I love LOVE

This gives me goose bumps every time I watch it. It's only a couple minutes and so worth it.

Cold Turkey

No, I'm not speaking of my favorite lunch meat. I speak of the method in which I used to deprive my poor unsuspecting baby boy of his beloved "dee-dee" (binky).

We had been planning to remove the plug one day really soon but we just weren't in the mood for the pathetic crying and pleading that would ensue. As it turned out, however, Noah did some of the work for us and went and lost his binky. It was about 2 weeks ago while Adam was out of town (of course). It was his one and only so I decided it would also be his last. I dread this transition (I cried more than Kyle when we took his binky away) but I always do it cold turkey because for me there is no other way. I hate dragging out the inevitable and making it just more painful for me...I mean...my child. I've tried just giving the binky to him during bed time to kind of wean him but its much too easy to give in and plug up a crying mouth.

I was proud of myself this time, no tears. Noah on the other hand struggled a little but really only at bedtime. Naps were rough or non-existent. All in all though, he has done really well and a mere 2 weeks later he is upstairs in his bed napping away- binky free.

Face-Lift

Adam and I are in the throws of remodeling/decorating our bedroom and bathroom- something we have never done. The first thing we did was give our bed a face-lift. Its been through a lot of moving and not a lot of TLC. So we painted it and bought it some new clothes. I must say, it looks fab. The best part is that the bed is a wedding gift from my dad MADE by my dad. He is a talented guy. Just thought I'd show it off a bit. :) I can't wait to get everything done!!

Oh and I should also mention that my hubby made the night stand you see next to the bed. Ain't I a lucky girl?

Fine Jewelry?

I have never felt so officially white trash as I did the night Adam and I bought a wedding ring at *a-hem* Wal-mart. It was so romantic... This was to replace the one Adam lost about a year and a half ago. He lost his nice, expensive wedding ring that had the inscription "I love you, Baby 9-27-02" to the *gulp* bottom of Palisades Lake. It still makes me sick to think about it. But as much as I didn't like him living life ringless I didn't want him buying some cheap-o ring from...like...Wal-mart. So what do we do? Yep, you guessed it. There it was, gleaming underneath the bright, flourescent lights. It was a mere $38 bucks, resembled his previous ring AND came with a fancy card board box. How could we resist? We snickered through the entire purchase while trying not offend the lovely employee assisting us.
It had been so long since I had seen a ring on his finger and I was tired of him always being hit on at the bars we frequent...kidding. I'm so happy to have a husband that is so un-snobbish and easy to please despite his extreme distaste for good old "Wally's".

Tagged by Mary

Five Things I Was Doing Five Years Ago (2004):
1 - Still working at UOC and putting my hubby through school
2 - Working on my associates degree
3 - Living in Cottonwood Heights in a basement apartment (only for a couple more weeks though)
4 - Teaching the 12-17 year old Sunday School class
5 - Being clueless about what life is really all about

Five Things on Today's To-Do List
1 - Visit my ailing sister :)
2 - Fold laundry *sigh*
3 - Go grocery shopping and get some Crisco
4 - Work on my blog
5 - Watch LOST and the Office

Things I Would Do with a Million Dollars
1 - Travel!!!
2 - Finish the basement
3 - LASIK
4 - Go hold and rock babies in Romainia or any where they need me!
5 - Invest it

Five Places I've Lived
1 - West Jordan, UT
2 - London, England
3 - Cottonwood Heights, UT
4 - Midvale, UT
5 - Best Valley, UT

Five Jobs I've Held
1 - Lawn care service with my big brother, Tracey
2 - Paper route with my little sibs, Mary and Crispy
3 - Chick-fil-A
4 - Direct TV (for about 2 seconds)
5 - Orthodontic Tech.

