Random Thought

I love having girls in the house. Maggie is getting older and her girlie hood is beginning to really shine. I have learned to revel in the good and I am trying to stop cringing at the bad. I love her so much!
Right now Maggie is with Kendal in her new tent reading to her. Reading real books with real words, how did she grow so fast?

GIRLS LIVE HERE

In a bloggy mood 3 of 3 Yeah Me!

Now I haven't been very wordy about this particular of my life this year. I have mostly kept it to myself besides a couple of posts here and there where I slipped some words in about it. But today is my one year mark and so I am dedicating this entire post and all of it's words to this my greatest accomplishment of 2009.

One year ago today I swallowed my pride (and a ton of other stuff obviously) and made the trek into the door of Weight Watchers. My expectations were not high I just really wanted something to jump start my weight loss. I was excited to see how the program fit into my life style and only required a little bit of walking.

The first half of the year I tracked, went to ALL of my meetings, did very moderated exercise and was encouraged by many and I lost 35 pounds. Crazy, I know!

I went in hoping to lose a little baby weight and came out weighing less than I did when I got married.

The last part of the year I tracked some days, went to some meetings, continued moderate exercise and was encouraged by all of the kind peeps telling me, "you look great" (thank you all, it helps)and I have maintained my weight loss for 6 months now. VERY EXCITING!

I don't want to cheat all of you out of the true weight loss story so here it is..

BEFORE

After

In a bloggy mood 2 of 3 Miserable Monday #23

Smiling is the second best thing

you can do with your mouth

- bumper sticker

Quote Johnbytheway- Some people are smiling on the inside, but they forget to tell their face. -end quote Isn't that funny! Now every time I see someone scowling I am going to think, I bet they are happy on the inside. Quote another bumper sticker- "Put a smile on your kisser, and someone may put a kiss on your smiler." -end quote. (Hey LB is this not the perfect Miserable Monday for you, my kissing man) Sorry for that, had to be done.

ANYWAY... I guess if you want to be miserable than you REALLY shouldn't smile, at all. I have to admit I am a reminder smiler, that is one that sometimes has to remind self to SMILE. However I love to smile, laugh, giggle, be silly and I love when funny witty things (that are nice) come flying out my smiler and make other people laugh and smile.

One of my favorite things is when I catch myself smiling at something the kids are doing or saying. Especially when it happens at times that I really don't feel like smiling. Kids are so darn funny sometimes. Just the other day during a totally not smiling moment, poor Toby was bleeding profusely from an injury on his ear. MY LB came home to help me out and while he was doctoring up the dogs ear are sweet little two year old proclaimed very matter of fact that, "Toby's dieing". MY LB in a somewhat annoyed voice said, "Toby is not dieing." She responded with, "Oh Toby's not dieing? Sorry so Sorry". I was smiling the entire time and when MY LB finally looked up at me to see my response he too began to smile. I LOVE KIDS!

However I don't want to cheat all of you that WANT to be miserable so here is the tip for you. Quote Johnbytheway- If you want to be miserable slump your shoulders, look at the ground, go to your unhappy place, and whatever you do, don't smile. - end quote.

In a bloggy mood- 1 of 3 Christmas

Oh I have had blog posts running through my head like sugar plums on Christmas Eve. I actually have an hour to sit down so watch out blogging world here is one of three blogs all posted on this bloggy day in December.

Guess what day I am thinking of:

It comes and goes way to fast

The set up is loads of fun but the take down is a CHORE

You clean for the day and dread the mess for days after

Kids love it, parents love it and I am pretty sure even grandparents love it

You eat and eat and eat thinking, it's just one day (or two or three)

You spend one whole day opening, twisting, tearing, putting batteries in, taking garbage out

ONE MORE CLUE....

It is one of the best darn days of the year.

CHRISTMAS

Christmas Eve with the Mechams

Our traditional Gioza making and eating.

(This is a Grandpa went on a mission to Japan tradition)

Christmas Morning

Believe it or not I was a horrible picture taker and so we have very few pictures of the day. Shame on me!

Our family tried to be good at making gifts this year so I made aprons for our moms, MY LB made hot plates for our parents and great grandparents and the kids did some looming and made LOTS of pot holders. But that is definitely not all.

MY LB in his garage and I in my decorating realm, both worked together to create this fine house (it was mostly him).

