Gratitude Smatitude

So yes like a lot of things in my life, well not a ton...I didn't follow through with what I had planned, however props go to me for just even writing more than once in the month! I think I decided I am ADD with a little bit of compulsive disorder, because I will hit something strong follow through and then bam...half sewn skirt sits in my sewing pile for a year!...anyway enough about me, how about my gratitude...and since today is the 28th and I did a few posts, don't really even know how many I will give you 28 things I am grateful for!
1. My husband--LOVE, LOVE him and words can't describe how grateful I am for him in my life.
2. My kids- love them much too and posted on them before!
3. My parents--Great awesome people who are so very important in my life.
4. My in-laws--Awesomely wonderful people. So glad to have them in my life.
5. Siblings, I always was proud to say I have an Older Sister, an Older Brother, a younger Sister, and a Younger Brother, not many people get to say that. I love them and love having had the opportunity to live closer to them since having grown up--though I am still growing.
6. Sibling in laws--they are awesome and I sure enjoy living near some and having them in my lives.
7. My home
8. my health, because if you know I have the ability to get sick easy it seems sometimes....
9. My sense of color--you need color matches or coordination I am your gal really I am :)
10. my sight- having had problems with seeing lately so glad that I can see.
11. My brain--yes stealing this one from my nephew :) but I am grateful for it.
12. my ability to type and AMAZE my daughter as she is watching me type this.
13. my Sense of Humor...my goodness thats what everyone is looking for in someone right? :) so I guess I am a number one pick :) haha!
14. FRIENDS--new and old! I love having friends and making friends and working on keeping them :) the later seems to be harder in older years :) but there isn't a place in the world where I can't find a friend. People are awesome and I love getting to know them.
15. Friends again, because I love how they support me and are willing to put up with some of my stupidness.
16. Cookie Dough--cheers me up!
17. Running--though because of meds (which i just took myself off of) I had to stop. Ran in the Thanksgiving Turkey trot and it felt so good!
18. Trees--they are so pretty and give us nice shade in the hot summers.
19. Snow--looks so pretty on the mountains
20 A full Fridge--because right now it is totally empty.
21. Christmas--though it feels right now it reminds me of how much I'd like to do for my kids and others and can't, I am grateful for the feeling of love all around the world, even though black friday brings out the evil in people...but then it subsides...and everyone is awesome.
22. Books--I love to read and love the library...which I need to go back to.
23. Kids that can count and tell me I have 23 and need five more to be at 28
24. computers
25. internet--love being able to connect to friends near and far
26. cars- maybe not the top of the line, or non oil leaky free..but run and get us to where we need to go.
27. sewing-the ability to make my kids gift this years makes me happy
28. Heritage Makers--I love making things and making books and taking pictures and writing stories and this has been a wonderful outlet for me!  And to show you what I am doing for Christmas...and what you can do to....click on this link :)  or go to http://www.storybooker.com/ to make your own!!!

or here :) 

What day is it mom?? Nov. 15..I'm right! Right?

My little Two is in first grade and just amazes me at times with her knowledge, and her keeping me on track with dates and all! Yeah so now it is Nov. 16th, this month can't possibly be half way through...this year truly has flown.

So today I list the six things I am grateful for:

1. T-Rex, even though, should I start a gratitude post out with even though...yeah why not, even though he does some crazy stuff, like dump the WHOLE FULL (raw chicken even) Kitchen garbage can on the living room floor- or think it fun to pull the wire thingy in the stapler, till it springs back no more--or take every bucket in the toy room and dump it in a pile, pile on blankets and start jumping--or pee on the front porch---or run around naked--I love him! He has a way about it that just warms my heart, maybe it's the random hugs and "mommy I love you so much" or the fact that he just likes to hang out with me and do chores with me. He and I have spent many days just sitting on my bed watching music videos on youtube, not something I normally do or ever did, but something he enjoys doing...kind of funny his favorite song is "lazy" by Bruno Mars "today I don't feel like doing anything..." because some days he and I just hang out! I so enjoy my time with him! Just if I could get him to be a little less mischievous! Love you buddy! 
2. Two--kind of funny 2 Two....anyway that little girl is just the cuddliest, loving little girl! Sometimes I admit I am not too excited to hold her, but realize and treasure those moments because she isn't going to always want to sit in my lap. I think I have said this before I love her little, rather big smile, she just really beams ear to ear. Two likes everyone and though sometimes I see it as a down side, she is always more concerned about her friends' happiness and what they want to do than hers. Everyone once in awhile she stands up for her own, but she is always the first to apologize and always the first to do what the other wants. She loves to read, and I love that, because I too love to read, and she will read me book after book, and I get to read to her as well. Two loves school and seems to really love to learn, even if she has a hard time sitting still, I think a trait that runs deep in our family. I love you Two!! 
3. Our little Bee is just such a wonderful asset to our family, and truly a little mini me, sometimes to her own demise. She loves to take control and make sure everyone is doing what they are suppose to, sometimes this is a big help to me, and sometimes well it causes some tension but none the less she is such a good helper and rule follower. Bee and I truly enjoy moments where we can sit and talk, and she loves hanging out with my friends and I. I think if it came down to it she'd choose to sit with the adults. I actually really enjoy having her around. The other night I did a Heritage Makers' Workshop at my house and she was so helpful and sat so quietly and just was fun to have her around. She too is taking off in reading and I love watching her read with Two and show her the ropes and teach her. She loves to teach, and wouldn't be surprised if she ended up teaching school, though she says she wants to be a Doctor. I love my little Bee!!!!
4. G-Man, my first born my love, my go get'em friendly guy. And though lately he seems to enjoy his new found super power of pestering his sisters, he sure is an awesome older brother. He makes sure they get home safely from school, enjoys hanging out and playing with them, and for the most part is truly loving to them. He still is ubber sensitive not just his personal feelings but towards others' feelings as well, I really hope that doesn't change. I love how he knows what I am thinking, and tries to adjust the situation to make things a little better. It has been fun watching him learn and grow, so hard to believe he will be 11 soon. He is maturing and it is awesome to watch him do so. Though some days I just wish I could hold him tight, and some days he lets me. He is a wonderful young man and we are blessed to have him in our lives-- Love you G!
5. It's hard to not be grateful for my kids with out being grateful for my husband. He is a wonderful dad and husband and I am so glad that our paths finally crossed and we were able to create such a wonderful family. He is smart, kind, thoughtful, sharing, giving, creative, adventuresome, talkative (some may be surprised to hear that), funny, patient, and just so wonderful!!! He is a blessing in my life, as I am in his (just a friendly reminder). 
6. Gift of writing, I love that in some ways I have the ability to write and express my thoughts and feelings, I am not so good at the speaking part, and not saying I am close to being an amazing writer, but I admit I have a little talent of it and am grateful for it...was that like a humble gratitude brag?! Oh well, I am grateful to be able to write!!

