luvs and life

$1 for Amy

noreply@blogger.com (Brandy) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 04:35:00 +0000

One of my very best friends Amy

Cancer took over her body and she passed from this life in 2007.

She is the reason I RELAY FOR LIFE

Go here to donate or find out more.

I LOVE my Life!

noreply@blogger.com (Brandy) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:32:00 +0000

Baby Jack looking funny sneezing

How do I discipline this girly, who looks so adorable when she is throwing a fit?

How do I thank my hubby enough for giving me a family.

I mean when the kids aren't screaming and Jacks not pooping. Things are pretty good.

I Love my life!!

I'm in love

noreply@blogger.com (Brandy) — Mon, 25 May 2009 12:35:00 +0000

With him and her, and watching them play, watching Norah follow him around. I listen to her as she asks about Dad, I tell her he will be home from work soon. We call him during the day, he takes the time to talk to his favorite little girl. She often peaks out the front window looking for his red truck to pull up. When it does.... A little girls day is made. She loves her daddy. I love them.

I'm in love

With this little dude. With his big imagination, with his unique style in dress. I want to remember his laugh forever. I smile listening to his stories, they are so interesting but never ending. I think sometimes he should write kids books. I want to record his 4 year old prayers. Oh they are great. "Heavenly Father, I will kill the bad guys if you want me too. I love my family, I love my Mom and Dad. I love Jesus all the way up to Pluto. Please bless me with new weapons, and make Jacks belly feel better. I don't like bad guys, in the name of Jesus Christ Amen. I will be sad when he grows too big for my lovies, too big for my kisses. Hhhhmmm maybe I will just make him suffer. Maybe no matter

how big he gets I will continue to attack him with my love. I will!

I'm in love

With our latest addition. With his humongous smile and his pouty sad lip. I want to hold him, rock him, cuddle with him forever. I want to remember his coos, his bubbles, his funny baby faces. I love how he fits so perfectly in to my arms, how he searches high and low with his little mouth in hopes that I will nurse him. I love his big eyes, his soft skin, his innocence. I love to have conversations with him when he wakes up. I wonder what is going on in that little head of his. I hope I can teach him what he needs to know. I hope he feels my love. Always.

I'm in love

With my family, with each one of them for the strength they bring to our family. For the patience they have with me and all my imperfections. I know I will always be okay with them by my side. I am sooo LUCKY!

What Matters The Most

noreply@blogger.com (Brandy) — Tue, 19 May 2009 14:53:00 +0000

Have you ever felt like the only thing people care about is the outside image? You know judging by the cover, more beautiful is better, the outside matters most. Lately I have been experiencing some trials of my own that are teaching me a lot. I am growing through my trials and learning that this is such a LAME way to think. Why do we as people judge another from only what we see? I am guilty. I admit. You know you've done it too. For me it starts by meeting someone, and then automatically assuming I know who they are or how they are. My most recent goal... To try and vanish this from me. Stop judging the cover. If you'd just get over that way of thinking, you might actually find something or someone really wonderful, really awesome, really great. Please don't judge me by my cover, because frankly, my cover is always changing.

Really it's the inside that matters most!

~photo by Phillip Toledano

A very good day

noreply@blogger.com (Brandy) — Tue, 19 May 2009 03:12:00 +0000

Today I got out. Took another little bus/trax adventure with a friend and the kids. Man it feels good to get out. Only one little bitty disappointment, our destination (Gateway Fountains) was shut down for maintenance. Bummer for the kiddos but I guess at least we didn't have to deal with soaking wet kids. I left the camera at home but came across this picture and it makes me smile :)

