My Better Half

The guy I live with, he's pretty great.  This morning I was rather snappy with him because I was tired (7 months pregnant means you're always tired).  Rather than snapping back he just gave me a hug and told me it was okay.  In honor of him (because he's such a keeper) here are 8 things I love about the guy.

1. For the last many moons he's been working loooooong hours AND going to school.  Without complaint.  
2. When I made shrimp spaghetti (an experiment that failed, really failed) he didn't retch in disgust.  In fact he choked it down and didn't say anything negative until I'd given him the go ahead.
3. Even though he's exhausted from those long days our lawn is still beautifully manicured.
4. Every crazy idea I've had, he's gone along with... road trips, furniture shuffling, five kids... he's game for the above and more.
5. He honors the covenants he's made with me and with God.  The husband's integrity is beyond measure, I don't ever worry because when he tells me something it's true.
6. The man is funny.  He makes me laugh. 
7. He drives the world's saddest car.  There was a recent, umm, run in with well, another car.  When he puttered home he pulled out the saw and did some surgery and drove it to work the next day and the next and...
8. He loves me.  Really truly loves me.  Even when I'm at my most unlovable he still thinks I'm worth caring for and treasuring.

It's not our anniversary.  It's not his birthday.  It's just an ordinary Monday.  I just love the guy.  

Sappily yours,

Kristen

PS- don't ever put shrimp in your spaghetti.  You will vomit or at least want to, I promise.

Top 8: What I Love

These gorgeous planks of imitation wood.  I love the look of dark wood, it just looks incredible but...  Last year I stained our deck stairs a dark brown, almost black aaaannnnddd they've looked bad ever since.  Four kids, a dog, a busy housekeeper, it just wasn't a good idea.  So we went light and I LOVE them.  LOVE!

Baby checkup yesterday.  She's healthy and growing.  Along with my arse... but you know, what do you do?  Oh quit eating Peanut M&Ms... right.

The man I married, he's a winner.  Yesterday I had a serious freak out   Like ugly demons took over.  He just rolled with it and when I finally got over myself he didn't even play the injured party card (even though he totally deserved some serious payback).  He's a keeper.

Somehow I hit the offspring jackpot.  My kids are funny (ish), reasonably well behaved and usually thoughtful and kind.  I kinda think they're the greatest people ever to grace this planet.

I read this (scroll down to number 5, I'll wait) on Cari's blog.  I've been laughing ever since.

I really do try to take care of this miraculous baby machine of mine so most mornings I hang out with my friend Sadie Lincoln over at Barre 3.  It's a good time, try it.

I'm a Mormon, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints if you're being particular and today I'm a stickler because my love for the Savior, well it makes everything that I do not only possible but also meaningful.  I'm blessed to belong to a church that teaches that this life isn't the end of everything, my family that I love so much is mine forever!  That's a pretty great thing to help you make it through the day.

Last of all this boy kills me.  He's still trying to overcome his disappointment that Baby Girl isn't Baby Boy.  I was toweling him off after a shower and this is the conversation we had.

Him:  Why can't our baby be a boy?

Me:  Because Heavenly Father decided we needed a girl.

Him:  (thinking) Well He should have sent a boy too.

Me:  You mean twins?

Him:  Yes, a girl AND a boy.

Me:  Well... He didn't because He loves your momma.

Him:  Oh.  Maybe next time.

The End.

Kristen

If you're strong enough, there are no precedents.

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Five...

1.  We have a refrigerator in our living room.

Would you like some yogurt?  You could sit on the couch, grab your poison of choice and eat it.  All while expending zero to no energy.  Of course we don't have a couch right now but we do have a shop vac and assorted power tools.

2.  Mushrooming.  It's what happens when you start a project and figure it will take minimal energy.  Then you discover that ripping up tile is a job that should be reserved for chain gangs.  You also find that you need a new sub- floor.  Sure why not, let's throw some more cash at this project.

