3.09.2008

Tagged...


How did you meet your spouse?
I met Sean in our singles ward in Florida. He had a big crush on me! JK. I had to wait for him to finish dating all of my friends before I could get him to settle down and get serious. Well, maybe not all of them, but he was engaged to one of them.

Where did you go on your first date?
We were trying to figure this out tonight. I think we may have watched a movie or hung out at my house, but we are claiming that it was a trip out to Old Town in Kissimmee, FL. We went on a bungee seat ride (they strap you to a seat hooked to bungees and launch you straight into the air.) I know it sounds scary (and Sean didn’t even hold my hand!) Then I got us lost on our way home and we ended up at the beach…beautiful full moon and all and he still didn’t hold my hand! Bummer.

How long have you been together?
2 years of dating…almost 8 years of marriage…2+8=10 Honestly, it only feels like a couple of years.

Who eats more?
Oh, I should say Sean, but I hung with him for years…But now my hard earned high metabolism is slowing down…so sadly so must I. Actually, Sean eats like a big man and I am always amazed at how much he drinks. I used to give him a glass with my girly size serving in it, but he would look at me and laugh. I’ve learned to get the biggest glass in the house and fill it to the brim. I really could use a small pitcher and he would be great!

Who said I love you first?
Sean. I'm sure it was very romantic and there were butterflies in my stomach and fireworks shooting into the sky and the whole world paused for a moment (do you remember the whole world pausing about 10 years ago...that must have been because of us.) Honestly, I really don't remember any details.

Who is taller?
Definitely Sean at 6’5” and I’m 5’9”. I love having a big husband. It helps make me feel a little more feminine and not like such a clod. (Side note: I was dating a guy that was my size and about died when ½ a pot of beans spilled on me and I had to borrow some clothes. I actually fit into his jeans. To be honest, it freaked me out a little.)

Who sings better?
Sean does. Secretly, I have always wanted to belt it out like Celine. I sing in the car…but with the music really loud. (Weird thing: I always yawn when I sing in church. Not just once, but repeatedly. I don’t think it’s because the music is so slow and I’m falling asleep (though that is Sean’s problem!) Does this happen to anyone else?

Who is smarter?
The older I get, the more I realize how much I have to learn. (That’s pretty smart isn’t it?)

Another admition: I love it when Sean reads. I used to think he didn't read anything. But I was wrong. Right now he is reading Clear and Present Danger. I am reading too many books, it's hard to keep them all straight.

Who does the laundry?
Sean washes a lot of laundry, but he doesn’t do all the laundry. I do a lot, but in spurts. I think I concentrate on a couple of things at a time, and laundry doesn’t fit well into that schedule. It’s always getting dirty –dang it! Can’t it just take a time-out once in a while!

Who does the dishes?
Me- and they never stay clean either! Shish! (HEY! I do dishes EVERY blue moon!)

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?
Sean. Our alarm clock is on that side and he wakes up first and he doesn’t want to squish me! Nice guy!

Who pays the bills?
I pay them but Sean earns the cash. (He also does the taxes.)

Who mows the lawn?
Sean and Carly do the mowing. We have a self powered mower…meaning you are the power. It’s pretty neat and eco friendly.

Who cooks dinner?
Oh, are you supposed to cook cereal? JK. Though I don’t cook most nights, I usually make something for dinner. Sean does make a mean pancake breakfast every Sunday and he’s great on the grill.

Who drives when you are together?
Sean. I usually drive when he’s tired or when we’re on long trips… or if I really feel like it. Neither one of us are good at directions though. Thank goodness for map quest. (I didn't get us lost coming home from our first date on purpose...that would have been sneeky and I didn't even get a kiss out of it! JK Mom, I never kissed on the first date!)

Who is more stubborn?
Oh, that’s a tough one. We’re both pretty stubborn about different things.

Who is the first to admit when they’re wrong?
Sean is. Wait, I was wrong. I am.

Whose parents do you see the most?
Right now, we see my parents more. Sean’s parents live in CA and FL. (Hi Grandma and Grandpa’s! We miss you!)

Who kissed who first?
Sean kissed me. Though I have to admit, I was wishing he would do it sooner than he did! We do have this one memorable kiss...(smiling through the memory)...Everyone should have a kiss like that to rekindle some flames and to remember when they're older. (Hey, I didn't give any details...but I do hope you have a memory like that of your own)

Who proposed?
Sean. But he says I never actually said yes until we were at the temple. He was pretty brave planning a wedding with a girl who never said yes- don't you think?!

(We went out to eat and to RonJon Surf Shop at Cocoa Beach with our best friends. He took me for a walk on the beach and we were chasing crabs. He knelt down to catch one and came up on one knee with a ring and proposed. I didn’t even see it coming. My knees went weak and I actually slunk down to sit on his knee. It was picture perfect with the waves crashing and the sand and the little crabs running around and the moonlight shining on the ring. The ring was simply beautiful and perfect. I would have picked it out myself. My best friend passed away a year later, so it was extra special that he thought of having her there to share the moment.)

