{Memory Monday}

...sort of. I know it's been a while. (Like three weeks or so) But, sometimes a memory Monday can be a daunting task, with a lot of words to type (because I can talk a lot...) So, I gage my time and say...nope, no memory Monday today. Today you're lucky, I already have breakfast made, I'm dressed, and my house is clean (gasp!). My children are also still asleep. (Except Coop, he's my "early" riser) So, here we go, a "quick" memory Monday. (But it will be long, so brace yourself)

I remember....
When I absolutely loved a little cartoon they liked to call The Powerpuff Girls. That was in college...Okay, I actually know the obsession (which is more like what it was) began back in High School, because I remember Jessica and John buying me a box of Powerpuff Girl Rice Krispies. So, it had to have been my senior year...and then on into college.

I remember I had plates, cups, silverware, watches (yes plural, see a little bit further down in the post for an explanation), and a cd or two. And, remarkably, at 25, I still have a plate (it was plural before one broke) several pieces of silverware, a cd or two, and a birthday banner; all sporting Bubbles, Buttercup, and Blossom. (Which, by the way, Buttercup was the best. And, I am ashamed to admit it, a couple months ago, I was thinking about the Powerpuff Girls and had to call Kadon because I couldn't remember all their names...I know, and I called myself a "fan")
Really, I only really like MoJo-JoJo. He was the villian monkey, and he was hilarious. MoJo-JoJo paraphenenial was quite a bit more difficult to come by. I did, however, have a MoJo-JoJo keychain (Which I think, came with all the others as well, and I'm pretty sure they were a present from John...)
Anyway, I don't remember when my Powerpuff Girl fetish dissapeared. I am assuming after I got married and had more "grown-up" things to obsess over. One can never know. But, it was fun while it lasted.
You may go here to play a Powerpuff girls, rescue the puppies game.
Randomly, I know my 19th birthday was a Powerpuff Girl BONANZA. Lyssy decorated my apartment in Powerpuff girl banners and crepe paper. I still have it, actually. Another fun memory from that birthday, Lyssy also wrote down all the things she loved about me (which surprisingly, she could think of any) and wrote them down on glow in the dark stars and then plastered my room. It was ridiculous and probably the most thoughful thing anyone had ever done for me. I still have a collection of those stars. Alyssa always just had a way with making people feel extremely loved.

I remember...
Part two, remember how earlier I said I would mention my multiple Powerpuff girl watches? Well, here you are: Back in High School/College I wore multiple watches. It started out because I got 2 watches and I couldn't decide which I liked better. (They were Powerpuff girls. But occassionally, one would be Powerpuff Girls and one would be pink. But they were always the cheap $6 watches you buy at walmart) Anyway, I wore 2 watches. It got to the point that only one watch felt odd. (looking back at this, I really was a nut job, wasn't I?) Of course, since they were cheap walmart watches, I had to replace them often because they broke down. I believe my favorite one had Powerpuff Girl heads you could replace/switch out. It was awesome. Anyway, when I got to college, my watch retention rate started to dwindle. Little girls really liked my watches. So, anytime they showed interest, I gave it to them, and then went out and bought a new one. However, this is when 2 watches became convenient because in between the time that I had given away a watch and could make it to the store, I still had a watch.
Brandon seemed to have a problem with me owning a $6 watch. In fact, while we were dating, he tried to convince me, on numerous occassions, that I should buy a "respectable" watch. That meant an expensive Fossil watch (in Brandon's opinion) I never did. But, for my birthday the very first year we were married, Brandon bought me a white leather Fossil watch and I loved it. I still have it, though the batteries dead and I need a new watch band. But, I have to send it in to the company, that has proven to be my demise.
Randomly, if you look close at Brandon and I's engagement photo, you will see my Powerpuff Girl watch on my wrist. (Only one, mind you) Unfortunately, I don't know how to work my scanner, so I can't prove it to you...bummer for you.

All Tuckered Out

Just thought this was cute.

A Definition

boy; n. - a noise with dirt on it.

