Family

I haven't been a great blogger recently. It seems I have phases. Really good or really bad. Hopefully I can find some middle ground and be good at it. That would be nice. I'd like to keep a better record of life and how things are going and progressing. Because they do - with or without me writing it down, and then I forget.

We took our family pictures in Salt Lake this year. We've never even heard of the park we went to and we just loved it! It's Veteran's Park or Memorial Park - just north of the City Creek (the real one, not the mall, the little town the mall was named after...). It is a beautiful place with the creek, walkways, forest type trails and cute benches and memorials all over the place. We found the perfect spot. Enjoy!

 The actual city creek.

 

 We actually got a good one out of like 100! hahaha

This one will be our Christmas card this year.

 CRAZY FACE

 

 This one was going to be our Christmas card but I thought Chase would get offended by everyone laughing at him. Instead - I can brag about him being hilarious and then keep our Christmas card with the nice picture. :) He is one of the funniest people I know. We were taking pics like every two seconds...and he went from very sweet to....well...this! LOL

 

 I love this little boy! He is my greatest challenge and my greatest blessing.

 

 Chad made me pose and I'm never a big fan of my pictures. Kudos to Chad because this one turned out pretty good I think. :)

 

 I think Collin would have gone swimming if we'd let him!

Swimming...

This year I decided that even though we don't have money for dance lessons it would be very appropriate to spend some money on swim lessons for the kids. It's just one of those skills that will actually save your life some day! You never here about how dancing saved your life. You can't dance your way out of a lake if you fall in.... anyway - now you know how a conversation went with Daija about this....
So far I don't have any pictures (cause I'm awesome like that...) but the last two weeks Daija and Kyla have taken Level 1 swimming. Daija has taken swim lessons before and not done very well. She sinks like a rock. And Kyla has only attempted to do swim lessons once before but never made it into the water because she was terrified. And let's not even talk about Chase yet....
So I put the two girls in the same class. Best. Idea. Ever! They did so well and supported and encouraged each other! Not to mention the loving sisterly competitiveness of it as well! They worked so hard to do well. Daija has really taken to it this time and has been amazing! It is very refreshing to see because she is usually so uncoordinated. She does NOT have ball handling skills at all so to see her do well in a physical activity is quite encouraging to me and Chad but also to herself! She has really enjoyed doing well and not being outdone by her younger sister. Kyla did extremely well too. She wasn't afraid at all this time and improved drastically - considering she couldn't even get in the water before hahaha. By the last day of class they were both really nervous about passing the class and moving ahead to the next one. (I hope that wasn't me being pushy. I'm trying to be more encouraging and less focused on pushing them. Do your best! And reach for good goals. That's my angle. :) The night before they went to their last day they both prayed they would do really good and pass their class. Kyla was still struggling with her back floats a little bit. I was worried she wasn't going to pass either....but I didn't tell her that! After class was over, they met at the side of the pool and received their little certificates of "graduation" to the next class!!! The both passed! Kyla started crying on the way into the locker room and I asked her what was wrong??? She said "I don't know..... I am just so happy I did a good job!" OMGOSH I almost cried with her! I'm so glad she did a good job too!!!!
Today the girls started Level 2. Their teacher said they did excellent. Kyla even did her back float and fishy swim all by herself. The whole class is way ahead and she's going to review everything for their class but probably go through Level 3 stuff too! If they all do well they may just skip ahead to Level 4. CRAZY! But we'll see. It would be way cool.
Chase started is very first Pre A class today. (well - technically the VeRy first time we tried I was prego with Collin and we did a Mommy and Me class. NIGHTMARE!!! Enough said.) He was very hesitant at first which made me have flashbacks to before. Which doesn't make sense cause he'll swim in our backyard just fine! After I let the teacher take him from me and he was in the water he did fine. By the end of class he was blowing bubbles with his mouth and nose in the water. He was saying "hi" to all the fishies in the bottom of the pool and grabbing the toys they were throwing around. I'm excited to see him get into it and love it. I know he'll love it once he's not afraid anymore. I'm just grateful he's not the kid SCREAMING and CRYING anymore. LOL :)
I just love my little fishies!!!!!

