simply mindful

It's been too long...

2012-01-10T21:52:00.000-08:00

How do you start a post when you haven't blogged in so long? My good friend Megan requested some pictures, so here's a few from the holidays. I figured that would be a good intro back into blogging. Hope you like.

Luke Dean Tuttle

2011-04-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

Introducing: LUKE DEAN TUTTLE
March 25th 2011
9lbs 1 oz 21 in long

Greta

2011-02-21T21:12:00.000-08:00

I feel bad for my dog. Why? Because I don't like her very much. This is a picture of us putting a jacket on her, I'm sure she hated it, but it was pretty darn funny! Maybe it's pregnancy, I don't know, but I'd much rather not be owners of a dog.
She really is a good dog, doesn't lick or bite, no messes in the house. And puts up with anything the kids have in store for her. Just as I'm typing this, she's leaning against me and I'm thinking ahh she's not so bad, and 2 seconds later she's in the kitchen eating the cat's food. Does she know its wrong to eat the cat food? You bet she does, and I am slow to forgive!!!

Now this girl here is exactly why this dog still resides at our house. And here she is doing the worst job a dog owner has to do. But she does it because she loves her dog! And wants her to continue to live at our house. Lucky dog!!

my excuse

2011-02-04T21:30:00.000-08:00

Many nights after kids are finally, finally in bed to stay, I sit at the computer and think about blogging. But that's as far as it has gotten. For one thing I couldn't figure out how to get pictures off the camera, and I had absolutely no energy to figure it out. So the blog sat untouched.

Last night I tried to get pictures off, and it was suprisingly easy. So above is a picture of my excuse for not blogging. Not the best picture, but I'm not a big fan of my picture taken while I'm pregnant. I'm sure I'll look back and wish I had more, but for now, its no fun.

I'm about 331/2 weeks pregnant. I don't think pregnancy and I get along very well.

I can make a healthy baby, it just takes everything I've got and more. 4th time around has been very tiring. So there's my excuse, and here's to more frequent blogging.

first day of school

2010-08-31T20:48:00.000-07:00

The start of this school year marked some milestones for us, and to be honest, I was kind of not looking forward to them. This year Mo is in 6th grade. Her last year of Elementary. And Rhett is in 1st grade, and his first year of full day school. Ella starts preschool. School starting and letting out are always reminders to me that life has changed a little and my kids keep getting older.

So far so good, kids are liking school and their teachers and I am enjoying the routine that school brings to our lives.

summer 2010

2010-08-30T21:15:00.000-07:00

A little recap of just a few of the things we did this summer.

July 31 2010

2010-08-12T22:00:00.000-07:00

Rhett's birthday was almost a month ago and I never blogged about it. I've had a few road blocks but not enough to keep me from blogging this long. My camera broke and then our computer had a virus. Grrr So finally here it is Rhett's birthday.

My very, very, talented sister made this cake for the occasion. It was so amazing I didn't want to cut into it. But we finally did and it tasted as good as it looked. Each lego brick was a different flavor cake. Thanks Steph!!

Each friend got to build their own lego car, and after that the boys built legos and we played lego pictionary. Instead of drawing you have to build. Oh and I built a pinata out of a box that looked like a lego brick.

All in all it was a successful birthday party for the 7 year old who is a lego fanatic.

Happy Birthday to Rhett!!

deep thoughts on the trail

2010-06-21T22:00:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to hike alone. Alone with my thoughts up in the mountains for 2 hours. I usually hike with a few friends which I love, but this time it was just me and Greta my dog.

A song from Jack Johnson's new album kept running through my mind. It has slowly become my very favorite on the album, sort of grown on me. On the trail was the first time I actually thought of the words I had been singing. This line especially.

"Lets not get ahead of ourselves now, there's no need for rain its our own parade"

I tend to get ahead of myself, worrying about tomorrow or the not so distant future. Sometimes the worry of the unknown is overwhelming. By doing this I think maybe I am raining on my own parade. Robbing myself of the joy here and now. I think I have always known this, but today it came back around to hit me. How we handle each moment as we are in it, is all we really have control of.

Maybe Jack ment something totally different in these lyrics. But hey, this is how they spoke to me.

Happy Birthday Mo

2010-06-19T22:36:00.000-07:00

My sister made this amazing cake for the birthday girl

Mo shopping on her trip.

My oldest had a birthday a couple of days ago She turnded 11. She was a lucky girl and got to go on a 3 day trip with her dance group to Tuachan. They got to see the musicals Cats and Tarzan and go to some dance clinics. Her birthday happened to be the last day of her trip.

This was a perfect opportunity for me to plan a little surprise party. She called me when they arrived at the studio so I could come pick her up, but I told her her friends mom would bring her home. (she was in on the surprise) Mo was quite upset that I wouldn't come pick her up on her birthday after she had been away for 3 days!!! But when she walked in the door to a ton of friends jumping out to say surprise, she forgave me.

She told me it was her best birthday she has ever had. My camera is broken so these pictures are from her camera so i didn' get a picture of the surprise. I wished I would've, it was classic.

kids hiking 2010

2010-06-12T21:45:00.000-07:00

A few days ago we went on a kids hike with one of my good friends and her kids. It was sprinkling and windy at times but the kids had such a great time. The pace was slow, we stopped to look at bugs, pick flowers, rocks and many other things that caught interest.
During the hike Mo says, "this is so fun, why don't we do this more often". And we said, we are, because my friend has made a schedule of different hikes to go on that will last us to the end of summer.
I' ve been hiking regularly since last August, so it was nice to share this hobby/sport with my kids. We live in such a beautiful place, and I kick myself when we aren't taking advantage.

p.s. I can't take credit for these pictures taken, my very talented friend took them all. I am currently without a camera, ours finally gave out on us. It's really driving me crazy.

Agnes Caldwell Southworth

2010-06-01T21:28:00.000-07:00

Sunday my family and I went with my mom to Brigham to visit the cemeteries for Memorial day. Its been a tradition every year since I can remember. My grandparents on my mom's side are buried there. Very close to them is my great, great, grandma Agnes Caldwell. She crossed the plains to come to Utah when she was only 9 years old. I still marvel at what they went through for their beliefs, more so the older I get. I don't think I could have done it. I love that I come from a line of strong women. Agnes' mother came across as a single mom and her children were blessed by her careful planning.
I wonder about the simple things we inherit from our mothers and wonder how far some traits have been passed down. I wonder if I do somethings like Agnes did. After all its only 5 generations.
Here is her story below written in her own words, I never tire of reading it. I cherish this story and realize more now why journal keeping and family history is so important.

Just before we crossed the mountains, relief wagons reached us, and it certainly was a relief. The infirm and aged were allowed to ride, all able-bodied continuing to walk. When the wagons started out, a number of us children decided to see how long we could keep up with the wagons, in hopes of being asked to ride. At least that is what my great hope was. One by one they all fell out, until I was the last one remaining, so determined was I that I should get a ride. After what seemed the longest run I ever made before or since, the driver, who was Heber [William Henry] Kimball, called to me, "Say, sissy, would you like a ride?" I answered in my very best manner, "Yes sir." At this he reached over, taking my hand, clucking to his horses to make me run, with legs that seemed to me could run no farther. On we went, to what to me seemed miles. What went through my head at that time was that he was the meanest man that ever lived or that I had ever heard of, and other things that would not be a credit nor would it look well coming from one so young. Just at what seemed the breaking point, he stopped. Taking a blanket, he wrapped me up and lay me in the bottom of the wagon, warm and comfortable. Here I had time to change my mind, as I surely did, knowing full well by doing this he saved me from freezing when taken into the wagon.

snow in may

2010-05-30T20:55:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of me and my niece hiking and this is what it looked like at the top of the mountain last week.
We started out in the rain and as we climbed higher, it turned into snow. And we really weren't prepared physically for the weather, we were frozen and soaked by the time we got back to the bottom. But it really was such a good time. There is something to say about being on the trails whatever the weather. It really clears my mind.

