spt- eight is great

All EiGhT-

I wonder when we will be all together again...

8 1/2 months maybe?

Can you believe it?

Only 8 1/2 months until the missionary comes home!

AMAzing how time flies

spt - I love it when you...

Get up at 6:30 AM & take the girls to piano lessons for me.

Because- trent got up at 3:00 AM & couldn't go back to sleep because he was

"bored."Or when you get up (the next day) & get me ibuprofen at 4:00 AM

because my hands hurt so bad that I can't sleep.Or- come home from work & bring me an early Valentine's present... new bottles on order - for my sand collection.

The store I usually get them from doesn't sell them anymore... which meant you searched all over the internet to find them.

I love that

I love you

spt- I resolve to take more pictures WITH those I love

{ I never said they would be "good" pictures...}

Here we are -Trent & I- reading in the

comfy cozy

aka: the red living room couch

We have been rearranging the pillows & settling in here 5 days a week now- for the past two weeks. It's not easy getting here - as you know he tends to get distracted

(that's putting it lightly)

-but we are doing it!

And, enjoying it!

In my quest for a more meaningful life-

I resolve to be in photos with those I love.

spt- more self portraits

It's been a busy couple of days getting back to the ol' routine.

I got up, made breakfast, got kids off to school, read for 20 minutes with Trent, got him off to school, got dressed, went to a PTA meeting, then to a scripture study class, picked up some on sale daffodils (my favorite flower), & bought more than a dozen lean cuisines... now I'm home- and for this moment. I am taking a self portrait &

catching up reading blogs & emails & I love it-

before I make dinner early because I have Community council this afternoon, work on a big PTA project that has to be done by the end of the week, catch up on the dishes & laundry... etc. etc.

busy day

sometimes in all the busyness, even when I do spt... I don't always take the self portrait.

I am working on it.

Resolving to include myself in my own journal- & document MORE my everyday life.

this is a journal, right?

spt~comfort

Better late than never-

Holiday comfort is coming home on a really snowy day...and eating gingerbread men with peppermint hot cocoa... with lily & trent.

joy- photos in my inbox from the missionary

Yesterday I got these photos from the missionary!

Talk about JOy...He is still on an island off the southern coast of Chile.
It's summer there & really warm.
Quote(jajaja- is laughing in spanish):
My zone and I all went last monday and got tattoos together... jajajaja just kidding its a bic and it washed right off.I LOVE MY MAMA! (: JAJA

Even a world away he still can make me laugh!

spt- love

I guess it's official...

I'm a dog person.

I really didn't set out to be a dog person.

It didn't just come naturally.

My husband is an extreme dog loving kind of guy...out of love for him-

I tried it...

now I'm hooked.

That's Love

spt

spt election 08' edition

spt- inspired

(me leaving megan's wedding ceremony & on my way to the reception last May)

Blogging has inspired me in so many ways- this weeks SPT is hard for me because I just don't feel like I can put into word how much I love it & how important it has become to me.

But being the big mouth that I am--- I'm sure I'll find a way.

1.- I'm inspired by these spt's- thanks lelly for reminding me to document myself through photos. It was really hard at first to put pictures of myself out there... I don't know why us women are so hard on ourselves- but we are- I am too- & yes I hate photos of myself. But hey- I'm here, I've got the proof now even if it's not my "best self."

(Christmas morning 07)
(July 4th)
2. I feel closer to my family. My extended family read my blog. Some have blogs too. I feel like they are part of our lives now. Even though we are far away & only see each other a couple of times a year- if that- we are involved in each other's day to day lives because of blogging. That's huge for our family & very precious to me.
3. I feel inspired by so many of you personally. No matter what the media says, no matter how bad it seems- this world is full of fantastic women. Women who may be different in many ways, but more importantly are the same where it counts. We are all trying to be the best we can- raise good families, create beauty around us, serve others, put dinner on the table, live within a real budget... it goes on & on. I am amazed at all of you. I am continually buoyed up by your comments & support. I am thrilled to be a part of the blogging world.

spt- because of a blogger... in the kitchen

I don't know about you- but I LOVE cooking blogs!

