Wow...

 I often think about my blog and think how I really should blog more than I do...and then I move on to something else.  A month goes by and that same post is sitting on the front page of my blog.Yeah, I really need to change that :) Maybe I should just set a goal to post once a week.  Yeah, that might be a good start, lets hope I can stick to it!
Life lately, has been well.......stressful.  I was thinking today, "I am so sick of being stressed!"  Then as I thought about it I realized that I don't need to be so stressed out all the time; I don't have to worry about every little thing so much and get upset if things aren't perfect; I don't need to get upset at my kids for just acting their age.  My husband recently told me a great quote out not worrying, but I can't remember what it was or who said it.  As I was searching the internet to possibly find it, I came across a quote from President Gordon B. Hinckley "Life is to be enjoyed, not endured."  Wow, a  phenomenal quote that I really need to embed in my mind.  All too often I go throughout my day just thinking that I just need to make it until bedtime; I just have to survive a few more hours.  While there are some days where those thoughts are very valid (because well, sometimes having a 3 year old and 7 month old can just be tough!), I really should be enjoying my days.  I should be enjoying my children, taking in each and every moment with them, because I will never have those moments again.  I need to remember how sweet and innocent they are now (because I'm sure as teenagers they won't be so innocent anymore).
Children truly are a gift from God.  Having my kids in my home, in my opinion, is just like having a little piece of heaven here on earth.  Each and every night before I go to bed I check on each of my kids, make sure they are all tucked in and warm, tell them I love them, and kiss them goodnight--sometimes I even do this multiple times :) I can't go to bed until I've done it.  Tonight as I checked on my boy I just looked at him and thought about how wonderful he is--how cute he is, how funny he is, and what spunk he has!  He truly is one of the most funny kids I know!  As I gazed down at my baby girl I couldn't help but smile at her beauty and think of her great personality--how she is almost always smiling, loves to laugh and play with her brother, and just loves to be apart of anything and everything, she can't stand to be away from a good party (hmmm, wonder where she gets that from??).
I am such a blessed woman to have been entrusted to raise these sweet spirits.  I am so thankful for my Heavenly Father and his plan for us.  I'm thankful to have such a sweet, loving, patient and supportive husband.  Despite all my short comings, I know that if I try my absolute hardest to be the best mother I can be, and pray for help and encouragement anytime I need it Jesus Christ will bridge that gap and my children will receive and learn everything they need to in this life.  His atonement for ALL of us is such a great blessing and privilege.
When I started this blog post, this wasn't the direction I had planned for it, but it's amazing sometimes what can happen when you just start to write.

Blog Hop!

Welcome to the monthly Share the Love blog hop. Here are the Rules: 

1. Please follow your host (number 1 below) and the co-host (number 2 below). Also follow the blog listed before you and any others that you like. 

2. Please leave a comment on the blogs letting them know that you are a new follower and found them on 'share the love blog hop' 

3. Link up your blog's Home page 

4. Copy and paste the code at the bottom into a new post on your blog. 

5. Enjoy!! This is a Blog Hop!

Instagram

Recently there was an uproar as to Instagram's privacy policy.  Many people read the updated privacy policy and mis-interpreted what was written.  Because of the vague wording many people thought that Instagram now had ownership of your photos as soon as you posted them and had the power to sell them as they pleased.  This was completely false, as explained on snopes.com.  For those of you that aren't familiar with snopes it is the go to site for finding the truth behind any rumor or false information. It is legit!
Well today Instagram released it's updated privacy policy and terms of use and no where in it does it state that they have ownership of your photos.  For all of you who were worried and even deleted your account, you have nothing to worry about.  It's amazing what a little rumor can do......
To follow me on Instagram, click here!  Happy hashtags :)

Traveling and Forgetfulness

For my hubby's birthday we decided to take a weekend trip to Salt Lake City. For Christmas my parents gave us a gift card to use at either The Little America hotel or The Grand America. Through Priceline's 'name your own price' we got a great deal at The Little America, so that's where we're staying tonight then tomorrow the Grand!! Staying at a nice hotel really makes it feel like a vacation.
Anyway, my reason for this post is to tell you about our crazy adventure getting to our hotel. First of all the drive to Salt Lake was long because the roads were so bad. That was an adventure in and of itself!!
We made an appointment today to get a remote start installed in our van (thank you hubby!). It takes 3 hours so we thought we'd take trax (transit train) to our hotel. The guy installing the remote start gave us a ride to the station, and then the "fun" began.
It was super cold, windy, and snowy!! As we were buying our ticket our train came, so we missed it. About 10 minutes later another train came but we realized we had our car keys so we couldn't leave. We waited for the guy to come back and pick them up. He got there right as our train was coming again. I ran and gave him the keys and literally ran to get on the train--which we missed again!! We FINALLY got on our train after waiting out in the freezing cold for over 30 minutes!! Oh, and while we were waiting at the train station (with all the sketchy looking people) a random, kind of strange guy gave William a bracelet he had made. Yeah, that might "accidentally" disappear before we get home. When we got off the train it was only about 1 block to our hotel, but walking against the wind in 3-4 inches of snow, it seemed more like 10 blocks.
So here we are freezing, completely soaked, snow all over us, and we walk inside this super nice hotel with our snow covered stroller. It was quite the sight :) The staff were so nice though, and even got towels and cleaned off our stroller for us.
After all this craziness Kirk graciously went out in the cold again to get us dinner, and he will have to face the cold again when our car is finished. Now that's what I call an amazing husband!!
Hopefully the rest of our weekend will be a little less eventful. Happy weekend everyone! What are your fun plans for the weekend??

