Harvey Look-alike Meter

Always wondered who Matthias looks more like, but as previously mentioned, my faith in the look-alike meter is low. So this evidence can't be conclusive.

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celebrity - Collage - Morph

Harvey Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebrities - Collage - Morph

I personally have no faith in the look-alike meter. Tomorrow I will post James 3 year old pic along with Taylor's 3 year old pick. Then you can see for yourselves.

Take the Quiz here!

Results

The results are in from my four week tv watch. (Before you stop reading, I am refraining from stepping onto the tv soapbox. This was just an innocent study of the time my family spends watching television.) I always tell people, "we never watch tv" but was feeling like we actually watched more than I wished. So I kept an accounting of normal tv time over the last four weeks and here are our overall totals...

Matthias: 1 hour 20 minutes
James: 7 hours 15 minutes
Kristi: 1 hour 35 minutes

Which over a four week span works out to 20 minutes per week for Matthias, 24 minutes per week for me, and 1 hour 49 minutes per week for James. Honestly I little higher for James than I was hoping, but Taylor tells me I need to chill out.

This time includes all minutes watching the tv screen...be it a Jazz game, a Backyardigans dvd, a home video (which was 30 minutes of Matthias' time...amazed he sat through it all!), or Finding Nemo. All tv, dvd, etc was recorded. I don't believe tv is inherently bad, no. But I do believe that the world offers so much to enjoy and discover. Especially for these cute little boys of mine!! That, and we are all addicted to books which is our general entertainment of choice.

Other random numbers...
Largest amount of consecutive days with no tv...M: 9 days, J: 5 days, K: 12 days.
Total days (out of 28) with no tv...M: 24, J: 17, K: 23

Thus the statistics stand.

I'm dreaming of an orange table runner

I have wanted a table runner pretty much since we got married. But I am too cheap to just buy one. You would think after wanting one for 5 years I would break down and pay the $15-$20 to get one, but no. I have not been able to justify purchasing one yet.

So imagine my joy when I walked into Joannes last Friday and found this beauty...


2.4 yards of a remnant, for...get this...$0.91

I am not kidding. Less than one dollar for almost 2 1/2 yards! It was 75% off AND I had a 10% off coupon. SO exciting! Enough fabric to not only make the much coveted table runner, but also to make a couple pillows for my wicker chairs. And just the perfect match for my kitchen!

I'm sticking with 'Barn Raising'

Yesterday we spent a greater part of the day helping some friends' construct a garage on their property (visited previously). And by we, I mean Taylor. The boys and I did go up with him though, as did many other of the wives and children. The kids spent several hours playing on top of a dirt hill. One large dirt hill and about a dozen kids 8 and under.


The women sat around talking and eating. (Except Nannette the 8 month and 3 week pregnant one...she spent the morning attempting to induce labor by helping the men.) It really was a lot of fun I thought. And Taylor had a blast! He really loved working on the arches and putting up each one. They got 6 of 23 up in the five hours we were there. It was A LOT of work! The men are heading back up tomorrow for a couple of hours.

After the work was done three of the families were still there and we had pizza and swam in the slimy, grimy lake. The boys had a ton of fun playing in the dirt ALL day!

To blog or to swim?

Since my excuse for not blogging this week centers around the swimming pool...besides James' two swimming lessons we have only been swimming three times. That isn't even once a day...besides the swimming lessons. But when it is a beautiful 95 degrees outside and your husband forgets to turn the air on after turning it off, you really need to cool down. (Our house hit 84 yesterday before I finally thought, okay, I am feeling MUCH hotter than usual, which is saying a lot. Something has got to be wrong. Sure enough. 84 degrees.)

Sooooo, I guess I should post some swimming pictures so you can all enjoy the fun we've been having. I just have pics from swimming lessons, not from fun swimming, so none of Matthias today. But some will come. And both of my boys are very "brave" this year according to James. According to me, both of my boys are completely reckless and fearless this year. It's been a fun swim season so far...and it's just beginning!

Potemkin Village

I've been tagged...

