Her very first....

I woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Wrong side. Paul said that I was not his wife.  He said some alien b**** inhabited my body today (maybe). I was pretty wretched. I admit it. I really don't know why I was mean, I just felt that today was as good as day as any to have a bad day. But as it is New Years Eve and the kids are fast asleep, I'm drinking my mojito minus the hard stuff, and my popcorn is in the microwave...I realize it wasn't a terrible day after all. In fact, it was actually a very huge day....
Leah had some birthday money she was eager to spend since she is learning that is what money does. I wasn't too happy about another barbie or glitter pen I knew she would pick out, but we cleaned up and headed to the mall anyway. Asher has had those blue gloves on since Christmas, yes they smell, and no he wont take them off.

Once we got there, the girls headed one way and the boys headed the other. Once I was done, we went to find the boys and walked into a home decor store....right then, Leah spotted it. She went straight to it and picked it up with glowing eyes. "I LOVE this mom, I'm buying it with my dollars," jingling her money in her sequined Beauty and the Beast rose purse. I talked her into thinking about it and going to run energy out at the play area hoping she would forget about it. She didn't. She couldn't wait to buy it. She proudly handed her money to the lady. She was giddy. She was ecstatic. She was in 4 year old heaven. It was the cutest thing I have ever seen.  whoa, that's a lot of hounds tooth....a lot of cuteness in hounds tooth ;)

  

Meet Leah's very first purchase. The little silver box. Home to all of her special treasures. 

She was one happy shopper today.  And I am one ex-grump smiling at the days events. 

hoobywhatty?

Santa brought the kids a kitchen this year. They have had the best time playing with it, and I have had the not so best time yelling at them to take care of their new [not cheap] toys....

We had a great time Christmas Day with 30 bodies in our not so large house for dinner. Luckily the weather rocked so the kids were in and out the whole time. Paul had a not so great time with the barfs that day.... we thought he had the flu but since none of us got it, I think that I accidentally food poisoned him by putting bad lettuce in his Christmas Eve chicken tacos....whoopsie.

I think its fare to say that this is what we were/are are most excited for.....have I mentioned that before? {i couldn't get it to post}

jamaica me happy

I wish I was in Jamacia...but that isnt till March.
So lately...
Asher is happiest drinking the hot chocolate...

Leah is happiest in any sort of Santa situation.

Maya is happiest where the food is. And on the table seems to be the place.

And you know when Im happiest? Receiving fantabulous mail. We got a huge-ola package from grams and my sis jules had sent me...okay my girls... some of the cutest hair pieces Ive seen around. Ya ya ya, everyone sells them in the UT area but....hers really are awesome. {Shameless plug}...
If you are looking for some one of a kind pieces....she is the women. And they rock.  

So a merry happy to you all....and enjoy your Christmas!

Now THIS is hilarious....

they got it. even the effects. great.

Four

Happy Birthday to Leah!
She got to choose breakfast this morning...it consisted of waffles and licorice.

Maya got in on the licorice action too.

On to the party..... There was face painting, pizza making, cookie and cupcake decorating, puppet and flower hair clip creating and waaaay to many presents ripped open. It was a blast. Leah is a lucky girl to have such fun friends.

I am wiped out.
Love you bugsy.

Night off...and out

In the 4 years that Paul has been on his ship, last night was our first (and last) Navy Christmas Party experience. Pigging out on prime rib and chocolate dipped strawberries, mingling with his fellow workers, and listening to the lame DJ was unexpectedly fun.
[The "all gussied up" photo]

[Here we are trying to be cool at the party]....not really......

[This is the sweet prize we walked out the door with. It wasn't the 1,000 dollar gift card, Mac Book, or Vespa but hey! we were happy]

It was interesting {to say the least} to see what people chose to wear. That was the funnest part for me, scoping out all the wanna be hotties (or naughties). And of course slow dancing to "all my life" with my hottie....memories.....
No wait....the BEST part was coming home to a sparkling clean house! Not the way I left it at all. My sweet awesome fantastic beautiful friend and next door neighbor Abby and her husband John watched the rugrats...She did my dishes, vacuumed, swept, and had the kids snoring zzzz's. Only one of the many times this has happened from her. She rocks.

a little hand out

There was a knock on my door around noon today. I opened it to a teenage girl who handed me a flyer and said she was starting a babysitting business.
I smiled, took the flyer and told her I'd keep her in mind....

