Just For Funsies

I have a lot of things I'd like to catch up on on this old blog-a-roo. I have a list of things to post about. I never even finished my "Mother's Week". I will, but, the fact of the matter is, I just have not been up for it lately. And I have lots of laundry to do. And dishes to wash. And food to cook. And also, I'm pretty darn lazy. Or exhausted. Whichever. I know, I complain and complain when other people don't blog, and whenever I don't, I could care less. Of course, I don't hear anyone complaining when I don't blog, sooo....there ya go :)

Moving on... I was doing my hair today (bent over from the waist down with the blow dryer on high) and realized that I have had a billion (okay, maybe 15) people find out that I have naturally curly hair since moving to VA and ask me (okay, tell me) about wearing it curly instead of straightening it every day. They wonder WHY the heck I don't just leave it curly. I explain that it isn't a "pretty" curly, it is a "nasty" curly. Like, stuck-your-finger-in-a-light-socket-curly. Not to mention frizzy because I insist on being a fake blonde. And because of the humidity here, it is just a million times worse than it ever was in Utah.

No one ever believes me. They say, "Oh, c'mon, it can't be that bad. I'm sure you're exaggerating. You should just do it! I bet it is so cute!" And so on and so forth, and more ridiculous things like that. Well, I decided to be daring and have proof of how ugly it actually is. I should have been a mom in the 80's. I would have been so cool.


*slight disclaimer:I do not take pictures of myself but on rare occasion. I always feel incredibly awkward and I always feel like I look weird. That being said, here is a weird/awkward self-portrait :)Ummmmm, yeah. There's my windblown, natural curly hair in all it's glory. Hot stuff I tell ya. Hot stuff.


Okay, and here it is after I have round brushed it and flat-ironed it with the BEST flat iron out there (trust me, I do hair for a living, k? :)

*Ahem* Which do you prefer?

P.S. I told you I was exhausted.... check out the bags under my eyes. Awesome. Does anyone have any suggestions for those? They seem to be my constant companions these days....

Motherhood: Organized Chaos, A Day in the Life of a Mother

Going along with my Motherhood Themed Week, I wanted to have record of an average day in my life. Of course, because Daphne is only at school 3 days a week, it is different from day to day. But I did an average day when she goes to school and I'm driving carpool. Anyway, I think it'll be fun to look back on when I forget in a few years....


My Typical Day

6:45 AM-Up and at 'em. Roll out of bed to the floor to say my prayers. I really need those prayers, literally every day. I actually pray all day long.

7 AM-Go in to the darling babbling sounds in the baby's room. Greeted with a big, slobbery grin. I scoop the baby out of the crib and fall into my favorite chair to nurse.

7:15-Set baby up in his swing or Bumbo with toys. Turn off cartoons (the other 4 kids have been up for about 1/2 hour. They watch cartoons until it's time to get ready for school) and get Laylah, Jonah, and Daphne's clothes out and set them to getting ready for school. They get dressed, make their beds, make sure their room's are clean and all of their stuff is put away.

7:35- Into the bathroom we go. Teeth get brushed, hair gets done (usually in this order-Jonah, Daphne, Laylah.... easiest to hardest)

7:50- Down to the kitchen. Make and eat breakfast (anything from cold cereal, toast and fruit to eggs and bacon to pancakes to oatmeal) and while the kids eat, I make lunches and prepare snacks.

8:10- Make sure backpacks are packed with homework, PE shoes, lunches, water bottles, snacks, etc. Kneel down and say family prayer.

8:15-8:20 (depending on how our morning has gone.... usually closer to 8:20. I am always running late :)- older 2 kids out the door to the bus stop. I usually stand on the porch (weather permitting) to watch them until they hop on the bus. They wave to me when they get on. Cutie pies.

8:30-Get Baron and M dressed, get myself ready for the gym, eat something, and out the door by 8:45.

8:50- Pick-up carpool for pre-school.

9:00- Drop-off preschool kiddos

9:15-10:30ish- Drop-off boys at gym daycare, go workout, pick-up boys from gym daycare. Out to the car to nurse M.

10:45-11:45- Run any quick errands before I need to go pick-up preschool kiddos.

12-pick-up pre-k and drive home (dropping carpool off on the way, all the while listening to cute little jibber-jabbering about what happened at preschool that day)

12:30- Arrive home and make lunch. Feed M some baby food while Daph and Bear eat. Eat something myself. Nurse M again. Get all 3 kids down for naps.

