Day 15

Day 15 - Interesting Things


I'm not going to lie, Ive been avoiding this post. Not because this is my last day, - I'm happy about that!. But because I'm unsure of what to write. I don't really know how this post is any different than day 1 (15 interesting facts)...

So Ive decided to change it, to one interesting thing about my kids. Here goes.

Kadie- 10 yrs. Has a pet gecko named echo. Today someone, (Micah) spilt 100 little worms all over Kadies bedroom floor. I promise it was NASTY. Spencer said just to let Echo out of his cage and he'd eat them all. Instead Matt picked them up one-by-one. Kadie loves to show off her pet to anyone that comes over.

Chase- 8 yrs. He thinks hes the worlds best dancer. Sometimes when we get together with my family, we have dance competitions. They are hilarious. Chase usually wins in his age category, mostly because Briggs hates dancing. I'm really surprised, but he really likes to dance.

Spencer - 5 yrs. He can be wild, and obnoxious, but he can also be a real sweet heart. After every meal, even if he sits at the table for an hour trying to force down the food, Spencer always says thanks for the supper mom. I love it! After he says this, I can usually forget that he told me how gross it was while trying to eat it.

Marlie - 3 yrs. Loves to sing. I love it when I teach the Primary a new song, and the next week she walks around the house singing the songs. This week for FHE, Marlie wanted to do a special number, and sing our new primary song to the family. I promise it was the cutest thing.

Nixon - 1 1/2 yrs. He has now learned to fold his arms. I don't know why but I think its the cutest thing ever. When we say family prayer, or supper prayer, he will fold for a few seconds without us even having to ask. Love it!

Day 14

Day 14 - Some Pictures You Love

I'm not a photographer. I hardly even take my camera out! I really don't have a lot of pictures that I really LOVE. But here are some that I think are really great. Chloe, Brette, and Leslie, I hope you don't mind that I copied some of your pictures...


This is my sis-in-law, and her husband. I love it! The color is great, and it just looks so romantic!

Here's Chase jumping off the hay bales at my moms.

Brette took this picture of Marlies little feet a couple years ago, and I think its soo cute! Love the dress. I love the shoes!

Old Chief, need I say more?

Daises are my favorite flower. They remind me of my wedding.

Day 13

Day 13 - Goals

I made a few personal goals, and some family goals for 2011. Here they are:

Family

• Read the scriptures together daily - so far we're at about 50%
• Have Family Prayer daily - again, only 50%
• FHE - we're doing pretty good on this one, it helps that its only once a week!
• Invite a non-member family over for dinner each month - 0%. But I have really good intentions!

Personal

• Read my scriptures daily
• Personal prayer daily
• Be a more patient mom. Do more fun things with my kids.
• Get into better shape. Loose the muffin. I would really like to run a half, but I'm pretty intimidated by it! I have plans to run a few races this year.
• Beat the Folsoms in the triathlon.

Future Goals

• Pay off my house ASAP.
• Go on a mission with Matt when we're older.

Thats it for now. I love goals. Im always adding and deleting them.

Day 12

Day 12 - What You Believe

I believe a lot of things, like if you eat a lot of junk food you will gain weight.

And even if you work really hard, and love your job, your not guaranteed to be a millionaire.

I also believe that we were sent to this earth for a purpose. And that purpose is to learn, and grow. I believe that we will face challenges, and I take comfort in knowing that we will not be given any challenge that we can not overcome.

I believe that we have the opportunity to live together as families after we die. And knowing this makes me try harder, every day to do the things that I need to do to have that blessing.

I believe that my husband loves me.

I believe that we have a living prophet on this earth, to help and direct us.

I believe that our Heavenly Father loves us all. And that he has a plan for each of us. I was taught this a couple weeks ago from a missionary serving in our ward. His hometown, is about 5 hours away from where he got called to serve his mission. When I found out where he was from, I teased him, and asked if he was disappointed to serve so close to home. He laughed along with me, but a couple weeks later, when this came up again, he quietly said that he knew why he was sent to serve in central Alberta. I asked why, and he told me that his mom was in an accident a few months ago, and was killed. And because he was serving so close to home, he was able to go home to the funeral. When he told me that story, tears came to my eyes, and I was reminded that Heavenly Father knows all. And even if we don't understand why certain things are happening in our lives, they are happening for a reason. And I'm trying harder, not to say why is this happening, but what can I learn from each experience that I have.

Day 11

Day 11 - Favorite TV Shows

I really don't watch a lot of TV, so this list will be short.

• Vampire Diaries
• 90210 - yes I do still watch this
• Occasionally I'll watch Greys
• I just watched the BEST show on Netflix - Survivors. They have 2 seasons, and then the show was discontinued. So you are left on a major cliffhanger, but what you are able to see is REALLY good.

