Prayer Warning

I just wanted to post something I have learned about prayer...after over ten years. You get what you pray for! Since high school, I can remember praying for the virtue of patience. Now, I am still sometimes surprised when others describe me as "patient". I continue to dread standing in a long line or waiting on the phone...I'm so impatient. However, the way that my prayer has been answered has not been what I exactly was hoping for. I was hoping "patience" would come in a pretty, wrapped, neat package. Nice and simple. Nope. First, after praying for patience, I met my future husband in high school and ended up "waiting" two years before marriage while he served a mission for the church. Then, after marrying, I endured over three years of dealing with infertility. More waiting. Now, I have three kids under three and again find my patience is being tried in another way. It's amazing, but ironic...anyway, I am SO ranting lately on my blog. I don't think anyone reads it because there are no comments...but, that's okay. It gives me somewhere to vent, right?

Tagged

My friend Cassidy had this tag on her blog. I tag everyone who reads mine!

1. Three biggest fears? Something bad happening to one of my kids, something happening to me so that I could't care for my kids, the overall embarrassment that ensues when we go out in public since nothing is happening to any of us

2. When was the last time you danced? Ten minutes ago. I'm a Jazzercise girl. It's kinda lame, but it works. I dance all the time with the kids! Love it!

3. Do you creep on stranger's blogs? Not really, I'd rather look at friends.

4. If you could go back to be any age for a day, what age would you be and why? My childhood, Brooklyn's age. I'd just like to understand more about her and where she's coming from. Honestly, I'm really happy now, where I am. I don't wish myself back to another time. Life seems to get better all of the time.

5. Are you a good liar? Sadly, yes, I can be. I'm a marketing major...I was properly trained. But when it comes to real life stuff and family and friends, no, not a good liar. (Except for the white lies that make people feel better.)

6. Do you judge someone when you can tell they've had elective cosmetic surgery? Are you kidding? Never really. I don't know how I feel about it. I probably would have never thought I would consider it, but didn't judge others. However, after seeing what having kids does to your body, who knows? Santa, baby...I've got a wish list!

7. If you have children, what's one thing that you always told yourself you'd never do when you had kids? Wipe snotty noses with my finger when no tissue was around.

8. What's something that totally grosses you out? Kids in general, love 'em, but see above question. So gross! Kids do the GROSSEST things. (ie: Tyler's poopy paci that I put in my mouth?!)

9. Do you ever delete forwards without reading them? Of course, who doesn't? Most of those are myths anyway. There is a great website that debunks all of them...don't remember the name.

10. Do you ever lie to get out of obligations? I usually try to tell the truth when I have to pull out. Usually people are understanding.

11. Consider your body weight and your yearly income at their present states. Would you rather be 200 pounds heavier and $200,000 richer or stay at your present states?
Stay at my present states.

12. When was the last time you bought a pair of shoes and what were they? Hmmm...love shoes, don't buy them much. I'm cheap. I bought some shoes for the kids at Payless a few months ago.

13. The Olympics. Take them or leave them? I LOVE the Olympics!

14. What's your favorite accent? It used to be Wisconsin, but I can't hear it anymore (scary), so now it's Austalian

15. What's your favorite scent? Babies (not stinky ones)

16. Gum or breath mints? Gum

17. If you could look like any celebrity, who would it be? I don't know, so hard to decide when you are practically perfect...ha, ha, ha...I don't know; someone who is trin and really pretty, not just make-up pretty

19. Do you religiously wear sun screen? Nope, but I'm learning to put it on my fair-skinned kiddies

20. Do you generally trust people/their motives or doubt people/their motives? It depends on the person...I trust people in general, but I am pretty sceptical about business and politics

21. Would you describe yourself as a complicated person or is what you see what you get? So complicated.

22. Do you watch what you eat? I wish I was better, usually I just watch it as it goes into my mouth

23. Do you watch what other people eat? Not really...except my kids...I guess when I'm busy with kids and eating, the last thing I care about is what someone else is eating...I have four mouths to feed

24. Do you judge how other people raise their kids? Not any more...what goes around comes around

25. Do you judge people who dress poorly? I try not to, but I do notice if it's obvious. I don't care about name brands and stuff...but not matching drives me crazy and when clothes are super out dated. "The eighties are calling, they want their clothes back!"

