About Me

Texas, United States
I am a stay at home Mom from Oregon who has landed in Texas.

Friday, February 27, 2009

some guilty pleasures

1. Disney "tween" shows. Since the topic came up, I will openly admit I do like Hannah Montana. I like all those goofy made for kids Disney shows, except That's So Raven and the old Suite Life...they make me want to gouge my eyes out. Oh, and nothing will ever compare to the goodness that was Lizzy McGuire and Even Stevens.

2. Britney Spears. What can I say. I like her music. I followed all her sad and crazy drama. I blare her songs on the radio. It's a sickness, really.

3. Sonic Rt 44 Diet Dr. Peppers. At least it is diet.

4. Pet Society. It's a game on facebook, and it is weirdly fun and I am totally hooked. I try to only play when the kids are asleep or busy though. So that is something...

5. Lip balms. I probably have 10 tubes, but I am always on the hunt for another good one. I am currently using my blue chapstick brand one and my pomegranate Burt's bees the most.

6. Shoes. If I was rich, I would have SO MANY shoes. They are just so pretty. But, I am too scared (and erm...chubby) too pull half of them off.

7. Projects. I love love to start projects. I often have issues with finishing them, but I sure do like to start them. I have...5 projects pending right now, and tomorrow morning I will start (and hopefully complete) a totally different one.

8. Lists. Not really guilty, maybe just another sickness. Everything is better in list form.

hmmm...that's it for now,and not sure if those are all guilty, but... I am sure there are more!

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Lazy List (with a few pictures)

I just can't get out of my not-wanting-to-blog rut. I think I may impose my own post-every-day month in March. Maybe not. Anyways. Life has been pretty full lately. So here it is, in list form.

1. Keith took the BAR. It started Tuesday with the short answer section, Wednesday was multiple choice, and today was the essay portion. He stayed at a hotel closer to the test location so that he could study/eat/sleep/rest/study when he wanted and not have to worry about me or the kids and our crazy schedule. He is back home safe now. He said it was hard, but feels OK about it. Time will tell. I have a feeling that the next 2 months until we get the results are going to be interesting. We find out in May how he did.

2. My Dad arrived into town for a visit on Monday night, leaves in the morning, and will be back after the weekend for another few days. The kids played shy for about 5 minutes and then of course he pulled out some birthday presents. That warmed them right up. Natalie got her very own set of all the "Anne Shirley Books" and Brady got some real leather chaps, holsters and some noisy and VERY annoying six shooters (which we use to "get bugs", NO shooting people, not even bad guys). Anyways. They love their Papa and are always happy when family gets to visit.

3. I am SO over eating out. In the last week we have had, Braum's (had to take Dad there, and we were so full we didn't eat dinner!), Sonic, KFC, Double Dave's, Chili's, Outback, and Steak & Shake. I know. It's disgusting. I am eating ONLY vegetables for the rest of the weekend. Though I did have a salad only at Chili's, so that is something. Kinda.

4. Forget the "terrible two's". The threes are kicking my trash. And Brady turned three TEN days ago. It's gonna be a long year. I think he may be bipolar. I mean, SO SWEET one minute, and literally a second later I want to hide myself in the closet with the ear plugs in.

5. I've been the recipient of some paying it forward lately and it has just been overwhelmingly wonderful. I received my handmade toy swap last week and the package literally brought me to tears. Not only did we get a super cute Polly the Pig and some adorable little birdies (that like to watch me work), she threw in all 3 Anne DVD's for Natalie, and a gift card to Chuck E. Cheese for Brady's birthday. Things like this just strengthen my faith that people are good and kind and caring. I have been known to say to Keith "I don't like people" and it's true, sometimes people just bother me, no one in particular, just PEOPLE. But then someone that is practically a stranger goes and does something so over the top kind, it reassures me that maybe, just mabe people aren't so bad.

6. The hunt is on. The hunt for the perfectly priced, perfectly sized, perfectly located, perfectly CLEAN rental house is on. Wish us luck. I think we are going to need it.

7. Now that Brady is three he fits all the requirements to be in a backed booster seat. He has been heavy enough for awhile, but I really wanted to wait until he was three, since that is the recommended age, and I am kind of a weirdo about that. Last Tuesday we dropped off Natalie at school and went on the hunt. We found a great one on sale at Toys R Us. I love the color and pattern, and it is extra squishy so he likes it too. He feels SO BIG when he rides in his big boy booster seat.


