ZING ZANG ZOOM

So we were giving all the kids a bath (we do that every month or so when the flies start dying in front of us). Anyway, with 5 pair of glasses on the counter we looked like an optical store. I got Austin dried off and dressed and put his glasses on which he promptly pulled off and threw on the floor. This does happen at times so I didn't think much of it. I went in and cleaned them and put them on him again. He threw them off again. "Austin, stop it" Again, I put them on him and was getting slightly grumpy thinking he was just being ornery. After what seemed like the thousandth time I gave up and let him be glasses free. The next morning, Skyler was complaining that she couldn't find her glasses. I gave her them and she said "these aren't mine!" I said, "yes they are" and she replied "no they're not." Well, then it hit me. Her glasses were in sitting on Austin's dresser. The same pair that he had refused to wear last night. Apparently he had been pulling them off because they weren't his and weren't helping him see. Such fun! You tell me, who's is who's. Lasik take me away......

THE MINIVAN, MY DREAM CAR

I recall watching an Oprah episode where a mother was telling how she cried all the way to the dealership when she went to get her new minivan. I relate because this is the car I had before.

The things we sacrifice for our kids.......

So anyway, the point to my rambling is that the other day I spent a whole afternoon cleaning out my Bugatti Veyron.....uh I mean my minivan. Amberly, who is my very tidy freak child, had resorted to stepping from the outside onto the armrest and then hurling herself back to her seat so that her feet in no way would touch the floor of the Bugatti Veyron...uh I mean the minivan. She really doesn't understand the concept of food storage, because literally I probably had at least two full boxes of McDonalds french fries on hand (or foot) for emergencies. Okay, this is totally nasty NASTY NASTY! This is not a picture of my car, but it could be mistaken for it.

I really am not a messy person, but with four children, my car seems to become a disaster zone in no time and THEY don't understand how this happens!!!!!!!!! Somehow Mom just doesn't clean it enough. Anybody want a ride?

INTRODUCING THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH...............

Well, we went to the Circus last night with Mehmut Okur. We thought we would hang out. Okay, okay, so actually we just walked across the crosswalk at the same time as him, but I think we made a connection and we'll be BFF's. Go JAZZ!

Amberly, Skyler and Kenadee loved the circus. They thought it was awesome or as the boy in front of us with the ginormous circus hat said "That was fantastic!" Austin enjoyed saying "Bye Bye" in other words "get me the fetch outta here." He only fell down the stairs once which added to the excitement for the crowd. Happily, Kenadee's lost flip flop reappeared at intermission when the people in front of us handed it back. Also, I must say that I have never heard such a heckling ridiculous laugh before in my life as came from the little boy behind us - he was having an absolute ball, but his laugh was absolutely something out of a cartoon. I have had fun imitating him since. He was so excited that he couldn't keep his feet still. He kicked the back of my chair no less than a thousand times and when I attempted to put my hand behind my chair he kicked that too! Ouch! Other than that it was well worth hanging out with Mehmet too see the fun!

It really was cool. The girls were awed and kept saying "how did they do that?" as the ringmaster reminded us musically "do not try this at home." I was singing that all morning and having quite a ball annoying Burke :). The Tigers were awesome, the elephants were awesome, the magic was awesome. It was a really an awesome night! Happy Circus Birthday Austin and Kenadee!

WHAT ELSE

Burke has been working his butt off as usual. The other day he went to work at 3:30 AM and came home at 10:30 PM. He said he loved his job so much he can't believe he gets paid for it! It's too bad the company he works for makes such cool products. He really has a lot of pride for his company. If only they made something lame like......pooper scoopers or fly swatters. This is some of what they make. These are real men toys - none of those tonka trucks.

