# 45

I re-learned to play a song on my guitar. I use the term "play" very loosely. I've never been very good at guitar. By the time I decided girls who play guitar ROCK, I was an older teen. Not that that is too old to pick up a new instrument, but I just didn't have the knack for it that some people do. If I had wanted to be really good, I would have had to start much, much earlier in life. Besides that, I have unusually long nail beds. Even when my fingernails are clipped to the very shortest length possible, they still get in the way of my playing. I suppose, even still, if I had devoted hours a day to practicing I may have learned to easily contort my fingers into the most unnatural positions in a way that made beautiful music. Not the case. I'm always just a bit sad about that. I really do wish I was a natural guitar player.

But I can still sort of contort my fingers into three slightly ill-sounding chords. And luckily, I have three songs in my repertoire that include nothing but those three chords. So I picked up my guitar yesterday for the first time in nearly two years and plucked out a little something. I can at least take comfort in the fact that I was better at one point in my life than I am now.

I wrote this song in college (when I was taking guitar lessons and at the top of my game). I was taking an astronomy class during summer semester. Though it was not my favorite subject, I don't think I ever took a class more fun than this. For our final project, we had to do any kind of project on anything related to what we learned that semester. The professor told us to be creative. Incorporate something we enjoyed. So I wrote a song about astronomy. He said in all the years he'd been teaching, that was the first time someone wrote a song. He flickered the lights for me and made a big announcement as though I was performing in a big venue. Needless to say, I got %100 on that project.

It's all about the forefathers of astronomy. I had to get pretty creative with some of my rhyming words, but the facts all came straight from my text. It's a little cheesy and embarrassing and poorly executed, yet somehow I'm really proud of my little song.

# 91

I get a little tired of getting on the scale every day and watching my weight fluctuate a half a pound here and 2 pounds there. For better or worse. When I started my Healthy Competition 5 weeks ago, I thought this would be a good time to stay off the scale. Rather than watching myself loose a half a pound at the time, I thought I'd like to get on the scale after a month and see 5 pounds gone...so much more rewarding than the little bits here and there.

So I got on the scale when my month was up and to my surprise and excitement, I had lost 11 pounds. I was certainly not expecting anything close to that. And since then, I've been back on the scale daily. Some days I weigh a little more, others a little less. Over all, I think I've lost another pound since then. But getting on the scale daily is driving me bonkers (yet I'm addicted). I think I'm going to try and stay off the scale more often. A whole month was killing me, but maybe two weeks. I love seeing big results much more than small.

# 28

We built the awesomest fort EVER! It was legendary. Ok, maybe that's an exaggeration, but it was a pretty great fort. And to my surprise, Gray was the one who loved it best. He was in it from the moment we began building it until the last blanket came down. Even then, he cried some serious tears when we knocked that thing down after a few hours. I just couldn't imagine an 11 month old caring that much. All the crazies had a good time. We even had a little snack / picnic in there. I should do this more often. It took very little effort on my part.

# 9

I found my retainer AND wore it every night for a month. I have a permanent retainer on my top teeth, but never wear my removable one on the bottom. My teeth have moved BIG TIME! I'm pretty proud of myself for this one. I almost quit several times. The first night, my teeth hurt so bad I couldn't sleep. They hurt all day for an entire week. It gave me headaches and kept me up at night. Spencer tried to talk me into dropping this goal.

I was so surprised at how quickly my teeth moved. By the end of the month, my retainer was actually fitting. My teeth look so much straighter. Ahhh....this is why I wore braces for three years. (Although it reminded me why I HATED it.)

I wish I could say I kept up this habit. I have not worn it once since the month was up. It is such an annoyance.

# 67

I'm not very adventurous with what I pleasure my palate. I always want to be the kind of person that can try all kinds of new ethnic foods. I'm jealous of people who enjoy it, but I really don't. And Sushi. I wish I liked it. People who go out for sushi are always cool. And sushi looks beautiful and fun to eat. But I don't like it. That was the purpose for this goal.

Spencer made Carbonade... a Belgian dish he picked up on his mission. It doesn't look very adventurous. But if you had smelled the smells starting in my kitchen and filling up my home, you'd know it was adventurous. Especially for me. It was very tender and better than I expected...but a little strong for my liking. I'd probably eat it again, but don't think I'd order it if I were out.

