trav and kris

More than half way!

2011-12-29T11:39:00.000-08:00

How far along: 21 weeks! Feelin' pretty excited about that!

Total weight gain: Zero pounds. Actually I'm negative. Unfortunately I'm still trying to gain back what I lost. Still haven't hit my pre-pregnancy weight. But I'm pretty sure all the brittle cookies, pumpkin rolls and maybe the obscene amounts of egg nog I've consumed over the holidays, will help with that!

Maternity clothes: Aren't maternity pants hot? Ha ha. No, I haven't ventured that far yet! I plan on living in my billion pairs of leggings my sweet husband got me for Christmas!

Stretch marks: Do the ones my twins gave me count? Cause if they do...HOLLA!

Sleep: I sleep with my husband and my boyfriend. (Travis calls my body pillow my boyfriend!) I would die if I didn't have either!

Best moment this week: Craving a doughnut and then eating one! (Thanks honey!) Cravings are such a funny thing to me. Because all of a sudden you're slammed with this overwhelming feeling for something weird...and you feel like a ravenous and insatiable animal ripping apart your house looking for the coveted item, just to satisfy said craving! It's the most awful feeling in the world...until you remember you married a sweetheart and he's standing there with a box full of overly glazed, super sticky doughnuts to comfort your baby and tummy! Best moment!

Miss anything: Missing my breath actually. I get winded just doing a sink full of dishes! I feel like I've just run a marathon walking from one room to another! But don't worry, I've already turned into the hypochondriac pregnant girl at my doctor's office and consulted with both the doc and her nurse! This is normal.

Movement: I love feeling this baby move inside me! I can't help but still feel like there's nothing in there...so when she literally kicks my butt, I love it!

Food cravings: See best moment this week. Plus, my cravings durning this pregnancy have been all over the place! With the twins, it was just hard boiled eggs and deli ham by the container full. This little girl is kinda making me crazy! I've craved everything from Taco Bell tacos with packets upon packets of MILD sauce, to freakin' beef flavored Ramen Noodles! Guuuuhhhhh-ross.

It seems it's something new every week...and Trav, bless his heart just tries to keep up!

Queasy or sick: Yeah, my back fat. Just kidding! Uhmmm...dealing with raw chicken makes me wanna gag. But I think that's appropriate behavior even when you're not pregnant.

Gender: Girl.

Labor signs: I sure hope not!

Symptoms: Ridiculous amounts of indigestion and frequent trips to the ladies room! And I guess if I'm being honest, my hips are already give out. Thank you twins for that one!

Inny or outty button: Mostly in.

Happy or moody: Does anyone really answer this one honestly? Ok...I will. Unfortunately I have noticed myself being extremely irritable. But, in consulting with my 'What to expect when you're expecting' doctor, I've found this to be completely normal! So I guess I have an excuse! Wink!

Looking forward to: Now that the holidays are kaput, I can focus on this little girl's nursery and losing myself in butt loads of ribbon and such for her cute bows! I'm really looking forward to that!

So...yeah for 21 weeks!

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year

2011-12-27T20:17:00.000-08:00

Errands in the car

2011-12-15T08:32:00.000-08:00

I was driving in the car yesterday asking the girls what they wanted Santa to bring them for Christmas...

They both screamed, "PRESENTS!"

I asked what kind of presents?

Londyn said, "a blue present"

Taylor said, "a pink present"

I asked what they wanted inside the blue and pink presents.

Taylor said, "uhmmm...a dolly."

Londyn said, "a new truck and a new house."

We might have a high maintenance one on our hands!

Still in the car...

I stopped at Arby's to pick Travis up some lunch.

It's pouring rain.

I'm pulling out onto a super busy street.

I roll the windows down and sacrifice soaking myself to see better.

Londyn is in the back yelling at me to please give her a french fry.

YELLING!

Once I finally got us safely onto the busy street and rolled my windows up, I explained to Londyn that she can't be yelling at me when I'm trying to concentrate on driving safely.

She understood and continued in a sweet, calm, inside voice...

"Come on mom, please come on mom...give me a french fry. You can do it. Come on mom! You can give me a french fry!"

Hahahaha!

2 weeks worth...

2011-12-09T06:57:00.000-08:00

I've had the best couple of weeks!

Here they are, in pictures...

Thanksgiving came!

My family came!

Ridiculous amounts of fun came!

Grandma Harnish entertained with marshmellows and toothpicks..and Taylor found the makeup!

I love baking with my daddy!

Really...so much fun.

He stirred.

He beat.

He folded.

He mixed.

He kneaded.

He scraped.

He tasted.

He was awesome!

Love my daddy.

Trav hunted Thanksgiving morning.

Chubby bunnies much?

Go here to see real chubby bunnies action.

My first ever turkey experience.

I'd say it went well!

Best turkey ever!

Mike brought his girlfriend Shai.

Love her.

Football coma.

Bleh.

Granny and Grandpa.

I love everything about this picture.

Everything.

We laid down some serious 'hand and foot' and 'rook'.

Party at Granny's.

These were our high fives this year.

TURKEY!

Black Friday!!!

Er...Thursday night.

Every Friday morning I collect my coupons...er...dumpster dive...more or less.

Glad everyone got a kick out of this!

Love my coupons!

More black Friday!

Girls luncheon at Hibachi Grill, and North Pole City!

And...

it finally happened.

I've avoided the inevitable for as long as probably possible.

Londyn found the scissors and chopped her beautiful hair.

I cried my eyes out and fixed as much of the damage as I could.

Ouch, my heart hurts!

I made some fun Christmas props...

I love you Pinterest.

My little sister Ellie got her mission call!

Love me some SKYPE!

She's headed to Atlanta, Georgia in April.

Look out!

For my birthday, I flew out to Denver!

My family picked my butt up and took me to Olive Garden!

Holla!

Then we drove to Laramie where Willie is enrolled in Law School!

Then back to Denver for Ellie's endowment!

And then...duh!

CINZETTI'S.

Then back to Laramie to help with my niece and new nephew James!

Prepare to be disgusted...

We did a session of candle burning, earwax removal?

Thanks Randalyn!

I can hear so much better!

I told you it was gross!

Yeah, that's wax.

I'm so proud of my brother!

Soon to be the best lawyer EVER!

Cousin pizza party!

And last but not least...

to finish out my rad couple of weeks...

We're out of control

2011-11-16T08:36:00.000-08:00

My counter top has looked like this for a week now.

Completely cluttered with prescriptions, wadded up tissues and absolutely no sign of healthiness.

Both my girls and I were slammed with head colds and strep throat...just days after prevailing over the flu!

I think I've lived the last month of my life in my bed.

Literally.

I'm pretty sure we ordered pizza everyday.

And I wore my robe all day...everyday.

And I demolished my stockpile of kleenex.

And we probably smelled bad.

And our house should have been quarantined by the city. Really.

And I told my friends to never come over...cause they'd probably go home with leprocy or gangrene. Probably. There's just no telling with the way we've been contracting illnesses lately. Just sayin'.

We bought new toothbrushes and sterilized the house...

with bleach. A lot.

We are believed to be on the up and up!

Fingers crossed we stay that way!

One last reminder...

we are going private, so leave me your email address!

xoxo

Weekend highs

2011-11-08T13:17:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to be an Aunt again! It's one of my most favorite jobs!

My brother Willie and his sweet wife, de LIZ cious had their little boy!

James LaMond Harnish

7lbs 10oz

21 1/4 inches

I can't wait to fly out to Wyoming to meet this little guy after Thanksgiving!

Also this weekend, the girls asked to ride their horses!

Londyn named her horse Rex. So now there are two Rex horses! Ha ha.

They each picked their horse out and rode so well.

Londyn

Taylor

I love that my girls are learning to care for and nurture animals!

In addition to all this excitement, we have also survived some outlandish Oklahoma weather. Just this weekend, we have endured 3 earthquakes gaging up to 5.6 in magnitude...and yes, we freaked the freak out! Crap was falling off the walls, Travis was running through the house sliding around like he was Tom Cruise in a new pair of socks...and I thought for sure our house was under attack.

Just last night we had another earthquake, a 4.7, a few tornadoes, flash flooding and the biggest mamma thunder storm, probably ever...with maybe Noah and his deal being an exception. It's been nuts around here. Mayhem.

I am so thankful to be safe!

My baby bump and lovely lady lumps

2011-11-03T17:33:00.000-07:00

So today we went in for a first trimester screening.

Baby looks awesome.

A sex diagnosis was attempted and failed.

Uncooperative baby.

I peed twice.

Did jumping jax in the bathroom.

Shook what my mamma gave me.

Ventured into Rockette style high kicks.

Experimented with hanging upside down.

All while uncontrollably laughing at myself.

Really...Trav shoulda taped that crap!

Enter the doctor.

And still...an unyielding baby.

But, we're healthy!

Also...this blog is going PRIVATE!

Leave your email address if you like reading such commentary!

xoxo

Rough week

2011-11-02T06:30:00.000-07:00

I think I might be back from the dead.

I died this week.

Died in a big way.

Hurling and pooping literally every ten minutes, and I'm sure you wanted to know that because you're still reading! Pour on some first trimester pregnancy nausea, and that's when I died.

I will do you a huge courtesy and spare you the rest of the details...

My doctor put my butt in the hospital.

I was bed ridden for a week.

I was physically out of order and emotionally drained.

It was so hard for me to lay in bed knowing life was going on around me and I couldn't be a part of it. I missed my girls so much and felt so guilty about all the work my sweet husband was doing to make up for my absence. Bless his heart. He saved my life.

I'm so glad this rough week is OVER!

On a brighter note:

This year's Halloween festivities were so much fun!

The girls were a riot.

Watching them run from house to house yelling 'trick or treat' in their little voices, was the cutest thing I've ever seen!

They bring me such joy.

And I kinda can't wait til next year!

Taylor

Londyn

Just a small shout out to my brother Jack and his family:

They always have the cutest costumes!!!

Love and miss you guys!

