To Do Tuesday #4 (AKA post 1/97)

So, obviously by this point in my day I haven't blogged nearly as much as I thought I would. I started the morning with good intentions, and photo edited all my pics I uploaded last night. About 10am this morning, though, my boys were getting antsy, so we headed out to Tuesday's To-Do . . . . (drumroll, please) . . . . ORGANIZING MY GARAGE. I could SO relate to Chris' pics on her blog with moving her whole garage onto the front yard to then get to clean it all out. The difference between me and Chris is how much she got rid of compared to how much I moved back into the garage. I should have taken before and after pictures, but I was in the zone, people! So, let me paint a picture of what I had to contend with and then y'all can stop on by and ooh and awe at a 3 car garage full of CRAP.

First, a month or so ago my brother Dave and I set up 3 sets of gorilla racks and I've been putting stuff on those shelves (holiday decorations, excess food/paper goods, hand-me-down clothes, etc.) Well, today I rearranged most of that stuff. I moved out oodles of baby gear, camp stuff, camp cooking stuff (yeah, we have those TWO categories now), teaching paraphenalia, old missionary and sports momentoes. And then I moved all the emptied shelving around to different places in the garage. Oh, and then I swept and dusted. It may seem silly since it's NEVER going to stay clean, but I can't handle all the dirt and dust that has accumulated on everything that's been out there for three years. So, yes, me and Endust and my towel worked it out in the garage. And I swept up a lot of dirt. And I ended up throwing away the towel from all the dirt. Anyway, I moved most of the stuff back into the garage, but the problem is we have too much stuff. YES, I agree, maybe 9 bins of Christmas decorations and 4 trees may be a much. And perhaps having 3 air mattresses and 2 air pumps is redundant. Need golf bags or clubs? We have about 6 bags and 4 sets of irons. Oh, but if it's the camping stuff you're interested in the Barlows can hook you up. We have about 10 tents, 10 camping chairs, 10 fishing poles, 3 coolers, 3 cooking stoves (with accessories - like 2 tables to set them on, extra grills, etc.), and 10 camping bags (for all your hiking, fly-fishing, overnighter needs.) Did I mention that doesn't even count what we have stored in the camper? Oh, no. I have 2 huge bins of linens because for some reason I can't break with the two sets of Cabbage Patch sheets that I used to have as a little girl or the other old sheets that we don't use or the the quilts and blankets that will come in handy when we have a house-full of guests. And if you're looking for a new name for the Barlows, the Griswalds might work because we have too many Christmas lights to even be contained in bins. And, of course, there's a bin (to go with the two already outside) of swim stuff and now a basket of snow clothes. I could go on, but I'm sure I've lost most of you already.

So after the moving and cleaning, I consolidated all the stuff together and schlepped it back in (if you don't count the curb full of trash and car full of donation items.) As the day went on I started waddling more and moving slower. I knew if I sat down I would be stuck, so I just kept moving. Until 7:30pm. YES, that's 9 hours (I did eat lunch) of hard back-breaking labor. And I am tired and achy. Tyler had mutual, so the kids and I got the inside of the house picked up (yeah, pretty much free reign whilst mom was a-slaving outside) and I ate. Then it was bathtime. Oh, my heck! I thought I was gonna be stuck and not be able to get up because I ached so badly. I mean, my toenails hurt. The kids got washed and I was able to soak after they were done. And I am ready for bed with some Tylenol taken with my apple pie dessert (c'mon, a girl deserves a reward, right?!)

OH WAIT. I have to blog and lift weights and read good 'ol 1st Nephi. Let it be said, let it be written, I am a goal-oriented person who is so tired, but too stubborn to fail (again) on day 1 of a new challenge. Tomorrow's lookin' busy, but hopefully I can get some pics up soon. I'm off to crawl to my room to work my arms and my spirit. Night.

97 day challenge

Have you heard about this? It's a challenge that has been started in honor of President Hinckley since he was 97 when he passed way. Mackenzie and I are going to read the Book of Mormon in 97 days. I'm adding a few to-do's to my 97 day challenge (that's until May 18th):

I am also going to:
Blog 97 times in the next 97 days. Oh yeah, I've been printing my 2007 blogs and it has been SUCH a good record, so it's now printed and indexed in a binder (SUCH a good idea Stac!), but I know I've been a slacker. No more (well, for 97 posts anyway.)

Use my dumb-bells (5 lbs.) for some arm toneage for 97 days in a row.