8. Did I ever tell what happened to the truck? If I did sorry for the repeat. We towed it home, Keith tinkered with it, we towed it to the shop, and dropped $800 to fix that hunk o' junk. But, at least it runs, and we didn't have to deal with the stress of having one car while Keith was finishing up his studying. All's I gotta say is thank goodness for a well timed tax return!

9. Dinner out with friends and spawn is fun. Trying and hard (especially when YOUR children are the nuttiest, though I think I handled myself pretty well considering), but SO worth it. We went out to Outback (Keith's favorite place) with the Taylor's and Saunder's and all the chillins tonight to "celebrate" Keith being FINISHED and it was a crazy, but relaxing time. Good thing I don't want to eat out anymore, because when you mix #4 on my list with #3 on my list, you get one cranky kid. Who of course calmed down as soon as we got on the road. Ah well, such is life.

10. I got my first toll road bill in the mail today. It was only $11 and some change, which is not bad considering how many times I drive on it, and how long it has been (never) since we have gotten a bill. And at least now I know that those camera thingy's really work. Cool.

And now back to our regularly scheduled blogging. Maybe.

Dad concentrating very hard to put together Natalie's pink cadillac.
I stinkin' love these hats. They are too cute. And the milkshakes aren't too shabby either.
My sweet, pretty, MOODY almsot 5 year old.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Life's What you Make it..

...so lets make it ROCK! Ah the joys of a singing mic. Brady had to join in, he also wanted to have shoes on like Sissy, so we dug out his crocs.

Oh, and now you can see the bunks, since I never got around to taking a durn picture of them! They are unmade, but what can ya say.

Daddy is gone

...and now it's time to play! Well, kind of. The kids were pretty sad right when Keith left, but being able to spend some time with him Monday morning before he left for the hotel was good. He is staying at the hotel so that he can focus. Study when he wants, eat when he wants, sleep when he wants (and not worry about being woken up by crying babies with growing pains or scary dreams). I think it was a wise choice. Though we are missing him like crazy, this is better for everyone.

I tried to keep the afternoon fun, and dinner fun too. We had breakfast for dinner, I took their orders and served it up on our cafeteria trays! Kids eat SO MUCH BETTER when they choose what they are going to eat! They ate every bit, not a single complaint or trace of scrambled cheese eggs, muffins, applesauce, apple slices, cinnamon sugar toast, juice, or water left on those plates!

After dinner they danced around and played while I cleaned the kitchen (ugg). We went to the store this morning to spend some gift money both kids had saved up. Natalie came home with a Hannah Montana mic that sings and Brady picked out a cool Cars race track that came with a play Frank the combine. So he is over the moon excited about that one! I am not sure how long that mic will last...it's starting to bug. Big time.

Of course we also got Natalie her first pair of summer shoes (and shorts and a shirt)! They are SOOOO cute, same style as her polka dot shoes, but a different fabric, and um, I want some!
Then I caught Brady feeding his Michael. Oh dear. So cute. And then he tucked Michael and glow worm down for a nap. Complete with kisses. *sigh* I love this boy. And since I have the worst memory ever, that is about it for what we have been doing. The last 2 months have been a blur for me, all kids all the time, and I am SO GLAD that it is almost over. I know Keith will do well, I KNOW he will do well, and come Thursday...par-tay time! We're going out for steak and fun and RELAXATION!

Monday, February 23, 2009

A birthday day

This year circumstances pretty much called for very a low key birthday for Brady. I let him choose what he wanted to do, and it all started with breakfast at Shipleys for donuts. This actually worked out well because we had no milk!

Then after breakfast we made the trek up to IKEA, because Brady has been asking and asking and ASKING for a "big boy chair" all to himself, so he doesn't have to use Sissy's. I know shopping isn't really a great birthday activity, but well, he wanted to go there! And it was cheaper than anything else that would have made him happy! Of course, they didn't have the chair, but the kids just love to play at IKEA in the "houses" and they both came back with a giant bag of colored straws. So they were thrilled.

I was also pretty proud because I let Brady pick any place he wanted to have lunch (secretly hoping for say, KFC or something) and he chose Subway! So we picked up our sandwiches, went home, set up a picnic in the living room, and enjoyed a nice healthy lunch. Good simple fun.

We ended the day with dinner of his choosing and birthday cake. I can't believe he is already 3. I feel bad because his birthday really was kinda lame in MY eyes, but I know he was happy. He didn't need a giant birthday party!



