I could use this...

11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven is giving away a gorgeous Hotslings baby carrier!

To enter click HERE.

Goings on -kinda long

Wow, this last weekend felt like a week instead of just 2 days. In a good way, that is. My house is a complete WRECK as proof that we were busy little beavers. I'm trying to muck it out today (it's gonna take all week), and conquer "Laundry Mountain".

This is not even half, people!!
On the up side, my Christmas decor is out and I am LOVING it.

Well, all except the tree which I'm hoping we will get to this week. One of my favorite things about Christmas is getting the ornaments out and watching the kids reminisce over each one. It's very bonding, in my opinion.

Saturday I went to Goodwill for half off day and SCORED a ton of stuff!!! We got like 6 pairs of pants-some for me and some for Sweet G, which were desperately needed; 3 cute long sleeved shirts for Blondie; a super cute jacket for Blondie; 5 bags of brand new pull-ups (for night use) at only $1.50 a bag!!!!!!; 2 new skirts for Sweet G, plus a shirt; a shirt for me; a CUTE purse for me; 2 pairs of pants for Dr. D; some berry thingys I'm going to put in the Christmas tree; and a mug tree that is perfect as a little wreath holder! It's going to get a paint job, but is working just fine for now! Isn't she cute?


I also turned a sweater that my friend Naunee picked up into a sweater dress for Little Miss, and paired it with the perfect leggings. I used the tutorial from the Makeitandloveit blog to do the sweater dress. SUPER easy. Also altered a black velvet skirt (I think it was a women's mini skirt?) into a perfect little holiday skirt for Little Miss. All I had to do was sew down both sides and it is perfect!
We also had our ward Christmas party, which was fun and several of us participated in. The kids got to sit on Santa's lap (our FAVORITE Santa, no less!). Pictures of that are coming.
Yesterday, we picked up a trundle bed that I scored on Craigslist for Sweet G and Blondie to share. We have done some room re-arranging, now need to do some furniture moving to cement in the changes. DH and I had to drive out to Florence to pick up the bed, which gave us a couple hours of "alone time". It turned out to be a very wonderful trip! We put the three older girls in a room together, and put Dr. D on the top bunk and Little Miss on the bottom bunk in their room. We are also going to put the crib in their room for our little Tail Gunner. I'm considering keeping the old mattress and giving it to Dr. D as a trampoline for Christmas...

Then last night was the First Presidency Christmas Devotional, which I LOOOOVE. I thought the music was especially out-of-this-world! My favorite song was "For unto us a Child is born" from the Messiah. But they were all good. Christmas songs are my favorite, anyway.
Then a practice for Stake Conference next week. I am playing my flute with the choir, and my good friend who plays the oboe. We used to play together a lot in high school, and it was so fun to get together again! Just like old times.
DH is on a diet and lost almost 14 pounds this weekend!!! His wedding ring is loose! I started walking this morning with the older girls and began an eating plan as well. I'm SURE I won't get the same results as DH, but hope to lose at my own rate.
Read part one of Stephanie Nielson's (NieNie) story in the newspaper yesterday. I'm keeping it, so if anyone wants to read it, you can borrow it. Part 2 comes out next week. She just keeps amazing me, that girl!!
Oh! Don't want to forget to mention that Teeny Bopper was in a dance performance last week, and my girl can dance! She did GREAT! It was so fun to watch. Here is a picture I snuck that I wasn't supposed to. heeheehee I pointed her out~

Well, I'm off like a dirty shirt to keep on doing that laundry and other mess. Dr. D should be occupied jumping on that mattress for a while...

Happiness Is...

Today, happiness to me is Christmas music playing while the kids are playing so nicely. (and some are napping--even better!) Hearing my little guy sleep without coughing. Seeing my baby smile. A cozy house. When my husband does the laundry. And helps with the dishes. Nursing my baby. Playing the piano. Thinking of all the Christmas movies I am going to watch soon. Not having to go grocery shopping to make a good dinner. Knowing that Jesus Christ is my Savior and loves me, despite my faults.

