It was a Merry Christmas

The Ford clan was reunited once again! We were all able to make if for Christmas this year. Husbands and all! We had tons of yummy food and even more laughs! We even managed to get everyone together for a big family picture. Which I am working on the finished product.

It was great to see all of my sisters and the brother in laws. Once all that fun was over Sara and our families had to head back home for Christmas day. I got plenty of pictures of everyone opening presents and showing off stuff from Santa. So I will get straight to the pictures.

I hope I got everyone in that I had a picture of! I will have the big family one once the film gets developed!

It's your Birthday

This past weekend was Brett's 3rd birthday! He got to have two parties and two cakes! We had friends over on Saturday and had a Spiderman cake. Then, on Sunday the family got together here and we had a cookie monster cake.(Thanks to MaMaFord) I just wanted to share some of the pictures with you all! And, yes...Isaak has a Mo Hawk. He loves it and we think it looks good on him!

Here's the Spider Man cake!

I really liked this cake!

Jack, says, "Yum, Cake!"

Cake number 2

Don't get too excited Bliss! He really was over the moon for his Super Man Cake!

Not the best picture of his hair

Definitely too much going on!

As most of you have heard me talking about, we have so much going on this month. And it started last week. There were ward socials(church thing), trying to make it to the gym to my classes. I had to get the boys to school and have lunches. Do shopping while the boys were at school and the Missionaries came over for dinner one night. We then had pictures on Saturday so by Sunday I was sick with a cold. The boys had had that last week too. This week I had the boys Christmas parties at school and I forgot the brownies today for Isaaks. I am getting some things together for Sara this week and we met Mom and Dad to get there car on Sunday. I have to put in a side note about Isaak's party today. Sara is right...Chinese only make Chinese food. There were two moms the came to Isaak's party and one made eggrolls(yum) and the other an oriental type salad(it was good too).

Now I have presents to wrap and all that fun stuff. Friday our Stake Christmas festival begins on Friday and runs through Sunday evening. I have to clean the office in Decatur and get groceries for the Archibalds. Oh, and do my weekly run to Sam's. Saturday we have Brett's party and both Brandon(Danny's friend) and the Arichibalds fly in that day. So we are going to take turns going to the airport. Lacy gets in that day but she is flying into B'ham. It just continues from there until the new year.

So what's the point of all this? I am loving it! This time of year is so special to me, especially this year with getting to see all my family. And we are having so much fun even in all the craziness. Jeni Ennis and her kids are coming and it will be crazy I'm sure but I love seeing them have so much fun with each other and catching up with everyone is so nice! I hope everyone can enjoy themselves no matter what they are having to hurry and do or get finished! Remember the season for the great times and don't worry about the other stuff. At least for now. I will be a worn out lump and have to hit the gym twice as hard but it only comes once a year. I know this isn't a crazy story blog but I hope you all read it anyway. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

For my mom

You Are Somebody

Every kind word I speak I learned from you.
Every good deed I've done I saw you do first.

The love I have for my children I got from you.
The stories you told me they enjoy as well.

Each struggle I've had, you've shared with me.
Each happy moment in my life I want to share with you.

You have been my rock.
Let me be your shoulder.

I love you mom!

Twilight (Remember who you are)

A group of girls and I went to see the movie. I'm still undecided on what I thought about it. But I knew I was going to hate the love story. I have never been one for that sort of stuff. It's just too unrealistic. To me even more so than the vampire adventure part. But that's veering off that point. We made a day of it. We went to the early matinee then hit Red Robin for lunch. The sad part of the whole thing was that the movie made me feel old. Most of the actors were born in the 90's and it was crazy. Anyway, here are some pictures of the day and then Jack and I once I got home. He is growing so fast I feel like I can't keep up with him. He has his third tooth now and becoming mobile. I hope that the rest of you who read the books were able to see the movie if you wanted to.

Anne and Aubrey (too cute and sweet)

There is a story to this picture but I had to include it!

Brendi's picture she's sending to Edward!

All of us after
He is just so big!

"Because my aunts want pancakes."

The funniest conversation went on between Isaak and Brett tonight. They were playing play doe while I was getting dinner ready. Isaak was using the circle cutter to make circles and he said, "I am making pancakes". And Brett said, "Why you making pancakes?". To which Isaak replied..."Cause my aunts want pancakes so I'm making them a lot!". Then, he pretended he was talking toward the other room saying..."Hold on I'm making them as fast as I can!". It was too funny. Oh, and that sentence Brett said is written the way he said it, not grammatically correct. Isaak got so intense in making the pancakes that he literally fell off the bench. He was just cracking us up! I know this is short but it was just too funny. It may be one of those things you had to be here and actually see and hear to laugh, but it was too good to watch them.

