Simple Gratitude for the Ones I love Most

I awoke this morning feeling very tired! The husband and I stayed up way too late watching a movie. Even though we stay up late, every night, I love our time together and the moments that are ours when the kids are in bed. When the alarm went off at 7:15 am, my warm bed and pillow were beckoning me not to leave. After snoozing, three times, I finally pulled myself out of bed and staggered to the other end of the house to wake up Taylor. She, too, was very tired, but anxious to go to school.

I love that she loves school! I love our morning chats, her smiles and I love you's in the morning. She is always so sweet and affectionate. I love curling, braiding, and topsy-tailing her hair before school. She always cringes and cries because she says I pull too hard, but always loves the end result. She is beautiful! I always find myself staring at her in amazement wondering how I created such a beautiful little girl. Our conversations are always simple, but fun. Her giggles and wiggles always make me smile and warm my heart. After she eats her breakfast, brushes her teeth, and puts her shoes on, we walk to the bus stop. Every time I watch the bus drive away, I feel a slight tug at my heart as I realize she is growing up and becoming more and more independent every day.

Today, as we were walking to the bus stop, the school called me to substitute teach and I accepted. I spent the entire day with 4th graders and had a blast! However, at lunch time I missed my two boys and wondered if they ate their lunch, if Luke got off to preschool okay, and if Blakey missed me singing to him before his nap. I missed it!

After school, I rushed in to find my boys and picked each of them up and squeezed them tight! I marveled at how tall and handsome Luke is. I love that he loves to show me his projects that he made at school...he is so proud! I love to watch the wheels turning in his brain as he explains to me his love for legos and how he can create such amazing things from them. He wants to be Darth Vadar for Halloween...when did his passion change from Toy Story to Star Wars? He gives the best hugs and kisses, and, on his own, always says "mommy, I wuv you." My favorite thing is to listen to Luke pray. His prayers are sincere, thoughtful, kind, and from the heart. His most recent phrase, during prayer, is "please bless all the people on the planet earth, because we love them, but not the bad guys..." He is so cute and so sweet.

Blake is a mamas boy these days. Everywhere I go, he wants to go. He loves riding in the stroller to the bus stop. If he is left behind, I find him at home hysterically crying. I love that he is obsessed with ant hills and loves to crush them and poke sticks in them. I know it's gross, but it is fun to watch him explore. Actually, I love all of his obsessions with bugs-especially spiders, or as he says "spidy." I love his cheeks, his smile, his eyes, his entire chubby little body! I love to watch him explore and play with his brother. Although he is still a "bruiser," he has calmed a little, but I love to watch him wrestle and have fun. I love that he loves his big brother. I love to watch him copy everything Luke does--he idolizes him! I am constantly in awe with how smart he is and how much he is learning and growing every day. He is our sweet little Bubby!

After homework with Taylor, and "rabbit" (rock) hunting with the boys, we spent time together for FHE. Both Taylor and Luke took turns leading the music and sharing their favorite songs. Blakey participated too.

It's been a good day. A day that has left my heart overflowing with gratitude for my husband and precious children. Sometimes it's the simple things in life that make life so great and so worthwhile and I thank my Heavenly Father for these wonderful blessings every day!

Everyone Needs a Carol

When my parents dropped me off at Ricks College, a little over 12 years ago, I thought my life was over! If I would have known, on that first day, that one of the most exciting times of my life had just begun, I wouldn't have wasted so many tears crying and crying as I wandered around campus wishing my parents had kept me home.

After a few short days, I met my friend Carol. She was spunky and fun, and most of all, just what I needed!

Since Carol has recently joined the world of blogging, I feel a new sense of excitement in the air and wanted to celebrate by sharing some of my favorite "Carol" moments!

• Thrift store shopping for 70's clothes...we strutted our stuff like we were the hottest charlie's angels duo you had ever seen! I do have to say our pleather jackets were pretty dang sweet!
• Seran wrapping cars (all dressed in black). Yeah, we looked good in black too!
• Neither of us had a car, so we were quite the pair walking 2 miles to walmart (in the snow--for real), 2 miles to the grocery store, and back and forth to campus (again, in the freezing cold and snow all. year. long).
• $1 movies, hogi-yogi, punk bands, frozen yogurt, and dances.
• If cleaning, you must always listen to WEEZER or Wil Smith's "Gettin' Jiggy Wit' It."
• Driving around, with friends, with the windows rolled down blasting Guns 'n' Roses and singing along to "Sweet Child O' Mine" at the top of our lungs!
• Playing pranks, making dinner together, and talking for hours.
• Putting up with nerdy guys who were in "love" with us and took us on dates to walk around the Temple (ay-yay-yay).

