Austin the birthday day girl

Samuel and Betsy with their bags of candy from the pinata

Some of the kids eating dinner

Austin getting ready to blow out her heart cake

Yummy dinner, heart shaped sandwhiches, and fruit kabobs

picking up candy after the pinata finally broke

Austin standing in front of her big pinata, with her bag of treats

Samuel was a good helper washing grapes

Austin, Betsy, and Joseph loved making fruit kabobs, with strawberries, pink marshmallow, and grapes on them.

My beautiful Austin with her birthday dress on

So, today was a really busy day. But the most important thing, was that my little girl turned 7 years old today. 7 years ago at 2:54 am Austin Jolynn Kirkman was born at 5 lb 9 oz and 19 inches long. She was whisked away and put on oxygen for a few hours after she was born, because she was a little eary and had a little trouble breathing. After a few hours she was good as new, and we were able to take her home with us that night, to our brand new house (I think I went into labor due to all the packing and moving from our apartment to our new house). Anyway, I can't believe how much my Austin has grown. She is a wonderful girl, she is sweet, kind, giving, and helpful. She always has a flair for the dramatics to keep life exciting, she loves to sing, draw/color, dance, bake, help me clean, read, and play games. She also can do the most push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups out of all the kids and me. I love my Austin, I don't know what I would do without her.

So today we had Austin's birthday party. Kids started arriving at 5:30pm, and we ended up having about 17 kids. We did the pinata first, since we were running out of sunlight. It was a huge pinata that I got on clearance from Wal-mart for $8. I filled it full of all my leftover halloween, christmas, and valentines candy. I also put in fruit snacks, and prizes, and bubbles. It was heavy. The kids each had a turn hitting the pinata, but nobody was making a dent in it. So, finally Joseph was last, so I gave him this pole we have, and he started hitting it over and over again as hard as he could. It wasn't making a dent, and the top 1/3 of the pole broke off. Joseph kept hitting it, and the next 1/3 piece of the pole broke off, so he took the stubby end and started poking holes into the pinata with it, finally I came and stuck my hand in one of the holes, and ripped it open, and with help tipped it over, and dumped out the candy. The kids went wild, and ended up with tons of candy and prizes. Next we had some dinner, we had mini corn dogs, heart-shaped ham/turkey and cheese sandwhiches, fruit and marshmallow kebobs, chips, and carrots. After dinner, we played pin the tail on the donkey, and musical chairs. Then we had cake and ice cream, and Austin opened her presents. By the time everyone left, I could barely see the floor, there was so much trash all over. But, Austin had a great birthday, and I think everyone had a good time. Samuel also had to have his moment of fame. It seems like everytime I have people over, Samuel ends up coming out naked, after going to the bathroom. Well he had wet his pants a little and had gone to change out of his wet pants. I had pushed the couch in front of the hallway to contain all the partiers, so Samuel climbed over and went to go change. I noticed when he came back,that as he climbed over the couch, the bottom half of him was naked. I grabbed him and took him into his room and was pulling out his pants, when I turned around and he was gone. I raced back down the hallway, and Samuel was again climbing over the couch, I dove over the couch and caught him and pulled him back to his room and got him dressed. My crazy little boy. Anyway Austin had a great party, and a great birthday. Thankyou to everyone who came to her party and made her day special. I love you Austin!

