What Eden REALLY Wants for Christmas...

Its true. If she could, Eden would give up all her Christmas presents to stay in Utah with everyone around to play with and spoil her.

Life of a Mother

Amen. I hear ya Hilary.

Currently my children are sleeping and I had a really good day. I'm not feeling so much like pulling my hair out (like I sometimes do) but I did happen to see this video on someone else's blog and it gave me a good laugh.

Kind of a "ha ha...its so true..." kind of laugh.

....and I only have 2 younger children....

Its Official....

We're moving to Colorado for 3rd and 4th year of med school!!!

Grand Junction....ready or not, here we come!

We're excited. Sad to leave behind our friends but excited to be closer to family.

My Little Wonder Pet

(To all you parents with children in love with Wonder Pets...like Eden.)

When stuck indoors

With the flu and the cold,

Being indoors

Grows kinda old.

Inside all day

Our sanity thins,

But that is when

The fun begins!

-Bethany Finlinson (AKA: Mom)

All it takes is:

1 mommy-made cape

1 box

1 sail (made from my feeding cover)

1 Wonder Pets logo (made of felt)

...Then let the adventures begin!!!

The Wonder Pets Save the Giraffe

"Oh no!

There is a baby animal that needs to be saved!

We are coming to save you baby animal!"

"To the fly boat!"

"A baby giraffe stuck in a some fabric!

This is serious!"

"I will cut the fabric with my (plastic) knife!"

"You are saved baby giraffe!

The Wonder Pets were here to help!"

Join us next time for "The Wonder Pets Save the Lego People!"

(No animals or toys or fabric were actually harmed during this rescue.)

A Love Story

I'm having an affair.

Even before we met, I knew it was love.

I'm in love.....with a new (used) car.

*Tears of joy stream down my face*

I say WE got the car...but really I call it "MY car."

You see, this isn't any old car. Its a Toyota Corolla. Ever since Tyson has known me I've wanted a Corolla. We would dream about "if we had money..." and he'd talk about his Volvo and I'd talk about my Corolla (yeah...we're BIG dreamers...haha). But little could I have imagined my dream would come true so quickly.

"But why a Corolla?" You ask?

I used to have a Corolla (technically it was owned by my parents and I drove it everyday to and from school). It was a blueish greenish color. And I loved that car. Then a fateful event occurred where a driver, that wasn't me and shall remain unnamed, ran my dear Corolla into several trees...killing my beautiful car.

*Moment of silence*

Then I met Tyson. And I met Tyson's Volkswagon Jetta.

(Side note: The first time I met the Jetta I thought "oh no, maybe he's a car guy...its a pretty car, leather interior, with seat warmers....SEAT WARMERS" I almost scratched Tyson off my prospects list right then and there. In my list of "no no's" while dating were "not an unnecessary spender" and "doesn't feel the need for speed" which equals..."not a car guy". Until I found out he simply bought it from a good family friend who was just getting rid of it and gave it to him at a ridiculously low price.)

Then I fell in love with the Jetta. OK, mostly I fell in love with the seat warmers in the Jetta. After all, I met Tyson in the winter.

The Jetta's been good to us....until recently.

Leaking oil....once....

Twice....

THREE TIMES.

Within the year. And all mechanics seem confused as to what the problem could be other than "a crack in the pipe". So, Tyson and I decided it was time to get a new car.

And we found the Corolla....MY Corolla.

As I drove it home (we bought it in Des Moines..so it was a 3 hour drive) I couldn't help thinking "This is my old Corolla's reincarnate. He came back to life a decade newer and in the color red." And I smiled.

For three hours I went back in time. I even found a station that played the music I would have listened to in my old Corolla. And I could sing all to all the lyrics.

*Sigh*

While this purchased put a little dent in us financially...Tyson's glad that he's found something that has made me so happy.

I'm not a car person.

But I am a Corolla person....obviously.

(Oh...I feel silly. Most of you are probably thinking, "she's nuts...." And if you saw it...its definitely nothing to be BRAGGING about. But I still love it. Don't mock me...)

Happy Thanksgiving

A little turkey activity to get this Thanksgiving started!

Eden's job...put marshmallows on toothpicks.

Leila's job. Find something to stick in mouth.

At the end: Cheesy smiles and a happy turkey.

Then eat the turkey! Notice the sticky toothpicks stuck to Eden's belly. Tee Hee.

Things I'm thankful for:

1. A wonderful husband who always inspires me to become a better person through his example.
2. Two wonderful little girls who make me smile and laugh and are just cuter than any two little girls could ever be.
3. Family. Its easy to remember and miss family on holidays...I can't wait until I get to go back to Utah to visit.
4. Friends. Its so nice to have some friends close by so share this Thanksgiving and spend time with.
5. Med school. While at times it seems hard to have no income and no husband, I truly am grateful that Tyson has the chance to really do what he loves.
6. The gospel. I can't explain how happy it makes me to have guidance in my life along with the knowledge of what's truly important for now and in my life to come.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Eden and Leila

"Quiet Mom, we're trying to read."

Its days like this that make me thank Heavenly Father for such a wonderful family.