Fly Catcher...

We live close to a bunch of farm fields. It is fun to watch them get plowed, planted and then see what grows. There are a few side effects though. The stinky manure, then after everything is harvested the leftovers along with manure attract flies. Along with the flies that come from the fields there are my neighbors and their dogs. We are surrounded by people who own dogs. It is hot outside and these people aren't very good at cleaning up after their dogs. Gag. It is stinky, hot and flies don't care where they came from, so they come here and bother all of us. Lucky for me I have me very own fly catcher. This kid gets his gear on and goes to work. He never really caught any or killed any until one day... He came upstairs to show me Henry. A fly he caught. Not only did he catch it but he caught it in a 2 liter bottle. He was very pleased with himself. I kept telling him that it wouldn't stay alive for long in that bottle. But that dang fly was alive in that bottle for a good 2 weeks. Now we don't catch flies, we kill them. Much more productive. 

Laine Jo loves her crib. We have transitioned her into her big girl bed and she was doing just fine. By just fine I mean she slept in it after a huge fight, loss of the oh so needed nap, and putting her back a million times at bedtime. Well we put the crib back up in her room and this is the result. She starts in the bed, on the other side of the room, then at sometime she climbs back into her crib to sleep. I know that taking the crib out would completely solve the problem but a part of me doesn't want to. She is my baby and I think I will let her feel that way for a bit longer.

Well, I guess she can be the baby until this little baby makes her grand entrance. She is already throwing her weight around as you can see. She, many times during the day, curls up in a ball and rolls to the right side. Making my belly very misshapen.

Here we are in all our glory. I am still feeling really quite good still. Defiantly waddling everywhere I go. My belly in huge and only getting bigger. On the bright side, the bigger the belly the less everywhere else looks so big. Does that make sense? I just mean that the belly is huge so maybe you don't see growth everywhere else. 31 weeks... 9 to go or less if I am lucky. Oh yeah, I cut my hair,.

Gag. I hate outside. I am sure this temp is reading a bit high but not by much. Never again, if I have any control over the situation, will I be pregnant in the summer. We do not go outside much. It honestly makes me angry to have to go out in the heat.

Oh and can I just say this? I have been reading, writing and looking at blogs for about 6 years. I think for alot of people personal blogs are going out of fashion. Not for me. This is 6 years of history for my little family and I do not see myself every stopping. But I have in the last year found my biggest blog pet peeve. I used to look at a lot of crafty, DIY blogs. Many of them started out with ladies just excited about projects they did and they wanted to share. Well over these years they have evolved and not in a good way. Now they are just money making things for people. The projects used to be new and inventive. Now I feel like they are just grasping as straws to make crafty things. Like come on! Does every little thing need to be mod podged, fabric-ed, bedazzled and flowered!?!  It it just a box of baby wipes. Who has the time and energy to make it match the nursery? And why is it necessarily? Then there are the ladies to are redoing their house on a "budget". Like I said their blogs started out with things I could to on my budget. But now their "budget" includes $75 a yard fabric. Needless to say I don't look at many craft blogs anymore. I scan the tittle to see if it is interesting but pass on 99% of them. I don't miss it. I think pining away after all the projects that were out of my reach made me jealous of what others had and not appreciative of what I have. I love my house and don't need to be comparing it to soandso@blogspot.com.

This is my life today...

We spent 15 minutes this morning looking for shoes.

Shoes that the night before I put in the closet.

To bad we have a little 17 month old shoe bandit loose in the house that likes to hide them.

For example: The perfect place for a shoe is in the dryer.

Or in the decorative basket in the end table.

Or in the bathtub.

Then we spent the next 5 minutes looking for scissors.

I take all the blame for this one.

I am always looking for them,

finding them,

setting them in the perfect place that I will never loose them.

That perfect place is never the same place.

Oh my poor mommy brain.

Dear Laundry,

I hate your stinking guts.

You make me vomit.

You're the scum between my toes.

Love,

Heidi

I am...

a cleaning machine.

Spring is in the air. It is so very beautiful, makes my nose itch, eyes water, makes my throat scratchy, but I love it just the same. This time of year reminds me of a few things. For one; track season. Although track in my old high school starts in the gym and running around the halls of the school because of all the snow, this weather reminds me a track. The wind and the sun. It literally makes me sick to my stomach. It is that feeling of getting into the starting blocks waiting for the race to start. I get the tense feeling in my stomach just thinking about it. Even though this memory sounds a little unfavorable, I still like the spring-knot-in-stomach-track-feeling.

