Pioneer Day.

July 24

One of my favorite Pioneer DAY stories {as opposed to just Pioneer stories...} is one of our old neighbors from Donegel Bay in Rexburg. A few years prior, our neighbor, Deb was selling encyclopedias {I think} somewhere further East. Deb is from Utah. This was her summer job. On Pioneer Day, as she was out selling, she would wish the people a happy Pioneer Day. After many confused looks she had received, her selling companion finally told her that it is only a celebrated holiday in Utah. (I probably butchered the story, but you get the idea.) And it's true. Even member of the church in other states don't usually recognize Pioneer Day, with the exception of Idaho. But, in Santa Maria, California, a group of really good mommies made sure their kids learned about Pioneers on Pioneer Day, and take them on a mini "trek", aka: stroller ride. And I was one of those mommies!

I made Macie a little Pioneer bonnet on Thursday night. And I remembered that I don't sew. What was I thinking making a bonnet?? I started at around 10, thinking that it shouldn't take too long. The pattern looked easy enough. Yeah, if you can read a pattern. After a few hours, I finally finished it and was in bed by around 2 AM! It looked pretty cute. I had all three kids clothes laid out for them. A "pioneer" dress for Macie {or the dress that my Mom said that I wore when I was 5...oh, how styles change...DRAMATICALLY!} jeans and a button up shirt for Noah, overalls for Jake, and I couldn't forget the bandanas for the boys, too. The looked like cute little Pioneer children. I showed them pictures of Pioneers and told them about them. But, I made a huge mistake.

I don't know what in the world I was thinking. I was just telling pioneer stories, no harm right? Well, I said this:

"Some pioneers were little kids, just like you. They had to walk a long way. But, some of them got sick and died."

It seemed alright, until Noah and Macie's eyes got HUGE. Both of them looked a little horrified and said almost in unison:

"We don't want to go."

I felt awful. My poor kids thought they were going to die if they were Pioneers! I'm a terrible mother. I tried to make it all fun and then I tell them that people died? How fun is that? But, I made up for it. I told lots and lots of good stories and reassured them that this would be fun!

We headed over to Kristyns house, and started the stew. Pioneers ate a lot of stew, don't ya know? And then we got the kids read and headed out on our "trek". It was fun. The kids walked, and sang, of course. Noah wanted to go home right away, but I told him that we were Pioneers and we had to walk even though he didn't want to. It sounds like it was torture, but it was fun, I promise!

Jelly Belly Factory

Adam had a seminar he had to attend in Fairfield. For those who don't know, Fairfield is the home of Jelly Belly. That's right, the Jelly Belly Factory...and they do tours. And yes, we had to go. I had been with my roomates before, and thought it would be fun to take the kids. Adam kept saying it was the nerdiest thing he had ever done. {HELLO?! He collects comic books, and a Jelly Belly Factory tour was nerdy?? I'm thinking, not so much, babe!}When we got there, we had to wear these paper hats. They were pretty cool hats. The kids loved them. Adam did not. He would not let me get a picture of him. So, I was sneaky. I took one when he least expected it. I was so proud of myself. I had documentation...I had proof that Adam was on the Jelly Belly Factory tour. You can't take pictures while on the tour, but they do take your picture as you start the tour, and then try to scam you into paying 20 bucks for a cheesy picture.

While on this tour, we saw millions and millions of Jelly Bellys. We saw the whol process and learned more about jelly beans than any person should know, really. I was carrying Jacob in the Baby Bjorn, and he was getting heavy. With the diaper bag and everything, I was dying. So I had Adam hold the diaper bag. Bad idea...he was sneaky as well. He deleted the picture. I was so bummed. No evidence.

Oh, but wait. They did hand me a card after they took our picture prior to the tour. And yes, there was a website. And yes, our picture was there, and yes, you can publish it on the web on your personal site. And yes, I will post it now:


Proof. However, after the Jelly Belly Tour Adam picked a guitar factory that we were to tour. He loved it. But, his 3 kids and non guitar playing wife, did not. Noah did get to play a very expensive guitar, and Adam was a pretty happy guy, so I guess it was okay!

