Oh, yeah! ♥♥♥

Better late than never, right?!  Last night I gave Ryan his Valentine's Day gift....a Candy Bar Poster.  Pretty Romantic and hot, right?  I think you'd agree if you SAW said poster....too bad I am not sharing pictures of THAT hilarious gift!  LOL!

Meanwhile - Valentine's Day breakfast, lunch, and dinner consisted solely of these beauties...

  

And they were DELICIOUS!  I purposely made our families' 2 inches big...so I could have LOTS of them and not feel as guilty as I would if they were....say....6 inch hearts.  Everybody else got 4 inchers....I never did get down the big cookie cutter....I made 12 dozen cookies in all, and I think I have it down to a science...only took me 2 hours!  Clean-up not included.  :)

And just for future reference of how awesome we work as a team....Tanner and I came up with this cute little number for his Valentine's Box....we were thinking OUTSIDE the box...and while I did have to hammer a bunch of holes and wire a bunch of cans together, he came up with it and helped me hot-glue all the loose parts together.  Below is the hilarious "blow me a kiss" look.

Their valentine's cards were a hit, and now, we can move onto picking out coordinating clothes for pictures on Monday...I still have to pack so we can pull out of here at 6 am, and here I sit, uploading pictures and charging batteries and drinking hot chocolate.

*sigh*

Complete Valentine's Day Goodies

EPIC FAIL:  I spelled mustache wrong???  mOustache or mUstache?  LOL! 

Earlier today, I made a mad dash to finish these cuties:

Be still my {HEART} !!!!!  That little Charlie Chaplain is giving me butterflies!  LOL!

But they're done!!!  I was so proud of myself for getting 'everything' taken care of this morning in something like four hours...and thought I'd be an hour or so finishing up after lunch...

...5 hours later, and we have COMPLETED our Valentine's Day Goodies!!!  (60 sugar cookies for classes NOT included...that will come on Monday.)

Here's the run-down....in pictures.  :)  I've been having camera withdraws, and got a little snap-happy today!

Enjoy!

How are yours coming along?!  We still have to make a {Robot Valentine's Box}, but other than that ... oh, and those 60 Sugar Cookies, i'm all set and ready to go!

Photo-Shoot Miracle...

In four hours, I was able to shoot, treat, edit, create and print Valentine's for my boys' school classes and for family and friends. :)

Here's a sneak peek:

I''ll update with more pictures when I get cards in the mail, laundry folded and the kitchen cleaned...even though I did the last two yesterday....you wouldn't know it!  LOL!

Today's {Gratitude}

This morning, Ryan didn't hesitate to go to the doctor's to get drops for his pinkish eyes...Just because it's ALMOST Valentine's Day, doesn't mean you need to have pink, or even sickly-red eyes.  I'm grateful for modern medicine.

.....

I made a very important phone call, which led to me making a very important visit to the Idaho Eye Center.  I've been waiting anxiously for 3 years to find out if I was a good candidate for LASIK...and it turns out that I'm a WONDERFUL candidate...even though I giggled with happiness while the tech was trying to numb my eyes for one of the tests, she started laughing too and we couldn't stop.  It was hilarious.  Reminded me of trying to take serious wedding photos.  "Okay.  *deep breath*  I've got it under control.  ...  BWAHAHAHA!"  I'm grateful for good laughs.

.....

I got my hair cut.  And invested in some amazing product for my hair.  I realized I can like my hair.  We don't have to fight.  We can like each other.  Love each other, actually.  I'm grateful for good friends.

.....

Tanner, Taylor, Kortlen and I bundled up in our snow clothes and headed for the hills.  Well, one hill, actually!  We. had. a. blast!!!  Till we were too tired and too cold and too cranky to talk nice to each other (and I didn't start it!).  So we came home and proceeded to leave a trail of wet boots, wet socks, wet pants, wet gloves, wet hats, wet shirts, and wet underwear from the back door to the front door, to the bathroom, and back to the kitchen.  I'm grateful for my children. 

.....

