Can I survive?!

Another cold day...what's new right?! Yesterday it snowed, and then snowed again last night...probably around 3 inches or so. I'm sick of...completely SICK of it. I'm not sure how much more of this I can take!! The really really bad part is...the entire week looks like CRAP!! Snow again on Wednesday and then again on Friday...ugh! Are the weather gods trying to drive me absolutely insane?...well, it's working!!! Next Sunday it's supposed to be sunny and 60, so there's hope in my future! Can I make it?! Let's hope so!

In other news, last week Haley completed her pre-level 2 swim class on Thursday!! Now she's ready to start Level 1. She has to be five for that class, so she'll start in August. It works out well because Morgan will be three, so she'll be in the Pre-level 1 class while Haley is in the other class at the same time, and then I get 1/2 hour break!! Yay for me!

Well, that's all for now. I think I'll go ahead and continue my day of sulking...

Swimsuit Season...

is approaching. No, I don't think I'll be frolicking in the water looking like Heidi Klum anytime soon, but none the less, starting today, I'm getting my body in shape!
A friend in the neighborhood teaches aerobics three days a week for two hours. Actually, it's not just aerobics but pilates, tai-bo, yoga, and strength training. There are a couple of other women who teach as well. Anyway, I went pretty consistently after I had Haley, but then I fizzled out. I blame part of it on my crummy knee. But I'm ready to give it another go! The great thing is that kids are welcome there (they run around and play while we work out) and it's free!

I went today, and had great time...except for having to take Morgan to the bathroom every 15 minutes. Unlike Haley, Morgan I think actually enjoys using the bathroom...too much in fact. That, and every time I had to lay on the floor to do an exercise Morgan took that opportunity to pounce me. But whatever...I'm totally going to try my best to stay consistent with some type of exercise on a regular basis.

Warm weather...where are you? Part II

This is what we woke up to this morning...ugh!!

Jeff had a completely different reaction. While I'm in the depths of despair, Jeff is all smiles. "Yeah!! Snow...I love it!!". He has a ski pass to Sundance, so for him it's a good thing...I guess.

Warm weather...where are you?!

The weather has taken a turn for the worse! We went from beautiful sunny 75 degree weather to yucky 40's...boo hoo! It even snowed on Monday...I absolutely can't stand it!!! Today it's overcast and rainy, it automatically puts me in a depressed mood. I become way too grumpy, and snap at the kids too much. They are antsy, and they seem to bicker and fight constantly...basically driving me to insanity! Any type of activity we do ends up with them fighting it seems. Please...I need nice weather soon!!! As another fellow blogger wrote: I'm tired...I'm tired of baking cookies, tired of doing crafts, tired of playing with play-do, tired of coloring and reading stories. I'm ready to hear the sound of children playing OUTSIDE!!!! (I paraphrased of course, but you get the idea)

So, speaking of the joys of motherhood...in about a month or so my brother and his wife will be having their baby...their first! We are so excited about it!

I stole this picture off of their blog, it was taken at her baby shower a couple of weeks ago. I forgot my camera so I have to resort in swiping from other people. Anyway, they're having a boy...Jett Alexander. And we just can't wait to meet him!

Thank You!

I have been such a scatterbrain lately!

When ever I go to Costco the girls love to hold my Costco Credit Card to show the lady standing at the door. That, and holding the receipt to give to the other lady as we leave. They usually put a happy face on it, and the girls love it! Oh, and the samples...those are the things they love about Costco.

Anyway, so today Haley held my credit card to show the lady, then I took it back and stuck it in the outside pocket of my purse (HONEST...I know I did!), which happened to be sitting in the seat next to Morgan. So as I'm browsing the isles at some point Morgan pulled it out...and ultimately dropped it. No, I did not witness her doing this, but this is what I believe to be true!

So, about an hour later...with a basket FULL of groceries I go to check out. NO CARD! Ahhhhhhhh!!! Why!!!! So I explained that it must have been dropped in the store, because I KNOW I had it to get in. After a bit of fumbling around and searching everywhere: the cart, my purse (like a hundred times!), Morgan...it was no where to be found. So they checked the front membership desk and low and behold someone turned it in!!! My lucky day!!

The funny thing...just a few months ago I found a Costco credit card laying on the ground at the Costco gas station. I was a good Samaritan and turned it in! So, I guess it's true...do good things, and good things will happen to you (or something like that).

So thank you, who ever you are, for turning in my card! You made my day a little bit easier...because quoting one of the girls' favorite picture books, "It could have been worse!".

AAA saves the day!

My experience at the dog park was much more eventful then I expected. My main concern when we go there is making sure the girls don't step in dog poop...oh, if I only knew what was in store for me!