County Fair.

I'm not much of a fair person. It's too expensive. The ride are expensive, and totally not Disneyland. I'm afraid that they will fall apart any second. But, it was dollar day. For a cheap thrill, it was worth it. I went with my friend Kristyn and her little boy, Thacker. The kids loved it. It was actually pretty fun. If you go with low expectations, it makes it all the better! Noah and Macie got to ride a few rides, play a few games, and see a few animals. And I think I spent like 8 bucks total. Not too bad, really.

Noah loved the petting zoo. Macie...not so much. She liked the animals from behind the fence, but when she was inside, and they started walking toward her, she lost it. She hated it. But, she still had fun. Gotta love county fairs!

{there will be more on the fair in a later post...maybe with some Boyz II Men action...yeah, I said it, Boyz II Men...they are still doing shows. Who knew?!}

7 month comparison

Yeah, I know. I have the cutest kids. It's funny to look at these pictures. Noah looks tiny and very subdued. Macie looks crazy happy. Jacob looks bored and not happy. But, funny thing is, that is almost the exact opposite of what they REALLY are like. Well, with the exception of Macie. It just isn't what other people remember Macie being like at 7 months. She is such a Momma's girl that she just scowled at EVERYTHING except me for a while! Noah and Jacob are usually smiley, but just as Jacob is now, Noah was teething at the same age, so they aren't the happiest of campers in these pictures! But, they are all still very cute. Even if they weren't my kids, I'd still think they were pretty cute. I mean, who wouldn't?? ;-)

7 months.

Jacob is seven months old. Can you believe it? Seven months?! Yeah, 7 months. Luckily, he hasn't recently visited the doctor, so I have no actual stats on this giant kid! But, I did weigh myself on a scale at Target and then picked him up, and the difference was 26 pounds. I don't know how accurate that is...but it works for me. A 26 pound 7 month old is pretty impressive, don't ya think?


Jacob is such a funny little guy. He is ALWAYS smiling. Lately, however, he has been teething, so his huge smiles aren't as often, but he does give half smiles. Hey, a smile is a smile! The poor guy has been teething for so long. He seems pretty happy about it, though. Every once in a while we have the really bad teething days. He bites EVERYTHING, and EVERYONE. Steer clear of his mouth, he will grab your hand and quickly bite it. He won't give much notice either. He has made my fingers bleed a few times. Very painful. He can sit up very well. He still topples over every once in a while. He does have a lot more weight than most babies his age! He's starting to move a little bit on his tummy. It's like a caterpillar crawl. He arches his back up, and scoots. It's slow, but it works for him. He also rolls around the room. Macie and Noah never rolled. Noah was crawling at 6 months. I think I taught him to roll when he was like 2. He just wanted to move so early. Rolling was too slow and at the bottom of his agenda! But, Jacob, he likes to roll around. He talks all of the time. He gets louder as his surroundings get louder. Which, at our house, is all of the time with Noah and Macie. They are some loud children! He is eating more solid foods. But, he doesn't like Mixed Veggies. They did not settle well, and he threw up the entire container. {Sorry, Ginet!} He really likes the Gerber Puff cereal. And all of the store brands as well! He drinks from a sippy cup pretty well. He loves water. We haven't yet introduced fruits really or juice. I think he's fine without! His toy of choice is paper. He loves paper. He loves to eat paper. And always finds the most random piece to put in his mouth.

Jacob is such a ham already. And he knows he's cute. He has his parents and siblings wrapped around his little finger! Noah and Macie LOVE him. They love that he's getting more and more interactive everyday. They actually get to play with him, and they love it. He's such a fun baby. Always happy, that's for sure! He's got such chunky thighs, but it's just more Jakey to love! He' s a keeper, for sure!

{Stay tuned for the infamous 7 month comparison...}

I like to talk.

Yet again, Macie is hilarious. She has been so funny lately, she always has been, really. But moreso lately. And, she pays more attention during Sacrament Meeting than we give her credit for...

