Matt

As most of you know, Matt is now on 3rd shift. Last night was the first night. I don't like it. But he still has a job so for that I am grateful.

He is also taking a motorcycle class this weekend. So this is what the schedule looks like for Matt this weekend:
Friday - Class 5 PM - 10 PM, worked 11 PM to 7 AM
Saturday - Class 8 AM (but was there as soon after work as he could get there) - 5 PM, come home eat a quick dinner, sleep for maybe 4.5 hours, work 11 PM - 7 AM
Sunday - Class 8 AM (also he will be there as soon after work as possible) - 5 PM, come home eat a quick dinner, sleep for maybe 4.5 hours, work 11 PM - 7 AM
Although he doesn't HAVE to work Sunday night. His nights off are now Sunday and Monday. But we need the money so as long as he feels up to it I am sure he will be working.

I am exhausted, my house is becoming a wreck, the kids and I are butting heads quite a bit, but Matt still has a job so I need to suck it up.

I have explained to The Gs, a few times, that Daddy will now be working while we are sleeping at night and he will need to nap during the day. So we will have to be very quiet and let him sleep. G1 told me "I don't need to sleep." I think maybe he figures if he doesn't sleep then Daddy won't have to go to work.

We've only had one night so far with him on 3rd. It went better than I expected. I didn't sleep the best. I woke up with a headache. But I think it might be okay as we get used to it. We will just need to figure out a new routine that will work for our family.

G4 is 1!!!!

Here is my sweet princess at 7:59 this morning. Exactly one year old. She is absolutely amazing.

Happy birthday Giuliana Marie!! We all love and adore you! Thank you for blessing our lives with your sweet spirit.

Today we are going to a zoo. Have a great day everyone!

Coloring

I have decided I keep way too many papers. So I am going to start scanning in The Gs' pictures. Then I can recycle the "hard copy" and still be able to have it.

Today's coloring page was the letter "A." On the backs of their pages I told them to draw a person (I drew the circle-ish shapes for G2 and G3).

The first page is mine (don't worry I won't always post mine, I just felt like it today).

G3 wanted me to write her name on her page twice.
The scanner was being weird and wouldn't scan all of the back of G3's paper but at least you get to see most of her person.
G1 didn't want me to write his name on his paper because he already had. That is the spot that is in the red square with the black arrow pointing to it. If you look at it bigger you can totally tell that's what he was trying to do. Mom remind me when you are here sometime and I will show you. Rick/Ginny and Marcia if you want to see in person you can too.
G1 was an overachiever and drew 3 people, then he wanted me to write the people's names over them. I think he is a pretty good.
G2 wanted to just keep switching colors. I'm pretty sure she didn't look at her page much. She was pretty busy driving me crazy by climbing on top of the table.

G4 loves to color. She had more on her page but the scanner wouldn't scan anymore of the paper than this. She also loves to eat the colored pencils/crayons.

Work

I need a job. One that pays money, not hugs and kisses.

I don't want that kind of job.

I do want to get ahead of our finances though.

I want to stay home with my children even though they make me even more insane than I already was.

I am not qualified for anything.

For the past 3.5 years my life has been dedicated to my family.

How in the world would I ever be able to find a job that I could be any good at?

I am not trained for anything.

I will NOT work fast food (or really any food industry) again. I know I shouldn't be so picky, but it's something I just won't do.

The thought of trying to find a job terrifies me.

It's been on my mind a lot lately. I really think it is something I need to do.

I haven't told Matt. But I know he will support this decision.

Any job I get has to work around Matt's work schedule. We would never be able to afford to put The Gs into daycare.

A mom and her son being goofy

Marcia I might fire you from guessing on the quizzes because you know everyone too well. :-P

Spring 2009 Photoshoot Part 1

We all know that my beautiful sister is extremely talented. She takes amazing photographs, especially if they are of The Gs. :-)
Most of you have seen most if not all of these pictures, so you will have to "suffer" through seeing them again.
A few weeks ago our family went with Marcia (well actually she rode with us) to Nauvoo. That is where she took thousands of pictures - seriously there is 8 disks of those pictures (and then another disk of pictures from at her house). So there will be many many parts to these posts with pictures from the photo shoot.
It will be very hard to narrow it down so just bare with me. I will probably only be doing a few pictures at a time so this may take a while for you to see them all.
Also I need help figuring out which pictures to use for: the banner up top - I can either do something like that is up there now or something different, whatever you all think - and for each of the pictures on the side. So if you see any that really stand out to you that you think I should use in those places let me know.
In the first picture G3 is on the left and G2 is on the right.
Then the other pictures are in age order.

