Primary Finally

I have never had a kid so going excited to not go to nursery anymore.  Addie had hated going to nursery since Thanksgiving and has been looking forward to January when she's in Primary full time.  She cracks me up.  After getting the kids out of the shower I reminded her that she's a Sunbeam today and won't be in nursery anymore.  She jumped up and down and cheered, "Yeah, no more nursery!" It made me laugh.

Everyone got dressed, I did my hair, blow dried Addie's hair and pulled it back, blew Kaila's hair and braided it for her. Right when I was finished doing Kaila's hair I felt like I was going to faint.  I quickly got a drink of water and laid down on the bed waiting to feel better. I told Kaila I think we would be late for church since I wasn't feeling well.  I got her to put some grapes in four bags for lunch/snack for everyone.  I text Kevin to let me know what was going on and to inform his parents that we were coming but late.

Erin text me thinking I was sick since we were home when she left for church and still home when she got back home.  I told her out church time is later now but that I was feeling faint.  She called me freaking out and wanted to know if I wanted her to come over.  She was worried since when I fainted before I had a seizure.  I told her I was fine but we chatted on the phone for about 45 minutes.  Then I finally felt better.  Ater feeling faint I then felt like throwing up.  I never fully felt better but was better than before. If it wasn't the first Sunday of the month I would have skipped church but the kids were excited about their new classes and had worked really hard on the New Year party song favors for singing time.  I sucked it up and we made it to church an hour late.

 Waiting to be called with their new teachers and classes

Singing Time was tough.  I didn't feel well at all.  I even laid down behind the piano during senior Primary.  When we were singing "The Wise Man and the Foolish Man" we were finishing up the first verse and I thought we were ending it.  The kids all looked at me like I was crazy.  I apologized and said that's what happens with my pregnant brain.  Duston stood up and exclaimed, "You're pregnant."  I stood up and showed my belly and said I'm having a boy come May.  It was pretty funny.  I love how kids don't even notice my growing belly!  So sweet of them.  :-)

I went around and picked up the kids and got pics of them with their teachers for the new year. Chandler this year and Kaila has her old teacher from two years ago, Sister Burke.  She's thrilled to have her again. They split her class in half this year and thankfully Karley is still in her class. Glenn got moved back down to CTR4 and her really is the smartest boy in his class now.  He was told that last year too in the older class that he had all the answers.  I'm so proud of him and that he listens and remembers what he's being taught.  I hope he remembers to lean on that knowledge as he goes through this life. Addie had two subs so I didn't get a picture of her with them.  I got a pic of her as a new Sunbeam though!  When Kevin picked up Addie from her class on Sunday she said to him "Dad, no more nursery, no more.  I only go to Primary!"  Glad she's still excited.

Sister Chandler and Glenn

Sister Burke, Kaila, and Karley

 

Once home I got a snack of some cheese even though there was dairy to get some protein in my system and then laid on the couch hoping to feel better.  YUCK!  I hate this feeling of being sick. 20 weeks and counting...

Happy New Year...2014!

Last night we celebrated over at our friend's, The Hoeppner's house, like we have in prior years.  This time though the kids went over to Grandma and Grandpa's house it he n the afternoon so we didn't do New York count down with them like we usually do.  (The did the countdown with G&G though and banged pots and pans.  They loved it.  The older two went to bed well but Addie was all hyped up and I guess the kids stayed up talking until midnight and were still up at 7:30 this morning. So glad we were able to sleep in until 10/11 without any kids waking us up.) We had fun at the Hoeppner's with our friends dancing the night away on the Wii.  There was a great turn out and Erin even came!  I was so happy to have her there with us.  Alex and Katie even drove over for the fun too.  Kevin was the dancing, hip moving, sweaty machine.  I just did 3 moves and it hurt my uterus so I didn't dance.  Made me kind of sad but better to be safe than sorry.  I had a hard time avoiding the dairy while there with cookies out.  I finally tried one and after 5-10 minutes regretted it.  Brittany's caramel corn was so good and hard to stay away from.  When we got home my stomach let me know how angry it was.  Thankfully it didn't kill me for too long.

