February Surprise Continued.....

Here are a few more of the quotes I've pulled out of the jar from Todd this month. It's been so fun!

1. "We're such a great team! You're strong in all the areas that I am not." I wonder sometimes if those strengths and weaknesses are equal. I don't think so. He's definitely stronger in so many more areas than me.....but I DO have some real doozies on him. :) Hopefully they bear more weight in the end, so it does seem more even...hee, hee.

2. "You're a terrific mother to our children. My admiration for you continues to grow through the years." I wasn't sure if I should include this one on the list for everyone to read.....sometimes I believe that, other times I don't. So I'll just say, "Thanks, honey. I know I have a lot of improvements to make, but I'm trying." (Although I did make cinnamon rolls again, so that's got to count for something, right?)

3. "You have the 'pure love of Christ.' Charity is second-nature to you." That's just plain sweet.

4. "You can be quite fliratious when you want to be." That's probably true (and that's all I'm going to say about THAT)....

5. "You file our tax return every year. How cool is that?!" It's VERY cool! Totally awesome! It helps that I LIKE doing it though, so he's just lucky! (But don't ask me to do anything hard. My knowledge of tax-return stuff is very basic and limited. Luckily we don't own our own business or have real-estate. Otherwise, he'd be doing it).

6. "Nerds and free-spirits unite! You're the best with the family budget!" This is in reference to a Dave Ramsey course we took together. Very imformative, by the way. But basically I am the nerd (because I'm obsessed with the budget---and sticking to it) and he's the free-spirit. Although he isn't a total spender (luckily), or I'd never survive. And by the way....I'm PROUD to be a nerd!

7. "Being with you is my greatest stresss-relief. When things get crazy for me, I find great peace in your arms." That's funny because that's exactly how I feel about him. Weird how that works, huh?

8. "Your willingness to sacrifice. Who else would drive 5 hours from Rexburg to see me?" Before Todd's mission, I went to Ricks and he went to BYU for a year. Probably 90% of those weekends, I drove from Rexburg to SLC.....but sometimes I'd even go all the way to Provo to be with him on Friday night. I think he came up to Rexburg to see me once.....but who's counting? I got the guy in the end, and that's all that matters! (It sounds like I totally chased him down, doesn't it? But if I recall, he wasn't complaining).

9. "You let me get the 'A' in our marriage prep. class at BYU." This is just outrageous, but so true! We took a marriage prep class together when we were engaged. We shared a book. And by "sharing" I mean, he had it 30 % of the time and I had it the rest. He got an "A" in the class....and me? I got a "C." He's so stinking smart. But I've always said that between us, we'd have a "B" marriage. That's better than average, right? (I guess I just needed more "on the job" training)....

These have been so fun to open each day. And I still have 6 more days to go. Thanks so much, honey! I have loved every one of them!

Boy #5

When I was pregnant with my 4th boy, I had an interesting experience. I was at Kmart filling a prescription with my three younger boys in tow. When the pharmicist noticed I had 3 boys, she asked me if I knew what my 4th baby was going to be. This, of course, was a very common question among strangers and I replied, "It's another boy."

Her face lit up and she said to me....."How lucky you are! 4 boys is a wonderful thing. It is considered to bring you GOOD LUCK." (She was asian, by the way).

That wasn't the response I was used to, of course. Usually people would get wide-eyed and shocked when I told them I would soon have 4 boys. And I would find myself waiting for it....the inevitable comment and look of sorrow for me. And to be honest, it WAS hard on me that I was going to have another boy. I DID want a girl (only one, mind you), but one nonetheless. But this day, this pharmacist made me happy and for a brief moment, I did feel lucky for the opportunity of getting to raise 4 boys. I forgot in that moment how badly I had wanted a girl and she made me realize how grateful I should be and how lucky I really was.

When I was about to leave, more light-hearted than when I had come, she said these parting words. "But don't have 5 boys, that's considered BAD luck." I remember thinking to myself...."Oh, okay (DUH).....I'll see what I can do." (---like I really have any say in the matter).