Judging by this flyer, would you let her babysit?



Me either.....

Lets talk College....

Somehow this mornings "bath tub topic" was college...
After taped stopped Maya was informed by Leah that she will be attending North Carolina and will become "an airplane driver or something" and that she also looked like a "fake rat"

Fun times in the morning....

*their Fathers football preferences may have a tad influence in the matter....*

Awkward Nostalgia

This morning I was in the garage going through boxes to find Christmas junk and ran into this pretty picture.
Wow.
Homecoming Dixie College 2000. Paul had been off his mission about a month.
We were just starting to date. I look at this and it brings back the awkwardness of it all in the beginning.
How happy I am not to be there anymore. Its nice not worrying about my pits sweating, bad breath and zits.
I'm so sorry Jessica, I looked and looked for the group picture but alas, I figured you wouldn't mind AT ALL if it didn't show up too.
Dixie sure knew what they were doing with the set up. That light post justs adds so much don't you think? Or is it the flowers at the bottom?
Please tell me my looks have changed.....
And correct me if I'm wrong but I do believe that is Abby (L.) T's dress?

Challenge

Rules are: Anything you have done has to be in bold. How much have you done?

1. Started your own blog {love it hate it}
2. Slept under the stars {of course}
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii {Senior Trip!}
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland {1998-1999}
8. Climbed a mountain {all over Utah}
9. Held a Praying Mantis {Yes but not the Kung Foo type}
10. Sang a solo {unfortunately for the audience}
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch {do french braids count?}
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning {Woof}
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables {herbs, tomatoes}
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight {tore apart a feather pillow and didn't clean it up}
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill {Hello?!!}
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb {we raised them when I was young}
26. Gone skinny dipping {not enough}
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset {course}
31. Hit a home run {city league early 90s}
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing {YW back in the day}
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke {fun times}
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt {beautiful}
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight {Mexico, Hawaii, South Carolina}
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing {too much of a wimp to reel it in myself}
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling {snorkel in HI, Mexico}
52. Kissed in the rain {fun}
53. Played in the mud {more fun}
54. Gone to a drive-in theater {early memory, it was The Fox and the Hound}
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business {phah....joke}
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching {I don't know why...I fear them}
63. Got flowers for no reason {romantic huh?}
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy {a whole stash in a box at my moms}
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial {cool}
71. Eaten Caviar {does it count in Sushi?}
72. Pieced a quilt {TEDIOUS}
73. Stood in Times Square {1996}
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone {5th meta tarsal}
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person {the best!}
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car {NOT worth it}
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper {Reflections baby!}
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House {outside if it}
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating {pine hen, turkey}
88. Had chickenpox {faint scar on my face}
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club {drop out}
93. Lost a loved one {Love them}
94. Had a baby {3 so far}
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone {damn things}
99. Been stung by a bee {twice in the same spot, left foot}
100. Visited Italy

Like Jessica, I best be getting to work!

11+26+08=LOOOVE

These 2 little lover birds are now officially hitched! I got a message Wednesday as I was on my way to North Carolina that went something like this;
"Hello Jaesi, I'm married. Bye. {snicker}" They took that cashola and ran.....

So that rings in at 3 sisters married in 2008 and one broke pops....

CONGRATS!

Oh Sht.

I had a chocolate chip cookie bar for breakfast this morning....As I was eating it I was changing Mayas diaper, she reached up and grabbed a piece of it, so I let her eat it.  

A few minutes later crumbs were everywhere so not even thinking I put them in my mouth....

WHAT I THOUGHT WAS CHOCOLATE WAS CRAP!!!

