Disney Thoughts Still to Come

Lots to tell...too little time. I'll post when I have a chance to breath!

Merry Disney Christmas!

Signing off until next week! We leave at o-dark-30 in the morning for the airport and then on to the happiest place on earth. I'm sure we'll have lots of pictures to post and adventures to report.

Sugar Plum Fairies

We took the girls to the Nutcracker last night. Ballet Idaho does a wonderful job and makes it just right for kids and adults combined. I don't think I've personally ever seen it done better. What a GREAT treat! We've done it 2 yrs. in a row and so it is now officially a Christmas tradition. The girls all had on their new Christmas dresses and looked simply lovely. Good memories...

I Got My Christmas Doll Early This Year

We have great fun playing house together.

Pretties On Our Tree

Every ornament on our tree has a story behind it. There's the elf my aunt made me when I was a child, an angel my mother hand painted for her and my dad's 1st Christmas tree, the Nauvoo temples the kids got from our trip there 5 yrs. ago, many handmade ones from James' and my 1st tree and so many more. It truly is a walk down memory lane when I get out all of these treasures. I thought I would share a sample of just a few favorites.



This is Tessie's 1st ornament, Humpty Dumpty.I love glass ornaments and the glow they put off from the lights on the tree.


Here is a good picture of James. I found the frame ornament at Wal-Mart and just had to buy it and put his deputy picture in it. He especially likes how I place it on the tree so that when you sit on the couch it is right there staring you in the face. It's a good memory of our time here in Burley.



My mother gives all the kids an ornament every year. The red truck is last years ornament of the boys. Just love it!





I would like to introduce you the the King and Queen of the Cats. They reign over our tree every Christmas and give us a good chuckle every time we look at them.


One year in primary we gave all the kids a cute picture ornament for Christmas with their picture in it. This is when Olivia was a sunbeam. It simply makes me smile and wish to have her back right at that age again. Right by her is a shiny Logan Temple that I got last year. I met my sweetheart 12 yrs. ago on the 17th and he took me to the Logan Temple 5 mos. later. I'm still crazy about him!





Tinker Bell is a favorite at our house. I got this ornament on our last trip to Disneyland 2 yrs ago. Can't wait to find another treasure this weekend for our tree.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

We are going strong into the holiday here at the Burley Homestead. We got our Christmas up this week, which was a challenge as I had 3 babies to care for at the same time. I always love watching my kids contemplate where to put their ornaments. Nate's work is pictured. Too cute. It didn't stay sad to say as Tess is now mobile and quite taken with the pretties on the tree. I have an obsession with ornaments and my tree can testify to it. Nothing prettier than a heaping tree full of ornaments. Our bestest buds the Meusborn's came for the day on Saturday and the kids made gingerbread houses. It was messy and fun and the kids put more candy in their mouths then they did on the houses. The burning question is, "How long do they have to sit on my counter until I can get rid of them?"

Ah-Yes! I am one of those moms. Create the moment...get rid of the mess.

Update on Superboy

Just a little update on Mark. He got his cast on Thursday and was given 3 rules for which James and I are very grateful. He was told, #1 Do not stick things down your cast. No toys, food, hangers, pencils, etc. This made me laugh when I thought about my brother-in-law Tim putting peas down his cast when he was a little boy. "Oh course I ate my peas Mom!" I bet he smelt yummy by the time it came off. #2 Do not get your cast wet. This has made for some great moments trying to get him to brush his teeth and comb his hair. He's convinced any little drop of water will send him back to the hospital for another IV and more surgery. I won't even try and describe bath time. #3 Do not use your cast as a weapon. This is a critical rule when your brother is 2 years old and loves nothing more than to drive you crazy. From following him into the bathroom, to stealing Legos, to fighting over who gets to sit where and with what place mat at the dinner table...this rule is a must have. Our next big hurdle is to get him out of the habit of whining and demanding instant gratification. Little kids are smart, adaptable creatures. He quickly learned he could get what he wanted instantly those first few days. He is not learning so quickly how to get out of the behavior. It is an uphill battle. My mom gave me some good advice to tell him...he may have a cast on his left arm, but he doesn't have one on his backside.

The Boy Who Might Live

What a weekend!!! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday at my sister's house and from there on out the weekend just got crazier and crazier. Our Mark will be THE ONE...you know...the one to give me gray hair, the one to send me to an early grave, the one to have me hollering for the loony bin. Bless his little heart, I love him completely, but he gives me heartburn.

