Happy Birthday, D

D celebrated his 34th birthday on Sunday. We had dinner with his family and the kids and I even made the cake! :) In honor of my humble cake-making abilities, here is what makes D 'cook'! :)

*Gives great hugs
*Is taller than me
*Will help me fold laundry
*Puts the kids to bed
*Picks me up from work at 12:30 in the morning because I'm too tired to walk
*Encourages me to ride with him on his motorcycle
*Uses the office computer because I'm hogging his laptop
*Did the dishes last night (and lots of other nights)
*Keeps the cars running
*Let's me sing along with the radio
*Watches romantic movies with me
*Loves to cuddle on the couch
*Is a great listener
*Is a great friend

I love you! Happy birthday, babe! xoxo

Finally, Something I Can Manage...

In the vast expanse known generally as 'the blogging world' women and men of the world come together to share details and personal aspects of our lives...putting these emotions, pictures, thoughts, concerns, vents and frustrations out in the open in hopes to relieve some pressure, somewhere. I must admit, I've enjoyed the creative outlet, even if only for myself. Thank you to the handful of you that tell me you enjoy this, too. I've gained a greater strength for myself, knowing that if I can blog about, I can laugh about it. And that's so much more fun than worrying!

Anyway, along with all the cyber-support we give each other, I have found some amazing resources in this new cyber world. I've been overwhelmed with emergency preparedness for a few years and trying to get (and keep) our family's food storage and emergency supplies and have been clamouring for SIMPLE and easy ideas of ways to do this when you have a small space and an even smaller budget. A sight I frequent, one of the contributors was recently made "Emergency Preparedness Leader" (I think) in her ward and what did she do?? She started a blog!! :) It's just barely been up but she will have weekly assignments to make a daunting task seem more manageable!! Thank you!! I encourage all of you to visit this sight and take advantage of simple advice. I know any small progress is still progress! :) And, if any of YOU have other ideas or resources, please pass them on! I'm always looking for great advice!

Rachel A-Z

A friend did this on Facebook, so I decided to do one here. Enjoy!

A
- Available: for what?? ;)
- Age: 30
- Annoyance: slackers
- Animal: small dog
B
-Beer: dunno
-Birthday: 5/23/78
- Best Friend: they know who they are
- Best feeling in the world: content
- Blind or Deaf: blind
- Best weather: sunny
- Been in Love: Still am
- Been on stage: in grade school
- Believe in Magic: sure
C
- Candy: Milky Way Dark
- Color: yellow
- Chocolate/Vanilla: chocolate
- Chinese/Mexican Food: Chinese
- Cake or pie: cake
- Continent to visit: Europe
- Cheese: Ementaller (type of Swiss)
D
- Day or Night: day
- Dancing in the rain: not too crazy about it
E
- Eyes: hazel
- Everyone has: drama
- Ever failed a class: nope
F
- First thoughts waking up: Ugh
- Food: chocolate
G
- Greatest Fear: disappointing someone
- Goals: run two 5Ks before summer
- Gum: Orbit
- Get along with your parents? Yup
H
- Hair Color: today it's brown. Next week...dunno
- Height: 5' 6"
- Happy: generally
- How do you want to die: in my sleep
- Ice Cream: Tin Roof Sunday (or anything at cold stone)
- Instrument: piano
J
- Jewelry: My wedding ring, a necklace D gave me for Christmas a few years ago
-Job: Mom, OR nurse
K
- Kids: 3
- Kickboxing or karate: kickboxing
- Keep a journal: yes
L
- Love: passionately
- Letter: scarlet :)
- Laughed so hard you cried: whenever I'm "with the girls"
M
- Milk flavor: chocolate (no ice, thanks) :)
- Movies: love them
- Motion sickness? nope
- McD’s or BK: Artic Circle
N
- Number: 11
O
- One wish: financial freedom (not rich, just enough)
- Oldest friend: Amy - I will never forget my very first day at a brand new school, first day of the school year, 6th grade. Amy sits across from me, looks over at my name on my paper and says, excitedly, "Is your last name Bartschi (saying it correctly)?" I just stared at her. "Yes." Then she replies, "My last name is Durtschi!" We figured we were practically related. We've been friends ever since.
P
- Perfect Pizza: pier 49
Q
- Q-tip's: necessary
- Quality or Quantity: quality
R
- Reason to cry: never need a reason (Extreme Home Makeover, Biggest Looser, House...)
- Radio Station: 99.5 usually
- Roll your tongue in a circle: yup
- Ring size: 9
S
- Song currently listening to: none
- Shoe size: 9
- Salad Dressing: raspberry vinaigrette
- Sushi: never tried
- Skinny dipped? yup
- In the shower? body wash
- Strawberries/Blueberries: Strawberry
T
- Tattoos? nope
- Time for bed: when i get there
- Thunderstorms: love them
U
- Unpredictable: children and weather
V
- Vacation spot(s): Redfish Lake ID, Italy
- Verb: love
W
- Weakness: chocolate
- Which one of your friends acts the most like you: Brook
- Who makes you laugh the most: All of them, and then when we get together...? Watch out!
- Worst feeling: loss
- Wanted to be a model: always knew I didn't have the body
- Worst Weather?: cold rain
X
- X-Rays: a few
- XTC: no
Y
- Year it is now: 2009
- Yellow: sings
Z
- Zoo animal: monkey
LAST PERSON WHO…
1. Slept in a bed beside you? Daryl
2. You went to the mall with? Eliza
3. You went to dinner with? Daryl
4. You talked to on the phone? Teresa
5. Made you laugh? Mom
6. Hugged you? Daryl
7. Said they loved you? Daryl
8. Held your hand? Lydia
9. You spoke with? Lydia
10. You cried over? Nannie Gay

