The "fun" parent

My girls love their daddy so much. He is the "fun" parent. Here is just a little view of how the girls attack their daddy when he gets home from work.

I think this is a little grainy because I was using my zoom. Obviously I was zoomed a little much. :D

I also wanted to post this video so you could see how all pulls herself up on things. She LOVES to stand. She can't crawl, but she can pull herself up to her knees, sometimes her feet. Oh, how she is growing!

Finding Joy in the Journey

Saturday morning I had the opportunity to go the my stake's enrichment meeting. They do one a year, so I try and make the effort to be there. I am REALLY glad I went. It was very uplifting, and gave me quite a few things to think of. The theme was "Finding Joy in the Journey" adapted from President Monson's talk. I think this talk hit home for many women. I believe the Lord truly was speaking through him to the women of the church. Anyway, at the enrichment we had a few speakers who talked on different aspects of Joy in Your Journey. One was about ministring of angels, one was about joy in trials, etc. Here are a few thougths a picked up from this conference:

President Hatch
No one but Heavenly Father knows our thoughts and what is in our hearts

Amy Allen
remember and rejoice
look for blessings among the thorns
Cast your burdens on the Lord
the knows how to help us, and he knows what will comfort and succor us best

Alyce Young
help can come from beyond the veil
you are someone's angel

Joy Sorenson
read your patriarchal blessing for personal revelation
personal revelation can come through music

President Christensen
the Lord does not want our journey to be overwhelming
stop and be still to feel the Holy Ghost and enjoy the Joy in the Journey

After the conference they had a nice little luncheon. I enjoyed talking to some of the other sisters in my ward. We also received a little plaque with vinyl lettering on it that said "In all of living have much of fun and laughter. Life is to enjoyed, not just endured"

This life is such a wonderful gift the Lord has given us. I hope I can enjoy life more, and not just endure it.

This is what we are dealing with...

You can't tell from my dark picture, but all that red is a rash! Allie has what the doctor called dermatitis. Apparently through the combination of leftover food on her face mixed with dry skin you get dermatitis. The solution? Wash her face more often and spread some cream on it. Please don't think I don't wash her face, because I do...a lot. I guess it is from food residue that this is happening.

But that isn't the only reason she is crying! Wonderful sister Lily passed on a HORRIBLE head cold to her. Well, she passed it to all of us, but it is always worse for babies. She sounds awful! She can breathe just fine, but it sounds like she has stuff moving around up there. Hope that didn't just gross anyone out.

You would think that is enough, but no! She has as the doctor termed yet again,"The worst ear infection he has seen!" Goodness! I am so glad I took her in for the face thing. I was worried about it but not the cold.

The good news is that her fever from the ear infection broke this morning (before I took her to the doctors). They gave her a z-pack for her medicine. Those things are heaven sent! She should be done with the medicine in three days. Gotta love that! Oh, and she is resting in her bed for the first time in two days. Before today she either had to been in our arms or snuggled up next to me in our bed.

Random bits of info

Two weeks ago I told anyone who lives in my area to go try the Thai House restaurant. I mistakenly said it was Park St. It is actually on Shoup. I get those two mixed up all the time! However, if you are looking for a good Chinese restaurant then you should go to Park St. and try out Happy's. Yum!

Some of you asked when we were moving. I can't believe I forgot that "tiny" detail! Russ should be begin work March 30th. I say should because it is still a loose date. It really depends on how fast he can get his thesis revised after defense. We are currently planning on moving done to Texas some time right before then. That could change though. We have still got to fly down there and find an apartment. Hopefully, we will be able to find one that fits our time scale. I DON'T want to send Russ down there ahead of us.

I had a few more random bits of info, but I've forgotten them. Oh well! :)

Change is in the future...