After dinner on Thursday we took all the kids to "Enchanted", which I highly recommend. We loved it. Anywho, halfway through the movie I looked to see Mark picking at the back of his head. I leaned way forward to see what the trouble was and he had a wad of gum stuck in his hair. I pondered about where he got the gum, for I certainly did not give it to him. He explained in a loud whisper he had gotten it off the bottom of the seat. I asked him if he had put it in his mouth...nope...just his hair. He was too polite to stick it back under the seat and opted for the next best place. We had to cut it out clear to the scalp. He looks like a dog with mange.

And yet he keeps continuing on-

On Sunday while I was unpacking from the weekend, James was at work, Nate was bathing, Tess was crying to be fed and Mark was doing a flying sukahara off the counter. From the nether regions of our little home Mark let out a blood curdling scream. He ran to me in the bedroom with his arm hanging at a freaky, weird angle. He had finally done what James and I knew would happen at some point in parenthood. The arm was no doubt broke. Amidst the crying we dressed a slick Nate, popped a pacifier in Tess's mouth and hurried out the door to the ER. I dropped Livvy and Nate off at a friends while Mark lamented in the back that, "I will never color again!" I reminded him that it was his left arm and not his right that was broke. He was still good to go in the coloring world. After x-rays we learned he had broke the arm just above the elbow and would need surgery. YIKES! I actually started crying when I heard this. What I thought was a simple break had turned into something much more. I started to panic because I had been unable to contact James at work. The hospital was kind enough to use their direct line to the Sheriff's office and dispatch got a hold of him, he had been on a pursuit...

By this time the drugs had worked their magic and Mark had drifted off to sleep. James arrived in time to give Mark a quick blessing and he was wheeled into surgery at 10:00 p.m. where 2 pins were placed to connect his upper arm to his lower arm. It sounded yucky to me. He was taken great care of and the nurses loved his little personality. We are home and doing surprisingly well. You can tell his arm hurts, but he is handling it like a trooper. The biggest worry is what to do with his busy little mind all day. I'm wore out! He gets his hard cast on Friday and is excited that all of the Disney characters will get to sign it. The rest of us will not be allowed we've been warned.

With 4 kids you have to expect things like gum in hair and broken bones. And just think...we are only 8 years into this parenting thing. We know it wasn't our last night spent at a hospital jumping up at every sound our child made.

Pretty Pierced Ears

James and I have always like the idea of our kids working towards something. Sort of like a 'time and season' for everything lifestyle...

Baptism at 8 years old
Make-up at 12 yrs old
Dating at 16
Priesthood at 12, 14, 16 and 19
Mission at 19

I never thought about the whole ear piercing timing until my sister mentioned their girls would wait until they were 8 to get it done. Being the copier that I am, I liked the sound of that. Olivia turns 8 on December 9th and the time has been quickly approaching to add a little sparkle to Livvy's ears. While we were at the mall the other day with my mother we were passing Claire's and I said spontaneously, "Hey Livvy! Let's get your ears pierced today!" She looked at me with shock and dismay and said, "Not today. I'm not ready." She was clearly scared. My mom and I talked to her a little bit and told her it was no big deal and she could think about it over lunch. During lunch we were bombarded with questions about the pain, the care and every other thing possible about getting your ears pierced. After a lengthy discussion she told me she would do it only if she could pick out a new pair of earrings to wear when the studs could come out. My little girl knows how to bargain! She was a brave soul and didn't even flinch as the lady got the job done. I think I ended up being more nervous than she was! Olivia is quite pleased with herself and her pretty pierced ears. One landmark down, many more to go!

The Wonderfulness of New

I've been on a blogging hiatus and not by choice. We have had a busy couple of weeks here at the Burley Homestead, which left little time for deep pondering by me in my little known part of the world.

The BESTEST thing to happen in the last week was the purchase of a brand spakin' new crib for Tess. With the arrival of every new family member, beds, dressers and rooms have to be shifted around, which James and I are finding is fairly expensive! Tess has been sleeping in the pack n' play while Nate inhabitated the old crib. The little weed had finally grown too big for her surroundings so we had to bite the bullet and buy a new one. The old crib is a sad, sad story. Our very 1st darling teethed on it and turned it ugly. This is the reason her daddy calls her Liv Dog...she chewed the crib just like a naughty little puppy. Do you remember the joy of buying and setting up a brand new crib for your 1st baby? The fun it was to think about what little package was going to go in it? I had so much fun putting together that 1st pink crib and dreaming about a little redheaded pixie. Who would have dreamed that she would yes, be cute, but also chew her lovely bed to pieces! The moment I saw the quarter sized holes ALL across the upper panels of the crib and side rails I knew I had to live with it. I also knew I would probably have to live with it through more babies, which would turn out to be somewhat difficult as I always wanted to put my brand new babies into something new. Alas, I dealt with it and moved on. It is easy to admit though that when Mark, Nate and Olivia all piled into the crib this last winter for a good jump and broke said crib I was secretly thrilled and my dream of a new crib has finally come to pass. It is a funny thing being a mom. I really enjoy how getting something for one of my kids is just as if it was purchased for me. I find great satisfaction in looking at our new crib...maybe I'll sleep in it tonight! It's also great to go and get Tess in the morning and find her opposite than the way I laid her and in the other corner. She has room to roam.

