New Car

We got the car I wanted. 2010 Hyundai Elantra

Ultrasound

I forgot to blog about the ultrasound that we had a couple weeks ago. Everything went well and the baby is healthy. The pics didn't turn out very well but here they are... foot, profile, face, nose and mouth.

Wednesday...

I have to blog about Wednesday because it was a crazy day! On Tuesday night I was looking at autotrader for a van and I found one at a dealership in Tricities so I decided to call on it the next day. So after preschool on Wednesday I called and ended up talking to a guy named Bano. He was pushy and not very honest. I told him what I wanted that that I only wanted to look at that one van and he kept pushing me in other directions. Well I later talked to Brandon and I had decided that I was going to go down there and drop him off at school then look at that van. On the way there (it's a 1 hr drive) we started talking and Brandon said that he didn't really feel good about getting a van. I, of course, got sad because I really want a vehicle so that I don't have to coordinate and get up early 3 times a week to take him to work. We talked and soon became silent because there was no cooperating on it...you can't drive half of a van. He said that he wonders if we should get a commuter car. I was upset at that because I want space especially since the 3rd is coming. I dropped him off at school and then started driving toward the dealership. I said a silent prayer in my heart. I asked Heavenly Father to show me the car that we should get and I would buy it no questions asked. I had that much faith in him. On the way there I saw a few other dealerships and wanted to turn in there but knew that I shouldn't. When I got there to the one with that van, I saw a guy waiting for me out front. I had to get the kids out of the car, get them bundled and in a stroller. All the while he watched and commented on how I have my hands full. Nice.. no. When we were ready he came to me and I asked his name. It was Bano. I asked to worn with someone else. He asked why. I said that I talked to him on the phone and that he was pushy. I then worked with Joe. He invited us in, gave the kids balloons, offered me coffee or water, and even brought the cars to me! AMAZING! As we looked I wasn't interested until he showed me a 2010 Hyundai Elantra. Love. He quoted me a price but came back and said that the price was above what we could pay. I had to walk away. I was prepared to buy that night but I walked away. We left there and I told the kids that we would find a playplace. We found one, Carls Jr. We went in and ordered food but I noticed that the playplace was closed so we left. We soon found the coolest McDonalds playplace ever! It has tunnels all over and the kids had a blast. We ordered food there and I knocked a large drink off the table and it got EVERYWHERE! I looked around for another place to sit and the only other place was in the complete corner and it was a small table with 2 chairs. I had to squeeze my belly past a big guy and was seriously sitting less then a foot away from him. Soon it was time to go get Brandon from school so I told the kids to play one more time while I ordered Brandon's food. I got the food and came back to hear Atti crying. He was stuck in the tunnels and scared to come out!! I tries coaxing him, Nix went in, older kids went in and atti wanted me. YES, I did go in and crawl around with my huge belly. It was so hard! What a workout. The kids were telling their moms on me...that I was too big to be playing in the playplace. They were all standing there gawking at me. When I got out no one even looked at me. So that's about it...crazy huh? So tomorrow we are going to buy that car if it's not already sold. We love it and are excited. Fingers Crossed!

Nesting

And so it begins...NESTING!

Today I scrubbed the bathroom top to bottom, cleaned the living room and the carpets, dishes, laundry and even cleaned the car outside and inside!!

Now I am going to rest and watch "Word World" with the kids. AAhhhhh....

Dinner...flopped!

I was craving rice, beans and enchiladas yesterday for dinner. I prepared it and was so excited that Brandon came home from studying just in time! He peaked in the over and told me how yummy it smelled! I set the table, we had prayers...and I took a bite.

YUCK!

Ok so I still don't know what happened but it tasted like it had gone bad. I was SO upset because I was looking forward to it all day!!!!!!!

Normally that would be ok...but as a hungry pregnant woman...I was not ok. :(

Painting!

We painted today! I found little watercolor paints on clearence in the Valentines Day section for 4/$1. The kids did great and had a fun time. Atti finished his picture then tore it up in little pieces...of course. And Nix was excited to paint her name on hers and seve them for her daddy.

P.S. Doesn't my Phoenix have the most beautiful hair??

Fun Today

Today Phoenix told me that she wanted to go fishing so that is what we did. We went fishing for pairs of numbers. It was really fun and I am sure we will do it again sometime!

