Confessions

I CONFESS...that I am really bad at keeping up to date on my blog.  I try really hard and I think about posting all of the time but I just don't get around to it.  It's a lot easier to do when I don't have school but I'm going to try to still update occasionally throughout this semester.  It's important to me to keep blogging as this is my way of journaling or scrapbooking our families adventures. 

I CONFESS....I am very stressed about Davids doctoral applications. I am dying to find out if he gets into Utah State.  I have looked up our options for housing, I know which Bachelors program I would apply for, we have talked about family outings and adventures we could do while in Logan, etc.  All we need is the stinkin acceptance letter!  I seriously don't know how much longer I can wait before I lose my mind.  We are thrilled to move and go somewhere new....well, newish.  We have finally told the girls we are moving and they are even excited.  A few students have realized that "Mr. Joy" won't be there next year and more and more faculty are finding out.  We just need that one piece of mail to come to move us onto our next phase of life.  I'm hoping that it says David has been accepted, but even if it says he isn't we will be able to start planning our next step.

I CONFESS...I am a girl who loves skittles, but I am not super fond of the new dark side flavors.  I like them alright, but they wouldn't be my first choice.  I don't know what it is about them.  They taste good and I ate my entire package in one sitting but they just aren't as fabulous as the classic red or purple package or even the riddles.

I CONFESS...We bought my girls more stuffed animals for Valentines Day.  I always swear to myself that we will never buy another stuffed animal until we have grandbabies and I always end up a liar.  My girls LOVE stuffed animals and they are the one thing that they play with every single day.  We just have 3 huge boxes downstairs full of ones we can't part with, 2 rooms with 30+ in them and we recently gave away two garbage bags full.  We have too many, but we couldn't resist. 

I CONFESS...I am going to try to get healthier. I have gained a substantial amount of weight and I don't feel good about myself.  I am an over eater who happens to be very lazy which isn't a good combo.  Besides being unhappy with the way I feel and look I am setting a bad example for my girls.  I need to show them how to properly take care of their bodies and how to have good self esteem.  I'm starting small since that is all my heart lets me do right now and hopefully as we straighten out my thyroid I will be able to handle more. I'm hoping to be able to hike Ben Lomond peak with the girls this summer and I will need to figure something out if I want to make it a reality.  Shelby has a goal of getting to the top of the "tallest mountain in Northern Utah" and she wants her daddy to help her achieve that goal.  I've lived in Ogden for 13 years now and haven't ever made the hike.  Its seriously a 20 minute drive from my house and I just haven't ever gotten around to it.  This will be the year but it all starts with baby steps getting me in the right direction, the healthy direction.

Shelbys Family Party

Shelby was so excited to have family come over to share in her birthday excitement.  My girls still don't get the idea that people bring you presents for your birthday, but they LOVE having people come over to our house JUST for them.  Shelby had picked out her outfit right before Christmas.  Her friend Brenley gave her a bow for Christmas and she immediately coordinated an outfit that would match the bow so she could wear it for her birthday.  Shes such a girlie girl these days which is completely opposite of Kadence and I.  Don't get me wrong, she still love bugs, superheros and the outdoors but she also likes getting fancy.   

 I struggled with the camera, but here she is blowing out the candle

 The second Shelby left the chair unattended Brylee snuck in.  We always have had the girls sit in this chair to open presents.  I think we'll try to squish them in until they are 18. 

 She got spoiled as usual

 Shelby didn't want cake and ice cream, she wanted cupcakes and popsicles.  In our house, birthday girls get what birthday girls want.  Although I knew she probably didn't realize that there were so many options.  I got regular popsicles and a few more fun frozen treats.  Here are some of the crazy kids eating

 And heres Tyler, Amanda and Jacob enjoying their push pops

 Shelby helped me pick out her presents this year but didn't know we were buying them for her.  She thought we were buying them to store for "friend gifts". She was delighted as she opened and got everything she loved and picked out for her friends.

Shelby has such an amazing family who is so supportive of her.  We are so blessed to be surrounded by so many who love our girls.  I didn't have a very big family and still don't even know how many aunts and uncles I have.  Its nice to see that my girls are growing up knowing all of their extended family. 

