Santa... What's the big freaking deal?

Let me preface this post with....I DO NOT ENJOY CHRISTMAS! Here are the reasons.

It's cold....I hate cold.
Christmas songs are dumb.(except for the Forgotten Carols)
I never know what to get people, and so I get them something just to get them something and I think it is dumb.
People act like stressed out a-holes. (including me)
Other than A Christmas Story, Christmas movies are dumb.


Those are just a few I'm sure I could go on and on. I do respect the holiday where we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but I don't enjoy the "season". I probably would if I could put Christmas lights in a palm tree but that is a different post for a different day.

To my point: What is the big damn deal with letting your kids believe in Santa? We all have those friends who look down their nose and in their best Julia Child voice say " We want our children to celebrate the truuuuuue meaning of Christmas. We don't place emphasis on Santa".

Why, Why, Why?? What is so wrong with letting little kids be kids for just a little while? The window is so small, the magic is so short. You only get a few years where it is really magical and then they figure it out, and it's ok, they still look forward to Christmas and we talk more about Jesus and service and the "truuuuue" meaning of Christmas. But there are YEARS for that, YEARS for service and teaching all of those great values. But just for a little while can we just let them believe in magic? Believe that there is this person who loves little children and wants them to be happy and wants to bring them presents for no other reason other than he loves them? Hmmmm sounds like someone else we know...Jesus perhaps?

I have heard someone say that they don't want some fictional character taking credit for the presents they give their kids. SERIOUSLY??? Are you that selfish? I bet those people never provide service without making sure people know about it too. I have no problem letting me kids think that someone out there loves them as much as I do. We are so blessed to be in a position to provide that for our children, and I will be sad when they don't believe anymore.

Because, as much as I hate everyone else at Christmas and all the crap, I love it for my kids.

So quit looking down your nose, get off your high horse and let kids be kids.

For Courtney

I owe my bestest Internet friend Courtney an ode....however, I have been so insanely busy that I have not had time to really do her ode justice so in the meantime. I would like to personally thank her for my darling Snuggie. That's right my friends a person that I met on the Internet who I don't actually "know" loved me enough to send me a snuggie. She ROCKS!!!! Just ask her she'll tell you ;) This is for you my darling wonderful friend! I heart you! I promise the ode is coming.

Evolution

I created this blog because everyone else was doing it. I'm a copier of the finest caliber. But I like to refer to "copying" someone else as flattering them. ie. I think you are so cool, and the way you decorated your living room was so cool, and I'm so cool that I must copy that. Sometimes I feel bad because I wish I had my "own" creative ideas and when that happens I get REALLY excited and tell everyone! "Hey guess what I thought up on my very own?" "Oh really you saw that on DIY?" "Well I'm sure I thought of it first" I know I didn't, but I feel the same way when I am working on new products for the website. I try to adapt a thing here or there, but for the most part I've been what I like to call "inspired" by someone else's work.

To make a long story longer. My blog is evolving from a journal about what is going on in our lives to a journal of what I am thinking and feeling at any given time and I want to write about things that inspire me.

I read a lot of blogs and there are several that inspire me to write about things that matter to me, not just what my kids did last week. In my blog stalking I found this awesome woman who is funny, smart, and sarcastic and sometime this week I will give her, her very own ode! Courtkneerawks is a fun blog and I heart her!

The second blog that inspires me is written by my friend Cyndi who has gone through more in the last six months than any one person should be required to with her marriage and her husband. The Greenest Grass is her feelings on what is going on in her life. She is a fantastic writer and I hope that someday I can have even a speck of her humility and faith. Not to mention she has freaking cute kids :)

Anyway, if you no longer want to read my blog that is fine, because it is going to be for me now, not for anybody else. I need that in my life right now. Everything I do (as I know all mothers feel this way) is for someone else. Whether it's for my kids, my husband, the day care kids,customers, family, neighbors and friends and all of the other wonderful people in my life who I love to do things for. I am overwhelmed and I need an out that is just for me, so this is it.

I don't ever intend to offend anyone but since this blog is going to be for me I have stuff to say. It's about me, not you, and please don't take anything said here personally, unless I use your name of course.

