Tag, I'm It!

I've been tagged by my friend Marcey! It was fun reading your responses girlfriend! Here’s mine…

What were you doing 10 years ago?
I was getting ready to graduate from high school! You have no idea how ready I was to be DONE with it!

5 things on my to do list...
1. Fold a basket of laundry.

2. Iron itsy-bitsy baby clothes.

3. Plant some flowers in my boring front yard.

4. Go to Staples to get Maryn a big cork board for her wall.

5. Resist the urge to log on to Webkinz and play juvenile games. Maryn's got me sucked in!

5 Snacks...
1. Orange Creamsicles

2. Nature Valley Fruit N' Nut Granola Bars

3. Trader Joe's Schoolhouse Letter Crackers

4. Peanut M&M's

5. SunMaid Dried Plums
If I were suddenly a millionaire...
Oooh, I day dream about this kind of thing! Where's Ed McMahon when I need him?! I would definitely buy a great house. Nothing overboard and intimidating, but it would have a kick-a kitchen, awesome food storage room, a music room for a nice big piano (I don't play, but I would like my kids to), a sound-proofed, really awesome, home office for Justin because the poor guy can hear the girls loud and clear all day when he's working in the man pit in the basement. Also a must would be a nice big, flat yard with a swing set, cool tree complete with hammock, and room for a garden. (Like I said, can you tell I've thought about this?)
3 bad habits...
1. I'm a control freak, but with baby #3 on the way, I really am learning to just let things go.

2. I hate to fold laundry and am prone to let my clean laundry pile up, but as you can tell from my to-do list above, I'm trying really hard not to get back in that rut.
3. I can be pretty lousy at keeping in touch. I try, I really do, but sometimes even my best intentions fail.

5 places I have lived...
1. Hoffman Estates, Illinois

2. Vancouver, Washington

3. Camas, Washington

4. Marietta, Georgia

5. Canton, Georgia

5 jobs I have had...
1. Pizza Maker at Round Table Pizza

2. Receptionist at The Bronze Body Tanning Salon... ironic since I'm pasty.

3. Hostess at The Chart House... ironic since I don't like seafood.

4. Dental Assistant

5. Office Manager

5 things people don't know about me...
1. When I was 3 or 4 years old, I tried to save all the fallen autumn leaves in our front yard from imminent death by bottling them in hot water for the winter. But my mom made me dump them out though... leaf killer.

2. I had a dream on my sixteenth birthday that I was on the toilet and I peed the bed. What a way to wake up to sweet sixteen. Luckily that was the last time I've peed the bed.

3. When I was in Elementary School I would love to chew up all my saltine crackers on my lunch tray and hold them in my mouth and then swish it around with chocolate milk before swallowing the whole concoction. Don't ask, I was a weird kid.

4. I have to wash my feet before I go to bed. The thought of putting a dirty, been-walkin'-around-all-day foot in my sheets grosses me out.

5. I played the flute for four years, but only because my parent's really wanted me to. I used to fake playing during competitions when I was in Marching Band my Freshman year, because I hated Band and never learned my part. When my parents heard this, they finally consented and let me quit.

Well folks, that's it! This is where I am supposed to tag other people. But I know that a lot of you have already done this one, soooo this game is open to anyone reading! If you decide to be tagged, leave a comment letting me know so I can check your responses!

Brynna's Big Day!

Well, it's official! Our Miss Brynna Grace is three years old! We have had such a fun day today! Starting when Brynna and Maryn scooted down the stairs at 6:30 am. I was already laying in bed awake, like a kid on Christmas morning, waiting for her to wake up! They came running into our room and I squealed "Happy Birthday Brynna!" probably much to Justin's chagrin since he was exhausted from his trip to Raleigh over the weekend. I couldn't help it! The girls giggled and squealed and jumped up in bed with us for a good snuggle. I told Brynnie about the day she was born before we all got up. It's wild to think that it really was three years ago. My how time flies!

One of the traditions in our house for birthdays is that you get to go to the grocery store and get all the stuff that mom never usually lets you get! So Brynna and Daddy set out and bought a bunch of balloons, doughnuts, and chocolate milk! Yum! Whenever we go to the store and the girls see the balloon displays and doughnut cases and want it, I always say "When it's your birthday, you get whatever you want!" So the fact that today Brynnie actually got to get those fun things was something special!

