Monday, December 31, 2007

2008 is almost here

Derek's sis, Wendy put the following on the Keller Website. I thought I would share:

Yesterday in RS we studied a talk by Elder Faust (inserted into the back of the October General Conference Ensign) called The Power to Change (something like that) READ IT. Anyway we were also given a handout that goes like this:

PROBABILITY OF IMPLEMENTATION

A study at a major university attempted to delineate the factors involved in a typical human's ability to translate the acceptance of an idea in the implementation or application of that idea, i.e., turning thoughts into actions. The results were as follows:
ACTIVITY Implementation Rate
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Hear an idea that you like 10%
2. Consciously decide to adopt the idea 25%
3. Decide when you will do it 40%
4. Plan how you will do it 50%
5. Commit to someone else that you will do it 65%
6. Make a regular appointment with the person you 95%
committed to and report your progress

Anyway, I really liked that and I want to try that this year. We also talked about not making too many resolutions and/or making reasonable goals instead of something you will never be able to do.
Good luck to any resolution makers!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I (Jenn) thought that was great. Before I read the former, I was getting ready for the day and I thought of ways, I could better my life. To tell the truth I am a HUMBUG, when it comes to New Year's resolution, because I think of them as Weight Loss. Not this year, (Sure I need to drop a few pounds, but I am hoping to set other goals that might eventually leead to doing that.)

This Year, I have different ideas. I will write down my goals, but I will not bore you with my plans of action.

1.) I want to (will) Enjoy Life. (I have a great life & great people in it, so I want to LIVE it!)

2.) I want to (will) have a closer relationship to Heavenly Father.

3.) I want to (will) be a better wife to Derek. (He deserves it.)

4.) I want to (will) be a better mother and have better relationships with my kids.

5.) I want to (will) go to Cancun. hee.. hee...hee... ;0) (Thanks Larry & Karen!!)


What are yours??

Saturday, December 29, 2007

New, New Year's Resolution

This year, I am not going to make the same New Year's resolution, "Try and lose weight." It is not like it has been working for me anyways. Infact, it seems to be the opposite. Maybe I should say, "This year I want to gain 20 pounds!" Then maybe I would lose weight. No, with my luck I would finally accomplish a goal.

Yesterday, my Uncle gave me a nice compliment and said I was our family's, Erma Bombeck. Well, I was flattered. But I honestly did not know what Erma Bombeck wrote about. I just knew my mom really liked her books. So last night I got on the web and read quite a bit about her. WOW!! What a funny and wonderful lady. (Larry, thanks for the compliment, but I am no Erma Bombeck.)

After a long year of ups and downs, I have decided that my new year's resolution is going to be "Enjoy Life More!"

Erma Bombeck wrote a poem and after reading it last night, it just solidified my resolve to enjoy life more. Here is the poem:

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck

"I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."

There would have been more "I love you's." More "I'm sorry's."

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute, look at it and really see it , live it and never give it back."


Erma, thanks for leaving us with that great advice!

P.S. After reading some of her famous quotes, I was so relieved to find out no one has ever died from sleeping in an unmaid bed! Sheesh, I cannot tell you what a relief that is to me ; O)

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Five Kids or a Blizzard? Take your pick!

Tonight, I took Megan to Build-a-bear. She got a gift card from Santa In Manhattan Beach. I told her I would take her the day after Christmas. I decided it might be easier to take her by herself then with all 5 kids. So we left the boys(Derek included) home and headed for the Mall in Orem. The roads were icy and it was snowing. As we were driving home, I could not even tell if I was in a lane. I was starting to get nervous and thought, "I wonder what is scarier, trucking 5 kids through a mall or Driving in pouring snow on Icy roads?" The answer was obviously taking 5 kids to the mall. It was great to now have perspective and I was no longer nervous about driving in treacherous conditions.

The Christmas Bomb!

