Simplicity brought to you by innocence

I love Hannah's sweet innocence & even the scary honesty that comes with that (like the stories I just know she is telling her primary teachers about us, YIKES!) There is just something about 3-year-olds that is so wonderful! They are so smart, imaginative, funny, innocent, etc. She has such a great imagination & loves to talk & tell stories. She also loves for us to tell her stories (Jeff makes up stories every night at bedtime.)

The other day we were at the grocery store & she wanted to ride inside the cart, which I was thrilled about, but my small trip became larger than I had thought (that seems to be a common occurrence) and the cart was getting quite full. She did not want to move or get out, she told me she was fine & she needed to stay in there with her babies. Yes, every item in the cart was a baby... the carrots, the mustard, the jar of pickles, the cans of beans & soup, the cheese.. you get the picture. She was talking to them & was entertained during the whole shopping trip. It was such a pleasant grocery store trip. (Up until she had to get out of the cart at checkout so the bagger could fit everything back in the cart.)

Today at lunch I told Hannah she could play a little longer or we could go read some books. She said she wanted to read 3 stories, but then went about playing. I told her that there would be no stories then & she just kept playing. Well when nap time approached & we were headed to bed, she said she wanted 3 stories & 3 songs, because she is 3 years-old (we often use this phrase, 3 songs because your 3. Take 3 more bites, because you're 3.) I reminded her that she played rather than having her stories (this girl is a pro when it comes to dragging out nap time!) She whined a little & our conversation went like this:

Me: Okay, how about we go in & I'll sing you 5 songs today.

Hannah: NO!! Not 5 songs, I am not 5.

Me: But 5 is more than 3... see you are 3, than we have 4 & 5 (holding up my hand.) See 5 is more.

Hannah: You sing me 3 songs, because I am 3-years-old!

Me: Okay, (easy enough for me!!) we'll sing 3 songs!

Running at a whole new level

I have been back to hitting the treadmills at the gym & it is as wonderful as I remember! The gym is great, because it's a break away from the house before I have to start my day. I used to take Hannah running around Lake Hefner in our jogging stroller when we first moved here, & that was quite nice. The treadmill is much more friendly on my joints & sometimes I like being able to have the 100% flat run with the machine forcing me to keep a steady pace, but there are some days that we have a rough night & I can't get myself out of bed in time to get to the gym before Jeff leaves. And today was one of those days!

Lucky for me we purchased a jogging stroller on Saturday. We were at Sportsman's on Friday evening & I saw that it was on sale, but couldn't read the sign (It was WAY up high.) So I asked an employee, & after checking he informed me that it was $105 (Regularly $200!) How could I pass that up? They only had the floor model, but who cares!! Well I didn't pass it up! I still hadn't committed myself to a double stroller yet, because it was such a hard choice. I love the idea of something small & compact that I could keep in the trunk the majority of the time, but I also love my jogger so much that I was opting for a double. They aren't very compact, but it does fit in my trunk! Okay, back to the running!

Today was cold, but I was really wanting to go for a run & knew the kids could use some fresh air. After a failed attempt this morning (due to low tire pressure & my complete incompetence when it comes to tires & pumps... sadly I will always have to rely on a man for that one things, unless something changes!) So after all the time of getting the kids ready & then fighting with the tires I had wast nearly an hour total & was so frazzled... not to mention Hannah's disappointment & Milo's exhaustion... I gave up! Jeff was kind enough to come home on his way to class & pump up the tires. So this afternoon we bundled up, once again, & went out. We didn't go very far, because it was quite chilly... but Milo got his little nap in & I got my little run in! It was quite a workout pushing around 45+ pounds of kid & the weight of the stroller! This really takes my workout to a whole new level. Perhaps training with the stroller will help me improve my running time!!

(Shhhh... don't tell Hannah she's in these pictures, she ordered me to only get ones of Milo.)

I got tagged!

Annie tagged me... I've never actually done any of these, but there is a first time for everything & this may be the last time also.. hehe.

A- Attached or single: "About as attached as you can get."Annie said it best!
B- Best Friend: Jeff, or course!
C-Cake or Pie: Cake, I could almost always go for cake, but pie takes a certain mood... unless it's my grandma apple/pineapple.
D- Day of Choice: Saturday &/or Sunday, I love spending time as a family. I also really love church & being spiritually fed for the week.
E- Essential Item: Hmm...Oxygen & Water. I don't know if there is anything else I use every single day. The computer/internet is used often, but there are days I don't get on.
F- Favorite Color: Depends on what the color is for. I love red, black, purple & that bright pink... not all together thought!
G- Gummy Bears or Worms: Depends on the brand, some are just nasty!. I love the red & white worms!
H- Hometown: I'm from Sandy, UT- I currently live in OKC, OK
I- Indulgence(s): Chocolate! Yum Yum! Pedicures (not as often as I'd like.) I'd love to give myself more indulgences like a new outfit, a massage.
J- January or July: Jeff & Hannah both have birthdays in January, so those are fun. I love July because of the 4th of July & when we were in Utah the 24th of July (Pioneer day) but July is SOOO hot & January is SOOO cold! So I'm not sure if there is really a preference.
K-Kids: Hannah 3, Milo 4 months (WOW!), Jeff 31. (he counts right?)
L-Life is incomplete without: my family! I love being able to stay home with Hannah & Milo, despite the fact that there are some rough days. I love seeing them experience things for the first time & making lasting memories.
M- Marriage Date: May 24, 2001
N- Number of Siblings: 3 Total: Travis, Aimee & Harmony
O- Oranges or Apples: Oranges, but I eat more apples, go figure.
P- Phobias or Fears: Someone breaking into our house, one of my children dying, or something terrible happening to Jeff or the kids. (Annie those were good ones)
Q- Quote(s): "Why do we do what we do, when we know what we know." "A Mother's work is never done!"
R- Reason To Smile: My Life!
S- Season: Spring and Fall
T- Tag Three: Whoever would like to fill it out
U- Unknown Fact About Me: I have the best life!!
V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animal: I've lived on both sides of the spectrum & I'd like to find something in the middle for my family.
W- Worst Habit: impatience
X- X-Rays or Ultrasounds: ultrasounds.. of babies!
Y- Your Favorite Food: I could never pick one item. IF it's a treat it would be chocolate, something more of a meal would be mexican food or peanut butter & jelly!

