today

5:30 am: get awoken by Natalie saying she is hungry and can we get up now.
5:31 am: tell her to go back to her room and DO NOT come out until at least 6. for. the. love.
6:00 am: go get Natalie and head to the kitchen to cook my food and start getting everyone up and ready for the day, lunch packed, hair done, clothes put on, check blogs and fb, etc.
6:45-7:15am: proceed to melt down with tears and general hysterics over the rude responses and mean looks being exchanged between kids and directed at me. Make the kids sad because I am sad. Meh. Maybe seeing Mom cry over their meaness will make it stop? One can only hope.
7:15 am: kneel down for family prayer, asking for patience and kindess and obedience and the like. Can't we all just get along?
7:20 am: out the door and off to take Nat to school.
8:00 am: arrive back, send Brady to his room to play, hop in the shower.
8:15-8:45: rush around frantically trying to get B dressed, myself dressed, my hair actually dried and styled(a sure cure for some morning blues) and out the door for preschool.
9:00 am: drop Brady off for preschool, head to Target for prescription pickup, a few things for the baby, a gift for a birthday girl, a 12 pack of Diet DP.
9:45 am: off to first Doc appt. of the day. *sigh*
10:15 am: pee in a cup, get to see the baby, listen to the nutritionist tell me how to read the labels, listen to the doc tell me that my blood pressure is a bit high (first time ever for that) and that I need to cut down on activity. ha. hahahaha. ha.
11:15 am: head to Home Depot to set up an appointment for a window guy to come and measure our windows for an estimate.
11:30 am: Talk to very nice man about our options for window coverings.
11:45 am: Cry a little inside at the guesstimate costs of putting shutters and/or blinds on all of our windows.
12:00-12: 30 pm: fill out paperwork, blah blah blah. (wonder if we really NEED window treatments, I mean, who cares if the neighbors can see our every waking and sleeping move...)
12:40 pm: Leave store with an arm full of temporary shades and a slightly lighter pocketbook.
1:00 pm: pick up Brady from preschool, rush home to get him some food, use the bathroom for the 20th time today, and sit down for a few seconds.

and here I am. Still to come?

2:15 pm: Second doc appt, this time with OB. The last of the in and out appointments. Next week? Pelvic exams begin. Yay.
3:00 pm: pick up Natalie from school.
3:30 pm: plop kids in front of the boob tube and curl up in my bed for some rest (see previous mention of cutting down my activity)
5:00 pm: prepare dinner...oh man. Dinner! What on Earth are we gonna eat for dinner....
6:30 pm: kids in bed. or. else. Seriously.
7:00 pm: turn on MY boob tube shows and hopefully start chipping away at packing the kitchen.
8:00 pm: glance up to welcome Keith home. Maybe a hug, if he's lucky.

We shall see how late I last.

*sigh*

Oh yeah, and I still need to unload/load the dishwasher and fold the whites sitting in the dryer. There's time for that, right?

Some favorite Christmas moments...

1. Keith heading to the kitchen immediately after presents are done being unwrapped so he can set up his new, beloved, toaster oven. And he thinks I didn't notice all the 1,000 times he mentioned how cool it would be to have one.

2. Natalie singing the Gloria chorus from "Angels we have Heard on High" in the bathtub, at the top of her sweet little lungs.

3. Brady singing, "It's a pillow! It's a pet! It's a pillow pet!" All. day. long.

4. Feeding my family this easy and delicious chicken for our Chinese food feast! yum!

5. Natalie telling me that Santa must really know her, because he sure got her just what she likes! Ha! If only she knew...

6. Getting to be surprised! Keith always has one trick up his sleeve and this year it was a Nintendo DS. I have long had a love with the Nintendo hand held systems, from the time I was in 5th grade and forked out my own money to buy the big gray game boy. Now I have my very PINK one!

7. No fighting between the kids. All. Day. Long. It surely was a Christmas miracle, and I loved every minute of it!

8. Brady's face when he came out to the living room and saw his new Buzz Lightyear bike from Santa. I don't care who you are, getting a bike under the tree for Christmas is pure awesomeness!

