Quilt Block #9 and othe such fun...

I haven't been very good about posting my quilt blocks but here is the one I finished today. Last time Anth and I skipped our class and drove around town instead. I really like this one and it was pretty simple. This weekend is our last class (which means I didn't make any mistakes).I still need to finish block #10 before class on Friday. They will give us our last 3 blocks to finish and we will have 13 blocks total. We had the option to buy the finishing kit to make a Queen size quilt but we are both too cheap for that. I think I will just be making a throw and using 2 blocks to recover my couch cushions that are hideously ugly.

Royal Star

This weekend I made banana mini-muffins. Do you like how they are so golden that the flash reflects off them. They were super yummy and I think I ate most of them. This is my third variety of mini muffins since I bought my mini-muffin tin.

Em enjoying a mini-muffin.

This last week DH took a day off and we tried to sleep in as long as possibly. I thought it was strange that no one was coming in asking for breakfast. When I finally got up I discovered that Cor had layed out the bowls and spoons the same way I do every morning and had served everyone who wanted cereal. He even made sure he gave his Dad the biggest bowl and a big spoon just how he likes it. What a good kid. Now I never have to get up in the morning.
We had a great weekend. Sunday we played Badminton in the back yard and had Anth's family over for dinner. Saturday DH went golfing all morning and in the afternoon his sister watched the kids and we saw Indiana Jones. I loved it and thought it was classic Indi. Plus we got to hold hands and pretend like we were teenagers which we like to do.

Sunday we decided that Mya could go on a road trip with my parents in a couple weeks for my Mom's family reunion in Southern Utah. At first we were too scared to let our baby go but she is 9 years old and all her girl cousins her age will be going. It just makes me worry having her go so far for so many days. I know she will have a great time and it makes me happy that she'll get to have an experience like I had when I was her age.

Words my kids have learned from hanging around with Anth

Mya just started saying "Pish Posh."

Cor is always saying "Sucka."

Anth had her baby!

My BFF Anth had her 2nd baby today. We hung out last night, ate sugar, and timed her contractions. At 3:00 AM she called to say it was time to go. I hung out at her house till it was time for Miss E to wake up then she spent the day with us. In the afternoon Anth's DH called to say he was born. Baby boy weighed 9 lbs. 6 oz. That's a big boy. Her stomach had grown but I didn't think it was that big. She was definitely all baby. I am so excited to go see him tonight. But I'll have to lift some weights before I get there. My boy was 8 lbs. 14 oz. and I thought that was big. I love new babies and I am really excited for Anth.

The ABC's of EdgyK

Tagged by Anth.

A-Advocate for: SAHM's, sewing, being a prude, reading, letting kids be kids and not force them to be perfect or a super star at age 2.

B-Best Feature: My charming personality, actually I don't know but my DH would say my cleavage.

C-Could do without: whining and flabby stomach (whining about my flabby stomach)

D-Dreams and Desires: Ripped abs and to be able to beat the next person who says something rude about how short I am. And I keep thinking that I will be an expert at something someday but I haven't decided what I want to do someday.

E- Essential Items: Mary Kay Mint Bliss Energizing lotion for feet & legs, Deena gave this to me for my birthday last year and I can't live without it. Also, mascara, My mom says her girls are so pale without makeup our faces disappear when we close our eyes. Also, Steak!

F-Favorite Pastime: Lately hanging out with Anth talking about the weird things our families do, somehow it makes it funny.

G-Good at: Sewing, Lying, DH says I'm good at being a wife and Mom. Finding deals.

H-Have never tried: peeing standing up and eating chicken talons.

I-If I had a million dollars: I would have it converted into $1 bills or gold coins and I would put it in a big vault and swim in it.

J-Junkie for: Food

K-Kindred Spirit: Anth, Stephanie, Staci, and Jenna

L-Little Known Fact: My birthday is April 25th but mentally I celebrate from April 1st to the 25th.

M-Memorable Moment: Seeing my first child for the first time and DH telling me we had a girl. I was so amazed at how beautiful and perfect she was. I couldn't believe I really did it.

N-Never Again will I: Watch the movie Earthstorm.

O-Occasional indulgence: Skinny cow icecream or a candy bar

P-Profession: Husband pleaser (only my husband)

Q-Quote: It's nice to be nice to the nice. (MASH)

R-Reason to Smile: Today Em couldn't get the sound on the TV to work so she cranked it up all the way. When she actually got it to work it almost blew the speakers. Both Em and Ballerina were frozen in place screaming (not that I could hear them), then they ran towards me, and Emily almost ran into the door. I felt bad for them but it was really hard not to laugh.

S-Sorry About: All the stupid things I say but don't realize it until later.

T-Tag some friends: Becca and Amber

U-Uninterested In: Ever mowing the lawn myself. That's what I got married for.

