Happiest

This week is looking to be as crazy as last week.  I'm not sure how my life got so busy but it has and I'm not sure I can keep up.  I did finally get in to see the Doctor about my arthritis and non-thyroid that are both highly out of control.  I'm stiff as a board and my hair is falling out in handfuls.  I can't follow a conversation, I'm grouchy, tired and in pain.  It's pretty much the pits.  However life does carry on and even though I have been spoiled rotten with the best health of my life this past year I now know that I can and will feel good again and this is just a minor setback.  My Doctor, who is amazing is fixing me up and I should be good as new shortly (fingers crossed).  Oh how I love her!

picture via turquoise,tulips and bliss

Did you read the "Where's the Beef post"?  Well you would have thought I had had enough of bulk food orders but noooooooo....I got 2 flats of strawberries over the weekend and spent all of Saturday making 20 pints of strawberry freezer jam along with 10 other projects.  Yes, I am a crazy lady!  I see no other food orders in my future anytime soon.  Maybe this is why I am having a health flare up?

I did cheer up yesterday when I saw this quote on my Tumblr thread...................

picture via spunkyjunky

Because Barney makes me smile :)
Happy Monday!

May Day

Happy May 

and may your month 

be filled with flowers


picture via jess nichols

I saw this quote today and just had to share.

That got me thinking........"am I classy and fabulous?" 

I think not.

Then I thought....."what makes a person classy and fabulous?"

Then I saw this quote from Audrey Hepburn (love her)

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries or the way she combs her hair.  The beauty of a woman must be seen from her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.  For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others, for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness, and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.

OK, I'm going to add "become classy and fabulous" to my 40 before 40 list.  I have my 2011 song, my 2011 word (almost), my 2011 list and now I have my 2011 quote.  

I'm on a roll here peeps and I'm loving 2011 more than you can ever know!

Lightbulb Moment

I'm learning to be O.K. with this.  

I want to do it all...photography, sewing, baking, cooking, having a perfectly decorated house, 

obedient children and crafting for every holiday.  

I am not June Cleaver and I'm OK.

I can do a lot of amazing things
(my newest favorite is squats)
and I do have my beautiful family so let's be honest here......
I can not do it all  but I can work hard to get things that matter done.

I just need to keep reminding myself 

so I don't go into a funk♥

Happy Minds

Yesterday I woke up with a cold.  Pressure in my head, sneezing, running nose, achy, tired, grouchy.  (I'm sure you wanted to know all that - sorry)  Today wasn't much better.  It didn't help that we had a cute 6 1/2 year old wedged between us all night. (she was sad so she came in with us to feel better....which made me sad because I dislike sharing my bed)  While I was getting my fill of eye-candy on tumbler I came across this:

It reads:
"Most folks are as HAPPY as they make up their MINDS to be."


And I have to admit...it made me feel instantly happy.  

The colors, the words and good ol' Abe sure made me feel cheery inside.  

So for the rest of the day, sick or not I'm going to be happy.

Even if it kills me♥

picture courtesy of: create.find.admire

New Favorite Quote

After our crazy day of work, baby sitting, a half day at school and lots of playing outside! the girls and I were eating dinner and watching the Duggar's.  Don't you just love that show?!  We do.  I love how they aren't afraid to tell us about their faith and how they pray when things get hard - right there on TV!!  I love it.  We need more shows like that instead of shows like Jersey Shore or Keeping up with the Kardashians.

While watching, Michelle Duggar told us (the viewers) the best quote/statement.  I had to rewind just so I could write it down:

"with any tough situation you have in life it can either make you bitter or better."

 

I love this quote!  Isn't it so true?!  You can always look at it as a positive or negative and sometimes while you are in the middle of something so hard you can't see the better.  But it will be there.  You just have to breath and keep your chin up and smile.  It will get better.

Thanks Michelle Duggar - this is my new favorite quote♥

Did you take pictures today?  Are you doing 12 on the 12th?

Little Funnies

I teach the 6 year olds in Primary at Church.

They are so cute and so, so funny!

They crack me up each and every week.

Last week Amberly (she's in my class♥) was wearing a new outfit.  

One of the little girls came in and went to sit next to her.  

She stopped...looked at Amberly's out fit and said:

(with hand motions I might add)

"I like it, I love it, I want some more of it!"

Hilarious!!!  Amberly and I are still laughing about it a week later.

This week our lesson was on Choosing the Right.

There were stories and questions and we talked about DARES.  

They really liked the lesson and we had alot to discuss.  

I was asking the kids how choosing the wrong makes you feel 

and one little girl piped up and said:  

"Choosing the wrong makes you feel - 

Yucky and Mad, Grumpy and Sad"

Brilliant is she not?  I love how they can come up with such simple yet perfect truths! 

