Decorating Differences

I shouldn't be writing this now, because I am still so upset, but I had to get it out and see what you gals with similar issues have done/would do. I have a friend who has been so sweet in giving us all kinds of curtains, rods and fabric to match what I have wanted to do in our house. She didn't have all of the wall hooks for the curtains so I told Scott that I would like to see if we can find some nice cheap ones at Walmart or Home Depot. This is when the truth finally comes out. He doesn't like the curtains, doesn't know why we need them, thinks that the blinds are just fine. We would eventually paint the kitchen to coordinate with the blinds and I would like to paint my massage room. He doesn't want to paint anything. Neither of us really like our house and we know where we want to end up, but with our financial struggles I have tried to put getting a bigger house out of my mind and concentrating on making this one more my home. He doesn't want to touch anything.

I'm ready to cry! We got into this huge disagreement over putting up curtains!!! Free curtains!!! Well, mostly free curtains. I am living in a house with white walls (some pictures) with white blinds!

Corporate Massage

So, I finally had my big chair massage day this past Wednesday. I was so stinking nervous that I didn't sleep very well, but the adrenaline kept me going on high until later that evening.

I met the United Health Care Rep. who set the whole thing up in the parking lot at 8:30am and she helped me carry my chair, stereo, and bags up to the office. She tried to explain a little bit about what she does and what this client does but ended with, "It's a lot of political bureaucracy that is hard to understand." But, what I did pick up was that this company not only uses United as their own health insurance for their employees, but is the middle man when other companies are trying to get health plans for their employees. So basically the place I massaged for is Kay's (as I will call her) client as well as helps her get other corporate clients).

I started massaging at 9am, 10minutes per person with approx. 5 minutes in between. It went really well, and 11 of the 12 people grabbed my business cards, and at least 5 of them said they wanted a full massage at some point. I don't know how many will actually call me, but it is a start.

Kay was so excited that it went so well. She had previously expressed concern that her bosses didn't particularly like the idea, but she has every intention of showing them that this costs less than wining and dining them and they will like it better (so we think). She decided to go ahead and give me a personal check so that the company would just owe her money if they accepted the expense and she wouldn't owe them anything if she put it on the corporate credit card. I think it is funny that the whole reason I got the job was because I could accept credit cards but still got a check in the end.

Afterward Kay and I figured out that I had massaged the #2 in the company and #1's daughter. She was thrilled that I was able to work on the higher up's and it should be good for her own business. Then as we were leaving she said that she does have other clients that she wants me to do this for and she will pay out of her own pocket for it if she has to.

I am so excited! If I could do this just once a month (and only three hours at that) it would mean so much to our family. Of course I will keep up my own evening massages, and I am also learning to make beaded jewelry (nice stuff, not crap stuff :) ). So, be watching for my beaded jewelry website to pop-up in my list of places to shop on the left hand side sometime soon.

Thanks so much for everyone's prayers and support through our financial difficulties. We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel (or at least get the game plan set to reach the light). It should only take us 3-5 years to get out of credit card debt. Then about 500 years to pay off student/car/home loans. ;)

Deal or No Deal!!!

So last night was the premier of Deal or No Deal with my friend Adam "Spanky" Hansen on it. Man I hate that show! I just can't take the suspense, and then having someone I know on it was ten times worse!!! It was so fun though. Spanky was the first person to start multi million dollar madness. He ended up with 12 1 million dollars in the cases. He went until their were only three cases left and ended up with $295,000. The producers put a huge emphasis on the fact that he is a Scout Master. Spanky started the show out with a lot of "dangs" which of course Howie picked up on. Then Spanky busted out his dance moves and kept making his case fall. The case he chose was the one his Scouts asked him to chose, number 14. At one point they brought all the girls out in skanky little scout uniforms and then challenged Spanky to put a uniform on to shoe his "dedication to the Scout program." Of course he did but acknowledged how much he hated it. At the end he had only one case with a million and opened one more case. He was killing me! In the end he left with his highest offer from the banker (who made fun of his weight by saying he obviously never got the fitness badge). It was an awesome show and I don't ever want to watch another one again! Congrats Spanky and Megan, can't wait to see the house you buy!

