Sunday pics

Another project........................I am joining the ranks of a few fellow bloggers and am going to TRY (key word being TRY) to take a picture of my kids every Sunday. I am already seeing how quickly they change. It's making me sad. I hope they just stop growing.

I attended a "mothering mentoring panel" this week at our relief society activity night (or whatever it's called now). I got a few great ideas on raising kids' bucket, like filling my own bucket before filling my kids. Just like the airplane, you have to put your own air mask on before you put your kids' on. Now I just need to decide what will go in my bucket. So, along with this great advice I also got really scared, 3 out of the 5 moms talked about how their kids have gotten involved with drugs and alcohol, sending kids to wilderness treatment camps, getting calls from the police in the middle of the night, Marijuana at an LDS scout camp, SCARY! It is great to hear that every family isn't perfect and everyone has trials, but these stories were so hard for me to swallow. I feel extremely bad for these families, and now I know were to go for help and advice if such things happen in our family, but I am also SCARED. All I could think of all week was how I was going to protect my kids. My friend and I joked about creating bubbles and not letting our children out of those bubbles. We know that isn't possible, but I sure wish it was. The only conclusion I can come to is a lot of faith and a lot of prayer, which my not protect us from these tragedies but I know it will help us get through them.

So after saying all that (I usually try to stay away from too many words on my blog) here are my sweet, pure little children. I love them.

Mr. Spidey.

I don't like spiders. They give me the shivers and a stomach ache. I try to act brave in front of the kids, but inside I am screaming. I looked out the window tonight and this is what I saw......

(Only one spider and a few reflections due to the beveled glass in the window)

I checked Mr. Spidey one more time before bed and this is what I saw.............

(That is a big moth.....Stomach begins to churn)

I am thinking of framing this last picture to add to my halloween decorations. Kinda creepy.

So here is the question: I bought some spider spray which is supposed to keep spiders at bay for over a year. We live in the woods and therefore have a lot of spiders. A lot of spiders= a lot of webs which we are constantly walking through or putting our hands on as we reach for the outside railing. Do I use the spray and kill spiders or do I come to a mutual understanding with them that if they don't hurt me, I won't hurt them? What should I do? Part of me says "die spidey die" the other part says "do they really need to DIE??".

Smile.

I opened the door to giggles running down our endless driveway and these on our front steps:

They brought a smile to my face on a day which my face has not had a smile. So, Thank You!!

Never underestimate small acts of service.

#Millions of Peaches#

50 lbs of peaches = 8 quarts of sliced peaches, 6 pints of freezer jam, 10 jars peach butter, 4 peach smoothies, 5 lunch times snacks, 1 breakfast of pancakes and peaches, 3 breakfasts of peaches and milk, lots of deliciousness.

It has been a while since I have posted anything, I think three kids has given me a run for my money. Actually, I don't THINK, i KNOW. My house seems to never be clean anymore, I will clean one room and come back in 10 minutes and the room will be dirty again. I can't remember ANYTHING!I feel I am in a constant state of forgetfulness, super scatterbrained. Laundry is never done. Meadow only gets a bath maybe 3x a week,-my other kids were bathed every night-so if you hold Meadow and she smells like spit up--don't judge. However, I am soaking in every second of my little kids here at home. For some reason it has finally come to a realization that they won't be little forever and I need to enjoy them while they will let me.

Here are some random thoughts for you:

*I am experiencing major vertigo right now, to the point where I am feeling motion sick.

*I am getting my hair dyed dark today (at least I think, we will see what the hair dresser talks me into)

*I have great friends and family who always are so willing to watch my kids.

*Someone very close to me is headed to India soon.

*I will have been married for 10 years tomorrow.

*I have already bought my ticket to see New Moon in November.

*I am loving YOGA although I missed my class yesterday.

*Finley is enjoying pre-school. I am glad he was able to make it into a class with his two besties.

*I started a blog to keep track of our family's favorite recipe's, if you want to take a peek click HERE. (the wild rice soup is DELICIOUS)

*My camera is headed to India very soon.

*I have less than a month left of my 20's.

well, that about sums it up.

WOW, wow, wow!

I know this is probablly posted all over the web, but I was totally amazed by this girl's knowledge of the LDS church and I wanted to document it for me to watch again (and maybe again).

