I've had a revelation!

Today was just one of those perfect days.

Today we went to visit some old friends and it was so great. Mike Siddoway was Nels' roommate in college and we have been good friends ever since. Mike married his lovely wife, Hayley, a few years ago and have a BEAUTIFUL little girl named Paige.

This past week Mike's little brother, Tom, got home from a mission to Arkansas - so Mike and Hayley were up from Corpus Cristi, TX to visit. Today there was a party at Mike's parents' house in Mud Lake and it was SO great to see all those Siddoways! They are such a fabulous family!

The first time I met Mike's family was when Nels and I were in the early stages of dating. We went out to Mud Lake for a little break from college life. We shot shotguns, watched "Bill Cosby - Himself", and met Mike's three youngest siblings and his parents. The triplets were only 15 at the time - Frank (Mike's dad) was sitting on the couch, spread eagle in his long johns - and Joan was so welcoming that it was like coming home - without being at home. :) Over more than 6 years Nels and I have had many wonderful days spent in the Siddoway home. Often with some form of service being rendered and being stuffed to the gills with really GOOD, old farm food (i.e. - lamb, steak, eggs, potatoes . . .). It's been fun to get to be a part of such a wonderful family! They've acted as a hotel at times and often a surrogate family - even inviting us to Thanksgiving dinner one year! :) We've since gotten to meet Wade (who was on a mission for the first two years of our knowing Mike) and his wonderful wife, Brianna.

Today we were fed and then got to spend the rest of the day surrounded by good friends - playing games, laughing, lighting fireworks, jumping on the trampoline, playing in the dirt, and watching caterpillars! :) As Nels and I were driving home tonight, we talked about this wonderful family. I have never been any other place in the world where I have felt more at home - other than actually being with our own families. I love these people! Thank you all SO much!

Okay, so here's the part of this post that actually has to do with my post title. :)


We were driving home tonight - a little after sunset. The weather had cooled to a nice comfortable temperature. The windows were down. As we drove through all the little farming communities on the way the smell of Russian Olives and fresh cut hay wafted around us. The wide, sprawling fields are still covered in beautiful green wheat. The kids were in the back - all sleeping - and we were listening to Coldplay



As we sped along, through the beautiful smells and beautiful sunset, we could feel the air cool as we passed each field with its center pivots watering away. The wild grasses are still green, thanks to all the rain this Spring, and the sage brush is still pretty this early in the year. It was a BEAUTIFUL evening!

In this moment it occurred to me, I LOVE IDAHO. Amazing, isn't it? Weird. Utah, with it majestic mountains, will ALWAYS feel like home. But I have come to truly love Idaho with its large, rolling farms, gorgeous sunsets, and down to earth people. I feel so thankful that the Lord has put us here at this time in our lives! What a blessing.

No, Mommy.

Today the girls and I made up a chore chart. The girls have been waiting for me to do this for quite a while and were really excited. (Lately when we do something "really fun" Hazel tells me that this is "the best day!" It's so funny to be making a chore chart or letting her help me make dinner or planting beans in our garden and hear her say that this is "the best day!" or her "favorite day ever!" I love that little girl!) So we had the "best" time making our chart. 

Later in the day we were working hard to finish all her tasks (like cleaning her room, taking dirty clothes to the laundry room, etc.) and once completed she got to put a sticker next to each one. We weren't able to finish ALL - as we didn't start until later in the day, so I told her tomorrow we could work hard and get them all done. We've made a deal that if the girls finish all the things on their chart (or maybe even all but one) they could get a nickel or dime that day. I reminded Hazel of this saying, " . . . then you could earn a money. And if you decide to save it, you could even get enough money to buy something ---- and you could pay your tithing." Hazel, "What's tithing?" Me, "Well, it's . . . maybe we could have a family home evening about it on Monday." (It was getting late by this point and sometimes conversations with Hazel can turn out REALLY long. :) She immediately stopped, turned to me and said, "No, Mommy! Tell me now." 

As I was thinking and smiling about this - it just reminded me how much I love this sweet little girl. Firstly because I know that she gets fed up with me putting her off - but secondly because it perfectly illustrates her curious personality. Hazel NEEDS TO KNOW. Everything. She has ALWAYS been full of the question "why?" and "how?" and "where?" and "if?" and "what happens when?" She NEEDS to know. It drives her nuts to not know something. She continually is doing little experiments - much to my chagrin (because they usually involve water, her hands - and by extension, the rest of her body - and either food or mud or some sort of writing device). I love seeing the way her mind works. My little Scientist.

