head held high!

most of the time this is kind of how i feel when i go grocery shopping. just replace the dog with three other kids. i often feel a little overwhelmed and like things are just hanging on by a thread. most of the time i have forgotten what in the world i was there for.

i almost always leave the store with some sort of thought like, "man, i will not be winning mom of the year award any time soon" because of something my kids have said or done.

today was different.

today i went by myself.

that is not even the best part.

i went to the store, got all my items and was headed to the register. as i was making my way up front, i heard some crying. by the time i got to the register, it was more like screaming. i happened to glance to the self check out registers behind me to see what looked to be a 7 or 8 year old boy throwing what i could only say was a MAJOR tantrum.

(now before i go any further, i want to say i felt for this mom, but i have got to take what I can get)

lets proceed.

as i was checking out, it was just getting worse.

as i finished checking out and was walking out, i just happened to witness the major event!

as i was glancing over thinking to myself that poor mom, i see her son take the lid of his just purchased orange soda and chuck it high in the air and over about 3 registers. yep. the kid had an arm. he might even have a career in football if he made it to the car. i could see the horrified looks on peoples faces as the soda bottle spun, spewing soda wildly above their heads.

i did not stay to see what happened next. i just proudly walked out of walmart, with my head held high!

yep, at that moment i thought, mom of the year right here!

A pool of serenity.

I was reading a blog that I love to read today and the lady writing was joking about being a "pool of serenity", with great sarcasm. I realized that I too was having a sarcastic day of being my own cool "pool of serenity".

Sometimes I think my sense of humor is a little odd, however this lady is right up my alley. Sometimes when reading her blog, it is like I am reading my own thoughts.

So here is what would happen if you came to take a dip in my pool today.

1. Our toilet has been broken for three days. I guess I should specify, the upstairs toilet. I was slightly embarrassed as the plumber came downstairs and explained that he pulled out two different pieces of a cell phone and one very large piece of plastic. I don't know for sure but I have a very good guess as to who tried to flush those things. I am convinced my children get their naughtiness from their father! :0)

2. I woke up sick. Blah. I won't go into anymore detail but I woke up sick and have been hating it all day long.

3. My kids have been trapped inside due to cold and rain and they are quit literally going crazy! Which in turn is messing with my pool!

There is a happy ending to my day though.

Garran had a huge critique at school today. He had to meet with a panel of professors, including the head of the print making department. They basically reviewed his work and assessed if he would get to keep his scholarship.

Needless to say, it went awesome! Garran is so talented and just a rock star at what he does. He is so humble but everyone in a while I feel the need to brag about how proud I am of him. He sacrifices a lot for us and when he gets good news it is a happy day for all of us!

(and adds a little bit of serenity back into my pool)

egg hunt.

we decided this year, since we were not with any family, that we would just do a small egg hunt in our own back yard. 

 here they are ready to go!

 and they are off!!

 we gave Ayla an egg, but she was not that impressed. she really just wanted to nap.

 got it!!

 when cullan showed me his basket he said, "mom, I am an egg finding genius!".

 B had fun finding eggs but kept getting side tracked picking flowers. 

cheese. 

Happy Egg Hunts Everyone. 

We hope everyone enjoyed this holiday with the ones you love the most!

Happy Easter.

Happy Easter from us to you!

We are grateful for our faith, family and friends!

6 months.

Ayla was 6 months on the 21st. She has her check up on Friday. I will update stats then. This picture was just to cute to not post!

do you?

do you watch the history channel?

we do.

do you watch American pickers?

we do.

have you ever been to there place in Le Claire Iowa?

we have!!

after we left my mom and sister on Saturday, i decided to swing by this place on our way home. we watch this show all the time. we just think it is kind of fun. when we pulled up and got out of the van, cullan says, "Hey, we are at American Pickers". It was pretty cute.

So here they are in front of the car.

the girls were asleep so i stayed pretty close to the van.

Here is the front. If you watch, it looks pretty familiar right?