Day of Faith: Personal Quests for a Purpose - 3. Rachel Esplin from Harvard Hillel on Vimeo.

randomness

I am getting sick of looking at the bucket list post every time I sit down to peruse my "lemonheads" list. This post is to move it down the line and record some of the thoughts going on in my head.

• I am really excited that last night Chuckles(new name for my husband) and I were able to go to the temple-together-which has not happened for months. Although we did ordinances in which we were unable to be together, it was nice to be able to drive in the car alone and talk on the way to and from. We were also able to meet in the chapel and enjoy a meeting put on by our stake president and the temple presidency. Ah....refreshing to feel the peace that comes with sitting in the temple.
• I am also really excited that we hired a new babysitter last night (one of my cute beehives) and when we returned home the house was CLEAN! not just cleaned up from the mess that they had made during the time we were gone, but cleaner that when we left! The counters were wiped down, dishes were put in the sink, floor was swept, and the carpets were VACUUMED! And guess what else.........the kids were in bed with their teeth brushed. There is definitely a bonus in store for this babysitter. Note:All of our babysitters are fantastic in some way or other, but yesterday this is the type of babysitter I needed.
• Peanut has been "off track" for the last three weeks. (yay, next year the elementary is switching to traditional schedule) we took the opportunity to visit the Dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving point and the aquarium. She also participated in off-track bowling with some neighborhood friends. We also were able to pigsit the class guninea pig. I actually became a little attached to the little critter, although his stink was too strong for my nose.
• why is that people (including myself) have slacked from their blogs now that Facebook has become more popular? Goal for myself: write a post at least once a week.
  
• I can't wait until the weather is warmer, I am itching to break out the camera again. I could take pictures inside, but we just don't have great natural light in our house and I hate using the flash. I found a new camera that I want, it's only 8,000.00 dollars, I am sure I could talk Chuckles into it (hahahah-ya never going to happen-actually in reality I don't think i could talk myself into it).
  
• Both of my kids are crying right now I guess I better log off.
• oh ya, one more thing. my blog header kinda makes me cringe. Christmas is so over and right now I hate even thinking about. Goal for myself: locate new blog header picture.
  

Bucket List.

I got this as an email and thought it was kinda fun.

The Bucket List

place an X by all the things you've done.
This is for your entire
life!

( x) Gone on a blind date
( x) skipped school
(x ) Watched someone die
( ) Been to Canada
( X )Been to Mexico
( x ) Been to Florida
(x) Been on a plane
( x) Been lost
( X ) Been on the opposite side of the country
( ) Gone to Washington , DC-hopefully I will soon though.
(x ) Swam in the ocean
(X ) Cried yourself to sleep
( ) Played cops and robbers-not that I can remember
( x) Recently colored with crayons
(x) Sang Karaoke
( x) Paid for a meal with coins only
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
( X ) Made prank phone calls
(x ) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose.
( x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) Danced in the rain
( x ) Written a letter to Santa Claus
( x) Been kissed under the mistletoe
( ) Watched the sunrise with someone
( X ) Blown bubbles
( X) Gone ice-skating
( x ) Been skinny dipping outdoors
( ) traveled on a train
( ) Gone scuba diving
( X ) gone on a cruise
( ) gone skydiving
( ) speak a foreign language

1. Any nickname? .... In 5th and 6th grade I was called "booger" a name I gave myself to tease the "dare" officer. It stuck until i moved.

2. Mother's name? .... Norma

3. Favorite drink? ........Diet Coke
4. Favorite vegetable? ... cucumbers
5. Body Piercing? ...... My ear holes have now officially closed shut.
6. How much do you love your job? I love being a mom, but yes I could use a housekeeper, nanny, and a cook.

7. Birthplace? .... Ogden, UT
8. Favorite vacation spot? .......Cruising to lots of different vacation spots.
9. Ever been to Africa? .......No
10. Ever eaten just cookies for dinner? I can't remember a specific time, but i am sure I have.
11. Ever been on TV? yes
12. Ever steal any traffic signs? ........... yes, I was just reminded by my best friend Heather that we did in fact steal a flashing barricade :)
13. Ever been in a car accident? ..........yes.
14. Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? ...... 4
15 Can you drive a car with a standard transmission (stick shift)? ............Not very well.
16. Favorite pie? ...... pumpkin and apple (warm with ice cream)
17. Favorite number? .........16

18. Favorite movie? .........
19. Favorite holiday? Right now they are valentines and Easter.
20. Favorite dessert? ............ chocolate
21. Favorite food? ............. fajitas

22. Favorite day of the week? ......... Saturday-I guess.
23. Favorite brand of body soap? .... Dove
24. Favorite toothpaste? ....Colgate-or whatever we have.
25. Favorite smell? ......clean
26. How do you relax? ....... take a shower.
27. How do you see yourself in 10 years..... Thin, mother of 3, and a marathon runner (and enjoying it)

28. Furthest place you will send this message...It depends on who reads my blog-Maybe Germany or India.

Boy or Girl??

