What's up

SO Brad had 5 days off in a row!! And during that time my sister came and we had gorgeous weather. It has truly been the most amazing October ever. Anywho. While cousins were here we didnt even attempt to put Hunter to bed on a schedule. We pretty much waited for him to get sleepy and 2 nights just so happened to need to go on a drive and he would fall asleep.

When Brad started on wednesday to work nights again I was happy. That may sound harsh, and it isnt that we dont love Bradley and he is amazing Dad, but Hunter knows how to work him. Last week Hunter learned that we say prayers, read scriptures, "go to bed" and that if Hunter puts up a fight long enough daddy will come back in!!! However, Wednesday night we did the same routine without Daddy and Hunter went RIGHT TO SLEEP!!!! I have not had any trouble with Hunter at night at all since Wednesday. SO i put him down at 7:30 and at 8 she goes down in the same room. That too is new.

A good's night sleep reall makes a difference in Hunter's behavior. He has been amazing! Also I started this little cup where we put marbles in for good behavior and take some out if we have to. We havent had to. Anyway, we talked about this new thing we were going to do and I told Hunter he get;s to choose what he wants to do when the cup is filled. I thought for sure he would say go to blast off and play in the balls with his cousins. NOPE. He said he wants to go bowling with Memaw and Papa Steve! Random! But thats what he wants to do so we called up papa steve and memaw and let them know. This week has been amazing. Night and day from last week. I am thankful.

Last night he spent the night at memaw and papa steves and stayed up waaaaay to late with cousins. when we got home today from picking him up he took a 4 hour nap. I had to wake him up at 5! I hope he goes down tonight or we may have a rough sunday tomorrow! It's 7:42 pm and we starte CARS because i said we could watch a little bit.

Meanwhile Gookie has been waking up at 6:45!! I am NOT a morning person and have not had to be in motherhood.... as of yet. So this is a rude awakening for me. She wakes up bright eyes and bushy tailed. However, she is NOT content to stay in bed. Hunter would sleep in as a baby and if he didnt, he would atleast be happy as a clam to play in his bed and we could get some more zzzz's. Not the case with Gookie. SO when she wakes up and it is still dark outside one of us will get up with her at 6:45 and be up with her until 8:30. Then that person goes and switches with the sleeping person. Its a nice system but tomorrow is my day to wake up at 6:45 and I am not looking forward to it! But i am so appreciative of Brad who even takes turns with me! He is amazing.

Gookie is also very funny, entertaining and um...strong willed. I think my gramma would love that about her. We love her very much just the way she is, but I am starting to get a glimpse of how being strong willed may he challenging in the future. For example, she has already had "time out". The other day it was for repeatedly pushing Hunter. ok, SHOVING hunter. she came up to him and just started shoving him and would not stop! I told her to be soft and gently etc etc. Then I just picked her up and put her in a chair. She hasnt done it since.

Today she thought the funniest thing in the world was to slap my face! Straight up smack me and then laugh sooooo hard! News break, its not funny! after she wouldnt stop I just picked her up and put her in the other room and said "no hitting" I am still afraid to have her on my lap.

I wouldnt trade my kiddos for ANYTHING!! my pre baby body, million dollars, house with a dishwasher NOTHING!! I love them soooo very much and I am honored to be their momma and to learn and grow as their momma! Its so fun to see their differences, similarities and individuality. Its especially fun to see them play together.

For your viewing pleasure...

CHEESE!! look for Gookie's cheese face





















-feel free to comment on how adorable they are-

Thank you so much for the words of advice, encouragement and understanding. I cant tell you how nice it is to know that other mothers and other kiddos are going through the same thing!

Brad has 5 days off of work and it happens to coincide with my sister's vacay here! So as of yesterday we have been at my parent's house in Driggs. My sister has 5 kiddos whom I love! I would go and live with my sister in Utah when I was off track and then after my mission they moved to California. So i love when we get to see them. Hunter is Chase's shadow! Chase is 7. Maren is my little helper. I sware the next time I have a baby Maren is coming to help with the kiddos!

We are having a great time. Last night we went in the hot tub, tonight we are going to play games and tomorrow we are going to jackson hole! Then tomorrow night my sister keri comes and then tuesday night my brother brent is coming. it will be short visits, but still we will be able to see them.

we are having fun!

Help! at my wit's end!

