On the hunt

Most of my good friends and family know that I am not a shopper. I would almost always rather do something else. When I do go shopping...it is with something in mind, and I go for that purpose and I'm outta there. My bestest girlfriend in the whole wide world is the exact opposite of me. She shops whenver she can; she has even been known to shop in the middle of the night when she gets insomnia.

The really positive part of it is she can be on the lookout for things that I need, and be my eyes so I don't have to be in the store! It works great when I am in need of something for the boys or the Chief. Doesn't work so great when I'm search for me!

So, I'm on the hunt...

I need a new purse. It needs to be big enough to carry everything that I tote around, but still be small enough to not look like a backpack. Here are some I'm considering. See, I shop online, and then usually head to a store to find it so I can check it out. Any suggestions that might help keep me from spending too much time inside a store? I'd love to hear them!

Lucky 13!

It's 9.27.10! Our Anniversary! A celebration of a marriage, filled with laughter, some tears, lots of affection, lots of laundry! It has been hard work, but like most things, the hard work has paid off with strong feelings of connection, accomplishment, and adoration.

The traditional gift for the 13th anniversary is lace. I guess I should have got some new lace lingerie. But we agreed to no gifts outside of our night away complete with a yummy dinner! We went to the Anniversary Inn, and stayed in the Romeo and Juliett room. It was our first time in this room, but I loved it. I found it tasteful and not cheesy! I loved the design of having the bed upstairs (in the balcony) with a downstairs sitting area and bathtub/waterfall shower. I am an early riser. Even on vacation, my body still wakes me up early. Thus, I could go downstairs, soak in the tub, read, even watch tv from the tub if I wanted, and not disturb the Chief, who I wanted to give the luxury of sleeping in. I did spend an hour downstairs from 6 to 7 a.m. and then decided to return to bed, and miracle of miracles, I slept again til 9 a.m. That is the latest I've slept in in forever!

Our nephew, Quin, came and stayed with the boys and the dogs. The boys thought it was a treat for them as he is a ton of fun! It really was a fantastic way to spend the weekend, with the love of my life! Today, for the "real" anniversary...it is business as usual...and that's okay...it's what our life is about...having a fun family home evening, and being together with these three great boys!

Love you honey, with my whole heart, fur immer und evigkeit!



The Chief and I on the steps at the R&J Suite

Our Swan Towels

Just a couple of kids in love!



My guy!

As I previously mentioned, we are celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary this month. We try to celebrate it for a whole week, it will be 154 months together on 9/27. That's OUR day!

The Chief still loves to have fun, even at the ripe ol' age of 44. Here he is in a go-kart race at the Incredible Pizza. We took the boys there with some friends to celebrate Back to School, but I think that the Chief had more fun, or at least as much fun, as the boys. Okay, I liked it too...especially the mini bowling!

We try to celebrate our marriage with some time in the temple, and then a night away. This year, we're going to the Anniversary Inn. My nephew, Quin, is coming to stay with the boys and the dogs. He is in for some real fun!

Chief, I love you more today than the day we wed. You brighten my world in so many ways! You are a wonderful, joyful father, who our boys can look up to. Thank you for being you!

love,

g

Lucky 13

One week til the Chief and I celebrate our anniversary! i really love that man!

The Secret of a good nights' sleep

After my insomnia bout the other night, I decided I would strip the bed after work yesterday, and wash the sheets with my fave lavendar detergent, and then hang them out back to dry naturally.

This typically creates the recipe for a perfect nights' sleep. I was so excited to sink into those sheets last night, and breathe deeply.

So, that's what I would say is the secret....as long as you don't have a kid or two slip into the bed too. I guess they thought my bed was the place to be because at this hour, I have three people in my bed...and one of them isn't me!I also had my large chocolate lab breathing in my face a few times, and then licking my arm, hand, and face too! Guess he was liking the fresh smelling sheets too, and wanted to get in. No such luck for him! 

Oh, the elusive sleep, I seek it here, I seek it there, I seek it everywhere!

Counting sheep

Recently, my 4 year old has begun coming into our room sometime in the night, and climbing into our bed, and sleeping between the Chief and I. I don't notice when he comes until he kicks me in the back, or bum, or worse, the face. Then, I tend to push him toward the Chief, and put the body pillow (love that thing) between Seth and I, as protective armor.

For whatever reason, two nights ago, I woke up at 2:28 (I don't know why I remember those mundane details in the middle of the night but I do!) to hear Seth crying outside our door. I got up, opened the door, and he then climbed in bed, and went back to sleep. I decided to use the bathroom since I was up already. By the time I got back about 2 minutes later, Seth was fast asleep, taking up 2/3 of the bed. The Chief had about 1/4 of the bed, so it left me about exactly 2.5 inches of the edge! I tried to gently manuvere him closer to the chief and into a more vertical position, rather than spread over the majority of the bed, but to no avail. So, by now it is 2:38 and I'm completely awake. I lay there another 10 minutes and decide that it was ridiculous to lay there on the edge of falling off the bed, completely awake. I got up and went out to the family room. What to do? Hmmmm....

If I were my bestest friend, I'd get dressed and head to Wally World, which she loves to frequent during insomnia filled nights. Me, I'm a home girl, and don't like venturing out at 2:30 in the morning. So, I went surfing. And I found an amazing blog called the mom. Check it out...she will make you laugh, and cry, and remind you why being a mom is such a wonderful thing.