After we opened our presents and enjoyed pancakes with coconut syrup from Leslie's clan we headed to Me-Ma and Pa-Pas house.
Once again I was bad at taking pictures maybe because we had so much fun. We opened gifts, ate, played games, ate, visited, ate, went to the Valley of Lights and ate one more time. What a great day!
I did get a picture of this great window display my mom painted, each reindeer has a picture of one of her grand kids faces in it. SO CUTE!
We arrived home late and to bed we all went. The next morning we were up early to play with our new toys.

I love Christmas

Do you think anyone will notice if I just leave everything up until next year?

Temple Lights

The Temple is always so beautiful but during Christmas time it especially glows.

On Monday we spent family night with Leslie's Clan. We went out to dinner, visited the Temple and enjoyed hot chocolate and dessert together. It was a great night!

If you haven't been to see the Temple yet here is the link for more information, Mesa Arizona Temple Lights.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Random Thought

HELP!!!

A week gone by?

The holidays get so busy I can't believe another week slipped by so quickly. This has been one crazy zippy week. Holiday shopping done, ward Christmas party, treats out, band concert, crochet beanies for teachers presents, kinder gingerbread houses made, projects getting finished up (some just started) and Christmas cards out. It is a miracle that I found time to do my FAVORITE thing of all. THRIFTING!!

I went to thrift alley (that is what I call it) with the money my mom and dad gave me for my birthday (and I had a birthday). I was going to use the money to buy me a new dog (and we got a new dog) and friend for our dog Toby BUT something happened that I will blog about another day (it's a good one).

Back to the thrifty lady story. I happened upon so many great deals that I just know I must of had a sign on me saying, "Watch out this girl has birthday money and she aims to SPEND." Despite my shopping companion (Kendal) and her desires to, "just go home mommy", I prevailed. I love a good thrifty day!

That was my week in a nut shell. And here are the nutty people in a picture-shell....

Santa at the Ward Christmas Party

Matthew on the Trumpet

Kinder Gingerbread Houses

AND MY BEST MOST PERFECT THRIFTY STORE FIND

Vintage Dress 5.00, black fabric belt .25

I have also been sewing up a storm. This cute

little Christmas dress for Maggie is a result. I also have

a great recycle project on the verge of completion (stay tuned).

And this last picture, well isn't she just so cute?

Have a great holiday week!

Miserable Monday #22

Happy people sing

"Zip-a-dee doo dah!"

while the miserable

"Zipadee up" their mouths.

- John Bytheway

This makes me wish I had the voice of Cinderella. Could you imagine singing so beautifully that animals swarmed you just to hear your melody. That sounded scary, maybe swarmed wasn't the word I was looking for. How about, gathered to hear your angelic song. A bird glides down and perches on your finger while sweet little bunnies (I love bunnies) collect at your feet. If I could sing like that I know I would sing more often, hence making me happier. Quote John Bytheway- There's something about singing a song that makes you happy. Miserable people sing the blues while happy people sing "Blue Skies Shining on Me". -end quote

Just this very morning I had an experience where the act of singing made one happier. I of course, found some excuse to be busy. I had to go to the store and get last minute presents before the kids were home for winter break. In the car after our second stop I noticed Kendal was not to happy, she had pulled off her beanie and was fuzzy-ing her nose. I felt bad, what could I do? Turn on a movie, NO! So I started singing along to "Jingle Bell Rock ". Before long she was smiling and saying, "your silly mommy", I told you singing was not my thing. I guess it is important to say that I too felt happier as I sang, " Jingle bell time is a swell time to ROCK THE NIGHT AWAY".

TIS TRUE... TIS TRUE.. singing DOES make you feel happy... UNLESS of course you are singing the blues.

Christmas is coming....

Oh how I love the signs of Christmas...

Christmas dresses or no Christmas dresses?
Let's not go overboard with presents this year, CH-CHING!
Husband squirming, what to get... what to get...
Wife grinning, I got you the perfect gift..
Baking up the most imperfect cookies
Outdoor Christmas lights that would gleam so bright if they were turned on.
Amazon toy deals, did I miss something?
School music performances, can you see her? No, but I can hear her.
Winter clothes come out to play. I love my boots, cozy sweaters and slippers.
Christmas carols throughout the house. Sometimes we even turn on the radio.
Cinnamon plugins that cover up that people live here smell.
People saying Merry Christmas, do you love that? I love that! Merry Christmas
I want... I want... I want... and the kids are just as bad.
Santa... Hmmmm... Santa, he leaves me speechless.
Snow? Where? Did yo see snow? Kendal and mommy saw snow.
A wrapped present makes me giddy. Not sure why but I like them, A LOT.
Christmas trees are great too but Christmas balls, they almost bring tears.

My favorite sign of Christmas is this...