Image found here

Mother's Day Post From Dad

noreply@blogger.com (Brandy) — Mon, 11 May 2009 02:41:00 +0000

Brandy asked if I would write her a Mother's Day post. So this should be a gushingly sweet, tender note full of praise and gratitude. Maybe if she asked for it on... oh, Father's Day. You see on that day, because she is such a loving wife, I would be in a terrific mood having been pampered and spoiled all day long. But today I'm tired, and irritable. I wish it was because I pampered and spoiled Brandy all day long. But the truth is all I really did was help with the kids before church, pace the halls with Jack during church, and let Norah crawl all over me instead of her at Grandma Hansen's house. Oh, and I took Riley and Norah so she could go home early with Jack and hopefully get to bed a little early. Really great of me huh? Pathetic I know, but the truth is that I don't think I could handle taking everything off her plate to give her a break. When I try, my efforts always seem so feeble. And at the end of the day, when I am spent... trying to lighten Mom's load for a day, I am looking forward to getting to go back to work Monday. Kids are great, but lets be honest, they are better in small doses. It takes someone very special to care for them all day - every day, and still love them at the end of each day. That is a Mom, that is Brandy.

i love you.

She

noreply@blogger.com (Brandy) — Mon, 04 May 2009 21:15:00 +0000

wants to be outside swinging and wearing summer dresses

has pretty brown eyes

loves to get her toes painted

watches Yo Gabba while cuddling Daddy

learned how to make faces

has an ear infection and likes to do lots of this

"waaaaaaaahhhhh"

we still love her though : )

With the dude

noreply@blogger.com (Brandy) — Mon, 04 May 2009 20:22:00 +0000

Creating artwork

using these little guys found snacking on our carpet as inspiration

being a super hero, fighting bad guys

creating weapons for the walls

these things come in a plenty

practicing his tuff guy look

planting

growing

learning lessons

Freaky

noreply@blogger.com (Brandy) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:36:00 +0000

So Riley and I stayed up past our bedtimes the other night, watching shows and sewing niece Aubrey a blanky. When it was time for Riley to hit the hay, he requested I tell him a story first. I said "How about I sing you a song". He then gives me this funny look and says "but mom your songs FREAK me out" :) This kid makes me smile!! I'l remember that for next time Riley

Mmmm Tasty!

noreply@blogger.com (Brandy) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:56:00 +0000

So I am going to town on the pistachios the other day. I attempt to open the shell as hubby does it, in his mouth. I am throwing one after the other in and they are so YUMMY! Then I come to one that is not so yummy. I swallow, it tastes a little burnt. Then I grab another and actually look at the shell as I crack it and about chuck the other 20 back up when I see this. Yep that is what you think it is. And my best guess is that tasty burnt one I had before was one of these yummies too : ) I think I'll lay off the nuts for a while.

Waaaaaaah!! Vacuum on~Swaddle~Bounce~Rock~Feed~Change............

noreply@blogger.com (Brandy) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:25:00 +0000

Waaaaaaah!! Vacuum on~Swaddle~Bounce~Rock~Feed~Change............
Those things are done around the clock, with the new Jack Jack here. He is a vocal little man. This dudes belly sure knows how to rumble. I feel so bad for the little guy and for the rest of my family too. I want to stay sain I REALLY REALLY do! I also want to smell good and wear clean clothes, I want a happy hubby and a clean-ER home for him to come home to. I want my other kiddos to get my time and attention, I want to enjoy my beautiful baby. Its just SO hard, so hard when he REALLY likes to cry. Just asking for a prayer or two.

Her attempt

noreply@blogger.com (Brandy) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:12:00 +0000

Norah is a little frustrated lately. Why? Because she still REALLY wants to be the baby around this house. She asks for a binky (she never took a binky tell Jack came along), she screams when Jack cries just to be screaming with Jack, and she is constantly trying out his swing, bouncy seat and car seat. But hey if it floats her boat and makes her feel like a baby again, then I'm all for it. Maybe I will even strap her in on the occasion just to keep her confined! ; ) wink wink)

Dirty bath

noreply@blogger.com (Brandy) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:46:00 +0000

Have you ever got in the bath to get clean and come out dirty? Hhhhmmm probably for most the answer is NO. But things around here tend to follow a different path from the norm. So I got in the tub with this screaming little man Jack in hopes calm his bubbly belly and to smell a little fresher (I was sporting a lot of sour milk). So I am sitting in the water after already freshening up myself and I am rubbing Jacks tummy, then all of a sudden..... a yellow BOMB hit the water. You get it right :)
I was laughing pretty hard in the tub by the way, while yellow curds floated all around me!! And these pictures only show a half of it. YUM : )

