Friday, December 31, 2010

the New Years Cause and Effect

At the close of every year we are taken back to all the happenings of the past year before we jump into a new one. Sometimes I don't stop to really think of the past year for what it really was...many causes with the return of many effects.

We don't always know how something will end or how words will affect someone or how even how food will "treat us" before we partake. The most we can ever do is have faith, pray for the outcome to be good, or even an intellectually stimulated guess. But really what it all comes down to is that we have very little control over the things and people around us.......or do we have all the control in the world?!

As I was watching Myth Busters with my husband we learned that when in a car that falls into a body of water there is a small window of time when you are actually able to push the car door open before the force of the water compounds to about 350lbs per square inch. (meaning you are unable to get out by opening the door...) In that situation you have no control over how quickly your car fills with water or how easily your car door will open...you can only control your reaction. So, your choice is to be alert enough to know the exact time in which to open the car door and escape OR remain calm and save all the oxygen and energy you can while waiting for your car to fill with water till the opposing pressure is equalized, thus enabling you to escape.

Pondering on that thought, I came to a realization that our time here on Earth is much like trying to escape from a sinking car. We can either panic and try to get the timing just right (which if we do not, we will pay serious consequences) OR we remain calm and trust that our gained knowledge will give us the strength we need to arise victorious.

As I look back on this past year I have seen many times of PANIC. Where the effect of my choices caused confusion, pain, sadness, and even anger.
But I have also had many times of TRUST. Times when I was blessed, felt love, freedom, and gratitude.

I am not the kind of person to wish away any of my poor choices or misjudgements because I know that they have made me and given me what I have today (even if those effects have not been pleasant). I know that we are all given the same opportunity in life to reach for something more than ourselves. And, we don't always step up to the plate. But I do hope that I am given courage to TRUST more than I PANIC and in turn, end this next year with more pleasant "effects" than the year before.

May your New Year bring you more joy and experience than the last!
to TRUST -cheers- 

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

*Long Sigh*

Ahhhh!!  It's over!
The hustle and bustle of Christmas is over!
It makes me sad.
However, the hustle and bustle of return lines are growing longer!

This was an amazing and beautiful Christmas!!
So many blessings have filled our home!!

Now it's time to welcome in a New Year!!!
Can you believe it's almost 2011?!?!
Where has all of the time gone?! 

It feels like I was just a kid running around with my cousins...
Seeing my mom pull up in the driveway and doing the army crawl trying to clean the house!

But that was so long ago...
Now I'm the wife...
the mom...

So with that being said...
There are lots and lots and bunches of resolutions that I have for this new decade!!
But I'll just take it one year at a time...

One of my biggest goals for 2011 is to READ MORE BOOKS!!!
I want to read at LEAST one good book a month!!

Another goal is to have an entire 15 MINUTES of ME TIME a day!!!!
NO interruptions...
Not by my sweets or honeyman!

I'm a screamer!
At my kids, y'all!!!
So, I'm gonna breathe deeply before ripping someone's head off!
Isn't that a good goal?!

So let's recap...
This time next year, I'm gonna be a quiet, well put together lady with a bigger vocabulary!!
Yay me!!!

What are some of your goals for the beginning of a new year?!

I hope the end of your 2010 is beautiful and I hope the beginning of your 2011 is a glimpse into the happiness you'll feel for the rest of the year!

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Happy Birthday Jesus!

"I WANT YOU..."

Christmas time is full of Family, Presents, Cookies, Carols, and Parties!

Christmas time is also full of Churches, Nativities, Hymns, Praises, and Jesus!

I say, why can't we have it all?! Well, I am here to tell you that we CAN have it all! In fact Christmas (Dec. 25th) is just a day we made up to celebrate the birth of Christ...since he was really born in the spring.

Jesus came and brought love, kindness, charity, and selflessness. So, why don't we emulate a bit of Him during Christmas time.

So, go ahead, give those gifts, share the love, and warm some hearts...

After all He wants YOU to join His holy army! :)

Happy Holidays!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Tis the Season for ......

CRAZY....STRESSFUL.....LAST FEW DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS!!!!


