I passed!!!!

I took the real estate licensing exam on December 12th and I passed! I wish I knew how much I passed by (to me 71% and 95% are WAY different) but they only tell you if you passed! Oh well, I get the license either way and I'm now just waiting for that to come in the mail! It is nice but strange to be done and not needing to study all the time! I love it!

Updates?

I started with choosing some pictures to post here, so I guess I'll finish by telling you what's been going on in our lives! I'll just take the pictures as they come!

He is getting huge and smart! He loves reading and playing chess and video games!

He is also getting really good at karate! He has a great teacher and is learning a lot.

Me, hum... I've been working like crazy to get my classes done to be ready to take the real estate licensing test! I think I'll make it and get it all in by the end of the year!

I was also recently called to be the primary president in my ward!


We got a second dog. My niece is allergic, so we are taking care of Bingley until she can handle him or forever.

The little one has become quite the little helper! Nothing is safe!

She also loves to run away! She thinks it is hilarious to run away outside, or when I'm ready to change her diaper, or when she's stolen a toy from her sibling!

#2 is a handful! She is adorable and a lot of fun, but is also FULL of attitude! Do any of you want to be her mom for me when she's 16?? Just let me know!

Halloween was a lot of fun! The kids got plenty of candy and had a great time!

The man of the house is busy working at the local high school as well as a private school part time. We keep busy, but we're having fun, too!

So, there you have it! We are doing well and having fun! There isn't a lot of spare time in our lives but we're making it!

The Books of Pellinor

Aaron found a great series of books just looking on the shelf. It is called The Books Of Pellinor. It seems mostly undiscovered at our library, so I thought I'd share it with you! They are fantasy books that are supposed to be based on earth thousands of years ago. They are about magic and saving the world...I really don't want to give away too much, but they are awesome!

The main character is Maerad, a slave who really doesn't know who she is or what is outside her owner's domain. She meets someone who changes everything and then she is on a quest to save the world! The writing is very good and the details about everything are amazing!

The books are called, The Naming (The Gift, outside of the US), The Riddle, The Crow and The Singing. They are by Alison Croggon.

They are listed as young adult books (which I have NO objection to reading...they are many times better than many of the adult books out!) but I think it is really only because some of the main characters are youth. Oh, and they have nothing to do with the King Arthur legends. I was a bit confused by this at first because of the name...

Go check them out! They are definitely worth your time!

Color Pallet

I think this is just about the color pallet I want in my basement family room.

The green is a little too bright, but otherwise, it's perfect!!

What do you think?

I found it here: http://www.colourlovers.com/palette/580450/morning_circus

Artist in the making?

So, is it just me, or does this look a little bit like Picasso's Don Quixote??

Nope, this picture has nothing to do with my post!

Whew! We have started on an adventure of lifelong good health! Aaron and I have been dissatisfied with our health and decided to start doing something about it.

Aaron's idea was inspired by my uncle. He's 69 years old and he is in amazing shape! He rides his bike all over the country just because he wants to. Even when he isn't biking, he is constantly moving. He wore our whole family out in one day!

We were so inspired by him that we decided to follow his example and try being more active. We take any chance we can to ride our bikes or walk to the places we need to around town. Our van still works fine, we've just decided to leave it parked as much as we can. Even when we do drive somewhere, we tend to park far away from the entrance so that we can get that little extra walk in.

The general rule is that if it is safe and feasible, we don't take the van. Sometimes, time, kids, health or weather affect the decision, but we try!

So, we walk/bike to work, school, grocery stores (most of the time and not for big trips) church, Grandma's house, etc. So far, we like it a lot!

I feel so much better and have so much more energy and ambition to do the other things I need to be doing. It takes more time to walk, but I still seem to have plenty of time to do the things here at home, even the fun stuff!

So, I challenge you to do the same! Or come up with your own plan, whatever!

Oh, and that is a picture of Doodle at Bear Lake! She sure had fun in the dirt! There is a similar pic of Princess up there with the same makeup! I should find it...

In Which I tell you why I am such a bad mom... (Otherwise titled: "I didn't blog about my daughter's Fourth Birthday!")

I still feel bad about not blogging about Princess's fourth birthday, and I felt a lot worse before I started writing this, but I do feel bad.

I just haven't been blogging lately and I think the pics are still on my camera. (Two weeks later!)

Anyway, she is adorable and she turned four!

Lately, whenever anyone asks her how old she is, she stops, looks over at me and asks how old she is first. I guess it takes some getting used to!

She is really fun and loves to have fun. She loves to ride her bike up and down the sidewalk. She'd swing all day long if someone would push her. She loves to be read to and will "read in her head" because she doesn't know how for herself! She is a really helpful kid. She is always asking to help with cooking, dishes, weeding, you name it! She loves to help!