Toasting in the New Year!

I was a little sad about not celebrating with the kids but figured out how we could still celebrate with them... setting off fireworks that I had saved from the fourth. It's still New Year's Day! It was so fun other than Addie having to watch from the window because she hadn't listened about cleaning up while all the other kids did.  It was really sad and broke my heart.  The older kids were super sweet to her running confetti up to her after I pulled some party poppers on them :-)  I invited Erin to bring the kids down to watch and she did.  She had some sparklers left over from the fourth too so all the kids were able to have some fun with those.  Erin even did one for Addie writing her name with the sparkler for her.  The kids favorite was the jack in the box.  I had another one but wanted to save it for another time with Addie could be out there to enjoy them too.  Maybe for Glenn's birthday?  If I remember.

Happy New Year!

Getting all dressed up for the New Year

We had a wonderful New Years Eve.  We celebrated with the kids at 8pm to London's countdown on the internet.  Kevin was sweet and bought powdered donuts for the kids to enjoy and made them hot chocolate too.  I got them some crowns to wear and we danced around in the family room to celebrate.  Kaila stated that it was a wonderful party.  Then Kevin got out the pots and some spoons to bang in the new year.  It was fun and the kids loved it.  The best part was they were in bed before Vaughn came over at 9:30 to watch them as we went out with Micheal and Nola to bring in the New Year with them.

Dancing

Hot Chocolate and donuts time!

Glenn approved!

Happy New Year!

We drove up the mountain to celebrate.  Originally Kevin and I thought that we were going up to Timberline but upon reaching our thought turn off Micheal mentioned that he thought the event was at Meadows he had looked up.  That made us stop and check road conditions up that route and the events going on at both locations.  We found out it was at Meadows and cautiously continued our drive up the gorgeous snow covered path.  It was beautiful.  The moonlight dancing across the snow covered trees.

At the Lodge there was a $15 cover charge and we got in just after 11pm.  It took us about 1.5 hrs to drive up there.  We were saddened to hear that they had the fireworks at 10:15pm (what an odd time to do fireworks for the new year!)  We were bummed about that but we still had fun with our friends.  We got some sodas, decked out in some new year hats, danced to the live band, stomped on the balloons as they dropped ringing in the new year and got some fun pictures taken in the photo booth.

 

SIMPLIFY

This year I have been thinking a lot about the New Year and what I wanted to accomplish.  Every year I do an intense list on different aspects of my life that I want to do better in.  Most of the goals have a monthly if not weekly or daily requirement.  This sets oneself up for failure.  This year I decided to go down a different path...a SIMPLER path.  This year my ONE word for the year is SIMPLIFY!  That's it.

Now what does that mean you might ask.  Well, that's what I have spent the past few weeks trying to figure out and it will be a yearly process.  I love that...a process.  Not something to really check off the list or look at saying I didn't do that this month and now I'm a failure.  Nope just a word that means what it needs to at that time.  So my game plan as of now.

I'm working on a 40 bag challenge.  It's meant to be 40 bags in 40 days for lent.  This is to rid the house of 40 bags of stuff.  It can be whatever size you want it to be but I'm doing garbage size bags.  I started on the 1st.  While Kevin was having his weekly Presidency meeting for Elders Quorum I was stuck upstairs and thanks to my SIL I had some white bags of clothes for the kids to go through that her older children had grown out of.  I started there and sorted the items and sorted the ones to keep in the laundry bags and put the others in the bags to start clearing out.  I then hit up my closet and got rid of a BUNCH of things.  I couldn't believe it.  I usually purge my closet well but I decided to be a little tough on myself.  I got rid of most everything (I believe) that has a hole in the shirt, even the ones I LOVE.  My sweet sister pointed that out to me while we stayed with her in LA and was trying to find me better clothes for our trip.  I think she was horrified I was traveling with a hole in my shirt.  Well...it's gone now.

