Reward

There is a $100 dollar reward

for the safe return of 2 handsets.

The batteries are no longer charged so we can't page them

Birthday Celebration

Thirty-six. 36. That's a 3 and then a 6. That's how young I am. Because from now on I will always have been younger at 36.

So what did I do yesterday to celebrate?

I gave myself the gift of a clean kitchen. I scrubbed the kitchen. I mean really scrubbed it. While everyone else was doing something they had to do, I was doing something I wanted to do. (Yes, I need therapy) I scrubbed the kitchen table and chairs. I even got underneath them and scrubbed the underside. The table legs are once again White and no longer Dingy-White With Remains of Dinners Gone By. (The tabletop gets wiped daily but somehow the legs get neglected) I pulled out the toothbrush and green scour pad and scrubbed all baseboards and floor. I vacuumed under the fridge and stove. I smiled the entire time.

While I was scrubbing away, Dan and the boys made a yummy dinner: Trader Joes' BBQ Chicken Teriyaki and Tempura Chicken with rice and veggies. During dinner the Dan and the boys went around the table and came up with 36 things they like about me. They were very kind. They even said I was patient.

Then it was time for cake. My request? The All American Chocolate Cake from Costco. Seven layers of sugar and calories. And at 900 calories a slice, I ate two. That's right. Two. It has been more than a year since I've had a bite of that cake. And after last night, I am more than OK if it's at least 2 more years until I have another.

The grand finale consisted of a Wii Just Dance 2 dance-off. I am happy to report that I still hold the record. Never mind that my competitors are all under the age of 13, it still makes me happy. (We won't talk about Mario Kart...)

It was a great day!

The Kind of Mom I'd Like to Be

In October 2002, I was reading The Friend and came across this poem written by a 7-year-old girl.

The Kind of Mom I'd Like to Be

I'd like to be a Mary Poppins mom.

And I'd like to be a mom of animals.

To take care of them and draw them.

I'd like to be a mom who does everything with her kids--

A mom who dances,

A mom of excitement,

A mom who loves everybody,

A mom who forgives,

A mom who joins her kids in any game,

A sewing mom,

A children's mom.

The words of this sweet little girl have inspired me throughout the years. I hope I am becoming the kind of mom my children want me to be. I hope I am becoming the kind of mom my children need me to be. I hope I am becoming the kind of mom I covenanted to be.

Photo by Megan Holdsworth

Paper, Pictures, and Sunday Shoes

I am starting this year with three very specific goals. It is the third day and I am still trying to figure out how I will best accomplish this. I know there will be adjustments along the way but I am determined to implement a system that will allow me to accomplish this year's goals. Your suggestions are welcomed.

1. Paper
Bills. Ads. Junk mail. Regular Mail. Receipts. I don't like it. I have a desk where most papers get placed. I have every intention of getting to it but then something almost always happens.....Life. It then takes about a month until the final paper has been shredded, filed, or thrown away. By then another month's worth of papers have already piled on. I will develop a system to deal with all the paper that comes into our home.

2. Pictures
Delete. Upload. Print. This is the year I will place our family pictures in a photo album. I'm not even talking about scrapbooking. I am talking about just a plain leather Costco-special photo album. Maybe upload a photobook. Something. Anything. I just want them out so that our children will enjoy them.

And last but not least,

3. Sunday Shoes

I want all Sunday shoes, socks, suits, white shirts, ties, dresses, hair bows, diaper bag, nursery bag, Branch President mail, etc. in its place on SATURDAY!!!!!! I will not spend another Sunday looking for one missing sock or shoe or tie or anything.

Here is a small glimpse into our peaceful Sabbath morning (soft Sunday music playing in the background):
Dan has already ironed white shirts on Saturday. For this I am thankful. He helps as much as he can before he has to leave for his meetings.

Then all chaos breaks loose. Where is the missing sock? Has anybody seen Jacob's tie? It was right here a minute ago. Joshua, where are your pants? Why are they not on? Where is Emma's other shoe? Why isn't anything where it should be? Who is your mother and does she know your room looks like this?

I'm done. I'm almost 36. I should have this all figured out by now, right? This is the year when habits will be created. Habits that will help create a little less stress. I want to more fully enjoy the blessings of an orderly home and I want my children to enjoy the blessing of a less crazy mother.

