Walking on Sunshine

Today I received my anti-winter mix from the ever-so-talented Tiffany. Between that burst of sunshine, and the rays I caught while out with my kids today, it's been a good one. Yes, my family ate pancakes and bacon and pummelo for dinner tonight because I traded dinner planning for some outside time. I had to get out. I packed the kiddies in the double stroller and we walked for about an hour. I loved every minute. I think my body did too. Between the stress eating from August to January (aka, the unemployment), my typical holiday baking, and my winter sedentary lifestyle, I've gotten into some bad habits, gained back some of the weight I'd lost post-Sam, and I have a minimum of 15 to lose to get this body feeling better. I'm hoping for no more snow so I can get out there more often with the double stroller. Those kids are heavy in there- giving me some cardio and strength training, in my opinion. Hopefully within a few months I'll cross the walking threshold and be back to jogging. Don't worry, I haven't gone too crazy, though. I ate some Samoa's Girl Scout Cookie Ice Cream while typing. ;)

Putting off Life

Sadly, I postponed book club. I was hacking up a lung yesterday and decided I shouldn't have a house full of people until the sickies are gone. I can't wait to discuss the book though- I loved it when I read it a few months ago, and I'm excited to review it and talk about it- I think there's tons of material for a great discussion. As I just went back and linked to that post, I saw a comment on it that I missed the first time around- a note from the author of this book I mentioned. How fun is that? Blogging is such a crazy world- love how it connects people from all over the place!

So, the cough is still here, and I've been putting off doing everything I can, but last night I couldn't put off going to the doctor any longer. I sat in the instacare and was so happy to leave with a prescription for cough medicine with codeine. I slept last night, and it was great until Sam woke up at 5:30 because he was coughing. Ugh. Between the night-time meds and the recommended mucinex, I'm starting to feel better, just dang tired, but that could be due in part to my wake up call this morning.

There are some things I can't put off any longer. Pat is out of his whites. I'm tired of stepping on toys, so I really should pick them up. I'm still dealing with gross smelling fridge despite all of my scrubbing, so I think I may need to clean out the freezer to attempt to find the culprit. Time to go see what has to be done, and what I can put off for another day. Hope your week is flying by- tomorrow is Pat's Friday-hooray!

The recap

-We didn't make it to the pool on a few counts- we had to go swim suit shopping because both kiddies had outgrown their suits from last year. By the time we'd wrapped that up, we went to Wendy's to grab a quick bite and ended up in the drive through for over half an hour. It was not good. Sam needed to go to bed by the time we finished eating. Addie settled for coloring, ice cream, and watching part of Little Mermaid. Hopefully we'll hit the pool this Friday when Pat has off.
-Addie had so much fun partying it up Saturday. She fell asleep en route to her party Saturday evening, but luckily woke up from her short shuteye without too much of a nap hangover. After that party, we went to my Mom's and ate sandwiches from Kneader's. Mmm, my nights don't get much better.
-I think Sam is on his way to another ear infection. Which probably means we're on our way to tubes with child #2. At least we've been through it once with child #1, but still, not fun.
-We already got our tax refund! Seriously, less than 2 weeks after they were filed, both state and federal have made their way back into our pockets. Now we need to call and get estimates to fence our backyard so I can enjoy a little less worry in my outdoor time with my kids this summer.
-My lesson went well yesterday. My favorite quote from Joseph Smith in the lesson regarding the Book of Mormon "he who reads it oftenest will like it best." So true. I want to read it oftenest and like it best.

I'm off to try to reclaim my house after the weekend (it's amazing how it can go from clean to chaos in such a short time) and call the ped to see when I can bring Sam in. I also need to go buy The Book Thief so I can review it again before book club tomorrow night at my house. My memory is stellar these days. Monday, Monday.

In my Near Future (aka what my weekend holds)

Tonight we're not trading because Matt and Chrissy have family in town. Tomorrow Baby Bea turns 6! Which is even more strange because she was born just weeks before Pat and I got engaged. I went to the hospital dating her uncle knowing I'd most likely be her aunt. I couldn't be more proud of that gal- she's got a huge heart, a creative mind, and a strong sense of right and wrong. Six is so grown up! Addie will be attending her Lowe's mini-builder birthday party where she will be constructing a squirrel feeder. I can't wait to see her project when she gets home.

But back to tonight. There are huge snowflakes falling right now. We were planning to take the kids to the pool since Addie took her monthly nap today (due to the fact that she's been deciding to get up pre-6 am when Pat gets up -*so* not acceptable), but the snow is making me think the pool looks like no fun. We've promised something fun for tonight, so we'll see what else we can come up with. Maybe a trip to the library. Maybe dinner somewhere fun since I've yet to plan ahead, although I'm thinking a night at home with some soup sounds great to me. It sounds extra great since I keep semi-forgetting that I have to teach Relief Society this Sunday. Joseph Smith lesson 4 on the Book of Mormon- if you have any thoughts for me, please share. This lesson feels really random to me, and I'm having a hard time pulling a cohesive whole out of it.

