Thanks, Adhis!

So, do you guys know about google reader? Huh. I didn't. For those of you still in the dark... in your Gmail account up in the left hand corner there is a tab that says 'reader.' Click on it and you can add subscriptions to the blogs you read and you will be able to see when they update their blog. This will make my life so much easier! The only catch is that it doesn't work on private blogs. :( Thanks for the info, Adhis!

Now I guess it's my turn to share. I found this link on one of my friends' blog.

http://www.blurb.com/create/book/blogbook

It uploads your blog and turns it into a book. You can tweak it and add and delete what you want! I haven't played around too much, but I'm way excited about this. It seems expensive, but really, think of what I will save on scrapbooking - that I say I'm going to do and buy all the stuff - and never do!

New Blog

So, I also just started a new blog where I will post all the crafty little things I've been doing. Take a peek if you like that kind of thing, if not, don't bother. That's why I am keeping it separate.

www.craftnheidi.blogspot.com

Lindsay

Do you remember that Mormon-ad where the little girl goes in the parents' room and asks the Mom for something, the Mom tells her to go ask the Dad, so she goes around and says, "Dad, can Mom get this for me?" Well, Monday morning Lindsay comes in, "Heidi, (-yes Heidi. My kids have this annoying habit of calling me Heidi-) I need breakfast." She keeps telling me to get up and make her breakfast and I don't want to. So I say, "Go ask your Dad." So she goes to the other side of the bed and says, "Dad, can Heidi go make me breakfast??" He rolls over and smiles at me, "Sure Heidi can go make you breakfast." Ew.

She has been doing some pretty goofy things lately that are more like Maddie would do, like this picture. I came upstairs and found this. I said, "Lindsay, what are you doing?" "Oh, I'm just making stuff." She tells me. Isn't that the most random group of stuff? The row on the stairs are baggies with one foam letter in each of them. She was happily filling the bags with one letter, then she would place them on the couch and put a baby wipe over each of them. After about 15, I finally made her stop. How odd! She has a really hard time focusing on anything very long and it was funny to see her so absorbed in the task at hand.

Memorial Day

Last night at dinner, Jeramy told Maddie that Monday was a holiday so he didn't have to work. She wanted to know what holiday it was, so I told her about Memorial Day. She said, "Well, we'd better make some flowers to take to the cemetery." Quite matter-of-fact-ly. So we did. We cricutted the flowers on the left and laminated them.

My Grandparents both passed away about 16 years ago, so we went up there. It's so strange to think that I was just a little girl. I can still hear Grandma saying, "Won't you stay for dinner??" And Grandpa outside running from the bees. (shuffle, shuffle, shuffle in his cowboy boots). I'm sure they knew my kids in heaven though. Maddie was quite concerned about me poking holes in the ground - she was afraid I would hit the bodies.

We also took a walk with my Mom over to my old Elementary School. I still can't believe that I used to walk that far as a 5 year old with just one other little boy. Wow, times have changed! The road runs parallel to a canal that we were forbidden to walk home along when we were young. Now Mom encourages the kids to go play at the canal. huh. Times have changed again! She kept trying to get them to walk out on this pipe with her. Neither of them would do it. Smart kids, I wasn't about to jump in and save my kids and my mom!

I did it!

I finally finished the President Hinckley Challenge! Yes, I am 8 days late, but I did it! I had about 40 pages to go when the deadline hit. The day after, I said to Jeramy, "Well, I'll be upstairs reading the rest of the Book of Mormon." He says, "What's the hurry, you've already missed the deadline." huh. Never thought of it that way...what's the rush now? So every time I sat down this week to finish, I would hear in my head, "What's the hurry?" I have given him a pretty hard time about it, too. BUT, last night I finished it! I read the entire Book of Mormon in 105 days. Go me!

