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Sunday, December 31, 2006

2006- A Year in Review

Wow, I can't believe how quickly this year went! And yet it also feels like it's been such a long year. So much has happened, major life changes, and it's hard to believe it all happened in just the last year.

May- Finished my 3rd year of college and still no major or direction, but considering I got married and had 2 kids in those years, I think I did pretty good.

May 6- Hubby graduates cum laude with a BS in Computer Science

June 1- Sweet little Baby is born, all natural VBAC, an amazing experience

June 13- Close on new house in Idaho after 2 yucky days of waiting for them to finally get the papers ready, while we had brought nothing with us (clothes, diapers, etc) because it was supposed to be ready days earlier

June 14- We move to Idaho into our new house, with a 2wk old baby, hectic times with hubby starting his new job the next day too

July 18- Celebrated 3rd wedding anniversary with wonderful hubby

July 30- Hubby turned 26

Sept 27- My oldest turned 2

Dec 11- I turned 23

Oct thru Dec- Holiday season, need I say more?

And that's just the major things, there were many little events that went on between those times. It really has been a busy year, especially June lol. But it was a wonderful year, so many great things happened. Hopefully 2007 will be another fantabulous year!!!

Sunday Sermon

In church today there were some good speakers. One talked about the need for a person to be active with their faith. Meaning, you don't just believe something, you go out and act on your belief. He quoted someone but I can't really remember it well, but something about reaching the end of the light and stepping out into the darkness, or something like that. It was a good talk.

ETA: Just found the quote- "When you reach the end of light in your life and you find yourself standing before a dark abyss, faith is knowing that when you take the next step there will be something solid to walk on or you will be taught to fly."

Saturday, December 30, 2006

Trivia about Kara!

Ten Top Trivia Tips about Kara!

  1. Britain's Millennium Dome is more than double the size of Kara!
  2. Czar Paul I banished Kara to Siberia for marching out of step.
  3. If you lick Kara ten times, you will consume one calorie!
  4. In the Great Seal of the United States the eagle grasps 13 arrows and Kara.
  5. The first Kara was made in 1853, and had no pedals.
  6. Three seagulls flying overhead are a warning that Kara is near.
  7. Kara will often glow under UV light.
  8. Kara is the only one of the original Seven Wonders of the World that still survives.
  9. Contrary to popular belief, Kara is not successful at sobering up a drunk person, and in many cases she may actually increase the adverse effects of alcohol.
  10. Four-fifths of the surface of Kara is covered in water.
I am interested in - do tell me about


I found this at Skittles

Saturday Saying

"Don't matter how much money you got, there's only two kinds of people: there's saved people and there's lost people."
- Bob Dylan

I love Bob Dylan. If you don't know who he is, you need to be shot. He's one of the greatest singers of my dad's generation. I thought this was a great quote. Basically, it doesn't matter if you are rich or poor, what matters is where your heart is. Remember, you can't take your money with you when you die.

Friday, December 29, 2006

Friday Favorites

Wow, this week has gone fast. Here's my favorite gifts I got for Christmas:

1) Gift card to get a massage, manicure, and pedicure

2) Fluffy white bathrobe, I've been wanting one forever

3) Roaster oven to cook turkeys and stuff

4) Parents took 2yr old for a week

5) Phase 10, card game I love, from Michelle :)

Working Mom

So this is my 2nd week at my job. It's getting easier and I don't feel so out of place anymore. I still don't like working, I'd rather be home, but at least it's less than 20hrs a week and it won't be for too long. One of my supervisors asked me the other day if I had another job during the day too, I told her, "Yes, I'm a mom." :) Believe me, being a mom and homemaker is definitely a job. It is kind of nice to have a small amount of time where I don't have to be taking care of the kids, plus it is giving hubby an opportunity to get closer to the boys and learn how to take care of them better (he now understands why the house is always so messy lol).

I'm missing my 2yr old today. Sure it's nice not to be following him around cleaning up messes, but I just want to hug him and cuddle him a bit. I'm so used to taking care of him 24/7 that I feel like part of me is missing, or I'm forgetting something. He's having fun down at my family's house though, I'm sure the girls are spoiling him terribly. :) Man, I'm starting to cry now, and he's only been gone 3 days!

Christmas Light Mystery

OK, here's something I just don't get. While I was putting Christmas things away Wednesday I had to put a bunch of lights away. What I don't understand is how they can come all nice and neat in that tiny box, with the little plastic holder thing too, but not fit back in!?! Does the box shrink when the lights are out? I mean, seriously, it drives me nuts! No matter how I fold, cram, or wrap, they never fit back into the box! I end up shoving them in as hard as I can then taping it closed, the box bulging. Why don't they just come in a bigger box? That would make it so much easier on everyone.

Thursday, December 28, 2006

Must...get...off...butt

I'm being too lazy today. I really need to clean the office, cuz there is paper, boxes, and broken pieces of styrofoam surrounding me. Or maybe I can just take a nap while Baby is sleeping. Doesn't that sound like a better use of my time? I think it does.

Thankful Thursday

Wow, is it really Thursday already?!

1) My parents for taking 2 yr old for a week

2) My house is cleaner than it's been in a long time

3) Hubby's work is finally doing direct deposit, yay

4) The great gifts I got for Christmas

5) My hubby who helps clean

What are you thankful for today?

