Lost

No, I will not be referring to the wildly-popular-yet-its-on-Wednesday-nights-so-I-never-see-it TV show... I am referring to a library book -- Adam Sharp to be exact.
I DREAD library day, and no, it's not because Spencer is less than quiet in the library -- but that I have to go on a hunt for library books. And we get no small amount of library books in OUR family -- this last time our total was 27, which is actually low for us.
So, we can't find Adam Sharp -- Operation Spy School. It's one of those stupid early reader chapter books that are insanely small... and easily lost.
I am thinking we don't need to get many more of those at the library.
AND I am totally freaking out that it is so lost that I can not find it.
And Drew's not answering his cell phone. Conner mentioned something about Drew and sorting and this book...
Life is hard ladies...

Lehi's Dream

To those of my readers who are not LDS -- this is a diorama from a dream had by a prophet in the Book of Mormon. You'll notice that Winnie the Pooh and his playmobile friends are holding to a fence (aka, rod of iron) which here, represents the Word of God -- and if they hold to the fence they will make it to the tree which is the atonement and eat of the tree's fruit which is the blessings of the atonement. Behind them you'll see a rushing tin-foil river (representing Hell) and then a "great and spacious building" representing people who are prideful and are mocking the people who are holding to the rod and making good decisions. Conner made this tonight for Family Home Evening. The Yuens came over, and they were noteably impressed with his skills. He did a great job with his family home evening, and to celebrate we had fruit and chocolate. Mucho yummy. Thanks for a great FHE Conner.

For some reason the pictures in the post above can't be clicked on... wanted to make sure you got a nice, up-close view. :) 

An overview of Lehi's dream 

The rod of iron 

Another new one... I thought the pictures on the layout weren't crazy enough -- I needed to add some more color with AC paper. :) 

I love Mondays

Ok, totally know that I'm a freak -- but I just feel like it's a fresh start on the week, etc. I get up early, mop my floors, read my scriptures, take a shower -- all before 7:30 so that I am not dealing with Spencer drowning in the mop bucket (it happens, don't laugh).
So, everyone take the fresh start of the week and do something great.
I hope to...
(usually this happy attitude leaves about 12:25 when i pick-up Conner). :)

Resolute

Ok, so my little cold turned into a coma and back to sinus blech has put a bit of a damper on my resolutions. Last week was out, I was lucky to be able to chew rather than prepare a gourmet salad.
Yesterday I had a big plan to walk, but Conner had his concert, and then I made a DVD out of it so Drew could see it. And, let's just say no walking got done.
So... today I stand here resolute to continue with my goals, take sudafed every 4 hours today, drink lots of water and get rid of this yucca.
AND, I have a sitter tomorrow night, may even work tonight -- seriously, I have GOT to get out of this house and be me for a few moments.

Not the best of picture... but I think I did OK... 

Not only a designer

Now, my "title reads" -- freelance designer AND WRITER for Better Homes and Gardens Scrapbooks Etc. :)
Sure, it's only 200-300 words... but that's WRITING, isn't it?

This is our Chrimstas card, and Christmas "message" -- and now, if you didn't get it -- you can enjoy. Or, if you did get it -- you can enjoy it again (if you can read it -- font's pretty small). 

Cornerstones of my "fitness" program

Ok, so I've been doing the resolutions ok so far. With the cold last week I didn't work-out or eat salads for lunch... but even though I am still not feeling up to par I am back on the wagon and I wanted to remind myself of my cornerstones
1. I am not a pig. I will follow the "fist" idea of a serving size. I eat too much too often.
2. Fruits and vegetables are the base of my program -- salad for lunch is just a great way to get a big serving of the vegetable category in. Woo hoo.
3. I need to work-out every day. Church is my work-out on Sundays. My work-out should be varied and I should enjoy it.
4. It's about fitness and not about weight loss. I just hope it's an added benefit.
Anyone have any fitness cornerstones they want to share?

Priorities

Drew and I have been trying to read our scriptures together on Sundays. We were in one of those chapters where they remind us the world is going to end -- a bit of a fire and brimstone type idea. However, they always mention the bright side -- that families are forever -- so, whatever happens during that time of conflict won't matter as much because our families will always be with us.
I have a hard time remember this. I mean, if I don't WIN Hall of Fame my life very well might fall apart, and let's not even TALK about what will happen if I cancelled for my next shift. I take things too personal and too hard.
Families are forever, and that's mostly what matters. The rest is small stuff. Remember that Hilary.