So I decided to venture out into civilization today! I feel comfortable enough with Morgan's potty training that I was sure she'd be fine. She's pretty good at letting me know when she has to go. Anyway, after we had been there for about 15 minutes, Morgan runs up to me, "I have to go potty!". So realizing that there are no bathrooms nearby, I decide to pack everyone up and go find a restaurant or gas station or something close. I load Etta in the back first, shut the back and then realized that I just locked my keys in the car!! NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! I think I even yelled that out loud. Keep in mind that the weather is in the low 70's and the car was already warm inside and parked in the sun!

I had left my purse in the car with my wallet (with AAA number), and my phone (we got that stupid phone for me in case of an emergency, and then I go and lock that in the car too...I'm such a ding dong!). So looking around the parking lot I notice a police car parked. So I drag the girls back into the dog park (all the while Morgan saying she has to go potty) and try to track down the owner of that car!! Pretty soon EVERYONE there know my situation, and luckily I find the officer. Unfortunately, he doesn't have anything to open the car, but lends me his phone to call Ryan...but probably seeing some foreign number come up on his phone he decides not to answer. So, the officer uses his lap top to look up AAA for me. While we're busy the girls are finding some very random things in the parking lot. Morgan finds a pair of prescription glasses and decides to wear those for a while. And Haley brings me a tampon!!!! EEEWWWWW! Luckily it wasn't used...I grabbed it from her and threw it as far as I could! Gross me out...who leaves an open tampon in a parking lot?!

We finally found the emergency number, and of course I'm frantic on the phone. "My dog is locked in, and it's very warm!! Please hurry!" After I get off the phone, and thank the officer for his help, I notice Morgan walking with her legs about two feet apart. That of course only means one thing...and yes it was poop. Poor thing couldn't hold it any longer! So I find the most discreet spot off to the side of the parking lot to strip her down. Luckily, she hadn't sit down so it wasn't all smooshed up. I VERY carefully slid off her panties. And at the very moment someone decides to park right beside us!! Out of all the places open, he chooses that one! So I had one witness to this incident (that I know of anyway). I dump the poop in the grass, put her pants back on, and then put her panties under the car. Don't worry...I didn't leave them there. I put them into a plastic bag once the car was open.

So about 10 minutes after I called, AAA arrived!!! Yay! Oh, and while we were waiting Haley fell out of a tree and scraped her leg (very minor!!). But that didn't stop her from tons of wailing, "Is my skin going to grow back!!! I NEED a band aid...I NEED one...we NEED to go home NOW!!" (you get the idea)

After AAA saved the day and Haley was able to calm down, we went back in the park for a little while longer...since Morgan had already taken care of business and all, might as well. And it turned out to be a really nice afternoon!

And they never did step in poop!

Potties and Puppies

With a new puppy and the whole potty training thing, needless to say, it's a bit crazy in this house. Good thing Morgan has been easy so far or I might just have lost my mind! Now if I can get that puppy trained, all will be good in the world. Getting up at 4:00 in the morning cleaning poop out of her crate is NOT fun (that happened only once, I guess I wasn't quick enough to let her out...lesson learned: be faster!), I'll be glad when she can sleep through the night in her crate without having to be let out to go to the bathroom! I had forgotten all those little annoying puppy traits we have to put up with for a while. But it's a riot watching these two dogs interact, I'm not sure if they're having fun, or trying to kill each other. They wrestle with each other and roll around together all over the house banging into furniture...ahhh, good times. So with the dogs wrestling and my two girls wrestling and fighting I'm basically the referee trying my best to keep everyone in line! Thanks goodness the weather has been warm (temps reaching 70!!). My phrase for the week, "EVERYONE, GO OUTSIDE!!!!".

Not only do I have to get up at night to let the dog out...I think it might have been easier to get up and nurse a baby then it is to stand outside in the cold waiting for a little dog to pee. OK, maybe not, but at least when I nursed at night I was cozy warm on the rocker...and usually asleep. So with the dog and Ryan hacking up a lung every night (he has a horrible cold), sleep is minimal. I know...I'm totally whining. But at least the weather's nice!!! Did I say that already...well, it is!

Conversation during lunch:

Haley: Mom, once you start wearing panties, do you wear them forever?

Me: Yep! Even I wear panties!

Haley leaning over to tell Morgan: Yeah, mommy has really really big panties!

I know I should be offended by this statement...but I could help but crack up! NO, I don't have really, really big panties...Haley's lying! (in case you were wondering)

So far so good...