Happy Halloween!

Might be TMI

2011-10-10T19:31:00.000-07:00

So...we're gonna have a baby!

Just one this time.

I made them check.

I requested an ultra sound on my first OB visit, just to make sure there weren't like a billion babies in there.

I decided it's gonna be awesome only having one baby in there.

I told Travis that I don't remember pregnancy being this horrible...and he said, 'of course you don't remember it being this bad. Last time was a thousand times worse!'

Thank goodness for ONDANSETRON eh?!

The rest might be TMI.

We decided to start trying for a baby, and thank heavens for the app that tracks your periods...I knew the exact day of ovulation. Am I one of those girls that gets pregnant when my husband just looks at me...yeah, yeah I am.

SHABLAM...pregnant!

Because my period tracking app was so accurate, and my curiosity took over my entire life...I tested as early as probably physically possible. Dumb Kris.

We found out I was pregnant at 3 weeks. Probably the worst thing you can do! Hello longest pregnancy of my life!

What was almost even dumber...we kept it a secret.

Seriously! I cannot keep secrets.

I would die if ever given important information and then interrogated.

Basically...don't tell me stuff.

I am now 9 1/2 weeks along.

We're due May 10 and scheduled for C-Section May 2nd.

I think.

And we're predicting a boy!

But would love another baby girl too!

Am I throwing up? No. Not once. But this is still not awesome.

Am I craving anything? Does eating anything and everything in site every hour on the hour, count as a craving. If it does...then yes.

The twins are so excited for this baby. They keep kissing my belly, saying they love their little brother. And that they are now big sisters!

It's an exciting time for our family!

Happy Birthday SHNOOKS

2011-09-11T18:46:00.000-07:00

My shnookems turned 32 this year!

That's out of control.

But what's even more out of control is where he chose to "celebrate" said birthday...

a chinese, all you can eat buffet.

What? Ha ha.

I was thinking Red Lobster or Outback Steakhouse!

He's one of a kind and he's all mine. All 32 years of him.

Happy Birthday sweetheart!

ninjas and pancakes

2011-09-08T12:43:00.000-07:00

Can I just talk about how sneaky my daughter is for a minute?!

Taylor is a little NINJA.

A sneaky

evasive

stealthy

bamboozling

tricky

clever

and extra sugary little ninja!

The following thoughts might be scrolling through your head:

Well Kris, you're probably just not keeping a good eye on her.

Well in my defense...would it matter? This girl could be locked down in the most secluded, isolate and military manned, air tight room at Fort Knox with barricades and probably a moat...and she'd still elude your efforts.

Seriously.

My baby is a ninja.

Just today I found her hiding in my cupboards eating to her hearts content an entire loaf of bread! And then in daddy's closet BEHIND the clothes putting on mommy's .40 cent lipstick.

Sneaky. Covert. Adorable.

Our favorite book this week:

'If you give a pig a pancake'.

This story is so my life!

Buy it.

Read it.

Love it.

IT'S OVER

2011-09-05T07:38:00.000-07:00

I very much had a love/hate relationship with this 21 day challenge.

I hated that I had to take a picture of myself and post it everyday!

For two reasons...nobody wants to see that, and gosh it took a lot of time out of my evening to post.

I hated that I was committed to dressing a certain way everyday. I couldn't just throw on jeans and a T if I wanted. And lets be honest...I'm a mom, and that's what we do.

I hated realizing what a limited wardrobe I have. Before I thought I had no clothes because I was just fat and couldn't fit in any of them...now I really have no clothes! Apparently I've been shopping for the wrong 'pieces'. Blah.

Which brings me to the things I loved about this challenge.

I loved seeing all the new possibilities my clothes can actually offer me.

I loved learning about different styles and seeing the infinite capabilities of one article of clothing.

I loved how some...only some, of the outfits made me feel. Day 9 - monochromatic will forever haunt me. I do not love you monochrome.

I loved that my husband was such a good sport about taking my ridiculous pictures everyday. I would NEVER make for a good model. Not only cause...duh...I'm about a hundred pounds too big and I have beaver teeth (thank you Lethe!) but, because I learned that I can absolutely not take direction behind the camera.

What's that called? Oh yeah, a diva. That's embarrassing!

Day 21 consisted of putting together a killer outfit. Ha ha. Yeah right, right? I guess the whole point of the challenge didn't penetrate my brain hard enough to give me the confidence to feel like I can pull off a "killer" outfit. Bummer. But, I still went outside my comfort zone to complete Day 21.

My outfit may or may not be killer.

I was pretty confined in my choices due to it being Sunday and church was a big part of my day! I tried my hair pulled back in a sleek-ish pony...which I don't do that, and I wore the infamous 'wet n wild' lipstick. So far out there for me! I got called Barbie when I walked into church...and I don't think it was being meant as a compliment, which is also a bummer. So I did question my choices.

But, I'm so glad the challenge is over. I learned a lot. Thank you Amy for giving me the motivation to try something new. It kicked my butt.

In other news:

We had an uplifting week. I guess I can only speak for myself...so, it was uplifting for me.

The elders came over Thursday night and brought an investigator with them. Holla. Of course Trav started the evening off with a bang. Likely. If you know my husband at all, you know he's super into home remedies for ANYTHING!

If you suffer from warts, I'm sure you can cure them with honey or something weird.

If you suffer from poor eye sight, I'm almost sure he's got a remedy for that.

Fish oil, flax seed, lemon juice, green tea...the list goes on.

Seriously. The dude is like a Yoda home remedy warrior.

So...he's been drinking apple cider vinegar lately? As to regulate his blood pH? Apparently I super suck as a wife...cause I have no idea! Anyway, he had all the boys try a shot.

Dry heaves all around!

But very good sports none the less!

I love when the elders come into our home. The spirit they bring with them is on a whole 'nother level! I find myself craving that feeling.

I love having investigators in our home.

I love having the opportunity to express my feelings and testimony of our gospel.

I love teaching what I know.

I love the reaffirmation my own testimony gives to me.

I love the feeling I have when I am understood, and that others feel what I feel...believe in, what I believe in....know, what I know.

We invited this new investigator (Ethan) to a baptism that was held on Saturday morning, for another investigator...now member. He came!

The baptism was inspiring. My eyes and heart were glued to the speakers. Even though my girls were running around like crazy! I couldn't help it! If it weren't for a butt load of people looking back at me, cause I was the lady with the clamoring kiddos...I would have been really boobin'. People watching me kept me in check! Ha ha.

But the feeling I had was indescribable! I felt so blessed to know that I was part of something that is so much bigger than I. Something real. Something true. Something that is forever. I loved Saturday morning.

I'm gonna stop preaching now...

Thank you all for putting up with my blabber for 3 weeks solid. I'm signing off for a while! Promise. You won't hear from me again. Unless it's awesome.

Peace out.

Nuff said

2011-09-02T14:19:00.000-07:00

I took myself out of the game yesterday in regards to the 21 day challenge...cause I suck...slash I had dishes, laundry, groceries, wood floors that absolutely refuse to stay clean, errands, dr. appts and a big, fat dinner for a billion guests that wasn't gonna cook itself, not to mention two extremely audacious 2 year olds and all that entails...blah blah blah!

Today we went garage sale-ing! Woot. But I decided to check the challenge blog to see what my challenge for today was, as to not fail miserably 2 days in a row...and tada, it was wear something on your head day. So ask me if I was already wearing this hat on my head?! Genius. Score! So thanks "adorn your head" day, for making my life easier! Heart you.

Missin' this

2011-08-31T19:12:00.000-07:00

My challenge today was exactly that. A challenge.

I figured I would find the ugliest thing I had in my closet and try to "repair" it into something worthy of my new found wannabe fashion sense.

This hideous dress has been chillin' for a long time. I don't even remember where in the world it came from. Which made it perfect for the task at hand.

A few snips here.

A few stitches there.

and...

SHABLAM!

It morphed into something I might wear again, rather than forever be a hopeless orphan.

We had a smidge of Heaven for dinner tonight.

Literally.

We were eating Heaven.

Tortilla soup and fried tortillas.

I don't get to make this very often because Travis dry heaves.

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/2 tsp minced garlic

2 cans chicken broth - approx. 4 cups

2 cans Rotel or tomatoes and chiles

a healthy hand full of cilantro

1 TB ground cumin

3-4 tortillas - fried

grated cheese

sour cream

Toss in a crock pot on high for 4-6 hours

or low for 8-10

Like I said...

Heaven.

In other news:

What I learned today...or more-so thought about...

has absolutely nothing to do with the 21 day challenge, which originally was the inspiration for expressing my "learning" moments.

But...

I found this on my couch today.

And it's common, to find similar items in random places around the pad that have been abandoned by my crazy, rambunctious 2 year olds.

But today, when I saw this...I couldn't help but think...

You're gonna miss this, Kristin.

Rather than be upset about the bread being wasted, I embraced it.

This made me smile.

My sweet girls mean the world to me, and I want them to know that more than grouching over a piece of bread.

Do I like the crumbs all over my couch?

No.

Do I like going into the pantry and seeing the contents of an entire loaf of bread strewn all over the floor?

Hecks no.

But I know one day when my girls have grown and gone,

I'll look around and wish there were sticky fingerprints on my fridge and spilt chocolate milk on the floor.

I know I'm gonna miss this.

I'm gonna want all this back.

I'm gonna wish these days hadn't flown by so fast.

These are good times.

and...

I know I'm gonna miss this.

behind

2011-08-30T17:58:00.000-07:00

Sunday night

woke up with migraine

3am

so not ideal

certifiably incapacitated

for 2 days

made up for day 15 today

new hair

infinite reasons for never wearing hair like this

hello lion king

channeling mufasa

right here

right now

not hot

day 16

dress like a dude

what?

husband owns nothing I can wear

boo

throw on a tie and call it good

so original

also not hot

and just for good measure

day 16...check

The last few days I've learned to look for the things my girls CAN do, rather than what they can't.

I'm so glad they can play together.

