Rumor Control (oh ya it was my Birthday too!)

Alright let me start with setting the record straight!! Jeremy and I are putting our House up for sale. It will go on the market this coming Monday. Okay now let me answer the most common questions.



"Why are you selling your house?" I LOVE it here and I LOVE my neighbors!! This is the most amazing neighborhood I could of ever dreamed of living in. But, emotionally I need to get out of this house. Jeremy and I need something that is just ours!!! This has been a very hard decision for the both of us. But, in the end we know this is the right choice.



"Where are you moving?" Well with the market as slow as it is we don't know how long it will take to sell the house. Jeremy's office is in Phillie this summer and I would like to sell it before he leaves so he can be here to help me with all the hard work. But, if not we will move to Phillie this summer hope that the house sells while we are out there! Then at the end of the summer we will come back and purchase a new home together! Jeremy and Karli's house (that will be so so nice!)



"What happens if your house sells before the summer?" Then we will be renting until the summer. We will either rent back from whomever purchases our home or rent a apt or house for a few months till summer gets here.



"Are you going crazy trying to clean your house so it will be ready for the market?" YES! YES! YES!



"Have you cried about leaving the neighborhood?" Yes, more then once!



Like I said earlier this has been a super hard choice for Jeremy and I but, in the end we know this is what is best for our family.



Okay now that I have gotten that out of the way.... It was my Birthday the other day! and my Brother Ky received his Mission Call on my Birthday!! Ky is going to be serving in the Tacoma, Washington Mission (yes, that is were Forks, Washington is located) Ky is serving in the Twilight mission he will be amongst Vampires and Werewolves alike. I'm super excited for him!!



So my birthday was wonderful! I was spoiled by my sweet Jeremy! He bought me the Knife set I have been eyeing at Costco for the past while. It was so thoughtful!! The kids made me cards and gave them to me with my favorite treats. My mom came over for lunch and made me my favorite meal (when I was a kid) tuna sandwiches on pitas, Doritos, and Oreos. It was so thoughtful!! Jeremy's mom also spoiled me by sending me a gift certificate to a Day Spa! I felt like a princess!



That evening the kids went with their Dad and Jeremy took me out. We drove down to Happy Sumo and he picked up the Sushi he had ordered to go. Then we drove up to the Canyon and ate our Sushi (actually in the car because it was to cold) up in Timp. Park. Then we drove back down and he bought me a Caramel Apple from Rocky Mtn. Candy Factory. It was a Perfect Birthday!!!

Oh ya up date with the cookie baking. Its going soooooo much BETTER! Thank you everyone for all your fabulous tips!! I will post some pictures of my latest creations soon!!

Ahhhhhh..... I hate making COOKIES!!!!!!!!

Alright I need to vent......

So I enjoy cooking. I really do I love preparing a meal, making bread or rolls, I LOVE making soup. But, I hate making Cookies!!! They are EVIL!! I have never had the cookie making talent. I don't really like cookies so it wasn't that big of a deal to me until lately because Jeremy LOVES cookies, Desmond is the Cookie Monster, and Kiana and I need some bonding during the day while the boys are all away (Desmond napping, Karston at school, and Jeremy is at work.)

So for the last week or so Kiana and I have been making cookies everyday. I kid you not when I say NONE of them have turned out! The kids still seem to enjoy them and when Karston's friends come over after school they will eat them but, Jeremy wouldn't have a clue that I have even attempted to make cookies because I have rid my house of any evidence of these failed cookie attempts before he comes home. Okay I don't want you to get the wrong idea. Its not that I think Jeremy would make fun of me or do something mean to me because I am such a crappy cookie cook (did I just say that) its more because I really have been trying to think of ways I can show Jeremy appreciation and I would hate to give him a pile of yucky cookies that is to resemble how much I appreciate him. Ahhhhhh....... What is it?? Why can't I make cookies?

I think the biggest problem is patience. With sugar cookies I don't want to wait 2 hours until the cookie dough is set I want them now. With all the other kind of cookies I really have come to the conclusion that they just don't like me and that's just fine because I don't like them either.

