Getting to know you, getting to know all about you...

Welcome to the newest 2008 edition of getting to know your family and friends. I received an email from one of my favorite uncles showing some of his favorites. I was to change the answers to my own and forward it on (which I did). I just thought it was a fun little tidbit to share.

1. What is your occupation right now? Full-time child psychologist, clothing coordinator, interior decorater, maid, chauffer, teacher, mentor, laundress, professional organizer, family shrink, biographer/geneolgist, computer engineer, accountant and cook. Almost forgot... I am also a loan officer on the side!
2. What color are your socks right now? Don't have any on.
3. What are you listening to right now? Dead silence (and that is a beautiful thing!)
4. What was the last thing you ate? Cupcake batter with my kids.
5. Can you drive a stick shift? Yes
6. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My older sister
7. Do you like the person who sent this to you? More than he might even know!
8. How old are you today? 28
9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV? Women's college volleyball.
10. What is your favorite drink? Cherry Lime Rickie
11. Have you ever dyed your hair? No
12. Favorite food? Good old Macaroni and Cheese (Kraft please)
13. What is the last movie you watched all the way through: Little Rascals
14. Favorite day of the year? Hands down, no exception... Christmas.
15. How do you vent anger? Pull my eyebrows down, squish my lips tightly together and start cleaning like a mad woman.
16. What was your favorite toy as a child? Mandy Pandy (she's a doll... still have her) and I couldn't have lived the first 7 something years of my life without my blanket.
17. What is your favorite season? Winter because of Christmas. Fall comes in a close 2nd.
18. Cherries or Blueberries? Blueberries
19. Do you want your friends to e-mail you back? Of course
20. Who is the most likely to respond? Might be my dad.
21. Who is least likely to respond? Just about everyone, but I'd love to be wrong.
22. Living arrangements? We are currently renting (and loving it) after building & selling our 2nd home. Couldn't say as I have ever been more happy. Share my home with my handsome hubby and our two cute kids.
23. When was the last time you cried? Reading my little sister's letter.
24. What is on the floor of your closet? Shoes
25. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending to? My mom and my sisters have always been my closest and dearest friends. Otherwise, Rachel.
26. What did you do last night? Hung out at home with my family and loved it!
27. What are you most afraid of? Lightening.
28. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers? Cheese
29. Favorite dog breed? Teacup Yorkies.
30. Favorite day of the week? Saturday
31. States you have lived in. Utah, Idaho, Californie and Washington.
32. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds... oh la la. Although, I do cherish the pearl ear rings my parents gave me when I graduated highschool.
33. What is your favorite flower? Dandy Lion (I know they are classified as a weed but I have loved them since I was a little girl).

A Good Laugh...

I have realized over the past week or two that laughing is truly therapy. Everyone needs to laugh on a constant basis. I am not a big UTube fan, but I found myself laughing hysterically at these two clips. I was even crying. Go ahead... gets your laughs in for the day.

Baby Biting Charlie's Finger
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlgSz8sSM

Baby Laughing at Wii-- this is actually my cousin and his little boy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_mBLWpdwnI

Sacred Place

These are two of my very favorite places to be. Rocking my children to sleep is one of the most precious and peaceful parts of each of my days. I have said it before, I am blessed to be a mother. Beside my daughter's rocking chair I have a picture of me holding her when she was just a tiny infant. I read the words often and it is a sweet reminder of how quickly the days pass that my children will be small enough to be rocked. I wish I could keep them little and innocent for ever and for always. They grow up within a blink of an eye.








Cleaning and dusting can wait till tomorrow,
For babies grow up, we've learned to our sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs,
Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby,
And babies don't keep.

In my little boys room there is a simple reminder that hangs on his wall.

Cherish Every Moment

I do cherish every moment that I am lucky enough to spend with my sweet blessings from heaven. I am a happy mother.

Amazing!

Last week I found myself sitting on my couch in tears. It had been rough couple of days with my children and I was completely exhausted. I found myself in the same emotional place millions of us mothers have and will find ourselves. It was bitter sweet. I realized that I have dedicated my whote ENTIRE life to my children. I felt a little selfishly bitter because I felt like every fiber of my being was absorbed in raising a family and I had somehow lost my own identity. I felt I had lost all time for myself to cultivate any of my interests. Yet, it was so purely sweet because at that same moment I realized I have become the person I always wanted to be... a mom. To be a mom takes your whole heart and a lot of sacrifice. Anyone can go through childbirth and have a baby. However, not everyone chooses to be a "mother" or a "mom" which means loving your children with every ounce you are made of, and sacraficing anything, or everything for that matter, in the world for their happiness. Please know that I do sympathize with those of you who desperately would love to have children but may not be able to conceive or carry a baby. There are other ways you will affect for good children because of the love you are able to show towards them. I thank you for that and my heart goes out to you in your own circumstances.

