this is my year ...

i have been saying that for some time now ... well, 31 days-ish. this is the year that i will make food for dinner. real food. people food. not kid-friendly all the time. food that i want to eat - that looks so tasty in the pictures of my magazines and cook books and may or may not be actually tasty ... but 'this is my year' to cook!
so yesterday i found this yummy looking [easy] recipe in one of my kraft food magazines - i was tipped off by my good friend Kedra, she gets the same magazine. so i went looking thru all my past issues and found a few that i really want to try [read as: that seem easy enough]!
now i'm wishing that i spent more time watching my mom cook because i feel like an idiot calling her to ask how to make white sauce or 'how does one mince garlic'. i called my sister to ask what a 'clove' of garlic was ... DUH!
long story short ... my pictures aren't as 'beautiful' as the ones in the magazine - that inticed me to try it out ... but it was YUMMY - and really ... that's all that matters!

(my other problem is what to serve with it??)
not 'pretty' but tasty!!
see ... even Ammon ate it ... he's not my biggest challenge though!

Dorky Wafflebutt

have you ever received a forwarded email and deleted it just because it was forwarded ... i usually do because i try to be vigilant in combatting the evil forces of computer bugs ... and because i will be kicked in the head if i bind up my computer again!

but when the subject reads: 'FW: Dorfus Dippintush' ... one has to scroll down and see, "what the ...?" Enjoy.

MY NEW NAME IS IN THE SUBJECT...DON'T LAUGH UNTIL YOU FIND OUT WHAT YOUR NEW NAME IS.
We all need a little stress-reliever! This only takes a minute.
Please don't be a bore & ruin it.

Send it on to everyone you know including the person that sent it to you.
Sometimes when you have a stressful day or week, you need some silliness to break up the day. If we are honest, we have a lot more stressful days than not.
Here is your dose of humor...
A. Follow the instructions to find your new name.
B. Once you have your new name, put it in the subject box and forward it.

Don't forget to forward it back to the person who sent it to you
So they know you participated.

The following is excerpted from a children's book, Captain Underpants And the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants, by Dav Pilkey, in which the evil Professor forces everyone to assume new names...
So:
1. Use the third letter of your first name to determine your new first name:
A = snickle
B = doombah
C = goober
D = cheesey
E = crusty
F = greasy
G = dumbo
H = farcus
I = dorky
J = doofus
K = funky
L = boobie
M = sleezy
N = sloopy
O = fluffy
P = stinky
Q = slimy
R = dorfus
S = snooty
T = tootsie
U = dipsy
V = sneezy
W = liver
X = skippy
Y = dinky
Z = zippy
2. Use the second letter of your last name to determine the first half of your new last name:
A = dippin
B = feather
C = batty
D = burger
E = chicken
F = barffy
G = lizard
H = waffle
I = farkle
J = monkey
K = flippin
L = fricken
M = bubble
N = rhino
O = potty
P = hamster
Q = buckle
R = gizzard
S = lickin
T = snickle
U = chuckle
V = pickle
W = hubble
X = dingle
Y = gorilla
Z = girdle
3. Use the third letter of your last name to determine the second half of your new last name:
A = butt
B = boobhump
C = face
D = nose
E = hump
F = breath
G = pants
H = shorts
I = lips
J = honker
K = head
L = tush
M = chunks
N = dunkin
O = brains
P = biscuits
Q = toes
R = doodle
S = fanny
T = sniffer
U = sprinkles
V = frack
W = squirt
X = humperdinck
Y = hiney
Z = juice

Thus, for example, George W. Bush's new name is: Fluffy Chucklefanny.
Now when you SEND THIS ON...use your new name as the subject.


And remember that children laugh an average of 146 times a day; adults laugh an average of 4 times a day. Laugh a little!!

a joyful reunion

our beloved Prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley rejoined his darling bride today. he has left a life long legacy of faith, hope and testimony. our hearts and prayers are with the families, his counselors and their families, and the 12 Apostles.

