krakerjak

Me and diets

2010-09-10T20:05:00.000-07:00

Okay I am putting it out there....
A week ago I started another diet... I know, I know, it's supposed to be a life change not a diet blah blah blah but I am going on my first cruise in less than 2 months (yeah me!!) and for some reason the cute board shorts I bought in Vegas in March... that still have their tags on... do not fit! Ok I totally know why they don't fit... I didn't excercise all summer and with so much family and friends around showing off their amazing baking/cooking skills (cough, cough Becky and Julie) what was I supposed to do? And let me tell you my french toast with homemade buttermilk syrup is to die for... just sayin'
So there... I said it... I have struggled to take off the 70 lbs I gained with Seth, I was fortunate (?) that he was 11lbs and I had an ovarian cyst the size of a grapefruit removed (too much information??) at the same time but I have sat at the same weight since about my 8 week checkup... until last November when I was finally able to take control of my life and went from a size 16 to a 9. Yeah me! But I am going slowly back up again... feeling sluggish and unhappy.
So with this cruise looming ahead of me I am taking the leap again... It's only been a week and I have been sick for 3 days now but I have gotten on the treadmill 2 out of those 3 days, and then promptly fell back into bed for the rest of the day and night and day again but I did it!!
I feel like 4 years of my life have gone missing... I felt so miserable about how I looked that I wouldn't let anybody get to know me, pictures were shunned and moments were not captured. I was surrounded by girls who were fit and happy and I was depressed and overweight.
Until Seth, weight really had never really been a problem for me... I gained 70 lbs with each of my five kids... and I would work it off, when I met Steve I looked and felt great! Thanks to a fabulous kickboxing class and a busy life style and I admit 2 months of Herbalife I was in the best shape I had been since my militia days. I had given up on myself and thought that I would never have my body or my life back! It's been a slow process... but my kids and my hubby have been my biggest supporters... reminding me that the cookies I made for them are not on my diet but they have always loved me for who I am, not what size I am. But they like it when I can hike and play and swim with them, mostly they like me healthy. So I am doing this for them as much as for myself. Wish me luck!!

School

2010-09-08T11:21:00.000-07:00

Today was Seth's first day of Preschool and he was a champ! We've been talking about it all summer and he was ready to go! Buzz Lightyear backpack, hair spiked up and running shoes on! He looked so so cute! He has had a cold for almost 2 weeks now so I thought he might have to miss it but I looked up the rules and unless he has a cough, fever or thrown up in the last 24 hours he is allowed to come. But now I have his cold and I just want to crawl into bed for the rest of the day. I hate getting sick! Why is it that when the kids get sick they can function yet my nose starts running and my body feels like it's been hit by a truck! I've been taking my Essential Oil blends and getting enough rest and even exercising and I still catch what ever goes around... so annoying!
With going back to school comes the strict schedules of morning and afternoon... morning consists of getting everybody up, showered, (which is no small feet when you have 5 boys who wake up at the same time and only 2 showers!) fed, scriptures, prayer and out the door. Then when they all get home its all about how much food they can eat before they need to go to a practice or a game.
Just a glimpse of what my calender looks like for Saturday....
Seth-Soccer game @ 8am
Ben- Football Game @ 10:30am
Sam- Fencing Tournament@ 8am and 7pm
Zach- Lacrosse game x2 in South Jordan (ask me how I am going to get him there?)
Ave- Soccer game @ 12:30
Oh and Ave writes his ACT test in the morning and Zach has a 3 hour landscaping job to complete too!
Welcome Fall!!!

Zucchini Pineapple Loaf

2010-09-01T10:55:00.000-07:00

Here's a yummy recipe for all of that zucchini you, or if you're like me, you're mother-in-law has grown!

2 Eggs

1/2 cup cooking oil

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup grated zucchini, unpeeled

1/2 cup crushed pineapple, drained

1 tsp Vanilla

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/2 cup chopped nuts, optional

Beat Eggs, cooking oil and sugar. Stir in zucchini, pineapple and vanilla.

