Best nanny ever!

Most people don't get the pleasure of having a nanny, but I fortunately have the best one ever! Better than Super Nanny, she's Batman Nanny which is what Liam calls her.

First of all I tried staying home with my kids and it was great, but I do love teaching so much and it allows me so much time with my kids. I get to wake up with them, get them all dressed, eat breakfast together, and drop my oldest one off at school and then I'm home before she even gets off the bus. I have a ton of days off through the year, Easter break, Christmas break, all summer off, nights, weekends, and if my kids are sick no problem I get to stay home with no hesitations!

But one of my conditions of going back to work was to let the kids be able to stay home with someone great like a family member or friend and with the grace of God right when I was looking for a nanny Mary was available and looking for a part time nanny job so that she could be with Phili. God always makes things work out, He always knows what is best for you. I prayed and prayed about going back to work and worried about the guilt I would feel leaving my babies at home while I went to work, but I know God wanted me to teach. I get to teach about Him every day and spread the word about Jesus and all his friends. I knew that if it worked out finding a nanny it was meant to be and if not then I would not be working and try to stay home a bit longer with my kids I had to have faith in it all.

I knew after the perfect timing with Mary that God had answered my questions. Mary is if you don't know my best friend, we didn't grow up together, we haven't known each other long, and I thought she was wayyyyy toooo pretty when I first met her! But we clicked instantly about 6 years ago and have been there for each other ever since through babies, weddings, ups, downs, and gossip sessions about our husbands:) She loves my kids and is very protective of them. I know they're safe with her and I know they have fun with her. I am always happy to see her in the morning and wish I could skip work just to visit with her all day and play with our kids. She is always in a great happy mood and is WONDERFUL with children. My kids love her, Phili and Richie and they're always happy to see them, well...except for Carys she's usually mad the first 2 minutes I have to leave and gets over it quickly;)

This is what my kids said about Mary when I asked them this tonight, "why do you love Mary?"

Aurora: Because of her personality, she's funny, she likes to play with us, she's good with kids, she lets us eat a lot, and I love her mostly because she's just a great wonderful person.

Liam: Because she has hairy arms, she gives me cereal, she gives me fruit roll ups, she gave me a candy bar, and she spins me around like this (moving arms really fast).

Carys: Can't tell me, but she does say Mary!

Thanks for all you do Mary we love you!

And countdown to the new Indiana Jones movie begins!

May 22nd you better not make plans the new Indiana Jones is out and Harrison is looking better than ever! My family is so there!

ABC's

A: Attached or Single? Very Attached

B: Best Friend? Brian and Mary

C: Cake or Pie? Well...I don't really like either, but if I have to pick it would be chocolate cake

D: Day of Choice? Friday, it's family fun night!

E: Essential Item? Wipes

F: Favorite Color? Purple

G: Gummy Bears or Worms? Bears

H: Hometown? Onamia

I: Indulgence? Chocolate and pedicures

J: January or July? July

K: Kids? Aurora, Liam, and Carys

L: Life isn’t complete without? Jesus & family (Agreed!)

M: Marriage date? 5-28-05? I think

N: Number of brothers and sisters? 1 sister 2 brothers

O: Oranges or apples? Yuck, neither I choose peaches or berries

P: Phobias and fears? I have a fear that bad things will happen to my kids if I'm not around

Q: Quote? This is not a rated G quote so if you don't like curse words avert your eyes "yippee ki yay motherfucker!" -Bruce Willis in Die Hard as John McClane the sexiest man on earth

R: Reason to smile? Funny kids, healthy kids, husband, friends, faith, & family

S: Season of choice? Summer

T: Tag three people? Tag you're it to anyone who hasn't done it yet.

U: Unknown fact about me? I talk like a sailor well I should say I talk like an Army Ranger because that's where I learned it from, thanks Dad ;) I'm great at censoring myself until I'm around my parents and siblings. And I think Giant Squids are very interesting!

V: Vegetable? Broccoli & cauliflower with melted cheese or ranch dressing I suppose that takes away the purpose of having a vegetable.

W: Worst habit? Bad language

X: X-ray or Ultrasound? what? What kind of lame question is this? Broken bone or baby is that what it means?

Y: Your favorite food? Mexican

Z: Zodiac sign? O.k. people enough with "I'm not into astrology" we all know what our birth sign is unless we've been under a rock and even though "I'm not in to astrology" I still know I am an Aquarius come on! ;)

Carys said her first full sentence!!!!!!!!!

