Hunka hunka burnin' love

My sister in law, Amy, my great friend, Jill, & I ran for love this weekend! :) It was a 5k to raise money for a cute young family that has an amazing adoption story. Click here to read it.

As I posted earlier, my family & I have been going through a rough spell. I don't want to be one of those bummer people that complains all the time & isn't any fun to be around. I didn't realize how forgetful I had become about the importance of simple things, like smiling, laughing & consciously choosing to have fun, until a prayer was answered in a curious way several months ago. It was a chance meeting of someone who did all of the above & it made a strong impression on me. I forgot how fun it is to laugh until your face hurts :) There have been many prayers answered lately & most of all of them have been through simple gestures by friends, family & strangers. It was all a good reminder to me that, even through the hard times, it is important to keep doing things that bring you joy & it's a conscious choice. I think I was born with a happy gene, but I wasn't using it! Because of so many wonderful people helping me remember & lifting me up, I have made some lifestyle changes.

I had to ponder about what really brought me joy that I wasn't doing anymore. One of them was sports. I started running, biking & playing again every morning. Being athletic has always been part of me & I really love the feeling I get when I play sports. I also love the feeling of giving to others. With my own family to take care of, plus working full time, I was not able to spend time on service like I had previously. So, I am multi-tasking by doing 1 organized charity/sport event each month (like the 5k above). It's not personal service, but it's what I can do right now & it still feels really good to be helping. My calling is another great way to give service, and I'm trying to work out my schedule to continue with scouts. I am also trying to dive into the scriptures again, which is something very important & helpful to me.

The most important thing I can do to bring myself joy is being with my family. We are so short on time with each other now, that we have to get creative, make it count & let everything else go when it's family time. It has actually been a good thing. I still miss running Bella down the hall every 15 minutes to go potty, leisurely walking the boys to school, and setting up play dates in the middle of the day....but it's ok. We are getting on a schedule & enjoying our new routine.

Teaching school is fun & the little boys get to go to work with me! They love it & are meeting so many new friends. Bella is warming up to her new babysitter & seems very happy when I come home on my lunch break to cuddle her. No more tears :) Noah isn't really affected by our new schedule, since he's in school all day & Len gets home by 4:00. Len's work is still yucky, but he's hanging in there & vigorously looking for a better opportunity.

I thought that John Lennon was just a great singer & a dreamer. I guess he was right though...sometimes all you need is love!

Happy Valentines Day. I love you!

Big girl!

Bella is SOOOO excited to have her own big girl bed! We were planning on keeping her in her crib as long as possible, and she never tried to climb out, so we thought we were good until at least 3. She's just so impossible to resist when she says "Peeessse Otay"? When she says that we are totally at her mercy & she can pretty much get whatever she wants! She always lays in the boys' beds & pulls the covers up & pretends to sleep. She loves sleeping with the boys & would point to their beds with her puppy dog eyes & start in with "peeessse bed. Otay?"
Lucky for us, Target had a toddler bed on sale this week for a really good deal. We couldn't imagine putting her tiny body in a twin bed! She is thrilled & is sleeping well :) Unlike her brothers though, she does get out when she wakes up & runs down the hall or comes into our room. The boys all called us from their beds at first, like they did when they were in a crib!

The boys like her tiny big girl bed too! They all try to smoosh into it & read!

New year, new approach

So, I haven't been good about keeping up on my blog because I really didn't know what to say. I'm personally sick of faking it, but "Happy New Year to you. Our year kinda sucked & I don't have high hopes for 2011" just didn't seem appropriate! Oh, well- I said it! That's truly how I felt at the beginning of this year, but things are heading in a nice, new direction already.

I KNOW it sounds totally & completely self-centered & it very well may be, but like my hero Sting says, "don't judge me, this could be you in another life, in another set of circumstances." It's impossible not to feel like a jerk for being frustrated when people are starving, homeless, living in oppression, etc.... It was hard to come to the conclusion that it's okay to be frustrated, because we all have been given different trials (as long as I don't dwell or not progress, that is).

True, most people don't blog or talk about their true feelings or problems, but that's not me. It used to be me & I found it very stressful & heavy to be hiding the truth all the time. I'm pretty sure if I were to go to a typical counselor, they'd tell me I'm going through a typical mid-life crisis. I mean, I am about to turn 37 & the average life span in the US for a woman is 74. Doesn't get any more mid-life than that! Whatever it is, it's been fairly miserable, but very enlightening. Really, I feel lighter lately. I truly have learned & have a strong testimony now that without the bitter, we would not appreciate the sweet. I have a glorious life & have many, many blessings that I recognize & am grateful for everyday. That said, it really was still a stinky, hard year!

