5 for today

Well, the memory that makes me smile the most in the last 12 months is Tanner's baptism. If you want to know what's made me smile the most in the past 3 months it's probably realizing that I'm growing.

Hands down, my Dad...and the outdoor fashion shows in the backyard (and other backyard shenanigans), picking raspberries for FHE, family reunions, the farm, and riding our bikes in the alley.

A hug




What I believe and know

That I'm a snob, hard hearted, unfriendly and/or mean.

Now onto a different subject. I know the Hunger Games are coming out and, honestly, I do not see or understand the infatuation with these books/movie. Why on earth do people want to read about kids killing other kids/people for sport? I just don't get how that in any way can be interesting or worth reading. Obviously this is just my opinion but I don't get it. I don't have any intention of seeing the movie or ever reading the books. That's just me, though.

Last week, I took Jill out for her birthday and she chose Osho's for dinner which I was super happy about because I've wanted to go there for so long but Matt's a picky eater and didn't want to brave it with me. It was so yummy! I hope to go many more times. Ever since East Side Marios closed we haven't found a new favorite restaurant. I think I might be able to convince him that Osho's is a great new place!

What's your favorite place to eat?

I have been really bad at taking pictures of anything lately! I am so mad at myself. We've tried a bunch of new recipes and I forgot to take pictures. I guess I will have to find the pictures online. I love pinterest for that reason. I try to keep my boards realistic so I don't get overwhelmed be wishing I had what I don't need.

Tanner...such a funny boy! On Sunday night he was running a fever and breathing funny (he was quite congested) and when we asked him what was wrong he said "I don't want to die. I think I have cancer". The only thing I can think of where he got that is because at dinner Matt asked what I wanted to drink and I said water...but not tap water because I didn't want to get cancer from drinking the tap water (as a joke!). I don't really like the taste or our water so I always boil water and add some lemon to it and keep it in the fridge so that's what I normally drink. Anyways, Tanner picked up on it, I guess...oops!

This is a HUGE shocker...mostly because I am pretty strict with myself in being organized and on time for everything! Unless it's a RS activity that is on a night when I work. Then that is totally out of my control...I will be late. Anyways, the huge shocker is that for the last month I have NOT been able to get myself out of the door to get to work to get there early. I'm not late but I usually am there right on time. This is kinda huge for me because I like to get to every place in my life early. I can not get myself organized in the morning. I think that part of the problem is because I have started taking my time when getting ready. More so in the bathroom putting on my make up and doing my hair and showering. It annoys me if I can't get my outfit picked out the night before so I can just get up and get dressed. If I take more than 5 minutes to decide what to wear I get super annoyed and think "Uhhhh, I have nothing to wear" and I literally have to walk out of my closet and do something else. I usually just throw on my clothes and slap on some make up and go but now for some odd reason I take my time. Do I look better when I take my time???? Heck no! I do my make up the same. I have 3-4 hair styles I wear all the time. So my goal is to get my act together and stop staring at myself in the mirror and get going out the door to work.

So there you go. 10 random things on Thursday.

Wanna know more?

Lying, being mean, deceiving others.

cutting more sugar out of my diet (I'm on day 8 of a headache), keeping my priorities more of a priority and not an option.

Reading my scriptures, praying, being more diligent in being a better mother

To go to Disneyland and to be a stewardess

Put my music up really loud and DANCE!

Here's another 5

Myself. My insecurities

I don't think this is when I first realized life is too short but it made the biggest impact...When my Uncle died and my cousin made a comment about why does the important meter get reset when people die. I think after the grieving process after my Dad died, I first realized this point.

Trying certain things and succeeding

Warmth, kindness, a connection (not really a "quality") and friendly

Matt, my Mom, Amy, Megan, Melany, Jill, Susanne, Amelia, Erica, Jamie, Lisa, Claudia, Becky, Danalee, Karen, Aunty Elaine, and Bobbi Jo.

5 more

Being healthy and Happy

I am a mother, a wife, a friend, a daughter, a sister, a niece, a daughter in law and most importantly, I am me.

Being kind, serving others and for being my real self.

My sisters and Mom

I hope that in a year, I will have grown to become more of the person I want to be. In a year, life will probably be different with new challenges and trials. Surgery for Tanner maybe, finishing our basement, planting trees in our yard.

40 questions

I saw this on Christal's blog and loved the idea. I'm only going to do 5 at a time for now, though.



Having the kind of relationship with my sister that I wanted

Tanner and his future surgeries

A massage

Happiness, Love, Health, Money, Fame.

STRESSED

Family Fun Day

For our Family Fun Day this past weekend, we went and saw this movie. It was a really good movie. Matt and I enjoyed it...Tanner on the other hand kept saying he was bored. I think he thought it was going to be more action packed but I'm glad we saw it. Then after dinner plans fell through, we ate what we had made and headed over to the school to play in the gym. Afterwards, we got a cookie and a movie (for Matt and I). It was a fun day.

Tanner had his first cub car rally last week and he takes that cub car just about everywhere he can. He even has a plastic tub over it when it's in his room like a protective case. He didn't win the race but everyone got a chocolate bar. He didn't seem too upset about not winning. I asked him if he had fun and he said he did and I said that that was more important than winning.

We have Teacher Convention this week and we are looking forward to the down time. It seems to have been a bit busy the last little while so it's nice to have some time to hang out and not be too busy.

How was your weekend? What did you do for family day?

I'm on a roll

I think this is a new record for how much I've written in a while.

