I Won!!!!

So, the results are in and I have won an incredible package of scrapbooking supplies from Twiddle Thumbs!

This is the layout that I submitted:


My favorite part of all of this is that, when we left Hawaii I had to leave behind all of the many years worth of scrapbooking supplies I had collected. Since we have been back, I have bought my self a cutting thing and some adhesive. My sister gave me some paper and I am always using her stuff. So, now I get to start building up my supplies again.

Oh, and maybe even make an album for Carly. Seeing as how Connor has 2, Abi has 1 and Carly has none.

Thanks to you for voting!

Not on Schedule

So, I thought that I would be a lot further on Connor's room than I currently am.

The wallpaper took about 8 hours to remove.  It came off in teeny-tiny little scraps.  A very different story than the 15 minutes it took for me to remove the borders from Abi's room and my own.

Thankfully, I had some help and company from the lonely little boy I tend.  He informed me, while laying on the ground after many attempts at helping to remove the wallpaper that it was "the worst day ever."   Connor and Abi were in Richfield and the two babies were taking their naps so it was just him, me and PBS.  That's the kind of babysitting I do...I put the kids to work or make them watch tv.

I would have liked to have had the bed sanded and at least one coat of stain on it tonight, along with all the painting in the bedroom done. However, I will just have to settle on the walls being painted. I pulled of the tape where each of the stripes are and I am so excited with the way it has turned out. There is a lot of touching up to do (without fail, the paint always seeps somewhere). But I think I will be able to have the gyst of the room done in time for Connor's return home and his first glance at his new room.

But on a very different note, I have had a fabulous time one-on-one with Carly. You forget so quickly just how simple life is with just one child. However, when I had just one child I thought that it was the busiest most challenging time of my life...SO not true.

Carly has been a very different child these last few days. Maybe not different, because she has been acting the way she always acts when she is happy. It just turns out that her happy periods have been lengthened in their amount of time. She has been so cuddly and kissy and lovey and laughable.

Perhaps the biggest bit...I pulled out the camera to take the picture of the scraps above, completely prepared for the meltdown that always ensues whenever I pull out a camera and she said "cheese." CHEESE!!!!! So, I took the opportunity of her happiness took some pictures of her not screaming, hitting or yelling and even a fun video! You will have to go to her blog to check it all out.

But, one thing I will share with you (in case you don't want to see just how adorable Carly really is) is this little photo comparison:

Abigail, exactly one year ago

Carly, tonight...I know, it isn't her best picture.

That's right, Carly even sat still long enough after her bath to let me put curlers in her hair! This weekend has been so good for my relationship with this firecracker of a daughter.

Vote For Me

Don't feel like you have to, but do.

I was on one of my favorite blogs the other day and she was giving away a KILLER scrapbooking package to whomever creates the cutest scrapbook page (I was afraid Amanda or Brooke would enter and then I would NEVER have a chance). Then her favorite choices would be entered in a contest, and the winner of her viewers choice would get said package.  I read her blog this morning and there were my beautiful little babes eyes staring back at me saying "look at me...I'm so cute."  I am so excited.

The girls I am up against have, let's face it, awesome pages. I need all the help I can get here.

So, do you wanna see what I am up against? Feel like rockin' the vote?

Go here.

And not to butter ya'll up or nothin', but I have to thank you for all of the ideas and compliments about body image. I failed to mention that the me in the current pictures is also 13 pounds heavier than the precious ones. That's a lot of fat to chew. The invitation to fitness classes...I'll be there on Thursdays! Cutting back on sugar intake...I'll try...Taking soda out of my diet....hmm......how about cut it back to one a day?

My sister just purchased this DVD by Jillian from The Biggest Loser. I'm going to give that one a try for a while. I'll let you know how it goes.

I love you girls! I am glad to know we are all in the same boat. There's stuff we are trying to work on and it's good to have friends to back you up. I admire you all and think you are some of God's most beautiful creations.

