Good Ole Friends

I got to see some of my dear friends from High School while I was visiting in Utah! I wish I could have spent more time visiting with them...I didn't want to say goodbye because there was sooo much to talk about! I wanted to see more of them, but really planned my trip very last minute and didn't give much time for them to shuffle their schedules around. I was grateful for Kim and Shannon who met with me at One Man Diner in Lehi and spent time catching me up on everyone's life! It was soo great to see them and reminisce of our crazy drama days! I really kinda missed out on a lot of the good stuff becuase I was in Beauty School my senior year. I have alot of regrets about trying to grow up too fast and not enjoy my life--but grateful that I am able to reconnect and remember all the fun times we did have! I hope to see ALL of you very soon! Maybe a weekend in Vegas??

Time Alone

I was up in Utah this last week all by myself...that means all alone. No kids, no husband, and no responsibilitiesor schedule. The best part of the drive was the quiet and being able to think and reflect. I loved driving by the mountains and seeing all the changing colors of the leaves. It made me miss the seasons so much! Fall is definetly my favorite time of year!

It was so weird to spend time with my family and not have to chase after my kids or worry about toting them all along for all the festivities. I missed them terribly but was able to really enjoy my neice Ella, and nephews Lincoln, Russel and Riley. I didn't get to see any of the other kids, but it was great to actually focus on those around me instead of my kids. It was a little different experience for me because I always kinda feel like the bad aunt. I don't ever really get to spend time with any of my nieces and nephews without my own kids running around, which takes the focus off of them. I realized that it's not that I'm a bad aunt, I've just always had my own kids since my family was started first and haven't had the time to spend on building those relationships. I saw them in a different light this time and it was wonderful. I also got to spend some great time with JaNae. We went shopping all day and were able to buy her wedding shoes. Whenever we go shopping, she's kind of a drag because she usually gets stuck with the kids and this time there were none! She actually bought some things for herself and I bought her the cutest outfit for her bridal pictures. I really enjoyed my day with my little sis! I can't believe she's getting married! I am very happy for her!


These shoes are some that she tried on...she found the ugliest ones she could--and joked she would wear them for her wedding! If we could have found some cute tennis shoes-she would have worn those under her dress. Maybe she still will...

We were able to go to dinner with those that could make it on Saturday night. And of course we went to my favorite restaurant--Wasatch Broiler! It was great to see Mindy and sit and talk with all those that were there! I love my family!

Funnies

We were riding in the car the other day--and Kai was sitting in the backseat...randomly he says,"Mom, we need to move to China!" So of course I am laughing and ask him why--he says, "it's time. We've lived in our house a long time and I'm ready to go." Okay--what?? He is the most random kid ever--maybe you had to be there, but I thought it was hilarious!

Homecoming Week

Jamie had Homecoming all last week. Since he is in Student Council we didn't see him before 9:00 almost every night last week. He was super busy, but we all had so much fun. It was a little crazy, but we managed to keep it together...I think:) He had been working on a float all week long, but it all paid off because his group won the award for best float at the Homecoming game on Friday night.

He had open house on Tuesday night so I got to meet all of his teachers and got to go back to High School for a day...lots of memories! As I was going through his schedule and sitting in all of his classes talking to his teachers, I realized just how much he has on his plate. Not only is he taking all honors classes this year, but he also has an AP Biology Class. He had to fit US History in somewhere and didn't have any room for it, so he is taking it as a virtual class on-line. I was a very proud mom at that moment realizing how much ambition he has and how much responsibility he has taken on himself. He never complains about not getting to bed before 11:00 pm. He never whines about getting up at 5:00 am to get to early morning seminary. He is so disciplined about staying home on the weekends to get all of his homework done instead of hanging out with his friends. He really hasn't had a social life this year because he's been so busy with school.

During the open house at school, his guitar class performed a few songs for the crowd that gathered to listen. He loves music so much! I wish that he had more time to spend practicing the guitar and enjoying his music. I am very proud of his sacrifice this year and I know it will pay off in the long run. James and I decided we needed to do something nice for him to reward his good behavior--which we have really noticed lately. His favorite thing in the world is my ipod which he always borrows. We wouldn't buy him one becuase he's already gone through 2 in the last couple of years. He's been without one for a very long time, so I decided to go buy him one to let him know how much we love him and appreciate his hard work. We've started seeing that transition from young'n to adult and it's exciting and hard at the same time. His smile was priceless when he saw what we were giving him. I love having him around and am so grateful for him in my life! He's such a blessing.