Sugar, Sugar and Yes, More Sugar

I caught myself saying one of those ironic statements yesterday that once it passed my lips I had to pause and think to myself, "Did I really just say that?" Olivia's day started off with breakfast, which consisted of a waffle smothered in syrup and a glass of milk. As she lolly gagged her way through breakfast I made the fortuitous statement, "You need to finish that breakfast. You are going to be eating a lot of sugary junk today and you need to have something good in your tummy." Never mind the syrup dripping off of her plate! And so the day of sugar overload began.

Our next encounter with the sugar bug presented itself as I was putting together the treat for Livvy's classroom party. My boys were enthralled with the frosting smothered brownies and peanut butter eyeballs. "Could I just have one taste?" Mark asked a bazillion times. "No," I thought "It's a day of sugar"...but then he gave me his hurt puppy dog eyes and I ended up letting the boys lick the beaters. Every kid has to say they have licked a beater right?

As I busied myself about the kitchen I noticed on the lunch menu for the school that day the cafeteria was serving mud pudding with lunch. Hmmmm....maybe the ladies thought some of the classes weren't going to be having parties that day. Oh well! I hurried off to school with Nate, Tess and James in tow and we found ourselves at the school surrounded by Spidermen, Supermen, Scooby Doo, Princesses, Darth Vaders, Witches, Goblins and a variety of other fun characters. I had to laugh to myself remembering the note that came home a few days previous, "The children are welcome to wear their costumes to school. Please keep in mind we don't want any scary or mean costumes. Remember this is a safe place." I did see a few kids whose parents bucked the system by letting their children's meaness show through by dressing as a bloody vampire and even a wicked surgeon. Olivia's classroom was abuzz with the excitement of seeing what all the kids were dressed as for Halloween. James and I exchanged a smile as one boy asked another boy what he was (I couldn't tell either) and the incensed boy replied, "I'm a Ninja Turtle! Duh!" It's good to know conversation hasn't changed much since I was in school. 'Duh' is still a universal put down. I took the treats over to the treat table and placed it alongside the Kool Aide and boxes of treat bags made by other mothers. Wait! I thought I was in charge of the treat...Livvy walked out of class that day with a brownie and an eyeball in her tummy and 3, yes 3, treat bags full of candy. I think I sensed a glazed look come over her eyes on the way to the car. We also checked in on Mark's class party. They were quietly coloring at their tables. I asked the teacher if we had missed their party and she said, "We are having our party." Yeah! They got to color! On regular days they just get to scribble with stubby pencils.

We pushed the kids through their already going strong candy rush to the ward party later that evening. On the menu, Chili and............cinnamon rolls and...........chocolate milk! "Yeah!" my kids yelled. "Can we please have some?" I was beginning to feel overwhelmed for the little buggers. They didn't even know they were heading themselves into a diabetic coma. Even through the shakes and twitches, I can only assume from the mass amounts of sugar already pulsing through their little systems, they managed to eat their rolls and drink their milk. Children are amazing creatures.

We moved onto the trunk-or-treat where they were able to attain even more sweets to get them through to their teen years. Their buckets over flowed with candy bars, tootsie rolls, suckers, skittles, smarties, yada, yada, yada. Mark was a little bummed though because, "I got more last year!" I reminded him that there is always next year.

After letting the kids study their loot and count their booty James and I decided it was past the witching hour and time to get them to bed. After several fits on Nate's part we were able to brush their teeth and gather them into bed. Whoo! The day was over. As I sat on the couch thinking of the days events and counting the number of times the kids had a jolt of sugar I hoped they could actually get to sleep that night. "I know I will" I thought as I popped just one more miniature Baby Ruth in my mouth.

Fall Frolick

We thought we would take advantage of one of the last nice days of the season. Livvy was at school while we played...

