Another one of "those days"...

Let me first start by saying 3 out of my 4 babies are sick right now. Stay away... far, far faaaarrrrr away. The only one who is feeling good is James, actually he is feeling amazing! I'm jealous! He has more energy than I can deal with right now. And too much time on his hands, since I am busy taking care of my girls. Once again we are really pushing his patience.

It all started with Ava getting a little cold. Nothing big, just a cold. That turned into a sinus infection/cough/never ending mucus pouring out of her eyes, mouth and nose. Soon enough her partner in crime got it as well. Rori got it a little worse, I didn't think that was possible but it is. After about 3 sleepless nights and a dozen boxes of Kleenex I was getting ready to take Nelly to dance yesterday and she said she wasn't feeling good and didn't want to go. Immediately I knew this was bad because she doesn't miss dance or school unless it is something serious. Sure enough about 15 minutes later there was barf all over my kitchen, my entry way, my living room and the bathroom. LUCKILY!! Some how she didn't manage to get much on my newly cleaned carpets!!! But it looks like this one is a doozy, I don't expect to sleep for at least a week. So with Chanel throwing up and Rori Ana crying because she doesn't feel well and Ava just crying because it seems like its the thing to do... I am crying because I cant fix any of it.

A little later on, just when I think I got everything under control Rori Ana goes running into the living room only to trip and fall, hitting her poor face on the couch... She got a bloody nose and she was so stuffed up it just made another mess from hell.

But a little bloody nose wont stop my Rori Ana... Oh no.

Once again I get everyone settled. Chanel watching Little Mermaid, Ava sleeping....... wait. Where is Rori Ana???? She is making her own lunch and packing it in her little princess lunch bag, that's where she is. And what did she make herself? A BIG bowl of cereal, with lots and lots of milk. She took it aaaallllll the way upstairs. Spilling aaaalllll over my carpets. That I had cleaned LAST WEEK! Yep, so much for being grateful that Chanel didn't throw up on them. So once again, I am cleaning another mess but Rori Ana couldn't let me clean it all up by myself. No, she decided to go get the hand soap from her bathroom and pour it all over my carpets. She is SUCH a great helper. But it doesn't end there... again, I am cleaning another mess. And Rori Ana was SO very mad that I took her lunch away. The lunch she worked so hard to make that she decided to make her lunch again.... On my kitchen table this time.

If daddy doesn't have a lock on my pantry by tonight I am going to go INSANE!!!!
And I am going to tie my little Rori Ana to my hip for the rest of the day. Since obviously I cant let her leave my sight for not one single minute!! I couldnt make this stuff up if I wanted to. I know they say your kids pay you back for all the horrible things you put your parents through when you were younger but, I KNOW I never did anything like this!!?? I have never met a child who is capable of the crap this little girl can do?! And not just her, but the rest of them aren't exactly angels either. What the hell am I going to do?

My baby boy...

I want to write some things down about my little man, my pride and joy, my best friend, my sweet and only son. I feel like he kind of gets dragged around a lot. Living in house full of girls and not just any girls but really crazy, drama filled, catty, sneaky, very outspoken, mean girls. And I'm not just talking about my daughters... They get it all from me. THERE!!! I ADMITTED IT!! HAPPY?! But I also think my son gets his calm, forgiving, logical, even temper from me as well. He really is my pride and joy. So are my girls, don't get me wrong! I am proud of ALL of my babies! But there really is something about the relationship between a mother and a son. Especially when he is your only son.

First of all, Jameson is growing up WAY too fast! I cant take it. He wins most of our arguments and the ones he doesn't win he convinces me to give in anyway. He is so smart and so giving. And the more he understand things and the way life works the more he amazes me. He has such simple solutions to such complicated problems. And he makes me wonder why the rest of the world cant just get it together and think the way James does. It would make for a much better place.

He is reading so much now, and he gets so mad at me for not ever correcting his speech in the past!! Words like other, he would have said "udder" and I never told him how to say it correctly so now that he is reading he asks me WHY I would let him talk that way?! I cant help but laugh. He also reads things he shouldn't. Like how many people have died in Japan, it affects him so much and I can tell he sits and thinks about it too much. He reads about missing kids and murders and THE WAR in the paper or in books and magazines. He gets so sad about all the negativity going on in the world and I feel like he is just too young to worry about such things. I want to keep him in his happy little bubble for as long as possible. I don't want him to know how evil people really are or what the world is really about. I don't like him worrying about our soldiers in Iraq and asking why the world has to fight. But at the same time, once again, I am proud. I'm proud that he cares and that he thinks about it. Goes to show he is a good person with a good conscience.

