Anxiety

Well, this is the time of year that the inevitable happens. And no, I'm not talking about the stress of Christmas shopping, finding babysitters for all of our Christmas parties, or just the general hustle and bustle of this busy holiday season. My anxiety comes from of a different source: the fear of being discovered! For all of you parents out there, let me lay it down for you. I have had my Christmas shopping done for about a month now. This means that for the last month Christmas presents have been shopped for, delivered by my friendly neighborhood UPS guy (who I should know on a first name basis, yet strangely, I don't) and hidden in the depths of the basement. (Let's talk about "hidden" for a minute. This is not just your run of the mill "put your kids presents in your closet and hope that they don't go in there."These babies are hidden behind two locked doors, which if the kids manage to get through are yet behind another closed door (the furnace room) that I seriously doubt the kids even know exist!) Even still, let's pretend they even got that far. This is what they would see when they opened the door: a pant-load of amazon.com boxes, with the tops all closed, stacked on top of one another, with absolutely nothing of any worth showing at all!
But let me tell you, last night it happpened. I had the very first of one of my "Christmas" anxiety dreams. Let me break it down for you. You know those dreams where you are back in high school (yet you don't weigh the 105 pounds that you did in high school, which really sucks) you are instead you, in the current day. Now here are a couple scenarios. You have forgotten your locker combination and can't for the life of you seem to remember it, yet you try and try to get that sucker open. OR, there is a certain class that you haven't gone to all semester and now it's time to take the final, only you realize you don't know what in the heck you're going to be tested on. OR you show up to school with only a towel on. I could go on and on with many variations of the same dream, but needless to say, whenever I find myself having a dream like this, I have to step back and wonder what I have ANXIETY about in my life. But, at this time of year, and yes, It happens every year, I know exactly where the source is coming from. So, for less than three more weeks I will continue to experience stress in the form of random and meaningless dreams, until Christmas days arrives, and one more year gone without being discovered. Phew, I don't know how many more years I can pull this off.
Sweet Dreams.

26.2

Well, the countdown has begun to my very first ever marathon. This Saturday I will be running in the St. George marathon. I can't believe the day is almost here. I am trying not to think about it too much because the thought of it makes me want to poop my pants. ( A very real possiblity as all you runners out there know.) Anyway, I am asking for the help of all of you. For me, running is a very mental thing, (Yes, I am kind of mental) and I was trying to think of a way that would help me get through those 26.2 miles...since I guess taking speed is illegal. So, I was talking to someone in my ward and she was telling me that when her sister ran a marathon she called up all her family members and asked them what "mile" they wanted. She then wrote all of her family members and what mile they were on her arms and whenever she ran that mile she thought of that person. Well, as much as I liked the idea, I decided to kick it up a notch (because I'm just like that.) So here's what I came up with...I want everyone to give me a song to run to. It doesn't matter what it is, who sings it, whatever. I will then put that song into my play list and viola! whenever that song comes on I will think of YOU! So make em good, make em creative, make em yours.I am excited to see what you will tell me. There are not limits, heck if I am running to High School Musical (thanks Zach and Kylie) then I can run to anything. I love you all. See you at the finish line!

A Letter

Dear Eclipse,

Why are you taunting me? When I ordered you on Monday, you said that you would arrive in 5-7 business days. You are a few days early, and it is really causing me stress. Do you realize what I have to do today? I have piles and piles of laundry, a kitchen floor that needs mopping, a husband due to arrive tonight. I have kids that need to be fed, and cleaned up after, and fed, and cleaned up after again. I need to referee fights and combat the whines of "Mom, there's nothing to do. What can we do???" I have toilets that need to be scrubbed, a toy room that is an absolute monstrosity, and somewhere in all the middle of this I need to find time to take a shower! And yet, every time I pass you sitting so prettily in your amazon.com box, it takes all the willpower I have to look away. If I mop the kitchen floor can I sit down and read for 15 minutes?? Alas, I better not....15 minutes will turn into 2 hours and 2 hours into 2 days. Oh why, oh why can't today I be a full time reader, part time mom?

