The scent of a Cordon

I remember in high school that some of the girls would buy their boyfriends cologne, I guess, as a way to mark their territory. Everytime they smelled that scent they would think of their boyfriend and even would spray their pillows so they could think of him at night. I thought that was actually a pretty cool thing to do but there were two problems; I never had a steady boyfriend to buy cologne and I didn't really like the smell of any cologne I had ever smelled.

Well a few years ago I decided that now I had a steady man in my life I would try out this experiment. I went to the mall and tested almost every scent until they were all just a mixed up mess in my nostrils. I gave it to Lance for some holiday and was sure that everytime I smelled that smell I would think of Lance and get all googly eyed. Well I still get googly eyed but that scent was not doing it for me and not sure that I wanted to think of Lance every time that it hit my nose.

Well a few days ago just as we were leaving on vacation for a couple days I hear a blood curdling scream and see Cordon, with pants covering his face, aimlessly running around the living room. I grab him and find out he had sprayed this cologne directly in his eyes. Lance took him to the bathroom to flush out his eyes while our drama king Cordon kept exclaiming "This is the worst day of my life" and "I wish it was the future so my eyes didn't hurt anymore." Anyway, soon enough Cordon was feeling better and we were on our way to our vacation destination. Two hours of sitting in the car in a cloud of Allure for men just about made my head spin. But at least now I don't think that scent will make me think of Lance anymore but instead a hysterical kid with pants over his head and subsequently a long very aromatic car ride. I retired that bottle to the garbage can and decided I very much like the smell of Irish Spring better anyway.

New year, new post

So this year's new years resolution is to document our lives a bit better. I am constantly asking Lance "which kid used to say this?" or "How old was so and so when they learned to do this?" or even "what did we do for Christmas the year we were married?" These are all things I thought I would never forget and yet I have or it's a blur.

Im not a hand written journal person that just won't happen so I am going to try to keep it up on here.

And a few nights ago confirmed this very thought of documenting.

Our household was going through the flu. A very quick flu but it only hit at night and each night was a new kid. Well, the other night Darren got it and I made a bed for him on the couch, tucked him in, put on a movie and set a big bowl right by his side. Then I made a bed for me on the couch right by him to help him during what I new would be a long night.

He woke up periodically and would throw up in his bowl while I would rub his back and tell him he was doing great getting the barf in the bowl. And in between these times I would also stand over the garbage disposal and be sick also. It was a long night and we were both miserable. However, the next morning Darren was miraculously healed and was going 100% again. I was still recovering but Darren took a second from his day and without prompting from anyone he said to me, "Thanks for staying up with me last night mom." Big deal right. Well not from this six year old boy and not to me. It was a sincere, out of the blue thank you and even though I was not feeling 100% he made me feel like a 100% mom.

So these are the little things I want to remember. Because Im sure I won't soon forget that long miserable night but I really don't ever want to forget that my six year old appreciated me spending it with him.

Dear Santa,

Dear Santa,

I have been very blessed this year with a healthy happy family and a comfy, cozy home.

That is all that I really need to be happy but I have been trying to be good so if you can't think of anything to bring me, one or more of these things on my list would be great!

( Oh and I set it to music to help you remember. Tune to "My Favorite Things" from "The Sound of Music")

Taking a nap on a Sunday Afternoon,

My favorite TV show returning only too soon.

Southwest Airlines bringing my fam'ly from far,

Finding that Lance has cleaned my messy car.

Snow on the lawn, but not on the road,

Laundry all done to the last very load,

A friend on the porch making my doorbell ring,

these are a few of my favorite things.

A cup of Hot Chocolate after playing in the snow,

My cinnamon spice candle lit all aglow.

Fitting back into my ski-inny clothes,

a fresh coat of polish on each of my toes.

When the kids listen

and theres a clean kitchen

That's when I feee-el glad

I simply imagine my favorite things

Wouldn't that beeeeeee sooo rad!

See you soon! (I hope)

Love, Katie

PV, Ut

trick or treat!

There are tricks and treats happening at our house all year long but on Oct. 31 we decided to dress up for it. Halloween and the Barkers is always a good time. Lance even carved his own pumpkin this year! Can you guess what it had on it?

Thomas (beep beep)

Ron Weasley and Harry Potter

One (1) looks good on you baby!

So my last little babe turned 1 last week. Little Joshua is officially a toddler. He is walking around like crazy, talking (jibberish) constantly, and making messes like it is going out of style.

