Happy Birthday, Ashlee

Lest you think Ashlee is tooting her own horn, I should let you know upfront that this is Konrad. Ashlee turned 34 on Saturday. Here are 34 reasons that I am glad I'm married to her:

1.      She is an incredible mom

2.      I love it when she scratches the back of my head

3.      She is an amazing preschool teacher

4.      She keeps our house clean and put together

5.      I love watching her dance

6.      She is low maintenance

7.      She’s a great bargain shopper

8.      Her rational brain balances my crazy brain

9.      She does her best at everything she does

10.  I love going on dates with her

11.  She’s beautiful without having to try too hard

12.  I’d rather hang out with her than anyone else

13.  She doesn’t complain when I want to do my stuff

14.  She smells good all the time (except sometimes when she first wakes up…)

15.  She is selfless

16.  She understands what is really important in life

17.  She is willing to work to keep her body sexy

18.  I love how she hosts parties, showers, sleep-overs, etc. so that she and her friends can get a break and have fun

19.  She is willing to work so that our family can have more experiences than we’d be able to otherwise

20.  She doesn’t complain about me to her friends

21.  She laughs at my jokes

22.  She carries through with her commitments

23.  She is the best Pictionary partner in the world

24.  She’s a word-game wizard

25.  I love sitting next to her

26.  She still loves me when I turn her world upside-down

27.  She endures my many phases

28.  She doesn’t let me be a complete slacker

29.  She cares about others’ feelings

30.  She is an entrepreneur

31.  She makes better desserts than anyone I know

32.  I love playing tennis with her

33.  I love cuddling up to watch a movie with her

34.  She is perfect for me

You're amazing Ashlee! Love you!

Deja Vu

Remember   this?

We are reliving the nightmare from October 2008 all over again.


Unfortunately it took me 6 days to realize it happened again.  It's since been another week.  I have a feeling we won't have a happy ending this time around. 

Too much time has passed.

I'm sure all evidence has been destroyed (why oh why did I clean the bathroom...all fingerprints are gone).

I hope he is in a better place.  

Liebster

My friend Amanda nominated me for the Liebster Blog Award.  I doubt I've ever been nominated for an award...oh wait, I was voted Cutest Couple my senior year in high school, but that is about it :) (and I'm pretty sure that didn't have much to do with me, more with the boy part of the "cutest couple")...anyways, I was pretty excited.  :)  Yeah, I'm a dork.  

 

Anyways.... 

 

*As for the award, it turns out that Leibster is a German word that means favorite.  This award is passed from one blogger to another as a way to tell them that you enjoy reading their blog--and they should keep it up!  (*copied word for word from Amanda :))

 

Here is what I have to do:

 
1. Post 11 random things about myself.
2. Answer the 11 questions my nominator set for me.
3. Create 11 questions for my nominees.
4. Nominate 11 other bloggers with fewer than 200 followers (no tag-backs).
5. Go to each of their blogs to tell them about their nominations.

 

11 random things about myself

1.  A few months ago I bought a pack of those Clorox bleach tablets that you put in your toilet,  for the very first time.  Those tablets still make me happy.  I can still smell the bleach each time I flush :)   Not sure why I waited so long to buy them!

2.  I really enjoy cleaning

3.  I don't have a middle name

4.  I love cereal and eat a ton of it when I am pregnant.  My favorites right now are Quaker Oatmeal Squares, Krispie Rice (not to be confused with Rice Krispy's...don't like those!), and Frosted Flakes.  Oh and I love me some Tootie Fruities (again not to be confused with Fruit Loops).  I'm a Malt O Meal girl!  :)

5.  I won't buy anything, besides food, unless it is on sale.  Never clothes, toys, shoes, decorations, etc.  I typically shop clearance racks and rarely look at the real racks.  Which is why you are all thinking..."no wonder she is so NOT in style" :)  But who cares, shirts and jeans can't go too out of style, right??? 

6.   I am going to go with Konrad to his annual work meeting next year in the US Virgin Islands.  I'm already looking forward to it.  It's only exactly a year away :)  (he is currently at that annual meeting in Florida)

7.  I love love love to play games, but I don't really care if I win or lose.  I just love to play.  Winning is great, don't get me wrong, but that's not why I play.

8.  I am not involved in our finances.  I made Konrad make a file that is labeled "If I die".  I will then give that file to my father and he can figure it all out.  

