A Major Award!!

I am so flattered. My good friend and amazing babysitter, Angie, gave me a major award. The Kreative Blogger Award.

I am always a little stumped when folks purposely misspell words like "creative." Really, is it more creative to spell it kreative? I'm not sure I'm convinced. I often have this conversation with myself when passing stores called "Klassy Kars" and "Kids Klub."

Nevertheless, I am perpetuating the Kreative Konundrum and passing this award on to a few blogging loves
Grace Violet
Make & Takes
Super Healthy Kids
Little Birdie Secrets
A Feathered Nest
Made With Love & Glue...Lots of Glue

Thanks, Janna!

A big shout out to my sister's neighbor, Janna, for making my blog so much nicer to look at! You are awesome! Thank you!

Isn't She Lovely?

Here are a few pics of Jim & Rachel's beautiful baby girl

First Time Skiing!

Stanton took Chloe skiing today at the Beav. It was her first time and, according to Stanton, she was amazing! She skied down Little Beaver 8 times and on her last run of the day...without any help....she went all the way without falling!
That is one athletic kid.
She loved it and was completely exhausted but giddy with her new adventure. She also loved getting to spend the day with Dad.
Can you believe he didn't take a picture to document this day?

Proud of you, Chloe!

Facebook Tag

I just did this tag on Facebook and wanted to post it here -- you know...because I'm just sure the kids will want to read it one day...ahem....

1. I usually have to be tagged for a thing like this a million times before I actually get around to doing it. And I'm always nervous to tag other people.
2. I spend way too much time on the computer. But I'll never admit it. I love Google, Facebook, blogging, following other people's blogs, and iTunes the best.
3. I love teaching and speaking in public.
4. I never finished college.
5. My political views have changed more than I ever thought they would.
6. I remember very little of my childhood or even teenage years. The things I do remember are very random and strange -- like singing "It's All Coming Back to Me" by Celine Dion in my bathroom and slamming the door shut when she says "Thought you were history with the slamming of the door"
7. When I drive with my kids, I constantly check the back seats to make sure I didn't forget any of them.
8. I love frozen anything: yogurt, candy, chocolate, vegetables, etc. Love. Them. I also love stale candy -- gummy bears, marshmallows, etc.
9. I am trying to become a recovering know-it-all.
10. I once did the first 14 days of the Atkin's Diet and celebrated its finish by going to Uno Pizzeria.
11. I enjoy crafts, but never stick with one thing for long. And I often buy craft supplies I never use.
12. I am convinced my 3 year old is the funniest 3 year old that ever lived. Also the most frustrating.
13. I am a quick learner and can fake being smart.
14. I love eating out because I don't have to do the dishes.
15. If I had someone who would clean up after meals, I would cook a lot more than I do.
16. I rarely make the same meal twice...unless you count pancakes for dinner. I make that a lot.
17. I had never been to a state that didn't touch Idaho or Utah until I was 20 years old.
18. I can never state that fact without clarifying that I went to California when I was 18 months old, but don't count it because I can't remember it.
19. I love to go on vacation without my kids and only feel guilty about it for about 10 minutes while waiting for the airplane.
20. I really truly look forward to the time when my kids are old enough to go on vacation with us.
20. I love to read to my kids, but find that I can't keep my eyes open for much longer than 2 or 3 books.
21. I can't wait to see what kind of teenagers my kids turn out to be. So much, in fact, that I have to remind myself to enjoy them now while they're still preschoolers. I think I will be a really fun mom of teenagers.
22. I can make my kids laugh really hard.
23. I don't get embarrassed very easily.
24. I. hate. to. scrapbook. But I love making handmade cards.
25. I wish I did more for/with other people instead of holing up in my own little world. But I am a total and complete homebody at heart and I find it very difficult to break out of that zone.

Why Hello, Aunt Julie

Jim & Rachel have a baby!!!!!!!!!!!

Sweet, content, beautiful Shelbi Ann (Ann is Rachel's middle name AND the birth mom's middle name -- how cool is THAT???!!!) joined the family yesterday. We are so thrilled.

