Happy Birthday, Hun!

Today is my husband's birthday! He is now 36, just like me! I love it when we are the same age, even if it only lasts about 4 months.

Birthdays for John are pretty easy. Just give the man a homemade pumpkin pie and he is happy. He insists on no presents (which is hard for me to oblige), because the sweet guy wants that money to go towards Mark's birthday which is in about a week and a half.

I just want to take this opportunity on this special day to say how much I love my husband. He is my all time favorite person. He is so layed back, which balances out my worried/sometimes pessimistic personality. Honestly, sometimes it irritates the heck out of me how layed back he can be, but really, it has been a blessing.

I appreciate how much he listens to my ranting without offering a solution. He is so much fun to be around and makes me laugh daily. I love how he watches chick flicks with me, helps out with the laundry, wrestles with the kids, works so hard to provide for us, plays with the baby, and cooks on the weekend.

Over 10 years ago, we met and then 6 weeks later we married. Sometimes I think that is the craziest thing I've ever done, but I don't regret it. The day he proposed, he had the ring in his pocket -having just picked it up from the jewelers. His plan was to propose the next day, but that ring was burning a hole in his pocket. On our way home from visiting with his sister and her family, and his parents, he pulled over on the side of an off-ramp and proposed. Maybe not the most romantic setting, but I found it so sweet that he just couldn't wait! He asked me if I would spend eternity with a humble friend like him. Of course, I said yes and I'm so glad I did. He is my best friend and my eternal companion.



The day we were sealed in the Las Vegas Temple...a very good day!






I love you, Hun! Happy Birthday!!

My Greatest Blessings Call Me Mom

I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be a mother. I've dreamed of it since I was a little girl. If asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I'd say, "a mommy!" Some days it is really, really hard and I usually have no idea what I'm doing, but I know that nothing could be more fulfilling or worthwhile. The world may say that my decision to have a biggish family is crazy or unimportant, but I know that it is THE most important thing that I am doing or will ever do. I love each of my children very much. I can't imagine my life without any of them. I'm also grateful to my husband for loving and supporting me as the mother of his children. I love him so much and don't know what I would do without his friendship and love. I love all of the homemade (or school made or church made) gifts that I was given today, as well as the flower (which I will surely kill by weeks end). What a wonderful day! Happy Mother's Day!!


Mark, my oldest at nearly 16 years old (and me, looking scary).


Savannah, at 13 years old.


Wynter, at 9 years old.


Hunter, age 7.


Micah, age 5.


Lincoln, 11 months.

More Photos...

My Day Didn't Go As Planned...

I looked at the title for this and realized that it would apply to all the days of my life, but today it didn't go as planned and I'm so glad.

First of all, I went to bed last night at 11pm. This is remarkable. I'm typically up until the wee hours of the morning and then I really struggle the following day. I woke up this morning at 6:30 am and actually felt refreshed. Usually I am in a drunken stupor (caused by lack of sleep, not alcohol, just in case you were wondering). I got the kids off to school, got Lincoln and Micah fed and dressed and then exercised. Then I showered. Then I dressed. I started a load of laundry and payed the bills. Now, here is where my day got off track...in a good way.

At around 11 am I took a good look at my to-do list and decided that all that stuff could wait. I texted my friend and asked her what she was up to. We decided to meet at the park at noon for lunch. I love hanging out with my friends. We chatted and watched the kids play until around 3 pm. Girl time...I love it and NEED it. I was in a good mood. (Adult conversation will do that to a person.)

Then I came home to 2 children bearing gifts for Mother's Day. They were so thoughtful. Hunter made me a book with reasons he loves me that began with the letters M O T H E R. He also drew wonderful pictures. Wynter gave me some bath salt that they made at school as well as a little book full of declarations of her love. I felt happy and energized by their love. (I will share pictures in a future post.)

John went to work (yay! overtime!) and I began making dinner after nagging the kids about their chores. While peeling potatoes, I got a call from my dear friend, Rita, who I went to high school with. I love her so much! She was visiting from CA for a wedding and is staying here in Spanish Fork. She wanted to see me! I haven't seen her in 7 years. We met at the park and visited for nearly 2 hours. It's like time never passes when I talk to her. She is my bosom buddy. I know she genuinely cares about me and I certainly care for her. It was a great visit.

Then, we headed directly to the church for a movie night. This was a last minute decision because my friend that I had lunch with is the ward activity person and was in charge. She was talking about it and I decided that I really wanted to go. We usually have family movie night on Friday's, but it just so happened I didn't have a movie rented, so we decided to make that our movie night. The movies were home made by members of the ward. There were funny skits and music videos. Popcorn was served. My kids loved it and so did I. We have such talented people in our ward and I am so glad I went.

We then hurried home to dinner that was left all day in the crockpot and was yuck. I had left potatoes simmering when I went to the park, so I salvaged them and we had mashed potatoes for dinner at 9 pm. Yum. They were very lumpy, but the kids loved them.

I am exhausted, I am sunburned, I didn't get my to-do list tackled, but I had such a good day. Family and friends are so important to me. I need people. Sometimes I get really cranky and decide that people suck. But, then I get ungrumpified (my new word for the day) and realize that interacting with people and spending time with my family is what rejuvenates me and keeps me going.

So, today was a good day. A day called Friday.

I Am Not Afraid to Admit It...

I am an imperfect mother! Yahoo!!! I am celebrating. I swear, if I read another book, editorial, or article about what I am doing wrong as a mother, I think I'll puke. So, this Mother's Day, I will not hang my head in shame as speakers glorify their mothers. I am not perfect, but I am good enough.

I admit that I let my kids eat fast food! Even Lincoln has had some fries and bits of hamburger. Yum.

