Just when I thought I'd throw in the towel. . . .

This morning was rough. Kids moved like snails--feels like we will be late, mom gets stressed, kids start fighting with each other, mom takes away friend and Wii privileges for the day. . . . . . and all of this was before 8:00 A.M.

When Davis got home, he really wanted to know if there was a way he could earn back his Wii time for the day. So I sat down with him, and we brainstormed some extra chores he would have to accomplish. . . .this included vacuuming the ENTIRE basement. Well, it has taken a few hours, but he did everything on my list!

Davis pranced upstairs, so proud of himself-- I guess the vacuum is a very large object for a little 6 yr-old-- and asked if he and Eliza could now play Wii. "Well, Eliza still hasn't done her reading or made her bed yet," was my response.

Davis said, "Okay. Eliza helped me with the vacuuming. She moved the stuff out of the way so I wouldn't suck it up. So, I'll help with her bed. . . . . ." Ahhh, proud mom.

And to top it off, the kids just went outside-- so Eliza could read TO Davis outside (he did his reading right after school).

Maybe there is is hope in this family after all.

Wow. . . .Standing up for your beliefs--in a tough crowd!

My friend posted this YouTube link about Miss California's response to a question regarding gay marriage. . . .Yes, she probably could have been more eloquent, but you've got to give her props for making her stance known when her opinion was very unpopular.

It is sad that people are blasting her for being direct and clear about her opinion, while also trying to make it clear that she had nothing against others who disagreed with her.

Here's the link to her post: GO MISS CALIFORNIA

Just Wasting Time. . . . .

For all of you that just needed one more internet game to waste time with:

http://woodgears.ca/eyeball/

ENJOY!

I think God has a sense of humor

Is it coincidence that in the same week I got released from my Primary calling (young children) and got called to be a Relief Society teacher (organization for women), I also found my first gray hair?

I think not.

Spring Break!

Yeah! D had his first week off since September this week--and it coincided perfectly with the twins' Sprink Break from school. . . . . . .

We were going to make the rounds through some historic parks in Southern Utah, but after a crazy birthday party last Friday, we decided to leave Monday morning instead of Saturday-- and since the weather forecasts were threatening rain and cold temps, we decided to crash in St. George for the week instead of a driving/camping tour.

The top 5 list for our trip included:

5) Davis and Eliza playing around with the cousins (Davis and Kaden could barely be drug away from Davis's new Wii game, Super Mario Sluggers).

4) Swimming at Doc's pool . . . . .though, for me, I must admit the swimming was trumped by lazily sitting in the hot tub, yeah!

3) Sleeping in a tent outside Doc's house and roasting marshmellows in his fire pit. (guess which pregnant lady opted out of the sleeping bag for the comforts of the bed inside?)

2) Jodi's (D's sister) help tying a patchwork quilt that I made over 2 1/2 years ago!! (it just takes Jodi for me to finish a project) And as a reward for finishing the quilt: pedicures. . . .thanks Val for the gift certificate.

1) D GOT STUNG BY A SCORPION!!! Okay, okay, that is definitely not a top 5 great thing-but it was memorable. It happened Tuesday, and he was in pretty terrible pain the first 24 hours. . . it tapered off, but his foot is still numb (hoping the feeling comes back soon). Ironically, he was stung Tuesday morning after they camped outside-- but the scorpion somehow made its way into the house and D practically sat on it (isn't he glad the sting was on his foot and not, hmm, higher). Needless to say, the sting definitely put a nix on any sort of hiking we would have done, though the weather was pretty bad too.

Two thoughts:

1) I have a new indulgence: a long, hot shower every night after the kids go to bed. But, with this indulgence brings a slight problem: when I go to bed with my hair slightly wet, it dries in the most crazy, not-to-be-seen-in-public ways. So, I'm left to either give up this habit, or use shower caps-- anyone seen any shower caps for sale? I was worried that shower caps were only meant for old ladies, but after viewing this picture, I can conlude that they are COOL!!

2) If you ever have twins who you feel compelled to offer them a birthday party--DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT-- throw their parties simultaneously. I let each of the twins invite 10 friends . . . . . . doesn't sound too bad, right? Well, 10 isn't bad, but 20 is another story!! I seriously hosted a kindergarten class-sized party. Yes, I'm still alive, thanks to my mom, my sister, and my sleep-deprived husband. . . . .but a friend asked D which was the harder part of his day: a 30 hour on-call shift the night before in the surgical ICU or the twins' party. . . .can you guess what his answer was?

Making the Switch

Hey all you avid readers: I am reluctantly making the switch to private today. I saw too many news specials with weirdos stealing your pictures or running scams from info obtained from your blog. I am just way too open and could provide a great target.

If you'd like an invite to the blog, just email me at: camillamillar@gmail.com

If you like my blog, but we've never met, email me anyway--I've made some great cyber-friends from blogging.

Say What?

A few days ago, a well-intentioned (though I might add somewhat clueless--sorry!) male asked me, "So have you just been hanging out lately?"

I answered, "I am not teaching classes anymore. I stay home with my kids."

I was hurt. . . . is that what my life boils down to? "Hanging out?"

In this person's defense, I think he was just trying to make conversation. . . . . FYI to male's who don't know what to say to a stay-at-home-mom: ask her what she's been doing with her time, ask her what activities her kids have been up to. . . .ask her something, anything, that doesn't sound like her life is made up of sitting in front of the T.V., eating bonbons--because, I guarantee you--she hasn't been doing anything like that!

Night Before the Big Day

Last night I kept waking up to Eliza (who just moved into her own room underneath us-- ahh, huge milestone, breaking up the twins) sneaking out of bed and tiptoeing up the stairs to see if it was daytime yet.

Then, I started remembering the early morning hours 6 years ago-- I couldn't sleep at all that night either because I knew in just a few hours I would become a mom!

My how 6 years can change your life. . . . . . I am so grateful for my twins and the joy they've brought me. Even though sometimes I get bogged down in responsibility and bummers of motherhood (can you say laundry and dishes, anyone?)--I wouldn't change my life for the world. I am so grateful for my blessings, and my two little, now 6-year-olds are among the biggest.

2003

2004
2005

2006

2007

20082009 (today)

He figured it out

I recently read this post on Jenny's blog. It gave me a good laugh.

As if by divine karma (or something like that, considering Jenny's post), today Davis decided to announce, "Mom, parents are their kid's butlers, you know."

So, yes, Jenny, I guess that makes us the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker. . . . . . . . .

Recently I've Noticed. . . .

that men who drive hybrid SUV's also sport a rugged, long beard.

Perhaps the same reasons they wear a beard also induced them to purchase the SUV:

--manly, rough exterior

--lower maintenance (who wants to spend all their extra time shaving OR visiting the gas station?)

--conserving energy (again less shaving, less fuel= better for the environment, also who could argue the warmth that is conserved on the face)