2010-05-12T23:00:00.000-07:00

I found this cute little quote and I liked it enough to share it.

More Disney

2010-05-06T21:25:00.000-07:00

I should rename this blog the disney blog.
We are proud owners of disneyland passports. We bought them back in september when we knew we were going more than once in the year and because it was cheaper.
With about a weeks notice we planned another trip to disney a few weeks ago. I really do love the place!!! Not sure if husband feels quite the same way I do.
We had a wonderful time!! It was our first vacation as a family just the 5 of us. The kids were awesome travelers and never fought once.
I do hope to return in the fall before our passports expire, and then I will be sad to say we are no longer disneyland season passport holders.

knitted eggs

2010-04-06T07:45:00.000-07:00

I saw two of my friends making these birds and I just had to join in. They are so fun and fairly easy to make. The egg flips inside out to make a bird! I made one for each of my kids for easter and I finished late saturday night. Just in time.

antique baby bath

2010-02-22T22:05:00.000-08:00

I bought this fun antique babybath this weekend. I love it so. Any creative ideas as to what to do with it?

How Do I Love Thee

2010-02-05T22:00:00.000-08:00

February is the month of love. And in honor, I am sharing this video. Please watch!!

After Ella's favorite tv show in the mornings, BYU devotionals come on. I usually don't watch, but today I was pulled in by the familar voice of Jeffrey R Holland.He is one my favorites to listen to. I have seen it before more than once, yet I watched the whole thing again.

I found this shortened version that I love, but if you can find the full version, I highly recommend watching it, and watching it again.
I needed a good reminder today of what marriage should be, and I feel I haven't quite been pulling my weight.

don't tempt f8, your txt can w8

2010-01-22T22:17:00.000-08:00

After watching my tivoed Oprah, I went onto oprah.com and pledged to make my vehicle a no phone zone. Studies have shown that talking and driving are the same as drunk driving. With both drunk driving and talk on the phone, you are 4 times more likely to get in a wreck.
If you are texting and driving, you are 8 times more likely to get in a wreck.
I watched how many lives have been taken because of people texting or talking on the phone while driving. I cried throughout the episode. (many parents who have lost children) Please join me and make your vehicle a no phone zone. If you are not totally convinced, go watch the episode on oprah.com.
I must admit that I am guilty of this. Not so much the texting, but the phone talking. I am pledging to quit.
Remember the good ol' days, when you left the house an no one could get a hold of you? You arrived home and checked the answering machine, and somehow we were all fine and it worked.

Save a Life, adopt a shelter dog!

2010-01-19T21:44:00.000-08:00

That is exactly what I did!!! Meet the newest member of our family. Greta!!

Never thought I was a dog person before. A few months ago I had a blue heeler dog follow me home from a yard sale up the street. I had a weak moment. I did everything I could to find his previous owners with no luck. Long story short, we were new owners of a dog. The dog was house trained and my new best friend. the only problem was, he didn't like anyone else and liked to bite them.

After having the dog for a few months, we just couldn't do it anymore and found him a new home on a farm. (love ksl) The deal was with the kids that if we got rid of max, we would get them a new dog.

I found myself constantly online on petfinder.com looking for a dog. So here is Greta. We just adopted her on saturday. She is a plot hound. So far, she has been a great dog. Very sweet and quiet. She makes a great hiking companion, but also a nicer cuddler on the couch. yes, I let her on the couch.

I'm a sucker.

Disneyland

2010-01-16T22:20:00.000-08:00

Just thought I'd share some pictures of our most recent trip to disneyland. We are currently disneyland passport holders. We just can't get enough. But actually we went in september to california for a good friends wedding and we already knew we would be going in january with Berk's family. I priced it out and it was $50 cheaper per person to buy season passports vs two 3 day tickets.

We are thinking we might as well go one or two more times before they expire the end of september. You know, just to get our moneys worth.

Walking down main street.

This is one of our favorite rides and movies! Monsters inc.

After much, much, convincing, I finally got Rhett to ride on the matterhorn. It became his new favorite ride.

More Monsters inc.

This is one of Rhett's favorite movies of all time. In september for halloween, they turned haunted mansion into the nightmare before christmas ride. We loved it! I wish it was this way year round.

Happy family at disneyland!

January was the best time to go to disneyland great weather and really short lines. Some rides there was no wait at all. Ella keeps asking if we are going to go back to disneyland tomorrow.

Basement news

2009-12-18T18:27:00.000-08:00

Man, I am sad that I haven't been blogging. I've hated the look of my blog and wanted to find the time to sit down and make it cute or at least decent. And as you can guess, I haven't found that time. I have been a bit overwhelmed with life at the moment. Don't get me wrong, I am very blessed just very busy.

Berk and I built a shed in our backyard all by ourselves. It was given to us and of course we are suckers for cheap and or free things. I learned how to measure and cut wood. And my confidence grew when my husband relied on my help and my opinions on the best way to do things I thought only he knew the best way.

All this work and building is ultimetely for one goal. TO FINISH OUR BASEMENT!!!

First a very large pile of dirt had to be removed, then a platform for the shed to go on. And then figure out how the shed goes back together.

After all that we cleaned out our basement which has remained in its original state from the remodel 6 years ago. Actually its gotten a bit worse. Its been a dumping place for items we don't really know what to do with.

I'm happy to say that after many late nights and hard work we have comletely emptied out the soon to be family room and bathroom downstairs. And if any of you were lucky enough to be invited into our basement, you would understand how big of a deal that is. I've spent many trips me solo up and down our stairs cleaning.

The basement has now been framed, and Berk is almost done with the electrical.

I can hardly wait to send the kids downstairs to play. So that gives you an idea of whats been going on. Once I am done working downstairs I crash in my bed.

DSC_0055

2009-12-14T22:46:00.001-08:00

DSC_0055, originally uploaded by letutt.

Ella

2009-12-14T22:43:00.001-08:00

Ella, originally uploaded by letutt.

DSC_0040

2009-12-14T22:41:00.001-08:00

DSC_0040, originally uploaded by letutt.

rhett

DSC_0205

2009-12-14T22:40:00.001-08:00

DSC_0205, originally uploaded by letutt.

DSC00194

2009-12-14T22:26:00.001-08:00

DSC00194, originally uploaded by letutt.

my ella rose

DSC00018

2009-12-14T22:23:00.001-08:00

DSC00018, originally uploaded by letutt.

rhett

DSC00174

2009-12-14T22:20:00.001-08:00

DSC00174, originally uploaded by letutt.

cute mo

DSC00021

2009-12-14T22:19:00.001-08:00

DSC00021, originally uploaded by letutt.

excalibur hotel on our way to disneyland

oct 09 hike 034

2009-12-14T22:14:00.001-08:00

oct 09 hike 034, originally uploaded by letutt.

mogli

DSC_0143

2009-12-14T21:47:00.001-08:00

DSC_0143, originally uploaded by letutt.

my kids

This is Halloween

2009-11-01T21:10:00.000-08:00

The week was stressful pulling together costumes and planning class parties and home parties. It's all over now and it was all worth it. Halloween is probably one of my very favorite holidays.

Mo told me this year just for once she was like to go buy a costume and not make one from the thrift stores. Kind of made me sad but thats what we did. We went to the big halloween stores and bought her a costume!!! Of course she looked darling in her pirate costume. I think she she understood later the fun of making a costume, when she was hearing all the comliments Rhett was getting over his Jack Skellington costume.

Rhett's favorite movie is Nightmare before Christmas. I found a women's pinstripe suit at Savers and turned it into this. The tie I made also out of clay, felt pipecleaners and an old clip on tie piece. It turned out surprisingly well. Rhett loved it!!!