Life is CraZy

I haven't posted in a long time. Most of my posts are usually about Jack Rabbit Racing. There's a reason. It has consumed my life! But for all my hard work things are starting to pay off. *cross your fingers* We are officially a brand available in Newgate Motorsports! (everybody cheer - yay!) The motorcycle shop behind Newgate Mall. Upstairs from the main motorcycle floor is a shop where you can buy helmets, jackets, parts, and now....Jack Rabbit Racing tshirts!!! Isn't that awesome?! I think it is!
Other than that life is still busy as ever. I can't believe July is almost over already. Summer hardly feels like a normal relaxing summer. We've only had one get together with our neighbors this year and that was for Tobi's farewell. (who is doing well and on a cruise right now with his parents...what a life...haha) We've only had one firepit night and that was last Saturday with our family. Which was totally needed and very relaxing. Love family! Laughing truly is the best medicine. :)
My kids are crazy but I love them. I always try to put them first and remind myself that I am a stay at home mom and THEN I'm a business owner. and then a piano teacher, and then a LC for CIEE. hahahaha I know!...crazy! I'm working on simplifying though. Just trying to figure out the balance - just like we all do.
Last but not least I am trying to sell a few things to get them out of my house. I have a cherry wood computer desk with a hutch. Not very big - 4'Wx5'Tx18"D or so.... Asking $35 for it. PLEASE come take it! It's very nice.
Also have a big box of baby boy clothes size 6-9 and 12 months. Around 60 peices. Asking $40 for the box. Come take a look!!!
A fishing pole and tackle box with unopened hooks and bait and all sorts of stuff. Still has the tags on it all. Don't ask. $50 for everything.
I swear there was one more thing...o well.

Hope for Emily

Plus - as if we aren't busy enough. We have a NEW endeavour! This one will be time consuming and probably minor stressful but it will be for a GREAT cause.

Chad has an old friend, Kent, from childhood who married this amazing girl named Emily. They have 3 beautiful children. They have one major obstacle.

Emily was diagnosed with Lyme's disease which has presented in severe Rheumatoid Arthritis. We have decided to begin Hope for Emily. A way to help raise funds for their ever growing debt and also raise hope to get Emily back to being the happy, healthy, marathon running woman she really is. Please help us by spreading the word! Please help us by donating either your time or money.

We all have times when we need help. We all feel the need to serve. Please take this opportunity to rally with others to help a very deserving family!

The following is the link to Emily's blog. She updates when she is feeling up to it. Hopefully we will have new news soon. We will try to keep everyone updated.

Right now we are in the beginning process of brainstorming for a fundraiser activity. Please contact me personally if you feel like you would like to help in any way. Everything, even little things, add up to be great!!!!

kekoster.blogspot.com

Sweet Home Alabama!

We leave in a week from tomorrow for our first big race as Jack Rabbit Racing vendors!!! This is going to be soooo cool! :)

In a perfect world we would be flying out there and casually enjoying the races and selling out of everything we take and then flying home to do it all over again at the next event. But we don't live in a perfect world. Instead we are going on a road trip!!! :) Moving a lot as a kid road trips don't bother me. The catch....taking our 4 children with us! Yep - you read correctly - 4 children with us! SO...?

We drive for 24 hours from Utah to Ohio....

wait - you said the race was in Alabama....my parents live in Ohio.

We will drop the kids off with them. Then Chad and I will head down 8 hours to Alabama and stay for the 3 day race. I won't lie....the idea of getting a few days all to ourselves is awesome!!! because we haven't had a break in over 4 years. Then after the races are over we'll head back up to Ohio and make the two day trek back home.

Whirl wind? Yes. Worth it? Hope so!

SuPeRBikE

Well if you were to judge how red my children's faces are you would immediately know two things.

1. I am the worst mom ever! I even "remembered" the sunblock in the car and STILL didn't put it on my fair children. Bad mom award....and

2. We had a VERY good time this weekend!

MILLER MOTORSPORTS PARK

SBK SUPERBIKE RACES 2012

The kids all had a chance to sit in this really cool helicopter. I'm not sure if it was an Apache or a Black Hawk but the kids just loved it! Collin was so mad when we wouldn't just let him stay inside the cockpit forever...so cute!

