Nursing a Frosty for Family Home Evening

Start 'em young, that's all I've got to say.

The Buck Stops Here

I hardly ever step on the scale. Ever since I reached my "goal figure" a while back, I just assumed I was hovering around that magical number on the scale. My clothes still fit (ok, a little bit tighter), and I usually get a little exercise pretty regularly. I thought I was doing ok.

Kraig's doing a nutrition course for school. As part of the course we were figured out our BMIs (Body Mass Index) and I stepped on the scale.

I gained 10 pounds.

I suppose that's what I get for becoming relaxed about eating right and exercising everyday.

I'm doing a post about this as a commitment to myself to STOP gaining and make it through the holidays on a downward trend.

I'll report back at the New Year.

Every Weekend Should Be So Great

Phew. What a weekend! We had a marathon few days packed full of fun, fun, fun! Here's my to-do list:

1. Clean the whole house by myself while Kraig's at work--including steam cleaning the carpets. Grocery shop and keep kids entertained enough to not destroy what I just created. CHECK!


2. Pick up Kurt, Tina, and Paisley at the airport. Don't be late when their flight comes in 20 minutes early. CHECK!


3. Wake up early to prepare for diet consult. CHECK!


4. Gather snow clothes for Kraig and the boys for the first snow storm of the season. CHECK!



5. Drive everyone out to Kraig's work and the Denver Temple. CHECK!


6. Realize my video camera is broken. CHECK!


7. Make 60 rolls (Warner's recipe) for the Enrichment Dinner. CHECK!


8. Watch "Leatherheads" with Kraig, Kurt, and Tina. Try to not fall asleep even though it's later than you've stayed up in months. CHECK!


9. Drop kids off at Grandma's and drive to Colorado Springs for the BYU v. Air Force football game. CHECK!


10. Tailgate. CHECK!


11. Try and stay warm and watch BYU win! Yeah! Go Cougs! CHECK!


12. Go out to dinner. CHECK!


13. Stay up late and watch "Freedom Writers." CHECK!


14. Scramble to get everything ready before church because I didn't do it on Saturday. CHECK!


15. Church. CHECK!


16. Skype. CHECK!


17. Plan/prepare dinner to be on the table at 5:15. CHECK!


18. Try not to get annoyed that the risotto took too long. CHECK!


19. Skype. CHECK!


20. Clean up dinner. CHECK!


21. Play games. CHECK!


22. Try and get to bed earlier. CHECK!


23. Enjoy Kraig's French omelets for breakfast. CHECK!


24. Take Kurt and Tina to the airport. CHECK!

Phew. I think I'm coming down with something from the long day/short night routine. I could say, "I'm glad it's over!" but we had so much fun and jam packed the weekend with such great company and activities, that I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Thanks for coming, Kurt and Tina!

So do I look like her?

I got my hair cut today. Here was the inspiration:

It's shorter than I've been for a while, but I like it. We'll see what Kraig says when he gets home...

Oh, and news flash! I'm not a blond anymore! My stylist cut off the last of my highlights (from 18 months ago) and there is NO mistaking my brunetteness. I had NO idea I was this dark! And this is all natural, no chemical color help at all. Crazy!

PS. Self Portraits. Here are some of the rejects. Sheesh.

I kept forgetting to turn the flash on.

Looking for the Best

Andy's 2nd Birthday, 2007

Andy's 3rd birthday is coming up in 3 weeks. I'm on the hunt for good ideas. Here are the parameters:

• Can be put together for $20 or less
• Is theme suitable for both boys and girls
• Creative and engaging for a bunch of 3-4 year olds
• Won't take longer than 75 minutes, start of finish
• Indoor friendly--I can't count on good outside weather

These are some of the ideas I've been tossing around so far:

1. Knights/Princesses Theme. My sister-in-law Jen did this for my nephew and it was a hit (They don't live by us so none of the same kids will be attending). The kids had to do certain challenges to prove their bravery, strength, etc. and earn their crowns (from BK) and swords (made of cardboard) and fight off the dragon. Jen made a darling dragon cake. I'm not sure I'm that creative, but I'm sure I could come up with something similar. I'm heavily leaning towards this party.




2. Candyland. Andy loves the Candyland game. I've found some Candyland party ideas online, but they're all girl parties. This is what I picture: Life size game board (made out of construction paper) tracing around the interior of the house. Kids play the game to rescue King Candy--and get their treat bags. My only beef with this is that it's more candy and we just finished Halloween (although this would be a good way to recycle what we have left over...). I've tossed around some VegetableLand game ideas, but is that a little too over the top?

   



3. Hawaiian Theme. I must be totally aching for warm weather today because when I saw this idea I couldn't help but entertain it. Every kid is told to wear summer clothes/Hawaiian clothes. I'll crank the heat up in the house and turn on some Hawaiian music. The guests get some plastic leis when they arrive and we play silly carnival games. Ideas of creative, inexpensive carnival games? We eat fruit as a snack and the cake looks something like this:

   

Don't ask how I'd make the palm leaves. I have no idea...

What other cute ideas have you seen or are you planning on doing for your kids (if you live far away from me and I wouldn't be stealing your idea...).

Autumn Fun

I love digital cameras!