{They Just Don't Realize Do They...}

In my home our kitchen is connected to our family room. The other day I was cooking dinner and Brecken was watching The Brady Bunch..(the fact that she loves that show is an entirely different story) Anyway, after watching a scene (where Alice cleaned up the kids things) our conversation went something like this................

Brecken: Mom I really wish we had a Maid.

Me: Um what do you mean? We do have one.

Brecken: What... no we don't, who?

Me: (holding my arms out really wide) Um TA-DA me!!!

Brecken: No, No Mom I mean one like Alice who cooks our food and cleans our house.

Me: Um.....ya Breck who cooks all your food and cleans the house? ....TA-DA!

Brecken: oh ya I guess so........hhhhhhmmmmm

Okay so did it seriously take almost 7 years for my child to realize I do all these things? That's pretty pathetic, but I can see a resemblance....there are many many days I feel way too much like Dear Sweet ALICE!!! And I too wish I had her around instead of trying to BE her.

XOXOXO

Happy Valentines day to all our family and friends!! I know it's a little late, but I just wanted to express my love to my own valentine and to all of you who are such a Sweet part of our life. I had Brecken take our picture on Valentines Day and didn't realize until now what is behind us...whoops! for those of you who know us, you'll know that the bubbly behind us was not a part of our romantic day this year, but regardless we did have a wonderful Valentines! I love this man so much. He is the most sensitive, giving, loving, unselfish man in the world and I am so thankful for him. He works so hard in every area of his life. So many things need his constant attention...Our family, his practice, the church, his recreation, the community, our extended family, his friends, our kids activities, and the list goes on. I don't know how he manages to be SOOOO amazingly devoted to it all. He balances things so well without getting frazzled. I love him for all the big things he does for me all the time, but I love him even more for all the little things he does for me. And we love our family and friends...we have been blessed to have so much love around us! I hope you all had a wonderful Valentines day!

p.s. Sorry about your eyes honey... a six year old took the picture and they were totally red-eyed. I tried to fix them but I may have made them worse. You're hot anyway.

Quick Getaway...now back to reality

Well we finally found a week to completely forget life and have some fun with the kids. We had such a blast with them in Disneyland.

I left Avery home with Nana and Papa and Aunt Kami. We were able to completely focus on Brecken and Tate....it was hard at first, and I felt kind of bad leaving her. But all too soon I saw mothers struggling in line with impatient little ones, changing diapers, pushing strollers, stopping for naps and I soon realized leaving her was the best decision ever!! We had a chance to really live it up. Brecken and Tate are huge thrill seekers, their favorite rides were the fast scary adult ones....so it was great that we didn't have Avery around. Space mountain was their favorite, we rode it 4 times!! The kids are afraid of absolutely nothing, they just giggled the whole time and I just screamed. We took SO many fun pictures, it was so hard to decide which ones to post so I just threw a bunch of the highlights on here! Enjoy

The night before we left Brecken and Tate both drew a picture of the Disneyland castle...and Bam the next day there they were standing in front of it...I guess dreams do come true!

We met every single character you can possibly think of. Brecken was so obsessed with getting all of their autographs. We got a family shot with every single character and princess you can think of, but I'll spare you the misery of seeing them all and just post some of the classics and our personal favorites.

Both kids got to be up on stage fighting The Dark Side.....Tate had a smile on for the rest of the day after defeating Darth Vader!

Disneyland Hotel...

Universal Studio's...

Sea World...

This right here is what family vacations are all about...forgetting your worries and just remembering how much you love each other. These two had such a wonderful time together and are the sweetest little friends, this week full of adventure bonded them in a new way. I loved seeing them look at each other with big eyes and huge smiles every time they saw something new.... I will absolutely start saving now for our next trip because now I know I'm actually saving for moments, smiles, snuggles, memories, laughs, adventures, bonding, oh ya and not cooking or cleaning up any meals for a week!!!!!!

Mouse Houses

Tate's latest hours have been spent building "mouse houses" I think the idea stemmed from the Stewart Little movie that he loves. He told me "maybe if I build a mouse house then a little mouse brother like Stewart will want to come live with me." ..... um I'm really hoping we don't have a mouse raid in my home, but he's still highly anticipating it. He makes a new one every day and believe me he knows if one is missing! So I better not "accidently" throw one away. Every day I find him at the counter with his tape, scissors, and paper products.....I just hope I never find him with the mouse! Here are just a few of the many many that have been built.

TAGGED... here it goes

LUCKY SEVEN

Seven things I can do:

1. Vibrate my eyeballs back and forth fast! Aaric can do this too...we must have been meant to be because there are not many of us.

2. Justify anything... I like to call it "looking on the bright side.

3. Estimate exactly which Tupperware to use every time... Aaric will say that's not going to fit in there, and walla perfect every time .

4. Talk, Talk, Talk......love it and can never get enough adult conversation.

5. organize a closet, drawer or any space....I love making things functional.

