
It's been a long time since the camera was turned on me. I miss it. I wish I would have planned a little better, I would have tried harder to do something with myself...anyway, here "I" am...me, all me. Thanks Casey.







It's been a long time since the camera was turned on me. I miss it. I wish I would have planned a little better, I would have tried harder to do something with myself...anyway, here "I" am...me, all me. Thanks Casey.






Arm and Hammer. Huh.
It really gets out some of the caked on schtuff that my kids are constantly getting on their clothes, even chocolate milk. A heaven sent. For really tough stains I use none other than:!
If you have NEVER used this product, you MUST. I get mine from Babies R Us, and I get it in the BIG bottle. It gets out ANYTHING. It is safe, I have never had a problem with it! I have cleaned my floors, my couch, spit up, poo, pee, vomit, GRAPE JUICE...endless. It works, and IT SMELLS YUMMY
If I have a white load (and we have A TON of WHITE!) I always add me some:
Love the smell of bleach. I know it is bad for your clothes, but I can't help it. I love getting out of the shower and putting on fresh, yummy, clean clothes. LOVE IT!
See these bins? They are located in "the scary room" of the house. The room that is unfinished and houses the heater, (and is soon to be my new studio, HOLLA!). So, basically the kiddos are too afraid to go in there alone, hence they will leave these toys ALONE! Which is nice. So a few weeks ago, these bins were in their rooms, under the stairs and everywhere, and we gathered them all up and put them here...and every Monday night after Family Home Evening, we put away the bins from the week before and the kids can each choose two bins and one "big" toy box, (we have three of these which contain big trucks, stuffies, dressups etc...) and the key? They have less to play with and they actually do. play. with. them. I am not even joking. They play and they enjoy them as if they were new. I can't take full credit for this idea. I got it from a dear friend in my old ward who is a genius and a wonderful mother and example to me. Hi Katrina if you are out there, THANK YOU!
I hope I can explain this and share the power of this topic, but sometimes I lack words or thoughts, so I will do the best I can. This definition comes straight from http://www.lds.org/.
From our lesson tonight, one of my favorite Bible stories about Joseph in Egypt. Can you say, "Technicolor Dreamcoat" anyone?
And finally, if you're still with me, our little Toddler chores:
Brush your teeth.
Wash your hands before eating and using the bathroom.
Get yourself dressed (as best you can).
Pick up your toys.
Take your vitamin.
And that is it. They can earn 1 "pedra" or rock for every job they do without having to be asked more than once. We have been doing this for a little over a month now and it works! Right before bed we hand out the rocks, they put them in their little jars and they are SO excited about it. Even the little two year old screams, "Pedras! Pedras!" And FLIPS out if that word is said and she doesn't get to put the rocks in the jar at that very minute.
I let the kids choose their reward. Obviously Miss is a little too young to understand the concept, so her reward is putting the rocks in the jar, (and sharing a bit of Mister's rewards too.) While Mister, he chooses to get a pinata for each jar filled. Not sure why he loves pinatas so much or why that is his choice...but it is. And happily for him he filled up his first jar in time to have a dinosaur pinata for his birthday!
Seriously these little things help keep me sain and keeps our house a little cleaner with four little hands helping.
As for me...well that big jar is mine. Hubband has one too, and seriously, it has been a great motivator for me to do MY chores. I give myself one WHENEVER I do SOMETHING. I know that seems silly, but it helps me make a good dinner, load the dishwasher, fold a load of laundry. When mine gets filled I get to have a scrapbooking night with one of my friends...I can't wait!
So, that's it from the Simply Me house. Hope everyone is doing well, can you belive Thanksgiving is NEXT WEEK? I am dying with how fast time is going by. And that my baby isn't so much a baby anymore, but that is another post ENTIRELY!
Apparently, well, I rock the bowl! ;) Mommy Sunshine awarded me this bloggie award. It too was my first so thank you sweet Carrie. She said the nicest things about me, and I seriously cried. I needed this more than you will ever know!"Kim is always so honest about her life and the up's and down's in it. This
beautiful lady brings a nice spiritual outlook to her life and family. She has
been inspiring and uplifting to many people. She always has a compliment or a
positive thing to say about someone. She has a gorgeous little family and is in
the process of adding a fortunate, new member to it. She is totally deserving of
