Project 365-Week 9

Sunday, Feb 22nd

Another Sunday. Finally, we all made it to church, sort of. Joey was busy with Friends of Scouting. Then the evening was full of Home Teaching and YW meetings.

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Monday, Feb 23rd

Our first shopping trip without Christian's infant seat. I chose Costco. LOVE the 2 seater carts! But as you can tell, Reganne is not too fond of them (stay right with you Mom, pease!). And Christian (despite huge girl influence) is showing signs of being a boy, reaching to pull Marryn's hair.

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Tuesday, Feb 24th

Christian loves buttons!

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Wednesday, Feb 25th

Reganne got up early, and was quietly playing in my room while Christian and I were sleeping and Joey was in the shower. Suddenly she was gone. And suddenly I remembered the two batches of cupcakes I had made the night before (for YW's New Beginnings) sitting on the island. I rushed downstairs, expecting the worse, but found Reganne finishing up just one chocolate "muffin." But upon examining the rest, we found one cupcake missing a few bites. We asked Reganne if she ate some of it and she replied, "jus a litle bit." Apparently she didn't like the yellow ones as much as the chocolate ones.

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Thursday, Feb 26th

I made an appointment with our local police department to have a carseat check. Car safety is big for me, hence why the kids ride in very expensive, top rated seats (thank you eBay!). I've read awful stories (YouTube is full of them) about kids, especially those "big" enough to be in booster seats, dying in very minor car accidents (why Marryn will be in a 5 point harness for awhile still). I've also read that car accidents are the number one cause of accidental death of kids. So with this in mind, I don't want to take any chances. I am the one who always puts in the carseats and I am proud to report that the inspector was very impressed. Those seats are in there tight!

For those mothers out there, I just want to make a point. There really is no such thing as the "safest" carseat. A carseat is only safe when it is installed correctly. 90% of carseats are not installed correctly. They need to be tight, with no movement more than an inch side to side. (When I install them, I sit in them myself to put on as much weight, and then tighten it to the seat. Yes, it leaves wicked indents on the seats, but who cares. This is your child's life we're considering.) The straps for a forward facing child need to be at or above shoulder height while at or below shoulder height for a rear facing baby, with the chest clip at about the armpit. And if you can, keep your babies rear facing as long as you can (ignore that 'at least 1 year and 20 lbs' rule). The Britax seats are often recommended because they are SO easy to install correctly. But there are some other great seats out there as well. In addition, don't put your 30 lb toddler in a booster seat. They are just not physically able to handle the impact of any crash. In fact, it's actually recommended that you keep you child rear facing, until about 30 lbs. Now, I'm no expert (even though I sound like it, huh?), nor have I done everything right (I turned the girls at 1 year and 22 lbs...), but I find this great blog, which has alot of info. Hope you check it out.

http://bombedier.blogspot.com/

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Friday, Feb 27th

Christian finally caught on (dang it).

If I keep rolling, I can get somewhere.

Well, until I roll into something.

(And yes, I'm the mean mom who took a dozen pictures of him in distress before helping him....)

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Saturday, Feb 28th

These were my handouts for my Young Women. They're always given handouts, because every lesson is the most important one (am I right?), but I really wanted to make something that a bunch of teens would like and keep around.

the role of women

I am our ward's 2nd Counselor in the Young Women's. And I love it. It's a lot of work and I still can't help but feel intimidated by the girls, but I love it all the same. In our ward, the Advisers do all the Sunday teachings (yeah!), except for the first Sundays when the Presidency takes turns each month. So this Sunday was my day to teach. I am not a teacher. Standing up in front of people (even teenage girls) makes me a little anxious, although I'm getting *better* at it. But as I was looking over the lesson a few weeks ago, I was so excited for this topic. The lesson development?

We Accept the Lord's View of the Roles of Women.

So I had been thinking about it throughout the week, and then Friday (yes, way to wait to the last minute) I did my Visiting Teaching (and was visit taught myself;) and what was the topic?

Understanding the Divine Roles of Women.

How grateful I am for the Lord and the knowledge I have of Him and His teachings. And how grateful I am for the role He has given me as a woman. I am to be a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister. And there is no more a noble calling than that.

