I'm Wondering If.....

I'm wondering if there will ever be a day again that I can/will be able to sleep in past 8:00 am?

I'm wondering if there will ever be a day where I can get ALL my laundry washed, dried, folded and put away, all in the same day?

I'm wondering if there will ever come a day where someone besides myself will appreciate that they always have clean underwear, toilet paper in the drawer, and food in the fridge?

I'm wondering if there will ever come a day where I really WANT to exercise? Me and exercise aren't friends right now.

I'm wondering if I will ever NOT HAVE TO MOP THE KITCHEN FLOOR ALMOST DAILY?

I'm wondering if I will ever walk into Abby's room and not want to freak out at her? Or walk into Jake's room and have it NOT smell like stinky socks?

I'm wondering if I will ever have a day where, if I want to, I can just soak in the tub for as long as I want and not have to take a 30 second shower because I'm in a hurry?

I am wondering if there will come a day when I will look forward to summer vacation?

I am wondering if I will ever get my garden planted? It's now May 13 and there is no sign of a garden yet...

I am wondering if I will ever not hate to think about what is for dinner?

I am wondering if maybe one day, I will have a clean house again?

I am wondering if there will be a day where my family appreciates having a clean house at least once in awhile?

I am wondering if Adam will win American Idol? I can't stand him and am considering actually voting for Danny instead...(I have never voted for an American Idol contestant)
And, while we're on reality TV, I am wondering if Tony and Melissa will win Dancing with the Stars?

And, I'm really wondering, if I didn't update my blog so often, would I get more of the above mentioned things done? And, maybe if I stop now, I might get more than a 30 second shower?
I know the answer and choose to blog anyway....

P.S. I am REALLY wondering if I'll ever learn to spell "appreciate"? I spell it wrong EVERY time. Good thing for spell check. I can't be a whiner and a terrible speller....

Mother's Day

A Bust. I won't say any more, because those involved know who they are.....

Emily + A Sharpie Marker = TROUBLE

Yesterday, I was totally sick of looking at the girls room - it was beyond filthy. As much as I try to let it go or to let them pick up after themselves, somedays I just can't handle it anymore and I just have to get in there and really clean it. I was cleaning along and came across this lovely image inscribed ON THE BUNKBEDS.....WITH A SHARPIE MARKER. No, she couldn't have used the Crayola Washable Markers that we have all over the house, but a SHARPIE! Kim happened to be working at home yesterday, so I called him into the bedroom to view our 6 year olds latest masterpiece. He looked at me, I looked at him, and we both agreed that really, if she was going to LABEL the beds, she really could have at least spelled Natalie's name right! Yes, it's supposed to say "Natalie Michelle Brooksby"...and really it does say that, just in the "spell-it-like-it-sounds" way of a 6 year old. After school, I picked up the kids. Emily immediately asks if she can play. I explain to her that we have something to discuss when we get home - here's a piece of what our conversation went like:

Me: "Emily, go up to your room at look around and then come tell me what you think."

Emily goes upstairs and returns a few minutes later.
Em: "Okay, mom, I'll say thank you to you for cleaning my room...(with a big sigh, because frankly, saying "thank you for cleaning my room" was a BIG CHORE.)

Me: "No, Emily, I think you missed it."

Emily and I go up the stairs, to her room, and stand right over the Sharpie marker inscription.

Me: "What is THAT, Emily?"

Em: "What? I was writing where we sleep" (with that innocent look on her face)

Me: "Are we supposed to write on the furniture? With a marker? Or any writing utensil?"

Em: "No....I'll clean it off...."

She runs to the kitchen for a rag and begins to scrub away at it. She gives up after literally 30 seconds, realizing it isn't going to come off.

Em: "Mom, it won't come off. Can I play now?"

Me (I'm fuming at this point but decide to let Kim handle it, so that the child can remain alive): "Go talk to your dad".

Em: "Dad, I can't get the marker off."

Kim: "Well, I guess you're grounded until you figure out a way to get it off."

Em: (yelling, for emphasis): "Well, I guess I will be grounded for MY WHOLE LIFE! It will NEVER come off!"

Well, after awhile of scrubbing, crying, yelling and repeated apologies, we decide that the only way that it's coming off is to sand it off. So, off she goes to the garage, retrieves the sand paper and begins to sand it off. So, at least it's not labeled anymore. Now, it just needs to be REFINISHED! Ugh! It's a good thing that these particular bunkbeds are older than Kim (they were his as a child) and after the girls grow out of them, they will end up at the DUMP!

Emily has always been our "spunky" child and was labeled "the tornado" by my dad several years ago. We have clashing personalities most days, and she keeps us on our toes. There is never a dull moment with Emily in the house!

Lucky #13

Some may not believe it (I know we look waaayyyy too young...) but today Kim and I are celebrating 13 years of wedded bliss. Okay, so it hasn't bee ALL bliss - we've come close to wringing each others necks some days. But, over all, we've grown spiritually, mentally, and physically (for me, that's thanks to those 4 kids I gave him). We've had good days, bad days, sad days, mad days. But, mostly, I would say that we've tried hard to make each other happy everyday. We've made each other better people and I'm grateful everyday that I have him in my life. Happy Anniversary!

P.S. Unfortunately (fortunately for me, because I was no fashionista) my scanner is not working and I can't scan a picture of us on our wedding day. So, this picture of us in all our maturity will have to suffice.

Welcome to the World

With all the commotion in St. George over the weekend, we thought it best to add to the chaos and throw my sister, Brenna a baby shower. She was due on April 22 and thought that while we're all together, we could help her celebrate the impending birth of her first baby. She was unsure if she should travel so close to her due date, but decided with her doctor that things looked okay, and she would make the trip. She brought along her chart a few necessities, just in case. After all the wedding hulabaloo, we had the shower on Saturday. She went right from the shower to the hospital! She was leaking fluid and they wouldn't let her leave - I don't know how excited she was to deliver in a strange city, with a strange doctor and in a strange hospital, but the rest of us were ecstatic that we would be there! My mom was set to go home on Monday, and was especially happy that the big event would happen while she was here.

Halle Kate Thomas was born on Sunday, April 5 at 2:36 am. (Her favorite aunt, ME, had guessed that she would be born at 2:35!) This day is especially significant for our family because 11 years ago to the day, was the day that our sister had passed away. So now, we can remember the day for two reasons...both with a little fondness in our hearts. We were glad to be there for the main event and are especially glad that she is healthy and cute as a button. Welcome to the World, Halle Kate!

4 Down, 1 to Go

We spent this last weekend in St. George to attend my sister Alyce's wedding. Since she lives in Arizona and hasn't visited us in awhile (hint, hint) we hadn't met Mark until the day before the wedding. It was a windy and cold day, but the ceremony and dinner afterwards were wonderful. We are happy to have Mark a part of our family. My parents have now married off 4 daughters and only have 1 remaining...I am sure that they are breathing a sigh of relief for awhile. It was a whirlwind of activities from start to finish....welcome to the fam-damily, Mark! ( loaded these pic's off my sister's facebook page and can't get them to enlarge....so for more clear pics, see my FB page!)

Brace Face

Yes, it's true. We're now investing in a mouth full of metal. Abby had her braces put on last Tuesday. She was excited until the day after when she couldn't chew a dang thing and had to resort to a liquid diet. We're looking forward to a mouth full of straight teeth in 18 months - just in time to invest in the next childs metal mouth.....