the pretty and not-so-pretty sides of snow

We all have seen beautiful snow photographs, beautiful landscapes, trees that look like they're decorated for Christmas, each branch perfectly attended to. The pretty side of snow. You know what I mean right?

Yup, kind of like these, kind of. So, I woke up bright and early this morning, well maybe not bright but it was definitely early, before the sun counts as early. I noticed the bucket loads of snow we got in the middle of the night and decided to head outside to shovel while the sun came up. It was a beautiful site. Until it started snowing again while I was shovelling. I had to shovel everything TWICE, I hate that! Well, I was soaked to the bone by the time I was done and when I came inside and caught my reflection in the mirror, I started laughing outloud. Woooo-weeeee! The thing that happens to your hair under a hoodie while you're shovelling? That would be the not-so-pretty side of snow.

Today is a fantastic day to have a sore throat and a baby with a runny nose. There's snow, tons and tons of snow outside and I think I'm just going to stay inside today...at least until 3:25 when my "second shift" starts.

the new me

Lelly's SPT this week is this:

stop for a minute and take a self-portrait, a snapshot of you in the here and now. what ARE your dreams and goals for 2008? what is your word? what are you thinking about right now as we plunge head-first into the new year?

Tuesdays are my most over-scheduled day so I'm going to take this challenge today. I really love the idea of setting goals for the year, especially when you only set a few. I am a big believer in the rule of threes, maybe by Covey? The idea is, you set a goal and find three things you can do that month to help you reach your goal. Then you find three things you can do that week, then three things each day. I like this for people like me who get distracted so it helps me keep focus. I may have to blog about how I'm doing throughout the year to keep my focus. This year I'm going to set two goals, two is about all I can realistically handle, plus they cover more than one base. The first one has to do with my word of the year, which is:

patience

I chose patience because it's definitely something I could definitely work on. I thought of this as a goal a few years ago when I was at a Relief Society thing and there was a speaker there. She was talking about recognizing the good thing about ourselves and mentioned being a very patient person, it's something she appreciates about herself. She said her children all know that they can come to her and tell her anything and she won't snap at them or over react. I had kind of an 'ah-ha' moment asking myself, "do my children feel this way?" Probably not. What's funny is that I don't usually mind waiting in line at the grocery store, or dealing with toddler craziness or my chaotic schedule or even middle of the night tend to the baby issues. I feel like I'm pretty laid back, pretty patient already but not when it comes to my kids. So, that's my goal, pretty straight forward. Now I just have to think of my three things today. :)

My second goal is a little broader in it's reaches. I resolve to become a more spiritual person. I was taking notes during testimony meeting on Sunday and made a kind of list that I could work on. Committing to daily personal prayer, scripture study, family scripture study, all these things are somewhat lacking at the current moment. I can do better. I will be reporting back.

So maybe at the end of 2008 I will be able to report that I am a more zen, patient, laid back, spiritual being and maybe we can do some yoga together.

choices

On Thursday Ethan went down for an unexpected nap. He's to that age now where napping is kind of iffy, unfortunately. I think he's trying to out grow them which is a bummer, but it's going to happen at some point I guess. So, when I found myself with some free time I had a really tough time choosing what to do. Should I dig out of my office that has seen better days before Christmas? Do I do the laundry? The kitchen was a mess, the bathrooms needed scrubbed. In fact, I think just about every household chore was lacking this day. And then there's the "me" time dilema, should I just use the time to nap or take a break?Should I sit on the couch and catch up on Grey's Anatomy? I'm dying to start my new book? Hmmm, what to do what to do? Well, I decided the thing I wanted most was to have the formal room finished for crying out loud. I'm so sick of this project. So, I put on the painting clothes and worked until I heard Ethan cry. I finished all of the green! It was such a good feeling, I was so glad that this was how I chose to spend the time. On Saturday Rich and I rigged a paint brush and extention pole with tape and were thankfully able to reach the creases in the vaulted ceiling if we stood on a very tall ladder. I hate being at the top of a very tall ladder - I was almost having a panic attack up there. But, it's done. I mean, DONE DONE. No more painting. We obviously still need to clean up and add blinds, but the painting, the mudding, the moulding, all the hard stuff, is done. I uncovered the piano from it's plastic and lovingly wiped it down with dusting oil. I can't wait to move the furniture in here and actually start USING this room! I can't wait to unpack the phototgraph boxes that are in the garage! YAY!