 It's our new class motto.  

We wrote it on the board and had everyone chanting it when they left for the day.  

Cute.

I'm out of my funk.  

Things are still in chaos but we took cookies 

to our two favorite teachers last night 

and it made us all feel happy and made the day so much sweeter. 

(and I don't mean cause cookies were involved!)

Cookies can always get me out of a funk!  

How about you?

cake, girlfriends and being a cool mom

Yesterday I went to the cutest place for lunch with the girlfriends. It was birthday time so we had to celebrate. One of the girls found this darling little cafe that served us yummy salads with little macaroon cookies on top. Each chair at the tables were painted a different color (or colors-they were quite Mary Engelbreitish) and had a local business ad painted on it somewhere. What a great idea! I love clever people.
After we were done eating the waitress brought out two of the most divine little layer cakes made for just one person with a candle on each. One white – one chocolate. Well, we thought it was white until we had a taste. It was unbelievable. Seriously! It had this yummy, creamy not quite cream cheese frosting but not a true butter cream either. The cake, come to find out was some kind of caramel cake. I have got to find a recipe for it. We were all dying over it. In fact we gobbled it up with not much left over!
I just went and did a search. Can’t find it but Paula Dean has one that sounds pretty darn good! Why are things that taste so good so bad for us? Jeez!
This morning Tom and I woke up at 7:55am. Oops! The girls are supposed to leave for school at 8:30am. I was about to get up to start the rush when Tom said, “lets let them sleep” and pulled out his book. The covers were so cozy and I was so comfortable I said O.K. and pulled my book out too. We read till about 8:30 when the girls came in. Cassidy saw the clock, had a panicked look on her face then crawled in with us. I guess she figured “oh well” just like us. I felt like a cool Mom having a lazy morning with my little family. I hope the truant officer doesn’t find out. Is there a truant officer in elementary school?
Today I’m off to clean and prep for book club tomorrow. Most of my decorating/remodeling plans have poofed into smoke but I’ll live. It will still be fun even if I don’t have new doorknobs, an ottoman, my bathroom painted, etc.
Have a happy Wednesday! And here’s a fun quote for you and me.

picture curtsy of Mary Engelbreit

Questions:

What’s on your To-Do list?

What’s your favorite cake?

You Are Beautiful

Cassidy went to a Stake Activity Day Party on Saturday (for church girls 8-11). I'm so sad I am not the leader for these girls and missed this fun day! One of the classes she went to (there were four and all were darling!) was called True Beauty Tips. I thought I would post them so we can all benefit from the fun day they had!

True Beauty Tips

For Beautiful Lips

Say only good things about others

For Sparkling Eyes-

Look for the good in everyone

For a Slim Figure-

Work hard helping and sharing with those in need

For Lovely Hands-

Use them often to lift others

For Poise and Grace-

Walk with the knowledge that you are a daughter of God

Have a great day Beauty Queens!

And We Are Led........

I haven't had time this summer to do a lot of blog reading which has made me sad. I feel like I am out of the loop with all my blog friends but my kids come first so I guess until school starts that's just how it's going to be.

However......I have found a new blog thanks to Lizzy. I read the whole blog in one sitting and it has made me so thankful that we have the opportunity to come in contact with people through blogging that we would never have been blessed by otherwise. I am a better person because of her and her prospective on life and death.

All week since reading this blog the song "For Good" from Wicked has been playing in my mind. Here is part of it:

GLINDA

I've heard it said

That people come into our lives for a reason

Bringing something we must learn

And we are led

To those who help us most to grow

If we let them

And we help them in return

Well, I don't know if I believe that's true

But I know I'm who I am today

Because I knew you:

Unlike the lyrics, I do believe this is true. We are all here for a reason and we are here to be an example and share our talents with others to help them and us be better.

This blog.........A Daily Scoop is about a sweet family who has lost their baby due to a drowning. Her perspective on life and death is comforting to those of us who have lost a loved one. She has an amazing testimony of the gospel and an even more amazing way of capturing it in her writing. Like the lyrics to the song, I am a better person with a stronger inner peace because of this wonderful woman. Thank you Stephanie! Heavenly Father is blessing you and others in ways you may not even know!

Fortunes

We love eating at Pei Wei. It's my favorite Chinese food around!

I love the : Pei Wei Spicy and the Sweet & Sour Chicken.
Tom and the girls and I usually share these with some Lettuce Wraps and we are full and happy!
The best part is opening our fortune at the end of our meal. Isn't it funny how no matter what fortune you get it can apply to you? The other night when we ate there was no exception!

