Favorite Conversation of the Day...

Gentry has recently taken an interest in his hair and how it looks. So for the last couple of days he has wondered out of the bathroom, hair literally standing on end.

Mom: "Gentry what did you put in your hair?"

Gentry: "Mom I just put some soap in it to make it wook (look) good, like my daddy's"

Mom: "Well next time you want to do your hair come and tell me, and I will let you put gel in your hair instead of soap. Please don't put soap in your hair anymore, okay"

Gentry: "Okay mom, The Lord is my helper, and I will not put soap in my hair"

I am not sure where his thought process comes from, but I am absolutely loving it! He has been really funny lately and I wish I could press the pause button on him!

Favorite Conversation of the Day...

All the kids were sitting at the kitchen table and Gentry was telling us why he was afraid last night because he had a scary dream about a monster eating him. Yikes, their imagination is incredible!

Mom: "What should you do next time that you are afraid?"

Gentry: "I no (don't) know, maybe I should hit the monster with my sword like capin Hook."

Mom: "Maybe you could pray that God will help you not be afraid"

Gentry: "Yes I should pray I won't be afraid of monsters...and then run and get in mommy's bed to sleep"

Good plan Gent, I love your thought process!

Once a Bride Always a Bride...Right?

One of my best friends came for a visit this weekend to spend a couple of days at our crazy home! Sarah recently got engaged and is planning the wedding in Colorado. We went looking for places to have the wedding and also went to a bridal show in Denver. We ended up visiting a friend so made it to the last 20 minutes of the show. Apparently, they were giving out 2 prizes at the end of the show and you had to stay until the very end to win. The first prize was a goody bag full of coupons for free bouquets, grooms cakes, and lot's of other good stuff, and oddly enough I won. (To get in free you had to be engaged so I might have figged the year to get in free, not assuming I would win:)) I was so embarrassed cause they called me up to the front and told the story of how Jeff proposed. I didn't want to go up but Sarah kept telling me to go, and the people around me starting noticing my very embarrassed red face, so I had to go. Well I am justifying with they saying Once a Bride Always a Bride! Sorry for lying wedding people, but thanks for the goodies, it will help with Sarah's wedding!!!!

The story gets better, the second and last prize they gave out was a free cruise. And guess who won that...SARAH! (The pictures are of Sarah winning her cruise!) It was so fun and exciting for her! We both starting screaming and then stopped cause we thought maybe we heard it wrong. We didn't, she really did win and I am just convinced that God is really excited for Sarah and Corey to get married because he keeps providing so many blessings! I am so excited for them and can't wait for their wedding in August!

I am beyond excited because Sarah has been one of my best friends since I started college. When Jeff and I's wedding rolled around, Sarah was on a summer project and was not allowed to take of to come. We were both really sad that she couldn't share that special time with me, in fact the night before my wedding we talked on the phone and cried together wishing she could have been there! Now it's her turn and I am overjoyed that I am getting to walk through the fun wedding experience with her. I loved driving around looking for places, looking for dresses, and talking about all her ideas for her wedding all weekend. It really was a special weekend that we spent together! I am also looking forward to seeing Gentry walk down the aisle in a little tux (or captain hook outfit sword and all) since she asked him to be her ring bear. The only bad thing is when she asked him if he would want to be the ring bear he told her "Yes but, I don't want to be a ring bear, I want to be pirate potato head" Not sure what that means but we have 1o months to convince him otherwise! We love Sarah and can't wait for her special day!

Fall

Fall is my favorite season. I feel like there are so many fun things to do, so that is what we have been doing lately! We let the kids pick out their own pumpkins and we carved them. I had imagined the fiasco going a little different but it was fun regardless. None of the kids enjoyed cleaning out the pumpkin, so mom and I ended up carving and cleaning out 4 stinking pumpkins! Gentry finally dabbled in the pumpkins and was so proud because he got "one seed mom, wook (look)" They got to pick the character of the pumpkins, Gentry's was of course a pirate pumpkin, Nate's was a nice pumpkin, Christian's was a mean pumpkin, and Olyvia's was a "girl or princess" pumpkin. Oddly enough the characters they picked are so fitting to their actual personalities right now! :)

We have also been going to the park alot because the weather is seriously so beautiful! The kids love it, and it gets lot's of energy out so they go to sleep great on our long park days! Yea for me!!!!

We made our first visit to Miller Farms, which was SO FUN, even for the adults. We were there for about 4 hours playing on dirt/hay mounds, picking vegetables out on the farm, jumping in jump castle's, taking rides on the john deer tractors, ect. The best part was the farm had taken old cars and made them look like the characters from the movie Cars. You can imagine the excitement of the kids to meet the real "Kachow" (Lightning McQueen), Mator, Doc, and Sally. I loved being out there, it reminded me of life on the ranch. The smell of alfalfa dirt, animals, aaahhh I miss the days on the ranch.




Our most recent fall festivity was on Saturday the 25th. We first went to a Halloween parade in Longmont. The kids all dressed up and loved showing off their costumes. Gentry was...Captain Hook (I am sure your not surprised), Nate was a King (leave it to Nate to pick something noble), Christian was a power ranger (he wanted the costume that would allow him to hit people:)) Olyvia was an angel (she was adorable!) , and McKenzie and Mimi (Tink) came dressed as...of course Tinkerbell!!!! That afternoon we had some friends over to let the kids all wear their costumes and it was a sugar overload for the kids, but so fun! With all that said, I love fall, it is my favorite season!!! The only bad thing about Gentry's outfit, is when he doesn't wear the white undershirt he resembles Hugh Hefner, Yuck!

Jeff's army training and torture methods

I have decided that the US military really does teach torture methods. Jeff has this amazing ability to torture the kids (and me sometimes) beyond a natural ability, he had to of learned it somewhere.