Recession

Today after Scott got home we were chatting and he started out a sentence with, "So, I don't want to scare you...." How horrible is that?! No one who wants to not scare someone should ever start a sentence that way. Well it worked (or didn't), he did scare me. He was talking about how I don't understand the economies unstable condition and his job is not all that secure. We talked about the recession and how our generation is struggling. Previous generations have had to deal with wars and rations our generation is having to deal with the consequences of credit cards and debt.

I started thinking about all the things our grandparents had to give up to help their country. I know Pres. Bush wants us to spend money to stimulate the economy but we really need to pay off our debts. How many times have prophets told us to get out of debt and have a savings? These next few years are really going to test us all. I read a news article that said the housing market won't hit bottom until as late as 2012. That is still 3 1/2 years away. In that time what is going to happen to the rest of the economy.

In talking with a friend she pointed out that if we looked at inflation, gas has not been inflated along with everything else. If gas had inflated with, lets say bread or milk, it would cost more than it does even now. We have all heard that Europe has had higher gas prices (the maximum more than double our own), maybe it is time for us Americans to start walking off our McD pounds, starting of course with me.

Anyway, just thought it was funny that Scott and I had similar things on our minds today. It just stinks that after this talk we have decided we probably won't be able to make Christmas in AZ either. Although, if Scott loses his job (no, he is not likely too, but with the economy so unstable anything is possible) we will probably move to AZ to live with his parents for a while, we will have plenty of time to visit then! So Jolene and Gary, if you are reading this, pray that he doesn't ;) !!!

Retail Therapy

So I have been hiding this from friends and family for like three weeks. It is eating me from the inside out!!! I don't think people understand that if I don't share every single thing in my brain that I will blow up. Seriously though, I can't seem to quit thinking about it until I have had an in depth conversation about whatever my latest idea/epiphany (something everyone else learned a long time ago) with at least 4-5 (okay more like 45) different people. Until I get a good rounded view on what everyone else thinks about my epiphany/latest challenge I can't decide what I think about it/if I really am crazy/am not alone in my problems, etc.

Three weeks. Yup, that is how long it has been. Although I have told a couple of people about it, I have not even reached the minimum of four yet. Hence the blogging about it. I hope to reach my goal of 45 in one fell swoop. In other words I am being lazy and only want to tell it once and get massive amounts of compliments/comments instead of calling everyone individually... which I may still do just so you can tell me how amazing I am in person (yes, over the phone is now considered "in person").

Without further ado... okay, just one more thing. I was reading this article on people with anxiety disorders. One of the symptoms is the need for an abundance of encouragement from everyone and their dog, or at least everyone including strangers randomly met in line at the grocery stores. It had always driven my Dad nuts and I never knew it was a symptom. He is always asking why he constantly has to rave about whatever accomplishment I have achieved. Now I can tell him, "Because if you don't I am going to have a massive panic attack right here, and I won't be able to breathe, I will think I am going to die, and I will never try and do anything ever again in my life that might be met with even the tiniest trace of uncertainty that it was a good idea (i.e. dinner, cleaning, massaging, talking, living...)." So, this is why I have been baring my soul to the blogging world, I need you all to tell me what a good job I am doing, and how awesome I am. Yup, the comments from my last post have been my encouragement that you all may remain nice to me through this one.

Now, really. My shopping. I have always had issues with money. I would spend my allowance within about thirty minutes of receiving it. Saving has never been a concept I could comprehend. My Grandparents might comment that my money was always "burning a hole in my pocket." I have been much better since I married, but I had issues (as I know we all do). I wonder sometimes if my issues have to do with my parents. My parents are the epitome of frugal. They never wanted anyone to know how much money they made (on one of my college applications it asked how much my parents made and my Dad called the school to get out of telling them). But despite that I knew my parents were pretty well off. Still my parents bought lots of thrift clothes (we did get some new clothes for school) and even sewed some for us. My parents are also extremely indecisive. It drives me crazy!!! So, I rebelled against this. I went to McDonalds and fast food drive thru's for the first year of our marriage (my parents mad eit a very rare treat). Luckily after 30 pounds of added fat and finally getting sick of it, I don't do that much anymore. I will say I still enjoy a McD's coke a couple times a week (My Aunt likes to call it Mormon Alcohol).

I am a huge budget person. As in I like to make them, but never stick to them. I use Microsoft Money Plus and it downloads my expenses from our bank's online website so I can see exactly where my budget went out of control for that month. I love playing with our finances, figuring out where we could cut back to save but never actually doing it, or spending the supposed savings on some other random unneeded 'junk'.