9. Being able to share our Christmas with Erin for a second year in a row. It's so nice to have another family member in our home to share the day with. Next year it will be the baby!

10. Speaking of the baby, we also had a little family conference and decided that we are officially going with Wyatt Ezra for our little bean's name. Of course, it may change before he comes, but this just feels right, and for know is what we are sticking with!

Shtuff to do

Summer is FLYING by for me. I have just finally gotten into the lovely groove of sleeping in, and it's blissful, but it also makes for shorter days. I have been trying really hard to plan fun things for the kids and I to do, but more often than not we stay at home and entertain ourselves. I figure if they are playing nicely making elaborate Lego cities and not fighting, why disturb the (relative) peace just so we can go out somewhere and possibly have crankiness and whining on the agenda. No way. Not gonna happen. Even if I have to break up fights at least 3 times a day, it's still been pretty smooth around here (with the occasional forced morning nap). I think most siblings get sick of each other and need to be split up once in awhile, and mine are no exception!

Anywho, I have a whole list of things I wanted to get done this summer, and though some have been crossed off, many have not! Here are a few fun things I have planned, I would love feedback or ideas from you!

1. Creative Hands paint your own pottery studio. Heck I think this stuff is fun, so I know the kids will love it. And they have a great range of prices on the things to paint. That's a plus.

2. Going to a local pool. Like our favorite Howard Moore. I can't believe I haven't taken them to the pool yet, it's just too hot to really play outside! I am such a wuss when it comes to heat.

3. At home painting projects. One I am most excited for is some small canvases I am going to have the kids paint. I got a few colors that match my "color scheme" and I will let them each create a work of art, then we can display them proudly! I also got a few super cheap, like 50 cent, ceramic figurines that they can paint. I do love that they are old enough to paint paint paint! And to them it's such a treat.

4. Picnic and sprinkler party with friends. Hopefully this week! It won't be so unbearable sitting in the heat while the kids play if I have some Mama's to chat with!

5. A few more trips to the Fort Worth Museum. I still haven't actually taken JUST the kids, we always go with friends! I think I need to take them alone once...I don't know why, just for quality Mama time? Eh, I am probably just being weird on that one.

That's all the big stuff I have lined up this far. What are you doing to make the rest of the summer really great?

Whatcha dooooin?

1. I pretty much LOVED Alice and Wonderland, we just watched it tonight. Took us forever to get to see it, but it was lovely! The costumes were divine! And the Red Queen was probably my favorite. Helena Bonham Carter has some major crazy talent. My kids would be too frightened, but I may need to own it, if just to admire the clothes every now and again.

2. Girls camp..check. Scout camp...check. Dance camp...check! Camps all done and accounted for and now on with our regularly scheduled summer programing! I see in my future lots of laying around and crafting and reading and watching TV, but we are making a To Do list so that we don't waste away the whole summer without doing some of the really fun things I have in mind.

3. I have decided I HATE custom orders. Bleh. I like to sew when the material....um, speaks to me. Which sounds weird, but if I love what I am working with, it's much more pleasant. I have a few custom pieces I am working on, and after that. Nope! Unless I really, REALLY like you!

4. I have decided that I LOVE spray painting things. LOVE. I was afraid at first, but once I found primer it became very unscary. My first thing was the yellow fruit basket I used at the craft fair, then the other day I found a cute silver owl trivet. I was hoping to polish it up, but when that didn't work, out came the spray paint. It's very cute, though I don't like it yellow...may have to buy some aqua paint. Shucks.

5. I have been somewhat quiet about Weight Watchers, because I had a few slow weeks, then camping and such, but I am still proud to say that I have lost 15 lbs thus far. And even with my horrible eating the last 2 weeks, I straightened out my act towards then end and come weigh in I had only gained .2 lbs...which is practically zero! If I stick to the plan I lose weight, if I don't...I don't! It's as simple as that! I am happy with my 15 and on my way to another 15!

