The big six two

So Taylor just had his birthday. We celebrated with yummy chocolate cake and chocolate ice cream. He got some money to save for "the chair", a cot, and some new work slacks. Very exciting stuff. Plus technically the Jazz game counted as a birthday present as well.

We had cake and ice cream the night before. The day of he got home from work a little early so we did presents and had a delicious kabob dinner. Then a great friend took the boys for a couple hours so we could get out and have some fun before Scouts. (Same great friend picked up the present of pants. Thanks! You're wonderful!)


One of my favorite parts was James putting a "bow" on the cot. He was trying to tie this long ribbon he found in the present box around the cot. This conversation proceeded...

Me: Do you need some help?
James: No, this is a boy job.

Then when he was done he proclaimed, "Dad is going to be so happy. He will be so happy we got him presents."

And he was.

Accurate? Or no?

What Kristi Means

You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life. You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip. People sometimes think you're snobby or aloof, but you're just too deep in thought to pay attention to them. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong. You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know. You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do. You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life. You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home. You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Stress Reliever of the Day

Guess we can't have it all. According to this post no matter what we do our houses can never look like model homes. Glad I can stop worrying about that.

...maybe just one room. That no one is allowed to go in. And has no book shelves because that would really complicate the decorating scheme...

Family Fun

A couple weeks ago I took the boys down to the Houston Museum of Natural Science with some friends. On Tuesday afternoons admission is free, so it was a perfect time. They both loved the dinosaurs. We enjoyed walking through a science exhibit with some experiments to try. Another highlight was the African Animal display with tons of animals that had been stuffed. Matthias loved the monkey of course!!





Then yesterday we took the boys to the zoo. The weather was perfect (65, cloudy, rainy) so all the animals were out and doing. The baby giraffes kept racing across their enclosure towards the fence. It was really funny and somewhat nerve racking to have a giraffe running right towards you! The monkeys were the highlight with all their yelling and screaming. It was SO funny watching this one set of monkeys hollering at the top of their lungs for at least 15 minutes...the noise was carrying all through the zoo. One of the coolest animal experience I have had! Unfortunately we did not get a video because we have been to the zoo so much we didn't figure we'd want the camera. (Thanks Gma and Gpa Harvey for the zoo pass!! We have used it four times already.)

On the way home Matthias was doing a little dance in his car seat. Taylor said, "I don't understand how anyone would choose to not have kids. They don't realize how much of life they are missing." I agree. I wouldn't trade my boys for anything. They make my life the joy and wonder that it is. I love them!

Got Breast Milk?

Turns out I do. Look what I found in the freezer today:


Freezing breast milk in ice cube trays is an ingenious idea I got from a friend. Guess Matthias' missed out on a couple of good ounces. And the date there is referring to Feb 07, not 08.

Maybe I should clean out my freezer...

Egg Carton Singing

The boys and I love singing Primary songs together, so I made an egg carton into a singing game. We used a 18 egg count carton and print out primary songs really small on paper and then glue one song into each hole. Put in a penny or small toy, shake it up, look inside to find out which song to sing. The boys love it so much we made another one. You can have a lot of fun with 36 Primary songs!

(I got this idea from a friend.)

Journal Writing

I recently read an article in the Ensign titled My Journal, My Testimony which has inspired me to write a journal. As in a real journal and not my cop out blog excuse I have been using. The blog is great for recording family happenings and events. It is an excellent (and cheaper) alternative to a scrapbook. Plus I am a blog addict, plain and simple.

However, the blog is poor for recording my thoughts on long term decisions we are contemplating, personal spiritual experiences/revelation, and also feelings and goals related to my current life. Mostly motherhood, but also a relatively new wife and a church member.

Now if I am honest with myself I know I will not sit down everyday and write...with pen and paper. That is way to old school for me. Although through most of college I wrote in my journal daily, which is super fun to read now, I just don't do that anymore. So a more practical alternative? I am starting a new blog. My private journal blog that is invite only. And I am the only invite. (well, and Taylor knows my gmail password (but will not give it up even under torture, so you can forget that thought)).

A brilliant plan? Of course. I will start today and everyone knows my addiction to blogging. I want a record of the lessons I learn each day as a mother and how I work to improve. Something that may help my children in the future and will definitely help me now. A record of the thoughts and impressions that come to my mind and the many blessings I receive from the Lord. For a couple years in college I wrote down 4 highlights each day. I can now look at those words and remember vividly experiences related to each highlight.

So, thus I once again embark on a journal writing adventure. Wish me luck!