Measure remaining 7 ingredients into another bowl. Por all at once into batter. Stir just to moisten. Pour into greased 9x5x3 inch loaf pan. Bake in 350 F oven for 1 hour until it tests done. Cool for 10 minutes turn loaf out of pan to cool on rack. Wrap. Yield 1 loaf

I 4x the recipe and it made 5 nice size loaves. I also pureed the zucchini and added an extra cup and I used half white flour and half whole wheat. I cooked them all at the same time and they turned out great. I think they would freeze just fine too. Why make one when you can make 5!

Thunderstorms!

2010-08-16T12:34:00.000-07:00

We just had a big black cloud blow over us with rain and thunder... it's actually on the cooler side outside right now! Storms blow in and out so fast here!!
I have learned after almost 5 years of living in a desert to appreciate the rain... the first year I moved here... we were asked to pray for rain because it had been so dry and i have to admit I just couldn't do it... now it feels so good!
After living on Vancouver Island for so long the dreary rainy days made me long for 4 seasons, that is definitely one thing I love about Utah! We have beautiful springs and falls, winters are a little drawn out and summers go by too fast but we get a little bit of everything and the sun always seems to come out to brighten my mood :)
I've had a lot of storms in my life but having my boys is like having sun in my pocket... I just need to look at any one of them and they can make me smile :)
Storms can clear the air and leave everything smelling clean and fresh or they can leave a huge mess behind, just like changes in our life and I have had my fair share of changes to adjust to! The most recent being that I have been called as the Young Women President in my ward... yes you read that right... the president... Exactly what I thought too Lol I am under no illusion that the Bishop has any idea what he is doing, so I am just running with it... whether or not this will be a fresh start or a complete mess I am going to jump in with both feet and try and enjoy the ride. You all know how much I have wanted a girl... now I'll have almost 40! You never know how the Lord will answer your prayers :) I had my orientation from the former Pres and i am doing my best not to freak out but I can't seem to find enough chocolate to eat so I am thinking I might not be handling it as well as I would like too!!
So as my summer winds down a new adventure begins!!
Wish me luck :)

Summer 2010

2010-08-14T19:51:00.000-07:00

I can't believe summer is almost over. School starts on the 24th of this month and I am not ready to send my boys back!!
It has been quite the ride though, from the Smith Anniversary, to my moms visit, to camping at Palisades and everything in between it's been quite eventful.
I had the best visit with my mom, she really is a super lady, has had a lot of hard stuff thrown at her and she just keeps up her positive attitude and love for life. We had so much fun just laying in bed all morning talking and crying and laughing! Making meals, (loved the Hodge Podge!) remembering the past, excited about the future! More talking and laughing and crying! Even though we have lived thousand of miles apart for almost 20 years she has become one of my best friends. I can't wait until we can visit again :) I just hope I don't have to wait as long this time!
Our camping trip was alot of fun, mostly because we had John and the kids there and the location was just perfect, beautiful reservoir to swim in, with a dock to swim out to and be play some pretty crazy 'games' on! We rented a couple of peddle boats the last day and the kids spent the whole afternoon out on them, ... except for a couple of hours when a huge storm blew in with thunder and lightening so they hunkered down under the Quick Shade and waited it out while I had a really good nap!!
Smores every night and really yummy breakfasts and suppers. Some crazy storms that blew by but gave us spectacular sunsets! A few bugbites, a couple of sunburnt faces and one burnt finger so really a very successful camping trip for the Smith and Clarke families :)
The day we got back we unloaded the van, and went our seperate ways, Brenna and I went to Park City for Ave's soccer tournament, plans to hit the outlet stores between games and just chill with a good ebook got sidetracked as Ave twisted/sprained his ankle during the first half of the first game so we came home earlier than planned.
Now football is in full force for Ben, Steve got wrangled into helping coach and school is looming around the corner!
I am going to miss my summer!
Little nervous about the fall....

Almost here!!

