Friend or Foe Fables

Small Human

2008-01-13T16:05:00.000-08:00

Matthew was watching the ever so stupidly funny movie Major Payne the other day when McKenna walked in and responded to what she saw. Her little mind saw the young boys in uniform and especially the one who is really little (probably about 4 years old) and she said, "What?! Small humans aren't suppose to fight!" I laughed and asked her if she was a small human, she is.

Can you fit your fist?

2008-01-10T14:50:00.000-08:00

So, the other night at dinner we were talking about the dentist. He made the comment that Jocilyn had a small mouth and McKenna has a mouth with plenty of room... what's that? Kenna has a big mouth? ... Nooooo..... Anyway, so then Matthew says he thinks he remember that aunt Lynn can fit her fist in her mouth... so here are the "I want to be like Lynn" pics... We love you aunt lynn-a-gin!

Most likely to ...

2007-11-15T09:14:00.001-08:00

...be the favorite cell mate! I got into the shower the other day and found that the girls had taken about 15 or so washcloths and tied them end to end. They'd taken this little contraband rope and flung it over the shower door. Maybe they were desperate to get out and forgot how to slide open the shower door. Desperate times, desperate measures... I don't know. I do know this: if you ever find yourself imprisoned, you'll be hoping for a cell mate with such genius!! I took pictures, but I have a rogue photo program on my computer and it heisted the pics as soon as they were downloaded- I tried to download them onto picasa (which is my usual picture program) and the memory card had been wiped clean. It's alright though because i'm sure your imagination can conjure up a right fine image of my little escape artists!!!

Halloween Headline

2007-10-31T18:25:00.001-07:00

Tooth Fairy goes Toothless for Halloween... breaking news

Jocilyn has had 2 loose teeth for a while now, her bottom front 2. Yesterday she went to the dentist for a toothache and he pulled the one that hurt her, plus one of the loose ones along with its neighbor in order to make room for the permanant tooth that had already emerged behind. Total teeth extracted? 3 yesterday. There will be an additional 3 next week (same deal other side of the mouth). Then the plan is to make her a "space holder" so that the remaining teeth don't fall into the open spaces before it's time. All of this pulling seemed pretty aggressive, but Dr. Ririe (who is also our bishop) said she just doesn't have room in her little mouth and there will likely be more pulling in later years. His other plan is to do a "frenectomy" (Kenna will eventually have to have this done as well). What is it you ask? Well, you know how my wee ones have that gap between their top front teeth? I've come to find it really cute- but it's gonna take up space that they are going to need for teeth- so the doc will cut the tissue in order to let that gap close... they are in for so much fun. McKenna goes in tomorrow for x-rays and cleaning. We are having dental fun at our house!

Here are my little fairies!!! It's trunk or treat in Star! Jocilyn is the Tooth Fairy, McKenna is a Fairy Princess... I think we had fun!

Some kid just head butted my door with a group of overaged trick or treaters... I wasn't real kind about it- called him an idiot- all of his friends apologized FOR him... what a moron. He said to me when i asked who hit my door instead of knocking, "ummmm.... man my head hurts from hitting it!" I'm like, "Uh, I don't feel bad for you- idiot. Nice example for my kids... " was that too harsh? I don't care- except now we'll probably get egged or t.p.'d... Kids these days-

Oh! That pushes my buttons!

2007-10-26T09:26:00.000-07:00

McKenna has long had a "tell" for when she is tired. Some kids rub their eyes and get cranky. Some might just pass out wherever they are... McKenna, however, plays with her belly button. She has done this from before age one I'm sure. Her grandpa use to put a bandaid over her belly button to keep her from it because simply put- it's plain ol' freaky to see.
Random note... it's freezing here and she is in this (only inside... i'm not that retarded of a mother).... She keeps saying, "thank goodness we keep it warmer in our home!"

This is the "tired twist."

