joocs

Alrighty, maybe I'm still not as great at keeping up here as I'd like- but I'm on!!

This year has been my worst for keeping up with my blog.. shameful!

Things are always busy around here, but we've been having fun too.

The weather has been unbelievable lately, so the boys pretty spend each waking second they can outside playing with cars & playing with cars, & oh yeah, playing with more cars.

 

 Joey is still eating everything in sight.. well, anything with sugar associated!

 For some reason, the boys LOVE playing on the car dolly that is out in the backyard.  Sean moved it to the other side of the yard a day or so ago, & now they play over there, putting their cars on it, climbing on it, whatever they could possibly do on it.

The boys also love to help Sean water the plants.  Sam is always telling me the plants need a drink.  The only down side to this is that Sam feels like he can turn the hose on whenever he wants now, & I have to give more baths from muddy puddle jumping than I would like.

Sean had to take a picture of our baby who, even though it was on the top of the garbage pile, felt that this box of empty chocolates was important enough to try & get into.  awesome.

we celebrated David's 3rd birthday with him earlier this month.  It was a Where the Wild Things Are party & the boys had a monster rumpus & got fun masks to play around in.

we bought a motor home & although I don't have any picture of the inside just yet.. I have several of Sean working on the insides of it :)  We will soon make our maiden voyage. 

 last but not least... my boys, intoxicated by the addicting Peppa Pig.  What is up with this show that my kids just cannot resist?!  I put it on.. the rest of the world is dead to them.

alright- enough of the random pictures. The real reason I wanted to write was because Joey keeps doing more & more to make him less & less a baby!!
He is trying to talk more & yesterday he actually said- " thats not a tree mom". It's a good thing Sean was sitting right there because nobody would have believed it!!  He says- mamma, dada, car, stuck, milk, tree, nine ( every number or letter to him), grandma, yes, no, please, shoes, socks, peppa pig, bath... just to name a few.  He is really trying hard to put sentences together now, even though they sound muddled & me & Sean may be the only ones who understand him.  He is so much more cautious than Sam, it's crazy how different they are.  He LOVES to play with cars- as does every little boy & LOVES to be outside!!! He tows behind Sam & copies just about everything he does.  But Joey can play by himself & be quiet & still.. not words that are closely associated with Sam.
I'm working on letters with Sam to get ready for preschool.  He recognized some letters, but less than more.  Today we worked on spelling his name by himself.  I think he might be a little behind on his letters than some kids his age, but he will have 2 years of preschool still because of the way his birthday falls, so I'm not all too worried. He picks things up so quickly, his mamma just needs to get on the ball about working with him more!!!  He always surprises me- when we are out, he will point out letters or numbers & he is always right, so I know he knows more than he lets on when I try to work with him.  The other day he told me dinner was disgusting- great.  then the next day he came in when I was doing dishes & was trying to tell me something that had just happened.  He started getting frustrated & finally said- mom!  please stop doing the dishes and listen to me!  I almost laughed, but realized his attention was more important than the dishes. So I stopped & kneel ed down to listen.  He says such grown up things now, it's hard for me to believe it sometimes.
 You know, its funny.  When I started having kids I became a mom.  But it really, embarrassingly enough, hasn't been til just recently that I feel like I'm learning what it means to be a homemaker.  Life is hard, you have to roll with the punches, but you really need to be organized & work really hard to make it all work.  I love my life more than I could say, regardless of how overwhelmed I feel one minute- when the next minute brings me happiness  & peace that I couldn't imagine, it all makes it worth it :)
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super duper crazy catch up

so Sean mentioned to me that since I have decided to do my photo blog, my regular blog has suffered quite a bit- very unintentional, but nonetheless, pretty true.
So- in very random order... what we have been up to the past couple of months!!

This is the view from our couch on our porch. The weather has been pretty amazing, mostly, the past couple of months, so we spend alot of time enjoying it. I love this view alot!!




I could say that the boys have become best buds, but I'm not sure that teasing each other, crying, poking each other, etc, is that definition. They play together pretty well, but Sam is really learning the ins & outs of teasing.



