rinse and then REPEAT

Some days I feel like I'm living in that movie "Groundhog Day".
Seems like I'm just re-doing the previous day's work.
I'm starting all over at ground zero each day and it's getting really, really old!!!

thinking....

So Ashley's birthday is in about 3 weeks.

She wants this......or this.......as her party theme.

I'm thinking of trying to meld them somehow.

What do ya' think.... "come as your favorite wizard"?

Any suggestions?

The end.

If you don't do anything else this weekend......

Please go here and learn the right way to clean your computer screen!!

And have a great weekend!

How do you spell relief?

N-A-P-T-I-M-E!!!

It's been a rough morning.

My girl?

So, this weekend I took the girls to get their hair cut.
I thought we were just going to get a cute little bob for Haley. She looks adorable in them. Well. She's been wanting a short cut for some time now. What she'd really like is a mohawk.

Here's her before........ Here's her after.......

Where did my Haley go???? So yeah, I caved. I let her get a mohawk. You can't really see it in this pic and I forgot to snap one this morning before school. I'll try to remember to post one tomorrow. She looks like a boy, which is aok with her. Such a tomboy. My favorite comment yesterday at church was "I hope that was an accident!" LOL Nope, no accident. Purely intentional. That's my Haley.

I just loved this shot of Jason. I see future executive here. I don't know why my shots are so blurry. I must have a shaky hand or something.

Here is Ashley's after shot. It's really pretty cute. She has such difficult hair to work with. A lot of wave and some cowlics. This cut offers a little more style than she usually has in her hair. Now it goes with her fly fashion sense. (don't know if I just used that expression properly, but oh well).

(I can't believe this girl is going to be eleven years old in about 3 weeks!!!)
(birthday party ideas anyone????)

On Saturday I got a sweet package in the mail. The Mama Hood had a fun giveaway last week, and I won!!!

Jason thought it was pretty cool!

What's inside????

Lot's of goodies!!!

Sweet card....

Cute hair accessories. See Ashley wearing one of them up there??

Wet wipes??

Oh yeah, wet wipes. We'll be needing them......

Thanks Mama Hood!!! We're enjoying them.

hmmmm, storage anybody?

So, I was racking my brain for something to post about today. Why do I think I have to post something if I got nothin'???? Have any of you noticed my question marks lately? I've been going question mark crazy. I seem to be a person of extremes.




Anywho, the reason for today's post is this....

Totally awesome Rubbermaid Premier food storage containers.

Shauna's giving away a set over on her blog Trying to Stay Calm.
I would love to win them. I can always use a little exttra storage. And I SO need to get rid of a bunch of my old nasty, stained containers. These have stain proof protection. I love that. I hate it when I get tomato sauce stains on my storage containers.

I love Shauna. What kind of person offers giveaways galore, ALL the time? I'll tell ya' what kind. A truly nice, caring individual.

So hop on over to her blog for a chance to win these, or one of many other great items she's currently giving away. She's just awesome like that. Get over there before Sept. 22nd, if you want to enter for the food storage containers though.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Thought this was pretty good!

I've seen variations of this great object lesson at church. But, I have to admit I really like the addition of the beverage to this one. Of course, I'll substitute Pepsi.


When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 Beers.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.


When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full.

They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.

The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full.

They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar..

Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He asked once more if the jar was full.

The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand.

The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else---the small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or golf balls.

The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness..

Spend time with your children.

Spend time with your parents.

Visit with grandparents.

Take time to get medical checkups.

Take your spouse out to dinner.

Play another 18.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter.

Set your priorities.....

The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented.

The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.'

The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of Beers with a friend.

Easy post

So I saw this over on Cherie's blog and I wanted to play along.
All of the White/Highlighted are things that I've done in my life. Want to play too? Just copy the list to your blog and bold or highlight your experiences instead of mine. And link back so that I can see your list!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Wow! I haven't done much on this list. Oh well.
Should I add "Bruised your funny bone"?? Seriously, my pinky is still experiencing numbness and tingling from the whack I gave my funny bone the other day.
So, come on....play along!

When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better.
--unknown

ya' know?

I think things are getting pretty ridiculous when kids can't even play tag on the playground.

I was waiting with the kids on the playground before school this morning, and the cute little kindergartners were running around ON THE GRASS (not even on the hard top, which I can somewhat understand there being a no running rule on the hard playground part). They were chasing each other around the grass, playing tag, when one of the teachers comes over and tells them to stop playing tag and keep their hands to themselves. COME ON PEOPLE!!! They're kindergartners. Where is the harm here?
Exactly what are we teaching our children?

