Easter 2009

Easter was great this year. We painted Easter eggs, for the first time ever, and then sprinkled them with glitter. I'm a good mom and it was a painless 10 minutes. The girls had cute Children's Place outfits, last minute and on sale--perfect. I wish I had a picture of me with them because my dress was purple with white polka dots--oh we were festive. We had a lovely Easter dinner of french toast and scrambled eggs at 11 am due to 2-5 church. Natalie hasn't stopped watching Barbie Thumbelina since Easter. Good times to remember.

Have you guys been reading this blog http://www.2cleverblog.com/2cleverblog/? I love love love it. The girls are cute, down-to-earth and have fabulous ideas. The best so far has been for picnik.com, a photo editing site. Um, so glad I didn't break down and buy and try to learn Adobe photoshop. This site is free, easy, and so fun. The picture above was just me playing around. And yes, my girls have Christmas dresses with Santa fur on them. And yes, I love them. And yes, when I was 18 and knew everything I swore I would never have Christmas dresses with Santa fur or inflatables in my yard or drive a minivan. Having kids changes EVERYTHING--don't judge.

Laney's First Christmas

I love this girl so much I can't tell you. She is a joy and the best part of my days. She will be four months on Friday. She sleeps good, eats good, is so happy all the time, and talks loud enough that we can hear her over her sisters.

No Brag, Just Fact

To make yourself want to blog, just buy something that is so cute you have to share it with the world.

So I present to you, my entire 2008 Christmas Decorating Budget, Family Stockings! I felt fine about buying these cause I don't think I will ever need another to match. Hallelujah. I think they are so cute--Brent is worried about Santa being able to afford to fill them.

And don't mind my pictures. I cannot figure posting out. The other super cute picture is one of my new favorite things in my house. It is a vinyl decal ordered from http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5561900

Studio JK Vinyl. I also cannot figure out how to do the highlighted word "Here". I need a tutorial. I highly recommend her etsy shop--tons of cute, inventive vinyl (no "Home is where your story begins"), she ships quickly, and it was fairly easy to install.

**this post is a layout nightmare. stick with me, and enlarge the pictures. they are lots cuter bigger.

Trunk or Treat

I'm glad we celebrated last week. Hailey is a vampire and Nattie is Cinderella--just ask her.

On My Mind

On my mind today, besides the mountain of throwing away, putting away, and organizing what is my new and improved house, are mascara and shower curtains.


I am going to buy the Estee Lauder mascara with the vibrating brush. My eyelashes, or lack thereof, need help. The brush micropulses 125 times a second. Isn't technology amazing?

Please excuse the huge picture. I cannot figure posting pictures out. And I'll let you know how I like it.

I also need two shower curtains. I cannot find any anywhere. I like shower curtains. I keep them closed at all times and I like them for decorating bathrooms. I can't buy rugs or towels until I find one I like. How hard can it be to find something pink or purple or "blue sparkly" (Natalie's request)? Can I ask the universe questions like this? I need someone to send me a link to the perfect shower curtain. I know it is out there somewhere.

Baby Lamey

I have so many things I need to say about my beautiful new baby Laney that I figured I would post them here, just so they get written down. I love her so much. The bonding has been easy and instantaneous. It is like she knows how much I love her and am ready to take care of her every need. She is a joy. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to grow her, bear her, and feed her. These are responsibilities I do not take lightly. What a wonderful blessing Heavenly Father has given me to be a mother.

Natalie calls her Baby Lamey--never baby or Laney, always baby Lamey. And she can say N's, but I think the N and the L together are too hard. Natalie is so cute with Laney. We were worried that she would struggle with less attention, but she has been the cutest big sister. She loves to hold the baby and help me get diapers, wipes, and desitin. She stands next to me on a stool watching Laney's bath so intently. With Hailey now in kindergarten, it is a new dynamic during the day, but I love being with these two sweet girls so much. Natalie has decided now, at 2 1/2 that a binkie might not be such a bad thing after all. Laney loves hers, but only the avent brand.