3.  There's light at the end of the tunnel.

See, we have a fancy new sub-floor and a quarter of the pretty stuff installed.  The rest of it is on a truck somewhere in the Midwest.  We should see it sometime next week.  Probably.  Until then I have a refrigerator in my living room and no stove.  Don't feel bad for me because I am getting fancy new floors.

4.  The belly is 20 weeks.  That mean it's the perfect size for a wounded child.

Poor baby.  He's obviously in distress and all his caregiver can do is make fish lips.

5.  Tomorrow is the day. Boy or girl.  The ultrasound tech better be on his/ her game because the Miles are a divided family.  I've always known before what each kid would be.  One of my weird gifts.  I'm batting 4 for 4.  This time around I don't have any definite feelings.  I'm leaning towards a girl but it's not a certain feeling like all the others.  So... we'll see.  Cast your vote.

5.2  This is what I find on my papers, other people's papers, the car, my wall (one time, I freaked)...

Somebody call MENSA, my youngest boy is a genius.

Over and out.

PS- Don't judge me because I'm doing middle school math.  I'm a late bloomer

PPS- Thanks for tagging me Lisa, I sorta followed the rules...

Top 8: things that aren't really related, at all.

1.  It finally snowed here.  Like real sledding snow, yes it is March but I guess Utah didn't get that memo.

2.  There's a new museum in the valley, super cool, so much fun.

3.  Obviously I only take pictures of my youngest child.  I do have three others, they are photogenic but, well, I don't have an excuse.  The following picture is not one of my offspring.

Although they do resemble that at dinner time.

4.  I bought these earrings at the museum gift shop.  I'm a sucker for shiny, slightly strange things (sorry, you have to click to see them, the screaming in the background is not conducive to technical maneuverings).

5.  Check out this blog for an eye- opening look at the world and how you view things.  It's written by one of my best friends and one of the most tolerant and loving people you'll ever know.

6.  My sister and her husband are getting ready to adopt a baby.  Their story is beautiful and real.

7.  My other sister is visiting this week.  She's a nice little addition to our family.  Here's why: she plays Tickle Monster with the kids while I do, well, whatever it is I do all day long.

8.  While she was posing for this picture we were standing off to the side heckling her.  It's possible that she retaliated by stuffing snow down my shirt.  I threw some back but unfortunately, and this is a secret so don't tell, I'm worthless in a fight.  There might have been rude remarks made about my throwing arm.

Have a good weekend!

Kristen

Top 8: things that make me insane, crazy, nuts, pick a word!

She doesn't make me crazy (most of the time) I just like her cute baby face circa 2007!

1.  Hopping on the treadmill only to find that it needs maintenance, then moving to the next one and seeing that it says the same thing.  Three treadmills later...
2.  Finding out that the reason you missed a question on your math test was because you used an "x" instead of a "w". 
3.  Running out of socks.  That laundry fairy is really slacking these days.
4.  Calling IT support to fix a computer program and finding out that the reason it wasn't working was because one of your short offspring had moved it to the recycling bin.  Actually that doesn't make me crazy, embarrassed is more like it.
5.  Turning on the radio and hearing the tail end of your current favorite song.  Sad.
6.  The multiplying paper pile by the microwave.  They're like bunnies.  Bunnies on fertility treatments.
7.  Getting comfortable on the couch with a good book and warm children and hearing the phone ring.  From the other room.  Up the stairs.  And it stops before you manage to extract yourself from the pile.  And it's a lame recorded message.
8.  Trying to brush my daughter's hair while she's dancing and telling me what a great ballerina she will be.  Did I mention that she's moving?

Good times around here.

In other news I have a final on Thursday then I plan to spend some time fixing this site.  I look at other excellent bloggers likeThrifty Decor Chick, Camp Patton and yours, mine & ours and am semi- inspired to change things up around here. 

Suggestions? 

See ya later!

