so, I've been going crazy with design ideas for my home. I think I've figured out what I'm going to do with my crazy small bathroom. I'm going to utilize some useless space above my tub with this shelving idea in the white picture and then the other two bathroom pictures show what I want to do in regards to adding beadboard.
Also the first picture is what I want to do for my boys room, but instead of the fish theme I'm going to do a trains, planes and automobile theme and maybe have the white silhouette on the walls be clouds or planes havent decided. What do you think? also, do you like the recess lighting over the tub in the white bathroom pic?

OUT OF SHAPE

So I went hiking with the Young Womens yesterday up a Canyon just above Ogden HS. Well, lets just say, losing weight and being a lot more active did not prepare me for this HIKE!!

Lessons learned:
1. Need to hike and exercise more
2. Need to eat better before I do something like this again
3. Need to know my limits
4. I also learned a lesson in humility - I never knew how embarrassed the people in the rear of the hike got or how overwhelming those feelings of inadequacy could be. And what a sacrifice my YW leaders and bishopbric members and parents made (if they weren't in the best hiking shape) to go on these hikes with me. thank you

8 YEARS (WARNING ... SAPPY LONG POST)

Yesterday was our 8 yr anniversary ... WOW, doesn't feel that long at all. Doesn't time fly by ... well, the things I've most enjoyed in our 8 yrs together
- those first years when we went on vacations and went to theme parks and rode all the rides. Spent money on movies and eating out (maybe, i wish we saved more) WE HAD SO MUCH FREEDOM AND FUN!!
- after year 4 we had our most special experience of all, having Ethan. We had tried for over a year to get pregnant with him and it was such an awesome experience when I secretly took another test, many of you know that I'd had blood work done, I'd taken 3 home tests and 1 hospital test and all were negative (VERY STRESSFUL) and even though all these tests were negative I knew something was wrong with my body, so I went and picked up another home test, feeling stupid and not wanting to tell spencer because I knew it would be negative and when I saw the line turn pink I knew I was just imagining it, but then we were pregnant ... against the odds of 100% accurate blood test. Spencer was so supportive and wonderful while we were going through the stress of not being able to conceive and while we went through the stress of pregnancy and after when we had a crazy baby who didn't want to sleep. I couldn't have stayed sane if I hadn't had such a wonderful husband and father to my baby.
- Then after year 6 we had our next most special experience of having our second baby, Mason. This time I'd convinced Spencer that we needed to start trying earlier than we ultimately wanted to because I knew it would take us another year or maybe more, but ALAS ... the first month we tried to have a baby ... we did!! (Spencer was a little sad we didn't get to try a little longer:)) and once again Spencer was that amazing husband that everyone wishes they had ... helping me with every emotion (like when I found out I was having another boy ... crying about it and backing into another car as we left the ultrasound) and the strain of just being pregnant and this time the Lord surprised us with a baby who loved to sleep. (THANK YOU) and by the way, I am so grateful now that I had two boys together that can play and have an extra special bond ... especially with no boy cousins either of their ages. The Lord really sees things more clearly than I do ... I just saw all the clothes I'd purchased for my baby girl and wanted to be done having kids altogether because I hate pregnancy so bad, but the Lord had another plan for us. (wow this has gotten spiritual :) deal with it!!)

and here we are at year 8, when life has gotten a little easier for the moment. We had a wonderful day yesterday, we hired a babysitter from noon to 8 p.m. and we went to "the Proposal" (totally recommend it) and then to the Olive Garden and it felt like it did in those first couple years of our adventure, but so much better because we have the two most special things that our getting married has brought us .. money and prosperity ... lol ... you know I'm joking!! we don't have money:)

I just count my blessings everyday that the Lord allowed me to meet Spencer when I did and have this wonderful adventure with him!! I just taught a lesson in YW's and my object lesson was a pack of donuts I passed out .. the saying "Donut settle" marry the right man, at the right time, in the right place ... and I DID!! Spencer I love you and I'm so excited to see what the next 8 years of our lives will bring us (it better be a trip to Hawaii in two years) wink wink, nudge ... ok, a kick under the table and a glare!!

Neglected, I know!!

I've really been neglecting my blog lately, it's just that I've had a TON of photo's I've been editing!! but this last week Ethan was on a roll, I thought that he might be past his "cute conversations" phase, but he was full of it last week, maybe it's just that with us being inside more we had more time to talk

M: ooooohhhh, my back hurts (me just complaining to no one as i opened the fridge)
E: "Have to go poop?"
M: "No, I think I pulled a muscle, it just hurts"
E: "Oooohh (said like he's figured it all out) yur back got stung by a bee" (with a nod of his head)

he just got stung on his hand again, obviously my kids don't have the skills I do :) NEVER BEEN STUNG!!

Then the next day we were out watching the hail storm and all the sudden Ethan yells
"TOO MUCH ICE CUBES"

there was a lot more, but I'm not remembering it all right now ... just too cute!!

My ears can now turn off :)

It's been one of those days, you know, the days where you make up new punishments and escape to that little part in your brain if you can make it there before it gets too mushy. Well, that is how the switches on my ears were invented. Ethan had been whining all day long and I had had it, so when spencer got home I told Ethan that my ears were being turned off. I made an elaborate show of me turning off the switches in my ears, which caused Ethan to bawl and bawl because my ears couldn't hear him anymore. (thank heavens they couldn't) And now I have a way to show him that his whining can't effect me. So tonight (a couple hours since the ear switches were invented) this was the conversation:) lol

Ethan: "Mommy can I have a grink"
M: (loudly) "Ethan, Mommy's ears are turned off, you'll have to ask your Daddy"
Ethan: "Daddy ... Can you turn Mommy's ears back on so she can get me a grink?"

I know, totally cute huh!! my 3 boys ... can life be better?

As I said, a ton of fun in the tub ... On Teusday Ethan had his preschool farewell party so we blew up a ton of water balloons and carted them to the park for all the kids to play with. My kids really loved the prep work. These balloons were awesome, Mason could actually sit down on them and bounce up and down and we didnt lose a single one :)

Bath time has been so much fun this week. I allowed my kids to add multiple dyes today (Monday) and we actually came up with a really cool aqua green. I think it was red,yellow, and a couple blues and a couple more yellows

time again for pictures and I'm loving the ones I was able to take. Mason hit 18 months last Thursday and Ethan turned 4 yesterday. Makes me want to cry that my boys are growing up so fast, but I'm enjoying every minute of it (well, almost every minute)