Five Things I Want in Five Years
1 - A happy and content family
2 - To be in a new house
3 - Starting my bachelors degree
4 - Better overall health
5 - Pregnant with my last child

Five People I Tag
1 - Kerri
2 - Jessica
3 - Amy
4 - Molly
5 - Melissa

My Funny Valentine's

Adam was out of town for Valentine's Day but that didn't mean I was left Valentineless. In fact I had TWO and boy are they sweet.
I won't lie to you though. This was probably my least favorite V-day. Okay, not probably. It WAS...by far! As much as I LOVE watching "Mickey Mouse Playhouse" on the night for lovers well... My honey who has been my Valentine for the past 6 years was nowhere NEAR me on the 14th of February. When I told people that Adam was going to be out of town for V-day, I was loaded with sympathy and plenty of "Ohhhhhhhh!" 's. I shrugged them off honestly feeling it was no biggie. I was wrong. By the time evening rolled around I was feeling pretty pathetic and lonely. Keep in mind that Adam had been gone for 4 days by this point. A long time for me! And to top it off we had barely managed a "hello" by phone all day. It also didn't help that everyone's status on Facebook stated that they had had the "most wonderful Valentine's EVER." Well, that's funny because mine was the WORST ever. Okay not really.
So now that a few days have passed and Adam is home I've decided that I'm just grateful that I have a wonderful husband who is my Valentine year around. Who needs Valentine's Day anyway? Not me...I think...
BTW- Adam made it up to me when he got home.
You can go ahead and get your mind out of the gutter now.

How bad could V-day be with these two monkey's?!

You know you're getting old when...

...you're child (Kyle) says that you have "big hills on your forehead" (like when you raise your eyebrows...) *sigh*

"Mission Accomplished"...

..says Adam.

Ever since Adam and I started dating he's been trying to get me to go ice skating. He wanted to take me one evening before we were married but I just wasn't feeling up to it having worked all day. So I called and simply asked if we could cancel the skating and just watch a movie or something. Well, the guy has never let me live it down! Since then his #1 goal in life has been to get me out on the ice but whenever the opportunity to go ice skating comes up we can never go for one reason or another. One time we went with my family but I was big pregnant and just didn't think it would be a good idea with my center of gravity being so...round... Needless to say, Adam skated...alone. Poor baby!

So recently some friends of ours had the BRILLIANT (pfffft...) idea to go and of course Adam thought it was the best idea ever concieved...to claim his victory! Sure enough he finally got me out on the ice. And, I guess, we had a great time too. :)

Here a few pictures of the momentous occasion.

RaNDoM cUtENeSs

Winnie the Pooh will always be welcome here.

My feelings are nothing new and have plagued many a mommy before me.
I have recently felt the anxiety that many mommy's feel when they realize that their baby won't be a baby forever. i.e. Kyle has taken a liking to Winnie the Pooh and therefore goes around the house singing "Winnie the Pooh" to himself. This is an everyday occurrence. However, yesterday as he was singing it the unfortunate thought occurred to me, "Before you know it "Winnie the Pooh" will be gone only to be replaced by 'Winnie' the girl. And various other scary things.
As much as I dislike these rude interruptions of thought in my life, I am also thankful for them. I am given the opportunity to re-focus my priorities and what is truly important. Facebook can wait. Dusting can wait. (It always does.) Even my blog can wait. But my growing baby boys will not. Listening to Noah sing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and the ABC's verbatim or watching Kyle develop a new passion for puzzles. These years are but a flash. I don't want to take them for granted. My boys are so sweet. I hope they both ALWAYS know how much their Mommy loves them.

Holiday Highlights

...er...2009...

We had a great time this holiday season. So many opportunities to see friends and family. Here are some of things that made this season memorable...

Christmas lights at Temple Square- a total MUST!

Just a darn cute pic I HAD to sneak in. :)

Adam's little birthday celebration. It took place after he got home from skiing which is the reason he might look less than thrilled. The looks on Noah and Kyle's faces make up for it though. :)

Kyle decorated this particular cupcake and I think he did an adorable job.

Two of the the 3 wise men.

Wise men delivering gifts to neighbors

We did an FHE on the 3 Wise Men and told Kyle that this is where giving gifts during Christmas comes from. When we told him that we were going to take gifts to our neighbors that night, he took it all to a whole new level. He ran and grabbed his super-hero cape and asked that I make him a crown to wear and then insisted on going to every door as one of the Wise Men to deliver the goodies. Daddy and Noah got in on it too. Now one of Kyle's favorite Christmas carols is "We Three Kings". This just may have to be a new Christmas tradition.


