Getting to know your ABC's

    If you're new here it means it's Blog Hop day and National Military Spouse Appreciation day! I want to start off by saying thank you. Thank you to Riding the Roller Coaster and Household 6 Diva for hosting this awesome party with so many great giveaways . To you who support our country by being a part of the silent ranks THANK YOU! Our soldiers would be lost without your support. Finally, thank you for stopping by, hope you link up too so we can become great friends.

Now to learn all about your ABC's!

    Welcome to the Flight Crew! I'm C and I'll be your blog host :) We are the Flying ABC's. Flying because, handsome Hubby is an Air Traffic Controller for the military. ABC's because, M's family is named alphabetically (from A-O and yes they are all biological siblings) and, we decided to carry on the tradition when we had our own kids P and Q.
     M and I are both in our mid twenties. We love cooking, gaming, outdoors and, spending time with our two kiddos. P is 3. He loves everything dirt n' bugs, helping cook n' clean,and of course playing with his little brother. The boys are exactly 18 months apart. Q will be 2 next month! He enjoys singing, dancing and following brother around looking for new adventures. We are new to the Air Force. So new in fact, that M graduates from BMT next week! :) We are LOVING every minute of it!
     Our blog talks about everything! Parenting, Military life, Holidays and anything else that I feel is awesome. With M finishing BMT our Basics of Basic posts will end soon and I'll start blogging about the Technicalities of Tech school. I'm really excited to start this new chapter of our life! Be sure to come along for the flight. We also have a Facebook   and Twitter!

The letter Z

      We are very Zealous about the outdoors. The less time we spend inside it seems the better. While, we were dating M and I spent alot of our time walking around town or hiking up the mountain.When P was a baby we used to go for a walk every night. It was a way for us to talk well still being able to be active. This fall, when we moved back to Ephraim (our college town) we went for lots of walks around town. We also did a few hikes up the mountain. With M gone the boys and I tend to go to the park or play in the backyard a lot.I have simply found that the fresh air and sunshine helps me to feel better. I have also learned that if the boys get to play and be crazy outside then, they sleep better at night and my house stays clean during the day.
      The days that we stay inside too much I tend to feel like my house is a Zoo. I'm sure it looks like one too. The boys will have a billion blankets and toys spread out through the living room. For some reason, they also believe if they're not outside they don't need clothes on. So of course their clothes that should be on their bodies are laying somewhere in the house. Then, as any mom of small boys knows there is constant noise. Everything they do must be accompanied by a sound effect. I love my kiddos but inside days certainly make me feel like a zoo keeper to wild animals.
     We like Zucchini a lot at our house. I make zucchini bread, zucchini cookies (with chocolate chips of course), it also tends to go in our stir fry. I know that doesn't sound like a lot of recipes with it but if you saw the quantities of such things being made you would understand. Hopefully, when we move on base we can have a garden; so, that we can start to grow more yummy veggies at our house instead of having to buy them like we do now.

The letter Y

     I hate Yogurt. I'm not sure if it's a texture thing or what. It literally makes me gag to eat it. I do know that it doesn't help that somebody once told me it's bacteria or something like that. The boys love it. M seems to like it too. So for their sakes I buy it but truthfully I'll eat almost anything else in the house before I eat the yogurt. 
     M is almost the Youngest in his family. With 15 other siblings you might think it doesn't matter but, that is quite to the contrary. In fact it almost matters more. It determines a lot of who he is close to, who he has memories of, and who we tend to spend more time with. We spend a lot of time with D because they look almost like twins. We love seeing N and, her family. Especially, since they have two boys just like us. M's real buddy however was L. If, you look at pictures M and L can often be found playing around or, working together side by side. From what I've heard L was goofy another reason that he and, hubby got along so well. I have never met this brother that he loves so much. Just like M his brother L is a soldier. L went to fight in Afghanistan during 2006 and, didn't come home. He is part of the reason that M wanted to be a soldier. L is also the reason we all worry secretly about M being one. I'm grateful for all the memories this family has of each other. Also, How through the sharing of memories I get to learn more about those in the family who have already moved on to the other side. I hope when I meet L that he and, I get along. I'm also excited for the day when M and, L can embrace each other again. I do pray however that it's not too soon. 