Riley and the HULK

noreply@blogger.com (Brandy) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 21:30:00 +0000

Ok so its not REALLY the Hulk. Just one of Rileys fave people of all time. Hiding under the Hulk costume is MR. CODY, Grandma Kathys (my foster mom) son. Riley could hang with Cody all day, and when they are together Cody goes along with Rileys little weirdo, high imagination, go go go personality so Riley thinks he is the BEST! Thanks for being SUPER COOL Cody!

chill with my girl

noreply@blogger.com (Brandy) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 02:26:00 +0000

So I'm kind of in a poopy blog mood lately. I guess I just get frustrated that when I have something to say I can't find a minute to hide away long enough to record my thoughts. Then when I find a minute the words won't come, like right now : )

Hhhhhmmmm........

The other day Jack was silent for a bit and Riley was building his famous tinker toy weapons. Did I mention that he told me "Mom, I think I should sell my weapon designs to Wal Mart, cuz they don't have these kind of weapons and these kind of weapons are better than their kind" : )

Anyway so I had some time to chill with my girl. We went along with her desires to "making" as she puts it. Which means she wants to make something. In this instant it was food she wanted to make and the table she wanted to set. So we pulled two chairs together and then she requested a sheet. She pulled that on nicely and we added some plates, little cups, spoons and some munchies. Her imagination was running, she was stirring and serving and setting things out just right. As she created this little yummy space for us, my mind wandered back to memories of my childhood. I remember creating magical little spaces for me to hide out and imagine in. I liked to create a cozy little space under the kitchen table. Back then I was sure no one knew where I was. I was sure that anything my little mind thought up was possible. My kid brain thought more optimistically, it didn't see so many reasons why I shouldn't do but thought of all the reasons why I should. I liked to climb up on our shed and have picnics or sleepovers with friends (I know so safe huh my mom brain thinks now). The pictures/ideas in my head told me how to get up there, what foods to bring, how to not roll off the roof during the night. I didn't sit there as a kid and come up with a million negative reasons why I shouldn't go out and do and just have fun. I also remember my mom helping me to create enjoyable experiences. She would help me set my little mini table to have birthday parties for my dolls. Cake with candles and all :) FOR A DOLL. What fun it was to be a kid. So why do we all grow up? Why do we stop playing and creating and enjoying these magical little moments? Why do we come up with so many excuses to stop having fun? I guess for some we are kind of forced to grow up, for others maybe we just don't want to look silly. Maybe even for others we think its just what your suppose to do. But I do know that as I sat there with her pretending to have dinner, I realized I was going to make/do more of this. I was going to help my kids create and explore and not only was I going to help them but I was going to recommit to be apart of it, get in to it myself. Imagine with them, build, explore, touch, learn and become a bit more of a kid too. Why not ya know.....

Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional. ~Chili Davis

Quick post from dad.

noreply@blogger.com (Brandy) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:52:00 +0000

Swing like Spider-Man!

Tie a cord to myself and jump off my bed!

Really cool idea...

...but poorly executed.

...and painful.

Dad, stop laughing and help please.

Supermodel pose!

Scream baby SCREAM!!

noreply@blogger.com (Brandy) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 17:59:00 +0000

Okay so I must get on and admit that I lied about Jack. In my post 10 about Jack I said "he is my easiest newborn yet. (knock on wood)". Ya well I never knocked on wood I guess, because he has turned out to be quite the little screamer. The problem with this dude is he doesn't just scream at predictable times during the day like some babes. BUT ALL DAY! No not really but it sure seams like it. Anyways I had a bit of a miracle happen last night and now I think to myself why did I not try this sooner (I mean I did it with Riley and it saved our sanity). So for all you mommas with super LOUD babes try this. First make sure they are fed, burped, and clean bums. Then swaddle (they may not love it at first) put in a baby swing, and here is the big miracle worker, TURN THE VACUUM ON. Yep that's it. I just turn our vacuum to the hose setting so the brushes don't spin. The LOUD white noise that is hopefully LOUDER than their cries will calm them down. I guess there are no guarantees it will work for your little screamer but it certainly helped my vocal ones.