Premier! Hooray!!!

For those of you in the area, Nels' movie is premiering tonight, but they are going to be showing it tomorrow as well. --- I believe at 8:00 -ish at the Rex. We (obviously) aren't going tonight, but we will be there tomorrow! :)

When It Rains, It Pours!

As has been said of me before, I'm kind of a feast or famine kind of gal. Bloggorhea or blogstipation. (Mostly, I think I just don't want to go to bed! :)

But I just wanted to say how much I love my husband. He works SO HARD. He is one of the most dedicated people I have ever met. I have been REPEATEDLY impressed with his dedication to this movie, for instance. There have been so many times when my resolve has weakened, I've tried to get him to slack, but he has just kept trudging along. 

I am also so impressed with the sacrifices that he is willing to make for our family. We have a lot of decisions to make right now --- HE has a lot of decisions to make right now. --- He is what a real Man and father should be. He is our hero --- Mine --- His girls'. He is willing to go out and slay the dragons everyday to allow me to stay at home with our children, to give us a warm and comfortable home to live in. To provide for our needs and wants. I love him so much. 

Growing up is an interesting transition. I'm not sure when it happens, but I remember being a teenager and realizing at some point that I didn't really WANT to grow up. It's nice to only really have to worry about you. (I think I was a very unconventional and selfish teenager) I remember looking ahead into the future and dreading the responsibility. I remember thinking that doing the same thing everyday would be so boring --- that it seemed a little like death! :) (Okay, I'm being a bit melodramatic, but I think you get the point.) I couldn't imagine my selfish wants being swallowed up in service and love for someone else.

I really like to listen to Dr. Laura ---- any of you who talk to me on any kind of regular basis know this (and that I really like Glenn Beck, but we'll save that for another day! :) --- and she is a huge advocate for waiting to get married until you are in your late twenties. That success rates in marriage are much higher -- yada, yada, yada. Well, I've spent lots of brainless hours in the monotony of my days thinking about this. Nels and I got married when I was only TWENTY years old. Nels was only 22! We were SO young and stupid. I owe the entire success of our relationship and our marriage to the Lord. We were both WAY to stupid and naive at that point in our lives to ACTUALLY know what we were getting into -- to know HOW to choose a partner that would be compatible. The Lord DEFINITELY had a hand in it. I could not have chosen someone who would fit me more perfectly than my Nels. He is my match in every way. --- BUT --- even "perfect" marriages fail. What makes the difference? Dr. Laura talks about how later in your twenties, you know more of who you are, more of what you want and where you're headed, and you have a firmer grasp of what and who will be best for you.

I've come to a lot of conclusions about what I think is the difference. About how two stupid kids could get married when they are barely adults themselves and be happy - and actually make it. The examples that we grew up with in our homes, our religion and views on marriage and the family, our own emotional maturity --- what have you. There are many and I'm not going to expound ------ BUT (and here's the point that this long disjointed post is getting to) I just want to say . . . everyone in the world can tell you that it's important to know who you are before you get married, to have an idea of where you're headed and what's important . . . (and it IS - to an extent) BUT it has been such a joy to find all of those things out WITH my husband. We have and are making that journey together. We are shaping who we are and how we view this world TOGETHER and that makes me so happy!

I've watched Nels repeatedly make sacrifices for our little family. And then I look at myself and see that in different ways, I do the same. The great thing is, that somehow it doesn't feel like a sacrifice. It just feels like joy. 

Sorry - it was late . . .

For those that can't make it to the viewing this Friday, Nels will be showing the movie LOTS of other times this summer throughout the area. And I'll try to get a copy to bring down to all you Utahns too! (You can also buy a copy, if you'd like! :)

And to darling Sara - I THOUGHT that you were from Hood River! Then I started to doubt myself! I'm glad that I was able to give you a little walk down memory lane.

And to JAKE AND SARA SCHMUTZ --- CONGRATULATIONS on your new little baby girl!!! I'm so excited for you guys!

Inconvenience

After more than two years of production, Nels is finally ready to unveil his masterpiece! For any of you in the area, they will be showing the movie, "Inconvenience", that Nels wrote, directed, edited, etc. at The Rex theater in Rexburg this Friday. I am super excited - as I have not even seen the finished product yet! :) This has been a long two years in some ways and I'm so happy for Nels and Brian to finally be able to show their movie to the masses! It is going to be wonderful and I am so proud of Nels for the dedication that he has given this project and for the amazing talents he has shown forth and been able to develop through the course of this movie.