The first one I had ever seen was the Pioneer Woman cooks- she's great. I love how she gives step by step instructions including photos! true. Genius.

Seeing her inspired me to look for others.... yes here I go again mentioning Mique- but her tried & trues have become mine. I love real recipes, from real moms, using real ingredients. Hey we're all just trying to get dinner on the table right?! The blogger world is making dinner easier for me.

Here are my favorites:

Tried & Trues

Amie's Corner

Pioneer Woman Cooks

& I have to mention allrecipes.com- it's great when you are searching for what to do with all that ... zucchini or whatever you have on hand.

These guys have inspired my blogging buddies & I to create

BLOGGER MOM'S COOK
It's been really fun to record some of my favorite recipes & in such a useful, easy to use way.

*what's for dinner at your house tonight? We're having this...

*have you ever been to any of these sights?

spt- because of a blogger arts & crafts

I can't even begin to tell you how inspired I am from so many of you bloggers!

Bloggers with great ideas who share them, of course,
KNOCK MY SOCKS OFF
I can't say that I've done many of these ideas........ good intentions be damned.
but now that I am sitting here on my rear end with nothing to do- I've got plenty of ideas to choose from. thanks blogosphere!
the first two ideas come from joys of home as soon as I can get my husband to go to the dollar store & Roberts crafts to pick up the supplies I'm going to do them. somehow having to send him to do this takes all the fun out of it- can you relate? Anyhow- how cute is this?

Just click on the photos for the unbelievably easy tutorial. A warning- since I've started reading joys of home I can't find a can of black spray paint at Roberts craft store. I'm sure they have them at home depot, but you know?

Another AMAZING inspiration is from Mique at 30 hand made days.If you've never been to this blog- STOP READING ME & GO THERE NOW she finds tutorials all over the net & puts them in one easy to find blog. So great.

I really want to make one of these... and the cute needle holder book Michelle tutorialed a while back.

so one of these days- I am going to take a picture of myself doing these things.but for now I continue-trying to wrap beautiful presents like Michelle-tying double ribbons around things like Kristi and trying to look on the bright side of life like all of you creative bloggers.

thanks for the inspiration- thanks for sharing

spt- because of a blogger entertaining & party edition

Because of an idea I got from a couple of bloggers-

Bakerella & Lelly

I had a cupcake swap last June!
Bakerella is one of my favorite sights with the most gorgeous cupcakes & other creations!
Lelly has her annual Soup Swap- which is such a great idea- I just thought for the summer I would put my very own twist on it with -
CUPCAKES
It was so much fun I would really love to do it again.
Check out my summer cupcake swap here!


*have you ever had a "swap?"
*would you like to? it really is fun... really

SPT- inspiration

I'm really excited about this month's SPT!

lelly is so great at coming up with these- (one of my life goals- meet lelly in real life.) If you have never been to Amuse Bouche you really need to check it out. Anyhow- after a summer off really a shame I'm back to committing myself to SPT. You can totally see why when you see this month's themes:

tuesday, september 2 home decor/tabletop
tuesday, september 9 entertaining/parties
tuesday, september 16 arts and crafts
tuesday, september 23 in the kitchen
tuesday, september 30 personal growth

So- who inspires me in the home decor department

Joys of Home

this gal is the GREATEST!

she has the best ideas & tutorials! I made this flag & decorated my porch after reading her & all from stuff I mostly already had- spiffed up a little. She's really friendly & fun to read- be prepared- go buy yourself a can of black spray paint then read on!

thanks for inspiring me joy

(if that's your real name?)

*do you SPT?

*I know, I know there's no picture of me... I'm working on it people!

spt- something old is new again!

For mothers day I got the best ever present from my four remaining at home kids. Wow that sounded weird. Anyhow, with what was probably a little push from their dad- they presented me with something old--- that's new again.