After Ethan died I went on a huge spending spree. I maxed out my first credit card and tried to fill the hole he left in my heart. It didn't work. It gave me immediate satisfaction, but then I would try and hide my spending from my Hubby and my family. I would feel so guilty, but not near guilty enough.

Then Scott graduated and got a fantastic job at USAA and started making really good money. I wanted him to get to live like we should have been able to had I not been spending money left and right. So the random spending sprees changed to things like getting cable, pest control, a new house and living how I thought we should be living. I put gas, groceries etc. on credit cards and commenced to max out a couple more. When we started getting our student loan bills, Scott realized we were in trouble. He told me to cut back and we started to fight a lot about my spending.

It all came to a head when I realized we had no more room on credit cards, no money in our bank account and not enough money to get groceries and pay for gas. On a side note I do need to mention the amazing amount of medical bills incurred by our darling new addition. We have probably spent close to 5k out of pocket for Cade's medical bills. That of course went onto credit cards. So, I finally broke down and told Scott how bad it really was. We talked for a good week and I taught him how to use the finance program and showed him all our monthly bills. He has taken over paying the bills and I have asked him not to give me any access to money. He wanted me to keep my debit card, but I told him I couldn't. It is hard and even scary being out without money, but it is worth the freedom I will have in the long run, being out of debt and finally being able to live like I want to (years and years down the road). We called to cancel cable and received a month free (I have the day I need to call and cancel on my calendar with the phone number so we don't get charged for a month and so I don't try and 'forget' so we can have it for longer). We tried to cancel our land line but couldn't afford the cancellation fees, but got two months free and then realized with me building up my massage business I really needed a home phone line (my cell phone minutes wouldn't be enough). We figured that I would have to stay at home a lot more and not drive, and I can't go shopping for food on my own (My idea, not Scott's)

So, that is the epiphany and the actions taken, here are the blessings and the reactions. We had to get help from our church for a couple weeks of food. It is a program called the Bishop's Storehouse. I met with the Bishop (Scott stayed home with the boys) and brought in our budget and counseled with him for an hour. Then the Relief Society President came over and helped me fill out an order form for the food we would need for two weeks (they didn't have Cade's special formula and a couple of spices I needed, so we still had to spend some money at the store). I went to pick up the food and the lady who helped me load it into my car works for united health insurance. I mentioned I was a massage therapist and it turns our she had been looking for a massage therapist to go to one of her clients and do chair massages. United is paying for it all and I just show up and give massages to the people that signed up. It was only supposed to be a one time deal, but she has since emailed me and said that if it goes well she has some more clients she would like me to do this for. I am just grinning from ear to ear remembering how this all came about. I can't even tell you how much I had to humble myself to even ask for help.

We were going to have to get help again for another two weeks when Scott called to me while he was working on our bills on Saturday. He had a check for over a couple hundred dollars and a notice saying that we have been paying too much on our escrow (housing taxes calculated into your mortgage payment based on previous years taxes) and that our payments would be dropping $60/month. I was flabbergasted. I looked at Scott and uttered my Mom's favorite saying when thing are going well, "We've been paying our tithing." Scott looked at me and replied, "No, we've been paying too much on our taxes." Cheeky little thing! In the same pile of mail we finally got our notice that we would be receiving our stimulus package soon too.

I am so grateful for this church and the programs they have set in place. I did mention I have been praying and reading my scriptures too right? I'm sure you all just guessed that.

Despite the good things, it has been hard. We realized that we wouldn't be able to drive to AZ to see Scott's brother when he gets home from his mission (it would cost $450 round trip just for gas to get there and back, not including food and driving while we are there). There was also a fun family activity we were invited to that was 45 minutes away that we had to forgo because of gas prices. I have a whole theory about my generation and our entitlement issues. But that will be for another post.

I think it is just so cool to see the blessings and help we are getting right now. I know I often pray for help and don't always see the results until years down the road when I look back at the different situations. I also have trouble knowing that Heavenly Father has a grand master plan and my wants/needs may not be part of it. Or my thinking that maybe I have to go through this to be able to help other's later. But this time, we got what we asked for immediately and in so blatant a way. "We are struggling financially, here is some extra money, oh and lets lower the mortgage payments while we're at it." I love it! Would that it would happen more this way more often! Nope, I won't complain. I have been truly blessed, and truly avoided a potentially horrible situation (the ruining of our credit, etc.).