She was standing on the train table in the toy room, while I was nursing Jacob. She didn't think I was paying attention to her, and she started to talk she said,

"I like to talk today. I just moved here. That's my husband over there. {as she gave her 'look' that she frequently gives as she gives a half smirk, and talks out the side of her mouth, and points behind her.} I'm glad to be here. I like church. We moved here and I like to go to the beach."

I was dying. I was laughing so hard, silently. But, it was too much, I turned around and smiled at her, and she giggled, but kept going.

"I like scriptures and Joseph Smith. Say prayers. Amen." {Oh, and she did all this while pretending to hold a book.}

Every Sunday we are always rushing her out in the hall because she's either screaming or sobbing. I didn't think she ever actually paid attention to anything. But she's a little sponge, she's soaking everything up. A younger newlywed girl gave a talk this past Sunday, and I think Macie really liked her. Her talk sounded a lot like this! I love that Macie girl. She's the funniest little girl ever.

I can't...

Macie is hilarious. Other people are finally getting her full personality. She isn't nearly as shy as she used to be. The other day I was upstairs putting laundry away, while Adam was downstairs with the kids. A sobbing Macie comes up the stairs. Between sobs and tears she told me what happened. I told her that she needed to go apologize to Noah and tell Daddy sorry for disobeying. She quickly responds with, "I can't. I can't do it." I asked her why she couldn't say that to them. "I can't, it's in Spanish."

{I guess the word 'disobey' is foreign to Daddy's little princess.}

Will I ever get one? Just one??

I don't think I will. This is what I have to work with:



I cannot get three children to look at the camera for a split second. Noah will have his head faced at the camera, but his eyes will be off somewhere else. Macie just can't sit still. And, I'll give Jacob the benefit of the doubt...he's 6 months old! I just want one good picture of all three! I took them in to JcPenney the other day to get Jacob's 6 month pictures taken. I've taken the other two, so it's only fair, right? I decided to get a few of them all together. Ha, can you say DISASTER? I took them once, and our appointment time was double booked. And rather then ask the mom and dad {yes, both were there} that had their ONE child, they didn't ask, but told the mother {just mother...no dad} with THREE little kids that she had to reschedule for another day. I had three kids, all dressed up. Macie's hair was curled, Noah was all spiffed up, and Jacob was happy and dry...no spit up had occurred on his outfit yet. Do you realize how long that takes me? Yeah, we were booted. And on the trip home, Macie and Noah somehow managed to get filthy. I don't know how...they get it from their Father, I suppose! ;-) We went back in a few days later. Jacob, the most smiley baby ever, did not smile. His dang teeth are coming in, poor kid! Macie wanted the baby toy, so she screamed and cried. And Noah, he just said he didn't like the photographer! It was fun! I rescheduled for the next day. So, again, I got them all ready. The girl took a few together, I did buy one. It's not amazing...but it will do!

My kids are just so cute, I want everyone to see it! Oh well...at least I know!

Tattoos

Noah always asks for tattoos on his arm. Hopefully it isn't a precursor to what will come! I'm always reluctant to put them on him. His skin soaks it up, and it takes forever to go away! He had a pirate tattoo on his arm forever one time! It was like 3 months or so! It was crazy. This tattoo time, Daddy decided to get in on the action. And since two of the three boys had them, it was only fair that Jacob got one too! {Macie was asleep, but she got one in the morning...and so did her dolly.}

drive-in

We love the Drive-In. Two movies, two adults, and three children...only 13 bucks. Now that we actually have to pay for Noah, this is the better deal. We don't have to pay for a babysitter, we don't have to worry about the baby crying during the movie...and the best part, the kids usually fall asleep pretty quick, anyway. It doesn't start until nearly 9, so they are already at bedtime anyway. And now that we have the Flex, we are a little more comfortable in the back, than we were just all in the front seat in the Accord. It works. We love it.



We went and saw Transformers and Star Trek a few weeks ago. I made it through Transformers, but not so much Star Trek. It was still fun though. The kids love the idea of watching the movie in the car and outside. It's the best thing to them. We get to bring all of our treats and just go crazy. I think they like running around before the actually movie starts better, however. But, hey, it wears them out even more!

If you haven't been to a drive-in in a while, you should. It's fun.