This Sucks

Tomorrow we load up the moving van, clean out the house and prepare for the 22 hour drive to Arizona. Where I hear it's been over a hundred degrees already. Talin keeps passionately crying out, "I'm going to die in Arizona, it's too hot!" This from a boy who is dying on days that the temp reaches 85 degrees here. Yeah, maybe he will die.
This is all too surreal, to think we'll be in Arizona by Sunday. Wow.
And to top it all off, Collin currently has a nose bleed that is running like a faucet. How did that happen?
Anyway...

(oh and by the way I cut the boys hair. the whole missionary haircut manipulation totally worked, thanks Amy.)

Mounting Frustrations

Here is Tom's solution to making Talin use a spoon to eat his cereal.
Yes, that is tape around his hand.
He taped the spoon into Talin's hand.
It worked.

And I have a dilemma, Talin needs a haircut.
Every time I bring it up, these big crocodile tears well up in his eyes and he starts begging me to let his hair grow out.

Please comment.
I'm taking votes.
Keep the long hair that wisps into his eyes, or cut it.
Talin would appreciate the long haired votes.
Tom would appreciate the buzz cut.

Stuff on my mind

Ten more days until we move. I feel like the energizer bunny trying to get everything done. You never realize how much stuff you really have until you try to put it all in boxes. And you never realize how much stuff you’re reliant on until something you need is in one of those boxes. Moving is a frustrating endeavor. I feel like I should be a pro by now. By the time I was eighteen I had moved fifteen different times, granted I probably didn’t do a whole lot on those moves, but shouldn’t I have gotten more skilled through osmosis? And in my almost nine years of marriage we’ve moved five different times, still doesn’t get any easier. Why do I have so much stuff? And why has my husband seemed to accumulate every single cord and extension known to man?

Talin and Collin have informed me that living with Grandma Cyndee is going to be the good life for them. I’ve heard things out of their mouths such as, “When we live with Grandma, she’ll let us do whatever we like”, or “If you tell Grandma to spank us she won’t listen to you, she’s nice”. Seriously? I thought I was an awesome mom, I don’t spank! I say that and hope they can’t remember their toddler years, where swatting their bums seemed to be the only form of discipline that sunk into their little man heads.

This morning I’m in the kitchen, the boys are off at school, Caleb had just woken up and was sitting in the family room in a sleepy state, so I thought I was safe. I thought I could take two minutes to load up the meds into the syringes. No. No faith in this child to stay still, not even for two minutes! I turn around, he’s gone. I hear diabolical giggling. Where is he?? Sitting at the top of my long flight of stairs. Holy Crap!! This child is the death of me. As soon as he sees me he knows. The smile vanishes and he takes off crawling at Superman speed, not kidding.

While I was enjoying the Tulip Festival on Saturday, I guess the boys had an interesting experience at the golf course. Well, I guess interesting isn’t the right word. Tom had a cart and he went golfing with a friend of his that took his little girl as well. While Tom was driving he had Collin next to him and then Talin. I guess the two boys were talking; well at least Collin was, when Tom took a corner really sharp and Talin fell out rolling. Collin’s still talking to Talin this whole time, has no idea that Talin has fallen out. Neither does Tom. Until his friends yells at him and Tom turns around to see Talin crying and running after the golf cart. The poor kid had a headache the rest of the day.

And Talin has taken up casual swearing. And before anyone laughs and wonders where he gets it from I would like to inform you all that I have not casually sworn in a very, very, very long time. He DID NOT learn the d.a.m.n. word from me. And although it’s been quite alarming, it’s also hard not to hide my snickering when he does swear.

Some Examples:

“Collin, put the damn food in your mouth”

“Throw the damn Frisbee”

Playing at UNO with the family, “damn!”

He uses it in the correct context and all. This is like my perfect future prophet child. Life is full of surprises.

Pella

I have less than two weeks before the big move. Two weeks from right now, Saturday 4:04 pm, I will be driving to Arizona! Holy crap. So in making the most of my time I spent the day in Pella for the Tulip Festival. Packing your house is so overrated anyway....

Beautiful Tulips!