Good Luck

~Oh and a book I TOTALLY recommend for some other great ideas is THE HAPPIEST BABY ON THE BLOCK, by Dr. Harvey Karp

p.s.s So we don't blow the engine on our decent vacuum, I'l be heading to thrift store to pick me up a junker like this :)

Dear Heavenly Father

noreply@blogger.com (Brandy) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:35:00 +0000

For prayers last night, duder Riley was asked to say it. It went a little something like this... "Dear Heavenly Father I'm thankful for Jesus, I love him very much. I'm thankful for the planets, even all the way up to Pluto. I don't like it when the bad guys steal my swords and if they do I will cut their heads off. THE END". (yes he said that, then smiled and paused) and then out came "Amen".

Daddy Bryce had to turn his head so Riley did'nt see him laughing. Dads favorite part was the "THE END" :)

We remind him to close by saying "in the name of Jesus Christ" but I'm sure Heavenly Father will take it, and with a smile on his face is my guess :)

P.S I am hoping the "cut off their heads" part is related to Alma Chapter two in The Book Of Mormon that we read the previous night.

Riley was VERY interested in these verses. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

12 Therefore the people of the Nephites were aware of the intent of the Amlicites, and therefore they did prepare to meet them; yea, they did arm themselves with swords, and with cimeters, and with bows, and with arrows, and with stones, and with slings, and with all manner of weapons of war, of every kind.
and
17 And they began to slay the Amlicites upon the hill east of Sidon. And the Amlicites did contend with the Nephites with great strength, insomuch that many of the Nephites did fall before the Amlicites.

18 Nevertheless the Lord did strengthen the hand of the Nephites, that they slew the Amlicites with great slaughter, that they began to flee before them.

Riley playing with what he likes to call "Ooooze".
To make some click here :)

Duder Man

noreply@blogger.com (Brandy) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 04:08:00 +0000

Today I'll just direct you to my SIS-IN-LAWs site to read a post she put up on my duder man Riley. "You go check me out", Riley says : )

plenty of time

noreply@blogger.com (Brandy) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:56:00 +0000

Did I mention my black laptop got stepped on by a super cute but super hyper toddler a while back and my ever so slow desktop decided to quick working. Our family is down to Bryces work laptop which is why I rarely blog anymore. I mean if all things are lined up just right, Bryce leaves his computer home, Riley is not play fighting me, Jack is not nursing or pooping, and Norah is not saying watch me watch me then I might have a second to hop on. I'm on. Yipee! I am needing to be on because as I have mentioned before my blog is my counselor, my stress reliever, my vent.

12:07 pm JACK IS SCREAMING MY NAME be back .... eventually : )

12:37 pm Back :)
Jack is done pooping all over me and is attached to the boob! Norah is officially passed out in the crib and Riley has picked out a favorite show for "rest time". Lets see how far I can get (did I mention typing one handed). So where was I? Oh yes I think I need to ramble. I am finally feeling like me again or maybe I should say I feel like I can hold my kids, laugh and poop (yep I said poop :), bend over, sit up from lying down, climb on and off the bed, and see my life becoming more normal without a healing c-section incision. I guess technically it's still healing but the incision is closed and not infected this time around. Life is great! yay! Oh and I must not forget to tell, I have even learned some new tricks. Like how to eat with a baby in sling while only dropping minimum amounts of food on his head :) Like learning how to nurse baby Jack, read to Norah all at the same time while ninja fighting Riley. Like using restroom escapes as my ME time. Like serving pudding and broccoli for breakfast and having the dude love the broccoli as much as the pudding. Like learning not to compare myself to all those other mothers who just have it more together than I do. What brings me much needed peace and the motivation to continue through these trying times is Bryce. Yesterday after a VERY long day I asked him to reassure me that he was in it for the long haul. With his cute little but very sincere smile he shook his head and said "of course". Thats what does it. Is knowing Bryce will be here to strengthen me and hopefully I him and that we will have the eternities to perfect all this imperfect-ness around us. Remember Brandy (yep talking to myself) you have time, plenty of time to figure it all out.