O.K. my daughter Carys is not quite 2 and although she does talk she doesn't talk in full sentences yet. She usually speaks in two word sentences or just says one word at a time, but the other day when she was sick she came up and laid by me on the couch and patted me and said "this is your boob" I said what? and then she said it again! I can't believe her first full sentence was that! And why? Maybe she had fond flashbacks of being nursed haha I'm not sure but it was pretty funny. I guess she's just really impressed by my small rack:)

Scroll down and check out some of Brian's 100 things!

GRE tomorrow!

Tomorrow is my GRE if you don't know what that is it's a graduate readiness exam that most universities need before they accept you in to a graduate program. I don't feel like taking this test, I think it's a bogus test that society thinks they need to determine whether someone is "capable" enough to go to school, take some notes, and write some papers. Well you'd think they'd just be able to look at your GPA to do that, right? Not to mention this test is $150 and if you reschedule it they add another $50 on to the price. Like college isn't enough money they have to add all these stupid exams for you to pay for, oh my goodness can you tell I don't want to take this test:)

Brian's 100 things continued

I'm typing these for Brian, so basically I get to say what I want and he'll never know since he's a very sloooowwwww reader;) He is really telling me what to say though! kind of...

3. Scratches his back on doorways (like a bear? This is not an attractive quality)
4. Farts every morning (I know ladies hold yourselves back I know you want more of this sexy man;) )
5. Slow reader
6. Loves his job
7. Got in trouble with the law for throwing pumpkins at mailboxes when he was a teenager
8. Doesn't like that he's a slow reader
9. Easy going
10. Bad public speaker
11. Bad speaker in general
12. Firefighter
13. Obsessed with video and sound quality
14. Loves movies
15. Won't watch good movies on a little t.v.
16. Reading Lord of the Rings
17. Handwriting worse than our 8 yr. olds
18. Horrible typer
19. Hates mushrooms
20. Loves jalapeños
21. Likes history
22. Likes Astronomy
23. Can't let go of childhood toys
24. Hates to paint (but never has to do it because thankfully he has me to)
25. Loves video games
26. Hates entertainment news shows
27. Listens to talk radio
28. Misses his truck...until he goes to the gas station
29. Broke arm 100ft. from the chair lift while skiing (2nd day of ski trip)
30. Had blonde highlights for a summer
31. Wife hated it
32. Loves pizza
33. My wife and I do not exchange presents
34. Not thoughtful
35. Respectful
36. Loves Star Wars
37. Proposed to wife after 2 1/2 months
38. Hair is thinning
39. Great at fixing things
40. Married to a beautiful woman (o.k. he told me to write that..he's so creative isn't he? What other man says that about his wife ;) )
41. Has 3 wonderful kids
42. Does not know how to do laundry
43. But can fold them!
44. Loves the show "How I met your Mother"
45. Obsessed with the show Smallville (LAME)
46. Forces the kids to watch it
47. Likes to mow the lawn
48. Hates it when accidentally weed whips frogs and snakes
49. Flooding the hockey rinks overnight in December gets old
50. Love to snow plow
51. Excited to bring family to the new Indiana Jones
52. Excited for Star Wars exhibit at the science museum
53. Love Chipotle
54. Always orders the same thing at every restaurant even at the Vineyard it's always a bacon cheeseburger booooo!
55. Iced tea rocks because my wife got me addicted to it
56. Wife doesn't let me drink soda
57. Use to smoke
58. quit 4 years ago before Liam was born
59. Still have a cigar for special occasions
60. Coors Light is favorite beer
61. I like coffee
62. Wife never makes it so I don't have it much
63. I like bonfires
64. Never been outside the U.S.A.
65. Met wife at a bonfire
66. I watch Lord of the Rings trilogy twice a year every year
67. I like animals, but I don't want any
68. Clean driving record
69. Operate any kind of machinery
70. Worked 40 hours a week at his family's shop during the summer when 12

Heeyyyy

Brian was accepted for the Fire Department! I'm so happy for him. Being on 2 departments will be hard at times, but he loves it and he likes to be busy.

Brian's 100 things coming soon...

I told Brian he should do a 100 things because they're so interesting to read, but he told me he can't think of anything. Then, last night when we were in bed he came up with 2:) I bet he'll keep adding more soon.

1. Runs in to doorways on a daily basis
2. Slips/falls while going up or down the stairs

My 100 things

O.k. I've been tagged to do this... Let's see how I do!