Tanner was a champ at swim practice after sledding, and swam CONTINUOUSLY with his ARMS from one end to the other end in the pool!!!  This is huge, since he's a really good kicker (no surprise there...).  I'm so proud of him!  I'm grateful for opportunities.

.....

I like food. Probably too much.  We have a love/hate relationship.  I wish someone could fix food like my hair was fixed today!  That'd be amazing.  :)  I'm grateful for full cupboards.

.....

Ryan got a job promotion two days ago!  We had to take a promotion last month in order to be in the position to apply for this second promotion, and Ryan beat out two co-workers HANDS DOWN in his interviews, and blew his General Manager out of the water with his plans and knowledge of his store!  He's joined the ranks of Operations Manager, which we (along with many of our loved ones) have been praying fervently for! We are so excited for the change of pace that this will allow him and our family.  Same income, one less job.  Utilizing more brain power, and enjoying more time at home.  I'm grateful for answered prayers.

What do I have to lose?

So...it's no secret.  I'm kinda-sorta-really-absolutely sentimental.  Over anything, and everything.  Not emotionally, I just really value my ties.  Especially my roots.

It's also no secret that I've been working my behind off to lose some of this ice cream-baby weight...and it hasn't melted one bit.  Not even an ounce!!!  (I promise, I'm not joking...I weight EXACTLY the same as I did on September 1st....not cool!)

I think it's time to turn up the intensity...what do I have to lose?  Besides blowing my knees out running a marathon?  Nothing.

I think I'm going to do it.

Do What????

THIS...  I'd be swimming over the ranch my grandfather and his sons owned.  I have VERY fond memories of this beautiful place...and which I'll name my next child after...and that's the biggest reason WHY I want to do it.  Because I'm sentimental.  Getting in shape and actually accomplishing this feat is just an added bonus.  Told you I was sappy!  :)

I talked about doing a triathlon last year, but started too late in the season to really get anywhere.  I did that 50 miler on my bike, and swimming and running would have totally been welcomed.  LOL!  I've been biking at least 50 miles a week for 6 months, and swimming will come back without a huge problem...just need to build up my endurance (and get some better eyes).  The only thing I'm kinda-sorta worried about is running.  I used to hate it...but on Friday, when I ran for an hour (with some walking and jogging of course, but also some RUNNING in there), I realized that I can do it.  I can do anything.  And this is something I will do.

Now would be the optimal time.

I mean, I teach at an athletic club, and instead of getting a paycheck in the mail, I get a family gym membership (you're not supposed to know that, but whatever...it is what it is.) ...so why not get a trainer so I don't seriously hurt myself...and make good use of my 'pay' while I have it?!?!?!  Ryan also has a membership...we should totally be a team.

Yeah - there's some ducks I need to get in a row first (like asking if Ryan would do it with me), but really; what do I have to lose?

Reading Aloud

I have very fond memories from my childhood of my mother and father reading.

Often times, mom could be found at the kitchen table with her scriptures open, and a class manual close by.  She had shelves of books, with her name written on the inside covers.  Classics. Children's books.  Family Development books.  Church books. My mom studied diligently; with mechanical pencils, blue and black BIC pens and highlighters.  Notes in the margins of her textbooks, the Ensign, her Scriptures, the Joy School lesson manual.  Meticulous notes.  Thoughts.  References.  Promptings.  She was studious.  I remember picking up novels and looking for the ones with the most notes...those were the ones I wanted to read under the covers at night...I thought her notes would make me more smart.  Or tell more of the story!

For years, my father would sit at the top of the stairs on the landing and read to us from Black Beauty.  Robinson Caruso.  Little Women.  Swiss Family Robinson.  We were treated to a chapter or five, if we were good, as we lay in bed and he read.  We listened.  And asked questions, that he'd sometimes answer.  Sometimes clarify.  And often he'd hush us and say, "If you'd listen, you'd know."  Most men have a den or a man-cave, but my father has a library.  Walls of books.  And stacks of books.  And rows of books.  He may need to start keeping a ledger where we check out his books...because for a long while, I had a stack of his books on my own nightstand.  It started out as just a book or two, but by Christmas, I returned a good eight books to him.