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Tired

I am so tired. I worked until about 10:45 tonight. I'm about to head to bed and hopefully get some good sleep, if Baby cooperates. We got the house mostly cleaned too and it looks so nice and wonderful. Makes me feel a lot less stressed. I'm starting to miss 2 yr old already, but it's kind of nice knowing my house can actually stay clean for a week.

After Christmas Cleaning

So, my 2 yr old is gone to spend a week with my family. It is so weird. I just don't know what to do with myself. Normally my days are full of endless picking up after him. I might actually have a clean house for more than an hour this week! Of course the house is already a complete pig sty from Christmas. I better get a to-do list up so I can see what needs done.

* Dishes

* Laundry, at least 3 loads

* Clean boys room, put away some old toys to make room for Christmas toys, put new toys in there

* Clean living room

* Put away Christmas stuff

* Get rid of yucky, dead tree

* Vacuum whole house

* Move couch back up to living room after tree's gone

* Clean bathrooms

* Clean office

Well, that's all I need to do :P But I just keep thinking that once the house is all clean I get to have a week to enjoy it until 2yr old gets back, so that's motivation :D

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Hurray for cable internet!!!

I am so glad to be back home on my computer! You have no idea the torture I had to endure with horrible dial-up! I really don't know how anyone (especially bloggers) can live with such a slow connection. It's inhumane. It's almost what I imagine he11 to be like. Seriously. But at least now I'm home, safe with my high-speed Internet. I almost want to kiss my computer, I would too but it would smudge the screen.

Headed home!

Well, the weekend was fun, but as Dorothy says, "There's no place like home!" I'll be glad to get home and unpack and get back to normal life. We are leaving in about 1.5 hrs.

Monday, December 25, 2006

Tired But Happy

I had a really good day today. Hubby got me great gifts. A fluffy white bathrobe, a roaster oven thing, and a gift card to get a massage, manicure and pedicure! I'm very excited for my massage, I love them! I got a few other little things. A few of hubby's gifts got delayed by weather and won't show up until later, but he got a few DVDs and things. I had fun watching 2 yr old open and play with his gifts. After about 3, he got tired of unwrapping presents and just wanted to play with what he had, so we helped him unwrap the rest. Note to self: don't bother wrapping more than 2-3 gifts for toddlers, they lose interest quickly, just set the rest out where they can get to them. Later we went to hubby's grandparent's house for a family dinner. It was good and fun. Now I'm tired from the long day. Tomorrow we are going home so I need to make sure we get everything all packed up and ready to go.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day! I'm up early with Baby, just waiting for everyone else to wake up. Remember in the midst of all the gift-opening fun, the true reason for the season!

Sunday, December 24, 2006

I crack myself up

The closing hymn at church today was "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" (one of my favorites). At the end of each verse it says "Peace on Earth, good will to men."

Hubby leans over to me and whispers, "You notice they don't say women, only men."

Said I, "We live with men, there is no peace."

Sunday Sermon

Church today was wonderful. The program consisted of the congregation and choir singing Christmas hymns and the story of Christ's birth. It was beautiful. A few times I teared up because I was so touched. It was great to be surrounded by all those people celebrating the birth of our Savior.

Christmas Eve

"May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope;
The spirit of Christmas which is peace;
The heart of Christmas which is love."
- Ada V. Hendricks


I'm so excited for Christmas tomorrow! 2 yr old is now at the age where he can actually enjoy opening his gifts so I can't wait to see how he likes it. Of course Baby will have no idea what's going on, but I'm sure the wrapping paper will thrill him. Sweet hubby got me more gifts than I need. I kept telling him not to spend a lot on me but he kept buying. I have no idea what I'm getting but he always gets good presents, he remembers things I said I wanted months ago. Unfortunately the gifts I ordered for him got delayed by snow so they won't arrive until after Christmas :( But he has a few other things to open tomorrow. Now we just need to find the memory card for our camera. Hubby misplaced it yesterday and we really need it so we can take pictures tomorrow!

Saturday, December 23, 2006

Dial-up, Ugh

So I'm at the in-laws for the holiday. I'm very thankful they have the Internet, but I really hate dial-up. I don't know how people can live without high speed Internet! It's just not civilized! Good thing there's not much else to do here, because it takes forever for me to do anything on here now.

Saturday Saying

"Try to learn something about everything and everything about something."
- Thomas Huxley

I'm not sure why this quote stuck out to me so much. I guess I just feel that it is so important to have some knowledge of something. I've taken 3 yrs of college but never graduated because I couldn't decide what I wanted to do, but that doesn't mean I didn't learn alot. Because I changed my major 3 times I was able to learn a little in each of those areas, which was cool.

Friday, December 22, 2006

100 Posts Already?!

Holy Cow! I passed 100 posts today and didn't even realize it! Woohoo! And over half of those posts were this month alone and it's not even over lol! Hard to believe a couple months ago I could care less about blogs, and now I'm a posting maniac!

Men and Gift-Wrapping

I got this from a messageboard I go to.

"This is the time of year when we think back to the very first
Christmas when the Three Wise Men: Caspar, Balthazar and Herb
went to see the baby Jesus; and according to the Book of
Matthew, "presented unto Him gifts; gold, frankincense, and
myrrh."

These are simple words, but if we analyze them carefully, we
discover an important, yet often overlooked, theological fact.
There is no mention of wrapping paper.

If there had been wrapping paper, Matthew would have said so:
"And lo, the gifts were inside 600 square cubits of paper. And
the paper was festooned with pictures of Frosty the Snowman.
And Joseph was going to throweth it away, but Mary saideth unto
him, she saideth, 'Holdeth it! That is nice paper! Saveth it
for next year!' And Joseph did rolleth his eyeballs. And the
baby Jesus was more interested in the paper than the
frankincense."