...Oh, and I ADORED Toy Story 3. The first one was so incredible, the second one was delightful as well, but the third one was perfect! The perfect way to wrap up the trilogy. They couldn't have done it any better. The ending was amazing, I was laughing and crying and just having a grand old time! The kids loved it too ;)

Off to live some more life! Hopefully this time with pictures. I need to dust off the old camera and document this crazy summer!

shtuff

1. Brady told me the other day, "Mom, talking is my favorite activity." I sooo believe it buddy! The kid never. ever. stops. I tune him out half them time and then when he needs me and I say "what??" he goes, "never mind...*sigh*" Poor guy gets no respect.

2. Last summer and the summer before that Natalie had some super cute "heels" from Target, little espadrilles with closed toe and strappy back...anywho, she loved them. And they have both gotten too small and she has been begging for another pair of "heels". Then her best school friend Avery came to school in these DARLING little wedge sneakers...beloved "heels" if you would. And Nat was smitten. Honestly so was I, and after much debate and even taking the question to facebook, I caved and ordered Nat her own pair. Different fabric than Avery's, but same style, and sooo cute.

3. I have been sewing. every. day. It's become a sickness, I need to stop, but I can't seem to make myself stop. I have this need to make things for the shop. I want it to be nice and full on the off chance that someone stops by to browse they have lots to look at! I guess this will be good to have lots of inventory for craft fairs too.

4. Speaking of craft fairs, bits or bobbins will be at a craft fair June 5th at the Family Crossroads Church in Fort Worth. I will let you know more details as I know them, but it's from 9-3 and I would LOOOOVE to see you there! Um...anyone I don't know, that reads this and comes to the fair? Mention my blog and get like a billion percent off....or 15%, whatever. ;)

5. I got Brady some new striped Old Navy pajamas, and I can't get enough of his little legs in them. It was bad before, all the squeezing and hugging, now it's just ridonkulous. The poor kid is gonna have a complex. I need another baby to give some of my love and squeezes too.

6. Brady's spring program is Thursday. I will be the only one there to cheer him on. Poor kid. It actually makes me really sad, but I am gonna tape it and we will watch it as a family tomorrow night.

7. Natalie's Kindergarten graduation and spring recital is next week. Um...I REMEMBER MY KINDERGARTEN GRADUATION!!! How do I have a kid that is graduating from Kinder? It doesn't seem right, still feel like I am playing house some days. And then I realize that I am kinda playing house, but it's for keepsies!

8. Keith is for sure going back to school in the fall. Cool. And scary. And probably a bit crazy. But it will only take 3 semesters and he will have a few more letters behind his name (fancy pants!) and hopefully a new degree that will open up some doors for a good, permanent job.

9. Erin is coming to visit us for a week, in 2 weeks! Super! Excited! She will be here during the craft show, and at the end of the school year. We are gonna have so much fun. I love family!

10. Weight Watchers is going really good! Really really good! I have lost about 14 lbs (had a bad week last week and didn't lose), and I am really excited about this new eating lifestyle. I have to remind myself I can do it, but it's worth it!


So, basically life is good...hopefully I didn't just jinx it. But knowing me, I totally did.

no joke

1. Apparently last night my allergies were so bad, it made me snore like a..how did he say it? A racoon on a motorcycle, I think was what Keith said. Anywho, bad enough that poor Keith went out and slept on the couch, not before he got his cell phone and got some video of the snoring. Ha! Seriously, I have never had allergies like this, I cough and drip all night long, and today when I was trying to have a conversation with a friend I was so congested I could barely talk. Ugg.

2. Natalie has decided that being kind and speaking nicely is overrated. I know it's just a taste of my own medicine, but she is making it really hard to stay patient. Holy crud she is soooo sassy. She likes to end the last word of her statements with an extra syllable (ie. o-k-ay, or I'm go-ing-ga, or I know-o). It's trying to say the least, and there are lots of eye rolls from me, but so far I have held my own and not yelled at her. But she does need to watch it. Why is it that kids treat the ones that love them the most, the worst?

