hreiðrið mitt

a break

2012-02-16T17:00:00.001-07:00

I think I'm going to take a blogging break. Like I already have been. :) I've been kinda beat up lately. I'm tired, and I need to figure some things out. So I'm going to. Figure stuff out, that is. I don't know how long it will be before I get my ducks in a row, but until further notice, I'm on hiatus. From the blog. Love to you all.

a share

2012-02-14T21:49:00.000-07:00

Here's a book trailer. :)

Just shoot for the stars..and aim from the heart

2012-02-14T13:10:00.001-07:00

Okay, I have a story to tell. It's fun. For me, anyway. hahahaha.

I have a new song today just for Dustin. You know, on my playlist? It's Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5. A while back, it came on the radio, and Dustin was singing along. I had NEVER heard the song in my life! And I was amazed and amused that Dustin knew it, and he liked it. hahahahahahaha! He likes country music. And he likes some Alternative. And that's pretty much it. OR SO I THOUGHT! hahahahahha. He sings all these new songs on the radio that I've never heard, and I. LOVE. IT! He makes me happy. And makes me feel loved. And he makes me laugh. A lot. Everyday. I'm very blessed.

I hope your Valetines Day is full of love. :)

Life is going on here at the Baker household

2012-01-20T17:14:00.000-07:00

I haven't been blogging very much for a long while. Last year I made a goal to do one hundred blog posts. I didn't do that. But I got somewhere around 60 I think. Failing grade. ahahahahahhaa.Anyway, we have been living and surviving, and being sick, and happy and enjoying birthdays. (Okay, only I birthday, but it was mine, and it was lovely. More on such things later.)But yes, we're still here.

Sarah has been a bit sick lately, and her sleep habits are all out of whack. It's been a challenge, because I am absolute rubbish with no sleep. So I've been absolute rubbish in general. hahahhaa. Such is life, ey? She's so fun, though. She is getting so big, and chattering away. She has started stringing words together, so she can ask for things. It's wonderful to see her grow. I try not to mourn her babyness, but I think that's just part of me as a parent: excited for and about the new stuff, but sad for the stuff they're growing out of.Like my Miaya girl. She is getting so big. She's so wise. I'm kind of a freaker outer sometimes. It's true. And in those moments, she will very calmly repeat words to me that I've said to her to calm me down. It's humbling and shocking enough to me that it works. :) One of her preschool teachers mentioned to me that she has the whole class socially wrapped around her finger. She loves people. We went to a park a few weeks ago, and there were other children there, and she ran right over to them and asked if they wanted to be her friend.

I've got the blues a bit, but I try really hard to not let it get me down. Yogalates (no really. :) and sunny days and the love of my good man and my lovely daughters are big helpers. And lots of prayer.

Operation de-clutter has been a huge success, and is an on going process. Just when I think I have everything where I want it, I realize I can down size even more, and Tada! more stuff goes into the garbage, or the DI or wherever else. Good times.

That's all for now. Hope you are doing well. :)

It's a new year

2012-01-03T15:59:00.000-07:00

So I am going to leave the past in the past, and welcome the new year. :)

Happy New year, everyone!

Enjoy. Watch either one, they are both fun. :) Same song, different videos.

Yule Lads

2011-12-19T13:46:00.002-07:00

Okay, everytime I type or say Yule Lads, it tickles my funny bone, and so, I laugh and snort and all sorts of other unseemly things. Just thought you'd like to know.

But what are Yule Lads? Well, when I was growing up, my siblings and I would put our shoe in the window on the 12 nights before Christmas so that the Santas, Yule Lads, or whatever you'd like to call them, would bring us a treat. And put it in our shoe. :D Awesome, right? It is our Icelandic heritage, and I always loved it. I do it with my kids every other year, because we do American Christmas one year (open prezzies on the 25th, etc.) and the Icelandic Christmas the next year (putting the shoe in the window, and opening prezzies on the 24th). Don't worry, we do Tongan Christmas every year! (Big feast for Christmas. :)

So yeah, back to the Yule Lads. Maliana found this awesome website that explains them a bit. And I love the little cartoon guys. So, if you'd like to learn more, have a look here. It's all fun and good times now, but they weren't so nice originally. ho ho ho.

Oh, and when the kids aren't good, they don't get a treat, they get a potato. Although, that might be a Toutai thing. hahahahahaha. Not sure.

Merry Christmas!

Wise Men

2011-12-18T19:05:00.003-07:00

I hope you enjoy this. Because I do. :)

true

2011-11-28T15:34:00.001-07:00

So good. I needed this today, and hope it buoys you up too. :)

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;gt;S</p>

Do you like to read things? I do.

2011-11-28T12:45:00.001-07:00

Here is a random thing to vote on. I get nothing in return for sharing this. Just thought I would. Have a happy day. :)

2011 Goodreads Choice Awards: Favorite Book of 2011

Vote now for your favorite books!

de cluttering the house

2011-11-21T22:45:00.001-07:00

So a few weeks back, I realized belatedly that my sister Miriam invited us to New Mexico for Thanksgiving! And all looked well and good to go, so we accepted. We also planned to see Dustin's brother and his wife on the same trip. Happiness ensued, and it was great fun planning for this trip.

Then our car had troubles.

First, I needed new tires. They were quite baldy, and the weather was getting winterish. So new tires were bought. And then other things kept needing attention on the car. Bit's were breaking and misbehaving. (By the way, we bought this car, the vee dub, so that we could stop having to fix things all the time. We've already spent way more on fixing the vee dub than we spent TOTAL on the little hot rod. Boo!) And so, we could no longer go on said trip. boo hoo. But Dustin still had the whole week off!

So so so, what to do?! De clutter, of course! It might sound unfun to you, but it is quite refreshing. I thought it would be a bit sucky, but it's not! Last week I took a whole car load of stuff to the DI. We've cleared out so much stuff we haven't used, or aren't going to use. I always feel bad when we don't do fun stuff when Dustin has time off, but not to worry. We're going shooting on Thanksgiving, and that is always always fun times. Hope your week is going well. :)

He loves me

2011-11-11T15:53:00.001-07:00

They other day while Sarah was napping, Miaya and I were doing things around the house and chatting, and I asked her about her best friend, Jared. (Her words, the whole best friend thing.) And she was telling me he didn't like it when she was friends with other people. He sounds a bit possesive if you ask me. hahahahahaa. OH my. But anyway, so she was telling me sorts of fun things they do together at preschool, and then she looks at me and smiles and says "He loves me" all serenely. Ugh. Like it was the most natural thing in the world. It IS the most natural thing in the world to love Miaya. hahahaha. But for him to love her blew me away. And made me chuckle.

Sarah is a very sensitive girl. We are slowly but surely getting lots of opportunities to learn this. The other day she was sitting in my lap while I was on the computer. When I looked at her, she was sucking her thumb. I've never seen her do that, so I asked "What are you doing?" I thought I was using a normal voice, but apparently I wasn't, because her bottom lip poked out, and she got all sad, and teary eyed! I was like "Oh, you're not in trouble or anything, I was just surprised." And she still wouldn't smile. Her tender little feelings were all hurt. It was really sweet and cute. hahahahahahaaha.
She's also very expressive in general. Especially verbally. When she was born, the nurses and doctors commented that she had a set of lungs on her. I was like whatever, she's just crying. hahahahha. They were right. hahahaha. The other day she wandering around the house saying "Why?!" at the top of her lungs. (kind of dramatically hahahha) For no reason at all except that she liked to say it. It was awesome.

Oh what fun to have daughters. hahahahaha. Love them.

This is what our house looked like when we bought it.

2011-11-09T21:37:00.001-07:00

It is true. This was our house. I didn't think it was that bad. It was pretty bad. I mean, carpet in the kitchen?

And this carpet is pretty wild too.

And the wall paper?

And a random planter box right by the front door.

Dustin always hated this wallpaper. I loved it. hahahahaha! The hallway stuff, not the other stuff.

And so, at some point I'll show you all the great stuff we've done to this here house. Okay? okay.

the Growing Up girls

2011-11-09T21:33:00.001-07:00

Children grow. We all grow. It is all a part of this lovely experience we are having called life. My children, my daughters, are so lovely, it is humbling for me. I love to see their wonder as they experience things for the first time. I love to watch them grow. Even though it seems to go so quickly.

Miaya, who I swear I just gave birth to, is constantly making lists of what she wants to be when she grows up. Today it consists of: a doctor, a librariam (that's how she says it and I love it), a firefighter, a dancer, and just added: an island princess. I hope she gets to be all of those things.

And Sarah, who has grown like a weed before my eyes, is not only walking with confidence, but running! And chattering away, and repeating things we say to her. And singing, and dancing, and didn't we just bring her home from the hospital the other day??

My babies are little girls now, and before I know it they will be young women, and then young wives, and then young mothers. How grateful I am to be able to be a part of it all. I am blessed.

Watermelon!

2011-10-16T20:46:00.001-06:00

We try to grow lots of fun things in our garden. I love having a garden. It's fun, and hard work, and delicious.

The fruits of our labors. Yum.

I love these videos.

2011-10-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

Don't you love these videos? I do. I love hearing other peoples stories.

A video for you. Not mine, but I'm sharing.

2011-10-15T15:49:00.003-06:00

So interesting and awesome. :)

The google reader next button.