Through Facebook, I've gotten in contact with alot of high school classmates. I went to a small high school on the Western Slope (about 70 in my graduating class) and there was only one other member of the church in my class. (Well, 2, but he wasn't all into it....) But don't get me wrong, there were a ton of great kids at my school who had good values. As I'm catching up with these classmates, I'm finding some are married, some have kids, and some are both married with kids and some are neither. And most work. Some are teachers, some are nurses, and some are even doctors and a few, just a few are stay-at-home-moms. So then they ask in a roundabout way, what do you do, what have you been up to? And I have to admit, I almost feel ashamed to say I stay home with my kids. No, didn't finish school. Don't have a career. Don't have a job. Didn't make a place out there in the world for myself.

I HATE that I feel this way.

Because THIS, being a wife and a mom, is what I chose. What I wanted. I cringe thinking about getting up and going to a job, leaving my kids with someone else (and it wouldn't matter who!). I do dream about the day I continue my education. Not get a degree, just continue learning. As far as I'm considered, I don't need the degree, I just want more knowledge. I want to know more to help aid my family. That's why I gave up pediatrics. Yes, as I graduated high school, I wanted to attend med school to become a pediatrician. (ha!) But it always weighed on my mind, but how am I going to take care of my family...? My first semester I took an advanced nutrition course and LOVED it! And I instantly knew what I was going to do. Not be, do. I was going to study nutrition, learn all this great stuff to better raise a family and then I'd work until I had a family. (Who knew that family would come long before the education finished!)

So why do I feel this way? I am doing just what I want. I am doing just what the Lord wants. So why?

It's society. Society has taught us this is right. That raising kids is for lower educated or specifically educated women and college students just getting by. Or Grandmas. Not for an educated, strong woman. It has taught us that changing diapers, reading stories and playing Barbies, while anxiously awaiting our husband's return from work, is not something that will make a difference in our society. It has taught us to look out for ourselves, do what we want.

As I was going through my lesson, I was really struck by what it said.

The worldly views of women's roles is false partly because it is selfcentered. It focuses so much on a woman's rights to receive that it almost ignores her opportunities to give.

That's it! There it is, written right before my eyes. And written years ago (we all know how old those manuals are;). Now for those teachers and nurses and doctors, well yes, those are all very giving jobs. The most important in my mind. So I have nothing to say to those women who take on those roles, other than, thank you. Thank you so very much. But as for myself, and the many other women who chose (or would chose if they could) to stay home and take care of their families, way to go! You have taken on the most unselfish and giving job there is (you can refer to my past post about moms for that one). And the most important. To quote President Spencer W. Kimball, both from the YW and Visiting Teaching lesson,

"To be a righteous woman is a glorious thing in any age. To be a righteous woman during the winding up scenes on this earth, before the second coming of our Saviour, is an especially noble calling.... She has been placed here to help to enrich, to protect, and to guard the home - which is society's basic and most noble institution."

I am so grateful that I get to stay home. I know there are many moms out there who wish they could too, but don't have a choice and my heart goes out to them. I know that I am blessed. I have been blessed to be a wife and a mother. And I know that my calling is tougher than I ever imagined, but it will reap the greatest rewards. Through my *mundane* day to day life, I am shaping children who will grow with opportunities to become great influences, whether through a job, a calling, or through becoming a mom themselves. And I am so grateful for the Lord and His Church, and the many members who strive to follow his teachings. It is a great, great strength in my life. And I am so grateful for our Prophet, President Monson, who always thanks the mothers of our current leaders and members.

And I am grateful for my own mom, who stayed home with us.

Project 365-Week 8

Sunday, Feb 15th

Poor Christian.

A boy living in a girls' world....

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Monday, Feb 16th

Super Size, Super Size

The American Way

Throw it Down, Throw it Down

All Day Every Day

Yes, we watched this movie. Good motivator to avoid the fast food joints. Although I never go to McDonalds. No, Sonic and Taco Bell are my fav places. Are they any better? No, not really....

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Tuesday, Feb 17th

A rare occasion. Reganne in a bath all to herself.

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Wednesday, Feb 18th

I was washing our bedroom windows and Reganne was just memorized by the "view". Maybe I should pull up the blinds a little more often....
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Thursday, Feb 19th

Marryn's new Britax Frontier Carseat/Booster arrived today! Here she is, trying it out, *texting* Dad on her *Blackberry*.

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Friday, Feb 20th

Christian has officially outgrown his infant seat (ok, so it was like a month ago...). But instead of getting him a new seat, we upgraded Marryn, moved Reganne up and now Christian gets the original Britax we bought. He doesn't mind one bit though!