Nov 10--Veterans

I know tomorrow is officially Veterans' Day, however the third graders at my daughter's school performed a Vetrans' Day Musical...more or less. And I have to tell you, I am so grateful to those who server our country and for the country we live it. I always feel like a boob because I can't sing the National Anthem or say the Pledge of Allegiance with out tearing up, and choking up either. Also as soon as the Veterans stand and we applaud their service, my eyes begin to water and my throat wells up...not sure why but I truly love these brave young men and women, and love seeing the gray haired men proudly stand.

I love the USA! And am Proud and Grateful to be an American!

Nov 9- Creative Liberties

The other day I was paid the most awkward but cool compliment "Corrine, you are the kind of person I just don't like being friends with because you are so talented and it makes me feel lame." Um...I thought, is that a compliment put down? But then I realized that no it was a total "Corrine you rock!" yeah something like that. But I have to say, I am not the most creative person on the block, but I am grateful for the creativity I have, and the ability to see something I like and copy it :) Though usually even if it is a copy, I always give it my own Corrine twist, but I think that is because I am really not usually a direction follower.   And my cool red and turquoise house, is a hit and people all over are flocking to see it and copy it :) ok not really just really cool people :) HA HA! you know who you are! 

But I am grateful for a decent mind that can work in a way that I can create things that are fun and different"ish".

what day is it?

Oh yes day 7 and 8, might as well get them done in one post today seeing that it is technically day 8, and by golly I am going to write a gratitude post for every day this month, even if it is not written on the corresponding day.

Day 7: short and sweet grateful for my mom. It truly has been great to live near her and my dad. The kids love them, but I feel blessed to be able to hop in the car and stop by and see her, or have her swing by and pick me up and take me shopping. Love you mom you are a wonderful mom and a great friend.

Day 8: my dad is awesome too! one thing I remember most of my childhood is weeding on Saturdays or heading to the lumber store with him. And even this day, I like to throw at him all my wood related projects and he is so willing to do them, and he does an awesome job. Hey dad did I mention my trunk had a little moving accident :) Love you.

I feel extremely lucky to have ended up near my parents, and lucky as well to have been able to spend so many of our children's younger years near my in laws. Grandparents are the best, but that will be for another post!

Day 6: Grateful for poop...yeah thats right...

One must wonder why in the world I would be grateful for poop, and why in the world would I actually post about it. I am asking myself that right now, but there is a story and a spiritual one none the less...Just bare with me for a moment...

Our bishop has encouraged every member of our ward (our church congregation) to read the Book of Mormon before the new year. As our family has been trying hard to finish it we have been met with some struggles....but have been doing fairly well, but with many beginner readers sometimes it is painful to get through a page, let alone a chapter or more than one chapter.  And I am assuming that we aren't unlike any other family out there trying their best to read their scriptures, children get distracted, or some how begin fighting or throwing things or laughing or too tired or whatever. 

However today was kind of unlike any other reading we have had before. We were all sitting on our bed, we had an extra hour this morning because of the day light savings stuff, and so we sat and read. It was going surprisingly well, when T-Rex decided he needed to use the john, and was in sitting doing his duty with the door open for all to see...and for some unknown reason, other than the fact that I think a certain being not wanting our family to read the scriptures, T-Rex decided to reach into the toilet grab out his personal gold from the toilet and began to bring it to the family, I think he mentioned something about throwing it at someone!! I of course yelled, the other children were all screeching in disgust so he dropped it on the bathroom floor. Bringing our scripture study to an abrupt stop. After cleaning it up we attempted to continue reading but the good mood had left, but we read some more. 