2011-10-05T10:48:00.001-06:00

Have you heard of it? I only heard of it a week or two ago. I love it. If you follow lots of blogs, and you use google reader, try it out. I think it's great.

Here's a link on how to use it.

That's all. ;)

Happy birthday Dustin

2011-09-29T14:44:00.000-06:00

So Thursday is my favorite day of the week. Not entirely sure why, it just is. An even better Thursday is when it's Dustin's birthday! I made this little collage of awesomeness into a big 33. hahaha. I was inspired by a pinterest thing. He hasn't seen it yet. :) He will, though, when he gets home. This post is for him. :)

So Dustin, you are a unique and wonderful man. How grateful I am that we have been able to spend some wonderful times together. There are so many parts to you, so many things that make you you. You know I love lists, and so here is a birthday list just for you.

The complicated bits and bobs that make up Dustin. (or What makes Dustin Dustin.)

1. Your love of Jeeps.

2. The best sense of humor in the universe.

3. Your love of the gospel.

4. Being an outdoor enthusiast. Example: fishing, hunting, wheeling, hiking, camping, etc.

5. The amazing father you are to our two beautiful young daughters.

6. Putting your whole heart into everything you do whether it's being a young men's leader or mowing the lawn or going to work or loving your family.

7. Your appreciation of snow.

8. Daddy daughter dates.

9. You patience when I ask one million and one questions.

10. Being a hard worker.

11. Diving in and trying before admitting defeat. (I'm not sure defeat has ever happened, though.)

12. Drinking out of the hose. :)

13. Your amazing one armed photo shoots. Of the whole family!

14. Going on drives.

15. Your sense of adventure.

16. Funny faces.

17. Back scratches.

18. Short hair and blue blue eyes.

19. Your amazing barbecue skillz.

20. An oil change for a first date.

21. Helping others out whenever you see someone in need of it.

22. Showing our girls how to fish and hunt and fix the car.

23. Your love of fireworks and fire. (Pyro!)

24. Your varied knowledge in many many many things.

25. Being the best friend any one could hope for.

26. Loving the Bears for 6 million years even though they sucked for 5.9 million of those years.

27. The love we have shared for the last 9 (or so) years.

28. Your love of your family.

29. The natural leader you are.

30. Bringing snickers ice cream and bug juices home, just because.

31. Giggling like a school girl when you find something hilarious.

32. A warm heart to go with your warm hands.

33. Melting when our girls just want to hug their Daddy.

Babe. We love you heaps. Thanks for being who you are.

Our New Ward

2011-09-25T21:39:00.000-06:00

Our stake was joined with another stake last Sunday to make one large stake. So now I belong to the Salt Lake Granger Stake and I am in the Granger Ward. We have all of my old ward in our new ward, but we also have sections of two other wards. Today is going to be our first Sunday all together. I am so excited to meet all the new children in our Primary. It is going to be a wild and adventurous day. I'm a bit nervous. I'm still the primary president. We have a program coming up. Wish me luck.

And I came across theses guys when Lete posted a video on facebook. Enjoy.

Back to school

2011-09-23T07:00:00.000-06:00

Miaya has started preschool again. She is in her second year. She LOVES it. I love her school. It is such a wonderful place for little ones to thrive. Anyway, this is the only picture Miaya would let me take of her at school. She was too anxious to get in there and for me to go away. Boo hoo. Just kidding. I love her independent spirit! :) I think it would be so much harder if she didn't want to go. So I cried a little while I drove back home from taking her. hahahahaha. I'm allowed.

Because I didn't get more than one shot at school, I took a bunch at home. hahahaha. Enjoy.

Love all that wild and curly hair.

Miaya's 5th

2011-09-22T20:58:00.001-06:00

Can you believe this amazing, sweet, precocious, energetic, thoughtful, stubborn, beautiful girl is 5? Me either. But she is. And she had so much fun on her birthday. Dustin (and I) gave her this lei for her birthday.

Grandma Rhea made her a Candyland cake. Awesome, right?

I made these for her bedroom out of tissue paper! So easy, and so fun, and she adores them.

Check out her left eye in this picture. She learned that from her Dad. ;)

Sarah Pop

See this is my proof she learned the eye thing from her Dad.

She got to pick whatever she wanted in the whole world to eat for her birthday, and you know what she wanted? Arctic Circle. Crazy kid. hahahahaha. She loves the play land place there. It's the only one we let her go in, because it's all open and she can't hide or run away when it's time to go. hahahahahahha.

Sarah and Daddy drumming on the slide while Miaya is inside.

Miaya felt like a princess on her birthday. She got to do whatever she wanted (within reason :) and she was very gracious about it. Love you Miaya Pie!

love this song

2011-09-22T20:46:00.002-06:00

It's so pretty. So lovely. So soothing.

Blood blood blood

2011-09-15T20:29:00.001-06:00

The first time I ever gave blood, I was 18 years old. There was a blood drive in my stake, and so off I went and gave my blood. I was nervous, excited, and a little apprehensive. I was really worried about passing out and such. I didn't. I was completely fine. At that time, one of the people there told me that most people gave blood only once and never did it again. I vowed that I would do it again. It took a long time, but I did. And I did again tonight. I love giving blood. I love doing stuff that is not harmful to me, and I have extra, so why not give it to someone else who might need it. I have also donated my hair a couple of times. It's great. No inconvenience to me + someone else benefits = Why not? Let's do this.

Awesome. Have you ever given blood? Or does the idea make you queasy? Dustin hasn't ever, and probably won't. The idea is very uncomfortable to him. I understand. It's not something everyone can, should, or even wants to do. :)

Hope your day is happy.

No pictures. Again.

2011-09-02T14:33:00.000-06:00

I haven't taken pictures in a while. I'm not sure why. But we're having fun. I will take more pictures so you have something fun to look at while you're here. ;)

So I went to Wal Mart today. I kind of hate Wal Mart. It's not an active hate. I just avoid going as much as possible. The concept of the store is great: one stop shopping. I just have bad experiences pretty much EVERY TIME I GO. Today I had coupons and the lady had already rung everything up and the coupons were left off. (Because I used my debit card, and had already swiped it) She said next time to put the coupons on the little place next to where the card machine is. I did put them there, and told her that. She wasn't too pleased. I felt bad. Not for saying that I did. I was nice about it. I felt bad about the whole transaction, and vowed yet again to avoid Wal Mart as much as possible.

hahahahahahaha.

Okay! It's Labor Day weekend, and it's going to be great! Miriam and Daniel will be here in Utah, and we are going to get to meet Jamison for the first time. And the kids get to hang out. And I get to see my sister! wooo hooo. That's fun.

Dustin is repurposing an old tent trailer. We got it years ago. Seriously. And it's just been sitting in the backyard, being a home to a mouse hoard. Okay, maybe not a hoard but at least 2 mice. They are disgusting creatures. Anyway, it's a bit of a tedious process. Dusting tore it apart in one afternoon, which was a lovely surprise. He's been putting it back together as a flat bed trailer. Very handy. It's lots of trial and error, however. Not such a lovely surprise.

The weather has been lovely this week here. It was about 100 degrees for a couple of days last week. This week it's been downright pleasant in the 80's. Delicious. I love this time of year. It's still warm in the day time, but lovely cool evenings. OH my. So good. Autumn is on it's way. ::sigh::

My latest obsession: Pinterest. It is such an awesome thing. A great way to put a bunch of stuff you love online into one place. Like we have a bunch of tomatoes finally ripening in my garden, and I wanted to try making home made tomato soup. I checked out Pinterest, and found this and this and this and this. So that's what we're having for dinner. Yum yum.

Happy Labor Day!

제 이름은 알버트입니다 (My name is Albert) Ég heiti Albert

2011-09-01T15:00:00.000-06:00

My talented little sister made this. It makes me happy.

Tokyo - Imagine Dragons

2011-08-31T12:44:00.000-06:00

My happy song for today. So fun! :)

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

2011-08-21T16:53:00.000-06:00

I read Mere Christianity, or at least parts of it earlier this year, and these were some favorite parts. I obviously didn't read much of it. I found it to be very enjoyable, but I kept falling asleep. I think that says more about me than the book. :)

Favorite bits and bobs of this book

"We might think that God wanted simply obedience to a set of rules: whereas He really wants people of a particular sort."

"As Dr Johnson said, 'People need to be reminded more often than they need to be instructed." -on morality

It's that time of the year again.

2011-08-19T13:02:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow, to be precise. The opening day of the bow hunt for deer here in Utah. I did posts here and here about last year and prep for this year. Dustin's really excited. He has a whole boyfriends sleep over. It's good times. :)

This years prep has been on going, but now it's the last minute stuff that's getting done. Snacks and water and clothing and sleeping bags, etc. are getting put together. Dustin decided he needed a new camouflage shirt. So we went to 3 different places last night to find one. We ended up back at Sportsmans Warehouse. We'd already been there once. It was quite adventurous. What we thought was going to be a half an hour trip to the store ended up being 3 hours! ugh. It was long. But we found a shirt! woo hoo. Then this morning I was gathering all his stuff together to wash it in this special laundry detergent he has that is unscented. hahahahaha. Turns out he had a BRAND NEW t-shirt in with his other hunting stuff!! hahahahahahahaha. He also had like 2 and 3 of everything (pants, t-shirts, long sleeve t-shirts, hats) hahahahaha. I laughed myself silly.