Thanks for listening. Until we meet.

Love, Me

A Tale of Two Hares

Once upon a time in the house of Nuttall, there lived a happy family with four beautiful children, and two, (ahem), semi-cute pets. One day while the king was out of town, these two playful bunnies were found missing. Upon searching the entire kingdom, it was discovered that the hares, once suspected being naughty bunnies for running away, were actually chased by some viscous animals. Fearing for their lives the rabbits took cover under the royal palace. (Read: under the deck.) One bunny was immediately discovered shaking in his very boots, but alas, the second rascal was not to be seen. It was soon discovered that the bunny had fallen down the window well. The royals subjects were much dismayed, for they know that the queen was a royal wimp and could not, would not, get into the window well to rescue this precious animal because her aracnophobia was too, too overwhelming. At a loss for what to do, it was soon impressed upon the royal children to call the "Bunny Whisperer. " (AKA Grandpa.) As soon as he could tear himself away from beautifying his beautiful palace, he hurried down to rescue the traumitized little bunnies. With gloves and gentle hands he wisked those bunnies to saftey and the royal children (and royal queen) will forever be grateful for his bravery. And the queen and the children lived happily every after, and counted down the minutes until the king of the house would FINALLY get home. The End




Dearest Grandpa, You are the absolute very best! Thank you for coming to our house to save our darling pets and for not being a wimp when it came to black widows and wasps. We love you and will always remember how you saved our precious (Ahem) Pets! We love you so, and will always remember you as the "Bunny Whisperer!" Love, Zach, Kylie, Savannah and Braden (Oh, and Mom too.)

One year is almost here

I hope that what I wrote here does some of the justice to how I feel about my sweetest final child. Happy Birthday Baby Bauer.

The surprise party:

So, Let's pretend that someone is throwing you a surprise party. The only thing is, you don't want a party. You don't like surprises, your hair needs to be cut, you don't want to have a bunch of people messing up your house...you can think of a million reasons why a surprise party would not suit you this year. Yet a surprise party is planned nonetheless and you have no choice in the matter. So you go, but not without dragging your feet and complaining the whole way. And some people will understand that you just don't want to have a party this year, and some people wonder why you just can't get over it. It's a surprise party for heavens sake, and who wouldn't be excited about that. So you get to the party, and before you know it you're starting to enjoy yourself. Did you know that there would be cake at this party???And presents?? And look at all these people that care about you. You're having so much fun that pretty soon you wonder what it was you were so reluctant about in the first place. A surprise party isn't all that bad. In fact, it's sort of Fun. And later that night, when you're at home reflecting on your day you realize this: A surprise party was just what you needed...and someone loved you just enough to throw you one.



To my dear Braden....I will always and forever be grateful that you graced our home with your sweet spirit. Someone knew just what they were doing sending you into our lives. We love you, we love you and wish you the very best birthday ever. I can't believe how fast this last year has gone by. With you, my dear, sweet son, we definitely ended on a "high note." I love you.
P.S I hope you enjoy the video montage that I made. I spent the latter half of the day neglecting my children, so I hope it was worth it. Just click on the picture to watch it.
You Have Stolen my Heart

SICKOS

Just to warn everyone...do not come near the house of Nuttall. We have sick kiddos here and it is not fun. There is some nasty flu bug going around and it is making the rounds through our family and we are praying that it will run it's course before Zach's Baptism. (I'm sure it will, as two kids are already better and it takes about three days to run it's course. ) It's a nasty one, I'm telling you. And, there is absolutely nothing worse than having your children sick. I have reflected long and hard on this and have come to this conclusion: I WANT MY KIDS BETTER. I want them to run and play, to want to eat meals (heck, to even ask for a thousand snacks a day.) I want them to talk, to laugh, to not want to sleep and watch T.V all day. And here's the clincher, I even miss their fighting! My home stays too neat, is too quiet, and feels foreign to me. The other day on a car ride home from Orem all four of them did not make ONE PEEP. This is not my life, so will someone please order up my life for me and give it back. Thanks for listening to my rant. I am sleep deprived, stinky (not showered), un-exercised (is this even a word???), and at my wits end. Oh, well, such is life with children, sicknesses and all.