26. Do you judge people who are homely? No, like I'm super hot...

27. Do you judge people who are overweight? Nope.

28. Your interest in politics: High, Medium-High, Medium, Medium-Low, Low, Obsolete?
Medium high, but don't have time now to get too worked up or involved

29. Favorite song of all time? Can't do it...I love lots of music and lots of songs

30. Acoustic or electric? Acoustic...I'm a country girl...love that twang

31. If you were a hermit, would you shave? Yes, what else would I do with all that time?

32. If you could shave your head without your significant other throwing a complete hissy, would you? Never, my hair is for me, not for him

33. What was your least favorite age? I don't know? Those few years before 16, awkward lanky jr. high stuff kinda stinks

34. How many times a day do you check your email? Too much. 3 or 4?

35. Are you in a tiff with anyone right now? I'm not, but certainly someone may not like me

Sibling Rivalry

So, I have my kids close together with this insane, illogical, incorrect thought that being closer in age will make them closer friends. Or not. Ty and Brooklyn are to the point that not only do they fight over the same toys, but they delight in torturing each other. For example, when Ty is getting into something and he shouldn't be, Brooklyn screams "no!" to make him cry. We of couse, have the standard argumements because they always want the same toy or both want to touch the monkeys in the book when we read the book from Grandma. Then, the other night, I had them in the tub. Brooklyn intentionally and somewhat maliciously dumped water on Ty's head. It's eye for an eye around here and when she does that to him, she knows I will dump water on her head...so I did. She came unglued! Ty thought that was pretty funny and proceeded to try to dump water on her. It was funny to watch him laughing so hard he can barely stand up in the water while Brooklyn is screaming for him to go away. He's short enough that even when the water got her, it was just on her shoulders. Ty didn't care either way, he got her to SCREAM! Funny Ty. He couldn't stop laughing! There is honestly some enjoyment (sick, I know) in watching Brooklyn get a little of what she deserves...she's picked on him for the past 21 months and now he's learning to stick up for himself a little.

Top Ten Reasons Not to Invite Mortons' to Dinner

So, last Sunday, a kind ward member invited us to dinner. Of course, we took the kids. It was a very embarrassing experience and served to remind me that it's not wise for us to take our kids to dinner at someone else's house. Here's the reasons why....

#1 Having to ask the homeowner, "where is your plunger?" (Brooklyn clogged up the toilet with too much toilet paper)
#2 Brooklyn interrupting dinner, while naked from the waist down, to announce that the "tricky water" was making her cold (she had plugged up the toilet and the level of water had raised enough that her little bum got wet when she sat down on the seat)
#3 Morton children come armed with billy clubs (the Maglight flashlights that they like to take for walks...we walked to dinner on Sunday)
#4 Tyler getting into the cupboard and pulling out a package of baggies, one by one
#5 Tyler getting into another cupboard and finding all of the household chemicals
#6 Tyler shoving a toy shopping cart down the stairs toward and unexpecting baby
#7 Brooklyn crying, non-stop, about everything that doesn't go her way
#8 Kids that don't eat
#9 Tyler not eating dinner, but trying to eat the decorative fruit in the living room
#10 Do you really need ten reasons? Aren't the first nine enough?!

