Recycle My Friends!

I have been in contact with a lady from the Recycling Coalition of Utah: Davis County.  Mountain West Recycling is offering a great deal to Kaysville City Residents.  Take advantage of recycling in Davis County through their services. I currently recycle them and my garbage can is rarely full. I feel like this is such a simple and easy way for anyone to help the environment.  I feel very satisfied when my recycling cans are filled to the max and my garbage can still EMPTY!  Such a difference.

We moved to Utah from Maryland, a very small state with limited space for  garbage and recycling. Garbage had to be shipped to another location.  We recycled every week and we had this tiny garbage can that we rarely filled their too.  We have a beautiful state, filled with wonders unique for our desert community, and rich next to a lake. Wouldn't it be great to have Davis County see the effect that one city could have on the garbage load if we all recycled. It challenge you all this week to look into recycling services in your area, and start filling those recycling bins. We can all make the effort to clean up this beautiful earth that God created for us to enjoy!  Have a great day.

Please visit: https://utahrecycles.org/  and   Mountain West Recycling

Week 2: HOME CLEAN UP

Well, this turned out to be a unique week for me. I started to come down with something on Tuesday morning and to my own credit, rested. I don't usually do that, and then end up getting really sick trying to push it...so go me!

On Monday, I worked on the medicine cabinet next to the sink.  It is the one used everyday and gets rifled through all the time.  Everyone has pill containers now.  Another plus is a put all the play dough in a container with all the tools and stuff. I just have to get one container out to play.  It's worked great. So not as much to do here, but I still threw a lot away.

Before	After
Before	After
	After
Spice and baking cupboard.  I filled a garbage can with the stuff I threw from here. It looks better and I even went onto the spice drawer. It's already come in handy today when my oldest daughter asked where the cinnamon was and I could tell her!

NEW YEARS 2010!

It was a great New Years!  We participated in our cities first night celebration, watched Harry Potter, and clanged bowls and spoons at midnight. Our 7 year old said she was really tired and told us how hard it was to stay up that late.  We thought so too! We toasted in the New Year drawing to a close our phrase..."Peace is mine in 2009".  We really have found more peace.  I'm excited to keep that peace rolling and set out for a New Year.

We waited in lines and played games!  My favorite was the toilet paper toss into the outhouse.

Painted our faces.... and have our own little butterfly.

Celebrated 2010!

Posed for pictures!  Lots of butterflies at our house.

Had Story Time at the Library...the kids sat there longer than the games!

Blew in the New Year!

And banged our pots and pans to let the WHOLE Neighborhood know it was midnight!  It made me miss my sisters and my mom.  We always banged pots no matter how tired we were.

Happy New Years Everyone!  

Since New Years is the time for sayings and goals, mine is simple.....

I KNOW I CAN in 2010!

My next 90 day Plan Underway

Well, I'm up for the next 90 days.  This last Saturday was the end of my first week of the next 90 days. I successfully completed exercising every day for the whole week, even getting up at 5am and exercising. I also made it to the temple as part of that goal.  I feel the balance that I haven't felt in a while.  I have time to be with kids during the day and get the nourishment body, mind and spirit that I need.

 

Here's what I've been up to in the last week.  My next 90 days includes emailing tips and motivation to friends....hope your all enjoying this.  If you want to be included, email me and let me know.

Another thing has been getting my house decluttered. It seems that I've never lived somewhere for longer than 2 1/2 years since I've been married. Every time I finally got a house painted, organized and just the way I liked it, we moved.  SOOO.... this last move I refused to organize, paint or get things the way I liked it, to avoid moving. Now, this logically doesn't make sense, but I didn't even realize it myself until I started asking myself the questions I needed to. I've embarked on the 3 month
Home CLEAN UP!

I've started with my girls room, because we just moved their room together New Years Eve.  It has been fun to have our littlest one in a big girl bed, but exhausting getting her to stay in it. I miss the crib for nap times.  Thank goodness for the episode of Super Nanny about getting kids to stay in bed and use to a bigger bed. It's been a life saver!

Here's what I did: Cleared the junk, organized the closet, put up a lower rod and shelf for little ones to reach, and put hooks on the wall for clothes to be put on the for next day.  Loved that idea from Missus Smarty Pants.

*The bar is easy for kids to reach and shelf holds baskets.

*The clear plastic container on top shelf holds the next size clothes and shoes for my kids to grow into.

 *The hook on the wall by the desk allows my two year old

to see her clothes easily in the morning.

