No... I did not hit him!!!

Poor Ty, he is yet again the top of my blog- another injury. Today at recess he collided w/a boy while playing football. Ty went for a loose ball, while another boy was chasing a soccer ball. The knee came up as Ty's face went down, and this is the result. Actually, this picture is not very representative of the real deal. His eye is swollen partly shut, but for the picture he was trying hard to get it open and the swelling and discoluration extend up around the outside toward his hairline.

The school called to tell me to come get him and when I got there they informed me that he had been very brave! Of course he has. This is Ty, the boy who layed in his Dad's lap while he removed a fishing lure w/ a pair of needle nose. Not a sound made, just crocidile tears rolling down the side of his face and white nuckles clenched into a fist were the only sign of his agony.

So I brought him home and gave him an ice pack and some advil. Then tried to get him to take a nap. He laid in bed next to me and stared at the ceiling. Now he is watching Hotel for Dogs and claims to be doing "Much Better," after only 2 hours. We'll see how this goes... oh and lucky us Brady is out of the country, AGAIN!!! So mommy is on her own to deal w/ this.

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Joy

Found this giveaway on Cousin Pollys blog. This is such a neat picture. It's by an artist named David Bowman and he's giving away some signed prints for mothers day. Details at http://trying2staycalm.blogspot.com/2009/04/david-bowman-print-giveaway.html, Daves website is www.bowman-art.com . He's got some really neat work and is doing mother day specials from the same blog above. Anyway, thought some of you might be interested.

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Little Critters

This morning after sleeping in I woke to the joyful noises of my children playing together (*via the baby monitor.) I rolled over and realised my hubby- who always sleeps longer than me- is already up and gone. Hmmm? I layed their lazily for a moment before climbing out of bed and going in search of the rest of my family.

The boys were in the theater playing rock band and singing at the top of their lungs, Brady is in front of his computer mixing music on his new toy, and then I find my princess...She is sitting on the floor in her room, still in her cozy pj's, looking at her collection of LPS. (For those of you that don't have daughters... that is Littlest Pet Shop.)

I leaned against the door frame to watch her and she sensed my presence. As she looked up her brown hair fell back from her face which lit up with a smile. She stood up and came over to put her arms around me and gave me a HUGE hug. The rested her chin against my chest, gazed up at me and asked,

"Do you want to play Littlest Pet Shop?"

The first thought.. not really... but then the thought came to my mind. My baby girl is 10 years old and is asking me to spend time with her, how many more times will this happen before she is locking her door and telling me to go away?

So of course I sat down on the floor and said, "OK, what do we do?" Her sweet laugh filled the air- "There are no rules, we just play." She proceeded to show me all 30+ figurines and their names and what each one likes to do, who is her favorite and which accessory came with each. She then told me what her brother does when he plays and how the motorcycles and race cars get involved.

I have been struck several times this week by the speed at which their life's are passing me by. I was looking at photos of them as toddlers and began to cry, Tyler asked why I was crying, I told him they are growing up too fast. "I'm sorry" was his response.

Wasn't it just months ago that we were by their side in the NICU praying for them? Then moving them from an infant seat to a transition seat to a booster chair... now they buckle in all by themselves, with out a thought about mom and dad's help.

My baby's aren't baby's anymore... I am afraid to blink, for when I open my eyes again they will be teenagers, then missionaries and college students, then newly weds. I remember being younger and people telling me to enjoy my baby's because it would be over so quickly. But I couldn't wait for the next milestone, now I see what they meant, and wish I had spent more time just sitting with them, enjoying each stage.

Today I turn over a new leaf... I am going to start appreciating every moment. It passes too quickly.

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Does anyone read this???

OK I'm going to sound like my 6 year old here... NO ONE LEAVES ME COMMENTS!!! I am jealous of Amy and all the comments she gets- hey and a lot of those people are you... my sisters!!! (i hope you all hear the teasing undertones!!) this is why they say not to be sarcastic in emails and text- someone might take it wrong!!