Needless to say they are excited to go to the grandparents for Thanksgiving! Brett says he is ready to play football! Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the little story. Have a great day everyone!

Hey Batah, Batter!

I don't know about the rest of you but we squeeze as much outside time as we can in, before it gets too cold. So the boys went out to practice hitting and throwing the ball today. At first Isaak wanted to face me to bat, and Brett lost it every time he missed the ball. But after he got his first hit and Isaak realized how he should stand things were really fun! Jack was sleeping so I was able to be out there with them! Anyway, I took some pictures of the game and how excited they were that they finally got the idea of the game! Maybe, they can play some football in the Turkey Bowl this year out at the Vaughn's! They have been practicing that game since birth! Brett seems to be the natural athlete and Isaak catches on but to him it has to make sense before he plays the game. He's such a logical thinking boy! Brett just comes in and takes you out, perfect form and everything! I can't wait for Jack to be able to join the fun!

Isaak getting ready to throw the ball!

Brett trying to explain where Isaak is suppose to stand

Brett taking a swing!

Last of Halloween...

OK, so this is just pictures from Trick or Treating we took at our friends house on Halloween! Enjoy!

David in his costume...that is a shirt...not real tatoos! It was cool!
Fuzzy, but it's me and Danny! Oh and Jack is in the corner!

Just silly!

Much better!

Trunk or Treat...

Wednesday was our churches trunk or treat. They always have a chili competition and pumpkin competition before hand. Then, before the candy they have everyone who dressed up walk in a parade through the building so everyone can see the costumes. Here are the pictures we took before hand. The ones taken there were not very good and you can't see anyone. We are heading out on Friday to Trick or Treat in a friends neighborhood so we should have more pictures then too.


We only had to buy one costume this year. Brett's! Isaak wanted to be Thomas again and Jack used Isaak's first Halloween costume, since it had only been worn once! Anyway, I wish I had more pictures now but I don't. Later for sure!

Long time coming!

So this week has been crazy for Jack. He has been sick with some virus...coughing and tons of snot. So much so it has been making him toss is cookies. We have been up with him for a few nights now trying to do all we can to help him sleep. And I am sure most of your kids become the worst "moma's babies" when they are sick. So most of the comforting has had to come from me. It's fine it just can wear you out. Anyway, he is hopefully over the worst and on to feeling better in the next day or so. But, what has been a long time coming? His first tooth!!! He has been cutting this thing since he was 3mos old. Actually it was a little before that but it's finally here. I felt it yesterday as he bit down on my finger! That has had to caused some pain too...on top of being sick. Also, he said Moma this morning. He was whining in his exer saucer and I was walking to pick him up and he looked up with those sad, tired eyes and said, "Moma"! I was so happy. He has been saying Dada for a while now cause Danny (literally) starts at birth telling them to say Dada! LOL! Those are my updates! Here are some pictures too, enjoy!

One of Jack's favorite toys...my plactic spoon. Kids are too easy.

My three sons...and me!

Missing!

A 28 year old mind. Last seen sometime in 2004. When asked what might had made her leave, friends said, she had suffered extreme lack of sleep. Also, answering thousands of questions a day and trying to figure out two year olds, finally got to her and she left her body alone and helpless. LOL! Seriously! I do feel that way sometimes. More so recently. The lack of sleep is the biggest factor. You need it so much to function in an sort of capacity. And it is not my baby keeping me up. It is my, soon to be, 3yr old. Isaak doesn't help but he at least has mercy and sleeps til 6am. Brett on the other hand is up at 4:30. So this has got to stop and change. Well, today is the day! I can take it no more. Now, let me say this...it has only been going on regularly for about 8 or 9mos. But for me that is long enough!!!!

Here's the plan. To try to convince my mind to return to me I have and am taking the following steps. The boys will be separated for an unknown period of time. They share a room...not anymore. Isaak will be moved to the front room. Brett will stay in the back room! The door nobs have already been turned around so I can lock them in at night and they can't go around the house waking everyone up! This includes baby Jack...their favorite to mess with. The toys will be divided between the two rooms and the train table is gone! (thanks for that advice, Sara) Also, if they decide to wake up early, even locked in their rooms, they will be napping by 11am.

They have made the first move to start this battle and I will win it! Or join my mind wherever she is! I cannot stand throwing a pitty party...I have set up my plan and will aply it. If it fails, I will adjust. I love them, but this cannot happen. Please keep me in your thoughts...I am going up against two wild jungle monkeys that leave things in shreds behind them. Mom... I love you and will never be able to apologize for all the things I put you through growing up but I will try until one of us is no longer here! LOL! Really, I'm sorry!

Faster Mommy!