Hailey is a fabulous big sister and a wonderful daughter, as always. She has had some big changes in the last few weeks, with no home, no toys, a new school, a new schedule, a new house, and a new sister. I think she is doing good. She loves school and wakes up with her new princess alarm clock at 7 every morning by herself. She then proceeds to get her uniform on and brush her hair and make her bed before she comes to get me. We have struggled getting her to eat her whole breakfast cause she keeps getting "distracted", as she puts it. I am so grateful for Hailey at this time, especially cause she is such a good big sister to Natalie. I also love her enthusiasm for life. She reminds me of a younger me.

My mom was able to come for two whole weeks when Laney was born, which was such a blessing, especially because it was only two weeks before that that she came down for two weeks to help me take care of the kids in the wake of the house disaster. Both Brent and I are so grateful for her sacrifice of time and money and also for my dad's sacrifice of staying home alone for our benefit. Natalie and Nana really bonded because they spent so much time alone together while Hailey was at school and we were still at the hospital. She took Nattie to get a new haircut (so cute!) and kept my house clean and as organized as it was going to get seeing as how nothing is put away. She also helped me choose paint colors, carpet, and tile for the new house and took me shopping for some new clothes. I am so grateful she is my best friend and that my girls get to spend time with her and get to love her as I do.

Today while I was bathing Laney, I had this very strong impression that the house disaster was really one of God's tender mercies for our family. I don't know how or why now, but I am sure in time I will. I am so grateful for the immense outpouring of love and support that so many family members and friends have shown us. I am really trying to learn how to be more generous and how to ease other's burdens as mine have been so many times recently.

So today Laney is 2 weeks and 2 days old. Heaven forbid this post get done on her actual 2 week birthday. I am so grateful for her and for my other girls. Most people shake their head at the thought of three girls in five years, but I am so excited. I have my dream husband and my dream family.

--Laney had her first bath when her cord fell off, at one week and three days. She loves the bath, but not the getting out.

--She lost more than 10% of her birth weight in the hospital, but was back to 7 lbs. 5 ozs. at her one week checkup.

--She just woke up last Monday. She slept straight for almost two weeks. Except waking up every three hours on the dot to eat.

--She is a good eater. Much better than Hailey or Natalie ever were. Or maybe I'm just a better nurser. Somehow I don't think so.

--She looks like me. My nose and mouth. My other girls looked so much like Brent. It is easy to tell when looking at baby pictures who she is.

--I love the name Laney. We didn't decide until a few hours after she was born. Brent started calling people telling them that was probably the name. Well, we stuck with it and I love it more each day. It just fits her.

--She is screaming right now as I try to record all these precious memories, so I am done. Off to lunch with Nattie and Laney. Nattie has been begging to "go to lunch." So, off to find a drive thru!

me.

Before there was blog stalking...

Okay, big surprise but I admit I'm a blog stalker. I love it. I love to find people I know well and catch up or get a glimpse into someone I am only acquainted with. And I even love to read random strangers' blogs (friend of a friend of a friend.) I mostly love when I happen on home decorating pictures, recommendations for great new cleaning products and make-up, and house and home wares from Target and K-mart I haven't discovered yet. I am not the creepy, "I want to see pictures of kids I don't know" lurkers.

I know I should insert graphic (here) but that just seems like too much work.

In my defense, I have been a stalker from way back. It is my naturally curious personality. I like to know people's names and where they live and their children's ages and who their friends are. I like to know where they are going on vacation and their church calling and how their brothers and sisters are doing. Nosy? Maybe, but I swear it stems from my deep-seated caring side.

Anyhow, before I could stalk blogs, I stalked gift registries.
I love looking at what brides are choosing for their colors and how new moms are decorating nurseries. I look up registries of those I know and have a reason to be looking. And shocker, I have been known to search for people I think may just be in there somewhere. Don't you wish you had thought of this sooner? It combines a love of shopping and people information. It's better than blog stalking.