This morning was spent getting the last minute things, and then he'll be off tonight and home sometime before Sunday. I'm tired. How about you?

I think I'll take a nap. After I do all my chores. ;)

Miaya still naps?!?!

2011-08-05T15:20:00.000-06:00

So you guys asked if Miaya still takes naps, and yes, she does. Sometimes. Most of the time we just do quiet time. This is something I learned when I was watching a friends children a few years back. Miaya was little, and she still took regular naps TWICE A DAY. Lucky me. :D These kids, though, were a bit high strung, and nothing at all like my little content baby. Their mom, though, told me that she had them do quiet time each day. What is that? you may ask. Well, just like it sounds. Quiet time. No loudness, running, wildness, etc. Like Mamma said: reading a book, watching a movie, something quiet. It was so great. They would sit down and chill for like an hour, no coaxing necesary. Most of the time.

Now on to the pictures. I love this little sequence of pictures.

In the first two, Sarah was making her way over. And then by the end, she's almost to me again. haha!

Is that all your questions answered? I always think I answer the comments, but they never make it to the blog or facebook.

Oh, and Mamma, yeah, the order in the day thing: My kids totally thrive on a schedule. Or maybe it's me? Either, way, we love a good routine in the Baker household. It's not anything big. Here's our typical day. My kids get up between 7 and 8, then we do breakfast. Then we spend the morning cleaning, or running errands, or playing. Then we do lunch. Then naps. The playing and cleaning and getting dinner ready. Then dinner time at 6, then bath, bedtime at 8pm. Awesome. The only things really concrete are sleep and meal times. Everything else is pretty fluid. So now you know way more than you ever wanted to know about that.
The end.

Blanket Forts

2011-08-04T14:05:00.000-06:00

I don't know about you, but one of my favorite things to do as a kid was to make tents and tunnels with blankets and couch cushions and pillows.

Miaya and Sarah love it too.

Miaya begs me to let her sleep in them for naps.

And sometimes I let her. :)

Brigham City day trip

2011-08-04T14:03:00.000-06:00

I mentioned in a post a couple of days ago, or maybe it was yesterday, that Dustin gets to install office furniture in the temples sometimes? Well, he was at the Logan temple also last week, and on his way home from there, he saw the Brigham City temple. I didn't realize it was so far along.

Neat-o, huh? This picture was taken on the south side of the construction site. I stood up in the car and poked myself out of the moon roof (which I am sort of amazed I fit out of! hahahaha) and took the picture while we were on the one way street. hahaha. It was great. We went to Brigham City to check out the temple, and get yummy peaches (they've just started becoming ripe! nom nom.) And we also like to just go on day trips, and this was our day trip on Saturday. We also stopped at Smith and Edwards, which is always fun in an overwhelming way.

delightful.

The Urban Cottage: Design*Sponge- Yay!

2011-08-04T13:32:00.000-06:00

I love this day bed. I want to make one. Someday. ;)

The Urban Cottage: Design*Sponge- Yay!:

Not all those who wander are lost. - J. R. R. Tolkien

2011-08-03T21:44:00.000-06:00

It is true. They aren't. And it is also true that the title has little, if anything, to do with this post. And so on we go.

Miaya left her cereal bowl on the table one morning after eating her breakfast. She is supposed to put it in the sink, or rinse it and put it into the dish washer. So it's sitting on the table and Sarah comes along and sees it.

This is what Sarah lives for. Opportunities to make lots of fun messes. :)

And then she likes to eat them. Oh. My.

Miaya loves to play dress up. I love that she loves to play dress up. This is her graduation cap from her preschool graduation and a stick and a feather. I'm not sure what she's dressed up as, but she loves it.

Cute girls.

Don't you love having the park to yourself? I do.

2011-08-03T16:37:00.000-06:00

Sarah while she naps.

Miaya eating lollipops.

Sarah eating lollipops.

So Dustin went to Arizona last week. One of the perks of working for Midwest Commercial Interiors is that they get the temple contracts quite a bit, and so Dustin gets to travel occasionally to go and do the office furniture. Most of the time it's just local, but a few years back he went to Oakland, and last week he went to the Mesa, Arizona temple. He left here at like 8:45 in the morning and got back at about 5 the next afternoon.

After dropping him off at the airport, the girls and I went to the park. It was great. We were there for like an hour and had the whole place to ourselves. :D

Miaya love love loves the park. She wishes she lived there. It was fun, though.

Determination

2011-08-03T15:51:00.000-06:00

When I was a kid, third grade I believe, I had a book about Sleeping Beauty and it said in small letters that it was a story about determination. I always had a hard time saying that word, but an even harder time understanding the word. I have no problem understanding now.

According to dictionary.com:

de·ter·mi·na·tion/diˌtərməˈnāSHən/Noun

1. Firmness of purpose; resoluteness.

2. The process of establishing something exactly, typically by calculation or research.

I am talking about the first definition.

A while back, we found a small sunflower plant growing in the cracks of the concrete by the back door. My first reaction was to pull it up. Miaya saw it before I did that and asked what sort of plant it was. I told her. She thought it was so amazing and it became HER sunflower. And so, of course, I did not pull it up. We (Dustin and I) are such suckers for stuff like this. Earlier in the year, Miaya adored the dandelions, and so we left them for a bit longer because she enjoyed them so much. Anyway, so back to the sunflower. We have let it grow, and so now it looks like this:

This sunflower was determined to grow. Can you see where it is growing? Out of a crack. It wanted it enough to grow and exist. Awesome.I don't water it, I don't do anything to it. I just let it grow. Miaya checks on it most days and often comments on how well it is growing, how big its getting, etc. So fun.

Another determined thing, or more accurately, person in my life? My Sarah girl. If I had to describe her in only one word, determination would be it. She does not give up EVER. It can be difficult sometimes. Like when it's bedtime and she's not ready for sleep. Or when she wants my glasses and won't stop taking them off my face, or even when she wants to play and it's the middle of sharing time, and I'm teaching, so she can't. But it is such a huge part of who she is and so, very much a part of her I love. I mean, how can your resist this?

I can't. hahahaha.

Now, my Miaya girl is also determined. Stubborn, obstinate, whatever you'd like to call it. But hers has only shown up in the last year or two. She is my laid back kid for the most part. She loves to play. Play is her life. Take away play, and she is a most unhappy girl. She is the kid that always gives way to what the other kids want to do, because she really doesn't care, as long as she's playing. Like I said, though, she has this crazy stubborn streak in which if she does not get to do what she feels she needs to (sometimes it's something as simple as brushing her teeth BEFORE brushing her hair, instead of the other way around) the whole house is in an uproar because Miaya is unhappy.

And yet, again, it's a part of her growing up, becoming who she's becoming, and so I love it. Not in the moment, but I have high hopes this determination in both my kids will continue on in other aspects of their life as they grow and get older.

Life is hard. But life is so good.

August, what are you doing here? You are not supposed to be here yet.

2011-08-02T23:24:00.000-06:00

August sounds so late in the year...so Summer is ending...so the year is more than half way over.

That can't be right, can it? It is. And strangely enough, it felt to me like July was so long, and luxurious. Time goes fast and slow. It's weird.

So, how have you been? I can't be bothered getting on my computer any more. A lot of the time any more I only get on to pay my bills. This Summer has been glorious. It has been so mild here in Utah. I know lots of places have experienced drought and heat waves. But not here. No, I don't even think it's been one hundred degrees yet. Divine, I tell you. Lots of playing and picnics and lounging outside reading books with the girls. Day trips, and store trips, and airport trips. (Okay, just two airport trips, but you know.) Sunshine, rain, stunning thunderstorms, and rainbows. Bathtimes, storytimes, prayertimes, and bedtimes. Sickness, colds, sniffles, and coughs. Family parties, and fireworks, and barbecues. Fresh peaches, cherries, and corn from the roadside fruit stands. Fresh strawberries and raspberries from the garden. Movies in the afternoon, forts made out of blankets and furniture. So good. I love summertime. It's my favorite time of year. Although, I love all the times of the year.

Oh, and Dustin just told me that it has been one hundred degrees.

I hope your summer has been lovely.

Camping

2011-07-17T22:32:00.000-06:00

We went camping a couple of weeks ago. It was so fun. Funnily enough, I thought it would be the kids that would be the reason we went home early. It was Dustin, though! I don't blame him. He didn't get any sleep at all. Sarah slept about 12 hours! And Miaya slept through most of the night. You can see our awesome tent in the background of the Sarah picture. I love it so much. It rained on and off the whole night, and we stayed completely dry. It was great. We also brought the portable DVD player along, just in case. hahahaha. Dustin and I watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows after the kids went to bed. It was fun. :D

Dustin and his tree broom

Sarah and her cup

The camp area was really, ahem, messy, so Dustin used a tree limb to sweep! hahahahaha. This makes me laugh lots.

Good times.

Been to Spanish Fork lately?