V-Very Scared of: Losing my wedding ring and getting into a car accident with the kids in the car.

W-Worst Habit: Wasting time on the computer.

X-X marks my ideal vacation spot: Any tropical island but no bugs.

Y-Yo Anth there was no Y on your blog???

Z-Zodiac Sign: Taurus. Today's horoscope: It's sad but true. Romance requires work, from time to time. Roll up your sleeves. And an OVERVIEW: Your easy going energy makes your friends gravitate towards you, even if work or family obligations get in your way. You're having so much fun that you should be able to overcome almost anything. (Don't those two things seem to contradict each other?)

Fun times with the little ones

Dealing with the yucky stuff...

So this morning I was going to get up and take a shower before the kids got up. I haven't done that in a while since I have the eternal cold. Just as I was getting in the shower Em came in to tell me Ballerina had taken her diaper off and was poopy. I threw on my robe and she was in bed. Lying in her mess very content. I pulled off her nightgown and put her in the shower. She screamed the whole time. When I wrapped her in the towel she was happy again. But then it was time for lotion and bum ointment because she had poop on her bum for I don't know how long. She screamed until I had her completely dressed. I gave her a hug and told her what a good girl she was (it's so easy to lie when you love your kids). She was all happy and smiles again. Bad news: I had just put clean bedding on her bed yesterday. Good news: I put the plastic lined mattress pad on so the mess was nicely contained and easily thrown into the wash. During this whole ordeal I was in my robe that kept coming untied from fighting with Ballerina. It's amazing how no one notices that I am naked (DH was not home). Even 7 year old Cor hasn't realized he doesn't want to see his mother naked. I once heard an female announcer on the radio say that her teenage son still tries to come talk to her while she is in the bathroom. It almost made me cry. I am glad my kids are so comfortable with me and I am almost resigned to the fact that privacy is non-existent.

Cabin Fever...

For the last three days after we drop of Mya and Cor to school Ballerina has started screaming whenever I take a right turn off the street from the school. Because she realizes that I am headed back home. She screams, "Go the other way, Mommy!" She knows that if I turn left it means we are going somewhere, anywhere, but home. Today I turned left and she was soooo happy.

Time flies when you are having fun...I think...

Yesterday Anth came over to work on our quilt squares. Mya and Cor were being silly and teasing each other. She said, "So this is what I have to look forward too." Soon her little baby boy will be born and her little girl LB and baby BS will be 22 months apart. Just like mine. It was so weird to realize that it has been 7 1/2 years since I was where she is now. And it is so cliche to say it but it seems like yesterday. There are so many things that I have forgotten or blocked from my memory but it really doesn't seem like that much time has gone by. It made me a little sad and then made me feel a little old (not too much because I really only view people as 80 or older as "old"). Because when I had Cor I thought people with 4 kids were so much more mature and experienced. So now when I look at people with teenagers, I shudder to think that could be me in a few seconds. Because in 2 1/2 years all my kids will be in school!

I don't have any regrets about it because I have tried to enjoy it as much as I can and I have really tried to be a good mom. I have so totally failed at times and I am sure my kids will let me know how I screwed up someday. Actually 9 year old Mya already does except she tries to tell me nicely, in a stating the facts sort of way. I still think of Mya and Cor as my babies, just with different responsibilities. I wonder if I will always think of them that way?

I don't know how to describe how difficult it has been to raise my kids. Sometimes I feel like my brain is going to explode or simply that it had broken beyond repair, sometimes I feel like I would give them away, or that I'd never be good enough for them. On the other hand it has been so wonderful to love my babies. I do miss the little baby stage as Ballerina is almost 3 years old now but I plan to live vicariously through Anth and my other friends with new babies. DH and I already look forward to being grandparents someday and lovin' our grandbabies.

Quilt Block 4 JT's Star

Here's Anth telling me how good I did on my latest quilt block. We decided we aren't in love with this one but it was very easy. We like blocks 2 and 3 the best and we think they would make a beautiful quilt with the same pattern repeated throughout. So we found another reason for liking this class because we get to see which patterns we like and don't like. I have to apologize for the poor quality pictures my camera takes but it'll have to do for now.

Another Dream-This one's for you Anth

I just remembered another dream I had about Anth. I was sitting at the computer trying to type and I kept mispelling everything. No matter what I did I had to keep fixing everything. And Anth was sitting behind me laughing and laughing and laughing. All of a sudden I made the computer do something really cool. But I couldn't figure out how I did it because it was a mistake. More laughing.

This was definately a non-fiction dream but we won't be making a feature film about it. Maybe an after school special.

Other interesting news. DH and I went on a real date. We went to dinner, we walked around the mall (amusing people watching), then we walked around Wickes and found a bed set and dresser we like. As Mya would say it was soooooo romantic. DH kept trying to make out with me when no one was looking. It may not have been "romantic" but it was fun and we needed a break together. Saturday DH took the three not sick kids to OMSI and I stayed home with Ballerina. She has a very bad cold and cough. She took a nap and I had a lot of quiet time. I do feel refreshed.