I also went through Addie's 12 month clothes and baby blankets and got rid of things.  I couldn't believe it that after just those simple tasks I already had filled 3 bags of stuff!  Yeah.  Kevin told me when I started the challenge that there was no way we would get 40 bags out of the house.  He thought maybe 10 but I told him I could do it.  I have set the challenge and I'm ready to fill it.

The reason I wanted to start off my SIMPLIFY challenge by getting rid of stuff because it's easier to put things away/organize/clean when there is less stuff.  I'm sure it will get hard at the end but I know it will be better in the long run.  We even got a kick start by clearing out the garage on Thursday.  Right now after asking Kevin he thinks we got rid of 10 bags total including the bags I had upstairs.  That's about what I was thinking.  It was a car full and then a partial load along with a toddler bed we don't need that I'd been holding on to for Glenn but he's got a regular twin size bed (box springs actually but he loves it). It feels great.  There is more I would like to get out of the garage but Kevin was wanting to finish everything instead of letting me sort through every box and get rid of the stuff I don't love.  Oh well, we will keep working on it. 

The next step I plan on taking is to start implementing FLY Lady in my life.  If you haven't heard of her google it.  She's got a whole system set up to help you organize your life and clean your house.  Again...simplify things.  If I keep up on it then it won't get over whelming and life will be easier.  Exactly what I need. 

I've already set up a goal/plan for me to exercise 5 days a week.  I have to do 5 because I know if I only do 3 that I will push it off and then it won't happen, trust me.  I've learned from experience.  I've also signed up for the Portland to Coast walk.  I'm so excited to participate in that this year!  I've always wanted to do it and now with a ton of friends I can.  This will also help me keep in shape.  A happy fit momma will make for a happy family and a mommy that will be able to do things with her kids as the bones start to creek more.

Happy New Year!!!!

Can you believe it's 2011 already!?!?! I can't. It's been a WONDERFUL year. We have been blessed with a sweet little baby girl, a bigger house to hold all of us, along with more work for DH (new company and moving up the ladder in the film industry). We truly have been blessed. At times I doubt the Lord, questioning why now and complaining about things happen but once I get my feet planted and am able to turn around and look back He really knows what he's doing. Why do I let myself forget that and still question Him when I feel times are rough? Maybe this year I will learn to trust Him more and stop complaining as much.

To celebrate teh coming year we had Pizza with Grandma and Grandpa along with chocolate fondue for dessert. The kids LOVED that. We watched the New York countdown on TV for them and shouted "Happy New Year" which delighted the kids. After that we all piled into the car and the kids had a sleep over at Grandma and Grandpa's house so Mommy and Daddy could celebrate by ringing in the New Year with some friends. The kids were so excited and we were excited for a night out and hopefully some sleeping in (depending on SP).

Micheal Jackson Dance Off

The prize: Hat and Sparkly glove

The party was a TON of fun though I was more in it for the workout. I'm not a great dancer and acknowledge that but it was fun trying to follow all the moves.

2011: Happy New Year!!!

For Preschool we made little hats to wear to help ring in the new year. I tried to get the kids to hold up their index fingers to represent "11" for 2011 but they never did it at the same time. They had fun do what they wanted to their hats. I LOVE free art!

Happy New Year!

Best Santa Present Ever!

Today was wonderful. I was able to spend the majority of the day with my mom. We went and visited one of her friends that's in a nursing home just for a few weeks because she broke her good foot and needs help. Her doctor told her she would be too much of a burden on her family if she went home and she agrees. She was a nice lady and I'm so glad I have a wonderful mother that cares for others. I can't imagine having to be in a nursing home for the holidays just for breaking a foot. We got lunch and went shopping together after. It was wonderful!

LM is being so difficult with his naps the last two days! It's driving us crazy and the poor kids is tired yet won't sleep. I wonder what's going on with him. I pray this doesn't keep up.

LM taking the dog for a walk

Tonight was fun. We went to our friends house (DD's best friend) and ate yummy food, played games, and counted down together. The girls all stayed up and did really well for being tired the last hour. LM went to bed at 8:30pm and had a rough time when we woke up to drive home and cried for about 15 minutes in his crib before he went to sleep. I pray both kids sleep in for us.