Several Ways to Avoid the Winter Blahs

I love the winter! I really do! I enjoy beautiful clean snow, I love playing in it, driving in it, or even snuggling inside to avoid going out in it. After living with it my whole life, I almost don't know if I could live without snow. The problem is that by February I am sick of it! I really start getting home-ophobic. I get teary eyed just thinking about washing another dish, vacuuming another crumb, or folding another dang pair of pants. But last week I think I have found the solution. That's right. This blog is more than just eye candy, helpful hits are distributed when available. :) The key is to see how many projects and activities you can accomplish in one week. Now, I'm not guaranteeing it will work for you, but I have found success with this method. Here's what I did...

1. Spend an entire day doing fun things with a fun friend.
Last Monday Natalie and I took the kids to the Tree House museum. We had a fun day chatting while the kids had a grand time exploring, creating and using their imaginations. Every once in a while we were found helping them explore, create and imagine, but mostly we just chatted. Fun for all!

I love this picture. Isn't this a little how school really is?

2. Start New Projects. (Ones that require many people to help and that the final product will result in many compliments are ideal.)
My Friend Elise is a very talented in the home decor arena. Just recently she painted a wall in her kitchen to look like a real rock wall. It looked awesome! I loved it so much I begged her to paint a wall in my kitchen too. This has been fun! Although, I feel a little guilty since she is doing it all while I watch. I just can't really help while she works her magic. I am loving it!


The other project was inspired by Natalie. She had decided to reupholster a chair she had, and it motivated me to start adding the touches I had been wanting to my couch. It has been a bigger pain than I expected. I do feel a little sorry for all of the listening ears who have had to hear me talk about my fabric issues. (Thanks friends!)

(A Sneak Peak)

3. Throw a PAR-TAY!
Natalie has started a new book club in the neighborhood. I got to be the first "host" for our initial event. We had a good turn out. To my surprise we actually talked about the book for quite a while. ( This in comparison the a previous book club I had been in where the book was discussed for about five minutes before we moved onto other subjects.) I don't know where people find the time to read all of the books we discussed. Maybe I should spend less time on the computer to make time for other hobbies. Maybe...

This is the book we read this month. I give it about a 2 out of 5 star rating.

4. Go to a happy, light hearted movie with friends
I got to have another night out. Yippee. Some friends and I went to see...

It was so cute and fun! Nothing like a happy, fun movie with friends to send any blues running down the river.

4. Make Ordinary Tasks Exciting.
I have been trying to do Grocery Smarts for the past several months. The idea is that you use coupons on top of a sale, stock up, and save lots of money. It actually has been going quite well. Albertsons was having a big sale and Natalie and I decided to hit the store the day the add came out to actually get some of the items in the add because they go fast. We went late after the movie and had the store and cashier to ourselves. Natalie is the type of person that can become best friends with someone in about one minute. This is what she did with our cashier. So Martin, Natalie and I had a great time! We also got TONS of food for hardly any money. Nothing like a good deal to make you happy! We both left with a new perspective on grocery shopping. We had no idea it could be so much fun.

5. If any sun comes out, soak it up!
We actually had a couple of warm days this week. As soon as the sun came out we went to feed the ducks. Tyli can't get enough of the ducks. We were babysitting Ethan Thursday so he came with us. Stacy and the girls also came. Feeding the ducks is always more fun with friends. After Stacy treated me to lunch. She is so sweet. She is doing her part to lift my spirits! She is one of those amazing people that can make a simple lunch a gourmet meal in about five minutes. I felt like I had dined at a five star restaurant. Thanks Stacy!


6. Become a Ute Fan.
I live by some hard core Ute fans. Really hard core! They even go out vandalizing/decorating BYU fans homes in the middle of the night before a big rivalry game. (It really was more like decorating because it looked so cute!) Jon and I just don't really get the Ute or BYU passion since neither of us attended either school. Jon figures if he likes both teams he gets to watch twice as much sports. (Not always a good thing!) I just always feel bad for the loosing team so you'll always know who I'll be rooting for. On Friday, my friend Laura took us to the gymnastics event. We had so much fun!I really did catch a little bit of Ute fever. First of all, red really is a happy, fun color. Second, can you really go wrong cheering with a bunch of other fans? Third, a band and a theme song really are some of my loves in life.
The girls had the best time. Madi adores Christian and Elisabeth. Tyli loved every minute! She was even trying some of her own moves by the end of the night. We had a blast!

What can I say. They make a great Ute couple. :)

Go Utes!

Madi love dancing and cheering with Elisabeth.

Tyli loved clapping with the crowds!

Ty also love trying the many different gymnast moves. She loves this stuff!

7. Make yourself beautiful.
Since I can't do my own hair, I have to do my kids hair. This is a new one for Tyli.


8. Last, but not least, look for the good in all things.
After such a full week, I just couldn't help but be grateful for all that I have. I am so blessed. I know that if I try to focus on the good in my life, maybe the down times might be bearable. I just try to hold on to those "I love my life moments" hoping they get me through the "I hate my life" times.

Now it's your turn. Tell me your secrets to making it through the winter blahs. Please do share.

The Best Husband Ever!