It was crowded, and I went with two friends and we got away with only three babies between us, I left the older boys behind to play golf with dad today, it was a lot of fun. I just wish there weren't so many people there. Three strollers made it impossible to go in and out of the crowded little shops. But at least I can say I finally made it down to Pella in the three years we were here.

Me and my boy, isn't he a chunk? I love it!

Now I'm off to our sixth dinner appointment this week (you get really popular when you're moving away). And I have to prep for a talk in church tomorrow. Is it not a complete crime that I'm speaking on Mother's Day!!!?

He's Walking

I HATE Goodbyes

This afternoon we said goodbye to Elder and Sister Hoopes. We are going to miss them so much!! The only good thing is that they are moving to Arizona, so we have plans to visit this summer. We can't wait to go up to the mountains and hang out, we're hoping to spend the Fourth of July with them.
It's so sad that we're moving and it's beyond painful to say goodbye to everyone, we'll miss so many people and friendships we've had here. And with the Hoopes gone, I don't know what my children will do without their weekly Sis. Hoopes treat!

THE MOST SPOILED BOY IN THE WORLD.
Mr. Talin Chambers is seven years old today.

Mom and Dad gave him the awesomest present EVER.

A guy in our ward does woodwork, so we had him build Tal a castle for his birthday. He was thrilled.

7 Things About Talin:

1. He is kind and loving.

2. He loves to help others and although unaware of his surroundings most often, he is always aware of those around him and how they're feeling.

3. He loves his family and his brothers.

4. He plays well with others, like seriously everyone.

5. He is the most handsome seven year old I've ever seen. Ever since he was a baby I've had people tell me how GQ he is, and how I need to get him into modeling.

6. He is sensitive, emotionally, spiritually, and has a desire to please and do what is right.

7. Talin is super creative, intelligent, hard thinking and hard working. He loves to build, create and imagine. This kid could be left alone for hours on end and not need anyone to entertain him.

We LOVE this boy and are grateful that he's in our family!

Birthday Party Chaos

Talin turns seven on Wednesday, but we had the big bash yesterday. It was a ton of fun.

The cake.
Bottom layer was chocolate filled with oreo cream filling, and the top was vanilla with oreo cream filling (Amy's recipes). The cake tasted awesome.

While everyone was swimming, poor Caleb had to be strapped down for a feeding. He now has to be strapped into something when he eats, if not he inevitably pulls his tube out, no matter how careful or watchful we are. It's insane.

Swimming Birthday Boy!

Talin loved the cake. Collin tried to tell me that it looked a little pink, and that Talin had wanted the castle to be grey and he was going to be very upset. Needless to say, I got no complaints from Talin. Although we did compromise on the cones. I liked the lighter blue ones on top, and Tal liked the darker blue ones. So after one of my light blue cones broke I compromised with the two different colored cones, although it totally goes against what I believed to be more attractive.

We had the party at the YMCA and shared it with his friend Connor who is also turning seven. So they blew out their candles together and we had a ton of kids there as well.

Enjoying the cake.
After eating cake the kids all went on a Knight's Quest.

First they had to climb the rock wall to find their masks.

Then they had to find their shields. Don't they look so cool?

And finally they found their swords. What's a Knight without his sword?

After they were decked out in their Knight necessities they went to find the enemy.

Poor Tom seemed like a great choice to take their rage out on.

Sixteen kids attacked him.

He was a good sport, but those kids were vicious. I convinced the kids that he was dead, only after I felt he had a sufficient beating.

Then it was time for presents.

And I totally deserve mother of the year after this party. Without Lisa's (Connor's mom) help, this would not have been very cool. She set up the quest and did all the decorations. I thought it was totally awesome, and I think Talin did too.

