SO I think I can Dance......

Seriously people, you saw me in CATS. I took random classes off and on growing up. I am not a 'dancer', but enjoy breaking out in spontaneous moments of movement. Imagine my dismay when, as a family, we sit down to watch So You Think You Can Dance and I burst out laughing at the the antics of the stay at home mom who auditioned from Utah. (you know the one- four small kids, one of which she dropped on the floor saying ..."I am such a good mom!" )

Any way- I was giggling at her moves when my kids exclaimed..."SHe dances like YOU mom!!" One by one, they all agreed... "That is exactly what you look like when you dance!"

I said "Well, I am trying to be funny for you. But when I want to, I can dance...."

"No you can't, mom." They insisted. "I saw you do a cool move once and I could tell it was totally on accident." Connley said.

Is that mean? *sniffle* What's a mom to do? Am I really that bad?

Just to make myself feel better, I am posting the paper that I was published on the cover..... a personal moment of fun..... but then again, as Hayden said, "You were only good in CATS because soemone else taught you the dance."

Ouch.

Dave Ramsey has happened! My Total Money Makeover Weekend...

Dave Ramsey. You either love him or hate him or you haven't heard of him. But if you haven't tried out his message you are missing something. I have not talked about this on my blog, but I am going to now. In 15 months Mike and I have crossed off every debt but 2 from our "to be paid" list. We have paid off over 30 THOUSAND dollars. We have NO CAR PAYMENT at all. We dropped off our Pilot this weekend to the dealership (Lease is up) and drove off in our paid for Honda Odyssey.

The majority of people in this counrty live PAYCHECK to PAYCHECK and have consumer debt constantly hanging over them. Imagine our pay day now... we have NO car payment, NO credit card payment, NO Lowes or RC WIlley payment.... it is a SWEET feeling. And all for the price of one book (which actually was a gift, so it was free!)

Every day I live I am more and more excited for my future. I just got back from a 2 week vacation in Orlando that we carried around enveloped of CASH to pay for whatever we wanted! Can you say Freedom??? And we are just an avergae family! Wait a mintue..... now we are not..... we DON'T BELIEVE IN DEBT!

The End is Near......

Yes. These are my toes. See the sand (it was so soft) in between them. This was the pedicure I got on my "Sisters Weekend" in Seattle. These were my very happy feet in Daytona Beach.

I was packing my kids backpacks this morning when we realized... there is about 14 days of school left here in Utah. The end is near for me. This has been my first year staying home without running off to work part time at a school or spa, and have the kids gone ALL DAY. Am I a bad mother to say it was heaven? I thought I would get so much more done than I did, but..... I have to say, the house was a little cleaner, I was a little calmer, the laundry was done just a little bit more, and I enjoyed my clients more than ever. This was a school year for me to enjoy being me, and that is an accomplishment in and of itself.

I guess all that is left to do now is for me to plan an incredible summer with my kids (Seven Peaks passes already bought) and try to make their summer a little better than the one before.... after all, I can see that they are growing and leaving me little by little, so once again... the end is near, and I am starting to fear the warning I have heard from all the parents I know- They grow and are gone TOO fast.

Blissfully Busy

Can I just say..... Florida is the best! A few years ago Mike and I went for a quick vacation while he worked a couple of days. I remember telling him..."We have got to come back and bring the boys!" Little did I know I set a plan in motion for what would be the funnest 2 week vacation I have had with my boys yet. We hopped from the beach to Sea World to Universal Studios to Aquatica to Islands of Adventure and Busch Gardens. We screamed our lungs out, guzzled soda under the hot sun, Made eye contact with Spiderman, fed and pet the dolphins, soaked our bones on rapid rides, made bubbles and felt a (simulated) earthquake and tornado, and ran after a ride through the exit only to get back inline to ride it again and again (like kids). I seriously felt my eyes stinging as we got on the plane to come home. Connley rolled his eyes... "dad, mom is going to cry" but really, who does this? Who has 3 hilarious boys and such a sweet husband and vacations for 2 weeks for spring break? I do! Now you understand my tears.

How they grow

It is an obvious truth in this world. The moment a new baby comes around you look at your youngest and think... when did you get so big? My boys were more excited for their new cousin Beckham then I have seen them in a long time. At the hospital they waited while nurses scrubbed, poked, and bathed the neswest cousin. They refused to leave unitl they had a chance to hold the little baby.
Meanwhile, life is busy.... due to Mike's traveling and ward meetings I decided to invite the Easter Bunny to our house a night early. (Why did I not do this sooner? It was so nice!) I told Parker that I might try to find the e-mail or website and leave a message for the Easter Bunny of the change in plans. He got a funny look on his face and asked slyly..., Mom, is the Easter bunny just a human in a costume?" I felt my heart pick up speed as I thought... 'this is it!" I said.. "What do YOU think the Easter Bunny is?"
He thought for a minute and said, "I don't know, but it has to be a human in a costume!" After our Christmas talk and suspicions that Santa is Jesus, one thing is for sure. He is old enough to doubt the magic of mythical gift bearing figures, but can not comprehend the fact that it may be some one he knows.
Ahhh, the beauty of childhood. Mom and dad never get any credit for anything!

