I......

i am: trying to be patient...with my kids, my life...

i think: of a lot of things I could do...but rarely follow through...

i know: I can do this...

i want: my kids to be happy...

i dislike: negative people...

i miss: my Canadian home...

i fear: spiders and creepy crawlies...

i feel : great...most of the time...

i hear: my Brody talking...

i smell: probably gross...I just worked out...

i crave: chocolate...anything...

i cry: when I get frustrated...and movies...

i usually: am a good cook...I like food...

i search: for new things to do with my kids...

i wonder: if I'm being a good Mom...

i regret: things I've said in the past...

i love: my husband and my kids...

i care: too much about what people think...

i always: eat breakfast...

i worry: about doing the best for my family...

i am not: a morning person...

i remember: snow days in Del Bonita...

i believe: in the Savior, and what he's done for me...

i dance: with my kids...I love it...

i sing: not very well...

i don’t always: think well of myself...

i argue: with my husband over his little messes...

i write: in my blog...

i win: not often...but I try...

i lose: lots of things...ask Dustin...

i wish: I could move home...

i listen: to music...any kind...I like the way it makes me feel...

i don’t understand: Politics...on any level...

i can usually be found: at home...I'm a hermit...

i am afraid: of losing my kids...

i need: a good massage...

i forget: lots of things...mommy brain...

i am happy: when my husband is playing goofy games with the kids...

Friday the Thirteenth...are you superstitious?

So its Friday the thirteenth....ooooohhh........I'm scared... LOL! I read about some of the 'Old Wives Tales' and superstitions, and I thought, "Wow! How did people ever keep up with all those superstitions? I don't think I could go about life without worrying about, good luck, visitors coming and bad monetary ventures everytime my nose, ear or foot itched!" I would have mixed them all up! I'm not that superstitious, but there are somethings that I do out of habit and family tradition, that are following the 'Old Wives Tales'. Do you?

• I "Knock on Wood" 3 times when I've mentioned good fortune, as this is supposed to keep 'evil spirits' from ruining it.
• I never walk under a ladder.
• I will always wish on shooting stars, dandelion fluff, birthday candles, and fallen eyelashes.
• As kids, we always pulled the wishbone of the turkey. Biggest half would get their wish.
• I wore something old (bracelet Dustin had given me), something new (my dress), something borrowed (necklace from Jeri-lynn), something blue (my toenails), when I got married.
• We tried the needle and thread trick to determine whether I was having a boy or a girl when I was pregnant with Gracie. It said I was having a boy, then 2 girls. Ooops!
• I think rainbows are lucky, I have looked for Four-leafed clovers, and I have a lucky number.

So, do you listen to the 'Old Wives Tales' and follow superstitions? 

10 things about...Cooper...

He's so little its hard to come up with 10 different things about our little guy. But here it goes...

1. Cooper is a very happy baby. He gets so excited to see you in the morning! And the littlest things make him smile and laugh. So nice some days!
2. Cooper can also turn on a dime with his mood...he is happy most of the time, but if he decides he's mad..WATCH OUT! He is mad now and something needs to be fixed!
3. Cooper is a Daddy's boy. He just loves his Dad and if he's awake when dad comes home, he will crawl around after him whining till Dustin picks him up. When he was little little and just stating to coo, when Dustin would get home from work, Cooper would sit and "talk" to him for like 5 or 10 minutes straight! Like he was telling Daddy all about his day!
4. He cannot sit still! He is always wriggling and trying to crawl and climb. Even if you are holding him, he's trying to climb up you! Except when he's tired, then he will cuddle!
5. He loves to play with Gracie and Brody. When he first started moving around, he was so slow that just as he made it into the room where they were, they were leaving and he had to turn around and find them again. Now he's fast and it takes him no time!
6. He likes to play "shy" when people talk to him. If someone talks to him, he tucks his head into Mom or Dad's shoulder. But he grins and pops right back up!
7. He has Gracie's blue eyes and I don't think they will change. He looks just like his Dad. Even more so than Brody. For Halloween they went as Dr. Evil and Mini Me.
8. He had Red hair when he was born, that all fell out by the time he was 4 months. Its come back blonde and I'm sure its going to be curly!
9. He likes to 'wrestle' and play with you down on the floor. If you get down and say "I'm going to get you!" He squeals and comes after you, crawls on top, and 'gets you' with his mouth. Sometimes he'll try and get away.
10. He is a wonderful sparkle in our life. Its hard to have a bad day with him around as he just brightens up the mood in no time. I hope he always such a light to all around him.

Its hard when they are this little to think of things, because everything is so 'baby' and most kids do it. But I love Cooper's little personality! Like I said, he's my "Light"! Love you Coops!

Wordful Wednesday...Affection for Others...

Another Wordful Wednesday and since I missed the last couple, I am determined to get back on the wagon! This week's topic is 'How you show affection for others'. What is affection? In the Dictionary it says it is a moderate feeling or emotion; a tender attachment...the Thesaurus says:   a feeling of strong or constant regard for and dedication to someone. I like the Thesaurus definition better personally. In thinking of who I show my affection for, my friends and family, I like that phrase 'constant regard for and dedication to someone.' 

As a mother, you are always in 'constant regard' for your family. Often putting their needs before your own. You are always trying to think ahead of the game "What can I do for my family? What's best for my kids? What can I do for them to make them better people?" Some days its just getting dinner on the table on time and others its taking the time to sit and play games or finish puzzles with them. Everyday you find new ways to show your dedication to your family.