Four years...

Yes, his shirt does say, "Chicks dig me." Scott is a huge Jonny Bravo fan, and Jonny was even displayed on his grooms cake.

It was four years ago today that Ethan died. It is always a sad day, but not as hard as his birthday. I think his birthday is worse because it was supposed to be such a happy day. We had our first baby and were finally parents and we had so many hopes and dreams for him. His birthday is always a reminder of what might have been. The day he died was always a sad day, never anything more or less. We don't usually do anything for today. Sometimes we make it out to the grave, but most often it just passes without much going on. After all it is not a day any of us want to celebrate.

I am writing this post just to acknowledge that we have survived another year without him, and we are actually doing pretty well. We miss him often and are always wondering what kind of four year old he would be. I often tell Scott that it would be so weird having two boys so close together and then he not so subtly reminds me that if Ethan had lived Nathan would not have been born so close after him.

Anyway, let's see... Four years ago Scott was still in undergrad with two years to go. He has since graduated with a degree in Biology, started work at USAA, received four promotions and started his MBA. He has also managed to get me pregnant two more times ;). When Ethan died he decided he did not want to pursue a medical degree because he didn't know if he could handle death. He switched to dental, but that ended up not for him either. He is definitely a more mature person (as four years will mature anyone), but he is still me rock. I remember that the month after Ethan died we did not like to be away from each other. I left to shop with Mother-in-law for a dress for the funeral, and that was about the only time we were in seperate locations. About three months after the funeral is when our relationship really hit a point where it could either make us or break us. It was hard, but we chose the right path and are closer now because of it.

Four years ago I was an immature girl not knowing who I was or what I wanted in life, and not much has changed ;). Okay, so I know I want a family and to be married (duh!), and I know I want to eventually go back to school, but that is where it ends. But I am learning that it is okay to not know. I am just trying to flow with life and not worry about the future. As long as I have my family and the gospel I will make it. After all, I survived losing a child, I can handle anything, right?

Nathan was born 14 months after Ethan was born. It was very hard on my body. But sooo worth it. I wanted to be a mother here on Earth. I was not replacing my son, I could never do that, but I was replacing the responsibilities that come with having a living child. He was such a healing aspect for everyone. An easy baby who just loves everyone, and still does.

Caden has been a struggle. He has had similar issues that Ethan had (constipation since birth, extreme fussiness caused by the constipation). It has been hard to see another baby act so similar to the one who died. I had fears that I was going to lose him too, but mostly those were quickly washed away by a sense of peace. After all, whatever happens I know I can get through it (just please don't let it happen!). We have figured him out (mostly). He is on miralax and that has been a miracle for us. He finally sleeps through the night and is becoming the happiest baby I have ever seen. He adores his big brother and follows him everywhere. He cuddles and is especially fond of his dadadadada (as all of my kids are).

It has been a stressful, happy, memorable, fun, emotional four years, but I wouldn't have had it any other way (okay, I would bring Ethan back, but that is it!).

To see more pictures of him check out his birthday post in March.

MMSM

Makes Me Smile Monday
This is a blog carnival in which I am always wanting to participate but rarely fin the time on my busy Mondays (okay, so I usually just forget, and when I do remember I don't have anything witty or thought provoking to write about, not that today is any different in that regards...)

"However mean your life is, meet it and live it: do not shun it and call it hard names. Cultivate poverty like a garden herb, like sage. Do not trouble yourself much to get new things, whether clothes or friends. Things do not change, we change. Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts. God will see that you do want society." -Henry David Thoreau, Walden

I really like this quote. There are so many different parts, I probably won't cover them all. The very first sentence hits me like a ton of bricks. How many times have I complained about my lot in life. The truth is I don't think I would change anything. Well, I might bring Ethan back, but I know even that has shaped who I am today, and when you get right down to it, I thin I like who I am. I certainly enjoy helping people, and it helps to have an idea of what they are feeling. I love that I can understand people and the depths of their grief, because I have been at rock bottom (still hit it every now and then). And this so goes with our gospel and having a good attitude and staying positive.