died and gone to heaven

This is really a side story of the book club entry. Ethan's favorite person is Allie, hands down. When she is gone he's sad without her and when I tell him it's time to go pick her up from school, he runs to the door to get in the car. Then he squeals with excitement when he can finally spot her amongst all the other students pouring out the building. Whenever Allie has a friend over he thinks that they are there to provide him with entertainment and bugs them the whole time. Luckily, Allie loves Ethan almost as much as he loves her and so she doesn't tire of him too quickly and generally her friends think that he is the cutest and dote over him too. So, imagine if you will our house full of EIGHT Allie-like girls on Friday for book club and Ethan's reaction when the doorbell just kept ringing. He wouldn't leave them alone, had to be the center of attention and they all ate it up which made him want to perform even more. At one point during their loud giggling book disucssion he was jumping on the couch making the sign for "einstein song" and Allie began singing to him. All the girls chimed in and the wide excited smile on his face was priceless. I'm sure if he could talk he would've asked, "is this heaven?"

giggly girls tell all

Allie has such a great group of girlfriends, we are just so blessed. One of her cute friends started a book club last month and Friday night was our turn to host. It's supposed to be a late night pj's required sort of book club which makes it all the more fun. Allie chose The Barrowers to read and as far as we could tell it was a hit. Although, they needed some help thinking of good questions to keep the discussion going. I think for the 45 minutes of discussion time, only about 5 maybe 8 were spent on the actual book. :) We chose to make banana royales for dessert and they were a big hit, especially the cherries, no surprise there. The best part for me, was pulling a chair up the table with my bowl of ice cream and listening and getting a little glimpse into what my daughter's school life is like - espcially at the lunch table. They were so loud and giggly and so excited to share every bit of "who loves who" info that they had stored away in their little girly brains. They were raising their hands like their bladders were going to burst and fighting over who's turn it was to talk! Chloe was the biggest shock of the evening. Normally quiet and reserved, she informed us all that she confronted Riggs during student council and asked him flat out "who do you like?" Then the part that made them all gasp, "he admitted who he likes, he just said it flat out like he wasn't even embarrassed! He likes CARLY!" Then she said that she went right home and wrote it all down in her journal so she wouldn't forget. I just laughed and laughed, this was one of many amusing stories of the evening, no need to record them all, you get the idea. It made me grateful that Allie has so much fun with friends that she has known for so long. We moved around so much growing up that I'm not sure that I really had this until Jr. High with Marci. It's one of the reasons I have refused to leave this little place we call Mayberry.

year in review sorta

I saw this fun little questionaire on lelly's blog and thought that for journaling purposes, it might be fun to do it and post my questions. I went to visit Patsy's blog the other day and noticed that she had done one too. We think so much alike that I hurried and closed the window, I didn't want to read what she would wrote until after I had answered my own questions! :) Anyway, so here is my year in review, sorta.

What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?

I began blogging! Also, I was totally chicken, but I entered some of my photographs in the Davis County Fair. I did it with the kids and in the end I WON FIRST PLACE! Totally cool.

Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I have a love/hate relationship with resolutions, I love the idea of setting goals but am not very good at keeping them organized so they're attainable. But, I was inspired by last Sunday's goal setting talk and think that perhaps I will set a few goals for the year, we'll see.

Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes, I have a batch of new nephews and one neice...baby Joey came first, then Zachary, then the Tanner and Natalie. My first place photograph is of these cutie twins too. I think the judges were just distracted by how sweet the babies were. :)

What countries did you visit?