We also decided to have Grammy, Gramps, Kevin, and the Alley's over to celebrate by grilling out. We porked out on grilled chicken, corn on the cob, potato salad, chips, and veggies. Thanks to Justin slaving over a hot grill, it was delicious! Then we proceeded to open presents, which made me realize, yet again, just how spoiled and loved my children are. Thank you to everyone who helped make Brynna's day so special! We just love you all!

I've decided Maryn has enjoyed Brynna's birthday every bit as much as Brynna has! All these fun, new things to play with! Holy Cow!

What could this be?! New 'Littlest Pet Shops' from Megan & Aaron! YAY!

Brynna and Justin, like I've said before, are two peas in a pod. Brynna loves to pretend that she is typing on a laptop just like Daddy. She'll use anything, but usually she'll flip open my eyeglass case and pretend that's her laptop. So Justin and I decided to get her a 'real' one! She loved it! She got a toy cell phone from Maryn today as well. She was gabbing on that and typing on her laptop after the party. I shook my head and thought now her and Justin REALLY are alike!

I mean really, how stinkin' cute are those two?!

Brynna opening her present from Nana & Papa! What could it be?!

Princess Dresses!!! How fancy! You know that one just had to be put on right away! Again, it's a good thing there was two, so the peace could be kept and Miss Maryn could borrow a bit of Sis' new found glamour!

Grammy and Gramps got Brynnie a new set of table and chairs for the girls' little playhouse! No more drinking tea over a Rubbermaid bin with a tablecloth over it thank you very much, they're proper little ladies now!

Well... not exactly! Brynna's throwing that tea back like a drunken sailor. But at least the beautiful tea set Aunt Kristine found in Poland is still proper and dainty!

Nick, Laura, Thatcher and Max got Brynna this cute, little cash register. It is the only reason I am able to blog right now during daylight hours! Seriously, both Maryn and Brynna have been playing with this little beauty for about two and a half hours! I'm totally not lying! They take turns, one being the customer and the other being the grocery lady! Laura, I could kiss you for that one! Thanks again to everyone who made our little lady's day so special! We love you!

Sweatpants Are My Friend!

18 Weeks.... hmmm what a cute, little bump!

24 Weeks... Bigger yet managable.

33 Weeks and what you are now witnessing is the explosion of a belly! Even my maternity clothes don't cover my gut the way they should. What's a girl to do?

I've officially entered the phase of pregnancy where I hate maternity pants. Okay, let's face it, I hate maternity clothes in general. But when your belly has exploded and you've packed on 28 lbs. in what feels like a very short period of time, you have no choice. But I especially hate those stinkin' maternity pants. Full panel, low-rise, I don't care which style, I hate them all. The paneled kind are let's face it, just humiliating, and they dig into my gut. The low-rise ones won't stay on my hips so I'm constantly pulling them up, which is real annoying! My solution? The clearance rack at Target with cute, knicker-length, non-maternity sweats for $4.00. Roomy, comfy, stays on my hips and perfect also for post-pregnancy schlepping around the house. I guess I've officially entered the whole 'You're not gonna feel sassy or cute anytime in the foreseeable future' phase. But let's face it, between the foot constantly lodged in my ribs, the heartburn and leg cramps, a girl simply has to do what a girl has to do! Goodbye sassiness, sniff, hello comfort. (Just a little side note to sassiness, please don't stay away forever!)

Kevie's Here!

Uncle Kevin came over yesterday, much to the girl's excitement, to watch the World Cup soccer game with Justin. After the game was over and we'd eaten dinner, Kevin was showing Justin his Mac. (Justin REALLY wants one!) Of course nothing can be happening that the girls don't want in on the middle of. So they climbed up in Uncle Kevie's lap and they started goofing around with the camera in his computer. It was so funny listening to all their giggles as he would distort their faces and do crazy things. In a couple of them Brynna looked like she could have been related to Slimer from Ghostbusters! I'm pretty sure Kevin is not always quite sure what to make of our little wild women. He gets this look on his face of amusement and disbelief, like he's trying to process all the noise and activity. We were teasing him yesterday how we can't wait until HE has kids and is the one in the middle of the insanity! That really is going to be WAY too much fun for Justin and I! When we are out of the crazy phases and all his sibs are in the thick of it! Thanks for putting up with all the pint-sized drama Kevin, the girls had so much fun hanging out with you!

