See Mommy Run

Jimmermania!

2012-01-27T13:30:00.000-08:00

Last year, we became HUGE Jimmer Fredette fans, along with most of the country. If you have not heard of him, you need to google him and you will find all sorts of clips of his amazing shots. The best one is of his half court shot at the buzzer against our rivals, the University of Utah Utes. He took the Cougars all the way to the Sweet 16 before losing to Florida. He ended up being named National Collegiate Player of the Year and was drafted 10th and ended up with the Sacramento Kings. When we heard the Kings were coming to Portland, we had to see him in person! The whole family loves Jimmer, including Bryce, so no one was left out!

We bought tickets with our good friends, the Porters and they joined us for dinner at Red Robin. We were able to have a "kids" table and an adult table, and it was really fun and yummy! We got to the game, and walked way, way, up to our nosebleed seats. (Can't afford much better when buying 5 tickets!). The kids did not complain. It is amazing how you can still see the whole court. We were hoping Jimmer would start because he had scored 20 points the game before. He didn't start, but when he came in, we all got excited! When he made his first shot, a beautiful 3 pointer swish, we all stood up to cheer, and quickly realized we were in the middle of Blazer fans. I tried to keep my excitement down a little after that, but it was tough! He made his next 2 shots and was 3-3, but missed his point after free throw attempt.

Our other good friends, Brian and Ranell happened to score really, really awesome seats on the 10th row, center court. They had brought their kids, but the 2 kids did not care too much about the game. They would rather be with their buddies. So Brian and Ranell offered to let us switch in the awesome seats. It was amazing!!! I have never been that close to a game. Jeff and I watched the 3rd quarter and unfortunately, Jimmer didn't play until the last minute. Well, the people in front of us left too, so Jeff went up to sit with the kids, and I was able to stay! What a sweet husband! (I am the bigger Jimmer fan, though, right Jeff?!)

What a fun night! After it was over, we met up with BYU alumni (they were hoping Jimmer would come talk to us, but he had to leave right away.) and we were each allowed to take a free throw shot. It was a late night, but totally worth it!! We love you, Jimmer!!!

Our original view! (The kids still loved it!)

The kids table!

The "quiet" table!

Jeff sitting next to Brian, and Ranell is hiding!

You can see how much closer our view is here!

My silly kids

2012-01-16T08:12:00.000-08:00

I love when my kids are getting along. Today they played games together, and then we found them all in the same bed. Jeff and I were laughing at which bed they chose to share...

This is Bryce's treehouse bed- barely big enough for a 4 year old!

In other news,

Dallin asked me to come to his game on Saturday and he played fantastic. It was a lot of fun! I will upload a video of one of his layups when I get a chance.

Love

2012-01-09T14:54:00.001-08:00

I had a very profound experience while I was driving today. I am not sure if I will be able to convey it the way I would like, but I am sure going to try!

I have been thinking a lot about my goals for the year and what I want my focus to be. I love choosing a word for the year that represents me and my life at that time. When I read my friend, Rebecca's blog, I loved the word she chose, "Embrace." A lot of the things that she said really resonated with me. I know that I want to be more accepting of my weaknesses and stop trying to change everything about me.

As I was driving, the thought occurred to me that I am here to love. One of my gifts (as we talked about in church yesterday) is to love others and see them through the eyes of the Savior. I recognize that I have this ability and I am extremely grateful for it. However, sometimes I feel like I want more. I want to be able to sing or do art or organize or decorate or be naturally athletic. Today, I decided that I am going to go with the gift I have.

My focus for the year is love. When I try to decide how to spend my time, I will ask myself, "Is this showing love to myself, to others, or to Heavenly Father? " If it is, then I will do it. :-) If it isn't, then I will not do it. I think that sounds pretty simple and I am very excited about it. No complications, just love. I am ready to contribute to my family and the world in the way that I can. I am grateful for good examples in my life of love and kindness.

Dilemma...

2012-01-07T22:59:00.000-08:00

So, my almost 10 year old loves sports. Wait, that is an understatement- he lives and breathes sports!! I have watched him play soccer, basketball and baseball since he was 4 years old. A lot of times, I am late or leave early from the games due to work at the YMCA or other responsibilities. There is a joke that he always scores or has a major play when I am gone. Sometimes when I show up at a game, the parents will tell me to leave so Dallin can score. They always say it with a smile, but now I am starting to really wonder if I should. Today he had a basketball game and I wasn't feeling well, so I stayed home. He ended up scoring 17 points!

So, what to do? I love to watch him play, but I am starting to feel he does better without me so should just accept my bad luck.

What would you do?

Happy New Year!

2012-01-04T19:49:00.000-08:00

We were given a surprise blessing this year- Jeff was given the week of Christmas off from work! We decided to take advantage of the time and headed to Utah to visit his side of our family. The drive was not too bad and the weather was beautiful. There wasn't any snow to play in, but we had a great time anyway.

We went ice skating.

The kids enjoyed being at their grandparents.

My sister Shelly came to visit with her cute kids! We went swimming and got to go for a run together!

Emily did a great job skating on her own.

Even Bryce started getting the hang of it!

Dallin is very cute with his "little" cousins!

We were able to watch some of Jeff's aunts and uncles (and his dad!) perform some songs for their dad!

Emily loved having girl cousins to play with!

It went too fast, but it was a great break from normal life. I am so lucky to have married into such a great family! They have always made me feel so loved and accepted. I am also grateful that my sister made the drive to come see us! I always love any time with her. It is fun to watch her as a mom.

Nutcracker with Emily

2011-12-23T10:05:00.000-08:00

As an update, our house has been much more loving. :-) I think my kids understood what I was saying, and I have been more aware. It also helps that we are out having fun, enjoying Christmas break. Trying not to be inside the house too much. :-)

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is Nutcracker with Emily. This year she had a chance to see a performance with her friend in it, but it would have meant I couldn't go with her. She started crying and said she only wanted to go with me. :-) It was so sweet! So, we got a great Groupon deal and went just the 2 of us. I was a little bummed to not have friends with us, but enjoyed the time with her. When we got there, we ran into our great friends and they ended up sitting by us. The show was fabulous! I love watching Emily's face as she is mesmerized by the dancers.

Anyone else have a tradition they love?

To yell or not to yell...

2011-12-21T08:54:00.000-08:00

We have a lot of expectations of ourselves as parents- before we actually become one and reality hits! It is hard work! It is so rewarding, but it takes patience, diligence, a good sense of humor, and an ability to calm down. If that last one doesn't happen, then some of us react by yelling. I had promised myself that I would not be a "yeller". I am uncomfortable around raised voices. I feel like for around the first 8 years of motherhood, maybe even 9, I was able to keep this promise. I had slipped up a couple of times, but it was definitely not the norm. Well, enter Bryce and his ability to bug everyone. My kids, who had not really argued and/or fought, suddenly became very short and annoyed easily with each other. I have a noise sensitivity and when it comes to whining and fighting- it is like nails on a chalkboard and brings out the worse in me. Slowly, I have turned into the "yeller." I do not like it one bit!! So, I have decided to own up to it, put it out in the universe, and hope that makes me more aware. I actually had a conversation with my kids about it yesterday. How can each of us add more kindness and softness in our home (and in the car especially)? I told them I will be taking "Mommy time outs" when I can feel my blood boiling! I also told them that I will give them one chance to go upstairs and do their arguing up there, or I start charging them by taking away screen time. We will see how it goes.

Anyone have suggestions for what works for them? What about in the car? I need something immediate! Ranell and I will chatting about this on gmail and Sarah said she has a link she is going to send me (hint, hint!). I would love more ideas and to know that I am not alone. :-) I want to enjoy parenting again!

Conquering Fears

2011-12-18T20:09:00.000-08:00

Today was my very first piano recital. I always wanted to take piano as a kid, but we were too busy playing sports. :-) I taught myself the right hand and then when I went to BYU, I took one semester of piano. That was 12 years ago! So, now that Bryce is in preschool, I feel I am at a good stage to learn. I have really enjoyed it, but I forgot that I would have to perform in front of people. I am not good under pressure. My first marathon was horrible- remember? I start to panic and it is tough for me to recover. That being said, I am also a finisher. I do not quit. So, today was the day. I have been practicing and practicing, but I was very nervous. Right before I went up, I felt like I was going to throw up. My teacher said if I really didn't want to do it that I could pass at the last minute. But again, I am not a quitter!

It was a beautfiul Christmas concert, with many ranges in talent. It was fun watching the kids and even some of my adult friends play. We were almost at the end, which added to my anxiety. So, I followed Dallin, who of course, played beautifully! Then it was my turn. It started out alright, and then all of a sudden, the music didn't come as naturally. I had a hard time keeping track of where I was. I did get through it, but not as well as I would have liked. I am a little bummed about that, but I am not dwelling on it. I am proud of myself for trying and for not giving up. Hopefully, it will get easier!

34 Reasons why Ranell is awesome

2011-12-14T23:14:00.000-08:00

Ranell and I became friends in 2005 when I was teaching Connie (her oldest who was 3) in a Kids Gym class at the Y. We always seemed to chat for hours when we would run into each other. Over the years, our friendship has grown as we have become a support for one another. I am so grateful to have her as a friend. Here are some things about Ranell:

1. She is a fantastic mother.

2. She finds joy in the little moments.

3. She works very hard to talk kindly and calmly to her children. (I have even heard her when she doesn't know I am listening when she "butt dials" me!)

4. She is always striving to learn. We definitely share in our "self-help" obsession.

5. She is extremely organized. I have learned a lot from her.

6. She is willing to watch kids for anyone and everyone.

7. She is not "tit for tat." We have know idea who "owes" who when it comes to services or cash. :-)

8. She is willing to trade for time alone with our husbands.

9. She gave me the second best gift I have ever received (the first was my surprise weekend to CA to see Wicked from Jeff!)- she made me dinner every night for a week. That is heaven to me!

10. She accomplishes what she sets her mind to do. One year it was running a marathon, another year it was getting her Group Fitness Instructor certification.

11. She is completely loyal.

12. She forgives quickly.

13. She recognizes her mistakes and is willing to apologize.

14. She is fun to be around and makes me laugh.

15. She supports me in my goals and believes in my ability to achieve them.

16. She doesn't judge others.

17. She is patient.

18. She is one of the most thoughtful people I know and she follows through with it.

19. She is willing to do last minute crazy plans!

20. She doesn't bad mouth others.

21. She doesn't flaunt her money. :-)

22. She is a great friend, and I know she would do anything for me.

23. She is a great listener.

24. She is a fun mom who likes to do crafts with her kids and encourages them to do what they love, even if it makes a mess.

25. She is a great decorator.

26. She keeps a very clean house. I am very impressed by this skill! She will sometimes stay up all night to do it.

27. She is a hard worker.

28. She doesn't make excuses.

29. She accepts me for who I am.

30. She has a strong testimony of the gospel and is willing to share it.

31. She has a love for books that she has passed on to Connie.

32. She loves her husband!

33. She likes to try new things.

34. She is awesome!!

Happy Birthday Ranell! I hope you had a fantastic day! You are the best!

Good news, bad news...drumroll...

2011-12-13T23:06:00.000-08:00

...the good news is I am in a better place- mentally, spiritually and physically. I did not lose as much weight as I would like- probably about 5 lbs. :-) ( I would have liked to have lost 15!) BUT, I have found my love of running and realized that I am happiest when training for a marathon. My body seems to need intense exercise and consistent mileage. So, that is what is next for me. My tentative plan is to run Newport in May. Originally, I didn't want to train for a marathon if I was trying to get pregnant, but I have decided that I can't put everything on hold. So, that leads us to the bad news...

...I was really hoping when I took the test this morning that it would be positive, but it wasn't. :-( The toughest part for me is hearing my kids' prayers for another sibling. I really want their prayers answered as well as mine. I am extremely happy and feel blessed to have my 3 kids and my awesome, supportive, cute husband! Hopefully at some point you will be hearing an announcement from me, but as for now, just know I am enjoying the blessings I have and I am ready to become a marathoner again!!

Who is with me? :-)

A Little Bit of Catch Up

2011-12-11T22:45:00.001-08:00

November and December have been a little bit of a blur for me. I wanted to make sure I don't miss too much on here- both good and bad! :-)

Here are some pics to hold you over! (My 3 readers!)

Merry Christmas!

Preschool Bowling Field Trip

Grandma Nise in Town

Bryce is silly, but can be a stinker!

More Grandma Nise- yeah!

Our family pic- before Dallin's haircut. :-)

My son, the klepto (need advice)

2011-12-03T07:39:00.001-08:00

Jeff has always teased me for being a klepto because we end up with hymn books or people's sweaters at my house. BUT, my stealing is always unintentional. :-) Jeff texted me yesterday to ask if I had borrowed cash from his wallet. I told him no and when he looked again, he realized he all that was left was half of a dollar bill, so he knew this was a small kid's doing. Well, come to find out, it was Bryce in the middle of the night. He is obsessed with getting money and buying his own Ipod Touch. (He's 4 1/2, remember?!) So, Jeff decided to give him a taste of his own medicine. He took every dollar bill and coin out of his piggy bank. When Bryce discovered it was empty, he cried and cried. Jeff said, "Isn't that so sad that someone came and stole all your money? How does that make you feel?" Jeff thought he had gotten the point across, but then an hour later we see Bryce's piggy bank has new change in it. He had taken Dallin's money. Ugh!!! Has anyone had experience with this? What should we do?

In good kid news, we taught them all how to play Settlers of Catan. I played a game with them last night, and it was surprisingly fun. Bryce actually won, and I realized he is just too smart for his own good- and mine!