Signs of Christ have filled our homes and neighborhoods as we celebrate the birth of our Savior and find hope. Merry Christmas!

A cold..cold.. Birthday

The weather outside is frightful and my dear an outdoor birthdays is NOT delightful.

Matthew turned 10 last week, exciting I know. Double digits and on his way to that word "TEEN". Time is going by way to fast.

We decided to buy a movie projector and have an outdoor movie on the night of his birthday. Complete with a fire pit, roasted hot dogs, smores, hot chocolate and blankets. LOTS OF BLANKETS! I could tell you how cold it was but I think the pictures speak for themselves.

So, the kids weren't really Smores savvy and were constantly catching their marshmallows on fire, YIKES! I love this picture of Alli and Mikyla, they were so funny and being so TOTALLY girly.

We opted to go for candles in the Smore's this year, it was a good effort on my part. I am covering his mouth so he wouldn't blow the candles out before he makes his wish (it only happens once a year).

And at last this is my favorite picture that says," you may be 10 Matthew but you are still my little boy".
Oh, how MY LB and I love this kid!

I believe when I got into the car after the party to go shopping with my pal Lori the car told me it was about 44 degrees. Not exactly outdoor birthday weather. Rest assured Matthew was still delighted and called me a mom with "super natural" beauty and thanked me 10 fold for an awesome birthday. Which definitely equals success.

Spoiled Daddy

I don't know how he does it but somehow he always talks them into it. I think on this particular occasion he was baking cookies with Maggie and she was just so ecstatic that she offered up her elbows. I don't know maybe there was bribery. I wouldn't put it past him, often times I will find him reading to one of the kids before bed while they rub his back. If they stop he stops, tricky dad. Of course on many occasions they do it on their own free will, "hey dad want me to rub your back?". In which case I say, spoiled daddy!

Massage anyone?

I love this picture of her eating while she massages.

Multitasking already, that's my girl.

Miserable Monday # 21

This shall be for me

The most horrible Miserable Monday of all

So I shall say my piece, find sweet release

And go to my room and ball

-ME

Quote Johnbytheway - A friend is someone who makes it easier for you to reach your full potential. Happy people build, lift, encourage, and motivate, and being in their company always makes you want to be better too. -end quote I think for me being a friend like this would be more important then having a friend like this. Of course if you were a friend that builds, lifts, encourages and motivates you would have friends that were like this too. The best of both worlds.

Quote Johnbytheway- Bad company will take you to places you shouldn't be and tempt you to do things (and say) you shouldn't do. Then, after you have followed their plan of misery, you feel empty inside, and you wonder why you are miserable. -end quote I have been this friend, that is all I have to say.

So how do you transition from being one friend to being the other? I have a great friend that brought me a little light in this area. She explained her own transformation and how she felt like she hit a spiritual maturity before some of her friends and how hard it was for her. She didn't go into depth about it but it really gave me something to think about. What happens when being rudely silly, loud laughter and improper talk, movies and music begin to leave you feeling empty inside even if it is innocent comparably.

What happens when you have a true intent to become better but it leaves you looking like you are "stuck up" or "better then the rest of us"? What do you do? Do you ignore the spiritual tug? You want to change but what if changing means that you have to move on? The thing is that your friends are great people too and they have the same spiritual tugs you have. The problem is together you crossed lines that become hard to erase without affecting the friendship.

The story behind the questions........

I know the time line well. All three of us were having babies at the same time. It was so exciting and we were all there for each other as our babies began to enter the world. There was house cleaning, baby swooning, babysitting and all kinds of stuff that friends do for each other. On the flip side there were also sleepless nights, depression and other new mom things that keep you from being you.

My depression hit hard at about my seventh month of being pregnant. I never experienced depression before (I hope I never do again) and I was confused at what has happening. I couldn't handle everyday activity, disappointments and or challenges. I tried to ignore what was happening and just go on as normal. That didn't work so I tried to be a better person. Which made things much worse, when you are depressed thinking that you wouldn't be if you just became better, BAD IDEA.

At the hospital they give you a questionnaire to fill out before your baby is born. I read a little glanced at my husband in the husband chair, read some more, glanced some more, lied on the questionnaire A LOT and realized I was depressed.

After my baby was born I felt better long enough to notice that my family wasn't the same. Everyone gave me LOTS of space and were quite standoffish. All I wanted were hugs, loves and just be close to all of them. It seemed like I hadn't seen them in a long time and I was ready for my welcome home. It was not a good feeling and before long I slipped back into not being able to deal with the everyday.

