Emily blog

My dapper dans

2010-04-19T17:38:00.002-06:00

Easter Outfits

2010-04-07T14:45:00.003-06:00

Oh that I could remember to take a pic of my boys WEARING their Easter outfits...
Here is conner

And here is Matthew:

Pretty darling...now to add their faces!

Need Help

2010-03-30T13:41:00.001-06:00

Its been a long time...doubt anyone is still reading this...but if you are, I have a question:

Anyone read anything, heard anything about sugar addictions and behavior problems? Or just diet and behavior? I was reading some stuff and was curious.

Thoughts?

You choose

2009-11-02T08:49:00.007-07:00

Dress up?

Or Dress up?

Halloween Fun

2009-10-29T10:28:00.005-06:00

So the school doesn't allow you to "make" treats (ie homemade cookies) to bring to class and I am in charge of the treats for the Halloween party in class tomorrow. It took a little bit to figure out something fun to make and eat for the kids that I could BUY all the ingredients for. Here is what we came up with...

Swamp Juice

FINGER food

And worm burgers

End Result

2009-10-13T10:51:00.002-06:00

So Kylene's fundraiser for Taylie raised

$1432.00

Awesome huh? But even better, she helped me feel like I was doing something and I get the impression from the people who helped that they felt that way too.

"Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise."

Thanks Kylene.

Every little bit counts

2009-10-08T13:47:00.007-06:00

I don't have a large following and I am sure that very few people actually read my blog but I wanted to do what I could to help.
What a small world we live in.
(Taylie's Family)
Short story long. I am kind of picky about who cuts my hair and for a long time after I got married, I would drive home to have the same lady cut my hair. Then Steve FINALLY convinced me to try his friend. Her name was Lacey Abbott. She was fabulous and she cut my hair for a long time. Then for a while my mom even drove up here to have her cut her hair. What a sweet, kind girl she is. Anyway, Lacey moved out to Richmond and we haven't kept in touch as much. But a few months ago, we found out that her four year old daughter had been diagnosed with Leukemia through the NEWSPAPER. What kind of lame friends were we that we only heard about it second-hand.

I thought, "I should do something." .

Then Steve's old roommate who married Lacey's roommate emailed and said they were coming to Logan for a 5k for Taylie.

And I thought, "I should do something."

Then today a friend sent me an email along the lines of 'Help Taylie' by posting a link on your blog and a donor will give $2 for every link.

So I thought again, "I should do something." And this time I am following up on it.

Go to Kylene's site and tell her you are posting a link to Taylie's site.

Then post Taylie's link on your site and your Facebook account and your Twitter account and tell everyone you know to do the same. Every link is worth $2!

In some small way, maybe we can help. Maybe it is not much but I am finally doing something and it feels good.

Twiners

2009-09-25T22:04:00.002-06:00

This is as close as we get to matching.

We call it co-ordinating.

More Eating!

2009-09-25T22:02:00.002-06:00

More Yummys

2009-09-25T21:59:00.002-06:00

The best peach pie (take 8). Yes, that is eight peach pies that I have made... and then consumed.

Yummy!

2009-09-25T21:54:00.001-06:00

The good news?! I learned a new trick when glazing homemade donuts (mom remind me to show you).

The better news? They tasted FABULOUS and looked just as good.

The bad news? I ate ALL the donut holes. Who says bigger is better?

Because I must

2009-09-13T20:20:00.000-06:00

Do you have an inner "Bobby"?

Firsts

2009-09-09T17:03:00.002-06:00

What not to wear...

2009-09-09T16:59:00.002-06:00

...while huckleberry picking.

Please ignore that my feet are upside down. Some days are like that ;)

*Look closely those are scratches, not flaky skin.

Today I feel...

2009-08-30T21:23:00.003-06:00

...a little vintage, a little ancient.

Why? I spent last night (meaning post-children's bedtime) feeling like a vintage domestic goddess and an ancient Egyptian goddess.

Steve? You ask. Oh, he helped some and then bailed for a nice bed.

First up, Peachy Pear jam. Courtesy of some California peaches and pears and a recipe from a friend's mother. She informed me it came from a "really old cookbook" called something like 'Recipes for the Good Farmers Wife' (circa I am guessing 1960/70ish). From the title, it HAS to have been printed pre-feminist movement. At any rate, it was yummy. A little bit peachy, a little bit pear, and a little bit spicy.

Next up..a little pampering. I vaguely remember hearing that ancient Egyptians thought the epitome of wealth and cleanliness was hairlessness. And since we all know we are descended from apes (in my case, my dad), it never hurts to get rid of the unwanted hair that evolution has leftover.
Being too cheap/broke to go for electrolysis, I opt for the ancient remedy. Sugar wax. The home version is cheap, effective and easy. A little sugar, lemons and water and you are good to go.

Who says being a goddess is easy? For me, it was tough work.

First Friend Party

2009-08-15T22:05:00.005-06:00

We had our first "friend" birthday this year. This was the highlight of the party for me. I was actually quite impressed with my skills.

This was the highlight for Matthew. If you can't see, he is snitching the Lego candies we were using for our Lego chopsticks relay.

If you ask Conner, he would say this was the highlight for him...PRESENTS!!

But I really think he had the most fun doing this: Beating friends with "lightsaber" noodles!

More Summer Fun

2009-07-13T14:13:00.005-06:00

We went with my mom and aunt to suprise my sister for her birthday! Steve went to CA to be with his sister while she went through the temple for the first time.

Steve said he had a lot of fun...but we have the pics to prove that we did.

I promise we didn't tell them to pose!

Thanks Bomma and Rachel and Shannon for such a fun time!

We are...

2009-07-05T21:40:00.001-06:00

...the champions!

Soda Springs 4 on 4 July 4th volleyball champions that is...and we got t-shirts to prove it, but no pic?!

Something blog worthy*

2009-06-12T09:59:00.007-06:00

So the fam packed it up and went at the crack of dawn to the air show! Being airshow amateurs, we left the chairs elsewhere, the big umbrella in the car and the cooler full of cold stuff and vittles home in the cupboard and fridge. We also didn't know that "snag a spot" should have been first on the agenda, not waiting an hour to walk through a c-5. And that was without waiting to go through the cockpit.

!

About midday, we figured that my mom, Matthew and I could leave and return much better prepared. The good news is we were in only the second row of cars. The bad news: an hour wait to come back through the metal detectors. As we went to drive away, the "lucky" ones whose job it was to monitor the parking lot ALL (8) came to my window at once to answer my questions. But can you blame them, bored, hot and a cute girl is calling at them for help.

"Yes maa'am, you would have to follow the crowd (including an unlimited line of cars that faded off into the distance) when coming back in" and "No ma'am, you wouldn't be able to return to the one of MANY parking spots at the front, including the one you had just vacated but rather park out here in this nice empty spot miles away at the end of the line" and "yes ma'am, we think walking from BFE is a great treat to get to come to an airshow" and "no ma'am, we don't care if you have a baby here and a stroller already inside"

So I did the only logical thing. Pulled over and called Steve. So after sitting in the middle of the lane of traffic for 15 minutes. Finally, one of the others (no I don't mean the oh-so-anxious ones from the first) came over and asked if I need help. "No, just waiting to get a hold of my husband so I can pick him up."

It all worked out because since I technically could not get into line following all the others on account of the end being no where in sight. I just acted like I knew exactly what I was doing, that I hadn't already been given such polite instructions, and turned around and drove back. Parked in my exact spot. And sent my mom in for the boys.

We took a nice break in the air conditioned commissary where I got a few fun deals. Then went through possibly the slowest drive thru at a fast food restaurant ever! I mean how hard is it to nuke 6 Junior Whoppers.

Having being refreshed and rejuvenated by my "Simply Lemonade" I got for $1, we decided to go back to the Thunderbirds. Ignoring the hordes of people, who had no idea that once they went inside they were too late to find an open sight line to the flight line and would probably miss half the show anyway. We pointed ourselves in the opposite direction. Found a nice spot of lawn and watched the rest of the show from there!

Conner informed us for the first time ever what he was going to be when he grew up. Any guesses? Yep, he was going to fly planes. Later in the day after a visit to the biggest plane he had ever seen. "Mom, I want to fly the biggest plane in the world. The so-so-so big one. Mom, what is the biggest plane in the world?" A little later I asked him if he was going to jump out of planes too, as we had just watched more jumpers. He scoffed, as only a five year old can do to his mom and said, "No, I am going to fly them, not jump out of them." And finally as the capstone of the day. Big was no longer the winner. But rather FAST! he was going to fly the FASTEST plane in the world. "Mom, what's the fastest plane in the world?"

**Luckily, I am the smartest mom ever and answered all questions by referring him to an upcoming trip to the aerospace museum where I am sure we could find out the biggest and fastest planes.**

Bet you can't guess what he had just watched?

The THUNDERBIRDS!

My baby was entranced. With more oohs and aahs and pointing than had been exhibited to this point in his life. My older one was like a hawk searching the skies. And my darling? Well, he was just like a kid. Who says we spend all day in the sun to show our kids something cool? I think we secretly do it for the kid inside us all.

Conclusion: We will be doing this again.

*or at least something I don't want to forget!

Less is more?

2009-04-22T14:34:00.002-06:00

I don't have a huge following on this blog, but just in case anyone noticed (or didn't), I have backed way off on my posts, etc.

I thought at first my blog died in the war against Facebook. And maybe that is partially true because I do manage to literally kill a lot of time there. But then I read This post, by a MUCH more visible blogger whose blog is a great place to lurk.

It occurred to me that I am not the only one who might feel that blogging is at once rewarding and deflating.

Anyway...for those of you who love to blog (and whose blogs I love to read), more power to you. But for me and mine, we'll see you when we see you.

So-Big

2009-02-13T06:16:00.002-07:00

Matthew went to his 9 month check up a few weeks early, turns out he is only 8 months. The results? He DOES have a sinus infection. He is TALL for his age. And he is EXTREMELY talented.

Those leaflets the doctor gives about development, etc. have a way of releasing hidden talents. For example, the flyer said, "Baby may enjoy playing games. So-Big and Pat-a-cake being favorites." Or something like that.

So we came home and played "So Big"...the rules are as follows: lift baby's arms high above head, while saying in a high, drawn out, sing song voice "SOOOO-Big". Then repeat (over and over and over and over...you get the idea). Pretty soon your baby should do this action by himself.