Lost Lamb

Oh! This has been a hard couple of weeks....Our cable company could not 'maintain' their tower here in Burley and we have lost ALL television. I thought maybe I would be noble and just try and do without (Its been great for the kids!) but, I am a lost lamb looking for it's flock. It is somewhat embarrassing to admit I am sooooo dependent upon television, but it is something I look forward to everyday. I mother children all day and just want to veg in front of the TV at night. I blame it on James though. Since we were 1st married he has worked at night. My 'boob tube' became my best friend. I have followed American Idol with astute obsession, had to keep my heart in my chest as Jack Bauer was yet again tortured, made my own list of possible theories behind 'Lost', wondered if the CSI crews could possibly solve another heinous crime, hated every evil person on Survivor, really wanted Hiro to "Save the cheerleader, save the world" and laughed my stomach sore at Michael, Earl and JD. My world is now bleak and lonely.......

I get the kids to bed, go sit on the couch, look around and think, "Now what?" I certainly can't read every night. Watch a movie? No, my current Netflix movies are on en route. Study the scriptures, well sure, but not for 3 hrs. Learn a new song on the piano? No, the kids are asleep. Exercise? No, I already do that in the morning. Get on the internet? No, I'm pretty sure I've read almost everything there is on the net (naughty stuff excluded). Go to bed? No, the diet coke I drank at 5:00 is still doing it's job. Learn to crochet? Na. Dye my hair blue and paint my nails pink? No, I wouldn't want to frighten the kids. Read "The Dangerous Book for Boys" and learn how to make a functioning go cart? No, too much work. Pull out the ol' flute and pretend to be Zamfir. Surely I jest! What to do!

It's apparent I am hopelessly dependent on that darn ol' television! I keep thinking that maybe time will temper my television need. Not so, not so. I guess it's time to sweetly smile at my husband, scratch his head (this always works) and plead and beg to have my friend returned from exile.

Arms Reach

There are several, no millions of things I love about being a mother, all of which are too hard to categorize. If I had to create a top five though, one of those would be having a baby in the house. There is nothing like it! You would assume it's because of the giggles, the baby talk, the happy, cherubic face, the darling clothes...oh the list goes on and on. While those are all good and justifiable reasons, mine is purely self serving. I love being someone's everything. Vain, I know. I find pleasure in being the one Tess watches walk across the room. Even more pleasing is knowing I'm the one she prefers to be with. Maybe it's because I have the goods (food), but I like to think it's because she likes the way I smell or the way my face lights up when I see her. I hope it's because I make her happy and feel secure. We are never far apart and when we are it's like I'm missing a leg or an arm. We are that attached! She always wants to be within arms reach of me and if she isn't she'll figure out a way to make it happen. When I am doing my hair and putting on makeup she is right there watching the process all from her throne in the sink. It's nice to have at least one person in this world think you are wonderful. We'll see if she feels that way in 16 yrs. I'm not banking on being her whole world then, but at least I'll have proof that at one point in time she was all mine.

Chasing the Impossible

Do you ever feel like you are chasing the impossible? Here is the proof that no matter how hard we try, pray, bribe, coddle or get mad about, there is no such thing as a perfect picture of our kids. It is simply...impossible. One would think we would only have to worry about the 2 year old, but we Sellicks don't ever like to do things normal! We spent the evening with a photographer and much to our chagrin we watched as money slipped from our fingers...penny, by penny, by penny. Between the four we had a Goofy, a Sleepy, a Cranky and an I Have to be Touching the Baby in Every Picture. Our poor photographer was a puddle of sweat by the time it was all said and done. I guess we'll have to try again to get that 'perfect' picture. You know the one...everyone is happy, loves each other and is soooooo happy to be a part of the Never a Problem Family.

Page Turner

I have a new addiction and it's keeping me up late at night. This is NOT a good thing as I am cranky the next day! My sister-in-law Tristan recommended this book, so last weekend while I was playing in Utah with my sisters and my mom we all picked up our own copy. I can only get to it late at night after the kids are to bed and I have to say it is certainly worth it. I know I've got a good book when I have to force myself to put it down so that I can get at least 6 hours of sleep...I function best on 8. Anytime a book has a vampire in it, it seems to catch my fancy. I had to put Ann Rice aside as her books are a little tooo racy for me. "Twilight" seems to be a good alternative. I'll post a final review when I am done, but so far I have loved reading "Twilight" by Stephanie Meyer, who also happens to be LDS. I'm no Oprah and my seal of approval won't put this books sales through the roof, but I recommend it and will add it to my own book club.

OK-So I finished this book last night...late last night. I'm kind of obsessive once I start something. I have to know what happens. I can read a new Harry Potter in 1 day. Nothing gets done in that day, but I do finish the book. Anywho- I really did like this book. It is definitely a 'young adult' book and the reader must treat it as such (I never felt that way about Harry Potter). Regardless, the plot is incredibly intriguing and left me wanting more. It did all the right things. It made me wonder, made my heart race, made me smile and allowed me to get into the minds of the characters. I felt invested in the characters and their outcomes. If you can get past the 1st 5-6 chapters and get into the meat of the story you will certainly be as invested as I was.