I've known for awhile that we probably woudln't be staying here in Idaho. Russ just had begun to say that INL might not be a good fit for him. We had decided early on in Russell's career searching, that we would try and stay in the west. Russ has drawn nearer, and nearer to being done with his thesis without any job offers. We began to expand the region of where we put applications in for. Some of those applications were put in as far away as Maryland! Wow, so far!

I kept a positive attitude that things would work out the way they were supposed to. I think things have. The day after Russ got home from his Texas interview (Wednesday) the HR person called and got some more information from him. These were concerning his application. The HR guy said that he would hopefully get back to him that day. We waited all day, and nothing. Thursday we heard nothing. Friday morning we once again received a wake up call except this time it was 6:00! This HR guy really needs to remember time differences!

Russ got up and took the call. I rolled over and tried to go to bed. Then I realized who it was and came out to listen to the one ended conversation. After Russ got off the phone, I heard the sweet words,"We have a job!"

Sure enough, we are moving to Texas. Bay City/Lake Jackson to be exact. This job really excites Russell. He will be working for a utility company doing probabilistic risk assessment for two new nuclear reactors. Basically he makes sure the reactors will be safe once they are built :) The news that really made me happy about the job is that the company will be moving us! The will have a moving company pack us, move all our junk, and then drop it off at our new location.

We are excited about the change coming. I am a little nervous though. I hope being so far away from my family will work out. I try to think of the positive, and honestly I think the positive outweighs the bad.

Happy blogaversary to me!

Exactly one year ago I started my blog. Boy I had NO idea what I was getting myself into. When I started my blog I was a little blue from my pregnancy with Allie. Two of my friends talked about how they were "addicted" to blogging. I just wanted to fit in at that time (that is always how I feel when I am blue) so I decided to start my own. Even though my reason for starting a blog was pathetic I am so grateful that I started one! It is really a great tool for me in my scrapping. It helps me get out some much needed emotions. Also, I have connected with many friends through the blogging world. That is exactly what I needed!

To celebrate my blogaversary I took on a challenge from Elena. It was to be interviewed. I realize now after getting Elena's interview questions just exactly how boring I am. Oh well, this is fun and different, so I am going to do it! Yeah for me!

1. Are you where you envisioned you would be 10-15 years ago?
10 -15 years ago I was in high school. At the time I wanted to have a family and be teacher, preferably a seminary teacher. In college, I got the hope of being a seminary teacher dashed by an egotistical counselor. He said a woman would never be a seminary teacher. I took what he said to heart and continued on in Elementary Education. I don't regret it at all. I loved all the children I was able to teach. I don't teach anymore but that is okay because I living my other dream. To be a wife and a mother. When I made these dreams back in high school there were some differences. Essentially YES I am where I thought I would be, but NO not exactly where I thought I would be.

2. What is the greatest vacation you have ever been on?
Sadly enough I have been on very few vacations. They just weren't affordable for my family. Now that I am married we are in the same predicament. However, there is one vacation that sticks out in my mind. My senior year in high school, my choir group had the opportunity to go to Washington DC. This was an expensive trip weighing in at almost $1000 dollars. That didn't include food, souvenirs, and some travel either! At the time I had was working a part time job. I am so proud of myself that I paid for 90% of that trip all by myself. My parents gave me some money for the three things not included. Going there was such a fun experience. We were really rushed to see everything that we did. Between choir rehearsels, and the actual performance we didn't have much time for site-seeing. What we did see had a great affect on me. I really learned to appreciate my country, past leaders of the country, and the people who came before me. Someday Russ has promised to take me back there when I won't be quite so rushed!

3. What is one of your talents?
This is going to seem like an odd talent but I have the talent to listen. I enjoy listening to others. Sometimes this gets me a bad wrap because people think I am stuck up when I don't talk. Honestly though, they are talking and I don't want to interupt them to add my two cents. However, most the time people tell me they don't understand why they just spill everything to me. I figure most the time it is because I was in the right place at the right time.

