A Balancing Act

Life is, for me at least, a balancing act. I'm constantly trying to balance kids, a husband, my job with the young women organization at church, my small at home business, my house and all that entails, my sanity, etc... The list of "things to do" just never seems to get shorter. That is why, for the new year, I'm going to make it a goal to do better at balancing everything.

How am I going to do this, you may ask. First, I'm going to start with one thing, a clean house. Then I'm going to keep it that way. I'll play with my kids a bit too. I'm going to start adding things back one at a time, in order of importance (playing with kids is way more important than a clean house, I just can't play with them if there is not a clean place to play; for that reason I will start with a clean house, then move from most important to least). That means, my little business that seems to take up most of my time, will be out of the picture until the very end. I plan on pretty much putting my business on the back burner for at least a month. I hope this works out for me. It hope it helps me prioritize better.

There are so many good things in life, but often times we have to choose what is better over what is just good. That is my goal for the new year, to choose the better part.

Funny Christmas Songs

Talking about Christmas music in my last post had me thinking about some of the different songs I like to listen to this time of year. As I was going through a random Christmas play list I made a couple of years ago, I realized that there are some very funny Christmas songs out there. I decided that I needed to share them with you!

WARNING: One of the songs is "I Farted on Santa's Lap" so if you don't want your kids using the word "fart" you might want to make sure they aren't in the room. It is a very funny song though!!!

The first three songs on the play list are very...unique. The rest of them are original to the singer. I hope you enjoy! Be sure to leave a comment if you have a unique Christmas song you enjoy that I should add to my list for next year!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Music

One of my favorite things about this time of year is the music! For that reason, I've posted just a few songs on my blog for you to enjoy while reading this post.

I love Christmas music, and always have. Growing up, my mom would buy one new Christmas CD every year. One year she bought Harry Connick Jr.'s first Christmas album. My family instantly fell in love it!

My favorite song was "(It Must Have Been Ol') Santa Claus" (it is most likely playing on your computer right now)! I can very distinctly remember listening to the CD over and over just for this song. I even choreographed a little dance for it. I did that dance every year at Christmas, until I felt a little silly about it that is. I can still see little Heidi in my mind shaking her finger, "Ho, Ho, Ho"ing like Santa, and so much more. I remember most of the "dance moves" still, and laugh a little to myself every time the Christmas music rolls out and that song comes on. Oh, and no, I won't do the dance for you! Sorry!!!

Enjoy the music!

The Christmas Party

We had a church Christmas party on Saturday, and it was quite the roller coaster of emotions for my family. Things started out great! Samantha got to wear her tutu so she could be an angel in the nativity later, and we sat by some friends and had a great time talking. Then we had the opening prayer/blessing on the food. Michael and I went to get food for us and the kids. I held Zach and told Samantha to stay where she was, we'd be right back. We were close to the front of the line and I could see her at the table just a few feet away. I checked on her right as I got to the tables with the food, then filled a plate for Zach and I. When I got back to the table, she was no where to be seen!

To say I was worried would be an understatement. Right away, Michael and I started looking around the gym. We couldn't see her. So we started searching the halls and class rooms. She was not there. Our church is pretty big, so there were lots of places to look. We kept asking people if they had seen her. No one had. I don't think I've ever been that scared in my life! Finally, someone asked our Bishop to announce that we couldn't find her. As soon as he did, she heard her name and poked her head out from under the table cloth. Someone said, "She's right here!" I was so relieved! She looked like she was ready to burst out in tears. She was so sad and scared that I couldn't even be mad at her. After we both calmed down a bit, we enjoyed a delicious dinner.

Next, was the nativity. Samantha was the only dancing angel on the stage! The nativity was a reading of Luke 2 with Christmas carols intermittently put in. When everyone was singing, Samantha was dancing. It was adorable! She was so happy to be in front of ea crowd. I love that she is old enough to do things like that!

After the nativity, there was a special visitor. This is where the emotional roller coaster crashes again, at least for Samantha. All week, I talked to Samantha about sitting on Santa's lap. She was so excited to sit on his lap, while I held her hand, and ask for a princess Barbie (which princess depended on the day). But, as soon as Santa came out, Samantha started screaming, "I want go home!" over and over again! I kept trying to calm her down and help her remember what we had talked about the entire week prior. It didn't help.

Zach sat on Santa's lap first and just stared Santa down with a look that said, "I think I'm scared, but you are so weird looking I can't take my eyes off of you." Next, I put Samantha on his lap. She immediately screamed like I have never heard even her scream! We did get a picture though!

