One of those weeks

Well it has been one of those weeks and it is only Tuesday. It all started on Sunday. We had our stake conference this weekend. The kids woke up and our clock said 5:30 a.m. so I told them it was too early to wake up and I sent them back to bed. Mark and I fell back to sleep until about 7:00. I was getting ready and I heard Mark rush up the stairs saying it was 8:30. Our clock had been an hour behind all along. We were supposed to leave at 9:00. We hurried to get everyone ready in a half an hour. Needless to say I had to go with my hair in a ponytail. We had also told Mark's parents that we would start dinner in the crock pot. Mark was getting that ready when he spilled meat stuff all over his white shirt. His other white shirts were dirty so we were panicking trying to get it cleaned up. Thank goodness for suit coats. We finally made it to conference and it was really good for about the first hour and a half then my kids got restless. Both of my kids were on a mom kick and would fight over who got to sit on my lap, and they were definitely not quiet about it. I came home and took a much needed nap. I thought things would get better but then came Monday. Both of my kids woke up on the wrong side of the bed. There was fighting from the moment they woke up. I had so many things I needed to get done and it just didn't happen. Today hasn't been any better. Gavin woke up and wanted to draw all morning instead of getting ready. He finally started to get ready and was cutting the tags off one of his shirts and cut a big hole in his shirt (Ahhh). He was so upset about it and felt so bad that it took me awhile to get him to stop crying. Which is why he missed the bus and Gavin does not like to miss the bus. So it was like starting all over again. I need a rewind button!

Guess who's going on a mission?

Jason has been called to serve in the London, England South Mission. When he was reading the letter he joked that he had been called to Coshocton, Ohio. That is where my parents live now and it is in the middle of nowhere. I think he had a few people a little worried. My Dad, Riley, and Mark (my husband) had gone to Utah to see Jason get set apart and do a little hunting. It was such a blessing that he got the call the day before they were coming. So he waited so they could be there when he opened it. That's me on one of the many cell phones in the picture. I would have loved to be there, but atleast I got to hear all of the excitement.

As many of you know my dad has a hard time controlling his emotions. He was crying before Jason even opened it. He always says he took too many water pills.

Riley has inherited the crying gene from my dad too (although he probably would never admit it). We are definitely so excited for Jason. He is going to be a great missionary. Congratulations Jason! We love you. And by the way, you are Madison's favorite muncle.

Tagged

Well I've been tagged by Amy. So here it goes:

1. Best thing you cooked this last week.
We had a ward Halloween party and I made creamy bacon and potato soup for the soup cook-off. I actually took 3rd place which means I probably get my name on a plaque or something.

2. If money, time, and babysitting were no object where would you go?
You would have to ask my travel agent Daisy Wilson. She has been looking into cruises, and she tells me about all the good deals. I have started saving my pennies and have left the rest up to her.

3. When was the last time you cried?
This afternoon when I watched the Extreme Makeover Home Edition that I had recorded. It was a real tear jerker!

4. 5 things you were doing this month 10 years ago.
I am not very good at keeping a journal but this is my best guess. I was probably studying for the chemistry class that I hated. Taking a walk with my roommates around campus, with our ear muffs of course. Listening to the latest gossip about who was my roommate Tara's latest crush. Eating at Craigo's (remember girls). And last but not least, working at JB's as the hostess with the mostest.

5. 5 things on my to do list.
Volunteer at Gavin's school, Have lunch with Gavin at his school, Get caught up on laundry, Take Madison to dancing, and finally take the two garbage bags of clothes (they have been sitting in my closet for a couple weeks) to goodwill.

6. 5 favorite snacks.
strawberries with yogurt, pretzel goldfish, chocolate pudding, fiber one peanut butter granola bars, and ritz bits with cheese.

7. 5 bad habits.
I care too much, I volunteer too much, I work too hard, I sacrifice too much, and I play too little. As I was writing these down I realized they were also my strengths. (This is for those of you who watch The Office).

8. 5 favorite foods
lasagna, halibut, steak, ice cream, and Costco's All American chocolate cake

9. 5 places I've been
San Diego, Mexico, Ohio (Amish Country), Colorado, and Arizona.

10.5 favorite memories
1. My wedding day, August 5, 2000. Everything about it was just wonderful!
2. The day I had my children. They bring so much joy and laughter to my life.
3. The Binks' family reunions at Blackhawk campground. The parades, the horse rides, the stories and music around the campfire, and I can't forget the good food.
4. The day we got the results of Mark's C.A.T scan after all his chemo and radiation treatments. Hearing that the treatments were successful and they got all the cancer.
5. Our family vacations. Whether we went camping at Cherry Hill or to Kings Island Amusement Park. We have had so much fun as a family.

Now I tag Missy, Shelly, Mom, Bonnie, and Mindi

Chocolate and Counting

Madison woke up from her nap yesterday and we had the following conversation:

Kory: Madison would you like a snack?