Now you ask why am I grateful for poop? Well today it reminded me that as we continue to try to make ourselves better, poop happens but somehow we clean it up, and we can continue on and improve ourselves. I am grateful for the knowledge that we can better ourselves and despite the adversaries attempt to throw poop at us, if we continue on, do our best to move on, we will succeed.

slacking already day 4 and 5

No one is perfect and that surely includes me, especially when it comes to sticking to something I set my mind to.  My mind tends to...SQUIRREL....see what I mean.  :)  Anyway this morning I am grateful for

1. Family, the extended kind, not that I am not grateful for the immediate ones, but I had the opportunity to attend a cousin's wedding and just being around them just reminded me how small the world really is and how related we all are. I am grateful that no matter how many pounds you have gained or lost, or how grey your hair has become, or how rich or poor you may be, they love you and enjoy catching up and seeing you.  So fun to see familiar faces and feel the love.
2. Laughter. I love to laugh and truly enjoy nights when I can get out with friends and just laugh. No need for much else than good company and loud heart felt laughter!

Have a great day! Hear there is snow out there, but haven't dared look!

Also if you are in the area I am doing a digital scrapbooking/art decor party my house Tuesday at 7:30 so come on out and learn more about Heritage Makers, you can also go to www.storybooker.com for more information!!! Turn your photos and stories into amazing mementos!

3 days late, but still feeling great

Ok so that may sound like something totally different that what I meant to make it sound like, unless you were thinking the same thing I was, Gratitude posts for November and its November 3rd... So as I am late, but at least posting I will share with you three things I am grateful for, and as a fair warning, they may not be in order of most importance to me, but rather really what has come to my head first, which some may argue is order of importance, well any way you slice it, this is how I like it. Was that a really long run on sentence?? Um Yeah probably!

1. A job for my husband, or rather a salary and steady income. As its been a few years since we had that, though is it bad for me to say I sure miss my kids getting free lunch at school, I am grateful for a system, how messed up it may be, is able to help families out in times of need, and I am grateful to be able to pay back into the system. 
2. Generous children, my children may be a lot of things, but selfish they are not. I appreciate them sharing their toys with friends, among other things, like halloween candy. Little T-Rex has given away all his candy.  He now is wanting more, but he has gladly shared it. 
3. Modern medicine, if you have read posts in the past or just know me and my family you know that the ER knows us by first name, well not really but they should! Bee had her appendix out last week, and we have had our share of stitches, Bee fell and split her knee open riding a bike, and G-Man got stung by a scorpion and well Two keeps fighting bladder infections, grateful for antibiotics...and then there is me, with massive optical migraines for the past few months, leaving me blind for awhile, and finally finally finding a medicine regimen, that this month well October I only had 3!! Last month I had over 12! And glasses I am grateful for those, as now 4 out of 4 of my kids are sporting them! as well as me!! Love modern medicine! And it helps to have insurance, though again, going back to the poor thing, it was kind of nice to pay a $5 copay for the kids...man I kind of sound like a system moocher...

And there you have it, my 3 days of gratitude, and I will be ever more grateful if I can actually pull off writing every day this month...

Well off to help my six year old who has been crying since I have been writing about me getting her dressed...seriously I guess I can only ignore for so long. 

School Picture day

yesterday I thought I might head to the store, pick up a few coordinating matching shirts for my children, get up early curl the girls hair, paint their nails, fix them a nice breakfast, while packing their lunches and then sending them off well fed and ready for the day. Unfortunately it didn't go that way.

T-Rex woke up at 2am with a fever, crawling into my bed, after wetting his too. Then his over hot little body, in our small queen bed, caused me to leave and hit the couch. Where of course I pulled out the lap top and began reading and figuring out the new facebook layout. An hour or two passed when I realized I probably should go back to sleep as 6 am rolls around fast.

I snooze my walking alarm and fall back to sleep, to wake at 7:10 remembering it is picture day and my kids actually need to get ready for school. Kids are flying in the shower, I am trying to find the picture order form, remember that I didn't get any shirts and my ideas of coordinating kids flew out the door. I try to negotiate to get some coordination out of the children however they have in mind what they are going to wear, and I decide there are only so many battles to fight this morning, like getting breakfast. Some want eggs, while others cereal and a certain determined one wanting pancakes, because a certain father left this morning early after making himself an omelet which for some reason made the house smell like pancakes, so I really couldn't blame the child for wanting one.

So where was I oh yeah, kids showering, me running around the house, finding the order forms, and I remember the wet sheets, which I pull off the bed and start washing, followed by deciding to "save" time and preorder the photos on the web, which only allows one student preorder---Hello we are in Utah and everyone knows every family has at least three children at a school at time..well that may be a little stereo type but anyway, so I end up ordering 3 packages for one child, and hope I put enough printed out receipts in their own envelopes to not have screwed it up too bad. All the while, I am trying to print the receipts off, Two is crying in the back ground for pan cakes, T-rex in my bed crying for his dad and my ocular migraine starts to make a prescence, and I am slowly loosing my field of vision in my left eye.

I grab some meds, and then make a pancake, and while it is cooking   burning I atempt to dry Two's hair and wash off her lipstick I told her we would put on for picture day, I meant a lip gloss and she found the lipstick, though have to admit she didn't make too much of a clown face. As I smell the cooking pancake, I run to flip it, and then come back and pull her hair back. Run back to the kitchen, one eyed, and brush out Bee's tangled fresh washed hair, and slick it back in a head band, just hope it dried before her classes picture time.

