Lake Powell

Our trip to Lake Powell this year was fabulous! It wasn't as hot as we were expecting, but it was as much fun as we remembered. Thanks to the Simkins, Argyle and Szuta's for making it so great!

County Fair

This year at the Davis County Fair, both Kellie and Sidney won blue ribbons. Yea! Both of them entered some greeting cards they made in 4H and then Kellie entered two items that she has sewn over the past year. A pair of pajama pants and a pair of capris. Way to go girls!

My mom...according to my kids

1. What is something your mom always says to you?
Alex: Practice makes perfect
Sid: You're beautiful just the way you are!
Kellie: Talk nice
Gracie: Brush your teeth
2. What makes your mom happy?
Alex: My room being clean
Sid: No fighting
Kellie: Us helping her out
Gracie: No fighting (yes...I agree)
3. What makes your mom sad?
Alex: Unreasonable people (what?)
Sid: Telling us the same thing over and over, but we don't listen
Kellie: When we fight
Gracie: fighting
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Alex: saying funny stuff
Sid: Doing random things
Kellie: she says weird things (whatever!)
Gracie: You don't make me laugh (thanks a lot)
5. What was your mom like as a child?
Alex: She hung out with friends (convenient thing for you to say)
Sid: She was nice to her brothers & sisters (keep believing it baby)
Kellie: She didn't like cleaning toilets. (what?)
Gracie: I don't remember
6. How old is your mom?
Alex: 37
Sid: I know its in the 30s...36 or 34 or 37
Kellie: 37...no 36....36 or 37
Gracie: 31
(I will be 39 in May)
7. How tall is your mom?
Alex: 5'2" (right on!)
Sid: 5.4
Kellie: How would I know?
Gracie: Taller than me
8. What is your mom's favorite thing to watch on tv?
Alex: Law & Order
Sid: The Mentalist...or The Office
Kellie: Easy...Dr. Phil
Gracie: The man with the brown hair that makes you laugh(Daily Show with Jon Stewart)
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Alex: Parties
Sid: She goes with Sarah & Melissa
Kellie: Read or watch tv
Gracie: Go shopping
10. If your mom becomes famous what will it be for?
Alex: Cooking
Sid: Writing
Kellie: Singing (what?)
Gracie: Getting rich ( I wish)
11. What is your mom really good at?
Alex: Singing (I don't know where this is coming from)
Sid: Cooking
Kellie: Singing
Gracie: Cooking
12. What is your mom not so good at?
Alex: Drawing (true)
Sid: Math (true again)
Kellie: Jump roping...I've seen it and it isn't good (It's not something I do often)
Gracie: Singing...you're too loud and it hurts my ears (What is with all the singing
comments)
13. What does your mom do for a job?
Alex: Social Worker
Sid: Some type of therapist
Kellie: Helps people with problems
Gracie: Counselor
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Alex: Soup (what?)
Sid: You don't have a favorite
Kellie: Everything
Gracie: I don't know
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Alex: That she's my mom
Sid: her pep talks
Kellie: She is smart
Gracie: Let's me have a bath
16. If your mom were a tv character who would she be?
Alex: Winnie the Pooh (Is that an insult?)
Sid: Dr. Phil
Kellie: Porky Pig (now you understand her answer to #1)
Gracie: Mr. Woodchuck...he is a funny guy! (I don't know who that is)
17. What do you and your mom do together?
Alex: Go shopping
Sid: Have talks
Kellie: We eat together
Gracie: Go to stores
18. How do you know your mom loves you?
Alex: She tells me
Sid: She asks me how I am
Kellie: She says it
Gracie: Cuz I'm her daughter
19. How are you and your mom the same?
Alex: Hair
Sid: We both talk good
Kellie: Our head shapes (what kind of answer is that?)
Gracie: Blue eyes
20. How are you different from you mom?
Alex: I have bigger feet (yes, she does...size 10 people)
Sid: My mom isn't as funny as I am
Kellie: She needs glasses
Gracie: different hair
21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Alex: Bajio (I do like their food)
Sid: Bear Lake (another favorite)
Kellie: New York (love it!)
Gracie: Out with dad (very true!)
Well, that was insightful...thanks for reading

Welcoming Carson

On March 24th, my sister Becki had her second baby...a boy! We went to the hospital to visit Carson, the newest cousin. What a sweet baby! Good job Becki & Adam!!

