happy 8th birthday jessica payton

so another year has come and gone and our middle one is finally 8. she informed us this morning that she felt older and could even reach a shelf in the refrigerator that she couldn't yesterday. how about that for a birthday. we had a small family gathering tonight {pigging out on tacos with all the trimmings} and she had a couple of friends over to stay the night. they are currently downstairs rocking out to 'rock band'! we bought her a razor scooter that looks like a real moped! she loves it and has been enjoying it all afternoon. we gave it to her before her party so she could get in some riding before dark. here's hoping and wishing for many more wonderful birthday's to come! happy birthday jp, we love you!!

and the award for best dramatic performance goes to....

miss josie jade! we had a little bit of a drama last night around the dinner table. our girls are not the best veggie eaters but we make them eat at least one piece each night at dinner. last night the choice of vegetable was: carrots, sweet yellow carrots, cauliflower or broccoli. the pan went around the table and the older girls chose broccoli. josie usually always chooses a carrot, but felt the need to try the same as her sisters. she took it and there it sat until the very end. at this point it is cold and limp {i had been casually suggesting to her to eat it sooner, but she said she would get to it} well wouldn't you know it, the time had come for her to eat the broccoli and all of a sudden her tummy was full, no wait.. her head hurts, or maybe she just wasn't sure exactly what was wrong! next thing you know here come the tears... i swear you would think we were asking her to eat a worm or something. i try telling them that when i was little my mean mother would make me eat can spinach, talk about gross!!!! we couldn't get up from the table until our plate was clean. {on a side note, my brother once sat at the dinner table until almost 12am because he wouldn't eat his eggs!!!} tell me those weren't gross by the time he got done :( anyway, on with the story. she finally decides to eat the broccoli and much to her surprise survived the ordeal! silly little girl! i'm betting the next time she will choose a carrot!

really cool kids

i've decided that today i like all my kids so i thought they deserved a day to be the subject of my post! {i always love my kiddos, but as you've read, there are just some days you don't really like them} so let me begin with jordan michele, she is really awesome, smart, funny and very responsible. next we have jessica payton, she {thinks she is a rock star} is very funny, a clean freak, pretty smart too and tends to be a little more athletic then her elder sister. and last but not least we have josie jade, who does not like to be called little or treated like she is a baby. she is 3 1/2 going on 13! she, like her sisters is very smart and is a computer wiz. i think {in fact i know} she can navigate around the internet better than her dad. when we only had one kid i was convinced to stop at that, but i am thankful that mark really wanted more kids {he was secretly hoping to get a boy, umm... notice how he didn't get the job done???} i couldn't imagine our lives without theses kids. they are what we live and breath for. as parents we would do anything for them and are thankful that we are able to share each and everyday with them. so here's to our great girls. we love you more than anything in this world!!!

introducing.....

so i must be really desperate for a post when i am resorting to posting about the really uncool pets that we have. just kidding. actually they all have traits i feel i should share with everyone. first we have "trixie" the boston terrier AKA "ricky" and "the dirty boston"... she likes shaking, looking nervous and jumping for socks. next we have "lola" the min pin, AKA "the show dog" although she has never worn yellow feathers in her hair. {boy do i really need to get out more} who loves to bark at the top of her lungs when anyone knocks or a leaf falls from a tree 10 miles away and loves to dart out any open door and refuses to come home. then we have the always matted "fat cat" AKA "watty the putty". she can be counted on for having tons of mats and dropping them everywhere. and last but not least we have our newest addition, "minka" AKA "minkers", she loves to use her nails on anything, your face, the screen, my leather... but her newest and most awesome trait was discovered yesterday. she loves birds! go figure. she was kind enough to bring us in a bird yesterday. don't ya just love that? i mentioned to her that was the reason we got rid of "indy", our previous putty, but i don't think she cares. she is willing to take her chances. anyway, as much as i complain about them, they are really apart of our family and do bring us joy, sometimes!

a day a the park with joey

last week josie and i decided to go to the park and have lunch and play. the weather was almost spring like and it felt so good to be outside in the sun. we ate our jelly sandwiches and cheetos and had a great time swinging and going down the slides. we can't wait to go back another day!

pink hair anyone?

jess has been asking or shall i say begging for awhile now to have some of her hair dyed pink. being the bad parents that we are we finally got it done this past friday night. our friend casie and keah came over and keah did it for both girls. i think it turned out awesome and really looks cute {i know it's terrible, but they could be asking and doing worse}. so now jess really thinks she is a rock star- so watch out avril lavigne! so if you see my kiddos cruzing town with pink hair, please know that i not only know about it- i helped do it!!!

riding with the ladies

we took the girls and their cousin trevor out riding this past saturday. it was a bit cold {a brisk 35 or so} but they didn't seem to care. jordan and jess have been riding for several years and this is josie's first year. she did awesome, like a duck to water. she was a little timid at first but then once she realized she could hang with the big girls, there was nothing holding her back. she was even going over some really big hills. she kept telling us to follow her and she would take us on the trail and over the hills. i think it pleased her to be the one in charge and the leader of the pack! we stayed for a couple of hours but then had to come home as we were all frozen. now we just need some nicer, warmer weather so we can go again.

