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Thanks Rheanna from keeping me from all my "motherly duties" that I don't want to do anyway and for keeping me from taking a look at my early bday present... (More on that later)
And for those of you who've known me FOREVER - sorry this will just be a review for you.

High School Tag

1. Did you date someone from your school? I dated a couple guys from my school and even married one
2. What kind of car did you drive? I didn't drive until the summer after graduation. My parents bought a "boat" that I refused to drive.
3. What was the most embarrassing moment of HS? I don't really remember anything...Though I had a couple in Junior High
4. Were you a party animal? Nope
5. Were you considered a flirt? Yes I was, alright...
6. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? I was in concert choir
7. Were you a nerd? I was probably border-line, but not quite
8. Were you on any varsity teams? Hahaha - while I enjoy playing sports, I am not real gifted at it...
9. Did you get suspended/expelled? No, I was a goody-goody
10. Can you still sing the fight song? I didn't know it then and I certainly don't know it now...
11. Who were your favorite teachers? Sophomore Year - Miss Heart
Junior Year - Coach Graziano
Senior Year - Madame Baigue
12. Where did you sit during lunch? On the steps in the common area
13. School mascot? Wolverine
14. Did you go to homecoming, and with who? I went with Eric Junior & Senior year. I wasn't old enough to go my sophomore year.
15. If you could go back and do it again, would you? Parts of it, but there are parts of it I would NEVER want to relive.
16. What do you remember most about graduation? Let's see - that I forgot my cap at home, almost missed the procession waiting for my dad to bring it to me, almost didn't have anyone to sit with during graudation until Cristeen & DeeDee pulled me in line by them (thanks again), it rained, my dad's car got stuck in a rain puddle and wouldn't start again when we were taking my grandma home, Eric and I had a fight - Sounds exciting, huh?
17. Where did you go on senior skip day? I don't think we even had one...We got jipped.
18. Were you in any clubs? PLT my Junior Year and Literary Magazine my Senior year, but don't know that they really count as "clubs"
19. Have you gained some weight since then? Uh yeah... In HS I weighed anywhere from 116 - 120, yes I've gained weight.
20. Who was your prom date? Eric
21. Are you planning on going to your 10 year reunion? Been there, done that, don't know why...
22. Looking back, what advice would you give yourself? Spend more time playing the field.

5 and 10 Tag

10 years ago I:
1. Still lived at home
2. Just started working as a secretary/receptionist at Eric's aunt's workplace
3. Was preparing for my wedding
4. Spent my free time with Eric when he wasn't working nights
5. Went to community education for typing (to help my job)

5 things on today's "to do" list:
1. Laundry
2. Break out my early birthday present
3. Help the kids with homework
4. Enjoy Eric's night off
5. Catch up on some TV shows

5 snacks I enjoy:
1. Yogurt Pretzels
2. Ice Cream
3. Chocolate Chip Cookies
4. Snickerdoodles
5. Reeses Pieces Peanut Butter Cups or Pumpkins or Eggs (Whatever the season brings)

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. Pay off the mortgage
2. Pay off debt
3. Add on to the house
4. Decorate the kids' rooms however I wanted - no expense spared
5. Hire a housekeeper

5 places I have lived:
1. West Valley City, Utah
2. Taylorsville, Utah
3. Eagle Mountain, Utah
- That is the extent of my travels...Sorry

Five jobs I have had:
1. Babysitter
2. Counter Help at Popcorn Cottage in Valley Fair Mall
3. Secretary/Receptionist at Utah Dept. of Health/Bureau of Licensing
4. Office Tech at above
5. Cashier at Sears, Smith's

SECRETS
Six things most people don't know about me.

1. I am 3rd of 7 kids and there is a 20 year difference between the oldest and the youngest.
2. I never thought I would get married.
3. I am older than Eric
4. I love organization, but I am too lazy to get it started (anyone wanna help)
5. I love acting and writing - I would love to be in musicals again or to write a novel...

There ya have it...

What Happens Next...

Meet Mallory

While I was uploading the pic of the pumpkins to the computer (see previous post), I noticed some pictures I forgot about...

For school Tanis had to do a book report. Only the book report was to make a character out from the book. He chose to read The Spiderwick Chronicles and when I asked him what character he wanted to do he said Mallory.

Mallory is the sister to the main character in the book and so we went with Mallory. I drew the figure and helped to glue the "hair" in and the cut out the silhouette, but the rest of the stuff Tanis did on his own. FYI - the thing in Mallory's hand is a fencing foil.

And now without further ado, we introduce - Mallory!