Ok... if your card's not here, don't freak out. I had some serious space limitations... but it's fun to flip through each year and see how everyone's grown, etc. It's hard being away from family, but we're dealing with it. :) It's great to have so many good friends and it is SO sad to go out and get the mail this time of year, with no cards in it... sigh, I'll be ok... no... I'll be fine... {sniff, sniff, cough}. 

ok, a new layout -- featuring the things I do for Conner (if any of you remember that particular blog entry). Look at me being able to post my layouts again... silly HOF rules. 

This is Hilary on steroids

Went to the doctor yesterday (basically need to be on my bed to PAY to see a doctor -- I see plenty of them for "free" at work). She put me on some albeuterol and steroids. I did the WHOLE NIGHT without a coughing fit. Let's have high fives all around, feeling MUCH better -- and my lungs don't burn every time I cough now. Wooo-hooo...
On a brighter note, I do believe I have the hardest job (I, here, am referring to the job that I receive no monetary compensation for) in the world. Drew's been doing it for a bit and I'm pretty sure he's ready to hand-in his resignation. Lucky for him.
I'm on steroids.

Give me a Woo....

Give me a Hooo....
Raise your hands... {clap, clap, clap}
Stomp your feet... {stomp, stomp, stomp}
Hil-a-ry's entry's in
I just can't be beat,
NO WAY {wild "no-way" gesture}!
LETS GO!!!!! (sparkly, jazz fingers)
Priority mail with delivery confirmation.
Put in a little ziplock (to protect against wetness) and covered in chipboard).
$4.55 spells relief in our house.

Shut up and do something

Ok, so Mary Ruth posted on her blog a good deed that she did that made her feel good about herself, so I thought I'd share mine. It happened last year when we were at Disneyland. I had the kids and were taking them for a potty/diaper change while Drew went on Tower of . There was a line for everything and I had to stand it both to get Conner in the potty and then to get Spencer's diaper changed. This poor mom had a screaming child the whole time. Yes, it was annoying, but because I was trying to deal with my own potty issues I didn't take much notice, but as I was changing Spencer next to her I noticed her child had a total blow-out and she was just trying to clean him up and make the best of things. People in the bathroom are JUST glaring at her, she's trying to get her wipes out of the travel case (we all know how annoying that is) and keep the baby on the table, etc. The baby has a HUGE diaper rash (later learned it was from antibiotics he was on). No one's lending a hand. So, after I change Spencer's diaper I ask her if I can hold the baby while she's cleaning up. She looks up with tears and thanks me profusely. It was easy on my part... and I know that the poor diaper situation (not to mention the glaring women) was her whole day (expensive day, that is). So many of those women didn't have their hands tied with kids and could've helped out, but instead they starred.
Now, I am totally aware that I'm a "stare-er" at times and should be more willing to step-in and help out. It was definatley a reminder of what a little help can do for a person.

I'm cold

The cold is winning, I am turning into the cold. If I cough any more I am going to wear dentures, I'm sure of it.
On a brighter note when you have no energy to leave your computer, you can finish your hall of fame layouts (printing, labeling, supply lists, etc.) now, if I only have the will to go to the post office tomorrow (hoping I won't sneeze all over them).
Spencer's worse off than I am. I am afraid we may be making a trip to the doctor tomorrow. Mucho-lethargic. He'll only wake-up and giggle if you tickle him (which, is the reason I didn't take him tonight). Poor kid.

Gettin' lucky

Ok, sometimes you have to look at the bright side of life... and frankly, I should probably do it more often.
I'm sick, Spencer's sick and I fear Conner's considering it (mostly fearing it because he has his first big field trip tomorrow). However, it's finals week at the HS and Drew could be home by noon every day.
I'm just glad to have a buddy to help me, and feel sorry for my fevered brow.
And... I think that my fever will give me plenty of opportunity to stop cleaning and type-up my journaling for my HOF pages. I am a with plans. :)

Lara TAGGED me... and I'm fairly sure I am the LAST tagged person EVER...

4 Jobs You Have Had in Your Life:

1. Worked at the Malt Shoppe making shakes
2. Worked at the Cannon Center (college cafeteria) doing just about anything
3. Worked at a nursing home
4. Worked for a pediatician in an "after hours care" clinic

4 Movies You Could Watch Over and Over:

Beaches
Steel Magnolias
Seriously people, I can't stay awake during movies, or stay on the couch (putting off cleaning) long enough to watch them...