1. What was I doing 10 years ago:
End of my sophomore year. About to have my first kiss. Almost turning 16 so I could actually legally have a boyfriend. Hanging out with "The Five", our group of five girl friends. Joining the soccer team for Junior year.

2. Five things on my to-do list today:
1. Swimming Lessons
2. Getting visit taught
3. Watching Emico
4. Buying plane tickets
5. Going to bed

3. If I were a billionaire I would:
Pay tithing, pay off house and cars. Buy a new swim suit. Get Taylor's chair. Give away everything else.

4. Bad Habits:
finally squashed the nail biting habit after 16 years. my other bad habits are fairly personal.

5 Five places I have lived:
1. Provo, UT
2. Conroe, TX
3. Voronezh, Russia
4. South Salt Lake City, UT
5. Bay City, TX

5 Jobs I have had:
1. Papergirl
2. Dishwasher
3. Sandwich Artist
4. Piano Teacher
5. Mom

James Speak

Because I am being lazy and I really hate having more than 20 emails in my Inbox (which is where I store the latest sayings of James), I cop out today with James speak...

Just arrived at our destination and realized the boys have no shoes.
Me: You guys have no shoes. What kind of crazy mom am I?
James: Our mom.

Me: We need to hurry. We're late to the Kroff's.
James: They will say, 'where are those Harveys?'

Me: I'm going to shut the door so the bugs don't get in.
James: But let the flies in. They're nice.

After acquiring this I was required to play Planet Heroes no less than 13 times per day. Finally...
Me: I really don't want to play anymore. I don't like action figures. I'm a girl. Girls like to play with dolls.
James: Dolls??

After dropping Matthias off at a friend's house so we could head to swimming lessons...
James: Why does Matt have to be watched? I love him and I want him to come.

Bragging

Just because I am so proud of my recently acquired digital scrapbooking ability...

Father and Son Campout

Taylor and James just arrived from the annual Father/Son Campout. I can't believe it has already been a year!



Can't wait until next year when Matthias is old enough to take along!

Spice it up

Taylor and I both dislike table salt. (Basically we are the only people I know who don't like it, so please speak up if you don't too!) However we love sea salt and use it on lots of foods. Yesterday I was discussing this with Kim and we got to talking about how many spices we have. She claims to only own five.

So today after purchasing some rosemary (for these yummy breadsticks I am making tonight) I took a spice inventory...

43 in all. Yum!

almond (ground)
basil leaves
bay leaves
black pepper
celery salt
celery seed
cinnamon (ground)
cinnamon sugar
cloves (ground)
coriander flakes
coriander seeds
cream of tartar
crushed red pepper
cumin (ground)
curry blend
dill weed
fennel seed
garlic (granulated)
garlic (minced)
ginger (ground)
italian seasoning
lemon pepper
marjoram (ground)
mustard (ground)
mustard chili onion mix
mustard seed
nutmeg (ground)
onion flakes
onion powder
oregano flakes
oregano (whole)
paprika
parsley flakes
pepper blend
pepper onion
peppercorn (indian malabar)
rosemary
salt
sea salt
seasoned salt
tarragon leaves
thyme leaves
vegetable mix

I really need a spice rack!

Beach

Here is a product from my Mother's Day gift Photoshop Elements. Hope I can figure out how to use it better! Oh, and the beach was a lot of fun!

Mother

Yesterday at the beach (which I will blog later) I was talking with the friend we went with who has two beautiful children. She asked if we wanted another and I said we wanted five. She said, "Don't you want a life?"

The answer of course is yes, but what is the definition of "a life"? Mine includes lots of hugs and kisses and babies and love. A house full of kids is a house full of fun and laughter.

My choice in life is to be a mother. To spend my days loving and nurturing. Cooking and cleaning. Teaching and playing. Laughing and dancing. Singing and scolding. Talking and praying.

My children are my life.

And I LOVE my life. Being a mother is top on my list.

Shower

Lately I have been really spoiled to be able to grab a shower while the boys are playing in the toy room. A really weird concept. I'm so in love with this method!!

And the best part (I thought) was getting out of the shower to silence. Thinking, they actually managed to survive for 4 whole minutes without me. Incredible.

However, I have quickly learned that all silence really means is Matthias is an accomplice rather than a victim.