Miss Lindsay learned about hands in nursery. She didn't want to take these off, but kept having issues trying to eat. I am so grateful for her Nursery leaders. They are awesome!
I also got released from one of my 2 callings today. I was released from my Compassionate Service calling. This calling was so good for me. It helped me learn that service is for the LORD and that it's all right if you're not the greatest cook in the world - a meal is a meal and is always welcome. In the past 10 months, we've had 20 babies - including myself. It has been so crazy to me how much you ladies have consumed my thoughts and prayers when your due dates roll around! Adhis and Kristen are my next 2 and already I was thinking about you both! I have loved serving you all and seeing others be so willing to serve. On more than one occasion, I would have the thought, "who can I call now to help?" and either a name would come to me, or the phone would ring with someone say, "I would love to take dinner to so and so." I know the Lord was helping me out on this one a TON. No worries Adhis and Kristen, I'm sure you'll be taken care of. :)

The Zoo!

Jeramy's Mom called on Friday afternoon and said that they were coming down Saturday to go to the zoo. Yippee! We were so excited! Jeramy's brother that lives in Pocatello decided they should come as well, so they frantically packed up and came to our house Friday night and spent the night here with us. The boys were up until almost 3 playing the Wii.
We got to the zoo around 11. I knew we were in trouble when cars were practically lined up to Foothill. They were SOOOO busy! But we had a great time! The kids were all pretty good even though it was super hot. It was Lindsay's first trip to the zoo and she loved it. She said her favorite was the giraffe.

Jeramy's brother and family that live in Pocatello.

Jeramy's sister and family that live in Malad.

Jeramy's parents.

My American Gladiator

Don't ask me why, but Maddie's favorite show these days is American Gladiator. She was sooo excited when it started again this past Monday. She told me that she wants to be on it. I asked if I could. She looked at me and laughed, "No, you're a Mom." :(
So now she thinks she has to practice every day at the park. Here are some shots of her working on those muscles and balancing skills. She's almost convinced that she should take swimming lessons for that underwater bit at the end.
Lindsay is terrified of everything at the park and just whines for me to get her. Macie discovered the swings today and was so happy! I'm just glad it was warm enough to go to the park today!

Happy Mother's Day!

Today I thought I would write about things I love about my Mom. I did one for each year she has been my Mom.
1. I love that she calls me around 10 every day just to chat.
2. I love that she always has a bag of Sonic crushed ice in her freezer.
3. I love how much she loves all 18 of her Grandkids.
4. I love that family is always first.
5. I love that she takes a million pictures.
6. I love how dedicated she is to her calling in the church.
7. I love what a great friend she was to Colleen and all she did to help her. What an example she is to me.
8. I love her cinnamon rolls with chocolate chips in them.
9. I love that for the past 15 years, she has been a Temple Worker at the Jordan River Temple. If you are ever there on a Wednesday night, she's the greeter/receptionist.
10. I love when Mom and her sisters start giggling together.
11. I love that she went out of her comfort zone and has served as a missionary for the Addiction Recovery Program for the church for the last 2 years.
12. I love that she takes a walk every morning, rain or shine.
13. I love that she is a great listener.
14. I love that she hides the fudge under her bed at Christmas.
15. I love that she always knows when I need her.
16. I love that she's friendly to everyone she meets.
17. I love that she can find a great bargain anywhere.
18. I love her hands.
19. I love that she cares for her neighbors. They have lived in the same house for over 40 years and a lot of their neighbors have been there that long, too.
20. I love her "rough camp confidence"
21. I love that she clips articles for me to read.
22. I love that she buys all the new release movies for us to share.
23. I love her house. It's always a comfortable, peaceful place to be.
24. I love that she will jump off the pier at Payson Lake.
25. I love that she takes me and my kids to lunch when we come visit.
27. I love that she loves waterfights.
28. I love playing games with her, Rummy-kub and 31.
29. I love her backyard. The kids can play for hours out there in the sandbox, pool, bikes, trampoline, while we sit and chat.
I asked the girls what their favorite thing was about Grandma Jean. Maddie said that she's nice. Lindsay said her favorite thing about Grandma is Grandpa.
I LOVE YOU, MOM!

Tagged

How To Play This Game of Tag: Post these rules on your blog. List: 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 random surprising facts about yourself. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog!
3 Joys
1. My family. I am so grateful for Jer and the girls and all the happiness they bring into my life. And also my parents and siblings. Life would be pretty dull without them.
2. Our home. I find so much joy in being home lately. I love to sit on the porch and watch the kids play outside.
3. Our ward. I feel so much love when I go to church on Sunday or when I get to hang out with 'the ward peeps.' I have made some great friends at church that I hope to be friends with forever!