Naughty Naughty

Had one of those days today: naughtiness all around. So, I'm paying the bills, like a responsible parent and all of the sudden my nostrils send up red flags. Could that be baby powder? No, Kameryn assures me there is no playing with baby powder taking place. Well I will make some empty threats just incase. (You know, the "if you guys are playing with baby powder you are going to be in big trouble" empty threats.) Unfortunately, Kami changes her mind. Baby powder is definitely being played with. In fact, she is most definitely sure that Cooper has dumped "sugar" all over her carpet. Yep, it would appear so...
Why?

Needless to say, my productive morning came to an abrupt halt. The children got placed in time out. Pictures were taken for your viewing pleasure. And then, I walked away. I didn't look at them. I didn't listen to them. I didn't clean up their mess. In fact, I put Turbo Jam into the dvd player and "worked off" my frustration. I still have baby powder to try and get off every surface in my children's room. I keep finding it in the oddest places. Naughty.

Ironically, while the kids were in time out, Kami took the opportunity to spank her brothers bum. (She was mad at him for getting "sugar" on her carpet. And, I assume, she figured it was his fault she sat and watched him do it; and even participated) It sounds funny, but it only added to my frustration. Cooper screams louder after his sister spanks his bum.

That's Just the HALF of It

Okay people. We have been craving hamburgers in this house for the last couple weeks. Tonight I finally made them. HOLY COW WERE THEY HUGE!!! I am not lying people, we had hamburgers the size of Landon's head (cute name by the way...) They were good. Probably the best hamburgers I can remember having EVER. They were stuffed with swiss cheese, mushrooms (shh don't tell Brandon, he had no clue) and ... potato! So yummy. Way better then your average hamburger. But now I feel like I'm going to puke. (I guess that's a good thing?? Means I ate too much because it was too good.)
Anyway, for Kadon's information, I ate half of one. (Which was totally the size of a regular LARGE hamburger. So, pretty much, I was awesome.) If you want the recipes (we of course did hamburgers and homemade hamburger buns: because I was too lazy to go to the store...ironic) hop on over to the little piggy blog and check them out. (I highly recommend making your own hamburger buns at least once in your life.) I kinda feel like a beached whale. No, a bloated beached whale. TOO MUCH FOOD.
But it was good...

Daddy, Will You Buy Me A...

Yeah, not a pony. My daughter wants a zebra. Go figure? We picked up the movie Racing Stripes from the library. She only watched the first few minutes, but that was long enough for her to determine that a zebra was just the pet for her. "Please can I have a zebra daddy, please, please?" Sure, that will happen.

Lucha Libre

Brandon tells me this is what the mexican wrestlers are called. It better be, or it ruins my entire post.... just teasing. So here we have it, the boy with many nicknames, or not enough so we have to invent some for him...either way. Landon has a new name, a new alter ego: The Angry Burrito. (Sounds an awful lot like a Mexican Wrestler name, no? Well, either that or a Mexican Restaurant.) Don't be confused, he is not angry when he is a burrito, he is only angry if he is not a burrito. However, the "contented burrito" doesn't have the same ring. Hence, the Angry Burrito.
Have you ever heard of the burrito baby, when you swaddle your baby up like a burrito? Landon is definitely a fan. I don't remember Kami and Cooper hating it, but they were also born in the summer and I had a hard time swaddling them in lots of blankets when it was so hot. So, I really don't remember doing it much, so I can't gage their reaction to it. However, Landon, well he can't go without out. Whenever he is overly fussy we know what he is "asking" for, and it never fails. We simply wrap him up good and tight and he is a happy camper. Brandon has even gotten exceptionally good at this skill. (One which he fained incompetence with with our other 2 and in the first few months with Landon. Now he is a regular pro, he's giving me a run for my money.) Hence the nickname: The Angry Burrito. Landon, the Lucha Libre. (And, he is my first child to have enough girth to pull that one off. Bring on the Maori blood baby. Maybe we should put Clinton and Kadon in charge of his ensemble...)