# 16

I visited a farmer's market. I loved it. I went every Saturday for a few weeks after that. Unfortunately it's just not as convenient as shopping at the store when I'm already there. The produce was definitely better and for most of it, the prices were better too. I need to try to work it in my Saturday routine every summer. I think I especially loved it this year because we moved in the middle of the summer and didn't get to plant a garden.

# 92

No sweets for 3 weeks. When I wrote this list, I wasn't expecting to do the competition again. But here I am in the midst of it and that made a few goals a little more attainable. So I made it...three weeks with no sweets. And though there are moments of weakness where I really miss sweets. I don't rely on them. I hope this continues after the competition is over. I know I can make it on less.

And yes, I did eat sweets on Sundays. When I made this list, I never intended to go without on Sundays. That's what the note at the bottom about leaving the list up to my own interpretation is for. I knew what I meant when I wrote it.

# 89

Thanks to the Healthy Competition, I also ate three servings of veggies for two weeks. I cannot believe how good I feel. Though I never crave veggies, They fill me longer and give me so much more energy. It's funny how often people turn to caffeine for a pick me up when a few servings of fruits and veggies and a glass of water is so much better.

# 79...in progress...

I called Tammy a couple weeks ago. She's about to have her first baby. It will turn her life upside down. Man I love Tammy. Our conversation elevated my mood up about ten notches. I could talk to Tammy forever. Tammy always amazes me. No matter what is going on in her life...and some pretty incredible things have gone on in her life...she is always so down to earth and level headed. She was so calm about being just a week away form her due date. I'm a sobbing heap of hormones that last week. It was so fun to chat.

# 53

I taught the crazies a new Primary song. "When We're Helping We're Happy" A new Family Home Evening favorite. And it makes for an easy lesson on service or something. I make the kids think of a way to help each family member and we act it out as we sing.

Funny side note...

One time we helped dad cook and mom mow the lawn.

We have a hard time thinking of ways for the kids to help Grayden, but it usually involves giving him toys. Bringing him a diaper when he needs it or handing him his sippie cup is usually helping mom, not Gray.

# 90

So I flossed daily for a whole month. Why was I not doing that before? It feels so good. I got really addicted. Like I HAD to have clean teeth. During this month, I was flossing several times a day. Why is this a hard habit to keep up. I love the way it feels. This is a habit now set in stone. Mission accomplished.

# 83...in progress...

I know it's lame that I have to make a goal to communicate with my brothers 6 measley times per year. Even just six time is pathetic. I get along great with both my brothers. I love them. And when we're together, we always have a great time. So why is it that I have such a hard time picking up the phone and giving them a call. It's just not a habit, but it should be.

I keep updated on their lives through their blogs and my mom. I need to talk to them first hand. Sorry guys...you're one of my goals.

September '08: This is an easy time to remember to chat with Jeff. Both of our birthdays are the same week. (Me 27, Jeff 24) It was just a short conversation, but always fun to hear from Jeff.

September '08: Mike called me...I'm counting it. He was watching the Buckeye game and we only get basic television. He had to give me a few play by plays on how bad the Bucks were doing against Ohio University of all teams. Don't worry. We turned it around and won the game.

August '08: Spencer was gone at stake priesthood meeting. The crazies were asleep. I gave Mike a call. Him and I have such different interests. Sometimes conversation lulls. Not the case this night. We chatted forever. We talked about old friends and fun memories and Dad. I could have talked to Mike all night. I really missed him after this conversation. In fact, when Spencer came home and I was STILL on the phone with him, I was shocked to realize we'd been talking for well over an hour.

June '08: I got to see Mike in Utah. He took us to dinner and the farm.












August '08: I called Jeff. He's spending the summer in San Diego and finding a way to live life to it's fullest...as usual.

# 32...in progress...

January '09
Nothing creative AT ALL. Parker had been begging to paint something over winter break and I finally got out wood scraps and let the crazies paint. Fun enough.
***add pictures

December '08
Gingerbread houses.
***add pictures

November '08
Made Indian Headresses for Thanksgiving.
***add pictures

October '08
Carved pumpkins, of course.
***add pictures

September '08:
I just about missed September. It was early evening on the last day of the month and Spencer reminded me. We were so busy getting used to Parker's school schedule, I completely forgot. Thanks Spence!