Soccer, soccer, and more soccer. Amberly is getting better and better, Skyler is so excited when she kicks the ball and Kenadee loves the half time and after game treat! I even got to play in two of my own games in the women's league before the referees kicked me out for the season. Just jokin'. Actually, I found out the referee is Brenda Craven's son and Mick Craven started refereeing with him, so I have an IN! (they live in the neighborhood). They did fold the league for a season though, because too many women were busy canning peaches and doing other June Cleaver stuff that they didn't show up to play. So sad because I LOVE PLAYIN'. Although, I went to all the soccer games, I did get over 100 jars of peaches canned. I even showed Amberly's piano teacher how to can and as she stated she has turned into a canning monster and is canning everything in sight! Speaking of piano, Amberly is becoming a GREAT pianist and I am so glad I am a mean mom and haven't allowed her to quit! Skyler got her rabbit - he's a little netherland dwarf that she named dark chocolate. We put him in the garage, just like our kids :).

Austin has gotten really good at saying BYE (as previously mentioned in the circus paragraph). He says BYE YA, BYE YA. He's really cute. At night or naptime I lay him down and he waves and says BYE YA! Also, I finally had his hair cut. All those adorable curls gone. He no longer seems to be my little baby, but instead looks like a big boy - sniff, sniff. Kenadee oh kenadee we hope that the magic will begin at age 4. My laundry pile needs to decrease. On a good note, she is learning to read like her sisters - she sounds out really well - D D D CAR or P P P Mom or S S S Potty. All is well at the Phillips Home LOL

Insanity decreased

Life has been so much more manageable with two children in school.

Amberly is in fourth grade and has Miss Hamblin.

(Amberly's 1st day of school)

Skyler is in first grade and has Miss Coombs.

(Skyler's first day of school)

Both have really enjoyed it - Yeah!!!!!!! Last year Skyler came home from the first day of Kindergarten and said "Now that I know what school is like, it's actually pretty boring!"

So....I am thrilled that she says school is awesome this year. Through good behavior, the class earned a pet rabbit. That has made her so excited. She came home everyday either sad or happy that they had lost a point or gained a point. THANK GOODNESS they earned all their points and earned the class rabbit.

And yes, now we are thinking of getting a rabbit and yes, I am slowly losing my mind. First a hamster, now a rabbit.....so not me. Somehow Skyler has this animal gene in her. Every other word is "can we get a rabbit....can we get a rabbit.....can we get a rabbit." Before it was can we get a cat....can we get a cat.....can we get a cat." To put it nicely, I do not like cats and the cat who keeps pooping in my backyard is not helping matters.

*

Side Note: I am psychic (not psycho - although that's probably true too)

We had a little hamster, Wendy. One night I went to bed and dreamt that Wendy died. I woke up in the middle of the night and said "Burke, I think Wendy is dead." He mumbled something and ignored me. The next morning, Wendy had died, poor thing. Burke gave her a proper burial and not too long after he and the kids went out and bought Stripes the hamster aka Wendy Junior.

*

Today was crazy hair day at school. Lots of fun!

Skyler is the flower pot and Amberly is the rainbow.

Yes, we like to give our hair themes

OTHER EVENTS THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO HEAR ABOUT:

* Coaching soccer has been a blast!

* Primary Barbecue was great. We had about 80 people over to our house - thanks everyone!

* I am so proud of Amberly. She is an awesome fullback - so fun to watch her play and so tempting to dress up like a 9 year old and jump on the field.

* So not liking 2 year old neighbors coming over to my house uninvited and using marker all over my walls. Who just lets their two year old roam - seriously people!

* Glad that bow hunting season is over for Burke and sad that he didn't get anything. He still had fun though - saw a skunk, a moose, an elk and apparently slept through a raccoon raiding their campsite.

* Celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary on August 31st. I truly am blessed. Love ya hon! (not that he ever reads this.)

No time to say hello, goodbye, I'm late, I'm late, I'm late

Sometimes I feel like that little rabbit in Alice in Wonderland.