Phoenix said that she wanted to catch them and eat them and Atti got upset at that!

Then we decided to go outside and play. It was 40' today and sunny so we had to take advantage of it. It was still really cold and windy but the kids didn't complain about anything except the sun. Time to bust out the sunglasses! They looked so cute that I had to grab my camera. (The old Kodak because I don't have my new one yet!)

Of course the first thing they always run to is the swings. Atti can swing forever! Nix gets sick after a little bit and goes to play on the other things.

Phoenix had her shoes on the wrong feet and I got that in a picture! So cute!

Phoenix always says that she needs to exercise so she walks along the benches. She fell right after I got a pic of her doing it!

I am craving spring!! Funny...the park is right next to the city pool and Atti ran over to it yelling "water"! He remembered swimming from last summer!!

Nix's First Day of Preschool

Yesterday was Phoenix's first day of Preschool at the Co-Op. She has been asking to go to school but I never took her because they didn't have room and I didn't have a car. I still don't have a car but I am able to take Brandon to work so I can have the car on Wed and Fri and Someone will pick her up on Mondays. Just a little bit about the Co-Op... It is mostly parent run with a paid teacher. Mrs. Cheryl is actually in our ward and has worked with Nix in nursery. She is great and I think she has six sons (all grown)! So they have 3 mothers there helping out and there are 12-14 kids. There is a fundraiser at the end of every year selling Christmas Trees and selling Killian Korn. The fundraising is another reason I didn't want to do the Co-Op. Yesterday...so I got Brandon to work and got the kids ready for school and babysitter. Atti was happy to play with his friends Isak and Lucy while I went to school with Nix. We got there a little early and they were missing a parent so I was able to volunteer. Here is what they do... Wash hands - Everyone washes hands as they come into the class Gathering time - there are little learning games set out on the tables Clean up Daily overview - go over what they are doing that day and have the letter of the day. Circle time - talk about the date, who is there, sing songs, patterns, colors, numbers Stations - 4 stations: snack, art, project, learning game (it was numbers) Gym - I was surprised that she acted like a gym teacher and taught them! Closing Circle - go over what they liked that day, they learned about answering questions when they are asked and learned about emotions and how to handle them. Show and tell (something triangular). Sing the goodbye song, When the kids leave they get their projects out of the bin and their jackets. The parents sign out their child. I love how they work it. It is a lot like the way I do things here so it makes me feel good. As for Nix...she did great. I was a little worried about her because the other kids are all starting Kindergarten this fall but she did great. I could tell that they knew their "stuff" better then she did but she didn't care. She was so good and obedient. A few things were hard for her because she didn't know the routine but she will learn that. I was so happy to see her in that setting. Brandon called to see how it went and he was really happy too! We will see how the next few weeks go. Oh yeah...there was one problem when we left. She didn't understand that school was over and she threw a big fit. I think going and learning the routine will help with that. I heard it'll take a week or two.

saving money or not?

So I have been making changes around here to save money but now I am second guessing myself.... 1. cloth diapers. I figured I am saving about $16 a month in diapers. BUT this month our electic bill went way up. Is it because of the wash? ugh. I know that we will save a lot more when the baby is born because newborn diapers cost a lot more but is it really worth it with Atti? I don't know. 2. making bread. The recipe calls for honey and bread flour which is expensive. AND we never finish eating home made bread so we toss it. Wasted. Ok that's all I can think of but I'm sure there is more...

Wanna save money??

We have been trying to find ways to save money around here...especially with food. We want to be healthy but also save $$$. I went to Cash & Carry and they had a big bag on Red Mills rolled oats for $11. I put it in an Ace bin and we've been eating it for breakfast. (Of course alternating in eggs Every now and then.) I can't believe how much less it costs then cereal! I did buy cereal (healthy cereal) but it's put up so that we only have it once or twice a week. I love it because it's a lot better then the instant packets!! Here is how I do it... 1 c Oats 1 tbsp sugar 1/4 - 1/2 tsp cinnamon dash salt cover with water and microwave for 2 min. then I stir in rice milk and sometimes a little blackstrap molasses. Brandon likes raisins in his.

Odds and Ends...

There are just a few things that I have had on my mind that I wanted to blog about...

