Just a Good Day

Today was a good day. The next 4 weeks will be hairy because I am working more. Steve also is back to tax season- he got a great job offer and decided to take it at a CPA Firm in town- nuts, I know. (The extra hours for me, and Steve's new job is in part in effort to get things in order to get a house.- probably '09- ugg!) I dread the next few week and feel badly that I work so much. Anyway, today is my only day off this week, and it was so good. Nothing exceptional- but here is the blow by blow: This morning the kids slept past 7:30- therefore I did. When Zac woke up, he asked to pee on the potty! What! He actually peed too. We went to the grocery, Jenna was such an awesome little helper! She didn't even ask for a toy. Soooo good. Zac, not so much, but the lady behind me in line was great. She has no idea that she made my morning better. As Zac was crying in the cart, trying to stand up in the seat, tangled in the strap, she was cool as a cucumber and made me feel like "this is normal, you are not a bad mom, really your kids are lovely!" I even let the kids ride the little ride by the check out lines- they always ask, I rarely allow it. Jenna buckled her own seat belt all day. I got my exercise in because I made at least 7 trips up and down the 3 flights of stairs to the apartment as I carried in groceries, took out trash, etc. It was a productive day, I did dishes and cleaned the bedroom and bathroom- I can't remember the last time that I cleaned the tub! Ahhh. It was a beautiful day. We went to the park, I can't think of any tears or near misses there. The kids played like friends, not siblings. We went to the bank and they gave the kids suckers!!! I dropped off a letter to the post office as she was making the last collection. We did have FHE, even thou I had to bribe them with Skittles to listen, it was good. I put Zac to bed tonight just once. To top it all off my friends Tiff and Lace stopped by my blog and helped me to remember how much I love them and how grateful I am for friends. Then, tonight Steve said something to the effect that the idea of more kids is not so totally repugnant. Anyway, it was a good day. No kids running out, eating rocks. No snow, no major loss of tempers (on my part mostly), no TV all day. No dishes in the sink, no rotting garbage in the can. It's not perfect, but a good day!

Twilight Series

I just finished 1700 pages worth of Twilight Series books tonight after receiving the first one from Lissa after she finished last Sunday. I feel jaded- sad- hanging that I have to wait for the next one. I can now understand the Harry Potter and Star Wars freaks- no offense if that is you- wringing their hands as they await the next one. Waiting in lines, buying the paraphernalia, quoting the lines, speaking of the characters like you know them- as if they even exist. It's fanatical.
I started 8 days ago. I even took a day or so off to separate myself from the odd attraction to them. It's crazy how much these books affected me. My mood varied with the climate and mood of the book. I stayed up into the night reading, and I found that I would dream about it. I wondered what would happen next as I went about my day. I cried and empathized (sort of, I am not a vampire-lover after all) and laughed out loud. I got sweat rings at the intense parts, my heart would race.
Mind you that I am not an avid reader. I think the last novel I read was Harry Potter 2, years ago. I should stick to movies. I watch a good romance, I think about it the rest of the night and perhaps the next day some, and then poof, it's gone- perhaps stored in my distant memory somewhere, maybe to come out when I am old with Alzheimers.
Ahh, anyway- I have thoroughly enjoyed these books. I commend Stephenie Meyer for her ability to "move people" by making her characters and their relationships real. I would recommend these books. The genre is science- fiction, but the romance of the story is endearing and moving. -- Look, now I am a critic. This is insane!

Yo Gabba Gabba

Last night I was on Nick Jr.com, and I saw this idea. I thought that the kids would love it! They really like "Yo Gabba Gabba"- it's a kid show. -A little cheesy if you ask me, but always with a good lesson being taught, usually in song and dance form. ..."Don't hit your friends..la la..." Jenna is Foofa, Zac is Brobee, and I am Muno. There were only 3 sheets per package of transferable-iron-on paper, so Steve didn't get to be a character. He was not disappointed as you may imagine. This was fun and the kids hated to take off their shirts tonight.

Jenna In Tow

Happy Valentine's Day

Jenna has a friend in Indiana that she misses very much. He (his mom) have been sweet enough to mail Jenna letters. This is her Valentine from him. Matthew still thinks that he and Jenna will get married when they grow up. He told my mom he was unsure if they would live in Utah or Indianapolis. This is cute. Thanks Matthew!

Trip to Blanding

Last weekend we made the 6 hour trip to Blanding, UT. It was Steve's parents anniversary. Lissa and Christian and little Christian came down, as well as Jeff. We had such a great time. The best thing for me was sledding Saturday morning- I think that the kids would agree. (The shrimp at the Lamplight restaurant in Monticello were a close second.) It was a beautiful day, in the 40's and the sun was out. Blanding got a lot of snow the weekend before, and there was still plenty to play in. The 4 wheeler was awesome. Zac mostly enjoyed riding with his daddy in the front. Jenna was a big fan of riding the tube. She was awesome! I think that everyone had fun. Scot and Julene were fun. Jeff and Christian looked like 2 jubilant, overgrown kids on the child-size sleds. There was a lot of laughing and smiling. Of course Steve loves messing around on the four wheeler. It was so fun.