Just Braggin'

Way back in August, Todd's brother, Spencer, needed a new roof. But if you are going to rip off the roof and put some money into it, you might as well do it full-out, right?

Here is Spencer's house BEFORE Todd began designing a remodel for them:

Cute, small house that served the needs of that little family when they first moved into it. But, two more little ones joined the family and they started to outgrow the home (their little ones aren't so little anymore and each one NEEDED to be in a room of their own).

So, Todd drew up probably 6 different variations of a Craftsman/Bungalow style renovation. The end result doubled their homes size and has (what I think) MAJOR curb appeal:

They are working on the landscaping now and it is such a little jewel in their neighborhood.

Doesn't my Todd do AMAZING work? It's seeing projects like these completed that remind us that those ten years of schooling really paid off. He is good at what he does and loves doing it....especially when you get to see it finished.

It was really cool one day when we drove past Jordan Valley Surgical Center and Todd said, "I know that building...I helped work on that when I was with HKS....I haven't been able to see many of the projects I worked on finished."

I'm proud of my Architect. Super Todd.

Wanna know what else is Super about Todd? This weekend (probably because he did such an outstanding job designing our sprinkler system) he is going to Richfield to help put in a sprinkling system at his grandparents house. I encouraged him to go without me and the kids...Carly isn't one for traveling right now (or sleeping in unfamiliar places, or behaving well in other people's homes, or NOT being busy, or NOT yelling). But, he has ASKED to take Connor and Abi with him!!!!

That means that Carly and I, chillin' here at home. Just the two of us bonding. And Connor and Abi bonding with their dad (heaven knows Abi needs to realize that she is just as well taken care of with her dad as she is with me and she doesn't need to cling to me every waking second of the day).

PROJECT TIME!!! Connor has been asking us for months if he can have a "Jimmy Neutron" room. I posted some plans a while back and I can't wait to finally make them a reality for the super cute little guy (I am going to miss him so much, he's my helpful little one....he rescued Carly today when she ran away....about four houses down...by dragging her back home with her head trapped in his arms..he's so on top of it).

So, with two less children and a mom willing to help paint, I hope to be able to post some pictures for you by Monday night!!!! Wish me luck stripping wallpaper borders tomorrow.

MISSING

Please help me if you can.

The following has been missing since about March of 2006:

NO, not my sweet sister. I just spoke with her this morning and she is doing fine. I can, actually, find her at almost any time I need her.

NO, not Marin either. I don't know where she is...I do miss her, but not as much as what I am posting about.

NO, not the adorable little chub-a-lub that has turned out to be the most handsome and helpful little boy on the planet. At that point in time, I had to do deep knee lunges across a room with him swaddled tightly in a blanket to go to sleep. Not the easiest child to put to sleep...but man it did a number on by rear end and legs, which leads me into what I am missing. Who knew that the curse of a collicky child would actually turn into such a blessing?

I'm missing THAT body. That was the one that ate no differently than I eat now (I am enjoying a nice lettuce salad drizzled in a tablespoon of fat-free italian dressing) but lived in ever-so-walkable Hawaii and managed to walk or jog 2 miles everyday while pushing a stroller around with a 20 pound baby in it and even had time & money to go to the gym every once in a while to work on upper-body strength...oh, and I went to school full-time too.

Those shorts...I HAD to wear a belt or else they would have fallen down to my ankles. That bra...no padding, I was really once that endowed. That shirt didn't cling to my body...it allowed air to breathe through the woven fibers.

So, this morning, while looking in the mirror and missing the old me, I remembered the picture above and decided it was time to dissapoint myself even further by doing a comparison. I pulled out the same items I wore on that day and put them on.

No need to wear a belt, as I could barely squeeze my thighs into the shorts. I placed my $90 Victoria Secret unmentionable on (it came with silicone inserts) and then pulled the shirt over my head stretching at the arm holes to get them over what once was a bicep and tricep. No air breathing through these fibers today.

