What I didn't know

Brock doesn't go to preschool.  It kind of breaks my heart.  It is a catch 22 because my degree is in early childhood education so I know how important preschool is and on the same page I am totally qualified to prepare Brock for kindergarten myself.  Regardless I wish we could be in a situation where he could go.

Anyways, just because I am "qualified" doesn't mean I always find/make the time.  In my "dream" world I work with Brock everyday - but days seem to slip through my hands and I realize it has been a week or so since we have done anything structured. 

Regardless of my "lack of effort" Brock seems so be learning things all on his own.  I took these pictures a few months ago and have been meaning to post. 

He made a map of our living room kitchen area.  He just came to me with this.  And the word 'map' written on it.  He never asked how map was spelled or anything.  Completely on his own he drew this picture and wrote the word map. 

For those of you who have seen our house it is pretty accurate.  He put in our kitchen table, tv, and shelves.

This one was back in September.  It is Brock, Noah, Megan (backwards), and Maddie (backwards).  He has been doing Brock and Noah for a few years but he did Megan and Maddie with out any help - he just figured it out.

We were making a countdown chain for Christmas.  After we had all the pieces cut out I had to go feed Madison, so I told Brock to write numbers on all the papers.  When I told him to do it, it was just to distract him and keep him busy while I fed Madison - I 100% knew he couldn't do it.  I had not even started to teach him to write his numbers.  I came back and found this!

If he was actually going to preschool I can't imagine what he would be doing.

Old Maid

I just got finished playing "Old Maid" with the boys and had to come up and blog really quick about how horrible that game is.  So sexist.  Full of a lot of great one liners though.  Here are a few.

Noah "Is the Old Maid good or bad?"
Me: "Bad"
Brock: "That's because she is a woman"

Brock: "Where is the Old Maid's match?"
Me: "She doesn't have one."
Brock: "Is that why she is bad she is all by herself?"

All the other cards have job characters (teacher, clerk, etc) but the Old Maids card just says "old maid"

Noah: "What is the Old Maid's job?
Mom: "It doesn't say"
Brock: "She can't have a job if she is the old maid."

I couldn't help but laugh at how non PC this game is.  Funny though how the rest of the game they are VERY careful not be sexist.  All the other jobs are gender neutral like Firefighter, Mail Carrier, etc

What a lot of food documentaries will do to you

Also - many have expressed their love for documentaries as well.  I decided to make a page about the documentaries I watched and am watching (look at the top of my blog under my picture).  I couldn't remember all of them - but am adding to it almost daily as I watch more.  My reviews are not professional and do not say what the documentary is about - just more about my thoughts on it and if I recommend it. So if you care check back often. 

Since Christmas...

We have been enjoying all of our new toys.  The kids hardly watch TV and we haven't been to the library to rent DVD's since December.  They just play, play, play all day.

One of their favorite things is their dress ups (from aunt Ashley).  It is so fun because I never know who is going to be running around my house.

Megan also got a lot of baby stuff.  And she is loving it.  This blanket you see on her doll is actually a baby doll blanket that my great grandma crocheted for me when I was about Megan's age.  So it is made by Megan's Great Great Grandma.  She is learning to change her doll's diaper and her clothes.  She always wants to make sure the binkey is in her mouth - and for the first time a week or so ago she wanted to take the baby with her when we left the house. 

We play board games non stop - it has become Brock's favorite thing to do.  Our favorite is Sorry and Operation. 

We also play "kitchen" a lot, and "super hero's" with their new action figures and transformers.  We built a giant train track over our whole kitchen with some new track pieces.  And about a million other things with their million other toys.  The last few weeks have been fun, but I am glad Christmas is only once a year!

Some Christmas Pictures

Just a some pictures (mostly of Madison) throughout the month as I tried to mostly get a Christmas card.

And yes - I thought every single one of those pictures were different! :)

This should have been the card - but silly Madison has to be eating her hand!

The kids watching dad prepping our tree - they were so excited!

