the unthinkable...in walmart

As I type this, I'm not really sure why I am wanting to spotlight my stupidness. Oh well, it's all for fun.

So, I was rushing through Walmart the other day when I walk past the clothes section and see a cute swimming suit cover up dress thing. I never use dressing rooms for quick try-ons because it wastes too much time, so I scouted out a mirror and slipped it on. Perfect fit. So, still rushing, I whipped the dress off and stood there for about five minutes (more like 5 seconds) when I looked in the mirror and noticed that I ripped my shirt off with the dress.

Yep...there I was...standing in the middle of the Walmart clothing section without a shirt on. So, of course, putting it back on in the fastest way possible was no graceful maneuver. I threw the dress back over my head to spare any possible onlookers the pain of seeing any more of me than they already had. I struggled for at least 10 minutes (more like 10 seconds) to get my shirt on with the dress still over my head.

With my shirt back in place, I dropped the dress, and walked away. I couldn't even bring myself to look up to see if anyone had witnessed that whole scene. I couldn't bear the pain.

Lesson learned? Always use a dressing room...they are there for a good reason.

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a little help please?

Ok...I need some serious help. We realized this week that our boys eat as though they are teenagers and I seriously fear for the day when we have actually have three teenage boys needing to fill their empty stomachs. That realization led me to look at how much we are spending on groceries...it is NOT good...not good at all.

So, I am on a mission. A mission to save some serious money on groceries. This is also perfect timing as we are really trying to work on building up our food storage. The only problem is that I have never been good at coupons or finding deals.

This is where you come in. I know there are all sorts of cool websites out there (I have heard people talking about them but it went it one ear and out the other) and other money saving tips...I just don't know where to find them.

So, please, help a mother of three boys who who doesn't want to go bankrupt from grocery spending. TELL ME YOUR SECRETS! And if you're STILL not convinced of the severity of this situation, just look...Isaac is already displaying teenage boy eating habits...

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one

So, my baby turned one last Thursday. PLEASE tell me there are others who have had a super hard time seeing their baby grow up. I never thought I would be one of THOSE people. With Kaleb and Barrett, I was always excited for the next step or development. Uh uh...not with Isaac. He is my baby and I want him to stay that way.

Ok...can't handle the sadness...let's get to the fun. We didn't do a big birthday for him...I'll save those for when he can actually remember them :) But, I will tell you that he LOVED his cake...just look at the hand shoving action...



And last, we discovered last week that Isaac's top teeth were popping through. I am well aware that this is NOT a flattering picture of our child, but I had to share and giggle. WE HAVE A BABY VAMPIRE (any Twilight fans out there will appreciate that)!!!

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calling all blog lovers

All right all you blog lovers/stalkers/followers. I'm gonna let you in on a little secret that will cut your blogging time in half. Ok, so maybe it's not so much a secret and you all already know about it, but if you don't have Google Reader yet, GET IT!

You just go to the left hand side and click "add subscription" and add all of the blogs that you follow. So, anytime anyone posts on their blog, it will show up in your google reader. Gone are the days of endlessly checking blogs to see if there is an update.

Travis and I have igoogle as our home page and our google reader is right on there. So, a bit of useless information, but it might make someone very happy.

I leave you with a picture of my sweet little boy who will turn one this week.

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chicago

WOOHOO...I hate to jump the gun, but I really think spring is HERE! We went to Chicago this weekend (a first for me) and the weather was AMAZING! Travis was already there for work, so I packed up the car (and the kids), met our friends, James and Jen Peterson, and caravaned down to Chicago for the weekend. I was SO wishing we had at least one more day...we had so much fun. Navy Pier, children's museum, boat ride, YUMMY food, Flint museum, Millenium Park, and a planetarium were all squeezed into a little, bitty weekend.

A picture overload for you to enjoy...

a very typical family picture...crazy boys with no mommy in the picture.

had to share this pic...we giggled at isaac the whole time. he was so excited to see everything, he sat like this eagerly the whole time in the stroller.

giant silver bean at millenium park...very cool.

not a good picture, but a picture of trav and me, nonetheless...those seem to come few and far between lately!

kaleb and barrett (with some added friends) at the children's museum in the waterworks room.

children's museum...building room

ok, there's a super fast summary of our trip. cross your fingers for spring and barrett would like to leave you with a warm and full-of-love HAVE A FABULOUS DAY!

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sibling rivalry

coming home from church yesterday...

Kaleb: It's mine...give it to me!

Barrett: NO!

Kaleb: GIVE IT TO ME!

Barrett: WAAAAAAHHHHHH!

Daddy: (In his best grumpy voice) WHAT is going on back there?

Barrett: WAAAAAHHHHHH! Kaleb BIT me!

