Sawyer's Computer Wars!

Sawyer has this little move we call "The Computer Wars" It takes place when someone is on the computer and he decides he wants their attention. He climbs into the chair the person is sitting in from behind in between the top of the chair and seat and wedges himself between the person and the chair. He begins flailing his arms in an attempt to beat the person to death resulting in his ultimate deafeat; therefore winning the war and posession of the chair and computer! So far his many attempts have been unsuccessful but the young warrior does not give up so easily!





This is his unshaken will after another bitter defeat!

Jocelynn's new Haircut!

Jocelynn got a new haircut on Saturday and I thought you should all see how cute it is! Hope you like it!



I also got this really cute picture at the same time I was taking pictures of her hair. Isn't it adorable?

Mommy Tag!

1. Typically, what time do you wake up?
Around 7:30 when my older kids get up for school.

2. On a good night, what time are your kids in bed?
Around 9:00. If I'm lucky the babies will go down that early too!

3. How long have you been a mommy?
Almost 10 years now. (Wow, scary!)

4. How old were you when you became a mommy?
20

5. What is your favorite kids tv show?
I love that a lot of the old TV shows are coming back or that you can get them on DVD now! I love Fraggle Rock, Gummi Bears, Smurfs and Care Bears. Of todays shows I get to pick a variety because my kids are on two different levels of tv interests! Of my older kids shows I really like American Dragon Jake Long, Hannah Montana, Drake and Josh and The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. For my little kids I really like Word World, Seseame Street, Barney (though I do agree that it's cheesy), Backyardagains and Wiggles (the older shows)

6. What is your least favorite kids tv show?
For older kids I HATE Sponge Bob Square Pants (why do shows now days have to be so disgusting?) I am told that I am the only person in America that doesn't like that show but I know that is not true. I've talked to other people that don't like it either. I don't like a lot of shows so this list could go on forever so I'll stop here.

7. What is your favorite chore?
Probably washing walls. I'm kind of weird about it. I even do it at other peoples houses! I know quite a few people that I swear never wash their walls! (by the way, thank you so much, Mother, for this weird eccentricity!)

8. What is your favorite meal to cook?
I'm kind of a perfectionist about cooking. I'm not a hugely talented person in the kitchen but I am a stickler about the way things are cooked. There is one recipe that I make, Heavenly Hamburger Casserole, that I really like to make because I make it better than anyone. I'm really not being egotistical. I just have a very specific method for making it which is perfect and I am very strict about making sure it is perfect!

9. What meal do you cook most often?
I really can't think of anything that I make more than something else. I hate eating the same thing over and over again so I try really hard to have a wide variety and not repeat the same meals a lot over a short period of time. Usually no more than once a week.

10. What is your kids favorite meal?
They, of course, love spaghetti and love most of the casseroles I make especially my Heavenly Hamburger Casserole.

11. What is your favorite thing your husband does with your kids?
I love it when Rich helps the older kids with their homework or takes them somewhere with him individually. It really pulls at my heart strings! With the little kids, I love it when he reads them a book or just plays with them on the floor! But my all-time favorite thing that my husband does with the kids is when my big, mountain man, bear of a husband paints my girls fingernails with those tiny little bon-bon nail polishes!!!

12. What are 5 things that make you smile when you're being a mom?
#1) When I hear Jocelynn and/or Kaiden playing and/or talking with Brenna and/or Sawyer very sweetly and they don't know I can hear them...
#2) Any time any of them come up and hug or kiss me!
#3) When Jocelynn and Kaiden are nice to each other.
#4) When Brenna holds Sawyers hand and sings the Barney "I love you" song
#5) When I catch my older kids saying a prayer.

13. If you could take your kids anywhere, where would it be?
So many places... but I think I want to take them all to Disney World one day and when they are old enough to really appreciate everything about it!

14. When was the last time you went out without your kids?
Stephanie and Britton watched them for us last Tuesday for about an hour while Rich and I went to buy him a new suit. I very rarely get the opportunity to go out with my husband without kids, and even more rarely by myself with out kids or husband.

15. What is your favorite past time/activity to do with your kids?
With my older kids my favorite is going to any new place with them. Like a museum or something. With my younger kids my favorite is playing on the floor or bed with them.