Umm, I guess that's it!

Day 10

Day 10 - Something Your Afraid Of

This one is easy.

Hornets, Bees, and Wasps!!

I HATE them! Just looking at this picture makes me shudder (who is this lunatic holding this gigantic hornet?) I promise even for $5000, I would never do that!!

If I see a bee I run! Let me tell you my scariest bee story. It might make you question whether I should be a mom or not.

A couple summers ago, we were at my moms. The kids all wanted to jump on the hay bales, so I went out there with them. There were a few wasps swarming around, but I did my best to run away from them. Then Chase started yelling for me - not hysterical, just nice and calmly. He was probably 6 or 7. So I went to see what the problem was, and there was one of those creepy wasps crawling on his shirt. There was no way in the world that I was going to swat it away, for fear that it would attack me! So, from a distance, I told him to hold still, and it would fly away. But it didn't, it just kept crawling around his shirt. I promise I was freaking out inside, but I was acting really calm. Then that wasp did the unthinkable, it crawled down the neck of his shirt!!!!

I promise, I had no idea what I should do! Again, from a distance, I told him to keep holding still, and to pull his shirt away from his stomach, and told him that it would fly out. Of course I didn't believer that for a second, and I was expecting him to start screaming any second with a wasp bite! But that wasp did neither! It was just happy as can be crawling around in his shirt!!

I don't remember how we did it, or how I worked up the nerve, but we finally were able to kill it!

I can honestly say, that at that moment, I would rather him get stung then get close enough to that wasp to kill it! Does that make me a terrible mom? Probably. But, I really don't like them, so I think its OK.

Day 9

Day 9 - Put your Ipod on shuffle, first 10 songs.

This should be interesting...

1. Theme to Beauty and the Beast
2. Oo-De-lally (the cartoon Robin Hood)
3. Sweet Surrender - Sarah McLachlan
4. The Whole Armor of God - New Testament Soundtrack
5. I love You - Sarah McLachlan
6. Swing Life Away - Rise Against
7. Mary - Sarah McLachlan
8. Dreams - Cranberries
9. Molly's Lips - Nirvana
10. Things I'll Never Say - Avril Lavigne

What are the odds that I'd get 3 Sarah McLachlan songs, that shows how well shuffle works. I really only use my Ipod to run with. Looks like none of my running songs popped up.

Day 8

Day 8 - A Place You've Traveled To

After Matt and I got engaged, we went over to his parents to tell them the exciting news. We were happy, and giddy, and thought they would be too. But I swear that the first words that came out of his moms mouth were, "Oh good, you can come hike the Chilkoot Trail with us."

I was expecting something like, "Oh you will be the best daughter in law that I could ever ask for, and Matt really doesn't deserve you." You know something along those lines.

Well it turns out that hiking the Chilkoot was really really fun. For those of you that don't know, the Chilkoot trail, is the trail that the people who went to the Yukon for gold followed, back when there was the gold rush in the 1890's. We flew to the Alaska, and then hiked 33 miles, for 5-6 days. We had to carry everything we needed in our backpacks, food, tent, clothes.

The scenery was beautiful, and the weather was perfect. It was really cool, because when the goldrush people were following the trail, they would leave stuff behind that was too heavy for them to carry any further. So we saw old rusty cans, shoes, and other really random things. We went with Matt's parents, and 6 sisters. It was something that I never even considered doing. Who goes on a holiday hiking? Well it turns out that a hiking holiday is really fun. I would definitely do it again, and would recommend it to everyone.

Day 7

Day 7 - Favorite Movies

Yikes this one is hard. I don't have very many favorite movies. Here's the ones that really stand out, in no particular order.

• Newsies


• Princess Bride


• Girls Just Want To Have Fun


• Empire Music


• Dumb and Dumber


• Goonies

That's all I could think of. It looks like all my favorite movies are oldies, ones that bring back good memories. I think that's because I don't really watch a lot of movies these days, and when I do, they are usually kid movies.

Day 6

Day 6 - A song that makes you cry and why.

Families Can Be Together Forever - any time we sang that song in primary, I would tear up. I think it is one of my favorite primary songs

We Can Be Together Forever, Michael McLean - I remember listening to this song after my Uncle Scott passed away. He was the first person that I remember dying, and listening to that song just gave me hope, and my testimony was strengthened. I'm happy to know that we can be together again after death. Any time I listen to that song still, I cry. I love it!

Day 5

Day 5 - Pictures of things that make you happy

Prepare yourself for a picture overload. I guess there are a lot of things that make me happy!

This is Marlie with Gma Evans, at the cabin in Sandpoint. Sandpoint makes me happy, and so do Matts parents. They are wonderful people, great examples, and patient enough to invite us all to stay with them for as long as we want over the summer.