I barfed. Right then. Right there.

What mom eats crap?!!!

I do. 

I win the award. 

And apparently I'm a lousy diaper changer.

Its 3:00 am

I drank a 5 1/2 dollar diet coke.

I ate 4.00 skittles

I laughed till I cried at parts that were supposed to be serious.

I thought it was completely ridiculous.

Hmmmm

Not much else to say...

Pretty disappointing...

But the posse did have fun.

My 3 1/2 hour ward council meeting was more entertaining than the movie. For real.

So what did yall think?

sees won is for ze grandmaddars...

Love ya....

*Does anyone else think their own voice is completely annoying like I do?*

well worth it week

These little princesses decided one day after swim lessons to come and play. They were exceptionally nice and silly. As they were eating lunch Gracie turned to Leah and graciously stated in her most princess like manner, "Leah, I just love your pirate teeth."
Well thank you Gracie, I'm glad someone likes those expensive uglies.

Is it bad that we eat breakfast on the couch watching TV in the mornings? Maybe when a cereal thief is around. And there's the little twins again. What dolls....well...tough, play in dirt, ride on fire trucks dolls that is.

Lets keep the grumpy one happy. Hows a trip to the fire station and Target sound? It made a much better day for him than a princess tea party.

Who wants to get happy really quick? Click here for this delectable recipe and you, your stomach, your neighbors, their stomachs and your thighs will thank me. Okay maybe not your thighs....

Warm Fuzzys

Dear Subconscious Mind,

I love how you always keep the sweets and soda in the back of my mind, even when I want to forget that they are tucked away in the cupboard or stashed in the garage, but thoughtfully you lead me there at anytime of the day.

Your so good at keeping 2 lines of a completely annoying song in my brain all day. 

Thank you.  

Love,

"a little bit a chicken fry"

Dear Red Light Runners,

I love how you speed up even when you should slow down. I love that you almost cause accidents to save 8 seconds of drive time.  Your so good at helping with road rage and vulgar language. 

Thank you.

Love,

"Are you freaking kidding me?!"

Dear Costco,

I love that I come to you to buy a bag of 5 dollar bagels and leave with 75.00 worth of fun. You are so thoughtful in your samples. And you have the tastiest ring of cocktail shrimp.

 Thank you.

Love,

"One hot dog combo please"

Dear Disney DVDs,

You are such a great babysitter to my kids. You are so good at suckering moms out of 18 dollars with your "limited time out of the vault" deals. 

Thank you.

Love,

"PICK A MOVIE NOW!!!"

Dear Toy Magazines,

You are so bright and colorful. I love how you make my kids follow me around all day and whine "This is what I want, I want this, this, this, this." You are so sweet to have come in the mail for free just in time for the holidays.

Thank you.

Love,

"Quick, throw it in the trash"

Watch me crank dat....

Tonight as I was gettin' my groove on doing the electric slide at the combined dance of the Norfolk 1st and 2nd ward young men and young women....it happened.

I realized....

I'm old.

I'm not cool.

Its not cool to dance amongst teenagers.

They will not think your cool.

You know what else I realized....

That I absolutely don't care what I looked like....

I. Had. Fun.

*and watch out, cause this chaperone, yes chaperone, at the stake dance in a few weeks will pop and lock with Soulja boy....*

Bats Bugs Wings.....

and candy made the night great. Those 2 little lady bugs are always showing up to things dressed alike! Never planned by their mothers either. They are a week apart and destined to be bestest girls forever.....or a few more months at least ;)
Sorry Papa Scott, Ashers original plan of being you (a cowboy) was thrown out the window once he layed eyes on that mask.

Bueno y no bueno

Bueno....
All the chickas that go to stuff their faces with me! {Tammy, Leisel, Brooke, Annie, LeAnn, Jenna, Heidi, Michelle}

No bueno....

All the chickas who couldn't come.

Bueno....

The late movie we watched after dinner.... The Secret Life of Bees. Fantastic.... and the soundtrack!

