my b-day

My whole family woke me up and hinted, "Do you want to sleep some more or do you want breakfast?" After they sang to me (love Mack's off-key Happy Birthday), I went and found a beautiful breakfast table set for me! The caramel pecan pull-aparts were divine! And I like this card from Hunter...

I asked why he crossed out "from Hunter" and he said, "I was going to give it to you so you'd already know who it's from."

I took Preslie and Hunter to church (Mack was sick), and got to wear the new coat Dax got me! It's the first coat I've ever picked out myself. After our nice church meetings, we all had a nap.

Today Dax's grandmother passed away. I am truly relieved and happy for her to not suffer in her mortal body and to be reunited with her eternal sweetheart. Grandma Nola was the last of our grandparents to pass away and our kids' last great-grandparent. I am grateful that my kids will remember having a great-grandmother. And so grateful we went and saw her on Valentine's Day. That visit was kind of sad; she wasn't too well and as Dax kissed her goodbye, I got that tingley feeling that told me that it really was goodbye.

I got many good wishes today...hugs, calls, etc. Dax cooked every meal and they were all delicious. He made a wonderful cheesecake for me, too. I am lucky that my B-day was on Sunday because a few weeks ago, Dax and I started a no-treats-on-weekdays goal. I believe it has really cut a lot of calories out of our diets. I always thought I was the one with the will-power in our relationship, but he has done way better than me. He's awesome.


It was a great birthday. It always is.

I {heart} my family

A couple years back, Hunter started saying, "I have a glow in my heart about you" everytime he was feeling the love. That is exactly how I feel lately. My kids and my husband are SO CUTE!










Dax is the best. I just love him. He is a great Dad, always trying to stay involved in the kids' lives, giving encouragement and also that good fatherly discipline. I am so glad he wrestles with the kids. Their giant anvils for heads scare me!


















Dax put his name in some drawings for some different deer and elk hunts and this week he found out he won a deer hunt in the Book Cliffs! He was so excited. And his phone rang constantly for 2 days after with all his buddies calling to say "I hate you!" or "Congrats!"

Here is the delicious beef stew Dax made the other day for us.


Mack has been begging me every hour every day to make a gingerbread house so I finally just bought some graham crackers and some clearance Valentine candy and let the kids go to town.

My sister Trina is so sweet. She sent me a box of clothes and Preslie a necklace and then a week later sent the boys some fun Cars games. Hunter and Mack are really good opponents for Tic-Tac-Toe. Hunter loves to win (even against a 2-year-old), and Mack doesn't mind losing.. he just loves to clear the board after the game.

I was able to go to Parents Day in Hunter's class this month and work with him on a variety of subjects. It was fun to see him do his thing and confirm what I already knew: He is a smarty!

Dax and I visited with his and Preslie's teachers at parent teacher conference and they are both doing so well. I feel so blessed to have children that are quick learners and good readers.
(Any of my fellow WJHS alumni may recognize Hunter's teacher from the class of '98- small world.)



Preslie is also doing excellent- The reading speed goal for the end of second grade is 90 and she currently reads at 155. Again, so blessed to have kids with natural abilities. I oversee that homework gets done and occasionally explain new concepts, but Preslie usually motivates herself to get her school work done. She is one smart girl. And those smarts are coupled with just as much (or more) sass!


Preslie enjoys attending Activity Days in our ward and I love to see her learn things from her leaders that she'd never allow me to teach her. She is no longer a little girl and it is kinda weird, but fun in a lot of ways, too. I don't get to dress her and hardly get to do her hair. She doesn't really like the clothes I pick for her and I've stopped sewing adorable skirts for her because they are not her style. I appreciate that she has her own ideas and style. My mom let me out of the house wearing some wacky stuff as a teen and didn't bat an eye at me (unless it was immodest). I so appreciate that freedom she gave me. I try to do the same for Preslie. It is like they always say about kids, "You have to pick your battles."

I went on a girls' night out last night with my friend Jaclyn. She took us to Cafe' Rio and then we just browsed and shopped the Easter stuff and of course the winter clearance racks. I couldn't believe our Wal-Mart's clearance: so much stuff for so cheap. The Miley Cyrus/Max Azria clothing line at Wal-Mart was not a big hit out here in the land of country folk and sub-zero temps, but I know cute and hip when I see it and it was all on sale for dirt cheap. Most of it is too teeny-bopper for a late-twenties Mom, but I managed to grab some jeans and a cute checked top. I got other clothes for the kids for next winter, too.



