I feel pretty!

If I did not wear torn pants, orthopedic shoes, frantic disheveled hair, that is to say, if I did not tone down my beauty, people would go mad. Married men would run amuck. - Brenda Ueland


This quote is on my calendar this month. Today I feel like the picture that should go with it. I've been painting all day. I haven't showered. I'm wearing a bandana on my head, old overalls and a camp t-shirt. Not a stitch of make-up and a red nose from a cold. I am the epitome of nasty. I'm suppose to go out in an hour and I am wondering if I should tone down my looks so I don't have men running "amuck" as the quote says. Actually I love this quote because what it says to me is that being beautiful is all in the attitude. You may have on sweats and your hair up in a bun, but girl, you are still gorgeous!

Beauty is

Creativity, Spirituality, Kind Heart, Hardworking Hands, forgiveness, patients, welcoming smile, laughter, generosity, teaching a child, singing a lullaby, listening ear, a good sweat, a new recipe, fresh laundry, time to meditate, loving life, enjoying the moment, recognizing the surrounding beauty.

Don't get me wrong I am all for having cute hair, getting a pedicure and putting together an outfit that makes me look 10 lbs. thinner. But I would love to have the attitude that I am still beautiful even on the days I don't make it to the salon.

He's our daddy! 

Me And My Girls 

I will survive

For some reason everytime I sit down to write my girls think it is Karaoke time. I'm trying to write while the song "I will survive" is being song by my 8 and 5 year old. As I listen to this "70's" hit song It makes me wonder. Will I survive? It seems to be a fine line between enjoying your children and driving you completely crazy. I want to encourage my children's talents but I find myself turning into Simon Cowel from American Idol. "I am not being rude but that was the most dreadful song I have ever heard."(Of coarse with an English accent.) But I try to be a good mommy and take the Paula Abdul approach as I clap and say "Wow, you are the strongest singers, I like your style." I do have to admit that I occasionally join in. I'm mean who can just stay in their seat when "Love Shack" is on. I am a bit scared because Haley at only eight asked me how exactly you could get on to American Idol. I guess it is good to dream big.
Speaking of songs, my Leah has added some songs to her collection. One of my favorites is "The Hug Song". The other night she stood on a step stool, fresh out of the bath naked, while holding two fingers up on both hands and swaying side to side singing, "Four hugs a day is the minimum, not the maximum. Four hugs a day is the minimum not the maximum. It was priceless. Where was my video camera.
Well we are out a daddy today. Why the 1st counselor in the bishopric has to be at the pine wood derby is beyond me. I know we have been immensely blessed while he has had this calling but we miss him sometimes. I am going to occupy my self by redecorating some of our rooms. I'm going to do the girls room first. I did Whitney's a long time ago and Haley and Leah keep asking me when I am going to do theirs. They say they will keep it clean if I do. Ha, Ha! I would like to do our bedroom too. I'm hoping to take it from laundry pit to a relaxing sanctuary. I want to do Silver sage and cafe brown. We will see. Wish me luck. Well I'm off to take kids to b-day party and hopefully buy paint. A is out!

I miss my memories

Leah has become quite the little song writer. She came into my bedroom the other day and sat on the floor with her knees up to her chest. She started rocking back and forth and began to sing,"I miss my memories, I miss my memories. I miss them so much." She sang this over and over and then she added, "I miss our old house and I miss my memories." So I asked," why do you miss our old house and your memories?" She answered, because that was when I was a baby and everyone thought I was cute!". She continued to sing I miss my memories. I tried to tell her all the people who thought she was still cute but she was not convinced. She said, 'The only people that think I'm cute is you and aunt jenny!" So I let her continue lamenting through song.
About a week later she had a little friend over and they were discussing why Leah couldn't play with her on Sundays. Her friend (Sammy) began to cry and said she was sad because they were different. So Leah picked up her guitar and started to sing this song to Sammy. "You ask me to play on Sundays but I can't because it's church day and our family day. But you keep asking and I have to say no because that is choosing the right."
I am hoping that this song therapy will replace her yelling or throwing things when she is upset.
Just a few more songs and she will be ready to cut a record.