The deal.

All right guys, here is the deal. I can clean. Not in that OK I vacuum-my-house-and-make-sure nothing-is-crawling-out-of-the-toilet-clean that some people do every other week. When I clean it's a dump-everything-out-of-the-drawers-wipe-the-baseboards-build-up-a-sweat-and-call-it-gym-time-every-week-clean. What can I say, it's my talent. I used to fill bad that I couldn't sing or dance or draw but, I can look at a closet or drawer and just know how stuff is supposed to fit into that space. I am to drawer organizers what Michelangelo was to stone. Maybe I am being vain, but I think that I am that good. The funny thing is I just thought everyone was like that. I mean my mom is, my Aunt Karen is, my cousin Annie is, my sisters are. . . . .Wait I am noticing a trend here. Maybe this thing is in my DNA. I really think we might have evidence of the existence of a cleaning gene here. I know that not everyone is like this. The other day I was at a friend's house while she was unloading her dishwasher and she opened like three cabinets before she found a place to put her mixing bowls. WHAT? How can every item in your kitchen not have a designated spot? And she didn't even stack the bowls from biggest to smallest. She just threw them in there and quickly shut the door. Deep down in my obsessively clean genes I am pretty sure I heard my dead Grandmother wince. She passed away when I was in Junior High, but from what I hear, she was the original obsessively clean lady. (I believe we may have our point of origin for the clean gene. ) Oil grease in silk-she could get that out. She could stare dust off a surface. Dishes beware, she didn't need a dishwasher to sanitize, she washed her dishes on the stove top, in boiling water. She was so good, she had white couches in her living room. And cream ones in her family room and (here is how you know she was great) you could sit on them. Basically she was the Chuck Norris of clean. So Grandma here's to you. I may not ever be asked to sing at the Ward Party, but when they need somebody to clean the lasagna pans in the kitchen, you know where I will be. Boiling some water to do the dishes and scrubbing that junk out of the oven. Hopefully, one day Grace and Ava will find themselves doing the same thing, they sort of have it in their genes.

Revising

Remember when I said I was going to lose 10 pounds by Thanksgiving. Now I am just hoping that I don't gain 10 pounds by Thanksgiving. But I am going to get right on those pesky pounds. . . . . . in January.

Happy October

It has been a busy month for us. Here are some of the things we did in the past two weeks.

Celebrated Carter's 1st birthday. He had a chocolate cupcake cake made to look like a baseball. He really enjoyed his cupcake and all of his presents too!

We went to the neighborhood pumpkin patch and selected our pumpkins. The kids mostly liked riding in the wheel barrow.

Finished the girls Halloween costumes. I LOVE to make them every year.

Aunt Ardy's spooky Halloween Bash. I am already thinking about our costumes for next year!

Ava's preschool program. Miss Lisa and Miss Shaun are the best.

Trick or Treating at Bammy's work, Lori's work, the neighborhood party, both girl's dance and on Haloween night with cousins.

Whew!! Good thing Halloween is over. I am exhausted. I am looking forward to a nice relaxing holiday, like Christmas.

Another one bites the dust

This week I lost another pound. Two for two!! I am considering this success because I really only watch what I eat on the weekdays. And by that I mean Monday to Thursday.

Project 3.0 pounds

Well, I didn't quite make my mark. I only lost one pound. So that will make this week project 3.0 pounds. I guess I can't make my goal AND eat an entire basket of Chili's chips and salsa, amongst other goodies. But I sure enjoyed it while I ate it, and now it is off to the jogging stroller.

Goodbye summer

Goodbye summer we will miss you.

Project 1.5 pounds

So. . . . I weighed myself today. After 24 hours of hunger and self deprevation I am .2lbs HEAVIER than I was the day before. AWESOME. I think I will reward myself with a trip to the gym and attempt so many tri dips I woun't be able to brush my teeth. YEAH!!!! I love project 1.5 pounds.

10 Pounds by Thanksgiving

I would like to invite you (I don't know if any one actually reads my blog because lately no one ever leaves a comment) to join me on a journey, a quest if you will. I would like to be 10 pounds lighter by Thanksgiving. I am asking for your help. If you see me gazing loningly at the apple fritters at the grocery store, gently steer me away. If you hear of a receipe that makes water taste like molten lava cake, let me know. If you see me running on the side of the road, drive behind me and help me do some "speed training". I will report my weight loss progress every Friday. Leave an encouraging comment if you can, but please keep and and all, "Lisa, you fat lard. Come eat your food." comments, to your self. Let's go week one, or should I say project 1.5 pounds.

The happiest place on Eartth

Two weeks ago we took our kids to Disneyland. We had a great time. There will be more pictures to come soon. Right now I have to go work on two Halloween Costumes.