5 Bites

Kami isn't usually one for eating all of her food (or even some of her food if we are being honest). So, needless to say, she will take 1-2 bites and then say she is done (only to cry that she is STARVING an hour later, not a fan.) So, we have been telling her, for the last 6 months at least, that she needs to take an additional 2, 3, or 5 bites. So now, instead of saying I'm done she says "I ate 5 bites" (Which she usually hasn't so we make her do it again.)
Cooper has NEVER had a problem eating. In fact, yesterday they were at Gwen's and about 30 minutes before lunch Cooper situated himself in the kitchen and just sat there, waiting for his food. He was SO excited when Gwen opened up the box of macaroni. (By the way, Gwen was not neglecting my children. I usually don't feed them lunch until 12:30. At Gwen's house they eat lunch at 11:30. So she was feeding them a whole hour before I do, and he still wanted it a half hour prior. My son just likes food.) He does this same thing to me all the time, I will start making dinner and he will run into the kitchen and sit up in his chair. I always tell him its going to be a while, but he is determined that if he sits there I won't forget him.
So, as you can imagine, Cooper never has a problem cleaning his plate (and more). We often have a hard time deciding if he is done or wants more...until now. When Cooper is finished he has started holding up his little hand and as clear as day calling out "5 bites". Cute kid. It is very obvious he has eaten more than 5 bites...but still. So, I guess in our house, instead of asking "May I be excused", we just yell out "5 bites" and then we hop down from the table.

Project

Anyone who has talked to me in the last little bit has known that I need a project. Do you know when it feels like you are doing the same thing over and over, working your tail off and yet you have nothing to show for it? It's been one of those kinds of months. Hence the need for a project; a little something I've been dying to do and, once its done, its done and I can stare at it forever. Well, here we go. Yesterday I finally broke out my craft stuff and today I put the final touches on my masterpiece.
Here it is. (This is going in my kids room. We will be doing a very down played, sophisticated, low key farm motive.) The little blue paint chip in the background is the color I plan on painting their room. The "sign" won't neccesarily be arranged like this, it is just this way so you can see it all together. I'm missing the " ( " before the "cluck cluck" so I guess this project isn't completely completed.

And the Child Speaks

Cooper officially said his first sentence yesterday. I only caught the last half but it was very distinctly "I'm gonna spank your bum." Cooper had a Popsicles and Brandon kept telling him "Don't eat that in the family room. Get back in the kitchen." Cooper just smiled as he stood his ground and looked straight back at his father and then said "I'm gonna spank your bum."
So...I never spank him, or threaten to. Brandon has some explaining to do. (Especially since I remember Kami said a similar thing back in the day. I believe it was "paint your bum".) Empty threats people, empty threats.

But, Cooper thought he was pretty clever.

Our Friend Gwen

I was talking to Kameryn tonight and she kept asking me if I remembered when we lived in that white house. (Confusing since we currently DO live in a white house.) Anyway, I told her yes. This was her next comment:
"Remember the white house by Gwen's. I wish we still lived in that white house, cuz I miss Gwen." Cute.
Hey Gwen, maybe we should be friends again...

Savvy

My friends, the results are in. Landon and I have decided to be William Turner and Captain Jack Sparrow. (Yes I know this pic is of Elizabeth Swan and Jack Sparrow. However, I liked it.)
Anyway, I gave Landon the thieving options (including Bonnie and Clyde, which I forgot to mention on the last post) and he whole heartedly choose the pirates! I guess he is just the pillaging and plundering, set out on the high seas, type. (Either that, or he realizes that women just can't resist the pirates these days. Many thanks to Johnny Depp.) So, there you go people.
(Yes, I realize I could have chosen to be the girl...but. She's a little too brave for me and Captain Jack Sparrow is just the right amount of "Out there". So, we're a good fit.)
Here we are together. Don't we look like a force to be reckoned with.

Laffy Taffy joke for you:
Why are pirates called pirates?
Because they arr!
(So hilarious. I crack myself up.)

Courtesy of Kameryn

I uploaded photos off my camera yesterday only to find 97 pictures/movies. I only took 12 of them...hmm. Needless to say, it took quite longer than expected to upload them, only to delete them. (There were 26 videos, yikes!) However, when I saw this one (along with several others of this same little stuffed toy) I decided to keep it.
Not to0 bad for a 3 year old. I do believe her photography skills exceed those of her mother's. (And her Uncle Clinton...)

