EmLouisa

That or I better get preggers pretty quickly.  I’ve got no kids in diapers.  I guess I trudged my way right through that part.

School is out and my house can feel it.  The boys spent the day building forts and dumping out every container of toys they could get their grubby little hands on.  They played great together all morning and I kept thinking how lucky they are to have each other and patting myself on the back for being such a fabulous parent that has such fabulous kids that play so fabulously together.  In other words, I jinxed it.

Fighting ensued.  A-Boy wouldn’t let Mini-Man play with something.  Mini-Man kept trying to sit on A-Boy.  A-Boy shoved.  Mini-Man pushed.  There was tattling.  Mini-Man cried. 

He crawled into my arms, tears streaming down his face.  “I wanna *sniff* go *snort* to SCHOOL!!!!!!   “I miss my *hiccup* teacher!”   Aw, kid.  Sorry.  

Last week Mini-Man jumped off the bus and ran into the house.  “Mom, Mom!!  Look what’s in my backpack, hurry!”  I hurried.  All the stuff from his classroom.  The pumpkin shape with his name on it that told him where to sit.  The laminated wordstrip that he used every day to trace his name.  The flower that he hung on the ceiling.  I held all that stuff and cried like a baby.  In September he would barely talk or look at me.  And in May, here he is, telling me to look in his backpack and giving me hugs.

I want to kiss his teachers.  I don’t think I could ever make them understand how grateful I am for everything they have done for him.  They love their jobs and they love my son.  They celebrate his milestones just like I do.  Wonderful, wonderful people.

So there I was crying, clutching on to various arts and crafts and the dang pumpkin.  A-Boy asked what was wrong.  “Nothing is wrong, Honey.  I just don’t want you guys to grow up.”  I hugged him and thought about next year when both my kids will be in the big bad elementary school.  I hate that I can’t protect them from the world. 

As excited as I am to have 3 hours to myself every day, I’m sad too.  Five years went way too fast.  A-Boy tells me defiantly that he WILL grow up.  Because he wants to be six.  Six it is.  Be six.  And then don’t grow up after that.

A-Boy walking in with his friend for the preschool program.  And of course they had to play “We’re Going to be Friends” by Jack Johnson, causing me to well up with tears.  Grrr…

Mini-Man at his preschool program.  He got to wear a hula skirt and kept wiggling his hips back and forth.  So cute!

So yep.  Summer is here.  And I’m looking forward to spending some time with my little guys while they are still little.

Congratulations to Flutterbug, who won the March Boleyn warmer and a Scentsy Bar!!!

Thanks to everyone who participated in this giveaway! We will do a new one next month!

Alright people.  This is your lucky day.  I was just going to give away a Scentsy Plug In ($15) and a Scentsy Bar ($5)  but I think the March Warmer of the Month is so freaking adorable that I’m going to give that away instead.

So what you will win:

1 Boleyn Deluxe Scentsy Warmer (Retails at $27 this month only)
1 Scentsy Bar of your choice (Retails at $5)

So what the heck is so cool about Scentsy?

Scentsy is a wickless candle company.  Yup, that’s what I said.  Wickless.  The wax comes in a Scentsy Bar that you heat up in an electric warmer.   The warmers work with a 25 watt lightbulb instead of a flame, which is cool because you can keep it on and not worry that your house is going to burn down or that your kid is going to hurt themselves.  You can actually stick your finger in the hot wax and it doesn’t burn!  It’s warm, not hot. 

There is as much scent in a Scentsy Bar as in a high quality jarred candle twice its size!  They come in over 80 different fragrances and there are over 45 unique warmers to choose from.  So not only does your house smell amazing but you have this beautiful piece of art to look at and enjoy.  Rock on.

If you haven’t tried it, you NEED to.  NEED I tell you!!!   

Scentsy has been in business for about five years and is growing at a phenomenal rate, even in this cruddy economy.  So if you are looking for a way to earn some extra $$$, want to start a successful business or just want to have something fun to get out of the house, you should look into it!  It’s only $99 to get started and I offer a great sign up incentive!  Email me for details, or go to my Scentsy Website and click on Start a Business. 

How to Enter the Drawing

• Make a comment on this thread.  Make sure to leave your email address so I can know how to get a hold of you.  (email addresses will remain private)  ONE entry per person.