Soon

Soon. Yes, very soon you will be out there running too.

But not yet.

This summer you get to fall asleep in my arms and stay close to me.

Next summer I promise I will chase you and you can be "big"

but, this summer you still have to be little.

A digital slideshow by Smilebox

My first tri

 

Last Monday I finished my first Triathalon. My awesome in-laws heped my kids and my niece and nephew make posters to help cheer me on. It was so fun to see them and was just the pick up I needed.

Create your own free digital slideshow

Pure Joy

I love these pictures of Ava. I think she just found absolute pure joy.

Looks a little bit like this guy found some too.

Tour of Utah

We have spent the past week cheering for our favorite cyclist Big George Hincapie, who is in town for the Tour of Utah. Ava got her picture taken with him (check out my last post to see that picture).

The girls got to hold his bike. (Man that is one tall seat post.) Unfortunately, Big George crashed on Thursday and had to abandon the race. So, now we have to pick somebody else to cheer for.

These two little freeloaders have swagged to their hearts content. If you need any waterbottles, chapstick, powerade, bike helmets, pens, cowbells or DZ Nuts samples let us know.

In Case You Missed It: Lots of fan support for @ghincapie @th... on Twitpic

http://twitpic.com/2fvo34

Stolen

I stole this from my sister's blog. I wannna look pretty in a picture for once. Perhaps not closing my eyes and making myself have a double chin would help. Sorry Shelly, if I win we will work something out.

Hey everyone! My friend Tracy is doing a giveaway to celebrate her new website!
www.tracylaynephotography.com
The winner will receive a FREE mini session (30 minutes, 1 location in the Salt Lake or St. George area, 10 edited pictures on a CD).

Here’s how it works… you will get 1 entry for each of the
following things you do…

#1 Like Tracy Layne Photography on Facebook
#2 Post about this giveaway on Facebook
#3 Post about this giveaway on your blog

Then, send her a separate email at tracylaynephotography@gmail.com for EACH thing you do (please include your blog address so she can check it out) and she will enter you for each one. All entries must be received before August 18th 11:59pm MST.

The lucky winner will be announced August 19th!
Thank you!"

Just wondering.

Just sitting here at 11:45 wondering where those two cupcakes I ate for dinner are supposed to fit in to my diet plan. Who would make cupcakes for a dieting momma anyways? Oh yeah, ME! What was I thinking? I would just make them for the kids and not eat one myself. I should know I don't have the self confidence for that.

P.S. That is not what my cupcake looked like. My homemade frosting flowers looked a little bit like an icing fairy did something unmentionable on the top of my cupcake.

She's not a very good mom.

I am always confused when I hear people say, "She's not a very good mom." Obviously women who beat or otherwise abuse their children aren't very good mothers, but for the most part most of us are just trying to keep our heads above water. I am extra confused when people who aren't moms, espically men, make that comment. I mean I wouldn't go to your office and after watching you foul up in a meeting say, "He's not a very good provider." It takes a long time to make a judgement call like that. Besides can't some of the time we just be good moms, why do we always have to be very good moms? Let's be honest if you could judge peoples ability after one encounter how many mechanics, er doctors or DMV workers would still be around? So Sir, next time you want to judge me after standing in the checkout line behind me at Target, be careful . Not everytime will my baby scream until he spits up all over me nor will my children run in circles with those stupid-light-up-Little-Einstein-candy-toy-things and I promise not to drop the egg carton out of the cart every time while I try helplessly to control an out of control situation. But next time if you must, please try to mutter your judgements a little quieter under your breath, so I will not be forced to "accidently "run over your foot with my grocery cart.

Bear Lake

We went to Bear Lake for my Dad's birthday last weekend.

Ava and Macey played in the Lake

Macey pretended she was a fish.

Carter got to see his daddy.

And Grandma got to see her grandkids.

It was a good weekend.

FOUND

Remember when I told you that I lost my camera (or that someone stole it) at Costco. . . . I meant I left it in my swim bag. But in my defense I did find the entire state of Delaware in the side pocket when I cleaned the giant SOB out. Here are some pics from the past two days.

Fun at Lagoon.

Season passports for Grace and Ava: $180.

Tickets for Carter to ride Bulgy, twice: $4.

These two pictures priceless.

Feeding the man eating ducks at Lagoon. Grace got her mom's

love of animals, nothing but fear on her face.

Oreos. Mmmmmmmm.

I LOVE SUMMER!!!!!!

Here are a few of my favorite things right now.

1. Doing my girl's hair. We found a blogsite dedicated to teaching you how to do hair and we love it!! Picking out a hair style together and then havng someone tell me how to use "product". Quite possibly my new favorite 30 minutes of the day. I would show you pictures, but I have lost my camera.

