ten things i love about myself

My friend and blogging queen, Janet encouraged her readers to think of 10 things they love about themselves and post the list. That is probably a good thing to do every now and then- focus on some good qualities about me. I'm doin' it.

1. my curly hair
2. I am creative
3. I am a good baker
4. I am a hard worker

5. I get into holidays and birthdays

6. I have my own unique and colorful style

7. I am a thrifty girl with an eye for a bargain
8. I am a do-it-myself or make-it-myself kind of gal
9. I enjoy the luxuries of life but know the simple joys are where it's at
10. I love to hug people!

I took this challenge on Sept 14 and the only thing I thought of that day was that I like my curly hair. That isn't even a personality trait, but I left it anyway. How sad that it has taken me until November 4 to come up with 10 things I love or even like about myself. It tells me I need to take more time pat myself on the back. I need to take a little more time to think, to read, to write in my journal, to explore hobbies and new interests, to socialize and serve others. Since having my 4th child, the chaos level in our home has hit record proportions. But so has the love. Finding me time is important; I know that. It is all about keeping it in balance. That is always the tricky part. And probably always will be.

So now, I challenge anyone who reads this to take a second and list ten things you love about yourself. Do it. I hope it isn't as hard for you as it was for me.

halloweekend

Friday Hunter was super sick! It brought tears to my eyes to see him suffering so much. He stayed home from school; it was a bummer that he couldn't go to his Halloween party with Mack and Me.


Saturday I think we had around 300 trick-or-treaters. I wished the weather would have been nicer but it didn't keep the crowds away.

We had young and too-old alike walking our street for candy. Mack loved answering the door each and every time the doorbell rang!

Hunter stayed in this year; our kind neighbor dropped a bag of treats off to him though!

Can you spot the Mack-o-lantern?

Quinn and I never got a pic in our costumes. We were too busy answering the door, taking care of sick boys, and feeding.


Sunday - Mack woke up with a cold. So Dax and Preslie went to church together while I stayed home with the sickies and the baby. We had 4 trick-or-treaters come by. The kids' fish Spottie-Dottie died. That is probably from Mack dumping the whole container of fish food in the bowl a couple days ago and no one cleaning it out. (I finally cleaned the fish bowl...I can't believe we got the fish in March and we still have one left...oh and now the frog.) If only kids stayed excited about the animals that they begged to get!



I'm crackers about my Mackers!

incredible week

So much fun, we have had. (darn Clone Wars is rubbing off) We really enjoyed Preslie's 3rd grade program! A lady from Salt Lake came out for a week and taught the whole 3rd grade traditional Mexican folkloric dancing and costumed them beautifully. The dances were so fun. We were so focused on watching the beautiful dances, we didn't notice Mack run up on stage to dance with Preslie. How embarrassing for Dax that I made him go fetch our 3-year-old! I hope that taught Preslie a lesson about not planting funny ideas in her little brother's mind.


The Deer Hunt opening weekend took Dax from home for 3 long work days in a row (sun up to sun down). We were both trashed after that! Nice to have him back for 2 days to help whip the house and our kids back into shape. I tell you, I don't know how single parents do it. Raising a family and running a home was not meant to be done by one person. God Bless all the single parents out there.

Our fabulous friends Tina and Clint invited us to their house for a Halloween Party. I have always wanted my family to dress up as a theme but have never been able to talk everyone into it. The gang finally agreed to do it just for the party and I think we looked great!
Tina is an awesome hostess and we had a great time! Thanks, guys!

I have been gearing up for this weekend and all the Halloween parties and activities that go with it. I am in charge of Hunter's class party Friday and have been sewing costumes, making a bean bag toss game and calling Moms.

We also got everyone in for our flu shots. What a relief to get that done and over with. My big kids put up quite a fight. I am so glad Dax had the day off so he could hold Hunter down to get his. That kid is too strong for me now. Wow. Not a shot lover, that one. Hopefully our precautionary measures will keep us out of the hospital this year.

I don't know if it is from the shot, but Hunter was so tired today. His teacher called me and told me Hunter fell asleep at his desk during class. He came home from school and slept 2 hours and I
still put him to bed at his regular time.



I hope he will be well enough to make it to school tomorrow, especially for the Halloween party that I am going to help with! I love this time of year and I love going to the school to see all the hyper, dressed-up kids and playing games with them. One of these years I am going to throw a huge bash at my house but for now, I am just going to hit the parties everywhere else and save my sanity until I have a bit of it to spare.

My Dad came out last night and went to work in the field with Dax today. I hope they are having fun in the great outdoors!

Should be a fun weekend! Have a great Halloween!