FOOD. Phoenix eats almost anything. She doesn't eat a lot but she will eat what I give her. I usually give them 3 different food groups on their plate in really small portions. Ex: Toast, 1/2 egg, 1/2 banana. I feed them like that 5 or 6 times a day. So...Nix always does well to eat her food and try things. She loves soup, broccoli, celery (she also calls salad celery and loves it), fruit, oh yeah...and CHEESE! Atti...he's a toughy. I used to think that Nix ate well because I rock as a mom but now I know that "rocking" doesn't have anything to do with it. I feed him the same way as I did her and HE WON'T EAT!! He won't eat anything that is mixed, anything with cheese, any vegetables (except carrots and broccoli), no beans, no visible herbs...PICKY! That boy won't even eat pizza! Oh yeah...and no crust on bread. That is so aggravating! I want to make healthy meals but I also want him to eat what we're eating. I never know if he's going to eat it or not. Right now the only things that I know for sure that he'll eat is cereal, oatmeal, toast, pb&j, fruit...that's about it. Ugh!

Moving on to another topic...Phoenix. She is getting so big on me! On Wednesday she will start preschool at the Co-Op. I am so excited to see her grow and evolve into a little girl.

Last night I has a horrible mom moment. We were watching a movie late at night when I heard her start to cry. It wasn't a normal cry but a really sad cry. We learned that she wet the bed because we forgot to have her go before bed. I felt horrible that she was so embarrassed. I told her that it was my fault because I forgot to have her go and that sometime her peepee in a stinker and comes out all by itself.

Today at church she brought tears to my eyes because we sang Families Can Be Together Forever and she was singing with us. She truly is a sweet baby girl and I feel privileged to have her.

She has been coloring a lot and trying really hard to color in the lines. In just one week she is doing great!! She is always saying that she is practicing.

Next topic. Brandon. He is working like crazy and doing school. We don't see him till 8 most nights and he studies all day on Saturday. (He's even having to do HW today on Sunday! Shhh...) It is tough for me to be without him. I miss him all the time and wish we had a moment to just sit. Not having to talk about business but just to enjoy each other. The kids really miss him too. It is hard but as the same time it feels good to be getting his education done. I just keep praying to be able to have comfort because I know things will always be busier and busier as the kids grow up. I need to learn how to be ok without him.

Now for the Pregnancy. This is my belly at 29 weeks. Big huh? I still feel great and am doing really well with my weight gain. I love to feel the baby move around because I feel like I'm getting to know the baby. We have our ultrasound coming up soon!! YAY!! I can't wait to see the little one. I have been having problems with UTI's but I'm hoping that this round of antibiotics will clear that up. I have had 4 so far so the dr might put me on 1 a day antibiotics. The UTI's have been causing fatigue, cramping, and other things that aren't pleasant. I hope this one goes away and I have NO MORE!

C'Mon People!!

It is getting in the 40's outside. We just returned from a walk (the kids rode their bikes) to the park. MY kids were wearing their normal clothes with a sweatshirt, coat and hat. Other peoples kids were wearing a sweatshirt! C'mon people!! I WAS COLD AND I'M PREGNANT!! It's only 41' right now. We played for 30 min before my ears were so cold that they hurt. My message... PUT A COAT ON YOUR KID!!!

I've ruined him!!

Everyone who knows me knows that I have the biggest CRUSH on Atti.

His GIGGLES melt my heart and his CRIES break my heart.

Yesterday I realized something...

I HAVE SPOILED MY Atti!

He is now DEMANDING, FUSSY, and ARGUMENTATIVE...with ME!

sad...

I guess it's MANNER TIME at the Glick house.

How many kids will we have...

Yesterday during lunch I had a great conversation with Nix. She told me that we are going to have 2 boys and 3 girls! (You should have seen Brandon's face when she told him that!!)

I know she meant 5 kids total but I thought this picture would show what what running through Brandon's mind! hahaha

He was either thinking of quints or...

Ultrasound decisions...

I am getting an ultrasound on the 15th...30 wks. Dr ordered. Until now we havn't found out the sex and didn't really care to know. Now we are going in for the ultrasound and there are a few people asking if we are still keeping is a surprise. Here are the reasons to and not to find out. TO find out... 1. I want cute cloth diapers that are not unisex 2. I have all of the boy/girl clothes separated but then I'll be able to put then in the dresser NOT to find out... 1. We are excited about the surprise and don't really care to know right now 2. save $$$ I know I'll go shopping if we did find out! 3. Labor. I have heard that it makes labor better if you are looking forward to finding out. 4. Although we can't control it...we've had a lot of people give us gruff about the sex of the baby.

