Fun Night!

We are back from our little getaway! We went out to Wendover to the Collin Raye concert. It was great! It is a small theater that has a really nice feel to it. I don't think that there would be a bad seat.

Poor hubby did have to sit next to a man that felt that he should sing along (badly) to every song. We were able to scoot over a seat and turn so it wasn't quite so bad.

It was interesting, there were older women acting like lovesick teenage groupies! It was so pathetic that it was funny. I just hope that they were having lots of fun.

If you have never been to Wendover, Nevada, let me describe it for you. You drive about 180 miles away from Salt Lake City. You drive across what I think would describe H*ll! It is the most flat, barren piece of earth that I have ever seen. It is the bottom of the (prehistoric) Lake Bonneville. It is also where the salt flats are. So, with the salt, nothing will grow. Then you come upon a city in the middle of nowhere. The only reason it exists is for gambling.

If you ever want to take a drive I will point you in the right direction--I won't be going with you anytime soon!

Allergies

Dear Pollen,

I understand your purpose. I understand that we need you, however---could you take a little vacation? I need to have energy to function in my life. You cause me to feel lethargic and hungover(ok,I haven't ever had a hangover but it sounds good!). I have a pounding headache and I just want to lay on the couch and do nothing. So, think about it, just take a tiny little vacation. Do it for me. Please?

non-affectionately,
Stuffy and irritable

Time for a Change

I have been feeling a bit out of sorts lately. I have attributed it to my lack of exercise due to my foot injury. However, I have been realizing in the last few weeks that I have just been in a slump. I haven't wanted to do much. I have become terribly lazy and unmotivated.I have been using my foot as an excuse. It is lame of me. I have also gotten much too plump around the rear!

So, I am trying to motivate myself enough to get back on the band wagon. My children will be finished with school tomorrow and Thursday. This means that there will be many bodies running around ALL DAY! I have to be focused if I want to have a smooth running, pleasant summer.

I am formulating some goals in my head. They are beginning to look a little like this:

*get up early-no later than 7:00 am.
*go to gym before 7:30
*check out new gym ( closer to home)
*shower and get dressed immediately after workout.
*have responsibilities written down for children-everyday
*stay on top of laundry
*15 year old to do her own laundry
*11 year old to begin understanding laundry
*bedrooms picked up

All in all, these are things that seem normal to any naturally organized person. To those of us who struggle staying on top of all the many facets of life these things have to be written down--over and over again. I have to reevaluate constantly.

For more Talk about Tuesday ideas check out the Lazy Organizer and her beautiful new baby.

Hover Craft

Remember the Jetson's? I often wish that we had little hovercrafts that you could hop into and get from place to place more quickly! Today is one of those days! We will now return from our weekend. It is only 3 1/2 hours but it sometimes feels like 9. I shouldn't complain, however, because my sweet hubby has already driven us here, had the party, driven back home (3 1/2 hrs) gone to his LONG church day-8-5 and then driven BACK to Idaho. He will now drive all of us home. He is a saint!
I am lucky, he drives and I read,listen to my ipod or sleep.

Party Time!

It has been a whirlwind weekend! We have been in Idaho for my Mom's 70th birthday. My sister, brothers and I planned a surprise party for her. We managed pretty well keeping it a surprise. One brother said a bit too much and then the ten pounds of thawing hamburger pushed it over the edge! We ended up having about 40 family members come and wish her happy birthday! It was fun to have a reason to see family. We are really a very close family but with life moving along it seems that it is so easy to not make the time to be together. The older we get, the more people are involved. I have 36 1st cousins on my Mom's side alone. So, every one of those cousins is married and I believe all of them have children except one. I have cousins that are now grandparents. That makes for a really big family! I feel blessed to be a part of a family that generally really enjoys each other!

My sister and I have an unwritten rule that we don't both come to Mom's at the same time. It is just too crazy. The house is just not that big! So, this has been a bit crazy! I brought my four and two extra's and she has her three. Then we always have my nephew who lives next door. It makes for LOT's of bodies! Oh, well, it also makes for memories that will be remembered long after they all have children of their own.

I tried to get pictures of everyone before they left the party on Saturday. I only missed one cousin! Oops!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday! Mom!

You are the essence of the word HOME!

