Why did no one tell me this...

Have you ever had those moments when you think you should have known something that everyone seems to know about. But you were never told. Ahhhh, I had one of those moments today. Why has no one ever told me about...

1. A 13 yr old girl can be really sassy, yet can also be your best friend.

2. Even when little boys are trying to be tough, they are the sweetest most sensitive little men.

3. Never lick a metal pole when it is really cold outside. ( haha I never did that but saw it ouch)

4. No matter who much you tell them children will still put clean laundry in the dirty pile.
5. If there is no rest for the wicked, and the righteous are always working. I'm always in either way going to be tired.
6. Rice pudding is so good. I'm totally addicted.
7. Motherhood is very hard. Would I change it for the world? Never
8. Taking a bubble bath really does wonders.
9.  Family is closest thing to heaven. Even if they do drive you bonkers.
10.You can do anything you really put your mind to.

One thing that I just loved today was the finding of this wonder little nugget of gold. A wonderful blog ( well I have stalked her for awhile now), that links to this beauty right here. I'm just amazed that no one told me about this. I'm excited to read some of the books they link up. The articles, that seem to inspire women to do their very best. Not what someone else or society says is the best.

I'm inspired by the Mommy retreats. How I would love to have a group of my favorite moms come together and help lift, teach, laugh and cry with. I would love that, I would come away with just a great feeling. There is so much to learn from each other, we have so much to share. Why did no one tell me about this. I love it. I know that maybe this with other things in my life that I'm striving to do better with will get me to the top of that mountain that I so want to climb. I'm yearning to gaze down from the peak and see the great creations for what they are. To see them from the true perspective that they were made for. Then in turn, help pull those around me up so they too may become breathless at the glory and beauty of all that there is. I'm so excited, I pray that I will continue my excitement even when in the deepest trenches of motherhood.

The dreaded BUDGET!

Well I thought that I had everything in control today. My ship was sailing very smoothly along the sea of life. The breeze gentle and sweet as it pushed my little vessel closer to serenity, being lulled into a false sense of peace. Oh, how the sea of life is fickle. I opened my eyes and realized that I was in the middle of a horrible storm. I was being tossed like a toy boat in a bathtub of very exuberant children. I was on the edge of drowning.

 I am the worst at keeping a budget. No I should really say that I can have a budget, I just don't stick to the budget. I have tried so many different ways of staying on task, always being ahead of the game. But alas the game changes ( ok really it doesn't but it makes me feel better). New players are added and I'm still in the corner trying to figure out the rules. I scream "UNCLE", I don't like this game, I want out. Why can't we just get everything we want? Why do I have to save, to watch were my money goes ( usually down in the belly of the Zoo animals), and suffer defeat after every shopping trip. I always come home from grocery shopping feeling beaten. Those darn sale racks at Target, they get me every time. ( like the cute blue skirt I just picked up, oh drat there's my problem)

There are sooooo many things in this world that I would love to have. But I  must try to  be a good steward of the blessings given. I wish that there was some magic potion, or maybe a money dance. An app ( oh there is probably one for that, I would just forget to use it), a club that would follow me around and whack me on the head when thinking of going over budget. An easy fix. But as we all know life is not easy. Money is a wild beast that needs to be tamed or it will eat you alive.

 

 

So the plan is that I will work my very hardest to keep the beast at bay. I will put my all into keeping my budget. I will, I will, I will. ( Until the next trip to Target, they will have shoes on sale! HAHA)

I'm going to win this twisted game if it is the last thing that I do.

I was as shocked as you to find this little puppy hiding in my wallet. Isn't that a bummer when finding a $1.00 in your wallet makes you happy. Probably 'cause it does not happen very often in my purse. Hip Hip Hooray!



Daddy Warbucks Birthday!

Daddy Warbucks birthday is usually a day that gets eaten up in the daily running of life. He works all day, supporting his family, then comes and helps take care of the house. So today we gave Daddy a special day. He still had to work but we tried to give him what he really wanted. A tidy clean house ( with 5 zoo animals, it is really hard to keep things tidy yikes) and a delicious meal that would warm his heart.

