"Mother-Hood is a War zone"

So I had one of those crazy days on Monday and thought to myself...I am going to write this down so that my kids can read it when they are older and see how much they put me through, "Motherhood is a War zone!" I am definitely on the loosing side at all times it seems. So we had family pictures planned on Monday night about 5:30 p.m. First of all, it took a lot of coaxing and finally begging for Dan to even agree to this. This would have been our first attempt at a family picture since we've been married 8yrs ago. Anyway Monday's are quite hectic at times because I babysit Melissa's two little girls all day, so I have 4 kids under 4 which is a handful when things are running smoothly. Well the day started out good, and I am thinking great if I can just get kids down for naps at a good time then I can start getting us ready at 3:00 p.m. (I had to shave, pluck eyebrows, etc) so I was leaving myself plenty of time, just for those "oops moments, or mommy help me moments" anyway like a said everything was running smoothly until it started to trickle rain, first I thought crap we can't take pictures in rain, and then thought well it will probably pass by evening. Well Melissa's 4mo old was not sleeping well at all, and I had tried to wrap her in a burrito and put her in the crib and she was crying trying to fall asleep, then I was hurriedly picking things up and the three other kids were in the garage playing with the garage door down, and the door was propped so I could hear what was going on; well I heard the garage go up because Brody can push the button from inside the car, and before I could get out there he had crawled under the crack and tromped in mud (in his brand new Sunday shoes)! that would have been fine but then he proceeded to crawl into the car I had just vacuumed out and got mud all over inside, when I got out there I croaked (you've all had that moment when you think, what else is going to be added to my plate right now..."are you freakin kidding me" was my thought) so I drop him off into his room screaming, shut the door, then the girls who had been moody and whinny all day were crying so I dump Emmy in her crib...shut the door, all rooms were occupied with crying babies so I put Eliza on the coach, put a Binky in her mouth and gave her a blanket and said..."don't move!" So as I am in the bathroom scrubbing brand new Sunday shoes covered in clay thick mud with a toothbrush, 4 babies are screaming, and as I finish the shoes and move onto the car, I just kneel down by the opened door and join in with the "Cry-fest" going on inside the house. Sadly to say my family picture moment was crushed by the horrible weather, and the horrible, terrible, rotten good for nothing day ended, as I collapsed in my bed.

Summer I thought you'd never leave!

Now don't get me wrong summer is fun, but for me it gets old fast, it is so dang hot and I've got long hair, and sweat like crazy, because the whole summer is so blasting hot; make-up never looks good and my hair is in a permanent bun or pony-tail, and having to always wear a modest T-shirt under every shirt I own, because it is impossible to find modest shirts (that are actually cute).

Summer also brings our nasty mosquitoes which are relentless for 3 months, so if we want to go outside and enjoy ourselves we have to leave home! Plus I am on the go from the moment my kids wake up which is always before I do, and then busy as can be till the sun goes down, I can't wait for the pace to slow down, which fall and winter always bring! I definitely love to dress in layers more than trying to figure out what outfit offers the least coverage! But I can say, my kids are really going to miss summer! We've enjoyed you summer but we are ready for you to pack your bags and leave us with a long, long fall, before winter brings it's chilly bite! Lance and Emmy camping for the evening up Blacksmith Fork Canyon. Brody Fishing like his dad!

Emmy with Grandma Brenchley
Jeannine trying on the Waders!
Show me "Sad" face Emmy!

Emmy and Grandma!

"obsessed with 4-wheelers"

He could care less that it was PINK!

The "toddler crew," camping up Logan Canyon!

Emmy and Dan (oh yeah and her trusty side kick...BINKI!)

If anyone has seen Kung Fu Panda, this is the face he makes! (Don't mind the slight Lazzzy eye on his left...ahh it just gives him character!!)

Spiderman goggles for my little fish!

At the Logan Rodeo waiting for a pony ride

Giddy-up Pony!

Lance and Emmy at the Fair checking out the Goats!

Reed Finally coming home from his mission!

Dan and our very "Grown-up" little brother!

Jeannine, Reed, Brodyn, and Camille!

Me an Brodyn!

Emmy, Me and Squirt!

Not a "happy camper" on the Caterpillar ride at the Preston Rodeo, he was so scared! Great parenting skills, it was a horrible experience and the ride would not stop, and I was so worried because he was so scared, but at the same time it was so funny watching him, my gut hurt from laughing so hard, how sick is that?

Emmy on the carousel!

This is Brodyn's ideal ride! Not to scary!!

Summer swimming at the Logan Aquatic center!

Emmy loves to swim, not as daring as Brody but she still loves it!