Tomorrow is the big day, we get to find out what kind of human we are having. My bets are on a girl. I have just felt it was a girl from the beginning, but I could be wrong. But, I hope I am not because I have pretty much given away all of our boy stuff-at least the stuff Finley has grown out of. What do you think? I will let you know tomorrow-the appointment is at 11:40.

You have asked.......

so I will give more details. I am a little embarrassed because I am only 5 weeks along. I know a little early to tell, but those of you that know me, know that my life is an open book and I usually tell you all things that you don't even really care about knowing:)

According to internet due date estimators my due date is:
JUNE 12, 2009

Yuck, that seems so far away! I can't believe we are doing this again. We have been thinking that maybe we should have another, and one week we would be all for it, and then Finley would have some bad nights at sleeping or Peanut and Finley would fight like cats and dogs and we would say that we weren't going to have anymore, two kids is enough. Well, obviously someone knows what we need and that is another munchkin in our family. So the wild ride of pregnancy begins again.

To all of you that confessed in my comments that you are going to be enjoying this ride along with me......it is now your turn for more details.

Oh.........and this is my 100th post. To celebrate I will be sending everyone 100 toe nail clippings.

(not my picture.....and honestly it make my stomach a little queasy)

what are you watching?

I am pumped to watch Heroes, Grey's Anatomy (guilty pleasure), Biggest Loser, The Unit, Lost, Prison Break, Pushing daisies, Chuck, and I am going to give Dancing with the Stars a shot. Thanks heavens for DVR!

Lame post I know, but i am so excited to watch something other that reruns of House. Am I the only one that needs some brain candy at the end of the night?

When in doubt........

try your blog. I know there are a lot of smarter more domestic people out there than me. To those that know what they are doing life I need some help. I have tons of green grapes in my backyard, I hate watching them go to the birds, squirrels, coyotes, cats, and whatever creature is living in my backyard or getting mushed into the grass which I then have to clean up. Does anyone know what I can do with them. When we first moved into the house 4 years ago I juiced them and tried to make white grape juice, they aren't very sweet so the juice wasn't good. Is white grape juice made out of green grapes? Anyway any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

This is DANG Cute!

Storm

My husbands 45 minute commute turned into a 5 hour drive tonight. 4 1/2 hours ahhhh, I am grateful the water this snow is providing, but does it have to come with such fierceness?

Why can't I be content?

I think I have changed my blog 4 or 5 times since I started posting last spring. I just can't find anything I like, so i am going to make my own.

Cache took my camera to India so I haven't had anything to take pictures with (I have our point and shoot, but I am to lazy to bring it up from downstairs and charge it) so I have been dabbling with digital scrapbooking to waste my time, I am really enjoying it. It is a lot cheaper than actual scrapbooking which is a plus for me. I hated spending the money on supplies. With digital there is a lot of free stuff. I love the word *free*.

I just spent the last 4 days working on our layout for our private blog and I really like it, well at least I like it more than what was there before. So now my next adventure is this blog's layout, so if you see it looking really odd for the next few days you will know why.

My inspiration for this change is cute Paige's blog take a look, I love it.

A post for my hubby.

I was reading this post this morning and it reminded me so much of my husband. My heart truly believes this, but I just can't stop shopping. I am going to do better though, we really don't need any more stuff.

cold!

I am grateful for the snow, but today I am longing for warm weather.

tagged

Aly has tagged me and I don't usually do these, but this is an easy one not requiring too much thought. so here goes:

MY HUSBAND...

