Have you ever left for work without a Bra?

Drove half way there before you noticed it was MIA? It happened to me today. Lucky for me, my husband works with me and is always running 10 minutes behind me. Lucky for me because today, I forgot to put my bra on. I caught him on his way out the door, and had to plead my case when asking him to pick one out and bring it to work . . . . Lucky for me, He wasn't in a joker mood and "forgot" it too. Lucky for me, things are back up and as close as they Need to be.

Hope your day is as lucky as mine ;0]

I AM LIVING IN A SLIMQUICK COMMERCIAL

I am alittle jealous, a little upset, and more than a little over weight. Men suck. Just kidding Babe, I love you and You look great.




That's all I have to say about that.

Finally a Family Again. . . . .

Just in time for Easter. All month we (Me, My husband, My parents, and sisters and their husbands) have been teaching our children about why we really celebrate Easter. It's not about the "Easter Bunny", candy, coloring Easter eggs, going on a hunt for them, decorating the house, new Sunday clothes, bunnies, little fuzzy chicks.

Although those things are cute and fun, We celebrate the Atonement of Christ, the death of Christ, and Most of All the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Knowing how much he loves each and everyone of us, that he would go through so much pain in Gethsemane, taking upon himself all the sins of the world. Dieing on a cross so that He could be risen, so that we may live again with our Heavenly Father. This is why we celebrate Easter in my home. I am so grateful to have the Gospel in my life, and the scriptures in my home, so that I can teach my children the things which I have been taught and know to be true. I love this time of year, when I can ponder on the beautiful things in this world, and our Brother Jesus Christ, who love me enough to take all my sins away and to die for me, that I might live with Him again.


Happy Easter

Spring Break isn't the same without my Ry. Family Night is the same either. I miss her. . . . .Seiler does too (he makes her a card everyday).

How could I forget. . . .

Ryann reminded me, we saw Imagination Movers too.

"Throw Me Somethin' Mitsa"

Mardi Gras in New Orleans = SO MUCH FUN!

10 hour drive from Springfield, MO to New Orleans, LA

85 lbs. of "throws" (beads mostly, doubloons, cups, toys, stuffed animals, umbrellas, footballs)

15 Hours of Parade watching

One Day we even dressed up! (B-Scarecrow, Me-Lion, R-Dorothy, S-Tinman)Funny Huh!

We saw Reggie Bush, Sean Peyton, Steven Zahn, Harry Connick Jr., and Rachel Ray.

Got alot of Sun, even in the Cold.

Ate alot of Food: Muffalettas and Beignets are my favorite. The kids loved it all especially the King Cakes.

Talked with alot of extended family, met friendly natives, smelled sweet olive trees, bought head-on fresh shrimp, watched ships on the Mississippi, and stayed up too late everynight.

As Long as you stay away from the bars (duh) the atmosphere is pretty clean, and so much fun. We stayed in front of Pralines by Jean. Brandon's Mom's cousins wife makes the best Pralines. Yum. She invited us to watch the parade in front of her shop, so we could party with them, have a bathroom close by, and eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a few snacks in between too :)

I can still hear the kids screaming "throw me somethin' mista". Funniest thing I've ever seen them say.

Three hours into our trip home we stopped in Jackson, Mississippi to look at the Manship house (relatives of Brandon's family). Charles Manship was a decorative painter. He painted wood doors to look like mahogany, and wooden mantels to look like Marble, for the middle class citizens, who couldn't afford the nicer things. He became Mayor of Jackson, where he organized the first fire department.

We toured the house that is now a museum - Beautiful.

Then we continued on four more hours to Memphis, Tennessee to visit Graceland. I've always wanted to see where Elvis lived. It had already closed for the day, but we looked at all the names on the wall surrounding his home, and took a few pics.

Four more hours until we made it back to Springfield. Seiler had to pee several times.

It feels good to sleep in your own bed!

