Books, books, and more books!

I've been reading some great books and I keep adding to my list of "to-read" (thanks to goodreads and all my friends that keep posting books they like or want to read! If you're on goodreads, add me as your friend, I'm always looking for new ideas!)

I'll start with a few books on my "to-read" list...the list is much longer than this, but these are at the top of the list
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now, what I'm currently reading...(yes, I am currently reading all 3 of them. which one I read on a given day depends on what kind of mood I'm in)

this one makes me laugh, it makes me feel better about not being "perfect" when it comes to all the things you're supposed to do...

I really just started this one, maybe the first page. but I've heard that it is amazing!

I really never liked Oprah, the only reason I'm reading this is because I know how it ends! I'm interested to see how it all comes about. The author decided to see if doing all the things that Oprah says we should do will really make life better...she did everything Oprah said to do for a
full year...

Now for what I've read recently...

We read this for a book club I'm in. I didn't like it, it's an easy read, but not worth the time (in my opinion)

I read this awhile ago, but I really enjoyed it, especially with the whole Eat, Pray, Love hype. I liked this one so much better than Eat, Pray, Love. If you want to read something like that, read this one!

Becoming Isaac inspired me...I've blogged about this series before, but as a follow up...I am taking a pottery class because of this book and LOVING it!! Pottery is a great way for me to bring out my inner artist!! I'll blog about my pottery adventures another day!

This is my latest read. I found it very interesting! If you've read it, I'd love to hear what you think...

Rhythmic Gymnastics

I started rhythmic gymnastics a long time ago. I loved it! I have always wanted to coach, and now I have the opportunity...I am joining up with the Taber Gymnastics Fitness Club (click for a link to their blog). I am so excited to coach! I thought I'd post a few great videos for those of you that don't know what Rhythmic Gymnastics is all about...

I LOVE my jobs!

I consider myself lucky. I know there are a LOT of people out there that HATE their jobs, so much so that it causes physical pain. I am lucky because I have 3, soon to be 4, jobs that I LOVE! My number 1 job is being a mother. I know that there are many days that I don't really love it, but in the long run, it is the best job EVER. My kids amaze me, and I love when they give me a hug or say "I love you" just because. What more can I say? I love my job as MOM.


Job number 2 is the job that pays the bills, and most often, that is the job that is hated the most. So many people work only to pay the bills and look forward to the day when they don't have to do that job any more! But, I LOVE my "work" job. I love the work I do in the operating room (and it's not just because most of my patients are "asleep"). I love the challenge of learning something new every time I go to work. I love the people that I work with! That's what makes the most difference. we have a great team in the Taber operating room. Thanks to all that make my job great!

I'm going to skip to my upcoming job number 4...starting this september I get to start coaching Rhythmic Gymnastics. For those that don't know what that is...it's gymnastics with ribbon, ball, hoop, rope, clubs. instead of bars, beam, vault. I miss it so much since I was young and I've always wanted to coach, now I can! I'm looking forward to teaching and growing!

Now for job number 3. I must say that this is the best job EVER! (If you HATE your "work" job, just ask how I can help you make the move to something you LOVE). SCENTSY. I don't just love it because I'm addicted and it feeds my addiction (oh boy does it ever!). I don't just love it because it gives me a little extra each month to spend on what I WANT (with minimal work to get that money). I don't just love it because of the great incentives offered to consultants (check out the great warmer I earned this summer!).

I love it because Scentsy is an amazing company, run by some AMAZING people. Heidi and Orville Thompson are so...I can't think of a word amazing enough...they give and give and give some more! At the recent Scentsy convention in Texas, Heidi spoke on the power of one. Part of her keynote speech was a challenge to post sticky notes with encouraging thoughts for others to come after you. I was so touched by her words! maybe I'm the ONE, or maybe it's YOU! don't let the moment pass you by, no matter what it is...a kind word, a hug, or even a smile can make the difference in the life of others. So, watch out for my sticky notes (beware, they could be anywhere, even facebook)! This is a clip from Heidi...


this video is an example of how amazing Heidi and Orville are...

The Foremost Good Fortune

I haven't blogged for awhile, not sure why. But, I'm determined to do better. This last month has been a rollercoaster for me. Mostly I'm tired of cleaning my walls. It seems like every night there's something new to clean off Kayla's wall. She is a budding artist that loves to try new mediums...paint, crayons, permanent markers, makeup, poop, pudding, we've seen it all. The rule is that if you make the mess, you clean it up. That means that if she's made the mess after she was sent to bed, then fallen asleep, she gets woken up to clean up the mess. (maybe that's mean, but it's all I can do to keep sane). Any help in this area would be welcome!! Several months ago Kayla got into my makeup (the good stuff from MAC) and ruined it all. I lived without. A few weeks ago I got my hair cut really short and had a desire to wear some makeup, so I went to walmart and bought some new makeup. Last night, after listening to Kayla and Blake giggle and chitchat they were finally quiet. I went to check on them and found Kayla sleeping, covered in makeup and the wall covered as well...come to find out she wasn't alone (her lying brother had his own punishment). I love my children, but some days I really would rather work full-time and let Chris stay home!