4. How long do you hope to live?
I would like to live long enough to see my kids have kids. Not neccessarily so I can have grandkids, but so that my children will have the same happiness I do from having a family.

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?
I LOVE fast food. Particularly, mozzarella sticks and onion rings. Most Thursdays after story time I will go order mozz sticks, onion rings, and a Dr Pepper for lunch. Then come home and split it with Lily. I have vowed to stop doing that though. Hmmm....probably won't happen! :)

Now I would love to interview you and you and you. So here is what you do. Come on now, don't be shy. I will be nice I promise. It is a great way to get to know you. Besides its great way to have something to blog about when you're in a rut.

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me." (Pssst! Don't forget to leave an e-mail address if I don't have one!)
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.So come on, let the good times roll!!

What a weekend

Last week Russ heard from STP on a job. They interviewed him over the phone. Later that day, the HR person called him and said that the company would like to do a second interview with him. This would consist of them flying him down to Bay City, Texas. Russ of course said he would love to come down for that interview. After talking to a the scheduling lady, she came to the conclusion that Russ needed to fly out of SLC. Our airport was just too hard to work with.

Russ came home that night (Thursday) and we discussed a few things about the trip. In the end we decided that the kids and I would go down to Utah with him. Who wants to be stuck at home for three days without a car?! Not me! We also decided it might be a good time to spend some time with my family. Friday night we packed up the car so that Saturday morning we could wake up and head out. Things actually went according to plans.

We had a great time at my house. My parents got to spend some time with the kids which ALWAYS thrills them. Lily got to spend time with her cousin Tyler which thrills her. I decided to take a long break from everything! I've felt a little overwhelmed with all the things I have taken on. I think I need to reevaluate some of my priorities. Anyway, I spent most of the weekend reading or talking to various family members. Oh don't worry, I took care of my kids too. :)

On Monday it was snowing pretty heavily so my BIL took Russ down to the airport. I am so glad that I didn't have to worry about driving Parley's by myself, in a snowstorm, with to bawling kids. About 8:30 Utah time Russ got into Houston. He then had to drive 2 hrs to Bay City. It was 11:00 by the time he got there. Car rental, and getting a little lost took some time. He told me later that he didn't go to sleep until about 1:00 because he had to try and iron his suit. Which proved to be useless because the humidity there ironed it for him before he got the iron warmed up! I laughed at that :D

Tuesday Russ got up and was at his interview at 6:30 our time. Yikes! He really didn't get much sleep. Poor fellow! He finished his interview around 1:00, drove the 2 hrs back to Houston, and arrived back in Utah around 9:00 that night. Him and dad (he picked him up because my kids wouldn't go to sleep) got home around 9:45. He was exhausted and wanted to go to bed, but I begged him to tell me what had happened.

Wednesday morning at 6:30 Russ gets a call from the HR guy. Apparently he forgot there was a time difference! He asked for a few clarifications on Russ's application and then told him he would get back with him soon. Once again we are playing the waiting game. Russ would be really happy if he got this job. We drove home yesterday. This past weekend was such a blur! I hope there aren't too many more like it.

Formal Kit

Nicole at Digi Designs by Nicole has a fabulous kit out this week! It is called Formal. It is all black and white! Great for weddings, blessings, funerals, proms, etc! You can use this for soooooo many different things. Don't forget to go pick this one up!

Here is my layout! I am going to make another page to go next to this, that will have her blessing on it. I just don't have the blessing all written out yet, so I didn't publish it. Hope this gives you some ideas!

Paper Preview

Beautiful Life

Isn't life beautiful?! I sure think it is! Amber at Stolen Moments came up with a kit called Beautiful Life. What an amazing kit! Amber is really putting some hard work into these kits! This kit once again will be released to her Digital Candy Store Feb 8th. Go check it out. She also will be giving away for FREE a little add-on for this kit at her blog. Make sure and leave her a fun comment!

