Co-op? Pure Brilliance!

What is Co-op? Well, when I got to Vegas, the women in the ward asked me if I wanted to be in Co-op. Here's how it works: Everyone starts out with 30 tickets--half are 1 hour and half are 1/2 hour. Each day there are 2 different people signed up to baby-sit. one from 9-12, and 1 from 12-3. The person who is baby-sitting can decide how many she wants to baby-sit that day. You have the option to take your kids to her house for that time period. For every child you take over and for each hour that they are there, you give the babysitter a ticket. For example, if I took Drew to Shauna's house from 12-3, I would owe her 3 tickets. IF I took both my kids, i would owen her 6 tickets. And maybe i would only need her for 2 hours so then i would owe her 4. During this time frame, the babysitter feeds a good snack provided by her to the child so when mom comes to pick up, they don't have to go home and feed them.
This is true brilliance! Why did we not do this in Philly? No money needed, just equal trades. We have a 4 month calendar and there is someone everyday in the morning and afternoon. SO if you have a Dr.'s appt, or want to volunteer in your child's classroom, or maybe you want to go to the store --alone!!! OR maybe you just want some ME time and you go home and take a nap.--I've used it to clean my house before and i got it done sooo much faster! ANd if you're ever running out of tickets, you can just eamil everyone to see if someone doesn't want their shift because you need tickets! This really would have been a life saver in Philly! All those wic appointments and trips to the medicaid office--man this totally would have saved me!

Tough Love

As I sit here typing, it is 12:35 a.m., and I'm waiting for little Miles to fall asleep. He's been crying for almost an hour. He has been the HARDEST baby of mine to sleep through the night. He has only slept through the night twice. Yes, that's right--2 times in his 4 month existance. Which means, that I have not had good REM sleep in months--you have to count the months that i was up peeing when I was pregnant. My first 3 were champs. Slept through the night at 2 months--no sweat!--seriously, it was a piece of cake. Where have I gone wrong? This kid is the lightest sleeper, and when he sleeps, his one eye is half way open. The minute you lay him down, he starts shaking his head side to side to the point that he had rubbed the back of his head raw and it started bleeding the other day. He just can't settle.--So, I really think it is all my fault though. I, because of serious exhaustion over the last 4 months, don't feel like letting him cry himself to sleep. Every night around 2a.m., he cries, I go get him and put him in bed with Owen and I. Big mistake I know. I'm just too dang tired to feed him and put him back to bed. He usually falls asleep with his face pasted up against my boob.--I also realize that this is not safe either. So, tonight I'm not getting him. It is totally a comfort thing and he needs to learn to comfort himself. I can't go on like this anymore--I'm really starting to get grouchy. Shhhhh..I think he is asleep--it's a miracle. But...I bet you he's awake and crying in 1 hour.--Cross your fingers!--nope, I was wrong, he's still crying--i better go reassure him that I still love him and haven't abandoned him.

It was a classic!

I'm an Office fan, and Jim and Pams wedding was a classic. I even had to go check out youtube to see the real deal. Love the show!

35

Well, it's official, I'm half way to age 70. I've been out of highschool for 17 years, and married with children for 12 of those years. Man, the time goes by fast, and we're still in school--what is up with that???
Owen's parents and his brother and wife came up from Cali for the weekend. Owen cooked me an awesome dinner of Filet mignon with truffle sauce, baby white potatoes and green beans with pinenuts. If Owen has ever cooked for you, you know he's dang awesome! We topped it off with a delicious pineapple upsidedown cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory.mmmm, my fav! It was great to have family help celebrate my 35 years. Owen's mom gave me a Barefoot COntessa cookbook and an awesome chopper from Williams n Sonoma, and some cashola. Owen gave me a gym membership, new gym clothes and and itunes gift card--I've been really hinting that it is time to hit the gym and get all this baby Phat off!-now there are no more excuses.
On my actual b-day which was the 30th for all of you who need to put it on your calendar to remember next year because you forgot this year. Since my b-day was on a Wednesday, Owen had to work and the girls went to shcool. So, my inlaws watched the boys while I shopped and had a pedicure. Olive Garden for dinner finished off the evening. Great B-day! Thanks Family!





just had to throw this one in of Miles cracking up at himself in the mirror.