We run around finding shoes, and oh did we sign the homework? no get that signed and in the back packs, there is only 5 minutes before school starts, where did the time go this morning? I don't have time to get those lunches made so we pull out our disney money and count out pennies and nickles to make up the lunch money, when what do I hear "we have to have it in an envelope." So off to find that, put the money in envelopes, no time to walk, hurry everyone to the car, load them up.

"mom did you pay for our pictures?" Oh yeah, printed off the receipts but forgot to put them in their envelopes, run back inside, grab the envelopes, and a pen to fill them out on the way. "Mom I heard the bell ring" Yep already late, so sit in the car to fill it out.

We pull up to school and guess who is in front of us, the family I wanted to be....girls hair perfectly dried and brushed, curled and not out of place, shirts coordinating with all four kids, yeah they were late, but you can see why, dry hair, bows and curls, gel-ed and spiked. They looked like a Pantene commercial, girls hairs all beautiful, I swear I saw one fling her long locks over her shoulders and backpack, and whisper the words "don't hate me because I am beautiful." 

Out jump my kids from the van, hair wet, shoving papers in their back packs, G-Man with is white button down shirt un buttoned over the top of his black skelton skater shirt, Bee wet hair back in a headband yellow polo shirt, Two hair pulled in a rubberband with some of her bangs in and some out a red plaid jumper with white t-shirt which I had to convince her to put on, some dry hair some wet, all ready for their day.

Just can't wait for the finished product! Just love school picture day!

And summer Begins!

No more pencils, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks! When the teacher rings the bell, drop your book and run like.....well you know how it goes. Summer marks the end of another 9 months of learning and the beginning of water, sun, late nights, friends and more friends, fun, unscheduled life, and pure craziness sometimes.

Today is my Two's birthday, she is 6! So hard to believe she is six and done with kindergarten. It has flown by. She is one of the sweetest most loving little girls. After school today she had a few of her friends over. We had a great time. 

With all those little girls here, and then some of G-Man's friends showing up, and then Bee's friends, it just seems like a perfect start to summer. I, most days, enjoy the kids having friends over. One, keeps them entertained and me less entertaining and two, I know where they are and feel they are safe.

With Eric's new job being in South Jordan (50 miles), and the gas prices almost $4...we will be moving, which I have mentioned before, it excites and saddens me. I know there will be plenty of children in our new neighborhood, but the kids have made some really good friends here. We all have.

I am just glad we get to spend one last summer here. I am ready to hit the lake, to go to Raging Waters, do some camping, hopefully have some cousin sleep overs, and more family fun time.

Time to set up my Tiki Torch and start the summer. 

Don't forget your sunscreen!

And on another note too, I loved doing the Ogden Marathon Relay. Next year for sure I am doing the half! It is so beautiful! I am getting way excited for the half I am doing in Boise. And after watching several of the marathoners this past weekend, I look forward to just spending time with my sister...and Aly if you are reading this...I hope to be able to just have fun! And we are going to look smoking hot in our matching shirts!  Though I'd like to be 20 lbs lighter doing this run, it will be great!

Cob Web Wiping Time

This morning after my run- (training myself for a half marathon in June, and after a major knee injury in February its been difficult, and am doing the Ogden Marathon Relay this weekend...so nervous...anyway) I went to the store to pick up some cupcakes for Two for her kindergarten snack.  I grabbed a few other groceries and headed home. I left the bags on the kitchen table and went to the other room. 

I heard some bag rustling and the sounds of heavy duty plastic container being open, when I hear T-Rex say "oh Mom I just love these, love these."  I assume he has dove into the cupcakes and yell to him "do not eat those." From up behind me I see him put something on the counter, and I look. He set down the cherry tomatoes I bought. I smiled and corrected myself "you can eat all you want of those."  Nice to see a child make healthy choices.

And after what seems like forever, Eric has full time, paid employment, with benefits and all that jazz. He has been working for two weeks now, about 50 miles south of where we are living. Which means we will be moving this summer. Its bitter sweet. So excited to get a new house, start things anew, but so SAD to leave our friends and area.

I sure love living in Ogden, the trees, the historic homes, the people, the mountains, the trees...I think I said that before.  I love my job, my co-workers and my FRIENDS.  We won't be moving that far, but still its far enough to make me sad to leave them. But I am excited for a new start and the next chapter of our lives.

The Phone Voice

"Stop hitting your sister, get down from that chair. Be quiet. Quit fighting. Stop now, I mean it." I yell to my children, then the phone rings. "I said STOOOOOOOOOOP!.....Hello?  Oh How are you?" and the phone voice begins. Like a light being switched off, I go from mad mom voice to sweet, friendly phone voice.

 Sometimes most of the time, the ones we spend the most time with, the ones we love the most, get subjected to our non phone voice, when in reality it seems they should be experiencing the phone voice more than the others on the other end of the line. 

As a mom, who gets tired and frustrated easily, my phone voice seems to be forgotten, maybe its because I text and facebook more than I speak on the phone anymore. Maybe I just have forgotten how to use it. But while at church today the thought came to me of how important it is for me to use a sweeter voice and really make my home a place where everyone feels loved.

