Relief

I am naturally a de-junker.  

I am not particularly sentimental, and I don't collect things.  (well, maybe shoes...)  I actually feel an oppressive weight on my chest when a pile starts to collect in my house.  My motto is 

"only keep what you are actually going to use in the next year."  

This means I don't keep bed sheets for years and years "just in case", if I didn't use a holiday decoration that year, out it goes...papers from my kids go in a labeled bin, but I'm VERY PARTICULAR in what I store, it has to be something pretty special.  I no longer save clothes from one child to another.  I've found my kids have different tastes, and my girls are too far apart for the styles to still be cute 8 years later.   

So with that said, I have found a flaw in my resolve to not save unnecessary stuff!

Everyday Food magazines...

let me explain...

My mother in law subscribed to these magazines and is an excellent cook.  I am always wanting to try and spice up my 30 day menu for my family, so when she gave these to me...ah...hem...in 2008...I made a goal to find at least one recipe in each magazine to try.  Now, in 2008 I had a 4yr. old who was a failure to thrive eater, and who required great amounts of energy in keeping him healthy, not the time to try new, organic, "creative" recipes.  So I stored these nuggets away in my closet.  About a year ago, I found them again, and decided to put them under my bed for a little light reading at night, hoping to realize my goal of expanding my recipe repertoire. 

Oh no...they have not seen the light of day!  

In fact, they have a layer of dust on them!  

I've been a little under the weather and thought today would be a perfect time to dust them off and find some recipe ideas.  This is what I found:  Unless you cook with sauerkraut, scallions, figs, eggplant, polenta, coconut milk, and exotic cheeses, there is NOTHING, I say NOTHING in there for you!!  Yeah, I've been saving these recipes for NOTHING!!!!  So sad, but have learned my lesson.  Out they go, into my recycle bin and now I'm smiling...no more guilt lying under my bed!

Thank goodness I have Pinterest!!  

Mom Awesomeness!

So for a while now, I've had a problem that doesn't seem to get solved no matter my approach.  

Here's the deal:  

My teenage boys both like to shower in this particular bathroom.  Fine.  However they both tend to leave their stuff in the bathroom day after day, only coming to retrieve their shoes in the morning before school.  Here is what I've tried thus far...

1.  Basic approach, there is a problem, just fix it.  "Will you guys please remember to pick up your stuff after you take a shower?" 

Didn't change a thing.

2.  Guilt approach:  "I have a ton to do each day, do you think I should have to pick up after you as well?"

No go.

3.  Peer Pressure:  "When you guys get on your missions, and college, your companions/roommates ARE NOT GOING TO LIKE YOUR STUFF EVERYWHERE!"  

Temporary fix, but back to old habits after a few days.

Finally, I hit them where it hurts.

4.  "I just want you to know that I am HAPPY to pick up your stuff in the bathroom each day, NO PROBLEM!!  Just leave me a dollar in the cup on the counter.  If you forget, don't worry, I have a little notebook, and I'll keep track of your tab.  :)"

It's a MIRACLE!! 

The boys have picked up their stuff regularly for a couple of weeks now!!  

Just a little Mom Awesomeness for you!

General Conference Weekend

We had a fun General Conference Weekend together.  

We babysat a little Venezuelan family while the mom and dad went to a missionary reunion on Friday night.  They are the cutest boys ever, and we had fun trying to communicate with them.  Good thing Parker and Alyssa know quite a bit of Spanish.  

This darling little boy idolizes Parker.  He doesn't speak English, but certainly knows Parker's name!  Everything was, Parker this, and Parker that!  

Our friends have a tandem bike that we took out for a spin in between conference sessions on Saturday.  Ashlyn is taking advantage of being in the back...:)

They boys need to fix their bike tires but didn't have all the stuff to do it and so they brought their rip sticks and long boards.

So great to have Alyssa home with us for the weekend!

It was a gorgeous day, but even more beautiful was the fact that we were 

all together!

We spent the morning listening to General Conference and cleaning up our front yard.  The kids were stellar workers, 

I was so proud of all of them!

Connor found a new talent!!