But these words do not appear in the Bible, which means that the
very first Christmas gifts were NOT wrapped. This is because
the people giving those gifts had two important characteristics:
1. They were wise. 2. They were men.

Men are not big gift wrappers. Men do not understand the point
of putting paper on a gift just so somebody else can tear it
off. This is not just my opinion; this is a scientific fact
based on a statistical survey of two guys I know.

One is Rob, who said the only time he ever wraps a gift is
"if it's such a poor gift that I don't want to be there when the
person opens it."

The other is Gene, who told me he does wrap gifts, but as a
matter of principle never takes more than 15 seconds per gift.
"No one ever had to wonder which presents daddy wrapped at
Christmas," Gene said. "They were the ones that looked like
enormous spitballs."

I also wrap gifts, but because of some defect in my motor
skills, I can never completely wrap them. I can take a gift the
size of a deck of cards and put it the exact center of a piece
of wrapping paper the size of a regulation volleyball court, but
when I am done folding and taping, you can still see a sector of
the gift peeking out. (Sometimes I camouflage this sector with
a marking pen)

If I had been an ancient Egyptian in the field of mummies, the
lower half of the Pharaoh's body would be covered only by Scotch
tape.

On the other hand, if you give my wife a 12-inch square of
wrapping paper, she can wrap a C-130 cargo plane. My wife, like
many women, actually likes wrapping things. If she gives you a
gift that requires batteries, she wraps the batteries
separately, which to me is very close to being a symptom of
mental illness. If it were possible, my wife would wrap each
individual volt.

My point is that gift-wrapping is one of those skills like
having babies that come more naturally to women than to men.
That is why today I am presenting:

GIFT-WRAPPING TIPS FOR MEN:
* Whenever possible, buy gifts that are already wrapped.
If, when the recipient opens the gift, neither one of you
recognizes it, you can claim that it's myrrh.

* The editors of Woman's Day magazine recently ran an item on
how to make your own wrapping paper by printing a design on it
with an apple sliced in half horizontally and dipped in a
mixture of food coloring and liquid starch.
They must be smoking crack.

* If you're giving a hard-to-wrap gift, skip the wrapping paper!
Just put it inside a bag and stick one of those little adhesive
bows on it. This creates a festive visual effect that is sure to
delight the lucky recipient on Christmas morning:

YOUR WIFE: Why is there a Hefty trash bag under the tree?
YOU: It's a gift! See? It has a bow!
YOUR WIFE (peering into the trash bag): It's a leaf blower.
YOU: Gas-powered! Five horsepower!
YOUR WIFE: I want a divorce.
YOU: I also got you some myrrh.

In conclusion, remember that the important thing is not what you
give or how you wrap it. The important thing, during this very
special time of year, is that you save the receipt."

Where's the logic?

So I had hubby get out the clothes he wanted me to pack last night. We are going for 3 days. He got out 5 shirts and 2 pair of pants.

I just don't get it.

Busy Day Planned

I have so much to do today. We are leaving for the inlaws tonight to spend Christmas with them. I need to clean and pack before we go, plus I work tonight. I'm writing a to-do list so I don't forget something.

* Laundry, my work clothes need washed

* Dishes, can't leave a sink of yucky dishes all weekend

* Clean living room

* Clean boys' room

* Pack clothes for the 4 of us (that's a whole other list in itself lol)

* Pack diaper bag

* Pack other stuff, pillows and such that I usually forget

* Somehow fit all the Christmas presents, luggage, etc, and us all in the car. Really not sure how to do that lol.

* Get ready for work

* Have all that done by 4pm so we can leave as soon as hubby picks me up from work around 7.

Do all that while taking care of Monster (2 yr old) and Fussbucket (Baby). Sounds like a fun day. :)

Friday Favorites

Hm, how about favorite Christmas music?

1) O Holy Night

2) I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

3) Baby, It's Cold Outside

4) Trans-Siberian Orchestra

5) The Forgotten Carols

I love the lyrics in "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day", especially "God is not dead, nor doth he sleep. The wrong shall fail, the right prevail with peace on earth, goodwill to men." Trans-siberian Orchestra is just plain cool. The music to O Holy Night is beautiful and makes me cry. Baby, It's Cold Outside is a newer favorite, eversince I heard it on the movie Elf, I really like it. And I've always loved The Forgotten Carols. If you haven't heard that story you are really missing out.

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Thursday, December 21, 2006

I Hate Packing Peanuts

Really, who's idea was it to invent packing peanuts?! They are the most annoying, messy, horrible way to pack something in. If you want to tell someone you hate them, just send a package filled with packing peanuts, especially if they have a 2yr old. I had to clean up a mountain of them after 2 yr old decided to dump a huge box all over the office. He enjoyed them and even tried helping clean it up, but I could strangle the guy who sent us that package.

Thankful Thursday

Here's what I'm thankful for today:

1) We got a huge blessing practically dropped in our lap that will help us get out of debt

2) Christmas is almost here!

3) Christmas is almost over! (As much as I love this time of year, it's nice when it's over and I can relax lol)

4) My job, although I don't like working, it will really help us with bills

5) Sleep, when I get it :)

What are you thankful for this beautiful day?