The Real Christmas Eve

Since Jason was working on the "real Christmas Eve" I took our kids to my family's events.  Everyone was great to pretend like we already had Christmas and ask the kids what Santa brought them.  They still continued to be fooled.  They just thought is was and "extra" Christmas party.

These boys are just the LIFE of the party

Dancing around the Christmas tree.  That's Megan, Brock, and Noah holding hands.

I love dancing around the tree - it is part of me.  That sounds way lame, but it's true

Christmas

For us Christmas morning was December 24.  The kids had no idea we ever "moved Christmas up" - they are still young enough and isolated enough that we can still manipulate them pretty easy - MWHAHAHA.

I didn't take very many pictures - but here is what I had.

(yes - those are my paint samples in the back ground - still haven't painted... long stupid story... still hoping for a happy ending.)

We had both agreed no presents - we both failed to live up to the promise.  Neither of us spent money (we have our ways) so I guess our promise still counted.  Jason got a blanket (he really wanted it - promise).  And I got a beautiful necklace.

We had the boys draw names to buy presents at the dollars store.  Last year the boys just bought for each other and both bought each other guns (that was the first time we had guns in our house).  I was expecting the same this year.  But instead Noah got Brock a transformer, Megan a doll, and dad a flashlight.  Brock got Noah airplanes, Madison these rings, and me a hair brush. 

Madison got ice cube trays - you know for her baby food - I can't believe that starts soon.  And this lion.  It is 'her" lion.  Jason takes our children's stuffed animal's very seriously.  HE likes to pick them out and HE names them.  We went to about half a dozen stores before Jason found the right one for her.  His name is Harold.  (I argued that her stuffed animal should have a girls name - only fair - but the lion has a mane, and is therefore a boy - so I got over ruled.)

We had Jason's brother and wife over for the most wonderful Christmas brunch - if I do say so myself.  I made ableskibers (A danish breakfast thing - like pancake balls), home made cinnamon rolls, scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausage, homemade hot chocolate, orange juice, eggnog, and orange slices.  They stayed most the day - it was great.

The kids with their favorite toys.  Noah's were Green Goblin, Dr Octopus, and Spiderman, Brock's was Iron Man, Megan's was a little doll with a "puppy doggy", and Madison's was of course Harold.

We then played all day - and are still playing. 



And then...

A few hours later I watched from downstairs as she climbed up to the top shelf of our pantry, got down pop corn kernels, got the hot air popper out of the cupboard, poured kernels into the pop corn machine, put the lid on, plug it in,and POP POPCORN! 

I never stopped her because I wanted wait for her to get stuck and ask for help.  She never even asked for popcorn.  She was just playing and thought, "You know what I want right now? Popcorn.  I think I will go make me some."

This girl is going to run our house pretty soon.  She reminds me of my cousin Kaitlin, she was the third child as well, and by 6 she could run the house for her mother.  I told Jason today that in a few years if I die he doesn't need to worry about getting remarried - because I was sure by then Megan would be doing the laundry and taking care of her siblings. 

It has made me realize how much I do for my boys.  Megan can pretty much dress herself (shoes, socks everything) - Brock and Noah still struggle with this.   Noah sometimes struggles to open doors, or do simple tasks.  I don't know if Megan is advanced, the boys are retarded, or I just do too much for them.   I think it is a mixture of the first and last - I hope.

I have got to keep an eye on this one.

Beyond her years

I just put Madison to bed and started to come down stairs.  I stop at the top and watch Megan (who doesn't know I am there), open the fridge, open the produce drawer, open the orange bag, take out an orange, close the draw, shut the fridge.

Go to the table, pull out a chair, sit down.  Then take a bite out of the orange skin and spit it out (to "start" it), then she starts pealing the orange.  She peals and slices the whole thing.  Eats the orange.  Gets down from the table, tucks in her chair, walks over to the pantry, opens the door, goes back to the table, picks up all her orange peals, and throws them all away. 

I can't believe she is only 19 months!

About the documentaries post...

