Me In Threes Thursdays - Weeks 5

What are three of your favorite songs?

1. Everything by Michael Buble is my favorite new song. I absolutely love his music and voice.
2. Wind Beneath My Wings by Bette Middler wasn't one of my favorites until recently. My husband downloaded it to play to me. He said it reminded him of me, supporting him through all the years of school and taking responsibility of raising my own children instead of seeking the praise of the world. This song is now very meaningful to me and definitely one of my favorites.
3. Hero by Mariah Carey, because it's a fun song to sing along to.

SPT Challenge - The 25th Hour

SPT Challenge - The 25th Hour - what if there was a twenty-fifth hour of the day, an hour all to yourself! no commitments, no distractions, no need to sleep. what would you do?

This spt was fun to think about. An hour just for me. There are some of my family and friends who don't seem to need a 25th hour like I do. My husband Brad is a prime example. He has time management skills that are awe-inspiring. He can accomplish in one day, more than most people can in three days. It truly is a wonderful talent he has. As for me, I've been wishing for a few extra hours a lot these past fews days. I've been greatly tempted to disregard my goal, of getting to bed before midnight, so that I can have that extra hour. So I thought about what I like doing, what I want to do, what I need to do and what I've been putting off for ages, and I came up with a huge list of what I'd do in that 25th hour. Below is my current top ten ways I'd spend my 25th hour. Some of them aren't so exciting or fun, but they need to get done.

***Warning*** there are some people who think I keep quite a clean home, but the terrible truth is about to come out. I am like those children who pretend to clean, but stuff everything into their closets. Most people who come over to our house don't go into our bedroom, where our clean laundry is sprawled all over the place, unfolded. Nor do they enter our office that is a bigger disaster than you can imagine. Those are my "closet" rooms. Now that you know my secret, you may proceed to my top ten list.

1. Get the Christmas stuff put away. I am one step closer to getting that done. I've have now accumulated most of the decorations into one spot.* Update: I got it done today! Not that I found an extra hour, I just forgot about all the other things I need to do. My personal goal was to accomplish this before the end of the month (I was cutting it pretty close, wasn't I?).
2. Iron my huge stack of wrinkled clothes and fold the mountain of clean laundry. It really is a mountain, see...3. Sort through my children's clothes, and pack the items that no longer fit them.
4. Organize my office (I am not showing a picture of it, it is way too embarrassing!!!)
5. Make the cards for my card swap and other cards also.
6. Finish our 72 hour kits. I've been collecting needed items over a year and now I just need to put them all together. But when?
7. Finish working on "14 Days of Valentines". I started a tradition, much like the Twelve Days of Christmas, where my true love gets something (usually very cheap, but creative) everyday in February, leading up to Valentines Day, to let him know how much I love him. I don't want to spoil the surprises, so there'll be more to come on this subject.
8. Start taking piano lessons again and having the time to practice.
9. Play volleyball, volleyball, and more volleyball.
10. Last, but definatly not least. Take a photography course.

Mondays About Me -

Update:

Saturday was a busy day for me and my family. It went something like this...

8:00 am - Matthias had basketball
9:00 am - Caleb had basketball pictures
11:00 am - We went to a baptism
12:00 pm - Caleb had a birthday party
1:00 pm - I made dessert for a dinner & dance I went to that evening
2:00 pm - I made valentines for Caleb's school class

Last year I made valentines flowers with a lollipop at the centre of each one only to find out that we aren't allowed to bring any candies I was very disappointed after all the work I put into them. So this year, being much smarter about all the Texas school rules, I made worm valentines with pencils in them. Being the fugal (others may call it a cheapskate, but I prefer the word frugal) person I am, it only cost me $2 for all 24 valentines ($2 for the pencils and the rest of the supplies I already had or made on my computer) The back says "You've wormed your way into my heart Happy Valentines Day!"