I have super strong opinions about lots of things. (I know your shocked right now) but believe it or not I hold back A LOT! All because I don't want to offend someone, and believe me I don't want to offend someone but I'm going to explode soon if I can't get some stuff out. You may ask "then why not just make it private? and write a journal in Word or something" I've thought about that, but I'm hoping that maybe someone will want to hear what I have to say, or maybe someone else will be "inspired" to say what they have on their mind instead of worrying about what others will think. I tend to be a people pleaser, I don't want to tell people NO, because they will think I am not reliable, or I don't like them. I'm really insecure that way. So instead of saying No, to others I'm going to say Yes to myself and try and figure out who I am. Because after 32 years I really have no idea.

So Not Cool With Public Honesty

My soul sister Courtney (see previous post) awarded me this lovely award. I think she just wanted to see if I could "let it all out" so here are the rules and the deal.

1. Present this award to 7 others whose blogs you find brilliant in content and/or design or those who have encouraged you.

2. Tell those people they’ve been awarded the HONEST SCRAP AWARD and inform them of these guidelines in receiving the award.

3. Share “10 honest things” about yourself.

Here are the 10 Honest Things.

1. I'm not comfortable with being completely honest. I was raised properly and you don't ever tell the honest truth in public, you talk behind people's back and don't let your true feeling show.

2. Some time's when I walk the half block to my mail box to pick up the mail, I want to keep on walking, and usually there are 4-6 kids in my house. (Don't worry mom's I've never really done it)

3. I, like someone else I know (wink, wink) am not a huge fan of "mommy blogs" I don't really need to hear every time little Sally smiled from gas. (I'm sorry, sorry, sorry, I love you all so much) Told you, really uncomfortable right now.

4. I think humor that is really vulgar is really funny. Actually the more vulgar the funnier, I don't care if it is wrong.

5. This probably is not so much new for most of you, but I have a terrible potty mouth. It's bad, I'm not proud of it, I'm actually pretty ashamed of it, but I'm pretty sure I could make any sailor blush.

6. I don't love my job. Shocking I realize...but day care is really, really hard, and sometimes people's kids are really, really annoying.

7. There are people in my extended family that I would love to punch in the face, because they are selfish users.

8. I love UFC, Football, and just about any other sport. I love watching grown men beat the crap out of each other. Especially UFC, if someone gets knocked out, my day is complete.

9. I lust my husband, I think he is crazy hot, and he is my best friend. (He puts up with a lot, I have issues)

10. I don't have my tickets to New Moon, I don't really care, I'll see it eventually. I've read the Twilight book and they DID NOT change my life and I'm not in love with Edward.


I would like to bestow this honor on the following:

Cyndi at The Greenest Grass
Hillary at Dumbarton Bridge
Heidi at My Cute Little Family
Amy at Scatter Sunshine
Anyone else that reads this and wants to do it, I would love to see you squirm.

I pulled a Dooce!

So a little background. For a while now I have been a faithful follower and fan of a blog called Dooce.com. Her real name is Heather Armstrong and she is a "mommy blogger" however, she is my style of mommy. She tells it like it is, she swears a lot and talks about how people bug her but truly loves her children and her family and I can relate, because she also talks about how her children and husband bug her and do crazy things and I can relate. My blog here tends to be all happy, happy which you all know is not true since it is not laced with my usual wit and sarcasm that you can get up close and personal.

Anyway, a few months ago this powerful mommy blogger named dooce, was having a HUGE problem with a very expensive new washer she had purchased and was not getting the answers she needed with their customer service dept. So she did what every woman should do, she griped about it on a public forum to her friends. TWITTER! She has like 1.4 MILLION followers so when she spoke about her issues this company listened, and they fixed the problem kissed her ass and got it all taken care of. I think that is freaking awesome.

So last week, Chris changed our TV service from DirecTV to DishNetwork. Why you may ask? Why is right. I was FURIOUS dish wouldn't do the stuff that I wanted it to and I wanted my DirecTV back. I was throwing the biggest temper tantrum ever! Next to yesterday, but that is a totally different ball of wax. I watch a lot of TV people, I am stuck here all day long and I stay up really late to tie bows, and make flowers and generally run my business, so I watch A LOT of TV. Don't judge. You probably get to leave your house everyday. So when I couldn't do everything I could do before, I was LIVID!!!! So with all of my 227 followers on Twitter I griped about Dish Network, and guess what? They heard me!!! They responded to little ole me, because I was griping about them on Twitter. How freaking cool is that? They even called me on the phone...called me...I didn't call them and sit through 20 minutes of push this and push that and someone will be with you in a moment. No, No, they called me!!!

Can I do what I wanted on DishNetwork that I could do on DirecTV? NO! But who cares, I complained, they heard, and now I am cool because I pulled a Dooce!