Yesterday as she ate her lunch with one hand her other was twisting her belly button. I said to her, "you're tired, huh?" she quickly pulled her hand away from her tummy and up by her head as if to say, "I don't know what you're talking about." She knows it gives her away, but just can't help doing it. Here are some pics of the little stink bug... she is to cute!!!

A few new (old) pics

2007-10-13T21:02:00.000-07:00

Our little family went camping not to long ago at a place called "Givens Hot Springs"... here are some pics... I'm ready to go again!
Mom and dad (Grandma Dianne and Grandpa LeGrand) came up for one of the days...
...good times. The swimsuits are because there is a pool that is filled by the natural hot spring water... very, very warm... more like a HUGE hot tub... the kids loved it.

Is he relaxed?... or did he forget how to relax... hmmmm.....
I finally finished last years Harry Potter- now I'm only one behind the rest of the world... but i have joined with all of you other "Twilight" fans... I've read all 3 of those and started Marie and my mother in law on them as well... Leneita should finish the 3rd by tomorrow night- she picked it up from me today... addicting...
Jocilyn and daddy in the kitchen of the trailer....

Another graceful move while camping... only I could do this while cleaning up in the trailer... it still pops, crackles and hurts to flex/stretch.

So- new posts on each blog... i need to choose one and eliminate the other so that there isn't so much maintenance... but i love both names- and someday the girls can use it more for themselves anyway- probably sooner than later given that they are faster at this computer thing than i am...

Love you all!

Back to school

2007-09-06T08:08:00.000-07:00

Mom got to take me to school and go in late to work... that made her happy. She says 1st grade is harder for a mom than kindergarten, she got "teary," i guess because i'll be gone all day now... I'm pretty excited, and i wore my tennis shoes on purpose today so that i can chase the boys!!!
This year i ride the bus to AND from school. I'm excited to do that, see Hunter in front of me? He rides the same bus- but he only stays a half a day so he's not on my bus going home. The first day of school i rode the bus to my grandma Lenita's, but it wasn't the right bus, and so they took me back to the school and my aunt Marie picked me up because my mom was at work. She (mom) freaked out about it, took her blood pressure and it was high- she was thankful Marie could help and i was safe. Now we know the right bus for "grandma days."
On the playground with friends!!
When the bell rings I line up along the wall by my classroom door......
McKenna was excited to come with mom and take me to school, she gets to go next year to kindergarten.

After a rain pour.....

2007-08-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

STINK BUG INFESTATION... at least the bug is cute..... Tyler man!!! Here are some pics of the kids playing after the rain.....

After the rains the kids rode their bikes...

... and tried to eat rocks...

This was Sunday the 19th, after a rain. Marie, Travis and their kids came over and little Tyler-man enjoyed the gutter at the end of the drive.... this is such a cute age!!!!

So camera shy.....

The big boys look exhausted... because that's "how they roll....." constantly exhausted.

Well, as Tyler looked over every thing, i like to think that he was thinking he'd done a great job getting as filthy as possible, and his work here was done..... good job lil' man...

We are the mouse house...

2007-08-14T14:14:00.001-07:00

WHY!!!!! why do the kids think these gnarly, germ infested mice are cute? We live near a field... well, like in one... and we have a field mouse issue. But never inside... until yesterday! Matthew killed one yesterday, and when i saw one today the sticky trap went down immediately... because, yuck! I keep a decently clean home- why are they invading it? Anyway- here is the caught thing- I felt so brave taking it out (only touching the cardboard... are you crazy?) but i was not thrilled about it.
brave? not really
proud of myself... sorta...

This problem will end... i don't know how, but i do know that our pest control guys have something for it- and believe me, they will hear from me about that!!!!! YYYYYUUUUUUCCCCKKKKKYYYYYYYY'! until next time..... eeeaaakkk.......

Party like a rock star!!!

