Please some one make the madness stop

So I started out the day thinking today will be a great day. I will finish my Christmas shopping, get my work done early, get the house picked up, and get to the gym. Well this is how my day went Cade and Cal fighting all morning, Aaron calling me to let me know the check engine light went on in his car and we need to get it in asap, going to shopko and picking up some boxes to wrap presents in for 5.99 a pack only to go to the dollar store next to see a 3 pack of boxes for 1.00.

Then went to pick the kids up from school and some old feller backed into me. It did way more damage to his car than it did to mine but nevertheless I still have to take it into the shop to be fixed. And the dude tried to tell me that since it was in a parking lot we would each pay for the damage to our own cars but believe me I set him completely straight by tell him I was sitting there in park when he backed into me so it was completely his fault and he is responsible to pay for my damages.

Then come home and the neighbors come over and I am on the phone with the insurance companies trying to get the claim for the car called in so basically ignoring the kids to come down stairs 1 hour later to find PEN again on 3 spots on the wall (thanks so much Cal), laffy taffy wrappers everywhere (wont mention who ate all of these), and toys everywhere. So I make all who is at my house clean up the mess they have made. On my way home from my moms and Aaron calls to let me know the dishwasher is leaking water everywhere and he has no idea how to fix it so we will need to call for that to be repaired in the morning (Since Aaron is the kitchen guy you can imagine how much he needs/wants that dishwasher fixed.)

Then off to Coles game to have his team totally lose and have him balling that he didn't score a basket and this is the very last b-ball game (thank heavens for that) and here I sit with 2 more hours of work still to go, a disaster of a house, and for sure there is no chance that I get to the gym. Where the hell did I go wrong today? I am waiving my white flag for today!! I surrender!!!

Christmas Village

Every year we have a tradition of going to Christmas Village. This stems from Aaron and I going there on our very first date. So we have gone every year now for 13 years. It is so festive down there and just gets you in the Christmas spirit.

Although we had a miserable time last year down there because we lost Cade for a good 15 min. I have recovered from that incident and decided that this time we would have the "never leave mom and dads site" talk before we get out of the car instead of after when I was in tears and 1/2 of the people there were helping us look for Cade. An experience that is burned into my mind forever.

We went with Trevor and his family and had such a good time. The kids loved seeing Santa and I must say this really was the cutest Santa I have ever seen. Cal asked for a Hammer and Scooby toys, Cade asked for lego batman, and Cole aske for Zoo Tycoon (kym are you suprised by that one?) The booths were all so cute and Cal totally loved all the lights. It was a bit cold but we had a great time. I hope to continue to go there for years to come.

Why is it that Cal is so naughty??

Really, can't I catch a break with this kid. Cal always seems to get into so much trouble on the days I have to volunteer at the school (now that I think about it he is getting into trouble everyday). So I am getting ready for the day and Cade comes in my room crying his eyes out that Cal has done something to the avent calendar. So I go out and sure enough he has has taken out all of the ornaments from the calendar and shoved them down the central vac thing that is in the wall.

Now you say what is the problem with that? Well we are only plumbed for central vac we don't have the whole unit. So according to my brother in law they are just stuck somewhere in a pipe and there is really no way to get them out. So I explain this to Cade and tell him we will have to buy new ones. As he is crying he is telling me that is not going to work because those ornaments were so special to him. Then Cole comes home from school and gets the news from Cade and he starts freaking out about it. Then they start yelling at Cal and Cal starts calling everyone a "meanie" and trys to karate chop the boys. So then I freak out and send everyone to there rooms and tell them to come out when they are calmed down.

So I am headed to Michaels at some point tonight to get new ornaments. And to top it off I was late again to help at the school because I was trying to stick my vacuum hose down the central vac thing to see if I could suck up any ornaments. Yeah it didn't work!!! That kid is going to be the death of me!

Best Girl Nat

This post goes out to my best girl Nat. I just have to thank her for getting my blog all set up for me. She updates my backgrounds with the seasons and does my playlists. One day she is going to get me going with pics on the blog (if I could only get bryan over here to hook up my internet on the other computer!!!) Nat has lived in Missouri for 3 years now and I miss her dearly. I keep hoping that one day they will move back but I am thankful we have been able to maintain our friendship even miles apart. Love ya Nat!!!

