Burp cloths

I told Jenn I would post a picture of these, so here you go. I still have about 6 more to make, but I spent all day on some Relief Society posters and ran out of energy. So it goes.

My list of things that must stay AND must go

THINGS THAT MUST STAY:
1. Diet Coke (with a fresh lime)
2. Max's afternoon naps
3. Drudge Report
4. Political conversations with my mom
5. Family trips to Costco just for the ice cream
6. Eating fresh fruit with cool whip
7. Girls trips
8. Mini Family Home Evenings
9. Little girl outfits by Ralph Lauren
10. Creative and fun new things to make

THINGS THAT MUST GO:
1. Obviously, Barack Obama. And Hillary Clinton. Better just say liberals in general.
2. Max sleeping in my bed.
3. Bandit sleeping in my bed.
4. Sisters and mom living too far away.
5. High prices on baby girl clothes.
6. The entire 3rd trimester of pregnancy.
7. Morgan's 24 hour rotations at the hospital (this also includes Morgan's OB/GYN rotation).
8. Max standing up to go pee (YUCK).
9. NFL. I'd say College football, too, but sometimes they are really cute...like Alex Smith. We can keep College football.
10. Smokers in any weather but ESPECIALLY when it's 110 degrees outside.

"Things That Must Stay"

1. Nordstrom's...I don't make it out there that often, but it is so comforting to know that it is there.

2. Estee Lauder Moisturizer...I love it!

3. John Wayne Movies...

4. Books about the American Revolution

5. Being at school the week before school starts and seeing the classrooms come together... and especially not having to do it any more.

6. Handiwork... The only thing more fun than going to a fabric store and picking out fabric, thread, flannel, and yarn is watching my daughters discover these same joys.

7. Sunbathing on my favorite lounge chair.

8. Family vacations

9. Talking politics with anyone that is interested. This, of course, involves watching people talk about politics on cable TV.

10. Never giving up on temple goals.

LESSONS from JOHN ADAMS

We cannot always INSURE our success, but we can ALWAYS deserve it. This is not a quote of John Adams, but it is one that he used. He got it from someone else. As I remember George Washington liked it as well.

His country always came first. He might not have always made the right decisions, but he always chose what he thought was best for the country. Often it was the worst choice for him. His family paid a big price for his service. It is easy to understand why he felt frustrated at the lack of recognition he would receive. He was the heart of the revolution and deserved more credit than he got.

Although he was known and disliked for his vanity, when it came time to make peace with Thomas Jefferson, he showed the greater humility and the greater honor. His renewal of friendship with Jefferson is a life lesson I will never forget.

COOKIES....Bite-Size Life Lessons

COOPERATE...means, "How about you add the chips while I stir?"
PATIENT means waiting and waiting for the cookies to be done.
PROUD means, "My chin is high, and I sure do like the way my cookies turned out!"
MODEST means you don't run around telling everyone you make the best cookies, even if you know it to be true!
RESPECT means offering the very first cookie to your grandma.
TRUSTWORTHY means if you ask me to hold your cookie until you come back, when you come back, I will still be holding your cookie.
FAIR means, "You get a bite, I get a bite, you get a big bite, I get a big bite."
UNFAIR means, "You get a bite, and now I get the rest."
COMPASSIONATE means, "Don't worry, it's okay. You can have part of my cookie."
GREEDY means taking all the cookies for myself. "HEE HEE HEE, YUM YUM YUM!"
GENEROUS means offering some to others.
PESSIMISTIC means, "How awful, how absolutely dreadful I have only half my cookie left!"
OPTIMISTIC means, "This is great--I still have half my cookie left."
POLITE means, "Excuse me, can you please pass the cookies?"
HONEST means "I have to tell you something. The butterfly didn't really take the cookie--I took the cookie."
COURAGEOUS means, "It was not easy for me tell you that I took the cookie, but I took a deep breath....and made the words come out."
ENVY means, "I can't stop looking at your cookie out of the corner of my eye--it looks so much better than my cookie. Boy, I wish it were mine and not yours."
LOYAL means that even though the new person has a much bigger cookie, I'm sticking by you and your little cookies because you're my very best friend.
OPEN-MINDED means, "I've never seen cookies like that before, but uh, sure I'll try some."
REGRET means, "I really wish I didn't eat so many cookies."
CONTENT means sitting on the steps...just you, me, and a couple of cookies.
WISE means, "I used to think I knew everything about cookies, but now I realize I know about one teeny chip's worth."

How many ways can you make a sandwich??