This guy did a stunt show. He was doing all sorts of crazy wheelies, spinning his wheels, jumping on top of the bike... in this picture he's sitting on the tank with his legs over the handle bars. I can only imagine the hours and hours of time it takes to learn it all without falling off and breaking bones.

My adorable children before their faces were all red.....

The first race was the Europeans. It's the only time once a year they come to the USA to race. It's so cool to see these guys flying around the track. They go so fast you literally can't watch as they pass. You have to watch them approach and then as they drive away because you can't tell which one they are from their speed.

The last race (that we stayed for) was the good old US teams. The Monster bike (here in 2nd) won 1st and the Jordan team came in 4th.

I feel so terrible that all my children are so sunburned but we did have an amazing time!!!

One lady checking tickets to get into the grandstand seating stopped asking me for my ticket. She said she remembered me because of my Jack Rabbit Racing shirt I was wearing. I gave her a business card. I know - cheesy. BUT it made my day.

My next project

With all the craziness of trying to find host families for foreign exchange students and teaching piano lessons to over a dozen people and starting my own business and trying to still be the "stay-at-home" mom (and actually be good at it...) things around my house have been a little...well...crazy.
I am officially launching the regain control initiative of Barrett home 2012.
This project starts with a more balanced lifestyle. Simple living, organized home, prioritized scheduling. A lot less bologna and a lot more necessariness. Yes - that's a word now...
I started today with wiping down every most common touched surface with Lysol wipes. Not only because we are all sick but because I've been meaning to do it anyway. (Collin's tummy is yucky = pukey (I think just from coughing...) and poopy, Daija's either got strep throat or something = dizzy, sore throat, can't hear out of one ear, extremely whiny....taking her to the doc first thing in the morning, Mom and Dad both are fighting something - not sure if it's strep or what. I think it's just a nasty cold/allergies? Maybe a little flu ...? Weird symptoms of body aches, sore throat, headache, Chad has the chills today with no fever...I have no idea. Napping is good.) Also, washed every one's bedding. Yay cleanliness.
Chad is very good at helping out - when he's not incapacitated in bed - with cleaning up and helping do things like mopping the floor because let's face it; I just can't do it all by myself. He is a wonderful man.
Along with my feelings of inadequacy I have felt a little unfinished. I know that sounds weird. I look around my house and there's always a laundry list of things I wish I could improve, fix-up, etc... Baby steps indeed! I've lived here for over 5 years and still don't feel like it's exactly what I want it to be. Apparently that's never going to happen - or will right before we find it's time to move. hahaha So to help myself feel better - because let's face it - it really does make me feel better sometimes to do a little decorating.... I am starting and finishing a little project I've want to do for YEARS! I've seen people take pictures of their kids close up and mount them on canvas and then "hang" them from a fancy curtain rod. I've wanted to do this with my kiddos since before I had all my kiddos, down my main hallway. Not a lot of room to decorate a hallway and yet they are so boring and bland without something. Therefore I have decided it will help me feel homey-er (all sorts of news words around here!) if I were to get this done. I took some extremely adorable, up-close pictures at Easter. I think I will start there. I will hopefully be able to post pictures of the finished results soon!

In the meantime - I would LOVE LOVE LOVE it if all my good friends would go to my new business' facebook page and "Like" us. I'm trying to get over 50 "Likes" so we can expand and grow our site. :) Thanks in advance! www.facebook.com/jackrabbitracing

Jack Rabbit Racing llc

Chad and I have been neck deep in a little project. We have been growing our own clothing brand. As of May 1st, 2012 we are OPEN for business!!!

It's been a 2 year project and even though the work has just begun - I finally feel like we're getting to do the "fun" stuff! hahaha

Please visit my website and help me spread the word. Even if you're not into any extreme sports; I'm pretty sure we're all fans of wearing shirts.

www.jackrabbitracingusa.com

THANKS!

Funniness

I have the best kids. I don't want to forget some of their humorous moments so here are a couple....