How to Get Extra Entries

• Write a blog post about my giveaway on your own blog.  The post must contain a link to this giveaway.   Make sure to leave a comment on this blog, as well as your blog address so I can verify.  You will receive 3 extra entries.
• When you comment on this post, mention that you would like to join my monthly e-newsletter club!  I need your name and your email address to get you set up.  If you are already on my newsletter let me know and you’ll receive the 3 extra entries. 
• Order something from my Scentsy Website.  Click on Place an Order and then Emily Andersen’s Online Party.  If you do it that way I will give you FREE shipping AND 3 extra entries.  

The drawing will end on March 27, 2009 at 12 pm MT. 

I’ve LOVED being a part of Scentsy the past two years and I’m excited to introduce it to you!  To view a catalog or find out more information about Scentsy please visit http://scentsy.com/emilya or email me. 

Good luck!!!

I learned a few things when taking A-Boy to his 5 year check up at the pediatrican’s office.  First, never tell the kid that he is going to the doctor for a shot.  You’ll have to do some bribing to get him in the car.  Second, he has no problem lying to the doctor when it is to his advantage.  “I LOVE broccoli, it’s my very favorite!”  Liar.  And third, the kid has seriously cruddy vision.  Ugh.

Before booster shot time they gave him a vision screening.  A-Boy covered up his right eye and squinted at the chart.  “I can’t see it!”  The nurse thought it was because it was letters so she showed him shapes.  “I can’t see that either!”  So she moved him a lot closer.  He read all the letters and all the shapes.  She sent him back further and asked him to cover up his right eye again. 

“WHY DO YOU MAKE ME COME BACK HERE WHERE I CAN’T SEE ANYTHING??”"

I stifled a giggle and then heaved a heavy sigh.  Of COURSE the kid can’t see.  Neither of his parents can see without contacts or glasses.  His father is practically blind and has been since he was six.  It was only a matter of time before the kid needed them.  I was just hoping it wouldn’t be quite this early.

So we did the eye doctor thing.  His left eye has a lot of astigmatism and without correction he could get a lazy eye.  So of course, we are doing glasses.  We tried on frames.  Lots and lots of frames.  And I tried not to be annoyed that they didn’t have cool black plastic rimmed ones for little boys.  Finally I found some that were the appropriate amount of cuteness.

We picked them up a few days later and A-Boy has worn them without complaint ever since.  He LOVES them!  What’s not to love when you are five?  Your friends think they are super cool, everyone notices them and tells you how awesome you look, plus you get this way cool case.   Hopefully that feeling doesn’t fade.   

I, on the other hand, had issues.  I cried the first couple of days that he had them.  I mourned the fact that he had to wear them.  (Privately, he doesn’t know I felt that way at all) Would he get made fun of?  Would he be “the nerd”?  He just didn’t look the same!  And…I’ll be honest.  I thought he looked like a goober.  I made Samantha give him a haircut the day he got them so he looked less gooberish.  It didn’t help.  I still didn’t like them and resented the fact he had to wear them.  It took me a few days to take a real picture.

I was really surprised that I felt that way.  I mean, he’s my kid!  Who would think that way about their kid?  Apparently a lot of people.  Because when I told a few friends about it they confided that they felt the same way when THEIR kid got glasses.  It was hard at first, but they always got over it.  Who knew?  I’m adding that to my list of  Things That People Never Tell You.

I got over it too.  After watching him in glasses for a few days I realized that he isn’t just cute in them, he is ADORABLE.  They totally fit his personality.  He is a smart, handsome little kid.  But don’t tell him that.  He LOATHES when I call him handsome.  But, being the mom, I still do.  Because I can.

I Am Terrified of Poop.  And I’m not kidding.  Seriously terrified.

We are potty training Mini-Man.  Last Friday I found him pantsless.  I asked him where his underwear was to which he replied, “I pooped so they are gone”.  Um…okay.  I spent the next half hour trying to figure out what happened.  I found the underwear, peed in and tossed to the side.  I found a puddle of pee.  I found remnants of poop so I KNOW that he pooped.  But…no poop.  I asked him what happened and he just kept saying “I pooped in the potty!”  I do not, however, believe him.  I also do not, however, know where the poop is.  I walk around my house terrifed.  I cannot smell it, so maybe he IS telling the truth.  But pooping in the actual potty?  Too darn good to be true.  Especially when evidence points to otherwise.  This is one time that I really wish the kid could talk better.

