14 Days

of LOVE.

I am not very good at challenges. I was somewhat guilted into this challenge! But, in the end, it was fun and my family loved it.

What was the challenge? It was 14 days of love. Showing love to your family and others for the first 14 days of February.

I am a bit deplete in the creativity department. My friend who gave out the challenge has a HUGE list of ideas, which were great, but she is much more talented and creative than I.

Here is a list of things I did:

1. made cookies after church(which is somewhat big for me considering I have to make 2 kinds and I always come home from church and want to do NOTHING).

2. made beds and left a chocolate on the pillow.

3. folded and put away everyones laundry

4. bought these cute mailboxes in Targets dollar section and left a treat in their mailbox

5. made breakfast

6. treat in mailbox

7. cleaned bedrooms

8. treat in mailbox

9. treat in mailbox

10. made beds with chocolate on pillow

11. made cupcakes

12. made everyone lunch

13. got special treats for movie night

14. made their beds and left a box of chocolates and a love note on their bed!

As you can see, A LOT of food. I don't think I really put treats in their mailboxes that many times, but I have already forgotten some of the things I did. And if you are wondering why breakfast and lunch are on the list, the only people I ever make breakfast and lunch for are Brynn and myself. Every breakfast and lunch around here are self serve!

My family enjoyed this, and next year I will be much more prepared and do a better job. I had several things I was going to do, but because of late nights and other things that got in the way they will be saved for next year! Thanks Les for the challenge!

1. challenge over

2. loving my family

3. school vacation

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day

1. Love

2. family

3. long school vacation

Another Happy Birthday

To My MOM!!!

My mom is a great lady. Everyone loves her. With as much as she visits us and does things with us, it was hard to find many pictures of her. I will do better about that!

My mom is one of the most caring, giving people I know.

She is patient and kind and never says a bad word about anyone.

She has been through a lot in her life

(my brother dying, my other brother not always obeying, her mom dying)

just to name a few and she continues to smile through it all.

Although I have her crying genes, so I know she is not always smiling, but even when she is crying there is usually a smile somewhere!

She is a great grandma, she loves to talk to my kids on the phone and will frequently call them on the computer so she can see them on the webcam. She enjoys being a grandma and she is good at it!

Happy Birthday MOM!

We love you!

1. my mom

2. birthdays

3. pictures

Missing Sleep

is usually something I don't like....

But on nights like last night, sometimes it is ok.

Brynn woke me up at 3:30 this morning with the croup, unable to breathe very well. It always freaks me out. I don't like it.

I initially took her to the bathroom and turned on the shower, then Todd came in and suggested that I take her outside first. We got our coats and wrapped up in a blanket and sat on the front porch enjoying the moonlight. In case you didn't know(if you were asleep)the moon was quite large and bright last night. We talked about the stars and the moon and then she asked why moms have fat legs!!! Loved that one!

We took her back to the bathroom and turned on the shower and sat in there for a while. She wanted to sleep in our bed, which is something I don't do. No kids in my bed when it is time to sleep! I told her that I would sit by her bed until she fell asleep. She then asked me to rub her face. I stopped a couple of times thinking she was asleep, and each time she asked me to keep rubbing it. The last time I told her that I would do it for a few more minutes but then I needed to go back to bed and she needed to go to sleep. After a few minutes I stopped and sat by her bed. Within a minute she said to me, "Mom, you better go back to bed, you'll be tired." I thought that was funny! How she knows me!!

I loved being able to hold her and comfort her when it was just the two of us.

1. funny things Brynn says

2. Brynn being able to breathe

3. the moon

Happy Birthday

to 2 great guys, who share the same day! One is still with us today,

This one we love from heaven.

Happy Birthday Dad and Jeff!!!

Update...

Marissa is doing fine after her adventure at school. Todd talked to the teacher today

(she was gone on Thurs. and Friday).

The witch trials are a part of the curriculum and the teacher was very nice and I am glad Todd was the one who talked to her. I tend to get emotional when I have to deal with things like that. Marissa's teacher offered to let her leave the room when they talk about the next thing coming up, which is the Revolutionary War. I don't think that will bother Marissa and I think the only reason the witch trials bothered her was because of how they were portrayed.

I talked to someone at church yesterday and he said that there were not 4 year olds executed, and that is what I think bothered Marissa the most.

She has slept every night since and I think she will be just fine!

Thanks for the concern. That post was the one I got the most comments on EVER!

As a side note, just used the new vacuum and the suction is fabulous! The only downfall so far is that the cord is short. I will have to use an extension cord because I like to be able to plug the vacuum into one plug and be able to do the whole floor!

1. bleach

2. understanding teacher

3. clean bathrooms

Aaahhh Behold.........