I'm so glad they can take good naps.

I'm so glad they can communicate with me.

I'm so glad they can love each other.

I'm so glad they can give me kisses.

I'm so glad they can put on their own shoes.

I'm so glad they can keep me company.

I'm so glad they can learn new things everyday.

I'm so glad they can see things and hear things and sing!

I know there are so many more cant's than there are cans right now.

But I'm lovin' the cans.

Copycat

2011-08-29T07:14:00.000-07:00

I know I'm not the only one...

but, just the thought of cutting my girls' hair brings me almost physical pain.

Dramatic, I know.

But really.

Londyn got her first haircut today!

Today's challenge was to find an inspiring look and copy it!

I found this...

Now, before you laugh hysterically like I am...

keep in mind that this girl is like a hundred pounds lighter than me and about a billion times more tan. She's hot okay.

Making my task that much more difficult!

I just have always loved the idea of a high wasted pencil skirt, which I could never and would never attempt to pull off. Thank you twins for that extra pouch of love chillin' on my bod.

And also, I love how the fashion faux pas of mixing black and brown is executed perfectly in her outfit.

My brown boots looked ridiculous...

so I'm wearing a little more black than originally planned.

TaDa.

Peace out day 14!

What did I learn today?

That even though I was super self conscious about wearing something so completely out of my comfort zone...nobody noticed.

I've always felt that if you look someone in the eye when you're talking to them, they'll never notice what you wearing!

So, either my theory worked today...or my outfit wasn't totally out in left field like I felt it was!

Poppin'

2011-08-27T18:15:00.000-07:00

This has got to be the worst picture in America for this challenge!

But this is as good as it was gonna get today.

I worked all day.

Literally all day.

So by the end of the day when it was time for dinner, I threw my hands up in the air and said, "honey, we're going out!"

But just know...I legitimately dress myself according to today's challenge rules!

There's always tomorrow...

jazzy jeans

2011-08-26T18:42:00.000-07:00

Blah!

That's how I feel! Big, fat blah.

I took the girls to the splash pad today, and the sun drained my soul right out my bod.

My face is hideous and speaks for itself!

But...for the sake of the challenge, I must press on!

I wore my

remix

shirt today.

Woot.

And to be honest...I attempted to wear my jeans like this today, as to add more JAZZ.

That didn't work out for me so much.

My brother would kill me.

All growing up I razzed him on how peg legged pants are retarded, and now here I am...

28 years old not living in the 90's trying to peg my pants.

Shhhh...don't tell anyone.

I cropped my pegs out of the picture because husband thought it looked ridiculous.

Bummer.

What I not so much learned today, but decided to embrace is...

I need to be my own motivation.

That even when this challenge has come and gone, I can still motivate myself.

And not just in my wardrobe choices...in all my choices.

I find myself fueling my motivation with other sources.

Approval from others, compliments, challenges such as this etc.

It's important to me to motivate myself.

Because when I've become successful, it's that much more exhilarating!

Potty Prep

2011-08-25T12:55:00.000-07:00

This is my go-to tunic dress for when I'm in need of a magnitude of comfort.

Thank goodness the challenge today correlated with my mood!

Took the babes to the library today.

I don't know what's happening...they're so big!

I got some books at the library today too!

Yeah, this is gonna happen.

So I decided this week as well as the weekend, I'm going to educate myself and prep for the oh so inevitable potty training.

I've been reading books and finding endless amounts of information on the internet concerning twin potty training.

What have I learned so far?

Bribery is absolutely encouraged!

Noted.

So, think of this as an update.

Because it was almost a year ago, when I thought we were headed down this potty training road...but I was wrong.

Horribly wrong.

Remember this?

Also...

this is an open call and/or invitation for any advice you may have that I probably won't pick up in the billions of books I borrowed from the library.

You can pray for me too if you want!

P.S.

I wanted to share a quote I stole off a friend's blog that changed my entire morning.

Thanks Sarah!

It was a "Taylor pushing mommy's buttons" kind of day...so this was my lifesaver.

"Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved."

I love this.

It's going up on the fridge.

It's moments of chocolate milk spilled on a freshly mopped floor

and

poop in the bathtub

that I need to remember this quote. It certainly kept me grounded this morning and I hope it will continue to. I want my girls to know that I love them more, than I care about the marker on the couch.

xoxo

Lip service

2011-08-24T18:12:00.000-07:00

We colored today!

Taylor named her horse Rex

and Londyn wanted hers to be called,

"Londyn's big horse."

Too cute.

Addressing the lipstick issue.

Not the fact that I'm kinda addicted to it...

and this is actually really comical...

This silly venture of mine to reeducate myself on my current wardrobe has driven me to looking/stalking other blogs.

Of which, my lipstick fetish was born.

Yeah, it's a baby now.

Go here to learn about lipstick...I did.

Back to the point,

I saw that these super cute girls could pull this crap off, and I decided I wanted to be one of them. Not necessarily being super cute, but being able to pull crap off!

Me being a wannabe and all.

So I dug around in my make up bag...which, if you know me consists of mascara and mascara.

You ask what color and what brand I've been wearing in my wannabe pictures...well here it is in all its glory.

Ashamedly so.

What? They still make wet n wild? Isn't that the lipstick your mom bought you for $ .40 cents like a hundred years ago, to put in your first "big girl" purse?

Yes, absolutely my point.

You can imagine the embarrassment I feel having to confess this fashion/makeup faux pas. I swear I bought this at least 10 years ago for Halloween and have used it every year for Halloween since. So, I'm pretty sure it's not sold anymore. Ha ha.

I am mortified.

But I also feel better that it's off my chest!

Don't judge me!

Today's challenge was, 'save a closet orphan day'. This would normally be very easy for me...but I finally made myself throw out all my orphans for the last garage sale we had. They're all gone! Which is awesome, minus the challenge today.

In addition to needing to figure out an outfit for this challenge, I found it to be a 'jeans and t-shirt' kind of day. You know? I felt Blah.

Just my luck, I had a t-shirt orphan that needed some love.

Which brings us to my second fashion indiscretion for the day.

Man...I'm just handing it to you guys.

Asking to be mocked!

I wore my

TEAM JACOB

shirt!

Holla!

Bless my friend's heart. She got me this shirt a long time ago and today was it's first time seeing the light of day. Not because I don't love it...I'm kinda infatuated with it...but I always thought it showed my muffin top too much. And let's be honest, no one wants to see that! Through this challenge though, believe it or not, I've been becoming more comfortable in my own skin. And I love that. So here it is!

Uhmmm yeah, November 18th anyone?

Breaking Dawn, I will be there.

And I will be wearing this shirt!

Tonight's sky was my cherry topping.

Heaven.

My love/hate relationship with today...

2011-08-23T18:42:00.000-07:00

This morning we went to singing/dancing time at a retirement home.

What a fun experience for my girls.

Londyn was such a sweetheart.

She participated and gave those residents a reason to smile!

She danced.

She sang.

She waved.

She gave hugs.

I enjoyed my morning!

I learned that bringing happiness to others is one of my biggest happinesses.

And to watch my daughters bring that kind of happiness to others, just amplified my happiness even more.

Welp, it finally happened.

One of my girls secretly got into my makeup!

And of course it was my little ninja.

I love everything about this!

I also decided that I think I'm addicted to lipstick.

What?

Double what?

But I am.

In regards to the 21 day challenge...

I hated today.

HATED!

Who came up with the idea to wear all of one color?

I actually had to google, monochromatic.

And no amount of wikipedia was gonna keep me from butchering this challenge.

So...

Dear 'Day 9 Monochromatic',

you absolutely kicked my butt today.

You are so not my bff.

You will forever be a mythical creature in my mind.

I will never catch you...or attempt to ever again.

I'm fostering a butt load of hostility towards you monochrome.

This is me saying, 'peace out' monochrome.

Peace out!

Casual mom

2011-08-22T19:17:00.000-07:00

I had such a hard time with today's challenge.

I think because I was thinking too much.

I thought what I think, was thinking about thinking too much about what I thought about the thinking thought, too much thinking about the think and thought...I think.

But what I learned and I love, is today's challenge became easy when I was myself.

I put a top on that I felt was fancy...you should see the bling blingin' off this shirt for realz...Yeah, I just said that!

And then casualized it with my hat.

Which by the way is my favorite.

I won this hat in a dirty game of 'white elephant' like a hundred years ago...and it is absolutely a staple in my wardrobe.

And,

Check out my necklace please.

So yesterday I was whining about not having any jewelry, so today I have to steal my daughters'?

Ha ha.

There's a story here.

First of all...it doesn't get any more casual than this right?

I'm a mom.

One big, fat happy mom!

My sweet Taylor asked me to wear this today, and I thought...

why not?

It's supposed to be causal anyway.

Absolutely completed my outfit.

And second...the story behind said necklace is super cute.

Mostly cause I'm Taylor's mom.

Last Saturday our family went garage sale-ing.

We like to do that on occasion.

Love finding antiquey things for basically nickels and dimes!

We stumbled across a huge church sale.

Which manifested in being a big, fat

collect-ol'-crap from your believers and make money off it, sale.

Ha ha.

And I'm fine with that.

Anyway, we came up empty handed and left without any treasure.

We were loading the girls up in the car when Trav spotted Taylor wearing this necklace.

Our daughter is a klepto!

He asked me if I paid for it, which I hadn't.

So I took TayZee back into the church to return it, and apologize for what had happened.

It pays to be honest, because bless those church goin' people...they gave us the necklace.

Of which, Taylor has not put down since that day.

Literally.

I'm glad she shared it with me today.

In other Taylor news...

She is without a doubt, my sneaky little ninja.

Wherever my soda is,

she is also.

I love you Taylor.

xoxo

Counting my blessings...and accessories

2011-08-21T19:16:00.000-07:00

It's been a pretty trying day.

My daughter woke up with a horrendous fever blister on her lip.

Poor baby.

The thing was gushing...

gushing!

The family drama has been out of the park kind of drama.