So remember my post of of the fun things I was going to do with my kids this week? Yeah that went out the door first thing Monday morning. Instead this took its place.
I headed to JoAnns and picked up a bunch of this. They have these kits that have a coloring poster and markers for $1. I also got these ornaments for 29 cents. I bought some paints for them to paint them, some glitter glue and they can also use the markers on them. I am going to stick a picture of the kids in them and they are going to give them to their Grandparents for Christmas.


Also, I got this cute little thing for a neighbor gift and had to post. So if you need a little last minute gift for someone, here you go.





Happy Holiday! These last few days may we all try to take the stress out of Christmas and enjoy our families and celebrate the real Reason for the Season!!!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

christmas means...

christmas at our house means little elves watching...

christmas at our house means family sleepovers under the tree...

christmas at our house means "polar express" and "elf"...and "white christmas"

christmas at our house means santa at bass pro...

christmas at our house means homemade ornaments...

christmas at our house means the nativity...

christmas at our house means baking cookies...

christmas at our house means serving each other...

christmas at our house means counting the presents to be sure it's "fair"...

christmas at our house means carols playing on pandora...

christmas at our house means waking up before the sun...

christmas at our house means lots of snuggle time...

christmas at our house means peanuts and oranges and new chapstick...

christmas at our house means happiness and love...



merry christmas, from our house to yours!!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Ummm...yeah...

Today would be Tuesday wouldn't it?!
It would be my day to post...and I forgot!
You would think it's the week of Christmas and I've not gotten anything for honeyman yet...
You wouldn't think I'm stressed or anything like that, huh?!

I'm a slacker...I'll admit it...but I usually have good intentions!

So instead of this long beautiful, "True Meaning of Christmas" post like I was planning...
here is a...

"Get back to shopping, wrapping, and baking and get off of the internet!!" post!! 
I know we are all so busy...so, THANK YOU for taking the time out of your busy week to stop by ROASAHM*!!!

This year, I'm trying to start some of my own traditions with my babies! 
Here are a few:

~Every night we get to take a candy cane off of the tree and put it in our hot chocolate!

~When I wake up and before I go to bed I drink a cup of hot apple cider and let my babes sip some!

~I spend at least 10 minutes with just the honeyman infront of our tree with NO media in our faces...just us!

~I've wrapped the majority of the presents and placed them under the tree! ((This is a first!  I've always wrapped Christmas Eve!))

~I'm blasting the GLEE Christmas Album!!

~I'm gonna bake bake bake!!!  I usually leave that up to my mommy and sissies...but I think I'll surprise everyone and do it myself!!!  Maybe I'll even share!!!  =)




Mele Kalikimaka Y'all!!!

Monday, December 20, 2010

Santa's list of shopping etiquettes...

Say "please", "thank you" AND "excuse me"

Smile

 Have patience with those around you.

Don't "cut" in line.

Find a quarter, dime or nickel and donate to the red bucket...don't just walk by.

Hang up your PHONE and quit TEXTING when its your turn to check out. 

Use the customer service desk for major issues. Don't hold up the line for 20min b/c you "have a question"

And ALWAYS give MORE than you receive

Happy Shopping My CO-SANTA'S



Friday, December 17, 2010

*MAKE* Your Christmas Beautiful

As I thought about gifts this year I thought of all the money that I would need to buy all the "things" that I would love to give my favorite people....but then I woke up and remembered that I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY! (can I get a whot! whot!...rock it your poor girl with rich taste!)

SOOOOOOO, I was on to the next best thing. Spending 1/2 that amount at the fabric and craft stores and make things myself.

Here are a few home-made gift ideas to save a buck or two and can be even more "beautiful" than that plastic wrapped, over priced toy or electronic device.

Blankets: these can be fast and super cute and there are tons of different kinds to make. I am all about the fast ones so my favorites are Rag Quilts. I like to make them with 8 inch squares out of flannel. (the image sample is done with 6 inch squares) click here for video instructions.                   (sample image below)

Rag Quilt

Tie Fleece Blanket

The next kind of easy blanket is a Tie Fleece. Take two pieces of fleece (about 2yards each) put them together with print facing out (most of the time there is not "back side") and cut about 3inch tassels all around the blanket then tie one tassel from each piece of flannel together.



personalized photo frame


Framed Photos: take your favorite photo and put it in a home-made frame! They have unfinished wood frames that can be painted with acrylic paint and embellished with glitter, beads, ribbon, puffy paint, small wooden letters, stickers, scrapbook paper and Modge Podge. (really great for Grandparents!) 





