Get Away

We have been working so hard on our house all summer, so we decided to take the weekend off and get away. My brother and his wife have a cabin, so we headed up there for the weekend. Grandma Phyllis came too.

It wasn't the best weather for our little trip but that's okay. Saturday morning we headed into Vernal and watched part of a kids rodeo. My friend Tammy was there, and 2 of her kids were in it.

We got back to the cabin late afternoon and went rock hunting.

little cheese balls.

Luckily Mom anticipated the soggy weather and brought some indoor activities. We made a great haunted house.

Then we made S'mores and watched movies. and played cards.

In the morning we decided to do a little more hiking around the cabin before we left.

Carly took a bucket to gather more rocks.

We had a very relaxing weekend.

Thanks Uncle Jon and Aunt Misti!

Loosing It

Recently I have begun the very long process of loosing weight. My Bompy, who passed away this last spring was always very concerned for my health and my weight and the last thing he said to me was concerning my health. So I am doing it for him. And it is going pretty well slowly but surly it is coming of and I think that maybe he might be giving me that little extra push from above.
So, my clothes are starting to be a little loose and my skinny jeans are all I wear now. I'm feeling pretty good. SO the other night we had gone out and I felt good and I thought I looked good. Then I passed by a mirror and thought 'who is that fat lady?' It was me. I find it funny some times that I think I'm looking so good and everyone else just see the little fat lady. No one has really commented on how I look and I realized that it is because the main place my weight seems to be coming from is my butt. One of my favorite commercials is the one for Slimquick http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amE18rxXhJQ&feature=related This is what happens to me only in my bum. So next time you see me and you can't really tell that I've lost some weight, Just check out my butt. 20 down. A lot more to go.

What have I gotten myself into?

Last year when Brianna started Kindergarten I like every parent gave my 5 dollars and joined the PTA. Little did I know that half the current PTA presidency had children in Brianna's class. I volunteered in Bri's class a lot and a few times helped out the PTA with some things. At the end of the year I was approached by the new president and asked if I was interested in being the Birthday Mom. I said yes. At the training breakfast I was asked to do citizen of the month, and some how also ended up on the reflections committee. Now I am all for supporting my kid and the school but it seems to me that it is always the same 20 or so moms who do everything in the PTA. Last year I viewed the PTA moms as being a little clique-y. But I think that they are a clique that will accept any one who is willing to help with open arms. I feel a bit overwhelmed some times with my duties. Birthday mom takes a lot of time. But I love that the kids all know me and like me because I give them candy and I'm getting to know many of the teachers too which is fun. I've also met some great Moms who are becoming my friends. But, Bri is off track right now and I'm still in school once a week. So watch out for those PTA ladies once they get you they keep you busy.

FLOOR!

I'm starting to see the light at the end of the remodel.
Our house has been torn up since June. We just have a bit more to do to get the floor installed, then we can work on Base boards and we are in the home stretch. Hopefully I will get my house back soon. Jon has worked his butt off and I think he is awesome.

Cousins

On Sunday my brother and his wife had a little party to welcome the newest member of their family.
Baby Jack was born the end of June and weighed in at just over 5 pounds. Three months later he is still not much bigger than a minute but is the sweetest, happiest baby. We love him very much.




We love having cousins close by. the girls can always come up with something fun when they are together. This is Brianna, Zoe, and Carly 'Sleeping.'

We love Atticus. He is a little tank and has the best smile ever.
Woof!


Zoe and her baby brother. She is going to be a great sister.

It's back!

I just have to say that I'm so excited the Dancing with the starts comes back on tonight! Yay! I've loved this show from the very first season. I've always wanted to learn how to ballroom dance. Thank heavens for my DVR so I don't actually have to watch the whole show. I'm glad that the new seasons have begun. I've missed the Office and my Law and Orders. I'm not really interested in any of the new shows. It seems like some of our favorite shows havn't lasted. We loved Journyman, and Studio 60 and Rome and Deadwood. But they never last. I'd better get my next quilt started so I will have something to do while I watch.

Bribery or motivation

Brianna is in the first grade and about a month a go started having spelling tests. Jon and I happen to be to of the worst spellers on the planet, so I think I was probably more nervous for her first test than she was, especially the first week because I didn't really understand the note that was sent home explaining things and Brianna couldn't really tell me what was what either.
So now we know that spelling test are 3 parts; a spelling list, a sentence, and for some kids challenge words.
So three weeks ago Brianna came home with 100% + all the challenge words. I was so proud. Jon thought that this deserved a special treat and we told her we would go to dinner and that she could choose. She Chose 'the fire place,' (a Japaneses steak house where they cook at your table) A little more than we wanted to spend, but Daddy is a sucker and we went anyway.
A week later. Brianna comes home on Thursday and gets out her writing paper and pencil, sits at the table and says, "Mom, I'm ready," Normally homework time is a bit of a fight, so I said "why are you so excited to do homework?" She said, "I need to get 100% on my spelling test tomorrow because I want to go to Sizzler for dinner." She did get 100% but didn't get all the challenge words, but we decided it was still worthy of a Sizzler dinner.
So tonight, we are dining at Winger's, because She again Rocked her spelling test.
I'm so proud of how smart my little girl is, and I don't care if it is bribery it works and it gets Mom out of cooking.

