If I were rich: (I could pretend I would give ALL of it to the poor and needy, but come-on, I'm not that selfless.)
1. I would buy a house with a BIG dining room and BIG kitchen and a BIG garden area and a BIG jetted tub.
2. I would buy a brand new Ford Expedition EL with leather interior and two tv screens that fold down from the ceiling like on airplanes.
3. I would take sewing, tennis, and piano lessons... and maybe a cooking class just to hone my skills!
4. I would pay someone to do my scrap-booking so I could have a precious keepsake to pass on to each of my boys instead of throwing a pile of pictures at them when they ask about their childhood.
5. I would change the paint color and curtains in my living room about as often as I change the toilette paper roll!
6. I would teach my childbirth classes for free.
7. I would take my kids on destination vacations where they could experience life and the world and all of God's beautiful creations.
8. I would give AWESOME birthday presents to the people I love the most.
9. I would hire a maid to keep the walls, windows, toilettes, carpet and baseboards clean, oh and make the beds.
10. I would pay to fly my parents out ever other weekend so they could experience their grandchildren growing up.
11. I would find at least 10 more things that would be nice to have or do if I were just a little richer....
Hmmm... I guess I'll just have to be happy with being happy where I am :)
Monday, May 10, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Swimming anyone?
So Adam started his crazy travel schedule for work last week, he'll be gone the majority of weekdays (and by that I mean like 90% of them) all summer long. I'm hoping to find lots of activities for the summer that include me and the four boys not being at home. The only problem with that is finding things we can do without too much stress and where I can breastfeed a baby with relative comfort. I guess I could just take them swimming, you're already half naked anyways, why not have a little extra boob hanging out?!
So with that in mind, who wants to go swimming with us this summer? !!! :)
So with that in mind, who wants to go swimming with us this summer? !!! :)
Friday, April 16, 2010
4 months later :)
So 4 months later I am finally getting another update on here. It would be nice if I could do this more regularly so that I wouldn't have to call it an "update" every time I post something.
So we'll start with the oldest: Adam has taken up running and is doing pretty good at it. He has lost some weight (not that he needed to ;) and is getting in shape.
Me: I'm not running, but I did get an elliptical machine, that I haven't used in almost a month. Oh, well, I'll have time to get in shape when Dallyn starts kindergarten!
Preston: is learning how to read! He is one of those kids who doesn't respond well to 'structured learning time' so we mostly just let him guide us to his interests and help him expand on them. Reading has finally taken priority for him so we have been doing a lot of story time.
Jordan: had surgery on his eyes in the middle of February. His right eye had been crossing and his left eye would turn in on occasion as well. The Doctor decided it would be best to correct it with surgery so he went under the knife. I'm happy to report that it was considered a success. I do notice from time to time a little bit of crossing still, but usually it's when he's tired, so hopefully that is normal. We have our last post-op appointment next month so I will "update" you all then!
Landen: is our trouble maker!! I don't know where he got his stubborn defiant attitude from! I know it wasn't me, I swear, I have never been stubborn or defiant in my life!! He is a good kid though, and has a good heart, so we hold out hope that this is only a phase and eventually he'll start minding us. In the mean-time we keep trying different mind games and tricks to get him to behave. Like we wanted him to get in his bed the other night so we told him not to, and low and behold.... :)
Dallyn: is almost 6 months old!! We haven't started solid foods just yet (still exclusively breastfeeding) but I can tell he is getting ready for it. He reaches for our food all the time and can hold a sippy with water in it. He is also rolling and scooting all over the place. No crawling yet, but I'm sure it's just around the corner.
So that is that, our "update" for now. I will end this post now before making any empty promises to be a better blogger!
So we'll start with the oldest: Adam has taken up running and is doing pretty good at it. He has lost some weight (not that he needed to ;) and is getting in shape.
Me: I'm not running, but I did get an elliptical machine, that I haven't used in almost a month. Oh, well, I'll have time to get in shape when Dallyn starts kindergarten!
Preston: is learning how to read! He is one of those kids who doesn't respond well to 'structured learning time' so we mostly just let him guide us to his interests and help him expand on them. Reading has finally taken priority for him so we have been doing a lot of story time.