His favorite shows right now, and in this very order, are: icarly, Americas funniest home videos (my favorite too, we love watching it together) spongebob, wipeout, minute to win it and planet earth. All of which I love, except icarly I cant do that one. He gets mad if we miss one of his shows because I have to go to the store or something. He says I ruin everything.

He loves shrimp!! This kid can put down more seafood than most adults, but shrimp is what he loves best!!! He also eats all his veggies except some squash and spinach.

He is getting all A's and B's in school and he is speaking really good Chinese now. He got to have lunch with the principal because he is a such a good student and has good attendance.

He gags at everything, he gets that from his dad. I will wipe chocolate on him and then scream and not tell him what it is just so I can watch his disgust and see him gag!! Funniest thing EVER!!

He is so fun to hang out with, always joking around and messing with me. He is always jumping out of somewhere or throwing things at me. I know it might not sound fun to you but that is my same sense of humor so I think its fun.

Our feet are almost the same size!! I can fit into his shoes, they are pretty tight but the point is I can!! HOW DID THAT HAPPEN SO FAST???? Soon enough he will pass me up.

His favorite song is Shadow of the Day by Linkin Park and has been for some time now. He knows every word. But he also sings and dances... A LOT!!

He makes home videos all the time now. I don't know that I love that because you never know when he is taping you. I find videos of me in my pajamas or of me sleeping all the time. But I also find some pretty funny ones too! He likes to play jokes on people and tape it, he always gets Rory and the girls by scaring them. I love to see those ones!

Even though he is such a big boy he still crawls into my lap for a good cuddle, he still holds my hand in public and he will tolerate a kiss every now and then. He is also very patient with his sisters and I, always rolling his eyes and just following without much complaint.

He is a good boy and I love him.

M.I.C.K.E.Y M.O.U.S.E!!!!

Lately Rory and I have started to take each one of the kids to do something special. They get to choose pretty much whatever they want to do as long as its within reason, James asked to go sky diving... not going to happen. They get to go without any other siblings and can bring 1 friend if they choose to. Last weekend I got to take Rori Ana out for her special day. She had been watching TV and saw a commercial for the Disney on Ice coming that weekend. Every time she saw it she would scream at the top of her lungs, in the squeakiest voice possible MIIIICCKKEEYYY!! So daddy, being the wonderful man he is, got me and Rori Ana FRONT ROW tickets to see Mickey Mouse and the rest of the Disney characters! When we got there we were running a little late and they couldn't find our tickets in will call so I was running from counter to counter dragging Rori around. She loved it, I think it just got her that much more excited! She had no idea what she was in store for, all she knew was that Mickey was going to be there and that's all she cared about. The whole time she kept saying "I'm going to see MICKEY!!!" to anyone that walked by. Finally when they found our tickets we RAN upstairs and to our seats just in time to see Mickey make his first appearance! I don't know that I have ever seen my little Rori Ana in such a tizzy! She was waving and screaming like her life depended on it!! I think she was so loud that Mickey actually hear her because he came right over and started waving and blowing kisses right in front of her. You would have thought this little girl was going to faint with excitement. She was completely thrilled!! So there we sat through the first half of the show just oooohhhing and awwwing at all the fun tricks and all the beautiful princesses. Then it was half time, so we went out to go get a drink and some popcorn. Well, this is where it gets a little crazy. There I was ordering the popcorn and they guy accidentally over charged me so while he was trying to fix it Rori is jabbing me in my thigh telling me we have to go back to see Mickey and I kept saying wait and wasn't really paying much attention because I was trying to figure this popcorn thing out when all of a sudden it hit me that there were no more jabs hitting my legs... Rori Ana was gone. I practically yelled at the guy and told him to figure it out and I would be back and just started running, frantically running, in a total panic. This place does a big circle so I wasn't sure which way to run but I just went. After about 5 minutes with no luck and me sweating already and starting to REALLY panic I decided it would be best if I had some help. I ran to the first security person and told them I had lost my little girl. After a minute of me describing Rori in detail, right down to her little bracelet she was wearing they had it all over all their radios that she was lost. While I was describing her I completely lost it?! I don't know why, it hadn't even been more than 7 minutes she was gone but I just started sobbing!!! I'm sure I made a scene, even though I wasn't being loud it was obvious I was panicking and pacing like a crazy person. I had 2 police officers come try to console me, telling me this happens all the time at these kinds of events and that she was going to be fine but it didn't help. I was a mess. After the longest 10-15 minutes of my life a lady came walking up holding my baby, you would have thought Rori Ana was gone for more than a decade when I scooped her up and started crying even more than what I was! I was so mad, so embarrassed, so relieved and so thankful! I thanked everyone for their help, went and got my popcorn and took out all my frustrations on the poor kid behind the counter and went back to our seats and cried just a little bit more then enjoyed the rest of the show. It had no effect on Rori Ana since she had ran away to go back to Mickey and that was exactly what she got. By the end of the show I had calmed back down and we said one last goodbye to the Disney characters and went home. It was a wonderful and memorable night for me. My little Rori is the most mischievous, naughty, sneaky, determined little girl and she gets in more trouble in one day than any of my other children do in a month. But I couldn't be without her, not even if its only for 15 minutes. She means the world to me.

