I'm trying, does that count??

So, if you know me then you know that I am sooooo very uncreative. It's not that I don't try because I would really like to be creative and stylish. I always look at magazines and tear out pages in hopes of someday creating something really amazing-like right out of a magazine amazing.

I continue to run into a major roadblock on my way to creativity. Along with the inability to commit to anything, I can't finish a project. I probably have more unfinished projects than I have finished projects. If I actually finished a project I might be able to call myself creative but that would be waaaaaaay to much work. I would rather call myself uncreative, requires less effort.

So, today I am posting pictures of one of my many projects in hopes that if it's on here then I will be forced to finish it. I decided to take this little idea that I found at "oneprettything.com" and run with it since I have some extra material. Today, you won't be able to tell what I'm making but I hope in a few days I just might be able to show you a finished project.

As you will see, when I sew I have my trusty "best friend". I don't sew without him, if I did he just might get angry and I don't want that. One of these days I might get rid of him but for now I think I will keep him close, really close.

Today, I introduced my "friend" to someone new. I think they will get along great, which is really good for me!!

Did you say SIX??

Where have the days gone? It seems like just yesterday that we were hauling you home from the hospital. I say haul because you were a whopping 10 pounds when you were born! I guess some things haven’t changed-you are still our little giant. I’ll never forget the day we were accused of putting our “7 year old” on the 4 year old soccer team. I never understood why someone would “want” to put a 7 y.o. on a 4 y.o. team but either way the other team thought I was definitely doing something wrong with my “little giant”. I guess they missed the part where you were aimlessly running around like all the other 4 y.o. that day.

You are definitely a big teddy bear, as long as nobody makes you mad. Sometimes I wonder how many hugs and kisses can you give you before you will tire of it. I guess for now I will just be grateful that you love to give them.

I guess you are a typical younger brother. You want to be where the action is or in other words, you want to be with your big brother and sister. At times, this drives your big brother crazy but your sister just loves having you around. The two of you are either the best of friends or the worst of friends. I love to see the two of you play "library" together. You were so excited to "read" your first chapter book after "checking" it out from the "library". Oh the imagination of you and your sister!

Some days I wonder if you will make it to birthday #15. You are my daredevil. I hate it and you love it. It scares me to death when you come flying down the neighbors driveway on your bike but you think it’s the best thing on earth. It does not make sense to you that I would worry about a car hitting you or that just maybe, just maybe you might CRASH!! You continue to tell me you know what you are doing. I just don’t let you do anything now that you are SIX YEARS OLD!!

You make me laugh, cry, wonder where the time has gone. You make me re-focus my energy, you make me read. all. the. time. You make me happy, grateful and best of all you make me love you!! Like I’ve said before and I’ll say it again, you will always be my baby!!

Good Advice

I rec'd this text today from my older brother. Not only did I laugh my head off but I also found myself really thinking about what he wrote.

Little Heidi-san,
Remember, "Either karate yes, or karate no. If you go in middle, you get squished like grape". That is all.

Now is that not the best advice??? Granted I don't think he made it up himself, hence the quotation marks. Plus he is the movie quoter of all time but that is not the point here.

I find myself being way too much in the middle of everything I do. I need to either be yes or no!! A lot of times I stay in the middle so I don't have to hurt someones feelings or I don't want to commit. I would say that is my big downfall, I am a non-committer(I dont think that's a word but now it is). I will wait until the last possible second to commit to anything I do.

I don't like being committed. Is this terrible or what??? I struggle with making simple decisions in life because it might commit me to something.

So I will move forward today and remind myself daily, "you don't want to be squished like a grape!" That is all!

CRAZY!!

Did I mention it was crazy hair day? I didn't think so, see for yourself.

I think he's in LOVE!!

With who you ask??? WALMART!!

Today, Ted won 75 packs of gum from the new "local" Wal-mart. So if anyone out there is needing a stick of gum I just might be able to help you out, as long as you don't tell Ted I'm stealing his stash. He's keeping track you know-he counted them all tonight!!!

Celebrate!

I can't believe my oldest is 10 years old!! Alas, he is and so it's time to celebrate it. I never thought the day would come that he would be this old. I still remember when he was about 2 y.o., I told my Mom something to the effect of, these days will never end!! She laughed and told me to just wait, before I knew it they would be leaving the house!! Well, today we are over halfway there- AAAAAHHHH!

