Looking For the Silver Lining

I don't consider myself a natural born optimist. It's something that I work on every day. Tonight as I was lying next to the Moose Man as he drifted off into slumber I reflected on my day. Today was a good day. There were a few mishaps throughout the day but I realized that even though that was the case the outcome was still good.

It started with a surprise visit from my adorable niece and nephew who I haven't seen in months. Their chubby little faces and sweet little voices made me smile.

The remainder of the day was smooth sailing until we hit dinner time. Why is it that when the clock strikes 4:30 all hell breaks lose? Kids are starving and begging for food. There is homework to be completed, dinner to be made, dishes to clean up, baths to be had, teeth to be brushed, prayers to be said and FINALLY piggyback rides to bed, smooches and ooches and then...shut eye. Then throw into the mix a failed dinner, an argument with the hubs and a meltdown with the girl. Here's how it went down.

I made a BIG pot of chili for dinner and homemade breadsticks. I doubled the batch of chili because I wanted to share some with a friend and her family tomorrow. I was feeling pretty good about myself knowing that tomorrow I wouldn't be frantic trying to prepare a meal and get it delivered by a certain time. But then...I tasted the chili. Not so good. It wasn't that it was awful but it had a funny flavor. I'm pretty sure the chili powder I used was a tad too old. I was not happy! I borrowed some decent chili powder from a neighbor in hopes that maybe that would fix the problem or at least mask out the weird flavor. It didn't really seem to work. I was even more upset. Not only did it mean more work for me tomorrow when I had to make another batch of something for my friend, but it was money wasted on a food that no one was going to eat. At least we had our yummy breadsticks. Breadsticks and milk for dinner it was.

As I was lying with Moose tonight while he drifted off into slumber I decided that if there was something I was going to be grateful for it would be the fact that at least I had time to come up with something different. What would I have done had I made it tomorrow when I was suppose to deliver it to them. Then what? Then I would have been in a complete panic.

After supper Kam was watching something on the computer. I told her she could finish watching the remaining 10 minutes after she did her reading. After she completed her reading I asked her to brush her teeth and then she could finish what she was watching. Oh my! You would think I had told I was going to cut off her legs. Surprisingly I kept my cool as she marched off down the hall and slammed the bathroom door. Awww! The teenage years are going to be fantastic! After she brushed her teeth she stomped off to her bedroom and slammed the door again. Several minutes later a note comes sliding under her door and Moose the Mailman deliveries me my message.

It said: "Mom do not come in because I am not happy!"

I wrote back and slipped it back under her door. It said: Okay. But I love you!

A few minutes later Moose the Mailman deliveries me another letter.

Her reply: I love you best!

Do ya see the silver lining there? I do. She then came out of her room and gave me a big squeeze. I love that girl!

Prior to the failed supper fiasco the hubs and I had a small fight. He ran to the store for something and came back with this:

and this:

He called it his peace offering. Nevermind flowers. This girl likes FOOD! It made me smile! Again, a silver lining.

I'm reminded today that there is good to be had all around us if we just look.

Oh and just for fun. This is how the kids looked when they walked to the neighbor's house to get the chili powder I needed. Moose said he was "Fatso Boy" and Kam said she was "Strong Girl."

Ya know what else made me laugh today? When Myles claimed he "broke a bone" and needed crotchers.

Last but certainly not least I just want to say how thankful I am for these 2 beauties. This week is National Infertility week. Having suffered from infertility and wondering if I would ever have children I know how difficult it can be. But there is hope. And there is a silver lining. And good things will come to those who wait. And I can honestly say, the wait is so worth it!

My Greatest Gifts

I didn't GIVE you the gift of life,

But in my HEART I know.

The LOVE I feel is deep and real,

As if it HAD BEEN so.

For us to have EACH OTHER

Is like a DREAM come true!

No, I didn't GIVE you

The GIFT of life,

Life gave me the GIFT of YOU!

Author Unknown

Getting Out The Big Guns

The other night at dinner the kids were showing off their muscles. They then started begging their dad to join in. I figured since everybody else was doing it why not show them what I "don't" got. So I flexed my biceps and much to my dismay by daughter starts giggling. Actually I wasn't all that sad. It was pretty funny. When I asked her why she was laughing she said it was because my arms jiggle and truth be told she's right. She's brutally honest and doesn't hold back. Except for when it really matters like the time she swears she didn't hit her brother or told her friend that there were girl pull-ups in her room for her brother because they were the only ones we could find in his size. Very clever cover up little Bug.

Here is a picture I took after I hopped out of the shower and wrapped up in a towel! (I'm kidding for those of you who were doing double takes. If it were me there would be cleavage. Kidding....again!) And speaking of cleavage here is an inappropriate cartoon I found while searching for this picture of jiggly arms.

Keeping My Head Above Water

Oh hi. It's me. "Miss I Don't Stick To Anything I Start." Well maybe that's a bit harsh. My problem is I start something, veer off track a bit and then eventually find my way back to what I started. Again...consistency isn't my strong point. I guess a better way to look at it may be that at least I make my way back to what I started right? Maybe I'm not a quitter after all! I don't know about you other moms out there but Spring Break threw me off track a bit. My husband was gone the entire week of spring break. 8 days to be exact. He went here:

Look at those cherry blossoms! So pretty!