Ella was a darling little tiger. No, I didn't not make this costume, but hey it was warm. And it goes great with her red hair.

I dressed up as Sally to match Rhett. I made my costume also. It was a lot of fun to make.

I love to knit

2009-09-21T21:20:00.001-07:00

I've been stuck lately, as far as blogging goes. Haven't taken many pictures, nothing real new has happened, not sure what to post about. .. So here's the best I can do for tonight, The weather today was nice fall weather and I got to thinkin that I better finish Ella's sweater before its too late and too small. I love knitting, but I have a hard time rewarding myself with the actual time to knit. There's that little phrase "A mother's work is never done." I always think to myself, "if I can just get these things done then I can knit." Not really working for me.

So here is a pic of the progress. Berk bought me the yarn and the pattern for my birthday which was over a month ago. I'm actually a pretty fast knitter just slow at finding time.

DMB

2009-09-01T12:28:00.000-07:00

What a hot picture!

Some sad news!!! Dave Matthews Band concert tonight is postponed because of Doctors orders. Dave has strained his vocal chords! so sad!!!. Well, I have been to maybe around 10 of his concerts, but that's just it, they are so good!!! I guess I'm staying home tonight with a little Dave on the radio. My kids will be happy.

a blogiversary

2009-08-23T21:25:00.000-07:00

Today marks the one year anniversary of this here blog. A blogiversary!! I am proud of myself for my mostly regular postings. I can actually say I enjoy blogging and am looking forward to another year.
I started out as a follower too afraid to start a blog of my own., It all began with my favorite blog Soulemama. She was the inspiration for my blogging. I can't even compare myself to her, but hey we all need someone to look up to right? Its fun to go back and read old posts and think how lame I was, actually am. But thanks everyone for reading and commenting.
On a side note, tomorrow is the first day of school. I am actually kind of sad. I'm never quite ready for the long hot days of summer to end, or another phase of life to be over. But what do you do...... move on with a smile. So, I will be smiling early tomorrow morning walking miss mo to school. Happy for some new routines.

a view from above

2009-08-19T22:22:00.000-07:00

I've lived below some amazing mountains all my life, and I've lived in this house for over 4 years and finally this week hiked to the top of the mountain that sits in front of us. Oh, and not once but twice in the last three days. What an amazing hike. It's not even the hike on my list. I am so totally sore, but it was very much worth it. Being up in the mountains brings me peace and looking out from the top helps bring perspective in my little life. I can't explain it, but it is good medicine. Here are a few not so great pictures from the top. Enjoy!! They're not nearly as great as the real deal.

Last bits of summer

2009-08-18T22:38:00.000-07:00

The last bit of summer has found us at the lake. We gathered some good friends, some cheap pizza, and headed for the beach.
I'm not sure how it went down but all the "big kids" ended up out in the lake all trying to balance on a huge log. I remember as a kid playing on a blow up log in the pool. But man, who knew a free log in a lake could be so much fun. We all tried to balance, and stand on the log. I haven't laughed that hard in a while.

There was also a rope swing on a tree with a nice water skiing handle on the bottom. Above is a picture of me hanging on tight. The water was cold!

The kids played forever in the sand and mo and her friend had a blast on the swing.

I am always sad to see summer come to an end. I enjoy having my kids home and I feel a bit of sadness to see another chapter in our lives end. To watch them take the next step into a new grade. I do enjoy a bit of routine that school brings, but I will always be a summer girl.

30 things

2009-08-13T21:35:00.000-07:00

Today I turned 30! So in honor of this land mark birthday, I made a list of things I would like to accomplish during the year. Some of them are more grand than others but hey, I need to make it doable right? So here it is:

1-Read the Book of Mormon

2- knit a sweater for myself

3- complete my food storage

4- visit the dentist 2x

5- go to Oregon

6-Send more thank you cards

7- plant a tree

8-Spend a whole day reading a good book

9-have a snowball fight with my kids

10- go in the salt lake temple

11-hike Ben Lomond

12-paint something I would proudly hang on the wall

13-run a 10k

14-surprise everyone

15-ride a horse

16-teach a cardio kickboxing class

17-get a professional massage

18-see the Dave Matthews Band in concert

19-go to a movie all by myself

20-take up yoga

21-watch my favorite childrens movie Annie again.

22-get a pedicure

23-read all 7 harry potter books

24-go snow shoeing with berk

25-hold regular family home evenings

26-take a sign language class

27-visit this is the place monument

28-make a list of things that make me happy

29-plan a family vacation

30-make a list of green things to live by and then do it.

I hope to keep an update of when things are accomplished. I would love to hear other great ideas?

July 31 2009

2009-08-01T22:47:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to my favorite little boy!! He is 6!!! I'm not a fan of my kids getting older but what do you do. I think he had a great birthday. He's good kid and very easy going. He's fun to be around and has a contagious laugh. We went and saw the movie Aliens in the Attic and Bakugan was the favorite toy.

recycle bicycle

2009-07-28T22:11:00.000-07:00

I got the desire to make another freezer paper shirt. I came up with this idea for a recycle bicycle shirt. Inspired by my husband who recycles old bicycles and turns them into very nice amazing bikes. I tried to incorporate the recycle symbol in the wheels. Retro loves the shirt so that makes my day. I hope the desire lasts long enough to make Berk one and maybe a few other designs. We'll see.....that crafty bug seems to come and go around here.

24th of july

2009-07-25T23:06:00.000-07:00

What a great holiday the 24th of july is. The day the mormon pioneers came to the salt lake valley. A unique holiday to utah, with a hug parade. I debated on whether or not I should wake my kids early and drag them down the street to the parade. I was on the fence, knowing it would be easier to let themand me sleep.

I was remembering my childhood and the many good memories of going to the parade with my dad and my cousins. So I did it. I got my kids up, talked my mom into going, and here is the evidence we went to the parade.

This picture below is the best evidence that we were there. ha ha. this nice young lady sat in front of us after the parade had started and gave us a wonderful view throughout the rest of the parade. Iknow its tacky that I photographed, but man.

The day before Mo got stung by something, maybe a bee or a wasp, not sure. By the next day her hand started to swell and by last night this is what it looked like. Her hand was twice the size. The swelling also moved up her arm. It's finally looking a little better tonight.

Don't worry that is just cream on her hand. Talk about bad luck this is the second time she has been stung in a month. The other was on the 4th of july on her foot and it swelled up too. Some patriotic love from the bees.

things i love

2009-07-21T21:47:00.000-07:00

a few things I love right now:

1-My front porch faces east.
2- The mountain view off my front porch.
3- A new Dyson Vacuum!! love the ball
4- Summer
5- Children on a bug hunt outside with jars and a net.
6-oreo cookies.
7-this new cd byGregory Alan Isakov. This guy opened for indigo girls and i am really in love with this cd. After the concert was over, I bought his cd and he signed it for me.
8-sleeping in.

Amy and Berk

2009-07-17T22:25:00.000-07:00

I set up a flickr account recently after our computer decided to quit on us. My awesome brother has been telling me for a long time to put all my pics on flickr, but I didn't listen. Now I am realizing how smart he is.
So I've been working on putting all pictures on flickr. As I was doing that I came across these and had to share. We had these taken along with our family pictures almost a year ago, and at the time, Berk did not like the idea. He thought it was a pretty cheesy idea. but man was he wrong!!!! ha ha look how cute we are. Someday when we are old and wrinkly, he'll look back and be so glad we had these taken.