Things that must go....

Parents who ignore their kids because they are so busy on their electronics must go.  It drives me absolutely crazy to watch as a young child (Or an older one) is ignored while mom or dad is busy texting, facebooking, etc.  Are you kidding me?! These kids are only little once!  You only get time with them at this age once! I couldn't imagine what text or facebook post could be SO important that it couldn't wait a few minutes.....a few hours.....or a few days.  There is nothing that should come in the way of you paying attention to your children.  What they say is important, or at least it is important to them so you should listen.  I think kids would be better off if none of us had electronics.  Now I know that isn't going to happen and I enjoy my ipad, my cell phone, etc BUT everyone should learn when to put it down. 

Dads who would rather "play" than spend time with their families must go.  I think everyone needs time away for sure, but I have come across a few dads who put their own things above anything their family might have going.  David goes fishing without us, camping without us and hiking without us.  That is his "alone time." I go to lunch, go to lunch, and go to lunch without my family as my "alone time." Everyone needs it.  BUT too often we see dads (and sometimes moms) with their own agendas.  It's just sad.  David and I are under no illusion that our kids will want to spend every minute with us as they grow up.  Soon they might want nothing to do with us.  They might be embarrassed to be seen with us. It is then that we will have more time to ourselves.  Until then, we will spend time making memories with our kids.  From hiking, to walking around the block, to making dinner together, to movie nights we want our kids to grow up with us very present in their lives.  It just blows my mind that others don't feel the same way.  Kids are hilarious and say and do some of the strangest things.  Its pure entertainment to spend the evening with my girls!

The snow and 30 degree highs must go.  I am SO ready for Spring.  I don't think it can get here fast enough.  I am excited to see if I can handle easy hikes this year.  I'm excited for camping, picnics, playdates at the park, kites, etc.  I am excited to go without a coat and feel a little breeze on my arms.  The girls and I are counting down the days until Spring and I hope that when it gets here its a little warmer than it is now.  I'm not asking for much, just mid 40's would be fabulous!

Shelby's 5th Birthday Party

Right after Kadence's birthday party Shelby saw a commercial for Chuck E Cheese and decided she wanted to have her birthday party there so she could get to go in the ticket blaster.  At first I was a little sad about it because I like planning the girls parties but then I soon realized what that meant.....NO PLANNING.  I literally didn't have to do anything except for show up and pay which was fabulous! My girls both know that they get to choose what kind of party they have and that I will make it happen.  I'm kind of glad this party was so easy and Shelby had a blast which is what matters most.  She only wanted to invite 4 friends, her sister, Jeff and Mrs Jill.  No matter how many times I asked she always mentioned the same friends.  No matter how many other names I gave her, she stuck with the 4.  When I would ask her if she wanted to invite more friends she would tell me "No, that is all I want."  I was terrified they wouldn't all be able to make it and we would have a party with 3 kids, but they were all able to make it! I had Jeff snap our standard "family picture" before the party started.

 Heres Shelby excitedly waiting for her friends to come

 Brenley, Kadence and Shelby

 Davison, Emi and Sarah

 Mrs Jill was so sweet and came all the way to Layton to celebrate with Shelby which made all of the party guests super excited! (They all had her at one point or another) And who couldn't love sweet Odessa?

 This picture screams "Happy" to me.

 Shelby got crowned by Chuck E

 This is her second time blowing out the candles.  The hostess lit them and Shelby immediately blew them out before we sang.  The hostess then told her she needed to wait until we were done singing.  Ha!

 The kids and Chuck E.....minus Davisson because I didn't pay attention

 Shelby was able to have daddy help her in the ticket blaster AND he got the 1,000 ticket.

The kids all had a ton of fun, played super hard and made Shelby feel really special.  We are so lucky to have such great friends for our girls.  In the end, Chuck E Cheese did everything for me from the party, to hosting, to games and entertainment, a pinata, cake and ice cream and goodie bags.  This mom was able to sit back, chat and take pictures of the fun.  Probably my favorite birthday party to date.