Quotables

So I don't forget these silly moments...

Spring 2008
"I'm full like a hot potato." - Connor after a potato-less dinner

"And I was like--'You gonna mess with da migh-ty warrior'??" - Connor while redescribing his soccer goal

"I'm not glass or a smooth surface!" - Maddie while being chased with Windex

"We never speak of this again." - Brayden to friends after boys maturation (to us "like 90% was about this area." (gesturing))

"Hello ch-k, hello ch-k." - Fisher to plastic chicken

5/08 "They're making up." - Connor, referring to a couple kissing in a commercial

8/08 "Mom, don't say 'hallelujah' because it's FREAKIN' me out!" --Connor after I celebrated him liking a new food with a terribly embarassing made-up song

8/12/08 Upon retrieving Fisher and Logan from another room, my nose noticed one of them needed a change. I asked, "P-U, who's stinky?" and Fisher (the smelly one) answered, "Concon."

9/9/08 Brayden's comeback to Rick while being teased about a fictional imaginary friend: "Me and Peter will be downstairs playing unicorns."

12/08 "Mom, when we give you that drink that knocks you out, we always go to Mickey-D's." --Connor, while driving by McDonalds

The Best Christmas Present Ever

After the past few fun-filled weeks of having the kids out of school, intending and failing to do tons of fun things with them, Christmas shopping, lots of young women to-do's, NOT getting my Christmas cards out yet, practicing the piano like a maniac, neighbor gifts & visits, and everything else going on at this time of year, I am currently (for a few minutes more, at least) enjoying the best Christmas present ever!! Rick took the kids, toddlers included, out shopping a couple of hours ago. He is a brave, brave, perfect man.

Now that I've had three hours alone with my brain and my Josh Groban/Michael Buble Holiday channel on Pandora.com, I'd be happy if they wrapped up a piece of gum for me. It's been a much-needed, wonderful breather. And I got the bills paid. Ahhh, Merry Christmas to me.

(Hmm...I wonder when they'll be home?)

Let it Snow!

Love it.

The Best Laid Plans

Every December I'm reminded of how much I love our home at Christmastime. The lighted wreaths on the front door and flanking the garage, the fancy living room tree twinkling inside the window...I look forward to cranking the Christmas music, serving up some holiday treats, and getting out EVERYTHING Christmas--advents, garlands, stockings, nativities, nutcrackers, the big wrapped box of special ornaments we add to the "fancy" tree each night until Christmas--and ultimately bringing home a beautifully fresh tree to fill with our nostalgic, mismatched family ornaments.

Such was the plan I had for today. It was the first day of the kids' 4-week winter vacation and the day the kids & I would deck our halls! At 10 am, we cranked the Christmas carols and everyone excitedly started pulling out nutcrackers of all shapes and sizes to place up above the kitchen cupboards. To top it off, it had even started snowing outside. Seriously, we were something resembling a Norman Rockwell painting.

All was happy and bright, until about 10:45 am. That was the moment a deafening crash brought everything to a screaming halt. With help from a child who shall remain unnamed (it was an accident, afterall), a large glass jar of homemade canned grape juice fell from the top shelf of my pantry, shattering as it hit the tiled floor. Shards of glass everywhere. Pink-purple grape juice everywhere. Shards of glass in the pink-purple grape juice. Everywhere. Including around all 6 of us in the kitchen.

Maybe you can understand why the thought to grab the camera for a funny memory didn't even cross my mind. I screamed for everyone to FREEZE. Thankfully, only one was in the direct line of fire. I carefully got four kids out, then came back to brush glass off the fifth. No cuts. Safe exit. And thus began disaster cleanup. Where to begin? Words cannot express.

Hours later (no kidding), with a sparkling clean kitchen, scrubbed floors, scrubbed walls, and a thoroughly vaccuumed, inspected with a flashlight, then steamed-cleaned living room carpet, (the pantry borders my living room, you see,) we were ready to restart the tunes and try again. Then it was dinnertime.

And so, despite the fact that our house remains un-decked and my back is somewhat worse for the wear, I'm counting today a success of sorts. We're no Norman Rockwell, but we also have NO stitches, NO glass imbedded in little feet, and walls that are somehow NOT stained purple. Time to take a cue from Scarlett O'Hara and tell myself that tomorrow is another day. And a sparkling clean one at that.