Sorry no pictures... I forgot my camera!!

Little Getaway...

Nothing much has been going on here at the Royce home. Just a lot of the usual like school, homework, dance etc. And I have been getting really antsy to go somewhere! Literally going crazy, all couped up in my house wishing the winter would leave already! So last weekend when my mom invited us to go watch my brother play his first rugby game in Saint George I JUMPED at the invitation! I knew it would be cold there as well but it would be better than spending another weekend trying to fight the freezing weather at home. I had the house cleaned the bags packed all the kids and dogs loaded up in less than one day. By the time Rory got home from work that Friday I was practically in the car waiting for him to get in so I could leave. One zebra and a short 4 hrs later and we were there!!

This little guy was at a petting zoo in Scipio, the middle of nowhere! I couldn't believe it!

We stayed in a nice hotel with an indoor swimming pool so the kids got to swim their little hearts out. Ava had no fear of water by the time we left. She was jumping in and dunking herself. Rori Ana almost got the hang of swimming, I think by the end of this summer she will have it down. James and Nelly were fish and swam up and down that pool like there was no tomorrow. And Rory and I were exhausted to say the least (sorry no pictures, I wasn't thinking). Then we went to the rugby game, I am now a big fan of the game. Always something happening, never any down time and as horrible as this sounds I was amazed by the violent tackling and the way these guys just threw each other around and WITH OUT ANY PADS!! It was exciting to watch and pretty intense!!

That is Michael being tackled to the ground. He did a great job, especially for his first game!

The next day we had to head back home. The kids had school and Rory had work so off we went, but not without fitting in one last little hike to some caves my mom had told me about. The little hike there was beautiful, with all the recent rain they have had the desert was much greener than usual and there were little streams of water everywhere! Lucky for us we had just bought the kids some rain boots so they splashed around the whole way there.

I know that some of you will think I am off my rocker for taking my kids down into a cave. But, I promise I am very careful with all the crazy stuff we do with our children. Rory and I have and always will be adventurous. You would be amazed at the things we turn down because we know it probably wouldn't be the best idea to drag our kids through it!

My kids have seen and done more than most adults have. They have hiked through jungles, climbed mountains, swam through canyons and now... explored caves. And they LOVED every minute of it!!

Here we are lowering Rori Ana down into the cave...

Ava Lyn was SOOO mad that I wouldn't let her crawl down by herself! She kept yelling "NO MAMA" at me and would slap my hands away!

This is the entrance to the cave.
Another little tunnel we crawled through.

I would have loved to go in deeper but things got a little tight. And we went very unprepared, wearing rain boots and uggs, not the best cave gear. Next time we will go with more lights and helmets and the right clothes. And HOPEFULLY next time the battery on my camera wont die so I can get more pictures!!!

It was a great weekend and hopefully the first of many to come this year!!!

Lately.....

James found a love for Bob Dylan and Kanye West and Gloria Estefan! He has been singing "Mr. Bojaaaaaanglesssss", "In the night I hear em talk coldest stone I ever saw bout a woman so heaaaartlesss heartless heartless" and he can shake it to the Conga like no other! I love that he has a love for all differnt kinds of music, I think I can credit myself for that. I have had my kids listening to everything from the moment they entered this world (literally) I think I was listening to Bob Marley when James was born. And I am not afraid to have dance competitions with them! Music is a big part of our family and I think we all drive our daddy crazy with it.

Rory went to school with Chanel and told her class about what he does for work. He brought a little torch and showed them how the heat makes the metal melt together, pretty sure he scared the crap out of most of the kids and the teachers. Hope none of them get any bright ideas. We probably should have thought that one through a little more.

