Muddy kids in November!!!

To be completely honest it is my own fault. I was the one who didn't turn the wheel barrow upside down back when I knew it would be raining. My kids wanted to go outside, so I let them, and went out back with them. I thought they were just going to play on the swing set while I pulled a few new emerged weeds.(Yes I did find new weeds in November.) My youngest discovered the wheel barrow with all of the rain water in it and showed my son, who said "Oh, look a pond." Pond..... I guess since they first added dirt from underneath the deck and rocks into it first, that could be a semi-accurate description. I didn't worry thinking there hands might get a little cold and I would pull the plug on it shortly anyways, why not let them have some fun. Ali, being a true girl, and a truly good kid, warned me what they were doing, and when I said not to worry about it, left it at that but refused to get herself dirty like her younger siblings. Ali even started helping me pull weeds until she said it was hurting her hands. Next thing I know I hear water flowing, and Brie giggling and Trev belly laughing. Apparently Trev and Brie decided that it was time to expand the size of the pond by pouring the water out on to the dry dirt around it. Brie was in direct path of the water, but she only backed up long enough for the whole contents to make a huge muddy pond which she and Trev decided to jump in. And Jump in. And JUMP in. I'm not sure where the shoes start and the mud ends that are the 4 lumps sitting on the deck right now. (I put their clothes, jackets, some of my clothes, in the wash first to get the mud off) I'm still trying to figure out how Brie got sooo much mud in her hair. And I had to run the bath water twice to get the mud off of both of them. To be honest, I don't regret letting them do it. I can't believe how much fun they had! With as much as they were both at each others throats today it was the one time they had fun in common and got along, even in the tub. So beware if you are ever around my kids and mud.... :)

What are you doing right now? Watching Fringe, and updating my blog...

Are you named after anyone? Yes and no....My grandma kind of named, but Carolyn was my moms best friend for most of her life.

Whats your living arrangements? I live with my husband & 3 kids

What is the compliment you get from most people? Mostly hair....10 years ago I got butt too.

Are you a daredevil? Can't say that I ever have been or will be

Number of sweat pants you own? Um...2 but I haven't worn since my youngest was 1.

Can you sing? Yeah, but any one can

Do you sleep with stuffed animals? If you call the snoring thing thats laying in bed right now a stuffed animal, then the answer is yes.

Do you like to play with fire? Play no...but I do like watching a controlled fire....like when camping or a fireplace.

Do you consider marijuana a drug? Yes...for many reasons.

What does your dresser look like? Um....old

What color is the carpet in the room your in right now? beige

Whats the biggest thing you want? A colledge degree, that would get me a better paying job!

What all did you eat today? Bowl of cereal, salad, hamburger, onion rings..oh and one sugar cookie at work.

What age do you want to get married at? I got married a month away from turning 19...I wouldn't suggest it! :)

Whats your screen saver? it just blinks off....

Do you like to do puzzles? Yes and so do my kids

Do you think someone is talking smack about you behind your back? Probably...but owell lifes too short

How long have you lived in the house you live in now? 6 years

First movie you ever saw at the theatre?Um I don't know...

What's your normal bedtime? Any where from 10 to midnight.

Do your pets sleep with you?I don't sleep with fish!

Name an annoying actor or actress? Um...most of the stuck up ones?!

Who was your best friend in the 5th grade? hmmm....Heather, Heather, Krissy, and Meghan, oh and Elisa too...

Are you superstitious? I don't know.

What is your favorite day of the week? Used to be Friday...now its Sunday!

Are you into politics? Not particullary...some issues I'll definitely take a stand on, but most I don't know enough about.

Do you enjoy thunderstorms?YES!!!

Do you consider yourself a leader or a follower? Little bit of both...

What is your position at your job? I'm 3rd from the last hired....so kind of still proving stage

Do you have any famous ancestors that you are aware of? I'd have to ask my Uncle Arnold! Or my Grandpa (other side of the family)

Do you believe that the Confederate Flag is racist? I think the thought behind it of inequality yes, is racist. An object only holds what people assign to it.