The letter X

      P is a Xanthochroid. Now, before you go telling me that's not a word Google it. It means someone with light-colored hair and fair complexion. Granted I'm not quite sure that he is what they had in mind when the word was created but, for the sake of this post it will have to do. He is very fair skinned. In fact, both kiddos are thanks to me. We don't go out without sunscreen (in case you were curious). P however is the only one with blonde hair. Either way he's a good looking healthy normal boy.
      I was surprised to learn how much P know about the letter X. He saw the picture for today's post and said "is that an X Mommy?" To which I replied yes it is. Then, he said "look it's an x-ray of a heart." I'm impressed that he not only recognized the letter but that he also knows what an X-ray is. Between Sesame Street and me he must be actually learning something.
     (Warning for the next x word in this post I'll be cheating. However, you would cheat too if you saw the list of words that start with X. Trust me when I say nothing about a xylophone describes us. Besides I'm the author which means I can take some liberties right? Ok so continue on happily please and just pretend with me.)
     We are very eXcited right now. Not only do we only have 32 days til we get to see M but, we're also really excited for all the upcoming changes.  By the beginning of May, we will know for sure where our first base is. (which means house shopping and moving. YAY!) I'm hoping that it's in Mississippi simply because that is where tech school is for M. This would mean we could move and be with him sooner. Plus, that would mean we're close to the ocean. How cool of a swimming pool is that? I will however, be happy where ever we are assigned. (And to have my husband back home. Where ever that happens to be.) We are also excited simply because, for the first time in our married life ever we have a consistent job that pays great. We finally don't have to worry about how we're going to pay our bills or, feed our kids. This is such an amazing blessing especially in this economy. We feel so very blessed to have this opportunity. The best part is that so far M loves it.

The letter W

      P and Q love playing in the Water. It's not even officially summer yet and, P is already begging me to get the swimming pool out. They prefer to shower instead of bath. I think the reason they love it so much is cause, they can splash to their hearts content. The best thing about water in my opinion is the weightless feeling that comes with it. I guess they're not the only ones that love water. So, as soon as the days get warm our pool will be up for sure.
      Like most other fruit we love Watermelon. I love the bright colors of this fruit. I also, love that it's not acidic or squishy (like bananas). I love watching my children eating it with giant smiles as juice drips down their chins. The best thing about it is seed wars though. We see who can spit the farthest, fastest, and sometimes we just have seed spitting wars. That last one usually ends badly though. We love everything about this fruit but, it might help that we usually only eat it during summer. When everything is more fun.
      My hair is Wavy. Sadly, it's not the type of wavy that is cute or, that when gel is added becomes curly. It is for this reason that most days my hair is up in a ponytail. When it is down I normally have to straighten and, blow dry it to make it look decent. I have noticed though, that when it is cut shorter the wave tends to be less dramatic. It is for this reason that my hair is now short. Well that and, because people say it makes me look younger.
      P is a very Wakeful child. He is up every morning by about 7. He's normally happy about it too. He is also, the only person in the house that refuses to nap. I'm not sure what it is about this boy and, his constant energy. I just hope he's like this when he's 12.

The letter V

     Somethings that our family truly Values are movie nights together, a car that properly functions, temple blessings and freedom.We value movie night because, it is the one guaranteed time during the week that we can all be together and have fun. A car that runs is important to us because, we haven't always had one. We value temple blessings because, we know that through these blessings we can be together as a family forever. Freedom is important to us because, without freedoms we wouldn't be able to pursue our dreams or, practice our religion. Freedom is also important because, that is what M and, Uncle Squeals (along with many other soldiers) work so hard to protect each day.
      We love Vegetables. My favorite is spinach. M and, P both love corn on the cob. Q's favorite is green beans. It is so much easier to prepare meals since, there really isn't much that we don't like. In fact, I think there are only two veggies that we really don't like. Those would be sweet potatoes and, cabbage. 
      Like most people we have our Vices. I won't take time to delve into our deep dark skeletons cause those would probably, scare most people. I will tell you instead some of our guilty pleasures that you might not already know of. M and, I of course have our drinks Mt. Dew and, Dr. Pepper. P and, Q love bananas. All of us can't seem to resist Subway or, cheese quesadillas. As far as Tv shows go P and, Q love Dora. M's would have to be Dexter. Mine would be Law and Order SVU. Now none of these are too horrible but, like I mentioned we don't want to scare you away.