I have to say C is an amazing boy. One time when we were reading the scriptures and he was about 3 y.o. he said, "Mom, someday I hope I can be a prophet". Oh, the innocence of childhood.

He has always been my obedient one. If I ask him to do something he will get right on it. There have been a few times where he might complain a little but I would say that is rare. He is respectful. He loves to tease his younger sister. He is one to read his scriptures every.single.night.

He is also my video game nut. One time I told him I was going to let him choose what he did for an entire day. I figured he would play video games all day. He assured me he was not going to do this and he was "old" enough to manage his time wisely. So the day started and around 9:00a.m. he decided to start playing video games. He didn't stop until around 5:30 p.m.-he even missed lunch that day. It was torture for me, I am the anti-video game queen. When he finally did come up he sat down at the island and just started bawling!!! I was surprised because I thought the day would have been a dream come true for him. He felt so terrible for playing video games all day. He said he just didn't feel good about what he did. We agreed that moms are here for a reason-to help us manage our time.

This is his face after opening a video game. Is that happy or what??

I could go on and on about C but I wont. Here are just a few more things about him. He loves sports or anything outside. He loves swimming. He is very competitive, especially if it's his little sister. He loves to read. I hope this upcoming year is as good as the last!

Enjoying the cake.

Our cute neighbor joined us!!

St Patricks Day Fun

Today C had a couple of neighbor boys over to celebrate his bday. We made cupcakes, played some games and had some fun. What more could you ask for in a St Patricks Day???

Our "green" attire.

Our little cheeser

Here is the birthday spread before the cupcakes were frosted! I even

made jello jigglers, so tasty.

Attempting to blow out the candles!

Our little flower.

Saturday fun!

Back when I was a kid my parents would take me and my brothers to a bookstore in Salt Lake City called Sam Wellers Bookstore. My entire family is avid readers, except for me. I have grown to enjoy reading and actually read a lot now but back then I was not so hip on it. My mom would force me to read, which I am grateful for now but back then she was not on my good list!! Today, I thank her because I am a good reader all to her.

Anyway, my mom decided to take a trip downtown to re-visit the bookstore because it is having a big sale to reduce inventory. She asked me and the kids if we wanted to go. Of course we did, my kids are crazy readers!!! Sometimes I have to get mad at them because they try and bring their book reading to the dinner table and I can't stand it!! I suppose it is fitting that they all love to read because when they were little I would read to them at least 30 minutes a day. There were days I did not want to do this but I figured if it would help them enjoy reading more than me it was worth it. So now I reap my rewards, even if my rewards do make me angry some days!!!

We road trax down.

These next three pictures are to show the rooms and rows of books in this store. Just when you think there couldn't possibly be another row of books, there is!! And this was just in the basement, forget the two floors above us!! INSANE.

My three read books the entire time we were there. They did not want to leave when it was time. #2 child actually read an entire chapter book.

Girls these days

Saturday I had a girl, a young one, call our house and ask for C, who mind you is also young. C wasn't home so the phone conversation was nice and short.

I got on the phone shortly after our short conversation and she decided to call again and leave a message for C. I guess there was a group of girls because there was a lot of giggling going on. I think the message was more giggling and shouting than anything else. I saved the message and played it for C. I think he was ready to die!!

He was able to identify a couple of the girls due to caller id and they said their name over the message. He wasn't sure what to think of girls calling his house. I wish I would have taken a picture of his face as the message played and he realized what was happening. I don't think either one of us are prepared for this stage of life.

I bet if I told the girls he hates to shower they just might back off, at least for a little while.

Bathroom conversations

Conversation with T in public restroom.

Me: (in stall)

T: (washing his hands) Mom, what is this??

Me: I'm not sure T, what is it?

T: It says T.A.M.P.O.N.

Me: Oh T, I'll explain that later. Maybe when you get a little older.

T: (answer not sufficient, now sounding it out on his own) Does it say Taaaammmmpppoooooonnnnnnn? What does that mean Mom??

Me: T we don't need to talk about it right now. I'll explain it later. (I sure hope he forgets this conversation and we don't have to talk about tampons quite yet!!)

T: Mom, do you smoke it? It looks like it's something you smoke.

Me: Yeah, it's something like that. (Note to self: the picture on a tampon dispenser looks like a cigarette, thank goodness for simple pictures).

