Sending Birthday Love! Happy Birthday Abel, Adriane, Mom, and Carl!

Here is a little tribute to all the family that have B-days in May. Love you guys.

Dear Carlito,
Did you know you are the BEST big brother in the whole wide world? I don't think you do, that's why I need to tell you. There are many fond memories of my life growing up with you, we are so close in age I don't remember a time with out you being there. Riding bikes at high speeds down our hill on Pleasant Street, going out trick or treating together, blowing things up on the 4th of July, swimming in our back yard pool, working at the store, driving to seminary (at awesomely top speeds I might add). I don't remember you ever being mean to me, only watchful and making sure I was ok. Your family is so lucky to have a husband/Dad like you. You are a One in a Million type of fellow. I wish we were able to live close to each other and celebrate special days like today together. I hope you have a TERRIFIC B-DAY! Thanks again bro. you're the BEST and I love you lots!

Dear Mumzie,
Just recently I have hit my limit on how much I think I can take on in life. I have almost buckled under the pressure and it stinks. Then I remember all the times that even though you had tremendous life pressure you still cooked and cleaned and took me to Ballet and violin schtuff. You sewed me dresses and encouraged me (and my granola girl self) to wear make up and be feminine. You even put together our elementary school year book a year or two (before there were home computers and PhotoShop!=crazy!) and taught me, Christina and Kim a dance routine to that Jet's song. How did you manage everything you did and still wake up looking happy and young and vibrant? Looks aside, you have climbed many mountains, many of which I have watched you do and I am greatful for your fortitude and endurance and your "keep on trucking" attitude. I need a little more of that determination I think.
Love you!


Dear Yo Adriane!
How has it been living in the glamorous Arizona Hillz? Why don't they make a show about that? I know I would watch that! Retro trailers, dirt roads, Smokey the Bear conferences--forget all those fashion mumbojumbo jobs--give me a real woman! And you my dear Adri are a real woman--I think since you were a little girl. You have always been an old soul (not to get confused with being old--you will always be young at heart). You are a listener, a get things done-er, and a no-nonsense gal. You are the only person I know who can move a whole house using a Geo Metro or was it the Neon? Thanks for coming out to help me with three of my four children and carrying my load at times. Thanks for listening to me being pathetic and annoying. Thanks for being a sweet little sister (who I feel like is WAY more mature than I am). You are one of a kind, who has lived a one of a kind life--and came out strong and able to tell about it I might add (need I remind you of the crazy dog from Ruskin?!). Love you always!

Dear Elder Abel,

I know you won't be able to read this for a couple of years but I'll write a tribute anyway. First off do you remember being a HORRIBLE little kid? Now I know you didn't mean to be horrible and granted I was a teenager and not a respector of little kids and their growing up, but you did pick my lock to my room at age 5 or 6 with a steak knife and when I tried to grab the knife from you, it did sort of slice my hand open and you did hit me quite a few times (at the age of 5 or 6 again) and well I guess I did yell at you and tell you to shut up too many times (so maybe those kid slaps were well deserved). However somehow you out grew all of the little kid-tormentor-ness and turned out to be a FINE young man. So fine that I think you may be the best Missionary out in the field-granted I am a little biased. However you are strong and diligent and have gone through more obstacles in life than I have gone through in a life time(I have one word for you MICE!). Yet you still made sure your little brothers were saying their prayers and going to church. You still taught them the fine art of listening to you (minus the slapping--see you are better than me still). And lastly you did let me eat an apple in your Jetta (because I had BAD morning sickness)--thank you again for that. My prayer is that the Lord blesses you continually and that you keep working hard to be the best you can be. Love you.

Now we all can't get together and have Cake and Spaghetti however I do have a little treat. If your B-day ever get's you down remember don't ever give up. To remember this principle here is a video that will CEMENT it in your mind forever!

muahahahaha!

Leah's Baptism

We had a beautiful baptism today. Precious little Leah has waited so long for today to come. It is almost two months since she turned 8, but Derek was not able to walk back then, so it all works out that we waited this long.