Our family tradition is that on the day of the birthday the birthday boy/girl gets to pick what is for dinner. It can be anything. One birthday we had a pancake bar, and another we went to McDonald's. ( Yup the child wanted fries!). This is what Daddy Warbucks picked. A dish made for him while he was on his mission. Chicken Couscous! ( good thing he bought me a french cookbook)

 

 

I felt so french as I went to the supermarket ( ok that part is not very french) to pick out my fresh ingredients. I even dressed for the occasion. A striped black and white shirt, scarf, skinny jeans, and red lips. ( I know only missing the beret). Anyway the ingredients look so lovely and welcoming. They call out come and eat me.

 

The spices alone I could have eaten on their own. It looked so festive for fall the colours the aroma. Oh my, my house smelled like heaven. ( not that I really know what that smells like.)

 

Of course like any good french dish, there is butter. Oh glorious butter. Everything is better with butter. It just melts so smoothly and looks like gold. How could this dew from heaven be so bad. Oh my friends, butter is glorious.

 

Sorry just a cooking picture. Oh look at all the spices, the butter the fresh chicken. If I had the ability to blog smells you too would be in heaven with me.

 

This is why the french can use so much butter. Look at all the vegetables that they use. And not just your usual suspects. Leeks!!! I have never cooked with a  leek, my world has changed.

 

 

Dinner is served!

 

 Daddy Warbucks said that it was one of his best birthdays that he ever had. The house was clean, ( thank you my little Zoo), dinner was amazing ( thank you the french nation), and the company excellent ( thank you well, me haha). We had fun, ate by candle light until it got too dark that we could not see our food, spoke what little french that we know. Daddy Warbucks thought it was pretty entertaining since he is fluent, ate our amazingly delicious dinner with bread and cheese on the side and listened to french music in the background.

Best Birthday Ever.

( I have a feeling I just set the bar a little too high for next year, oh drat!)

Ahhhh!

 

Halloween in done. Phew, it's hard getting ready for Halloween. Kids getting costumes ready then at the last minute changing ideas. ( urg, I hate when then they do that, I'm sure that's the way my mom felt). Ok where were we, right the changing of costumes last minute, then the face painting. Don't get me wrong I do like doing that part, but getting it off is a bear. So let's say costumes are done, ( but we all know that there is going to be a last, last minute change, happens every year). Then buying the candy. Yikes!!!! This is the part that I really hate. The reason I hate this part is because.... I end up having absolutely no self control. I eat so much candy. I know I admit it I have a Halloween candy addiction. The problem is that this candy isn't really even the good candy..

 

 

( This used to be over flowing, and I wont tell you how many times it was filled)

 So by the time the big Trick or Treat day arrives, I have already eaten almost my weight in candy. Now are you getting why I think Halloween is so hard. Let's not even get started on decorating the house. That's a totally different post that I don't think I want to write. Only so many skeletons from my closet come out on this blog.

But by the time the nigh has ended, I'm glad that we go through all the headache and toothaches. The Zoo had so much fun. Trout was getting kind of old for the trick or treating so she walked with the littles and the littles friends around the community. She was a great big helper. Monster got to go out with his buddies. He had so much fun and figured out a system on how to get as much candy as he possibly could. He ran the whole time. Daddy Warbucks and I got to sit with some good friends in the driveway and handed out candy. The night was filled with ghosts and ghouls, princesses and fairies, some tricks ( more treats for me, I know I have a problem) and lots of laughter. Look forward to next year.

 

 

Now time for Thanksgiving and of course Christmas!!

Sorry took a break.

  Sorry, took a break for a while. I'm going to say that I conscientiously took the break but lets be honest. Because that is what I do here. I totally didn't blog. Sorry. But I did have great photo opportunities and tried so hard to get the pictures but I can't find my battery charger for my camera. I left it on and now battery dead. Yikes. So you will just have to imagine what it was like in our home. BUSY!

