Blubberings of Me, Myself, and I!

In my mind, and to others, I constantly apologize for being me. Not necessarily in those exact words, but in the way I react or act or feel. In writing this post, I am going to attempt at blocking and putting out any one person that I worry about their thoughts of me. I am an overly emotional person. Point blank! I have been as long as I can remember. I distinctly remember a friend of mine telling me that, "Laura, you are just too emotional for me. You need to just stop being that way and stop being so emotional." I took it to heart and tried my darnedest to not be so emotional. So, obviously that didn't work and I am still as emotional as ever! However, I try so very hard to hide my emotions, if they don't coincide with who I'm with at that moment. My Mom & Dad tell me I wear my heart on my sleeve. That is true yes. And, like on Bachelor Pad, maybe I also wear my heart on every piece of my clothing too. I get hurt easily. I make the mistake of, when I get into ANY kind of friendship with someone, putting 100% trust in that person. If I find someone that is someone I would like to be friend's with I think I do or try too much to make that friendship stick. Even if I know that person really could care less whether I was their friend or not. And, no matter how sad I feel, or hurt I feel, I always make the mistake of going back and being friends. I guess that maybe makes me desperate. Who knows? I'm NOT AT ALL good with my words so, none of this may make sense. I also know I'm not the perfect angel and haven't been the nicest or best kind of friend with people also. I am embarrassed at distinctive times that I know I made someone feel bad. I regret those times 100%. While I know that not everyone in the world is going to like or get along with or love me, or vice versa, it's still not a good feeling knowing your friendship or care is not appreciated or wanted. Ya' know? I have also been blessed in my life to make some very special, life-long, AMAZING friendships with some awesome people. People that I click with. People that we've DEFINITELY had ups and downs with but, still remain friends. Those people cannot be taken for granted and I will love them forever for their kindness and friendship. I guess I just feel a bunch of up and down emotions the last few months or so. So so grateful with those I've become close friends with! Heavenly Father KNEW I needed these angels right now. But, at the same time, I feel so sad and upset with friendships that didn't work out or weren't the friendships I thought was there. I may and probably sound pathetic right now and that's ok, for right now. I just think, "Wow! I'm 33 years old and I feel like a little child!" In a lot of ways I am mature but, other ways (like this) I'm immature. Simply because I don't have enough confidence and love of myself to say, "Hey! So and so may not like me for me, etc. and that's ok!" I am constantly looking for acceptance and love from so many I come into contact with. If I don't feel that acceptance then it breaks my heart! My poor husband is probably so tired of the many nights I cry to him about his. I'm lucky to have him in my life to make me feel loved and accepted. He knows that I don't need something HUGE to feel accepted and loved. Simple, THOUGHTFUL, things go a LONG way! I think I've shared enough of my crazy way of thinking right now. This has helped me to realize how I treat those around me. While i may not get along with everyone, I can treat them with love and respect. I won't be perfect at it....none of us are perfect, right? I can try though.

Rylie's First Day of Preschool

Rylie, right before we took her to preschool

Rylie fun hair-do for school

Rylie standing in front of her preschool, Watch Me Grow!

Rylie and her teacher, Miss Julie

Grandma Smith (what the kids call her) and Rylie

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Rylie started preschool today! She was so, so excited to go and has been asking for weeks when her turn would be! She feels so grown up! We let her pick out her backpack, which just HAD to have Tangled on it! She also insisted on a lunch box, even though she doesn't need one. Rylie just wants to be like her brother, Connor. So, we let her pick one out. Rylie is going to the same preschool that Connor went to. I think she will do so great and this is JUST what she needs! Now I'll be at home with only Corie for 2 hours, twice a week.

Connor's First Day of 1st Grade!

Connor in front of George Washington Academy on the first day of school

Rylie really wanted to be in a picture with Connor, before he went into the school. She loves him so much!

Connor with his teacher, Ms. McKee

Connor playing with play dough at his desk, before class starts.

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School started on August 15, 2011 for Connor. He's in 1st grade this year and has Ms. McKee as a teacher. Ms. McKee is new to the school this year. She came down here from SLC, hoping to retire here when all is said and done. Ms. McKee is full of energy, is very on top of things, very smart, and really cares about her students and their well-beings. Connor was very excited for school to start and was excited to see who his teacher was. Suprisingly enough, only one other student from his kindergarten class from last year is in his class this year (Valeria). But, it's fun for him to make new friends and to hear him talk about who he played with that day. Connor has already improved on his skills from last year. He's eager to learn, gets his homework done (knock on wood) pretty quick, and then wants to play school the rest of the day. So, he must be enjoying it.

Trip to Idaho - Part 2 - Visit to see the Call's & the Misseldine's

Phoebe was so funny! She's got the best personality!

Alyson rockin the vocals!