2010-07-19T16:22:00.000-07:00

I have been tidying, vacuuming, cleaning and doing wash all day so my house is almost ready for when my mom comes! Yeah so excited... so don't want to cry when I see her!
If I could get the boys to stop eating for a minute the kitchen would be done too but that will never happen. I would have been leaving for the airport right now but it looks like her plane is about 1 hour late and I am so done with housework... so I am just hanging out listening to my boys and some neighborhood friends jam out downstairs.
Who knew I would not mind at all the noise... I mean music... that comes from drums, electric bass and guitar all hooked up to amps and pedals. Not only don't I mind, I actually like it! It makes me happy to hear them work together and really they are pretty good :) I wish they would do it more!
I've been thinking alot about my family and how sad it is that I have three adorable nieces that I have never even met... I don't even remember the last time we were all together. Why does the world have to be so big?
It is always bittersweet when I have Steve's family visit for the summer... This time we got them all at once for Gramma and Grampa Smiths 50th wedding anniversary. We got a big group shot and individual family pics. Sherry Ward was our photographer check her out at http://www.srwportraits.blogspot.com/ She even came to our picnic and took a buttload of candids too. We all can't wait to see them... she's posted a couple of teasers on her blog and it's killing us!! We had a neat program in the evening and boy we got some talented kids! It was so fun to watch the cousins just love spending time together, every minute... whether it was just watching TV or playing cards or in a circle outside playing games. Every body got along so well. I just loved it. But it also makes me realize how much I miss my family. So I go from being in a fun mood to feeling sorry for myself! My poor sis-in-laws really don't know what to do with me! But fortunately they seem to put up with me and kept inviting me to go places with them :) and boy did we eat and eat and eat! They can shop me under the table though so I past going to Target and Costco like everyday! we are all in agreement that everybody should move closer!
Our house has a most beautiful office... High ceiling, built ins, granite counters, huge desk! So I decided when I had the girls come over to help sew some cute skirts... (still waiting for pics girls!) that I would move everything up from the laundry room to the office. Having the space work double duty is a little difficult but it is so nice to have my machines out and a huge cutting space. It's a work in progress! wish me luck!
Well I am off to pick up my mama from the airport :) Did I tell you that I am so excited!!!

Forever Young

2010-07-17T11:03:00.000-07:00

An old friend of mine, (I say old because we were friends a long time ago... not because he's old!)... just posted that he is putting together an 80's heavy metal list on his Ipod for his 20 year reunion tonight... I'm sorry but when did that happen?? Although I didn't go to his school, we did graduate the same year... 1990! Gulp... and I was totally dating one of his good friends. So I did get to go to his prom... I remember what I wore, super cute, super short, white dress (I now... what was I thinking??)... and how long I had to lay out in the sun on a black shingled roof to get as tanned as my sad pale skin would let me... believe me I payed for that vanity in my 20's when I had to have my nose reconstructed because of skin cancer but that's a whole different post!
I remember getting ready at my dates house and his mom taking pictures and going to the prom in a limousine and being surrounded by tonnes of people I didn't know. That's about it! I don't even have any pictures! It was such a huge graduating class compared to my little catholic all girls school I went to, Holy Angels High, in Sydney, Cape Breton. It makes me sad that we couldn't pull a reunion of our own off this year... plans were being made for almost 2 years and it just seemed to fizzle out. I haven't been back to Cape Breton pretty much since I graduated... one trip up to see my family a year or so later and then they moved back to the valley and I never got back. It makes me sad that time takes memories and friendships away.
I am going to go back with my family one day and show them the beautiful place that I still call home and why I miss it every day... even though its been 20 years!
So I hope that my old friends have a fantastic time tonight and that maybe one day we will see each other again. If not, even though I might not have a great memory for details, I do remember the feelings... Excitement, anticipation, nervousness, and pure joy...
I was so lucky that I had really great friends and I loved every second I spent with them... every stake dance, youth conference, temple trip, and the many hours spent driving from Sydney to Cole Harbour, with and without my parents permission tee hee Living so far away and losing touch with so many good friends is just not right! But even though time may have been hard on some of us... (that would be me) we really will stay Forever Young!