When my baby was about three months old I decided to see my doctor. I explained many of my emotions, troubles and happenings and he agreed that I was going through depression. However because it began before my baby was born it wasn't necessarily Postpartum. He proceeded to tell me that he could start me on a medication and see how it goes and than increase or decrease the dosage. This is where I freaked out and said absolutely NOT, I was normal before I can become normal again.

The doctor proceeded to let me know that if this was my approach that in the mean time I needed to eliminate the things that may be making me feel this way and are difficult for me to undergo. Easy enough, so I thought. Matthew was having troubles at school and his gifted ILP was causing LOTS of anxiety so I let the ILP slide and MY LB took over the other school problems. I love my family and MY LB's family but there were things that happened prior to baby that hurt and I needed avoidance. MY LB took control of so many things and helped me get through this and if there was any way possible for him to take over my role in the friendship with these girls that I love I would have done it in a heart beat. Anything to avoid what happened next.

There were many things leading up to it (not going to mention any) but their was a crowning moment. A moment when I cried, vented, cried and MY LB said it's time. I didn't want to let go but I knew I had to. I wanted it be a moment of understanding when I told my friend and she just understood. Understood what? That I needed some space because being around her wasn't helping my depression. Who would understand that? I guess I knew she wouldn't and that is why I cried, A LOT. I guess I also knew in the process I would lose other friendships, which I did.

I tried everything I could to keep it from ending badly and than excepted defeat and moved on. I introverted myself (as much as possible) and the depression became easier to live with. My family became my extent of close friendship, which has been a huge blessing in our home. And finally when my baby was about eight months old my body returned to normal girl routine and everything just began to fall back into place. I am me again!

I know I have shared this story before but I wanted to put an emphasis on friendship this time. How I lost good friends. I don't blame the depression, I blame the lack of spirituality within our friendship. If we would have been more careful to become the friends that; build, lift, encourage and motivate we would have built a friendship that was eternal and everlasting. I do believe that those are the only friendships that can withstand the test of time.

If I could have a do over I would want my friends to know that I would be better. I would be less improper, less rudely silly, and avoid the loud laughter and I would be more, encouraging and motivating. I would be the kind of friend to them that would withstand the test of time. The kind of friend they both deserve. The kind of friend we all deserve.

Picture Perfect?

Last Sunday we were running a little late for church due to cooperative issues. Do you ever get something imprinted into your brain and when you try to make it happen it just doesn't do what you WANT IT TO DO. Nothing makes me more CRAZY! Well, eyes closed, mouths open, faces covered, noses being picked, tongues out, bunny ears up and fussy baby's may make me a little bit CRAZIER.

And that is the story of our Christmas card picture.

Don't we look like the picture perfect family???????

WHY?

Please someone tell me WHY!

Why did I check the book out in the first place? Did I not read the synopsis? Did I not read that it was about a Mormon housewife that meets an actor?

Why did I keep reading after the events repeated themselves for the third time? On again off again friendship. When will the plot thicken?

Why did the dumb book make me cry? OK I admit I sobbed, for a long time. Stupid book, thank you Ashlee for the warning.

Why did the sadness drag out so long? We get the point quit making us cry.

AND PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE someone tell me why did the ending have to SUCK? Being a Mormon housewife myself I rarely ever use that word SUCK (tee-hee), so you must know that I am serious.

Why is my day over? I read and read and read and now my day is over and I have nothing to show for it. And for what? A good cry and crappy ending (Oh now I never use that word "crappy" EVER).

Oh dread! How will I ever face MY LB at the end of the day? EASY, (book ruiner, stop reading) for I am ever so glad that he is alive and he is my husband. I am glad that we are outnumbered by feisty kiddos. There is no one else in the entire world that I would rather be outnumbered with.

MY LB is amazing and just right for me and I will go to the ends of the Earth to show him how much I love him. Well, at least until the shock and trauma of this book wheres off. OH DREAD!

Miserable Monday #20

Do not pray for easy lives.

Pray to be stronger men!

Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers.

Pray for power equal to your tasks.

- Phillips Brooks

Oh I feel like this is becoming less about sharing the miserable love and in so doing helping you not to be miserable and becoming more about my weaknesses. I wish with all of my heart that this was a strength of mine and instead of sharing my lack I was sharing my experience and wealth in this area of prayer. -Quote John Bytheway- The happiest people pray early and often, while the miserable often postpone prayer to be used only as a last resort. -end quote.