Okay right now I am watching Desmond eat one of these snickerdoodles I attempted making today (that turned out all flat) He is dipping it in his water and telling me how yummy it is. It looks disgusting.

So if anyone out there in this blogging world has any fool proof cookie recipe that they would be willing to share with me because I not giving up I am going to make cookies everyday until I figure out what I am doing wrong! Until then I will continue to buy cookies from Paradise Bakery put, them on a plate and pretend that I'm the one that made them.

Kiana Kiana Kiana

My little Kiana is so funny! I have to share this experience that happened with her just this morning.

This week in Kiana's preschool they were learning about the letter "N" so today the teacher asked that each child bring with them a piece of paper telling what their name means or why they were given that specific name.

So this week I have been talking to Kiana about her name and why she is named Kiana Elyse. Kiana means: Divine and to live with Grace. I told her about how when she was born her Dad and I were trying to decide between 2 names Georgia Sue or Kiana Elyse (Georgia means "Farmer or Tiller of the earth") But, when she was born there was no doubt she was not a Georgia she was defiantly Kiana.

Today Kiana was talking to me about the definition of her name. She kept saying Kiana means to live with Grace. I agreed with her and kept going on with my daily tasks (yes, cleaning the house) So right before I took Kiana to preschool this morning I went up into her room and I noticed that she had her suit case packed full of random clothes. I called her up and asked her what was going on. She told me she was going to go and live with Grace. I started laughing (Grace is a sweet little girl who lives down the street from us) Kiana had taken the meaning of her name so literally that she had packed up some of her things and was going to move away. I asked her if she would miss me (I was kinda surprised she had packed up her things so easily) she told me it wouldn't be that big of a deal because she would be just down the street.

Oh Kiana, I gave her a big hug and told her that to live with Grace didn't mean she had to live with someone named Grace. She seemed completely confused by this concept. I just hugged her again and we both laughed.

Kiana has now informed me because she is not allowed to go and live with Grace down the street. When Jeremy and I decide to have a baby we have to name it Grace so she can live with Grace.

Thanks Kiana for the laughs this morning and for agreeing to stay and live with me even though my name is not Grace.

Did you really just say that??

So have any of your husbands ever said something that just throws you back and you have to think to yourself "did I just hear that?" Well, Jeremy said something to me that other day that I really couldn't believe. I laugh almost every time I think about it. So here is what happened.....

As some of you know I'm a little OCD when it comes to the cleanliness of my house. I like organization and I tend to be a minimalist. I have actually gotten worse over the years. I don't know what it is I just want everything put away and the house to smell like cleaners.

So sweet Jeremy the other day told me how "cleaning the house is selfish" I seriously made him repeat himself. Yes, he said exactly what I thought he had "cleaning the house is selfish" I asked him why he thought that? He went on to explain how he didn't care if the house was clean, the kids didn't care if the house was clean. The only person that cared if the house was clean was me so in turn that made cleaning a selfish act.

WOW!, I never in a million years would have put cleaning the house into the selfish category but, I guess its all a matter of perspective.

Jeremy, went on to explain that instead of spending my days worried about scrubbing the kitchen floor I should be playing with the kids, building forts, reading books, ect....

I want to Thank Jeremy for his comment. It has really changed my perspective on cleaning. Its really okay if I don't get the laundry done one day if that means I had the opportunity to spend a little more time with my family. I still don't agree completely with Jeremy's comment. But, I'm going to better organize my time and clean while the kids are napping or at school. I'm going to do my best not to be obsessed with cleaning the house.

Jeremy Thank you for your perspective and for just telling me how you see it. I know I might not always agree with you but, listening and seeing things from your perspective has truly helped me become a better person.

That Groundhog Better try again because I do NOT like his answer!

6 More weeks of Winter! Are you kidding me! I'm serious when I say I really need spring right now!! This is not a want, it is a NEED!!!!

So anyone up for a trip? Lets all go to Hawaii!! I here it is warm and beautiful there this time of year.