This weeks been really good. Burke was gone bow hunting for four days. He didn't get anything except hypothermia. He and my brother in law (Burke's best friend - ya he owes us for setting him up with my sister - or maybe we owe him - just kiddin sis:)) both got caught in a rain/snow storm. They made it back to the truck where they warmed up and then went back to the tent climbed in their sleeping bags and took a four hour nap. Such a tough life! :) He says it was fun for him and I'm glad. He really looks forward to it and totally deserves a break.

Well, on Saturday we (me and the four kids) went shopping at University mall. I went to get my ring that was supposed to be done, but it wasn't. They had cut it off me a week previously because I couldn't get it off my finger. Anyway, a diamond had fallen out and they were supposed to fix it. Here's hoping for next week. We did some school clothes shopping and had a nice time. Afterwards we came home and went swimming in the pool for about 3 hours. The weather was a little cooler so it was just us and another family. It was really nice. I just hung out in the hot tub and soaked. Loving the pool this year! My kids are finally at ages that it is doable.

On Monday, the kids had about every neighbor on the planet over and they actually played really well YIPPEE. It was really nice. My visiting teachers came too and we had a fabulous visit. I love those ladies - thanks for being so awesome.

Tuesday is our soccer day. I'm coaching a 4 year old team and a 6 year old team. What the heck was I thinking? I probably wasn't - I am blonde:). Anyway, Amberly has practice at 4:30, Skyler at 5:00 and Kenadee at 6:00. So I'm holding Austin the entire practice because he has a molar coming in and is the biggest grump. He won't let me put him down for a second. It's driving me nutty. Meanwhile I'm trying to corral 6 and 4 year olds. Some are tired, some want to sit, some don't want to play, some want to chase butterfly's - you get the idea. Such fun! Thankfully Burke came and took Austin for the last practice and we really did have a lot of fun. Of course I had to let the girls use the pink ball, the boys use the black ball, allow them to do cartwheels. and we had a drink break every 5 minutes. They are seriously so cute and it really is a lot of fun. Oh, and did I mention Kenadee my 4 year old, is sitting on the sideline coloring in a neighbors coloring book because she's bored and doesn't want to practice. Good thing I love soccer! I said it doesn't bother me if the kids do it or not, but Burke said that was unacceptable - they have to like soccer :).

Today, I spent about 5 hours at the school between box top stuff and back to school night. I'm the Box Top coordinator and so wanted to get all that stuff out to the teachers and ready before back to school night tonight. Oh the joy of back to school night. So Burke doesn't get home until 6 and it's his birthday so I took all the gang to the school to meet the teachers. I think Austin cried the entire time. Besides chasing him around the room, him trying to climb on all the desks and chairs, him trying to pull the cord out of the lunchroom ladies computer (she said it had battery backup - thank you), stealing the other students candy bars off their welcome papers, and ripping about 5 letters off the teachers bulletin board - we had a great time - sigh :( Oh and did I mention we ran to the orthodontist, grocery store and copy store. During this time my children fought with each other and one proceeded to throw a shoe at me while I was driving down the road. I won't mention her name, but it rhymes with Bamberly. I pulled over to the side and told her to get out and walk because that was unacceptable (ya think?). She begged me no and we finally drove away, but it actually worked (for five seconds) - wow - I may have to use that again. I'm not sure what I would have done if she actually would have gotten out. Walking home from Target in A.F. probably wouldn't be feasible for a 9 year old. Anyway, after we left early from Back to School Night I came home and did the dishes and Burke cooked himself a birthday dinner, while I stuck candles in the store bought birthday cake! Ya, I'm a great wife ya'll. Happy Birthday Hon - I love ya.

Another day another dollar

Another day, another dollar. Oh wait, I don't get paid for my job, so I guess it's just another day.

Did you ever dream about what you were going to be when you grew up or what your life would be like. I didn't ever think I would be a stay at home mom. I was always the feminist that told the guy "why doesn't the man stay home and the women work, it's not fair!" It's funny how things change. Actually, I remember telling that to one date and he says "Ya! I would love that" - boy was that a turn off - that really made me evaluate myself.

