A little tree family.

We set up our new Christmas tree, you know the one that I found on clearance last year? Well, it is a 7.5 foot pre-lit variety! What I didn't notice is that it is the "slimmer" style. Very pretty tree, but better designed for those 100 sq/ft mock up homes in IKEA. Also, I really don't like Christmas trees slimmer than myself.

Quandary.

Epiphany!

I remembered I had an un-opened box of 3 graduated pre-lit pine trees that I have been moving from home to home for the last nine years! Let's make a tree family!!

So the boys each got their own little tree to decorate, and everything is right in the Christmas tree world again!



Tree, a la Snugger Buggerson!

Another Tate/Remy ism....

I was asking Tate if he knew what my name was. Mandy, he replies. But, I call you mommy.
M: "What is Daddy's name?"
T: "Darrin"
M: "What do you call him?"

T: "Stupid"

I thought Darrin was going to pee his pants from laughing so hard.

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Remy has had his little blanket which he affectionately calls "snug" since he was 6 months old. He only uses it at night to sleep with now, and the other night I had finished reading him his stories and he was hunkering down for the night and he says
R: "Where is my snugger buggerson?"
M: "Did you just say snugger buggerson?"
R: " Yah, that is what I call my snug now!"
M " I love it Remy!"

Polyga{re}my

My co-teacher and good friend at preschool is Cherish. Cherish has 3 beautiful daughters (and one handsome son). Both of her youngest daughters come to preschool with us. Josie is 4 years old. Remy and Josie love to play together. One day in the summer Josie gave Remy a big hug and said, "I'm going to marry you Remy!"

Remy took this proposal very seriously and from that time on he and Josie were betrothed. Remy and I were talking about which temples all of our family members got married in. He then announced that he and Josie were going to get married in the Bountiful temple like mom and dad and Cindy and Kyle.
Another day I was explaining to him that my name hadn't always been Mandy Bradshaw and that mommies change their last names when they get married. "Oh, so when Josie and I get married her name will be Josie Bradshaw!"

Well yesterday we hit a snag.

We were lining up after outside time and Remy and Josie were lining up together. Josie said, "Remy and I were fighting."
Me: "That's too bad. Did you make up?"
Josie: "Yes, we're still going to get married."
Me: "Well good for you"
Remy: "Yah mom, I am going to marry Josie first and then Bryton, Jordan, Emily..and.."
Josie: "And Sophie!"
Remy: "Yah, Sophie!"
Me: {hmmm, I don't even know how to explain all of this} "Well, you know Remy, Daddy is only married to mommy and Josie's daddy is only married to Cherish."
Remy:"That's OK, Josie and I will get married first and go to work together, and the other girls can take care of the babies!"

And with that they walked inside hand in hand, ready for lunch.

Hmmm...we'll see how long Josie is OK with this.

Scared to even say it.

Well, I have been delaying even saying anything for fear of jinxing myself, but, here we go! We are officially done with diapers!!!!
Yea! Tate has been so easy to potty train, I guess I deserve an easy one, right? I must say though, I know that Tate was so willing to be a big boy because of Remy's example. So Thanks Remy!

Can anyone relate?

Diagnosis C.A.A.D.D.

Recently, I was diagnosed with C.A.A.D.D. - Child Activated Attention Deficit Disorder. This is how it manifests: I decide to do the laundry. As I start toward the basement, I notice that there are cheerios all over the floor and my house keys are in the cereal bowl. I decide to pick up the cheerios before I do the laundry. I lay my keys down on the counter, put the cheerios in the trashcan under the counter, and notice that the trashcan is full. So, I decide to take out the trash. But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the trash I may as well pay the bills first. I take my check book off the table, and see that there is only one check left, my extra checks are in my desk in the office, so I go to my desk where I find a sippy cup full of juice. I'm going to look for my checks, but first I decide I should put the sippy cup in the refrigerator to keep it cold. As I head toward the kitchen with the sippy cup a plant on the counter catches my eye--it needs to be watered. I set the sippy cup on the counter, and I discover baby wipes that I've been searching for all morning. I decide I better put them back in the bathroom, but first I'm going to water the plants. I set the wipes back down, fill a container with water and suddenly I spot the TV remote, left on the kitchen table. I realize that when I go to watch TV, I will be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the plants. I splash some water on the plant, but most of it spills on the floor. So, I set the remote back down, get some paper towels and wipe up the spill. Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do. At the end of the day: the laundry isn't washed, the bills aren't paid, there is a warm cup of juice sitting on the counter, the plants aren't watered, there is still only one check in my check book, I can't find the remote, I can't find the wipes, and I don't remember what I did with my keys. Then when I try to figure out why nothing got done today. I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day long, and I'm really tired. I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail. Don't laugh--if this isn't you yet, your day is coming."

Welcome Home!

Welcome Home Elder Bradshaw! Retuned with honor! Darrin's Brother Brady returned from the Oklahoma! Tulsa mission last saturday. We were glad to see him and glad to have him back. His homecoming is this Sunday the 9th. We love you Brady!

Sorry, I didn't feel myself get tagged..I think I was in the safe zone, but whatever... ;)

I am - a child of God
I want - to be out of debt!
I have - clean toilets, thanks to Darrin!
I wish - he cleaned them every couple of days...
I dislike - fish
I fear - loosing my loved ones
I hear - the toilet running because the chain is caught
I search - for something for dinner most every night
I wonder - how can a small boy pee SO much
I always - wish I could sleep a little longer
I usually - love to joke around, I am very sarcastic
I am not - a big fan of lima beans
I dance - with my boys to Laurie Berkner
I sing - along while we dance
I never - sort clothes before laundering them
I rarely - take baths (don't get me wrong on that one..I shower)
I cry - seldom
I am not always - listening to you even if you think I am. (preschool ruined me)
I lose - my mind often
I'm confused - on a daily basis
I need - some locks for my cupboard doors
I should - eat better
I dream - of perfect fall days

I tag...Betsy Bradshaw. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Out of the mouthes of babes

We have the Children's Songbook CD's with the primary music. We listen to them in the car when the boys ask to and also when the whining and screaming have gotten so out of control that mommy REALLY needs the spirit with us.
The newest "hit" song knocking Popcorn Popping down from it's #1 spot is The Wise Man and The Foolish Man. As we were listening to the song the other day, Remy pipes up from the back seat. "That foolish man who built his house on the sand...Well, he really should have known better."