I know he's is so happy to be home.

he's doesn't have many 'words' but he's pickin' up sign language!

midnight potty break

after i checked on the kids and covered them all up i went back to my room and then noticed the hall bathroom light on. i went to see who was up. elyssa was sitting on the potty wiping,+- eyes closed. she stood up and flushed and put her hands tightly over her ears (eyes still shut). then turned to wash her hands, dried them, turned off the light and stumbled back to bed (eyes still shut) ... i walked toward her room and the floor squeaked - she was on her bed when she heard the floor ... she looked at the door to see who (or what maybe? ) was coming into her room. i came in and asked her if she was ok. "yeah.", she said and laid down, covered herself up and went back to sleep ... silly girl.

on being sick ... and being a role model

as many of you know i am not exactly a pleasant sick person ... but i am also not a whiner. i am a firm believer that mom's should have a 'get out of sick free' card (thanks colleen) to be used as often as the case may be! i rarely get sick and to be absolutely truthful, i am sometimes a little annoyed that i don't get to be babied more. case in point: i have been pregnant 4 times - #1 sicker than a dog but after i threw up, i was good ... #2 still sick but had a baby to contend with and therefore couldn't spend the day on the couch ... #3 different sick, tired sick, living-at-my-in-laws sick but again had 2 babies ... #4 not as 'sick' but tired and can't catch a break. and thru it all my handsome husband didn't flinch (except that one time when my leg cramped up in the middle of the night and it woke me out of a sound sleep which in turn woke andy out of a sound sleep - in which he had his CPAP mask on and was sleeping quite happily - causing him to save me from the excruciating pain of a charley-horse). he wouldn't let me give into my carnal mind and fatigued body - he was always there to help me be strong. what i mean to say is that he was callous, pitiless and unsympathetic. ok ... so that's a little harsh, he was only a little insensitive.

all misery aside, i am sick today - the first time this year (don't even worry that i was sick over christmas)... today is tuesday, the day that andy's new calling (church responsibility) with the young men ages 14 and 15 'requires' him to be at the church building from 7-8:30 with the boys. his duty is to be there, a friend, a leader, and a role model. while i fully understand his responsibility (i have held the counter-part calling with the young women of the same age), i also felt that if he left at 6:45 - just after dinner was done and the kids were supposed to be getting ready for bed - i would not be able to handle it on my own. we had the following conversation:

i was sitting/lounging sickly on the couch, he was washing the dishes ...

him: you don't want me to go?

me: if it were me, i'd say the best example would be to stay home with your sick wife and take care of your family.

him: what do you want me to do?

me: you decide ... but i would appreciate it if you would stay.

him: ok.

he stayed home - i took a hot shower and did 25 minutes on the elliptical, hoping for a clearer head.

today is a RED-LETTER DAY! thank you honey, dear, handsome husband and loving daddy.

someday i'll repay the favor ... o that's right i did last year!

pinky square

the ultimate promise

"Traditionally, the pinky swear is considered binding and tantamount to a handshake in terms of sealing a deal. The pinky swear originally indicated that the person who breaks the promise must cut off their pinky finger... {not in our house, thankfully} It is most common among school-age children and close friends. The pinky swear signifies a promise that cannot be broken or counteracted by the crossing of fingers, the "I take it back" or any other trickery." (thank you Wikipedia)

watch out - if you pinky 'square' with Lyssa ... she will hold you to it! ie: remind you over and over and over and over and over until you want to cut your OWN pinky off! "mom, you remember we pinky squared." "you pinky squared i could XZY." "mom, pinky square that i don't have to eat hotdogs anymore." BAH - those kids at school, teaching my kids these ridiculous games that i keep getting sucked into!!

not taken for granted

if ever there was a person enormously grateful for good friends - it would be me. my last post and the comments left, gave me a unique opportunity to have my substantial ego stroked a little. i don't really mean to solicit praise but i have noticed in the recent past that i have needed it for one reason or another. in short, THANK YOU ...

i have been pondering about how to post my gratitude for the outpouring of love i have just received. i contemplated singling out my friends and telling them all the great things that i love so much about them - right here. but then i thought - "what if i forget someone!? that'll be embarrassing!" so instead, i leave this ...

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle,

when 24 hours in a day are not enough,

remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of hot chocolate.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."
The professor then produced two cups of hot chocolate from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things--God, your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions--and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else--the small stuff."
"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first--the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the hot chocolate represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,

there's always room for a couple of cups of hot chocolate with a friend."

Thank you for always making room for me, friends!

