Cheery Jara

Jara's 2nd Year of cheer camp. I couldn't decide if I should send her this year but after she woke up and slammed open her door, punched Jack and told me "I'm ornery!!!" I decided three days of bouncy around ought to wind her down a little. It worked. Woohoo for cheerleading and every penny it cost. (Which was minimal and well worth it.)

Look at those moves. I am so impressed that she can get in front of a whole herd of parents/strangers and not be afraid. That takes guts when you are 4-years-old.

Don't forget Jack. He supported his sister very well, see that mouthful of fruit snacks to keep him complacent.

Last Lake Trip

We couldn't resist going one more time. Even if it was a little windy, HOT, 1 week away from d-day, and there were BIG catfish trying to eat us. Don't drop your peanut butter sandwich in the lake unless you want friends, apparently pb to catfish is like blood to sharks.


The girlies making "potato soup" and rock castles.

The Journey

I've never done this before. I don't know what has come over me but I feel a need to document my current state. You may shiver and laugh but it is important that I do this after 2 secret pregnancy's. (I don't think I ever posted one pregnant picture of Jack and Jara's time was before the world of the blog.)

6 Weeks-in beautiful Hawaii, in a bikini. I forgot I used to look like that only 9 short months ago. I don't know if it gives me hope for the future or despair.


12 or 13 weeks-yep pants still fit, no one suspects a thing, sweater season is GREAT! There was a torrential downpour hence the lovely hair.


17 weeks-I distinctly remember taking these pictures because I was "showing." Ha ha, what was probably going on was my spare tire manifesting itself at the end of a long calorie-induced day. Baby or food it doesn't matter, in hindsight, that was nothing, keep reading...

21 weeks-the last time for the jeans, even with the rubberband trick.

23 weeks-Mother's day, I like to call this my "Miss Viola Swamp look" The belly isn't as pregnant as the face and arms, alas this is a medical mystery yet to be determined.


26 weeks-pictures of myself are getting harder and harder to come by at this stage.

30 weeks-Rockin' that swimsuit. See I'm sparing nothing in my attempt to document my pregnancy. Sorry-it's all or nothing!


32 weeks-one of the few "belly" shots I have, I was unaware I was being photographed. Goodness do I always look so angry?



34 weeks-My happy birthday!

37 weeks-Look, I'm glowing and radiating pregnancy vibes. (This isn't a perfect picture in a photographic sense but I had to use it so I could throw in that glowing bit.) Or something like that. Jed said I looked angry and my hair was scary. That's a good description of 37 weeks I think.

There will probably be a 39 weeks picture and after that only post pictures, the zombie stage. Stay tuned.

Where they Get it From

Scary: They have one speed (powered by Jed who is later winded) they ram the couch and my Achilles tendon. They laugh so hard while turning my house into a racetrack they fall off of their ride. This thing was battery-powered but that wasn't half as much fun as Jack powered. At least they haven't figured out how to do this...



Scarier: Can you believe this guy? I couldn't even do that on flat ground. The picture doesn't show you the full height of the jump but I assure you its impressive. He's supposed to be getting older and slowing down. And don't worry I threatened his life with the "the only one going to the hospital right now is ME, if you break anything..."

Nice Things

I would be an ungrateful person if I didn't recognize all of the nice things friends and family members have done the last few weeks. It all started with the good karma of my birthday, I guess everyone is trying to make me feel better about my age/condition.

-My friends arranged with the help of my sly husband to take me to dinner. Yay for Katherine's, no kids and cupcakes. I think we were about to be kicked out of the restaurant for unruly behavior and my little freak out when the table-side chef produced 2 foot flames an inch away from my hair!!! I have great friends, the best part is two of them are related to me.

-Then I attended enrichment night due to many people insisting that I needed to go, completely unsuspecting that the branch was having a baby shower for Lilly (another girl who is having a baby) and myself. My surprise was evident, I looked scary and smelled like the roast beast that had been inhabiting my crock-pot for the last 8-10 hours. I was afraid to sit too closely to anyone for fear of offending them. However, everyone was kind enough to pretend like I smelled and looked fine, I was truly overwhelmed by the generosity and outpouring of kindness (not just because of the aforementioned beast) and apparently I have a knack for languages because I knew 8 out of 10 ways to say baby around the world. I still can't speak mouthfuls of conversational Spanish but I can say baby in Greek. Woohoo!

-So a couple of weeks ago I was having a DAY, a special day, the kind where everyone in my path is endangered due to my hostility. I blame it on the temperatures/humidity and pregnancy, that's reason enough to be insane. Right? I think my face is visibly snarled and I emit low tonal growls if anyone speaks to me. My children are public enemy number 1, they simply make too much noise. Anyway, the happy ending goes like this-I go to the mail, my weekly, Wednesday excursion and awaiting me is a package. Probably something utilitarian like the free formula I signed up for or my room darkening shades so I can win a small battle against the blasted Nevada sun. Much to my surprise it was a package with PRESENTS! Yay! My sister-in-law must have been divinely inspired to send it because who can be cranky when your children are happily playing with new toys and you are locked in a closet with a book (going to the bathroom dears.)