I love reading.  I love to sit on the floor in my boys' room between their bed and the closet and organize their books ...slowly... because I read them as I put them away.  I'm kindof a nerd like that.  Kortlen has picked up my love of books, and I often find him sitting in the middle of the hall, or kitchen table, or IN his closet, flipping through the pages.  He will put it down and get another. And another.

I have a collection of books on my piano...some which I've read, others that I hope to.  Most of those are thrift store finds, but classic nonetheless. Lovingly read and yellow-paged.  They smell of old books.  Together, Ryan and I have shelves and boxes filled with books that we've devoured.  We have even kept our text books from college...we're that in love with books.  You never know when you'll need to reference something to Food Science, Interior Design, or Business Management!  Come to think of it, we even have books stacked in the corners of our bedroom closet.

This summer Tanner, Taylor and I read "Tom Sawyer".  Every time we got in the car, they'd beg me to read it to them.  I'm embarrassed to say that we haven't finished it...but when they see it, they love for me to read a few pages.  My goal is to finish that book with them, but AFTER I finish our current read.

Our school district just started a special project called "One District, One Book".  Every family received a free copy of a 'mysterious' book...as the book's title was unknown until yesterday at a special assembly.  The youngest child in each family that attends school was sent home with this book, and a reading schedule, so the book can be discussed in class, and as family and friends.

Last night we read Chapter 1:  Sam.  Aloud.  Because we all know that "reading aloud for just 15 minutes a day can provide children with a lifetime of benefits"...says the flier sent home with said book.  I agree.

I think we're really going to like this book!  It's adventurous.  Clips along at a good pace.  Has Tanner captivated, and Taylor interested.  The chapter lengths are just right.  And Tanner is noticing some of his frequent words and points them out.

While I can snuggle with a blanket and a good book and read away my time...for hours on end...I really enjoy reading to my children.  Especially when they listen.  I like making the voices....changing the inflection with the story line...and critically thinking with the boys about what just happened, what will happen next, and so on.

I challenge YOU to read aloud to your children, if you don't already do so...they will fondly remember those moments, and it WILL benefit them in SO MANY WAYS!

Have YOU ever read "The Trumpet of the Swan"?  Did you like it?  What is your favorite childhood book?

Dinner...at our house

Let's be honest.  Planning meals is so stinking hard for me.  Ya, ya, I know it was my college major and all, but I really don't like doing it.  I'd rather do something more fun...like ANYTHING ELSE.  Except for laundry and dishes.  Motherly FAIL.  EPIC MOTHERLY FAIL!

Tonight on our way home from swimming, I decided we were making french fries for dinner.

As I was making them, I couldn't decide what should go with them...pay day is Friday...so I had to get creative with what was in the kitchen.

Fries didn't sound too appealing to me after my 1 hour run and 27 mile ride this morning...I knew what I wanted to eat!  Straight from the jar.  Mmmmm-mmmmm!

While I waited....

...for these golden treats to finish cooking for my boys.

Since I was risking hot-dogs getting freezer-burned, I pulled those out and nuked 'em in the microwave...yuck!

And then we all sat down for a nice little casual dinner.

What did you make?

Randomness

I haven't fallen off the bandwagon, just fallen asleep.  I've been in a funk, and I'm trying to pull myself out of it...So for posterity's sake, here's a bunch of randomness and catching up:

Wednesday, Feb. 1st, my parents came up to celebrate my birthday...while we were waiting to meet them for some errands, I (on a whim) decided to go to the park.  Even though my kids refused to bring their coats, we all had a very nice time freezing and playing and laughing and running and swinging and giggling and freezing.  Yes, freezing.

