STOP THE PRESSES!

Eva actually did something crafty/creative! Haha! Mathan did the fabulous woodwork, (You know, the stuff that actually requires skill) and the girls and I did the mod podge and stickers. Thomas helped remove the stickers and smear the paint. We made these for Mathan's sister Mashae and her family for Christmas. It was fun and I can't wait to make some for my kids!  I think I should make more time to do stuff like this. It feels good to create.

Tuesday's True Confessions

1. I tend to set too many goals at the same time and then I kinda burn out. Don't we all? We want change now and then we try to change too much, too fast, and then we revert back to our normal habits. Boo. I'm trying to learn to change small things, and when that is a habit I can go to the next small change.

2. I bought the fly lady book and I really want to do it this time! I dream about a home that is always clean and only contains things that I use and love. I dream about a home that stays clean enough that you never have to muck out or scrub anything because you maintain it enough that it never gets that bad. Can you imagine? I've got a long way to go!

3. I have a problem with finishing sandwiches. I'll eat it all down to the last few bites and then I have to force myself to finish it. Unless I'm really hungry, then it's not a problem. I'm beginning to see a pattern too. I'll get the kids all bathed and brushed and bedded down, but I don't pick up the dirty clothes. I'll make dinner, serve dinner, clear the table, but not do the dishes. So tell me...what is the diagnosis? Fear of finishing?

Once there was a snowman... Post of random stuff.

Here is the snowman that we built last Saturday. Sadly, he only lasted a day. It was so warm that he started leaning and then fell over. Then it froze again and I couldn't get his scarf off!

We went to see the new Narnia movie and really enjoyed it.

I really like the the new lds.org! They have this neat tool where you can study the scriptures and make notes and highlight and cross reference and organize it all in your online notebook. You can do that with conference talks too. One of my goals is to get up earlier and take the time to really study and make notes on the scriptures that apply to my life.

We cleaned out and rearranged the girls room and they are having so much fun in there. It's like it's a new room. I was surprised at how good they were about donating their toys. I thought they would want to keep them all, but they gave away quite a few. I hope to raise them to be purgers and not hoarders like me.

This scripture cracks me up: Proverbs 25:24


It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

HAHA! I want that in cross stitch in my living room. J/K
I was looking for the one in D&C that talks about secrets being shouted from the housetops. I hope we can plug our ears when that happens, because there are a lot of secrets that I don't want to know about.
I'd rather go happily on my way thinking well of people. I guess that's not really possible. In the end there will be no blissful ignorance.
 
Mathan is reading a Jehovah Witness pamphlet on the sabbath! There's a secret for you!

~ I'm thankful for a warm, cozy home where I can escape the freezing Arizona winter.
~I'm thankful for sleep. What a blessing to have a break from all the stress and craziness every night!
~I love that Ellen loves to eat "olla bars" Translation: granola bars
~I'm thankful that Thomas said, "bye Da" this morning when Mathan left for work.
~I'm thankful that May is doing so well in school and is such a great helper at home.
~I'm sooo grateful that we are all mostly well again.
~I'm thankful for Mathan, who lifts me up and is always there to help. I'm grateful for a partner to go through all of life's joys and trials with.
~I'm grateful for the desire and ability to improve. There is something so exciting and energizing about setting goals. It's good to look at where you are and where you want to be and then start taking the steps to get there, even if it usually is two steps forward, one step back. It makes me happy to step back and realize that there is so much that I can do to make things better. I have the power.
~I'm grateful for all the resources that Heavenly Father has given me to go to for help and happiness. scriptures, prayer, music, family, friends, words of encouragement from my church leaders, nature, exercise, learning, reading, and many more things that lift me when I'm down.
Sometimes I get so discouraged by all the sadness and suffering and darkness in the world, but there really is so much joy to be had in life, if we can only focus on what brings real, lasting joy.