Fav Family Night Ever

Ok so once a year around Thanksgiving time we have had a family night where I make turkeys and put a pictures of each person on the turkey and then on the feathers we write why we are greatful for that person. It really is one of my most favorite nights of the year (this is our 3rd year doing this). We say nice things to each other throughout the year but never are we all together saying nice things about everyone in our family. I have to post some of the things that were said. They were so tender. Of course I cried thru the whole thing. There was just such a stong spirit of love in our house while we were having this lesson.

Cole to Cade: I am thankful for Cade because he always makes me smile. He is the best brother ever.

Cade to mom: I am thankful for mom because she lets me go on trips. She buys me new pjs, and she gives really good hugs.

Cal to Cole: I am thankful for Cole because he plays with me.

Cal to Cade: I am thankful for Cade because he turns on Scooby-doo for me.

Cole to dad: I am thankful for my dad because he takes me places. When I am sick he will stay home from school with me and comfort me. I love him.

Dad to Cal: I am thankful for Cal and for his energy he brings to this family and his infectious personality.

Mom to Cole: I am thankful for Cole because he has such a sweet spirit. He is very kind. He gives awesome hugs and kisses and he always looks so very cute.

Those were just a few of the nice things that were said. I would encourage everyone to do something similar to this. It just worked out so well. Now the turkeys are on our front door for everyone to see why we are thankful for each other!!!

What!? No tooth fairy

Ok so this morning Cole was getting ready for school and out of the blue he says, "mom are you and dad really the tooth fairy" I was shocked. I sat there for a second and said "do you really want to know" he said "yes tell me the truth" So I told him that yes moms and dads are the tooth fairy. I thought he was going to cry when I said that. I felt horrible but I thought I should tell him the truth. Then I asked him if he was ok and he said "yeah I am fine. I knew it wasn't the tooth fairy that left Reagan(neighbor girl) fairy dust all over her pillow!" Then I asked him how he knew and he said " I was just thinking that a tooth fairy could not get to all the houses of all the kids who lost a tooth. So I know that the tooth fairy sends a note to the kids mom and dad and lets them know how much money to leave them." I said "yep you have it figured out". I just couldn't bring myself to tell him the full truth. It was so cute that he still believed a little. Now lets just hope he doesn't ask about Santa. I am not ready for that discussion!!! I am just not ready for my kids to grow up!!!

Baby Jax Dallin Haywood

Ok so how could I not post about Jax. I am just so sad I don't have pictures for everyone to see. He is so stinkin' cute!! You will have to go to Sundee and Bryan's blog to see him. Anyway long story short I have known for about a month that Sundee and Bryan were getting another baby. They told me that a lady that Bryan's mom works with, her daughter was pregnant and was having a boy and she wanted them to adopt him. He was born on Sunday. He was a month early. So they were so not prepared. The best part about it is no one in my family knew except Aaron and I. So imagine the suprise my family got tonight as Sundee and Bryan walked into my mom and dad's house with a newborn baby in the car seat. Everyone was freaking out. Everyone was also so impressed that I was able to keep a secret. It was so fun to see him. Who would have guessed 3 years ago that Sundee and Bryan would now have 3 kids, ages 2,
11 months, and 3 days old!!!

Finally doing posts/cal

Ok so I know it is weird doing posts without pictures but I thought I might as well start somewhere. So my first post is about our crazy son Cal. He is 2 years and 3 months old and this kids is the biggest terror. So this week he figured out how to open doors in our house. So yesterday he opened the office door downstairs and found a marker and went to town on the walls. Then last night he found a pen and drew all over one of the walls in our master bedroom. So we went to get the mr. clean magic eraser thing and it is not so magic for pen. It worked great on the marker but I still have pen all over my wall. So if anyone has any great ideas on how to get pen out they would be welcomed. Then today I am doing my hair and cade yells at me from the kitchen saying " mom get out here now we have a real problem" so I come out to find cal with lysol toilet bowl cleaner in this hand and it was on him, his blanket, the kitchen floor (all over) and a little on the carpet. I was freaking out. I think today was the first time Cal has gotten in trouble from me. I was running around like a crazy lady trying to get it all cleaned up. So I got it looking decent and then looked at the time cade was already 15 min (I was helping in his class today so I was 15 min late also) late for school and he needed to bring a pumpkin to school and all I had was one of those tiny ones. Cade kept telling me that his teacher said it needed to be a big one but I told him that was all we had. So when he brought it to school his teacher just started laughing and so did I because that is just how the day had gone. Good thing Mrs. Farr is always prepared and she brought a few extra pumpkins for the kids in her class who have crazy moms like myself. I am scared that this is just the beginning of Cal causing me trouble. P.S. I am headed to the store tonight to find something to go over our door handles!!!