I wish I could say that all that extra time helped us to be even more prepared for today, but I was calling family last minute to tell them the time and place and asking them to speak and I even had to play piano --and no I don't play piano--it was piano minus the bass.

I was feeling like a pretty lousy parent last night whilst I tried to put together the program. I already knew I was being a complete cheese-ball and by calling people last minute for one of the most special events in my daughters life. Thankfully I came across someone's video they made for teaching the principle of baptism. The song was so pretty, it's called "When Heaven Looks Down on You". So at around midnight last night I decided magnify my "Mommy" calling a little and put a little more effort into my daughter's special day, ahem I stayed up till two trying to splice this video together. Derek put the finishing touches on it (because I completely useless with computers and didn't know our photos were on our external hard drive-so that is what that thing is...hmmm).

I think Leah felt special watching the video and I know the children in attendance enjoyed it as well as our family and friends. The true blessing for me was watching our life captured in pictures and realizing all of the simple pleasures my children and Derek and I have shared over the past years. I had a little remembrance of what was so important in my life and I have to admit I was teary eyed as I tried to put pictures to music. Here it is and we are so proud of our sweet little "perfect" girl.

Gift A Friend

One of the greatest gifts I have been given in life is having Flint as my brother. He is an amazing guy with an extraordinary countenance. His graduation was THE BEST high school graduation I have ever attended. There were six graduates and each one was so happy to be sitting in front of the crowd. The underclassmen chosen to speak gave such pure, heart warming speeches that it was like being surrounded by angels. I tried to give Flint many gifts while I was in KC, but I think the greatest gift given to him was that kiss and all the love our family and his friends poured down on him that day. ***On a side note--I didn't even realize Adri and I are totally matching with the black and white. I think us girls in the family are "wardrobe-color-challenged", don't you think Adri? (Black and white sums up my wardrobe, how about yours?)

Uncle Henry

Some where in the spirit realm my Uncle Henry is sporting this jovial, humor. Making other spirits laugh, no doubt. Uncle Henry recently died from complications due to his diabetes. I heard that even to the day before he died he was still crackin' jokes, "Uncle Henny" style.

Aunt Maria emailed me a lot of pictures and this one was included (thanks Maria!). I've never seen it before but it is the one picture that captures the essence of Uncle Henry. Though he was closing in on 50 when he died, this spirited-funny child was always a part of him, even through his really dark, troubling period in his life.

He was the mastermind of one liners, snarky to unbeknownst passersby (his observations bordered on politically incorrect--but were usually dead on), and he ALWAYS cheated in chess (I don't care how many times he denied it, he cheated at Uno too). But I think I'd have another chess match with him any day of the week--and I'd still leave to get him an extra serving of potato salad, so he could move my pawns and take my Queen, because ultimately I loved that Big Guy.

Best Video I've Seen in a Long Time

I've had dreams where I'm at church and there's no water but everyone is swimming through hallways, and in the gym. This video reminds me of that. It's as beautiful as a dance. Love it.

Things I Never Posted Part III

I love Christmas time in Washington D.C. I was a little sad to not be so close to the temple this year (as we have moved to the Baltimore metro area). However Derek surprised my by signing us up to be Mary and Joseph at the DC Visitor Center. It was a fun experience, very spiritual. The story meant a whole lot more to me when I was on stage reenacting the nativity. On a side note, Derek had the weirdest fake beard and mustache combo. When our kids came to see us we heard them laughing hysterically blurting out loudly, "Look at Dad's fake beard---ah,hahaha!".

Random Things I Never Posted Part II

Sometimes I ask myself what planet did L come from? Not because I don't love her, but because she seriously thinks and operates on such a different plane. I think she takes after me in that respect. She's a daydreamer, a comedian, a little strange and totally loveable.

Note the song---it's probably the weirdest country song there is, hence we like it. Plus I've always wanted to play fiddle like that. Perhaps with that fancy, fast hand movement L will be a fiddle player too someday.

