I HATE CRAYONS

Hate---it is a VERY strong word. I don't allow my children to use it because I feel it is a word with such an ultimatum and leaves not room for forgiveness. I really try not to use it myself except in extreme situations. Well, this is an extreme situation. I HATE CRAYONS!!!! Even as a child I didn't really like them. I didn't like the way they smelled and I didn't like how they made my hands feel. For those reasons I still don't like crayons as an adult. But, I have one more reason as an adult that I don't like crayons----they go through the laundry and RUIN clothing. A few years ago Taylor left an orange crayon in his pocket. It went through the laundry and ruined many things. Being the poor college student's wife that I was I desperately called the Crayola 800 number and followed their suggestion on how to get crayon out---this involved a lengthy process of applying WD-40, dish soap, and maybe one other thing to the clothing, rubbing it in and then washing the clothing, and then repeating if necessary!! It took forever. Not something I wanted to repeat again.
Fast forward 3 1/2 years--- last week I was pulling clothes out of the dryer. What do my tired, I've had a long day, mother of 4 children, I just want a break eyes behold????!!!!! "NO, it can't be, not again. I thought we learned that lesson." Yep, it was orange crayon. But, says me, "It will be okay. It ruined a few things but it was on mostly dark things and mostly play clothes." I was upset and reprimanded my children the next morning. I thought that was the end of it. But, apparently there is something I didn't learn the two previous times. Today, being Monday and laundry day because all good wives in Boston do their laundry on Monday (name that book), I pulled a load of clothes---jeans no less--- out of the dryer. And what do my little peepers see? Yet another crayon wrapper in my dryer. "Oh, maybe they peeled it off and put the wrapper in their pocket," I foolishly think. Then I begin to look more closely at the new fodder for the landfill. Yes, there is WHITE melted crayon on the freshly washed clothes.
Two weeks in a row. This is ridiculous. I don't want to wait around and see what will go through next week---maybe purple or perhaps turquoise? No thank you. I can now say my home is a "crayon free" zone. That's right, I threw every crayon in my house away (with the exception of one lone brand spankin new orange one--I just couldn't throw away a new one and it is carefully hidden). Now, hold on there. I know you are thinking I am a terrible mother. Where and how will my children share their creative abilities and express themselves. Lest you turn me into Child Protective Services let me tell you my children do have WASHABLE markers and colored pencils. So you may rest easy knowing that my children will still be able to share with the world their creative side through other mediums. Also, I've been thinking maybe I should start a new designer children's clothing line. I'll call it CRAYOLAWEAR. No two pieces will be alike. I'll make a bundle!!

A Long Time Coming

Okay, so nobody probably even reads or checks my blog anymore since it has been so stinkin long since I updated it. Life has been busy and to be honest it is so much more fun to see what the rest of you are doing than write my own stuff. The last few months have kept us busy but we are happy and doing well. Here is an attempt to bring you up to speed. Carly turned 4 in March and had a Tinkerbell cake. We love you Carlyn!
The weekend of the father's and son's campout for our ward ended up being cold and rainy so instead we set up the tent in the living room and all the kids slep in there. Oops, I didn't get a picture of them actuallyin the tent.




Scott's mom and dad and sister came to visit us at the end of March. Thanks for coming!

Here are the boys on the ferry in Galveston with their flat Stanley's when we took Gr. & Gr. and Katie. It was a cold windy day.

Spencer like the ferry ride too, but he stayed inside most of the time.

Carter in the water on the beach. The kids were all soaked within a few minutes We thought they would stay out of the water since it was only about 60 degrees and a cold breeze was blowing. But, no. And then we got their second outfits wet too!!! AAARRGGHH!

We also took Grandma and Grandpa to Brazos Bend State park to see the alligators. There weren't really any big ones this year. Mostly 2 year old who were only about 4 feet long and they weren't on the banks so you could see them up close. Oh well. They also have a nature center where you can learn about different kinds of animals and touch some. Last year Carly loved the corn snake. This year she and Carter got to pet a Tarantula. Very brave.

Here are Carter and his good buddy AJ with a HUGE shell they found at the park. We had to take a picture because I am a mean mom and wouldn't let them bring it home. It was absolutely disgusting, all slimy and gross.

For Easter dessert we made Chocolate Pizza. It was amazing (even if I do say so myself). In this picture Taylor is upset because we put nuts on too much of it.

NEVER, NEVER let this happen to you!

Recently I was cooking some black beans in the pressure cooker. Well, the pressure got too high and my pressure release valve (no, not the rocker) blew off thus spraying hot black bean water onto my kitchen ceiling and all over the front of my cupboards and microwave. All I can say is the Lord was really watching over me that day because literally 1 minute before it happened I had been standing with Spencer right next to the stove. If we had been standing there we would for sure have gotten burned. Thankfully we had just gone out the back door and I heard a loud pop.

Spencer and Elizabeth. We trade baby sitting for date nights with a friend. Here is Spencer and Elizabeth. She is such a cute little girl. I just love her curls and chubby cheeks. She reminds me a little bit of Carly at that age except Carly didn't have those awesome curls. And guess what?! She loves me too! Just yesterday I dropped Carly and Spencer off at my friend's house to be babysat so I could go to the temple guess who cried when I left? It wasn't Spencer. It was Elizabeth! She gets excited when she sees my house and cies when I leave hers. And, when she wants her parents and they can't hold her and won't go to other people she 'll come to me. So, yea for me. I have a little friend.