LOOK!! I SIT UP!!

Hey Everyone!! Its me again!! I've missed you and so much has happened since I posted last. I'm still trying to figure out how my legs can move in a proper movement to produce motion... but hopefully soon i'll have that down. Until then, I've learned to sit up all by myself!!!


So we all know that I've always been super strong.. even before I started workin out.. but NOW, I've got some balance and stability too!!! My mom still puts pillows around me for when I get a little too excited and loose control... but for the most part, I've got this whole sitting thing down!! I can see SOOOO much more from here. Way better than laying down. And I can reach my toys. And fall over laughing, literally.

Mom also took a video of it, maybe tomorrow she can put up one with better quality. Apparently dad hasn't gotten around to teaching her the importance of HD so that she can truly appreciate that awesome FLIP video cam... but maybe one day she'll grasp on...



Dude. You can't even see my face!! Seriously Dad, we have GOT to talk to her about this...

Welp, until next time,

Peace, Love, and Chunky Thighs :)

Brinner

Last night we got to have the missionaries over. I like to get a request from the missionaries for a meal option because I can't imagine having to go to house after house never knowing what's going to be on your plate or if you'll be able to choke it down. Plus, I'd imagine that there are a few choice meals that they'd miss from back home. So I asked, and they requested pancakes.

Now for anyone who has ever had breakfast at my house before, you know that I am a waffle girl. I even make french toast... but pancakes? I fail at. I always burn them. Or at least burn the outside and leave the inside a little mushy. But it wasn't TOOO bad last night. The first one burnt to the pan and I couldn't even get it off. Ha. But after that, it was ok... OK.

But it was a good night anyway. We had sausages and eggs and orange juice and grapes. It was all very yummy and I eat WAYYY to much!! I ate more last night than I even ate at Christmas or Thanksgiving. I don't remember the last time I ate that much!! :) But yeah, all in all, despite the pancake failure, it was a good time and I hope it wasn't too awful for everyone else.

Peace, Love, and CookieDough.

Valentine x 2

What a LUCKY girl I am!!! I GOTS ME TWO VALENTINES THIS YEAR!!!!!

One who kept me company all day and cuddled and snuggled even though he had to have 4 immunizations earlier that morning. Aiden is such a light in my life. He always makes me smile and feel so special!! I am so grateful for him and all that he brings into my life.


And the other, TK :) is the perfect valentine! Three years running he has brought me roses. (One for each valentine's day we have spent together) We may not have much but we've got each other and a wonderful child and we can't ask for anything more than that.


After putting Aiden to bed (because we are too cheap for a sitter) we had a lovely valentines day right here at home!


We had a beautiful dinner for two (which TK made) and some chocolate covered strawberries for dessert (MY FAVORITE!!!)


TK made a beautiful candle-lit dinner for me.. if I do say so myself.. fettecini alfredo with carrots, peas, and broccoli! And to top it off, sparkling cider! It was SOOOO good!! And I just love him so much!!


See my flowers?!?! Aren't they perrty :) and even 3 roses amongst all the color!! I am so lucky to have such an amazing husband who always knows how to make me feel beautiful and loved and so very very blessed!


Hope you all had as wonderful of a valentine's day as we did!

Peace, Love, and CookieDough.

Confession.

One of my biggest fears is that I will eventually develop early-onset Alzheimer's.

It is a fear that has haunted me for quite some time now. Ever since I got married. I mean. My memory has been crappy. Really crappy. I forget so much and each day it gets worse. But it has never worried me until I got married. No... wait. That's a lie. Before that... but it seemed to scare me so much more after I got married. Because then, it'd hurt TK too. I mean, if it were to happen... i'd be gone. It wouldn't really effect me. Not nearly as much as those close to me.

My memory seems to get worse. It seems to have gotten worse daily ever since the accident. Who knows. Maybe that's just an excuse. Maybe its just something I conjured up in my head.. but it makes sense. I recieved a head injury in the accident. I don't remember the accident. I don't remember the day or the first few days that I spent in the hospital. I don't remember anyone telling me my diagnosis... ? Or whatever the term is for the damage that was done to me. So I don't even know if it is possible that my crappy memory and it are related.

But regardless. I hate that memories of my childhood are so hard to recall. I hate the thought of loosing the memories that I DO have. I hate the thought of my family and especially TK and Aiden having to deal with me and watch as I basically deteriorate mentally and physically. Ahg. I'd hate myself for it. (If I had any idea that it was happening)

Its a disease in which the causes are unknown and the prevention hasn't been determined. It just comes to who it comes to and there's nothing you can do about it.

Plus, the average life expectancy for those with AD is four to six years after the date of diagnosis. And if its early-onset it means BEFORE age 65. I couldn't imagine leaving so early in life. I just don't wanna!! And I don't want to leave all that I love behind me!