Phoebe and Rylie singing a duet!

Justin's mad skills singing "Every Rose Has Its Thorn".

The Band!

Who knows what Alyson is doing?

Allie on the drums

Connor giving it a try on the guitar.

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Another one of our stops in Idaho was to see our friends, the Misseldine's and the Call's. We met both of these families while going to Law School in Lansing, MI. We because really great friends and I think we'll stay friends forever. We had a great time and I've missed all of them so much! It was so awesome to just relax and hang out! We played Guitar Hero & Rock Band, ate yummy food, chatted. Megan, Alyson, and I sat down for a few hours and made bows too. Alyson is SUPER TALENTED and can do anything!!!! So, I'm lucky to benefit from her many talents and learn new things from her. My kids had a blast because The Call's and Misseldine's all have kids our kids age so, that was fun for all of them to play together! I miss having them as close as I did in MI. We have some great memories together. But, so glad I got to go to ID and see them!

Corie @ 8 Months Old!!!!

My cousin made the ADORABLE skirt and gave me matching ribbon to make her hairbow.

Corie is 8 months old, as of yesterday! Holy smokes! It's blowing my mind that in 4 months she'll be a year old! The time has gone by way faster with her than my other kids!!!! Here are some things that she has done new this month and some factoids about her:

1. She weighs 21 lbs. 11oz.
2. She drinks 5 oz. of formula every 3-4 hours. She prefers to feed herself.
3. She is NOT a big fan of baby food anymore. She prefers to eat whatever we're eating. Cereal is almost a lost cause. I try and try to feed it to her but, the second I get ready to put it on the spoon she starts spitting at me. Then, when I get it close to her mouth, she flails her hands like crazy and will try and push or hit the spoon away.
4. She takes, on average, 1 nap in the morning, 1 longer nap in the afternoon, and possibly 1 short nap after that sometime.
5. She sleeps through the night off and on. Except lately she doesn't because she wakes up couging a lot.
6. Found out she has Reactive Airway Disease. Basically, it's very similar to asthma but, not as reoccuring and doesn't have the wheezing that asthma does. For the first 3 days we have to do a steroid treatment on her, then for the first week we have to do albuterol treatments on her. And then just hope it doesn't happen or reoccur again. Just as long as it relieves her coughing spells, I'll be happy.
7. Is our little puppy, in that if she sees or finds a shoe laying around, she instantly makes her way over to the shoe and proceeds to chew the heck out of it!
   
8. She scoots all over the place.....backwards! Then she gets mad when she runs into a wall or ends up under the couch.
9. She figured out how to get into sitting position after she's been laying on her back or stomach. She also loves to scoot around by bouncing on her bum. She especially does this when she gets excited or is being funny.
10. She loves to pull hair because, for some reason, she thinks it's really funny and just giggles!!!
11. She has a fascination with the chimes in her bedroom. The second she sees the chimes, she gets the biggest grin on her face.
12. She has learned to wave.
13. She will pat me on the back once in a while when I pick her up.
14. She will say "Mommm!", very clearly now.
15. She has crawled a tiny bit but, didn't realize what she did. She's got the position down but, eventually ends up flat or scooting backwards or sitting up.
16. She has started to pull herself up to things.

Trip to Idaho - Part 1 - Visit to see the Cook's

Connor running and jumping into the pool

One of the things we did this summer, besides visiting my family, was visiting some good friends that live in Idaho. The first day of our trip to Idaho was to Jerome, to see our friend's, the Cook's. The back story on Cook's is this: when we lived in Logan, during the 2nd year of our marriage, we moved into a home on the south-west side of town. During our time in that ward, we met Scott and Jackie! We became friend's quite fast and were hanging out all the time! We have a lot of funny memories with them like, going to Ruby Tuesday a lot (because we had the 2 for 1 coupon), playing games, watching movies, and other crazy and fun times. We even had babies around 3 weeks apart! Shortly after having our babies, the Cook's moved to Idaho because they were done with school at USU and we moved to Michigan, to start Law school. We have seen each other here and there since that big move but, really not much the last few years. So, I took the opportunity to drive up there and see them! It was A BLAST and so great to see them!!! They live on a big lot and it was so great for my kids to run around with their kids, play with their animals, and basically have no boundaries. We both have kids the same age so, it worked out great! It also made me realize how much we are city-people, compared to them. It made me wish my kids had grown up the way I did. There was a big difference in my kids vs. them. My kids were just more timid and not so daring and aggressive. After a while though, my kids were running around and being crazy and daring too! I loved being there and really wish I had stayed longer! Luckily, the Cook's are coming here to visit us in October so, we can HARDLY WAIT for that!!!!!

Corie's Boucing Bum!!!