Since Ethan was born, Rich was laid off, we lived off of savings for a little while, he got a new job, we bought a house, got another new job. The point here is that we've either had a baby or no money so we haven't even left the state of Utah since 2005 - lame, but that's the way it goes. We're hoping to do something in the fall as a family. We'll see.

What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?

I guess I would have to say a better sense of calm and organization. Things get pretty crazy around here and I know that I set the tone for the feeling in our home. I need to do a better job of making our home a peaceful place...hmm, I think I smell a resolution.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Taking my hobby to a money making business that I LOVE. Also, I co-chaired a huge fundraiser at our non-fundraising attitude school this year and it was a big success! This is also the one thing that I wish I had been blogging during it because it took up such a big chunk of my life that year.

What was your biggest failure?

Maybe not getting through the rest of the remodeling as fast as I wanted.

Did you suffer illness or injury?

Other than Ethan having a touch of a stomach flu and looking like this for a few days, we have been very blessed!
What was the best thing you bought?

I was finally brave enough to blow up one of my favorite photographs really big and frame it. This sounds silly I guess but I always feel like there are other things to spend the money on that I never do this. Every time I see it makes me so so happy!

Whose behavior merited celebration?

Benazir Bhutto - I love this photograph of her when she was younger.

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Wow, I could get into trouble with this one, better keep those thoughts to myself.

Where did most of your money go?

Oh, that's so easy, house house house house and remodeling this house.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Launching my website, winning first place, giving Taylor an electric guitar and the kids a Wii for Christmas, finding out that ALL of our gift baskets sold at the fundraiser!

What song will always remind you of 2007?

We are big American Idol fans and we love BLAKE even though we knew Jordan would win. That's fine, she's great but whenever I hear Blake on the radio I will think of this year. Also, anything by Jon Schmidt because of the fundraiser.

Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

a) a little of both, I've been struggling a little with the sadder part lately but overall I am a very happy person, why shouldn't I be? I'm so blessed! b) I never step on a scale, so according to how my clothes are fitting, I would say about the same. c) richer in life because this year I have better perspective, not so much in the wallet region though.

What do you wish you’d done more of?

I wish we would've spent more time on a beach in Hawaii. :)

What do you wish you’d done less of?

Cleaning, if I had it my way I could wave a magic wand and the bathrooms and laundry would never need doing!

Did you fall in love in 2007?

That was easy with all of the new babies born in our family! And, I'm still in-love with my husband, and children and camera, so does that count? And...I fell in love with Edward.

What was your favorite TV program?

TV was so disappointing this year, ER and Grey's stunk. The kids and I LOVE American Idol and even though I wanted to kill Sanjia, it was a really good season I thought. Lauri has started me watching Moonlight - about a vampire that doesn't kill humans...sound familiar?

Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Hate is a strong word. I don't know that I really hate anyone. Well maybe Sanjia, or really, the people who voted for him.

What was the best book you read?

For pure entertainment purposes, the whole Twilight series, I'm totally in love with Edward and can't wait until Fall to read the final book.

And of course, HARRY POTTER, oh, it was so good.

What was your greatest musical discovery?

I started listening to Jack Johnson on a recommendation from Apey and now I feel like I can't get enough of him. I love hearing Taylor play JJ songs on his guitar! Also I saw Aida this year and have fallen in love with that soundtrack...build it, build it, another pyramid.

What did you want and get?

Getting the business up and going, happiness albeit crazy happiness, the fifth grade teachers that Spencer got, a blue ribbon, 800 thread count sheets. I'm sure there's more that I'm forgetting.

What did you want and not get?

For the first half of the year I really wanted another baby, I still think it would be great, but I have been able to let it go and spend less time thinking and obsessing about it.

What was your favorite film of this year?

I really liked Harry Potter 5, No Reservations, and The Bourne Ultimatum

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 33 this year, Rich and I always celebrate together because our birthdays are only a couple of days apart, we went to dinner I think. Jenny, my sister-in-law have the same birthday, even the same year and we met our husbands at Happy Sumo (our favorite place) for lunch. It was fun to have a middle of the afternoon kind of date.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Immeasureably? a trip to Hawaii, seriously, I want to go there so bad!