Cookies in a Jar: people always love food! Just layer the dry ingredients in a mason jar. Place a cute piece of fabric on the lid and tie the instructions for the cookies to the neck of the jar. Presto Chango you're done!

Cookies in a Jar
PJ Pants: these are my personal favorite right now! The best pattern I found is Simplicity Easy to Sew 3871 the pant style is very wide so I would recommend going down a size from what you would normally wear...but they are so easy to do and very comfortable. This is a great idea for Holiday matching PJs for the family or just some new "comfy pants" for someone on your list.       
Best PJ Pant Pattern EVER!
Purses: I love all the FREE purse patterns on All People Quilt.com Below is a photo of my favorite one....and it really is super cute and REALLY EASY, promise! Your BFF would go hog wild if you made her one!! :)
Pick -A- Pocket Purse

These are just a few of the MILLIONS of gifts that you can make for your friends and family that would be possible for you to finish in only a few hours.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Keep the Kiddos Busy

My kids will be out of school ALL week next week. So I have been trying to find some fun things to keep them busy (and out of my hair, and not fighting, and not yelling). I headed over to familyfun.com and found these cute ideas. I am going to try some of these things next week. If you are in needed of some things to keep the kiddos busy head over to familyfun.com for tons of ideas!
















Wednesday, December 15, 2010

bacon



dear turkey bacon,

you are NOT real bacon! real bacon is, by definition, delicious and fatty and from a PIG. you are not delicious, not fatty, and you are from a TURKEY! you are not welcome in my kitchen anymore...please pack your fake self and go find some health-concious, no-regard-for-taste family to live with. thank you.

best regards,
the mom of a family that places high value on DELICIOUSNESS

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Okay SAHMs...I wanna know!

I recently had conversation with my cousin about Santa!

She has a sister-in-law that told her very yound child that there is no Santa and that she buys the toys.
Said sister-in-law also said that she didn't feel it right to lie to her child!

So, I wanna know!  What do you think?!  What do you DO?! 
I mean seriously!  Dr. Phil and Oprah say it's completely normal!!

Here are a list of lies that my children will either outgrow and figure out the truth OR will use on their children OR will always believe:
**in no particular order**

1- Your pee pee is gonna fall off if you play with it!  (I know, a bit extreme...)
2- You're gonna go blind if you stand too close to the TV!
3- You're not gonna have any friends if you put too much lip gloss on because people are gonna think you're a monster and not a little girl!
4- If you don't bless your food before eating, you're gonna get sick!
5- If you don't say your prayers before bed you're gonna have nightmares!
6- If you don't make your bed your gonna have spiders and bugs in it!

I know...I know...I'm a teeny tiny bit of a drama queen!!

Are there any "lies" you tell your children?
What about Santa & the Easter Bunny?
Start filling out the comment box!!

Monday, December 13, 2010

one foot in front of the other...ITS MONDAY

I feel like I'm on a freaking hamster wheel lately and I'm sure you've felt that way too, especially with the holidays upon us. So on this delightful a.m. I will just show you what I'm up against today, and maybe it will help me get something accomplished, and help you to not feel so bad about what you've got on your list of must do's! Happy turning of the wheel:)



Of course: laundry, beds, rooms, bills and groceries...but mixed in with that we all know we still have to bathe ourselves and the kids, and feed them too!?!?

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Yarn Ball and Ornament Wreath

So have been seeing different versions of these all over blogland so here is my version.

You need
Wire wreath form (I got mine at JoAnns and got the 18in size)
Various Sizes of Styrofoam Balls (Dollartree)
Yarn (several colors)
Different size ornaments (I got most at the Dollartree)
I sign or some decoration to hang in the middle
Anything else you would like to add to the wreath. I found some cute star picks at JoAnns that I added.
Hot Glue Gun


First I took the styrofoam balls and wrapped in yarn until completely covered

Then I just started glueing the yarn balls and ornaments randomly all over. I found it was easiest to complete in sections. I took the biggest yarn balls and spaced them evenly around the wreath then completed each section one at a time.

The finished product.

