8 is Great!!

Around our house we think 8 is definitely GREAT!!! Today is Hayden's birthday and he just happens to be turning 8 years old which is a pretty big deal.

What a better way to start his day off right then with his presents first thing in the morning.

Scriptures

Hayden got to pick out his very first set of scriptures.

He's been wanting these for a long time.

He was very excited to finally get his very own set of scriptures.

He chose blue.

A New Tie

With a hope that he'll wear this on his baptism day.

Lego Harry Potter

He got to pick this out last night - it was so hard for him to wait play it until his birthday. Which I found him still doing when I got home for his lunch. LOL :o)

Is it just me or did his smile seem to get bigger and bigger with each present?

I wanted to make him feel special for lunch time too!! So I looked up a few birthday traditions from around the world. Jeffrey has some dutch on his side and so I looked up Holland and the Netherlands traditions and they decorate the chair of the birthday boy.

I thought that sounded like a great idea and decided to do that for lunch time. I also wanted to make him a fun birthday lunch - how could I make his lunch special.

I borrowed this great idea from Whole Foods - sandwich Kabobs - cute huh?!!

The Garden

Last year we did not plant a garden and I really missed it :(
So . . . . I was very excited this year to get one in. And, thanks to Jeff and his dad we did just that.

Jeff worked so hard at tilling it up and then his dad took Jeffrey to Mascaro's and got us a load of mulch. Mascaro's mulch is the best!!

We bought lots of different kinds of tomatoes, a tomatillo, squash, lemon cucumber, cilantro and two kinds of peppers. It's sorta small this year compared to in the past, but I love it and can't wait for a garden fresh tomato.

Jeff also built these super cool tomatoe cages for our tomatoes this year. The last time we planted a garden our poor little cages were not much help and he wanted something that would look great and work great too. I think they turned out awesome don't you?

Josh and Hayden helped us plant peas too. I had them start the peas about 2 weeks late but our efforts still paid off and we are getting lots of peas. The only thing is I don't really like the variety we got. What kind of peas have you planted in the past and loved? I usually love garden fresh peas.

FiNGeRnAiLs

Many of you know that I have had a horrible habit of biting my nails.

Well I'm very pleased to announce that I have had long nails now for over a year!!

Wow!! YAY me :)

New Use for a Swiffer - at Least it's New for Me :)

Okay. . . so something you might not know about me is that I am a horrible Spring/Fall cleaner.

I really don't enjoy it. One of the worst parts about it for me is walls.

I don't like cleaning walls at all. Well since it's almost officially summer now and spring is nearing it's end I thought I better be a big girl and get our walls cleaned.

So . . . . I decided I needed some motivation. I went to the store and down the cleaning isle. While looking at all the products that I could spend my money on, I had a little spark of what I thought was a grand idea. AND I purchased a Swiffer.

Have you seen these little babies?

Well. . . I've never owned one before and I must say I like the feel and look of them.

So far I really think they are built well and have lots of little extras I didn't expect.

Anywho. . . .back to my idea.

So why did you buy a Swiffer then - I thought you hated cleaning walls?

That's exactly why I bought one - to clean my walls!!! Yes, you heard me right.

To Clean My WALLS!!!

And. . . . it worked like a charm!!

I love it - it cut my time in half!! No. . . in fourths!!!

It's so easy to clean my walls now. Love it!!

So first I dusted all the walls with the dry cloths.

Okay this is gross - can you believe how dirty walls get?!!??!!??

Ewwww Ewwww Ewww!!

Then I used the wet ones. And. . .wahlah!! All clean for the summer!!

So . . my motivation worked and my walls are all clean ahhhhh!!!

Go try it - you might like it too and have to share it with your friends.

Just like I just did with all of you :)

positive thoughts

Today I'm working hard towards being positive. I am going to search for good - I know I can find it. I want to talk about the positive things in life - no more drama and working through frustrations (at least out loud). Okay so how do you do this when everything around you seems negative and drags you down??? Well - search for it. I looked up positive thinking techniques online and found a whole slew of ideas. Here are some of my favorites.

1. Fake it til you make it!! (this one is my favorite ;)

2. You REALLY DO have to count your blessings!!

3. Smile :) - you should try it. It's hard to feel ornery or grumpy when you smile.

4. Be Silly - Pretend - Act Like a Kid (look at pictures of kids - it will make you smile - promise)

5. Relax and let things happen. Don't dwell! Don't get caught in the THICK of thin things.

6. Exercise - get physical - dance

7. Associate yourself with those who think positively. You can benefit from attitudes of others.

8. Do something nice - look for the good in others.

9. Listen to something upbeat!! ♫ Music ♪ makes your mood - happy music=happy mood ϋ

10. Redirect your thoughts. If you hear something negative - take a deep breath and redirect your thoughts. (this one is hardest for me - it helps if you get help from those around :)

These were just 10 of the ones that were my favorite and that I'm trying hard to work on today - want more??? Here's the link http://www.rncentral.com/nursing-library/careplans/100_positive_thinking_exercises_to_incorporate_into_your_life

Faux hawk

Faux-hawk: "A fake mowhawk which approximates the style but without shaving the sides of the head."

The last time I cut the kids hair I said to each of them, "Are you sure you don't want me just to give you a faux-hawk? It would be so cool ! !" Then I leave a strip that's longer then the rest of their hair on the top of their heads on in the back. I proceed to take them to the bathroom and take their pictures and then have them look in the mirror. Then we walk in and show dad (who just laughs and laughs).

Zachary almost went for it. . .he thought about it for a while. Josh said no when I was doing it and said no again when he saw it in the mirror and he told dad I'm not keeping it dad we really aren't doing it.

Hayden on the other hand. . . . . . . said yes :)

Boy Oh Boy!! I like it. . . . it's fun and spunky but dad says he can only have it for a week then it's back to normal.

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