We had such a fun day yesterday decorating the house inside and out, anxiously waiting for Jim & Rachel to come home, hoping everything went through, & oohing and aahing over little Shelbi. She really is a miracle.

Birth mom --- We love you and thank you so much.

Jim & Rachel --- Wahooooooo! Yippeee!! Yay!!!!

Shelbi --- Welcome sweet little one. You are loved!

My favorite conversation of the night:

Earlier, we had explained to all the kids that Shelbi is a brand new baby and so we can't put our hands on her or get too close.
Later, Rachel was lifting Shelbi out of her carseat...

Chloe: Rachel, Why do YOU get to touch her?
Rachel: Because I'm her mommy!

The thing I just love about that conversation is that Rachel said it without even stopping to think. She's Shelbi's mommy -- plain and simple.

When Positive Reinforcement Doesn't Work...

Uuuurrrrrggggghhhhh, this is so frustrating!!!!

I have been trying a new approach with Chloe and the potty. I've told her that if she'd go to the bathroom by herself without me reminding her, she could earn a princess doll. She's been really good for 5 days and had zero accidents -- all with her being in charge of going to the bathroom. I was so proud of her and gave her the Belle doll this afternoon. So how does she show her gratitude? By wetting her pants. AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!! It is so frustrating! How can I get through to this girl? Yelling and spanking doesn't work. Taking toys away doesn't work. Earning rewards only works until she gets the reward. She's hard to figure out.

We put Belle back and Chloe's back to square one.

You know, the most frustrating part is that she doesn't EVER wet her pants at school or church -- NEVER. I feel like she doesn't respect me or our home when she does it here and not other places. I know that's very immature, but guess what? I feel that way.

Lately

Blah Blah Blah...sinus headache...runny nose...Cannon has conjunctivitis...lots of laundry (washed and folded AND put away, thankyouverymuch)...messy kitchen...addicted to Facebook...blah blah blah.......but on the verge of some seriously awesome news, I can feel it...

Do You Ever Just KNOW You're Going to Win Something?

This isn't one of those times, but I wish it was. My mom once won a trip to Cancun and right before they called her name she said, "I'm going to win this." And she did.

I'd like to win this. Thinking winning thoughts right........now.

One of My Favorite Pictures of the Girls

This was February of 2007 and one of those moments where things went from good to bad in a matter of seconds. The princess dresses just added to the hilarity for me.

I entered it in a contest at I Heart Faces this week. You should enter yours, too!

To My Children

Dear Chloe, Lily, Brigham, & Cannon,

There are days that are distinct in my memory -- the day I ate 7 fish from Indian Creek, the day we left Park Valley for Tremonton, the day Darren Jex started calling me "afro," the first time I was mistaken for a boy, the day I won Jr. Miss, the day I heard Bob Dole say "it doesn't take a village to raise a child, it takes a family," the day I received my mission call, the day terrorists attacked the Twin Towers, the day I met Stanton, my wedding day, the birth of my children, when George W. Bush won reelection in 2004, the moment Dr. Everitt told me about Brigham's heart defect, voting for Barack Obama, and today, this incredible day is another of those indelible moments. I have had feelings of excitement, joy, reflection, inspiration, and mostly a realization of what an incredible moment this is in our history. Today is Inauguration Day and today our first African-American President took office at noon. He was sworn in with his hand on the Lincoln Bible -- the president who had the courage and humanity to right an injustice so dispicable to me I can hardly wrap my mind around the possibility of men believing such nonsense to be true.

I want you to know, kids, that this is a day that defines our nation. While it certainly does not mean that all the wrongs of men have been righted, it does mark a moment where we as a nation have put aside differences of opinion and dogma to recognize history.

One of the things I am most proud of, kids, is that this man I voted for, President Barack Hussein Obama, was elected because he was qualified, because he inspired, because he is a man of good judgment, a man who, from what I've been able to study and gather, values reason over force and believes that the people of this world have more in common than differences. I believe the same. I believe we can be a better nation than we've been and that President Obama will be a catalyst and an inspiration to many so that we will do what is necessary to become that nation we have been and are and can be.

