Reading to Bailey at bedtime is one of my favorite times of the day. We cuddle up in her bed, she actually is lays still for an extended period of time and we read several books. Lately our favorite book has been Just Like You by Jan Fearnley.
Just Like You is the perfect bed time story. It has beautiful illustrations and a sweet message of how much parents love their children and will do anything for them. It is a definate must have in your book collection.
I am always on the look out for a good book, especially a good bedtime book. So, what is your favorite bed time book? One that your kids want you to read over and over again. I would love to hear about it.

Happy reunion

Last night I went out to dinner with two of my old roommates from Ricks Rachel (Turley) Hanchet and Shannon (Mitchel) Arthur. We were roommates our freshman year and Rachel and I hadn't seen Shannon since about then. We went to dinner and visited for a few hours.
It was so fun to find out that Shannon is married to a great guy and has traveled all over the world (so jealous!!!) She told us about her trips to Bosnia and China, and we told her about our girls storming in on us while going to the bathroom and all the funny things they say.

We also spent sometime remembering all the ridiculous things we did as freshmen, like painting our faces and storming guys apartments, tricks we played on roommates and all the guys we (mostly Shannon) dated.
Thanks Shannon for taking time out of your fun spa weekend to go to dinner with us!
(I will post pictures of the three of us after Rachel or Shannon send me one. HINT! HINT!)

I am in LOVE!!!

There are two things that I am really in love with today! The first is my husband and the second is the vacuum he bought me for our 5th anniversary. I know a vacuum isn't the most romantic gift but I am seriously the happiest girl! Scott got me a Dyson vacuum and I have already vacuumed my house twice today.
I have been coveting a Dyson for quite some time now but I am too cheap to go buy one, but after using it today I don't know how my life was ever complete without it. It works so well that I think it was sucking up the dirt under my house and up through the carpet.
It also comes with a million attachments so I clean EVERYTHING in my house. It even comes with a car upholstery attachment, how cool is that!
So if you don't have a Dyson, go out right now and get one, seriously! Or if you just can't get one today I will come over and vacuum your house with mine so I can have another excuse to use it!

Happy Birthday & Thankful Thursday (a little early)

Today is my moms birthday and I wanted to brag about her a little. I am so thankful for my mom. She is such an amazing, talented and loving person. She has taught me so much through out my life and has helped me become the person I am.

I have learned so much from her. She has taught me skills like cooking, sewing, cleaning and most important patience, all of which have helped me in my role as a mom.

My mom is also SOOOOOOOO talented. I seriously don't think there is anything that she can't do. She is always getting calls from people in the community and the church asking her to help them teach a class or organize an event because they know if Marcia does it, it will be done right.

My mom is also so stinkin' smart!!!! I have to brag because recently she got excepted to Harvard to get a masters degree. She worked so hard to get ready for it including teaching herself math from about a 5th grade level up to college level. How many mormon grandmas get excepted to Harvard! I am so proud of her and will miss her so much while she is in Boston. But I am excited because now I have another excuse to go to one of my favorite cities.

My mom is also a woman of conviction and will stand up for and defend, with everything she has, whatever cause is important to her. She is part of an organization called United Families International and has spent weeks at United Nations around the world, thousands of hours writing books and has shed many tears trying to make this world a safe place for children and defend the rights of families and parents.

Mom, I love you so much and I am so proud to have you as a mother. You are my example and my friend and I am so grateful to have you so close to me and my family Happy Birthday!!!

Three Little Pigs

Tonight I read the Three Little Pigs to Bailey before bed and this is our conversation afterwards:

Bailey- Is our house made of twigs?

Me- No, it is made of bricks.

Bailey- Are you sure?

Me- Yes, our house is made of bricks and wood and is nice and safe.

Bailey- Will it keep out the wind, rain and snow?

Me- Yes, it will even keep out a big bad wolf.

Bailey- Will it keep out invading soldiers?

Me- WHAT??????

