SHE'S ALMOST THERE!

I think Zoe's ready for the potty. The other day I got her little one out and she was so excited and went many times. She would go, walk away for 2 seconds and get back on. Olivia was attacking her toilet and getting involved in the training process. Her favorite part was wearing her "my little pony" panties. Hopefully soon. I can honestly say this is one of my least favorite parts of raising children. It's always hard!

BRAINWASHED

Ellie has struggled to decide what to be for Halloween. We were at Walmart and of ALL the costumes they had there, this is what she picked (it was titled BRAINWASHED). At first I tried to talk her out of it, but after a minute I thought, "What's the harm, it'll be hilarious". The funniest part to me is that a 5 year old GIRL would choose this (on the package it say's BOY's Medium). This is what makes her so great and what I love about her. Her quirkiness and disregard for what others think. It's great. So here's a pre-halloween preview of Ellie in her costume!

Okay, Amy tagged me and I'm givin in!

I am.............

*I am....laying in bed, watching Spongebob with my girls.
*I think....me and my kids are getting sick.
*I know....the church is true. (Serious) It's the first thing that came to my mind.
*I want.... more $, which is stupid I know, but true.
*I have....so many things to be grateful for.
*I miss.....Matt, he's on a hunting trip.
*I fear....dying or having my kids or Matt die. (even saying it scares me).
*I feel....grateful for all I have.
*I hear....Patrick and Spongebob arguing and Ellie and Zoe arguing.
*I smell....nothing.
*I crave....Parker's fries and a cheeseburger.
*I cry....all the freakin time. Over just about anything and everything. I think everyone I know has seen me cry at least once. Embarrassing.
*I search...for things I can win lately, sweepstakes, giveaways etc. Embarrassing, but I'm going to win something soon! (THE SECRET)
*I wonder....if Matt's going to kill me when he gets home and finds out I bought a car while he was gone, not a coat or an outfit, but yes a car!
*I regret....not traveling the world before I got married or before I had kids.
*I wish....I could sleep in until noon tomorrow.
*I love....my girls more than anything in the world.
*I care....about the election and who's going to win and what it's going to do to the future of our country.
*I always....get a Diet Coke in the morning. The healthy highlight of my days.
*I worry....about this economic crisis we're in and about getting enough food storage.
*I am not....even close to the same weight I was 3 months ago and am so mad at myself for it.
*I remember.... how relaxing life was before kids and how I miss those days, but wouldn't trade them for anything.
*I believe....life is hard and we have challenges for a reason, to shape us and make us who we are and make us stronger.
*I sing....in the car when I'm alone - loud, but when my kids are with me Ellie begs me not too. rude.
*I am not always.... the kind of mom I want or need to be. I always want to do better.
*I argue....that being a mom is the hardest job on earth and way harder than just going to work everyday. (Matt agrees)
*I write....notes to remind myself about everything and on my blog. Need to start writing in a journal.
*I lose.... weight and gain it right back. Wondering when I'm going to learn how to maintain.
*I listen....to other people's problems a lot and am exhausted sometimes and don't want to hear anymore.
*I don't understand....how if something makes you so unhappy, it's so hard to stop doing it.
*I can usually be found.... at Target (or out and about. I can't stay home for long, I start to go crazy).
*I need....to stay home more and stop shopping. I need to start reading my scriptures daily. I need to set a better example for my kids and those around me. I need to do lots of things.
*I forget....what is really important in life and get caught up in things that don't really matter.
*I am happy....when I'm productive, exercising and taking care of myself and my family, and doing what's right.

I'm tagging everyone on my bloglist. If your name is on there, you better do this!

I GUESS GOOGLE DOESN'T ANSWER EVERYTHING!

