THE MURASKI FAM

The past six months......

2011-03-03T20:05:00.000-08:00

What has Jodi been up to the past year?

Three kids.

Breast feeding for a full year (the boys I feed about 10 months only)

Potty training chase - oh the stories I could tell of poop in public places

Lots of Doctor visits - and I dislike those of you with family around who don't have to take 3 siblings to the doctor

Chauffeuring CJ back and forth from preschool everyday - I think this taxi driver business is only going to get worse as they grow up

I don't even know what else,

its a blur

one magic thing that has happened for me with the number three is.....

total surrender.

Meaning

I don't try to accomplish Jodi's agenda during the day any more,

I am a FULL TIME mom,

all day dedicated to children mom

which actually makes motherhood a lot more enjoyable

when you don't have your

own agenda in the back of your mind that the kids are "getting in the way" of

It has been a good thing for me

I have learned that a prestinely clean house is not worth it

and the evidence of kids are like,

the chocolate covered faces

toys left on the floor the creative way they were playing with them

the constant questions and chatter

the stained shirts

the little hand prints on the back door

I love it

I only want one more baby and so I realized I'm almost done!

I just want to enjoy them

and I know someday I will miss it all,

they really do grow up so fast!

And I don't want to miss any moment

because I was more worried about the house or a project than paying full attention to them

but

I could still use a vacation........with no kids Road trip - arizona to wyoming- 16 long hours

We actually took the time to stop (for 3 minutes) and site see

somewhere in New Mexico?
It was crazy windy

Chase :)

Karina and Mikes' baby blessing, UT, Nov 2011

Left: CJ's fith birthday Party, in my five years of mothering I have never had a birthday party for my kids! Not even their first! (Besides mom and dad with a cake and one present, remember we have no family to invite anyway) But for CJ's fifth we had one. No theme or frills just cheap and crazy fun with the neighborhood! My house was thrashed!

Instead if a romantic V-day this year we had a family celebration. We had pink heart pancakes for breakfast, preschool party, Nana Dianna's package of goodies, homemade sugar cookies to all CJ and Chases' neighborhood buddies, and dinner was all red. Ham with cherries, shredded potatoes, strawberry heart jello, and cherry punch! Kru, Beck, Rosie, and El

THE Babes of 2010

My Roses and Papa

Look at how dark all of our hair is now?

Grandma Johnnie Belle at her ninetieth birthday party

I went ALONEish (she was still on the boob)

Dad and the boys had a party of course with mom gone

they didn't even miss me

but that's because Chris is that good of a Dad

really he is a Dad that pays attention to them and spends quality time with them

like reads them books, plays memory, hide and seek, and even takes the time to feed them healthy food.

He does it all just like mom would, but with more fun and more patience

(and I won't mention how he encourages me to go out without the kids and how he ALWAYS cleans up dinner and how he washes AND folds all the laundry EVERY week

and I never even ask him to.....)

I love that man

any way.......

Until Next Year! :)

Sweet first moments

2010-05-19T23:35:00.000-07:00

Rose's first moments after birth.....so sweet.......I think she needs her mama and her mama needs her. Complete harmony is a mother with her child.

Rose Diane Muraski!

2010-05-14T16:04:00.000-07:00

Rose was born March 8th, 6 lbs 13 oz. She is 2 months old now and she is a joy. I must say having a little girl around is so much fun!!! I love my little girl!!! Sorry I took so long to put pics up, this is the best I can do for now :)

catch up pics.....sept & oct

2009-12-22T20:26:00.001-08:00

Halloween

(Eon Kid-don't ask, BELLY dancer, and cowboy....in a sombrero)

Dad behind camera was H1N1 virus

CJ's preschool Halloween party

CJ making shy, funny face and his teacher Mrs. Judi

Oct 23rd I turned 25, happy birthday to me!

Pumpkin carving

Happy child with a knife........

First roller coaster, kinda funny
(Cardinal Health party)

Bumper boats, work party fun

Child I don't recognize as my own....

was his hair really that blond by the end of the summer?

First black eye,

from cousin Carly throwing a disc,

as in a Frisbee golf disc

funny story....

a few months later, Mom, Dad, and boys were playing

and Dad decided to try and collect Moms life insurance money

by hitting me in the back of the head with a disc.

He was driving and threw it as hard as he could and it "slipped"

(it did happen to be raining)

and went flying the wrong direction straight into my.

Down to the ground I go holding my head with my hand which was

covered in blood within seconds (I was wearing a hat too)

so to the urgent care it was

with a two inch long gash, the width of a pencil

and 6 stitches later, Chris was unsuccessful.