Happy Birthday My Love

Today (well, now yesterday) my handsome hubby turned 28!  I am so thankful and so blessed to have him in my life.  He has completely changed me for the better and helps me each day to have a positive outlook on life.  I don't think I could love anyone on this earth more.  He is such a fun, funny, handsome, sweet, caring, man.  I seriously do not know what I would do without him in my life.  Each and every day he serves me and does anything he can to help me out with whatever I need, even if I don't ask.  He has provided me with 2 wonderful children who truly are the light and joy in my life. I'm so thankful for the kind of man he is and the great example he is everyday to our children.  I hope our children always realize how important their Dad is.  I'm thankful that he is a worthy Priesthood holder and that he values that important role.
One of his many great qualities is that he is such a hard worker.  I am so thankful for him always giving 200% for our family and providing for us in every way possible.  More recently I am thankful that he has a great job that has provided me the opportunity to stay home and raise our children.  Though at times it is a tough job, it truly is the best job and I couldn't be happier with it.
Kirk is more thank just my husband.  He is my best friend, my sweetheart, my everything.  He is the one I love to hang out with, relax with, laugh with, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Happy Birthday to my Honey.....and here's to many many more!!!

Chocolate mint cookies

These are some of the most delicious cookies ever!!! If you are a fan of anything mint you will love them!
The original recipe calls for mint chocolate chips, but I couldn't find any at the store so I bought Andes baking chips instead. They taste just as good.
Here is what you will need to make these yummy cookies:
•1- 10 oz. pkg. (1 ½ c.) mint chocolate chips or Andes baking chips
•1 ¼ c. flour
•½ t. baking soda
•¼ t. salt
•1/3 c.(5 T.) butter (softened)
•½ c. granulated sugar
•¼ c. brown sugar
•1 egg
•½ t. vanilla

Directions:
•Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit.
•Melt half of the chocolate chips (3/4 c.), set aside.
•Cream together the butter, sugars and vanilla.
•Add the melted chocolate then the dry ingredients.
•Stir in remaining chocolate chips.
•Drop onto cookie sheet by spoonfuls. •Bake in 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes. Enjoy!

Shout out to my Mom for the great recipe. Growing up my mom always baked the most amazing stuff. I loved when I would come home from school and walk inside the house and it was filled with the delicious aroma of these cookies. They have always been a favorite and I love that I can recreate those same memories in my children.
Happy Baking!

Confessions of a stay at home mom

This was me tonight.....

Though I'm a little ashamed to share this, I really just feel it needs to be discussed.  
As a stay at home mom to a 3 year boy and 6 month old girl I have a lot going on in my day to day life.    Some may look at being a stay at home mom as an excuse to be lazy and not work.  For those of you who have ever been a stay at home mom you know it is far from that.  Though there are days where I am lazy, being a stay at home mom truly is work.  It is harder than any other job I've ever had...and I've had a lot of jobs.  It is the best job, but it is no walk in the park.
Anyway, my purpose in writing this post is that I need advice.  I've been a mother now for almost 4 years.  I should know what I'm doing right?  Wrong!  Some days are great and I feel in total control and know what I'm doing.  Other days I feel clueless.  Just when I think I've found a good way of parenting or disciplining life throws me a curve ball and that plan doesn't work anymore.  I guess it's my Heavenly Father's way of helping me continually grow.  Some days though I wouldn't mind having it easy and not "growing" :)
You hear people all the time saying that their children teach them patience.  You'll never know how much they teach you that until you have children of your own.  Sometimes I am amazed at how well I can hold it together when my loving 3 year old boy is yelling, throwing a fit, not listening, etc.  Then there are times when I feel I have no control over the situation and I have no idea what to do.  The easy thing is to give in, yell, make threats, but those are most definitely not the answer and will more than likely make the situation worse--believe me, I know.  I just don't know sometimes how to keep my stress level low in these types of situations.  Any ideas or suggestions are greatly appreciated and encouraged.  What are your coping mechanisms?

My new motto in life :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

In the past I've never really made serious new years resolutions, but this year I've got a lot of resolutions in mind that I fully intend on keeping.  One of my resolutions is that each month I'm going to choose at least one thing that I want to try or work on for at least a month long.  My goal with this is to try new things and really challenge myself.  

This month I am going to not eat anything after 8pm, and I will clean up the dishes after each meal and not go to bed with a dirty kitchen.

My purpose for not eating after 8pm is that 95% of the time when I eat late it is junk and then I'm just sick the next day from eating so late.  My hope is that I can lose a few extra pounds, or at least not gain any more weight.  Hopefully I'll continue this resolution much longer than just a month.

Ever feel like your kitchen looks like this?

I'm pretty sure my kitchen does look like this every day of the week, which is why I've made the resolution to not go to bed with a dirty kitchen.  So far I'm not doing good with this one..and it's only the first day. haha!  To my defense though, I've had a very sick little baby so its been hard trying to get everything done, but......you know what the best part about the end of the day is??--you get a fresh start the next day.  So here's to a better tomorrow!