Girl Stuff

Hey, what is it about girls? Maybe it's just me, I don't know (I'll have to post a poll). Do you compare yourself to others? I've found for most of us, this isn't a comparison of "wow, I'm so hot compared to her" or "man, my kids may misbehave in public but I am so glad that don't act like Morton's kids". It seems that most of these comparisons make us feel worse about ourselves. I tend to notice that so-and-so has great hair, pretty makeup, is thin, has perky boobs etc., without seeing her flaws. I find myself a little plump after having a baby and wish "gosh, I wish I was thin again"...then when I lose a few pounds, I find myself saying "what happened to my boobs?! Hers are..." Anyway, am I making any sense? Then, in comparing, it's sad that I somehow sometimes find pleasure in seeing someone that I think "has it together" having a bad day. It's unfortunate for those I associate with that it makes me feel better about my life when I see that someone else has a messy house, or didn't do her makeup, or let their 3-year old dress themselves...nonetheless, I'm rambling and admitting something I'm working on. We're all on the same boat. We all have bad days...days that are kids' clothes don't match, days that the house is too messy, days that the laundry is piling up, days that it isn't worth more than a dab of mascara (if that). So, I just hope we can all be a little easier on ourselves and help each other out when we can!

Our House

Due to requests from out-of-towners; I guess I should post some pictures of our new house. I LOVE it! It's 80 years old, but very "charming". It has a lot of the cozy, country, farmhouse feel that I have always liked. Jake got his big garage and big lot...which is admittedly nice too. Of course, we've bought ourselves into an eternal remodeling project; but fortunately everything is functional and the remodeling we want to do is mostly for cosmetics. We had hestitated for a long time before we bought a house...before I forked out the money I wanted to find something that I liked enough to make it worth it. So far, I feel good about it. I love the new ward and it's nice to be closer to my "Kohl's" friends. We miss West Bend and the country; but I have to admit I enjoy living so close to Target, Home Depot, etc.

More, again

Okay, no more, I promise...here's some pictures of playdates with friends. Brooklyn is a little social butterfly and is always begging to go play with her friends. (It works out well, as all of her friends have great moms that are fun to hang with!) Also, just a few more of Hallween...I just couldn't get enough of Ty in that chicken costume.

More Halloween/Fall Pictures

Party on! Here are pictures from last weekend. On Friday night, we had our ward Trick or Treating party. It was a lot of fun...some people are awesome with creative costumes (not the Morton's...we love Old Navy). Also included some pictures of Brooklyn's 3rd Birthday Party. It was fun. Thanks to all who came!

Kisses and Batteries

If I were a three-year-old, I might be a millionaire. Brooklyn's "fix alls" are batteries and kisses. Then we wouldn't have to spend so much money on repairmen, doctors bills and the like. What I mean is, anything that is "broken" just needs new batteries, including things like the toilet (it didn't flush), books (torn), and the dishwasher (I pulled out the control knob so my kids don't break it). Anyway, it's just funny that pretty much anything that doesn't work or is broken just needs new batteries from WalMart...if only life were so simple. Additionally, any physical ailment is healed with kisses. Brooklyn is miraculously healed from all maladies, real or imagined with a kiss and expects nothing less of the rest of us. I love being a mom!

Addicted to Twilight

So, I swear it would never be me. Both of my bookclubs read "Twilight" in October. I refused to read a teenage romantical book about a girl falling in love with a vampire. Are you serious? My free time is very limited...I could spend it watching reruns of King of Queens, CSI, or Law and Order? (Such valuable activities). Well, yeah, I decided that too many rational adult women had read it and told me they LOVED it. I had to try. It was so intriguing. Something about being a boring stay-at-home mom...it just was silly, romantic, exciting...so different, I don't know. I just LOVED it. And for those of you who LOVE Edward, I read an article in Parents that Mommy Crushes are normal and healthy. They supposedly make you feel like a real girl rather than just a mommy...should make you feel more cute and all that mushy stuff.

More, more, more

I was so behind on uploading pictures. Blogger kept coming up with all of these errors and it was a pain, so I stopped for awhile...anyway. Here are some pictures of Sadie, of course. Also, our trip with playgroup to "Apple Holler" (a you-pick apple farm...with farm animals and stuff to keep the kids busy. I think there are also some from Betty Brinn Children's Museum.

Sadie "Lou"

So, our little Sadie is getting bigger all the time (although with the start she had, she's still not too big, just a "little peanut"). I need to get more pictures of her on the blog...she just doesn't demand as much attention as the other two. (Thank goodness for third children!) She is such a happy baby, and LOVES to coo and talk. She's sitting in the highchair and loves it, but is still not too big on the baby food.