A CHORE CHART ALL FILLED OUT

I can't believe it & I absolutely love it!!

When they were younger most of the time & always during the summer- we have had some kind of chore chart. It is usually something I make up & they reluctantly do or don't do, blah blah- you know how it is. But- not this time. They divided the categories up themselves chose their names & week days to get things done & wa la!! Guess what, they've even done most of them with out too much nagging in the first two days. I hope it lasts... either way it was a very nice gesture & one of the best ever Mother's day gifts I think I have ever been given.

So I am back doing my weekly SPT- hopefully for good!

thanks lelly

spt- what was I thinking?

I've been a mom for going on 21 years now...

I have cleaned up all kinds of messes, over & over. Floors have always been the biggest pain for me. The pitter patter of 16 feet can spread a lot of dirt around.
So what was I thinking when I painted my kitchen floor white & off white? Ya it looks good in the picture but it's so NOT GOOD. It is always dirty. Really dirty. I sweep it, scrub it.
It's always dirty.
Duh...
IT'S A WHITE FLOOR-

(NOTE TO SELF- next time you get the bright idea to spend days on your hands & knees painting a floor, paint it dirt color)

*do you know what I can put on top of my painted floor to make it easier to clean?

*have you ever painted anything white?

*I am glad I did this before painting my kitchen cabinets white, which is what I would like to do... or maybe I should paint them white with dirt colored specks?

SPT- Welcome Home

If you came to my house to visit. You would definitely ring the front door bell. Even though there is one at the back door- it's just for meddling, smarty pants kids who like to trick their mother & watch her go to the front door over & over. This guy would most likely open the door.

followed by intensely annoying barking by Max.

He is very territorial & it is extremely embarrassing.

I would most likely look like this- pony tail, ratty ol' inside out sweatshirt & jeans, with bare feet. I call this my puttering around the house style & I love it.

I love visitors- when I know they are coming. I am definitely not a just drop in kind of gal. Being a chronic over scheduler/planner type person, that throws my mind into a tail spin.

Yesterday was kind of a bad one. Today is better.

SPT- What's Extra Special About Me?- MOVIE STYLE

Last night while I was laying in bed thinking about my really busy day today, I remembered today's SPT challenge. Even though I believe I have special qualities, I really couldn't think of what to SPT about so I came up with this little movie idea.

I hope you enjoy it!

What's special about my mom... Hailey & Trent edition.

What's special about my mom... chloe edition.

What makes mom special... jack edition.

What's special about mom... dad edition.

So there you have it. What's special about me? I have a fun loving family!

SPT- FILL IN THE BLANK

This weeks SPT- FILL IN THE BLANK

the other day, i was in my _____________, and i noticed this _______________. my only thought was, "why do i still have this hanging around my house?!?"Today I was in my pantry & noticed this old Christmas candy. My only thought was why do I still have this hanging around my house? Heaven knows if we were going to eat it- it would be gone by now!

So I enlisted the world's greatest pantry cleaner...CHLOE! She is going to help me clean it out tonight. Chloe loves to organize things, especially the pantry. I'm not sure where she gets it- but I'm glad she's got it. She really is the best at it!

Thanks Chloe!!

SPT- 25th Hour

The question this week... What would you do if you had another hour in the day. Uninterrupted- & you can't sleep. Gosh this challenge has been really hard for me. Isn't that silly- like the hardest SPT yet. It's totally because I know what I should be doing- EXERCISING.

Does this count? You better believe it!I can't believe the storms this year! Just about every 48 hours we get snow. We've had years when we've gotten more- sure- but this year it's so darn consistent.

For those of you who don't know. If you don't shovel your driveway then drive over it- it packs the snow down really hard. Later in the day it turns to life threatening ice! Thick ice that may not melt until spring unless you get out there & chip it away- which my husband did last week. Sorry jack, if Dad sees that I shoveled the snow you're gonna get a lecture. These SPT shots of me are brutal- it looks like someone hit me with the shovel!