My Oldest Daughter is 5 Today

Hailey is 5 today! I can't believe how fast the time has gone. Really, how did I get a 5 year old?

Well, I am so glad I do. Hailey is smart, funny, and such a good girl. Brent and I have such incredibly high expectations of her and she delivers. She loves preschool, riding her bike, playing at the park, shopping, and eating out. She loves her uncle Brett, her grandparents, her aunts and uncles, her cousins, and her sister Natalie (in that order). Hailey was the only sunbeam in our ward who knew all of the primary program songs last November. The other morning I came upstairs to find Hailey and she was laying in bed with her Book of Mormon. I asked her what she was doing and she told me she was "practicing for tonight." We recently have had her start following along by looking at the numbers and she wanted to be ready. To commemorate this special day, I am going to post my memories of all of Hailey's birthdays.

When Hailey turned one, Brent was out of town at a job interview and my mom was in town. We bought cupcakes and balloons at the Herriman Smith's and took pictures as she ate her first cake. She liked it. Earlier that day, Great Grandma Marge threw a surprise birthday party for Hailey at her house. The weekend following her birthday, we invited Nana, Brett, Mark and Tarah, and Aaron over to watch football, have a baked potato bar, and celebrate Hailey's birthday.Hailey turned 2 days after we had moved into our new house on Recker Road in Mesa. So, we celebrated in the midst of unpacking and renovations. We had no family in town so Hailey received all of her gifts in the mail. I did take her to Basha's to pick out her own cake and instead of the beautiful pink, purple, and red cakes, she chose this ugly green cake! At least it was chocolate.

When Hailey turned 3, our camera flash wasn't working! We celebrated Hailey's 3rd birthday at Chuck E. Cheese with our good friends, the Ray's. However, the dads didn't want pizza from Chuck E. Cheese so we just bought the tokens, let the kids play for 30 minutes, then left to have dinner at Barro's! So much yummier and Hailey didn't know the difference. I also took her to the party store to pick out her own balloon bouquet and once again, amidst the beautiful Tink, princess, mermaid, and Dora balloons, Hailey chose a green, orange, and brown Nemo bouquet. It nearly killed me.

Hailey's 4th birthday was so much fun! Nana and Grandpa actually flew to the Wickenburg airport to come celebrate with us! We had lunch at Olive Garden, took Hailey back to Chuck E. Cheese (most definitely the last time and the last child we will ever do that for), and had chocolate cupcakes with pink frosting and sprinkles per Hailey's request.

And today, for the big 5, we traversed to Sam's Club at 7:30 a.m. for Hello Kitty cupcakes to take to preschool. After school, we went to Fry's for a balloon and the sucker at the checkout stand Hailey always asks for that I always tell her no. Then, she chose a Happy Meal for lunch. Tonight, she has requested macaroni and cheese. (I was hoping for Chili's--no luck!). Nana and Grandpa are coming down again this weekend to celebrate and Hailey is having her first birthday party with friends next Monday--Strawberry Shortcake theme.

I love Hailey so much and can't imagine my life without her. Happy Birthday SIS!

28 Going on OLD

Today I am 28. In honor of starting my blog, the new year, and my birthday, here are 28 things I think you should know.

1. I have been married to my best friend Brent for 7 1/2 years. It has been fun and challenging. I recommend marriage.

2. My oldest daughter Hailey is going to be 5 on January 14. When she was born she looked exactly like Brent. Now, after spending five years straight with me, she is my dead ringer. I think she is pretty and very smart.

3. My youngest daughter Natalie will be 2 on March 9. I had her by planned C-Section (which is THE way to have a baby) and she was the perfect child until she was 5 months. It has been a struggle since then but I always say difficult children make amazing adults.

