Basket Head Mother

So only recently have I found Nienie. In fact I knew of her story, but just this week proceded to her blog (after watching her on Oprah) and have not left. I have been so inspired.

I came across a particular post that I just loved. It sums up her outlook on life and particularly on being a mother. Her post it called, "basket head mother" and she has an adorable picture of her with a basket over her head (her pictures are always adorable).

Under the picture it reads, "sometimes life feels this way"

She quotes Author Anna Quindlen, "The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. . . . I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less'(Loud and Clear [2004], 10–11)."

Nienie writes, "I AM NOT GOING TO BE A BASKET-HEAD MOTHER! I am going to listen, love, communicate, cherish, enjoy, teach, preach and prepare my children. Time for everything else later."

I love it. My new moto as well. Sorry for the long post without pictures...

a day at the market

Oh how cute...you are thinking

wrong!

This is the new reality of my grocery store trips every since Smiths was kind enough to offer children their own grocery carts:)

1) Halle runs into the back of my feet about 10 times with her cart (causing me to swear)

2) Cohen runs into about 15 people who roll their eyes annoyed...

and today he managed to knock over the display of oatmeal

3) They have to have the same items in their personal carts so I have to buy 2 of everything

4) Cohen usually gets lost on the junk food isle and fills his cart completely full of fruit snacks

5) I am constantly yelling, causing a scene, as they both run different directions, down different isles

6) Once they tire, I end up hunched over pushing both their carts to the front of the store

7) I never get everything on my list due to the migraine they cause within 20 min of being at the store

8) Checking out is a whole other story... lets just say they are very specific at which bags go in "their" cart

Thanks Smiths!!!

p.s I wouldn't have taken this picture if I didn't think they were the cutest things ever

Having withdrawls!

So it has been ten years since I have really bonded with my High school friends. I hate to say "high school" because I have known most of them since I was 13! We spent the weekend down in Las Vegas and it was a blast. We have such funny memories of growing up together and now that we are all adults, married with families, it was so great to reunite! We spent most of our time just gabbing and catching up. We also hit the malls, briefly walked the Strip, saw a dumb movie (Fame), and ate lots of non-healthy food!!! Gotta love it. Well I got home late Sunday night and I have just been having the biggest withdrawls. I need more time with these girls...

Hopefully this will be the first of many girls trips in the future!

Preschool

Mark your calenders

I am having a Crave Party!!

Wed October 7th 7:30-9:00 pm
354 Stampede Dr, Farmington UT

Best Shoes and Handbags EVER!!!
With great affordable prices

Check out their website at http://craveparties.blogspot.com/
(one of my cute friends Alana started this company and has impeccable taste!)

I think it is finally over!

So it is no secret that I am not the biggest fan of summer. I am very grumpy in the heat and therefore either need to be at a pool or lying over a air vent to feel better. Not to mention both kids home bored every day...all day...lets just say I just prefer the structure of the school year. Have I complained enough? Cause I can always add the never ending chore of both house work and yard work, mosquitoes, and constant dirt in my house. smile. Ok ok, we did have some fun times this summer and here are a few pics.

Halle earned 3.00 at this sale and stashed it away for the ice cream man (at his prices she was able to buy 1 1/3 ice creams....)

fountains at Gateway Mall
Chad's one request for water skiing was to knock, "my mother-in-law off the tube."

Gotta love a GNO with my life-long friends

Looking at these pictures makes me realize that we have had a great summer. I am so thankful for my kids who are really my best friends and teach me how to have fun again!

Update

Halle is 4 1/2 years old. She is a true princess at heart. I didn't know it was possible to be 100% pink, but Halle is. She loves to dance, sing, wear dresses and glitter, loves her nails painted, hates to get dirty, even loves to wear perfume so she "smells like flowers." We have had a fun summer together and have spent tons of time at the pool. She is getting very good at swimming informing me to, "throw away my floaties and goggles because I don't need them anymore" She is still very shy and cautious and will observe a situation for a long period of time before participating. Oh and she is suddenly very scared of cars...don't know why but she reminds me constantly to be a better driver and freaks out if I take my time crossing the street. Of course she loves to "mother" and be in charge, especially with Cohen. And a proud mother must also add that she started reading this summer. I have loved this age because Halle has become my BFF. Now if we could just get her emotions under control we would be smooth sailing...

Cohen is almost two going on three. The reason I say this is because he is a head taller then most two year olds. I have had two people ask me if Halle and Cohen were twins (when they were sitting down) and Cohen just wants to do everything Halle does. Doesn't want a crib, bib, or highchair, wants to buckle his own car seat, put on his shoes, swim independent of his life jacket (not a good idea) and is now insisting to put on his backpack and go to school. He is still my baby at heart and even though he is huge, he still loves to rock with me, loves his Binky and blanky and thank goodness he has no interest in potty training. He talks very loud and very monotone. Some of his favorite sentences are "GOING" (where are we going), "DOING" (what are you doing), "EAT", "OUTSIDE" and of course "NO." He wears me out completely, but he is so much fun too. I am just so lucky to have my girly girl and my rough house boy!