Being an LDS Woman

Does anyone else ever find themselves comparing your life to someone else's? What your house looks like, how cutely your kids are dressed, whether or not you can bake something fabulous that looks like it came from Martha Stewart magazine? For the most part I'm pretty content with my life, then doubts pop up and I look around and think,"wow, there is SO much you need to improve on!" I guess everyone from time to time does this.  I think being an LDS woman though can be really difficult.  There are so many gals who are great at sewing, mothering, housekeeping, cooking, that I can feel SO overwhelmed! It's great that we are always striving for perfection, but can't it go a little too far sometimes? One of the sweetest and wisest women who ever lived had this to say about this subject:

"We women have a lot to learn about simplifying our lives. We have to decide what is important and then move along at a pace that is comfortable for us. We have to develop the maturity to stop trying to prove something. We have to learn to be content with what we are.

As you create a home, don’t get distracted with a lot of things that have no meaning for you or your family.  Don’t dwell on your failures, but think about your successes. Have joy in your home. Have joy in your children. Have joy in your husband. Be grateful for the journey." ~Marjorie P. Hinckley

 

Another Birthday!!!

Happy Happy Birthday Jamie!!! We'll see you in 2 1/2 short months!

We love ya Jame!!! Muah!

Happy Birthday Laura!

Happy birthday Loll! Just wanted to let you know how much we love you!

She's one brave chick! :)And a little silly too!

With her best bud Crystal (my friend too!)

Even camping she's a good lookin' lady!

A ton of fun to be with!

My kid's favorite person in the world, I kind of like her too...

Just Tell 'Em Large Marge Sent Ya!

Muahhhhhahaahaahaaaaaaa!!!

So I come downstairs one morning and find the girls watching PeeWee's Big Adventure with their father.  And it was AFTER the Large Marge part! I said, "Did the girls see Large Marge or did you (like a responsible parent) skip it?" Because I remember watching it a long time ago and it creeped me out! He answers, "Yep, they thought it was hilarious.  I backed it up 3-4 times already!" Then the girls start laughing telling me how funny it was and Hallie says, "Mom! She looked like this!" And proceeded to make Large Marge's face.  I still wasn't happy, but it was pretty funny to see Hal.  I still think the picture is creepy, so I'll spare ya that one, so here's Large Marge before the creepy face!

A very full February!!!

Well February was quite a month for us! We had a first lost tooth, a birthday and a fabulous visit from my sister and new niece!

The birthday, well, that was mine.  33 now...whew! Time does fly! But does 33 bother me? Nah...

Emma lost her first tooth! That thing was dangling for weeks, until I couldn't take it anymore and "bumped" into her mouth.  Emma felt more confident in doing the rest! I remember when that little tooth first came in...once again, time flies!

My youngest sister Jamie, was able to come out here from Chicago for 2 whole weeks! We got to meet the newest member of the Conklin family, baby Charlotte.  She is a love, that's all there is to it! She is beautiful, funny, happy little sweetheart! We had a blast!

 

  

Claire and Emma were in heaven! 

  

  

 Emma was a good sport, she didn't get mad at all!

  

 She is exactly what her shirt said! Happy baby!

  

My mom was in heaven!

Emma is so proud of her missing tooth!

Nothing too exciting...

Wow Feb 1st was my last post! Sheesh! Lame-o! I've spent the last 2 weeks either at my mom's house or out and about with my sister and her baby! It's been so much fun reconnecting with her and having something more in common.  Baby Charlotte is just a love and my girls have been in 7th heaven playing, holding and feeding her.  I have pictures, I just haven't put them on the computer yet - I'm getting more excited for this baby to come simply because Emma is such a huge help with Charlotte! She holds her and plays with her like a pro, I do wonder where she got it? :)

So here I am almost 10 weeks along.  If you don't want to hear complaining, don't read on! Woe-is-me alert! 

Oh my goodness...this has been the worst pregnancy by far.  I don't know if it's because I have 3 others to take care of, or I just do not have the best attitude about the way I feel...I'm sick constantly and have had a cold which when I cough or blow my nose I almost vomit! I've thrown-up a handful of times but I gag at the dumbest things -  like taking a load of laundry up the stairs! I get upset by really stupid things like the men's figure skating on tv the other night.  The music annoyed me so much I made Dave mute it.  And it didn't just annoy me, it made me angry! Whoa hormones! Really?! I am totally thrilled to be a having another one, don't get me wrong! I'm just sick of being sick!  Ok...enough moaning, right? Only 30 more weeks to go...blah...

Some Much Needed Cuteness!

I thought since I wowed all of you with the photos from one of my last posts, I'd better put some decent ones on now.  Thanks for all the suggestions I received on how to help the morning sickness! A few of them kind of worked, I guess I'm just doomed to feeling like crap for awhile! What we do for our children... ;)

 

  

  

  

 

Since the cat's out of the bag...

I guess I'll just continue to open my large-o mouth and announce here too that I'm pregnant! I'm sure everyone that looks at my blog is also a facebook buddy, but I thought I'd announce here as well.  I'm about 7 1/2 weeks (not too far along) and I don't usually open my mouth this early in the game, but I have been so miserable and anti-social I thought I should explain myself.  I don't remember having morning sickness this bad with the other three, maybe that's just because it's been almost 3 years since the last baby! My patience is thin too, poor kiddos.  Cinnamon used to help me when I felt sick to my stomach, but it's not cutting it so far.  So to all you mamas, what were some things that helped cut the sick feeling? Don't say ginger because just seeing that word makes me sick (I just gagged).  I'd appreciate any suggestions!!!

Get ready for some awesome pictures!!!

NOT! I was so excited to put some Christmas pictures up here now that David had some time to upload them to the computer.  Almost EVERY picture is hideous!

Yikes...

 

Really Hallie?

 

 Right before Hal threw-up all over the floor...her expression says it all!

 

 Claire and I alone on New Year's Eve.  I sent Dave and Hallie and Emma to his parent's to spend the night because his brother and family were in town.  The picture? Wow...no words...

 

 Seriously, we had a good day.  Betcha can't tell that from my parent's expression!

 

 Yikes again!

 

Guess this one's not quite so bad...

 What did I tell ya? It was just an interesting Christmas overall.  Definitely one to remember...I think we'll call it "Have Yourself a Barfy Little Christmas!" Despite everyone getting horribly sick, it was a nice holiday.  Claire and I were able to spend some time together on New Year's Eve - we had poppers played with out on the porch.  I carried her in her blankie outside and we both really had a good time! We shared a little sparkling cider (Emma saw the bottle the next day and asked if it was wine and did I have a little secret!) and watched Kung Fu Panda together, and when she went to sleep I watched Stardust (love that weird movie!).  I fell asleep before the clock struck 12 too! 

We each got sick this holiday season, but we made the most of it and got through it! So, even though our pictures aren't pretty, we were able to spend the holidays together and get a little something special that I will reveal in the not too distant future!

It's been awhile...

Wow! It's the 20th of January already! Time flies, and that's just fine by me because January kinda stinks.  I realized I never wrote about Christmas except that we all got sick.  And Dave's been so busy our camera still needs the pictures moved to the computer! His new job is going well and his old job still needs him so he's getting some extra moola! Yay!

Anyways, Christmas was good.  We got the girls way too much even though we said we wouldn't.  Here's a great shot of the girls with Santa at the ward party.  LOVE Hallie's expression, she looks a little wary! Guess that's it for now! Some update, huh? :) That's January for ya!