0 Pay it Forward

Hayley, I REALLY debated doing this, but I'll play along.

This is how it works.....
The first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive a hand made gift from me during this year.
When and what will be a surprise.
BUT, in order for you to leave a comment on my blog, you have to post this on your blog first. (That means that sometime during this year you will send a gift to 3 people as well.) Get it?
So, the first 3 people to comment on this post will be the lucky ones!
Good Luck!!!

3 Got Green?

We did!
Green pancakes, yum!

4 Thankful Thursday #8 ( a week late) & #9 (on time!)

Last Week:
1) Adoption: I don't even think I can put into words the feelings I have for adoption. I hold birthmoms in such reverence. It has been through them that members of our family have come to be with us. Man, I'm tearing up just thinking about this. Countless prayers were answered last week when Hayden Kali was born for Brett & Britney, our good friends and neighbors. All at once it seemed the years of heartache and pain seems to be washed away as they brought this special Daughter of God into their family. Our Heavenly Father has a plan for our happiness!

2) Baptism: Our beautiful niece Keiko became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints last weekend. It was extra special since Allie is now starting to process what is going on and asks LOTS of questions. Its hard to belive our kids are growing up so fast!

3) Primary Singing Time: I really miss Relief Society (*gasp* yes I just said that mom), but I'm finding myself really enjoying singing the songs in primary. Most of the boys in our class don't sing. They are a mature 6 years old and much to cool for that, but I like to sing right out. The words stick with me through the week and I find myself humming them daily. What a comfort!




This Week:
1) a Strong Marriage: This is one thing I take for granted all the time, but I am REALLY thankful for. Right now someone close to us is really struggling in this area and it breaks my heart. Nate is a wonderful husband and I love getting to spend time with him. Even in the tough times I know I can count on him, which is a huge relief.

2) Books, Books, Books: Kylie is really getting excited about books. Its more about turning the pages than the stories, but its still super cute. She will get a stack from the bookcase and tote them to the living room where she sits down and flips through them all. After a minute she gathers them up and moves locations and repeats. I can't even count the number of times we re-stack the books each day. Dozens!

3) a Full Night's Sleep: I'm thankful for my job, but my sleep has definitely been suffering due to some major deadlines the past two weeks. I'm not as young as I once was and I'm really looking forward to some full night's sleep next week during spring break. I guess that's the silver lining to the mandatory week long unpaid vacation all USU employees are being forced to take in an effort to budget cuts.

5 POEM: Get out the Kleenex!

I read this poem posted on my cousin Dev's blog today and just had to post it here.
Sorry for the swipe, but I need the reminder -sob!

The baby is teething; The children are crying.
Your husband just called and said "Eat dinner without me."

One of these days you'll explode and shout to all the kids,
"Why don't you just grow up and act your age!"
And they will...

Or, "You guys get outside and find something to do -- without hurting each other
And don't slam the door!"
And they don't.

You'll straighten their bedrooms until it's all neat and tidy,
toys displayed on the shelf,
hangers in the closet,
animals caged.
You'll yell, "Now I want it to stay this way!"
And it will...

You will prepare a perfect dinner with a salad that hasn't had all the olives picked out
and a cake with no finger traces in the icing
and you'll say, "Now this is a meal for company."
And you will eat it alone...

You'll yell, "I want complete privacy on the phone. No screaming, Do you hear me?"
And no one will answer.

No more plastic tablecloths stained.
No more dandelion bouquets.
No more iron-on patches.
No more wet, knotted shoelaces, muddy boots or rubber bands for ponytails.

Imagine.... a lipstick with a point,
no babysitters for New Years Eve,
washing clothes only once a week,
no PTA meetings
or silly school plays where your child is a tree,
no car pools,
blaring stereos or forgotten lunch money.

No more Christmas presents made of library paste and toothpicks,
no wet oatmeal kisses,
no more tooth fairy,
no more giggles in the dark,
scraped knees to kiss or sticky fingers to clean.

