Nesting. . .getting ready for #4

I never go early, at least not naturally. Madisen- induced for toxemia day before due date, Jeddy- due date, and then induced 4 days early for mere convenience with Benson.
I get so eager the last month, I almost loose my mind. So I leave packing the bags and setting up the crib etc, until 3 weeks to go. Which is this week. I have 18 days to go. YEAH!!
I have been spending the last several months buying diapers, wipes, shampoo, lotion, powder, oil, and baby wash at rock bottom prices. So I have 6 of all the ointment stuff. 2000 wipes, and just under 800 diapers ranging from newborn to size 3. I have even gotten formula for half price and several cereal and jars of food for free! And loads of free samples on everything. I am stocked and ready to hibernate. The best buy (not because of the deal but because of the stress it eliminated) was the car seat. I researched on consumer reports the safest and best car seat. Then I hunted one down on Craigs-list. I paid more then I should have but it was close, and in perfect! Perfect condition! I had 3 infected ears on 2 boys and didn't care to keep searching. So it was worth the extra cost to get it done. And I keep reminding Ben I saved us over $100 by not going to the store and buying it.
On Sunday I woke up at three AM with dire pain and really uncomfortable, cramp like not muscle tightening. I am pretty sure it was not braxton hicks contractions. But have never had them so I do not really know for sure. I woke Ben up at 4 am to help me find some Tylenol, I told him "I don't know where to look I cant find any in our bathroom." So he searched the hall closet, kitchen, kids bathroom, I think even went to the car. He came back empty handed. He went in our bathroom and found them immediately. I sent him on a wild goose chase. Obviously not on purpose, because I was really needing the pain killers and I don't enjoy jokes at 4 am.

So with that little warning I have been pretty ready to get things going this week. So are the kids. They get to pick out a boy outfit and a girl outfit to take to the hospital. For FHE we usually have the kids help clean all the equipment. So we hand out cleaning wipes and they wipe the tub, swing and etc out. They also get to load the Dishwasher with all the bottles, and help put diapers in the changing basket. They always love getting to be involved. We also go over the rules at that FHE such as no poking the babies eyes out, Do not teach the baby to fly and etc. With each child the rules get longer and longer and more detailed. Really, who knew you needed to teach your son not to pull out his baby brothers hair? Or Yes, Babies will always cry when you poke their eye!?!?! SO DON'T DO IT!

Ben was finally home long enough to get the bins down from the attic. So I have baby girl clothes, and baby boy clothes to sort. Sheets, blankets, bottles, pump, monitor, swing, bouncy and bibs galore to get situated. Now I just need to clean it, set up the crib, pack the hospital bag for me and baby and put some clothes away and we are good to go.

A new and interesting part of my nesting this time around includes eating a 6 qt bowl of caramel popcorn all by my self yesterday and having not 1 but 2 bowls of ice cream today. I am pretty sure neither the baby or I need fattening before the big day. Yet, I seem determined to throw out all knowledge of nutritional eating and gorge on what I fancy! Hmmmm. The best side to that is Benson strategically relocated my pregnancy workout DVD to and unknown place a few weeks ago, and the ones I rent from the library do not work on my broken DVD player. So my workouts have downgraded to: getting the mail, going up my stairs, and parking further away from the door when grocery shopping. Not the best combo! I really feel like a run along the beach, but with out my LARGE belly attached.

Ben was so cute when He opened the bin of girl clothes he pulled out a darling white dress with eyelets bordering the bottom, and said "Kim we might need to go to number 5 if this one comes out a boy!". I also got teary eyed looking through the bin of baby girl clothes. My baby girl is now 8 1/2. So many memories. Unlike Ben having been pregnant, and delt with the nausea and sickness I am pretty sure #5 will be a dog we buy, not another child!

Wish us luck!
We're almost there!

And if anyone was wondering, no we have no names, not a short list or a long list. My goal is to have the child named before we leave the hospital! So any good ideas are welcomed!

When he grows a foot or two

The last several weeks have been very, very exhausting, busy and tiring for me.
Let me just list some of the bigger things I had to accomplish, along with keeping a clean house, laundry, feeding my family 3 times a day, homework, my softball games, field trips, helping at Madisen and Jeddy's classes, play dates, conducting primary, doing sharing time, filling in for primary teachers, and being a mommy.

