It's not my love language

I am back after having no Internet at home for 3 weeks. Technology is not my love language. Here is why:
I don't read instructions or follow them for that matter
I am slow to change
I don't like it when I feel like something is smarter then me....thus all technology
I think I am going to break it...computer, phones cameras, etc
I panic when I can't figure things out on the computer
and then proceed to feel completely helpless when my technology doesn't work.


Here are some examples of me and technology. When digital camera's came out and Mark wanted to get me one I just said..."Oh don't waste your money getting me one, I am sure it's just a fad. I can't imagine it ever clicking on that people will give up their film cameras."
In fact I think all new technology is just a fad and will eventually go away. (I know I am pathetic)

Downloading music off the Internet who heard of such an absurd thing???When Mark got me an ipod many years ago for my birthday it sat in its box for a few months until he finally got it out and ready for me to use. And then I was scared to down load music on it and for years I only had a few songs on it....and now I am like an ipod music junkie adding new songs all the time.
Mark has wanted me to get a blackberry for a while now. I just kept resisting him thinking that I don't need it, I am not that important, who really needs to get a hold of me that urgently. Plus I was worried that the family services might have to intervene if we were both addicted to our crackberries. He's had a blackberry for years, since back in the day when blackberries were still just something you put in your pies, shakes or jams. Well he got me one and now I am addicted. It's my new bellybutton. I am texting everyone in my address book. They are tired of my texting.

100% of all my electronic gadgets I have gotten for birthdays, mothers day, etc, because for some reason I think I don't need them, but Mark figures I do. Then once I have them I can't imagine life with out them and depend on them for everything... until they break and then once again I am back to feeling helpless. So here is what happened at our house the past three weeks while I had broken internet syndrome.

1. Someone turned one (Ethan) We had a fun party with family friends at the park. Notice his cake (it's a picture cake) these are the kind of store bought shenanigans moms buy for the 4th child, but never for the 1st they only got homemade fabulous creations.

2. Easter came and went

3. Cousin Henrik and Aunt meta came to visit

4. We had the terrible stomach flu, just glad it wasn't the swine flu

5. We shared our flu with our visitors and then they took it with them to Utah

6. And Ethan is starting to walk...

In the Motherhood

Live the life you Love

Love the Life you Live

I came across this quote the other day and I love it. It's Simple, sweet and 100% right on......

Yesterday I was shamelessly watching Oprah ( I know she is so yesterday) but I am intrigued by her subject matters and guests, so forgive me. Yesterday's topic was motherhood, although I didn't watch the whole hour it got me thinking about motherhood and here are some of my thoughts:

I actually like motherhood. I chose it. I figured it may be difficult at times, but knew it would always be worth it. I never felt like I had to give up something to be a mom, because this is what I always wanted to do. (I joyfully gave up my school teaching digs so that I could stay home) Taking care of my own 4 kids is much more fun then 20 first graders. So when I went from other peoples children to just taking care of my own little sweet bundle of yumminess, motherhood didn't feel so overwhleming.

Truth be told I sometimes wish I had more free time, but to keep my sanity I try to make time for the things I enjoy doing.....I am a firm believer in balance in all things. Although sometimes my balance is off a little, but I do try to keep it in check. I know someday I will have time to myself and then I will look in my children's empty bedrooms and yearn to hear their chatter and teasing. So in this moment that I have to raise them I will try not to yearn too much for alone time, because I know it will come and perhaps quicker then I expect.

Here comes my judgey side:

Some of the moms on the show just wanted to complain about how hard it is and claim they can only take showers twice a week. The one comment that really threw me was one lady saying she had to mourn the person she was before she had kids. Mourn???? I usually save that word for real loss and tragedies. Sure I am a different person and have a different focus, but I'd like to think a better person less selfish and more loving. Of course things are different, but I don't really feel I need to mourn who I use to be in order to be who I am now. Maybe it's been so long that I don't remember who I use to be? Anyway, I turned off the show when I heard that comment. None of these moms that were spotlighted had children with diabilities or that were terminally ill. Talk to a mom facing that challenge and you will suddenly feel your petty complaints ain't so hard to deal with anymore. I am not trying to discount the mundane, the thankless, the irritating and challenging parts of motherhood. It's not like their aren't days, hours and minutes when I want to scream, wail and nash my teeth, because there are many. It just helps me get through the day when I look at the big picture and look for the small treausres and blessings each day. I promise it's not always rainbows and butterflies here at our house. Sometimes I feel I just may go crazy if I have to repeat myself for the 100th time before someone responds, or pick up one more da#% lego.

At the end of the day I feel so lucky and blessed to get to do what I do. I am a realist and know that's things aren't always so peachy for others. Some women work and raise a family, some do it all on their own, some face sickness, diease and disabilities, some live with constant sadness and sorrow, some face challenges I can't even imagine, some are covered with 3rd degree burns all over their body, some live in poverty, some live with abuse, some never have the chance to be a mother and even some of those mom's have a smile on their face and do it with grace and gratitude....And that my friend it what gives me more power and strength.

