Just Hangin' Out

While Kevin is away, we have had some pretty casual days around our home. I have discovered that if I lived alone, I might not be as clean or prompt as I am living with my family. I haven't had anyone to get all "gussied up" for. So pj's have been our dress code. Even Brynnlee and Toby have been just lying around here as comfortable as can be.

Momma's Exercise Partner

They say that everyone needs an exercise partner to make exercise better. Well here's mine.....





As I exercise in the morning, Brynnlee loves to join me. I do a walking workout, and she will hold my hand and walk with me or dance around to the music. This morning she decided to put on some workout shoes while we walked!

Love and Marriage

On Saturday I attended our Adult State Conference session. One of the speakers was a marriage and family therapist named Carolee Fredrick. I could have listened to her for hours, but unfortunately she spoke for only 45 minutes. I did, however, get some good information I thought I would share. I know that I will be using this to strengthen my marriage.

She introduced the Five Magic Hours and gave a list of activities. You and your spouse should do each of these activities each week, and the amount of time you spend doing them should add up to five hours for the week.

*Daily appreciations-these need to be personal. Don't just say thanks for taking out the garbage or doing the dishes. Say something like, "Thanks for honoring your priesthood."

*Partings-make sure when you leave each other that you make it special. Make sure you ask your spouse what is going to happen during his/her day. Do this even if your spouse does the same thing each day. Make sure he/she knows you care.

*Reunions-make the end of the day nice. Find out about each other's day's activities. Smile when he/she walks through the door when getting home.

*Affection-it can be simple. Touch him when he walks by. Hold hands!

*Love maps-these are date nights. These should be at least two hours a week. They can be simple. You may not have enough money. You may have kids. But you can still go on a date.

She stressed that the point of the Five Magic Hours is to find time together to reconnect. Too many couples build space between them.

I was so glad to have the opportunity to hear Sis. Fredrick. The Lord knows when to send messages to me to help my life! I hope that this little bit of information can help you too.

April 24

On Sunday, April 24, 1977 at 12:22, I came into this world. 33 years ago. I used to love my birthday. I would have a countdown starting February 24. I made everyone pay attention to the fact that my birthday was just around the corner. This year I didn't remind everyone I came into contact with that it was time to celebrate. I only made sure Kevin was ready to provide me with a fun day. And he did.

We kept the day pretty simple. We aren't really party animals. We started the day at the temple thanks to Tracy watching Brynnlee for us. It was nice and peaceful and beautiful. Then we went to a movie. This is something we haven't done together since before Brynnlee was born. Thanks to Jenn Pohm, we went and watched Date Night....loved it! We ended the evening with a delicious dinner at the Olive Garden. (Thanks Mom and Dad Ball!) Kevin spoiled me with gifts that cost too much, but I think I will keep them. He spoiled me that day and it was nice!

When I was younger I thought my life would be very different than it is. I am not saying my life is bad at all--just different! I didn't think at 33 I would be living in Colorado in a stupid little apartment. I thought I would have children flirting with their teenage years. I look at what I have and wonder....have I done anything? I don't have a nice house or beautiful things. We don't go on crazy vacations in tropical places. I can't buy everything I want when I want to. But then I think are those things the definition of success? Probably to some people. And that's when I realize I have been one of those people and maybe it's time to change my definition.

So here is my new definition: having a good husband, working on a strong eternal marriage, giving birth to a beautiful, healthy child, earning an English teaching degree, teaching at a middle school and being pretty good, having a good relationship with my family, holding a temple recommend, knowing how to cook and bake and doing it well, learning to be a good mom, being a good example to my siblings, learning to be nice. And as I learn and grow and work my definition will expand. We don't live in a nice house. We will one day. We don't go on vacations. We can. We don't buy everything we want we we want to. We all ready have a lot of stuff filling up our home. Do we need more? I am hopeful that as I keep working my definition will include being humble because that's what I really want to be!

Picture Day

While Brynnlee and I were in Utah, my mom arranged for pictures to be taken. My mom was very specific about what she wanted Hallie, Hannah, and Brynnlee to wear in the pictures. Thank heavens my sister Jackie and I were able to change her mind a little. The skirts and shirts ended up being very cute. We trooped around the dangerous cement factory between Brigham and Tremonton. The pictures are adorable. I posted some on here. I know you can't see the whole picture on some posts.....just click on them to get a full view. Thanks Lacy for being so great with the girls---especially Brynnlee who refused to smile most of the time.