It's late at night, I'm not normally on the computer now, but Rich has a new video game he's playing, and I'm trying to convince Angela to go to sleep. Crazy girl hasn't had a nap at all today, and has played a bunch... yet it's 10pm and I can't get her to lay down and be still and stop talking to go to sleep...
So I'm sitting here and playing on the computer and hoping she get's tired and lays down and falls asleep. I already tried laying with her in her room for 45 minutes... that's about my limit and then I start to get annoyed at it taking so long (and bored...)
BYU had it's first football game of the season this year. They played Northern Iowa, not a big powerhouse football program. They won it, but made a bunch of mistakes that let the other team get a little bit of hope during the 3rd period. Next week they play Washington- that'll be a much bigger opponent and we'll see how they do in that game.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Ashley's little scare
So yesterday Ashley was at recess and fainted. Apparently she was running around playing, and then ran over to where they were lining up to go inside for lunch, found some friends and laid her head down on one otheir shoulders. Then she said it slowly got black, and she passed out. It scared her friends and the teachers woke her up and brought her into the school and the principle called me. She cut her chin and was not looking great when she was brought into the school by the teachers.
I went and picked her up and we brought her home. I tried to call the dr's office to ask them about it, but it was their lunch time and there wasn't anyone answering the phone. She laid down for a while and ate a light lunch and then was feeling fine. We think she just got overheated and dehydrated.
Last night one of her friends mom's called to check up on her, and then this morning another friend from her class called to see how she was doing. I wasn't thinking about it yesterday, but I probably should have called the school later in the day and let her teacher know that she was fine and to let the class know she was fine.
Ashley was upset that last night she didn't get to go to her tennis lessons... I think she's fine with no lasting side effects, but she did give us a little scare. :)
I went and picked her up and we brought her home. I tried to call the dr's office to ask them about it, but it was their lunch time and there wasn't anyone answering the phone. She laid down for a while and ate a light lunch and then was feeling fine. We think she just got overheated and dehydrated.
Last night one of her friends mom's called to check up on her, and then this morning another friend from her class called to see how she was doing. I wasn't thinking about it yesterday, but I probably should have called the school later in the day and let her teacher know that she was fine and to let the class know she was fine.
Ashley was upset that last night she didn't get to go to her tennis lessons... I think she's fine with no lasting side effects, but she did give us a little scare. :)
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Reading
So I was playing with my friends kids all day yesterday... and I haven't finished book #3 yet... but I'm close and will probably finish it and start #4 today.
In the meantime, today is the first day of the institute class that cater's to mom's... it's pretty nice for them to give us a class where our kids are welcome to come in and out throughout the classtime. It does a good job of impelling me to get focused scripture study done instead of just randomly reading from the scriptures.
We'll do that and then get some lunch and take Alyssa to school. Then Angela and I will hang out and I think the kids are going to play at a friends house this afternoon.
In the meantime, today is the first day of the institute class that cater's to mom's... it's pretty nice for them to give us a class where our kids are welcome to come in and out throughout the classtime. It does a good job of impelling me to get focused scripture study done instead of just randomly reading from the scriptures.
We'll do that and then get some lunch and take Alyssa to school. Then Angela and I will hang out and I think the kids are going to play at a friends house this afternoon.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Um... don't ask me how late I was up last night...
Um yeah... I finished book 2... and read almost 1/2 of book 3...
My friends told me that it pulls you in and you just want to read it... and it's true... at this rate I'll be done easily by the end of the week.
Of course I missed my alarm clock this morning and didn't wake up until my friend rang the doorbell to drop her boys off at my house... whoops...
My friends told me that it pulls you in and you just want to read it... and it's true... at this rate I'll be done easily by the end of the week.
Of course I missed my alarm clock this morning and didn't wake up until my friend rang the doorbell to drop her boys off at my house... whoops...
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Reading
OK... so I read half of the next book in the Twilight series last night...
I seriously loose track of time when reading and it was only the fact that Rich got up and turned the tv off and got ready for bed that made me realize it was past midnight.
I have a feeling I'll finish the second book today... I might not, but chances are that I will. lol! :)
I seriously loose track of time when reading and it was only the fact that Rich got up and turned the tv off and got ready for bed that made me realize it was past midnight.
I have a feeling I'll finish the second book today... I might not, but chances are that I will. lol! :)
Monday, August 25, 2008
Relief Society lesson
Yesterday in Relief Society we had a great lesson. It was based on the conference talk that President Henry B Eyering gave in April of this year. Our teacher did a really neat thing at the beginning of the talk though. She asked us all to share our thoughts and feelings about President Eyering and his talks, before she dove into the lesson and the talk we were discussing.