Matthew adds a whole new dimension. Since he thinks he is big enough to stand up all by himself, that is what he did. And here is where the TALENT comes in. He stands and then reaches his hands high above his head (in So-Big) fashion and promptly sits back down again. Knowing that he has just accomplished a great feat for a child of his age, he promptly claps for himself.

If you encourage him by repeating the words, "SOOO-BIG" and "Yay Matthew" at the appropriate intervals, he will do it over and over again.

With all his talent, it is too bad he is camera shy!

Computer Woes

2009-02-13T06:08:00.003-07:00

It died....a slow, long drawn out death. We even preformed surgery, but alas, it is still dead.
The worst part? I knew it was coming. I even bought a new 500 GB harddrive a couple of months ago, in order to stem the loss that I KNEW was eminent. Then, I proceeded to not do anything with it.
So the day it would not wake up was quite sad and I was sick to my stomach thinking of all those lost pics, files, docs etc.
Thank you to a dear computer doctor (or geek, whichever you prefer) friend who saved the day and retrieved the majority of the contents of my hard drive. Never mind that it took him 5 hours to do what should have taken an hour. We even thought that this procedure might end up extending the life of the dear machine. But in just two short days, it had a relapse and slipped into a coma, never to be useful again.

I compensated the friend nicely, by offering tax advice...which just proves once again the old cliche of nothing being certain but death and taxes!

S.....L......O........W

2009-02-06T22:02:00.002-07:00

So the title describes the current situation exactly and yet not at all.

I am SLOW in blogging about anything that has happened lately....so you are all probably SLOW at checking to see if I have updated, if you even check anymore....

But really the reason I am SLOW is because my computer is SLOW lately and Steve usually leaves his at work and because since it is lovely inversion time here along the home front, it feels like life is SLOW so there isn't much blog about that wouldn't SLOWLY put you to sleep.

The reality? MUCH different.

It is actually because everything is passing so QUICKLY that I don't have the desire to blog. My nights are QUICKLY over before they even seem to begin, due in part, to Matthew's QUICKLY emerging teeth - 4 - count them 4, in a week.

I have realized that if I don't start updating, I will QUICKLY lose track of all the pictures and events and milestones that have so QUICKLY passed me by.

Matthew is QUICKLY crawling. Like a little sidewinding crab (is there such a thing as one of those?). He does not allow his knees to touch the floor and kind of skip-hops with his feet. If it sounds like those extra movements might SLOW his crawl, you would once again be mistaken, as he is QUICKER than his mom many times. I really should post of video of it, but I haven't been QUICK enough with the camera to catch him yet. However, he does SLOWLY stand up by himself, think extra wide ballet plie.

So to those who were wondering...we are well, still alive and might QUICKLY decide to blog more...but who knows, sometimes I prefer the SLOW life!

Hello Blog world

2008-12-19T10:55:00.002-07:00

No I did not drop off the face of the earth. Yes, I am much too far behind on my blogging. And maybe I will catch up ;)

Merry Christmas to all!

Thanksgivings

2008-11-17T12:03:00.002-07:00

Last year I did a week of gratitude posts for Thanksgiving. I thought maybe I would do them again this year. I have two obstacles..first my free time is precious and my computer is slow...second, I am running out of time before Thanksgiving.

So today I am grateful for the word of wisdom. I know that sounds kind of random, but I have struggled since Matthew was born to have very much energy. I am grateful that we have been given some basic counsel that helps me in this area. Conner and I discussed it today. And for us it is basically broken down into 3 parts.

1. Eat well.
2. Exercise regularly
3. Get enough sleep.

So this day I am grateful for those words of counsel from Elder Perry and that is our goal for Conner and I this week.

What do you do?

2008-11-04T23:31:00.004-07:00

What do you do when you are disappointed in something you can't change? Granted I was not an ardent supporter of either candidate, however, I did experience a bit of let down with the presidential election results.
It made me wonder if this is how people felt when George Bush was elected. I read an interesting blog post with the following quote. I will preface this by saying I did not check the source, just assumed it was corrected.

"We engage in the election the same as in any other principle: you are to vote for good men...Choose the good and refuse the evil... Don't fear man or devil; electioneer with all people, male and female, and exhort them to do the thing that is right. We want a President of the U. S., not a party President, but a President of the whole people; for a party President disfranchises the opposite party. Have a President who will maintain every man in his rights." (History of the Church, Vol.6, Ch.15, p.323)

I, particularly, was moved by the part about a President of the whole people, rather than a "party" president, for it does leave people feeling disfranchised. Our nation is great because of our predecessors. And by this, I do not mean merely our presidents, rather all those good people who stood up for what was right and then went out and supported leaders who did the same.

So whether I think Obama will be good or bad for our country is, for the time being, irrelevant. For I can only continue to do what I believe is right and be an example to others to do the same.

Halloween

2008-11-04T17:54:00.002-07:00

For those of you who might not possess the power to decide what we dressed up as, just call upon 'the force'.

Yep, in the picture you should find, Darth Vader, Yoda, Luke and Leia. Bet you can't guess who is who!?!

I must say I used some sewing skills, bartering skills and trading skills to gather all of our costumes (oh, and half a card of bobby pins).

Teething and Rice cereal

2008-10-23T18:07:00.003-06:00

oh...and baby prunes.

Yes, I am sorry to say that I subjected my almost five month old to baby prunes. But I did it with his best interest at heart. Truly!

We had been feeding rice cereal for about 2 weeks. (which incidentally, he LOVED). I swore we would wait longer for real food because once you start you can't stop and for me it is so much easier to just nurse... but he would have none of it. However, his bowels did not love it so much. It could have been anything. Needed to be a little older, mom needed to make it thinner instead of thickening it up, not letting him eat so much...etc. etc.

But for whatever reason, prunes became a NECESSITY. Thankfully the prunes did their job and both mom and baby were happier. And mom learned her lesson...

In other less (or more) noteworthy news, Matthew is the proud owner of two bottom teeth. Yes, this was early and yes they are pretty much all the way in.

We are hoping that they are like my teeth and not Steve's, because his have a bad habit of trying to rot out of his head....and he has better dental hygiene...go figure!

Another Show

2008-10-17T17:18:00.003-06:00

Hey all...Steve is in another show. And being a supportive wife, I decided to post it on my blog. But it snuck up on me so this is a little short notice.

It is THE MUSIC MAN and Steve is 'the Music Man' himself, Harold Hill.

I know it is short notice but he would love to see whoever could come.

It runs Oct 23, 24, 25 at 7:30 pm. NEXT WEEK It is FREE---that might just be the best part!

Fun stuff

2008-10-17T16:47:00.004-06:00

So I have totally splurged on baby products lately. Here is my most recent acquisition. Not all for me...a few gifts got thrown in...please excuse the camera, it needs some help:)

This stack includes:
3 Bundlemes - two originals and one Euro-these are especially great for us cold weather folks and they work on car seats or strollers

2 Premaxx carriers

3 Diaper/Wipes pods
1 Diaper caddy
2 Bundleme Hats

1 Logic bag

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: aprox $365

Thankfully I didn't spend that much. I am a bargain shopper at heart. Anyone want to venture a guess what I did spend? Maybe I could share a little something with the closest guesser...or at least share my secret

Graco owes me a Thank you...

2008-10-11T12:39:00.004-06:00

Almost all of our baby gear is Graco. Not on purpose, just because that is what I liked either for safety ratings (infant car seat), pattern (stroller), price (pack n play), surprise gift (high chair), high enough weight limits (the captains chair)...
But in the past couple of weeks I think I have gone a little overboard...

Captain's chair approx $150

a regular booster (approx $20) for Steve's car....

And a pack n play (usually $100ish-a steal at $38)....

Value of having a sleeping baby, safe child and happy mommy? PRICELESS

So maybe I owe them a Thank you too...

Connerisms

2008-10-05T16:41:00.002-06:00

My mom was watching Conner while Steve and I went to a mission reunion. He had quite a few "funnies"

The first:
My sister and mom were tired of being in the kitchen canning all day and everyone else had left for the BYU game so they decided to go out to eat. They told Conner they were going to go to a restaurant for dinner. Conner got pretty excited to go out of the house for dinner. Then they asked him, if he wanted to go to Texas Road House or Lonestar Stake House.
COnner: "But I don't want to go to a 'house'."

My Favorite:
Apparently they saw a picture or poster or something of Ironman. In case you think I let my little guy watch that, I didn't. But he has seen the previews. His comment to grandma?

"Grandma, he (Ironman) is a really good man. I just don't think he has the gospel yet."

To Grandma's embarassment:
My mom had just been telling me all the cute things he had said and we had been laughing about it. I left the kitchen and went upstairs for a minute.

Conner said, "But grandma, you forgot the funniest part"

Grandma: "What's that?"

Conner: "When you tooted."

At the risk of offending someone...

2008-09-30T22:58:00.002-06:00

I would just like to say that I dislike music playlists on people's blogs.

(With few exceptions)

Alas, their blogs are not my blog so I guess I really don't have much say...

But if I did, I would prohibit them for the following reasons:

1. I typically blog/lurk at night and I don't like the sudden noise that could wake the dead (or my children) emanating from my machine. Said children are often the culprits at having turned the sound up in the first place. In the event they are still awake, I have an instant lap buddy who wants to "hear that song again."

2. Very rarely do I like and/or know the songs that begin playing on my machine. In the rare case that I do know the song, I really don't want it stuck in my head. We all know that music tastes vary greatly. Why should I have to listen to your stuff?

3. Lastly, I suspect that a large majority of people are like me, in that they are on their own blog for much less time than they are lurking/reading other people's blogs. That being said, odds are pretty good that they aren't really getting a chance to listen to their favorite songs anyway.

Your take?

New Car seat

2008-09-23T09:06:00.003-06:00

Conner got a new car seat. We call it the CAPTAIN'S CHAIR because it is so big. I finally broke down and decided to pay the big bucks for it. I have been wanting it for awhile. He technically has room for 1 more pound in his old one :) Lest you get all excited, like my dad, thinking it is a booster and therefore easier to move from car to car...

alas, it is not. It is still a five point harness. Supposedly that is a much safer bet than moving them to a booster seat. But in our case, it was also about keeping him still. He gets so anxious/excited to squirm around in a regular belt. It also converts to a high back booster once they hit 65 lbs (at Conner's rate, that should take a while) and a regular no-back booster after that.