Box of Love - FHE

I got this idea from The Friend. I am excited to do it with the kids. I think we will make one box and hang it up. Throughout the next week we will do little activities (make treats, cards, or secret services) and put them in the box. We will check the box at night and see if there is inything in it. That way we will be able to include Daddy. We'll see how it goes!! Box of Love Each week in February, hang this box of love on a different family member’s door. Throughout the week, put things in the box that tell or show your love for that person. You can leave a note, a drawing, or a small treat. If you like, invite other family members to add to the box and share the love! 1. Cut off the top flaps of a small cardboard box, such as a small cereal box. 2. Cut out a piece of colorful paper or wrapping paper the same height as the box. Wrap the paper around the box and secure with tape or glue. 3. Punch a hole near the top of the two short sides. 4. Tie a ribbon or string through the two holes to make a handle to hang the box on a doorknob.

About yesterday's post...

It is 8:30 am. I would like to write in and tell that person what I've done all morning as a mom but I won't. Instead I will blog about it... 6:56 - 2 kids came into my room asking for a banana. I got us and got them a banana to share. I then made eggs and turkey bacon which they didn't eat. The whole time they were at the table they were sward fighting with their forks. Daddy left for work and I had to do damage control to stop the crying. They got down from the table and were coloring together...till they started fighting over colored pencils. I intervened and cleaned up the pencils. We did dot-to-dot pictures (which take forever because we all have to count the numbers 1-100) then the kids started coloring. I folded the little laundry that was left in the dryer to get to my jeans I wanted to wear today and got dressed. Be then Nix was begging me to come color with her and so I sat with her for a few minutes before I did a 5min scrunch and bobby pin with my hair. I was interrupted by Nix screaming that "Atti had poop!" I came in to see that Atti had had an explosion and it was running down his legs. I cleaned it and put him in the bath. While I washed him Nix was crawling all over me and fussing that she wanted a bath. (Well...they had one last night...) I grabbed him out of the bath and of course he screamed. I got their clothes and dressed Atti. Dressing a kid isn't as easy and fast as it sounds especially when you're trying to teach them to do it all by their selves. As I pulled Atti to stand he pulled his diaper off so I had to fix it. He had an ouchie in his foot so we had to sit and look at it and kiss it. Nix took off all her clothes and ran around the house for a little while before I for firm with her and laid her clothes out on the floor. She put her pants on before her undies on purpose so I had to correct that. Then she Put both of her legs in one leg of her pants and went hopping all over. I had to correct that. Now Nix is rolling around on the floor without a shirt saying that she can't get dressed herself and I have to help her. This is my life before 8:30. I have to go because Nix just went to her room and is crying... Turns out she has broken blood vessels all over her neck because she was tryng to open the blinds and somehow got the her head in the string. Now she is hurt and scared. I have a learning movie on for the kids so I have to sit with them and make sure they understand it. Not to mention it's a great time to give them some attention and lovies! Happy 9am! (did I mention that I did all this with a horrible cold and a UTI?) Things to do today...get kids prescription, go to Dr, make lunch dinner and snacks that the kids won't eat, put them down for a nap that they don't want to take, fight them off the TV, fight them out of my room 5 times today, say "do you need to go to the bathroom" all day, change lots more diapers (mostly explosions), break up fights, kiss boo boos, listen to crying every time I need to go to the bathroom because they want in the bathroom, do preschool and circle time, listen to cries to daddy, listen to "I want" all day long. Meanwhile trying to do laundry, dishes, clean and vacuum. Also...I do all this while trying to teach manners, faith, love, and responsibility to the kids...I'm tired just thinking of it!