So yes. This is one of, if not my BIGGEST fear.

Peace, Love, and CookieDough

The Suck.

So I was cleanin house the other day and I feel a huge draft coming from the corner of our dining room... I go and check it out only to find an open window, about 4 inches or so. Now its not a corner room or anything, its right in the middle of the house, we just rarely hang out in it. Its a room that we just walk THROUGH a lot.. hence the not really noticing it before.

Curious, I checked all the windows and found three others open about an inch or two.. Welp I guess THIS explains the ridiculously and unexplainably high energy bills we got recently. Argggh. They must have been open since we moved in!! How stupid are we to never have checked our windows!! I mean, we don't ever open any windows.. and all of our blinds are always shut... but gosh, i feel stupid. Mainly because I could've saved us a lot of money just by checking the stupid windows.

I feel dumb.

Peace, Love, and CookieDough.

HECK YES!!!

Ok. So I'm a little delayed on this whole "catching on" thing.. but I finally figured out why SHE^^ looks so familiar!! The one on the right. For those of you who don't recognize this pic, or rather the show it is from, these are two doctors on Grey's Anatomy. I love this show. It is a guilty pleasure. But I don't care. ANYWHO. Back on topic. This is Rachel Taylor. Also known very well for her role in ....



Drum Roll Please...







RUMM BUUMMM BUMMM RATTA TATTT RRRUMMMMM BADADADADA




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i'll give you a hint...
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YUPP!!!
TRANSFORMERS!!!!!



This makes me happy. I LOVED her in Transformers and I LOOOVEEE her in Grey's. So far anyway. Hopefully they keep her around!!

Peace, Love, and CookieDough.

T.G.I.Friday

I want to have a TGIF rewind!! Does anyone else remember TGIF?!?! My siblings and I used to watch it EVERY Friday night!!! Full House, Family Matters, Boy Meets World, Step By Step, Dinosaurs, Hangin' With Mr. Cooper, Two of a Kind, Clueless, and Perfect Strangers.

Given, not all of them were "classics" in my book. But they were good enough to make it onto TGIF!! (Which, fun fact: while held on FRIDAY, stood for Thank Goodness Its FUNNY)

Anywho. I want to hold a TGIF Reunion or whatever the word is that I'm trying to think of... Who wants to join in on it with me?! We'll pick a friday, or two, or even more if its a hit! and everyone can come over and we'll have yummy snacks!! Who's up for it?!?!


My plans for THIS weekend?

Get ready for Valentine's Day!! I still haven't gotten everything that we need for our date night in.. (Instead of getting a babysitter, we'll just start after Aiden's bedtime at 7:30) TK is cooking me dinner and I'll prob make chocolate covered strawberries for dessert cuz they're both of our favorites!! :) mmmm mmmm good! I'm so excited!! Not only do I get great food but I don't even have to cook it! So yeah, got some shoppin to do and some ideas still to think up.


And then I've gotta work on the house.. TK has already starting digging in on it. I tell you people, no one has been allowed in our house in quite some time due to the absolute DISGUST i have toward myself for letting it get so bad!! But he already finished one room and got a really good headstart on the next!! He even took the tree down!! YES!! THAT is how bad it was, our CHRISTMAS tree was still up!!!

I also need to put in some time to work on my music time. Gotta have something to keep these kids entertained!! It is HARD WORK to prepare stuff every week and I have to admit I fail to prepare for it a lot. It is something that I really need to put a lot more effort into and try to prioritize and manage my time better so as to get it done every week!! Those kids deserve it!


And then once the house is in order and all of my responsibilities have been fulfilled, hopefully we'll get to go out and do something Saturday night, or maybe have some friends over for dinner and games or something.. that would be fun! I LOVE hanging out with all of our friends!!

So we have a full weekend ahead! I'm stoked! And hope you enjoy yours!!

Peace, Love, and CookieDough.

Break Time With Dad

The boy and I LOVE to visit TK at work!! As I've mentioned before, TK is currently working at Sam's Club. And opposed to AMC, I can actually take Aiden there to hang out!! (AMC was cool, but the movies were too loud for Aiden... or the other way around.. it just depended on the day.) So now we get to visit Daddy on his lunch break and have food from the Sam's Cafe!!

We LOVE it, a hot dog and a giant drink for $1.50!! What's not to love?!?! Or a chocolate shake for $1.50?? Or even the pizza. Its all good. And Aiden loves the days where he doesn't have to go without seeing his dad. He lights up anytime TK looks at him!! They're adorable together. (Even if TK refuses to smile for the camera).


Peace, Love, and CookieDough.

Fill 'er Up!