I LOVE vacuums.

I hate to walk on a floor with stuff on it(which is why I wear my slippers a lot).

I especially dislike it when they go out and die.

I got this little beauty on Saturday. Under $100 and on Consumer Reports top 10 list.

The kids said it works well, they used it Saturday while I was gone. They cleaned up quite a bit as a matter of fact. GREAT!!

1. new vacuums

2. clean

3. weather decent enough to crack the window and air out the bathrooms

Miffed

I am a bit miffed and not really sure what to do about it. The reason is this: In school yesterday, 3rd grade, Marissa's class was talking about the Salem Witch Trials. Not sure if that is 3rd grade curriculum or not. She came home from school telling me about it, then told her dad. She didn't understand how people could hang witches. Or that there were witches to begin with. We talked a bit with her about it and told her that those things did happen, but we didn't believe there are really witches out there. End of story~until bedtime.

We knew it was going to be a snow day today~just had a feeling, so I let the kids stay up a little later than normal to watch Biggest Loser with me. About 10:00 Marissa came into the family room sobbing. She was freaked out about school. We got more information. Apparently they watched a movie about the trials and the possessed witches. They showed them being possessed by a 'spirit'. The teacher WAS NOT in the room during most of this movie. They watched the movie and had a lesson about this, where they were told that girls as young as 4 were believed to be witches and were hung. This absolutely freaked Marissa out and she could not go to sleep last night. Finally we put her in our bed and Brandon was nice enough to sleep with her. She went to sleep about 10:30. Fast forward 2 hours and we hear her screaming and heading downstairs. We both get up and wonder what in the world is going on. She didn't really say anything to us and I think she was dreaming/sleepwalking. She doesn't remember this happening.

I am not sure what to do. Do I go to the teacher, find out what in the world she is teaching and if this is part of the curriculum, what in the world the people who make up the curriculum are thinking? Do I go to the principal?

I know Marissa was not the only one bothered by this. She told me several kids were upset by it. She also said that she wishes that they would have waited to teach this until she was older, like 4th grade! You are SO much older in 4th grade.

I feel I need to address this and not have Marissa address it. I am just not sure what to do because I don't want anyone being mad at her, she still has to go to school everyday.

1. snow day
2. the gospel
3. my kids

Wanted

A decent vacuum(one with a bag).

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

1. a broom

2. having some of my vacuuming done before old one died

3. hopefully being able to get a new one soon

Playing in the White House

By JENNA and BARBARA BUSH
Sasha and Malia, we were seven when our beloved grandfather was sworn in as the 41st President of the United States. We stood proudly on the platform, our tiny hands icicles, as we lived history. We listened intently to the words spoken on Inauguration Day service, duty, honor. But being seven, we didn't quite understand the gravity of the position our Grandfather was committing to. We watched as the bands marched by -- the red, white, and blue streamers welcoming us to a new role: the family members of a President.
We also first saw the White House through the innocent, optimistic eyes of children. We stood on the North Lawn gazing with wonder at her grand portico. The White House was alive with devoted and loving people, many of whom had worked in her halls for decades. Three of the White House ushers, Buddy, Ramsey, and "Smiley", greeted us when we stepped into her intimidating hallway. Their laughter and embraces made us feel welcome right away. Sasha and Malia, here is some advice to you from two sisters who have stood where you will stand and who have lived where you will live:

-- Surround yourself with loyal friends. They'll protect and calm you and join in on some of the fun, and appreciate the history.
-- If you're traveling with your parents over Halloween, don't let it stop you from doing what you would normally do. Dress up in some imaginative, elaborate costume (if you are like us a pack of Juicy Fruit and a Vampiress) and trick-or-treat down the plane aisle.
-- If you ever need a hug, go find Ramsey. If you want to talk football, look for Buddy. And, if you just need a smile, look for "Smiley."
-- And, a note on White House puppies--our sweet puppy Spot was nursed on the lawn of the White House. And then of course, there's Barney, who most recently bit a reporter. Cherish your animals because sometimes you'll need the quiet comfort that only animals can provide.
-- Slide down the banister of the solarium, go to T-ball games, have swimming parties, and play Sardines on the White House lawn. Have fun and enjoy your childhood in such a magical place to live and play.
-- When your dad throws out the first pitch for the Yankees, go to the game.
-- In fact, go to anything and everything you possibly can: the Kennedy Center for theater, State Dinners, Christmas parties (the White House staff party is our favorite!), museum openings, arrival ceremonies, and walks around the monuments. Just go. Four years goes by so fast, so absorb it all, enjoy it all!
For four years, we spent our childhood holidays and vacations in the historic house. We could almost feel the presence of all the great men and women who had lived here before us. When we played house, we sat behind the East sitting room's massive curtains as the light poured in illuminating her yellow walls. Our seven-year-old imaginations soared as we played in the enormous, beautiful rooms; our dreams, our games, as romantic as her surroundings. At night, the house sang us quiet songs through the chimneys as we fell asleep.

