Brrrrr... It is Cold!

Today was the first day my children went to school in 2013.  It was miserably cold out (11 degrees) this morning with about 10-12 inches of snow on the ground.  We like to have them walk to and from school.  My 9 year-old lost his knit cap so he got to put a shirt around his head.  This was my first clue that I would have to go and get more winter clothing.  I started to think that I should buy each child about 4 pairs of gloves and 4 knit caps.  I think that is how many they go through in any given winter. 

After I picked my 4 year-old up from school, we went to the Dollar Tree store.  I love that store.  It is especially nice when they actually have what I want.  I think they are just about out of the winter clothing, because I had to dig through a cart and a couple baskets in an aisle to find the sizes that I needed.  I bought both of my sons another knit cap and mittens. I got myself and my sister a cap and mittens also.  Who wants to be cold?  I bought them for my daughter on Saturday, so she didn't need winter necessities.

I bundled up my 4 year-old and my 1 year-old at the appropriate time, and we headed out to get my older children from school.   I brought the knit cap and mittens for my son.  They were a bit dismayed that we were walking.  They wanted a ride.  My son was pleased that he had a cap and mittens though.

I might need to drive more frequently in the winter, until the weather gets better.  Although my baby was in a hoodie, a zip-up thing that you put on them for their carseat to keep them warm, and a coat, I still think she was colder than anyone would like to be.  I put her in the carrier and away we went. 

I am not a cold weather person.  I would prefer living in Hawaii so the temperature would remain stable all year.  These mornings, and days, when it is so cold, I don't even want to get dressed, let alone go outside.  I do what I have to though...

I am hoping, perhaps beyond hope, that it will warm up and stay warm for the rest of the season.  It doesn't look like that will happen anytime soon.  

Happy New Year 2013!

Who else can't believe it is 2013?! 

A new year, a new set of resolutions.  I am willing to admit that I failed miserably when it comes to resolutions last year.

With that said, I am willing to start over.   I will start over. 

I am a huge chocoholic.  If it were up to me, chocolate would be paired with just about everything.  I am going to start unpairing it though.  I will not eat as much chocolate as I did in 2012.  I think I will drop weight easier.  I did manage to lose about 15 pounds this year.  This year, I would love to double that... or even triple it.  I know it is possible, it would be less than 1 pound a week.

I will start to run again.  For my birthday, I bought myself a couple of gifts to help with this goal.  I bought a running calendar, it has a day-by-day entry for how far you ran and a few other things.  I will use this to track what I am doing and what I have done.  I also bought a running watch, or rather, a watch to track running times and splits.  I think this will also help me out.  Now I just need to determine places to run.  I live in a safe area, but that being said, nowhere is really safe, it just takes one person to end the safety of an area.  I know, quite pessimistic, but very true.

My sister and I are going to start running together.  I think this will be wonderful.  I always do better with someone else along.  I am hoping to convince my children to join me.  

I need to get back in touch with the spiritual aspect of my life.  I need to make the time to read my scriptures daily.  It isn't a hard thing to do.  I have 24 hours in my day, just like everyone else. 

I also plan to have normal colored hair again.  This is one of the first things I plan to accomplish.  I got red highlights back in October.  They weren't very visible, so the Saturday before Christmas I asked to have them be more visible.  We will just say, I look like a dark brown and red candy cane on top of my head.  It is not nice.  I don't know what color this red is, but I wouldn't advise getting it.  I don't really like going outside where other people can see me with this hair, but I do it when it is necessary.  I will be getting it redone on Saturday.  It is just not me... some people look good with hair like this, but it is very bold and just doesn't fit my personality at all.

My house... I will attempt to keep it clean.  I will spend at least 30 minutes a day doing that.  I want to organize things so I know where to look for them.

I need to remind myself that life is good.  Even though I am not near more than half of my family, I can be happy.  I miss them like the dickens and I get depressed because I can't just go 5 miles or less and see my parents and my brothers and one of my sisters anymore. 

My blog... I need to do this more often.  My children are growing up so fast and I want to do better about recording it.  My baby started walking on Thanksgiving with the help of her sister and cousin.  I can't believe it.  She doesn't even crawl anymore at this point.  She has six teeth and loves listening to the "Piano Guys" with her "da."  