Addie has another birthday party tomorrow afternoon for a little boy in the ward. They're going to My Gym and I'm sure it will be a blast. We've never done 2 birthday parties in one day, and I'm sure Addie will have serious letdown next week when the parties stop abruptly after she's had a party-filled day!

I ironed all my fabric this afternoon, and I think I've finally purchased everything I need to get started on the quilt. It was while ironing that I remembered the overwhelming need to work on my lesson. That makes crafting much less fun, so I hope to figure out this lesson ASAP and get back to the crafting groove I was just barely starting to get into.

Love a good weekend. Love this Friday afternoon time feeling the possibilities of it all. Hope your weekend is filled with a lot of happy things.

FYI

If, like me, you were unable to attend the Worldwide Leadership Training for whatever reasons, or if you just want to review what you've already seen, the archives are now available online here. I've watched the first two segments (love that you can download the whole thing or one part at a time if you don't always have a huge block of time to watch it all at once) and I can't wait to watch the next- hopefully during nap time today.

How Are You Really?

I thought I'd elaborate a little on the Saturday night session of stake conference because I didn't take notes but wanted to remember a few things from the meeting. Elder Pace was the visiting general authority, and he talked about a concept that I've recognized a lot but maybe haven't fully acknowledged before. He said to the audience that as is typical with many Utah stakes, "you look good on paper, but how are you really?". He discussed the fact that although we can be attending every meeting, and "doing" all of the things that we should, we may not "be" who we should. He pointed out that it's better to be good than to do good because there are a lot of do-gooders in the world, but maybe not as many people who truly are good. I've definitely had periods of my life where I've been doing good, but maybe haven't been good. He talked about getting to the point that he have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually (as referenced in the Book of Mormon) and said that because it happened to people in the Book of Mormon, it really can happen to us. He shared an example of a conversation he had with President Faust while traveling, and regarding whatever they were talking about President Faust said something to the effect of "I just don't care about all of that stuff anymore. I really only get excited about things of the gospel." This statement made me realize how far I really have to go. There are a lot of things that I still care about, or at least think I care about. And they're not necessarily bad things, but maybe they're not things that are better or best.

I love going to a meeting and leaving feeling resolve to be better, and that's exactly how I've felt- I can't just do better, I truly have to be better.

Excusing my Absence

I figure I'd better explain my absence from the blogging world for the past few days.

• Friday spent cleaning my house, getting my hair cut and colored, and then journeying to the airport to pick up Patrick. He is so happy to be home, and we're so happy to have him back. Just being in the same place again has been such a nice thing.
  
• Saturday morning trip to Costco (where I always forget a few items I needed) just in time to stay for lunch. Addie was so happy.
• A jaunt in the afternoon to IKEA with a friend. I came home with a lot more than I intended to buy when I left, but I made a few fun purchases, and it was nice to have a little break from home and a visit while shopping.
• Kicking Pat out to door to attend stake priesthood meeting (only for him to piece together during the meeting that it was actually priesthood leadership meeting and he didn't need to go) while I frantically ran to the grocery store to get something to make for dinner, cooked dinner, and bathed kids so we could be ready for the Saturday night session of stake conference.
  
• Immensely enjoyed the Saturday night session- I always seem to get so much more out of it when I don't have my kids with me. Elder Pace was the visiting authority because there was a stake division and realignment. We actually attended a stake conference that was not for our existing stake, but our ward along with 2 others from our old stake were annexed into this stake during the conference. I left feeling like I have a lot to work on- always kind of a mixed emotion with a resolve to do better, but a little disappointment that I really do have a lot to work on.
  
• Up and ready early to the 9 am session of Stake Conference Sunday morning. We went straight to the overflow building instead of attempting to go to the stake center- definitely a smart move.
• Everyone enjoyed a Sunday nap, except me because the cough decided to return. Not exactly the sort of visitor I was hoping to welcome back any time soon. I suppose today I'll need to go to the store since I've almost polished off another bottle of cough syrup. Pat asked me where the other bottles were, but he didn't realize I'd already finished those in his absence last week.
• Monday morning spent scrubbing down my fridge, taking everything out, throwing away stuff, and trying to get rid of the stink. Even after the scrub down, the odor still lingered. Add fresh baking soda to my list of things to get at the store.
  
• Monday afternoon heading to two different fabric stores to gather more supplies so I can get started on this. As soon as I get some pattern paper and iron my fabric, this party is getting started.
  
• Monday night visit to Pier 49 where the service has really gone down hill but the pizza is still fairly enjoyable (although I was wishing we had tried the new pizza place in Orem instead) and then family home evening.
  