With all the activities that the "Zoo" is part of, man it keeps me at the gas station on regular intervals. I should probably just have a spot reserved just for me. Sheesh!

My In-laws just left and the house has been really quite. Bug is wondering around looking for something to do. Grandma read to her for a whole month ( yes, at least someone is.). Played Candyland,( you all know how much I loooove that game). And just generally showered the little one with as much love as a little person can hold. The rest of the kids mourn their leaving but they have things that they have to get doing so there is really no longing like the Bug, who is all alone with her mom. Boring!

Other then that, nothing else really happened. Trunk or Treat was on Saturday and all the kids, ( including the ones over 18) had fun. There were some really good costumes this year. But really there are some really creative people out there and they really showed up for Halloween. Me well I'm lucky that I got all 5 dressed with full makeup, chili, and me cleaned up from my run, and to the church in time for the festivities. They had a blast and I'm still looting candy from their pillow cases. ( Yup we go old school, no fancy bags here, you get more candy when you use a pillow case. Plus, yes we can all say it, I'm cheap.)

 

 

 

What else has happened. Training again for a 15km. Couldn't do the 1/2 marathon this year so the 15km will have to do. Running with a friend so it'll be fun.

 

 

 

 

 Did laundry today and a Yoga class. It was fun. The instructor is leaving come this Wednesday. Sad, I really liked him. He was good. Not a lot of crazy stuff that I can never get my body into and if I do get into the position, stuff that I will never get out of. He calls it more of an athletic yoga. It's good, good stretching, strength and balance, I will be sad when he leaves. Hopefully, the new instructor will be just as good. ( By the way, I wish this was me, but in reality my face would be smooshed into the ground and the rest of my body piled in a heap behind it. But one can always dream.)

 

 

 

So what am I grateful for today. Remember I wrote a while ago that I was going to find something, any thing in the day that I was grateful for. Well, I did, I'm grateful for Sunday teachers that study and pray about their lessons. That teach with the Spirit, it made all the difference yesterday. It was a feast that filled my soul, one that makes my spirit and body want for more. That is what I'm grateful for today. Have a great Monday, I know so far I have.

Something quick.

Ok nothing really big to write about. Today was just like any other day. Waking up before the sun rise to get kids ready for school. Then reading my scriptures ( I try to do it when the house is quite, you know the time, right before everyone wakes up.) Most times I'm really just sleeping on the scriptures hoping that maybe by laying my head on them I'm getting some kind of spiritual nourishment. Then the rest of the day chores, dishes, laundry, dishes, laundry, sweeping, dishes, laundry. I'm sensing a pattern here. Did yoga that was a nice break until I thought I broke something. I don't think bodies are really supposed to bend that way. Anyway, for such a short post this is turning into a very long drawn out play by play of my day. So I was just going to add something for those that are looking for a little pick me up. No matter what you are facing right now. What trial may be at your doorstep or passed over the threshold into your life. I think that we need to remember this.

"When life is hard, remember-we are not the first to ask, "Is there no other way?"

                                                                                 Jeffery R. Holland



A blustery day!

Ohhhhhh! The wind is whipping. The temperature starting to drop. The trees are shuddering with the thought of another winter. The animals are in a feeding frenzy, trying to get as much stored on their bodies before the first glistening white flakes dance and twirl in the sky. So with this blustery day what would we find that is good. Oh let me tell you.

 

 

Watching people run from their cars to the store fronts. With their hair whipping and waving as the wind's fingers run through their hair. Smelling the crisp smells of fall. The sharpness of the cold, as you take a quick inhale of fresh air.

The twisting and shuddering of leaves before they are blown from their posts on the trees. The colours that nature provides to remind us that even when the death of winter is coming, there is always great beauty no matter what may be. This has to be one of my most favorite times of the year. The colours, the brisk cool air, the smell of the first frost hanging in the breeze. The warm sweaters, the cute boots, the warm hot chocolate that not only warms the belly but also the soul. The rosey cheeks and red tipped noses of those little ones we love as they run in the house from the bus stop. Playing in piles and piles and piles of leaves with no care in the world. Yes I love Fall. One of my most favorite times of the year.