16. Name one thing you said you would never do as a mom?
So many things! But one of my biggest things was leave my kids in the car while I went inside somewhere for a long period of time. Now, I will leave them in the car if I'm running inside to pay for gas or to buy one gallon of milk or something like that but if it is going to take longer than 5 minutes I always take my kids in with me.

17. Name one thing you do, that your own mom did?
I make my kids stand in the corner or hold up a wall when they are misbehaving.

18. What is your favorite quality your mom has?
Her undying enthusiasm about everything!

19. What is your favorite kids book?
Of course, Harry Potter! But for little kids I love Dr Seus's ABC book.

20. What is your advice for new moms?
Don't let people tell you how to raise your kids!! (I can NOT stress this enough) Don't allow people to constantly give you unsolicited advice, suggestions or to tell you what they did with their kids; unless you want to be mentally unstable after a few years! As my pediatrician always tells me "go with your own insticts" you are usually right! Don't let anyone talk you out of doing something with, about or for your child that you feel is right or necessary, no matter how many kids they've had or how much experience they think they have. THEY ARE NOT YOUR CHILDS MOTHER and sometimes they need reminding of that fact! And ask for tips, advise, and personal experiences from others as you need or want it.

21. What is the most heartbreaking/scariest moment as a mom?
I have unfortunately had some of these. The night Kaiden started hemmoraging after his tonsilectomy and had to have emergency surgery. It took Richard and 2 male nurses and one male tech to hold him down to get his IV in. It was one of the most horrible experiences of my life. Also when Brenna was a new born and was very sick we had to take her to Primary Childrens hospital. We had to leave the room while they worked on her and just listen to her scream her little lungs out. Those kinds of things you never forget when you're a mother!

22. What is your most joyful moment being a mom?
There are so many things that my kids do that make my heart burst with joy. ~Jocelynn always makes friends with the kid at school that no one wants to play with and this is something she has done from the time she was 2 or 3 years old. I remember the nursery leaders at church telling me that she did that. She also quietly teaches her little sister so many things that you have to be really paying attention to catch.
~Kaiden is so sweet and sensitive. He can be so gentle and always so concerned about Brenna and Sawyer and worries about them being safe all the time. All of his teachers have told me how sweet he is to everyone. He is so enthusiastic about things and he holds on to things very passionately.
~Brenna asks me to kiss her "owies" now and she says "I love you too" when you say "I love you" to her. And I love how she tries so hard to be a big kid and do everything that Jocelynn does.
~Sawyer just learned how to say "thankyou" and I just love to watch him. I can see him learning something new almost every minute of the day as he tries to do things that Brenna can do or observes what is going on around him.

23. When was the last time you were told "I love you" by one of your kids? Just before I came downstairs to work Brenna said "I lub (love) you!"

24. When was the last time you told one of your kids "I love you"? My poor kids... just about 30 minutes ago before I walked back down the stairs to my office again. I tell them probably about 100 times a day! At least the older ones get a break from it while they are at school!

Just fun! -All about my Man!

Who is your sweetheart? Richard James Stout
How long did you date? Actual dating? About two weeks... Then we were just friends for about 4 weeks, then we got engaged. We were engaged for about 4 months after that.
How old is he? 32
Who eats more sweets? Probably me, it's kind of a toss up!
Who said I love you first? He did.
Who is taller? He is 8 inches taller.
Who can sing better? Probably me but I'm really not sure.
Who is smarter? It depends on what we are talking about. I'm smarter about some things than he is and he is smarter than me about other things!
Who does the laundry? Both of us but mostly me. We kind of have a deal. He does dishes and I do laundry (most of the time! There are always exceptions to every rule!)
Who pays the bills? He does. I usually let him work his magic.
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Me
Who mows the lawn? He does.
Who cooks dinner? Usually him if he is home because I am working, but otherwise me.
Who drives? He can't stop "passenger seat driving", so him if we are together!
Who is more stubborn? Definately him. I will concede just to keep the peace.
Who kissed who first? It was the day AFTER we decided to get married and I finally just asked "So? Are you going to kiss me EVER?" So I'm not exactly sure how you would judge that one...
Who asked who out first? He asked me. He offered me a ride home from skating the night we met and wouldn't take no for an answer. Then he called me about three days later to see if I would go run an errand with him. (We went to Walmart and bought him new shoe strings)
Who proposed? He did. I didn't even know he liked me in a romantic way! So you can imagine how shocked I was...
Who has more siblings? full blooded siblings...him. He has 7. I only have one full sister. But I beat his pants off in that category (if you're not being too picky) with 1 whole sister, 3 half sisters, 3 half brothers and 4 step-sisters! For a grand total of 11 siblings!!!
Who wears the pants? I think it really depends on the issue at hand. I am really a stickler about some things and he is about other things and it all really balances out.
Who says I love you more? I say me but I wonder what he would say!