It was a nasty big bloody gash, and the only pic is on my phone,

sorry.

I was fine but couldn't do my hair for two weeks,

which I surprisingly liked,

What was I doing playing Frisbee golf 5 months pregnant anyway?

Yay for Swine Flu!!!

2009-10-29T21:20:00.000-07:00

Well I couldn't be more happy

Chris has the Swine Flu!!!

Yay! We're so lucky!

I hope we don't all die.

I'll let you know what happens.

(In reality I was kinda scared, but so far, he is the only one in the fam who is sick and he is doing much better, fever broke after 4 days and it is looking up.)

The verdict is still unknown for the boys and I

(did I mention I'm pregnant, yeah I could die)

At the time I thought it a coincidence, but looking back now a blessing, but two weeks ago the boys had a pediatrician appointment and the doc mentioned on her way out "Oh by the way we just got the H1N1 vaccine in yesterday do want your kids to get it?" I was totally unprepared to answer that question, I hadn't done my research and didn't know what to do. So I made a very informed decision and one i felt very sure about and said "uh OK."

I am now very thankful we did get it because it puts my mind at ease and I don't have to worry about them getting infected so easily. (unless it's on every door handle of your house, but I won't remind myself of that)

So I just really worry about me and the babe inutero, hey Mother's can't get sick, we can't rest if we have a fever not with hungry crying children.

But of course mama's here who is pregnant, picking up infected used nose tissues, bringing in meals to the corantined room, washing his viruse infested bed sheets and the whole time wondering "how in the world am I not going to get sick?" (Lots and Lots of prayers :))

I am utterly exhausted from taking care of the boys and the piggy man 24/7 alone, and trying to get to all the Halloween parties (3 this week) alone, getting them in costumes alone (which Chase has to scream and cry like I'm torturing him every time), chasing them around at the parties alone (which means there's no way I can take any pictures), bed routine alone, just every little thing alone. I won't start on the condition of my house from lack of picking up toys and focusing on disinfecting every bathroom and surface and washing every body's sheets and clothes and blankets and pillows and anything you can put in a washing machine.

And I'm sad because Chris is missing all the cute little boy moments of costumes and candy and missing the pure joy and excitement on their little faces, I miss him being around, we are not even sleeping in the same bed, that makes me even more sad.

i'm really ok you just caught me in the middle of the drama not at the end when I have a clear head, so sorry bear with me. Any way hopefully next time I post it is to say we all made it through just fine.

P.S. and we have to miss Phantom of the Opera tomorrow night, which was my Bday present, no one can go with me because everyone has dumb Halloween plans. And I don't want to go with anyone else any way, I want to go with my husband! I think this would all be a lot easier if I lived by family, but I don't, I depend on me and Chris, there is no one else. (ok there are friends but we just moved, meaning I don't have close friends here, and all my old close friends live forever away)

ok ok I'm done complaining, ahh I feel better.

Four + one

2009-10-11T20:38:00.000-07:00

I'm pregnant!

I know many of you already know this but, yes,

once again

I am pregnant.

(and this baby will be 28 months apart from my last born,

thank you very much, just for those of you

with your mouth open still)

I am happy but it certainly seems

less

and less

glamorous then your first.

a lot less.

It's just.........I don't know

not fun.

With your first,

despite all the

nausea

heartburn

sleepless nights

sadly knowing where all the bathrooms are in every store

uncomfortableness

can't breath

worrying about every little pain

just constantly worrying

big belly (which you secretly think is cute)

if the baby moved 10 times in the past half hour.......

it really is fun.

because it's all new

and

exciting.

But that's gone

I'm over it (which makes me sad)

As far as I'm concerned, until the baby arrives, being pregnant stinks

and i feel guilty because i have really easy, textbook pregnancies. Shhh

and forget the cute big belly thing by your third

its not cute anymore, just big and big

so in a nutshell my stomach is

well

big.

Like so big that at 10 weeks

i HAD to bust out the maternity pants

Like so big that I'm the same size

as a first timer at 6 months

and I'm only 4

whatever

So.........

the good news is.....

it is a GIRL!

My plans, as far as child bearing are concerned,

are going according to plan,

2 boys

2 girls

then I am done

unless there is some divine intervention

bottom line I wouldn't keep having children if it wasn't wonderful

I mean overall

seriously I am very happy and love seeing

my little family growing

besides who doesn't love those little

smushed faces and tinny tiny toes when they come out

and even as they turn into little monsters.

who is the only one who thinks their kid is cute even with snot dripping out of their nose

only a mother

she gets to love like no one else............

and that is worth everything.

