Monday, March 22, 2010

Do you wanna see the best thing to ever come out of Fort Knox??? (Or in other words, 39 reasons I love my husband)

Here you go!

Just want to wish my "warrior" a very Happy Birthday.
39 reasons why I love you (you being Tyran).
In no particular order...
  1. You can seriously rock a goatee
  2. Your sense of humor
  3. You have a cute butt
  4. You honor and respect me
  5. You are a worthy priesthood holder
  6. What ever you do, you do it 100%
  7. Even though you are supremely competitive you keep it under control
  8. You are a family man
  9. You have a voice for radio
  10. You use that voice to help lull me to sleep
  11. Your massages are awesome
  12. That you are named after a dinosaur
  13. You let me tease you about calling you T. Rex
  14. You put up with my furniture rearranging obsession
  15. You have great ears and you know how to use them
  16. That the kids come to you when they have owies
  17. You are better at putting on band-aids than I am
  18. The color of your eyes
  19. That you thought the song was about a one winged dove
  20. That you shoveled snow in sandals
  21. You like camping and hiking
  22. You still like to watch cartoons
  23. You sometimes use words that I have to look up
  24. You know the scriptures backwards and forwards
  25. You love garlic and aren't ashamed of that
  26. You let me use you as my own personal heating pad
  27. You believe in me even when I don't believe in myself
  28. Your standard random answers are "chicken" or "green"
  29. You are true to yourself
  30. You are willing to take risks
  31. Because your kiss is on my list
  32. You sing "Minimum Wage" awesomely
  33. You put up with my sense of humor
  34. You have common sense
  35. You introduced me to Taco seasoning
  36. You are an amazing husband
  37. You are a good father
  38. You are my best friend
  39. You Love me

And the Winners are!!

The winners to the book Give me! Get! Me! Buy me!
(according to the random number generator) .....

Lisa Lou and Madalyn!!

Congratulations!

Edited: Email me your mailing info and the book will get to you!

Friday, March 19, 2010

Things I Love

  • My husband. He's been gone for 12 days and I've missed him.
  • The fact that my son George is his own biggest fan. When he tells a joke or a funny story he cracks himself up more than anyone else. I can't imagine where he gets that from.
  • George's sense of humor.
  • That McKenna cracks open a new book at least once a week if not more. Sometimes she's reading two or three at a time.
  • Jona's confidence.
  • The fact that Jillian is following in her sister's footsteps when it comes to reading. She loves the Junie B. Jones books at the moment.
  • Late night visits from family members that cause tears of happiness and joy rather than the other sort.
  • Nacho's and cheese, no peppers from Taco Amigo.
  • Doing puzzles at my mom's house.
  • My avocado green toilet.
  • My family members that brought that late night good news. I'm so happy for them I can hardly stand it.
  • The yellow and purple crocuses (croci?) that are blooming in my front yard.
  • My picture wall in my front room.
  • Doing puzzles in the front room at my mom's house.
  • 60 degree temps and throwing open the windows wide.
  • Febreze
  • The fact that my house is clean....don't know how long it will last but it's clean right now.
  • Good friends online and in real life.
  • Baby Powder.
  • Family near and far.
  • Hoop earrings.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Book Review : Give Me, Get Me, Buy Me! Preventing or Reversing Entitlement in Your Child's Attitude by Donna Corwin AND a Give away!!

At first when I was approached by TLC Book Tours to do a review on this book I almost said no.

Then I thought about it. I have seen first hand the damage that can be done, the heartache that is caused by people who have a sense of entitlement...and they have no clue.

It isn't pretty.

And as a parent I figured I could use all the help I can get so I told them to go ahead and send me the book. After all, knowledge is power right?

So with out further ado here is my review of ....

I found this book a quick, easy, and most importantly, an insightful read.

Maybe that had something to do with the fact that I found myself on the same page as Ms. Corwin (pun intended...bad I know but I couldn't resist) throughout this book.

She writes about how, in todays society many children have been or are being raised with a sense of entitlement. I love the very first sentence of this book "Entitled children are created not born." It's true.

In the book she asks you to honestly look at yourself as a parent and evaluate how and what you are doing. She also asks you to honestly look at your child and see where they may sit when it comes to entitlement. Not only does she ask the parents to look at and evaluate themselves but she also asks that you have your children do self-assessments as well. Which I think is fabulous and it is something that we will be doing with our kids.

She also gives you some tools to use in the form of ideas for a points chart. And there is a focus on consistency in parenting. Which is something that I think cannot be over emphasized.

There is a section on the importance of respect. Something that I think this world can use more of. I think that it is great that she focuses, not only the importance that the child shows respect for the parent but that the parent shows respect for the child as well. She also points out the importance of parents "Practicing what they preach" or the fact that in parenting it cannot be "Do as I say. Not as I do."

She writes about the importance of values and morals and priorities. All things, which I feel, have been on a decline in our society. One of my favorite parts of the book is where she asks the parents and children to list ten things that they cannot live without and ten things that they are willing to give up or change. Another activity that will be happening in our household.

Throughout the book there is a sense of hope that, even if things aren't going the way that you want them to, change is possible. Even if that change is difficult, as change usually is, it can happen.

