Our little parrot!

Our cute little Sariah has decided to really try out her vocabulary here recently. She repeats just about everything that is said in front of her. She also mimics me perfectly...I don't have to discipline the older kids anymore because she just does it for me. What a gal...makes my job easier. I'm just kidding. But she puts her hands on her hips and stands over a mess with the cutest look on her face and sighs...it's the best! So, last night James was tucking the kids in and he was holding Sariah while he was doing so. She loves it and tells the kids "night kids...love" and then shakes her head a little as they walk out like..."whew...that's all done". So, James went in to the girls room and they weren't in bed like they were supposed to be and he said "what the crap" to them. Cute little parrot girl looks at them and says "prap!" and shakes her head. YIKES!!! It's one of her favorite things to say now. I guess we need to be a little more careful what we say and do. No pressure for James...but she mimics him more than me...he can't do ANYTHING without his daddy's girl seeing it and copying. Gotta love how kids keep us on our toes and make us work harder to be better. Thanks kids!

Last day of school!!!

I'm so excited. I just sent the oldest three kids off for their last day of school before the holidays! I love that they get to be home with me for 2 1/2 weeks and we can sit around the table and have breakfast together. It's one of my favorite things in the whole world!!! We have so much fun stuff to do over the weeks that I can't wait. I know Beka and Sariah will sure enjoy it too. They always love when the kids come home from school each day and then when dad comes home we feel complete. I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season because I know we sure are. When I figure out the downloading process again I'll put some pictures of little Sariah's birthday party because our baby is 2!!! Where did the time go?

Tank is a card

I was too embarrassed to put a picture to incriminate myself. Tank was sitting there next to me at breakfast this morning and noticed something about me. He announced to the family that I must be an elf because I have a little point in my ear towards the top of it!!! Oh my goodness!!! I turned red as the family went on and on about mom being an elf. It was quite funny and gave us all a good laugh. I guess I'll just have to be better about keeping my ears covered so that I don't get self-conscious!!!

HEEELLLLLLPPPPPPP!!!!

Okay...I need advice from anyone with experience. I have a BITER!!! Sariah likes to bite Rebekah...it's the only sibling she bites but she does it frequently enough to drive me MAD!!! I've tried to talk to her...I've tried to show her what she's done to her sister...and I've smacked her on the mouth right after she's done it. WHY WON'T SHE STOP???!!! What do I need to do to get it across to her? Anyone who knows...PLEASE...I'm begging you to tell me!

Funny Little Banana

Ana was helping me make calzones for dinner tonight and we were having some fun. I put my hand in the huge Costco bag of cheese to grab a handful and put it on the dough that was rolled out and ready to go. The hole wasn't quite big enough and I spilled a little bit of cheese on the counter....funny little Ana looks up and starts laughing "Oh, I guess mom's really do spill sometimes!" She thought it was so darn funny that I spilled some cheese. I guess it's because it seems like we have at least one spill each night at dinner and we try to let the kids know that we do it too sometimes but we just need to be careful. Well, Ana saw it and thought it very humorous! I guess I'll have to be more careful.

BOLDly go where no woman has gone before....

BOLDly go where no woman has gone before....

BOLD TAG.. bold the things that you've done before.
1.Started your own blog
2.Slept under the stars
3.Played in a band (Marching Spartan Alliance...we were the BEST!!!)
4.Visited Hawaii
5.Watched a meteor shower
7. Been to Disneyland
6.Given more than you can afford to charity
8.Climbed a mountain
9.Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo(played a million too!!!)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14.Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18 Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20.Slept on an overnight train
21.Had a pillow fight (is there really anyone who hasn't?)
22.Hitch hiked
23.Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (don't lie...you know you all have!!!)
24.Built a snow fort
25.Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (Turkey Trot 2 miles...walked while 8 1/2 mo. preg)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language(plenty of times...only understood by me too!)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (unintentionally...without gear...with the yw and we almost died...quite the adventure)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung Karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight(it's heavenly)
46. Been transported in an ambulance (after surgery)
47. Had your portrait painted (by my hubby)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie (my own wedding video...counts for me)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (It was not my fault though)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades (airplane tour as we flew in to Florida, pretty sure that counts)
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (chipped one in my foot)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (my kids)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit (not me, but I live with someone who was...works for me!)
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Rode an elephant

It was fun...lets see if anyone will do it...I tag anyone who wants it!!!

A little personal!

Well...I decided to do something a little different. I've been contemplating life a lot lately which I think comes with this time of year. I was getting packages ready to send for Christmas and so the girls were watching Camp Rock in my room so they could hang out with me. I love kids shows more than adult ones most of the time because there's nothing I have to worry about in them. Anyways...it was getting to the end of the show and Demi Lovato was singing her song "This is me" and I started crying. Pathetic...I know but I am a very emotional person. I started thinking and thinking and so many feelings overwhelmed me. I really feel like I'm a horrible person. I get really down on myself for a number of the things...my house isn't good enough...it's never clean enough or I don't have nice enough things in it. I'm fat and ugly and the harder I try the worse it seems to get. My in-laws don't like me because I'm not good enough. I'm not a good mother, wife, sister, friend, neighbor...person. These were the thoughts I was having (it's actually a life-long struggle for me). It was a tough day and night but when I got up this morning something changed. I thought back to a chat I had with a friend just yesterday morning and I hadn't talked to her since the night of my reception 10 years ago. We talked about not dwelling on the past and all our mistake but living in the present and looking forward to the future. She isn't a member of the church but we had a totally awesome time chatting about the good things in life. As I thought of that I realized that a lot of the stuff I freak out about just really doesn't matter. I'm not perfect and I have made a number of mistakes but as I ask The Lord for forgiveness and forgive myself and try to be a better person...that's all that matters. I have wonderful friends and an amazing family with a loving husband and 5 of the best kids in the world who all love me and that's what's most important. More importantly I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and he's not judging me the way that I'm judging myself. Sorry...I just felt like it was important for me to share this with you. Hope you don't think I'm a freak...I just like to learn important lessons sometimes and it seems like I keep re-doing this one over and over again...it's dejavu!!! All of you that read my blogs are totally awesome and I love you all! I hope you're having a wonderful holiday season!!!

I guess I'm it!

Here goes...

8 Favorite Shows

1. The Biggest Loser
2. The Office
3. CSI: NY
4. Law & Order
5. CSI: Miami
6. Without a Trace
7. Criminal Minds
8. Monk

8 things I did yesterday

1. Said good-bye to family
2. Fixed dinner for missionaries
3. Went to church
4. Watched Nacho Libre with the family
5. Took a nap
6. Cleaned the kitchen
7. Baked some cookies
8. Talked to mom on the phone

8 Favorite Restaurants

1. Cafe Rio
2. Olive Garden
3. Applebee's
4. Chili's
5. Marie Calendars
6. Panda Express
7. Carl's Jr.
8. Hoopes Kitchen

8 things I'm looking forward to

1. Christmas
2. Losing weight
3. A trip to San Diego in March
4. A trip to Utah in May
5. A over nighter in San Fransisco in January
6. Getting rid of the whole in my chest
7. Lifting wights again
8. Ward Christmas party to be over

8 things on my wish list

1. A new car
2. A housekeeper
3. A house of my own
4. Trip to NY with James
5. Visiting my dad back east
6. Be able to eat WHATEVER I want during the holidays and not gain a pound!!!
7. James passing Arabic after getting rolled so we stay here longer!!!
8. Living closer to my family

8 people I tag

1. Amy Hoopes
2. James
3. Amy R.
4. Lacee
5. Darla
6. Linda
7. Morgen
8. Marcie