Hahaha, I don't even remember what happened here, but it makes me laugh.

I was so lucky to be blessed with a daughter like Kadie. She is sooo helpful at home, shes smart, kind, and just a really good kid. I can honestly say, that i don't know what id do without her! She definitely makes me happy!

I had never been to Disneyworld, and 2 years ago, Matt and I took Kadie and Chase. It was such a fun time together, just with the 2 older kids. All of the fun things that we did together make me really happy!

Every Christmas we do a family band. Its honestly the funniest thing ever! All of us took band in Jr. High and High School, but all of us really suck at our instruments! I wish that my dad and his accordion and Leslie and the drums are in this picture too! If anyones interested we do play at a weddings!...

One night I went to check on my kids before I went to bed, and this is what I found. This makes me happy, to know that little Chase fell asleep reading his scriptures!

Hahahha, this makes me really happy! I really don't think I need words to say why this makes me happy!

Its not the picture itself this time, its the event that makes me happy here! Every summer, my dad gets all decked up in his overalls, helmet, goggles, gloves, and then tapes every possible opening shut. Then he tries to avoid getting hit by roman candles that about 25 people are shooting at him! It makes me happy to know that my dad will sacrifice his body, to entertain his kids, nieces and nephews.

This makes me happy cuz Spencer really just looks so cute learning how to wink.

And lastly, I love my grandma! I love this picture, because I'm sure that when I was this age, she would walk around the farm with me holding my hand. I remember spending so much time "helping" her outside, and inside the house. My grandma makes me happy!

Day 4

Day 4 - Something your looking forward to

I look forward to the day when I "know" that I am done having kids. We always wanted 6, but 5 is looking better and better all the time. I'm waiting for that light bulb moment when I know without a shadow of a doubt that we have done our part, and that we are done having kids.

I look forward to a holiday with just Matt and I. Even if its just to Edmonton. I could really use a break these days.

I look forward to the First of July in HillSpring - every year. I promise that I'm not lying when I say that I love the First of July more than Christmas. Who wouldn't love beef and beans, eating non-stop, floating down the river, and laughing non-stop with the cousins!

I look forward to the day that my last child is married in the Temple, and we are all gathered there as a family.

Day 3

Day 3 - Your siblings and parents

I'm happy that I can honestly say, that I love my family. We have so much fun together. There are 5 kids in my family. I'm the second oldest. I have a picture overload here, and they are in no order at all.

This is the last family picture that we have with all of us together. My brother passed away after it was taken. I love Leslie and Brette here, because they are so little looking.

This is Westons grad.

I think my dad is the best Grandpa. Lots of times when we all get together, he leaves the house because of all the noise and chaos. If the grand kids see him sneak out, they think hes going outside to give them a ride on the 4-wheeler, or to saddle the horse for them. I love that my dad just lets the kids tag along.

I love this picture of us girls. Obviously it was taken at Leslies wedding.

Last summer, Tracie, Leslie and I went in the HillSpring triathlon. We didn't come in first, but we didn't come in last either. And we beat the Folsoms- which is definitely a first!

Sometimes when we get together, things get a little out of hand. This is a fun photo shoot that we did last summer. Every time I look at this picture I giggle. I just wish that Brette was in the picture instead of behind the camera.

I love this picture too, because it shows just how un-touchy-feely we are.

I think my dad looks great here, and I love Tracie in the background.

This day, us farm girls, went out to help my dad pull calf. Unfortunately, the calf wouldn't come out because it was scared of Tracie and Brettes wild coats. So instead we just hung out in the barn for the afternoon.

Thanks mom and dad, for teaching me all that you did. Thanks for the love and advice you always have for me. Thanks sisters, for being my very best friends. I love you all!

Day 2

Day 2 - Something that stresses you out.

• Right now, Matt's work stresses me out. He has recently sold out his portion of his two companies, and is now trying to figure out what he wants to do. He is a really smart guy, and capable of doing lots of different things. But until this phase of our life passes, work will stress me out.


• My weight always stresses me out. At least once a week my sister and I call each other and complain about our weight, grey hairs, wrinkles - you know, all those vain things that girls worry about. I wish that I could just look in the mirror, and not point out all my flaws.


• The future of my kids stresses me. I worry about the friends that they will choose. I grew up in a small, mostly Mormon community, and I really wish that my kids could have that too. Instead, there are no other members in Chases class, and only 2 boys in Kadies. Every day I pray that they will make good choices. I hope that as parents, Matt and I will teach our kids well enough, that they will choose the right!

Day 1

Day 1 - Self portrait picture, and 15 interesting facts

I promise I looked through almost all of my pictures on my computer, and I don't have any pictures of just me. Maybe because I delete them all, because I look horrendous in them. So this is what you get for a self portrait, Matt and I.