Daddy: KALEB! Did you bite Barrett?

Kaleb: (starting to cry...frantic voice...knows trouble is coming his way). No, no, Daddy, listen! I was just sitting here and all of the sudden my teeth just flew into his fingers!

Daddy: Uh-huh.

Mommy: (giggling...quietly)

So, I don't know if teeth just fly into fingers at your house, but I guess that's how sibling contention goes around here. Luckily, Kaleb and Barrett are best friends and the fights are few and far between.

Wow...I am BEHIND on pictures...haven't posted any pictures here from my trip to Las Vegas yet, and haven't uploaded my Easter pictures. Well, I am taking the easy way out...my trip was wonderful...if you want to see my pics, visit my photo blog...HERE. I will post pictures of Easter soon.

Have a great day!

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pink sucks

Happy Easter (from a household of boys and one mommy who is alone in her love for pink)!


We decorated eggs today and I asked the boys why no one was putting an egg in the pink dye water. I explained that pink is not just a girl color on Easter...it's an everyone color on Easter. Barrett decided to try it out, but obviously regretted his decision, because when it was time to decorate the eggs with stickers, this is how the pink egg ended up. He just couldn't handle having a pink egg in his collection...so he covered it up.

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it's a miracle

FINALLY...my baby crawls! I'm at peace...he will be able to read now (who started that rumor anyway). 11 months and just barely crawling...oh well...better late than never...


Do you remember my posts just two posts ago about him army crawling, scooting, and rolling to get to where he wants to go? NO MORE...he started crawling two days ago. Hmmm...now I wish he weren't mobile...I liked him stuck in one place.

Ok...I am leaving town from Sunday to Wednesday for a photography convention in Las Vegas...YIPEE!!! So, unless by some miracle Travis decides to post, I will catch up with you all later next week!

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Joy

Meet my friend, Joy. She lives in Arizona, and of course, I live in Michigan. The following is an excerpt from a recent phone conversation.

Jean: Blah, blah, blah, blah (insert useless girl talk here). You know, that would be so much fun to get together!

Joy: Yeah it would. Let's do it! What are you doing this weekend?

Jean: Nothing, wanna come over and play?

Joy: Sure, I'll see you on Friday!!!

Ok, so the conversation wasn't EXACTLY like that, but pretty much. My point is that Joy gets to fly for free and can therefore pick up and go whenever she would like (can you feel my jealousy seeping through). Although I don't have the same luxury, at least I got to benefit from her luckiness because she came to visit us this weekend!

WOW...how great was it to have another girl around?!?! We talked a lot, photographed a lot, ate a lot, shopped a little, and slept very little. It was so much fun!!! Thanks for coming to hang out with us!

Sidenote: To all you future visitors (we love visitors), don't listen to Joy's description of the horrid, cold weather blessing our great state of Michigan...I told her not to come in March...her fault.

And of course, since I can't post without a picture (or ten), here are some pics from our weekend.

Kaleb and Barrett were with us, but they sacrificed face time to photograph the adults. Sniff...I'm so proud of my budding little photographers. Look how centered the picture is.

This is Joy's beautiful little one, Sarah. Look how sweet and nice she performed for me and then scroll down to see what I got from Isaac...

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when kids are naughty

I don't know about you, but this is what happens when kids are naughty around our house...they get locked up or thrown under the table.



Or...maybe a better explanation is that I am not an abusive parent and lately Isaac keeps cramming himself into corners and crevices all over the house. He is 10 1/2 months old and STILL not crawling. But, I swear, if that kid wants to get somewhere, he manages with a combination of bum scooting, rolling, and army crawling. We're pretty sure he's just going to skip the crawling bit...oh well...who needs it anyway?

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ai

Forget family life for one post...let's talk TV.

Ok, so I am not much of a TV watcher, but there are two shows that I like...well, that I love...OK, that I am OBSESSED with. Those shows would be American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance. Of course, everyone knows what American Idol is, but do any of you watch So You Think You Can Dance (it is on the summer)...it is the best show EVER.

Anyway, since Travis does not share my American Idol obsession...he actually detests it...then I must find others who like it! Are any of you watching it this season? It's still kind of early for me to choose favorites, but I've got my eye on a few of them. How do you choose...there are so many good ones! By the way...did you know that these two...Brooke White and David Archuleta...are mormons? They are both really good!


Anyway...now you know I am an American Idol groupie. I'm not ashamed.

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8 YEARS OLD

I am still in a bit of a shock that I am now the owner of an eight year old. WHAT? When did that happen and where did the time go?

Kaleb's birthday was last Monday, February 11th. We celebrated as a family by going out for pizza, bowling (which, by the way, i received my highest score ever...but i won't steal kaleb's thunder...besides...am i SERIOUSLY bragging about a bowling score...i am pathetic) and having cake and ice cream.

