Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations..
Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.
Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
t he heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom ..

Makynna and Jaden wiped out after playing all day on Thanksgiving. Looks like they just fell where they were playing...
Makynna and Livia sporting the shades.

John playing hockey.

...and John playing hockey.

Makynna with the ginger bread house she made at preschool.

Makynna at her preschool program, she was one of the Kings.

Kitty is thinking this is his new home....hmmmm...well at least he doesn't climb the tree.
This is Makynna all ready for her dance program. Now for the worst mommy in the world story...I shouldn't admit this, but maybe it will be therapy for me. Let me preface this with her preschool program yesterday, I completely forgot to get the teachers their Christmas gifts and felt pretty bad. I just figured that we'll have to bring them after break. Well, her dance program was last night and I wanted to make sure we had time to get gift cards for their gift so we were ready to go at 6:40. I stopped at Starbucks and got the gift cards, but they didn't have any envelopes left. I thought it would be tacky to just hand them the cards so I stopped at the grocery store on the way and got some 99 cent cards. Well on our way there was an accident, we weren't involved, but it was backing up traffic pretty good. We didn't get there until 7:20 and the show started at 7:30 so we were a little late. I thought it was odd that there wasn't anyone going into the building so I started walking faster. We got up to the door and I noticed that the doors to the gym was shut. I started to panic. We ran in and I found one of the mom's helping another girl (older one). I said that I think we're late, do you know where her group is? She said she thought they were out dancing. My heart stopped. I ran over to the gym doors and looked in. Sure enough, they were out there - just started. I told Makynna that they had already started and that we were too late. The look on her face just destroyed me. "But I want to dance with my friends mommy." ...and then the tears....and then my tears.... How could I have got the time wrong?? It started at 7, not 7:30. Why didn't I check the time before we left?? Why didn't I get the gift cards before??? Why didn't I just skip the gift cards?? Why??? Why??? So we left, both crying, me apologizing over and over. Crying when we got home, my eyes are still puffy. I feel so bad. I don't want this to be the one memory she remembers when she's older of her 4th year.... :( :( :( :( :( I'm sorry baby!!

Disney pics are under this next blog...check them out!!

I'm trying....

So..I have been trying to update my blog with all of our Disney photos, ok maybe 25 out of the 600 we took, but things have been going against me. I have all the photos uploaded and just need to write the commentary below them. Sounds easy, doesn't it. Well, last night was a night that was fairly free and I thought I could get a good chunk done. Ummm, yeah, didn't happen.
I took Makynna to dance class, and was home by 6pm. John was doing his homework because he wanted to go to the first home HS hockey game. Livi was off playing with Makynna, and wasn't tugging on my pants for me to read her a book, so I took advantage of the extra time and tried to get a few things picked up and put away. It was a good 10 minutes later, maybe a red flag should have went up before that, but hey I was getting something done... Makynna says, "Livi what do you have on your face?" I perk up...hmmm... "Mom, Livi has boogers all over her face." ...great... I go into the living room and see my daughter with, not sure what, all over her face, hands, clothes. I pick her up - yeah, not boogers. There is at least 1/4 cup of something all over her face. I smell it. Still unsure. I'm trying to wipe it off - not working real well. I sent John in to investigate while I continue to clean. As Livi is saying "AaahKee" and holding her hands up. John comes back to say that it's Bag Balm! You know the stuff that you can put on diaper rash that is the consistency of Vaseline. Oh, boy. So I strip her down, get her cleaned off and go to explore what she touched. Praying that it wasn't on our semi-new couch. I should have prayed when I got home...it was a little too late. There it was, hand prints going down the long side of our L shaped couch (did I mention that it's swede). 1, 2, 3, 4, 5...hand prints. So, I'm trying to clean that up - not sure what I should use, but when I'm wiping it you can't tell where the spot is because everything when wet looks dark. 20 minutes later. Entered said child's room. It is on the changing table's door, inside, all over the floor. She had wipes everywhere too, I'm assuming that she was trying to clean it up or get it off of her hands. So I start cleaning in there. Time goes by, hadn't seen Livi for awhile. Red flag? Should be. I come out of her room and see her in the bathroom, with TP all over, in the toilet and out. Wet TP on the floor. Seriously. Can this be happening. Stay calm. Yeah. I flushed the toilet, praying (again) that it flushed. First time did, second, not so much. Plunged it and all was good.
At this point I needed to take John to the game. I put clothes on Liv and we're gone. Have to stop at the bank to get cash for him, ahhh yeah, no cash card. It's in the coat I wore earlier when I was getting gas... nice. Head back home to get it, get back to the ATM. Sit there. Pin. What's the pin? I know it has a 5, 9, and 0. Two of one number, but in what order. 0059? no. 5009? no. 9005? no 5900? no. Urgh. Stress is getting to me. It's not like I just got this pin. Come on. Decided to stop, didn't want them to cancel the card. Called our neighbor to see if I could borrow $10. Got it and took John to the game. Grabbed McD's for the girls - still hadn't had supper and it was 8:30. Got home fed them and put them to bed. By then it was almost 10. Recleaned the coach. Got stuff ready for today and it was 10:30. End day. Picture? uh. no. wasn't thinking of that at the time. Brad was in Bismarck and lucky enough to only HEAR about he experience and finding it funny. Yeah funny. Maybe I'll think it's funny - in a week.
So, didn't really get any time to do the post. Sorry. Maybe tonight? After confirmation, cubbies and running to the store for a b-day present. Maybe.

