February 29

All the things I plan on doing with this extra day of the year we've been given.

1. Organize and clean out closets
2. Iron about 20 church shirts of the boys (yes rather then ironing I just buy new ones so I don't have to iron them, but now I have a whole collection of dress shirts ranging in size 5-12.
3. Plan and get baby room ready.
4. Finish all unfinished projects around the house.
5. Finish organizing my office.
6. Grocery shop since we are all out of everything.

But what if the weather is like yesterday high 60's and beautiful sunshine, then I might just have to bag it all, go to lunch, head outside bring a book and read while my little one plays outside!

I am learning

Lessons I am learning

• Never say never!! Because then it's bound to happen. How many times have I said I would never.....?
• I need to be careful when I blurt our sweeping generalizations, because I am bound to hurt someones feelings. You never know what's going on in peoples lives.
• When I am hard on people about something they did, and then I find myself guilty of the same things. Be careful not to judge others.
• I sometimes think I have all the answers, but it usually turns out that I don't.
• It's always easier to fix other peoples problems, rather then my own. And of course to see others short comings, then my own.
• Be patient with life and take it one day at a time.
• Not to worry about the future and live in the present.
• Sometimes I get so impatient and want to know everything right now. I want to know all that is ahead of me, challenges, triumphs, life events etc. (maybe it's a control thing I need to get over it)

Just a few things I am trying to learn about life. I can only hope I will learn and move on. But I guess that is the good news about life we are constantly learning, changing and growing.

February Visitors

The Ground hog wasn't the only visitor this month. We had the chance to have all of Mark's sibilings and his parents all together for a weekend. Mark's younger brother Scott and his wife Teresa had their first baby Charlie. It was nice to have everyone together for the baby blessing. Here is a picture of the whole clan minus Lori's children who weren't able to come. A little brother to brother competition. They had to see who still had it in them, when it came to basketball. A little free throw competition proved they could still throw a basketball even though they are all getting a little older.
Cousin sleepovers

Then we also had my mom and Anna come visit for Presidents day weekend. We took them to the Oakland zoo (luckily there were no tiger attacks). They were able to enjoy some sunshine and escape the cold Utah weather.

Who's your Valentine?

Who's your Valentine this year? With valentines day coming up next week, it's that time of year to think of what to get and make your plans for a romantic date. So here are some questions for you to read and then answer them yourself. If you read this post then you must do the same on your post. Include a picture of you and your Valentine and answer the questions below. It's a Valentine blog chain. I saw this on someones blog and I liked it.

Who is your Valentine? Mark, for the past 16 years.

How long did you date? 2 years, our friends thought we'd never get married, but a girl has to be sure that someone is really committed.

How old is he? 38

Who eats more sweets? I probably do, he only indulges on the good stuff like really dark chocolate.

Who said I love you first? He did and I didn't know what to say so I just said "Thanks." We both still laugh at my response.

Who is taller? He is

Who can sing better? Oh him for sure. Sometimes when we are singing at church or at FHE he will give me a wierd look and then I know I am totally off key. I am a little tone deaf. He has a really great voice and sang to me at our wedding brunch it was super cute and super cheesy. I need to pull out that wedding video next time we have friends over. I think he'd love that.

Who is smarter? Him for sure, although I am smart in other ways. Sometimes when he tells me what he does at work I get overwhelmed and am grateful I don't have to be in the business world.

Who does the laundry? I do, I don't think he knows where the laundry room is, which is fine because he has other great qualities.

Who pays the bills? He does, I pretend I to.

Who mows the lawn? Isabel, (the gardner) but soon one of my boys after they get proper training and instruction this summer from their dad. Is 10 yrs old too young to start this chore?

Who cooks the dinner? Me!

Who drives? Him, especially road trips, he gets bored and restless, so then I get to pass snacks back to the kids, read and sleep.

Who is more stubborn? depends on what the issue is.

Who kissed who first? He did. BTW, It was very romantic.

Who asked who out first? I asked him out first. Mr. blue eyes was a little shy and so I had to make the first move or it would never have happened.

Who proposed? He did

Who has more siblings? It's a tie we both come from a family of 5.

Who wears the pants? We try to share them, it's better that way.

Who says I love you more? Probably he does. He is really good at saying "I love you." He says it a couple times a day or he'll send text or emails with sweet messages and I love you's.

Okay now share your Valentine!!!