 I thought this guy was pretty cool. I also like that the guy on the left decided to pose and smile for my picture. ;0)

 the boys were "junk drunk" as the pickers would say. they were loving all the stuff to look at and play with.

 of course they loved the motor cycles.

 especially kael.

 he thought this old one was really cool. he is waving to me in this picture.

they both loved this arrow. they even asked me to take their picture with it.

if you ever have the chance to go to Le Claire, I would say do it. It is a great little town with lots to do. I look forward to going back soon and playing some more!

saturday fun

This Saturday, the kids and I met up with my mom and sister at the half way point between our two houses. It just so happens that the half way point is the Worlds Largest Truck Stop (well in Iowa).

Anyways we met there to exchange some things and decided to have some lunch and just chat for a while. They had a small museum and store. There were all sorts of things for the kids to climb on and look at.

Here are the boys. Can't you just see them in the 20's or 30's being adorable.

Here they are in their coon skin hats!

Briea wanted to try one on as well.

Ayla just thought it looked like a furry snack.

Here are the boys with Aunt Sara. There was a huge mural painted on the side of a truck. this is just a little piece of it.

The kids loved crawling through all the big trucks.

trucker Cullan

trucker Kael

this day was one of multiple personalities. ie. cowboy cullan

cowboy kael

and of course...cowgirl B!

it was a fun time visiting and hanging out.

so if you are ever halfway between Iowa and Illinois, now you know that the worlds largest truck stop has lots to look at.

Trap.

The boys were being kind of naughty tonight and would not stay in bed. They kept bugging us to come down stairs. Finally Garrans says, "sure, come on down". Cullan promptly ran down the stairs to find the time out stool waiting. ( he had been warned that nagging would result this way). From the top of the stairs Kael yells, "I told ou it was a trap Cullan!!!"

i do!

this morning cullan came in to our bedroom to wake me up. we were laying on the bed and started to thumb wrestle. Cullan said after beating me, "do you know what is better than one cullan, TWO CULLANS!", bringing out his other thumb. then he decided with my thumb and his two thumbs, that we needed to be a family. then he said, "mom, you need a thumb to marry." so we called daddy.

we came up and told him our plans. he said he would be right back and i ran to put my contacts in. when i came back he was in his PJ's with the suit jacket on that we got married in. So i went in our closet and put on the slip i was wearing when we got married on over my PJ's. Cullan told me i looked beautiful. so cullan walked me down the isle, are thumbs next to each other. then daddy and i joined hands (like we were about to thumb wrestle) and said i do! then he told kael to bring out the surprise.

(kael was the best man)

garran had made rings real quick. yes it is hair balls from my brush. (kind of gross but on short notice, very sweet.) and then the rings were made from some hemp. it was such a fun morning. then garran had to run for a critique at school and I came down stairs to face reality. oh well. it was a very fun morning!

status updates.

i did not want to forget some of the status updates from facebook that i did not post on here. so this post is pretty  much just for me.