Finally at 3:40, I decided I better get myself back in bed, as my long day ahead wasn't going to allow for sleepiness induced crankiness. So, I went to the guest room, and enjoyed counting sleep, til before I knew it, the Chief and Setheroo were waking me with kisses, to say good-bye as they headed out the door. I went back to my bed, reset the alarm clock for another 20 minutes and enjoyed having the bed all to myself.

Our Sunday, a day of rest and relaxation

This day was just wonderful...the way that I wish every Sunday could be. We got up on time, and the morning wasn't stressful. Went to church, and enjoyed the meetings. Then home with the boys, and I made a deal with them if they helped clean up the house, I would make Peach Cobbler for them. That was a winning deal! My house got clean and we all enjoyed cobbler for dessert!

We spent the afternoon, hanging together, we relaxed, played Mario Cart together, played a new card game that McKay taught us, and had a really yummy dinner of lasagna, with rolls and green beans (and later the cobbler for dessert!)

The boys all went to bed on time, with their lunches made for tomorrow and their clothes laid out! Just a wonderful fall day...hope we have lots of Sundays like today.

Now, to go to bed....Nighty Night

The Flag waves

In memory of all those who lost their lives on that day, 9 years ago, and for all those who fight for our freedom each and every day.

God Bless the United States of America

New a good read?

I just finished Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins. The third book in the 3 part series! It was so hard to put it down to go to work...so if you haven't heard of The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, or Mockingjay you may want to reserve a copy for yourself at the library. They were a quick, entertaining read! The heroine, Katniss Everdeen, will leave you cheering her on, and you may join Team Peeta too after reading these books. Don't ask me if they compare to Twilight, because they are not even in the same league...so much better written and a better story all around! There are no vampires or werewolves, but there are mutts and Avoxs and jacker trackers if you need some science fictiony stuff!

Don't blame me if you lose sleep though!

"Is it tomorrow?"

This has become Seth's question of the day! We talk about what is coming up the next day when we're getting ready for bed. (It is a tactic I use to help him go to sleep...think of all the fun we'll have tomorrow, so you best get to sleep now!)

So, my cute boy, asks almost daily, "Is it tomorrow?" So cute! Cracks me up! Here he is hanging at a football game with his best buddy, AJ. I absolutely love to eavesdrop on these two. They say the funniest things!

Scoooooooorrrrrrrrrrrre!

This has been the weekend of sporting events! After going to Noah's first football game on Saturday morning, which they won 26-0, we went to see the Real Salt Lake Soccer team play. The Chief had won 4 tickets at work, and so we took Noah and Seth with us, as McKay had no interest in going.


We had so much fun before the game collecting free things from carnival like games the kids could play.

They wear the KFC buckets on their head as some kind of "go team" tradition! The boys loved it!

We had amazing seats, out of the sun, and could see the field and players so well.

The Real won the game against the NY Red Bull 1-0. Unfortunately, we had to leave early because of these two family members who didn't follow house rules!

Somehow the gate got opened (I'm thinking neighbor boys who wanted to use our trampoline) and Moose and Penny decided they would take a gaunt around the neighborhood. Their leaving upset McKay so much that he was freaking out. He went out and called for them, but didn't feel comfortable going out and looking for them as it was dark, and after 8 p.m. So, we packed it in, and headed home (a good 25 minute drive after the 10 minute walk to the car). We called a couple of neighbors to help McKay in his search. And then another unknown neighbor (McKay was too distraught and grateful to ask) brought the runaways home. It was certainly a drama filled evening!

Overall, it was a winning weekend though! Let's see...Noah's team won, the BYU football beat the Washington Huskies in their season opener, and then the REAL beat NY! So, we're all happy we got to do and see so many wins this weekend!

So it begins...

Game Day is here. Our little man will be starting as a Tight End for the offense of his
Gremlin Team. He didn't make it to practice on Thursday due to feeling under the weather, and there wasn't any practice today, so he is itching to get back on the field. After a month of playing football 6 days/week it is tough for him to miss two days in a row.

We tried to make it up to him by taking him to the High School game last night. Unfortunately, our team lost in the last 2 minutes. It was an exciting game though!

Let's hope it goes well today! Here's to fun, safety, and a few touchdowns too!

Searching for my appliance fairy!

I need an appliance fairy really badly. It has been a bad week at our house for appliance. Our 14 month old Bosch washer broke this last weekend, and although we have an extended warranty from Lowe's, they still have not been able to get someone out here to fix it. The earliest they can get someone out here is Wednesday next week...isn't that ridiculous? I'm definitely disappointed in Lowe's extended protection program and their lack of customer service.

And then our dishwasher, which has been dying slowing the past year, is really about to give up the ghost. It is definitely rebelling against doing it's duty. This past weekend, it refused to allow the door to be shut. Finally the Chief forced it back into servitude and saved me from washing the dishes by hand. I know it is only a matter of time before that will be the case.

And then the bathroom sink in the basement began leaking and flooded the bottom of the cabinet before we discovered it. The Chief will be fixing it this weekend (hopefully).

So, you can see why an appliance fairy would be very welcome in my home. Let's hope that nothing else decides to quit doing its job.

Just in case you need directions, fairy, my house is the second one on the left! Please come soon!