As I sat there, crying and working my way through things while talking it out with my sympathetic husband, it was then I realized something, in a way I had never realized it before. I come from a family of eight children. My husband comes from a family of four (a brother lived only a week). It was then and there that I realized I am 1/8 of my own mother's entire life. She gave up everything for all 8 of her "babies". Cortney is 1/4 of his mother's entire life. She gave up everything for her four children. No matter what the part (1/8th or 1/4th) they are equal parts. Our mothers have and continue to give every part of themselves to us. So unselfishly.

I do not and never will regret having children. It is the best thing that I have ever done. What seemed like a heartache at the time was a true emotion. I am sure all mothers feel this way... probably often. But what I realized is that I am earning my own right to be known as "mother" and to link arms with millions of mothers around the world who love their children and sacrifice as they do. I hope that some day my daughter will choose to become a mother. There is no greater calling and no greater blessing.

As a side note... this doesn't mean we should just give up. We need our "outs" and our "breaks". You mom's deserve to have that pedicure, that new outfit, that new family friendly car for that matter... whatever it is. I am just proud to have joined the ranks beside you.

To my own mom... I just want to say thank you with all of my heart. I am who I am because of you. And to my dad, I love you too and you helped mold the person I am. You have sacraficed as well. Mommies just seem to let motherhood over-run their life. And you know, I guess that is a good thing.

To my husband... you are wonderful. Thankyou for giving me the breaks I have needed since that breakdown. And thank you for being my sidekick in raising our children. You are an amazing father. I love you so much.

How it should be...

If I had my child to raise all over again,
I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I'd finger-paint more, and point the finger less.
I would do less correcting, and more connecting.
I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.
I'd do more hugging and less tugging.
I'd see the oak tree in the acorn more often.
I would be firm less, and affirm much more.
I'd model less about the love of power,
And more about the power of love.

by Dianne Loomans

Daughters of God

This morning I read the Conference address given by M. Russell Ballard. I must admit I cried. It addressed the areas where I seem to feel empty. I love filling the role of being a mom but I must admit that lately I have struggled with the feeling of being unnoticed and not appreciated. I know this comes from my children being much too small to understand how to say "thank you"... I need to realize they do appreciate it but can't understand or express it at their age. Second, I have a busy husband. I know he appreciates what I do and I need to just console myself to the fact that being a mother and wife is not a thankless job. Just because we don't hear how much we are needed doesn't mean we aren't (I just need to reassure myself of this every day). My heart goes out to my own mom. There must have been thousands of times she felt this same way. I come from a famliy of eight. She is amazing. I have always been grateful for everything she has done for me but I haven't told her near enough. She contined (and still does) to sacrifice her whole entire life for our family. I wonder how many times she must have felt unappreciated. That's just it. She has always been valued in the most incredible way by me, my dad and my other siblings but have we told her enough? I don't think a mother can ever get tired of hearing how much they are valued, loved and appreciated.

I just wanted to hightlight a few points of Elder Ballards message that hit home to me.

1. He (our Father in Heaven) has a plan for His righteous daughters to receive the highest blessing of eternity.

2. There is no one perfect way to be a good mother.

3. We need to remember that the full commitment of motherhood and of putting children first can be difficult. First, recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction.

4. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting done a little less. Take time to listen, laugh and to play together.

5. Find some time for yourself to cultivate your gifts and interests. Water cannot be drawn from an empty well, and if you are not setting aside a little time for what replenishes you, you will have less to give to others, even to your children.

6. I hope you never wonder if you have worth in the sight of the Lord.

Food Storage

I am engrossed in getting my 1 year food storage in place right now. I have talked with many of my friends and loved ones and you have been after this information. I have to thank the Lewisville 1st Ward Relief Society for compiling it in such a great way! I thought I would blog it so it is always readily available to you. Happy shopping and storing everyone!