2009-07-12T10:10:00.001-07:00

Our Summer Fun:

Brian's Graduation (of course he spoke at both seminary & his schools Grad, Mr. Valedictorian)

mud puddles at the park,

Chris's brother getting married in the Oakland temple and CJ was the ring bearer at the ring ceremony,

San Francisco,

4th of July camping and fishing trip,

and some bubbles.

I'm Alive!!!

2009-06-11T15:33:00.000-07:00

So.......I am the worst blogger on the face of this planet. But besides that, not been up to too much, just moving, a job layoff, renting out our old house and my new favorite hobby interior design. Oh and occasionally I change a few diapers, cook, clean, do laundry, grocery shop, and bite my lip trying to be a patient and soft spoken mommy. That's my life in a nut shell.

So I now live in Queen Creek, about 30 mins from my previous location, so not too far. Still in sunny AZ.

Chris has a new job, which is extremely similar as his former, he likes it so I like it. He was working for Spacelabs Health care selling heart monitors, but got layed off (the economy of course), we learned a lot, we were humbled a lot, prayed a lot, grew a lot, and happy the doors have closed on that adventure, but we have taken the lessons we learned to heart and grew in Faith and confidence in Heavenly Father. Oh and I am pleased to report, Chris has a job now and thankful that the Lord saw fit for our little rollercoaster to only last three weeks. And that I know is rare right now. We have friends who have been job searching for months.

And the kids are a hand full, well, probably going to be the death of me, but lots of fun, right? No really, I love them to pieces, but maybe more challenging than I would like. The poor things think the only words I know are No, stop, and go to time out.

Pics for the Grandparents who are far, far away...

2008-11-13T13:43:00.000-08:00

Chris was the Scorpion King for Halloween, so he wore this jar of 17 living scorpions on a string around his neck! Oh were did he get them you ask? Just in our backyard.

Just before Trick-or-Treating

We got a dog.

My boys playing with Uncle Brian's hat....

Sorry Mr. Obama......

2008-10-09T20:45:00.001-07:00

So the big problem I have with Mr. Barack Obama is this............

I'd rather have the next president of the United States be influenced and corrupted by selfish, greedy lobbyists, than by anti-American, radicals.

Obama has had so many strange connections with radical people, it scares me.

So let us list the suspicious characters from his past...

Jeremiah Wright-

white people hater/preacher,

which Mr. Obama says he has had dinners in his home with and has known for 20 years and went to his church regularly.

My question is how can you hear his demeaning sermons for YEARS and not be influenced, oh and if he didn't agree with his teachings why did he keep going? Oh sorry, he did renounce him after his campaign started, my bad.

Quoting from an article in the Chicago Tribune......"Obama says that rather than advising him on strategy, Wright helps keep his priorities straight and his moral compass calibrated.
"What I value most about Pastor Wright is not his day-to-day political advice," Obama said. "He’s much more of a sounding board for me to make sure that I am speaking as truthfully about what I believe as possible and that I’m not losing myself in some of the hype and hoopla and stress that’s involved in national politics."

Um, I don't even know what to say......he takes advice from someone who preaches "No black woman will ever be considered for anything outside of what she can give with her body, Racism is how this country was founded, and how this country is still run, We believe in white supremacy and black inferiority. And believe it more than we believe in God, We care nothing about human life, if the end justifies the means....." Quoted directly from him......remember this man keeps Obama's "moral compass calibrated"!!!!!!

William Ayres-

he bombed the pentagon and is considered and unrepentant terrorist, Obama launched his campaign in his living room....they must have been pretty tight.

Bill cofounded a radical left organization called Weather Underground, which organized the bombing of public buildings jailbreaks and riots in the 1960's and 70's

Frank Marshall Davis-

a former communist who mentored him in high school, (perhaps taking the role of his deceased father growing up) and taught him all about the "wonderful world" of socialism, and Mr. Obama mentions him in his biography but somehow fails to mention he is a former communist and only refers to him as Frank.

Just one terrifying quote from Accuracy in Media, http://www.aim.org/

"The record shows that Obama was in Hawaii from 1971-1979, where, at some point in time, he developed a close relationship, almost like a son, with Davis, listening to his "poetry" and getting advice on his career path. But Obama, in his book, Dreams From My Father, refers to him repeatedly as just "Frank."
The reason is apparent: Davis was a known communist who belonged to a party subservient to the Soviet Union. In fact, the 1951 report of the Commission on Subversive Activities to the Legislature of the Territory of Hawaii identified him as a CPUSA member. What's more, anti-communist congressional committees, including the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), accused Davis of involvement in several communist-front organizations. "

Am I the only one who is hearing this? That alone is enough to make me run in fear!

