More Laine-ism's

Okay, I'm cracking up. I just recieved a blessing, a blessing from my 4 year old daughter. We had just finished stories and prayer, the nighttime routine, when Laine announced she wanted to give me a blessing.

I was curious, so I went with it, wondering where this would go. She proceed to stand above me {I was still kneeling} and place her hands upon my head and give me a 'blessing'.

It was so sweet, she said lot's of nice things about us both being nice and not cranky and Gabey being nice... lot's of specific things about him not throwing stuff down the stairs etc. etc. It was too funny, and very sweet. She wanted me to give her one next, but I told her only Daddy could.

The girl is funny. She gets it from me, what can I say.

Earlier tonight, as we were cooking together she said,

'Mom, did you make me'

I wasn't getting it.

I said, 'Did I make you what?' wondering what the little ingrate wanted now. I kid. She continued,

'No, did you make ME?'

Oh. Got it.

'Uh, yup, I did'. I went into it a little bit but she was still confused.

'What did you make me out of? Did you make me out of...{scanning the room for ideas}...salt?'

I probably could have used this as a great time for a life's lesson, especially now that she is in school and may get educated by other Kindies. But we're still in the stage where we call her 'lady region' a 'taco'. Yeah, it is confusing when we go out for Mexican food, but since there really isn't much to be found here we've stuck with it. -Gabe's is a 'winky' in case you're wondering. Perhaps this is TMI, I'm not sure. I think I might be missing the chromosome that would tell you if it was or not. Either way I think it is funny to know what others are telling their kids, so I'll share what I'm telling mine.

Anyway, back to The Girl. She has the gift, the gift of gab which I'm pretty sure she got from me as well. She loves to use big words to sound intelligent -though it doesn't seem as calculated as when I do it. She does crack me up with her silliness though, and her often circular logic. Some new Laine-isms:

{said very enthusiastically} "It's a nice day for a sunny day!"

Laine, looking at a paint can with a picture of a Mom and daughter on it, "I like that little girl. She's my friend. I need to go to her house and play. That little girl is my friend. I like her"

There are so many more that I've missed that I've forgotten to write down, which is such a shame.

Anyway, as I mentioned, she started Kindie. She goes to all-day Kindergarten which is 9-3. She attends Ironbark Ridge Primary {'prime-ree'} School and she has to wear a uniform, as you can plainly see above. She must wear her hat to play outside as well. Her teacher is Mrs. Adams and she is loving it, which is really good. NOT the best pics, but you get the idea.

Weekend-ing

Up until this point, there really hasn't been much evidence to prove that we actually live where we say we do. I think there have been deuce pics of kanga's, but they've both been in zoos of which could have been taken anywhere, right?

Well here it is, we really are here. Yup, it's official. I'm not sure why it took us a year to gather photographic proof...that dang camera is so elusive when you need it most.

This is our trip to the city via the ferry. Take notes everyone, because this trip was hot, and when you come visit us this will fur sure be on your itinerary. It really was amazing.

Me... and my hair. Boat rides are not the way to travel if your about looking good upon arrival FYI

Isn't that the sweetest little face?? And Gabe looks pretty cute too.

B&W for the trendy effect

Gabe's windblown face is the BEST, seriously, it doesn't get better

I've spoken too soon. His 'I'm asleep standing up' face might have inched windblown out

Not sure why I love this pic so much, but I do

Laine's hair freakin' rules in this shot. It was a rather blustery day ya'll.

The End

{Is ending a post as awkward for anyone else, or is it just me?}

Christmas Part III -The Utah Chapters

I do not recommend attempting to blog after this much time has passed. I don't even know what to say about this part of the trip, the memory has gone quite fuzzy by now. Pretty much I may just describe the pictures, which is something you could do for yourself with one glance so it's a bit redundant. Three cheers for redundancy!

Laine and her Grams 'makin' cooookies' I love the glossy eyed look but my favorite has to be that she is making frosting while holding a balloon with her Grandma -as a kid does it get any better??