June 16 1999

2009-07-09T11:59:00.000-07:00

Miss mo turned 10 a few weeks back and I never posted. I can't believe she is 10!!! I remember when she was just a toddler thinking man when she turns ten, I'll be 30. I was also thinking that day will never come. ha ha. How quickly it did come. I will be 30 in a month.
Happy late birthday to my sweet Mo. We love her. She had her first slumber party. It went much more smoothly than I could ever have imagined in our small house.

back yard, yard sale find

2009-06-01T22:33:00.000-07:00

These chairs are the lastes yard sale find and newest addition to the back yard.

Here's whats been going on...

2009-05-28T19:46:00.000-07:00

I apologize for disappearing for a while. Life got busy the last month of the school year and this cute little blog got pushed to the back burner. So here are quite a few pictures to recap just some of the events of the month.

We went to dinosaur park for Ella's third birthday.

Bbq, cake, and ice cream for the birthday girl.

Rhett graduated from preschool... I think I'll cry when I send him to kindergarten.

I ran my first 5k in 28 minutes. I really enjoyed it and I think I'll do it again.

Mo had a piano recital. She did awesome!!!

Right after the piano recital we went to a dance performance. The dance was Miley vs Hannah

So she is wearing a wig to look like Miley Cyrus. Pinning that wig on was good times.

She's a great little dancer and she loves doing it.

And last but not least, a new addition to our family. Skittles! Moran won an essay contest written about a pioneer ancestor. She won first place for her school and got $25 and then one first place all around and won another $50. I was so proud of her. So when she said she wanted to use her cash to buy a bunny, how could I say no. She's been a good pet owner so far.

So there it is, I hope to continue to post more regularly.

create

2009-04-26T09:18:00.000-07:00

http://

I found these videos on you tube today while I was home from church with sick kids. I love them. Watch this one and then go find the rest they are wonderful. (Mormon messages)
Part of it is chopped off, I can't get it to shrink to the right size so go to you tube for all of them ful size.

Wim Rivers Christensen

2009-04-16T19:49:00.000-07:00

He's the newest addition to our family....
My favorite brother just became a dad on April 13th. (Also my mom's birthday.) I am so happy for both Nayt and Julie. Julie did an awesome job bringing him into this world. A side from Rhett, he is the cutest little baby boy I have every seen.
I love him already and wished we lived closer.

Congrats brother!!!

vs

2009-04-01T22:13:00.000-07:00

I just got done reading this book Charlie and the Chocolate factory to Rhett. Every night before tucking him in, I would read him a chapter or two. The new movie with Johnny Depp has been a family favorite here. I bought the book a while back, curious to find out which movie was more like the book.

While everyone one loves the classic Gene Wilder movie, you'll be surprised to find out that the Johnny Depp version is much, much closer to the book. Like almost exactly. Well except for the dentist part, but thats about it.

Direct quotes throughout the entire book, the songs are almost word for word to the songs in the book. The part where he builds a chocolate mansion for the prince of india, and how he found the oompa loompas in oompa land who worshiped the cocoa bean. All details and many quotes came strait from the book. I love when Mike Teavee asks mr. Wonka why he makes chewing gum if he thinks it's so digusting. and wonka says to Mike Teavee, "I do wish you'd quite mumbling, I can't hear a word you're saying". That's in the new movie and directly quoted from the book.

Veruca Salt was in a room with squirrels not geese. The title is even different in the old one. "Willie Wonka and the chocolate factory" vs "Charlie and the chocolate factory" like the book's title. Saying the old one is roughly based on the book.
I'm thinking it is much easier to display Roald Dahl's wild imagination on screen with all the amazing specials affects given today, than it was 30 plus years ago.

In my opinion, they are both great movies but Johnny Depp's/ Tim Burton's version is my very favorite. Of course we are a bit partial to Tim Burton around here.

McDonalds

2009-04-01T19:55:00.000-07:00

What kid doesn't love McDonalds. And what parent does?
We had a bad experience a couple weeks ago at the lovely golden arches. My kids did a good job of eating all of their food so I let them go play. A minute later Rhett came back with a disgusted look on his face, he said the slide was wet and it stinks in there.
Sure enough, some kids had peed on the slide. YUCK!!! We left right after that. The poor kid was so disgusted. We stripped his shorts of the second we got in the van and then it was strait to the tub when we got home. Sometimes I question my good judgement when I take my kids to McDonalds.....

Giving

2009-03-31T21:02:00.000-07:00

My sweet, sweet, talented, friend Julie made this cute fold out picture holder for me. It can be like a book or you can display it like so on the table. I'm not sure if the pictures do it justice because it is quite awesome. I just got it today, so no pictures in it yet. I can't wait to get just the right pictures displayed in it, so I will post it again once I have put pictures in it. Thank you Julie, I absolutely love it.

She also gave me a plate of cookies, but they were gone before I got the camera out.

Root Canal

2009-03-26T21:36:00.000-07:00

Today I spent an hour and a half at the dentist getting a root canal and a tooth extraction. I was so nervous the whole morning. Good times. I am so glad it's over. I needed the extraction because I put off getting a root canal on a tooth they started and finally it broke off. It didn't hurt at all, getting the shot for the numbing was the only pain. Just a long time with my mouth wide open listening to drilling in my mouth. Every so often I would realized I was clenching my butt cheeks and then I would try to relax and then I would realize I was doing it again. ha ha

I am turning over a new leaf and I have already made my next 6 month checkup. I am never again going to go any longer betweeen checkups. I need these teeth, I've finally realized.

My mouth is pretty sore. They gave me lortab, but I haven't needed it. The ibuprofen is doing the job just fine.

So brush and floss your teeth and go see your dentist!!

the joy of receiving

2009-03-15T21:26:00.000-07:00

My sweet friend lydia is the one who first posted "for the fun of giving" post. So I commented on her blog. Boy, was I surprised when she came to my house with this lovely personlized gift just for me!!!! I was expecting the gift to be along the lines of a home made plate of cookies or something, but no.

She definitely put some thought into the gift. When I posted a little bit back about my discipline cards, Lydia commented, saying I also needed to reward my kids for not losing cards. I felt kind of silly not thinking of that myself. I am so glad she suggested it.

So her gift to me is this awesome glass "reward jar". She packed it full of treats and prizes and gave a big bag of refills to go with it. I love love this gift. It was that much better that she put thought into it and made the gift personal.

Thank you so so much, Lydia!!! The kids have been going crazy thinking of good things they can do to earn a treat. It sits on top of the fridge. Got to keep it out of reach.

A nice trip down memory lane

2009-03-12T22:26:00.000-07:00

Anyone remember these shows? They were my favorites as a kid. I got some good laughs today watching them. Remember Jeff the manikin, yes I remembered his name on my own. He turned back into a manikin without his hat on.
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And this show, the only thing left in my head is the them song. But I remember my friend and I liked to watch it. My kids and I watched this together and they got a good laugh. Slowly one by one they left to go watch Arthur.

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To Read

2009-03-11T22:32:00.000-07:00

She came home from school, and this is what she chose to do. I love it.

for the fun of giving

2009-03-10T21:51:00.000-07:00

The first five people who respond to this post will get something made by me.

Restrictions:
1 - I get to give you anything I want to give you.
2 - But it will be just for you.
3 - You'll receive it by the end of March
4 - You must re-post this on your blog and offer the same giveaway to 5 people.
5 - Don't forget to take a picture of what you get.

I can hardly wait!!!

3 strikes your out!!!!

2009-03-05T21:24:00.000-08:00

There is been some whining from one child and talking back from another child here at this old house. More than I am willing to put up with, I must admit. Parenting dilemmas like this seem to throw me for a bit of a loop.

I have been trying to think of some ideas to take care of this problem.
I took this idea from mo's class room and changed it a little. I made each kid an envelope with their name on it. They each get 3 colored cards. When they misbehave, I warn them that I will pull a card if they don't stop.
When all cards are gone they must hand over a beloved webkinz. We discussed the punishment before hand and the webkinz seem to be their most prize posessions. Each sunday they get to start over. It's a 3 strikes you're out sort of deal.