Wish us luck.

From the Blog Sidebar: "The Latest"

December 12, 2008
maddie gets the social butterfly award of the family--so many parties, so little time

every week when getting maddie to or from dance, brayden makes a particular girl literally swoon to maddie. oooh, your brother is sooo cute! did he break up with his girlfriend? oh, he doesn't have one? yaaaaay. i've seen her nearly walk into a wall trying to catch a giggly glimpse of him in the car. sheesh

connor is the evil kinevil of the micro scooter. his latest joy is racing down the sidewalk until maximum velocity before throwing himself off onto the grass. only a few injuries

fisher has mastered the words sawry, mom and ho-kay.

logan likes to puff his cheeks and blow at things when he is excited


December 8, 2008
logan is walking

fisher discovered he can pull the sticky safety warning off the vaccum, rip it into tiny pieces, and paste them all over the walls, all while mom is on a short phone call. impressive

connor is chasing the gingerbread man at school. that guy can RUN. maybe I should post about this--it's a darling idea

maddie just finished a big project on the stomach and decided that the 'helps us live' factor outweights the 'eww gross' factor.

brayden just finished editing a group newscast project on WWII, complete with bloopers

rick is...just plain busy

tracy is taking a break from dinner group and so far, doesn't mind the cooking. yes, you heard right

december school break starts next week! is mom ready for a month-long "vacation"?!?

From the Blog Sidebar: "My New Outlet"

Stake YW!

planning what to teach at ward conferences, making a 2009 theme tile and value tablecloth for conferences (gotta look good too!), visiting counterparts, making ward presidency birthday gifts, updating records, publishing my first quarterly newsletter, meeting TONS of new people at eight YW in Excellence programs in the last 3 weeks (just 1 more to go!), starting to jive with my 3 new best friends

Brotherly Love

Brayden stayed home sick from school a few days ago. That afternoon, Connor made him a picture to cheer him up. Here's the envelope:


And the picture inside:

In case you can't tell, it says: "By CDOG to BDOG". Smile. I love Connor's people drawings. They've had sizeable ears for awhile now, but I enjoy the new form-fitting clothing and the way C Dog and B Dog appear to be breakdancing. An encouraging way to wake up from a sick nap, that's for sure.

The next day, Logan was in his high chair munching on Life cereal while I was...doing what moms do. After running back and forth to him every couple of minutes, I came back to find this:


Serious Life cereal. The picture just doesn't capture it. Fragile Life cereal, with sugary crystals from a Costco-sized bag (now nearly empty), strewn across the kitchen and dining room floor, on top of the table, in Logan's hair, down his clothes, handfuls in his seat and on his tray...just minutes before we were heading out the door, naturally. As in so many instances involving Fisher, I have no doubt that it started in complete innocence. I'm going to give Logan more cereal! And, as in so many instances involving Fisher, it rapidly escalated from there.

What good brothers.

Post-Game Fallout

Another year, another rivalry game. Blue versus Red. The game that stings to lose. And this year stung. Of all the post-game teasing we've taken from our imbittered red rivals, this interchange yesterday was my favorite:

Friend at church, mocking: "Perfection...Bronco's gotta think up a new quest for next year...what's it gonna be, quest for exaltation?"

Rick: Well...shouldn't that be what we're all going for?

Baby Steps

Not long ago, Logan started taking his first wobbly steps! One evening during that time, Rick had come home from work and everyone but Logan had run outside to play. Excited to test these first amazing steps, Rick & I knelt across from each other on the floor and began coaxing Logan to walk between us, the same as we've done with each child before. As Logan teetered back and forth to us and we clapped and cheered for him, Rick and I looked at each other and a moment of realization passed between us. This was the last of the first steps! Our laughter turned to tears and we hugged him to us, wishing we could somehow stall time. For me, that moment will be forever in memory--the fall air and evening sun filtering through the blinds, our older kids laughing outside, and our youngest taking his very first steps. The moment we knew we had entered new territory. Both wonderfully perfect and sad.

