Preparedness...

Many of you know of our minor obsession to be prepared. Well, my testimony of putting together a year supply has been strengthened.

On Wednesday night we were trying to go to sleep when we heard a LOUD crack. We got up to inspect where the noise had come from and found that our sideboard on our bed had cracked in two. (we won't discuss possible reasons this happened, we will just leave it at that and I will assure you that we have both taken up working out again.)

What to do? We are trying really hard to stick in our budget and with no money left to purchase a new bed frame we got creative.

We now have a bed frame consisting of two food storage boxes stacked up. I even have a food storage box stair to step into my bed. It is really nice.

And, interstingly enough, there is no longer a big lump in the middle of our (less than a year old) mattress.

We are blessed for our obedience.

I've been leading a double life...

well, in my attempt (keyword:attempt) to be more organized I purchased a Blackberry. It has actually been great. I make an appointment, put it in and voila...never a missed appointment again.

The great thing is that if I sit at my computer I can also enter appointments into my outlook. It is working just dandy!

All was going smoothly until I realized that in order for all this to work out I had to sync the two. I have neglected to do so, mmmmm, since I got the blackberry because frankly, I am lazy and it takes too much effort.

Yeah, if you don't sync the two, you end up with many days with double appointments all day long. Definitely a minor set back in said attempt to be more organized.

A few, neglected pics of the kids from last november.

Any of you who know Paige personally know how indicitave this is of her personality!



Can you tell he was done having his pictures taken?

Whooo...

I am sitting in my office pretending not to know that Paige is quickly unloading cabinets and pulling toys out. I had forgotten how BUSY they are at this age. Yikes. I feel so totally unproductive with her around. I am going to attempt to keep on top of the house myself now that the busy season is past. It is nice to have someone clean the house, but I can also think of some fun ways to spend the extra cash.

The kids have been sick which means that I have had many LONG nights. Any of you who know me well know that I turn into a beast when I don't get enough sleep. That is why I try to go to bed fairly early and not get up early. Lots of sleep=happy, easy going mom. I think I am going to go to Target (I made it all last week without a trip)...that is sure to happy me up. Nothing like buying diapers to put a girl in a good mood.

I had my second photography workshop on Saturday and felt that it was a success. Of course at each one we realize some things to do differently, but all in all I felt that most people left understanding how to take good pictures. Now all they need is some practice. It is fun to share a hobby that I love so much with other people.

I am so so so looking forward to getting away with Douglas this week. I am praying that the kids are healthy by then so I can go. It will be so nice to have a little break from the kiddos and reconnect with D. With his math class and young mens and my work I feel like we haven't even talked in the last week.

Well, I guess I should go face my house. Who knows what destruction Paige has caused since I have been in here.

Update

I said that "serpentine" was from "Spies Like Us", but it is actually from the old movie, "The Inlaws" with Peter Falk and Alan Arkin. It is a great show if you haven't seen it. Just had to clear that up.

a couple of thoughts.

Paige can now do all the actions for "Popcorn Popping" and it is really cute. Thanks nursery leaders. Second kids sure get jipped. I spent so much time with J teaching songs, animal noises etc. and I realized the other day that I never do it with P. Going to ruin her life, no, but I do need to make a more concerted effort to do those things with her too.

I can't figure out how to work out and shower anymore. I had it figured out when P still napped in the morning, but now that she is up all morning I don't get a chance to shower until late in the day. I hate to go to the store with no makeup and workout clothes on. I have watched far too many episodes of "What Not to Wear" for that. Oh well, here I sit in my stink.

D and I are going up to SLC without the kids in a week or so and I am feeling a little anxiety about leaving the kids for so long...almost to the point of backing out. I really want to go, but I worry too much. Is this normal?

I watched to worst Masterpiece theatre yesterday. Most Austin era books are sad throughout, but end on a high note. Not this one. It was horribly depressing. It was called Tess of the D'Urbevilles (or something close to that). Just to give you a taste or the tragedy, one of the last lines is: Tess"We need to enjoy this because it won't last" Angel (her hubby), "Don't say that. How do you know it won't last?" Tess: "Too much happiness." It re-depresses me just remembering. It was a horribly, tragic story.