3:30 pm - I started working on a missionary package (Ashley's last one)
4:30 pm - I started cutting about 6 lbs of pork into strips for the dinner & dance
5:00 pm - I started cooking the meat
6:00 pm - I picked up the babysitter
6:30 pm - My husband and I went on a date to the dinner & dance
10:00 pm - We got home and I started working on my primary lesson (for the next day)
That was aside the regular day-to-day activities like eating, changing diapers, getting myself and children ready for the day, doing laundry, etc, etc.

Fortunately Sunday was a lot more laid back - I even got a nap :)

Today I am planning FHE on what President Hinckley has done since becoming the president and working on more valentines stuff (more to come on this).

Sunday's Weekly Blessing - President Gordon B Hinckley

Our beloved Prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, passed away tonight at around 7pm MST. He was president and a prophet of our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, since 1995. He passed away at age 97. He has been a great blessing in my life in so many ways, so I decided to make my weekly blessing about him and some of the things he has done for the church.

One of the many things I am grateful for is "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" which can be found at: http://www.lds.org/pa/library/0,17905,5021-1,00.html
This document explains our beliefs on marriage and family.

President Hinckley has also brought forth the building of many temples around the world, which has directly affected me. When he first became President of the church there were 47 temples operating now (about 13 years later) there are 124 operating temples with 10 more under construction and a few more announced. When we moved to Edmonton in 2001 there was a new temple (dedicated Dec. 1999) within 5 minutes from our home. Then when we moved to San Antonio in 2006, we were pleased to find a new temple (dedicated May 2005) only 20 minutes from our home. We have been so greatly blessed to have temples so close by and to be able to attend frequently.

Thank you for your love and example to us all. Thank you for your tireless effort in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. We love you President Hinckley! We will miss you.

Family Fridays - Temperature & Bball

Seija this week was sick. Or at least I thought she was sick. She had a super hight temperature of 40.2 Celcius (aka 104.4 F for my American friends) on Monday night, that lasted for 24 hours. Fortunately it came down a little with children's Tylenol. That was the only symptom she had though. She was still her happy, talkative, active self that whole time. So maybe she is working on her two year molars. Who knows? I am so grateful for my handy, accurate thermometre that only takes one second. What did people do before this wonderful invention? My child has a hard enough time sitting still for the one second that it takes. I can't imagine having to shove a thermometre in a child's mouth (or anywhere else fro that matter) for a whole minute or so. If any of you, who have children, don't have ones of these, I strongly recommend them.

My boys started basketball this month and are really enjoying it. Below is them with their uniforms on.This past Christmas they got a basketball hoop from their Grandpa and for weeks (until it got cold recently) they would be found "practicing", as Caleb called it, outside.

Caleb "practicing"

Matthias "practicing"

Today was a busy day. I have three card swaps due next Friday, so I decided to start on them today. Caleb was invited to two birthday parties, one today, one tomorrow. So I killed two birds with one stone and made one of my swaps a boys birthday card.
The basketball ones are for the two birthday parties and the football one is for the swap. I made a total of 29 cards today. I now only have two more swaps to think of and make before next Friday. I started this posting way earlier today and it is now "tomorrow", after 1am. I am a crazy night owl! One of my goals this year is to get to bed before midnight on the week days. I have been doing really well with this goal, but I cut it close most of the time.

SPT Challenge - What's in a Name

Me In Threes Thursdays - Weeks 1 - 4

I found these 52 questions that you give three answers to. Since there is one for each week, I'm going to catch up by doing four of them today.

Week #1
What three movies from this past year would you recommend?

1. Amazing Grace
2. The Ultimate Gift
3. Stardust

Amazing Grace is based on a true story. You find out about the history of British transatlantic slave trade and how it was stopped. You also find out the meaning and circumstances surrounding the song Amazing Grace. It is a fantastic, clean movie that will make you want to buy it (so we did).

