The Lunch Lady is NOT Happy!!

There are things I love about school, and things I really hate about school. One of the things I hate most about school is making lunches!! I'm not exactly sure what I hate most about it, but I know I hate it. So here goes my rant:

I hate....

...the smell of reusable lunch bags.
...opening up the lunch box after school only to see that the majority of it wasn't eaten!!! (this one might be the worst one).
...trying to come up with ideas of things that my kids actually will eat.
...the fact that their lunches sit in that bag for half the day before they eat them.
...when I wake up to make lunches and realize I haven't been to the store and therefore have nothing to put in them!
...when something leaks--yuck.
...when I take a tiny bite of a cracker or something that wasn't eaten and it tastes like the oranges or bananas that had been packed in with it.
...when the kids eat half their gogurt or pudding and then leave the rest open in the lunch box.
...trying to find foods that are healthy, can sit in a lunch box all day, and that the kids like.

Okay, so that is my rant. My kids hate cafeteria lunches (and I am not too keen on what they pass off as healthy food), so I have no choice but to make 3 lunches everyday. Gosh, when is summer break again?!

Kya eating her lunch on her field trip November 2010

Timeless Classic

I've been thinking about this post for a while, but with the amount of SICK that has been going around our house, I haven't been in blogging spirits. All the kids are back at school today though, so hopefully we are headed to healthier times:)

Growing up in a family of four girls, we each had our own "style". We defined my oldest sisters' style as "timeless classic". As some of us followed the trends (you know, stir-up pants, tail tops, and peter pan boots), Lisa seemed to buy those items that could be worn regardless of the year. You know the style I'm talking about...the timeless khakis, the brown shoes that go with everything, the simple white blouse. Well as I look through my closet these days, I see clothes that have lasted one season and clothes that I have had for years--not because they are "timeless classics" but because they haven't worn out or they've fit me through 3 babies, or they are just so darn awesome that I can't get rid of them:)

Let me introduce you to a couple:

My Adidas pants

My mom actually bought me these past when I was at BYU...before I was even married!! I remember thinking they were a little pricey, but boy was that money well spent (12 years of wear is pretty good). They fit me through 3 pregnancies...almost through the full 9 months each time!! I did notice a tiny whole the other day when I was wearing them, but until that is noticeable to everyone else, they are not going in the garbage:)

Wearing the Adidas pants (with Tys)

My Fleece Jacket

Now this is a jacket that I have worn just about every day for at least 8 years. It's not the cutest jacket, but it is the perfect amount of warmth for a girl living in California:) I have bought other jackets for style and for really cold winter days, but if I am being honest with myself, my Gap fleece jacket is almost always the best choice. And, after 8+ years there are no signs of wear on this jacket...at all! So, here's to seeing how long this one lasts:)

Wearing the jacket (I have a million pics that I am wearing this jacket, here's one of the older ones)

My Ugly Denim Skirt

After I had Jordan (almost 10 years ago), I really needed clothes that were for that "in between" stage that a mom goes through while trying to get back to her normal pre-baby size. So, I bought this long denim skirt. I swear that skirt was the only thing I had to wear to church for months! Then when I got pregnant with Kya, I wore that skirt until I was about 5 months pregnant. Well, I never did get too small for that skirt. It is still in my closet and has been my "skirt that goes with everything" for years. Although, the past couple of months it has looked less and less acceptable as a "fashionable" choice:)

Sorry, there is only one picture of me in this skirt and it is really awful!!

So maybe "timeless classic" is the way to go after all....although, I just bought a $10 pair of "lounge around" pants at target that probably won't last until summer....when will I learn?

Here's my new "lounge around" pants

I've been waiting a long time for this:

We finally got new couches. I was so embarrassed about how run down we let our couches get (3 kids and a cat are my excuses) before replacing them, but forking over the cash to buy new ones is not easy!! Hopefully these ones will look a little nicer after 8 years:)

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Oh and on a side note, my little guy cracks me up!!

Parkidy Park Park

There were days when my kids were little that I felt like the park saved my life!!


When we moved to California, Jordan was just 6 months old. We didn't know anyone, we only had one car (which Mike would take to work), and I was home with all day every day with just Jordan. Luckily we had a park just down the street. We walked there probably 4 days a week.

After Kya came along, I think we spent even more time at the park. I could take care of Kya and Jordan could run around and play. I can't even count the number of times I had to discretely nurse Kya at the park.

When Tyson was born, we slowed down on the whole park thing. I think that was because it was too tricky to watch both girls and take care of mister grumpy pants. After he got a little older though, it was all about playgroup at the park. I was usually the first one there and the last one to leave:)

Now that all the kids are in school, the trips to the park have dwindled. This last week of Winter Break we decided it was time to head out to the park and have some fun.

The park is still one of our favorite places!!

My Negative January Post

I know I have no right to complain, with the awful horribleness that some people are living through, but bare with me as I get this negative January post out of the way!!

Every year I really do get excited for a fresh start. I get excited to get organized, clean out the Christmas clutter and spend time with the kids. However, a couple days into January and the excitement wears off.

The diet I've been working hard on turns into 2 pounds of weight gain.

The crazy amount of running I've been doing turns into an aching hip.

The deep cleaning I've been doing results bored and whining children.

My attempts at a meal plan turns into 3 failed attempts at dinner.

My quality time with the children turns into constant refereeing.

And having the kids home every day turns into never ending MESS!!

There you have it...my "I hate January" post. Bring on February!

One of the MESSY rooms!!