The week after Sean's grandma's funeral we all got crazy sick. It's a good thing I had that week off so that I could take care of everyone, & then get insane sick myself. Yuck! Joe's face is a good description of how we all felt that week.


However, around the funeral, we got to meet lots of cousins & catch up. Here is David, Alex, Sam & Joe celebrating Alex's birthday while they were here.


We (& by we, I mean Sean) started a little garden off the side of our porch. Tomatoes & squash mostly. A watermelon & cantaloupe too. Can't wait for the fruits of OUR labors :)



We went to the races with Tiffany, David & Justin. I was a tad leary of taking my boys to watch extremely loud cars race, but earplugs are great & they really liked walking around & watching the cars being fixed.


When I'm not working, we try to spend Thursday afternoon with my mom. A few weeks ago we went to lunch & then walked around Bass Pro shop just as they were feeding the fishes. I'm so lucky to have my mom close to me!!!!


Just last week we said goodbye to our trailer :( I was reluctant to sell it, but with our new car situation, I don't think we would be able to tow it with alot of confidence, so we decided to get a motorhome instead. Sean picked it up on Tuesday night. Sam didn't want to get out & so we ended up eating pizza in it that night. Pics of the motorhome to come.


Sam & David are always playing alot together, but with recent news that the Schorns may be moving, we have to get in alot of them!! :(


On Sunday Sam & Joe were running around at purple grandmas house (what Sam calls Sean's mom, for some unknown odd reason), & ran into each other. Joe was fine, Sam, not so much. He bit his tongue almost the whole way through. I tried not to freak out cause kids always bleed alot when they are injured, but when I finally got the bleeding under control enough to actually see what was wrong, I really had to try not to freak out. It is healing really now!


We got a new accord!!!! Horrible picture.. amazing car. We LOVE LOVE LOVE it :) Sean told me to enjoy a car for the last time til the kids leave home, cause if we have another child, we may not be able to fit them all in it!
the end. Ok, not really

I figured I'd write a little about what the boys have been doing lately.
I'm trying to work on little educational things with Sam to get him ready for preschool. He is really excited to go to school at grandma's in the fall. His birthday is in October, so he will be older than most his class, but thats ok with me. He loves to play fruit ninja, a letter tracing game, a matching game, & take pictures on my phone- all of which he can do on his own. I didn't realize it til the other day when he picked up my phone, unlocked it, got into the app menu, & found the game he wanted & started it. Huh.. so much for MY phone.
He loves to play games on Nick Jr.com too.
He really loves riding his bike around & is super into playing games right now.
He loves to sing choose the right & has loved being in primary this year. He can almost sing the whole song by himself. He loves to do everything by himself, & with a mom that tends to be a micro-manager, that is hard. Sometimes I just have to tell myself to let go.



Joey is turning into a little boy more & more every day, & less like my little baby. He tries to speak in sentences now- I want....- but his favorite word still has to be car. Much in little boy fashion, he lives to play with cars. He is very decisive & seems to know just what he wants. Pretty much every day he wakes up at 7am wanting his milk, cup of cereal, & a cartoon. He & Sam love watching Peppa Pig right now.
Joe is very sensitive, & dosn't like to hear negative things. When he is scolded, he immediately screws his face up into a pout & cries. He isn't adventurous like Sam- he doesn't like to jump around & is very cautious.

the 3 musketeers- David, Joey & Sammy
& then me & Sean.
Sean is always busy with school & I juggle the work/mommy gig. ALWAYS busy!!!


hopefully I'll start keeping up better on here!

Family

On Sunday, March 4th, very early in the morning, Sean's grandma passed away from this life. She was an amazing woman that was very loved by her family & was very loving to her family.
Here she is with Sean & Sam, holding Joey.


That next weekend, Friday the 9th, there was a funeral service held for her in Mesa, & all of Sean's cousins, aunts & uncles came to remember their mother & grandmother. Sean was asked to give the plan of salvation talk during the service & he did a wonderful job. He expressed the way that his grandma lived as an example to her family & shared his thoughts that she would want all of her family to perform their labors in living the gospel properly to return to be with our Father in Heaven. After the service, the relief society arranged a nice luncheon & their family were able to be with each other & reminisce on memories they shared.