MY LB and I have an unfaltering love for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As we teach the ideals of the Gospel to our children and the importance of keeping the commandments, choosing the right, reading scriptures, praying daily, following the prophet and preparing for the Temple I feel a tug at my heart. OK more like a YANK. It is telling me to listen to the things that I am teaching and understand. I wonder how and when my children's salvation became more important to me than my own.

-Quote Johnbytheway- Happy people stand tallest when they're on their knees, but the miserable haven't got a prayer. Wow is that the truth.

I do have a testimony of prayer and I know with all of my heart that my Heavenly Father hears me and helps me. So why don't I do it more often? When I see my Father in Heaven again I want to be able to say, "I know we just spoke last night but I have so much more to say to you". Starting with thank you, ask for some blessings and end with I am sorry. I want Him to really know me and know that I love Him.

I don't think it is any coincidence that one of my favorite scriptures is found in this miserable book. Here is the story... For some time (and still) I struggled with those early morning thoughts that cloud your mind and make you feel like you aren't good enough. There is so much more you could be doing that your aren't or there are things that you are completely neglecting. For some reasons they POP in my head and keep me awake in the wee hours of the morning. One Sunday a wonderful women in my ward was speaking in sacrament and mentioned these early morning thoughts and I thought HALLELUJAH I am not alone. I could possibly still be human. And then she did it, she gave me my weapon to defeat the thoughts and become stronger than them. She read this scripture; Romans 8:31 "if God be for us, who can be against us?" It was at that moment that I realized I was fighting a war against myself. I let Satan in and in so doing I became against myself. So if God is for me than why am I against me. It just doesn't make sense.

Now when I am lying in bed and the war inside my CRAZY head begins I just close my eyes and remember that God wants me to win at the game of life and I choose to win too. Not to beat myself up and focus on all of the things I lack but to say a prayer and as Johnbytheway puts it; "just knowing the Lord is there and watching over us is a great remedy for misery." -end quote.

Thanksgiving

I love when I get to busy to blog or to even sit down at my computer for that matter. It is a wonderful reminder to my all to "smug computer", YOU DON'T OWN ME. Ha ha ha ha HA!

Thanksgiving was so wonderful this year we were delightfully busy and happily STUFFED.

It started with a cafeteria lunch at the school (not to promising I know but it will get better) with my three kiddos. In all honesty I tried to talk the kids into letting me pick them up and go out to a restaurant. Unfortunately the school ice cream cups won the deal, but I must say the ice cream was tasty. PLUS, I guess the experience is important and it was Maggie's first Thanksgiving lunch at school. My mommyness is sliding a bit and convenience and good food is taking over.

The week of Thanksgiving MY LB was home all week and it was so good to have him home. The first day he woke up made breakfast and packed lunches. When I came down stairs he said, "It wouldn't be fair if you didn't get a bit of a vacation too." Isn't he great? Well we found out when you have two adults trying to get three kiddos off to school things get left behind. On Tuesday I had to drop off, Matthew's Trumpet, Spencer's homework and Maggie's folder. Two is better than one, right?

MY LB worked in his wood shop for most of his days (making a dollhouse, shhhh). I could tell he was LOVING it. He did take a timeout to go to lunch with Maggie, to watch a Barbie movie with Kendal and to spend time with me. He said multiple times that he loved being home with me and Kendal. I spent most of that week cleaning for our Thanksgiving guests. I wasn't trying to trick MY LB into thinking that I clean all day and NEVER sit down to the computer, I just had things I needed to get done. The tricking part was just a "bonus".

Thanksgiving day arrived and everything was wonderful. We went on a family hike, had a wonderful feast, played games, ate dessert and ended with some good quality WII time. I love spending time with family and taking the time out to be together. The kids had a great time with their cousins, Jeremiah was able to spend quality time with his parents and brothers, the kids also got grandma and grandpa time and I spent time with my sister in-law (who is great). We were also blessed to have the Missionaries over and I must say, they are NOT smarter then a fifth grader. It was a wonderful holiday.

Of course there was some Black Friday shopping. I was at Kohls at 3:20am and waited in line so I could run in grab what I wanted and run out in time to make it to Wal Mart for more sweet deals. This year I was not flying solo, love ya Lori, we had a crazy great time and saved a load of money. It was definitely team work!

Saturday my best friend from California and her family came to visit. We had such a great time reacquainting ourselves. We always have such a great time when we are together I just wish they lived closer. After letting the kids and the husbands with their RC cars play at the park we headed out for a no kids double date. It was AWESOME!



I hope Maggie and Olivia become great friends just like their mommy's.

AND LASTLY, our home is decorated for the holidays.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.