Ellie and I were having a conversation about Eskimo's for some reason yesterday. I was telling her that sometimes it doesn't get light for days on end where they live and we were discussing how awful it would be. She was asking questions that I didn't know the answers to and I said, we'll have to GOOGLE it. She asked what that meant and I told her that Google is on the computer and it will answer any question you have. After a brief moment she said, "Awesome, so we can google how Heavenly Father was born when he was the only person on the earth". I can say I was stumped. I told her we'll have to wait and Google that in Heaven". It was so cute of her. How does she think of this stuff?

Happy 33rd Birthday Matt!!!

Matt turned 33 on Friday, September 12th. I just wanted to tell him how much I love him and how I know I'm impatient and not so nice sometimes, but I do love and appreciate him so much. He works so hard to support and provide for our family, all while going to school, spending time with us and being a great father to Ellie and Zoe. He is so good to them and they love him so much!!!!! He has so many great qualities....

Kind

Smart

Caring

Compassionate

Funny

Real

Honest

Hard Working

etc. etc.

We love you Matt!

My Little Citizen

Ellie has earned her first "Citizenship Award". She came home from school with her gold metal, pencil and Wendy's Frosty gift certificate. She had no idea why she got it, but said her teacher did say "she noticed the other kids were running through the hall and Ellie was walking and behaving like she should". She's Awesome and loving school. It's so fun!!!!

So Thankful for Friends!!!!!

So I had an epiphany today at work (I'll spare the details, but it was somewhat of a painful one) but my great friend Kat was there to share it with me, or should I say, there to listen to me cry my eyes out and be my therapist. She has a way of making me feel good about myself and appreciate life. She is really amazing! I have shared so much with her and deeply miss our runs, which were therapeutic in more ways than one. I feel so blessed to have so many people I call friends, who are always there to listen to me, support me, offer assistance etc. etc. etc. I truly don't know where I'd be without you. I can't imagine not having my sisters or friends to talk to, sometimes 2-3 times a day. I love you all and am so grateful for you!!!!!

TUB TIME

Greg, Kels and Olivia came over and it was time for the girls bath. They wanted "ibby's" to get in with them so bad. These pics were too cute not to post. (How cute does Zoe look?)

CRAZY HAIR DAY!

It was crazy hair day at school today for Ellie and she was so excited! You should have seen some of the other kids. Where do these mom's come from?

HAPPY 16TH BIRTHDAY ALEX!

Happy sweet 16 (really) to my sister Alex (wow we're only 17 years apart). She's the greatest. I love hanging out with her and her friends, they're hilarious! She's such a good, nice, humble, kind person and I look up to and admire her in so many ways! She's so beautiful, inside and out. My kids love her to death and I'm sure will want to be just like her when they get older. Love you Alex!!! (just some pics of us celebrating her B-Day! - Ellie felt the need to go downstairs and make her hair crazy for the party?????)

The Mask!

Ellie got some new pajamas (spongebob of course) and they came with one of those eye mask things - I don't even know what they are called. Well she was so excited about it and put it on before going to bed and I was sure she'd have it off within seconds but she didn't. She fell dead asleep with it on and Matt and I were laughing so hard. I went into her room in the middle of the night and it had come down around her neck. For fear, she'd choke in the night I took it off and she was livid with me the next morning. She made me "pinkie swear" I wouldn't do it again!

LABOR DAY @ PINEVIEW

Every Labor Day we go to Fairview with my Dad's side of the family and camp in trailors, play crazy golf, do some gambling, ride 4-wheelers etc. It's always so much fun. The girls had a blast and were busy and entertained the whole time.

Ellie's 1st day of Kindergarten

I can't believe summer is really over and Ellie has already started Kindergarten. (I'm late on my posts because I lost my camera and just got a replacement). Ellie is lovin school and is exhibiting more independence by the day. She did not want me to sign up to do anything with her class and said, "I'm going to do kindergarten by myself". OUCH!!! She also said on her first day (which i took off from work), you don't need to walk me to school, Dad will. I took her to her assessment and went to work and cried to all my co-workers, but surprisingly enough her first day of kindergarten I did really well and it's been okay. I guess I'll survive this afterall.

IS SUMMER REALLY OVER?????