Chloe, I sent you off to preschool today right before President Obama took the oath of office. I wish I'd just let you be late. I did record it, though, and you'll have the opportunity to watch it when you come home. Our family was a part of this day. Your dad and I voted for this man, we believe he has the judgement necessary to safely end the war in Iraq and the respect for those who've served and sacrificed so much to make sure it is done wisely and without rashness.

We are looking forward to a president who asks us to serve, who asks us to sacrifice, and who inspires and asks others to do the same. We believe he has the compassion and open-mind necessary to surround himself with people who do not agree with him and those who do and that together, they can solve some of the devastating problems that face us as a nation right now. We want things to be better for you when you become adults. I use the term "better" deliberately. I do not wish things to be easier, I wish them to be better. Your dad and I have lived in a time where being a citizen of the United States is easy. Nothing is asked of us and we have been given more than we deserve. We are grateful for those things and wish the same opportunities for you. But in wishing them for you, we wish them for others, as well. We recognize that the opportunities we have been given have not been accessible to many many others and we hope that that is no longer the case when you come of age. We hope that every child and every adult will be given an opportunity to be educated, to rise above their circumstances, and to contribute to our greater good. In short, we hope your world is better and that you are better, too.

I took a few pictures of the TV screen today as President Obama was sworn into office. I know you'll probably be able to see much higher quality pictures and even film of this on YouTube forever, but I wanted you to know that our family witnessed this moment -- you were there -- and we recognized its significance. This was my little memorial to that thought.

I love you and hope you will grow up in a home where your dad and I provide a climate of open thought and recognition of good in all people. I hope we will cultivate in you an understanding that only when people of many different persuasions and opinions work together for a common good will our nation succeed. I hope that no matter what political views you identify with as you get older, you will respect that others may not feel the same and that their persuasions are no less valid or thoughtful than your own. Indeed, because of those differences of opinion, the nation you call home was able to be created. Also, I want you to know that your dad and I expect you to be intelligent, to study, and to form your own opinions and that if they are different from ours, we'll respect and honor you for them. Expect some friendly debate, too!

Goodness can be found in all political persuasions. We hope you will seek it.

Love to you,
Mom & Dad



*Pictures inspired by The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch

I Hereby Declare

The rest of today to be TV Day. I have a very cluttery house (why do weekends do that to a house??) to get put back together and a very whiny little child by the name of Lily Love who is making that extremely difficult. So...TV it is.

In other news, I had another awesome morning at the grocery store. Here's what I got for $37.18
In case you can't see it all, here's a run-down:
*24 boxes of Cinnamon Life
*16 boxes of Life
*2 boxes of Honey Kix
*2 boxes of Fiber One Frosted Shredded Wheat
*4 cans of Quaker Oats
*4 gallons 1% milk
*1 dozen eggs

All for $37.18! And in case you think that might be overkill on the Life cereal, you just don't know Stanton.

Some of you have asked me to share how I'm doing this. I use a website called Grocery Smarts. It's only available in Utah & Las Vegas, NV right now, but there's a gal who blogs at The Obsessive Shopper who seems to have a helpful system for people outside of that area.

My Favorite Conversation Today

Stanton (talking to his sister): We went and saw Valkyrie tonight.
Ann: What movie is that?
Stanton: It's that one with Tom Cruise and Hitler.

Sometimes things just come out funny.

The movie, by the way, was not funny but it was excellent. I mean it. This was a great movie. I want to be a kinder more open-minded person because of it. And I have renewed faith in the goodness of people after watching it. Great movie. Even Tom Cruise's lack of German accent was completely forgivable, all things considered.

Addicted

I swore I wasn't going to do it this season. I was going to deny the undeniable draw two nights a week. I was going to walk away. But I can't.

I LOVE AMERICAN IDOL!

I can't stop watching. I'm hooked for another 5 months. Sigh.....