Here's a few darling pics of Matthew that also show how big it really is!

Case Lot craziness

2008-09-16T13:37:00.003-06:00

So I decided since we have a bit of cash flow right now and all the grocery stores have case lot sales going on...it was time to update and increase our food storage.

Maybe I should be a better canner (like Jess) but that would require me to have a garden or the very least find fresh produce....and then I either have to get all the canning supplies (or go to my moms). As you can see this is a little bit difficult, so for my first year of canning I have done peaches. That wasn't too hard but without a great mom (thanks Mom), it would have been sheer madness with the little kiddos.

I think we might try to can chicken and maybe salsa, that is if my mom and I can make it through them...and call me crazy, but I think I will just go buy the rest.

Wonders

2008-09-12T20:52:00.002-06:00

So did any of you know that sunshine takes the yellow out of breastfed baby explosions?

Well it does...and this week that little fact saved at least three BRAND NEW baby outfits from the trash can.

Shame on you if you knew and didn't tell me.

Flowers

2008-09-04T14:01:00.002-06:00

Somewhere in my house is a big pack of batteries. But until I find them, I can't post a pic of the beautiful flowers Steve brought me yesterday. Nice and bright. Lots of colors and kinds.

And since I know he reads my blog and is an occasionally contributor I just wanted to tell him

Thank you!

Cause he is great and I love him

Nana these are for you...

2008-08-29T16:17:00.002-06:00

Evie likes eyes...watch out Matthew.

They are almost the same size.

Family fun

2008-08-29T15:56:00.003-06:00

Our latest (and only) family summer adventure has been a trip to the beach. With a new babe around, we didn't take much time to have any family adventures. Then we realized the end of summer was just days away so off we went.

Steve and Conner mostly played in the water/sand.
Matthew mostly ate and slept. What a good baby.

And the three of them pulled faces at the camera.

Facebook addiction

2008-08-29T15:55:00.001-06:00

I have a new computer addiction. Its called Facebook.

If you haven't joined, you should and then look me up. If you have and we aren't friends, well we should be!

Hope to see you there!

Connerisms

2008-08-21T21:34:00.003-06:00

Today we had FRESH salmon from Alaska. To read about how we got "FRESH" salmon, go here. Conner was very disappointed that he didn't get to go and proceeded to tell me so every day they were gone. He wanted to catch a BIG fish.

We usually have the not-as-fresh grocery-store-fare. At any rate, Conner LOVES salmon. And today's salmon had a little something "extra"

BONES. So I was showing Conner what the bones looked like so he wouldn't try to eat one and choke or gag. And then I picked them all out for him. He asked me how come the salmon had bones. And I said, thats kind of what happens when you get the fish yourself instead of buying it at the grocery story.

FAST FORWARD TO THE END OF DINNER AFER I SPENT MUCH OF IT PICKING OUT BONES:

Conner: Mom, when I get growed up, I am going to get grocery store salmon and not try to get it myself.

Me (a little surprised given his previous desire to catch some salmon): Why is that?

Conner: Because I REALLY don't want to pick out all my kids' bones.

NOTE TO GRANDPA: If you want Conner to go fishing with you, you better do it now, because once he has kids he doesn't want to pick out their bones.

That Famous Preston Night Rodeo

2008-08-06T10:56:00.004-06:00

For the record, we are not "rodeo regulars"

But we do manage to attend "That Famous Preston Night Rodeo" at least once each year, along with the parade.

For the record, its true name really is "That Famous..."

Maybe it is called "That famous Preston night Rodeo," because it manages to get so many of us "non-rodeo-ers" there EVERY SINGLE YEAR. I mean, don't we look just thrilled?Especially my mom (check her face), the most non-rodeo-er of them all...she has been there hugely pregnant, with newborns, with all five children and bulls jumping the fence. And she keeps going every year.

For the record, I am not my mom. Matthew and I stayed at grandmas.

Links Explanation

2008-08-06T10:53:00.002-06:00

Rachel wants to know why I don't have her link on my sidebar.

Well, to be honest, I don't have even half the links on my sidebar that I browse.(please don't calculate that, I don't really want to admit how much time blogging takes up in my world).

I stopped adding them to my sidebar. Now I use Google reader....so much easier. So if anyone wants my links, let me know.

P.S. Rachel, I added you to my sidebar. Hope you feel loved.

Trauma Solved?

2008-08-06T10:46:00.002-06:00

Thanks to Nikkala and Ashley who suggested I check eBay for my outfit. I found it, but even with my I.T. background I have never bought anything there...I cant handle the wait and bidding, drives me bonkers. So Nikkala talked me through it and my mom lent me her username since I can't remember how to log in to my own.

I then proceeded to bid and win on two of the outfits (there were 3 listed). One is used and one is NWT (if you are an eBayer you probably know that acronym). They are both the same size though, the third item is a different size. I about bid on the third one too, but I decided that was excessive. So if they don't fit, I have one I can experimentally shrink...it is cable knit after all.

Wish us luck.

Matthews Blessing - The story of 2 traumas

2008-08-01T11:11:00.004-06:00

I have two traumas...one obviously more pressing than the other.

TRAUMA ONE

Well all, we are finally going to bless Matthew. It will be August 24 at 9 am. Everyone is welcome, but I would love to know who thinks they can make it. If you need directions to the church, leave me a comment with your email and I will send it to you.

It was such a trauma to decide. We had originally planned to do it that weekend even before he was born. We waited so long because for the past 6 years of our marriage Steve's parents have been here the weekend before college starts every year. This year they are coming a week early for Dave's graduation. No big deal right? Move it a week? But my whole family will be in Alaska that weekend. So when we realized all of that we decided to do it the traditional fast Sunday in August....but alas, Dave and Kristin would be gone to CA. So after all the hoopla, we decided just to leave it as originally planned.

So now we are just hoping for the best for Aug 24. Hope to see you all there.

TRAUMA TWO
THIS is the outfit I wanted to steal the idea for, for Matthew. It is kind of a trick finding an outfit that is not a tux or two satiny (read hispanic) for my taste. I hemmed and hawed about buying it because I didn't know for sure how big Matthew would be or what size he would need. Now (read when he was born) it is too late. Gap was sold out of them. So my second trauma is what to dress Matthew in, and I am open to any suggestions.

First day in shoes

2008-07-29T10:47:00.002-06:00

Matthew had his first day in shoes in this pic. Our old bishop would be proud. He always used to tease us about getting us an order to go to DI to get Conner shoes because we would never put shoes on Conner. I didn't see the point. Babies don't need shoes.

But these were too cute to resist.

Thanks to Conner for being our fabulous photographer.

Oh and Matthew, he now weighs a whopping 12 lbs...I vaguely remember it took Conner forever to get big...but they are both apparently destined to be long and skinny.

Thats ok by me!

Where in the world is...

2008-07-23T16:37:00.004-06:00

Some of you may know this mutual friend of ours:

But I will grant that this next photo was not taken in Denmark:

And actually, he's more Steve's friend than mine:

But at any rate, check out Jacques new entry into the blogging world at

http://usuadonis.blogspot.com
I know in particular he would love to hear from New Horizons friends or any one who knows him. Go leave him a comment and say hi if you remember this crazy guy from Denmark.

My ABCs

2008-07-01T16:17:00.001-06:00

I figured if a new mom with twins can post this, then I can. And if you actually make it to the end, consider yourself tagged....

A is for age: 27 which is older than I feel, but I guess I won’t be a 20 year old college co-ed forever and it matches better when I consider I am married to a 31 year old

B is for burger of choice: the thinner and faker the burger the better…for that reason, I guess I would choose Wendy’s Jr Bacon Cheeseburger…but I do like a mean chicken and fish sandwich

C is for the car I drive: A Toyota Sequoia a.k.a. the TANK aptly named because as much as I love it, it is rather larger and it likes to empty its tank faster than I feel is necessary

D is for your dog's name: No dog, but with my boys I probably won’t be able to say NEVER

E is for essential item you use every day: Diapers

F is for favorite TV show at the moment: No shows but I love movies as long as I can feel comfortable with their content, and they make me happy (not scared or worked up or sad), ok, so I am a chick-flick junky

G is for favorite game: Since I don’t have a favorite, I will go with what I am called to play the most Spiderman Yahtzee or Lego Star Wars (PS2)

H is for home state: Military brat that I am, I still think I would say Idaho

I is for instruments you play: Flute, Piano

J is for favorite juice: Currently it is PowerAde, helped me when I was prego sick, now Apple Juice tastes great while I am nursing

K is for whose bum you'd like to kick: As if I have ‘discretionary’ energy to waste kicking someone’s bum

L is for last restaurant at which you ate: Does ordering Pizza count?

M is for your favorite Muppet: I can honestly say that I only know the names of two muppets, Kermit and Miss Piggy.

N is for number of piercings: 2 ears only, but for some reason I thought it was cool to say I wanted my belly button pierced in like 8th grade. I think because a friend had it done. Thankfully, it wasn’t a true desire.

O is for overnight hospital stays: 3, one to two nights for each of my kiddos

P is for people you were with today: Steve, Conner, Matthew, Alisa and unless someone makes a rare home appearance, I don’t expect that to change I the next few hours

Q is for what you do with your quiet time: Reading….books, blogs

R is for biggest regret: Almost anything I have ever felt regret for, might have drastically or not so drastically changed where my life would be today (i.e. Med school, not working for the man, etc) I wouldn’t trade where I am for any of those experiences so I guess I live a regret free life

S is for status: Married for almost 6 years to a fabulous guy who I love intellectually, spiritually and physically

T is for time you woke up today: which time? I think we finally dragged ourselves out of bed at 9:30

U is for what you consider unique about yourself: Unfortunately, I am a conformist. Maybe what is unique about that is that I like being a conformist but if possible, I am a conformist with some pretty strong opinions that I don’t mind vocalizing even when people disagree….so maybe I am not so much of a conformist as I think,

V is for vegetable you love: All, except brussel sprouts. I love mushrooms, and asparagus and fresh steamed broccoli or cauliflower. And salad greens of all kinds (except those ones that look like a weed), onions, garlic, spaghetti squash, zucchini, peppers…..etc.

s for worst habit: Letting my messes pile up until they are no longer messes but chaotic disasters

X is for x-rays you've had: Elbow

Y is for yummy food you ate today: Banana bread

Z is for zodiac: um, I am not sure. I think Aquarius or whatever that one is.