Nels, I love you. You are truly amazing to me!

For any of you who have not yet seen the trailer, here is a link to it . . .



We would love to see you at the premier --- both to satisfy your curiosity and to show Nels and all the people who have worked so tirelessly on this project YOUR SUPPORT! :)

Inconvenience Website!!!

Home

Coming home after a long (even a short) trip is always an adjustment for some reason. It takes AT LEAST 3 days for me to get back into the swing of things, but this trip I've been determined to not let things get too out of hand while I'm recouping. So yesterday I unpacked all our bags and got them promptly put away. Dirty clothes to the laundry room, clean ones back in drawers.

As I was going through the girls' clothes, I came across an odd smell. Now, lots of things smell odd after they've been soaked in sea water, but Lilie's jacket was smelling particularly foul. :( Upon closer examination, I found the culprit.

Yes, Ladies and Gents. Those are crab claws. In a shell. In my daughter's pocket. LOL! What a funny girl!


And, lest I am ever too hard on my girls for collecting rocks from every rock pile (including most parking lots and gutters) they come across ---- I present my OWN collections from the beach. I just couldn't help myself! There were so many beautiful things!

AND my sweet little girls' lovely collection of
shells that made it home with us.

Oregon Part 4 - Leaving

I think Oregon has some of the prettiest beaches in all the world. It's usually cold, and the water is always freezing, but somehow the cold and the freezing are part of what makes these rocky shores beautiful. I'm always sad to leave the coast. I never feel quite like we had enough time together - but whether in this life or the next, someday I'm going to live near a beach like this.

What a way to travel! The girls watched movies and played x-box games the entire way home. (By the way, do you SEE what she's playing with!?? A BARBIE!? Hazel??? This is truly an accomplishment! And she's been carrying it around ever since we got home too!)

Nels and I loved this airport sign! This is what happens when you let the native Oregonian hippies hang the street signs! :) LOL! :)

On the way home, we stopped in the beautiful city of Hood River for a little break before we pushed on. I just have to say before we get to the pictures, that I AM AMAZING!

First off, I studied maps of Portland before we ever got there and I once there, I didn't get lost once. I drove straight to the zoo. Straight to our hotel. Straight to Levi's house. I didn't get lost once. I didn't need directions. I was VERY proud of myself.

Second. As we were coming up to Hood River, we decided it would be nice to take some time to stretch our legs and let the girls run around for a bit. It would be nice to find a park with a playground. So. We pulled off the exit. Drove into the main part of town. I thought, "Hmm. Where would they put a park?" Took the second right. Drove for a bit. Took a left at the crazy sign above. Drove up a hill. Took a right. AT THE PARK. I'm INCREDIBLE. I pulled into a city that I have never been to and drove STRAIGHT to a park. Complete with a playground. I am truly so impressed with myself.

Doesn't that sweet smile say it all!?
"I've been riding in a car all day long. I'm in heaven!"

Again. "I'm in Heaven!"

This park had a fun little stage at one end and the girls had a blast running back and forth, back and forth. I know that this picture is a little blown-out, but I just LOVE the funny little skippy-hop that they are doing here! :) LOL! I'm free! I'm FREE!

Oregon Part 3 - The Beach

Each year the next sibling in line takes their turn planning our annual Chick family reunion. It was Levi and Kadie's turn this year and they planned our wonderful trip on the coast. They found an AWESOME beach house - big enough for all 32 of us! - just across the highway from this beautiful, rocky beach! It was a cold and cloudy weekend (pretty typical for Oregon, right?) but it was still so wonderful! Thank you Levi and (especially) Kadie (we all know who REALLY plans things, don't we? ;) for putting so much time into making this so wonderful for us! I know it was a lot of work, but so fun!

Run, run, run Hazel!!! Those cold ocean waves are going to get you!!! :)

I told you they'd get you!!! :)
No matter how cold the weather and the
water, you cannot leave the beach without
being wet and covered in sand! :)

A beautiful starfish we found on the
beach at low-tide.

Lilie needs to save it!

Satisfied with her life-saving!

I told you, WET, covered with
sand and goosebumps!

What was that I said about a kid in
a candy store??? :) I LOVED the tide pools!

