He's been Jimmered!

Ben called me after work last night.
Said he found a flight, an 'affordable one'.

He left this morning at six for LA.

He is now in Denver participating for the first time in the NCAA tourney.

BYU is playing well (could be better if we still had Davis).

Let's go Cougars! Look for Ben, as you watch the games. He will be in the stands screaming and yelling. I hope he paints his body half blue and half white.

He at least better have a sign! I mean if your going to go to march madness, go all the way.

Feel free to remind him of how fun and wonderful his life is, and what a GREAT wife he has to let him go off and play on our 11 year anniversary. While I stay home with 4 kids, 2 of which are sick.

Let's just not let him forget that.

And really here are some cute pics of Azure . . .the trend for teething. drool and keep your fingers in your mouth. tooth count is up to 4.

Emergency prepardness

Last night at 9pm I got a text from my Mom "just had the biggest earthquake yet, it shook everything good". I texted back to get more information and no reply. I then emailed . . . .no reply. No skype!

I tried to read more online and get details. But it was too soon nothing had been reported, other then magnitude by the national registrar. It has been kinda scary not knowing.

Ben woke me up this morning a little worried because tsunamis have now hit. Death tolls are in the hundreds.

My Brother, his wife, and six kids live in Misawa Japan. They were just sealed in the Tokyo temple so my mom is there visiting. & of my immediate family members are there in the thick of the epicenter, and tsunamis.

It's been a whirlwind trying to find information about, their base, their city and etc. They live on the 10th floor in a high rise in a city like 15 minutes from the coast. The United States made a report on their base that they received extensive damage and all communication infrastructure is out.

Thankfully I just got through to my Mom, they are all OK. They have no power. My brother and his family are listening to a hand crank radio . . .to bad none of them know Japanese. They have to light candles for light. I am just really proud of my brother that he has prepared his family for this event. They have they emergency supplies needed. Now if we could just get the internet for them working.

Who knew I would ever be affected by earthquakes in Japan. Life leads us on winding roads. Hopefully we can all be prepared for what lays ahead on our paths. My heart is full. I am so grateful for their safety and well being.

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Results Come from Doing

"When our wagon gets stuck in the mud, God is much more likely to assist the man who gets out to push than the man who merely raises his voice in prayer—no matter how eloquent the oration."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Two Principles for Any Economy," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 56-57

Home Alone

Ben wanted to visit his family. Azure is not fond of her car seat. A trip to Utah is 12 hours. Add a fussy, sad baby, and a just potty trained 3 year old. Equals more stress then was worth the trip. So Ben bravely decided he was going, and taking the 3 big kids himself. I immediately thought what a great idea that was.

• One I get some peace and quiet.
  
• Second Ben will be so much more grateful for me after having to deal with his kids by himself (which isn't accurate because 3 grandparents and countless Cousins, aunts and Uncles that love to play and do craft with them in Utah).
  
• Thirdly, it put a deadline on much needed repairs to my car.
  

  
   

So here I am in my clean, quiet home blogging. I think Azure misses all the noise; she is always looking around and has not been sleeping very well. She is use to quit a ruckus going on around her. She does like that when I feed her now I am not walking around the house, or yelling orders to big kids. She looks up and smiles!

I have been crafting, which is a very important aspect to me in my life. Crafting and making things is very cathartic and pleasing to me. However, minus drawing transformers and coloring between the lines I never get crafting time. I'll attach links to some things I have done.

Every day of my 'Alone Time' (which really isn't alone time because I have a 2 month with me, but I'll take what I can get). I have a goal to do the following: Prayers, scripture/ensign reading, work out (cardio and toning for at least an hour), do something little for every member of my family, and do something creative!!!!! I have done so good about adhering to my goal. I made everyone's beds. They left me with a filthy house!!!!. I Vacuumed, sorted toy boxes, ironed clothes (I NEVER iron). It's been fun and peaceful. Minus my 5 am wake up calls from service repair guys in Virginia that don't realize the landlord lives in California, and Azure's crying fits at 3 am.

My floor is mopped, my table and chairs polished. . .and they have stayed that way. Hooray!

At church I was able to concentrate and listen to every speaker. This afternoon I listened to some conference talks. I'd like to comment a bit on Patience. Elder Uchtdorf gave an excellent talk on it. "There is an important concept here: Patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can — working, hoping and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our heart are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!"

I now feel I have the mental knowledge to know why and how. Not just ignore Jeddy's craziness and hold my breath until bedtime. I need to love him and properly redirect and encourage better behavior. Instead of sending MAdisen to her room when she argues I need to lovingly show her by example how not to. I fear she gets some bad habits from me. I need to engage Benson and be teaching him, not focusing on how I could be doing something more productive..

When life gets back to normal we need a shift from our status quo. I need more crafting Kim time, and the kids need a happier more patient mom!. I think the two will go hand in hand. Mine is crafting, weather its making my own yummy wheat bread, and packaging it with a cute label, or making flowers, scrapbooking, may you get 'your time' in as I am getting mine. Enjoy your Sabbath.

Give your loved ones a big hug. Wish I could hug all mine right now, even if it came with a messy floor.

Breast is best!