3. I made a big sale this week in my shop, sold a $40 play mat! But the excitement quickly evaporated when the buyer all but disappeared off the face of the planet and hasn't paid or responded to any emails. So I am gonna have to cancel the sale. Boo.

4. Babies, babies, babies. EVERYWHERE. At least 7 Moms I know with newborns that I can think of off the top of my head, and more to come. So hard not to be jealous. So. Hard.

5. Cooking for weight watchers is MUCH easier than I thought. We just eat lots of yummy veggies, and basically I cut out fast food. It's not nearly as hard as I thought it was gonna be, and I lost 4.4 lbs my first week. I would LOVE to be able to keep that kinda loss up, haha! I will be happy as long as I lose anything each week. Here's to finally making a change!

about me, right now.

overwhelmed

a tad bit jealous

sleepy

busy

AND

blessed (far too much)

happier than I may have ever been

loving my little family

loving my ever expanding circle of friends

pretty darn grateful for what I have.

about me right now

Getting to know you...getting to know aaaaaalll about you (or me actually)...

1. Favorite food of the moment: Costco berries. Cheap and super delicious. Oh, and I am constantly craving Chik fil-A chicken nuggets, though I don't eat those as often as I would like.

2. Things I watch first on my DVR: Bones new and old, How I met your Mother, and Vampire Diaries (don't judge).

3. Favorite accent color: Yellow. It goes well with all my aqua/teal/brown stuff, and it just makes me so happy to see a pop of yellow here and there!

4. Reading: The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. Keith got it for me for Christmas and I am trying to get started on it, should be good once I can get my brain back into a semi-thinking mode. I have been reading too much fluff!

5. Loving: this mild weather! I would love to live in a place where the weather never gets colder than 60 or hotter than 80, it's just magical here right now!

6. Running: a sweatshop in my home! So far this month I have completed 3 quilts from start to finish and tonight after the kids are in bed I will probably start on a fourth. I also just got some new material (JoAnn's just restocked their shelves, SUCH cute stuff there right now!) for a girly play mat for a friend.

7. Favorite songs on the radio: Use Somebody by Kings of Leon, What do you want from me by Adam Lambert, I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas (that one just doesn't get old).

8. Very happy about: Feeling good in my skin, and knowing that I AM a good Mom, even if I yell sometimes and even if I probably get a little too excited about my kids 6:30 bedtime. Yes, SIX THIRTY! (It keeps getting earlier!)

9. Also loving: the regularity of our days. We have somewhat of a routine going now, and it helps me with my stress levels. It's nice that Keith gets home semi-early most nights, and I seem to be much more productive now that Brady is in school twice a week.

10. Putting off: doing the mountain of laundry that is threatening to take over my bedroom. I think I will make some peanut butter cookies instead!

about some resolutions

1. Fall in love with my blog again. I have taken a break for far too long. Too many memories have not been documented, and it's time to start fresh. Beginning with regular posts and a nice new look...soon.

2. Try and live by my "word of the year". Savor. I want to really take in every little moment and not let any of them slip by without my notice. too often I find myself rushing to get to the next day, the next, the next. This year I want to slow down and savor every waking minute!

3. Fall in love with ME again. Lately I have been feeling increasingly happy with who I am, and I want to keep that trend going. I want to love the person I am, and though it takes work, it's worth it.

4. Keep up the crafting and thrifting mojo. It's something I love and I would love to see my talents flourish. So often I get in the mood for something and then grow tired and move onto the next project. This time I want it to stick!

5. Don't take anything for granted. Much easier said than done, but I feel it's so important to constantly be reminded of how blessed I am to know the people I do, have the family I have, and be in the place that I am!

Don't you just love a new year, and a fresh start? I do!

I ♥ December...

