you know you need to dress up more when.....

a small child at the store says out loud that you look like a boy.

In my defense, I had been working on the house with Matt this morning, so I was in ratty shoes, jeans, and t-shirt with unwashed hair stuffed in a baseball cap and an ugly man-like jacket. But still.....

I guess it's time to dress a little more feminine when I go out, but really what's the use of that when I'm just going back home to work some more?! (sigh)

life is GREAT

I have been the busiest and most stressed out, but this year so far has been one of the best for me.

I think maybe because Matt is finally checking in to life with us (new meds----they're SUPERB!) and I have learned how to trust myself to open up about how I feel. Sometimes we have really open and honest conversations and it has brought us closer. He has a desire to do stuff with us more than any other time. He even went to the parent-teacher conferences with me today!! I love that guy so much and I think even more today than on the day we got married! We have been forced to take a good look at our finances and make some changes. We are both on the same page financially (for the first time in 12 years) and that makes a world of difference!

My wonderful sister-in-law, Christy, has helped me to find the secret world of couponing and I am finding I really enjoy it. For the first time we actually have a small amount of storage---that feels really good----and for those of you that know me, will understand my excitement about the variety of foods we have now. :0)

I have been making it a priority to volunteer at the school, which is something that actually fulfills me and I have made some really great friends of some of the other moms. For the first time I have gone out of my "church-centered comfort zone".

I took the opportunity to grow and be an example to my daughters by joining the church bball team. I found that I have denied myself the chance to grow and do something that is kinda fun all these years by NOT playing bball because everyone thought I should. Thanks Rob and Matt for convincing me to do it!!

I am trying to accept the fact that I am who I am and that is good enough. I have always tried to be someone I thought the world thought was "cool" and I am trying to just be me now--a simple girl (that is sometimes a typical woman), strong-willed (yes stubborn!), funny, sometimes controlling, relaxed mom with curly/frizzy hair whose husband adores and can't get enough of.

I am getting my testimony back, slowly but surely, and it feels good. Thanks to all who supported me and helped me along the way! All in all, I am enjoying life right now and I don't know how it could get any better. Well, ok, maybe if I had a million dollars......

Now on to some updates.......

Did you know that Simeon plugs his ears by folding them over?(yes they are that big and floppy)

Did you know that Glory is reading now?

Did you know that Brooklyn is much more confident this year?

Did you know that Genesis is being considered for the Challenge program next year?

Did you know that I have been nominated for a PTTE(like PTA) position for next year?

Did you know that Matt has lost 30 pounds?

kid conversation

best buds!

I love to eavesdrop on little kids' conversations! This is what I heard today:
Simeon: "Gulorwy....." (he's been trying really hard to pronounce it right ever since Glory told him it was "Glory, not Dorwy")

Glory: "Simeon, it's ok if you call me Dorwy. I just was tired of it when I told you, but ...... now I kind of miss it when you call me that."

How sweet is that?! How many of us adults would be that honest in admitting to someone that we like our silly nickname? Or maybe that's just me because I have issues. Anywho......they went on to have a 30 minute conversation about Simeon's birthday. He is very excited. He has already told me what he wants......several times. They were talking about what he was going to get (red Lightening McQueen with white tires); if he was going to need help with opening his presents,because he needed help last year; what kind of cake he was going to have and who he was going to invite. He had a long list. I don't know how to tell him his mom hates throwing parties and he will only get to invite one friend. I didn't even know he wanted anyone there. Are 3 year olds really that opinionated??? They also talked about what he was going to say to his friend Mason when Mason gives him the red Lightening McQueen with white tires. He will say, (imagine a sugar-syrupy sweet little boy voice) "Oh! Thank you, Mason!" Seriously, it was so cute and I can hardly believe he is only 3! If he can articulate this well and plan this much about something that is a month away, why oh why can't he go potty in the toilet?! He also thinks that when he has his birthday, he will "loose a tooth". I have been trying to tell him and get him excited about being a big boy and wearing big boy pants and going potty in the big boy toilet when he has his birthday........this for some reason is not so exciting to him. (sigh) I hope his expectations are met and he has fun.....I guess I should start planning the non-party party now.

word play

It's funny how one forgets that kids don't know names of things. I took Brooklyn out shopping for shoes today. We went to Walmart first but didn't find anything there. So as we were walking out to the car, I said, "We're going to walk to Payless". Brooklyn looks at me and exclaims, "We're gonna walk?!" I laughed and said, "walking is good for us, it's not that far". Soon I realized that she didn't know there was a store named Payless, she thought I said, "We're going to walk to pay less" (as in save money) and she thought we were walking home. She's funny. I really enjoyed spending time with her and we found cute shoes for less than $6. Woohoo!

and more simeon sayings (are you tired of them yet?)

So sorry, no pictures.....it's just too hard in this small house to remember to take pictures of my kids. Is that pathetic or what? It's like life is on hold, but time doesn't stop. (sigh)

So, I am in the kitchen cleaning today and I hear Simeon shout, "Everybody wants my autocrap!" I think he meant "autograph". Is that confidence or just conceit? And how does he know about autographs?!

Where does he come up with these things?

And that story reminds me of another story (this time about Brooklyn). Years ago, she was having growing pains and was trying to explain what she wanted me to get to help it feel better......

Brooklyn-----"you know that thing that Grandma puts on her crap."
Me-----(trying not to laugh, but failing miserably)"Ummm.....what?!"
B----(now with a little embarrassement-darn my uncontrollable laughter)"The thing that she puts in the microwave and then puts on her legs."
Me-----"Oh! The rice bag that Grandma puts on her craMps."

Ahhh! the things kids say!

more simeon sayings....

A few weeks ago, Sim had been getting over a cold.....we were at church and he had a coughing fit in the middle of sacrament meeting. He turns to me and says......"I ate a frog."

Don't you love it when you're in church and your kids do something that is so hilariously funny that you can't stop laughing!? It makes me feel so righteous and reverent! :0)

Another time we had something a little spicy for dinner and after taking a few bites, Simeon said, "I got to get the pokies out of my mouth."

We love that boy!! He brings so much laughter to our home.....he is a mood lightener for sure!

simeon sayings

The new prayer : "Dear Father and Kevin....." (I think I missed that lesson in Sunday School.)

"I ate my tongue!" (said while crying. He bit his tongue")

He comes up with some funny stuff. He has been calling people "Bob" and thinks it is pretty funny. He also has quite the temper and a flare for name calling. He will point and yell out, "FAKER!" when he is angry. Today he was getting in trouble for drawing on the wall (I was chastising him in the middle of his playing with Glory) and he told me to go in the other room. I am REALLY seeing a difference in boys and girls now. Simeon is all about bodily functions and body parts. The other day, he was talking to his "slug" and in the grocery store today, he turned to me and said, "Mom, I'm peeing.....psssssss." Nice! And then later he ran in to my room with a grin and said, "Mom, look at me!" with his diaper pulled down below his bum. Again....Nice! And then he has those moments when he is so tender and caring. Like today when he noticed Genesis crying, he said, "Are you ok?" while rubbing on her arm and head. And then he tried being funny so she would cheer up. What a sweet little man!

On a side note.....he sometimes goes pee in the potty! I think he remembers after he goes in his diaper, but it's a start, right? Glory and the girls helped him. I really didn't want to potty train again, so I didn't really encourage him at all. Good job girls! If I wait long enough, I won't have to do anything, right?! (sigh) potty training sucks!

Sorry no pictures.....I am too lazy. Things just aren't as convenient when you're not in your own house. At least I updated the background and music. One step at a time, right?! Maybe someday I will even update our family picture at the top! :0)