1:15- Shower.... FINALLY! Ahhh, but I do love my shower....

1:30-3:30- Laundry, straighten up, dishes, basically do whatever needs to be done around the house. My actual cleaning day is on Saturday though, so I just have to tidy up during the week. Also, this is my beloved free time, computer time, reading time, what-have-you. I love nap-time...

3:45-3:55-Kids up from naps (feed M some cereal, nurse once again), Lay and Jo home from school.

4:00-4:45- Homework and quiet reading time

4:45-6:00-Kids go run around outside and play with friends or ride bikes. When it's cold, they stay inside and have friends over, or they play the Wii or computer games. I make dinner, taking breaks to help break-up any disagreements, read a story or two, or play a quick game of Go Fish.

6-6:30- Eat dinner as a family. We talk about our day and school and how everyone is.

6:30-7:30-Family time. Go for a walk, play games, run around and play outside, go to the park, or watch a movie. Nurse M for the last time, quick bath, snuggles, and put him to bed.

7:30-8:00- Get kiddos ready for bed. Quick showers, brush teeth, make sure all of their stuff is cleaned up and ready for the next day. Family scripture study and prayer. Hugs and kisses, sing a song or two, kids in bed.

8:00-11ish.... sometimes later (I am a night owl and an early bird.... maybe that's why I'm tired all the time?!)- Clean up dinner, dishes, and anything else that needs to be cleaned up. Fold laundry, hang out with my Love, watch TV, eat popcorn, relax, listen to music, play games, get ready for bed. Scriptures, prayer, and lights out.


Wow, just writing it all down makes me tired. And that is just your average day. Like tonight, we met some friends at a pond, had a picnic for dinner, and went wading and looking for tadpoles. It was great! I just love being a mom and seeing my kids happy. It brings me true joy. I like to mix it up around here and have a lot of fun. And it feels really great when on the way home to get ready for bed the kids all said, "Thanks mom! That was so much fun!" Ahhh, love my kids. Love my family :)

Motherhood: Forget It

Do you ever feel like the section of your brain that holds your memories is damaged after you have children? Well, I certainly do. I think a little bit of it has shriveled up and died each time I have become pregnant and given birth. Let me explain...

I baby-sat a couple of cute little kiddos today. A friend of mine was going to be gone all day and I volunteered to baby-sit her barely 3 year old and 1 year old. Daphne was gone all day with Andy on a zoo fieldtrip, so I just had Baron and Magnus. If you missed that, I had 2 three year olds, a one year old, and a 6 month old baby. No problem. Nothing I can't handle.

Except that it was exhausting and I don't think I sat down once.

I remember being busy all of the time after Daphne was born. I had a 2 1/2 year old, an 18 month old, and a new baby. After today, I don't know how I did it, all day, every day. And basically by myself because Andy's work required him to travel at that time, so he was gone about 3 weeks out of every month.

I do remember talking to my mom about it a lot and telling her that I couldn't even imagine what it would be like for these 3 darling kids to be gone all day in school. Guess what? That will be happening this fall. I remember thinking I would have so much more time and be much less busy. But I'm not. I'm just as busy, if not more so. It is just a different kind of busy.

It's just pretty crazy to me how fast the time has gone, and how quickly I forgot. I really miss those busy, tiny kid's days. I miss not worrying about school stuff and having pajamma and movie days and going and doing whatever we pleased days. Those tiny little kids were my life, and I was their's. They still are, and I still am, but they don't need me as much anymore. They're growing up. They want to go and play with friends and ride their bike down the street and have adventures in the woods behind our house (Jonah just told me that the other day. That he would like to have an adventure :) And it sure does make me sad. Independance, while a good thing, can also be a terribly sad thing. Especially to a mother who misses the times when she could hold all 3 of them on her lap at once.

I can't do that anymore.... good thing I still have 2 more babies at home with me. They fit on my lap perfectly. Daphne at about a week old, Jonah-18 months, Laylah-2 years and 8 months

Playing with baby Daph

Easter 2006 (I can hardly believe this was 5 years ago-what was your Easter like 5 years ago??)

