10 Years together

Yesterday Travis and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary. I've been thinking a lot our wedding. Hindsight is 20/20, right? If I were to do it all again, there are several things I think I'd change.

I wouldn't insist on all of my sisters and sister-in-laws and friends wearing those awful navy blue dresses.
I would relax and enjoy the day more, and stress about all the little details less.
I would let people help more, and not be such a crazy control freak.
I would let people know just how much I appreciated their help and support - especially my sisters. And my dad. And my wonderful in-laws. And Holly. Have I told you all how much having you there meant to me?

But, there are many things I wouldn't change.
I wouldn't change marrying Travis. I can't imagine a better match for me.
I wouldn't change getting married in the temple.
I wouldn't change spending the day surrounded by my wonderful family and friends.

Conversation with Jared

(I bet you'll never guess what book we've been reading at bed time...)

Jared: Mama, how much do you love me?
Me: I love you to the moon and back.
Jared: Well, I love you from the earth to the moon to the stars and back.
Me: I love you a million-million times over.
Jared: I love you a million times more than that.
Me: I love you more than chocolate.
Jared (after a really long pause): Wow! You must love me an awful lot.

I sure love this kid!

Travis is officially a CPA

It has been a long road, but his official license came in the mail yesterday. We are all so proud of his hard work and perseverance.

Spring Break 2011 - Friday

On Friday, we packed another picnic and went to the Williams Water Wall. It's near Travis's work, so he was able to join us for lunch. The weather was gorgeous, and it was fun to go with some friends. The kids loved running around on the grass and getting splashed by the fountain. And the best part? I drove there and back, and only got lost a little bit. That is something to be proud of!

Spring Break 2011 - Monday

The first day of Spring Break just happened to be Pi Day (March 13, better known as 4.13). We had a great time celebrating with the Thomas's. Jen made a fabulously yummy chicken potpie, and I bought an apple pie. Travis wanted to make a square pie (why square? because π R squared. Hahahaha! I'm so funny, I know!) but didn't have time.

After dinner, for FHE, we experimented with circles. We measured the circumference and diameter of different round objects with yarn, and then figured out who was able to get closest to pi.

Monday also brought my new laptop (I didn't expect it until Wednesday, so that was a GREAT surprise) so I didn't get much else done. We started deep cleaning Megan's bedroom. We were going to plant flowers but we got a Texas sized rainstorm, so we postponed that until later in the week.

Spring Break 2011 - Tuesday

On Tuesday, we did some more spring cleaning, and went to Ritters with Jen and her boys. For dinner, Travis made breakfast for himself, Jared, and I, while Megan went to a semi-sleepover at her friend's house.

What is a semi-sleepover, you ask? The girls all showed up at 6 pm in their jammies for dinner, games, crafts, manicures and pedicures, and face painting. And they all went home at about 10 pm. How great is that? I think that's a sleepover-ish evening that I could handle. Megan had a fantastic time.

While Megan was at her party, Travis, Jared, and I went and got haircuts. I wasn't planning to get mine cut, but I'm really pleased with how it turned out. It was time for a change.

After haircuts, we went back to Ritters. Travis was sad that he had missed out earlier, and you can never have too much of a good thing, right? Jared had his first sundae - chocolate ice cream, with banana slices, whipped cream, sprinkles, and a cherry.

Spring Breat 2011 - Wednesday

On Wednesday we went to Mom and Me play group at the park. It was a little different, having all of the older kids there. A lot more running around, a lot more monkey bar use. The kids all played really well together and let the moms visit (that's what play group is for, after all, right?).

After the park, we went to Home Depot and bought flowers. Megan talked me into buying a rosebush, which seems like a lot of work, but hopefully we can keep it alive for a while. We also bought a gardenia bush, a million marigolds, a couple of snapdragons, and some herbs. I'm hoping the kids have green thumbs and that they'll counterbalance my black thumb.