It was really neat to hear the stories that people told about him. One sister had been at Rick's college when he was the President of the College, and would go to his house for firesides and her brother worked with him closely as the student body president.
Another one talked of how he always asks us to do something, and the gentle way he asks really compels us to want to do what he asks, even if it's something that we normally wouldn't want to do.
Another sister told of how emotional he get's during his talks. To read his talk is not enought, and that for his talk she wants to hear it, and hear his emotion in his voice.
I shared how ever since I was little I remember the physical resemblance that he and my father share. My dad has frequently been mistaken for him because they really do resemble each other a lot. How because of that resemblance when he talks, I pay attention more and he isn't just another one of the apostles... he holds a special place in my heart.
I just thought it was a really neat way to start the lesson off. We all felt the spirit and we had a wonderful discussion on his talk.
It was really neat to hear the stories that people told about him. One sister had been at Rick's college when he was the President of the College, and would go to his house for firesides and her brother worked with him closely as the student body president.
Another one talked of how he always asks us to do something, and the gentle way he asks really compels us to want to do what he asks, even if it's something that we normally wouldn't want to do.
Another sister told of how emotional he get's during his talks. To read his talk is not enought, and that for his talk she wants to hear it, and hear his emotion in his voice.
I shared how ever since I was little I remember the physical resemblance that he and my father share. My dad has frequently been mistaken for him because they really do resemble each other a lot. How because of that resemblance when he talks, I pay attention more and he isn't just another one of the apostles... he holds a special place in my heart.
I just thought it was a really neat way to start the lesson off. We all felt the spirit and we had a wonderful discussion on his talk.
Twilight
So... there is a series of books that has become this huge phenominally popular series... Twilight.
I hadn't ever read any of them... not for any specific reason, but just because I hadn't made a special effort to read them. A few months ago I realized just how many of my friends had read them and were really really into them. So I thought that I would pick them up sometime and read them sometime in the future... It really wasn't a genre that I thought I liked...
Then in talking to Rich one night I mentioned that I was surprised at how many people were so completely into the book. So he looked it up on Amazon and bought me all four books.
They got here last week, but I had a bunch of library books I hadn't finished... so I finished those books first, and then yesterday I picked up Twilight... I was just going to read it for a few minutes while the kids were playing. I read for about an hour before we had some friends come over to have dinner with us. After they left I read for another hour or hour and a half while the kids were playing. Then I stopped and we put the kids to bed, and then I sat down and read some more. Well... I finished the first book!
It's a fast read. It really was a neat book and now I'm looking forward to reading the other books. I think I'm going to try to take a little bit longer though and not read them in one day... spread it out to last longer. :)
I hadn't ever read any of them... not for any specific reason, but just because I hadn't made a special effort to read them. A few months ago I realized just how many of my friends had read them and were really really into them. So I thought that I would pick them up sometime and read them sometime in the future... It really wasn't a genre that I thought I liked...
Then in talking to Rich one night I mentioned that I was surprised at how many people were so completely into the book. So he looked it up on Amazon and bought me all four books.
They got here last week, but I had a bunch of library books I hadn't finished... so I finished those books first, and then yesterday I picked up Twilight... I was just going to read it for a few minutes while the kids were playing. I read for about an hour before we had some friends come over to have dinner with us. After they left I read for another hour or hour and a half while the kids were playing. Then I stopped and we put the kids to bed, and then I sat down and read some more. Well... I finished the first book!
It's a fast read. It really was a neat book and now I'm looking forward to reading the other books. I think I'm going to try to take a little bit longer though and not read them in one day... spread it out to last longer. :)
Another cute Angela story
So... last night we sent the kids upstairs to clean up the toy room. They were supposed to clean for a set amount of time, and then when the timer was done, they would be done and that would be good.
Well of course that was the ideal... the realistic thing that happenened was they went upstairs and got distracted and started playing and then started fighting and wound up not cleaning up anything. I then told them they had a second chance if they wanted birthday cake for a dessert they needed to go up there and I'd better hear some cleaning going on...
Alex went up and cleaned up a few things, Ashley and Alyssa didn't really clean anything up, so then when it was time to get pj's on... Alex got cake and the girls didn't (they actually had gotten a piece earlier in the day already)
So... where's the cute Angela story in this?
We got the kids all ready for bed, had family prayer and scripture stories. Then I went into the little girls room with them and was trying to get them go to go sleep. I'm like a ping pong ball going from one girl to the other and taking turns laying down with them while they settle down and go to sleep. Alyssa was thirsty and hopped up to get a drink of water, then I laid down with Angela... then Alyssa turned the drink of water into a piece of bread as well... and Angela decided she was thirsty and went out to the kitchen too.