1 Year Food Storage in 12 Months

1st Month Storage Goal: Grains- 300 lbs per person (approximate amount needed per person per year)

Total Needed for family = _______ (300 x number in family)
• Wheat
• Flour
• Rice
• Corn
• Oatmeal
• Pastas
• Other Cereals

2nd Month Storage Goal: Sugar- 60 lbs per person (approximate amount needed per person per year)

Total Needed for family = _______ (60 x number in family)
• Sugar
• Honey
• Jam
• Jello
• Other

Salt- 5 lbs per person- Total Needed for family = _______ (5 x number in family)
Fats- 20 lbs per person- Total Needed for family = _______ (20 x number in family)
• Shortning
• Vegtable Oil

3rd Month Storage Goal: Legumes- 50 lbs per person (approximate amount needed per person per year)

Total Needed for family = _______ (50 x number in family)
• Dried Soybeans
• Pinto Beans
• Navy Beans
• Red Beans
• Split peas or lentils
• Canned beans
• Canned nuts
• Peanut butter
• Other

4th & 5th Month Storage Goal: Dairy Products- 300 quarts per person (approximate amount needed per person per year)

Total Needed for family = _______ (300 x number in family)
• Powdered Milk (reg. nonfat, 4 qt/lb)
• Canned milk (evaporated)
• Cheese (bottled or canned)
• Other

6th Month Storage Goal:

Garden Seeds- 1 Year Supply
Multiple Vitamins (especially A and C)- Approx amt needed per person per year= 365
Water- Enough for 2 weeks- 14 gallons per person for 2 weeks
Total Needed for family = _______ (14 x number in family)
Those of you in more hot and dry areas (AZ and NV) may want to store more

7th Month Storage Goal: Meats- 60 lbs per person (approximate amount needed per person per year)

Total Needed for family = _______ (60 x number in family)
• Meat (canned)
• Cheese (canned or bottled)
• Poultry (canned)
• Tuna
• Other fish (canned)
• Smoked or dried meats
• Frozen meat
• Frozen poultry
• Freeze-dried meats
• Freeze-dried fish
• Freeze-dried poultry
• Other

8th Month Storage Goal: Canned Fruits and Vegetables- 365 lbs per person (approximate amount needed per person per year)

Total Needed for family = _______ (60 x number in family)
• Peas
• Greenbeans
• Corn
• Peaches
• Apricots
• Tomatoes
• Tomato or fruit juice
• Frozen fruit
• Frozen vegetables
• Dehydrated fruits
• Dehydrated vegetables
• Freeze-dried fruits
• Freeze-dried vegetables

9th Month Storage Goal: Miscellaneous

• Yeast
• Baking Soda
• Baking Powder
• Vinegar
• Spices
• Pickles
• Soup
• Grinders
• Manual Can Opener
• Gardening Supplies

10th Month Storage Goal:

Bedding (enough to keep each person warm if no other heating is available)
• Quilts
• Blankets
• Sheets
• Sleeping Bags
Fuel
• Coal
• Wood
• Paper logs
• Matches
• Candles
• Light (batter or crank powered)
Paper Products
• Kleenex/ Toilet Paper
• Soap & Other necessary hygiene items
• Garbage Bags

11th and 12th Month Storage Goal:

72 Hour Emergency Kits

The Man Rules

I laughed so hard when I first read this that I had to blog it. Hope you enjoy the manly perspective to what we do to them on a regular basis!

At last a guy has taken the time to write all this down! (They are all number 1 on purpose)

1. Men are NOT mind readers

1. Learn to work the toilet seat.
You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down.
We need it up, you need it down.
You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Sunday sports... it's like the full moon or the changing of the tides.
Let it be.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want.
Let us be clear on this one:
Subtle hints do not work!
Strong hints do not work!
Obvious hints do not work!
Just say it!

1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem ONLY if you want help solving it. That's what we do.
Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument.
In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 days.

1. If you think you're fat, you probably are.
Don't ask us.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the OTHER ONE.

1. You can either ask us to do something
OR tell us how you want it done.
Not both.
If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials...

1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors... like Windows Default Setting.
Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have NO idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it WILL be scratched.
We do that.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like nothing's wrong.
We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect and answer you don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine... REALLY.

1. Don't aks us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball or golf.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape. ROUND is a shape.

1. Thank you for reading this.
Yes, I know I have to sleep on the couch tonight;
But did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.

It's that time again...

I have a foot feddish. I never used to until my older sister somehow hooked me on pedicures. I just cannot stand to have rough and cracked heels now that I am starting to break out the sandals (weather permitting). I have been going up to the Sage Day Spa for my pedicures. Though they do a wonderful job and my feet leave feeling baby soft, they are a tad bit on the pricey side. For those of you Idaho gals out there, do you know of a great place that may cost a little less? My feet are in desperate need.