2011-07-11T21:14:00.000-06:00

I am hardly ever in Spanish Fork. We went there are few Saturdays ago to go to the Icelandic heritage celebration thingy they have. I haven't been since I was a kid, so I was unsure as to what to expect. I didn't see anyone I knew, except one of Mamma's old missionaries. Tyler Shepard. Do you guys remember him? He asked me if I was Sister Toutai's daughter. hahahahaahaha! awesome. I said yes, and then he thought I was Miriam, because he mentioned Daniel. I said, no, but that's my sister. Anway, it was interesting. We missed out on ponnukokkur (ugh don't know how to spell it) and kleiners (Tyler Shepard said they americanized them!! WHAT?! so I wasn't too disappointed. ;) but we did have pylsurs. Yea! And they sang some songs, most of which I didn't recognize, except I did recognize gamli noa or whatever its called.

Oh yeah, and there were lots of Canadians there on a special tour or something. They had these handout thingies that are from a few years back, but one had pictures and stuff of the Hofsos thing we went to all those years ago. So I got them for Mamma. Interesting. And weird. hahahahahaha.

Oh, random and strange, it was like a blast from the past that day. After the festivities, we went into the library just to check it out, and my old high school english teacher was there from my senior year of high school. So I told her hello and you probably don't remember me, and she said she did. Remember me, that is. I think she was lying. HAHAHAHAHA. maybe not. It was Mrs. Nehrer. Melisa, I think you had someone else, right? Anyway, then a girl I worked with at Quickutz was working in the library. So weird weird weird.

There's still snow?!

2011-07-11T21:02:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago we went up Big Cottonwood Canyon to Silver Lake and had a picnic. It was so lovely. It was so hot in the valley, but up there, as you can see by our sweatshirts, it was a bit brisk.

Miaya loves to pose. oh my.

Here duckie, duckie. She was saying that, and others things to try to get the duck to come to her. It eventually wandered off.

I don't know if you've been up here, but there are boardwalks all over, and they are all covered in snow. Well, they were when we went up.

Dustin is king of the big snow pile.

And Sarah is princess of her own little snow pile. Dustin believes that all Jeeps, strollers included, show wheel at every opportunity.

Dustin titled this picture: Waiting For Summer. Indeed.

And a beautiful sunset to top it all off.

Don't you just love fishing?

2011-07-11T20:40:00.000-06:00

I love fishing. The first time I went fishing was when I was 18 or so. hahahahha. It was great fun, and very soothing. As a family activity with two little ones, it's not so soothing anymore. It can be downright stressful. But still oh so fun.

Sarah and I go for lots of walks when we go fishing.

Dustin and Miaya have lots of heart to hearts about fishing, and life, and philosophy. :)

I really do love to go fishing. Even if it's only for an hour at a time.

Pajama time

2011-07-11T20:29:00.001-06:00

Don't you just love that time just after baths and right before bed? The kids are clean and cuddly, and ready for bed. Then bedtime stories and prayers. ::sigh:: I absolutely love it.

Miaya is cuddling/restraining Sarah. hahahaha.

So sweet.

Except tonight we are not doing quiet activities before bed. We're doing dance time to K pop. Awesome. :)

a cute Etsy shop

2011-07-08T22:56:00.000-06:00

My friend has this lovely Etsy shop. She makes these beautiful things. You should check it out here.

And here are some fascinating new websites that I need to remember, and this is the fastest way for me to do it. :)

Anythingology

An Easy Bench

And, again. that is all.

I love when Miaya brings me flowers

2011-07-08T17:41:00.000-06:00

I have these oh so lovely red lilies that Dustin and Miaya got for me a few years ago for Mother's Day. This year, they are so stunning and lovely, and I love them! Miaya loves them too. So much, that she likes to go and pick them.

The other day she came running in the house and told me she had picked me some flowers. She had pulled the whole plant out of the ground! hahahahahahaha. It was so hilarious. Too hilarious to get angry about. hahahahhaahha. So fun! She makes me chuckle.

I went shopping

2011-07-08T17:37:00.000-06:00

So for the last week, Dustin has had vacation, and it's been really fun. We went shopping today and I always love to feel like I got a good deal. I am always nervous about coupons, but Miriam is brilliant with them, and taught me a little bit about how to do it.

I got all this stuff for $16.56. I won't have to buy cereal for a long time. Like 6 months, I think. When we were done, Dustin said "I thought it would be less." OH well. I thought it was great. The Kellogg's cereals were 3 for 5 dollars, and then I had two coupons that were 5 dollars off 5 boxes of cereal. Awesome.

That is all.

Many strange and wonderful creatures

2011-06-24T23:45:00.000-06:00

Sounds interesting, no? Well it is! I am going to share the plethora of creatures found crossing the paths of the various game cameras Dustin and his friends have.

A big buck. This ones actually from last year. Disregard the date. ;)

Can you see this one? A coyote.

Rabbit.

Scruffy doe

A red fox.

Another doe

Snow. Not a creature per se, but fun all the same. Notice the date? This one is correct.

Humans, the wildest creatures of all. And I am pretty sure there is no hunting season going on at the time this picture was taken. hmmm...

Elk! Such big creatures.

Talk about big! Cougar.

Cow. Or bull. I think it's a bull. scary.

Fun, right? I love when Dustin brings home his memory cards. I get to see what's on there. Something new each time. My favorite is the picture of the coyote because if you just glance at it, you won't see it, it's camouflaged so well. I like the big kitty too. Cougars are creepy. One time Dustin and I drove up American Fork Canyon when it was closed for the winter, and parked at the gates they had across the road. We hopped out of the Jeep, and right on the ground, crossing the road were huge cougar prints in the snow. It was wild. Another time, we were driving back down Ophir Canyon in the Jeep with the doors and top off, and we heard a cougar growl. It was eerie as all get out.

The end.

They make me feel like a kid again

2011-06-22T12:57:00.002-06:00

What, you may ask?
Kpop.

It's adorable. And I like it.

Miaya loves these. And we dance around to them often. I am not in the know, but I like what I like. ;)

When I'm feeling like my house is a piece of junk...

2011-06-20T14:10:00.001-06:00

Before:

I look at before and afters. Awesome.

After:

Dustin has nice friends

2011-06-20T14:03:00.000-06:00

So do your friends do stuff like this:

???

Mine don't, and I'm honestly fine with it. Dustin brought this container to his friend one time because we made funeral potatoes, and had some left over. His friend LOVES funeral potatoes. And so, when he brought the container back, this is how it came. He brought it back forever ago, and yet I can't bring myself to take it off, because it makes me laugh lots. And lots and lots and lots. hahahahahahahaa. His friend that made this cute little tag has large gauges in his ears and a lot of tattoos. Hahahahahaha. Just goes to show you never know how lovely people are until you get to know them. ;)

Oh what fun we'll have

2011-06-20T13:58:00.000-06:00

Best thing in the world: a large cardboard box. Even better? Two large cardboard boxes. You know, Dustin always claims he has no imagination. And yet, I am constantly seeing a huge imagination in all the fun things he does and thinks of.

He was at work, and they were installing ready made desks. (Dustin installs office furniture for the Steelcase dealer here.) They came in these boxes that were like six feet long. He thought it might be fun for the kids and so he brought them home.

He cut windows and doors out of them, and tada! We had a couple of little houses.

Even Moose loved them. hahahaha.

We even got to paint them. It was so much fun.

for Amma and Afi

2011-06-14T17:29:00.002-06:00

I'm not even sure the words are right, but this is what she's learned from me. :D

My little american girls. Love them.

Spring Concert

2011-06-13T14:26:00.000-06:00

Miaya's spring concert was last week, and it was a lot of stress, but a lot of fun. This year we were able to go to both concerts, because I wasn't having a baby for the second one. :)

Miaya basically danced for us and only us in this video. But it's so fun for me to watch. I giggled the whole time. Miaya is our little ham. hahahahaha.

This is Miaya and her class getting ready to dance. She's all the way on the left. The caboose. :)

Miaya's in the front with the blue gloves. Blurry, I know.

Miaya is in the green on the right. She's kind of hidden.

Towards the right with blue gloves, and you can see her green sleeves a bit too. ;)

She has so much fun doing all her dancing.

Cheap movies for the summer

2011-06-13T13:49:00.000-06:00

Okay, so you know how dollar theaters are generally kind of icky? Well, here is a link for some dollar movies this summer. I don't think you can buy the 5 dollar pass anymore, but you can still see some movies for a dollar a piece at regular theaters. I think that's neato. So check it out. I'm thinking of going to see something with the kids. And awesome thing is that they start movies at 10am, so you can go see one without worrying about if your kids are too loud. ;) That is a concern for me, because Sarah is really really loud. hahahahaha.

Graduation

2011-06-13T13:41:00.001-06:00

Miaya is such an interesting creature. :) She is so outgoing and confident in so many situations. Getting up in front of crowds is not one of those situations. She does just fine when it comes to dancing in front of audiences, but not talking or anything like that.

So in May, Miaya graduated from her first year of preschool.

It took a lot to get her to go up and get the certificate. They did a whole program of singing and such before this, and she would not go up. I know how it is to be so painfully shy that you want to crawl under the chairs rather than get up in front of people, so I figured when she was ready, she'd go up. I didn't want to push her. Other family members that were there were pushing her, and it frustrated me so much. I let them know that I wasn't going to make her go up if she didn't want to, and I didn't. It turned out just fine. She sat and watched her class sing and then when they called her name to get her certificate, she told Dustin she wanted to go up, and she did.