4 Places You Have Lived:

North Provo, UT
South Provo, UT
North Santa Clara, CA
Mid- Santa Clara, CA

4 TV Shows You Love to Watch:

Project Runway
America's Next Top
The Office
ER (sad, but true)

4 Places You Have Been on Vacation:

Hawaii (BYU Bowl Game)
Washington DC
Tuscon, AZ (BYU Bowl game)
Vancouver, WA

4 Websites You Visit Daily:

Two Peas In A Bucket
My friends blogs (coughcoughlarahsneezecough)
Pink Martini Lounge
Creating Keepsakes.com


4 of Your Favorite Foods:

Fettucine Alfredo (crazy Lara, are we the same person?)
Pastrami Sandwiches
Nachos
Pizza

4 Places You Would Rather Be Right Now:

Asleep
Scrapbooking a ROCKING good page
Asleep
In a massage chair...

I am tagging no one, because I feel all y'all's pain (and, I don't think I know anyone that hasn't already been tagged).

H.H...Hello... is this thing on? Am I in here?

I am just feeling so lost lately. Thankfully I worked on Wednesday which is a place I just have to know what I'm doing and move on... but... OK, so I'm entering the CK Hall of Fame Contest (Scrapbooking here friends... feel free to move on to yesterday's entry). I had my layouts done and now I just feel like I can't make any decisions, can't do anything on my own. I mean... it's me who's gonna win this contest, not my friends (and I mean "win this contest" in a purely dramatic fashion, not as if i expect anything from my priority mail envelope which will, hopefully, be sent out this week).
I had a very bad outcome from the last time I entered. Frankly, my peeps, I'm used to winning -- well, things that I put my whole heart into. That hasn't been quite as true since I left college, but I was all about winning before then.
So, I have decided (and this IS the last time I'm entering, I'm only doing it this time so my friend Lara will win and so that I can get over my Hall of Fame phobia) that I am going to put my whole heart into this entry, so I'll just have some smashing pages out there. But, to know that I submitted my best is a nice feeling in it of itself, and although a few days, here and there, have been mildly stressful I have enjoyed stretching myself to do their challenges and seeing what my peeps thought of my entry.
My parents are here... I think they think I've lost it, and I vow not to scrap til' they leave on Tuesday. I do believe it is finished.

What I Like About Me

Ok, so my friend Sophia did a blog challenge to write what we like about ourselves. This is not even something I normally think about (kind of like writing a blog about quantum physics). But, I'll think real hard, and maybe come-up with a few things.
I like how organized I am (most of the time). I am glad that I've finally learned that if everything is in its place it's a huge timesaver, and that cleanliness may well be next to godliness.
I like how I scrapbook. 'Nuf said. Ok, well I also love how my kids love the albums -- that's nice too.
I really try and be a good friend, I may not be, but I try.
I think I'm a good nurse. I feel I really take my patient's needs into consideration and I also feel I am a HECK of a lot of fun to work with. Also, I think my humor helps my patients carry through such an awful time.
I try to be excruciatingly honest in my dealings with others (if not always with myself). I hope people know that I will be true to my word. Period.
Ok, that's all the time I have to think about myself. Now, I'm going to go through the kids books and see if there's any trashed enough to toss. Good times peeps, good times...

What I Like About Me

Ok, so my friend Sophia did a blog challenge to write what we like about ourselves. This is not even something I normally think about (kind of like writing a blog about quantum physics). But, I'll think real hard, and maybe come-up with a few things.
I like how organized I am (most of the time). I am glad that I've finally learned that if everything is in its place it's a huge timesaver, and that cleanliness may well be next to godliness.
I like how I scrapbook. 'Nuf said. Ok, well I also love how my kids love the albums -- that's nice too.
I really try and be a good friend, I may not be, but I try.
I think I'm a good nurse. I feel I really take my patient's needs into consideration and I also feel I am a HECK of a lot of fun to work with. Also, I think my humor helps my patients carry through such an awful time.
Ok, that's all the time I have to think about myself. Now, I'm going to go through the kids books and see if there's any trashed enough to toss. Good times peeps, good times...

So much for me being a good mom

Ok, so I've had this ham hawk (is that how you spell it) sitting in my freezer since our church Christmas party and today I realize I have 2 things left on my "to eat" list and one of them is the soup, and it's cold so I think that'll sound fine. Get everything ready (before school, mind you) and pour it all in the pot. Didn't realize I had to soak the beans. Hence, I just ran to savemart, bought some canned beans, fished out the MILLION other beans and poured the canned beans in.
I was reading Sophia's post about how one decision can either make or break you. I also thought about how reading ALL the directions is SO important.
I am a scanner, I scan most things, to get the gist of it and then move on. I think, sadly, a lot of that comes from nursing.
Just a little reminder to myself that some things truly need to be READ, and some things can be scanned, but a navy bean recipe ain't one of them.
Wish me luck with my bread maker this afternoon. :)
Hilary

