Changes...

Notice something new? Our blog is changing! Clothes per say... We are trying something new. Definetly nothing against our old blog I just wanted to try something new and slightly more colorful. Unfortunately with the new colors our old header didn't match. So, I found this one and plugged it in. I wish it had a pic of my kids in it...but I don't have the software for that yet. So, for at least another week or so, this is our new blog and yes you are at the right place. Enjoy. Let me know your comments. (Such as: is it harder to read?) Enjoy

I Love to See the Temple

Brandon and I were lucky enough to get the opportunity to go to the temple on Friday. We had Brandon's cousin watch the kids because they live right there in I.F. Anyway, Kameryn was throwing a big stink on the way up that she didn't want to go to Tom and Mel's house because "I do know Bogan...I do know Ashlyn!"
Trying to get Kameryn to understand why I wanted her to go be babysat I told her "Mommy and Daddy are going to the temple to show Heavenly Father how much we love him. We need you to go to Brogan's house so we can go." Immediately she responded with "But I wanna go to da temple." Her sincerity and pleading nearly broke my heart, but here comes the good stuff:
We hadn't spoken anymore about the temple since this incident (40 min. prior) and all of the sudden as we pull of the exit to go to the temple Kami says "Dat Jesus' house?" pointing to some grain silos. I told her it hasn't and pointed out where the temple was. I, first of all, was shocked she even knew the temple has Jesus' house. We sing "I love to see the temple" all the time to her, it is amazing how much of it sinks in and how much, as children, they already know.
Back to the story, Kameryn was disappointed she couldn't see the temple and so we promised her we would take her to see it when we got back. True to our word, on our way home we made sure to swing back by the temple to show her. She loved it. She kept saying that it was where Jesus was, and Jesus loved her, and Jesus made spiders for her, and it was so pretty, and, my personal favorite, "it so tall. It tall as da mountains! Me no reach it". Anyway, it was sweet to hear all her thoughts, and her knowledge of the Savior's love for her. We had to sing "da temple" song and she talked non stop about the temple (Jesus' house) from I.F. to Shelley where she finally fell asleep (that's about 20 min)
Of course, the talk about Jesus' house has continued, non stop. Yesterday she had made up a song about how Jesus' house was as tall as a mountain and she couldn't reach it. She also made a temple out of her blocks. It has been a really sweet, although obsessive, time in our house recently. And, just so you know, next time we go to town we are getting Kameryn her very own picture of "Jesus' house" for her bedroom.

Da-da

Just a quick post (and unlike my other "quick posts" this one will actually be quick...) Cooper is saying Da-da. He has only said it a couple of times, but he has said it, clear as a bell. I, for one, like to think that Cooper said it to prove that he can, and now he won't say it because he wants us to know it is not a lack of skill preventing him from saying his dad's name, it's a lack of desire... I'm mean. I really don't think that's why. I just like to tease Brandon because, back when Kameryn would only say his name, he teased me.

Cooper, my little Koala Baby

Do you know that my son Cooper gives the best hugs? They are not exactly hugs, per say but I needed some way to open my blog. Cooper has this way of clinging to me when he is upset. I just noticed it yesterday. He was upset and I put him on my hip and he wrapped his little legs and arms as far around me as he could and just clung to me. It reminded me of a koala baby. Then, this morning, he did the same thing because he was scared. Now, of course I don't want my child to be upset but it was rather sweet. He just wraps his limbs around me and snuggles his little head in close. The best part of it all, I can feel the little boy use all his might to grasp onto me, he is holding me as tight as his little body can, he just doesn't want to let me go. (and, frankly, I don't want him to) It is one of those precious moments of being a mother, one where you are so consumed with love and awe for the little miracle that is your child. You just want to hold onto it forever and be blissfully happy right there in that moment. It is truly a gift and a treasured opportunity.

