Laughter IS the best medicine...for reals

I started off this morning pretty much in a grumpy mood...I hate to admit, but this is pretty much how I start most of my mornings. I don't know if it is because of the simple fact that I have to drag my bootylicious butt out of bed, or because I have told Easton for the twenty sixth time to put his blasted shoes on. Maybe it's because when I am occupied in the bathroom fixing Graycie's hair, I come out to find that Tyson has climbed out of his highchair, onto the counter (AGAIN!!!) made a mess of the left over breakfast and ruined a house plant that I have miraculously kept alive for over four years now. I was pretty upset about the loss of my plant. Although I guess on the bright side, it's just one less thing I have to take care of.

So I finally get Easton and Graycie out of the house and am left here with Trenton, Tyson, and the aftermath of hurricane TyTy. This does absolutely nothing for my already "chipper" mood. I look around, take a deep breathe, and do...nothing. Too overwhelmed. I just don't feel like cleaning the kitchen, making beds, vacuuming whatever...I wanted nothing to do with any of it.

Instead I decide to blast some music and dance with my kids. Responsible, I know. Trenton grabbed a bag of potato chips and we all danced around shoving our faces with greasy pieces of goodness. As we were all rocking out, the kids were smiling and laughing like this was as good as it gets. I couldn't help but think, what the johnny was I so grumpy about...this IS as good as it gets. It was like I got hit smack dab in the middle of my forehead with the realization that my mood is what I make of it. I know you all are thinking..."DUH RALPH!" but seriously I can't believe how I went from Debbie Downer to Tracy Turnblad during the course of one smashing song. I can't believe that I have been so stupid...the cure to a crappy mood is; make your kids laugh. There is nothing like it, and I fear the day when I can't make my kids laugh just by making a silly face, or tickling them. I guess as they get older I always have "trying to be hip" that always seems to get a laugh. But for now, it will be my goal to make all of my children laugh on a daily basis. It is a privilege that I have four healthy amazing children and there is nothing in the world that I love more than to hear them laugh.

I can pretty much guarantee that tomorrow we will start this vicious cycle all over again, but for now...I'm happy.

Our "Spare" room

I am always dreaming of owning a bigger house. I would love a 5 bedroom, that way everyone would have their own room...including Steve and I. Right now we have Easton and Trenton sharing a bunk in one room, Graycie in her own room, and Me, Steve, and our roomie (that's what Steve calls Tyson) in our room. Not near enough space.

Every night we put the kids to bed; Grace in her room, Tyson in our room, and Easton and Trenton in their respectable bunk beds, and pretty much every night this happens...

Ahhh, and even sharing the same pillow. Some nights, Graycie will sneak her way into the boys room too. So here I am thinking we "need" more space, when in all reality by the time the night is over we actually have a spare bedroom. It is pretty sweet that as much as my kids fight and annoy each other during the day, they still find comfort in one another.

So for now, we all co-exist semi-peacefully in our little three bedroom house...just don't get me started on closet space.

My kids this week in a nutshell

TRENTON informed me yesterday that he wants to marry the girl from Monster House.

GRAYCIE'S new favorite word; "apparently" (used in the correct context, 96% of the time)

TYSON can now say his favorite cousin to beat on's name...which when he says it sounds an awful lot like the name of a certain house elf from Harry Potter.

I picked EASTON up for lunch yesterday to meet with some friends at McDonald's playland, when what was supposed to be an hour or two turned into more than three I asked him if he would hate it if I didn't take him back to school, he was more than willing to oblige. When we were in the parking lot leaving he exclaims, "THIS IS THE HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!!"

Blah!!!

I apologize in advance for I am not usually negative or too complainy...well, except to you Rachael, but whatevs. So I've noticed that a lot of fellow bloggers use their blog as a platform to vent, so today...that's exactly what I'm going to do.

First off, I'm tired. I don't really feel much explanation is needed beyond this simple fact; I have FOUR kids. Dude, that's like alot.