Conversations: New Hair Edition

The big chop happened on Friday afternoon. I really hadn't been thinking about cutting my hair, but that's how I make my best decisions -- off the cuff.
I took all the kids on Friday morning and they each got their scissor time, too. Chloe lost about 3 inches, Lily lost about 4 inches and the boys got their regular cuts. The girls' hair is adorable, but Chloe was really nervous that she wouldn't have "long" hair anymore. She does and it looks so much better and more healthy.

----

My conversation with Rachel in the afternoon:
Me: I think I want it short.
Rachel: How short are you thinking?
M: Around here (pointing under my chin). But I don't want to look chubby.
R: If we keep it here (pointing under my chin), you won't, but if we go any shorter, you will.
M: Okay, I think I want to. Will it be cute?
R: I don't want to influence you at all, but YES!
M: I promise I'll tell Stanton you had nothing to do with it.

-----

When I got home:
Stanton: Shame on you!!!!
Me: Oh, come on, it's so cute!
Stanton: Looking for a few seconds, it is really cute. Why did you do it?
Me: It needed to be done. Rachel had nothing to do with it.


-----

At Dave & Judy's house later
Dave: Wow! You look like an Egyptian. (My bangs were not swept to the side) I really like it.

Stanton: Do you like my new wife?

Emily: Oh. My. Gosh. I. Love. It.

Judy: Julie! I love it!

Lily: Mom, your hair is SO pretty!

Chloe: I really liked your long hair, Mom.
Me: Me, too, but I like it short, too.
Chloe: Yeah, it's pretty cute.

This is the Moment

I have a motto for 2009:

This Is The Moment

I'm really feeling it so far. Today I lived in the moment with the kids. They played upstairs and even in the midst of the mess of toys, I was able to love and enjoy the moment.

They played train...
They played Disney dolls...
They played cowboy (didn't get pictures with their stick horses & cowboy hats, but here's Brig on his "tractor"...
And this little fella just enjoyed the show...
Have you ever stopped and looked at it from their perspective? The world's different from down there...
And we ended the day with a dollar show Family Home Evening. We saw Bolt. It was very cute, by the way.

Even with the loads of laundry that will probably forever populate the kitchen table (although the latest finally got folded today!) and the windows that will probably never get covered with drapes, and the walls that will probably never be decorated, we enjoyed the moment. And it was good.

This Is The Moment

I Can't Stop Looking at Myself!!!

11 inches of missing hair will do that to you.

Before:
After:
Thanks, Rach!

Van Gogh, But Without the Ear

Or should I say with the ear?

The kids have been drawing a lot lately, which I am thoroughly enjoying. I find it much more rewarding than the scribbles in the coloring books I've grown so accustomed to over the years.

Here's Chloe's latest and my current favorite:
It bears a striking resemblance, wouldn't you say?
She did get the tie color right, though...without even looking at this picture as a reference.

Lily drew this picture of herself and me together:
I am glad she remembered the eyelashes. It's very important in distinguishing the difference between girls and boys, you know. I wish I'd known that in the fifth grade when I was getting mistaken for a boy more often than I'd like to remember. It sure built character, though.

Where was I? Oh, Lily. Great drawing, I think.

And the gift that sparked all these new creative juices?
The Aqua Doodle wall mat. It stays up all the time and is used multiple times per day, sans messes. Thanks, Aunt Cindy (and cousins!).

What's In Your Wallet?

Bythelbs got a new purse recently and did a fun little meme about the contents inside. Since I'm nothing if not a total copy cat, I thought I'd do the same. Share the contents of mine, that is, not get a new purse...

I got this purse in January - right before our trip to Hawaii. I wanted something that was small, easy to carry, and hard to steal. I figured I'd just use it on our vacation, but I ended up liking it so much, I've used it ever since.
Purchased at/for:
*Shopko?/$10?
Outside:
*Brown Leather
*Small
*Strap long enough to sit across my chest and on my hip
Inside:
*Various cards: Visa, Sam's Club, Subway, Driver License, Cafe Rio
*$20 cash
*Gum outside of its wrapper - eeewwww
*2 tubes of chapstick -- I do live in Utah, after all
*2 pens -- neither of them lifted from the checkout line, thankyouverymuch
*Various receipts (one of which is from Hobby Lobby, where I got gift bags and serving plates for 80% off! Score!!!)
*iPhone
*Earbuds
Things I like about this purse:
*I love that its strap goes across my chest, messenger style. I have too many other things to use my arms for right now -- it's nice not to have to think about my purse.
*I love that it's small. It just doesn't have room for much junk.
*It has an outside pocket, which is nice for quick access to my cards.
Things I dislike about this purse:
*It's small. I do wish I could fit maybe a diaper or checkbook in there.
*It's not at all stylish. Not one bit.