Thanks for being such a great Mom.

Thanks for teaching me to see the beauty around me.

Thanks for teaching me to love the flowers.

Thanks for singing crazy songs.

Thanks for not making me eat cooked cabbage.

Thanks for letting me dig up your grass and plant flowers.

Thanks for teaching me to sew.

Thanks for taking me to the library.

Thanks for taking me to church.

Thanks for being you.

I love you! R

Happy 15th Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

I can't believe that she is already 15 years old!

Love you!

Monkey!

You Will Be Missed

The funeral for Bob Lehman was wonderful. It was such a fitting tribute and celebration of an incredible man. My brother, Bob's son in law told my husband that Bob is the only person that he can think of that he has never had angry thought towards. He said that meant a lot to him because he is easily irritated.

During the 2002 Olympic games Bob came and stayed at our house while he was a volunteer at the Bobsled venue. We would anxiously await for his return so that he could tell us all about his adventures. We watched so much of the Olympics and really felt a part of the excitement because of Bob. My children came to adore him. He was like another Grandpa and you can NEVER have too many Grandpa's.

He didn't want to put us out so he was often a bit hesitant to bother us. One morning he was going to the venue later so he was there for breakfast. He came up with a sealed bag of sliced apples. He asked if he could do a trade, apples for some cereal! Of course I told him that he didn't need to do a trade and he could help himself to anything. The funny thing is, that was the first time that I had ever seen fresh apple slices in a bag. Now they are available at McDonald's! Every time my little guy gets a baggie of apples at McDonald's I think of Bob and his "trade". I also remember asking him if he wanted butter and jam on his toast. He told me that he would do without the butter. It was the only thing he was "giving up" for his health. I think of this every time I butter a piece of toast.

Bob was an avid outdoors man. There wasn't an outside sport that he didn't love. When I was in High School he took me skiing almost every Saturday for years! He was on the ski patrol for about 45 years. I never felt like I was an inconvenience to him, not ever.

He was a great man and I am glad that I had the opportunity and blessing to know him.

He will be missed.

Funeral

We are headed to Idaho to a funeral today. My sister in laws father Bob passed away this last week. He has been struggling with Melanoma for about 6 years. He has been amazing. He will be greatly missed.

Pull up a chair

Pull up a chair and sit awhile. Take a moment to be still and really listen. Listen to your heart. I believe that we are so inundated by sound(ipods, cell phones, computers) that we often don't realize that we are not giving ourselves some of the best therapy around. Quiet!

Have a beautiful Sabbath

A Good Place To Be

I don't think that there is any place that I would rather be than with a little one cuddled up under my chin.

My little MissE had the camera this day. I am glad that she did!

Dancing-Again

Spending the day at Lagoon(local amusement part) for the National Dance Competition. It is one of those crazy days that take forever but they work so hard for. This year we have decided not to ride rides. We are going to wait on go on an average Tuesday when there is nothing else going on and the lines aren't so long. We have done rides along with the dancing for the last few years and we just don't want the added stress of "making it worth it."

Olives, Please

"Momma, open the olives, please." says little man.

A few minutes later this is what I find!

Aren't my new bowls just happy and cheerful? When I saw them I knew that they would just be so much fun to use. They are my happy colors.

Bring Summer On!

I am ready for summer. A change of pace. A few different things to do. Warm nights.

Car or Garbage truck?

I often wonder if I drive a Suburban or a Garbage Truck!

This is the mound of STUFF that I pulled out of the INSIDE of the car--NOT the trunk part!

Why is it so difficult to actually take with you what you bring? My husband has gotten after me for years about my messy car. I have told him repeatedly that when he really lives my life then he can say something about it!

This is usually what happens. We get in the car to go to a ball game(or any other place). It is cold so everyone grabs a blanket and a coat, we might also have a tablet and backpacks, books etc. We wouldn't want to be bored. We return from the ballgame and the only thing that is taken out of the car is my personal purse and my coat. I help unbuckle #4 and then we go in the house, I plan on returning. I get inside and #2 and #3 are fighting, the dog has knocked over the garbage, homework is shoved in my face, dinner isn't ready, piano needs practiced, the phone rings, I wipe a bum or two, clean up a spill or two, read a book, sign homework, answer the phone again, do a load of laundry(or five), make sure dinner is cleaned up, prayers said and get ready for bed! That is why my car is messy! I am only one person!

