Post with pictures!

So they aren't the best quality pictures, from my cell phone, but they're pictures!

I painted my nails on January 1, all them pink except for my thumb. I made this little baby. I had it on my thumb during church and felt kind of embarrassed, so I removed it later. But for a minute,  I thought it was cook. Even though I do not heart cross bones and skulls.

I made this shirt for Nicole. Over the years I've tried this pattern 4 or 5 times and I was happy it finally turned out. She's pretty happy to be modeling it for you today.

 We had an awesome sunset the other night when I was on my way home from taking Gina to the airport. The sky was bright pink off in the horizon.

 Ken is the ward mission leader. Every Friday the Elders come over for about an hour and watch videos on http://mormon.org/. Matthew was sitting the midst of them this last Friday so I took some pictures. I like seeing him with the elders.

 I ate sushi the other day. I took a picture for my friend, Kate who hates sushi. Kharma hit me early. The next morning I was sick and felt crummy all that day. I don't think I'll be eating sushi for a long time, if ever.

 We had refreshments after the adult session of Stake Conference on Saturday. 4 seminary tables clear full of pie. It was a beautiful site.

 This is my kitchen. It has the best sewing/crafting counter ever. It's more than 3 feet wide and 8 feet ling. I LOVE IT!

Matthew doing a crossword puzzle with a big pencil.

You threw off my groove.

Watch from 1:55-2:10 please...or you may watch the whole thing but take special note to those specific 15 seconds.

My groove has been thrown off.  Big Time. and I want a theme song.

Life has taken some amazing turns this month. It started out uneventful. We attended band concerts, parent teacher conferences and gone to the park a few times. (I consider going to the park with the same regard I use when speaking of band concerts and parent teacher conferences. I don't heart the park. At. All.) We've make cotton candy for the holiday bazaar at the school to earn money for the science club and we made it again at the church for the primary carnival. EIGHT people in our family had birthdays this month. I hosted the book club in my home and we've had some friends over for dinner. I'm still playing the organ in Sacrament Meeting but Ken got a new calling. Ward Mission Leader take 5. That's right people, it's his 5th run. (Insert evil laugh here.) All uneventful.

Going to bed on a Friday night after a full day of house cleaning, book club hosting and having friends over for dinner only to wake up to a call from my friend Becky--amazingly life altering.

We were gone for 5 days. We left in a rush after Ken went to the leadership broadcast at the church. While we were gone we met with the social worker and talked about home studies, walk threws and other boring but mandatory things. I told her I could just call my neighbor and have her let them in. I didn't even need to clean first, unless it's a against the rules to have one bedroom that looks like a hoarder lives there.  Another time, another post. Anyway, no walk through was necessary, we were able to come home.

We were home for FOUR days before I vacuumed again. Have I vacuumed since? Umm, that would be a big fat no. Laundry is piling up. School has been non existent. My explanation for that is winter weather and Nicole's had the flu, but still, we could have done something. My shower is happening later and later, there seem to be toys in every room in my house and I've have made a lot of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

My friend Kelly described Anna as 'Just what I never knew I needed.' It's SO TRUE. It is awesome having 3 children. I thought since Nicole and Matthew were so much older that #3 wouldn't be as hard as everyone has told me. Maybe it hasn't been as hard as could be, but I still doubled my capacity by 50%.  It is hard. I'm repeatedly thankful she is 4 and done with bottles, diapers and all the comes with infants. I love 4 year olds. One 4 year old specifically.

I have been in contact with the social worker from Yakima County and one here in Thurston. They are going to do the walk threw of my house tomorrow. No big deal right? Don't even call, just come over. NOT ANYMORE! I'm freaking out. Now my whole house looks like a hoarder moved in. I will be cleaning all day today...if I can pull myself together.

Maybe I will take before and after pictures and somehow count this as a value experience for my personal progress.

November 3, 2010

Right now one of my children is sitting in their room crying. I interrupted their story to tell them to put pants on. They're too old to be walking around the house in their underwear. Can my one thing I'm thankful for today be doors and pillows to cry in? GOOD GRIEF!

Today Matthew only had a half day of school because of parent teacher conferences. He also has tomorrow and Friday off because of said conferences. I went to his conference today. He's doing really well but they said he gets easily distracted and he talks too much. I'm pretty sure he got that from Ken. (or me)

The thing I'm thankful for today is $20 coupons off of purchases that are even under $20. Because of said coupons I was able to buy a Christmas present for one of my children and 3 pairs of crazy knee high socks today for nothing. That's right.  It was free. I didn't have to add stuff to meet a limit so my purchase of $19.51 cost me nothing...except for all the shoes I bought at famous footwear to earn said coupon. So worth it though!

In other news...Nicole continues to be doing really well learning at home. She's found her niche and I'm just trying to provide her with enough information because she can't seem to get enough of it! (except for history. We seem to fall asleep during movies.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Sister in Law, RHONDA!!

I couldn't find a picture of her but she likes pickles so this is for her. :)

and now for the TMI section...
I need to buy new deodorant. I think mine is betraying me.  If I'm around you and I stink, please tell me in a way as nice as possible. gracias.

Lastly, but not least-ly...
Will you pretty please with sugar on top help me earn my Personal Progress Medallion and Honor Bee by participating in my PP blog? I'd be most grateful!  http://honorbee.blogspot.com/.

Deep Thoughts not by Jack Handy...or Vanessa

Okay, maybe they aren't even deep.

Here's what is swimming around in my head RIGHT NOW.

*Where am I going to put my Christmas Trees?
*Why am I so controlling that I want to edit my children's blogs before they publish them? (I don't btw)
*Cinnamint Mentha Lip Shine is supreme.
*My high school friend passed away yesterday. He was 31. Matthew asked me if I would take a picture of his body on Saturday so he could see how well he was embalmed. I told him no.
*I wish Gina lived closer to me.
*I wish Butler PA was closer to me. I have people there I need to meet! Vanessa, Margaret and Kate...please come visit me and pick up Darcy on the way.
*Today I feel like crying.

*What did I do to my hip?
*When I don't fix my hair or put on make up, I look like a guy. His name is Ryan. He's my brother. A handsome man but an unattractive woman. (Ryan, that's a compliment.)
* I want to go to Wichita for Thai Food.
*Relief Society Meeting tonight. To go or not to go. That is the question.
*How do I put a fancy boarder along the top of my blog?
*I want all of you to read 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society'. It's awesome.  I've read it twice this year.
*I want to add billboards along the interstate every 3 miles between Burly, Idaho and Tremonton, Utah. When I'm rich, I'm going to do that.

That's all. My brain just reached the other side of the pool.

This and That...

Today I FINALLY got a new cell phone. Mine has been dead for 3 weeks...3 LOOONG weeks. I got the Samsung Omnia. I haven't figured it out yet but Matthew can tell you where to find all the games. I'm just happy to have a phone again!

In other news...
*I cleaned my room today.
*Ken and I went Christmas shopping tonight. It was fun to spend time with him but I don't really feel excited for Christmas so the shopping was only so so.
*I've had heartburn for 3 days...anyone know why?


3 fun things our family does during Christmas are...

*Building and Eating Gingerbread Houses on Christmas Day.
*We put together puzzles...as many as we can during Christmas Break. Last year we (I) did 7.
*We eat homemade Chinese Food on Christmas Day. Growing up, my family did it on Christmas Eve. We go to our Relief Society President's House for Christmas Eve so we have moved that meal to Christmas Day.

I hope you have a great weekend! See you tomorrow.