Oh, and I want to win the ESPN Streak for the Cash.  That would be really nice.  :)

Happy New Years to everyone and have an amazing 2013. 

Merry Christmas!

I just wanted to take a moment out of my day to wish a Merry Christmas to all.  We open gifts on Christmas Eve so we can remember Christ today.  He gave us so much with the life that He lived and the example He set for us.  We are blessed as Christians to know Him and His life and His sacrifice he made.  He sacrificed His life so we can return to His presence and the presence of our Heavenly Father.  There has never been a greater man, nor a great example.

At this time, I want to resolve to live my life to be more like Him.  I want to forgive faster and admit my shortcomings.  I want to be humble enough to admit when I am wrong.  Anyone that knows me, knows I hate to say sorry, but I will do it.  I don't think I am a bad person, don't get me wrong, but I know I am not the person I could be.  

I want our Savior, Jesus Christ, to know that I appreciate His life and His sacrifice.  I want to take the time to help others feel His love by the things that I do.  

I want my children to know how much I love them.  They are my life.  I would not want to be here without them.  The smiles they give make each day worth waking up to.  It is always a blessing to see the joy on their faces when they open a gift that they wanted, and I am guessing they weren't sure they would receive.  We are blessed to be a family, even an eternal family.  My children have a quick wit about them.  They make me laugh at things that might not be funny if it were anyone else doing them (if that makes any sense).  

I am blessed to be a wife to one of my best friends in the world.  Sometimes I forget that it is a blessing, life isn't always easy, but no one said it would be.  I sometimes forget the excitement of the day I met him, of the day he proposed to me, of the day we were married, of the day we were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple, of the day we brought each of our children into the world.  He held my hand at all of those times.  He has held me up at times when I thought I couldn't do it anymore,  when life has seemed to be too hard.  

I would be nothing without my family.  My parents, my brothers and sisters, have always been my best friends.  They know me like others never will.  They have seen me at my best and at my worst, and have loved me regardless of what those moments were like.  

Christmas Day has always been a time where we celebrate with family.  Although we can't all be together, I think of them and wish we were.  We have traditions, that although we can't do them together, we do them wherever we are, and know that everyone else is enjoying those traditions also.  

Merry Christmas to all and take the time today to remember why we celebrate.  :)

Has It Really Been One and a Half Months?!?

I can't believe how quickly time flies.  Apparently the last time I wrote was October 15, today it is December 2.  So much has happened!  We have celebrated Halloween and Thanksgiving.  My whole family came to visit, except for my niece, for Thanksgiving.  My sister-in-law came on Friday, she spent it with her sister in Washington.  My Aunt Georgia came for Thanksgiving as well.  The house was crowded and full of love.  I couldn't have asked for a better Thanksgiving!  My brother-in-law and his wife also came to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with us.  His wife made the most delicious pies I have ever had.

Starting the Monday before Thanksgiving, someone in the house was sick daily for a week.  My mom got sick Monday, my nephew got sick Tuesday, my 4 year-old got sick Wednesday, my 8 year-old got sick Thursday night/Friday morning, another nephew got sick on Saturday.  I thought the illness had left the house until early Tuesday morning when I woke up at 5 AM sick.  I am hoping that I am the last to get it.  It was a horrid experience.  It is now Sunday and no one else has gotten sick, knock on wood.  My baby has been pooping several times a day, but at least she hasn't puked.  My stomach still hasn't recovered fully, but I am glad that the puking ended 7 hours after it began for me.

I got to spend an hour in class with my four year-old a couple weeks ago.  It was wonderful.  I sat with him while he ate breakfast and then read some books to him in the book area of the classroom.  We then had circle time.  After circle time, I had to leave.  It was an enjoyable time with him and his class.

I still run a couple times a week, when I am healthy.  I hope to get to run more frequently than that.  I need to get back into a good routine.  I feel good when I am running.  It helps me ward off depression and sadness.  It has been hard for me since we moved here to Utah.  I am so thankful that my sister is with me, but I miss being close to the rest of my family.  I miss being able to put my children in my van and drive to my parents' house, or just walk over there.