I want there to be a feeling of love and excitement like picking up the phone and hearing a voice of a friend you haven't spoken to in weeks, or months or even years.

So when getting frustrated, irritatied or upset, imagine you just got a call.

Conspiracy Theory

As my left side of my body ached of nerves tingling (the damaged nerves I have don't like the cold too much) I realized that it is all on my left side! The thought occurred to me, my right side of my body doesn't care too much for my left side.

It all started in 1997 when I had my wisdom teeth pulled. I read and signed the risks involved in wisdom teeth removal, one of which was permanent nerve damage. As I initialed that one, I had the feeling that something like that would happen to me. And when all the pain meds wore off, I didn't have feeling in the bottom left quadrant of my mouth. The doctor verified the damage, and told me it might come back. I have never fully regained feeling in the left side, but have adjusted to it. Though when it gets cold, my nerves seem to start to tingle and bug me.

Fast forward to 2009. Bee was swinging a broom around in my room and knocked a large picture off the wall. I dove from my bed to catch it and push Bee out of the way, and some how the corner of it went straight through the top of my left foot. My toes went numb and I was in shock. A few stitches later and the advice to see an orthopedic surgeon to fix the nerve damage, I left the ER. Being un insured I decided I could live with a numb top of my foot. It hasn't been too bad, though again when it gets cold my foot gets all tingly. 

Then in November, I slipped down some icy basement stairs and banged up my left elbow, not broken but I still can't rest it on a table top with out striking a nerve.

Then end of January I was running out side in the cold and dark and tripped in a pot hole, hurting my left knee. I rested it for a few weeks and then ran again on it on Saturday and at 1.25 miles my knee just buckled and snapped, shooting pain up and down my leg.

I am so upset that I did this to my knee because I was getting to a point where I could actually run and breath and not "die"...and I was feeling muscles I hadn't felt in forever...oh well...

Then the thought occurred to me, my right side just doesn't like my left side :) 

But then I was wondering if some of the damage to my left foot, some how is related to the knee damage, maybe I can't feel as much as I think I can in my foot? I don't know. But this is a little set back that I will figure out how to over come....I have to, I actually really love running and really am missing exercising!!

Little T-Rex

Normally, well back in the good ol'days when I posted daily, I had the ability to capture the true "joys" of mother hood. I guess between work and facebook, my poor blog finds itself clearing its own cobwebs.

T-Rex is also one who has an amazing ability to take care of his own needs as well. Some how my little baby boy, has turned into a robust little 3 year old. I am amazed at how energetic he is and how smart he is! And how utterly unlike any child I have had before....I guess thats because they truly come with their own personality.

Icey Hot Cream:
Need I say more? Well yes most likely I do. A few weeks ago I injured my knee, oh a story for later, and I used the Icey Hot cream and left it on my night stand. Well he found it and decided to rub it all over his body! Of course I was at work and heard the story second hand, but he yelled out to Eric, "it burns! it burns.!  I don't think he will be using that cream any more!

Muscinex:
Last night we were watchign our family's favorite, "The Middle" and a muscinex commercial aired. T looks up to us and says "thats my medicine! That is my medicine!"  Yes my child often yells and repeats himself.

Floaties:
While we were getting ready in the morning for preschool, T hopped in the tub while I was cleaning up around the house. He started to yell to me "Mom there's a lot of poop in the tub. It's all over! Mom lots of poo in here!" I go in to the bathroom, T laying on his back with little logs floating around him.  He didn't seem in a hurry to get out.

MoHawk Shop:
T decided the other day that he wanted a haircut. And not just any hair cut he wanted to get one at the Mohawk shop...He did and he looks so cute!

Little Chef:
T has been spending a lot of time with his dad, they truly are bonding. Eric allows the little guy to help him in the kitchen all the time. He's dads little sous chef. One day they made us some yummy fancy rhodes rolls, if you want Eric's recipe, just let me know because they are buttery and cheesy and tasty and for sure low calorie :). Anyway it was a Sunday evening, T fell asleep around 6 on the couch. We figured he was out for the night, because that happens often. Well around 7 he bolts awake and says "are my rolls ready yet?"  Thinking he most likely was having a dream, we said "there are no rolls T." 

"yes der is."

"where?"

He hops up opens the oven door and sure enough there were six rhodes rolls totally risen. So we baked them for him.  At least we know he won't starve to death.   We also often find "meals" in the microwave.

There were a couple more stories I was going to write about but they have slipped my mind. But I tell you this little guy sure keeps us on our toes.

Miles to Miles

Something crazy snapped in my head a few weeks ago, and I decided to sign up for a Half MARATHON! Yeah, now I am thinking maybe I should of signed up for a 5k first but nothing like shooting for larger goals! So this last week has marked the beginning of my official training.

Every morning I woke up at 6 am and worked out at home with my Active 2 personal trainer on the Wii! I love it! other than sometimes not being in line with the bar and it telling me to do more when I am sweating and just possibly can't do more.  The kids often tell me to not get so mad at it...so obviously it causes some frustration at times, but I am loving it and the way I feel.

