My Favorite Room

Have you been to my house? I don't really have a style. I wish I was more crafty and could decorate better. My sister, Julie, has a way cute style. She knows all about hanging things on the wall and putting things on shelves. She knows about colors and patterns, blah blah blah.

I thought I'd share my favorite room in our house. I love it because it stays clean, and it feels like home. I have lots of pictures and books and nicknacks.

Here's what it looks like from the front door. The book shelves were made by Jason's dad. They were in Grandma Hunter's house and we got them when we got married. I LOVE them!Here is a closer look at the top of the fireplace. Norah gave me the plant and the flag. I gave Jason the picture of the Temple when we got married. The pictures (left to right) - Jordyn and Tessa Christmas 2009, Steven, family pictures 2009, Jordyn and Tessa Christmas 2010, Jason and I on our wedding day, and new baby Hallie.This shelf is in the corner you can't see in the top picture. It was my Grandma Johnson's. She died along time ago and when my Grandpa died just before we got married the house got cleaned out and nobody wanted it. I know it looks like a "grandma shelf" but I love it. It belongs in my front room, like hers. These are my two favorite shelves in the entire room. My girls, Heber and Houston, a picture of my sisters and I, baby Hallie, and me...in the wedding dress. And last of all...The flag raising at Iwo Jima. Jason got this picture for his graduation. Isn't it beautiful. (It might surprise you to know that most people who see it say something like, "That's a cool picture of September 11th." HA!)
So, there you have it. My favorite room. Clean. A little bit of grandma style. Cozy.

Today...

Today I went to hear Julie Beck speak at a three stake meeting. IT WAS AWESOME! Today Leslie started a blog...check it out, follow her, leave a comment. (Those things make people feel cool.) Today Jaymie updated her blog and let everyone know there is a bun in the over, finally, I've been dying to post about that. Today I had a great dinner date with Norah. Today I went to dance and preschool with Jordyn and we learned about "toes in the back yard" and animals. Today I ATE LEFTOVERS! I never do that. Today was the second day in a row that I ate an orange. Today the girls had a new babysitter and LOVED her. Oh, and today I wasn't late for anything.

Today Was Great!

Eating Better, Trying To Anyway

Jason and I have been trying to make a "life style" change. I hate the word diet, and never stick to them, plus when it comes to chocolate or cheesecake I have ZERO willpower. And let's not even talk about what happens when the two things are put together.

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We decided to try Bountiful Baskets. It's a produce co-op. I've heard great things about it. I've been an little nervous about it though. I'm not a fruit eater. I don't know why, I just don't like it.

For $16.50 we got all of this... ($15.00 for the produce and $1.50 "basket fee"). I'm really happy about all that we got. Especially the pineapple! I'm not sure what to do with the chilies or the kiwi or the Asian pears. I think Jason will be excited when he sees all of this.

Music To My Ears

I spent the day cleaning. Almost six hours worth of work. And I finally feel better about all those sicky germs floating around our house. Anyway, while I was cleaning I pulled out my IPOD. I'm just really tired of listen to Dora la Exploradora. Enserio!

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I love music. I love how a church hymn can invite the spirit. I love how a cheesy country song can remind me of my Grandpa Johnson, or how grateful I am to be a mother, or how much I love the country I live in. I love how Jessie Clark Funk songs can remind me of my mission and the many things I learned while serving my Heavenly Father.

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Today as I was listening I wrote down some of the words that really stuck out to me.

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"I think I'll take a moment and celebrate ... "

Tim McGraw

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In the song he says "my age" but I should be taking more moments to celebrate lots of things.

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"You waved your hand and it was done. Said let it be and there it was. A mountain, so high, it broke through the sky. A canyon, so deep, it'd bring a man to his knees. I've seen what you can do, I've seen you make miracles and hopeless dreams come true. You made the Heavens and the stars ... "

Rascal Flatts

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If you haven't heard the first part of this song you should. It is beautiful. (The rest of the song is about a guy who wants the love of his life back and he knows God can help him with that.) How grateful I am to a loving Father who created such an amazing world for us to enjoy!

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"Talk is cheap and free advice is worth the price you paid."

Tim McGraw

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"I told you so."

Carrie Underwood

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"Times are hard and rents are high. What can a working girl do, but struggle through another day? . . . Then, I'll take care of you."