Thankful Thursday

When I am pregnant I get REALLY chapped lips, pretty gross. I have tried everything to make them feel better. I have bought all sorts of expensive chapsticks and lip balm to no avail.

One day when I was pregnant with Claire I had a bad case of chapped lips and was stranded without anything to put on them. I was digging through my purse looking for something to put on my lips when I found Baileys lotion. In an act of desperation I put this miracle ointment on my lips and they were never the same again!

This stuff is great for chapped lips! I have a cold right now and this stuff is doing wonders on my chapped lips. It doesn't wear off as quickly as other chapsticks and it doesn't taste or smell like anything, which I love. I am sooo thankful for aquaphor oinment by Eucerin.

Oh and it is really good on dry skin too!

(P.S. I am not pregnant!)

(P.S.S. Thanks Heather and Becky for making the lovely picture of the lotion happen, I couldn't have done it without you!)

She is definately mine

Bailey loves to soak her feet in the sink. She purposely finds ways to get her feet dirty just so she can wash them in the sink, which is a big thing because she use to HATE to get her feet dirty.

While I was in college I use to love to soak my feet in the sink. There is no quicker way to warm up after walking home from school in the snow, than soaking your feet in hot water. So Bailey definitely is my daughter, she know the little luxuries in life.

Confession of a lazy mommy

I admit that I am a lazy mommy sometimes. There times when I allow Bailey to watch WAY to much tv. It is so easy to sit her in front of the tv when I am trying to get things done so I don't have her following behind undoing what I just did.

Well a few weeks ago I decided to stop the destructive cycle and wean her, and my self, from letting her watch too much tv. It was hard at first, my house was an absolute disaster because if she isn't watching tv she is making a mess, but we finally did it! Bailey is weaned from tv!
There are even times when I turn it on and she turns it off and tells me it is a no tv day.

I think we are happier because of it to. I have noticed when she watches tv she gets moody, grumpy, and I can't get her to do anything. Now she is a lot happier and asks to go outside and play in her room by herself! Yippee! Why didn't I get her weaned before now?

HELP!!!!

OK-I think I am the only person with a blog that has no freakin' (that's for you Lauren) clue how to get pictures off the internet to put it on my blog. I read peoples blogs and they have all these pictures that are just perfect for what they are writing about and I am so sad that I don't know how.
Is there a kind soul out there that will help this computer rockie? PLEASE!

For Grandpa and Grandma

Bailey helping mom make jam and doing a little taste testing. We maded four batches this weekend. We are now stocked up with strawberry jam and can't wait to get to Idaho to make raspberry jam!

Look at that happy belly full of icecream.

Little Tape Recorders

Have you ever wondered what you say through a day, well ask a three year old because they can tell you EVERYTHING you said! I have been noticing lately that Bailey is my little mimic. She is always saying things that I say. Whatever pet name I call Claire, that is what Bailey will call her. It is a little scary and definately keeps me aware of what I am saying to make sure it isn't something I don't want her to repeat.
Last night my mom was on the phone making flight reservations and she was reading the confirmation number out loud to my dad. Bailey who was in the other room playing, starts repeating all the letters my mom is saying. When the confirmation number was done Bailey looks at Scott, quite pleased with herself, and says www.com as if that is how you always end a series of letters.

Oh and Claire now says "BUDD-Y" like the guy on Encino man with the curly hair and thinks cows roar like lions. Where do they learn this stuff?!?

Thankful Thursday

As I write this I am sitting at Scott's office so I decided today I am thankful for Scott's work. We are SOOOO blessed that Scott has the job he has. He works as a commercial real estate appraiser.
It is a great job! He has a lot of flexibility, has a fabulous boss and the best thing is he works about 1 mile from home. He is able to come home for lunch everyday and comes running home when I am in tears because Claire drank a bottle of Tylenol or Bailey is having another one of her bloody noses that last for hours.
Everyday we are so grateful for the situation we are in and for all the opportunities we have. We are truly blessed!