You are probably thinking one of two things right now. You might be asking yourself what Jon did to deserve a title like that or you are thinking that I am completely mistaken because you, yourself, have the best husband ever. Just like you may have the "cutest kid ever" or the "best mom ever." But I really do have the best husband ever.

It started with the perfect Valentine's Day this year. It may have taken Jon fourteen years to figure it out, but I think he has finally mastered the day. (Congratulations Babe!) We had the funnest day snowboarding at Snowbasin. There was so much snow!! It was incredible. For someone who has never experienced what "Utah Powder" is, you are really missing out! Imagine floating down a hill where you feel like you are touching nothing but moving all the same. It is the best feeling ever. The term powder really is an accurate adjective because that is exactly what it feels like you are floating on. Unfortunately powder does come with some disadvantages, like say, when you get stuck in three feet of it on a flat area and can't move. Or if you fall over in three feet of it you'll get a real workout trying to get back up. Or if you have to hike through it. It's during these times that you are cursing powder. Then on the next run down you might have the perfect floating experience and fall in love all over again. I hadn't ridden in such deep snow for so long I almost forgot how. It was the perfect day all the same. (OK, minus the few blizzardy moments and flat light.)

It was so funny because we rode up the lift twice with people we knew. Once with one of my preschool student's mom, Amelia, and once with an old friend that Jon and I went to school with, Natalie. So random!

That night Jon reserved the Honeymoon Sweet at a the Red Moose Lodge. It was beautiful and very romantic! The best part...sleeping in and no kids! Nothing makes you feel rejuvenated like a little r&r.
So you might think that this single experience is why Jon deserves the title "Best Husband Ever" but it doesn't end there.

So I had had enough of my couches. Water stains, pen marks, dirt spots. Yuck! And they are impossible to clean. I had been wanting to give them a make over for some time. With some encouragement from my friend Natalie Iwent for it. I started with my ottoman and it turn out pretty great. To my surprise Jon loved it. Now in all my years of projects I don't recall Jon ever being as excited or happy as he was about this ottoman. Either way, I loved it! What can I say? Little things make me happy.

There is more! Then on Tuesday I was having a book club group at my house. Jon came home from work, helped me clean and get everything ready, then watched the girls all night. Pretty nice! On Wednesday night I had an invitation to see a movie with some friends. With Jon's encouragement I decided to go. As if babysitting to nights in a row wasn't nice enough, I came home to a completely clean house, kids bathed and asleep and even two baskets of laundry put away and more going through the wash. Seriously! It was amazing!

But really what makes Jon the best husband ever is that he does this for me all of the time! I honestly can't remember the last time I gave the girls a bath because he always does it. He is always willing to lend me a hand no matter how tired he is from his long day. He is amazing with the girls and sings to them each night at bed time. He is willing to do whatever I want. He even takes up new sports because I am interested in them. But even more than this is the kindness he always shows each of us. He is honest, loving, hardworking, funny and strong. (That last one might be lame but I love to know that he'll still be able to carry me to the car if I weigh 300 pounds and I'm on my death bed. You never know, it could happen.;)) I love him so much! He really truly is THE BEST HUSBAND EVER!

Handmade: From Me to You

My cute friend Kathleen had this posted on her blog. I thought it sounded like fun! Now what to make....

The deal:
The first 5 people to respond to this post will receive something made by me. To you! It will be my choice and made especially for you. Just so we’re on the same page, here are . . .

The details:
No guarantees you will feel absolute true love, but possibly happiness, fervor, or chocolate.
What I create will be just for you.
It will be done sometime this year.
You have no clue what it will be… it may be a story. Maybe poetry. (Well, probably not either of those.) I may draw or paint something. Most likely sew or create something. I may bake something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you! That’s for sure.
I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The fine print (which is actually the same size, but whatever):
You must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on their blog. When you get your lovely homemade goods from me, post a picture on your blog so I know my love arrived without a hitch.

Madi's Imagination

Madison has an amazing imagination! She loves to create, design, draw, color, and build things. She loves to do it and is constantly creating something. Her favorite designs come from garbage. (Don't worry, it's clean.) I am running into fascinating things all over the house. I'll leave a room for five minutes and return to find some new masterpiece. Here are some of her most recent projects...








Madi also love to make things with paper. She loves to cut out things, draw, and she loves to make books.

Madi really wants to go to Chuck E. Cheese's. She made this collage and hung it on the fridge as a reminder for me.

This is a picture and "mom and dad" making dinner. "Mom is the one in the dress."

This is a beautiful page that she made with her Dora stickers. Unfortunately, Tyli has become so obsessed with Dora that we had to remove this picture from the fridge. Every time she saw she would then want to watch a show of "Dowa and Poot".

This is a book that Madi made at church. She draws the pictures then tapes them together herself. The last page was a list of treats she likes. She is definitely my daughter. :)

Madi's imagination lights up our lives. Daily we are laughing about something she did or made. We love it!

My First Official "Unofficial" Photo Shoot

I have a best friend that I've had since I was five. Pretty amazing, I know. I can even brag that we really have been very close during all of that time, and even still hang out and talk all of the time. Pretty incredible! Her little brother, Tate, was recently married and I went to take some "snapshots" of the wedding lunch. I had so much fun. They are the cutest couple!

I love black and white pictures, especially for weddings. It is just so classic. So here a just a few pictures in my version of the "Black and White Story".