1:05pm gotta run again, the dude is cold and needs his blanky, the belly is rumbling and needs a bite and Norah will be up soon.

oh and whats a blog post without a good picture or two of a cute little girl making some not so cute messes.

A rockin shirt

noreply@blogger.com (Brandy) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:01:00 +0000

Just wanted to share a pic of Daddy Bryces rockin shirt. We made it for him for his birthday, do you like?

~Yes those are pics of Riley and Norah, just had a little fun in photo shop :)

Boob Cover

noreply@blogger.com (Brandy) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:53:00 +0000

Do you nurse your baby? Or maybe plan to soon...
I totally recommend one of these, you know the cute little covers that hide your hooters : ) Or you might know them better by the name Hooter Hider. Well I make them, if you ant one just email me.
Also if this one is gone and you still want one I can make you a custom one just let me know.

~This one is reversible, made with some super cute fabrics from Material Girls!

10 about Jack

noreply@blogger.com (Brandy) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:45:00 +0000

1 He is a Mommas guy already. He's loves to be carried in the sling, cuddled on the bed and held as much of the day as Im willing.

2 He loves to nurse! A little too much :)

3 He has a bald man hair line. You know bald up top, with hair in the back.

4 He snorts when he cries.

5 I swear he smiled a full on, totally REAL smile to daddy Bryce. You know how they all say smiles this young are related to gas. Well not this one, this one was for REAL :)

6 He has been kissed over 1000 times. Thanks to all those who luvie him. Especially thanks to big bro Riley and big sis Norah.

7 He poops and pees way too much!! So much that I load his diaper with butt cream just so I dont have to change 30 diapers a day. (bad mom, bad mom)

8 He doesnt cry much but when he gets going he really gets going.

9 He is my easiest newborn yet. (Knock on wood)

10 He is the tallest baby Ive had, up in the 90% and with the smallest head only at 40% (Riley and Norah were shorties, with HUGE nogans)

Not following Dr.s Orders

noreply@blogger.com (Brandy) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:35:00 +0000

Ok Ok so I am not following Dr.s orders. I am holding my baby girl sooner that I should be but how can you blame me. Wouldn't you just want to luvie up this precious girl? Norah I love you muchly!!

I never want to be big

noreply@blogger.com (Brandy) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:45:00 +0000

"I never want to be big", Riley tells me as his forth birthday rolls around. "I want to stay three forever"! Um dude, I dont blame you :) What fun would it be if we could all return to our fave kid age and well just be a kid again. I would for sure return to an age where I could hang out with my Grandma and mom. We would sit at a card table and do puzzles all day,
I would ride around on my Grandmas wheel chair (we, my mom and I lived with g-ma, my mom took care of her) she had lots of treats to be shared. I especially remember her chicken that was crocheted. You filled it up with M&Ms and it would poop them out right in to your hand to be eaten up. Hhhhm loved it then but now that I think about it, thats kind of weird : ) Those days were full of sleepovers, climbing trees, riding bikes, trips to the park, playing in dirt and well just having fun with not too many other worries in mind.

I cant believe he's 4!!
yep thats right he can hold up four fingers now and slowly but surely he's accepting the fact that being four is really ok.Here he is eating pudding for breakfast on his special day.

Then comes the super cool SPIDEY cake that Grandma Hansen made.
The cheesy birthday smile that he shares with us and tells us he's doing it because he is SOOO HAPPY! I wonder if being sung to made him sooo happy or that big present he had his hand on?

Trying out/on some of his new presents, I must mention he wore this mask to bed that night :)

Blowing out the candles, but first taking his precious time and I do mean precious to whisper his wish under his breath.

Oh yes and this is the dudes big birthday surprise!! Just dont tell him its a hand me down. (THANK YOU TRACY!! HE LOVES IT!!)