Kristen

Top 8: RRR (Really Random Ramblings)

1. I went to a play last night with my girl.  My cousin was part of the cast of Oliver and let me tell you, she was awesome. 
2. You should be grateful that I will never, ever, not ever sing for you.  You're welcome.
3. Unless we're in the car and then I reserve the right to sing loudly and quite off key to whatever song strikes my fancy.
4. I've been taking 2 classes this summer.  I thought that summer school would be a nice way to slowly stick my toe into the pool of higher education.
5. I was wrong, so very wrong.  It's more like being thrown into a freezing cold ocean with sharks and angry sea lions without a life jacket or even my fancy swim goggles.
6. I didn't work out yesterday because we went to the candy factory instead.
7. Too much candy makes me want to hurl. 
8. Too much working out makes me want to hurl.

Goodbye.

Kristen

Top 8: Things that will make my kids laugh, without fail.

1. The word "booger".  Just whisper the word and they're in stiches.
2.  Pretend to be a robot having a malfunction.  All you have to do is say the word "malfunction" over and over while doing things wrong like putting the baby's shoes on his older sister.  It's a crowd pleaser.
3. Waiting at the bottom of the stairs to jump out and scare them on their way down.  That's funny especially if you can get them to drop whatever is in their hands and/ or scream.
4. Calling a kid by the wrong name.  I don't actually do that one on purpose I just can't always remember their names.  Yes I know I gave birth to them but that doesn't mean much does it?
5. Running through the sprinklers, scratch that, anything with water.  
6. Daddy, AKA the Tickle Monster!
7. Knock knock jokes, the cheesier the better. 
8. Playing with each other.  My kids get along decently and seem to spend a lot of time laughing... or maybe it's screaming.  For today's purposes we're going with laughter.

Make somebody laugh today.

Kristen

PS- Watch for an edited picture tomorrow.  I've been teaching myself and I've gotta say I'm semi- impressed.

Top 8: things I like to hear

1. my current favorite song on the radio, it changes daily
2. rain on the window
3. "dadgummit!" it makes me laugh every time I hear it
4. "Momma, what can I do to help you?"  (hey, a girl can dream)
5. my babies laughing 
6. anyone talking about their love for the Savior
7. hearing the National Anthem, it always gets me right in the gut and makes me tear up
8. the man I love telling me he loves me

Top 8: Things to do instead of laundry

1. Take a nap (or at least lie, or is it lay, on the couch wishing for a nap).
2. Read other people's blogs and wonder how they make them look so good.
3. Have a popcorn throwing contest with the kids.
4. Clean up the popcorn that is now all over the floor.,
5. Play in the backyard and swear that this is the year you'll finally fix the deck.
6. Organize that scary counter where paper multiplies and takes on a life of it's own.
7. Look for hiding places so you can jump out and scare your kids.  Bonus points if they scream and laugh at the same time.
8. Just do anything besides laundry, clean clothes are highly overrated.  Right?  Right.

Just trying to justify ignoring my pile of laundry.  It's starting to scare me.

Kristen

Top 8: What I'm thankful for

 

1. A good night's sleep.  It makes all the difference. 
2. Do- overs.  Repentance.  Second chances.  I'm grateful that the person that I used to be does not have to define me.  I really do get to start over as many times as I need.
3. The body I've been blessed with.  It's far, far from perfect and there is a long list of things I'd change but it's strong, it's healthy, it's capable.  
4. Work.  Whether it's physical, mental or spiritual, all the good things in life take work, lots of hard work.  
5. The freedom to worship, work, live, play and express myself wherever and however I want. 
6. All those that have gone before me to make my life better.  I'm just one of the more recent in a long line of people that have worked and sacrificed to build something bigger than themselves.
7. The family that I've been blessed with.  They try my patience, make me crazy, exhaust me and give me reason to doubt my abilities.  They also show me what it means to be kind, how to love someone and that the little things always matter. 
8. The gospel of Jesus Christ.  My Savior loves me more than I could ever imagine, He just wants the best for me and what could be better than that?