Confessions of an average mom

Today the inadequate bug has hit my home. It all started while looking up different blogs. It's amazing how many blogs there are out there. I usually only check my friends blogs but (since the kids hadn't woke up yet) I figured I had some time to mosey onto some different sites.

One has tons of amazing crafts they created
Another has gourmet meals
Professional photos on another
Homeschooling Moms that seem to do it all or
Moms who have written books

When I read them it makes me think....man I don't do any of those things...man...I don't do anything! Then I think...I need to be more creative, inventive, crafty, organized, patient, etc (the list goes on and on)....it gets one down and tired just thinking about all the areas where improvement is needed.

I need to remember that we are all in different situations. I'm comparing myself to others which only leads to feelings of inadequacy.

I'm doing the best I can and that is all my Heavenly Father asks of me.

Four Times Four

I was tagged to do four times four:

Four places I go:
1.Store (again and again and again!)
2.Elementary School
3.Church
4.Library

Four Favorite Smells:
1.Babies skin (clean of course ha ha)
2.A good smelling Cologne on my hubby
3.Rain (not so much after when it heats up, the neighbors have a dog he he)
4.Anything baked...mmmm bread and cookies :)

Favorite TV shows/Movies
1.ULTIMATE GIFT! A good show, I'd recommend it if you haven't seen it.
2.Any movie or show cuddled up with my hubby
Man I can't think of anything else. I don't watch any TV shows on a regular basis anymore. Unless you count the news.

Four Recommendations:
1. Spend time playing with your kids, they grow so fast. (I'm sure all you Moms know that)
2. When your having a pity party, don't invite others just grab some chocolate HA HA (When I'm having one I start thinking about all my blessings and it kicks me out of it fast)
3. Forgive yourself
4. Praise more today than yesterday (this is a sign on our bathroom mirror, I need a daily reminder)

Now I get to tag four:
1. Nat
2. Jessica
3. Kristy
4. Amy

Spoiled Stuffed Animals!

For Christmas the kids got Webkins from Grandma and Grandpa Westwood. The idea came about that it would be fun to make them bunkbeds. The stuffed animals that is. So thats what we did as an activity for FHE tonight. We made them from the leftover wood we had from finishing the basement. Kevin cut everything and the kids sanded and nailed them. (Taking the kids to the Home Depot and Lowes classes really helped out in that area). It was pretty cold outside and I said to Kevin, "Doesn't it make you feel good to know your freezing out here (the garage) for a bunch of stuffed animals?

We didn't have enough time to paint them but thats the next step. Then we thought for another FHE we could have the kids learn to sew some mattresses and blankets for them. Only two of them are pictured here. Danika's bed for "Sugar" (a Koala bear) is on the left. She just wanted one bed but notice the ladder. We sure don't want any stuffed animals getting injured while getting into bed ha ha. Spoiled stuffed animals.

Just Reminiscing

Tonight I was on YouTube (Kevin was gone playing tennis) so I was watching some clips from some of the shows I loved as a kid. Most of the shows I love are about dancing. I really miss dancing. They were just clips but I was a bit surprised at some of the content. I guess as a kid I didn't think much about it but now as a parent I'm more aware. I remember Kevin and I getting War Games to watch. We both remember watching it as kids. We turned it off after five minutes because of the language and threw it away (we had turned in coupons from a cereal box so we didn't pay anything for it).
Have you done that? Looked back at things you watched as a kid and think...man I'm not letting my kids watch that. It scares me for what is to come. What are my kids going to be watching. PG movies aren't like the PG movies I watched growing up. I'm positive things aren't going to get better either. Just turning on the TV and flipping through channels there are so many suggestive things. I guess all I can do is teach them and hope that they choose whats right.