monday again?

so, it's monday again. for some reason this day keeps coming back week after week. and to tell you the truth i'm not liking it one bit! so as mentioned in previous post, i have the hardest time getting motivated on monday mornings and it seems as though my kids know it. why is it that sickness seems to hit at like 4 in the morning? someones' hair is not right? clothes too tight, shoes too loose? why o why? does anyone know?
so this morning was just like any other- jess is standing in my room crying at 4am burning hot and telling me her throat hurts... argh! so we head to the kitchen, break out the flashlight {which has now blinded me} and i'm playing doctor once again, this time through slits for eyes. sure enough it is red with those really cool white pockets of funk again. didn't we just do this 2 weeks ago? some advil and back to her bed. i try to get back to sleep, which usually happens at about 6:15 and my alarm goes off at 6:30. wow, that 15 minutes was so helpful. boy do i feel refreshed and ready for the day!
so, i'm now standing in the kitchen trying to make lunches and miss hormone comes up with an attitude {i know, it's hard to believe} and then proceeds to complain about i don't know, EVERYTHING... from her sweatshirt, to her shoes to her ponytail that isn't laying just right! i tell her to be quiet because others are sleeping, which i don't think she hears over her griping and continues to complain until i tell her to shut her mouth before i *&!@# her! then i get {wait for it} the look-glare-sneer, i know, i'm getting mad at her for no reason at all- how dare me.
so i get jess back into the dr and sure enough, the dr thinks it's strep again or possibly mono. take her to the lab for a throat swab and some blood work, have to threaten her with her life if she doesn't sit still. the lab tech tells her if she moves it will hurt tons more, have to just about hold her down, she lets out a small scream {not too bad for jess, maybe it was the death threats i was whispering in her ear} and we are on our way. drop off yet another prescription for her at the pharmacy. all this by 8:30am- wow! i hope this isn't the start of a eventful week, i won't hold my breath though! so, how's your monday?

MOTHERS

*Real Mothers don't eat quiche, they don't have time to make it.

*Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils Are probably in the sandbox.

*Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.

*Real Mothers know that dried play dough doesn't come out of carpets.

*Real Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.

*Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?' And get their answer when a little voice says, 'Because I love you best.

*Real Mothers know that a child's growth is not measured by height or years or grade... It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother...

The Images of Mother

4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mommy can do anything!
8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!
12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.
14 YEARS OF AGE - Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either.
16 YEARS OF AGE - Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned.
18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman? She's way out of date!
25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it!
35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.
45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?
65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mom.
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure she carries, or the way she combs her hair.The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

* i received this a an email today from a friend and thought it was special, so i decided to make it my post for the day. the picture above is of my girls and i at the coast this summer. i and my eldest have managed to shed a few pounds since this was taken {thank goodness, my behind is looking kinda large :)} hope this makes your day too*

anyone want a 12 or almost 8 year old?

free to good home- one 12 year old pre-teen and an almost 8 year old girl. maybe a small amount of cash might sweeten the deal. any takers? i am of course just kidding. the girls are well the girls.. somedays you love em', some days your not too sure if you want to claim them. i think jordan has lost her mind! i really shouldn't complain, she really is an awesome kid, you couldn't ask for better. it's just sometimes she has her head in the wrong place. she proved to be a little thoughtless this past weekend, a side of her we rarely see and to tell you the truth i'm not sure i want to see it again. maybe i am just being a little tough on her (i usually am) but even mark thinks she was being a turkey. (for him to think this, it really has to be obvious). oh well, i'm sure she will snap out of it soon. as for jess, what more can i say than, she's being.... jess. i sometimes wonder if she is our kid. it amazes me that you can have three kids and all of them be so very differnt. don't get me wrong i know that's what makes the world go round, but throw me a bone people! i don't understand how someone can be so selfish every single second of their life. to think only of themselves and never another. she was not raised like this and it frustrates me to no end where she gets it from. i guess this is just her make up, how she was born to be... doesn't mean i have to like or accept it or allow her to be so. so i try every single day to show her how her actions affect those around her and how hurtful it can be. sometimes i see the light click on and somedays i just get the look. i know i am being taught a lesson on patience with this child, the problem is i have NONE! i expect alot from all the girls and accept nothing but their best. am i asking too much to want to raise responsible, thoughtful, caring and respectful girls? i don't think so. i should however point out that i do love the ladies and everything that goes along with them, good and bad. they are my life and i woudn't trade them for the world. there are just days when..... please tell me you've a day or two like mine?