Second, baseball season is off to a swingin start. A-woo-hoo. (sarcasm) Steve being the amazing father he is, coaches Eastons little league team. He does an amazing job, and I couldn't be prouder of him. Okay, now back to me. See Steve coaching leaves me in the bleachers by myself for ALL the games. Wait, what am I saying, bleachers? What are those? I would give anything to be complaining about bleacher butt. Fat chance, I'm back and forth between Trenton and Tyson, and Tyson and Trenton. Graycie does great, but the boys? There are no words. Perfect example: Monday I had Tyson locked down in his stroller and Trenton bundled up next to me. It was pretty freaking cold and Trenton wanted to go to the van. Mind you, Saturday I begged him to sit in the van with me, but instead he decides to run onto the field. The other parents found humor in this, me...not so freaking much. So I tell Trenton we are not going to the van and that I wanted to watch Easton bat. Trenton hops down and headed over to where Graycie was playing. Easton's up so I watch Easton, then watch Trenton. Trenton is now heading towards the parking lot to our van. I look back at Easton. "Hurry up and pitch the bloomin ball!!!" Back to Trenton. "Dang it!!! Too far." I get up and run after him. Just as I'm running I hear the crack of the ball hitting the bat and the crowd going wild (we have quite the crowd of enthusiastic parents.) I grab Trenton drag him back to the game and now Tyson is squirming for dear life to be free from his restraints. I take both kids to the van and lock the doors. Not two seconds after we get in the van Trenton spouts out, "I have to go to the bathroom."

Third, its about that time. So every little thing becomes magnified by my surging hormones. Most of you can relate...to those of you who can't...I hate you. (Sorry, that was the hormones talking.) I don't know if anyone elses kids make annoying noises. But mine do this thing that I can't even begin to describe in words. But I'll try...It's like they will be playing and out of nowhere will become possessed by a current of energy or something that can only be released by the most piercing scream sure to make your ears bleed. I don't know why, but there is something about this certain scream that sends a rush of anger through my entire body. Let me tell you it is all I can do to hold it all in. It's physically exhausting...hey, there's another reason I'm tired.

Fourth and final, I have to go grocery shopping. (stolen from my favorite line of this blog.)

Thanks for the session.

Candid Trenton

I wanted to get Trenton on video speaking because the way he talks is so freaking cute (sometimes.) I asked him this question, "Trenton, could you tell me some things about your family?" Thinking I would get a sweet little answer, instead I got this. (see video.)

I'm sure you are all just as confused as I am. I have no explanation as to what the crap he was talking about. But I must say, that I was very appreciative that after he used all the potty words he could think of (okay, maybe not ALL), but he finally decided to use his manners when he wanted my attention. Now that's a class act, ey?

Happy Birthday Aubs!!!

Happy Birthday

to my niece who is two

who's back-Sass and volume
to her mother is true.
She's not a big eater

and can't be much thinner
I think this would change

if marker tips were for dinner.

She tattles and bosses

on my poor son "ah Ty-Ty"

and blames him for things

that I'm sure is a lie-lie.

Toy Story Two

is her movie of choice

and when shes not yelling

has the most precious voice.

She loves make-up and purses

and she loves her Li
I love you so much

Happy Birthday, Dear Aubrey.

Who says you can't skateboard in the house?

One of the many things we let our kids do in the house that we were never allowed to do.

Fishin'

Rainbow Lake.
Colton trying to touch the fish.
Once they moved...he was gone.

Trenton playing yo-yo with his fish, UP...
DOWN.

Mmm...sushi
Tyson....taking the bait.
I caught one!!!
Spencer with his birthday cupcake.
Where's the food?
Running to tell the world, he finally caught one!!!

Great Grandpa Landoni with a fish.
Get ready for the ride of your life, little fish.
What are you fishing for? You've already got the best catch.
Easton, in his element.
Long day at work.

Who needs a pole?
Cheese.
So sweet...sometimes.
My favorite picture.
Trenton.

Rachael taking a picture of me taking a picture of her.
Taking the bait...again.
Hanging out.
Spencer

Rachael fishing hollywood style.
Aubrey mimicking me, although I don't think I made that face.
Her running form would have been better, had her boots been 7 sizes smaller.
Graycie and Grandpa Landoni.
And no, I did not photoshop that smile on his face...he put that there all by himself.

Fall number one...
number two...
number three...(I quit counting)
Cutey Colton.

Lunch break. Can you really call it that when we never stopped eating?
Pounding the Pringles.
Sophie with a Jason on her back.
Graycie fishing with Gramps.
Aubrey and Tyson...this was one of their "good" days.

Happy Birthday SPENCER!!!

Happy Birthday

to my nephew who's 4

who's high whiney voice

I've come to adore.

