FAMILY FUN

Two days in a row was all I could muster? Pretty pathetic. I have a really good excuse though, we've had a little family excitement and on a whim we're throwing together a make-shift family reunion for next week here in Phoenix so I've been busy worrying about how we're going to make it all work out. My 4 siblings, their spouses, my 18 nieces and nephews and my parents will all be coming so I'm very excited.

So this is a question I meant to ask you all about 3 weeks ago when just my one sister was coming now it's even more needed; what are some of the things that make staying at some one's house more comfortable/enjoyable for you?

5 More Minutes...

I had like 12 ideas for a post while I was at the gym. I can't think of any of them now.

Speaking of the gym; what's wrong with just running 2-3 miles? What's up with everyone being obsessed with running marathons or even half-marathons? I feel like a loser because I only run 2-3 miles. I feel like I'm not doing enough, underachieving. It's lame. When I finish a 3 mile jog I feel great, like I've accomplished something but then someone says "how far'd you go?" and I'm embarrassed to say 3. So what's up with that?

I was just watching Dora with Kimball, I answered one of Dora's "questions" out loud and Kimball said "mom you don't have to really say it. She won't get mad if you don't answer." Good to know.

5 Minutes...

What can I post in 5 minutes? I am way too long winded for a 5 minute post but that's my goal this week. 5 minutes each day.

Parent/Teacher conferences last week and I feel like I must be an unconcerned/under-worrying mother. I never know what to say or ask. Her teacher probably thinks I don't care. But it's kindergarten for goodness sakes. I do have one concern but it's more of a parenting concern than a school concern. So rather than pose it to her teacher I will pose it to all of you experienced and talented parents.

How do I help McKay feel good about herself and ignore bratty little kids that say things like "you look like a baby" and "your hair is funny today"? I don't want to be a doting mother who goes to the school and confronts the 5 year old bully but I do want her to be able to stand up for herself and more importantly be able to let it all just roll off her back. How do I protect my baby with out babying her?

Ok 5 minutes almost up.

To Do Today: (in no particular order)
Clean bathrooms
Make bed and put away the piles of laundry on my bedroom floor
Sweep and Mop
Read scriptures
Make Valentines for RS
Love and cuddle my little ones

Happy Birthday!

Today is Emmett's first birthday. And even though he's not with us right now I hope he knows how much we love and miss him. This is a song that my sister's friend wrote for her. It's perfect for celebrating his perfect little life.

Check!

I have decided that I need to write my to-do lists on a monthly basis rather than daily. If I plan to do something (or a number of things) on a certain day it seems like it rarely happens. Somedays I get one or two of the listed items done. Somedays I end up with a checkless list staring back at me. Those are the days when I sit down and add all the other things that I did get done and put a nice big check next to them. That tends to help me feel validated in my day's accomplishments. And it's not just mundane things like folding the laundry or unloading the dishwasher, quite often it's things like getting to the store or going to the gym. At the start of the day I have every intention of doing those things but at the end of the day the minutes and hours have all expired and the cereal I was planning on buying is still sitting on the shelf at Fry's waiting to be bought. So today I will add "make cookies with Kimball" and "put new pictures in the frames" to the list just so I can check them off and "clean out the pantry" will be moved to tomorrow's list. And that's ok. Because eventually it will get done. Even if it is on a day when it's not actually on "the list"

2 Clarifications

Just to clarify - I have not committed myself to quit soda forever. Seth and I have sworn it off until February. I know, big deal right? One month. But I think I will try to stay away from caffeine after that and I will definitely try not to drink as many sodas as I was. Maybe just the occasional one when we go out to eat or we're on a trip.

One little Quote from McKay to brighten your day:

(very angry and upset with me about something... not sure what)

"YOU ARE A FAIRY GODMOTHER!!"

(Pretty sure she meant to call me a wicked stepmother.)

Eight

Day number 8 with no SODA!!! Why am I doing this to myself? I think I thought it would make me healthier but all it's doing is giving me a headache and making me grumpy... plus I'm eating more to make up for the fact that I don't have a drink in my hand. I think these are all signs that I'm seriously addicted to soda.

Bienvenido!

I am "helping" my sister Dawn to get started on a blog. With 4 boys and 1 little princess I'm sure she has plenty to share with us all. If you know her (or think she might be as cool as me and so you want to get to know her) wander over to her BLOG and give her some encouragment.

Christmas Pictures

Every year I have a dream of this perfect little picture of my children sitting/standing by the Christmas tree. Every year I am slightly disappointed at my ability to capture what I have imagined in my mind. Here's this years slightly imperfect pictures. Aren't they cute? I love my kids more and more everyday and even if we aren't any where near perfect - we have fun trying!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Two of Three

Just 3 quick tid-bits to keep my loyal readers happy. Reading my blog does make you happy, right? I thought so.

Seth had a (1)birthday. He turned the big 3-0! So I decided he was finally old enough for big boy TV. That's right we finally bit the bullet and got (2)satellite TV. 100 channels of bliss. It was his birthday present. I kept it a secret and I think he was very pleasantly surprised. I was accused by more than one person of getting it more for me than for him but I don't think he cares. I promise to let him have full control of the remote for at least a week. That's a good birthday present in and of itself, right?

As we speak I am listening to SportsCenter and smiling. The sweet, sweet sound of sports updates!

Ok so that was actually 2 of the 3 tid-bits. Number 3 will have to wait. They're talking Suns basketball on espn and I need to devote my attention else where.

Oh and hi Chad - I know you're here and I am planning a way to get you to come out of hiding... just wait.