Happy Spring!

Don't I just have the cutest kids EVER!?! I'm so lucky!
Jilli was playing with my camera and snapped this photo of me... Lovely eh?
And here I am with Jilli and the big old Dinosaur that she was too scared to stand next to so I had to pick her up and be in this lovely picture... My friend Terina is in the blue trying to get her daughter, Lucy, to stand with us... Ahhhhh. The joys of two year olds!

Going Out Like a Lion!

March is definitely going out like a lion! It has been drizzly and cold for 2 days now and will most likely continue to be for a few more! I don't mind the cooler temperatures but the rain (as much as we need it!) just makes me feel depressed! Chris is not on his way yet and I really wanted him to be!! I know that that is just the way things work... but I think it's pretty impossible to not get your hopes up! I got a call tonight from Mrs. W, Major W's wife. She runs our FRG (Family Readiness Group) and she does a horrendous job. We're supposed to have get-togethers at least every month... but I think we've had maybe one throughout the whole deployment. ONE! That is just lame. She called me to get my address so she could mail me an invitation to come to some event to be recognized for all I've done as a Key Caller through this year... I nearly laughed. I think that I have called down my phone roster maybe three or four times this year; just to check in with people... I guess I've done all that was required of me?? I don't think it's anything to get up and make a fuss over... I'm curious as to what the event will involve. Crazy Army hoopla... I'll probably get a big gold plaque - UGH!! Today, the kids helped me shred a huge stack of papers. I've been going through my filing cabinet and there were a lot of things in it that I really don't need to hang on to! It took us about 3 hours to shred everything. We filled three garbage sacks!! Jilli was having a ball playing in the paper bits! I have paper tracked all through the house tonight. But at least that job is done!! I just know I'm going to have nightmares tonight about some paper that I really really needed and I SHREDDED it!! AHHHH!! Oh well! Que Sera, Sera!!

Spring Break!

We are in the midst of our Spring Break week and I'm pleasantly surprised at how good my kids have been overall! Having them home is usually not something I enjoy. I like ME time and having them go off to school gives me plenty of time to myself, but we are really having a great time together this week. We have been to the new Library playground twice for several hours and today I took them to see "Horton Hears a Who"; which I just loved! I even took them shopping with me at Walmart today and we had no "gimme" moments or Jilli meltdowns! Yay! The lovely spring weather has been wonderful and the kids just LOVE being outside. I have even actually been able to finish making up all my birthday cards for the year! Yay!
I watched a really great movie last night called "Freedom Writers". (What would I do without Netflix!?!) It was excellent. I was amazed at the positive influence of the teacher in the lives of these inner city kids. It plays out like all the other 'teacher helping students realize their potential' movies, but I really enjoyed this one. (Possibly because she was an English teacher... I am a little biased when it comes to English teachers!) One thing she did, that I thought was great, was to have each student write daily in a journal. I know that I've posted on journal writing before... but it really does help you sort out all your feelings. I am amazed at how much better I feel about things that get me upset after I have written about them in my journal. I know I had an experience a few years ago that got me totally aggravated and I didn't feel like I could talk it out with anyone. I went up to my room and wrote all the things out that had gotten to me. After I finished, I sat and read through it all and it was amazingly therapeutic. I think writing is a excellent form of therapy. And it's cheap! I hope I can keep up with my journal writing because it has really made a difference in how I handle things in my life. Watch that movie for some positive reinforcement about the impact writing in a journal can make!
On another note... I've got to come up with some great ideas for our Visiting Teaching Conference coming up in May. My president really wants the focus to be on the basics of Visiting Teaching. Do any of you have any great ideas? Anything you've seen done that really stood out? Let me know! Any help with this would be greatly appreciated!

Good News!