Lissa and Cansas Tagged me...

This is fun. It's kinda weird though, it's like a mix between a resume and a confessional. But here we go...

10 Years ago: Feb 1998, I was a senior in high school. It was basketball season and I was a cheerleader. I was applying for scholarships and looking at schools in Virgina for college. I loved high school. It was a good time.

Todays' To-do list:
1.Laundry,
2. clean the kitchen,
3. Prepare for meeting on preparedness tonight,
4. stretch (move my body in some way)-This is commonly on my to do list, but uncommonly gets crossed off. I haven't been committed to exercise in about 5 years. Although I have spent hours and hours reading about diet and exercise, making goal posters and using positive self- talk. I am the most educated fatty out there.
5. Say my prayers and read something uplifting- yes this makes the list, it's a constant effort.
6. Have fun with the kids
7. Go to Roberts for something for Enrichment
8. Mill thru the bills

Jobs I've had:
Waitress, Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) Summer Camp Counselor, Cafeteria worker at Longwood College-I stocked the breakfast and fruit bar starting at 6 am, GNC sales associate, Sales associate at a clothing store, Cashier at Arby's- the headset freaked me out. Slow down!, Janitor at SUU- 5-7am, babysitter, Candy shop and soda fountain server, CNA at a Nursing Home, and now various jobs as a RN- hospital, home health, hospice and dialysis.

If I were a billionaire:
This is too fun. A billion dollars is 1000 millions, right? We'd pay off all of our debt and all our our families debts. We'd give a cool million to all the family members and our friends, esp the ones like us that are still not in a home. I'd get a loaded van or a Land Cruiser. I'd buy Steve his 4 door truck. I would barter with the Dept of Wildlife Resources and get Steve his various hunting tags and some for his buddies. We'd need some 4-wheelers. We'd have a big, not enormous, home on 4 or 5 acres. It would be my dream home. I'd have the lady off of Divine Design come decorate with my friend Brigett. There would definitely be a tree house in the back yard. We'd probably go ahead and get a house boat, and a ski boat. These would be fun at Powell. I loved the boat as a kid on the Ohio. We might need a snow mobile too and a Cabin. Maybe we'd go in half-ies with some friends. I would open a business that would be an indoor play land for kids. It would be awesome. Esp in the winter! We'd also be able to have Steve start all the business ideas he has dreamed up. I would probably have some augmentations, don't judge me,-I would probably chicken out. I would also have a personal trainer. I would go back to school for my Bachelors. The rest of the time I would hang out with the kids and be real involved with them and with Steve. Oh, I would have Stacey and Clinton from What Not to Wear help me with my wardrobe. We would go on family vacations and fly to Indiana whenever, we'd have a home there too, out off of Hwy 250 behind Buddy, we better have a boat and wheelers there too. We would have the kids set up financially for school, but they'd have to work too. (Who am I kidding this is fairy tale land anyway.) We would donate a lot of millions to Humanitarian Aid and to cancer research. Isn't this fun! You can have a million too!

Stuff you probably didn't know about me:
I loved Jane Goodall and was able to see her present on her Chimps in person. I also was a Diane Fossey fan. I looked into internships in ape research when I was 19. I later wanted to be a nurse midwife and looked into school in England for training. I delivered both of my kids unmedicated, without epidurals. I labored at home with Jenna for 7 hours and arrived at the hospital 30 minutes before we had her. I did use a Certified Nurse Midwife with Jenna. I am a Kentuckian, born in Frankfort. I drove a '69 American Rambler Convertible in High school that was my great grandparents'. It was aqua marine in color and only had 70,000 miles on it when it was given to me. I was all-conference MVP in Softball as a pitcher in high school. I was a 4.0 student in college. I am not a morning person. I ran for class president, the cheerleading squad and the softball team at Longwood College, I didn't make it at any of them. I joined the LDS church at age 19, after growing up Catholic. I asked Steve out on our first date. I cannot type. I use my right hand mostly.

What I like to do:
I like to have fun with Steve and the kids. I like my books on dieting and style- although you wouldn't know. I like country music. I like cowboys and rolling hills. I like warm weather. I like the windows down. I like to have a project. I like the internet. I like learning new things and finding the answers to things. I like going on dates with Steve. I like to shop. I like my alone time too. I like to be with family. I like my church books and other references, like text books. I like my planner. I like change on occasion. I like to take pictures. I like to lie in bed with the kids real close and talk to them. I am grateful for my life.

"I'll just walk to Hogi Yogi"

Tonight we had honey mustard chicken with rice and mixed veggies, not a real kid-pleaser. We had planned on going to get ice cream for a treat afterward. In order to get ice cream, the kids have to eat most of their food. Jenna did not like the food but was torn because she loves ice cream. She said, "after you and daddy go to bed, I am going to walk to Hogi Yogi (this is an ice cream and sandwich shop out West). She went on, "I will take my penny bank, and wear my warm coat. I am not scared of the dark, and I could just bring my flashlight." She wasn't sure which way to go though, but she does know what the sign looks like. "There's a circle in the middle."
In the end, she gave in, had three more bites of chicken and was able to get a treat, but we went to Arctic Circle instead.

Family Pictures

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