Abi is now my prop...Connor is WAY to big to be holding like that any more


You see, I now have three children under foot. I love them sooooo very much, but putting two of them in the double stroller and coaxing one to walk along by my side for a two mile venture is not fun nor does it get your heart rate up in a manner that is GOOD for your heart.

Todd and I have attempted taking turns in the evenings going for jogs (the guy goes to work at 6:30 each morning and doesn't get home till 5:30...then it's dinner....then it's life). But in the last month, I have been able to get out once and I think Todd has only been able to get out four times. Let's be real...with meetings, outings and a yard to put it, we both haven't been able to get out for those runs we have planned on.

So, I am asking you women who have more than two children under foot and can empathize with me:

What do you do to keep yourself in shape and happy with your post-baby body?

How do you find the time to do it?

Worn Out

You know you are doing a good job keeping your kids active when one of them falls asleep mid-game. I feel as though I have conquered today. For once, I wore them out before they wore me out!

Connor, Abi and I were playing Candy Land and she just couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. By the time I took this picture, Connor had taken all of the gingerbread men to his room and resigned himself to his bed. I have also taken Carly down for her second nap of the day.

It's so calm and quiet around here right now. My ears are ringing because they are so unaccustomed to the sound of silence.

Maybe I will lay down next to Connor and soak it all in.

Happy Mother's Day

I have very mixed feelings about this holiday. On one hand, I think it is nice to have a day devoted to recognizing and appreciating mothers. On the other, my expectations are way too high and I am always let down. I know, I need to change my expectations and I will truly learn to enjoy and appreciate the holiday.

This morning, I woke up alone in my bed to the sound of Pinnochio playing in Connor's bedroom. Spoons were clanking and milk was being slurped in the kitchen letting me know that the children were awake and being taken good care of by their dad. I chose to just lay in bed a while longer when Todd came in and offered to make breakfast. I really like cereal, so I declined and went out to the kicthen. Todd and I sat alone at the kitchen table and enjoyed our bowls of cereal...in peace.

What a great way to start the day. Todd also had no meetings, so he started cleaning up the morning dishes and straightening the house...he wanted the basement to be clean so we could watch a movie together tonight (he and Connor are downstairs watching Iron Man...there a just a handful of movies I can watch more than once...I thought Iron Man would be one of them, but 30 minutes into it and I was bored). He helped me get the kids ready and we all had a very peaceful, emotional free morning.

That's how you should always start the sabbath. We could have had one minor melt-down, but I chose not to battle Abi in the fight for the right hair-do. After Curling Abi's hair and combing it out, she proceeded to place 2 headbands in. A thick white one and a thin sparkly purple one. At least the colors matched her dress, but she looked like someone from an 80's work-out video. I had to laugh.

We got to church and sat down in "our" pew. Connor wanted to sit alone..three rows behind us. But that is the Paulson's bench (ha ha ha laugh if you know about "assigned benches" on Sundays), so I picked him up and sat him down where he could join our family(mistake #1...never do something that could embarrass Connor...it spoils his mood).

Brief Sidenote: I was considering suggesting to the Bishop that next Mother's Day, he reserve the front five pews for just the women in the ward. Then ask the men and children to sit in the back. This would allow the women to fill their spiritual reservoirs without interruption.

The opening song started, I was able to sing the first verse before Abi took my hymnbook away from me and asked me to help her with a puzzle. So I smiled and helped her with her puzzle (not even humming along because it was a Hymn I was very unfamiliar with).