The Pops R Done

Well, I had Seiler dip the Marshmallow Pops for His Class on Tuesday, while Ryann was at her Dance lesson. He Had so much fun, and proud of himself for accomplishing this task. Ryann dipped her Marshmallow Pops yesturday before she went to Basketball practice. Making sure they were all different.


So the Pops are done. As for the lesson, I will just have to give it during our 12 hour trip to New Orleans on Saturday. Yay.

What happened to FHE?

Yesturday after work, I prepared a "Love At Home" lesson thanks to the girls at FHE Ideas. I was excited for this lesson : being so close to Valentines and all. We were gonna make Chocolate covered Marshmallows on sticks, for my kids to give away at their Valentine's Day Party at school. I bought Marshmallows, sticks, borrowed Melting Chocolate from my sister, went through all my sprinkles, and poured each different (red, pink, white, V-day holiday)kind into a cupcake paper (for easy clean up) and set it aside. I made Beef Stew from Scratch. Smelled it cook for two and a half hours. And then NOTHING.






We did NOTHING.

I was hoping to do it tonight, but:
Tuesday is Basketball practice for one, and I have Releif Society tonight.
Wednesday is Basketball practice for another
Thursday one has piano,
Friday is Valentine's Party Day at school, so that's too late.




thank you theidearoom for the pic.

I had just read the following on my friends Blog. "The joys of boys" and tears were brought to my eyes. Thank you Yvonne, I was not able to make it to that game to cheer the boys on in their first game, and am glad that it has been documented for me to enjoy. ( it feels good to know that someone is praying for Us. It always helps:))


Coaching Moment

After Thomas' first basket ball game, with Dad as assistant coach, Daddy asked Tommy what his favorite part of the game was.

Tommy: Three things. First, we WON!!!!!
Second, I ran back fast on "D".
Third, Seiler made THREE hoops!
(His friend, Seiler, hasn't been able to quite get the ball as high as the hoop yet.)

Daddy: Oh, yeah! He did make a hoop, didn't he?

Tommy: Yeah! THREE! One was when we were practicing. Two and three were when we were playing.

Daddy: That's so cool! Wow, Tommy.

Tommy: Do you know why he made hoops today, Daddy?

Daddy: No. Why?

Tommy: Because I prayed for him.


Melt my heart.
A true coaching moment you hope and work and pray for.


Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

I hope you don't mind that I copied it, I just look up to you and the way you are raising your boys. Luv ya- help me- call me- we need to get together- :D

Happy February Everybody ;)

It has been sooooooooooooooo Long.

I apologise for not updating, but a few weeks/almost a few months a go, I had been blog hopping and found some neat ones. Looking at new blogs everyday, searching for inspiration of any kind. Sewing, Quilting, Cooking, Cleaning, Dieting, Exercising, Mothering, Being Spiritually uplifted. . . . . and I found it.

Now for the DOING it- I, with the help of my oh so smart/always thinking of the best way/talented sister Danielle, I have made a quilt top. Go me! I'm not going to show it to you until it is done. Mostly because I still haven't mastered the whole Posting up pics on this blog, and a little bit, because I have not cleaned the room that it is going in yet. :)


I have also made a rag quilt for Seiler's room, made throw pillow covers for all the pillows on my couches up stairs- For the V-Day Holiday. Along with table runners for the kitchen and top of the piano. Go me!


I have printed off many healthy and delicious looking dinner ideas, and successfully stocked my fridge, and (if you can call it a) pantry with all of these ingredients... Go me! Now for the cooking part.

I have continued on my weight loss journey. Loosing ten more pounds since Christmas. Go Me! You can't tell though. My mom says she can, but that's what mothers are for - to tell you that which you want and/or need to hear. ;) thanks mom.

I have a new calling as a primary teacher. I haven't taught a class in like four years. Preparing for this each week along with the prayer challenge that our Awesome home teacher has set for us is totally helping with the Spiritual Inspiration that I needed.