ACORN-

a corporation who, yes have done some good things, but also really bad things that other, just as good, companies haven't resorted to,anyways....

For instance knowingly registering illegal aliens to vote and protested at banks demanding them to give loans to "all" people, namely black, poor people. Calling the banks lack of service, discrimination. I call it running a bank. That means only giving loans to those who can qualify for them regardless of age, race, or religion.....

so Mr. Obama's role in this?, supporting them with millions of dollars and helping with the bank protesting.

He was their lawyer once for one past incident also. .

And on Hannity and Colmes they said, every single politician knows ACORN is corrupt; knows it.

Oh and did you know that you cannot, it is impossible, to get any information about his activities, directly from his college years at Columbia, and Harvard. And it is the same story in trying to see his thesis too. I wonder what he wrote about? And why does he not allow the universities to release that information and refuse to answer any questions himself on the matter? We have a right to know!

My thinking is, anybody can take a look at any part, no, let me say detail, of my life. Why? Because I have nothing to be ashamed of. No I'm not perfect and have done things that I'd rather not mention, but are they so bad that sharing it could ruin my life? No!

Barack Obama needs to be an open book in order to gain my trust!

and come on

it's not like I love John McCain or anything, and I know he says things to get gain and has voted one way or another to possibly promote his agenda or lobbyists. He is no angel himself........

but at least with him I don't have to worry that some terrorist, communist, evil, person has planted anti-American ideas in his head!

I am to the point, where I don't even care about each candidates, policy anymore. The fact that Mr. Obama has these people in his history, greatly concerns me. No matter how small the connection, it is there. Why doesn't Mr. McCain have any people like this coming up in connection with him? I'm sure he has someone questionable in his past too,

but lets put it on a scale from one to 10......communist, terrorist, people-10, selfish American, money hungry, people-8

The law of the harvest says if a seed is good it will yield good fruit and if it is poor, poor fruit. Well it is the same with people. That is the reason I can say I don't care about policy any more. If the person is good, he will try to do what is right and of course might get side tracked here and there and make mistakes but in the end, he is a good person. I fear Mr. Obama, from influence, is a poor seed that will only yield poor fruit. I'm not saying he is an evil man, he probably genuinely feels he is doing what he is right, but his sense of right and wrong comes from people who are radicals.

Let me make one thing clear, I don't care how inaccurate, you claim these people, or situations to be. I care that they are coming up period, people can't pull everything, out of thin air, some things yes, but not every single person and mysterious relationship can the media materialize into existence.

I mean it has happened time and time again. It is like seeing the same horror movie, over and over again.

So once again, if I have to choose, I'd rather have the next president of the United States be someone corrupted by greedy, selfish, lobbyists, than by anti-American radicals.

With Barack Obama you just don't know what you are going to get.

So basically John McCain is the lesser of two evils....in my long opinion. :)

So I never forget........

2008-09-29T14:26:00.000-07:00

Being a mother means seeing a child grow and develop from the most intimate perspective. It is the details of a smile or the feeling of soft, plump cheeks under your kiss that bring the sweet feelings of joy and satisfaction to my day to day life.

Let me readily admit, becoming a mother has been the hardest undertaking of my life. I am far from the perfect mother I always dreamed I would be, and often find myself on my knees pleading to know how to teach them to love others and to love the Lord.

Since becoming a mother I am fully aware of my weaknesses and habitually ask Heavenly Father for forgiveness. And similarly enough, for more patients and to be more soft spoken.

But.......

just so I don't forget these precious moments of motherhood, I wrote them down so I can always remember my little boys, as little boys...........

CJ at 2 1/2 years old:

1. The highlight of his day is playing "tackle" with dad every night.

2. Puts his head on my shoulder and says "I wuv you ma ma"

3. Whenever bored, comes to me and says "So, like, what you want do ma ma?"

4. He is a pooping machine, about 4 times a day! Try not to be jealous.

5. Likes to get up on his "ool" (stool) and be my little sue chef.

6. Seems to have acquired all of my expressions, such as, rolling his eyes, as I opened a box of Halloween decorations, exclaiming "oh, beautiful!", and as I was lighting the grill, cautioning "careful, ma ma, careful"

7. Throws anything and everything when upset.

8. Any time we are all together in the family room announces "tine famee home eeneen!" (time for family home evening)

9. Can't go to sleep without his bedtime stories.

Chase at 10 months old:

1. Loves to talk to me in his raspy, growly voice.

2. Looks at CJ with absolute adoration in his eyes.

3. Thinks everything CJ does is just hilarious.

4. Weaned himself at 9 months old, much to my surprise and leaving me feeling very rejected and sad. But got over it quickly thanks to the wonderful ease of bottles, I love those things.