 

 

 What do you like about Fall?

Gratitude!

So this week is another busy week. Really just today. Today is the day that I found the fountain of youth. Well not right now but 9 years ago I did find that mysterious, and ellusive way to stay young forever. Time and age has unfortunatly not figured this out, as wrinkles are still making their marks. Grey hair is sneaking its way into my life, joints are aching and well as I found out a couple of days ago, my body is not as limber as it used to be. ( Not making a full rotation while doing a back roll will let your body know pretty quick how unlimber you really are.)

 

But this day I stay 26 forever. This day another animal in the crazy zoo made her appearence. This day which is the day that I graced the world with my little light, another was sent on the same day to grace with the world with her enormous flame.

Everyone says what a great gift, this is the best gift to ever have, a child that shares your birthday. Somthing that will always connect us. Now it is the best gift I ever did recieve on my birthday, but at the moment of birth, I was not really thinking that.

 

She is an amazing little kangaroo. She brings such joy and a calm spirit into our house. She is quite, she is soft spoken, she is shy and she is a snuggler. Like all my children she is strong, she knows what is right and what she wants.She follows the promptings of the Holy Ghost. She is a wonderful girl. Today that is what I'm grateful for. My own little Fountain of Youth.

 

Ok here's the secert. Subtract our ages and I'm always 26!!!!

Like it or Hate it.

Well I told everybody about the Pinterest experiment. Well I did it I did a pinterest craft. Did it turn out? Well you can be the judge of that . I did the glue on canvas that I saw floating around the pinterest universe and tried my hand at it. It did not go as I had planned.

First, coming up with the design was difficult. I had to ask Trout to help. She just looked at me like I was the biggest geek and said " You don't know how to do this? It's so easy look."

She then proceeded to show me her mad art skills and they are amazing. She can do all my crafts. We got a design idea picked out and started.

I have to pencil before I do anything, I'm just that way. No free hand here. Well pencil does not come off canvas very well. Also white glue is not the medium you want. You want hot glue or puffy paint. Something that is really going to make a contrast. White glue just melts into a thin little puddle once it is dry.

I went over it again with hot glue but with the white glue and the hot glue well it's just a mess.

White does not cover the pencil lines, Great! So now I've got to come up with another colour. I'm thinking sea foam green/teal. We will see, Kangaroo is excited. She actually gets art work ( not amazing art work) on her walls. Well Pinterest made one little girl happy. So I guess it worked. Now time to do the other 2.

P.S. Changed the colour to sea foam grean. I'll post when all three are done.

Panrty re-org

Hello my name is Sandy and I'm a Pinterest junkie. Actually what I should say is that I'm a Pinterest stalker. I don't really pin things myself I see what other people are finding and latch on to that. But one thing that I have fallen for is the pictures of beautiful pantry's. I know, many of us salivate over the thought of walking into our pantry's ( or even having a pantry) and having all of our wonderful food at our fingertips. We open the door the angels are singing, the sun is streaming in and there is a cool breeze carrieing the fragrant bouquets of wild flowers. Oh what bliss, then reality strikes you actually open your eyes. Yikes, this place looks like a bomb went off. Grocery bags are still sitting on the floor, or outside of the panrty waiting to be put away. Kids have been raiding your stock of chocolate chips that you thought you hid so carefully ( cause the real chocolate costs too much. Drat!), and there is a funky smell coming from the direction of somthing that looks like potatoes, but you really don't know. Life can sure be a slap in the face. But, still those beautiful pictures of beautiful panrtys becon and well I'm going to fall for it. I'm going to go in and try to get it prettied up. Not like anyone goes in there, unless I ask them to, or they are hunting for that stash of chocolate. So how am I going to do it. First thoughts were just to throw out everythin and start fresh. But Daddy Warbucks I don't think would be verry happy and neither would my budget. So I'm going to do this the hard way. Keep everythin and try to make what I have pretty. I'm hoping that this project only takes a week. But I guess we will see.