Only a voice asking, "Why don't you grow up?"
And the silence echoes:
"I did"

I am so glad I took the time to take my girls to the library today. I was wasted from pulling an all-nighter to finish a major work project by 4:45am this morning, just in time to go coupon grocery shopping with my sister-in-law at 5:45am. I'm not a young chick anymore, I admit. I truly felt awful this morning BUT I've never taken my girls to our local library (and before you judge, it really is the most pathetic excuse for a library), and for some weird reason, yesterday the thought came to me that we must go there today. I'm not claiming it was a spiritual whisper, but I was glad I listened nonetheless. Nothing amazing happened, rather it was just nice. I'll take that!

We were the only patrons in the tiny one-room basement children's section. The 3 of us sat on the floor and I read all the books Allie picked out, well the non-spanish ones anyway. We also played with the hand puppets. Kylie really got a kick out of them. I was very proud when Allie asked the librarian to help her find a book about Cinderella, all by herself. She was so grownup about it all. She amazes me. Kylie actually enjoyed herself more than I expected and was on her best behavior until I instisted she leave the sparkley board puzzle when we left. Not bad for a not quite 2-year-old. Not bad. Oh, the reason we left was a smelly behind and lack of diaper bag...I've gotten lazy about leaving the house prepared. Sorry child #2, its just the way it is.

When we got home it was diaper change, banana snack, and naps all around. As tired as I was, I gave rigth in when Allie asked me to lay with her for a 'little while'. It was so nice to snuggle up with my not-so-baby girl on my bed. It was blissfull fall asleep to the sound of her breathing, warm body curled up by my side. I think I might do that more often! Work can wait...I'll gladly stay up all night working to have moments like thoes with my children the next day. I think I am starting to realized just how fleating childhood is. sigh.

0 Book Blunders

I lent my copy of 'Hunger Games' to my father last week thinking he'd enjoy a good read on my parent's trip to Hawaii. Boy was I wrong. He called it satanic. YIKES! So I'm tucking my tail between my legs as I warn you that this book may not be for you.

On a related note, I have lost yet another book. I can not find my copy of 'the Host'. Did I lend it to you?

0 I am such a giant nerd: I'm counting down the days till this book is released!!!

'Hunger Games 2': A First Look

By Diane Roback -- Publishers Weekly, 1/22/2009 3:30:00 PM

When readers of the bestselling fantasy novel The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins reach the last page, many of them will be eager to know, “But what happens next??” Unfortunately, we can’t tell you yet, but we can show you, for the very first time anywhere, the cover for the sequel, Catching Fire. Scholastic is publishing the book on September 8 with a 250,000-copy first printing (Scholastic Audio Books will release a simultaneous audio edition). UPDATE: release moved up to August 5th, since the book is already COMPLETELY WRITTEN !!!

The Hunger Games came out last September, after much pre-pub buzz; it has 225,000 copies in print, with 26 foreign editions to date. Collins is currently at work writing the third and final volume in the trilogy, tentatively scheduled for 2010. <--UGH!!!

David Levithan, executive editorial director at Scholastic, says that the manuscript for Catching Fire is available in-house on a “need to read” basis only. “It’s the most secrecy I’ve had about any project I’ve ever worked on.” Why such secrecy? Levithan says it’s not a ploy for attention—they really don’t want the book’s plot to become public. “We want as many readers as possible to find out what happens in the book itself,” he explains. “We don’t want a Midnight Sun to happen [an early draft of Stephenie Meyer’s companion novel to Twilight was posted on the Internet last summer, causing the book to be postponed indefinitely]. <--I could really hurt that person!!!] It’s pretty remarkable what [Collins] has done and where she’s going. There are lots of twists and turns, and part of the fun is the surprise of it.”

Fans in the book industry can have their first chance to find out those surprises at the end of May—Scholastic will be giving out ARCs of Catching Fire at BEA in New York City.