too busy

Things have been a little too busy around here lately. We have so many things going on that a lot of things have been lacking. For instance, our dinners have basically consisted on me throwing a bunch of snacks and food in a picnic basket that I've been carrying around with us in the car. As soon as the kids are home from school, we are off doing all sorts of activites, then we usually don't get home until it's time for bed. It has been really tricky getting the kids to get their homework done, when they're hardly home. A lot of times I have to wake them up early the next day to get their homework done before school. Samuel and I are busy running errands, going to play group, having dr. and dentist app., wic app., frg training and meetings, tumbling, shopping, and all sorts of things. And if I'm home I'm either cleaning up, exercising or working on the computer. I've realized that being busy is good, but right now we're too busy, so next month I'm not signing the kids up for after school activites, and I've canceled a few things I'm doing too. The girls and samuel will still be doing soccer, and Joseph will be finishing golf, and then start tennis in a little while. I want to be able to have our nightly dinners sitting down at the table, and talking to each other. I've really missed that, and I think the kids have too. Last week, the highlights were: On valentine's day, I had a dinner/breakfast for some of the spouses in the ward who's sweethearts were gone. So I made crepes, with all sorts of delicious fresh berries, and yogurt, and cream cheese filling, with eggs and bacon. yummmm...I love crepes, I think everyone had a good time. On monday morning, everyone woke up coughing. On Tuesday, Samuel had a sports physical appointment so he could play soccer. He passed the physical, but the dr. said he had bronchitis, so we got him some antibiotics. On Wednesday, the girls (they are on the same team) had their first soccer practice. I think they had a good time. Joseph missed the bus after school, and decided to walk home (scaring mom half to death, when Austin and Betsy got off the bus, and Joseph did not), but thank goodness he made it home all right. Babysitting friend's kids. I also went to a communications workshop for the FRG. Maintenance was supposed to come friday morning to fix a bunch of broken things, and spray for bugs. So I spent as much time as I could cleaning Thursday to get the house looking clean. Then I waited and waited and the fix-it guy came, but the bug spray guy never did, so I called and they rescheduled for this friday, so I gotta make sure the house stays clean. I was going to the El Paso Women's conference friday night and saturday. I had just dropped the kids off at childcare, when I got a call from one of the ladies of visit teach, her husband is in Iraq with Travis. She had just gotten into a car accident with her friend, and two little boys, and was in the emergency room at the hospital. She said she wanted a priesthood blessing, so I told her I would call someone for her, she said they were doing okay at the moment, and I told her to call me if she needed me to take her little boys home. After I hung up, I got in the car and started driving toward the banquet I was going to, and couldn't shake the thought or feeling that this sister needed me, so I called her back and asked her if she needed me to come to the hospital and help her, she said yes. So I drove to the hospital, and went to the information desk and asked about my friend, they took me back into the emergency room to where my friend and her kids were. One of the little boys saw me, and gave me a big hug and said he missed me, the other little boy hugged me too, and told me how some lady hit his mom's car. The mom and her friend, and one of the little boys needed x-rays, so I kept helping wherever I could. Luckily I had a few toys and mints and stuff in the carthat I had brought in with me, that helped me to distract the little boys. Everyone turned out to be okay, both the adults we're cut and bruised pretty good, but nothing was broken, and the boys were fine, they had plenty of fun, running down the halls with me in my high-heels and semi-formal dress chasing them down. The missionaries came and gave my friend a blessing, and the bishop came a little while later. They we're discharged after a couple hours, and I drove them all home (since their car was totaled), and then I was able to go back and pick up my kids from childcare, just before closing. It was amazing how it worked out,that I was able to help them. I'm so glad I chose to listen to the spirit and was able to help my friend, I felt so good inside, and much better then if I had gone to the banquet. I also took them Travis' car the next day and I'm letting them use it, until they get a new car. I went to the rest of my conference on Saturday, and had a great time, doing yoga, learning about healing herbs, listening to motivational speakers, and doing tai chi and eating yummy food. I also went to a scrapbooking meeting that night, because I'm working on a scrapbook for Austin. I hadn't seen the kids much on friday or saturday, but they made up for it on Sunday. They constantly all needed my attention, and kept fighting with each other. We also ended up taking Joseph to Urgent Care, because of a sore on his foot that has been bothering him for a long time. I called the tel-a-nurse line, thinking they would just make an appointment for him next week, but they told me to bring him in right away. So my friend Laurie watched Samuel for me, and I took the rest of the kids to urgent care. The dr. said it was a plantar wart, and prescribed an ointment to put on it. I was pretty embaressed for taking my kid to urgent care for a wart, but I didn't know what it was, and it hurt him quite a bit. The dr. said he probably got it from the mats at Judo, from being bare-footed. So anyway, that's all the stuff I can remember, but I'm hoping to calm things down a little bit, so we can have more quality time together, and also be available to help those around me more.