He was 25 lbs at 9 months so Im sure he is pushing 3o now that he is one and I have the back pain to prove it. He is one happy little guy as long as I am in view and he loves being the center of attention. If he likes you he will smile all six teeth at you and give you the point. He still is a very sporadic sleeper and a very light sleeper. He loved his bottle though it has been recently confiscated. He has tons of energy and tries to hold his own with his brothers though he quickly retreats. He is often at the bottom of a dog pile. He is the biggest snuggler and absolutely loves bear hugs. He is such a fun little guy!

Rise all you loyal cougars...

Ok it has been a long while since our last update so we are jumping right back in. Im not going to even try and catch up. Sooooo it being fall there is pretty much one thing that is going on around here. MmmHmmmm, Football. Now, you can call our family a lot of things but one thing you cannot call us is disloyal. Especially with football. And if you remember this post you will get the picture. We will always Rise and Shout (be it good or bad) and though it may not be the best season, we are certainly having the best time.

2010 recap

Spent the season climbing to the top of the stadium in my third trimester enormity. Joshua was born in time to celebrate the Nov. 20 victory over New Mexico. This was the year that influenced us to splurge on better seats. Bring on 2011

2011

Not sure that even QB Riley Nelson is getting this kind of attention

Cougar Mania

Cameron and Cameron. Coincidence? Nope. Now when Cam asks who he was named after we can show him this picture. Hopefully Joshua's namesake will step up this year.

There are some downsides though. The fans get kinda loud.(ehhem, Lance)...

And D spends a fair amount of time looking up who caused the turnover...

...BUT, the food is good,

the music is good,

And you sure can't beat the view!

Go Cougars! Rise Up!

Birthday boys

I will start with Cordon since his actual birthday is tomorrow though we had his birthday party yesterday. Good thing we have cousins close because that is an instant party with just a couple of phone calls. The kids spent most of the party between the hot tub and the trampoline with pinatas and pizza in between.

Anyway, Cordon just turned 5. 5 seems so much older than 4. Cordon is my little cuddler. He loves to be right by me and especially loves to snuggle when we watch movies. He is still our little movie quoter and has an amazing memory. He recalls any commercial when I need it such as when I am cleaning he can recall the uses for oxiclean and even tell me how much it costs.

He loves technology and playing computer games. He is often in his own little world talking to himself and playing pretend. He loves to play ninja and sword fighting. Cordon has an attention for detail. When he wants breakfast he will say, "I want raisin bran in a bowl with the milk first and a spoon." or he will say, "I want pancakes with peanut butter first then syrup and then cut it....please." He is still scared of most everything though he is making progress. As of a few days ago he will now put his face in the water when swimming.

My little Cam Cam turned 3 the end of June. Cam is his own person and does things his own way and in his own time. His terrible twos are lingering as he has a heck of a time sharing and learning not to take things from others. He loves to rough house and be thrown in the air. He rivals Darren as to being a daredevil and is probably even more accident prone. He is my only little bright blue eyed boy and has the cutest little laugh. He still doesn't talk much but if you get him in church he will talk half words half jibberish the entire time. It is hard not to baby him since he still seems so young (in fact when going through his birthday pics I realized he is wearing the same shirt on his third birthday as on his first) but his tantrums are not so cute any more so he is having to grow up fast. He is obsessed with Thomas the Train as he has been for nearly two years now. And he absolutely could stay in a swing all day if there were someone willing to push him. The bigger the swing the better, this kid is not scared of anything.

Darren turned 6 way back in January but I thought I would throw this in since I failed to ever mention it. Darren seems to always get the more elaborate birthday parties. Probably since it is in the middle of the school year and nothing else is going on. This year he had his party at children's museum. They did a fabulous job with the star wars theme and each child got their own balloon light saber and had a chance to try to knock the earth off of its orbit. We invited parents and siblings too since we were still new to the area and 1) Weren't sure if other parents would trust their kids with us and 2)we wanted to meet the parents of the kids in Darren's class at school and at church. Darren is still our little smart guy. He is reading like crazy and my sister got him (and me) into Harry Potter. His fascinations right now are wild life, legos, all kinds of air craft, magic and is starting to express interest in US history. He is very social and is not afraid to approach anyone and ask to be their friend. He is still VERY competitive and needs to be first at everything. He loves attention and is a show off. He is also very sweet and loves to be sung to sleep. If you sing him to sleep he falls asleep with a smile.