Family Dance Party

Doesn't that title just intrigue you? You're gonna want to watch these videos for sure.

Josh has some pretty sweet moves! He says he wants to be in a dance class for boys. I would do it in a second if I knew where one was being taught.

All I have to do is say "DANCE PARTY" and Josh is ready in position, waiting for some awesome music!!

30 by 30

I was very inspired by friend Shannon. (her comments say Shanny!) I read her post with the same title as mine RIGHT AFTER I had been wallowing in my own self-pity about being "alone" on my big 30th birthday in 2 months. She made a sort of bucket-list-by-30-yrs-old for herself. (THANK YOU Shannon for such a needed idea!)

Her post spoke to many sides of my personality. First, I am the QUEEN of list-making! Second, I know that when I set goals, work on goal, and achieve goals, I feel wonderful! Shanny organized hers in to categories, and mine will be tailored to fit me and my family. I had already decided to start doing more to create a more fun environment in our home so my family (Josh) will be happier with simplicity while we are stuck inside during the winter.

I don't know when Shannon's b-day is, but mine is in just over 60 days. So I have some major work to do!! Some of these will be hard, some will be easy. But I want to welcome 30 by feeling like I made accomplished some awesome goals. And I know theses will help me feel more at-home in my new state/town/neighborhood.

My categories are: physical, spiritual, things to create, family, Mary Kay.

30 by 30

1. Do something active for at least 45 minutes every day. (no Sundays, though)

2. Lose 10 pounds. (or some inches, or just feel awesome)

3. Control my HUGE sugar craving with South Beach 14 days of no sugar. (did it once, and it worked, but my will power caved after getting pregnant)

4. Drink at least 2.5 liters of water DAILY.

5. Reinstate 'Special Treat Friday.' (cookies/treats only on Fridays)

6. NO MORE CAFFEINE. (holy cow, I just put it in writing...)

7. Read the entire Book of Mormon.

8. Write in my journal EVERY DAY until my bday. (by then, habit formed!)

9. (organized) Family Home Evening EVERY week.

10. Practice playing hymns/primary songs every day. (piano)

11. Write a letter each week to Elder-Uncle Thomas.

12. Attend the St. Paul temple once. (it's 2.5 hrs away, and we have yet to know who to leave leave out kids with for that amount of time)

13. Make and SEND 30 thank-you cards.

14. Sew curtains for kids' rooms.

15. Work on finishing Layla's 1-year scrapbook.

16. Buy & prepare the material for my soon-to-come nephew's quilt.

17. CREATE a job chart for EVERY member of our family!

18. Create a new game for the kiddos.

19. Give each child 45-60 minutes of my undivided attention, and let them choose our activity.

20. Story time before bedtime.

21. Utilize my Kindergarten files/games/activities/knowledge to keep Josh engaged.

22. Arrange for sitters/trade nights so I can go on at least 2 dates each month with Dan.

23. Friday Family Movie Night!

24. Weekly library trips.

25. Have 2 new team members. (thus, earning my Red Jacket!!)

26. Pass out all 500 of my gift $10 certificates.

27. Create my dream board.

28. Start reading Mary Kay's biography. (she really was an amazing woman)

29. Hold 2 classes each week.

30. Ask for 4 interviews each week.

So there you have it. I have just over 60 days until I turn 30, and that many days to complete this list. Check in to see how things are going. I will try to include pictures where I can.

Ready, set, GO!!

With Tons of Time on My Hands...

...and no friends or family around, I decided to make doughnuts to win over my neighbors!! It worked. But more on that later.

YUM!

Layla has 3 favorite things: pink blanket, binkie, milk. When I captured her here, she was lucky enough to have all 3 at the same time. (this means that Dad let her keep the bink after nap time) Oh, and she is walking all over the place, going up and down stairs, and being quite daring with climbing on everything. She is trouble these days!

And seriously, it is rare to get the boys to 1) hold still for my slow camera, and 2) smile at the same time for my camera. But who wouldn't smile while popping bubble wrap, right?!

Welcome to Wisconsin!

...more specifically, to Trempealeau, WI. The place we now call HOME!

You'll want to find yourself on Arabian Lane, then drive to the top.

We have 3 other houses on our circle, and we are pretty spread out.

