Halloween '08

Well, it came and went, nothing too exciting, we're kinda boring these days. We did the Trunk-or-Treat at the church Wednesday night. Ronnie(in his best whiny voice, which is pretty whiny these days) "Just couldn't wait till Trick-or-Treat day!!!!" Mom could care less, because it just means a month of non-stop "Can I have candy? Mom, PLEEEEEEASE! I need candy...I'm starving!" Which eventually ends in me throwing away most of the spoils. I know...I'm mean! Ronnie reminds me of that at least once a day. Anyway, this year Ronnie was an elephant, Ryland a bear. What's that you say...he doesn't look like a bear in the pictures. Oh, that's right! Because the cute, fuzzy bear costume I fell in love with, that clearly stated it was size 18 months(Ryland still wears 12 month), was not even close to fitting! (Yeah, way too small!) The poor kid, I still tried desperately, to no avail, when I thought I might break body parts trying to get it on, I decided to do a re-run and he wore Ronnie's Tigger outfit from when he was 10 months old, yes, somehow, the 10 month outfit fit. Go figure! Yeah, I know I ramble. We carved pumpkins for family night the Monday before. Well, mom carved, the boys just played with the guts, Ryland ate them, and the pumpkin lid, and then decided mom needed to wear them, so began throwing the guts all over me. That's about it...till next year!

Late Night Ramblings...

...of a rather self-indulgent type, as my mom might comment. I don't sleep when my husband is on the road, which translates to, I don't sleep much because my husband is always on the road. Does anyone else not sleep when their spouse is gone, or are you all lucky enough not to know what I am talking about? Anyway, so I tried to go to bed, and my mind is racing with thoughts, so my solution to quiet the chaos is to post. Hey, I have to talk to someone, my 5 and 1 year old just don't seem to understand, they just look at me like I'm crazy, which of course I am.

I have been delaying the most recent news about Ronnie because it just shows what a horrible mom I am. (Somehow I thought I was fooling you all this time, but I know you really can see right through me!) While in Utah this last week, we went to the Dentist (Uncle Cory) for our once every some odd years cleaning (because I am deathly afraid of any dentist that isn't him). Nelson and I checked out great, but my poor Ronnie...had eight cavities! I know, you are all shaking your finger at me. That's not even the worst part, two of the cavities were so bad, he had to have a "baby root canal" as Cory called it. He also said that Ronnie set the record for the most dental work he has done on a child without putting them under all the way, because Ronnie didn't want any shots. I hope he won't be permanently traumatized, this was his first "official" experience with the dentist. Yikes!

So, I just watched Biggest Loser Families, because someday I am going to get motivated too, just not today. Well, it scared the fat right out of me when they showed the pictures of what the contestants insides looked like. Yuck! I know someone will probably tell me they aren't accurate pictures, they are most likely glammed up for TV, but hey, they got the point across real fast, I might have to change my mind about being motivated! Anyone else watch?

I also watched my other guilty pleasure, and I am almost afraid to tell you I watch it for fear of retribution. How To Look Good "Neked", yes, I said it, well I guess I only sorta said it. Anyways, I find it quite amusing, because while I really would love to find the confidence to feel good about myself the way I am, I really don't think spending 5 days with Carson Kressley, who is incredibly gay (Does anyone else find it odd that a show about appreciating a woman's body is hosted by a gay man?) is going to cure me of my body loathing, because let's face it, at the end of the day, I'm still fat and I don't want to be. I think it's all fake, but highly entertaining, in a weird sort of way. Okay, now feel free to tell me how bad I am for watching, I'm ready to face the music.

Does anybody know how to get stains out of carpet, like permanently, because I clean them, and they look good for few weeks, but then they come back, like some evil magic that is mocking my hard work. Thank you baby spit up for making sure my carpet never forgets you were there.

Okay, so the last torture for this post, although if you are reading it, it's your own fault if it is torture, is a survey. I am trying to decide on a vinyl quote for my bedroom wall, but torn, and when I ask my DH, I get a typical male response, "What's the difference?" Can you help a girl out and let me know which one you like?

I promise this will be the last self-indulgent post, at least for a long while, because I sort of feel guilty for writing it, but I'm going to post it anyway after I spent all this time writing it. We'll just call it "journaling" and say I am doing as the brethren have commanded. Humor Me!

Edit: Sorry for the spelling errors, I just went through and re-read the post, I'm sure my mom was ready to shoot me, so I spell-checked and fixed them! Sorry mom!

Addicted!

Okay, I'm such a conformist. But in my defense, I don't get out much, so I have to keep up with the times somehow. My latest conformity, the Twilight series. I'm totally addicted, and I can't wait for the movie to come out. If you haven't read it, you really don't know what you are missing out on. Nuff said!

Our Trip to Alaska.

We spent a week (two for Nelson) in Alaska saying goodbye to summer before the school year started. We had lots of fun and got to see some beautiful country. Before the kids and I got there Nelson went Caribou hunting, and got one! We also went Halibut fishing, which was loads of fun, and I caught The Big One. It was still real little for a halibut, but it was big enough for me. It was 41" long and weighed 32lbs. The guy we went fishing with, a family friend, has a buddy that caught a 267lb. halibut the week before we were there, so the picture you see of the boys standing by the huge carved halibut, they totally get that big. AMAZING! All in all, we brought home 125 lbs. of meat between the halibut and the caribou, that should last us a while. Other than that, we did a few site seeing things, like Independence Mine, an old gold mine, and mostly we just enjoyed spending time with Nelson and meeting family we still had never met(the boys and I anyway). Nelson is already planning our next move, he's ready to pack up and move to Alaska. Would ya'll come visit? We'd promise lot's of fish and hunting?

First Haircut!