So if I could just get to that Mountain of laundry on my couch, and scour the bathrooms, I would get the cleaning inspiration - on a side note, With all the great things that distilled Vinegar does for cleaning all the things around us, have you ever heard about using it in your hair? I read about it, I think on The Pioneer Woman Cooks, but I can't remember. What do you think? I don't know if I want to smell like a Pickle.

As Far as the mothering goes. I want to be more hands on. . . . but I tell myself I can't, because I am not home with them all day. However, I do get off work when they get off school. So? What's wrong with me? How can I improve? Life is so busy with Soccer/Basketball, FHE, Activity Day Girls, Piano, Date night(yeah right), home work, and sleepovers. There just always seems to be a project to get done. Without my kids cooking with me in the kitchen, how do I get more Quality time with them? Any suggestions? I need them.

I am so proud. . . . .

You know you've done something right, when your kids say or do something to let you know they heard what you have taught them. This monday, at FHE I taught the Christmas lesson, trying to explain to my kids what Christmas is all about( not getting what you want, presents). I main focus was on "What can we give to/do for Others?" I mentioned: Heavenly Father gave us His son, Christ gave his life, The Three Wise Men gave their most precious gifts to baby Jesus, which is what we are representing when we give presents to each other at Christmas time. Fast forward a few days: We see a young boy walk to and from school everyday, sometimes he walks home with us and then continues on to his house. I noticed him walking home too many times in the freezing cold, without a coat.

I asked my kids, "where is his coat?"

Ryann said "He doesn't have one!"

Seiler said "We should give him one of ours",

a tear came to my eye, "we don't have one that would fit him."

ryann,"Let's go buy him one",

Seiler "yeah, let's go buy him one"

So that is what we did last night. Together we got ready for school fast. We don't know where he lives, or his last name, but we took that coat into the office at school and told the Secretary about this boy. She knew exactly who I had been talking about. . . . .If she knew he didnt have a coat, nevermind. I'm am just greatful that MY kids have found the true meaning of Christmas.

Hope that little boy has a Warm and Merry Christmas.

UTAH

My momma paid for all her daughters and their children to spend the week in Utah together, before Christmas. Besides all the "Family Drama" that occurs, We all had a fabulous time. Catching up with cousins, and old friends, visiting with grandma was so much fun. We should make this a annual thing ;D. The temperature was much colder there than in the Ozarks, and it Snowed every morning. It was beautiful. I even awoke my kids early a few times and let them go outside to try to catch snowflakes on their tongues. It's much harder than I remember. I am so greatful I could take my kids to Temple square once more. Seiler can never remember Angel Moroni's name, but he always loves to see "that gold guy up there". . . . .There is always something to teach, I guess. . . The Temple was Magnificent. Lights everywhere. It was awesome. Thanks Mom.

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas

It totally feels to early to me to decorate for Christmas, but we went to Silver Dollar City on Saturday and it is lit up to the max with Christmas lights. It made me in the mood to decorate just the inside of my house. But I did'nt. I woke up late for church on Sunday, but we did make it to the last twenty minutes of Sacrament. I went to Primary with Seiler, because he has been getting bored with it lately and acting out. Yesturday he was a perfect angel, helping out the teacher, singing songs, folding his arms, sharing crayons, answering questions, it could have all been for my benefit but I was proud of him. By the time we said good bye to daddy (he is the new Ward Financial Clerk & has to stay after church every Sunday), and made it home I warmed up left overs and we all took a nap. We woke up when daddy came come played a few games, watched a few movies, made dinner and went to bed. So I did get around to asking Brandon if he would get the christmas stuff out of the attic, he said "Uhhhhhh, let's wait another week." Good thing. I was too tired to take down fall and put up Christmas.