After I took that picture, I realized I hadn't completely emptied my old purse (since the switch was supposed to be temporary). Here's what I found there:
Purchased at/for:
*A friend's purse party/$30ish?
Outside:
*Orange faux leather
*Zipper pocket
*Snap pocket
*Shorter straps
Inside:
*Old wrappers and a dum dum sucker
*Ribbons for the girls' hair (Lori, I believe these actually belong to you)
*A pen
*Lipgloss
*A plastic ball
*A quarter
*A leatherman tool
*Beano (yeah, that's a little embarrassing...)
*Elastic
*Chapstick
*A coupon
Things I like about this purse:
*Color
*Style
*Good sized interior
Things I dislike about this purse:
*The straps, which are a deal-breaker for me
Now that I look at this picture, I realize I've used this purse at least a few times since February -- the Beano is definitely post-Hawaii. I keep going back to the small one, though.

And when I pulled that purse out of the cupboard, I found the purse I used previous to that one. Guess what? I hadn't emptied it, either. Yikes. Here ya go:

Purchased at/for:
*TJ Maxx/$20
Outside:
*Pink leather
*2 magnetic pockets
*Cute, short, green & pink straps
Inside:
*Contact case
*Spiral notebook
*Post-it Notepad
*Crayon Roll
*Diaper disposal bags
*Wet wipes in a baggie
*Size 4 diaper
*2 binkies
*Lipgloss
*Hand sanitizer
*Old wrappers
*Paper clip
*Elastic & hair clip
*Receipts
*Pen
Things I like about this purse:
*Outside pockets
*A few pockets on the inside for organizing
*Style, although it is maybe a little juvenile
Things I dislike about this purse:
*Too much room to collect junk inside
*Trendy (although probably not any currently trendy trends)
*The short straps, again, a deal-breaker

This purse's contents definitely look like a purse I should be carrying (what with the diapers, wipes, binkies, etc.). Just too much stuff, though, and way too tempting to shove extra junk into.

Did you notice a few recurring items in all the purses?
*Lipwear of some sort (I definitely prefer the chapstick to the lipgloss)
*Pen
*Junky wrappers
*Receipts
*2 out of 3 had a hairband of some sort

After taking all the pictures, I threw away, sorted, and combined the contents. I ended up sticking with my current purse, although I would love to switch it out if I could find one that was stylish, had a zipper, had more pockets, and had the same strap style (and was still relatively small). I put the earbuds in my gym bag, and the Post-it pad in my current purse. Everything else got put away or thrown away. Oh, and the diapers and wipes got moved to a compartment in the van. Now I have diapers handy without having to carry them. Good compromise.

Speaking of the van, do you want to see what an embarrassment that's become over the holidays?
Front seat:
*Church bag
*Stanton's scriptures
*Gym bag
*Wet wipes
*One nursing pad (yeah, I'm definitely going to need that while I'm driving!)
*2 full garbage bags
*Baby hat
*Footie socks

Middle Seat:
*Chloe & Brigham's coats
*My scarf & hat
*Air compressor hose
*Brig's snowboots
Back Row:
*Mysterious stain(s)
*Granola bar wrapper
*My mittens
*More wrappers
*Crumbs

After I took those pictures, I got my act together and cleaned that out. Notice I said cleaned it out, not cleaned it. The stains are still there. So are the crumbs. But the air compressor hose isn't and that's progress in my book.

And while I was on the organizing kick, I reorganized this mell of a hess.
I still haven't gotten to this one, though.
I think this laundry is starting to bug Stanton; he asked me about it tonight. He has every right to, considering it's been sitting there for 2 days now. Maybe tomorrow, but not tonight -- I had much more important things to keep me busy.