The Ultimate Gift is based on the book "The Ultimate Gift" by Jim Stovall. It's about Jason, who thought when his grandfather died, he was going to be left a great inheritance. Instead his grandfather devised a plan for Jason to experience a crash course on life which would change him forever. Another clean movie with a great message.

Stardust is "fantasy" movie, that has a little of everything. Action, drama, romance, comedy. It is an all round fun, feel good movie.

I'd also recommend "Love Comes Softly" series. These movies are based on the books by Janette Oke. There are five so far, but my favorite is still the first one. I also enjoyed The Bourne Ultimatum, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and The Illusionist.


Week #2
What are three things that scare you?

1. The high probability in San Antonio of a cyclist being hit by a car (my husband cycles to school and back).
   
2. Horror movies (I won't watch them. I do like and watch thriller movies though).
3. Waking up this morning and finding a cockroach on the toilet that I was about to use (it grosses me out more than scares me, but I did jump back). Yuck!!!

Week #3
What are three stress relievers for you?

1. Talking and hanging out with my husband is my favorite stress reliever.
2. Playing volleyball every Thursday night.
3. At the end of a stressful day with children, I like to watch a mindless DVD or just get out of the house (without them) for awhile.

Week #4
What are three smells you like?

1. Freshly laundered clothes
2. My house after cooking bacon
3. The smell of pine trees when I go hiking in the Canadian Rockies

Mondays About Me - Adoption and VT

My VT companion and I had a bit of a surprise last week. One of the Ladies we VT, called us not only to set up her own VT appointment, but to feed us lunch also. Isn't that great?! VT couldn't be easier! She made us salad, a Mexican soup and tortilla cinnamon & sugar sticks last Wednesday. It was so kind of her to think of us.

On Thursday I showed up to volleyball and was disappointed to find out there wasn't any that night :(

Brad and I have decided to adopt a child. We don't know when, or who, we just know it's right. Last Friday we had an adoption orientation. It was quite overwhelming, seeing all the paper work and all other things we need to do, just to finish the first step of the adoption process. But as I listened to how we will grow to love and bond with the birth mother for the precious gift she is giving us, my eyes watered and my heart swelled. The feelings I felt right then let me know once again that this is the right decision we are making and well worth the sacrifice. Later that evening, when Brad and I were talking in the temple, I realized that at exactly the same moment, he felt the same feelings I did.

www.itsaboutlove.org

Sunday's Weekly Blessing - Baptism by Immersion

Today I've been thinking a lot about baptism. The missionaries have been teaching great boy (Antonio), who is in my primary class. He and his older brother decided to get baptized. Antonio is a very bright, mature young man who loves learning the gospel. I'm so excited that he made this decision!

Me & Antonio

Antonio got baptized today at 6:30. I was pleased to be there and support him, and also to be a part of their special day by giving a talk.

Missionaries, Geneva (their Grandma), Richard & Antonio

I am grateful for the decision I made as a young child to be baptized and that I have the fullness of the gospel to direct my life.

Seija's hair dos

Our two year old daughter is definitely not lacking in self esteem. Everytime she wears a dress, skirt, clip in her hair, etc, she wanders around saying "I pwetty". Even when she's sporting her own do, like this...



This week she felt she needed a change in hairstyles so below is a picture of her hair cutting skills (with it evened out by me). Anyone willing to pay her? She'll give you a great deal!



Needless to say I wasn't too happy with her, hence a picture of my daughter on time-out, crying. Why is it only my daughter, hacking off her beautiful long, curly hair, while my boys, who can wear a shaved look quite nicely, haven't?

Playlist

It took me awhile to make a music play list. It holds so many songs. I'm now done, and you can check out a few songs that I like!

SPT Challenge - A Closer Look

is there a part of you, a part of your home, a part of your creativity that gets more attention from you than anything else? when you look at your reflection, do you automatically zoom in on a feature you love or you loathe? when you are in your creative space, is there one project that gets your attention before all the others?