That should bring things up to date a little around here. Hope I didn't bore you too much with the random happening around here. I've had a few thoughts stirring I'd like to blog about soon before I lose them, so don't worry, I'll be back.

Overflowing my Heart Today

My arms full of these two...
My head thinking about this one...

I can't wait until he gets home tomorrow night! Hope thoughts of loved ones overflowed your hearts today!

I'm in Love...

Today I received my first (and definitely not last) order from Sarah Jane Studios. I've seen her popping up everywhere among those who have their pulse on the children's market. Her art is gorgeous and right up my alley, and I've been trying to decide what to order since her debut this fall. Maybe I'm extra drawn to her stuff because her little girl, who also happens to be 3 I think, is also named Addie. And I also love good local talent, and she happens to be a Utah girl, too. When I saw her secret blog special (buy 2 get 1 free) I couldn't hold back any longer. I haven't asked Sarah Jane for permission to insert her images in my blog to show you what I ordered, so I'll just insert links instead to this (for my own curly girl), this (because who doesn't love a reader?), and this (because the sentiment and colors are just so me). The last print I think is the print of the month, and I think I could get away with leaving it up year round, but I'm awfully tempted to buy all of her monthly prints (as I'm sure a lot of others are as well) and then change them out monthly in one fun frame somewhere in my entryway. Definitely loving the idea of rotating seasonal art. I'm still debating, but since they debut monthly, it would help to spread the cost out... If you haven't already checked out Sarah Jane, you must've had your head in the sand for months. I highly recommend her!

Bouncing Back

Thank you for all the get-well wishes. I'm not at 100%, but I'm definitely making progress back to my old self. We're back to just cold-like symptoms with the flu-like stuff gone for (hopefully) good. My sister-in-law deserves the prize of the day. She called this morning to see if Addie could come play after my niece got home from kindergarten. She picked Addie up a little before 1, and I didn't see her until 7:45. She ended up staying all afternoon and eating dinner. What a great reprieve! It was such a nice break to rest some, clean up some, and have some one-on-one time with Sam since I really don't get alone time with him too much. We practiced walking, and that boy is inches away from his first steps. I kind of hope that he waits until Saturday!

Survival Mode

Pat was kind enough to share his sickies before leaving. I'm not doing so hot. In fact, right now my kids are at my in-laws so I could get more rest. I'm got the fever with large temperature swings of being sweaty or having the chills, the cough-til-you-barf, the runny nose, and some mad dashes to the bathroom. I slept for 11 hours last night and I just slept 3 more. Any plans for fun have been sidelined until the later part of the week when I'm hoping to no longer feel like death warmed over. Last night the kids had frozen pizza for dinner. My next trick will be to decide what they can have tonight that is still easy, but maybe not cheese based since I have it on good word they're having mac and cheese for lunch. If I'm quiet in the blogging world, you'll know that I'm probably in bed.

Leaving on a Jet Plane...

This morning Pat left for his week-long jaunt to New Jersey. We are not a couple who's used to being apart. I'm not a mom who is used to a traveling dad. My kids are not accustomed to not seeing their dad everyday.
Addie came in this morning for her morning cuddles and Pat was getting ready to go. She asked him if he was going to work, and he told her that he had to go on his trip. Her reply was "I don't want you to go on your trip because I very very love you, Dad." I couldn't hold back the tears. I know that probably seems so sappy, but to hear her verbalize what I was feeling was just so sad. I realized that although I've been focusing on how hard this will be for me to have him gone and not have the help that I'm used to, it will be equally hard for my kids to not have their dad around. I understand time and know when he's coming back- a concept they can't grasp yet. They just know that he's gone.
I'm trying to make plans to keep myself occupied while he's gone. I'd love to do some major house projects and have him return to a house so clean and organized he barely recognizes it. We'll see how much I accomplish, or if survival mode is the way it goes.
He hasn't been gone 2 hours yet and I already miss him terribly. Absence does make the heart grow fonder. It's going to be a long week.

Grown-Up Tastes

When I was young I had very particular tastes. Some may have called me picky. (Some being my mom, my dad, my grandparents, aunts and uncles, but who's counting?) As I have gotten older and more "mature" I've opened my eyes to many things I never would've dreamed of as a child.

• I love to wear turtlenecks. I wouldn't have been caught dead in a turtleneck until college, but then I realized my neck was cold and a turtleneck sweater was the perfect way to warm it up.
  
• I hated soup as a kid. I could never understand how liquid could constitute dinner and actually be filling or tasty. Now I make soup at least once a week, multiple varieties, and it's one of my favorite comfort foods.
  
• Another hate on my childhood hit list was squash. As an adult, I get serious cravings for it. Maybe I'm trying to make up for my lack of squash consumption early in life.
  