1. I have been married for almost 12 years - (wow that's A Long Time!), and I have lived in 6 different towns/cities, and 10 different houses.

2. I hate flossing my teeth, but made a goal to do it more often. At my last dentist visit, I had a cavity between my two front teeth. Had I flossed more than 5 times a year, I would not have gotten it. - Remember your not aloud to judge me!

3. I love shopping for things for my house. Picture frames, furniture, anything that goes in a house, I love.

4. I really hate to put my face in the water. When I go swimming I have to plug my nose if I go under. Brette, I promise I wrote this before you put that hideous picture on facebook, and all those comments were made.

5. My calling in the church is the Primary Chorister. I love it! I absolutely love it when the parents come up to me and tell me that their kids love singing time, and I love to hear my kids singing the songs that I teach them in Primary.

6. I haven't bought a new pair of jeans in 5 years. OK that's a lie, I bought a pair over Christmas with my sis-in-law. But I think I need to loose a few more pounds before I wear them. I don't like clothes shopping, because I have no idea whats "cool" anymore. I would love it if someone would take me shopping and say, "buy this, it looks great on you".

7. I love eating out in a restaurant. I hardly ever do it, and can probably count the number of times we eat out a year, on one hand. There is nothing like just telling someone what you want to eat, and have them make it for you, and do the dishes afterward.

8. I do the bookwork for Matt's two company's. I act like its a pain, and I hate it. But secretly, I really don't mind it. I like knowing where all the money is spent, and being able to put my two bits in. I think its important for the wife to be a part of their husbands work. I only wish that I got paid to for it!

9. One day I want to be an aerobics instructor. I love step aerobics. I haven't gone to the gym in about 7 years, but I use to go, and loved every second of step aerobics. When I don't have to pay for so many kids to go to the gyms childcare, I'll start going again. Until then, I'll do videos at home...

10. I hate technology. I'm not big into cell phones, computers, or anything like that. If you get a cool new gadget, don't bother to show me, because I really wont care about it.

11. I love to read. I wish that I didn't feel like I was waisting time when I read. One of my favorite memories is when I was pregnant with Nixon, one afternoon I put my little kids down for a nap. I knew that I had about 2 hours of quiet. I popped myself a big bowl of popcorn, and curled up on the couch to read. I was mortified when Matt happened to come home and "catch" me reading in the middle of the day. I was so happy when he just laughed at me, and didn't make me feel guilty for slacking.

12. I have 5 kids. I love them like crazy. I love watching them grow, and learn new things. I like doing things together as a family, bike rides, walks, playing at the park. Anything together is fun!

13. I hate being early for anything! I like to be "fashionably late". I also hate to be the first to leave anywhere. I don't want to feel like I'm missing out of anything.

14. I hate thinking that someone doesn't like me.

15. I like to feel like I'm prepared for things. If I'm ever on a long drive by myself, I like to make plans. Like how I would spend my money if I won the lottery. Or what I would do with my life if Matt died- that might seem weird, but it makes me feel like I would have an action plan if something terrible happened.

15 Day Blog Challenge

I was looking at a friends blog today, (OK, I was blog stalking someone I know), and I came across this 15 day challenge. I never do things like this, but I really like reading other peoples lists. So I decided, what the heck, I'm going to try it!

I promise that I just have a regular life. Nothing too exciting. But I find it interesting to read facts about other people. So here it goes.

Day 1 - Self portrait picture, and 15 interesting facts
Day 2- Something that stresses you out
Day 3- Your siblings and parents
Day 4- Something you're looking forward to
Day 5- Pictures of things that make you happy
Day 6- A song that makes you cry and why
Day 7- Favorite movies
Day 8- A place you've traveled to
Day 9- Put your IPod on shuffle, first 10 songs
Day 10- Something you're afraid of
Day 11- Favorite tv shows
Day 12- What you believe
Day 13- Goals
Day 14- Some pictures yo love
Day 15- Interesting things

Well here it goes. I'm not going to lie, I'm nervous about this...

Pancakes

Saturday morning is usually our Pancake morning.
My kids love them.
I have a great pancake recipe, that I have modified, to try and make them more healthy.
(Altho, smothering them with choke cherry syrup cancels out every ounce of healthiness - is that a word?).
Anyway, the point is that I'm trying to make them better for us.
So today, I woke up to Matt making our Saturday breakfast. And in 5 minutes, he canceled out every healthy aspect of this breakfast.

First he added chocolate chips.

Next he made them super-super-super sized.


And third- see that "juice" in the cup? Well, that's not juice, its Kool-Aid!!! Who makes Kool-Aid for breakfast?? (Really who uses Kool-Aid for anything but Kool-Aid popcorn??)

Oh well, the kids loved every single bite! I guess that's all that matters sometimes.

Thanks for breakfast Matt!!