And I ran out of Dr. Pepper.

Here's what I learned today.

As I'm complaining that I have "nothing" to wear...

all this is going on.

I'm literally fishing through a mondo sized bag full of jewelry, whining about how I don't have any jewelry!

And now reflecting back, feeling that way...makes me feel awful.

How can I be complaining?

I feel like I need to take a step back and count all the blessings I do have.

My accessories for this challenge today may not be the ultimate dressing for my outfit, but

I have two beautiful daughters who are my reason for living.

I am totally married to my best friend.

I am fed, clothed and sheltered in a home I love.

I have a Heavenly Father who won't let me down.

I am guided everyday with the Spirit.

And

There's an endless supply of Dr. Pepper just down the street at WalMart.

Seriously.

Complain?

I can do better.

Thank you "day 7 layering challenge" for helping me see this today.

Skirtin' around

2011-08-20T09:38:00.000-07:00

This day of the challenge calls for creativity.

Hello?

That's what I've been doing

every day!

My brain hurts.

How can I possibly get more creative?!

Haha.

I went to sleep last night knowing I was gonna have to come up with something "unconventional".

The option to wear a dress or skirt as a shirt is a popular one I think.

I tried this and to my surprise came up with a pretty cute outfit.

But I still felt like I could come up with something else.

Wear one of my husband's ties in my hair?

Wear my bathing suit for a top somehow?

And then I came up with this...

Bam!

Not only am I mixing patterns...which might be my favorite now...

I'm totally wearing a skirt as a cowl.

What?

Holla!

Happy Saturday!

Reaffirmation

2011-08-19T17:31:00.000-07:00

I didn't learn anything today in conjunction with this challenge.

Instead, something was reaffirmed.

The golden rule

Such a simple concept.

But if not executed,

damaging results may transpire.

To remove the intended sugar coating...

I got yelled at by a not so neighborly neighbor this morning.

Blah.

Insert reaffirmation here.

I want to see the good in people.

And I hope they look for that in me.

I want to see their heart.

And I hope they see mine.

I'm thankful for that reminder today.

Dang it OCD

2011-08-18T08:13:00.000-07:00

Day 4 of the fashion challenge called for, color blocking.

Large chunks of color worn together.

We got stuck with a poopy picture because my photographer was providing me a livelihood.

Sorry bout that.

What I learned from this challenge today...

It's okay to invest time in yourself.

To take pride in how you present yourself.

I feel like I make excuses for myself all the time about why I look the way I do.

I have two kids to take care of.

Not to mention a household and husband, so I don't have time to "dress up".

I guess I learned that it's important to make that time.

And I'm going to work on that!

In other news:

My girlfriend and I took the kiddos to the pool!

Ava, Addison, Rylan, Taylor and Londyn

I guess now I should talk about my genetic disorder.

Cause, that's totally what it is.

It's in my genes.

I absolutely cannot be held responsible for a condition that was premeditated by my freaking DNA...right?

I think I have OCD.

Actually I'm pretty sure I do.

It hasn't been clinically proven.

I haven't been diagnosed.

But I think I have it.

And today...

my OCD killed my fish.

Bless my heart though...

I took extra precaution in cleaning their tank today.

I scrubbed

and scrubbed

and scrubbed the crap outta that thing.

I rinsed forever making sure I didn't leave behind any kind of soap residue.

I don't know if it was animal planet,

Bill Nye the science guy,

or if it's just common sense that tells you to never wash a fish tank with soap?

But I'm tellin' ya,

I'm OCD.

I filled it back up with as close to room temp water as I could and placed the bowl in a new location to change up the landscaping for the little fellas.

Sweetheart right?

So, when I got home from the grocery store I checked on my fish.

Because I'm weird?

And I just kind of giggled, because our fish are known to be the laziest fish ever...so it was no surprise when I saw my blue fish chillin on the bottom of the bowl.

(Which call me crazy, but I thought fish float belly up when they die?)

Anyway, I laughed and called Travis in to look at my sleeping fish.

Unfortunately,

husband had to be the one to inform me of this particular fishes' oblivion.

I seriously stood in the kitchen for 20 minutes sick over what I had done.

SICK

And thankfully for my new photographer husband...he caught the moment forever in this photo!

We had the elders over for dinner, as we do every Thursday.

The fish was still just chillin dead in the bowl while we ate.

(dry heave)

Elder Ortiz is going to be a doctor!

He attempted CPR, which was unsuccessful and disposed of the body.

My heart hurts.

Oh my gosh, my OCD killed my fish.

Playin' it safe

2011-08-17T13:22:00.000-07:00

And the 21 day challenge continues.

I keep going back and forth, asking myself if I whimped out on day 3's challenge.

Mix patterns.

How the heck am I supposed to do that with saggy, old mom clothes in my closet?

Check this out.

No really...look at that link right now.

Which explains why I feel my attempt at mixing patterns was probably barely executed!

Dang it!

The boundaries of my comfort level were still

completely obliterated with the neutrality of my pieces.

So I guess I completed day 3's challenge whether bold or not eh?

Bless my husband's heart, he's been a participant in this outlandish escapade just as much as I have...and he's been my "photographer" if you will.

So last night when I read what today's challenge included, I'm sure like a billion other candidates in this fashion proposition, I ran to, and raided my closet for blog worthy items.

I decided that since my husband has to work during the day to support my out of control hobbies...I would put the outfit on then, and he could capture the wonder!

Of which my pinstripe and floral ensemble was born.

And let me make this clear...I have NEVER worn those together!

But I kinda like it.

That shirt was given to me like a hundred years ago and I've never worn it!

So, then my husband says to me,

"are you gonna wear that tomorrow?"

Ha ha.

"No."

After saying that, I'm thinking well then what's the point?

I can't just play dress up. I gotta commit.

So this is what I really wore today.

And of course you can't see the clash of the 2 patterns, because I did chicken out and play it safe with neutrals.

But it's only day 3.

I'll get a little more brave...

I hope.

What I learned today...

that no matter what you're doing, whether it's going out to lunch with girlfriends or folding laundry to a rerun of Dr. Phil...

it's nice to feel good about yourself.

I'm all dressed up with nowhere to go, and I don't care!

21 day challenge

2011-08-16T14:48:00.000-07:00

I'm just gonna start by dedicating this post

(and the next 20)

to my friend miss Amy Lovell...bless your heart girl!

Dear Amy,

this mess is for you!

Love,

Kristin

So, once upon a time...

Amy came over and we turned into 15 year old girls.

Blog stalking fashion blogs.

Literally stalking, for like an hour.

(Just ask our husbands!)

Long story short

and yet another reiteration on how I'm such a 'wannabe'...

we are attempting, and maybe I should just speak for myself here...

I am attempting what I've always thought to be impossible for me.

f . a . s . h . i . o . n

Yes, this old farty mom is taking on a fashion challenge. Look out!

This blog is responsible for this madness. Check it out.

Basically,

stretch your imagination and creativity with

the wardrobe you already have!

Genius right?

So the first day was to choose something

in your closet to remix throughout the 21 days.

The challenge...to wear this article 3 times without repeating outfits.

The second day, i.e. today...

wear it tucked in.

Since I'm a big, fat chicken and had to really talk myself into doing this,

I'm starting a day late.

I figure, what do I have to lose?

If these super cute and trendy girls can do it, who appear to be normal...

I can too.

So I mixed my two days together.

This white ruffle shirt is my "remix" item.

Of which, I bought over a year ago and have only worn it like 2 times.

And...hence the challenge, I have only worn it one way.

It'll be fun to see the possibilities of this little dandy.

And to fulfill day 2 requirements,

I tucked it in!

Holla!

I decided that I'm also gonna add another challenge for myself

inside of this already challenging challenge.

And this might be ghetto/lame.

But I figure you've already laughed your butt off over this silly endeavor...so it's not gonna hurt. Ha ha.

But I want to reflect on what I've learned as well.

Today I learned, that even wearing this boring white shirt, my husband still thinks I'm cute.

And I guess what's important here, is...

it's not what I'm wearing that makes me special to him!

Which makes me feel special.

A daddy is...

2011-08-15T12:38:00.000-07:00

A daddy is...

your best friend

encouragement

your safety

wisdom

your teacher

and

super hero.

A daddy is...

knowledge

prince charming

present

unconditional love

and

a daddy is, forever.

We love our daddy!

Our daddy lets us cover him in 'Hello Kitty' bandaids.

xoxo

Give me back my beans

2011-08-14T07:33:00.000-07:00

Watching the rain...

Unfortunately 2 year olds don't quite understand that on rainy days, you don't do

ANYTHING!

You stay in your jammies,

you roll up in a quilt,

snack and

watch movies

all day!

read princess books

built towers with legos

colored with new markers

danced to Miley Cyrus...duh

put our Dora puzzle together

and

counted beans.

Counted lots of beans.

En. ter. tain. ment!

Cheyenne too

2011-08-10T15:39:00.000-07:00

Cheyenne trip continued...

My sister Lethe and her husband Tristan live in Washington DC,

and bless their hearts flew on a red eye to be with us!

Love my sissy

and my soon to be nephew!

Wednesday morning we took family pictures.

like...

F . A . M . I . L . Y

pictures!

It's a huge production!

We're kind of a big deal.

ha ha.

And mom is a stellar photographer,

making these pictures almost impossible to wait for!

The anticipation...kinda keeps me up at night!

Later we took the kiddos to the park to

play

and picnic.

It seems so insignificant,

but these brief moments in time I get to spend with

my brothers and sisters and their little ones, such as

a minor swing and twirl at the park with a miniature picnic poured on top of that...

it seriously makes my life!

Grandma Harnish, Travis and I took our girls to the air show at the National Guard.

At one time, there were planes flying above us

going around and around...then,

bam

like a billion guys with a death wish jumped out of the planes and parachuted down.

It was crazy awesome.

The last guy floated the American flag behind him

and it was just,

silent.

A patriotic moment.

A thankful for my freedom moment.