So, what's in your purse?

Heard Lately

Me: Lily, Put. Your. Clothes. On. Now.
Lily: Mom, you're being mean so Santa won't bring you a toy!

Chloe: Mom, mmmm!, can I have more sandwich? I sure wish my mouth was bigger.
This little gal must be having a growth spurt because she is Eating with a capital E. I love it (especially the part where she thinks everything I make is "SOOOOO good").

Brigham: (When he needs to go potty) Mom, I have a nem an nem?

Step Away from the Super Glue

Lily. Well, you know Lily. She's the kid who's into the details. She notices every little part of every little toy and feels a need to touch it and grab it and, lately, break it. She has managed to break the wings and hands off Merriweather, the pitchfork off King Triton, & the tail off Boots just in the last two days. She is under the impression that if we just super glue it, everything will be okay. Yesterday she brought me a pair of card stock binoculars she made at preschool that she had smooshed beyond use. "Mom, can you super glue this?" I think we need to step away from the super glue for a while.


------

Yesterday I coupon shopped for the first time. It could become addictive. I saved $205.55. Crazy! I even dreamed last night about going back on Saturday for more.

Monday Moments

Chloe: Thank you, Mommy. You're my best mom ever.

During Family Home Evening:

I'm giving the lesson. I'm sitting on the couch with Cannon on my lap. We get to a part of the lesson where we do an activity verse (stand up, repeat after me, touch your nose, etc.). Stanton stands up with the kids to help them follow me. About halfway into the verse, we both crack up. Chloe is dancing by the banister, Lily is in the corner singing her heart out, Brigham is doing somersaults off the ottoman and Stanton is the only one repeating after me, touching his nose, and doing the activity.
Sometimes we're successful, sometimes, well...not so much...

Brigham: Tinko, Tinko, Yitto Sahr, How My Wonder What Me Are...

One More Thing about Brig

Brigham has to do EVERYTHING his sisters do and say EVERYTHING his sisters say. I remember going through this phase with Chloe & Lily -- it's so fun. He repeats everything they say in just the same intonation. It works so well for me when they're playing super hero and look for things to help me with. Boy, the dishwasher really gets unloaded quickly when they're playing that game!

Pete, RePete, and ReRePete (and little spunky who'll be doing the same thing before I know it).

The Only Thing That Stays The Same Is That Everything Changes

Do you ever have a week or two where your kids just seem to change right before your eyes? That's been the case around here lately.

PS, this is a very rambling post -- I'm finding it hard to write properly lately and for now am just too lazy to get my act together. So if you're not up for the wordy kid updates, I've thrown in a gazillion pictures I downloaded from the camera recently (dating back to Thanksgiving -- how did that happen?)

Lily started Sunbeams yesterday at church. We now have 2 kids in Primary. That's crazy to me. Stanton watched her go in this morning and said, "It seems like Chloe just went to Sunbeams...this is what it's going to be like when they start school." He's right. It's a great/terrible thing about having children close together. It seems like they're all so little for so long and then *wham* they all get bigger all at once.

Lily is also officially starting preschool tomorrow. That's going to be so fun for her.

In other Lily news, she's growing like a weed. I think she'll be taller than Chloe before too long. And she's starting to experience a little emotional maturity, too. It's not a huge leap forward, but I am seeing her think a little before she screams, melts down, etc. Sometimes she can even control herself a bit. I am feeling tremendous gratitude for that and an increase of love for her, which I always appreciate.
Lilz' grill.

---------
Chloe is maturing right before my eyes, too. I just can't believe how helpful she's becoming. She is a peacemaker, which is perhaps much of the reason Lily is able to school her feelings so much better!
She's also starting to read -- as in legitimately read. It's crazy to me! She has such an interest in it and I'm trying to make the time to sit down with her every day and practice. It amazes me to watch these little brains at work -- the English language is such a difficult language to read (have you noticed all the exceptions to the rules??) and yet these bright little minds are able to pick it up so quickly. It's fun to witness it first hand. I do hope she's not bored in kindergarten, though. I'm sure she won't be as she doesn't have that sort of disposition.
She is so helpful with Cannon.