I also joined a gym with a friend.  She is also training for the half with me. We have been meeting up....well twice since we joined last Thursday.  I have to get some running in...I mean it is a run I have signed up for. So I enjoy having a tread mill and an elliptical machine to use for the training. Surprisingly the first day I was able to do 5 miles under an hour and did 6 miles the next day, not under an hour but did six miles. Sure beats the sitting on the couch. 

The best part is I feel great. And hopefully I will see some weight shed, which for some reason just can't come fast enough for me but not focusing on that, focusing on the training.

So here's to some more miles!!!!

Talents and Goals

What?! I am out of photo storage....so not helping my new goal...of making my blog, cuter, funner ( I know not a real word) and friendlier....is that possible? 

I try not to compare and covet talents of others, but lately I have been looking around and seeing my friends (thanks to new social medias---blogs and facebook namely) and all their amazing talents, I have started to see myself as lacking in many areas.  And being the new year, and a time of goals....well what better time to sit down and compare and contrast and sulk and mope and well jot down and sceam and come up with a plan to be better than them me as I am.

So for me this year my goals go like this:

• Run more than I do (not hard since its been since October....?) (yeah setting the goal of three times a week and just signed up for a 1/2 marathon in June...yeah that's right, nothing like setting goals with registering before I even have running shoes or a jog bra!...that's on my shopping list)
• Drink more water---aka drink no more soda! Did it for a month and a half can do it for longer and better....
• Eat less sugar...ok eat a lot less sugar....actually just going to add a positive goal, eat more fruit!
• Take more pictures....if you saw my files of pictures you might think "more photos? Really?" but yes I'd like to take more photos more frequently....really want to improve my skills.
• Write more...my journals are collecting dust on the shelves, and I really want to write with some paper and ink more, less facebook status updates and more personal journal writing....also I have a few book ideas in the back of my head, collecting dust and I'd like to get those down on paper.
• Create! I saw a blog recently with monthly craft projects so that by Christmas you have a ton of homemade gifts and such, not sure I will go that far, but I'd like to take some of my existing stuff and turn it into the things that I really like....not sure if this makes sense, but I am ready to have my home and things be totally me, and not what was on sale or what I own...change nobs and paint and such...but also I'd like to be one of those "crafty" cool people...just need to find the time, but I can do it. And it would be cooler to come up with a way to create money with it too....
• Sing and play the piano...yeah not sure I can be taught to sing, but as Primary Chorister, I just think if I learned to like singing more, and  music more I could make this calling fit me better...and well we got a little keyboard for Christmas and maybe I can prove my piano teacher wrong...I can learn to play!
• Get organized! If I could just get my house in "perfect" order, perfect for me that is, which is why I am writing in quotations....I need to find what works best for me so that I can do everything else I want to do, because let me be honest, when my house is a mess, I can't do anything else, including cleaning it....as a pile of laundry sits here on the couch with me!
• Have more parties! I truly love to entertain, well maybe not entertain but have people over. I like to have everyone over...Eric even complimented me on that, how I like to invite all my friends and not certain ones and such....I want a welcoming home and want you to know you are always welcome and you can come and make new friends. I really want to find a way to have more people over and well maybe get invited over somewhere too....not going on my sad horse..but its been a long time since we have been invited over for anything...really.
• Spend more time with my family....its been fun having the kids get to know more cousins, but sometimes the drive seems to get in the way of doing that. And if it means we continue to drive more, I'd like to see that happen.
• Get closer to my Heavenly Father.....that's a little more personal than I want to go, but its a goal.
• Laugh More...it made me feel so good at our company party, for some reason I was laughing a lot and comments were made on what an awesome contagious laugh I have...one that like I have mentioned has found a place to hide....and my kids even noticed I just need to laugh more. Today while we were swimming and I was upset about something...kids jumping and splashing people maybe...Eric encouraging them...or rather not totally discouraging them or something and G-Man says "We just need to get Mom to laugh...maybe we just need to stream America's Funniest home videos so mom will laugh all the time and be happy." Which the comment made me laugh, we have had some good laughs watching that show and well G is so right, I just need to sit back and laugh more and enjoy our time.

So here is to 2011, where we all become a little better, a little kinder, a little smarter, a little thinner, a little sweeter, a little sillier, a little more loving, and just a little more closer to the perfect us.

Merry Christmas!

As I look back on the year coming quickly to an end, I realize there have been many ups and downs, and some bumps and turns, some skids, some nicks, some stitches, some laughs, some cries, some travels, some incomes, some job changes, some life changes, some lessons learned, some lessons taught, some friends made, some love returned, and some very many blessings received. Overall, its been an interesting, long, but yet fast year. So hard to believe that next year is next weekend.

For many we sent out our little Christmas Picture card, with no note attached. Never been a huge fan of the "brag" letter, but have come to see them less as bragging but more as in focusing on the blessings of the year. So I spared you a letter in the mail, but find that I need to write.  Can't guarantee this will be short...it really has been a long year.

Before Christmas a year ago, I started applying for jobs in the area. Though I had been working at the restaurant 2-3 days a week, I wasn't taking home a paycheck, and it was getting impossible to for us to survive as a family, with out an income.