Disney World

Grandpa Stan and Grandma Elaine took the family to Disney World for Christmas on November 16-21. There were a total of 17 of us, which included 3 babies under age 2. The preparations started about a week before...well I wish I started a week before. I had really good intentions, but I started a couple of days before we left. Brad insisted that we were bringing WAY TOO MUCH stuff, I felt we need everything. We packed the van with 4 suitcases, 4 carry ons, the stroller and Livi's carseat. I was exhausted already :)

We flew out of the cities so we drove down the day before (I was able to sneak a little shopping in at the outlet mall on the way). Woke up at 4:30am so we could catch the shuttle to the airport to get our 8am flight. We slept with the girls in our room and with Livi's cold and Makynna's snoring I don't think Brad and I got more than 3 hours of sleep. Not a good way to start the trip... We made it past security...thank goodness we only have to do that twice on the trip! I'm pretty sure the people behind us weren't very impressed with our lack of knowledge on how and what needed to go through the scanner (who knew the stroller PACKED with stuff had to be folded and sent through....not us).

We board the plane with few problems and before we knew it we were in the air. The girls were very well behaved - I was worried about their ears, but they seemed to be ok. We landed at noon and were at Disney by 2:30 or so. We stayed in the Boardwalk Villas which were in walking distance of Epcot and Magic Kingdom. We couldn't check in right away so we decided to go to Epcot for a few hours. ...no nap for any of us...still had a lot of patience though (not sure how).

One of our first stops was at the Nemo ride, Makynna really enjoyed this one. She lists it as one of her favorites.

Makynna and Livia in the shark outside of the Nemo ride.

The next morning we had our first of three character breakfasts. This was something that everyone enjoyed. The food was awesome and the characters went from table to table for picture opps and fun. This one had Lelo and Stitch, and Pluto and Mickey Mouse. We had to get up "super early" again, but it was worth it.

John and cousin Wyatt with Stitch.
Makynna with Stitch. She was in heaven and was really enjoying meeting the characters. She loved them all. I was a little surprise due to the fact that she doesn't like Halloween with all the scary costumes - I guess these weren't so bad. :)

The mom's with the little ones and pluto. Becky and Josie, Carson and Makynna, Me with Livi, Sarah with Owen. (L-R)

Pluto "trying" to get Livi to come over to him. She wanted nothing to do with a puppy THAT big! Sorry Pluto.

John and Wyatt with Pluto.

All of us with Mickey.

After the breakfast, we were off to see Magic Kingdom.

