Happy Birthday to Me...

I think this is a hilarious picture of me blowing out my birthday candles. It's my "top of the head shot." My family gave me a great party. I am officially one year older. Brock always tries to make things so special for me. He loves to buy me gifts for each of the six senses. Something to smell, touch, see, hear, and taste. The only item I lacked was something to "see." Brock told me to go buy a framed print to hang on the wall. Thank you Brock and kids!

New Favorite Song

I just heard the greatest song over the weekend! The only problem is that it hasn't been recorded yet. I was searching through youtube to find Kara DioGuardi, new American Idol judge. She is a great song writer and awesome vocalist. If you want to hear my new favorite song go to this link. Let me know what you think. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a1lfnjqC4I

I just love Kara's passion and confidence when she sings. I wish I could write and play the guitar! Go listen to this song. The title is "Terrified."

Life is Good...at last

It has been so great to have time to take care of my home again! I was able to quit my job at the lab, due to Brock getting a position there. He is now a project manager at Microbac Laboratories. So far, he is swamped! He is also learning a lot and going through all of the pains of starting a new job. It takes time...and it is getting better. It did not make sense for both of us to be working there. The commute, time, gas, too far from the kids. Anyway, I will continue to substitute teach and clean a clean house for a great lady on Friday's. (yeah, you read that right, the house is already clean.)

This may sound crazy, but I just love that I am able to get our laundry under control, iron Brock's shirts, scour the bathroom, and get a little more sleep in the mornings. I also love that I can pick up the boys from school, help them with homework, read with Ben, and make dinner. I felt so out of control when I was working. Not to mention, I was really grumpy and tired. I really do love being home. This is something that I took for granted for so long.

We had such a great Sunday afternoon. We went to church from 9-12. I took a nap, we watched "The Music Man" and "Oklahoma." (we love musicals.) Dinner was yummy, and I just made peanut butter cookies. I love to make cookies! Really, desserts in general. That is my weakness.

I don't feel like posting pictures right now. I will later. I do want to thank my sweet friends who left Jessica such positive advice on her post. I do wish she would slow down. She is 14 going on 30 sometimes. She looks up to so many of you good mothers and wants what you have. Thank you for your great examples.

I'm Venting... sort of

Hey, it's Jessica. Today is a snow day so I'm out of school, and this post was going to come out sooner or later.
I just want to say that looking at all the adorable families my cousins, aunts, etc. have makes me want my own family SO badly!!! I'm probably being selfish and spending too much time fussing over this, but I am really not liking being patient at the moment.
Maybe I'm just feeling like this because there will be five new baby cousins in my extended family this year, and also probably because my cousin and best friend on my mom's side, Brittany, is getting married in April. Oh don't get me wrong, I'm totally thrilled for Brittany, and all of you who are in the throws of motherhood.
I just really want to be older, married, having babies... the ultimate goal I suppose. I guess I'm just really being selfish right now more than anything. So, I apologize.
Is this normal though? Did any of you feel impatient to grow up when you were a teenager? Am I being crazy??? I just get this incredibly intense desire to have a baby of my own whenever I see pictures of you mommies holding your infants. Do I need advice? Should I even share this with all of you?
I know that I need to enjoy being a teenager and being in High School. It's not that I don't enjoy this time of my life. I just don't care about the normal things most girls my age get so caught up in. I could care less if I don't have a super-expensive designer purse, or if I don't get a date to a dance. I don't like flipping through fashion magazines that tell me what I need to be happy. I know that happiness comes from doing what Heavenly Father wants me to do, and He definitely wants me to be sealed in the temple someday and to have children. I'm just really not loving the whole waiting/growing process before that day.
Sorry, I'm sure none of you have the time to read all this. But if you have any words of wisdom, I'm all ears!!! :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATTHEW!!!

Matthew turned 10 on January 12th. He is such a good kid that I thought I would create a post just for him. He is having a birthday party with friends this Friday, so we really didn't do much on his birthday. We did give him lots of hugs and spanks. Actually, we took everyone to Krispy Kreme! Did you all know that they give a free donut for every "A" on your report card? Well, my kids do not let me forget this. So between, Matthew and Benjamin, we got a dozen free donuts. It was fun letting those warm, glazed donuts melt in our mouths!