It already seems to work, yet I find myself saying, "I'll pull a card!" many times.

The kids are very concerned about losing any cards at all. Both the older kids have already lost one each. (I started yesterday) Though, Ella is not quite grasping the idea. She thinks pulling a card is a good thing. Its more for the older kids anyway.

If anyone else has some suggestions in this department, I would love to hear. I feel I need all the help I can get.

There is a blessing in the air....

2009-03-04T21:58:00.000-08:00

"It is the first mild day of March.
Each minute sweeter than before.....
There is a blessing in the air.....
-William Wordsworth
March is here, the last hurrah of winter and the first whisper of spring, drawing us outside to partake. It felt so good. There is a feeling down deep of hope. Spring is like that. Yesterday and today were wonderfully warm. The world outside still looks asleep, but not for long. Tomorrow a storm is coming, but it is much more bearable in March.

The kids enjoyed being outside to play without winter coats, hats, and gloves. Good to see neighbors out as well. Rocks and sticks make for great toys.

grandma's handmade goodness

2009-03-01T20:45:00.000-08:00

For Christmas this year, my mom started a fun new tradition. She made my kids a Christmas pillow case along with a new pillow. They then were given a new handmade flannel pillow case for winter, a heart one for valentines, and today she brought up a St Patrick pillow case. I am surprised at how much the kids love their pillows. A cherished gift for sure. It is now the only pillow they sleep with, and on long car rides, the pillows come too.

So when the kids get their pillow cases, I am lucky enough to get a hand made dish towel. Here is my latest. We all love our hand made goodness. Thanks mom!!!

Why Giving Matters

2009-02-25T22:11:00.001-08:00

Yesterday as I am moving about the house as I do picking up, the tv had been left on and I got sucked in to watching a live byu devotional. I ended up sitting down to listen which normally does not happen. The talk was titled "why giving matters" it was by a man named Arthur Brooks. I didn't realize until late in the talk that he was not LDS but Roman Catholic speaking to byu students. In his talk he says that he set out to prove wrong the belief he said many entrepreneurs have is that they are rich because they give. He wanted to prove that it was the other way around that as an economist he believed that you have to have the money before you can give the money. Long story short, he found after many studies that he was wrong. People prosper because they give.
Studies show charitable giving makes you happy. Studies also show that when you give you significantly reduce stress hormones in you brain, which makes you a happier more productive person. Giving = happiness, which in turn = success. Utah, he said is the most charitable state and gives twice as much as the state next in line which makes us happy people. There is also a direct connection with practice of your faith and giving charitably. Even people who donate blood are twice as likely to say they are happy than those who don't.
I found the talk to be very interesting and informative. I tivoed it and made Berk watch it last night. Today he called me and said he stepped it up a notch and helped a 80 year old man on the side of the road change a flat tire. I love him for that.
There was so much more from this talk that I haven't shared. It made think about charity in a whole new light. Very refreshing. For those of you who are interested, the talk will be rebroadcasted on sunday. On kbyu channel 11. at 11am or you can watch it here. I hope you all watch I would love to hear what you think.

chocolate covered strawberries

2009-02-21T22:31:00.000-08:00

I can't get enough...... I wait until all children are asleep and then I dip. I don't even like to share with Berk.

Warm Woolen Mittens

2009-02-17T21:25:00.000-08:00

There has been much knitting going on here on the sick couch. After Mo was sick with the flu a week later Rhett got sick. High fevers for 3 days and just plain miserable. I assumed he had influenza and I was ready to ride it out, but by the night of day 3 he still had fevers and now a rash all over. I began to panic. Reading about the flu online is a scary thing. Worried enough that I made Berk call the doctor. She said it sounded like strep. The panic slowly left, and I grabbed a flash light to check out the tonsils. Sure enough, they were huge and covered in white patches.

Both Rhett and miss Ella have strep. Good times.

Watching all 3 of my little ones this month at one time or another with high fevers, I am very grateful for modern medicine. Grateful for flu shots. Grateful for good health.

I spent much time sitting on the couch just being there I guess. So I knit up these mittens I have been wanting to make all winter long. Very fun and easy project. I think everyone in the family deserves a pair.

Ensign Super Model

2009-02-13T08:39:00.000-08:00

I am an ensign supermodel!!!
This picture was taken from a photo sitting for the sept. 08 issue, so I was quite surprised to open the ensign for march and find our picture here full page. Very exciting!!!
The photographer lives down the street from us and is in our ward. I got a call from his wife last summer asking us if we wouldn't mind doing a sitting for the ensign. So here we are now. The picture was taken in our front room.

I guess I better start preparing my children for General Conference!

photo taken by: Robert Casey

honey whole wheat

2009-02-10T21:26:00.000-08:00

I passed the test tonight. My toughest food critics scarfed down my homemade honey whole wheat bread I made. This was my first ever experience making bread from scratch without a bread maker. I'm hoping it's not beginners luck, because it did taste really good.
A few years back or more, my mom offered me her wheat grinder. I'm sure I looked at her kind of weird, like why would I ever want that. Being new in my homemaking skills, I had no idea how awesome this little machine could be. My mom then told me that is was quite expensive, which then caught my interest a little. And said, "sure I'll take it." Thinking, hopefully I will find use for it someday.
That day came today and now I do realize how amazing and coveted this machine is.
I used some of my food storage wheat and ground my very own wheat into flour. Pretty exciting, I know. It's even that much better because the bread tasted so good.
My new now goal is to make homemade bread on a regular basis and not buy it from the store anymore. Well, at least not nearly as often.

Coraline

2009-02-09T21:32:00.000-08:00

My friend Nancy made a post a while back on her blog about books made into movies and usually the book is better than the movie. I'm sure we've all experienced this. We imagine the book in our head and it becomes personal.

Well Rhett has been so excited for the movie Coraline to come out. When I was at the book store the other day looking for our latest book club read, I stumbled upon the book of Coraline. I decided to buy the book in hopes of reading it to Rhett and him sitting to listen. It turned out to be a great thing for the both of us. I really loved snuggling up to Rhett and reading together. Every night for the last week I would read a couple chapters to him. He loved it and was always asking me to read more throughout the day. I enjoyed reading a book to him that had no pictures, that he would sit and listen to. Great for the imagination. We finished the book on saturday and went and saw the movie today.

What a great movie. This I must say is one of the few times that I enjoyed the movie better than the book. The book was good. The movie was very well done and in 3-D. The kids of course loved it. Just a warning, my kids were fine but it is scary in some parts.

happenings of a weekend

2009-02-08T20:30:00.000-08:00

I finally finally finished the other sock. Fits like a glove... or a sock.
This poor girl had influenza. She is feeling better today.

Visits from my sisters who live in Texas... It had been 3 years since I had seen one of them. Good to see them, but bad timing with the above sickness. Oh, I wish they lived closer.

World Nutella Day

2009-02-05T22:42:00.000-08:00

Today at the grocery store I decided to splurge a little and I bought a jar of nutella. It was back in the corner of the shelves with the jam. I haven't bought nutella in probably 5 years and thought it sounded pretty darn good.

The first time I ever tried nutella was the summer after my junior year. I went on a month long trip to Europe. I instantly fell in love with the stuff.

So tonight I'm checking out a blog I follow , and she posted about today being world nutella day. Crazy weird!!!! (click on the pic for the link)

I must have been feeling the world nutella day vibe, ....or it was just purely coincidental.

Do you like nutella? If so, how do you like to eat it?

I love it on French Bread. On a crepe is nice too.

