Baby ABC Book

So I got it in my head to do a baby book for the kids for Christmas. I found a great deal at Costco where they print out a hardback book full of pictures for $25. I've wanted to do this for awhile now and I hope the kids will love it! I have finished Zach's and sent it in to be printed. The book is an ABC book of their first year. Since we call Zach our little turtle, I found a really cute scrapbooking kit with turtles. Parker is going to be full of monkey and Alivia's will be some sort of bugs (she's our June Bug). Here are some of my favorite pages from Zach's book:

Girls Night Fun

Last weekend we had our semi-annual girls night. Yes, this just so happens to coincide with the semi-annual General Conference, but that's just the way it is! The Blad girls get together and have some fun! It has been a tradition since the beginning of time (at least 39 years-inside joke). We used to go to Ladies' Night at Deseret Book and dinner while the guys were at priesthood session, but that got too crazy finding babysitters for more and more kids. This year we went out on Friday night to dinner while the guys watched the kids (we missed you Janet and Darlyn). Then on Saturday we CRAFTED!!! Yay! Bonnie rented a Cricut and that thing never stopped cutting!!! The guys cut us blocks of wood to make fun decorations. Here is some things that I made:

A cute Halloween sign:

A Harvest sign for fall:

Vinyl saying for Alivia's room:

And some blocks of the Young Women values: (I thought this would make a cute centerpiece for YW)

We had so much fun that we all want a Cricut! The possibilities are endless! I have some very talented and crafty sis-in-laws! Until April!

Where has March gone??

I can't believe that there is only one more day left in March! Where did it go? I can't even remember if it came in like a lion or a lamb! I'm losing it. That is one bit of information that is really important!! I haven't had time to blog. We are still alive and kicking! I know this is way late, but on St. Patty's Day I actually did Alivia's hair:

I meant to post this earlier, but didn't get around to it. (It's a little shamrock in her hair.) We've been so busy with kids, church callings and sickness, that time just has slipped away! It's not going to slow down either. On Wednesday, I'm going to start subbing. Zach's teacher is having a baby and I am going to take her class for her maternity leave. I am so excited! I have really been missing teaching and it is only for 6 weeks and only in the mornings. My mother-in-law is going to watch the little two munchkins when Gus has to work. I think it will give me just the little taste of teaching that I have been craving! I've not done Kindergarten before; preschool, but not Kindergarten, so wish me luck!

Set of 3

My sister dubbed me the queen of tags. Here's another one. My sis-in-law sent this one to me via email and I am adapting it to the blogging world. I hope this gets some new posts on my favorite blogs to read!

Three Names I go by
1. Mel
2. Mom
3. Suey (lovingly given by Gus)

Three Jobs I have had in my life
1. Pizza Maker Extraordinaire
2. Teacher
3. Mom

Three Places I have lived
1. Rigby
2. Rexburg
3. Pocatello

Three TV Shows that I watch
1. Psych
2. Monk
3. My Name Is Earl

Three places I have been
1. Alaska
2. Nauvoo
3. Disneyland

Three of my favorite foods
1. Chicken Parmigana
2. Costco cupcakes
3. Fish

Three things I am looking forward to
1. Vacation somewhere
2. Summer
3. Gus finally being done with school

Okay, I tag all who read this and I will be checking your blogs to see if you have done my tag!!!

Tuesdays

I have come to really dislike Tuesdays! It seems weird things happen. I got in a small accident on a Tuesday 2 months ago, I was sick with the stomach flu 2 weeks ago and today I am battling a bad bout of mastitis. Not very fun. Today my mind has been wandering in my hallucination state. I am so grateful for a lot of things! I know Thanksgiving is still awhile away, but I am so grateful for modern medicine. I could be dead if I wasn't on antibiotics! I don't want to be dead. I'm also so grateful for my wonderful husband who took over all the duties of mom and dad today. He is playing Monopoly Jr. with the boys. I know, he's starting them early! Gus loves Monopoly and has a collection! I'm also grateful for Egyptian cotton sheets because they make being in bed all day almost bearable! I know I'm rambling now, so I'll stop.

Kitchen

Okay Heidi, you are the most impatient person I know...scratch that, the 2nd most impatient person I know (I'm the first). After a long time of planning and saving our tax return money, we finally redid our kitchen. It was actually out of necessity since my old sink faucet eroded and started leaking. We didn't go all out, but we did replace the counter tops, sink, floor and cabinet doors that were costume built by my brother-in-law, Jory. We added counter space on the other side of the fridge and got rid of our light pergo that showed everything! Here are some before and after shots:

I had to do a close-up of the doors. They are wonderful. My most favorite thing about my kitchen now is my new sink. I love it. It is so roomy and wonderful. We want a new fridge and stove, but that will have to wait until we have the money to replace the old ones. Thanks to everyone who made this possible (mostly Gus and Jory and Heidi for painting!!)

Oh, and DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!

Premiers

Okay, it's premier time on TV! Starting Monday, my DVR is full of shows to record! I am so excited. Gus and I watch our shows after the kids go to bed. They are coming just in time since Monk and Psych are done 'til January. Here are some of our faves:

Heroes had such a short-lived season last year because of the writer's strike. Hailey was the one who got us hooked on this show. It's great, and I am so excited about the new season!

This is our new favorite show. You really have to be in the white-trash frame of mind to watch it. For anyone who watches it regularly--I laugh every time I hear "Time After Time" and think of when Randy sang it in Spanish: "Spanish, spanish, spa-an-nish". I just about peed my pants!

I love watching this show because it gives me some motivation. I need all I can get right now! I love seeing people change for the better and there are some really good tips. I have to admit that I like the drama that come with it too!

Those are our favorites. We are also wanted to watch Pushing Daisies and Knight Rider. Do you have any shows that you think we should see?

Fruits

Okay, here are some "fruits" of my day.

Fruit of my labor:

In order to make room in my freezer for some fresh Alaskan fish (story to follow later) I had to empty out a 5-gallon bucket of frozen raspberries. My wonderful father had frozen these for me 2 summers ago. I had every intention of making jam then, but just forgot. Anyway, I made 6 batches of jam and there it is (minus the 2 that I gave to Laura). I don't want to put it back in my freezer because of the fish thing, so I guess I will start taking bids!!

Fruit of the Loom:

We went to Fred Meyer's the other day and bought official big boy underwear for Parker. He picked out Diego and Cars underwear (surprise, surprise). Here he is modeling it. Zach had to be in the picture too! He is about 80%-ish potty trained. We still have to use a Pull-up for naps and bedtime and it is always a battle to get him to go poop. Don't they have the cutest little Blad-bums??

Reality

My sis Heidi tagged anyone who read her post to take pictures of their REALITY. Since I am an avid blogger now, I will accept this challenge! Well here is mine: (I really debated whether I wanted to post this pic of Parker)

I censored it for family viewing. My REALITY is that I hate potty training enough that I just let him run around outside naked! At least he is not peeing in his diaper. It even got bad enough that he was playing outside tonight with only his Pull-up on! Yes, in front of neighbors who drove by thinking that we are total white trash!! I finally did make him put clothes on when I finished nursing and dinner and everything else!! But the thing is that I let him outside in front of people like that!

My other REALITY is my room. I cannot keep the area around the TV clean:

This area is such a catch all and I am so embarrassed by it. I just don't do anything about it because no one can see it unless they enter my room and look behind them! My REALITY is that we have too much junk!!

I now tag anyone who reads this to post their REALITY. We are only human after all!!