I admit that I scream at my kids from time to time. Sometimes they REALLY IRRITATE ME.

I admit that I have nursed a baby in a moving vehicle. If I didn't, we'd take 10 hours to make a 3 hour trip.

I admit that I pull my kids out of school, excuse the absence, and have a day of fun on occassion.

I admit that our house is rated G, but there are days that I swear like a sailor and it moves to PG-13.

I admit that we haven't been having FHE. I plan on getting back to it, eventually.

I admit that I don't force my kids to go to church (as teens). I want them to go, I hope they will go, but they don't have to go.

I admit that I let my kids climb on the Suburban like it's a jungle gym.

I admit that I have days that I don't get Lincoln or Micah out of their pjs.

I admit that I have days when I'm scary and the kids know that they shouldn't touch me with a ten-foot pole.

I admit that I expect my kids to pay for their own college education. Thankfully, I heard Dave Ramsey talk about this on his show yesterday and he agrees with me (or I agree with him). I payed for my education, they can too.

I admit that I haven't given either of my teens a cell phone. Mark MIGHT get one when he is 16. I'm not sure yet.

I admit that I sometimes fantasize about packing up my things and driving away, never to return.

I admit that sometimes being a mother blows.

Shocked? Or maybe you're like me and now you feel better to know that you're not the only one. Either way, I feel much better having gotten that off my chest. Thankfully there are those really great days that remind me that I'm doing alright. I love those days.

These Are So Dang Funny!

Savannah is currently learning about similes, analogies, and metaphors in her english class. Every year, English teachers from across the country can submit their collections of these found in high school essays. These excerpts are published each year to the amusement of teachers across the country. Here are some of last year's winners:

1. Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two sides gently compressed by a Thigh Master.
2. She was a colony of e-coli, growing on him like he was room-temperature Canadian beef.
3. She had a deep, throaty, genuine laugh, like that sound a dog makes just before it throws up.
4. He was as tall as a six-foot, three-inch tree.
5. John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.
6. Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 pm traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19pm at a speed of 35 mph.
7. The ballerina rose gracefully en Pointe and extended one slender leg behind her, like a dog at a fire hydrant.
8. Even in his last years, Grandad's mind was a steel trap, only one that had been left out so long, it had rusted shut.
9. The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.
10. The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn't.

This gave me a much needed laugh on a horrible day called Monday. Thanks Savannah!

Goodbye Facebook! (For now)

I have decided to take a break from Facebook. It was wasting far too much of my time and I also felt like I was becoming narcissistic. Having studied psychology and reading many "self-help" books, I tend to analyze and maybe, more accurately, over-analyze myself. (Other problems cropped up, too, that I won't get into here.)

John advised me to keep my Facebook account but just not go on there very much. Hello? I do not have the self-discipline for that, and I openly admit it. I have been going on John's account so that I could still play Word Challenge. But as for getting on and reading my friends' posts, making my own, and commenting..those days are gone, for now.

Please do not think that I consider YOU narcissistic if you use Facebook. I don't. The analyzing extends to myself only. I would find myself posting something (often trying to be funny or clever) and then going back frequently throughout my day to see what my friends would comment. Uggg!!! AND, I would also read some of my friends' posts and, if I disagreed or found the post controversial, would be annoyed. Sometimes I would even post a comment and, more often than not, would get myself into some trouble.

Ho hum. Ultimately, I decided to disable my account. It was hard at first, but I'm really glad I did. I don't get on the computer everyday like I did and I am much more productive with my time. But, if you would still like to send me a message, I am on my husband's account. He changed his name to "John Cynthia Watkins."

So, Goodbye Facebook. Maybe we can be friends again someday...

Simple Meals: Final Installment

Joe's Special

1-1 1/2 lbs of ground beef, browned and drained
1 lb of spinach, fresh or frozen (I use frozen)
1 onion chopped (I use dehydrated)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
12 eggs, beaten
10 oz cheese

Cook ground beef with onion and drain. Add spinach, salt and garlic salt. Heat until spinach is hot. Add eggs and cook until eggs are done. Then add cheese and heat until melted. You can serve this alone or over rice or pasta.

*****5 stars. Everyone likes this.

Well, I have now shared a week's worth of meals from us simple (and cheap) folk. From time to time, I may share more. Below I have listed some timesaving/money saving tips. When you are feeding 2 adults and 6 children (2 of whom eat like adults), you have to stretch your grocery bill. And, when you don't enjoy cooking and have limited time to cook, you also need to make quick and easy meals. Here are some tips:

1. Buy family size packages of ground beef (about 5 lbs). Cook and divide into one pound batches. Refridgerate or freeze.
2. Eat potatoes. This week I got 10 lbs of potatoes for $.68 at Walmart. I actually need to go back and get more.
3. Eat pasta. Whenever there is a good deal, we stock up. Recently we bought tons of pasta @ 2lbs for $1.
4. Eat beans. Per pound, they are a lot cheaper than beef, chicken, etc. I never buy beans for more than $1 per pound. They are a great source of protein and take on the taste of whatever you're cooking them with. I often put them in spaghetti sauces, lasagna, and other dishes that require ground beef.
5. Eat eggs. Eggs are another great source of protein and are very cheap. We stock up when eggs are less than $1 per dozen.
6. Frozen veggies are often cheaper than fresh and they taste just as good.
7. Have cereal as a weekend breakfast treat and have pancakes during the week. Pancake mixes that you just add water to are so convenient and quick. I buy both regular pancake mix and whole wheat, then combine them. I also add quick oats to them, too (I got this idea from my s-i-l, Bonnie.)
8. Have 2 or more meatless dishes per week.

If you have any timesaving/money saving ideas for meals, please share in the comments! Thanks!