This is the official plot summary of the book:
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

If you have not read HUNGER GAMES, you M-U-S-T!!! I couldn't put it down. I'm more than willing to lend out my copy, as soon as I get it back, again. Stenphenie Meyers was right, this really is an all consuming book. Hum, on second thought you might want to wait till the last one comes out in 2010. This wait is TERRIBLE!!! (my post about Hunger Games last fall: HERE)

1 Beautiful Day on the Slopes

My brother-in-law Troy just sent me this great picture we took a few weeks ago up at Beaver Mountain. It was an amazing morning. The fog was thick in the valley and burnt off fast -fabulous view from on top. The runs were soft and the sky was blue. Exhilarating!!!

BIL-Paul & SIL-Maho, FIL-Eldon, BIL-Troy & GF-Heidi, ME-Sarah
(yeah, I'm the only board in a group of silly skiers)

4 Takes a wash and keeps on playing

For Christmas Nate gave me a pink 'Sansa Clip' 2GB MP3 player. It got great reviews, has a full display, and a built in FM radio. It is super tiny and perfect for working out and snowboarding.

Last TUESDAY I was relaxing in the evening after the HUGEST powder day in the history of Beaver Mountain...TWO FEET!!! Then it dawned on me, although I'd checked all my coat's outer pockets, I had left my CLIP in my coat's inner pocket. AND MY COAT WAS NOW IN THE DRYER!!! Sure enough, after an extra-long cycle in the washing machine and at least 15 minutes in the dryer it would not turn on. I was DEVASTATED. Stupid me!

AMAZINGLY the next morning it turned on and played fine. The battery was nearly dead, but
it charged up fine. I can not believe that it is JUST FINE!!!

1 Last week's Scrap Night

Here's a layout that I put together a few weeks ago at our monthly scrap-night. I love only taking my laptop! Digital is so much less mess than traditional scrapbooking. I did spend most of my evening organizing and exploring PhotoShop. I'm not too fast yet, but I spend a good share of my time just playing with all the features.

0 Thankful Thursday (-ish) #7

1) Siblings: This past week Nate was able to go to St George with some of his brothers and buddies for their annual golf vacation. I am so glad that he loves to hang with his brothers. All SIX of the brothers (no sisters) are fabulous and get along great! I hear of families that aren't close and go months without talking, but I can't really picture it. I think Nate talks to at least 2 of his brothers EVERY day. Most days he sees at least one of them. In the summer they golf, boat, and play softball together. Since work has been slow this cold winter, Layne & Nate have played racketball a few times a week.

When Nate left last week, I loaded up our girls and headed to my parent's home in Rexburg. All FOUR of us sisters (no brothers) have been here. I don't see my sisters as often as Nate see's his brothers, due to proximity, but I talk to them several times a day between phone & IM. This week its been great to be together with them and let our kids -"the hord"- play.

Back when I first found out I was pregnant with baby #2, I was torn. On one hand I was estatic to welcome a new baby to our family, but on the other hand I felt very guilty for displacing my baby Allie, who had just had her first birthday. When I expressed my concern to my Mother, she pointed out that we were NOT kicking Allie out of her spot in the family, but rather giving her the most priceless gift: a sibling. How true!

2) Disposable Diapers: I can't imagine having to wash out cloth diapers! Props to our parents and grandparents. I just don't think I could do it. I've almost lost my lunch over several Kylie blow-outs this week. I don't think she's 'sick', but her system is having some issues. yuck!

3) Kylie's giggles: She really is 'Smiley Kylie'.

2 Kylie tid bits, too

Kylie is growing FAST! She is wearing 2T clothes already (she doesn't turn 2 till May), a full 9 months earlier than her sister. Since birth we've noticed how 'long' she seems: long fingers, long toes, long body. In fact, she is now wearing the Strawberry Shortcake tennis shoes -size 7- Allie got at age 3! She can reach her hand around the door knobs, but I don't think she has actually opened a tightly shut door yet. Its only a matter of time, sigh. Now if we can only get her hair to grow!