Kyla has to high-five her soccer coach after anything remotely good happens for their team. Even if they make a goal and it wasn't her making the goal she runs up for a high-five! :)

During our leisure hike on Sunday Daija was complaining. It was a little warm but not too bad. In the middle of walking she says, "I can't stand it!" Me: "Stand what?" "All the noise - the birds and the crickets won't be quiet!" Me sarcastically: "Really????" Toby: "Daija - that's nature." Daija: "I hate nature!" wow.... We need to do more camping apparently. That girl needs to use outdoor toilets a little more often!!!

Chase on the same little hike on the way back to the car, "I'm going to miss this place." I know exactly what he means. :)

Watching conference I was talking to Chad about the RS Pres being released and that this was going to be her last talk. We didn't realize any of the children listening to us and after I said "She was just released." to Chad, Daija chimes in alarmed...."From prison?!?!" HAHAHAHA

After picking up Kyla from school one day she told me to please turn off the radio and stop talking "because I need to peace!"

My kids seriously crack me up. :)

Hello Again...

I haven't blogged in what seems like forever. My life is so crazy busy that blogging honestly is on the bottom of the list. But there have been some exciting developments around here and I would hate to not get it down on "paper". First of all - I seriously am shocked that I am doing so well retaining piano students. I have had to turn several new students away recently because I just can't accept any more. I have 14 students now. Considering I've only every had 3-4 at a time it is truly amazing. I have been teaching half of them for over a year and the other half have filled in with only a couple of them being really new. I had a couple of students need to "take a break" for a couple of months this last month. I had 5 people call me the same week they quit call for new students. Realizing I needed to replace their tuition $ I had to accept two of the new students. It's seriously crazy! I really enjoy it and I have been so blessed to be able to teach such wonderful people. I have made some really good friends too!
Second - Jack Rabbit Racing LLC is officially OPEN FOR BUSINESS! Well, almost. HAHAHA Two years ago Chad came up with an idea for a t-shirt company for racing enthusiasts. We have been working very hard getting it organized and prepared. We have ordered our very first shipment of inventory of our own genuine designs. I am so excited to see it grow and grow. If you would be so kind (anyone reading this) PLEASE go on facebook and "Like" us and share with all of your friends. And if you really love us - order shirts! It is going to be a grand adventure! Crazy ideas work out all the time.....why can't one of ours?! :)
Third - I have this crazy friend who has decided it would be awesome to sign up for The Amazing Race. I know what you are thinking.....Are you nuts?! But I am actually very, very excited!!! Chances are: We're not going to make it. But it's been fun to submit our application and I guess we'll see! :) And I guess I'll keep you posted on it. hahahaha

Scrambled Brains

I can always tell when it's been a little too long since a good workout, a long girls night out, or just enough time to read a good book even, because I go crazy. It all started about a year ago when I gave birth to my perfect child number 4. He ruined me. (half joking) Not his fault. My brain has gone - well - away. And it only comes back after I work out consistently and not half A'ed either. A good, sweaty, heavy breathing work out. Gotta release those endorphins and crazy bugs. Haven't had a girl night out with all my peeps since Christmas, except for 4 wonderful but still slightly stressful days in Miami (I know that sounds contradicting but it's true), so to make up for the lack of heavy laughter I've tried to do Zumba 2-3 times a week. Well for almost two weeks now my instructor I like has been injured. So I haven't been going. And. I. Can. Tell. I'm pretty sure if I cared enough to ask my husband to comment on the matter he would concur. And there lies the reason for this post. My husband seriously drives me CRAZY! I am still unsure if it's on purpose or not. Or if it's not "on purpose" if he even realizes he does it. And then my psycho brain kicks in and says "but Pam - maybe it's you. Maybe you're being selfish." *sigh Can you see the problem. This post is such a rambling.
Let's just put it this way. From now on I am going to keep a log of every time my husband leaves the house for anything other than work and for how long he's gone. Then every time we have a conversation about when I can go out and play it is being tape recorded. BUT to make it fair I will also log my own activities that require me to be gone when Chad is home. So that we may see if this little debate is truly me being crazy and selfish or if I am justified in my belief that I am being smothered by my 24/7 on call job called MOMMY.