Internet Rant/Soapbox (you may want to skip this one :)

I've been taking stock and making goals and trying to make the changes that will make me a happier and more productive person. Anyway I've come to the conclusion that, in a lot of ways, the internet is bad for me. It's a black hole, sucking up all my time, energy, and motivation. I have a facebook account and in a lot of ways it's a great tool. I've been able to communicate when all other methods aren't working. I find out about births, marriages, deaths and other big events that otherwise I wouldn't know about. I'm able to know when someone needs help and give them a little lift sometimes. In those ways it is great, but on the other hand it is so distracting! You pop in to see what's happening, to post about this or that, to see if someone got your message, and before you know it you've been on for an hour and your kids have gotten into trouble in the mean time. It's like I'm wading through a bunch of dull, repetitive house work and my friends are in the next room having a conversation. Of course I'm going to come in and see what it happening! I also feel that it sort of a cheap imitation of real communication. "Happy Birthday" or "Congratulations" on facebook isn't as real as a phone call or a hand written card or letter, and much less real than speaking face to face. There is some sort of weird disconnect that happens too. People who you knew, but never really talk to you in real life want to be your "friend".  It's just weird! The same thing goes for blogs. One time I happened on a high school "friend's" (used loosely) blog and found out all about her. The next time I saw her I had no ammunition for small talk. I knew where she lived, who she married, what he does, her kid's names and ages. I didn't know what to do! Do I play dumb and ask anyway? Do I confess that I've been stalking her blog? Again, weird! I think this whole medium of communication is taking away real interaction. ANYWAY, my point is I want to cut way back on the internet time and work on real, here and now relationships. I want to connect with people that I really care about in a non electronic way. I want to use my time working for the things that I want MOST, rather than the things I want NOW. End of Rant.

Christmas Catch Up

                                                 So excited to see Santa!

                                                     Not so sure about this...

                                               So cute!

                                    There better be something good in that bag or it's over.

   Tenney nativity scene. Don't mind the lion and bumble bee. They were well behaved most of the time.

We had a white new year if not a white Christmas. We had fun sledding with Ben and Amy and their kids. It was so cold that the camera shut down shortly after this. Christmas was so fun and we got a few pictures and some videos, but none really worth posting. Again we were so wrapped up in what was happening that we didn't get a lot of great pictures. I'm okay with that too. It's no fun being stuck behind a camera and not really participating. We spent Christmas eve and much of Christmas day with the Tenneys this year. There was lots of fun and food and gifts, and sadly, illness. I think all the kids on both sides had a cold a best and pneumonia at worst. That didn't stop us from having fun though. There were lots of game nights, as usual when Ben is here. Mathan had a week off work and we got to enjoy his birthday at home and on a date. Then the snow hit and the temperature hasn't been above freezing for days now. The snow hasn't melted off the telephone poles and fence posts yet, which is very unusual. We normally get a light dusting that melts the next day! All in all, good times.

Winter must be cold for those with no warm memories...

These warm memories make me want to sing and run and jump and yell and laugh for joy, because it is literally freezing right now. As in: my hot water has been frozen for three days and we have to heat it on the stove. So here goes.

Waking up one day when winter is just turning to spring and hearing a bird outside my window.

Going for a walk on a spring morning a few weeks later and hearing thousands of birds chirping, whooping, cooing and singing like crazy. I love living near the river in the springtime because there are so many different birds. It makes me absolutely giddy when all the birds congregate and make a ruckus for the first time each spring!

Watching the trees bud and bloom and the the tulips and daffodils come up.

The last week of school, when all the tests are done and there is really nothing to do but party and wait for the last day to come.

Lying on my back and looking up at pine needles and oak leaves swaying in the warm breeze. I also love waking up in a tent and watching the shadows that they cast dance around on the fabric.

Coming inside on a hot day and eating a banana twin popsicle. I would always break it down the middle and eat it as slowly as possible.

Eating blueberry pancakes on the forth of July early in the morning.

A lot of these are in the morning huh?

Sitting on the curb of the road watching the 24th parade. I love that whole day! The fireworks, the rodeo, the craft fair, the barbecue. I think it's my favorite holiday.

Playing the ocean all day and then eating. Swimming makes me so hungry! We used to go the swimming pool all the time in the summer and after we got home and got cleaned up we would eat a burrito. It had to be done. Swimming always gave me a craving for a burrito. Weird, but true.

Family reunions! I love 'em, even when the family has grown so much that you only know one in twenty people. I love catching up with people I haven't seen, and hearing life sketches, and watching silly skits. Not to mention the yummy food that I didn't have to cook most of the time!

I'm nowhere near finished but I will stop for now. I do want to tag anyone who read this whole post to post their warm memories. It made me happy!