5000 words

tag again

I've been tagged by at least 2 people on this one, so I guess I better do it. Although, I did do 100 things a while ago, so I'll try to choose different ones.

7 quirks or things that few people know about me.

1. I really, really don't like doing dishes. Or cleaning house in general. I like having a clean house, but to me its mundane and boring getting it done. I think its because I do it alone. All growing up, we had "chore partners" that we would work with to get things done. I still call my sisters a lot when I'm folding laundry and the like because I just need someone to talk to while I work.

2. Though I didn't used to be, I'm pretty self-conscious of what others think. Especially girls. I really don't feel like a have many close girl friends. I always just assume they think I'm strange or something.

3. I would much rather be in Primary than Relief Society. I was in the Presidency in Rexburg and I totally miss it. Last week was our Primary Program and I loved it. I think the best calling in the church is Primary pianist. I'm the ward music chairman right now, and though its fun, I wish I could be in Primary, too.

4. I really like dressing up for stuff. I loved getting all dressed up for dances in HS, and I love dressing up for Halloween. This is one way that Dave and I differ.

5. I wear my chacos all year long. Really. I wear them no matter what the weather. Even if its snowing. The only time I don't wear them is when I'm wearing a dress or if I'm going to be out in the snow for an extended period of time. They are so comfy. I wear them everywhere from camping to casual church activities.

6. I really, really, really don't like snakes or spiders. I mean really. I haven't always been such a baby about it, but its getting worse. I found a big spider in my recipe box the other day and I set the box outside and haven't touched it since. And I don't know what the deal is with snakes. I just really don't like them.

7. I really like exercising and being active outdoors. I wish I had more time for it. I love being sore the next day. It makes me feel like I actually did something. Pretty much any outdoor activity that I've tried, I've liked.

I never remember who has done this already, so, I tag anyone who wants to.

Tribute

I like this video.



I think my favorite part is when the blinding light of their rock is melting the demon. I guess I have a few favorite parts.

What do you think?

fall is here

So, summer stayed longer than usual, then there was a weekend of winter, and then summer again, and now its fall. The leaves are falling and there are a ton of trees around our house. Ana and I have been spending a lot of afternoons outside. She loves the kitties. I put Jack down in the leaves, too, but I'm not sure how he felt about it...



Also, yesterday Dave and I spent all day getting our front room just right. We put stuff up on our walls and for the first time in our married life, I really like how our front room looks. I've always been dissatisfied with one thing or another, but this time, I really like it. Here is a little "grouping" we put together yesterday and I like it. Last time we had the shadow box up it was vertical, so I still need to change the pictures.

Wrinkle cont.

I think my main problem is that I was shopping for a coat and I ended up getting a sweater. No matter how good a sweater is - you won't like it if you were trying to buy a coat. Right?

Weekly Photo

I want to start taking more pictures. I think I will be better motivated to take cool pictures if I am committed to share one once in a while. Every week before Sunday I will try to post a new picture of the week.

I took this one today because I noticed the light from the window on this bowl of gourds Erin had out. I was mostly playing around or I would have made sure the background of the picture was uniform instead of being on the edge of the table. Either way, I still like the lighting. Then I just played around with a couple effects.

Potty Training

I decided this week I was ready to potty train Ana. So, Sunday after church we put her in panties and started the process. She's doing really well! The past couple days she kept her panties dry until about 3:00 and then she had a couple accidents and then stayed dry the rest of the evening. We are putting her in pullups at night, but she stays in panties all day long. I think she thinks its kind of a nuisance by afternoon, but she's catching on. Any tips and advice are welcome. What worked for you? How long did it take? What didn't work? etc.

A wrinkle in my face

In case you couldn't tell, the title to this post is supposed to be read like an indignant 15 year old who didn't like the book A Wrinkle in Time. Or maybe it could be read like Napoleon and Kip when they are arguing about time travel. Yeah, that's good - especially considering the subject matter of the book.



So, I just read it. I think I had my expectations a little high. You know, like when that Godzilla movie came out in the late 90's and it was all hyped up then no one liked it. I had a friend when I worked at Melaleuca who said this book was his FAVORITE book he had ever read. He was something like 23 years old at the time. So, when I was looking for a book to read the other day I chose it. It wasn't a waste of time but for some reason I didn't feel good about it after reading the end. It seemed like there was a lot left unsaid and I don't think the sequels are going to fix that.

