Pin It Tuesday

Pin It Tuesday!

I used this book as a template for my Sunday Blog Series.  Some of them were silly questions, but I did them anyway.  I figure it'll be a good addition to my records when I print my blog book at the end of the year.

Don't Be An Angry Bird

We've been working on learning that we choose our feelings.  I was really excited to find these finger puppets because I had an idea.  So late, late one night, I wrote a poem/story called "Don't Be An Angry Bird."  I'm gonna test it out with the kids and cousins and then maybe use it for preschool.  I wrote it for my kids thinking we would use it for family night or something.  I'm gonna post my poem but please don't judge me as this may be my best work.  Poems and drawing aren't my strengths so as silly as this story may be ... it certainly could have been worse :)

Don’t Be An Angry Bird

By: Joey Tracy

The sun came up and the birds went out to play.

Mr. Polite Pig asked to join them today.

The first bird scrunched his eyes down tight.

“I am an Angry Bird and I use my eyes to fight.”

The next bird said, “We don’t want to play with you.

I use words to fight.  I’m an Angry Bird, too!”

The third bird made his voice very loud.

“Go away Pig!  You can’t fly in the clouds!”

Mr. Polite Pig asked Bird Number Four,

“Can you help me Bird Four?  I can’t open this door.”

Angry Bird Four wouldn’t even reply.

He flapped his wings and flew on by.

Pig and Bird Five were left to be last.

“Bird Five, let’s play now and have a blast!

We can take turns with toys, what do you say?”

Bird Five stomped his feet and marched away.

Mr. Pig was all alone out there.

He said, “I can be happy everywhere!

No matter what happens along the way,

I will choose to be happy every single day!”

Angry Bird One heard Mr. Pig’s song.

He thought maybe being angry is wrong.

He straightened out his face and went back to play.

“I’m not going to be angry.  I’ll enjoy this day!”

Angry Bird Two saw Bird One go back out.

He thought it might be more fun not to pout.

“I’m sorry for my angry words, Mr. Pig.

I’m going to use nicer words while I grow big.”

Angry Bird Three was sorry he raised his voice.

He apologized to Pig and made a better choice.

He thought if he tried to keep his voice down,

His friends and family would not need to frown.

Angry Bird Four said, “Ignoring you wasn’t nice.

I’ll try harder to do better and always think twice.”

Now Angry Bird Five saw everyone back at play.

“I wonder if I can change my whole day.

I’m sorry, Mr. Pig, that I stomped my foot at you.

I can be more patient and share the toys, too!”

Mr. Pig and all five birds were playing in the sun.

Mr. Pig exclaimed, “Choosing to be happy means we all have won!”

this is me

this is me

How are you different today then you were 10 years ago?

During the summer of 2002, I was trying to find a job on the East Coast.  I really wanted to move back there and be a nanny.  So I did it.  I was only there a few months, and it was a LONG few months.  I turned 19 in New Jersey.

I was different because I was ready to try almost any adventure, and move anywhere to do it.  Now, the adventures I crave are at home ... wife, mom, cooking, blogging, teaching, crafting, making our house a home, hopefully increasing our family population at some point, etc.  In 2002, I had more aspirations to be a public figure than I did to be a homemaker.  I wouldn't say I settled or changed my mind, but for everything there is a season.

How are you different today then you were 5 years ago?

In 2007, I was a year out of college and bought my first home.  Then, I decided to change career fields.  I left the credit union business and went to Deseret Industries. Deseret Industries opened a whole world to me of people and lifestyles I hadn't really encountered, let alone, worked side by side with.

I was different then because my main focus was on Relief Society (my ward) and being an aunt.  I loved the sisters I got to work with and the bishoprics were awesome!  I learned so much about the Relief Society and how to really serve in a calling.  Now, I'm making another occupational change that will remove me from the world of D.I. and put me at home.  And, the time I used to spend going to ward activities and meetings has been replaced with being a mom.  I still have a calling, but it's not my main hobby anymore.

How are you different today then you were 1 year ago?

Last year, I was drowning.  I felt ungrateful.  I was overwhelmed.  I was confused.  I had gotten just what I wanted but didn't know how to deal with it.  I had expectations that were through the roof.  I was spread very thin and felt like I wasn't good at anything because nothing had my undivided attention. 

I was different then.  After some time has passed, some help (family, friends, therapy, and RX), and a lot of self-talk, I've learned to enjoy each day ... pretty much.  I know I'm not good at everything and I can laugh it up.  I do what I can and sometimes I don't do what I can.  But, my family is healthy, basically happy, and not hungry so what else can I do?

How are you different today then you were 1 month ago?

Last month, I was getting a little overwhelmed again.  Apparently, I struggle when I feel like I am out of control and don't have a specific plan.  Some of my co-workers tease me about my lists and organizational skills but really, at work I can keep things pretty much the way I like them.  Now, in my personal life, patience is a lesson my soul fights.

I was different last month because I was being too critical of my life, and WAY too impatient.  Now, I've got a little perspective.  Oddly, life is much more enjoyable when you get a little perspective.