No bueno....

The dad in it. woof.

Bueno....

This Tootsie Roll

No Bueno....

That she hates being in it.

Bueno....

My 5 delicious refills of Diet Coke tonight

No Bueno....

1245 am, no sleep, caffeine high

Bueno....

A fast lap top to play around on waiting for...

No Bueno....

This suuuuper slow computer

And their reaction.....

{watch video below before, if you havent already seen it}

Ahhhh...such a beautiful sight...listen and watch.


*Camie...I just couldnt resist this :)*

rhymes with confess

~I secretly love to spot a cob-web in the corner of my neighbors incredibly spotlessly anytime of the day clean house.....Ill admit it. 

~Cutesy toostie blog backgrounds bug me, that's why I never have had one....Ill admit it.

~I love to chew 5 or 6 pieces of bubble gum at once and swallow just like a kid....Ill admit it.

~I wish that I had done better research on the mattress that I bought but am stuck with for 5 years (at least) now....Ill admit it.

~I really don't enjoy the newborn stage of a babe....Ill admit it.

~Loud mouths drive me cu-razy.....Ill admit it.

~Sometimes, Id like to strangle some of my kids friends....Ill admit it.

~My floors just got mopped after a 3 month dry spell....Ill admit it. 

~I made sugar cookies 3 times this week and want to make them again tonight....Ill admit it.

~I want to eat half the dough....Ill admit it.

~I don't like root beer floats...Ill admit it.

~I rely way to much on my husbands knowledge for most things, including God....Ill admit it.

~I love tea, a delicious creamy cup of chai tea....I'll admit it.

Opinions

Yesterday I happened to catch a clip of a special report about a duty station in Afghanistan. It is a small fort up in the mountains of the "Valley of Death." American soldiers are constantly under attack from the taliban and at least twice a day they are in battle.

The conditions are terrible. They are infested with fleas, eat army rations, and their weapons jam in battle. 6 soldiers have been killed in the last 3 months here.

I was physically sickened by it. These are Americans. Who have families. Who deserve better than what they have been called to. These are men that need to come home, go to movies, sleep in beds, laugh with friends.

This war needs to end.

Watch the video.

New changes of an old friend

~Girlies. Girlies girlies girlies....The little one in the green these days is coming in at 19 pounds. She eats everything happily making nursing {almost} a thing of the past. Sleep? I am starting to remember what it feels like as these two are finally sharing a room {with out me}
and sleeping all night. So who knows a good eye treatment to get rid of the dark circles?
Polka dots is as crazy as ever. Some of her favorites for the now are; Apples, Stardust, toenail polish, pre-school with friends, and African Americans. She'd be Obama 08 all the way if she knew what that meant!

~A new use for Vinegar!......Giving it to naughty kids! A friend introduced me to this method and man, its worked! So open wide Asher, if you say something along the lines of "Shut up you poo poo head" again, or scream at me because your red glove isn't on right, we will disinfect your mouth.

~Our ward split into 2 wards while I was in Utah. A very good/sad/great thing since our chapel is as big as a Taco Bell. Because of that split, many a change has taken place. No more nursery. I now will stand for Truth and Righteousness as the YW president. I have 2 fantastic counselors, great advisers and 5 beautiful girls to show me the ropes. I made them these treats today to start off on the right foot. Because anyone knows that the keys to the starving 3rd hour young hearts, are goodies in any form.

~Lately I have been reminiscing about my old friend. This car took care of me in HS. Driving me to dance at 6 am, Washington City Pool in the summer, Arctic Circle for hundreds of 25 cent swirl cones and occasionally chauffeured Paul and his girlfriend in the back seat :)
Of course, I hated the thing back then and longed for something like a Neon or Grand Am but now realize the plushness of the over sized steering wheel, maroon cushioning, and sweet hydraulics. Now and then I will see one in a parking lot or driving, and dream of riding full speed over the {speed humps} and feeling nothing.
Ahhhh, they just don't make cars like they used to.

You look like a monkey....and you smell like one too!