Ok now I tag Maria and Stephanie. Can't wait to see the results

A little Political...

This was a bulletin a friend posted on Myspace. I'm not very political so I'm not really sure about everything this statement contains but I really loved some of the points it made. It really is kind of kick-ass!

I forgot to include that the title of the bulletin was "What a REAL President should say"

“My Fellow Americans: As you all know, the defeat of the Iraq regime has been completed.



Since congress does not want to spend any more money on this war, our mission in Iraq is complete.



This morning I gave the order for a complete removal of all American forces from Iraq This action will be complete within 30 days. It is now time to begin the reckoning.



Before me, I have two lists. One list contains the names of countries which have stood by our side during the Iraq conflict. This list is short. The United Kingdom, Spain, Bulgaria, Australia, and Poland are some of the countries listed there.



The other list contains every one not on the first list. Most of the world's nations are on that list. My press secretary will be distributing copies of both lists later this evening.



Let me start by saying that effective immediately, foreign aid to those nations on List 2 ceases immediately and indefinitely. The money saved during the first year alone will pretty much pay for the costs of the Iraqi war. THEN EVERY YEAR THERE AFTER IT WILL GO TO OUR SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM SO IT WILL NOT GO BROKE IN 20 YEARS.



The American people are no longer going to pour money into third world Hellholes and watch those government leaders grow fat on corruption.



Need help with a famine? Wrestling with an epidemic? Call France.



In the future, together with Congress, I will work to redirect this money toward solving the vexing social problems we still have at home. On that note, a word to terrorist organizations. Screw with us and we will hunt you down and eliminate you and all your friends from the face of the earth.



Thirsting for a gutsy country to terrorize? Try France or maybe China



I am ordering the immediate severing of diplomatic relations with France, Germany, and Russia. Thanks for all your help, comrades. We are retiring from NATO as well. Buenos Notches, mez amies.



I have instructed the Mayor of New York City to begin towing the many UN diplomatic vehicles located in Manhattan with more than two unpaid parking tickets to sites where those vehicles will be stripped, shredded and crushed. I don't care about whatever treaty pertains to this. You creeps have tens of thousands of unpaid tickets. Pay those tickets tomorrow or watch your precious Benzes, Beamers and limos be turned over to some of the finest chop shops in the world.




I love New York

A special note to our neighbors. Canada is on List 2. Since we are likely to be seeing a lot more of each other, you folks might want to try not pissing us off for a change.



Mexico is also on List 2, its president and his entire corrupt government really need an attitude adjustment. I will have a couple extra thousand tanks and infantry divisions sitting around. Guess where I am going to put 'em? Yep, border security.



Oh, by the way, the United States is abrogating the NAFTA treaty - starting now.



We are tired of the one-way highway. Immediately, we'll be drilling for oil in Alaska - which will take care of this country's oil needs for decades to come. If you're an environmentalist who opposes this decision, I refer you to List 2 above: pick a country and move there.



It is time for America to focus on its own welfare and its own citizens. Some will accuse us of isolationism. I answer them by saying, "Darn tootin!"



Nearly a century of trying to help folks live a decent life around the world has only earned us the undying enmity of just about everyone on the planet. It is time to eliminate hunger in America It is time to eliminate homelessness in America To the nations on List 1, a final thought. Thank you guys. We owe you and we won't forget.



To the nations on List 2, a final thought: You might want to learn to speak Arabic.


God bless America Thank you and good night.“


If you can read this, thank a teacher.

If you are reading it in English, thank a soldier.

A couple of pics

Jocelynn did a report on Joan of Arc and had to dress up like her.



Brenna fell asleep in our bed the other night with her arms folded and I thought it was just so cute I had to take a picture.

Construction Complete!

Much to everyone's relief I am pleased to announce the completion of work on our blog. I hope you all enjoy our new look! I'm sure it will not last long. Change will come again eventually, as it always does! But let us enjoy this moment of interlude! Thank you for your patience in this trying time in our lives!