Sorry I have neglected my poor blog for a bit! I've been so busy this week! My house was completely neglected till Thursday night! I just wasn't home much during the day and then when I did get home, I was too tired to do much else but go on to bed! (Check out my family blog for more on what I've been up to...) I also babysat this week. Usually that is not my forte; but these babies were wonderful! The one little boy I had on Friday from 10 until 2 and he was a doll! His mom was at the Temple and I can't think of a better reason to babysit for someone! The baby girl I watched on Saturday night was also just great! I was so glad! Her mom and dad went out on a date. Her daddy just got home from Afghanistan (and worked with Chris!) so they were needing to get out alone. They went to a concert and I know they had a good time. It's hard for me to agree to watch someone's child when I have 3 of my own... but I was glad I did because they were surprisingly easy. They were both around 9 months old and that is such a fun age. I will definitely count these for my good deeds for the week! Hee hee.

My good news (thus the title for this post!) is that my sweetie will be home sooner than we thought! Yay! He also came up on orders for a teaching position back at Ft. Gordon! We'll be headed back down there at the end of the summer. It is very exciting to me because it means he won't deploy again for a while. Always good news! I am really and truly going to miss being here and all the wonderful, amazing women I have met and become friends with! I almost get weepy thinking about it, but then I remember that I don't cry and my eyes just dry right up! I know we will all stay in touch and I'm so glad I got into blogging so we can stay connected. I love the internet! How did we survive without it!!? Well, I must get to my nightly email to Chris! Love you all!

Recent Cards... part 2!

Here are the rest of the 5 for 5 cards... If you see anything you like or MUST have... Let me know!

Recent Cards!

Here are some recent cards I've made!! Soooo cute, right! I just had to share! The top two are from my Stamp Club. I love the circle card because we used glitter and it was SOOOOO sparkly and fun. The bottom two are from my 5 cards for 5 bucks class I did today! Very fun! I just love making cards! Wish you all could have been here creating with me!

Me and Driving

I can't remember exactly where we were going... oh! Monica and I were headed to the church for the project group on Tuesday morning and I was driving. I hadn't seen "Mica" (Jilli's nickname for her!) in a while so we were catching up on the latest and just laughing and talking... good times. Well, I was driving. I shouldn't drive and talk at the same time. Truly. I ran a red light. Yep. Now, I know this may be alarming to most of you... but it wasn't the least bit alarming to me! I sailed right through the red light (on Gruber, right where you exit the 82nd HQ compound) and didn't even bat an eye. Monica said, "You just ran a red light!!!" I said, "Oh, really??" I honestly hadn't even noticed. Yeah. I am so glad that my guardian angels were out there playing MP's and holding up the traffic. I looked back at the intersection and there were cars there.... They just hadn't decided to go yet - thankfully. Well, needless to say, I was quite a bit more careful for the rest of the day and week. I like to think that I can do two things at once... but sometimes I really wonder at my expertise in that area!! Have any of you ever had this happen to you? I can laugh about it now... but it was a little scary after the fact that morning.
Another thing that I wanted to ask you all... Have you ever seen a minivan, driven by a Mom with children, pulled over to receive a speeding ticket?? I have honestly NEVER seen a minivan driven by a mom and filled with kids pulled over. I have this theory that cops don't pull over minivans driven by women.... Let me know if you've seen this (or been one!!) My husband has been pulled over in our minivan. He was caught shaving! The cop thought he was talking on a cell phone (which is prohibited here on Post). He was given a warning and sent on his way. I'm just curious because I hope that it means that I can fudge a little on my speed, when I'm late for something and trying to get there quickly... Let me know what ya think!