• Madisen Birthday, gifts, favorite meals for breakfast and dinner
  
• End of soccer season team party, get and put together trophies, food, pictures, coaches gifts
• halloween, we made costumes this year, carving pumpkins, pumpkin patch etc
  
• Her Party the following week, we made pizza, lemonade, cookies, frosting, and their own party hats.
• Thanksgiving with my sister's family and mom. It was a yummy meal, turkey, mashed pot with gravy, stuffing, pink salad, pomegranate salad, sweet potato's, sparkling grape juice, wassail, rolls, green bean casserole (not your usual kind), finished off with 2 apple pie, 1 pumpkin and vanilla ice cream to help it all go down. Needless to say it was a meal to be thankful for, but allot of work. Thank goodness my mom was over pies, and that my sister Britt helped out so much.
• Madisen's baptism- in our stake the family is in charge of everything, program printing, finding people, getting pianist, getting clothes etc.
• Her baptism luncheon, I made lentil and chicken noodle soup, well My sister and I did. 2 big jelly rolls of Texas sheet cake, veggie platter and fruit platter I had friends bring rolls and bread. set up tables, washing and returning R.S. table clothes
  
• Primary activity, I was in charge of the activity and craft, we made wood blocks that were covered with pretty scrapbook paper and said 'JOY', the little kids painted ornaments. I had to cut and saw 90 3 x 4 in blocks of wood. get all supplies, cut paper to size, cricet punch 100 letters, and bag them for each child
  
• Jeddy's birthday shopping with out him is so hard, so last night at 10pm I finally went out after Ben was done with mutual. shopping for and preparing his favorite meals
  
• His party is this Saturday, homemade invitations, gift bags, menu planning and buying etc.

I give this information because I feel is shows you what my kids have had to endure through. Last week Jeddy was asking me, begging me to play baseball with him. I looked him in the eye and explained "sweetie, mom has 15 table clothes, 6 sheet sets, 12 towel's, to launder, 2 meals of dishes to clean, 3 bathrooms that are in dire need of attention and no one but me to do it. Can you play catch, or T-ball with Benson, maybe today and tonight I can hurry through all this and tomorrow we can play . . .I'm sorry".

Instead of being sad, or complaining or even not understanding, he went out side. I thought he was going to play. I went to the garage started laundry. I heard what I thought was Benson playing in the kitchen sink, so I yelled to him to go play with Jeddy. As I walked in the house I saw cute little Jeddy had pulled up a chair, rolled up his sleeves, and was doing my huge sink full of dishes. He went in the back to drop off his toys. I gave him a big hug. He finished the sink and started the dishwasher all by himself, then went out back to play.

I couldn't help but think what a wonderful boy. I know I cannot take credit for how thoughtful and helpful he is. It is his nature, he is a sweet boy. If this could be taught, this is the one lesson I would teach the young Men in the Church. Never let your wife work harder then you in a day.
I know Jeddy is going to be the husband that is doing the dishes while his wife mops the floor (not watching espn). He is going to be folding the clothes or cleaning the bathroom while she puts the kids in the bath.

I think there is a disconnect that men quit working when they get home from work. Ben I have to say is fabulous with entertaining the kids and keeping them from making messes and bugging me so I can get a meal on the table.

I just have to say I know Jeddy is going to be a very aware and thoughtful guy. I was very impressed that he didn't even come running to say, mommy look what i did. He did it with out praise. He did get a big treat when Benson went down for a nap!!!

Anyway in honor of him on his special day (he is 5), I ask all you readers what is the best quality you think someone should grow up to have? What is your son, husband great at? I am so proud of my boy and I want everyone to feel the love and happiness I feel for him because of his truly wonderful qualities with the boys, men in their lives.

Changes coming!

We will be changing the name of our blog. I was hoping for something a bit more catchy but this is who we are: the C-bad six. If you want to see some fun videos of a Scavenger Hunt where we surprised the kids with the news, you can see them on Ben's Facebook page.