Tyler turned 9 yesterday!!! I can't believe it has really been that long. I read Tammy's blog where she said "I am old!" and I can relate. If she's 40 that means I'm going to be 34!!!

What happened?
Where have the years gone?

So for his birthday Tyler got to pick the restaurant. No great surprise to anyone who knows him, we went to Golden Corral. Of course this was after I boycotted the 45 minute drive to All You Can Eat Chinese!! Megan, Liz, Ben and the baby's where there, as well as Grandma and Grandpa Bush. Tyler also got to bring along 2 friends. Despite his reservations about the move, he has settled well in to the new school and made some good friends- which are all w/in walking distance!!! (yeah me!)

So you ask- what did he get for his birthday- a couple misc toys, some money, a Nerf dart gun set, and my future UFC star got his BIG wish... A punching bag!!!

Brady got a new weight bench earlier this week and so Tyler is now all set to bulk up and become a professional MMA fighter!!! (*hear the sarcasm-again)

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Utah Census Form

Amy sent this to me and it has me rolling on the floor!!!


Utah/ Census Form

1. _____________________ (Given name)

2. _____________________ (SURNAME)

3. Descendant of:
A. Brigham Young _____
B. Heber C. Kimball _____
C. Laman and Lemuel _____
D. Cain _____

4. Tribe of Israel : _____________________

5. Number of occupants residing in home in each category: (Listed in Chronological order)
A. Nursery _____
B. Junior Primary _____
C. Senior Primary _____
D. Young Women's _____
E. Young Men's _____
F. Relief Society _____
G. Elder _____
H. Dearly Departed _____
I. High Priest _____

6. Occupation [Please select all that apply.]:
A. Amway dealer _____
B. Shaklee dealer _____
C. Nonie juice dealer _____
D. NuSkin dealer _____

7. Automobile:
A. Station Wagon _____
B. Van _____
C. Suburban _____
D. School Bus _____
E. Double Decker _____
F. BMW (Big Mormon Wagon) ________

8. Favorite place to eat the night before Fast Sunday:
A. Chuck-A-Rama _____
B. Hometown Buffet _____
C. Sumo Sam's All You Can Eat Feeding Trough _____

9. Favorite Hero:
A. Nephi _____
B. Abinadi _____
C. Samuel the Lamanite_____
D. Steve Young _____
E. Johnny Lingo _____

10. Which of the following do you bring to church [check all that Apply.]:
A. Scriptures _____
B. Franklin Planner/ Daytimer _____
C. Pen/Pencil _____
D. Lifesavers/ Cheerios _____
E. Tic Tacs _____
F. Game Boy _____
G. Big Gulp _____
H. Cooler _____
I. Sony Walkman _____
J. TV Watch _____
K. All of the above _____

11. Do you prepare your church lessons:
A. A month in advance _____
B. A week in advance _____
C. While in the bathtub _____
D. While on the toilet _____
E. During Sacrament Meeting _____
F. During the closing prayer of Sacrament Meeting
G. During the opening prayer of the class you're teaching _____
H. Just wing it [according to the promptings of the Spirit] _____

12. Do you think pews should be permanently equipped with Big Gulp Holders?: yes___ no ___

13. How many years has your family sat in the same place for Sacrament Meeting:
A. 10-20 years _____
B. 20-30 years _____
C. 30-40 years _____
D. Over 3 generations _____

14. How much time does it take for you to fall asleep during a high Council talk:
A. 1/100,000,000th of a second _____
B. 1/999,999,999th of a second _____
C. 1/999,999,998th of a second _____

15. Which day of the month do you go home/visiting teaching:
A. 31st ______
B. 31st ______
C. 31st ______
D. 31st ______

16. How many church basketball fights were you in last year:
A. 1-10 _____
B. 10-20 _____
C. 20-30 _____
D. You'll have to ask my lawyer _____

17. Which of the following has been your most effective Family Home
Evening:
A. Arguing about getting along
B. Having an opening and closing prayer with dinner
C. Gathering around the television to watch, "Everybody Loves Raymond?"