This was filmed secretly by L on a trip home after a day spent at the aquarium with her Daddy and sisters, about a week after I had Tommy. We recently just found it, sooo funny.

Random Things I Never Posted

See where Sophie is standing? Well that could've been me, except I was about to deliver Tommy, therefore I "realistically" couldn't go to Hawaii. Originally, the plan was that Mom and I were going to go. Then I got preggers so Mom was going to go with her friend Nive. Then I suggested taking Sophie in my place. Then Mom decided to take Denny and Luke and well long story short she ended up taking ALL the kids (except my older brother Carl and I, remember me iz/waz preggers).

Believe me the Hawaii trip was no easy production. There were kids flying in from Arizona, there were two day lay overs in Oakland, there were trips to Napa Valley, there were little kids sneaking away to Pounders (Sophie and Denny, with Adri) behind Mom's back (she didn't want the little kids to go there--waves too wild), there were eggs and omletes a plenty, there were $1 mangos, there were mega discount PCC tickets, there was getting lost trying to find Elizabeth's house a plenty, there were sea turtles and harpooning (fish, not the sea turtles), and family--oh the family that was to be introduced and reintroduced. So here is the proof, that the stories were true and that they were indeed in sunny Hawaii. Gee whiz I've never seen so much squinting in my life. Makes me squint too.

Now my kids (L and X) both are planning out their "Grandma" trips to sunny Hawaii. So big Hawaii production part deux is in the works, tentatively for early 2010. Right now the whole fam is supposed to go. We'll cross our fingers and save some mega $$ and see what materializes. Who knows I might be preggars---ha,ha,ha,ha,ha (nervous laughing), jk--i hope.

A Letter to My Sister

Dear Adriane,

Your Blog is hilarity in itself (you witty English major, you). There are some life gems I'd like to pass down to you in response to topics covered over there at YoAdriane.

Let me have a crack-a-lack at it.

1. For all your Primary woes refer to the movie Matilda. Laugh your head off, then go to lds.org for some real Primary advice.

2. P&P (BBC mini version) is the best. Too many people like the Kiera "skeletor" Knightley version. Please don't ever go to the dark side sis!

3. Youtube the new Northanger Abbey. You will thank me. It is grrreat!

4. You are an Anglophile, just admit it. Do you talk to yourself in an English accent? Do you secretly wish you could have a cottage, a garden, an awesomely witty tongue and a friend named Gandalf? Mmmhmm I knew it.

5. Dirty dishes. Hate them. Get a maid. Where does that take you in your analogy? Just a thought.

6. When you are day dreaming what presents to give people if you had a million dollars, get me new energy saver windows and a truck load of Lindt chocolates. Thanx

7. I have two words for your Retro Pad. "embrace it" Unless the carpets stink cause they're too old. If that's the case then buy an area rug.

8. Back to Primary--kids like to be caught doing something (it gives them attention even if it is negative). So instead of getting after the kids who are acting up reward the kids who are reverent (make the loud ones jealous). Let the good kids be "caught being reverent". S's primary in Utah used this tactic and it worked so well S still wants to implement it during our FHEs. You basically have a basket of goodies (candy/cheap toys). Print "Caught being reverent" on paper and hand them out during Primary to the quiet ones. Let them cash it in at the end--everyone with a ticket gets to pick out of the basket and let the incentive work it's magic. Besides this way lets you avoid using Trunchbowl tactics.

9. Never ask me for "how to get skinny advice" I have none! All I have to offer is how to gain weight and to please feed me chocolate.

10. We need to end up living close to one another. ***With our forces combined....... (Think wonder twins--I turn into the animal, you, the water substance ok?!) Let's strategize shall we?

Miss you!

Luvs ya,

Bucky

SPT: What attracted me 2 U?

I couldn't pass up this SPT. It is just so fitting. Derek may not even know this but what first attracted me to him was the Valentines Day before we started dating he just randomly saw me on campus and handed me a Valentine's card (the kind kids hand out in grade school). It was so random and sweet. It wasn't exclusive, he was handing them out to everyone, but I remember thinking that is one cool guy. And he is, I declare it here on my blog, Derek you R 2 COOL! Luv ya!

