{the re-read}

A few weeks back I was browsing our "home library" and came across this book that I read years ago.  I picked it up and thought I would skim through it again and see how things stood out to me now.  I think things take on new meaning after you have experienced more and been thorough more together.  Anyhow,  I just wanted to recommend this book to ....... EVERYONE! Even if you are not married, or are engaged, married 2 years, married 20+ years.  I love Dr. Laura's no non-sense attitude and how she says thing how they are. Here are  a few quotes that I love and I think embody what this book is about.

"This is not your typical marriage manuel. Not by a long shot.  I'm not going to present the usual psychobabble. nonsense that has been dominating the marital therapy field since the sixties which condemns masculinity and disdains femininity, considering both some kind of disorder while striving for the destructive lie of unisexuality.  In addition to being utterly ridiculous, believing in "sameness" generates a sense of lack of respect for and a denial of your need for the qualities of the other gender. A respect and admiration for the qualities of the opposite gender will feed you in ways you've ignored or never imagined." (introduction)

"If one doesn't understand, admire, respect, and at times forgive, the nuances of the opposite sex, then the beauty and satisfaction that can arise from the uniting of man and woman in the most important covenant of marriage will not be discovered and enjoyed." (p. 11) 

I really feel like there is something in this book to help every marriage.  You may think, "my marriage is really good." Then great!  That is how I feel about mine :) Our marriages though will go through phases or great times and times that will test us. Whether it be the birth of our children, loss of jobs, illness or transgressions.  Through my re-read, I found things that I could be doing better.  One thing in particular is to stop keeping score.  Quit having things be a power struggle.  Learn to appreciate more. 

It is a great read full of examples of real couples! 

I hope it can bless your marriage as it has mine
                                                          (Her other book, Proper care and feeding of husbands is great too)

This past weekend Aaron and I went to see Tim Mcgraw in concert. It was the second time for me and the fourth for Aaron and it was a lot of fun. Our seats were on the floor and we decided that we probably wouldn't do that again because it is harder to see with everyone standing in front of you. I had to sit down a few times to rest because standing for 2 1/2 hours took a toll on my feet.

Lady Antebellum opened

 This guys big head seemed to be in the way all the time

Yesterday I overdid it

I woke up feeling rested and ready for the new day and week. I had many things on my "to-do" list.  Monday is my bathroom day so after I got the girls going for the day (Breakfast, teeth brushing, morning jobs) I got to work. 

I love a clean bathroom!  Then I put in a load of laundry.  I have a new system where I do loads more often so that it doesn't seem to takeover.  It seems to multiply like rabbits in the closet if it get ignored for too long.

Next I got Anna to the bus.

Then Herbie came over for our weekly swap. (Ciara and I swap every other Monday so we can volunteer in our daughters kinder class. )  He was not happy. After a half hour of hysterics he calmed down and we made lunch and then headed to target.

While leaving target I accidentally turned onto a street into oncoming traffic.  Geeze!  Where is my brain?

Came home

Started dinner. 

3pm: Six little girls show up for craft club. We were going to be attempting paper mache.  It was a little ambitious. Umm... a lot ambitious!  Luckily my friends Kristy offered to stay and help and boy and I am glad she did because it never would have been possible without her there. 

4:30 girls leave.

Finish dinner and wait for Aaron to get home so we can eat together for once. 

Bedtime.  Is that an exhausting process for anyone else?  It just about does me in each night.  I looked down and suddenly saw what I looked like. I had food all crusted on my shirt. Water spots on the belly after doing dishes and paper mache paste crusted all over my shirt and jeans. Ahhh, the proof of a long hard days work.

8 pm:  Girls are finally asleep and Aaron and I sit down to watch the season finale of Chuck.

Me feet were throbbing, my back hurt. I had to fight off dozing several times.