All the tide pools were filled with these beautiful green anemones and lots of orange and purple starfish. Some had an occasional little fish swimming around or some purple sea urchins and this one had the cutest little camoflagued crab - sitting right in the middle of this anemone.

Oregon Part 2 - The Aquarium

Friday morning we checked out of our hotel and headed over to Newport, on the coast. When I first learned that we were going to be going through Newport, I told the girls that we could go to the aquarium there! I was really excited and the girls kept reminding me about it. It wasn't until later that I realized we'd have to sell our children to pay the entrance fee - :) - but we wanted to go so bad that it was worth the price!

I LOVED these fish! They had the coolest shape and the brightest silver scales I have ever seen on a fish! This is me and Hazel in their little viewing area.

Sting ray and shark petting area. The rays would come right up and stick their soft little noses right up out of the water for you to pet! Heaven! :)

My sweet, happy girl and her daddy watch the puffins!

Petting the anemones, starfish, sea cucumbers, and other little creatures! :)

Beautiful girls!

Poor Nels. I think I ended up being a bit like a kid in a candy store this entire weekend. I was at least as excited as the girls at the aquarium and could have stayed for MANY more hours watching the fish.

Our Trip to Oregon - Part 1

After hours of driving, we returned from our WONDERFUL trip to the Oregon coast Monday at about 4:30 in the morning. We had the greatest time together as a family and it was fabulous to be able to spend the weekend with Nels's family. It's always so great to be able to see them all and have that time together building relationships and being friends. I cannot even express how grateful I am for having such fabulous in-laws. I love and respect them all so much. I know a lot of people who don't get along with their spouse's family and I thank the Lord every day that I married into such a great family. It is so fun to get to know each of them and every year when we get together I come away so happy to have them as part of my life and as a part of my children's lives! Thanks guys for always making me feel a part of the family!

SO - that being said, we'll get down to the pictures! :) I'm going to have to divide this into a couple different parts so that I don't have the longest post ever. So we'll start . . . at the beginning! :)

We got to Portland Thursday afternoon. We left Mnt. Home at about 4:30 am. I was genuinely concerned about the trip - especially with Elsie being so little and having to still face backward, but it actually was such a great time! We took only one REAL stop - and by the time we made it to Portland, we hadn't even had ONE meltdown!!!! Now THAT is news! It was a fabulous little trip and the drive into Portland was stunning. I say INTO Portland because most of the trip is actually very plain and desert-ish, but the drive from The Dalles down into Portland is GORGEOUS! I told Nels (the same way I did the last time we made this trip 5 years ago) that if we ever needed a new place to live, I would be just fine with living along the Columbia River in Oregon. I particularly liked the city of Hood River.

So back to my narration - :) - we made one pit-stop at the Bonneville Dam to have some lunch and change the girls out of their jammies. They had a wonderful visitor's center there with some really great windows under water where you could watch the fish (mostly salmon and sturgeon) swimming up the ladders to go around the dam. It was SO COOL! I did not know that salmon could get that big! Unfortunately we didn't get any pictures - but I would really love to stop there again! The girls loved it!

From there we finished our drive into Portland and went straight to the Portland Zoo. The zoo was great ----- we were really hot and really tired and it was really crowded ---- but it really was fun!

Sea lion working for his lunch! He was SO

persistent getting the fish and
squid out of this water jug!

Always love elephants! Elsie now
spits if you ask her what an elephant says! :)

Everyone kept commenting on how I had the girls all dressed the same! :) I don't think I really meant to, it was just so much easier to keep track of them (you know Elsie, always wandering away! ha ha!). It was much easier to just have to look for YELLOW!

After the zoo, we checked into our hotel and headed over to Nels' brother - Levi's - house. It was a lot of fun to see their new condo and to get to meet their new kids! (3 cute little pug-faced children who snort a lot and like to eat cheese! :) Their newest addition, Lola, is a sweet little 1 year old pug that LOVED the girls! She chased them all around (I think waiting for them to give her more potato chips!) and the girls giggled and giggled about all their funny little antics! :) Kadie (Levi's wonderful wife) didn't get to stick around for too long, as she had to go meet up with the dog-sitter, but Levi cooked us up some fantastic hamburgers and we had a great time taking a little breather after a long day in the car.

What a Fuddy-Duddy I've Been!

Sorry for all the boring posts lately! I haven't posted a picture in weeks! Wow! You'd think I'd be getting more done for all the time off I've taken from my dedicated blogging. I am truly sorry from the bottom of my heart! I vow to do better!