Patience of a mother!

So Friday, I was questioning my latest parenting strategy with Alex just handing over the 5 bucks...let me give you the update. Today, the kids were out of school for something or the other (they seem to have days off all the time). Anyway, Alex and her friends decided to go the mall and to a movie. She was telling me that she only had $15.00 and wanted to know if she could borrow money from me. Here is where having patience with your parenting strategies pays off...I was able to smile at her and remind her that if she hadn't so willingly handed over $5 to have me clean up after her she would have $20, but alas that was not the case and now she only had $15. Patience is good and often rewards those who wait!

What is with this younger generation?

Alex and I have an agreement that whenever she is entertaining her friends at our house and they make a mess and do not clean it up...all the girls owe me 5 bucks as a "maid" fee. Last night, Alex and her four friends decided to have a mac& cheese cookoff. (They frequently do this, where they break into teams and have a contest as to who can make the best tasting mac&cheese.) They didn't just stop at the mac&cheese, however, they decided to make smoothies to go along with the mac&cheese. All of this resulted in quite the disaster in the kitchen. I, of course, was not home because I was out running errands and such to keep the family going. So when I returned home and walked into the kitchen...BAM!...explosion of pots and pans and utensils and all sorts of mess. Alex and her friends had graduated to facebook in the other room. I went in and asked what was up with the kitchen and they all proceeded to shell out 5 bucks. I said...is it just easier to give me 5 bucks than to clean up after yourselves? They all smiled and said "yea, it is." I'm not sure how I'm feeling about this. Is this still an effective parenting strategy? Am I alright with the casualness in which they all just handed over the money? Are they learning what they are supposed to be learning? Am I enabling them? I don't know what to think, but I do know I've never been paid $25.00 before for cleaning my own kitchen.

Happy St. Patty's Day

Another successful St. Patrick's Day with a visit from those naughty Leprechaun's resulted in lots of smiles and surprises...at least for Gracie. She still appreciates the fun of it all. Alex...well, I'm not so sure what she thinks anymore. The leprechaun's snuck in their rooms again while they were sleeping and stamped a shamrock on each of their cheeks. They also tied a string to their wrist and wound it around the house. They had to follow the string to find their "treasure" at the other end. This year they each got a shirt to wear to school so as to avoid being pinched along with another green gift...cash(money) the green kind. The leprechauns also left footprints on windows, mirrors, the microwave and turned the milk and toilet water green. What a crazy day!

Happy Anniversary Babe!

Jeff and I are celebrating 16 years of marriage today. Since he doesn't write on this blog, I will relay for you how great the past 16 years have been for him! First of all, he couldn't have asked for a better looking, more patient, or humble wife! His life was changed for the better 16 years ago and he wouldn't change a thing. Okay, maybe a few things, but nothing about me! All kidding aside...it truly has been a great 16 years. I couldn't imagine 16 years ago what life had in store for us. I have to say, however, knowing now what life has held for us...I would do it all again and have been so grateful to have Jeff by my side through this journey. I don't think I could have done it without him and I know I wouldn't be the woman I am today without him. Love you babe!

Meet Zeke

Zeke is our new puppy! He was 9 weeks old last Saturday. He is really about as sweet as he is cute! He is a cockapoo...that means he is a mix between a cocker spaniel and poodle. Did you know that poodles are the most intelligent breed of dogs? I heard that somewhere, I haven't verified if that is true. However, the fence that we bought to put him in when we are gone, so as to avoid accidents in the house, he has already figured out he can simply climb up the side as if it were a ladder and simply free himself. When he enjoys being in there, to sleep etc. then he is fine and will stay in his kennel for hours, but if he isn't in the mood, he just climbs right on out. I guess he fits right in with the girls in the household who think they have the right to a mind of their own as well.