...because it is so jam packed with festivities. Tons of birthdays, anniversaries and of course the main event, Christmas! Which means lots of family celebrations and get togethers.

...because now I get to see how fun Christmastime can be for kids from the other side of it. I love watching my kids get so excited about every little thing.

...because it's C-O-L-D, and I love to be cold! We may even get to have a (gas) fire in our fireplace soon! And it's even sleet/snowing today!

...because all that cold gives me an excuse to stay in, be warm, drink WAY too much hot cocoa and be lazy!

...because when I get tired of being lazy I can always find a million and one things to occupy my time to get ready for Christmas.

...because my house is more decorated and cozy than any other time of year. If I could I would have a pine tree in my living room year round!

...because it's easier to remember what the purpose of life is. There are opportunities to serve and make other people happy every where you look.

..because I always just feel happier in December, and this year is no exception. I am trying so hard not to let anything get me down, and it's a very nice feeling!

Gimme

I have been accused of asking for things a lot on this blog (ahem), but I really just love window shopping, and making wish lists! Probably one of my most favorite things to do, and with the lovely wonders of the Internet it is so much easier! Here are a few of the things I will for sure, maybe be begging for this Christmas.

Acorn cakelet pan. For the acorn and squirrel lovers in this house. I kinda think I might die if I don't get this pan!

Envirosax collection in Planet Green. My WalMart shoppers are getting tired and floppy, and since I don't shop at WalMart anymore it makes me feel silly to go into Target with them! Plus they are bulky and these come in a set with a small pouch to keep them in. No more giant black bulk of bag!

Handmade Home by Amanda Soule. I want this book so badly I have already started collecting materials to make some of the projects included in there! I am loving the idea of reusing old things and I am really trying to teach my kids the beauty of it too! Can't wait to get sewing with this one. (that's my positive wishful thinking right there)

This print just jumped out at me when I was art surfing ETSY. I love that it's just a woman and her husband selling prints to make a little extra money. And of course now I read her blog to get to know a little more about her. I am pretty sure one of these will end up in our bedroom. I am trying to put together an art wall with little sweet things (more about that AFTER Christmas), and I think this would go quite nicely!

This yellow dresser from IKEA. Obviously WAY to pricey for us right now, but oh DEAR how I love it! I am on the hunt for an old fixer upper than I can just paint this lovely shade of yellow. My craft room is begging for it, to store all my fabric and things. Plus, it's just lovely!

Some new guilty pleasures

1. Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus. What can I say, it's catchy!

2. Pepperidge Farms 5 cheese garlic bread. di-VINE. It's in the freezer section at Target, by the frozen fruit, try some. You will NOT be sorry. I want to marry this bread, it's that good.

3. New fall prime time shows. Eastwick, Glee, Vampire Diaries, Melrose Place. How do I get sucked into these trashy shows? I don't know, but I love them!

4. Fabric, fabric and more fabric. It's a sickness really, but what am I to do? It's all so dang cute!

5. Napping, even when I don't need to! I just looooove sleep!

To Do List

I really have a tendency to just lay around and read or hop on the computer or nap when I get a free few minutes, and so I was really afraid I would waste away my vacation days doing just that. Now, don't get me wrong, there will be plenty napping/reading/computing(??) happening, I just want to make sure I get some other needed stuff done as well. So how's this for accountability?

My Vacation To Do List:

1. Bake at least 3 new recipes. Including this from my cousin's foodie blog. She has tons of great stuff, check it out!

2.Take the annual trip to a local water park. First time was NRH2O, last year we went to Hawaiian Falls. This year it will be where ever is cheapest, haha!

3. Go to bed and wake up early (at least once). Ha ha.

4. Take the Cowboys Stadium tour.

5. Complete a sewing project.

6. Organize my fabric stash.

7. Get Keith to the dentist and the kids to the eye doctor.

Oh yeah, and the best one:

8. RELAX!

Of course now that I wrote this down, I will probably not do half of these things, but as long as I enjoy every minute, spend a million hours with the kids and Keith and visiting family (WOO HOO) I know I will look back and feel good about what I accomplished.