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Saturday, Feb 21st

Our new food storage shelf. And I put it together all by myself :). Although I couldn't lift the box to save my life. I was barely able to help Joey move it from the car (the Costco guys put it into the car) and had to "slide" my end down the stairs into the basement.

I think we're going to get another one...we don't have nearly enough food storage and yet the shelf is already close to full...

for everyone

My friend Annie posted this on her blog. I love it and wanted to share it as well.

(Sorry, it's hard to read. I made it as big as I could, and it doesn't get much bigger if you click on it...)

Although it may be directed to those without kids, I personally took it as a reassurance that I'm doing okay. I sometimes wonder myself, "what do I do all day?" and "why am I always so tired?" Whether I know it or not, I am constantly doing something even if I currently have nothing to show for it.

And if you want a little more pick me up, I have a great quote posted over on the side of my blog, 'Why I Do What I Do'.

Project 365-Week 7

Sunday, Feb 8th

Reganne was the first to get a cold, starting up Saturday. Sunday I stayed home from church with the kids (Joey was teaching Elder's Quorum). By that night, Marryn was getting it....

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Monday, Feb 9th

Marryn is THE WORST SICK KID EVER!

She whines and whines and whines!

But what is worse, a simple cold can really affect her lungs. And sure enough, she started breathing 'bad' (have to actually watch her chest for, um, forgot what it is called...) and so out comes the nebulizer. Luckily the bad breathing was very short lived, only that day. The cold however continued on and on and on...

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Tuesday, Feb 10th

I know I've put up a picture like this before, but I thought it was so funny.

Here is Reganne, in bed asleep with a book called "I Am NOT Going to Get up Today!"

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Wednesday, Feb 4th

The kids are still sick. Joey had to work late (really really late-didn't get home until 8pm, and then worked until 5am, slept for an hour then had to get up for the day). So I missed Mutual.

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Thursday, Feb 12th

Since Joey was working from home, I left Reganne napping and took just the other 2 with me to the grocery store. Well, typically I put Reganne in the seat of the cart, prop the carseat with Christian over the back of the it and Marryn walks. Well since Reganne wasn't with us, I put Christian in the seat (with carseat still). It was really windy and sunny, so as we were walking into King Soopers, I was trying to hurry and block the sun from Christian's eyes with my head. In other words, I wasn't really paying attention. Suddenly I felt the cart run over something. I look down to see Marryn on the ground with both shoes a few feet back. She had tripped and yes, I RAN OVER HER HAND! So I threw her into the cart, picked up her shoes and hurried into the store. There I pulled off her glove (luckily she was wearing them) to find a huge chunk of skin scrapped off her thumb. And it was bleeding. Then she saw it. Oh dear. I begged her not to look as I headed to the first aid aisle. Got some of that spray Neosporin (great stuff!) and some cheap Snoopy bandaids (King Soopers is NOT the place to buy this stuff). She was a mope the rest of the day.

But then while cooking dinner I overhear her tell Reganne,

"I need to ride in the stroller because I hurt my thumb. Now push me around."

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Friday, Feb 13th

Christian only really came down with a stuffed nose. He is still just the happiest baby ever! Well, as long as he's getting some attention.

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Saturday, Feb 14th

I {hEaRt} My Boy!

Project 365-Week 6

Sunday, Feb 1st

SuperBowl Sunday.

Go Cardinals!

A few years ago, when the Broncos started to sway a little, Joey decided he wanted a 'backup' team to cheer for. At first I laughed at him for choosing the Cardinals, (why not pick a good team?), but then here they are just a few years later, in the SuperBowl!

It was a real shame they lost though.
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Monday, Feb 2nd

My new blender/mini food processor.

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Tuesday, Feb 3rd

Marryn wears tights and her 'clippty-clop' shoes (and only sometimes a skirt) every chance she gets.

On this day she also found some knee-high nylons...

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Wednesday, Feb 4th

I joined a Temple Group with our Ward. Every other month there is a trip. You drive twice and if you have kids, you stay behind and babysit twice. So this was the first trip. I signed up to babysit for the first 2 trips, my first Temple visit will be in June. I'm hoping by then Christian will either take a bottle/sippycup or just won't need anything during that time;).

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Thursday, Feb 5th

Spinach Quesadillas.

Most people have bread as a staple.

We have tortillas. And cheese and sour cream. And avocados.

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Friday, Feb 6th

We went to the mall play place. The girls LOVED it!