Over all it was a good night, but one that I don't want to go through ever again!

Its the Muppet Show!!!

Today we went to see The Muppets at our local theatre. We went to the 12:30 showing, but didn't leave the house until 12:23ish. Since we were late, I was a little worried about getting a good seat, but I figured there would still be room. We got our tickets at 12:29. I didn't see anyone in the lobby, but just figured all the movies must be going. We got some treats and walked towards the theatre. We passed some big cutouts for different movies, and Samantha freaked! She wouldn't even walk past them without someone dragging her along.

We finally entered the theatre where, of course, the previews had already started. Samantha was still screaming a bit, so we slowly went in as we tried to calm her down. When we got in far enough to see, I realized we were the only ones in the theatre! It was great!!! My kids could freak out all they wanted, and I wasn't going to have to miss the show!

There was a Toy Story short film right before the show that helped calm Samantha down. She was really excited about everything. She did pretty well through the entire show. She wanted treats quite often, but other than that, she was glued to the show. Zach went a little crazy. Michael and I just took turns holding the wiggly kid. When I had him, I tried to let him sit on the seat next to me with some help from all our coats, but there were just too many interesting things to dive for. So, I held him on my lap while he played "see how many times Mom will pick my sippy-cup up off the floor before she quites giving it back to me." Then he ate gold fish, many of which ended up on the floor as well.

Although it was a little chaotic, we made it through the show. During the finale, Samantha was dancing along, trying to mimic the actions. It was adorable! My kids were able to go crazy and have a great time and not bother anyone! I highly suggest seeing a movie with only your family in the theatre if you ever get the chance!!!

Wrapped Around Her Finger

When I was younger, if I had a choice to go shopping with Mom or Dad I would always choose Dad. The reason, it was much easier to get Dad to buy me something that I wanted, than Mom. I had, and still have, my Dad wrapped around my finger! What I didn't realize was that I would have a husband who was wrapped around his daughter's finger.

Last weekend Michael and I decided to go get stocking stuffers for each other at Walmart. We each took a kid, Zach with me and Samantha with Michael. I asked Micheal to help Samantha pick out a Christmas present that she wanted to give Zach. That led them to the toy section. Samantha did not think it was fair to get a toy for Zach and not get one for herself. If I had taken her, I would have told her that Zach was going to get her a present too; she would just have to wait until Christmas to get it. That's not what hapened. For some reason, Michael could not resist his sweet little princess.

When we met up an hour later, Samantha proudly showed me her mermaids. She got three miniature mermaids (they cost $11!!!!) just by asking her dad for them. This is something I totally would have done to my dad! So, instead of being frustrated, like I was at first, I decided that its good for Samantha to have her dad wrapped around her finger (just a little bit) from time to time. Besides, she has been carrying those silly mermaids everywhere all week, night and day!!!

Kissy Kissy

I don't know where she learned it, but Samantha LOVES kissing. I don't think she has kissed anyone other than family, but she does kiss about any doll, etc... she can find.

A couple weeks ago we had our first snow. Samantha was so excited! I suggested that she go build a snowman with her dad. She had just watched Frosty the Snowman during that week so she knew just what I was talking about.

Michael and Samantha headed outside and build their first snowman! I brought out a hat and some candy and a baby ring toy to use for the face. Once the snowman was finished, I asked Samantha to stand by it so I could take some pictures. Out of no where she decided that the snowman was just right for kissing! Now, this wasn't just the quick peck that Michael gives me when he comes home from work. Her lips were connected to that snowman for way too long! Not long enough for frost bite, but too long none-the-less! It was so funny to watch, but I hope it stops at the snowman. I'm going to have to keep an eye on my girl!

Childhood Christmas Traditions

~ Pajamas
~ Read Luke 2
~ Watching Mr. Krueger's Christmas (If you haven't seen it, you need to! Jimmy Stewart will make you cry.)
~Watch Luke 2
~ Muppet Christmas Carol
~Taking fresh salsa and chips to neighbors
~ A new ornament every year
~ Christmas music, especially the Harry Connick Jr. album
~ Staying up most of the night with my sister in anticipation for Christmas morning
~ Wrapping Dad's presents for mom (even though she already knew what they were)
~ Knowing where all the presents were "hidden" but also knowing if we got in to them Mom would know and return them all!
~ Dad not wanting to put up lights
~ Sorting through all the Christmas piano music
~ Caroling with the church youth group
~ Eggnog and rice pudding for breakfast
~ Going to Grandma and Granddad's house
~ Sledding down Granddad's hill and trying to get as close to the river without falling in as you could all while avoiding the tree (that is not a fun thing to run into)!
~ Wearing a new outfit
~ Playing games and watching movies all afternoon
~ Going down the stairs youngest to oldest
~ Dad checking to see if Santa came and telling us he didn't and to go back to bed!
~Lots of good time with family!!!