Jordan: had surgery on his eyes in the middle of February. His right eye had been crossing and his left eye would turn in on occasion as well. The Doctor decided it would be best to correct it with surgery so he went under the knife. I'm happy to report that it was considered a success. I do notice from time to time a little bit of crossing still, but usually it's when he's tired, so hopefully that is normal. We have our last post-op appointment next month so I will "update" you all then!
Landen: is our trouble maker!! I don't know where he got his stubborn defiant attitude from! I know it wasn't me, I swear, I have never been stubborn or defiant in my life!! He is a good kid though, and has a good heart, so we hold out hope that this is only a phase and eventually he'll start minding us. In the mean-time we keep trying different mind games and tricks to get him to behave. Like we wanted him to get in his bed the other night so we told him not to, and low and behold.... :)
Dallyn: is almost 6 months old!! We haven't started solid foods just yet (still exclusively breastfeeding) but I can tell he is getting ready for it. He reaches for our food all the time and can hold a sippy with water in it. He is also rolling and scooting all over the place. No crawling yet, but I'm sure it's just around the corner.
So that is that, our "update" for now. I will end this post now before making any empty promises to be a better blogger!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Wow, I'm a really bad blogger!
For someone who likes to talk as much as me and tell stories about everything and nothing all at once, I really am a crappy blogger. I guess all of my other vises have been trumped by laziness and the sheer convenience of speaking my mind via Facebook.
So I guess I'm long over-do for an update and some pictures of our latest addition to the family :)
Dallyn was born in October after about 10 hours of active labor (and 2 days of not so active labor preceding that). He was a whopping 8lbs 5 oz, and I say it that way because he was our biggest baby yet. Oh, and did I mention he was born at home in the water and that I 'caught' him myself under the watchful eye and EXTREMELY helpful hand of our midwife Rebecca Williams. Yep that's right, if you haven't kept up on prior blogs we are 'those' kind of people ;)
Since then we have had the joys of celebrating the holiday season starting with the older boys all being train characters from Thomas and Friends for Halloween. Then we were able to have my mom, dad, sister Jessica and her husband Ben, sister Danielle and her husband Joey, and brother Erik and his girlfriend Ashley come out for Thanksgiving. It was such a wonderful visit with them and was culminated by being able to have Dallyn blessed with my brother and brother-in-laws in the circle with Adam. (my eyes are tearing up as I type this)
As the year wound down we celebrated our first Christmas at home since our kids were born. It was so much fun to have our little family dinner for Christmas Eve and see the excitement in their eyes as we put the kids to bed knowing that Santa was coming that night. When they woke up Christmas morning Adam and I were already up and working in the kitchen to get food ready for Christmas dinner at Amanda and Austin's house, they didn't even come to get us, they just went straight for the tree and started opening presents! I got at least one good photo of them pre-wrapping paper disaster zone that I will post shortly (have to find the cable to upload them to the computer :)
I think one of the reason's I felt such a need to post today is because my little Preston turned 4 years old. I love that kid so much! He makes me smile everyday and I thank our Heavenly Father for blessing us with such choice spirits in the children we have. After 5 1/2 years of marriage, 2 apartments, 1 condo, and 1 house, 6 cars, and 4 kids later I feel like the luckiest woman in the world! Here's to 2010, maybe I'll be a better blogger this year, but don't bet on it!!!