Let's make some light of the matter, & forget the bitter. Here's some sweet...

Uh huh, this is a picture of my toilet. Actually, it's the boys' toilet & discovering these handy deodorizers has significantly cut down on the amount of dry heaving as I enter their bathroom. They work much better than a wallflower or any spray. It doesn't seem to matter how often or how much I sweat while scrubbing this bathroom, there is always a lingering odor that is unique to little boys & their toys. I consider this a sweet find!

Re-introducing a "toy room" to our house, was another sweet thing that happened in 2010. We used to have one, but after our family size exploded a few years ago, we had to get rid of it to make space. We gave Noah our big guest bed & put away my dusty art desk & poof! a new play room was born. The sweetest part is the 2 little siblings watching "Blue's Clues" together while sharing a snack. Ahhh! :)

One thing that I decided several months ago, in my fragile state (haha), was to start taking care of myself- not just everyone else. This goal is all inclusive. I'm not talking just exercising & eating my veggies. That, plus buying boots that you want to kiss & dance in, clothes that you didn't have in your closet in high school, hanging out with people that give you perma grin, laughing until you have to run to the bathroom for fear of peeing your pants & finding ways to make everyday stuff more enjoyable. I'm going to be my true self, which includes a nice pair of s#it-kickers in my closet :)

It's sad, but this little item has made me so happy this year! It's a cheap hanging rack from the local big box store & I love it. Laundry has always felt like something Satan stirred up to break me down, but this hanging rack & an inexpensive steamer has made it much more tolerable. I still have loads & loads of clothes to wash, but my ironing board is now not a table for all the clothes waiting their turn to be ironed. Now, I hang everything that needs ironing & steam them on Saturday night, along with our Sunday clothes. It's quick, easy & organized- all my favorite things :) I also have room for our scout shirts & the kids dreaded snow clothes. Yeah! Sweet!

Maybe this sweet thing is really an unhealthy addiction, but it's still sweet! It's called Kid 2 Kid & it makes me feel like a rock star. All of these adorable girly dresses were only $1. I look there every time I need something for my kids & usually find what I'm looking for, at a great price. I'm starting to do the same for my clothes, but at the big girl consignment stores!

The sweetest of all sweets.... our 4 adorable, wonderful, crazy & delicious children. We toasted in the New Year with non-alcoholic sparkling juice in mini IKEA cups. Bella's in her big girl panties, Sam has toothpicks taped to his knuckles, Mack is dressed & ready to go at 7:00 am & big brother Noah's taking charge. It's the perfect image of each personality that graces our house everyday. Without these little people, Len & I's life would be totally different. We love them so much & they are our world. When things are hard, they can still make us smile & laugh. Every decision takes their well being into consideration. They teach us & help us be better people.

They are sunshine, milk chocolate, lazy days by the pool, a good book, a warm bath, a funny movie & the best cuddles you've ever had.

I'm trying to take more time to have fun with the kids. We went sledding & Noah still talks about how funny it was when Jill & I flew off the sled when we hit a bump! We will probably never forget this day, even though we have many more coming. Like I said before, things were hard this year, but I have learned so much about myself. I have the best friends & family in the world & I treasure the times I get to talk with them. Walking in the mornings & working in the garage for hours with friends equaled some seriously great therapy! I can call several friends, even if we haven't talked for months & know I can vent & get great advice without worry of being judged. I hope I can be as great of a friend back. There are even a few people that I feel God put in my path to teach & help me. People I don't really even know well. I learned from one of them that disappointment is not bad, it let's you know where you want to go. It's true!

Len probably had it the hardest last year, and yet you find him complaining. He's been in a crappy job, trying to come back to church, struggling with school & he's always gone. The best thing that has happened so far this year, is how hard Len is working to change things. He has a bigger cross to bear than most people realize & he's really motivated to get his legs underneath him this year. It's not going to be easy, but it will be worth it. Go Len! I feel lucky to have such a great guy.

Now, just for fun:

Christmas morning was extra fun this year with Bella. She was old enough
to really get it & was so adorable!

Sam, aka Bobo Fet! (Notice it's still dark outside as we're opening presents)

Mack with his coveted double light saber!

Paper Jamz all day long!

I dare you not to smile...

Merry Christmas to you!

My friend Melanie took these & I love them! I will always treasure these fun Christmas pictures that totally capture my kids' personalities.

(melaniesphotoshoppe.blogspot.com)

ho hum

The last 3 pictures on our camera:

Mack waiting by the freezer for his gogurt to freeze. It was a LONG wait!

