Spent the time I was going to blog tonight rocking Kamri to sleep.

It was time well spent. I love that girl and watching her drift off to sleep, reminding me that even though she may act like a teenager at times, she is still little. In moments like tonight I wish she would always stay that way.

Growing up there were times I would spill something or get something out and not want to put it away and I would think to myself. If I leave it here, mom will do it.  And somehow *magically* the offending item would find it's place back where it belonged.


and now I'm the Mom.

So big apologies to  mom for all those messes I made growing up that I relied on you to clean up.

On a related note...Today I decided to clean out our hallway closet because I was tired of things falling out whenever I slid it open.  It now looks wonderfully organized and clean. Just a small problem, now the hallway is a mess. I feel like this is going to turn into a "If you give a mouse of cookie...." kind of story and I'll end up cleaning out the closet again after I've scrubbed the grout with a q-tip...

Simple Ramblings

 I taught our co-op preschool today.  All girls makes for some entertaining interactions. During free play Kamri repeatedly called out," mom!!" I would respond and be ignored,  Then I realized they were playing house. I taught about measurement today and we talked about empty, half full, and full.. We used water beads to fill the cups then they played with the beads for a little while after. Thanks to Heather for telling me about them, they were soo entertained and Hayes came home from kindergarten and played with a handful of them outside for 45 minutes.

This afternoon Hayes & Kamri wanted me to make them a felt turtle they saw in a book they got for Christmas. We got it put together right before I had to leave for a primary presidency meeting.  Their "help" made for slow going but it was fun having all of us home sitting around the table together. Bracken was working on a puzzle, the kids were cutting out felt, Lyla was babbling and I was sewing. A moment in life that was simple & good.

When Kamri & I got home from my primary presidency meeting Hayes had formed the B-U-S club. Hayes clarified not Bus but B-U-S.  Bracken still hadn't figured out what exactly the club was all about but Kamri went right into the room and they started having their B-U-S meeting.  Taking over the world already...


Hayes decided his turtle would be named Hayes.  Kamri & Hayes put Hayes to bed. Bracken walked in their bedroom and they both said SHHHH don't wake Hayes!! (and yet who woke Lyla up from her nap today by being too noisy?!) Guess you don't mess with a turtle's nap time.  Hayes also did not want to eat his carrots at dinner and decided that Hayes would do it for him.





My FLT: Lyla going "bah, bah, bah" babbling and Hayes responding "We have a baby sheep!!"

Goals for the year

I am calling them Goals for the year, instead of New Years Resolutions. Just trying to get around the anti- procrastination goal I set for myself a week ago!

I have been thinking about what I want to focus on this year and what achievable goals could help me with that. So I have a two physical (health) goal, a spiritual goal, and a strengthening my family goal.

First off for Family I want to be more consistent in having lessons for our Monday night family home evening. We do pretty well but that is all thanks to Bracken.  He is the one that comes up with lessons most of the time so now I'm going to help out. I want to have family home evening at least 39 times this year (averaging missing only once a month)

Second, since I help in our church's primary (children's classes), I miss the adult lessons. I'm going to try and study the lessons for Sunday School & Relief Society the week before the lesson. Even though I won't be in on the discussion at church, at least I will have read them.

Third, , for my physical health goal I'm going to try one new recipe a week.  Ideally, they would always be "healthy" recipes but I'm giving myself some leeway so if I'm just not in the mood a certain week I can go ahead and make that S'mores Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookie.¹ 

Fourth, I'm going to do a triathlon! I have wanted to do one for a long time and this is the year. I looked up triathlons and found one at Lake Mead on April 21st.  I've vacillated this whole week on if I should do it or not and finally pulled the trigger tonight and registered. The 750 meter swim will be a piece of cake, the 30 mile bike ride...a bit iffy, the 3.1 mile run will probably kill me.  Better get my running shoes on and start training!

Anyone want to join me? I'd love someone to do it with.

So there you go.  Hopefully doable and I'll probably report on here about the new recipes I've tried and how Family Home evening went in order to track my progress.  But no, I won't be posting pictures of me running.  Growing up my brother & his friend told me I looked like a frog when I ran....never really got over it...those jerks :)

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¹Brooke, I've been wanting to make these with you but forget every time I'm up in Cedar. One of these times it will be done.  My favorite snack, CCC and your favorite S'Mores. TOGETHER--It has to be amazing. (I decided a footnote was appropriate for this, given our father has such a love for them)

Read

I want to listen to Bracken talk about Iowa Caucus returns and read my book. Not blog.
So Goodnight :)


FLT: Hayes was laying on his blanket in bed. I asked him if he wanted me to cover him up.
"No Mom, if you cover me up then I have to make my bed in the morning. This way I don't have to make my bed in the morning."
Good enough logic for me.

Iowa Caucus Eve

Tuesday marks the first primary voting for the presidential election. Take the excitement of Hayes on Christmas morning...that is Bracken tonight. Well except his excitement is manifested in explaining his analysis of what the returns will look like instead of jumping off the walls. Bad analogy but just know he's excited. Only the beginning of a fun year of watching the run for presidential election.

Cousin Allie & Lyla

It's been one week and I haven't missed a day. A year will be easy peasy, right?

Today was a beautiful day! The weather was perfect, my kids aren't sick anymore, and we had visitors!

Just what I needed. This past week we've been cooped up more than I would like so it was nice to get outside, be social and enjoy the weather. Sorry to rub it in to all those who are dealing with cold & snow, maybe you should come visit! (hint, hint)

It also helps when your visitors are as beautiful & entertaining as Christine, Allie, Rachel & Kaylee.....and Parker, you're my brother so I can't call you beautiful... but it was really nice seeing ya!

Sunday

First day of 9 am church.  I love church at 9 am because the kids are happier during church and there is a possibility they will take naps after church.

Hayes starts negotiating on the way TO church about if he has to take a nap AFTER church.

If I have a good attitude, I don't have to take a rest, right?

We'll see bud.

I won't even whine or throw a fit all day.

and then after church on the way home it starts all over again. Today he won out and we decided he could skip a nap this Sunday.

We got home and ate lunch and it was decided that I had a bad attitude. I am like a little kid in that if I get tired I can just FEEL myself getting ornery. Bracken forgo taking a nap and stayed up with the non-napping kids.

So I took a nap.

for THREE Hours.

it was awesome.

and I had a much better attitude when I woke up. Thank you.

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Here is a quote I love...since it's Sunday

"It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude." -Ralph Waldo Emerson.

 When our kids get older I'm going to frame it by the door so they see it when they leave.

I also back posted about Thanksgiving today. You can read it here.