What Happens Next...

Apologies...

Sorry I've been MIA...Nothing of real value or note has really happened around here, so there wasn't much to say.

I will say that lately I have been feeling really guilty about my privacy post. It's not anything anyone did, but since I had posted my feelings and said some things, lessons in Relief Society and comments people have made to me have made me feel very guilty. Not the guilt that drives you to depression or anything, just the kind where you wish you could take back what you said...

Anyway, last Saturday was a fun day for me.

Around 9:00 a.m. Eric's friends dropped their daughters off for us to babysit. These girls are so calm and mellow that if Shaylyn was like either of them, I would be okay having another girl. Around 11:30 or so Eric takes all the boys with him to the store and leaves me with the girls. This was kind of my plan as I am trying to get our basement "tornado zone" organized once again. This is a difficult task to handle during the week days as Nathaniel only takes cat naps and there isn't anywhere downstairs for me to put him and still keep an eye on him. So I am left doing it when Eric is around.

But since Eric took the baby, I was able to go down and make a small dent in the mess while Shaylyn and the little girls watched a movie on the clean side of the basement. And yes I was in a position where I could hear what was going on.

Eric arrived home around 1:30/2:00 and I was surprised by what he brought home for me.

Eric knows how much I love Halloween and carving pumpkins has always been a tradition in my home and one I am trying to create here. Usually though, we've done a medium sized one for each of the kids. Since Eric purchased a huge one and four small ones, I am looking forward to seeing what we come up with.

When Eric got home we had some lunch and I fed the baby. My plan was to go back downstairs and get some more done, but before I knew it it was 3:00 and Tanis had a birthday party to get to and I had to get cleaned up for General Women's Conference.

I was to meet up with my mom & little sister at 5:00, after picking up my sister in law. It takes about 40 minutes or so to get to my sister in laws and so I figured I needed to be out the door by about 4:00. I was getting a bit anxious that Eric would be watching 6 little kids by himself when I left, but the little girls parents came around 3:45 or so.

I left around 4:00 and picked up my sister in law and we headed to Ab's. (It is a hamburger place for those of you not familiar with it. There are only 2 restaurants - one in West Jordan and one in West Valley. It was started by my Grandmother's Cousin - AB - and when he got too old to run things anymore he left it to one of his sons, who has since built up 2 restaurants) Anyway, the food was good and we had fun visiting.

After dinner we headed to my sister in laws stakehouse for the meeting. We arrived a little bit late and had seats clear in the back of the overflow. I have NEVER seen a stakehouse so full for Women's Conference. While the talks from the Relief Society General Presidency were good, I really enjoyed President Uchtdorf's talks. It was one of those times where you feel the talk was directed at you personally.

Even before President Uchtdorf was called to be in the presidency of the church I took a liking to him. I don't know why, I just did. Anyway this talk from the beginning just helped me so much. I wish I could find his whole talk, but haven't been able to. I was able to come across a newspaper article that did mention some of the things I took to heart from his talk:

* "Our splendid sisters sometimes undervalue their abilities — they focus on what is lacking or imperfect rather than what has been accomplished and who they really are." (At these words my mom patted me on the back...)

* Serving others opens the windows of heaven. "As we lift others, we rise a little higher ourselves." He shared a piece of advice that the late President Gordon B. Hinckley had for a woman recently widowed after his own wife had died. "Work will cure your grief. Serve others."

* The number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance.

He also mentioned something about not letting fear and fear of critizism (even if it's from yourself) hold you back...I wish I could find exactly how he said this, but oh well. Guess I'll have to wait until November's Ensign comes out.

Overall, I enjoyed his talk from beginning to end and it really hit me like a ton of bricks with all the issues I've been having and have mentioned here. I felt so lifted up after the meeting and made a vow to change the way I am perceiving things.

After the conference we headed to Leatherby's for some yummy ice cream. I always end up getting the same thing, but it's good, so I stick with it. And once again my little sis ordered the same thing. I told you we are a lot a like.

I always enjoy Womens Conference and the extra time I get to spend with my mom and sisters. I am thankful that my mom started this tradition years ago and I am even more thankful that I've always been able to go.

Thanks again Eric, Mom, Kaeloni & Adri for a wonderful night!

What Happens Next...

Down & Derby

So yes, I took the title off of a movie, but it was a hilarious movie...

Today was Tanis' 1st Pinewood Derby. He was so excited and Eric was glad it was all done. Because Eric works two jobs, his time was limited and he had to make due with the time that he had. And I am a horrible wife/mother and didn't get any pictures of them working on the car.... Maybe next year.