A blessed moment.

Wednesday night was the Cuppy's turn to make dinner for the crew.

Milk can.

It was amazing.

Minus the cabbage.

(But that was an already discussed controversy before we even arrived for the reunion.)

On a side note:

My brother Jack and his incredible wife deserve a special shout out.

I look up to these two.

I admire them.

I treasure them.

I respect them.

They are everything a family should be.

In that, they are raising a brilliant and adorable little boy,

who I couldn't be any more proud of.

I am aunt S-kristin.

I love my sweet nephew, Boomer.

They are goal oriented and I love that.

Jack has a great opportunity with a new and impressive job!

They love each other and are so happy.

I love these two and I'm so glad we were able to spend

our reunion week together!

Favorite:

blowing my money at the carnival.

Bigger favorite:

blowing my money on funnel cakes.

Biggest favorite:

blowing my money at the carnival on funnel cakes with all my siblings!

I've always been a roller coaster junkie.

So at this carnival, those tendencies were revealing themselves.

A lot.

We found a ride called, fatality.

Just kidding.

I don't remember the name.

Heather, Willie, Ellie and I decided to ride.

And I'm not gonna lie, I was a little concerned that my old, saggy mom bod wasn't going to agree with being thrown and tossed around.

But it agreed fine.

Almost the opposite.

I had way too much fun.

Willie and I sat together just like old times,

and I laughed my Harnish butt off.

Crying so hard because I couldn't control my laughing.

I might have peed.

Those were the funnest 2 minutes of my life.

I mean that quite literally.

Thursday morning we went to support Ben in the parade.

As he is in the marching band!

Plus we wanted candy thrown at us.

The inevitable sister shopping trip.

And yes, Ellie bought those sneakers that were basically manufactured for just her.

The also inevitable craft time.

Friday we spent the day at the 'children's village' in the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens.

Such a fun place to take the kids!

It was like a "hands on" water slash garden park?

I'm butchering it!

There were secret gardens

a discovery lab

fountains

windmills

a green house

story circles

picnic areas

and orchards

Fun and educational!

Friday night mom and dad were in charge of dinner!

BBQ!

Also, mom had the genius idea to do a

themed sort of "talent show".

COWBOY TALENT NIGHT!

(Seriously, we are a good time!)

Dad and Uncle Lyle sang cowboy songs.

Jack, Heather and Boomer did a cowboy skit!

Willie and Mike put together a sweet action poem/song story. Brilliant. Pure brilliance.

Lethe and Tristan sang a Lady Ga Ga country remix. Oh yes they did.

All the kids were bribed with ring pops for their silence!

Ben juggled his butt off with accompanying music. It was single handedly the most amazing thing I've seen in my life. Really. Biggest fan, right here!

Lethe and Ellie sang a country song, followed by Elle telling us all she has grown a foot or two and is headed out to serve a mission!

All the Harnish kids put on a skit that we've been performing for a hundred years.

Course we're older with funnier personalities now, so it was pretty hilarious.

I hate this word because it's so cliched...but the skit was

EPIC.

(Willie, you made that happen.)

I guess the most memorable part of the evening for me was my husband's small portion.

That's not obvious.

And I guess the following story is more for mine and Trav's benefit.

It's our history that is very much, my heart.

It's kind of comical in a way. Trav chose to sing a song called, "Another try" by Josh Turner.

I discouraged him in singing this sooo bad! I just felt like, we were going to be having a super fun, family cowboy night...and his country song of choice was going to be so depressing!

Until I saw his face and heard his sweet voice sing these words.

All the things I felt and never shared.

All the times she was lonely with me there.

Tears I wouldn't let fall from my eyes, and how I let her go without a fight.

The reasons Im alone I know by heart, but I dont wanna spend forever in the dark.

I swear next time Ill hang on for dear life. If love ever gives me another try.

Theres no changin things that we regret,

the best that we can hope for is one more chance.

If the hands of time could just move in reverse, I wouldn't make the same mistake again with her

The reasons Im alone I know by heart, but I dont wanna spend forever in the dark.

I swear next time Ill hang on for dear life. If love ever gives me another try.

The reasons Im alone I know by heart, but I dont wanna spend forever in the dark.

I swear next time Ill hang on for dear life. If love ever gives me another try.

Oh if love ever gives me another try

Travis and I ended our marriage 3 years in.

Maybe a lot of people don't know that!

Sparing a lot of gory details, that if you were anything like me...you would be dying to know,

we were done with each other and out of touch.

Travis' grandpa Benson sealed us in the Idaho Falls temple, and when he sealed us...

he said he was tying us together so tight that neither of us would ever be able to get away. I can still see that moment in my mind.

Never was the scripture, 'what is bound on earth is also bound in Heaven' more true.

Before grandpa Benson passed away, he confided in grandma Benson that out of all the sealings he'd ever performed, he felt like ours was the "most right".

Just after his passing, in attending the temple, my sweet husband prayed asking our Father a favor. A favor that forever changed both our lives.

My grandmother who I am extremely attached to, had also recently passed.

Within months of grandpa. Trav mentioned in his prayer, that both his grandpa and my grandma were wonderful people, and lived admirable lives, and if there was any way He would allow them to pull some strings, enough to reunite Travis and I, he would be eternally grateful.

His prayer was said and done and my phone call wasn't far behind.

We were remarried and have never been happier. Soon to celebrate our 8th year anniversary.

So when Travis shared this story along with singing his heart out to his Josh Turner song...I turned to mush and this became my favorite part of 'family cowboy talent night'.

The end!

Unfortunately all good things have to come to an end.

And that means Saturday.

Saturday was my sweet niece, Livvy's birthday party.

She's 2,

which I can't even wrap my head around right now!

I love this little girl a ton.

And we Benson's headed home to Oklahoma.

I want to thank my parents for hosting such a colossal reunion week.

What an amazing haven they have created in their home for us all to come "home" to!

To my brothers and sisters,

you mean more to me than you know.

I thank my lucky stars every day for our chance to be together forever!

My nieces and nephew,

I love you. Bless your sweet little hearts.

Travis, you are mine and I am yours.

Thank you for taking the time to be with me and my family

during such a wonderful and memorable week.

Londyn and Taylor, you are troopers girls! And I hope one day you will know your cousins and they will know you. And you will keep the importance of family, a priority in your lives.

And now...I guess I should thank the academy and step off the stage!

Cheyenne

2011-08-09T14:07:00.001-07:00

You know what's the best?

When you're about to embark on a crazy long road trip because you're insane, and the only thing that you know for a sure is gonna keep your kids entertained maybe 1/3 of the trip...aka the dvd player in the car, decides to fart out?

Fart out!

That's the best.

What else is the best?

Walmart selling not one, but two dvd players in the same box

the day before our 13 hour drive!

Holla!

Our girls did

Uh - maze - ing

on this trip!

You know it's been a good road trip when, at the end you haven't sworn off road trips!

We stopped at Cabela's headquarters in Sidney, Nebraska for both a breather and to fulfill I'm sure, a childhood fantasy of Travs'. He has a tendency to be drawn toward anything in regards to fishing, camping, hunting blah blah blah!

What my baby wants, my baby gets right?!

I'm sure he'd want me to include that our trip to Cabela's resulted in him purchasing an 1851 Navy revolver with the added bonus of it being a Wild Bill Hickok edition complete with ivory handle and fancy etching.

Uh...I don't know what just happened.

Information spew.

He's a happy boy!

We pulled into Cheyenne Saturday evening!

So priorities...

Sunday after church my sisters and I played a friendly game of

CHUBBY BUNNY!

What? You only play chubby bunnies at girl's camp?

Uhmmm...no.

Please note: the following pictures may be disturbing!

And for the record,

I got my butt kicked!

Enjoy.

gross.

Heather and Ellie:

Rematch.

Next summer.

You're on!

Sistas 4 eva!

Love you girls!

Monday morning, we took Benson family pictures.

Of which I only have a few.

Mom you're amazing.

I can't wait to see how they all turned out!

Sneak peek!

One of my favorite parts of this trip has got to be my 10 year reunion.

Not because it's been 10 years since high school and I'm a saggy, old mom now, and having a party like a reunion to remind me of all that is so not awesome...

but because I got to see all my friends again!

It's so hard to believe it's been 10 years!

Have I achieved the goals I've wanted to accomplish?

Have I become the person I've always envisioned myself being?

Have I made a difference over the last 10 years?

Those are all questions I'm still answering!

Ten years ago.

So fun seeing everyone's babies!

I have wonderful friends!

Granted, we don't talk everyday like we did back in high school,

but none of that changes the fact that I look up to each one of these girls!

They have all impacted my life in some way and I'm appreciative!

They took me under their wings when I was the "new girl" in town.

Moving in high school is so not ideal.

Such strong, successful and admirable women I call my friends!

Travis and all the guys left from the reunion and headed to Cheyenne Frontier Days' PBR.

Professional Bull Riding!

I was lucky enough to receive a phone call

from Trav's grandma Benson, saying she was passing through town!

The more the merrier.

Aunt Paula, Uncle Ferron and Grandma all stayed with us that night!

It was a packed and happy house!

I loved watching Grandma with my girls.

She is the epitome of a grandma.

The love that shines through her eyes melts my heart.

What a privilege it is to be loved by her and a part of her wonderful family.

Her and the girls put puzzles together on the iPad forever!

She painted Taylor's face with her fingers forever!

Headed out Tuesday morning.

We love you grandma Benson!

xoxo

Later Tuesday afternoon,

was another favorite for me.

My brother, Willie is in law school at the University of Wyoming and this summer he's interning for a judge in Cheyenne.

Cool, times like a billion.

I've been known to debate.

I'd probably debate into the grave if I thought I was gonna prove my point.

(Maybe not a kudos!?)

Don't judge.

And I've always had an intrigue in criminal law...

so when Willie invited me to a sentencing at the courthouse, I was all over it!

Willie, Liz and I watched a man be sentenced for

MURDER!

It was rad.