Delicious

Do you know what else is delicious?
Cake batter.
I have memories of this last pregnancy. Making cake or cupcakes or whatever, and Tom constantly swatting my hand away from the batter. So apparently it's okay for me to eat it all the other times, but not when I'm carrying his unborn child...Hmmm. That might need to be discussed some time.
Anyway, cake batter is really good, and really bad for you, probably why I'm attracted to it. I'm attracted to most foods that are good tasting yet bad consequenting (and yeah, I know that consquenting isn't really a word, but I like the way it sounds. should be a word).
Talin's big birthday party is on Saturday and I'm making a castle cake, which is why my mind is on cake batter today. I'm not great at cake making, but I enjoy it, so I really hope I can make the castle cake to be super awesome. Because I really want my almost seven-year-old to think I'm super awesome.

Easter Day

Easter was great. We had some friends over, ate ham (of course) and enjoyed an Easter egg hunt. The pictures didn't turn out well, I wasn't putting much effort into it, but it's quite humorous how almost all of them are of peoples backsides.

So enjoy.

Talin was running around like a crazy man and kept spilling his eggs everywhere, this was a common site: Talin on the ground picking up eggs.

I love this holiday, and not just for the chocolate eggs, although they're pretty fantastic; I love this holiday because of the reminder it brings us of our Savior and his sacrifice and atonement and resurrection. It's unfortunate that we don't always focus on this every single day, because it's a humbling blessing that should be remembered each and everyday. I just hope that my children remember Easter with their Savior in mind and always remember the ultimate and beautiful sacrifice he made for us.

Happy Easter!

Love,
The Chambers

Good Friday...

...was good.

No school.

A little Ben Hur.

Lot's of sugar.

FOR SALE

1. One healthy (almost) seven-year-old who likes to take the neighbors duck tape and tie up his tree. He also enjoys walking through homes with muddy shoes and leaves tiny lego pieces randomly throughout the house, and constantly proclaims how unfair life really is. 2. Another healthy boy of five who also enjoys walking around homes with muddy shoes. Other hobbies include talking exceptionally loud, insisting on having things repeated to him at least three times before complying and refusing to play on his own unless being entertained by a second party.

3. This little guy is a true delight and would be thrown in for free with purchase of older two boys. He enjoys pulling out trash from the garbage and scattering it in the kitchen, breaking glass plates, knocking over plants and fruit baskets, crawling into fireplaces filled with soot, knocking down baby gates and climbing up stairs and most recently hiding in remote places, like behind couches where he is not easily accessible and difficult to reach. You'll get a real work out with this one, and if you haven't lost weight from his care alone, full refund will be rewarded.

Hearing Aide Status: MIA 3 weeks
Retrieved by Relief Society President in church building

This hearing aide ain't going nowhere!

Run

One of the first things that turned my head towards Tom when I was single was overhearing him telling someone how fast he ran the mile.

Four minutes, twenty-four seconds.

And then he quickly corrects me each time; it’s really twenty-seven seconds. But I like to exaggerate. Twenty-four sounds so much cooler, and what is three seconds?

So I’ve always thought running was hot. In conversations pertaining to my husband, if you don’t know him well I always try to find a way to sneak in the fact that he runs, and he runs fast. I love to hear the oohs and aahhhs when I give them the actual number. It’s like I’m bragging about one of my children. Maybe that’s because I’ve never been able to do it, I don’t know.

I did run a 10K a few years back.
It was sad.
Pathetic.
I trained for months.
I ran six miles everyday, well almost everyday. The sad thing is, I was blessed with long legs (well it doesn’t always seem like a blessing try finding a skirt that goes to the knees!), yet I can never get myself out of a granny trot. For some reason I can’t get my knees up when I run, I can never get into a stride, I shuffle. So odd.

I don’t really have a point to this post today, I'm kind of just rambling because I’m sick of looking at my picture every time I check blogs.

Back to running.
Tom has decided to start running again. He hasn’t run in a long time. Most normal people who haven’t run in a long time have to ease into it. Not Tom. He jumps on the treadmill and goes. He goes for like an hour. And he does not granny trot.

It just doesn’t seem fair. How can I admire his ability and even be a little turned on by it, and yet still have seething envy for his talent?

So I’ve decided to start running again.

Something amazing has happened.
I’m not running really fast or really long.
But my knees have picked up this week.

I’ve finally found my stride.

Now that’s a happy story. We’ll see if I’m still doing this in three months!