Who ever said nursing was best didn't have a three year old that was deciding if he wanted to potty train or not. And definately didnt have boys.
4 times I have gotten Azure all fed, changed and happy only to move on to a Benson disaster involving him pooping all by himself. If you have kids, and have potty trained I am sure you know what I am talking about. If not call me I'll explain it to you.
I found Benson in my craft room with my Ginger scissor cutting away at what ever he could find. Luckily my projects were put away and it was tools, scraps and not too important of things he cut.

Benson poured milk for cereal all by himself, then dumped the bowl out. He changed his mind apparently.

Jeddy often uses this time to chase and torture his brother.

Multiple times Benson has quietly snuck into Madisen's room and tore it up getting in to all her barbies and eating all her candy. He likes to dumb her bins to find all the fun barbie shoes and accessories. Jeddy loves to take Madisen's things and hide them in his special yellow bin.

I really would prefer setting Azure up to an IV and have her feed that way. Then I could keep my eye on Benson better. Or I need to hand cuff him to my side while I nurse. but then he would be kissing and laying on Azure and I . . . .

Maybe I need to lock him in a padded room while I nurse.

Why is it Yellow?

She has super long eyelashes like her grandpa Hatt. We have suvived this far with 4 kids. Azure is a typical newborn that sleeps for 2 to 3 hours then needs loving attention from her mommy, and food. I am not use to sleeping for only 2 to 3 hours so this has been very tiring for me. I am so tired!!! But I look at how adorable she and my other kids are and realize in 15 or 20 years I'll have an empty house and get to nap everyday. And I'll miss beng woken up by Jeddy and asked to draw a T-rex, or wake up to find Benson with poop all over him as he smiles proudly telling me he pooped in the potty and is a big boy!
Dad and his girls, they are both ready for bed. Azure's pj's are my favorite . . . all my kids wore them. I think Ben wore them as a kid also. They are like thermal underwear . . .they are so long and skinny . . . . Like all my kids. So they fit perfectly and I just think they are so cute.

Bedtime for our kids is 7pm. We have not made it to bed before 8 for a month. HA ha. Last night Ben was playing with his birthday gift a new camcorder. So we sang karaoke basically from Madisen's ipod and took turns doing performances until 8:40 pm. Since Azure we really have cut out a lot of things. Now that softball and t-ball are over we have so much more time at home as a family. That has really been a blessing. We go on walks through the neighborhood at the beach, and play games. It has been a very busy year, school and calendar. Ben is working full time and commuting long hours some days. All the kids have this and that. Plus Jeddy has lots, and lots of medical things, Dr's visit's, blood testing, allergy shots, etc. But is it all quieting down. We can just be a family most nights. It is such a blessing.
Hello . . . so cute! We had to make a late run to target on Saturday night to get a white Sunday shirt for Jeddy. Madisen, Jeddy and I, got distracted in the baby section and came home with a bundle of cute little outfits. Jeddy and I picked this elephant out fit. I spent the rest of sat night making headbands to match her outfits. Girls are so fun.

The boys favorite thing about Azure is she has yellow POOP. For every diaper I get an onslought of questions. Is it yellow, is it still runny, is she done?, why, why why. They love when she makes noises and fills her diaper. I always get a loud report. Mom, Azure filled her diaper. . . .Is it going to be yellow?
We went to all of church as a big happy family on Sunday . . . stake conference. The two big kids sang in a choir for it. I have to say other then seeing my kids sing and be deeply moved by the spirit with that it was pretty pointless to be there. Oh well brownie points in heaven right.

Azure came to 3rd hour, Primary with me Last Sunday. It is so much easier to get the bigger kids ready and send them with Ben. Then calmly get me and Azure ready while they are gone, and then we leisurely walk in an hour or too late.. I love Sundays because Ben helps with Azure on Saturday nights and I get naps!!!!! He has been really good to entertain the kids, he even had them all on his birthday. I got a nap and alone time On his Birthday while he took the 3 olders mini golfing and shopping. Start times and schedules are pretty pointless with a newborn. I am either really early or late. Nursing doesn't allow me to be on time . . .at least not yet.

My Mom was out for the first 2 weeks. She had the kids while I was in the hospital. It was nice to have them at home and not shuttled around from friend to friend. I was able to get a few naps in those two weeks. With some of my help but mostly on her own my made left us with:

• 4 meals of My Dad's yummy Corn Chowder,
  
• 3 Meals of my Favorite Taco soup,
  
• 5 Chicken pot pies that are worth their weight in gold.
  
• 4 batches of homemade tomato sauce,
  
• 2 pie crust,
  
• pizza dough,
  
• homemade rolls,
• 2 chicken enchiladas.
• I think i am missing something?!?!?!
  

So the next few months I have an arsenal of frozen yummy food to pull out for meals. What a relief.

The next two weeks I was spoiled by friends, neighbors and ward members with at least 3 meals a week. So I really have not had to prepare a dinner, with all the left overs!!!!! That is such a blessing. Because trying to prepare and get a meal cooked while doing homework with Madisen, and entertain the boys, (or just keep them from hurting each other) is too much normally. So to then add a hungry little baby is pretty stressful. Like I said, I have not had to do many times yet. And school is almost out . . .so no more schedules other then what we set for ourselves. hooray.

well I have 2 kids sleeping, so I better take advantage of nap time before they wake up.

enjoy the pictures of our cutie.