I hate that doing "normal" household jobs are wiping me out lately.  I still have 2 long months and I am learning that I need to pace myself. I feel myself getting bigger and sleeping is more uncomfortable than ever.  I told my doctor the other day that I feel like an old lady at the ripe old age of 26. She did say it was my 3rd pregnancy.  My sciatic nerve has been a real problem the last month or so and makes simple tasks like bending over to pick things up, getting up from sitting, or walking up my stairs really uncomfortable sometimes. I know every pregnant woman goes through things and my point is not to complain for sympathy. I just want to document reality of motherhood. I tend to forget overtime.  What a special thing it is to be pregnant though.  This morning he was moving little crazy. So much it almost hurt he was stretching so much. Wow! What a miracle it is that this little person is growing within me. 

Lets just say today I am going to take it easy.  Aaron is out of town for work for a few days and the weather is still pretty rainy and yucky, so I think a little vegging is in order.

t-ball fun

This year I volunteered Aaron to coach Anna's t-ball team. Our stake organized teams, like they did for soccer in the fall, and it has turned out to be fun.  I didn't realize when I volunteered A. that I would automatically become assistant coach but it's been fun to do together. I think we underestimated how chaotic it would be to try to teach t-ball to 11, four and five year olds.  This week is the last week and so I enlisted a friend to capture a few pictures of last night game to document the "fun!"

 Waiting for the ball.... her least favorite part she said

 Coaching 1st

 Batting... her favorite part

 Coach Aaron (still in his work clothes)

One of Anna's best buddies Sage

{30 Weeks}

This is a little behind, but I needed to "document" the belly

{To my girls}

     To the little girls who made me a mother,

    and the little boy who we are so anxious to meet

 I love this picture because a bog barked right as Aaron was taking the picture. Easily distracted I guess.

I had a great day. The weather couldn't have been better.  The girls made me wonderful homemade cards and crafts, and sang me personalized happy mother's day songs at breakfast.  Aaron got up with the girls and made me a great breakfast of french toast, bacon, and eggs even though I was suddenly jolted out of a peaceful slumber by the smoke alarms going off not once but three times. Oh how I love a man in the kitchen.  Then I was further surprised to receive a mother's day email from my sweet husband telling me all sorts of sweet things. I had to laugh because that is such progress for Aaron.  Besides the nice sentiments he informed me that new stud diamond earrings were coming for me (I lost one in Utah and was devastated, they were my favorite and a gift from him a couple of Christmas's ago)

I am so grateful to be a mom. It is not always easy. Actually, many times I realize that I don't know what I am doing and that I am really not doing a good job. I'm not going to pretend that it is always Rosy and I don't ever raise my voice and my kids never talk back and we always read scriptures and say our prayers. Each day though I try to do better.  To do one thing better than I did the day before.  We have such a big job as mother's to these little spirits. Each day I get to wake up and try again and each night they eventually fall asleep and I get to fall in love with them all over again. What a privilege and responsibility.

Happy Mother's Day to all the women who help show me what it means to be a true woman and mother!

BYU Women's Conference

This year my mOm, sisters and sister-in-law all met up in Utah to have a girls get away to women's conference in Provo. We all met up at the airport Wednesday afternoon, (thanks to Michelle who works for Southwest airline we got the major hookup on our flights) and then headed over to the church humanitarian center and were met by a family friend Danny. He gave us a private tour of the center and shared with us many interesting facts.

(Amanda, Angie, and Michelle)

Tons and tons of clothes, shoes, etc are donated each year and are sent all over the world to help elevate poverty and aid when natural disasters hit. I was in awe.

After the tour we stayed and helped finish up a quilt. They have over 4,000 quilts donated each month.  It is amazing to see all that can be accomplished with volunteers and true charity. Amazing!

Our night out at P.F. Changs

Kelly (My mOms best friend from kindergarten and Danny's wife), mOm, Amanda, Shell, me, Ang

We ate so much stinkin' good food. I knew I was going to gain 10 pounds in 4 days if I wasn't careful. We had in-and-out burger (oh my!) Robintino's Italian, Cafe Rio, BYU mint brownies.....Heaven!