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Works-For-Me Wednesday: "Done lists"

Today I'm going to share another secret I got from a friend somewhere out in the digital world. If you are feeling crazed that you aren't getting everything done from you to-do lists, stop, set it down, and grab a clean sheet of paper. Start listing all the things you have done today, no matter how small. Woke up? Good! Brushed your teeth? Great! Got dressed? You are on your way! Everything, write it down. You will see that you really are accomplishing things, even if they are small. This helps me relax when I feel like I'm stressed to get so much done. You don't need to forget your to-do lists, just set it aside for a minute so you can appreciate how much you've already done.

Today for example my list would be:
- woke up
- went to the bathroom
- brushed hair
- got dressed
- ate breakfast
- spent some time online
- got baby out of bed
- changed baby's diaper
- got baby dressed
- more online time
- folded about 3 loads of laundry

See how much I've done today and it's only 9:30am? Check out Rocks In My Dryer for more Works-For-Me Wednesday tips!

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

From the mouths of babes...

I love root beer, especially A&W, and I drink a lot of it when it's in the house. 2 yr old has picked up on my addiction and constantly asks me for some. But because his cute little 2yr old dialect is still developing, he doesn't get it quite right.

"Beer please Mommy? Please beer?"

At least he doesn't ask in public.

Life with a 2 year old

Some days I just want to rip my hair out. It's a good thing 2yr old is so cute or I'd sale him to the zoo! We didn't get to go to story time because I had to clean up messes. He climbed on the end table and from there onto the top of the entertainment center, threw everything off, found a permanent marker and colored everything including a few checks I need to cash and one of my Willow Tree figurines I got for my birthday. So I got him down and started cleaning up all the mess. I couldn't find the marker, but 2yr old did and managed to go upstairs and color the walls, doors, dumped out our game Taboo and colored the cards, climbed on my bed and got marker on my blankets and Baby, who he woke up. So then, I shut him in his room while I started cleaning that up, and he throws all his toys off the little bookshelf, climbs on top of it, I get him down then go back to cleaning, he knocks over the bookshelf. I get him out of his room and start scrubbing walls while he goes back into my room and starts dumping out games again. I send him downstairs to watch a movie while I clean up and he climbs onto the end table again and starts throwing things off the entertainment center again. I locked him in his room for 5 mins after that and then he apologized and went to watch Shrek. I just had a chance to grab lunch, then Baby got fussy and I had to get him to sleep, and my lunch got cold. Then Baby had only been asleep about 15mins when 2yr old woke him up so now he's even more fussy, my house is a complete disaster and I'm going insane. I need a nap!

Tuesday To-Do

To-do today:

* Get dressed, get kids dressed (yes, it's almost 9:30 and we still aren't dressed lol)

* Go to story time at the library (if we get all dressed on time) Scratch that, instead of story time we are going to spend an hour scrubbing permanent marker off everything!

* Read through info for work and do little quiz before I have to be there

* Do some laundry

* Work at 5pm

Probably a few other things I'm forgetting too :)

Monday, December 18, 2006

My Adorable Boys

I decided to show a few pics of my cute boys. I think they are the cutest kids ever :D

Baby


2 year old

Bestest Blog Carnival

Bobby at Bestest Blog has set up a carnival of a bunch of great posts by great bloggers. Check it out!

Monday Madness

Today I start my new job. I will be working part-time nights at a fast food place. I really didn't want to work, but at least this is a place I've worked before and it shouldn't be too hard. I start at 5pm. Michelle is going to watch my boys for about 1.5hrs until hubby gets home from work. I hope he can handle them without me. Mostly I worry about him remembering to feed them and change their diapers lol, sometimes he just doesn't think of it, I better write a list for him. I don't even know how long I work today, or what other days I work this week, guess I'll find out tonight. It'll be good to have the $$$ to pay off some debts, and hopefully it won't be too long until I can quit.

Greatest Baby Inventions part 1

This is a pic of Baby (asleep) in one of the best baby inventions out there, the exersaucer. They can sit, play, jump, stand, and spin around all by themselves. I didn't buy one when 2 yr old was a baby because I didn't think it was necessary, I had enough gidgets and gadgets to last a lifetime. Well, I was so wrong! The exersaucer is a lifesaver! Baby loves to stand and this lets him do that without me having to hold him up. He loves to bounce, again this does just that. There are fun toys attached to it (or should be, but 2 yr old likes to take them off). And I can put more of his favorite toys (coasters and bells off the Christmas tree usually lol) onto the platform. He can keep himself happy and I actually get to put him down once in a while! This one we have is a loan from grandma's neighbor, but grandma decided to buy a new one for Christmas (as well as a very cute one to keep at her house for him). I seriously would go crazy without this. Baby likes to be held a lot, but this allows me to set him down for a bit and he loves it. (Note: this toy is NOT for sleeping in as it could cause injury. This pic was quickly taken, then Baby was moved to a better napping spot.)

Switch to Beta Blogger

I just found this on Skittles' Place from Blogger:

Just before the weekend we added the final piece to the transition from old Blogger to the new Blogger in beta: members of team blogs can now switch to the new Blogger. This is the last step before we take the new Blogger out of beta. This all means that we’ll be removing the “beta” from the new Blogger very soon! At that time, we’ll begin the process of requiring that users of old Blogger move to new Blogger.

So evidently all users of the old Blogger will soon have to move to the new one. I know some people don't like the beta blogger for various reasons, but I do. I think it's better than the old one, more user friendly. So come on over to the dark side! Resistance is futile!