Next I think about spring cleaning. I become a bit crazy I think. My house all the sudden feels so dusty and neglected. Like gross, when did the baseboards get to dirty and why are the fans growing extra dust wings? I feel like I have a million house projects that I need to get done before the dreaded heat creeps in and slows me down. Lucky for me this weekend Jer took Bode on an overnight camping trip. That left me at home for nearly 24 hours to get all the cleaning done I wanted. I scrubbed baseboards, tubs, walls and everything else I could think of. Feels good. I love to clean actually. I just wish it would last longer.

Now on to the millions of projects to get done soon...

stain/paint the kitchen table

paint the chest of drawers in my bedroom

find for night stands to redo for my bedroom- anyone have a set they are getting rid of?

redo the cute new shelves I found for Laine's room

paint the chest of drawers in Bode's room

make a slip cover for the chair in the master bedroom

finish decorating the master bedroom

get up the courage to ask my landlords if I can paint a room...or 2....or 3...

find fabric to make valances for the curtains in the living room

and any other crafty endeavor that comes up

Oh yeah... And I need to convince my husband that these are all things that need to be done :)

First up, finish the kitchen table. It is going to be beautiful!

 This sums up my mood for the week.

I am flattered...

Thank you Shannon for giving me this. I love to read your blog. You have such a strong testimony of the gospel, take beautiful pictures, and have such sweet kids. I am glad we can be blog buddies :)

Now for the 7 things about me..

1. I am a talk radio junkie. I listen to KFYI almost everyday. Rush, Hannity, Broomhead just to name a few of the shows I listen to. Maybe that makes me boring. But I like to be informed. I don't always agree with everything but I still like to listen.
   
   
2. When I was little I wished I was Laura Ingalls from Little House in the Big Woods. Heck I still wish I could be her.


3. I can not sleep in socks. It makes me feel all claustrophobic.


4. I wish I could go to school to be an Interior Decorator. I would love to know the rules of design. How to make things go together, what colors compliment each other and all that fun stuff. If I knew I could make money at it I think I would.
5. I love to do puzzles. They are nice and relaxing. To bad I haven't done one in years for fear of tiny hands messing it up and eating the pieces.


6. I love to sing church hymns at church. I am always disappointed when people don't sing loud. I have a horrible singing voice but it doesn't stop me. I love the feeling music brings.


7. I rearrange my house all the time. Not always the furniture but stuff on the walls, shelves cabinets. I like changes like that. I wonder what that says about my personality...

Wow, coming up with 7 things was hard. That took me days. I tried to post things I haven't posted on my blog before. I have come to the conclusion that a) I am not that interesting or b) I share too much on my blog because if you read my blog regularly you already know all the "interesting"things.

Now to nominate 7 people:

Jill, my sister. She is so crafty and witty.

Jami. She has had a difficult couple of years and has faced her trials head on in a courageous attitude. Love this girls spirit.

Erin. Funny girl, in a good way, and she take amazing pictures.

My Mom. I would love to see her "interesting" things.

Kim. I love her honesty about things. I am so excited for her twins :)

These two are private blogs...sorry to the rest of the world who doesn't get to read them.

Brittany. Another funny girl. I love all her kids and how she handles them.

Amy. She is crafty. Love her projects and can't wait to see her new little girl.

-Copy the award and place it on your blog

-Link to the person who nominated you this award

-Tell 7 interesting things about yourself

-Nominate 7 bloggers and post links to their blog

Thanks everybody...

for your comments on my blog.

I appreciate them. I would be lying if I said I didn't. I love to open my blog up and see a new comment. It can make my day sometimes. Sorry if I don't make it around to your blogs to leave comments too. I really try. I like to get comments and I like to leave comments for you too. I just wanted to say thanks to all my blog friends :)

phthbsath....

That is the word/noise that sums up my emotions for the past few weeks.

So many things going through my mind.

Some good,

happy,

interesting,

thought provoking,

down right crappy,

and sad.

You guys ever feel that way? Of course we all do. But when you are feeling that way don't you feel like the only one? So the other day I was really feeling this way and I was driving to drop Bode off to meet up with Jer so they could go to Chuck-e-Cheese. It was a gloomy day, kind of rainy, perfect for my glum mood. Bode kept telling my to look up and see the rainbow. I was driving so I kept telling him I will in a second, but I am driving and can't right now. He was just so insistent I look at the "bootiful rainbow". After about the third time of him telling me to look at it I did. It was breath taking. A double rainbow stretching across the whole sky. You could see where is started and follow it across the sky and see the other end. All I had to do was look up.

