The Band

Turn off playlist for optimum viewing/listening pleasure. :)

Preparing for Spring

It's a rainy day which makes me think of Spring flowers. Our tree in the front yard just lost it's leaves a week ago and has new buds already. That's how it is here-a few weeks of winter to prepare for spring. Our tile is finished-it looks amazing. THANK YOU GR.GREEN!!!!!!! It feels so good to have it done. I just walk into the bathroom and sigh -Ahhhh it looks so nice. Now for the carpet... I'll post pictures soon. Bradeigh is getting so big and moving alot-my entire stomach jumps around. It's pretty fun. I'm feeling a little shoppy-I must refrain, keep focused on the goal, carpet carpet carpet.

I finished our taxes!!!! Yea!!!!

Some Things You Just Can't Google

I love Google-or I should say I love the capability of "googling". I can instantly find out the life cycle of a butterfly with multi media examples to show the kids, identify a strange bug or snake, current interest rates, news, hairstyles- In fact I once phonemically googled a sound that my dryer was making to find out what was wrong with it. It WORKED! I was able to order a part and directions on how to fix it. Pretty Cool. We all love google right?

Hannah wanted to to google who would win the Steelers game last weekend so she could ruin the game for Uncle Sean. A girl after my own heart really... I explained it was a live game and we couldn't google the outcome because the outcome was unknown-it hadn't occurred yet. "Ohhhhh". It was interesting to me that she had this misconception about the computer information highway,(as we called it back in the day).

Last night during scripture study we were reading in Matthew when Christ is speaking to the Apostles before he sends them out and is relaying to them how much the Lord loves them, and he knows every hair we have and the amount of time we will have here on this earth, we shouldn't fear death-but rather fear damnation. Hannah asked if God loved her more than I did, and if I loved God more than them.

Nope can't google the answer to that...

I began to explain that it's difficult to comprehend Gods love, it is too great-and as a parent I feel like I get an idea of how much he loves me and them because of how much love I feel and have for them as there mother. The more I love God, the more I show my love and appreciation for Him, the better mom I am and the more love I can show to them. As far as me loving God more than them- Well... If they chose to go down a path of unrighteousness-I would love them but I could not support it, or follow it. If they stole something, I would feel bad that they were scared to return it-but returning it and making amends is the right thing to do. We should always do what is right.

Noah totally called me out-"Mom your not really answering the question".

So I explained again that our love for the Lord and commitment to do what is right should always take precedent over our feelings for another person. It doesn't mean we don't love that person-but yes we love the Lord more and know that it's more important to follow him then follow someone we love down a wrong path. (Key Star Wars music here) Then I brought up the point in Star Wars where Padmae tells Anakin she can not go down the path he has chosen....

That seemed to satisfy them. It was kinda a hard question to answer. I'm slightly curious as to what Google would say... Lets give it a try...

Nope my answer was way better.

I feel slightly irreverent comparing Google to the Holy Spirit-but the funny thought just occured to me that the Holy Spirit is kinda like our own personal Google. When we need help answering a difficult question, need guidance as to how to solve a problem, words of comfort in times of need, the Spirit guides us in a very personal way. I'm so grateful for that.

In the Desert

We went to the Desert Museum again yesterday, this time with my two nephews Ethan and Tyler. We made it to the morning raptor flight demonstration, while having more variety of birds this show wasn't quite as exciting as the hawk show in the afternoon. Still neat though. I think the kids enjoyed themselves-especially searching for rare gems and minerals they could bring home and share with Madison and Caleb. They found quite a bit and had a hard time choosing. Afterwards we came home to have lunch, found Grandpa working hard at tiling the bathroom, then went out for a little bouldering at Sanctuary Cove. Such a beautiful day. We all slept well last night, the kids are off to school and though I have a list a mile long all I really want to do is curl up with a good book. We are supposed to get rain on Friday...I should probably save the book until then.

Thanks for playing with us Ethan and Tyler!!

Tag

Last tag I received I didn't participate-

Okay Emili-here goes...