Yesterday morning, before the kids got up. The house looked so pretty. The whites lights glistening on the tree and on the greenery over our atrium doors. The presents were wrapped so sweetly under the tree. The Family Room, DIning area and Kitchen were nice and clean. It was a nice 10 minutes of enjoying that moment. Now I really know what they mean, when they say, "Take a picture it will last longer!" Derek had gone to go get the the kids. They all looked so cute. Ryan in Derek's arms. The kids half awake, but very excited! All them dressed in their Christmas jammies. Then it happened!!! The gift opening began and that we can keep a handle on by throwing away wrapping paper as each present was opened. But it was the opening of Teckno Dogs, Robotic spider, Remote Control Cars, Bratz Make over Doll, (I lovingly refer to Bratz Dolls as Hooker Dolls.) and way too many Spiderman toys that come with about 30 tightly twisted, wire twist ties each and their boxes that are ripeed into a million peices to get the beloved toy out of the box!! That is when our house looked like The Christmas bomb had went off at our house. It was crazy and I was thankful Costco sells batteries in bulk. My Aunt and Uncle gave us the most amazing presents. They suprised us with a nintendo Wii and they are taking both of my brothers, their wives, and Derek & I to Cancun this March. Derek and I are so excited. Especially since it will probably be snowing here in Utah and we will go enjoy 80 degree temps on a warm beach. I know gifts are not the biggest part of Christmas, but a trip to Cancun has got to hit top of WOWWY gifts!! Derek has always wanted to go fishing in the ocean and I am so excited he will get to do that!! Myself, I am hoping to hit a couple of zip lines in the rain forest area and go horse back riding along the beach.
This Year I was not feeling up to cooking a big dinnerand then cleaning up. SO we got a Costco Pizza, the kids put on the Nativiy Scene, and we watched It's a Wonderful Life on TV. It was GREAT!! We might do this every year.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

How to be a in-the-closet Santa!

Actually, I have no idea how to be an "In the closet Santa" It just sounded like an intriguing title. Tell the truth. Did it intrigue you? No, you can tell me. .......Oh, be quiet! It's my Blog! If you think I'm crazy, well I would have to comply with that quick observation. But really who can blame me. Being a mother of 5 at Christmas, can really wear a girl out. Especially, all that ordering online while Derek and I shopped for the kids at Toys R Us, Wal-Mart, Amazon.com, and of course E-Bay! (We were wearing pajamas.) It is the first time I have done a bulk of my shopping online and hard to believe, I know, but the first time I shopped in my Pajamas.

OK, now about the closet thing. My closet is a walk in closet that is 16 x 5'. Now that might seem large to some of you and small to others. It is HUGE to me. Derek and I don't own that many clothes. Nor do I want to. I HATE LAUNDRY. The person who invents disposable clothing will have my undying gratitude for the rest of my life.....Oops! I got side tracked. Anyways, I have my sewing machine table and Ironing board set up in the closet and that is how I use up the bigger half of the closet that we don't use. Well, I just went into my closet and there are boxes everywhere. Infact, I can't get to Derek's clothes. It is not my fault. He is the one who stacked the boxes. Walmart and Toys-R-Us send huge boxes, for not alot of items.

You might be thinking, "Hey Lazy, wrap the gifts and put them under the tree." Well, that sounds great but, the kids take after me and poke holes in their presents to see what is in them. So I can't! I have put some Christmas presents under the tree. But I did not put any names on them. So that has stumped them, for the time being. (I just hope I remember, which present goes to which person.) It's a tricky business being Santa's Helper.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Disneyland 2007

Last March we headed to Disneyland with my brother Jim (and his family), my brother Josh (and his family), my sister Carol (and her family), and my Uncle Larry (and his family). We were quite a bunch! It was chaotic at times, but seeing the pictures it was obviously well worth it. Besides kids remembering going on rides with cousins and aunts and uncles. Oh yeah and parents and biblings, blah, blah, blah

Enjoy the Slide Show.

DIsneyland 2007 Slide Show

We are Totally Twisted!

Twister is the best game for a family. (Thus the reason we had 5 kids - Twister is just more fun that way!) We play without the spinner, which adds a new element to the game because the caller can call out anything. Which ends up pretty Twisted! I think all of our kids have learned their "right and left" from playing this together.

Twister with the kids

Happy Haunting!

So many SLide Shows, I know. WHat can I say? I love pictures (especially of my family(s).

Here is our Haunted House we made together for family night and last years pics of the kids. I have not yet got this years Halloween Pics on here yet. (I have a good excuse, I have 5 kids and I am having 25 houseguests for Thanksgiving Weekend. I'm busy! It will be so much fun though. The Excitement outweigh the STRESS!)

Happy Halloween 2006 and 2007 pictures

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

TRICK OR TREAT?!

Happy Halloween??

