Some randomness....

So, I planned a little party of sorts for my 30th birthday - a trip over to the movie theatre to see Iron Man 2. It was so fun to see my entire family (that's in the city - missed you Lara) there and some really good friends as well.
Let me just say what an awesome movie. Totally biased opinion. I loved the first one, so I was happy to love the second one as well - even if we were sitting 3 rows from the front on the right hand side.

Thanks again to everyone who showed up. Nice party - no clean up involved. Hopefully you can get out and enjoy the movie as well.

As I look at the calendar there is basically 4 1/2 weeks left of school! Where did this year go? I am so excited for the summer but can't believe that it's so close already. Next year I'll have 3 in some form of formal schooling - from grade 2, kindergarten to preschool. Enoch is so going to be tired of the one on one time!

It's finally warm. Big smiles here.

I have also managed to convince the hubby and a brother to do some digging in preparation for my garden! Getting there, even if it's slowly. Huzzah for getting those goals done!

And lastly, I'm grateful for a chance everyday to get better - at something. Me as a person, things I can do to help my family and friends and things I've learned from said family and friends. Pictures and a little story later.

On a side note: Heard one of the most beautiful baby blessing on Sunday. A lot of love and great expectations for a very special little girl. She will and has touched so many lives already - on top of her family's. And I know that with her very dedicated parents and siblings help - she'll be able to touch a lot more. Rooting for you little Miss M.

Perspective

Perspective

I get up.
Another day, the same
Messes
Tears
Chores
Work.

The repetition is hard.
Some days -
Too hard.

Where is my mark?
Fame?
Notoriety?

And then I look outside
My home
World
Mind.

And I cry.

These aren't tears of sadness, grief.
It's realization.
That what I do
Is a good work.
Sacred
Time Honored.

And I should cherish it.

Reflections of the Last 10 Years

Happy Birthday to me. This is the first birthday in a looooong time where I wasn't working, being pregnant, nursing or generally dealing with little babies (not that I don't love them, cause I do - they are just a LOT of work.) So, I have to say that I was generally excited for this birthday.

Birthdays also make me look back at what I've done - usually in the last year. But with the big 3-0, I was looking back at the last 10ish, trying to figure out what I've done with myself.

So, join me on a little bit of indulgence as I look back....

I took my first plane ride at 19 from Salt Lake to Oakland, California. I graduated from nursing school at 20 from Ricks College (the last group to graduate from Ricks College before it became BYU-Idaho). A long, hard process, but I was glad to have survived.

I got married at 21 (a whole 2 weeks later, but it makes the countdown look more impressive, don't you think?) I also started working at the hospital the week of the 9/11 attacks. I was in orientation when the two towers were struck.

I had my first baby at 23.

I went back to work for a little bit at 24. Our second came a couple of months before I turned 25.

On my 25th birthday, we found out that Clark wasn't getting re-hired with the firm he was working with. We moved from Edmonton to Calgary that summer and bought our first house and eventually our first van.

At 25 (almost 26) and for our 5th year anniversary, Clark and I went to Las Vegas for our first kid-free vacation. We were able to hit Hoover Dam, the Strip and just enjoy the lights and wonders of a Vegas vacation - without our little ones. We even spent a couple of nights in one of the hotels on the Strip.

At 26 baby #3 came along.

At 27 I was able to go to New York City with just the ladies. My first girls only trip. I saw 4 Broadway shows, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Freedom Tower site, and tried out some Frozen hot chocolate. I learned to Jay-Walk "properly" and between my sister-in-law and I, to navigate the Subways.

At 28, baby #4 and we were able to fly with the kids (their first airplane ride) to Florida for a visit to Walt Disney World and Sea World.

At 29 I went to England - twice. The first time, I flew all by myself: First to Amsterdam and then over to London where I wandered around the #1 place I've wanted to go to, by myself for a week with a nervous husband working at his London office. The second time, I was able to bring my parents along for the ride. We even got out of the city!

Our family recently drove (2 1/2 days down, 2 days back) to Anaheim California to go on a family vacation with my extended family: 21 bodies in total. We were able to see Disneyland, Legoland, and the San Diego Zoo. We visited the Mormon Battalion Center and felt some after shocks from an earthquake in Mexico.

On our return, Clark started a new job after working 5 years at the Law Firm that brought us back to Calgary.

I look forward to the next 10 years and looking back on them. I have a bucket list started of things I want to do, places I'd love to go or go back to, and things I want to learn.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Container Gardening

Okay, trying to stretch myself and develop some talents. Plus, it's going to be one of my activities to share with the kids. We are going to grow some veggies and flowers in pots and containers this summer! I know, exciting.

I picked up a book a couple of years ago called You Grow Girl, by Gayla Trail. It was at Wal-Mart and just peeked my interest. I like books and magazines, so it was mostly a "this will be fun to flip through" kind of book versus a "I'd really love to do this."

So that's what I've done the last 2 years. Flipped through the book. I've lost it several times in my house, and I go back to flipping through it when I find it again. I think really it's the Lord saying to me "Here's something you can do, for your family and with your family." I'm obviously slow at getting those kind of hints.