I may throw up.  Feel free to join me.

We have “Issues”.  I told Greg today that I was excited to finally sit down to watch the Ugly Betty episode I DVRed last week.  He very nonchalantly informed me that the DVR had some “Deletion Issues” and Ugly Betty was no longer recorded.  I was thinking that something was seriously wrong with the DVR so I pressed him for further information.  Apparently ”Deletion Issues” is code for “ The DVR was full so I deleted your show because it’s kinda lame.”   Good to know for future reference.

Having a stomach bug is no fun at all.  I know this because I have one, or did 24 hours ago.  I’m feeling much better today, so score one point for mom.  Being in bed all yesterday did not bode well for my house.  My kids had free reign and totally knew it.  A-Boy plastered about 20 pictures on the wall with lots of extra tape, Mini-Man ate  4,000 fruit snack packages. 

When I was doubled over the toilet and trying to decide which end to put into it, A-Boy thought that was a choice time to converse with me.  Mom-I-really-like-playing-MarioKart-I-think-I-can-totally-beat-Grandma-at-MarioKart-if-I-practice-enough-and-try-really-hard-my-favorite-player-is-Yoshi-do-you-like-Yoshi-Mom-Uncle-Andy-likes-Bowser-he-is-super-good-at-games-I’m-really-hungry-can-you-please-get-me-a-snack-because-I-want-something-to-eat-when-is-Dad-coming-home-I-like-Dad-Mom-Mini-Man-was-being-naughty-and-he-took-my-Wall-e-earlier-hey-Mom-I-am-super-hungry-can-I-please-have-a-snack-now…hey-are-you-throwing-up?–wow-you-are-really-throwing-up-Mom.

The first few months of pregnancy will be SO fun with that kind of support, don’t you think?  (not that I’m announcing)

Trash TV is like, totally addicting and stuff.  Since I was sick yesterday I snuggled into bed with 37 pillows and watched a bit of daytime tv.  And by a bit I mean I watched it from about 1pm until 10pm.  I watched the complete season of The Real Housewives of New York City on Bravo.  I felt guilty the whole time.  I refuse to watch The Bachelor on the grounds that it is tacky and without morals.  Housewives?  Pretty much the same.  Except I couldn’t look away.  Would Alex get her precious Francois into $30,000 preschool? (No.)  Would the other housewives forgive her for bringing her husband to a Girl’s Night Out? (Because she just loves him SO MUCH and cannot BEAR to be apart from him!!)  Would Jill ever get over having to sit on the SECOND row at a fashion show, behind Ramona?  !!!!

These things are not important.  But I just. could. not. stop. watching.  And today I found myself thinking about it a lot.  I will (quite sheepishly) admit that I DVRed two episodes.  And I am looking forward to watching them tonight.  Yup.  Loserville over here.

Everyone everywhere needs to read Three Cups of Tea.  See, because I am now addicted to The Housewives I need something wonderful and uplifting to counter it, lest people think I am a shallow and fake person who only cares about reality tv and the social status of New York’s upper crust.  (Holy Run On Sentence Batman!)  To put Three Cups of Tea and Real Houswives of NYC in the same blog post seems…well, wrong, but I’m doing it anyway. 

Three Cups of Tea is a completely amazing book that will change the way you look at things.  Quick summary:  A dude goes to Pakistan to climb K2.  He ends up in a very poor village.  They take care of him so in return he promises he will come back and build a school for their children.  He ends up building 52 schools in Pakistan.  It is an AMAZING story, about an AMAZING guy.   And the best part??  It’s totally true!  But unlike the NYC Housewives it won’t leave you feeling disgusted, annoyed or wondering what the heck is wrong with people.  You have to read it.  HAVE to.  Raise your right hand and promise me right now that you will read it.  READ. IT.

The new Scentsy candle smells are DIVINE.  The catalog is totally out on my Scentsy website now.  And you can totally check it out by going here:  http://scentsy.com/emilya  Call or email me if you have questions about ordering.  And check back next week because I will be doing a drawing for some of the new stuff!

