Amazing! But is it really possible with kids?

A month or so ago I posted about an enrichment night that I went to where Darryl Hoole talked about her homemaking tips. (See her website on the sidebar, The Art of Homemaking.) Well, this morning Sis. Hoole was gracious enough show me and a few other gals all of her tips at work all throughout her house. It was amazing how immaculate it was! Everything was spotless and in its place. It reminded me again how important it is not to accumulate stuff. I guess that's the good thing about moving every year, I get rid of a lot of stuff. I came home feeling a little overwhelmed and inadequate, but after an hour or so that wore off and made me want to be more organized and have a cleaner house. My house isn't really bad, but it's so small that it gets cluttered and dirty fast. I've begun to realize that my house will probably not look like Sis. Hoole's house until all of my kids are grown and have moved out, but at least I can try.

Tip of the day

Here's my tip of the day: Always wear two shirts when you take a child to the doctor. (You'll never know when you'll need a clean one if someone decides to throw up all over you.) Got to love the layered look!

I took Jack to the doctor last night (I probably didn't need to but I swear his temperature was really high (103) and it wasn't going down with Tylenol. I get nervous when my kid's temperatures are that high, because it's only happened a few times. Next time Dave and I will need to remember to wait it out a little while. Anyway...Of course when we got to the doctor his temperature had dropped a bit. I don't really think that he had the stomach flu. I think all the crying (he started as soon as we opened the door to the clinic) made him be sick all over me and his favorite "kee-kee" (blankie). Anyway...He's doing a lot better now. I knew that it was about time for him to be sick again. I think he's been healthy for about 3 weeks now. Jack has been sick so much this winter! I'll be so glad when he gets better ands stays that way for a while.

Easter Week Fun

This week was a great week (thanks to Norm and Melinda)! Dave was out of town Monday through Thursday, so on Tuesday the kids and I went to Logan and spent a few days with Norm and Melinda. It was really fun and so relaxing! My kids love playing with Ethan and Anders. They don't need my attention hardly at all, so I really can relax. Norm and Melinda are great hosts and are fun to stay with.

Kate stayed at Ethan's house until Saturday and got to celebrate his birthday with him. She loved it! Hopefully she behaved herself and was a good girl. While she was gone, Jack loved being the "only child" for a few days. He is such a cute little boy and I feel bad that I don't notice all the things he does all the time. It was fun being able to focus just on him. And it was nice to have a break from all the fighting over toys! But I am glad that Kate is home -- I missed her!

I usually don't like Sunday (it is usually really chaotic, stressful, messy, and really long with church at 1:00), but yesterday was actually pretty nice. Grandma and Grandpa Judi spent Saturday night with us after Ethan's fun birthday party, and they were so sweet to give both Kate and Jack baths before church. Then after church we went to Grandma and Grandpa Krantz's house for Easter dinner, so I didn't have to cook! It was a nice day!














Kate loved coloring the Easter eggs! So many colors to choose from! Kate and Jack are playing a matching game.

















The Easter Bunny came on Sunday morning, so the kids got to find some eggs. Jack only found four eggs because he was too embarrased that Grandma and Grandpa Judi were there watching. Kate wasn't embarrased at all and found the rest of them right away.

A lovely picture of my haircut

Okay, so here's the only picture that kind of shows my haircut. Kate was my photographer this morning and this is the best picture out of all of them. The camera is a little too heavy for her to hold, but at least my head and Jack's head are in the picture. Anyway...My hair is cut in a long a-line, so it's a little shorter in the back. I got 3-4 inches cut off. Have I ever mentioned that I'd much rather post pictures of my kids than of myself?

If you haven't heard of goodreads you should check it out (and sign up). It is a great place to keep a record of what you are reading, have read, and want to read. You can add friends and see what they're reading and make and read comments. It's great! So, if you haven't signed up, I think you should (and then add me as your friend so I can see what you're reading).

Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt

On Saturday we went to our neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt. I helped fill and hide the eggs beforehand. It was amazing how fast 2000+ eggs can disappear. My kids each grabbed about 6 eggs and put them on their basket. It was the perfect amount -- not too much candy. Kate ate it all in an hour or so. It was pretty cold, so the egg hunt was outside and the rest of the activities were inside.

This Week's Fun

This week we did quite a few fun things. I've been looking forward to posting all week. I just haven't gotten around to it until now. Here are some of the highlights of our week:

1. The greatest storytime ever at the library. The theme was Superhero Academy. They read superhero books, did superhero exercises, and at the end they got their own superhero capes. Jack was really into the storytime. He was brave and sat by Kate in the front and even did the superhero exercises and ran around the room with the other kids after he got his cape.

2. Getting my hair cut. Thanks to Anne Marie for sharing her great hair stylist and for watching my kids.

3. Going to the Melting Pot for cheese and chocolate with my visiting teachers. If you haven't been there, the Melting Pot is a fondue restaurant. I'd never been there before, but it was fun going and I ate way too much cheese and chocolate.

4. I was really glad to go running on Friday morning (the night after the fondue experience). We went the farthest I've run in a long time (5.27 miles). Thanks to Jen for sticking with me while the rest of our running group ran the whole way up the super long big hill. Hopefully someday soon I'll not have to stop and walk.

5. Last night I took Kate to see Disney Princess on Ice. She was in heaven. And she didn't seem too disappointed that she wasn't wearing her princess dress. Most of the other girls there were decked out in their princess attire. Kate just said that next time she'll wear her Cinderella dress. I took some pictures of her on my phone, but I have no idea how to get it out of the phone and onto the computer since the memory card isn't inside the phone. Oh well. Just know that Kate was really happy and Belle was her favorite (and then Minnie Mouse, and then all of the other princesses). It was fun seeing Norm and Melinda and their kids and Grandma and Grandpa Krantz (as we call them at our house) there too.

6. This morning Kate asked me if she could say the prayer in Primary today. Her friend and fellow Sunbeam, Sarah, gave it last week. I told her that we have to take turns and they probably already have someone to give the prayer today. She asked me and Dave a few more times before we went to church. When we got to church a member of the primary presidency asked Kate if she would like to give the prayer. How ironic! She was really excited and looked really cute sitting up in the front waiting for her turn. I helped her say a short prayer and then repeat a short scripture. Kind of funny how Kate got what she really wanted.

Two Cameras and a Gate

Today I am so glad that we have two old cameras with dead batteries and a fenced backyard (even though it is tiny) with a gate. I opened the back door this afternoon and the kids went in and out and played for hours. It was heaven! They had so much fun! Jack spent a lot of time telling our neighbor's dog to say, "Cheese!"

A Few Things

Here are a few things that made me happy this week: (Not really all that interesting of a post to read, but hey, this is a form of journeling, right?)

• I'm so glad that Jack slept through sacrament meeting. He doesn't do it very often. Too bad he had a half chewed tootsie roll in his mouth while he fell asleep, so now I have some chocolate drool on my white shirt. It's worth it though.
• Dave fixed the tire on our double stroller so we can go on walks (or if we go to the zoo I don't have to carry one of the kids and push the other or make Jack sit on top of Kate in the single stroller -- not very safe, I don't recommend it).
• Having dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Judi and Derek and Meagan. I love having good company and food that I don't have to cook and no dishes to do.
• The time change! We didn't have to wait quite so long to go to church at 1:00.
• Jack started actually peeing in the potty. It's nice for me because he wants to go potty (to be like Kate) all the time, so now it's actually worth the time.
• We're taking advantage of living close to fun places, like the zoo and the fine arts musuem. And we're enjoying going with friends there.