this award! Her blog ROCKS THE BOWL! Not to mention, she takes fabulous pictures!"It is hard to believe that I have known this lady for almost two years now via blog world. I met her through Moosh in Indy. (Be prepared ya'll to see ME with Moosh in Indy. I have a lot of peeps ask me about her...oh believe me, you'll meet her! Anyway, Carrie is Casey's cousin, and I had the opportunity of meeting Miss Carrie and we became friends instantly. She is one of the strongest, nicest, most amazing people I have ever met, not to mention BEAUTIFUL. I had the opportunity to photograph her newest little a few months ago, it was such a neat experience to capture. Love you Mommy Sunshine!
Hmm, I guess I need to award this wonderful honor onto someone else, and the first person who came to mind is a newcomer, and a guy even...who blogs and is hilarious! I love this couple's positive outlook on life, and I met them through LDSFS and photography all at the same time, imagine that...so here's to Ron and Jessica.
They too are searching for a little one to join their family. If anyone out there can help them on their quest and know of a birth mom who would be a good fit for them, and you feel so inclined, send her their way, you can visit their profile here:
I have had some of those "days" lately. Not bad, just a lot on my mind. Do you ever have those days? Just been thinking about how much I appreciate this man, and all that he does for me. Sometimes I feel like "we" get lost in the shuffle, and that all "I" can think about are the things he isn't doing, or the things I wish he would do. I forget ALL that he DOES do, and it isn't fair of me sometimes. Our life is so full right now, I like to use the term "CRAZY"! (Oh my heck I am using a TON of "quotation marks";) Really though, life is crazy. I know I have said it before, but with school, owning two businesses (which if they ever start paying off will be SO worth it (and they are, in a way...), our beautiful children, and Hubbs working, and then callings, it doesn't leave us much time for "US"! I realized a few weeks ago, that it was up to ME to get things on the right track, that indeed amidst this craziness and constant time of life, we can have what we need, and it has helped ten fold. I have found I am not as impatient with the kids or Hubbs, and that we are happier and have those little disagreements less often, (note I said less often...because I admit we are far from perfect and we DO disagree.) Anyway, just wanted to make a list of things I am doing that have helped US along the way...He gets up in the middle of the night with the kids. If the kids cry, he does it. He sleeps on the floor in their rooms if they need it, just so I can sleep. (BTW, he LOVES sleeping on the floor...he is a bit odd in this regard, but I love him.)
He doesn't complain often when I just want to "go out" for dinner. I know he hates spending the money, but he goes along with it, this I am grateful for.
He is a constant support of my desires. I know he wants me to be happy, he supports me in school, pushes me to move forward. Is happy when I accomplish my goals in photography, and even though he wanted nothing to do with me going to Hawaii, he doesn't complain! Thank you honey! I'll bring you back a nice shirt. ;)
He always knows what I am thinking. I am amazed at how often we say the same thing at the same time, or are thinking the same thing. We truly are kindred spirits.
He looks totally hott in that sweater. I finally talked him into it, only four trips to the store and he took the bait. I love you honey! Forever.
And one of Miss, just cause she's cute...and today we were getting her dressed and she said, "What the FREAK?!" Ya, all on her own, thanks Flav!
This says it all. He loves to draw. He will come to me and ask me to draw something, so I will, then he will go into his "office" and draw the same thing, down to the last detail. I wish I had photos of these to share, I hope to get to it one day, and publish a book of his art for Christmas.
I feel there is nothing that he cannot do in this life if he works hard and puts his mind to it. Perhaps this is normal for all parents, but in him I see so much possiblity. The things he says, and does, his observance to life is mind blowing. He is so perceptive to things temporal and spiritual. He sees a need and he fulfills it, he sees something he wants and he goes after it. He loves learning, he feasts for it. I admire him for so many, many reasons. At four he is my protector, my helper, and I can only imagine how he will be ten years from now...
This photo...
I love. One of the best friends I have ever known. So utterly blessed to be his mother. Somedays I wonder, "Why me?" and often I wonder if he deserves better than me. He is my heart, he makes me laugh, smile, and tear...so full of love for him. Wanting so much for him. I'll keep...forever!
She fell back asleep. This has not happened since she was three months. I was so utterly jealous.



They were taken a few months ago, right after we moved into our new house. I remember it was a Sunday, just us, how we are. I keep thinking of how much I love these little spirits, and how much I long for another one to join us, and yet, enjoying every minute of them in the process.