Kylie loves animals. She isn't intimidated at all, even by large dogs. Our cat, Marble, actually is much more tolerant of Kylie than Allie. Kylie is soft and loving with her where as Allie often tried to chase her.

4 Allie tid bits

Allie is all about dancing at the moment. She loves to dress up and shake her booty to the Strawberry Shortcake CD. She dances everywhere we go. She really enjoys the music during sacrament meeting and can't understand why she can't twirl down the isle during the hymns. Her Sunbeam teacher has had to institute having a 'dance party' during the last few minutes of class to keep Allie from putting on impromptu recitals during the lesson. What a silly goose.

Last night, as I was drifting off to sleep, I heard Allie getting out of bed and shuffling the hall. When I asked her if she needed to go to the bathroom she just exploded into tears. It took a while to get her sobs to subside. She nodded 'yes' when I asked if she had a bad dream. Later when we were snuggled up warm in my bed I asked her what the dream was; what she had seen. "Kylie is gone. She ran away." Ow, how tender. Allie was terrified her sister was gone. We snuggled and sang until she drifted back to sleep. When I took her back to bed we peeked into the crib to show "A" that little sis was sound asleep in her bed. What a tender thing.

2 Thankful Thursday #6

1) My own little corner of the house: It may not be 'finished' but I have so enjoyed having a a little bit of space to call my own.

2) Leftovers: I really enjoy cooking and baking, but sometimes it is very nice to pull a container out of the fridge and call it good. Today I've been on the computer for my job all day and dinner was the last thing on my mind.

3) Allie's growing vocabulary: I love having conversations with my oldest girl. I stand in awe of her everyday. It is so fund to see what she comes up with next.

4 Popcorn seeds do not belong in the Ear

The past month I have enjoyed swapping children with my sister-in-law Maho. On Tuesday's she watches mine so I can snowboard and on Fridays I watch hers so she can snow ski. It has worked great thanks to other carpool mom's that are cool with dropping our kids off at our opposite houses on the appropriate days. Our kids get along with each other great. Its almost easier to watch all 5 of them than just my 2. Last Friday was the exception to that rule.

The day had been going great. The kids played happily in the basement most of the morning. Lunch was calm and I was cleaning up when I heard someone crying. I didn't think much of it until I realized it was Kai, the oldest. He came out of the room sniffling and then started howling again when I asked what was wrong. With the help of the others I learned that my Allie had shoved a popcorn seed (leftover from our morning snack) down Kai's ear. CRAP!!! Allie denied it, but using a flashlight I was able to see it, WAY down in his ear canal. I hope I looked calmer than I felt. It must worked since Kai settled down. I don't think it was hurting him; he was just scared. Maho was due back in less than a half hour. I was sick about returning her kid in need of a trip to the doctor...on her Birthday no less. UGH!

The last thing I wanted to do was push the seed further in or do damage to the inner ear, but I figured I should make a few attempts to get the seed out. First, I tried spraying water in his ear to flush the seed out. I used a large needle-less syringe, but the seed didn't move. Tweezers were out since it was so snug in the ear tube, but I could see a little space under the seed since the tube wasn't as round as the seed. Kylie was crawling all over me as I attempted a delicate manuver. Carefully I pressed up on the seed from below with a toothpick. PLOP! The seed fell out. WOOAH! What relief for both Kai and I. He was all smiles as we put this prized seed in a zip-lock baggie to take home. Right on cue his mom knocked on the door. I felt silly for 'allowing' it to happen in the first place, but at least we were able to get it out with no harm done.

As for Allie, she lied about her involvement for over 15 minutes despite the other kids tattling on her before she finally fessed up. I think that is what disturbs me the most about the whole incident. And this is far form the first lie we've heard from her. In fact telling the truth has been a daily lesson at our house the past few weeks. If you have any ideas on how to teach your kids not to lie, I'd love to hear. Obviously what we are doing isn't working.

0 Kylie Bug

Kylie is quite a silly bug.

