The Kaylee Olympics

My second post of the day! I know I know - I should get a life or clean my house! :) But I couldn't help myself. This is so precious! So we didn't get the first on video which of course was the best - but I have even cropped the video for your viewing enjoyment (love my mac).

So we are watching the couple skate and Kaylee jumps up and does a triple-toe-loop. (didn't stick the landing though) She continued to entertain. Here are a couple of snippets.

Mia joined in with her sister. :) And in the first few clips you can see A FLOWER CLIP in her hair. This is HUGE. She hasn't allowed me to put a flower, bow or even a barrette in her hair for about 2 years now. I am so excited! It might be the same pink one for a month or two, but I am undeterred!

My White Trash Garden

This is my White Trash Garden. I don't think it gets any more White Trash than this. LOL.

See, when you plant lettuce - it goes to seed. This is all from two plants 2 years ago that threw some seeds - that lettuce stayed in the border dirt so I was ok. Then they threw seeds. On a windy day or two. This is my lettuce. I make Dustin mow around it. I will say there is NOTHING I like more than lettuce in a garden because it is so low maintenance and I love being able to go and pick lettuce when ever I want some. :) When I buy it - it often goes bad in the fridge. SO this is perfect. :)

Strangling Your Husband Is NOT an Option

Strangling Your Husband Is NOT an Option - by Merrilee Boyack is a book that I have been reading. Given to me by my mother in law :) At first I was a little - "WHAT?" and "How rude!" But I actually LOVE the book.

So I admit it. I often think about how I can be a better MOM. But rarely if EVER a better wife. I mean to me, we don't fight - and if I keep the house clean and the dishes/dinner done I am a good wife. I am a looser I know. But I have a super easy hubby. :) So I can get away with no even doing the above all the time :) LOL.

Anyways, it is a super good book - fun and funny and an easy read. I recommend it to anyone. (It's a deseret book - so not at walmart)

Anyways here is a snapshot of what I have learned SO FAR (first 1/4 of the book) (Yes I have only read 50 pages) (I am not a reader)

Let's Start out with a QUIZ

Are you Married to our Husband or your Kids?

True or False

Do your children stay up pas 9:00 or 9:30 pm in the main family area?

Do you go out with your hubby, without kids, at least 3 times a month?

Have you been gone overnight with your hubby & without your kids in the past year?

Think about the last time you bought your kids a treat - do you buy your hubby a treat just as often?

Analyze your conversations with hubby when it's just the 2 of you - do you spend more than 50% of it discussing the kids?

There are 5 do's and 5 don'ts of wifehood.

One is to have girlfriend time yourself and encourage him to go out with the guys sometimes.

- Encourage him to go on a fishing trip with the guys - when he goes all his buddies will talk about what they had to do to get to go - or the honey DO list waiting them - or how their wife won't let him live it down for the next year. Your hubby says - "Gee - my wife encouraged me to go!" They will all call him "LUCKY" and he will think - "yeah, I am lucky"

Which wife would you rather be? The NAG or the one that is happy for your hubby? :) (I have been guilty:) Mostly when he goes to play bball or ski when I WANT TO - but can't cause it's just the guys. :)

Compliment your Hubby alot. To others and him. FLIRT WITH HIM. Do things you did when you were dating. :) Don't get lost in "just the kids" DON'T Bag on your hubby with others.

LOVE THIS QUOTE

"Most husbands are out there every day fighting the dragons, and when they come home at night they want their wives to be proud of them, appreciate their contributions and sacrifices, believe in them - be on their side. . . He needs to understand that he is number one in her live above all other people." (Dr. Victor Cline)

BUT THE MOST HITTING of all so far - was this:

If you were dead and your husband was looking for another wife, would he pick you?

Gosh - I am not as fun and nice as I probably was when we dated. Gee- would he still pick me? Or someone with my qualities? Or would he "learn". LOL. Seriously, this one REALLY got me thinking.

Our kids need us. But so do our hubbies. I think too often we think they need to suck it up because they are big. I have been better about thinking about him lately. I have left a love note or two. I have tried to be nicer and more supportive. I am having fun "souping" up our marriage. (it's a car term ladies for adding cool extra's)

Anyways, a thought for you - not just for Sunday or this weekend :) But forever. :)

Seriously it is a great book. :)

Be jealous (& valentines idea)

First of all, if you weren't at an enrichment a year ago - I got a whole 5 min to present something I had spent FOREVER and a DAY preparing - (Yes I am still bitter) Did I mention that I cut OVER 5000 pieces of paper for it? It was about cheap dates. I did this HUGE list of "easy to plan dates" "takes some planning" and "I put some thought into this one honey" dates.

But my FAVORITE was the "game" I made. I had this whole idea of a couple playing it and having a ball - BUT have found that the best use of it is to stick the little bag of question cards in my date car glove box - and pull it out when the conversation is "lacking." It is fun cause it asks all sorts of random questions of you and your hubby. You are supposed to guess the answer of each other and then see if you know your hubby well. (There are some more "involved" rules if you desire) Anyways, I put it on idea door and have had a few people ask for it. One is featuring it on her blog in March (I feel proud!)