The letter U

      We are all quite stubborn and, Unbending. Luckily, we tend to agree on most things. However, sometimes we disagree on things. Like when P should go to bed. This usually results in a giant tug of war with P screaming no and, either M or myself having to coax him to bed. We're getting better at it though, by understanding that when it's dark outside then it's time for bed. 
      I feel like our family is very Unique. Some ways we are unique are: all of us are gamers, our boys have uncommon names, we have never lived or traveled much outside of Utah, and we both come from really large families. Hopefully, as we continue on each year there will be more traditions and things in our life together that are unique to us.
      Right now our future seems really Uncertain. We know that we are military but beyond that we don't know much. This whole life style is new to us. We are busy learning new terms. We are also learning what is expected of both the family and the soldier. We are also uncertain as to where we will be stationed at the end of tech school. Even though M seems to be doing great nothing is guaranteed yet making life exciting and nerve wracking.  
     Like most other parents we love our children Unconditionally. Despite the days when I feel like I live in a zoo, I want to pull my hair our, or just simply run away. I wouldn't trade my kiddos for anything. I also love M unconditionally. It would take A LOT to make me walk away from my crazy wonderful Hubby. I'm pretty sure they all feel the same way about me.

The letter T

       P has a Tiger that he sleeps with. He went to the Zoo with Grandpa E and, at the end of the day Grandpa bought him a stuffed tiger. To my surprise he's slept with it every night since. P doesn't play with stuffed animals much but, this one seems to be his favorite.
       The boys and, I tend to be quite a Tearful bunch. We cry easy and, sometimes over simple stupid things. I cry when things at church stand out to me. I also, tend to cry whenever I see somebody else crying. My favorite cousin happens to be the same way. We made the mistake of sitting by each other at a funeral. Needless, to say we both cried through the whole thing. I'm not a wuss, I'm just very emotionally perceptive.
      Both of the boys are very Thoughtful. They are constantly doing things to help each other. P is very good at watching out for Q. Q in turn is very good at sharing his toys with P. They will notice if I'm doing a chore and, come to help me. Another way they are thoughtful is that they both think and see things in a way I never would. P says things all the time that surprise me. The most recent was when he told me "I want to be a soldier like Daddy." My only guess is that he assumes if, he becomes a soldier too then, he can spend time with Daddy again. Other things he says: "I want to be tall like Grandpa", "Look my plate is a smiley face", and when asked why are you doing such and such "Cause it makes me happy".
      I have become a very Thrifty person. I have not yet become a coupon guru like some people but, I am all about a good deal. We don't buy name brand pretty much ever. I make menus out of what is on sale at nearby stores. M doesn't buy lunch because, I get up and pack one for him. We are big believers in hand me down clothes and, DI sales. Aside from a few appliances most things in our home are used. I just don't see any reason to pay full price for things. Especially, when I can get a used version that is of the same quality for much cheaper.  
      We are Trustworthy. If, I volunteer for something I'm there. When M commits he does it with his whole heart and, he's there til the job is done. P will actually tell me if he's been mean to Q.  As the boys grow we're trying to teach that their word is a contract, binding them to whatever they have agreed to. To me trust is a very important quality that either makes or breaks a person.

The letter S

       We love Sauces with just about everything. The boys won't even eat quesadillas unless they have ranch to dip them in. M has numerous stains on ties and T-shirts from various sauces. Our favorite that we've made up seems to be BBQ and ranch. Simple but really good. It seems to go with just about everything.
       I'm a big believer in being Self reliant. I hate asking for help especially if it has to do with finances. I have become better about it though. We've had many times in the last five years that I've had to be humbled. Throughout, M's various stages of unemployment we have received help from our church and, from the government. Without this help we probably wouldn't have made it. I'm grateful that these programs are available. I'm also thankful for what I learned from these times. I learned ask for help when you need it. I also learned about the importance of food storage and of saving. 
      We all love Singing. We seem to have music on alot of the time. Our boys have also learned to appreciate all kinds of music. My favorite is county, M's favorite is pop rock, P and Q love anything that has a good beat. We also listen to some church music on Sundays. The best thing about this is watching the boys try to sing along to a familiar song and dancing as they do. These family singalongs are quickly becoming some of my favorite memories.
       M loves his Sleep. Now, don't get me wrong most people love their sleep me included. But M LOVES his sleep more than most people. He can easily go to bed at like 9 pm and sleep til noon the next day. Not to mention sometimes he's ready for a nap three hours latter. It's crazy to me how long he can sleep. It used to start fights cause he would sleep too much. I have finally given up on this realizing there's just no way I can win. I love him dearly but sometimes I'd swear his secretly a sloth. 