Q-T with a capital Q

Quinn hasn't gotten near the blog time she deserves. I had no idea a baby would take up so much of my blog time (ha!).
Well suffice it to say that I LOVE THIS BABY!

She melts my heart! She is such a joy! I love her plump, rolly, huggable body! That baby skin just screams to be kissed. She is perfect.

lucky 7

I got lucky when Hunter joined our family. Dax and I had no idea how good we had it with this kid until Mack came along. But that is another post.

Hunter is a great kid! He is just chill and sweet and obedient. I love his innocence and sincerity; I hope he always stays that way. One cute conversation we had a couple weeks ago...

I saw a teeny spider on the floor and said, "Oh look, there's a spider." Hunter said frantically, "Where?! I hate spiders!"

Bewildered, I said, "Bud, you aren't scared of spiders are you? You catch grasshoppers and pull off their legs."

"Mom," he said, "I'm not scared of grasshoppers. But spiders are arachnids. That is a totally different story."

This morning Hunter woke up and opened a few presents. His school teacher grandma always knows how to delight and educate with her gifts.

Mack, Quinn, and I stopped by Hunter's school class to bring him a Happy Meal for lunch. Mack won the hearts of the whole class with his raspy, high-pitched, "Supwize!"
Mack loved taking Hunter a surprise and as soon as we left, he wanted to do it again.

Hunter had his favorite buds, Jaden and Grady over to play after school.


Dax made hamburgers that blew our minds and we had some yummy Lego cake for dessert.



Here is one happy dude. He is all about the Lego Star Wars...



And that concludes our fabulous Fall birthdays. Three boys' birthdays in under 30 days! Whew.

Time to take a break from birthday cake..

elk hunt

Yes I went elk hunting. Yes I took my 2-month-old. Yes I am crazy. The kids and I only went for one night. I got my fill of the beautiful yellow and orange aspens. I also got my fill of stress worrying about keeping a baby warm over night. It will get better as our family gets older. The kids had a blast. Hunter woke up early and went out hunting with the guys. He is so cute.

Congrats to Craiger on his bull! So fun to have him and Matt come out and spend some good American quality family time with us!

Mack is 3

This is the most adorable child (good thing or we would have gotten rid of him by now)! Quinn owes her existence in large part to Mack's cuteness. What would we ever do without him.


I have been going through a lot of boxes of baby clothes lately and Mack found some little pink sandals in a box and was trying to put them on his chubby feet, screaming in frustration, "I WANT TO WEAR GIRL SHOES!"

Last time Grandpa Craiger was over, he gave Mack a wet willie. Then Mack said, "I can do that." Then Mack stuck his finger in his mouth then gave himself a wet willie.

The other day Mack was kissing Quinn quite roughly and I said, "That's too hard!" to which he replied, "It's ok, we're having a hard party."


Some things I want to remember about Mack:

• his creative eating style
• how he loves to "tickle" with my hair
• takes forever to go to sleep (can't wait to forget this one)
  
• he loves to get in the mud
• he loves anything with wheels
• he loves animals and doesn't ever want them to be lonely
• he and his Dad share a special bond (ahem...Dax can't say no to him) and Mack loves to go to work with his Daddy and ride his horses and 4-wheelers
• the way he says 4-wheeler (fee lellow)
• the way he speaks; his little voice, his vocabulary, his lisps, everything
  
• that he answers "yes" instead of yeah.
• that he would live on candy and cookies if we let him
• he likes to tell jokes
• he would never get off the "fwing" if someone would stand there and push him forever
  
• loves crashed up things, burnt things, and anything else that is destroyed and also delights in doing his own destruction
• the names he comes up with when he plays...Zarnold Barnold is my fave. When you play with him, he can think of a name in 1 second and they are always original and always awesome.
• he potty trained a week before Quinn was born
• he loves all people and never wants anyone to leave our house including cub scouts, visiting teachers, babysitters, the mailman, his friends, work people, Dax, Preslie, Hunter, and especially Mom!

I just love this age because he doesn't really care about the gifts; he was so happy and content with the fact that it was his birthday and that he got cupcakes. He woke up and opened a couple gifts.

We played and watched conference all day. Preslie and Hunter dragged each other around and tried to give each other giant wedgies. I just love that creative indoor fun.


Dax got home from his hunting trip in the afternoon and Mack went on a treasure hunt for his bike from Grandpa and Grandma... a total hit!


I was hoping that age 3 would somehow magically be the end of his disaster days but after I cleaned up 2 messes in the bathroom and sugar and salt dumped on the counters, I realized he was just 2 yesterday and Mack will be Mack.

Here is round one of the singing and candles.


Here is round 2.

We love our Mack!