More pictures

Just catching up. The kids love the yard and playing outside. I can even get them to pitch in and "help" with chores (like raking leaves). Ty the Guy LOVES to talk on the phone...just like his big sister.

Moving

No new pictures of the new house, but I do have a few "moving" pictures as well as some in the yard of the kiddies.

Creative Bug II

More creativity attempts...I picked up these blocks at a barn sale over a year ago. Now that I live in an older, more charming, house they really fit in. I'm now looking out for more antique toys. The decorating department around here is lousy...all these excuses about too much time given to dirty dishes and stinky diapers. It's a slow, but fun process to get things decorated. I really am in a house that I love!

Betty Brinn -- Outta My Mind II

Another day of insanity...why do I do this to myself? I am indeed a glutton for punishment. So, today is Thursday, my day to take the kiddies to the children's museum. Jake goes to school and it's all day mommy day so I have to do something to break up our day. We decided to go for "Tot Time", a little nursery-esque experience for babies ages 1-3. So, the session was full but I talked the teacher into letting us sit in. Not two minutes later, Ty had found a pitcher of water and spilled the entire thing on the floor. As I was cleaning up his mess, Sadie was screaming. When I got to her I found that she had a poopy diaper...all over. Cleaning that up and Ty was everywhere and into everything. While children were supposed to be sitting on little rugs on the floor, Ty had found a small table with small chairs and cups and napkins. Well, you all know what that means. Snacks. But, not now. Ty didn't get it. I had to strap him into the stroller and when he again convinced me to let him out, he ran for the teacher's stash of stuff and stole her spider puppet and later some stale popcorn and some leftover craft projects. (The other moms thought he was SO cute and absolutely HILARIOUS...I wanted to say "do you want to borrow him?" I looked so incompetent chasing him and nursing Sadie and encouraging Brooklyn to participate. Finally, it was over. We had snack and buzzed out fast enough to not have the teacher ask us to do a craft, again (she asked several times as if I had the situation under control and we could really handle making a spider while nursing a baby and chasing Ty the terrorific). Anyway, in the museum, playing, I lost Ty twice and Brooklyn once. I swear, I'm a good mom, I glanced away and they were gone. I had the humiliating experience of having to ask museuam staff to help me find Brooklyn. Since she knows better how to operate doors, elevators, etc...for all I know she had already made it to the lakefront and was feeding birds or over to US Bank and applying for a job. Ahhhh! It will be awhile before I put myself through that again. Real confidence booster, after I explained that she needs to stay by me or she'll get lost and have a new mommy; she thought that was a fabulous idea...she said "...wow, a new mommy and a new Ty and a new Sadie and a new family..." It all sounded cherry until she realized she wouldn't live in her "new house" anymore. I'm glad she loves me! Despite the headaches, I did get some cute pics that I will post. (P.S. if anyone reads this and would like to join me, I'd love to have company and a little help! Like you would actually offer knowing what the situation is!)

Creative Bug

So, I don't get "creative" very often. Considering that my sister is a home economics teacher and a fantastic seamstress and cook...my other sister is a painter and talented musician...I often joke that I was too busy talking in heaven to get any talents. BUT, I'm working on it. Trying to do new things. Here's my latest attempt. Cookies dipped in chocolate to look like candy corns. It was pretty cute and very tasty. I recommend to someone who tries it to add lots of orange coloring to the dough...mine wasn't orange enough!

Still Here....

So, here I am. I'm totally miffed because something is not working with the computer and I can't upload pictures. Isn't that the best part of my blog? It's my favorite part. Oh, well.

We're here. We survived our little move and I am starting to feel settled in our house. It was a rough go at first, as many of you know, since Jake got sick two days after we moved in. (But it was fun to get to meet both the paramedics and the fire department my first week in my new house). Don't worry, Jake didn't die or have a massive coronary or anything...he's fine now...it's a long story for another day.