Here are our fortunes:

Tom - You are faithful in the execution of any public trust.

(um, that's what he does for a living!)

Me - You create enthusiasm around you.

(Tom said, "That's exactly you!")

Cassidy - Others will be impressed with your generosity.

(She is the most giving girl I know!)

Abby - You have the fine capacity for the enjoyment of life.

(So true! She is Happy Abby after all!)

What is your favorite place to eat?

Can you remember any of your fortunes?

Fathers Day

Tom with his girls and his Dad

Happy Fathers Day!

IT'S SO NICE TO HAVE A DAD AROUND THE HOUSE

DADS are special people no home should be without,

For every family will agree they're 'SO NICE TO HAVE ABOUT' -
They are a happy mixture of a 'SMALL BOY' and a 'MAN'

And they're very necessary in every 'FAMILY PLAN' -

Sometimes they're most demanding and stern, and firm and tough

But underneath they're 'soft as silk' for this is just a 'BLUFF' -

But in any kind of trouble Dad reaches out his hand.

And you can always count on him to help and understand -

And while we do not praise Dad as often as we should,

We love him and admire him, And while that's understood,

It's only fair to emphasize his importance and his worth -

For if there were no loving Dads this would be a 'LOVELESS EARTH'.

By Helen Steiner Rice

things to remember......for blackmail

A few funny comments from the girls this weekend.

Abby, in the car driving home from swimming w/ Grandma:

"OH SNAPS!!!! We forgot to go up the stairs."

Me: "what stairs?"

Abby: "the stairs at the pool Mom"

Me: laughing to myself because did she just say, "Oh snaps?" What, is she 17?

Then there's Cassidy. We are leaving the house and she says:

"I need to bring my brush because I'm a beauty queen."

O.K. then, I guess I need to lay off the compliments. It's going to her head!

Yes, I'm totally going to remind them of these funny comments when they get older!

busy week

This has turned out to be a crazy week. I thought it was going to be all care-free and breezy. Nope, it never turns out that way does it! Monday was our trial at Abacus. It didn't go well. Cassidy didn't cooperate and we both got yelled at. I guess this is normal, the teacher is strict. Getting yelled at is not one of my favorite past times mind you. Cassidy of course was humiliated and I was mortified. We had "words" in the car on the way home and she lost all privileges for the rest of the day. Surprisingly she was very obedient. She cleaned her room - fast, did her homework for school and abacus and unloaded the dishwasher without a peep. I was proud of her even if I was disappointed in her. She's a good girl. The next day we went back to abacus and she did great! She listened, asked questions with a somewhat load voice, sat up straight and seemed interested in learning this new way of math. I'll have to tell you all about abacus another time. It's unreal! Really! What these kids can do......WOW!!!!

Abby had her last day of pre-school Tuesday and Garrett's birthday party on Wednesday. Then an end of the year party for pre-school on Thursday. That girl has a busier party schedule than I do! She's 3 for heavens sake! I guess I would have to say that is my fault huh?
Last night I was at the school helping Cassidy's teacher pack up her room. (I felt like a teachers pet) She is going to the new school and has to have everything ready next week. They are having the 6th grade boys do the moving. Isn't that funny! (Half of the school/teachers are moving to a brand new school) I told her they can't be worse than the EQ. She thought that was pretty funny! No offense EQ.

I am so excited to be making the most awesome teacher gift thanks to Kristy! She is brilliant and I am totally stealing her idea (with her blessings)! I will have to post the end result as soon as I finish making it. Here's a link to her site if you want a great idea. I'm also doing the gumballs. So cute!

Some cute things my kids did this week:

1. Abby made flower cookies all by herself with a skewer, gumdrops and Mothers Sugar cookies shaped like a flower. I showed her how to do it and she made 20 of them! She's getting so big.
2. Cassidy is getting so brave. She really overcame that abacus fiasco without much drama. I'm very proud of her.
3. Abby re-learned how to swim. I love watching her flail every possible body part while she is under the water. Nothing could be cutier than that! Plus she wears these huge goggles which make her look like a little frog. (grin)
4. Cassidy climbed into bed with Abby this morning and they played until I woke up. (8am - oops) I love it when they are nice to each other and friends. I hope they will be best friends some day. Right now the age gap is too great. Pretty soon it won't be and it will be heaven!
5. Abby is my little shadow and I love, love, love it! She cooks with me, cleans with me, helps me do pretty much whatever. I hope that never stops.

I love how my girls are growing and changing. It's fun to see who they are becoming.

If you don't like something change it;

if you can't change it,

change the way you think about it.

Mary Engelbreit