Rich was in the kitchen with them and she realized she didn't get cake so she told him "I didn't have cake" and he told her "you didn't clean up". Then she started walking over to the stairs. He asked her where she was going, and she said "to clean up".
So she went upstairs and with Daddy's help she cleaned up the toy room. She is a great cleaner upper, and is the only child that willingly cleans up.
Then she came downstairs and was upset that I was laying down with Alyssa, and came and laid down with me on her bed. As she was snuggling in and going to sleep she kept saying "I didn't get my cake" "I didn't get my cake" she was half asleep though so I wasn't going to wake her up more by offering to get her cake then... but today she'll get her cake... :)
Well of course that was the ideal... the realistic thing that happenened was they went upstairs and got distracted and started playing and then started fighting and wound up not cleaning up anything. I then told them they had a second chance if they wanted birthday cake for a dessert they needed to go up there and I'd better hear some cleaning going on...
Alex went up and cleaned up a few things, Ashley and Alyssa didn't really clean anything up, so then when it was time to get pj's on... Alex got cake and the girls didn't (they actually had gotten a piece earlier in the day already)
So... where's the cute Angela story in this?
We got the kids all ready for bed, had family prayer and scripture stories. Then I went into the little girls room with them and was trying to get them go to go sleep. I'm like a ping pong ball going from one girl to the other and taking turns laying down with them while they settle down and go to sleep. Alyssa was thirsty and hopped up to get a drink of water, then I laid down with Angela... then Alyssa turned the drink of water into a piece of bread as well... and Angela decided she was thirsty and went out to the kitchen too.
Rich was in the kitchen with them and she realized she didn't get cake so she told him "I didn't have cake" and he told her "you didn't clean up". Then she started walking over to the stairs. He asked her where she was going, and she said "to clean up".
So she went upstairs and with Daddy's help she cleaned up the toy room. She is a great cleaner upper, and is the only child that willingly cleans up.
Then she came downstairs and was upset that I was laying down with Alyssa, and came and laid down with me on her bed. As she was snuggling in and going to sleep she kept saying "I didn't get my cake" "I didn't get my cake" she was half asleep though so I wasn't going to wake her up more by offering to get her cake then... but today she'll get her cake... :)
Thursday, August 21, 2008
She can always bring a smile to my face
Angela has been walking around the house all afternoon singing some song. I have no idea where she heard it, or if she made it up or what most of the song is... most of it is just jibberish to my ears though she sings it so well that I know she knows what she's singing.
there is one line that must be the chorus or something and she keeps hopping around the house and singing it boisterously... "You are a special way" is what it sounds like, but she sings it so happily, no matter what it really means, it is a special moment to watch and it has put a smile on my face many times today when she breaks out in song and sings it. :)
She is so funny and just cracks me up daily. I love this age that she's at, even if it is still exhausting keeping up with her... :)
there is one line that must be the chorus or something and she keeps hopping around the house and singing it boisterously... "You are a special way" is what it sounds like, but she sings it so happily, no matter what it really means, it is a special moment to watch and it has put a smile on my face many times today when she breaks out in song and sings it. :)
She is so funny and just cracks me up daily. I love this age that she's at, even if it is still exhausting keeping up with her... :)
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
First Day of School
Well it's done, and over. We survived the first day of school. Getting up and catching the bus, getting Alyssa to her kindergarten class without tears... although my friend got a GREAT pouty face picture of her before they lined up with their classes to go inside.
Then Angela and I had a little time to go and visit a friend at her new house and get a tour... and then do a little bit of shopping. I think I'm going to enjoy having a little more time this year between drop off and kids being home since I don't have two schools to do pick-up at.
Right now the kids are enjoying no homework... and playing the wii... Alex is talking to a friend on the phone, so I'm getting a play by play of their game as he's talking to his friend while he's playing... apparently in his words "my sister's creaming me!"
OH... this is really the reason I got on here to post.
I did make it to the Y this morning. Since I haven't done anything strenuous since May... I took it easy on myself and only ran a mile... I don't think I could have run any further, I was gasping for breath the last .25 of the mile as it was... but I ran it, and did a warm up walk before and a cool down walk afterwards. I stopped with that since I was pretty exhausted from just that. I still want to be able to walk and move tonght. Right now I'll work on getting us into the routine of getting there each day, and then as that get's easier, and I can run the mile without gasping for air... then I'll start working in the weights and the elliptical again. :)
Then Angela and I had a little time to go and visit a friend at her new house and get a tour... and then do a little bit of shopping. I think I'm going to enjoy having a little more time this year between drop off and kids being home since I don't have two schools to do pick-up at.