Fun times with Grandma

2008-06-15T21:44:00.000-06:00

Babies and Cookies

2008-06-08T22:00:00.002-06:00

Here is a sample conversation I overheard between Steve and Conner.

"So Conner, what do you think of your little brother? Is he neat?"

"Yeah."

"How come?"

"'Cause he looks like me."

"And he is kinda peaceful huh?"

"Yeah, and he smells good. Like cookies. Smell him."

What Nana wants...Nana gets

2008-06-07T11:23:00.003-06:00

I had a request from Nana for more pics of the babe.

Since Nana is far away...I guess Nana gets what she wants!

Connerisms

2008-06-02T13:12:00.000-06:00

Matthew is jaundiced and we had to go to the hospital to check his bili levels. My aunt works there so we decided to stop and visit her since she hadn't seen Matthew yet. I said, we will just "peek our heads in" or something to that effect and Conner said,

"Mom, why not our whole bodies?"

Yes indeed, why not!

New Arrival

2008-05-31T11:56:00.004-06:00

Welcome to the world.

Matthew Coey is here.

He was 7 lbs 10 oz.

Mom is doing good.

Dad is doing good.

And big brother is great!

Procrastination Queen

2008-05-26T14:54:00.001-06:00

Every time I check my blog I think about all these posts that I need to do. Not for anyone's reading pleasure but to keep up with our lives since I don't scrap or journal like I should!

Pics of Steves play
Conner's soccer
A belly pic of me
Conners preschool graduation
Father and Sons campout
Preschool cowboy day
Furniture and cleaning (too bad I didn't take better before and after pics)
Etc. etc.

And I think oh, I will do it tomorrow.

I have one problem...only one tomorrow left until baby day so I guess I better finally do it today!

Preschool graduation

2008-05-26T14:51:00.003-06:00

It was an exciting day to watch my baby have a "preschool graduation". I was a little sad because we didn't get very good pics inside.

But it was quite darling. They sang songs about everything they had learned that year. One for letters. One for numbers. One for manners. One for opposites...etc. etc.

Conner made a new best little friend too...his name is Nicholas.

Steve and Conner first

2008-05-26T14:45:00.006-06:00

Here it is...a first for both my boys...and a first for me...and a first for our christmas gift.
My dad invited Conner to go to his father and sons campout. So away they went.

They took our new Christmas tent because bompa, nate and Jordan were going too...and thanks to Bompa and Bomma in the first place...ours was the biggest tent. I heard that Conner was really excited to sleep in the tent. And best of all he told me "Mom, the sleeping bags have pillows." Don't ask me...but at any rate he thought it was great.

Conner had been begging Bompa to take him fishing. The only thing Conner caught was a tick!

Mom thankfully survived the worry of who was going to fall in the creek (Conner) or burn themselves with scout water (Steve)...
Thanks grandpa for the invite!

Cowboy day

2008-05-26T14:42:00.002-06:00

At preschool they had a cowboy day. Conner said, "But mom, I want to be darth vader." I said, "at halloween"....

He was excited after we found this getup.

Conners Soccer

2008-05-26T14:38:00.004-06:00

Conner played soccer again this year and loved it!

He also loved having dad as coach. Here is a pic of part of the team.

Play visitors

2008-05-26T14:34:00.002-06:00

We had a lot of people come and support Steve in the play.

I wish we could have gotten pics of everyone with him. Because this was kind of fun.

Conner went twice, once with Bomma and bompa and once with Benji's family and Hadley and Hunter and Rozy and Gma Dorothy.

I went three times. Once with my family, once with Steve's family and then the last night with Conner.

Here's a few pics assembled together!

Counting down..

2008-05-20T22:04:00.003-06:00

I should post a pic of my belly. But I don't know if I am brave enough. Maybe if we cut off my head so I don't have to admit it was me at some later date!
With less than two weeks to go until my due date...I am beginning to feel pregnant.

But that could be because my internal furnace decided to kick in on the hottest days of the year so far...causing sleep to be most elusive especially since I was feeling too cheap to turn on the A/C. I did change my mind about that last night though and slept much improved with my A/C blasting.

Or maybe it is because none of my pants want to stay up. It is very exhausting to keep pulling my pants up...all day long. Yesterday I wore a pair of Steve's basketball shorts and a big t-shirt---all day--it was quite a relief just in the energy required to keep ones pants up. I think he has 5 or 6 pairs so I could probably get away with not washing AND being comfortable for another week or two. As long as I didn't care too much how I looked.

Then again, it could be the frequent, but alas not regular contractions. Or the constant trips to the bathroom, yet again.

At any rate, if I am lucky and keep dilating a little on my own, the doctor said he would start me a couple of days early. That would mean next week (ahhh, don't know if I am ready) I would know at my appt tomorrow but he was totally full so I have to wait until Friday to decide about induction. Silly doctors that only work 3 days a week.

I have had inductions with both my other kids. One was a breeze...the other, not so much. So the induction part doesn't make me nervous. However, I would rather wait a couple of days if it makes a difference between repeating the first scenario or the second.

Wish us luck!

Happy Endings

2008-05-06T21:48:00.002-06:00

We (and I use that term most generously even though Steve was the only "official" participant) are done with the play.

I have now regained my role as Steve's "feather duster."

Conner is happy to have daddy home, preferably without his French accent.

And I am grateful to not have a dilemma every night about whether or not I should go to bed so I am not a cranky wife or stay up and be a more supportive wife ...

Hopefully there will be pics to come! Thanks to all of you who came and supported us (there's that plural term again)!

Connerisms and Steve's play

2008-05-04T16:18:00.003-06:00

Well, we are down to the last show of Steve's play. It is tomorrow night.
Steve's family came and went to it on Friday night. We had a fun time and Conner was proud of himself for taking care of baby Evie and I was proud of him for staying home to do it!

We had more adventures into the "frankness" of young children and I think I am safe to tell the following story because I don't think the person in it has the internet and everyone else who does is smart enough to just read and giggle and then not pass it along.
Steve's grandparents came earlier in the day and played with Conner. We they got out of the car. There was the traditional rumblings coming from Grandma. After a few minutes of this, Conner came over and not so quietly whispered, "Mom, I think she has gas." I quickly tried to quietly explain that that happens sometimes and that he should just go play.

At this point, we had quite a few people at our house, including my two brothers, sister and dad who were there to help my sister move home for the summer. Apparently, Conner and my little brother were close when again the rumblings started. He told my brother, "Don't worry. I just don't think she knows how to say 'excuse me'."

Finished product

2008-04-29T09:27:00.001-06:00

So Steve starts the show with a wig, instead of a candle head and ends the show the same way, so thankfully someone took some pics of him with his candle head while he was backstage.

I am sure everyone is just dying to see them :)

Latex and goop

2008-04-25T10:53:00.003-06:00

So Steve got the lovely privilege of having his face entirely covered by latex so they could make a plaster of paris mold to make him a melting candle head.

Sounds slightly claustrophobic to me. Ok so I wouldn't have been able to go through with it. He didn't seem to mind at all...so he says!

But here are some pics. I will take a finished picture of him, once he actually gets to put it on.

Most of my comments should be posts

2008-04-24T21:41:00.001-06:00

Is there a way to get all the essays I pass off as comments on other blogs to just turn into posts on my own?

Usually I read someone else's blog and it sparks something I want to remember or something I feel strongly about or want to respond to...but rather than stealing their idea and posting it myself, I just turn my comment into a big long wanna-be post.

I don't mean to when I start commenting...but by the time I am done, well, let's just say that I wouldn't be offended if they told me they hadn't finished reading it.

This happened to me twice today, hence the following two posts....they are mostly so I can remember these things about myself...my slightly pious mother to one child-rearing tactics and my thoughts about my wedding ring.
In fact, one is an exact copy of something I left on a friend's blog in her "quest" to find ideas for discipling...and yes, I actually posted all of that as if I knew what I was talking about or something :)

My wedding ring

2008-04-24T21:16:00.004-06:00

In response to a friend's blog about how she didn't really baby her wedding ring

I am with you, or at least I think I would be if I ever wore mine. Sad huh?

I babied it when we were first married, and I still don't like to make bread in it, mostly because mine has obvious crevices which are a pain to get the dough out of and very obvious if I don't.

I also took it off to baby my firstborn, not the ring, but because I was so terrified to scratch him. But just while he was little.

In fact, I almost lost my diamond into a poopy diaper once. I really should have lost it. My prongs were completely bent away and I just happened to glance at my hand in time to quickly pull my hand away from the mess. I striped the ring right then and finished changing the diaper. Thankfully Conner didn't run away in the process.

After I got it fixed, (it had to have a completely new head and this time we went for the thicker prongs instead of the ones that went with the design of the ring), it was gorgeous again. It is amazing what happens to a knife edged platinum band that has been polished after being abused for a couple of years. The pic above shows it with the tiny, skinny, faux double prongs, which because I don't baby my ring, I no longer have on mine.

Thankfully, I have never had to remove it during pregnancy because of swelling or anything.

I have had it cleaned a few times, but nothing regular.

I absolutely love my ring. Steve picked it out entirely by himself. He only asked which diamond cuts I preferred. It was elegantly simple, or at least I thought so. He even knew to get me a solitaire setting. And then he surprised me in the temple with the matching band, which I didn't think I needed/wanted, until he surpised me with it and I knew it was perfect.

So why don't I wear it so often? I am not sure. I got out of the habit when it bugged me while I was sleeping during this pregnancy and then I would forget to put it back on. So now I run around wearing no ring at least half the time. Least you worry that I might have some dude try to hit on me, you needn't....because currently I am a bulbous, large as a barge pregnant lady and for the last couple of weeks at least, wearing no contacts and no makeup, looking most days like I have been run through the wash...

Maybe I will remind myself to put it back on when I feel a little more worthy of its "simple elegance".

Childrearing soap box

2008-04-24T21:14:00.002-06:00

IN RESPONSE TO ANOTHER MOM'S PLEA FOR HELP....here I come with my "supermom" soapbox!

I think you would be surprised what they understand and don't understand, even if it is just on their level.
A couple of tricks that seemed to work for us ....at the risk of sounding like I am up on some soapbox....

