I can't believe it.

But I did it. I always said, i would never buy them. They would never look good on me. It just wasn't my style. And again i learn: Never say never, you will always eat your words.

I bought a pair of skinny jeans.

I still don't think they look good on me plain. But they look way better with my boots than my other jeans did.

And I just couldn't pass trying them when they were only $4.98. Yup. 75% off on the target clearance rack. I really am SOOOOOO cheap when it comes to clothes. (last year i bought a swim suit at old navy for 3 1/2 cents. yes cents, not dollars.) So when i saw the sign i decided to rush past to see if there was anything my size. I found a pair of boot cut jeans and threw them in the cart and was starting to whiz off again when i saw the skinny jeans in my size. I thought, what the heck, I'll give it a try. For 5 bucks it might be worth it.

And i think i like them. Never thought i'd say that.

A little taste of Hawaii

I know, I wish i was (still) there, too...

It was the worst of times....it was the best of times...

Well it started out as a great Valentine's Day morning. Brooke was a little disappointed on Sunday night that we didn't have more decorations (note to self=that girl likes parties and decorations.) So as soon as I got up on monday morning, Livy and I cut out lots of hearts and wrote notes on them for the family and taped them all over the cabinets. I even found some small gifts from the "present" box in the closet and wrapped them. It was great. I was glad i felt like i did a little something. And we had a great morning, playing games and talking.

Then it was time to get ready and choose a Valentine's outfit. And so it turned out to be yet another fiasco with picking out clothes for Brooke. It is just so hard to handle sometimes. She can't stand ANY seams, nothing fits right. no matter what type of leggings they are, they itch. One time she wears a pair of pants, and then when you suggest them again (because she loved them the last time), she goes into hysterics because they itch her somewhere, or they fit funny here, or it doesn't look right. I got so frustrated yesterday, that I got out the scissors and cut off the ruffles on the bottom of her leggings. That didn't help. Actually that was probably the worst thing i could do. Because, "THAT WAS THE PRETTY PART!!!" Even though that was the part that was bothering her. And since there was NOTHING else she would wear, I just cut them off. Boy, oh boy, that girl gets me worked up. I really need to learn how to deal with this better. AHHH. After I finally threw my hands in the air about it, she went back into her room and found some pink pants to wear under her red polka dot skirt with a pink shirt. It was great for Valentine's day. And i just had to wonder why she couldn't have chosen those from the beginning and been happy with it, or at least for the third outfit...then we wouldn't have had to go through all six outfits and still be upset about it.

Luckily by the time we were finished playing on the playground for 5 minutes before her classroom door opened, we were both happy (actually Brooke was happy before she left for school. I was the one that still needed to let off some steam.). I kissed her goodbye (I am so glad she still likes to be kissed on the lips), and we had a little whisper chat and said tomorrow would be better about clothes.

Livy, Jackson and I then went quickly to the store and then headed home to make muffins. (I decided muffins would be an easier task than cut out cookies for this Valentine's Day). And it was such a great time. Livy helped happily the entire time! And Jackson waddled around the island doing laps and jabbering. I kept thinking about what a stark contrast it was from the morning episode.

And i learned a great lesson, again. No matter how mad you are, take a few minutes and the storm will calm, and life will be great again. And someday, I am going to laugh at myself that I just started cutting off the lace on brooke's pants-but for now, i am still a little bugged at myself for getting that frustrated.

Welcome home...

We got back late last night. Jackson and Livy both ended up in our bed, both kicking and turning the entire night. Jackson was up at 6:30 (thankfully not his usual 5:30) and I was groggy from the time change and the lack of sleep.

Before 8:30 when Ben and Brooke woke up we had made pancakes, played hide and seek, read books and had two tantrums from Livy. Jackson at 4 pancakes and two huge bowls of cereal. And then another pancake with Ben while I was in the shower. Brooke had a meltdown about clothes, again. We scrambled to get a talk ready for primary. And that produced another meltdown because she wanted to draw a thousand pictures to hold up during her talk. I realized she had been wearing her church shoes to school and they were totally destroyed. So i was scrambling to find her old church sandals. Livy cried about her dress after I ironed it, and it was the one she had picked out to wear. Ben was still feeling horrible (he came down with a really bad sore throat the last day in hawaii). Jackson was tired and cranky, it was nap time, but with 11:00 church, naps are just all over the place. Thankfully everyone started to calm down about 10:40 and by 10:45 we were ready to walk out the door. I realized as we were walking to church that I totally forgot to put on ANY make-up and for a moment i thought i didn't have a slip on. When i realized i had a slip on, i decided not to worry about the make-up and just be grateful that we were on time to church and no one was crying at that point.

Welcome home. Its good to be back to real life.

Sayings..

Brooke loves the monkey bars. I mean LOVES them. And that means Livy does, too. Livy is pretty amazing at it. She can go all the way across the little ones by herself. Brooke was showing Ben her blisters one time and Ben said, "Why don't you take a break from the monkey bars for a little bit, Brooke. And then they can heal." Brooke in response, "Dad, when I see the monkey bars, I just can't stop looking at them. It's like I have to go do them!" What a gal!

Livy: "Mom, You're going to Owie!" ....looking a little shocked that it didn't come out right and then said, "Oi." I just smiled and said yes and then started laughing. She was trying to say Hawaii.

When we were having Mommy talk last night, i was talking to Brooke about all her friends at school. I asked her if Aryanna had any brothers and sisters. Her response, "WAY!" and that was it. Ben and I just started laughing. I guess that means yes, a lot....

Jackson loves to act like he is eating his book and then looks at you and smiles. And then does it again and starts laughing.

Brooke and Livy always start running about like crazy right before bed (well, they are either running around like crazies, or crying- really loud- about something). The other night they were running around teasing each other. And they made up a game called the kissing monster. It was so funny to watch them try to kiss each others legs and feet to tag.

Brooke's Love

It is so fun to watch your children express love. Kids are naturally so good at it!

Ash and I are getting ready for a trip. Brooke snuck into my office and drew these, leaving them on my desk.

Melted my heart!

VACATION

Only a little more time and we will be here!

As excited as i am, I am also a little sad because I am going to miss my kids so much. But Brooke said to me today, "Mom, I know you will really miss us. And we'll miss you, too. But we are really excited and we are going to have so much fun." And I know they will. It is so great to have such awesome family and friends. They will be very well taken care of. But it still is hard to leave them.