2007-07-31T11:35:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah! Jocilyn turned 6 this month... but her mom is so good at procrastinating things that the party she began to plan over a month prior didn't happen until about a week and a half after her actual birthday.... The party was a huge success and Jocilyn kept saying afterwords, "mom, i really had a great party- thanks- i know that was hard for you.... " yep.... i get stressed out hosting things at my house. I just don't like it, never have... So, it was a swim party. There were 2 kid-o pools,
one pretty small inflatable type, and another 8' round and about 2' deep (still small, but big enough). Aside from cousin Hunter, there were to be all girls. As I (trish) planned for this i ordered "lots" of things off of ebay. I got little purses with cute little designs on them, little wallets to go in the purses, and then a lot of $ store items to add in... lip stick/gloss, nail polish, princess pencils and stickers for example. I have to admit, they were the cutest party favors i've ever seen- oh, and a headband with a scarf. The original idea was to make them into the type that you can purchase, it was going to be a crafty thing to do at the party... but i tried to do one prior and couldn't figure it out so the girls each got the headband and scarf to do with what they pleased. Hunter got a napsack full of "boy stuff," and the poor neighbor boy who decided he'd like to come- (rang the bell that day and asked if he was invited to the party he'd heard about from another little girl in the neighborhood- so i called his mom and said sure he could come, but the favors were all purses, if he didn't mind- but put on a suit, bring a towl and we'll have fun- and they did, he and Hunter were the resident "sharks" in the pool...) went home empty handed, but wet and happy.
Overall, a success i think. Happy children make for happier parents... and everyone was happy. Happy Birthday "Joc-LoRee!!!" We love you!

Drunk? or just an idiot?

2007-07-24T17:26:00.000-07:00

Mom (T.) tried to be creative with the photo tribute to Jocilyn by joining the cool crowd of slide show phenoms..... that was mistake #1.... she should've known better. So, on her behalf, we apologize for the slide show fiasco.... she's grounded from the computer for a month (so if your emails are not returned, be patient)....
Sincerly~ Jocilyn and McKenna

Don't get dizzy!

2007-07-24T17:16:00.000-07:00

finally got pics!

2007-07-24T17:15:00.001-07:00

Blog slide show gone wrong... suspected woman still at large!

2007-07-24T16:22:00.001-07:00

Computer stupid tried to get a slide show goin' for Jocilyn... you see how remarkably well that went!!!!

Jocilyn LoRee Gibbens 17 July 2001

2007-07-24T08:22:00.000-07:00

This should be easy enough!!!!! Happy birthday to me!!!! But then again it's my mom working on this "easy" project- be warned!

*The idiot strikes again... it's too late for you to run, so don't even try. I can't seem to edit (cut and paste) my text- so the order is random and doesn't appear to be my finest litterary moment... also- I can't seem to get my photo program and blogspot to join forces and play fair- so there are no pics. A picture tribute to Jocilyn is coming- maybe i'll have put her baby pics onto a disc by then... we'll see- Anyway- enjoy it for what it is!!! ~T. (of course it's me, who else fights this much with machinery?)

One beautiful Sabbath morn.... an amazing little princess to us was born..... Jocilyn LoRee Gibbens joined our family, our first born- and what a blessing!

Due Friday July 13, 2001- I was hoping she might come early, like on my favorite day July 4th... but if not then- I was really rooting for her due date. Some people frowned on that because of all of the superstition and negativity the date is shrowded in. She decided she'd come when she was ready. So, Saturday the 14th we had a neighborhood couple who seemed to need friendship over. We watched 7 Days, the Kevin Costner movie about the Cuban Misile crisis. Our guests left around midnight and we climed our tired bodies into bed. Matthew was already asleep when i joined him. I got all snuggled in and thought, "that was strange, dare i move again?" so i did a little wiggle and sure enough there was a little "trickle" with each wiggle. There was no flood, or breakage of dams, opening of the heavens kind of water works..... well, at least not until i made it to the tile floor (thank heaven for the little things!). I said, (in a tone of voice that is only known to have ever been made by a woman who knows that something inevitably painful and beyond backing out of is about to happen..... that was me at the time!) "Mattheeeewwwww! You need to wake up, my water broke and we'll be needing to go... " He mumbles, "Are you sure? Let me see- we already went once for this and it wasn't really your water..." I said, "Oh,but this is like pee i can't stop... I don't think that's natural- even for a pregnant person!" So, once we agreed that yep- that was not natural, nor should we ignore it- I hopped in the shower and cleaned up, got out and put my face on (I wanted to look good for all of the pictures during and after labor- that's important stuff!!!).