And she has a give away I am going to go ahead and enter so I am giving her blog a shout out here to her blog http://www.keepinthecastle.blogspot.com/ and also to the blog I must mention for the giveaway : http://little-inspirations.blogspot.com/ They both have some GREAT things - but I super love the valentines and even "super bowl" ideas on the last mentioned. CHECK IT OUT! (Someone needs to teach me how to do the cool link thing. . . )

Here is a sample picture of some cute stuff on the site: LOVE LOVE The use of candy canes!

And I really want to do this lamp she posted.

Anyways, so if you would like a heap of date ideas or you would like the other game mentioned - you could use it for valentines day . . . you may send your requests. I will email it to you. :)

OK LASTLY, while looking at the keepinginthecastle site I saw this picture and craft:

And my brain got thinking of this checker board (ok it was chess) but it was done with black squares and then small black and white pictures for the "white spots" it of course was all fancy and had glass top etc. But I thought - HEY I could combine these ideas and have my pictures modge podged on a board like this! How easy! Better yet, I could even Hang it on a wall if I liked it enough when done - and we just get it down to play :) (I don't have a coffee table or many table space at all really so I would have to :)

Anyways, thought that was a fun idea. If anyone thinks it is a fun enough project and would like to do it with me - email me and we will set up a craft night. :) It would be fun. :) (For my far, far away bloggers - if you would like more specific instructions let me know) ;)

Confessions of a Bargain -aholic

Ok, this is hard to admit. But I am Kristina and I am a Bargain-aholic. It is true. I won't go into all the specifics. But there are clothes in my closet that still have the tags on. In my defense I "revamped" my ward robe over the last 2 years and before that I hadn't had any new clothes since High School and a few in college. (I am 31 so that is 10 + years) FYI I do NOT count the $60 maternity wardrobe I bought at Savers (like goodwill) as "New". Then I was either pregnant or breast feeding with beasts that wouldn't fit into a shirt for really 3 years - so the last 2 years are the only ones that I have been able to "enjoy" my body again.

Not to mention the fun of living in a 700 sq foot apartment and off a teacher salary THEN moving "up" in the world to a house and having a sugar daddy for a hubby instead of being his sugar momma. Anyways, long story short, I have had a lot of fun shopping the last few years.

I recently set the goal not to buy me anymore clothes. My PROBLEM is that I can go into Kohls with my 30% off coupon and find cute shirts or pants for $3 each. Sometimes I do pay $5 but I NEVER pay over $9 for a shirt. OR $10 for pants. I admit it is fun when people are like, "cute shirt" and I get to say "thanks $3" :) Kohls is not my only weekness. I can find deals like that at sears - and target - wherever. I am just patient.

Anyways, I regret SOME of my purchases, but not all. But now I realize it is TIME TO TURN OVER a NEW LEAF. I need to save up for a bigger house so I can buy more stuff. (I am kidding about the last honey -he reads my blogs :)) I have never put us in "debt" we have never not payed off a credit card in full every month. BUT I have NOT SAVED as I should.

So last month I have vowed to eat up the "3 month supply" of food storage in our pantry and only buy the food I need that the grocery store. (After all I have well over a year supply of freeze dried food. - no I won't share :)) I haven't bought things I don't need. Oh yeah - another confession - I have a year supply of EVERYTHING. I do mean EVERYTHING. Laundry soap - TP - even birthday presents for friends, kids and family on and prob a 2 year supply of baby shower gifts.. I love deals. It's ridiculous. (Yeah, if you are ever in a bind and need any of the above gifts for 5 - 8 bucks but look like you spent $15. I am willing to sell my stock at the super low prices I got em for :) LOL.

So it's a strange place for me to be in. We don't NEED anything. I don't need gifts, I don't need home decor (I could always do more, but have vowed to stop.) After all, I have projects I have not completed you know.

HERE IS THE BOTTOM LINE: It has only been a month, and I am embarrassed to say how much money I have already "not spent." I won't say because my hubby reads this blog :) LOL. And I SWEAR that I don't spend as much as I saved last month. But ya know - if you aren't out shopping - you don't buy the Wendy's lunch - even though I only spent $4 total -you don't buy - yep you don't buy. :)

So this is a year quest for me. I realize I have "stock piled" for long enough that this is NOT as hard as it would be had I decided to do this a year or two ago. But I challenge you to do a little better. You will be so happy with the results. I really don't buy that much - but I realized it does add up. End of the seasons are worse for me :) LOL because of the clearance. :)

SO I RAN ACROSS THIS

http://asamom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/freedom-friday-jan-22-2010?xg_source=msg_mes_network

and let me tell you it is a great idea. In short it is a 21 day "financial fast" and I think everyone should try it. I think the rules are a little harsh - and I would bend a couple. (ie if I cook dinner at home every night for a week - I earned a pizza night :) But besides the 2 rules I would bend - I would STRICTLY keep to the rest. You might be surprised to see what you "don't spend". I was flabergasted after just 1 month. I am curious to see if it is the same for next month. :)

I am motivated. And it is liberating to see a BIG savings. Try it, I am curious how you do and how it works for you! Let me know! I just MIGHT share my "didn't spends" with you. :)

"Funny" childhood memories or "Up Hill Both Ways"

MY SISTER BLOGGED A LIST OF DON'T WHINE FOR HER KIDS - I STOLE SOME OF HERS BECAUSE I LIVED THROUGH MOST OF THEM TOO. ADDED MY OWN. THEY ARE JUST FUNNY MEMORIES FOR ME.