January, I am learning to love you

2009-01-31T21:12:00.000-08:00

I would like to take a moment and say good bye to January until next year. I am always happy to see you go. Although this January has been better than most. I am learning to love and live in the moment more. Time flies so fast, so what a blessing it is to have a few months that drag on a little.

pull time back a bit.

Here are a few things I've enjoyed about January.

1- A new calendar
I thought this calendar would look great in my kitchen, and it does!

2- Speaking of musicals, I saw wicked in Los Angeles this month. So good!!! Now if only I can weasel my way into some tickets here in Utah.

3- A first and much needed family vacation.

4- Knitting, I love curling up on the couch during nap time or after kids have gone to bed to knit. It's like my form of meditation.

5- Wearing yummy scarfs and beanies. Hopefully some hand knit.

6-Cuddling on the couch. something that is so wonderful in january with lots of blankets. Rhett told me the other day that he loves me because I will snuggle with him. Melt my heart right there.

6- board games. Most definitely a winter past time.

7- Lost starts up again!!

8-And last but not least, the love of my life's birthday is in January!!

So there, January!! I'll be looking forward to you again next year.

she did it

2009-01-27T22:00:00.000-08:00

She did it!!! She pooped in her potty. Tonight Ella came running out yelling I pooped in my potty. I immediately drop what I am doing, run to the bathroom to investigate if and how big this said poop is. It definitely qualified as a poop, so I start jumping up and down cheering, hugging, giving hi fives, and making the biggest deal possible. She was thrilled!!!
About an hour later, I see her do the poop dance that she has done all day. I drop what I am doing and run her to the potty. But something about being told what to do doesn't really fly with this red head. So I leave her screaming protest in frustration. 30 seconds later she yells, "I pooped in potty again!" I run to investigate. Sure enough, and bigger than the last.
I am a little surprised that this much poop can come out of such a small little girl.
She then proceeds to tell me her poop looks like ice cream. I take one more look, sure enough, it has a strange resemblence to soft serve ice cream.
I guess thats what 9 days on miralax will do.
Oh happy day!

little boys

2009-01-21T21:33:00.001-08:00

Retro was quite lonely for a friend today. After coming back from the neighbors disappointed, he decided to stay outside and try and build a little sledding hill. He looked like he was struggling a little so I decided to brave the cold and go help the kid. We did a decent job building this little slope out of the old crusty icey snow. I was feeling pretty good about myself as a mother and then.....

this.

His exact words were, "Mom, I got blood." He sat there in the snow for a bit before he decided he was bleeding, then came and found me, and then cried. He sliced his chin a little and has a fat lip, but he's tough.

happiest place on earth

2009-01-17T21:10:00.000-08:00

A week ago sunday we flew to California. We spent 3 days in Disneyland and 1 day at the beach. We had such an amazing time. The kids were wonderful. They had such a great time, no fighting or crying the entire trip. Oh and I must mention the weather. We spent the entire trip in shorts and sandles because the temp. was in the mid 80's the entire time. I haven't been on a real vacation like this in such a long time. I had forgotten how wonderful vacations are. In fact, so wonderful that I have had a bit of a hard time getting back in to the real world. Coming back to the snow was the real kicker.

Mo got braver this year and rode some bigger rides. Obviously she loved it.

Ella loved her own "princess case" and wouldn't let anyone help her.

We got to eat breakfast at Goofy's kitchen. Berk was a great dad and spent most the time with his little princess doing whatever she wanted to do. Here they are on the carousel.

Mo and I on Thunder Mt. railroad. She looked like this most the ride. It was her favorite though and we rode it many times.

This was L's favorite ride, mine too. She waved at Sully throughout the ride. It was one of the few movie rides that didn't scare her. It was a darling ride.

This was also one of L's favorite rides. There wasn't a line at one point so she would hope off one tea cup and get on a different color. Berk was with her then not me. I only had the stomach to ride this ride once.

Loved mickey mouse!!!
This was the Finding Nemo ride. I thought it was absolutely darling.

The water was really cold, but that didn't stop these two.

The beach was amazing. I had to keep reminding myself that it was January!!

We got up at 5 in the morning to catch our plane. This is leaving the park the ist day at Disneyland. The little princess crashed.

Disneyland really is the happiest place on earth!!!!

Everyone poops

2009-01-08T21:59:00.000-08:00

For the past 2 months or so, my cute little 2yr old has developed a fear of pooping. You might think she has a fear of pooping on the toilet, but no. She has a fear of pooping. period. I tell you its good times. By day 3 of poop withholding, she is miserable. She wants me to hold her all day so she can wedge her little but cheeks on my knee to give her the added help she needs.

I finally took her to see the doc. and she said I should hold back on the potty training. And I told her, that she won't even poop in a diaper. And then she said, "oh". Well you need to find her an everybody poops book. She also told me to put her on miralax.

The Doctor sent me home with literature on the matter. I thought I would share... 1-Clarify the goal with your child. Review with your child that their job is to make a poop come out every day. Your body makes a poop every day and the poop wants to come out every day.

2- Transfer all responsibility to your child. Tell her that her body makes a poop everyday and that it belongs to her. The "poop" wants to come out and go in the toilet. When your child quits receiving pep talks about not going she will eventually decide to go to the bathroom for attention.

If she is holding back tell your child "your body is talking to you, what does it want you to do?" "The poop needs your help"

And for children 4 and older it says you can put them in "poop jail" until they have passed a poop the size of a banana.

And the last bit: Help your child change her clothes if she soils herself. Don't ignore soiling. Then main role you have in this new program is to enforce the rule "people can't walk aroung with messy pants."

I gave you a much shortened version. Pretty dang funny I thought. I would like to meet the person who wrote this.

Wish me luck!!!

Happy Birthday Berk

2009-01-07T16:44:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to Berk yesterday!!!! big 31. I love you!!

Christmas break 08

2009-01-04T21:45:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it has been this long since I've posted last. The christmas break has been good to me and my little family. We haven't left the house much, or really gotten dressed either. We've read books, played and played with new toys, and gotten a few wii injuries. The kids have also gotten along with each other surprisingly well.

The time has flown by and I was a little sentimental when I took the decorations down. It feels like I just put them up. Yet, I think I might be ready for school to start again.

Here is the teddy bear and the kitty I made for the girls. The kitty made it in time for christmas but the bear I finished only a few days ago. Mo got quite spoiled for christmas, since she has an extra family to receive gifts from. So I was a little surprised the other day when my friend asked her what her favorite gift was and she said the kitty I made her and the pillow cases my mom sewed for her because they were hand made.

Wow!!! The cat didn't turn out quite like I imagined, but thats ok, she is loved.

I had to throw this picture on there. Mo performed with her dance class for a christmas concert at Weber State for the christmas box.

Doesn't she look beautiful?

livin life without limits

2008-12-19T22:09:00.000-08:00

Watch more Indyarocks videos on AOL Video

I tried to post this a few days ago but it has taken me this long to figure out how to post a video. I did figure it out myself though. I laugh every time I watch this. I hope you enjoy!!!

what I'm loven right now

2008-12-12T21:27:00.000-08:00

Here are a few things that I am enjoying right now in this crazy blur before christmas.

1-I just got the first of my subscription to country living. I was getting burnt out with the parenting magazines. I think I'm really going to like this one.

2-In the dry winter months this is my favorite lip balm.

3- I didn't like the fact that this toilet was so expensive but I was feeling desperate. It turned out to be a great purchase. The cute little thing is more like a toy than a toilet. It sings!!! When she pees there is a little sensor and it says you did it, you went potty. After refusing to sit on her other potty, she now loves this one.

4-I can't get enough of Sufjan Stevens . His christmas album is all I'm listening to right now.

5-This show has become one of my new favs. We are only on season 2 right now. Funny!!!