The letter R

       I love everything about Rain.It seems to make the world look clean again. I also love that it means cuddle time at our house. I'm starting to love the activities that are possible after rain, such as playing in the mud and, of course jumping in puddles. P's expression during all of this is priceless. 
       I feel like sometimes my blog posts are just Ramblings. I tend to just write what's in my head and, sadly that doesn't always come out organized. I noticed this the other day as I wrote a letter to M. My thoughts tend to jump around a lot. Maybe, I'll work on this.
       I'm not one to wear makeup. I tend to go for the Raw look. I'm most comfy in jeans, a t-shirt and my hair up in a bun. Not the most attractive I know. I do put effort into looking nice when I'm going somewhere. (Unless of course it's Walmart or something then who cares.) Makeup however, has just not been my thing. I tried for a while when I was in junior high it just seemed like so much work for something so pointless. Plus, I realized some guys really don't care about it. (Like wonderful Mr. M.)
      All four of us love to Read. I read pretty much anything, M tends to like mysterious fantasy books, P and Q of course love the interactive children's books. We read to the boys at least one story a night. Then, most of the time M and I will retire to our room where we read our books while cuddling. Sometimes we read the same book as each other. The most recent series we read together was The Mortal Instruments. (really good) This summer I'm going to try and, find some short novels that I can read with the boys. We'll see how it goes. Either way I'm just glad we all love books.
      M is a big fan of Relaxing. I enjoy it but it's something I have a very hard time doing. As a result we're both stretching ourselves to benefit the other person. I'm working on letting things go a little bit more and, he's working on worrying more about things.  
      M loves doing Risky things. How so you ask? Well, his thinking spot is a gazebo in somebody's front lawn (trespassing and slightly creeper). Our favorite spot to sit and talk together was atop a farmer's hay bales (trespassing again). He loves to rock climb. He wants to go skydiving. I think my hubby might just be an adrenaline junky. If, it makes him happy and, he can stay alive doing it then, more power to him I suppose.
      Our marriage has no doubt been a Rocky one thus far. Many times we've almost called it quits. I still haven't changed my name it's been that rocky. Our courtship was rocky too. We have come to realize through all of this though, that there is nobody else we'd rather weather the storms with. Nobody, would understand me like he does. Nobody, could love the boys like M. In turn nobody could handle his crazy like me. By the way I'm changing my name in a few weeks (Shh don't tell, it's a graduation surprise for M). Things are getting better and, we're more in love each passing day.

The letter Q

     The letter Q at our house is all about this cute boy! Q has been stealthy even before he was born. He was a VERY unexpected and, unplanned baby. Q and P are exactly 18 months apart. Looking back I wouldn't change it but, it has been alot of work  (and tears) to get to this point.
     Q is the type of boy that if he's quiet you need to wonder what mess he's attempting to make. He has been the culprit behind several messes. Plus, he's super smart which means some child locks don't work on this kid.
      Even though he is a troublemaker, Q is equally loving. He is constantly asking for kisses and hugs. Both boys love to cuddle but, Q especially loves it. He thinks it's silly to blow kisses though.
      Like I mentioned before Q is smart. I'm not sure if it's because, he has an older brother or what but, he seems to progress alot faster than other kids his age. He walked and talked quite early. He can count to five and sing to the letter G. Overall, he just catches on to things very quickly.
      Q's very favorite thing in the whole world is music (just like Mommy). He loves to sing and dance. Surprisingly, he can actually carry a tune. Q gets lots of giggles in church cause he loves to sing VERY loud. I love his enthusiasm for music.
       As a parent we all love to see our children progress and grow. I am particularly excited to see how Q develops his talents and, how smart he is academically. He and P compliment each other perfectly. We love our sneaky boy more and more with each passing day.