1. Try distraction first because often they are just really curious. But there were times when I knew that Conner knew he wasn't supposed to do something and thats when we had to look for other tactics.
2. Be consistent (I am totally perfect at that! haha!) If it is not ok right now to climb on chairs and there is a consequence involved, then it is not ok tomorrow or in five minutes either.
3. Remove them from the situation. I wasn't a huge fan of timeouts in their rooms, especially because that is supposed to be their space and it is supposed to be peaceful. But it did work to remove him from the situation and just hold Conner as still as possible in my lap. After saying "No, we don't do this..." then I didn't say anything else and we had to be still. There is nothing worse than to make a little boy be still. When he got big enough to understand, we switched to a time out stool. And only if he wouldn't stay on the stool, then we took him to a confined space.

3. Pick your battles. Is it dangerous? Or will they ruin or break something important? If not, decide if you want to deal with it every day because it sometimes takes a while for it to sink in that mom is serious about something.

4. Use agency. Even when they are small, they can be taught that every action has a consequence, good or bad and often they don't get to choose the consequence. In fact, I think that is a large reason that children do what they do. They are trying to figure out how things or people or their bodies or whatever respond to what they do....climbing, pushing buttons, tantrums, dumping stuff out, all of those usually have immediate consequences.

I hope I can teach Conner to make good decisions, and then know that he is responsible for what happens afterward. I think that is the best thing I can do when "discipling" so I also try to remember to say sorry if I was too harsh or loud or abrupt or whatever (happens more when they start thinking and then verbalizing their distaste)

5. Teach them coping tactics to calm themselves (deep breaths, whatever...) or to use their words. Teach them it is ok to cry and be sad when necessary, but that pitching a fit just because your angry doesn't work and won't get them any more or less attention.

Yikes, I hope I can come back and read these again and all the other comments in a little while when we have a second "experiment" at our house...but I hope the principles are at least the same, even if the methods change a little! :)

Good luck! Just do it with love and you can't really go wrong, or at least not for long ;)

My Beloved

2008-04-18T14:22:00.000-06:00

I spend so much time blogging about Conner this or that or me this or that...Steve should just get his own blog to keep you all updated.

Since he hasn't, I guess it is my job.

Don't know much about him right now because he currently spends at least 3 hrs 3 nights a week at practice. But at least I know what he is doing at those practices, because Conner insists on going as often as possible.

What is he practicing?
1. His french accent
2. Holding his arms up
3. Pretending to be a candlestick

He is slated to be Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast opening next week.

We are all excited to go watch him. It starts April 25 (Friday) and runs Friday, Saturday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday (night and matinee) and then Monday again.

Then we get him back for the short while until church or work or something calls to him again! :)

Anyone near us should come check out the show. I think it should be pretty good!

Conners favorite love

2008-04-18T14:17:00.003-06:00

Soccer...

We started soccer again this week. The first game Conner didn't score any goals. He then told us that he didn't in the car on the way home. He also mentioned that the other team scored more goals than his team. Considering they are 3 and 4 year olds, most of the goals were probably accidental and I am fairly certain no one was counting besides him. We asked him if he blocked any goals and he brightened up to tell us about those.

The next game was "better" He scored two goals and blocked a whole bunch. And the other team accidentally gave him some of their treats (kind of hard to keep them separate when one team is wearing dark navy and the other black) but when I told him to take them back, they said he could keep them. So in his mind that was probably another score.

They are so fun to watch. Some of the kids get what is going on...some would pick dandelions if they grew out of the gym floor and some just chase all the other kids, oblivious to the ball.

But Conner loves it!

I feel yucky...sing to the "I feel pretty song"

2008-04-14T16:32:00.003-06:00

from West Side Story

I feel yucky
Oh so yucky
I feel yucky and gucky and gray

Ok, so maybe I better stop trying to be a lyricist.

7 weeks and counting.
But if I felt like moving my "yucky" self off the couch to take a pic I would show you that from shoulders down I feel totally fine. Strange considering I am pregnant.

But from shoulders up...well, that is the yucky part!

Diagnosis: Ear infection (really painful), pink eye (gucky), swollen tonsils, a minor headache (compared to the earache) - gray.....overall....quite yucky!

Treatment: 4 horse pills a day, eye drops 4x a day, tylenol as often as pregnant ladies are allowed, Popsicles, movies for Conner, dishes/dinner/etc. etc. etc. for Steve, and some blogging to hopefully distract and be able to whine a little

Conners Palate

2008-04-01T11:33:00.004-06:00

My son had the following choices for dinner last night...he just had to chose which vegetable he wanted. The choices are as follows including their alternate Conner-ese names:

Broccoli - trees
Cauliflower - tiny treats
Zucchini - zucchini
Asparagus - sticks

He chose: sticks.

Today, as I was on the computer, he went about his usual business of trying to find something to eat. It usually is something that he knows I will say no to, but since I am on the computer he tends to think I am a push-over or something. So he wanted a
toaster struddle - aka froodle. I said, no, those were for breakfast, yeah I know, they are "great" nutritionally . But next thing I know he is in the freezer and he pulls out something even more nutritionally sound. Cheese cake bites. You know the ones you buy at Sam's that come with like 60 little bits and 3 different flavors...and they make them small so you don't feel guilty eating them.

"Mom, what are these?" he says innocently. Like his little 4 year old mind can't recognize them as treats or something.

"Those are cheesecake bits" Hesitating, I have an internal mommy debate...these aren't any better or worse than froodles, but at least I wouldn't have to toast and frost it for him. "Would you like one?" I break down and say.

He of course brightens immediately and proceeds to eat two. His preference? The plain New York cheesecake ones.

He also tends to ask for/like (in a relative order of preference) salmon, strawberries, grapefruit (every morning for breakfast), steak, prime rib, other fish, fried shrimp, broccoli, cauliflower, grapes, crepes, baby carrots, mashed/baked potatoes, perfect cooked chicken, rice and in general any adult foods that are not mixed.

So my four year old has an adult palate you think?

Well, until you ask him what his favorite food is: Wendy's chicken nuggets, honey mustard, fries and ketchup...in that order.

New Fun book

2008-03-28T14:16:00.005-06:00

I just read two books this week that I thought were fun...I know, don't look at my laundry pile.

The first was "Perfecting Kate". It is from the "christian chick-lit" genre. But I appreciated it because I didn't realy have to worry about sex, language, etc. A tiny bit on the bible thumping side (as in, reference to the characters belief's were in every chapter).

The second was tons of fun. I read that it was a "fairy tale for modern times". It is darling because it is creative and clean. You can read a summary of the book here

For those of your who hate happy endings, any amount of predictability and a good dose of imagination, this book might not be for you. If however, you enjoy any degree of those things, I think you might really enjoy this book.

Happy reading!

P.S. I lied about the totally clean part of enchanted inc....well, actually, I just got thinking about it. There were a couple of times she called her boss the lovely "b" word, but I am still wracking my brain for other "blemishes"

The passing of a moment...

2008-03-25T17:03:00.002-06:00

You know how your first car always made you feel like you could conquer the world? Or at least something along those lines. It was like a passage to adulthood, a symbol of who you were (or weren't in some cases).

Well, my first car was a beautiful Honda Accord coupe. It was sporty, it was flirty/sassy, and it took me where ever I wanted to go. It also attracted my husband to me...just kidding. He just teases me that he thought he was getting some rich, spoiled daddy's girl until he realized I bought it myself. I was carefree and single and "NEEDED" this car to get me where I wanted to go.

That little honda is full of special moments. The moment my roommates and I wanted to go to a movie but no one else would drive because the roads were so treacherous. It was with me the moment I got my first (and only) speeding ticket. It took me on the "excruciatingly" long moments drive from Logan to Soda, through blurry tears to tell Steve not to leave (he did anyway, but that is a story for another day).

Well, that moment and many others have passed. It needed to pass when we first got our Taurus (about 5 years ago), and it didn't. It needed to pass again at various times since then. And it REALLY needed to pass about 6 months ago when we got our Sequoia. Especially since that meant we had three cars and two drivers and a much bigger car insurance bill than we wanted. At this point it really NEEDED to pass.

Today it finally passed. We sold my "first moments" behind the wheel to the lowest (at least that is how it felt to me) bidder....actually I am sure that no bid could have been high enough sentimentally....never mind that I have not actually driven it more than once in a blue moon for almost 4 years.

Good bye little Honda full of memories. We will miss your "bark". Your "chirp" and the latest "honk". Hello Sequoia. I am sure we will "tank" in many ways more than one, our way through motherhood's moments!

Speed typing

2008-03-21T15:36:00.003-06:00

295 words

Speed test

So I don't know how accurate this is...however, it did say that I ranked #41 out of 1256330 tests so far. How could I not with 295 words/minute?!?

I always was a fast typer, but these are super easy words with hardly any punctuation or capitalization.

You should try I guess!

Sad day

2008-03-21T10:46:00.003-06:00

We were having such a good week and then Conner woke up with a "Mom, my tummy hurts." I mean, what mom likes to hear that phrase. It is more likely that they dread it.

Sure enough, his tummy had troubles all day. But that didn't stop him from sneaking in some not-on-the-B.R.A.T-diet-approved-list-for-tummy-days foods. Like um, well, let's see.....strawberries, and a frosted sugar cookie (word to the wise-do not allow your children to have anything colored with blue or green food coloring on a tummy trouble day). Could I get him to eat toast or bananas or even drink soda? Not so much.

We are grateful to the library for providing us a plethora of random movies (Wonder Pets, Thomas, TMNT (the original), etc) and to Redbox for providing "Enchanted" so this mom didn't go stir crazy with kid show overload.

Today, is thus far starting out better and he actually slept through the night, or at least what most of you would think of a night. Since he woke up at quarter to seven, this mom felt that her "night" had been deprived by an hour or two.

To wear or not to wear...makeup that is

2008-03-12T23:12:00.005-06:00

So I read on a guy's blog about how most women look better with makeup and how he wondered why some did or did not wear it. You can read his post here. Don't forget to check the comments they are the best part. I thought nothing of it. I still thought nothing of it when Steve read it later and mentioned it to me (it is his friend from high school's blog). But then I saw it on Danae's blog. She typically gets 30+ comments on almost every post and she had listed this post and told everyone to weigh in on this question. So then I was curious. Sure enough at the time there were 31 comments. So I posted mine....it goes something like this...

