to bed, and sat and watched a season of 30Rock. It's our new favorite, we're trying to get caught up. I barely stayed awake past mid-night. Being pregnant I obviously don't sleep well and am always tired.

January so far:

So we hit the slope a few weeks ago. The slope in my parents back yard that is. The boys had fun, then realized there are less obstacles if they head down to the high school. Bodie certainly didn't like it. For some reason he didn't like having boots/hat/mittens all on. That fueled his sadness. Then when I made Greg take him down the hill so I could get a picture of his first time sledding. He really let out the distaste for that. But he is just so cute. We only had to go down twice with the poor kid. But in the end it was fine with me to stay with Bodie in the warm house and watch out the sliding door.

After the Christmas season, winter pretty much sucks. I think most would agree. Long drawn out icky month after month. Blah to January and February, I'll even throw in March because it is usually wet and muddy. But a few weeks after x-mas I always have my birthday to look forward too. I must say, I don't look forward to being another year older. I will forever not like that part the rest of my life.
The boys each gave me some pink roses and made me picture. Then I purchased myself a new storage ottoman for the living room, to protect all my photo albums from Bodie. Well actually I got 3 of them and have to decide which one to keep.
I made myself a cake this year. When I was a little girl I'd always ask for a strawberry cake. My mom would make it. It would be good, and I'd eat it. I haven't had one since I was young. Then I saw a strawberry cake mix in the store and thought I'd relive it. As soon as I opened the powder mix and could smell it, I knew it wasn't going to be all that good. The smell was different from the strawberry cake my mom made. And I even frosted it, the flower didn't turn out the way I'd imagined. Anyways, we cut it, and all had a piece. I couldn't even finish my one piece. Let's just say I will NEVER be making that again. Jax seemed to like it. My sister took some home. And I had to have Greg throw the whole thing out because the smell was getting to me. Luckily on Sunday we had a yummy simple chocolate cake to celebrate as well. :)

Uncanny

So who's Bodie, who's Jaxon? It amazes me how much they look alike. Here are a few photo's I tried to quickly grab to show for fun. I'm sure if I went through them all and spent time, I could come up with some that were really hard to figure out which boy is which. We recently also watched home movies, and Jax and Bodie are alike so much, their laugh, talking/babbling, smiles, silliness, mannerisms. It's crazy. Blew me away.

(J,B,B)

(B,J)

(B,J,B)

(J,B)

Same nose, same eyes.

(J,B,B)

(B,J)

I suppose if you didn't know Jax or remember him as a baby, these might not seem all that. I have changed Bodie's hair, I think that helps a bit. And Bodie has chubbier cheeks. Does this mean that Creed is the odd ball out? No, it just means he's one of a kind.
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Here's a relaxing Creed when he was a little baby. His shirt saying is very fitting. He's not like the other two. Can't wait to see what this 4th boy will look like.

Nice Try

The Sunday after Christmas. I was quickly trying to get a good shot of the boys in their new dressy clothes before church. Greg was no where to be found to help. Jax grabbed Bodie, sat down and was ready. Creed didn't want any part of it. So this is the picture I'm framing for my wall. I see this face on Creed all too often. Classic.

He was able to snap out of it, and I got a few good ones for Creed's 4 year old home photo shoot.

I love it when he smiles!

And I'm using this equal opportunity to show the stud Jax and his Sept. Kindergarten picture.
Happy New Year! It will be fun to add our last boy this coming year to our family. Good things to come for 2011.

It's all over

Yesterday we took all of the Christmas stuff down. It is over, it was fun, and fast. Greg wanted to do it on Christmas night, but I wouldn't let him. He gets all sad when it's over. He counts down all year for Christmas, literally. We all love the season though.

Here's a brief review of Christmas 2010.