5. When he gets really excited, he traps my face between both hands and with a fully opened, slobbery mouth, attempts to eat me......I love it.

6. Very ticklish and playful. You can always get him to laugh.

7. Can't get enough of him naked right now.

8. He lived in onesies this summer and thus has a prominent onesie farmers tan.

Four and counting...

2008-09-16T20:36:00.000-07:00

So I had my 4th wedding anniversary! We actually did something fun to celebrate too! (besides a fancy dinner) My Mom and Dad watched the boys and we went to pismo beach and stayed at a nice resort. We rented some ATV's and rode around on 10 miles of sand dunes. That was fun but very bumpy and at times scary. It was the highlight of the trip for Chris of course. Then we scheduled full body massages, which was amazing, I had never had one before. We had dinner watching the sunset over the ocean and enjoyed our very own hot tub! :) It was so relaxing and serene and needed. That was my first time over night away from the boys in a year. I've been breast feeding and of course have no family around to do things like this more often.

And to my very own......I couldn't think of a more loving and kind person to spend eternity with. Thank you for all you do to help around the house and with the kids, you serve so willingly and show me what it means to put others needs above your own. Thanks for always making me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world and making me smile. I love you! The best is yet to be........

Perfectly Blissful!!!!

2008-08-13T21:33:00.000-07:00

Check out this blog, it is hilarious..........and by the way, every single bit of it is drenched with satire. Sadly every bit of it is true. http://www.seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com/

Is change good or bad?

2008-08-05T22:50:00.000-07:00

random....uncle "bwy-ya" (Brian geeze)

So here I am, it's 10:58 pm, I'm all alone, and I'm afraid this night is the beginning of many moons to come. It's my fate for the next year of my life.....make that the next few years. What the heck am I talking about, you ask? Well Chris started his new job last week. His new job requires traveling, lots of traveling, overnight traveling, road trips, airplane rides, traveling near and far. He will be gone tomorrow night again, then next week he will be gone in north Carolina for a week then he is home for a week then he leaves once again for another 3 days. You might as well call me a single mother. My poor children don' t even recognize their own father anymore.......SIGH........ok fine I'm being a little dramatic (not about his schedule though). No but seriously, Chris got a new job, he is now selling heart monitors to hospitals in Nevada and Arizona. Its a great opportunity, and we knew it would entail this amount of travel. It is suppose to be the worst in the beginning because the training is all over the place, and get better with time, I'm referring to the traveling of course. We decided if it's too much for me to handle and it is effecting the boys too much then he'll quit. I can say with absolute confidence that Chris would quit his job in a heart beat if I told him it was taking away from our family too much. So this is why I complain to everyone else.....so this is my delima.....On the pro side this job is a good career move, he enjoys it WAY MORE (so far, but it is still very promising), in two years he will make more money (right now he is on a guaranteed pay which is the same amount as the previous job), but the big con is the over night traveling. So I said go for it. Let me tell you something about my husband....he is never satisfied with himself, he is very driven and always looking for better opportunities. So I've always known that this "more demanding job" was in my future and I figured better now than later when the kids aren't asking "why isn't dad at my game?" Plus he now actually likes his job. How can I say no to that? I'm always the one holding him back from his full potential because I don't want to share him. But I guess not this time. we have just gotten so comfortable with life, it's nice, I never had that growing up, I mean the lack of change, always moving you see, do things always have to change?

Picture overload! But You'll love every single one!

2008-07-08T22:17:00.000-07:00

The loves of my life, all my boys!

So handsome!

I just couldn't help myself! My cousin Brooke did such a great job taking our family pictures I couldn't decide which ones to post, so I went a little on the more than enough side :) She took amazing, time freezing, beautiful pictures! Thanks Brooke! If you enjoy photography you should check out her blog, oliverminiej.blogspot.com, she truly captures people and I love looking at her work.

Just som pics for now..........

2008-06-04T15:17:00.000-07:00

Our family went to utah for one of my best friends wedding. We saw aunts and uncles and cousins and Chase and CJ's great grandma!

So cute!

My poor little chase has been constipated on and off for the past 3 months! So we've tried a variety of remedies and this was one of them....prunes, yuck!

2008-05-18T20:25:00.001-07:00

2008-05-03T14:32:00.000-07:00

We have a blog!!!