Shiver me Timbers!

Ahoy Mateys! Yesterday we celebrated Zachary's 8th birthday with a pirate birthday party. We had 10 boys that Zach had invited to his party (two of the boys are not pictured) and we had a great time. Initially, I thought that this was going to be an ordeal. !0 young boys can have a tendency to get out of hand at times (thank you captain obvious), but I just thought they if they got too naughty I would make them "swab the deck" (And let's be honest...my kitchen floor did need a little attention. ) Although crazy at times, these boys were good for the most part. We played a few party games, Like pin the nose on the pirate clown (Thanks to Maryanne for giving us this leftover prize that no one would take at the bbq. C'mon ya'll, WHY did no one want a pin the nose on the clown party game???) We had a treasure hunt and had ice cream cones for dessert. It was short and sweet (Just an hour long) and fun for all who attended, because seriously....Is there a better, funnier, sweeter Mom than me??? I don't think so. Zach had a lot of fun, although due to some stomach bug the day before was only running at about 70%. (Poor kiddo, it sucks to be sick on your b-day.) Hope you enjoy these pictures from his fun day. I still can't believe my little boy is EIGHT YEARS OLD. Time goes by too quickly. I love you Zachy, you will always and forever be my Z-man, doodle bug, and doot doots. Happy Birthday little guy!

Dollar Store Fun

Okay, so here's the dealio....I hate the dollar store...hate it, hate it and hate it! My kiddos, however, love that dang place. So, one of the rewards that we have is getting to go to the dollar store and picking three things of their choice. This is the reward choice that I dread. That place is filled with junk, plain and simple, and my kids have yet to pick one toy that I didn't want to chuck in the garbage the minute that their backs are turned. (This, by the way, is a fine art...I call it "getting rid of your kids crap without them knowing" I am a semi-professional at this. If any of ya'll need pointers, I'd be glad to give them to you.) Anyway, on this fine day, My dearest Kylie picks none other than a wig of the most disgusting, fake, pink, curly hair that you could ever imagine! I was appalled, but, not letting my distaste show, calmly tried to say to Ky "Are you sure honey? Are you sure that this is what you want???!!!" Well, for those of you that know Kylie......once she makes up her mind....the rest is history. So, the pictures that you guys have the pleasure of viewing are what I like to call "Fun with a nasty pink wig." Hope you enjoy.

Our New Pet

Now, I know you guys all know that we have bunnies...but have you ever seen a pet as cute as this??? Savy thought she would crawl in the rabbit cage and just chill for awhile, and I, of course, had to capture this precious moment on film. Just look at that smile. First prize goes to the person that can identify the movie from this quote..."Better get used to those bars, Kid!"

Lemonade Stand

Oh the Lemonade Stand...a rite of passage for every child. And who doesn't get sick of obnoxious kids knocking on your door and asking if you want to buy something? Well, this time it was our obnoxious kids! Zach and Kylie desperately wanted to sell something, and after a couple of weak attempts trying to sell Water (No, I'm not kidding) and lemonade where you squeeze a dirty lemon into a glass of water (still not kidding) I decided to help them do it right. I figured I would buy them the stuff and let them keep all the profits. The cookies were the big money maker and the kids actually made $16! Now how's that for a Lemonade Stand!

This is fun!!!

Florrie got me started on this "blogging" stuff and I have to say it is a bit addicting. I'm having fun trying to create our page. I hope that everyone likes it. -Lewis

Holy Poo! I just created a blog....and it wasn't even hard! First I get a cell phone and now I'm a blogger. The planets must be out of whack or something. I will try to put some pictures on later, but for now I must go and quit neglecting my children.