Girls Weekend and a Sneak Peek

This last weekend was FABULOUS! Six girlfriends and I had a girls retreat. (We were missing a few of the usuals and we missed them tons.) We went to Tammie's cabin in Island Park. It's been a tradition for the last couple of years to go every May. This year, we decided that's just not enough and are going to make it a bi-annual tradition from here on out! Yippee!! I can't wait for September!!! We left Thursday evening and stayed through late Saturday afternoon. We watched movies, ate tons of yummy food, played games, scrapbooked, stayed up way too late talking and laughing. Of course we came home much more tired than when we went but were invigorated none the less. It is always so good for my health to hang out with these fabulous women! I love each of them and I'm so thankful for their friendship. They are crazy, funny, thoughtful, witty, creative, fun fun fun! I feel truly blessed to call them my friends. Really, I need to do a blog ALL about just them. It would be entertaining. And, I have to thank Kendon for taking the day off Friday to stay home with the kids.

I know I said everyone scrapbooked but that was sort of a lie. Everyone but ME scrapbooked. I haven't done a whole lot of scrapbooking since I started my blog. Everything we do (literally almost EVERYTHING) is captured on our blog, so I don't really see the need. It's snuffed my motivation a bit. It was so fun to see what the other girls were creating and I again "felt the love" for scrapbooking. So, I decided I won't do as much but I just can't give it up.

So, what did I do? I crafted! I made some fun things to go in the kids room that we are going to be painting this weekend. I can not wait to get this room swap done.

Here's what I did. (This will give you a little sneak peek of what the room will look like!!!)

For the walls.

I'm making bedspreads with this.

Mommy Tip Tuesday

My friend Amanda does a Mommy Tip Tuesday on her blog. She features creative ways to solve everyday problems or simple things that might make our kids (or us) happier. She invites others to share their ideas as well. So here is mine.

A while ago, Connor was having a difficult time staying in his bed at bedtime. He needed a drink, to go potty, another kiss from daddy. Anything he could think of to delay bedtime. You know the routine. We've all been there, done that! So, to help encourage Connor to stay in his bed I bought a jar of Pineapple Vinegar (for no reason except the jar shape) at the Dollar Store and dumped the contents. I then got some various colors of Art Sand. For every night that he stayed in his bed, Connor was able to put a scoop of sand in his jar. Sirri participated as well. We decided that when their jars were full they would get to go on a date with Mommy and Daddy. Both kids LOVED this activity and asked first thing in the morning, "do I get a scoop? do I get a scoop?" It worked really well. I would recommend this activity for any issue that you may be having in your home.

Sirri's jar is on the left. Connor's is the very blue one. he only has two scoops of red in the whole thing and one of those scoops his friend Koy added. I guess Connor knows what he likes and sticks to it!

Notice that the sand looks "sloshed" around. The sand settles after the jar is filled. Make sure to fill them to the very top and then pack something, like tissue, in the top to keep the sand from shifting when you are done.

P.S. You can get the sand for cheap through Oriental Trading and yes, Shally, you can get pink!!!!

Help Me Rhonda

Today I was cleaning the bathroom and jamming out to the Beach Boys. I know. I know. The Beach Boys. But hey, it gets me moving. (I used to love to clean to Paula Abdul's Cold Hearted Snake. Anyone have that CD? I'd love it.)

Anyway, I was busting out quite the rendition of Help Me Rhonda. Help help me Rhonda. All of a sudden, Connor comes running in from the other room.

"What mom! WHAT!"

"Nothing Connor. I didn't call you."

"But what's wrong? You were screaming for help."

Oh, what a sweet boy you are Connor! I know I'll always be able to depend on you little man!
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Apparently my singing skills need some help too.

BEHIND!

Is there one item of clothing that we own, not in this pile?

Why do we have so much more laundry when the weather is nice?

Will I ever get caught up?

Am I now going to have to re-dry everything to de-wrinkle it?

Am I the only one?

How did this happen?

Jealous

Last night before going to bed, Sirri asked me, "Mom, what day is SISTER day?"

I don't blame her for feeling a bit envious towards a day that was all about me.
After all I did....

• get treated to Bajios take-out Saturday night.
• sleep in Sunday morning.
• receive a fun new slushy drink/soft serve ice cream maker.
• eat delicious strawberry and whip cream waffles.
  
• not have to do dishes. In fact I was forbidden!
• not have to plan the family dinner. Way to go Kendon.
  
• eat Kendon's super yummy dutch oven potatoes.
• feel very appreciated for my "job" as a mother.
• recommit to being a better mom.
• feel very blessed and thankful for the three beautiful, healthy, fun kids I have!
  

I miss my mom.

A sweet sister in my ward is helping me sew some bedspreads for the kid's new bunk beds. (Because I am extremely sewing illiterate!) We just started tonight and it seems to me that we have a long way to go. As we are going along cutting and measuring and using sewing lingo that I just don't understand, the sister keeps saying things like, "and then YOU will," and "when YOU get to this point," or "I'll give YOU really good instructions for when YOU do..." I get the impression that somewhere along the lines she is going to be cutting me free and letting me go to finish on my own. I don't want to finish on my own. I can't finish on my own. (For one, I don't even have a working sewing machine.) I'm so very thankful for ANY help that she is willing to give me and I don't mean to sound ungrateful but really, I just want my Mom. I could tell my mom, "no, I don't get it." And my mom would know that I don't understand what cutting on the bias means. I know my mom wouldn't let me loose or cut me free. My mom would see me out to the end.

