So we're off like a herd of turtles too........

Okay, it's not Paris, but we are just as excited!! Ryan and I are going out tonight (just us) and then staying at the Parrish Bed and Breakfast downtown! My amazing girlfriends arranged it all, the timing couldn't have been better it has been a grueling work week (hence no posts)!! They will be partying with the kids (they can't just watch them, they have a whole evening of events planned and good food I am sure because we don't do ANYTHING wihtout good food)! So I like my mother have my parting words (although they have nothing to do with what to do with the money since we have none), instead just mommy info for my 4 little angels (ha - did I just say that)!
Okay - I realize that you are all totally competent, adept mothers, but just in case you want a little info on the kids here goes:

Typical nighttime routine: bed 8:30 (I so don’t care when they go.......)

* If Addi stays up later than this she will catch her second wind and well then you will have a long and entertaining night! She goes down with a bottle (I know she’s almost 2, but she’s my baby!!!). If she sees the bottle she will either go after it (if this occurs she will go right down for you) OR she will start to whimper and shake her little finger at you (the sista shake). If this occurs, I just reason with her by saying “we will play_____ when you wake up or I will read you a book when you wake up”! Essential bed time items include (But are not necessarily limited to: Oversized stuffed Panda Bear, pink blankie, baba (bottle)! Be warned whatever items are in the crib when she wakes up MUST accompany her out of the crib or she will not get out (including the pillow - yikes!)

* Please make sure Hallee Babe doesn’t drink too much right before bed and visits the lady’sroom prior to bed. Her essential bedtime items include 4 carrots (it used to be 3 but she turned 4 last week and she didn’t miss a beat, I have 4 carrots now”)! Oh - she is allowed to have a sippy with water (she won’t drink much because it’s water)!

* Parker and Gracie are pretty easy (fingers crossed - did I just jinx you!)

* I would prefer the kids did not play downstairs on the computer (lots of fun things I would rather them not discover until next month!)

Okay - now for the house. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Just love me in spite of my mess please. I had really good intentions at the first of the week, good intentions by midweek, and I’ll admit I have lost all hope of having the place picked up today! You are all too wonderful to do this, I have very literally been “living” for Friday - what a week!!! We appreciate each of you and your families for sacrificing their time with you too! We are so blessed - love you!

And the Winner is ...........

Cotymansmom!!! Her guess was $98.67 and the actual price for ALL this stuff was $105.41!!!

Halloween Photos - finally!

The Price is...........................

Okay, I know this is silly, even a little ridiculous, but I just had to post it! I just got home from one of my late night shopping trips and was rather impressed with my savvy shopping! I am posting a picture of ALL of the food I bought (it filled 2 grocery carts - heaping full)! Now here is the catch, you get to guess how much you think I spent (remembering I am a rebate/coupon clipper)! The closest bid without going over will win a homemade treat/gift! I will post the actual price Friday! Good luck - here are a few hints:

10.00 on medicine
12.50 on deli items
10.00 on produce
over 90 items
over 20 boxes of cereal (which will only last Ryan a month!!!!)

Shouting Thanks....It's Over, It's Over!!!

"The Lord has blessed me in many ways with a thankful heart I will sing his praise, I will raise my voice and proclaim my choice to follow him in faith." - I'll Follow Him in Faith, Janice Kapp Perry

Well we did it! Today was the long awaited primary program. I am the chorister and have only been dreading this moment since last year (I was called soon after the last program)! This calling terrified me! I have no musical ability whatsoever (okay I can "moove and groove" to music but that's not a lot of help when trying to teach children new songs)! This calling has been one of the most tender experiences of my life. As the children sang today, I truly felt they were testifying! They are an amazing group and I feel it such a pleasure to be with them each week! I have never felt the spirit so strongly and frequently as I do singing with these children!

The primary presidency is just amazing, collectively and individually! Today they passed out these darling thank yous to all the teachers that said "Anyway you "slice" it serving with you is a "treat". The funny thing is that the bags each contained a yummy pumpkin chocolate chip loaf, I know they were yummy because I ate mine before I could even take a picture and so I had to stuff it full with paper towels so I could take a picture:)! They also gave me this darling bath "sundae" with a cute little verse! I'm so lucky to associate with such wonderful women (and men because Brother Walker is our chorister and he is AWESOME)!



I thought I would end with 2 of my favorite primary program "incidents":

Last Friday we had a primary practice, Gracie's class talks about how they learned how their 5 fingers could help remind them of things the Holy Ghost testifies of. Gracie's part is to say "One, God is our Father in Heaven, she is supposed to hold up her FIRST finger as she says her part and then keep it up as the other kids say their parts. Apparently, Gracie had a little owie on her first finger and so naturally she decided to hold her middle finger up! I tried to get her attention which just made her wave her finger higher, oh well what is one to do?:)

One of my favorite primary program stories occurred when Ryan and I were first married. We were living in a student ward down in Provo. We only had 4 primary children (lots of nursery kiddos though)! Three of the children were sunbeams (3 years old)and we had one child that was 5! His speaking part was "I received my CTR ring this year, it helps remind me to choose the right." He got up to do his part and began, "I got my CTR ring this year, oh wait Sister Campbell I lost it!" I quickly told him "It's okay we'll get you a new one." To which he replied (in the microphone) "could we get a ninja turtle ring instead?" LOL! It was so funny and of course I quickly obliged!!

Trying to give thanks....

"We hope that, when the insects take over the world, they will remember with gratitude how we took them along on all our picnics." - Bill Vaughan

7. my bissel little green throw up vacuuming machine (need I elaborate?)