Full Time Mommy

I found this and thought it was funny...but at the same time serious. I will explain why in the end. It is a reader who wrote in for an answer. By Carolyn Hax Wednesday, May 23, 2007 Carolyn: Best friend has child. Her: exhausted, busy, no time for self, no time for me, etc. Me (no kids): Wow. Sorry. What'd you do today? Her: Park, play group . . . Okay. I've done Internet searches, I've talked to parents. I don't get it. What do stay-at-home moms do all day? Please no lists of library, grocery store, dry cleaners . . . I do all those things, too, and I don't do them EVERY DAY. I guess what I'm asking is: What is a typical day and why don't moms have time for a call or e-mail? I work and am away from home nine hours a day (plus a few late work events) and I manage to get it all done. I'm feeling like the kid is an excuse to relax and enjoy -- not a bad thing at all -- but if so, why won't my friend tell me the truth? Is this a peeing contest ("My life is so much harder than yours")? What's the deal? I've got friends with and without kids and all us child-free folks get the same story and have the same questions. This is Carolyn's answer to this question... Relax and enjoy. You're funny. Or you're lying about having friends with kids. Or you're taking them at their word that they actually have kids, because you haven't personally been in the same room with them. Internet searches? I keep wavering between giving you a straight answer and giving my forehead some keyboard. To claim you want to understand, while in the same breath implying that the only logical conclusions are that your mom-friends are either lying or competing with you, is disingenuous indeed. So, since it's validation you seem to want, the real answer is what you get. In list form. When you have young kids, your typical day is: constant attention, from getting them out of bed, fed, clean, dressed; to keeping them out of harm's way; to answering their coos, cries, questions; to having two arms and carrying one kid, one set of car keys, and supplies for even the quickest trips, including the latest-to-be-declared-essential piece of molded plastic gear; to keeping them from unshelving books at the library; to enforcing rest times; to staying one step ahead of them lest they get too hungry, tired or bored, any one of which produces the kind of checkout-line screaming that gets the checkout line shaking its head. It's needing 45 minutes to do what takes others 15. It's constant vigilance, constant touch, constant use of your voice, constant relegation of your needs to the second tier. It's constant scrutiny and second-guessing from family and friends, well-meaning and otherwise. It's resisting constant temptation to seek short-term relief at everyone's long-term expense. It's doing all this while concurrently teaching virtually everything -- language, manners, safety, resourcefulness, discipline, curiosity, creativity. Empathy. Everything. It's also a choice, yes. And a joy. But if you spent all day, every day, with this brand of joy, and then, when you got your first 10 minutes to yourself, wanted to be alone with your thoughts instead of calling a good friend, a good friend wouldn't judge you, complain about you to mutual friends, or marvel how much more productively she uses her time. Either make a sincere effort to understand or keep your snit to yourself. This article is so true. but on the other hand... I have see too many girls sit and complain about how HARD it is to be a mom. I think that when I lave my "job" it's not hard at all. It is a lot of fun and games. Yes I get tired and Yes I need a break sommetimes but it is much better then having to sit at a desk all day.

latest

It is really cold here and we are dying to get out to the park. I walked 2 miles this week and stopped off at the park so the kids could play and they wouldn't because it was too cold. It will be so nice to be able to pack a lunch and go for a nice walk and have lunch at the park. Pregnancy is still pretty good. We are having an ultrasound on Feb 15 to check everything. I am excited to see the baby and I hope Brandon can get away from work to come. I am now going to the Dr every 2 weeks for routine checks. At 28 weeks...time is flying. I know I need to start nesting and getting everything ready for the baby but for some reason I don't want to do anything yet. I think if I knew the sex I would be nesting like crazy...I hope I don't crack and find out next week at the ultrasound! I have been cramping but I think it's normal because of how much I have been growing lately. I have gained 24 lbs so far! Ugh! Brandon has been working like crazy lately. His Budgets for work are due in 2 more weeks so I hope everything slows down after that. He has also been busy with school but he really likes his classes so I don't think he minds. Last Saturday he spent 8 hrs studying and he will do that again tomorrow. He even has to go to work to study so that he will get more done. All of these late nights and Saturday are hard on me and the kids but I know that it'll be worth it. I just hope that I can think of enough ways to entertain the kids. Danielle gave birth via c-section on Jan 14. The baby was 33 weeks but had to be taken because her belly was full of fluid and they didn't know what was causing it. She was almost 5 lbs including the fluid. She now has oxygen and tubes to keep her alive and they still don't know what is causing it. Little Miya is fighting this but I still worry for her and her mama. The kids are doing well but it seems like they've been really demanding and fussy. I don't feel like I can ever please them. I do activities with them and they get bored. They want to watch a show and 1 is never enough. I try to feed them and they refuse what I make ... even if it's what they've asked for! I get tired of that. I am looking into getting a new camers. I think I'll get the Nikon D3100 but we'll see. I am excited!!