The possibilities are endless. There is so much stuff in so many colors so choose a color scheme and get started. Have fun!!!!!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

you say to-may-to, i say to-mah-to

single women wear stilettos
moms wear sneakers

single women drive a sporty car
moms drive a minivan ( you know this is your fav!)

single women wear eyeliner
moms wear dark circles

single women listen to talk radio
moms listen to power tunes

single women have a girls' night out
moms have playgroup

single women sport a salon haircut
moms sport a ponytail

single women stay up for a late movie
moms stay up for a 2am feeding

single women read romance novels
moms read dr. seuss

single women carry a designer bag
moms carry a diaper bag

single women have adult conversation
moms...don't

single women lift weights at the gym
moms lift 19 bags of groceries

single women keep their home smelling nice with scented candles
moms keep their home smelling nice (ish) with a diaper genie

single women go out for a night on the town
moms go out to the 24-hour grocery store

sometimes i think i miss being single...but i quite enjoy shopping at my 24-hour walmart in my sneakers and ponytail, then driving home in my minivan and rocking out to "power tunes" to unload the 19 bags of groceries. and at playgroup, in between 87 dr. seuss books, the other moms and i skip adult conversation and instead compare dark circles and 2am feeding stories and swap diaper bag contents. and when i get home...time to empty the diaper genie.

for reals, it's the life...

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

A Season of Giving ((and receiving))...Rated M for Married Only

(all of the following puns ARE intended!)

I think your man would agree:  Short and sweet and to the point!
Okay ladies…I’m just gonna get straight to the point!
No beating around the bush!
We cannot forget our dear honeymen this holiday season! ;)
That’s right! I’m talking about Sexy Time!!
So shave, shower, and tweeze!!


Don’t give him the ultimatum of:
“A Hot Dinner OR A Hot Wife: You don’t get both in the same day!”


Let’s go BIG!!
Start with the Sexy Time texts or emails!
Trust, ladies!! He’ll love ya for it!!
Make sure you back it up...((I mean what you say!!!))

**even you can do it Mom! I know you’re reading!**


It only takes a few minutes to send!! And can you imagine the smile on his face?!
Our men work hard for all that money we’re spending ((on everyone else))…
So why not thank him in only the way you can?!


*stop blushing!*


Face it, we wouldn’t be Stay At Home Mom’s ((or Moms for that matter)) if it wasn’t for Sexy Time!
Don’t you like saying that?! Sexy Time. It has a nice ring!! Sexy Time!!


I think Ron Burgundy sang it best!!

Afternoon Delight

So enjoy this magical time of year by getting closer with your man!
Literally!
For more tips on what/how/when to say/do/how to do things...just ask!! ;)
**except for you Mom, please don't ask!**

Monday, December 6, 2010

So....

I'm guilty. I know you're wondering "of what?", or maybe some of you may be saying "of course you are", but here is the deal.... I am a Dr. Phil watcher (but that's not what I'm pleading guilty to)...actually I dvr it and then when I'm bored I go back through and watch the ones that I may be interested in. As my children and husband were all nestled in their beds the other I night I stayed up and watched the boob tube and came across this:

http://drphil.com/videos/?Url=/house/flv/9009_2.flv&background=header_drphil_video.jpg

WOW! I mean really? I'm sure you'll be taken back initially just like I was. My defense was immediately for the children, but then as I watched more I heard more in her voice than the volume of it. She wasn't beating her children or calling them nasty names. She was purely out of control with her emotion, loneliness and longing for some simplicity. She did yell way too much, but honestly I caught little glimpses of myself. How crazy, how exhausting. I don't like to yell and I don't yell most of the time...(anymore), but when I do it kind of just happens and once I get started it's hard for me to take a step back and let things cool down. As I watched this whole episode which aired on Thursday December 02, for those of you who want to go take a look, I realized just how toxic it is to yell at my children, and how unnecessary it is too. It hit me in the right spot at the right time and there were great pointers that helped me think about how I could be better. The show was actually titled " brat proof your child". Obviously I would have given it a different title...like "how to stop yelling", "how to overcome the sound of your own crazy", "how to have happier children" etc..b/c really if we are really real with ourselves...we all know that it isn't the child.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

New Featured Follower: Brittany!

Our new Featured Follower for December is...Brittany!