My best internet friend in the world Courtney at Courtkneerawks said I was a Rockstar! and that I must blog about this. Plus you must check out her most recent post, because it was just for me and it has totally made my day! Thank you Courtney, I had a totally crappy weekend and I love your full length snuggie shot!! YOU are a rockstar!

My Favorite Team

 

We had a really fun Halloween this year. We spent the evening with some friends and the kids made a killing on the candy. Mclayne decided last year it would be really cool to be a "blind ref" which is so NOT PC but hilarious, and since Chandler lives, breathes, and eats football his choice was clear. Delaney got stuck with the cheerleader since it fit into the general theme, and isn't she cute?

Football Cake

 

 

I did this same cupcake cake last year, but I think this one looks a little better. It's not as straight as the first one, but we were having a hard time fitting on the board I had, plus we took these pictures at the party, and we had a little slippage on the drive over. It is 105 cupcakes and the white writing says Royals and has each of the boys numbers on a cupcake. The biggest difference is I made ALL of the cupcakes this year! The boys loved it, and it was a lot of fun to make. I'm really behind in blogging so this was the easiest place to start :)

What I struggle With....

Originally this post was going to be one thing I struggle with, and then I thought why stop with just one. I struggle with so many things and I am so incredibly imperfect that I should just make a list. I'm sure my "fans" can come up with a much bigger list but this is the list for today.

* Saying "no" it's not in my vocabulary (unless you ask my kids) and I really need to learn to "Just say No"!! I don't have time, I'm super busy and I'm really, really, sorry I wish I could help you out, but NO!!!!

* Food...I LOVE food. I love all kinds of food. I love fast food and long wait food, and junk food and healthy food. I love it all and I really need to break up with it. But that is the problem, it's not like a crappy selfish friend that you can just cut out of your life. It's not a drug that I can get rid of and go to re-hab for. I have to have it to live and all, plus I have to feed my family so I can't just stop the crack from my life. So I struggle with balance obviously.

* Patience. I have none, for whining and stupid people, that's all.

* Guilt, lots and lots of guilt. Guilt about not spending more time with my kids. Guilt about food (weird) Guilt about not taking as many pictures of Delaney as I did of Mclayne. Guilt about not taking the time to blog about Delaney on her birthday like I did with the boys. Guilt about staying in contact with friends. Guilt about not doing my visiting teaching. Guilt, guilt guilt.

* But today...in particular I struggle with not being able to stand up for myself. Which if you know me probably sounds weird because it's not like people walk all over me or anything. But they do...trust me. It goes back to the "no" thing I act all big and bad, but it's all talk. When it comes right down to it, I'm a baby and would never actually say half the crap that is on my mind, and therefore people walk on me and then I gripe about it on my blog.

Ten Things I Love about You!

Mclayne turned 10 last week!!! TEN YEARS OLD!!!! An entire decade!!!! I can't even believe it. So in honor of his tenth birthday I am going to tell you 10 things I LOVE about him!

1. He cracks me up ALL the time, he is very witty for his age.

2. For a 10 year old he does what he is asked most of the time.

3. He teaches me how to be better.

4. He always wants to help.

5. He is respectful to adults.

6. He is nice to his friends.

7. He loves his family, especially his cousins.

8. His wild hair ;)

9. I love that he loves football.

10. I love that he bears his testimony almost every month.

Sorry this is late buddy, Happy Birthday. I love you very much and I am very very proud of what a fine young man you are becoming. Your dad and I hope to be the parents you deserve. Love, Mom

SHUT THE DOOR!!!

I have been yelling that all summer. Ever since we got central air I am insane when the door opens and is not shut within 3 seconds. Because as you know we are not air conditioning the entire outdoors.
If I had a nickel for every time I have said "Shut the Door" I would have plenty of money to pay that electric bill.

On Wednesday I ended up having the day off. That's right NO DAYCARE KIDS!! It is the first unscheduled day off I have had all summer, so we were going bowling with my sis-in-law Melinda and the cousins. We were all getting ready and I wanted to check my e-mail one last time before we took off so I sent Mclayne out to bring the garbage can in, and told Chandler to go with him and get the mail. As they were walking out the front door I said "don't let the door shut tight - you'll be locked out" this is why it is all my fault. I have been griping about the door all summer so Chandler did just what he was supposed to. He was shutting the door. Well when he heard me say not to let the door shut he turned around to grab the door and it slammed on his finger!!