The next line I am not sure I like. Not that it doesn't make sense, but I don't know many people who would choose poverty. Although, I do agree with living frugally (not that I succeed here either), and only taking what a person needs (Mom's for years have been trying to cultivate this in their children, "Take what you'll eat, and eat what you take!"). Scott and I are actually embarking on a new road in the neighborhood of this line. We are getting rid of cable *shock*, and eventually getting rid of our land line phone (they gave us two months free and we have to pay an amount we can't afford right now to get rid of it). We are determined to get out of debt and start saving more. The "Twilight" Party was my last "hurrah" before the poverty living begins. Not that I plan on missing our lady's nights at restaurants, I will just be eating dinner at home before hand and ordering water, must to have my social ;).

As for the next line, I like new clothes and I like meeting new people. I will make new friends, but I won't be getting any new clothes for a while :(. Although, if I lose enough weight and my clothes are falling off me, my hubby might have t relent... then again he may just tell me to start sewing (taking the clothes in).

Anyway, I don't have any thoughts on the rest. I am not quite sure what the last line means. Perhaps I should read "Walden."

Genius

This quote has been on my mind for some time.

"To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men-that is genius." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

I saw this quote first when I was a junior in high school. It has plagued me recently when a friend of mine complimented me on a characteristic I wasn't sure I liked. She said I handled people with the thought that they would act like me, or that they think like me, so I expect them to act in situations the way I would act. My friend on the other hand sees people with their faults and recognizes those and so doesn't expect more of them than who they really are.

So this quote has come back to haunt me. I am not even sure it is even pertinent to this particular situation. He could mean a person's faith, or deeper thoughts than just expectations of another person's actions. But it has really bothered me, I want to see people for who they are and not expect them to act and behave like I do for myself.

Just last night I was giving a massage to someone who told me that they hadn't known how to handle me when they first met me and it wasn't until later after I had borne my testimony about my son's death that they saw how real I was, and were able to approach me. I don't mean to make people uncomfortable with who I am, but I really hate "fake" people and try to stay as real to who I am, or who I think I am, as I can.

Anyway, I can see how both personalities would be good in different situations. It would be good to expect more of people and not limit them by what you think they can handle, say, while at work. While in situations where someone is acting contrary to what I would do and insulting people unintentionally and I tell them what they are doing, and they storm out and insist to everyone that I was attacking them, well in that situation it might have been better to have a little more flexibility in your thoughts of people so as to keep my big mouth shut... hypothetically of course.

So, what are your thoughts on this quote and what Emerson really meant by it?

Poo-poo in the potty train

I have decided to write a little bit about my potty training experience with Nathan so far.

Potty training puts the child at your beck and call... and they figure this out pretty quickly! The problem is, that you can't not take them to the bathroom when they say they have to go. Then of course they can push out a tiny little trickle every time. So when I am feeding Caden his bottle, cereal, putting him to bed, washing dishes, doing laundry, typing emails, writing blogs, or even using the restroom myself these are the times my two year old has to go poo-poo on the potty train (cute little saying, but oh how I hate those words now). So I drop everything, and take him to the potty, just so ten minutes later he can interrupt some other important task (like trying to change a nine month olds poopy diaper while he is trying desperately to roll away, or play with his very dirty "diaper toy") to take him yet again.

So the next thing I have tried is leaving the door open, light on and step stool right there so that he can go when ever he needs to. Here is what I have found: the toilet paper is one of the best toys ever (you have all seen the picture of the baby wrapped in tissue paper), washing hands is a much messier ordeal than it should be, he yells he's done way before he is really done, if he yells he's done and he really is and I don't come immediately he scoots off the toilet (leaving fun little streaks) and runs out of the bathroom and sits on the carpet, his chair, the couch etc. before I can catch him and reiterate in my loudest, sternest voice possible that, YOU DON'T GET UP FROM THE POTTY UNTIL I COME AND HELP YOU!"

Thus my life has been the past month. I hate potty training.

Tagged

Okay, so I know I shouldn't be so excited about this, but I am. This is the first time I have been tagged. I know I've run across the ones where they say if you are reading this then you are tagged, but those don't count :)! I am not mad at anyone, just excited that my cousin Amy thought of me! So here it goes:

To complete this tag you must:
1. Pick up the nearest book (at least 123 pages)
2. Turn to page 123. Find the 5th sentence
4. Post the 5th sentence on your blog
5. Tag 5 people

Okay, nearest book is "Twilight"(I am rereading them before a book group).
"I purposefully lumped myself in with the youngsters, trying to make it clear I preferred Jacob."
I am tagging: Kat, Jazmin, Jill, Jami and Hillery

News To ME!