*The kids have really enjoyed a clear desk to write and draw.

 I was so pumped, I moved on to the laundry room and my husband hung up the shelves for me.  I love walking into a clear room.  Now I want to go do the laundry.  Thanks dear!

Now, two more rooms are cleaned up.  This week I'm on to the kitchen. I will get before and afters.  

Here's to making our lives easier with less clutter, one room at a time!

If Ye are Prepared,Ye Shall Not Fear

You ever had those days when everything seems to be shifting you off your path?  Maybe it is trying to wake up on a day you are just emotionally and physically spent, or maybe it's rushing the kids because they were dragging their feet.  Those things and more made up my morning yesterday morning.  Every pair of shoes my two year old owns had one shoe missing.  She decided to throw a fit as we walked out the door, because of what was in her sippy cup.  I've kept her home from the kids play area all week due to a runny nose and slight cough, only to have her nose run when she went back.  Are you feeling the frazzle? It all seemed crazy and as I was apologizing to my children when they went out the door for mommy freaking out this morning, I hung my head and took a breath and wondered what I did to have such a morning.  There is light at the end, I learned quite a bit today.


I learned that no matter how much you learn, some days are just more of a challenge then others.  I learned that reaching out to others is necessary for our emotional survival.  I learned that I have a great team by my side that is ready to lift me up on my challenging days. I learned that vulnerability is not a weakness, but a sign that my heart is opening up to trust others, and sometimes it just hurts to care.  I learned that my children are forgiving and that I can reach out to them sometimes, even when I think I should be the strong one.  I also learned that without the knowledge of who I am and where I am going, a day like this could leave me in the mire to kick the pricks and wallow. 

I hadn't prepared the night before for my morning schedule. I was tired from not sleeping well for two nights and emotional from challenging my beliefs.  I was seeing only the things I wasn't doing, instead of the countless good things was doing.  I wonder why I can't see the miraculous, gifted, loving woman that God made me!  I came upon a audio/video this week that touched me and still does each time I watch it.  Hold on.  Understanding the fear of who I can be with God is so essential, that it's imperative for me to break through my barriers and go forth with head high and shoulders back to fulfill those things I am put on this earth to do. So here is to vulnerability, truth, and showing up for life prepared and ready to roll, because.......

"If Ye are Prepared, Ye shall not fear"

(Doctrine and Covenants 38:30)

Wisdom Files- Watch this and see if you don't feel different

Santa Clause is Coming to Town!

It seems like I sing this song a lot more these final weeks before Christmas.  Maybe I just use it to have a little more peace... but here is to you all in honor of this special time.  If only our children, or anybody else could realize that sometimes all we want is no fighting and arguing for Christmas!  I wish Santa came more than once a year!
(Download our song as a podcast )
(Download our song as a mp3)

You better watch out!

You better not cry!

You better not pout, 

I'm telling you why.......

Santa Clause is Coming to TOWN!!!!!

Sydney really didn't cry.  She just sat there, not realizing she could ask for something from Santa.  She still doesn't get him, but she knows about Jesus and that's alright with me.  Abby said to me the other day "I really don't care what I get from Santa."  Somebody must have said something to her at school.  She is 10 after all. Phoebe asked for a DS and I didn't get it.  I guess it's a gaming thing.  I'm SURE she heard that at school ;).

I'm a Keeper

We had a great discussion on the family at church today.  I find it amazing that the week I seek for those who could help me be a better mother and parent....the discussion is had and many couples came to mind.  This same day my husband and I are swapping back and forth with our two year old and her runny nose.  I realized my desire to be a good mother is a good thing and that God is pleased with my efforts. 

For many people, a two parent secure household is normal for their growing up, as it should be.  I grew up very independent and played a bigger part than the average child with a single mother.  It is about the great and wonderful things I was taught, the great and wonderful things my husband was taught, and the two of us taking what works and finding the rest that works.  Isn't this earthly experience grand.

I'm grateful that on these days, God instilled in me a desire to learn and grow.  I think without that, I would be stuck in an unchanging place, and unable to see the good I am doing.  My sweet daughters shoveled the snow with me this morning and without asking went to help the neighbors.   My girls must have been watching, and helped me realize what a kindness that is.  I had never seen it that way from my perspective.  It was something that had to be done at the moment.  This is important when I reflect upon my day and mull over the things I could have done better.  I am going to reflect on the things I'm doing right more often.  I guess I'm a keeper!