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Saturday, Feb 7th

Phineas and Ferb.

Our new favorite cartoon.

Although, it is for a little older kids....you know, like Joey. he he

This was also the start of the dreaded cold the kids got....

my valentine present

I am not a big Oh-surprise-me-with-something-special (ie, flowers, candy, jewelry, etc.) kind of girl. No no. I prefer to get my own presents. Or I'll tell you just what I want. (I LOVE giftcards-those are my most favorite presents-a gift PLUS an excuse to shop, and not at our expense!) Anyhow. Don't get me wrong. I have been surprised with great gifts. But I have also gotten great gifts that I really don't need. Or want. (I've even been labeled by some as the Queen of Returns. I have even returned things I have purchased for myself...) At this stage in my life, money is tight and I want a lot of stuff. And I don't want alot of "other stuff" just hanging out. So when it comes to gifts, please get me what I want or need. Even if it is a case of toilet paper. (Seriously.)

So, back to Valentine's Day. I told Joey, no gifts. And not a don't-get-me-anything-but-just-kidding,-I'll-be-upset-if-you-don't. No, I really meant it. And I wasn't getting him anything either. Which, by the way, is Joey's favorite gift from me. (This was the same for Christmas.) Sure, I'd love to get a bouquet of flowers or really good chocolate (not the lame-o stuff in those traditional heart boxes), but I'd rather have some of the scrapbook crap I just bought myself a few days ago... So Valentine's Day came. I got nothing. Joey got nothing.

But then I started to think about it later in the day.

I got to sleep in.

I got to sleep in while Joey got up with all the kids.

I got to sleep in like I get to every weekend.

I got to sleep in like I get to every day.

We are night owls. No matter how tired we are, we have a hard time going to bed before midnight. Awful, I know. The kids go to bed anywhere from 8-10 and then we just veg out in front of the TV. Watching sport highlights, design shows or Friends reruns. This is what we do. And we enjoy it. So then we get to bed around 12 and Christian almost always wakes up sometime in the night (yes, I really don't know when, Joey gets him) and I nurse him while I sleep. And then I often wake up to an empty bed because, yes, Joey has taken Christian back to his crib. And then later Joey gets up for work. When? I don't know. I sleep through it all. If the girls get up, he gets them food and cartoons. He then leaves for work somewhere between 8 and 9. And if the girls aren't screaming at each other yet, I'm still sleeping in bed. So then the weekend rolls around. These are my days to really sleep in. Once again, the kids get up and Joey gets up with them. Even though he's running on less sleep. He's willing to do this for me. Everyday. And on this particular day, Reganne got up early early in the morning. I just slightly woke up to hear Joey telling her to come onto his side, "Mom's sleeping."

I have the most incredible man in the world.

And going back to that whole presents thing. Want to know what he got for me on our first Valentine's? We had only been dating a few months and he surprised me with the 4 DVDs of The Best of Friends (this was prior to any of the seasons being out to buy-and yes after purchasing all 10 seasons, I got rid of them...). Now, that was a great surprise.

One more thing. I had gotten the girls each a little red jewelry case and had them setting out (wrapped up) for them to find that morning. Joey said that when Reganne saw them, she whispered real seriously, "Santa came."

my valentines

My Sweet Heart.

She has my heart.

My Little Heart Breaker.

goodbye old friend

Well, it finally reached it's last leg. It still works, but we know that it's time is short.

This blender was my high school graduation gift from my parents. This Spring it would be 10 years old. (Yikes, am I really that old??) It was a great blender. For the first few years it was primarily used for milkshakes. After working at IntaJuice, I learned how to make yummy smoothies. We then got into pureed soups (of which we eventually purchased a handheld blender...). But we knew it was going to need replacing when it started burning as I mixed up a salad dressing the other night....

So this is what we got.

I had been eyeing this guy for awhile. I really, REALLY want the Cuisinart food processor, but just can't bring myself to get it. We don't have one now, so did we really need to spend money on one at this point? So, as I thought and thought (this was a big decision for me you know), I decided to get the blender PLUS mini food processor.

I haven't tried it out yet, so I can't tell you how great it is, "but look how shiny!"

(Yes, that is a movie, ur, TV quote. Any guesses?)

cute ebay find

I'm always on the lookout for cute, sleeved dresses for the girls. Found this one on eBay last week.

Of course it is from GapKids. I'm such a sucker for Gap anything....