Not rad that the dude is probably gonna die in jail because he killed some people...

but everything else was rad.

We went home discussing how the defense attorney was a moron.

What were good arguments and what were stupid.

What I would have done with my nonexistent debating slash lawyer background.

I'm such a wanna be lawyer now!

Wanna be!

My brother and sis-in-law amaze me.

I'm so proud of them and I look up to them for a lot of things.

Liz graduated Law school a little while back and my brother is

kicking law school's butt!

Love you both so much.

So..

For this year's family reunion,

mom had a brilliant idea to have each family, ie. The Cuppy's, Bradshaw's, Benson's and Harnish's cook one night out of the week.

Brilliant.

I loved this idea!

It was our night Tuesday night.

Cafe Rio is always a good choice for a large group of people, and it's so yummy!

I think I've posted the recipe before.

Let me know if you need it again.

That takes care of the first 4 days of our trip!

4 more later...

Aunt Kris or Skristin

2011-08-04T08:35:00.000-07:00

We just spent a week in Cheyenne, Wyoming!

I don't think I can say enough how much I love being an Aunt.

Isn't it funny how you just want to squish your nieces and nephews

guts out with hugs?!

And kiss them all over their faces,

even if they're sticky with peanut butter and popsicles?!

I love my brothers and sisters so much!

I look up to them!

I appreciate them!

I think they are amazing people and stellar parents.

I admire their patience, their love

and the positive reinforcements they give to their children!

I love that my nephew calls me Aunt Skristin!

I loved getting to spend time with them

and can't wait for 2 more little boys we are expecting this fall!

Woot!

4 simple words

2011-07-21T11:43:00.000-07:00

Love.

My.

Life!

Is it Murphy's Law?

2011-07-14T07:27:00.000-07:00

I love pulling fresh sheets out of the dryer and putting them on the beds when they're still warm!

They smell sooo good...well, duh! I use Gain fabric softener, which is THE BEST!

And taking a shower and slipping into clean sheets is absolutely an unrivaled experience!

It's just the pitts when those freshly laundered sheets become soiled with baby pee during the first afternoon after which they've been washed, and I have to rewash EVERYTHING! Ah!

Murphy's Law much?

Well, the same thing has happened with our debt free goal.

Travis is very nimble minded.

He is clever,

inventive,

resourceful,

strategic,

brilliantly smart

and full of humility all at the same time.

I married a genius.

Literally.

Travis has achieved a debt free status for our family...besides the loan on our home, which is a given. But other than that, we are debt free and can breathe! It's a much better feeling than clean sheets believe it or not! Even if they are washed with Gain fabric softener.

We've been enjoying this.

This is where the imposing Murphy's Law comes into play, mixed with the inevitable rearing of the ugly head, that is new home ownership episode #1.

Our AC unit blew up last night!

2 nights in the McGregor hotel and

$7,000 later

we'll be climbing that ladder to financial freedom once more!

Cheers to us!

I'm just thankful we have a home. I'm thankful for all the nice things I do have. I'm thankful for a husband who works so hard to provide me and my family with the things we need and the things we want. I'm thankful for the feeling we have in our home...air conditioning or not! I'm just so blessed!

I am so blessed.

Dear Paul

2011-07-12T18:07:00.000-07:00

About a hundred years ago when I was furthering my education at BYU-Idaho, I had a super cute roommate named Kaylee...who I'm still really good friends with by the way. She was so cute that all the boys were goo goo ga ga for her!

Jealous.

All my boyfriends were boobs.

Anyway, there was one boy who, bless his heart had it bad for Kaylee.

His name was Paul.

And he had it so bad that he didn't care that I was always the third wheel.

Always.

I wasn't super stoked about being drug along for dates. It was lame. Except for this one time! He took Kaylee and I to his house and made us dinner.

A boy who cooks! What?

He made us sweet and sour chicken.

It was so yummy that my girl and I stole the recipe and to this day make sweet and sour chicken for our families. And we never went out with Paul again.

So...

Dear Paul,

Thank you for having a generous amount of testosterone flowing through your veins, enabling you to clearly see that my roommate was so not interested, and inviting "us" on multiple awkward, spare tired attempts at love, and allowing us to forever taste of your sweet sweet recipe that is your 'sweet and sour chicken', almost 10 years later!

Heart you!

Paul's sweet and sour chicken:

4 boneless chicken breast

2 beaten eggs

3/4 c. corn starch

Cube chicken

dip into egg and then corn starch

Brown in an oiled pan

Place breaded chicken in an 8x8 or 3 qt baking dish

make sauce in a separate bowl (I always triple this recipe...I like my food to swim)

single serving - tripled

3/4 c sugar - 2 1/4 c sugar

1/8 c vinegar - 1/4 c vinegar

I always go really easy on the vinegar.

I'm never true to what the recipe calls for.

1/4 c chicken broth - 3/4 c chicken broth

5 TB ketchup - 1 c ketchup

1 TB soy sauce - 3 TB soy sauce

Mix sauce and pour over breaded chicken.

350* for 45 minutes or until the sauce is boiling.

Serve over rice!

Usually takes about 30 minutes to prepare.

But in my case...a little longer!

This is typically what it's like trying to fix dinner!

Love my girls!

And tonight's dinner makes this boy really happy!

xoxo

busy summa=super long blog!

2011-07-10T10:53:00.000-07:00

Isn't it funny...you think no one pays attention to your posts on your blog or Facebook, judging by lack of comments, so you slowly decrease in your postage, almost to a halt (which is where I'm at) and then...BAM! You get slammed with...

"where have you been?"

"why haven't you posted?"

"haven't seen you on Facebook lately..."

That makes me feel good peeps.

I feel real good.

But also, I haven't posted because we have been SLAMMED this summer.

So, I'm going to attempt to cover it all.

I'm gonna let the pictures do a lot of the talking!

We made it through tornado season.

Barely!

This was Trav's little sister's first experience and can I just say,

she handled it with grace!

Swimming...like, everyday!

Yard sales.

People throw away some awesome stuff...it just needs a little tlc!

I have an addiction with being hands on crafty. I'm not amazing at it,

but it certainly fills my need for creativity.

Before and After photos are my fav.

Holla.

Father's Day.

Birthdays.

Red Lobster this year.

Anyone who knows me at all, knows I start twitching at even the thought of eating a fish.

Bleh.

So, I ordered the coconut shrimp and LOVED it!

Happy Birthday mom!

Splash Pad...like, every day!

Riding horses.

Playing dress up!

Yard work.

And this yard is so lucky to have Travis be it's groomer.

He is a true landscaper at heart, and soon enough

we will have the prettiest yard on the block!

Saving baby mocking birds.

I went outside first thing in the morning before church and found this little fella under

Trav's truck. It was just a little baby, so I left it alone thinking the mommy wouldn't want it if I tried to help it...which by the way, turns out, that is a complete myth according to the professionals that helped me save the ugly thing. Anyway, so I left that baby under the truck thinking the mom would come find it. We got home from church hours later to find the bird still sitting in front of our house.

Hello...it's like 110 degrees outside.

Litereally.

Apparently, my momma bear instincts kicked in

and I took the ugly bird to the animal hospital.

Just in time too.

He was saved!

I'm not a tree hugger or anything.

This summer we have been lucky enough to have visitors!

Trav's sister Shay came to stay with us for a few weeks.

So of course we had to do makeovers!!!

Before...

...after

She's hot right?!!?!

Then we absolutely had to go shopping!

Taylor is my shoe girl.

Then we were so lucky,

Trav's parents came to visit for a week!

Welcome Benson family!

We played cards every night.

park.

piggies.

And...

dun duh duh dun...

Salmon for dinner.

The Benson's cooked dinner for us one night!

It was fish.

FISH.

I just don't feel like I've said it enough times yet...

FISH!!!!

Unfortunately I slipped into a coma and wasn't able to indulge in their efforts.

But I heard it was delightful!

xoxo

4th of July.

We began our day with fireworks.

Real. Fire. Works.

Don't judge me.

I'm not a bad mom.

I know my 2 year old daughter was playing with fire...

that doesn't necessarily mean you need to call the proper authorities.

I can explain.

It was a perfect storm of events.

Because we had had company, we brought the bar stools in the house for extra seating.

They are not normally there, due to climbing monkeys for children.

Also, I don't just have laundry laying around the house.

Ha ha.

I was getting ready to iron these skirts.

I know, I iron my 2 year olds clothes.

Lame.

Or OCD.

I don't know.

And I had just lit the candle because,

I'm so sure one of my kiddos had just crapped their pants.

It was a sneak attack.

We never saw it coming.

Londyn, you're a ninja.

A sneaky, little ninja.

Water park for the afternoon.

And then, safety regulated fireworks!

Yeah, the Harnish family came to visit!

My brother and his wife and their precious little OLIVIA!

These three were best buds.

Summer Salts at Grandma's house!

Swimming.

Jumping on the bed.

My sweet niece Livvy.

2 little monkeys jumping on the bed...

Lake Thunderbird.

I'm gonna get a little sentimental...

This picture right here...

this is what made my summer.

I love my mom and my boogie more than anyone knows.

I am so grateful for them in my life.

Made my summer!

p.s. Liz is pregnant with my nephew, and she freakin' dominated that jet ski.

You got guts girl.

Guts and game.

Love you Harnishes!

I have had an amazing summer so far!

So many memories have been made.

So much to do,

so little time.

Here's to the next month and it's activities...

future mommy

2011-06-08T11:54:00.000-07:00

So lately I've been finding

unwrapped 'pantiliners' all over the house!

All over!

Londyn has figured these bad boys out!

She uses them as

bandaids

tape

stickers

dolly blankets

and now...

diapers.

What a sweetheart.

According to her,

the baby went poo poo and needed a clean diaper!

Hahahahahaha!!!

I love my future mommy!

Tornado season

2011-06-03T07:14:00.000-07:00

I found myself rushing through a wide range of emotions last week.

Oklahoma was pounded with tornados.