I didn't know this initially I just heard the SCREAMING!!! I ran outside and there he was with his finger in his mouth and it was bleeding. I ran him in the house and ran his finger under the water and when I realized that the situation was way out of my realm of motherly expertise. (which includes band aid's and kisses) I wrapped the finger in a towel put some ice on it and proceeded to the insta-care.

I was so lucky in that Melinda was sweet enough to meet me at the dr's office and take the two other kids so I could focus on the writhing and screaming that was coming out of my sweet six year old.

Once at the dr's office they put some numbing goo on his finger and when he was a little more comfortable they took x-rays and told us that the tip of his finger was broken in several places.

Later that afternoon we were sent to an Orthopedic Surgeon who deadened the finger and let us know that Chandler had a compound fracture of his middle finger on his left hand. That's right internet friends "COMPOUND FRACTURE" you know bone sticking out!!!! So the dr put the bones back where they go (on the inside) and sewed it up and even sewed his nail back on, so the new nail would know where to go. 10 stitches total in that little finger. Then he got an awesome temporary blue cast. He only has his little thumb sticking out which makes many, I mean every daily task difficult for him.

He has been such a trooper and I am so proud of how brave he has been. I've actually had to tell him to settle down today, because he has been playing so hard.


I think this look says it all.. "Put that in your Juice Box and suck it"

Oh, Yeah- that's where they baptise the dead people.

The title for today's blog post was my favorite quote of this particular days outing. Last Thursday we had a reservation to go and see the Oquirrh Mountain LDS Temple before it is dedicated. We literally had about 10 reasons to not go on this particular day and some really great excuses to stay home. But the open house was only going through Saturday and we really wanted to take the kids.

We were 25 minutes late for our designated tour time, and while we were watching a short introductory film in a temporary tent the wind started to blow so hard that the bars it was constructed out of were creaking almost louder than the film. The line was REALLY LONG it took us and hour and a half to actually get in the temple so we stood in the blustery wind and the drops of rain. Waiting. Waiting to see the temple.

While we were in line there was a young guy in front of us who was there by himself and preparing to receive his own endowment in about a month and he had a lot of questions so Chris was able to answer them as we walked through.

The Temple is of course magnificent! It is beautiful and I loved the "retro" feel of the fabrics, wallpaper, and decor. There were a couple of "buffet" type chests that I swear were once in my grandma's house.
Chandlers favorite part of the temple was the baptismal font. As members of the church we use certain terms very flippantly, because we know what we are talking about. However, when we told Chandler that is where they do baptisms for the dead, before we could even explain he said very matter of fact " Oh, yeah, that's where they baptize the dead people." Like it was something he has seen every day. But for those of my readers who are not members the baptismal font in the temple is where vicarious baptisms are performed in behalf of deceased forebears. You can go here and read more if that is totally confusing, or you can ask me and I would be happy to answer your questions.

It was 10:45 p.m. before we left the temple to drive home and our kids hadn't had dinner yet, and were very tired and you would think they would have been unbearably irritable. But they weren't. There is such a peace you feel in the temple, that you can't help but feel it and be calm when you are there.

When we were walking to the car I asked "Even though you are starving and tired, was it worth it?" I heard a resounding YES! and Mclayne issued my second favorite quote of the day "That was a really special experience."

 

 

Sorry about the pics, my camera does not take very good night pictures.

For the Love of the Game

I love love love football. I don't ever remember a time in my life that I didn't love football. I remember going to my brothers' games and to their practices when I was 3!

I was a cheerleader :) at 3 of course. They taught me "rah rah ree, kick em in the knee, rah rah rass, kick em in the other knee" I think I had little pom poms and I LOVED it! I remember taking boys home after practice and the pads and the helmets and the dirty white pants, and I always loved it.

When I was 6 I discovered the NFL and I became a die hard Bears fan. They went to the Super Bowl that year. You remember, the Super Bowl Shuffle with Jim McMahon, and Walter Payton, (which is why we almost named Mclayne, Payton) the Fridge. You remember I know you do.

I remember watching Sunday afternoon football in our basement with my dad,the fire blazing and falling asleep on the couch.

As a young teen I went to my first BYU Football game and decided that was where it was at. (I have since learned it is NOT where it is at) But what Mormon girl in the 90's was not sure that they would marry Steve Young?