What astrological sign are you? Leo

What genre of music do you prefer to listen to? Depends on my mood...Things like Parramore when I'm a little pissed.... Mostly mellow stuff though.

What’s your favorite college basketball team? Um...on grounds of incrimanation and the fact that I don't have one....I'll say none of the above?

Do you like family get-togethers? Most of the time....sometimes I need a break...too many or seeing the same people too often can cause for nerves being gotten on. :)

Have you ever dated your best friend’s sibling? No

Do you have a mean grandma? I wouldn't say mean...I would say demanding. She is still rather sweet when she wants to be though.

What brand of shampoo and conditioner do you use? Suave....I can't justify more expensive

Which Gatorade is your favorite? Nope...Poweraid caloree free Strawberry!

Have you ever eaten dog food? NO!

Tag to those who have nothing better to say....like I didn't tonight! Thanks Heather!!!

Is there something in the air?

Why is it that kids typically gang up and act out at the same time? I literally think I looked like I was juggling Brie today during sacrament meeting. We sat on the very back row, by where the partition opens....bad choice!!!!!!! She decided to see what would happen if she moved the handle.... After removing her from the situation, I counted backwards and forwards from 1 to 10, 10 to 1 and proceeded to try and keep her from distracting any one else after that. Not a successful week for us. She decided to pat the guys hand in the bench 2 feet in front of us to say "hi", she kept insisting on trying to lay down and pushing her feet into the little boy in another family sitting next to us. Tried crawling on the floor, and because it was a walk way right in front of us she also thought she could spread out like a baby and take the coloring book with her and block the walk way. After removing her from this small hindrances to those around us, she makes herself go limp, and curls her legs from underneath her, so every time I go to pull her up on my lap she will bring my skirt up with her. *I'm putting my head down and shaking it* I don't think any one caught sight of anything above my knee...at least I'm praying no one did, for every ones sake. She can be soo cute, and yet so entirely obnoxious! So some how I make it through sacrament meeting with out pulling all of my hair out or hers for that matter. So since were "potty training" *eye roll* I take her down to the bathroom to try and then she decides she's going to run all the way back to nursery, which mind you is on the opposite end of the building...both times I take her to try...which was fruitless. At least the ladies in the library got a kick out of me trying to catch her both times, whispering the whole way, "Brie! Brie! We don't run in the church!"
On a lighter note, she kept saying she was going to play ball underneath the kitchen table during dinner. Imagination is not in short supply in our house!!! If you need some we have some to spare!

I'm waiting for some place warm to freeze over.

Ok, to put it bluntly, I'm taken back by what help I've been getting lately. I have a bad head cold that wakes me up at night, blow my nose or wipe it depending on what stage of night I'm at, scare the kids silly every time I blow, can't hear me because my voice is gone most of the time head cold. I would not wish any one a bad head cold. You'd really really have to piss me off for me even to consider it, and considering I didn't really understand what pissed off really was till I got married that says a lot! (even my husband agrees to that statement:) So my husband has cooked the last two dinners...stir fry the first night, and homemade hamburgers and french fry's tonight. He's offered to let me sleep in the past two mornings that I've been off work. This is not saying that I didn't know it was in him...I did, I'm just appreciating it more right now. So I'm waiting for some place warm to start getting really cold or I'm going to wake up, because it's been a while. If it's a dream, I think I'll sleep longer. :)

An update on the potty training. We decided to try bribery with Brie. Every time she uses the potty for the true purpose, we'll give her a treat. So this works for part of the day. One problem. I've tucked her in bed, and I hear her say after she's been quiet for a good 5 minutes. "Mom! I want a treat!" *argh* So now she thinks things that she has to do, because she has to, she gets a treat for. (No I didn't give her a treat! It was slightly tempting for a minute...)