Isn't that how life is sometimes? I had put myself in this awful mood and was to self centered to even look up to my three year olds pleas to look up at the rainbow. So I have been thinking of these things since then.

• 
  
  How many times in our lives have we ignored the simple pleas and promptings of the Holy Ghost? Or have been so self involved we forget to "look up"? Things that are so simple mean the most. We have so many things that point us in the right direction and if we are willing to do those things we will have the peace that comes with living the gospel.


• 
  
  It reminded me of the things that really matter. I can get very stressed out sometimes. Like when the house is messy, bathrooms are dirty, laundry everywhere etc... Those stupid things get in the way of me being a mom. So today I let a lot of things in the house slide because I played with my kids. We went to the park, twice. They got to empty the cupboards and play fort. And they got to take a long bubble bath. It was a fun day. I love my job. The days are long but the years have gone by so fast. Bode will be 4 soon and Laine is 1. There will always be laundry but they will only be little for so long.


• 
  
  A rainbow always bring s sense of calm and security for me. It is like Heavenly Father telling you that this to will pass and that he hasn't forgotten about you.

Oh dear, these late night posts get very rambly, very fast. Hopefully is all makes a little sense. I just needed to sit and put my thoughts down in one place.

These made me think...

Reflection Questions for 2009


1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?
Single best thing- really just one. I think it would have to be the birth of our second child. Laine has brought so much happiness this year.

2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?
I am not sure if this fits correctly, but a challenge for me was learning patients. In so many aspects of my life.

3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?
Being able to spend so much time with family. We all love such busy lives so it is always wonderful to be able to spend time together.


4. What was an unexpected obstacle?
The mess with our house in Lakeside. It was supposed to go so smooth. But it now has changed so many things for us.

5. Pick three words to describe 2009.
stable-fun-new

6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your 2009 ( This one I didn't like so I asked Bode about his year)
FUN!!-Birthday-Preschool

7. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their 2009
Laine-Good job-Bode

8. What were the best books you read this year?
Hunger Game, Catching Fire, Confessions of a Shopaholic Series

9. With whom were your most valuable relationships?
My family.

10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?
This is hard to explain so I will try-My personal change this year has been trying to figure out and accept who I have changed into. I am no longer a volleyball playing, athletic free for all person. I am a mother, wife and homemaker. Duh, I keep telling myself, you have been this for awhile. But I really feel this way with two kids. So lets put it this way, this year I looking to have a more personal change in a positive light. Meaning I will not just be wife, mother, homemaker, I will remember who Heidi it too.

11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?
I think I am leaning to be more loving... key word learning.

12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?
Spiritual growth is hard to pinpoint, but I have really gained a testimony of the basics this past year. Doing the small things like reading scripture, saying prayers and attending Church meeting really mean a lot and keep life going in the right direction.

13. In what way(s) did you grow physically?

(crickets chirping....) Wish I had something great here like I did a triathlon or ran in a marathon but no. But no. I started off the year having a baby and finished the year struggling with body image issues. This year I hope to "shrink" physically, so check in with me later. But on a more positive note I did play volleyball 8 weeks after having Laine and surprised myself with not looking like a complete fool.


14. What was the most enjoyable area of managing your home?
I love to make my home warm, comfortable and inviting. So my managing come out in decorating. I always have fun doing that.

15. What was your most challenging area of home management?
LAUNDRY. Always laundry. I have a serious hate relationship with laundry.

16. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
Worrying about things. Like weight, what people think of me, how clean my house is etc...
17. What was the best way you used your time this past year?
Time spent with family.

18. What was the biggest thing you learned this past year?
To be content with what I have. I get caught up in wanting more and more. But I have so much to be thankful for. I learned that to be happy I must be happy with what I have and not look to others and things for happiness.

19. A phrase or statement that describes 2009 for you.

“Security for our families comes from learning self-control, avoiding the excesses of this world, and being temperate in all things.”
Kent D. Watson

There is always something...

Once the holidays are over and all my Christmas decorations are down I always get the bug to do a little decorating and rearranging. Not that I am getting any of these things...ok maybe one or two of these things when I save my pennies up... here are a few items calling my name.