1. I love my kids
2. I love my husband
3. I love my life
4. I love my job
5. I loathe mushrooms
6. I play piano and gave lessons when I was a single mom
7. I was a single mom for 4 1/2 years
8. I had my daughter when I was 17 1/2
9. I graduated from highschool when I was 17
10. I enrolled in college and started full time when I was 17
11. I started renting my very own low-income apartment with my daughter Aurora on my 18th birthday.
12. I love being independent
    
13. I'm very laid back, but also very crazy with my family in a fun way
14. I am a clean freak I clean every night that means sweep, vacuum, mop, dishes, dust, every night.
15. Lilacs are my favorite flower
    
16. My favorite color is purple
17. I love the Vikings even when they lose
18. I love football
19. I have a Mercedes 190E and I adore it
20. My husband is caring, loving, respectful, and kind (to everyone), and has faith in God which is why I love him so much.
21. I'm very loud like my Dad
22. I love the military and if I didn't have so many kids I would be in Officer's training some where.
23. I found Jesus or he found me when I became pregnant with my daughter. I grew up having that faith but it truly became more important when I had Aurora.
24. I don't like adult feet accidentally touching me it freaks me out
25. If I weren't married to Brian I would be living in Florida by my Grandpa
26. If Brian "goes before me" (you know what I mean) I'll hightail it to Florida so fast I'll have to have my things shipped to me.
27. I'm a worry wart with my children
    
28. I don't let my children open their upstairs windows because I'm afraid they'll fall out and die that's how much I worry...
29. Sunny days brighten my spirits and quicken my step
30. Long cloudy winter days really test my patience and strength I feel I can barely make it out of bed.
31. I love to cook
32. I hate to bake
33. I bake chocolate chip cookies almost weekly for my children and husband and they're pretty darn good
34. The kids always help me with the cookies ALWAYS because they enjoy it so much
35. I don't like ice cream, popsicles, or anything along those lines
36. I love brownies
37. I love movies all kinds
38. My family has a weekly "family fun night" held on Friday nights and we love it it's all about us
39. My Uncle Johnny taught me chess
40. I can kick my husband's butt at chess usually...
41. I always win Scrabble against Brian because he can't spell:)
42. Brian always beats me at Lord of the Rings Trivia
43. I beat Brian at Friends Trivia and I'll take anyone on and win I know everything about Friends..I really could use some competition anyone?
44. I'm in Love with Bruce Willis
45. I'm in Love with John Wayne (yes, I know he's dead)
46. If we would've had another boy after Liam his name would've been Everett
47. I picked out Carys' middle name the night I was in labor and Brian hated it I told him I didn't care what he thought about the name I'm the pregnant one!
48. Brian loves loves loves her middle name now:)
49. It's Rhea-Lou after her great grandma and my dad:) And it's unique, meaningful, and beautiful.
50. I never found out about my children's sex when I was pregnant I just knew
51. I painted Carys' room purple and told Brian when we were at the hospital that we're going to have a girl
    
52. He said he kind of figured I felt that way when I painted the room purple :)
53. I'm a quick typer
54. I love going for walks
55. I never had my babies on time
56. I've been induced every time
57. I'm not sure what direction I'll take now that I'm graduated
58. I'm stubborn
59. I hate admitting I'm wrong to my husband but it doesn't bother me other wise haha don't you hate that!
60. I have a great friend Mary and we crack each other up and we're honest with each other!
61. I don't have any regrets not so far, they make us who we are
62. I love horses
    
63. I want to move somewhere that I can have 2 horses
    
64. I love rabbits
65. I have this frog thing, I can't resist a cute thing with frogs on it. I love frog decorations
66. Brian hates frogs so I've down sized my collection
    
67. I can't go to bed without checking on my kids
    
68. If I miss their bedtime for a work function I feel really awful
69. I love chocolate
70. I hate pasta and Italian food
    
71. Seafood is scrumptious!
72. I love naps
73. I love it when it's really hot, 80 and above is my kind of weather and I live for those days
74. Don't get mad but after 3 kids I'm still a size 0 or 2 in some jeans, but a 0 at anthropologie
75. I love to eat
    
76. Chipotle had me hooked years and years ago they have great burritos
77. I would love to eat Mexican more, but my kids can't handle too spicy yet and that's how I love it.
78. I chose my job for 3 reasons
79. I love to teach
80. It allows me a TON of time at home with my family
81. It's Christian based teaching
82. My graduating class was 30-40 and I thought that was normal
83. I love who I am
84. I'm a confident person
85. I'm VERY hard to shock or surprise I think I was born with out that "button" so when people tell me things they think I'm not interested, but I am I promise.
86. I don't like fake people or really fake happy people
87. I don't ever wear lipstick
88. During the summer I wear mascara and it's awesome not to worry about anything else
89. During the winter I wear mascara and loose mineral translucent powder because I think foundation makes people look orange and creepy
90. I love road trips to Florida we always drive cross country, much better than a plane.
91. Thunderstorms are AWESOME!!!!!!
92. My kids make me laugh and smile
    
93. My kids make me grumble things under my breath and grit my teeth
94. I'm not a restaurant my kids eat what I make or don't eat
    
95. I'm BLUNT very BLUNT I'm told this all the time by people. Why mess around just tell it how it is right? I guess my Dad is blunt too.
96. My Mom is the perfect Mom
97. My Dad is the perfect Dad
98. I love my siblings
99. I'm proud of what I've accomplished
100. It took me 7 years to graduate from college with a B.S., but I have over 120 credits!!!!!
     