Tomorrow is Halloween and today was Kason's birthday, Austin had a court of honor, Derek was in charge of the Court of Honor, I was in charge of pretty table and refreshments at the court of honor and then Kason had wrestling practice. AAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!
I am so so tired! And the thought of getting up and getting the kids into costumes and face painting at 7:30am. Sounds so far from fun, I just cannot tell you. I really do like Halloween, I just hate HECTIC!! Austin is not dressing up for school. (bless his heart, one less person to help get ready.) Kason is going to be a BAT! Megan is going to be a "Dead" Cheerleader. Jaxon is going to be a Pirate at school and a Dinosaur during trick or treating. (The only reason I am letting him do both is because, I all ready have the Pirate stuff and a friend lent him a big warm Dinosaur costume. All you have to do is take your shoes off, climb in zip up and put your shoes back on.) He could not decide which one he wanted to be, so he will be both. Ryan is going to be a King, which is fitting since we named him Ryan because Ryan means King. My friend had a King costume and Ryan loved it. (It has a long cape and he just LOVES that! But he keeps telling me he needs a sword. I will be going as my usual haggard tired mother of 5 attire and make-up is not necessary for dark circles under the eyes. Lucky me! Derek and I usually do not dress up. Just getting the kids ready is so much work. Maybe when the kids are a little older and they can kind of do their costume makeup on their own. I have always wanted to go as Miss Piggy and Fozzy the Bear (She dumped the Frog, the Bear made her Laugh!)

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Another reason my child might need therapy

Ok, so I have to give a little back ground before I tell you of the conversation I had with my 6 year old. I am LDS and in our church we usually refer to people in our church as Brother (last name here) or Sister (last name here).

I have Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS). (I know I had no idea what that was until, I was diagnosed by my OBGYN this last June. After 9 years of thinking I was just having Severe IBS and Kidney Stones, we found out that we and 12 other Dr.'s were wrong. (if you would like more info here is a helpful website my doc. gave me to learn about it: http://members.aol.com/fibroworld/mps.htm (I hope that works)

So, I had picked up a 13 inch TV, without thinking about it (I am not suppose to lift thins over 20lbs. It is a Trigger point for a whirl wind of pain. This was Monday night and by 1:00am I was hurting pretty bad. It was weird because sometimes when I have not had the pain for a while, I start thinking was the pain really that bad? Maybe I could have toughed it out. Then Monday night it hit and by 2:00am I was thinking, this is kind of like Labor. You forget what it feels like and then Transition hits and you say "Oh yeah that's how it feels!" My hubby woke up @4:00am when he heard me downstairs and he was able to think clearly and get my medicine. We know if I take the medicine I will be out of it for at least 6 hours and feel very sleepy, especially since I hadn't slept. So we called a wonderful neighbor who is in our church and my 2 youngest boys stayed with her. I am going to call her "Sister Smith" (I don't want to use real last names) So my son came home after having a great day with her and said, I think I am going to call Justin's mom (Justin is his buddy) Mom Smith! I said, No, honey you don't need to call her Mom Smith, she is not your Mom. Just call her Sister Smith! Ok, how confusing is that to a 5 year old?? After I said it my Husband and I laughed. I love when I can find Humor even when it feels like I am having a horrible day. I just have to remember, I am not having a bad Day, I am just having a bad moment. There can still be humor just around the next moment!

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Been Busy, Will write soon.

Ok, so I have to just say alot has been going on. My health has not been so great, but I don't want to really talk about that. My Husband's aunt has been in the hospital the last couple weeks with Congestive Heart Failure. She died this morning (Oct. 2nd at 2:00am). Although, they do not live close, it feels like our energy and thoughts have been with her family. She was only 56. (We will miss you Berta!)

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Baby Blues (Ryan, you'll be in my heart)

Ryan is my baby. He is the 5th and final addition to are herd. Ryan celebrated his 3rd birthday and is officially wearing "Big Boy Underwear". He is very proud of this accomplishment, as am I. I was so excited to finally be free of Diapers after 12 consecutive years! And I am. But it feels kind of sad to see my little man running around in his "Fruit of the Looms". I guess with most milestones our children make, is Bittersweet. Ryan is a very hard headed 3 year old and will test the boundaries and then some. But he is my baby. I LOVE the way he says, "I lub you too!" Or after his bath, "Mom, I need a Talow." I LOVE IT!! I know that his speech is becoming better and he will not say those cute little things to me anymore.
I also have to admit, I am probably a better mother to him then I was to my oldest, just because I worried about everything back then. I still do, but not as much. Now, I feel like I know how to relax a little more and know which battles to pick. Not that I have this parenting thing down. Not even close! But I do feel like I am learning to enjoy it more, Take the little moments in, Sit down and play trains with them and Just be their Mom.

We had a lazy morning today and watched Disney's Tarzan together. I have seen this movie many times and it is one of my favorites. But today as I laid down next to my little guy as we watched it together, I felt almost emotional. You know, the song, "You'll be in my Heart" it just got to me, I guess.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

"Did I sign up for this?"

Do you ever have one of those days where, the house looks like a bomb went off and nothing you do makes your toddler happy? And then you ask yourself, "Did I sign up for this?" I've been having alot of those days lately......hmm.... for the last 10 years (when my oldest was 2) OK, I'm lying I've been having those kind of days for the past 12 years!