There is nothing else to Say

Kids are good (energetic, whinny, happy, stubborn), husband is good (still mean to me when I want something, works hard/long, Helps keep 90% of the house clean, takes care of my every need),House is good(keeps use warm in the winter and cool in the summer), Cars are good(of course I love my new 2008 Ford Explorer), Dog is good (even though she started digging holes all over the back yard), even the little garden snake that made it through the bottom of our basement door is good ( only because it is no longer in my basement- thank you Brandon). Church is good, School is good, work is good, VT is good, TV not so good, biggest loser is always good. Dinner is good? you'll have to ask my family. Sometimes yes/mostly no. So there's nothing else to say. . . . . . . . . Life is good!

Okay, 20lbs. down

and a million to go.................The only differene I see is my hands and feet are no longer bloated, and my back pops much easier (sorry Jeremy). I am using more energy during the day, that I am tired at night and have been sleeping much deeper and longer. Oh. and its easier to shave my legs. Weird I know. Can't wait to see what the next twenty bring. . . . .and I wish Ryann hadn't heard me tell Brandon, cause she has been sharing it with everyone. I'm glad she;s proud of me, but at the same time it is embarrassing! This past week, I think my body went into shock, and so I stayed at them same weight. Disappointing, but there is always next week. I just need to stop sneaking those bites of someone else dessert, and up my walking time. I wish I had two hours everyday (all in one lump of time) to walk to and from my mommas house. But that would just be too convenient. Maybe if one of my sisters would watch my kids for me after school (and made dinner for my family), while my other sister walked with me. Then switch off every other day or something, I would get much healthier much faster. NO PRESSURE sisters. But for now, I am okay with the "slowly but surely" thing.

Halloweenie

Ryann was a beautiful Butterfly this year. Cold but happy, this girl is. She was so happy with the long tutu that I made for her, she tried it on everynight infront of the mirror just to make sure it looked good on her.

Seiler was Iron Man, And just as strong, until he got tired of walking. Then he just melted to the ground after every house, waiting until his daddy would pick him up and fly him to the next destination. Glad its over though, and the freezing weather too. It should be a bit warmer for a while.

Apple Pickin'

I've never gone Apple Pickin' before, but I would love to get together with some lady folk around here and go. Kids or no kids. Just let me know where and when to meet up with you. I want to make Apple Pies, Apple Butter, can some Apple Sauce, make Carmel Apples. My mouth is watering just thinking about all the yummy things I can do with Apples.

Walking to School

Now, we don't walk to andf rom school Everyday, but most days I walk the kids to school, and more than half of the time I make it home from work in time to walk the kids home from school. Wow, that's a long run on sentence. This is gonna sound really gross, but i had a lump of fat growing out the side of my thigh, and unfortunatly got used to it being there. But now, in three weeks time it is gone! It gave my apple shape body a little bit of pearness. Now what am I gonna stare at as I . . . nevermind. I think my boobs got a little smaller too. TMI? I don't care. I am feeling good about it. now, if this back fat would fall off just as fast. I know. . . it's sooooooooooooooooooooo gross.



Oh, and my kids have appreciated the little extra time we have together too. At least I think they do.

First Day of School.. . . . .

I decided as a jump start to the long road ahead of getting healthier, I would walk my children to and from school each day. Seems like a small task, but it takes me 20 mins. each way. Mostly, because I have to drag Seiler the whole way. Any who, Ryann had a great first day in Foruth grade, Loved picking out what she wants for lunch (in the lunch line) everyday. Seiler on the other hand, was nervous to go to Kindergarten! Unfortunatley, his teacher forgot to explain to the kids in her class how the lunch line works, and so Seiler took his snack to lunch, and had no snack. :(. He was starving after school, but too embarrassed/ shy to ask the teacher what to do. I felt so bad, I his teacher and I had a polite talkin' to. And yesturday was much more filled with food. Now, if they would stop giving the kids so much homework the first week of school. . . .

Pics will also be added, how can I not, they are so cute.