P.S. Don't mind me. I really just need to blow some steam without making the neighbors wonder why I'm out on the front lawn screaming. Good thing Zumba is tomorrow. I NEED it!!!

How Rude

OK so today in the Kindergarten pick up carpool line I was getting all my little kiddos into the car. I waited just a moment for everyone to get their seat belts on and I put the car into gear. I turned the wheel, flipped on the blinker, and ever so slightly edged toward moving to leave. Suddenly, a little boy on the sidewalk dashed into the carpool lane (not quite to the crosswalk area might I add) and ran right in front of me. I wasn't barely moving so stopping quickly was no problem. In my natural instinct though I raised my hands in a "where did this kid come from" fashion - then out of the corner of my eye this heavy set lady sitting in the handicap parking spot threw her hands up to mimic mine as she GLARED at me. Wow. I could understand such hostility if 1: I had come even close to hitting her kid and 2. If I had rolled down my window and actually yelled at the boy who did NOT use the crosswalk. I know this isn't that big of a deal. I should be more careful watching crazy children during Kindergarten pick-up. But don't you think if you aren't going to get your butt out of the car to walk your child to the parking lot and make them cross the busy cross walk to get into the car by themselves you should just go through the line like the rest of us???
Just saying.....I will be more careful when losing my road rage during the *ever stressful time of carpool. *HEAVY sarcasm indicated....

I'm a stay at home mom

I'm a "stay-at-home-mom". I love how everyone always stereotype stay at home moms.

The dream life. Staying home in your pj's all day. Snacking from the "free vending machine" (aka: pantry) whenever you want. Taking a 2 hour nap every day. Chatting on facebook with all your stay at home mom friends. Talking on the phone with other stay at home mom friends. Doing play dates almost every day, which obviously is an excuse to get together and talk non-stop for hours on end while each of your kids keep each other busy and out of your hair. Doing fun things like going to museums, parks, out to eat, craft stores, music stores, fabric stores, grocery stores...you get the idea stores whenever you feel like it with no need to rush because you have no demanding meetings that require your attention back at home. Watching tv and movies all afternoon, cuddled on the couch with the all perfect behaving children. Jumping on the trampoline, going on long afternoon walks, running through the sprinklers, playing at the splash pad, laying out on a towel and soaking in the rays....etc etc....

Now please do not mistake this post as a way to complain or whine about staying at home with my kids. On the contrary I am very, very blessed to care for my 4 wonderful, beautiful, funny, smart children. I only would like to clarify - if I may - give a little bit of enlightenment to all those who may be envious or slightly curious of the mysterious life of all us lucky women who stay home all day..... the above daydream of daily life is real. You heard me. Real. Even if it is silver lined and somewhat exaggerated for purposes of entertainment....