Little Diva

Okay so Madelyn totally tricked me this morning. She got up and said she was feeling sick like she had to throw up and felt really dizzy. She never stays home from school and so of course I believed her. I told her she had to go back to bed if she was going to stay home from school and that she would miss soccer practice tonight if she didn't attend school. She said okay--which really confirmed to me she wasn't lying because it's her first soccer practice and she's super excited. So she gets back in bed and goes to sleep. A little later, I was working out and running up and down the stairs--and I just happened to peek in on her. She's laying in bed with 2 pillows propping up her little head reading the Rachel Ray magazine....WHAT? Why would a 7 year old stay home to lay in bed and read a Rachel Ray magazine?? Wouldn't you rather sneak and watch TV or read something more juicy than that? I don't get it. I guess she just needed a day off! So, of course like the strict mother I am, I made her get up, get ready for school and get her butt off to school! What a stinker!

Table Fun

I realize that I only have been blogging about Malak, but he's the one that's giving me serious stress right now. I really have decided that little boys need confined areas...especially my son! If he has free reign over the entire house, I get nothing done all day long because I have to run behind him and remove him from dangerous situations all day! His latest endeavor is to climb up on our table and try to reach up and touch the lights. Maybe I'm raising a monkey that feels the need to hang from everything?? He is just so proud of himself when he gets up there, it's hard to get mad at him. I think the first day he figured it out, I must've pulled him down at least 25 times. But it's completely unacceptable to have his dirty little feet running all around the table we eat on. He loves to sit up there while Maddy does her homework--maybe because he's in the middle of everything? I don't know what to do with this kid, he is seriously giving me a run for my money!!! Ugh!

How do you get mad at a face like that?

He's just so proud of himself!

Malak's 1st Haircut

I don't know if you can really call it a haircut. I just got rid of his mon chee chee looking hair over his ears!! His hair has been so funny. When he was born, he had alot and then lost all of it but a little tuft up on the top. Now he has the curliest and thickest of all my kids. The curls are so tight they are dread locks by the end of the day. He hates getting his hair combed, brushed or even shampooed! He cries hard any time he sees a brush coming his way. I hate to cut too much of it off because it'a actually really cute when it has gel in it, but when it's not taken care of...he has a serious afro! I guess he will have to be trained like the rest of them...it has to be brushed!! It will be fun to see what he ends up with when he's bigger.

Long, Long Night!

I'm trying to figure out why I can't sleep....could it be that I still am awakened by my almost 5 year old every single night or could it be the wonderful sweet husband that I married who snores sooo loud and keeps me up all night?? The sad part about all this is that Malak sleeps wonderful every night but Kai is a horrible sleeper!! He always has been. Usually he sleeps with Maddy but that sometimes won't work, so he'll end up on the couch or on my floor. I laid awake after having Kai come into my room because he had a bad dream. (He has one every night...he's such a faker!) Then as I'm trying to go back to sleep for the 4th time that night, James decides to snore louder than usual. He has a sensor that can tell as soon as I'm about to drift off--and then he starts!! He tricked me because he never used to snore early on in our marriage...what gives???
I was blogging about this in my sleep last night thinking how ridiculous my nights are...I guess that's what finally put me back to sleep. Blogging instead of counting sheep! I must be hooked.

Apologies

I am reading over my blog and realize that I am a marathon blogger. I totally apologize to you all because I wait so long in between my posts that I feel like I can't leave anything out! I wish I could be one of those mom's that could blog every day all the wonderful events in their children's lives--I'm just lucky that they are actually making it to another day;) I promise to be better about posting short and sweet posts so you all don't spend the entire evening reading one person's blog!

I'm in love with this kid!!

These are just some random faces that he makes. If you can't figure out his personality just look at all the attitude coming out his ears!! :) This otter pop was being fed to him by Maddy and Kai's swimming coach over the summer, this particular one that he was eating was #6. He would scream and scream until he got another one and Sandy just kept giving in. It was like a drug, as soon as he got it he was fine--but watch out if he was finishing it!