Thick as Thieves

How does one explain a post such as this. My son and I have decided to become outlaws. We are thinking along the lines of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid. Jesse James and Billy the Kid. Robin Hood and Little John. Rob from the rich and give to the poor and all that jazz... Not exactly. Honestly, we aren't really considering it, however, I am considering using these people as alias' or nicknames really.
Here's the deal, Landon and I, we're thick as thieves. So shouldn't it only be fitting that we have code names, alter egos... I think so. I don't know what it is, my situation during his pregnancy or what have you, but we have had this special bond between us from the beginning. I feel that Landon has it engraved within his little being that he is supposed to watch out for his mommy. Hard to explain, there is just that special bond.
Anyway, Landon has been unbearably cute lately (at least to me, his daddy is still suspicious, but I just think he's jealous) He has started smiling (not really though, he has been smiling for quite a while now) as well as cooing. The looks he gives me, and the stories he tells just makes my heart melt. Kameryn was never much one for the smiling or cooing. And, while Cooper would smile, (mostly at his daddy) he didn't really feel the need to "talk" to me much. Landon, however, acts as though there is nothing he would rather do than talk and smile at his mommy. It makes me so happy. It makes his daddy jealous, however, because his smiles and stories seem to be reserved just for me.
So, here are some pics of my partner in crime. Tell me which thief/outlaw name you prefer. By the way, check out those eyes!


Here is a video I have included for nobody's benefit but my own. I love this kid!

At This Late Hour

So, guess what is going on at our house right now: a whole lot of NOT sleeping. It is 10:00 pm. In my bedroom we have:

• Cooper - who has been consistently screaming for the last hour and a half
• Kameryn - who has been using the last 1 1/2 hours to think of excuses for why she shouldn't be in bed. My favorite: "I was sleeping on my pillow and Cooper was screaming and woke me up." Yeah, you were sleeping. Was that during the 3 second pause between your last question, or the one before that. Sleeping my eye!
• And we have Brandon. (lucky dog)
  

Out on the couch we have me and the baby who believes that the night time is the best time for mom and me time...right. So, here I sit, amidst failing disciplinary attempts, and a cooing baby...at 10 o'clock.
I'm tired people! Landon is awfully cute though. Not to mention extremely responsive. That's convenient. And so I blog... Brandon, meanwhile, gets to answer all of Kami's questions while being abused by Cooper - he likes to toss and turn. I admit, he kind of got the raw end of the deal. However, his kids are now asleep while I continue to share witty commentary with my bright eyed co-host. He will also be spending the night in a bed, while I occupy the couch.
Have pity on neither of us. We are parents, this is what we do.

A Rant

1. to speak or declaim extravagantly or violently; talk in a wild or vehement way; rave:

Alright, here we go. Point one, since when does it snow repeatedly in April? As in, it snowed the day before yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before that. And, it continues to snow today.... SINCE WHEN?! I know Idaho can be colder, but come on, 6 months of winter?! Don't get me wrong, I'm all for winter and snow. However, I am a four seasons kind of girl, which means, respectively, each season gets 3 months. Now doesn't winter seem to be a bit of a hog? (especially since it cut my fall short, NOT COOL!) One inch + of snow on the 9th day of April (practically the middle of April) Not cool, not cool.

Point two, how long can a stupid "cold" last. Seriously people, we are going on 1 1/2 weeks of not being able to breathe. Consequently not being able to taste, talk, or, dare I say it... make out with my hottie husband. Come on...this is ridiculous. (This is so 'diculous it's RE-diculous) You go from a sore throat, to the chills, to a cough, to a sinus infection... all the while remaining in a constant state of bleh! Mucus my friend, not cool, not cool at all. Then, when you start to think, hey, maybe it's letting up, it hits you again. (how rude) Plus this thing spreads like wildfire. I can't play with my friends, I can't go to mutual, I can't go on a date with my husband, my kids can't play with their friends...bleh! Even a day at the park is ruined. (Not that we could go outside...double bleh!) Stupid cold. (You don't have to feel sorry for me, I'm just ranting.) I do realize that a large portion of you reading this are also suffering from the same thing, and so I rant for you.

Okay, so I only have 2 points to rant about. I really don't do this much, ranting that is. It's kind of pointless. (Doesn't change the situation, so there is no point complaining about it) But it sounded fun today. All in all, its just kind of one of those situations when you have to look life in the eye and say "Really? You had to do that?" That's all.

Oh, and point 3 - Why won't my kitchen stay clean???? (I tell you why, because I don't pick up after myself. If only it wasn't my fault...)