6. Make a very very tempting chocolate chip cookie. we have a perfected recipe we use weekly.

7. Waste way too much time blogging and not realize it.

Seven things I can't do:

1. Wake up in the morning with a happy "good morning sunshine attitude."

2. Find enough hours in the day to do everything I want to.

3. Shoot pool with my right hand...this is the only thing in the world I do left handed

4. Parallel park... I just avoid it at all costs.

5. Try too many desserts

6. Fold a fitted sheet...someone taught me once and I get it and do it but it still never looks pretty

Seven things I say most:

1. Are you kidding me?

2. Hilarious!

3. Dang it.

4. Come on we're going to be late

5. Avery are you poopy again?

6. I love you, you're the best

7. Seriously....

Seven Goals for the New Year:

1. Scripture study...wow what a shocker, hey at least I'm consistent it's been on the goals list for like 18 years.

2. Get caught up on my Scrapbooks

3. Take at least one picture every day....Stole this idea from Leah, great goal

4. Spend more quality time with my kids each day. specifically devote 10 minutes per kid to personal one on one time

5. Eat better and Exercise...yep I know another shocker.

6. Worry less and LIVE more

7. 100% visiting teaching

Seven reasons I fell in Love with Aaric:

1. He was so Humble....and had every reason in the world not to be. He was the MVP state champ quarterback , and you'd never have known, He didn't walk around like he was all that like all the other guys did.....but he actually was ALL THAT.

2. Athletic Handsome and SOO smart....um it was a no-brainer

3. Had a great Testimony....was never afraid to be strong

4. I could tell everyone in the town (who had known him longer than me) admired him... from the 7 year old boy who idolized him to the 85 year old woman who loved him.

5.Those big muscles... lets be honest here, I was such a sucker for them.

6. He had a great family.... in-laws that you enjoy being with are rare these days.

7. He's so easy going that he balanced out my "extra spunky" personality really well.

Seven things I love to eat:

1. Chocolate...I can leave the dumb little "candy" like starburst, gummies, smarties ect... give me the REAL stuff.

2. Salads.. I know it's at the other end of the spectrum from my chocolate but I like everything!

3. Milk

4. Coconut Shrimp from Outback!

5. Grilled Chicken

6. fruit

7. Anything I didn't cook

Seven people I tag:

1. Michelle

2. Fallon

3. Kacey

4. Emily

5. Krysta

6. Robyn

7. Katie kiddo

What's willpower?....

Yesterday I just felt like crap all day. I knew it was because I had eaten crap all day. So I decided last night enough was enough.....NO MORE junk. Duh people go without their addictions everyday. I decided to take the AA mind set and just go day by day. I could obviously eat good for one day right? So today was the day...eat good = feel good....I can do this, just one day at a time!! then I open my cupboard this morning.....WHAT THE where on earth did that thing come from? Did my oh so sweet husband seriously leave a symphony bar laying there in direct sight and honestly think I could combat that? Does he secretly WANT me to gain weight?

(um I KNOW that's not it) Is it a trick or a trap? Where did he even get it? And why on earth did he not hide it? How long have we been married? He has to know me better than this!!! ooohh I hate being a woman with no will power.......Darn it guess I'll have to start my little plan tomorrow!! I'll just wash it down with SKIM milk..then it will be healthy!

{ LOVE is in the AIR...}

The kids and I had fun decorating the house with LOVE last week! Brecken loves holidays and loves decorating with me... she smiles and squeals while we're doing it. I love that when you're a kid everything is so fun and exciting. And I'm, so glad we have holidays to look forward to, decorate for, and shake life up a little bit!!

"Treasure Drawers" (true colors of totally different genders)

Walking Past my kids rooms each day gives me a quick glance at just how different they are...but when I looked a little closer I realize exactly what little things make them so unique.

I want my kids to be able to remember things when they are older, and a picture proves to be the best way to recall a memory...so I take pictures of their rooms, bikes, outfits and all sorts of things. There are a lot of personal childhood things that I wish I had a picture of. So my goal is to be diligently documenting things for my kids while they grow up.... one of which includes their beloved "Treasure Drawers"

If you know me, you will know that I have some Obsessive Compulsive Disorder traits and fully admit to it. I like my house organized and clean... I love seeing my cute little kids rooms decorated and clean and think it's important for them to learn how to take care of their own space. On the other hand I never want them to feel like it's not somewhere they can "collect" things or be comfortable...so my solution was to create a special treasure drawer that they could have complete control of. They put whatever they feel is important in there for safe keeping and know that it won't be touched or cleaned up. I looked in them the other day and was laughing so hard at the difference between Brecken's drawer and Tate's drawer......

Brecken's drawer

nice, neat, organized and includes the following: pink container with beads in it, bowl with red hots, Hanna Montana picture, bracelet, Hanna Montana necklace watch in it's case, bubbles, popsicle sticks, letters and notes she's drawn, stamp, candle, money, paper clips, stickers, and of coarse has a childproof lock attached.

Tate's Drawer

messy, unorganized and includes the following: two spider man web shooters, a few tiny ninjas, gun, two stuffed animal dogs, rocks, bat mobile, tiny weapons for action figures, disc shooter, plastic web, train, sticks, treasure chest with all his precious money (35 cents), and his beloved DS!

Brecken's collection in her jewelry box: hand sanitizer, make-up, jewelry, lip gloss, erasers, beads that say her name

Tate's collection on his nightstand: spiderman wallet, glass boot with about 11 cents in it, stick from outside, rocks, bead necklace from pre-school, and another ugly little dog

Brecken's Homemade projects: all necklaces

Tate's Homemade projects: Uh huh....weapons....a cardboard sword and a "paper bowl bomb."

You can't tell but he taped these all up just right.

I am so glad that I have been blessed to be able to experience being a mom to a little boy and a little girl....they are SO different, and it's a blast to see what they think is cool and important!