So, it has come to my attention that people are using blogging to become famous! I mean, I know that blogging has been around for a while, but I didn't realize that mom's were starting to get into so much, and getting book deals and so on. My first find was that of "Because I Said So" the mom with the funny ebay auction (see her link on the left). Then my Uncle Jon just sent me a link to his niece's blog (His wife's siblings daughter). She is hilarious! She has a huge following, and is so funny and honest. I am addicted. Check it out!

There is also this whole world of blogging carnivals. I don't blog near enough to do it every day, but it might be fun to do every once in a while. Her carnivals are:









It is so nice to be sorta, kinda, not really related to someone so creative! Enjoy!

Coupon Madness

So after reading my friend Julie's blog I decided I wanted to start saving on my grocery shopping. I started on phase one with getting my parents Sunday newspaper this week and clipping the coupons for stuff I will use. I started getting online and learning about fanatical coupon clippers (don't plan on getting there, ever!), and learned how to take advantage of CVS and Walgreens.

My first trip to HEB my total was around $160 with $14.60 off in coupon saving. I was so excited, my next trip wasn't near as succesful, but I didn't expect it to be. I spent close to a hundred with a savings of $4.90. Tonight I decided to try my hand at CVS and Walgreens. CVS's big savings is with the extra care bucks you can earn, and most coupon clippers say to wait until you have a store coupon and a manufacturers coupon (yes, you CAN use both) and the stuff is on sale. At CVS I saved $15.00 and got $5.98 in extra care bucks (you keep the little coupon thing that prints out after your receipt and use it just like money on your next trip). Then... I went to Walgreens, which promted this post. I paid approx. $31 dollars out of pocket and saved $29!!! And this is all stuff I will use; bounce dryer sheets, miralax prescribed for Caden, flushable wipes for Nathan's potty training, colgate toothpaste, pull-ups, baby orajel, etc. I have to admit that you do have to do a bit of stock piling when you start coupon clipping. But man, this saving stuff is addicting.

I have also been printing coupons off the internet and signing up to receive free offers. I know that means I will get tons of junk mail, but I think it is worth the extra time sifting through it to save almost 50%! By the way, have you noticed that milk is almost $4.50 a gallon??? I had no idea it was up that much (yes, I buy it every week, no, I never looked at the price). It is on sale at walgreens for $3.49 until tomorrow. Let me know if you see any good deals anywhere!

President Gordon B. Hinckley

I have been so blessed to be born into this world a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Today I had the privilege of realizing just how lucky I have been to be a student of Gordon B. Hinckley. Our beloved prophet passed away last night at the age of 97 with almost 13 years of service to our Church as Prophet and more than 50 years in other various Church callings. I spent a lot of last night and today in tears, I will truly miss him. I feel like I knew him personally, almost like a grandfather. But I can't help but smile every time I think of his reunion with his wife and other Prophets. I have been watching BYU-TV and I just love hearing all of the jokes he told throughout the years. One I remember was when my parents were at the fourth dedication of the SA,TX temple. President Hinckley asked one of the brethren of the Temple committee to come up. He then asked the brethren how old he was. I don't remember the actual age the brethren gave, but it was somewhere in the seventies. President Hinckley exclaimed, "Why you are just a spring chicken, I don't dare buy green bananas anymore." (Okay, so I am sure that those were not his exact words, but you get the drift). Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. President Hinckley, thank you so much for all your hard work and the humor and easy spirit you carried with you while carrying what had to be the most heavy of earthly callings. We love and miss you, you will never be forgotten.

Great Poem

Mormon Women:
If you, or someone you know has ever felt overwhelmed by all they feel they need to do, Vickie Gunther of Redlands , California , wrote a hilarious poem, Dr. Seuss style, about how much LDS women try to take on. David B. Marsh used it at Women's Conference, and Vickie has given permission to share it.