Bring on the next one... Half Moon...enter the werewolf!

Milkman

Wouldn't you love to get into the mind of a 2 year old? Our little man's newest obsession involves emptying our fridge of all milk containers and relocating them to various parts of the house. He is clever though because he waits until I am unavailable to intervene. He jumps into action the moment I am in the shower, on the the elliptical, nursing Tess or on the computer. We have found the milk in his bed, in the coat closet, in the tub, under the table...the list goes on and on. He never comes and tells us the milk has moved. We just happen upon it throughout the day or have to go looking for it when it is needed. This little one keeps me on my toes for sure.

The View Out Our Front Door

James and I love the view out of our front door. There is farmland as far as the eye can see in front of and to the right of us and then a beautiful mountain range to the left. Fall gets all of the farmers in our ward a buzz about the harvest. It's quite rewarding to watch the fields get planted, watered, grow and then harvested every Fall. We have sugar beet, potato, bean, alfalfa, corn and hay fields surrounding our home. While Burley is not our intended place to remain, we sure wish we could take this view with us when we leave.

I've Got Connections-

I've been waiting and waiting for the day James's job as a cop would pay off for me. My wallet was lost (stolen?) last week while shopping at the one department store here in Burley. Along with ALL of my bank cards, stamps, 21 cents, Great Harvest punch card and brand new temple recommend was my license. OH! That dreaded license! I hated my license before I even got it. I was 7 mos. pregnant when it was time to renew. My face was puffy, my nose was bulbous and red and my neck looked like it could be a twin to John Goodman. I hated that license. The silver lining in having my wallet disappear was the need for a new one. I was quite pleased with such a prospect. We went down to the Sheriff's Department and were welcomed with open arms. I thought to myself, "Oh my goodness! Here's my chance for the perfect license picture! These ladies know my husband and seem to quite like him!" Sure enough, even with an office full of people waiting in line behind me, the lady cooed and talked with Tess, joked with James and let me take AS MANY PICTURES AS I WANTED until I got one I liked. I even tried out my "Magnum" look for the camera. In the end I walked away with a license to show off. Just ask me and I'll show you. Now if I can just get out of a ticket the next time I am pulled over...

Hello Friends!

I make the best voyeur! I've really enjoyed reading my cousin's new blogs that I decided to copycat them and create my own. It's pretty self serving on my end, but I hope you enjoy reading about us and what we're up too. If you see elements from your own blogs on here, my apologies! I just have a great appreciation for cleverness and yummy recipes! Give me a shout out every now and then-Love to you All!

Tess Alayna

Tess is our DREAM BABY! Of the four she is the 1st to sleep through the night before 1 yr. old. She is currently 6 mos. old and the apple of all of our eyes. Her Daddy is crazy about, her brothers can't get enough of her, her sister plays and plays all day with her and I enjoy every element about her. She is always happy, unless she is tired or hungry, which usually go hand in hand. Rarely do we have to guess about her needs. It's about time!

Nate Richard

The king of 2 year olds has NOT left the building! He is living at our house and rules with an iron fist. The following laws directly apply to Nate: If it's mine it's mine, if it's yours it's mine, if I like it is mine, if I can take it from you it is mine, if I am playing with something ALL of the pieces are mine, if I think it is mine it is, if I saw it first it's mine, if I had it then put it down it is still mine, if you had it then you put it down it is now mine, if it looks like the one I have at home it is mine, if it is broken it is yours.

He of course melts your heart as soon as he starts singing "Five Little Pumpkins" or "Popping Corn Popping".

Mark James

Mini James gives us just cause to laugh everyday. His hands are in constant motion as he describes everything from the 'flashing red light' he can see out his window at night to the way to put a Lego airplane together. The hands show it all. He started kindergarten this year and we get a little nervous every afternoon when we drop him off. What is he going to tell the teacher today?

Olivia Renee

Here is the girl we've learned everything on. Surprisingly enough she is surviving. Her trust is comforting and her bemusement at our falterings evident. Her mothering instincts are amazing. She changed her baby sister's dirty diaper the other morning and did a pretty dang good job. I emerged from my bedroom to find a happy Tess dressed for the day and playing happily with her older sister. I once worried the two would not be close due to the age difference. This was all erased the night Livvy dressed Tess up as a princess, tiara and all and Tess laughed and laughed as Livvy twirled her around.