Ok, Tyler..I am sure you didn't mean to open a can of worms, but Danae's regular subscribers seem to have come out in force...in fact, I didn't comment the first time I read it, or the second time when Steve read it and told me about it, and would probably have been content to leave it had there not been some many other interesting comments :)

Well applied, makeup looks good on almost anyone. But this is a "social" perspective. I mean, remember when "rouge" or other makeup was a sign of a prostitute or a lady of ill-repute. So of course, if we all lived then, we would rather die than leave our house WITH makeup.

This has obviously changed some. My personal reasons for wearing/not wearing makeup are thus: Please don't think less of me for showering at different intervals than the standard 24 hr cycle....sometimes it is less, or more...
1. I don't have a morning routine. Ask any of my old roommates or my husband. It is just as likely that I will roll out of bed and get dressed as it is that I will "makeup" my face or hair for that matter. Since this is random (not 50/50, just random), whether I am wearing makeup or not depends entirely upon whether I was wearing it the day before and whether or not I showered or washed my face the night before...I know, remind me when I 40 or 50 about how I should have taken better care of my skin...
2. I am going to go with your sisters in that it is nice to know that I do not think less of myself (image) if I am not wearing it...but in direct contrast, I do think more of myself when I am.
3. If I am leaving my house to impress, you better be sure I will have makeup on (even if it is touched up 'residual' stuff)
4. If not...well, I hope I don't scare anyone else too bad...but more than likely they are just wondering if their makeup looks ok considering mine is so terrible :) and I am ok with that.
5. As for inside my house, well, my husband can start his own blog and tell you what he and my four year old think is the answer to my personal "To wear or not to wear question"
6. P.S. I am turning this comment into a post and sending it out there on my own blog...which I should have done in the first place and just left a link in the comments.
So now it is your turn? To wear or not to wear?

A post in support of blogs

2008-03-07T20:11:00.003-07:00

Even my mom said she noticed I hadn't updated. Jamie says I need to tell more about Conner and well, to be honest, I have thought about posting but not really had much to blog about.

So here goes....I think I have a few good reasons for blogs. Notice I didn't say "validating reasons" for all the time spent....just good reasons

We went to gma's the last couple of days. So we could see "Baby Rylie' which I think she will always be called and so I could go to a get together with my old roommates. Thanks Jamie for sharing your home with us. It was fun to see everyone and have yummy food and treats. We missed you Shannon.
Reason #1: To anonymously sneak peeks on random people
I totally couldn't remember some of the guys we lived by (Jamie's husbands old roomies). And one in particular who brought forth a collective groan/oh yeah..type moment for everyone else. As if it hadn't occurred to any of them to give him the slightest thought but unfortunately, once mentioned, his 'persona' couldn't be erased from memory or something like that. I mean, what am I? Brain-dead or pregnant? Drew a complete blank. It took checking out one of their blogs to bring it all back. Thank heavens we can sneak peeks on random people.

Reason #2: Have connections in our lives without extra effort
Also, it was funny to realize that I haven't actually had a "conversation" as in using voices, not even on the phone with any of them except one and yet I still felt caught up in all their lives (except Annie who I hear is working on getting her blog going).

Apparently, this is why we all love blogs...I mean, besides the chance to stand up and post the best/worst/most mundane moments of our lives!

Earth shake....

2008-02-21T16:09:00.002-07:00

So I have lived a lot of different places in my lifetime. And now I live along a fault line and have lived along this fault line multiple times and years in my life. But never have I felt an earthquake here...

I have felt big ones in Alaska and California, and little ones in Idaho...The big one in Alaska almost knocked my mom down the stairs. In California, it "waved" the house for about a minute.

So this morning when I was literally woken up by an "earth shake" I thought it was a big one or at least a close one.

Imagine my surprise when I heard it was not small, but not huge and that it was quite a ways away. I mean, it WOKE me up. That doesn't happen very often.

It's time

2008-02-10T13:30:00.000-07:00

I have been waiting to make this announcement for multiple reasons. I think by listing the reasons, I might not have to make the announcement. Oh, and I guess a lot of your got our Christmas card and don't need any other announcement ... anyways, you'll probably figure it out.

First, I was super excited to tell the world when we first found out but I was a little early. Then I waited and got nervous, which leads to the next reason.
Second, I was hesitant to put this information out to the big wide world, scared of some crazy I guess.
Third, I wanted to wait until the ultrasound to make sure everything was alright. Especially considering our situation with Bella.
Fourth, I have now worked through all the reasons and have mostly just been lazy.

And the announcement is.....

It's another boy!

First Projects

2008-02-08T11:58:00.000-07:00

I was at my mom's when I got my new toy

Thankfully she has literally huge rubbermaids full of scrap material. So I decided a new apron for conner was in order.

I had an idea for a pattern from one of mine that I got as a shower gift when I got married and never had any need for until the post-children drop (aka suddenly spilling more than I ever had before). This is appropriate because I am apparently setting a good clean cook example for Conner because he insists on wearing his every time he helps. Unfortunately, the one grandma made 2 Christmases ago was a little small and always drooped a little too low around the neck.

So I cut a pattern out of newspaper. And proceeded to fake like I knew what I was doing. Thankfully my mom was there to save me from any necessary or unnecessary seam ripping.

Here is the finished product, modeled by the handsome and charming Conner and sorry to cut of his head and no he is not flipping you off, he is showing you his bandaid.

I was pretty excited at it's turn out. It is reversible front to back and inside out (kind of).

It made me think of Polly. Steve's sister. She is a self-professed bum-wipe cook...no nothing vulgar, she just can't really use traditional styled aprons because she always wipes her hands on her backside or back legs, habit she says. So I wanted to make her one that was extra long in the back and extra wide for her hands to wipe on. But I didn't have an adult model for the pattern so instead I tried making a smaller one for my niece.

It turned out darling as well.

Materials needed:
1/2 - 1 yd fabric in at least 2 colors, depending on size you want to make.
double fold bias tape

The basic instructions: (for me to remember as much as for anyone else to use):
1. Cut a similar shaped pattern out of newspaper (I actually cut half of it on the fold and then it was symmetrical). Some basic measurements to help get started are from top of shoulder to waist (where you want it to tie) and from waist to where you want it to hit. Then across the chest as wide as you need it. And across one shoulder for how wide you want the straps.
2. If the pattern is the size you want, cut it out four times on any kind of material you want to use. I just used light weight cotton/cotton blends. So that all pieces are the same shape. Once again use the fold to make it symmetrical. Set aside.
3. Cut four strips about 2.5 to 3" wide and the length that you want. These are for the side ties. Fold right sides together and sew the length and across one width. Then turn them inside out and iron flat.
4. Lay out two of your pattern pieces, right sides together and sew across the top at the straps. This should create a hole for the head and neck. Repeat with the other two pieces. This creates the front and back of the apron. Lay them out right sides together on top of each other, matching the seams at the shoulder that you just sewed.
5. Slip the four ties (step#3) in between the two pieces at the place you want it to tie. Make sure they are straight out and the seams on the ties point to the bottom. And pin them in place.
6. Pin the whole thing, making sure sides and bottoms line up as well as possible.
7. Sew around the whole apron, leaving the neck area open.
8. Turn it inside out. You should now have all the seams inside and the right sides of the material out. the side ties should also be out.
9. Iron flat.
10. Finish stitch all around the outside, close to the edge. I used a zig-zag because I could and because it expanded my sewing in a straight line skills :)
11. Finish the neck with your bias tape. I like the extra wide double fold because it is a lot easier and I don't have to pin it.
12. Viola...it is finished!

New Sewing Machine

2008-02-08T11:27:00.000-07:00

For my birthday my mom bought me a new sewing machine. It is very simple. And by simple I mean, that I know how to sew straight lines and the sewing machine is good to me when I do. I do believe that it might do a buttonhole, or change stitches, but I wouldn't know what I would need those things for...so this is perfect for me a beginning sewer.

That being said, I need some projects. Please leave comments with links, or send me an email with your ideas or projects. I love projects (aprons, totes, quilts, pajama pants etc.) Things that can be done in a day and are relatively inexpensive.

In less than a week I have wanted to sew every day. However, I feel slightly limited (or spoiled) from my mom and mother-in-laws homes. I think I had the following before this week:
1-2 spool thread,
a small needle
some crochet threads,
crochet needles
seam ripper - used once on something that was not sewn by anyone I know

Not such a great list when you want to work on a sewing machine and actually complete a project.
This week I have gone and bought a few essentials...
- sewing scissors (although they are not ginghers because my visiting teacher who makes custom wedding gowns told me to wait until they go on sale)-good thing too because I thought $40 was a little steep for scissors
- three spools thread 2 white and one black - these can be added to my grey and brown one - i Know, quite the collection, I am sure you are all jealous
- some bias tape for the aprons I will show pics of in another post - comment for the easy pattern
- Fabric, who would have thought you need that?- way to go Walmart and Joann's for their $1-$2 yd fabric for a beginner to practice on

What I need from my readers (those of you who actually ever read this):

1. Ideas for projects and their info
2. Ideas on how to expand my sewing tools for cheap - stores, coupons, web links, etc. Wish list includes gingher scissors, rotary cutter and rulers (I have a mat unused before this), one of those insider-out wire tool thingys, fabrics, project patterns, I don't want much do I?
3. Suggestions for tools I might need that I didn't know I might need.

I've Been Tagged

2008-02-05T09:43:00.000-07:00

I usually skip reading this on other people's blogs unless they are interesting or I am bored (sad huh?) But I think they are fun for writting abour yourself...isn't that what blogs are for?

SO here goes...
A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.
B. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 fellow bloggers.

10 years ago: What was I doing ten years ago? I was a junior in high school sending off a missionary and trying to start dating someone else. Let's just say I was a little boy oriented (I won't say crazy) in high school. I also was loving volleyball, show choir and the other standard (by standard I mean small town) high school fair.