Fears
1. My kids getting hurt
2. I am terrified of heights. I can't even stand on a chair without panicking.
3. The skinny people on Nightmare Before Christmas. I used to have nightmares when I was little of tall skinny people, and when I saw that movie, it really freaked me out. Still get chills when I see them.

Goals
1. Finish the Book of Mormon by...tomorrow. (President Hinckley Challenge)
2. Beat my 5K time on the 4th of July.
3. Have Lindsay potty trained by June 1st.

Current Obsessions
1. Cricuting. I got the Paper Dolls font for my b-day and LOVE it. I just made Maddie the cutest real paper dolls. I think I'm going to start another blog just to post my crafties!
2. Mario Kart Wii. I didn't grow up playing video games, so this is all new to me. I'm loving it. Maddie is so good. She beats me almost every time.
3. Lost. We have watched all 4 seasons since Christmas. Last night when it was over and I went to bed, I couldn't stop thinking about it. I totally analyze it to pieces.

Random Surprising Facts
1. My oldest sister is the same age as Jeramy's Mom.
2. I don't like meat.
3. I toured Europe with Utah Ambassadors of Music when I was 18.

I tag Marie, Adhis, Celeste, Jenni, and Cindy.

6 minutes until Lost is on...

This could be a record breaking post, must watch Lost. Just wanted to share our great times at the farm this week. Maddie milked a cow. (Here is where my brother in law Scott would say, "Holy cow!") That was what I was thinking when she just jumped up there and did it. I would never do that! What a trooper. Lindsay still hates all animals and cries if one even looks at her. Macie loves them all.

But here's the real terror. This freaky thing is called a Turken. I was totally disgusted by it's freakishness, peering over into the cage, trying to get a good picture when my sweet husband grabs my ankles-like where the Turken would peck me- and makes some turkey-like sound. I scream and jump out of the way. I thought I was going to die. How embarrassing. People were giggling all around about it. What a dork.
I made it with one minutes to spare!

My blah-og

Hello all! So, I never seem to be happy with the template of my blog. Thanks to all for your ideas and links. I found this one on Chelon's/Holly. I think I might just keep it for a few days! Jeramy keeps telling me to just make my own. Sigh. HE is the programmer here, not me. That would be like me telling him to just go make a new scrapbook layout, or dinner. Just kidding, love ya Jer!

Malad

We took a quick trip up to Malad for the weekend. We all had a great time. I got to have a chocolate milk shake at the Dude Ranch. Yes, you heard me right, the Dude Ranch. Jeramy and Maddie got to play Mario Kart on the Wii with Jesse and Grandpa all night. Lindsay got to play with her 2 cousins who are all just about the same age as her. They will all be in the same grade at school
And Miss Macie got to play with her cousin who is only 6 weeks younger than her. The Wakley side has 7 grandkids. Maddie is the oldest, Kaden is 3 1/2, then the 3 girls that are 2, and then the 2 babies. 6 girls and one boy. It's pretty crazy when we are all there, but tons of fun!

I really do love Malad. When we first started dating 10 years ago, I struggled with the whole small-town living idea, but now I LOVE it. If Jeramy could get a programming job up there, I think we would do it. They have cow pie Bingo, restaurants with awesome names like the Dude Ranch that can just 'close' for a few weeks so that the owners can go on vacation, no stop lights, evertthing closes down around 6 on Saturday night, and our favorite - well, besides Jer's family - wide open spaces of nothing. I think it's great, I'm sure some of you are not so convinced.

So, next time the lottery gets high, take a trip north to Malad. It's a nice 2 hour drive from Lehi. Stop at the Dude Ranch for a chocolate milk shake, or the Drive In for a Chicken Bagel. You could even hike up to the "M" if you're feeling adventurous. (Did it once, never again). When you cross the border into Idaho, enjoy the blue Idaho sign. Maddie is convinced that her Grandpa put that up just for her and he bought it at Wal-Mart. Poor kid is going to be really confused in 5th grade when she learns about states.
(I think I should at least get some free potatoes for that plug I just gave to Malad, eh?)