Evidence

Evidence that I have other people that live in my house!

I didn't get any of this out. Unfortunately for me, I did put it away!

I Do It Myself!

Little Man yelled "help me turn it on Mom!" "I cook my breakfast by myself"

I help him push the time on the microwave and then I walk into the other room. I hear the beep, so I come to get his pot pie out of the oven.

This is what I found , Little man standing on the oven, microwave door open, two oven mitts on his little hands and his pot pie carefully being removed from the oven!

I guess my "Little Man" isn't so little anymore!

I Created!

I actually created in my studio!

I have this wonderful room in my basement that has a big problem. It is often ignored. Ignored to the point that it becomes a "junk room" instead of an art/scrapbook/sewing studio. Well, my Mom came a few weeks ago so I had straightened up to put the extra bed up. Well, after I removed that I put my island table back up. My Mother in law went to a card making party and brought home an idea for a card that I just had to recreate. So, I went to work. It was so cute that I made another. Then I realized that all the scraps and mess were already out I should just create some other things. I loved how they turned out.

So, the moral of this story? Make more than one while the mess is out! The thought process is already there and all the supplies are available.

Just for your information the cards are like little envelopes--the inside piece pulls out with the little tab. Hopefully, it shows in the pictures.

For more Talk about Tuesday visit the Lazy Organizer---send some labor vibes her way, she needs to have this baby before it is twelve pounds!

Ease is important!

My #1 girl still thinks that I don't post about her enough. So, we were heading to the Grandparent's, two houses away. This is what she looked like!

Mother's Day

My life is always moving along!

Mother's Day was lovely. My sweet hubby got us tickets to see Collin Ray in concert! I am so excited. He also gave me a gift certificate for Photoshop Elements 6. I haven't picked it up yet.
We woke early, went for a beautiful walk and then I crawled back into bed! We went to church at the singles ward, heard our grandma speak and came home. We had a nice dinner.
The kids made me a darling card that had all their pictures on it and they had all written a little note inside the little pocket.These are the little things that I love! We went to Grandma's house and gave her a darling little papersack mini album. It turned out SO cute.

As much as I fret and stew I am so grateful that I get to be mother to these four wonderful children. I always knew that I wanted to be a mother. I never doubted it for a minute. Occasionally now, when they are fighting or the house is a wreck

I wonder, but only for a minute(or two). Then I look at the big picture. I realize how quickly time goes. My daughter is almost fifteen. I met my sweety when I was 17 1/2! That is a bizarre thing to realize. This life is going faster and faster. I want to be able to really absorb all the beauty and goodness I can out of it. These "little people" will not be little all that long!

Comment Problem

I have had comment problems! If you have tried to leave a comment. Try again, I had done some tinkering and messed up the comment place!

Smart Habit Saturday

What has happened to my habits? Well, it seems that they have flown out the window. My house has been a wreck all week and therefore I have felt all upside down, inside out. So, what is my habit?

Recommit and Refocus

Recommit to my life goals.

Refocus on how to achieve those goals.

Read my scriptures-this is one goal that I have been doing, I just need to keep going

Family Scripture Time-recommit! We have to do this more often. An ongoing struggle.

Exercise-I did go to the gym today. I have to start slowly because of my foot but I HAVE to get more exercise. I have lost SO MUCH GROUND being laid up. I must exercise!!

Follow Through--this is one of the main things that I need to work on in my life. If I can have more follow through, consistency and commitment in all aspects of my life I will feel much more contentment in my life.



For other ideas check out the Lazy Organizer.

Here we go again!

I am going to do it again! I have cleared my chart for reading the Book of Mormon. I will begin again. We have been instructed to continue to read our scriptures throughout our lives--so, I will begin again!

I am still so glad that I did this challenge. For some reason it just propelled me to really concentrate and finish. I hope that I can continue to read more regularly having had this experience.

I DID IT!

I DID IT!

I finished reading the entire Book of Mormon in 95 days! Yeah me!

I participated in the Hinkley Challenge in honor of President Hinkley. It has been a wonderful experience. I was so determined to complete this challenge. I am quite proud of myself!!!!