So everyday as I drive to drop off one of the boys at school, I pass by this older looking gas station. Never had I filled up there but one day I realized that it sells gas for $0.11/gal CHEAPER than anywhere else!! So I pulled over one day and got out to fill up my car. There is NO card machine, you have to pay inside... but its worth it right?? There is only 3 pumps, one for each type of fuel. So you have to wait your turn if its not free. BUT CHECK OUT THESE PUMPS!! They're so awesome!! It's been forever since I've seen dials like this OUTSIDE of my Car Odometer.










Made my day.

Peace, Love, and CookieDough.

Ya Gotta Be Kidding Me

Confession: A Roman Catholic App

Description
Designed to be used in the confessional, this app is the perfect aid for every penitent. With a personalized examination of conscience for each user, password protected profiles, and a step-by-step guide to the sacrament, this app invites Catholics to prayerfully prepare for and participate in the Rite of Penance. Individuals who have been away from the sacrament for some time will find Confession: A Roman Catholic App to be a useful and inviting tool.

- Custom examination of Conscience based upon age, sex, and vocation (single, married, priest, or religious)
- Multiple user support with password protected accounts
- Ability to add sins not listed in standard examination of conscience
- Confession walkthrough including time of last confession in days, weeks, months, and years
- Choose from 7 different acts of contrition
- Custom interface for iPad
- Full retina display support




Seriously People?!?! SERIOUSLY!?!??! How can you be so lazy with something as important as your spiritual well being!! How ridiculous.

dislike.

Peace, Love, CookieDough.

Decisions

Alright, TK is beating me in the blogging so far this month, so I guess it is time I try to catch up!

Still working, still stressed, still fighting for more time, but still loving life!

This week I went to enrichment and filled in for a friend on her presentation. It went ok and thats about as best as I could've expected seeing as how I only had the afternoon to prepare (while taking care of 3 boys). But the enrichment as a whole went very well and I'm really enjoying getting to know the sisters in the ward... its about time, right?

So I have found that come August, I will probably no longer be working. Both boys will be in school by then and so Gina will reduce her hours to part time so she can pick them up at school (which I TOTALLY respect!! I want so badly to be able to be there for my kids when they get home from school.. this is my dream!)

So this gives me a kick in the butt. It gives me plenty of time to come up with a plan and execute it to get my butt back into school. But it brings up plenty of questions.. the main one being WHAT WILL I STUDY!?!?

I've always loved psychology and its what I went to school for originally.. well. the social sciences in general.. but once I got into classes I really loved psychology the most.

But, as much as I love studying it, there is really nothing that I would want to do with my degree once I get it. The only thing I'd consider in the field would be a school counselor for like high school.. but not even that thrills me.

I've also always been interested in cosmetology. Not because I have any natural talent but because the job itself appeals to me. Being able to work from home, make your own schedule, mainly the flexibility because, like i said, i WANT to be home with my kids.

Other interests:
I have always LOVED french. I started in 8th grade and continued on through highschool. I would have continued in college too but was trying to get some GE's out of the way first and then school got put on hold.

I also love human relations... but that's more in relation to sociology rather than HR.

Child Development is another study that I thoroughly enjoyed. Learning about all of their stages and what goes through their little minds!! I am always so curious as to what they think and how they draw their conclusions and so on and so forth. Children fascinate me.

But most all of this keeps coming back to psychology and all of its different facets (may not be the proper word but its all i could come up with so work with me). I'd love to study marriage and relationships and family and children and everything in between. But on the other hand, there are MANY classes that are required to get your bachelors in Psychology that i am definitely NOT interested in... I'd much rather wait till I had enough money to play with and just choose SOME classes to take and learn about... gosh I'm horrible.

And it all takes so much time. But don't think I'm looking for the easy way out. Remember, I have NO natural talent in cosmetology. It wouldn't be easy. It may be shorter... but no, it would DEF not be easy.

But I've already got some credits under my belt that would apply to psychology or any other path to a bachelors... where as cosmetology is a fresh start.

Any thoughts, or insights would be appreciated. Not just "do this" but reasons for or against anything. Ideas of OTHER things to look into. I just need some help as I try and figure out what to do.

Peace, Love, and CookieDough

October.. November.. December.. February??

Ok. Seriously people, WHERE DID JANUARY GO!?!?

I got back from Utah.. and then.... Its February 5th.

Life has gone by so quickly. I've gone back to work. I'm watching two little boys ages 4 and 2 and they're SOOOO good with Aiden. It's a wonderful opportunity and we are so grateful that I have the chance to help support our little family. The hours have been long, but I've been blessed that it hasn't been at all overwhelming. It's a great job and I enjoy it and the time passes quickly.. so quickly that I don't know where the last MONTH has gone!!!

Another reason it seems to have passed by, My camera went missing. It was missing practically all month. So yes. No pictures. Well, other than the few that I took on my phone, that is. Which, are lame. Horrible quality.



So. I need to do better, I need to blog more, I need to take more pictures, I need to relish in the time that I have, now. So here is to my new month resolution.

Peace, Love, and CookieDough.