She focuses on how children need our time, our attention and our love, not "things". They don't need the trendiest clothes or the newest tech gadget. They need support and someone to listen to them. They don't need you to be their friend they need you to be their parent. They need direction and limitations.

As I was talking to my husband about this I said "Most of this book, to me, is just common sense." And he replied, "Yes. But now a days common sense isn't." Which, unfortunately, is true.

I recommend this book as a good read to help you take a look at where you are in your parenting. Is it where you want to be? I believe that this book will help me and it can help you.

And guess what? I have two copies of this book to give away! If you would like a copy of this book you can go ahead and leave a comment. The winner will be announced Monday.


Disclaimer: In return for this book review I received the book to read and that was it. Is that a good disclaimer??

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Happy Wearing O' the Green Day

I hope this post finds you sporting green so that you don't get pinched!

I went upstairs this morning and found this on my kitchen table....
Just in case you aren't fluent in Jilli writing I will translate it says...

Top: Leave a Note
Left Side: By the way you are smart.
Right Side: Find a four leaf clover and circle it.
Bottom: Hi, my name is Jillian. I live in Utah. I am 7. Please take this picture. It is not a trap.

I love that she made this all on her own. I'll have to pick up some chocolate coins and leave for her in place of the note.



Thursday, March 11, 2010

Oh Happy Day!

These....
have arrived in stores.
(I know that they've been there since after Valentines day...indulge me.)


But were you aware of THESE??????

I was not!
If you see, or have seen, these anywhere in Utah County
will you let me know???

Oh and you have GOT to go and check these Peep Shows out!!!

My faves are "Peep/Tuck", the "Peeps on the Run", "The Peep is Right!"
"Peeponce - Single Chicks: Put a Peep on it" and in honor of Kristina
the "As seen on TV" that has a bunny peep in a snuggie.

BTW did you know that Kristina not only has a thing for Snuggies?
She has a thing for old people as well.
Go check out her post and help her help old people stay warm
with those robes you wear backwards.


Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Need You Now

One of my new favorite songs. I'm not a huge country music fan but this is one of those "cross over" songs. Enjoy Lady Antebellum and Need You Now.



Edited to say :

GAH I'm so frustrated!! I've enabled comments again and it won't show up on this post!!!! Anyone have any idea why??? You'll probably have to email me that info...unless this little edit does the trick.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

I want the other half of the story.

It's a story that's told in the bible. You may be familiar with it. The parable of "The Prodigal's Son".

Here's what I'd like. I'd like to know what happened after they had the big feast at the return of the younger son. Did the younger son stick around? Did he actually work for his dad on the farm? Did he turn his life around?

Or..

Did he stick around...just for a little while. And then go back to his partying ways? Did he get arrested and throw in Prison? Did his dad almost die while he was in jail. Did he get a phone call from his dad on what was thought to be his death bed telling him goodbye? Was he released but this time he didn't go home.

Did he go to his sister's house? This time did he stay around for a couple of months? Then after he was given help from many, many people, a job, his own place to live, food to eat. Did he still choose his partying ways?

Did he then get thrown in prison, yet again? Did his dad die just about a month before he was supposed to be released? Did he have to say goodbye to his father for the last time on the phone? Was he the only one of his siblings who wasn't actually there by his father's side when he passed? Did is family work like hell to get him an early release so that he could be there for his father's funeral?

Then did he, weeks later, turn right back to his partying ways? Did his sister cry to to him and beg him to do what is right? Did he then in turn tell her "There has to be some give and take?"

Did he end up back in jail a month and a half after his dad died?

Then, with two weeks left of his jail sentence, this time around, did his oldest sister die? Unexpectedly? Did he get his release on his own? Did he have an awesome "friend" who was willing to take him in and help him make it to her funeral in time?

Then....then did he decide that he wanted to hang out with those partying friends of his? Did he think that could do that and be okay?

I want to know.

I want the other half of the story.

*comments off*

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

All's quiet on this front

Which is a good thing. I haven't had much time to blog. I've been hanging out with my mom and helping out over there. It's been nice to spend time with her.
I did want to check in here.

Randomness ahead....
  • I'm tired. So tired. I do okay while I'm over at mom's but when I come home I crash.
  • The kids have Friday off of school.
  • I just bought tickets for the kids and I to go and see Alice in Wonderland on Friday afternoon.
  • I'm slightly excited about that.
  • My kids are WAY more excited about it than me.
  • I'm going to be single mommin' it for the next couple of weeks. Should be interesting.
  • I'm making plans to hike the Narrows with my friend this summer.
  • I'm VERY excited about that.
  • I can't wait until March 28th. My good friend, Heather is coming up to Utah for a visit. I haven't seen her forever.
  • I can't wait for Spring...it's almost here. The tulips and crocuses are peeking their heads up.
  • I'm in charge of a talent show for our ward. It should be fun...I hope.
  • I'm considering doing eyebrow dancing for my talent. It's a serious skill that I've honed.
  • I'm slightly nervous about Tyran leaving. I'm trying not to be but I'm finding it difficult, especially when I'm really tired.
  • I miss my sister.
  • I need to go and put my kids to bed...and then myself.
Thanks for sticking with me.