Recap

Wow, what a day! We had to be in Salt Lake at the Temple by 9:30 for a wedding. Both the bride and groom (Lyndsay and Blake) were from the singles ward. It is so much fun to witness these young couples getting married. This was one that was especially fun because we watched their romance blossom.
It is always special to be in the Temple. It is so calm and reverent, so unlike the rest of my life.
After the wedding I had to go to a craft store to get things for my cubscouts to make for Mother's day. They turned out so cute! I forgot to take a picture of all of them with the boys!

After scouts I had to do my blogging presentation for the Relief Society enrichment meeting. Hubby was there to help set up the technical stuff. He said that I rambled! I hope that I didn't do too poorly! I think that sometimes it is harder to listen to someone that you love because you are used to them. I am going to go with that! He is used to me so he felt like I rambled! Also, maybe he is just not inspired yet about journal keeping!

Tomorrow I will attend MissE's Mother's Day performance. She is so excited about this!

Almost There!

I am almost finished reading the Book of Mormon! I have been part of the Hinkley Challenge and it is coming to a close. It has been a hard thing but a wonderful thing also!

Go look at my sidebar to see the graph! Send me some good vibes so that I can finish it by the 10th!

Spring has Sprung!

We have been having beautiful weather! It is so welcome and so needed! Our entire family worked in the yard on Saturday to get the flower beds cleaned up. Winter is so hard on things!

We have grass that is starting to green up and tulips ready to bloom!

Spring is here! Go and enjoy!

Happy National Scrapbook Day!

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!

I had a strange thing happen today. As many of youknow, I am a scrapbooker in theory. I love to do it, I collect product, I take thousands of pictures but I just haven't made enough time for it since my #3 child was born. Well, I have been reading a new book by Stacy Julian-founder of Simple Scrapbooks Magazine and author of a few books. I met Stacy years ago before the magazine. I just love her personal style. Well, I emailed her this week. I pasted a copy of my Orange Crush blog entry. Well, Stacy felt that it captured what she is trying to teach enough that she posted on her blog! I was shocked to say the least! So, go check out Stacy Julian's blog. She is a bright spot.


Also, go and make something bright and happy, in honor of National Scrapbooking Day!

Smart Habits Saturday

I haven't joined Smart Habits Saturday for a few weeks.

What has been happening? As always, tons! My last habit was about personal journals. Well, I haven't fallen in love with LDSjournals.com. I guess that I am just familiar with blogger. I think that I may get a private blog that I write more personal information on.

I have been asked to explain blogging at my church's women's enrichment night. Ok? I am not an expert. However, I will try.

Why do I blog? I started blogging because it sounded interesting. Now I blog because I have realized that I am actually keeping my personal history. I record many more details of my life here on this blog than I write anywhere else. I have yet to master a paper to pen journal.
So---my blog has become a type of journal for me.

I found a site Blog2Books, that offers a program(free) that you can download so that you can print your entire blog(or parts). It is saved to a pdf file and then you can either print it at home or take it to a printing store(Kinkos) and have them print it and bind it. I actually figured out how to do this today. There are still some things(many) that I don't understand but I managed to get a hard copy of the first five months I had my blog. It was fun to look back at it. I feel that it is a new type of journal.

So, my New Habit? Well, I am going to really work on my life goals. Those ones that I have talked about forever. I won't bore you with the exact details. However, I have been very tired this week. I can tell, my house is suffering. I am suffering. So, I am going to try and stay
FOCUSED. I know WHAT I need to do. I just need to do it!

I am also going to schedule a bit of creative play time. I want to try some watercolor pencils. They look like they would be fun. I have also decided that I want to just start doodling again. I used to do this all the time. Now, the only doodling I do is on the phonebook!

I hope that I can actually feel energetic enough to work in my flowers. They are crying for love. That is if it doesn't snow again!

for more Smart Habits Saturday visit the Lazy Organizer

Sunshine!

Today is a beautiful, sunny day! I had to share a doodle that I hope will brighten your day. Sometimes coloring is the best thing for you!

Happy May Day!

HAPPY MAY DAY!

Today is May 1st! Celebrate with some flowers! In my neck of the woods it is cold and snowy again so I am putting some sunshiney vibes out there!