josie and the outlaw

jessica showing josie the ropes

josie showing off the "outlaw"

yesterday mark and i went to bend to pick up josie's early birthday present. everyone in the family but her have their own four wheeler and we thought it was time to get her one of her own. we came across a great deal in bend and since we were already going there to drop off some tax information it was no biggie. we went childless, which i might add was awesome. not that i don't love my kiddos but it's nice to get away, even if only for a night. our awesome friend skip (who i must add is single and childless was kind enough to watch the ladies for us). we got all of our errands done in bend and went to out to dinner and a movie with our friends. it was a nice evening. we headed home this morning and i must say it was pretty nerve racking coming home. the weather was horrible and the roads were worse. snow, ice, rocks, more ice and more rocks!!! i thought for sure we would have no front windshield when we got home. anyway, home safe and sound and josie's new ride delivered. she is in LOVE with it. she won't even let her poor older sister sit on the thing! we took her out riding behind the shop to hone her riding skills. she took right to it and loves it. she wants to know when she can ride again. i'm glad we were able to have a night away and make it home safe and sound to our girls.

thursday randoms

on thursdays my maid comes to clean... so this thursday was like any other, she came and went and is now doing laundry, that is her job today too! i was also lucky enough to go to jess' school today to sell val-o-grams to the peeps. it was fun to see all the kids buy a special valentine for someone special in their lives. on a couple of high notes the sun is shinning which is wonderful. it always seems to brighten my day and warm my soul. and i received word that a friend who had an aneurysm yesterday and wasn't expected to live is still alive and breathing on his own today. my thoughts and prayer go out to his family and friends. when you hear about things like that it really makes you step back and be thankful for your health. 36 is such a young age and it is hard to believe that such a tragic event has happened to this person and his family. it is days like today that i am thankful for my health and that i am able to enjoy another day with my kids and husband. i do have a blessed life and tend to take it for granted and it is times like this that i need to realize that everyday is a gift and you shouldn't waste it on things that don't really matter. things that aren't going to make a difference when you are gone. so here's to the sun shinning and another day of this wonderful life. may you and yours be blessed.

birthday brunch with the ladies

today i was invited over to my wonderful, intelligent, exceptional, sweet, loving, caring and devoted friend shelia's house for a birthday bunch just for me. it was so nice to be around shelia, her daughters beth and mary and her mom, carol. all of these wonderful women have such love and compassion for each other and all those around them, you can't help but to want to spend time with them. i am very fortunate to have such special people in my life. i am always welcome in any of their homes and made to feel as though i am apart of their family. we had a wonderful meal and the company was the icing on the cake. i received some very special gifts and it meant the world to me that they were able to take time out of their busy lives to spend sometime with me. so thank you ladies for a great afternoon.

maybe i could really be a doctor?

yeah, i don't think so. last night i decided to use my trusty flashlight to peek at jess' throat only to find some really red tonsils and some white spots. i decide to google strep throat and find that jess has every symptom listed for said illness. drug her for the night (worth mentioning, we made it all night without dying) and go to the doctor this morning to find that my diagnosis is correct. $95.00 and some antibiotics later we are on the mend. thank goodness. i don't know if i can take anymore dying screams :)! just want to say thank you to mary and beth for making sure we got into the doctor and were able to have our belated birthday brunch at my wonderful friend shelia's house. these friends of mine are awesome and i really appreciate all they do for me and my family. our lives would be empty without them. you guys rock!

my poor kid

mondays are tough around here. for some reason i am always able to sleep all night on sunday nights and have the hardest time getting going. my feet hit the floor and i have to stop and think to myself.. wait what day is it? what do i need to do? who needs breakfast, a lunch, hair straightened, etc. then it hits me, it's MONDAY- and i tell myself to get going. so back to my story, this morning i am mindlessly making lunches for the troops and i hear jessica come around the corner and she is crying and burning hot. i drug her (advil only people) and send her back to bed. an hour or so later she has emerged and is still burning hot. she plants herself on the couch and proceeds to lay there all day. advil every 4 hours barely touching her fever. tonight she is beside herself so i decided to check her throat (i'm not a doctor, but i play one around here) and find a red, swollen and white spoted throat! yeah, just what i need! so, as i type this there are sounds of death coming from my living room. she swears she not gonna make it, but i think she will survive. here's hoping she gets to feeling better and i can survive her dying screams! i wonder what tomorrow will bring? maybe i shouldn't ask that question.

so, just call me special!

so, i feel really dumb!!! all this time i have been wondering why my post don't show up but everything else does. so i call a friend (thank you mary) and we or should i say she figured out that my text color was the same as my background! wow, i've never felt so.... special in all my life. with that being said i can now pretend to be a blogger and post really mundane things about me and my family. i can't wait!!! so, here's to new post and a huge thanks to my great friend who figured it out!!!!

i'll try once again

so, here's the deal.... i've tried to post onto my blog a ton of times and they never show up which is why i've left this poor blog to die out in the cold, harsh, and lonely land known as the internet. so i will, with pushes- or should i say shoves from a friend or two try it again!