These are only a few reasons why I think everyone needs a Carol!

Okay, Carol, I expect lots and lots of posts and comments (no pressure)!

As for the rest of you, stop by and give Carol a warm blogging "hello," I'm sure it will make her day!

Oh, There's Somethin' Bout a Man in Black

Have you heard the song "Johnny and June" by Heidi Newfield? She starts out by singing:
Oh, there's somethin' 'bout a man in black
makes me wanna drive a cadillac
roll the top back, and roll down to Jackson town...

Oh *sigh*, every time I hear this song it takes me back to my beloved men in black!

My first crush was Neil Diamond. Oh yes, that deep, sultry voice captivated me. I had every song from "The Jazz Singer" memorized and would imagine myself singing on my elementary school stage with him. My heart still flutters just thinking about it.
Second (and ongoing) crush, the one, the only...Bon Jovi! Every summer, during HS, I attended cheer camp at Pepperdine University and greatly anticipated the drive through Malibu just to see Bon Jovi's house. Again, heart fluttering! OH, and did I mention his performance on American Idol two seasons ago..."you wanna make a memory" *sigh* *sigh* *sigh*
Now, many of you may not be familiar with Man In Black #3...Dierks Bentley. What can I say, I have a thing for men that can sing, have great hair, look great in black, and (oh, yeah) did I say sing? This man can sing!!! I saw him in concert 2 days before giving birth to Blake. Who knows, maybe it was my totally out-of-whack-pregnancy-hormones, but he was H-O-T...HOT (with a sizzle)!
And, last, but not least...Dr. McDreamy! I can still remember watching "Can't Buy Me Love" over and over again in the 5th or 6th grade. Man, there is totally somethin' about this man in black...only less than 2 weeks until Grey's season premier (yay)!

Of course, this is all make believe AND there is only one Man in Black for me! But, just for fun, who are (or were) your men in black?

Seriously NOT Domestic or Frugal!

So, like, coming from California, I am so, like, totally not domestic or frugal! Like, just the other day, I was, like, totally meeting up with a new friend, for a play date at the park, and while talking to her, I, like, totally realized that I L-O-V-E...luuuvvv the mall and luuuvvv eating out!

She, on the other hand, like, totally luuvvv's growing a HUGE garden and canning fruits and vegetables all. summer. long. And, they, like totally eat them too! Like, oh my gosh, I was totally exhausted after one day of canning apricots! I mean, it was like totally fun and all, but canning an entire garden...ugh! Good for her, right? That is totally one skill I don't plan to acquire any time soon.

As if canning fruits and veggies all. summer. long. isn't enough, they totally slaughter their own pig and cow every year...ewww! Evidently, it, like totally tastes better than the store bought stuff...hmmm?

I guess if I, like, totally wanted to get started with this lifestyle, myself, she could sell me one of her ranchin' pups that are due in a couple weeks...I will, like, totally have to think about that one...

To sum it up, I guess, I'm like totally not a ranchin', cow herding, veggie choppin', fruit grindin', canning, eat my own slaughtered pig type of girl!

Yep! I admit it, I, like, totally, totally L-O-V-E luuuvvv shopping at the mall and prefer eating my cow through the drive-thru--yep, thank you In-N-Out...that is what a hamburger is all about!

If any emergency should ever arise, I am totally sure that her food storage will taste better than my freeze dried mangos and spaghetti, but I just can't help it if my skills belong at the mall and driving through the drive-thru!

A Night Out, 14 Years Ago

I was a month and a half shy of turning 18 and had just spent the entire summer with my boyfriend of 4 months. Each day of summer had been filled with trips to the beach, soaking in the sun bronzing every inch of my body, many dates to the movies, snuggling in a hammock in his backyard, and kissing...lots of kissing! Senior year had just begun and it was my boyfriend's birthday. I did not have a job and did not want to disappoint. Therefore, it had to be fantastic!

After much thought, and budgeting with my mom, I decided to take him to the Family Fun Center. I pictured snuggling with him on the Ferris Wheel and him holding me tight as I squealed in fear with each turn of the wheel. It was going to be a night to remember.

His birthday finally arrived and I spent the entire afternoon picking out what I would wear. I decided my favorite light brown tee with cute cap sleeves would go well with my favorite CK stoned jeans. The brown shirt would flatter my blue eyes and long blonde hair. As I prepped in the bathroom, curling my hair and making every eye-lined and mascara'ed eye perfect, my stomach began to squeal with anticipation.