Gentry likes these little worm characters called Hermie and Wormie (although he calls them Hermie Worms). Jeff takes the little character and talks to the kids with the worm. Jeff wets his other hand and the pretends that Hermie Worms throws up on the kids and wipes his wet hand on them. This video is such a great example of this master torture mind at work. Jeff and all 3 kids started in the middle of Gentry's room playing, and then as you can see the kids have literally retreated to the closet to get away from Hermie Worms! Take note of the cackle that Jeff displays as the kids scream, only a man who was trained in these practices could laugh at 3 kids crammed in a closet screaming (out of joy of course!) :)

Favorite Conversation of the Day...

Mom: "Gentry come here let me see your new shoes."

Gentry: "Look mom I lub (love) my new shoes, I am so tankful (thankful) for them"

Gentry then walked over to me and put his forearm on my shoulder patting my back and said:

"Mom I am so very glad that we are best best friends"

I loved it. He was so sweet and sincere, and even though I don't always want him to think we are best friends (like when he is a teenager!), right now at the age of 3, I am overjoyed to know he thinks we are best friends! Also good to know some things kids do retain, we have been talking about all of the things we have to be thankful for, and I guess new clothes made the list!

Human Child or Elf Child?

As long as I can remember my mom has LOVED the holiday season. Growing up our house was decorated like the north pole every Christmas. (She is also known as Holly around the holiday season, named by her friend Pixy (Robin Morgan) who also LOVES Christmas. I was dubbed as Noel since I at least participate in the putting up and taking down of Christmas even if I don't share the same intensity level of love for the holiday season) Her Christmas season lasts from October to January (sometimes even February), the woman absolutely LOVES Christmas and all the decorating that comes with it!! Every year she manages to add more and more, inside, outside, my house, Tandi's house, Gentry's house, and whoever else will let her sprinkle her holiday cheer around! Of course when I was younger, it was just annoying because we had to help put it all up and clean up, but the last couple of years I have been savoring the special traditions and memories it adds to our holidays.

Last year, Gentry was especially interested in Christmas. Most 2 year olds are, but his fascination was beyond the presents. We baked Christmas goodies, and he still ask if we can bake some Christmas cookies. He loved the tree and would often add balls, cars, and men to help decorate. We bought him a Christmas music cd from Pottery Barn Kids, and I can't even begin to explain the light in his eyes when he first heard it. He began to listen to it every night to fall asleep to, and soon all of us were signing "Santa Claus is coming to Town" even though it was mid February. The odd part is, it is not really a children's cd, it has people like the Jackson 5, Beach Boys, and Harry Connick Jr. on it. Regardless he loves it! We had also bought the "Night Before Christmas" and had honestly read it every night by request and tears only!!! It wasn't until July that I had finally had enough and felt like I would hate Santa for the rest of my life and had to pull the plug on the nightly Santa music, and the Night Before Christmas. The Elf Child seriously cried every night and nap time asking for his "Santa Music" but I just couldn't bring myself to give, I really needed to take a break from Santa!!! After a while the constant asking stopped but occasionally he would ask for his "Santa Music" and "Santa Book".

About a week ago we were tucking him in and he looked up and said "Mom, is it Kissmas time yet, I miss my Santa music." I had to hold off for another week so at least we would be in the month of October, but last night I busted out with Santa music and the Night Before Christmas and am pretty sure we will be hearing and reading of Santa until I again reach my limit and must take a couple of months leave from Santa. He just went down for a nap but took his Santa book with him after we read it, and it is tucked in the bed laying next to him like it is a person. All I can say is PRICELESS!

All that to say, I am convinced that my mom is part Elf. She might have Irish, but I have no doubt that there is a secret Elf gene in there somewhere. I think the Elf gene might skip a generation but I have seen the evidence and my son definitely possesses the gene. I am not sure if he is considered a human child or an elf child, but I am hopeful that this means he will be eligible for more college scholarships when the time comes! The great news is at least my mom, Pixy, and Gentry can appreciate Santa together or as long as their families will allow it! I think Buddy said it best in the movie Elf, "It's just nice to meet another human that shares my affinity for elf culture"

They're Here...!!!!

Last week my sister and her kids officially moved in with us. She got a job at the Longmont Hospital on the Pediatric floor. As you can imagine our house is busting at the seams with laughter, crying, screaming, and craziness!!!! It has been really fun so far, but I am sure as with anything comes stress. She has a son Christian (4) and a daughter Olivia (2). So when Nate is here we have Nate 5, Christian 4, Gentry 3, and Olivia 2! Yikes is all I can say! Regardless of the stress that will come we are excited for them to be up here and grow up together. I have missed having family close so we are loving the transition. On Friday we had to initiate the kiddos into our love for the Buffs so we all went down to the Homecoming parade and then went to watch the band on Pearl Street. The kids loved it, in fact the video is of the 3 boys dancing to the band. The only disclaimer I have is that they didn't learn these moves from me!!!! After the Homecoming parade we ate at Abo's on the Hill and the kids sat in the front window watching all the college kids and floats pass by. They were so cute a couple of people actually stopped to take their picture. At the time it was cute, and then after we thought about it, we weren't sure we wanted random people taking pictures of our kids!!!! All of the kids seem to be transitioning well, (Gentry is having a little harder time than anyone else, but we are working on it:)) and somehow we have found room for all 6 of us in our little 3 bedroom house! I figure there are people who live with far less than we are blessed with, including a roof over our head, so if we can't handle squishing into our little house we are out of touch with the reality of our world and are unaware of all the true blessings God has given us. Although just know, if you come over to visit, just prepare yourself to walk into a circus!