Yeah, more than one.

POUNDED.

The day of...

I had received a few texts reminding me

to be safe

watch the weather

make sure you have batteries

is your emergency kit ready

and so on.

I didn't panic.

I actually was the opposite!

I don't know why, but on such days as this one was,

rainy

cloudy

windy

I find it appropriate to wear my jammas all day and have a movie day.

So relaxing.

And lazy.

Then about 4pm I received one more text...

are you watching the news?

Ha ha.

No, I was probably watching some uneducational, numbing, waste of my time, obviously not important cause I can't even remember what it was now, tv show.

So I switched it to the news and watched a tornado demolish Piedmont, Oklahoma. Which is just to the north of us.

My zen like disposition downshifted real quick.

I hit my speed dial.

"Trav, get your butt home!"

He just laughed at me and told me to get in the bathtub with the girls.

HELLO?!?!

I am crapping my pants.

No!

Get your butt home and protect us from this violent and destructive whirlwind, that eats people's homes and destroys everything in it's beaten path...and do it with your bare hands!

You're a man!

PROTECT US!!!!

Well, that's what I was thinking in my mind anyway!

I was unmistakably losing my mind.

By the time Travis got home, another tornado had developed and was to the south of us and coming straight for us.

My panic button was being pushed repeatedly.

I was pushing the panic button!

Panic.

A little history -

This new house we just moved into was hit last year by a tornado.

Panic.

Luckily for us the tornado died off and didn't disturb Norman.

We just received falling debris.

But for the families that survived this tornado...

they emerged form their shelters to find...

nothing.

Their homes were destroyed.

Everything they owned, was gone.

There was a family featured on the news that just broke my heart.

Broke it to pieces.

There was a mother, 5 months pregnant home alone with her 3 small children hiding in their bathtub when the tornado hit.

Her little 3 year old boy was ripped out of her arms and carried off by the twister. And her 15 month old son died as well. The mother and her 5 year old daughter survived after hospitalization and surgery.

After I saw and heard these stories on the news, I became so emotional.

I was just so thankful that my family was safe, but at the same time felt such sorrow for the families that suffered these losses.

I really wanted to hug and hold these strangers.

I wanted to absorb some of their pain.

What could I do to help?

I decided to coupon.

That sounds so dumb.

But it was all I could think of.

So I did.

I couponed my butt off!

In an effort to make a donation to these tornado victims.

I went from store to store talking with managers and whoever I could, to get help.

I was blessed with so many good deals.

free first aid kits

bandaids

cereal

shampoo

diapers

toothbrushes

etc.

I know it's not much.

I wish I could spend hours helping clean up or rebuilding.

I wish I could house some of these families while they rebuild.

I wish I could feed the thousands that lost everything.

I wish I could do more.

I thank my Heavenly Father for watching over me and my family.

Not just during times of trial, but always.

Tonight...

2011-05-26T18:34:00.000-07:00

Tonight...

So...

at the dinner table,

Taylor picks her nose.

Picked it so good,

she got somethin'!

She looks at her fingers and says,

"what is it?"

"what is that daddy?"

"Eww...those are your boogies!"

Daddy gets a tissue and wipes it up.

And she says, "ALL CLEAN!!!"

Rapunzel Rapunzel...

2011-05-24T10:06:00.000-07:00

Quick, but very cute note:

I braided Londyn's hair this morning...and she looked at me and said,

"I like my Rapunzel hair mommy!"

Oh it's just so sweet the things they say!

Addiction or lifestyle?

2011-05-20T14:07:00.000-07:00

I've decided to share my secrets.

Not really.

They're not really secret.

So, I've been trying to decide if my couponing has become an

addiction or a lifestyle.

Why did I start couponing? To save money...just like everyone else!

Plus, I have two butts in diapers right now. Hello?!

The average amount spent on diapers a month for one baby...

(yeah, I totally googled this)

$80-$130/month.

x2 for me.

OUCH!

I felt like if I wanted any extras EVER, I needed to learn this trade.

So I started clipping.

And clipping.

At first I was confused by the whole idea.

How on earth am I gonna save money with only a $.25 off coupon?

I can buy the "off" brand for less.

Dumb.

The concept is simple I later found,

through a few friends...you know who you are!

And possibly a little research on the web.

Wait for in store sales and bottom dollar prices...

then use your coupon!

Duh!

Where do I get my coupons?

I feel so grown up answering this question.

I receive the Sunday paper.

Yeah, I'm totally one of those people who walk outside

in my super awesome bath robe to collect my Sunday paper.

If I drank coffee, it would almost be that much cooler.

Or smoked a pipe...eh?!?!

Me and my mug...and my robe...off to get my paper! Hot.

I also used to purchase extra papers for the coupons.

As of late...

Dumpster dive much?

In my defense...

Here's the story.

I was rolling our trash can out to the curb one morning...

not in my robe...

and looked over to see my neighbor's recycling bin

with noticeably untouched newspapers just chillin'.

Hmmm...what are the chances she is rich and doesn't clip her coupons?

She's been duped.

She threw away her coupons!

Well...bless her heart...I mean, she recycled at least!

That's money people!

So, I grabbed them.

And then looked down the block to see like a billion other innocent

recycling bins waiting to be ransacked by a crazy coupon lady.

So every Friday is garbage day...

and COUPON day!

And one more defense.

Our neighborhood recycling bins aren't the huge ones with the lids and the whole nine yards.

I'm not literally jumping in dumpsters.

Like on the show,

EXTREME COUPONING on TLC

They're tiny green bins-

such as a bathroom trash can.

I'm not gross okay!

Today was trash and coupon day.

It was POURING outside.

I woke up this morning and was like...

"NOOOO!!! My coupons!"

But me being the die hard I am,

put on my rain coat and big, rubber boots...

which by the way are super cute grey and pink plaid...

packed my girls up in the car and went to get my rain ambushed coupons.

Londyn was hollering,

"Get those coupons mommy! Get 'em. Get 'em!"

We got home a little later and the garbage truck was coming around.

Londyn ran to the window and got so upset. She said the garbage man was taking all the coupons!

Hahahhahahaha!!!

Love my girls.

So without any further ado...

a most anticipated feature, to some...

A few, recent coupon deals...

(I actually looked back on a few of my receipts to get

exact numbers of what I paid. I wanted to be accurate.

The bigger hauls, I couldn't remember. But know that those were still a steal!)

I mostly shop:

Walgreens

CVS

Target and

Walmart

Sometimes dollar stores will have some really good deals.

Do I run out of the house in a panic to get a deal at 10:30 at night?

Or a raincheck?

Yeah, yeah...sometimes I do!

I am so not ashamed.

And something that has worked to my advantage,

because not too many store cashiers are super thrilled when you hand them

a butt load of coupons...or ask to do multiple transactions...

I have made good friends with my stores' cashiers!

Me being so friendly and all...ha ha!

I totally just took one of my regular cashiers a wedding gift!

She loved it...

and I loved it.

It's so much more fun when you hear the

beep

of your coupons scanning, with a smiling check out gal...

as opposed to a grouch!

I follow:

Hip2save.com

thekrazycouponlady.com

and if you don't receive adequate coupon inserts in your area,

a great clipping site is:

couponsthingsbydede.com

When I first started building my "stock pile"...

I was kinda feeling hoardish.

I had 4 or 5 extra tubes of toothpaste.

Maybe 10 bottles body wash, etc.

But I've decided that having 6 months-a years worth of products

and goods to sustain your family, is not a bad thing.

Uhmmm...church recommendations?

I love knowing that I have EXTRA toilet paper in storage!

Extra diapers and wipes.

Extra Ibuprofen.

Extra crackers and snacks.

Extra ziploc.

Extra shampoo.

Extra brownie mix. Ha ha.

Extra everything!

And it doesn't affect my monthly grocery budget.

There is a major difference between stockpiling and hoarding!

Sometimes I pick up items I know I won't use.

Because they were free!

It feels good to donate.

I like feeling like I did something good for someone else.

Couponing has truly opened my eyes.

Did you know that over seas our military families can use

expired coupons up to 6 months after the expiration date?

I always felt so sick throwing away the coupons I clipped and didn't use.

But now they can be used for a good cause!

If you're interested in sending your expired coupons to military families,

send them to:

KCL Overseas Coupon Program

c/o Amanda Brumbaugh

10960 W. Bridgetower Dr.

Boise, Idaho 83709

And now I ask:

Addiction or lifestyle?

Such a good weekend!

2011-05-17T12:02:00.000-07:00

'It seems like I've watched a million sunsets

and stared at a thousand full moons.

Sometimes it feels like I've been here forever

and sometimes it all feels brand new.

I could never count the heartbeats

from the day I was born until now.

But not a single one goes unnoticed

by Him who breathes life in me somehow.

But if there were no tomorrows

if I knew that I could not stay.

I know how I'd spend every moment

If only I had today.

I'd hold you and listen

and I'd let the dishes sit in the sink.

I'd tell you I loved you over and over

and for once I'd just let the phone ring.

Then I'd remind you of forever

and how our love would never change.

If I only had today.

I'd wake up before the sun did

and I'd watch as you quietly sleep.

I'd pray for time to move slowly

knowing the moment won't keep.

All the gifts that Heaven has given

every blessing that's come my way.

Wouldn't mean anything without you

so if only I had today.

I'd hold you and listen

I'd memorize every detail of your face.

I'd tell you I loved you over and over

I wouldn't let excuses get in the way.

Then I'd remind you of forever

and how our love would never change.

If only I had today.

There's no time like the present.

Life doesn't come with any guarantees.

The sun will set and time won't wait

so while I have today:

I'll hold you and listen

And I'll let the dishes sit in the sink.

I'll tell you I love you over and over

and for once I'll just let the phone ring.

Then I'll remind you of forever

and how our love will never change.

If I only had today.'

Hilary Weeks

Go here for a clip!

My sweet husband sent me to 'Time Out For Women' this year as my mother's day gift!

Bless his heart, huh?!

