Behind

I am so behind on life.

I am tired.

It's taking a lot longer to recover than I thought.

I WILL get back to blogging.

But first, my kids need me.

I need to summon the energy to get some groceries.

I carpool all. day. long.

My recital is looming and I'm a month behind.

Did I mention that I'm tired?

Exhausted, actually.

I'm trying to be patient.

Not one of my best qualities.

I'm frustrated

and

Tired.

Parties #2 and #3

I need to hurry all my posts along so I'm posting two parties at once.

I was going to put party #4 in here but it really deserves its own post.  It's too epic.

I'll do that tomorrow.

Maybe.

Every year Jeff's law firm hosts a black tie party for all the attorneys and their spouses.

Like I said in my last post, we drove home from Brigham City and literally only had about ten to fifteen minutes to change before we had to drive all the way back up to Salt Lake.

That is no small feat especially when Jeff needs numbered, printed out instructions to tie his bow tie.  Ha!

This is the famous Mike Larsen and his wife Teresa.

Mike Larsen was Jeff's boss, mentor, and good friend.

Funny story:

Jake was about 4 or 5 years old and he says to Jeff,
"Dad, let's play lawyers.  You be you, and I'll be Mike Larsen."

Mike Larsen still tells everybody that story around the law firm.

On to Party #3

After Julie and family, and Stacey and Chris got to town, we met up with dad for dinner.

Then we headed over to Orange Leaf for frozen yogurt.

Only in Utah can a frozen yogurt/ice cream place stay in business during the winter.

It was 24 degrees outside and the place was packed!

Tomorrow:

The famous Gingerbread House Competition in which Dave, Keri, and PJ start the smack-talking and personal insults.  :) :) :)

Christmas Party #1

I can't think of a better way to label all the December activities except by numbers.

So, here is Christmas party Numero Uno.

This one is a big one.

Look at the picture below.

There are 16 wrapped gifts in that basket.

(The picture doesn't do it justice--it's HUGE!)

Lucy does not leave the sides of her two older girl cousins.

(Maddy, Lucy, Sadie)

L to R:

Lucy, Greg, Kathy, Jeff, Dallin, Aliza, Jeni, Gabi, Chris

Kimberlee, Kim, Zach, Brian

Adin, Sam

Sam got cookie monster slippers from Maddy which he did not take off for 3 days straight.

And a Cookie Monster from Grandma and Grandpa.

Lucy got a charm bracelet from Sadie

And a Doodle Bear from Grandma and Grandpa.

Jake got a New Orleans Saints watch (and toothbrush) from Tyler

And a Brees jersey from Grandma and Grandpa.

I don't have a picture, but Josh got an iTunes gift card from Austin

and a Peyton Manning figurine and pencils from Grandma and Grandpa.

Jeff's mom gave all the daughers and daughers-in-law an apron that her mother made before she died.

Jeff and his siblings never knew their maternal grandparents, so this was a special moment.

L to R:

Kimberlee, me, Kim, Jeni, and Heather

(Missing is Mel--their family was sick--AGAIN!  They missed the Halloween party, too, because they were sick.  Boo hoo!  We missed you!)

Jeff's parents made a gingerbread man for each grandchild.

Quite impressive.

This party is the biggest one of the year and we LOVE it.

My kids talk about it all year long.

As we were getting in the car to go home Josh said, "Awww, it's over now.  We have to wait a whole year for the next one."

You would've thought Christmas itself was over.

Next post:

Party #2 in which we drove home from Party #1 all the way up in Brigham City, had 15 minutes to change into formal wear, and drove straight back up to Salt Lake.

Gimme a Break!

I'm taking a little break from blogging.  I've also deactivated my Facebook account and all pinning on Pinterest has come to a halt.  There is too much clutter in my life right now.  I'm trying to figure out a way to de-stress and become more focused.  I have been having a bad case of anxiety and panic attacks since my miscarriage 5 months ago.  I don't know why and it's frustrating, but I'm not too surprised.  This exact thing happened after I had my last baby and it lasted over a year (praying really, REALLY hard it doesn't last that long this time).  I try to cope by staying busy, eating right (I need soooo much help with this one), exercising, praying (a LOT), reading scriptures, writing in a journal, meditating, etc. 

 I have decided, though, that facebook, blogging and Pinterest are ADDING to my stress level.  I'm checking fb on my phone 50 times a day.  

I'm comparing (I try not to, but it's oh, so hard!) myself to the other moms who have their kids perfectly dressed, fed, schooled, lesson-ed, blah, blah, it goes on and on. 

 I'm wishing for things I don't have.  

I'm trying to keep up, keep up, keep up with everyone.  

It's OVERWHELMING!

And do you know what else I've realized?

People are MEAN!  

And texting, instant messaging and facebook have been the perfect vehicles for people to become even meaner.  People say things they would NEVER say face-to-face with someone.  And it's too easy to say those awful things, because there are no instant consequences.