Hunter is 3 1/2 yrs old exactly. The last few days i sware he has become posessed by a little boy I just dont know what to do with. I seriously want to put him in the green garbage can and roll him down the street! He is reverting back to behavior we had conquered! He has had TWO accidents today, potty AND just now poo poos! He is back to running away when we step foot outside! Last week I was so impressed with how well he was doing in stores with out a cart etc. Monday as mentioned previously I was flabbergasted and just angry.The anger has gone and i am dumbfounded! He doenst obey a word we say. I say stop jumping, he jumps higher and harder etc. HELP!! Words of wisdom, experience, comfort is greatly needed!

Follow the Prophet

So last weekend was general conference where we get to hear the Prophet and Apostles speak. LOVE IT!! It was just wonderful and totally filled my spiritual cup! Anyway through out all the sessions I felt prompted that I needed to really be obedient to out Family Home Evenings, Family Prayers and Family Scripture Reading. Brad 95% of the time is working in the evenings so I had to do something to make sure the kiddos and I would be diligent and doing those things.

So I made charts! And everyday when we have prayers and read scriptures we get a sticker for that day! And the FHE one is for every monday. It has been a great success and has been a big part of our night time routine. Hunter is much more excited to do it and then really excited to put the sticker on. It makes it easier to do when I am on my own with the kids.

What's new

I havent been blogging because I cant find my camera and didnt have anything to really share.

The kiddos have colds and we are finally on the getting better side of them. Saturday and SUnday nights we could not calm Hunter down. He was higher than a kite and I realized it was the cold medicine! It totally wound him up! I mean we could not even get him to sit still for 2 seconds. Brad was trying to talk to Hunter about staying in bed and HUnter was climbing all over Brad roaring like a tiger. I was stifling a laugh because it was funny, scary, and frustrating at the same time. Sunday night he didnt fall asleep until 11:45. At one point I told brad "let's pretend we're asleep" So hunter comes into our room the millionth time and we hear him whispering to himself. He stands at the foot of our bed and crows "COCK-A-DOODLE-DOOOOOOOOO!" After that I just stayed up with him.

So then yesterday (Monday) I didnt wake Hunter up for school and he slept in until 9:35!! By 9:55 he had pooped in the bath tub!!!! I was sooo frustrated and just knew today would be one of those days! And boy howdy, it was! He wasnt obeying AT ALL he threw legos all over the room and nothing i did would get him to pick them up! He was just everywhere and I hated how I was so angry. I rarely get angry with my kids but yesterday I was and I HATED it. I eventually threw in the towel and took a shower. WHen Brad got home I just sobbed in his arms. We went to my parents' house for Family Home Evening. Memaw came too and she brought our niece, Averee and she and Hunter just played. Averee was a life saver! She kept Hunter happy and busy.

So when we got home Hunter was tired but got a second wind after scriptures and prayers. I was ready for bed and IN bed by 9 pm. However Hunter was getting out of bed and I was the one who needed to do something. So I did!! Here is what happened.

I knew that the last two nights Hunter staying up was due to the medicine and that last night he was TESTING limits and it was all behavioral. He WOULD NOT stay in his room. So i went in his room and said "Hunter you can read books and play with your toys, but you must stay in your room. If you come out I will take away the light. So you can choose to stay in your room and read and play with the light, or come out and i will take away the light" .

45 seconds later I was unscrewing his light bulb. He was screaming and crying and I thought "crying is good, he will realize how tired he is". So then for 25 minutes I sat outside his door and everytime he opened the door I would just put him back on his bed and tell him not to come out. I was determined to stick to it knowing it would make a big difference for tomorrow night, the next night etc. And eventually he stopped trying to come out and totally fell asleep on his bed!!!!!!! I was ELATED and so proud of myself! he was asleep by 10:20 and woke up today at 8:47. A pretty good sleep!

And so far today has been MUCH better than yesterday! Hunter is calmer and back to his normal self and I am back to myself too. I guess he and I both just had bad days yesterday.

Spud Day

Last Saturday was the best spud day ever!! Well the parade was the best ever. It was super long and the kiddos were actually into it this year. They were getting candy like crazy. Our niece, Livvy, really got the candy part down!! Hunter was more into watching the parade, would grab one piece of candy from the road and he was happy with that. NOT LIVVY!! She would scoop up candy and would have handfuls of it! It was funny. At one point a float came by and the driver of the float called out to her kids to come up to the truck and get some candy. SO they did and the next thing we knew, Livvy was up there too with her hand out for some candy! She is too funny! There were trucks and tractors in the parade and Hunter was in heaven!

We had a great time being with cousins, Aunts and Uncles. After the parade was the spud day festvities at the park. We didnt get to do much because we had to leave to get brad to work on time. But it was still a great time and once we got home the kiddos went RIGHT down for naps!!