This being my first, I was really trusting the whole 18 hour average labor time. That was a mistake. My water broke at about 12:45 a.m. and i had her by 08:30 a.m. My shower and makeup took only a short minute- but labor was in full painful swing midway to the hospital- all of a sudden i was not comfortable. I wanted to see if i might be able to do this without an epidural, I don't know why.... I guess i thought I'd get a badge, or an extra good kid or something.... or maybe i was just on crack- Anyway- the nurse sent us walking, after having to stop and die every 3rd step and duck into bathrooms to be sick- i was done with that!!!! We returned to the room and i asked for just a little something- Stadol was worth a shot, right? So, the nurse went to get me Stadol (IV pain med). She returned with it and said, "do you want this? It's 50/50 on whether or not it helps. OR you could go ahead with the epidural, the annesthesiologist is heading into surgery so he could do you now, or after (she estimated 2 hours)." Screw the stadol, get me the annesth. This crazy nurse kept telling me to rest between ctx's... there was no "in between"... there was only one very long contraction and my mantra had become "I'm a wuss, I'm a wuss..." I think positive self talk had flown the coop along with any pain threshold i thought i had.... Bless that romanian annesthesiologist!!!!! Bless him, bless him, bless him!!! I was only dilated to a 3... but my body relaxed and i was able to move speedily along. From 8-complete in about 1/2 an hour and when the nurse asked me for a practice push, she hollered, "stop!!! the MD just left to go home, don't sneeze, or cough until i get her back here!!!" Okay, no problem thanks to Dr. Romania.... The rest is history!!!

Jocilyn was born in the old days. We didn't have a digital camera- only 35mm rolled film. I carried the camera with me at all times, 2 cameras actually, one with black and white film- we have some great pics, i just can't paste them in because i don't have a scanner.... so the picture tribute will be lacking birth/baby pics... I need to work on that- note to self......

When we first discovered we were pregnant we couldn't have been be more sure that we were having a boy.... we weren't even going to have them confirm it at the ultrasound. But while we waited for the u/s (ultrasound) tech, we studied the picures of other u/s babes and kinda learned how to differentiate. So, when little missy forgot to show any other parts- we asked if we "read" the u/s correctly and it was confirmed. Our little man, was a little lady- and is she ever!!!! Very much the pink of perfection, she is the consummate and indefectible little girl. That said, don't forget who her daddy is- because he'd put money on her against any boy... she's a tough little rugger!!! How blessed she makes our life- both her and her sister- our family is so perfectly wonderful- this mamma far to often fails to recognize it through all of the laundry, dishes, candy wrappers, toys, etc.... I needed to take a minute to realize how blessed i am through my family, and at this time particularly~ Jocilyn LoRee....

Family Reunion

2007-07-05T13:58:00.000-07:00

Lites out girls!! (except for glow sticks in gm's trailer!)
Who does hair when camping anyway?

How fun can a reunion be? About this fun for us!!!

Mom was AWOL and Dad couldn't come because of work... - but we had a good time out in nature with the Carson side of our mom's, moms's family (make sense?). Always good eats when it's cooked over coals. Wish that dad could have come- so did mom- We had a good time sleeping in grandma Dianne and grandpa LeGrand's trailer. We spent some extra time back there to nap and such en-route (unless of course you disagree with that concept- and then we napped like this...). We left for Duck Creek on Wednesday and went as far as Provo, UT where we stayed the night at Grandpa Cub and Grandma Coy's home. We left early the next morning to find camp (Duck Creek is near Cedar City)... all total i

think we were in the car for about 14-ish hours.... now that's good times. We survived without any major incident. A few leeches later we finished reunion unscathed and one very cool t-shirt richer. Aunt Beth, thank you for all of the time and effort you put into the reunion. And can you believe- "all because two people fell in love." We love you family!