Shannon is...

...trying to stay calm, but failing miserably. Seriously, I am so excited about the upcoming trip it's like I had 4 cups of coffee (or at least what I imagine I would be like if I ever did that, haha).

...working on a "To Do" list for my 3 weeks off. I don't want it to fly by and not have accomplished anything. In fact, maybe I will post it here so I have to hold myself accountable.

...drinking a ginormous Diet DP so that I can try and skip my regular nap. Maybe that is causing my jitters...

...feeling a little sunburned.

...procrastinating starting the laundry. Why does it torture me so? I swear that basket is magic. I wash every single piece of dirty laundry, and by the time I go to bed the basket is full again.

...also starting her list of Must See places when we go to Portland. Among them VooDoo Donuts (I have GOT to try a maple bacon donut), Pix Patisserie (to try some of the French Macarons that Black Apple's Emily often raves about), and the Portland Children's museum (much larger than when I was a kid, but still a childhood memory I want to pass on to my own kiddos). I really hope we can do these things, but we shall see!

...getting excited for a new sewing project I am starting up. Keep your eyes peeled for a blogiversary giveaway coming up! (See now that I mentioned it, I HAVE to do it!)

...wondering if anyone still reads this? *tap tap* Anyone out there?

A Quickie

1. Keith gets sworn in tomorrow. This really IS the last thing that has to happen. The fees are paid, and this will make it truly official. I still can't believe it.

2. Keith's Mom and my Dad were able to make it to town for the ceremony. It's nice to have family in town, if only for a little while. It makes life a little less lonely.

3. I got my iPod shuffle in the mail today. Oh. My. Goodness! It is TINY, and when I say tiny I mean, TINY. Minuscule even. It's SO cute! Too bad I am giving it to Keith, I even got it engraved for free.

4. We got our new callings. Keith is the Deacons advisor, and I am the visiting teaching coordinator. That's right, I am the person in charge of creating all the pairs of sisters, and yes, I don't know anyone in the ward. And yes, the whole system needs redone. This should be interesting.

5. I am officially signed up for my vacation from work. 3 weeks off. I don't think I will know what to do with myself. Hopefully something fun. At least I have the 4th of July off this year, it will be the first time in 3 years. Woo hoo!

6. I am not afraid to admit that the close of all my favorite TV shows for the summer has me a little saddened. I love a good escape at the end of the day, plus it keeps me going when work gets slow.

7. The nice weather is still holding out, but I know (and am fearing) what is coming next. HOT. TEXAS. SUMMER. Have I mentioned before how much I hate the summertime? I have? Too bad. Cause I HATE it.

8. I got to hold a teensy baby this week. So very teensy. I don't care who you are, holding that baby girl would make you want one of your very own. I am no exception.

9. Natalie didn't join her ballet class early enough to make it into the recital, and for this I am glad. Why? Because the dang thing is on a Sunday. We have had small issues with keeping the Sabbath pop up here and there, but as the kids get older we know it is going to be more and more of a problem. So we took a stand, no more nothing on Sunday. Nada. Because we don't want to have to explain why such-and-such is kinda ok to do, when this-and-that isn't. I have a feeling it will be rough.

10. Lastly, I am slowly coming out of a funk. Blogging and otherwise. I just haven't been feeling myself, I have been missing my family and friends (again). I am hoping that having some distractions here will help me not to be thinking about all the other things that have been making me so sad.

The current state of things

** The weather we have been having here for the last few weeks makes me happier than a clam (I think that is a good thing). It has been overcast, sunny, cool, warmish, rainy, breezy, stormy, everything under the sun except HOT. Which I hate. So it's all good. If only there was a state that was like this almost all of the time, oh wait, there is. Oregon. Remind me why I don't live there again?