Thanks, Brook! I loved reading yours!! But, ice with milk? Really??:) Anyone else, feel free to give it a go!

March Madness

I love college basketball and the last few years I've really gotten into actually watching the "madness" that takes over March! I have yet to actually pick or have anything to do with picking teams for any kind of bracket. I am soooo far from lucky and I hate throwing that back into my own face. :) But, along with all of the March Madness, MMB is sponsoring a HUGE giveaway!! I mean LOTS of stuff, cool, fun awesome stuff!! Check it out here! Good luck!!

List of the Day

So, I'm notorious about making lists: lists for groceries, lists for chores, lists for daily/weekly/monthly/bi-monthly/quarterly/bi-quarterly/semi-annually/annually tasks, budgets. You get the picture. It was inherited. Actually, there was a running joke in my family: If there was something that needed to be done (assignment, church calling, family event, meeting), just tell my dad and he'd make a chart for it! He's instilled in me a love for neatly organized papers and a love for seeing things clearly on paper. My favorite program on the computer? Excel, and the Table Maker in Word.

My downfall? Following through with my own personal organization. Nine times out of ten, I will forget my grocery list when I go to the store. I struggle with a budget because so many things come up that we weren't anticipating (we need to build more savings, and that's a whole other post). I make Chore Charts then forget to follow through with them... on and on.

But, I resurrected my Chart-Making capabilities the other day to make a Chart of things to be done during the day, to help everyone help me so I don't feel like I'm the only one doing everything. I made it big and colorful and presented it to the family last night.

Eliza read through the whole thing and was so excited to start her Chores that she insisted she start right now! "I love cleaning the bathroom! That's my favorite!" So, I helped her get started. Who am I to deny my daughter a clean bathroom experience? She did a great job, too.

What was the first thing she did this morning? Ran to the fridge, "Let's see what our chores are for today! ... What? I have to make my bed on Sunday?" Maybe I can share with her the Art of Chart-making. She'll make a great Chart-Maker.

What's Next?

I'm in a writing rut, experiencing writer's block, whatever. I've had a hard time the last few weeks finding energy putting my thoughts together.

We've all been sick and passing it around and I can't seem to get my energy back. I stayed home sick from work two days last week! But, it's not really a "sick day" when you still have a toddler to look after. Luckily, the weather has been so great and we've been able to enjoy the playground more.