Has the Landslide Got You Down?

Okay so life has been pretty nutty lately. Por example:
1. Basement flooded (my fault) been working with insurance to repair--they'll fix it after we shell out $500 yeah for us!
2. Derek ruptured his Achilles tendon. This injury sucks! Not only for the poor person who no longer has a working tendon, but for the crazy wife trying to manage 4 crazy kids!!!
3. Tommy has an ear ache, which means goopy eye boogers, sleepless nights and diarrhea--poor kid.
4. Leah is sick (she has an ear infection too--boo hoo!)
5. Yesterday Sophs get's boiling water spilled on her arm and chest when she tries to pour Navajo tea for her auntie.

Sooooooo all that's going down when........

Derek's sister has a friend who just got home from his mission. He is such a sweet guy, still riding the mission high (so basically has the missionary perfection halo hanging over his head). He's Hawaiian so we play the name game--seeing if we know any of the same polynesians, blah, blah blah--I like the kid he's great.

Anywho, my dog Benji has the craziest diahrea mess in the poor return missionary's room. Thankfully none of his stuff is covered in poo, but it smells of poo in the room. Sooooo.....
I run down there and start cleaning up the nasty stuff (imagine dark black tar poo with chunks mixed in, it was nasty!!! I think my dog ate something rancid).

So I am nervous laughing trying to hide the fact that I am mortified! I also tend to talk too much when I'm nervous too. Well the nice kid is saying that I am really handling the situation well (gee whiz thanks). Then after I have finished scooping, washing and disinfecting I try to make a quick get away so I can go cry and whine in my room when the RM says, "Hey I know who you remind me of!"

I stop, turn around and am smiling thinking--thoughts like perhaps "really awesome sister missionary I know", "Sister Hinckley--jk I didn't think that, but thinking back it would have been awesome to hear that".

So he says to me, "Have you seen the movie, Other Side of Heaven?" and I says, "Why yes I have". I'm thinking who the heck is he going to say. Well he says I remind him of THIS Lady!!??



What??!!!
Ok I couldn't find a picture for the lady he said I look like. If you've seen the movie it is the Mother of the girl who tries to seduce Elder Groberg. THe MOTHER OF THE GIRL!!!! I just figured this picture was just as shocking.

I was like, "Whaaaaat!? If I didn't like the kid so much I would've been doing the evil eye and the cold shoulder. Instead I just laughed and asked, "Are you trying to insult me?" He said no that lady was great.
"Great?!" What????

Oh well, me and celebrity look a likes don't get along.
In High School some girl stared and me and said, "I know who you look like! Kathy Bates"



Yea for me. Gee next time I remind you of a celebrity crazy person, please keep it to your self. It will leave me with what sanity I have left. Thanks and Adios.

Merry Christmas (late, I know) and Happy New Year (early, woohoo!)

If you were the lucky few who received our Christmas card, congratulations I sent out like ten cards (how ever many stamps I happened to have in my wallet). I do hope to have more sent out. Unfortunately they will be embarrassingly late--oh well such is life.

Here is a brief recap of our past year.
It was crazy.
It was crazy fun.
It was crazy fun and went by super fast.
Oh yeah and I had morning sickness for the first half of the year (so I don't remember much).
I had a BOY! yipee!
Little Tommy is getting so big, he sits up, plays for hours (well an hour or so) in his little stand up saucer thing, and is laughing at everything. He'll even play peek-a-boo. We love that little guy.

S is growing up so fast, she keeps reminding me she is going to be 10 and in middle school the year after next (yikes!). She is also my number one helper and should get an A for Awesome and also a trophy for most responsible 9 year old in the world. Plus she is a fantastic cook (I'd never admit it to her face, but she kicks my rear when it comes to cooking--she's fabulous!).