101. I'm a rebel too:) So here's my 101
     

Yahoo for Brian!!!!!!!!!

I was having a really great day today and then it took a turn:( One of those days where it keeps getting worse. I had a great day at work it was a lot of fun today but then I got home and anyway not so good until Brian came home and told me Elk River fire department called him back and want an interview. He scored really high on the exams so I'm sooooo excited for him! His interview is this coming Monday in the evening and I'm sure after that interview it will be a week or so before we find out for sure but I feel good about it and if it's not meant to be it's not meant to be right?

Also, I give the children's sermon this Sunday at the church I work at:) I'm looking forward to it I love to talk to crowds of people. I always feel at peace about it especially when it's close to my heart and Jesus is as close to my heart as you can get so it's not to hard to talk about him!

Cute prayers:)

I haven't posted in a while. My weekend was great Saturday was awesome because we were able to all be outside for most of the day it was beautiful. We went for a walk around the block and Liam discovered worms. When he saw one he said "ewww grosss!" when we asked him why he thought worms were gross he said "because they'll kill me!" when we told him that worms wouldn't kill him he replied "well they're crazy silly!". He's so silly I love him to pieces.

Last night when we prayed with Liam he did his "moon" prayer this is what we call it when we say this prayer "I see the moon and the moon sees me, God bless the moon and God bless me". Except I let Liam make up his own version so sometimes it's the moon, but sometimes he says it to the grass, the gator, the car, the sandbox, the gate, the houses, the neighbors, basically anything he can see out his window:) Last night he saw a bird and wanted to say it to the bird, but he was upset because the bird wouldn't look at him when he was saying it but he ended up saying it anyway like this "I see the bird and the bird sees me, God bless the bird and God bless me....Mom the bird isn't looking at me it's still not looking at me I want to see if it's cute or not:)" LOL!

The same night Liam said that prayer Aurora said this one "God thank you for this day, please watch over the children in Africa, all of the soldiers, and all of the seals in the world, but not so much the sharks Lord because they kill the seals. And please make Amy and Joe not move so Emma can still be my neighbor. Amen" I love my children's prayers how much cuter can you get they're so innocent and beautiful in their words. So trusting and full of faith even at this young age. When I ask Liam where Jesus is he touches his neck...he's trying to show you his heart but close enough it's soooo cute:)

Brian's big day :)

Brian is testing right now to get on to Elk River's fire department! He's already on a fire department but he would love to be on two because he enjoys it so much. He has to take a written exam and some physical tests. If he scores well on those which I'm sure he will he'll be asked back for an interview. He wants it so bad!

Oh yeah, I also invited like 9 girls over for a sleepover for Aurora to have a party. What in the world was I thinking? I'm not sure how many are actually going to be able to make it but I'm sure I'll have my work cut out for me. Mary thinks it will be fun to come and do their hair I think it would be fun to cancel the whole thing...;) No, no I'm sure it will be fun and Aurora's super excited and what's better than seeing your kids excited for something? Say "yes" as often as you can, save the "no's" for when they matter. I said "yes" to her party but now I have to figure out how Carys is going to sleep through their noise hmmm.....

Oh I ache!

Why why do we have to put up with that stinking time of the month! My whole body aches, my head hurts, my eyes are sensitive to light like I've turned in to a vampire over night, and I am so moody! Not bad moody but it seems like everything is making me soooo sentimental today. I also can't fill this void called the stomach I swear I have eaten everything in my house and I'm still hungry. I know aunt flo is just about to arrive because my lower back feels like somebody took a knife to it and left it there. My husband doesn't understand. He does a great job at being supportive but they just don't get how annoying this all is. I wonder what my friend Mary's husband would say about period pain since he compared child birth to a leg cramp haha! My husband Brian tries to compare my period to his "stomach ache". PUH-LEEEEASE!

My kids love Alvin and the Chipmunks!

We love the chipmunks over here! We have seen all the old cartoons and I grew up with their record, yes my mom and dad had a record player and so did us kids. So the new movie came out today and we just watched it, the kids loved it and it is so cute:) Who doesn't like chipmunk voices anyway? They rock! So if anyone is thinking about buying it or renting it go do it. Oh, and I also had to buy Labyrinth today, to anyone who's seen it you know how funny David Bowie's package is throughout the movie, but you have to admit the movie is really good. And if you haven't seen it you have to go out and rent it just to see David Bowie at least;)