New-er Calling

Two weeks ago, I mentioned that I'm the new camp director in our ward? Well, scratch that! Just after reporting that news, Rick and I were called in to meet with the Stake President (always a mysterious meeting) who asked me to be the secretary in the Stake Young Womens Presidency. (?!) We were sustained on Sunday and I was released from everything in the ward except choir pianist. I've never had a stake calling, so this is new territory!

Our new presidency met for the first time last week and I came away feeling...pretty humbled. I hope I can offer something valuable to the equation. I met with my counterpart from the old presidency this afternoon who was nothing but excited for me because she has loved it so much. I still don't know what my exact role will be, just that it'll feel more like a 3rd counselor since there aren't typical secretarial duties at the stake level. Time will tell--I'm anxious to dig in and figure it out.

The timing is BUSY, with nine Young Women in Excellences to attend in the next 3 weeks(!), including my ward where I'm already speaking, and new stake meetings. The beginning of the year will bring nine New Beginnings and the start of monthly ward-hopping to teach at ward conferences. Umm, intimidating... I'm thinking that this added to Rick's already busy bishopric responsibilities will require some good juggling on our part. At at the same time, I feel a calmness that it will all work out just fine. Thankfully, I have easy-going and willing kids and Rick & I will be careful to make sure they don't get lost in the schedule shuffle. All in all, I'm excited for this new experience and hopeful that my jitters will subside as we get going. I'm sure it'll be a special opportunity.

Part III: Just a Big Nuthin'

Pre-post, I'm committing to this being the last of my marathon memory posts. It's getting obnoxious if you ask me. Speaking of obnoxious, what are we thinking of this Thanksgiving look? I like my same old header, I like the background, but the two together? Could be too busy. Oh well. I'm too busy so...it fits. Onto,

#10! I've been nominated. Que? My awesome sister-in-law Katy nominated me for--hang on while I go reread it--a blog award because my blog inspired her! Shucks, that is SO nice!! She says this award makes me part of the cool club. I've always wanted to be in that club. However, I'm still trying to figure out how to get the cool sticker thingy on my blog. Obviously it's not a 'smartest blogger' award. I will try to figure out my response to this, the highest of blog honors, and post it later. Thanks for the love, Katy!

Post script: After finishing this post, I figured out the sticker thingy. Umm, not hard. Just embarrassing. Look how special I am!

#10b. Another Award!?! Just before publishing this today, I discovered that my cute friend Dana nominated me for another blog award! A Super Scribblers Award! WOW, you guys are SO good to me! Dana is this supermom of SEVEN and we met when we were first time moms back at BYU. She is the girl who just rolls with the punches when I myself would be having a nervous breakdown. She said such nice things about me, but really, she's gets all the kudos and more. Thanks for starting my morning with a compliment, Dana! Glad I know you.

#11. HSM3 Mania! How is this not very first on the list? Naturally, we had to see it opening day and then we just had to stop at Target to buy the soundtrack on the way home. Did I mention how much we love reserved seating at our theater? Walking into great seats five minutes before showtime? Awesome. We heart HSM. (Boys included, they just didn't want to pose about it.)

#12. PJ Trouble
Every morning lately, I go in to Logan's bedroom when he wakes up only to find one variation or another of this:

It's like a Dr. Seuss book...One arm out top. Two legs in one. One leg in none. PJ sleepers are so hard.

#13. Facebook Quandary
I've been "making friends" on Facebook this month, but I'm feeling very confused at whether I can 'commit' to another computer commitment. Fun to see old faces? Sure. Fun to see faces I already see in person? Sure, but I already see them in person, so... I'd also like to know, who are these people with hundreds of friends? Don't they have a life? I can't imagine how anyone has time to (a) track down and (b) keep up with hundreds of people simultaneously?! I can barely blog and I love blogging. It's history. But Facebook just eats my time. If you are a successfully time-managed Facebooker, good for you! It's a fun place to be! But sigh. For me, it's a little much. I think I need to retract my face.


#14. Rick & I went to see the musical "Into the Woods" at Hale Centre Theatre a couple of weeks ago. Catchy, clever, funny. Well, at least the first act. Act II got a little bit depressing. The other time I saw this play was on my first date ever in life. Funny guy, outdoor theatre...no wonder I didn't remember it turned out depressing.