Fall is here. Bummer. I love the fall and the changing leaves, but today I'm feeling a little short-changed. It seems like here in Wiscsonsin we went from Indian Summer to full-on Fall overnight. Don't get me wrong, I was totally enjoying the long summer and 80 degree October days; but going down into the 50's and 60's stinks. It's funny how the 50's feel so balmy in the spring and I get out and walk and take the kids out to play and as soon as it drops below 65 in the Fall, I am done with going outside and ready to board up for another long Wisconsin winter. I'm trying to think positive...

I am excited about our new house, new ward, new town, etc. Things are going well and I feel very welcome in our new ward. There seem to be a lot of other families with similar families to mine. The kids love the yard and feeding the squirrels. I love being so close to shopping and clsoer to the Children's Museum and the zoo. I miss my West Bend Ward friends and the country feel of Jackson, but overall I'm feeling really good about life and things. We're enjoying meeting our new neighbors (we practically live in a retirement community and they're excited to have a young family in the neighborhood). My next door neighbor is hilarious. He watched things like a hawk and reminds me to close my garage and keep my kids bikes in the backyard so that the boys from the hood up on Hampton don't come and haul my stuff away. He spends a lot of time looking out the window and almost always stops me when I'm walking by with the kids...."I noticed that your bike was in the front yard...some kids were riding by and looking at it, so I moved it to the back.....I was watching you when the kids were doing such and such and laughing at you....". I think it will probably kinda drive me nuts, but it's nice to know someone is looking out for me.

I enjoyed conference last weekend so much and it was a good chance to remind myself of my priorities and set some new conference goals. I usually don't do so swell, but we'll see. Conference is great because it makes me feel good about what I am doing; yet, at the same time motivates me to do better and see all the the many areas where I am lacking in my life.

Anyway, life is calling, so I guess I should go. I'm rambling again anyway and not feeling very funny, so its probably not worth reading.

Out of my mind...

Bona fide proof that I am outta my mind...pictures from the zoo and a cute shot that I got today at the "Piggy Wiggy" when we were shopping. Yes, I do take all three kids by myself to the store. Usually we go to Wally World, but I just needed a few things today and I wasn't up to it. It requires some pretty serious strategizing (and bribing), but most days it's not too bad.

Also, cute pictures from the zoo with the Brough's. Thank heavens for good friends and someone to help me out with the kids! (Although we still have five kids under four between the two of us!) We loved seeing the animals. Brooklyn and Ty call the zoo the "jungle". Silliness. (Note in the pictures our children leaning over the fence towards the animals...luckily they're looking a bunnies which are actually in another cage).

Lastly, some adorable shots of all the kids in their new Halloween jammies from Grandma. Brooklyn wore hers all day the day that they came in the mail. She loves to get mail almost as much as I do (I guess because her awesome Grandmas are often sending her fun stuff!) I think I'll also include some pictures of Sadie. She's pretty darn cute (I'm not at all bias). As she continues to grow, I've been reassured that like my other children, she bears absolutely no resemblance to me and gets her good looks from her Dad. They're little Morton clones...

We had a great time on our trip to Utah!! I had a hard time finding a few pictures to show everything that we did. (I had way too many awesome pictures) I think I'm missing some of our little Sadie Lou...have to add more later.

Ty loved the FOOD at Grandma and Grandpa Johnson's; they always feed us well.

We blessed Sadie on August 5 at the Morton's house. It was wonderful to see family and she was given a beautiful blessing. Grandma Johnson made her a beautiful blessing dress...the only downside is that she could only wear it for a few hours the day of her blessing. I'll have to find a nice way to preserve it for her.

Brooklyn LOVED going on the boat and jet skis, as you can see in the picture where she is riding with her aunt Melissa and cousin London. She kept asking "faster, faster"...guess she got a little of her mom and dad's adventurous sides.

The last picture was taken on our trip to the Hogle Zoo...Ty was enjoying playing with Grandpa and loved dancing on the top of the tables at the refreshment stand! Go Ty, go Ty! This kind of behavior won't be nearly as cute in a few years!