Streaker

I have been attempting to potty train my 3 year old. *sigh* So you think most of the time I'm glad when she tells me she needs to go "potty". Truth be said, I am most of the time. We made it once at church today, and she did number 2 in the toilet twice today, so I have to say she is making progress! So tonight we had dinner at my in laws, and she tells me that she needs to go "potty", I rush her in, she does her business great, and we wash up and go back out. So right before we leave to go home we get all three kids in P.J.'s and while I get her undressed, she immediately books it away from me once she is stark naked. I tackled her down and she immediately starts to giggle then starts saying frantically "I need to go potty", so I let her go and she runs to the bathroom. Little did I know that she would lock the door behind her with me on the outside while she went "potty". So I finally convince her to turn the handle and let me in to help her wash her hands (I had already heard her flush the toilet). After were done washing hands, she runs out of the bathroom giggling while I try and chase after her telling her she needs to get a pull-up on, when my father in law notices that she has toilet paper stuck in her cheeks. *sigh* So I chase after her again, and take care of that situation back in the bathroom, and then it took 4 of us after that to be able to keep her tackled long enough to get pull-up and P.J.'s on. She protested right before we zipped up her sleeper that she didn't get to put them on by herself. *pause* Life with her is going to always be interesting!

Directions

So my sister in law got married yesterday. She is a sweet heart and I wish her the best. I realized after all is said and done it is in their hands. Just like I'm sure many people said when I got married.
The reason for the title is...well quite simply why is it so hard to find the Timpanogos temple!!! We called on the way down there to Vegetarian Vampire, who got married there to ask for directions, who informed me even they got lost going there. So here I am kind of hopless, despite the fact that VV has access to a computer and was the biggest sweet heart and gave us turn by turn directions on how to get there. So, here is a public thank you to her and her sweetness!

Also, as a side note, I would not suggest getting light colored dresses for your flower girls, to any one that is getting married soon or later. Ali's dress already has a spot on it I'm worried about. She looked beautiful, but that was a night to try and keep her from getting anything on it!

white knuckle grip

Tagged!?!

Thanks Surrounded by seamonkeys... :)
A) Four places I go over and over:
1. Work, either location
2. Kids school, thank goodness for all day kindergarten or it would be a whole lot more often. 3. Church, at least on sundays
4. The cleaning supplys under my sink, for cleaning.:)
(B) Four people who e-mail me regularly:
1. Spammers
2.My dad, if you include forwards. (I still like them, because their from my dad.)
3. Fast web...its a scholarship search engine.
4. My sisters when they can't get a hold of me any other way...can't imagine why they couldn't get a hold of me.....:P
(C) Four of my favourite places to eat:
1. Rumbi
2. Olive Garden...it's where my husband and I had our first date, so more than anything it's sentimental.
3. Family's when I don't have to cook. :)
4. Sam Pan
(D) Four places you'd rather be:
1. A nice beach in California
2. A movie theater watching a good movie
3. In a really good book, where I can shut out everything else with a few sentences of reading.
4. A good tourist vacation any where.
(E) Four TV shows I could watch over and over:
1.Big Bang Theory
2. Scrubs
3. Heros
4. Star Trek...reminds me of staying up way to late watching them with my brother.
(F) Four people I think will respond:
1. Um...Surrounded by Sea Monkeys, but she tagged me.
2. Wendy?
3. Heather?.
4. Leslie?
I obviously don't have much of a following....owell. It doesn't bother me. I consider this an emotional out let anyways. :)

Strawberry sugar cookies

I decided that I would post recipes when I have nothing better to say. So here is my recipe for Strawberry sugar cookies (my husband says that they are strawberry jello cookies and won't stop saying so till I note it.), or any other desired flavor of sugar cookies you might thing you want to try.

Ingredients
1/2 cup margarine 1/2 cup butter 3 eggs 1 cup sugar
1(3oz) package of gelatin(Desired flavor for cookies)
3 cups flour 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt

Cream margarine, butter, sugar and gelatin until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beat thoroughly. Add Dry ingredients and mix. Chill several hours in fridge. Roll 1/2 dough at a time, into 1/4 inch thick, and cut into desired cookie cutter shapes. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 375 for about 8 minutes, cool and then decorate or eat plain.

