Imma Be

I've had a NO GOOD VERY BAD DAY today.  I just have NOT been in a great mood.  The girls have aggravated the HECK out of me today.  I've tried to have patience with them, but I just can't seem to find any.  It's LOST.

Chris got home from work and took over kid duty for me so I could have a little break to regroup.  Chris told the girls to leave me alone for a bit and under my breath I said "Cause I'm acting like a B!"  That's what I said... not the actual word, but the letter.

Later, Taylor was climbing and clinging to me, so Chris got onto her.  He asked her to come to him, and asked if she knew why she was in trouble.

"Cause Mommy's a B?!?"

I really needed that laugh!

Reminds me of a quote I wrote down forever ago

"Children seldom misquote you.  In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said!"

T's Perspectives

Taylor has been sneaking into my office and getting my camera recently.  She actually handles it pretty well, so there have been a few times when I'll let her use it and take some pictures.  She's really not too bad about capturing her image.  I'm pretty proud.  For the sake of space on my memory card, here's some of T's Perspectives

*** There is one thing that really drives me nuts about all this.  How come Moo will sit and pose for T... but run away from me when I get the camera out (see previous post.)  I don't understand.***

*** I love this one.  She's got the cutest toes.***

Girl Butts and Boy Shorts

Maddie has gone without a diaper since 9 this morning.  

We bought her some of the CUTEST little girl panties... BOY SHORTS

Maddie's butt is adorable regardless, but I LOVE how her little bubble butt looks in these...

She hasn't gone in her potty yet today... YES she's gone 7 hours without peeing or pooping.  

But I have filled her sippy cup with water and I refuse to put a diaper on her butt.

She even made it through nap time in her big girl panties.  

At least I know she can hold it!

She WILL be potty trained before the end of the summer... I think she'll have to be to start mother's day out anyways!  (I'll be working at one at the Y and the girls will be there with me... Not quite "mother's day out" for me, but atleast they'll be learning something!  More on that later)

To Load or Not to Load

Me and Chris have an ongoing battle with the dishwasher.  

I think the truly hard part is that we both figure the other one will get to the dishes.  But the other one usually doesn't and the dishes pile up.  

Our new solution is that dishes are NOT allowed in the sink, unless they are pots or pans that need hand washing.  We will load the washer throughout the day(s) and start the washer at night.

To help aid in our battle against washing of dirty dishes, I made a dishwasher magnet.

I'm sure you can kinda figure out the process... It's not hard

But I'll let you in on the steps anyways.

I took a 4x6 adhesive backed magnet sheet.

I cut up scrapbook paper (reminds me of bubbles) to create my background.  Was trying to go for a mosaic 

look, but I think I kinda missed.

I printed out Clipart with "Clean" and "Dirty" underneath

I cut them out and glued them to the scrapbooking paper.

I put contact paper on the front of the magnet to help keep it clean and make it last longer.

When you unload the dishwasher, you flip the magnet to say "DIRTY" on top.  When you start the dishwasher, you flip the magnet to say "CLEAN" on top.  Not too hard!

TADA!  The end.  Hopefully this will help us keep our sink clean and dishwasher loaded...

Now my only problem is if I should keep this ON the dishwasher, or on the fridge at eye level... Suggestions?

Magnet Board

It always seems that I have my best crafting ideas in the middle of the night.

Last night I decided I was sick of having a cup of pens on my desk.  I went rummaging around our apartment for a solution.  I ended up in the kitchen with a magnetic desk organizer.  We've had it stuck to our fridge with dry erase markers and notepads in it.

I figured it would be perfect.  So I brought it back to my office to discover a problem.  No where to put it.  I put on my thinking cap.  What could I use to put this magnetic organizer with in reach of my desk.  Something metal....  Hmmm....

I remembered along time ago seeing a craft where a woman took a cookie sheet, hung it on a wall, and let her kids use their ABC magnets on it.  There was my solution.  A COOKIE SHEET.  I went back into the kitchen, under the stove.  I have like 6 cookie sheets!!!  Where did they all come from???  I think i got most of them from bridal showers and our wedding.  I was trying to decide if I should do this.  Then it hit me, when will I EVER need to use all these cookie sheets at once?  I really maybe only need two or three at the most.  