9.   My "dream" car (not sure I really dream about it or anything, but I do like it) is an Acadia (right, Konrad??? :))

10.  I'm a little worried that I won't be able to attend one of my favorite occasions of the year.  The Lakeland Hills Garage Sale.  My baby is due that week.  Which means I really need to go b/c that is where all of her clothing and other items will come from.  

11. I've only had 3 surgeries...my tonsils removed at age 5.  A cyst removed from my wrist at age 10 and again at age 11.   

 

Amanda's 11 Questions

1. When was the last time you cried?  Yesterday morning in the shower (reliving the moment I saw my dad for the first time after Ian died...it's amazing how there are certain situations linked to that time in my life that still bring tears.  Most involve me telling someone the story or seeing them for the first time after)

2. What is your favorite outfit? Right now it is the black shirt I happen to be wearing right now and jeans.  The black shirt makes me feel less gross in the in-between-being-fat-and-obviously-pregnant stage.

3. What is your most recent triumph?  Beating Josh Weed at Scramble :)

4. Where have you always wanted to visit, but haven't yet?  Figi

5. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?  A roller-skating waitress

6. When you have 10 minutes of time to spare between responsibilities, what do you do?  Something on the computer.  Email, read blogs, play Words with Friends, Scramble with Friends, or Gems with Friends.

7. What is your least favorite household chore?  Taking out the garbage for garbage day (which is why I NEVER do it...oh except when Konrad is rude and goes out of town over a Wednesday...shudder!)

8. What is the household chore you might actually look forward to?  Anything that I can see a difference in as soon as I'm done (bathrooms, vacuuming, de-cluttering...ooh I think that one wins.  De-cluttering and organizing are my favorite. 

9. What is your favorite kids' music?  I like Dr. Jean for preschool stuff.  Kids Bop would be my only other "kid" music. 

10. What talent do you wish you had developed in your youth?  Playing the piano.  Which is why for most of the past 2 years I've been trying to re-teach myself.  I really need to take lessons though so I can make some real progress. 

11. Without looking it up, what's your favorite go-to recipe?  I love desserts so I'll go with my Butterscotch Cake-Mix cookies.  1 white cake mix.  1 egg.  1 stick margarine melted.  Mix those all together.  Stir in butterscotch chips (about 1 1/2 cups).  Bake at 350 for 8-10 until the edges just start to turn golden.  

 

My Nominees (drum roll please....)

Josh (I'm breaking the 200 or less followers rule with this one, sorry!) @ The Weed

Katie@  The Tylers

Tami, aka "TP Butler Thief" @  Baumgartner Family

Jeni @ Olivia Scout and Co.

Alaina @ Brad, Alaina, Adrie, and Elliot

Mel@ The Broadbent Fam

Jamie @ James, Jamie, Ryan, Emily, and Allie

Michelle @ The Kenyon Family 

Stephanie @ Dance Family

Ashley @ a beautiful life

Kallie @ Takin' on Texas

 

 

Your 11 Things

1.  What did you do on your last date?

2.  What was your GPA when you graduated from High School?

3.  What is your favorite form of exercise?

4.  Do you care what way the toilet paper goes on the holder?

5.  On average, how many hours of TV and/or movies do you watch per week? 

6.  What is your favorite dessert?

7.  How many days per week do you eat the same thing for lunch?

8.  How long was your longest labor?  (Josh, you can answer about Lolly's longest labor :), I'm sure you remember, right???) 

9.  What super-her0-power do you wish you had?

10.  What is your biggest fear?

11.   What is your favorite vacation spot?

 

Phew.  I did it.  

 

Hopefully you'll want to play along.  If not, that's okay, I'll still read your blog :) 

New Year Resolutions

I love the start of a new year.  I love the idea of living my life in a better way and I love the way I feel when I make subtle changes that really impact my life. 

I have found that I have a hard time keeping up with my goal unless I have a reason.  I need the motivation. 

Hence, the Jar.

A couple years ago, my friend Jenni challenged me to a jar challenge.  We each picked goals and for every goal we didn't meet we had to put $1 in a jar.  Each day had about 6 goals that needed accomplished, if I didn't do them I'd be out 6 bucks.  At the end of the challenge we exchange jars. 

So simple. Yet so motivating. 

Jenni and I did a few jar challenges.  Then I opted out of her amazing Healthy Living Challenge she does and found a new competitor, b/c the jar really works for me. 

Konrad and I challenged the Weeds and now Laurel and I are on our 3rd or 4th jar challenge.  Each challenge lasts about 3 months, this time we are going for 4.  I'm hoping to stay strong up until this baby makes her appearance. 

