Monday, November 30, 2009

Thanksgiving

Sorry that you aren't part of my family. Because if you were you could be part of this awesomeness...



40+ pies, 70+ people for dinner, and loads of fun. Missing you already, Thanksgiving!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

In Montana

I'm at my mom's house and she says today to me
"I bet you are just so exhausted at the end of the day" (referring to the incessant talking of Reagan and the frantic craziness of Skyler)
"yes mom I am"

Thank you for noticing...that's all I want sometimes. For someone to notice how hard it is sometimes and to acknowledge it.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

I've been looking forward to this for 6 months

I'm leaving on Monday for a cruise for 5 days with Greg. No kids. We're celebrating our 9 year anniversary on Wednesday.

Things I am looking forward to:
*Being able to read a book on the airplane with no interruptions
*Sleeping in, taking a nap, staying up late
*Eating good food and not cooking it
*Being served my food and not serving it
*Warm weather
*Peace and quiet
*Being with my husband without kids, being able to talk and not get interrupted

It's going to be a great week folks. Try to not to be too jealous.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Cleaning girl

A conversation with Reagan:

Me: It's time for bed
Reagan: Mom, I just need to clean the bathtub before I go to bed
Me: Um, okay

The next day

Me: Reagan what are you doing? It's time for bed.
No answer, I enter the bathroom and find her cleaning the toilet. She is embarrassed that I find her.
Me: What are you doing, bud?
Reagan: I'm cleaning the toilet.
Me: It's time for bed
Reagan: Mom I just need to clean the bathtub before I go to bed
Me: You just cleaned it last night
Reagan: But Mom, it's so dirty I need to clean it again
Me: Um, okay but hurry up

Thursday, October 1, 2009

TLC=Great shows

Has anyone else watched the show I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant? It sounds so weird but it is so fascinating to me. It is about women who seriously go the whole 9 months without knowing they are prego. Then they go into labor and can't figure out what is happening.
"No, I'm not pregnant"
"Yes you are, and you're crowning"
"WHAT?!?!"
"Here's your baby"
So crazy. I can kind of understand when it is a really overweight person and the baby is just kind of hidden. But last week was a girl that was 100 pounds. At the end of her pregnancy she weighed 110. But still, how do you not have a baby bump or something that would tip you off?
At the end of my pregnancies (or even by about 7 months) I seriously look like I have a basketball under my shirt. I don't think I could ever go even 5 months without figuring it out.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Drool


Skyler seriously is the most drooly kid ever. As you can see in this picture there is a constant wetness around his neck and all over the top of his shirt. He has all his teeth so it's not that he's teething. He just is a fountain. I wonder how he's not completely dehydrated.

First Day of Preschool

Reagan loves preschool
Mom loves preschool
Skyler loves preschool
It's a win win win situation for all of us.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Skyman




Sunday, July 26, 2009

Reagan's Carnival Party

Reagan's birthday was on the 17th. She turned 4, which is weird to think about! She'll be going to kindergarten in a year. We had a great carnival party for her and she loved it. It was good times.
Birthday girl!


Ball toss

Balloon Cupcakes


Welcome banner

Ping pong ball toss


"Bounce house" aka trampoline



Clothespin drop

Eating cupcakes


Facepainting by Grandma


Facepainting designs


Fish pond


Food booth


Football throw


Snowcones


Prize table

Present time

SOOOO glad we have a nice big tree for shade...it was over 100 degrees that day!


Happy birthday Reagan!!! We love you!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Old Testament weirdness

I found this little Old Testament picture book. I decided to read some of it to Reagan tonight. So how do you explain to a 3 year old why someone puts a baby in a basket in the river. Or why people put lamb blood on their doors? It's kind of over MY head, let alone hers.