AND, I had plans to quit drinking Coke for 97 days (kinda like a Lent thing, Julina), but then I forgot and bought a 12 pack today at the store. We'll be making that a shorter challenge. Maybe. Or not. We'll see.

So, tomorrow, I will be blogging a lot to get in some of my 97 posts. And not to tease, but for a Monday I have been pretty productive and am headed to bed, but I do want to blog about the girls' Hannah Montana experience, our trip to Duck Creek, and WICKED! It was totally amazing and fabulous and wonderful, so check in tomorrow.

Considering that I'm having a baby the beginning of May, it'll be interesting to see how the arm weight thing goes, huh. I can't wait to see the nurse's faces when I bust out my orange dumb-bells. Oh well.

Night.

To Do Tuesday #3

This will be short. My to-do for today ws to get my computer fixed. This past weekend we went to my wonderful sister-in-lw's dd's cbin and we totlly enjoyed the whole time. There was sooo much snow that by Sunday we couldn't even play around in the stuff! I'll post pictures later, but I have to get my keybord fixed. If you cn't tell I messed up my "A" key nd the "Z" key is totally busted off. How does tht hpppen? Tht would be what happens when I spilled my beloved Coke onto the keyboard whilst organiing my pictures. SOOO md at myself. LUCKILY Tyler purchased the tke-back-in-case-of-stupid-ccidents wrrntee, so I'll be doing that ASAP, on Wednesday instead of today. I just had to think about it today. Pretty lme, huh. Actully, this week I finished making some burp cloths for baby gifts, but I didn't take pictures of that. So, basiclly I was productive in making more work for myself. Good luck to all y'll on doing something REALLY productive.

OH, and I did tlk to my girlfriend Moana tonight. I am hoping I can see her this weekend when Erin and I take off to CA for Wicked. YES! I know she likes a good shout out, so HEY GIRL! Love ya and hope you feel better.

Why are boys so weird?

Okay, I'll admit it. I like boys. I even love many of them. But they're weird. Especially little ones. Today I met Tyler at Chili's for lunch and we were enjoying ourselves (and by that I mean we hadn't had to chase Brock all over the restaurant, nobody had spilled their drink, and had been able to have a discussion about Oprah [Tyler loved that part].) Brevin was eating his corndog minus the corn breading and being pretty self entertained when Tyler asked him what he was doing. He was kind of slumped down in his chair and from where I was sitting, across the table, it looked like he was looking at something on his stomach. Tyler says, "What are you doing? Is that food? Brevin, look at me and tell me the truth. Is that food? Did you put that there?" Brevin is NOT making any eye contact which is a dead giveaway for naughtiness. I asked what it was and Tyler said it looked like he had food smushed down in his belly button. I KNOW! HOW GROSS IS THAT???? So I think, surely it's built-up lint or something that Tyler is now trying to pick out with a spare fork. I'm sure the neighboring customers are about to puke up their baby back ribs and chicken crispers, but Tyler is serious about getting whatever it is out. Sure enough he pulls out a chunk of this stuff and wipes it on a napkin. Then we have to analyze it because Brevin is not giving us anything until Tyler threatens him with a timeout on his bed when we get home. FINALLY he confesses that it's the corndog breading. GROSS! Why would he do that? Not two minutes later he asked for a chip which he promptly smashed into miniscule pieces and then tried pinching up the chip crumbs to eat. I'm thinking, the girls just eat the whole chip! Lastly as we're walking out to the car Brevin refuses to put on his jacket, but since he's cold he puts it over his head. Of course he can't see and BOOM! runs into the door we're walking out of. WEIRD! I tell ya. Boys!

*As a total side note. I was going to post a picture of a belly button, but a belly button picture search turned up some weird stuff!

To-Do Tuesday #2

So it being Tuesday and all, I thought I'd post a picture of this big 'ol beauty. Another to-do checked off the list and it feels good (especially after a couple-hour snooze on the couch this afternoon.)

And here are some things you probably can't tell from the picture:

A) This board is used for the Northeast Region of CCSD for a pilot program of open enrollment in part of our district.

B) I stayed up until 5am this morning finishing this beaut!

C) The letters are all cut out (thanks to the Cricut) and backed in a different color (thanks to me!)

D) The pictures were all scanned, shrunk, and printed at about 9pm last night cuz I am all about the procrastination.

E) I've had this stuff for a week and schlepped most of it to St. George, but then I schlepped it back without touching it.

F) This to-do project took me 12 hours to finish since I was too nervous to do it anything but 100% for fear it would be "poopy."