Brittany is a S@HM of 3 adorable little kids...all under the age of 5! Although that makes for a sometimes crazy and chaotic home, she wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

Here is what Brittany has to say about Realities of a S@HM:


"I love reading Realities of a Stay at Home Mom! The posts are inspiring and uplifting. They have helped me to take notice of how special every moment is from the most precious to the most mundane. Thank you ladies for inspiring me to be a better mom!"


Thanks for being a loyal reader and follower!

Hey all you readers...if you'd like the chance to be our next "Featured Follower" and have yourself right here on our blog for a whole month...become a follower!!

Friday, December 3, 2010

the Icy Vegetation, and Me

Back in December 2007 Eastern Kansas was hit pretty hard with a strong ice storm. It came on quickly and caught even Mother Nature by surprise. Many trees were so burdened by the weight of the ice that they snapped in half, falling on cars, homes, electrical wiring and even people. Many were injured and even more were left without electricity for weeks. These photos were taken the morning after this great storm. The photographer in me couldn't resist an artistically beautiful sight.

Yet, as I look back on these photos I begin to see more than just ice and branches.
I see life captured and frozen in a very vibrant part of growth. I see once plush, soft grass become like daggers. I see sheet of snowy, slippery ice cover the once steady and colorful ground.

I admit that there are times when I feel like this vegetation. Buried under a thick layer of ice. Full of live and color and strength, yet, some how with the weight of so many things layered on my shoulders there are days that I feel like I just 'snap'.

I feel like a pretty prepared person but I don't think we are ever really prepared for getting older. I mean everyone does it but no one really tells you the honest truth....like that you find out that Santa is not real and if you try to eat candy for dinner it will make you sick, and that grown-ups are not always as perfect as they seem!

The truth is that once you reach a certain age YOU are now the one responsible for inspiring those younger souls around you. And unfortunately, you wont always do the right thing, and there wont always be someone else there to help you pick up the pieces. However, God knows who you are and he knows that you are ready for this next step. Come what may, ice storm or temper tantrum, He will get you through it.

Deep down under that cold ice is a beautiful daughter of God who can get through anything. We just need time to thaw....
















How many "ice storms" have you lived through?

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Advent Calendars

Okay so I know that yesterday was the 1st but you can start a little late if you want to add a little fun to your kids or your honeys holiday season. Here are a couple of ideas.

The first one I bought this scrapbook paper at the store and thought I would come up with something to use it on. Well then I saw this super cute idea on Studio Five.

You start with a mini muffin pan. One with 24 cups.

The paper I found had the numbers already all cute and in circles so I just puched them out with the scalloped punch. You could make your own by print numbers, using vinyl or stickers.
I then used my cricuit to cut 2 1/2 inch circles to go behind the number. Again you could use a punch or trace them and cut them out. The I took magnent strips and put them on the back and wa-la there is your advent calendar.


You could fill each day with candy or I already have another advent calendar for that, so I chose to put activites instead. Some examples: read a Christmas Story, Make snowflakes, watch a Christmas Movie, look at Christmas lights, make a Christmas treat, think about Jesus today....you get the idea.


Okay the next one I got the idea from this link http://thedahlingdatingdivas.blogspot.com/2010/11/spouse-christmas-countdown.html Such a super cute idea. Sometimes I think our hubbies are left out this time of year. So I did my own version (not quite as fancy as hers but I got it done in 1 afternoon). I used the same idea. Some days I wrote things I love about him, some days I did candy sayings with the treat, and some days I did an activity that we can do together. He was so excited when he saw it and I think it will be lots of fun. Oh and I hung it in the window in our bedroom so the boys would leave it alone.

Okay and the last fun thing we are doing this year is this cute Elf on the Shelf. If you haven't heard of it you should check it out. You can get at Barnes and Noble or other bookstores. You have this elf that the kids name and every night he goes back to the North Pole and reports on the kids and every morning he returns and hides in a new spot. It is like Christmas morning everyday. Super Duper Fun!!