{ps. just read a cool quote that i'm going start using... "i'm drinking from my saucer - because my cup is overflowing!" good one, huh!}

learning about myself

after 31 (almost 32) years with a person, you think you'd know them pretty well ...

i recently realized - i am an instant-gratification-kinda-person. and it's not a good thing ... [i need to be is more like this.]

i was telling andy about it last night ...

it's the reason that i don't play the piano - i took lessons for six months, i wanted to just be able to sit down and play. i didn't want to practice!

it's also the reason i hate the laundry - it never stays DONE. there's always more to be washed, dried, folded, put away, washed, dried, ...

and why i don't keep my house organized - it takes too much time!

and why i love brushing my teeth - instant fix for bad breath.

and why my craft projects are so simple.

and why losing weight is so hard for me ... i want to exercise one time and see results.

and why i love the internet, email, instant messaging, cell phone ... i'd die without them. i have NO idea how i survived without a cell phone!

and why i don't have a garden - takes too long and too much work.

and why i take so long undecorating Christmas - putting it away is the opposite of 'gratification'.

and why there are only a few things i can cook - i never took the time to learn. (well that, and my people don't eat anything)

and why it took me YEARS to finish a Christmas quilt for my sister.

and why i don't/don't know how to make bread.

and why potty training is the bane of my existense.

and why i don't crochet [even though i know how ...] or knit [i tried to learn once - and still want to!].

and why i have only read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover 2 or 3 times.

and why i don't read books - that's a lie ... i read all the Harry Potter books. i don't get 'into' books like i used to - it takes too much time.

and why my driving record isn't stellar - i'm a little bit of a 'speeder' ... i got to get there NOW.

and why i go to the chiropractor - he cracks me and i feel better!

and why there are pretzels in a canister on my counter - instant easy snack!

and why i have a digital camera - i have to see how it looks right after i take it!

i could go on ... but i think you get the picture. i can think of only a handful of things that i've done that took me time and patience. 4 of which are my children - does pregnancy count? i want to be more patient and have some stick-to-it-iveness, i get frustrated quickly. i think i need to learn how to learn.

andy hugged me, "there's a lot of things you have done that took time ... "
"like what?"
"our kids ... "
"what else?"
"your scrapbooks ..."
"the scrapbooks that i am SO far behind on that i don't think i'll ever catch up?!"
"your blog ..."
"my blog doesn't take me time ... all i do is sit down and type what i think..." [that's something that took me time and practice ... i type pretty well.]
"um ... there has to be more ..."
"nice ... thanks for trying ..."

so, to those of you that know me: can you help me feel better about this bad habit i have developed?? can you add to andy's meager list?

and to all of you: how does one learn how to learn how to do things?!?

{and one more: it's also the reason that i love comments ... i feel instantly validated! - hint hint}

and now this ... from #2

let me set the stage ... grocery shopping with all 4 kids at 5:15pm. Easton is strapped in the cart, Ammon's hanging off the right side, Abi holding on to the left. Elyssa rides right in front of Easton, with her feet up, resting her back on my chest a bit. it's pandemonium, "mom, can we have this?" "can we get that?" "stop touching things." "keep your hands on the cart." "don't hang off the cart like that - you're gonna fall." "momma can we get some doughnuts this time??"
i started reading my list to myself, sort of under my breath ... "dressing, broccoli, lettuce, carrots, cheese, and ..." i trailed off thinking where to steer the cart next.

Elyssa says, "we're buying the word 'and'?"

abi in real life

(working on a pistachio)

her: Momma, sometimes when you're not here or you're not around ... i call myself "the boss."

me: you do, do you?

her: I really do, cuz i'm the oldest. like just then, when i was with Elyssa, Ammon and Easton in the playroom, i was trying to make myself the boss so they would let Easton play.

me: hm.

her: is that ok?

me: i guess.

she saw me typing this and came over to make sure i typed it right.

her: i can't believe you just wanted to copy what i said.

me: you're cute.

her: i can't believe you're copying what you said and what i said.

me: you're funny, too.

her: i'm serious - i don't like it when people don't let my little brother play.

me: ...

her: i think you're done putting things on your blog now.

top 10 reasons to shop at Costco

(i copied this picture from the internet - i didn't take it with my new camera!)

10. the employees are helpful friendly people.

9. the GREAT prices and coupons.

8. they brought back Tree Top Applesauce in the big tubs ... just because i put in a request a few times!

7. milk is 1/2 the price it is at the grocery store.

6. cheapest (and yummy) family dinner/date ever!

5. smorgasbord of samples offered from 11 - 2 for saturday's lunch!