-My sister playing at my house even though it is 80 degrees and intolerable. The children have been playing together for hours at a time, with no whining, biting and minimal damage. The damage only being afflicted on the stuffed 8 foot boa constrictor that is now hiding in a secure location. It's a win-win situation, kids play and don't bother us and I get my therapy session in so that Jed doesn't have to hear it later.

-My mom bought the baby her blessing dress. It is a beautiful, fluffy dress and I can't wait for her to wear it. I am also grateful I don't have to wander aimlessly with a newborn baby around multiple stores trying to pick out the "perfect dress." Such was the case with Jara. I can't reason after I have a baby. I can't even reason right now! Thank you mom for eliminating the dress stress from my life.

-I am also a recipient of very nice grandma days. Grandma had all six Wheeler grandkids, while I escaped on one last big date with Jed. Grandma is very brave and very adventurous because after the 6 Wheeler kid party day, she then took the big Wheeler kids to the lake and I escaped again. Grandma deserves a medal.

There have been many more thoughtful things over the last month or so and if you were not specifically mentioned, know that I am forgetful not ungrateful. (I spelled my name wrong on a check the other day.) Thanks all.

Thoughts on 30

Well, the big day came and went and now it is official...

I'm OLD!

Of course I have always loved lists so here is the good and bad of 30.
*Disclaimer-I have been having some serious grammatical issues lately, I said "that there" to my sister and I think she blinked her eyes for a whole 5 seconds before mocking my newly found southern dialect. I don't know what is happening to me-talking to a 2yr old all day or the baby sucking the life out of my brain. Anyway, I'm just sayin, if it doesn't get better I'll enroll in English 101 again but until then, bear with me, I don't even know I'm doing it. sorry.

THE GOOD

• I am a better person, this may be debatable but recently I read through one of my old journals, the voice and thoughts of my 20-year-old self was frankly quite frightening. I don't think parts of my brain were fully developed, I may have had grammar down but my "deep" thoughts were prime fodder for open mockery between Jed and I. It was like reading a really bad version of Sweet Valley High mixed with long descriptive paragraphs straight out of Anne of Green Gables, then throw in a little Bible. eeesh Although maybe when I'm 40 I'll read this and think the same thing.




• I can do many more things. I feel more balanced. Shhh don't tell anyone, but I'm practically domesticated and revel in it. I cook. My favorite blogs have to do with food. I clean. I confess, I subscribe to Good Housekeeping just to see what my girl Heloise is up to. I like to vacuum! I enter craft fairs. 20-year-old Joshlyn would have died in horror and then burned the sewing machine, in a fiery flame of splendor.
  
  


• I exercise and like it! (Still can't swim, but that just gives me a graceful pardon from triathlons)




• I am more patient. I know, hard to believe but children help cure you of impatience and selfishness, you never realize how selfish you are until you have a child. Then you run back to your mommy and tell her "I'm sorry for every moment of my meaningless life." Having children is good, you're not the most important one anymore. I am still fairly impatient but I must say I've made a little progress. I almost never yell at people in checkout lines/counters anymore.




• I have children. Okay that sounds like I have a disease but I wouldn't trade them for anything. They give you a different perspective, they teach you about love, and they are completely infuriating due to the fact that they are JUST LIKE YOU! However, no matter what kind of day we have, thanks to Annie and her sage wisdom, when I peek in on them asleep, I love them fiercely and know I wouldn't change a thing. Jack calls me princess mommy. Its hard not to feel special with that kind of lovin'.




• I have a husband who completes me. I know he truly loves me because he never would have fed my cats this weekend if not.




• I am much happier than I used to be, most days. Days when I don't almost burn down the house with the toaster, a story for another day.

The BAD

• My cool points have severely gone down. I don't go to concerts, jump off things or use a tanning bed anymore. I may even be approaching mini-van status . I worry about safety and don't play in lightning storms, you can find me in the closest thank you. My sense of adventure is strictly limited to finding my way in the dark amongst the rubble of my living room to turn down the thermostat.




• I have more fears. I can't tell you or I would jinx myself.




• I do not have, nor will I ever have, the body of my twenty-year-old self again. Some things may be fixed, but some things will NEVER be the same after children, time and gravity. Curse the 3 mirrors in my bathroom who humbly remind me of this every day.
  
  


• Yeah, I like cleaning.

I've made my peace with 30, may you if you are younger, and if you are older try not to mock me too openly.

Here's to 10 good years before my knees start sagging. Because, lets face it, 40 is nothing to joke about.

Hiding Spots

• In the couch


• Under my bed


• In tents


• Under blankets


• In laundry baskets


• In my clothes in the closet
  

And the latest...

In the pantry.

My kids like hidy spots.