Sunday, December 17, 2006

I'm Guilty

(You probably need to click it to see it bigger)

I did almost this exact thing just 2 days ago. Someone called doing some survey that I really didn't want to take. Baby was playing happily in my lap, so I set him on the floor cuz I knew that would make him mad and scream, so I had an excuse to politely tell the surveyor I was busy. Does that make me a bad person?

Sunday Sermon

I don't remember much of what I heard today in church, 2 yr old was being noisy and I had to take him out of the meeting. But what I love about church this time of year is singing Christmas hymns. Today we sang The First Noel (we were late and missed the opening song). I love when the whole congregation is singing, filling the chapel with beautiful music. We also had a musical number of Away in a Manger that was beautiful. I need to find my Christmas CDs and put them on.

Saturday, December 16, 2006

Fun Holiday Gift!

Michelle and I got together and made these cute little treats to give as gifts. They are so easy and lots of fun, so it you want to make something to give to your neighbors, family, and friends here's a great idea! You can find directions to make them here.

5 Questions Interview Game

Skittles tagged me with this MEME.

"The Five Questions Interview Game"

1. What have you learned so far from your visitors?
I've learned that I might not make everyone happy, but the ones who come to my blog seem to like me and care about me and that's good enough for me :)

2. Did blogging change your life or your personality in any way?
Well, I've only been at it a few months and I haven't seen any significant changes, but who knows, maybe I am a little more outgoing and witty.

3. Are you satisfied with what you’ve achieved this year, in general?
Mostly yes. I had a baby (all naturally too), moved, bought a house, and learned to live in a new place. Most of my time is spent taking care of my kids, so I don't really do much for myself, but I'm glad I've been able to be with them.

4. If someone would offer to pay for a course for you, what course would you take?Maybe a photography course.

5. If you had the opportunity to meet one person that you admire the most in the world, who would that person be? I would like to meet President Gordon B. Hinckley (President of the LDS Church)

I tag:
Becky
Lorie
Kimberly

Saturday Saying

"If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."
-Norton Hunt

One of my favorite quotes :)

Friday, December 15, 2006

Friday Favorites

Today I'm switching it up, instead of my favorite stuff, today I'm doing LEAST favorites. So here is a list of my least favorite household chores:

1) Dishes- I usually wait until there are no more clean utensils or plates and no free counter space, then I give in

2) Laundry- well, if I didn't have to fold and put it all away I wouldn't mind at all, but this also piles up, at the foot of my bed until I absolutely have to get it put away.

3) Vacuuming- I'm not sure why I don't like this one, but I just don't

4) Mopping- Just hate it, especially on hardwood and tile. Linoleum (although ugly) is much easier to mop, you don't need special cleaners, but we have hardwood and tile. I know this is really sad, but I've only mopped maybe 2-3 times since we moved here 6 months ago, and that was because 2yr old flooded the bathroom so I had to clean it up (and the water was already there lol) and when 2yr old decided to use the fridge water dispenser to make a waterfall down the side of the fridge and all over the floor (again, the water was already there lol). I think I just realized why God gave people 2yr olds, to get us to do chores we otherwise wouldn't lol!

5) Keeping the living room clean- it's just impossible, end of story.

So what are your LEAST favorites today???

They're Everywhere!!!

Holy cow! My house looks like it was attacked by a marauding band of extension cords! Hubby was putting more lights up outside (he wants to be Clark Griswald when he grows up) and had to go get more extension cords. I didn't see it until this morning when I had to go out to unplug all the lights (the neighbors were complaining of the glare). I about screamed and ran back in! I was surrounded! They seemed to be writhing all over the lawn and driveway, breeding like rabbits. I almost wet my pants I put on a brave face and quickly ran to unplug them before they could figure out what I was doing and come up with an attack. It was close. I sprinted across the driveway, hurdled over cords before they could reach up and trip me, and as I yanked the plugs I barely escaped a backlash of electric shock they flung at me. But I prevailed! Now they hang lifeless, useless, unable to get back their power without help. Of course now they know me and will be ready for next time. From now on hubby can face their wrath.

No Surprises This Christmas!

I just got a reminder of why I haven't bothered to wrap Christmas presents yet. I have a 2 year old. Anyone with a 2 year old knows what a terror sweet little angel they can be. We only have 3 presents under our tree right now, one for hubby, one for 2yr old, and one for baby, all from my mom (I know, where's mine? She hasn't gotten it yet). I already knew what they were because she'd told me, but I'm trying to let the others be surprised. 2 year old evidently doesn't want to be surprised. Yesterday he ripped open baby's gift. I pieced the paper back together and taped it up haphazardly. Today he opened hubby's gift. Luckily hubby is not home and I was able to get it pieced back together too. I'm sure tomorrow it is his present's turn. I should probably just put them out of reach until Christmas but I'm too lazy I like the look of presents under the tree. I'm just glad none of mine are there. I want to be surprised!

Updated: He opened baby's again, it is beginning to look like a Frankenstein present, taped together so grossly, edges sticking out where they never should have been. Arg, and it sounds like he's getting into his!

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Moms for Modesty

In today's world, young girls are too often dressing immodestly starting at younger and younger ages. Clothes are becoming more inappropriate and girls are being sexualized at young ages. Jules at Everyday Mommy along with other blog mommies have set up a Moms for Modesty team, dedicated to promoting and supporting modest attire for girls. Check out their mission statement and if you agree, go here to sign their petition. You don't have to be a mom of girls, or a mom at all even, you just have to agree with it.