When Eric asked Tanis what kind of car he wanted to do, he immediately said, "Indiana Jones." So Eric dutifully searched the internet for ways to make a jeep. He came across one site that actually sold a precut car in the shape of a jeep, but after checking the rules, realized it wouldn't work. So Eric had to figure it out on his own.

He bought the regular piece of wood, sketched the outline on the wood and cut it out. Eric is more talented than he likes to admit. He has a few talents that if he really worked on he could really do something great. After Eric cut it and sanded it, it was up to Tanis to paint it.

Tanis did a quick job (he doesn't take his time doing much of anything) and painted his jeep. I had to resist the urge to cover up all the empty spots that he left. Eric and I wanted this to be Tanis' car and wanted Tanis to do everything that was "safe."

This morning Eric and Tanis worked together to get everything finished up. (Stickers on, figurines in, weighted correctly and so on.) Here is the finished product:

At 1:00 we headed to the church for the Derby. Tanis was so excited and so were all the boys - there were also a lot of dads who were excited.

They had such a great set up. They even had a projector hooked to a laptop to show who was racing, in which lane they were racing, and who was next up. It was even able to take the speeds and places the cars took to find an overall winner.

During one of Tanis' last races, however, the two boys he was going against weren't very nice. They said to each other, "Tanis is so going to lose." I felt so bad for Tanis and saw the look on my son's face and it broke my heart. My sister was funny and asked "Which kid should I knock out?" I told her, "Both of them."

Tanis came in 7th of 10. We never wanted it to be about winning, we just wanted him to have fun and to do his car the way he wanted.

After the races were totally finished they gave us some time for refreshments so that the judges could judge and give awards to everyone. We figured Tanis would probably get an award for the most creative car, but wasn't sure.

During this time I noticed Tanis in a corner with one of his friends (and his friends little sister) and Tanis was crying. I went over to see what the problem was. Tanis' friend, Taylor told me that one of the same boys who previously said that Tanis was going to lose, also said he didn't like Tanis' car.

I wasn't sure if it was just the fact that someone said something mean to him or if was also a culmination of the fact that he didn't "win." I was trying to console him telling him that if someone doesn't like something of Tanis' then it is their problem. I also tried to explain to him that there wasn't any "losers" in this race and that everyone was going to win something. That seemed to help.

It also helped that Taylor and Taylor's little sister were both telling Tanis how cool his car was and that they thought it was awesome. (Thank you Catey for raising such wonderful kids. It means a lot to know that Tanis has some really outstanding friends) After Taylor and I talked with Tanis he was all better and off they ran.

Then it was award time. Tanis did win the award for most creative car and for his "cheer" we did the first part of the Indiana Jones song followed by the sound of a whip. It was so much fun and I think Tanis ended up being happy overall. And I didn't get any pictures of him getting his award because somehow I zapped the 2 gig memory card and all I am stuck with is a 64 Megabyte card and I filled that all up.

Today was one of those days where you have to learn to take the good with the bad. As much as I wanted to tell those two little boys off - I really did, I held my tongue and had to realize that Tanis has got to learn to deal with stuff like this because it's going to happen throughout his life and I won't always be there. And I also realized how important it is to have good friends.

Overall it was a good day and I enjoyed my first ever Pinewood Derby! Enjoy the pics...

What Happens Next...

How Can You Not Smile?

This afternoon, while the older two were at school, Nate, Lex and I were just hanging out. Lex started hiding behind the side of the couch and jumping out at Nate. Nate thought this was hilarious. Of course I just had to shoot a "video" of it. Enjoy!

What Happens Next...

Sneaky, Sneaky

Before I really begin I need to give a back story...

For Christmas my in laws gave Shaylyn a digital arts & crafts studio to use with the computer (they also loaded us up with ink and paper). The kids have all loved this and enjoy making pictures and printing them off.

Saturday morning while I was cleaning the house Shaylyn asked if she could print something off. I said yes and didn't think anything of it and went about my cleaning.

While I was cleaning my bathroom, I heard my bedroom door open & shut but didn't think much of it.

A little while later, I happen to glance down at my bedside table and see this:

My cute little Shaylyn snuck in my room and left this cute picture for me. I smiled when I saw it and thought to myself, "This is probably the only time in my life when I can say I am happy Shaylyn was sneaky."

My kids often make me little pictures, but they usually hand deliver it. So I was pleased that Shaylyn was so creative and thought of a doing it a different way. It sure broke up the monotony of that day.

What Happens Next...