The Reality of the Dream Life: What nobody ever thinks about is all the little people wandering around the house with you all day. Let me explain: What do you think THEY do all day? They don't just sit and watch tv or movies with you...they don't just sit and watch you chat on facebook or talk on the phone either. No, no! The moment you slip up on your attention span - they're off! Off to the races - of destruction! Even if it is a wonderland of pirates fighting in the overflowing bathroom sink that the husband insists isn't broken but is in fact clogged with a toy, and yet somehow that justifies not fixing it....somehow... (different topic!) Or if they don't mean to knock off your favorite decorations off the entry shelf that you cherished so dearly with that dang ball you told them a thousand times to not throw/kick/spike/pass/dribble in the house! Or if when you don't hear them ask you for the 100th time to get you a drink and the entire pitcher of red koolaid ends up on the newly mopped floor....which brings me to the obvious next topic.
Chores. We all have them. The 2nd in command, after the children, are the household duties. Sweeping, mopping, unload, load, wipe counters, wipe tables, wipe spilled things off of cabinets, stoves, refrigerators. Reorganizing the mess you call a pantry, cleaning out the fridge from the 50 year old leftovers you swore you would eat the next day.... Washing/folding/hanging the 7 loads of laundry - o wait - 8. Pick up toys, vacuum, go to next room, pick up toys, vacuum, go to next room, pick up toys, vacuum....only to return to room one and find toys and now cracker crumbs all over the floor again. Go grocery shopping, with only 3 of the 4 children. (Score!) I love it - after a busy day of entertaining/cleaning and you ask the hubby if he can run to the store for two whole things and he just says "Do you really need it tonight? Can't you just go tomorrow?" I'm sure this is a harmless statement. A "I'm tired after a long day of work and dont' want to walk a mile around WalMart for two whole things..." kind of statement. Let's clarify how that sounds to the mom. An exciting adventure! Put baby in seat belt after chasing 3 year old across parking lot to save his life from the SUV barreling down the parking lot. Tell 3 year old and 5 year old to hold on to cart while you run (ok walk as fast as they can) to get the trip over with. Two seconds upon entering said store the 5 year old says, "I have to go to the bathroom." Mom, "I told you to go before we left the house two seconds ago." Kid, "but I really have to go NOW!!!" = trip to the bathroom = trip past the fish tank = extra 10 minutes. LOL Grab two things that turns into 15 things and "what are we having for dinner" - make that 20 things. Walk up to check out line to tell the kids no they cannot go to the playroom area, please don't play with the light-up spinning suckers, pay for your "two" things and go home. Only to realize that you haven't done any laundry yet, at all.
Point is: Staying at home is no walk in the park. Oh wait! YES it is!!! On those field trip days to the park. When you get to feed the ducks. Remind the children not to step in poop, clean poop off shoes, holler after them to stay where they can see you, freak out for a minute when you can't see them anymore until you finally find them, take more trips to the bathroom, forget to pack the bottled water and have to buy drinks at the gas station on the way home. But at least on those days everyone gets a little vitamin D, exercise, and you're pretty much guaranteed a nap time!
This post could go on forever but I've probably lost most of you already. Please don't take for granted your stay at home mom/wife. It's not all play time.

Why I love to host...

I know many of you are probably sick of hearing about foreign exchange students from me but this is my blog and for journaling purposes - I'm talking about it again! :)
I LOVE hosting a foreign exchange student. Call me crazy but we have learned so much from Toby this year. I have learned a TON from other students who I've met by being involved with CIEE (the organization I like that places students with families). Call me selfish too, but Toby is such a big help around here it's nice to basically have an extra set of hands to help me take things to the car, carry in the groceries, grab a baby from crawling down the stairs, carrying the baby in his seat into the store, and give me cooking ideas. (Schnitzel is one of my favorite meals now!) I used to be slightly afraid of the teenage years. Since dealing with some of these teens I am so excited to see my children grow into incredible young adults. It gives me clear goals of how I do (and don't) want my children to be and my goals for raising them. I've had so many benefits I cannot even name them all.
Currently I'm looking for families willing to open their hearts and homes and enjoy this experience as much as I do! I've been able to look at so many different profiles of these kids. They are adorable! They come from everywhere: Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Finland, Brazil, South Korea, Italy, Australia, China, India, Czech Republic, Russia....you get the idea!
I just can't express how enriched our lives are from doing this and how much your family could gain by inviting a little piece of the world into your home for next school year! :)

My ugly blue binder

Today was the first day of the rest of my cheaper life!

I went to Target with a friend to buy the necessary supplies. Little did I know it would lead to my buying a very ugly blue three ring binder.

I am so excited about the possible relationship with this binder.

My family is need of me making it work out with said blue book.

He will take my time and energy and all I ask for in return is some great, big SAVINGS!

I took the dive into couponing today and got organized! I've been playing with it for years and enough is enough. I need to be organized and committed. It took me nearly 3 hours to get it all together. I've been clipping coupons for a while and it's become messy. Little piles here and there of coupons that end up never being in my purse when I need them. Piles of newspapers on my porch and disregarded after taking the coupon books out by my front door. Needing to use some and not remembering to do so before they expire. Hence, my D-day arrived. I've been following a wonderful blog - many of you are already familiar with -

http://www.freebies2deals.com/

It has been exactly what I need at the exact right time! YAY!

Hopefully this will be a long, lasting, successful, and rewarding relationship!

I'll keep you posted!