The letter P

      The letter P at our house is obviously, all about Stormin P! He is absolutely ALL boy.  He was a slightly unexpected addition to our family. P has added such a great personality; I don't know how we ever managed without him.
      P is the oldest and he does such a good job at it. He is very protective of Q but, he can be equally bossy to him at times. Q doesn't seem to mind though cause they still play together alot. They are truly each others buddy. Playing cars, reading stories, and exploring the park together.
      Like any kid P loves to play and rough house. He is learning quickly that the bigger boys at the park know how to really play. I'm just hoping it doesn't lead to stitches.
      He is my big helper. P already does a few chores all by himself like unloading the dishwasher, vacuuming and picking up the play room. He loves to help me cook by sprinkling in the spices and dumping in extra ingredients. The best though seems to be mixing. P has become such a good cook that we have let him make dinner pretty much on his own a couple of times now.
      P is Daddy's shadow. He loves to do and, say anything that Daddy does. (BMT has been hard for Daddy's buddy.) P and Daddy play video games, watch movies, build race tracks, dance silly, wrestle, and play rescue heroes together all the time. He loves to cuddle with Daddy. Just like Dad he has to walk around with a blanket wrapped around his shoulders all the time. When it comes to home repairs P is right there handing tools and playing with the drill. This big helper even assisted in changing the oil on the car recently.
      We love him so much and are so proud of all of P's achievements. We can't wait to see all how amazing he will be when he grows up.  With all of his awesome qualities I'm sure he'll move mountains by the time he's done.

The letter O

     Children tend to be very observant. It seems every time I turn around P and Q are either repeating or mimicking something. They seem to pick up on even the smallest details. Now I'm not prone to be crude or cursing. However, I have still found there are some things I say and do that I don't want them repeating. They have and are continuing to help me end some of my more visible flaws. 
      I am very obstinate. I'm not sure if it's the debater in me or what.. but, I have found that once I've made a choice, my mind tends to be set no matter what else is said or done.   
      We are quite an odd crew. We do silly things like call each other poopers whether, it be when we're mad or teasing. We quote movies and comedians at odd times. We're silly and strange but it works for us.
      M tends to be offensive. After being together for 5 years I've learned it's not intentional most of the time. What it really tends to be is lack of a filter. Most people know when to say something and when to keep quiet. He seems to not recognize such times. Thankfully, we have developed a language that helps to prevent and sometimes diffuse such situations. It also has it's positive side though. I know that if I ask his opinion he will be 100% honest with me. 
      M is very much an outdoorsy type of guy. He in turn is helping me and the boys to become more this way. He loves to hike, camp, fish, and all sorts of other things. Though, I still will not go camping the snow or bad weather; I am starting to participate in more of these activities with him. The boys love being outdoors especially if it's in the woods exploring with Daddy. 
      All of the boys are very outgoing. They will be friends with anybody quickly. Also, as previously mentioned they'll tell you exactly what they're are thinking about pretty much anything. I actually envy at times their positive outgoing attitudes.

The letter M

     The most important thing that starts with M in our family is Daddy's name. For safety and privacy I'm obviously not going to tell you what it is. What I will tell you about is how awesome he is.
     The first thing that got my attention was how bold and, confident he is. He and I first met when he came with his best friend (now lovingly called Uncle Squeals by our boys) to a movie night at my apartment. I had previously canned an awesome batch of peaches. I had dished myself a bowl and sat down to eat and, watch the movie when he said "Are those peaches?" I replied "yes" rather hesitantly all the while thinking in my head "why do you ask?" His response was "May I have some?"
      Of course not wanting to be rude I said yes got up and, dished him a bowl too. Upon handing the bowl to him he flashed me the most handsome crooked smile I've ever seen and, said "You can sit by me if you want." So I did which actually surprised us both. I later found out he was totally joking and didn't expect me to take him up on it. I'm so very glad I did though.
      M is handsome, funny, and super smart. He is outdoorsy and, much more active then what I'm used to. Because, of this he constantly encourages me to do and be better at these weaknesses. He is an excellent chef and, a wonderful father. Sometimes, he is so good at playing with the boys that I wonder who is really the kid.  He is very laid back. In fact his motto is "Just let it happen." Meaning don't stress about life just go with the flow of things. M is also very hardworking. He would do absolutely anything to make sure our family is happy and safe. To sum it up M is a terrific guy and I feel so lucky that he has chosen to be with me throughout this journey called Life.