My 3 sweet, darling children (June 2006)

Motherhood: A Big Decision

Laylah (minutes old) and Me (20), May 2003

The Beginning of my Motherhood Adventure

Becoming a mother is a really big decision. It is one that will surely and forever change your life. For the most part, it is our own choice, a decision we make with our spouse when we decided to start a family. Once in awhile, we get a little surprise (surprises are wonderful things; I myself happen to love surprises ;) and when that incredible tiny being, whether surprise or otherwise, is placed in our arms, we can't imagine life any other way.

For me, motherhood wasn't something I had planned on dabbling in any time soon when I became a bride at the tender, young age of 19. I thought we would take our time and wait awhile, have some adventures, finish school, have at least some sort of stable income, enjoy our marriage together, and just do life the "normal" way most people do it. Of course, I rarely do anything "normal", I always was one to do my own thing. You know, try to stand out a little and get some attention. Be unique and different, that sort of thing ;) That is where THIS post comes in. I wrote it back when I was diagnosed with my auto-immune disorder. I had never really understood the WHY of how our family came to be. I just tried my best to listen to the whisperings of the spirit and do well to follow the direction we were led in as husband and wife. I am so incredibly grateful I did. Although my life has not gone the way I ever pictured it, I would never change a thing. Of course it has been hard and being a young mother of so many little children these days is quite the challenge. Well, I am up for it. I take on the challenge whole-heartedly and head on. I love my life, trials and all (remind me of this the next time a big challenge comes my way, okay?). I am very blessed and I adore my family, husband and children. We are so happy together and I've never enjoyed life as much as I do as a mother.

Especially as a mother freshly back from a weekend away with my hubby. I think it's time for one of those get-aways soon... honey? Are you reading this...??

Teehee :)

Motherhood: Celebrate and Learn

My 5 little kiddos, December 2010

This week, because Mother's Day is this coming Sunday, I wanted to celebrate Motherhood and write a little something (or maybe not so little, depending on my mood :) every day about my personal feelings on motherhood. I love being a mom even though it is the hardest thing I have, or ever will, do. It is challenging, frustrating, difficult, exhausting, stressful, scary, sad, etc. etc. I could go on and on. However, it is also the best, most rewarding, greatest, most divine, wonderful, fun, exciting, amazing, thrilling, heart-warming, etc. etc., thing I have done, or ever will do, as well. My kids are my life right now. And even though I was told from the start (and am still reminded quite often), it goes by so quickly, and that I need to enjoy it. And I do! Time sure does fly when you're having fun, right?

I loved General Conference last month. It was just, simply put, wonderful. THIS talk really stuck with me. Although it is for parents, and not just aimed towards mothers, as a mom, it sure made me cry. I know I am an imperfect mother. I need to earn my degree in Patience 101 for starters. But that is the very reason I am so grateful for our general authorities and leaders. They are guided by our loving Heavenly Father to know just what to say. And the talk What Manner of Men and Women ought Ye to Be? just stuck with me. I needed it. And I have tried to practice it. I still have a ways to go and I think I always will, but I've got a good start.

Happy Mother's Week!

Spring Break, Family Style

Spring Break was just so much fun this year mostly because..... my family came to visit! I hadn't seen my dad and two sisters since last summer and they (along with my Mom, of course) came to visit for a whole week. They came Thursday the 14th. The next day, the kids all had their last day of school before the break, so we took advantage and headed to DC for the day (my wonderful hubby stayed home with Baron and so he could be home when the kids got home from school) and I just had to bring baby M along. I didn't even pull my camera out that day because my mom was taking all the pictures and I just figured I would get them off her camera before they left. I remembered to do that about an hour after they left to go home. Darn it. I'll get them from her and add them someday! Anyway, my sisters had never been to DC, so that day we went around to all of the monuments. It never ceases to amaze me and we had such a great time. I had been looking forward to taking them to my favorite burger joint around.... Good Stuff Eatery. I got my toasted marshmallow shake, of course. Delish! Good thing we walked around so much that day. Hopefully we burned off at least half of the calories we consumed!

I actually did find these two pictures on my phone from Friday. I hadn't been to the Vietnam Memorial yet and it was so touching. The amazing feeling of sacrifice and reverence there was thick in the air. I loved it and it makes me so incredibly grateful for our awesome country!

The weekend was pretty relaxing and we shopped a bit, watched a lot of movies, and just spent time together.