I attended with my girlfriend and her mother and sister.

We made it a true weekend and stayed overnight in a hotel, that won't be named

because they made me mad...

So I got us a free room! Holla!

A few songs Hilary Weeks sang at this conference, really hit home for me.

And isn't it the best, when you're touched through beautiful, uplifting music!?!

I boobed like you wouldn't believe.

And that was actually a composed boobage, because I was in public!

Hilary talked about watching her daughter stuff her face with Mac and Cheese one night, and realizing, that for the rest of eternity, she will only know her daughter as an adult.

That she wishes for time to stand still.

So that she can memorize her children's faces, as children.

Then she sang a song that isn't even out on cd yet...which is probably good news for me.

I don't need to be listening to it all day every day anyway...

crying

and crying

and crying!

So with those thoughts in my mind, Hilary later sang the song I quoted above.

Seriously...check it out!

Kill me!

The words are just...so what I needed.

I feel like I've been struggling lately to find the joy in MY motherhood.

I still love it like all get out...

but I feel, I'm lacking.

I'm certainly being tried.

And some days I don't handle it as well as I know I can.

(Hilary was so pleasant!)

So when I got home from the conference,

I told myself I was going to apply living as if I only had today.

Those dang dishes can chill out in the sink for another hour,

if it means I can hold my daughters' hands for another minute!

I want to hold them and listen to anything and everything they can think of.

I want to kiss their cheeks and tell them I love them,

over and over!

I want to look into their eyes and see them. Really see them.

My babies.

I want to live my life in these moments.

The moments that are here right now.

These precious moments that I know I will dream about,

when my babies, too quickly grow older.

I want to memorize these moments.

I feel so blessed to have been able to attend such an amazing conference, filled with

heart warming,

spiritual

and

moving talks, songs and books.

It was truly uplifting and a much needed get away!

Dun duh duh dunnnn....

and now, the dynamic mood change!!!!

From one high to another!

I walked in the door from the conference and kissed the crap outta my babies!

And was told to hurry up and change, and get the kids in the car

cause we were goin' out!!!

I was so lost.

Ha ha.

I couldn't get my brain to switch into mommy mode fast enough!

pack pajamas

pack blankies

pack Rapunzle and pillow pets and monkeys and everything else in the world my girls just HAVE sleep with

pack emergency medicines

pack extra shoes

extra diapers

extra wipes

extra EVERYTHING!

The girls are goin' to grandma's!

Trav and I met up with family, John and Amy to see

the RedHawks play the Salt Lake City Bee's!

And eat some crazy awesome ball park hot dogs! Woot!

We had so much fun!

It was an incredible weekend!

INCREDIBLE!

Off the market!

2011-05-09T13:58:00.000-07:00

Welp, my little brother is officially off the market!

We started the festivities off

with a bridal shower for Rachel, the bride to be.

Which of course included the infamous 'toilet paper wedding dress' game.

My mom was a bona fide African queen goddess bride!

What the turban?

Hot.

John and Rachel were married on my parent's ranch.

It was such a beautiful day.

Perfect for an outdoor, western wedding!

p.s. Rachel is pregnant with my niece! So excited to meet her in October!

Something sweet:

Travis was asked to sing and play guitar to John and Rachel's wedding song!

Tim McGraw's, 'It's your love.'

He is too modest to say he did well...

but it was wonderful.

I'm his biggest fan!

The bride and groom danced their first dance

to my husband singing those sweet words!

And to see them looking in each other's eyes with such love

was really touching for me to witness!

John also had those words, "it's your love"

engraved in Rachel's wedding band.

So sweet.

Best wishes to our new married couple!

And to my little brother.

xoxo

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-07T22:00:00.000-07:00

When I had my daughters...I decided forever,

to have my heart walking around outside my body.

I love my daughters.

I love being a mother.

I love my mothers.

And I love that it's Mother's Day!

Here's to hoping I get breakfast in bed in the morning...

MS Walk 2011

2011-05-04T20:26:00.000-07:00

"The wisdom of a grandmother is in her patience."

I love my grandma.

I loved the way she smelled.

I loved watching her put her make up on.

I loved how dainty her mannerisms were.

I loved her faith.

I loved her strength.

I loved her stories about all her adventures.

I love that she traveled the world.

I love my grandma.

My grandma passed away August 2007.

And I miss her everyday.

I wear her ring on my finger everyday.

I wish she were here.

I wish she could meet my daughters.

My grandma struggled over 35 years with Multiple Sclerosis.

She never let it show.

I never knew how hard it was for her.

I still don't.

She was strong.

MS eventually took her life.

And since then...I've been walking.

I walk to free this world of MS.

I walk for my grandma.

This year was my girls' 3rd time walking!

A big thank you to those who helped out this year and donated!

Aunt Kathi, I love you!

A special song dedicated to my grandma.

'Wind beneath my wings' was her favorite song!

Enjoy!

Rainy, Easter Sunday

2011-04-28T19:36:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!

Can I please catch a break?!?

2011-04-25T19:48:00.000-07:00

I feel beaten down.

I'm exhausted.

I've been crippled.

My heart is broken.

My willpower is dissolving.

Am I good enough?

I felt all these things as I cried in my husbands arms the other night.

I put the girls in timeout in their room.

They were in there for maybe 2 minutes.

I heard a loud crash.

Waited for the crying.

Nothing.

I open the door to find both my girls COVERED in shards of glass.

Glass people!

The closet doors in their room were old school.

Mirrors that should have been taken down a hundred years ago.

Blood running down their legs and on their hands.

I immediately freaked out.

And then recovered...I thought, if I freak...they'll freak.

They didn't cry.

But I was crying...on the inside.

My babies.

I picked them both up, glass falling off in chunks from the bottoms of their feet.

I almost don't want to write the rest.

I feel I've been beaten down.

I feel exhausted.

I feel like my legs have been knocked out from under me. I feel crippled.

My heart hurts.

Where is my willpower?

Am I good enough for my girls?

How can two awful things within days of each other happen to my sweet babies?

Taylor falling on her head off the kitchen counter.

And now this.

All under my supervision.

Or the lack of it.

I'm struggling.

A harsh and overwhelming inner struggle.

We are blessed.

We are so incredibly blessed.

3 good things...

2011-04-21T13:50:00.000-07:00

Some of my favorite things this week:

80's ZUMBA!

It's one thing to bust out some killer dance moves to

Lady GaGa on any ordinary day at zumba...

But on 80's day this week, it was such an adrenaline rush, to go old school!

I loved wearing these ridiculously hot pink pants while shakin' it to some harsh retro tunes!

So fun!

I don't love so much, that the picture was taken AFTER the class!

Cuddle time on a Sunday afternoon!

I love my kids.

And what I really loved this week...

Relief Society's show and tell.

What a good night for me.

It was amazing to look over the whole room and realize what different and unique gifts and talents we all have. It was kind of eye opening. I was so impressed at all the hobbies and interests that were shared.

Bowling

Cake decorating

Family History

Home Decor

Composing

Photography

Journaling

and my lame...

Bow making!

Ha ha.

I wasn't sure what the night entailed. I had no idea we were gonna have to stand in front of the group and share what we brought. I probably would have prepared a more detailed and intriguing speech!

I just felt so inadequate.

Everybody's gifts and talents were awesome.

And I actually teared up a time or two thinking about

what fascinating and incredible women I've surrounded myself with.

I'm so blessed to have the gospel in my life.

And to know that our Heavenly Father loves us each, as individuals.

I'm glad that I'm an individual.

I know He loves me.

I know He loves us.

And

He knows us.

He knows our strengths and capabilities!

And loves us for them...regardless of whether we think they're worthy attributes or not.

I love that.

From the mouths of babes

2011-04-19T11:40:00.000-07:00

I decided it's time to dedicate a portion of my blog to the

hysterical

outlandish

whimsical

darling

innocent

and

unforgettable notions my daughters say and do!

They crack me up.

Everyday.

Here's a few, from my Londyn.

I was trying to teach Londyn how to say, "I'm 2."

For two reasons.

#1 so she'll know.

#2 so when we get stopped in the grocery store for the billionth time...

"oh my gosh! are those twins?"

"how old are they?"

"my cousins, next door neighbor's, dog's brother is a twin,"

and so on.

She will be able to politely say, "I'm 2."

So we're teaching this.

I say, "Londyn, say I'm 2!"

She says, "No mom, I'm a twin."

ha ha.

"Yeah, you're a twin! Can you say, I'm 2?!"

"NO MOM...I'M A TWIN!!!"

Being a mom is fun.

And it's silly thinking of all the little tiny things you need to teach your kids, because it was so long ago that you yourself learned those things...now, they're just second nature.

We're working on

"please"

"thank you"

"excuse me"

and

"you're welcome"

I give Londyn a "cuppy" with some juice.

I held on to it until I heard, "thank you".

She didn't say it.

So I said, "Londyn, can you say thank you?"

Nothin'.

I let go of the cuppy and said,

"Londyn, you need to say thank you to people when they do nice things for you!"

She looks at me and says,

"ok mommy."

Walks into the living room and stretches her arms out really big and screams,

"THANK YOU PEOPLE!"

Ba hahahahahahahahahhaaha!!!

We're eating lunch.

Londyn puts her hand up to her ear, pretending that she's on the phone with her grandma.

"Hi Bamma."

"I wub you."

and so on.

I started snickering, which is fuel to Londyn's drama queen gene.

She turned on the cheese real quick!

She started squealing and screaming into her fake phone, that is her hand probably covered in her lunch...to her grandma.

"I WUB YOU!!!!!"

"HOW ARE YOU TODAAAAAAY?!"

I was laughing.

But then she started getting louder, if that was even possible.

So naturally, my eyes got a little big.

Still with a smile on my face, just thinking in my head..."holy loud".

She stops.

Looks at me.

Squints her eyes,

and says to me, "Mommy, what are you doing with your eyes?"

ha ha!

Oh I love this girl.

You make me laugh.

You make me freakin' laugh.