So Sad!!!!

I can't believe it I was talking to Rae and I have become one of those people that post every few months. I will get back on top of it all. I can't believe that I still haven't posted my vacation pics!?!?!?

My journey continues

I am still working hard at losing weight even though it has been coming off sooooo slowly. I have been so excited to be dropping pant sizes but now I'm so sad because my engagement and wedding ring no longer fit they are too big. I've been trying to decided if I should have them re sized or just buy a temporary replacement? I'm not sure?!?!?!

Happy Day!!!!

Tonight for FHE friends came over and after 10 years of pulling the things out by the roots we finally picked enough black berries to make homemade ice cream with. Of course my arms are all scratched up from picking them(this I think is the reason you never see anyone post about blackberry picking with their kids) but the reward was oh so sweet!!!

Home Again

I'm home again and so relaxed!!! I enjoyed the beach every day, the new furnature at the house, watching my kids play with my husband, and realizing the blessing of having a place that I can look forward to going to every year.

See you soon

We are off for our yearly trip! We have a house and cat sitter so off we go........

Over Loaded

I went to the doctors today(thanks Kayla for babysitting) and grabbed this little book knowing that it's super short and so much fun to read. I love the metaphors she uses. Emily explains that she teaches her children to do laundry but starts with harmless towels. One of her children was running a load of towels, as she was working in the kitchen when she heard a terrible noise in the laundry room. "I rushed downstairs too find my washing machine rocking and groaning like a wounded animal." Hurrying to lift the lid she finds a very overloaded washer(fourteen full size bath towels to be exact). She uses this metaphor: I am a fourteen-towel woman in a ten-towel-capacity life.

I LOVE this metaphor, it reminds me of doing laundry as a kid and wondering why the washer would always rock when I did laundry(OOPS) my mother explained to me that I needed to readjust or lighten the load. Finding balance is one of the things I struggle the most with. On Sunday my Bishop said "we may need to prioritize and adjust our schedules." He was talking about saving on gas, but I think this also pertains to finding balance in our lives as well.

I hope that I will be able to find balance in my life as I adjust my load.

Thanks to all of you who have been so patient and understanding with me.

Swimsuit Search

I was reading Rae's post about swimsuit season and got to thinking that I would ask if anyone out there has any idea where to buy a swimsuit in triple letter cup sizes???? I have been searching for two years and cannot find one that is not super ugly. PLEASE let me know if you have any ideas.

I DID IT!!!!!

I found motivation from Rae's 6 week weight loss challenge, I set my own goal to lose 20lbs by July 5 and am happy to report that as of today I have lost 20.4lbs.

Thanks for the motivation Rae

Where Have I Been??

Excuse 1. My father is staying with me in my office for the summer, so I have limited computer time.

Excuse 2. Caleb is asserting him self so I have been watching the time out clock quite a bit.
Excuse 3. I'm Relief Society President (enough said)

Excuse 4. I have a bulging disc and arthritis in my lower back, I had the facet joint injections(8 of them) so I have been trying to take it easy.

All I have to say to those of you who think I'm crazy for vacuuming my floors and cleaning the bathrooms every day. NEWLY POTTY TRAINED TWO YEAR OLD BOY!

I'm Back!!!

After weeks(it may be a month) of an exercise hiatus I got up at 5:00AM and hit the tread mill. Boy does it feel good!!! It only took the threat of Rae calling me to get me out of bed.

Thanks Rae for the motivation to GET my rear GOING!!!!

Book Club

I am so disappointed in The Host! I love the Twilight series and can't wait for #4. I have to say that I am struggling to get through this book, I keep telling my self that I have to finish it before book club on Friday! UGH!

I found this on Christensen Crew's blog.

“Faith in something greater than ourselves enables us to do what we have said we'll do, to press forward when we are tired or hurt or afraid, to keep going when the challenge seems overwhelming and the course is entirely uncertain.”

-Gordon B. Hinckley


I have to admit that I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed lately.

Caleb's Prayer

Heabenly Fodder,

Thank you for day

thank you mommy feel better

bless me no monsters get me

thank you daddy take my boo-boo out(sliver)

name of Jebus Rist amen

Go Fly a Kite

A Lady Slipper

My parents have a ton of lady slippers behind their house so they brought me this one for hosting our monthly family dinner

For some reason I thought these to be rare so I did a little research and found out that I am dead wrong, they are a wild orchid and you can buy them to plant in your garden.

Twilight The Movie

I got this from a friends blog I had no idea that they made a movie!!! I can't wait for the new book and now for the movie.

Twilight Trailer

Props!!

I have to give props to all you working Moms. It is very tough being a SAHM(stay at home mom) but you working moms have it rough too! I've been helping Eric in the office and it is CRAZY!!!!! I can't believe how much that phone rings!!! I think I answered at least 200 calls today and I left for an hour. I have to admit that I do LOVE the challenge. But my time is short the new woman starts next week and then I'm OUT and back to the biggest and best challenge there is, raising my boys.

The Curse

O.K. I know all about the potty blog curse but I just had to post that Caleb is officially potty trained!!!!!

(we don't keep the potty in the living room anymore)

PEW!!!