This is a picture of my life! On this day Jenn, Kate, Johnny, and I were visiting Mom and Dad. Kate was in the bathroom. Jenn was in the bedroom and couldn't see her. Jenn started to holler for her. Kate replied, "Yes Mommie". I could see Kate, but Jenn couldn't. Kate had gone potty by herself, and Jenn asked her if she had her clothes on. Kate said that she did. Jenn asked her if she was naked, and she said that no she wasn't. Jenn asked her if she had her shirt on, and she said that yes she did. She asked if she had her pants on, and she said that no, she didn't have her pants on. She answered truthfully to all of the questions. The question that Jenn didn't know to ask her was "Are you playing with Ida's "depends"? Kate thought she would put on an adult diaper for a change, and she was trying to put her cute little naked bum into a diaper that was bigger than she is. Notice the nervous look on Johnny's face. You should have seen the nervous look on Jenn's face!

Last Friday night I waited up for Liz to get home from a late movie. It was after one when she got home. At 2:30 Ally woke us up to go outside. At 5:15 AM Mom called because men were running through her house and she didn't know what to do. (I thought about telling her that they were the husbands of all of the caregivers chasing Dad, but decided not to). At 7 AM I texted Liz to wake her up. She wasn't ready to get up, so I became her snooze alarm. By 8 Kate was looking for Papa and Wamma.

How many ways can you make a sandwich?? I don't know, but I sure do love all of the bread!!

Happy Birthday Toryn and Mariah!

We took dinner up to Tyler, Mariah, and Toryn to celebrate Mariah's birthday. It was a lot of fun. Bill and I got to read to Toryn. She was so cute and friendly to us. She got a big kick out of Papa Bill and his duck noises!! She said that Morgan gave her a great check up!

SIX WORDS.....hope you like them!!

LIZTiffany's

Subtle

Tolerant

Confidential

Writing

Dedicated

LINDSAY

Polo

Disciplined

Decorating

Focused

Curious

Dedicated

JENN

Ben Franklin

Nature

Friend

Cooking

Charitable

Dedicated

TRACIE

Target

History

Service

Movies

Traveling

Dedicated

My 6 words, er, paragraphs

I'll admit it, I hate being "tagged." But since I'm the only one that hasn't done it, here goes. Here are the 6 "words" that I feel best describe me:


1. Busy/Goal (and list) oriented
I always have a list or 2 around with things on it I need to get done. Preferably by a certain date/time. This means that I absoloutely cannot sit still. I have a hard time just sitting around doing nothing i.e. watching t.v. I am a definite busybody. (Maybe not so much when I'm in my last trimester, though. I'm finding it easier and easier these last few days to just sit with my feet up.)


2. Fit (at least before this whole "baby-making and feeding" body took over)
I love to work out. I have even learned to love running. Before I got pregnant this last time, I was working out 3 times a day and it's been really hard not to keep that up. I am addicted.


3. Low maintenance
It's hard being married to someone like Morgan (whom I love MADLY) and still be this way. But give me a diet coke and good book over a fancy dinner any day. Well, unless it's my birthday...


4. Balanced
I try to stay pretty well-rounded in my life because I think balance is key to keeping composed and sane. When I'm organized, I'm not frazzled, when I'm working out, I feel in control, when I do things for others, I feel charitable, etc etc.


5. Opinionated/Educated
Some would almost say too opinionated...I like to think of myself as just passionate. I added educated because I think that on the topics that I consider myself opinionated, I am also well informed.



6. Daughter, wife, sister, mother
I know that there are 4 words there, but it's my list. I love being married to Morgan, I love being Max's mom, I love being my mother's daughter, and I love being a sister. I have great people that surround me and influence who I am with the great characteristics they all posess and I love that they make me a better person. Max helps me every day with my patience but also shows me unconditional love. My mom is a great example of endurance and also of making opportunities out of your hardships. My sister Tracie is a great example of how I wish I could live the gospel. Jenn used the word generous in her list, and I would emphasize charitable. Liz is so smart and free spirited. Morgan is an example to me every day of devotion. He works so hard and I know he's doing it all for us. I love that he cares about our well-being and has chosen this career for the sole purpose of taking care of the needs of his family. He is so strong and I love him so much for his sacrifices.

Our day with the boys.....

We got to spend some time with the Lewis Boys last week. Brave Brooke did Girls' Camp eight months pregnant. What a gal! We had a day at the museum and the movie. They were so much fun and so easy to please. Papa was so grateful to get Wamma to the Hill Air Force Museum. I am ashamed to say that he has been wanting me to go since BEFORE we got married. Well, we finally made it. This is an important part of who Bill is. He is very proud of his service in the National Guard. He is very brave. This airplane is exactly like the one that he flew, the F-102.
He said that he was a real hot pilot. He so enjoyed the day. The boys were so interested and enthused to hear him tell about what he did. They were perfect gentlemen all through the day. The movie was a little too scary for me. I hope the boys haven't had any bad dreams because of it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PAPA!

The youngest munchkins were VERY interested in Papa's "Cars" cake. As always, he was happy to share. We celebrated at the pool. We had pizza and pop. It was so fun for everyone to come and get together to celebrate!

Happy Birthday, you young buck! We all love you to pieces and think you are the cutest grandpa around!!!