...lets just hope it keeps up! This morning I started potty training Morgan, and like I said before, I've been dreading it since she turned two. I had such a horrible experience with Haley I just did NOT want to go through another. However, I shouldn't have judged Morgan, just because she is Haley's sister doesn't mean EVERYTHING will be the same. We started the day reading a potty book, putting on her new princess panties, sticker chart ready on the fridge(a stuffed unicorn as the prize, because this house cannot have enough stuffed unicorns!) and she had Haley has her cheerleader...all was set! Well, I'm happy to report that it could not have been better!! NO ACCIDENTS!!! Yes, you heard me!! NONE!! She only needs one more sticker for her chart and I have to get her that unicorn. She definitely went through those a lot faster then I had thought!! I just hope tomorrow goes as well!

For St. Patrick's Day I made green Monkey Bread for breakfast, and our traditional Irish Stew for dinner (I think it's the only time that I ever cook Lamb). My mom sent the girls a little leprechaun scavenger hunt for them to do. Sooo cute, and the girls loved it! I tell ya, my mom definitely puts me to shame with her creativity! The girls had to find the leprechauns and then collect the "pots of gold". On the backs of each pot there was a nickel or dime or some type change. The girls love putting change into their piggy banks! One of the things they do is to stand in Jeffy's doorway asking if he has any pennies. He usually gives them some, but has the girls promise to do something. "I'll give you each a penny if you promise never to push your shopping cart in the house or wear your dress up shoes." Let's just say they're not very good at keeping their promises.

Anyway, the scavenger hunt was a success!

Red Water

I finished reading the novel Red Water a week or so ago. I finally decided to mention it and post my new book...The Reader, by Bernhard Schlink. It was up for Best Picture and it's rated as the #1 National Bestseller, so how can I go wrong, right?! I love buying books at Costco. The prices are good and they have all the best sellers already laid out for you, saves me a lot of time browsing. I enjoyed Red Water. It was based on the Mountain Meadow Massacre, a very tragic event in the mid 1850's. This was a true incident, and all the people mentioned did exist, however, it was classified as a Fiction. I liked it because it was told through the eyes of very different women who happened to be three of the nineteen wives of John D. Lee. This was during the time that polygamy was practiced in Utah. John D. Lee was ultimately convicted and executed for the crime. Not polygamy, but the massacre of the pioneers.

Anyway, I always enjoy reading about pioneer women and the things that they had to endure. I always wonder how I would do if I lived during that time...I imagine I would do pretty good...at least that's what I tell myself.

A Very Full House!

If our house seemed full before, now we are definitely busting at the seams! Two kids, a Jeffy boy, and now two dogs...we are testing the limits of this house for sure!

This morning I drove Jeffy to the airport...boo hoo. He's spending a week in Long Beach for his Spring Break. I gotta say, I miss the guy already! So on the way back home I picked up our new addition...our new little Brittany pup. We decided to name her Belle Starr. No it's not a stripper name! I'm continuing the Wild West theme. Belle Starr was a famous outlaw during the American West, she's also know as the "Bandit Queen". So anyway, Belle for short. I guess I'll just have to put up with people thinking she's named after the Disney's "Beauty and Beast" character. Oh well.

I don't think words can even explain how excited the girls were when I got home!! They just couldn't get enough of her. They constantly chased her through the house, and Morgan would say as she's trying to catch her, "Belle, I love you so much!".

This is the exact same stuffed dog that we got for Etta, only new. Etta eventually tore hers to shreds and had to throw it out. We rubbed the dog all over Belle's mom so it has the same scent...maybe she'll sleep better at night...I hope, I hope!

Etta and Belle seem to get along. However, Etta can be a bit rough at times. We'll have to keep a close eye on them until Belle is a little bigger.

They are a lot of fun! Good times are in store, I'm sure of it!

Who Knew?!

One good thing about Winter is the fact that I can wear my black boots!! I love them!! When I put them on I feel 10 years younger (because the higher the heel the more years you shave off your age...right?). Not to mention...I feel sexier...and after two kids I need to feel sexy every now and then.

It's funny because right after I had Haley I wanted everyone to know that I had a little girl. When I went out without her (rare occasion) I almost wanted to have a sign around my neck that said "I have a beautiful little girl at home!!", I was just so proud. Now...when I'm out without children I want to look like I don't have children...hence, the boots! Anyway, so it surprised me when I read this column!!

By the way, I love Ann Cannon's column on Monday's!