8. my over sized washing machine that can wash 4 loads of post - vomit laundry

9. my mommy - she "stopped" by (she lives on the other end of the valley) with Gingerale for the girls and Febreeze for me (oh that should so be on my list)!! She also dropped off chocolate milk, paint brushes (yes, I finished painting both door trims today), and grandma juice's (cute containers with character heads you drink from). Later tonight, she "stopped" in after judging reflections at the kids school and we stole away for some fresh air and a lime ricky! So grateful for her thoughtfulness and generosity!!

Giving Thanks Still.....

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone. ~G.B. Stern

4. light work weeks - okay this is kind of a double edged sword because I'm not grateful for the paycheck that accompanies such a week, but I have been working "my tail off" as I recently overheard Gracie remind Hallee! So I am grateful to have a light work week, to finally try and get caught up on everything that gets neglected when I'm working! This week I painted my front porch railing (it is so pretty and white now, as opposed to the ugly rust tone it had taken on of late); I cleaned out my freezer in the garage (It was a gruesome project, but it is done!!); I cleaned out my very messy closet and donated 30+ things to the DI!!!; I put away Halloween stuff and put out Thanksgiving decor (it's not even the week before Thanksgiving)!;I cleaned up my "hot spot" in the kitchen and last but not least I taped off the front door trim and hope to have it painted by tomorrow evening. So there you go the fruits of my light work week!!

5. my cell phone

6. Ann aka "My Boss" - I am grateful to work with such a wonderful individual. She is thoughtful, accommodating (we have team meetings in my van with the kids at a halfway destination) , intelligent, and sooo laid back! It makes such a difference when you love those you work with (maybe that's why motherhood is bearable even on the worst days)!

Giving Thanks....

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. ~G.K. Chesterton

My gratitude list:
1. my blog - I'm grateful that my husband read my blog and realized that what I wanted desperately was to park in the garage and "Ta-da" I'm parking in my garage for the first time in years - thank you sweetie!!

2. girlfriends - I am grateful for the blessing they are in my life. I was having a rough patch last week and was able to rely on my girlfriends for counsel, insights, and support! I am so blessed!
(here is a recent pic of me and jen - BFF:)taken by my cute and talented cuz Heather D. White)!



3. sore throats - I have not been feeling up to par lately and this past weekend had a very sore throat which was relieved ONLY by "several" (large) spoon fulls of B&J's Karma-Sultra ice cream. Fortunately, I had 2 pints, I love ice cream immersion with no guilt (it was for the sore throat)!!

Grouchy Mama....

I don't know what was wrong with me today, but I (as well as 2 of my little angels) were just bears today! I spent a good part of the day trying to understand why I was such a bear with no good answers!! It did make me think of a hysterical email that I received recently from my dear friend Heather, which I will post below!

It also made me realize that November is almost a week underway and I have not posted my gratitude list(s), my goal is to write down 3 things each day that I am grateful for (I will reserve this post for later so as not to take away from the "fluff" of this post)!!

Gonna Be a Bear

In this life I'm a woman. In my next life, I'd like to come back as a bear. When your a bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing but sleep for 6 months. I could deal with that.

Before you hibernate, you're supposed to eat yourself stupid. I could deal with that too.

When you're a girl bear, you birth your children (who are the size of walnuts) while you are sleeping and wake to partially grown, cute, cuddly, cubs. I could definitely deal with that.

If you're a mama bear everyone knows you mean business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too. I could deal with that.

If you're a bear, your mate EXPECTS you to wake up growling. He EXPECTS that you will have hairy legs and excess body fat.

Yup, gonna be a bear!

Party Time!!

Today was my mother-in-laws birthday dinner or b-day party according to my kiddos! We had a wonderful dinner at my brother and sister in laws home and were all able to visit for a while! I think it was one of the first times I was able to visit with the adults since pre-kid era!!! Addi is finally getting a little more independent and I am enjoying this new stage quite a bit!
Many years ago my mom wrote a poem about her mother-in-law, I have always loved this poem and loved that my mom was/is so close with her mother-in-law. I too feel so priveliged to have such a wonderful mother-in-law! She is amazing and I absolutely love to spend time with her. She celebrated her 55th wedding anniversay the day before her 75th birthday! You would never guess she is 75 - she plays with the kids every chance she gets and is still getting into mischief (just ask Glen)!! I just love her to pieces - Happy Birthday Mom!!!

No Alms

No alms I give thee Ruth
for thy love.
I too had one who nurtured my babes
and bid me rest.
I too would follow to far off lands of
Judea
to glean for my own dear
mother-in-love.

Marilyn Darley Williams

Happy Belated Birthday Karen!!

My dear friend Karen and I share the same birthday! She and her family are such a blessing in my life! We became friends as we served together in the Relief Society. She taught me so much and I appreciated and continue to appreciate her insights and wisdom (wisdom does not mean you are old - I know what you are thinking!). A few of the many things that I love about Karen is her ability to accept insights or even criticism and weigh it out and either toss it out or accept it and grow from it. Her family and loved ones are always her top priority, she is selfles, sensitive, and thoughtful. She is probably one of my biggest cheerleaders. She validates me and the stages of life I am experiencing, she thinks so highly of me that I have to try and keep up, and she always ends every conversation with a compliment or expression of grattitude. I rarely get the last word with her, so this is my chance to let her know how much I LOVE, RESPECT, and APPRECIATE her!!! So blessed by her friendship - happy birthday Karen!!