I try everyday to show my family that they are important to me. Hugs and Kisses for the kids, telling them that they are special, cooking dinner for them, trying to think of things they would like to do on a daily basis. I'm know sometimes it feels like I am just plodding along, doing my 'motherly' duty, but when I think about it, I do that motherly duty to show my family that I love them. I think that's one of the greatest gifts I can give my kids right now is a Mother that takes care of them, teaches them and loves them. 

I also think about my husband and how much I love him. He is a wonderful husband and father and he is great at showing the kids and myself affection. He is always giving the kids loves and he will still hold my hand when we go out. And he works hard at his job so that he can take care of us, so that I can stay home with the kids. I try everyday to make life easier for him and make his life happy. Some days I'm not sure if I succeed in the 'easier' part, but he always says he's happy. 

I think just doing my Motherly Duty everyday is showing my affection for my family. It's hard, sometimes discouraging, but when I see those smiling little faces....its all worth it!

Being Accountable...

So how are your New Year's resolutions coming along? Mine are not too bad, could use a little improvement in some areas, but still father along than when I started! Yeah Me!

1. Get into my Pre-pregnancy jeans: coming along. I've been working out 3-4 times a week. I think I need to bump that up a bit. I'm going for 5-6 times as I'm impatient and I'm not seeing the results fast enough! I have lost 3.2 pounds this month and 16 inches(yahoo!)
2. Eating Healthier: this one is definitely coming along better. Even the kids are eating better.(probably because I can't keep junk in the house or I eat it!) But we are eating WAY more fruits and veggies and I'm getting back to cooking real food, not Fast Food!
3. FHE: a little better, hit 2 out of 4 weeks this month. Will be better this month! The kids love it though, and they like being in charge of the music, or scripture, or prayer...so that's a bonus!
4. Personal Scripture Study: I'm in 2 Nephi chapter 3...not quite as far as I wanted, but still...Working on at least 1 chapter a day instead of following the schedule I had which I have fallen behind in. (working on finishing by my birthday!)Maybe I'll catch up!
5. Organizing: not bad. Got my office somewhat put together. Today I am working on a new chore/schedule chart for myself and the kids. I have found that I need things written down or it doesn't get done. (Probably because I forget!)

So I am progressing, which is what we should strive for. I have to remind myself of this because I can be a bit of perfectionist and have an all or nothing attitude. Anyways I wrote it down here for you all to see, now I kind of have to do it , eh? Progression is the key. Look at the means of getting there, I am getting better. That will bring the goal into focus. And again... YEAH ME!

10 Things about...Gracie...

So onto the next family member...Our Gracie.

1. Gracie is a Girly Girl. Which is funny because at home she runs around with all her Boy cousins. And she had always been a Girly Girl, ever since she was one and she would show you her "Pretty Hair" (even though she didn't have any) She loves her makeup, Bows, Tea Parties, Dress up and Princesses.
2. Gracie likes her sleep. Since she was 8 weeks old, she has slept for 12 - 14 hours a night. She actually pulls the blankets over her head in the morning and tells me "Five more minutes". But if you let her, she will stay up ALL night. I once let her stay up to watch a movie with me, thinking "She's pretty tired, she'll fall asleep." But no, she was up till the movie was done, Midnight!
3. She is a Ray of Sunshine all the time (nearly, HA HA!) Brody is serious and things bug him, she is the exact opposite. Things just slide of her back and she goes on with life. She gets that from her Dad.
4. She is very in tune with people's emotions. She knows when things are not right, and reacts to it. She knows right away if you are upset about something, you can't hide it from her.
5. She is a 'Daddy's Girl' through and through. And Daddy is wrapped right around that little finger. She had a talk once with her Dad about having a boyfriend, and he's convinced her she can't date till she's 25. And then she wants to marry Daddy because she doesn't want to leave him!
6. She is our Social Butterfly. She loves people and going to school or the park or church. And if she knows someone, she'll talk your ear off! Funny thing though, if she's in one of her "moods", she won't give you the time of day!
7. She has "mood" swings. ( Here is the nearly part from #3!) If you do something she doesn't like, or change things without warning for her, watch out! There is a melt down like nothing else. We have to give her plenty of warning to live in peace.
8. I swear she never listens or pays attention (Flighty, I call it) but she has a VERY good memory. She often remembers objects or places by sight if we have passed them before going somewhere. And she is always talking about little things that happened ages ago, that you would never think she would remember! Like the necklace she lost last summer at Gramma's, she still talks about it and says she'll get it when we go back. She had that necklace for 2 days!
9. She has always loved to dance! Ever since she was little, (probably with me teaching clogging!) She loves music and dancing. Lately she's been into Hannah Montana, and even though she doesn't know the words, she tries to sing along. She does have quite the moves!
10. Her nick name is "Lou Who", because when Uncle Steve saw her in the hospital, he said she had a nose like the "Who's" from Dr. Suess. He started calling her Gracie Lou Who. And it stuck!

There's my Gracie Dawn. She is such a special little girl, 

and even with 

the Dramatics, I am soo glad to have her in my life. She helps remind me that there are some 

things that just aren't 

important. Just let those things go and live your life in bliss! Love you 

little Lou Who!