5 things on my to-do list today: 1. Laundry. 2. Laundry. 3. Laundry...can I use it for all five? Or should I shake it up a bit? 4. Shower 5. Make the breakfast casserole for dinner that I have been craving for 3 days and have forgotten to make every day (technically it is supposed to go in the fridge overnight for breakfast but for some reason I have wanted it for dinner, go figure)

Snacks I enjoy: Nacho Doritos, Chips and Salsa (Pace picante mild...closer to spaghetti sauce for some, but a staple for me. I buy it in bulk at Sam's), chocolate (Symphony, Lindt truffles, choco chips, Reese peanut butter cups-only the small ones just the right combo of peanut butter and chocolate),

Things I would do if I were suddenly made a a billionaire: I am fairly certain that I don't comprehend that much money, but I can think of a current wish lish that could get me started...at least in the buy segment. I am sure I would find some savvy investor somewhere who could tell me how to diversify my portfolio so that no one I knew would ever have to work again. And then we would work anyway, somewhere we liked. But I don't think I would want my kids to know. For a start I would probably learn to fly and buy a small plane that I could fly to Nana and Papa's to save me the drive. But then I might be expected to go more than we do now...oh the tradeoffs. Next a nice and by nice, I THINK I would still be reasonable, home here and somewhere fun or a couple of fun somewheres. All new furniture, but I am afraid I would be required to keep our terrible looking circa 1960s turquoise velveteen couch that Steve can do a full superman on and still not touch the edges. Pay off our four-plex and probably buy some more apartments.

3 of my bad habits: 1. Procrastination. I don't really like to work under pressure but I tend to do it anyway, so Dr Laura would probably say that I like it 2. I'm a pile person. Piles of papers, clothes, toys, etc. Even if things have a home, they struggle to make it there, and probably half of it could be thrown out. Danae, please don't visit our home. 3. I tend to shower and get ready when required and not before. Not always true, but I hate getting ready. It seems to waste such valuable time. I have improved since high school when I would roll out of bed and jump in the car when I heard my ride honk. Now at least I will shower if not wet/wash my hair. Please don't judge!

Jobs I have had: Independant court reporter, safety "girl", yes they called me that, at a dirt factory, classroom facilitator for distance ed, Accounting intern for North Atlantic, mom/household CEO

Things people don't know about me: 1. I am bothered by my perceived two facial imperfections, one is my crooked lip which came by falling on my face at my ice skating lesson when I was 10. The other is my smaller eye which I believe started once when I woke up with my eye swollen shut from a bug bite or something. 2. I have never watched a TV series more than a handful of times. I am just not that into it. I think the most times I have ever watched a series was Full House when I was growing up and the first season of the Biggest Loser where we watched like every other one. 3. I don't really let on about what is bothering me. My mom used to have to pry it out and Steve is good to just let me cry, sometimes he even falls asleep waiting for me to tell him something, but he doesn't mind if I wake him back up when I am ready to talk. And yes, he stays awake.

I guess I could tag some people. Kristin, Kylene, Ashley and who ever else feels a need to write up every tag that comes along.

A Week Of Mourning

2008-02-02T16:20:00.000-07:00

( If the Ensign photographers can take this pic...so can I!..yup its Conner) photo by Steven Hanson

Emily is busy so I guess I get to blog!
Being here in Utah we get the great opportunity of having news coverage of this great Prophet every day. So I convinced Emily to go down and experience Pres. Hinckley's Spirit one more time. Our trip took a bit over 3 hours and some change. SO worth it though, what an experience...as one lady said "it was like heaven"...I'd have to agree. The pictures just show our stops on the way through the Conference Center, First (2:30p.m.)zig-zagging through the pavilion out side. Then winding through the pillars of the second floor. Third, sitting through the whole recording of Pres. Hinckley's 95th birthday program in the Conference Center (2hours). finally, Going up the "Escalators" (Conner's main attraction)to the "Hall of the Prophets". Everyone was so reverent and kind. It was amazing to feel the difference when turned the final corner to head into the "Hall". It was literally a solid line of people going through to see him ...no real breaks . Would have done it over if I had the chance.

When we got out, the line was ten times as long as what it was when we got there (6:15p.m.ish). I guess they kept the doors open till the last person wanted to go through..which was around 11:30...amazing.

Is it just me, or has the departure of this great Prophet sealed his testimony making everything he has said that more powerful? Or is it like the saying goes...you never know how great something is until you loose it. What an example of Him he is.

Just a quick note or observation. Did anyone else notice the "earth's" reaction of this passing and how it was during the Funeral?

Changes...

2008-01-30T20:09:00.001-07:00

I am having an internal debate. To lock up the blog or not to lock up the blog....

It would seem that half of my blogging buddies are doing it. Maybe for good reason, maybe they are paranoid, I don't know. Also, I know some readers, Steve, my mom, steves mom, and other unknowns are not regular bloggers but they like to keep up with our blog and locking it up would be kind of annoying for them...
So I am asking for everyone's two cents about this issue...in helping me decide what to do.

My biggest concerns are as follows:

If I could control what was said about my blog everywhere else, then maybe I would leave my blog public. But unfortunately I can't. Since I can't control pertinent information like last names, living locations, web links, due dates, birthdays, etc., I decided I better make my blog private. Some may think this is paranoid (maybe I am), but it makes me feel better about what kind of info I am posting out the great wide void. Mostly things about my kids. I feel bad that this adds another step....

my solution...get a gmail account and do all your blog browsing on the reader function. It is fabulous (thanks Nikkala for alerting me to it). No more clicking the links and then the back button. It just alerts you to anything new on any website you are interested in! Saves a lot of time, but that is a soapbox post for another day...

Anyway, ....
please leave a comment answering the "to lock or not to lock?" question!..." I am quite curious...

President Hinckley

2008-01-27T20:31:00.000-07:00

The prophet of my church, the one who has been prophet for all of my adult life and most of my formative years died today. Although I am sad, I can't help but rejoice that he and his sweet wife, who it was obvious that he loved, are reunited and that the burdens he must have carried, being 97 and president of a 13 million member church, have been exchanged for the peace of a job well done.

I am grateful for the knowledge of our church has of where we go after life and the joys that can be ours. For more info, you can see www.mormon.org or www.lds.org

I have a testimony of prophets on the earth today and of the fullness of truths that were restored through Joseph Smith.

Love to all at this time.

Whistler

2008-01-26T19:08:00.000-07:00

My little guy can whistle. It is so cute and the first thing he tried to whistle was the theme from Star Wars.

Yes, he has seen it, but we only stuck with the very first one. He really wants to watch the other ones, but I am a little nervous about the content and his comprehension.

Mostly he loves Darth Vader, because of Lego Star Wars.

I really want to ...

2008-01-06T16:11:00.000-07:00

...put up a new banner, but for some reason we didn't take ANY pictures in CA and so I am waiting for a CD from Steve's dad. Actually, I know the reason. Steve's dad has a fancy Nikon and all the fancy lenses to boot, and it comes virtually everywhere...so nobody takes pics with their own cameras...we just all take pics with the fun to shoot camera. Except Conner, who got a new Spiderman camera for Christmas. He took a plethora of pics. His camera only held 24 pics though so we ended up deleting a lot and unfortunately, the shutter speed is a bit on the slow side so I am not sure if he ever held still long enough to get one that isn't blurry...In the mean time, I am afraid if I put the old stuff back up, it might never get a new banner, because at least the Christmas one feels out of date.

Please excuse the Christmas Banner

2008-01-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

I have much to blog and more important, I need to remove the Christmas banner and get something else up there.

But first, I have a to-do list...you know, the ones that you make thinking you will get twice as much done as you actually do. But nevertheless, I am going to try before I get to sit down and catch up on blogging. There was no high-speed internet where we spent most of our Christmas vacation so I am really behind!

Here is my list:
1. Unpack suitcases and sort laundry
2. Start laundry, maybe even get it all done today :)
3. Clean up random stuff that was brought in from the car and left to sit in various places around the house.
4. Check to make sure I didn't leave any bills unpaid before we left and pay any new ones.
5. Finish Kristin and baby Evie's quilt. Seeing as baby Evie made her appearance on Jan 1, the same day I was finishing up the binding...only the hand stitched edges (the longest part besides the quilting) to go. In a strange way, it makes me slightly grateful for the colds we have so we couldn't go immediately down, because my fingers would have to fly faster than they know how. Poor Conner, he was begging to go down and see her as soon as he heard.
6. Make dinner/grocery list because otherwise we won't have too much in the way of vittles here at our house. We did make it to the grocery store on New Years eve to get milk and eggs and Steve picked up some produce yesterday, so I guess we have the essentials.
7. Go write down the mileages in all the cars, for tax purposes.
8. Sort my filing cabinet actually stack as piles on top so I can get a head start on taxes. I am afraid Steve's records are a little less user friendly than the ones I kept last year.
9. Take Christmas table cloth off, wash and put with Christmas decor so it can all go back in the closet.
10. Ready, set go!

Christmas Joys

2007-12-19T20:55:00.001-07:00

At first I thought I might end up being a Scrooge between these two posts. And then I realized that even on a very "lite" level, joys were easier to come up with.

1. Wrapping presents. I love making the ends look pretty, the wrapping paper match up and the more ribbons and curls the better. When we go to CA, I help my mother-in-law wrap hers because she has quite a few, and if I didn't know better, I would think she waits to wrap them all until a few days before Christmas. I vaguely recall my father-in-law 'mumbling' about opening the stupid ribbons the first year I helped out.
2. Christmas tree lights. I love to put up lots of lights IN my house and then turn off all the regular lights and just sit on the couch.
3. Christmas music and singing around the piano with my mom and aunt. We sound particularly 'prima donna' ish when we sing The Forgotten Carols. Mom, have you got Shannon one of her own books of that yet?
4. Putting up the nativities and making them look just right, even though I only have a handful. Conner loves to help arrange the pieces too.
5. Christmas smells. I got a new Cinnamon candle this year that I really like.
6. White Christmas movie - enough said. Conner is a ditto.
7. Homemade fudge.
8. Dropping off Christmas goodies...I know, I know. I am slightly hypocritical. Its ok for me to pawn off my junk, but not everyone else.
9. New this year...Gingerbread houses with Lauralee.
10. Driving around to see lights.
11. Acting out the nativity. The most fun is when small children dress up. We always fought over who got to be the Angel. My dad was the donkey, complete with dress socks on his ears.
12. Finding a steal on something you thought you would have to pay more for.
13. Reading the newletters and Christmas cards. I love "newsy" info, not such a fan of travel itineraries. Always read through all my moms. She keeps them in a basket.
14. Hanging up the Christmas cards. It is fun to see all the friends we have made.
15. Watching Conner and Steve open gifts. This is so fun for me. Actually, I love to watch anyone open the gifts I have given them. I get all nervous and I want to tell them all my thought process. For some reason, all that thought makes the silly present seem a lot more valuable and I guess I just get anxious for them to understand.
16. Family get togethers.