Little did he know that we invited his closest friends (and ours, LOL) over on Sunday night for ANOTHER cake and some good old fashioned play time. With the parents getting to chat and for Keith, some time to relax. I am not a big fan of parties on Sunday, but as we say "the ox was in the mire" and we just couldn't spare Saturday night due to, you guessed it, studying. So Sunday night it was, and it was nice. Much needed for me, the kids, and Keith too. Thanks again guys for coming over!
Of course I have not been in the mood to take pictures, so I didn't get any of all these kids running around on Sunday, and only a few from his actual birthday. Ah well, such is life!
I have the time, the kids are asleep or playing quietly, and I am motivated so I will be drawing up a bunch of posts tonight and setting the times for them to publish (aka cheating) so check back next few days, for more posts!

Sunday, February 22, 2009

primp and tell

Holy crap. Two of my friends just launched a brand spankin' new website for all of us women. It is called Primp and Tell. I am so excited about it, and I think you will be too! Spread the word and watch these ladies for great tips, tricks and advice on all things girly!

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and for the life of me i can't get this button to center dang it, but still! go there, look around, and tell your friends!

Video fun.

I was blog hopping a bit tonight, something I haven't done in oh, going on a month or more. I found this blog. She posted about why she has been a sucky blogger, well she pretty much nailed me right on. That is why I have been a sucky blogger, and I guess I kinda knew it, but I didn't want to admit it. Facebook. Yep, Facebook. We all got accounts forever ago, forgot about them, and about 2 months ago started playing again. And now I can't stop checking it, and playing that darn Pet Society. I promise from this day on to be a better blogger. I am going to get back in the groove of taking pictures and filling you in on all the silly and crazy and boring and crazy things we do. I am sorry family, that I have been a bad blogger, but can you blame me? Facebook. It's fun.

Then I found this video. Which I just have to post. I can't stop watching and laughing at it.


So glad I don't surf YouTube yet. I just steal videos from other peoples blogs, let them do all the hard work!

Friday, February 20, 2009

About Us.

Since I have been pretty much blog absent, and I have a lot to post but they all require pictures which I am too lazy to upload at this time. I thought I would do this little couples survey I got off Kelli and Dooce's blogs. We'll call it a tribute to the fact that Keith is this close to taking the bar. It starts Tuesday if anyone wants to fast for him on Sunday.

What are your middle names? Mine is Marie and Keith's is Aaron.

How long have you been together? We have been married for a little over 7 years, dating for almost exactly 8.

How long did you know each other before you started dating? 8 months.

Who asked whom out? Keith asked me out, and actually the first time he told me he liked me as more than a friend (not in those exact words, hehe)...I kinda sorta stopped talking to him for a week! I was scared because he was so...OLD...and so nice and kind and everything I wanted in a husband, and I was SO not ready to get married or even date someone that I COULD marry. Apparently it only took me a week to realize I was ready to at least start dating a potential husband, LOL!

How old are each of you? I'm 26 and he's 30.

Whose siblings do you see the most? Keith's, but only good old Uncle Jason! All the rest of our siblings are spread too far across the country. Makes me so sad.

Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple? Um, well if you know us at all this one is easy. Studying for the blasted BAR EXAM!!!!

Did you go to the same school? Not for high school, but we met at Ricks/BYU Idaho.

Are you from the same home town? Not even close! We are from different sides of the United States!

Who is smarter? This one is up for debate. I kinda think his graduating from law school trumps my kicking his butt on the SAT.

Who is the most sensitive? We are both sensitive, but to completely different things and situations.

Where do you eat out most as a couple? Probably Chili's or On the Border, good old tried and true favorites. We do love Red Robin though, and are pretty excited that there is a new one close by! And if we have the money... sushi!

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple? Well, we have been from Washington State to Florida, and pretty much everywhere in between! But never left the country together...not yet!

Who has the craziest exes? Well, I would say Keith, but he claims he doesn't HAVE any exes because none of them were official. I'm still gonna say Keith. And he says me...LOL!

Who has the worst temper? uh...ME.

Who does the cooking? Both of us. Keith used to cook on the nights I worked and I would cook when I was off. Now I TRY and do all of it, but he has always been willing to help in the kitchen.

Who is the neat-freak? Hahahaha ha ha. ME.

Who is more stubborn? Keith.

Who hogs the bed? Well, we have a pretty big bed, but Keith has a tendency to hog the covers.

Who wakes up earlier? Keith, only because I work so dang late. Before jobs and kids, it would have been me.