Who is more sensitive?
I think I am but Sean comes in a close second. (We always cry watching Extreme Makeover, Home Edition....come on, be honest, sometimes you do to.) (I dont cry... leak maybe....)

Who has more friends?
I think Sean probably has more close friends overall. He’s pretty social and easy to get along with.

Who has more siblings?
Me. I’m second of seven. Sean is first of five.

Who wears the pants in the family?
I think we both share that role, but I am with the kids more often so naturally I get to wear them more. (NO PANTS FOR YOU! I will keep them thanks....please)

So now I tag….

Diana, Keriann, Amy, and Christy. This was so fun to reminisce. I can’t believe that I couldn’t remember where our first date was and when he said he loved me...such important and memorable moments, right?! Good luck girls. Have fun strolling down memory lane!

3.07.2008

My Sister: Cindy


Ok, I have an amazingly talented family. I was at a lunch today (with some amazingly talented women) and my friend asked me if I came from a creative family. I started thinking about each person and they are all awesome in their own little way. Maybe I'll do a little blog and embarrass each of them!

Today, we'll start with Cindy because she just posted some beautiful pictures of our kids on our family website and I am so...I can't even think of the word...happy, proud, excited for her. She works so hard to become the photographer she has "pictured" in her own head. She is a perfectionist and her own worst critic. She always has been. While we were growing up, she always wanted to excel at everything she did, and would get frustrated if she didn't measure up to her own expectations. I love her drive. She works hard. She studies. She applies what she knows. She studies. She works. She progresses. I used to sit with her to look at her pictures and she would get frustrated and say, "it's just not what I want yet. But I'll get there." She would turn away from her screen and sigh. Now I sit with her and look at her photo's and she is starting to look pleasantly at them. She is liking what she sees. She has worked so hard and the evidence is evident. (Did that make sense?) Her photo's are evolving. Taking on a natural, artistic feel. They seem so natural. Beautiful. Effortless. But don't let them fool you. They took effort and work. Years of it. But isn't that what work is for. So we can learn to put sweat and tears and frustration into something that we will later be proud of. Something we can feel good about because we put a little of ourselves into it. The refining of our talents. Refining of ourselves. A little of our Heavenly Creator coming out in us.
Speaking of creating. My friend Donna Dewberry http://www.onestroke.com/ said something once that I think a lot of us can relate to. She said something along the lines of: We are the spirit children of the Ultimate Creator. It is in our genes to create. I know some of us just HAVE to create. We can't hold it in. We're not supposed to. We are here to learn to be more like our Heavenly Father, the Creator of all things. Don't hold it in. Be inspired.

Here are some of Cindy's inspirations. Check out her blog at: http://lilypstudio.typepad.com/
She is going to have a website up and running sometime in the near future. For anyone who wants to book some fun "creative" time with her you can find her contact info on her blog.


Photo's curtesy of Lily P Studio and Design Co. http://lilypstudio.typepad.com/

3.02.2008

A "live human"

Tonight as I was working on the computer, Ridge came down stairs and peeked through the railing at me kinda sheepishly. I asked him what he needed and he came and sat by me. He said, "I need something comfortable to sleep with." I said "Ok. How about a stuffed animal? Can I help you find the one you want?" He said, "No, I need something comfortable with those clothes on." (Pointing at my PJ's.) I'm smiling and trying not to snicker...then he says this: "I need a comfortable live human to sleep with." (Ok, he got me!) I told him to come and lay down on my lap. I asked him if he loved me. He did his little trade mark hand on my cheek and said "I love you because your pretty and you're my mom." He's laying on my lap a few hours later!
I love you too Ridge... Good night.

2.29.2008

Fun Easter Project!

Here is a fun project to do with your kids on a Saturday afternoon. I enjoyed doing these myself. It's pretty simple, and when you paint them and antique them, they are so cute. I got the recipe from a halloween project on Family Fun (http://familyfun.go.com/). Their project was making ghosts, we just tweaked it for the Easter season! (I Love that site. If any of you are looking for good ideas for your kids, they have a ton!)

Easter Table Markers (I don't know what they are really called)

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1 cup salt
1/2 cup water


You will also need:
Microwave
Toothpick
Paint- colors of your choice
Antiquing paint or brown paint
Wire (Optional)
Wire cutters
Paper Plate
Wax Paper
White glue or Modge Podge


Mix the flour, salt and then water. Should make a nice dough. Not too wet, but not crumbly. Pinch off a small handfull. (Cover the remaining, it dries quickly.) Now, shape your dough into something cute!
We made basic shapes of eggs, bunnies, chicks, and a sheep. The eggs were the easiest for the kids to do on this project. Use the toothpick to help with any details you choose to add. Keep these very simple. And don't worry about getting them too smooth. They'll look kindof rustic when completed. When the final shape is complete, poke a hole in the top to insert the wire to hold the place card.
Next, put the dough on the paper plate and microwave on high for 40 seconds. Then intervals of 20-30 seconds at a time until the dough feels light and is a light color all over. (The egg pictured below is't dry yet. Note the darker color across the middle.)
After they have dried in the microwave, let them cool and then paint them. The kids will have a lot of fun doing this. (Note: a shower curtain from the dollar store makes a great table cover...and it's reusable!)