Christmas Eve Pj's

Kyle and Noah really enjoyed opening Christmas presents.

Cheryl, this one is just for you...

Santa in the flesh.

Grandma Norma

Ellsworth trying to figure out what Cheryl got him for Christmas. In case you're wondering, it was a headlamp.

Kyle LOVED seeing all his cousins from out of town.

This post is getting much too long and yet I haven't added pictures from all the family Christmas parties on both sides, the amazing MoTab concert we attended, Ethan and Amy's engagement party, the party for deaf children at the deaf center, my grandfather's funeral...but alas I must stop. So many memories, so little time to blog them.

Happy New Year everyone!

Spencer Coleman Hind 1921-2008

My Grandpa died today. I am so full of emotions of every kind. Grandpa would be a whopping 88 years old in January. He lived a long and full life. I can only hope that I am blessed in the same way. He enriched my own life and many others. At a very young age he contracted spinal meningitis which in the end left him unable to hear at all. However, through his trials, my life has been enriched. I am thankful to have learned sign language among other things from him and my grandma. What a good man he was. I will miss him very much.

Some of my fondest memories are of him coming over to our house daily to feed the horse kept in our backyard. We got occasional rides and unlike most people, we had a HORSE in our backyard! I also remember him taking us to the West Jordan rodeo grounds to ride horses with ice cream afterwards. The there is the rib jab that Grandpa will always be famous for among the grandkids. Grandpa had a great sense of humor and a smile right to the end. What a good example he was to me. I feel blessed to have had him in my life for so long. I am so grateful for my testimony of the gospel and that I know I will see him again. I'm sure we will have a great chat then.

Spencer Coleman Hind
"A Man of Service"
January 10, 1921 ~ December 17, 2008
Spencer Coleman Hind, 87, passed away Wednesday, December 17, 2008 in West Jordan, Utah after a long and productive life. He was born January 10, 1921 on a farm in Smithfield, Utah, the son of James Albert and Amy Coleman Hind.
When Spencer was 7 years old he contracted meningitis and lost his hearing completely. He attended the Ogden School for the Deaf where he met Gladys Allsop. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on December 5, 1940. Spencer and Gladys recently celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary with their family and friends.
In spite of what many would consider a disability he worked hard to support his family. He was a welder repairman for Westinghouse for 35 years.
Spencer was beloved in the deaf community and served the deaf people in many ways. He had a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and passed this faith on to his children. He served diligently in the LDS Church and was a pioneer in the leadership of the deaf branch of the LDS Church. He was the first deaf person in the church to serve as Branch President. He presided over the Salt Lake Valley Branch for the Deaf for eight years. He was called to be a high councilman in the Salt Lake City Park Stake. He was also the first deaf person to serve in that calling. He served in many capacities in the church including as a temple worker and as a full time missionary along with his wife in the Houston Texas Mission.
He loved horses and spent several happy years as part of the West Jordan Riding Club. He also loved dogs, tools, sports, and cars.
The Hind sense of humor is legendary and Spencer was no exception. He loved to tell funny stories and tease his grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Gladys; his children, Carol Stirling (Fred) of Pocatello, ID; Spencer J. (Judy, deceased; Karen), Richard (Cindy), Douglas (Karen), Ken (Valorie) all of West Jordan, Bill (Cherri) of Riverton, Janet Taylor (Boyd) of Mesa, AZ. He is also survived by 32 Grandchildren and 47 great- grandchildren. He was proud of his large family and enjoyed being among them.
Proceeded in death by his parents, his brothers Platt & Bernard and sisters Wilda and Thelma.
Services will be held Saturday, December 20 at 1:00pm where friends may call Friday, 6-8 pm and Saturday from 11:45 to 12:45 pm prior to services.
Dad, you can finally hear us.

Happy Birthday to my sweet and sexy husband. I love you so much.

This had me in tears...

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Gingerbread houses!!

Okay, okay, so they are only graham cracker houses. I'm lazy, so sue me. The point is that Kyle enjoyed eating...er... decorating his house. Isn't it so cute? Adam chose to go a little "ape shiz" and built a "Shiflett gingerbread house". Noah just had a good time getting his pudgy little hands on as much candy as he could.