I had to throw something together fast. We cut out hair from magazines in the shape of mustaches and glued it to cardstock. Anything to do with costumes goes over well. And it was hilarious.

Grady wanted nothing to do with the mustache but I HAD to have a picture.

August '08:
The boys painted t-shirts. Not really a creative one, but they had fun getting messy. Reid got more paint on himself than on the t-shirt (on purpose).

July '08:
We desperately needed crafts on our road trip to Utah. So this went to my monthly activity.
Foam sticker masks.

June '08:
This month also came from the road trip. I planned it that way. Fun with pipe cleaners.



May '08:

I have a stack full of Family Fun clippings full of fun kid crafts and activities. I save them with intentions of doing them one day, but never do. That's what inspired this goal. Why don't I do them? I thought it would be fun. I like crafty things. It would motivate me to do something new and constructive with my kids every month. It might teach them some new fine motor skills...like cutting and painting and gluing and maybe develop their creative side...heaven knows they have one.

It didn't occur to me this would teach me patience...something I'm definitely lacking. I see these darling crafts in Family Fun. I know how to do them. Because they're easy crafts, I could put them together so quickly and they could turn out pretty nearly perfect. But the point of this was to do it with my kids. I let them pick from my file of clippings. They of course chose my least favorite...airplanes. Reid got marker EVERYWHERE. They couldn't figure out the rubber band launching thing which turned into crying fits from Parker. They were more impatient then I was while waiting for me to cut and tape. Let's just say it involved a lot of whining.

I actually thought this was going to be fun. Silly me. Maybe after 33 months of this, it will be fun...and maybe by February of 2011, I'll have learned some patience. This is good for unexpected reasons.

(You tape a bendy straw on the plane and launch them with a rubber band.)

# 21

As of today, I have folded laundry...on laundry day...for an entire month. WAHOO!

BEFORE

(Picture me wrinkling my nose...Bewitched style.)

AFTER

Ok, so it wasn't THAT easy. But...it's not so bad if I do it as I go. It only takes like 15 minutes per basket. But a whole days worth takes way longer. I used to always fold laundry. I have been so bad since Gray was born. Or more like...since I was pregnant with Gray. It's SO NICE to get clean clothes out of my closet, rather than from a basket of wadded up laundry.

My trick? I put the basket of clean clothes out in an annoying place...the middle of my living room, on my kitchen table, or on the kitchen counter. If I leave it there, rather than taking it upstairs...it gets folded real quick. I hope I can keep this up. I much prefer life this way.

# 10

I bought three new pair of earrings. One of which I am currently wearing...which explains the freckled back drop.

# 8

That's right...I'm sportin' myself some new jammies.


I cannot tell you how ratty my PJ's were. I have several shirts that once belonged to one of my brothers. We haven't lived under the same roof in nearly ten years. That's how bad my PJ's were. I have bought new PJ's since we've been married...but they've all been maternity. And I do get a new pair every Christmas Eve, but flannel jammies are WAY too hot for Texas summers.

For some reason I hate spending money on pajamas. No one even sees them. Even still, I picked these off the clearance rack at Target...I spent $15 total and came out with two pair of PJ's. Not the cutest in the world, but a vast improvement from what I had been wearing. And I got them in time to take them on my trip to Utah so I didn't have to thoroughly embarrass myself.

# 3

Mom took me to get a pedicure...one of our FAVORITE past times. To me...it's completely self indulgent...in a good way. It helps me relax and totally forget about my kids for an hour of my life.
Thanks Mom!

# 25

We got out of the house everyday last week. It was a nice change of scenery for me. I spend way too much time within the walls of our house. I don't get out as much since Gray has been around. Packing up three small kids in a car (then out, then in, then out again) is too much hassle. It was fun to make myself get out and do things, but it was an exhausting week. Chores piled up at home. It made me realize I should do it more often though. Not every day out of the week, but I CAN in fact handle three kids in public and we do have fun. Truthfully, there were far less tantrums at the playground, pool, and library than there would have been at home.

Last week we made it to see Horton Hears a Who, to the park, the pool, the library, Denny's, Sam's Club, church, the mall playground, and the tennis courts. I tried to remember my camera everywhere, but I didn't. I took pictures on my cell, but I'm lame and don't know how to download them to my computer. So here's (most of) our week in pictures...

Swimming

Denny's

Library

Mall Playground

Tennis