You are HOW OLD?

Today is Jeff's birthday & we have had a whole birthday weekend! It didn't play out quite as planned, but what can you do!?! I wanted to give him a break from kid duty, but that was a lot easier when we only had one. We did have a fun weekend that started off with going out to dinner on Friday & we hit a movie as a family, late Saturday morning. Then his actual birthday included breakfast of his choice, presents, dinner, & the most sinful brownies I could find a recipe for!

Jeff is older & perhaps a wiser (but don't tell him I said that...) I hope he enjoyed his birthday weekend, because I had a good time spending time as a family!

(Hannah got better shots with her camera, too bad it's not a real camera!)

BL3 - Week 2

It's Good Friday... well to me! I was down 3 more pounds this morning! How exciting!! Between the good loss & some other having a tough weeks, I am in 12th place this week, but only up to 21st place overall. I'm all ready a little nervous about next week, because it's Jeff's Birthday this weekend, which means... birthday weekend! YIKES!

Body Parts

Hannah gave me a little lesson on body parts today. We were at an appointment this morning & she was in need of a diaper change. I couldn't believe so much waste could come from such a little girl all at once... I'll spare you any more details... but the dirty dead had to get done, so I did it & we went about our business.

On our way home we had to stop by Old Navy & as we were finishing up she informed me that she needed her bum changed. I looked at her & giggled, thinking she MUST be joking! I asked if she was teasing me & she said, "Nope, look!" as she gave me access to her behind. I was amazed!!

I asked her where all this poop was coming from & she happily informed me of the location by pointing & saying:

Hannah: "From my Poop machine!'

Me: "You have a poop machine, huh?"

Hannah: "Yep, and a soggy-bottom machine!"

There you have it folks, she does in fact know the correct names for these body parts, but she has decided to give them a new title!

One Proud Mama!!

Hannah received a birthday gift that we were going to exchange for a different version of a similar item. I originally thought it was from Toys R Us, but was later informed that it was from Wal-Mart... YIKES!! (I cringe at the word.)

After naps I packed up the kids as I geared myself up for a trip to hell.. I mean Wal-Mart. If I didn't have to pass it every time I go to Target I wouldn't even know where the Wal-Mart is (I hope you are understanding my opinion of the place.) Hannah knew that we were going to the store to go get this knew toy in exchange for the other, & she talked about it the whole way up Pennsylvania Avenue. We pull into the parking lot & she quickly says in her sassy little voice:

"Mom, what's this place?! We never been here before!!"

I can't help but chuckle & I tell her this is the store we are going to & she asks...

"Are they going to have my leapster?!"

What a good feeling & a big smile I had right then & there. This was my proudest moment as a mother (next to giving birth of course!)

Great Deal

Just over 2 years ago a friend of mine, Tib, told me about a Fisher Price Intellitainer that was on sale at Kohl's.com. It was like $30 or $40, regularly $85-$100. Hannah was too old for it, but I knew we'd have more kids, & it wassuch a steal of a deal! Sure, we had a hand-me-down excersaucer that Hannah had used, & despite the fact it was very simple & old, she enjoyed it. But this Intellitainer was so neat with all it's battery operated buttons & such! (Did I mention that it was such a bargain... so I bought it, & we gave our old excersaucer to another friend for their baby!

We didn't even open the box, we just stored it away, until this last weekend! Jeff put it together yesterday afternoon & BOTH the kids love it!! I am so happy that I can't pass up a good deal, I knew it would come in handy!!

It is so fun to see the beginning of them playing together.

I think this is going to bring them both hours of entertainment... don't you?

Totally worth the money, wouldn't you say!?!

Sharing Time

I just wanted to share a few pictures.

We were lovin' the fish face! And when I say We, I mean ME!

This is Mr. Toad

Dinner & Music

There is this yummy Italian joint in downtown Salt Lake City that I just love. They have a piano & on the weekends there is a man that plays during the dinner hours. Every time I'm there I wish that he was there playing something wonderful in the background.

Who doesn't love a little dinner music, right? Well I'm not the only one that thinks so... Hannah really enjoys music & last night she thought that our dinner would be enjoyed even more if there was some music to go with it. She serenaded us as she sang Part of You World, from The Little Mermaid in her best Ariel voice. It was priceless!! Jeff & I both agreed that we wish she would sing for us on camera, but we know that won't be happening anytime soon. So perhaps if your ever lucky enough to join us for dinner you might get lucky. And in the meantime I will be looking at her tomorrow during dinner in the same longing way I look at the piano in the restaurant, wishing & hoping that there would be wonderful background music.

This picture is not from dinner, but is the most recent & animated one I could find!