Right now the kids are enjoying no homework... and playing the wii... Alex is talking to a friend on the phone, so I'm getting a play by play of their game as he's talking to his friend while he's playing... apparently in his words "my sister's creaming me!"
OH... this is really the reason I got on here to post.
I did make it to the Y this morning. Since I haven't done anything strenuous since May... I took it easy on myself and only ran a mile... I don't think I could have run any further, I was gasping for breath the last .25 of the mile as it was... but I ran it, and did a warm up walk before and a cool down walk afterwards. I stopped with that since I was pretty exhausted from just that. I still want to be able to walk and move tonght. Right now I'll work on getting us into the routine of getting there each day, and then as that get's easier, and I can run the mile without gasping for air... then I'll start working in the weights and the elliptical again. :)
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
ALEX IS 10 YEARS OLD TODAY! AND the Last Day Before School Starts
I can't believe he's 10! WOW! I've been a mom for 10 years! At the same time there's the thought that, gee... I can't remember what my life was like before I was a mom!
It's also the last day before school starts... Tomorrow we'll have to get up and go and be ready when the bus comes. I'm also going to go exercise for the first time since last MAY!! So... I know tomorrow night the kids should go to sleep well from their first day of school, and I'll crash from my first workout in 3 months... :)
Today we've got some friends kids over for the day while their mom packs and gets ready for them to move. Luckily it's a local move, so we don't have to say goodbye to them like we did our other friends earlier this summer.
Tonight for dinner we are having this: http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_tm/episode/0,1976,FOOD_9997_38641,00.html
It's a mac and cheese hotdog casserole and icecream "baseballs". I had the tv on one day, watching the show while I was making dinner, and Alex came in and watched it. He asked if we could have it for his birthday dinner, so that's what we'll have. I think I might make some rolls to go with it since Alex LOVES homemade rolls and we might have some baked beans to go with it too since he loves baked beans.
Then we'll have cake and presents with the family tonight. On saturday we're taking him and 4 friends to go and see the new starwars movie for his birthday party.
It's also the last day before school starts... Tomorrow we'll have to get up and go and be ready when the bus comes. I'm also going to go exercise for the first time since last MAY!! So... I know tomorrow night the kids should go to sleep well from their first day of school, and I'll crash from my first workout in 3 months... :)
Today we've got some friends kids over for the day while their mom packs and gets ready for them to move. Luckily it's a local move, so we don't have to say goodbye to them like we did our other friends earlier this summer.
Tonight for dinner we are having this: http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_tm/episode/0,1976,FOOD_9997_38641,00.html
It's a mac and cheese hotdog casserole and icecream "baseballs". I had the tv on one day, watching the show while I was making dinner, and Alex came in and watched it. He asked if we could have it for his birthday dinner, so that's what we'll have. I think I might make some rolls to go with it since Alex LOVES homemade rolls and we might have some baked beans to go with it too since he loves baked beans.
Then we'll have cake and presents with the family tonight. On saturday we're taking him and 4 friends to go and see the new starwars movie for his birthday party.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Scrapbooking, digi scrapping, photo books...
So... I've never been much of a scrapbooker, I'm considering trying to get into digi scraping, or just go the easier route of making and getting photo books printed.
See... photo books appeal to me because they are quick and easy, but I think they may be too plain... I want to put some journaling in there too, and I don't know that I can with photo books??
Digital scrapbooking appeals to me, but I'm afraid I'll get lost in the complicated layers and embellishments...
So... tell me, what do you do? And if you do either of them, what software, websites do you recommend?
See... photo books appeal to me because they are quick and easy, but I think they may be too plain... I want to put some journaling in there too, and I don't know that I can with photo books??
Digital scrapbooking appeals to me, but I'm afraid I'll get lost in the complicated layers and embellishments...
So... tell me, what do you do? And if you do either of them, what software, websites do you recommend?
Saturday, August 16, 2008
The Olympics
I am enjoying watching the olympics so much this year. The swimming, the gymnastics, the volleyball...
I'm not a Kobe Bryant fan, but he did an interview and talked about how much of a priveledge it was to be there at the olympics and how proud he was to be representing the USA there. The interviewer said that in this day and age that wasn't a sentiment that was commonly heard and popular. Kobe replied that it was true for him and he was proud of his country and considered it the greatest country.
I know there are many things on our country that need to be fixed and changed, but he's right. We do have a great country. Watching the stories of the Chinese "sports machine" type lifestyle that many of the Chinese atheletes grow up in, I really do love our country ablnd all the good that of stands for more. I also believe that our good far outweighs the bad. I am proud to cheer for our team USA athletes and am having a great time watching the olympics!