The letter L

      I hate being Late. It is my biggest pet peeve. I know it sometimes happens things come up last minute, traffic and other problems occur. Ultimately though, I'll do whatever it takes to be on time to appointments and meetings. If, I know I'm going to be late I most definitely call. In fact I've gotten to where I wake up way early if I have plans simply because, I've learned the days that I seem to have plans, for some reason are also the days that it tends to take the boys at least twice as long to do anything. It must just be Murphy's Law at work.
      M is a  Light weight. No I'm not referring to drinking. I'm literally talking he doesn't weigh much. He is 5'6 and weighs 120 on a good day. When he went to MEPS for processing he barely passed the height and weight requirements. We constantly tease and make jokes about his weight. Don't get me wrong though I love him just the way he is.
     We are super loving. We say I love you all the time. Kisses and hugs are frequent at our house. Despite the fact that we've been married four years, had several fights and, two kids we still act like newlyweds. He is and forever will be the love of my life. As a result of all of this our boys are learning to be super loving too. They are always hugging and kissing on us and other family members. I hope that we can be the example to them of what a good marriage looks like.
      We are members of  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We know there is a God in Heaven that He lives and love us. We know that the Savior atoned for our sins and, that because of this we can live again with our Heavenly Father. We know that God still hears and, answers prayers. We know that Joseph Smith did indeed pray and see the Father and the Son in the Sacred Grove; and that he is a Prophet of God. We know that revelation still exists and, occurs daily. We know that each person is entitled to personal revelation. We know that Thomas S. Monson is God's Prophet on the earth today. Finally, we know that by making and keeping sacred covenants we can be a family forever and, return to our Father's presence to have eternal happiness. As a family we invite you that if you don't already know these truths for yourself to begin reading the Book of Mormon and praying to the Lord to know if it is true. If you don't have a Book of Mormon leave a comment and I will send you one. These truths and many others that the church teaches have brought so much happiness to our lives. We are certain it will do the same for you and your family.

The letter J

     We Joke a lot at our house. We love comedians. Our favorites are Dane Cook, Christopher Titus and most recently Jeff Dunham. Most of our inside jokes tend to be the punch lines twisted to match real life scenarios. M's dream job is to be a comedian. I personally think he would do AMAZING at it. But, alas he has a bit of stage fright when it comes to this because it is something he wants so very much. Who knows maybe one day he'll work for Wise Guys but for now we'll stick with the military. Not as funny perhaps but tons more stable.  

      P and Q love Jumping. Whether it be on the bed, stairs, couches or floors. I feel like a say a million times a day "get down" or "stop jumping on that." (The one saying my parents would be most proud of is "Knock it off my house is not a jungle gym.") I have a favorite children's book line that says Sometimes that Mother felt like she was living in a zoo. Well lately I feel like that mother and the boys seem to be monkeys. Let's just hope this momma doesn't have to call the doctor anytime soon for the monkeys that keep jumping the bed. (sorry couldn't help myself)

      I feel this next word deserves the background story. I talk to M about all of the posts on our blog before I write them up. Most of the time he has great insight into what I should really say. So this was our conversation last night after laughing at realization that I'd forgotten the letter J.

M: You should do the word Juggling.

C: Juggling? What on earth are you talking about?

M: Think about it. Mom's juggle stuff all the time, Cleaning, Cooking, Kids stuff, for us lately the    move, plus you kinda manage my schedule.

C: I guess you're right. Ok juggling it is.

M: Besides after missing the letter you should at least make this post entertaining to make up for it.   

     Thanks to M, I have realized the job of a parent seems to be a Juggling act. As mom's we take care of the housework, kids, bills and, anything else that might pop up at home. Though I've yet to experience all of it Mil Spouses juggle even more. They juggle trainings, deployments, TDY's, PCS's, and so much more. Fathers do just as much juggling. Men go to work, come home and help with homework, yard work, bills and of course anything else that keeps the family happy. Perhaps this is why multitasking has come about. Because without it we'd fail at juggling it all. 

     This blog has become a type of Journal for me. I used to dread blogging but I have to admit the more I blog the more I love it. I've decided if I never have a million readers I'll at least be happy that the story of my life is written down. Don't get me wrong I LOVE that more people are starting to read it and comment. So keep reading and commenting cause you the reader really are the reason I keep typing all the time.  

The letter K

       I'd like to think that overall we are a Kind family. We try to help those around us. We donate when we can. We follow the golden rule. We're certainly not the best at it but, I think over all our friends now we're always there for them.

       We have Kids. Two wonderful, smart, mischievous, occasionally bickering boys. Sometimes, they drive us crazy (today being one of those days) but, we love them. I couldn't imagine what life would be like without them. I'm so very excited to watch P and Q grow; I can't wait for all the memories we'll make together as a family.

        Most people call it spinach but, for the sake of this post I'm going to refer to it as Kale. I love it. My most favorite recipe Stuffed shells has kale in it. I would put in pretty much everything if I could. The very best though is when it is steamed and has vinegar on it. Yummy, and it's healthy too! 