I just want my mom.

Since I've been married and not living close to my mom, Mother's Day has always been really hard for me. I understand that it is just another Sunday on the calendar but it is a day that is hard for me none the less. It is a day focused on our mother's and for me that focus turns into longing. It is a day where I really miss, need and yearn for the 300 mile gap between us to be closed. I know many people who have lost their mothers and I can't imagine what that is like. I feel very blessed to still have my mom but even so, I miss her desperately.

Remind me this time next year to stick to projects that I know how to do. No sewing allowed on Mother's Day weekend. It's just not good for my spirit. And probably not my mom's either. Sorry about the sad post mom. Please don't cry.

And Happy Mother's Day. Thanks for being such a great mother so that I can be too. I LOVE YOU!

Do as I say...not as I do.

Head on over to Gabi's blog and check out the interview that I was honored to have with her. It's something about how to have a fairy tale marriage. Much easier said than done!!!

It was a real privilege because I truly admire Gabi and it was also a great reminder for me that I need to work at my marriage everyday.

I just hope that my husband knows, as well as the blogging world does, just how much I love him.

Check it out here.

P.S. I dedicate the interview to my parents. They taught me everything I know!

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad

Here's to many more years of dancing in the kitchen.

Thank you for showing me how to love.

I love you.

Every Cloud has a Silver Lining

I was so sad that I wasn't able to go to Blogapalooza this week (as was evident by my pitifully sad last post) but all is well that ends well and this weekend really turned out to be great.

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Friday I was able to have lunch with my dear friend Suzy. She was my roommate at Ricks and I adore and love her. We had fun going to the local Chinese joint, Fongs, that we use to frequent when we were going to school. It had been a year since I had seen Suzy last and as always it didn't feel like a day had passed. Here are a few reasons why I love Suzy:

• She gives the BEST hugs.
  
• She makes the greatest ice water. I'm not kidding. Her ice water always tastes better than mine.
• She is extremely generous with her time, means, and listening ear.
• She is always more concerned about others than she is with her self.
  
• She has a sweet tooth just like me. I loved going grocery shopping with Suzy cause I never felt badly about buying treats.
• She is so dedicated and motivated. For example, she studied (and actually learned very well) Hebrew while in school. Who does that? Oh yeah, Suz!
  
• Suzy is always up for chips and salsa and smoothies!
  
• She has the greatest bum and legs. Even she'll admit it and I love that about her too!
• She used to go running at night and would take forks with her for protection. Hysterical!

Suz, thanks for visiting. Please come back soon. I love you!

Suzy meeting Sirri in 2003

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Friday night, Sirri and Brooke and I went on a date. I took the girls to a Tavaci concert. I've been interested in getting Sirri involved with this singing/dancing group and wanted to check out one of their concerts. It was really cute and Sirri enjoyed it. She MIGHT have enjoyed her Cotton Candy ice cream afterwards even more! That girl and her treats! I really enjoyed myself as well. It was so fun to be able to spend some time with Sirri and Brooke without the little brothers screaming, "poopey head" in the background!!! It is interesting and fun to watch how big these girls seem and act when you take them out on a big girl outing. They are just growing up so fast.

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Saturday was really fun. The archery club had a shoot at the range. The kids LOVE LOVE LOVE it there. We spent so much time at the range last summer that the kids really feel at home there. Kendon's sister, Heidi, took Baby Meg and so it was fun for me as well. (THX Heidi! Meg had fun too. She was spoiled and doted on without big brother and sister bugging her all day!) I got to shoot my bow and just hang out and relax in the sun while the kids played to their hearts content. We were there ALL DAY and have the sun burns to prove it. Oops. Kendon was in charge again and did a great job! It's so fun to watch him in "action." What a SUPER day!

Notice the hot pink and black arrows? Those are mine!!! Kendon painted them and did the feathers himself. Cool huh?!?!?

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So, even though I didn't get to go the sun is shining and my cloud ending up having a silver lining after all!!!!

I'm a Blogapa-LOSER!

Today I was supposed to be going here:

Instead, I am still here:

Tonight I was supposed to be wearing this:

With these:
Instead I'm wearing this:
And these:
I was supposed to be hanging out with these girls:

Instead I spent the day with these three:

I was anxious to be inspired at this:

And was looking forward to a break from hearing this:

I was definitely going to be indulging in LOTS of these:

THAT I could make happen:
I was supposed to be giving lots of these:

Instead I shed a few of these:


At six o'clock tonight I was supposed to be feeling like this:

Instead I feel a lot like this:

Welcome to Eastern Idaho

Monday and Tuesday....

Wednesday and Thursday...

No telling what tomorrow will bring.

P.S. Just for the record, (and so I don't look SO crazy for living here...) It is typically spring by now. Really.