Moms for Modesty Mission Statement

* As a Mom for Modesty I believe in common-sense modesty for girls and young women.
* I believe in refraining from sexualizing our girls and young women.
* I believe that it is unwise and unfair to taunt boys and young men by permitting my daughter(s) to dress in an immodest manner.
* I believe that true beauty comes from within and I strive to teach my daughter(s) this truth.
* I will loyally shop at retailers that provide girls' and young womens clothing that is modest, affordable and stylish.


Spread the word around to everyone you think would be interested in this. It is important to stand up for modesty in a world where morals are looked down on a lot of the time.

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for:

1) The guy who picks hubby up for carpool so I don't have to get up to take him anymore :D More sleep time!

2) Chocolate!

3) Getting what I wanted for my birthday

4) Dishwashers, I'm so glad I don't have to do dishes by hand (sorry Michelle!)

5) Hubby helps with the boys at night, putting 2yr old back in bed, or helping get baby to sleep

What are you thankful for today?

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Yummiest Recipe Ever!

My good friend Michelle introduced me to the yummiest treat ever a few months ago. It is sugary, fattening, and deliciously addictive. And best of all, it's sooo easy to make! I went to her house today and we made some. And just cuz I love you all so much I'm going to share the recipe!

Homemade Oh Henry Bars

1 cup sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1 cup peanut butter
3 cups Rice Krispies
Chocolate chips
Butterscotch chips

Mix 1 cup sugar and 1 cup corn syrup in saucepan on medium heat until well blended. Add 1 cup peanut butter and stir until all melted together. Add 3 cups of rice krispies and coat throughly. Spread mixture into 9x13 pan and place in fridge at least 1/2hr to cool. Melt together 1/2 bag chocolate chips and 1/2 bag butterscotch chips (you can do more if you want), over low heat. Pour over rice krispy mixture and smooth out. Place in fridge to cool until solid. Cut into bars and enjoy!!!

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Tuesday To-Do

Here's what I need to do today:

* Go to dentist for 2 fillings (done :P hated it)

* Get a bunch of packages ready to mail

* Go to hubby's work Christmas party.

That doesn't sound like much but to get the fillings I first had to drop off the boys with my friend, go to the orthodontist to get my wires off, go to my appointment that took 2.5 hrs when it should've taken maybe an hour, pick up the boys, then at 2 I need to go back to the orthodontist to get my wires back on (plus a bracket the dentist broke off). I don't have the packing stuff I need for the packages we have to send, so don't know how I'm going to get that done. And the work party is an hour away so we have to leave early to get there. So it really is a busy day.

Monday, December 11, 2006

Monday Madness- Happy Birthday To Me!!!

Well, today I am 23 years young :D Should be a good day, except for the lack of sleep lol. Sweet hubby gave me my presents, some Willow Tree figurines I'd wanted, one with a mom and baby, and one with a mom and little boy. They are so cute.


We had cake and ice cream with the in-laws last night, yummy. And tonight we are going out to eat at Olive Garden, because that is my favorite restaurant and my mom gave me $50 to go.

I don't feel any older, and I guess I'm still not very old yet. Mother-in-law was telling me last night that she had gotten married at my age, so it's kind of weird that I'm married with 2 kids already hahaha.

Busy day planned. We got our Christmas tree decorated yesterday, and today hubby is going to put lights on the house. Then we have baby's 6 month appointment at 2, poor little guy gets shots. Then we are driving to Olive Garden, the closest one is 45 mins away. Tomorrow will be busy too. I have to get a few fillings at the dentist, yuck! Then Hubby's work Christmas party is at 6, but I need to leave here at 3:15 to pick him up at 4 from work, then drive the 1.5hrs to where the party is at. I don't know who planned for the party to be so far away, especially when they all have to be back to work the next day! Oh well, should be fun.

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Boring

I've been trying to think about something interesting to write about, but not having much luck. Either I'm just too tired to think, or there's just nothing interesting about me to write about lol. I tend to think it's the latter. Or maybe I have no imagination? That could be it. Whatever it is, I'm not going to think too hard on it tonight, I'm just too tired. Had a busy, fun day and now it's bedtime. Yes, it's only 9:12 but that's starting to feel later as I get older, I have a hard time staying up past 9pm these days. Great, 2yr old is going to wake up baby if I don't stop whatever he's doing :P Have a good night!

Saturday Saying

"Writers seldom write the things they think. They simply write the things they think other folks think they think."
- Elbert Hubbard

Friday, December 08, 2006

Pajama-Rama

Today is a Pajama Day for me. I have no plans to go out. The only person who might come over is Michelle and I don't care if she's sees me in my pj's lol. So I figure why dirty a good pair of clothes for nothing? My plans for today are keep the boys happy, do some laundry, maybe do the dishes, and find something to make for dinner. That's about it :) The boys are being good, just playing quietly. It's almost time for naps, and I think I will do some reading while they are asleep ("Sarah" by Orson Scott Card, amazing author). I love Pajama Days!