This was Makynna's first stop, she REALLY wanted to see Ariel. Even with the 45 minute wait, Daddy took her. When I first told her that she would get to meet most of the princesses she said, "They're REAL". Oh, she was just amazed that they were real! Livi and I went on the carousel and the Dumbo ride while we waited. When Makynna was done we all went to purchase the signature "mouse ears". All three kids got some. Fun.
That night we went to a Pirate Ship fireworks show. We were able to meet Captain Hook and Mr. Skee. We took a boat out on the lake by the Magic Kingdom and watched the fireworks from there. They had some that looked like falling stars and were playing "Make a wish upon a star..." Grandma told me afterwards that Makynna told her that she made a wish and that her wish was to get a Minnie doll. The morning that we were going home she woke up and found a Minnie doll laying next to her. When she asked me if I got it and I said no, she KNEW that it was her wish coming true. She was so excited and wanted to tell ANYONE that would listen. She still talks about it. It's true, Disney really is magical!
After the pirate show we were able to meet Robin Hood. He wasn't all that excited to stand next to John, he said he he though John was a pirate. He was very animated. :)
Afterwards, Bob and I took Alex and Makynna to see the princesses. Unfortunately they were not there (to late), but we did run into Donald Duck.

The next day was our trip to Sea World and the ocean. We rented a 15 passenger van. ***thanks to our friends, Rick and Brenda for the tickets***

Feeding the dolphins was AWESOME!!! We were able to touch them and everything. This is John feeding one. Makynna was a little tired to start the day. She didn't want to feed them, and then when we had to go she started crying. Well, the person that was working there told her to come with her. She told the dolphins to come over and they started talking to Makynna, they did tricks and she told us to cover our eyes and then say "boo". When we did, the dolphins made a noise like they were screaming (like we scared them).

The dolphin show.

Shamu show, both shows were so fun.

Makynna and Alex on the kids rides at Sea World. This one made Makynna's tummy feel funny.

Makynna and Alex on the Shamu roller coaster. She wanted to ride with Alex and not mom. She's gotten so big since last summer at Valley Fair and she didn't want to ride hardly any rides.

Bob, Alex, me, Makynna in front. Wyatt, Becky, Livia and Shane in the back.Well, the trip to the beach wasn't what I was hoping for. We went to Daytona Beach after Sea World and got there around 6pm. It was already starting to get dark, it was cold, and very windy. There was NO ONE and I mean NO ONE on the beach but us. John and Brad did take off there shoes and go in the water, but Makynna wanted NOTHING to do with it. The waves were probably 6 feet tall. Yikes.

Next day was another character breakfast.

Makynna with Goofy.

Off to Animal Kingdom

Tree that has one of every animal species carved into it.

We all went on a African Safari, this is some of what we saw.

Makynna with Baloo and ?? (can't remember)

Next day...character breakfast.

Makynna, Livia and I with pooh.

Sorry Tigger, Livi still doesn't want anything to do with you guys. Can't you see, she's trying to eat?

Makynna with Alice in Wonderland.

Off to Hollywood Disney...

At the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playland.

Livi by a blade of grass.

These were the green soldiers from Toy Story. It was so cool how much they looked like the toy, fun to watch them too.

Mickey's magical hat at night.

Thursday night we had tickets to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom - it was so much fun.

At the parade, I really like the toy soldiers. They were so in sync and some of them had horns that they played.

At the parade, I told Makynna to wave at the princesses and they might wave back. Well, some of them did. She felt so special that they were waving right at her! They were here!

Cinderella's castle at night, just beautiful.

Grandpa Stan and Grandma Elaine - Thanks for a wonderful trip and lifelong memories.

The five of us.

I just liked this picture of Brad and Makynna. (He has John's ears on...)

John....kinda wish I had one of these at home. :)

Livi - enjoying every minute.

Makynna with Sleeping Beauty.

Makynna with Cinderella. It was funny because the princesses were all calling Makynna "Princess" She asked her what kingdom she was from. :)

Us with Mickey after a LONG day!!

Livi said that we were there LONG enough, but would like to go back when she doesn't need a stroller :)