*oprah disclaimer, remember I didn't watch the entire show, so before you tell me I am totally off it was just the feeling I got from the beginning of the show.

sister to sister

Sisters were created to help raise and spoil your own kids. This past weekend my sister Helle and her daughter Anna came to visit. Then in 10 days my sister Meta is coming to visit. I am not sure why I lucked out with having them both come visit in the same month, but my kids are thrilled and so am I.

My little Anna(my sisters daughter) is all grown up and taller then me. She was born 1 month exactly after Mark and I were married. So she is as old as my marriage (15 years)

She is everything opposite of a typical teenage girl

Not demanding or bratty

She'll play legos with my kids for hours

Sweet sweet sweet

Not really moody

very little drama

easy to please

We had a little fun in china town

Mother and daughter-Which is the mother and which is the daughter?

Sisters that were nerdy enough to wear matching scarves. Anna was worried people might think we were partners, so we tried not to hold hands too much.

15 day flu

We've got the FEVER

This is how the 15 day flu works:

1. Child #3 has fever for five days
2. Right when his fever breaks child #1 gets the fever for the next 5 days
3. And then barely overlapping with child #1, child #2 starts burning up.

So now 15 days later all three older children have had the FEVER for five days, accompanied by a little nausea and then very stuffy noses. So now I am waiting for me and Ethan to get the FEVER.

It's funny to watch how different personalities handle sickness. Some just curl up in bed and sleep. Some get mad at mom because they are sick. Some enjoy taking medicine and can't wait for the next dose. Some yell at you everytime you mention that they need to take the grape flavored motrin. Some moan and groan and whine. Some want to fight and yell at the sickness and think that's going to make them feel better. Some just are content sleeping in their bed all day. Some prefer sitting on the couch all day watching obscene amounts of TV. And some think they can do normal activities even though they are burning up like a sauna. No matter how they deal with it the good news is they eventually get better. Hallelujah!!!!

Luck of the Irish

Sometimes I feel kind of Irish

I am a lucky, lucky girl!

Happy St. Patricks day, may you find yourself some good fortune and luck.

42 hours in Vegas

Viva Las Vegas

This is what we did with 42 hours in Vegas

We dined

We danced

We shopped

We laid by the pool

We played a little BlackJack

We walked around and checked out the many Resorts

We saw two fantastic shows

O by Cirque de soleil

and

Danny Gans-hilarious and so entertaining.

(thanks for the show suggestions from my newly reconnected friend Anne through blog world who lives in L.V. and said these were the two best shows and she was right, my next trip I am coming to see you, Anne!)

We ate at Jasmine which is a gourmet Chinese Restaurant in the Bellagio that over looks the water show at the resort and I got surprised by a little birthday bling....from my boyfriend aka Mark.

We stayed at Planet Hollywood, which was okay, but not fancy. It kind of had the frat house scene while we were there. I'd like to think we were with the young and hip crowd, but then Mark would tell me not to get young and hip confused with frat- house- college- spring- breakers. Oh well, next time we go I'd stay at the Bellagio, Venetian, Wynn or Encore which are pretty impressive. It's been over 10 years since we have been to Vegas together and it's like a whole new world there then what I remember, so I think we will have to go back in the future and take in some more shows and entertainment.

P.S. I came home to 3 sick kids and a fantastic babysitter Aubrey who held it all together so I didn't even worry a second.

P.S. S. I also came home to a little 11 month old who thinks he is hot stuff because he can stand on his own....

Good friends

Pre Birthday Lunch.....Don't you just love Birthday lunches? I do!

So my friend on the right of me with the dark hair is currently fighting Breast Cancer (and she is doing a great job too.) Doesn't she look too awesome to be sick? She starts her Chemo on Monday and she is constantly on my mind right now. So one of my other friends is doing the Avon 2 day Breast cancer walk and so I told her I wanted to do it with her. I am nervous, I think it's like 40 miles. Anyway if you get an email from me hitting you up for donations (because you have to raise like $1800 in order to participate) you will know that I am doing it for someone I love dearly and someone I know who is going to beat this thing 100%, thanks to early detection, lots of prayers and awesome Doctors. I also happen to live in a county that has one of the highest breast cancer diagnosis. Which is such a scary mystery !

You know your friends know you well when you get duplicate gifts. Seriously, aren't they the greatest? Can't wait to clock in my running time, mileage and pace.

Sorry Natalie that I didn't put in the picture of the freakishly adorable apron you got me, but it looked like I had like 5 chins in the picture and you can't expect me to post a hideous picture of myself on my own blog, right? Denae everytime I walk by my island smelling candle I feel like I just took a mini vacation, thanks. And Audry we missed you, hopefully you will get to leave your house one of these days, sick kids are no fun. And Karen hope you are having fun eating your way through New Orleans.

Thanks girls for a delicious lunch and gifts, but most importantly for the great friendship and good times!