My take on "Beautiful Life"

Full kit preview

In Russ's Words

Russ sent this to his family today. I thought it would be good to post.

Hey everybody,

I thought that I would update all of you on my thesis. Last week I
submitted my thesis to my committee chairman for review. Today I got
the following message:

"OK Russell, you're done. I have a substantial number of comments on
this last draft, but they are all editorial and you can can clean up
all of them in less than an hour. You can pick up my marked-up draft
mid-morning tomorrow.

You're ready for defense, the sweetest words a grad student can ever
hear from their advisor.

In the end, I think you've produced a very nice thesis. Your roadmap
comments are extraordinary.

Congratulations

Michael "

I am very excited, the end is very near. I will have my thesis out to
my committee by the end of tomorrow. I am planning on having my
thesis defense in mid/end of February.

Sincerely,

Russell

P.S. I am still looking for a job. I have not had really any luck.
But I do think I will have at least one interview with STP in southern
Texas.

Russ sent this to me around noon. At two he called and told me that he had just had
an interview with STP! He felt it went well. Then around 4:00 today he called and
told me that he had a second interview for this place! He will be setting up flight
plans and stuff soon! Hopefully things go well!

Try-It-Tuesday

I've got a very yummy recipe for you today! I am not sure where I got it from again. Eek! I really need to start writing that down. But this one was a hit with both my hubby and Lily. She likes all noodles ;) Oh, and if you live in my neck of the woods you should try a little place called the Thai House if you want some REALLY good Thai food. It's on Park Street.

Thai Peanut Pasta

Ingredients:

Linguini (I used a pkg, which was a too much)
1 lb. cooked and cubed chicken
1 can pinapple chunks drained
Handful of snow peas

Sauce: (serves 2) (I doubled this, which made 4-5 bowlfuls of food when mixed with the noodles)
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 Tbsp. peanut butter
2 Tbsp. lime juice
2 garlic clove, minced or chopped.
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1/2 tsp. crushed red peppers

Directions:
Cook pasta and drain. Add chicken, pineapple, snow peas and sauce to noodles (or add it all to the sauce and serve on top of the pasta).
Sauce: Saute garlic, add chicken broth and PB until PB melts then add other ingredients.

***Russ made a really good suggestion. He suggested next time I make it to use crunchy peanut butter. I think that is a great idea because you usually get whole peanuts in your food when you order this at a restaurant!***

Running on Empty

My wonderful daughter Allie has a problem. She doesn't want to go to bed until about 2:00 in the morning. We put her to sleep at her bedtime of 8:00 because she is getting tipsy from tiredness. About an hour later she is up and awake. We (or should I say Russ) puts her back to sleep. Another hour goes by and she is up again. Again Russ puts her back to bed. Another hour she is up, then I go put her to bed. Repeat that again. By the time she wakes up AGAIN I've had it and just let her cry herself to sleep. Sometimes it works, most time it doesn't. Usually around two she will give up and just fall asleep, whether that is in her bed, our arms, or our bed, you never know.

On top of this you must add in Lily. She is afraid of EVERYTHING right now. So when she wakes up in the night, she has a hard time rolling over and going to sleep. Last night it was monsters breaking the chair, and the heater. Who knows what it will be tonight. You know when these "awakenings" typically happen? AFTER 2:00! Just when we thought we could get some sleep with Allie going to bed we realize we were delusional. Russ is wonderful and takes care of most of Lily's cryings. I think mainly because I don't hear here in my sleep. I am too exhausted by this point. I've been up straight till 2:00. Russ has been getting brief "naps" since 11:00.

For the past two weeks I've felt like I have been walking around asleep. I am probably getting about 6 hours of sleep at best. I am one of those people who don't survive without at least 8 hours of sleep. I get physically sick when I don't get enough sleep. Which leads me to the fact that my back is acting up again, and I feel like I am going to throw up all the time. And just in case you are wondering the answer is NO, I am NOT pregnant. Just running on empty.