Not, that my kids are awful kids, on the contrary they are pretty good kids. I just remember being a young newlywed and saying to myself, "Hey, Derek is great with kids. We should have a baby! I mean, I think I could have one of those little bundles! It will be so great!"
(I know,......silly, silly girl!)

I was just thinking, "Let's have a baby!" Not "Sweetheart, (me speaking to Derek) I think we should have a baby and then have four more after that one. Because I want to have days, when I am horribly sleep deprived from being up with a crying baby. I want to have so much laundry that there is no way I will ever have it done, EVER! I want to have days where it takes me one and a half hours to get a toddler dressed and into the car. Because the child will of course go limp when I try to help him get dressed because he does not want to go to to the store."

"Derek Darling, I just don't think my life would be complete if I didn't have a 2 year old who loved to be naked and because hos older siblings will reliably leave the front door opened, so he can escape. Then as I am pass a window, I will see our naked toddler riding his bike, having the time of his life. As I freak-out, because it will have been the eighth time that week and our neighbors will wonder if the child has any clothes."

"Derek you do not have to worry. We will not have children who pick their noses and then eat it (eww), yet they are picky eaters and won't eat anything we make for them. (picky eaters -get it? I know, gross) We will never have children who will not come out of the ball pit, at the local Fast Food Play land, when their mother asks them to. They will not sit their and giggle while their 11 months pregnant Mommy tries to crawl in to that tubular contraption to show them she means business!"

"Not to worry Derek, my dear. I know exactly what we are signing up for!"

I didn't think that. Did you?

Saturday, September 15, 2007

What is LDS??

Dawn, from "Because I said so!" said she gets many people asking her if she is LDS. She did not know what that was. Finally she realized it was "Mormon".

I decided if anyone has any questions, I would be happy to answer them, as I am LDS. Don't worry I am not trying to convert anyone. I just know there are many "Mormon Myths".

If you want to talk about your religion, I would love to hear you about how it blesses your life.

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Here Lies Foo-Foo

Having kids, certainly keeps life entertaining. For Christmas, my daughter, Meg wanted one of those "Fur Real Chimps". Lucky for her Santa delivered! This Monkey looks fairly realistic, makes monkey noises and even sniffs for it's food. (It fits right in at our house, even though we have no "pets" just kids.)
Later that afternoon I asked Meg, "So what are you going to name your monkey?" (She names everything) She replied without hesitation, "Foo-Foo." I was startled a bit by this answer. Why? My childhood nickname was Foo-Foo. Meg knew that was my nickname and thought it would be so great to name the monkey after me. I was freaked out and flattered all at the same-time. Mostly freaked out! I mean come on, here she has all of these pretty Dolls and she names the Hairy Monkey that SNIFFS IT"S FOOD, after me!! I think I would of felt less self conscience if she would have named Malibu Barbie after me." (I am a size 18, so my likeness to Barbie would have been a little easier on the ego.) "Are you sure you want to name it Foo-Foo? How about Sophie or Fifi?" I asked "No, I like Foo-Foo." She quickly smiled and skipped off. I decided, it could be worse and forgot about it.
A few days later, her younger brother, Ryan aka Twitchy, got hold of the monkey and got up on the top bunk and decided to see if , "Foo-Foo" could fly. Meg walked in just as "Foo-Foo" took flight. Ofcourse it was a no-go on the flying and Meg was horrified as she picked up that Hairy thing and it would not move, talk or sniff. Meg was very unhappy and when she is unhappy we all know about it! (Because she is her mother's daughter.)
My Husband went in to her room ten minutes later to see if she was calmed down and to see if he could fix the chimp. When he walked in he saw a pile of blankets lying in a mound on Meg's bed. On top of the mound sat a home-made tombstone that read, "Here Lies Foo-Foo". Now I don't know about you, but it is a little disconcerting when you have a tombstone in your house with your name on it!!! Thankfully Derek, my hubby was able to revive the hairy little thing with a tightening of it's batteries. Meg was thrilled and I was beyond happy to throw away the Tombstone!
Kids, they keep you hopping!

Friday, August 31, 2007

My very own



As a mother, I have very few things that are my own. My 3 year old loves to drink out of my cup. (hmm... I wonder why I am always getting sick?...) He also seems fascinated with MY toothbrush. Not his toothbrush, not his dad's toothbrush, but my dull pink, run of the mill toothbrush seems to say, "Ryan, come and put me in your mouth!" My clothes are not my own. My daughter does not like pajamas (no matter how cute they are) she would rather wear one of my T-shirts. I even have to share my bed. Just kidding Honey! I was just trying to make a point. But this Blog here is MINE all MINE!!:::::::::insane woman laughter:::::::::

Hmmm..... So now what do I do?