I know these pictures are blurry, but I think you can kind of see how she's a bit uncomfortable. But she did awesome. And her teachers are so great too! Miss Margene, Miss Tiffany, and Miss Lydia are awesome. Miss Margene was so surprised when she saw Miaya not want to go up. Miaya is so outgoing in class, that it was a bit of a shock.

We're so proud of our Miaya girl. :)

Sarah is one

2011-06-13T13:12:00.000-06:00

This is Sarah's birthday cake. The cupcakes say Sarah 1. I am so awesome, right? hahahahaha. Strawberry cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. So delicious.

Sarah loved them too. :)

After dinner, Sarah is sharing her birthday books with Miaya. It was so fun.

Hunting with Daddy

2011-06-02T13:44:00.000-06:00

Before Dustin and I had children, and before we were even married, I knew that Dustin enjoyed hunting. Before Dustin I was VERY uncomfortable with guns in general, had never been wheeling, let alone hunting. After Dustin, I have done lots of new things that I NEVER would have done if it wasn't for him. I love wheeling. I know how to handle our guns, and I know about hunting. Having said that, I don't hunt myself. I don't like the idea of killing things. Only bugs. I don't mind killing bugs. Anyway, we knew before having kids that we wanted to expose our children to lots of things. Hunting was one of them.

Dustin has been preparing for the hunt this coming August for a little while now. He has set up game cams, and goes to check them every couple of weeks to see what's been in the area. This last time there were rabbits, a couple of doe, and even a coyote! Neat-o, huh?

Dustin went out with Miaya and Moose, as well as his friend Keith and his family. Sarah and I would have gone too, but we no longer have a four wheel drive vehicle we can all fit in, boo hoo. So we stayed home.

Looks like they had a blast, though, don't you think? I lobe them.

So they drive on paved roads until they get to the general area where the game cams are, then they go off road for a hairy scary bit, and then they hike for another little while, and then they get to the game cams.

Miaya is our little hiker. She loves to hike. It's awesome.

Such a beautiful area. And this year has been so rainy, that it's all green. Lovely. Sarah and I will be going along too as soon as we get another Jeep. :D

Easters, finally.

2011-06-02T12:32:00.001-06:00

A while ago I said I would post Easter pictures. Here they are!

Miaya loves the Easter egg hunt! See her happy face. So much fun. :) Did you know that I am a master egg hider? I am.

Okay, so I might not be a master, but I LOVE to do it. Love it! A few years ago the kids (my little sibs, Henry and Lete, who aren't all that little) were here for easter, and so I hid candy bars all over the yard for them to find. I was so excited. They were not. But they did go and find them! It was awesome.

Do you like the Christmas basket that doubled as an Easter basket? hahahahaha. Anytime easter comes around, all the easter baskets we have floating around in the kids toys disappear! It's quite astonishing.

See what I mean by awesome egg hider?

Even Sarah had fun. She found this egg that was sitting on top of this chimney thing on the barbecue.

snails

2011-06-02T12:22:00.000-06:00

When I was about Miaya's age, I LOVED snails. I remember living in Manly, which is in Sydney, Australia. We lived in an apartment building that had a gardenish area that had tons of them. I loved to pick them up and let them crawl (ew) all over my hand. And then, one fateful day, one was squished. I have been disgusted by them ever since.

Sorry about the wind noise. There is a jet engine just off to the side that was making all the racket. Just kidding, but it sounded good, right?

I was weeding our vegetable garden yesterday and came across a few of them. I almost threw up. It was pretty gross. Miaya, however, was fascinated. And so she picked them up and wanted to show her friend next door.

Her friend wasn't home, and so we put it in a nice little jar. I think the snail hated the jar. But it looked pretty.

And Sarah just enjoyed being outside. Oh wait, this pic isn't the same day. But she sure looks happy and cute.

Eruptions in Iceland

2011-05-23T20:23:00.001-06:00

There's a volcano erupting in Iceland. Did you know? Well, there is. Here's some stunning footage. Just click under the picture where it says Horfa á myndskeið með frétt. Oh, and a little Sigur Rós never hurt anyone either.

Good day.

I am a child of God

2011-05-16T20:43:00.000-06:00

I am a child of God

love it

Vacation week 2011

2011-04-30T08:00:00.000-06:00

Bryce Canyon was really cool.

We even took Moose with us. We were like a mini tourist attraction inside Bryce Canyon. People stopped and petted Moose, cooed at the girls.

It was fun.

Stunning

Awesome

Beautiful

A review of my goals and other odd ramblings

2011-04-29T21:59:00.001-06:00

Remember a while ago I wrote a blog about all the things I was going to do this year? Well, one of those was to write one hundred blogs this year. It is April 29th, and this is number 18. Oh my. I have some work to do.

I'm well on my way to reading one hundred books on my own, and with my girls. It's fun stuff, reading. ;)

So Dustin went to work at around 4:15 this morning. Isn't that disgusting? The thought of getting up that early makes me feel a bit sick. I hate getting up that early. He told me earlier "You know what's really depressing? When you've been at work a few hours, and then your alarm on your phone goes off and you realize you would just be getting up." Goodness gracious. hahahahaha. That wouldn't be very pleasant. Oh, and then he worked until about 7 tonight. Overtime is a double edged sword: awesome for the bank account, sucky for the family time and sanity. I try to not complain, because that is annoying. Wild, though.

So our movie tonight is Shrek Forever After. It makes me chuckle. We like the Shreks. I don't know that I'd like them as much if we didn't have kids. I know they aren't really kid movies, but, for me, they were an acquired taste, and I never would have watched them much if I didn't have my Miaya girl. She watches things over and over and over. Doesn't really get sick of them. It's quite amazing.

I didn't watch the royal wedding stuff. I find it fascinating, but I don't watch TV much, other than Netflix, and I hardly ever get on the computer anymore, and so I totally lost track of it. Did you watch it? Was it all amazing and such?

Oh, my latest favorite netflix show: Say yes to the dress. Have you seen it? It's fascinating to me. Before Dustin and I eloped all those years ago, we were in the process of planning a wedding. I hated it. Wedding dress shopping, where to have the reception, the flowers. It was yucky. So I am fascinated watching all those women picking the perfect dress that they've dreamed about since they were little girls. I don't think I ever dreamed of such things as a little girl. But I may have. I love this show, though. I think I am also preparing myself in part for when my girls are going to want to get married.

Miaya already talks about getting married. I am always shocked when she talks about it. Dustin hopes we have another 30 years before we have to worry about it. hahahahaha. In 16 years, Miaya will be the age I was when I got married. oh my.

We had vacation last week. It was pretty fun. I'll do a post about it. and Easter. I hope.

I change the songs

2011-04-22T18:30:00.000-06:00

So I put up whatever songs make me happy in the music player in the sidebar. The newest one is Lover, Lover by Jerrod Nieman. I'm not sure why, but our whole family sings this song when we hear it.

And so, here are the Baker girls singing part of the chorus for your listening pleasure. :)

Well, I guess Miaya sings while Sarah hums. Miaya sings: Lover, lover, lover, You don't treat me no good no more, then Sarah hums the part that would be treat me good no more. hahahahahaha.

It's getting warmer

2011-04-06T12:18:00.001-06:00

It's getting warmer, and so the little people start coming out in droves again. :) For the last week or two, these kids have been playing together most afternoons. Two of our neighbors have 4 year olds, so Miaya has plenty of play friends. They alternate between houses, usually all in the same afternoon. Good times.

And here is little Sarah, wanting to color too.The big kids like to play with her too, so it's fun times to be had for everyone.

Interestingly enough, on Saturday it was like 70 degrees, and then on Sunday it was only in the 30s. We also got quite a bit of snow. It was awesome. The snow is all gone now. Dustin even mowed the lawn for the first time this year, yesterday. Our garden in growing slowly but surely. Lettuce and peas for everyone! It's supposed to rain for the next week or so, but right now it's sunny and breezy. There are huge gray clouds rolling in, though, so we shall see.

Enough with my weather report.

Spring cleaning, and all sorts of meeting new people in the next week or so for the Bakers: My cousin Russell is in town, and there is to be a large gathering of cousins and aunties; Melisa's brother in law and wife are here, and so we are going to try to meet up with them somehow; Mamma's friend is coming down with stuff for my sisters and I, and I also need to send things along with her. It shall be crazy and interesing.

Oh, and did I mention that I am nervous about each and every one of those encounters? I am. blerg.

Something pretty cool is coming to Utah

2011-04-05T13:31:00.000-06:00

So, I am very excited because next year, in the Fall, Utah will have its own Chinatown!! I think this is so unbelievably awesome.

Here is the whole story. Neat-o.

Can't wait!

Jane Eyre

2011-03-26T10:43:00.000-06:00

Did you know that Jane Eyre is one of my all time favorite books EVER? It sure is. And there is a new Jane Eyre movie out, and I was so hoping it would be available to watch by our anniversary, so I could drag Dustin to go and see it. hahahaha. It came out on March 11 but only in selected theaters. It is coming out here for the first time on April 1. I can't wait to see it. I hope it is amazing. My favorite Jane Eyre movie is this one. Okay, so that's technically a mini series, but still, I lobe it. I don't know when I'll be able to see it, because Sarah is very much a Mamma's girl, so we shall see. Have you seen it? Did you like it? Do tell.