We all made it through the prayer..announcements (Carly is starting to get restless)....sacrament hymn (Connor tries to draw an airplane)....Bread (airplane doesn't look right...meltdown #2)...water (Abi refuses to sit still and is using me as her human jungle gym)...first talk (Carly has fallen victim to her Father's soft tickling and is cuddling closely with him nearly asleep which Todd rubs in my face and I reply "Come on, it's Mother's Day. Can't she cuddle like that with me?")...Primary kids sing (Connor is asked by his parents and multiple people around us if he is going up to which he replies "No" getting more and more frustrated with each reply, you CANNOT change this kids mind)...Second speaker (Carly wants her mommy! I hope to have her cuddle with me, but she has other ideas and starts yelling and hitting so Carly and I leave quickly with Abi trailing behind)...Third Speaker (I see Todd storming out of the chapel with Connor who has had his worst melt down of the day).

At that point I started mumbling about how Mother's Day is an over-rated holiday and if we just didn't celebrate it then we would never have high expectations of our children acting "perfect" for one day and the visions of all of us sitting quietly on a bench for a whole hour wouldn't even be in my mind and I would be more realistic and only expect what should be expected of a 4, 2 and 1 year old. I also swore to Todd that I was writing off all Mother's Days and not celebrating them anymore. I told Todd to give me the keys and the kids and I were just going home. As I am marching out to the car feeling sorry for myself Todd says to me "Make sure the kids go straight to their rooms and they don't watch any movies. They have been so bad today." Bad thoughts went through my head and I was sending Todd zingers through my mind. He helped me carry kids to the van and load them in when he replied, "Wait, it's Mother's Day. I will take the kids home."

Relief.

Brief Interjection: Last night I was so beat from working in the yard all day, that I failed to check on Connor after I put him to bed. I was out cold. Connor's bedroom light had been left on ALL NIGHT. I know I don't sleep well unless it's dark, so he sort of has a good excuse as to why he was a little off today. It's my fault and I hope I only make that mistake once.

My neighbor saved me a seat next to her in Sunday School. The lesson was on keeping the Sabbath Day Holy. I loved it the very most when an incredible sister in the ward spoke up and said something like "When my children were younger I dreaded Sunday's. My husband was in the bishopric and with all the meetings, I had to get my kids ready by myself and sit with them on the bench alone. I got nothing out of my meetings and the day started off by prying children off of one another and settling arguments." I was so glad to know that I was not alone. Tears of joy were streaming down my face. I love that honest sister who has had so much life experience. She always makes me feel good. My neighbor sees my tears, to which my starts giving solutions to problems she thinks I am having (maybe she thought I was crying because she thinks I am not starting my days out happily...little does she know that it is just one hour on Sunday's that have got me hung-up) and I start sending bad zingers through my mind that way like "you do the math...3 kids, 2 laps...all of them want to be sitting in someone's arms...how do you make it work...you don't know what it's like...blah blah blah. My neighbor is actually a very sweet person she didn't deserve to be in my line of fire.

Of course, my situation is quite good. I don't have to sit alone on a bench, Todd is there and he is very good at taking whichever child needs to be taken out. But, Todd does have the meetings on Sunday's. Thankfully our church time gives me enough time to get them all dressed, ready and out the door at a decent time. We've got a routine down and it's working great for us.

It's just that one hour, that one hour when I am given the opportunity to reflect on Christ's Atoning Sacrifice for me and the opportunity to renew the covenants I have made that I am overtaken by frustration and way too high expectations of my children that I allow myself to be removed from the true spirit of the meeting. I dread Sunday's because I know that for one hour, my kids will be kids and not these magical quiet little creatures that I have painted in my head. I spend so much time anticipating their arguments/outbursts that I won't be able to sit quietly reflecting on the sacred prayers that were said.

But I am there. I go. I will be in the right place at the right time. It is by my example that my kids will eventually begin to show more reverence. I can see it in Connor already. He is usually quite good at sitting quite and still for that one hour. He even picks up the hymn book on occasion and points to words while he tries to sing. Carly will try to lead the music with the chorister. Abi likes to say the prayer with whomever is saying the prayer.

I go. My kids go. It will get better.

But, back to Mother's Day. I came home after church to a silent house.

Relief.