I think I will attempt, with the help of my sister's vinyl machine, to make this one.

Then these...

they look so aged and weathered. I am loving them.

These hooks are beautiful. They would be perfect for my entryway.

Dang Pottery Barn.

You have such fun stuff and there is no way I will ever pay that much money for your stuff.

I am thinking red curtains will add a bit of drama to my living room.

I love red.

These pillows will soon be plopped upon my couches.

I have had them before. The exact same ones.

I bought them nearly 5 years ago, and love them. Every stripe and flower.

But they didn't last. Not because I didn't want them to though.

Stat, our old boxer (excuse me while I wipe a tear) loved them.

Also he loved to chew on the corners of them.

Bode loved to lay on them and watch movies.

He also love to color, wipe boogers and basically destroy them.

I did all I could to save them.

I washed them, re stuffed them and finally had to cut them down to try to make them last a little longer. Right now they or what is left of them are in Laine's closet.

I just love the fabric pattern and couldn't throw them away.

I am SO happy to have found them again. And at Kmart of all places.

Oh well, they will be on my couch...soon.

And no I don't think they look to old lady for me.

And then there is this. I love it the most, maybe not as much as finding the pillows though.

Again, dang Pottery Barn. I like you just not your prices.

I am so digging the eclectic look of this quilt.

I would look wonderful on my bed.

Too bad that just to buy the quilt and 2 shames is would be over $250 bucks.

I will just have to keep my eye out for it on Ebay.

I love to decorate. Find old things and make them new. Painting rooms, furniture and cabinets. Makes me wish we weren't renting. With the huge horrible mess that has gone on the past 2 years with our Lakeside house it is going to be many years before we are able to get ourselves into a position to buy a house of our own again. I would love to paint the cabinets in this house to make them not look so generic. Then it would be fun to paint the kids' rooms. Oh well. Someday I will get a house that I get to paint and add my own flavor to. Until then I will keep on doing what I'm doing.

Mom...

take a "chichure" of me!

Bode is always wanting me to take pictures of him.

He will set up something and then scream for me to run and take a picture.

Sometimes they are cute and posed...

Others kind of boring...

And sometimes are just a bit weird.

And then there is bug. She has been taking steps since Thanksgiving but they were sporadic and never more than 10 steps at a time. She knew that crawling was much faster.

Not now!

She has decided that walking is the way to go. She can now stand up without holding on to something for balance. Since she figured that out she has decided walking is fun.

She is getting better and better.

I think all she wants to do is run and follow her big brother around.

I have been enjoying my early Christmas gift from my husband. I got a gym membership. I know this my not sound like a great gift but it is exactly what I wanted. Well to be truthful I want my prebaby body back and unless I work out it will never be here again. It has been so nice to get away from the house and the kids and do something for myself. I have been struggling for the last little bit. I had been feeling like I have lost who I am. I love my life and wouldn't change things. I do feel like I have lost myself though. I do the same things everyday, clean, laundry, take care of kids and in between all of this I forgot to take care of myself. Jeremiah is always so good to make me slow down and try to take care of me. I am so thankful to have him. I have loved going to the gym! (lets see how long that lasts) It makes me feel like the person I used to be. Strong and confidant, not weak and well flabby. Working out is defiantly a mental booster. Now to really work on losing this baby weight. (well it has nearly been a year, I guess I can't call it baby weight anymore) Ok, this is rambly. Time for bed.

Christmas Tag...

1.WRAPPING PAPER or GIFT BAGS? Wrapping paper for sure. I love buy new rolls every year.




2.REAL or ARTIFICIAL TREE? Real all the way. I am not opposed to an artificial tree. I just love trekking into the woods and finding the perfect tree.



3.WHEN DO YOU PUT UP THE TREE? During the first week of December.



4.DO YOU LIKE EGGNOG? I like the taste of it but only in small portions.



5.FAVORITE GIFT AS A CHILD?An American Girl doll. I might have been a little old for it but I really wanted it. I still have.


6.DO YOU HAVE A NATIVITY SCENE? Yes we do! I got it last year. It is the last item we put up. Bode loves to put baby Jesus in the "barn".



7.HARDEST PERSON TO BUY FOR? Family. I am horrible at gift giving.



8.EASIEST PERSON TO BUY FOR? Bode.

9.EMAIL OR CARDS? Cards. Which reminds me I need to order them and get addresses!