So, I have discovered that Gayla (a Canadian, no doubt) has written a new book called Grow Great Grub. (Say that 10 times fast. No really. Try it. I'll wait... ... ...)

So I'm going to pick that one up. I've picked up seeds. I don't know if they are a stellar brand, but they had fun little cartoon characters on front that grabbed the kids interest, so why not? And if hoarding one more book isn't your thing, she's even got a blog. You Grow Girl. Go ahead, check it out.

We are going to start our seeds this week. I've just got to pick up the dirt. I was hoping for nicer weather to do this little activity outside, but no matter. It'll be something we can do together, and honestly, I'm hoping that we don't have to worry about weeds. I'm very good at pulling the plant and leaving the weed to flourish. So, the goal is to grow some plants, and figure out what they look like when I have enough green space and older kids to commit to putting them in the ground.

Wish us luck!

Back to the Basics...

Organizing and cleaning up my house has made me realize somethings. First is that I'm a pack mouse (not quite hoarder status) and need to let things go. Second is that I have too much stuff. And Third that my childhood was much simpler then my kids. Some of it is society today and a chunk of it is me.
So, I am going to try and go back to the basics. I am a huge fan of free play, but I think a little intervention in my kids lives isn't a bad thing either. So, here's where you come in. Look back into your childhoods and think of at least one of the following: Your favorite craft/activity that you did or have done with your kids OR a favorite snack/treat that you would have (with recipe if you are willing.) I need ideas and less dependance on the electronic devices and pre-packaged snacks - a re-visit to my childhood and why it was good and fun.

So, for example: We are going to attempt a garden of sorts this year. I don't have a lot of ground space so a large portion of our tiny garden will be in containers. A new adventure on both fronts.

Childhood snack: Confetti Squares. You know, the one with colored marshmellows, butterscotch chips and peanut butter. Yummers! I may try and convince my kids to try strawberries with sour cream and brown sugar. It was something that my grandma would feed us every now and again. And, it's actually good.

So there, you have it. Activities and snacks (healthy or healthier cause they're home made.)

Thanks in advance. :)

Declaration to The Jones'

(Side Note: Our family just got back from Disneyland and I'm "in between computers." I'll get it up as soon as the computer issue is resolved. Thanks!)

Declaration to the "Jones'".

Dear The Jones'

I hear by declare that I will no longer be keeping up with you. Nor will I try to even compete with you. You cause me too much grief, too much stress. I will never have as nice a house/car/wardrobe/hobby/talent/etc as you and I am going to learn to accept that. Instead of "why me?" I am going to learn to celebrate the diversity of those around me. Instead of feeding the green monster that is perched just in the corner of my brain, I am going to celebrate my friends and family's successes. And perhaps instead of wondering why my house isn't decorated as nicely - I will ask those whose places I now admire how they did it. Perhaps they have a certain style and are just constantly on the look-out for things to make their house nice. Perhaps they just have style. Perhaps I will start there.
I will not wonder in envious amazement at how you, Jones', manage to dress yourself and children much nicer then me. Maybe, we already dress alright and I'm just too busy looking at you, comparing.
I have nice things, Jones'. I am going to appreciate them more, compliment those around me more sincerely and realize that everything has a season -- mine's just going to be a little later. No longer will I worry about my situation in life - it's actually pretty good.
I am going to follow my shopping list a little closer. Saving is cool. Or better yet, debt is not cool. I am going to learn to tackle the house I have, because it's forcing me to do a couple of things: Get rid of junk; Be more aware of what I purchase before I bring home more junk; Organize and furnish our house. And while there are things that really should only be purchased as name brand (waffles, jello, you have a list I am sure), I can buy no-name or second hand a little more.
I am going to get to be better friends (you've been warned) with those who are DIYs. There is merit in learning to build, make and re-purpose other things. Everything doesn't have to be new, Jones'. Really. I am going to finish projects I've started and ask for help (you've been warned). I realize that this is going to be a slow process and I will not always do well. But I will try.
So "The Jones'", let's just be friends. I'm not breaking up with you. It's not you, it's me. Something like that.

"I did it without a man..."

There is something about that phrase that really irks me. (So is my lack of spelling, but that's another post. Focus Kristen, Focus.)
Back to the phrase. There are many things that I am grateful that I have in my life: the ability to vote, get a job, buy a house, etc. And then there is that awful phrase. This thing that I did is great, because I did it without a man.
There are lots of things I do without a man. Clean the house, laundry, dishes, deal with kids all day long. I got my schooling without a man. I've done some travelling without a man. But, there is something fabulous about a man who is supportive and encouraging. I'm looking at going back to do some schooling - totally unrelated to my field. And my man is totally fine with that.
I just think that in the grand scheme of things, there will be a lot things that I will do without a man. But those things won't be the things that I am proud of. The things that I will remember, be proud of, share with those around me, will be the things that I did WITH a man. (Get your mind out of the gutter...) Travelling, children, schooling, careers, talents - all those things that I would be encouraged or joined by my man. And nothing is nicer then a warm man on a cold winter's night. Believe me.
To those who haven't had the opportunity to have a man, keep looking. To those who don't think they need one, you're missing out.
I have done a lot because of my man.