Happy Easter

Happy Easter.  We needed some new updated pictures.  This is MJ. Her first hunt was a success and her smile matched her bright egg treasures. 

 All the boys after the hunt, complete with the Easter Bunny to boot.

I had great intentions of getting rid of all the candy from past birthday parties and primary activities, so I put all  of my candy collection into eggs for the family hunt, thinking I could out smart the system. However I still ended up with more candy coming home with me than I brought.  Holidays are a never ending candy pit. See that huge basket on the table, its all chocolate, lots and lots of chocolate. 

Apt living

We are living in an apt complex for the next few month and here are some of the interesting things I'm learning.

Pros:
1.  The boys think we are living in a Hotel because there is a pool and hot tub
2.   Very own playground
3.  No yard work
4.  Interesting neighbors
5.  Lots of cultural variety
6.  Cheaper rent
7.  All the kids call me maam' ( because I am the only adult watching the kids at the park)
8.  Lots of opportunity to do missionary work.  Humble souls everywhere.
9.  Kids get lots of attention. They are the only blue eyed kids here.
10.  Learned to hang a fleece blanket over my windows at night to block out the security lights and extra noise.  how white trash is that. When in rome...

Cons:
1.  Smoking habits. Everyone smokes a ton.  Cigarettes or marijuana or pipes or flavored cigarettes.  If people would stop smoking they might have more money to get out of these apartments.  Did you know that smoke can seep through walls, ceilings and air ducts?  It can.
2.  Spitting.  Post pubescent men feeling the need to spit into the bushes. (I do not let my kids near the bushes)
3.  Alcohol.  Why would adults drink beers in the middle of the day and all afternoon.  Its not a holiday or any celebration what so ever.  If people would stop drinking they might have more money to get out of these apts.  Or maybe get a job...
4.  Cat fights.  I am not a yeller.  I do not understand why 2 adults would need to scream out their issues at 2 am in front of the complex.  I did feel like I was watching a jerry springer episode out my window.
5.  15 or so unsupervised kids all afternoon.  The parents kick them out of their apts after school so they hang out by the playground.  they are 3-13 years old.  I'm just waiting for someone to get hurt or stolen.
6.  Parking my Expedition in a garage meant for a Honda Accord.  I've already scratched the car twice.  Stupid garage.
7.  Old windows.  On our first night Scott said, "aren't you going to close the windows?" I replied. "They are."
8.  Walking miles with groceries from parking to my corner apts.  It is helping me buy less items because I know I will have to carry them.
9.  Walking miles to take out the trash.  Let be honest. Scott does this one.
10. The people in my ward are very hesitant to come visit because of the interesting environment.

This year has been crazy. Props to all of you who are organized and got Christmas cards out. Lets face it. If I haven't sent them by now, I will never get around to doing it.  But I did have great intentions.  

Merry Christmas from the Vance's

My kid is the red head with the tie. Can't miss him. 

i forgot

I had forgotten how much of the day it takes to feed an infant. In addition to nursing, feeding baby food is ridiculously time consuming. That's not including the cleanup of the babies face, hands, hair, high chair, mom's shirt and sometimes mom's pants too. Yep the process pretty much takes up the majority of my day. Good thing she is so cute.

Brothers

So this past week has been horrible. Sick children, no sleep for mom, kids staying home from school, constant bickering. When the kids are awake, they are grouchy and I am grouchy from lack of sleep. I even considered changing the name of my blog to "my kids are driving me nuts.blogspot" or "reasons i am grateful for birth control". Scott thought that might be a little harsh. Then today the stars aligned for me everyone took a nap at the same time. Wonder of wonders, miracles of miracles. So this picture is to remind me of the good moments of motherhood and my prayers to have them more often. Or at least realize the good moments.

TKD

If I had extra resources and extra hours in the day I would love to have my kids be 100% involved in martial arts. Take a look at the pictures and the determination on those faces.

Doesn't this face just say it all!

Pictures are worth a thousand words. The boys loved every minute of their trial of Tae Kwon Doe. What little boy doesn't like to yell and run and punch and kick, and not get into trouble when they do so. Who knows maybe they can be the next "karate kid".