# 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

# 97

I set out today to find some Fun-Dip candy. It reminds me of childhood so I enjoyed it with the crazies. Reid LOVED it. Parker liked it. Gray acted like he wasn't so sure, but begged for more. While at the candy shop, Parker found a candy necklace. That seemed to fit the theme...it reminds me of being a kid. So I bought him one. Reid didn't want one. I was excluding him. It was actually a really fun outing. I can't remember the last time I went into a candy store. Afterwards we just sat in front enjoying candy and laughing our heads off.

# 46

I can cross my first item off my list. Last night I called in a voted for my favorite American Idol for the first time ever. I have to admit it was really fun. It gave me a little rush. It was addicting. I just kept hitting redial until I had voted for David Cook like 35 times.


Now that I've done my part, I think I'll be even more upset than usual if he doesn't win. Normally, I get annoyed when my choice gets the boot, but I never do anything about it. I finally have. It was just a shame David Archuletta wowed the judges so well last night. I thought Cook was smoking...but Archuletta got the better reaction. That quite often tends to determine the winner.

Archuletta bugs me to no end. So Spencer decided to call in and vote for him last night...since I was so set on voting for Cook. Stinker. Thankfully, he only voted one time.

Since I played a part in determining the winner, I'm looking forward to the results show more than ever. The only thing we can say for sure at this point is that David will definitely win tonight.

****As a side note, my voting paid off. Cook won by 12 million votes. He had 56% of the votes. Not too shabby. IT was a humorous source of contention for Spencer and I. We can't ever seem to agree on music.

Finding Katie; 101

101 things to do in 1001 days

start date: May 13, 2008
end date: February 7, 2011

In an effort to find myself...to recognize that I'm doing more than just sitting at home with the kids all day, (and to make myself do more than just sit home with the kids all day) I'm beginning a list. A list of 101 things to accomplish in 1001 days. This is not my life list of things I want to do before I die, but just a list of things to do to feel better about myself. A list of things I need to stop putting off until tomorrow.

Bringing Sexy Back
1. Buy an impractical pair of shoes just because I love them
2. Get an expensive haircut
3. Get a pedicure
4. Develop a better skin care routine and stick to it for a month
5. Paint and take care of my fingernails for one month
6. Fit into 1 item from my box of skinny clothes
7. Whiten my teeth
8. Get myself some new PJ’s (sometime other than Christmas)
9. Find my retainer and wear it every night for a month
10. Acquire some new jewelry
11. Buy some cute workout clothes

Going Green
12. Change the majority of the light bulbs in the house to CFL’s
13. Put a soda bottle in each toilet tank so save water
14. Cook an entirely organic meal
15. Plant sweet peas
16. Buy produce at a farmers market

Releasing My Inner Domestic Diva
17. Finish my Heart Crazies quilt that I started in college
18. Sew myself something to wear
19. Cook a new food every day for a week
20. Learn to bake bread
21. Fold laundry immediately after I take it out of the dryer for a whole month
22. Decorate Parker and Reid's room

The Crazies
23. Make each kid a new costume for the costume box (sometime other than Halloween)
24. Go to Chuck E. Cheese (or something like it) for no reason at all
25. Get out of the house with the kids everyday for one week
26. Buy something from the ice cream man
27. Take the kids to Disneyland
28. Build an awesome fort
29. Teach the kids to write their names
30. Make my kids a chore chart
31. Throw a party for no reason
32. Plan a monthly craft / activity (out of the norm)

Just For Fun
33. Paint a wall orange
34. Learn to play a new song on the piano
35. Host at least 5 parties (for any occasion)
36. Get away with Spencer
37. Go to a concert
38. Buy myself flowers
39. Get pillows for my bed
40. See a movie by myself
41. Go camping…include s’mores
42. Start my business
43. Go roller skating
44. Go see a guy movie with Spence
45. Relearn a song on my guitar
46. Call in and vote for my favorite American Idol
47. Buy something from a thrift store
48. Get something new for my kitchen table
49. Go antique shopping
50. Wear a costume somewhere
51. Perform something (I'm not sure what just yet)
52. Apply for a writing job

The Good Word
53. Teach the kids a new primary song
54. Share church material...a Book of Mormon, a pass along card, a video...whatever
55. Attend a convert baptism
56. Make a non-member friend
57. Keep a scripture journal everyday for a week
58. Read the Book of Mormon
59. Say an entire prayer of gratitude
60. Get a new temple dress
61. Study my patriarchal blessing
62. Read the Doctrine and Covenants

Just Act Natural; things I should have been doing already
63. Revisit a budget
64. Make a food storage plan and get started
65. Do the dishes every night for a week without complaining or asking for acknowledgement
66. Go a whole day with no TV (weekday)
67. Try a totally new food
68. Read a book
69. Learn all the functions on my camera
70. Make my bed everyday for a month
71. Attend at least 5 community events (workshop, recitals, classes, lectures, seminars, etc)
72. Get rid of some toys
73. Re-organize my files of magazine clippings

Scatter Sunshine
74. Take the boys to visit a nursing home
75. Run a 5K for a cause
76. Call Grandma 4 times.
77. Write notes to 10 people I admire
78. Write a missionary
79. Call 5 old friends
80. Send Christmas cards
81. Send a birthday card to every niece and nephew
82. Bake cupcakes for some one
83. Touch base with my brothers at least every other month (or 6 times a year)
84. Volunteer in the classroom (Parker will be in school by the time I'm finished with this)
85. Send homemade Valentine’s to people I love
86. Make a calendar of birthdays I should remember (and remember them)
87. Go 3 whole days with no negativity (not necessarily in a row)

For The Health Of It
88. Run a half marathon
89. Eat 3 servings of vegetables everyday for two weeks
90. Floss everyday for a month
91. Stay off the scale for a month
92. Go 3 weeks with no sweets (3 weeks in 1 week intervals)
93. Visit the dentist
94. Get a physical

Memory Lane
95. Get a family picture taken
96. Organize my pictures in something other than a card board box
97. Find a candy that reminds me of childhood and enjoy it with the crazies
98. Finish two blog books
99. Scan in pictures from an old family album
100. Download 10 songs that bring back fun memories

Proof
101. Document this list...include pictures


***I have the right to interpret anything on my list how I choose.