Grateful for great parents

2011-11-30T19:15:00.001-08:00

As I left Jeff with the kids at the restaurant tonight because I am frustrated that they aren't responding the way I want, I have gained even more appreciation for my parents. They were 16 and 19 when they were married and ended up being married for 37 years. They were not perfect, but they were an amazing example of love, dedication, faith and perseverance. It is not easy being a parent, but they taught me that the most important relationship is that of husband and wife and then you can be united as parents. I am so impressed that they both broke the cycle of broken marriages(of their own parents) and found comfort in a secure relationship with one another.

I thought of their marriage and my relationship with my father as I attended the temple this morning. I am so grateful that he fulfilled his duty as a father. I learned so much from him- mostly patience and love. That is what he gave me unconditionally. I am grateful that I can still feel him close to me, being my personal cheerleader and helping me not give up when I get frustrated with my weaknesses.

I miss him every day, but especially today. I love you Dad!

Thankful for the beach

2011-11-26T13:39:00.001-08:00

We had a very nice Thanksgiving with good friends. We did not take many pictures, but just enjoyed the time together chatting away while the kids played. We had a fantastic dinner, and I believe my first attempt at a turkey all by myself was a success! I also made the homemade rolls, and K made everything else. She is a fantastic cook and everything was yummy! She even made my favorite-banana cream pie- on a moment's notice. That brought back all of my favorite Thanksgiving memories. We missed being with family, but were grateful to share it with friends.

I am a little behind on posting because I am at my favorite place- the beach. It is gorgeous weather and it is just our little family. We are enjoying the time we have to relax and be together. The weather has been incredible and we are loving it! We are thankful for friends who share their amazing condo with us. I will share pictures when we get back home!

The beach has always been a special place to me because of the connection I feel with my dad when I am there. I am never happier or more at peace than when near an ocean. I also love how happy the kids are just playing in nature.

Thankful for Dance Parties with my kids

2011-11-23T21:34:00.001-08:00

One of the little perks of this house was a surround sound stereo system. Jeff was excited about this because it is something he wouldn't have bought on his own most likely, but can appreciate good sound! So, many nights our house is found with all of my kids and Jeff and I rocking out to whatever comes up on my Ipod. Some of our favorites: Dynamite, Eye of the Tiger, Beat It, Evacuate the Dance Floor, Hey Soul Sister, California Gurls, anything else!

This nightly practice has made 2 of my 3 kids very comfortable up on stage! For the church talent show, Bryce performed Beat It and Emily sang "What a Wonderful World". I was very proud of both of them.

Thankful for an unexpected date with Jeff

2011-11-21T17:09:00.001-08:00

I know I already wrote about Jeff, but today I got to enjoy being with him! My good friend, Ranell, called and asked if I could watch her daughter while she went to the doctor. I said "Sure!" I said that I would be bringing the kids to mat time at the Y and then she mentioned that she had child watch appointments for the kids at 11:30. She offered to keep Bryce with her too from 11:30-1pm. I was very excited because I was wanting to get some alone time with Jeff today anyway! It is the anniversary of our first date and I love celebrating it even if it is a movie at home after the kids go to bed. This fun lunch date was exactly what we needed today. I surprised Jeff and he loved it! I am grateful for a friend who is willing to help out like this!

Bryce and his half birthday

Today is Bryce's half birthday! My kids are so funny that they like to celebrate this. Last week, someone asked Bryce how old he is and I said, "4 1/2". He said, "No, I'm not. Not until November 21st!!" We have just started a tradition this year that on their half birthday they get a date with mom and dad. So, I took him and his buddy Spencer to McDonald's for ice cream cones and cake! It was fun watching them play. Those are some of my favorite moments as a mom!

Thankful for Co-op Preschool and my sister Crystal

2011-11-20T19:41:00.001-08:00

I promise that I am still feeling thankful, I was just busy this week with nine 4 year olds at my house! It was my turn to teach the kids in our co-op preschool. For the past 2 1/2 months, I have been dropping Bryce off at different friends' houses from 8:30-noon and he comes home a happy boy who has loved learning and being with friends! In return for this "free" preschool, I take my turn teaching. This is something I have chosen to do instead of traditional preschool. I tried it with Dallin and found that I really enjoyed being part of his school experience. I am always nervous right before my time to teach, but each time I do, I remember how much I love this age! The kids are so fun and eager to learn and they say the funniest things. (I learn some good dirt sometimes!) The other moms are fantastic and good friends of mine and I feel strongly that my kids have a good base for school and have a great time! But, when it's my turn to teach, not much else gets done, hence the blog not getting updated!

I am also thankful for my "older" sister Crystal who turned 29 today! I had a long conversation with her today and I was reminded how kind, generous and loving she is. We have grown even closer over the years and I am so grateful to have her in my life. I love when people say I look like her, because I think she is just beautiful!

Grateful for Biggest Loser

2011-11-15T22:05:00.001-08:00

That sounds silly, but it inspires me every time I watch it! Now, I just gotta get my behind in gear. No, I won't tell you how much I have lost yet. :-) You still have to wait until December 13th...

Thankful for the Book Of Mormon

2011-11-14T21:49:00.000-08:00

It has taken us a few years, but tonight we finished the Book of Mormon for the first time as a family. Woo hoo! We try to read at least a few verses each day, but it doesn't always happen. I remember when we first started becoming consistent, Dallin's reading ability really improved. Now, it is amazing to hear Emily and Bryce both read through the Book of Mormon verses. Moroni's promise is in the last chapter of Moroni, and I hope my kids will take the challenge for themselves. I have prayed about it and I KNOW that it is a true book. It was written for us. When I take time to read it each day on my own, I am given the strength and the answers I need for that day.

Grateful for friends and family

2011-11-13T21:18:00.001-08:00

Today I was working on my Christmas cards*. As I wrote each name, I loved that different, special memories came flooding through for each one. There are the family members who have been there for me since I was a kid. There are the friends that I had in high school and college that I love seeing their families grow through pictures. There is the family that I gained when I married Jeff, all of whom I love deeply! I really hit the jackpot with my in-laws, and I mean that!! Last there are the friends that Jeff and I have made since we have been married. Jeff had an internship in Austin, TX the first summer we were married and in Ft. Collins, CO the second summer we were married. We still hear from some of the friends we made in those cities. And of course, there are friends that have moved from Oregon since we have lived here almost 11 years. All of these friends and family still hold a special place in my heart. One of my favorite things about Christmas is receiving Christmas Cards. I love putting them up on a door in my house, and I probably leave them up too long because I love seeing all the faces! So, here is my plug! Don't forget to send us a Christmas card! We love them!! And if you would like one from us, and you don't know if you are on my "list" let me know!

*Don't be too impressed with my sending Christmas cards out so early. I want to send them out first with our new address. Last year, Jeff told me not to put the address of our rental house because we didn't know how long we would be there. He said to put the P.O. Box. I said, "We are going to be here for years, I am sure!" Well, he was right, so here I am sending out cards in November!

Thankful for Jeff

2011-11-12T22:40:00.001-08:00

Today I taught (more like facilitated!) a class on Dating in Marriage. When I was given the assignment over a month ago, I felt a little inadequate. The focus was cheap, creative dates. I definitely can do the "cheap" part, but I don't think that Jeff and I are super creative or anything. But, when I thought about it, I realized that we have been pretty good about still having fun in our marriage. We have made sure to find ways to do things we love doing together or choosing something that the other person would really love to do. I am grateful that Jeff has made this a priority and I definitely think it has helped us grow stronger through the years. I loved the chance I have had over this month to think about some of my favorite dates with him. It made me appreciate and love him even more. Our marriage hasn't been perfect, but I know that we both are 100% committed and we still really enjoy being together!

Some of our favorite "dates"
1. Running on Saturday mornings while training for a race.
2. Jeff surprised me with chinese takeout and a romantic boat ride.
3. Kelly Clarkson concert
4. So you think you can dance
5. Cruises (my favorite kind of dates)
6. Laser Tag with other couples
7. Boating with other couples
8. Dance lessons
9. Jeff surprising me with tickets to Wicked for my 30th.
10. 49ers Rams football game
11. Wendy's and Johnny B's comedy club (1st date!)
12. Concerts for Jeff
13. Out to dinner by ourselves or with friends
14. Parasailing
15. Boogie boarding
16. Late Night with David Letterman
17. Broadway Plays
18. First art museum- the Met
19. BYU football games
20. BYU basketball games
21. Shakes at the malt shop
22. Temple
23. Out for lunch
24. Red Sox game
25. Magic Mountain

(Thanks to Oscarson Photography for the great pic of us! I love it!)

Thankful for our veterans who protect our freedom

2011-11-11T21:35:00.001-08:00

Thankful for nice strangers

2011-11-10T23:25:00.001-08:00

I love when my theory that people in general are kind hearted is proved true. Some examples:1. I was taking Emily to a play and realized I needed cash. I had the baby with me, so I picked walgreens because the cashier is so close. As I bought a card and asked for cash back, he said the pin pad was broken. I kind of wear my emotions on my sleeves and blurted,"that is the reason I came here and now I need to take the baby somewhere else." he could see my frustration(along with the rest of the store" and realized he had a solution. He voided everything out and rook me to a different cashier spot. I was very grateful. Smallthing, but huge difference for me.2. A new friend came over today to hold the baby so I could get some catch up time. It was great conversation getting to know her, and I got my floors clean. There are more but I am tired and need to go to bed!

Grateful for my Kids

2011-11-09T21:55:00.001-08:00

As we are back in the fun world of infertility, I am reminded how grateful I am for the 3 beautiful children I have. They are cute, smart, fun, funny and bring me so much joy. They are each so different and I love seeing their little personalities come out. They also bring frustration, disappointment (mostly with myself) and sadness, but I will gladly take all that to be their mom.

Each and every child is a true miracle. That much I know.

Grateful for all of my family

2011-11-08T22:35:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of my aunt Marlynn, my sister Crystal, and me at the Angels game last summer. I grew up loving the Angels because my dad was such a huge fan. Being at the game last year with my aunt(who is my dad's beautiful baby sister!) and my sisters and their families is one of my favorite memories of that trip. (And the fireworks show was awesome!)

It is my Aunt Marlynn's birthday today. I have always felt very close to her and my cousins. I loved growing up with all of them. One of the hardest things of living far away is not getting to see them as often as I would like. This summer we rented a cabin in the mountains and got to all be together to play games and just hang out. I loved it!

Here are some things I love about Marlynn:

1. She is a fabulous mom! She has 5 great kids who are all amazing! Seriously!

2. She is an awesome beautician. I always have her cut my hair when I go home.

3. She is always doing something for others. She is one of the most generous people I know.

4. She is real and genuine.

5. She has always been there for me.

6. She is gorgeous!!

7. I want to be like her when I grow up!!

I am so grateful for the wonderful family that I grew up in, and the ones I gained through marrying Jeff. I feel so very blessed.

Thankful for the chance to slow down

2011-11-07T14:19:00.000-08:00

Sitting on my couch with a sweet baby in my arms-the world stops spinning for a little while, and all is right and good. I love new babies. I am grateful for a friend who trusted me with her baby for a little while. He is precious and I am getting used to sleep deprivation, and just enjoying seeing my children enamored with him.

Thankful for a Loving Father in Heaven

2011-11-06T23:13:00.000-08:00

Today at church, I was reminded how grateful I am to know that I have a Father in Heaven who loves me and knows even the smallest details of my life and of ME. He created me and loves me for who I am, regardless of what the rest of the world thinks I should be. His love envelops me when I turn to Him. I am not perfect, but I am His daughter!

I am thankful for my health

2011-11-05T21:49:00.000-07:00

I posted this picture because of what it represents. Emily snapped this picture of me while we were jumping at an all-trampoline place. I had a blast with my kids!! I am heavier than I have been in a couple of years and it is really frustrating. When I saw this picture, at first I hated it because of how my body looks. Then I looked at it again, and saw the pure joy on my face, and how excited Emily was about taking the picture. She didn't notice that my body isn't as thin as I have been in the past. Health isn't just about your weight. It is about how you feel and what you can do with your body. I know that my heart is in good shape. I went out and ran 11 miles last Saturday and was reminded that my body is still strong. I can still do a back flip on the trampoline and can keep up with my kids. That is what health is all about-that is the kind of example I want to be. I hope my kids (especially my daughter) never hear me talk about my weight, but about my health. Diabetes runs in my family, so that is my main reason for healthy eating and exercise. I want to be there for a LONG time for my kids. I know there are people who can't run and jump who want to, and I want to recognize my blessing of good health!

Thankful for Oregon

2011-11-04T23:22:00.000-07:00

Ya got time for a story? Well, here's a long one. :-)

When Jeff was interviewing for jobs after BYU, our choices were in Silicon Valley, CA, Austin, TX, Ft. Collins, CO, Salt Lake City, UT, and Portland, OR. We were pretty sure we didn't want to live in Silicon Valley, so that one was crossed off pretty quickly. SLC sounded great to be near his family, but he worried about there being a small market for hardware engineers. (There is a huge market if you are a software engineer, but not quite the same thing!) We had lived in Austin, TX the summer of 1999 and Ft. Collins, CO in the summer of 2000, so we would have been happy with either of those, so that is where we were leaning. When Jeff went to OR for his first interview, he called me after(we didn't have cell phones yet!) and told me about the most beautiful bridge he had been across. He fell in love with Portland, and said, "Kelly, you have got to come here!" So, he had an interview with another company in Portland and asked if I could come with him for the trip. They agreed and I fell in love also! I went out with a realtor (yes, I went out with a realtor in each city- I was ready to buy a house after moving 7 times in the first 2 1/2 years of marriage!) and as we drove around, we came down this street and I knew if we moved there, it was the neighborhood I would live in.