Now I have a 2 sons and a husband who love it too!! As much as I do? I'm not sure. But we all love it, we all have "our" teams, Chris is a Dolphins fan, Mclayne has been a Steelers fan as long as I can remember, and Chandler is a Dolphins, Steelers, and whom ever is playing the Patriots. (That's my boy)

I'm even on a Fantasy football league with 8 other men and only 1 other woman.

This is my favorite time of year, I think that on Friday night around 7 p.m. there is an actual smell in the air and it is the smell of high school football.

Here is where the problem lies, I HATE it!!!! I hate the stress the drama, the obnoxious parents who think THEIR kid is a rock star, and should therefore play all 11 positions at once. Yes I am now referring to Little League football. It is a total love hate relationship for me. I love football so much and I can't wait for it to be August every year, but honestly little league is taking the love out of it for me.

This is Chris's second year being an assistant coach and there is so much drama involved. I go to practice pretty much every night, not because I have to but because I am stuck home all day and it is an "out" for me to go hang out at the park, sit in my lawn chair, eat sunflower seeds, and just hang with some of the other parents. I say some because I don't sit with the "group" of parents I sit on the other end of the field where I don't have to hear parents criticize the coaching staff or the kids, or brag about how great their kid is. We all think our kids are rock stars, and they are!! But not all of them are going to the QB, a running back, wide receiver, or even the center. There are 22 positions that must be played at every football game and there are only a select few that are "rock star" positions. Every kid has a job to do and every kid has to do their job or nothing gets done.

So instead of trying to get your kid to be a rock star, teach them about personal responsibility for their position, and how to do their very best at where ever the coaches feel that they will reach their full potential. I can tell anyone from personal experience that some coaches are pieces of crap and have no business coaching little kids, and I can also tell you that there are some great guys out there, who may not know EVERYTHING there is to know about coaching or football, but they truly just want the boys on their team to have a positive learning experience.

I will get off my soapbox for today, however, I'm sure there will be more football posts to come.

note* we played our first game on Saturday and we got our butt's kicked, but none of the coaches freaked out, none of the parents freaked out, and the boys said they had fun. Isn't that what it SHOULD be about?

Here They are.....and there they go!

 

 

These are the puppies!!! I know it has taken me forever to get pics on here, but come on people. I'm Busy!! They are such a darling, cute, sweet, pain in my butt!! For those of you that don't know, these are custom AKC Purepred Dachshund puppies. We are hoping to find their forever families in the next three weeks or so, so if you know anyone that wants a darling chocolate treat send them our way. They are not free dogs though :) Puppies are not for everyone either. They are a lot of work and dachshunds need lots of attention but they will also be your best friend. Frankie and Henry (the mom and dad) are both chocolate dachshunds so they have chocolate names. We have Hugs, Twix, Cookies and Cream, Oreo, Milky way, and Almond Joy.

Long Overdue....

We have PUPPIES!!! Frankie gave birth to 6 beautiful dachshund puppies today. She did great, we were touch and go with a couple of them (3 of the 6 were breach.) But Mommy and babies are doing great we have 3 boys and 3 girls and these puppies are a breeders dream. They are all different and super unique. I will try and post some pictures tomorrow (or later today if you will).

You are also welcome to come and see them in person. They are darling!

Good job Frankie and Henry!

ALL ABOUT HIM!

This post will be all about Chandler! I have kind of been a slacker this week and have not posted all of the wonderful things that Chandler has been up to. Last Thursday he turned six! The day before his birthday was his kindergarten graduation which was really good, the kids were amazing and he had an awesome teacher this year. He was so funny, he was really nervous and when he is nervous he does this thing with his tongue, where he rolls it around in his mouth it is really cute. It was really cute how shy he was acting considering we can't get him to shut up for two seconds at home. I am often heard saying "Chandler, if you don't stop talking my head is going to explode" (like now for instance?) Seriously, dude I hear you and you have to stop talking!!!! I am getting a run down on all things Sonic since Chris took them last night to get a free root beer float and they were out of root bear so now I have to hear all about Sonic the hedgehog, which is not at all related to Sonic the burger place!!! My ears are bleeding. Oh and if you don't answer him immediately he will just keep saying the same things over and over again. Ok, done with that rant! The actual day of his birthday the entire school went to the aquatic center so his sweet teacher had all the kids and parents sing Happy Birthday to him after the graduation. For his birthday we bought him a super cool art desk. He loves to draw and write and I am tired of all of his papers and pencils being strung all over the bar in the kitchen so now he has his very own space and it is very cool. On Saturday he took 3 of his friends to Chuck E Cheese for his party, it was really fun, all of the kids were super cute and I think had a really good time. TO_ID_5343488705519822338" /> Later that evening after running all over the place we had cake and ice cream at Grandma and Grandpa Jones' house. This is the most amazing cake we have ever gotten for one of our kids. Chandler wanted a dolphins cake and the description I gave the cake artist was "he wants a dolphins cake with dolphins coming out of the water and one of them to look like the Miami Dolphins logo" and then I sent her a picture of the logo. We also asked her to make cookies since I didn't want to deal with cake at Chuck E Cheese. You can check out her amazing blog for more great pics of this cake and so many others. She is super nice and she delivers and for as amazing as her work is, the prices are really reasonable. This is I believe the official longest post of my entire blogging life. But I really wanted to take some time and let Chandler know how special he is and how proud of him we are. I can't imagine our lives without him, and his incessant talking ;)