This is the year...Why not?

Merry Christmas

Little House on the Prairie. Perhaps no other television show brings back such fond childhood memories. (Except for Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas :)

We just finished watching Christmas at Plum Creek from season 1 and was reminded why I love this series.
I love the sacrifice each family member made to give a gift from the heart.
I love the simplicity of Charles' explanation to Carrie of what Christmas is.
I cried when Caroline opened the box and saw the stove.

So, here's wishing you your own Plum Creek Christmas.
Merry Christmas!!

Yay!

After running for 2 hours and 23 minutes, we crossed the finish line.

"2010-Why Not" Revisited

Why not? It seemed like a simple enough question, until I tried to answer it. And so it began...

I started the year with three very specific goals:
1. Continue with a healthy eating and exercise plan and not become frustrated if the scale didn't budge
2. Regardless of what I looked like, we would take family pictures with the talented Megan Holdsworth
3. Run a half-marathon (13.1 miles seemed much better than 26.2 miles)


Update:
1. I will always be working on this one
2. We took family pictures with Megan. (Thank you, Megan!!)
3. I have paid the registration fee to run a half-marathon in my hometown on Nov. 13. I have been following a training schedule and I intend on crossing that finish line.

I'll let you know how it ends.....

Who Am I Kidding?

This afternoon I did something I had been dreading. I cleaned out my sewing/craft closet.

Why was I still holding on to scrapbooking journaling templates from 1998? If I haven't finished my Felt Christmas Wreath from 2006 (is that when we made them, Edna?) chances are I'm not going to finish it for 2010. And Ericka, why did you let me take your unfinished baby blanket? Remember, the one we spent hours trying to design a "random" pattern for? The one you wanted to make for your now 9-year-old son?

Last year I bought a "Learn to Crochet" kit because I was going to make a scarf. Will I ever crochet scarves for my family? Will my children ever wake up on a cold Christmas morning to find a specially crocheted scarf in their stockings? No. Why had I felt it was necessary to add to my Things You Don't Really Have Time To Do List? And if I really did have the time, would I want to spend it crocheting? No. I wouldn't.

I'm deteremined not to buy one more crafty thing. At least not until I have sewn the 5 quilts I have fabric for, made my year's supply of cards, sewn the dresses I bought patterns for, and hemmed my pants.

June 2010

June brought the end of the school year, visitors, Emma's 1st birthday, a pioneer trek, a trip to Yuma, and an anniversary.


Blake graduated from elementary school and will be attending Middle School next year.

Way to go!

We had the great pleasure of having our friends stay several days with us. Brandon and Michelle have been our friends since our BYU days. We met just a few weeks after we each got married and we left Utah when we each had two children.

Now we each have 5 and even though we have lived hundreds of miles apart and I have only seen her once in the last 10 years we have always been able to pick up right where we left off.

I am so thankful for good friends who love to live the gospel.

They have been a tremendous source of inspiration.

We love you guys!

On June 4, our branch had the privilege of hosting a dinner for Sister Silvia Allred of the General Relief Society Presidency. Before she left for the airport on Saturday, I got to have lunch with her and 6 other people. I am grateful for her kindness and for the tender words she spoke.

Can you believe Emma is a year?

(How sad is it that she doesn't even get her own post? Almost as sad as the fact that her only present was a car seat. How's that for practicality? It was pink, though.)

We love this sweet little girl!!

On June 18, our family was able to participate in a youth pioneer trek. We were asked to portray a pioneer family digging a grave for the burial of a child. Yes, I cried. I cried when we were asked to do it. I cried each time the different companies came by. I couldn't help but think of our own pioneer ancestors and the hardships they experienced as they pushed handcarts. And I cried as I thought of dear friends who have had to bury two of their children. I am thankful for the gospel and that because of the priesthood, families are bound by a power that is eternal.

We also had cousin Rachel come stay with us. We wish she would have stayed longer and look forward to visiting with her and the rest of the family at the reunion.

We also went to Disneyland a few times.

The end of the month found us in a car driving the 3 1/2 hour trip to Yuma.

We stayed at Edna's house while she and Chris went on a cruise.
I got to spend the week with my two adorable nieces.

On June 28, Dan and I celebrated 14 years of wedded bliss.

It has been the best 14 years of my life.

I love that man.