We continued with the festivities on Saturday with a friend birthday party. Can you guess the theme? LEGOS (of course)! So, after a lego treasure hunt, lego races, and lego tower building, i think the party turned out to be a success.

I know, it's got to be the worst looking cake ever...cake decorating definitely isn't my specialty. But, PLEASE tell me you can at least tell it's a giant lego.

My baby is 8...sniff sniff

Am I the only mom in the world who has the kids pull funny faces instead of smiling? You should try it...the kids practically run to get in the picture if you tell them they don't have to pose and smile...hee hee!

Ok, looks like a normal party photo with the boys all watching Kaleb open presents, right? Well, as soon as I saw the picture, I started giggling...DEJA VU! Scroll down to see what it reminded me of...

Ha ha...remember this? A little kaleb in the middle surrounded by a sea of dark heads while in china!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KALEB!

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CAUTION: mushiness ahead

Ok, so I have been "tagged" twice by this one. I have never done one of these tagging things, but this one is a must! So, don't read on if you don't want to bored by my tribute to Travis...

How long have you been together? TEN YEARS on August 12th!
How long did you date? Ten months from the time we met until the time we got married.
How old is he? 31
Who eats more? Food...Travis. Treats...ME.
Who said I love you first? Travis. Scared me to death. But, I came around.
Who is taller? Travis...three inches (he would tell you 3 1/2)
Who sings better? Me, although we both pretty much suck. BUT, in Trav's defense, he can karaoke a mean version of "Pour Some Sugar On Me."
Who is smarter? Travis...can't even argue that one.
Who does the laundry? ME
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? ME...I try to be spontaneous and switch sides for a night, but he won't have it.
Who pays the bills? Me...oh wait...Travis fired me from that job and now he does it.
Who mows the lawn? Don't know yet...first house that we have ever had to mow our own lawn...we'll find out this summer!
Who cooks dinner? Mostly me, but Travis is the better cook...hands down!
Who drives when you are together? Travis...so I can put on my makeup, make phone calls, beat the kids, you know...multitasking.
Who is more stubborn? Hate to admit that we are equally stubborn.
Who kissed who first? Travis kissed me on our second date
Who asked who out? Travis asked me out...I still remember him leaning over the Circuit City counter acting ever so suave (his friends STILL tease him about it).
Who proposed? Travis...one of the most amazing days of my life.
Who is more sensitive? Me. ALTHOUGH, you get him in front of a heart warming or sad movie, and the tears are just-a-flowin!
Who has more friends? What kind of question is this? Travis and I like to compete, but come on...who has the most friends??? My friends are his friends and vice versa.
Who wears the pants in the family? Isaac...he has us wrapped around his pinkie.

I'm not usually one to open my heart to the public, but there are way too many things to be grateful for when talking about Travis. He has so many wonderful talents and qualities...I am amazed by him and am so lucky to have him in my life. Honestly, how could I NOT love this...

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sorry, too cute

Had to post these just for the fun of it. We've given Isaac "real" food a couple of times, and man, is that kid happy.

He has always loved food and starts to dance (well, bounces around and flaps his arms vigorously) if he sees any non-baby food in sight.

Today, iI gave him some of my spaghetti at lunch. He loved it SO much. Just look at him concentrating (to make sure none would escape his mouth).


And do you want to see my canvas gallery wraps? I love them and want to fill my whole house with canvases (don't worry, i won't). Anyway, this is the wall above Isaac's head...aren't they fun?

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our happy day...or not

Oh, that's so cute...the boys are getting all bundled up to go play outside in the snow! Ummm...not so much...more like...gettting bundled because our house was 48 degrees...INSIDE!!! Yes, it was awful.


We had HORRID winds last night and I guess there were power outtages all over the place (hence, the no heat situation). So, school got cancelled (hmmm...that seems to happen a lot in Michigan) and we thought we would have a rockin day at home...just mom and the boys. Well, we were too cold to do anything, so we bundled up in our snow gear and snuggled in mommy and daddy's bed and read books until the power came on!

Here are some pics of the boys all bundled up and ready to play...er...legos with gloves on? Well, Isaac tried REALLY hard to play, but picking things up with covered hands proved to be a bit difficult...

hmmm...wanna stick that it my mouth...

that didn't work, maybe i can get this...

dang it...why can't i pick anything up?

poor kid gave up and went to bed...

Two other very important sidenotes...Happy Birthday Mom...love you! Also, I wanted to include this picture of President Hinckley, as it is one of my very favorites. My feelings are so sad yet so happy for him at the same time. He is perfection in my eyes and he will be greatly missed.

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