I don't know what it is with me and my kids' first haircuts, but I find them very traumatic. I cried when I cut Ronnie's curls off, and I thought this time would be different. Boy was I wrong! Nelson has been bugging me for months, even threatening, that Ryland needed a haircut. But I refused, he's just a baby, what does he need a haircut, I loved his hair. Then, one Sunday morning, I got this crazy idea that maybe he did need just a trim. So, I got out the treat's, and the scissors, but the treats weren't distracting enough, and he wouldn't hold still, so I got out the clippers thinking I would just use a big attachment. So I got one that I thought looked good, and then it was too late! The very first pass and I knew I had made a huge mistake. The tears came, and to make matters worse, Ronnie just laughed the whole time repeating my terrified words "It's so short!" I was so upset, I almost didn't go to church, especially because I knew Nelson would make a big deal out of it, and he did. So, it has taken me two weeks to post the results of this highly traumatic experience.

Pre-Haircut!

Post Haircut! All grown up now.

Happy Birthday!

Well, my baby is 1! He is growing up WAY TOO FAST...which I find very disturbing. It' s just not fair. Why? I ask, are they in such a hurry to stop being young, carefree, and naive to this crazy world. What I wouldn't give to be 1 again, or 5, or even 8 or 9, but not 12, 16, or any other teen year. Heaven forbid they ever become teenagers! Has anyone found that magic remote that stops your kids from becoming teenagers? I can't handle my 5 year old, how am I ever going to survive the teen years? I guess we start "small" and get "bigger" as we hopefully get better at this whole parenting game. Ugh, I give up know, it's quite daunting to think about.

Anyway, back to the real subject matter, this last year has flown by, faster than any year I have lived through yet. (Is that a sign I am getting old?) We were at the school registering Ronnie for Kindergarten and there was a tiny few week old baby. So ADORABLE, incredibly small, and Ronnie says to me "Oh, mom! Look at that cute little baby! Ryland was never that small!" Oh yes he was! But it is soo hard to remember, it went soo quickly. I looked at him lying in his crib the other day when I put him down for nap, and thought, wow, he really is growing up, he is now longer than half the length of his crib, he's looks like a toddler, not a baby anymore. So, I have come to the conclusion that it is DEFINITELY time for another bundle of joy! (Keep your prayers constant and your fingers crossed, we are going for one the "Product of Nelson and Morgan" way this time.)

As for the actual Birthday Celebrations, we really kept them small. We had a wedding the next day, so we didn't want to overshadow. Wink, Wink! We went to Silver Dollar City, and this time, Ryland actually rode some rides. His favorite... the Jumping/Bouncing Frogs of course! His favorite present... his new Squeaky shoes, idea courtesy of cousin Sienna, but I have to say, I wish I had a video camera 'cause it was hilarious when he had them on. His favorite cake... oh, wait, he didn't like his cake! Go figure? He stuck his hands in it a few times, was certainly not interested in eating it, and then cried because there was "stuff" all over his hands. Oh, well! Brother liked the cake just fine, even post Ryland mutilation.

Putting on our Squeaky Shoes! So exciting!

I know Ryland's face is blurry, 'cause he just wouldn't stop jumping for the pictures, but Casadee's face totally says it all!

Ryland's first Birthday cake, and judging by his reaction...it may be his last!

Mud Boots!

Here is a lesson in concrete, for those who are unfamiliar. My husband finishes concrete for a living. The basics: it's not cement, it's concrete. Portland cement is the powder used to bond the "ingredients" of the concrete together. If you are really into concrete, it's called mud! The one necessity for finishing concrete, mud boots, otherwise known as rain boots to the rest of the world. These protect your footsies from all the nasty chemicals in the concrete when you are stomping around in it. Concrete burns are not good! (Yes, I am speaking from experience!)

Ronnie went to work, officially, with his daddy for the first time the other day. I have not seen Nelson so excited about something in a long time. He could not wait to get Ronnie his first mud boots. Unfortunately, they are a pain in the behind to put on! And Ronnie wants to wear them everywhere, because of course, he knows that "they are for rain too, duh, mom!"

Desperately trying to put the mud boots on!

Maybe this will work?

Nope...Still trying!

Yes! Success at last, now it's time to show off, play outside, and decide we want them off 5 minutes from now! Only to turn around and want them back on in half an hour! (Note that he is also wearing his pajamas. At least he's dressed, this is my naked child we are talking about!)

Wild Blackberries!

We have yet another perk to living on so much land in the middle of nowhere, WILD BLACKBERRIES! Since the day Ronnie got out school, (and probably before that) he has asked me everyday, "It's berry time because it's summer now, right?" or "When is it berry time?" Well, it's finally berry time. YUM!

Country Swimming!

The other day we went swimming in the creek that runs right through our property. I love it! I couldn't ask for more. I live in some of the most beautiful country I have seen. I'm waiting for y'all to join us, you know it's going to happen some day..you're going to have to come live with me in BEAUTIFUL, humid, "Misery" (as my family loves to so delicately put it)!

Ronnie "swimming" because he refuses to let us teach him how to really swim. He is deathly afraid of any thing deeper than 2 feet of water. Any suggestions?

Nelson and Ryland enjoying the shallow bank. Well, I don't know that Ryland was really enjoying it, I think he was a bit overwhelmed.

Me and the boys. One of the few pictures of myself I will ever post, Ryland was blocking most of me, so you got lucky this time! (JK)

Ryland hanging out with Aunt Casadee.

(Ok, so, side note, I could have sworn swim was spelled, swuim. Am I just a horrible speller, or is the blog spell check crazy!?)

M'Mries Photography

I finally got my Photography Blog going! Something I have been wanting to do for awhile, because I am totally addicted to this whole blog thing now. Check it out @ www.mmriesphotography.blogspot.com.