I really don't think I'd change my life at all, but man somedays I don't feel cut out for this whole motherhood thing. Why didn't anyone REALLY tell me how hard it could be. I'm sure if they did I wouldn't have listened anyway.

I'm Tired...

*I'm tired of trying to get Austin to eat - I give him something and BAM! it becomes a speeding bullet off his tray onto the floor, the wall, or me.

*I'm tired of stepping on food every second in my kitchen because the process of fork to mouth is a missing gene in my family.

*I'm tired of my kids always wanting to play with friends and then me getting to spend the whole day breaking up fights between them, cleaning up after them, feeding them and babysitting them.

*I'm tired of kids saying "I don't want to play with you, and making my kids cry."

*I'm tired of being the disciplinarian.

*I'm tired of being told not to take it personal after I'm told I'm hated because they can't have an ice cream cone from the lovely ice cream truck or whatever other crazy reason.

*I'm tired of being wonder woman and failing.

and for the grand finale....

I'm tired of seeing these gross things in my yard - Yuck!

I Love......

*I love my husband for having a great attitude about working 12 hour days not because he loves to be away from us but because he loves us so much he does what he has to!
*I love tucking my kids in at night, saying prayers with them, rocking them, reading them books, hugging them.
*I love that I have a beautiful home to live in.
*I love that I have wonderful friends who don't give up on me even though I ignore their phone calls because I have kids screaming all around me and it's impossible to talk.
*I love Primary, even though I think about it WAY too much.
*I love sleeping - sadly it is one of my favorite things.
*I love my family because we are all sarcastic brats that think we are funny and we get each other. I love them even if we do keep a safe distance so as not too annoy each other too much.
*I love that I have great inlaws.
*I love working in my flower gardens even if they do look like I just threw a bunch of seeds down and they randomly grew. I love mowing the lawn.
*I love that the other day my Dad helped me build a deck while my husband cooked dinner for our family and a neighbor that just had a baby - Let me think......building something fun or cooking dinner for the thousandth time - which sounds more inviting? I'll give you a hint - it does not involve cooking! Side Note: the neighbor wrote the thankyou card to only me - because I am the woman and thus this is my job right? WRONG - I have an awesome husband!!!!!!!!
*I LOVE MY LIFE

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jig

Driving makes me tired - that darn drive from here to Wendover makes me sleepy every time.

Thank goodnesss for the huge million dollar statue to break up the view of the amazing salt flats. Next time I have an extra mil lying around - this is what I'm gonna do with it!

Kenadee and Austin at the Salt Flats

The drive out to Steptoe Ranch is the greenest I've ever seen it. The red's, browns, and yellow wildflowers were beautiful! The kids loved the 12 miles of dirt road rollercoaster and ahhhhed the whole time making their voices vibrate - lots of fun. Thanks G&G P and the Moore's for playing with Amberly for a week. She let her inner cowgirl out and especially loved the 2 days of horse shows and making a hut/sleeping quarters for the cats out in the backyard. Truely the ranch is a kids playground.

Random:

*Burke when asked how his job was going by my sister: "livin' the dream."

*Love Austin putting his arms around my neck and snuggling

*Austin's favorite things include ripping open feminine hygiene products and pulling off and playing with the knobs on the bottom of the toilet - yes were saving for therapy.

Random

Yes, it's been a year. Honestly, I found blogging kind of boring (no offense fellow bloggers) it was hard for me not to judge myself by others wonderful blogs, sometimes there just a little too perfect - ya know what I mean. I know I'm a brat. Anyway, I want to start again just to jot down my ups and downs - more for myself to keep track and hopefully I don't annoy anyone that runs across it, so please don't be annoyed.