So you know the post I did about documentaries.  Sorry to anyone who had to read it.  I did it late at night and just spilled my thoughts and then hit "post"  I never re read it - and while my blog is usually filled with spelling and grammar errors - I just now re-read my post and I could hardly understand what I was saying.  So I hope you got the gist. 

Basically documentaries rock.  Oh - and I wanted to add that I don't just watch special interest and conspiracy ones.  But I love the historical also.  Weird though that I really wanted to learn about Vietnam and there are surprisingly few documentaries about it.  I would have thought there would be a lot considering how controversial and culturally significant it was.

Christmas Eve

Actually OUR Christmas Eve was on December 23rd.  Jason had to work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - so we celebrated everything early so he could be home. 

We had the most perfect Christmas Eve ever.  I decided to not take any pictures and just to live in the moment the whole day.  Although I am sad not to have any pictures on the blog - the day was so perfect and wonderful I am glad I lived in the moment - plus Jason hates the whole picture thing. 

In the morning we took the kids to Jungle Jim's (an indoor amusement park).  So much fun.  Then we had a wonderful (if I do say so myself) Christmas Eve dinner.  I made a ham, twice baked potatoes (with real bacon crumbles), home made rolls, and a yummy salad.  It was just our family and it was so wonderful.  Then we frosted sugar cookies for Santa.  This is what I am most sad to not have taken pictures of because for the first time the boys frosted the cookies for real.  They took a lot of time, thought, and sprinkles into them.  Brock frosted a candy cane with red and white stripes and Noah put about a pound of sprinkles and frosting on every cookie.  And I let him - I just wanted to let them have fun and not try to micro manage Christmas Eve cookie decorating - yea for self control letting loose :).  We read the Christmas story from the bible and book of Mormon and watched the new church movie about the birth of Jesus and put the kids to bed.

It doesn't sound like much but I think it is one of my top 5 favorite days since having a family.  Our house was filled with the Spirit, Christmas joy, children laughing, and love.  (yes - that is all so cheesy - but SO true).  I am tempted to bag the whole extended family Chrsitmas Eve thing and make it our tradition. 

A quick shot of the living room after Santa came. 

Documentaries

After I have a baby I have one ritual.  I watch a ton of movies.  The day after our babies come home from the hospital we go to Blockbuster to get a movie pass and I watch movies while I nurse my babies.  Well, after having four babies in four years I found that I have seen ALL the movies.  I spent a week catching up on movies that had come out since I had Megan.  And then there was nothing.  So I went to the documentary section and became hooked.  I have spent the last four months every night starting at 7:30 nursing Madison and watching documentaries.  Any documentary.  I have seen all the "big ones" - Waiting for Superman, Food inc, No End in Sight - and all the little known ones as well.  

Documentaries are funny things.  They take one issue, put it under a huge magnified glass, usually only show you one side of the story, and are very persuadable.  I am left at the end of every documentary feeling like, "yes, thats the problem (insert, war, poverty, education, health care, food, environment, etc), if we could fix that the world would be better".  Then the next night I am on a soap box about another issue. I talk Jason ear off every day about the issue and how it is so important.  It's funny.
Now after seeing ALL the documentaries ever made (seriously) - I can tell you what the real problem is.  Our nation's financial status.  Mostly the debt.  Because none of the other issues can even start being fixed if the money issue isn't fixed.  I have wanted many documentaries on the subject - on both sides of the party lines - and IOUSA was the best.  I recommend it.  Watch it with someone smart.  I had Jason rewatch it with me so he could explain some things to me :)  The scary part is this movie was made in 2007 - BEFORE the financial crisis and Obama.  It is so much worse now.  Everyone should see this movie.  It will change your perspective.  It has made me want to become involved.  I even contacted the film makers.  hehe

Last night I wanted one called "The Business of Being Born."  I liked it but I don't recommend it to pregnant women.  It is pretty scary.  It is basically about natural childbirth and how horrible it is to have OBGYN's and hospitals - and how all doctors, nurses, and hospital administrations only goal is to give every woman a c-section that walks in the door.  I am obviously being sarcastic- but that is basically what they are saying.  I obviously don't agree with that (I always had an OBGYN and was in a hospital) but it was a good film about point out some of the problems with our current system. (highest number of C-sections and induced labors, highest number of births in hospitals by OBGYN's, highest infant and maternal deaths than any other industrial country, plus the most c sections are given at 4:00 pm and 10:00 pm theory is that the dr's all want to get home for dinner or to bed) Interesting stuff.