Wednesday, December 1, 2010

switcheroo...

i joke a lot with my nearest and dearest friends that i am "the yes girl"...you know, when i get Align Centerasked to do something i don't know how to say no. i do it all, sometimes willingly and sometimes grudgingly...i give rides, i babysit, i make meals, i plan the entire activity, i set up alone, etc...i am "the yes girl".

i most definitely do not have this nickname at home. if you were to tell my kids that i am "the yes girl", they would hyperventilate and faint, right there on the spot. you know, just like i did when i learned that my dad was the cool guy in high school. or the first time i heard my grandma tell a dirty joke. one of those super shocking moments when everything you thought you knew about your parents get smashed to pieces and you realize that they are just people, too...because at my house, i am "the no girl". for sure.

can i wear my flip flops to build a snowman?
nope.

can i have 2 cupcakes in my lunch?
nope.

can i drive the car?
nope.

can i skip school today?
nope.

can i throw away my carrot sticks?
nope.

can i live at grandpa's house?
nope.

can i use the sharpie on the cupboards?
nope.

can i have my own room?
nope.

can i have a pet snake?
nope.

but i recently came across some parenting advice that i have given some serious thought to adopting...and it might just blow my kids' socks off...

make it a point to tell your children "yes" as often as you possibly can

hmmm...why not? i like to shake things up every now and then!

see, it made me realize that most of the time that i say "no", it's because it's just inconvenient for me or i'm not in the mood...and that doesn't count the safety stuff...i'm never in the mood for hurt or sick kids. just sayin'.

so these days, we are hearing more of this around our place...

can you rub my back until your arm goes numb, mom?
yes.

can we play for 5 more minutes and then ask for another 5?
yes.

can we make cookies and eat more of the dough than we bake?
yes.

can we play "uno" and cry about the rules?
yes.

can we read one more book, eventhough we already read 39?
yes.

can we all invite a friend over at the same time?
yes.

can i cut up paper into tiny pieces?
yes (sigh).

can i wear your least favorite shirt to the mall?
(sigh) yes.

can i sit on your lap and elbow you in the ribs?
yes.

can i help stir the lemonade, lick the spoon, and then spill it?
yes.

can you curl my hair like taylor swift?
yes.

can i always be your kid?
yes. yes, you can.

and that, my friends, is my master plan to become "the yes girl"...at home.

can i stuff marshmallows in my nose and look cute for a picture?
yes. you most definitely can!

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Called to Serve...

My little brother just left yesterday to serve the Lord for two years!! 
He was called to labor in the San Bernardino California Mission!! 
He enters the MTC (Missionary Training Center) tomorrow!!

I am so happy that he chose to go on a mission!  I know that he will serve with all of his heart!! 

I spent the weekend with the family and it was wonderful.
Too many laughs and tears to count!

We sobbed at the airport...
We sobbed in the car...
We sobbed at home...

As my mama squeezed my brother one last time, as tightly as she could...with tears streaming down their faces...I heard her say, "This is what I raised you for"...

It had me thinking...

What am I raising my youngins for?!
Am I raising them each day to serve the Lord with all of their heart?
Am I raising them to talk to people about what they believe?
Am I raising them to be eager to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ wherever the Lord may send them?

I hope that I raise them to be like my brother.
To be strong and immovable in the Gospel...
To be ready to serve our brothers and sisters...

I miss my brother, I'm not gonna lie...
And two years seems like a lifetime away...

But I'm excited to share blessings with him while he is serving...
I'm excited to see him come home a man of God...
I'm excited to hear of his adventures...

We just wrote him his first letters from us...
We are pathetic!!! =)

I love the people of San Bernardino California...
And they have a huge bunch of people praying for them...their safety...and their acceptance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Monday, November 29, 2010

There is this new..er country song that states "all you need is love". It talks about living in a van and such... and how that would be OK b/c "all you need is love".  Call me unromantic or a pessimist or self-centered or whatever, but this saying has never settled well with me. Maybe I just can't grasp the concept of "only" needing love, maybe I've never loved another enough that I feel like I could survive off of that alone or maybe I'm reading too much into the saying...