This Friday we are taking Matthew and 5 friends to see a hockey game. It just so happens that on Friday night the theme for the game is "Star Wars Night!" Matthew loves anything Star Wars. The Star Wars Legion (crazed fans dressed in costumes) are going to come and interact with the crowd and put on a light saber show. The boys are so excited. I'm even excited. I'll take some pictures and post them.

We love Matthew and remember the day he arrived. He weighed 9 lbs. My biggest baby! It was a great event because he was our first boy. I remember that my epidural wore off toward the end of his delivery. He's the only baby that I really "felt" myself give birth to. WOW! I thought I was going to die. Brock looked at me and said, "you're really going to have to do this." I could have punched him. We are so blessed to have Matthew sent to us. He is a hard worker, a loyal friend, and fun to play games with. Happy 10th birthday bud!

Merry Christmas!

We had a great time going to downtown Knoxville. There was live music, free hot chocolate, and cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus. Matthew is glowing because he is just so happy!

This is not a real Santa. He's just a dummy placed in front of the tree lot. HO! HO! HO!

Jessica gets a peacoat! This is something she has wanted for quite awhile. Ben plays his toy guitar, and Lauren models her scarf and hat.

What would Christmas Eve be without new pajamas! Brock gave me some beautiful black satin pj's. There was only one major problem. The size was XXL! Oops! It wasn't really his fault. The outside tag and hanger had a big M. I will just go exchange them with the huge crowd at Target!

Here are some cute shots of the kids. Where is Lauren? Well...she got sick at our family photo shoot. Seriously, she was just holding on while we took our family pictures. She lost her lunch on the other side of the fence. There was no way I was going to make her take an individual picture after that!

We attempted to take some family pictures. They didn't quite turn out the way we had hoped. However, I had Jessica take a shot of me and Brock. Matthew and Benjamin were so photogenic. These are rare moments!

Life is Busy

I have wanted to post so many times! I just don't have much time for sitting at the computer these days. I don't know how working moms do it. I am always behind. I have had to turn a blind eye to many of the things that matter to me, and go to work. One of the worst parts of working is that I seem to always come home tired and grumpy. I just want to have some silence and stay home. That's not too much to ask of four children and a husband is it? I really shouldn't complain. I am very blessed to be able to work. I prayed that I would have work every day and this past week, I did.

I worked at Microbac Laboratories, my real and consistent job, on Monday and Wednesday. Then on the other three days I was at Bluegrass Elementary substitute teaching. I have found that the more I say "yes" to the schools requests, the more they call me. I really found my place on Friday. I subbed for the music teacher. It was so fun! I had seven 5th grade classes. I worked on two Christmas songs, or I should say "Holiday" songs with them. I sang my heart out and was really hoarse by the end of the day. There was only one group of boys that I had to get very stern with. I hate having to do that. I like to be the fun and well liked substitute teacher. I have another sub job on this Tuesday. Who knows, the phone could ring at 6 a.m. for help on Thursday and Friday too. That's the tough part. I look so forward to having a day to clean my house and do laundry, then the phone call comes. I am grateful, but also tired and frustrated.

I sang with a group of talented musicians at our ward Christmas Party Friday night. It was so much fun. I sang Mary Did You Know, Mary's Lullaby, Tennessee Christmas, and Winter Wonderland. We will be performing again at my work Christmas Party. I get all stressed out and nervous, but in the end I am always so glad that I contributed. Brock and I went to Jessica's high school Christmas concert this past week too. It was so nice! Jess can't wait to audition for the elite group next year. Oh how I miss my ole' high school choir! Those were the days. I would love to someday sing in a really great choir again.

I know that I am blabbing on and on....I just wanted to let those of you who actually look at my blog know why I haven't been posting very much lately. I am running around like a chicken with it's head cut off! I'm sure that some of you can relate.