One of those days.

One of the cons of living where we do, is that we have no library. The closest library is a 15 minute drive to Salem. And because I'm not a resident of Salem (and too cheap to pay the $60 a year) I am only allowed to check out one book at a time. The kids are allowed 25. Since the library is not too convenient, we only make it about once a month. So I decided to make the trip today. We got to the library, got everything unloaded, paid the parking meter and made it up to the childrens section. They have a great interactive room where the kids can do hands on things. The theme of the room changes every couple of months. So we arrive and I say, "oh good, the kids' room is still open." The lady behind the desk quickly told me, "oh we are closing right now." So the kids were a little bummed, because they had new stuff to play with. So we went straight to the books. I get Claire out of the stroller and prepare to spend some time browsing the books. I look over and Claire is busy doing a doody. Of course, I had left the diapers in the car. Babies seem to have this sixth sense. It's like they KNOW when you don't have any diapers. So we spend another few minutes gathering up books and then we head out to the car. (after I bribed the kids with McDonalds) Where I discover that I am also out of wipes. So our trip to the library was a flop. And to make matters worse, when I got home I had received a summons to jury duty in the mail. Honestly, this is like the 5th time I have been summoned to jury duty. Whereas my hubby.....never! Don't they know how hard it is to find someone to take a child to school, a babysitter for three other children...all day, someone to pick up child from school, someone to take child to t-ball...ugh. It would be sooo much easier for the hubby! I wish he could just go in my place. So, sorry about all of the complaining today...it's just one of those days.

Finished with our projects;

It was a busy week here! Tuesday night I hosted bunco, and I'm happy to say that I can now scratch a mini-muffin tin off my mother's day list, because I won one. Yay! Thursday Night I threw a baby shower for a friend in the ward. She told me that cheesecake was her favorite dessert, so I made a lemon white chocolate cheesecake and a fudge truffle cheesecake. I think I made too much, because I ended up with a few too many pieces in the fridge. Sooo tempting! We finally had some sun this weekend, so we were able to finish up our backyard. We made a playarea for the kids and made a designated trampoline area, so we aren't moving it all around the yard. We ended up hauling 4 yds of pea gravel and 3 yds of hog fuel. We definately bought more than we needed. We are really happy with how it turned out, and happy that we are done!! (You guys should check out my muscles now....!)


This is a picture of my newly painted door and shutters. Before, the door was red and the shutters were white. I just decided one day that they should be black, and I love it!

We have been keeping busy with more vinyl orders...they seem to be coming more regularly now and I've been making some signs for a fair we are doing in July. So those keep me busy. The kids are enjoying a few nice days and just stay outside ALL day. I love it! I'm not looking forward to the rain that is forecasted for next week. Brent is playing city league softball with some guys from church and is loving it. I told him they need to do a co-ed team so I can sharpen up my skills. :)

On another note: I'd like to welcome my brand new niece, Kate Marjorie Jones, into the world! Can't wait to meet her!

Recipe contest

I know you are all waiting on pins and needles for the results of my recipe contest. :) I'm running a bit behind and have one more dinner to make. So i'll post the results next week.

My top ten

Brent actually requested I do this, so here goes:
My top ten list of things I want/don't want for Mother's day.

1. Donna Karan's cashmere mist deodorant. This is one of those things that I just won't buy for myself, but i've always wanted.

2. Mini muffin pan. Yes exciting I know.

3. Ramekins. So I can make those yummy chocolate souffle's with the chocolate goozing out of the middle.

4. I want the sun to shine! SOOOOO sick of this cold weather.

5. I want to go for a walk with my family...in the sunshine.

6. I don't want to change any poopy diapers!

7. I don't want to make dinner.

or if your husband cooks as much as mine, he may look like this.....

8. I want to relax and read a book

9. I would like a massage, but not by anyone resembling this guy. Yikes!

10. And I can think of no better way to end the perfect day!

And that to me...sounds like the perfect day off.

Baby Shower Help

I'm throwing a baby shower next week for a friend from church. I've noticed lately that the trend seems to be, no games at baby showers. I personally love games, no matter how dumb they are. What is everyone's opinions on games vs. no games at baby showers???

For the g-parents!

This may only be interesting to the grandparents!

Yet another weekend update.

We had a great weekend. It was in the low 80's and we enjoyed every minute of it. Saturday morning jacob had a t-ball clinic. He started playing t-ball last month and has loved it. Sports are big around here. He has practice/games 3 times a week...he even has to wear a cup, and he's 5! I do have to admit, he's a pretty good little player. He's the smallest on his team, but he's got a strong arm!

Saturday morning at 9am I started working on the kids playarea in our backyard. We are edging the play area with rock and filling it in with pea gravel. We are also making an area for the trampoline and filling that with wood chips. We bought the kids a wooden playset and it took ALL day to set up. I was outside from 9am to 9pm, and we still aren't finished. Hopefully i'll have some pictures soon.