L is really becoming quite the prankster/drama-queen/just likes to act like different characters. It's hard to explain. But she likes to act out everything. She even donned a weird bun-styled hair do, to church. Then she whispered in my ear that she had "Anne Shirley" hair. She and S were watching Anne of Green Gables all weekend long and she had "Anne Shirley bun-hair" for pretty much the whole week.

X is sooooo funny. I wish I could some how market that girl for her own cartoon character or TV show. It would be hilarious and everyone would watch it. Lately she runs around the house in her undies opening up doors and "skadooshing" them closed, a la Kung-fu Panda style. Meaning she uses her nice little plump tummy to close doors, whilst she excitedly shouts "Skadoosh!". Pure funny I tell you.

Derek and I are hanging in there. We both agree that when it comes to life we are in the "thick of it". Four kids, a house (which we just purchased-yipee), home repairs (which seem to pop up all the time, boo!), work, school, responsibility on top of responsibility. My days seem to implode on top of each other. But I get to hang out with Derek at the end of the day and that makes it all worth it. Luvs you honey!

Things to watch out for this coming year:
S is going to be a decade old (as she keeps reminding me), yikes!
L will be getting baptized.
X will start Kindergarten in the fall.
Tommy will start walking (that is if his sisters ever put him down--they love him so much).

Oh yeah and maybe we'll get our yard fenced in so Benji, our teeny-weeny Lassa Apso will not be eaten by a fox. Did we mention he almost got attacked by a fox?

Hope everyone's New Year is Grrrreat!
Cheers and kisses!
Love,
The Bucksta Clan :)

Tagged! Six Quirky Things About Me

Adri tagged me to disclose 6 quirky things about me.

Refer to video. Quirky and embarrasing and I'm gonna show the world! I'm sure there is more than 6 examples.
Enjoy it!

Ode To Abel a poem of pictures

Alright so my brother Abel is soon to be Elder Wilkins. Recently I aquired access into his picture files and can I tell you I have learned so much about my little bro by doing so. So as a good deed to the people of California land, the land of where Abel will be spreading the good word, there are a few things you should know about him. Believe me you will thank yourself for checking this out, especially if there are any concerns as to the sanity of the MIGHTY-soon-to-be-Elder Wilkins.

Ode to Abel -Things You may not know, things you may not want to know, but things I will tell you.

He runs like the tree stump from Tekken Tag. Nice form. (Ryan? what?)

He's always been a little different--even at a young age, as evidenced by the above picture. I call that look his "death stare". Thankfully I've only ever had it directed at me once--because I accidentally threw away his action figure collection, which I foolishly guessed he had outgrown. Ooops!

He likes taking self portraits. Abel why spend all that time on photoshop and yet you don't bother taking out the red eye? Just wondering.

He likes to take self portraits doing silly things. Where on earth were you here, huh?

Abel is an arteeest, as shown here, with this toilet paper roll art. I'm not joking he drew that on a toilet paper roll. Also it's like his version of where's waldo, except you have to find his name, and all the things he enjoys, like cars and things like that. He draws other things as well like:

Egg head shooting fire from it's mouth.

Godzilla walking the streets, by McDonalds. I'm guessing it's the McDonald's off of Truman Road by the looks of it.

And of course nothing he does would be complete with out a look at his self portrait. You iz handsome Abel.

Abel loves cars and tries to incorporate himself anyway he can into anything that iz carz. AHW happens to be his initials and his inspiration for a BMW knock off.

He draws blueprints for cars that he imagines will someday make him famous.

I was informed that a Wyvern (for anyone, like myself who did not know) is a winged reptilian creature.

Abel likes to make CD covers of himself. If you can't comprehend keep scrolling down, it'll explain everything.

Abel can do Psychedelic 60's esque designs.
Abel is that Ollie behind you?

a little bit of R&B--Boyz II Men meets OutKast is my take on this one.

and of course his Russian Boy Band cover- Grreat. Do you remember when Denny would sing that song every second of every day? And you would threaten him with all sorts of doom and gloom, to which Denny would squeal with delight and sing even louder--"Natasha-Eh-Eh-Eh," or what ever it was they were singing in Russian?

