General Relief Society Conference

I was able to go to Salt Lake for the General Relief Society Conference* at the Conference Center. We were given tickets for the balcony section, but they had open seating and we got wonderful seats on the floor. I've never been able to attend in person before and it was a great experience!

I think two of the talks are going to be great for the lesson I have to teach in November. I want to talk about the importance of women and ho we can be better wives, mothers and sisters if we are first whole and complete people. I'll post my lesson when I have it done. It is a topic that has been on my mind for a long time.

I started feeling sick before the conference and now I am staying home from church. I hope I feel better, later.

*Relief Society is the organization for the women of our church. We are able to be organized to learn from each other and serve others.

Smart Habit Saturday

Well, I don't have much to report. I didn't do any better on my goals than when they weren't goals. I mostly forgot to do them for most of the week.

I think I want a more concrete goal to go along with scripture reading. I still want scripture reading to be something that I do EVERYDAY without fail. That is something I definitely need in my life.

I also want to have my whole house better each day than the one before. I think I should at least take this one floor at a time. I'll start with downstairs. That is where we spend most of our time and what is the most visible. So, I want to tidy up (with the kids' help) the living room when the extra creatures are gone at the end of each day. I've heard several people say that they clean up after the kids are asleep so that it is nice in the morning, but at that time of night, I am too tired to care, much less do anything about it. I also want to keep the kitchen clean by actually getting around to empty the dishwasher and then refilling it as well.

So that's it. Scriptures, tidy living room and clean kitchen! I think that is manageable.

If you are new to SHS, go check out what everyone else is up to!

Two-Headed Turtle

Aaron sent me this article since it was cool and he knows I like turtles!! It is so weird!

New Moon

So, I spent the last couple of days reading book #2 in the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. I finished it yesterday morning and then I looked around and realized we'd barely gone outside and I hadn't opened the blinds next to me. Do you think I'm turning vampire??

Have you ever gotten into a book and then went out to run errands and started having to remember which thoughts were reality and which were the fantasy of your book? We went to the library and I had just been reading, so the images and ideas of New Moon were still in my head. It was so weird. I started thinking about plot points and then I had to realize that it was the road (I wasn't driving!!) not the book that was real.

Maybe I shouldn't read the third book right away....

Ourstory.com

I found a neat site! It's called Ourstory.com. It's free!!

You can set up a timeline or answer questions about your life. It is really neat, because it allows you to remember and record your personal, family, love, baby or any other type of history that you'd like! I just found a cookbook on there as well! You can include pictures, memories, dates, etc!!

You can even share your timeline on your blog!

It looks really neat! Go check it out!

Smart Habit Saturday

I bet you never thought I'd do this again! I had too much to try to figure out with a completely new schedule that I couldn't think about adding new and better habits.

As I type, I'm not sure what I should improve. My bathroom, clutter, bedroom, kids' room and scripture study are all things that need some help. Hmmm...I'm doing okay with scriptures, but I want that one more solid.

I think I'll resolve to read my scriptures everyday and also take time to deep clean once per day. It can be a different project each day, but I want to make it a habit to do some of the household things that tend to get neglected.

So, wish me luck and go over to The Lazy Organizer to see what everyone else is working on!!

Prayers

I read Mayhem & Miracles and she has asked for prayers for her niece! I wanted to pass along this request for such a sweet little girl. She is really sick. You can learn all Ashley on her blog.

Have a blessed day!

What are You Giving Up?

I just read this article and it made me wonder. I have actually been doing pretty well at not being online all the time. I have had my days, though...

I can't believe that some people could be so addicted to the Internet that they'd sacrifice so much in the real world!

I wonder how long I could go without getting online...

Potty Training? I'm not sure...

Belle has been really interested in sitting on the toilet, lately. She thinks it is fun and especially wants to do it when someone else is. I think it's a social thing for her.

The only problem is that she doesn't do anything but sit there. She talks about going, she knows we'll buy her Tinkerbell panties and make her cookies, but she merely sits.

She may have weird "cookie"/"poopy" connections she doesn't understand when she grows up. If it gets her to be potty trained, I'll take it.

Hair!

Having a little girl has brought the fun and frustration of needing to do hair. I never know what to do with my hair and I have only just recently found a gel that makes it so that everyday isn't a bad hair day. I have thick, frizzy hair and it needs to be tamed!

Belle started out almost completely bald. She started to have a bit of hair when she turned one. Now that she is two she has quite a bit and it is long enough that it even looks like girl hair, now!

I didn't want to cut her bangs, so I have struggled with how to keep them out of her face.

So, I thought I'd share some cute pictures of the things I've tried with Belle's hair! (My trick is that I have to do her hair wet, otherwise it is to wispy.)

This is a bad hair day. Sadly, this is what her hair looks like many days, since I get lazy.


Cute headband that didn't stay on very long!


Traditional pigtails.


This is a new one I stole from my SIL. I love the twists and they are SO easy to do!!



Ponytail.


Headband with no-slip grip!! It works great.


I love to pull back her hair in halves and twist them under to hold them in better. (Also stolen from a friend. I love that I can learn from others!)


This adorable 'do I stole from Lara! Thanks!


I like this one with the clips holding her bangs back, but it is just too tempting for her to pull them out!


Or maybe we should just cover it up!!

Twilight

After a stressful week, I became engrossed in a great book and ignored my house!

I found Twilight on someone's blog. (and it has been a while, so I don't remember where--sorry) Aaron found it through his colleagues, who are mostly women. He really enjoyed it as well, but he wanted more violence in a vampire book.

I loved it! It is a great story about a girl who is learning who she is and how to love! It is mostly a romantic book, but it doesn't get all...icky!

I'll admit, it is definitely a "girl book" as Aaron put it.