I know there are a lot of people who like it. I am really not one of them. Wierd, I don't think I have ever said that about a book before. I think it will be a while before I read another book for younger readers.

Am I wrong? Do you love that book? Do you hate it? Have you ever heard of it or read it? If so, please tell me how wrong or right I am. Mostly tell me how right I am. I like that.

photo tag

My sister, Kelli, tagged me for this photo tag. Pick the 4th picture from the 4th folder in your picture files. Here it mine:

This picture is from a little over a year ago. Ana learned how to climb up on stuff before she could walk. She loved to look out the window. So we kept a chair there for her to look out. I even blogged about it here. Man, its weird how much she's changed in just a year.
I tag Amy, Leanne, and Karianne. And anyone else who wants to.

Because I missed my Kitchenaid

Since we've moved back into our own place, I've been a baking fool. I've never really loved baking, but I guess going 6 months not doing much has made me in the mood. In the 2 weeks we've lived here I've made:

Banana Bread
Sweet Potato Biscuits (which are so yummy and I'm making them again tonight)
Pumpkin Pie
These Peanut Butter Cookies. (In my opinion they are the best PB cookies I've made.)
And Chocolate Chip Cookies twice.

My sister varied the Toll House recipe for Choc. Chip cookies and they are so good. Here is the recipe, mostly for Jonie's benefit.

1 stick of butter, softened
1/2 c. shortening
2/3 c. white sugar
2/3 c. brown sugar
1 t. vanilla
1 egg

cream together. add:

2 1/3 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt

stir until blended. stir in chocolate chips.

Bake at 375* oven for 8-10 minutes.

just jack

I noticed that Jack doesn't have a post all to himself, so here it is. He is 4 months old. I can't believe it happened so quickly. At the doctor he weighed 15 lb 10 oz and was 25+ inches long - right down the average line. He is very smiley and loves to be held. He's rolled over two or three times, but its not consistent. He has been a little more fussy lately. He wants to eat after only an hour or hour and half, so we started him on rice cereal last night. He did pretty well then, but today when we tried it again he got quite a bit down. Hopefully it helps his fussiness.

NKOTB

I got a spam-type email from the E-center saying the New Kids on the Block are playing a concert there soon and I can buy tickets for just $20. It made me remember this song: (those of you who are faint of heart may want to avert your eyes - and maybe ears)



And yes, they did say "It ain't over till the fat lady sings" in that song. Just in case you were wondering.

being mommy

I've been in a really good mood lately. I'm falling into somewhat of a routine, and its made me much happier. I made a menu for 2 weeks, and make sure I play with Ana every day. My house is mostly clean, and I feel really good about everything. The other day Ana and I spent over an hour outside while Jack slept. We held kitties, splashed in the puddles of melting snow, saw the cows and chickens, walked the little path by the ditch, and held kitties some more. It was great!



Ana listens to this CD at least 5 times a day. She stands by the computer desk and looks at the speakers and sometimes sings along or giggles at it. When it gets over she says, "Rewind it, Mama." Even when its not on, it runs through my head ALL DAY LONG! Its a pretty cute CD, but it gets old when I'm singing "Mr. Duck went to call on Mr. Turkey..." while I'm in the shower.

(This part involves poop, just so you know) Ana has been constipated for about a week. She was extra whiny and tired, and complained of a tummy ache. But whenever she gets the urge she just squeezes her bum cheeks and cries. When she gets that way, if I can get her to sit on the potty, it usually helps her get it out. So, I finally got her to go on the potty. Okay, I made her go on the potty and she finally pooped. She felt so much better instantly. I was so happy that she pooped.

So yesterday, I had an "its apparent you're a parent" moment while walking in the grocery store. I was singing songs off Ana's CD (in my head) and suddenly turned to Dave and said, "I'm so glad Ana finally pooped." I started to laugh right away. If that doesn't make you a mommy, I don't know what does.

What does yours look like?

This is my list of places I have lived. I had to type it up like this for one of the secondary applications I filled out tonight. Mine isn't very long. At all. Plus it repeats. Med school and residency should change that some.