It was a tougher decision for Jeff to make than he thought it would be. We finally narrowed it down to Austin or Portland. We made a list on paper with all the pros and cons and Austin seemed to win out. We even knew the house we would live in on Lake Travis. The cost of living was much lower in Texas than in Portland, and we really wanted to be able to buy a boat quickly. We went to bed and both were excited about the decision. We had lived in Austin and loved it and had friends there. It seemed like the right fit. Well, neither of us slept well that night. We woke up the next morning and realized we had made the wrong decision. We decided to move to Portland. It was scary. We did not have any friends or family living there, although Jeff had a cousin who would be going to law school there for another year or two, about 40 minutes south. We rented an apartment really close to Jeff's work, but I immediately went out to that neighborhood I had found 2 months earlier. I called the missionaries (since I didn't know anyone!) and asked them if they could give me the number of a family in the area who would tell me about the builders and schools, etc. Well, they told me about a street that had 15 LDS families living on it. The woman we called said they still had 2 houses for sale on their street and took us through them an hour later! Within a few days we had an offer on the house and we moved in 6 weeks later. It was perfect. We had a built-in family and we loved that house! We ended up living there almost 10 years.

The reason I am reminiscing is we had dinner with our good friends tonight and they were our very first friends in Oregon. So, we have been friends now for almost 11 years. We were set up on a "couples" date with them and one other Newlywed couple. None of us had kids yet and we hit it off really well. She ended up being in the hospital with me when I had Dallin and we have remained very close through the years. They even moved to CA for 3 years and we visited them there. (See Sarah, I promise we will keep in touch!! ) I love Oregon, and I love that I have a history with people. I think of all that has happened since we have been here- infertility, the passing of my father, job changes, life changes, 3 children, ADD diagnosis, disappointments, heartaches, accomplishments, my running group, playdates, beach trips, park days, good talks with friends, boating, and it all comes down to living in Portland and our little town. I am so grateful for all the wonderful people who live here and who have touched my life over the years. I will never forget the way I felt as I drove down the tree-lined street with the beautiful changing colors. I knew this was where I was supposed to be.

Anyone still here?! :-)

Thankful for Infertility and C-sections

2011-11-03T10:05:00.000-07:00

When my visiting teachers came by this week, it ended up turning into a huge crying session. I was a complete mess. One of my new visiting teachers, who I am meeting for the first time, lost her father this past year. So, obviously she understands better than anyone else why November is so difficult for me. They gave me a great message of love and the love of God and my other visiting teacher challenged me to see my blessings as well. I decided to look at some of my trials and what blessings came from them.

I always knew that I would have a hard time getting pregnant. I just didn't realize how emotional that process would be. We tried on our own for a year with Dallin and then went to clomid. Thankfully, it only took 2 months of clomid. After 20 hours of labor, the doctor informed me that I would need to have a C-section because Dallin's heart rate kept dropping and he was obviously in distress. I was devastated and disappointed. All I had heard was how awful recoveries from C-sections are. And with no family around, I was terrified of making it work on my own.

When I got home from the hospital, I took the doctor's advice of not doing anything for 2 weeks and just snuggled my baby. I was so in love with Dallin. I loved watching every little movement. I didn't think I could slow down like that for 2 weeks, but I was wrong! Jeff really stepped it up and did all the diaper changes and took Dallin whenever he could. I am convinced that the C-section is what allowed Jeff to bond with the baby even more than he would have otherwise. I know that the babies taking extra work to get down here have helped me appreciate them more and the C-section allows me to truly take time off of life to enjoy them. The really good news is that after 2 weeks, my recovery is pretty complete. With Bryce, I was even able to run a marathon 4 1/2 months later. :-) So, while both of these things were disappointing to me, they have led to these blessings.

Thankful for our "new to us" house

2011-11-02T21:19:00.000-07:00

It has been a crazy year, but I wouldn't trade one bit! I loved living out on acreage, but we feel at home right where we are. I have always loved this home (we bought it from a friend of mine) and I never would have guessed it would one day be ours. We back up to acreage, which I love! It makes me feel like we are in the country. We even have horses at the end of our dead end street. My kids have seemed to make the transition very well. I have had a lot of good friends help with the decorating and I am truly loving the place we call "home."

Thankful for the temple

2011-11-01T08:04:00.000-07:00

I decided to start November off the right way for me. I went to the temple this morning. It was a great way to gain perspective and peace and think about my dad. I am so grateful to know families are forever and I WILL see him again. It still stinks that he is not here and I get sad that my kids don't get to hang out with him here, but I am grateful for the knowledge that this life isn't the end.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T16:11:00.000-07:00

From my munchkins to yours!

November is a rough month for me, so this year I am determined to fill it with gratitude. I had a hard time getting motivated today and I realized it is just due to the time of year this is. Thanks to this inspired blog, I made a simple paper version of the Thanksgiving Advent Calendar with sticky notes with activities for us to do as a family, and then I am going to count my blessings each day in November on the blog. Hope you stick around! (I will also be watching a cute newborn for the first 12 days of November, so you might see a pic or 2 of him thrown in!)

Happy 7th Birthday, Emily!

2011-10-05T08:12:00.000-07:00

I spent yesterday creating a book for Emily for her birthday, so my feelings toward her are especially tender. She was my most difficult baby to get here, but I would not change a thing we went through. She has brought so much joy and laughter to our family. I love having a daughter. Some of my favorite times are my one on one dates with her. She goes with me to plays and musicals and we see Nutcracker every Christmas since she was 3! She is a feisty little one, with a mind all her own. She is very creative, intuitive, sweet and kind. If she wants to do something, she will come up with a way to do it, with or without me! This can be frustrating, but I hope in the long run we can direct that determination for good and it will help her stay strong no matter what others are doing. I love her so much! It has been fun to watch her grow and learn.

The only birthday present I really wanted to give her was a new baby brother or sister. Maybe next year. :-)

Biggest Loser Update

2011-09-28T07:09:00.000-07:00

Alright, here goes!

1. Running- I got in 4 days last week- woo hoo! First time since Sarah moved that I have actually run 4 days. :-( I was very happy. I still don't feel great when I run, but I know it will get better. I missed my run this Monday though, so I need to get back on track. Had a fantastic run this morning!

2. Basic Weight lifting- stinky! I did this on Wednesday while watching Biggest Loser with Jeff, but then not the rest of the week.

3. Sugar- I did well for the most part with this one. On Sunday made treats with my family and ate too many, but got right back on track Monday.

4. Veggies- Had more salads, but can do even better!

Weight Loss Update- Drum roll.... down 2.7 pounds!!!

How did everyone else do this week?

Biggest Loser Challenge

2011-09-21T15:59:00.001-07:00

Taking a break from normal family coverage to give you this challenge! I have been very frustrated with my eating and exercise habits lately. I am a person who requires exercise and strict eating just to maintain weight, let alone lose weight. When I don't pay attention, my weight will steadily climb. I have not been able to get back in gear since around April. Jeff and I were doing P90X and started seeing some results, but my cardio suffered. So, I am back to running and trying to focus on healthy eating. I usually need a race to train for to keep me motivated. It has been hard for me to pick a race because...

we are trying to have a baby! Some of you already know that, but for those of you that don't I guess I am putting it out there. Quick recap of my "infertility"-
Dallin- tried for a year on our own and then it took 2 months of clomid.
Emily- went straight to clomid and after 6 months of no luck, switched to injectible drugs and it took 3 months after that.
Bryce- Came without any medical intervention!! :-)

So, we have been "trying" since last November. Mentally, I can't pick a race to train for because I am not able to run through pregnancy (if I were to get pregnant.) So, I have just been watching my weight steadily climb. I have still been running, but I just feel heavy when I run. I am about 15 lbs over my comfortable weight. (not my skinniest weight!) So, I need a new goal.

Here it is!! The Biggest Loser season just started! I am going to focus on eating healthy and exercising right along with them! :-) So, on December 13th (the season finale) I will either be announcing my pregnancy or my healthy weight loss success!!! (So, no asking before then. I promise I am not pregnant right now. I actually took a pregnancy test this morning. :-(

Who is with me?!!!

My goals:

1. Run at least 3 days a week for enjoyment.
2. Basic weight lifting 3 days a week. (at least my 4 faves- pushup, plank, squats, lunges)
3. Cut out sugar.
4. Lots of Veggies!!

I will report on a different blog. Let me know if anyone is interested in doing this with me!!

Ch-ch-ch-Changes

2011-09-18T17:27:00.001-07:00

I am not really sure where to start! This summer has been crazy and fast, but very enjoyable! Sarah's brother took this picture of our family on the property, and little did we know it would be the last picture we took. When we moved into our country home, I knew it was an experiment. I wanted to see what it was like to live on acreage. I fell in love with the property when my good friend Ranell lived there and spent many summer days enjoying the view from her deck and the company! When the chance came to live there, it was a no brainer for me. I credit that house and the quiet with the accomplishment of my personal trainer certification. I loved the time away from the city and time to hang out with Sarah before she moved. My kids enjoyed the property, as did I, but we noticed that we did not get many visitors! In the winter and fall, it is pretty muddy. I was eagerly waiting for the summer, when we would have people over to enjoy the beautiful deck and peacefulness of the country life. What I found was, we were gone during most of that time! Between visiting family in California and Utah and going to Girls Camp, there were not many weeks left to just enjoy the property. My garden didn't even really grow because I wasn't there to take care of it. The last straw was that we lost 6 of our 7 chickens and realized maybe we aren't meant to be chicken farmers. So, when we found out a house was a available that had a good sized yard, with a fantastic floor plan and on a dead end street that backs to acerage, we decided it would be a better fit for our family. So, we said goodbye to the country life for now. I hope the new renters will still let me come visit with them on their beautiful deck! We were grateful for the chance to meet new friends in a different ward. Meanwhile, my kids are thrilled to be able to ride their bikes in the neighborhood. School has started and we are finding our new normal.

That's it for now. I will post more pictures from the summer soon.

Happy Anniversary!

2011-08-22T22:05:00.001-07:00

Just a quick post to celebrate my little family! Jeff and I celebrated our 13th anniversary this weekend. I love the chance to reflect on our lives together. I feel very lucky and loved! Thanks Jeff for all you do. (Especially for your support of my little event the weekend of our anniversary!)

Happy Birthday Dad!

2011-08-04T10:06:00.001-07:00

I always spend my dad's birthday doing some of my favorite things that remind me of him. We decided that we celebrated his birthday yesterday by spending a beautiful day at the beach with some of our best friends. My kids know that my love of the beach comes from my dad. I feel more at peace there than any other place. Pure happiness.

Here is the slideshow my awesome friend Sarah made!

http://suziepetunia.blogspot.com/2011/08/day-at-beach.html

Happy Birthday, Dad. I love and miss you every day! I am glad to spend the day with my sister Crystal today.

New York, New York

2011-07-01T14:37:00.001-07:00

Back in November, we watched our good friend Ranell's kids for a week, so in May it was her turn to return the favor! I am so glad I have friends willing to do this kind of trade. We chose to go to New York because neither of us had ever been there and my Uncle George has a place in Manhattan and LOVES being the tour guide. We were told not to plan a thing, but of course I found a couple of things before we got there. The first thing we did was run a race through Central Park.

Running is my favorite way to see a new city, and what better way to do it, then to run it with 8,000 other New Yorkers! It was a beautiful race and the only bummer was that Jeff was running on a broken tibia (didn't know it at the time) and had to stop after 2 miles.

I had never been to an art museum, so I was very excited that our "tour" would include the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I could have stayed there for days. It is amazing!

The one plan I made was to go to a taping of David Letterman. I had emailed them months before and got the call 2 days before we left. All I had to do was answer a trivia question. I was reminded why I should never be in a situation where you have to think on your feet! Luckily they still gave us the tickets and we had a fantastic time. I even got emotional as I remembered all the nights I spent watching the show with my dad. Great memories.

Broadway was on the list and the first one we saw was Mary Poppins. We had great seats and I thought it was phenomenal! It was so much fun and even Jeff enjoyed it.

The only bummer about the week was the weather. I apparently took the rain from Oregon and brought it to New York. I left my little town with a week of sunshine (you're welcome Oregon) and we had pretty wet weather. We decided to take off for 2 days to my uncle's getaway in Pennsylvania and it was beautiful and peaceful. Some of my favorite parts of the trip happened there including having our own private chef who made us amazing meals! (and then wouldn't let us clean up!) It was heavenly. We had great conversation and I enjoyed spending time with my Uncle. He is intelligent and an artist and from Cuba and has had many amazing life experiences. He also had fun stories to share about when my dad was little.

The rest of the time in New York was spent enjoying the city sights. We rode on the Staten Island Ferry, took the subway, and walked everywhere you could think of. We ate great food every night and just enjoyed being together. One of the most emotional sites was the Ground Zero Memorial. I was awestruck and subdued thinking of all the lives that were lost on that tragic day.

Our last day we did a "crazy Kelly" trip and took a rental car to Boston. We walked around Boston, which was so cool , including seeing MIT and part of the Freedom trail. We then watched the Red Sox kill the Cubs 15-5 and drove straight back to New York to catch our flight home at 6am the next morning. Crazy end to an awesome week with my sweetheart! I love any time I get with him.

Thanks Ranell for making that week possible! We got back on Bryce's birthday and celebrated at Red Robin and then with our friends the Jensens. Bryce and Melissa share a birthday so it is always fun to see them.

Top 20 ways to move in a week and (mostly)survive!

2011-06-26T21:56:00.000-07:00

This post is for Suziepetunia. She is one of my closest friends and is more like a sister than just a friend. We met briefly 8 years ago, but then 6 years ago became running partners and a lifelong friendship began. In March of this year, her husband was offered a great, exciting job opportunity, but the bummer for me is that the job is in another state. We had recently become next door neighbors and were enjoying the time together. I thought we would be next door for a couple of more years. I was very disappointed, but excited for them to have a new adventure. Her husband has already started his new job, so much of the packing and moving would be done by her- this week! They had a pod delivered to her house last Friday and the fun started! Taylor helped her over the weekend and then had to go do that work thing! She made a list of which area she would pack each day. She was very methodical about it and I was impressed with her optimism. :-)
Here are some of the highlights that made the move successful:

20. Let your neighbor's husband and your husband play Tetris with the boxes to get as much space out of that tiny pod. Finish with the beloved mattress!