White Lightning

2011-03-22T16:18:00.001-06:00

This is White Lightning. The newest addition to the Baker clan. She is a 2004 Volkswagen Jetta Wagon. She is also a TDI which is pretty awesome if I do say so myself. We got her weeks ago, and I kept meaning to blog about it, and haven't. And so, how I have. I thought she was hideously ugly the first time I saw a picture. I laughed when Dustin suggested such a thing. But then, I saw the sun roof, and I fell in love. How superficial can I be? Pretty superficial. Plus, now we can all fit in the car at the same time. And I've always wanted a Jetta. Lucky me.

Oh, and PS it should be a lot easier to find a Jeep now, because it doesn't have to be amazing from the get go. We can get one with blown engine, and fix it up. woo woo. I guess we are forever going to be a 3 car family.

And so, it has been 8 years.

2011-03-21T16:36:00.000-06:00

Eight years ago today, Dustin and I went to the Salt Lake County offices and got a marriage certificate. When we got home, we called our bishop and asked him what he was doing that afternoon. He had a couple of hours available, and so, we called our friends, and we got married. It was just the six of us in our bishops office. Bishop Cannon and his wife, our two friends Vinson and Bryn, and Dustin and I. It was great for us, but most people in our lives were pretty unhappy at how we chose to be married. We, of course, were ecstatic, relieved, and happy.

It feels like it was only a couple of years ago, but it's been EIGHT YEARS. Woo hoo!!

Dear Dustin, there is no one else I would rather be with, no one else I love more, no one else I am more grateful for. I love you oh so much. Thanks for these oh so good years together. It's been so good. Here's to a million more.

Miaya's Humans

2011-03-20T17:39:00.000-06:00

Miaya says such awesome things, and they make me immensely happy! When she first learned I am a child of God in Nursery, she would sing the line "With parents kind and dear" as "With parents kind of dear" so good. In preschool when they were learning about Thanksgiving, she would say Indians as Imbians. She calls marshmallows marshyellows. I love all these things.

She was drawing on the sidewalk outside, and when she was done she called me over. She said "Mamma, come and see my humans!" I adore her and her humans.

Anyone for a quick drive to Logan?

2011-02-28T13:27:00.000-07:00

So we're still looking for new to us Jeep. And what we want is a little bit specific (2000, lowish miles, stock, etc, etc), so we haven't found one we want to buy yet. Pfft. It's a bit annoying. Well, on one of our trips to find a Jeep, we decided to check one out in Logan. It was a total bust, and annoying because the ad, and the car lot selling it weren't very accurate. We did, however, get to go and see the Logan temple with the girls. It was snowy, and magical, and lovely. :) Good times.

“When I say, "I love you," it's not because I want you or because I can't have you. It has nothing to do with me. I love what you are, what you do, how you try. I've seen your kindness and your strength. I've seen the best and the worst of you. And I understand with perfect clarity exactly what you are." ~Joss Whedon

2011-02-14T14:51:00.000-07:00

A friend on facebook shared this quote today. I find it quite fitting, as it is Valentine's Day. My favorite thing for Valentines Day? Love letters. And so today, my husband and girls are getting them from me. I hope you all have someone whom you love and that love you too. :) People sometimes think of Valentines day as a horrible day when you are not romantically involved, and I can understand that. Really I can. But maybe we can all take it as a reminder, as an opportunity to tell those we love, that we do love them. :)

Hope your Valentines is delicious.

Talk time

2011-02-12T18:14:00.000-07:00

Came across these while preparing my talk for Sunday, and they are just awesome. Can I just say that giving talks doesn't bother me? On Thursday night I had a presidency meeting, and our priesthood advisor was there too. After our meeting was all done, I was almost to my car when he calls out to me. I turn back to speak with him and he asked if I would give a talk because the other person who was supposed to speak wasn't going to be there. I told him I would, although petulantly. I know, immature, but whatever. It's always my first reaction when asked to speak: to cringe, to run away, etc. But it really doesn't bother me. I get nervous, and anxious, but I am okay with it. Something to plow through, and as long as I pray my little heart out and trust in the Lord, everything will be fine. And even if I make a complete fool of myself, I will live through it. :D The best part about giving talks, though, is all that I learn from preparing them. I scour lds.org for talks and scriptures and quotes, and it's all very good, so long as I exercise my faith. Pray. I really am grateful for these opportunities. Callings too. Heavenly Father is shaping us, giving us opportunities to stretch in ways we thought impossible, be much more than we thought we could be. I know this. Even if I sometimes, or maybe often times, stretch and grow reluctantly. He knows us better than we know ourselves.

“And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.” (3 Ne. 18:19–20.)

The Gift of Knowing

Knowing what we know

My newest crazy idea.

2011-02-10T11:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, so we have lots of people we want to visit and they just happens to be all over the United States. There are folks all over the world we want to see, but since I have no passport, and need to go to DC to get a new one, I thought of a most brilliant plan. Are you ready for it? Are you sure? Okay, here it is: do a roadtrip across america this spring! woo woo! Awesome right? I asked Dustin if he'd be willing to take two weeks off so we could drive across the US to visit a bunch of lovely people. AKA our family members across the country. He isn't quite sold on the idea, so we will see if it happens. :D So Miriam and Daniel, Jason and Robin, and Melisa and Willie, here we come. hahahahaha. Just kidding. I'll let you guys know for sure if we end up doing it. I hope we do! Yippee!!

Dairy Keen and Ice Castles

2011-02-09T14:23:00.000-07:00

We are looking for a new vehicle. It will be the one that I drive. But more importantly, it will be a Jeep, so we can go wheeling again. What?! you may ask. Most importantly?! you may exclaim. Well, it's true. We sold our Jeep last fall, and we patiently have waited to get a new car. We thought we would get a Liberty, but the temptation to buy a car with cash is just too great, so we've decided on a Jeep Cherokee. It's basically the same as the TJ, but more room inside. So Dustin can work on it, no probs. Awesome.

ANYWAY, on Saturday, we went to find some. And couldn't find anything we really loved. Boo hoo. So we decided to go to Heber and Midway. It was oodles of fun. Dairy Keen is a burger joint place. I don't know. It's famous, or something. It's okay for me. Good burgers, and I hear their shakes are divine. I haven't had one, so I cannot say. After that, we drove over to Midway to see this Ice Castle It is so cool! The girls loved it. We loved it.

The pictures don't do it justice. So stunning, though.

Super Junior cutie pies.

2011-02-09T13:47:00.000-07:00

Cute little K pop boys. hehe.

Have some Valentines day love. I'm not sure what the song is about. Lete and Melanie? Lots of hearts, though.

the 100's

2011-02-05T14:52:00.010-07:00

So I have a few goals that involve 100s for 2011. I am going to read 100 books. I am going to do 100 blog posts. I am going to read 100 books with Miaya and Sarah. I love to make goals.

But even better than making goals is completing them. Accomplishing something, you know? Last year I made a goal to go to 5 new places. I can't remember if I did it or not. But we have a folder of goals we want to accomplish as a family, stuff on the house, getting out of debt, etc, and I love to look through it and update it and such. I adore lists, and crossing things off them. It's so satisfying to look through the folder and realize how much we have done. I have to remind Dustin often of how far we have come from where we used to be.

When we got married, we were deeply in debt, a little irresponsible, and living with Dustin's grandparents. We have learned lots, have very little debt, and have our own home now. We also have two beautiful girls, Moose the dog, and are much more financially comfortable than we've ever been. It's amazing, because I really do think that the older I get, the more I realize I don't know. When I was younger, I thought I knew so much more. hahahahhahaha. I might even have known it all. :)

And these pics have nothing to do with the post. Well, now they do. ho ho ho. A couple of weeks ago, we weren't feeling well, and the air was gross, so we drove up into the Uinta's and then around to Provo Canyon. We got some fresh air and sunshine, and it was nice. I look like crap, and that's okay, because I felt like it too. hoo hoo. My family looks lovely, though. :)

Casper

2011-02-04T14:47:00.001-07:00

When I was in 7th grade, in good old Spanish Fork, I remember for a field trip we went to the local movie theater, and the whole 7th grade watched Casper. I fell in love with Devon Sawa. I'm not sure why. It was only for like one second. But, today, Miaya fell in love with Casper. hahahahhaa. She watched it for the first time and loved it. How strange, and yet, it makes me chuckle.

Also, sometimes it feels life moves so so fast. Miaya is already four and a half?! Sarah is 8 months old!? Aigoo. Someday, this is what we will be doing too.

Post number 200? cool.

2011-02-02T12:50:00.000-07:00

So today I was reading a blog and the author mentioned that upon moving to Utah, they realized the world would have to end in order for school to be cancelled. It is too true. I keep hearing about all these other places across the country cancelling school. I remember living in Spanish Fork when I was about twelve, and one morning I had to run through thigh deep snow to get to the school bus. Because it was not the end of the world, and therefore, we had school. So fun to see the differences in what constitutes a snow day. :)

P.S. This picture is from weeks, or even months ago. hahahahaa. Today it is sunny as all get out, and colder than a freezing thing. Soooooo cold. Brrrrrrrrrr.

