Friday, August 26, 2011

School!

Reagan started first grade this week.  It's all day.  We're both loving it.  School is the best!!!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

The really scary nightmare for a mom of potty training...

Remember how I was DREADING potty training Skyler practically since the day he was born?  I can't believe it but he picked it up in, oh, about a week.  He's had less accidents than fingers on my hands.  I am so so so proud of him. 

I think what it comes down to is:
1.  He was ready (I didn't really even bring it up until he was 3 years old)
2.  He is easily bribed with marshmallows.  (he calls them Mashmallows)
3.  He likes to please people (unlike older sister who likes to do the complete opposite of what you want her to do.  Talk about the potty becoming a control issue!)

So there you have it.  Potty training doesn't have to be horrible.  I never ever thought I would be able to say that. 

Friday, July 1, 2011

Vote for me!

Will you ALL go to this site and scroll down to #5 365 Days of Slow Cooking and click like??? It will take less than one minute. Pretty pretty please???? Thanks in advance!

Sunday, June 12, 2011

3 year old and newborn recap

Reagan and Skyler about 3 years ago

Skyler and Reagan today (almost 3 and almost 6)
Remember when I wrote this post about having a new born and a 3 year old?  That was about 3 years ago.  Now my newborn is my 3 year old and my 3 year old is my 6 year year old.  Weird.  Time flies (correction:  some days it definitely does not fly).

Anyhow I thought I would give an update since this is a topic that leads many people to my blog apparently.  Apparently you all know what I'm talking about when I say that 3 year olds are hard.  This is why I think 3 year olds are hard:

1.  Potty training.  Usually you are potty training your kid right around this age.  Need I say more about potty training?  It just absolutely is the worst. 

2.  They may or may not have a new sibling right around that age.  That adds a lot of commotion to their little lives and daily schedule.

3.  They think they are big but they are not.  They think they can do a lot more than they really can.  They get frustrated when you tell them no.  They get frustrated when trying to do something and their bodies won't cooperate like they should.

4.  They are usually getting out of the daily nap.  This leads mom to pull out her hair.  This leads to no down time for moms.  Moms need kids to take naps.  Naps are what keep moms going.  Naps are a moms best friend.  Naps are what keep moms semi-sane.  (Can you tell I really like naps, for my kid and for me?)

Any other things that make 3 year olds hard?

On the other hand, they really can melt your heart.  Like Skyler saying to me, "Mom do you want to watch Ni Hao Kailan with me and snuggle?"  Then proceeding to make me sit it a chair with a blanket and snuggle.  He is so perfect (and so crazy *see above notes 1-4).

Anyhow, for all those with 3 year olds and newborns out there I want to tell you that the first year is pretty hard.  But that when that 3 year old goes to kindergarten (and even preschool) life gets a lot better.  So good luck to you. 

Just some pictures of my kids

Reagan and Skyler at the Dinosaur park in Ogden

So true, so true

Saying goodbye to her kindergarten teacher

New swingset!

Yay for summer!

Reagan's the one with the R and the one who is probably a foot shorter than most kids in her class!

Not so happy about me taking pictures at her graduation.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

I'm in depression about this...

She already looks so different with her tooth gone.  wah.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Book Review: Life Is So Good

I just finished reading this book on the airplane.  What a great book!  It's an easy read, interesting and so uplifting. 

It's a true story about a man who was born in 1898 and lived for 102 years.  He learned to read at the age of 98.  It's a fascinating history lesson as well.  He lived through the entire 20th century!

I felt inspired by his attitude and his efforts.  What a great example of perseverance!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Book Review: To the Rescue The Biography of Thomas S Monson

I just finished reading the wonderful book.  It was very well written and kept me laughing and crying throughout the whole book.  There were so many stories that I've heard before but even more stories that I hadn't heard.  My favorite chapter was the one about his childhood.  I can just imagine President Monson coming home with a bunch of dogs or sharing his pet rabbits with his neighbor.  It is a great read and very inspiring!

Friday, March 4, 2011

What is the BYU honor code?