Earlier today I heard Cole crying really hard in the bathroom. Turns out, he had cut his hair with some scissors and I think he scared himself...watching all of that hair fall to the floor. I had a hard time not laughing, but he was SO embarrassed. He walked around with his hand over his head, trying to cover up his mess-up. After his nap I asked him if I could take a picture and he said "NO." I'm a bad mom and took one anyway, hence the mad face. (He cut the very front..you can see if you look hard)
This is Cole after his hair cut/shave. Much happier now!

For some fun news, Claire is finally walking and it's sooo cute. She probably walks 50% of the time...a little more each day. The kids love it, they love to hold her hands and walk around the house with her.

Hope you all have a great week!

Ahh, the joys of motherhood

No more explanation needed.

We had a nice relaxing weekend. We have been anxious to get outside and do some work, but it RAINED all weekend, so we were stuck inside. Saturday Jacob and I went to this great indoor garage sale. They only sold maternity/kids stuff. (K, sorry I didn't call you, we had so many errands to run afterwards. But I wish I did, you would have loved it!) There was soooo much stuff, all at garage sale prices. I was in heaven. If I didn't have Jacob with me i'm sure I would have stayed longer and bought more. It's probably a good thing he was there. I found some cute dresses for Claire, and some shirts and Jeans for the boys.

Jacob LOVED this hawaiian shirt. He really wanted it and I figured for $2, why not?

Sunday we enjoyed General conference. As much as you can enjoy it with four kids. It's really hard to concentrate and listen with kids. We watched the first session and then recorded the second so that Brent and I can watch it and really listen. We are going to listen to a talk a night. That evening we decided to make these cute cupcakes that I found in a magazine. They are little monkeys. The kids had a great time making them. We made a batch and then delivered some to friends so that we wouldn't end up eating them all ourselves...which I'm sure I would have.
Notice the pen on Cole's face...For some reason he asked Jacob to draw on him. I think he wanted to look like batman or something?

Malia making her pirate face. So it was a nice relaxing weekend. We are hoping for some sunshine next weekend. We are building a playarea for the kids in the backyard...it will be a lot of work, but we are excited to get it done!

I've been tagged.

My first tag ever! The A-Z's of Me
A - Advocate for: Oral hygiene.

B - Best Feature: I've always liked my hands?

C - Could Do Without: Parents who cut in front of me at the school drop off zone...one of my pet peeves!

D - Dreams & Desires: I would love to teach kindergarten. Maybe someday when all of the kids are in school, i'll go back and get my teaching certificate? Who knows?

E - Essential Items: Moisturizer (because according to Oprah's make-up artist, I have the "driest skin she's ever seen!), mascara, water bottle

F - Favorite Pastime: Reading, taking a nap, going for walks

G - Good at: Softball (although edgyk and I were talking and I told her this was a totally useless skill to have once you're married with kids), crafts.

H - Have Never Tried: lobster, oysters

I - If I Had a Million Dollars: I would go on a fun family vacation, do a few projects around the house, buy a few clothes and save the rest, and of course first of all...I would pay my tithing!

J - Junkie For: Blogging

K - Kindred Spirit: My sis-in-law Julia. I can completely be myself with her.

L - Little Known Fact: This is a lame fact, but I can't think of anything right now. I will not eat apples with the skin on....I get the heebie Jeebies. Only peeled apples for me please!

M - Memorable Moment: I have so many....1. winning the regional tournament while playing softball at Ricks. 2. Brent getting down on one knee and asking me to marry him. 3. The birth of each child...

N - Never Again Will I: Complain about the service at a restaurant. :)

O - Occasional Indulgence: Brownies and ice cream, although it's been 4 months now...man that sounds good right now!

P - Profession: Stay-at-home mom.

Q - Quote: When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on!

R - Reason to Smile: I have reasons to smile every day. I feel so blessed when I look around at my children, my husband, my friends, my family...there's no reason NOT to smile.

S - Sorry About: The little arguement I got in with my neighbor the other day...long story. But it has a good ending.

T - Tag Some Friends: Julia, Katie, Danielle

U - Uninterested In: texting

V - Very Scared Of: flying

W - Worst Habit: self-doubting...I wish I had more confidence.

X - X Marks My Ideal Vacation Spot: Vermont or Maine in the fall, Ireland, Hawaii

Z - Zodiac Sign: Capricorn...although I have no idea what exactly that means.

Last call....

Last call for anyone who may still want to submit a favorite recipe, but maybe thought it was too late. I've had so much fun trying all of these recipes! I'm headed out for a grocery shopping trip in a few days,so feel free to send them.

Just a thought...

I don't consider myself a particularly stylish person. I don't consider myself an unstylish person. Since having four kids, my style factor has definately gone down a few notches. Several times I have hinted to Brent that I would be a perfect candidate for "What not to wear." I'm sure they would have plenty of "secret footage" on me. Imagine $5000 and a trip to New York......ahhhh. So far I have not been surprised by Stacy and Clinton. I'll just keep waiting. But until then, I was browsing the web, trying to find some cute clothes. I found these pants and realized that somewhere out there, someone is wearing these pants. And they probably think they are really cool and fashionable, but no one has the guts to tell them the truth. As I sat and looked at these pants I started to feel....just a little more stylish.