Boutique in Kearns

I will be in Kearns tomorrow doing a boutique. I have a lot of inventory on hand as well as all my samples for custom orders. There will be lots of other fun vendors there as well you can check out more info here or at the blog.

Thanks for all your wonderful support!!

Can I Borrow that?

Chris and I love to read!! Fortunately we have been able to share that love with our kids and they also enjoy reading very much and I have to threaten Mclayne every night to put down his book and go to sleep at a decent hour.

Along with that, I like to actually OWN books. I find a lot of used books off of Amazon and I'm thinking I may have to stalk some yard sales this summer and check out some used book stores as well.

To the point. Because I love to read and own books. I also love to loan them.

We loaned the first book in the Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare called CITY OF BONES. There are currently 3 books in the series and I haven't started it yet but would really like to. So if we loaned you this book and it is sitting by your back door so you can grab it the next time you come over will you let me know?

This is what it looks like.

I was able to get a little video of Mclaynes eye "twitching" hopefully the dr can tell more from this. Don't mind the "tribal council" going on in the background. We were watching Survivor:)

Seizures

Two years ago next month Mclayne started having seizures. They are not the typical seizure. His mouth goes numb, and then the right side of his face twitches for 10-15 seconds and he drools and then slowly the sensation returns and he is able to talk again. The entire time this "episode" occurs he is conscious he can let me know he is having one he can stand, walk, respond to questions and we have been carefully documenting each one.

In June of 2007 he had a CAT Scan and MRI and an EEG. The neurologist at Primary Children's diagnosed him with Epileptic Simple Partial Seizure disorder. So these "episodes" occur every 4-6 months and he will have 4-6 over a week and then he will go 4-6 months without having any more.

Last week he was talking to me and his right eye was blinking really fast while his left eye remained normal. I called the neurologist at Primary's to find out what he thought we should do. In the meantime I did some research and they possibilities I discovered were Simple Partial Seizures (weird) or Tourettes Syndrome.

The Dr called me back on Monday and they wanted to see him immediately. So Mclayne and I spent the afternoon at Primary's on Tuesday. He had a sleep deprived EEG, and then we met with the dr who told us that this new EEG looked better than the last one and he is pretty sure it is a seizure thing and not Tourettes because he can't replicate the motion and usually tics can be replicated.

I realize this post is really long and your retinas are bleeding but I really wanted to document this stuff for posterity of course.

The dr is ok with him playing football which made Mclayne really happy (and me too).

Mclayne is such a good kid and I really enjoyed spending the afternoon with him. He is really funny (I wonder where he gets that? ) and I am so so grateful that the Dr had good news for us in the sense that things are looking better instead of worse.

Next trip to Primary's is scheduled for June when Chandler will get his yearly EKG.

Another Blog.....

I created a Blog for my website. The site is a little bit difficult to make frequent changes to. So by creating the blog I am able to let all of my customers know about giveaways I am sponsoring as well as getting opinions on new and not so new products. Check it out and become a follower. I will be doing a drawing at the end of the month for some free stuff but only for followers of the blog.

Hippity Hoppity

We had a fun and crazy Easter weekend. The kiddos were especially fun this year, we can feel ourselves entering a new phaze in our family since we don't have any "babies" anymore and we are really enjoying it. So here are some pics from our fun and crazy weekend.




Check out the blog for the website I'm going to start giving stuff away soon!!