Dixie Chicks

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This is another really beautiful song. A wife who does her best, works hard, and just wants to "take care of you" (you know who you are!). Sometimes I feel like I'm not very good at this, but I hope that someone knows how much I love him, always think about him, want him to be happy, and try my best to take care of him.

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Last of all....My very favorite....

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"It's not about living another man's life, but seeing your own in a different way."

Rodney Atkins

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I needed to hear this today. I needed to be reminded that my life is good. I have all I need. I'm happy. My girls are happy. We're healthy (or getting there) and we love each other.

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Thank you cheesy country music for an uplifting day!

Tissue Supply

I used to have more than this, tissues that is. We've been going through a lot of them lately. (See below.)
This pile is only about two hours worth...

But, if she needs 100 tissues or 1,000 tissues to make her feel better then she shall have them. I mean, really, when you can get a "thumbs up" from the sick one then things must be a little better.
The truth is, Jordyn seems to be doing much better today. Her fever is gone. She has been up and playing much more today, oh, and fighting with Tessa. She still has a terribly runny nose (as noted by the tissues above) and her appetite is still not that great. But, she is currently eating a frozen corn dog. One more step in the right direction.

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Thanks so much for all your thoughts and prayers. I know they've helped!

Today I'm Mad At . . .

. . . ME!

Jordyn is STILL sick. In fact, today she is worse. And actually, I've never seen her like this before. Except maybe way back when she was sick with Foot and Mouth disease.

So, we had the gross eye stuff going on for a couple of days. She hasn't left the couch for three (3) days. (That's a long time for a little kid to sit.) She complains about her stomach hurting. She sometimes says that her head hurts. Tonight she had a fever (101.8) and she was totally out of it. For the last week or so she's had some "girl problems." I'm not sure what is related, or if anything is related at all....The fact is She. Is. Sick.

I took her to the doctor today, and he made me feel TERRIBLE! He said, "Well come on Mom. What took you so long to bring her in? Runny noses go away on their own. "Girl problems" do not." I was feeling terrible. Really.

Then tonight I went to a primary meeting and left the girls with my Mom. I thought about staying home, missing the meeting, keeping the girls home. I Should Have Listened! Jordyn called me part way through my meeting crying that she didn't feel good, wanted her mommy, and just wanted to go home. UGH!

My Dad and Jason gave her a blessing tonight. (Oh, I'm so grateful for the Priesthood!) She's sleeping now. Her fever is down a little. Tomorrow will be better.

And hopefully I won't be so mad at myself for being such an awful mother.

1-11-11

Only so I can remember this day.

Dumb?

Probably, but really, when will I see it again? Oh yeah...in about 10 months or something (11-11-11). I'll post on that day too.

This morning I put these beauties on the bunk bed. A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E. And talk about Spoiled! You see Gammy (A.K.A. Jason's Mom, Norah) surprised the girls with matching bed sets. I love them. They are so soft and comfy. The girls love them. They went to bed so easily tonight because I reminded them that they get to sleep in their new beds. What lucky little girls!

Today Jordyn stayed home from dance and preschool. She doesn't know. I didn't want her to be sad. I just thought that one more day of resting would be best. She's doing much better. Her eyes are mostly cleared up and she had a lot more energy today. But still, we watched only about a million episodes of Dora. Ugh!

Then there is this beautiful little creature. My sweet Tessa. She seems to being doing better today too. We are, however, having a napping problem. She always falls asleep around four or five in the afternoon. Then she's up all night. Drives me crazy. But still, I love her. She loves Dora too, but more than that, she LOVES books. Good thing Aunt Leslie was her today. I bet they read twenty books.And, on this super exciting day, this is what we had for dinner. Looks pretty gross in the picture....Grapes, cheese, rolls, and Western Family Pasta Sides. Can you have a pasta side as your main dish? The girls ate them up. Actually, they ate everything except the rolls, which was my favorite part. To drink...Sprite.

So, there you have it. Happy day! I'm actually glad it's over. Sick kids are hard. Staying home all day is hard. Although, the weather has been so cold that I don't really want to go anywhere. I guess that's life. Hard days and easy ones. Fun days and not so fun ones. But mostly happy ones...