19. Pass on some of your unwanteds to your good friend!
18. Somehow in the middle of all this, help your son earn his green belt!(figuring out that a good friend who also happened to be a 2nd grade teacher could help him write his reports! Thanks Trina!)

17. Find your son's DS that has been missing for 9 months and be able to laugh at the irony that it was found in its correctly labeled bin- where it should have bin!
16. Allow your husband to give away your perishables by first attempting to auction it off!

15. Let your neighbors light a big fire with your stuff you are throwing out! (wish I had a better picture- it was too awesome to take my eyes off to get the camera)

14. Have your kids help! (Even if they sometimes put boxes on their head.)

13. Give your 12 year old the label maker and she will have fun!

12. Go running 5 of the 6 days you are moving even if you are exhausted. Some of those runs will end up being walks, but they will all be worth it.

11. On the last run, do your most favorite(hard) run and take lots of silly pictures! (Spencer, you can see the view is much better on a clear day! Wish we had your mad photography skills to capture this! We had to ask random strangers driving by!)

10. Follow your list and when your packing for the day is done- celebrate with your friends and kids! Go bowling followed by Sonic (Although 10 kids under 10 really was a little crazy!) Enjoy having just 1 kid to get ready because another good friend (Ranell) had your other kids for a few hours.

9. On a beautiful day, even when your list isn't done yet, join your good friend at the pool (without your kids!) and get a break! Then let your kids come and swim while you get back to packing!

8. Let people take your kids and have members of the ward help you when you are about to have a mental breakdown when you realize how much you have left to do.

7. Stay up until 1am going through clothes and loading the truck with your best friend, and find things to laugh about. Such as boxes in boxes and bags of bags. Maybe you won't get these jokes later, but it helped us to survive!

6. Enjoy the meals brought by many good friends who love you. (Even share them with your neighbor!)

5. Get rid of your guilt by taking pictures of some of the sentimental items that you are throwing away.

4. If in doubt, throw it out. (Especially at the end!)
3. Find out how much you are loved by having a party on your own property the night before you leave and have over 100 people show up.

2. Have help from great family members who show up to help finish things off.

1. Let your neighbor do the fun stuff and take your kids to the Balloon Festival while you finish off the last of the cleaning!

I could go on and on about my friendship with Sarah. Very shortly after beginning to run with her, I wrote this post about her on her 30th birthday. We were instant friends. Spending hours a week running and talking sure cements a friendship. She has seen me at my best and worst and loves and accepts me as I am. She was there through an ADHD diagnosis, the loss of my father, my frustrations with my weaknesses, and all the fun stuff in between. We have some great memories that I will always cherish. Our families became entwined as our friendship grew. Living next door these last 8 months has allowed us to have even more experiences and makes it that much harder to lose them. I know we will keep in touch and I do look forward to hearing more about her new life with her family. I am just so grateful I had these last 6 years with her. The memory that sticks out to me that shows her dedication and love as a friend is when she offered to come with me to California to watch Bryce while I was at my dad's funeral. It was the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me and I don't know if she knows how much it meant to me. That is one of the hardest, most awkward times to be around someone and she was willing to do it. Taylor took time off work also so she could be there. I knew then how special her friendship was. We were pregnant at the same time and had Bryce and Alice 6 weeks apart. That was also a special time to share. There are so many more memories I could share. I feel lucky to be her friend.
Good luck in this big step, Giles Family. We love you and will miss you so much. Sarah, I still look forward to many, many more years of friendship and memories, even if many of them will be long distance. You are amazing! There are great things ahead for you- I just know it!
(PS This started as a top 10, but there was too much to share! This process was not easy by any means, but with a good friend it is always more enjoyable. It was like a big slumber party without the frozen panties!)

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-09T00:03:00.000-07:00

Well, I am almost caught up! I have a trip to Utah where I was able to meet my new beautiful niece- but I didn't have my camera! So, I need to get Shelly's pics and then I will update those!

For now, I just want to talk about how grateful I am for my 3 munchkins who teach me how to be a mother. I learn so much from them every day. I am grateful that they were sent to me and that Heavenly Father trusts me to be their mom. They are all 3 sweet, special kids with unique personalities. I hope they know how much I love each one of them.

I made a big decision this week to quit my job at the YMCA. I have been there for 9 years (part time.) I started working in Child Watch, and then teaching Kids Gym and the Special Needs group, and then for the last 3 years I have been in Fitness, as a personal fitness instructor, running coach, 8 Weeks to Wellness teacher and most recently a personal trainer. I love it and I love helping others with their fitness goals.

However, I feel right now, the place I need to give my focus is with my kids. Emily will be going to first grade and I want to be able to use this last bit of time with her. I am thoroughly enjoying the stage that Bryce is in and helping encourage his love of reading. Dallin continues to amaze me with his maturity, and I don't want to miss out on time with him now that he is in school all day. They are the most important thing to me and I look forward to this extra time with them. I will miss the Y, but I am excited to just be "mom" for a while! I will go back to the Y when I feel the time is right. I am grateful that they were so supportive of my decision.

Tulip Festival 2011

2011-05-08T23:59:00.000-07:00

Tulips are my favorite flower and I look forward to their (short) season each year. One of my favorite places to visit is the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival. We had not been able to get there, but I finally decided on Thursday just to up and go! I am so glad I did! We left Dallin since he wasn't home from school yet (and didn't want to go anyway!) and grabbed Alice from next door. I love watching kids play when there are no screens around! Their favorite part was the ducky races. They could have stayed there for hours. I was grateful that we got there late enough that the bounce houses were closed! :-)

Easter 2011

2011-05-08T23:43:00.001-07:00

Easter is one of my favorite holidays and I try to keep it as non commercial as possible! This year we did an Easter Egg Hunt that happened to be honoring our good friend Liam Juassi. He is such an inspiration to us. The good news is he has been cancer free! Woo Hoo! Here is a link to his story.

We also did a primary activity that was a scripture scavenger hunt. There was no candy involved and I think the kids got the spiritual message we were going for!

Our Sunday tradition has been with the Christensens and the Ramos families for the last 9 Easters! We usually have a brunch, but now that we are in 3 different wards, we couldn't meet until 5pm. Catherine is an amazing host and we each bring food. The kids look forward to it all year. We started with 3 kids and now have 10 between us!

They put the baskets on their head. pretending to be bucket zombies from my favorite game Plants v. Zombies!

Kids Happenings

2011-05-08T23:24:00.001-07:00

Bryce and Emily finished soccer and I think they both loved it! Bryce kept a running tally of all the goals he made and gave us the update each game. I believe he finished with 13 goals! Emily was pretty excited to make her first goal at the end of the season. It was great watching her get more and more confident.

Dallin and Emily both took big steps in April. Dallin auditioned for a local talent show with a rendition of Beethoven's 5th. He practiced every day and I was very proud of his dedication. When he watched some of the audition tapes, he turned to me and said, "Mom, I am okay if I don't get picked." I thought it was very humble of him to recognize that he wasn't the best! I was still happy for his effort and the learning experience.

Emily auditioned for the local production of "Sound of Music." She sang "Defying Gravity" from Wicked. I was proud of her for getting on that big stage and not getting nervous! She did not make it either, but she had fun.

Now Dallin has started baseball and we are enjoying the new season. The kids and I watch in the rain and Jeff is helping to coach.

Here is Dallin's You Tube video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7To9CMv-FKc

Here is the link to Emily's You Tube video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGO5Z2zWGZQ

Country Life Update

2011-05-08T23:14:00.000-07:00

I feel like life is one big experiment right now! We have no idea what we are doing with all this property, but we sure love it! We had 9 chickens between us and the Giles, and unfortunately, we had an attack that left us with 7 piles of feathers. Dallin was the one who found them and was really upset about it. The next day we lost number 8, and the last chicken held on for a couple more weeks. We need to figure out soon what was killing off our chickens because we have 7 chicks in the garage! The kids have loved watching them grow! They are so big now! If we don't figure out a solution soon, we are just raising coyote bait! Any suggestions?

The kids will play outside for hours, which I love! The main reason I have always wanted a big backyard was so that we could play catch with our kids. That is a sweet memory I have with my own dad and it is great watching it come true with my kids! We are getting the garden ready and I have been adding color to our yard. Jeff did some new bark dust which looks really nice. Come join us anytime!

Grandma and Grandp come for a visit!

2011-04-03T22:03:00.000-07:00

Just trying to keep some updates on here!

Feb26-28- We were lucky enough to have Grandma Di and Grandpa Mel visit. They hadn't been to the new country house so they wanted to see our digs. :-) The kids mauled them and loved having them here. They were able to watch Dallin's basketball game and Bryce and Emily's soccer games. We went bowling, to a movie, and just hung out playing games. We had a fantastic time. We were sad to see them leave.

Kids and Sports

2011-02-20T14:44:00.000-08:00

I grew up playing softball since I was 7 and trying almost every other sport for fun. I loved the team aspect and especially appreciated my parents attendance at the games. I have looked forward to watching my own children play. Dallin has been playing sports since he was 4. He seems to like whatever he tries. He is currently playing basketball and has discovered that he loves to steal the ball and then make a layup. The season ends this weekend. We are excited that Grandpa Mel and Grandma Di will be there to watch.

Dallin and his best buddy Tyler had fun playing against each other and guarding each other!

Bryce and Emily both started soccer on Saturday. It is always fun to see how different the kids are. Jeff is helping to coach Bryce's team. He actually scored the first goal in the first 5 seconds of the game. I will try to upload the video!
Emily has not shown too much interest in sports, so I have tried not push her. I am glad she wants to try it now. She is a little tentative to go after the ball, but is a great runner, which makes me happy! She also offered to play goalie, which I was pleasantly surprised with.

It will be fun to cheer them both on in soccer. Dallin will get about a month break after basketball and then start baseball. I think my dad is having fun watching him from his bleacher in the sky. I am so glad he passed on his love of sports to us.

Here is Dallin scoring!

Here is Bryce scoring!

Fun times!

Happy 9th Birthday Dallin

2011-02-01T08:23:00.000-08:00

Dear Dallin,

From the day you were born, you were my little buddy. We have had some great times together. Some of my favorite memories were swimming at the Y and watching you take to water just like your mommy! I have loved watching you learn and grow. When I was worried that I wouldn't be able to have another child, I remember thinking about how happy you made me and how lucky I was to have you! You have been a joy to love and to teach. I love hearing about how kind and gentle you are. That means more to me than any of your other great qualities. I know as you have gotten older you have noticed more and more of my weaknesses. I can't trick you forever! I hope you will always be my special buddy and know that even though I am not perfect, I will always love you with all of my heart.

And I will always be your biggest fan!!

I love you Dallin and I am lucky to be your mom!

(Thanks to Suzie petunia for the action shots!)

Finding Love Again

2011-01-20T07:17:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite love stories is about a boy and a girl who meet in high school. They both come from broken families, but at 16 and 19 decide to defy the odds and get married. They move to Turkey with the Air Force and then proceed to have a beautiful marriage and 5 perfect kids. (ha ha!) It seems like it is happily ever after. Unfortunately the boy became really sick and after 36 years of marriage, he had to leave her and go to heaven.

There is another boy and girl who met at the same high school. Their lives started out as a fairy tale also. They had 2 boys and life was good. Their lives together were cut short also as the girl became very sick and passed away.

Through modern day technology (aka Facebook!), the lonely boy and girl found each other! They became each other's friend, confidante, and shoulder to cry on during the toughest times of both of their lives.

If you haven't figured this out, it is the story of my wonderful mother, Denise, and her love for the second half of her life, Harold. I will admit I was nervous to meet Harold for the first time. It wasn't because I didn't want my mom to be happy. On the contrary, I feel that she deserves all the happiness in the world. It was because I was afraid of what my reaction would be. I was nervous that I would not control myself and I would burst into tears.

Well, the first time I met him, he bravely agreed to join Jeff and I and the 3 kids (and my mom, of course!) at Legoland. It was a fantastic "test" and he passed with flying colors! He was great with the kids, I could see how well he treated my mom, and he has the goofy personality that I adored in my father. I could see they were a good fit and I was truly happy for both of them.

They were married on January 15, 2010. They just celebrated their first anniversary and I am so excited that they both found love again! What an amazing story! I am so grateful that my mom has someone to take care of her again, someone to laugh with, and someone to cry with. I also love that they share in their grief over their spouses. They were both in committed, loving marriages and bring that commitment to this marriage.

They came out last May to join in a family race and I enjoyed getting to know Harold even more. He said to me, "I don't know if we have laughed more or cried more this year." I think that is beautiful. We love you both! Happy Anniversary to a great couple.

Sharing our House

2010-12-05T10:00:00.001-08:00

We love our new house in the country and we want others to see what we love about it. One of the reasons I moved here is that I hoped I would be more willing to invite people over. It is not a huge house, but I think the view is beautiful and peaceful. My kids have taken really well to the transition because the already knew the house so well, thanks to our good friends being the owners, and our other friends living right next door! I took a few weeks to move in and then it was time to say goodbye to friends from our old ward. (Well, hopefully it's not goodbye because we only live 2 miles away!) I had a luncheon for the girls I visit teach, a class party for my church class and Dallin had almost all the boys from his class over. It also happened to be the week I was teaching preschool! Whew, it makes me tired reading that, but it was a great week. Here are some pictures!

I participate in a co-op preschool where the parents take turns teaching the group of preschoolers. I have done this since Dallin was 3 years old, and I really do enjoy it. Plus it fits my pocketbook better than the other preschools! We order a curriculum online and then take our turn. The theme for this month was "Farm". There couldn't have been a more perfect theme for my house! I took the kids to feed the horses down the street. (Although Bryce is the only one who would feed the horse the carrot from his hand!) We also went to see our chickens. We had "pigs in a blanket" for lunch. It was a fun day!