Note, I have used other combinations for butter/margarine/shortening. Any combination seems to have worked so far. Raspberry is a good strong flavor, as well as orange as well. I've done Lime flavored, and I liked it, but the rest of my family didn't care as much for it.
So enjoy the recipe, and take it or leave it. Recipes to look forward too, when I have nothing better to say....Banana bread, Bread maker rolls, Homemade chocolate cake. Mostly the stuff people will actually request me to make. :)

My husband says that I also need to mention I orginally got this one from his mother. So thanks to her as well if you like it. (I've made small modifications)

OCD

OCD....Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. How sad is it that I have to not have that last blog up for that long. It just bothers me. If it were something extremely cheerful or funny, I would be OK leaving it for a very long time. Any way... This is my OCD moment.
I'll take a tag from surrounded by seamonkeys.
What is your husbands name? Matt
How long have you guys been married? 8
How long did you date? Lets see...we started dating...oh lets just say little under a year.
How old is he? 29 Who is taller? Him Who can sing best? Toss up
Who is smarter? Not sure that is the right question, more like who is more stubborn, and that would be me, half the time.
Who does laundry? Me when I remember, him when I forget
Who pays the bills ? me Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Umm, laying down on my back, I would be on the right side.
Who mows the lawn? mostly him before we had a cousin start mowing it. Who cooks dinner? Mostly me, but he cooks better in general when he does cook.Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Um...not sure. But I would venture me and he would probably say him. Who kissed who first? He kissed me first, if you call it a Kiss, because I couldn't stop laughing and all he got was teeth.
Who wears the pants? We both wear pants.....

Tag to whoever reads this that it's applicable to. :)

Sleep does wonders

Thanks to all of those who noticed my last blog. Despite being OK, I appreciate it. I've learned in life, what little I've learned, is that life isn't going to stop because it's not going the way you want. I don't know that there has been a whole lot of my life that has gone the way I've planned. I'm slowly, and I mean slowly because I started coming to this realization before Trev was born, and he's five now. Sometimes just moving and keep pushing through is part of what life is about. I'm getting to be an expert at that. Doesn't mean that it's not rough some days, just that it's getting easier.
Also a big note to mark is that sleep is a big factor on function ability. I finally got some sleep. In fact I got to sleep in this morning while Matt got the kids ready for school, and made their lunches and was even going to take them to school, but I woke up. No wonder my three year old alarm clock always gets up at the same time. She can't sleep in any longer, because her body tells her she should be awake, just like mine does.
Speaking of sleep....I think I'll get some! :) Good night to all of you other night owls, but this one's bowing out.

Also as a side note, I heard Beastie Boys for the first time on Monday. The two guys I was working with really like it. I still don't get it. I guess it's just not my type, I like more mellow stuff.

I feel that I am at a bit of a cross roads. I know some of what I have to do in my life, and like in all change, I'm scared. I know that I've got to go back to school. I know that I still have to work. I know that I love my kids and I don't want to loose any more time with them than what I have already. I'm trying to figure out how to make this work, and I'm at a loss. For most people the suggestions and the answers would be simple, but for me, in my situation they aren't. I guess my sparkle is a down a long road that's ahead of me.(thanks Nicole) So I guess you get to a point, when nothing becomes impossible to overcome.
I was sitting in church on Sunday when I wrote this down. I feel less confident than I did then, but I guess like I have in the past I need to keep pushing forward, and remembering that feeling I had and have faith.

I can see the light breaking, -wanting to break through the clouds, rimming on the edge of a cloud. The storm has left much to clean up. I've weathered the storm with help from earth and heaven. I can tend the battled garden and make it beautiful again.

good intentions...

Here I am, awake at the late hour, when I should be asleep. I even told myself I would go to bed at a descent time tonight, when I woke up this morning. So here I am still awake, and why? I'm not really sure. I'm kind of tired, but my mind is still going. Brie just woke up and thought it was time to get up for the morning... I can see this may be a long night.