Why 2 is actually 40

So I just got off the phone with a lady from the school district who needs me to come down to the school and sign a consent form.  I asked if there was any way she could send it home with my son in his backpack because I have three small children at home.

She gave me some explanation with a lot of technical terms about why I had to sign it in person, and then said, "But it's not a big deal--It takes 2 minutes--you can just bring the kids in with you, and we'll get it all taken care of."

It will take her 2 minutes.

But it will take me
10 minutes of rounding up shoes for everyone and getting them on their feet.

+ 7 minutes of loading everyone in the car, and getting everyone buckled and changing someone's diaper since inevitably, Sydney or Hayden will poop right before loading the car.

+ 10 minutes of driving to and from the school

+ 4 minutes unbuckling, unfolding the stroller and getting Sydney in her stroller.

+ 7 more minutes to herd the children to and from her classroom and keep them from touching everything  they see.

+2 minutes--to sign the paper and get my copy.  

=40 min.

Are we famous now?

This Saturday we went to the DVD release event for Susie Tallman's first Music Video DVD.  Dallin & Daphne were involved in some of the filming for this project, so it was super fun to see them in some of the songs.  When I told them we were going to watch the DVD that they were in, they were so excited and kept talking about how they were probably famous now.  

Thank goodness they are not famous, but being on a professionally produced DVD is still fun even if you're not famous.  ;)  

My kids with the FAMOUS Susie Tallman!

The release party was very fun with face painting, balloons, popcorn, a raffle for cool prizes (that we did not win), gift bags for the kids, and a showing of the DVD.

This DVD is GREAT!  It's 45 minutes of classic children's songs and nursery rhymes.  Some are funny, (even Arthur and I were laughing at a couple of them,) some are beautiful, and some just make you wanna dance.  My kids are loving it so far--(even Dallin who might be getting kind of old for this sort of thing.) After watching the song "Lavender's Blue" Hayden said, "That'th tho cute."

This is a great gift for anyone with kids, or even just for the young at heart.  Check her website to order, or they are also available through Amazon.  You can preview a couple of the songs from her DVD on YouTube. 

You definitely want to get your own copy!!!

Vote for Dallin

Student Council Elections

Dallin came home from school one day and wanted to run for the Student Council at his school.  He worked very hard on these amazing posters:

Also, he had to give a speech in front of the whole school, which I thought was VERY brave.  He was nervous, but he did a great job.  Way to go Dallin!  I took Sean, Hayden and Sydney down to the school to hear the speeches, and it was just our luck that they saved all the Treasure speeches for last.  Sean was getting really annoyed at all the other people who were giving their speeches, and since there were about 7 candidates for each position, it seemed like forever before we got to hear Dallin.

He didn't win, but he wasn't very disappointed, and I was proud of him just for trying.  He was, however, elected to be his class representative, which means we need to get him to school an hour early once a week.  (Still working out the logistics of that one.)

Dallin's  speech:

My name is Dallin Gariety and I am running for the office of treasurer.

I think I would be a good treasurer because I like counting money. 

I really like being around money, I like looking at money, and
 I like thinking of ways to spend money.

I am also vary good at saving money. And I am vary responsible.

Vote for Dallin and your "treasure" will be in good hands.

Colorado Springs Trip

For the past six years, we have gone to one BYU game a year.  It worked out that every other year they played UNM here in Albuquerque, and on the off years they played Air Force in Colorado Springs, a mere five hour drive.  :)  (Now that they are independent, I guess we'll just have to go up to Provo once a year.)

This year was an Air Force year.

There were quite a few people from Albuquerque who went up for the game, and we ran into a lot of them at the hotel.  

The kids favorite part is this water slide at the hotel we stayed at.  

It was super fun!  We got there around 4 p.m. on Friday afternoon and had the pool & slide to ourselves!  I spent a couple of hours on it myself.  The kids also did some post-breakfast sliding the next day with our friends, the Schmutz's who'd arrived late the night before.  We love those guys.

Even though this picture is blurry, I had to put it in
because I love Hayden's face in this picture.

The game didn't start until 2 p.m., so we also had time to check out the 

Garden of the Gods.  It was pretty crowded--I think a bunch of other Mormons in town for the game must have had the same idea!  I kept hearing passersby wondering what all the "Y" shirts were for.

The BYU/Airforce Game

Dallin & Bobby doing some team-work walking up to the stadium.

I love Bobby's shirt!

Air Force is a great place to go to a game because the crowd is generally pretty nice, and they have cool stuff like Fighter planes that do a fly-over when it's time for Kick-off, and a real Falcon that flies and dives over the stadium during half time, and the cadets who march out before the game in uniform and then race up into the stands for the game.