I was so excited when my Auntie Rain offered me the old pew she had. The cushion needed a new slip cover so I went to work and made this one! I think it turned out great since it is my first attempt at cording and sewing a zipper.

Strep Must Haves

A good book(Thanks to my father in-law)

A comfy couch

Multiple cans of broth

A blender for shakes(thanks Leah)

A good movie (thanks Kim)

Most important A great husband who takes the kids to church and lets you nap on the couch.

I can't eat it yet but thanks Melanee for the salad (you know how much I love it) I even have the strawberries in my frig just waiting!

A day of firsts!

Today was a day of firsts for me!

1) I woke up with the worst sore throat I have ever had!!!! I'm almost certain that it's strep. I went shopping sick, and for those who don't know me this is a big pet peeve of mine I've been know to say "if you are sick PLEASE STAY HOME" why go out and pass on your yucky germs? The only excuse I have is that my mother in-law and I have been planning a shopping day for weeks. So I went.

2) I actually navigated us to the store without GPS or a map! I never, NEVER know where I am or where I'm going.

3) I have never recovered chairs but they were in desperate need of recovering(the plaid is the original just in case you couldn't see the kid stains). Today I bought the fabric and did a few...

New Favorite Snack

I have been eyeing these in the grocery store for weeks I tried one today and loved it!!!! (I have only tried the strawberry)

New Bedding

I'm a woman of opportunity, My husband said"Jen I think you should get new bedding for our bed" so I jumped at the opportunity and bought some new bedding the very next day.

(not a great picture)

When I showed him he said " I wish you had spent the money on something for yourself." So very sweet but I did have to remind him that I'm waiting for a delivery from Lands End.

Thanks

I have to give Kayla a big huge thanks for helping me coax Adam and Eric into killing the snake, we are not sure what kind of snake it was but now it's a dead snake my favorite kind.

Tell Me!

Eric almost grabbed this snake on the wood pile. I've spent quite a bit of time online trying to id it. Here is a link to a CT Snake ID web site. Tell me what you think

Where Have I Been??

I couldn't stop reading these

Ethan had a cold that he passed to me then

he started throwing up!!YUCK!!

I had NO IDEA how busy the RS President is.


It's been so nice we've been enjoying the outdoors

New Favorite Cleaning Wipes

I'm so excited about these wipes...They clean so much better than Clorox and they smell ohh soooo good.

Mohawk

Ethan had a great idea!!! "Mom I could just have a mohawk haircut" of course you could imagine my response "NO WAY" we settled on gel and a new brush. He makes sure his hair is brushed into a faux-mohawk before school every day.

FHE Treat

Tonight for FHE I made the cupcakes, and yes they are as good as they look. The homemade marshmallow, the graham cracker crust, the moist chocolate cake YUM!!! The only down side was the dishes. Oh, and the calories.

YUMMY!!!

I can't wait to try to make these! Chocolate Graham Cracker Cupcakes with Toasted Marshmallow from Jennifer Shea of Seattle's Trophy Cupcakes

AAAWWW Pickles

Caleb has been saying "aaaawww pickles"
today at lunch I caught him with his hand in the pickle jar.

Rain, Rain

Rain, Rain go away my kids can't stay in another day

I know we need it and thats o.k. just not every single day.

Spring Has Sprung

Yesterday was so nice we played outside most of the day. The kids and Eric played outside while I cooked dinner and our neighbors (my cousin and his kids) stopped by to play.

We finally came in at 6:30 ate fast, had baths, quick scripture study, talked down a few fits, did homework, had a fast prayer. I couldn't believe that at 8:30 the kids were out!

A Ride To Work

All winter Eric has talked about riding his bike to work now that he works closer to home. Well today was the day that the weather cooperated and he was able to ride to work!

Easter

New Knobs

I found the best deal on these knobs they sell for $10.40 per knob but I was able to find them for $1.00 a knob. Now I just have to find thirty pulls for the rest of my kitchen.

Bearly Awake

Last night we were laying in bed when we heard that darn raccoon in the trash again!!! Eric sighed and I said don't worry I'll go, (this is a regular event in the summer) usually I just open the slider and yell at the raccoon it runs away and all is well. As I approached the door I was prompted to turn the light on before I opened the door, I flipped the switch and to my surprise it was a HUGE black bear inches from the door. I'm so grateful for the prompting to turn on the light, I'm glad that I had the sense to follow it and that I'll never know what would have been if I hadn't.

A Public Appeal

I have to confess that I am not the most organized person. It's not because I don't want to be it's because I am completely over whelmed, where do I start, what do I buy to organize our stuff, what do I keep, what do I toss? I am so confused by all of it that I just can't seem to get started. Ugh!!! If there is anyone out there that has some ideas PLEASE let me know I could really use some help.

Flowers

Monday my husband brought me flowers. Well, I put a note on his desk calendar at work and he wasn't sure if I wrote it or Kayla because she stopped by that day too, he said "I wasn't sure who wrote it so I figured I better bring home flowers."

I still think it was sweet even if I had to tell him.

Lesson 6

No matter how much they fight they sure do LOVE each other!

He's Cuckoo For Cocoa Puffs