The Girl in a Whirl by 'Dr. Sue' (a.k. a.. Vickie Gunther)

Look at me, look at me, look at me now!
You could do what I do if you only knew how.
I study the scriptures one hour each day;
I bake, I upholster, I scrub, and I pray.
I always keep all the commandments completely;
I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly.
I help in their classrooms! I sew all they wear!
I drive them to practice! I cut all their hair!
I memorize names of the General Authorities;
I focus on things to be done by priorities.
I play the piano! I bless with my talents!
My toilets all sparkle! My checkbooks all balance!
Each week every child gets a one-on-one date;
I attend all my meetings (on time! never late!)
I'm taking a class on the teachings of Paul,
But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all,
I track my bad habits 'til each is abolished;
Our t-shirts are ironed! My toenails are polished!
Our family home evenings are always delightful;
The lessons I give are both fun and insightful.
I do genealogy faithfully, too.It's easy to do all the things that I do!
I rise each day early, refreshed and awake;
I know all the names of each youth in my stake!
I read to my children! I help all my neighbors!
I bless the community, too, with my labors.
I exerci se and I cook menus gourmet;
My visiting teaching is done the first day!
(I also go do it for someone who missed hers.
It's the least I can do for my cherished ward sisters.)
I chart resolutions and check off each goal;
I seek each 'lost lamb' on my Primary roll.
I can home-grown produce each summer and fall.
But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all,
I write in my journal! I sing in the choir!
Each day, I write 'thank you's' to those I admire.
My sons were all Eagles when they were fourteen!
My kids get straight A's! And their bedrooms are clean!
I have a home business to help make some money;
I always look beautifully groomed for my honey.
I go to the temple at least once a week;
I change the car's tires! I fix the sink's leak!
I grind my own wheat and I bake all our bread;
I have all our meals planned out six months ahead.
I make sure I rotate our two-years' supply;
My shopping for Christmas is done by July!
These things are not hard; 'tis good if you do them;
You can if you try! Just set goals and pursue them!
It's easy to do all the things that I do!
If you plan and work smart, you can do them all, too!

It's easy!' she said and then she dropped dead.

School Boy Scotto

So I try not to post unless I have new pictures to add, but I just had to let everyone know the exciting news. Scott was accepted to the UTSA MBA program. He will be starting school this January to get his MBA. I am so proud of him. Anyway, that is all my news!

Conference Weekend

I love conference weekend! And not just because we spend the day at my parents eating lentil soup and homemade cinnamon rolls, but I always feel that the speakers are speaking directly to me. It makes me want to be an even better person, mom and spouse. And for a week or two afterward I do really well ;). Anyway, the big thing I got from conference this time is I need to do a lot better about teaching my little ones about the Saviour at home. So, I am looking for ways to do that through books, videos, pictures etc. If you have good ideas please, please pass them on!

Losing Weight

So, before I got pregnant with Caden I successfully lost 33 pounds. I have been debating about when I am going to go back on my diet, and realized that it is only a couple of months before we will be taking Christmas pictures. Sooo, here I go again. Today is day two, and I am determined to make it my two weeks without bread of any kind or sugar. Watching "The biggest Loser" and making my outfits on polyvore keeps me going. So here is my before picture.

Say goodbye to fat Christine!

My Favorite Websites

So, I have been finding all these cool websites (mostly by stealing from other people's blog lists) that I want to tell everyone about. First is the Delight website. It is a website that people submit fun and interesting items that Delight then puts on sale for a day. They have a new item everyday but only keep thirty or so in stock. Once it is out of stock they don't sell that item anymore. This is where I found my reusable grocery bags. They are also always looking for people to contribute items they have seen, definitely worth a looksie.

The Solutions website is an awesome site that I got from my friend Jaime's list. It is all about items that help to simplify your life. They have everything from kitchen gadgets to closet organizers. I love to organize and simplify my so this is definitely one of my favorites.

Okay, so my latest and coolest find is the Designing Outfits website. It takes the clothing items from dozens of different stores and you can mix and match them to make your outfit before you buy them. It is so addicting. This is my favorite outfit I have made so far.

So after you have all made awesome outfits, I want to see them!

Envirosax

So my Aunt and Grandma decided to get me the envirosax as my birthday present (a little early I know). I am so excited. I haven't used them yet, but I will this weekend. I just have to tell you how cute they are. Here is a picture of the ones I got and the other two packs. They make fantastic gifts!

They are so fun!

They can hold a lot!

They are so compact they can fit in the console between the front seats!

Here are the two other packs. I want them all!

I bought these on the delight website, see my link to it on the left under my favorite websites. Hurry! These are going fast as they were featured in Oprah's magazine! Kyra Sedgewick and Cameron Diaz are also happy Envirosax owners!

Funny Ebay Posting

Okay, so a friend sent me these links to a mom who posted this funny ebay message about the Pokemon cards she was auctioning off. Here is the ebay link, and the link to her great website. I would love to hear what you all think about it. It is hilarious.