However, just recently I learned to love deeper than I ever have. I know we all have an intense love for our children. It's immeasurable. It's true too, that it multiplies with each child, and love for one child in no way takes from the love of the other child. But this deeper love that I've been feeling, has everything to do with my husband. I married him because he was perfect. With all of my heart I truly believed he was perfect, at least for me. For years I've held him to this same standard in which I found him...perfection. He was never allowed to say the "wrong" thing, look at me cross, or heaven forbid he have a "bad day" without me having a freak out on him (this is not the part for you to say "awww poor Matt", really he has got it good) I mean why would he do those things if he were perfect? I know laugh it up, but it's true. For our whole marriage this expectation in my brain, that I made up all on my own has caused me so much trouble. Logically I knew that he wasn't perfect, but I never connected my heart and my head...until I just did one day. I had the most amazing thought..."wouldn't it be amazing if I had as much compassion for him as I do for the lonely guy I see on the street begging for money, or the guy I pass in the store that looks like he has no pride at all? If I could love him in his weakest moments and listen to what he is really saying when I see frustration in his eyes?" Since having that thought, I got my opportunity, probably an answer to my prayers to show a Christlike love toward him. A true opportunity to understand the beauty of humility and compassion for the one person I do love more than life. It's a little embarrassing to me that for all this time I could treat a complete stranger with more empathy than I did my own husband, but I'm so grateful I finally came into this moment. Life is so so so much easier when we allow those we love to make mistakes.




So you may ask "Sunny do you now believe all you need is love"?  And I would say....."Nope, I still need the man to bring a paycheck home so that I can get my hair and nails done, buy a new purse and also some cute shoes." I mean really? It takes more than love;)

Thursday, November 25, 2010

I am Thankful for........

I am thankful for the holidays......good friends, good family, good food, good shopping, good football, good food, good shopping....okay you get the hint I like to eat and shop :)
I am thankful for a husband that loves me even though in his words "I have a little bit of blonde in me."
I am thankful for kids that at the end of the day still love me even though in their words, "I am the meanest mom ever."
I am thankful to have so much family so close....Most of the time :)
I am thankful for the beautiful snow...We just got about 6 inches.
I am thankful for the holiday season, not for the presents but for the atmosphere. The lights, music, mostly happy people, but most of all the time for us to reflect on our Savior and give thanks for him and all he represents!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

thanky thanky

i am thankful for my blessings...because they are evidence of the lord's love for me

i am thankful for my challenges...because they make me grow and learn

i am thankful for modern conveniences...because i am too lazy to have survived as a pioneer

i am thankful for my family...because they bring me joy

i am thankful for down comforters...because they are awesome

i am thankful for friends...because they enrich my life

i am thankful for naps...because it's quiet

i am thankful that i have so much to be thankful for

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Following Suit...

Here are few things I am thankful for...
In no particular order...

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I am thankful for my Tongan culture. 

I am thankful for the man that said I was pretty seven years ago and made me his eternal companion.

I am thankful for the two sidekicks I gave birth to!!  They rock!!

I am thankful for music that gets my body to rock side to side. 

I am thankful for my siblings.  There are no words to properly express my love for them!

I am thankful for friends that know the worst about me and still like me.

I am thankful for Italian food and Bojangles.

I am thankful for alarm clocks, even when they don't wake me up in time to post my blog!

I am thankful for the sweetest word in the English language...repentance...

I am thankful Olive Garden breadsticks and Special K challenges to cancel out said breadsticks!

I am thankful for imagination and creativity.

I am thankful for sewing machines and embroidery machines.

I am thankful for parents that raised me in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and taught me that families are eternal.

I am thankful for neighbors that tell me when I leave the lights on in my car.

I am thankful for realizing every time I pass by our Military/Air Force bases that our freedom is not free...my hearts swells with love for each of those soldiers.

I am thankful for good movies.

I am thankful for RootBeer.

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I  love this time of year.
The magic in the air and the genuine love that is expressed is enough to have me crying everyday.

What a beautiful life we all have...
May we realize our blessings and be ever thankful for them...

Monday, November 22, 2010

A week of THANKSGIVING...

So since you know, this week is Thanksgiving I thought all of us S@HM could list just a few of our favorite blessings! So here are the ones I've been thinking about...

1. diabetic socks...I know weird huh? BUT I love them and I'm not even a diabetic...they are warm and soft and they don't cut off circulation above the ankle. PERFECT for winter (Oh I only wear these around the house by the way;)

2. Of course my FAMILY...not that they come after the socks, hehe. I love these 4 wonderful beings in my life. I can't imagine happiness existing without THEM.