To nap, or not to nap?

So Carly has reached that lovely age where she has out grown naps. The problem is that she really does still need them. So if I don't make her take a nap, she melts down around 5 and then follows me around the house crying and our lives are hell until we put her to bed. Or if I do make her take a nap she won't go to sleep and ends up wandering around the house and bugging me till 11 and eventually sleeping on my floor. So which is worse. It is my daily question.

How many years ago?

My friend did this on her Blog and it looked fun.



20 Years ago...



1. I was starting the 5th grade and in Mr. Lundberg's class. We all thought he was pervy so I was not excited.

2. I was at my peak of awkward adolescence and wore huge thick glasses and had bad hair.

3. I was also the only girl in my class who actually needed a bra and was mortified when Scott Wheeler flipped it one day.



15 Years ago....

(not a year my friend's blog asked about, but too important a year to not mention)



1. I was just starting my sophomore year in high school. I had just met a very cute boy, whom I had a huge crush on. A few months later I kissed him and we have been together ever since.

2. I got my driver's license . My first car was a huge burgundy Buick station wagon.

3. I had 2nd period Girls Chorus with 4 girls who became great friends. We had way too much fun in that class.



10 Years ago.....

1. Jon and I had been married for almost 2 years. and were planning a trip to Disneyland with our best friends.

2. We lived in a little apartment on Vine st. right next store to my best friend and her husband.

3. I was working at Joann Fabrics and really loving it.





5 Years ago.....

1. We were in the house we are in now. Our furnace had gone out and we didn't know how we were going to afford a new one.

2. I had my wisdom teeth out. The surgeon botched it and I still have no feeling on the right side of my tongue.

3. I got pregnant with my second baby. I miscarried several months later.



3 Years ago......

1. Carly was still a newborn and Brianna had just started Preschool.

2. We had just bought our Van. It was the first bran new car I had ever had.

3. My Bompy fell and broke his arm. I would drive uptown at least twice a week to check on him and make him lunch. A very stressful time but I wouldn't trade it for the world.



1 year ago.....

1. Brianna had started kindergarten and I was wondering how to entertain a 2 year-old for several hours a day.

2. I started doing more sewing for other people, and realized how much I love to create my own 'fashion.'

3. Jon and I celebrated 11 years of marriage and left both girls with Grandma for the first time overnight.



Today......

1. We went to church. Brianna gave a talk. She talked about our Bompy and did a great job.

2. We worked on getting the living room ready to paint and installed new lights.

3. We went on a walk, then came home and made cookies.



Tomorrow.....

1. Jon took the day of so we could finish painting the living room.

2. Carly has dance class in the morning. She is too cute in her little tap shoes.

3. We will go visit Grandma Fay.



Next Year.

1. We will work on our yard which has suffered greatly this summer.

2. We hope to vacation at a beach house with my brother and sister and their families.

3. We will have been married 13 years. Crazy.

First Day

Today was Carly's first day of Preschool and as you can see she was very, very excited to go.
She is going to the same school Brianna went to. We are very lucky to have found Miss Marla.
She picked out her Ariel back pack.
She got to play with Play-dough and was not at all sad to see Daddy and Mommy go.
(Daddy and Mommy went out to lunch after we dropped her off.)
She had a great day! She even had a little homework to do when she got home.

Cookies!

You may be wondering what this picture has to do with making cookies but in our house it is a very important step in making cookies.
I have great memories of baking with my mom and little brother. I even remember a time when Rob and I tried to make them ourselves. My Mom wasn't very happy. My friends have even told me that they remember making cookies at our house so it is no surprise that it is one of my favorite things to do with my girls. When we were remodeling the kitchen Carly would ask me everyday if we could make cookies. When we moved the stove back in place Carly came down the stairs and said, "Mommy, the stove is back! we can make cookies.!" And we did.
So what does the above picture have to do with making cookies? Well we here is the cookie recipe we follow at our house.
2 sticks of Margarine (one for Carly, one for Brianna)
3/4 c brown sugar (Carly puts one in, Brianna puts one in, Carly puts one in.)
3/4 c sugar(Brianna, Carly, Brianna)
1tsp vanilla (added 1/2 tsp at a time)
2 eggs (Brianna cracks one I pick out the shells, then Carly holds my hand while I crack the other one.)
Cream these together. This is the most important step. While I am creaming these together the girls stand in the middle of the kitchen and spin. I'm not sure why but it definitely makes the cookies taste better.
Lick the beaters
2 1/2 c flour (added a 1/2 c at a time.)
2 pinches of salt
1 tsp of baking soda (1/2 tsp at a time)
Carly then mixes the dry ingredients with her little wooden spoon.
Brianna mixes
Chocolate chips
Mommy mixes
Eat dough
Bake what ever is left for 8-10 min at 350

One day Carly and I made cookies while Brianna was at school, and she just couldn't understand why we needed 2 sticks of margarine if Bri wasn't there.

