Hard Working

Since this is kind of my journal I just want to record how I am feeling at this stage of my life. Aaron is a HARD WORKER. When I first met him I loved his drive and determination. I had not dated any other that had the ambition that Aaron had. This is a good thing because in his profession he has to work hard. He has never worked as hard as he did his first year. That was just insane! He was working 115 hours a week for months at a time. He was literally worked to the bone. Usually he works about 60 hours a week unless he is on call that weekend or had a bad week night call then he works about 80 hours a week. I say this because he is still at work.

This has been a good experience for me though because in the time that he is gone I have to work harder and have to be more patient with the kids...some days are better than others. I also have to rely on friends but mostly on the Lord. Not a day goes by that I don't pray for patience and understanding and my life with kids has just begun. I am sure that when the kids get older their lives will be a lot more complicated. Right now I am just focused on teaching them the basics of right and wrong, sharing, caring, loving, service...I am just trying to teach them to be good kids. But then tonight we were talking about pride (when we were reading in the scriptures and they didn't know what pride was) which lead us to talk about agency. It was interesting because we were talking about how everyone is a child of God and Becca said that Satan wasn't a child of God and when I told her that he was she said "that is so sad." I explained that it was Satan's pride that got him kicked out of Heaven. It is interesting to see the kids and their reactions.

Well I guess I will go to bed now and hope that Aaron gets home soon.

weed and feed

I just brought home a nice bag of weed and feed for my lawn thinking that I would have a nice beautiful green lawn when we were done...well...now I have a lawn with a bunch of yellow spots. When you have a lawn that is mostly weed there is really nothing to feed :) I also think that it didn't help that I let Sarah and Becca distribute the seed and so there were some spots that had TONS of weed and feed on it that killed the grass. So I had a brilliant idea.

About 5 years ago in Reston we ordered some things for our "year supply." One of the things was a large bucket of barley. I thought it would be a good alternative to meat in stews. Well when we opened it (just this year) we discovered that it was sprouting barley not pearled barley. As I was reading about sprouting barley I wasn't too thrilled with the reviews and found out that it was totally inedible how it was we could only use it if we sprouted it and then the sprouts have a bland taste (according to a sprouting website). On that web site it said that you could use it as seed for a lawn so that is what we did. We will see how it will turn out. There are already spots where it has grown, and it looks great, but I don't know how it will be with traffic over it. hum I will let you know.

fry-bread, fry-bread

If you can finish the rest of that chant you are definitely from Snowflake! We had Navajo tacos tonight and they were great! It feels like I have a rock in my stomach right now because I usually don't eat fried foods, but it sure was tasty!

Amanda you were a cheerleader, was that really a cheer? Fry bread, fry bread, greasy, greasy, we beat your team easy, easy. If it was MAN we were mean!

My family

Since I am not "just a mom" I will take a little time to talk about my family. This picture was taken at Christmas, but it is the most recent shot of the whole family...we all look about the same though.

I think I will start with Aaron. He is a great guy and I love him so much. He is hard working and very determined. He is focused and gives his all. He loves the kids and spending time with the family. A few weeks ago we went to a gymnastic center and he really just lit up. He was a gymnist for 9 years (1 at BYU) and just is a great athlete. He liked gymnastics because it was a team sport but he didn't have to beat anyone up or get dirty. We joke because he didn't like soccer at age 5 because he kept getting his hands dirty :) He really has a great body and doesn't even work out.

Sarah LOVES to read. I have been keeping a reading log for her at school tracking how many minutes she reads a day and so far this month she has read 2690 minutes. The goal for K-2 was 200 minutes for April and half of May. She had 280 minutes the first day. She reads for fun though and not for pizza parties (PTA sponsered if they meet the goal).

She also loves to ride her bike. She just switched to a bigger bike then the one here, but she will ride for a long time. The one that she switched to she can barely reach the ground when she is sitting on the seat so it is a little tricky for her when she stops, but she is figuring it out.

Sarah is a little shy by nature, but is fiercly competitive and always wants to be first or the best. She doesn't mind being by herself and does better with just one or two friends compared to a whole group of kids.

Becca is my spunky, funny, fun loving, compassionate little person. She loves people and loves to make people happy. She is a great helper and wants to help a lot. She is guinine and cares for everyone she meets. She loves groups and being the center of attention. I don't think she has a shy bone in her body. She loves being pretty and beautiful.

Her latest obsession is coloring. She can color for hours and it is all in rainbow colors. Every page has so many colors on it. She also loves to wear a lot of color. She had about 4 pair of bandana pants that are wild with a lot of color and she loves wearing them.