• My kids have not been listening and I just told them to go to their room when cullan looks at me and says "mom mom just watch." then turns to briea and says "here comes the tickle bug" (tickles her) then says with a cheese grin " see mom she laughs" ... how do you stay mad at that!
• is laughing at my son you just yelled to me while running to his room, "Good-Bye and Good Luck Mom!" (Sat, 19 Sep 2009)
• is pondering "If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly." Pres. Monson. I love this talk. (Mon, 21 Sep 2009 01:00:35 GMT)
• Meghan loves my kids. They make me laugh. Garran and the kids made me a surprise while I was laying down not feeling well. When I got up they brought it to me. Cullan said, here mom take a bite, I said that I would in just a minute. Kael then proudly says with a big smile "I take a bite!!" and does with JOY!! (Tue, 06 Oct 2009 )
• Meghan was just in one of those situations with her kids of "do as i say, not as i do". I had to explain why it is ok for mommy and daddy to have a watergun fight in the house but not them.. I am such a mean mommy! But Garran is soaked!!! (Tue, 20 Oct 2009)
• Meghan says you have got to have a sense of humor as a mother. Tonight after the kids went to bed  I noticed there was a small amount of candy corn left in a baggy on the table. Most of them were broken in half. I grabbed the bag and sat down next to Garran to watch tv. On about my third grab out of the bag..... i suddenly looked at Garran and said...."I'm pretty sure I just ate a crayon!. Gotta love it (Tue, 27 Oct )
• still laughing from the following conversation with my son Cullan. C-Mom why does God love you? M-Probably because I'm cool!! ;0) (said with a smile) C-Ohhhh Yeahhh BabY!! (Sat, 14 Nov 2009 )
•   wonders where my kids come up with things. Today at Target we were leaving the register and I said "Ok guys grab on to the cart" Cullan responded..."Yes Master". Yeah I got a weird look from the cashier. (Mon, 23 Nov 2009)
• is lauging at cullan eating some ice cream while looking at briea and saying "oh ice cream is nasty..it is really gross!". I don't think she is buying it. (Sun, 03 Jan 2010)
• Meghan has decided my son Cullan is pretty dang smooth. Tonight he walked up to me and said "Mom, you are the most beautiful mom in the world" I resoponded, "Thanks Cullan". He then said without missing a beat.." Your Welcome....Can I get some juice?" (Sun, 31 Jan 2010 )
•   today cullan came out of the shower and said  "Dad Kael is playing with your ...mmm...white fire hydrant" Garran went to investigate, Kael was spraying shaving cream everywhere! (Fri, 12 Feb 2010)
• Today Garran dropped Cullan off at preschool. Garran said that when they got into the classroom, Cullan said, "Ok Dad, go back to the Plane!". (Fri, 19 Feb 2010
• Meghan has a very clever son! This morning Cullan said "Mom, can I have eggs for breakfast!" I replied sure. I was checking my email, so I told him to wait just a minute. He then told me he would get them. I thought ok. He can handle getting them out of the fridge. Ya I turn around and he is eating a bag of those Reese Easter Eggs we had hidden. (Fri, 26 Feb 2010
• Meghan loves my husband for many reasons...but this conversation is just one of  the many reasons. Garran: I think the universe really does balance  itself out. Meg: Really, why is that? Garran: Because when the guy in  front of me at wal-mart who had a mullet checked out and left, at the  same time a woman with a mullet walked in. It was like the universe was  keeping the exact number of mullets it needed at Walmart! (Fri, 02 Apr 2010
• Meghan is doing some math:
  1+1=2
  2+3=5
  5+1=6! (Sat, 22 May 2010
• Garran is taking the kids to the park so I can do some cleaning..needless to say I could use a little down time...Anyways on their way out the door, Cullan says "come on dad, were busting out of here!!" (Thu, 27 May 2010
• my son just brought me a remote and said "here you are your majesty!" (Mon, 21 Jun 2010 
• so cullan has been exposed to Napolean Dynamite. This morning when I came down stairs, Cullan said to me "Mom, Do i have any sweet skills?"
  ps. He thinks it is called Holy Dynamite! (Mon, 21 Jun 2010 
• wonders what people must think when my kids say things like this. Today Cullan asked me if he could come to the store with me. I said yes. Then he throws his arms around me and says " How can i ever thank you MOM!!". (Tue, 22 Jun 2010
• So we are watching the news due to all the bad weather and on the bottom of the screen where the little ticker has all the warning i read these exact words " IF YOU ENCOUNTER FLASH FLOODING, TURN AROUND AND DO NOT DROWN" thank you news for those words of wisdom!! (Wed, 23 Jun 2010
