Tradition-a-holic

My name is Anita...and I am a traditionaholic.

It says somewhere in my personal rule book that I must have at least one tradition for each holiday (and preferably MORE than one). Valentine's Day is no exception.

The kids each have a little metal mail box that gets filled with surprises while they are sleeping. This starts the first day of February and goes until the 14th. But the best Valentine's Day tradition is the poem/present hunt I make for Mike. The kids help me hide clues that we make with fancy paper and I write a poem that leads him to each clue. It is so much fun!

Here's this years poem (you can read last years here--I think last years was better):

Remember when we were oh so young and didn’t have a care?
We’d lay on the couch all day long or play some solitaire.
Those were the days before we knew
We’d be a family—me and you.

It’s hard to remember way back then, before we said our “I Dos”
So here’s a poem about those days…pay attention, or you’ll miss the clues.

Our first meeting was a nice one, when you walked into the room
We had no idea from that short talk an eternal love would bloom
I wore a boyish thing that day, but you didn’t seem to mind
I bought you one for Christmas and inside a clue you’ll find

You took me to a volleyball game, I should have known then
I’d miss you every minute until I was with you again
You sang me a song, a song that you made
Now find the next clue on the instrument you played

We took a big trip just after we met
Together for days—you weren’t sick of me yet
The clue’s in the book that showed us the way
To Mykalee’s house—our own “getaway”

You moved from the Colony, which we thought was quite sad
Your “stuff” had to spend a while in my single girl’s pad
The next clue is hidden where you spent hours and hours
Writing code to graduate so the world could be ours

We played mini golf, went to a movie or two
We even went swimming when the sky was blue
We once went to the waterslides my tattoo was so cute
Find the clue in the place I keep my newest swimming suit

Lagoon was a blast, when you won me that prize
Summer was gone—boy time sure flies
You started graduate school and you’ll find your clue
By the diploma you got (although I know you earned TWO)

By the time I started classes that year long ago
I had a ring on my finger that I’d never let go
Your clue’s in the fridge and you better know why
It’s on what you gave me that almost made me cry

We promised that day to be husband and wife
And I couldn’t believe this was actually real life
I’ve hidden a clue on a picture of where
We’d get married and make the perfect pair

Being engaged wasn’t as fun as I thought it would be
Really it was all about spending too much money
You did buy my bouquet even though it was too much
The clue’s on its picture—the finishing touch

We finally got married and became a family
So now you have three little ones to bounce on your knee
Your final clue is in their room but it’s not your present yet
You’ll have to wait until our date to see what you’ll get…
(get your mind out of the gutter--completely innocent I swear)

I love you more today than before we said “I do”
I know the way I act isn’t always a great clue
But I do know you love me and I hope you know it’s true
We were meant to be together—a family—ME and YOU!

The Cake Attempt

For Jordan's birthday I thought I would try something new. I saw this cake on a magazine and we all thought it looked pretty yummy, so I thought, "why not try it?".

So I tossed the cake mix aside and made a cake from...scratch!! It didn't look quite as good, but it turned out alright. And boy did it taste better than a cake mix! Oh, and the inside was cream cheese heaven.

Can you believe she's EIGHT?!!

Tomorrow is my little Jordan's 8th birthday. I can't believe it! I was telling her today about the events leading up to her birth and it just brought back so many memories for me. There is something so amazing about the first time you have a baby. Here are a few of my memories from that magical time.

I remember sitting at my doctor's appointment and hearing the words "do you want to be induced tomorrow?". I just sat there completely panicked. I had been saying for the past month that I wanted this baby to come, but when faced with the decision to actually make it happen, I was scared out of my mind. I just said "I need to call my husband"(of course this happened on the ONE appointment that Mike didn't come to). Mike said "let's do it."

My doctor told me to go to the hospital Feb. 8th to be induced. I was sent home because there was no room at the hospital. The second time, I was sent home again--still no room (only in Utah right?). It wasn't until I was getting ready to call it a night that the hospital called and said "we have room, come on in." It was 11:30 pm...luckily it was a pretty quick delivery and Jordan arrived around 5am (I had a much needed nap immediately after her arrival).

I will never forget looking at Jordan for the first time. The doctor held her up and said "Look like anyone?" I just looked at that baby that I had never seen before with complete disbelief that this was the same baby that had been inside me a second before. AMAZING!!

Jordan was such a tiny little sweetie. We called her sweet pea and had so much fun just watching her. I remember many times fighting over who got to hold her:) Ah, new parents. I never wanted to leave her. I never imagined I could love anyone as much as I loved Jordan. She made me a mom.

Now Jordan is quite the grown up little girl. I swear she thinks she is a teenager already! I still love watching her grow and learn, although now I am realizing that it is a little bitter/sweet. I love who she is becoming, but I miss my little baby. I am excited to see what the years ahead hold for her. She is a joy to have in our family and we love her SO much.

Happy Birthday Jordan!!

Can I just complain for a minute...please!

Okay, today is NOT a good day.