ABC MEME

I got this from Laura, the Org Junkie, and since I'm bored I figured why not? :D

A - Available/Single? Married
B - Best Friend? I have a few, Michelle and my bro Josh
C- Cake or Pie? Cake, mmm
D - Drink Of Choice? Hot chocolate
E - Essential Item You Use Everyday? Computer of course!
F - Favorite Color? Blue
G - Gummy Bears Or Worms? Worms
H - Hometown? Well, I grew up in UT and ID, but I can't agree which area would be my hometown
I - Indulgence? Uh-oh Oreos, mmm, been too long since I've had some
J - January Or February? January, not sure why, but I don't like February, it seems like a useless month
K - Kids & Their Names? 2 boys, 2yr old and Baby
L - Life Is Incomplete Without? My boys, sweet hubby, and the Internet lol
M - Marriage date? July 18, 2003
N - Number Of Siblings? Do you really want to know? Well counting all the adopted ones and ones my parents have custody of I have 5 sisters and 6 brothers
O - Oranges Or Apples? Oranges, apples are hard to eat with braces
P - Phobias/Fears? Heights/falling, Deep dark water (you know those pics of glaciers where you can see beneath the water? I can barely stand to look at them lol), Spiders, something happening to one of my boys
Q - Favorite Quote? "Why put off for tomorrow something you can put off completely?" (or something like that lol)
R - Reason to Smile - my cute boys
S - Season? Fall, I love when the leaves get all colorful
T - Tag 3 or 4 people? Michelle, Mimo, Beth
U - Unknown Fact About Me - I'm boring. Wait, that's know. Hm, I can wiggle my eyeballs, and 2yr old thinks it's hilarious
V - Vegetable you don’t like? sweet potatoes/yams, gag
W - Worst Habit? I'm a picker, I pick scabs and pimples and stuff (only on myself!)
X - X-rays You’ve Had? Left hand after a car wreck, teeth at dentist
Y - Your Favorite Food? Sugar or Carbs, mmm donuts
Z - Zodiac Sign? Sagittarius

Random Blog

One of my new favorite blogs is The Bestest Blog of All-Time. The reason for this is their really cool Random Blog Button that is like the Next Blog button that Blogger has, but much better. You can exchange links with Bestest Blog to be included in their rotation. I've found a lot of neat blogs through them. They also do a Bestest Blog of the Day, featuring fun, cool blogs they like. Check it out!

Friday Favorites

Today I think I'll do my favorite ice cream flavors, mmm!

1) Vanilla

2) Cookies n Cream

3) Ben n Jerry's Phish Phood

4) Fudge Marble

5) Raspberry Sherbet

What are your favorites today?

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Pole-dancer Elf?!

Your Elf Name Is...

Trixie Hot Chocolate

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful fo:

1) My nice clean closets and storage room

2) Ebay- sometimes I can't stand it, but we've been able to make about $500 selling stuff

3) My mother-in-law, for buying stuff off Ebay for us lol

4) Hot chocolate, mmm, I think I should go grab some

5) My good friend Michelle, again. She's helped me out so much

What are you thankful for today?

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Organizing Complete!!!


Well, time is up! Put down your pencils and pass your test to the front please! LOL! I'm so excited that today I can finally show all of the hard work I've been doing. This story actually begins 6 months ago when we moved. Everything that we didn't want to decide on where to put at the time got shoved into our storage room. Boxes were piled everywhere. We had to dig through, climb over, and rearrange any time we needed to find something. I knew it needed to get under control before it took over the house, and this challenge gave me the shove I needed to get started. And once I started I couldn't stop there! I ended up organizing my office closet and my boys' closet as well!

First I started by taking everything out of the storage room to give me a clean slate to work with. I sorted the junk into piles: empty boxes, food storage, sewing/yarn stuff, garbage, things to go in attic, and things that go in other rooms. This alone was quite a project. Then, everything that wasn't going back into the storage room got put in it's place and I boxed and labeled everything to put back. I love labeling, I think it is my favorite part lol, you'll see my brightly colored labels on most of the boxes. We didn't get our new shelves until yesterday so for a while they were just stacked nicely. But the shelves arrived yesterday! You should have seen how excited I was, I was practically jumping up and down! I got the first one put together and was so proud to show DH when he got home. I said "Isn't it beautiful?!" I think I might be a little strange lol. So then I stacked the boxes on the shelves nicely and cleaned up the laundry area.

Before:


(you can't really see well from the pics, but that is a gigantic pile of boxes and junk, took up 1/2 the room)
After:



On the left I have baby things on the top shelf, food storage on the next 2, and a fan and doorknob thing on the bottom. On the right I have Christmas decorations on top, sewing and yarn supplies next down, serger and sweing maching and other items on the 3rd, and my keyboard and nativity set box on the bottom. There's a chair in there cuz we have a small kitchen and it won't fit, so we keep it down there. I was able to clear a ton off the washer/dryer and just left the essentials there.

But that's not the end! Somehow our shelf order got messed up and they sent 2 extra shelves! So of course I had to find somewhere to use them. To the office I went. I dragged everything out, put 1 set of shelves in, neatly boxed, labeled, sorted, stacked, and otherwise organized the mess all into the most gorgeous closet I've seen!

Before:

After:
On the left side I have extra blankets and pillows stacked neatly behind that suitcase, on the right are jackets, my wedding dress, and some backpacks. The shelves have office supplies, computer stuff, school stuff, and craft stuff. And I can finally get to the tools (top shelf)when I need to!

That's still not all! I had one more set of shelves so I headed to my boys' room. The closet was a mess and I'd been putting it off for too long. Again everything came out, the shelves went up, the room seemed to get messier by the minute, some things ended up in the storage room, the kids were wrecking havoc on the house, but eventually an organized haven of peace shone from the closet that I had been afraid to open before!

Before:


After:

The shelves hold baby clothes, blankets, and other miscellaneous baby things. On the right are larger baby items that couldn't be shelved, and on the top are a few more toys and our board games. 3 boxes of clothes were put in the storage room until our next baby.