18. How many times a year do you make:
A. Green Jell-O salad _____
B. Funeral potatoes _____
C. Cabbage and Top Ramen salad _____
D. Turkey , cashews and grape-stuffed croissants_____

19. How many water-filled two-liter bottles do you own:
A. 1-2 thousand _____
B. 2-3 thousand _____
C. 3-4 thousand _____
D. Enough to fill the Great Salt Lake _____

20. Which of the following do you feel is the most secure facility in the nation:
A. Alcatraz
B. Fort Knox
C. Ward Libraries

21. How many structural engineers do you hire annually to insure you'll win the pinewood derby: _________

22. Keeping the Word of Wisdom in mind, how much of the following do you consume:
A. Chocolate:___pounds daily X 365 days annually= ____

B. Cola: ____gallons daily X 365 days annually = ____

23. If you had to choose between witnessing the Second Coming or
attending a BYU/UofU football game, which would you choose?
A. Second Coming _____
B. Football game _____


AMEN

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FlyLady

I have been reading some of my sisters blogs today and it got me thinking about FlyLady and the clutter in my life. I am sure most of you know who she is- She is my inspiration!!! I love her saying about, "it didn't get this way overnight, and it won't be fixed overnight either." Since we moved out of Highland, I actually have done a pretty good job at keeping the house in order. We obviously have our days of "chaos" (can't have anyone over syndrome.) but for the most part I am happy with our home. But my "hot spots" still haunt me... my desk, the laundry room, the counter in the dining room, and my boys room. I just never seem to get to them. The boys room was my goal for spring break, which ends this weekend, so I am running out of time. Maybe tomorrow. Today is laundry day, only 3 more loads to go!!!

My true clutter is in my personal/professional life. Finances, businesses, taxes, paperwork, bills, homework, this is where I truly STRUGGLE. **sigh** even thinking about it brings tension to my neck and anxiety to my chest. These are the areas I need to declutter!! But just like my "Hot Spots" it can be so easy to shut the door to these areas and pretend they aren't there- put them off for tomorrow. I know a huge weight would be lifted if I would just dig in and face the mess I have created, but denial is so much easier, (at least on the surface.)

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Easter Eve

It is Saturday night, and I should be preparing Easter Baskets, cleaning the house, doing laundry or any number of other things. Brady has been gone all week, and will return early tomorrow morning. This has been a crazy week to play single mom. I feel like I have been running non-stop. Between organizing the new house, work at the gym, multiple neighborhood Easter parties and egg hunts, a school movie night, my etsy business and Brady's EBay business, plus an 8 hour gymnastics meet today... I am exhausted. I have been up til 1 am or later every night this week trying to finish my to do list, and looks like tonight will be no exception. But I got smart.... the kids just hit the sack, which hopefully will buy me a couple extra hours of sleep in the morning. (It is almost 11 pm)

So tomorrow, we will rise somewhat early... if only it will be after 9, and search for Easter eggs, (that have yet to be hidden) and dig threw Easter baskets, then I will finish what I don't get done tonight for tomorrows dinner, head to church at 1, and home to host Easter dinner here. I hate the holidays that are so crazy you don't have time to enjoy them. I need a vacation... didn't I just get home from one of those?

Well, my to do list isn't getting any shorter while I'm sitting at this computer.... so back to work.
Happy Easter everyone!!!

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A new giveaway....

I'm doing a new giveaway on www.bushcreative.blogspot.com. It's a BOGO so go check it out and pass it on to your friends!!!

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I am FREE!!!

For those of you who don't know I have spent the last 3 months playing chauffeur to my 32 year old husband. (Due to a misunderstanding with the law that resulted in a 90 day licence suspension.) I felt like I had a 15 1/2 year old son. "Can you take me here?" "I need something from the store, can you go get it for me?"

FRUSTRATING!!!!

I FEEL for Becky!!! I don't know how she is doing this for a year or more. But yesterday was day 91 and we spent the afternoon at the DMV paying fees and shuffling paper.

But finally I am free.

He left this morning for a job in the mountains and I didn't have to drive him. I am at home, doing laundry, fulfilling Etsy orders, and blogging.

Hallelujah!!!!

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