So I brought one back to my room and started thinking about decorating it.  Cause who wants to look at the back of a cookie sheet all day?  I got out my scrapbooking paper and my mod podge.  I had a set of scrapbooking paper and die cuts I think I bought at the Dollar Tree.  Since they all are from the same set, I didn't have to mix and match anything.  Just stick it on, and paint away with the mod podge.  

Here is my finished project.  The really easy thing is that there was already a hole on one end of my cookie sheet.  Yes, I'd probably rather have it up horizontally instead of vertical... but this way there was nothing else to do but hammer in a nail and hang the cookie sheet in place.

I may end up making another one or two to have a set of them on the wall here at my desk.  

Now I just need some crazy cute magnets to match... maybe I can make those too!

Also, the ribbon above the board is my inspiration wall.  I didn't have a corkboard to hang stuff on... so I did whatever I could.  Stick some ribbon to the wall and use paperclips to put up things that inspire me.  There are pictures of the girls, postcards, paintings (from chris and me)... I can add to it or take away from it as simple and removing a paper clip.  I love it.  Now I just need to make the rest of this wall as cute.

Green (ish) Thumb

Everyone I know has gardens this year.  I'm so completely jealous of all the green and home grown foods.  I do not have a green thumb.  I can't even grow kids (for proof, look at maddie!!) let alone a plant!  Even if I could grow plants, we don't really have anywhere to grow some!  Yes, I could create a simple little garden outside on our porch if I wanted to.  But I guess I don't want to truthfully.  

I found a great solution to my problem.  I want the green, without the hassle!  It's a new take on fake plants!

PRINTABLE PLANTS!!!

Here is my pretty little plant sitting on my desk.  It adds just a little something green to my work space and I love it.  No watering.  No dusting.  Nothing!  

I found this (and that alphabet print sitting beside my flowers) on this great website

kindovermatter.blogspot.com/

If you scroll down and click on freebies on the left hand side of the page, you'll find some really awesome printable things.  I've been printing away all night.

New Phones - New Numbers

This is my new phone.  It's also Chris's new phone. 

Chris's work has paid for his cell phone for a little while now.  Tomorrow he has to turn it in and we had been trying to figure out what we would do.  There weren't many family plans out there that offered what we wanted. 

Chris finally checked out Boost Mobile.  For only $50 a month we can have unlimited everything.  Well, that's $50 a piece, but that $100 a month for both of us is a great rate compared with some other plans and companies.  A huge plus to us also is... NO CONTRACT.

After 6 years with Sprint - I'M DONE.  I officially broke up with them last night.  I had tried for over an hour to get Sprint to transfer my number since they're partners or something with Boost.  After being transfered to 3 different sprint customer service reps, and finally being hung up on, I decided keeping my number was not worth it.  So I canceled my phone.  It won't actually be turned off until the 7th of august though.

But yeah... Me and Chris both have new cell phones (identical, including the cases... we're a bit nervous about switching phones, but Chris is going to put some vinyl on his at work) and we both have new numbers.  SO - If you'd like to have our new numbers - Let me know!  I'm obviously not going to post them on here.  I also have a new email address (yahoo has over 3000 unread messages!)  so if you want my new email and my new number - let me know and I'll get them to you somehow. 

Chatanooga

First

You can't tell that Maddie's a Daddy's girl at all.

On Monday (7/5) Me and Chris both had the day off from work, so we drove down to Chattanooga to visit Cayce and Atilla!

Maddie and Taylor both adore their newest uncle - Cayce's husband Atilla!

Taylor's such a little weirdo - I love it!

Maddie has the most gorgeous eyes!

Swimming in the wading pools outside the aquarium

We had a blast and the girls loved all the water play and fun.  Me and Chris have both decided we LOVE Chattanooga, it's such a fun, family friendly city.  And it's the perfect place for day trips.  We also had fun seeing Aunt Cayce and Uncle Atilla.  We wished they lived closer, but it's fun to go visit them!

Summer = Pool

So far this summer, me and the girls have only gone to the YMCA pool twice.  Very poor numbers, but It's been  insanely hot and I haven't been feeling great.  But inspite of our lack of aquired pool time, Maddie and Taylor have both made HUGE leaps and bounds as far as their swimming skills go.