My next day of preschool I was in charge of the field trip to the fire station. The captain was fantastic with the kids! I was very impressed!

I was sad to say goodbye to my church class. They are all the kids who are turning 8 and who were baptized this year. Dallin was in my class and I enjoyed teaching him and realizing how much he has learned from other teachers over the year. He was the first one to be baptized and then was able to go to most of the other baptisms. There is a special spirit that is there and it was a great reminder for him of how he felt at his own baptism. I decided that instead of just a class party, we would make it service oriented. They had great attitudes as they made cards for soldiers and did crafts with our Special Needs group at the YMCA. Emily was also able to do service as their class performed a Thanksgiving play at an assisted living center.

I have not really had playdates for Dallin since he got into first grade. As the kids got bigger, I just felt more and more claustrophobic in my old house and backyard. I was excited to have 9 boys over to play to see how it went! The only bad news was it was rainy and cold so they only played outside for a little bit. They had a blast playing video games and then after playing outside they all came in for hot chocolate! I hope to do more of this type of entertaining this summer!

There was a rumor going around that we were going to get snow (only happens every couple of years here) and I was really hoping the weathermen were right because I had good friends coming into town!! Luckily there was enough snow for a "snow day" and the kids had fun in the light dusting of snow that cancelled school for the day! It was the day before Thanksgiving break, so we were able to play all day with our friends, the Merrills! We hung out, made snowflakes, and then went swimming in the heated pool. We also went to Spaghetti Factory. We had a fun time and I am glad they came to visit!

Thanksgiving was spent with the Porters and the Williamsons! They didn't assign me much, so I was able to get away with just bringing pies from Costco. (Although at the last minute, I felt compelled to make a homemade banana cream pie, just like I remember from my Thanksgivings as a kid!) The kids were all playing happily in the basement, so we actually started dinner with just the adults. It was very enjoyable. Then the kids started joining us one by one. We ended the night with games and surprisingly, the kids and adults all played in the same room, and it was great! I miss being with family during the holidays, but I feel lucky to have such good friends to share the day with. I wish I had more pictures. Maybe Ranell or Karen will post more. I do have a picture of the 5 pies we ate between 3 families!

That night, we inherited 2 extra kids. Ranell and Brian went to Hawaii for a week, so we watched their 2 youngest children. (Don't worry- we will be getting away in the spring!) It didn't always go perfectly, but the kids got along pretty well, everyone slept at night, and we all survived! I think it was successful!! We even had a lot of fun in there!

Okay, that is all for now. :-)

The pictures are all of of order, but I need to go hang out with my family. There are more updates to come!

Still Miss Him Like Crazy...

2010-11-30T22:31:00.000-08:00

This day will never get easier.

Grateful for- the 29 years I had this wonderful man in my life!

- friends willing to go to the temple with me at 5:15am.

-friends to help with the kids so I could roll back under the covers this afternoon.

- a husband who knew that I needed time with just him tonight.

-family who understands and knows I love them, even when I am not up for talking.

Thankful for Mom Moments

2010-11-26T13:55:00.000-08:00

I have pictures I need to upload, but left my camera at the house of our wonderful Thanksgiving feast!! We spent Thanksgiving with 2 wonderful families! The kids got along well, with only a few minor scuffles and we enjoyed fantastic food (too much!) and games. I will write more, but today I wanted to attempt to capture a moment.

Last night, we gained 2 extra kids, so we had to shuffle rooms a little. Emily was bummed to find out she was kicked out of her room and would be sleeping with Natalie (the 2 year old girl.) I put Natalie down first and Emily stayed up with me reading books. It was just me and her and I read her a couple of books. Then she picked one that she could try reading. I watched her face as she concentrated on each letter of each word. I watched her as her eyes glanced around the page, searching for clues as to what the word might be. She was able to read almost the whole big and I could see the pride in her eyes. Reading has not come as easy to her as it did to Dallin, and I have worked really hard to not compare them and to work with her in her time and interest. It has been amazing to watch her blossom in kindergarten, with the help of an incredible teacher. I was so glad that Emily missed the cutoff last year and I feel I gained an extra year with my sweet girl. I also am glad that Oregon doesn't pay for all-day kindergarten so that I get her before Dallin comes home so we can do homework together. I am treasuring these moments with her. I hope she knows how much I love her and how grateful I am to be her mother. She is a bright, funny, silly, beautiful little girl and I love watching her learn and grow.

Random

2010-11-14T22:34:00.000-08:00

Well, as you can tell, I am not sticking to NaBloPoMo, but I still want to update my posts more regularly. I am having a great time living in the country. We have a lot to learn, and mostly I am still working on getting my house in order. I have have loved having a clean slate to work with. I still wish that organization came easier to me, but I am doing the best I can! :-) Luckily I have good friends who give me ideas. (And if I am really lucky, they shop for me!)

Sarah and I have begun running together again. We meet outside our sidewalk and head out. It usually ends up being a great chat session. One run we were discussing my issues with losing things. I need to have a place where I always put the essentials- phone, keys, wallet, camera. I tend to switch bags around and then end up forgetting which one is where. The only time I have been successful at not losing something was when we were on our cruise. (Yep, my kids weren't there, so that probably helped!) I had a tiny purse that I wore across my body and always had it with me. Sarah and I decided I needed a purse that I could do that with, but it had to fit those 4 items mentioned above. My other issue is that I do not like shopping!! So, Sarah agreed to find me a purse!! It had to be small enough that I could easily carry it with me always. Here is what she found:

It is brown(which I wear a lot of) and very cute, yet practical!! I know it won't solve all my problems, but it seems to be helping!

Here is one of our visitors to the new homestead! She felt right at home with the chickens! We love having people come visit.

Here is my first sewing project! Emily had asked me to sew her a skirt for Veterans' Day. I told her I didn't think I would be able to get it together in time, so I didn't really think about it again. I sent out an email asking for scrap fabric so we could do some projects. One of my friends happened to have this flag fabric. Emily loved it, so I decided to go for it! I only had a little bit of time to work on it, but Emily helped me and we through it together in a night. She looked very pioneerish, but she loved it!! I am just proud that I did it!! I hope to find some more projects to do.

I have been helping with Math groups in Dallin's class on Tuesdays. This week I was able to work with these 3 boys: Tyler, Zach and Dallin. They have been buddies since they were babies. Zach has been on the waiting list for the Charter school for 4 years. We are excited to have him there now!! They are such good friends and nice boys!

We have still been working on potty training with Bryce. I think we are almost there. We decided after the kids and Jeff did some hard work inside and outside of the house it was time for some fun. We tried to go bowling, but it was full, so we went to the arcade. It is amazing how fast they go through those tokens! We had a good time!

(Love that Bryce's shorts are on backwards and wearing boots with them!! Just glad he is trying to dress himself)

So, that is it for now. Just plugging along! Finding the new normal, whatever that may be...

Happy Birthday Emily

2010-11-08T21:49:00.000-08:00

Emily's birthday fell on a Monday- the day we signed with our renters and the beginning of craziness! I hope she felt loved and adored! On her birthday, we went to our traditional birthday restaurant, Red Robin. She wanted to invite our adopted grandma, Sister Delong. I love seeing Emily with her. She is so sweet.

My mom came into town on Thursday, so I scheduled Emily's birthday on Friday so she could share it with us! Since we were packing and all that fun stuff, I opted for a no-stress birthday parted. She invited 14 friends and we went to Pump it Up!

It was a blast and even Jeff had a great time.

I am truly enjoying Emily and the sweet, sassy young lady that she is. I am glad that she missed the school cutoff so I can have this extra year with her. She is a bright girl who is very inquisitive. She asks a lot of questions and actually wants to know the answers. :-) She is learning to control her excitement and wait her turn in class. My favorite story this year was when she was dropped off at a friend's house a few minutes before I got there. She already had her homework out. I praised my friend for getting Emily to start her homework. I was informed that it was Emily's idea to do homework before watching T.V. I was so impressed and proud of my little girl!! I am trying to show her a lot of affection and appreciation. The hardest part is when I see some of my own weaknesses in her. I try to be patient and just love her!

She loves music, dancing, and anything a teenager would love! Happy 6th Birthday Emily!!

So thankful...

2010-11-07T23:39:00.000-08:00

for a weekend of inspiring words and a reminder of what's most important. I was able to attend Time Out for Women and hear wonderful speakers. They talked about overcoming adversity and having strength in your trials. They talked about the joy that can be found if you are looking in the right places. Being grateful for what you have and the blessings all around you. They also talked about focusing on the good that you do instead of the coulds and shoulds. I loved all of this! I have a renewed commitment to my family and giving them the best "me". I am excited to apply some of the things that I learned and/or was reminded of.

"No one can go back and make a new start

Anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending"

Filled with Hope

2010-11-06T21:42:00.000-07:00

I had a busy day on Friday making 100 freezer meals with 4 other awesome women and then I headed for a night out! We went to Time out For Women and had a great opportunity to remember that life can be filled with hope and love instead of despair and disappointment. I will share more thoughts when I have time to process all of it. It was very inspiring and I am excited to apply what I learned!

Time to catch up on Book of Mormon and get some studying done! More catch up posts with pics tomorrow!

Finding Me...

2010-11-04T23:02:00.000-07:00

So, part of this big experiment of moving to the "country" is trying to figure out what really makes me happy. I am pretty hard on myself sometimes when I don't think I am who I am "supposed" to be. One thing that has always bothered me is that I love being around people and getting to know them, yet I hardly invite people over. So, I am a socialite who doesn't entertain! Part of it is my lack of confidence in my cooking skills, so I don't want to have people for dinner because I am afraid it won't turn out. As I have become a little more proficient in the kitchen, I still hesitated to invite people over. I am not a natural decorator or party planner and I don't think about the details like some of the people I admire. I also didn't feel my house was well set up for entertaining. I had hoped that once I had a bigger yard that I would have people over. I am glad to say that I was right! I had book club at my house last night and today I had a luncheon for the neighbors that I used to live next to and of course my newest neighbor also came! I really enjoyed spending time with these awesome women and I felt comfortable in my own setting. I was very lucky that the weather turned out beautiful so we were able to eat outside and enjoy the sunshine. It was a very simple lunch, but I am okay with that! It is who I am- simple. :-) I hope they had a good time and felt comfortable at my house. That is what I want-for people to come and feel loved and welcome!

Book Club

2010-11-03T23:59:00.000-07:00

This is where I was tonight- at my house! It was great spending time with amazing women! (And this is why my blog is short and backdated!)

Day 2- My goals for the month

2010-11-02T09:30:00.000-07:00

Hi all, I love NaBloPoMo because many of my friends take part also and I get to read their posts every day! I am excited for this month because I feel like we are pretty settled in the new place and now I can use my preschool quiet time for other things than packing, unpacking or cleaning! Okay, so maybe I will have to use it for cleaning every once in a while. :-) For now, my focus is going to be studying. I will be taking the ACE Personal Trainer Certification Test on December 29th. So, I will be staying off Facebook and TV for the most part and using extra time to study. Wish me luck! Luckily, I really love the material. This is an important step for me.

My other goal during November is to read the Book of Mormon every day to keep my spiritual perspective. I have a couple of friends reading the Book of Mormon in 60 days. I wanted to continue where I was, so I began on Day 14 today. I loved reading more than one chapter and they happen to be come of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon! Here is the schedule I will be following:

14 2 Nephi 31-33
15 Jacob 1-4
16 Jacob 5-7
17 Enos, Jarom, Omni & Words of Mormon
18 Mosiah 1-3
19 Mosiah 4-8
20 Mosiah 9-12
21 Mosiah 13-17
22 Mosiah 18-21
23 Mosiah 22-26
24 Mosiah 27-29
25 Alma 1-4
26 Alma 5-7
27 Alma 8-10
28 Alma 11-13
29 Alma 14-17
30 Alma 18-21
31 Alma 22-25
32 Alma 26-29
33 Alma 30-32
34 Alma 33-36
35 Alma 37-40
36 Alma 41-44
37 Alma 45-48
38 Alma 49-51
39 Alma 52-56
40 Alma 57-59
41 Alma 60-63
42 Helaman 1-4
43 Helaman 5-7
44 Helaman 8-12
45 Helaman 13-16
46 3 Nephi 1-4
47 3 Nephi 5-8
48 3 Nephi 9-12
49 3 Nephi 13-17
50 3 Nephi 18-20
51 3 Nephi 21-26
52 3 Nephi 27-30
53 4 Nephi, Mormon 1-2
54 Mormon 3-7
55 Mormon 8-9
56 Ether 1-5
57 Ether 6-10
58 Ether 11-15
59 Moroni 1-7
60 Moroni 8-10

So, I will finish right before Christmas- I love it!! Thanks to Suziepetunia and Ranell for the inspiration!

Okay, time to study!

Perspective

2010-11-01T21:27:00.000-07:00

This is a perfect topic for the first day of November. It is easy to get caught up in the daily grind and forget what is most important. I have a friend who has helped me to remember that life should not be taken for granted. Her husband was diagnosed as an 18 year old with brain cancer. (He was not her husband at the time!) He miraculously beat it and was able to live another 22, service filled years before brain cancer eventually came back and took his life. He was an integral part of our little community and was involved in helping in so many ways. His wife is an equally strong amazing woman who I have truly enjoyed getting to know. One of the things she said really struck me. About 9 months ago she said, "I see all these marriages falling apart over petty differences and selfishness and I am doing everything in my power to hold onto mine." I keep this in my heart when I get upset about small things. Her husband used those "extra" 22 years to bring smiles to everyone around him. The stories that were told at his funeral sounded a lot like those used to describe my father. Somehow I can see that they might be joking around in heaven together, even though they didn't know each other here. :-)

We were able to take their family out boating about a week after the funeral. It was great to see all of them smiling and having a good time.