        We have a new restaurant that we absolutely love it's called The Karaoke Cafe. If you live in Utah and you haven't tried it you really should. It might help some that we know the owners, it really is such a great place though.Best part is it's a family friendly joint and there is NO alcohol. You pay a little bit of money to get in the door that covers your drink andm all the songs you can sing. They've even got some kids songs. Next time we go I'll have to record P singing. He loves that place and, absolutely hates when it's not his turn to sing. (He gets that from Dad) Even, if you don't like to sing go eat a yummy burger and listen to other people try to sing.

The letter I

       I am very Imperfect, as I'm sure most people on the planet are.Earlier, in the year I set some goals to help me improve. I'll have you know that it has not been easy. However, I do feel like I'm making progress with each of my goals (especially with laundry mountain). Gordon B. Hinckley once said "You will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice will prove to be the greatest investment that you will ever make." This is certainly starting to feel like the truth. 
       We are all Important. Recently, I watched "The Help". It was such a great movie. The one thing that stuck with me is how we all have a story to tell. It also reinforced something I had always known but never really heard put so simply: "You is smart, You is kind, You is important." This is so true of all people especially, children. 
       It always amazes me how Impressionable kids are. I am quickly learning that anything and, everything can and, most likely will be repeated. Sometimes this is cute, other times not so much. In fact, most of the time it tends to be downright embarrassing. Hopefully, in the end my children will have learned the important thing that they are SO loved.
       Some behaviors are not really learned at home though and they tend to be Inappropriate. Lately we have struggled with three things at our house. They are coloring on the wall, pinching, and being bossy. Though I'm not proud I'm hoping it is just a stage that will pass quickly. Any suggestions on how to rid the house of theses and other such things would be greatly appreciated.

The letter H

      We're a very Happy bunch most of the time. M's favorite saying is Just let it happen. Basically it means go with the flow and love it.
       Though it is starting to get harder both of the boys tend to be very Helpful. They love to vaccum and unload the dishwasher. However, their most favorite thing to help with is carrying the warm laundry over to the couch to be folded. The only real fight I have when asking them to help is when cleaning up toys.
       I've become very good at making Homemade food. We went through nine months of unemployment this last year. Within that time frame it became cheaper for me to make our bread rather than buy it. Also with the help of the internet I've learned how to make lots of our favorite restaurant foods from scratch. We have grown so used to having homemade food that it's really what we tend to prefer these days. With the help of my new bread maker it's becoming a much easier thing to do. :)
       It seems to me that the three boys in the house are always Hungry. We'll eat a meal and easily 30 minutes later one of them will be perusing the cupboards for something else. I'm more of a late night snacker though. Because of this we're getting better about trying to have healthy foods in the house. So that when we all get the munchies rather than eating our beloved gummy bears we eat an apple or some carrots. It must be starting to sink in to P's head.While at the grocery store he'd been so good that he earned a treat and, my smart boy picked out a green apple as his reward. 

The letter G

        M and I are both Gamers. As result P is starting to be one too. Not to worry I do limit how much all of us play. We mainly play PC games. My game of choice is WOW (World of Warcraft), M's game is League of Legends, P's game is Plants vs. Zombies. I won't go in to much more about this cause I don't want to bore you but, let it be known we're one of those gamer families out there.

       I love Ghost shows. My favorite is Ghost hunters. If I were ever actually confronted with a real ghost I'd probably be the biggest chicken ever. For now though i love my paranormal shows.

        As a parent I feel I'm quite fluent in Gibberish. My children have been speaking it since about six months. I used to absolutely love to hear them babble on in conversation. Now, however I'm starting to wish they'd speak English just a little bit more. Especially since these days the gibberish tends to be most prominent when they are in a bad mood.

      We love Gummy stuff. Whether it be gummy bears, worms or whatever else the food industry can come up with. I don't know if it's the strange flavors or the texture. It is just the best junk food known to man. We also can never seem to have enough at our house.

       I've said it before and I'll say at least a thousand more times we have Good kids.I'm not sure how they have so much patients, kindness, love, and concern in them but I'm so very glad they do. These are good boys now I just need them to stay this way.

       In case you missed it in the last post my favorite color is Green. Just to recap my wedding was green and pink the bathroom is green, and some kitchen items are green. Not sure why I just love the color green.