These bueaties were my inspiration. Will my pantry look like this probably not, but it will look tidy and neat. Also I don't know if their pantrys really look like this all the time or just when a camera is around.

This is what I started with. See just the dump zone not so pretty.

After some work and it's gettting there. Step by step. Container by container.

My favorite, the snack basket. Full of good yummy treats. I don't think my kids would say that but I like these kindof things.

Love these kind of days

Ahhhhhh! A do nothing day. I love do nothing days. Days where you well, do nothing. Really I don't think that really happens 'cause we all know that there is never a " do nothing day". Something always has to get done. But it is nice to play pretend and do nothing.

A day where hair is not washed, comfy clothes are thrown on, ( not a big change from jammies ).

Dishes sitting by the sink waiting to get done. ( Remember it's a pretend " do nothing day", they will eventually get done.)

Beading with Bug and her friend Angel hair.( Girl has the whitest most angelic face and hair ever).

Trying to catch up on a manual I want to read and start lessons on. ( Not getting far.)

Read your favorite blogs. Love this blog. I'm totally obsessed about it. She keeps it real. We are like best friends ( she does not know that yet hahaha.) On a side note about blogs, (sorry, just popped into my head and if you know me lots of things pop in and then out just as quick, so I have to write it down.) I wish someone would post a blog post about what kids are really like. We see so many pictures of perfect kids on blogs, happy, playing nice with their siblings. I think I'm going to post pictures of the real deal. Walking in from school, grumpy, tired, hungry. Then maybe a smile here and there, then on to the tantrums, sassyness and down right Mr. Hyde. Then dinner, Ahhh no one eating anything. Hating what was made for dinner, mom forcing the kids to eat, everyone trying to cajole the little one to take one more mouthful, with little tricks. Then a picture of everyone happy doing their after dinner jobs, HAHAHAHAHA! Right then trying to get some control after to have scriptures and prayers. Littles off to bed ( more screaming, crying, pleading, down right trickery), The not so littles trying to stay up with the adults 'cause they are older and more sophisticated then the little ones. Finally peace and quite! Ya right. Then night time wake ups. Oh man that would be the best post ever. That would be a real day that I think most people would totally relate to. Of course it would have to be someones family to post it 'cause my family is perfect. HAHAHAHHAHAH! (sorry had to pick myself off the floor.) That would be fun to see. Back to the " do nothing day" ( sorry for the detour, you can get lost very quickly up there in my brain.)

 It's just one of those days. Not a sad day, or a gloomy day, just a " do nothing day". Sometimes you just need to sit back and " do nothing."

Pinterest

So I have had this idea popping up in my head every now and again. I have a friend who took an idea off of "Pinterest" and decided to make it for her kids after school snack. Well she posted what it looked like on Pinterest and what hers looked like. Well lets just say the pictures do no do it justice.

So the thought came, how often do we look at pinterest (everyday), pin our favorite things and then move on. Some of us try them like my friend only to maybe have them turn out. So do the things that we pin really work. Or are we getting the wool pulled over our eyes. 'Cause I'm guessing that if everything worked on pinterest why do we still struggle with yellow armpit stains, bad hair, makeup mishapes and fruit flies. Why do we all not look like supermodels with super clean, and well decorated houses ( with no fruit flies, can you tell I'm having a little problem with them today) and great relationships with everyone we come in contact with.

Well here's the challenge. I'm going to pick something to do every week from "Pinterest" I'm going to see if it really works, or if it should go in the round file. Some experiments might take longer then one week, but some may take only an hour don't know yet. I thought it would be fun for others to jump on the bandwagon and try this adventure with me. I don't know how to do those linky parties and I don't know if anyone well really care. But I thought it would be fun. So if your on board just post a comment on the bottom of what your are going to try and then lets say every Wednesday we will weigh in and see how everyone did. You know the middle of the week everyone needs a good laugh. So what to start with......?

So this is the project. I thought I would start out simple. Well I hope that it is simple we will see.