I have to post about how much I love this little boy. He's such a stinker--if I didn't love him, he would be sold to the highest bidder. Lucky for him he always makes me laugh! He doesn't say a single word yet--but he sure can communicate what he's feeling. Generally it's screaming at the top of his lungs or whining as loud as he can until he gets what he wants, but there is no mistaking his needs. He will stand at the top of the stairs and scream until somebody comes to get him... but he used to come down on his own. I spent lots of time teaching him so I wouldn't be worried about him playing in his favorite place, but now he's so dang spoiled he knows what to do to drive everybody crazy so we respond to his every demand.

James loves to give him baths, in fact he does it every night.( I have the best husband ever.) But for some reason James likes to comb his hair this way and it makes him look so ridiculous! Malak knows it's funny because he wrinkles up his little nose and makes faces at us--just for laughs!

Malak and McKay took lots of baths together when we were in St. George and I just think they are so cute together!! They're going to be such good friends!

Family Reunion

Uncle Goobie running McKay on the skateboard. Goobie had so much fun with all his nieces and nephews. Malak's a little scared of him, but by the end of the weekend, he warmed up. I think it's the scary beard!
Jamie rolled up his pants so they didn't get wet and he looked like a dork! He actually looks like Rich used to back in the early 90's when we would peg our pants. You know that's coming back in style? EWWW!

Over Labor Day the whole Wright/Crouch family got together!! It was terrific to spend time with everyone. It's so wonderful to renew relationships and enjoy getting to know in-laws and new kids that have been added to the family. It's funny how we are all so different in our adult years and it's great to learn from each other. I love my brothers and sister so much and am grateful that we have stayed close. I hope this weekend is a prelude for more wonderful things to come!

On Friday James and I both had the day off, so of course I wanted to rush up to St. George to go shopping with Danielle- but I waited until all the kids got out of school and then we left. We arrived at about 6:30 pm and waited for everyone else to get there. We were watching vigilantly for the new motorhome and all of it's people inside to pull up. It was quite a sight when they came rounding the corner....we all just cracked up!! I can only imagine the ride down in that thing going 50 mph and not being able to see the road-No thank you!!

We all just sat around that night and talked and laughed. It was so fun to see all the little cousins playing and realizing that this is the next generation. This is the extension of our Family Tree. What fun it will be to sit back and start watching all the great things these little kids will become.

On Saturday morning we got up early and went to the Temple to do a 7:00 am session. I was a little dissapointed because my sweet husband couldn't go with me. He found out at the last minute that he had to go back to Las Vegas to get his military guys on their trip. Rich got to drive back with him for a couple of hours and it was great time for them to spend together. James had rushed to get his expiring temple recommend renewed and still wasn't able to use it. Maybe next month...

The St. George temple was so amazing. It was my first time inside that temple and I was so overwhelmed with the beauty and the antiquity of it. I know that not alot has been done to this temple to restore it and it's pretty much how the pioneers built it. I was just so amazed at the workmanship and the sacrifice of our ancestors to make such a beautiful House of the Lord. It was also quite overwhelming to be there with my mom and 3 of my siblings and their wives. What an awesome knowledge to have that we are all striving to be an eternal family. It brought me peace to know I will have them forever. I can't wait until my other 2 siblings will be there with us.

During the day on Saturday we went to a water park close to Danielle and Carl's house and let the kids run wild. I got the cutest pics of the kids in the water--too many to post but these were some of my favs.

That evening we were able to go see Les Miserables at Tuacahn. It was great! I love the theatre so much and was very moved by the message in this production. The day was filled with symbolism being in the Temple and then watching this play. It made me so grateful that I have the true knowledge of God's plan for my family and me. It made me want to be more Christlike and stive to be a better person.

Sunday was spent at church in the morning and then we were able to come home and have a yummy crock pot meal and then settle down for our family meeting. I was really dreading this part of the reunion, but I have to say it was humbling and wonderful to see how everybody feels about our family drama....cuz we sure got some!!

Anyway overall it was such a great time with the family and I hope every year will be this fun. I hope that Kieth's kids will feel welcome and start to participate in some of our functions, because I know we would all love them to be there, especially Kieth! Love you all!