This month I also want to think about the things I am grateful for. Today it is:

1. Our health

2. A new day, a new start

3. A wonderful community to live in

A New Beginning...

2010-10-30T22:27:00.000-07:00

That's what I feel I have right now. In the last 3 weeks, I have run a marathon, packed, cleaned and moved an entire household of almost 10 years into another house of which I have unpacked and mostly organized! Whew! It has been busy, but suprisingly, it has not felt stressful or chaotic. There were a couple of days that I felt overwhelmed, but each time I was able to take a breath and just keep chipping away at it. I am very pleased with how well it has gone. A main reason it has been so smooth is because of this amazing woman:

Yep, it's my mom! Even though she looks like she could be my sister instead of my mom! When I found out I might be moving, I called her and asked if she would come out for a week. I knew that having her here would make things much, much easier, and I was so, so right! She was basically in charge of Bryce so that I could make a million trips over to the new house in the "country". It is only a mile and a half away, but it feels worlds apart, and I LOVE it! I wake up to deer running across my yard and I enjoy the quiet.

Here are a few pictures:

This is the view off our deck and the kids are playing in the leaves they spent all day raking!

We have been very lucky to live in such an amazing neighborhood for the last almost 10 years. They have been there for me in good times and bad and I hope they can say I have done this same. This was such a tough choice for us to make, but we have both always wanted to raise our kids with more space. I want my kids to run out in their own backyard. I want to have kids over to play and in our old house I just wasn't doing that as much as I would like. I love nature! I feel claustrophobic when I walk outside and see a fence 10 feet away. When we had our house on the market, neither Dallin nor Emily even wanted to look at the possible houses to buy. At the end of the summer, our good friends bought a house and were looking for someone to rent their house on 5 acres. We realized it was a perfect opportunity for us. Surprisingly, the kids were great sports about it because they already know the house. We ended up renting our house instead of selling it. We had a renter lined up, who then backed out. Luckily we found another great renter and it has been crazy fast since then! Many of my friends have helped us move and unpack and I am extremely grateful. I know it is what has made this process run as smooth as it has. A few of my friends and neighbors have joined us to play and I hope they will keep doing so. We want to share our home with others often!

While my mom was here we took a "break" for one morning and went on the preschool field trip to a beautiful pumpkin patch. There was a train ride out and a boat ride back. It was a perfect day to go! Not a cloud in the sky. I am glad I was able to enjoy that with my mom. She helped me with the packing also.

One of the nice things is we live next door to Suziepetunia and her cute family. We always talked about having a house in the country next door to each other, but I don't think we really thought it would happen. We have even been able to run together and we just meet in the middle of our houses! I have enjoyed chatting with her at her house as she creates fun school projects. Her kids play outside with mine and when they are done they are not afraid to say so. Bryce told Alice, "Go to your side." I thought it was cute and reminded me they will fend for themselves just fine!

Here are the chickens and we will be adding a few more tomorrow.

Here is my favorite chicken! This leads right into our Halloween pics. Bryce loved being a chicken. He was very cute with all the people who commented on his costume. He was very upset when Emily told him that roosters are boys and chickens are girls. Bryce has made the transition to this house very easily. He loves running around outside and is glad that all his toys and puzzles made it here. :-)

Here is another Halloween picture. We went to the trunk or treat with our good friends the McDuffies. We love spending time with them. I enjoyed seeing all the kids in costumes and my candy bowl with the hand that grabs was a hit! (only made a few kids cry...)
After a couple of days of rain, we had one dry day for trick or treating around Old Town. Even the donut shop gave out free donut holes. I love our little town! I enjoyed the time with my kiddos!

Another one of Bryce and Alice! They are a great pair.

Now onto Miss Emily. I love this picture of her and it captures her expression perfectly. She always has a smile on her face. She does her best and always wants to learn more. She will shower you with love and affection if you let her. The move has been the toughest on her because she loves the neighborhood. I know she will love it in the end, and she is already attached to the chickens! She is doing great in kindergarten. She turned 6 while my mom was here, so we will have more pictures about that shortly! I love this little girl!

Speaking of updating posts, I have so much more to write. Today is actually the 5 year anniversary of my first blog post! I wrote about being a chicken with my head cut off. One of the reasons I moved to the country was to slow down and really enjoy life. I am excited to have that chance. November is the Nablopomo, the challenge to write every day. I have decided I am going to use it to catch up this year. Then my Christmas present to myself is going to be to print out my blog books. This is my scrapbooking! So, feel free to check in often and say hello. It feels good to be back!

I will leave you with the Chicken Dance!

In my thoughts and prayers

2010-06-25T10:45:00.000-07:00

I can't stop crying and reading facebook and blogs right now. I have been trying so hard to stay off the computer, and just live life instead, but I can't stop thinking about friends and family and feel so helpless right now. Here are the things I need prayers for:

1. My sister's father in law was just diagnosed with brain cancer, the same rare cancer my dad passed away from in November of 2007. Shelly has been such a rock for them, but I am hurting for all of them, especially Paul. To be faced with your own mortality has got to be so difficult. He is keeping a blog and reading his perspective sure helps me keep mine.

2. A childhood friend passed away this last week. He was 35 with 3 small kids and he just collapsed in his living room. I am so saddened by this and wish I could go to the funeral. I can't imagine what his wife is going through. Please pray for this family.

3. A good friend of mine's little boy is in surgery right now to have a tumor on his brain removed. He is 5 years old and a sweetheart. I am just aching for them right now. I want to do all I can to help them.

How can we hear about things like this and then get worked over the things in life that we don't have? Why do I let myself get caught up in things that don't matter? How can I truly focus on what's important and teach my kids the same? I have a lot of thinking to do. Right now, here are the things I am so grateful for:

1. A kind and forgiving husband who accepts me as I am and loves me anyway. He makes me want to be the best I can.

2. 3 healthy, sweet kids who each have their individual strengths and weaknesses. I just want to appreciate them for who they are.

3. Amazing family who have made me who I am.

4. Friends and neighbors who will do anything for us.

5. The gospel which teaches us about eternal life. I want to live so that I can be with my dad again. I miss him so much.

6. My health.

Well, there is so much more on my mind, but I have 8 kids running around my house right now. Please keep all these families in your thoughts and prayers too.

Quick Update

2010-06-11T08:39:00.000-07:00

So, I was trying to take a break from blogging, but I still want to use this as my scrapbook (and my mom was asking for some new pictures!). So, here goes!!

Easter(Cont'd)

Mother's Day Weekend- I was lucky to have most of my family in town for Mother's Day. I signed us all up for a race (aren't I so nice?!) and we spent the rest of the weekend eating the calories we burned off. :-) We had a wonderful time together, even got to take out the boat! Thanks for visiting us everyone! I especially had fun having a baby in the house again (baby Owen!)

Beach- We were able to go on a campout with the scouts. After a weeks of rain, we were blessed with the only 2 dry days. It was gorgeous.

Last day of school- Emily had her end of the year preschool luau. I was so proud of her and loved hearing about how kind and helpful she is in class. She is ready for kindergarten!

Dallin had some fun end of the year activities. His teacher has been phenomenal. She is leaving the school to get her PhD and she will be greatly missed. The ceremony was very touching. She is one of those inspiring people who make you want to be a better person.

Geocaching- This is our new family hobby. After a couple of unsuccessful attempts, we met up with the Giles on Memorial Day and had a great time finding hidden treasures in our little town.

Bryce Bday- Bryce turned 3!! He was so excited! All he wanted to do was go on a roller coaster. Since no parks are open yet, we did the next best thing- went on a virtual roller coaster. :-) It was a good day and we loved celebrating Bryce. He is such a vibrant part of our family.

Summer has begun!! We started off the summer with a bang with a school trip to Safari Sam's! I am ready for a low key, fun summer!!

There is so much more! Over this 2 months, our house was on the market. We didn't end up selling it, but it has been a great learning experience. Someday I will post more about it!

Going Unplugged

2010-04-04T22:39:00.000-07:00

I love reading blogs to see how my friends are doing and to feel connected to other adults. :-) However, sometimes it turns into blog hopping which ends up being unproductive and jealousy-inducing. (Jealousy of others' gifts and talents)

So, for now I am going back to posting on Sundays as a way of keeping in touch. Please keep reading and I will keep reading yours. (Just not as often!) I am also going off Facebook, except when I get messages.

We had a wonderful Easter with good friends. We continued an Easter brunch tradition that started 8 years ago, and had an Easter dinner that was fabulous! We feel so blessed to have such good friends. Big holidays always make me miss my family.

I don't have pics from today. (My camera is in the car. I am feeling lazy...but there are some cute ones, I promise!

Here are a few pics from Easter Egg hunt #1 last week. (There ended up being 5 altogether! That is another story for next week!) We rode our bikes to the Easter Egg Hunt. (Jeff stayed home to work on the house.) It was a benefit for a girl's family in Dallin's class whose father has brain cancer. They are such a sweet family and it is a cause that is close to heart. There was a fantastic turnout and the kids had a lot of fun. Bryce figured out the hunt right away and it was great watching him as if he were on a mission!

See ya next week!

Spring 2010

2010-03-28T21:49:00.000-07:00

My main goal for this blog is to use it as my "scrapbook." Since I am not a scrapbooker (finally had to give myself permission to give up on that one!), I love knowing that somewhere I am documenting some of our adventures. Here is March in a nutshell:

I went on my first field trip with Dallin! I haven't been able to because of those 2 other children I take care of. :-) I enjoyed spending the day with Dallin and I had never been to the state capitol before.

Celebrated 2 sweet baby boys of my good friends Sarah and Molly. I will admit it is weird for Sarah to have a new baby and not me. (Alice and Bryce are 6 weeks apart!) That being said, I am coming to terms with our family being complete. So, I just love on other babies whenever I get the chance!

Here is the yard that Jeff and I have dreamed of having. The kitchen was awesome too! We would love to have a little bit of acreage to enjoy nature in our own backyard. We love our house and our neighborhood, but our backyard is not too big. We found this property and put an offer on it, but unfortunately they didn't accept our contingency. We have decided to move forward and sell our cute house, and then maybe we will find another property we love. It has been an emotional process, but I have truly enjoyed spending time thinking about what we want for our family. I love that Jeff and I are on the same page and have the same goals. What a blessing this is!

I felt very loved this year as I tried to quietly turn another year older. My kids reminded me every day that my birthday was coming up, and they decided that we should spend it at the beach. Our plan was to go whale watching and enjoy a sunny day at the beach, and it didn't quite happen like that. Our good friends and next door neighbors had told us to join them at the coast. We decided to stop by and say hello. Little did we know that the house they were staying at was on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean. It was a little bit of heaven for me! We hung out in the hot tub, the kids played games, we watched the BYU basketball game, and they even sent Jeff and I out to eat dinner by ourselves. It was a fantastic birthday!

We have been enjoying our spring break by staying local. We started it off by meeting up with friends at a park! There were friends from home, friends from blogging, and friends I just hadn't met in person yet. :-) I loved seeing my kids make new friends and just enjoy the beautiful weather.

We spent the rest of spring break playing, hiking, and a rainy day at JJ Jump. In the mornings, I let the kids relax and play Wii. I think it was a great staycation. There was a lot of emotional up and down, but it all made me appreciate my family and how grateful I am for my blessings.

Easter Egg Hunt pics to come! It is time for bed. Bryce has surgery to fix his broken tooth tomorrow. I really hope it all goes well.

Mission: Simplification

2010-02-23T15:27:00.000-08:00

One of the reasons this weekend was so enjoyable was that when it came time to clean up, it was quick and easy because there wasn't much to clean up! When I went on my first cruise, I discovered that I truly can take care of my things- when there are less things to take care of. (and when someone makes my bed every time I leave the room and cooks for me!) I had such a peaceful, relaxing weekend at the beach, that I have decided to take what I learned back home with me. The answer is:

Simplify!!

The problem- My A.D.D brain has a hard time deciding what to keep and what to get rid of. So, I am trying to move quickly through my house and make the decision on the spot! For example, today I cleaned out the kids bathroom and got rid of baby towels and hand towels that we don't need. There were A LOT of them. I also went through all the mismatched socks, matched them, and threw away the ones that didn't match. Any solutions for how not to lose socks?

I feel really good about what was accomplished today. My plan is to declutter an area every day. My end goal- less things to take care of means less stress and more time to enjoy my kids.

Anyone have ideas? What do YOU think are the bare necessities?

Just the 5 of Us

2010-02-21T21:31:00.000-08:00

I like to think of myself as a "fun" mom and keep the kids busy with things such as library time, going to the pool, and sometimes even bigger adventures such as going to the beach. Most of the time these trips include me and the kids- but not dad. Our weekends tend to fill up with normal things such as weeding, cleaning (important, nonetheless!), sports, etc. Daddy does like to take them to the Y, Home Depot, or for donuts. Our bigger adventures with the whole family seem to also include other families. Boating, for example requires us to have another family to help with the flagging. :-) We have a yearly beach trip that we have been doing for 8 years and we go camping once or twice a year, and it's always with another family. We love spending time with other families and our kids love having their buddies around, but I think it would be a good thing to get some time with just US every once in a while.

That long winded explanation gets us to this weekend. (Do you expect anything less from me?!) I was feeling pretty sick on Friday and spent much of the day in bed. It was beautiful weather and I was sad to be wasting it inside. I got this crazy idea that I would rather be laying on a couch at the beach! I asked my good friend, Ranell if her beach condo happened to be available. It was and I looked on my calendar and amazingly enough, we had nothing scheduled!! I mentioned it to Jeff and he didn't seem too thrilled, but I realized it was because he had a few things he wanted to get done. So, on Saturday morning, I woke up feeling a little sick still, but went for a run and came back rejuvenated! Jeff took the kids with him to play Ultimate Frisbee and I went to work cleaning the house. When Jeff got home, he worked on his project and then he was ready to take off.