4. I LOVE drive-thrus. Hence, the name of my blog. They are easy, convenient, and gratifying. Just like life should be. My favorite drive-thru of all time is the Crest in Provo on 9th East. My current favorite drive-thru is the Sonic on Litchfield and Waddell.

5. Yesterday I played Mexican Train dominoes in the middle of the day. Although I had nothing else planned or pressing, I still felt guilty.

6. I love to shop. That is what I would always rather be doing. I love errands and pleasure shopping equally. I love all stores, seriously. K-Mart, convenience stores, Pier 1, Payless, I love them all.

7. My favorite convenience store is off I-84 on the way to Boise. It is called the Garden of Eden. There is nothing like a clean, well-lit, well-stocked convenience store. They thrill me.

8. I feel like I haven't conveyed my love of all things retail. Let me reiterate. I LOVE to shop and I LOVE to browse and I LOVE all stores. Except petsmart.

9. I love high-speed internet and dvr. I could do without cell phones.

10. I have 2 brothers and 1 sister. They are 7 years behind me in life even though we were all born in the space of 6 years. We have good relationships.

11. I am all about expressing my opinion and you expressing yours. By all means, do what you want but I will tell you what I think you should do. And my way will probably be your best option.

12. My favorite teenage memories involve fires I set.

13. Our family doesn't travel often enough. Even though my definition of travelling would include the beach for a weekend as it is only 5 hours away. This is something I hope to rectify in 2008.

14. We live by NO family and haven't since we moved to Arizona. While this makes me sad, I think it has been really important for our marriage. I wish there was something between nothing and 11 day visits.

15. I got my bachelor's degree in English from BYU in 2001. No teaching certificate. I wish I had majored in something math related, maybe accounting?

16. My husband works for the City of Mesa as a lobbyist. He loves it and I love having a husband who loves what he does.

17. I am the activities committee chairman in our ward and just got released from teaching sunbeams. Any good activity suggestions?

18. My favorite music right now is Easy Listening Sirius channel. I love Barry, the Carpenters, and all light rock. I was weaned on FM 100.

19. I can't narrow down my favorite food, but right now I really want a 7-11 chocolate chocolate donut. Good thing I don't live in Utah.

20. My next major purchase will be furniture, really good furniture. I am sick of my Ashley couches that were the cheapest thing we could find. And I'm hoping this new furniture happens soon.

21. My best friend besides Brent is my mom. We talk daily and about everything. She works as a biller for a plastic surgeon and gets freebies. I need her job.

22. I feel kind of silly for starting a blog, but I feel like I need a creative outlet and it makes me miss my friends so much. I want them to miss me, too!

23. I think being a mom of little kids is incredibly hard work. I haven't found one day of it to be easy. But I like it and I think I'm a good mom.

24. I watch what I consider to be a lot of tv (thanks to dvr). But considerably less now that there is nothing on. My all-time favorite show is 24. I was a fan from the beginning. Season 1 started during my last semester of college when I had a Bible as Lit class on Tuesdays that didn't end until 8:30. I seriously left at quarter to 7 for the whole semester. I got a C.

25. I don't know what my house decor style is. I love everything. I love all colors, and all types of furniture. I used to think I was Tuscan, but now I think I'm contemporary casual. Does that even exist?

26. I ordered my own birthday cake to be picked up at Fry's today. It is chocolate cake with chocolate filling and white whipped frosting. It has red borders and big yellow flowers and confetti. I might share it with my family. I really wanted the Costco cake, but I think 1/8 of a cake will be plenty.

27. My first memory of Ashley (my blogging inspiration--see list to the right) was on my 14th birthday. Her and Nikole decorated my room with crepe paper and balloons and hid in it to surprise me when I walked in. I miss festivities like this.

28. I think birthdays are a big deal. Even and especially as an adult. When people say that their birthday is just another day, Brent, I scoff. I want a several day celebration of eating out, being irresponsible, and having fun. So I'll let you know how it goes.