Boogie down at the concert

On Friday we spent some time in a "service room" stitching around the edge of fleece baby blankets for the humanitarian center.  It was nice to be able to sit and listen to talks while giving service.  

 Mama, shell bell, chubby mama, and Angie

I think that it was a small miracle that we were all able to be together. I also think I underestimated how hard it would be to walk as much as you do 7 months pregnant but it was well worth it. You literally walk like Olympic speed walkers to get from class to class, weaving in and out of seas of women. My soul was uplifted though and my spirit renewed to be a better wife, mom, friend, visiting teacher, daughter.

 What a blast to stay in the dorms, (although I think that the mattresses were from the State Penitentiary) laugh, cry and hang out like the old days. Now we are spread out all over the country raising our families, working, and enjoying the blessed life!  

My new mantra

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with perfectly manicured fingernails.


I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.

I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing my neighbor's lawn.

I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children.

I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.

I want to be there with the children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.

I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."

Marjorie Pay Hinckley

When it rains... it pours

Well that is really true here is Portland.  Really, it never seems to stop raining here.  Not a little rain... monsoon rain. Anyhow I didn't log on to talk about weather patterns in the Northwest, even though it is crazy. 

This week is insane.  We are moving to a new house and everyone knows what that entails.  I have been packing and cleaning and packing some more for weeks now. I think that the hardest part has been just figuring out what I can pack and do without for a little while and what we still need. Every time I pack something of the girls, they have a huge meltdown and I have to convince them that everything is just being moved to the new house not given away. (Anna may be traumatized though because I did give away her favorite teddy bear to goodwill while trying to dejunk. That is another post though)  On top of trying to move I am leaving out of town to Utah tomorrow morning for 4 days to attend women's conference at BYU with my mom, Angela, Michelle, and my sister in law Amanda.  I am so excited but the timing is really bad. Every keeps saying, "Oh you planned that well so you could get out of moving."  This trip has been planned for months, and believe me the control freak side of me really wants to be here to sure that everything gets done my way. Then on top of that Aaron has supposed to be able to take off the days I am going to be gone but found out last minute that he had to work more than we would like, adding another dimension of stress to this scenario. Thank goodness for great friends who are stepping in to help watch the girls and help out with our move. 

In baby news, I am 7 months this week and starting to feel the little aches and pains of pregnancy.  I have been having a little pain caused by my sciatic nerve but luckily that just comes and goes and is not constant.  Sleeping is also getting uncomfortable too. I am a tummy sleeper and so sleeping all night on one side is doing a number on my hips.  Despite all that I love this little miracle that is growing inside my body. I have heard to many times lately about babies dieing during pregnancy, birth defects or moms hemorrhaging after birth. I know that these things happen, (even though it seems more prevalent when you are pregnant. Probably because you are so much more paranoid and aware) and really there isn't anything I can do about these events, but I pray each day for a healthy little boy and a strong body for carry him full term.  I love it each and every time I feel him move inside me. It reassures me and gives me peace.  Heavenly Father has blessed our little family more than we can say. I have so much to be thankful for!  Sorry no pictures. They'll be an abundance after this trip and our move. Stay tuned.

The Belly

    Courtesy of Anna

She wanted to take a picture of baby brother

Check it out

I have a friend that I grew up with who is a licenced esthetician and make-up artist.  She just started a new blog dedicated to all things beauty.  She is going to be sharing tips and tricks to help her readers make the most of their beauty. Check it out HERE I just recieved some personal advice via email and know that she'd love to help you feel your best!