Wish me luck!

Monday Happenings

Had a great and busy weekend. Ran a race ( 10 km), poorly planned race but the running company was wonderful. Went grocery shopping ( boo!). I hate grocery shopping. I hate watching all that money being spent on food that wont even last the whole week. But that is it's own post all together.

The General Relief Society Broadcast for my church was as always uplifting and amazing. Then Sunday brought this. Oh I'm salivating at the pictures. Most likely 'cause I just ate my last one and want more.

I received from Daddy Warbucks a delightful cookbook. A french cookbook none the less. I love French food. I really mean that I adore French food. If I had a choice of what ever food I would want to eat for the rest of my life it would be French food. Before we moved the "Zoo" we would frequent, ok really not frequent more like go about twice a year, because if you have ever had French food it is expensive. And with as many animals we have and well a lack of CEO finances it was more like a special occasion that we went to this little French restaurant.

So the food was so good that if it was not against all etiquette, I would like my plate clean and ask for more. It is that good. If you have never tried French, oh my you need to try. I'm totally not kidding you need to try.

So with the new cookbook Trout has decided that we will bake every dessert in it. I'm thinking ooh la la. Yes let us do that. I have no problem being the taste tester. In fact the whole family has come on board. Who does not like dessert made with real butter, lots of eggs and cream. Good grief you would be mad. Mad I say. These are the pretties she made on Sunday.

Action shot. It was hard filling the pipping bag with the sticky dough. But it was worth the effort.

 

 

They cooked up wonderfully. Nice and golden brown, but man it was sure a production. Everything had to be timed perfectly.

And Viola! The finished product. Home made vanilla eclairs. She did vanilla cause Daddy Warbucks does not like chocolate. I know don't get me started. Oh man these were so good, I have no idea how the French stay so thin. I would eat a dozen of these if I could.

Yummmmmmmmmy!

Must be Monday.

This weekend was busy. Very busy! Ok so for most people it probably was not very busy but for me it was busy. Lots happening. Some of the Zoo got sick, ( Yuck) I'm still getting over from being sick ( more Yuck). A birthday, Church dinner, dessert making that well took several attempts. And I'm sure there is more that I'm missing. Or maybe I just think that there is more and really there is not. Where to start...

First Birthday. Birthdays are so fun, I like birthdays. I like how excited people get when the whole day they are remembered. Everyone loves to feel special. Love to feel remembered and love to know that people are happy that they came to earth. I think there is just something really wonderful about birthdays. I know as we get older, we may not enjoy our birthdays as much as we did when we were kids. But they are magical. There is something important about a birthday, no matter how old you are. One may say that they don't like or enjoy their birthdays, but I'm sure that at the end of the day and no one says anything about your special day, you would feel sad. At least I'm sure they do. Everyone likes some form of praise, especially when that day represents the first breaths you ever took in this world. So any way "Bear" had her birthday. It was great. We teased her all the day before that we just could not remember what was happening the next day. We knew there was something wonderful happening but just could not remember what it was. Oh Bear was so animated that it was going to be her birthday, she was sure of it. The big day arrived and we had a great family snuggle in bed and just doadded on her. What a special girl she is, we were so happy she came to our family etc. She was so happy everyone remembered and that her insistence the night before reminded us. She's so funny. So I went all out. decorated her room and just had fun. Trout was home because she was and still is sick, but that's another post. Trout just shook her head and told me that now that I've done this all the kids will be wanting something. Way to go Mom, you set the bar and now it's just going to get higher.

She came home to this and was just overjoyed. I love making the kids happy on such special days. She was bouncing around and just so thrilled it was her birthday and for those of you who know Bear, you know exactly what she was doing.

On with the weekend and Daddy Warbucks and I got to go to a church dinner just for adults. It was nice to go out on a date. We had great friends there and great desserts. There was a panel of members from other faiths there to discuss their religion. There was so much information it was wonderful. It was exciting to hear about other religions, from the people that live it and not from news, or other forms of hear say. Really was a great time. Of course the icing on the evening was that my dessert that I brought for the evening won an award. Yes, I love winning things, but really who doesn't. I made Nanaimo bars. Yup that is how you spell it. It is a Canadian dessert something that really works well in Canada because it is cold up there. Here the chocolate topping kind of melts. But still good.