I also learned that it has two sequels!! I need to spend time doing other things, so I am going to wait to get those.

I did make that decision before I finished the book, and if you've read it, the last line REALLY makes you want to read the next book!! I wonder how long I can hold out!

Stinky Children

We had the beginnings of a potty training breakthrough, yesterday. Belle decided that she needed to use the potty and that she was going to go "poopy". I rushed up stairs with her and put her on the toilet. She gladly sat there for 20 minutes or so and did, sadly, nothing. But, she asked to go. We'll see where this gets us.

I'd also like to share my impromptu diaper changing song from this morning: (it goes to the tune of "Happy Happy Birthday, Children Dear")

Stinky, stinky, stinky children dear
Stinky days will come to you all year
If I had one wish, then it would be
For you to be potty-trained before you're three!

I don't always sing while I change diapers, but maybe I should!

Keith Urban!!

I got to go to the Keith Urban concert last night!!! We bought the tickets about 6 months ago! I have been a fan of a few of his songs, but I didn't know the new ones. He has some amazing songs!

He is also a fabulous performer. He plays the audience well and is able to move all over the stage, on the cat walk and onto this alternate stage at the end of the cat walk that was about 50 feet from the stage.

I had a ton of fun and it was a great time.

There were a few crazy things that happened, though. First, we used the men's restroom...because there was a line in the women's'. (Of course!!) That was kind of weird, and I think I have only done that one other time in my life. It was weird to go in and have urinals in there!

Then, there was the make-out couple. They were sitting up really high and just going at it...and not just a little. They were all over each other. It was really gross! I love my husband and all, but why not go home? I'm all for a kiss or holding hands, or even hugging, but when it comes to being all over each other and on each other's laps like that it is just nasty!

Then, there was the butt! Okay, so I am not a petite girl (except that I am short and petite length is what I have to get...I like being petite in some way...) and neither was this girl that sat next to me. She was standing up to dance quite a bit and she kept bumping me with her butt!! It was annoying and a bit gross! Then, she half sat on me. It is really annoying when people don't pay attention enough to the people around them to realize that they are being really annoying!

Okay, enough ranting. I had a great time and I think I'll buy some of Keith Urban's songs! I am definitely a bigger fan, now!

September 11, 2001

I was just thinking the other day, that both of my kids were born after September 11th and that they would hear stories about that day, just like I always heard stories of where people were and what they were doing the day that John F. Kennedy was killed.

I want to tell my story, here.

We had recently moved to Pullman, Washington for a job for Aaron and school for me. Aaron had gone on a business trip, so I was home alone. I woke up early and had a morning prayer over the phone with Aaron. A little bit later, I turned on the TV and a plane had struck the first tower. They didn't know what was going on and it was devastating. I saw the second plane hit!! I was totally blown away, and glued to the TV. Slowly, the story unfolded and they knew that it had all been planned.

I had been suspecting that I was pregnant, and found out later that I was. It was hard to think about raising a child in a world where atrocities like that could happen.

Life changed that day. I think we all went from a sense of false security. We thought we were too powerful to be attacked and hurt. But we were all wrong. Any of us could have been those people doing our jobs, going through a "normal" day, and then...it is all over.

Life is fragile and short! We need to take the time we have and use it to the best of our abilities.

I really believe that if you want to do something, you will find the time for it. If you don't, you'll always be too busy. There are so many wonderful opportunities, things to learn and people to help. All it takes is a little thought and good use of time.

Psychic Dreams?

I had a stupid dream...

The lady who's baby I watch for four hours everyday is the same one we carpool with. In my dream, I had forgotten to get Luke ready for school. She drove up in a white van. (She owns a green van.)

Okay, I know you're thinking this just sounds dumb, and I agree.

But, this morning, when she dropped off her son, she was driving a WHITE van.

It was really creepy! Maybe I should try to develop my psychic powers.

My New Favorite Bag

I am obsessed with bags and purses! Just ask Aaron. Any time we are anywhere, I am looking for bags. I love purses big and small. I am always on the lookout for a new one. My mood determines whether I want to carry everything or nothing.

My newest find is this lady bug bag. I has a pocket for my "purse stuff" and one for "diaper stuff" as well as lots of room for crochet or books or whatever I might need on any trip. I change out what is on the inside of the bag for the occasion! I just love it!

One of the best things about this particular bag is it only cost me $5!!! It is really sturdy and I just love it!

Did I mention that I just love it??

I Just Have to Brag!

I LOST 10 POUNDS!!!!

It's a Good Sign

Last week (the first week of school for Aaron and Luke) was the longest week I've had in a long time. It just went so slo-o-o-o-owly.

I am still not quite adjusted to my new schedule, but this week seemed A LOT faster than last! Things are going smoother and we are slowly working into a basic routine.

I'm really not a scheduled person, but since specific things have to happen at specific times, I am getting used to it. I just have to work fun in. I am still getting a lot more done than before and keeping things generally picked up!

I still haven't figured out how to work in my crochet/knitting night. By the time we get to Thursday night, I just don't feel like going. I am really excited to go to a concert next week!! And, this weekend is a city festival that should be a lot of fun!

The Muppet Personality Test

This was a cute and funny little quiz!! When I turned out to be Kermit, I just had to post it on here!

You Are Kermit

Hi, ho! Lovable and friendly, you get along well with everyone you know. You're a big thinker, and sometimes you over think life's problems. Don't worry - everyone know's it's not easy being green. Just remember, time's fun when you're having flies!

The Muppet Personality Test

It's My First 29th Birthday!!

Happy Birthday to me!! I have had a nice day so far and Aaron is making my cake as I type! It's carrot. I love carrot cake!

I really don't care about how old I am. I just don't want wrinkles or gray hair!!