I have started taking Zoloft regularly.  It was prescribed to me for postpartum depression, but I think I need it for depression in general.  I don't think that it makes me happy, I think it more or less numbs feelings.  As much as I wanted to cry when my family left after Thanksgiving, I didn't.  I don't worry as much as I used to.  I also have to admit that I have a huge problem with anxiety.  I would lay awake at night worrying about things that I really had no control over.

My baby started to walk on Thanksgiving.  She had lots of help with all her cousins and siblings around.  My niece and my daughter were her biggest support to get her walking.  I have never been much to encourage walking, I have always figured that they would start walking when they were good and ready.  It is fun to watch her walk.  She doesn't bend her knees very well when walking so it is quite the sight to see her go.

We got an artificial Christmas tree last night.  My children had a wonderful time putting it together and pushing down the limbs.  I have to admit that it looks a lot like a Charlie Brown Christmas tree, but the more decorations we put on it, the better it looks.  I guess that is what I should expect for a $40 Christmas tree.  The children love it, and that is really all that matters.

I hope to blog more in December than I have the past couple of months.

Tea Party

"Mom, I'm having a tea party!" 

This is the announcement my four year-old son just made. 

"Do you want to come?"

This was the next question.  Of course, I said yes, so I am having a tea party and will finish this in a little bit.  He runs quickly upstairs telling me he is getting the food for the party.  This kid knows how to throw a party.  He runs downstairs with "steak."

The tea party consists of Legos.  I have a round Lego for a cup and a long red Lego for steak.  He keeps telling me that one of the pretend people is spilling.  My steak happens to be "lemonade steak."  I believe I have gotten lucky!  Although I've never had lemonade steak before, I think it is supposed to be delicious. 

I haven't had a tea party in a while.  I wonder if they do this at his school or what made him think about it.  It is nice to take a moment and have a tea party though. 

The party ends as abruptly as it started.  My four year-old got up and ran out to see his older siblings.  It was fun while it lasted!

On another note, my baby is sound asleep on my lap.  I told one of my friends today that it is hard to believe that my last baby is one.  She is still small, only 18 pounds, so she is still rear-facing in her car seat.  I am sure she looks forward to being able to see out the front window.

My children make me happy. They keep me going. 

My Daughter, the Narrator

Tonight I got to go to see my daughter perform on stage.  I have to admit, I was incredibly proud of her.  She did something that I could never dream of doing, and she did it without a problem.  I could never stand in front of a crowd, and not want to cry.   It is a horribly stressful time to me. 

She has always wanted to be an actress/singer.  I think her favorite person on television is Victoria Justice from "Victorious."  She prefers to be the center of attention, so this was right up her alley.  When I asked the children if this was something they would want to do, it went exactly how I imagined.  My 9 year-old son said no, and my 8 year-old daughter said yes.  I made the appointment, they gave me the time of her casting call.

My daughter loves the spotlight.  She loves to get makeup put on her.  I am not a makeup artist by any stretch of the imagination, but I do my best.  She needs to get it on before the shows. 

I hope that this is just the beginning of many performances for her.  She seems like a natural. Ever since she was a baby, I knew she liked performing.  She would perform songs in front of us and our friends. 

My other three children went to the show tonight with my sister and I.  They were captivated.  I was so proud of how good they did.  We sat in the second to the last row, which wasn't a good idea, since they had a hard time seeing.  I was holding my baby up so she could see and my 4 year-old son sat on my sister's lap so he could see.

At the end of the show, when the audience came out to the crowd to thank us all for coming, each of my sons gave her a rose.  We surprised her, she didn't know we were coming to tonight.  She was very surprised and happy that we were there.  Her eyes lit up when she us after the show.

Keith and I will be going to the show on Saturday, since he will not have to be at work.  I think he will enjoy it as much as we did.

A Visit from my Mom

My mother was here for a visit from Sept. 21 to Sept 27.  She left early on Sept 27 to go up and see my brothers in WA state.  It was sad to see her go, but I knew that my brothers were excited to see her.

