"Big Fat Mommy!"

The other morning, Swayze and I were having a nice little cuddle session and out of nowhere she says, "Big fat Mommy!"  Ouch.  I don't think I've ever heard Tommy belly-laugh so hard.  I'm going to go out on a limb and assume she meant "Big PHAT Mommy" (because she thinks I'm so awesome).  So I asked her, "What part of Mommy is fat?"  She pointed to a particular mountainous region on my chest.  Hey, I'm working on it, Kid.  (Don't worry, Swazzle, I won't mention your overbite).  Whenever I gain wait, it goes straight to my mams and my relief society arms.  I figure, it's probably what I get for tapping my mom's bum when I was a little kid, saying, "Your butt feels like jell-o."  Karma is definitely a biz.

Who, Me? You're Way Too Kind!

I'm totally laughing at myself as I type this.  Please don't take this seriously.  I'm not THAT vain (well, maybe just a teeny bit sometimes).  It's just that, every time I get a fortune cookie, I always get totally shafted.  I always get some gay saying like, for example:

- "Promotion coming soon."  (Thanks, but I've already nominated myself for the "Mother of the Year Award).

- "Many receive advice, only the wise profit by it."  (What?!  I don't even get that one).

- "Behind an able man there are always other able men."  (Hmm, something to think about).

- "You are more likely to give than give in."  (hardly).

- "The road to knowledge begins with the turn of the page."  (again, pretty gay).

- And this one's my personal fave... "Your secret admirer will soon appear."  (enter creepy old boyfriends on Facebook maybe?  There's a reason why we broke up in high school, buddy).

Anyhoo, I thought this one I got the other day fits me just perfectly, I couldn't pass up the chance to post it.

Seven.

LOVE this girl!

We decided at the last minute to have an "un-birthday" party and invited a few girlie-friends to see the movie "Up."

A Few More...

I snagged these pics from Katie, but they were so great, I had to post them.

Georgia, Jack, and Keagan biffing it on the tube.

What's a Powell trip without climbing the blasted sandhill?  Why does everyone think this is a fun Powell tradition??  I must say, though, I got my skinny-fat butt up this thing without Tommy having to push me up (it helped a little that the rain had packed the sand down and was a lot easier to climb up this time).

Tommy giving his Rusty Bear a sponge bath.

Now this tradition, I like!  Love the Guitar Hero!

Who can resist this little dollface, Miss Rio?  I felt like we were at a Madonna concert with all of her wardrobe changes throughout the trip.  And Mel, of course.  Best mom I know.

20 Reasons Why We Love Lake Powell... And Then Some.

These are just a few of our favorites from the past 13+ years.

The kids got out of school last Thursday, and we wanted to take them somewhere for Memorial weekend.  The choices were: Mexico or Lake Powell.  We decided to let the kids vote on where they wanted to go.  It was unanimous.  Lake Powell.  It is our favorite place to vacation.  No cell phone coverage, no internet, nada.  It's awesome.  But this last trip was a little different than most.  It rained 95% of the time and was freezing cold.  The weather could not have been worse.  But we loved it.

Tyke, Jake, Tag and Jaida

Conner, Keagan and Lexi, tubing their little hearts out.

Making sand castles in her jammies.  It was SO cold!

What a view.  Thanks James' Family and Zaharis families.  It's always a great time.

There Is Something Seriously Wrong With These Pictures...

Last week, I went to Deseret Book and found these cute little CTR books (because that's what all the good mommies do, right?)  I thought they'd be great entertainment for the kids during church today.  Instead of choosing the "Path to Eternal Life Maze," the "Baptism Word Scramble," and the "Family History - I Can Do It!" games, my sweet Tag decided to draw an awesome picture of his family.  What the ??  I guess everything's pretty self-explanatory here:  Keagan is a pig (thank heaven's it wasn't me this time), Tag thinks he's a crazy monkey, Tommy is a gorilla (because of  his brute strength), I'm a bee (I've got Tag fooled into thinking I work so hard.  70/60 Tommy, 70/60), and Swayze is an angry crocodile.