Christmas Woes

2007-12-19T20:42:00.001-07:00

The rule is that my next post is Christmas joys and it has to be longer and more meaningful than Christmas woes.
1. Packed parking lots, long return lines, even longer check-out lines.
2. For me, a not very good surprise artist, trying to surprise the main act himself and make it something that he goes, wow..., tricky...
3. Wondering if you got gifts for everyone that you should have.
4. Wanting to have gotten "more" (in no way a $ amt or # amt) for someone and still not sure how to do that.
5. The dreaded drop offs. I think we will miss most of these this year. Hopefully someone will pick up the plates from our front step. And the only ones that have come have been quite pleasant. I just don't usually like what is dropped off and half the time it is from someone I missed on my own list. No drop offs for me this year. We did a teaching Conner service banana bread FHE in November instead.
6. Nasty tape cutter cuts from the nastiest scotch wanna-be tape ever that I still have in bulk amounts from 3 years ago. take that back...good tape, terrible METAL cutter.
7. Running out of the real scotch tape that I bought to replace said wanna-bes.
8. Wondering if I have missed some one on my Christmas card list (almost a given every year)
9. Wanting to indulge our "only" child and wanting to help him understand what Christmas really is

New Nativity

2007-12-04T20:42:00.000-07:00

I grew up with my mom collecting Nativity scenes. She has some from various countries and then lots of different ones that I am sure were made in the USA via China. Glass, plastic, wood, ceramic, paper, framed, fabric, even flowerpots. In her old house, she had plenty of display space all over the house. And they were literally all over the house. In the house they are in now, there is not as much display space, so she gave me one and I think I got one as a gift. And then Conner got one of the little people ones that he can play with, I think she might have been tired of worrying he might break some of the more fragile ones. She searched the net, stores, everywhere, for two years before she finally found a little people one. Then I think she bought 3 or so.

Well, today we were in Target taking Conner toy shopping and I came across a Playmobile one. Great toys especially if your kids like people or action figures and like putting things together. So I showed Steve and we bought it. At first, I thought, my mom would really appreciate this. But then when we got it home, and I remembered how much Conner liked Playmobiles. So we opened it up to look at it. The end result being that both he and I were so caught up in putting all the figures together that we kept it. It is darling and was a lot of fun...plus Conner can play with it.

New blog world

2007-11-27T18:11:00.000-07:00

So I love finding people I know who have blogs. Usually, I manage to find tons of people that Steve knows much better than me and their blogs. If they are male, then it is typically their wife's blog, aka his high school friends, New Horizons, etc. etc.

But today, I was really excited because I found friends of mine. This does not mean they weren't friends of Steve, just that for once they aren't my friends just because I met and married Steve.

It was exciting. I have decided that I need to break my side bar links down. Because it is getting pretty long!

Yay for blogs and helping slackers keep in touch!

Snow

2007-11-27T10:40:00.000-07:00

Well, Christmas can come. We are getting snow and Conner ran outside and yelled, "mom, it can be Christmas. It is snowing. We have a chimney mom?" He's anxious that Santa have a chimney. I told him no, but it was ok because we would be at Nana and Papa's and they have a chimney. Then he said, "but mom, they don't have snow." I told him Christmas could come anyway, even without snow. He said, "no, we better go to Bomma's. They have a chimney AND snow."

So there you have it. Sorry to disappoint. I figure its not that he doesn't want to go to Nana and Papa's. It just that since June he has been asking when Christmas will come and I have been telling him that it would come in the winter. And that winter was when the snow came. So apparently Christmas doesn't exist in his mind without snow!

In Honor of Thanksgiving

2007-11-23T22:57:00.000-07:00

I am grateful for family and that they have been given to me.

I am grateful for my husband.

I am grateful for my children.

I am grateful for my parents and for Steve's parents for raising us and supporting us in our own new family.

I am grateful for the temple that allows us to be together.

These are the things I am most grateful for today!

IN honor of THanksgiving - Day 6 and 7

2007-11-21T18:10:00.000-07:00

Well, I remembered when I was already in bed last night. But to ease my disappointment, I had at least thought of things I was thankful for....but of course I can't remember them all now.

I am grateful for bowling. I used to hate bowling and that was a passionate hate (just ask Nikki, Mel or Steve). But our family (extended) has spent some time doing it lately at family gatherings and I have come to be thankful for it. It gives us a chance to interact and watching Conner learn and grow from each time we have played has been so fun!

I am grateful for the timings of Steve's lastest closings. For those that don't know, he is self-employed as a real estate agent and so we have quite the income fluxuation. The last couple have been perfect timing for our family in many ways and I would be ungrateful if I didn't acknowledge that the Lord has a way of guiding our lives and also a way of really letting us know when He is.

I am also grateful for a clean toilet. Now don't get me wrong, it's not as if my toilets are usually dirty or anything. But I don't particularly get along with the toilet smell and cleaner smell together, especially lately. So Steve cleaned them both yesterday with perfect timing! Yeah for Steve!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone tomorrow. I am hoping to spend some time in reflection so that maybe this last gratitude attitude post can be a little more thoughtful and reflective!

In honor of Thanksgiving - Day 5

2007-11-19T20:28:00.000-07:00

Today I am grateful for FHE. I usually teach my primary class every other week. And then teach the same lesson at FHE the next night. Well, this time we hadn't made it through the lesson on Sunday so I wasn't quite sure what exactly worked best. It was neat because we were able to direct this particular lesson specifically for something that Conner needed to learn about and also something that he understood. Hopefully it will be something that sticks.

I am also thankful for a patient, creative husband who helped Conner take all the big foam letters and build a house (box) and then they played the Three little pigs. Only there was only one little pig and a big bad wolf.

I am also grateful for the beautiful weather today. Who ever heard of 66 degree weather the week of Thanksgiving? Not here, not me. It was gorgeous! And I felt good enough that we were able to spend time outside. What a blessing!

IN Honor of Thanksgiving - Day 4

2007-11-18T20:50:00.000-07:00

Today I am grateful for our Stake Relief Society fireside. It was called a Night with the Stake Presidency and their wives. I am grateful for a good visiting teacher who gave me this challenge. She also happens to be the stake president's wife, so she even mentioned me and this challenge tonight in her talk. I saw that as a little tender mercy because I had forgotten about my goal to be grateful and take time to think about those things. It was little a sweet little reminder.

I am also grateful for the things we are or can be taught each day by the Spirit. I was taught truths tonight and reminded of others. What a blessing it is to have moments like these that help foster a desire to have them more frequently.

Lastly, I think I need to say something about Steve tonight because truly I am grateful for him and need a way to express this. I am grateful he was supportive of me going and made it possible and was so willing in every other thing...

Oh and he makes fantastic guacamole!

In honor of Thanksgiving - Day 3

2007-11-17T17:12:00.000-07:00

Today I am grateful for a volleyball team that are all good sports. That they like to have fun and that they don't mind sharing the playing time. We had a lot of fun at our co-ed tourney today. After losing in the 1st game by 1 pt, we had to fight our way back through the losers bracket. Everyone was great and we had a lot of fun.

I am also grateful that Conner was healthy today. In fact, his fever was gone all last night and all today. (Sadly, it is coming back) But that was definitely a good coincidence (blessing?).

I am grateful that I was able to put my printer back together and that the power came back on when I was done. The trick is, I now have a new error, from a piece put back in wrong, but I am grateful I know what piece it is. (I truly need to post pics for you all to get the full effect)

Mostly I am grateful today for a supportive husband who got up early to take stuff to the first ball game so a tired momma could sleep and a sick boy could get his rest.

In Honor of Thanksgiving - Day Two

2007-11-16T15:16:00.000-07:00

I am getting to my gratitude attitude thoughts a little early today. Mostly be my sweet boy is running a fever and his wonderful daddy took him up to nap. So I had a couple of minutes....I think after this I might try taking apart my printer again...check back for a lovely post on that!

First, I am grateful for the following modern day miracles:

I posted about health last time because I am truly grateful for ours. But unfortunately, Conner started running a fever last night and has been miserable today. I am so grateful for Tylenol and Motrin to help him out. It is a sad thing to not be able to do more for our children especially to save them from hurt. I wonder if our Heavenly Father thinks this too sometimes...hmmm.

Second, I am grateful for small miracles in that Conner didn't have to throw up. I know I could not handle that right now and it has been an awesome blessing today. But since that is not a super highlight...I think I will do one more today.

I am grateful for friends who bring me lunch. These friends were going around with Steve to look at houses and decided to go out to lunch afterward. They had Steve call and ask me if I would like anything and then they brought it to me to go! It was also impeccable timing. Thanks you guys!

In Honor of Thanksgiving

2007-11-15T21:05:00.001-07:00

In honor of Thanksgiving, and to get myself out of a bit of a slump. I decided I needed to post some gratitude, in helping me towards my "gratitude attitude". Also, if truth is told, my sweet visiting teacher this week (ok so it was last week and I am just getting to it) challenged me to think of two things that were blessing or miracles in my life that happened that day or that I recognized and to do this for a week and to be grateful in my prayers and thoughts and see if it didn't help me be a little happier.

Today's gratitude attitude thoughts.

I am grateful for my calling(s). But tonight I am especially grateful for my stake sports director calling. Tonight was our last night of stake v-ball play. I am relieved that is it done (except Sat co-ed tourney). But I am so grateful for the opportunity it has provided me to be active...more particularly active in an activity that I love. That most weeks Steve and I were able to spend some time together. And that in some cases, especially lately, it has made me get out of my house at the end of a long, hard day. IT has made me feel good physically, when those moments are recently hard to come by. I have made new friends and gotten closer to others. I have learned to appreciate those who are there when they say they are going to be there and then to thank them for that. And it has made me really appreciate my husband's fantastic height (thanks a million sweetie for all your net help). I mean, I always thought his height was a very attractive feature but now I am grateful for its functionality beyond reaching things off the top shelf. :)

I am grateful that the lives of my little family have been blessed with health. That aside from our sweet Bella, the worst we get is a cold or flu bug every now and then. It talking with friends, that is quite a miracle and I am so grateful for it.

Taking a cue from Denae and her thought provoking questions at the seeming end of every blog.

What are you thankful for?