Valentine Fun

I loved Valentines Day as a child. The anticipation of who would give you what kind of valentine and what it would say. You always looked so much deeper into a meaning. If a boy gave you one that said "Be my Sweetheart" you took it as they really liked you and wanted to go out. I can see my kids doing that. It's become a nightly thing for Andrew to tease Danika that Chris loves her. Then Danika teases back that Brittney loves him. Ahh the memories. I wanted to share something fun I found. My friend made these cute candy cane suckers on her site and I wanted to try them. You can check out her blog on the side bar, it's under Healthy Food Should Taste Good. I tried to add a link but it wouldn't work. This is how they turned out.
Thankfully my sisters had a box of candy canes from Christmas they let me have. Thats not something you find easily this time of year. If you want to know exactly how to make them check out my friends site.
I'm attaching a succor to these bags of cookie cutters for the kids teachers.

Growing up my Mom would always have a valentine on our plate for Dinner. I've continued that tradition but also do it for breakfast and lunch also. I know what I'm making for breakfast and lunch but I still need to think of a fun idea for dinner. If you have any ideas I would love to hear them. Since Valentines is on a Monday this year, the hubby and I are celebrating on Saturday. We are going to the American West Heritage Center for dinner and a magic show, should be fun. Have A Happy Valentines!

LOOKIE LOOKIE

Look who got glasses.
A few weeks ago while in Sacrament I saw Andrew squinting a little to see the numbers posted for the songs. When he said "Mom, is that 128?" and it was 133 (or something like that) I knew he needed an eye exam. It was so exciting to see him recognize things such as the sign above the fridge that says "Thou shalt not weight more than thy refrigerator" he said he couldn't read it before. I remember what it was like when I first got glasses. It's like a whole world opened up.
He is already asking me about contacts. I can't see an eight year old wearing contacts but maybe some do. I was in seventh grade when I first got mine.
Well I guess wishing didn't work. We were hoping the kids would get my teeth and Kevin's eyes. I've never had braces or cavities and he's never had eye problems. Oh well, we sure think he looks handsome.

Anyone notice BriLynn in the picture again. I swear the girl can hear when I click the camera on. She's a little ham :)

PARTY PARTY PARTY

When I only had one or two kids I would throw parties all the time. I LOVE to decorate with balloons and get games, prizes, etc together. Well I've noticed the more kids we have the less parties I throw. I remember throwing a Fourth of July Party for Danika when she was two....what two year old is going to remember that? It may be that I'm getting older and tired but I don't throw as many and I figured before I had the baby I better do something. I didn't want to leave any of the kids out so I had them each invite two friends, (well except BriLynn, because I now know that two year olds really don't care). I figured that would be 13 kids total. It was a bit different trying to entertain the range of ages from 4 to 10 but I think it went well. Here are some pictures. It was warm for the first little bit for them to go outside and play. Our next door neighbors showed us this game and the kids love it. You pair up, blow a cheese ball with a straw and see how many you can get in your partners mouth. The one who gets the most wins.


We did a maze, colored, played bingo, had a heart hunt and competed to see who could pop a balloon the fastest by sitting on it.
And of course decorated and ate valentine cookies.
I have to say I was really sad for Andrew. Neither of his two friends showed up. I had talked to one of his friends parents and it sounded like they were coming. I had written on the invite to call if they weren't able to attend. Just for this reason, I could have had him invite someone else. I was heartbroken as he was sitting looking out the window waiting for them. I kept giving him suggestions of others we could hurry and call but nope...he didn't want anyone but the two kids he invited. I felt horrible. He warmed up after a couple games and participated but I know he was really hurt. I still feel sad just thinking about it.

Nothing to report

Wow I didn't realize how long it's been since I last posted. Well there's really nothing new to report. We are still alive. So far no sickness here (knock on wood) and I've kept my goal of making homemade bread every week so far. To bad I can't get out of the habit of making cookies. I don't know what it is about pregnancy but I crave baking cookies. I've also put away 8 freezer meals. I would love to have a months worth of frozen meals by the time the baby arrives. Does that sound crazy? I told my sister Susan that and she said I was a rare breed.