Summer Olympics

Another example of the stuff we'll be sneaking in to our Summer Olympic celebrations!

Summer Olympics

Abbi and I used up 3 glue sticks to make this big of a paper chain.  Fun to use for the cabin for us or to hang at home if we'd be there to watch the Summer Games.  Easy and fun way to celebrate the Olympics.

V is for VARIETY

V is for Variety

 I like stuff.  I have a hard time focusing on what I like because I like a lot of things.  It makes me feel a little unproductive to move from one thing to another without much to show for it.  Here are a few of my current favorites:


Insurgent

Ender's Game

Pinterest, of course

Organizing

Splash Pad

Learning Time with the kids

Walking Daisy

Petting Tank and Toby

Piperoll

Uno

Finger Paints

Stewart Little

Junie B. Jones

Mom and Dad

Brothers and Sisters

Bed

Writing

Summer Olympics

Here's another activity we're going to be doing to celebrate the Summer Olympics with our cousins.

Pin It Tuesday

Pin It Tuesday!

I love this idea of the fabric in the sewing hoops.  So easy, especially with NO sewing.  And, it could easily become a seasonal decoration!  If I wanted to try harder, I could embroider the hoops I hung on my wall.  I used vintage colors and patterns to go on my avacado green walls.  I'm debating whether to add more, add something else, or rearrange them.  My life is so hard.

Summer Olympics

The Olympics start on Friday.  There are a few things we're going to be doing with the cousins on our family vacation.  We'll share them with you too!

this is me

this is me

What do you remember about your honeymoon?

In the Salt Lake City Airport, the morning after we got married, we ate Sbarro Pizza.  Then, we flew to San Diego.  Our hotel was a block in front of the train, and one block from the water.  Upon check in, the hotel had warm cookies.  The warm cookies were also available every time we could sneak one on our way past the front desk.  What I've mention so far are meaningful stories.

We went on a dinner cruise our first night there.  The Dramamine and the smooth boat ride put me to sleep after dinner.  Whoops.  I was awake enough to watch a lot of awkward/drunk people doing a lot of awkward/drunk dancing.

Maybe on the second night there, Jake made us go on a horrible errand.  Remember the Sbarro Pizza?  It was still in me.  Along with whatever else I ate since the previous Thursday.  That's a lot of food.  I only told Jake because it was a little funny but he takes the role of caring for his family quite seriously.  So .... Walgreens or whatever was the stop we made.  Cranberry Juice and Mirolax or whatever that's called.  Because I like fancy drinks, I insisted on whip cream, too.  When we got back to the hotel, Jake whipped me up something quite nice.  NOT!  It wasn't nice.  It was yuck yuck.  I whined and begged and tried to negotiate a way out of the beverage but it didn't work.  My advice, don't tell Jake if you're backed up.


We spent a whole day at the San Diego Zoo where we bought the kids stuffed animals.  Noah's turned out to be his favorite little guy to have in bed with him ... A hippo he named Num Num.  We toured some cool boats and submarines, including the U.S.S. Something or Other.  In the submarine, we looked out the spy hole and saw some inappropriate PDA happening on the top of the boat next door.


We had lots of yummy meals, especially one that was a late breakfast for us but opening lunch time in Little Italy.  Delicious.  Authentic, thin crust pizza.  That was by far my favorite pizza in this lifetime.  The Cheesecake Factory was yum, too.  I really like the walk over there because of the mall .... Crate and Barrel, Anthropolgie, Nordstroms (where I got some awesome shoes but made it an unfortunate event for a lady on the escalator), etc.

One afternoon, I wanted to go out exploring but Jake was napping.  He woke up to join me on my unplanned adventure.  Not that he wasn't happy, but the nap was his first choice, he trudged down to the lobby with me and we picked up warm cookies on our way out the door.  I'm not sure why, but my cookie was gone in a flash.  As we rounded the corner I snatched Jake's cookie and shoved it in my mouth.  Fourteen months later, and that's pretty much all he remembers from our honeymoon.

It was pretty awesome to spend so much time with Jake, uninterrupted (except by a right-wing nut job who wouldn't stop calling my phone).  It was relaxing and fun to be able to mozy around with no real set-in-stone type plans.  I liked it.  I like him.  A lot.

U is for UNIVERSE

U is for Universe

I'm scared of space.  I don't like to think about the universe.  I'm not sure why, but when I consider the infinite amount of space, or even just our own solar system, I get very scared.  It's like if I think about it, I might get stuck there.  Or, I might end up there with  no way home.  Or, if I fly there, then I'll get out of the shuttle and be abandoned and have to burn up there and die.  Or, the shuttle when never make it back to Earth and we'll run out of food rations.  Or, the other people with me will find out I'm not actually an astronaut, which would make me a useless individual to take into space.

I'm not a fan of the pictures that compare the sizes of Earth to other planets.  It scares me, too.  Maybe I have something opposite of claustrophobia.  But, that might not be 100% true.