10.FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE? "I can't put my arms down" Best Christmas movie ever is "A Christmas Story".

11.WHEN DO YOU START SHOPPING FOR CHRISTMAS? The day after Christmas.


12.FAVORITE THINGS TO EAT DURING CHRISTMAS? The Christmas bread loaf my mom makes.



13.WHITE LIGHTS OR COLORED LIGHTS? White Lights!



14.FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG? "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" by the Drifters. It puts me in such a Christmassy mood.


15.TRAVEL FOR CHRISTMAS OR STAY HOME? Stay home.


16.CAN YOU NAME ALL OF SANTA'S REINDEER? Nope. Not even going to try.


17.ANGEL OR STAR ON TOP OF THE TREE? A Star.


18.DO YOU OPEN PRESENTS CHRISTMAS EVE OR CHRISTMAS MORNING? New jammies on Christmas Eve. Then presents on Christmas morning.

19.MOST ANNOYING THING ABOUT THIS TIME OF YEAR? The Crowds!



20.UP EARLY OR SLEEP IN? I sleep as long as the kids will let me.



21.ARE YOUR GIFTS FROM SANTA OR MRS.CLAUS? Our gifts are from Dad and Mom. Santa brings the stockings.


22.DO YOU TELL THE CHRISTMAS STORY? We are starting that family tradition this year.


23.DO YOU LEAVE COOKIES OUT FOR SANTA? Yes. (we kinda forgot last year though)


24.FAVORITE CHRISTMAS TRADITION? Cutting down the tree, being with family, watching A Christmas Story... I like it all.

I tag you. Yes if you read this, you are tagged.

If you couldn't guess what was in the box...

It was my stroller!

The kids were very curious about the big white box.

Bode tried to stuff Laine in the basket underneath the stroller. He told her it was her spot and his was up here. (referring to the seat)

Thank you again for all the votes. I am so appreciative. I give this stroller 2 big thumbs up! I took it shopping in the mall the other day and wow. It turns on a dime, so maneuvering through all the clothes was so easy. But my favorite part is the adjustable handle bars. Normally the handles to push a stroller and uncomfortably short, but this has 4 settings so I can get them high enough. Again thank you to all of those who helped me rack in the votes. There is no way I could have won with out your help!

Have you met this kid...

If you haven't you really should. He is a hoot. Bode gets to go to preschool two days a week. He LOVES it. He wants preschool to be everyday. He loves to come home and show me the things he has made from his back pack. He is so proud of his letters and pictures. We still haven't got counting down...

This is his Thanksgiving turkey hat. When I picked him up on Thursday there was a rafter, look it up its the right word, of little turkeys to greet me. They were all going "gobble, gobble". Well Bode was saying "gob, gob".

Oh how I love this little boy. He is my little buddy and I am so grateful to be his mama. See this kids eye. I think I had mentioned that he has a stye. It is the stye that won't die. Poor kid gets double looks everywhere he goes. It started out as a pretty regular stye, but has grown into something gross. We have taken him to the doctor and then the eye doctor. There really isn't much we can do just wait for it to go away. If anyone asks he will point at his eye and tell you he has a stye. Or we are going to get a patch and tell everyone he is a pirate. I still love his face.

PS...

Guess what I found on my doorstep yesterday.

HOL...

AKA: Heidi On-Line

Yay! I have a computer again! Woo Hoo!

I can't exactly remember how long ago, it seems like months, but I was blog hoping around the blog world. I was on a blog that I have looked at before and it had a link so I looked at the link and bam! I caught a virus. It was one of those pop-up ones. I tried calling qwest, then dell then McAfee to resolve the issue. No one would help unless I pulled out my credit card and spent at least $150 to fix it. I didn't want to do that so I went another way... it was the wrong way. I had someone try to clean it up and it crashed. A hard nosedive into a brick wall.

Luckily for us we didn't loose pictures or documents because of my husbands foresight to back up the computer with an external hard drive. So basically we were looking at either buying a) a new computer or b) a new hard drive and new programs. Each option was not cheap. Either was we were going to be out at least $300-$400.

So we both decided that we would wait and see if the Black Friday sales would have a great deal and barrow my mom's laptop until then. But my sisters volleyball team went to nationals and my parents went to Wisconsin to support Lee and she needed her computer. So we needed to see about getting a new computer.