Wonderful People

What a great day I have had! I was able to go to lunch with some friends today at Red Robin. I just love going to lunch with friends. There is just something about sitting together and chatting about life and the things we have in common, the struggles we have, the things that make us happy. It was very nice. After lunch, I went to Kohls and did some shopping. I love Kohls. They have fabulous clearance racks. I found four bright yellow, happy and soft towels for 4 bucks each (reg. 12!). I found a pair of jeans for 12 bucks, a swimsuit for Jilli on sale for 12, and a pink t-shirt for me for 6. Lastly, but not leastly, I found a darling pair of white canvas sling back shoes for me for summer! They were on sale and I just fell in love. Again, very nice to get out and find some good deals. This evening I had planned to meet some friends of ours and their families at Sports USA for dinner to celebrate Jeremiah's 8th birthday. Again, great friends, food, chatting about all sorts of things... just wonderful! My children were kept completely entertained through the incredible generosity of one of my friends who had an endless supply of quarters for all the arcade machines! I am so happy to know the people I know! I really believe that everything happens for a reason - even friendships! I was told once in a blessing that I would be blessed to associate with many wonderful people in my life... and it couldn't be more true!! Spending time with some of these wonderful people tonight was the perfect ending to my lovely day!!

Long Night!

I just had to post a picture, since I haven't for a while, and my choices were very slim... Aren't my toes so perty!? (Not as colorful as yours, Amberlyn!!) I was lucky enough to be able to go and get a pedicure last week with a friend of mine! Her hubby watched Jilli and it was a wonderful treat! It was only my second pedicure ever... and I always forget how ticklish my feet are!!! I had to totally focus on holding still, so the man could finish up! It was crazy.
Well, I'm sitting here today feeling completely unspiritual. I missed church today because Miah was up all night moaning and crying with an earache. Poor kid. I gave him Tylenol, didn't do a thing. I gave him a heating pad, little difference. I gave him Motrin after a couple hours, little better but still hurting. I pulled down my medicine box and started going through it just to see if I had anything more... I found some numbing drops!!!! Duh!! It's been so long since Mi has had trouble with his ears and I forgot that we had them! I dropped some in and sent him in to his bed. He was asleep in 10 minutes. AHHHHH. It was so nice to have him feeling better. He's such a tough kid and I know he was really hurting! He woke up this morning and has had no complaints, but I'm keeping him on Tylenol today. I'll have to take him to the Doc tomorrow. Fun stuff! Needless to say, I didn't wake up this morning and we missed attending church. It was also Daylight Savings and we lost an hour of sleep on top of me getting a lot less sleep than I usually get... I always feel bad about missing church. I enjoy going. Hearing the lessons and interacting with the members of our ward always lifts my spirits and I really need that each week. I've got the BYU channel on upstairs and down and I've listened to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and several Devotional addresses, Conference talks and other uplifting programs. I'm glad that we chose to get satellite so that we have this channel! I also plan on reading the lesson from the manual and reading to the kids from the Book of Mormon. I hope that doing that will fill my spiritual bucket today.
We were able to chat with Chris for a little while today. I love talking with him. I can't wait to get him home again! He keeps me laughing and I love that. He was eating a beef cup-o-noodles... his favorite snack and I just had to laugh at his choices for food. He's such a kid when he chooses what to eat! He loves spaghetti-o's, nuggets, mac-n-cheese, hot dogs, cereal... not too many veggies, and Kool-aid! I hope he can survive coming back to our more nutritious pantry and cupboards! I'm trying to keep healthy food on hand so I can't gain back any of the weight even if I eat everything in the cupboard!! Heeheehee.
Well, my house sounds a little too quiet! I'll try to write more later!

New Look!

Do you like my new look for the blog? I thought it was cute! It was free and surprisingly easy!! I may change it quite often! Check out her selection here: http://matiekay.blogspot.com/ and she gives you directions and everything! Painless!
This morning I woke up and had the hardest time getting out of my warm bed! It was actually cold in our house! I had forgotten to turn the heat back on last night!! It has been in the upper 60's here and we're definitely getting Spring Fever! I walked up to get the kids from school and let them play on the school playgrounds. They had a blast!! Of course, I forgot the camera.... but maybe we'll do that again today! Yay! Well, gotta go get them off to school!! Miah's being a slow poke.... again!