Thursday, Feb 2nd, I had a very full and enjoyable day.  Ryan and I hit the gym (he did his own thing while I busted out the guns with my friends Karen & Cindy, doing Jillian's shred.), then we hurried home and got ready for the day.  I picked up Tanner from school, headed back to the gym to work and taught a gazillion 24 preschoolers about Groundhog Day (it was friend/sibling day, so we had extra kiddos), and lost my voice.  Ryan's parents came to celebrate with us, and we had a very nice visit, complete with cake, cake, and more cake.  When they left, we changed into our swim suits, headed BACK to the gym (for the third time, in case you lost track) and swam, swam, swam.  Every once in a while it's nice to just play in the water and wear yourself out.  After an hour of THAT family fun, we hurried home to fix the kids dinner, get cleaned up AGAIN, and made sure the boys were all asleep so we could pick up the sitter and leave at 7pm.  Lucky for us (and the sitter) they STAYED asleep, while Ryan and I enjoyed a prime rib dinner (courtesy of our stake presidency) at the district scout awards banquet.

Friday, Feb 3rd - I'm sure it was a nice day, but I honestly don't remember much of it.  It's all a blur.
***edited to add:  My dear friend, Stevie came to visit me!!!  And brought the CUTEST card over.  And her little guy got to play with my little guys.  It was so nice to just TALK.  It's been much too long!!  I also did my workout and took Tanner to his workout...and I skyped with my little sister for a hour at it was HILARIOUS!!!  Love it!!!

Today, Saturday, Feb 4th was certainly full to the brim.  Not only did I skip my spinning class, but I ate WAY more than I should have, and it's interesting that my body was protesting against all the sugar and calories...I know I wasn't bored (I was quite productive today!) so I must eat to procrastinate 'things'.

Today I (brace yourself): made breakfast, did the dishes, went to Home Depot with the kids to make the free craft (Heart Box), returned dvd's to the library, found treasures at the D.I., did 3 loads of laundry, made lunch, did dishes, facebooked, and fixed my fall wreath that was oh, so sad.  I'll post pictures later. Because I had the glue-gun out, I decided to fix my shoes.  And Taylors, and Kortlens.  I'm officially a member of the Poulsen Family, because I patched my shoes with an old sock and hot glue.  Thank you to my inspiring and thrifty father-in-law!!!  And to my grandmother, for her super-duty-circa 1970's glue gun complete with counter-top laminate glue sticks.  They totally made the project work.  New pair of Keens:  $110.00.  Inherited Glue-gun:  priceless.

Then I started cleaning my bathroom and scrubbed so hard on the black grout, that I actually REMOVED the silicone sealant on it and FINALLY got most of the black off...well, half of it...and bleached the heck out of it, while wiping down the walls and cleaning the toilet and everything else that goes along with cleaning a bathroom.  (I clean my bathroom weekly, but the mold trapped in the sealant has gotten horrid in the last 5 years...I'd had enough of it today!).  Somewhere in here the boys ate lunch...and Kortlen took a nap.

I had promised the boys they could paint their heart box, so we did that, had a snack, cleaned the living room (pulling out furniture and vacuuming under/around, which is really not a big deal, since I do it once a month), the boys' bedroom (putting everything in it's place, including the 'too-small clothing pile' that was taking over the top of the dresser), and the kitchen.  We had to have some time-out moments in there, but for the most part, everyone helped and everyone did a good job. It was a treat to have Ryan home for dinner...and I hope it becomes a more regular thing around here.  We made dinner, ate it, and got bathed and the boys into bed...

...ALL before 7:15pm.

Yes, I'm quite proud of my accomplishments today.  It's not every day I can say that I did a-z and managed not to lose my head...or take another human's head off.  LOL!

I just downloaded the pictures from my new camera, and should download the owner's manual for said camera, since I'm totally lost (shouldn't be, but am).  Finished up the designs I've been asked to put together for our swim team and the region's winter championship shirt.  Not to mention the team towel design and 25 year anniversary shirt I'm designing, too.  I'm loving this new 'graphic design' phase I've been thrown into.

Now, if only I can get 4 lesson plans done and 'turned in' before 11, I just might sleep like a baby tonight.
***Didn't get the lesson plans done, but I got the couch cushions washed and put back together, and those 3 loads of laundry folded...YAY!