The little man starts preschool

Could this be? Yes, my guy started preschool this week. He has been talking about it since last year, and was all ready to go when the girls started school. He was quite disappointed when he had to wait 2 extra weeks to start. But, the morning of, he was up early and all dressed. We had a hard time finding him a school that would work for the both of us. There wasn't anything close by, and it just wasn't worth the commute for me. There are several women in our ward that teach out of their homes, but unfortunately, they have terrier dogs which apparantly Drew is allergic to. We found Mrs. Kayla in another ward just up the street for me. She too has a dog, but he doesn't seem to bother Drew. So, now after several encounters with terriers, we know that it isn't the dog for us. And now I have 3 in school--man am I feeling old!

Cool Sneaks (thanks Lynette for the referral-Drew loves them!)

This was actually the 1st pic I took of Drew--shows his personality!
With his teacher Mrs. Kayla

I heart Recycling!

Just got our bins, and I'm so excited! Excited about recycling you say? Absolutely!--And, my bins were free!

School Dayz, Miles and a few randoms

The girls started school 2 weeks ago, and I'm just getting around to posting it. This is life with 4 kids now--a little nuts I guess. Between holding Miles all day--he likes to be held, and the overbearing amount of homework they give 3rd graders, i just can't keep up I guess.
The girls like school. (The name of their school is Bonner Elementary--can you believe it? I'm sure you can just hear my husband, "Yeah dude, I go to Boner, i mean Bonner." It's quite unfortunate.) It's nice to have them engaged in something to keep them out of my hair. Summer break was just was too long--don't gst me wrong, I love my kids, it was just a very busy, and exhausting summer with the move, a new baby, and starting a new career.
Maggie is in the 3rd grade, and Audrey started 1st. This is her first year that she has been gone full day, and I do miss making her peanut butter sandwiches after she comes home from school and Drew misses his afternoon playmate. Drew will start preschool next week though and can hardly wait. Then it will be just me and the babe--what will I do all day? oh, hold him! Ha!



Meanwhile, My little Miles just had his 3 month birthday.--Time really does go by fast--you're sad to let go of the newborn stage, but it's so exhausting that you really don't care that much anymore and are ready to feel normal.
1. Miles is allergic to milk, so I am on a dairy free diet.--don't get me started.
2. He has slept through the night twice.--really working on that one.
3. He won't take a binky--all my kids have been binky addicts and he just gags on it.--i keep trying to convince him that it could be his best friend-and
my savior.
4. He is a very light sleeper, so at our house it echos a lot and is generally noisy from all the fighting between #1 and #2--so he has 5-10 min power naps.--now you know why I've slacked on the blogging!
5. Owen calls him Milo, or Melos--long e. Now we have a Dewey and a Milo
Just started smiling --what a little ham he is!

Looking very surprised

The kids are always in his face, but he LOVES it!

Passed out after church

Tasty little hands!
Here are a few interesting things I've learned since living here in Vegas.
1. I guess I live in the mountains somewhat, because everytime I leave, or drive into Summerlin, I have to pop my ears.
2. I have gotten lost way too many times in my own development-why? Every house looks the same--there is no "turn left at the little blue house on the corner." They all have the same rooftops, the same pasty colored stucko, and the same landscape. I even sometimes don't know which is my own house!--Just open the garage door and then you'll know it's yours, or it's across the street from the fire hydrant.--these are things I tell myself in my mind.
3. It's still too hot here for me. I'm sorry, but we've been here a month and a half, and it's been over 100 everyday. For the love people!