Life is GOOD!

Okay, I know that this is irrelevant information to most of you, but to me, it is SUCH good news! I've got great little surprises from my brother and his family in Illinois this past week. First of all, they are going to be moving back to Utah soon! I'm so excited!!!!!! They've been gone for over three years now and I'm excited to go back to being the farthest sibling away. And SECONDLY . . . wait for it . . . they're going to have their fourth baby!!! I'm SO EXCITED!!!! I've only even seen their newest addition once! Congrats Ben and Kelly!!! I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN!

A Portent Storm

Just a little food for thought.

Now this first clip, I really do find a little melodramatic, but I think some of the points that are made are important to our country.
Obama Video Portrait

Second link, am I the only one who finds this A LITTLE disturbing!?
Obama Changes the Presidential Seal


Lastly, my good friend Clancy posted this on her blog and I found it appropriate considering the political movements in our country today. She said that she believes this was a talk given to Congress in the '60s.


As I see the direction that our country is headed, I can't help but feel an overwhelming sadness - a sense of loss. I fear that we are headed in a direction that will never be able to be remedied. However, I hope that we will all stand up for freedom, regardless of the cost. I keep returning to the words in the Book of Mormon, written by Mormon, in the Book of Ether: " . . . whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."

Five K

Okay, in reference to my previous post on wanting to work out - my lovely sister emailed me this link and asked me if I wanted to train with her (virtually, of course) to run a 5K at our annual family reunion coming up in August.

I am TOTALLY going to do it and I just thought that I'd post the link, for anyone else interested in a great little regiment to get in shape. OF COURSE, this is easier if you can find yourself a buddy, but at the same time, having something that you're working toward can make it a lot easier, even if you only do it yourself! :)

5K Training

P.S. to Deanna - Are you interested in doing THIS with me?

Okay, here's the scoop!

First off, I must say - Melissa, you've got to give me more credit than that! (I'm referring to her comment on my previous post.) #1 - You are a stinker. #2 - You really think that it would take me a full week to read a book I really liked?! :) LOL! I got the book that day - started that night at about 9:30 and finished the next night at about 4 am! :) You silly thing! It would never take me a full week! :) ------ By the way, I LOVED the book. Most people I've talked to said that it took them a couple of chapters to really get into it, but I loved it from the get-go! I thought it was a fantastic book! I highly recommend it to all - and I don't think that you'll be disappointed. 

So after taking a full day off to read, the reason I haven't been blogging is because I've been playing catch up! :) Just kidding, that's not really true. Mostly I've been trying to get ready for our trip this week. We are leaving tomorrow afternoon to head over to Nels' parents' house in Mountain Home. From there we will be driving Thursday to Portland - staying the night - and then heading over to Yachats, OR - on the coast - where will get to spend 3 days playing with his family! We're really excited! The girls have really been looking forward to playing at the beach. I hope they're not too disappointed because I'm pretty sure it may be rainy and cloudy the entire time that we're there - but regardless, I know it will be fun! 

(Oh, and in reference to Wendie's comment about how good I do at keeping up my blog ---- the biggest reason that I love to blog is so I can feel connected to my family. Don't get me wrong - you FRIENDLY readers, I love you too - but with being far away from my sisters and brothers, it helps me feel like you all are more a part of our lives. :)

The Host

So I'm totally excited! My copy of "The Host" is coming today! It's "out for delivery" right now. So let's take a poll. Who liked it and why (and vice versa)? OR you could sign up for Goodreads and let me know there! :) ;) Either way, I think I'm really going to like this book!!!

You have GOT to be kidding me!

Just a little weather update for all you Easterners who are dying from heat. . .

It's snowing in Idaho Falls today. Sprinkling, really, and none of it is sticking --- but hey, it's the thought that counts! :( I have seriously not had a problem with the weather this year. You know, we live in the desert - we live in the Mountain West - it does this. I haven't been expecting warm weather and I have not been disappointed. But you know what? It's JUNE. It's SNOWING. Starting to have a little problem with this.

This can only end in SADNESS

I don't know why, but Elsie has an extreme fascination with toilets. If the bathroom door is left open, she beelines for it. She gets really angry with me when I try to stop her or divert her. Even if the toilet is closed, she tries to suck on the lid. SICK. Needless to say, I've taken to disinfecting my toilets OFTEN.