Here are the cadets lined up in their squadrons.  Then once they are all out on the field, they are given a signal and they all run up into the stands.  It's cool to see how quickly they get off the field!

They brought this HUGE flag out during half time.  And the entire stadium all sang 

"God Bless America" together.  Very cool.

Despite Sean asking at the beginning of the second quarter if the game was almost done, the kids did pretty well.  With a steady supply of game food and fun friends to distract them, we made it through. And little Sydney mostly slept in her Daddy's "magic arms."

The sad score was 14-35, Air Force. 

Not gonna lie, I was pretty shocked that we lost.  And it was really disappointing that we didn't score once after the first quarter, but I guess if we had to lose to someone (especially on 9/11) I'm glad it was Air Force.  It would have been nice if it were a little closer, though.  Now let's just hope our offense gets it together for the next game!  Come on Cougs!

Labor Day Hike

Arthur is really great at planning fun outings for our family.  For Labor Day we took the kids on a hike to the San Gregorio Lake.  We picnicked up in the mountains before we started the hike and then tried a little fishing when we got to the lake.

We might have caught something if Hayden and Sean weren't constantly throwing rocks into the water, and if the lines weren't always getting tangled.  Poor Dallin managed to seriously tangle both fishing lines.  He told me sadly, "I guess I'm about the worst fisherman in the world."  I assured him it was okay.  I'd never caught a fish in my life, and I'm still a decent person.

Sydney didn't enjoy our outing as much as the rest of us.  She cried no matter how I had her positioned in the Baby Bjorn, and wasn't even very happy when we took her out.  Poor little girl.

Moments

Lame Motherhood Moments

and "Stop-Time" Moments

Lame Moment #1

So a couple of weeks ago we had a ward primary talent show.  Happened to be the same day as Daphne's birthday.  That day was jam-packed with activities and I had everything all worked out so that we could squeeze it all in.  Dallin had been practicing his piano piece for weeks and was really good at it, and the other three were excited to sing "Scripture Power" together.  So at 6:45 we loaded everyone up and pulled up to the church five minutes early.  We were doing awesome.  Remarkably, judging by the number of mini-vans in the parking lot, everyone else was early too.  We got inside and proceeded to find a seat, when my friend Kellie said, "Sharee--it's over!  It started at 6!"

I think my jaw dropped as I inwardly kicked myself for not verifying the start time.  When I told Dallin that I got the time wrong and we'd missed it, his face just fell.  I felt very small and very awful.  We were about to just load the kids back in the car when a member of the primary presidency spotted us, and had everyone bring their refreshments to their seats to hear the Gariety kids' talents.  I was so embarrassed they had to do that!  (I admit I don't have it all together a lot of the time.  But it was pretty embarrassing to have it out there for the whole ward to see.  And besides, we missed the great talents of all the rest of the primary kids!)  But once I got over being embarrassed, I was really grateful, because Dallin & Daphne had really been looking forward to performing their talents, and it didn't seem to phase them too much in the end that they missed the actual program.  All's well that ends well, right?

Lame Moment #2

The other day I noticed that it had been awhile since I'd seen Hayden running around.  I asked Sean if he'd seen him, and Sean said he was upstairs.  But it's not like Hayden to be hanging out by himself for long. So I went up to check on him.  I didn't see him in any rooms.  After looking all over the house and in the back yard calling his name, I decided to check the garage.

To my horror, I found that the garage door had been opened.  So I asked my neighbor to come stay with Sean & Sydney while I spent 10 terrifying minutes checking at the park and up and down my street looking for any sign of my 2 year old.   With the worst possible scenarios running through my head, and praying like crazy, I decided to come home to call Arthur and then the police.  But then I thought to look upstairs once more.

I found him asleep in a corner of the playroom that was obscured by the couch.  I swallowed, and tried to slow my breathing while the pounding of my heart echoed in my ears.  I can't really describe how wonderful it was to see him sleeping peacefully in that corner.

As my neighbor left, she told me that I need to "escape-proof" my house.  So true.

"Stop-Time Moments"

On a more upbeat note,  I read this article that a friend had linked to her blog.  It is so good, and made me remember how grateful I am for the time that I have with my kids, and that I want to treasure each moment because it won't be long before it's gone.  Here are a few excerpts from "Bittersweet Song of September" by Beverly Beckham:

September whisks kids away and entertains them and beguiles them, but returns them not as they were but changed and in a different size. That’s why parents cry as they stand and wave goodbye. Because first grade becomes fifth grade becomes high school becomes college even as you watch.

How is this, I wonder, that a day alone with a colicky baby and an I-don’t-take-a-nap-anymore 2-year-old can feel like a year? But 18 years can go by in a blink of an eye? 