6-My hair right now is longer than it has ever been and because Berk just loves it so much, I guess it is staying for a while. He bought me these hot rollers. I love them!!! They are so easy and give my hair some style and body. A little trick I've learned:start at the top of the hair piece and roll out.

7-And lastly, I seem to check this website many times daily. I'm a little obsessed.
What are you loven right now?

Merry Christmas

2008-12-04T21:46:00.000-08:00

Taking a picture of our chritmas tree is harder than I thought.

I am having a hard time getting control of my time and thus my house. I've got a 2 year old who hates wearing diapers but refuses to sit on the toilet. She'll tear her diaper off and say, "I hate dees diapas". She insists on dressing her self. We battle over wearing socks with shoes and wearing a coat, getting her hair done. Leaving the house is so fun. That is just naming a few of our battles. Oh and I try to choose my battles wisely. Needless to say I am kinda tired by the end of the night.

But this too shall pass. So here is a picture of my tree that took me 4 days to finish decorating.

Star Wars

2008-11-30T21:18:00.000-08:00

One thing I have learned in my 9 plus years of being a mother is that for the sake of my sanity, I try really hard to avoid places and activities with large crowds. Three kids(one of them a 2 yr old red head) and a lack of husband, well, lets just say its not my thing.
well saturday night my sweet sister invited me to go down to the parade and the turning on of the lights at christmas village with her. I am so happy she thought of me.
The streets were packed with people and I could feel myself tense up. Ella screamed the entire time I had her in the stroller arched her back and did her best to stick her feet down so the stroller wouldn't move. I wasn't about to let her out. For one she wasn't going to win this battle and 2- I didn't want to keep track of 3 kids in a mass of people while pushing an empty stroller. We found my sister and a place behind many people to watch the parade. The highlight of the night was the picture above. There was a Star Wars float with jedis, storm troopers, Darth Vader, Darth Maul and more. Rhett asked me to never delete this picture so he could look at it forever.

Thankful

2008-11-28T21:11:00.000-08:00

About an hour after I put the kids to bed and as I am busily making pies, this is what I found in the doorway of Rhett's room. I was amazed and had to take a picture.

Here is our pies we made. Triple berry and pumpkin. Between the two of us, we made five pies.

This one is all Berk. He quite successfully pulled off his mother's famous apple pie. I asked him what the letters were for and he told me that he didn't have to explain his art to me. ha ha. That's alright his art tasted freakin awesome.

I had to post a picture of this. I cooked my first turkey this year and a few days before I had my kids break up the bread for the stuffing. I just loved this because it's a big memory of my thanksgivings as a child.

I am thankful for many things this week, but most of all, I am thankful for my family.

I hate science fair

2008-11-20T21:11:00.000-08:00

It's been a week and I'm can still say that I am so so so glad this chapter of our lives is over. Well, at least for this year.

hiking

2008-11-17T21:30:00.000-08:00

Rhett has been asking me for a little while now if we could go on a hike. He tells others that he likes to hike in the mountains. So I was feeling a little guilty that I hadn't taken advantage of any of the fall weather to take my kids on a hike.
Berk suggested that today we go on a hike. I am so glad he did.

Seconds after we told the kids of the plans they were ready to go with their backpacks on waiting at the door.

Mo got a hold of the camera and took about 100 pictures, no joke. She would say, "oh this is so beautiful, I don't want to forget it."
They collected many rocks to bring home. I made them carry them all in their own packs. ha
On the ride home I could hear the kids talking about their plans for their rocks and then I hear Mo say, "this was the best day ever".

I love this song

2008-11-14T23:20:00.000-08:00

I found this video on my friend Jodi's blog and wanted to share it also. I heard this song a while back in a General Conference. The Mo Tab sang it. I normally don't pay as much attention to the musical numbers as I did to this song. This song just spoke to me. It was beautiful. I never knew the name of the song, so I couldn't really find it. Well I found it again but still don't know the name of the song. I will just have to buy the cd. It will be great sunday listening.

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brinner

2008-11-12T22:56:00.001-08:00

Has anyone seen the Scrubs episode when Turk talks about how he loves brinner? It's breakfast for dinner, put the two together and you get brinner. I love to make brinner. Tonight I made egg in a hole. I remember my mom making it when I was a kid and now my kids love it. You put the egg in a hot frying pan and then put buttered bread with a hole cut out of the middle on top of the egg with the yolk in the hole. I cut it up and the kids dip it in ketchup. .... brinner.

veterans day at savers

2008-11-11T21:03:00.000-08:00

Today was one of my favorite days. Everything 50% off at Savers.
Above are just a few of the items I came home with. The shoes on the left are for me. They are North Face and run at $80-$100. I payed $10 and I swear they have been worn like once. I am in love with them.
So addicting.....

fish bowl

2008-11-10T21:21:00.000-08:00

I have lived in a fish bowl long enough. Today I woke and decided something needed to be done. So that's what happened. Berk and I went to the store and bought the necessary items to put up curtains. As I sit here now, I'm loving that no one can look into my french door windows and see what I am doing. Oh, that extra bit of privacy is so nice. Too bad it took so long to get it done. Next project: iron curtains.

Book Club

2008-11-07T21:11:00.000-08:00

Last night we met for our monthly book club. The book that we all read was written by one of our very own members of the book club. How exciting is that? It was a brand new experience and very interesting to me for I do not consider myself a writer in the least, to be able to sit with her and listen to her tell of her writing process and basically how she did it. I just loved it. It was quite weird to me to fall in love with these characters that came right out of her brain.

If you link here you can see where to buy and read a little about it, much better than I describe for you.

So I would definitely recommend this book to anyone for a good read. And no I wasn't bribed or payed or asked to do this. I just liked the book.

Oh and her blog is to the right (ncallen). Go check it out!!

my vote

2008-11-04T21:52:00.000-08:00

My post tonight is about voting and not really very political.
Whenever I walk into the gym of our elementary school to vote, I am reminded of a few years ago when it was our first time using these new voting machines. Having not much of a choice, I brought my 2 kids in the double stroller with me to vote. As I am waiting in line, I absent mindedly let Rhett out of the stroller. He touches one of the machines and it comes crashing to the ground face first. As the man helping is picking it up, I notice the screen is shattered. I was so completely mortified! The man couldn't have been nicer and made sure that first off my son was alright. I wanted to crawl into a hole. So, now I make plenty of arrangements on election day to be able to go and vote by myself.
Well ok, here is my political 2 cents. Regardlessly of if things went the way you wanted, isn't it exciting to watch history being made?

Nie Nie and Wilco

2008-11-03T22:22:00.000-08:00

So I don't know if any of you have been following the nie nie dialogues like I have. I have been so touch by their story and brought to tears many times as I read updates. I feel it has given me a wake up call as far as my role as a mother and a church member go. I have felt the need to slow down and remember how precious life is.

So anyway, on their blog they had some ebay items up for grabs. It so happened to be a signed guitar and a signed poster with a shirt and sticker by Berk's all time favorite band WILCO. ( I love them too) I told berk, "Nie Nie likes Wilco, I knew she was a cool girl!"
All the proceeds go the the nie recovery fund. Berk had some extra money saved from waiting tables, a job he doesn't normally do. I'm sure he had other intentions of how this money would be spent, but when he saw this auction, well, we both knew this could be our little way of helping this family in need. We obviously didn't win the guitar. it went for just over 1500 dollars. But we did luck out and win the bid on the items below. Feels good.

my hopes for spring

2008-11-02T20:50:00.000-08:00

The unusually warm weather this saturday and also the forcast of rain, brought me away from cleaning my dirty floors and outside to planting my bulbs before it was too cold to get it done. I couldn't have asked for a better day to do some gardening. There was a warm breeze blowing the autumn leaves everywhere.