I'm not a Kobe Bryant fan, but he did an interview and talked about how much of a priveledge it was to be there at the olympics and how proud he was to be representing the USA there. The interviewer said that in this day and age that wasn't a sentiment that was commonly heard and popular. Kobe replied that it was true for him and he was proud of his country and considered it the greatest country.
I know there are many things on our country that need to be fixed and changed, but he's right. We do have a great country. Watching the stories of the Chinese "sports machine" type lifestyle that many of the Chinese atheletes grow up in, I really do love our country ablnd all the good that of stands for more. I also believe that our good far outweighs the bad. I am proud to cheer for our team USA athletes and am having a great time watching the olympics!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Random Questions...
Ok... someone needs to comment and answer my random questions... :)
When you buy produce, do you weigh it? I don't... I just buy the amount I want and don't pay attention to how much it weighs at all. I never thought twice about it until I was watching a cooking show and they weighed some produce at the store.
Which do you prefer to do... sweep and mop the floor, clean the bathroom, or wash and fold laundry? I guess I prefer laundry since I do that more often than the other, or maybe it's just harder to ignore?
Kitchen countertops: Do you keep yours clear from lots of clutter and food and stuff, or do you use the counter to store stuff? I'd love to have a clear counter, but I tend to be more on the cluttered countertop side. I always have my bread box, can opener, paper towel holder, flour canister, napkin holder, bread basket, toaster, and phone on my counter tops. Actually- that's the minimum... I feel like they are bare when it's only that... usually there is papers and bannanna's and towels and cups all over the counters too.
Do you eat breakfast in pj's or breakfast after your dressed? I am a pj person... if I can I'll eat breakfast in pj's and stay in them for a few hours in the morning... but if I need to get up and go somewhere, it's usually breakfast while I'm walking out the door so I'm dressed.
So... answer me in your comments, and add your own random questions... :)
When you buy produce, do you weigh it? I don't... I just buy the amount I want and don't pay attention to how much it weighs at all. I never thought twice about it until I was watching a cooking show and they weighed some produce at the store.
Which do you prefer to do... sweep and mop the floor, clean the bathroom, or wash and fold laundry? I guess I prefer laundry since I do that more often than the other, or maybe it's just harder to ignore?
Kitchen countertops: Do you keep yours clear from lots of clutter and food and stuff, or do you use the counter to store stuff? I'd love to have a clear counter, but I tend to be more on the cluttered countertop side. I always have my bread box, can opener, paper towel holder, flour canister, napkin holder, bread basket, toaster, and phone on my counter tops. Actually- that's the minimum... I feel like they are bare when it's only that... usually there is papers and bannanna's and towels and cups all over the counters too.
Do you eat breakfast in pj's or breakfast after your dressed? I am a pj person... if I can I'll eat breakfast in pj's and stay in them for a few hours in the morning... but if I need to get up and go somewhere, it's usually breakfast while I'm walking out the door so I'm dressed.
So... answer me in your comments, and add your own random questions... :)
Having a movie day
So I've recently started to choose the movies for our blockbuster through the mail account. I was looking through some classics and came across the Anne of Green Gables movie. I put the first one on, and today have been watching it while doing stuff around the house... it's 197 minutes. I love these old movies/tv shows. I think I'll just have to get the next dvd and watch the whole thing. After that maybe Little Women, Pride and Prejudice, or Little House on the Prairie... I think these will be during the day movies... I can't see Rich watching them with me. :)
I am taking chicken salad to a dinner tonight. I was having a craving and wanted to bring it, the only problem was that I've never made it before...
So I tried a recipe that I found on all-recipes.com. I love that site for finding good recipe's and the comments are always great to read through and figure out how to tweak things. Anyway I narrowed it down to two recipe's and got the ingredients for both, and then mixed up a small batch of the two different sauces... and decided which one I liked the best. I actually wound up doing a little bit of each recipe. I tried it when I first mixed it up, and liked it, but put it in the fridge to chill. I just tried it again, and it's okay, but I think I might try and tweek it a little bit before I take it tonight. I bought croissants to put it in, and just opened them up and they are smaller than I realized... so they will be small little croissant sandwiches with the chicken salad in them. Oh well... hopefully it will taste ok. :)
We are babysitting my friends little boy that's 19 months this afternoon. It's fun to watch the little girls "babysit" when we have little babies over here. They are having a blast bringing him stuff and playing with him.
I am taking chicken salad to a dinner tonight. I was having a craving and wanted to bring it, the only problem was that I've never made it before...