Meet the Duggars

One day I was folding laundry and came upon a show on TLC about a lady that had like eighteen kids. It sucked me in and I watched the whole thing in amazement. How their house was run, how she corrected her kids, what they were being taught, how they managed a budget and on and on. Having that many children is never a challenge I would personally undertake. I know full well that I have met my max with the soon-to-be three children I have been blessed with. In fact, I have been skeptical of super-sized families in the past. I wondered how the heck one could care for each child's physical, emotional, and spiritual needs in the ways each child needed and deserved. However, I found myself having a lot of respect for this woman. Yes, she has many, many children, which outwardly may seem irresponsible. But she really seemed to be a good mom with pure and loving motives. She was not just having kids because she's irresponsible, but because she believes in her contributions as a mother.

As I was looking around the Internet for a picture of her, I saw a whole bunch of articles ripping her apart. It made me pretty sad. Here is a woman who is so clearly trying her best to do what she believes to be good, just in an unconventional way, and she was being judged so harshly based just on outward appearances. Sure her hair and fashion are a little kooky and her voice a little too syrupy. But there are people out there with one or two kids that are seriously crappy parents. Are crappy parents more acceptable because the number of children they bear are more of the social norm?

Justin showed me a clip from CNN about a seven year old that stole a car and went joy-riding, crashing into several other cars. When interviewed he said it was fun to do bad stuff. He said he didn't feel sorry for endangering people or destroying his grandmother's car. But if he must be punished, he thought maybe he should lose video game privileges for the weekend. Are tons of articles being dedicated to his mothers obvious shortcomings as a parent? No they aren't, because she has one, socially-acceptable, wannabe bad-boy child. Instead we all just shake our heads and say, "Kids these days, what's this world coming to?" and go about our business. Kids these days, oftentimes are indulged and neglected by their parents, left to have society to tell them what's normal and what to believe. If Michelle Duggar, who has dedicated her life to the rearing of healthy, happy, stable children and is proving to be successful at it, wants to keep bringing babies into this world, more power to her. Not many parents can navigate the challenges of having such a large family and do it well. It's definitely not for me, but I hope I can be the type of mother to my three that she is to her eighteen.

Preschool Graduation

Our little lady is growing up! Yesterday Maryn officially graduated from Preschool! She was feeling the love and had a very special day! Not only were Mom, Dad, and Brynnie there to support her, but Grammy, Uncle Kevin, Uncle Aaron and Aunt Megan came up to watch her little program as well. It was fun seeing all the kids show off to their families some of the things they have learned this year, like sign language and Spanish. Uncle Aaron who served his mission in Peru was happy Maryn was representing with her Espanol skills! We know Uncle Jesse would be happy too!
Maryn's teacher made little yearbooks for every child with mementos from the year. It was fun to look through and see how much our little Peanut has learned and grown. Maryn really did have amazing teachers this year. The kind that make you feel blessed as a parent. Because you know that when your child is away from you, they are being loved and nurtured and taught. The only thing making it easier that Maryn is leaving her old school is that Brynna will be starting there next year.

After the Graduation Program we all headed over to Williamson Bros. Barbeque for some lunch! Nothing says celebration like a little fried okra and Brunswick stew! Mmmmm, so good! Grammy and I decided we should all do lunch everyday! It's been so nice having family back in town and we will miss all of them so much when they all have leave. We are blessed to have such a great, supportive family!
Even Aunt Megan's sweet mom Tracy sent a special Graduation surprise for Maryn! She really is one of the most thoughtful people I know! Not only has our family been blessed with Megan, whom the girls just love, as do I, but we have been blessed by her awesome family too. We're so appreciative of all their love and support!
Maryn has been begging for a Webkinz for months and I kept telling her to wait and maybe she could get one for her birthday. So when she opened Tracy's gift and there was TWO adorable, little Webkinz inside she was ecstatic!! We even made a little notebook for her to keep track of their adoption paperwork and everything. Those Webkinz and the notebook have not left her side! She is in LOVE! I think she officially has a new obsession!