Two people fell... and stayed in love.... what about that!!! good example...

photo tribute to my now 4 year old

2007-06-18T07:06:00.000-07:00

Florida 02/07 Sept 06 Flash dance!!!

To tired to move? best friends tea party?

dressed for a baptism

Memorial day 06' I love a warm vent in the winter!

ring on every finger just woke up! Halloween 05'

my first snow!!! book smart hiding from my age- 4th birthday

I am happy because i know i am loved.
McKenna- you bless my life and every life you touch. You, my dear, leave "fingerprints of gold." My birthday wish for you is a life of happiness, friends, family, love, learning, good choices, and that you will know that your famiy and your heavenly father love you more than you can fathom. I'm proud to be your mother and pray i do right by you, for you, and to you.

4 years, gone in a blink

2007-06-18T05:49:00.000-07:00

Who's that girl? 4 years ago yesterday- 17 June 2003, this little princess came to my world and blessed it more than words can express. McKenna Jean Gibbens... she actually scared the ever lovin' crap out of her father and i when she was born. If you have kids, you may understand this. We kinda expected Kenna to look a little bit like Jocilyn, our first. Jocilyn was a beautiful
olive complected (her Itallian herritage), fuzzy headed (blonde fuzz) baby girl. McKenna, while also beautiful- was all dark, dark hair- tons of it, the fairest skin you've ever seen, and the most plump lips that overpowered her little self- total oppisite of Jocilyn. I saw all of that black hair and thought- huh? If I didn't know she just came from my uterus, i wouldn't have believed she was mine. But i'm so thankful that she is.
I vividly remember the day before her birth. Matthew and I took Jocilyn and went looking at luxery homes trying to induce labor (all of the walking in 110+ F' temps). When we returned home we ate left over mexican food. Later that evening Matthew and i neither one were feeling very good. So began the pukes (sp?). Matthew finally found relief and went to bed. I however was up all night- quite litterally- in the bathroom every 5 minutes. One of those times you think to yourself, "self- where is all of this coming from? Your stomach has got to be as empty as a barrel of moonshine at a grotto during prohibition!" And yet there is always more... of course this is particularlly fun while pregnant because you get to pee your pants everytime you hurl as an added bonus. So this was my night. In the wee small hours of the morning, however, i took a turn. Suddenly i felt like the food poisoning had finished up in my stomach and had moved on to the intestine- if you follow my meaning. So now i'm thinking- "oh, crap" (litterally). The cramps just kept coming one after another and finally I realized just how regular they were. que- wake the husband. So i did, and we timed the miserable diarrhea cramps and they were not that, labor had arrived. Our poor, weary minds went completly blank. Who can we call to come and be with Jocilyn at 05:30 a.m.? Oh, right, grandma and grandpa- good call. They arrived and off Matthew and i went to go and deliver this babe.

I was dialated to 5cm when i arrived at the hospital. With Jocilyn i got my epidural at a 3, so a 5 was amazing to me that i could walk- not well, nor comfortably- but i was mobile of my own volition. Also with Jocilyn, I had progressed very quickly- so the MD was called right away. She came in and got the story of the past 24 hours and she said, "well, you know how pregnant women are always trying to self induce- now i have a new method to pass on, food poisoning!" SOooo not the way to go!

Anyway fast fwd to delivery. Here is this bright eyed, bushy headed, full lipped, crying, healthy beautiful baby girl. Now ff to present time- she is 4years old and spunky! She told matthew yesterday that she got a lot of things from him, but the"fight" in her was from mom. She sure fought her birthday spankin's! She didn't understand the concept at first and couldn't figure out why dad was talking about spanks.

bed? or ballet?