Tiffany & Bethany

Tiffany & Thomas watching a video of pictures of their grandma's life.


Sean's aunt Elaine, mom, & aunt Kathy


Justin, Tiffany, Shannon, Thomas, Sean & Ben


the luncheon


Uncle Jeff with the kids
Joey & uncle Jeff
David & Sam
Hannah & Lyla


Joey was exhausted & pooped out on the way back from the service.




I've always thought it is kind of sad that it takes a big event, like death, to bring families together. Lives are busy & too often, we aren't able to get together like we wish we could. It was very nice to spend time with family for a few days.

Goodbye

This will be brief, because I am tired, but had to write a few thoughts.
Today we celebrated Sean's grandmas life by paying her tribute as her life has just ended. So many emotions and thoughts ran through my head today. I saw Grandma laying there, her spirit gone to be with the Father again, and thought of my own life & what I am doing with it. It was a sad day, remembering what was. But a glorious day also, thinking of how I can make my life the best I can, to make sure I am with the ones I love forever. I felt small today when thinking of the eternities, but big too when thinking of God's love for me. I am truly grateful for a knowledge of my Savior Jesus Christ, & a sure knowledge that I can be with him, & my loved ones through the atonement & repentance.

Day trip

Last Saturday, we hopped in the car in the late morning & decided to take a drive. We packed in a few minutes & were out the door! Driving towards Globe & kept going on towards the Salt River Canyon. There is a spot just a bit before the canyon begins that has an amazing beauty. There are views right down the canyon into the river & the river trickles along in spots before it joins up down the canyon. Everytime we go there I just can't believe how beautiful it is!!!



It is down in a little rougher terrain, so we parked the car & hiked down. It was not a difficult hike, but with a 3 1/2 year old & 18 month old, its another story!! They were definitely worn out when we were done!
Sam found some leaves on the ground & we watched some still drifting down from some pretty beautiful trees :)
There is a small area where there is a damn & a bit of water that, of course, needs many rocks thrown into!








On the hike in, Sam ran up to with a "cactus banana". Very shortly thereafter, he realized the prickers in his hand were not too pleasant & we had to explain that cactus give off flowers, not bananas.. & the do not touch rule still applies.

and every single picture came from my new phone. We were about into Gold Canyon when I realized that I left my memory card in the computer & that my camera was useless for the day. I was pretty unhappy. Sean reminded me I had a camera on my phone.. but it dosn't take pictures like mine does. Oh well.. I still have some memories now!
It was a great & relaxing day to play around as a family & I'm grateful for days like that.

I was at work this week when I saw a young 12-ish year old patient. She comes in every 3 months because she is in braces & has HORRIBLE brushing habits. Her gums are so fire red & horrible. No matter how many times I lecture her, she comes back every 3 months the same. When I took her up to the waiting room afterwards, I called her mom in to talk to her about the visit & what needs to be worked on. The mom proceeded to tell me how she just can't be responsible for her kids anymore! To an extent, I understand that children need to learn lessons on their own, BUT- she continued on about how she has been gone the past 3 weeks with work & dosn't even have time to talk to the kids on the phone because of the time difference & then told me how she just dosn't have time to make sure they are doing their homework, or brushing their teeth. Hmm... I was actually listening to her in the beginning, but then I couldn't even hear what she was saying, I was just thinking about how badly I felt for her & her family. How could you just NOT have time for the most important things to you? Apparently work was more important. Is that what really is going to matter in the end? If you installed that networking system properly for that facility, or if you spend time with your family & actually be a mom. I always feel badly that I work & am not always home for the boys, but until Sean is done with school, this is just us for now...
Last night we watched a dateline special on foster children & children who are "aged out" of the system. They said they account for 30% of the nations homeless. It broke my heart. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be a mom.. & a good one too. Sometimes I beat myself up for not being that perfect woman, but I'm trying my hardest & I know my boys will grown up to be amazing men! I always find comfort in these words...

"There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be “full-time moms,” at least during the most formative years of their children’s lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part-or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else." Elder M. Russell Ballard.