It's so strange to think how fast she has grown up and that she'll really be off to Kindergarten in the Fall. But Justin and I truly feel blessed to see what a good girl Maryn is growing up to be. She is a firecracker and natural leader, smart and funny. We know that no matter how many new phases of life are before her to conquer she will be a success at anything that comes her way. Here's to this new chapter in her life!

Sister Love!

It was so much fun having Kristen, Adam B., and little Rocklin in town from Arizona for the wedding. Kristen and Rocklin were able to stay a little bit longer and play, which I was very happy about! It was the first time I've seen Kristen since she had Rocklin. It was so much fun seeing her as a Mom! Rocklin and Kristen are dually blessed because Kristen is an awesome Momma and Rocklin is quite possibly the best baby I have ever been around! (Seriously folks, what an awesome baby!) I loved getting to hold him and hear his little baby coos. It made me start to get really excited for the birth of Lauryn, because my time with Rocklin was the reminder I was needing that babies are not all hard work, they really are such a blessing too.

Being around Kristen was also so much fun as always. We had fun going out to lunch, talking about recipes, purse shopping, and just hanging out. Kristen is good for me because she is a fun, girly-girl and sometimes I need to be reminded how much fun getting your toenails painted and purse shopping is! I remember one of the first things Justin told me back in the day when we started dating was how much I would love his sister. He was right. We both grew up in the midst of a pack full of boys and somehow lived to tell. Not having a sister growing up, I always felt like I missed out on something. So I have loved being able to gain one through marriage that I love the way I would any real sister. Kristen is one of the most thoughtful, fun, genuine and real people you will ever meet. I feel so blessed that along with all those rough and tumble Young boys who I just love so much, I also got that sister I always wanted!

The Thrill of the Hunt!

Grocery Bags, check. Coupons, check. Grocery Ad, check. Obsessively Organized Grocery List, check.
Let's go baby, it's time to shop!

Let me know if I'm alone in this, but I get such a rush from finding a really stellar deal! Anyone can go pay full price for something, there's no fun in that. But there is something seriously fun about hunting down a bargain and snagging it! I am like a lioness with coupons going in for the kill! Justin and my friend Laura know this about me and know it's their job to act really interested and excited when I find a particularly good steal!

I totally believe in the saying 'A penny saved is a penny earned!'. When I quit my job last September to be at home full time with the girls, it was really the first time in my adult life where I wasn't making some sort of monetary contribution to the family budget. So I have rationalized in my brain that all the pennies I save being a Bargain Huntress is really my monetary contribution to the family. (I'm a big fair freak, everyone must do their part!)

Take my weekly shopping trips to the grocery store for instance. It has become a game for me to see how much I can save. I get a rush seeing the total fall at the register after getting all my hard sought discounts! I know, I'm weird, but it's the best! In the past I have done meal planning a week in advance so I don't fear the "What's for dinner?" question every night. But this month I did it for an entire month and it has helped me save even more! Because you plan meals using ingredients you already have so nothing goes to waste. For instance, if I'm making Grilled Teriyaki Chicken on a bed of Spring Greens tonight, I know I'll have cashews (which I got half price! Hooray!) on hand from that for the Cashew Chicken Stir Fry I have planned for next week. Also the extra strawberries not used in my Strawberry Spinach Salad that goes with our BBQ Bacon Grilled Chicken we'll be having in a few days, will also go great as a fresh fruit salad with kiwis and oranges thrown with them, to go with that already planned Cashew Chicken Stir-Fry. Get it?!

So after I menu plan, then I devour my Sunday grocery store ads looking for awesome deals. A lot of my food storage is from just grabbing a few extra of the weekly deals at the grocery store. For instance, rather than running out of ketchup and having to pay $1.76 for a bottle, I buy it when it goes on sale for half that and stock up! Instant savings on things you already use! Anyhoot, so before I hit the grocery store, I make sure all my coupons and ad savings are written on my grocery list and I am ready for the hunt!