2. Sobee life waters. I love them almost as much as Diet Coke. Almost.

3. That my Dad buys french fries when we go to Lagoon. My parents aren't much for spurgling, but I love this guilty little pleasure and so do my kids. So, thanks Dad from all of us, includig my lovehandles and thunder thighs.

4. My bike. I once was a die hard runner, then I realized it really hurts your knees. Biking doesn't and you get to pass all the runners, even the really fast ones. PLus biking doesn't mae you feel like you are going to barf. At least not the whole time.

5. Carter's great big smile. He closes his eyes smiles really big and then chomps his gums together. Very very cute. He is such a lady's man.

Just a few things I love right now. As soon as I find my camera, I will post pictures.

Here is a conversation that I had with my girls a while back.

Grace and Ava fighting over a pillow.

Mom: Ava you had that pillow last time. It's Grace's turn.

Ava: (Crying)

Mom: Grace what do you think Heavenly Father and Jesus want you to do?

Grace: (Thinking)

Grace: OK. Ava can have it if I can have a dollar.

Mom: Deal.

Hmmmmm, I don't think you will be reading about this tactic in any parenting books. However, it will be chapter 2 in my book. I think I will title the book "My View of the Big Top: From Inside One of the Three Rings." Two of the chapters will be: Money can't buy you love, but it can buy you silence and Why can't Diet Coke go in a bottle?

Where did she learn that?

Nudity

The post title was simply to get your attention. I need a lot of help. I hate my camera. If any of you have any suggestions for a camera that will not require me to sell any internal organs to pay for it, let me know. Please.

Removing

It is with great excitment that I remove the "Ryan and Nici are adopting" button from my blog. Congrats you two, he is so precious!!!!

Boys!!!!

Tonight I was giving Carter his bath, which I do by placing his infant tub inside the real tub. Well, I look down to see him pee up and over the side of the real tub and get the floor all wet!! The worst part, the super-pleased-with-himself-look on his face. BOYS ARE GROSS!!!!!!

It has come to my attention that there are some people who would like to participate in the tag who do not have a blog. If this is you then you can e-mail me (bandlbarkdull@yahoo.com), put it on facebook, or use someone else's blog. I mean really I would like to see someone use McKell's blog!!!!! I will print out all the responses and bring them to Spring Fling so everyone can read each others comments.

Calling all Bosley women

Anyone that knows my family know that in the Spring we go on a vacation with just the women. That includes my mom, my sisters, my mom sister's and their kids and my grandma's sisters and their kids. We call this exodus Spring Fling. In honor of Spring Fling I am starting a tag. Anyone who gets tagged and answers will get a special treat.

3 favorite spring fling memories/stories

1. The time we stayed at the "Lodge" in Park City and ate so much fudge the guy at the fudge store asked "How many of you are there?"
2. Watching "Twilight" for the first (and last) time.
3. The ride down and back, every year.

3 things I am most looking forward to

1. Nachos at 1:00 a.m.
2. Not feeling guilty about starting the day with a diet coke, ending the day with a diet coke and drinking one all day long.
3. Giggling like a school girl over anything and everything.

3 things that will definately be in my suitcase

1. My ultra skimpy tie dyed binkini (yeah right!!!!) A bra big enough to hide at least 10 of the 13 colonies.
2. New pj bottoms (Large enough to hide the remaining 3 colonies.)
3. A extra blanket-I have been burned before and I am not sleeping under a towel this year.

3 people I tag

1. All Whitworths
2. All Petersons
3. All Levinthals

Have fun!! An extra special reward is on the line!!!!

Spring Feast

The girls and I were tired of winter, so we threw a spring feast to celebrate the spring equinox and welcome in some good weather. Too bad it snowed the next day.

Last Weekend

We all had a relaxing weekend in St. George. Thanks Karen!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

That blasted leprucan (spelling?)!!!!! Last night we set our traps and waited patiently, but this morning we awoke to find a busted trap, the kitchen cupboards open, pictures overturned, backpacks on the ceiling fan AND he turned our milk green!!!!! I wish I had a picture of my kids faces. It made cleaning it up all worth it. I hope they never grow up.

A few pictures

I have posted alot of pictures of Grace lately, so here are some of the rest of the family.

Brett and Carter watching NASCAR. Ava in her iceskating outfit. I think the she's got potential. Watch out Johnny Weir.
Carter in his favorite place, the tub. Sometimes we have to stop tubby time and refill with warm water. That's the down side of 30 minute plus tubs.

What a cute naked man in my bed. I could hardly wait to climb in between the sheets with him!!!!

Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my mom's birthday and I thought I would do a little post in her honor. I went through most of my teenage years thinking my mom knew very little. It wasn't until after I got married and had kids that I realized just how much my mom knew. I know that my mom gave up a lot when we were little to give us all the oppurtunities we had growing up. It wasn't until I started paying for dance that I put two and two together that the reason she wore sales rack clothing to my softball tournaments was so I could go to said tournaments. I am glad for the all the times she was a "mean mom" because I know it helped me become the person I ma today. She is a wonderful grandmother who is always willing to come support and help with her grandkids. My mom can iron the crap out of anything. There are a few shirts I can't bring myself to wear because after she ironed them they look so pretty and I know I will never get them looking that good. My mom doesn't really like to cook, but I will take one of her fried eggs anytime. And she makes the best toffee, ever. End of discussion. If it came down to a weed off, my mom would clean Martha Stewart's clock in a matter of minutes and then go on to clean the house so well you might think she was married to Mr. Clean. A few years ago my mom got really sick and I thought we might loose her. I thought about all the memories we made and all the memories that we would be cheated out of making. I prayed really hard that she would get a chance to see her grandkids grow up. Not because I thought she needed to be there, but because I knew I need her to be there to for me. I am so glad she made it. Life wouldn't be the same without her. I don't know if you read my blog mom, but if you do Happy Birthday. Here's to another 39 years with you!!

Momma said there'd be days like this. . . . .

Monday was a very bad day. I woke up knowing that it would be a busy day. Grace had to be out the door to school by 8:30 I had to drop Ava off at preschool by 9:00. I had an eye exam at 10:00. Grace had a dentist appointment at 11:50 (school gets over at 11:30) and I thought Ava had dance at 1:00 (she really has dance at 2:00). In between all of that I knew Carter would want to eat about six times. Thing were going smoothly and I had even managed to get some laundry going before leaving for the dentist. When we arrived at the dentist he took x-rays and then informed me that Grace had FOUR absessed molars that all needed to be pulled. We saw a different dentist six months ago and brush and floss pretty regularly so I was floored. I had Ava and Carter with me so I called my dad who came and picked them up. Then the dentist started removing Grace's teeth. My mom tried to take Ava to dance at 1:00 and then took her back for her class at 2:00. Grace was a total champ and did so well, I was a mess. I totally felt like a child abuser, espically when the hygenist slipt the brochure "How to brush your teeth" in Grace's bag. I mean really who lets four of their six year old's teeth absess and forgets what time stuff is?

The teeth.

The holes.

The haul. I don't think it was enough. Grace was more excited about the purple fairy than the cash, but both Brett and I feel like bad parents.

O Canada

Usually Brett and I pay very close attention to how much TV we watch, for no other reason than we both have the capacaity to rip into a bag of potato chips and zone out watching TV for hours. However during the olympics something different happens to us. I don't care what it is if it is under the heading: sports-olympics, I am watching it. If you want me to explain the nordic combined, biathalon, curling or even the finer points of hockey (really?) I am now capable of doing so. I am like a breastfeeding Bob Costas. It doesn' matter what the sport, I know who's favored to win, how it is scored, and who got screwed at the last olympics. How come I have the will power to force myself to stay awake until 1:00am to watch the skeleton preliminaries, but I lack the will power to not eat a dozen oreos while I do it? At least I get a two year break until London.

Good feeling

There's nothing like coming back from vacation and having your fat pants fit you a little too tight for comfort. Good thing all I have to do tonight is watch Lost and the Olympics and eat nachos. I mean I could go to the gym, but then I would just be all sweaty in my fat work out pants. I love being 30. It's made losing the baby weight so much easier.

The Difference

A friend asked me what was the biggest difference between your first baby and your last. I said I needed to think about it for a while. I did and here is my answer. With your first baby there is this absolute fear that the sleepless nights and hours of rocking will never end and with your last child there is this absolute heartache knowing that those nights will end.

Winter

Winter makes me feel like. . . . .

Equation

Tired mommy + baby boy + diaper change in the dark = shower in the middle of the night and lots of laundry in the morning

Our house

Ok Monica. I am giving you what you asked for. Here are a few pics of our home addition. I am not a professiona photographer so some of them do not do all of Brett's hard work justice.

This is our eating area, but the table is just for looks. We usually just sit at the bar.

In case the vacuum marks weren't a dead give away, this is the front room.

This is the staircase that completely blew our budget. Originally we thought the staircase would be surrounded by walls, but with some alder and metal, a little re-engineering ($) some extra framing ($$) and a specialized carpenter ($$$) the center piece of our home was born. Both Brett and I think it was well worth it.

This is the girls stage. (No I do not dance/sing on it. Not even once. EVER. Ok just showtunes. The girls love to play primary on it. It's so cute to see them play opening exercises.

The entry way. I will post more pictures when I figure out what lighting I need. (not late afternoon)