G) MY favorite part is the little paper dolls dressed in Standard Student Attire

H) Doesn't this board make you want to take your kids to the 'hood (I-15 and Lake Mead?) cuz it's so stinkin' cute?

I) I literally sewed that shirt onto the board since I didn't have a stapler long enough to reach the middle of the honkin' board.

J) Tyler had to get the kids ready for school cuz I was completely useless this morning. Thanks Babe! He's pretty much the best.

*Hope your day was productive :) *

ScrapFest 2008

Alright, so for those of you who don't really know me, you may be wondering what exactly ScrapFest is and why I keep mentioning it. Well, a couple years ago some friends and I were talking about getting out of town to scrapbook. I figured why not invite a bunch of people, since the more is definitely the merrier, and voila! ScrapFest 2007 was created. My friend Shauna and I figured what we'd need to get a space and a few giveaways and with my super friend Chris' help we had more than enough to throw an awesome weekend of scrappin' and socializin' with some of the most awesome women EVER.

Of course, after a success like last year's and after figuring out a few kinks, I knew it had to be an annual thing. Plus, have I mentioned I like to organize things? Well, I do. I get a kick out of the details, I like to have a plan, I like to think about the plan, and then redo the plan. Basically it's a cathartic, busy process for me, but I totally enjoy it. This year we increased our numbers by 54 newbies. That's right, we had 76 of the most amazing women join us for ScrapFest '08. We do it in St. George so us Vegas gals can get a break and enjoy some different shopping, time away, etc. And this weekend is totally good for my soul. Really, the only pressure I have felt is to do all I can so other wonderful women can have a time to come and relax, enjoy others' company, and forget all their worries. It seems so unfair sometimes that we work so hard as women at being good moms, wives, sisters, friends, daughters, and/or professionals without any time to be indulgent and self-focused. I really feel stongly that ScrapFest should be a place where women (scrapping afficianatos or not) can come and work on something THEY want to work on and/or work on nothing at all. The bonus for me is being influenced and surrounded by so many neat women. That's another injustice, kinda. With life being so busy and heavy and crazy, we can't seem to find enough time just to sit and chat and be and feed each other's souls and hearts. I just really enjoyed the whole process from start to finish and I think it was a pretty good success.

The feedback has been good enough to plan on another ScrapFest (maybe 2) in 2009. I'm sure with baby #5 by then I will be ready to cut loose and paste some paper :) I just want to thank all the fab women who came and were able to take advantage of my vision. . . it really is so selfish on my part to enjoy the happiness of the ScrapFesters. It was so fun to have so many new people, but bittersweet to think of those who didn't make it this year. You really were missed!

And now, a little video. As with all real Scrappers, I didn't get any pictures of my fun table/roommates, so I want to give a huge shout out to Patty and Amy. Seriously, girls, your made the weekend a billion times better and I am SO glad you put up with me, my spaciness, late nights, and my incessant talking. You are a couple of THE best friends I have ever made and I am grateful for both of you.


SCRAPFEST 2008

Reporting for Duty!

I didn't get much of a chance to blog last week as I was prepping for this past weekend's SCRAPFEST, and tonight I am still decompressing from the good times. I'll post more info and details about it tomorrow (once I find my camera cord. Seriously, not to digress, but how can something so important just go missing? I imagine it didn't sprout legs and walk away; it being used for some tow cord in the toy room car bin is more likely, but searching for it has really frustrated me . . . and by searching I mean I have looked in the two places it normally is, so I'll be really getting a serious search on tomorrow.)


Anyway tonight I was at choir practice for The Savior of the World production our neighboring stake is putting on (in April) and a guy came in to tell us President Hinckley had passed away about an hour before.

At first I was a little put off by the abrupt way the guy told us, not that he was rude or anything, it was just a shocking little bombshell. There was an audible gasp of surprise. Although within a moment I was overcome by emotion as the Spirit reassured me that it was a good thing and that the feeling of loss was a reflection to all the guidance and leadership that President Hinckley has contributed to my life. To believe in modern prophets of God is a blessing in my life and I know I have been lead to good things by listening to his counsel. Go figure, right?! What a beautiful thing to know and believe in a gospel plan that prepares us for life AND death AND the ever-after. And how can I be truly sad when I belive that President Hinckley and his darling wife are reunited?
For more information on President Hinckley this article gives a recap of his life and contributions to our church and the millions in the world (not just to those who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) who have been affected by his world-wide leadership and service. What a great thing to have lived at the same time where he led and guided!