I think I'm failing as a mother.  I keep reminding Tag that he better start being nice to his younger sister... because when he gets home from the mish, he's gonna be begging her to set him up with her hot friends.

Life's A Little Better With "Gwape Wimeade"

So, everyday, coming home from the gym, we happen to pass by my old stompin' grounds, SONIC (I'm salivating as I type this - it's been 4 weeks without the sauce).  And everyday, Swayze thinks she needs a grape limeade.  

Today just so happens to be Thursday.  I work with a trainer on Thursdays, and it is absolutely kicking my tail!  Let me just give everyone a head's up by saying, never ever, EVER, under any circumstances tell your trainer, "Oh, I really wasn't that sore after our last session."  They will kick your butt even more the next session.  I think all trainers think it's funny to make your clients throw up.  And I'm bound and determined not to give him the satisfaction of doing so.  Anyhoo, he worked me really really hard today, and as we were on our way home from the gym, this being only 10:30 in the morn, Miss Swayze wants her grape limeade.  Here's the convo:

Swazye:  "Mom, can we go and get me a gwape wimeade?"

Me, trying everything in my power to just make it home so I don't throw up in the car:  "Maybe a little bit later.  How about after lunch?"

Swayze: "I want a gwape wimeade!"

Me, getting my airplane barf bag out (it's always in my purse, ready and waiting): "Fine.  But please, stop talking."

Swayze: "Mom?  Can we get a gwape wimeade?"

Me:  "Yes, just... shoosh."

Swayze:  "Ok Mom.  Don't forget about my gwape wimeade."

Me:  "Swazye, enough already."

By the way, I did make it home without a hitch, thank goodness.  And Swayze got her "gwape wimeade."  Thank more goodness.

Fulfilled...

When Tag was just about a year old, Tommy and I moved into a new ward.  There was a really nice couple that asked us to go out with them one weekend.  We went over to their house to pick them up before dinner.  They seemed to have it all - the nice house, the fancy cars, their 2 boys were always decked out etc.  Both parents worked full-time.  Anyhoo, while we were at dinner, the wife asked me what I did for a living.  I told her, "I'm just a mom.  I stay at home and take care of Tag."  She was completely shocked by my answer.  She said, "REALLY?  That's it?  That's what you do?  You don't work?"  And then said, "So let me get this straight.  You just stay at home and play house ALL day?!"  I was completely taken aback and needless to say, I couldn't wait for dinner to be over and just get home.  I felt so beaten down.  After we got home, I told Tommy that maybe I needed to go back to school, or get a job.  You know, do something more productive with my life.  And faster than I could finish that sentence, he said, "Leigh.  You're doing exactly what you've always wanted to do.  Being a mother is the most important job."  And it's true.  The only thing I've ever wanted to be was a mother (ok, that and there was one time when I was about 7 that I wanted to be a school bus driver.)

There is nothing more gratifying than being a mother.  Don't get me wrong, I have my moments when I want to list all three children on eBay.  But these little boogers really do make me so happy.

So, to the girl in my ward who tried to make me feel like crap all those years ago - Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.  It was a great little wake up call.  A good reminder that I AM doing what I've always wanted to do.  I don't need a fancy job to make me feel fulfilled.  And who knew you don't need a college degree to be a chauffeur/chef/maid/teacher/nurse?

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

What My 3 Year Old Wants, My 3 Year Old Gets...

So lately, my Swayze has been obsessed with the show, "Trauma: Life In The ER."  Yep, you heard right.  She's traded in Dora for druggies, GSW's, John Doe's and DOA's.  She likes to refer to it as, "The Hothipal (hospital) Show."  This girl really is after her mother's heart.  She loves the blood and guts about as much as I do.  Tommy and Tag will be at Father's and Sons this weekend, soooo.... instead of taking the girlies out for a mani-pedi, I may just hunker down and introduce them to a little show called "48 Hours Mystery."  Can't wait!

I'm Putting One Last Little Bug In His Ear....

Only 6 days left 'til Mother's Day Tommy.  I've been working all week on my best "Oh-My-Goodness!  You-Shouldn't-Have!  How-On-Earth-Did-You-Know-I-Wanted-This-Watch??" reaction.  I have no shame.