On Monday, we headed up to DC again, this time to go to the museums. We had a picnic lunch and then went to the Museum of American History. I had browsed through it quickly when Rachel was here in February, but we got to see everything this time and it was just so much fun.

The kids had a blast



This is Andy's fist next to a mold of Lincoln's

I had to get this of Andy in front of the Embassy of Spain (Andy went to Spain on his mission) See that yellow and red flag? That is the flag of Spain!

After we were finished at the museum, we decided to walk to Sprinkles Cupcakes where they supposedly have the best cupcakes around. I have always wanted to go to Georgetown Cupcakes because I have heard they are amazing as well. They are located on the same street as Sprinkles, but they are further away. We're pretty lazy, so we went to Sprinkles. Oh well, we'll try Georgetown next time :)

On our walk on the way there, I saw this sign for an LDS church, right in the middle of the city. Crazy. I never thought I wanted to live in a big city, I always thought I was a suburbs kind of girl, but after spending several days in the city, I think I would love it. Not with 5 kids of course, but I think it would be so much fun to be either single in a city or newly married. I kind of wish I would have been more adventurous when Andy and I were first married. After mentioning this to Andy, he reminded me that we could always do it when we were empty-nesters. Something to look forward to, eh? :)

We finally made it to the cupcake shop and tried a bunch of different flavors. They were incredible. I wanted to eat 5. I didn't though :)It was a long day. Here we are riding the metro home. Cute little buggers...

The next day (Tuesday) was Andy's birthday and the day we went to Mt. Vernon, home of Washington. We had never been and it was incredible. A must see for anyone who comes to visit (plus, I would love to go back!)

When we first got there, we walked down to the docks and took a river cruise up the Potomac. It was a little chilly and foggy, but still beautiful. I got my dad to go and tell the captain that it was Andy's birthday and the whole ship sang to him. It was a lot of fun.

My Daddy, Kaylie, Mom, and Suzanne

My kids love their Aunties

Fort Washinton

Washinton's home

Here is Martha and George's tomb. It is a big family cemetary and there are a lot of graves here.

The farm is beautiful and they still have animals there that work the farm

I can't believe the incredible grounds and how well and beautifully everything is kept up. It's just so peaceful there and there is so much history. I couldn't get enough.

This is a slave house. Washinton had hundreds of slaves.





Because it is spring, there were so many baby animals. This baby lamb was to-die-for adorable and I wanted to pick it up and snuggle it!

Like I said, the grounds were just gorgeous and I could have wandered around there all day.

We took the mansion tour and the house was really cool.



This was taken on the back porch of the house. It had incredible views. Beautiful, just beautiful.

On Wednesday we did some more hanging around town and shopping and my dad took all the kids to get ice cream and play at the park. The kids must have thought they were in heaven. My parents are just so good to us and we had so much fun while they were here. They left Thursday morning and their trip just seemed to fly by. I loved having my sisters here and my parents are the greatest. My kids miss them so much (so do I!) and it was just fun to have a week off and enjoy ourselves. One of my favorite things we did was stay up late laughing hysterically at ridiculous YouTube videos. I also really enjoyed getting to do my family's hair again! I have just missed them so much. Thanks for coming family! We love and miss you already and can't wait to see you in a couple months!

Birthday Boy

Andy had a birthday last week during spring break. He turned 31 and although it was so much fun, it was pretty low-key (just the way he likes it). My parents were here and we had a fun day celebrating and went to Mt. Vernon for the day, but that's another post in itself!


I got up really early to go get fresh donuts at Paul's Bakery (where I also picked up his birthday cake-mine was from there and it was to die for). We had heard from many people that it is the best bakery in town and that their donuts are incredible. It was true. They were amazing! I made a little donut cake with 2 different kinds of donuts and donut holes, chocolate milk, and the kids and I woke Andy with our Happy Birthday song.

Yum yum.... the rest of the day was spent at Mt. Vernon and that evening my parents and my sisters and me and Andy went out to dinner at Sakura, our favorite Japanese grill and sushi bar. Delish.

Later we did cake and gifts:

The kids made their dad a candy bar poster

My parents and I went in together on a new iPod nano with a watch band for him. It is so cool. Andy's been wanting a new iPod ever since he lost his in our move over a year ago. He doesn't look it in this picture, but he was very excited and he likes to show it off to everyone :)

I love you Andy, Happy Birthday!