Still has the balloon. Nothing like balloons and sugar! Great combo

Frosting the cookies {pretty much pointless, should have just given them a spoon to eat the frosting and saved ourselves the mess} with their cousins Lexa and Josh

Laine feeding baby Joss. She is so baby crazy this girl, she really bonded with her cousin! As proof we spent some time with Kristine and Jordan, that is Kristine's knee

This is the day Auntie Katie spoiled my kids rotten! Ben and I went to SLC to visit Bodyworld's while Kate took the kids to play at McDonald's playland, followed by hours of toy shopping then chased that down by and rotting their teeth out with lolly's galore. They loved every minute of it and Mom and Dad had a great date {a whole entire day!} and were just glad for the kids to be there with someone who loves and squeezes them so much


Still missing are the rest of the photos on the camera we left in Utah. We always leave a little something to remember us by...

I never would have thought pictures of us sledding down the snowy hills would be novel, but seeing as how it's been a summer heat wave here recently I now get why it would be, so it's too bad I don't have them. The kids do love sledding with their cousins every year!

We also made snowmen and snowangels of course, and drank plenty of hot chocolate and apple cider. Santa came and brought way too many toys and we enjoyed the family parties and holiday sweaters and driving in the ice and snow.

It was a great trip, thanks for the memories friends and family!

Alive

Hey, the move was hell. I'm not going to sugar coat anything. It was a really beyotch.

I honestly didn't think I would survive the last day. I had stayed so strong through the whole ordeal! But I really nearly crumbled in the end it was that bad. Long story, but the movers tricked me into thinking they had packed up everything up but the fridge and Laine's bed, which wouldn't fit, and we headed off to the new house. I paid them and went home to meet the cleaners only to discover most of the upstairs large furniture was still inside {long story, seriously}. They also had said they would take the piano and then when they showed up they said no, they wouldn't take it so the piano was still there too.

Did I mention I was by myself while Ben was on a business trip? So, I then hauled everything out myself and wondered what the hell was going to happen next. My stuff sat half of my house belongings on the lawn until nearly 10:30 at night when some awesome men with a van came to my rescue. We loaded up and they drove the van over and I got into my car to drive my load over and just SOBBED like a baby the whole way. I stopped to get some cash to pay the cleaners and it was really dark outside and no one was around so I continued whaling, like a child, unabashedly {I would have prefered to have done it in the fetal while sucking my thumb, but there was still work to do} and then I realized it was so dark I hadn't seen that there WERE people, people all around, taking what was supposed to be a nice evening stroll. I ran to my car, peeled out, and continued my cry, alone.

The men helped me load another load over and the house was cleaned and I was OUT! The next morning I moved in and ladies from the ward were there to help clean and men were there to help move big stuff and put stuff together and by noon the place as already livable. It was awesome. I love the new ward, new house, and new area. It has been a bit full-on and overwhelming, even in a positive way at times, but we are really happy.

I STILL don't have internet though! It is taking forever! Monday is the day I guess, so I'll be back up and running then. For now, please enjoy my current FAVORITE Australian ad campain. It's complete with billboards all over the city. I was just going to email it to my family, but thought maybe others out there might enjoy it as well. I'm not ashamed to admit I get a serious kick out of it every time it runs.

Christmas Part Deux -The Cruise

Here we are in Perth, and I've got more time and I'm more relaxed than I've been in months. I've given Ben his once a month allotted night to watch one of HIS shows rather than one of OUR {my} shows. He's toggling back and forth between the Australian Open -which he'd much rather be sitting at live... and The Journey to the Center of the Earth. I have no choice but to blog. It's working out perfectly actually. Nothing like a little time spent together!

Back to Christmas. So one week before Christmas Ben and I left the darlings with Ben's parents {THANKS!} and headed out to a cruise with my sister's, bro in law, parents, and Grandpa + New Grammie. It was awesome. If you've never done a family cruise I am here to tell you it is a must. You've probably been on the fence about it for some time and I urge you to pull the trigger on it. If these pictures don't convince you I don't know wha twill. That last one was a typo, but I kinda like it. It kinda works. I'm going to start a new word trend.

But I digress.