I decided today one of the best things I have taught my babies is to lift up their bottom when I put their diaper on. I just say "up" and they lift up their bottom so I can slide the diaper under. I have taught each one of them and it's one of life's little blessings. I've had to change a few other baby bottoms lately and when I say "up" they didn't do it. I wonder if I am the only one who has taught their baby that?

New Year's Resolutions

Anth asked me if I set NY's resolutions so this is my answer to her and to myself. We had a lesson in RS on goal setting that actually didn't get me any more excited than I was before but it was at least a reminder to finish what I started.

In high school I took leadership classes and read a lot on developing skills, setting goals, and becoming principle centered. It didn't make a lot of sense to me then but since I have matured it has more real life value. For the first few years of our marriage I did make goals, wrote them down, only to review them later and figure out that I had failed either by setting my goals too high and unattainable or setting them too low and completely forgetting about them because they seemed too simple. Another problem would be that I would set too many and it was more than I could possibly fit into a year, trying to improve all my faults at once. The main problem being I am a procrastinator.

I don't read many self help books any more, although I may try some in the near future. A little too irritating for me. Too much energy and determination to conquer the universe. That's why I liked them in college because I did really think I was going to conquer the universe somehow. Now I am more of the slow and steady wins the race.

Well I did get discouraged because I am a procrastinator and I hated feeling like such a failure. After I had my 2nd baby I didn't get any sleep and really depressed. But when I dealt with I was re-ernergized, felt like my self again, and started doing a house cleaning program on Flylady.net. It really worked well for me. Even thought I don't do all the habits, I do a lot that make my life much easier. I would definately reccommend flylady to anyone although I am sure it's not for everyone. But even after that and adding 2 more babies to the mix and much more responsibilities I did get into ruts. I know it sounds textbook but I don't regret any of it, even the really difficult times because I have learned so much and have been richly blessed.

In 2007 I decided to set some goals but only in my head. I was not going to write them down because that was a sure way to failure. My goals were simple, reasonable, and things I really needed to do. And I just did them. I didn't let set backs stop me, I just kept working on them. It was a really great year. Now that those things are habits I can clearly see the next set of goals I need to make.

Soooo this year I am going to try and write them down. I started writing them in a notebook I use for random things but that was already getting annoying and seemed like too many responsiblity hanging over my head. Goals should be exciting and something you want to do not stuff that makes you feel horrible about yourself.

I am a little stressed that I am writing them here for all too see but they are not anything so private and I think I will be more likely to read them occasionally and even revise them throughout the year. There seems like a lot but a few are carried over from last year and things I just need to continue to think about so I don't get out of the habit.

• Create a more aggressive face cleansing regimen to help reduce my acne problem.
• Keep my hair colored and trimmed regularly because when I feel beautiful I feel more energetic and confident. That is shallow but it works for me.
• Do more relaxing spa things like paint my nails, give myself a pedicure, manicure, deep conditioner treatments, and foot or face massage.
• Exercise 5 days a week.
• Take a class or two. (1. Quilt block class, 2. Cake decorating class at Michael's)
• Continue to clean and organize my house.
• Redecorate Bathroom.
• Finish decorating the little girls room.
• Magnify my calling as RS Education counselor.
• Go to the temple once a month, if possible with my husband, if not I'll just go on my own.
• Visit a friend or relative I haven't seen for a while-at least Once a month.
• September do pre-school with Em and Ballerina.
• Spend individual time each day with each of my children.
• Tell my kids I love them everyday. It's sad that this doesn't come naturally but if I keep practicing it will come naturally.
• Teach Mya and Cor to sew.
• Each month work a little bit on Christmas projects so we can have a homemade Christmas 2008.
• Complete all my sewing projects.
• Eat sweets only once a week.
• Eat more fish.
• Read or Study Scriptures everyday.
• Kneel for prayers twice a day.
• Plan dates with Scott twice a month, which can include the trip to the temple.
• Stop thinking that I am an after thought by the people I love and those who love me. This is a middle child syndrome and I really need to let it go.
• Stop being afraid to fail.

Tuesday's Picture of the Day

Ballerina got the bag of tortilla chips and loaded up her plate. She made this goofy face just for the camera. That cornbread there is sooooo delicious, we got the recipe from Anth.

I Won!!!

I won Bunco. I won for the most wins. I had 15 wins out of 18 games. Woo Hoo! I hardly ever win anything so I have to make the most of this. I got a Antique olive party platter from BB and B and some caramel chocolates (I believe caramel and chocolate are BFF's). I was only sad that my FRIEND Deena wasn't there to share my moment of joy. My FRIEND Anth also won a cute pie plate. What a night!