4. 2 movie tickets for $14.99

3. their gas prices are always 1 cent less than safeway

2. christmas starts Oct. 1st!!

and the #1 reason - quite possibly the ONLY reason i buy anything at Costco ...
their return policy - because when you work so hard to earn money to buy yourself a new camera, the camera that you have saved for and picked out and had your eye on for so long and then you go and buy it and take a few pictures with it, threaten your children with dismemberment if they even think about touching it, keep it in the special cover it came with and guard it with your life, take a few more pictures with it and while shooting your darling baby boy DROP IT causing irreparable damage to the zoom and shutter ... (after only owning it for 6 days!!) they will find it in their BIG ol' hearts to take pity on you for your honesty, and refund your hard earned cash so that you can buy another one. {that you will take even better care of and NEVER use without first putting the wrist strap around your arm!}

Thank you

You're the BEST!!

easton = linus?

meet easton's taggie - it's dirty (the picture doesn't do it justice!)

he loves it
he holds it with his right hand while sucking his left ring finger and then rubs one tag between his left thumb, pointer and middle fingers (it's clean now!)
and he's the most darling baby ever
when he's not driving me crazy!

i need to make some videos to share so that you can become more aquainted with this little boy - he may not have words but he definitely knows what he wants! stay tuned!

impromptu new year's eve party

i get these crazy ideas at the spur of the moment - like "hey! let's have a New Year's Eve Party and invite the neighbor kids over! and whom ever else wants to come!!"

then andy reminds me that our house is a mess and we haven't prepared anything ...

details ... let's party!

i broke out my new 4 tier buffet server and made some cookies, filled it with our christmas goodies and voila!

our 2 (count them, two) guests were from 2 doors down - justin and mckenna
we watched Meet the Robinsons (i really like that movie - great message and cute flick!)
played with toys

abi did juggling tricks and [i didn't get a picture of it - but] we played Uno Attack for about an hour too!
counted down to 10:00 pm with the kids (alicia's GREAT idea - besides they wouldn't have made it to midnight!)
and clinked our glasses!

great time had by all and i think we'll do it again - albeit i'll plan ahead next time ... and maybe invite a few more people!!

Here's to 2008 - let's make it GREAT!

our minds are made up

after a week of mulling over the new year, we had a Family Home Evening focused on our resolutions.

our family motto this year is: Lose Weight in 2008

obviously for the adults in the house - we are feeling a little on the pudgy side as of late and plan to shed a few pounds this year but for the kids - since they're all a bunch of skinny minnies we talked about the other definitions of 'weight': stuff; junk; too much; extra; things we don't need; things we haven't used in a long time; clothes that don't fit; hurt feelings; grudges; things that weigh us down.

we have a new rule in our house: No More Yelling! we are trying to use sign language more and have the Spirit in our home more by keeping our voices down.

our Family Goals are as follows:

1)clean out the JUNK

2)keep our stuff put away: everything has a place and everything in it's place - except when we're playing with it.

3)have our house be a place where Jesus would be happy!

we talked about what that means: "a place where Jesus would be happy" ... we think it means that it's not messy, we are talking nicely to each other, and all of us feel happy.

we also set personal goals:

Abi

*no more talking back

*prepare to be baptized by reading the Book of Mormon and learning the Articles of Faith.

Elyssa

*no more whining and talking like a baby

*listen and obey - the first time

*keep room clean

Ammon

*use the potty - no accidents!

*learn colors, letters and numbers

Easton

*learn more sign language to communicate more - instead of screaming

*start using WORDS - everyone [and by 'everyone' i mean the 3 older siblings] will stop talking for him, we are going to start teaching him what that thing is that he's pointing at.

Andy
*daily scripture reading
*daily cardio
*[he doesn't want me to tell you this one but i'm sharing it anyway] bear tesimony in fast and testimony meeting 3 times this year!
Emily

*in order to lose 30lbs: i will stop eating at 8pm, eat more healthy snacks, and have only 5 pieces of candy a day. (think i can do it?)

*cardio 3-5 times a week

*read the Book of Mormon completely through before Abi's baptism

*daily personal prayer - morning and night

*[inspired by my good friend Colleen] up and dressed before the kids - at least 3 times a week to start ... hopefully i'll love it so much that it will become the norm!

there you have it folks, it's there for the world to see and be accountable to! i need to make a poster to help us remember and actually work on these resolutions. i hope that we will make this a tradition each january! last january i decided on 2 words for the year ... i should have made a few signs for myself!! if i was going to pick a word for 2008 - it would have to be LESS - less weight; less clutter; less stress; less junk; a lot less! besides it's true that 'less is more!'

stay tuned for the results at the end of 2008 (hopefully they'll be fun and entertaining like HeidiJo's!! this year's were amusing as well) - i've already figured out my personal motto for 2009 - "Lookin' FINE in 2009" (i know, you can't wait to hear more about that one, huh!)