Last night I looked over at Greg’s computer to see that he was checking out my blog for new posts.  Aw, sweet.  It’s been three months and the man still hasn’t given up on me.  I told you he was a keeper. 

Since I am so behind it’s probably best if I just give you the highlights and lowlights of the past 3 months.  So let’s see.  That brings us to:

Thanksgiving.  We went to this cabin for a nice relaxing vacation with Greg’s family.  The basement finally got finished so we were totally giddy about not having  to sleep in the cold, damp and unheated underground like other times.  There was carpet.  Comfy couches.  A heater.  Our own bathroom.  And a HUGE big screen.  Freaking score.  It snowed and we built a snowman.    We ate a delightful feast.  We made gingerbread houses and took them home.  This is how I found ours  every day for the next two weeks: 

I finally threw it away after all the frosting and candy were eaten off.  Mini Man apparently loves his sweets.

A-Boy turned five.  We threw a big Wall-E party for his friends and then had to take a nap afterwards because of the craziness.  I made him a Wii mote cake for the family birthday party.  The cake looked absolutely horrid (no you will not be getting a close up) but tasted divine.  He could, however recognize that it was a Wii mote so it could have been worse.

And yes, he is wearing shorts, a surfing t-shirt and crocs with socks in December.  You gotta love when they choose their own outfits.  And yes, I can’t believe he is five.  FIVE!!!

Then came Christmas.  I was going insane with Scentsy so I didn’t start Christmas shopping until ten days before.  We didn’t finish decorating the tree until three days before.  Lame, lame, lame.  I discovered that my need for The Perfect Tree was no longer a need and let the kids decorate it however they wanted.  We made our own ornaments, I let them hang all their preschool crafts on it.  Totally tacky.  Amazingly enough, that very ugly tree became The Perfect Tree and I couldn’t stop looking at it for the rest of the holiday season.

Ugly Christmas Tree 2008

Christmas this year was awesome.  The kids loved their toys and played with them constantly for the next three days.   We took lots of naps.  We wore our pjs for three days straight.  Serious heaven going on.   

A-Boy had been asking for this Diego Submarine pretty much forever.  And when he opened his Wall-E?  Weeping.  He actually snuggled the box.

Mini-Man taught his cousin how to stack properly.  Oh, and yeah.  He liked his presents too.

We’ve been married 10 years now!  Our anniversary is just after Christmas so we decided to take a quick trip to Vegas since that’s where we went on our honeymoon.  We were quickly reminded why we don’t like Vegas, what with the porn and the gambling and the drug deals and the prostitution.  So that’s one place we’ll never have to go again.  Still, we had a nice time just being together.

Then came depression.  I decided to skip the weeklong Scentsy Leadership Cruise at the end of January, then spent the entire week being bitter and mopey because I didn’t go.  All the other directors were off having fun and learning stuff.  I was at home potty training Mini Man.  The cruise was from Monday to Friday and I just had this massive guilt about leaving the kids and Greg for a week while I was off basking in the sun.  I should have just gone.  Greg kept telling me to go.  I should have gone and dragged him with me.  But that mommy guilt just wouldn’t subside.  Stupid mommy guilt.  And no, Mini Man is still not potty trained.

Samantha shaved her head in January to raise money for kids with cancer.  She’s cool like that.  I totally got to help shave it all off.  And check out Mini-Man in the corner.  He was extremely concerned.

Still, she rocked it.

Valentine’s Day.  Greg and Aidan had been sick the entire week but we soldiered on and decided to go to Utah for the weekend.  We stayed with my brother and tried to stay sane with 8 kids under five years old running around.  We hit the Draper Temple Open House, took the kids to see Bolt and went to almost a million fast food restaurants with Play Places.  Okay, only three.  But that seemed like a million to me.  I count the weekend as a success:   The kids didn’t fight  and I got to smell babies.  Yum.

Now things get busy again.  The new Scentsy Catalog comes out in March so I’m gearing up for a busy season.  I’m pretty excited to get started after a little break!  It’s been nice, but I am READY.  Come back again around the first of March…I’ll be giving away some Scentsy.

Have a great weekend!