I noticed a few bite marks on one of our lollipop ornaments!

Bella showing off her armful of silly bands, aka "Pretties"

I have really sucked at keeping up our blog lately! Generally I love keeping up on it, but I think ever since I started using the Internet on my phone, I rarely turn my computer on anymore. I guess I'm officially part of the rat race that's doing everything on the go in the fastest possible way. How obnoxious!

We have been busy through the holidays. We went to Idaho Falls for Thanksgiving a day later than we planned because of a big storm that closed the highway at the border. My cousins were here & had to stay a day later too, plus Len's parents came into town to stay at our house a day early! We had a houseful for 1 night & it was crazy, but fun! The boys were thrilled to sleep on the floor while Len & I got to remember how tiny twin beds are! It took 6 hours to get to Idaho, but we made it. We enjoyed our quick feast & visit with the family before we turned around & came back home the next day. Then, we celebrated with Len's family Friday. What a whirlwind! Unfortunately, I forgot to take even 1 picture in all the craziness.

We are getting ready for Christmas now. We had our tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving somehow & got most of our shopping done. Still, I feel like I'm running in circles! We met our medical insurance deductible, thanks to Bella's constant ear infections, so we've been visiting lots of doctors before the end of the year! We've also been attending parties at school, church, family & friends, plus finishing up cub scouts for the year. Today I started to plan what we need to bake & buy for neighbor, teacher & friend gifts and address our cards. Life is so busy (although much of what I do is out of enjoyment, not necessity!). I still think "Simplify" is going to be our 2011 family theme, because sometimes you have to cut back on things, even when you enjoy them. I really enjoy laundry :)

Our trip to happy valley

Whenever we enter happy valley, aka Utah County, we have to make the ritual stop at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. The kids love watching the round lump of dough that they're about to consume get fried in oil! Yum!

There's nothing like a Krispy Kreme!
It was an especially great distraction on this particular visit to happy valley, because silly me got us all in a tizzy! After arriving on perfect mormon standard time, we discovered the dine & dash shuttle was no longer running from the University Mall to the BYU stadium, where we were supposed to be. So, we headed toward the UTA buses & found a cheerful driver that said he could drop of us within a block of the stadium. How sweet! It would've been perfect, except for the fact that I realized the football tickets were sitting under the Krispy Kreme box on the front seat of the van...while we were on the bus. Arrgghhh! After exiting the bus & missing the other bus back to the mall, we found ourselves stranded in a strange & unfamiliar part of Provo. Honestly, it was scary, but nothing like being stranded in Phoenix or D.C or some other big city. I knew we couldn't be in too much trouble. So, we walked around & found a dollar store, where we hoped to find out directions, & of course, use the bathroom (3 boys- you know). The girl at the checkout was so nice when I asked her questions & eventually told her our dilemma. She said she was getting off in 5 minutes & would be happy to drive us to the mall. Weird, but I felt comfortable with this offer. I was glad if we had to be stuck, it was in Provo, Utah!
Not only did she drive us to the mall, but she waited until I grabbed the tickets & also drove us to the stadium. Phewww! It was such a relief. We didn't make it to the game until the end of the 3rd quarter, but the boys were thrilled anyway. We were just glad to be there, be safe & having fun. I was so grateful that we ran into such a nice girl & plan to pay it forward, as soon as I have the chance.

We missed the scouting tribute, but we enjoyed watching BYU kill UNLV. :)

Oh my heck, Happy Valley lived up to its nick-name!

Cutsie pootsie

Trick or treating at Grandma & Grandpa's house :)

One of the main reasons I started this blog was to record cute things my kiddos say, since I'm not very good at writing them down in their baby books. Well, a few days ago Mack said something REALLY cute that I wanted to record on the blog & now I can't remember what he said :( I want to cry! I hope it comes back to me. I guess I'm not very good at keeping up on my blog either!

I better quickly write down a few cutsie things the kids said this morning...

Mack was studying the runner on my dresser (pictured above) & suddenly said to me, "why are there naked childs on this?" He looked at me disgusted & shocked! It was so funny!

Also, Sam & Mack were eating breakfast this morning & drawing in their workbooks. I said, "you guys are so smart." Sam said, "I'm not smart. I make lots of friends at school." Mack chimed in & said, "yeah, Sam has like a million friends." Before I could say anything, Sam said, "Mack is so smart he can read books for 100 year old kids!"

I'm so glad they are standing up for each other, but it makes me feel bad that Sam thinks he's not smart. They have different strengths & are both smart, just in different ways. This is what we talked about after I stopped laughing!