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 1990

BLogLaND

2010-07-16T13:16:00.000-07:00

It's so strange out there in blogland... it's almost like the twilight zone... you lose track of time and you never remember where you started and how you got to the place your at! My have some fabulous former and current sister-in-laws who keep me entertained and feeling connected;
Laura- http://www.blackeyedsuzy.blogspot.com/,
Sarah- http://www.burtbear.blospot.com/,
Bethany- http://www.very_keen_fun_machine.blogspot.com/,
Julie- http://www.avintagechic.blogspot.com/ (who by the way has almost 500 followers!) and
Becky- I have to find hers... she doesn't post as often as she should but shes a busy mom so I gt it ;)
Of course I have a couple of friends happily blogging too but most have gone private and I have no idea how to tell them I want to read them!
Anyway they all have amazing blogs... so much so that by the time I have finished playing catchup I don't normally have time to write in mine.
Ok that is really kind of a lame excuse... but after spending my day surfing BLogLaND
I feel inspired to start mine again. If it is just for me to write down what is happening or how I am feeling or what I am working on and have it my own personal space to say what I want then that is okay but who doesn't like followers who can comment on my silly thoughts and ideas right?
With all of my adorable nieces and some brave sis-in-laws visiting on the Smith side I turned our office into a sewing room and we whipped up skirts... okay it took like 6 or 7 hours and we didn't quite get them all finished that night... but it was super fun and the end products were so great that it really was worth every second. I could have played with them every day! and sadly not even one picture was taken so I hope they will all send me one wearing their skirts. We also got together one night and burned a butt load of flowers at grammas house... all the girls are so creative and put their own spin on everything they did... really how did I not get a girl?? And all of my brothers got one and even two??? So not fair :( I mean really... I love love love my boys but I don't ever want to see them wearing skirts and puttin flowers in their hair.
Now that everyone has gone back home I get to have a couple of days to get my house together cause I get to have my mom come visit for the first time since I got married over 6 years ago! So excited... I have been fortunate enough to have seen her at the Palmyra pageant 3 summers ago and a quick 2 day trip up to vancouver island when my sis came home from Thailand so I think she might be surprised... well not too surprised since she saw all of her 7 children grow up... but geez... Ave is almost 6'3", Zach is starting 10th grade and Sam is growing like a weed now I barely recognize him! Ben although getting taller and more handsome everyday... you should see his piercing blue eyes, is still my sweet, helpful, thoughtful Ben and well, Seth is Seth... 4 1/2 and still ruler of the house since the day he was born really :)
Well I am trying to pull myself away so I can get at least 3 loads of laundry out of the 8 or more, still haven't gone up to Zachs room, that needs to be done... maybe I'll do better this time at keeping on task.
Wish me luck and I'll see you all later in BLogLaNd

Sunny Days are here again :)

2009-03-03T09:43:00.000-08:00

Oh it is so nice to have sun shining and warmer weather... I know its too early for spring to fully be here but I say bring it on!
I just got back from Zachs 'talent' show that his Chorus class put on. His group sang Jesus wants me for a sunbeam. Zach could not keep a straight face but I did here him sing bass. Next we get to go see the guidance counsellor to sign up for next years classes. I can't believe he is going to be in grade 9! It's crazy... all my boys are growing up. It is a much different life having teenage boys than it was having all toddlers. I miss those days... sometimes... but I am actually really enjoying the whole Young men thing. Time goes by and I don't want to think I wasted it on wishing things never changed.
I am totally putting off going to my little sewing room to finish some tag blankets, it gets tedious after like the 5th one but I want to have a nice variety for the Arts festival boutique which happens to be only like 10 days away! Yikes I better go and get something done :)