COME ON IN!! Josh and Jack will give you a quick tour.

As you walk in, on your left, is our office. It's pretty sparse for now, but as mom's Mary Kay business gets bigger, it will fill up for sure.

To your right it where our piano is hiding. There is nowhere to sit for now, so we just run and run as loud as we can on the wood floor so we sound like elephants. Mom loves it!

Hiding in the corner of the house is mom and dad's room. We have tons of fun jumping off their bed!

And WOW, do we just LOVE THIS TUB!!! All 3 of us can fit and it's like a small pool.

Back to the main part of the house, here is our family room and in the back is our kitchen and dining room. We watch for deer to come in to our yard from those windows.

It's been too cold for us to play outside, but we are SO excited to explore the forest in our back yard!!

This is our kitchen.

(please ignore the move-in mess)

This is the downstairs family room and little kitchen. We have set up forts in the bottom cabinets, and even Layla will hide in there with us!

We started to decorate for Christmas, but those pictures will be ready later.

(back to LINDSEY narrating)

This is downtown Trempealeau, which sits right on the Mississippi River. Isn't it cute? This is really all there is to it. Did you see the population # in the first picture?!

I have been really happy that this area of WI is very NOT flat! It has been a good compromise for this mountain girl. I can tell it will be beautiful in the spring/summer.

I know this wasn't full of kid pics, but those will come. Now that this storm is hitting, I will have LOTS of time to post!

Trivia Nerd

Yes, I am a trivia nerd. And to prove it, here's my latest story:

(I am standing in line at a gas station behind 2 guys)

Guy 1: "What band is this playing on the radio?"

(I totally was singing along with the song in my head...)

Guy 2: "I don't know, but I know that the whole CD gets you all depressed and you want to kill yourself."

(I silently disagreed.)

Guy 1: "Really, I don't think it sounds that bad."

(I agree with #1)

Guy 2: "I think it's a band like Coldplay... yeah, I'm sure that's who it is."

Me (in my head only): "IT'S THE FRAY!!!!!!"

(I came SO SO close to telling them, but that would show how anal I am about pop culture trivia!)

The Last October...

... at least in Utah, for a while.

Who knew that my kids would love to dress up with scary masks!?!

Halloween definitely arrived at our house!

After months of training on treadmills, and running with an awesome and patient friend, I FINALLY ran my planned 6K at Thanksgiving Point!! I loved it and can't wait to run another. Just imagine 1850 women of all ages and sizes running together. The energy and atmosphere was amazing. And I was so proud that I had made a goal, worked on it, and then achieved it!

For mine and Dan's combined 30th birthdays, (mine is still coming) we were so graciously taken to Las Vegas by Dan's mom and stepdad: Granny & Grampa Dan. We stayed in the Planet Hollywood Towers, just 1 year old, and it was an awesome room! Then we were even luckier to be able to see LOVE, by Circue du Soleil. Dan and I have been humming Beatles tunes ever since!

And then there was the pumpkin patch with Grampa Russ. 

Kid wheel-barrows were the best!

And it's a good thing we are moving to farm country, so Jack can get his fix of tractors and anything made my John Deere!! 

(what, did I just say moving...?)

Thanks Grampa Russ!! 

We will miss you, and everyone else we love so much here in Utah.

We will have lots more time to post when we get to La Crosse, Wisconsin... next month.

This post...

...has had me emotional all afternoon. (okay, for the last 2 weeks)

 

And has been 1 year in the making.

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY LAYLA

Layla, you came in to our family and made us complete. A baby girl, following 2 very busy boys! 

You brought a needed calmness to our home, as well as the sweetest spirit. 

You taught your big brothers how to love someone littler than themselves.

Then came your funny, independent, willful, and mischievous personality.

(this is her plotting-face)

Really, feet on the table?

You are known as:

Layla

baby girl

Honey-girl

trouble maker

little sister

princess

Layla, you make us so happy. You make us laugh, and you know how to frustrate your brothers! You are already way too smart, and keep us on our toes... We can't wait for all that is to come. And with more tears, of pure happiness, in my eyes I speak for all of us when I say

WE LOVE YOU.

And check out just how daring this girlie is, already. We are in trouble!