Wednesday evening we planted the flowers. It was fun to see the kids get so excited about the whole process.

Spring Break 2011 - Thursday

In a moment of utter insanity, I thought it would be a good idea to go to the beach. With both kids. Without Travis. While 7 1/2 months pregnant. Actually, it turned out really well. Several friends and their kids went with us and everyone had a great time.

We drove to Galveston and went to one of the little Pocket Parks there. There weren't very many people, but there were a lot of jelly fish (actually, we found out later that they were Portuguese Man o' War, but it amounts to the same thing). Nobody got stung, and they weren't too bothersome.

The kids had a wonderful time playing in the waves, searching for seashells, and digging in the sand. Megan and her friends invented a new game - Wave Jumping. They also had fun pretending to be mermaids.

Everybody Chant: Ritters, Ritters, Ritters!

How can you go wrong with great friends and great ice cream? What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

Top Ten Tuesday: Mother's Bill of Rights

Now that my kids are getting a little older, and are better able to understand what I'm talking about, I've decided that I deserve a Mother's Bill of Rights, a list of rights and privileges that I think every mother deserves. You'd think some of these would be obvious, but apparently they aren't.

1. I have the right to go to the bathroom by my self. Unless you are bleeding and on fire at the same time, whatever you need can wait for two minutes.
2. I have the right to finish ONE thing without interruption every day. It might be folding a batch of laundry, writing an email, or making a phone call. One thing. Every day.
3. I have the right to be spoken to without rolling your eyes at me. Even if you want to. Do it mentally if you must, but don't do it where I have to see it.
4. I have the right to see the notes your friends pass you at school. And to read the emails you send and receive. And to listen in on your phone calls. And to limit the websites/TV shows you view and the amount of time you spend on the computer and watching TV.
5. I have the right to expect you to make your bed and put your laundry in the hamper. And to brush your teeth. It's a lot to ask, I know.
6. I have the right to send you outside to play.
7. I have the right to eat my dinner (at least the first serving) while it is still relatively warm. I will be happy to get you seconds after I have eaten my first.
8. I have the right to as many hugs and kisses and tickles as I can squeeze in to our day. 
9. I have the right to still sing to you at bed time. Even if you think you're too old.
10. I have the right to have mixed feelings about how quickly you are growing up. Part of me wants you to hurry and get big, and part of me wishes you would stay little forever.

What I'm Thinking About Wednesday

Sister Morris shared this quote on Sunday:

"The church is not a place where perfect people gather to say perfect things, or have perfect thoughts, or have perfect feelings. The Church is a place where imperfect people gather to provide encouragement, support, and service to each other as we press on in our journey to return to our Heavenly Father."
— Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

What a comforting thought. The church isn't for perfect people. The gospel isn't for perfect people. It's for people just like me, who screw up sometimes. People who fall short. Who have typos on their handouts, who tell people the wrong times for activities. Who unthinkingly and unintentionally offend other people. Who procrastinate. Who are lazy. Who are careless and forgetful and impatient. Who struggle with their faith, with their testimony, with their relationships. Who complain.

Even with all of this, the Lord still loves me. And I can still contribute. It's not an excuse to be lazy, to remain where I am right now. It's the courage to stand up after I fail and fall and to try again.

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Things That Make Me Happy This Morning

 Just a random list of 10 things that are putting a smile on my face today:

1. Kneeling and saying family prayer together.
2. www.Pandora.com
3. It's a school day. I LOVE spending time with my kids, but I love school days too.
4. The GORGEOUS weather we are having
5. My clean kitchen this morning (thanks, Flylady!)
6. A hot shower, clean towels, and comfortable yet cute maternity clothes.
7. Talking to my sisters and friends on the phone.
8. Getting emails from students at www.scrapgirls.com and knowing the answers!
9. Feeling my baby move.
10. Bagels and cream cheese and fresh strawberries.

