Confessions

I ate five of my mom's most delicious chocolate chip cookies in 24 hours. And I didn't even feel guilt. So I had another one a day later! How does she make them taste so good? Love, I'm sure of it.

I vacuum and dust my house at least twice a week. There are several reasons for this. The first is need. I swear the dust multiplies exponentially here. And my kids leave a trail of crumbs with their snacks. And second, I am bored so I might as well clean.

I have to secretly throw away Tyler's papers from school and church in the laundry room garbage can. If he had his way, he would keep every single paper from every single class.

I cannot stand a mess. At all. My kids know they can only have a few toys out at a time. Does this make me a bad mom?

I still haven't put away Hannah's Halloween costume yet. I couldn't tell you why.

I cannot watch scary movies. I will be up all night...which means Steve is up too. Sorry honey! I may or may not have looked out of the shower just to make sure no one is there after watching a creepy movie. Maybe.

I simultaneously wonder if I am ruining my kids, and yet know that I'm doing the best I can so that's got to be enough.

If I go more than three days without working out, I have a fear I will end up on The Biggest Loser.

I have never really liked my name and I didn't have a middle name growing up. Yet when I got married and had to change my name legally, I couldn't come up with a middle name.

I am addicted to carbs. I could not go a week without some sort of bread or pasta. And don't get me started on my love of cheese (all kinds) and ranch dressing. And my mom's chocolate chip cookies.

There you have it. My confessions. Trust me, there are many more I could list. Just for fun, what are some of your confessions?

65 Years of Memories

Hard to believe, but my mom turned 65 this last week. My sister and I wanted to do something special for her. For her 60th, we took her to a special dinner just the three of us. This time, Kristin found the perfect idea. So here it is broken down into five phases.

Phase 1- Break into my mom's house (which wasn't hard since I still have a house key) and raid her addresses folder.

Phase 2 - Send a letter to all of my mom's family and friends. We asked them to send the stamped return addressed envelop to me filled with a memory of my mom, with the goal of filling 65 different envelopes.

Phase 3 - Anxiously await the mailman each day to see if more memories come in. Read each memory as they come in. I laughed out loud at some (like the one from my uncle when they were kids and he asked my mom to ride her bike over him....and she did!). I also cried. My mom is wonderful and selfless.

Phase 4 - Fill 66 envelopes with wonderful, funny, touching memories of my mom. Why 66 envelopes? Well, because we had too many good memories to limit it. So I guess we gave her one to grow on!

Phase 5- Wrap the gift and watch my mom be touched beyond measure at this gift. It was AWESOME! She told me she stayed up late to read all 66 envelopes.

Happy Birthday Mom! Thank you for everything, and here's to many more years of memories!

Out with the old, in with the new!

We had a wonderful Christmas. Why? Because it consisted of family, food, games, toys (for kids and parents), food, a little sleep, movies, food, games and family. More than most years, I just loved all the time I spent with those I love. Christmas really is about family. I loved being with my mom, cousins, aunt and uncle, sister and her family, and of course my three loves! The kids went to bed exhausted each night, as did their parents.

Christmas morning was our first just the four of us. It was relaxing and the kids could play with their gifts as they opened them. Although, they mostly just wanted to open another one! I need to remember that they are just as happy with cheap little toys as they are with expensive ones. I could have only gotten them stocking stuff and they would have been thrilled!

As for the New Year, I have some resolutions. I am a goal person. I know a lot of people aren't, but I like to have something to work towards. So this year, here are a few of my goals for 2012:

1. Try at least three new recipes a month.

2. Run a mile in under 8 minutes, once accomplished, set a new time goal.

3. Only eat one dessert/sweet a month....this might kill me.

4. Use a cash budget...envelopes and all.

I challenge each of you to come up with one thing you can do to actively make 2012 a great year!

Perspective

Every year around the holidays I try to do something to focus on the REAL meaning of Christmas. Last year I read The Robe. If you haven't read it, I strongly suggest you do. It made all the difference for me last year. This year I have been reading the four gospels from the New Testament. I have tried to read with two things in mind. First, that this isn't just a nice story, but actual events. And second, what do I need to change in my own life because of Christ's teachings. That is where perspective comes in.

I know there are a lot of moms out there with more kids and more on their plates, so I shouldn't complain. But I do. Having two energetic children and a husband who is gone more nights than he is home is HARD. Some nights I go to bed so thankful that I can try again in the morning. Sometimes I am a little jealous that my husband gets to go out to nice lunches and have adult conversation, while I am home eating macaroni and cheese and explaining why we don't throw our food on the floor. It had been a rough couple of weeks when I read Mark 8:36-37 "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

That scripture really struck a chord in me. Perspective. The most important thing I can be doing is to be home with my children trying to set a righteous example for them. All the accolades of the world will mean nothing if I fail my children. I have been praying for strength beyond my own so that I don't enter "Mean Mom Mode." You know, that point where you can feel the veins in your neck bulge and you think you might actually turn green like the Hulk. I have felt love pour into my heart. I love my children. And more than anything I have been reminded that all they really want is for me to show them love.

This Christmas I am thankful for the life of Christ. He is the best gift. He is helping me turn my weaknesses into strengths. Because of the teachings of the Savior, I have the perspective to know that the most important thing is family. So in the words of Hannah, "Merry Pimpas!"

All inclusive

There has been a lot going on lately. So much so, that I am just going to put the highlights in an all inclusive blog post! Lucky you.

First up is playing in the snow, then the leaves when it all melted. Tyler was truly giddy when we told him he could get his snowboots on....the ones he has been asking to wear since September!

Next up is BLACK FRIDAY. I am not one of those crazy women who are in line by midnight for their favorite store. I just go the day before Thankgiving and put stuff on hold. I'm not going to lie, I got the deal of a lifetime on Friday. I always buy my kids clothes this winter on sale and use them for next winter. The same goes for coats. Gymboree was having a 50% off sale on their winter coats. I found Tyler the most handsome navy blue Peacoat....EVER. So cute I almost don't want him to wear it next year. It was originially $70! With the 50% off sale, plus they were taking an extra 30% off since it was before noon, and I had a 20% off coupon, I got the coat for $10.50. No joke. I may or may not have jumped up and down...a little.

Then we have Family Home Evening at Temple Square to see the lights. We decided to go before it really got cold. I discovered something there. Hannah doesn't know how to say Christmas. She would point and say, "Look at those Pimpas lights." Or it would come out "Merry Crimpas!" Too cute!