8 Things About Me

8 Favorite TV shows- I don't watch TV to much, but when I do I go for the Gold, golden trash that is.

1)The Unit-Not trash, we really like this show.
2)Gossip Girl
3)Privileged
4)Desperate Houswives- it really does have very clever writing...
5)ER
6)Friday Night Lights
7)TMZ

8 Things I did yesterday

1)Get the kids off to school
2)Read the news
3)Pay bills/print off tax forms
4)Clean bathrooms, vacuum bedrooms, clean kitchen, iron fancy napkins for hypothetical Easter dinner.
5)Ate three peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
6)Take Hannnah to piano, Noah to cousins, pick Hannah up from piano, get her ready for the dance, take pictures, posted on blog.
7)Cry about Noah losing his wallet-feel like an idiot for crying over Noah's lost wallet-Got myself together before Noah got home.
8)Put the kids to bed- Watched Friday Night Lights, and TMZ, laugh with Jared about skanky drug reps and somehow felt better about my previous emotional breakdown after talking to Jared about it.

8 Things I look forward to

1)The babies reaction to Hannah and Noah
2)Hannah and Noah's reaction to our baby
3)Early morning runs-who am I kidding-early morning walks.
4)Our tax return- I think...
5)Our carpet being replaced
6)Wearing my "regular" clothes
7)Spring flowers
8)Reading another great book

8 Favorite Restaurants

1)Bison Witches - Veggie Sandwich on wheat,no sprouts, best veggie sandwich ever. Homeade bread/bread bowls so good.

2)Mosaic- Supreme Burro

3)Eegees- Fries w/ranch

4)Molinitos- Good ole' bean burrito

5)Pei Wei - Honey seared shrimp w/brown rice YUM

6)La Curva- Rocky Point Mexico Shrimp Cocktail Mexican Style

7)Scholtsky's - Veggie Sandwich comes in a far second

8) Zankou Chicken in LA- Armenian chicken place- so yummy!!


8 Things on my wish-list

1)Better camera lenses
2)A one story 2700+ sq foot home on 1/2 - 3 acres 5 bedroom home that is brand new and doesn't need fixing or cosmetic adjustments, that has connecting studio and office space for me.
3)A really nice glider/recliner
4)A good delivery-a great delivery
5)Hike the Grand Canyon with my family
6) Travel to Germany and France,Switzerland and Italy with my family- Para glide with Jared in the Alps
7)Dive in Belize
8)Hannah,Noah,Bradeigh and any other children we have experience love and joy in life through the Gospel and in their choice eternal companions -and bring me grand babies to read to and take on nature hikes, and explore tide pools with.

There it is-tag your it!!

Father Daughter Dance

This is one of the many things I love about the kids school. Every year there is a Father Daughter Dance and a Mother Son dance. The kids get so excited about it. This years theme is Hawaiian Luau. Grandma Green is in town and made Hannah a really cute dress for the dance. She is thrilled to have a new dress and a date with her daddy. Too cute...sniff sniff...

Uh Oh...I think I beginning to lose it...

So I'm trying not to freak out that I have about two months left before baby is here. My neighbor asked me yesterday if I had gotten to the point in pregnancy where I just wanted to be done. NO! I feel like I just realized I'm pregnant! Actually life has been on fast forward so much, now that I have a moment to stop, relax, and ponder my brain goes into panic AGH!!!!!! Are we ready, am I ready, is the freezer full, are the base boards washed, is the doctor really going to listen to me, are our vacation plans secured, am I crazy for thinking I can conquer San Diego for a week with a new baby. Have I under estimated baby gear - I DON'T HAVE A PLASTIC BABY TUB YET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BREATH BREATH BREATH...



So it goes without saying that nesting has kicked into over drive,(along with other heightened neurotic behavior). We hired a handy man to help us in our preparation endeavors who painted our yucky blue bathroom and Hannah's room-(I decided on cream...you just can't go wrong with cream, it's actually called down feather :). We have also enlisted the help of Grandpa Green while he's in town. He helped me get the supplies we need to tile our bathroom and is going to help Jared put it in. Jared ripped out the carpet/pad and tack board and old tile last night after he got home from work, went out with the missionaries, helped me put the kids in bed, and played basketball. He's pretty awesome. We've been having many late nights.


