When I get Some Time...

I'm going to:

* give myself a pedicure

* get my hair done

* shave my legs

* buy new makeup (that's not 3 years old)

* buy new clothes that fit me

I am normally mildly vain. But it's amazing what you can let go when you really have to!

Big Buns

I made the dough for these buns and left it to rise while I went to a youth fireside. When I got back Brad had so sweetly formed them into buns. They came out quite large. But still delicious.

Speaking of large buns...I have been complaining lately about an extra 10 pounds I've been carrying around. Mostly, well, in my "buns".

I know I'm not fat. I know I'm healthy and strong. And for that I am very grateful. I eat (mostly) healthy and exercise.

BUT

I would like:

To feel like I have control over my eating habits, of which I currently have very little.

And to fit my jeans and my wedding ring.

Funnest Date Ever!

Jesse and I went to the mall. It was his idea. He was totally on his game and as cute and happy and energetic as ever. First we played at the train table in Chapter's for a while. Then off to the shops. Finally, we made it to the "moving stairs"and UP to the food court and got a large peach-mango frozen yogurt with 2 spoons. We sat beside the "Scary Go Round" and shared our yummy treat. Jesse really wanted to go on the merry go round and we were the only ones on there so we had our pick of horses. A black bucking bronco for us!!

Got our plastic necklace and off to the next fun thing! Of course Jesse had to stop and climb on the rocks and railings in the food court: "I'm the king of the castle!" Then onto the "moving stairs" again to go visit the big metal dinosaur with the glowing red eyes and jump from rock to rock on that ledge. Amazing how much fun that can be and how long it can go on! I finally convinced him to jump off and race me to Old Navy so I could buy a Superhero shirt that just went on sale. Mom and boy totally bonded and had so much fun together!! What a totally cool, fun little boy you are, Jesse!

Fresh Tomatoes and The Joys of Being Sick

Last night I was up until 4:00 am coughing.  That was brutal. But listen to all of the wonderful things that have come to me as a result of this sickness!

1. Both kids nap.

2. Instead of working out while my kids nap I get to do fun stuff like update my blog and read books and relax. Rare luxuries at any other time in my life.

3. I don't have to make dinner. Last night my friend Tanys brought us a delicious hot meal and tonight  Crystal is bringing over soup. I love women.

4. I get to sit and watch TV with my kids while snuggling and kissing them. Growing up I always looked forward to being able to sit and watch TV with my kids. I love kid shows and kid books. I don't know why it never occurred to me that I would have to use TV time to pack in as much cleaning, cooking, bill-paying, meal-planning and showering as I could. So it's nice to do it and not feel guilty.

5. Brad really steps it up a notch. On Saturday Brad folded laundry. I swear that is the first time I have seen him fold laundry in the entire time we've been married. And not only that, he did a great job! He even folded the towels in my very own precise, too-picky way. So all this time he has been pretending he didn't know how to do it the way I like...I'm onto you now Brad, bwah ha ha ha...

6. Last but definitely not least, I've lost 2 pounds just sitting around doing nothing. Apparently being sick burns calories. Who knew!?

..................................................

Thanks to my sister-in-law Jill who grew them in her garden, I had a whole bunch of beautiful, fresh tomatoes to make yummy stuff with.

First my mother-in-law helped me make salsa...(I've done it by myself before and it was a lot of work. Definitely better to do it with someone.)

Then I made some beautiful red tomato sauce to put on whole wheat pasta...

And finally some homemade pizza with fresh tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. I find it so satisfying to making healthy, yummy food with free, fresh, tasty home-grown tomatoes.

Thanks, Jill and Karen!!

All Things Bright and Beautiful

A delightful book by James Herriot that leaves you feeling pleasantly uplifted. Like an old friend, you can leave it for long stretches and pay it no attention, but you pick it up and start right where you left off. Then put it down feeling a bit happier.

In this the second book in a series, James Herriot outlines his adventures as a farm veterinarian in the late 1930's. He often expresses a love for nature and an awareness of the beauty around him. He sees animals as part of that nature, and expresses a gentle love and care for these creatures. I think I will never look at a cow or a sheep the same way.

The funny thing about this book is it's in a category of it's own, I believe. I found it in the "pet" section at the bookstore. A section I will probably never go to again until I read the next book in the series!

Pumpkin Patch! And Swine Flu.

My kids and I have H1N1. We've spent a lot of time watching TV lately and trying to keep warm and snuggly.

(For anyone who's curious-it feels like the flu, and it sucks like the flu.)

But before I knew I was contagious with a pandemic flu, I forced my sick self and my sick kids out for some fun on this absolutely beautiful fall morning.

Brad is laughing because Breanna is actually eating the raw corn. It took her a long time to chew it, but trust Breanna to put in the work if it means FOOD in her belly!

Me in a corn field. I think it works quite nicely, don't you?

Trying to find their way through the maze. Breanna wasn't crazy about the mud so being the manly man that he is, Brad put her on his shoulders and saved the day.

Picking Perfect Pumpkins from the Pumpkin Patch. Try saying that 10 times fast.

I just did. It's really not that hard I guess.

Breanna examining the pumpkin after she-you guessed it-tried to take a bite out of it.

Old Friends

Don't you just love old friends who are there through thick and thin and love you even though they know ALL your secrets???

I was reading an old journal the other day and this song totally describes a darker time in my life.



A recurring theme in the journal, however, was these guys, I always managed to have fun with them, and felt like myself again after being with them! They would always make me feel like I was normal, even cool, even though I probably wasn't. Love you guys!


Oh I should mention this picture is from like the year 2000...and it's not the best picture of my friends but it's the only one I have on my computer! :)

This picture makes me so happy. I couldn't have imagined up a more perfect little girl. Only God could create this precious, sweet, bright, charming... little princess. I love you, Breanna!

And here's my boy. My brave, sweet, wise, gorgeous little thing of a boy, who says to me, with tears in his eyes "Mom, if you yell, the spirit will go away!"(Just imagine the guilt)

This weekend my sister-in-law Melissa stayed at our house. I really enjoy her company, she's so easy to get along with- and I admire her in many ways. I wish I had been as smart as her when I was a Young Adult. Funny, we went for a run and accidentally ended up in the Harvest Half Marathon! People were cheering for us, saying "great job only 2 kilometers to go, you're almost done!" and we went right along with it. I was struggling to keep up with her but I couldn't very well quit running when I had only run 7 kilometres and we were running alongside people who had just run 19! We were only a little embarrassed when everyone else turned and we went straight...we were like, "just don't make eye contact..." Eek!

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner with my family. They are the coolest people. I was chastised a couple of times. My brother-in-law told me I needed to read President Uchdorf's talk on anger in the priesthood session and everyone got on my case for trying to have debates about the existence of God with my facebook friends. Sufficiently humbled :(  My Mom gave me a really nice card that said lots of nice things about me to make up for it though! :)

Best of all, I was definitely uplifted and filled with the spirit as I listened to prophets and apostles. It fills my heart, and I am awed by the gospel and by the Plan of Salvation. How very grateful I am to have these amazing gifts in my life. I can't wait to listen to and read these talks over and over and write their words upon my heart.