On a fun note, L has conquered the potty. :) Actually, we were running low on pull-ups and I DID NOT want to buy any more. So, I bought underwear instead and we just did it. And she did great!

Anyway, that's all I have for now. :)

From the Mouth of Babes

My father sent this to me in an email. I wanted to keep it forever!! So I'll let you all enjoy it, too

WHY GOD MADE MOMS
Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:
Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.
How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.
What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.
Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mom like me.
What kind of a little girl was your mom?
1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.
What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?
Why did your mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.
Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.
What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.
What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.
What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.
If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

Moving On

"Dear Plus-Size Clothing Store,
I'm sorry, but it's over between us. I realize that we've had a long and complex relationship throughout the years, and although you've seen me through many (size) changes, I feel it's for the best that we make a clean break.
For far too long, I've relied on you to outfit me for any occasion. I think my dependence upon you was born out of comfort -- I knew that I could always find something that would fit me, and for a time, it really didn't matter what that was.
Those times are over now. My closet is full of your fashions in every possible size. The things I have currently will be more than sufficient to sustain me through my weight loss, and I simply cannot justify spending any more money on clothing (especially when I have no intention of fitting into it a month or so later!)
Instead, I will be saving my money so that I can go on a *major* shopping spree once I hit my goal weight! Until then, I will wear what I have, and if I really truly *need* something, then I will buy it at a "regular" store.
It's been a good long run, but it's time for me to move on."

I couldn't have said it any better.

Husband Tag

Where We Met? On-line, then for the first time in person, he picked me up for a date.
How long did we date before we were married? Just a week shy of one year.
How long have we been married? 3 and 1/2 years
What is my favorite thing about him? Lots, but he gives great hugs
What is your favorite quality about him? He loves being with his family
What is his nickname for you? Hello, Nurse!
His favorite food? Rice and anything else I put infront of him (except bananas)
His favorite sport? He likes to watch all kinds of sports, but if he could, he'd play golf as much as possible.
Who said the "L" word first? He did :)
First Kiss? In my car, saying good bye to each other, right after he asked my Dad if he could marry me. It was accidental. We were both turning to say good-bye and kiss on the check and we both missed, obviously :)
Favorite Couple thing to do? Watch movies while eatting popcorn and drinking hot chocolate and cuddling on the couch.
How many kids we have? Three: one boy, two girls
His hidden talent? Keeping me warm
His age? Almost 34
His favorite music? Classic rock
What do You admire most about him? His ability to stay calm and level-headed when I start to worry. Also, his whole-hearted, unconditional love for me.
His favorite past time? He says Dating me, which I don't doubt, but I think it would be computer/video games, if he had time.
Will he read this? Definately :)

I tag Amy, Jill, Jacque K, Amber, and Scarlet

6 Random Things

I was tagged

1- Post the rules on your blog. 2- List 6 random things about yourself. 3- Tag 6 people at the end of your post. 4- Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

**I'm a "practical-shoe" person. A few black, a few brown, a few sandals, just enough basics to go with each outfit through the year. However, when it comes to bags...all rational goes out the window and I can justify about any bag/purse purchase. The most I've ever spent on one, though, was $80 (fun and green Prada).

**I like to collect old books, books that look like they could be in an old library, but I don't usually read them. I have a collection of classics that my grandmother gave me that look really nice. I should read them...

**I clean when I'm agitated or board or just need something mindless to do. I always love seeing the finished result.

**I love office supplies (see the post about Costco)

**I enjoy making lists and organizing things. I'm going to alphabetize my DVD's after I finish this.

**I need to do better at sticking to my "lists" to keep myself "organized" :)

I know I'm "supposed" to only tag 6 people, but it's my blog so I'll do what I want. I can't wait to read all of yours!! :) Thanks, Jenny. I can't wait to see pics of your new house!

Alida, Teresa S and Teresa L, Amanda, Melissa Hansen, Jamie, Amber and Mariam!! :) Enjoy!