So this is what happened. I was making the topping of the dessert and the worst thing that could ever happened happened. My chocolate clumped. I don't know if this ever happens to you, but for some reason sometimes my chocolate takes on a life of it's own and turns in to " The Blob". Thank goodness the thing did not slump out of the bowl and eat someone. Yikes! The frustrating part was that this was not your ordinary chocolate. This was the good stuff. This was the stuff that dreams are made of. The stuff that you can't find in any grocery store, the stuff that I have to call back home for and have shipped to me. I was so mad. I just sat there looking at this disaster and wonder when the sky was going to fall and the end of the world come. So sad. Actually the sad thing is that I felt so horrible about it being good chocolate that I could not just get rid of it. Yup that's right I ate some. Don't judge me, I know if you knew how good this chocolate is you would do the same thing.

Back to the drawing board, this time chips. Hey they worked! I probably shouldn't say this but 3rd times a charm. Yup took me 2 other times with good chocolate clumping to just go ahead and us the chips. ( not very happy in the Zoo that day)

All went well and the dessert was a hit and I still have some left over I made two pans. They are sooooo good.

Oooooooo, so yummy!

Also this week I'm back to my daily routines. Well really I'm trying to get back. Really I don't think that I ever had a routine. I always dreamed of being organized enough to have one. Looked at all the pins on pinterest thinking to myself that life would be so much better if I was organized like these women. HAHAHAHA then I woke up. My life is not normal. I have 5 little ones and a husband. I have church callings, school parties, after school activities and climbing mountains of laundry. And we all know what my laundry is like, or should I shout and you can hear the echo. But maybe if I have some structure I will have time to do other things or maybe read a book. Nah probably not but one can dream. So here is the new

book!

Look how pretty. You better look this new routine won't last long haha.

One of my favorite things about this new layout is the spot to put a idea and inspiration. I love this one and tell the kids all the time. I heard it while running and listening to a Conference talk. Let that be the motto today.

Can't do GOOD while doing WRONG,

Can't go WRONG while doing GOOD.



Look what I found!

Let's break down today. Got up, much to my surprise. Really I thought I would not be able to. But I did get my butt out of bed, half walked and half fell down the stairs to get breakfast ready for " Monster". "Trout" is still sick so she got to stay in bed this morning. So Monster and I ate breakfast together. Or I think we ate breakfast together, this mornings wake up was really early and I'm not a morning person. Heck I'm not a night owl either. Good grief, I think that I only have maybe an hour window when I'm productive, between 11:00 to 12:00. Lunch time! Then my friends it's down hill from there. Anyway, all the Little's got off to school, I think they had healthy lunches, I think their hair was brushed and I'm sure teeth were cleaned. Trout woke up and had her down 2 Advil ( she still has a fever Ugh!). Then off to sleep again. Bug wanted to play Candyland, surprise surprise. I told her I didn't want to play her anymore she keeps on winning. She lovingly looked up and said " Oh mom, I'll let you win this time I promise." Great my kids are already throwing games so that I feel good. I gave in, cause really how could on not, played one game of Candyland ( lost :( ), then off to gymnastics with Bug. Almost fell asleep while watching, yup it's that riveting, came home and gave Trout more Advil. I know you are reading this and just hanging off of every word that is typed. How could this day get anymore exciting. I know I live this life everyday. Got home did some chores, Mount Everest is no longer, now it's more like K2. I think all the fruit flies that I have flew away with a whole banana, and I had no idea what to make for dinner. I know, I know you are now on the edge of your seats. You really want to know what is going to happen next, how more intriguing can my day get. Oh man, it gets so much better.