She is also pulling out of her thunderous threes!!! (I hope!!!!!!!!!!) At least when she wakes up there is now hope that she'll be in a good mood for the day rather than fighting us at every turn! Three was WAY worse for her than two years old was!

This should be a fun year of learning and playing for her!

Look Who's One!

This has been a really busy year and so in some ways it went by so fast, but in others it has seemed really slow!

I'm so happy to have Doodle in my life! She is an amazing little girl! She is just bursting with excitement and energy all the time!! She is so funny and fun to have in our family! I'm so glad she's ours!

Here's her life in pictures!!

Starting with me very pregnant with her. (This is at our false alarm! You'd think I wouldn't have one of those with my third baby!)



New Born



One Month Old



Two Months Old



Three Months Old



Four Months Old



Five Months Old



Six Months Old



Seven Months Old



Eight Months Old



Nine Months Old



Ten Months Old



Eleven Months Old



One Year Old!!



Happy Birthday!!!

11 Months Times Three

I'm a bit late on this one but I thought it would be fun to show all three kids at 11 months!

It is interesting to look at them and see how similar they look now, but how different they looked as babies!!

Indy:


Princess:


Doodle:

RFL Yard Sale

We had a successful Relay For Life yard sale! I made $130.95 (plus the $35 we added as our donation and change to start the day).

I'm still going to sell suckers and hair clips at the Relay.

I'm happy, but tired!

Life Lately

So, what have we been up to?

Indy has become an excellent reader! He finished first grade last week and is having a nice summer. He's getting close to earning his orange belt in karate!

Princess is going through a stretching period....where she tries to see how far she can get us to stretch the rules for her. She's always had issues with rules. I hope we can rein her in before she's a teenager!

Doodle is walking really well and prefers it to crawling! She loves to walk around with a toy in each hand and one in her mouth. She babbles a lot and has said a few small words...(Maybe even "cake".)

Aaron finished school, too. It's really nice to have him home more. He is still teaching at the private school part-time, but four days a week.

I have been trying to get ready for our yard sale on June 20th for Relay for Life. If you are interested, leave me your email and I'll give you the address. (It isn't at my house.) I've been sorting my stuff, collecting other people's stuff and crocheting hair clips.

That's basically us in a nutshell!

Have a great summer!

I won a Contest!!

I won these beautiful clay creations from Clayworks on CraziBeautiful Women!

This is a fairy door! It is to allow good fairies and other magical creatures into your home! I love it!


These earrings are also beautiful! They look great with my short hair and my favorite green shirt! I just love them!!



CraziBeautiful Women has a couple of contests going most of the time! There is a lot to see there!

Kim does quality work and it is beautiful! Go check out her Etsy shop to see what else she is up to!

A Real Walking Video!!

I finally got a good video of Doodle walking!!

Here she is today at 10 months old!!!

Guess Who's Walking!

I wasn't surprised at all for this little one to be walking so soon. Her siblings walked at her age, so she had to keep up!

Sorry that this is so short! I need to try to get video when Dad is around, but so that my Mommy can see, here is a little clip of Doodle walking, today!

We Have Great Neighbors!!!

Our next-door neighbors wanted to shade their south-facing wall. There isn't enough yard on their side to do so, so they offered to buy the trees if we'd put them in our yard. We wanted shade in that part of our yard as well, so it worked out great! It is so nice to have neighbors that work with us to accomplish what we all need and want! They are awesome!

I Used to Blog More

I'm not sure why, but I haven't been blogging here as much as I used to. I have been busy and also blogging about gardening more. I love to do that! It helps me to keep my knowledge current and actually in my head. I am also in the planning stages of starting a garden coaching business. I would go to people's yards and teach them about the plants they have as well as how to take care of them and generally improve their gardening skills.

If you're interested, my gardening blog Turn Your Thumb Green is updated pretty often, now and I'd love to hear any questions you may have for me! Also, I've been pretty active at Crazi Beautiful Women This has been a great opportunity for me and I hope it turns into more!

I'm not going to stop blogging here, but I think it will just be about what it has been for the past several months rather than the several times per week.

I guess I didn't need to say anything, but I wanted to explain... Thanks for visiting and come back soon!

And, This is Why I Win Mother of the Year!

Apparently, she can get into the bath all by herself!


Don't you like how I took a picture of her before I rescued her from the bathtub?? I made sure she was safe, first.

(Maybe I should keep a better eye on big sister's bath time!!!!)