Marcia,

Thank you again for allowing our family the honor of having you photograph us. We had a blast (like we always do) and look forward to going back down to Nauvoo to have more fun.

We think you are amazing and so glad you are such a big part of our lives.

We love you very much.

Love,

Ronda, Matt and The Gs

Walking

I would now consider G4 to be walking. Today she has walked a lot more than she has crawled. Yay for walking! My baby isn't so much a baby anymore. And I think I might be okay with that.

Also, I have sent out pretty much all the invites for G4's birthday party.
I made up ones to hand out to people that I could actually hand to in person.
I rolled up the papers and tied them with a ribbon. Kind of like a scroll.
I think they are cute. I thought those of you that I had to send store bought ones to would enjoy seeing this one.
If you didn't get an invite it doesn't mean we don't love you!
You are more than welcome just let me know if you are coming! :-)

Almost 1

Eating breakfast this morning.
In one week from today G4 will be a year old!!

My baby boy...

This is the very first picture I ever took of G1. He was 24 hours 13 minutes old. Although I still needed to be laying down the nurses knew how important it was for me to finally get to meet my baby boy. So they took me in to the nursery - Intensive Care side - where I got hold him and kiss him and talk to him. I was in there no more than 15 minutes and I loved on that little baby as much as I could during that time. I'm pretty sure Matt was relieved that I finally got to go in because I had been sending him in at least every hour to "go make sure Gavyn is okay" even through the night.

When they wheeled me in the first thing I said was "I know you." He turned his little head (he had been facing the other direction) to look for me. I was so amazed that he knew my voice. But of course for the past 37 weeks he had pretty much been my best friend. I spent my pregnancy talking to him. Telling him about everything; my friend, family, my frustrations, his daddy, etc. I always wanted to be a mom, but man babies terrified me. Then when I had a little (just over) 4 pound baby I was even more terrified of babies. But I loved him more than anything in the world. I spent as much time at the hospital as I could until I finally got to take him home.

Anyway, I got sidetracked. This post isn't about that. This post is about my baby boy now.

G1 is refusing kisses. If I am lucky he will let me kiss his cheek or his hair. But then he wipes it off. He now calls me "Momma" most of the time rather than "Mommy." It is so cute but so sad at the same time. G1 can "read" most of the letters now. He can spell DAD, GAVYN, and BINGO. He sounds so grown up when he talks. The way G1 explains things to his sisters is amazing. He loves teaching them.

G1 said his first scripture and prayer in Primary on Sunday (with the help of his Sunbeam teacher). When he came out of the Primary room he looked so pleased with himself. He was grinning from ear to ear and said "I said prayer in Primary!"

G1 is so grown up now! I mean I know he is only 3 (soon to be 4) but he is my first baby. Time just goes by so fast.

I'm not sure if I really made much sense. I think I was just rambling; but I'm pretty sure that's what I always do. I just type whatever pops in my head and I don't make sure it is actually phrased okay. But that's why y'all love me. :-) Seriously people that focus on grammar must totally hate me. Sorry!

G4's newest tricks

I know most of you have seen these videos already. You will just have to deal with it. :-)
Quality isn't the best because they are from my phone.

Last Tuesday (the 12th) G4 learned a new trick.

That trick has resulted in another one.

She is starting to walk a little more and more every day. Mom someday she will even walk while you are around. :-)

Тест Десет

Аз ще публикуваме отговора, след като всички предполагам, и когато стигнем до него. Успех и да се познае!
I will post the answer after you all guess and when I get to it. Good luck and get guessing!

Bulgarian

Niabi Zoo

We went to the Niabi Zoo a month ago today. I finally found the time to get the pictures off of the camera the other day. We had a blast. After the zoo we went for a picnic at a really cool park. I will try to get pictures up of that a little later. Here are some of the pictures from the zoo.

Getting into the strollers:

Feeding the fish and ducks:

G4 checking out the fish and ducks (she loved them):

Isn't she so pretty? Really there is no need to answer that because I already know she is.

2 of my 4 monkeys (G3 and G1):

My other 2 monkeys (G4 and G2):

G1 feed the goat:

G2 feeding the goat (which was amazing that she would get that close and G3 would not):

G4 feeding a goat:









G1 checking out his wing span:
G2 checking out her wing span:
G3 checking out her wing span:

G4 getting help checking out her wing span:


Daddy checking out his wing span:

Mommy checking out her wing span: *Mom I thought you did this too? I couldn't find a picture of you though.



We did ride on the train and carousel I just didn't post those pictures. Although you know they were cute!