Today I think I hit my all time best savings! On a $212.90 grocery bill I only paid $66.72 out of my pocket!!! That includes all the food for all our meals for about a week and a half, plus I bought extras to rotate the comfort foods in our 72 hour kits and stocked up on more food storage deals. Isn't that so flippin' awesome?! I saved $146.18 in one shopping trip! Are you feelin' the rush?! And it's not like we're eating Ramen noodles and water. I got boneless skinless chicken breasts, stew meat, pot roast, milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream, cold cereal (mmm, Honey Bunches of Oats, only $1.50 a box after discount when you buy 4!) Cliff Bars, Vitamin Water, a ton of produce, laundry detergent. You name it, every aisle was hit up! I love coming home from grocery shopping and stuffing my fridge, freezers and shelves full of my finds! It gives me this little warm spot of security knowing I'm doing my part. Is there anyone else that can relate to the Bargain Huntress in me? If so share the cheapskate love baby! What do you do to score awesome deals?

Lucky Me!

Being Mom to these two faces is one of the best things in the world!

My mom had said at one point, that Mother's Day to her was right up there with Christmas on her list of favorite holidays. It seemed like such a small, quietly celebrated holiday to me. How could it be her favorite? I didn't get it in years past, but now I do.

I've said it a million times, being a parent is tough work. The most humbling thing I've ever done. Oftentimes the insane workload, worry, and sacrifice that go into being a Mom go seemingly unnoticed... until Mother's Day. Sunday was so wonderful for me. Not because it was picture perfect from start to finish, but because the people I love the most and have dedicated my life to, took the time to stop and let me know how much I'm appreciated.

Justin had to be at a tournament in Atlanta that day. Bummer. But rather than staying downtown again like he had the night before, he made the trek home for me. He wanted to make sure that even though he couldn't spend the whole day with me, that I would get some of my favorite things on my special day before he had to leave. So at 7:00 am before he scooted out of the house, he woke me with a tray of warm Eggs Benedict and my favorite orange juice. He also had worked with the girls to make me cards and gotten me my favorite roses. I love that man. Then after I finished, he took the tray and told me to go back to sleep and left me with a kiss. Right after he left Maryn and Brynna came scooting down the stairs, so no more sleep for me. But I was so in love with my husband and children at that point that it was okay. Who needs extra sleep anyways?!

I love, love, love multi-colored rose bouquets! Justin did good, these ones are gorgeous!

At church I got a happy tear in my eye as I watched Maryn scoot up front to sing with the rest of the Primary children to their mothers. There really is nothing sweeter. Then after church the girls ran to me after their classes with hands full of little gifts of love for their Momma. I keep a box in my closet of gifts made on Mother's Day by their tiny hands. They are those sweet reminders of why I do what I do as a parent. I see all the commercials for extravagant Mother's Day gifts on t.v., but honestly nothing is better than those little handmade gifts! Although, Justin did do pretty good. He was going to surprise me with a new computer, but couldn't find the right one before Sunday. So tonight Aaron and Megan came over to watch the girls for us so Justin and I could get some much needed time together. We went to one of our favorite places, Bahama Breeze and then went and bought a new computer for me! Hooray, no more blogging hiatus! What can I say folks, I am one very blessed, very lucky lady! I hope all of you other Mommas out there felt the same way!

All my fun I love you's!

Maryn made this for me at school. It's one of those keep forever items! I loved the way she filled in the blanks to the questions! She said things like I'm 60 years old and 30 ft. tall. She also said she's a happy kid because I have soft skin. Ahh, happiness is all in proper moisturizing!

Feelin' the Love!

Ahh, my prego sympathizers! The girls stuffed their shirts with pillows so I wouldn't feel like the only belly-heavy one there!

I think I have the best calling ever at church! I get to serve in the Young Women's organization and my ward has by far the best women and girls I've ever served with in all my many years in the Young Women's program. Tonight they were so wonderful and really showed me and little Lauryn the love by throwing me a fun baby shower! We played games, scarfed down some very yummy snacks, hung out, and they even made Lauryn the cutest blanket! While I've loved being able to spend more time with my kids, I really missed getting to see all my awesome Young Women on Mutual nights! So tonight really was a lot of fun! Thank you so much Cinda, LuAnn, Kathleen, Jackie, and all you awesome girls! I just love you!

We played the game where you guess which candy bar is melted in the diaper! It was hilarious! Some of the girls tasted the candy, ewww gross! I'm sorry, I've changed way too many diapers in my day to ever lick one, chocolate or not!