Getting old

Greg is turning 30 on Saturday. I started dating him when he was 20. That makes me feel so old. We've been together throughout all our 20's. Crazy.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Conversation with Reagan

Reagan: Mom, today is my wedding day.
Me: Cool, who are you marrying?
Reagan: I don't know
Me: What about Dad?
Reagan: No, he got married to you last night (Anything in the past is referred to as "last night")
Me: What about Skyler?
Reagan: No, babies can't stand up and dance at the wedding.
Me: What about Bracken? (A boy from her preschool)
Reagan: Sure

Friday, May 8, 2009

Terrible 3's

I'm not trying to complain. Maybe I am. But are all 3 1/2 years olds as hard as Reagan? She seriously throws tantrums over the silliest things. Yesterday she had a tantrum over me eating half of her otter pop. Maybe I shouldn't have eaten it. I understand that. But it was melting and Skyler and I thought it looked good. She had already had one too. Anyway, that is not the point. When she saw what had happened she FREAKED. She yelled and screamed for a good 20 minutes. Now this happens probably AT LEAST once a day. Sometimes on a bad day it is several times. I'm just wondering if this is normal. If it will EVER get better. It feels like it won't. It feels like I am going crazy. Actually, I think I already AM crazy. It feels like I'm going crazier. How do moms stay sane? How do you learn how to not resort to the immaturity level of your child. Like sticking out your tongue at them, repeating everything they say, or having your own adult temper tantrum of sorts. I never thought that motherhood would be this hard. It tests my limits each day.
Disclaimer: I do love Reagan. At times she is very charming and cute. That is what is so hard. I KNOW she can act better.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

News Story

The news story that ABC 4 filmed earlier this week about my crockpot blog is on this link. It aired early this morning and should air again this evening at either 5 or 6 pm.
Fun stuff!

Friday, April 24, 2009

Good Things Utah = Good Times!!!

For those of you who didn't get to tune into GTU today you can go to my crockpot blog and get the link to view the clip. It was a lot of fun!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Good Things Utah


I am so excited! I am going to be doing a cooking segment on Good Things Utah on Friday. For all of those of you who live in Utah, don't forget to set your DVR's to channel 4 at 10:00 am to record it. Wish me luck!!!

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Easter kids





Tuesday, April 7, 2009

seriously???

Dear Reagan,
Seriously, it's not funny anymore. I can't take the 5:30 am wake up calls. I am going insane. Please stop and stop now.
Love,
your mom

Monday, March 30, 2009

March in like a lion...

out like a lion!
Seriously, it is the end of March. Where are you spring? I think I've been inside for about 5 months straight now. It's not funny anymore. I told Greg if we ever get the chance to move to Hawaii we are doing it.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Happy St. Patrick's Day!


Isn't he the greatest?
P.S. Check my blog 365daysofcrockpot.blogspot.com for a new cookbook giveaway!


Saturday, March 7, 2009

New member of the fam

So, I'm not pregnant and won't be anytime soon (see previous post). But Reagan has a new sister named Grace. Grace goes with us everywhere. She is very polite and quiet. It is Reagan's imaginary sister. Reagan always makes sure that Grace gets her seat belt done up in the car and that Grace has a place to sit and the dinner table. It's been pretty funny to watch. I'm sure when Reagan gets in trouble she'll start blaming Grace too.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Question

Dear people who have more than 2 kids,
How are you not insane yet? Inquiring minds want to know.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Sleepovers

Here's an article my mom came across about whether or not to let your kids have sleepovers. I really agree with the author. Some good things to think about...

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Friday, February 20, 2009

Finally!

After being sick the past week and not eating all that much I'm finally down to my pre-pregnancy weight. So, that is what it took. That and giving up chocolate on weekdays. It only took me 8 months but hey I'm back and I'm happy to step on the scale again. I only gained a little over 20 lbs to begin with and Skyler was 8 lbs 4 oz...so I'm not sure why it takes so long. I guess there is truth to "9 months on and 9 months off."

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Tired of it...literally!

Reagan has been waking up progressively earlier and earlier this week. 6:30, 6:00, 5:45, and today it was 5:15! I was so furious with her. She went to bed at 9 last night! What is up with that? I'm not sure how to get her to sleep in later. I can't keep getting up this early it is killing me!

Monday, February 2, 2009

We now own a...