Sunday Nights

I don't know what it is about Sunday nights. I think they have to be my worst time of the whole week. My patience with the kids has worn extremely thin. The walls of our normally good sized home seem to close in a bit and I start to get claustrophobic. Our living room becomes an echo chamber for every little squeak and squeal to be magnified and rushed directly to my ears. Even laughter sounds too loud and intensely annoying. We try to watch quiet family movies on Sunday evening and eat popcorn, but that only takes up 90 minutes or so if we're lucky. Tonight we have watched a movie, played Sleeping Queens a bunch of times (love that game!) and raced to find the hidden CTR ring in the new Friend magazine... and it's only 5:30!!! We have two and a half more hours till bedtime!! UGH! I think that I pray more on Sunday evenings than at any other time. I pray for the kids to play nicely, for the damage to the furniture to be minimal and for something to get my mind off the slowly ticking secondhand!!
I guess I could write more in my blog and that may do the trick! I was reading in the new issue of the Ensign today - which I must say is GORGEOUS! I love the vellum cover over the beautiful picture of the Savior! I read the article written by President Hinckley and one thought really stood out to me:
"We know not all that lies ahead of us. We live in a world of uncertainty. For some, there will be great accomplishment. For others, disappointment. For some, much of rejoicing and gladness, good health, and gracious living. For others, perhaps sickness and a measure of sorrow. We do not know. But one thing we do know. Like the Polar Star in the heavens, regardless of what the future holds, there stands the Redeemer of the world, the Son of God, certain and sure as the anchor of our immortal lives. He is the rock of our salvation, our strength, our comfort, the very focus of our faith.
In sunshine and in shadow we look to Him, and He is there to assure and smile upon us.
He is the central focus of our worship. He is the Son of the living God, the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten in the flesh. He is “risen from the dead, … the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20). He is the Lord who shall come again “to reign on the earth over his people” (D&C 76:63; see also Micah 4:7; Revelation 11:15).
None so great has ever walked the earth. None other has made a comparable sacrifice or granted a comparable blessing. He is the Savior and the Redeemer of the world."
Isn't that a beautiful quote!!?? President Hinckley had such a way with words. He was a wonderful prophet. I wished today that my shoes hadn't been filled with cement and I could have made it to the pulpit to bear my testimony. I wanted to share that I know that Jesus is our Savior too! I hate that I let fear keep me in my seat or keep my mouth shut so many times. It is something I need to work on. I did enjoy all our classes today and I was very glad that I had made the efforts to get up and get the kids up and ready. I will be so glad when Chris gets back. So glad in so many ways!
My dear little sister, Emily, is blessing her first little baby boy today and all my family has gone to her home to celebrate. They called me last night and I heard all the fun going on in the background! I miss being there with all of them on those special days! Emily's little boy, Corbin Lee, is adorable! I can't get enough pictures of him! It's always so fun to get another neice or nephew! I now have 9 with 2 more on the way!! It's so exciting! I just wish I could be there to snuggle little Corbi and smell that sweet baby smell! MMMMMM.
I joined Shelfari and Goodreads at the urging of friends... and I have been trying to get through the books on my nightstand: Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss (Yes, I'm still reading it Nicole!!! I'll get it back to you soon!), A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle (very deep), Enna Burning by Shannon Hale (the 2nd book in her series, following The Goose Girl), Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett (thanks Terina!) and The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks (I was given this for my birthday! Yay!) I am one of those odd people who has to be reading several things at once. I don't know why I need to have so many things jangling around in my head... but I do. It's funny but I tend to start a bunch of books and then one starts getting really good and I'll hurry up and finish it and then I'll start another to keep a bunch in the mix... I just love books. I want to read everything.... All at once!! I saw a show once that had a guy who could just flip through a book and it was read - I wouldn't mind that super-ability, if I was a super hero picking abilities... Ok. I can tell I'm beginning to ramble and look - it's now 6:03. Wow. Time flies when I'm having fun!