So I tried a recipe that I found on all-recipes.com. I love that site for finding good recipe's and the comments are always great to read through and figure out how to tweak things. Anyway I narrowed it down to two recipe's and got the ingredients for both, and then mixed up a small batch of the two different sauces... and decided which one I liked the best. I actually wound up doing a little bit of each recipe. I tried it when I first mixed it up, and liked it, but put it in the fridge to chill. I just tried it again, and it's okay, but I think I might try and tweek it a little bit before I take it tonight. I bought croissants to put it in, and just opened them up and they are smaller than I realized... so they will be small little croissant sandwiches with the chicken salad in them. Oh well... hopefully it will taste ok. :)
We are babysitting my friends little boy that's 19 months this afternoon. It's fun to watch the little girls "babysit" when we have little babies over here. They are having a blast bringing him stuff and playing with him.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Today Alex and Ashley and I had the opportunity to go and do some community service. this is the second year we have gone and filled school supply bags for lower income students in the community. I'm so glad that we have this little service opportunity. I think it is a great service project and we have enjoyed doing it the past two years.
The rest of the day was spent running errands,dropping off and picking up children from friends houses, and hanging out at home watching the olympics.
The rest of the day was spent running errands,dropping off and picking up children from friends houses, and hanging out at home watching the olympics.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Sunday thoughts and gratitudes
We've had a pretty good day today. Of course there has been the ever present whining of kids, but nothing extra ordinary... We woke up late and still managed to get to church just as they had the opening prayer. We had a great lesson in Relief Society on Bereavement and Death and the power that the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation gives to us. I then stayed for choir practice and we had a great time practicing some songs we are trying to prepare to sing. Our choir director has grand ideas of what we can accomplish, and though we don't quite share the vision (we are kind of skeptical on our ability to sing a piece from the Messiah), we are having a fun time trying to learn the piece.
At home we've had a relatively peaceful afternoon. I'm grateful for the days that are more peaceful. I know that my own individual level of tolerance to busy days is much better when I do have quieter "recovery" days to relax a little bit.
Another thing I've been thinking about this afternoon is my gratitude for technology. With Rich being in the computer field, he tends to know about and follow technological trends. We don't always get stuff right away when things come out, but eventually if he (0r occasionally I) really really want something and it's affordable it winds up in our house.
One such thing is Rich's itouch. The thing is now that he has it, he's testing out an iphone for work and he isn't really using it much now, so I've been playing with it. I've realized that Rich's itouch is much easier to sit and read off of webpages than my phone is. So at night I've been taking his itouch into the little girls room, and while I'm laying down with them and waiting for them to fall asleep, I have been reading ensign articles.
Now I'm a big reader. I love to pick up books and read a 300 page book in one day, but somehow I tend to have a hard time picking up the ensign to read it. I feel like it's something I can't read while I have to split my attention. A novel is easy to read, while another part of my brain is listening for sounds of contention, or subterfuge from the kids. A novel is easy to toss down and pick right back up and get back into.
The ensign is harder for me to do that with. I'm so glad I figured that I could read it at night online using Rich's itouch. I've been able to read issues from the past three months, cover to cover, in just the last week and a half. It's quiet when I lay down with the girls, and since they are right there, I know they aren't getting into anything and I'm able to use most of my brain power to concentrate on what I'm reading. I'm actually feeling like I'm getting much more out of reading it than I have gotten in the past when I've sat down with the magazine in my hand.
So I'm grateful for the technology that is allowing me to find a new way to connect and read the ensign... and it opens up a whole door full of great reading material for me to read at night while I'm putting the girls to bed.
I'm also grateful for relaxing Sunday afternoons... we've been having fun baking together with the kids... this week Rich and Ashley made brownies, and Alyssa and I made some Jello.
And... I'm rambling... :) So I'll end now... :)
At home we've had a relatively peaceful afternoon. I'm grateful for the days that are more peaceful. I know that my own individual level of tolerance to busy days is much better when I do have quieter "recovery" days to relax a little bit.
Another thing I've been thinking about this afternoon is my gratitude for technology. With Rich being in the computer field, he tends to know about and follow technological trends. We don't always get stuff right away when things come out, but eventually if he (0r occasionally I) really really want something and it's affordable it winds up in our house.
One such thing is Rich's itouch. The thing is now that he has it, he's testing out an iphone for work and he isn't really using it much now, so I've been playing with it. I've realized that Rich's itouch is much easier to sit and read off of webpages than my phone is. So at night I've been taking his itouch into the little girls room, and while I'm laying down with them and waiting for them to fall asleep, I have been reading ensign articles.