Hey, its orthodontic

Some of you may be aware of the intense love James shares with his binkie. For those of you who aren't I can only attempt to explain. This love goes deep and is long lasting. James has spent every night with his binkie for the past 1190 days (this is NOT an approximation). At about 10 months of age he and his binkie were relegated to only spending sleeping time together. No more day time usage. Since giving up his nap about 3 months ago his time with his binkie dwindled further. Yet the love remained.

You could say his love bordered on, no, was obsession. Many people would give advice on how they 'broke' their child of a binkie. No, not my kid. I was sure there was nothing to do but be tough enough to stick out nights, days, possibly weeks of weeping and wailing. And maybe even teeth gnashing. This would take working up a lot of courage on my part.

Finally realizing I would be really embarrassed if James was still on the binkie when next we visited Utah, I braced myself. The binkie fairy picked up Professor Darkness (which James has wanted since this day). And I told James the binkie had to go, but something would come in its place.


During Family Home Evening the switch took place. James looked under his pillow and was ecstatic. James went to bed with no binkie. Not one whimper, nor tear. Not even a question why. Simply went to sleep. Haven't heard a word about it since.

WHAT!?!?!?!?

Then I remembered my son. He does what he wants when he is good and ready. He moves on without looking back. Examples of this include talking, potty training (day & night), no more naps, etc. Apparently he was ready to be done with the binkie. And so we sing the Hallelujah Chorus.

(Matthias continues his binkie habit...my bravery only reaches so far.)

Six word memoir

1. Write your own six word memoir.
2. Post it on your blog and include a picture if you want.
3. Link to the person who tagged you in your post
4. Tag at least three more blogs with links.
5. Leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play.

Read on:
"Seriously, what were you just thinking?"

Here is Jill's memoir:
"Who said you have to grump?"


Tagging...Sierra, Lesley, Kim, Mandy

Did you make your bed?

I'm one of those people who makes my bed everyday. As soon as I get out of bed. Or as soon as the boys allow it.

Back in January 2007 I had a resolution to not be so up tight. One of my specific goals for accomplishing this new state of mind was to not make the bed. Every now and then. No way I could go 365 days with an unmade bed. Can you imagine? I cringe just contemplating such disarray.

Throughout all of 2007 I probably left the bed unmade maybe 12 times, maybe 15. It was a stretch. It took a lot for me to look at that unmade bed those 12 days and not just make it. Just hurry and make it.

3 of the last 4 days I have left the bed unmade. And Taylor made it the 4th day.

I guess I really am loosening up. Or staying out of my bedroom during the day.

Chocolate

Girls' night. Lots of fun was had. Lots of chocolate was eaten. Yum!

Blogging fun

In case y'all need another blog to check, this one is fun. I really enjoy a lot of her posts. Especially this one. Makes loving our kids seem so fun, huh. I might go make some bread. Yum!

James Speak

Can I have some water? I am really, um really, uh, drinky.

James: Why did you call our Grandpa 'dad'?
Me: Because he is my dad.
James: I have a dad.

(We always tell James to go to the bathroom when he first wakes up. In the morning when he woke up instead of coming in our room like usual James laid down on the floor in the study. I went out to find him and asked...)
Me: Why didn't you come in our room?
James: I didn't want to go pee.

Sing, Sing, Sing, I like to Sing

Kim read an article in Parenting magazine (that I failed to find) saying singing to your kids helped them to listen and obey better. Like when you sing the clean up song from Barney all toddlers beginning cleaning up. Or at least some of them.

So yesterday I sang.

The results of my experiment?

Singing is very effective for getting my kids to stop a behavior. So shocking was my singing they would just freeze in place and stare at me. And laugh. Very effective for distraction and stopping behaviors and inducing happiness.

Not as a effective for starting behaviors. I would have to sing a direction several times for them to respond, if at all. The best method was when I sang "James, that's one." So I can't really attribute him putting on his shoes to my singing...it seems more related to my counting him.

The most hilarious instance however, was when I sang "James, stop pulling the books off the shelf." And James sang back, "No I won't, I won't."

Try it with your kids. It's fun.