I have a 3 year old who REFUSES to poop in the potty

I have been working my butt off at the gym for the past 3 weeks and I have lost ZERO pounds

I have absolutely NO clue what to get Jordan for her birthday and it is in less than a week

My muscles are so sore from the gym yesterday and it hurts to do ANYTHING

My house is a mess and I am too sore to clean it

I have 2 girls that CRY everytime I ask them to clean up their messes

I just got a power bill that is....too MUCH money

I locked Tyson in his room for a time out and instead of being miserable, he found a bunch of CANDY and had a great time

Oh, and can I add that blogger is NOT letting me add spaces to my post....grrrr!

How lucky am I??

This is how we spent our Friday and Saturday afternoon!

(Manhattan Beach and Santa Monica)

You all should know by now...

...I can't resist a good tag!!

I just did a 25 Random Things about myself tag on facebook, but what the heck...

8 Shows I watch

1. Lost--best show EVER.

2. Y&R--don't judge me.

3. 90210--once again, don't judge me (I'm a succor for highschool shows/movies)

4. The Office--who doesn't watch it? So funny--I love Michael Scott:)

5. American Idol--Mike's fav.

6. Desperate Housewives--what can I say, I'm a desperate house wife.

7. Friends--that show will never get old for me--LOVE IT!

8. I sometimes watch Diego, Hannah Montana, The Backyardigans, Wizards of Waverly Place...with the kiddos.

8 Restaurants I Love

1. Outback Steakhouse--cajun chicken and shrip...to die for!!

2. Olive Garden--alfredo sauce, nough said.

3. Applebees--fajitas, yum!

4. Dragon Fort (Canada)--lunch specials:)

5. Cheescake Factory--um...cheesecake--white choc. macadamia nut.

6. Rossines (Monterey)--california club sandwhich.

7. Quiznos/Subway--quick and yummy and cheap.

8. Brick Oven (Provo)--Lisa remember "The Natural"?!

8 Things that happened yesterday

1. I worked my butt off at the gym

2. Mike got home from work late...grrr.

3. Miley got locked in the garage (all night--so sad).

4. Tyson went to sleep with Jordan, then with us--he's not feeling well.

5. We drove to the beach, but couldn't get out because Tyson fell asleep.

6. I actually had time to read my book.

7. Our neighbor called the cops on some guys who were trying to break into a vacant house one street over.

8. I watched Lost and then had nightmares about it.

8 Things I look forward to

1. The weekend...ahhh!

2. Dinner tonight (it's Jordan's pic and she asked for french toast, bacon and cantaloup--so yummy)

3. Lisa and Jason visiting and going to Disneyland!!

4. Jordan's Baptism.

5. Going to Santa Monica pier tomorrow (as long as Tyson's feeling better).

6. Valentine's Day

7. Jordan's 8th Birthday (Feb. 9)

8. Summer break when I get to go home...I mean my Canadian home:)

8 Things on my wish list

1. New wardrobe...did I mention how out of style I feel here in LA?!

2. A bedroom set--I've been waiting for a LONG time for this one.

3. Our hot tub to work.

4. 30 lb weight loss--or more.

5. My entire family to visit.

6. Tyson to feel better.

7. More Money...who doesn't want that?

8. A maid...oh and a chef too!

I tag anyone who wants to do it:)

Thank you...for hurting me.

A lot of you already know that I joined the YMCA. So far I am loving it. So, here is my "thank you" (to the YMCA--if that wasn't obvious).

Thank you for...

...including day care in your monthly premium fees (nothing compares to "free" babysitting).

...having classes that make me SORE.

...for being wonderfully located, so I drive past you all the time (reminding me that I should be working out).

...having a little window into the daycare so I can peek in and see how happy my little boy is while I am exercising.

...finally giving me some instruction on "the ball" (I love that thing).

...having swimming lessons, hip hop, ballet, and gymnastics for the kids (reasonably priced too!).

...having sports for 3-year-olds.

...teachers that make classes entertaining.

...being the gym that half my ward goes to:)

...a change room that is clean.

...smutty magazines that give me tips on how to dress for a "hot date."

...having awsome babysitters so Tyson actually gets excited to stay there.

...never being TOO busy.

...motivating me.

The World is My Oyster

Anyone who knows me knows that I would never seriously use a phrase like "the world is my oyster", but the other day that is all I could think of to describe how I was feeling.

I have been struggling with the fact that my kids are growing up and I don't have a "baby" anymore. I have actually been feeling that way for a LONG time, but I couldn't decide whether or not to have more kids. Anyways, I just woke up the other morning (I shouldn't say I just "woke up", I've actually been praying about this for some time) with the realization that it's okay if I don't have any more babies. I was a person before kids!! Remember that? There is more to me than just having babies!! I can do or be whatever I want to!! Who knows, I may one day decide we need to have more kids, but for right now I am 100% content with enjoying the family I have! It feels good to just be at peace about the whole thing.

Here's my big kids pretending to be babies--don't ask me why the boy is the one in pink