This fascination is going to lead to some serious tragedy - I know it. I try to keep the bathroom doors closed. But when you've got two older sisters that use the bathroom, leave the door open, leave the toilet open, and often don't flush . . . ((((sigh)))) I think I might throw up.

Serious takers ONLY.

Okay. A few months ago, I joined the local YMCA because I NEED to lose a little of my extra baby weight. Yeah. Well, I think I've only been a total of 2 times in the past 3 months. This is clearly not working. They have free baby-sitting set up, which is fabulous and the one of the main reasons why I joined. I can even take Elsie - which is great. Only thing is, I don't feel comfortable leaving Elsie when she's so little. She puts everything in her mouth and lately has developed some separation anxiety. So I don't want her sick or screaming the entire time I'm working out. So - ANSWER? - I COULD go in the morning before Nels leaves to work. This has been my plan all along. ---- But let's get real. That hasn't been working out so well either. - Not that I've been really sleeping in, but there are a lot of things that I'd like to be able to get done in the morning and this hasn't been one of them. 

SO. I've cancelled my membership and I'm going to just try to take the girls over to the park and walk about 2-3 miles a day. Hazel can ride her bike and Lilie bawling that she wants to get out and play is GREAT incentive to walk faster. Only thing is, I think I could really use a buddy. In the past I've had problems with this because my "buddies" have consistently flaked out on me. I drop by their house to pick them up when I've dragged myself out of bed at 6 in the morning and they come out to the car and say they're not going this morning! (LOL! You KNOW who you are! :) SO - if no one wants to commit to going walking with me about 3 to 5 days a week, that's fine and I understand, but I'd love to invite anyone who also wants to lose a little extra weight and have some HILARIOUS company to join me. I would (of course) prefer someone in the area (ha ha!) but I will even take virtual walking friends. I could even set up a separate blog to help keep track of our progress. 

Anywho - if you're interested, let me know. And if there is anyone out there who is one of my "closet" blog readers, you are welcome to join as well.

I LOVE to read!

My friend Christin just invited me to this fun website. If any of you are readers and would like to share any of the books that you've enjoyed - or even those that you haven't - click this link and "be my friend"! :) LOL! It's fun and I always like seeing what books my friends and family enjoy! I'm not very daring at the library. I have oft turned to tried and true instead of taking the chance of not liking something. I'm working on this. I'd love some of your recommendations!

http://www.goodreads.com/friend/i?i=LTM2MDU4ODc3MTc6MzU5%0A

Laundry Solutions

I just wanted to share a little tidbit of advice with anyone who has a habit of doing laundry --- like I do. Stick a load in, and then forget to switch it for 2 days. --- Or perhaps you are a fantastic laundry-woman, but occasionally your hubby decides he needs something washed, sticks a load in, dries it, and sticks another load in the washer --- unbeknownst to you, which then is not discovered until your next laundry day . . . Oh wait, that's STILL like me! Hmmm . . . Well, maybe you are the kind that religiously does ALL her laundry on Tuesday and Thursday - it all gets washed, folded, and put away - all in a 30 minute time period. :) There now maybe you are that person, your hubby NEVER does the laundry, and one day - during that 30 minute time frame --- your CAR BLOWS UP and you (for the first time ever) forget about the load in the washing machine. Okay - so now that this can apply to everyone - I'll give you the tip. :)

My mom told me that the only way she has found to get the mildew-y smell out of clothes (this is also helpful for things like dishrags) is to put a little bit of Pine-sol in the load. I've tried this - you only need a capful or two - and it works WONDERS! 

I just wanted to share. I know this is a problem for me occasionally. And this little tidbit has been very helpful!

New Babies!

Sorry to subject you all to my craziness - but I'm a biology lover at heart and I just can't contain myself. ----- What am I saying??? This is MY blog. I get to do what I want - you don't have to read it, if you don't want. I just wanted to post a little something that makes me SO happy! I'm so excited about this!



Aren't my babies cute!? I have to post these pictures because who knows how long they're going to last. They may or may not be gone in the next few days - as everyone else in the tank seems to think that they look like a tasty little snack, but maybe! :)


I know that the babies are pretty hard to see, as they are the EXACT color of the sand, but I think they are so fun! There are probably about 25 of them right now.