Close to my heart

2011-01-13T12:27:00.000-07:00

So I read many many blogs. Or maybe a more accurate description would be I glance at many. Well, I love reading C Jane's various blogs. One I read today was close to my heart. I love my children so much. For a very little while in the beginning of our marriage, it seemed we were not going to have any children. And then We found out I was pregnant with Miaya! It was such an awesome and pleasant surprise. :)

So, having said that, Motherhood doesn't always come easily for me. With Miaya, everything was easy for me. The pregnancy, the labor, the birth, and the after. I felt I was an excellent mother. The best. :) For my Miaya, of course. hahahahahaha. After pregnancy number two, I think I got a bit of the postpartum depression. I didn't realize it until much later. It was hard to lose the baby. But then I got better. And after thinking again that maybe we would be parents to our one and only Miaya, I became pregnant with Sarah. Such blessings are my girls in my life. They make it so full, so purpose filled, so good. :) I am so grateful for them. I have much joy in my life from my little family.

The transition from one to two kids was a struggle for me. I remember being pregnant with Sarah and seeing my friend sit with her two little ones in church and thinking how does she do it? That must be so hard! And Miriam having her two little ones, and Melisa too. And now I know. You just do it. But for me, there was a transition period. Like in C Jane's blog, the first postpartum month was quite a change for me. With Miaya, it wasn't as difficult, because Dustin was an adult and knew I would be more consumed, if you will, with taking care of Miaya. Miaya didn't understand why she could no longer able to have our complete and total attention. It has been good, though, and I have grown. And how grateful I am for that.

bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbBBBBBBBBBBBBBbbbbbbbbbbbbbb

Miaya wanted me to type a bunch of b's because she learned about letter B today. :)

Nutcracker 2010

2010-12-29T17:31:00.000-07:00

Here is video of her second performance. It was a crazy, crazy week, but so worth it. My shy little butterfly. :)

Christmas song.

2010-12-21T11:29:00.000-07:00

My favorite childrens Christmas song this year? Samuel tells of the baby Jesus. Our Primary sang it on Sunday and they did so well!! What's yours?

Ick.

2010-12-01T13:10:00.002-07:00

Tissues. Cough drops. Books. My bed. Movies. Sick kids. Pajamas.

Yuck. That's how I feel. I feel like I've been sick (only colds and sinus thingies, mind you) for like a month. Between Sarah, Miaya, Dustin, and myself, someone HAS been sick for like the last 2 months. so gross. I was the last one to get sick, so everyone else is pretty much on the mend.

My ears hurt, my head hurts, my throat hurts. My nose is stuffed up, and running, depending on the time of day. I also can't breathe very well when I sleep, so sleep isn't easy to come by. Poor sad me. hahahahahahahaha. That's okay. Like I said, only a cold. It'll get better. :D

Any nice home remedy recomendations? I would love to hear them.

Cheeky and Irreverent

2010-11-17T19:00:00.000-07:00

Me: I like cheeky and irreverent

Dustin: I know. That's why you married me.

hahahahahahahahahaha.

yesh.

Inspired by Unnur.

2010-11-12T06:00:00.002-07:00

So I was reading through the many blogs I follow on Google Reader and I came across Unnur's for today. And I was inspired to write my own list of things that I am so grateful for. I wanted to do one thing a day on Facebook but by the time I noticed, it was already November.

And so, here is my list: the good, the bad, the shallow. One item for each day of the month of November.

-Dustin

-Miaya

-Sarah

-My parents

-My siblings

-prayer

-sunshine

-the beach

-good books

-chocolate covered raisins

-rain

-long drives with my family

-the temple

-snuggling

-the desert

-fishing

-snow

-wheeling

-the gospel

-being able to see and smell and feel and hear and touch

-walks with my girls

-going barefoot

-the atonement

-music!

-good friends

-starry nights

-beauty

-kisses

-different cultures

-change

Halloween

2010-11-11T15:00:00.000-07:00

This was our Halloween. It was lots of fun. :) Chilly and rainy.

Cute Owls!

2010-11-01T22:11:00.000-06:00

A blog I read had this great owl calendar for free! I thought I would share. So cute!

Sarah Laughs.

2010-10-28T17:18:00.000-06:00

One of the funnest things ever is when your baby starts to laugh. She's been laughing for a while, but it's fun to record it too. hahahaha. She loves Miaya. Miaya is one of Sarah's favorite people in the whole world. : D

Sarah is lovely beyond words. She does this hilarious thing when I put my face close to hers. She makes a warning sound almost, and then grabs my face and rubs her face and mine together. ahhahaha. It makes me laugh every time.

Easily distracted.

2010-10-28T16:49:00.000-06:00

That is me. And it's interesting, and even a little funny, because it makes me crazy to have to deal with it in others. Especially Miaya. I am pretty sure she is a little me with lots of good bits of Dustin mixed in. Thank goodness for the Dustin in her. She sees shiny things often, and gets distracted by them. The same goes for me. Luckily, Dustin has been with me long enough to decipher the meaning of what I'm trying to convey. Sheesh. I often wonder how clear my blogs are. Hopefully there is some semblance of clarity of what I'm trying to say.

Anyway. See, like right now, I am supposed to be cleaning. I put music on from the computer, and then I go and look and things on the interwebs, and then no cleaning is getting done. Shiny things. The bane of my existence, and yet, I lobe them.

Miaya had a Halloween thing at school. I wanted to share. I love her so much. She's so awesome.

Today a guy at Costco called her a little boy. And she says to me, I am not a little boy! I told her, I know. No matter what I dress her in, people assume she is a boy. Her hair is short, but I think she has decidedly feminine features. Whatever, though. She's a cutie. She was wearing a greenish-bluish velour track suit today, for crying out loud. Do boys hear veloure track suits with sparkly trim? Maybe, I don't know. No matter how much pink I have her wear, people often think she's a boy. Again, whatever. Back to my original thing, she had a Halloween program, sort of. It was really cute.

Happy Birthday Dad!!

2010-10-10T14:17:00.000-06:00

I have some pretty awesome parents, if I do say so myself. They raised us well, they love us so much, and I am so very grateful for them.

Happy Birthday Dad. :) We love you lots.

I adore you all

2010-09-30T20:44:00.000-06:00

It's true, you know. Unless I don't know you, then probably not. But I also adore comments. I live for them. I read every single one of them, and I just wanted to let you all know that.

Okay, now I have seen these before, and I loved them at first sight. So I shall share them. I would probably only get Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre (two of my most favorite books of all time) but they are all so lovely. I love books. Oh and here is a list of 100 Best Novels. I don't like most books that folks say are the best ever, and that everyone should read them. But that's okay. We are not all going to love the same things. I like reading books from lists like this, though. I try reading books and often find out I don't like them. But I am willing to give them a try. What's your favorite book? Mine is The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery. I've loved it since I was like 12. So good.

Now, on to what's been happening.

Dustin's brother, Jason, and his wife, Robin came into town! It was so fun to have them here. I knew Jason was flying in for the funeral, but had no idea Robin was coming. It was a lovely surprise. Dustin took Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday off so we could go and do stuff with them.

Dustin turned 32 on Wednesday. :) We spent time with his family. I made a photo book for him from Picaboo and he loved it.

Saturday was Jay's funeral. It was really lovely. I celebration of his life.
On Sunday I went to church and the kids and Dustin stayed home. The girls have been sick. Miaya is all better, and Sarah is pretty much all better. I hate not being able to stay home and take care of them. It makes me sad.

On Monday we went to Silver Lake up Big Cottonwood Canyon. The weather's been unseasonably warm so it was sunny and warm. The colors where bright, and it was a good time. We went to Cabela's after that, and it's always fun to see the fish and the animals.

On Tuesday, hmm. I can't remember Tuesday. Sheesh. It's been busy. OH yeah. Miaya had preschool, and I had a presidency meeting and Dustin mowed the lawn(in the morning). Miaya had school pictures and I completely forgot! Oh well. She looked like she usually does (unruly hair) and that's just fine. :) In the afternoon, we went to Dustin's grandparents house and spent a few hours there visiting with everybody.
And then yesterday we went to breakfast at Ogie's for Dustin's birthday and then visited Grandma Baker and then took the kids home. Miaya was having a really bad day. I'm hoping that getting back to our normal routine again will help. After naps, we went with Dustin's Mom and brother, Adam, to see Jason and Robin off at the airport.

Today has been much more quiet. Miaya had preschool this morning, and while she was there, I did a little cleaning, but then Sarah was fussy. So we snuggled (I have such a hard job. :) And then I went and picked Miaya up from school and we went to the library. She was being really good, and so I thought we should go to the store. I planned to while Miaya was at school, but that didn't end up happening. : / Miaya ended up throwing a mega fit. It was ridiculous. Does your child do this? We didn't even get inside costco before she was freaking out. It was quite shocking if I do say so myself. I thought my ears were going to explode. It wasn't very pleasant at all. Hopefully this throwing tantrums when she doesn't get what she wants stops soon. I've had more than enough of it. :S Any ideas for curbing this awful habit?

Until next time.

2010-09-29T13:07:00.001-06:00

Miaya waking up the elk on adventures.

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2010-09-29T13:06:00.001-06:00

Sleepy baby on advetures.