The ladies, catching a show

One of life's dreams fulfilled and you are now here to witness the box litterally being ticked. I swam with dolphins. This is the time the dolphin pushed my foot with it's nose whilst I rode on a boogie board. Best hundie I ever spent. Went with Sissy Kate. Sorry the pics are so far back, Ben, our photographer sitting on the sidelines {with a single tear running down his cheek for being left out] sadly could get no closer.

Rubbing her belly for good luck. Not sure if this was before or after the 18-year-old girl started FREAKING out and crying because she was scared of the dolphin. She was scared, trembling {later convulsing} with real tears streaming down. Katie and I could do nothing but snicker -not allowing ourselves to look at each other for fear of losing it more than we already had. It was pretty hilarious. Kinda like when people freak out about clowns.

Anyway, the trainer then tried to calm her down by having her swim over to her {she was standing outside the pool, yeah, she had climbed out. It was more pathetic than I can describe} and he said to the dolphin "do you like this girl?" and the dolphin shook it's head yes. And then he said "are you going to bite her?" and the dolphin shook her head no, I think a little 'uh, uh' escaped it's lips too. It was so funny, seriously, I think a little pee might have escaped. I'm pretty sure.

I DO know however this was around the time that another hilarious incident started, involving a 45-year-old-ish woman who had come with her "Mommy". Mommy was an 85 pound woman who's skin was as wrinkly and saggy as her swimming suit- of which the crotch was hanging down a good t 2-3 inches. She was a possible Alzheimer's sufferer and just stared off into space with a blank stare as she shivered from the cold of the water {as you do when you weigh 85 pounds}. She seemed truly oblivious to her older adult daughter shouting 'Mommy, Mommy, watch me! Mommy, did you see me? Did you see me and the dolphin Mommy??!"

Again, could not. even. look. at each other.

Right before our big moment -this pic, besides embarrassing me, reminds me of that one of Ben taken a few months ago. The one where it looked like his head had been photoshopped on. Here it is so you can snicker again, I know I always do. The similarities are striking.

After this we enjoyed a FANTASTIC day at my favorite place on earth, a place where if I could spend every day of my life I would truly be happy -the water slides. It was included in our ticket so if anyone is heading to Puerta Vallarta -please let me know and I'll hook you up. The cost without he dolphins is $14. A steal since the place is both deserted and awesome. You can run up the ramp like a 12 year old kid- or was that just us? and hop on slide after slide with no supervision. The slides were sick, seriously sick and the food was delicious. Possibly my favorite day, ever.

I'm not doing this sequentially, you should know. Here we are about to ride our horses. On the excursion we took in Mazatlan Look at that enthusiasm! We were humoring Mom actually. See, we had purchased this way awesome {not} excursion online and it was built up as this awesome day spend on Stone Island. Long story short, after being off the ship for 3 hours, we finally arrive to the 'port' of the island -only to find the ship was literally 50 paces away by water. It was sadly funny.

Anyway, pretty much the rest of the excursion followed suit -I do not recommend this tour unless you are with family who can make you laugh your head off at all of the ridiculousness! The horses were almost as hilarious as the fact that we were riding along this lame town rather than the beach that we could see in the distance. My horse kept being naughty and getting spankins' -not as cute as it sounds. He would jump with a stir and nearly buck me off after being spanked for eating people's front gardens. Just more fodder to laugh at.

Water Weenie. Need I say more? Here is where we really made our money back. Especially riding with Nick {brother-in-law} who's crack was in my face the entire time as he jumped up and down like a 10 year old kid. And the time my Mom got bucked off the back and called us 'jerks' repeatedly was pretty funny too.

These next shots are for a calender the "Gildea" men are secretly putting together. I've probably said too much. Since Nick is the sexiest, it is mostly of him. Shoot them things straight Nick!

"When in Rome!" was Nick's reasoning for this picture taken in Cabo

This one is very Art Nouveau

The crew, including New Grammie at a Cathedral in Mazatlan.

Mom and Dad's Prom Picture. Sexy.

Nick and Ben's Prom picture

Is that it? It feels like I'm forgetting something. Is there anyone still reading this post?

-

busy.