Now I'm a big reader. I love to pick up books and read a 300 page book in one day, but somehow I tend to have a hard time picking up the ensign to read it. I feel like it's something I can't read while I have to split my attention. A novel is easy to read, while another part of my brain is listening for sounds of contention, or subterfuge from the kids. A novel is easy to toss down and pick right back up and get back into.
The ensign is harder for me to do that with. I'm so glad I figured that I could read it at night online using Rich's itouch. I've been able to read issues from the past three months, cover to cover, in just the last week and a half. It's quiet when I lay down with the girls, and since they are right there, I know they aren't getting into anything and I'm able to use most of my brain power to concentrate on what I'm reading. I'm actually feeling like I'm getting much more out of reading it than I have gotten in the past when I've sat down with the magazine in my hand.
So I'm grateful for the technology that is allowing me to find a new way to connect and read the ensign... and it opens up a whole door full of great reading material for me to read at night while I'm putting the girls to bed.
I'm also grateful for relaxing Sunday afternoons... we've been having fun baking together with the kids... this week Rich and Ashley made brownies, and Alyssa and I made some Jello.
And... I'm rambling... :) So I'll end now... :)
Friday, August 08, 2008
It's here!!!
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away... oh wait that's starwars upstairs the kids are playing on the xbox... lol!
But... in the same vein... a long time ago when my oldest two were young I felt trapped at home. I felt like I couldn't take them out by myself, and so I bought a double stroller. I had a small car at the time and was limited in my options of what was available that would fit into my car. It was functional, but didn't have any extra's to it and was not that great to push around, but it allowed me to get out of the house with my kids by myself!!! That was the biggest plus... the negative was that it really wasn't that convenient to use. In fact Rich refused to use it and push it around and eventually I stopped using it, because the pain of getting it out and using it, was greater than the convenience of having it to use.
Fast forward to now... I gave the stroller away a year ago and constantly find myself out with all four kids and at the end of the day trying to cram two kids into a single stroller because they are too tired to walk back to the car on their own.
I was going to just deal with it... the kids will eventually grow and be out of that stage and be where I can tell them to just walk... and they'll grumble and complain, but follow. Right now they just throw themselves down on the floor and we become a traffic jam... lol!
so... when we decided to go to disneyworld this fall again, and we found out that they had raised the price of renting a double stroller so it's twice as expensive... my brain started to turn... (yes I do use it occasionally on math problems... ) The cost of renting the double stroller for 5 day's of visiting the parks would be $140... that's a lot of money... and I could probably find and buy a stroller for a similar price... Rich told me that if I did it I had to find something that was much smaller and convenient to push with kids in it, and carry folded up. This is like 21lbs without the canopy's and folds up to the size of two umbrella strollers side by side...
So I went shopping online and came up with this:
It is slightly more than what the stroller rentals would be, but this I can use here at home, and if we go on another disney trip in the next two years (which knowing Rich is highly likely) it will pay for itself in the cost we would have paid for renting the strollers there...
And... with this I can use it to get back to the car, instead of carrying a sleeping 30lb 3 year old all the way back to the car after dropping off the stroller... :)
And it's here now. The girls have been having fun "testing" out their seats in it, and I'm pleased to report it is much easier to push and steer with them in it, than our last stroller. :)
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away... oh wait that's starwars upstairs the kids are playing on the xbox... lol!
But... in the same vein... a long time ago when my oldest two were young I felt trapped at home. I felt like I couldn't take them out by myself, and so I bought a double stroller. I had a small car at the time and was limited in my options of what was available that would fit into my car. It was functional, but didn't have any extra's to it and was not that great to push around, but it allowed me to get out of the house with my kids by myself!!! That was the biggest plus... the negative was that it really wasn't that convenient to use. In fact Rich refused to use it and push it around and eventually I stopped using it, because the pain of getting it out and using it, was greater than the convenience of having it to use.
Fast forward to now... I gave the stroller away a year ago and constantly find myself out with all four kids and at the end of the day trying to cram two kids into a single stroller because they are too tired to walk back to the car on their own.
I was going to just deal with it... the kids will eventually grow and be out of that stage and be where I can tell them to just walk... and they'll grumble and complain, but follow. Right now they just throw themselves down on the floor and we become a traffic jam... lol!
so... when we decided to go to disneyworld this fall again, and we found out that they had raised the price of renting a double stroller so it's twice as expensive... my brain started to turn... (yes I do use it occasionally on math problems... ) The cost of renting the double stroller for 5 day's of visiting the parks would be $140... that's a lot of money... and I could probably find and buy a stroller for a similar price... Rich told me that if I did it I had to find something that was much smaller and convenient to push with kids in it, and carry folded up. This is like 21lbs without the canopy's and folds up to the size of two umbrella strollers side by side...