I came across a saying and it was really what I needed today.

"Your age doesn't define your maturity, your grades don't define your intellect and rumors don't define who you are."

I know that sometimes I feel like I am still judged for my past and that's not something I want. Rumors are very hurtful and can destroy relationships. A person's past doesn't always define who they are now or who they are trying to become. People change and just because a person made bad choices in the past doesn't mean they are a bad person now. If people choose to believe rumors about someone, then that's on their head. I guess for me, I'm kind of a take or leave it person. If you want to like me and/or get to know me, great. If you don't, whatever...it's not my loss. My past has taught me some pretty important lessons in life. I'm not totally un-affected by people. I do get my feelings hurt sometimes and there are things that upset me but I'm not an overly sensitive person to negative things. For the most part, I just can't be bothered to care too much about what someone who doesn't really know me or what I've been through thinks about me. The people who take the time to get to know me and vice versa, are some of my dearest friends.

I am not defined by my past. Period. I am not the same person as I was back then. I'm not 100% different, but I'm not a selfish, angry, rebellious teenager. The very best advice I've gotten in the last few years is this "You don't need the acceptance of others to feel worthy". I think about that every day and try to live my life accordingly. But that's where I say that I'm not totally un-affected by people. I still get upset when I feel like I'm being treated like I was when I was that teenager. When I was a teenager, I didn't care too much if someone got upset by something I did or said (or didn't do/say) but NOW, I don't like if I've un-intentionally hurt or upset someone. I believe that I am quick to apologize as I've been told on several occasions to stop apologizing for everything. It's a process and I'm still learning. It makes me grateful to know that I have people in my life that love me for me and accept me for who I am no matter what I did in my past. I like where I am and who I am and hope to continue to become. No one's perfect and that's okay.

P.S. the Root Beer Float Cupcakes were divine! I had to give all but 4 away so I wouldn't eat them all tonight. I STRONGLY urge you to go and make some. You will not be disappointed. You can get the Root Beer extract at the craft store here in town. I got Watkins but it was a bit pricey ($7)...but so worth it now that I know what I can use it for.

Such a good post!

I recently came across a blog that had a post that I found very interesting and wanted to share it. You can find it HERE

Life in Pictures

We did do a little Valentines activity this year. We did a love jar. It was really fun this morning whilst having our heart shaped french toast to read what we all said about each other that we loved. I think it will be a yearly tradition.




I have been attempting to start making stuff that I'm pinning on Pinterest. It's re-donk-ulous how many things I have pinned. So tonight I made Root Beer Float cupcakes (which I haven't tried yet. Tomorrow is the day) and....

Lemon Blueberry Yogurt Loaf. This particular loaf was a fail for me. It tastes REALLY yummy but I did not quite understand the directions as I was following them. Here's the process: It says while cooling the loaf to make the lemon syrup. Check. Then you're supposed to poke holes in the top and sides of the loaf and brush the syrup over the top and sides of the loaf. So I thought "I must have to take it out of the loaf pan to poke holes in the sides and brush the sides with the syrup". So that's exactly what I did...except it had only been out of the oven for 10 minutes. Yeah, you can guess what happened next. It fell apart. Oh well, it's still edible and super yummy!

I added double the blueberries because I'm kinda lovin' the little blue berries right now.

Matt and I went to the Annual Rotary Valentines Dinner and Dance and it was a blast! I totally felt like a princess in my dress and beautiful bow that a friend in our ward made for me and I got lots of compliments from people. 2 minutes before we're about to leave this is the conversation:

Me: Do I look okay?

Matt: Yeah, of course

Me: I don't look like some 2 bit hooker with all this red

Matt: OF COURSE NOT! You look amazing!

What a great husband. I was worried it was too much but after we left, all I wanted to do was sing "I feel pretty, oh so pretty". Don't worry, I didn't ; )

Here's the dress with my jewelry. My Mom got me the necklace and I borrowed the earrings from a friend.

I wore my red shoes (I took my flats to dance in) and it really pulled the outfit all together.

This one's for my Mom. Tanner got his scarf from cubs. He was so proud of himself and we were so proud of him too! How could you not want to kiss that cute little face?! I love that he has such a happy spirit.

Here's his beautiful bed! We are SOOOOO happy with the way it turned out and Tanner says he loves it. He decided we wanted it stained chocolate brown so we got a sample and we'll see how that goes.

Tanner and I ran/walked in the 2nd annual chilly wily race this year. We did the 2k. Tanner was amazing and jogged/ran the whole way while I was lazy and walked (I had a headache for 2 days in a row and was not feeling up to jogging). He even wanted to keep going and doing the 5k but I told him no (I know, I'm such a mean Mom...lol)

I just love his crazy faces. Like he totally can't make a normal face for a picture.

Here we are waiting for the race to start. We were there an hour early and sat inside Town Hall waiting. I think we'll do it again next year. He wants to do the July 1st run AND the Triathlon. We'll see.

So that's life for us this weekend. I'm not shy to say that I'm proud of myself for taking more pictures lately. I'm trying another recipe from Pinterest this weekend so stay tuned for that too.

Out of the ordinary

I met this Chiropractor on the flight to Las Vegas last month and I was really inspired by his story but I didn't get a chance to have a look at his website until tonight. I was even more inspired and deeply touched by what they are doing when I read his blog/website. Feel free to check it out and feel inspired for yourself. What a blessing it is to be able to help other people in such a beneficial way.