Some crazy people think they want to put up with this jack hammering and drama... so we are out of here! I kept praying and praying that everything would work out with a move -especially since Laine starts school next week so we really needed to be somewhere and have it figured OUT! And oh beauty has it ever worked out. We found this awesome house who accepted our total lowball offer and could vacate in the 2 minute's notice our agency gave us. They've been a dream to work with, which we really deserved after the beyotch of a peach we've been working with the last year.

It is in an awesome little town close to Ben's work and in a beautiful area with a funny name {Rouse Hill, yeah, we sound like hillbillies}. But we just couldn't be more excited and just when it seems like things couldn't get better -great new ward {we hear} awesome schools, duck pond and nature reserve close...then we find out that we live across the street from another American family who are in our ward. Hi, perfect.

So I'm in the midst of moving and knee-deep into a trip across the country to Perth for a few days. I'll be all alone until February 7th since Ben will be traveling from now until then. But things are good and I'm feeling truly blessed and grateful for all of the good friends and support I'm getting here through all of this.

Sorry I keep giving empty promises about what is to come -am I the only one who is losing interest in blogging? Please tell me I'm not alone. I'm sorry, but besides having to move with 2 weeks notice while you've got a 5 day trip planned in the middle and your husband will be gone for the whole thing, it's summer over here ya'll! And that sunshine just calls me a lot more than the radiating heat from off of the computer desk! Seriously, it has been so hot. The towels feel like they're fresh out of the dryer, not exaggerating! The whole house just radiates HEAT.

Okay, no promises this time, I'll be back when I can. It might be March, but I will update Christmas and all things Perth and the move.

Merry Christmas everyone!

What? I missed it? I happened already? So you're saying I'm too late? Shoot.

I had these pics uploaded and all ready to go, they're now almost a month old, I've got a lot of catching up to do. I'm not going to miss out on telling you one moment of our trip, so I guess this is part 2 {or is it 3?} in a 15 part series. Buckle up folks, it's going to get a little bumpy.

So this was a month ago {as afore-mentioned} at my Dad's Firehouse Christmas Party. It really took me back being there, since again, it was something we never missed when I was a kid growing up. All that was missing was the already-over-sweet punch that had 2 cups of sugar added per gallon. Other than that it was just about as I remembered. Gabey seen here treating Gaengy like a buckin' bronco

Laine and Santa, pretty explanatory

Gabe and Santa, not so much. Maybe next year

What says Christmas like a Creepy Santa man, 2 gals +kid and an old-timey firetruck?

Mom and I bakin' away. We made cute treats to spread holiday cheer, the kind that last the whole year through.

This was the day Laine slept with Cujo, funny story.

I used to sleep with Cujo, the family dog, when I lived at home. She's so sweet! Anyway, when Ben and I had been married only a couple of months, we took a weekend and slept at my parent's house. We slept in my old room in my old bed in the basement. Cujo was so excited, she thought she was in on the party. And see, I'm forgetting an important part of the story. Ben had tricked me. He had pretended that he and not only Cujo were bff's, but he and ALL animals were bff's. Not so. He hates them. He is a clean person. He doesn't do dog hair nor does he want to go around smelling like a monkey's butt. But he allowed me to believe he did when we were dating so that I'd think we were mfeo and both animal lovers.

But I digress... so we head down to bed for the night and Cujo is trailing right behind, her ears perked up and her tail a'waggin'. Until Ben shuts the door behind him, all but hitting her in the snout. I was sad, really sad, but not near as sad as Cujo who sat outside the door whining and scratching, too naive to understand things weren't the same anymore.

I was so sad at this point, probably a good 20 minutes into Cujo's antics, and I began to cry. Think of me what you will, I'm not ashamed to admit it. I knew I had to choose my new marriage over Cujo, but the wine was bittersweet...

Anyway, so for old time sake I let Laine sleep with Cujo. It was so precious!

Okay, and this last one REALLY takes me back! Little girls earnin' their keep. Yup, that one rings a bell. I think washing walls and baseboards was next...

And who could forget the day Laine slept in her funny glasses after removing the slinky eyeballs

K Peeps, stay tuned, TBC...

Thanks again for babysitting Dad!

Tonight we had a Christmas party for my Mom's YW. We worked all day on cleaning house and making treats so everything would be perfect {okay, you caught me, we squeezed some 'crafting' in there too}.