Rori Ana is talking more and more and she talks so fast and quiet nobody can understand a word she says, except her mama and daddy of course. And that's all that matters to her. She is so bossy and mean but I wouldn't say she is the only one. Ava is usually right behind her mimicking every word that comes out of Rori's little mouth. Between the 2 of them, we are always in trouble. Those 2 get into more trouble everyday!! Its crazy! But I love to see how close they are, I just hope Chanel can keep them in line. Because I know I cant. Chanel is so patient and kind and she is about the only one that can talk those babies into behaving. She is such an excellent big sister and she will keep them entertained for hours! She teaches them how to play house, how to dress up, how to clean etc. etc. I don't know where she gets it from but she is amazing.

And we may or may not have taken in another dog.

(these pictures are not staged, this IS what these girls do to Tank all day and he loves every minute of it!)

Jameson goes off track! Yay!! Now you will see more pictures with him in them, poor kid.

And we are wrapping up the BMX season and hopefully starting the motocross season soon!!

Spring and Summer cant come fast enough!!

Christmas 2011

Christmas this year was a good one to say the least. It was filled with family, traditions, food, laughter, warmth, fun and happiness. I love Christmas time with my children, they bring so much to our lives and make our home come alive during this time of year. The anticipation of Santa coming was almost all too much for them to handle! I thought I was going to have to put them on some sort of anti anxiety medication! I love that every year gets better and better as they have more of an understanding of what Christmas is really about and of course because they know Santa is on his way. Everyday they were preparing in one way or another, whether it be writing and rewriting their lists, making decorations, making their home made gifts, baking and cooking with mom in the kitchen, seemed like they were doing almost as much preparing as I was! They were busy bodies for sure and it only made us that more excited to see them Christmas morning. I dread the day they quit believing in Santa and don't want to cook with me and make silly little decorations to put around the house. I am going to try my hardest to cherish these sweet, young, innocent moments with my babies.


Of course this year we followed many of the same traditions we do every year. Christmas eve with my family, eating our fresh made tamales that we slaved over the week before and having a wonderful home cooked meal surrounded by all my obnoxious brothers and laughing because my family and I all have the same sick sense of humor. I love the time I get to spend with them and how much fun I have when I am with them. On Christmas morning Jameson came in our room around 7 and quietly stood at the side of our bed and said "Mom. Dad. Santa came, he ate our cookies, drank his milk and dropped off lots of presents" then he laid down in between us and waited. He didn't beg or ask to go downstairs, he just laid there patiently. Finally Rory asked him if he want to go down and he said he would wait for his sisters to wake up, I was so amazed by his patience. He is far too mature. So he and I snuck into the girls room to get the party started (I didn't have the same patience) they all came racing downstairs to see what was in store. Jameson's favorite is probably his new art easel. He loves to color, draw and is painting all sorts of fun stuff on it! Chanel's favorite is her new camera from Nana, she is documenting every moment in our home, like it or not. Rori Ana's favorite is her new baby, it eats, talks and loves bananas almost as much as Rori! Ava loves her new stroller, she puts all her important possessions like her bottle, her Slinky, her blanket, her wipes and few other miscellaneous things and pushes it around.


That morning we also had a BIG yummy breakfast at our house for the second year! The Royce side and the Alba side came! I made a ham the size of Texas (we had ham for a week after that) and potatoes and chorizo, Rod's home made waffles, eggs and lots and lots more. After we all stuffed ourselves to the point where you are uncomfortable and all you want to do is lie around and try to digest all you have just eaten, the family all went their own ways and Rory and I did just that. We made ourselves comfortable on the couch and let the kids destroy everything in sight, not once did I pick anything up. I didn't worry about the glitter and bullets that covered every square inch of my house. I just laid there and soaked in every moment with my family (of course I paid for it the next day). Then we went to Aunt Sara's house where we got spoiled rotten! We all love aunt Sara, daddy Justin and Grandma and Grandpa Earle very much. Then we were off to the Royce's for fondue dinner. We tried to have the kids act out the story of Christ but of course they were not cooperating!


I love the joys the holiday bring, the happiness in our home, the loving family we are surrounded by, the traditions and the warmth I feel. It was another wonderful year, filled with all sorts of fun memories. I look forward to what 2011 year brings us, the ups and downs, the surprises in store and spending more time with my kids. This year my new years resolution is to be a better wife, to appreciate Rory more and to try my hardest to make our marriage the best it can be. To be a better mother and not worry so much about unimportant things and focus on how much I love these little ones and how happy they are and how happy I can make them. To be more patient, not only with my loved ones but with others, like the jack hole who cut me off today. To be more kind, and not call people jack holes. And to be more thankful. I'm not sure what Ive done to deserve all this but I am loving every minute of it!!

May this coming year bring you all happiness, joy, laughter and love!!!

My camera is taking the crappiest pictures???