When my mom got here, we headed to WY to see my sister and her family.  The time there flew by quickly.  We rented a minivan for that trip, it was super nice one.  We had to get our Guinea pig in there too.  She had to ride in the very back, which she fit in nicely.  We couldn't leave her home.  She traveled well.

Mom had her birthday when we were over in Wyoming.  That day, Saturday, we went and watched Matthew play football.  We had to watch both games, in case he got to play in the first one.  After the game, we went over to a Chinese restaurant.  It was good food.  We celebrated my sisters' birthday, my anniversary, and my mom's anniversary that day.

We had to leave on Sunday morning to get the van back here on time.  We barely made it.  When we got to my house, we had to toss everything out and then continue on to Salt Lake City.  I was so tired, but I had to make that trip so I could drive the car to pick up my husband at the airport after he dropped off the car.

That evening, we watched some football and hung out with each other.  We love our football!

On Monday, we went and bought a baby Guinea pig.  Her name is Elizabeth.  Our other Guinea pig is Grace.  The kids named both of them.  I wanted to go with Disney names, but they didn't.  Grace is a short-haired and Elizabeth is a long-haired.  We brought her home and let her get acquainted with Grace.   Mom, the children and I, then continued on to the indoor playground.  They always enjoy that!  I love getting the Icee's.  I am a glutton when it comes to those! 

My mom and I did a lot of running around while she was here.  I was hoping to find a baby gate, so I went to the Deseret Industries (it is like Goodwill).  I didn't find a baby gate, but I found a television with a VCR built-in for the kids' playroom.  That led me to buying many VHS tapes.  They were 50 cents each.  I found many Disney movies and Pixar, movies that can't be bought until they open the vault, unless you find them somewhere like this.

I found a rake, which we will need, since we have a giant tree and a couple smaller ones.  The leaves have started to fall off the trees, so the rake will be getting put to use soon.  Mom was patient while I looked around.  I have discovered that I enjoy thrift shops, seems like they have everything (except baby gates).

Mom rode with me to drop off and pick up my 4 year-old from school.  He goes to school almost 4 miles away.  It was nice to have someone to ride with.  The first day, they put up a roadblock on my way home.  Once I took the detour, I got extremely lost.  They didn't have any signs to show us where to go after we took our first turn.  I ended up a lot further away from home than I thought.  I finally knew where I was when I saw the Wal-Mart and the Starbucks.  I love Starbucks, and I loved it even more that day.  I introduced my mom to the Chocolate cookie crumble frappucino without coffee.   They are super tasty.  Since I knew where I was, I was finally able to get us home. 

The next couple of days, I would go home the other way, so that if they did block off the road, I knew where I was.  I have no clue if they blocked it off or not, but I didn't want to find out the hard way. 

My mom encouraged me to start running again.  I started running on Wednesday.  I went back and forth to the school.  It is .62 miles each way.  I would get a break while I waited for the children to come out of the school.  Then we would all run home together.   It is hard to get back into running, but I know I will enjoy it once I build up my endurance again. 

Mom made fried pan stew.  That is my 8 year-old daughter's favorite meal.  It is something that my grandpa and great-grandma would make.  It is so delicious.  It takes a while to make.  I need to get the recipe from my mom. 

On Wednesday, we inherited a bushel of tomatoes.  I have never canned before in my life.  My mom mentioned to the person that gave them to us that we would have to learn to make salsa.  She told us of a mix you can buy and then can them.  She lent us her water bath pot, we went and bought a bunch of medium salsa mixes and canning jars.  I canned for the first time in my life and my mom canned for the second time in her life.  I really enjoyed it.  I don't know if it was because of the company or if it is really fun.  It makes me want to go and buy everything I would ever need to start canning.   On Thursday, we made more salsa and froze it.  We gave my neighbor across the street that kept us stocked up on veggies a pint of salsa. 

We had lunch at Zupas with the people that gave us the tomatoes and gave them a pint of the salsa and all their canning supplies back.  We love them.  We knew them at church in NY, then they moved to this area.  We were happy to move close to them.  It was a wonderful visit. 

Friday came too quickly.  My husband helped get my mom's things into the car and we gave hugs and kisses and off she went.  It is so sad to say goodbye!  I am looking forward to the next visit!