Time won’t stop. It won’t even slow down. That’s why we’ll pay attention and take pictures. So we’ll never forget the day. So that even when it’s passed, it will remain. 

5 & 7

Happy Birthday to Daphne and Sean!

For Daphne's birthday this year, we went to the zoo as a family (it's extra special when Daddy comes too.)  And it just so happens that Daphne shares a birthday with an elephant named Daisy, who turned one this year.  So we got double the festivities.

Daisy and her grandmother.  

The kids enjoying free cupcakes in honor of Daisy's birthday.

Sydney in her pink and brown daisy outfit.
This little girl loves to play with her tongue.

Blowing out the candles

Nona made Daphne this darling dress, and a little quilt
that is the perfect size for snuggling up and watching a movie.

Daphne is 7 years old and we just love having her in our family.  She is so much fun to play with, and is a good helper with her little sister.  She has a beautiful smile contagious laugh.  She loves to be girly--loves painting her nails and dressing up, loves sparkles and pretty things.  Her favorite color right now is turquoise.  (It rotates frequently between pinks, purples, and now, turquoise.) She likes left-over macaroni and cheese, chocolate and any kind of ice cream.  She loves making crafts, drawing, writing, and is learning to enjoy reading.  She loves animals and wishes her mom would let her have a cat.  I told her she can certainly have a cat when she is a mom.  And she said, "Well by the time I'm a mom, I probably won't want one anymore."  (definitely a possibility.)   She loves to have fun and be social.  And she is a good friend.  We just love her to pieces.

 Happy Birthday Daphne!

Since Sean turned five this year, he got a party.  

(I only do parties on certain birthdays--5,8, 12, & 16.--so far it's worked out to be just one party a year!  That's a good thing because I'm not very good at throwing them.)

Blowing out his candles

At the party we made these little stick horses to play with.
Thank goodness one of the moms was there to help out,
or it would have taken the whole time!!  Thanks Sarah!

Here is Sean's quilt from Nona.  So darling!
They've already been broken in at our
most recent movie night this past weekend.

My kids love to dress up, so Sean also got this
Buzz Lightyear costume to play with.
(And it will also be used for Halloween.  ;)  

Sean has grown so much this past year.  He just started going to preschool which he loves so far.  (today was only day 2, so that's not saying much, I guess.)  He is great at playing with Hayden and great at entertaining himself.  He isn't easily persuaded to things that everyone else does, which I think will really be a strength when he gets to middle and high school.  For the most part, he is gentle.  It takes a lot of provocation on Hayden's part before Sean resorts to physical retaliation, which is lucky for Hayden because Sean is a big strong boy.  At least he gives fair warning.  The other day I heard him say quite matter-of-factly, "Hayden, if you do that again, I'm gonna punch you."

Sean gives Sydney about 10 kisses every day.  He will do almost anything to earn computer time or video games.  He is a great eater, and particularly enjoys pastas with creamy sauces, and cookie dough.  (He asks me to bake cookies on a regular basis, mostly so he can help me eat the dough.)  We love this kid and are so thankful to have him in our family!

Happy Birthday, Sean!

randomness

1.  I love the smell of Lowes.  Paint and hardware, and lumber, and new things . . .  I just can't get enough.

2.  Does anybody like Baby Ruth candy bars?  I have a bag of mixed mini-candy-bars that I use as bribes for my kids, and as we're nearing the end of the bag, it's almost all the Baby Ruth bars that everyone has avoided choosing.  If you like them, tell me and I'll mail all of our rejects to you.  :)

3.  Yo Gabba Gabba might be one of the most annoying kid shows I have ever seen.

4.  Five little boys together at a birthday party are VERY VERY loud.

5.  Breastfeeding stresses me out.  When she's fussy, I'm wondering what I ate that she didn't like.  When she spits up, I feel like it's probably my fault for eating chocolate or green chili or whatever.  And when she's still hungry afterwards I feel inadequate, and wonder what I'm doing that causes me to dry up so soon. Despite all of those worries, I just really want to make it to six months for once.  Maybe I'm being irrational, but there it is.  Breast is best--But it makes me stressed.

6.  Looking forward to starting up football season again.  Daphne recently said, "Since we have the "Noggin" channel, that means we have cable.  And that means football season is almost here.  And THAT means our friends are going to come over for the games!"  Go COUGS!

7.  More canning is in my future.  We just picked 10 bags of apples and 10 bags of pears.  Yahoo for harvesting!  I'm so glad the previous owners of this home planted so many fruit trees!  We also picked up tons of rotten fruit from the ground.  The kids were seeing who could pick up the most disgusting piece, and Hayden kept saying, "Look Mom, Groth!" (gross) or "Dithguthting!" (disgusting.)