Madison: Yes, I want some chocolate.

Kory: That isn't a very healthy snack.

Madison: Well, I am chocaly (not even sure how to spell it).

Kory: What does chocaly mean?

Madison: It means I need chocolate.

Well I am guessing maybe chocaly is a combination of hungry and chocolate. And who knew girls needed chocolate at such a young age. I can't imagine what it will be like for me when she is a teenager. Our day went on as normal until I came downstairs to find a line of miscellaneous items from the fridge lined up on the counter. On top of each of them was a gogurt. I asked Madison what she was doing and she simply said, "I am counting". I guess I should be glad that she is creative.

Pumpkin Patch

Grandpa, Grandma, Katie and Hobbs came to visit us. We went to Eckert's pumpkin patch. The kids had so much fun feeding the animals, jumping on the inflatables, riding the airplanes, and picking pumpkins. Grandpa had all the kids on the wagon ride convinced that pumpkins grew on trees. He is such a tease. We had so much fun visiting with everyone and can't wait to see them again!

A day at the park

Gavin didn't have school yesterday so we went to the park. They had so much fun playing together. Madison really misses Gavin while he is at school. They have become such good friends.

Below is the goose that would not leave us alone. It was so mean. Mark really enjoyed tormenting it and trying to get it to chase him. Gavin, on the other hand, is quite scared of the geese because last time we were at this park he got bit by one. Ouch!!

Circus

Grandma Hawk took us all to the circus while the guys were at the priesthood session. We had so much fun! I meant to take all these great pictures to share, but I got so into the circus that I forgot. Gavin's favorite part was when the clown lost his pants and he had to chase them. We all saw the clown's valentine underpants. Gavin thought that was so funny. Madison loved the acrobats and all the girls in the beautiful dresses.

Gavin and Madison got their picture taken with the ringmaster. Madison wasn't so sure about him. This is as close as she would get and she wouldn't take her eyes off his hand. So much for the great pictures but at least it was something that they won't forget. At least anytime soon.

Madison

Madison is always making us laugh. She acts and talks a lot older than she is. She loves animals. Especially dogs and horses. She will probably never have either so that's what grandparents are for. She loves to visit Grandpa and Grandma Binks so she can ride Jeeter. Our last visit to Ohio Madison moved the lawn chair out by the horses and was talking to them while they were eating. I asked her what she said to them and all she said was "they weren't talking to me". She seemed very disappointed.

Madison loves her babies. She spends hours a day changing poopy diapers and cleaning up throw up. She has quite an imagination. She has named her babies Kaitlyn and Moroni. You may be able to guess where we are in the scriptures. She is so funny.

When Madison isn't playing with her babies. She is dressing up and pretending to put make up on. She doesn't leave the house without her purse equipped with her lip gloss, sunglasses, and bracelets. When we do go out she is very observant. Whether its the "big people" at church or the "old people"at the grocery store I am always a little nervous about what she is going to say.

Madison is such a mama's girl. Probably because I do wear makeup. When Mark tells her he wants to hold her she sometimes says "but your not wearing any makeup". I don't know where she gets it from. Most of you know that I was definitely not overly concerned about that kind of stuff.

Gavin

Gavin is so much fun to have around. He is always making us smile. Gavin has a lot of energy and likes to keep busy. He loves to learn about sharks and dinosaurs. He also loves to draw pictures of them. He comes home from school and will sit at the table and draw for hours. This is a picture of Gavin at an aquarium in Ohio. He loved seeing the sharks, although all the way there he kept asking me how big the sharks were going to be. He wasn't quite ready to see a big shark. He was very relieved that they were small sharks.

Gavin loves to hike and climb. We went to the St. Louis museum which has a lot of places to climb. In this picture I sent Gavin and Madison through this tunnel by themselves because I didn't think I would fit. Madison is in the background crying because she was scared. So I found out the hard way that I did fit and it took me several days for the bruises to heal.

Gavin loves school and is learning so much. He leaves for school at 8:15 and doesn't get home until 4:15. So he is gone a long time. Madison and I look forward to picking him up at the bus stop. He always has lots of stories to tell us when he gets home. Some are good and others are not so good. The other day he came home and asked me if he had nickname. When I said no he was very disappointed because Robert at school has one. I explained to him what a nickname was and he was very determined to have one. I asked him if he had one in mind he said he was thinking of Kevin or Bob. Mark and I are still trying to think of a better one.

Gavin just started fall soccer and really enjoys it. His first few games he was very shy and didn't dare get in there and kick the ball. Now he is getting more aggressive and at his last game he scored his first two goals. He didn't quite no how to act after he scored. But he talked to Jason on the phone and he gave him pointers on how to do a victory dance. So we look forward to next week and hope he will try that victory dance.