We had my family over to our house this year for the x-mas Eve party. We did the nativity, I was the angel, Greg and Bodie were sheep, Creed was a shepherd, and Jax was a wise man. And he was very proud of this crown and costume he made. I don't have pics of any of that though. Then we ate, with plenty of food to last a week, opened gifts, karaoke, kids running all over, then the clean up. It was a fun time.

Below: That night we all got new pajama's. Christmas morning, Jax woke everyone up at about 7:15, they boys had a great time opening presents, some weren't their own. Everything open, ready to clean up the wrapping mess and keep playing.
One of the favorite toys of the day. All 3 boys can play this together, just a little coaching on what to not do with Bodie. Race tracks are always fun. Christmas is always so wonderful. It's fun to come full circle, once a child enjoying the magic, then grown up, and now I get to see my own kids and their excitement. Now to figure out what to do for New Years?

Season stuff

Tonight we had a fun time decorating Gingerbread men and cone x-mas trees. We had the Beckstead's and our other neighbors the Christensen's over to do some fun decorating. We should have done a big group picture, but at least I have a picture of everyone's finished products. As Creed layed the licorice over his man, he was very proud, I had to smile. I don't know what that was about though. He had a great time. Bodie loved to watch us.
Saturday night my parents came out and we went to Wasatch Lawn's cemetery. Every year they light up over 8 thousand luminaries on all the graves. My dad's parents and grandparents are buried there. So we stopped, had hot cocoa, and drove through the great display.

And what one brother does, the other has to eventually copy. Both have had stitches on the their chins, and now they've both had staples on their scalp. Jax was jumping up on the counter to get the toothpaste and the mirror was open, and slammed his head into the corner of the cabinet. So we went to instacare and 4 staples later came home. He just got them taken out today. Let's hope Jax doesn't copy Creed with a broken bone. Knock on wood.


I can't believe Christmas is almost here. This month has flown by. I haven't listened to enough holiday music or seen many holiday movies. We haven't driven around looking at x-mas lights, or gone to Temple Sq. to see the lights there. I guess I figured, we had time. But the time has come to a quick end. Still a little shopping left to do. And I'm sure Bodie can still rip the ornaments off the tree a few more thousand times.
I am glad we fit these last few activities into the season.
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A side note update: I found out at my last OB appointment that I have an umbilical hernia. I guess I've had it since at least Bodie's birth, answers a lot of questions. So I was told to be careful, and we'll see how it goes through this pregnancy. And then last week, I had a problem, and went to see a surgeon. And for now, luckily, I won't need surgery. But again, have to take it easy, no heavy lifting, or anything to cause it to be worse. It's usually not painful, but I have good days and bad days. I can't stand for long, walk for long, lift much, my heart burn has started in, back and hips hurt, all the fun pregnancy stuff to complain about. It's going to be a long few months.

JaxIsSix

Once a goof ball, always a goof ball. This was Jax at 5 1/2 months old. He is still just as silly. And already 6 years has gone by. He is so happy and proud to be older. He seems to think that turning 6 can open many more doors in his world. He loves to play play play, and create and do art and draw, cut, and color all day long. I get tired for him. Thank goodness he has Creed around to always play with. He loves Bodie and is always helping me with him. He is proud to be so big and independent. No sippy cups like his little brothers, he gets a lot of his own food, loves answering the door, he can shower by himself (with a little help).

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He had a great birthday. He opened presents before school. And was so excited to bring Twinkies for his kindergarten class to share. Although most of them didn't know what one was. Jax had his first one this summer, so he was well aware of them. He thought he was to be treated special all day. He wasn't happy I made him clear his own dishes and do a little cleaning up, and share his toys and things!

He wanted a "space" cake. I picked some balloons to go along with it. I got all creative and made the cake myself. It was kinda fun to frost it. Definitely not professional but I'm proud of my work.

We had some family over to help celebrate, here he is his blowing out his candles. I love Creed's face.

He was being a goof ball while we were singing to him and doing faces and dancing. His piece of cake had to be planet earth. He dug right in. He loved all his presents. And now we wait for Christmas.