I have to brag...

So I've always wished I had an OUNCE of artistic talent that my sister does. She really is amazing and I just have to show off one of the things she's been doing. (Hope she doesn't mind I'm posting this!!?!?!) She made these and some other YW value things for the YW general presidency and I just had to share with all my pals too. You can click on her link (Michelle) if you're interested in purchasing any of these or her other stuff.

Beautiful, huh.

St. Valentine

I think this has got to be one of my favorite years. Mostly because it's really the first year Indy's really "getting" all the holidays. Halloween and Christmas were, of course a blast. But I really enjoyed this Valentine's a lot simply for the simplicity of it all. Just showing someone that they're your friend. It's a fluffy-happy day!

Indy was looking at one of her High Five kid's magazines the other day and saw instructions on how to make chocolate cover pretzels, one of her favorite treats. She decided she wanted to make some, so I suggested we make the for her friends for Valentine's day. She was so excited and we had a blast making them. She pretty much did everything herself, but she loved doing the sprinkles the most, (of course!) at least until her arms got tired!

She was also pretty dang excited when she got to wear this outfit.... all red, her favorite. That bag is her valentines from pre-school. She was being very patient with me while I made her pose for this picture. She really wanted to be tearing into that bag!

(don't mind my toilet in the background!!! DOH!)

Tip Junkie

Ever see something really cute and wonder, "I wonder if I could make that?" Well, do I have a blog for you!

http://tipjunkie.blogspot.com/

Really, it loads of fun. I could spend WAY too much time on this site.

shhh... i smell something

Well, today was anything but stress free. By about 3 I'd all but lost my patience with Indy and was totally ready to call it a day.... and we still had lots to do. I realized at Indy's new swimming lessons that i HATE them and want her out of them asap before she totally regresses in skills, which means I have to somehow rationalize to myself (and more importantly, Eric) that it's ok to pay the outrageous fees for the other ones.... argh!

Then I had to rush home, get my dishes done that had somehow exploded all over my kitchen counter AGAIN! (how does that really happen.... honestly!) The thought of making dinner raced through my mind just as i realized i had to leave to meet Eric at the car dealership. Apparently the 5 hours and 50 BILLION signatures weren't enough... they needed more. I really considered just severing the arm and leg here at home to save some time at the dealership. sheesh....

The whole time i'm thinking to myself.... lighten up... chill out.... have a better attitude (that's what i always tell indy, right?!?!) I was having one of those, man-i'm-being-nasty moments. and it always seems, that's when indy knows i need a laugh.

After the dealership, we grabbed some drive-thru (ugh!) and indy suddenly got real quiet. she said, in a whisper, "shhh, do you smell that mom? i smell something coming... it smells like it's coming closer." clearly, she doesn't understand smelling and hearing are two very different things, (maybe we should work on that!) but it still made me laugh and forget about how crappy the rest of the day had been. aren't kids great!

A new place

Today was Indy's last day at the pool she started taking lessons at. I have to say, I'm quite excited for her to start at her new pool. But I still got all nostalgic, just because she started here when she was only 18 months.

Can you tell how much she loves swimming? I can never get her to smile like this for pictures. We always get there early and its so hard for her to wait her turn. It really is amazing to me how swimming just clicks with her. In all of her other activities she's what people would call a "free spirit." You can tell her what to do, but she'll decide when and IF she's going to do it. But with swimming she's totally on the ball and she can never get enough. She always wants to keep trying, even if its a brand new skill that's hard.

I actually remembered to get the pictures of her jumping off the diving board. Who's proud of me!!! I hope her new pool has a diving board, but I don't think it does.

25 random things...

25 RANDOM THINGS:

here's a fun little thing to do if you've got some time. (its a repeat for anyone that my have read it on my facebook.)

1. i still cry every time i watch the movies Brokedown Palace and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
2. if i weren't a stay-at-home mom, i'd absolutely love to be a florist. (even though i have NO experience in it!)
3. i feel much calmer when i'm organized, but i tend not to be...
4. i really want to be more organized because i feel like i could accomplish much more in a day.
5. i'd have about ten times more pets in my home if my husband wasn't so sensible!
6. i prefer salty snacks over sweets.
7. the walls of my bedroom are orange.
8. i deep down love that indy is so sassy and strong willed. i hope she always is.
9. i have a great garden but can't keep house plants alive.
10. i'd really like to only plant pumpkins next year (because i LOVE PUMPKINS!... more than a normal person should....) but i'll probably plant some veggies to be sensible........
11. i don't have a middle name and i like it that way.
12. i just made a goal to run a 5k in april.
13. i have a soft spot in my heart for The Cure.... always.
14. i've always wanted to visit Thailand.
15. i love cold weather and would take it over hot any day. good thing i live in utah!
16. i'm very stubborn when i'm passionate about something.
17. i love baking bread and wish i could do it as well as my grandma did.
18. i want to start swimming laps. exercising in the water just wouldn't seem as tormenting. i love water!
19. i'd pick yard work over house work any day of the week.
20. i always hated reading when i was in school, now i always have a book to read.
21. i am NOT a homebody. i love to be out and about.
22. i love Salt Lake City because its so easy to be out and about.
23. i never thought i'd love Utah. i never wanted to live here.
24. i wish i were more self disciplined.
25. i try to not have addictions of any kind (ei. caffeine, liqueur, food, hobbies) because i don't like the thought of something having that control over my life.