I Am Where I Am

In Sunday school today, the teacher made a great analogy and I want to share it.

When we go in to the bathroom and step on that scale, we often don't like what we see. But, there is nothing we can do about it. We have to start where we are. Sometimes we'll go in and just ignore the scale, we don't even want to know. Even if we don't look at where we are, we are still there. Avoiding the scale doesn't change how much we weigh.

Life is the same way. We have to start from where we are right now. Even if we avoid looking at where we are spiritually, physically, emotionally, etc..., it doesn't change that fact that that is the position we are in currently. Life is a process. We aren't perfect. We have to work toward the perfection that we would love to have. That process never stops. Keep up the good work!

Clean Up, Everybody Do Your Share

When I was young, I shared a room with my two little sisters, Kathryn and Eliza. Eliza was too small to help us clean our room, so the chore fell to Kathryn and me. Since I was the oldest, I felt it was my responsibility to make cleaning "fun," so I invented what I dubbed "cleaning games."

The first game we tried was simply titled "Store." The game was as simple as the name. I would be the checker and Kathryn was the buyer. She would load her arms full of items she found on the floor and then "check out." I'd ring up her items then she would put them away. We would do this until the room was clean. The only issue, Kathryn wanted to be the checker too. So, it was time to come up with another "game."

This next game was more of a race. We would take turns counting to something like 100 while the other person would pick up as many things off the floor as they could. Whoever picked up the most items, won. I tried counting as slow as I could and told Kathryn not to count to fast, so I could win. Needless to say, she wanted to win so she counted fast. The race eventually transformed. After a while, and a few changes to the rules, I could be found laying on the bed with my eyes closed, my face in the pillow, "counting in my head" (so I said) to some ridiculous number like 1, 245, 583, while Kathryn was cleaning the room as fast as she could so she could win!!! I think she won every time!

The Christmas Tree

Most Christmases from my childhood just blur together in my memory, but when I was about 9 years old, I had a Christmas experience that I will never forget. My dad had lost his job and was working whatever jobs he could find just to make ends-meat. We didn't have much, but we got by.
As Christmas approached, my siblings and I kept asking my parents for a Christmas tree. We always went out and bought a real tree. This year, we had not. Late on Christmas Eve my parents decided my dad would take us to get a tree, even though money was extremely tight.
When we got to the store, we looked around at all the trees. Since we were so late in the game, there were several scanty trees and not much to choose from. We finally found the perfect one. I had never seen a more wonderful tree! This was the it! No one, in the history of Christmas, had ever found a more amazing tree!!!

We told the man at the front that we had found our tree. As my dad went to pay for it, and the man said we could just take it. It was Christmas Eve; he wasn't going to sell any more trees, so we could just have it for free. At the time, I didn't realize what a wonderful Christmas gift this was. He didn't know that we really couldn't afford a tree, but my parents were trying to make Christmas a good one for their kids. I don't know the name of that man, and he probably doesn't even remember that experience, but he has forever had an impact on my life and my view of Christmas.

A man with no idea of what was going on in our life, gave freely of what he had. He gave me, and my family, a Christmas memory never to be forgotten. I hope that one day I can do the same!

Things My One Year Old Enjoys

~ Playing with cars.
~ Pulling hair, especially if it's connected to his sister or mom's head.
~ Crawling up the stairs several times a day just so I have to get him.
~ Turning on and off the DVD player.
~ Pulling CDs out the CD player in his sister's room.
~ Eating.
~ His bottle.
~ Putting any type of thread, yarn, or single pieces of hair in his mouth (nasty, I know).
~ Saying "Hi" and waving, even when no one is paying attention to him.
~ Turing the light on the surge protector off, especially when I'm in the middle of doing something on the computer.
~ Splashing water in the toilet.
~ Pulling off his shoes and socks.
~ Screaming at his sister.
~ Pulling DVDs off the shelf.
~ Scratching his rear end as soon as a diaper comes off.
~ Pushing his face on the window.
~ Dancing.
~ Standing on his sister's bed and shaking the railing (he is very serious about this).
~ Panting like a dog as he crawls around the house.
~ Staying up all night.
~ Eating one or two day old food off the kitchen floor.