Birth to 19 - Rupert, Idaho, population 5000
19 to 21 - Santiago, Chile, population 5,500,000
21 to 25 - Rexburg, Idaho, population 18,000
25 to current - Rupert, Idaho, population 5000

I want to see what YOUR list looks like...

winter goals

Now that summer is gone and we're in our own place, spending more time indoors, I've been thinking of some things I want to accomplish this winter. I've been thinking a lot more about my New Year's resolution to capture the moments and I've realized I've totally slipped out of that. So, I've made a list of things I want to do this winter. Not only projects, but changes I want to make in myself as well. Since my birthday is the end of the Spring, I thought I'd set that as my deadline. I may add more to my list, but for now, here are some things I want to get down before then.

1. Potty train Ana
2. Lose 10 pounds - not quite there. But I've extended the deadline for the end of the summer. I should be there by then.
3. Make my sister's throw pillow - I know, Shari, I'm a slacker
4. Make curtains for my living room
5. Make curtains for the kids' room - I actually just decided not to make a curtain. Maybe in our next place
6. Learn to make bread that turns out like my mom's - didn't even try. But I did learn how to make really good alfredo, potato soup, gravy, paella, and lots of other yummy stuff.
7. Read a book a month (or more)
Books I've read:
Persuasion
The Scarlett Pimpernel
Gathering Blue
Twilight
Bud, Not Buddy
Austenland
Tending Roses
The Tale of Despereaux
8. Make Halloween costumes for the kids
9. Get better about keeping myself under control in frustrating circumstances - I don't know if I'd consider this one "done" but I've gotten better, and that's what I wanted anyway.
10. Get out of my comfort zone more often - I've really made an effort, which is good.
11. Get into better scripture/prayer habits - improved, anyway
12. Set a good routine and stick to it - I'm in a routine, just not a good one...
13. Organize my house just like I like it and keep it that way so housework is not overwhelming - I did this for a while, then I got out of it, and now I'm not living in our own place. Hopefully we'll start out right
14. Get caught up in my scrapbook and figure out a system for next year - I did get some done, but I'm not quite caught up...
15. Make Jack’s Christmas stocking
16. Send out Christmas cards
17. Make a card table house for Ana

That's what I could think of for now. I'll probably add more goals to my list as time goes. I'll keep checking back and marking when I get things done.

this morning

Ana was up at 6:30 this morning and did not want to go back to sleep. Luckily, I had gone to bed about 10:30 because of a headache, so I felt pretty refreshed. Ana is a little grumpy so I made playdough for her. We spent a little bit playing together. What a cutie.

October what?

This is crazy!

Church this morning has been reduced to Sacrament Meeting and we're starting late.

First Snow

I saw this when I opened my eyes today:


This was the view from our big window


Here is Ana checking it all out


Ana was pretty funny. She was concerned that Daddy's car was getting snow on it and we needed to go wipe it off. She also realized that the kitties were somewhere out there in that and said we needed to find them so she could wipe them off with her hand.

****Update - Sunday Morning****
It snowed ALL day yesterday and there is at least a foot of snow everywhere! I can't believe it's only October 12.

Pumpkin Pics

I like my new camera. I guess it isn't quite as new but I still like it. There are still times that I know what I want it to do but I am not fast enough or just don't quite know all the settings to take complete control. Either way these pictures turned out pretty good even though with a little more practice they could have been better. This was a on Tuesday.







We are all moved in. Not all unpacked but moved in at least. We are trying to get all unpacked and clean today.

pumpkin patch

My sister in law Amy does the cutest pumpkin patch! The other night we went over there to pick out some pumpkins and take pictures. Ana loved it, and Jack didn't seem to mind either. Here are some pictures from the evening.

our apartment

We spent the first night in our new place last night. It is so nice. Rick and June did such a good job building it. Dave and I stayed up way to late watching The Office (seaspm 3) online at Netflix and then Ana and Jack were up at 7:30. Thats okay, though. Dave took the car to work so I'm just trying to get some stuff put away this morning. I already miss having Grandma and Grandpa around; I miss the company. It'll be nice to have all this space to ourselves for a little while, though. I'll post pictures as soon as we get it all together.

Help!

I CAN'T STOP EATING!!!! Seriously. I am not losing any weight and all I want to do is eat. I don't have energy for anything, even though I'm getting enough sleep. We're moving into our apartment this week and seriously, I think I'm going to start doing a menu and plan out my snacks because its getting ridiculous. I feel so not skinny.