Yesterday was fabulous - I spent the day in Park City with Burke. We zip lined, took naps, ate at fancy restaurants, wandered around historic main. We almost bought an awesome painting - NOT - they were like $4,000 each - seriously people - I'm thinking of becoming an artist - if only I had that talent - darn. The zip line was way cool - not too scary, just fun! Of course I was wearing my usual flip flops so I stuffed them in the pocket and went barefooted (At least not barefoot and pregnant - phew!) In case you didn't know - my husband is amazing! I have no idea how I got so lucky - the Lord was REALLY looking out for me with that! We also watched Yes Man the movie - thought it was totally funny - maybe I'll start saying yes to everything - oh wait I already do (just kidding). I do seem to take on too much, but it's all good. Anyway, had to thank Trudy for watching the kiddos - she is an amazing Aunt - one that actually calls and volunteers to babysit and usually I have to turn down because I just have too many things going on. Anway, we had one free day and we said lets just do it even though it's not very long. Thanks Trudy and thanks for coming to church and filling in for a primary class - for some reason the kids still show up even when the teachers don't - strange :)

Took the kids (minus Amberly - she's out at the ranch) to Classic Skating on Friday - talk about a blast from the past. It was way fun trying to roller skate again - good thing I had the stroller to use or I would have been flat on my back. They tore the old waterslide down - Remember the S's (for those who knew our secret to watersliding fast). Anyway, the kids had a great time.

I was so thrilled with my backyard flower beds this Spring - just had to show off - the cutest part is of course Austin!

A quick note on my mom. She is finally done with her breast cancer treatments, but has had blood clots so that's been scary - I guess that happens a lot to chemo patients. She is amazing and has been so strong - I wish I could have been there for her more - she is so strong that you forget she has gone through so much. I Love you Mom you deserve a break!!!!!

My Mom and girls - My Mom is jealous of the woolly mammoths hair :)

Ade came to town and it was great to see her. We went to the Oquirrh Mt. Temple Open House and then to Red Robin - they gave us balloons and Skyler had some fun with it. :) If you call being pregnant fun!

Went to Vernal to a family reunion and had a great time - haven't been there for what seems like 10 years. Great to see some cousins and so glad Ade went with us cuz the cousins had a blast playing with each other. They made a huge pile of grass and jumped in it and then stuck it in the baseball backstop - yep cut grass - it was so fun to see their creativity - who needs toys. Thanks to Tami for watching Austin!!!! (Even if you did let him cry for 10 minutes :)

My mom took me and my sister, Ade, and families around a little tour of the homes she and my grandma grew up in and this picture is where my grandmother was born. Seriously, it's about the size of my bathroom. My kids were shocked. My sister was in the other van and when we pulled up she told us she had just joked with her husband "ya this is where my Mom was born ha ha" then we told her it was where grandma was born and she couldn't believe it. I bet it was easy to clean! :)

Well, obviously I can't catch up on everything. This summer has flown by - we've done a lot of fun little things - Took Amberly and Courtney to Trafalga go kart riding, 3D Motion Movies, minigolf. Went with Tami and gang to Seven Peaks - the wave pool was lots of fun! Out to the ranch a couple of times. Crazy fireworks at the Jensen's to celebrate Dad and Erica's B-days on the 24th of July (and Utah's b-day), and the kids riding the jeep around Tami's. Went to the Lavendar Farms in Mona, Utah came back smelling wonderful! Stopped and saw an old (young) friend Jodi along the way in Payson. Went to cub scout camp with the boys - lots of fun - I love my primary kids - seriously they are the best! Thanks to my Mom for watching my kids so I could go and thanks to Lindsey for all the hard work - I know she spent 20+ hours planning and preparing so we could go have fun. You're the best. We also had a fun pioneer activity - thanks to my fabulous presidency - you are the best - I love you all! Been swimming in our pool about 20 times - seriously a record for our family. It's been great and yes I'm ready for school to start again! Deep Breath

Halloween Costumes

Amberly is a witch

Kenadee is a ladybug

Skyler is a butterfly fairy

and Austin is still a giraffe (no tutu for him :)