Valentine Ideas Wanted

Well, I don't need Valentines Day ideas becuase I already have it all planned out. But do you? While I said I have it all planned out, don;t you go thinking "Wow... if only I could be like her..." becuase of a few reasons 1: You really would not being saying that if you knew me
2: I cheat and take others ideas.. you know, the creative talent type people
3: My recent conversations went something like this
       Teen girl: I hate Valentines Day!
       Teen girl at heart (me): I hear ya sistah'! I don't like it much either.
       Teen girl: Whatever. YOOUUU have a husband.
       Teen girl at heart (me): Yes. I do. But I think its silly for a person to demonstrate acts of love on a single day. It should be year 'round.
        Teen girl: Yeah! You're right. That's why I don't like Valentines day.

Although I SAID that and although I do BELIVE it, I can't help myself. Reasons to celebrate are my drug of choice. So, if YOU are finding it hard to think of something, here are some pictures and I hope the link works.

I am a little on the obsessive blog stalker of the line about this website. Here is why

4 ideas that are EASY from here

My Husband Rocks...night duty

This is my first of many posts of why mu husband rocks. Want to jump on board? Read more here. And also see how to get a great deal on the shirts I mentioned.

"And as an added bonus . . . . if you make a From*me Tees purchase (of at least two items) on Fridays as part of this "carnival," From*me Tees has generously offered to refund your shipping charges if you mention my blog and the "my husband rocks Fridays carnival" during checkout at the "how did you hear about us" reply link!" Taken from the post here
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I am a SAHM mom because my husband and I want it that way. I once would reply to those who asked what I did "oh, I just stay at home." I was corrected once on that  and have since changed my response to "I work within the home." The woman who corrected me I have never met again but she responded that being a mom and staying home to raise your child is THE HARDEST JOB. And it is a LOT of WORK Amen sister.

Now, being a SAHM of a (as in single) toddler, one would think I have lots of time. Lots of time to cook, clean etc. Hmmm... I agree. However, that is not the case. Even right now I know that my toddlers room is strewn with toys and all of her once folded in the drawer clothes. As I speak, she is sitting on my lap and just pulled to the ground a STACK if papers. (I'll get them later, this is important). And I know for a fact all my tampons have been pulled out from under the sink. At least this time she kept them out of the toilet.

So, I am a busy woman cleaning up and chasing and most importantly PLAYING with my toddler.   I do manage to take a little nap almost daily, I am able to spend time getting ready for the day and I do find time to get something more than Mac and Cheese or Top Ramen on the table... well, most nights at least.

Mu husband works so I can stay at home. He gets up at 6:30am and is home by 5:30pm. He dresses in the semi-darkness to not wake me up and is sure to close every door very quietly. He makes sure we pray every morning though, I admit, I am asleep during most of it.

All these are great reasons for why I have such a wonderful husband. But as I was in and out of dreamland last night, it hit me. HE is the one getting up to take care of our toddler. She is in a toddler bed and has recently been rolling out. She also will wake up from a bad dream (we think) and cry and scream and HE is the one who gets out of bed to hold her and to cuddle with her. And where am I you ask? Isn't that the Mom job? Good question.

I'm not quite sure when it happened but I can not get the toddler to go back to sleep. I used to be the one who could do it. Not anymore. After multiple and continued attempts, the husband stepped in and ...wallah! It worked! HE could get her to sleep! Thus, my rockin husband, who has to commute and work every day gets up all through the night whenever there is a prolonged cry from the next room over. He is self-appointed night duty guard and I remain enjoying my dreamland adventure. I know, I got a good one.

Please purchase a medium

As mentioned here and here, I can not get enough of this site and of the idea of "My Husband Rocks" Fridays inspired by The Great Adventures

http://www.union28.net/  You can buy yours at the link over there. And while you are at it, please get me a Medium, McKay and Large, and Jaed a Medium as well. PS- My husband TOTALLY is the VERY BEST

Apparently Anger is not a good thing

"The inspiring influence of the Holy Spirit can be overcome or masked by strong emotions, such as anger, hate, passion, fear, or pride. When such influences are present, it is like trying to savor the delicate flavor of a grape while eating a jalapeño pepper. Both flavors are present, but one completely overpowers the other. In like manner, strong emotions overcome the delicate promptings of the Holy Spirit."
Richard G. Scott, "To Acquire Spiritual Guidance," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 8


This is what was in my inbox this morning from Daily Gems. And so I will try to have a good day today and if I am not, then I will at least be happy and not get upset. Anyone else think that God works in mysterious ways?

Oh to be 5 again

If I could pick any age to be, I think I may choose 5. My niece is 5 and she can do and say just about anything and it is still cute.

My sister had her golden birthday yesterday. Her hubby celebrated by having a surprise dinner at this great El Salvador-ian place. There was Papusa's, Horchata, other things I can't spell or pronounce including Iguana.

So this is the place. Thanks Brother Brigham for the token phrase

and my sis Tia. Happy Birthday! Love the jacket

Anna-Lisa and her sundae, me and my ice cream.. more on that in a moment, and Tia and her treat. Whoa, for a second I couldn't tell where her hand and my hand was. 