Guitar Invasion

Those of you with boys may be familiar with this invasion. It's called Guitar Hero. Christian got it for Christmas (which means everyone got it, since he is pretty good about sharing). I wasn't sure how big of a hit it would be, but from the looks of these pictures you can see that they are officially hooked. They love playing it and it's pretty fun to watch them. So I have mixed feelings...


First of all they have lots of fun and they especially love to play it with their dad. And since they get more practice time then him they love that they can beat him on harder songs. But some of the songs are just a little much and I don't always love the background graphics. There is nothing like hearing your 5 year old singing in the other room..."Here I am, Rock you like a hurricane." Whatever happened to twinkle twinkle little star. Say good bye to nursery rhymes and hello to a little guitar hero.

So I am trying to embrace this new trend and let them enjoy this. I am hoping that I am not letting them get too corrupted. Although Jacob says he wants to be in a rock band someday, so maybe it will help him with his new career choice. The good news is they only get to play electronics on Friday after school and Saturday. Maybe they will come out with a version of guitar hero that is less hard rock and maybe some fun 80's songs or recent songs that aren't quite as heavy metal.

Carson turns 5

Carson turns 5. My little baby had a birthday. He was so funny about his birthday this year. He insisted on not having a party and he didn't want anyone singing happy birthday to him. When I asked him why, he responded, "I might be too shy when everyone sings to me." So on the day of his birthday when he went to preschool I told his teacher to make sure they didn't sing to him, but he still wanted to pass out treats to everyone in the class.
Well we can't have a birthday without a little celebration. So last minute on his birthday I called a few of his friends and neighbor and had them come over to eat pizza and cake with us. We called it the unbirthday party. There was no singing or talk of a birthday party. Although he still managed to score some fun presents and he happily opened them with out being to shy, funny how that happened. After everyone left he said that next year he wanted a party and that he wouldn't be too shy.

50 things you may or may not know about me

1. I am a mother of 3 boys and soon to be 4.

2. I actually love staying home and taking care of them.

3. I think I would have a panic attack if I ever had to go back to work while my kids were young.

4. But someday when they are all grown up, I'd love to do some kind of fun business or work somewhere interesting.

5. I have a really great husband and he is my best friend. He makes me laugh every day.

6.I love to run.

7. I like going to the gym (except when I am pregnant)

8. Someday I want to do a triathlon.

9. This is my last baby and I am looking forward to savoring each moment with a baby in our house.

10. I am nervous of how I am going to juggle four kids and every one's schedule, with a husband who travels and works a lot.

11. I am tempted to get a part time mothers helper to help me. Does that make me a bad mom?

12. I like to have fun and take my kids on fieldtrips to museums, zoos etc.

13. I love to go out to dinner and sometimes go too often.

14. I am a person who feels guilty a lot about the things I should be doing and haven't done.

15. I loved being YW's president and cried and threw a bit of a tantrum when I got released.

16 I am over it now and realize that somebody knew I needed to simplify my life, but I didn't know that. Good thing someone is looking out for us.

17. I love to cook and entertain.

18. I love a clean house

19. But my closets are a little messy.

20. I love to travel.

21. Mark and I plan on traveling all over the world when our kiddos are out of the house (18 more years)

22. I like to read.

23. Sometimes I have 4 half read books sitting on my nightstand and I take turns finishing them.

24. I worry a lot. I even have worry lines on my forehead.

25. I worry about things that I have no control over.

26. I like to be around people that make me laugh

27. I have lots of unfinished projects.

28. I love having hobbies, but don't always have time for them.

29. I love to snow ski.

30. I use to dream of being a gold medal gymnast. (Mary Lou Retton)

31. Even though I am not very flexible and never got better then a back handspring in gymnastic class.

32. I love to play tennis.

33. And dream of the day when all my kids can play a real tennis game.

34. I am a terrible swimmer

35. My 10 year old can out swim me any day.

36. I love to sit on the couch at night and talk to Mark about life.

37. I love to sit on the couch at night and indulge in watching a few of my favorite shows. (the Office, Grey's anatomy)

38. I don't want my sweet 10 year old to go to middle school next year.

39. I secretly want to hold him back so he doesn't have to go to middle school and be exposed to all that stuff.

40. I worry that I haven't taught my kids enough or given them enough experiences to prepare them for real life.

41. Sometimes I have a hard time falling asleep at night.

42. I have pregnancy insomnia and it sucks.

43. I love taking naps on Sunday.

44. I worry that I do too much for my boys

45. I am working on that.

46. I am 3 quarters German.

47. I have green eyes

48. I want to be on the Amazing Race someday.

49. When I wake up in the morning I usually remember my dreams from the night before.

50. I cry easily in movies.