 I went to the store to pick up what we needed for dinner ( hot dogs haha thought it was going to be something fancy didn't you) and found these beauties. It was as if angelic choirs were singing and lights came down from up above. I had to blink just to make sure my eyes did not deceive me. Ketchup Chips! I know, AMAZING! Most of you are probably sitting here trying to not get sick all over your computers, but I'm from Canada and man Ketchup chips is a way of life. I'm not saying that these suckers are amazing and the best chips ever, I'm just saying I'm so excited for a little taste of home. Daddy Warbucks was not as excited as I was but that is normal. I had to open them right when we got home. Was I disappointed. No my friends, ya they don't quite taste the same but they were good. As good as Ketchup chips can be. 

So that my friends was my big exciting day. Never a dull moment. Okay maybe a few, but when the exciting ones come they are exciting ( if you call finding Ketchup chips exciting,and I do). I hope that your day was just as fun as mine or maybe even better. 

A little side note. I'm so very happy and proud of a good friend who is running her first 5k. She is so happy, I'm glad to see her so excited and happy. Way to go! Holla that's for you friend ( at least that's how I think you spell it hee hee!) 

Well, I'm back in the saddle. Haha does anyone else think of "Sleepless in Seattle" when they hear that. I do but I'm back whether you like it or not. I've had to get things in order and life back together. I'm in a good place right now. Life is good, no life is great! There have been great things that have happened in our little zoo. Many great things. Too many to write about. The one thing that I find is that I need to get writing again. About things that have happened, things that I have thought of and life that is passing by so quickly. Soon I will blink and wonder where time has gone. I'll be sitting on my porch wondering what just happened, my zoo will be gone, the noise will not exists and I will be sitting in silence wishing and praying that it would come back. I know sounds weird but I'm sure that will happen. Or on the flip side I will be travelling the world and living the high life, the life that I have put on hold. Haha, nope I will be sitting on the porch wishing someone would drop by. Okay enough of the "life is passing me by" party, and on to the day.

I wish that I could write something profound and life changing. I wish that I had great words of wisdom to write, something that would change the world. But alas, nope, mind is blank, nothing grand, nothing earth shattering. I did find out today that I'm horrible at 'Candyland". Yup Bug beat me best out of 3. When did this game get so hard. I'm sure it's because she counts cards or has marked them. I'm sure of it. She's pretty sneaky!

Lets see what else. Oh ya, a zoo of 7 makes a lot of laundry. I mean a lot. Crazy amounts. Mount Everest amounts. I need oxygen and a Sherpa just to summit the top. It's crazy. I know that we all know, that but just putting it into perspective. What else, I need a new computer ( hint hint) and I'm not the only mom out there that feels like we do nothing and is bored. Yay, I knew I was not the only one. Sometimes I feel that everyone I know is doing such cool and amazing things. And that I'm the only one sitting at home trying to figure out how to scale all the laundry with out ropes. The only one who has swept the floor for the 4th time ( who am I kidding I don't clean). The only one who falls asleep while reading to their kids. And the only mom out there wishing that someone would call that can carry on an adult conversation ( ok really any conversation that does not have to deal with a princess or going potty). You know what I'm not the only one. There are tons of us that go through this every day. We wake up wondering and feeling the same way. But Moms and Dads would we change this. Would we give up the snuggles, the giggles, the going through clothes and feeling the pangs of childhood marching forward. Would we give up the bright smiles, the snotty kisses, the " your the best mommy/daddy there is is". I don't think so. Those on the outside may look at our lives of one that is not glamorous, one that is mundane, a life that is full of well the same things everyday. But what job gives you the flexibility of maybe staying in bed a little longer with a little someone. Or change in the blink of an eye to kiss a boo boo. Or wear spirit wear all day because someone in your zoo is running in their first ever race. I would say no other job then this. Don't get me wrong there are days when I wish I went to an office. Days when I wish I could come home and not have work follow me. Days where I could wear something that is dry clean only. But this is the best job ever! I really mean it.I have never found such great satisfaction as I do right here, right now,in the trenches. I love my job, 24/7 I love my job.

Plus these little toes are not going to stay little forever :(