What is his name? Cache
How long have you been married? 8 1/2 years
How long did you date? 7 months
How old is he? he reached the big 30 last year
Who eats more? him. I would be embarrassed to say otherwise.
Who said I love you first? He did.
Who is taller? Cache, by far
Who can sing better? definitely him, he usually doesn't let me sing with him because I mess him up.
Who is smarter? me :) :) how else would I answer.
Who does the laundry? Me, we got a high tech washer and dryer (meaning their digital, not very high tech) and he won't even try to learn how use them
Who pays the bills? Me
Who sleeps on the right side? Me because it is closer to the door so I can get the kids at night
Who mows the lawn? him, except for the time when I was 9 months pregnant and I had to do it.
Who cooks dinner? Me.
Who drives? Cache, most of the time.
Who is more stubborn? Cache
Who kissed who first? I did, I'm a fast mover.
Who asked who out first? He did
Who proposed? He did.
Who has more siblings? Me
Who wears the pants? definitely him

"Celery is great after a good Pee"

Okay, about the title of this post-I kid you not that I was just watching Wonder Pets and they really did say this. I just started laughing and thought-hmm I will have to try this sometime.

The name of my post before I heard this great line was going to be "A month (or more) in review". It has been awhile since I have posted anything, the reason being is that my sister told me my blog was Cheesy, so I was a little blog shy for awhile, but now I am comfortable with my cheesiness and am willing to share it. I also realized that I do this 99% for myself, so I can remember the happenings of my life. So, that being said I will blog about what has been happening the past month.

In no particular order, I will begin:

Our very, very good friends and traveling buddies The G's moved across the country. Before they left we were able to get together and enjoy a yummy dinner at the Red Iguana. It was so much fun talking and saying our farewells despite the grumpy kids, spilled water, loud music, and the stormy weather. We will miss you guys immensely. But we do have memories of Bryce Canyon, Cancun, Nine Mile Canyon, Snowbird, Deer Valley, Jet skiing, Cascade Springs, University Ward, Cocomotion, Christmas eve Breakfasts, after Christmas neighbor dinners, Indiana Jones marathon, and so many others. Good luck to you guys, and we look forward to coming to visit-soon. Start blowing up the air mattress.


I was lucky enough to meet with The G's again and some of the old friends from the University Ward at a fun neighborhood park in Sugarhouse. It was so fun seeing everyone again. The 4 of us girls that were there were all pregnant together 2 years ago, and we took a picture (which I don't have) and so while we were together we took another one all together minus the big bellies.
These pictures of "E" and "A"are pretty cute.



Our dear neigbor's elderly father decided that life was too hard and wanted to end it, which resulted in Air Med landing in our circle. Wow, I never realized a HUGE and powerful a helicopter is. We were watching from our front lawn and a policewoman told us to go inside while it landed because it would get windy. I took the kids and moved on to our front porch, which wasn't enough, as the helicopter flew over our house and began to land the wind from the choppers blew everything off of the porch. The big Wheel bike literally was lifted off the ground and blown across our yard. We quickly ran inside, the poor kids were crying because they had sand in their eyes. Now every time it is windy outside, they both get scared and ask if the "copter" is going to land again. Notice the Charred mountainside in the background.
I found this sandbox at Downeast Home and got a great deal. I was totally excited, because I had been looking for one for awhile, but wasn't willing to pay the $$ for just a square of 2x4's, this one is nice and the kids love it. I love that they play and use their imaginations building and bulldozing.
On Aug. 30 "A" turned 2. We made a cake, went to McDonald's, and came back home to eat the cake and celebrate with Grandma and Grandpa. "A"'s pwesents were a spiderman tent, a dinosaur magnidoodle, cars, a really loud dragon (thanks Grandma), and a few others I can't remember right now.



Well, there is my month in review. Sorry, but i felt I needed to document our happenings. I hope I can stay on top of things from here on out.

The kids are turning us in-look for yourself :)

Majority Of Parents Abuse Children, Children Report

SLACKER

Yes, that is me, an A+ Slacker!
I wish I could say I haven't posted anything because I have been travelling the world to many exciting places, or I have been involved in filming a very interesting documentary on the lives of SAHM's, or maybe even I cleaned my entire house from attic to basement and everything is spotless. Yeah, none of those things happened, the truth is.....I got very addicted to a book that took over my life for an entire two weeks. It was all I could think about and I couldn't/wouldn't do anything but read this book. Well, that was about 4 weeks ago and I STILL haven't gotten back into the routine of my daily life. All I want to do is play with my kids (which isn't bad right?), surf the internet, and look for new books to read. Everything is suffering, especially my bathrooms-YUCK! Hopefully today is my turn around day and I can get back in the life of being a SAHM and take care of my responsibilities. Maybe tomorrow I will post some pictures of my progress.