Social media has also elevated, to a degree, everyone's vanity.  It's like reading everyone's Christmas cards all year round. There are some blogs and facebook pages that I love because the people are REAL!  It's real life!  I love that, and if I start blogging/facebooking again I am vowing to keep it real.  Good and bad.  

If I read one more "perfect mommy" blog I will scream!!!!!

Pinterest is a place where I drool over what I want and then look around me wish for what I don't have.  That is so messed up and unhealthy.  I am trying to focus on staying positive and being grateful for what I DO have.  

Sorry for my rant.  I'll be back soon, but this is a much-needed break.

A Week of Randoms

Here are just a few random photos from this last week.

We are back in a good school schedule.

Football season has started (about the only sport I like to watch).

The weather is fantastic.  No more heat waves.

Life is good.

Dinner in Nana's backyard.

 Jake is playing flag football this year.

He absolutely loves it!

I told him to try flag football this year, and if he really likes it, he can try tackle football next year.

Sam and Yale

Sneak peek at fall decorations.

Right now I just have "fall" decor out, not Halloween decor.

I'll post pictures when I get the Halloween decorations out.

I just think the neighbors will think I'm crazy for putting my giant talking skeleton head and my lighted Halloween tree out on my porch when it's the beginning of September and we are still swimming in the pool.  :)

What I Do

I absolutely love my "job."

I can't really call it a job.

It's a hobby that I happen to get paid for.

I don't scrapbook.  I don't train for marathons or triathlons (I am the only one who doesn't, I swear!), I don't go to the gym to workout.

This is my "hobby,"  my outlet, my time away from home.

I love teaching ballet and I especially LOVE my girls.

Some of these girls, past and present, have been with me for 10 years.

We started a tradition last year:

A reunion ballet class with all my senior ballet students.

We did this 3 days before Chirstmas. 

December was usually everybody's favorite time of year for ballet because I always played Christmas songs for all the exercises, and we learned variations and dances instead of doing regular center work.

 So, for old-times' sake, everyone met up for class.

I played all my Christmas music, we ate treats, I let them chew gum and wear whatever they wanted.

(I'm usually very strict about hair, attire, and gum.)  :)

We laughed about old, funny memories, and just basically had a great time.

I love these girls!!!!!!

Random Thoughts

1.

Remember that menu I printed out and put on my fridge?

Yeah?

Well, that was a total bust!

That stupid menu just mocked me.

I felt like it was telling me what to do and bossing me around.

Well, I won't be told what to do so I rebelled and we had take-out or frozen dinners all week long.
And all that money spent on fancy ingredients?
Wasted.
I did try one recipe:  Pad Thai Chicken wraps.  They were disgusting.  Absolutely disgusting.  
I give up on cooking.

2.

I finally figured out Pinterest

(Let me know if you want an invite.)

I'm addicted and spending way too much time on the computer.

3.

I'm already super excited about the holiday season, which, for me, starts September 1st.

That means I start planning and preparing around July 1st.

I've already found these lovely decorating ideas (on Pinterest) and can't wait to get going.

4.

This is also the time of year I like to clean things out and get super organized.

Here's some inspiration to get me going:

5.

Summer rainstorms are my FAVORITE kind of weather.

Love. Love. Love.

6.

I have an overwhelming urge to rearrange my family room furniture.

This happens every few months.

I usually spend a good hour moving things around, decide I don't like it, and move it all back to the way it was.

I'll post pictures if anything changes.

7.

Do I really want to paint all my bedroom furniture white/off-white?

I mean really?

Is it worth it?

It's fairly new (3 years) and pretty nice so I can't get new stuff, but I am sick of the heavy black.

Anyone want to paint it for me?

I'll pay you.  :)

8.

My baby starts pre-school 4 weeks from today.

I'm devastated.

I'm not ready to have all my kids in school.

I want to have a young child at home with me always.

I don't want to run out of little kids, and the imaginary play, Santa Claus believing, Disneyland excitement, Halloween costume-wearing, cartoon watching, park playing, stroller riding, lap-sitting, snuggles, bath time,  putting-to-bed, and hand-holding that goes along with it.

9.

I really don't know how to dress myself.

I need fashion lessons.

I never vary from knee-length denim shorts or jeans with a simple, fitted top.

Never.

I also NEVER wear flats.

Ever.

Occasionally I will wear a necklace or bracelet.

Why can't I break from this fashion rut?

10.

Our first ever garden is a success.

For lunch today I had fresh peas and tomatoes (with cottage cheese).  It was delicious!

These are just the random things that have been occupying my thoughts lately.

Along with the 1,001 worries that are normally housed there.  :)

Look Closely

Look closely at this picture.

Waaay up at the top of the front porch wall are two bird nests.

Look a little closer (or come knock at my door) and you'll see the lovely bird poop mess.

FYI #1:  Did you know that bird poop is extremely hard to scrub off of stucco and cement?

Now look even closer.  Sad!  A baby bird fell to it's death.

FYI #2:  Did you know it is illegal to knock down a nest once there are eggs/baby birds inside?

Not that I would have done that anyway.  It's been kind of fun watching this little bird family.

(Except for the dead baby bird part, of course.)