Williams Waterwall

A few weeks ago, we went to see Travis's new office, and then we went to see the waterwall. It was really cool.

The kids thought it was neat, but it was kind of chilly that day, so we didn't stay up close to the water for too long. We had fun running around on the grassy green in front of the water wall, and then Travis and the kids played hide and seek in the trees.

What a great day!

Sweet Sabath

In January, our ward switched to 1 pm (for those of you who don't speak Mormon-ise, a ward is the congregation you are assigned to, based on location. Often, 2 or 3 wards attend church in the same building, rotating schedules each year. Our meeting blocks are 3 hours long, so if we start at 1 pm, we aren't done until 4, and don't usually get home until 4:30 or later). In years past, I have DREADED the 1 pm schedule because it's so late, interferes with naptime, etc. But I am LOVING it this year. It helps that currently we don't have anyone (besides me, lol) who takes a nap every day. I love having the the long mornings to spend time as a family. We have decided to not watch any regular TV, but we do watch the Tabernacle Choir broadcast on BYU TV and listen to other uplifting music. The kids play quietly or read, or help Travis cook. It's just a slower paced time, that feels different from any other day of the week.

Two Sundays ago, Travis and Megan prepped Shepherd's Pie before church so that it would be ready to bake as soon as we walked in the door. It was so fun watching them cook together. Megan learned a LOT about garlic before they were done since she got to peel it all.

Online Class at Scrap Girls!

Online Class - The Secret Life of Embellishments
Tuesdays, March 22 and 29, 7:00 PM MT

Did you know that embellishments have secret super powers? They are capable of so much more than just looking pretty. In this digital scrapbooking class, we'll be learning how they can tie a color scheme together, establish the flow of a layout, and create a focal point. 

You can get more information or sign up for the class HERE at Scrap Girls.

It's good to say YES!

Sometimes I find myself saying "No" so often, it feels like I'm parenting on autopilot. I say no without even thinking about things. "No you can't have that." "No you can't do that." "No you can't go there." But I've been consciously trying to say "Yes" more often. Or at least to say "Let me think about it."

One of the kids in Jared's preschool class brings a Lunchable everyday for lunch. Jared has been begging for me to buy them for him for months. I've been saying No for months. Today as we drove home from the park, he asked me again. And I almost said No. But instead, I explained to him that Lunchables were more money than I wanted to spend. But that maybe we could find a compromise.

For lunch today, instead of a turkey and cheese sandwich and a banana, Jared and I made a homemade Lunchable. We traded a piece of wheat bread for a stack of crackers. We cut the sliced turkey out with a biscuit cutter (Jared ate the scraps while we put it all together, so there wasn't even any waste!). We cut the cheese into squares. And we put it all into a plastic box instead of on a plate. We decided that our Lunchables came with a banana and chocolate milk. The whole thing took no more time than his usual lunch, and he was grinning from ear to ear the whole time. He ate every scrap. And I feel great.

I wonder what else I can say "Yes" to today.

March's Resolution

The days just seem to fly by. I can't believe that February is over all ready! Things are still going pretty good with my 2011 resolution to keep monthly resolutions.

For March, my plan is to:

Keep up my scripture reading challenge that I started in February. I did better in February than I have done in the past, but not as good as I expect of myself, so I've taking the challenge for another month. I think what I was lacking last month was structure. This month, I am going to try reading for 15 - 20 minutes in the morning before getting Megan up in the morning. This will be a HUGE challenge for me since I am so not a morning person. Travis usually leaves around 6:20, and I don't get Megan up until 6:45, so I should be able to read consistently during that time. We'll see how it goes.

My other goal for this month is to make a conscious effort for both me and the kids to remember the difference between treats and snacks. To serve snacks when we are hungry, and treats more sparingly. I'm not saying that we won't have treats, but I think by making conscious decisions, we'll make healthier choices.

Wish me luck!

Just so you know, my goal from January - to keep my sink bright and shiny is still going strong.