• Cullan just ran in our house with two hand fulls of flowers. He said "these are for you mom" I said thanks and started to take both hand fulls. He then snatched one back and said "No, only these, the others are for my girlfriend!" Yikes! At least he remembered his mom though <3 (Mon, 26 Jul 2010
• yesterday Cullan had been sent upstairs to play. A few minutes later he came downstairs and looked at me and said "Look Mom, I am just going to do what I want, so I am just going to lay down here on the couch and watch TV!" needless to say he was right back up stairs. (Fri, 30 Jul 2010
• was watching a show where a lady had Quads. My son Kael said, "Mom, 4 babies would make you crazy!!" Oh the wisdom of a three year old ;0) (Fri, 06 Aug 2010
• so today at Walmart, we were pretty close to being done shopping. My hips were really starting to hurt, just due to pregnancy, so I was walking a little differently. However, my wonderful son Kael, practically yells at me, "Mom, why are you shaking your booty when you walk?" Ya that got a few looks!! (Sat, 14 Aug 2010
• loves when my kids say cute things. As Garran was heading out the door to go to school, Cullan says, "Dad be a good friend and be nice in class!". Hmm wonder what he hears all the time. (Fri, 20 Aug 2010
• overheard the following conversation tonight: Kael-"Hey Cullan, do you want to race cars?" Cullan- "No Kael, because you just ruined my life!" I think I must have missed something ;o) (Tue, 24 Aug 2010
• today at the hospital, while we were waiting for Cullan, Kael and I had the following conversation. K-"Mom we don't talk to strangers, because they might be mean and steal us, right?" M- "Yep" K-"So we don't talk to strangers so we can be together forever...or at least till the baby comes..right?" I guess once the baby comes, every one is up for grabs! (Thu, 26 Aug 2010.
• Cullan just came up to me with his wallet in hand (i made him a pretend drivers license with his picture on it to put in his wallet). Anyways, he came up to me and said "so mom, are you going to let me drive the van now or what?" (Fri, 27 Aug 2010
• is laughing again. Kael just yells from the top of the stairs.."Dad, Briea is out of her cage" Hmm wonder what that would sound like to someone stopping by. ps. he means her bed! (Sat, 04 Dec 2010 
• cullan just said that he wanted a red riderhood baby gun for christmas. guess what movie he saw this week? (Mon, 06 Dec 2010 
• Kael was sitting in time out for breaking a toy. Garran had put him there and I was in the living room. Kael yells out to me to tell me that he had broke a toy and that he was in time out. All of a sudden Cullan interrupts Kael and says "She knows Kael....She ALWAYS KNOWS!" (Wed, 15 Dec 2010
• i just asked Cullan if he was going to get dressed before the babysitter got here. He said "No, I want her to see my sponge bob pajama's so she will know how cool I am!" (Wed, 12 Jan 2011
• **update on Cullan being Awesome** within minutes of the babysitter arriving and Cullan showing off he busted his lip and started bleeding. So now he is not only Awesome but tough too!! (Wed, 12 Jan 2011
• today, I told Kael to stop doing something while we were in the van and he looked at me the way only Kael can do and just said..."LAME!" (Fri, 21 Jan 2011
• Garran just ran upstairs because he heard Cullan screaming/crying. When Garran gets up there, he says "Cullan, What is the matter, are you ok?" Cullan responds very calmly..."Yeah, I am just practicing my screams." (Fri, 28 Jan 2011 
• as we were laying on the bed this morning, Cullan says to me (while looking at Ayla) "Mom, I can speak baby english, watch! Ajo Ajo BA Ba LA la! See she understood just what I said." (Thu, 17 Feb 2011
• Today this is how I feel-- " Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying " I will try again tomorrow." (Thu, 03 Mar 2011
• Cullan asked me tonight if there would be a butler to take care of him at the hotel we will be staying at. I seriously don't know where he comes up with this stuff! (Thu, 10 Mar 2011 
• Kael- "Mom, this song is making my butt move, like Na na Na Na!" (Wed, 16 Mar 2011
• Cullan just told me to watch his hopping skills. Then a few minutes later he asked me for the number to the state department! I swear..... This kid makes me laugh everyday. :0) (Wed, 23 Mar 2011
• Cullan just asked Garran if we was impressive (I think he meant impressed) and Garran said, "Why yes I am  impressive!" (Thu, 31 Mar 2011
• I asked Cullan to hold Ayla for me while I made a bottle. Cullan took Ayla and said "come here Ayla girl, let me tell you about our childhood!". (Sat, 09 Apr 2011                                     