Friends and Family Discount

Here it is.....for all of my wonderful friends and family or anyone else that reads my blog :)
It is that time of year, Easter, baby showers, class and family pictures, spring and summer wardrobe changes and you need bows and other baby stuff. So because I love you, use code FRIENDSFAM25 and you will receive 25% off your purchase from my website. Also, if you are in the area (my area that is) select store pick up/local delivery and I will be happy to deliver your items.
Don't think that just because you don't know anyone with a girl that you don't need to check out the site. I am in the process of adding binky clips for boys. I am also thinking of adding beanies for boys, what do you think?

Thank you all so much for your support! Please don't share this discount with everyone you know :) However you can share the code CONTACT and that will give your friends 10% off their order plus I will deliver to them if they are in the area as well.

Flushed

For the last 9 days Delaney has been potty training, and I have to say she is doing remarkably well. She has the "number 1" aspect down pat for the most part just a couple little tiny accidents here and there. However, the "number 2" part is giving her a little trouble, and she is a little nervous about doing that on the toilet, but she doesn't want to do it in her panties either so she is having some difficulties.
Last night while attending Mclaynes basketball practice and after RUNNING to the bathroom, she was sitting on the potty with her chin in her hands while I knelt next to her she says "You can't flush me" and I said "I won't flush you." To which she responds very seriously "I would be stuck."

$20 gift certificate

I am hosting another give away! It is at www.hair4myprincess.blogspot.com. This is one of those fun hair blogs that I talked about earlier this week. There are a lot of followers so I am really excited to see where it goes, check it out and try and win!! I would love it if someone I know and love wins.

Inspired by Hair

When I was preggers with Delaney and found out she was a girl, I had grand visions of long wavy hair to style perfectly and decorate with ribbons and bows and fancy dresses, and how much fun it was going to be to dress her up. Chris even reminded me once that she isn't a doll. But I think most mothers of baby girls can relate especially if you had boys first. Well instead of that grand vision, I had a beautiful little girl with stick straight fine hair who doesn't really like poofy dresses. Oh well, I at least got the ribbons and bows part down right?
So the other day I was reading some blogs and I love to go to my friends and families links that they have on their blogs and see new and interesting people. In doing this I found the wonderful world of hair blogs! Yes that is correct hair blogs. Blogs done by mothers and dedicated to doing their little girls hair. They show pictures and give step by step instructions and these fancy do's. So I have actually been "doing" Delaney's hair this week and these are some pics to show off her do after her bath last night. I realize it is not perfect but I'm trying and she hates it :) I have some links over in my website section if you want to check some of them out. It also gave me some good ideas for my own hair. I have also contacted a couple of them and they are going to host some giveaways for me to get some advertising. I will let you know when they happen if you would like to enter, or share with your friends.

 

 

 

Flowerzinherhair.com giveaway

I am sponsoring a giveaway at this really cute blog Check it out and you could win a $25.00 gift certificate at flowrzinherhair.com That is a lot of bows and flowers! So pass this on to your friends. Thanks for all of your support!

Busy.....

Delaney: "You making bows mom?"

Me (mom): "Yes, I'm making bows."

Delaney: "You busy mom?"

Me: "yes, Delaney I'm busy."

Delaney: "You too busy for me mom?"

Mom: "No Delaney I'm never too busy for you."


 
 

Couples Quiz

I saw this on my cousins blog and I thought it was cute.

♥ What are your middle names?
Lynn and Blaine

♥ How long have you been together?
Almost 11 years

♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating?
Blind date

♥ Who asked who out
Chris asked me out.

♥ How old are each of you?
Chris is 33 and I am 31

♥ Whose siblings do/ did you see the most?
Mine

♥ Do you have any children together?
3 of them

♥ What about pets?
2 stinky dogs, does any one want one?

♥ Did you go to the same school?
no Chris went to Hillcrest and I went to Northridge

♥ Are you from the same home town?
Nope, Chris is from Midvale and I grew up in South Weber

♥ Who is the smartest?
ummmm me........but Chris knows a lot more about the gospel.

♥ Who is the most sensitive?
Chris

♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Panda.....currently

♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
California

♥ Who has the craziest exes?
Chris for sure

♥ Who has the worst temper?
me

♥ Who does the cooking?

Most of the time it is me, but lately I have been starting dinner and Chris gets it on the table.
♥ Who is more social?
me

♥ Who is the neat Freak?
me but Chris has issues with certain things

♥ Who is the more stubborn?
I think both of us are pretty bendable.

♥ Who hogs the bed?
CHRIS

♥ Who wakes up earlier?
Chris on weekdays and me on the weekends

♥ Where was your first date?
a Grizzleys hockey game and Denny's Woo Hoo!!