So Brett is getting close to being 3yrs. He has decided he likes things fast. I'll be driving down the road and he is in the back seat saying, "Go faster Mommy, go faster!". Isaak tells him that mommy has to go medium-fast. Anyway, everything is faster...spin me faster, throw the ball faster, push me faster. You name it he wants it faster! Well, yesterday we are baking bread. Brett loves to stand on the stool and help me. Isaak has never been interested for some reason, but Brett loves the cooking thing. So anyway, I have just put in the wet ingredients and they have to be blended. Brett loves turning the mixer on. So I help him turn it on slowly so we don't make a wet mess everywhere. So it's mixing and he yells make it faster, and hits the switch! Well, we all know what happens when super wet ingredients haven't had a chance to mix with the dry! It makes a mess! But I could only laugh as he stood there with shock and fright on his face at what he had done! But we were able to save a lot of it and make two loaves of bread instead of the 3 it was suppose to make! It still tasted good, as Brett loves to eat the dough...so do I! Her are some pictures of him helping and eating!

This would be the helping pic...he loves punching the dough!

This was the eating part! Oh, man he's such a mess!

P.S. We aren't looking forward to Brett of Isaak being able to drive one day. With Isaak getting mad while learning and Brett wanting to go faster...Jack will have to drive everyone around! LOL!

Work it out!

So this week I was finally able to get back to the gym since being pregnant. Life just got away from me and I'm working on getting things back. So, I have been doing my own thing and taking classes at the gym. Today I took a ab and tone! It kicked my butt but I loved feeling like I was doing something about my body! Some days I just go and hit the treadmill and the weight machines. Either way I love getting out and doing this. Jack will be 6mos soon and I know there is some weight I'm going to hold on to until I finish nursing him. I'm OK with that, but I want to not feel so weak anymore. It also helps my mood, and right now I can be moody! With less sleep and more to do, weary, doesn't really explain it. But I know after Jack hit 1year...things get better for me. The point of this whole blog is to help me remember I can make it even on the days my whole body is sore! LOL! I love the way I feel after a workout and I know my boys enjoy the happier mood. Hope you all have a great day and do something you put off but know you'll feel better after you do it. That always makes me feel better too. Love to all!

My busy weekend!

So we decided to get a ton done this weekend. And we really are pleased with what we finished! Saturday morning we got up and Danny went to rent a carpet cleaner. So we did that in the living room for a few hours and the floor looks great. Now, no more shoes, food, or drink in the living room. Then I went and did my little job at the offices and came home. But today, that's what I'm so happy about. I finally got to make my first real cheesecake!!! It turned out well! It is a normal NY cheesecake with a homemade chocolate topping and powdered sugar on top! Then that had to go in the fridge for most of the day so I thought...hey, I need to make some more bread we are almost out! So I made two loaves of bread...not in the bread maker. Yuck! My mom spoiled me with the real thing! So after that I proceeded to make our dinner. Cheeseburger meatloaf...Paula Dean's recipe! Yum! Anyway, here are the pictures! If you have or find any good cheesecake recipes please send them my way. I'm trying to get the art of cheesecake down! Here are some pix of the food!

Yum to my tum! Honey wheat bread!

The cheesecake! Oh, my the goodness!

This picture was just for the cuteness factor! He's a doll!

Tate Farm

I know most people have pumpkin patches that open this time of year to the public. I have been to a few of them, but when we moved here in 2003 this one was different. It is a family fun farm, like most, but I truly believe it's the best I've seen. I was a nanny for a family and went with them to take pictures. Back in 2003 three. We got the pumpkins for Lacy's wedding there for FREE. They are just a smart kind family. They have a hay maze, petting zoo area(clean!), and so much stuff for the family to enjoy and that includes the hay ride to the pumpkin patch to pick your pumpkin, all for $7 a person. Little ones (babies) are free. There is so much to do there it's crazy. So what's the point of this blog? Isaak's class went there on a field trip yesterday and I have the pictures from it. Family was allowed to accompany so Danny took Isaak and Brett! Jack and I hit the laundry and store hard core! Anyway, I hope you enjoy the pix!

Isaak on the hay ride out to the patch!

Brett on the hay rid...I'm guessing that is hay he's eating!

Isaak standing next to his pumpkin. The rule is you have to be able to carry your pumpkin!

Brett next to his pumpkin
The pumpkins were put in bags so you could carry them and leave them with the pumpkin sitter until you are done playing!

His class in the corn crib, it's like the balls at McDonald's but just full of corn.

We found corn everywhere on them...behind their ears,between their toes, and in their pants.

The big trike!

They are too cute!

There are so many more pix, but I can't put them all up now! Love to all!

Time goes by

This is just some new pictures I took of Jack today. He and Danny were about to go for a walk and Danny wanted to make sure Jack was protected from the sun and wind. So this is a hat we got for Isaak and that all the boys have used. Including Bliss and Zade! I just had to put them up!


He will be 5mos on the first of September! I can't believe it!