Self Improvement

I'm not very dramatic and I'm not a very good friend.  I have thought about these 2 things the past little while.  Last night my sister called and when I got off the phone, my husband was laughing at me because I had been so mean.  The terrible part is I didn't even realize it.  But I was mean.  I asked him what I said that was so bad and he continued to make fun of me.  Then he said, "Haven't you ever read that book, Men Are From Mars and Women Are From Venus'?"  

"No."  I haven't read that book.  I probably should.  Have you read it?  Is it good?   

"Women don't like you to solve their problems, they just like to talk about them," says my husband.  Anyway, I didn't know that, but I can see how it might be true.  All I can think of at this point is thank goodness for 4 boys and not 4 girls.  I am afraid I would not be a patient mother of girls.  Actually I am not really a patient mother of boys either.   

My lack of dramatics has also led me to believe I am not a very good friend.  I am not a good liar.  If your hair looks bad, I can't look at you and tell you how cute it is.  I just don't feel comfortable.  And at the same time, I think lots of good things about people that go unsaid.  I need to take time to say those things to people, but honestly, sometimes I just forget.  Of course no one wants a dishonest friend, but don't we all have friends who make us feel so good about ourselves by telling us how cute our hair is even when it isn't?  I know some days I really appreciate those friends.  

I have got a lot of work to do and apparently some books to read as well.  This morning my husband set one out for me.  I wonder if that is a hint.  It is called The Tipping Point.  All this reflection also caused me to be grateful for the friends that I do have, who put up with me.  Especially my sister and good friend Nicole.  My sister is family, she can't ignore me and sometimes I feel so bad about what Nicole had to go through living with me in college.  I am glad she is still my friend:)  The end. 

We've Been Busy....

It all started on President's Day.  The weather was a little gloomy and the kids didn't have school.  I went to Target for fun and while I was there, picked up a box of puzzles.  I thought it might be something fun for the kids and I to do that day.  It mostly turned into something fun for Kirk and I to do.  And it has been fun.  Saturday we went on a family date to dinner and Barnes and Noble.  We couldn't help ourselves and picked up another puzzle.  We haven't eaten at the table all week long.  We even had Sunday dinner at the counter.  But we sure have had a lot of fun at the table!

Surviving the Winter/Lots of Pictures

Last week while Kirk was in New York, I took the kids and we went to St. George and Zion.  We had such a good time and wish we could have stayed a little longer.  Unfortunately my parent's house is under construction and we had to come home eventually.  We enjoyed great weather, good shopping, yummy food (did you know there is a Brick Oven in St. George?), beautiful scenery, and fun friends.  It was a great trip and we look forward to doing it again!

At our hotel in St. George

Beginning the hike, Angel's Landing in Zion

At the end of the hike, we made it!  Not all the way to the top though, that hike is way too dangerous for little kids.  But I was impressed with how far they all made it.

I really am vacation/calendar oriented.  It keeps me going to have something to look forward to.  That is why I like planning ahead.  This was a great little get away!  And now the count down begins for our next adventure, I can't wait!

Switcharoo

This weekend we made the boys all switch bedrooms.  David and Jacob have been down in the basement since they were 3 or 4 years old.  I was thinking they were 4 when we sent them down there, but it could have been earlier.  And they have shared a room since birth.  Since their greatest skills are goofing off, we decided to move them upstairs where we could keep a handle on all of their nonsense.  This also meant they would be able to have their own room.  When we announced the good news to them, David about died.  He threatened to run away.  I told him I would help him pack and I think I scared my mother-in-law pretty bad:)  

After a week of letting the idea settle in David's mind, he finally agreed to it.  And he let me know that he wasn't really going to run away, his plan was to live in the garage.  So this weekend we moved the twins upstairs and Ethan and Tyler downstairs.  They opted to have bunk beds and share a room in the basement.  We told Ethan he could have the other room, but I guess bunk beds are too much to resist.  So we still have a guest bedroom.  So far it has been good.  The boys are having a hard time switching bathrooms and I think the stairs have been good exercise for Tyler.  Now if we can just get the twins to quit goofing off all of the time we will have it made!  

A Treasure

My kids are off track again!  In order to break up the 3 weeks, and have some fun, we headed south to see the sun and play outdoors.  We had a blast!  While I was vacuuming this morning, I found this in my son's bedroom.  I had to grab my camera and get a picture of it.  I should do this everyday, there is always something fun on his board.