After the paint has dried, antique the figures. You can do this with antiquing, or just water down brown paint until it is an inky consistency. Paint it all over the fugure and then wipe off with a wet paper towel. (The dark paint should stay in all the crevices and the fugure will take on a whole new-or rather old-look. Pretty cool!) When dry, apply a coat of white glue or modge podge to seal the paint.

Finally, cut a 3 inch wire and curl one end. Poke the straight end into the hole you poked with the toothpick. (You can glue it in if it won't stay.)

These are really so fun. We did these for Thanksgiving as well. The kids helped me make and paint a bunch of pumpkins. Then we printed "Thanks" in different languages. It looked great!
P.S. These will last a very long time and become a keepsake. We have added to our Halloween ghost family for two years now and they are still doing great!














(Thanksgiving photo from Lily P. Studio & Design Co. http://lilypstudio.typepad.com/)

Easter Project Pictures

Hey Mr. ToothFairy...!


(I only say Mr. Toothfairy because the toothfairy was a man on the movie The Santa Clause II...otherwise, I've always thought it was a girl!) Well, anyway, the toothfairy was summoned to our house this week. Carly finally lost her tooth! After keeping it in her mouth for as long as she possibly could, she let me pull it out. She has been so nervous to do it. She could even wiggle it around it a full circle...with her tongue... but wouldn't pull it out. Finally, in a moment of bravery and frustration she said, OK Mom, you can do it. I jumped at the offer, but I don't think she believed I would actually do it! I really only had to hold on and gravity did the rest. She looked shocked, winced, and smiled. Her eyes were sooo BIG! I asked if it hurt, in which she responded "Yes, I mean kindof, a little...well, not really!"

The funniest part was the next morning when Carly came into my room all offended and totally ticked off. "Mom, the toothfairy didn't come. I looked under my pillow and she didn't even leave me anything!" OH NOOOO! Panic...After all that... and I...hmm...the toothfairy forgot to visit! So I calmly asked her if she put her tooth under her pillow. Whew! No she didn't. She put it in a bag on her dresser with a sticky note labeling it "My tooth". (I thought that was cute, since there are so many teeth laying around our house.) So I explained that the toothfairy just looks under pillows. I reassured her that she would probably visit that night. But it appears that our toothfairy is pretty sneaky. After Carly showered, we layed down on Carly's bed to think about what happened, and Carly noticed a note up in the netting above her bed...it was from the toothfairy of course! It read, "You tricked me, so I tricked you! Your money is in your little church! Love, The Toothfairy." (The little church sits on her shelf) Carly couldn't believe it and thought it was so funny! Boy, that was a close one, and either the toothfairy is getting richer (doubt it), or she is paying someone off out of guilt (most likely) because Carly got a whole $2.00!

2.27.2008

Life is good.

Hi. Just a short one today. Life is good.
Carly did her homework in 1 hour today!
Ridge had carrots and asked for 2nds (he hasn't liked any fruits or veges for a long, long time!)
Ty said "Hi" to a boy his age today (though he did get mad at him just a moment before...still it's progress!)
I went jogging (kind of) with Cindy today, and went to aerobics on Monday and will go again tomorrow! Feels so good to be sore!
Sean is building a *very cool* work bench in the garage and we are unloading some of our food storage and taking inventory! (I'll post a picture of this grand undertaking soon!) I love projects...especially when they are completed!
We are blessed. Life is good. Hope yours is too!

2.09.2008

Energy and Happiness!

They make me smile!










Just a Spoon Full of Sugar....


You know the song..."Just a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down..." I used to wish I could snap my fingers or wiggle my nose and my chores would be done. Well, who needs magic when you have an imagination! (And to think...this was supposed to be punishment for sneaking into the cookies! -again.) Who knew doing the dishes was so much FUN! I think I have a new perspective! I think I'll have them clean out the fridge next time... hmmm...Stay tuned for those pictures!

Frosty Mornings...

I love frosty cold mornings...except for the fact that I don't plan ahead for them. I love waking up to the crisp cool air. Invigorating! Except, I don't remember to go and start the car ahead of time, to warm it up for the kids. Then I don't leave enough time to scrape the windows. So, in a hurry, I scrape with my flimsy gift cards. In a flurry of ice flying off the window onto my chilly fingers and frosted face, I see the kids making faces at me through the window. Breathe. Smile. Make a funny face...Hurry! 5 minutes behind, we leave for school. Ahhhh! Invigorating...nervousness...heart racing...I hate being late. But, ohhh, I just have to stop a second and soak in the beauty all around me. The stillness in these pictures are so opposite to the rush I feel in comparison. I'm glad I have these pictures to remember these mornings...I'm glad I have a field of grass across from me, instead of a field of houses! I'm glad I have these awesome kids! I hope they remember the feelings of these pictures instead of the feelings of rush I create.