Not quite a year

2009-02-23T09:08:00.000-08:00

Okay so it's been awhile... but not quite a year so I see that as a positive thing right?
I am trying not to panic about the crack in the pool and the horribly muddy backyard that we have although my dog Charlie's footprints are a continual reminder of how desperately we need to get some grass down and then I look out back and remember that the really dumb idea I had to try and regrade the yard myself using a shovel and rototiller really did not work and I cut a line to something and will only find out what it connects to will happen once we get the pool up and running which then brings me right back to the fact that the pool has a crack in it and is slowly losing water so because it is so low we can't have the safety cover on it so I start to panic even more. It is a cruel, cruel world I live in.
I just want to run away from it all and start over somewhere else.
Does anybody want to buy a house for more than its worth??

I've been tagged!

2008-05-11T18:15:00.000-07:00

The rules:
a. Link to the person who tagged you.
b. Post the rules on your blog.
c. Write six random things about yourself.
d. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
e. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment at their blog.
f. Let your tagger know when your entry is up.

So I don't know how to do rule a, d, e or f so I am sorry for being such a loser but I am hoping that at least Heather... who tagged me... gets to read this so I will feel somewhat successful.

1. I have gone bungy jumping 3 times, twice in Nanaimo and once at the West Edmonton Mall with my mom when she turned 50!
2. I had my first three boys in three years, so for 3 weeks in May every year they are only a year apart so right now have a 12, 13 and 14 year old. I don't think many people can say that unless of course you live in Utah!
3. I met my husband online.
4. I really like to watch a good movie but I hate watching it more than once.
5. I don't think I could live without my Loreal Mascara... I went for about 2 weeks to see if I could stand it but never, ever again!
6. If I am ever incapacited in a hospital all I ask is that someone make sure my eyebrows are plucked!

Yup I am full of surprises aren't I!!

Oh and Happy Mothers Day!! I was well taken care of today. I am feeling very blessed and content with my life and my family who actually is my life so I really don't need to say both but I did so hopefully its not to redundant!
Peace Out

HAppY BiRthdAy SaM :)

2008-05-02T07:12:00.000-07:00

Today is Sam's 12th birthday. I stayed up late last night to prep for breakfast while Steve went to the grocery store... twice (thank goodness the stores around here are open 24 hours) and then woke up early to make waffles as per requested from the birthday boy himself. He got to open his presents... we got him a 16 gallon fish tank that he now gets to set up and choose fish for. He's been asking for a fish for awhile so hopefully it goes ok. It is going to be in his room and he's already naming the fish even though we don't have any yet!
I am tired and my allergies are absolutely horrible. Charlie smells so bad from running around in the backyard with all of the weeds. Its so so bad and I cant get him groomed for another 2 weeks so I am going to try to bathe him myself... just for him to run out again and roll in the weeds.
It has been so cold here the last few days and I have had to freeze my butt off watching baseball games. But both Sam and Bens team pulled off wins so its almost worth it ha ha Last year I really didn't go to any games but with Steve gone, out of necessity I have gone to cheer them on and I have actually enjoyed them... its nice that they are timed so I don't have to sit through like a million innings but with it being so cold 2 hours is plenty plenty. so Ave has a game way out in Spanish Fork tonight and we are taking Sam to go play Laser Tag tomorrow in between ball practices. Where oh Where is springtime???
Did you know that right now I have a 14, 13 and 12 year old? How crazy is that?