Madisen's Baptism

Saturday, November 28, 2009
begins at 10:30 am
LDS Chapel 1975 Chestnut Ave
CARLSBAD , CA 92008

Radical school system

I am not getting political and picking on either party here. I just cannot believe how radical (left or right) and insane some of our policy is.

A six year old boy joins boy scouts get an awesome utensil, a fork spoon knife combo, so he brings it to school and eats lunch. Some one of their rocker calls it a knife, making it a weapon and thus the boy was suspended for 45 days.

He never threatened anyone or wielded it to anyone, he ate with a cool UTENSIL, and got suspended. How does this happen?

Luckily the school board met over the issue after lots of back lash and support for the six year old 'criminal'. Finally some common sense!

August

Ben and I ran another tri together. I will tell you I almost peed my pants, and died in the swim, but after that it was fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. It was a hard corps series. We had to wake up early and get on the Marine Corps base and then make our way over to the Navy beach where they house all the LCAC's.

Ben starts in of the first waves, right after the elite athletes. So I have to stand on the beach and watch 7 or so waves each take their turn and go. Meanwhile out of every wave (even the elite and gung ho Marines) a few people have to be rescued by the jet ski personnel. At first I thought it was interesting I have never seen jet ski's, the rescuers are all on kayak or surfboards. But then I started listening to the people around me and put it together.

Apparently this spot or break in the beach in known for its crazy waves. There is no calm little waves. So silly Kim who hates water, salt, being wet etc voluntarily signed up for a tri with a 5 foot surf. Ben and I still debate this detail, he loves water, and is much taller he thinks it was only 3 feet. I know better, it was monstrous, I truly am surprised I finished and survived.

Back on track, after getting killed with waves and tasting nastiness I got over the 'break' and was able to set a pace and move forward. I forgot however to pay attention on the way back in and was pummeled. I get no points for style. But like I said I finished and went into my sweet transition, taking everything off before I even entered the Transition zone. I really excel at the transition times. I can't swim and running and biking I am no better than average.

I was so excited about the bike. It was 45 k, so the longest race distance ever by me. Plus my friend Marie, well her former Marine Pilot husband, lent me his custom Kestrel tri bike. the bike is of more value then Ben's car. So I was scared to ruin it but so excited to enjoy a quality machine. I cut my bike time in half, from the Catalina triathlon. I did train a few more times but it pretty much was the bike. I wish I had ridden the coarse before, I would have pushed it allot harder. I just rode real politely until the turn around and then I booked it. there is never time in my life for a leisurely drive to check out the race coarse.

I was pretty worried about the run, it was hot and my shins were KILLING. I had never been in pain like that. I just pretended they were one of my kids when they are obnoxious. I ignored it, and kept moving. I even picked up my pace the last mile and a half. Ben ran the last yards with me. He literally raced with me. I wasn't made for speeding up after 2 hours of physical exertion. But I indulged him, he came in first again!

IT was so fun. I am really proud of this race. I realize it is nothing amazing no lives were saved but I still feel pretty cool when I wear my T-shirt around!
Too bad the one shot we got I have a dorky look and my eyes are closed. Oh well you can see how awesome my Transition area is. And check out my pimp ride. thanks MIKE!!!!!!!

Soccer has started, 2 practices a week, Madisen on Tuesday, Jeddy on Wednesday. Games for each every sat, starting the 29 of august. Jeddy is so excited to be involved and have his things to do. It is great to see him develop and try and succeed. I am so proud of Madisen, she doesn't know any girls on her new team. She hasn't let that make her shy, well she is shy but she still gets in there. I am so proud that she is coming out of her shell and doing more and more things out of her comfort zone.

A bunny! August was filled with, beach every wed, hikes, pool, primary activity- games and races at the beach, picnics, Karate, and throwing up!. We went to Utah, and came home throwing up, it went thought the family and took us out of commission for a week.

We are all recovered. And that's our summer, it came to an end sept 2.

Highlights of July

I have such cute kids. I love this picture. Madisen is being her shy little smile darling self. Jeddy is being his must expend energy. Benson is not paying any attention to me and has haagen daz ice cream all over his face. Taken at the Batiquitos Lagoon

lagoon During their pollinator awareness event.
The kids cutting out leaves that thier "catapillars will eat. My kids LOVE crafts. I do also, just not the clean up at the end.