Taylor is now able to swim on her own with just arm floaties on.  She can hold her nose and put her head in the water.  She can also blow bubbles in the water.  She's still a bit iffy about going under all the way - it's not her favorite yet, but maybe by the end of the summer, we'll have a little fish.

Maddie doesn't really care for the arm floaties, but we have a small doughnut she loves.  It makes me nervous cause it doesn't have a bottom to it that holds her in, she just sits in it and holds on to it.  She doesn't like for me to hold on to her, cause she wants to feel like a big girl.  This makes me crazy nervous.  She jumps in from the side of the pool, and I even dunk her under sometimes.  She never cries.  Maybe gets aggravated with me a bit.  But oh well.  She'll just have to get used to it.  It's a part of swimming and something they'll have to learn how to do.

We did have a small scare the first time we went to the Y pool.  I was walking in the froggy pool with Taylor (it goes from 0-3 feet) and maddie was playing maybe 8 feet away in about a foot and a half of water.  Maddie slipped and went face first into the water.  She laid there on her belly for a good 2-3 seconds before I could get to her and flip her over.  She was scared of course.  But didn't cry.  She wanted to get out of the pool immediately, but I knew once she got out after that, she wouldn't get back in.  I took her over the edge of the pool and we sat for a minute or two with the water splashing over our legs.  There were tons of other kids and eventually she got back into playing with them.

There is a froggy slide at this pool too, and BOTH the girls love going down it.  Maddie is the youngest kid I've seen going down it.  I'm proud of my big (little) girl.

Anyways - I just read an article on drowning and was shocked.  It turns out that drowning is definately not what we all picture in our minds - the flailling, screaming, gasping, drama we always see on TV.  In fact, in a small percentage of cases, kid drownings occur right in front of the parents eyes without them ever realizing what's happening.

I thought I'd post this link to share this info with everyone.  it was an eye opener for me and I'll definately know what to look for when we're at the pool now.

http://mariovittone.com/2010/05/154/

Another last minute thought - This just seems so strange to me.  Maddie is getting this CRAZY tan.  It's too odd.  She's my blonde baby so I figured she'd be fair skinned, but nope.  I guess the Indian in my family (shows up in cayce and michael... they both can get awesome tans) came out in Maddie.  Taylor in the other hand is IRISH... Dark hair and fair skinned.  Chris is very proud of that.  :)

Hmm... It's hot right now, and all this talk about the pool has got me thinking, it'd be a great day to head out there when Chris gets home from work...  Better start getting ready now!!!

2nd post in 30 minutes,

I had to post this picture up.  This awesome embroidered pic just reminds me of my sister in law carrie.  Don't know why, but I love it.  Wonder if I could make one like it....

http://www.etsy.com/listing/46723057/lasses-with-glasses

Addicted...

It is time for me to admit my latest addiction... MOMMY BLOGS.

These are not people I know, so I tend to feel a bit like a stalker, but these moms are great, hilarious, and just like me.

Here's some I've found recently that I'm loving to death... and some fun stuff I've seen on their blogs.

I Am Momma - Hear Me Roar!
I had no idea this fun mom blog was LDS!  She did a great few posts on taking pictures recently, and this was one that was there.  I have to say that I'M in LOVE with this idea.  Could one of my sister's in law please take a pic of their future missionary like this??? I love it.

I Heart Publix
If I haven't told you yet, I'm loving my coupons at the moment... Latest trip I saved $80 and spent just over $20 at Publix.  So Yes... I heart publix.  And I heart this website too.

Living With Punks
Another of my addictions at the moment is sewing tutorials.  This one from Living with punks is sooooo cute.  I'm seriously itching to get out to goodwill and the local thrift stores to buy up all the sheets and pillowcases I can find for all the projects I've got in mind.  I really REALLY can't wait til I have my own sewing machine.  :)  I'll be a sewing fool!!!!

One day, I'll have enough time to link all my SUBSCRIPTIONS to the blog so you can learn to love all these wonderful blogs as much as I do.

If you haven't done it already, you should check out Google Reader.  It has made it 100x easier for me to keep up with my favorite blogs (except for those which are private.)  It's Awesome.  And has now replaced Facebook as my 2nd biggest waste of time.  #1... My worst addiction... Minesweeper... but that's for another blog!