I sat down on the couch and read for a while. Everyone was asleep. It was so nice.

Eventually Todd woke up and we had a nice visit. Then Abi who is always sweet and cuddly and happy when she wakes up came into the living room and cuddled with me. Carly was next with her loud way of letting us know she is ready to join the fun.

I made some cookies and we all shared some delicious dough.

Then I went in and lay down next to Connor. It was time to go to my mom's house to celebrate the holiday. Connor sleeps with his eyes kind of open, so I never know if he is awake or asleep. He smiled at me and put his arm around me. So I knew he was waking up. He said, "Hi mom. I love you so much."

THAT is Mother's Day. I celebrate Mother's Day every day. My children and Todd, without fail, will each do at least one thing every day to reafirm their love for me.

Todd does the dishes quite often, he pours compliments out upon me, and he loves to play with the kids.
Connor is always the first to give me a big hug and a smile and vocalize his love for me.
Abigail doesn't think she can live without me. How much more love is there than to be constantly needed?
Carly Belle gives kisses and makes me laugh daily.

I am a mom. I am grateful. I am relieved.

I mentioned that we went to my mom's house to celebrate (by the way, my mom is amazing..I should probably write a post all about her incredibilities some day...but that would be bragging and make all of you envious of me). It was great! The men took care of the meal and dessert. My grandparents were visiting from Roswell, NM and they hadn't met Carly yet, so we took the opportunity to take a 4 generation photo. As a few of you know...Carly HATES the camera (yes, she is trying to hit Abi), so this is the best shot I could get of all of us:

Carly's Room

Do you remember when I told you about Carly's room and the wall that bugged me?

It is finally done.

Do you want to see?



Notice how everything is high enough that Carly can't rip it down. I hope she doesn't sprout up anytime too soon or those birds will all have lived very short lives.

You may also notice that these birds underwent some minor reconstructive surgery. They have both come out of it very well and seem to be adapting to their transplants quite well.


And here are some of the newest hatchlings to join Carly's tree:





I found some digiscrap birds that I liked and printed them out on regular paper.

Then I used those as templates/stencils for the birds I wanted. Gathered my green and blue scrap papers and started cutting the shapes out. Each of them are mounted on foam-core and sealed with a good dose of mod-poge.

Button eyes to see what that tempermental girl is up to and some ribbon to keep them in the air was, I think, the perfect final touch!

The Kids

I have just put a little video of each of the kids on their blogs.

Laundry

So, the laundry has been calling for me. I usually wait until it is piled thigh high in each of our closets and then spend one day washing and five days folding and putting it all away. Only to be discouraged that it all needs to be done again!

My friend Janel tipped me off to a website called FLYlady. Have you heard of her? It's been fun to read her suggestions for keeping up with the housework. Day one...keep the sink shiny and clean. I am on day three and it has stayed mostly empty and sparkling.

The other thing is the laundry. Starting Tuesday, I have done just one load a day. That meant washing, drying, folding and putting away. And instead of sorting all of our clothes into the various colors I now only sort by person. Of course, Todd and I have a white and a colors pile, but all the kids each have only their clothes in one load. So after they are dried, I take the basket into their room, fold and put away in there (less than 15 minutes) and it is done! No sorting, no carrying to five different rooms in the house! My outlook on laundry has changed. It is no longer dreaded, just one of my simple daily chores.

I can do one load of laundry a day. This has lessened my feeling of being hopeless and haphazard homemaker.

Now onto the bathrooms!

I Want

This fabric for my living room chairs:

There is a problem....$60 a yard. Thankfully, I can get it for half off. But, I need 14 yards to cover the 2 chairs. Then it's $250 per chair to have them re-upholstered.

So, I will keep dreaming (and keep the faux fur throw over one of the chairs) until the day when this can happen.

Although, when it can happen, I will probably have changed my mind a dozen times and the room will have a new color scheme.

That's just the way I roll.

Poor Todd.