{Memory Monday}

I'm so tricky... I started this on Monday. but didn't have the time, nor the energy, to complete it. Guess what, blogger will date stamp this post as Monday, because that is when I started it. Tricky, tricky... And thus we have a Monday, Memory Monday. (Three weeks in a row baby!)

I remember...

When I was completely obsessed with Taco Bell. Yep, true story. It all started with my Auntie Mo, who turned out to be a traitor because she so didn't share my love for Taco Bell... Anyway, one time when she was visiting I had a total, uncontrollable desire for Taco Bell, at 11 or so at night. So, we did what any sane Aunt and niece would do, when went to Taco Bell. We had such an enjoyable time we turned it into a tradition. Every time she came to visit, we would make a midnight Taco Bell run. We had fun little traditions, such as we couldn't go until after a certain hour, we'd always make sure we went through the drive-thru and specified that we wanted our food to go, and there was some deal about the hot sauce which I don't now remember. Anyway, good times had by all, until of course the day my Aunt decided to shatter my fragile existence and inform me she wasn't a Taco Bell fan... Yeah, that was a sad day. (My obsession with Taco Bell runs was so crazy I even thought that on my wedding night, Brandon and I would wait to go to our hotel until after my Auntie Mo and I went for a Taco Bell run... Don't laugh Gwen just remember how naive I was.)

I remember making my boyfriend Tom take me for a couple Taco Bell runs...
I remember in High School going to Taco Bell with my friend Kevin and buying a family size meal deal, the one with 10 tacos and a mexican pizza, and then taking it over to Macey's (the grocery store) so we could sit at the deli and eat it with our friend Derek or Devin...either way, it was one of the Span boys. (I can't remember his name, but I remember I had a HUGE crush on him. And I think Kevin, the other boy, had a huge crush on me. That was convenient...) Anyway, I would eat the mexican pizza and they would eat the tacos/burritos. We did this on several occasions. (Like I said, I was obsessed)
I also remember that I loved Taco Bell so much I would want to order one of everything on the menu and often did. That didn't work out so well, seeing that I can't eat very much (I can now, but then I was lucky if I made it through a mexican pizza.)
Ah, Taco Bell, such fond memories. The one here isn't so wonderful. Bummer. Either that or my taste buds have moved on. I like to cling on to hope that Taco Bell is still the best... probably because I have so many memories rooted firmly in the Taco Bell menu items.
Random memories; I remember it used to take me so long to eat a Mexican Pizza that my best friend, John Wheeler, would make fun of me. He would usually say something like he was eating dinner while I was still trying to finish my lunch. Brandon, my husband, got me hooked on Baja chalupas. Chris Gordon introduced me to double-decker tacos (yum). Joe Spear, a play buddy, really like their bean burritos, but without the sauce. (Brandon likes his baja chalupas without pico de gallo) One time, my mom went on a taco bell run with us. It was pretty fun. She was really into it and was so excited to specify that we wanted our meal to go. And then, when we specified that we only wanted 3 hot sauces (that was what the hot sauce thing was, we would tell them exactly how many we wanted) and we found out they gave us 5 (or something like that) She turned the van around, went back through the drive thru and gave them back their extra hot sauces. What a nerd, who does that? (he, he, Mom you're awesome!)
There you go, the Memory Monday: I remember....when I was obsessed with Taco Bell.

What We are Loving

Skippyjon Jones. So cute. Probably some of my favorite children's books I've read in a while. (We've read Skippyjon Jones, Skippyjon Jones in Mummy Trouble, and Skippyjon Jones and the Big Bones) Anyway, if you buy them, see if you can get the books with the cd (its a cd of the author reading the book, too cute) They are on our list of books to buy. (we've just been borrowing them from the library. I don't know who enjoys them more, my children or myself. SUPER CUTE!

Being Sick is Crappy!

Okay, really sorry Gwen. I lied, there is a lot of congestion with this "cold". So, sorry. On the bright side, I didn't knowingly "infect" you and your children...
Ugh! I hate colds. So, this is what I wish I could be doing right now: This was Cooper after yesterdays long (and exhausting) day of pictures and fun. Sadly, he can't even escape the camera in his sleep.