"Who knew guys hated girls' boots?"
Published: Monday, March 9, 2009 10:00 a.m. MDT


"I'm still hearing from guys about book clubs, which (naturally) has led me to reflect on one of my pet topics, i.e. men and women and the differences between them.
The subject came up again at our house the other day when I pulled out my favorite pair of boots to wear to church.
OK. Before I go on with this story, I just want to say that I LOVE these boots "like a fat boy love cake."
They're soft and brown and dressy, and whenever I wear them I feel exactly like Posh Spice — that is if Posh Spice was a size 12 middle-age Mormon lady, who bought all her clothes at Target. On sale.
But yeah. Other than that, I feel exactly Posh Spice when I pull on those boots.
That's why I was way surprised when one of my teenagers said, "Why do girls like boots?"
"Don't you like it when girls wear boots?" I asked, surprised.
I thought that was one of the reasons men liked Sarah Palin so much — because she always had those sexy stripper boots on whenever she and Todd got off the airplane.
(MEMO TO CERTAIN READERS: Please note I said ONE of the reasons. I am not bashing Sarah Palin! I am not bashing men who like Sarah Palin! I am not bashing sexy stripper boots! So please. Take a chill pill and do NOT send me e-mails chewing me out for being a socialist member of the mainstream liberal media. Dudes! I am just another size 12 middle-age Mormon lady who buys all her clothes at Target, OK?)
Anyhoo. The conversation continued.
"No," my son said. "I don't like it when girls wear boots. And neither do my friends."
This was new information. Not only do boys hate boots, but apparently they also talk about hating boots.
They get together and eat pizza and watch Jazz games and talk about how much they hate it when girls wear boots.
WHO KNEW?
"What else do guys hate?" I asked.
"Mean girls," my son said. "Fake girls."
"I don't care about fake and mean," I said. "What else do girls WEAR that guys hate?"
Because here's the deal. I have the feeling that guys hate it when girls wear certain things even though other girls approve.
For instance, women look at Sarah Jessica Parker and go "Sister! Yes! Give me some o' that!" while men look at Sarah Jessica Parker and go "But why is there a fake lily on her head?" and also, "Why doesn't she have that mole removed?"
Which is why I wanted my boy to enlighten me, only by then, he'd lost interest in me and my heinous boots."

Me with my pride and joy (the boots...not my children)...KIDDING...but seriously! Let me just add that it took me about three years to find those boots!! I was very picky! I have pretty thin calves so it took me forever to find boots that fit snug around my chicken legs. Plus, they needed to be pointy, and high...because, well you know...

So...is it true? Do all guys hate boots?!

Sugar and spice, and all things nice...

that's what little girls are made of.
Is this the cutest little bunch of girls, or what?! Dress-up...always a hit!

Haley came to me the other day and said, "Mommy, I really want to go to Ballerina School."

Do you see the family resemblance?

Welcome the newest member of our family! The breeders that we got Etta from last year had another litter. They took pity on me since Etta has a luxating patella, so they gave me an awesome deal for this one!! Ryan and I have been kicking the idea of owning two dogs for a while now. This type of dog do very well in pairs...so I've heard...let's hope they are right!
Our new pup (she doesn't have a name yet) is the top photo. The bottom picture is of Etta when she about the same age. I could have gotten an orange and white female, but I really like the liver and white, plus they look like sisters...don't you think?! We get to take her home about the 15th of this month.

I know...I'm crazy! The house is already chaos...might as well add more to it!

Time to Update

We had a pretty good weekend. I'll give you the short version: Friday, Ryan had off so we all went out for breakfast...late birthday celebration for me. Oh, and I made my own Birthday cake Friday too...I know kinda sad. I told Ryan earlier that week that I didn't need one (because he would have gotten one himself for me), but deep down I decided I really did. It's just not the same without cake. So, I decided to go ahead and make it myself (since really my homemade cakes are better than store bought anyway). So then my Birthday was complete!! Saturday I was able to get Etta out by myself, which I always enjoy. Sunday, the weather was beautiful!! So we all went out for an afternoon bike ride. It's been a while for me and I must say it felt good to get out on my bike!!
A congratulations is in order...Jeff is now a certified Lifeguard. He completed his class last week. The other night when Ryan and I went to play racquetball we left Jeff in charge. The girls were already asleep, so I told Jeff not to forget about them if there's a house fire. His reply, "Don't worry, I'm a lifeguard!". So that's seems to be his reply to a lot of things. Yes, we feel so much safer now that we have a lifeguard in the house! Ha ha!


Mondays are always a blah day for me. I never really accomplish anything...a sweatsuit day! However, yesterday I did manage to get dressed and I even got a couple of errands done. I know...sooo out of the ordinary!! And the girls and I made shamrock cookies...gotta love that!

My little pastry chefs!

Their favorite part...licking the beaters!

And speaking of food...I bought another cookbook today. It was at Costco, so you know, I got a good price! I love my ward cookbook from this year; fast, easy recipes from things you have already in your pantry.

So, when I saw this one I just had to buy it! I haven't made anything out of it yet, but it looks pretty good. Definitely a unique cookbook...where else would you find a recipe for General Conference Scones or Funeral Potatoes?!

Another congratulations is in order...My mom has completed her FINAL round of chemo!!!! Her last day was on Monday!! I'm so impressed by her! It's been a long six months, but she did it! Congrats Mom!!