Anyway, Pop Pop was volunteered to take the kids off our hands during the party. I guess a trip to the 99 cent store got tacked on to the original itinerary that had only consisted of happy meals and McDonald's play land.

Yeah, so Dad pretty much thought it would be pretty hilarious to give Laine a Dora 'tramp stamp' {okay, I give up, it was hilarious} with the Dora tats courtesy of said 99 cent store.

Here's Laine with her 'reading glasses' {like Grandma?} picking out some Dora tats for everyone else to share in the fun. She later remarked of the evening:

'I'm not super Laine, I'm just Laine, only, I'm not Laine, I'm Dora'

Sounds kinda like her typical logic...

And that's Gabey showing me his 'gockit' -chocolate.

It was a pretty exciting night had by all if you were wondering.

just fartin around

Greetings from my continued vacay with my family. It has been a lot of fun and the kids continue to be in heaven with their Gaengy & Pop Pop and Hannah. They're also enjoying being part of a family that has pet dogs. Gabe spends about an hour each morning out in the cold -no shoes on of course, playing with his goggies and jumpin' on the tramp. I must get footage, it is thoroughly entertaining. PS -I think he may have ADHD... {as with the time I wondered if he had Prader Willi Syndrome, I am only half joking...}

We've had lot's of time spent at Pop Pop's firehouse functions where Gabey has been in 2 year old boy heaven. He loves trucks. The bigger the better. And if you can climb on them and jump all over them and goober 'em up -so much the better.

I think it has been fun and eye-opening for my parents to spend so much time with this wild boy. He sure does love life. Almost as much as being naughty... And Laine and her new alter-ego 'Super Laine' have continued to be bright, cheerful angels -most of the time!

We've had a lot of laughs and good times. As many of you know, Katie and I, and possibly others of my sisters, have a real knack for having the craziest and stupidest things happen to us. However, I had no idea that it all started with my parents...

We keep laughing and laughing about a story they told me a few nights ago over dinner: When my older sister Nicole was in kindergarten, they had their first parent-teacher conference. Being new parents, they were really excited and welcomed the new experience and had high hopes for not only this child's, but their their others' as well.

On that high, they arrive to the conference and sit down to talk to the teacher, only to have her say, 'Nicole doesn't stay within the lines when she is coloring' and then she honestly, purely and genuinely looked at my Mom and Dad and to their faces asked 'are either of you retarded?' No jokes, no kidding. Purely, earnestly a serious question.

Needless to say it is the new family inside joke, well, one of them... and it was almost as good as this story of Katie's that pretty much goes down in Gildea history as the MVP. Will it be topped? Sorry if you've already read it on this blog and HG, I just can't get enough of it, and I'm worried that 1 or 2 new readers may have missed it, which would be such a shame.

Okay, I'll let the pictures do the talking:

Gabey and Gaengy 'fartin' around' on the truck

*FYI *Bringing out a classic Gildea inside joke. Allow me to elaborate... When we were in HS, my Dad loved to torment us in any way possible {what am I saying?? He still does. He lives for it actually} He used to see the caller ID and know who was calling and obviously then who they were calling for -so he would answer in a mock-woman's voice, 'Natalie Hotline, how may I help you?' or something stupid like that. Anyway, when we weren't home at the time, and our friends ever asked where we were and when we would be home -Dad's classic response was, 'I don't know, they must be out somewhere farting off"

It was kind of akin to all of the friends of mine who when they came to the door, he asked why they looked different and if it was because they'd had their head gear removed -when they obviously handn't ever had it on. As if my Dad wasn't intimidating enough. But it was hilarious, I'll admit it.

In a sick way, I miss it...

More farting off...

Can you believe she is the Grandma?? She's Madonna's clone. She hates that, but she is. She has the gap and everything -but not the fake British accent. I think I'll get her a leotard + corset and some heels for Christmas

The whole crew. We've been calling Laine 'Margo' from the Royal Tenenbaum's in her fur coat. I think I really will darken the eye make-up and get her a purse for a fabulous-hilarious photo-op. I'll of course enlist Katie's help since she was her for Halloween...