One night a close family member of ours mentioned that we owned the rights to the programs that came on our computer from dell. We decided to get a new hard drive and load new programs. Much cheaper then buying a new computer. So Jer tried calling dell. They were horrible! The lady tried to hang up on Jer, wouldn't transfer him to the manager or give him her id number. Very frustrating. So I called the next day to try again. Much better luck this day! We found out our computer is still under warranty. We have talked to dell 3 times and no one mentioned the warranty. They wanted us to pay to fix it or buy a new computer. But since it is under warranty they fixed it for free!

So with in 3 days the tech was out here to fix the computer. He ended up having to put a new hard drive and mother board in it. We basically have a new computer in our old tower! I have spent way to many hours on the phone in the last month. I hate the phone.

So things I have learned in this process:

• Always buy a warranty.
• Every company outsources their calls to India.
• I cannot understand an Indian accent.
• People on the other end on my phone call get very annoyed at me asking to repeat every word.
• Qwest offers free virus protection if you are a customer.
• Qwest doesn't outsource to India.
• I like Qwest.
• After spending hours on the phone. I learned that the only way to keep kids quiet when I am on the phone and can't move from the computer is candy.
• Laine likes suckers.
• Bode asked me to get on the phone... so he could have candy.

I am glad to have a computer again :)

I WIN! I WIN!

http://www.classymommy.com/giveaway_new/contest2/vote.php?contest=mutsy_transporter

That is my name at the top. Yay me! Or more like yay for all of you for voting for me!!

I saw this giveaway posted on facebook a week ago. The person winning has like 50 votes and I thought "I could get 50 people to vote for me" Little did I know I ( with the help of many friends and family) could get 783 votes!!

Thank you! Thank you!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!

It is late I am sleepy, but more to come later.

Why do I do this...

I have been blogging since October 2006. Wow! That is really quite a long time. I started out doing it for fun. The Mandile's started one and it looked like a good idea. And you know what it has been fun. I have really enjoyed keeping in touch with family members, keeping in touch with current friends and getting reconnect with old friends. Over the the years of blogging my reason for doing this has changed. Here are my reasons for having a blog and staying current with it:

-To stay connected with my family.

I feel like my family is close. We make the effort to see each other and stay friends. I know for sure that Bode's favorite people are his cousins and his Grandparents. That being said we don't get to see each other at often as I would like. Our lives are busy and we live all over this state. I wish it was free to travel then it would be easier to see everyone. But I feel like having a blog lets me keep up with my nieces and nephews. (PS we just found out my brother and his wife are having another boy! Wooo Whoo!) So that when we see them they are not little strangers. I also thoroughly enjoy my mom's blog. Every time I read it I can hear how she would say things. I love that even though she doesn't feel like she has anything to say, she does it anyway. I asked my mom if she would do "journal jar" entries. She chooses a topic and then has to write about it. Most of the topics are questions about childhood, you know stories and things like that. I also asked if she would get my dad to do it too. I am so glad they are doing it. It puts down all those fun stories from their childhood so that when they are gone we still have them.

- To keep a journal of my family.

This is probably the most important to me. I love that for the past 3 years I have been diligent about blogging for my family. I have so many little stories written down on here for them. So many pictures and moments that I would probably otherwise would have forgotten. I have weekly entries of their little lives. Bode loves to sit down with me and look at all his pictures of when he was little. I know I am not doing a great job of saying how much this means to me. I am bad at sitting down and writing in a journal. I never even attempted a baby book for my kids. I knew that it would just sit there. But I feel like this blog has definitely been more than a baby book would have been. I can go back and find the exact day Bode started walking and it has video to go with it. Or the morning after Laine slept through the night for the first time. Plus I get to write down all the fun things Bode says to me now. I am glad that I do this because it will be so worth it to have when my kids are all grown.

-To stay connected with new and old friends.

Staying connected with people other than my family has been fun. I have come across old friends that moved away when I was little. Old high school friends and college friends. I am horrible at friendship. I get so involved with my own world I forget to stay current with people. Sorry about that. But blogging has made it possible for me to stay connected with people. I have also found it fun to make new friendships through the blogging world. Thanks to all my blog friends! I enjoy all your blogs!

-For me.

Not going to lie here. I really like to do this. I know I spend to much time doing it some days but I enjoy writing posts about my children and our lives. I feel like it is a positive outlet for me. I have been able to express views that I would have otherwise not been able to have the courage to say.