I took a picture of something that , until last Monday, had a big impact on what I did each week.


One of my goals in 2007 was to take piano lessons. I love singing and I wanted to learn more about piano and music. I really enjoyed this goal. It was a lot of fun to do, but it also required a lot of practice time. That being said, I would still be doing piano lessons, but my practice time just disappeared. My two year old daughter has decided she doesn't need naps anymore. If she was content to play by herself, like my four year old, this wouldn't have been a problem, but she is the type who needs a lot of attention. Good-bye piano lessons. So long wonderful piano teacher. Hello to a goal this year that is hopefully just as fun and enlightening. Below is a closer look at what will be my next learning endeavor.

SPT Challenge - New "You" Resolution

I decided today to start the photography challenge from Lelly. January 8th's posting was on this:

stop for a minute and take a self-portrait, a snapshot of you in the here and now. what ARE your dreams and goals for 2008? what is your word? what are you thinking about right now as we plunge head-first into the new year? so, tell us about it: what is your new *you* resolution?

Below is a picture of me and the reasons why I chose to take this picture.

1. One of my goals for this year is to exercise more. So here I am before my workout with my t-shirt and sweatpants on.
2. Another goal this year is to learn more about photography & take more pictures. We have been given an absolutely fabulous camera and it needs to be used!! Obviously a flash wouldn't have worked with this kind of picture, so just before I took it, I learned out how to turn the flash off. We've had this camera for a year and a half now, so I obviously should have learned how do do that before now :)
3. Having the camera in the picture (not just me) outwardly shows my photography goal.
4. I wasn't wearing any make-up, so taking a picture of me at that time would have been scary! I wouldn't be so cruel to all of you who read my blog.

There you have it! My first of many spt challenges. The new ME.

Weather for the Canadians and the Americans

Today I decided to add the weather to my blog. And being the thoughtful person that I am :) I decided to include two weather boxes, one in Celsius for our Canadian family and friends, and another in Fahrenheit for our American family and friends. You can find out the weather in the three most important places to us, San Antonio, Texas (where we currently reside), Kelowna, British Columbia (where we plan on moving to), and Calgary, Alberta (where we are from). See the sidebar for the weather.

Murder Mystery Dinner

Me at a Murder Mystery Dinner. I was Lulu Peachy (a can can girl).

This is the only time you'll ever see me wearing pink!!!

A friend of mine (Jill) put on a Murder Mystery birthday party for her husband (Rob). This was the first one I have ever attended. It was a lot of fun!

Jill (the store owner) & Rob (the sheriff)

Brad (a barber) & me (a can can girl)

Nick (the gun slinger) & Cristina (a native American)

Michelle (the wife) and Aaron (the hired hand)

Tena (the daughter - and the murderer!!!)

None of us were able to correctly guess who the murderer was. Most of us thought it was the wife, because his poor, sweet, little daughter couldn't have done it!!! Fun evening! I'd love to do that again! You should try it sometime.

2008 - The Start of a Brand New Year

We had family visiting us for New Years also. My parents came to spend time with us and help us ring in the new year. We spent the day of New Years Eve at SeaWorld. It was a warm day at 25 Celsius. We had a lot of fun going on all the water rides (with NO line-up's), the other rides, seeing the shows, etc.


Our children were way too exhausted at the end of the day to stay up. They went to bed early and we stayed up for a quiet evening of watching DVD's. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Christmas Holidays

A couple of years ago we were in Canada playing in the snow.

This year was basically the same, but instead of snow we had sand. We went to the beach. Instead of building snowmen and quinzees, we built sand castles. Instead of making snow angels, we made sand angels. Instead of skiing, skating, tobogganing, and snowball fights, we swam, boogie boarded, and collected seashells. It was a little different than we are use to, but a lot of fun.

We had a lot of fun spending Christmas with Brad's Mom & Step-dad.
Thanks for the South Padre Island Christmas!!!!