With so much media attention on BYU honor's code right now I thought I would write a post about it.  As a BYU alumni I am proud of my alma mater.  I am proud that there is an institution that is strong enough to stand up to the values they have set forth and not simply "look the other way" when that would be the easy thing to do.  It is interesting to note that with such a stringent code (no alcohol, attending church meetings, chaste and virtuous life, etc.) BYU is # 1 on U.S. News and World Report's "Most Popular Schools" list.  Which means that out of all the schools in the report BYU had the highest percentage of accepted students who actually enroll at that university.  That was ahead of Harvard and Yale.  WOW!  This tells me something.  It tells me that there are many people out there that are looking for something better than the world has to offer.  That the students who apply want to live the standards set forth and they want to be with other people who live the same way they do. 

With so many people out there asking "where is the Mormon's freedom of choice?"  and "why do Mormons have to live all these rules?" it's interesting to note that all those who go to BYU have signed up by their own free will to live the honor code.  In fact, that is what is drawing them to the school in many cases.  It's kind of refreshing...don't you think?

Monday, February 14, 2011

3 Strong

Do you want to be strong?  Do you want to be lean?  Do you want to have energy to function in everyday mommy life?  My NEW blog that I'm writing with a couple of friends just rolled out today.  Check it out!  You'll learn something, get motivated and inspired! 

Monday, February 7, 2011

Disgusted

Lately I've been noticing how bad commercials are.  I am watching my perfectly appropriate show and then a commercial will come on that is totally innappropriate and often laden with porn.  Mind you, my shows aren't on past 8 pm typically.  I'm so sick of tv and movies and how totally tasteless they have become.  It is offensive and uncalled for.  Anybody else agree?!?!   

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Birth Order

Book Review Time!

I just finished The Birth Order Book by Kevin Leman.  I LOVED it so much!  I keep telling Greg all the things that I learned.  And now I am totally psycho-analyzing all the people in my life. 

On a personal note, I think birth order has such a huge impact on your personality and why you are the way you are.  I am totally convinced that if Skyler had been born first he would be a completely different person.  I am totally convinced that if I had been a first born I would be totally different.  If you have kids, you should read this book.  If you don't have kids, you should read this book.  It is a fun and easy read and very eye-opening. 

Saturday, January 29, 2011

You know you're probably shopping in the wrong store when you hear...

"do you have size 00 here?"

"yes, it's right here.  it's probably our most popular size."

Hello tweeny bopper land.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Working mom

Here is a conversation I had with Reagan the other day:

R:  When I grown up do I ever have to work?
Me:  Huh?
R:  Like some moms who have jobs.  Do I have to work when I'm a mom?
Me:  It's up to you and your husband.
R:  I never want to work.
Me:  You'll have to talk to your husband and make it a priority for you to stay home with your kids.

Long, long pause.

R:  Mom, I don't want to talk to my husband!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

In between world

I don't like going shopping.  I really never have.  Too much standing.  Too much trying on things that don't work.  Too much worrying about price.  Etc.  Etc.

But lately I don't like going shopping because I feel like I'm in an in between world.  I am not ready to shop in the women's section, but I can't really rock the juniors section etither. 

Where do you shop?  What are some great places that would fit my personality and stage in life?

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Three's a crowd

Has anyone else experienced this with their little girls?

Having one friend over is great for hours and hours but having two friends over is a mom's nightmare.  I have to constantly intervene to tell them "to be nice."  They butt heads and can't decide what to do.  So they end up bugging me.  It seems like three really is a crowd with 5 year olds.

Friday, January 14, 2011

I don't like Costco

I really don't.


I let my membership expire in May and purposely haven't renewed it.

It's too crowded and it's way overrated. The prices aren't even that great.

So sue me the rest of Utah.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Treats

I think if I could give up treats I would probably lose about 20 pounds, stat.

I love treats.  I exercise 6 days a week so that I can eat them 6 days a week.

Anyone else like this?

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Banana bread

Why is my banana bread so awesome?

Why do other people's banana bread have those little black things in it?  Mine doesn't.  I think that's what makes it good.  What are those little black things?  A spice? 

Thursday, January 6, 2011

A hundred pushups

One of my many ambitions for this new year is to do 100 consecutive pushups.
No, I'm not talking about the "girl" pushpus.  I'm talking about REAL pushpus.  Do you think I can do it?  I'm doing a program on hundredpushups.com and hoping that I can keep up with it.

Boo yeah.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

I kind of forgot that I had this blog

It's a new year!

I'm feeling motivated.  Woo.