I have thought about that experience off and on over the several years since it happened. I don't think I recalled it right away when I found out I was yet to bear another son.....boy #5. But I have thought about it many times through the years.

How could a boy as sweet as my little Jacob bring me bad luck? I could never trade his existence EVER (even for a little red-headed girl).....



Every day when I drop him off to Kindergarten, my heart melts as I watch him get out of the car (by himself), shut the door behind him, wave goodbye with the sweetest smile you've ever seen, and then literally RUN to the front door of the school. He plants his feet firmly on the ground and then he's off.......running, not always looking back. His hair blows as he makes a quick haste. His little legs carry him quickly and his boots dig in the grass to propel him faster. I already miss this about him. The time is so limited that I have to witness such a sweet sight. And everyday it is slipping away faster and faster.

These pictures probably don't do justice, but you can kind-of see what I watch every day. It is something very close to my heart.


I'm sorry, but that pharmacist was wrong that day. I am lucky to have 5 boys. I love telling people now how many boys I have, if only to get a reponse out of them. Once in a while I get a "congrats," but most of the time, I still get the shocked looks and the "I feel so sorry for you" pity in their eyes.....but they don't understand. I feel sorry for them for their narrow way of thinking.

I am proud to be a mother of 5 boys. And I think I AM lucky!

February Surprise

Before I start this blog entry, I just wanted to announce that we FINALLY got a new computer. The monitor is soooo awesome and nothing like our last one. Our new one is THIN and WIDE. Our other was THICK and MONSTROUS. It took up the whole desk (well, the back of it did). Ignore the dust.....(This picture was taken in one of our kids' bedrooms, because it was there while we did our basement).

Side View

Front View

And here is a picture of our NEW one....sleek and clean! (And downstairs on our much nicer computer desk)...


Pretty cool, eh?

Now onto the real reason for this blog today. A couple of years ago, I did something called "The 14 days of Valentines" for Todd. It's when you do something nice on each day for your spouse the first 14 days in February. I got the idea from an old friend of mine, who faithfully does it every year for her husband.

It was fun the year I did it.....I left balloons in his truck one day, little love notes on the bathroom mirror, "10 things I love about you," and other similar things. The problem for me was that I had to be nice for 14 WHOLE DAYS.....IN A ROW! (That's a stretch for me). (mostly kidding).....

Anyways, the next year, I told Todd it was his turn to do it for me. (Which by the way is not how it's SUPPOSED to work.....I'm supposed to do it EVERY year....willingly even, but alas, I've only done it once.

It's been a couple of years for Todd's turn now (yes, I've been holding out) and on February 1st, Todd gave me a jar (which looked oddly familiar---I had given it to him a few years back) with a bunch of little notes inside.

I exclaimed, "You're doing the 14 days of Valentines for me?" Todd said, "Not exactly." (sigh). "But, it is similar." He went on to explain that I get to pick out one little paper each day for THE ENTIRE MONTH of February. (That's longer than 14 days, isn't it?)

Well, we're almost half-way through. And I've got to say it's been so fun! Although this is the easier route of the two, right? I mean, he only had to come up with (well, okay 28 things), but only at one time.....which means he only had to be in a giving/loving mood once and then he just got to reep the rewards. Hee, hee....I'm only kidding, honey.

Here are a few of the notes inside:

1. "You try to follow spiritual promptings and you encourage me to do the same." I asked him when have I ever done that? He got a funny look on his face and said something like, "You DO do that, don't you?" Kind-of funny.

2. "You help the kids with their math homework. What a relief!" Very true!

3. "Even though you dated all of my friends, I can say that I'm the one who finally got the girl!" True also!