Where was your first date? We have NO clue!

Who is more jealous? Me.

How long did it take to get serious? a few months. We took a summer semester together and were together ALL THE TIME. It was probably the most fun I ever had during our pre child time.

Who eats more? Probably Keith, but I sure do love my food. He can really pack it away when he wants, and the man snacks on sweets all the time. If we have ice cream? You better get it fast because it won't be in there for long!

Who does the laundry? That would be me. When we had Natalie we lived in an apartment where we had to cart the laundry to the laundry room. I told him if he would do all the carting and changing and watching the clock and setting the timer so that some crazy wouldn't come and put out clean underwear on top of the dirty dryer, I would do it all once we got our OWN washer. So far, I have kept my end of the bargain. Except I hate to put the clothes away. Plus he always shrinks my shirts when he is trying to be helpful.

Who's better with the computer? Keith, when it comes to fixing things.

Who drives when you are together? Normally Keith, though I hate having him change the settings on my seat! He is so dang big!

Hope you enjoyed reading all about more than you ever wanted to know about us! I might've done something like this already...oh well! I am slowly trying to get motivated to blog again. I really, really lost it there for awhile.

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Lotsto blog about, but, I have been lazy. I PROMISE to blog soon (hopefully tomorrow...er...today), though it may not be that great!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Pictures from our Valentines

I had to work, Keith had to study. But it was a nice slow day, just like all the others. Except this little scene when I popped my head out of my room for a restroom break.
He was concentrating so hard on making his letters. This boy can be too much. Sissy was already in bed (the price she pays for not napping) and he was just studying with Dad.
I love my boys. My sweet, hard working boys.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Happy Birthday...

...too my sweetest little bubby boy! Oh, that Brady. He melts my heart. We had a rough start, but now it is good, very very good! And he is three...and I am too tired and too emotional to see the keys to type this right now. I love him with all my heart and soul! I will write a better love note to this boy later, after sleep, and a bit of birthday fun. P.S. Other updates on our random happenings to come soon too. Sorry for being a major blog slacker.

P.P.S. Yes that picture date stamp is correct. I didn't get to hold my own baby till the second day. *sigh*

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Handmade Love

In the spirit of making/giving as much handmade as possible in 2009, Natalie and I made handmade valentines to hand out at school. I had lots of blank white cards and lots of felt, so essentially these cards cost me nothing!

I started by having her draw a bunch of heart shapes. She picked out her favorites and I cut those out to use as a template.
Then while I was cutting felt hearts, she wrote her name inside each card, and also her friends names on the envelopes. Lots of good penmanship practice. She gets lazy, so I have to keep on her to keep it neat!
The little hearts turned out so cute! She drew some very cute ones (it only took 5 pages of hearts, LOL) so we had lots to choose from!
Then Mommy glued on the hearts, and Natalie carefully stamped a cute message (didn't have to buy that either! Got that stamp on clearance for 50 cents last year! I LOVE it!), and voila! A handmade valentine sure to bring a smile to anyones face!


P.S. Thanks for all the crafty love! I get so nervous showing things I have made because I put so much time and energy and LOVE into them, I am afraid I am the only one that thinks they are cute, LOL! You guys sure know how to make a Mama feel good!

Monday, February 9, 2009

My handmade toys

Well, I finally completed my toys for the handmade swap I entered. I made a set of my felt breakfast foods, and I wanted to have something cute to send it in, so I made up this bag!
Of course the general shape is taken from multitudes of other bags out there, but I did it without a pattern. I am very proud of myself, LOL! I try to make things for a swap that I would love to receive. I would be happy to get something like this, plus Natalie LOVES the bag.
Not too shabby. I am already working on another one for a friend, and will probably make a bunch more. They are the right size for a lunch bag, or even scriptures. And they are Reversible! Woot!
And here is one with flash so you can see the bright colors better. My bedroom is a windowless cave. No natural light.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

What's up

Life has been so much of the same thing lately that I haven't had much to say. Here's the situation with the car. It broke down, Keith changed the spark plugs and it still won't start. We need to get it checked out, but Keith doesn't have time for that, he is studying every spare minute and by the time he isn't studying everything is closed. So it has been frustrating, to say the least.

This means when I was working last week, the kids and I were stuck at home because in order for us to take Keith to school and pick him up, he would have had a shorter study day due to me having to be back by 5 for work. So now that I am off for a few days the kids and I have been taking Keith to school, and we go get him later in the day. It works, but it is a lot of gas, and hard on all of us. Hopefully next week we can figure something out with the trains, or something, and it will save us time and stress. It was hard for us to be stuck at home for so long without a car, and it was hard for Keith because he felt bad that we were stuck at home. ARG!