3. Hot showers. There is NOTHING that makes my life feel better than a hot shower. I only wish I had endless amounts of hot water so that I could stand/sit in the shower all day, then again maybe it's a good thing it runs out.

4. Womanhood (is that a word?) Anyway I am so thankful to be a woman. I mean sure we have a ton of inconveniences with all the little womanly issues, but I have to say I am just fine with all of that because I think we are miracles. Truly, beautiful, amazing, straight from above angels. There is something wonderful about being a woman.

5. Laughter. I love to laugh so much, sometimes I sleep laugh. It's true. I've even woken myself up because I was laughing so loud in my dream. The sound of children laughing is a moment of true Thanksgiving to me. It makes me smile and tear up all at the same time.




I hope you remember all that you are thankful for this season! It's a great time for reflection and to make the most of the moments you have to be with family, to laugh, to be a woman, to take some time for yourself, and to maybe try out my favorite....diabetic socks;)

Sunday, November 21, 2010

white chicken chili

i love soup. all kinds of soup. that's my favorite thing about fall and winter...time to eat soup! here is one of our all-time favorites, a recipe passed down from my mom...

white chicken chili

4 cans white beans
4-6 chicken breasts--cooked and cut up or shredded
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 medium onions
6 cups chicken broth
2 4oz. cans green chiles
4 Tbsp. minced garlic
2 tsp. cumin
1 1/2 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. cloves
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

saute onions in olive oil. in a large pot combine beans, chicken, onions, chicken broth, green chiles, garlic, cumin, oregano, and cloves. simmer 30 minutes. add cayenne pepper. simmer until ready to serve.

we usually put shredded cheese on top...enjoy!

Friday, November 19, 2010

Save your Nose

Imagine yourself walking through a meadow of  wild flowers just after a light spring rain. Smell the fresh grass and beautiful fragrant flowers of all colors.

What a perfect day!

But wait...
                something smells wrong....
                                                        what could it be? Not flower or grass or rain.....
                                                                                                                                 but more bestial!
As you walk closer to this foul fragrance your immediate response is to scrunch your brow and plug your nose.
You close in on this filthy, dominating smell...
                                                                   and discover....
                                                                                           it is a diaper, filled with your child's POO!

Now, how many times a week do I work my booty off cleaning this house? Putting everything in it's place and making things look and smell better.
Only to fail EVERY SINGLE TIME when it comes to my child's diaper pail.

Not now!
I have found the answer ladies...have no fear, Glad is here (with Oder Shield and Febreze!)

I got a Free sample of Glad Drawstring Odor Shield Tall Kitchen Bags, 13 Gallon, 40-Count Bags, Case of 4 (160 Bags) the other day in the mail (thanks to Freebies 4 Mom) and stuck it in my Diaper Champ.

(by the way, I totally recommend the Baby Trend Diaper Champ Deluxe over others b/c you can use any 13gallon bag you want and cheaper than other diaper pails)

This trash bag works like a charm! I can not even believe how many Poo diapers I have in that trash bag (7+) and I don't smell a thing!!!! (not to mention all the Lysol spray I will save on waisting)

So, SAVE YOUR NOSE and reach for Glad!


(my new best friend) :)
                                                                                                 

What Saves Your Nose?
Tell me about your experience...                      

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Glove Turkey

How cute is this? Just in time for Thanksgiving, here is a cute little turkey idea.

You will need:
Pair of gloves (whatever color you want)
Ribbon
Googly eyes
Yellow felt
Red rick rack
Glue dots (I attached everything with glue dots so whoever gets this cute turkey can use the gloves if they want to!)
Take the gloves and stuff one inside of the other. Stuff the thumb with the other gloves thumb. This picture is the thumb. I am not flipping you off :) Just stuff the rest of the glove inside leaving the rest of the fingers unstuffed.

Fold the bottom of the glove up inside so the turkey will stand.

Take a piece of ribbon and tie it around the four unstuffed fingers.

Take a couple glue dots and attach an eye on each side of the thumb.

Cut a piece of yellow felt for the beak. I cute a diamond shape and folded it in half so it had a top and bottom. Attach with blue dot.
Cut a little piece of red rick rack and attach with a glue dot just below the beak.

Here are my 3 little turkeys that will be going visiting teaching with me this month.