Potty Training

2008-04-29T12:32:00.000-07:00

Well I have finally done it... i bought 24 pair of underwear, pullups and 35 dollars worth of juice and treats so I am now on my second day of potty training Seth... he is already 2 1/2 and I have been putting it off for too long already. Steve is in California taking his own training course and I needed to stay home so I could stop spending money on needless things (see above!) So far it hasn't been horrible. I am sure Steve thinks he is coming home to a fully trained boy but I keep reminding him that its really just training me to watch for the tell tale signs and that he will need to be 'trained' also. I can't remember with the other boys how long you have tgo deal with the constant worry of an accident but I am in it for the long haul and when Steve gets back I am so going for a massage and a pedicure and letting him take a crazh course in Potty time!
Speaking of training, We are now the proud owners of a Play-n-trade franchise so that is why he is gone, to get the beginners course they offer, hopefully we will have it up and running in the next couple of months. Keep your fingers crossed... its a big step away from the Real Estate business.
I am also in the middle of baseball and soccer games so my evenings are a little crazy right now, tonight I have 2 ball games, and a soccer practice, tomorrow the same but with Scouts and a Primary activity added to the mix... all without Steve so needless to say I am in bed as soon as I get everybody else down. I would not want to be a single mom again. Although with the new business I will be on my own alot more. Thank goodness for my mother in law who's just down the road :)
Yeah I really shouldn't even bother with a blog, I have nothing exciting to say and just reading over it... I even bore myself! Oh well what can you do, the least amount of excitement is a wlecome thing in my life with everything that has happened over the last few years!

I'm a slacker

2008-03-19T20:16:00.000-07:00

Okay here's the deal, my friend from elementary school has this fabulous blog and was invited by one of her friends to do this nad asked me to do it too so any of you who read this are invited to do the same ( I am kinda skipping Rule #4)...
Here are the rules:
1. Grab the nearest book of 123 pages or more.
2. Open it to page 123.
3. Find the first 5 sentences and write them down.
4. Then invite 5 friends to do the same.

It's an interesting thing to do especially when one reads as little as I do but as soon as I went into the office I knew that I could grab a Harry Potter book and it definitely would have more than 123 pages so hopefully these 5 lines don't ruin the book for any one who hasn't read it!!

"We're not going anywhere," said Harry, while Hermione nodded

vigorously. "You can speak to us together, or not at all."

Scrimgoeur gave Harry a cold, appraising look, Harry had the

impression that the Minister was wondering whether it was worth-

while opening hostilities this early.

I do have to say that I really enjoyed reading the Harry Potter series. I read them all while I was pregnant with Seth, except the final one because of course it wasn't out yet. It took me a long time to decide to read them mostly because I don't like to follow the crowd and figured I had seen the movies so why bother plus I am really bad at reading, I mean not bad bad but once I start I can not put it down, not for sleep or anything so life around me continues without me but when I am gone it seems like the whole world revolves around me and nothing gets done. So since reading the final book of Harry Potter during the summer (it took me about 2 days to read it) I haven't read anything so I though that choosing this one was a good idea :)
Well I am off to do one of my favorite things... watch Survivor with my Sweetie, it sure would be fun with a crowd (like Brent and Katie) who love it as much as us but I am satisfied with laughing at Steves comments!

The House of Coughs

2008-03-11T19:02:00.000-07:00

I am about done... 5 0f the 7 of us have a stupid cold... the kind that leaves you with a stuffy nose and a dreadful cough. I have a headache from coughing. So I am feeling very cranky.

It's over!!

2008-03-04T19:12:00.000-08:00

Jenny and Eddies wedding was really nice, she looked stunning and he looked handsome and they both looked happy. We are all wishing them the best as they start their life out in sunny South Carolina. Mama Smiths house looked amazing! Those Smith's really know how to throw a party. And even though I really didn't do anything. I was glad to not have to help the day of the wedding, I just needed to make sure the 20 or so cousins kept out of the house but then the Big Boys ended up taking care of that so i went home and crashed for like 2 hours and Karen, Julie, Becky and Malinda totally took up the slack. It was so fun having everyone around. I wish we didn't live so far away, the cousins just have an unending enthusiasm for mishief and fun and I love watching them play and play and play. So it's back to my boring life once again. The boys are all back in school and Ave is having daily soccer practices and i have to come up with something to do for Cubs, I am going to try Malinda and Julies idea as I think it is time for a fun craft.
It's been fun having the wedding because it really brought back all of the memories of mine. i had a beautiful wedding. Steve was so handsome in his tux... oh my gosh he looked good! The boys were so little then too, I look at the pictures and I can't believe its been almost 4 years, they are all growing up too fast. Ben was just a little older than Seth is now!! I love to think about my day, I loved my dress and the cake and the flowers and my bouquet was so pretty. Bishop Paas did such a great job, making Steve say Yes three times before he would accept it LOL The only thing missing was my family. But having them all email me was a pretty amazing feat so i can't complain too much :) yup good times good times

Random Things about me

2008-02-29T09:27:00.000-08:00

My sister Jen sent this to me and I don't have any time to write since I have like 18 cousins at my house while Mama Smiths house gets prepped for the wedding so I thought I would post this for anyone who might be interested. I thought some of the questions were funny.....