4. "Our home is a place of peace, comfort, and beauty. I owe all of that to you." This one I questioned. I'm not the easiest person to live with and I wouldn't say I'm full of "peace" all the time. He responded, "No, I meant that our house is nice and you've decorated it well, so it's peaceful and comfortable and beautiful." That definitely made more sense. I knew it wasn't because I radiated "peace." :)

5. "You are the Queen of Bargain Shoppping! The deals you bring home are nothing short of amazing! Sometimes the stores pay us!" And I didn't even think he was paying attention. Usually his eyes gloss over when I tell him about the "great deal I just got!" BUT, this one is VERY TRUE and it's nice to have him notice!

6. "I know that I can always lean on you. You support me even when it is not easy." I would say that's true 90% of the time. I have my moments where it gets hard to have him gone so much, but I do know that he's exacty where he should be and I really do try and support him as much as I can.

7. "My life is like a Charlie Brown comic. I've always been in love with the little red-haired girl." Aaahhh, that is soooo sweet. Melt my little heart.

8. And my personal favorite so far? "You say the darndest things! It's a sheer adventure waiting to see what will come out of your mouth next!" DEFINITELY TRUE! I'm missing the filter between my brain and my mouth and it gets me into trouble more than I'd like to admit. But it definitely keeps life interesting, that's for sure!

Aren't those so fun? Thank you, Todd, for giving me this little gift. It really means a lot. Everyday (except that one when I kept fogetting to open one), I look forward to hearing what you have to say. You are a sweetheart and I love you!

But does this mean you're off the hook for the "14 Days of Valentines?" Is the ball in MY court now? AND do I get a couple of years to come back? hhmmmmm......

Move Over, Martha Stewart!

When I was in college, I had a roommate who used to make the most delicious homemade cinnamon rolls. She was quite a talented baker, sewer, crafter, and pretty much "all things creative" person. I remember waiting with much anticipation (and saliva) when she baked her famous cinnamon rolls. I hate to admit it, but I wasn't much help in this process. You know the story "The Little Red Hen?" Well, I was like the children of the little red hen. (Or was it the animals?) I watched anxiously and greedily as my roommate sweated and worked for most of the day. I did not plant, pluck, grind, or bake. But when they came out of the oven, I was more than happy to have her "share" with me her masterpiece.

I don't remember getting too many of those cinnamon rolls. But hey, I didn't deserve them. I didn't do the work. But the point of my story is that when she did share, they seriously were the best cinnamon rolls I think I've ever tasted.

Well, guess what? My mother-in-law gave me her old bread maker machine. I think she took pity on me because I am the least domestic in the family. Others are already little red hens, and I'm?.....well, I'm lucky to not burn the toast, ya know what I mean? Anyway, she offered it to me, and I took it. (Thanks Ann, by the way).

I haven't had much time to bake bread (or maybe it's just not a priority of mine.....I'm not sure), but last week I decided to try it out. I wanted to make cinnamon rolls. Now, I know what you're all thinking. This probably isn't considered to be "from scratch," using a bread machine and all, but listen, it's as good as I'm going to get. So trust me when I say, it's an accomplishment.

I read the instructions on what to do. The bottom line? Literally just dump in the ingredients and watch the dough appear. WHAT? Well, I did just that. I could hear the machine working (quietly even). I checked periodically into the machine to see if something was happening. I was amazed at what I was seeing, I could not believe my eyes, and then.....lo and behold.....one and a half hours later, poof, I had dough!

This is what it looked like:


So I rolled it out, sprinkled the cinnamon/brown sugar mixture on top (and chocolate chips because that's always how my roommate made it), rolled it up, and then I had this:

You get the idea, right? Cut those into little circles and HOLY COW! I had cinnamon rolls.

These are the finished product out of the oven with icing. (I don't know why the picture is lopsided.....dumb computer)....

And here are the happy faces to prove that they tasted good (or at least edible).

I even got one of Eric. (I'm not sure you can call that a smile, but I'll take it)....

And there you have it. Did you know that bread makers literally do most of the work for you? And you can even bake a loaf of bread in it by just turning it on? I'm not sure I can count it for making "real bread" or bread from scratch, but......I'm going to!

What will I make next? Something that calls for dough for sure! :)