I'm more of a Jacob fan, But...

This fun silhouette can be found here.  Enjoy!

http://pinandpaper.blogspot.com/2009/11/embracing-my-inner-13-year-old.html

Also find a template for a great "La Push Cliff Diving Team" Iron on Transfer here:

http://heirloompaperie.blogspot.com/2009/11/free-template-new-moon-t-shirt-iron-on.html

Let me know what you make out of them if you use them!

To One Great Little Bro

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL!!!

YOU ARE A STUD!!!

HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!

WE'LL HAVE CAKE TONIGHT!!!

My newest project: A Hanging Book Shelf

Broken, but Healing

Depression is a very hard disease to describe. There are so many parts that affect it, it's also extremely hard to treat. There is not a fix-all. It is different for everyone.

I have struggled with my latest episode for about a year and a half now. I hit rock bottom last Wednesday. I am too embarrassed to go into much detail, but I was truly praying to my Father in Heaven to let me move on from my struggles, to the peace I know I will feel in the next life. I have tried many, many, many things to try and fix my disease. To make it go away. To feel like me again. From medicine and therapy, to prayer, mediation, exercise, etc. I have tried to stay busy and ignore it. I have tried to think through it. Somethings have helped in bits... but nothing has been the cure-all I was looking for.

I have realized there is no cure-all. This is my climb, my journey. I would say I don't know why me, but I received that answer in a blessing today. It is because I am strong enough to overcome it. I am strong enough to endure to the end. And how much better that peace will feel when I have succeeded in my struggle, when I have won.

There are so many things that I know have contributed to my depression. A big one was not forgiving myself, for so many things.

There is a woman in my mind... the person I should be. She is perfect in every way. Her house is always immaculate. Her children are well behaved, fed the perfect amount of fruits and vegetables, and bathed everyday. Her laundry is never piled. Her makeup never runs. Her husband never reminds her to call the cell phone company or the cable company. She can buy all her groceries without spending a dime. She is great at work, and all her coworkers and those around her adore her. She can do anything and everything she sets her mind too. She is the best at any calling she receives, always does her visiting teaching, always baking, always praying, always reading her scriptures, always attending the temple. She has never had one nasty thought about anyone, ever. She has never said a bad word, never said a cruel word. She is EVERYTHING that I am NOT.

I could not forgive myself for NOT being her. I could not forgive myself for my past transgressions and sins. I could not move on. I have carried a weight on my shoulders most of my life. That weight has very greatly contributed to my depression.

I also know that alot of my problems come from hormones. Chemical imbalances. Some drugs treated it for a while. But they're no longer working. I kind of feel like the doctor who prescribed them wasn't listening to me. Every time I said they weren't working, my doses were upped, in most cases, doubled. I have decided that I'm worse now that I was before taking the medication, so I'm going to see other doctors about coming off of them. Me and Chris have both prayed about this and feel it's the right thing to do. The medication was making it so that I could not think straight. I could not tell what thoughts were my own, prompting from my Father in Heaven, or from somewhere else. I feel like I was/am so medicated, it's hard for me to feel what's right and wrong, real and fake.

The reason I'm sharing all this is because I know lots of people have been checking on me lately... calling to make sure I'm okay.

Yes, I hit rock-bottom last week, but I'm still here. Yes I'm broken, but I'm healing now finally. I finally feel hopeful. Another reason to share is I know I tried for so long to fight this on my own. Chris did not even realize how bad I had gotten until last Wednesday. I have realized now how much I can rely on him. He is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. When I hit the bottom, and could no longer fight for myself... He fought for me. He fights when I loose the strength to. And my Heavenly Father, through prayer, and blessings, and the scriptures, I've come to recognize even more strongly that I truly am a daughter of God. He is completely aware of my pain and struggles. And he is there for me. He has given me the power and tools necessary to beat this. And I know that through him, I will win.

Lastly, I have you all. My friends and family, Thank you all for listening to the promptings of the spirit. I have received so many phone calls, emails, etc, just from people checking in on me. Some are people I've hardly even spoken to in real life before. I may not have called you back, or written back... But I really really really do appreciate you. This may sound totally cheesy, but I been so blessed by all of you. I hope I can someday return the favor.