I could not pass up the little tank dress, for the skirt on it had me at "hello". It also had me at 3 bucks. But alas, it was too short for me so I bought an extra small for Preslie, knowing she may not like it but it was a risk I was willing to take. I simply could not leave those tulle ruffles behind.


She loves it.
Go Mom.
(And go, Miley.)

"I heard Meth works good for that"

That is what my husband said just now when I said I need more energy. Thanks, sweets!

This is what I have been spending some of my energy on lately...

I have been struggling getting the kids to take responsibility for their rooms, clothes, and in helping the house run smoothly. I have tried to give them jobs around the house but it was not consistent enough; many days I found it was just easier to do it myself. And then I remembered my Mom. She was SO patient in teaching us from the time we were toddlers to do each household job. We had a job chart wheel and each kid had a certain job for a week and then the chart would turn and we'd do the next job for a week. I'm so so glad and grateful she took the time to teach me how to sort/wash/dry/fold 10 people's clothes and to scrub a shower and mop a floor and do dishes. It has REALLY come in handy as a Mom! So I sent out a message on Facebook for ideas on how people divide up chores in their house and my friend Kelly responded with a website called Goal For It. I checked it out and made online job charts for my kids and it's been successful in keeping all of us focused on what is expected of us, myself included. Not only do the kids know what they should be doing each day, but I know that I need to set aside time to work with them on the household job I assign them each week. Turns out, Preslie is really good at scrubbing a toilet! And Hunter has been more motivated to get dressed by himself in the morning (I put that as one of his jobs). So far, this system has worked well. I like that it is online (no paper cluttery charts do deal with), the kids can click a sticker when they complete each job so they feel cool, and they can earn points and save up for rewards that I have set up for them. Hunter redeemed 50 of his points last week for Popcorn and a movie at home. Preslie is saving up 500 points for a $20 shopping spree at her favorite store.

The best thing is that the kids are learning how to do the jobs that keep a house running and we are working as a team instead of Mom doing everything. And who wants their kids growing up not ever knowing how to run a washing machine? I've seen a grown person that really didn't know how because his Mom always washed his clothes for him.

No, no. My kids will know how. They may not love it, but they will be able to do it.

For the LOVE

I heart February.
It is not January anymore.
Now I can really start on my New Year's goals.
It is closer to spring.
Cinnamon lips and Reeces hearts are delicious.
I love any excuse to love my Sweetheart more.
And last but not least... I was born in February!

Other things I love...

My House:
We finished it and moved in one whole year ago!


Young LOVE:

Look at what Tyrel's girlfriend did to his bedroom! Completely covered his bedroom/bathroom/closet with LOVE! Awesome.


My baby's hair:

So big, so white (not for long, boo hoo! It is coming in darker), and so curly!
I love when he is in the tub and I can make ringlets with my finger. Oh, you beautiful boy, I can't stand it. I thank the lucky combo of genetics that gave me this gift. I won't question how it happened, I will just enjoy it while it lasts!

He's BAAAACK!

Pinch me. It is Saturday and my husband was here. The WHOLE day. Don't know what happened to his supposed 4-day work weeks; I haven't seen my husband during a weekend for a month. It has been all work all the time.

Staying in my pajamas today until 4:30pm was just nice.

And so was the Mexican dinner Dax cooked. Pork burritos with fresh tomatillo salsa {Insert Homer Simpson drooling sound here}. And sorry no pic. Too hungry.

So guess what's awesome? I went to the cannery this week for the first time and gots me some food storage! Yeah, I am excited. Only not about the dog I hit on the way home. Did not love the sound of doggy hitting bumper. As it ran away, I tried to follow it home to tell the owners I am sorry, but it disappeared into the night.

Also, Preslie went to the district poetry out loud competition and did really well.

She did not place, and was sad about that, but we saw this truck on the way home and snapped a few bad pictures...

Ok, next time we'll wait (and wait and wait) until it's warm here and take the pic when we don't have Strep. Yes, strep. Which brings me to the fact that my Salt Lake trip got cancelled again. The forces that be are trying to keep me here in this frozen wasteland. No one understands how cold it is and has been for 3 months straight. I told myself not complain on my blog about it, but I can't take it anymore. Negative temps at night and in the 20s as a high during the day? WHY do people live here (including me)? Oh, and I thought the sun still came up in the winter... no. If it has, it is covered by gray blah. I long for a 40 degree day with the sun shining! Oh!

Going to snuggle and watch a movie with my real, live husband! TTFN.