I can't believe summer is really over. We had such a great summer and the kids have played non-stop. It's been so much fun. I can't even think about the winter yet! AARRGGHHH!!!! Here's a few great pics of the kids - Ike and Zoe doing each others hair! HILARIOUS!!

Nick

Okay, I had to make a post out of my step-brother Nick's comment re: my previous post. HILARIOUS!!!!! Thanks Nick! Matt even laughed (quite hard) when he read it:

why can't i picture matt being sad and wanting to talk about his feelings? i mean maybe I'm way off on this one but when he and I are having our heart to hearts, and he's got a little misty eye and lip quiver going on and he tenderly touches my shoulder as if to say "don't worry, everything is going to be ok"....................... see you couldn't picture it either huh! MAD LOVE MATT!!!! Let's go kill some racoons and skin 'em and make some hats!

Ellie is my little thinker. Hilarious things come out of this. This was our conversation today......

Ellie: Hey mom, aren't you a social worker?
Me: Yeah.
Ellie: I HAVE THE BEST IDEA!!!!!!
Me: What?
Ellie: When dad is sad and needs to talk about his feelings, you can help him and when your sick Dad can help you cause he's a nurse!!!!!!

So funny and quite insightful on my little genius' part. No I'm not a biased mother?

LOVING THE OLYMPICS!!!!!

I am addicted to and loving loving loving the Olympics. I record all of them and watch every night for hours and hours. I've jumped on the Michael Phelps bandwagon and when the U.S. Team won the 400 meter relay I fought back tears. Not to mention that Aaron Peirsol, may be the key reason I'm watching the men's swimming (take me away and lose me forever)! Loving the gymnastics and can't wait for the triathalons and track. Sarah Haskins (pictured) is my idol. She's 27 years old and is ranked 2nd best female in America! I want to be her someday!!!!

ZOE - Our Little Potty Mouth

Okay, so I have to write this. Zoe's at the age where she's constantly saying "Watch Me". Well, I don't know how or why but her "Watch" sounds exactly like the "F" word. So painful. She's jumping on the bed, saying "Mom, watch, Dad Watch" over and over and over. I couldn't figure out for the longest time what she was saying, but Ellie "Zoe's interpreter" says simply, like duh, she's saying "Watch me". It's hard not to laugh and it makes her so mad because she just wants you to watch her. At the pool yesterday with Amy, she kept telling Amy to "watch her" and Amy could not stop laughing. Sweet thing, we're working on it!!!! (Do you love the full diaper picture - her booty was so huge - hilarious)

PERFECT SUMMER DAY!!!!

Today has been what every summer day should be. I got up early, mowed the lawn (don't love that part), got the slide up and Julie, Amy's kids, Marsh, Kelsey and Alex all came over. We hung out, the kids played, ate Parker's for lunch and did nails. Ellie and Jane rode their bikes a ton and in the evening Julie and I sat on her porch and watched the kids play for hours. Ike and Zoe dug in the dirt and actually didn't beat each other, which is noteworthy. We ate popcicles and enjoyed every minute of it. (I even got my house cleaned, somewhere in between in all). Today is what every summer day should be like!!!!

ELLIE'S ON A 2 WHEELER!!!!!

Ellie and her best friend Jane, learned to ride their bikes the same day. It was so great and has been the best thing ever. First thing in the morning, I hear her get out of bed, put her clothes on and come and ask if she can ride her bike. I took a bunch of pictures and set my camera on the bumper of the truck and later drove away. Needless to say, the stinkin camera is gone, so thanks to Julie for taking these of Ellie. She had her first crash today, but I was so proud when she wanted to get right back on! I told her how when Marsh and I were little, we'd put milk cartons with a small hole in the bottom on our bikes and fill them with water. Someone would be the gas person and we'd ride around until we ran out and then come back for a fill up. We'd do this all day long. Of course, her and Jane immediately wanted it done, so with water bottles I concocted a similar set up. They loved it!