I hope my Girls will have good memories of Cookies too.

Bliss

Carly helps Brianna groom the horse before the lesson.

We went and watched Brianna at her riding lessons last week. I have to say I was a little nervous seeing her up so high on that big horse and when she started to trot my heart skipped a beat. But, Brianna is so confident and completely happy on her horse.



Carly loves to climb on the fence to watch her sister.
Carly's Horse Springy

Hijacked

This past Christmas we bought the girls their own little digital camera's but for some reason they still prefer mine. It's always interesting to download and see what they have been up to. They are very silly little girls.

Before

I don't have very many good pictures of my kitchen
before the remodel. I had good intentions to take a
picture. but it was never clean enough to take a picture.
SO I took this one before we tore everything out.

TA-DUH!

Here are some pictures of our newly remodeled Kitchen!








We hired Carolina Cabinets to install the cabinets but Jon

and I did the rest of the work. Painting, electrical, pluming,

new floor and Jon's pride and joy the under cabinet lighting.








We were only planning on getting a new

dishwasher and microwave but ended up

getting a new stove as a gift from our

cabinet guys.

We chose to do corian counter tops.


We did a built in bench and got a new

table and chairs.

I had never decorated my old kitchen because

I never liked it before. So I had lots of fun

decorating this time. I had lots of special

nick knacks that were perfect for the kitchen.

Tiny Dancer

Carly started dance lessons today! She has been so excited to start. She got a new leotard and ballet shoes. I think that her teacher Miss Lisa much be either a Saint or insane to want to teach 3 year-olds how to Tap dance but either way I she is brave.

Water Babies

The girls have had so much fun this summer swimming

with their cousin Atty. I hope we can fit a few more swims

in before the fall.

Giddy-Up

Brianna started taking riding lessons this summer. Thank you Grandma Phyllis!
She has to wear a helment when she rides. She really loves it.
I like that she is not only learning to ride but that she had to
help groom the horse and get it ready to ride.
She has gotten good enough to trot byherself.

Olympics

I really like the Olympics. I look forward to watching them every year. I even remember watching them when I was a very little girl. My sister and I would pretend to be figure skaters. And I remember the summer before I got married Jon was working out of town and I sat and watched the Olympics with my Grandma Faye and quilted to pass the time when he was gone.

So it has been pretty fun to watch them this time around. We have had some very late nights this week. So here are a few random observations about the Olympics.

What is up with gymnasts and blue eyeshadow?

And why do gymnasts where so many of those clippy things in their hair? Couldn't they at least take the time to find a matching set and if they are going to cover their head in them could they at least match them to their leotards.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to see Michael Phelps but before the end of this. Have you seen how low he wears that swim thing?

Tagged.

I have been tagged by Jill, http://www.undertheoakstree.blogspot.com/. I'm supposed to tell 6 things about myself and then 6 other people. I am happy to tell 6 things about myself but I don't really know any other bloggers yet. So I can't really tag anyone.

Here are my six things

1. I meet my husband when I was 15. We were married when I was 18 and I love him more now than I ever have. I didn't know I would ever be this happy.

2. I hate housework. We finished remodeling our kitchen and I really want to keep it clean but I'm just not programed to clean as I go. And it is really a challenge for me to be tidy.

3. I'm addicted to Free cell. (like solitaire only better) I could spend an entire day happily at my computer.

4. I'm also obsessed with weddings. I love watching wedding shows. I especially love the dresses. I some day would love to be a wedding planner.

5. I gave birth to Carly naturally, but not by choice. I would love to give birth naturally again and be more aware of what is going on, and not be in such a panic. But I don't really want to be pregnant or have another child. weird I know.

6. I really like public speaking unless the public is under 12 and then I'm terrified. Groups of
children scare me.


Now as for tagging someone else, if any one reads this and wants to be tagged consider yourself tagged.

Tagged.

Big Girl

Carly has had a Big summer. In June she said goodbye to diapers, and in July with a lot of help from Grandma Phyllis she also decided she didn't need her Binky anymore. She is really growing up. So because she is getting so big we decided it was time to get her a new bike. She picked out an Ariel bike because that is her favorite princess.

We also decided it was time to move her out of her car seat and into a booster seat. She wanted a flower one. She actually needs to gain a pound to reach the 30 minimum weight requirement but we put it in anyway.

Carly took a tumble at Grandma Alice's house on Saturday and split her eye open. She didn't have to have a stitch but it sure looks nasty.

Exciting Week

We have had an exciting week around here. Brianna started the First Grade on Tuesday. So Far she is doing great! She looked so cute the first day waling to school with her best friend and their matching backpacks. We, of course, had to follow and take pictures. She looked so big and mature waiting in line. She is getting so beautiful I just don't know what I'm going to do with her.

She also decided it was time to take the training wheels of her bike. I'm not sure how quickly other kids learn to ride a two-wheeler, but she seemed to pick it up very fast. Jon took the training wheels of on Wednesday and ran behind her trying to help. By Thursday night she had it down and tonight she was zipping up and down the street like a pro.

I'm so proud of my Big Girl.