I did sniff it though!

Mary Cate won the pack the diaper bag challenge. I loved her attention to detail! Girl you can pack my diaper bag any day!

Kathleen had found out that Lauryn 's nursery was flowers and bumblebees, so she made this adorable cake! I just loved it!

There were so many yummy snacks! Even though I had just eaten dinner, I couldn't resist, I had to try all of it! Hey there has to be some perks to pregnancy, right?!

On top of all the fun, they sent me home with some wonderful gifts! I really do feel totally blessed by how good they all were to me! I love you guys, thanks for making me feel so special!

How Cute Are These?!

Kristine sent me these ADORABLE bibs! Don't you just love them?! Nice find Kristine! Lauryn will be the most stylin' baby around!

I have finally started getting to the point in this pregnancy where I am starting to feel excited! Before now I was feeling either sick or overwhelmed wondering how the heck I am going to function with another kidlet! But today I had an ultrasound and was able to see my little woman! It just made it that much more real for me. Lauryn is really in there and before I know it, I really am going to be able to hold her in my arms! I can't wait! To add to the fun is the cute gifts my sister-in-laws have showered me with in the past few days! If having a sweet, healthy baby girl to snuggle and love wasn't enough, I get to have stinkin' cute bibs and burp cloths for her too! What's not to love?! Thank you SO much Kristine and Kristen!

Kristen made these cute burp cloths! I just love them! If I must be constantly spit-up on at least I will be doing it in style!

The Big Day!!!

Well it's official! Yet another Young sibling has tied the knot! Aaron and Megan's wedding was on Friday and it was really just a wonderful day from start to finish. For the first time in several years the whole family was together again and it has been so much fun! Megan and Aaron looked so happy and we were so glad we could be there to celebrate the starting of their new life together. I have learned that there is nothing that brings joy and happiness quite like having the love of your family. We are so happy that Megan is now a part of ours!

I left the camera in the car while we were at the temple on accident, so I missed out on those pics. Bummer! Megan was GORGEOUS though and I've never seen Aaron happier! The two of them were just smiles from ear to ear! Here are a few pictures from the reception though. Honestly, it was by far the funnest reception I have ever been too, so I didn't spend too much time behind the camera! We did catch a few good pics though! Enjoy!

Here we all are together again at the Rehearsal Barbecue at the Ensign's the night before the wedding! As you can tell, there's never a dull moment when we all get together!

Who is that devastatingly handsome man? Oh wait, he's mine. That's what I'm talking about!

Can you tell Maryn is really into this picture? Believe it or not, she was really hamming up the posing while we were at the temple! This is in the library at the historic house where the reception was held. It was a really cool setting, it reminded Justin and I a bit of where we had our reception when we were married.

Our pretty little flower girl Brynnie!

Maryn was in her fairy tale princess imagination that day! She loved that she was able to wear a pretty dress and carry flowers! I think every little girl should get to be a flower girl at least once!

I discovered Maryn is growing up way too fast for her poor Momma. She was dancing with one of her uncles when another 'older man' cut in to dance with her! Aye-yi-yi, it begins already! When Megan was dancing with her Dad to that song 'Butterfly Kisses', I was squirting tears knowing that one day it'll be my girls all married off dancing with their Daddy!
Can't I just keep them little forever?

Brynna was a little more shy than Maryn on the dance floor. She got that from me, poor kid. But she did let Megan's brother Connor sneak in a dance. So sweet!

I was out on the porch when I hear "GO JUSTIN, GO JUSTIN, GO JUSTIN!" I ran in and caught my guy breaking it down on the dance floor in the middle of a big circle of people. He tries to be all serious but I know the real him, when the rhythm comes calling, he just has to go with it! Maryn was the same! We could not peel that child off the dance floor! She was in the middle of a big group of teenage girls getting her groove on!

Justin's brothers doing their thing! Like I said, never a dull moment with these guys around!

Aaron and Megan were right there in the middle of the fun! No sitting out for those two! Thanks to Rachel for letting me steal some of her pics! Like I said, I was having too much fun to take pictures like I should have!

Congrats again Aaron and Megan! And thanks so much for one seriously fun night! We love you both!