In Memory of

In a logical world I know the loss of our Prophet on earth is a blessing for him and his sweet wife. In the emotional world, it still causes me to get emotional. Just this Sunday as I opened the memorial that came with the Ensign I started to cry..... again.

Living less than an hour away from Salt Lake I decided to take my kids to the viewing. We stood in the cold for a while (Parker forgot his coat, so off went mine to cover his little body). Parker kept saying "Mom, are you sure you're okay?" But I honestly just wanted to be there, so it was okay with me. Then they quietly had us wait seated in the conference area. Just looking around at all the people filing through was overwhelming. I started to list all of my memories of this man in my head.... all of his quotes, the "Be's", Standing for Something, the temples, the growth in the church, the press appearances, reading the Book of Mormon (and failing to finish by Decmeber) with millions of other members.... mostly, his little laugh and sense of humor. I felt so honored to be there, so honored to worship, and so honored to belong to the great community of people that is the Latter Day Saint Church.

My kids were quiet and reverent the whole time we watied and as we passed his casket. I hope they will rememebr this moment in their lives and that somehow a little bit of his greatness has touched us all forever.

The Innocence of a Child

During the holiday season decorating is always a big, but exciting task. I love to hear the children exclaim year after year.."Oh! I remember this!" as we open each box of Santas, Nativities and Christmas books and games. This year, as I was decorating the tree I heard HAyden and Parker talking as we emptied our decoration bins. Parker said... "Hayden, do you believe in Santa?"
"Yeah" Hayden answered, calm and cool.
"Well you have to believe in SAnta to get presents, anyway" said Parker. Of course I quipped in with one of my favorite Christmas spirit quotes... "Those who believe- receive." I said.
Suddenly Parker got a twinkle in his eye and said, "I think I know who Santa is."
"Who?" I asked, my heart feeling a bit of anticipation.
"Jesus." he said, very child like. "I mean, they both have beards, they can fly around, they live in the sky, and, like, Jesus wants us all to be happy and stuff so he would give us presents."
I couldn't help but giggle at his rationalization and his excitement. I said to him softly, "Well, Jesus defintiely wants those things.. but I have a feeling He is doing so much in heaven that he may not be Santa. But, " I told him,"Santa is here to remind us of Jesus and help us love eachother, so in a way, you are kind of right."
Later I was sharing this story with my sisters, and an embarassed Parker insisted he didn't say all of that.... but for me, it was one of my favorite Christmas moments this year, reminding me of the innoncence and excitement that makes Christmas extra special for a child.

Well...........................

I know every mom thinks her kids are the cutest, but apparently so do a few other people.... Not long after I snapped this picture of my boys I noticed tourists (and oriental toursits especially) circled around my children and started taking their photo. They were taking so many pictures, and the boys were so cute to stop and smile and pose (and be hams). Once they noticed we were laughing about it the boys had people sitting by them, smiling, and getting photos with them. It turned out to be a little joke for us, and I kept saying.. "Wow! You guys are famous!" Parker and Hayden said several times later, "That was so wierd when everyone wanted to take our pictures so much!" Mike was laughing (after serving a mission in Japan) he just said.... "well, you're American, their are 3 of you , you're cute, and you are being funny. That gives them lots of reasons to take a picture!"

A Winter Trip back East

Michael had training in Philly so we pulled the kids from school and hopped on the plane to join him. It was our first time flying as a family, and surprisingly one of Santa's elves delivered special packages to us the night before we left- 2 new portable DVD players and a new camera for mom, plus DS games for the boys. These things really blessed us in our travels and waiting at the airport. The time flew by!

We hit things quickly and saw as much as we could in our few short days, including The Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, The Statue Of liberty and Ellis Island, Times Square at night, Washington DC monuments and temple, and the Holocaust Memorial (wow- so intense). Mike then trained for 3 days and me and the boys enjoyed a sunny indoor pool and hot tub with Christmas music piping loud and clear. It was so great! Nothing is as sweet and doing cannonballs while singing "Feliz Navidad". I had much needed downtime and actually read 2 entire books and started a third one.... layed in the sun (through the windows, of course), slept in, and we all saw Alvin and the Chipmunks. It was so fun.... I was glad we decided to go. What a great Winter Memory!

I am up and running........

It is time to create a blog dedicated just to my family and all of our crazy antics. It may take me a bit to get up to speed, but so far most of my online obsessions have only to do with my personal escapes (facebook and shelfari- my MUST have for all readers).

The past year has been amazing and had it's usual ups and downs, but I am truly scratching my head and asking... "where has the time gone?" I guess it is true.... time flies when you are having fun.

Mike is still traveling for work, and he had training in Philly. We decided to pull the kids out of school, pack up our warmest of clothes, and fly out with him to see a few historical sites.

We spent a day in Philly, D.C., and at the Statue of Liberty (with a drive through Times Square) and then while Mike was at training we swam, shopped and even hit Alvin and the Chipmunks to pass the time. A night at Dave and Busters had us in the arcade getting as many tickets as possible, and winning over 5,500- that is a lot of prizes! It was such a great week, and so strange to come home and have to rip off a week's worth of chain links on our countdowns! (but enough to make the boys very hyper!)

Once again I am reminded.... it is always great to travel, but nothing beats coming home!