With one hundred and one questions

he asks without stopping

by the hundred and second

I'm sure dead I'll be dropping.

Beautiful brown skin

covers this tot

and though you may think it

hispanic, he's not.

He asks me for fruit snacks

and when I have none

he looks for himself

to see no lying's been done.

When his voice gets too shrill

we all become tencer

I love you so much

Happy Birthday, dear SPENCER!!!

Should I Be Worried?

So no joke, this is what I walked in on the other day. I thought to myself, "Wow Tyson, that's um...original." As he stood there and watched the baby boil, I started wondering if I should be worried.

But the good news is that this photo will come in extremely handy down the road. As I am sitting here at the computer preparing this post, Trenton comes up and says, "Look! Tyson's making a baby." Laughing on the inside, I thought how clever is that. So now whenever the time comes when my child asks me, "Mom, how do you make a baby?" I'll simply show them this picture.

Shining Moments

Graycie- Probably 3 or 4, drawing a picture...as she most often does. Comes to show it to me...as she most often does, when I asked her what it was this was here reply (no editing, whatsoever.) "This is a single-carcus-ply." Yes, I'm sure your reaction is quite similar to mine. "What's a single-carcus-ply?" She then tells me, "A kloppy." I thought it best to let it go right then and there, seeing as this could possibly go on for an eternity.

Tyson- Upon feeding our dogs, the excitement is best demonstrated through what I call "bounding." This is where our black lab, Jett, proceeds to leap into the air off of all fours. The air he catches is beyond impressive...Bella, our yellow lab however, not so much. She must think this is the way to receive food around here, because she looks at Jett and then jumps and stands on her hind legs. Recently during feeding time, Tyson likes to hang out with his buddies, well, uh...okay maybe he is just out there to steal bites of their food, but whatever. So the other night we had not two of them waiting and "bounding" in anticipation of their food, we had three. Yep, you guessed it, Tyson right along side Jett and Bella jumping away just waiting for food.

Trenton- I asked him to play with my hair the other day and he told me "No." When I asked him "Why not?" He told me, "Cause, is notta toy." Seriously, how could I argue with that? Also, whenever you tell him to stop doing whatever it is that he shouldn't be doing, his latest and greatest reply is, "it's MY cho-ice." Choice and most other one syllable words are most often made into two by Trenton. So when he came and told me that Easton had kicked him, I told him, "Well, that's his cho-ice." He then tells me, "Well, it's the wrong cho-ice." What a hoot this one.

Easton- Lately he has been reluctant whenever we ask him to help clean up. His time is spent more on avoiding doing anything than actually doing something...much like his father, I am told. So when we asked him to pick up the toys in the front room he tells us, "I'm not a slave, this is a free country, you know?" Uh, yeah I know it's a free country, but you, my child, are anything but free. ;)

Steven- Saturday after driving home from Graycies soccer game we were at a stoplight behind a car, and Steve asks, "Whats a Ren-dee-vee-us?" I say, "um, a ron-day-voo (rendezvous)?" Both of us laughing hysterically Steve says, "oh, is that how you spell that?....don't tell anyone." Sorry honey.

Me- In all fairness I had to add one of my shining moments amongst the rest. Oregon Coast vacation a few years back. The whole fam was at a resteraunt and most everyone was ordering "fish and chips." When the waitor got to me I said, "I'll have fish and chips too, but I want fries with mine." Yeah, I've never lived that one down.

Happy Birthday Fatty!!!

Happy Birthday

to my neice who's one

so much laughing

and poking fun.

Weebling wobbling

all over the place

she can melt your heart

by the look on her face.

Squishyness and pudge

with rolls that abound

not so dainty

and oh so round.

The Backyardigans bring her

so much pleasure

I think quite impossible

her thighs to measure.

For cutest and FATTEST

she'd win the trophy

I love you so much

HAPPY BIRTHDAY dear Sophie.

It was only a matter of time...

Well it's official I am the biggest follower on the face of the planet. See Amy having a blog was bad enough...but Rachael? I mean come on. If Rachael has a blog on the big scary computer than I am out of excuses. I have to agree with Amy's justifications about blogging being the journaling of the 21rst century. How can I argue with that? In all honesty, this is actually my second attempt. But truth be told, the first was a total embarrassment, so here goes for round two.