Yes It's that time..

Time to avoid eating my weight in Christmas crap. I started a fitness challenge online today so I could get a head start on my will power. I am a realist. I will eat Christmas treats. I will probably join the ranks of "eat till you puke" on Christmas Eve/Day... but I need to get a "buffer" going... Wish me luck. I started with 60 mins of elliptical this morning. umm.. anyone have any ibuprofen??

The Changing of the Guard

No, not this one...


I HAD to get groceries this morning... otherwise I would have waited until a time when I could have gone alone. So it was off to the store with 2 rugrats.... Now, ordinarily the person who gives me the most grief is Maya. Times they are a changin'! When Melody goes down for her nap, Maya and I are going back to finish what we started and I'm not even the slightest bit concerned. It looks like the torch of crabby behaviour has been passed.

Not to be outdone by my brother.....

The parable of the pretzels and the goldfishes

First, let me clarify that I am not a nursery worker at church. I live there because my little hip monkey doesn't let me leave. Today as we were arriving for my sentence... i mean quality time with my little ones, we discovered (for reasons not important) that we were devoid of snack. For those who have little ones in nursery you realize this is a catastrophe!!!!

After sending an official primary worker home to get a few odds and ends we discovered that the natives were indeed getting very restless. Along with the primary president's emergency stash of goldfish from her car and the items from 2 diaper bags we were able to feed the masses with a feast fit for... well.. a bunch of preschoolers... but they thought it was AWESOME! :) Oh the variety of it all!! Crisis averted. I believe in parables.

Just call me Martha.

My new inspiration seems to be attempting to satisfy my picky, hard to feed family with new recipes. Crazy. Last night we had Crockpot BBQ beef on toasted buns and broccoli salad. (It was made with a roast which Nathan has declared he does not like along with a very LONG list of other things.) For dessert I popped some ready to bake cookies in the oven, made some buttercream icing and we had cookie sandwiches. The dinner was popular with Morgan, Nathan and I but the two littles turned up their noses... I suppose 3 out of 5 isn't bad? Tonight I'm revisiting an old favorite with Potato Soup. I'm looking forward to that!

On another topic, I've become stark raving mad with clipping coupons, price shopping and deal finding. If you have any tips, let me know! I have to save money for my little 2 year old suction cup to attend at least a few hours of preschool or mother's day out next year or I'll go INSANE. People think I attend the gym for exercise.. really it's so I can go to the BATHROOM ALONE!!!

My kids and their grudge against me

Oh yeah it's immunization time! I took Morgan to her 8 year well check and didn't expect anything. Well it turns out that she was behind on her HEP A vaccine so she needed that one and since we were doing that already, why not get the flu shot?? Oh and by the way.. since Maya's here why don't we get that one out of the way too... So both kids hate my guts for a little while. This morning I took Melody in for her 2 year and she gets a flu shot too. Guess who was the toughest? Yup you got it. Mel's the prize winner :)

I LOVE this!!!

It's a good thing I have a supportive husband who would never say such a thing.

"What do you do all day?"

A man came home from work and found his three
Children outside, still
In their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty
Food boxes and wrappers
Strewn all around the front yard.


The door of his wife's car was open, as was
The front door to the house
And there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding
Into the entry, he found
An even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked
Over, and the throw rug was
Wadded against one wall.

In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a
Cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys
And various items of clothing.

In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink,
Breakfast food was spilled on the
Counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog
Food was spilled on the floor,
a broken glass lay under the table, and a
Small pile of sand was spread
By the back door.
He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over
Toys and more piles of
Clothes,looking for his wife. He was worried
She might be ill, or that
Something serious had happened.
He was met with a small trickle of water as it
Made its way out the bathroom door.
As he peered inside he found wet towels,
Scummy soap and more toys
Strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a
Heap and toothpaste had been
Smeared over the mirror and walls.
As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife
Still curled up in the bed
In her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up
At him, smiled, and asked how his day went.
He looked at her bewildered an d asked, "What
Happened here today?"

She again smiled and answered, "You know every
Day when you come home
From work and you ask me what in the world I do all
Day?"
"Yes," was his incredulous reply.
She answered, "Well, today I didn't do it."

So now it's time to wax spiritual....

I've been thinking lately about the strength of my testimony. I've always had one but am I the only one who has had an increase in their testimony since having children?

I mean there is the obvious reason... the miracle that is your child tends to evoke spiritual feelings that one cannot always describe. However, I have noticed something else.

Sometimes I strongly believe something and sometimes I follow it "because I am told". I have found that some of the things that I follow because I have to be an example for my kids has given me a testimony of that principle. Make any sense?

Let me give you an example. Before I had children I was pretty good with keeping the sabbath day holy (if you don't count pre-marriage years). Since I have three little policewomen keeping up with me on Sunday I have realized the blessings that come from keeping the sabbath holy and how it is such a divine principle. There are quite a few of these little (but significant) things that I have to thank my children for.

You guys drive me crazy sometimes but thanks for building up my testimony. I may not sell you on E-bay after all :)

So.... How about them Spurs?

Time to shift gears!! Go Spurs Go!

What do I do until late next spring?

RIP
FC Dallas season of 2007.
Ugh.
That was one ugly game.
Enough said.

Oh I suppose you can see the kids too....

Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore!



Convincing, isn't she?


Isn't she "sweet"?


I just can't help it.