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
nope, although my middle name, Lynn, is the same as my mom's
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
its been awhile I hold onto my anger for a long time
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING
It's okay
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
probably turkey
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
5 boys and a husband
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
of course.... people like me.... they really like me (that is a total flashback to SNL)
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
maybe just a little bit
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS
yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
yup done it 3 times already
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
mini wheats
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
depends on what ones, I have a lot of shoes/boots and I love them all
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
I was... now not so much
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
how I miss Nova Scotia for my grapenut ice cream
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
nose, whether it is large or cute or hairy or bulbous... you know the importan things
15. RED OR PINK?
red for decor pink to wear
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
I still look like I am 6 months pregnant yuck!
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST
gosh there are too many... when you don't have any friends where you live it makes you really appreciate the ones you have had
18. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
jeans and fabulous earth boots
19. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
sadly it was oreos thus the answer to question16
20. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
nothing!! baby is downstairs with his brothers!!
21. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
black, it would be so easy to get dressed every morning don't you think?
22. FAVORITE SMELLS?
garlic sautéing, the wood section in home depot, and the smell of anything new!
23. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
my sweetie
24. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
yup, she's my sis and we haven't always had the best relationship but I love her and miss her tonnes
25. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
whatever one my boys are playing at the time, football, baseball, soccer....
26. HAIR COLOR?
brown
27. EYE COLOR?
green/blue/grey... they used to be blue but now all of my boys have beautiful blue eyes so I really think they are the ones who sucked the last little bit of color I had left in them for themselves. Thats what any good mom would do right?
28. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
no but i do wear glasses for night driving and watching movies
29. FAVORITE FOOD?
pizza... I love pizza... any kind... cheap 5 buck pizza, gormet pizza, frozen pizza, left over pizza... well you get the idea :)
30. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings
31. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
hmm there have been so many but i think it was Becoming Jane, it was okay I think I would like to watch it again because the english accents made it hard to understand for the first half and maybe that I had the door open like 100 times as I watched it made me miss quite a bit.
32. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
black
33. SUMMER OR WINTER?
I like them both
34. HUGS OR KISSES?
hugs... they are much cleaner than kisses. I am not big into slobber, the only time it is acceptable is when I am having a nap and I drool on my own pillow or into my hand but it is my drool and nobody elses.... can you tell that I live in a house full of boys?
35. FAVORITE DESSERT?
lava cake at Chilis restaurant, i love chocolate cake with icing but no ice cream I don't like soggy cake.
36. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
I don't read, if I have the time I would rather watch TV or sleep
37. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
don't have one
38. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT?
Project Runway and I watched the ending of something about a Supermodel but don't tell Steve!
39. FAVORITE SOUND?
when everybody is sleeping at night... so the quiet... and any time that Steve is sleeping and not snoring :)
40. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Beatles especially Hey Jude because it is so fun to sing karaoke too
41. WHERE IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Prague and Vienna
42. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
not even one
43. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Liver pool, Nova Scotia Canada