Thanksgiving Gratitude

For Family Home Evening we a few things we were thankful for on paper leaves with the intentions of making a cute "thankful tree". Well, at least we did the leaves! :) I never actually got to the tree part. I think posting it on here will last longer anyway, so here's what our family is thankful for this year~
Daddy: I am thankful for my kids, the Atonement, my mission, a/c and indoor plumbing, my family heritage, motorcycles, my US citizenship, my wife.
Mom: my home, good music, family night, my husband and kids (being a mom), playing games with my family.
Teeny Bopper: my blog, my friends, my glasses, my ipod (albeit the fact that I don't have one yet).
Sweet G: all animals, the Atonement, my violin, flowers, the Prophet, an education.
Blondie: my parents, my home, the army, my friends, my bed.
Little Miss: "my famley", mom and dad, (a few other things we can't read or remember what it is supposed to say).
Dr. D: robots, cars, ice cream, fish and crabs, books.

What up, kid?

OK, not sure what Dr. D had in his corn flakes this morning, but he was full of it today! The kids were all playing out front and I look over to see him drop his pants and pee in the neighbor's cactus. (sorry, Debe!) Then a while later I was in the kitchen and I hear the baby giggling in the family room. He was laying on the floor playing so I went to see what was so funny and Dr. D was full-on STANDING ON TOP OF HIM! What the baby thought was so funny I don't know. Maybe his feet were tickling his ribs? I yelled, Dr. D quickly got off and I explained that he could break his bones by doing that. He didn't get it, and thought that because Tailgunner liked it, it must be ok. Ay-yay-yay.

Kids say...

Just jotting down a few funny things my kids are saying at their tender ages. teehee

Dr. D calls Lightening McQueen "Lightening of the King".
Little Miss pronounces annoying "annoring".
Sweet G was telling a bedtime story last night and told Dr. D to choose a color for his horse. He picked black and named it "Shebita".
Teeny Bopper makes up Secret Agent bedtime stories for the kids and Dr. D remembered one of the evil characters from a while ago, named "Dark Nightus". One of the newer bad guys is "Pillow Fightun".
Upon waking up from his nap the other day, Dr. D woke up saying, "Who took my crackers?" That was pretty funny.

I hate forgetting these funny little things. Now, I won't forget. :)

NieNie

I met her. I met Stephanie Nielson and her husband Christian! Today at the Blissfest in downtown Mesa. And she is sweet. Super, super sweet. And beautiful. They were both incredibly beautiful people. There was so much I wanted to say to her and ask her. But, alas, I am never good when it comes to speaking in the moment. The lady standing by the line to meet them had us (Teeny Bopper and I) use hand sanitizer before shaking their hands. Then when we got to them Stephanie said, "We're giving hugs" and hugged me. I wondered if I was supposed to have used the hand sanitizer all over my body, but figured it was mostly a token attempt to prevent spreading germs in this season of colds and flu. She is such an approachable feel-good type of person. One of those people you feel drawn to be around because they are just so pure and good. I basically wanted to just sit on a couch by her and express the feelings of my heart and hear all about hers. All the stuff Oprah left OUT of her interview. (there was a lot left out, if you ask me)
So what DID I say? Well...I hugged her and Christian, stood there looking at them for a second and then said, "Well... I love you guys!" I just couldn't put into a few words what I wanted to say, so that's what I came up with. I also didn't want to seem like a star-struck teenager meeting a rock star or something. It wasn't anything like that. I don't feel like she's a celebrity, but a huge inspiration. She smiled and said, "We love you too! We really appreciate all your prayers and support." And, that was about it. I also took a camera with me and then FORGOT to take a picture! If I wasn't so busy tomorrow I would go back and try to get a picture with them.
So that's my grand experience today. Is it possible to want to be a better person just by spending 30 seconds with someone? That's the kind of person I want to be. I suppose it's because I know her story and all, but still. If you don't know her story, by the way, I have a button on my sidebar that should take you to her blog. Or ask me in person and I'll tell you all I know.
And thanks for the hug, Stephanie!