I have never seen Benson hold so still. What a big boy. he was so excited to get face painting, I am so glad he picked a bee and not a flower. Luckily we didnt have to have that conversation with Ben. "Why is my SON wearing a flower".
Probably the biggest event that happened all summer was the kids bikes were 'stolen'. The kids and I go on hikes early tuesday and thurs morning. We go with our good friends the Hommels. Yes even in the summer I wake my kids up and we go on 2 to 3 hour hikes around the volcano. At first it was me pushing Jeddy (40 pounds) and Benson 25 (pounds) in my double stroller (10 pounds) with all our water, snacks and supplies (5 pounds). so I definately got my intended workout . . . .wspecially on inclines.

I was so excited when Jeddy learned to ride his bike. But when he crashed then I was pushing him and his bike. So there were always times of great struggle! But it was great.

So back to the bikes. One day we decided to ditch the strollers and bikes and go up the face of the volcano. Well we did, we enjoyed the view and breeze and went back down. We got to where we put the bikes behind bushes and they were NO WHERE. The kids were crushed! Tears!. Poor Jeddy just mastered a 2 wheel, madisen loved her purple queen amadala (sp?) bike.
I tore off in one direction, and Marie took her kids and went the other. We were goging to catch these meanies! Really we both separeted and stopped sp we could pray with our kids. After a moment alone and a prayer to guide us and comfort the kids we were on the hunt!.

Long story short we spoent 2 hours on foot and car searching all dead end trails.

I brought the kids home and we got cleaned up and moved on with our day. I just decided I need to report it. What can it hurt. So I spent 20 minutes filing a report and giving incredible details and descriptions of the bikes. I hung up and said another prayer to help the person that took our bikes realize how much my kids love and want their bikes. Any way, I called Marie gave her the no update update and hung up. I noticed I had a message on my phone. It was the police officer from the impound station (the last of 4 officers I had just spoken too).
I teared up as he explained on his message that he went out back just to be thourough and found the kids bikes. He was funny be repeated the leangthy description I gave him of my bikes. so he said coem on down and see if they are a match.

I had just put bence down for a nap . . . But we got him up and went. We got our bikes back. Evidently what happened was a jogger thought they had been abandoned inthe trails. so they had the police coem pick them up. Some good samaritan was saving us from our bikes. It was aan emotinal day. I must add Madisen was a little sad that she indeed wasn't getting a new bike now that we found her old one. I am so relieved to have them back.

Slip n slide, we used lots of soap yto really slick the runway down. Madisen loved to try to go backwards. It is cold water so we never lasted too long. Which is better for the grass anyway.
I know I do not need to mention this but Jeddy got bored of the normal run and slide action. So after a while he was spinning, side running, adding leaps and etc. I am happy to report he still has no stiches or broken bones. He has been superglued and sterri striped together on many occassions.
Even Benson got into to all the action. Mostly I would hold both his hands over head head and drag him down. But he had a few runs of his own
fun times for 4th of July. We all took turns on the diving board. Ben powered through severeal slick flips and moves, I did an areal, and front flip. Jeddy tried out front flips, the rest just jumped.
Again with my friend Marie we had our kids make 4th of july shirts. MArie has 2 boys so she was thrilled to help Madisen with her glitter glue and make fireworks on her shirt. I was head crafter for the boy shirts. Jeddy and bence helped and are so proud of their shirts. Jeddy did a fair amount of the sewing and cutting. Bence more or less helped in theory. I love the fourth of July!!!!! LOVE IT. It was so fun we went to pipes in encinitas for breakfast. We met all the guys after their surf session. It was fun we had breakfast then headed fo parades, parties, pool and BBQ parites, then costco to watch the legoland fireworks. We decided to take coast hwy home prettier drive if we have to hit traffic. We stopped at taarack and saw 3 firework shows going off. IT was a great ending to a wonderful holiday. I really should have posted this in its seperate post . . .like 3 months ago. ha ha ha.
a lazy summer morning

Ben was getting tired of his clean cut apperance, so he shaved himself a mohawk. I am sure if we were not goign to the other dentist in the offices house that night it would have stayed longer. there is the proof, we all get a little crazy in the summer.