I was hired on in house keeping at McKay Dee hospital. Surprisingly, besides feeling looked down on by many of the staff, and never being called "corrine" only housekeeper, I enjoyed the work. It felt good to get in and clean and see things done. And I loved visiting with the patients, especially since I covered mostly the post partum floor. I worked forty plus hours a week. I left around 6 am, five days a week, when I'd hurry home to have Eric run up to the restaurant, three of those days, since I worked Monday's which the restaurant was closed. Then I worked weekends too.  I went from January to May, not going to our church, first time in my life missing that much church. Fortunately for me, they held church services at the hospital which most of the time I was able to attend on my break.

Anyway in April, after women's conference I felt strongly that I needed to find other work. But didn't know what to do. Was hoping to get benefits and had worked the 3 months, but for some reason nothing happened for me there. And somehow I caught up with a gal from our Ward who had just opened a day care, and needed a director. We spoke and I mentioned my degree and that I should be able to qualify as one. Things seemed to fall into place, and I was able to give my two week notice and join Little Seed Childcare as a director. 

This surely helped with the summer, the kids were able to go with me and Eric was able to be at the restaurant full time again.

In May Eric started getting calls from people in Hawaii about Hart (his previous employer) winning the bid to do the Hawaiian elections again. He passed the numbers on to Hart, and mentioned that if they needed any help, he'd be glad to help out. He didn't fit in the budget and we assumed it just wouldn't happen. Then in June he got a call saying that they really couldn't do the project with out him. So he was assigned to start working in Maui in August.  He was to travel back and forth. To be able to spend some time with the family and be there at the restaurant.

Kids went back to school in August, making life a little more complicated. Seemed like life got a little busier I guess. And I didn't have any of them signed up for extra curricular activities either.  Two our third child started kindergarten, and T-Rex started going to preschool three days a week. Hard to believe my little babies spend so much time away from me. They are growing up so fast. G and Bee, are in 4th and 2nd. All doing really well for the most part. Two and T-Rex are still doing some adjusting. Who am I kidding, Two has a "hard time sitting still and paying attention" and has earned her own desk to help with distractions. And T-Rex doesn't always want to go, but he is still just three and little.

Anyway In mid August, Eric's partner offered to buy his partnership out. We decided it would be best for us, and put that in motion. Everything wasn't finalized til mid September, however, sometime in there, Hart offered Eric a "promotion" moving him from Maui to Oahu again, and from manning just the Maui elections to the whole state. And not able to travel back and forth. It was such a blessing. It was kind of "funny" timing. Because it literally happened a few days after agreeing to a buyout.

Since Eric was going to be there from End of August to the End of November, we decided to take the family out in October for a two week family vacation. Even though Eric worked the whole time, we had fun, and it was the first time in over a year and a half that our family felt "normal" and that we were able to spend quality time together.

As part of his deal, I was able to go out and spend a week, well five days, with Eric on the island of Maui, oh how I fell in love, not just with Eric but with the island of Maui. If I could I think I'd pack the family up and move there. So peaceful and beautiful.

After I left, Eric finished up work there and flew home the weekend before Thanksgiving. He has been home around a month, and still searching for work. I pray that something will come soon for us.

I am grateful for my job, as it has helped with some of the bills. However, with running kids here and there, and school pick ups and drop offs, and sicknesses and injuries, I don't get to work as many hours as I could use.

Speaking of injuries and illness, all but Two have had stitches this year!  Bee on Easter Sunday, while I was at work, fell on her scooter, and the handle bar went through her head, 7 stitches. T-Rex was playing on a slide at the pool, and slipped and split his chin open, he only got 5.  Then G-Man two weeks ago was shutting his bedroom window, while his hand slipped through and broke the glass, another 7 stitches. He had an injury a week later, splitting his eye lid open pretty good, he decided he didn't want stitches, and with out insurance we kind of agreed, I put some sterie strips and its healed pretty good.

Speaking of eyes, Bee joined the glasses wearing group this year as well! I feel so bad that it took us so long to discover that one, as with Two who started wearing them in preschool, and G-Man in kindergarten, her being in second seemed a little late. She was really struggling with reading, I thought an educational delay of some kind. Then she started putting on Two's glasses to read and seemed to improve. Anyway finally took her to have her eyes checked and the poor girl can hardly see! Her reading as gone from just basic sight word books to chapter books in a matter of weeks. She is actually doing really well in school as well. She received a school wide award for belonging, helping others belong.

The kids have held up a little better than me this year, I think. Though it hasn't been easy on them, with me working, with Eric pretty much absent the last while, and then traveling, which with him in Hawaii they didn't notice a difference, if that says anything about how much he was around.

It has been so nice to have him around this month, the kids seem to be a bit happier, but we do seem to have to work out some kinks that life has thrown us, just getting back into a routine.

The other night we were having dinner. Something we have been able to do more of lately, and like normal, everyone was talking at once, and Two took her usual stance, standing on her chair talking, trying to get everyone's attention. It was noisy and I was going crazy. So I told them all to catch a bubble. They did including Eric. For some reason the bubble face Eric was making made T-Rex start laughing hard. Then we all started laughing. And we spun into the "my name is chubby" cheek smashed, can you smile through that chub stuff, and I started laughing so hard, I was crying. The kids were laughing, we were laughing. And G said "this is what family dinners should always be like."  And I agree. I realized that it has been a long time, since I have laughed so hard with my family or with anyone. And feel like I have finally found my laugh again.