She is constantly making us laugh!
We think she will be the class clown in school.
She has a thing for shoes.

0 When the house is too quiet...

...it usually means that the girls are up to something. This time they had gotten their own snacks.

3 Help?!!?

Do you have MY copy of 'Breaking Dawn'? I was only going to read books 1-3, but I can't stop thinking about Bella & Edward. UGH! I don't remember lending it out, but I can't find my book 4 anywhere. Guess I'll read Midnight Sun in while I keep looking.

1 Thankful Thursday #4 ( a week late) & #5 (today)

NOTE: I did try to post a few times in the past 2 weeks, but blogger has been having some issues.

1) Carpooling: Allie's preschool is just around the corner, but it sure is nice to just send her out the front door over half the time. I'm especially greatful that the other mom's haven't minded dropping Big-A off at Aunt Maho's on the day's I've been snowboarding.

2) Aunt Maho & my kid trading scheme: It has been super nice this year to not feel guilty about leaving the kids to snowboard. They love playing with their cousins and since we alternate days, its all even!

3) Smart Wool Socks: The only real draw back to snowboarding is the cold. I hate being cold. BUT a few years ago I found the BEST socks and they make all the diference. I do think its time to replace mine. On day last week I was on the mountian in sub-zero weather and they just aren't are warm as they once were. Five years is plenty to justify the cost.


1) Our sharing time assignment is over for the YEAR!!! It wasn't that bad, but it's still nice to have it out of the way.

2) Good LONG BookS (aka the Twilight series): I re-read the first 3 books over the past 2 days. AHHH! Nothing quite like a romance fix when real life just isn't that fun. I'm still debating if I want to take on #4 since it wasn't my favorite. Maybe this weekend?

3) E-mail: Without the instant file sharing and conversations I wouldn't be able to do my job from home. I don't always like the hours I have to work, but I love that I can do it from home for the most part.

1 Thankful Thursday #3

1)Online Banking & Quicken - Seriously this saves me hours every month. For several years I didn't really taken advantage of these. In fact for most of our marriage I've been 'behind' in Quicken by several (6-7) months. Hey, two full-time salary incomes with no kids spells financiall wiggle room. However, I've been up-to-date and reconciled in all our personal accounts at least once a week for nearly 9 months. It might give me an ulcer every time, but I'm so glad I'm not doing it by hand. My next goal is to carry this over to Nate's business account.

2) Clean air & Endorphins- About this time of year the valley smog soup really weighs heavy on my mood. If I had a crystal ball last fall I would not have purchased a season snowboard pass, but since its long been paid for (no refunds) I guess I better get my money's worth. I love to get away to Beaver Mountain for a few hours. It is truly amazing how immediate the effects of a crystal clear sky and clean fresh air are. The rush {physical & emotional} I get from racing down the hill is exhilarating. Bring on the snow!

3) Crockpot - I've been hungry ALL day today due to the smells wafting from the slow cooker on my counter. I don't think there is an easier meal than throwing a whole chicken on top of a chopped oinion, carrots, & potatos. It truely is plug-and-go. I tried to lift the bird out after 10 hours on 'lo' and the thing just fell apart. Talk about melt in your mouth! I might have to go back to Albertson's...their whole chickens are on sale for $0.69/pound.

3 Adventures in Bread Making

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In college my bread maker was my Mormon-coffee maker. Most nights I'd fill it and set the timer so that I could have a hot slice on my way to class. I continued the habit as a newlywed, but somewhere along the way my machine died. Nate bought me a new one, but I never quite got it figured out. After about 8 years in the closet, I pulled it out and gave it a whirl. My first few attempts were LESS than perfect. In fact they we completely inedible bricks. I tried more water, new yeast, extra wheat gluten...finally I figured out the right combination for white bread on the quick cycle. YUM! Warm bread from scratch with home-made strawberry jam in under an hour!!! Devine! I think my husband would vote for that for dinner every night of the year.

Tonight I'm attempting a box mix on the full 3 hour cycle. We will see.