And my ice cream. And the reason I would like to be 5 again. What is it you ask... well. It is a two scoop ice cream cone in a cup. Flavors? PINK bubble gum and Icing Birthday Party Cake something-or-other

The conversation went something like this with the teen ice cream scooper guy

Me: So many choices! Can I taste that one? Oh, and that one too please

BR Guy: Yep. Here you go

Me: Yuck. That's gross. And that's not bad. I'll take those two please (point to the two I did not yet try)

BR Guy: These two?

Me: Yes Please. And feel free to put extra in if you'd like. I get the buy one scoop get the second for .99 right? 

BR Guy: {adds in extra a swear it!} Yep

Me: Oh good. Because it's my sisters birthday today. {point to sister} and my no sweets diet starts tomorrow {it seems to always start tomorrow}

BR Guy: Happy Birthday

Tia: Thanks

BR Guy: Ok Ma'am (that means I am old} Here you go. 

Me: Can I get a come in top too please 

BR Guy: {this lady is like a 5 year old} [that's my input. not his]

Me: Oh! This is just a slice of heaven. I guess I meant to say a scoop. Can you take our picture please?

Happy Birthday Sis! And be sure to buckle your bass.

Oh why have you been hiding from me?

You all know how I feel about FB. And yet it seems there is no way to escape it. What I mean is that these lovely pictures below were taken with by little sister. And I had to go onto her FB page to get it. GRRRR!
But, on the upside, these little gems are now longer being kept hidden from me.

Check out this one for instance. Cute Mason with his even cuter uncle McKay... although this is a particularly strange face he is making

And this little girl spent as much time as she could outside playing in this car. Her mom should take more care of her. This girl would go and sit inside of the car when it was full of water from the winter rains. What kind of mom lets their daughter do that?!

And these are my sisters. This is in in real life. We laugh. And we laugh a lot. This picture is capturing us laughing at our dad and his "amazing" picture taking skills. 

oh there we are. Much more dignified. Except my head looks extra large. Like a mushroom. Its the hat. I promise.

I am a real mom.

I have always joked that I am not a real mom yet. Yes, you may smile and you may even guffaw at this. (I am sure that is a real word). But as of the wee hours of Sunday morning dawned, I was inducted into real mom-hood.
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I know. I became a mother at 2:33am on September 12, 2007. I spent 9 miserable months feeding and nurturing this other living soul inside of me. I went into the hospital as one person and left as two. And still, I was not a real mom.
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I nursed and nursed and loved it. I changed diapers that had exploded but it was the cute infant poop that is my breast milk to begin with. I would sing and rock and stay up all night trying to get her to sleep. I have cried and wondered "What am I doing?!" and then looked down upon this particularly beautiful sleeping baby and wonder "How did I get to be so blessed?" But still, I was not a real mom.
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I was not a real mom because I still did basically whatever I wanted to. We went on an almost two week trip to Scotland when she was 6 months old. We have traveled to New Orleans, Vegas, Hoover Dam, Utah, California and all the other big cities in Texas with this charming child.
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And then I noticed people would say "Yes Ma'am" or "Here you go Ma'am" or "Excuse me Ma'am". I would think. Weird. I am a Ma'am now. When did that happen?
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Coming back from Christmas the little darling completely and entirely puked. Why? Well, I made what I like to call a "stupid-mom-move". I gave a recovering from sickness toddler a full bottle of milk. Why? because she was thirsty. And That's what I had. I am passing out "free appetizer" cards to P.F. Change to the Dad and two boys behind us who got her second-time-up milk on their packs and the was-sleeping man next to me to pacify the situation. Luckily, they were all very very kind and very helpful. As she is heaving all of this just drank milk up and out, a little voice sounding something akin to my own mothers says "milk+sick baby=BAD". The dad I mentioned seemed not to mind. He must be a real dad I think. But I am not a real mom. I am getting closer though. Puke on the plane is most assuredly one step closer. It has to be. Thats what I kept telling myself as I tried to feel embarrassed but mostly really tired and now, really wet.
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Then it happened. Almost 17 months into this adventure of motherhood it happened. For a week or so now Jaed has been off her bottle. She has been in her own bed for months. And she has been sleeping through the night for months. On a typical morning, I sleep in until 9. I am not a real mom yet so I can do that. She is up earlier but she is content  to play until I can rise up from my cozy, warm cocoon. What a good girl I think to myself each morning. However, this morning was different. And oh how I wish I had pictures.

You see, I woke up at 8 and thought we would spend the morning playing and make breakfast for McKay while letting him sleep in. I open the door and knwo what will await me. My doll of a daughter. She holds her hands and smiles real big and makes this sound that reminds me of a monkey but... what is that smell?!!!

My eyes get big as it dawns on me. I open the door even more and survey the scene. Jaed who had run to the door turns around and it is confirmed. POOP! EVERWHERE!

Yes, I am a real mom. I laughed when I saw this scene of brown before me. And my sweet girl was so good to just hold her hands and not play in it as I have heard of kids doing. It was on her three blankets. It was on her play rug. It was on a few toys and a certain stuffed chimpunk. It was on every part of her lower body.
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So much for playing and breakfast. But we will stilllet daddy sleep in. Becuase now, I am a real mom. I can do this. And I can even laugh about this in the moment. Bring it on toddler. You have met your match. I hope.