Soccer Tryouts

2008-02-25T14:48:00.000-08:00

So Ave is off for his first day of the high school tryouts and I am nervous enough for the both of us. He has been playing soccer since he was in kindergarten and he loves it and he's really good but you just never know. So the next few days I will have a pit in my stomach and hoping hoping hoping that he makes it. How do you prepare for something like this? It is a dreary, rainy day and I have watched 3 episodes of this supermodel show so that should tell you how productive of a day I have had. Seth scrapped the wood floor really badly this morning so I decided to try one of those markers to fill it in with and then I kept seeing more and more scratches so I kept colring them in and I am just noticing with the light hitting it differently this afternoon that it made it look even worse so Steve is going to kill me. I was just trying to make it better and I ended up making it worse, that seems to happen to me alot. Especially when I talk, I put my foot in my mouth so many times that I am not surprised that I don't have many friends. I try to hard to be right and make myself sound smart.is the problem I think. I used to be smart but now that I have teenagers in the house and a husband who knows everything I second guess everything. All I want to do is be right sometimes, like what if I put the extra cabinet in the laundry room and it does look stupid and close in the whole room? I am looking at it as a person who is only 5'5" and Steve is 6'3" so could he be right and then I will end up hating it and wanting to take it all down? I always have these great ideas in my own head but following through I chicken out. The lesson we had at church on Sunday was all about having faith without fear. I realized that I have lived my life with fear, fear of failing, of not being as good as somebody else. It really has stopped me from accomplishing very much in my life. I have had so many opportunities and I have not done with them what I should have. WOW where did all that come from? ... cabinets in the laundry room to faith versus fear. yeah I really need to get of the house :) Well off to make something that will appease the boys hunger and pick up Ave from tryouts. Keep him and me in your prayers or we both might have a nervous breakdown!!!

The Flu

2008-02-24T07:40:00.000-08:00

Ask me if I am happy? Really... I actually had a good sleep last night(which is a huge thing for me since I am a total insomniac) and I even got to sleep in. Sounds great so far right? Well around 8 Steve came in and woke me up, I have to admit I was a little annoyed, and he asks me in a very loud voice "Did you notice that I was up all night throwing up?" Now is that the way to start the morning? So we appear to have the stomach flu going around. Now the worst part is that Steve can have no contact with Seth. I am not sure why he thinks that is fair since anytime I am sick not only do I have to take care of Seth all day, I am expected to do all of my regular daytime stuff too. I guess its my punishment for taking a break yesterday and going out on my own. It's gotta be a mothers curse I suppose. I am contemplating keeping every one home from church so that if it does go through anybody else we can't be blamed. Sigh... I really did have a good sleep, maybe God knew that I needed to have some stored up strength for the next few days. Wish us luck!

First Edition

2008-02-22T14:05:00.000-08:00

Okay so I have decided to enter the world of blogs... again. I don't quite remember why I stopped last time but I think it was because it really is open to the whole internet world. But things are sooo boring with my life that I find myself reading through random peoples blogs and searching KSL (local news and classifieds) that I thought maybe this would be a little productive since I struggle with sitting down and writing a journal. I am not going to post pictures but those of you who read this and want to see my fabulous family and the trouble we get into every once in a while you have access to my facebook so that takes care of that! I am off for a date tonight with Steve and one of his college friends to see Vantage Point ? ... not excited about the movie but I really like Laura and Mason (and Steve) so I will enjoy myself. Its nice to have adult conversation every once in a while. My vocabulary consists of no, no, stop it, get down and please please have a nap and no :) Thats what its like having a very 'determined' 2 year old in the house. I have been having fun with Mama Smith getting her out of the house to shop for wedding stuff (Steve's youngest sister is getting married at the end of the month) If I didn't have Mama here I don't think I would make it, she is a nice reprieve from the boredom. I always complain that I have no friends and that I am always praying for one but when I get out of my selfish moods (which really isn't often... some things never change) I realize I have a wonderful relationship with my mother-in-law so my my prayers have been answered. I appreciate her so much. It's crazy how things can always be changing in our lives but the need to have friends never goes away. Okay I really need to get out of my PJs and get ready for my date night! I do love my Fridays! Its been a greay, cold day and I have cleaned out my fridge, organized toys, did some minor dusting and laundry and kitchen and all that fun stuff... not!! So now that it is almost 3:30 in the afternoon I better get ready!