Awwwwe... cute

Inside eating, Gabe being a buckin' bronco on Gaengy's lap. I spared you the action shots, but the reel was pretty funny

Margo forgot to open her eyes for the pic

Why were we in some half-finished building eating do you ask? Days later I'm still not sure, but when there's free food involved I tend to not ask questions...

Okay, now this was the day we went to 'King's Buffet' -one of my Dad's favorite restaurants. Yes, it's an all you can eat, Chinese buffet, I'm sure you were wondering. Since we were going some place so nice, he wore his Rocawear shirt, as you can plainly see

That's why I dance so good, cause my Dad's a thug



Unrelated to our day at the buffet, here is a candid shot of my Dad the next day in the Marie Callendar's parking lot -rocking his G-Unit jeans

Back to Kings,

Laine and G

Even though we joked about Laine's helmet hair and call her the baby broadcast journalist, she really doesn't look 4 going on 44, as this picture would lead you to believe

Gabe, drinking his ice cream...

Okay, I know I always make promises that I don't keep, but there truly is plenty more where this solid gold diamond mine came from. I've got a whole other 2 posts worth of pictures, I'm on it.

This post needs pictures

Ugh, I've been meaning to post all of this for weeks -does anyone else get major blog back-up paired with a complete lack of desire to post? It's a nasty combination... one that I sometimes fear that it is lethal and has no cure.

Anyway, I did want to repost this story I already post on HG for many of you who don't read HG, sorry for the repeat for those who do:

A few weeks ago was Laine's last week at preschool. She will be sad to say goodbye to David, her first 'boyfriend' she's had at school all year. He is such a sweetie cutie. He always led her to the door and helped her sit in her seat. He's a real gentleman at the ripe old age of 4.Last week when I went to pick her up it was just David and Laine left. I talked to David's Mom for a minute and then Laine came up and interupted me with the usual patting and 'Mom Mom Mom!'. I finally stopped my converation and said, 'What??' and she said {as David's Mom was right there listening of course}:'

Mommy... I don't want Daddy break David's legs, cause he's my friend...'

Ah! I was so mortified! Obviously as I had ooed and awed over how cute they were, Ben was polishing his rifle and getting out his baseball bat -he seriously HATES hearing the cute stories. So the threat of breaking his legs was one of Daddy's usual responses and I was SO embarrased as Laine overshared. It actually was pretty funny though.

That was also a few days after I attempted to wear the first hat I'd worn in years. With my short hair I felt like I truly looked like a lesbian or homeless -or even possibly a homeless lesbian {nothing wrong with it! Just not the look I typically go for...} Now that my hair has grown out some, I thought I'd brave it.

I came out of my room with Laine beaming "Mom, you look so cute!" -Wow, that was the reception I was hoping for and more! Then she followed it up with "Yeah, you look like a Dad!" ...hmmm

Seems like something else funny happened, if only I could remember. This is why you should blog more often, so you don't forget! Maybe it was the 75 year old pregnant man in a blonde wig and pink sparkly outfit we saw on the streetcorner before we left... not sure...

So how as the flight you ask?

Hell.

It truly was. Gabe slept all of 45 mintues during the whole 14 hours. Instead he stuck to a healthy regimen of 1 part running up and down the aisles laughing during the 'night' when the plane was dark and most everyone was trying desperately to sleep -including me. 2 parts kicking the seat in front of him as if it were his last kicks on earth. 2 parts using my quads as a trampoline. 1 part practicing for his big debut as a WWF wrestler. 3 parts sending Daddy to a fit so severe he may need anger management afterall. 1 part waking Laine from her blissful rest. 2 parts playing with his Thomas trains, praise the heavens. 1 part spilling drinks or food and then whining about it. 1 part meltdown... let's see, am I forgetting anything? The look {I mean scowl} on the crusty old woman's face in the row in front of us WAS priceless, and surprisingly it never did get old.

And a huge thanks to the Quantas team who was so patient and didn't treat us like we were diseased because we had children unlike some airlines I know of {UNITED!}

Okay, I'm getting the urge to get out my paperbag since posting this has not been the therapy I hoped it would be, instead it is inducing rage as I'm forced to relive it. Out.