-----------
Brigham is a fully talking little person. And he's on his way to being potty trained. I decided to go the Pull-up route after the first poop accident in his underwear. I knew I wasn't ready for that, yet didn't want to miss this window of opportunity with him. He's not potty trained to the point that he'll tell me he needs to go, but we're 3 days now without him pottying in the Pull-up. He seems to just hold it till I take him to the bathroom. And the kids are all loving the M&Ms they get when he has a success! (It's funny how you change as a parent as the time passes. I wouldn't have dreamed of using Pull-ups with Chloe -- it was so beneath me -- and here I am with Brig using them and loving them. And he'll be better off for it because I'm not freaking out every time he has an accident like I did with Chloe. Lesson learned here: chill out and stop thinking there's a "right" way to do anything because there isn't.)
We'll just call this picture "heaven."

----------
Cannon is growing a ton, too. In fact, his head is growing out of his hair -- the same thing happened with the other three. This is when I feel bad for the boys because they don't have cute headbands and bows to hide the craziness.
He's been really fussy lately, too, which is tough for me. I can't figure out just what is wrong, but he isn't sleeping really well and he cries a good little portion of the day unless he's being held. That being said, though, he's happily playing in his saucer right now, so perhaps I'm exaggerating a bit. Probably.
Finally able to do Stanton's favorite trick.

-------
We measured the kids on the doorjamb for the first time last night. I'm glad we've finally started doing that. It'll be fun to see the growth over the next several months and years.

Love this picture of my guys in their ties.

The only Christmas picture we took this year at our house -- including Christmas morning!
My little angels at the Rose party.
Chloe & Libby were the last two standing in Jimmy's wishbone contest. Libby was the winner & was sweet enough to let Chloe have a victory photo with her.
20+ years later, the reenactment of "Wallace Perling." Jimmy is not a pretty woman.
Not that Stanton is much to look at either...
Obligatory "big shoes to fill" picture. Darn cute, though.

The Button is Back

I've revised the Scripture Sisters button. Let's see if it works this time, shall we?

Head on Over to Scripture Sisters

We're starting our study of the Doctrine & Covenants this week. Feel free to join in and please leave your thoughts in the comments. It makes it MUCH easier for the host to keep motivated if she knows people are joining in. ...wink wink...

Scripture Sisters

And if you'd like a button for your sidebar, go ahead and grab the code over on the right there...

Update: It's 11:51 pm and I've not put the code up yet. And I'm going to bed. I'll try to get to it in the morning!

Update: Just kidding. It's now 11:53 pm and the code is up. And now I'm going to bed.

Update: It's 7:49 am and I've come to my senses. One should not design a button at such late hours. I've removed it for now and will put one up when I get it right.

New Year's Resolutions

I've never been a real "New Year's Resolutions" kinda gal. I mean, I make a few goals or whatever, but it's not a huge tradition for me. Last year my goal was to send birthday cards to my siblings and their kids. I made it to about July. Sorry to everyone whose birthday falls after that. I hope I'll do better this year on that one.
The problem for me with goals is accountability. Blogs are sort of nice that way, aren't they? It's here for posterity. And when so many people I know and respect are aware of my goals, it's much more motivating to keep at them, right?
Right then, here they are for 2009. Or for now. Or whatever.

1. Complete a Sprint Triathlon.
2. Send birthday cards to my siblings, nieces and nephews, parents, and grandparents.
3. Live more "in the moment" with my kids.

Pretty lofty, eh. I've already bombed #2, as I forgot my nephew Gavin's birthday which happens to be New Year's Day. Maybe he'll get a late one.

2010 Resolutions

Ringing in the New Year with a few resolutions (2 years in a row? Watch out folks...Julie's on a roll...)

1. Read the Ensign every month in 2010.
2. Finish Count of Monte Cristo
3. Play (like actually play...with toys...) with the kids weekly.
4. Go to the temple monthly.