(This view is what I was dreaming of! There is nothing more soothing to me than being at the beach. It is so calm and peaceful and there is nowhere I would rather be. I know a lot of my love of the beach came from my dad, so it means even more to me now to be there.)

I packed as little as I needed just to make it less stressful. It is nice knowing the condo is well stocked with fun things to do. We went to my favorite beach first and played on the sand. It was a little colder than I had imagined in my head, so we didn't stay too long.

We went out for dinner and then headed back to the condo for my favorite part- a late night swim!! No pictures because I just wanted to enjoy it and not worry about my camera! It is a warm pool that looks out at the ocean. It was wonderful.

Today we slept in, played some tennis, played board games, read books, and just relaxed.

We went for a walk to Devil's Punch Bowl and then cleaned the condo and headed home. We spent time discussing our goals as a family. We did have some whining and that gave us a chance to talk about how we feel when we aren't appreciated. Overall, I think we all had a great time. I look forward to coming back and staying for a few days this summer. It is my favorite place to stay at the beach. Lots to do or nothing to do- it is all your choice! I love my little family and I am glad we got to all be together!

Love is...

2010-02-14T14:31:00.000-08:00

...seeing your son baptized by his father. What a special experience this was for all of this. My mom was able to come as well as Jeff's parents. I am so grateful they flew out for Dallin's day.

I am so proud of Dallin and the boy he has become. I know I am too hard on him sometimes because of the bar he has set for himself. I need to remember to let him be a kid still. :-) He is sweet, kind, and works hard at everything he tries. I am grateful for Jeff for the example that he has been to me and my children.
We had many friends come and I hope Dallin felt how loved he is. We are grateful for all of our friends here who have become as close as family.
The one person who I really was sad couldn't be there was my father. I know he was there in spirit and I hope Dallin knows how proud of him he is. We all miss my dad so much, but we think about him often and that makes us strive to be like him.

We went out with the grandparents that night to play some miniature golf and arcades. It was a great day. We were sad to see Grandma Di and Grandpa Mel leave.

The rest of the week we spent playing with Grandma Nise. All of us love having her here, especially Emily.
As I have spent a lot of time this weekend thinking about Love, I have recommitted myself to making it my focus. Relationships are the most important thing to me, and I want to make sure the choices I make and how I spend my time reflect that commitment. I tend to overanyalyze things and today in primary, we sang these words, and it hit me, it's very simple!
What does the Father ask of us? What do the scriptures say? Have faith, have hope, live like his Son, help others on their way!

It really IS that simple. Be like the Savior. Treat others with Love, as the Savior would. I am grateful that Dallin chose to Follow the example of Jesus, and I will strive to do the same.

Taking to the skies

2010-01-26T06:54:00.000-08:00

Jeff has always talked about wanting to get his pilot's license. It is a dream of my little sister, Shelly, also. I have no desire to fly a plane (I don't even like the responsibility of driving a car!), but I think it's great that Jeff wants to.

For his birthday, I surprised him with an introductory flight and instruction. At first, I was just planning on him going, but they said there was room for me in the 4 seater plane so I decided to join him!

It was so much fun!! I will admit I was very nervous. The weather didn't look too great, but once we were up in the plane it was gorgeous! What an amazing experience! Jeff was able to fly for the takeoff and once we were in the air he learned how to do some crazy turns. I think he really enjoyed it. Yep, I was the cool wife for the day!

It was a great date and birthday for Jeff. We followed the flight with shopping for new clothes for Jeff. I hope he knows how loved he is!

Potty Training- Heaven Help Me!

2010-01-23T09:56:00.000-08:00

So, if you have read my blog for a while, you should know that I am not the most talented potty trainer. I have no desire to train Bryce yet, mostly because Emily (at 5) is still hit or miss every once in a while.

That being said, last night Bryce started screaming that he wanted to wear underwear. I have NEVER had that happen. So, I am jumping on it. I wanted a place to keep track of his successes and accidents, and I just knew the universe would want to be update on every exciting detail, so here we go!!
Friday night- Watches Go Potty Go, reads potty books, wants to wear underwear!

Saturday
8:45am- Bryce wakes up, almost dry and I take off his diaper. He starts going pee immediately so I place him on his potty seat on the big potty. He gets an M&M- woo hoo! Off to a successful start. We set the timer for 20 minutes and turn on Go Potty Go.

8:57am- I see Bryce standing up and he is saying his pants are wet. Sure, enough, he had peed. I calmly wisk him into the bathroom and tell him it was an accident and we talk about it. (I have no idea what I am doing!)

9am- Bryce eats his breakfast, drinks milk and water.

9:20am- Bryce sits on the potty. We read 5 potty books, sing songs. It is about 15 minutes and he is done. Done at 9:35.

9:40- Yep, 5 minutes later, he has an accident. So, I calmly talk to him and tell him that Thomas wants Bryce to keep him dry.

9:50- Set the timer for 20 minutes.

10:10am-Sit on the potty. Read Curious George. No pee pee. :-)

10:20am-Set timer for 20 minutes. Bryce is watching Thomas.

10:34- Accident on the floor. Almost made it. Still trying to be calm. Changed underwear.
10:40- Set timer for 20 minutes
10:50-ate more breakfast/lunch. :-)
11:00- Had an accident 6 seconds before the timer went off. Yep, 6 seconds.
11:05- Bryce asked for a diaper and I was THIS close to throwing the towel in and letting Jeff take all 3 kids to the gym.
11:06- Realized I didn't need to give up so quickly. I am going to make it the whole day. We can do this!
11:15-Accident #5- hoping we have better luck with poo poo. Still tempting to give up. This is why I don't make it through potty training!
11:25-Accident 6- tempted to stop. Must.be.strong!
11:51-#7-
12:15pm- Success!! Stayed dry before the timer went off. Went a little pee pee!! I told him we would go outside when he went pee pee. Now I am hoping for the poo poo!
12:30-Was playing bball and had an accident. Bummer. Came inside
12:45- Restart timer
12:55- accident while eating lunch. I think it is nap time, diaper time. I will not give up yet. He is trying to go #2.
1:30-Decided we are both ready for naps! Put a diaper on for sleeping and we will try again after nap. I am enjoying the advice I am getting!

Update
On Saturday- Bryce pooped in his diaper and then decided he didn't want anything to do with the potty.

Sunday
Jeff stayed home from stake conference to try his luck with Bryce. It even went worse than Saturday. No sign of Bryce figuring out his signals. So, we have decided it is not quite time. I am relieved. :-)

Being my youngest especially, I am not quite in a rush. Thanks for all the advice. When we decide to go full force, I will definitely be taking it.

So Blessed

2009-12-28T00:15:00.000-08:00

I don't feel like I have had the best attitude this week. I am not great at being the one who needs taken care of. That being said, I am so grateful that Jeff was able to spend the week with us. He played with the kids, took care of meals, picked up the medicines I needed, and even did part of laundry. :-) He never once complained! I wish I could say the same about me, but I will admit I was pretty bummed. It was not the way I envisioned Christmas break. After complaining on facebook, enough of my friends reminded me what Christmas is about, and I quickly saw their point.

I have my family- a husband who treats me with complete respect and love and is a wonderful father. 2 boys and a sweet little girl who all make me smile every day.
I live in a neighborhood where people take care of each other. We had phone calls each day asking what we need. We were brought dinner one night and breakfast for Christmas morning. We were brought many treats to keep our tummies full and happy. (even though no one wanted treats from us!)
We were all together!

Some of my favorite December moments:
Picking out the Christmas tree on a cold Saturday morning.

Emily performing in a dance clinic.
Christmas parade.
2 beautiful concerts by amazing and talented friends, Sarah, and Karen. They really brought the Spirit of Christmas to me. One of the concerts was held at Festival of the Nativities and Ranell was kind enough to drive with me and all the kids!

Lunch with women from my neighborhood.

Building a gingerbread house with Jeff.
Cookie party with friends.

Visiting Dallin's class for the ice cream party.Nutcracker with Emily and lots of good friends and their daughters!

Kid Party at my house!
Emily's preschool Christmas party.

Dallin's first piano recital.

Emily's first Choir performance.
So, I am especially grateful that we celebrated early in the month, so when I got sick we didn't miss out on too much. :-)

The Reason for the Season

2009-12-24T12:23:00.000-08:00

I am not feeling the Christmas spirit very much as I am laying in bed with the flu, but I am getting the feeling that there is something I need to learn this season...

SLOW DOWN and enjoy life for what it is. These last few weeks have taught me to focus on the most important things- my relationships. When it comes down to it, that is what really matters. My relationships with my immediate family, my extended family, my friends, and even relationships with strangers. How we treat people determines how happy we will be, and these are the memories that will matter the most in the end.

One of my good friends, Kellie, lost her sweet 6 year old girl to a tragic accident. I wrote down these thoughts:

Life is too short...

...to worry about all the things we are NOT doing.
... to let petty differences get in the way of a relationship.
... to hold onto hurt feelings.
... to focus on our own weaknesses instead of our good qualities.
... to compare ourselves to others.
... to judge people because they are different from us.
... to NOT enjoy the time with our precious children. They are truly gifts from God.
... to NOT find the beauty that is all around us.

So, especially this season, I hope all of us can turn to the Savior and let him heal us. Help us turn our hearts to each other and especially to our children. Help us see things from their eyes. I hope we can forget our differences and be there for one another. I hope we can be patient with one another and ourselves as we all travel different paths. I hope we can be quick to forgive and quick to admit our mistakes- to ourselves, each other, and our children. I hope we can remember how much Heavenly Father and the Savior love each of us and want us to help each other return Home. I hope we can admit when we need help and be quick to help each other. I hope that we can enjoy the good moments and lean on each other during the hard times. I am grateful to know of the Plan of Salvation and that we will be together again. As for now, I it is my hope that we can all find the good in each other.

I love all of you and feel that each person I have met has touched my life in a special way. Thanks for being forgiving of my mistakes and helping me through the tough times.

I will now do some catch up on earlier dates.

Grateful for Family

2009-11-27T16:38:00.000-08:00

I have just been enjoying making memories with the family. We were lucky enough to spend a week with each family. I am thankful to have them all in my life. It has been great seeing all the cousins play together.

Going off line

2009-11-14T02:11:00.000-08:00

I am not sure how much computer access I will have over the next 2 weeks. I will not stress about it. I will put up cute pics whenever I get a chance. Have a great holiday! I can't wait to be with family!

Motivated by Love

2009-11-12T23:21:00.000-08:00

This is the most important thing to me, and I need constant reminders. If my actions are motivated by love, then I will be in the right place at the right time. This includes even the seemingly mundane things such a cleaning the house. I want my home to be a place where my kids and husband look forward to being. I want my friends to feel welcome anytime. I just need to remember why I am doing it when I get frustrated.

This is definitely a quality that my dad possessed. It seemed as if everything he did was motivated by love.

I read a beautiful talk by Elder Uchtdorf called Love of God.

I recommend you read it tonight. It will change your perspective, I promise.

Bryce moment: He has discovered another way to suck me into a longer bedtime routine. He asks me to lay down with him on Dallin's bed. I sing to him, I cuddle him and then he is ready for bed. I am loving every minute of this routine.

Much ado...

2009-11-11T22:33:00.000-08:00

We had a fun day with the kids today, but no camera to document! We went with friends to the local Burger King playland and they played for a couple of hours. Bryce was so happy to be playing with the big kids. I am at a really nice stage right now where I can watch all 3 kids play together. Emily was very sweet with Bryce and stayed by his side. He is talking more and more. I love it! On the other hand, he is speaking his voice much more, and is very demanding. Here are some of my favorite Bryceisms,

"I try it." When he wants to something himself.
"It's coming." When we turn on the stereo.
"How about this one?"
"Bryce's turn."

He is very much into screaming right now. You have to acknowlege everything that he says, or he immediately goes to screaming. Sometimes, he doesn't even ask nicely first. I am trying to show him this is not the way to ask for things. I am a lot tougher than when he was a baby, and I have to just ignore it. He eventually gives up.

That is all for now. I am tired.

PS
I did my mission today- the refrigerator is spotless. (And empty...I might have been too good at getting rid of food before we leave.)

Baby steppin'

2009-11-10T09:32:00.000-08:00

I am officially becoming a fly lady. Go to flylady.net Today- I am getting my shiny sink! Anyone else follow this?

If not, tell me your secrets to a clean, orderly home. :-)

Pumpkin Patch Catch Up

2009-11-09T22:07:00.001-08:00

I need to get to bed, so I thought I would do a catch up post! I was able to go with Emily on her preschool field trip to the pumpkin patch. This is a great farm with lots of animals, apple cider, mazes, and of course pumpkins!
We started off by riding the bus. Bryce was most excited about this. He couldn't get over the fact that he wasn't in a car seat! It was very cute.

The preschool is run by a high school class and each child is assigned 2 "buddies." Emily is in heaven having two teenagers listening to her every word. They are so great with her. This was a perfect program for Emily! She is loving preschool!

I am glad I was able to go with Emily on the field trip. We all had a great time and ended with yummy apple cider doughnuts.

Healthy Mind, Healthy Body, Healthy Soul

2009-11-08T21:19:00.000-08:00

In order to be the person I was created to be, and the mom I want to be, I have realized the most important thing to do first is take care of me. This includes being physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually strong. There are some areas that come easy for me and some that don't. As some of you know, exercise is something I enjoy and I look forward to. It is my time away and time to chat. I am working on eating healthy. I try to take time each day to read my scriptures and to write down my thoughts. I can tell what a difference this habit does for me. Emotionally, it is very important for me to connect with my kids, my husband, and other adults. Sometimes I go into my own little world, and then I realize I truly need people. Mentally, there is not always much stimulation. I enjoy working a few hours a week at the Y and answering questions about health and fitness. I especially enjoy teaching an 8 weeks to wellness class. These keep my mind active. I have been thinking a lot lately about the things I bring into my head. With my ADD, the more I fill my head with, the more easily I can be distracted and lose sight of my goals. My awesome aunt sent this forward today. Although I am not always a huge fan of forwards, this one made me think:

The Stranger

A few years after I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small Texas town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on.