{visitors}

For Christmas Papa and Anna built me the best bird house. We immediately found a home on our patio.  Since then we have been anxiously awaiting Spring to see if any birds would make it their home.  Spring hasn't quite sprung here in the North West, but just this week we had some birds moving in.  The girls have had so much fun each morning watching them fly back and forth with twigs and things.  I just hope the birds are not too confused when we move at the end of the month.

these are a few of {her} favorite things

Brooklyn has a couple of funny quirks

Brooklyn was a binky baby... it became our nemesis.  We finally broke her of it and then she found her thumb.  Grrrrr! There is only so much you can do.  It finds her way into her mouth often.

The other "love" of hers is quite weird. When she was born a good friend of ours, Jessica Rydalch made her a pink blanket that we used to throw over her car seat.  Well, this was the blanket that she attached herself to and now she cannot be without it.

That is not the weird part.  There happens to be  1 fringe that is her favorite.  Every time she has her blanket she takes her fingers and quickly searches the perimeter of the blanket to find one!  It is tattered and brown and withered from love.  Oh but it does not stop there. Then the beloved fringe either gets placed in the ear, or the nose.  I know, I know..... I can't explain it, and it never fails to make me smile and shake my head!

We love you Brook! 

April 15th is getting closer. Here Comes The Tax Man; Or Not

My wife will probably get grumpy at me for hacking into her blog, but after reading THIS article I could not resist. I promise I will try to post something a little more "fun" this weekend.

It has happened time and time again; it happened quite often this last year here in Oregon when the people voted to raise the tax rate on those making over $250,000 from 9% to 11%. What is it you ask? Some dope head says that it is time for the rich to "pay their fair share" of income taxes. As a tax professional, I have to laugh.

This to me indicates that the person who says this has no idea of how the tax code works, they have no idea what happens on their own income tax return, and there is a good chance that they didn't pay a dime on their last federal income tax return.

When I hear someone say that it is time for the rich to "pay their fair share" at times I have tried to explain that a good portion (about 47% according to the article above) of people pay no federal income taxes. I then try to explain how it works, their eyes glass over, and I know they didn't understand a word I just said. Which, by the way is understandable.

The article above spells it our quite well.

"But income tax rates were lowered at every income level. the changes made it relatively easy for families of four making $50,000 to eliminate their income tax liability.

Here's how they did it, according to Deloitte Tax:

The family was entitled to a standard deduction of $11,000 and four personal exemptions of $3,650 a piece, leaving a taxable income $24,000. The federal income tax on $24,000 is $2,769.

With two children younger than 17, the family qualified for two $1,000 child tax credits. Its Making Work Pay credit was $800 because the parents were married filing jointly.

The $2,800 in credits exceeds the $2,769 in taxes, so the family makes a $31 profit from the federal income tax."

There you have it. In this scenario, the family of four did not pay a dime in income taxes; in fact, they made $31 on the backs of those who did. But, let's call a spade a spade. That family didn't make $31; they received $31 of welfare. What happens when the family of four becomes a family of six? What happens when the family of four makes less than $50,000? THAT FAMILY RECEIVES EVEN MORE THAN $31 when they file their income tax return. In fact, families who qualify for the earned income credit can receive more than $5,000 on the backs of hard working Americans who do make enough money to pay income taxes.

Do I hate those people who don't pay a dime in income taxes? No. If I did, I would have to hate myself. I do have to admit that Jamie and I did not pay a dime in federal income taxes in 2009. If the income tax law required it, I would gladly pay. In fact, while I was going to school and working part-time, we qualified for the earned income credit. One day however, I hope to be in the position where I am one of those that some dope head thinks is not paying his "fair share" of taxes.

The truth is that while a great portion of American households don't pay a dime in income taxes we enjoy all the benefits that this country provides. We drive on mostly "good" roads, and benefit from the security that our armed forces provide. But in my view, we who don't pay income taxes are not paying our "fair share".

Everyone of us born in this great country has the opportunity to do great things. Each of us in "created equal....endowed by [our] Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." Did you read that? We are created equal.....after that it is up to us to determine where we will end up.