Chaplain School here we come

I am so proud of Travis. We found out today he got accepted into the Chaplain Program at BYU, and that is not an easy thing to do. We have a lot of details to iron out, but hopefully we will be moving to good old Provo, UT in June and starts classes there, for the 2-year program. We are excited to be back at BYU, and being closer to some of our family and friends. We have a lot of work ahead and a lot of paperwork to fill out to make this a reality. Life has gotten pretty crazy around here. The kids have ballet, Judo, Golf, Tumbling, scouts, and Soccer (2 practices and 2 games a week) Plus during the day I'm in charge of 2 play groups. I'm trying to get our garden ready to put in, get the house clean, so maintentence can come, and help Travis get going on all the paperwork for scholarships, and military paperwork, and trust me, there is a ton of it. The kids and I all have colds, and Samuel had a Dr. Appointment yesterday and his is bronchitis, so he is on antibiotics, plus I started the P90X workout program. My goodness life is crazy, we have things going on everyday, and every weekend too. The good thing about this is that time will fly until Travis comes home, the bad part is it can be stressful and a little overwhelming at times. The school district approved a bus for the kids to take to and from school, so that has been a nice change this week. So instead of walking or driving to school, we just need to walk to the bus stop. I love my husband, and I love my kids and I know Heavenly Father watches over us, and helps us make the right decisions in our lives.