My poor child. Some things do not need to be talked about when you are 5 years old!!

It's Shower time!

So, every night or in the case of winter, every other night all three little ones are supposed to take a shower. I'm still in awe that every time shower time arrives everyone in the house acts like this is a new concept. I have to laugh because as a young child I thought a shower was torture, complete and absolute torture. Even still to this day I hate taking a shower. If I can get away with it, I skip washing my hair just so I don't have to do it. The dislike for showers obviously runs in the family. The irony of it all, once they get in I can't get them out!! It always cracks me up. I have to harass them to get out, every.single.time.

It will be interesting to see what happens as they get older. I'm sure I won't be able to get them out of the bathroom. I guess as parents we have troubles with being happy with what we have. We complain when they don't want to shower and then in a couple of years we complain because that's all they want to do.

I suppose for today, I will be happy that my children are normal and they like to be dirty, sweaty, grimy and anything else that comes with playing outside.

Some Friday afternoon pictures.....

C just had to finish reading the second Warrior book.

He did.

T enjoying the outdoors.

Tis the season...

Today I bought a swimsuit. I tried it on here at home. Child #3 was home and he was going to be my second opinion, bad idea.

Me: T, how do you like my new swimsuit???

T: (crinkles up his nose) I don't like it for the pool.

Me: (where else does a person wear a swimsuit???) Why don't you like it?

T: Mom(exasperated), it is way too immodest.

Me: (who taught you that word???) What do you mean?

T: The legs need to come down to here. (points to his knees)

Me: (are you kidding me??) Do you want me to wear a full body suit.

T: Yeah, you would look better.

Thank you T!!

I just hate this time of year. No matter how many swimsuits I try on none of them do my body justice. I suppose this is part of summer life. I have to find a new swimsuit this year. Last summer, Child #1 informed me that my suit of choice looked like a "GRANDMA SWIMSUIT"!!! I about dropped my jaw. I didn't realize my fashion savvy had sunk so low. I really should be embarrassed not only for myself but for my poor children. Imagine, hanging out with your mother that looks like a grandma. There is nothing worse.

I really do love summer, really. Just not this part!!

The Draper Temple

We finally made it to the Draper Utah LDS Temple Open House. It was a wonderful experience with the three musketeers. We watched a 12 min. video prior to entering the temple and Pres. Monson and Elder Holland bore testimony of the temple and it was POWERFUL!! The whole family commented on how strong the Spirit was. I won't go into details on how Child #3 decked Child #1 right after the video ended for all the world to see. I wanted to crawl under one of the chairs. So much for family unity, we ROCK!! Anyway, moving on, I am always in awe of the workmanship and detail of the temples.

I hope anyone who can attend will. It doesn't matter if you are a member of the LDS church or not beauty can be appreciated by anyone!!

Zion or BUST!!

I had an amazing weekend. I was able to accomplish one of the many things on my list of "things to do before 40". I have always had a dream to bike across the United States. Well, I didn't bike across the U.S. but I did go for a 100 mile bike ride!!!! It was wonderful and it made me think I was a little "crazy" to think biking across the U.S. would be "fun". I made it the 100 miles and actually felt really good, considering the circumstances!

I left my little house on Friday afternoon and headed for St. George. I had the chance to stay with an old neighbor(I don't mean old in age either). She was so great to let us crash her cute house and even go out to eat with us. I had the best time visiting and catching up.

Then Saturday morning it was bike time!! We started in St. George and headed out to Zion's National Park. It was a beautiful ride but I was so focused on the road half the scenery was missed. It was an uneventful ride with no flats or crashes. I felt great until just prior to the turn around point when my neck was so tight I thought I was going to DIE!! I was able to re-focus and made it back to St. George. I think the last 5 miles were the longest of my life but I did it!!

The day of the race I swore I would never do this again but today I'm ready to sign up for the next one!! So I guess overall it was a great experience.

I had a couple of friends on the ride and there was a group that came from Northern Utah that we rode with.

Me, my old neighbor and riding buddy

Pre-race

It was a chilly morning but warmed up quickly.

Outside Zions.

Only 40 miles to go.

Me and my other riding buddy.

Post race

WE DID IT!!!

Who has the camera???

I think I'll take a wild guess, Tye-maybe!!!

Now that is just a wild GUESS!! What do you think???