Home to Mr. President Obama. Should he be there? I'm not going to answer that question. This blog isn't about politics.

His youngest brother was accepted to United States Military Academy. (Awesome right?) So the hubs, his brother and dad went out to check out the area. They first started their journey in New York City. The hubs hated it!!! Too many people + drivers that don't obey traffic laws=cranky husband. He hardly even took any pictures there. Once they headed north to West Point he was a happy camper. And he loved all the history of Washington D.C.

The kids and I tried to make the best of our time without dad. Bugs is 100% daddy's girl and had a few melt downs throughout the week. One night she even slept in her dad's sweatshirt. She's too cute! The minute we sent her dad off at the airport she broke down in tears and was bawling her little eyes out. I said, "You don't cry like this when I leave." To which she said through her tears, "But dad is just my best dad." And I'm chop liver I suppose. No really. I love the relationship she has with her dad. It's very sweet! Plus I have a little boy who thinks I'm pretty awesome and he's 100% momma's boy.

I don't have any pictures of our escapades because I sent the camera with my man. On a side note: I told him to make sure not to lose the camera. It honestly is nothing fancy. A very small, very inexpensive digital camera. Kind of outdated too but it's all I have. His reply, "I won't lose it. I don't lose stuff." I gave him the look. (He loses everything.) He said, "I survived just fine for 2 years on my own." (Meaning his 2 year LDS Mission.) And guess what I said, "Yes but you had the Lord's help!" Good one huh? Obviously from the pictures above he didn't lose the camera. I'm so proud!

Our weekend started with a sleepover at Grandma Cindy's.

The following day we met my mom, sis and her kids to feed the ducks at the dam. Sooo cold and windy but the kids liked it. Moose threw entire slices of bread in at a time. Normally I wouldn't encourage it but the quicker we got rid of the bread the quicker we could leave. I'm a thinker. Next we went to pizza. Which was yum but not entirely enjoyable because Moose spilled his fruit punch right off the bat and insisted that he run around the restaurant while we tried to eat. I took him out to spank him but he didn't care. I'm convinced he enjoys pain.

The next day was General Conference which was excellent! We had plenty of goodies and set out the mini picnic table in the living room so the kids could color, listen and snack. They actually love conference. I think it's more about the treats and eating in the living room (which we don't do ever) but that's okay. You have to start somewhere.

Day 1 of spring break was a trip to the mall. The daughters choice not mine. They have this little play area with big squishy things to climb on like ice cream cones and soda. Kids thinks it's great! I think it's lame but being the great mom that I am we went to the mall. Did I mention that I stopped for a Diet Coke on the way so I'd be happy? I was happy until a stinky lady sat down right next to me. There were like 500 other spots to sit and she sat down RIGHT next to me. And I'm not trying to be rude but she smelled TERRIBLE!!! I don't do stinky smells and I was convinced that the BO smell was seeping into my delicious Diet Coke. At that point we decided to leave.

Day 2 & 3 we headed to Salt Lake to visit my brother, his wife and 2 adorable kids. The following day my SIL and I took the kids to Discovery Gateway. The kids loved it!

Day 4-McDonald's. Yep! The mall and then McDonald's all in 1 week. I'm living on the edge. I forgot to mention that it was snowing and freezing cold most the week so our options for activities were limited.

Day 5- Took the kids to see HOP. Super cute show!!!

Finally. The day that dad was coming home. I frantically worked and cleaned to make the house look good since I hadn't done any of that all week and then we headed to the airport to pick up the hubs. The kids were sooo happy and I was too. I guess it's true when they say that distance makes the heart grow fonder. Or is it stronger? I never can remember how those sayings go. The hubs had grown a goatee while he was away. The kids couldn't get over it. (He rarely has facial hair because he can't in his profession.) They kept asking him why he had "pokies" aka whiskers and Moose was convinced that he could grow a mustache too.

So Spring Break came and went and we had fun but now I'm paying for it. The hubs came home with bronchitis. (Which he's convinced he picked up on the subway in N.Y. Again...can you feel his love for the place?) The Moose man started sounding croupy and had a rough couple of nights. I had 500 loads of laundry, an empty refrigerator and a 3 year old that dumps every possible toy out in the living room for the world to see and step on. Oh...and after he dumps them out he dumps out all the Easter eggs, gets out the pots and pans and spoons so he can drum like EB on HOP. (Seriously..take your kids to that movie. They will love it!) Right now we are both wearing Tupperware on our head for hats. I look fantastic!

Life is just busy and sometimes I feel like I can't keep my head above water. And then I wonder how all you working moms and mothers of more than 2 kids do it. You're amazing! And then I start to compare myself to you and feel like a loser. But then I read something on my friends blog here that really helped me. She likes to remind herself that she is usually comparing her worst to someone else's very best. Great advice and just what I needed to hear this week.

And another thought I keep coming back to when I get annoyed with the toys on the floor and the crustified snacks and sticky juice under the bar stools was a talk by our amazing prophet President Monson.

He said:

"If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly."

Isn't that the best? Go here to read his entire talk. It's soooo good!

So like Dorie says on Finding Nemo, "Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming." And that's what I'll do. I'll just keep trying to swim, doggy paddle or float so long as I'm keeping my head above water and "Finding Joy in the Journey."

I Pitty The Fool

Icecream and pink milk for breakfast at our house today!

HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY!!!