The last of the Pics

These are random, but they are the last of the jumple of pictures I took today. (Including a video of the brothers) Enjoy! Cooper as he came out the bottom of the big slide. His daddy pushed him. (kidding Brandon) He doesn't look to pleased though. Kami as she came out the bottom. Her exact words "Whoa!" Then, of course, a cheeser. So did you totally cock your head to the one side. Yeah, me too. Landon was completely bummed about missing the exciting photo shoot. So I took a couple of him. Unfortunately, he was a little (a lot) bit hungry, so this is the only one that turned out. Too bad we couldn't get any cute ones outside...maybe once he can get out of the blanket burrito he can have his own personal photo shoot. (I'm sure he can't wait for the day.)

Here is Landon swinging. This video probably has no relavence to anyone else, but I just wanted to get some video of Cooper with Landon. He absolutely adores the little guy!

And now, I need to go to bed. (Notice the time stamp? My clock says 11:48. I'm crazy!)

Jump, Jump

The "jump jump" has come out of hibernation.A quick break from jumping to smile for mom.

And then she's off

Pausing one more time to remove shoes.

Here Cooper is trying his legs out on the trampoline.

More Swings (More Photos)

Honestly, start at the bottom of the list of posts for today...that way all of this nonsense will make sense. (Or not, it is still me typing.)He really is a handsome kid. Cooper decided that he didn't want to look at me (or my camera) anymore So I made the best of it. Cute kid. One more random photo: This is my son kicking a (our) tree. I guess he got sick of taking pictures and decided to take it out on the tree... (What really happened is I told him to sit by the tree. He must of thought I said kick...) I really wasn't taking that many pictures...okay I was.

Swings

In retrospect, I should have started these posts in backwards/reverse chronological order so they would have posted on the blog in chronological order. But I didn't. Here are more pics from our warm day. These are the kids on the swings. Both at the park and at our house on "the swingset Grandpa Tractor made me" - as Kami so lovingly calls it.

Honestly, the kid will not look at me!

Okay, here is the only time he looked at me all day, check out the Bowen scowl. Click on the picture to enlarge it so you can get the full effect.

A cheeser! (of course)

If you can't tell, we're still a little sick. The majority of the pics I got of Kami I deleted because she was in the middle of coughing fit. I'm surprised I actually got some really cute ones. (Just keep clicking, that's my philosophy when photographing my kids. They're bound to open their eyes or stop scowling sooner or later.)

Isn't she sweet?

Warm Day

I can't say today was our first warm day...but it pretty much was. Many thanks to Gwen and Brigitte who invited us to go to the park with them. Their invite got us out in the sunshine, even if the did ditch us the second we got there... (kidding, we were running behind, so they were done playing by the time we made our debut.) I realized today on our way out that I don't have many good quality pics of my kids. Mostly because I am terrible at photographing children. However, I decided, since we were going to the park I would take my camera and just shoot some pics. I am so glad I did. I got some real cute ones. (It's a good thing my kids are cute, because I really am terrible with a camera.)

Kami is so adorable! And of course, it wouldn't be a Kameryn photo shoot without a cheeser

Cooper would not stay still long enough for me to snap a decent photo. (I guess thats what you get with a two-year old boy) Here he is at the top of the play set.

Here he is refusing to look at me. Nice... I chased the kid around the playground calling "Cooper, look at mommy." Over and over. Nothing. Well, that's not true, everyone else at the playground was looking at me. This one little girl (you can see her pink coat in this picture) even followed me around, I think she was more than happy to let me take her pic. (Or she likes the men that play hard to get....Cooper.) Anyway, hopefully he's not this good at ignoring me when he is a teenager. Hmm, that could be a problem.

Landon chillin' (but not literally because I had him overly bundled for the conditions) in the stroller. What a good kid.

Whiz Kid

"Look what I can do!"

This is definitely one of those moments as a mother that took me by surprise. I should have known better... (In case you don't know what's going on, take a look at the marks on the couch, the position of the boy, and then just imagine the absence of a diaper. Yeah...) Daddy would be so proud.

American Idol

And this is why he's my favorite!

So True

You Are A Green Girl

You feel most at home in a world of ideas. You're curious and logical - and enjoy a good intellectual challenge. You're super cool, calm, and collected. Very little tries your patience. Your only fear? People not realizing how smart and able you are!

What Color Girl Are You?