We truly have been blessed, and continue to be blessed. Just really waiting for that one special blessing of a great job, career for Eric.  So if anyone knows anyone that is hiring please pass them our way! 

Santa's Elves

Last year at Christmas, we had been unemployed or rather unincomed for a year, this year marks basically year number 2. However we have been blessed to have some contract work recently.  Anyway last year and a half has been very tough  to say the least, and the out pooring of help over Christmas was overwhelmingly wonderful.  Many days I'd just cry from sure joy of feeling so loved and blessed. We truly are grateful to all those who reached out to us, many of whom we don't eve know who you are.

The last four months, we have been blessed with some income, and the ability to do some stuff for other people as well as "take care" of our own. However we were just talking about how many santa's evles helped out  and how blessed we were last year and that not as many santa's elves will be helping out. And just reminding the kids that their won't be the kind of gifts like we had.   To which Greg said "What happened to them all this year?  Did they all die or just lose their Christmas spirit?"  It made me laugh.  Though you got to wonder :). 

I truly want to let all santa's elves from last year how much we love and appreciate you! And know you haven't died or lost your Christmas spirit, but like us are serving other families. 

And in case you are wondering, this is my 550th post.   Merry Christmas!

Last Nights dinner, next week's treasure!

While Eric was in Hawaii the past few months, I still ended up making enough dinner for the whole family, and usually a little more. Or some nights dinner just wasn't really wanted, or I wasn't hungry. Anyway, I put left overs in the fridge and well they ended up just being thrown out. Then the idea dawned on me, I know it took 35 years....and a little help from an awesome dinner swap group....to come up with the idea to freeze the left overs. 

So I started making a little more, and putting the left overs in a gallon zip lock baggie, flattening it out and freezing them. It has been a life saver.

Just a little note to self and others, write on it, or sometimes it becomes a little treasure hunt for a mystery dinner...like last night. But the kids loved dinner and all I had to do was thaw and serve.


And speaking of dinner swap, I love it. I love getting together the first Monday of the month and having a few different meals in the freezer to eat through out the month. If you live in Ogden and are interested in joining us, we'd love to add a few more to our group!

December 1...slippery, shattering, coughing--CAUTION WOUND PICTURE

You know when you make a comment or say something, it can open and cause the total opposite. At least I believe so, and think I need to remember that and not say anything.  Because the other day I mentioned how we have been accident and major illness free for at least 5 months.....July was the last hospital visit.

So I noticed on Saturday T was getting a little congested, and actually spent the whole night crying and kicking. Then by Monday he was so bad, Eric took him to the doctors. He has bronchitis...oh and he is hacking away right now. Poor kid. He sounds so bad. 

Then yesterday, I went to go do a little visiting teaching, I know the last month, nothing like getting it in on the last day. However, my adventure was thwarted by barking jumping dogs and a thick patch of ice and cement stairs. As I stepped on the top step, heading to the basement, the dogs on the other side of the railing jumped and barked, startling me, to where I lost my footing and fell hard down and then slid a few steps.  It hurt. A lot. I composed myself and knocked on her door. I was relieved that she wasn't home, and I as I headed back up the tears just flowed. I hurt. I still hurt. But surprisingly there are no bruises, just a dime size dent in my left arm.

After the kids came home, they decided to help Eric put together a shelf.  I was upstairs folding laundry and trying to clean with my hand held clenched to my chest. G came running up "Mom you need to take me to the ER. NOW!"  I thought maybe he put a nail through his hand but then I saw the blood coming from his fingers that were covering his arm. 

"What happened?"

"T opened our bedroom window and when I went to shut it, my hand slipped and my arm went through it."

I think I was still trying to register what was going on, as I grabbed some paper towels to wrap it. He removed his hand and I almost passed out seeing his cut. Then I asked if the whole window broke.

He said he pulled his arm back out and the glass shattered everywhere. Then the poor sweet kid, who if you don't remember has broke three other windows this year, one car and two house ones, said "I really really wish I had broken the window differently."

I finished wrapping him up and he and Eric flew well didn't fly but took off to the hospital. They got in right away and were out in less than an hour. However I made it over there after getting the other kids to be tended by my friend. 

I made it just in time to see him get the remainder four of his seven stitches. Funny thing. Like I mentioned my arm really hurts, and unintentionally I have/had been resting it close to my body on my chest. I walked into the ER and the security guard looks at me and says "you need to be seen? are you ok?"  When I told him I was here to see my son, the nurse came out and took me to him and asked if I was ok. 

So I just asked the doctor kind of what I should do. He asked me if I could extend my arm, and I showed him I could but that it wasn't comfortable. He said "if it were a fracture you'd be in a lot of pain, not be able to move it. There'd be lots of bruising and swelling. With out looking and really evaluating it, I'd take some Motrin, ice it and if it still hurts in the morning, come back and get an x ray because that is really the only way we can tell." 

It still hurts this morning, but not quite as bad, my shoulder and back are worse for the wear today, but I think the pain has lessen so much in my arm that now I am able to feel the other stuff. But there still is that dent in the side of my arm.  I thought maybe the contact between my arm and the icy cement just had pushed my fat in, but who knows. We will see how the day goes. But I seem to recall a couple of my kids being able to move their broken arms...and no swelling or bruising, but I think my arms ok. Just don't touch it.