Let me give this challenge to everyone. Take a look at your tax return. If you filed Form 1040, is line 72 greater than line 61? If you filed Form 1040A, is line 45 greater than line 38? If so, congratulations, you and I received welfare from the federal government in the form of a "Tax Refund"

Now, look forward 5 years from now. What are we doing to make it so that we are not receiving this welfare from the federal government in the future? What are we doing to ensure that we are paying our "fair share" of income tax? If we still see ourselves in the same position that we are in today, maybe it is time to alter our course. This country gives everyone the opportunity to become someone that the dope head loves to criticize. We may not be able to do it by "being what we want to be when we grow up", but it is OUR choice.

little boy things can be fun too

Even though I know this is a baby boy coming, I am still having a hard time making purchases for this little guy.  While mom was here last week she helped me get started by getting me some adorable receiving blankets and a new cover for my boppy. I also picked up this little outfit and hit the jackpot by finding the most perfect blessing ensemble. Most are shiny and garish that look like little tuxedos. Not for me. You'll have to wait to see it though until we bless him. 

In pregnancy news, I am feeling great.  I am 24 weeks (How many months is that? I can't ever figure it out) and have been enjoying feeling baby boy move constantly. It never ceases to amaze me how incredible my body is for growing this life inside me.  I feel fortunate that I am still exercising and trying to be as active as I can. I don't feel as big with this pregnancy as I did with the girls.  I still feel hungry and want to eat all the time. I guess that is why I make myself do something physical each day. I've gained about 14 lbs so far and hope to not spiral out of control as the belly continues to grow.  It is hard to be good when you know you will inevitably be gaining weight no matter what. 

We still don't have a name. Aaron doesn't seem to feel any urgency in even discussing names. If we do he comes up with ones like Chipper (a braves baseball player) or Carlos. I think he does it to drive me nuts. 

It works sometimes.... but I still love him

We bought a van a few weeks back also.  (Silver 2008 Chrysler town and country... I know someone will ask)  The girls think it is so cool and I love the space.  It has taken a little while to get used to driving something that seems so big.  We also move into a house the end of next month. (We're renting) I am looking most forward to more space, including  a spacious 2 car garage.  I panic a little at the expenses that are starting to accumulate with adding one more to our family but can't wait to meet our precious baby boy!

The girls, especially Anna, go through paper like crazy. Good thing we can buy it in bulk at costco.  I always feel a little guilty for throwing things out but I just can't keep everything they create.  I  decided to do the next best thing. Blog it!  Here are a few of Anna's most recent masterpieces!  

                 

Here we have the tracing of the mirror first, followed by the family portrait. 

Baby is always included.

 Art work above our bed.  Pretty chic huh?

           I love how we are a family of spiders in this one

       More family portraits 

It looks like our family has grown by a few in this picture, but my favorite is baby on top of the flower. Can you tell she's excited?

Saw THIS great video on NIENIE's blog and loved it!

Feel free to share on your blog

(This picture has nothing to do with this post.... they're too cute though)

(Hillsboro airport tour)

Lets go...

fly a kite...

Kite flying works better when you have more wind, but we had a great time anyway! We just love having dad home to play with us all day.

Getting ready to let it go

It was a little sunny for Brook

Flying a kite is serious buisness

Its been a while

{i love homemade bread}

Craft Club

A few friends in the area recently started a "craft club" that our daughters attend each Monday.  Paying for classes can get so expensive so we decided that we could take turns making a small craft and then let the girls have a little playtime. They've made necklaces, puppets, bath salts, and potato stamping art.  It has been wonderful for them and a nice break for moms on their weeks off!

Last week at our place we made stain glass windows out of crayon shavings.  All you have to do is place shaving inbetween wax paper and then melt with an iron.

Easy Peezy!

Try it.. your kids will love it and each one turns out unique and different

Anna, Cheney, jazlyn, Sage, Maisey, Brooklyn