2007-06-15T20:32:00.000-07:00

"Girls... go get ready for bed." They did pretty good listening the first time. Upstairs

they went and back down they came. Jocilyn now sporting practical sleepwear, a lovely pink night gown. McKenna said she couldn't find anything else- so the layers she chose are as follows: 1st a pull-up to sleep in, 2nd a swimsuit, 3rd a leotard

complete with tu-tu. The very latest in fashion, i'm sure. I asked her, "how cute are you 'Kenner?'" She came right back with, "Super, duper, pooper cute!" I turned to Jocilyn and asked the same question, "joc, how cute are you?" .... "just super mom, super cute." Good night you super cute cuties! Up you go with daddy to read a book and go to sleepy!

A Day with Grandma

2007-06-15T02:46:00.001-07:00

We spent the day over at Grandma Nita's while mom took the car to the shop to get fixed. It's

(here is grandma with our cousin Opal)

been a while since we've gotten to do that. When mom finds a job again Grandma will babysit us and that will be great! We played barbies and ran through the sprinkler. Jocilyn played with Aunt Sabrina doing "big girl" crafts,

...while McKenna ran errands with grandma. The day was fun! Too bad for mom, finally a free day and she didn't even have a car to run around in. This was all Thursday, we spent the night, how great is that?

Grandpa Carl will be here for Father's day, We are excited to have him in from AZ for a minute. Here is a pic from a visit when they still lived with us.
McKenna is papa's girl- she hates goodbyes with him- so it will be a special visit for her this weekend as well. Grandmas and Grandpas are so special and neat, spending time with them is always a treat!

Sisters to beat all sisters

2007-06-13T08:26:00.000-07:00

This blog is being set up as a type of journal for Jocilyn (6) and McKenna (4). Also as a means for others to keep up with their antics and hillarities, as requested.

Jocilyn just finished her first year of elementary school. She adored kindergarten and is excited to be a 1st grader. She is a fantastic helper who is in a big hurry to be a grown woman, make up and all. I'm not sure how to slow her down- girls are scary! She is learning how to ride a bike, loves to plant flowers. As i write she is wondering what exactly is a "glob," and who am i sending it to?

McKenna is crazy in the best way! She is a ball of fire, a kick in the pants, and overall a hand full. She comes up with the funniest stuff- i havn't figured out how her little brain works, but i love it. The great outdoors is where she prefers to be, actively investigating nature and riding on her "truck." The aforementioned "truck" is made for a toddler... but we can't get her off of it, she loves that thing. This dark haired, fair skinned beauty is prime for sunburns- she says, "Ugh, this sun is killing me!"

Quoteworthy:

Earlier this week mom said, "McKenna, please pick up the dang popcorn!" Kenna replied, "it isn't 'dang,' it's yummy mom!"

Jocilyn, "i just tooted! (ha!ha!ha!)" McKenna tattles, "dad! sister said excuse me, but it still stinks!" ... i ask you, is there punishment for that? There should be, we were all stuck in a car together!!

On a cross country flight to Florida, all of the kids had been talking about the fun of "blasting off." We, then, are sitting on the plane when McKenna asked/yelling, "When are we going to explode!!!?" (mom and dad of course thought the flight might be grounded because of our kid)

This morning (6/13), McKenna stated she could speak a different language. I asked her what and she started signing (well moving her hands all around) and saying, "you know, blah, blah, blah...."

Also this morning, " mom, can we go to grandma's while you shop?" I said "No, she is doing geneology." Jocilyn asked, "what is that?" McKenna told her that grandma was out of "odgy" so she needed more "odgy."

Jocilyn asked, "Mom, is McKenna the boss?" reply, "no" Jocilyn turns to McKenna and says, "listen, 'squirt', let me explain it to you....... " .... and I'm a boss because i'm the best daughter"

So! There you go! Our first "glob!" Be patient as we figure it all out- mom is retarded with the computer! Love to you all,

Joc and Kenna