- Oh yes and by the way have you read this?

I saw this article in the Ensign the month and laughed out loud. The church is always so on top of things going on in the world. It really made me think about this blog. I feel like I keep a positive spin on my blog. I have a great life. We have our trials and struggles just like the rest of the world but for the most part I feel like my life is great. I have two beautiful children, a loving husband, clothes on my back and a roof over my head. Plus I don't think the Internet is the place to air your dirty laundry. But I don't think I have taken the opportunity to share my testimony on here. So I have decided that I need to integrate my beliefs on here a bit more. This is a family history so along with all our humours stories and pictures I need to let my family know that I believe in and have a testimony of the Gospel, the restoration and of Jesus Christ. I am going to try to have posts about what I have been studying and the insights that I have to go with it.

Ok there are my reason for blogging.

Why do you people blog?

Try, try, try again...

I tried to get just one picture on me and my kids.

I was not successful.

Also, I only have one smile.

Mix it up would ya.

In the life of Mom...

7:02 am- Hey Bode, I am going to get in the shower.

{what follows is my morning trying to get in the shower}

first I need to get out toys so Laine will be entertained while I am in the shower....then I better wash the cereal bowls before the dog gets to them...speaking of the dog he looks thirsty, I better get him water... now on to the shower... but first I need to start a load of laundry... better make Bode's bed while I am in his room getting laundry... might as well fold this load of dry clothes in the dryer, it will save time later... crying baby... change diaper... now I need to take out the trash... why are there so many dead bugs at the front door... get the broom to sweep them away... now on to the shower.... get underclothes, shorts, shirt, shorts... where are my shorts... search for shorts... continue searching for shorts... shorts are lost... found the shorts... crying baby... get baby a bottle... get Bode a banana... to the shower... first I better get a new towel.... why is there toothpaste all over the counter... better wash that off... yay I am getting in the shower!!

8:15 am - All showered and clean

Does anyone elses day's go like this!?! I am afraid it is just me...

Ping...ping...ping...

*Enter on the post below to win the cute bag.

That is the sound of the stuff zooming around in my head. Like one of those pinball machines. Here are some of my thoughts for the day.

• I always wonder when I see someone get out of a really nice new car and then I see them and their wardrobe is stuck in a different decade. Like the other day I was at Fry's this new mustang parks close to me. I happened to notice the lady who got out of it. She had feathered hair, blue eyeshadow and acid wash jeans on. Did she not notice that as the car styles change so do hair, makeup and clothing styles change to. I guess maybe she was going to an 80's themed party?

• Why can't I get tan anymore? I now am just varying shades of white all over my body.

• I am very proud of my husband. He works really hard and is doing really well at his job.

• Why have we gotten three letter from the HOA about "illegally" parked cars and our neighbors across the street can park a HUGE bass boat in font of their house for weeks at a time?

• Short hair? Long hair? I already know I am to impatient to grow it out so I don't know why I pretend to "grow it out" all the time. So should I stop kidding myself and at my next appointment just chop it all off!?!

• Bode makes me laugh. Three year olds are constant comic relief.

• Why do I live somewhere where it can reach over 115 degrees? Oh ya it is call September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April and even May.

• I feel so crafty these days. I want to sand the beautiful sleigh bed in my garage and paint it. Then redo the dresser in my room. Then redo the bed spread for Laine's room to fit the sleigh bed. Then make a quilt for Bode's bed. Then redecorate the dining room. Plus I a dying to make a few new dresses for Liane.

• But I need to clean my house really good before I tackle any of these tasks.

• Does any one want to come over and do my laundry?

• My little nephew is starting Kindergarten tomorrow? What the heck! For some reason I am sad. He is five. I can distinctly remember the day he was born. He isn't old enough. Right?

• I am very aware that the rug we have in out living room smells like stinky feet. The house we are in right now is all tile. Great for a rental but not ideal for me. I really like this house but I miss carpet under my feet. We have a huge piece a carpet in the living room and I think it stinks. So when you visit me, yes I am aware that it smells like smelly feet, sorry, but I live with it everyday.

• I really need to clean Bode's room. It is getting kinda gross in there. Oh yea, lets not even mention his bathroom. I am going to get the gloves and a gas mask to tackle that room a later. I am so glad he is potty trained. But I think I should have taught him how to clean a toilet at the same time.

Ok that is probably enough for now. My brain is all over the place. ping, ping, ping...

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