Also, I just want to say that one of my favorite things about living in Idaho is that we get some REALLY beautiful birds coming through our yard every once in a while. There have been a particularly beautiful pair that have been flitting through out backyard all day today. Here's a picture of what they look like. They are called Western Tanagers. I think they are SO pretty! (By the way, this is not a picture that I took. My batteries got all used up while taking pictures of my new babies! :)

I think the beauty of the world and animals around us is just SO amazing!!! I can't believe how perfect it all is. Birds are incredible to me! I LOVE the patterns that their feathers make! That fish can know how to instinctually know how to take care of their babies. It is amazing to me! --- Just reemphasizes to me that there is a God. --- And he has interest even in these small little animals! The order and perfection is INCREDIBLE.

So much for "Early to Bed . . . "

I really had high hopes tonight . . . :( Well. We started off the night with a bang. After having Family Home Evening - I needed to clean up Lilie's chinie - so I pulled off the bandaid and was greeted with this . . .

SO. I called my mother, the family nurse. Not only is her cut looking hideous, there is a lovely rash spreading across her face where the band-aid has been. She says she's probably just sensitive or allergic to whatever I've been using. So off to the store to get more medical supplies.

I was planning to come straight home and wake up Lilie, doctor her up, and send her back to bed. Instead I gabbed and cried at my mom for the next 2 hours - bless her heart. So, we wake up Lilie at 11:15 and doctor her up - bad choice. Lilie does not wake up well. So I doctor my sweet crying girl who, once back in bed, then proceeds to scratch at her new bandage, crying that it hurts. Get her up again. Clean it and try again. She then is just losing it and so to distract her from the crazies, I promise to sit and watch a movie with her for a while. I ask her if she'd like to watch "Nemo" --- NO. She wants to watch "Star Wars". --- I want to blow my brains out. Why are my children OBSESSED with STAR WARS??? Anyway. In the meantime, she finally falls asleep - but I need to make sure that she stays asleep without pulling her little bandage off --- so here I am. Not asleep. I think we're good now - still earlier than many other nights . . . :)

Two of my Favorite Smells

There are two of my favorite smells wafting through my kitchen this morning.

Fun Little Swimmers

This weekend we decided to take the girls swimming at one of the local hot springs. We had a great time - the girls just LOVE water and it's a lot more fun to take them when the water is 90+ degrees. The girls had such a great time running from one hot pool the other. I wish they had a nice swimming center here in town! (HEY! Any of you entrepreneurs out there!!! There is a GREAT business opportunity here!!!) This area is so family centered, I don't understand why they don't have more family activity-type places here. Hmmm. Anyway. We had a wonderful time!


Lilie made this very cute little drawing of R2D2 on the drive there. I thought it was cute.

And while we're talking about Lilie, check out her CHIN in this last picture!


Last week while Nels and I went to a movie, Lilie was apparently doing some sort of acrobatics on the tub and, of course, slipped and knocked herself on the chiny-chin-chin.
We took her to the doctor the next day to see if she needed stitches (for the second time in year). He said she would probably be fine without them but did decide to glue it up with some derma-bond. Well - we kind of forgot about it before we went swimming and it started to peel a bit. Then it must have started to itch because she scratched the rest of it off yesterday at church. Lovely. So now she is sporting this lovely little bandage with the hope that she doesn't end up with ANOTHER lovely scar on her pretty, little, happy face. :)

Oh, What a Beautiful Morning!

You know, one of the things that I have been diligently working on for the past 4 years is getting up earlier. It is amazing the amount of work that you can get completed in the morning! I can get more done between the hours of 7 to noon than I can the entire rest of the day combined. I don't know why this is . . . maybe the lighting in the morning is conducive to be being productive or maybe the mood in the home just works better, I don't know, but early to bed, early to rise works wonders for me in my life. This realization first occurred to me when Hazel was probably about 1. And I've been working hard on it since. For any of you that know me well at all, it's no big surprise that I'm a night-owl. I LOVE to stay up. I think I might even be addicted to it. :) But throughout my up times and down times, this truth has been reiterated to me time and time again.

Let me illustrate. This morning I got up at 6:45 from that time until about 9:45 I was able to complete the following:

GET READY for the DAY!!!

Clean the bedroom

Make the bed

Vacuum bedrooms and living room

Get Elsie ready for the day

Unload the dishwasher

Load the dishwasher

Clean the kitchen counters

Sweep floor

Clean the living room

Make breakfast

Make bread

Do a load of laundry

Clean the family room

Family scripture study and prayer

Put Elsie down for a nap

How fantastic is that??? What a great day.