The great thing about the jar challenge is you can put anything you want in it as a goal.  Diets, exercise, learning, cleaning, hobbies, etc.  And it's okay that your goals are different than your partners.  Everyone lives life differently and has different goals they want to meet.

Here are my goals for this time around:

• 30 minutes of exercise 5 days per week.  My exercise this time around will consist of walking and playing Just Dance or Zumba on the Wii.  I might have to adjust the time as I get gigantic, 30 minutes might be pushing it. 
• Gospel Study each day
• Create a cleaning schedule and stick to it, doing something each day
• Monday:  laundry and bathrooms (every other Monday clean the floors too)
• Tuesday:  vacuum entire house and clean the office
• Wednesday:  dust and clean my room
• Thursday:  Kitchen floor
• Friday:  kitchen sink/counters/cupboards
• Saturday:  alternate between windows and wiping down baseboards/doors

• Practice the piano 20 minutes a day, 6 days a week
• Eat out no more than 3 times in a week (each additional time costs $1)
• Quality time with at least one child per day (hopefully rotating through them all :))
• Work on preschool portfolios one day each week until I'm caught up

So far, my jar is empty (sorry Loll!) and I love feeling productive every day.   Its nice laying down each night and knowing that I got something accomplished.  

It's only been a few days, but I'm hoping I can keep it up. 

The girls and I also set some goals we are trying to meet.  We are trying to earn a trip to Cold Stone.  We have to all practice the piano, do some form of exercise, say 2 family prayers, read 2 pages of scriptures each day.  If we have a certain amount of points at the end of the month, we will celebrate with ice cream. 

Bring on the bribery! 

Oh, and I found the best way to get my girls to clean their rooms and keep them that way.  Each day they can earn up to 5 points...I've threatened that one piece of garbage or one toy on the floor could take away a point.  Once they hit 50 points I get them one of the following...a donut, a smoothie from Costco, a milk shake from Jack in the Box, or a candy bar.  It costs me about 3 dollars every 15ish days ($3 total for all three treats), it is so worth it though!!!  I need to take a picture of the way Allison makes her bed now.  She did tell me that she makes it so nicely so that it will distract me from finding a tiny piece of garbage.  Such a smart girl!!!!

We'll see how long all of our "systems" keep going.  I'm hoping they'll stick like our chore chart did (I made the chart 2 years ago and we we still use it!!!)! 

Here's to a new year! 

1. Pink 2. Pink 3. Pink 4. Blue 5. PINK!!!

On January 2nd we had the ultrasound to find out what kind of baby we were having.  The whole family was there and we had a blast watching the baby move and move and move. 

We saw that she was most definitely a SHE and we were all excited for another little girl in the house.  Kimber can't wait to dress her up and parade her around :)

We watched her open and close her mouth.  We saw her tongue move.  She completely changed positions, either trying to hide from us or get more comfy.  And of course kicked my very full bladder as many times as she could :)

Her face, as if she was looking at you.  You can see her brain (black spot) on the right hand side and then her eyes and nose black spots as well.  (I know most of you can see/read an ultrasound, but there are a few out there that struggle :)):

 Profile...I like to think the little bubble coming out of her head is a thought bubble, she was probably thinking "Leave me alone!!!"  or maybe "Hi family!"  I don't remember what the "bubble" really was though...

 Her leg and foot:

 Her hand saying hello!

 She is in a curled up position in this one, her head is tucked under like she is about to somersault

 

and my favorite shot of the day...she just relaxing, crossing her legs at the ankles.  I'm sure her hands are behind her head :) :

 

 Of course we had to run to the mall and pick out some clothes for her.  Each of the girls and I got to choose one outfit.  Alli chose the grey jacket, Sam the kitty outfit, Kimber the Love outfit, and I went with the heart dress. 

Yeah for PINK!

New Years Eve

Our normal New Years Eve plans were put on hold because the host had to chaperon a Youth Stake Dance, rude, I know.  So we took things into our own hands and invited some friends over.

We played games...even busted out 25 Words or Less, which we haven't played in years.  A little Tenzi, LCR, UNO, and Ticket To Ride.  The kids played Just Dance, watched movies, and played with toys.  Tons of food was eaten and we finished the night with a count down (I think they started at 60).

Counting down:

 

Yelling Happy New Year while banging pots and pans and watching the amazing fireworks going on in the neighborhood.

 He wasn't too sure about this part, but he kept on doing it :)

 These 4 could have went on for hours.  I finally had to say, no more. 

 A few dented lids and pots and one broken spoon later, we had officially rang in the New Year.