So I guess I'm long over-do for an update and some pictures of our latest addition to the family :)
Dallyn was born in October after about 10 hours of active labor (and 2 days of not so active labor preceding that). He was a whopping 8lbs 5 oz, and I say it that way because he was our biggest baby yet. Oh, and did I mention he was born at home in the water and that I 'caught' him myself under the watchful eye and EXTREMELY helpful hand of our midwife Rebecca Williams. Yep that's right, if you haven't kept up on prior blogs we are 'those' kind of people ;)
Since then we have had the joys of celebrating the holiday season starting with the older boys all being train characters from Thomas and Friends for Halloween. Then we were able to have my mom, dad, sister Jessica and her husband Ben, sister Danielle and her husband Joey, and brother Erik and his girlfriend Ashley come out for Thanksgiving. It was such a wonderful visit with them and was culminated by being able to have Dallyn blessed with my brother and brother-in-laws in the circle with Adam. (my eyes are tearing up as I type this)
As the year wound down we celebrated our first Christmas at home since our kids were born. It was so much fun to have our little family dinner for Christmas Eve and see the excitement in their eyes as we put the kids to bed knowing that Santa was coming that night. When they woke up Christmas morning Adam and I were already up and working in the kitchen to get food ready for Christmas dinner at Amanda and Austin's house, they didn't even come to get us, they just went straight for the tree and started opening presents! I got at least one good photo of them pre-wrapping paper disaster zone that I will post shortly (have to find the cable to upload them to the computer :)
I think one of the reason's I felt such a need to post today is because my little Preston turned 4 years old. I love that kid so much! He makes me smile everyday and I thank our Heavenly Father for blessing us with such choice spirits in the children we have. After 5 1/2 years of marriage, 2 apartments, 1 condo, and 1 house, 6 cars, and 4 kids later I feel like the luckiest woman in the world! Here's to 2010, maybe I'll be a better blogger this year, but don't bet on it!!!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Politics... what an evil word!
A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves money from the public treasure. From that moment on the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most money from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy followed by a dictatorship.
The average age of the world's great civilizations has been two hundred years. These nations have progressed through the following sequence: from bondage to spiritual faith, from spiritual faith to great courage, from courage to liberty, from liberty to abundance, from abundance to selfishness, from selfishness to complacency from complacency to apathy, from apathy to dependency, from dependency back to bondage.
Alexander Tytler
I have always been very passionate about politics... but with limited time and resources I've never been able to become very active in soliciting politicians for causes to which I prescribe myself to, and when I have I've been utterly ignored. I have become increasing upset in the last few years about the direction that our 'conservative' Republican controlled government was sending us down and have become utterly outraged by the fiscal misappropriations that have become a daily ritual to the Democrats currently in control of our government.
As my resources and time are still greatly limited as to how much I can do to help the cause of freedom from government tyranny and the disrespect for the average American that has become so flagrant in Washington except to complain about it on my blog. So here I am, for all 5 of you who will possibly read this, pleading to the world to stop the insanity.
The scary part about what is going on these days is that we are clearly approaching the end of the democratic cycle as described in my quote above and I can only pray that there are enough honest people out there who believe in the Constitution and Declaration of Independence enough to stand up for what our Founding Fathers intended this great nation to be. A home of a capitalist run economy, self-responsible citizens, and equal RIGHTS (as defined by our constitution, not all those made up ones like marriage and healthcare) to be had by all no matter their station.
I want my kids to grow up in that America.
The average age of the world's great civilizations has been two hundred years. These nations have progressed through the following sequence: from bondage to spiritual faith, from spiritual faith to great courage, from courage to liberty, from liberty to abundance, from abundance to selfishness, from selfishness to complacency from complacency to apathy, from apathy to dependency, from dependency back to bondage.
Alexander Tytler
I have always been very passionate about politics... but with limited time and resources I've never been able to become very active in soliciting politicians for causes to which I prescribe myself to, and when I have I've been utterly ignored. I have become increasing upset in the last few years about the direction that our 'conservative' Republican controlled government was sending us down and have become utterly outraged by the fiscal misappropriations that have become a daily ritual to the Democrats currently in control of our government.
As my resources and time are still greatly limited as to how much I can do to help the cause of freedom from government tyranny and the disrespect for the average American that has become so flagrant in Washington except to complain about it on my blog. So here I am, for all 5 of you who will possibly read this, pleading to the world to stop the insanity.
The scary part about what is going on these days is that we are clearly approaching the end of the democratic cycle as described in my quote above and I can only pray that there are enough honest people out there who believe in the Constitution and Declaration of Independence enough to stand up for what our Founding Fathers intended this great nation to be. A home of a capitalist run economy, self-responsible citizens, and equal RIGHTS (as defined by our constitution, not all those made up ones like marriage and healthcare) to be had by all no matter their station.