♥ Who has the bigger family?
Chris's immediate family, and I think he probably has a bigger extended too, but we don't see or know half of them so I'm going to say me :)

♥ Do you get flowers often?

no, but that is ok, because they are expensive and they die.
♥ How do you spend the holidays?
we switch off between families every other year

♥ Who is more jealous?
neither

♥ How long did it take to get serious?
about 4 days

♥ Who eats more?
more what? Normal food...Chris...Crap.... me

♥ Who does/ did the laundry?
It's all me baby!

♥ Who’s better with the computer?
me, don't touch my computer...I keel you!

♥ Who drives when you are together?
around town Chris...long drives we take turns

The Bow Barn

 
 
 
 

This is the Bow Barn. Actually it is just our shed that used to store our lawn mower and various other yard care items as well as miscellaneous fodder. After several weeks of hard work by Chris and many wonderful neighbors, friends, and family, it is The Bow Barn. I love it! This is obviously where the majority of my supplies are stored for the website. I don't get to spend any time in the bow barn, first there is no heat and it is crazy cold. So I try not to be out there for too long, and second because I can't leave those precious babies in the house by themselves, obviously. It's just where I go in the evenings to fill the orders that have come in during the day. I realize it is not that exciting for anyone but me, but I wanted to share.

Even at midnight she's cute

I have been staying up pretty late the past few weeks and Delaney thinks because I am up that she should be to so we are having a really hard time getting her to stay in her bed.
Being the desperate mother that I am, a couple of weeks ago I let her watch a little 10 minute My Little Pony movie on the portable DVD player in her room if she would just stay there. Well that was idiotic because now it has turned into the Little Mermaid every night this week. So she stays up late, sleeps in, takes a nap around five!! Wakes up at 7 or 8 at night and then stays up till midnight again hanging with me or watchin The Mermaid.
So same deal last night she and Chandler watched it in her room until after 10 pm and then he went off to bed and we had to keep putting her back in her room. We were being pretty consistent and she finally turned the movie on again....whatever.... so about midnight I hear her singing, so I muted the tv and you can hear her singina ahaha ahahah ahahah ahahah, you know the part when Ariel is giving up her voice, to the witch? It was so cute Chris and I just laughed quietly and listened to her.
Even though I don't appreciate the late nights with her still up I wouldn't have missed that for anything.

Flowerzinherhair.com

 

It has been forever since I have posted and one of these days I will need to blog about the holidays, just for my own journaling. But since the holidays life has been crazy!!!

I have been making bows for babies and little girls for almost 3 years and I love it. In December I tried to create my own website and found out that it is a lot of hard work and I really had no idea what I was doing, but I persisted, and persisted... until December 29th. My cousin Katie forwarded me an e-mail from a lady that she had bought bows from in the past and was selling her on-line bow business/website. Knowing how much work a website is and establishing a business is I had to check it out. So I contacted her and we chatted for a day or two through e-mail while I asked a million questions and she graciously answered all of them. On New Years Eve we went and met with her and made an offer which she also graciously accepted, especially considering she had received a higher offer from another buyer, but felt good about us.

To make a long story longer. I launched my edition of the website On Friday January 16th, and have already gotten orders!

I really love making bows and the whole creation process and I am excited to get to share it in a bigger forrum.

But most of all I am so so grateful that this opportunity truly fell in our laps, and the tender mercies that have helped us get it. From applying for a loan (that we were denied at first) :) and to Jenni accepting our offer and being one of the most amazing, kind and talented women I have ever met.

Also a special thank you to Dave for helping us with our electricity, my brother John for helping Chris hang dry wall, my dad for loaning us all his stuff, Chad (my next door neighbor) and his dad David for helping Chris mud and tape super speedy and loaning a bunch of their stuff.

Must most of all to my amazing, wonderful, loving supportive husband who has been working his tail off trying to get the shed finished to store all of this amazing "stuff" in.

In answer to the question I get the most which is "Why did she sell?" It's because she is going into photography and found her heart taking her there more than making bows. Check out her website she is really talented.

Ok that was the longest post of all time. If by chance you made it to the bottom. I would really appreciate it if any of you feel compelled to add the website to your blog list and share it with your families and friends it would mean a lot to me. Plus there's a coupon on the home page for $5 off your order of $25.00 or more and I will deliver locally for free!!

Thank you for all of your support!!