Wood Chip Storm

So, since my carpool and trading babysitting friend moved, we are making adjustments so that we can still help each other out. She only moved 15 minutes away, so she is keeping her kids in school here. When we trade off so that we can each help in our sons' classes, I take hers at my house and she takes mine to the park.

I have this problem. I don't like to wear sunscreen on my forehead since it always stings my eyes, even when we use tear-free kid sunscreen! So, I usually either go without and get burned or wear a hat/bandanna and use sunscreen on the rest of my face. My husband pointed out that it is crazy to avoid stinging eyes by getting skin cancer. I rather agree. Anyway, yesterday, I didn't wear sunscreen and now I am burned!

But, the whole point of my story that I have now gotten away from was this crazy mini tornado!

We were sitting together at the park and I looked over and saw the breeze pick up and start moving the wood chips in a spiral! Then, they came our way!! I started by covering Doodle's eyes and ended up cradling her whole head while the chips whacked my arms! It was the weirdest thing!

I've seen little dust storms or whatever you call them, but this was just nuts!

Do you know what those things are called or why they happen?

Baby Wearing at its Oddest!

I made this mei tai for her:




But it was requested that I put it on him:



He doesn't strike me as the motherly type, but hey, Princess likes it that her toys can wear other toys!

Relay for Life...YES!

We watched Yes Man last night and it influenced me.

If you haven't seen it, it is a comedy about Carl (Jim Carey), a man who has a miserable life. He decides to say "yes" to anything that is asked of him....anything. It is pretty funny. (Just a warning...there is language, nudity and icky-weird situations...)

Well, anyway, though saying "yes" to every opportunity that comes your way would be interesting, it is hardly sane. But, I thought it might be nice to say "yes" more often.

I'm always wanting to do something big, some kind of volunteer work or something, but I just don't do it. You know, no time, kids, whatever the excuse. Well, today, we ran into the Relay for Life committee and I agreed to be a team captain! I'm really excited! I've never even done the relay!

So, if you want to join my team, or would like to donate, just let me know! I'd love to have you!

I'll be adding links to donate and all of that as it gets closer and I have all of the information!

Haircut

So, I did it! I cut off about 10 inches of my hair. I'm finally going to get to donate it to Locks of Love! I took off more than I really wanted to, but it will grow back!

Kids' Rock by Tim Hawkins

We saw this yesterday! It. Is. Hilarious! I think some of the songs actually sound pretty good, this way! Some may scare, kids, though!

Enjoy:

I think she needs a Ken doll!!!

The milk box is the daddy in her little family!

Great Site

I just thought I'd share this amazing site with you!

A friend of mine homeschools and uses this link to show her kids all kinds of things! They have TONS of virtual tours listed and it looks great! I can't wait to show my kids!

A lot of them are pictures and some have video tours! It is a neat collection of websites with lots of info for kids.

"Look, Ma, No Hands!!!"

Wow!


And this one was just too adorable not to share, since it was taken at the same time!

Crazi Beautiful Women

I wanted to let you all know about a great new website! It's called CraziBeautiful Women! They are gathering experts in lots of areas to write, inspire, encourage...you get the idea! It is a really fun place and it is just starting up!

The best part for me is that I have been asked to blog about gardening for them!! If you go to their site and hover over Girlfriend to Girlfriend and then click onBack to the Basics and there I am! I am really excited to blog like this! My first post will be on Friday! Come check it out!

I'll still blog about gardening at Turn Your Thumb Green, too!

Doodle's Eight Months Old

Wow! I can hardly believe that my tiny little (8 lb 7 oz) baby is 8 months old! She is huge and adorable. She is such a happy baby!!

Doodle loves baths, food, her family, Freckles, eating grass (wire, paper, leaves) and being big. We all just love her! She is so easy to love!

She LOVES to eat. She hasn't turned anything away. She'll eat baby food and she loves and can handle small bites of many "adult" foods, too! She loves nursing as well as anything I'm willing to give her.

She can crawl, sit up on her own and pull up to standing. She is on her way to walking by 10 months like her siblings! She is so proud of herself, too! You can see it on her face when she does her newest tricks!

She has more hair than either of her siblings (definitely more than Princess had even at a year old)! She has two teeth already, which is also early for our family.

I just love this grin!! She loves to share it with us all the time!


She is already a "ham" at picture time. She makes it difficult to get a decent picture because she wants to come up and stop what she was doing to see the camera.

Lookin' Yummy!

I love it when food looks pretty! This recipe has just the right color combination to make me happy! This isn't the original recipe, but it is really close! I use picante sauce and puree it in the blender. I also top it with more sauce and green onions along with the cheese!

It is so yummy! We just had it and I want it again!