Now I'm exhausted, my fingers and back ache, my husband and kids think I'm completely nuts, but I'm so proud of myself! I keep going to the storage room and closets and just staring, they look so nice! The pics just don't do it justice, but I jsut realized you can click them to see them bigger and better. :) Now, what should I organize next?!

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

What Kind Of Meat Are You?

You Are Duck

Exotic and unusual, you are a bit of a rare bird - literally.
You're known for being soft and succulent, though at times you can be a bit greasy.

Tuesday To-Do

Here's my to-do list for today:

* Go to post office to mail packages (I told you it's an every day thing!) and get my passport stuff sent

* Do more laundry and fold the pile in my room before it gets too out of control

* Dishes, of course, when do I not have dishes to do?!

* Clean up toys, again an every day thing

* Make a grocery list cuz we have nothing to eat, unless you count ramen noodles, but I'm not sure if they are really food?

* If our storage room shelves come today I need to get them set up

* List some stuff on Ebay

* Go change 2yr old's stinky butt!

Monday, December 04, 2006

Mama Drama Update- Need Prayers For My Sis

Well, here's the update on the post about my mom. She called today to talk to me about some other things, and also apologized for hanging up on me the other day. She's under a lot of stress (with her active life I'm not surprised, I'd be completely insane if I did half the stuff she does lol). So all's well on that front. The funny part was she called while I was blow drying my hair so I didn't hear the phone. About 15 minutes later I notice she had called and thought "Oh, great! Now she's going to think I'm purposely ignoring her!" So I gathered up my nerve and called back. No answer. So then I think "Now she's even madder at me and isn't going to answer." LOL She called back a few minutes later and wasn't mad at me at all.

The sad part of the story is that my almost-sister (my mom has custody of her but she's not technically my sis) has run away. She evidently has a drinking problem we didn't know about, got drunk at a party and got frisky with some boy, and last night her and the foster girls all blew up at my mom and she ran away. She is only 15. I really hope they find her soon. I love her just like my own sisters and I'm just shocked by what has happened. Please keep her in your thoughts/prayers. She has already gone through so much in her life, I feel so bad for her.

Monday Madness

Doing good today. Got 2 loads of laundry done and more going in (but still need to fold and put away), 2 loads of dishes (need to unload now), and even got a shower, although the towel is still on my head. I just need to get baby to take a nap so I can do my hair. I am going for a job interview at 3 so I'm trying to look nice. Wish me luck! I also have to stop by the post office to mail some packages (seems like I do that daily huh?). Then I need to clean up the toys all over. Yuck! Baby just spit up all over...Ok, all better. Got distracted for a minute too, now my hair's combed and my teeth brushed. Anyway, baby is now fussy, I hope he'll go down for a nap soon, he needs it.

Sunday, December 03, 2006

From the mouths of babes...

Today in Nursery they were singing "Wheels on the bus". The teacher asked the kids what the mommy on the bus says. 2 yr old piped up "No, no!" Hm, think he hears that from me too much? The teachers had a good laugh about it.

Saturday, December 02, 2006

Aaaaargh!!!

My whole life I've always tried to please my mom. This started when I was younger and she was physically and verbally abusive, so I did it to keep from getting hurt. She changed and stopped being abusive and really is a wonderful person, but she still finds ways to hurt me. I feel that she withdraws her love every time I do something she doesn't agree with. Today she called and we were talking about Christmas and my birthday. Then I told her about our trip to Cancun. She asked if she would get to watch the boys and I told her that I wanted her to but that DH had already asked his mom. The mood promptly changed. She said "I'm really offended by you. She (MIL) gets to see them anytime she wants. I'm done with this." and then hung up. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh! I just don't understand why she does this to me. Makes me feel like a worthless piece of crap whenever she isn't happy. If we had the money I would take the boys to see her all the time, it's not like I want to keep them away from her. But MIL only lives an hour away so she comes more and gives us gas money to come see her.

I just hate when she does this to me.

Saturday Sayings

"If you raise three children who can knock out and hog tie a perfect stranger, you must be doing something right." Marge, The Simpsons

That quote just made me laugh this morning :D

Friday, December 01, 2006

Busy week

I've had a pretty busy week. First there was baby being sick and teething. Then I've had to make about a bazillion trips to the post office, bank, library, or store. And top that with orthodontist and dentist appointments and trying to get some hats done, and it was pretty busy. I feel run down and need some sleep, and maybe some hot chocolate.

One of my favorite messageboards had some drama yesterday, some people said some very mean things and one of the sweet ladies ended up leaving the board. It shocked and saddened me, these are my friends, and I couldn't believe the things that were being said. So I'm going to take a little break from that board to calm down about it, and hopefully things will get better eventually.

I have a bunch to do today: job search (ugh, no, I don't want to, but you know), make some hats, go to the post office to mail a package or 2, go get the tires rotated on the car, go buy more yarn cuz everyone has been wanting the same color and I'm out of it, dishes, laundry, everyday cleanup of the house, and remember to go get my passport stuff done. It would all be fine except for having to drag the 2 boys along with me, that makes everything 10 times harder lol.

Well, 2 yr old is making messes and baby is crying so I need to go get baby down for a nap and cleanup after 2yr old.

Friday Favorites

Here's some of my favorite candy (although almost anything with sugar makes me happy lol)

1) Snickers

2) Skittles

3) Peanut M&Ms

4) Rolos

5) Uh-oh Oreos

What is your favorite candy?