Well, off to shower and go to the dentist. We need to see how many cavities I have this time. It has been like three months since my last major dental work so it is about time.

A few things I learned about rollerblading at 30 and with two kids in tow

1. Ummm, rollerblading is way harder than I remember it being. I haven't sweated that much for a long time.

2. Do not choose the black diamond course for your reentry into R.B. (especially not when you are also pushing a jogger)

3. Uphill is a beast, but really, it is the downhill you need to worry about. I had to sit and strategize for a few minutes to figure out how to do it and not seriously injure one (or all) of us. I made J buckle up for safety. Have you seen the movie, "spies like us"? Well all I could think the whole time was, "serpentine, serpentine". I probably looked like a fool.

4. Take some really good music to listen to in order to distract from the burning in your legs (is it wrong that my favorite workout music these days is Britney Spears...yeah, probably)

It was quite an adventure. I am going to stick to the flat road for a while, that's for sure. I guess I should go eat a brownie now.

I am in a non blogging phase

do you get in those? you know where you can't think of anything interesting to say? where all you can think of is that it is way too cold outside, you still need to take the Christmas lights off the house (when it heats up), your kitchen is messy from dinner still, you have been to Target 4 times this week (it is too cold to do anything else), and you feel like you haven't seen your spouse for a week.

Okay, well I guess those are all things. D enrolled in a pre-calc class at Dixie and his first test is on Monday. Needless to say, he has a lot of reviewing to do so I don't think we have actually talked this week. If you want to call I am sure I have a few pent up thoughts I can spill out to you.

Target, Target...how do I love thee, let me count the ways:
Rubbermaid
Rain boots
Toys (I may have a new addiction to pirate playmobile sets...I want them all)
Cd's
Books
Hair supplies
Clothes
Photo Props
Shoes
Popcorn
Treats
Stationery
Home Decor

Seriously...I have an addiction and it has to stop or my goal to actually stick to my budget this year will be out the window...okay, I committ not to go to Target at all next week (biting my nails with anxiety...) I can do it, right?

Oh yeah, New Year Goals. I have a few. I try to choose one in each category:
Spiritual: (I am spiritual just to list it first)-do the Gospel Doctrine reading each week. Haven't started this yet because I still don't have the study guide, but as soon as I get it I will start.

Physical: Just keep working out regularly and don't gain weight. I bought roller blades today (I have asked for them for the last to holidays and have finally determined that the only way I was going to get them was to buy them myself). I want to put the kids in the jogger and rollerblade around. I loved rollerblading as a teenager so I am excited about this.

Photography: I am so excited because I just got my first studio light and I can't wait to figure it out. Also, I am going to focus more on lighting this year...really paying attention to where the light comes from, how it hits my subjects and how I can use it for cool effects. I also want to have more fun with wardrobes (I guess this is a few goals, but I have to make sure I am still learning and differentiating myself from every other mom with a camera)

Social (I guess): I am going to make sure to send cards out for bdays (on time) and try to remember peoples bday better. I am going to send thank yous more often and other assorted cards when I am inspired to.

Financial: Actually stick to the budget (that is a life long goal, but I have to re-emphasize it each year). My main goal is to start contributing money I make to an IRA.

I think that is it. Not too hard I don't think.

So what do all of you do on cold winter days when you can't go outside. I really try to limit J's tv time, but he gets stir crazy. I would love some other fun ideas!

Well, I guess I will go and tackle the kitchen. I really would just like to bake something sweet, but it is 11pm and probably not the most practical thing to do.

I have to note here that the last week with J has been fairly pleasant. Time outs have been minimal and he has been pretty happy and obedient. He actually may have it in him to be my nice little boy after all.

I will remember this when next week comes and he reverts back to the other child I have discussed.

my sweet little girl??

Jackson was playing with a toy at my grandma's this evening and P decided that she wanted it (her favorite phrase is "hey...mine." ) She tried to grab it and I scolded her so instead she turned to him, ballered her fist up and said "hit" while simultaneously bopping him on the head.

It made me laugh, though it shouldn't have. I am really shocked that she would do that. J really isn't much of a hitter so I am kind of surprised she came up with that. Maybe it is because I tell her that hands are not for hitting when she is being mean. Either way, it was really funny tonight, won't be so funny when she does it to someone else's kid.

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