Food Inc was great - probably changed my life the most.  I wanted about 20 different ones about food and nutrition.  It is a little depressing because you realize that no matter what you do you can't really eat purely.  Our society has ruined that.  I came to the conclusion you just have to do the best you can.

Anyways... I could go on and on.  But I will spare you.  Oh - just one more thing, I think I have watched every documentary on 9-11 and I am pretty sure it was the government that did it.  :)

Yes, documentaries are dangerous things.

Christmas Card

We ended our 2010 Christmas card with a hope for a “calmer 2011”. We didn’t quite get what we were hoping for, but are grateful for the changes this year brought.



We had another baby this year! We now have Madison, which makes us an even 2 boys and 2 girls. This also required the purchase of a much needed minivan.


Jason changed jobs again early in the year, and is now with Fidelity. He is happy with his new career path. Jamie is happy at home raising the kids and loves this stage where they are all young and home.
The kids are happy and healthy. Brock and Noah love super heroes, especially Spiderman and Iron Man. Brock loves sports; Noah loves cars and tractors. Megan loves Madison, doing everything her brothers can do, helping mom, and discovering dolls. Madison loves her siblings and all the attention they give her.

We hope you have a Merry Christmas and a great New Year!

Love,

The Herberts,

Jason, Jamie, Brock (4), Noah (3), Megan (1 ½), and Madison (4 months)

That was our Christmas card.  It was a last minute thing - so if you didn't get one - few people did, and most were hand delivered at that.  At the beginning of the Christmas season when I was figuring out my budget I had allotted money for Christmas cards.  But I never got a good family picture so on the 10th of December I decided to not send a card and I spent my "card budget money" on other things.  Then I got this picture on the 20th.  I did a little scrambling and came up with about 10 dollars to do Christmas cards.  The killer was that almost all of Jason's family lives out of state.  So hopefully next year you will all get one and I won't spend the budget money prematurely.

Santa Party

We had the Brown's Annual Santa Party this week.  It was held at my mom's house - and because of Jason's schedule I was alone again.  But my sister jumped in and helped (as always).  The kids (boys) were so excited to see Santa and had been rehearsing for weeks about what they wanted for Christmas.

Everyone waiting:

Megan was my first child to not want to sit on Santa's lap.  She was pretty nervous.  So I sat with her - she kept an eye on him the whole time - not even stopping to look at the camera.  She would not tell Santa what she wanted.

Noah wanted to "talk to him" - but with 30 other kids for Santa to see - his time was limited.  Noah told Santa he wanted a "Spiderman, Green Goblin, and Doctor Octopus".  This is what Noah tells everyone he wants for Christmas.  At least he is consistent.

Brock has been pretty practical about his list.  He consistently wants an "Iron Man" but adds and takes things away depending on the day.  He has put some things on his birthday list for next year.

Madison slept through Santa's whole visit.  And right when he was just out the door she woke up.  I grabbed Santa and asked him to come back for a quick picture.  She had JUST woken up (reason for deer in the headlights look).

We changed into Christmas jammies.  I wanted some of the girls by the tree - turns out camera got on a weird setting so they are blurry - but still cute.  I swear I love my boys and take pictures of them - in fairness the boys have WAY more pictures of them at this age then the girls have.  At Brock's first Santa Party I have 6 pictures of him sitting with Santa (not to mention pictures with him and Santa at the mall and at the ward Christmas party).  So I think it's fair.

Trouble

My cell phone just broke.  Like won't even turn on broke.

This is just a message to family and friends saying don't call me - becasue I have no phone.  YOu can call Jason or email me.  I have no idea when I will be getting a new phone.  I'll keep you posted. :)

Jamie