2 years.

Briea went for her two year check. 

this was her after we got home. guess it wore her out. 

here are her stats. 

weight: 47 lbs

height: 34 inches

cuteness: off the charts.

soon.

soon she will be crawling. 

so right now i am trying to enjoy every minute of her being stationary (well kind of) and soaking up her cuteness!

tryin.

i decided that since Ayla is almost 6 months, it was time I start working with her on foods. right now i just mix a little squash or something in with rice cereal. I always try to get pictures of my kids first time trying food. well here ya go. 

 um she is not looking to sure. however, she does like to hold the spoon.

 as long as she can be in charge of it, she seems to be pretty happy.

 busy trying to master the art of the spoon.

all done with a full tummy. i think she will get the hang of this eating food thing just fine!

It's a YES!

Garran just called and his meeting went really well. They said that he got the teaching position for next year!!

He will be teaching a foundations drawing class. I am so excited for him. I had a feeling that things would go well!

Woo Hoo Garrans!

We love you and are so proud of you!

Tomorrow....

Tomorrow, Tomorrow,

we'll find out tomorrow,

It's only a day....a....way!

Just in case you think I am crazy, Garrans has a meeting tomorrow to find out if he got the teaching position. Either way, I am really proud of him for making it as far as he did in the interview process! Guess we will just have to wait and see!

joy.

anyone who says that children do not bring joy and laughter into your life have obviously not met my kids yet. 

today while sitting at the table, eating lunch with my kids, we had the following conversation.

Cullan: Mom, are you allergic to camels?
Me: No
Kael: Are you allergic to dogs?
Me: No
Cullan: Are you allergic to Cats?
Me: Yes.
Kael: So if we got to a pet store, we could not bring home a cat?
Me: Right.
Cullan: But....we could bring home a Camel!!
Me: UM NO!

Cullan: Am I allergic to cats?
Me: No.
Cullan: Oh so just girls are allergic to cats.
Kael: Ya not BOYS!
Me: No, some boys are allergic to cats too. Not just girls.
Cullan: I think I am allergic to girls.

by that point I was laughing to hard to remember what else was said. 

Happy Monday!

magic

today is our 7th anniversary.

our kids have started to say that garran and I are like "magic" because we tend to say things at the same time. 

i have to agree, i feel like we are magic too.

happy 7th anniversary to the love of my life!

budding artist

Cullan has been drawing like crazy lately. We even bought him his own sketch book. He has almost filled the whole thing, with actual pictures. Not just scribbles. Anyways he drew this today. He told me it is a birthday card for his next birthday that I am supposed to save and give to him. 

I know that every mom thinks their kid is great, but I love his drawings, and i am so impressed with how well he is doing with writing his name. I did not help him at all. His name on here is all his own. Now we are starting to work on his last name. It is a little bit longer so it is taking a little time! 

Cullan's explanation

a little while ago, Cullan had this hat on and so he asked me if he looked liked a golfer. I said that he did. He then told me that he wished he had one of those golfing spatulas (golf club) so that he could hit one of those whiffle balls. then he said he needed some of those metal nails to put the balls on. 

i love listening to his explanation of things sometimes.

my view!

today i took the van to have it worked on. i decided to stay at the place since it was not going to take very long and i did not have any of the kids with me. anyways this nice old fella came and sat down after I had been there for about 5 mins. We talked a little and then he dosed. I decided to snap this picture because at this point he was snoring like crazy. I thought it was funny because it looks like that Michelin Man is throwing a tire at him to wake him up!

she's got spunk!

i think the third picture is my favorite!