As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family.. In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey. But the stranger...he was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies.

If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He took my family to the first major league ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped
talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind.

Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet. (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.)

Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home... Not from us, our friends or any visitors. Our longtime visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush. My Dad didn't permit the liberal use of alcohol. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly and pipes distinguished. He talked freely (much too freely!) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing.

I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked... And NEVER asked to leave.

More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you could walk into my parents' den today, you would still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures.

His name?.... .. .

We just call him 'TV.'

(Note: This should be required reading for every household in America !)

He has a wife now...We call her 'Computer.'

So, I am planning to cut out as much TV as I can. When I have downtime, I am going to choose to read a book or play a game with Jeff. I will also be picky with my books. :-)

The other aspect to my physical health is getting enough sleep. So, that is my other focus.

What are everyone else's thoughts?

Family Fun- Pump it Up Style!

2009-11-07T23:42:00.001-08:00

I am amazed that I am actually writing about something that happened today! The kids had a birthday party tonight, and for once we decided to all go together. Everyone was feeling better, so we were all ready to get some energy out. Here is the proof:

Now I am going to bed! (If you haven't read my last blog entry, please do and comment with your ideas!)

Always learning...

2009-11-06T20:40:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned 2 days ago, I am a self-help guru! I love reading self-help books, reading blogs about productivity, and getting new ideas for how to do things better. I am sure this makes me a nerd, but I am okay with it. I love learning from other people and getting their ideas.

Here are some of my favorite productivity resources: Getting things Done by David Allen, simplemom.net, motivatedmoms.com

So, I am hear to ask the rest of you. What is your trick? What do you feel you do really well as a "home manager?" Whether you stay at home or you work away from home, you are all managing your homes. I would love to hear your secrets. Don't be shy. Now is the time to brag. Bring it on...

I will start...

I am really good at getting my laundry done because of Monday Laundry Day. :-) It is a solution I came up with about 6 years ago and I have never turned back. I do all the laundry from start to finish on Mondays and that allows me to not think about laundry the rest of the week. (Except spit up, accidents, etc...)

Happy Brithday, Emily

2009-11-05T22:24:00.000-08:00

(It is time to do some catchup!)
Emily turned 5 on October 5th- her golden birthday! Dallin and I heart attacked her to surprise her when she woke up. We had her favorite breakfast- pancakes and her favorite dinner- egg burritos!

She was pretty excited to have preschool on her birthday and her good friend, Amelia, shares the same birthday!

She received a gift from a neighbor boy that she has a crush on.

The only thing she wanted on her birthday was to go on the boat. It was cold and got dark very quickly, but the kids had a great time. (Okay, so the moms did too- sorry Jeff didn't get a chance to ski!) This boat trip was with our next door neighbors and good friends. We are glad they joined us!

We were focusing on the family this year instead of a big friend party. Her big present was to go to Disney on Ice with the whole family. She was in heaven!

So many things that I love about Emily, but mostly I love her big heart. She never wants to see you upset, and is always offering to give part of what she has been given. She is a spunky girl with many, many questions. I hope she is always so inquisitive. She loves to make up songs and dance through the house. She is a sparkle in my life. I love you, Emmers!

Thankful for our health

2009-11-04T21:49:00.000-08:00

I have felt very lucky that our household has stay illness-free so far. Today I am feeling a sore throat, which is the first sign for me. So, I am being a good girl and going to bed early. I hope I can beat this bug quick. Thanks for the responses on yesterday's post. I love hearing the dreams of others!

When I grow up...

2009-11-03T22:32:00.000-08:00

...I still want to be a mother! That will always be my number 1 priority, however it is fun to think about going back to school. Yes, I am a school nerd. Most of you already know that about me. I call myself the self-help guru. I love learning new things and trying to become a better me. If there was a class on how to be the fastest housecleaner I would take it because that is what I want to learn right now.

Here are some ideas for the future (still looking toward that next stage!)

a. Registered Dietician- The chemistry behind the food and how it works in your body fascinates me. Once I truly learn it, I won't have any issues, right?!
b. Exercise physiology- big shocker!
c. Sports Marketing
d. Piano
e. Vocal lessons (please don't laugh at that one- I have always wanted to learn to sing, but I am still afraid of being told there is no hope for me.)
f. Ballet
g. Pharmacy- I found out my senior year of college how much I loved biochemistry. It was a little too late to switch majors. I would love to go to pharmacy school. No blood- ha ha!

So, there you have it, a couple of my dream classes and majors. What are some of yours?

No more Babies?

2009-11-02T21:23:00.000-08:00

This is the question for us. Having children has not come as easy for Jeff and I as I would have liked. Of course I have ended up loving the space between my children and the time I had with each of them. Bryce was our miracle baby and I am so grateful that he is in our family. We now feel that our family is complete and that it is time for the next stage of life. It is just so hard for me to think of not having another one of these to stare at and enjoy:

Watching Jeff with our babies has also been one of my favorite parts. He is also great with them as toddlers and beyond. Reading this blog by one of my favorite people helped me to get excited for what might be coming up, even as I think about what won't be happening again.
The hardest part for me is that I didn't enjoy Bryce as a baby as much as the other 2. There are many reasons for that, but I would be lying if I said I didn't feel guilty about that. Part of the reason I am using this month to focus on my "scrapbooking" is to remember the good times with Bryce. I am truly loving his little personality
as a toddler. He is so dang funny- we laugh every day.
I love the baby stage. I love watching their first smiles, hearing that first giggle, and watching their features change. I love cuddling with them on the couch and knowing that nothing is more important in that moment. I love the forced 2 week slow down that a C-section forced me to have, and a loving husband and mother allowed me to take.
I know I will miss seeing the kids with a newborn sibling...

But, I look forward to many more older sibling interactions. I know that I need to enjoy each moment that I can. I love 18months-3 and that is what I am in right now with Bryce! I am sure there will be stages that I will enjoy less than others. (Can anyone say potty training Bryce?!) And there will be others that I have not yet experienced that I will enjoy even more than I can imagine. I feel blessed to be a mother to 3 sweet beautiful kids and to have a husband who loves me and loves them completely.We have many, many more memories to make as a family. I am glad to be along for the ride! I love these 3 very different and unique individuals that I call my children. I love each of them for the little person that they are and that they are becoming. I want to know each of them individually and personally and appreciate their little quirks, even if I don't love those quirks at that time.

NaBloPoMo(or in other words you will get a post from me every day)

2009-11-01T05:18:00.000-08:00

This will be the third year I have participated in National Blog Posting Month. The first year I did it, it helped me through the most difficult time of my life. Last year, it helped me remember my goals and the legacy I want to leave. This year, my focus is my family. I am going to spend some time every day working on my digital scrapbook. I will use the blog to document what I have accomplished and to tell stories and share cute pics of my kids! :-)
Last night at midnight, I was supposed to register for a really fun race. It fills up really fast. It is an all women's race. I had asked my sisters and my mom if they would come run it with me. They said yes, so I was in charge of registering everyone. Well, the last thing I remember was seeing the clock at 11:46pm and telling Jeff, "Don't you remember when I fell asleep last year instead of registering?" Luckily, last year, the computers were down, so I was able to register later in the day. This year, I wasn't so lucky. It filled up in an hour. I am so bummed. I do things like this, and I am trying to learn from them and not get so disappointed. Since I woke up at 5am with my contacts still in, I decided to be productive and have something to show for it!

So, here are our Halloween pics! We had a busy weekend, and a great time!

It started off with a hair cut for Emily. She has been begging me to cut it for over a year, but I was nervous to lose the curls. Well, I was wrong. The cut is perfect for her! Some of the Halloween pics will show it off better! The best part is that she loves it! She asks everyone if they noticed her hair!

We went to a Kids' Halloween Party at our local YMCA on Friday. Bryce refused to wear the Pikachu costume I had picked up from a person on Craigs' list at 7:30 that morning! I was a little frustrated but was able to get him in Superman. :-) The kids made cookies, fished for candy, ran through a little maze and tunnel, and played soccer. It was a good way to start the holiday. That night, a good friend of ours was watching our kids and had a darling Halloween party! So, obviously they didn't miss us. We went to a fun adults-only party/scavenger hunt! It was fun to dress up and be with friends.

On Saturday, Dallin had his last soccer game. I was sad to see this season end. It was a great learning experience for all of us. After finding out that I had mistakenly put Dallin on a first grade team instead of the team with all his buddies, he was very disappointed. We were able to get him on a second grade team after all and it ended up being fantastic! He had an awesome coach and he made 10 new friends. :-) I did not get to see either goal that he made, but I was happy for him nonetheless!

Saturday night, we went to the ward trunk or treat and then trick or treated in our own neighborhood. Bryce was so funny. He got very upset if a house didn't have their lights on and as such didn't have candy for him. He sprinted from house to house. He loved his pumpkin bag. (Thanks Mom!) We ended the night with apple cobbler and vanilla ice cream.

I will be adding in updates as I go. I will keep a running tab on the side with my updates. My blog is now my digital scrapbook. I think it is a great way to capture how I am feeling in the moment. Feel free to visit every day this month! I look forward to getting a lot done and remembering great and not so great times. :-)

Just to hold you over...

2009-10-18T21:54:00.000-07:00

...mom! I will update soon, I promise. Since I am a little behind, here are some of the pics from our trip to Mexico. We had a fabulous time! We went with our friends and their kids, but we did not bring our kids. Sarah returned the favor from April when I watched her kids for a week, and watched our kids and we enjoyed every minute. We did a lot of crazy things like parasailing, rappelling down waterfalls, and riding zip lines. We also just enjoyed reading at the beach and spending time together. I was sad for it to end, but rejuvenated and ready to be a mom. :-)

Since we got back, we have been finding our school groove again. Dallin is figuring out how to fit in homework with soccer and piano practice, and I am learning how to balance time with the two younger kids. I can honestly say I am thoroughly enjoying being at home. I am glad that Emily missed the cutoff :-) and I was able to have one more year with her.

More details to come... (including Emily's birthday!)

Loving Fridays off already!

2009-09-12T02:19:00.000-07:00

Here is Dallin's first day as a second grader. It really does go by too quickly. Summer, that is, oh and their childhood!

After 2 days back in school, I was already excited to have Friday off. One of my favorite things about the Charter School was their 4 day week. The kids go an hour longer during the week, but it is worth it to sleep in on Friday and just chill out. Today was spent finishing last minute packing for our Puerto Vallarta trip- woo hoo!! and then I took the kids swimming. I just love being in the water with them. They all enjoy it so much. We actually had the pool to ourselves today and the lifeguard let us stay 30 minutes longer. I loved it!

So, Jeff and I are headed to Puerto Vallarta for a week. Sarah is taking on the awesome duty of watching my 3 lovely children. I wish her luck and I am ready to go. We are up late because we planned our 3 excursions. I will tell you all about them when I get back.

Thanks to all of you for reading. I look forward to blogging again, but it will be good to feel safe among friends!

Just a thought...

2009-08-18T23:03:00.001-07:00

This is what I want...

Time to turn this into a journal....

2009-08-11T04:47:00.000-07:00

...that is not open to the world. Please email me if you would like an invite. I haven't wanted to do this, but I feel like I should go private. Comment me if you don't have my email.

Thanks for checking in!

Epiphany

2009-08-07T14:27:00.000-07:00

This has been a great week for me to reflect. With my dad's birthday on Tuesday, I was reminded of what is most important- doing my best to be a good person and treat others kindly. Then as I was reading Eat, Pray, Love- I felt like I was hit on the head. Here are some snippets:

"To know God, you need only to renounce one thing- your sense of division from God. Otherwise, just stay as you were made, within your natural character."

She goes on to talk about the things that she wants, that she can't have "thick, dark hair" and makes this observation.

"But at some point you have to make peace with what you were given and if God wanted me to be a shy girl with thick, dark hair he would have made me that way, but he didn't. Useful, then, might be to accept how I was made and embody myself fully therein."

I love this!! I feel like I need this reminder over and over again. I hope I will always be striving to be a little better, but within my own capabilities and gifts.

So, my quest to be a more "at home" stay at home mom will continue, but only in the ways that work with my personality.

I would love more suggestions, but I have found my peace.

Stay at Home Ideas

2009-08-01T08:11:00.000-07:00

Alright, everyone teases me about being busy. Here are my reasons for staying so active:
1. I love being outside. I am sure part of that comes from growing up in the mountains and my love for the beach. (passed on from my dad!) Spending time at the park is very soothing to me.
2. I enjoy watching my kids learn from other people and their reactions- story time, music time.
3. I like my kids having a chance to run around without having a mess to clean up after. (mat time at the YMCA)
4. I love the water. (pool time at the YMCA)
5. I love people. (Meeting up with other friends is a great way to get to chat and get to know others.)
6. When I am at home, I feel like all I am doing is cleaning up messes. If I try to clean around them, another area of the house is being destroyed. Haven't quite figured that out.

Here is where I need your help. I honestly don't know what to do inside the house with the kids. Here are the things we do like doing inside the house:

1. Playing board games
2. Reading books
3. Playing Wii/computer
4. Attempting to get cleaning done (I am trying to get the kids more involved with this process thanks to the Parenting Breakthrough!)
5. I am very left brained/math oriented so the crafty/imaginitive stuff doesn't come as easily.

Since I want to limit #3 as much as possible, and I want to encourage my kids to play, what other ideas do you have? How do you spend your time at home with your little ones? I want to learn how to truly be a "stay at home" mom instead of on the go so much. I just don' t know how to do it. Help!