A little fine art

Today I took the kids to the Utah Musuem of Fine Arts. We met a friend there with her kids and checked out the exhibits. The kids were ready to go after 45 minutes, but I'm happy that they lasted that long. There was an exhibit that I really enjoyed by a local Utah artist, Susan Schwartz. This is one of my favorite paintings by her. I love aspen trees! They remind me of home. I wish that I could paint something like this. I could stare at it for hours.

Tag, I'm it! From A to Z.

A: Attached or single: Married

B: Best Friend: Dave

C: Cake or Pie: Hmm. Both are great, but I'd have to say pie. I love Marianne's peach pie!

D: Day of Choice: Friday

E: Essential Item: House keys -- I can't go anywhere without them.

F: Favorite Color: Aqua

G: Gummi Bears or Worms: Neither. I'd rather have chocolate!

H: Hometown: Fairview, UT

I: Indulgence(s): Hmm... it's nice to have a doughnut every once in a while.

J: January or July: July. Summertime. Doesn't it sound great about now?

K: Kids: Two. One boy and one girl.

L: Life is incomplete without: Family

M: Marriage Date: August 11, 2001.

N: Number of Siblings: Three, one older sis, a younger brother, and a much younger and littler sister.

O: Oranges or Apples: Apples. I love oranges around Christmas-time, but apples are good the whole year through.

P: Phobias or Fears: Driving up steep hills when there is a stoplight at the top so you have to wait for the light on the really steep part.

Q: Quote(s): I'll just use Wendi's quote from her tag. I liked it, so here it is, “The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.” Lucille Ball

R: Reason To Smile: The kids are in bed and I've still got an hour or so before I go to bed!

S: Season: Spring/Early summer

T: Tag Six: Let’s try: Lissa, Melinda, Maggie, Meagan, JoDee, Michal.

U: Unknown Fact about Me: Honestly I can't think of one. It's been a long day and nothing is coming to mind.

V: Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animals: I enjoy a little meat with dinner.

W: Worst Habit: Talking to everyone in my family in my nagging voice.

X: X-Rays or Ultrasounds:Ultrasound. Never had a reason to have an x-ray.

Y: Your Favorite Food: Lately it has been Melinda's recipe for turkey meatballs. So yummy! I can't get enough of them in meatball sandwiches and spaghetti.

Z: Zodiac: Honestly, I don't even know. I'm sure I've read about it a few times, but I've never cared enough to remember what sign mine is. Oh well.

Favorite Children's Book

Since the kids' birthdays are coming up in the next month or so, I've been thinking about gifts. I would like to get them some books, since we have plenty of toys and books are great! What is your all-time favorite children's book?

Kate's New Haircut

Kate got her haircut today. It had been a while and she was really excited about it when I mentioned it. It's so nice that she doesn't cry and need to be bribed anymore when she gets a haircut.

And of course if you take a picture of one kid, you have to take a picture of the other. If you look closely on Jack's forehead you'll see the battle wounds from his tumble off of the bed onto the cedar chest last night (while we were talking to Annelisa on Skype). I didn't see it happen, but she probably did. Maybe Jack will learn not to jump on the bed, or maybe not. And, BTW Jack has in his own bed three nights in a row!

Potty Seat for Boys

So, here's a random question for those of you that have potty-trained boys. What kind of potty-seat works best for your little boy? Did you use a seat on the toilet or a little chair on the floor or something else? Jack always wants to potty, which means that he sits on the toilet (he's happy just holding himself on the big toilet without a little seat) and then he really loves putting the tp in the toilet and then flushing. He's yet to actually do any actual business in the toilet, but when that happens I'm a little afraid that it will make a big mess. Do the little pee-guards that come with the toilet seats work? I'm a little new at this boy stuff, so I'll love any advice!

Sweet Sleep

Last night Jack slept through the whole night in his own bed without waking up. It's a miracle! I can't remember the last time that he hasn't woken up and then slept in my bed for the rest of the night. I put a bigger blanket on his bed and then tucked it in under the mattress so he wouldn't fall out. We'll see what happens tonight.