May we never forget

Random

Well, I really need to say "Thanks!!" to everyone for their sweet comments on yesterdays post.
I've been feeling generally dissatisfied with myself this week. Not sure if it's more to do with my monthly, or what. Hopefully it passes soon though.
~~~~
I've been noticing in the mornings, mostly school mornings of late, that I get a nasty little knot in my tummy. I'm not sure why. Stress I presume. But what am I stressing about? Getting the kids ready and out the door in time? Knowing I have to be getting myself ready and out the door to work soon?
~~~~
I'm a very lazy person, well in my personal life anyway. Not so much at work. But at home, I usually seem to do the least amount that I need to, to get by. I think this is the real source of my dissatisfaction. If I could just get my head out of the sand (I was going to say something else there and decided against it), and address the many areas of my life that need improvement, I'd probably be much happier. What's the solution? I think it's more than just setting a goal. I've made myself plenty of resolutions over the years, but they never stick. We all know that.
I guess it's a plan. I need a plan. I'm sure I've heard that somewhere too. I need to plot out every single step involved in obtaining my goals, and just start taking them.
~~~~
But what do I do about my temper? My lack of patience? What do I do during those moments when the kids are about to drive me out of my head, and I'm about to explode? How do I stop myself from reacting badly? I'm tired of reacting badly. I'm tired of having to apologize to my kids because I lost it, and acted more immature than they did.
~~~
While I'm on that subject, I'm tired of worrying about how I look. I'm tired of worrying about what other people think of me. I'm tired of just thinking about myself.
H-E_double hockey sticks, I'm just tired.
I better go to bed. ☺

PS, Really not trying to be all negative and debbie downer here, I'm just trying to vent my frustrations. I'm really, really ok. Just a little frustrated with myself. Please, don't feel like I need the "oh mikki, you're so wonderful!!" comments, what I need is the "girl, this is what you need to do!!!" comments!!! Let me have it!

just ho hum

Is it just me, or does this year seam darker than last year?
When I think back upon my blogging last year, I just seem to have happier memories than I do this year. I'm not sure why either.
Maybe it's because I'm working more hours this year, and I feel like I've got less time with my family. Making a bit more money is a good thing I suppose, but I'm definitely feeling the effects of less family time.
Robbing Peter to pay Paul?
Checking account=$$$$ (well, not really, but supposedly I'm making more money now)
Family account=?????
I'm really not liking these economics!

Wow!!!

So, this isn't a political blog, and I don't really voice my opinions in that area very often.

But, with so much going on in our country lately, I can't help but feel some anxiety.

I've greatly enjoyed reading some fabulous blogs out there, by some very informed and very intelligent people. I really appreciate their devotion to important causes, like our country and freedom.

So, anyway I was surfing YouTube, and saw this great clip. I just have to say how very much I enjoyed this woman's speech.

I posted yesterday's clip after more of my Internet surfing. I have to say, that after all is said and done, no matter what happens to this great country of ours, there is only One who holds all the cards. And like the song in that clip indicates, NO ONE can take away our God!

Just remember this.....

So, this isn't a political blog, but there is so much cr*p happening lately, I can't help but make a little mention of it here. This is after all, a type of journal, so I'd like to make some mention of the political climate of the times here.

Socialism--

You know, I think in theory, it's not a bad idea. But, there isn't a single human being on this planet who can govern it properly. Only One person will ever be able to govern it properly, and He hasn't made His second appearance yet.

A question

Why can't I paste anything into my blog posts anymore? Am I the only one with this problem?
I looked up the definition of something and wanted to include it in a post, but since the def is pretty long, I just wanted to copy and paste. Blogger won't let me paste it. What's the dealio?

Trying to catch up with la la la la laundry

Here's what I'm doing all week.

Do you sort really well? I don't. I separate by whites, colors, and towels. That's it.
My mom always separated brights from darks, then whites and towels, and sheets, and so on. Too bad her laundry lessons didn't stick.
A lot of her lessons haven't stuck. Like dishes, I usually leave them in the sink overnight. That's definitely not something I was taught. Pure laziness. Sorry mom!!!

Tuesday rambling

I'm really going to try to get rid of my alliteration addiction.
~~~~
Have you ever really, no I mean really hit your funny bone? I thought I had, and then today I hit it harder than I have ever in my life hit it. So why do they call it the funny bone anyway? Maybe because the dance I did after hitting it was funny looking. Oh. my. gosh!!!! Seriously. My pinky and ring finger and the entire lower portion of my palm tingled and ached for five minutes. You know that pain that feels like it's freezing and burning at the same time? Crazy pain. That nerve in my elbow is still tender. Insane. Makes me stop and think how amazing the human body is. How pain can really just push you over the edge sometimes. I really, really don't know how on earth women have been giving birth for all these years without medication.
~~~~
Speaking of....my sweet friend Jamie from church is in the hospital right now, getting ready to bring sweet little girl #3 into her family. Jamie is SO awesome. She just amazes me. She does so much in our ward and is such a super fantastic mommy to her adorable little girls. I can't wait to see baby Emi!!!
~~~~
On the radio on the way home tonight, I was listening to Air 1--it's alternative Christian music. I love it. There was a quick little, like commercial spot (although they're not really commercials) about how you can tell if you're truly converted to Christ's gospel by whether or not you feel the need to share it with others. I sat there thinking about it for several minutes. I believe it's very true, and I realize perhaps I'm not truly where I need to be in this process; because for the most part, I don't do much to spread the gospel. I think I need to get myself to that level. I'm pretty sure it begins with better prayer and scripture study habits. Two things I continue to not concentrate on like I should.
~~~~
So, maybe I should sign off, and go read me some Book of Mormon Stories!!