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?

Jeans, t-shirts, shades (under shirts), and flip-flops. Although, I did finally learn the best way to part my hair. That's something right?

What kept you sane?

Assuming that I am sane, which I'm usually not, I would have to say blogging, diet Coke,

friends, family and prayer.

back in the saddle again

It was bound to happen. I knew it was coming but tried not to think about it. The children returned to school today and Rich returned to work. Ethan has been looking around the house all day wondering where everyone has gone. Me too buddy, I miss them too. I'm just not ready for this, not ready for homework and music lessons and basketball games and play rehearsals to start up again. I was so enjoying the Christmas break with NOTHING on the schedule except what we wanted to do. Oh and did I mention, no homework! So, what better thing to break me in than a Science Fair Project! I'll take homework over a SFP any day and so I was especially not excited about sitting down with Allie today to test the liquid capacity of several brands of diapers. We misunderstood when it was due or we may have spent some time over Christmas break getting it done. Instead, what I thought was an open evening turned into a late night project. BTW, Kirkland was the best by far, Huggies and Target brand tied for second and Luvs were the worst performers. Yup, back in the saddle again, whether I'm ready or not.

strikes for all

Almost every year my side of the family goes bowling on New Year's Day, then we meet at someone's house and have Chinese food. Nothing super fancy, but we always have a good time. Maybe this year was better because it's been a few years since we've actually done the bowling part, but we had a ton of fun. Jake kicked everyone's hiney - twice but that may be because Jason's arm was injured - he can send a ball down the ally with some serious force man. I have to say that I was humbled because since Christmas I have been playing bowling on the Wii and have had some good success with it. Wow, real bowling is nothing like Wii bowling, I got schooled! So here are my favorite pics from the day...

Everyone got at least one strike, even the little girls! Brandon's hip action...Jake's strike streak...Cute little Laurel who kept saying, "I won!" every time she bowled, no matter how many pins she did (or didn't) knock down!...All of the celebrating...

Babies who were really good despite being bored, and they're so cute, what could be better than cute babies?...

Ethan thinking that everyone's turn was his turn and how Spencer fought off the other two older kids to be Ethan's helper when it really was his turn. Spencer is a great big brother.

Turning around every time we bowled to see this...Everyone cheering, clapping or saying, "oh you were robbed on that one!" Nothing beats family.

Later we met at our house for Chinese Food and games, we played Wii bowling of course. Taylor took on the uncles with boxing...It was Grandma and Grandpa's first time and the best part about that was mom exclaiming, "Mike, we are definitely getting a Wii for our house!" and my dad saying, "well that became evident about an hour ago". I think I have her talked into a little Guitar Hero, we'll see. Some day I'll blog about when we were little and bought our first Nintendo gaming system. Let's just say that we some times had to fight mom for our turn to play and she could really throw a turtle shell man.

auld lang syne

New Years Eve, what to do, what to do? I always feel a lot of pressure to have this evening be something really fun but I'm not sure why. I don't really have any strong memories of NYE growing up but the rest of the country is having a party so we should too right? Last night we finally figured out the perfect recipe for a fantastic NYE, it includes: four couples, all long time friends gathering at Phil and Lauri's "party house. Tons of finger foods which equaled a fantastic spread which will undoubtedly lead to some guilt and then some January dieting. YUM!Texas Hold 'em with real poker chips and play money - we laughed like children. Sparkling apple cider, noise makers and Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve Party on to watch the ball drop. Mix all of these thing together and we got one of the funnest NYEs I've had in a long time. I was too lame to take pictures of the Texas Hold 'em game, that is my one regret of the evening, but it's small so I will try not to dwell on it too much.

**do you feel like you should be doing something really great on NYE?**

**have you ever played Texas Hold 'em?**

**isn't Dick Clarkt he coolest?**

Happy New Year everyone!