I pulled out all the dying flowers and cleaned up the beds in preperation for winter. I was a bit sad. My gardens , by some sort of luck, turned out great this year. The flowers gave our house some needed curb appeal and made it feel warm and inviting. I am sad to see them go. But I have hopes of tulips, narcissus, and daffodils in the spring.
This picture was taken 2 months ago at the end of the summer. It doesn't quite look like that anymore.

Halloween Recap

2008-11-01T21:36:00.000-07:00

For some reason, Rhett has decided that he doesn't like the camera anymore. Reminds me of his Uncle about this age. I got this picture of him because my dad told him he couldn't have any candy unless we got a picture.

Ella wore her black cat costume to the grandparent stops, but as soon as we pulled into the church parking lot for trunk-or-treat, she had decided she was done wearing it.

I really like the trunk-or-treat idea. It seems to bring the whole neighborhood together, and it gives the adults a reason to dress in costume. It's more like a Halloween social. The weather was so nice we didn't even need jackets. If only every Halloween could be like that.

I can't end without bragging about my Halloween frugality. I spent a total of $6 this year on all three costumes. The cat costume all three kids have worn, Rhett's cape was 5 dollars at a yard sale. Mo's socks and hat were 50 cents each at the same yard sale. Her black dress I found at the D.I. for a dress up back when she was 4. And the makeup, it was saved from last year. I know, pretty impressive.

Tradition

2008-10-29T21:24:00.000-07:00

I love a good solid timeless tradition. Pumpkin carving is definetely one of them.

Rhett refused to stick his hand in the pumpkin and clean the guts out, so I was stuck with his dirty work.

If you look closely you can see the inspiration for our pumpkin designs. This movie has been a favorite at our house since Rhett could watch movies. Halloween is this kid's favorite holiday. Danny Elfman and Tim Burton are truly brilliant.

Tomorrow we are taking the fam to see the Nightmare Before Christmas on the big screen. 3D style. I am just as excited as the kids. We all have the movie memorized but seeing it in 3D will be worth watching it again for the millionth time. Any one else have some Halloween traditions you'd like to share? I'd love to hear. This is such a great time of year.

nine

2008-10-28T23:22:00.000-07:00

So far, nine has been a great age. Mo has become more mature and even tempered as the days pass, yet she is still hanging on to her childlike innocence.

I'm finding that I really enjoy hanging out with her. And for the time being, I think I can say she feels the same about me.

It doesn't get much better.

daddy's girl

2008-10-26T21:18:00.000-07:00

I almost made it through church without Berk. I had looked at the clock thinking "yes, only 10 minutes left". Thats when it all fell apart. Ella started crying very loudly saying," I want to go home." And then the older two started hitting each other. I grabbed Rhett and took him out along with Ella, who was letting the whole congregation know that she wanted to go home . As I grab Rhett and pull him out I smack is head on the bench. Wahoo. Then Mo follows along. I decided we had done well enough without daddy and it was time to go home.

On the way home Ella did not want to sit in the stroller, but refused to put on shoes to walk so I made her stay in the stroller. (Power struggle) She cried all the way home. When we made it home I pulled her out of the stroller and held her and she cried saying, "I want my daddy".

"Oh sweetie, you and me both."

After naps we took a drive up to the family restaurant to see daddy. The place was busy, which means Berk was busy. Even so, Ella wasn't going to leave his side. We ate lots of good food and spent some quality time with family. All in all the day turned out just fine.

Ravelry

2008-10-22T22:44:00.000-07:00

I finally got my e-mail invite to join ravelry. It is a great place for knitters and crocheters to come together and share projects. You can keep track of projects you are working on and show off finished projects. You can also keep an inventory of all your yarn and needles. I am all sorts of excited about this website. If you like knitting or crocheting go check it out.

pumpkins and scare crows

2008-10-21T21:58:00.000-07:00

Today was Rhett's fieldtrip to the pumpkin patch. It was windy and cold. The best part was this scare crow. Just as the kids started touching him, he started to talk and then move.The looks on the kids faces was classic. The scarecrow was a real man with a real carved pumpkin on his head. He was very entertaining. He gave us a tour and then let the kids pick out a pumpkin

Yep, thats me wearing the pumpkin. I don't know how he did it.

my new/old boots

2008-10-20T21:50:00.000-07:00

I remember when I bought these boots. It was six years ago for christmas. I remember because I was pregnant with Rhett. Shoe are the only justifiable clothing purchase when your pregnant. It's the only part of your body that stays about the same size. I have loved these boots, casual enough to wear with jeans but nice enough to wear with a skirt. But last year I wasn't quite as crazy about these boots and this year I was wanting a new pair. My boots were feeling, well a little out of style. So I got online and started looking for new boots. Of course the ones I fell in love with were from Anthropologie and almost $300. I just couldn't justify paying that right now or maybe ever.

So I went back to my old boots. The only thing I wasn't liking about my old boots was the big chunky heel. They were way too heavy, hurt my feet after a while, and well, the chunky heel was just not cute anymore.

As I was looking at them I got a really great idea. I took my boots downtown to my neighbor's shoe repair shop. He cut off most of the width of the sole and glued on a new thinner one. So for $20 I got myself a new pair of boots and I love them. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

I wish I had a before picture, but I was too excited about taking them in and didn't think about taking pics.

lesson learned

2008-10-19T20:22:00.000-07:00

corn maze, hay ride

pumpkin picking

Ella taking pictures, big hay slides.

I learned a little mothers lesson friday at the farm. Rhett got too scared to go down the big slide. I trid to convince him that he would love it. I even tried to bribe him. After much coaxing, I got impatient and he started crying. Then he just wanted me to hold him and cry. I told him that I paid for him to have fun and not to be held. So he better go play. Obviously my impatience didn't make the poor kid feel any better. After arguing with him to stop crying, I finally looked at my watch and realized it was an hour past lunch time and in the rush of getting out of the house that morning, he didn't even get breakfast. Oh I felt aweful. I took him over to the concession stand and bought him some food and a treat. After some food in the belly he was back to the good ol happy easy going Rhett I know.

I felt guilty thinking back on my behavior. I didn't act like the mindful mom I want to be. If I could go back I would have stopped and remembered that Rhett's feelings were most important. I would have sat down and held him and calmed him down in a gentle loving way. I'm sure he would have calmed down much faster. Well that and some food in his belly. Here's the real kicker, I was the exact same way when I was a kid. Probably even more chicken and just as stubborn. So thats sympathy for ya.

my family

2008-10-16T22:10:00.000-07:00

My very talented friend Sarah took these family pictures for us. They turned out great. Thanks Sarah

may I interest you in a pumpkin hat?

2008-10-15T21:01:00.000-07:00

I have some extra time and materials to make a few more hats. I know it is already late in the season, but these cute little hats can be worn thru the month of November. I am also adding the strawberry hat, which can be worn all year. So if anyone is interested let me know. I will take a few requests first come first serve basis. I am also willing to try a blueberry for the little boys.

sizes are 6mths, 1 year, and 2 yrs. (Sorry nayt no 27 year size.) cost would be $23 for the pumpkin and $25 for the strawberry. The strawberry is a little more time consuming.

reduce - reuse -recycle

2008-10-14T21:25:00.000-07:00

I think this economic crisis goes hand in hand with the environmental crisis. Our country consumes way too much. Too much of everything. Whether or not we can afford what we buy. It only makes sense to only buy things if you have the money to buy it, saving debt for only a few exceptions. We've all needed this wake up call.

When we try to pinch our pennies we are also helping save the environment by not being as wasteful or consuming as much. We are being mindful about our purchases, how we take care of the things we own, we are consuming less and saving more. I like the old saying "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without". Going back to the way our parents and grandparents lived. My goal for the future is to be more mindful about where my money is going and how I am affecting mother earth.

I would love to hear some ideas on how other people are saving money while also saving the environment.