Its Lyndsi C's day cause its her B-day!!!

Please eat at Texas Roadhouse for me....

Ocho

I have 8x8 things to do today...instead....I will do this....

[eight] shows I love to watch:
1 What Not to Wear
2 Intervention
3 Dancing with the Stars
4 House Hunters
5 Dateline
6 Cath and Kim...sooo funny
7 Lost
8 Reality Junk

[eight] things that happened yesterday:
1 Napped with Maya while Paul took the kids to swim lessons
2 Bought lettuce, a pineapple, and Hummus at Costco
3 Did the BOGO thing at Payless
4 Ate a Chargrilled chicken sandwich at Chick-fil-a
5 Got sick and took a nap
6 Watched Dancing With the Stars
7 Counted the clock till bedtime
8 Spent a great day with the fam and a day off for Paul

[eight] favorite places to eat (in no particular order):

1 Cafe Rio
2 In 'n out burger
3 Red Robin
4 Hibachi Grills
5 Cheesecake factory
6 Panera Bread Company
7 Paula's 
8 Ive been into Vietnamese food lately so any of those restaurants

[eight] things I am looking forward to:
1 Getting out of the Navy
2 My new calling
3 Losing weight
4 Getting out of the navy
5 Halloweens treats!
6 Turning a year older
7 Paul getting a new big money makin job ;)
8 Getting out of the navy

[eight] things on my wish list:
1 bigger van
2 brown suede boots
3 big huge vacation with no kids
4 a date night
5 big money makin job
6 move close to home
7  new pots and pans
8 for the danged election to BE OVER WITH ALREADY!!! 

Rubbish

Nothing like the welcoming sign of empty alcohol bottles in the medians and vulgar phrases written by these neighbors in coal on the pavement for us to come back to. Ohhh how I love this place.

So we made it. Thanks to the new edition of Sleeping Beauty (best Disney show EVER!) and play dough on the airplane, my kids were happy campers. Because of my hip, I was worried about walking through the airport pushing 100+ pounds of kids in a stroller with 3 backpacks jammed full of junk but in Vegas, Southwests gates are now right by their check-in. Saweet! Mayja was happy happy the whole time and wiped out twice on the flight. Speaking of the little toad....shes 7 months!



This hip. This dang hip. I'm pretty sure I cracked it. I never got it looked at since I thought it was just my sciatic nerve that was hurt but everything healed and my hip still hurts. I feel like an old grandmother in the mornings.

I was doing a re-load the whole kitchen kind of grocery shopping today at the commissary and had been there for an hour and a half fighting the crowds and was almost done. I was on my way to the check out and left my cart for 3 seconds to get a loaf of bread and came back and it was GONE! Someone had mistaken it for theirs. I waited by the other cart for about 10 minutes and no body showed up. I was ticked!!!
There was no way I about to start fresh so I bought a few veggies for a salad, a Twix and diet coke for the road home and called it good.
So, I hope the old person (since the commissary is always 80% old people) enjoys the toddler toothpaste and baby food they unwillingly purchased.

I have a sick addiction of buying a soda every time I am at a store. An open diet coke in the car, a twelve pack in my cart, 10pm at night...it doesn't matter....I need help.

You my friend are invited....

Kimi....you would look sweet in that!

fingers crossed

No falling off horses tonight....I'm outty tomorrow and couldn't be sadder/happier.
I love SG and love family but Paul and our own rooms are awaiting......
So tomorrow between 5-11 pm, eat a delicious dinner, lounge on a comfy couch, and think of me...couped up on Southwest flight 527 with 3 kids in tow eating peanuts and crackers trying not to go loco en la cabeza.....

Got some new hair....

Makes me feel pretty.....

nice.

Eye Candy

I was sick of reading about the tushy (which is nicely on the mend) every time I got on the computer...so here is some eye candy....I think so anyway....



We miss Paul and cant wait to be home. But Ill take another week of the beautiful Southern Utah.....and a chicken salad, black beans, house dressing and no cilantro please.