I really like a book called the Kolob Theorem.   It has some neat pictures and describes some really cool ideas.  But I wouldn't ever care to see the views in space with my own eyes.

Also, why isn't Pluto a planet anymore?  If it already had it's status as a planet, what's the use in changing it?  The queen of England doesn't have the same purpose anymore but we don't stop calling her the queen.

Life is rough.

Pin It Tuesday

Pin It Tuesday!

I love FONTS!  I had no idea how people were using them ... and frankly, I still don't know how to do it on my blog ... but I figured it out in Microsoft Office.  This could become a serious addiction!

 

this is me

this is me

What do you remember about your wedding day?


1. Woke up with no time for breakfast.  Wendy took me to the salon where Tiffani made me beautiful.

2. Came home to my house to see Jake in his suit.  Curled Abbi's hair.  Put on my wedding dress, good thing RaNae was there.  Gave Abbi her special Vintage Pearl necklace.

3. Rode with Jake to the Timbermine.  It felt kinda funny.

4. Saw my family already there making the place beautiful, just that way I wanted it.  Loved it.  My uncle was there and took some excellent family pictures.

5. A lot of great people came.  I was a little overwhelmed.

6. My dad got the party started, and then we got married.  It took like five whole minutes.  Then I cried, and my makeup streamed down my face.  Apparently, I looked horrendous because my dad was appalled.  Jake gave me a hanky.

7. Jon Schmidt played and we loved it.

8.  Lunch came, and I missed it, but I got to talk to everybody just how I wanted.

9. We had yummy cupcakes and did more visiting.

10.  Then, we left the mess for my family to clean up, and the kids went away for the weekend, and we headed to Salt Lake.

11. I opened the cards on the way to the hotel and finished when we got there, so excited for the gift certificates we could use in San Diego.

12. I gobbled up the tuxedo strawberries and the sparkling cider because it looked beautiful on the table.  I don't think I saved any for Jake.


The end.

Things Jake say happened on our wedding day:

1. Bishop Hatch said "Boss and Bride." (Jake blames a lot of things on what "Denton said."
2. I shoved cupcake straight up his nose.
3. My make-up was horrendous after the crying.
4. I started playing a thumb war with him during the 4 minute ceremony.
5. I ate grilled cheese for dinner at the hotel and apparently that's not very adult-like.

T is for Time

T is for Time

How would you describe time?

Today, I would define it like this:
It's an asset.  It's a resource.  You can't have more and you can't have less.  It can't be saved.  It's valuable.  It's a gift.  It's finite.  As much as it can be measured, it can't.  You never know how much you'll get.

The past director of Deseret Industries talked a lot about our "wildly important goals."  And, we would consider how much of our time was spent on those goals.  A statistic I heard, a lot, (I heard 59% of statistics are made up on the spot) was that 80% of our time is spent on 20% of our people.  Which wasn't really a positive thing because usually that 20% who get my attention, are getting it for less than positive reasons.

When I consider my wildly important goals, I'd dare guess that 80% of my time doesn't go towards them.  I figure that's a good reminder once in a while to see how I prioritize my time.

WEEKLY
 23% work
2% commuting
1% driving kids
2% at church
25% or more in bed
4% getting ready
 57% of my time

 Where is the other 43%?  72 1/4 hours a week are floating.

In college, I took a class called Cultural Studies, or something.  It was maybe one of my most interesting classes.  The projects were my favorite.  One project stipulated that I had to go at least 24 hours with no clock, and with no concern for the time.  It was a Latino study that teaches how to focus on people rather than time.  In America, we rush around to classes, work, and other appointments trying to get everywhere and get there on time.  This project said that you go where you need to go, when you're ready to go there.  If you get delayed, or stop to talk or help someone, that's just part of your day, then you go to your next thing when you're done.  I think it's a people-focused life, which is a good life.  If I think about how the Savior spent His time, it seemed very people-oriented.


Not to relate Latino people with the poverty culture, but after working with and studying the culture of poverty for the last five years, I have learned that time is not a resource or asset that is valued or a priority.

I guess, that's a good goal for this week.  To use my time wisely.  To focus on the right things.  To take advantage of the time I have, because you can't control how much time you get.  I'm going to focus on my family.  I'm going to spend time increasing my testimony of the Savior and the Gospel.  I'm going to show a little more love than I usually do.  I'm a happy person, so I'm gonna spend my time doing that.

just a few spots left!

Little Duck Preschool

Preschool for ages 2-4 years old.

Tuesdays and Thursdays

10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

$3.00 per class

Spots are going like crazy!  We have only 2-3 left!

Email me for info and registration:

littleduckpreschool@gmail.com

Pin It Tuesday

Pin It Tuesday!

I totally tried this.  Well played, Google.  Well played.

Chuck Norris - Google Search

www.nochucknorris.com/

There is nothing beyond the scope of Chuck Norris. .... Google won't search for Chuck Norris because it knows you don't find Chuck Norris, he finds you.

best BBQ ever