So I went shopping online and came up with this:
And... with this I can use it to get back to the car, instead of carrying a sleeping 30lb 3 year old all the way back to the car after dropping off the stroller... :)
And it's here now. The girls have been having fun "testing" out their seats in it, and I'm pleased to report it is much easier to push and steer with them in it, than our last stroller. :)
One and a half more weeks....
One and a half more weeks till school starts!!! Last week we had a really tough week. The kids were cranky, I was cranky, just overall it was a long week and we didn't come out of it in high spirits.
This week has been long and busy, but much easier to deal with. We've kept busy more, and I've had plenty of mommy time in little breaks throughout the week.
We've played at friends houses, and gone to the pool, made new friends and had fun playing with old friends. We've either played at someone's house, or had someone over to play every day this week and I think that has made a huge difference.
I'm still counting down till school starts again though. I'm excited to get back into an exercise routine, and get the kids back into the school routine.
I still need to finish catching up on all of the pictures I need to post on the photo blog, but I'll get to them eventually... :)
This week has been long and busy, but much easier to deal with. We've kept busy more, and I've had plenty of mommy time in little breaks throughout the week.
We've played at friends houses, and gone to the pool, made new friends and had fun playing with old friends. We've either played at someone's house, or had someone over to play every day this week and I think that has made a huge difference.
I'm still counting down till school starts again though. I'm excited to get back into an exercise routine, and get the kids back into the school routine.
I still need to finish catching up on all of the pictures I need to post on the photo blog, but I'll get to them eventually... :)
Monday, August 04, 2008
pictures... finally... :)
Ok... I'm finally getting pictures up on the family photo blog I've got set up... I'm so far behind so I'm trying to get up the kids birthday's and Rich and I's trip and just a bunch of fun summer pictures up.
So go here... and see them. :)
http://newtonaaaa.blogspot.com/
So go here... and see them. :)
http://newtonaaaa.blogspot.com/
Friday, August 01, 2008
Girls night out
Last night I had a fun girls night out. A bunch of us meet and went to dinner to celebrate one girls birthday. There were about 11 of us there so it was a fun group and we had a good time at dinner. Afterward two others were planning on going to see a movie, and I tagged along with them. We went and looked at the sales at Dillards and tried on some shoes (I found some I liked, but they were the wrong size), and then went and looked at the swimsuits that were on clearance. After trying on about 7 or 8 suits in just a few minutes, I found a suit that's cute, but still covers me (something that I seem to have difficulty finding).
Then we raced over to the movie. We were late and walked in right as the actual movie was starting. Since it was a weeknight the theatre wasn't too full and we still got pretty decent seats. We saw Mama Mia... it's a comedy set on an island in the greek isles. It's basically a spoof on musicals and was pretty funny. I never ever thought I'd see Pierce Brosnan break out into song and dance, and his previous roles he's played really increased the hilarity of the movie...
I had a fun time and told my friend that next time I need to go shopping, I am definitly calling her... she's a shopper and I'm not and it was so much more fun to shop with her pointing out things and telling me to try on this or that... than it is when I go in and get frustrated and give up because I can't find things that are cute, and fit me and are modest...
Today we are having a quiet day at home. The girls have been playing wonderfully, and Alex is just doing his own thing... it's supposed to get to 100 or higher, so I'm debating going to the pool. It seems like when it's this hot the pool water itself get's hot and it really isn't that great of a cooling thing... the hot sun and air are too hot to enjoy the pool.
Then we raced over to the movie. We were late and walked in right as the actual movie was starting. Since it was a weeknight the theatre wasn't too full and we still got pretty decent seats. We saw Mama Mia... it's a comedy set on an island in the greek isles. It's basically a spoof on musicals and was pretty funny. I never ever thought I'd see Pierce Brosnan break out into song and dance, and his previous roles he's played really increased the hilarity of the movie...
I had a fun time and told my friend that next time I need to go shopping, I am definitly calling her... she's a shopper and I'm not and it was so much more fun to shop with her pointing out things and telling me to try on this or that... than it is when I go in and get frustrated and give up because I can't find things that are cute, and fit me and are modest...
Today we are having a quiet day at home. The girls have been playing wonderfully, and Alex is just doing his own thing... it's supposed to get to 100 or higher, so I'm debating going to the pool. It seems like when it's this hot the pool water itself get's hot and it really isn't that great of a cooling thing... the hot sun and air are too hot to enjoy the pool.
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