MINIVAN!
Now I know what you're thinking...you only have 2 kids. Why make the leap now? Well, Greg's dad bought a new vehicle and so they traded us the minivan for our blazer for their 17 year old daughter. She's thrilled and I'm thrilled. Greg and I liked minivans before we had any kids. We were always trying to finagle my mom's van out of her, but it never worked out. People call us nerdy but we don't care. We think it's SWEET!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

365 days of crockpot


I've decided to try to cook something in the crockpot each day for a year! I'm not sure why...I just thought it sounded like fun and a challenge. I decided to blog about by experiences and share the recipes. Here is a link to the blog...enjoy!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Ha! I laughed out loud when I read this post today on my sister's blog

Best Friends

Friday, January 23, 2009

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Searching for the perfect pair of jeans

Why is it so hard to find the perfect pair of jeans? This is what I want:
Dark wash
Boot cut
Not stretchy
Short (length)
Medium rise

This is all I can find:
Low rise, skinny jeans, stretchy fabric

Any suggestions?

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Good TV





I'm so excited for good TV to be on again. American Idol starts this week. LOST next week and new episodes of The Office. Last year Reagan loved to watch American Idol with us. She still talks about David Cook and David Archuleta. I started watching LOST when Skyler was born (in June) and he was about 2 months old when I had finished the first 4 seasons. Needless to say, I was watching at least one episode a day if not more. I've had withdrawals all fall. It's nice to have an escape sometimes isn't it? I was watching Jon and Kate plus 8 last night and Greg said, "why do you watch this show, doesn't it just stress you out?" I told him that is makes me appreciate my life more knowing that I just have one 3-year-old instead of 6! Man, I think that I am crazy now, just think if I had 6 3-year-olds!

Monday, January 5, 2009

Keegan we love you




There are not too many people that can come into your life and in less than a week have an everlasting impact for good. Let me introduce you to one such person. Keegan Jason Watson was born on Monday December 29, 2008 at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. Due to his serious medical condition he was life flighted to Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City. I was the first one to arrive at Primary Children's to meet the helicopter. The life flight nurse told me that she didn't expect him to make it through the night. After several hours the doctor was able to stabilize him. Meanwhile back at Utah Valley our hearts and prayers went out to my sister Katy (this is Greg writing) who was told that she would probably never see her baby again. After 6 days of a roller coaster of ups and downs baby Keegan slipped into eternity where he could live with God our Father for time and all eternity.

I can't help but think of Elder Lance B. Wickman's 2002 conference talk where he said, "As to the healing of the sick, He has clearly said: "And again, it shall come to pass that he that hath faith in me to be healed, and is not appointed unto death, shall be healed" (D&C 42:48). All too often we overlook the qualifying phrase "and is not appointed unto death" ("or," we might add, "unto sickness or handicap"). Please do not despair when fervent prayers have been offered and priesthood blessings performed and your loved one makes no improvement or even passes from mortality. Take comfort in the knowledge that you did everything you could. Such faith, fasting, and blessing could not be in vain! That your child did not recover in spite of all that was done in his behalf can and should be the basis for peace and reassurance to all who love him! The Lord—who inspires the blessings and who hears every earnest prayer—called him home nonetheless. All the experiences of prayer, fasting, and faith may well have been more for our benefit than for his.

I know that the fasting and faith and prayers was for our families behalf. He was able to receive his body and to be hurried home to live forever with that God who gave him life. As I was looking at my 6 month old son Skyler yesterday I was overcome with the overwhelming spiritual impression that they knew each other before they came here and I was saddened not only for Katy and Jason's loss but for Skyler's. He lost his best friend. I will always remind him that he needs to work hard and be faithful so that he can return to be where Keegan is.

His life will not be lost in vain. I have already recommitted my life and my focus so that I can be where he is. Jason and Katy are my inspiration. I could not have asked for such a wonderful sister and brother in-law. I can't help but get emotional as I think of their last interaction with Keegan when the decision was made that he needed to be taken off life support. He was wrapped up in a blanket where he was brought to his mother where she was able to hold him for the first time until he literally breathed his last breath and was taken home to that God who gave him life where he will live forever in celestial glory.