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Cleaning

2010-09-25T07:00:00.002-06:00

I have the hardest time keeping my house clean. I attribute it to having kids, and not being the best house keeper in the first place. Not a bad thing, but I do like to have a clean house. It makes me a little crazy to have mess all over. Which seems to be the constant state of my home lately.
Anyway.
So, I'm going to try to keep my house in order more and more. I have tons of junk that I need to take to the DI that I just haven't gotten around to, stuff that needs to be organized (our desk is atrocious) and I need to find a place for everything. Everything that doesn't have a place needs to be chucked or given away. Good times. I found these two cleaning thingies that seem quite friendly to humans as well as the earth.

All purpose cleaner

Natural cleaners
Very good.

On another note, late last night we found out Sarah is a Mamma's girl. At least right now. My guess is it's because she's sick. Because sick babies need comfort, and that often comes in the form of nursing. So last night after having birthday cake at Dustin's parent's house for his step brother's birthday, we came home, got the kids ready for bed, and I headed off to do some scrapbooking with the ladies in Dustin's family. I wasn't there very long when Dustin called me and I could hear Sarah screaming her little lungs out. I finished up what I was doing, and got a ride home. When I got here, Dustin was at a loss. Sarah was screaming herself silly, and then she saw me and gave me a big smile! A BIG SMILE. hahahahahaha. And immediately stopped crying. Poor Dustin had tried for a half an hour to settle her down. To no avail. So we have Miaya the Daddy's girl and Sarah the Mamma's girl. hahahahaha. Works out nicely. :D

Oh and don't these look yummy?

Girly headbands

2010-09-24T18:33:00.000-06:00

Okay, so with having two daughters and being a girl myself, you would think that I would know what I was doing when it comes to hair. Not at all, unfortunately. My hair goes from really long to super short over and over every 3 years or so. When it gets too long, I like to chop it all the way to my chin. Anyway, I am going to start making cute hair things for my girls. Why, you may ask? Well, Miaya is 4 and doesn't like to have her hair done. She will sit through me combing it, but it takes quite a bit more coaxing to even do pig tails. I know this is in part because she hasn't had much hair to speak of until the last year or so. Sarah, at 3 and a half months, has more hair than Miaya did at 1 year. SO. I am going to make hair things that I can put in their hair, short or not, so we can have cute hair all the time. hahahahahahhahaahaha.

Thank goodness for fun blogs, right?

Here is some inspiration.
Rose thingies.
Pretty headbands.
More rose thingies.
Flower clips.

Do you guys have any ideas for me? If so, by all means, let me know.

Post number 181

2010-09-21T20:56:00.000-06:00

No really, it's true. 181 posts. Kewl.

Anyway, so you know how Miaya is in dance? Well, her dance studio is having a fund raiser. If you're interested, check it out here. It's only for the locals, and I don't think anyone who reads my blog is actually in West Valley. Not sure, though.

Okay. That's all.

Once the game is over, the King and the pawn go back in the same box.

2010-09-20T17:19:00.000-06:00

A Mother's Prayer

I pray you'll be my eyes

And watch her where she goes

And help her to be wise

Help me to let go

Every mother's prayer

Every child knows

Lead her to a place

Guide her with your grace

To a place where she'll be safe

I pray she finds your light

And holds it in her heart

As darkness falls each night

Remind her where you are

Every mother's prayer

Every child knows

Need to find a place

Guide her with your grace

Give her faith so she'll be safe

Lead her to a place

Guide her with your grace

To a place where she'll be safe

These are lyrics for Celine Dion's song. I'd never heard it until yesterday. Many of my hopes and dreams for my little ones.

So it's been an interesting last little while. Dustin's been working less, and so we've been seeing more of him, and that's always good. :) Things with getting the Primary Program are getting done, so that's good. Miaya's doing well in preschool and dance has started again. We've also starting going to story time again. Sarah's got this weird thing going on, though, that had me concerned enough to take her to the doctor. She's okay as far as Dr Cannon could tell. Then there was a large fire here in the valley. A friend of Dustin's and her family were evacuated last night, but I am pretty sure every thing turned out alright for them. It was really smoky last night, and we got head aches, but later last night, the smoke died down.

We got some really sad news yesterday too, though. Dustin's uncle passed away. It was a bit of a shock. He was relatively young. He wasn't in the best of health, but he seemed to be on a good path. I'm really glad we got to see him over Labor Day weekend. And I'm glad Miaya got to know him a little bit too.

I am so grateful for families being able to be together forever.

Happy Birthday Miaya

2010-09-09T14:04:00.000-06:00

So I love this. I want to do this in my house. In my hallway! Okay. Maybe not, but maybe.

ANYWAY.

Guess what today is? Yep, that's right. It's MIAYA'S fourth birthday. She's one great kid. She stretches my limits in every way, shape, and form. And I wouldn't have it any other way. I have heard (from my Mamma) that she is a lot like I was as a kid. This is terrifying to me. I know many people hope their kids to be like them. Not me. I want my kids to be so much more than I am. To be wiser than I was and am, not make the mistakes I made and continue to make, you know?

She had her first day of preschool, and she is so amazing. She didn't have any one that she knew in the class, but she was so excited to go. No crying, no carrying on, no "Please stay". ::sigh:: Makes a Mamma feel sad. hahahaha. Just kidding. I'm proud of her! She's so tough. So brave. She loves people. I am truly grateful for that. I am more to the anti social end of the spectrum. She's alot like Dustin in that aspect. He makes new friends everywhere he goes. :)

When we were leaving preschool, and she tripped and fell and scraped her knees, her hands, and banged her head on the ground! Poor kid. The accident prone-ness comes from me. yeesh. She's alright, though. Cried a bit, and then carried on.

We went to Wendy's for lunch, and then we came home and made some cupcakes for her tea party/ birthday party tomorrow. And she was giving Sarah kisses. They adore each other already. Did you know? They do. Sarah watches for Miaya. And when she sees her, she laughs and smiles. And Miaya loves to make her laugh and smile. For this, I am so grateful. Sisters are great.

We're having the missionaries over for dinner, and then we're going to the Utah State Fair. Yay!

That's all for now.

Pining for furniture.

2010-09-07T09:45:00.000-06:00

I am pining for a piece of furniture we passed up yesterday. I know, lame, and yet here I am. We drove past a house having a yard sale and I see this large china hutch and I'm thinking "That would be so great to have. I could paint it and make it my own." And then, THEN, I saw a big FREE sign on it!! I was so excited, because I loved it already. So I told Dustin about it. He said we could check it out on the way back, so I was content. On the way back, however, we got a phone call from someone interested in the Jeep. So we got sidetracked and headed back home to wait for the guy. Unfortunately, the guy came by and Dustin said it looked like he wasn't even going to get out of his car. He didn't want it (you could tell), but he got out, looked at it for like 2 minutes and said he was still looking. (Read: I don't want it.) This was after lowballing on the price, and Dustin said he would sell it for that. ANYWAY. So then we were going to go to Home Depot because it's our favorite place on earth. (Okay, maybe not, but we sure do spend a lot of time there. :]) We sent the neighbor boy home, and piled into the car. Off to Home Depot we went. We got what we needed, and were heading back home for the evening when I remembered the hutch! We headed back to the hutch and I was thinking *If it's there, it's a sign, and we HAVE to get it* and guess what?! It was STILL there!!! So we stopped and Dustin shot it down. :**( It was too big. I told him to give me a year, and I'd fix it up and find a place for it. He said it probably wouldn't fit in the garage, which I don't think it would have. It probably wouldn't have even fit in the truck. Boo hoo. And yet, here I am, still thinking of the silly thing. hahahahahahha. It just motivates me to get my house in order so that when I find such fabulous things in the future, I will be able to have a place for them. :D

Hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day weekend. And I hope you had an excellent birthday, Miriam.

Oh, and P.S. Sarah has discovered screeching. It's highly entertaining, but the effect on her vocal cords concerns me.

My quirks.

2010-09-02T16:49:00.000-06:00

I have a few quirks. I would like to list some. Maybe I will make this an on going thing. hahahaha.

Okay.

-When I wash the dishes, I always wash all the plastic stuff first, and then porcelain stuff, and then cutlery, and then pots and pans. Always in the same order.

-We have the Ikea kids plates, bowls, and cups, and I don't like to have certain colors together, and so I will restack them to a more pleasing pattern.

-I have several grey hairs, and have since I was 16, and I really don't mind that they are there.

-I am pretty sure my t shirt is on backwards today. And yet, I haven't switched it around. hahahahahaha. It's one of those that doesn't have a tag, and so until I put it on, I don't really know.

hahahahaha. I am so self absorbed sometimes. This post is definitely one of those times.

:D

The Deer

2010-09-02T16:43:00.000-06:00

Dustin went on the archery hunt a few weeks ago, and he got a deer! It was a 2 point, I think.

He also got quite a few really beautiful shots of the wilderness he was in. The moon one is through binoculars. Lovely.

The first time Dustin went hunting several years ago, he got his first deer. He hasn't gotten one since, that is until this year. Yay for Dustin.

Warning, this deer is dead. Dustin shot it in the throat, and in the pic after this one, you can see it.

Easiest Hanging Daybed

2010-08-20T18:05:00.000-06:00

Easiest Hanging Daybed

I think this is such a fun idea. I want one in my backyard, and I am going to try to build it myself. It looks easy enough. :D