• I used to detest pink. I wanted nothing to do with anything I perceived to be too girly, frilly, lacey, ruffley, you get the picture. And while I do still appreciate an understated feminine dress as opposed to one decked out in frills and lace, I have decided that pink is not so bad. I may go so far as to say that I even like it. And I love dressing my own daughter in it (who luckily doesn't have too many opinions yet about what she wears). I've embraced femininity. Whod'a thunk?

I'd like to think that my tasted have improved as I've aged. I hope that they will continue to do so. In the mean time, I'm glad that I've been able to open myself up some as I attempt to raise less-picky children. Tonight they ate beef stew for dinner. As long as some days seem, I'm glad I'm not fighting battles over soup.

Pretty Little Things

I got a catalog in the mail today for a place that I'd spotted on-line once, but totally forgotten about. Serena and Lily has the most beautiful nursery bedding, and children's bedding, and gliders, and paint colors, and fabric, and on and on and on. I don't know that I'd ever spend what they want for bedding for a child, but oh it's fun to look and gain some inspiration. Yes, inspiration for my own children's half-done rooms. Kind of like every other half-done room in my house. I really wonder if any room will ever be all done...but I digress. Go check out all of the pretties at Serena and Lily. And then figure out how to DIY on the cheap. If I figure it out and get my own kid's rooms done, I'll let you know.

Almost Friday!

I know, I know- it's only Wednesday! You're thinking I'm such a tease, but just wait for it. With Pat's new 9-80 schedule, he has every other Friday off, so tomorrow is his Friday. :) I am ecstatic about it, although he came home feeling a little under the weather today, but he'd better buck up soon because I've already planned almost every minute of our long weekend! Our first fun-filled Friday off includes a trip to the car dealership for scheduled maintenance, a meeting with our tax man who will hopefully have great news for us, a trip to the pool in the afternoon for some family bonding, start packing Pat's bags for his upcoming trip, and our turn to watch the niece and nephew that night. Saturday morning we'll attend worldwide training, I'll do the visiting teaching report, and then we're off to Park City for the rest of the day to visit my aunt and uncle from Florida. I'm excited because this year my cousin is coming with his girlfriend, and we haven't seen each other since we were about 10 when my mom got in a fight with her sister at our Thanksgiving bash because she thought I should be allowed to wear make-up and my mom did not agree. Families can just be so crazy, you have to love them. They've made up since then, and my aunt has started coming to Park City annually (I think this is the 4th year?) to enjoy some snow and visit her Utah relatives. Hopefully the reunion with the cousin will not be too awkward.

Sunday morning Pat will be leaving for a week in New Jersey. Half of the team that he's on for his new job is there, and he needs to go meet them. Expect lots of crazy single-mom posts next week, because I can guarantee they'll be coming. But hopefully there will be some posts in between all of the fun the next few days. I do have to make it through Thursday first, you know.

Low-Down on the Blog Meet-Up

I'm so glad I went. I really needed time to feel like a grown-up, have a break from my kids (as much as I love them), get out of the house, and do something for myself. So just chatting with Hannah on our way was fun in and of itself, but getting to meet so many fun bloggers was really great icing on an already satisfying cake. Borrowed from Tiffany, here's a pic of all the blogging beauties.
For the record, Natalie is just as charming, fun, and fashionable as I thought she'd be! And I love that she was spreading the Target RGB love- totally trademark Natalie! Holly and Hayley were also fab and oh so funny, and I really wanted to kiss on that baby Will who had serious kisser cheeks, but didn't want to freak Holly out, so I refrained. Tiburon was also all kinds of fun- I think she has me starting to feel some motivation via her Biggest Loser challenges she's organized, but until the cheesecake from my MIL is no longer in the fridge, my willpower just isn't fully there. Kami was totally adorable- what a cute girl! I wish I would've gotten a chance to talk to everyone there! We should have played musical chairs half way through to mix it up a little. Thanks everyone for the fun night out! I needed it :)

Blog Makeover

The title of this post could also be "Hannah Rocks My World." I owe her a huge thanks for the cutest blog banner of the century. And let me add, not only did she make one banner, but two! So when I feel like changing it up a bit, I have another banner waiting in the wings. This girl has got skills, I tell you. Thanks to Hannah for your blog magic. I surely needed it!

Please Come Home Happy

I've still been raunchy raunchy lately. My family gets the brunt of it. And I really really hate that I've been like this, because those who know me well know that this really isn't me. So luckily, Hannah helped me get out of my stay-in-pajamas-and-be-raunchy mode. We met up with Natalie and a whole slew of other bloggers. And it was tons o' fun. Pat instructed me to please come home happy. And I did. I'll write more about the big bloggin' meet up tomorrow. But since I came home happy, maybe I'll spend some time with my husband so we can benefit in the happy me- he hasn't seen this side of me for about a week!