And of course Abel doing Intellectual Rock, you know like that Adrew Bird fellow. Get it bird he, he,he, okay I know I'm not funny.

Anywho, Abel you are one strange diggidy-dawg. I'm sure you'll make a swell missionary. Just remember--word to the wise, "if you chance to meet a frowny face do not let it stay. Turn that frown upside down and smile your frown away!"

Don't scare anyone out there in Californ-I-A and if anyone starts to creep you out do death stare, it'll work every time. Good lucks for ya!

Babies = Joy

I guess I just forgot how sweet little newborns are. Here is chubby cheeked Tommy chewing on his fist. It doesn't get cuter than this folks (ok so maybe it does, but as far as today goes this is the cutest, definitely!).

Things My Kids Do Whilst I Nurse the Baby

Swinging like maniacs with friends in the backyard. (Note our creativity in creating playground equipment--bat+rope=hours of fun)

S is baking. Without permission most likely. Good thing she's a good chef. Looks like she has a partner in her baking trickery--it's ok girls, just as long as what ever you're making is delicious.

Acting like Leprechauns--aye what are ye doing wee lassie :)

Paying the price for naughty behavior.
Public humiliation always makes you behave better right?

Picking out outfits for school.

Hanging out at the aquarium with Daddio.

And of course S (my "must get homework done NOW" child) doing her homework. What a good kid :)

And when I'm not nursing the baby my kids are up to this.

Do you think he feels smothered, just a tad?

Prayers, Bid, and Auction for Nie

I, like so many others have felt affected by the Nielson Family through Stephanie's blog nieniedialogues. I often think of her and her family as I do what she used to do through out her day--be a Mom. Today her sister cjane posted a link to this fabulously made video of the balloon launch in the Nielson's honor. It's a real tribute to the way they lived their lives, it's awesome.
Check it out here.

Beware, stupid blog question.

Micheal Phelps is Ben Stiller's younger brother.
agree?

I Was Punk'd . . .

Punctured that is. I guess when I received my epidural the anethesiologist pushed the needle too far and punctured the spinal membrane (gross I know). So from the day I came home from the hospital (friday afternoon) to the following Monday I was on my back, because the moment I sat up I had a massive headache (caused from the spinal fluid slowly dripping out of the puncture and causing the pressure to become low and thus causing headaches--double gross). So Monday I went back for another epidural, except this time for them to inject blood around the puncture spot to clot up the puncture so the membrane can heal and my fluid could be balanced once again.
Oh yeah and I was supposed to stay in bedrest for 24 hrs. and not lift anything heavy and not over exert my self, so on and so forth, so the clot doesn't come apart. How is a lady with 4 kids supposed to do that? Hmm... Anyways I was so bored with doing nothing since I came home and being on my back for so long, that since I could walk around without headaches I decided to go grocery shopping, while baby slept. So off I went and I get to Safeway just as this cart is speeding towards a parked car so I don't know what I was thinking, I put the car in park and jumped out of the car and ran and stopped the cart. But ohhhh....what did I do to my body? My mind might think I am part superhero, but my body is like whoa girl I've been put through the ringer....s..l..o..w... down!
So after grocery shopping I was so paranoid I messed up the clot around my spine that I decided to just lay down and be totally lame and bored, cause the LAST thing I want to do is get a THIRD epidural!!! If I have another baby I've decided au natural is for me--no more needles in my spine (I'm a little sad about this cause I LOVED my epidural--oh well).



Ok so back to my cute baby. He is really a joy. All of the craziness is totally worth it. Look at this cute guy. We all adore him. He's our little celebrity. My girls can't get enough of him and they fight over who gets to help change diapers and help grab things while I bathe him, and they fight over who will hold him, and who will sing to him.




And I am usually the scary body guard that growls at them to stand back and let him have his space. Or say things like, "Baby doesn't want you to touch him, move back!" What his universe is going to be like is a little scary for me to think about, hopefully the hype will die out and he'll fit in with out so much fuss.


Also thanks for all the wonderful congrats, it totally makes my day.