Where have I been?

So I'm guessing that many of you share the opinion of my younger sister, who often gives me a hard time about the length of time between my posts on my blog. Yes, it's true I am a fair-weather blogger. It's a lot of pressure to always have some cute quip or humorous thought to put on my blog. The truth is...I'm not that interesting all of the time. I enjoy reading my friends and families blogs, they seem to always have some cute thing to blog about or some interesting perspective on life that makes me giggle, but that only happens every so often for me. I could insert some resolution here about how I am going to do better about keeping up on my blog, but the truth is I will most likely keep doing exactly what I have been doing. So we'll just see how it goes....

My Testimony of the DVR!

So if I haven't yet borne my testimony of the DVR to you, let me take this opportunity to do so. I have a firm testimony of the DVR and believe it is a godsend to families all over who want to be good parents and spend time with their kids and yet, not miss out on their favorite tv shows at the same time! What a privilege it is to live in this day and age! The DVR has truly changed my life as well as my tv viewing habits. Now, whenever I have a moment to sit down, with a nice cold beverage...diet coke of course!, and turn the tv on and have a little down time...I never have to worry about whether or not there will be something good on the tv. There are always plenty of my shows waiting for me to watch. And I could just go on and on about not having to watch live tv and view commercials. All for a measly extra $5.00 per month on my dish bill. Who wouldn't sign up for such a deal?!

Okay, all kidding aside, I do love the DVR and was reminded of what a blessing it is in my life when I was bombarded this January will all the good tv shows I watch. Lost has started again, and then 24, American Idol, Heroes will be starting up again soon as will Survivor. Not to mention some long time favorites like Law & Order, Without a Trace, Cold Case and a newbie to this year's line up The Mentalist. I would be in a heap of trouble without the DVR. So here's to the DVR...I think I'll go fix myself a diet coke, on the rocks, and sit down for some television viewing right now!!

Pet Peeve of the Week

So the other night I was talking with a group of ladies who live in my neighborhood. The typical "mother woes" were being exchanged. Moms were lodging their complaints about the hardships of motherhood...particularly the never ending messes that kids tend to make and then leave for somebody else (mom) to clean up. The women who were talking were all younger than me and had much younger kids. I joined the conversation and added that it doesn't always get better just because they get older. At this point, the mom who started the conversation turns to me and says "well, at least you have girls, I have boys." What exactly does that mean. I guess my girls didn't read the memo stating that because of their gender they will value cleanliness and not make or leave messes, but rather become housekeepers themselves at a very young age. Granted, I have not had the opportunity to raise sons, but despite some differences that I acknowledge, when it comes to things like this, the only difference is that messes at my house tend to be of a Littlest Pet Shop and American Girl doll nature rather than Transformers and Legos. The other thing it means is that is made it onto my pet peeve list for the week.

2009 Top 10 List

Okay...January has been a bit rushed and even though it is now the 12th of January, I am just getting around to starting the month. Is it possible to be 12 days behind? I've decided to blog about the top ten things I am looking forward to in
2009. Here we go....
10. Our trip to Hawaii...I don't know if that will actually happen this year, but I sure am looking forward to it!
9. Loosing weight. I'm not going to limit myself to an actual number here, but if I weigh less at the end of 2009, even by a pound, I'm counting that as success!
8. Jeff and I teaching the marriage & family enrichment class in our ward. That should be interesting! Was that truly inspired?
7. Time spent having fun as a family. Again, not sure what that all entails, but we are going to Lake Powell in August.
6. My 39th birthday! Am I really going to be that old? I have to say, I am realizng that it really takes us this many years to become this beautiful! How's that for positive thinking.
5. Spring & Summer and the way my yard transforms into a splash of color. Something about this just makes me giddy. I think it is because every year it gets better. Kind of like me with aging.
4. Jeff being able to quit his job as his new company that he and a partner started will take off!
3. Finishing our basement!
2. Teenager! Our oldest daughter will become an official teen in April.
1. President Obama!