In between all this pity party we were able to have a nice play date with Kelli and her boys. It was on her birthday so we celebrated with cake (and ghetto lunch, LOL). It was so nice to talk to another adult, and not have it be a rushed 5 minute conversation between feeding the kids, bathing the kids, and putting the kids to bed, like it is with Keith.

This has been the most trying time in our lives for sure. It is too hard to explain why. I mean Keith is home sometimes, it's not like he is gone 24 hours a day, but his mind is SO busy with all these things, and there is just a stress that can't be remedied. All I can say is I am SO ready for March.

Wow, I know this is whiny, but that is why I haven't posted in forever. I am too much of a debbie downer these days. I hate when I get in funks like this. I want to just feel good. I know I have much to be thankful for, the fact that Keith is in the position to be studying for the BAR is wonderful in and of itself. The kids are healthy and strong. We have a clean home and a car that works. I have a job that allows us to have food on the table. We have supportive friends and family, near and far. So many things to be grateful for, but sometimes it gets to be too much and all you want to do is break down and cry for a bit. Sometimes the only remedy is a good cry!


Wednesday, February 4, 2009

On a better note

Well, since we can't go anywhere, and I have been in the house for far too long since by the time the car is back I have to head to work. I decided that the kids and I are going to start taking little walks after lunch. We eat early enough, and normally they play a bit before Brady and I nap, so why not go outside and get some fresh air? They loved it, and so did I. I hope we can do this many time a week, and then maybe start to go farther and farther.
We pretty much walked around the neighborhood, also known as the parking lot. Oh, the joys of being in an apartment complex. They don't know any different, so they were happy.
She's so pretty.
The sky was a crystal clear blue today. Love it.
Oh, and then while Brady was napping I was sitting on the couch working on a little project and Nat was playing around with my blanket, and the next thing I know I see this:
She was sound asleep under there.

In other Natalie news, she had some mass hysterics tonight due to the fact that we can't take her to school because of cars and when I work, and when Keith's classes start, it just doesn't add up. She loves school! Oh, and I can't turn in her application for her charter school either! And we missed story time. Oh yeah, and we have NO FOOD. Arg. I want my car.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

frack

it's not the spark plugs. this may be the end for the teal 90's pickup. it was free. it was loved. it was good to us while it lasted.

but now we have one car. sweet.

A wishlist {or} If I had a Million Dollars

1. Someone to clean my bathroom. or...

2. Someone to watch my kids all day so I can actually get some stuff done around here.

3. A nice reliable car for Keith.

4. Funds to have a birthday party (or at least a get together for goodness sakes) for Brady where he wants.

5. The perfect house. or at least a pretty good one, for now.

6. Some new church clothes. (But not a real green dress, that's cruel.)

7. A date with Keith.

8. This for Natalie. (I have all the extras, now I just need the house!)

9. This.

and while we're at it

10. A nice van for me.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Double Ugg

1. Keith's truck broke down. Thank GOODNESS it was still in the parking lot at school, so I could just go get him, and he wasn't stuck on the side of 30 somewhere. But, seriously! Keith isn't working right now, I only work part time, we have no money for this crud! Thankfully our insurance will cover the cost of the tow truck to bring it home. Now we just pray that it is only spark plugs and Keith can fix it, because if it is anything much more than that, the truck is totalled, we are not paying 2 grand for repairs on that old thing. And right now we can NOT afford to be down to one car. So we are praying he can fix it or for at least the rest of February the kids and I are stuck at home, at least on the days I work, so Nat will miss out on preschool. Yeah, I don't want to be the one to tell her that lovely bit of information. Let's hope I am overreacting and it is all better come Monday night.

2. I HATE promotions! I am losing my boss at work (or my manager, I don't know what to call her really) and it seriously stinks! She is moving to up the corporate ladder to lead over a whole separate part of our work flow that the rest of us really don't deal with at all. The best part of my job (other than getting to work at home in my jammies) is the instant message chat we have. It keeps me company. Anywho, with this promotion my boss lady won't be in our chat room anymore, we basically won't see (hear) her or deal with her anymore, and we will miss her dearly. I have gotten to know her pretty well these last months, and it just stinks! She helps make work fun. Weird how attached you can get to people you have NEVER MET!