Sounds like a normal one year old boy, right!?! He sure knows how to add excitment to my day. I love my sweet boy!

Kindness Begins With Me

Sometimes I just can't figure out how to handle fighting kids! My kids are only 1 and almost 3 and they already fight like crazy. My daughter, Samantha (the almost 3 year old), of course, wants everything my son, Zachary, wants: that toy, the blue cup, some Cheerios, that book clear across the room, my attention, etc...

As I've been thinking about them fighting, and how to deal with it, I'm reminded of what my oh-so-clever mother did when my siblings and I would fight. I can vividly image this. My mom would come to us, make us hold hands, and then tell us to sing a children's song called "Kindness Begins With Me."

"I want to be kind to everyone,
For that is right you see.
So I say to myself,
Remember this,
Kindness begins with me."

Now, I'm sure as your read this, you are imagining a couple of kids maybe 5 or 6, maybe even 9 years of age. You would be wrong. I can very distinctly remember doing this with my brother when I was in Jr. High and he was in High school. I had to be at least 13 years old, maybe older. There was no way we could get through that song, at that age, and still be angry. We would be laughing way to hard. We knew how rediculous we had to look, singing and swinging our hands.

When I think about these times I have to smile. It was such a simple thing that my mom did, but it really worked well! Even now, as all my siblings are grown, we remember that. Any time some says "Kindness Begins with Me," we chuckle. We don't remember fighting, well we don't remember it as much as we remember laughing while singing a simple song.

The challenge now is to wait until my kids are old enough to hold hands and sing! I think if Samantha tried to hold Zach's hand and sing, she would love it, but he would not. There wouldn't be much laughing from anyone! Until then, I'll do my best. But I know for certain, when my kids are old enough to have this "punishment" they will!

When I Grow Up

When I was young, if you asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I never would have said a mom. When I was in elementary school I would have said, "a ballerina" or "a piano teacher." As I got older, I would have said one of many different things, depending on the day. A school teacher, a journalist, a news anchor, a lawyer, and so on.

Eventually, I graduated high school and decided to go to BYU-Idaho and major in Theatre and Speech Education with a minor in Music. The music only lasted a few semesters, then was changed to English. I loved school! I did pretty well, had a good job, and hung out with lots of different people. I was doing what I loved.

After a couple of semesters, I met Michael. That story is for a different time, but needless to say, we got married. I started going to school year round and finished quickly. During my last semester on campus, I got pregnant with our daughter. The Monday after I finished a teaching assignment in St. Anthony, ID, my water broke. Little did I realize how much my life was going to change. In a matter of hours, I went from being a busy, school focused, running everywhere woman, to a stay-at-home mom. It was the hardest, best change of my life!

If you know me very well, you know I like to be involved in different things. I am what you might call a social butterfly. Suddenly being home all the time with a little baby was really hard for me. It still is sometimes. There are days when I just want to leave, to get a job, to go back to school, to just do something besides change diapers and do dishes. But at the end of the day, when my kids are asleep, I love to look in at them (very quietly, of course, so I don't wake the little screamers). Its in those moments that I realize, being a mother is so much more rewarding than being a ballerina or a journalist. Although there is nothing wrong with any of those professions, I know that "Mom" is the title I'm supposed to have right now.

One day I hope to go back to school and get a Master's Degree. I hope to have a profession where I'm learning and interacting with other people all the time. But for now, I'm going to be a mom, and I'm going to love it!

Blog Name

A couple of weekends ago, I went to an women's conference called Time Out for Women. It was an awesome event full of uplifing speakers and music. Laurel Christensen gave a talk that really got me thinking about my life. She talked about starting college with a plan for her life in mind, Plan A. When Plan A didn't work out, she moved on to Plan B, then Plan C, etc....Eventually there we so many broken plans she was in the Greek alphabet! She went on to tell about an experience that made her realize she has always been on Plan A. Even though it wasn't her Plan A, she was on Heavenly Father's Plan A for her life.

I have felt the same way several times in my life. I am still young and have much to experience, but my life is not where I thought it would be. Fortunatly, my life is right where Heavenly Father planned for it to be. 

This blog is a place for me to write stories about people and expriences from my life, my Plan A. Hopefully some of these stories will be of some help you too. Whether you get a laugh, an idea, some comfort, or just a break from your day, I will feel like I have succeed in what I want to do.