In late December, when snow blanketed the front lawn, all of our cousins overtook the White House. Thirteen children between the ages of two and 12 ran throughout her halls, energized by the crispness in the air and the spirit of the season. Every room smelled of pine; the entire house was adorned with thistle; garlands wound around every banister. We sat on her grand staircase and spied on the holiday dancing below. Hours were spent playing hide-and-go-seek. We used a stage in the grand ballroom to produce a play about Santa and his reindeer. We watched as the National Christmas Tree was lit and admired the chef as he put the final icing on the gingerbread house.
When it was time, we left the White House. We said our goodbyes to her and to Washington. We weren't sure if we would spend time among her historical walls again, or ever walk the National Mall, admiring the cherry blossoms that resembled puffs of cotton candy. But we did return. This time we were 18. The White House welcomed us back and there is no doubt that it is a magical place at any age.

I heard this letter read on the Today Show while I was on the treadmill the other day. I thought it was great. I wanted to share, in case I forgot it.

1. thoughtful people

2. letters

3. church

Temples

Let us be a temple-attending and a temple-loving people.

Let us hasten to the temple as frequently as time and means and personal circumstances allow. Let us go not only for our kindred dead, but let us also go for the personal blessing of temple worship, for the sanctity and safety which is provided within those hallowed and consecrated walls.

The temple is a place of beauty, it is a place of revelation, it is a place of peace.

It is the house of the Lord.

It is holy unto the Lord.

It should be holy unto us.

President Howard W. Hunter

Todd and I went to the Temple Friday night. We were on the 8 o'clock session. There were only 11 total people on the session. We are committing ourselves to attend more often. There is such a feeling of peace there. It is a place where the outside world cannot enter. I want to be a temple loving person.

1. temples

2. peace

3. prophets

Snowboarding

The boys have wanted to snowboard for a long time. They got little snowboards for Christmas several years ago, but we never had them learn how to actually go down the hill on the board. With Braden wanting so badly to play Lacrosse, and all of the games around here being on Sunday, we decided to get them involved with things that we can do on our time, not Sundays!

This is their first lesson at Wachusett Mountain. We bought them a 3 lesson pass which includes the lesson, rentals and lift pass for the rest of the day and then a pass for the rest of the season(after 4 pm). They were so excited that it didn't matter to them that it was 5 degrees!

1. excited kids

2. snow

3. coats

Music Lessons

Braden and Marissa started music lessons several weeks ago! They are both enjoying their lessons and they are even practicing every day!

Marissa is playing the piano
Braden is playing the guitar, he has wanted to play the guitar for years, but being the mean mom that I am, I made him take piano lessons first.

1. people willing to teach lessons
2. kids who want to learn music
3. being able to give our kids lessons

FACEBOOK

I have had it with Facebook.

All I hear about these days is Facebook. Facebook this facebook that. I found so and so on Facebook. Aren't you on Facebook. Read about this on Facebook. Don't you want to find people you went to school with on Facebook.

NO MORE!!!!!

People, if I wanted to be in touch with people I went to high school with, I wouldn't need Facebook to do it. I would have kept in touch with them throughout all these years.

Facebook is taking my blogging friends away and I am FED UP! I can take it NO MORE! I am hearing my blogging friends talk about it like it is the coolest thing ever and I won't stand for it.

If you are a blogger, I am begging with you to keep making your BLOG a priority. One of my favorite blogs to read is slowly dwindling due to this OTHER site. I have from sources that the writer of this blog spends more time on this site, which I shall now refer to as the OTHER site, than she does on her blog and now she is having a blogging block.

I can't take it. Please people, if you are a blogger and also participate in that OTHER site, please keep up your blog. It will be so much better in the long run. If you can't do that, please don't tell me you are spending time on the OTHER site.

For the love of pete, keep up your blog for your blog fans!

1. blogs

2. friends

3. fun

Going, going........

GONE!!!!

We put these couches on Craigslist on Saturday and within 15 minutes of putting them on, we had several emails about them. We had a family at our house giving us a deposit on them within 3 hours.

They came and picked them up last night and now we have an empty room(except the piano). the piano is staying. It is way to heavy to move.

Our plan is to get a dining room table because that room is meant for that!!

Now when people come over for dinner there will be somewhere to sit!!

Might have to have a party!

1. easy sells

2. new furniture

3. sunshine