** The kids have been...wait for it...sleeping in! Seriously, Brady slept in until almost 9 this morning. Having their own rooms has been a beautiful thing. Natalie wakes up around 7:45ish, but she knows to play in her room quietly until Mommy is awake (normally 8:30 or so is when I get my lazy butt out of bed). It doesn't always work beautifully like this, but more often than before. And I am a more rested (and happy) woman for it.

** I have an insatiable urge to bake. All. The. Time. Seriously, I have baked more in the last few weeks than any woman should. I am containing myself from going to make cupcakes right now. It's not that I want cupcakes (or even NEED them) it's that I just want to be in the kitchen baking them! What is wrong with me? I have made banana bread, brownies, cookies, soft pretzels, muffins...It's just not healthy, literally and figuratively. Seriously, not healthy for my figure!

** I think there is a person (or maybe a laundry gnome) living in my closet wearing our clothes, because the amount of laundry we have is out of control. I swear I clear out the baskets, washing every single piece, and a day later they are overflowing. What the heck? Does anyone else have strangers hiding in their house dirtying every available piece of clothing as soon as you turn your back?

** I hate our car. Seriously, we fix something, and 2 minutes later something else breaks, or another light comes on, or some new strange fluid is leaking out. Enough already Lola! Just stay fixed! Haven't we done enough?

** Keith works a lot. I know this is probably just the tip of the iceberg, but he has been leaving before the kids and I are even dreaming about being awake and getting to work at 6, sometimes before. And staying until 4 or later. Yes, that is a 10+ hour day. Every day. I think he needs to go golfing or fishing or hunting or SOMETHING. Because he has really been working hard. I am proud of him though, he knows we need the bigger paychecks to get caught up in life. But whew! Just thinking about it makes me tired!

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!

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.

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.

Little Things

1. For the last week or so Brady has watched all or part of The Incredibles, every day. This is BAD, I am embarrassed to write this, the boy watches far too much T.V. (which we hope to remedy soon, with a YARD), but it is just so sweet. He loves that movie. He loves to be Dynaguy or Dash. He quotes obscure parts of the movie (which is also sad, but cute). And I just love it. (Even though I just read that when your kid watches more than 1.5 hours of TV a week in hampers their imaginative play, and instead of making up their own games the play scenarios from the movies instead. Um...my kids totally do that. Whoops!)

2. I LOVE having the bunks up (still haven't taken pictures of it). The kids have so much more room to play, and I just love it.

3. Keith and I found the PERFECT house this week. In our ward, 3 bedrooms, master had an office area, 2 bathrooms, large entryway (a must for me, so people have room to take of their shoes, LOL), 2 car garage, brand new tile all throughout, HUGE closets, HUGE backyard, designated garden area already made. BUT the rent was teensy bit too high, even after them coming down $150 for us, and we would have to move in in February. Arg! I guess it wasn't the perfect house...

4. Operation "cook dinner on the nights I work" is in full swing and is awesome. Last work week went so well, and it was so nice for Keith to have one less thing to worry about. This week has started off to a good start with some seriously good BBQ pork from a recipe Shellie gave me. And the ladies at work just gave me two more crock pot recipes that I can use next week. It takes some planning and a large grocery trip to get everything for the upcoming week of food, but it has been so nice! Though we do have lots of leftovers...

5. I am SO behind on blogs. Seriously, my google reader scares me. It is a daunting task. Luckily I work this week!

6. I love listening to the radio in the car with the kids. They have their favorite songs that they always ask me to turn up, and then we all sing along. I have a horrible memory for naming songs unless I am listening to it, but some of the biggest hits with them are I'm Yours, Viva la Vida, Hot n' Cold, Life is a Highway (Cars edition), and anything Taylor Swift (apparently I DO like her, just not live, who knew?), and I know there are more, I just can't think of them.

7. I loved having seven days off. I got to put the kids to bed, have one on one time with Natalie during Brady's nap, relax at night with Keith, help Keith study, craft, watch TV, and just be. I hope one day I don't have to work, I am SO blessed to have this job, it is basically a dream job for us, but it still isn't as good as just being a Mommy.