David - Oh where do we even begin. David is definatly a BOY! He is just discovering his brute strength and nothing I say or do deters him from his ways. He is also VERY independent. He likes doing what HE wants and not what YOU want. It is great. He usually is a very happy kid. I am trying to be positive because he didn't have the best day today. He was really cranky and wanted to be held all day long. I think he is just not feeling well.

He puts everything in his mouth. After we opened the sandbox in the back yard he has had gritty diapers. I hope he soon learns that sand is not to eat! He also eats marker tips, plant, and chalk. Yum.

When I try to change his diaper and he knows I am coming for his he turns and smirks and then "runs" (walks normal pace with his arm pumping at his side) It is really cute I can't help but laugh!

seasonal allergies

I don't think I have seasonal allergies, but I sure am glad that it is warm! I am happier when it is warm outside and I can just hang out all day long at the park, or hiking or bike riding, or walking, swimming, roller blading, lounging, just about everything is better when it is warm outside.

Now don't get me wrong I like the winter and the snow, but I think that I am allergic. I get grouchy and cranky with my kids and I feel like a slug. I don't want to exercise or move my body. I think that my body is telling me that I am allergic to the cold (not literally like you Celia...)

Well we did enjoy a family bike ride along the Susquehanna River today. It was beautiful. David didn't want his helmet on and Sarah got tired really quick and didn't want to ride back to the car, but she didn't quit and we still had a great time. Becca rode on the back of my bike and I think is getting a little too big for this but she loved it. Fun times in the sun!

I am glad that I don't have to take Hot Chocolate (my allergy medicine) any more :)

City hunting

So a little over a year from now we will be done with residency! We have been in the east for 6.5 years and I LOVE it, but I am ready to be closer to home. I originally thought we would live in the valley somewhere (Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert...) and that is still the most logical choice...but I have been thinking a lot about Temecula, CA. It is about 40 min to the beach and G'ma Smalley. We would be 8.5 hours from my parents so I still don't know. I haven't ruled out CA completely. I like the weather better in CA! But you know we won't know anything until Aaron gets interviews and then offers...man it is a little scary to think that we will be taking the next step in just a little over a year.

I like the idea of living in the valley, but it is HOT! Amanda you have lived in both places, which did you like and why?

Cel are you in TX forever?

Life is fragile, handle with care

This morning I got an e-mail saying that my brother Eric got hit by a drunk driver and was on his way to the hospital with a broken leg and knee. WHAT! He could have been killed! Life is so precious and I get caught up in the little things in life (like cleaning out the refrigerator at church) instead of focusing on relationships and spending quality time with those I love! Life is fragile, handle with care! To those reading this blog, I LOVE YOU! I really look forward to the time I can live closer to family. (sorry nicole I will really miss you!) It will be great being able to hop in the car and be there.

Little Red Hen

Beware...this post will contain whining, and complaining...

This afternoon the Elders Quorum was supposed to clean the church...no big deal right. Well a few weeks ago a member of the Stake RS called and asked Aaron if the Elders Quorum could also take down the chairs and tables for the stake event...okay, not thrilled, but okay. So Sunday Aaron told his quorum that this would be happening this Sat at 2. Aaron had a big test this morning and was kind of consumed with life that he didn't call to confirm that anyone else was going to be there. Needless to say we were the only ones to show up.

No big deal. Well, the whole time I just kept thinking there were about 80 women (I didn't go because Aaron had his test this morning and I just didn't get a babysitter so I actually don't know how many were there) here this morning why couldn't they put away their things? There were chairs in all the rooms that we had to put away, tables misplaced, podium in the chapel blah blah blah. Not that big of a deal but kind of time consuming for two people (and three helpers).

What really got me was a sign in the member custodial room that said, "to the cleaning crew on Saturday, the fridge really needs to be cleaned out it is really gross" Okay then do it yourself! I don't know when the last time I cleaned out my fridge and if it is bothering you that badly do it yourself...whew sorry about this downer post.

It really wasn't that bad. We were going to clean the church anyway and I know that it needs to get done and the girls really helped a lot! I think it is good for them (and us) to help out every once and awhile. I just don't like feeling like a slave to personal whims.

If you are still reading you are a trouper! I will have a better post next time!

A little song

For as long as I can remember I have always had a little song going in my head. People can say a word that will trigger a song. The other day Sarah was talking and I sang about 4 different songs. She said "mom do you have to sing about everything I say." My kids haven't found that little trait funny yet...maybe someday.

My little scavenger

David is my little scavenger. Really I do feed him but he does find things he is NOT supposed to be into. Here he is in the closet and opened the oatmeal with his teeth and is trying to get through the next layer (he has done it on a previous one!)





Here David found the macaroni and
cheese box and tore into it and ate the macaroni. He loves pulling off tops with his teeth. I have my flour and wheat flour in cannery cans with lids and he loves pulling them off and playing/eating the contents inside. I am surprised he doesn't know how to open the fridge yet :) I am sure that is only too soon!