E-mail Forward

Here is the deal, if you were lucky enough to be one of the receivers of this mass e-mail I sent out to you, good for you. If you are one of the unfortunate few, which includes my husband, then here you go. (This is also for all others whom I do not know their e-mail)
P.S. Don't click on this link unless you have read below and know what you are getting yourself into. You have been warned: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dn7k7ns_1c672zg
Let me explain. This morning in my e-mail I received a "getting to know you" questionnaire from my friend Ann. I believe there is a bit of fessing up to do. I always receive these e-mails and they always have a disclaimer on the bottom or top that says "I don't usually do these.." or "I was bored..." or "I don't like these, but I promised so-and-so" blah, blah, blah. No one will fess up to actually enjoying these things. But someone has to, otherwise I wouldn't receive them. So, let me do what all you other cowards can't. I fess up, publicly and whole heartily: I LOVE THESE THINGS!
Now, I may not always have time to respond, and honestly, I may not always read them completely, but I do enjoy them. I think they are rather fun. Of course, there is always the stupid, inevitable dumb questions but I just chalk those up to a lack of creativity (or, more often than not, a lack of understanding the art of creativity...) But I like them, and I LOVE filling them out. So bring them on. I, your friend, will not shun you. I will except the invitation without judgement. I will not think you are dumb.
However, I must warn you that I might send it back filled out, and then you have a predicament on your hands, because anyone who knows me, or reads my blog, knows I am very long winded when it comes to writing about things. But, hopefully my babble is a glimpse at my personality and not my short-comings.
I realize that I am probably the only person who will ever openly admit to liking these things, and that is okay with me. I am very comfortable with my cheesiness. I am also not so daft as to realize that there are quite a few people out there who really don't like these. I'm fine with that, my mom is probably one of those people. But, I must apologize because I will most likely send them to you anyway...just delete them. You won't hurt my feelings.
Lastly, because I wanted to, I have included the link where I have posted the questionnaire and my answers. I hope my confession allows others to come forward.

Quick Hitters

I have a few things to post that are more for my benefit than yours. (I use my blog as a journal of sorts and so I wanted to document this somewhere)
- Cooper says "mama". He has been saying it now for a while but it is still very cute. He even diferentiates between "mama" and "mam" (he always babbles mama, but when he really wants me he yells out "mam!" -way stinkin' cute!) The funniest thing about this whole situation is when his dad tries to get him to say Daddy. He blatantly refuses, he just looks at him and says "mam!" The harder Brandon tries, the more Cooper resists and he wil start talking over Brandon: "mamamamamamamamama Mam!" I have to say it is adorable. (especially since Kameryn said her Daddy's name first) He even does this with his grandparents and aunts, he refuses to say anyone's name but mine. (I'd like to say it is because he prefers me best, but I really know it is because I am the only name he can say.)
- Kameryn is in a pink fettish. Everything she wears has to be pink; pink shirt, pink pants, pink shoes... The pink never ends. I, myself, am more of an equal opportunity kind of girl, I like to give all colors equal playing time, and I must admit, I am going crazy with this "all pink, all the time" attitude. Mostly because I am not a huge pink-on-pink fan and I feel like my daughter is going around looking like nobody loves her. (Especially when you throw her awesome hair in the mix. The hair that couldn't stay combed if it's life depended on it...) So, I currently have a pink ragamuffin living at my house.
- Cooper got a sun burn...I am so neglectful. His poor little bald head is now pink.
- Kameryn loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. It is the first thing she wants to do when she wakes up and the last thing she wants to do before bed (thank goodness for a DVR) Brandon and I let her watch it because it is teaching her a lot of things. We also watch it with her so we can pause it and make sure she is interacting and really learning what it is teaching. Anyway, I think we have seen every one they have ever made, eight or nine times at least, and sadly, we wake up singing "It's the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, come inside it's fun inside..." Bonus, I think Kameryn is learning to spell Mickey Mouse....maybe she should learn to spell her own name first...
- I don't know if I ever documented this, but Cooper is crawling; army crawling that is. He is wicked fast and loves his new found mobility. He started around Easter lets say. Right now he is experimenting with getting up on all fours and rocking back and forth. Fun times.
That's it for now. So much for "quick", but, you know me, I tend to beat the horse until it is dead...sorry.

AAGH!!

Once again, my daughter has dumped milk on my son's tray. I am so frustrated I could scream! (instead, I am blogging) What should I do? Apparently my daughter can not get enough of seeing her brother break out into hives. Or, perhaps, seeing her mom clean up the mess. It has been a long superwoman day. A my mom or Gwen day, if you know what I mean. (If you don't, it means I accomplished super human feats of cleaning, cooking, child rearing, list "crossing-off"ing and project completing proportions) and frankly, this superwoman is tired. Emotionally and physically, phsycologically and spiritually drained! The last thing I need is chocolate milk on every surface of my dining room and hives on every surface of my son. Why can my daughter not understand this? Fortunately for her, I have a very high tolerance level and instead of screaming, hitting, and all other manners of profanity... I blog. (and, I must say, my children are definetly enjoying my blogging on the toilet while they bathe. They get to stay in longer.) Anway, if you can't tell, I had to let off some steam. Thanks for listening. (By the way, check out Coop's grin. He is so much more apt to the photo ops than his sister. He actually looks at you and smiles when you ask him too. He even keeps his eyes open!)