I want my kids to grow up in that America.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
New Blog
I have a new blog for the natural childbirth fanatic side of me! Seriously though I put together a blog to promote my classes and share information on natural childbirth. If you know anyone who might be interested in learning more about what I do you can send them either one of my links:
http://www.bradleybirth.com/ndweb.asp?ID=C549
http://alyssasnaturalchildbirthclass.blogspot.com/
http://www.bradleybirth.com/ndweb.asp?ID=C549
http://alyssasnaturalchildbirthclass.blogspot.com/
Another LDS woman's perspective on natural childbirth
Here is an exert from a birth story from one of my students. She gave me permission to share it and I felt that this was such a beautiful message to all of my LDS friends that I had to post it. A quick background: Laurisa and Darin had 2 babies prior to this birth, both born with an epidural. While pregnant with her third she began looking into natural childbirth and found Dr. Bradley's book and next thing we new she was in my class.
"I have learned so much about my body and about God and His plan from this experience.
God did not create women to bear children and not be able to handle childbirth! No- He made us powerful. Our bodies are amazing. Yeah, childbirth hurts, but it is something we as women get to experience. After the pain is over, our bodies are created to heal perfectly. The recovery is not meant to take weeks!
God knew what He was doing when He created the plan. I honestly believe that there is a lot more for us to learn through childbirth than we ever pick up on when we are medicated. There is power in sacrificing everything you can possibly sacrifice to bring another spirit here on earth. It is essential for us to learn these lessons that can only come from that kind of sacrifice.
I feel sad that we as a society are robbing ourselves of so much by medicating our births and intervening so much of the time. As if our bodies don’t know how to do it naturally. Growing up in our society, I of course always wondered why in the world anyone would not get an epidural. I thought it would make the birth experience miserable. I had no idea how empowering and spiritual natural childbirth was. This experience has changed me in so many ways.
I feel so close to my Heavenly Father, as I had to rely on Him through so much of the birth. I know that He was with me during this whole experience. I had been praying every day for a great birth experience, and He has blessed me with just that. He blessed me with strength, wisdom, safety and peace."
Thank you Laurisa, I couldn't have said it better myself! What can we learn from this? Be proactive in your decisions about the birth of your baby and never forget the power and strength our Heavenly Father has bestowed upon us as women. I will hopefully be participating in a panel discussion on LDS women and natural childbirth to explore why so many people are afraid of or against it. If you have any stories or ideas about this please share them with me. Thanks.
"I have learned so much about my body and about God and His plan from this experience.
God did not create women to bear children and not be able to handle childbirth! No- He made us powerful. Our bodies are amazing. Yeah, childbirth hurts, but it is something we as women get to experience. After the pain is over, our bodies are created to heal perfectly. The recovery is not meant to take weeks!
God knew what He was doing when He created the plan. I honestly believe that there is a lot more for us to learn through childbirth than we ever pick up on when we are medicated. There is power in sacrificing everything you can possibly sacrifice to bring another spirit here on earth. It is essential for us to learn these lessons that can only come from that kind of sacrifice.
I feel sad that we as a society are robbing ourselves of so much by medicating our births and intervening so much of the time. As if our bodies don’t know how to do it naturally. Growing up in our society, I of course always wondered why in the world anyone would not get an epidural. I thought it would make the birth experience miserable. I had no idea how empowering and spiritual natural childbirth was. This experience has changed me in so many ways.
I feel so close to my Heavenly Father, as I had to rely on Him through so much of the birth. I know that He was with me during this whole experience. I had been praying every day for a great birth experience, and He has blessed me with just that. He blessed me with strength, wisdom, safety and peace."
Thank you Laurisa, I couldn't have said it better myself! What can we learn from this? Be proactive in your decisions about the birth of your baby and never forget the power and strength our Heavenly Father has bestowed upon us as women. I will hopefully be participating in a panel discussion on LDS women and natural childbirth to explore why so many people are afraid of or against it. If you have any stories or ideas about this please share them with me. Thanks.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Preston, Landen and Jordan