Momma said there would be days like this

So when I was about 16 I remember coming home from basketball practice and was eating a warm piece of wacky cake with cream poured over it...oh it was good. My mom said that one day I wouldn't be able to eat whatever I wanted but I didn't really believe her...well the day has come. I don't know if it is because I am nearing 30 but the weight just doesn't come off like it used to. I usually gain about 5 lbs in the winter and then come spring it just comes off when I shed my parka and then I am ready for swimsuit season...well this year no matter what, I am just stuck with those five pounds. I guess I am still eating whatever I want and not really working on it...hum maybe I should start doing that. Any suggestions? Sarah is at school, Becca is at a friends and David is taking a nap so I guess I will go do the elliptical for a while.

Over-readerAnonymous

Hi, I'm Julie and I am an over-reader. I remember why I go through phases of beinge reading...I LOVE it! I can't wait to get to the end. It is like sitting down to a whole chocolate cake and not being able just to eat one piece, but I have to eat the whole thing. Last night I read "Calico Captive" by Elizabeth Speare and I really just had to read to the end. It was really well written and a good story and it was quiet and no one kept bothering me so I stayed up until midnight finishing the book, but now I have no book to read. This week I have read through this author (only 4 books) but I am looking for another one.

I remember in 8th grade wanting to have the titile "book worm of the year" (partly because I loved to read and partly because I wanted to beat Courtney West-the top reader in the other class) Well I did and I think I read something like 850 books...or something like that. My teacher didn't make me write book reports on all those books I just had to write the title and author. I think that year I read all of the "Nancy Drew" books (partly because I enjoyed it and partly because they were short but not too short to count)

When I was first introduced to "Harry Potter" I was engrossed. Sarah was a baby and I remember when she would wake up I would either nurse her back to sleep or rock her in her swing so I could just keep reading...maybe that is where she got her love for books and Harry Potter. She just finished the second book (in two days) and Aaorn was a little miffed because we had said that she was going to wait, but like amanda said I really don't think she gets it. I am looking forward to the last book though...do you think it will be the last?

Easter Memories

I love Easter! I have always loved Easter! I can remember as a child so excited to dye, hunt and re-hide eggs. I loved going out in the woods and looking for the eggs. I liked the fact that the Easter Bunny hid the eggs we colored. Now he just hides plastic eggs. I didn't get the girls dresses this year, maybe next year.

I remember going to Grandma Hunts house with the Cranes and waking up to eggs hidden in the backyard. That was great fun! We had wonderful adventures with the Crane's it is a shame we didn't get to know our other cousins. I am looking forward to moving back west to be closer to family so my kids will know their cousins better than they do now. We will have to plan trips to UT to see Amanda and of course we will see Eric and Suzie and their families a lot due to proximity. So I guess I love Easter so much because it is another time we have traditions with our family!

The tale of two sisters

So this morning at church the girls sang an Easter song. Sarah and Becca were standing next to each other and Sarah was nicely singing the words and Becca was singing the words but got louder and louder as the verse went on. (I think it was because the conductor kept saying sing louder and Becca took her seriously). So as Becca sang louder (she was on key and really was the only one you could really hear) Sarah kept shushing her or flicking at her to be quiet. It was really embarrassing, but now as I think of it I think it is kind of funny. Man these two are so different!

Chocolate Girl's Easter Recomendations

Here are my favorites (this year):

Hershey dark chocolate truffle kisses
Reses Mini Peanutbutter cups (always a favorite!)
Cadberry solid milk chocolate eggs (conched a full 72 hours for smooth texture)
Extra smooth chocolate eggs
Coconut kisses
Anything else delicious!

Happy Easter

Ripped off...maybe

When I walk into an auto shop with a problem and they tell me that it will cost x amount I think to myself am I getting ripped off. Man, if only I would have taken auto shop in high school. I think when we are done here I will take an auto shop class at a community college or something. I don't like walking into a situation where I know nothing and the person behind the counter knows I know nothing. I would love to go to a shop and say my car is doing this and I think it is this and I looked it up and it should cost around this to fix. Then I think we would go somewhere and I wouldn't feel ripped off...but as for now only the person behind the counter knows if they are ripping me off.

The Witch

I just finished reading "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth Speare. I highly recommend it. It is a children's book and a newbery award winner, but I hadn't read it. It was a charming look on life in the 1600s. I have always been a little fascinated by the Salem Witch Trials and read another kids book from the Dear America series about them. Anything that could not be explained or anyone that was different was considered a witch. If anyone is looking for a good fast read, this is it.

I am a mother

After I changed my persona a great friend of mine sent me this link about motherhood. I love the article because I am a mother!