As the hour arrived, I grabbed the keys to my parents 1995 red Nissan Quest and drove over to his house to pick him up. After a quick knock on his door, he answered with a dashing smile and off we went to have some fun. Conversation was always easy and fulfilling. Not only was he my boyfriend, but he was someone I could connect with, talk with, and have fun with on so many different levels.

Within 15 or so short minutes, we arrived at the Family Fun Center. As I walked up to the ticket counter to pay for our rides, I noticed he became somewhat uneasy and had a slight grimace on his face. As soon as we made eye contact, the grimace went away and his smile returned. Although I am not a fan of topsy turvy rides, in fact they scare me to death, I assumed he loved them and encouraged him to take me on them all! And so he did. I tried my best to hide my fear and smile as we took each loopy turn. Never once did I suspect that he had a fear of fast, topsy turvy, rollercoaster-take-me-upside down kind of rides. He smiled and cheered through it all!

As the date ended, we hugged and kissed goodnight and he thanked me for a wonderful night. I felt pleased and giddy that the night went so well and couldn't wait to see him at church the next morning.

When I arrived at church, the next morning, I quickly glanced around to see if I could spot this boyfriend of mine. Finally, in the hall, I saw his mother. I approached her with a big smile and politely asked her where this boyfriend of mine was. She politely responded and told me that he was "home sick." In fact, she went on to tell me of his HATE for roller coaster rides and that he had been throwing up all night!!

I couldn't believe it! I was devastated, yet profoundly touched by his devotion to me and not wanting to disappoint me since I had gone to such great lengths to plan a fun night. How could I not love him even more? I knew I had found someone really special! To this day, 14 years since that night, he still continues to put me first. There is not a single day that goes by that he doesn't think of me or his families needs before his own. Our life may still be full of rollercoasters, but ones that are definitely worth taking for a ride with him.

This is for you Babe! Thank you for the last 14 years and the years to come! Happy Birthday!

All my love,

Kimberly

Recipe Contest

Hop on over to Fit Me Pink to check out our recipe contest. All are invited to enter! Shout it from the rooftops, if you must, and tell everyone you to know to join in. We want to hear from you! The first prize winner will receive a $20 visa gift card and the 2nd prize winner will receive some custom vinyl wall lettering from moi! Have fun entering and hope to see you over there!

My Buddy

For the last two weeks, Luke and I have had the same conversation over and over again...

Luke: "How much longer 'til I go to school?"

Me: "Two Weeks."

Luke: "How much is two weeks?"

Me: "14 days."

Luke: "How much is 14 days?"

And so on, and so on, and so on...12 days later...

Luke: "When do I go to school?"

Me: "Tuesday."

Luke: "When is Tuesday?"

Me: "In two days."

Luke: "Oh. How much is two days?"

Me: (showing with my fingers) "1, 2"

Luke: "Oh, that's not much at all."

FINALLY...two days later...

Me: "Guess what, Luke? You start school today."

Luke: "Yay! What time do I go to school?"

Me: "At 1:00"

Luke: "How long until it's 1:00?"

Me: "Five Hours...after lunch."

For the next five hours, you can imagine how our conversation went. FINALLY, 12:30 arrived and it was almost time to leave for school.

Just as we headed out the door Luke said,

"Mommy, my new school is so cool. But, I'm just going to miss you today. I love you."

Me: (choking back tears) "I love you too, Buddy! I will miss you, but you are going to have lots and lots of fun!"

And, boy did he have fun! What a sweet boy!

First Grade Moments

After substituting a first grade class on Friday, here is what I heard, experienced, and observed:

• "Heads Up 7-Up" is a terrific way to pass time when you have nothing else to fill time with!
• Not only does my hubby like to pinch my back side and talk about my "boobies," but so do little perverted first grade boys! Geeze...first grade, can you believe it?!
• Just as my sons turn everything they play with into a make-believe-gun, little first-grade boys turn every scrap of paper they cut out into make-believe-guns.
• When a first-grader sneezes and splashes snot all over her artwork, she will show you it is ruined and expect you to fix it and make it all better.
• Just the thought, of splashes of snot, will make you want to sanitize your hands over and over again.
• First graders can be quite the cleptomaniacs! It is amazing how anything in the classroom can be discreetly snuck out of the classroom to play with at recess.
  
• It is so sweet when little ones fall instantly in love with you, want to hold your hand at recess, give you hugs, and become your best friend.
• Hearing children say "Teacher, Teacher," is cute, but not as cute as hearing my own children say "Mama, Mama" after arriving home!