#15. We've been passing Brian Regan jokes back and forth for weeks with the kids. We crack ourselves up. See obscure, yet clever if you think about it post titles. It just never gets old.

#16. Frightmares!
Our family had season passes to Lagoon this summer. In the beginning Rick & I thought we were so smart--we had provided family fun on any given day for the entire summer, only 40 minutes up the road for a great deal. I could just imagine the slideshow of all slideshows I'd create, filled with all the fun times we were having. But alas, by September, I was so-oh Lagooned out (you haven't seen a slideshow, have you?) that I would have been happy not to visit again for about 4 years. Enter Frightmares.

Frightmares is Lagoon dressed up for Halloween, so we sentimentally decided to make one last visit on a crisp October night. I have to say, Lagoon redeemed itself. Cool air, dark sky, lighted rides, spooky music, hot chocolate, a walk through a haunted house...all good fun. To top it off, Brayden and I (and our 9-yr old friend, Noah) did this:

The Sky Coaster. It's one of those giant lay-in-a-harness-so-they-can-pull-you-seriously-high-in-the-air-then-drop-you adrenaline contraptions. Brayden was dying to do it all summer. I'm always up for a good thrill (and I've done it before, which made me brave), so we finally did. The way up? No problem for him, little freaky for me. It is HIGH. The way down? Rush for me and he thought we were going to die. Who could ask for more fun?? I guess Lagoon will see us again afterall.

And finally, (I'm out of memories!)

#17. Picture of my Children in the Fall
It seemed like such a good idea at the time. It was Logan's birthday, why not snap a quick picture of them in the front yard? No problem. Think again. We COULD. NOT. get them all to look slash smile slash keep their eyes open at the same time, so we ended up with a compilation of like 400 partially good pictures. If only we had a video of the insanity that was Rick trying to get their attention.

(a car!)

(a tree!)

(and we're losing Connor...and on and on...eyes closed, grumpy face, squirmy yelling baby...)

Cue Dad making a complete crazy person of himself. I'm talking electric turkey, neighbors can hear him from inside their houses, here.

And that's as good as it got. I must admit, Rick's electric turkey is pretty entertaining.

Milestone

Logan's first steps

(Hmm, I found this descriptive post while going through old, never written blog titles--how said that I never got to writing about it! Is that an honest commentary on your 5th baby or what? At least I've got the date written down and we have proof that he does, in fact, walk. Still walking today, in fact, so he must have learned right! I adore you Logan, my last baby, even though nothing is documented!!! 8/18/09)

Part II: Loitering

I think I'll start the continuation of my random October list with November 4th: (Can you believe how well I'm doing at the un-chronological thing? It's big.)

#7. Election Day
It came, we voted, and we had an election night we'll never forget. After listening to both speeches once the votes were counted, I felt patriotic, hopeful, and thankful for the country we live in, flaws and all.

#8. We woke up to this blissful sight one October Sunday morning...

...and woke up to our second snow TODAY! It's been snowing all day at our house. Cozy sigh. I confess, I've had two mugs of hot chocolate.

#9. All things HALLOWEEN!

This year brought us Old Man (Brayden was the old version of his 20-something year old teacher), Bumblebee, Cave Girl, Go Diego Go, and Diego's sidekick, Baby Jaguar. If Baby Jaguar looks a like a monkey on your screen, don't be alarmed.

Ward Spooktacular Night

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Corn Maze on McGee Family Fun Night

Armed with light sabers and glowstars, our group of 20ish split up and conquered the maze on a crisp fall night, then enjoyed hot chocolate/cider and donuts at the Quinneys' new home. Here's Connor, our fearless leader, and what it looks like to take a picture of a light saber being 'vwong'-ed:

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We had perfect weather on Halloween Day--the warmest in years!

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Trick-or-Treating

Even the Headless Horseman paid a visit!

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almost forgot Pumpkin Carving

Before:

During:

Wow, can anyone see Maddie? It's like she's camouflaged... ;)

After:

And on that festive note, I'll continue this one more time... Check it out, my spacing is all over the place and I'm still publishing. You know you like it.