On that note, I'm reading a great book that reminds me to take time for my kids...The Fortunate Good Fortune. a memoir by Susan Conley. It is a story of a family that goes to China on a great adventure. Susan writes the story of their adventure, then the story of how she finds out that she has breast cancer. There is one part in the book, after she has gone through surgery and treatment, when she just wants to spend time with her boys rather than being annoyed with them. I hear people tell me all the time that as bad as these days may seem, there will come a time when I miss them! What I'm trying to do is make the most of these days while I have them!!

ps. if you click on the link above or here it will take you to Susan Conley's website, watch the trailer for the book...it's excellent. Read the book too!

April

this has been a busy month so far...and all about Kayla!

We started on the first with Kayla's birthday. I decided that I would do some April Fool cupcakes. Peas and Carrots, mashed potatoes, and corn. They were delicious. Kayla got Tangled, and loves it. So much so, that she used some of the money she got to buy a new princess dress like Rapunzel's and some long golden hair to go with it!

It's been such a busy time that Kayla has taken to falling asleep under the kitchen table...

this is Kayla before her surgery. I brought some stuff home to prepare her so the masked faces wouldn't scare her.

We had a crazy play day with some friends. 2 new babies plus the crazy kids running around having a great time. We'll miss the Robison's when they move.

It was my Grossmutti's birthday this month (my grandma). and all that were close enough came for lunch and visiting in Cardston. This is only part of the family (more will be around for the reunion in July) and the picture was grandkids and great grandkids.

this is the cake that Cassidy made.

Our latest adventure happened this past friday. Kayla cries everytime I comb her hair, and NEVER lets me put pigtails in. This day she actually let me put in pigtails without a single tear. I was out late for bookclub the night before and so I decided to have a nap on friday afternoon. I woke to Ryker telling me that Kayla had cut her hair. I came out to see only one pigtail...I called my friend and hairdresser, Chandra, who told us to come right over! Chandra did a great job at fixing it! good thing Kayla is so cute, and that she's keeping her earrings in!

This picture is Kayla after I told her that Chandra was going to fix her hair. She picked some up off the floor and said "Chandra fix my hair", like she would be able to put it back on!

It was a bit more dramatic when the other pigtail was out.

She sat still through the entire fix! something else that she's never done before!

The finished cut looks really good and I think the short hair suits her (it's also way easier to comb her hair everyday!)

I've learned my lesson...no more naps and the scissors are all locked up. We're still not sure if she had help. Kayla says Ryker helped. Ryker denies it. I believe Kayla.

tonsils (and adnoids)

There isn't a time that I don't remember Kayla snoring. It was about a year ago that we really started to be concerned about it. Chris was sleeping on the floor next to her bed one night and noticed that she stopped breathing several times during the night. I took her in to see our family doctor (who is the best family doctor I've ever had). He referred us to an ENT (ear, nose, throat specialist). It took several months to get in to see her. I thought I would have to put up a fight, but she pulled out the consent for surgery right away without even asking about it. After several more months of waiting we finally received the OR information and a date for surgery in mid-February. Surgery was this past wednesday. Kayla did really well and was up running around by that afternoon. Because she isn't quite 3, she got to stay overnight for monitoring before they sent her home. I was a rough night...I think she's like her dad, in that codiene does not make her tired, it makes her wired! she got very little sleep that night, none the next day when we came home. she got a little more the next night, but it wasn't until Friday morning when I gave her just tylenol that she slept for 4 hours (with her brother and sister running around her). She still has to stay home until next wednesday, and take it easy for another week after that, but she's on the mend and doing great. Here's a few pictures from her hospital stay...

this was her waiting for her turn to go into surgery. (loving her new scentsy buddy)

she gobbled up all the popsicles she could get her hands on.

the iPod saved me, she watched Bratz Babies about a million times while she was in the hospital.

even with her right hand bundled up with the IV, she figured out how to eat plenty of jello.

Keep Calm and Carry On

Keep Calm and Carry On was a poster produced by the British government in 1939 during the beginning of the Second World War, intended to raise the morale of the British public under the threat of impending invasion. It was little known and never used.

In the Spring of 1939, with war against Germany all but inevitable, the British Government’s Ministry of Information commissioned a series of propaganda posters to be distributed throughout the country at the onset of hostilities. … The posters were intended to offer the public reassurance in the dark days which lay ahead.

The intent of the poster was to convey a message from the King to his people, to assure them that ‘all necessary measures to defend the nation were being taken’, and to stress an ‘attitude of mind’ rather than a specific aim.

At the end of August 1939 three designs went into production… The first poster, of which over a million were printed, carried a slogan suggested by a civil servant named Waterfield. Using the crowns of George VI as the only graphic device, the stark red and white poster read ‘Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution will Bring Us Victory’. … The third design, of which over 2.5 million posters were printed, simply read ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’.

… The ‘Keep Calm’ posters were held in reserve, intended for use only in times of crisis or invasion. Although some may have found there way onto Government office walls, the poster was never officially issued and so remained virtually unseen by the public – unseen, that is, until a copy turned up more than fifty years later (2001) in a box of dusty old books bought in auction. (Barter Books)

I recently found this poster on Simply Fresh Designs. At first, I just passed it by, not really liking the style. The quote never really meant anything to me until today...After cleaning up messes all day long, then fighting with my girls to go to bed and picking up the books in their room 3 times!!! I took a deep breath, called their Dad, and tried not to scream, cry, or throw things (not a good thing to let my kids see) and this quote came to mind. As hard as it is some days to carry on, we do. I'll admit that I'm not the best at keeping calm and it's something that I want to do better. So, I printed out a copy and hung it on my wall as my new motto.

Keep Calm and Carry On!