Banana Goo....Oooow

I thought that when you became a mom that things weren't supposed to gross you out anymore. You know things like changing gooey diapers or putting your hand in the garbage disposal to fish out something that doesn't belong. Don't all moms say "When you've changed as many diapers as I have you can do anything." Well I'm not quite there yet.

There are a few things that quickly come to my mind when it comes to yuck. Like I still hate putting my hand in a sink full of old, cold dishwater and as cute as babies are, even mine, slobbery kisses turn my stomach a little. And then there is the matter of banana's. All kids love them and they are great at Cooper's age, big and soft and he can feed himself. But the goo and smoosh and slime that follows is at the top of my yuck threshold.

I know it probably sounds heartless that an innocent baby with a healthy piece of fruit makes me a little sick but it does. He gets it in his hair and smashed all over the high chair straps and the little creases in the seat. I often cut them up and roll them in Rice Krispies to avoid the mess, but he loves them whole so much that I am willing to clean up the dripping, sticky, drooled on banana goo in hopes that it will make be a better mom someday. So peel those bananas and wipe those chins, I'm not gonna let this stop the fun.

Let's Celebrate Pink

My Mom and Sisters...I'm on the left then Mom, Rebecca and Kelli

My Mom loves Valentine's Day. I think part of her joy in the holiday comes with the color pink. She grew up in the day where Avacado green, Mustard Yellow and Burt Orange were "the" colors. Which if you know my mom at all you know that she IS pink. Valentine's was the time of year that she could openly express her Pink and boy does she celebrate. Growing up we always made sugar cookies early in the week and then had a special dinner on special plates with special little gifts from Mom and Dad at our seats. As we got older our family would take advantage of the long holiday weekend in February and make it a Valentine's getway to someplace exotic like LA or San Diego (smile).

To carry on the tradition this year I made a few batches of sugar cookies. Derek brought home roses for me. They are beautiful and still going strong. For our Valentine's dinner we made individual heart pizzas and I had little gifts for each of my boys.

Then yesterday was the Girl's Valentine Lunch. A tradition that my mom started about 18 years ago when she organized a lunch with her mother and sisters and Jan a very close family friend. Everyone was to bring a little gift for everyone else and then gifts were exchanged and a wonderful lunch followed. This small gathering has grown into quite an event.

My little seat of gifts that I recieved...isn't that cute?

All the married girls in the family are invited (or single and 30). We all still bring a little gift for everyone. This year we had the largest group yet....11 ladies 2 traveled from Arizona and 1 from Colorado to be with us as we celebrated Valentine's Day with my Mom.

This is everyone (but I'm taking the picture) at the resturant before the gift opening. Doesn't that look like fun? We all open the gift from the same person at the same time. Our food usually arrives just as we are finishing and then we all just have so much fun talking. It is a great tradition. It's so much fun to all be together with no little kids and enjoy a leisurely afternoon with the lovely women in our family.

Mom, Rebecca, Jan, Kelli & Me
Thanks Mom, for making Valentine's Day so much fun. I want to make this pink holiday a fun one for my boys and I know I have learned from the best.

1...2...3...Cry!

Cooper and Corbin started to cry at the exact same time.

Cooper because he couldn't get out from under a blanket ....

And Corbin because he couldn't get in under a blanket.

One couldn't get out and one couldn't get in. I laughed as I got my camera and then helped the boys with their problems. Moments later all is well.
Maybe you just had to be there, but on a lazy afternoon this hit my funny bone just right.

Little Hands

I have always had a fascination with boys and their hands. I remember being younger and looking down the row at church watching my mom tickle my brothers’ hands and arms with her finger nails. I remember wondering what it must be like for a mom to look at her boys’ hands, hands that have grown so much that they now dwarf hers, hands that use to be so tiny and pudgy that they could only hold one of her fingers. I imagined that it must be a tender memory for moms of boys. That thought has always stayed with me. Sometimes when I was holding a boy's hand, I would wonder if his mom wished that she was still the one who got to hold his hand as they walked (Thats wierd right?). Well, now I am the mom of two little boys. I look at their hands and feel sad that chubby little knuckles are thinning out. I wonder what great things they will do as their soft little hands become strong and protective. I think about the blessings their sweet little hands will give someday. I love these little hands and I cherish this time that I have to be one who gets to hold them and tickle them at church with my finger nails.

I've Been Tagged....

It's late and the spell check thingie isn't working so don't laugh at me if you see mistakes...I'll try to fix them later. Thanks.
Ten Years Ago I Was.... graduated from BYU, still living in Provo, working for a vitamin company trying to decide if I should move home a get a teaching credential. (Which I did later that year...good move I think....That's were I met Derek!)

Five Things On My List To Do Today.... 1. Get Corbin off to school 2. Finish folding the laundry 3. Go to the bank 4. Organize Corbin's closet and dresser 5. Make cookies (this is just a list of things that I actually got done. There is a bunch of stuff that didn't,but we spent some time at Grandmas house which totally recharged me for another day.)

Five Snacks I Love.... 1. Fruit especially nectarines, oranges and mangos 2. Chips and Salsa 3. Wasa crackers with avacado and cucumber 4. Bowl of cereal 5. Anything caramel.

If I Was Given A Billion Dollars....Maid Service Please! Then a new house would be at the top of the list and a vacation house or two would be so fun.

Five Places I Have Lived.... 1. Stockton 2.Buena Park 3.Norco 4. Rexburg 5.Provo

Five Jobs I have Had.... 1. Dial-a-Burger 2. Fabric King 3. Joanne's Children's Clothes 4. Circle City Florist 5. Wells Fargo Bank Teller ...Those are my official five off the record I've also worked at Stans Dive in (I was the milkshake girl), Victoria's Sectret, Natural All Vitamin Co., Van Buren Florist, Wherehouse Music and the Corona School District (not in that order).

Five Things People Don't Know About Me.... (recently revised. I didn't do a very good job the first time...to tired I think) 1. I am a money stasher..I have money tucked away all over the house. Not large amounts, mostly 1's and 5's, I just like knowing it's there if I need it. 2. I can't remember the last time I ironed something for me to wear. I have a bunch of cute pants that I haven't worn for close to a year because they need to be ironed. 3. I always make complete stops at stop signs. Drives Derek cazy. 4. I can sing almost every word to almost every song from the 80's 5. I write my grocery list in the order that I shop in the store. I had the whole layout down until the store I shop at recently rearranged and it drives me crazy that my list is out of order.