Samuel The Pitiful

I have been blogging a lot about Samuel, and it's not that I favor him more than my other children, their is just more to tell since he is at the lovely age of 3 years old, when children get into tons of mischief. Samuel has been in prime mess-making form this week. I was in my room for ten minutes, and when I came out, Samuel had gotten into the refrigerator and taken 3 big tubs of unopened yogurt out, and it looked like he couldn't figure out how to open it, since it was sealed, so he proceeded to set them on the kitchen floor and stomp on them, so obviously the tubs split and the yogurt spilled out, Samuel must have thought this was fun, so he did it to the rest of the tubs, and continued this process with the rest of the tubs of yogurt. Then had fun playing in the yogurt and spreading it around. Samuel must have gotten bored with just one texture, so he got out his Dora Cereal, and dumped that onto the ground with the yogurt. Bytheway, I had just mopped (it figures). I made him clean it up the best he could, and then I finished cleaning it up. Next on my list, is that Samuel discovered the water sprayer by the kitchen sink. Again I was in my room for a few minutes (I think I'll just have to never do anything in my room) I heard the water running, but Samuel likes to do the dishes, so I didin't think anything of it. I came out of my room, to check and him, and thank him for doing the dishes. He was spraying water all over the room! Man that water piled up quick, but again Samuel had to help mop it all up with several big bathroom towels. Samuel has also started running away or hiding with food, becuase he knows he'll get into trouble if he doesn't eat it at the kitchen. The kids were home from school, and I was giving them each a caramel for a snack. Samuel had already had his, and he wanted to give Betsy hers, so I handed it to him, and he started to try and open it, I told him he had already had his and he needed to give all of that to Betsy. He asked if he could have a small piece of it, and I told him to ask Betsy. She said "no" and I told Samuel to give all of it to Betsy. He quickly unwrapped it, and handed to Betsy, but when she grabbed it, he didn't let go, so he came away with a piece of Betsy's caramel. As soon as this happened he immediatly started running, I broke into a sprint trying to catch my little 3-year old who was running as fast as he could, twisting and dodging me. He made it to the girl's room and dove underneath Austin's bed, and wriggled into the corner. I dove under the bed, and squirmed my way towards Samuel, knowing I had him cornered. I had almost reached him, and what does he do? He shoved that caramel into his mouth and starts laughing hysterically. I couldn't help it, I actually laughed for a minute, before coming to my senses, dragging him out and putting him into time out. Sometimes I don't know where this kid came from, but he will probably make a good quarterback someday. He also loves vegetables. I buy some veggie patties from Costco, and Samuel will get into the Fridge and snack on them all day long. He'll grab one and hide behind the bean bag in the living room. He probably eats a couple of them a day lately. The only bad thing is, that he eats them cold, and they have onions in them, and it makes his breath smell terrible. Anyway the other night it was almost bed time, and I was making some cookies, so I asked Betsy to play with him and keep him out of trouble. I guess I should have known better than to put a 5 year old in charge of a 3 year old. So anyway, it was time to put kids to bed, so I called for them in my happy sing-song voice (I like to make cookies), and as I passed the bathroom, I saw my last bottle of shampoo sitting at the edge of the bathtub(in the past week Samuel has dumped out 8 bottles of shampoo or body wash, and I had a very stern talk with him about doing that). A feeling or dread came over and as I looked into the bathtub, sure enough the entire bottle had been dumped into the empty tub, and spread around. I called for Samuel again, and this time their was no sing-song in my voice. I found him and Betsy in Joseph's room (he has been told many times he's not allowed in this room, becuase that is where I keep all my crafts and sewing stuff, also I put Austin's pinata in it for her birthday). There he was sitting on Austin's pinata poking holes in it. That was the final straw, I picked up Samuel, put him in his room, shut and locked the door, and told him to go straight to bed, fully intending to let him cry until he fell asleep. I know, horrible, but I was really mad. So anyway I go into the living room and turn on the t.v., to drown out the sounds of Samuel's crying. After a few minutes, I put the rest of the kids to bed, and as I was doing that I heard Samuel screaming and sobbing "Remember, Mommy, Please Remember.....I'm your Sweetie...."over and over again. That was it, my heart melted. I opened the door and took him into my arms. Still sobbing, he told me, he would be a good boy, and never go into that room again or dump out shampoo bottles. I told him, I forgave him, and loved him, and he was still my sweetie, and hugged and kissed him goodnight. That little boy, no matter what he has done, knows exactly how to make it all better. I love my crazy little boy!

Samuel the escape artist

I turned samuel's doorknob around to his room, so that I could lock it from the outside, and I wouldn't have to keep dealing with him always coming out, whenever I put him in time-out or down for a nap, or bedtime. The doorknobs we have are the kind that can be unlocked from the outside with a penny, or knife or a long sharp fingernail (which I use). As soon as I turned Samuel's doorknob around, he began finding things in his room he could use to unlock it with. Since he would be so proud of himself for unlocking the door he would show me how he did it, and I would confiscate the object, so he couldn't do it again. I have pretty much emptied his room, of any object that could be used to unlock the door. Last night I had to put him in time-out, so I took him into his room and then locked the door and set the timer for 3 minutes. He was quiet, now when Samuel is in time-out he does 1 of 2 things, he either screams and cries until his time-out is over or he is quiet. When he is quiet he is thinking, and figuring out a way to escape. About 30 seconds into his time-out I noticed that the vaccum cord was moving.(the vacuum was in samuel's room, but the cord was plugged in in the hallway.) I went to investigate and discovered that Samuel was slowing pulling the vacuum cord into his room via under the doorway. I thought that the actual plug would get stuck and not fit under his door, but when it did get stuck, he managed to pull hard and get it all the way into his room. He then proceeded to pick the lock with the prongs from the vacuum plug, and opened up the door. He came out smiling and brought me the vacuum plug, and said "mom, I got out with this!" I couldn't believe that he had figured out that he could use that to unlock his door, but it was nice that he is still so innocent that he will tell me everything he does.