I didn't OWN a car with powersteering or 4 doors untill my 2 child was born.
I didn't have a cell phone till I was 31 I still don't have texting.
I wasn't allowed to drive till I could change the oil

I had to take the drivers test in either: A TRUCK with a 3 speed clutch, A LONG HUGE VAN (couldn't parallel park that baby) or another car again a CLUTCH. (flunked parallel parking and backing around the corner with that one - cause the reverse in that clutch was either 10 miles an hour or nothing) STILL PASSED THE WHOLE TEST THOUGH:)
My dad had me drive the car all over town running errands for him at age 15 -
My Dad (aka stake president) interviewed/intimidated all my dates
We got new clothes ONCE a year b4 school

But at Christmas we did get silky undies from grandma - and a sweater.
We didn't have sprinkler system. We had to move sprinklers every half hour around our 1 acre lot It took 6 hours a day NO KIDDING

It took 3 1/2 hours to mow the lawn - even on a riding lawn mower

The mower once slipped out of park while emptying the bags - I tried to stop the huge thing rolling down the hill towards me - almost killed me!

I once got behind the car and tried to push it up a snowy hill as my dad drove it up the hill. I would push and slip and fall, push and slip and fall - honestly the car could have rolled back over me and killed me at anytime.

We had to hand wax the van every year

We also waxed a boat that was older than all of us combined.
I cleaned behind to door handles with a toothbrush on the cars
Pressure washed the driveway....in the rain or snow...down to the road (a good quarter mile long driveway)
Worked at a 7 -11 since I was 12. Ran the register from that age too. Was of course robbed once - when my parents and family were in another state! and I had to sleep alone that night - I was so scared he followed me home.

I always found it funny that I would work in downtown North portland by my self late at night often until midnight or 1 am - but I had a very strict curfew of 11pm.

If we didn't put our bags in our rooms after school Dad THREW them off the deck. Papers flew everywhere and were often subject to sprinklers. (Off 1 story deck and it would then roll down the hill.)
We were allowed to have a friends over for a birthday party every other year.
My Mom washed my hair till I was about 10. She didn't think I was capable of "doing a good job."

We used to RENT VCR tapes and the VCR PLAYER and dad would bring it home in a suitcase.
We worked every single Christmas morning/afternoon in the 7 -11 so the employees could be with their families ( I really liked this though)
I have been DROP KICKED 2 times and only 1 time did I deserve it.

At age 9 my dad and I painted TAR HOT TAR all over the concrete walls for the basement. Took 1 -2 FULL days as i recall.

When I was also 9 my father had me and my 110 lb pregnant mother (and him) carry up a HEAVY and HUGE jaquizi tub up a flight of stairs. (with out any spindals/ralling I fell nearly a story to the ground. ) He still doesn't call people over to help him move stuff. :)
I didn't have my "own" car until I was 26. Never had a car in college. I had to be the mooch :)

I once saved up for a toy I wanted that was 16 bucks and we only could earn 1 buck a week. By the time I got to the store to buy it, it was on clearnance. )

I once pulled 809 canadian thistles for a penny each. (Everyone hated pulling them because they were so stickery. So I did. My mom stopped me at 809 because she didn't want to pay me anymore money.

I have worked 12 hour days in the yard. How? Well, my dad had a big SPOT light he would get out so that we could work until 10 pm. sometimes even 11pm. We did it all for a Hagen Dauze SP?

I didn't even have friends over once a month (until I turned 16) In fact i was invited over to a friends house "just to play" in 4th grade and I thought that was a majorly cool concept I had never experienced before. (except for every other year birthday parties. ):

I shoveled a how truck load of chicken poo into the garden on my 16th birthday.

I used to have to help my dad clean the roof. I was more there to call 911 if he fell. But would also have to reach HIGH above my head to catch a 10 gal bucket full of gutter clean outs - I had more than one fall on my head and that stuff STINKS!

There was a summer I worked 2 full time 40 hour jobs. I would have to be to work by 5:30 am every morning to build motherboards for freightliner trucks - drove directly to my 7 -11 job and worked until 12 or 1 am and headed home to be up the next morning. I was so tired I often slept with my head on the shelf for our 10 min breaks. :) And in the car on the way home - yes I drove. :)

So these are some of my "Funny" child hood memory. :)

**FEEL FREE TO ADD A FUNNY CHILD HOOD MOMENT OF YOUR OWN!