Onto Happier Things

So, I know a BUNCH of you that have tried to do the picture a day for 365 days in various forms. Well, I decided I was going to do it as well - with ALL of my kids.

I know, I know - that could be a challenge, but I am trying! (By the way Catey - I am so stealing the idea of all the kids heads' in a circle at some point ;) )

Another reason for me doing this is because I decided (for the time being) to not do the family website.

Anyway the link for the Hardy Kids 365 is:
http://tsan4.blogspot.com/

And at the moment I don't have this one set up as private because I am only linking it on this blog, which is private.

I am hoping I won't have to set up this other blog to private and bug you people even more. We'll just have to see.

What Happens Next...

Huh? No One Ever Said I Had To Do That!

So a couple weeks ago Eric's cousin, Brandon called him and told Eric that he had started working for financial planning company (I think) and wanted to meet with Eric to go over some things.


Of course, Eric being the kind hearted, supportive person that he is agreed to meet up with him one day at lunch. I have no idea of what that conversation consisted of as I was not invited. :P


Anyhow, next thing I know Brandon is going to be coming to the house to go over things. Well okay. I don't know much about what it all entails, but whatever. So Brandon came over at 9:00 a.m. Saturday morning...Yeah I wasn't thrilled either. Anyway, so he goes into all this mumbo jumbo, that I really don't understand.


The short of it is that we signed up for Life Insurance and then Eric did some stuff with his 401K. I was happy to to the Life Insurance thing because it's just one more added comfort. We were even able to put the kids onto mine so that if - heaven forbid - one of them should pass on we would at least be able to afford funeral costs.


However, before our application can be totally approved Brandon told us they had to come draw blood. Sweet - they come to the house, but more pricking - blah. Any pregnant woman can tell you that being stuck with a needle so many times during pregnancy gets a little redundant, and it can still hurt.


So not looking forward to the drawing of the blood, but whatever! So on Monday Brandon got us all set up with the medical people to come out tonight. The lady called me yesterday afternoon and told me that not only do they do a blood test, they do a urine test. Man, I feel pregnant again. On top of those two tests, she then told me that while it isn't required it is best to fast for 6 - 8 hours. NO ONE MENTIONED GOING WITHOUT FOOD - can I change my mind now????


Okay, so I've only got 3 hours to go...But, I did have to go to the grocery store today and now that the groceries are home and put away there are so many things I would love to have right now... I shall refrain... But, man I am hungry!!! Think I will eat a lot at dinner tonight...


In other news, HoHo has figured out how to roll from his tummy to his back. It is so sad that my baby is getting so "old." (And yes, I still think he looks like his dad.) However, he still won't sleep through the night. Any suggestions? I've tried feeding him the rice cereal before he goes to bed, I've even done the Johnson's Nightime Bath stuff - blah! HELP!!! My other three were sleeping through the night by now, so this is unexplored territory for me. At least he just wakes up to eat and then goes right back to sleep...That is nice.

What Happens Next...

Everyone Else Is Doing It...

Alrighty folks...I am taking my blog private.

If you would like to be invited leave a comment and add your email address if I don't already have it. You have until Thursday 9:00 a.m.

Thanks.

What Happens Next...

Another One Bites The Dust

I wonder if the guy who wrote that song, ever thought it would be used as a metaphore for so many other ways than the way he used it...

Anyway, so the real story is this... Bubba started preschool today. A couple ladies in the ward decided to do one where we switch teaching & houses every week for a couple hours, a couple days a week. Luckily my week is the 3rd week, so I've got 2 weeks to prepare still.

Lex was supposed to start on Tuesday, but was sick, (an illness brought home from Buddy on Friday that has passed to everyone, but me, so far - it's latest victim is Princess) so today was his big day.

When he woke up this morning he kept asking if it was time to go. I kept telling him no and he kept getting frustrated. Then when we shipped Buddy off to school Bubba wondered if it was time for him to go. Again, when I said no - he was upset.

Finally 10:00 a.m. rolled around and we headed out the door. He was so excited to get pictures like his brother and sister and so very excited to go to school. He looked so cute and didn't even hesitate to leave my side when we got to the home of the lady doing week #1. Not that I thought he would, this boy has no separation anxiety...Oh well.

So now, it's quiet time with me and little HoHo. I've got to get off the computer and start cleaning the house while no one is in need or want of anything. HoHo just ate and sick little Princess is sleeping. I don't mind the sicknesses where it just makes the kid want to sleep. It's not stressful that way, even though I do feel bad for the kid.

What Happens Next...