If you know Corie, you know she absolutely LOVES to bounce!!!!! Well, if she's not in her jumper/bouncer then she's bouncing around on the floors. This video gives ya' a little idea of what she likes to do.

Corie- 7 Months Old

Hmmmm, this flower looks tasty!

Yup! It is tasty!

Corie turned 7 months old on July 17, 2011. I would've blogged this sooner but, I haven't had time since up visiting family and friends in Cache Valley and Idaho. Corie is really changing! Some things I've noticed she's doing now is:
1: She doesn't mind being on her tummy anymore.
2: She's very determined and if she wants something she will scoot to it somehow.
3: She does this bouncy thing when she's sitting. She bounces her bum up and down. SO FUNNY!
4: She still drinks 5 oz. every 3-4 hours.
5: She hasn't slept through the night for a while but, I think that's because we've been out of town and out of routines.
6: She likes to growl!
7: She loves animals and doesn't seem to be afraid of them.
8: She thinks it's fun to hang upside down.
9: I wouldn't doubt in the next month or two, that Corie will be crawling.
10: She's very grabby and everything goes straight to the mouth.
11: She'll only eat about 1 oz. of food at each meal.

4th of July, 2011

My 3 little fireworks!

My most stubborn firework.....the kind that just won't light unless they want to! Ha ha!

My happiest firework!!!!!

Best friends!Corie and her bodyguard! He is so protective over her! I love it!I, for the life of me, COULD NOT get a picture with them all looking or smiling at me. This is as good as it gets!

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We stayed in St. George for the 4th of July! Oh my gosh, it was SO RIDICULOUSLY hot and humid outside so, we avoided going outside to play at all. Mike went golfing with his Dad and then with his boss too. The kids and I met up with Grandpa & Grandma McGinnis at McDonald's for breakfast. After that we headed home to play and make food for the BBQ that night. Mike was awesome and took Connor and Rylie to see Kung Fu Panda 2. The kids loved it and Connor came home thinking he was Kung Fu Panda! Then, we went to Mac & Linda's for a little BBQ and headed to see the fireworks. That was ok but, Rylie was scared the whole time and FREAKING OUT so, we decided to go home and do our own fireworks. Of course, Rylie took off and ran into the house until we were done but, Connor had fun and Corie absolutely was mesmerized by the fireworks.

Corie and the Vacuum!

Both Connor & Rylie, as babies, were both afraid of the vacuum as soon as I turned it on. Corie is the complete opposite. When I turn the vacuum on she suddenly has a fascination with it and wants to play with it, like it's a new toy! I think it's so adorable!

Slip Slidin' Away!

Connor sliding down the slip 'n slide!

Rylie's attempt at the slip 'n slide.

Our cute little neighbor boy, Carter

A couple weeks ago I spotted this slip 'n slide for only $5 at Wal-Mart! It's one way to try and keep cool in this heat, and not be cooped up in the house all day. The kids seem to have fun with it. Rylie isn't a fan of sliding on it, she just runs down it. Connor has been getting better and better at it. I'd do it with them, if I didn't think I'd injure something when I hit the ground to slide, ha ha!

Corie - 6 Months Old!

Corie turned 6 months old on June 17th. It's hard to believe that it has already been 6 months since she entered this world! It's gone by wayyyy too fast! I can distinctly remember every detail of her birth and of the pregnancy, like it all happened yesterday. I just am so happy and grateful that she is here and is SO HEALTHY!!!! All of our kids have been healthy children and I feel so very blessed because of that!

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Today we went to Corie's 6 month check-up. She's ahead of schedule on her development and is doing great! Here are some of her stats from the check-up today: She weighs 19.4 lbs. (96%) and is 26.77 inches long (83%). So, she is not lacking, obviously! I love it! Corie:

1) Loves to look at herself in the mirror and finds herself quite funny and cute! Connor and Rylie never really got into looking at themselves in the mirror. So, it has been really fun to watch Corie just smile, laugh, and just be totally entertained by herself in the mirror.

2) Corie can sit straight up and be perfectly balanced. Recently she started rocking back and forth on her bum, while sitting up. It seems to be her new form of entertainment.

3) I think Corie might be a soccer player. If you throw an object in front of her, she attacks it pretty aggresively! She reminds me of a dog, waiting to play fetch! She's pretty good and grabbing it fast!

4) Corie has been enjoying her food but, isn't a chow hound, as my mother-in-law calls it. She'll eat around 1 oz. of baby food at lunch or dinner. She still isn't a big fan of cereal and will spit it out at me, thinking it's pretty funny.

5) Corie has learned to growl and a lot of times will grab my face with both hands, open her mouth wide, and attack my face!

6) Corie will sleep through the night ONCE in a while but, usually she wakes up at 2am or 2:30am EVERY NIGHT! Then, once we put her back to bed, she'll sleep until 8 or 9am, usually.