My little Mommy Secret

Ok, I'm gonna post this on my blog, in hopes that no one thinks that I am insane as perhaps I really am. BUT... I keep a journal for my kids. It's not so much something that I plan for them to look back and remember all the good times with, but more to remember what happened when, etc. What they like, what they don't like, if they're teething, if they got a lot of ear infections. And I'd have to say that with my second it's been a lifesaver to read the entries from Conner's. To know what he was saying, and when and to know that he too didn't want to exert word preferences in his high chair, just scream is comforting. Anyway, I highly recommend it to all you moms out there. I just do it once a month and it takes about 1/2 hour to do the both of them.
Now, you can all sit back in awe of my anal retentiveness. :)

Done with Thanksgiving... thus far. Notice AGAIN hand-written journaling. I think I'm just trying to say, "THIS LAYOUT IS NOT FOR HOF." 

I am obviously in a very stripe-y mood as of late. And check out the hand journaling. I like to step out of my little box every now and then... 

Please don't judge me by my shopping cart

First off, I'd like to annouce that fruit snacks are on sale at Albertsons for 1 dollar each. The Betty Crocker brand (which includes scooby doo, Ninja Turtles AND Elmo... HELLO). So, today I have about 10 boxes of fruit snacks and fruit by the foot, 3 boxes of kellogs cereal, Batman spaghettios and some bisquick... oh, and a bag of salad and some cheese buried down below. As I was staring at my cart during checkout I was thinking, "I hope no one judges a person by their shopping cart." Thankfully, we have a great produce stand where I get most of my vegetables there and then the rest comes from the grocery store.
How often do I judge a person by their "shopping cart?" Probably way too often, if I were to be honest. I don't care what they bought last week, I don't care where else they shop, but I'm just looking at the total crap in their cart and thinking what a bad parent they are. Ok, not literally... I barely have time to look in anyone else's cart while I'm at the store (usually with Spencer) perusing the bargains and trying to make sure I've got the best deal, but more in life.
Just a little reminder... and next week I promise to be better...

In case you care...

I'm just one more layout closer to my job title of "Freelance Designer for BHG Scrapbooks Etc."
Tee hee....
P.S. It's just a layout in their Baby Idea Book...

K, just love this layout... my kids sure are cute... 

Still going strong

Just wanted to start my blog off by saying that I am still going strong on the resolution. Even on a day I worked, yesterday, I did 10 minutes of pilates (I know it's not much, but I am kind of busy on work days) and ate my salad (I put a little swiss and salami in it -- and I mean a LITTLE, but it was yummy -- like a club salad kinda).
So... last night we had a fetal demise, almost term. We all just sit around and marvel how moms who have smoked (do you smoke ?) can have a perfectly fine baby and yet other moms just have weird things happen, and their babies die. I wonder how God decides who gets which trials and the funny thing is, that those moms smoking , perhaps those babies will be their biggest trial, whereas other moms would've counted that as their greatest blessing. I know in my heart that God will even it all out in the end.

Here... on my third (really, it's the second) day of resolution...

I am still (on day 2) rockin' my resolutions. I walked today, and even went under the train tracks and back up for a little buns work. I also had a trusty salad for lunch. I made some home-made croutons with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. Yummiola.

Ring Out Wild Bells

Welcome New Year. Conner and Drew are both back to school today (seriously, no mail and my kid's at school... whatev) and I am seriously on the ball. I even did my Flylady zone for the day, using the Shark my mom gave me (in LOVE with it) to vacuum the front porch area.
Yesterday we had church in the dark. Different experience, don't really recommend it when books are your main attraction for your 2 year old in sacrament meeting. Lots of storms here in CA, luckily we're more in the "central valley" rather than the north... in case anyone cares. We've had a lot of rain, some downed power lines but that seems to be about it.
So, with the new year I have some resolutions, and we all know that screaming them out in a public forum, like a blog, can only enhance my want to do them.
1. I'm gonna work-out every day, except Sundays. Walking, mommy and me video, the aerobics classes at the rec center... you name it, I'm gonna try it. And I'm gonna do it every day.
2. I'm gonna start having salads for lunch and I am going to learn some new salad recipes to enhance my salad eating. I'm always throwing together myself a lunch and I might as well throw a salad together, rather than cheese with mayo.
3. Drew and I are going to read the Book of Mormon together this year. Most likely that will just be reading together on Sundays but trying to keep up with each other.
4. I am going to write an article for a Scrapbook Magazine this year. Uh huh... totally out there, but I thought I'd have one to fail at so my other 3 I could keep strong with.
So... anyone have any great salad recipes? Anyone have any new years resolutions they want to share?

Internet was down for like 8 hours today. I almost had a seizure. :) 

2 new layouts from today...