Confession

Blogging has been going slow...for a multitude of reasons, but I'm back (now anyway)
Okay, so my blogging has pretty much consisted of updates on the kids, but I have a confession. (No, I am not pregnant again). I have a serious addiction. Mail. Love it. I don't know why, but it is 100% my job at my house. It would completely ruin my day if Jake were to get the mail. (Good thing he's not home). I threaten him with his life on Saturdays! So, I get home from Utah, and my mailbox is (gasp!) empty! So I go to the neighbor's house, assuming they picked it up when it was brimming...(brimming, oh joy, yes I did think about going through all of that mail when the plane ride home was not so great...no, I'm not expecting a big check or anything...mostly junk and bills...and SHEER PLEASURE.) Anyway, they weren't home that night and when I talked to them the next morning, they didn't have it.I decided to call the post office to see if my brimming mail was being held hostage by the postman. (Me and the post man, love/hate relationship...so kind to take care of my mail...but now that I want it, I can't get to it! Then he does that thing where sometimes he delivers at about 11:00 am and sometimes it's more like 3:00pm....) Called the post office and glory be, they have it for me. While I typically don't move my clan with much speed, I quickly got ready and announced to the kids that we were going out. I packed them in the car only to realize that I didn't know where my keys were. (We had a friend drop us off at the airport in our car and take our car until the day she drove it to the airport and parked for us...saving us $ on parking and free ride for her to the airport.) Searched the car...called Jake...called Allison. No luck!On the verge of a nervous breakdown, I decided we would walk to pick up the mail after naps. I prepped everyone and they luckily took good naps. Post naps, as I was packing up the stroller, I got into my car for something or another and discovered MY KEYS! You would have thought I won Publishers Clearing House. We packed up in the car to go to the post office. Picked up my mail and it was every bit as good as I expected, containing no checks, mostly bills and junk...Crazy part of the story...I clocked the mileage on my way....2 miles EACH WAY! I was honestly prepared to walk 4 miles with 3 kids under age 3 in 80 degree weather with awful muggy humidity to get my mail one day earlier! Nuts, yes! Obsessive, yes! Thank heaven I found my keys....can you imagine?

Firsts

So, it's been a BIG weekend here at the Morton's. Here's a picture of Ty getting his first haircut. As long as I let him have his pacifier, he was okay with it. I took him to a studio that just cuts kids' hair. The girl who cut his hair worked with the speed and precision of Edward Scissorhands. The "barber chair" was a little car that he sat in; and he got to tune into "Bob the Builder" while we hacked off some of his long, blonde, curly locks. (It's still pretty long and curly, I just wanted him to look more like a boy...now his hair is finally shorter than Brooklyn's).

Also, as a reward for getting potty trained, Brooklyn got her first "big girl" bike--with two wheels and training wheels. She's doing great at learning how to ride, except she's going to go flying over the handlebars one of these times she applies brake without knowing what she is doing...

Chillin at the Lake

While obviously, anyone knows, my favorite thing about living here is NOT the climate. Super cold winters (and fairly cold falls and springs) make for not much fun. However, the redeeming quality of our weather is beautiful, mild summers. We love heading out to the lake, and it's nice because within a ten or fifteen minute drive we have countless lakes and ponds to choose from. Admittedly, it has taken some time for me to get over lilly pads, moss, muck 'n'mire (Wisconsin word -- I think), weeds, and mini fish to dive into the lakes; but the set up is nice at most lakes, we have man-made beaches that are fairly well cleaned out. The water is warm and shallow and the kiddies love it (well, actually, Ty mostly enjoys sampling the sand...he's a big dirt/rocks/wood chips/bug eater...tasty!!!)

Brooklyn and Ty both got their first shots at fishing and faired really well. In the few times we have taken them, we've pulled in a lot of little smallies and bluegill (which sadly, looked terribly sick and brown the first few times we caught them, but having not seen a mountain trout for awhile, they are looking better). The kids have a great time and Jake enjoys helping them catch fish (and a few weeds.) The lake also has a small playground and lots of shade, so it was perfect for keeping everyone entertained on a summer afternoon.