I've just realized I have no white onesies-HELLO how could I have forgotten about white onesies.

I did pick up a very cute stroller car seat on Craigslist pink and brown with white cherry blossoms LOVE IT! The women threw in a cute bouncy chair too. SCORE! AHHHHH the crowd goes wild!!!!!!!

Fear leads to hate, hate leads to suffering, suffering leads to the darkside.

We've been reading the New Testament and just finished the Sermon on the Mount and Satan tempting Christ. This led to quite the conversation. We began talking about fear, and what happens when we make wrong choices and don't repent; the power of the priesthood, the limited power that Satan has, and metaphors. Noah immediately related it to Star Wars - Fear leads to hate, hate leads to suffering, suffering leads to the darkside. It's been neat to delve into the scriptures with the kids. I'm pretty happy to put the scripture readers aside-the illustrations alone drove me crazy. Yet, lately Hannah and Noah have seemed to just grow up right before my eyes-putting an emotional vise around my heart. Maybe that's just the pregnancy talking. I told Jared last night if I could just freeze time I would selfishly do it. Good thing it's not really an option.

We had a really late night last night. My uncle David came over and fixed our heater fan, I found a really nice mountain bike for Hannah on Craigslist for $25.00 to replace the bike we sold for $15.00 at a garage sale, we made pizza and brownies for FHE and went through our emergency and hiking packs, and talked about preparedness. We ended up reviewing what to do when lost, facing an emergency, or if someone attempts kidnapping etc... I HATE these conversations. But better they're equipped than not. This just tightened the vice more. Before we knew it it was 9:30! We all slept in this morning and I tried to convince Jared to stay home and we could take another trip to the Mountain seeing that fresh snow was laid yesterday, and it wouldn't be crowded. No dice. I seriously considered going up myself, but visions of me sliding on the road or not being as capable of dealing with an emergency situation has discouraged me. We're going to the Desert Museum instead.

2008 has been a really great year. I don't have a whole lot of resolutions for 2009 just hopes.

I hope things go just as well with this baby as they did with Hannah and Noah. I hope we all will be safe and in good health. I hope society becomes stronger and not weaker with the economic downturn. I also hope we replace the carpet and the dishwasher in our house. Cabinets and trim would be nice too-but that may be pushing it...

I guess my resolution for 2009 is to be a better mom, wife, friend, daughter, sister, and neighbor. Time to work on that better mom part, get Noah out of the bah and feed the kids breakfast before lunch.

Happy New Year!

Jared has been home since Thursday! What a great way to begin the New Year. We began New Years Day with a 5k-well Jared and Noah ran the 5k, Hannah and I walked around the neighborhood, cheered them on and took pictures.

To the finish line!!!

We headed home and trimmed our front yard, until the dumpster was full. Then we tackled the garage-AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!We got rid of the last cardboard boxes, threw out a ton of nonsense that I have no idea why we have toted around for years. Boy it feels good to purge. What I really want is to replace carpet, appliances, cabinets and paint the bathroom and Hannah's room. Throwing out stuff, and organizing feels almost as good, and is totally free(minus the cost of a few storage bins).

Let me just stop here and say I LOVE NEW YEARS STORAGE BIN SALES!!!!

Friday, Jared loaded up more "stuff" and went to the dump, then as I replenished our food supply, Jared took the kids to the movies.

We felt ready for the big day. SLEDDING DAY! Noah has been counting down, since we made plans. I was a little afraid there would be no snow after our 75 degree week down in the basin-but alas the day came and there was still snow on Mt Lemmon. Noah could hardly contain himself.

Knuckles...

Happy Dance...

There goes Jared...wee...eee
I sat myself in a chair with a blanket, drank cocoa, and enjoyed the entertainment. On a side note, I found out my lower abdominal muscles are now nonexistent and of no use when trying to avoid slipping on ice. The sled came in very handy...

We had a great day! I love Mt Lemmon! I love our novel yearly snow fall on the mountain and our 70 degree days in the desert. 2009 is off to great start.