Friday FIVE

Five things I love about September...

1. Fresh fruit and vegetable stands. Last night we had fresh corn on the cob, fresh baby red potatoes and fresh peaches. SOOOO GOOD!!!


2. Back to school. The kids got so bored by the end of August. I like the routine of school and homework and bedtimes (not that we are all that great at keeping them, but we strive!)


3. Cooler nights and crisp mornings. We've needed jackets each morning and Dallin doesn't want to wear shorts to school since he rides his bike. I L-O-V-E opening the windows and letting cool fresh air in my house.


4. Darker earlier. Summer is hard since it stays light so much longer - the little girls can't settle down for sleep. Right now it's dark at 8:30 p.m. - the perfect bedtime for them!


5. Leaves changing color. Since we've already had some light snow in the northern Utah mountain tops, the leaves changing color is right around the corner. I love living right by the Wastach mountains and watching for the first signs of red and yellow leaves. We always go for scenic drives to see the beautiful fall leaves.

Friday FIVE

Since we are on vacation this weekend, these are my 5 top place to visit (in the US)...

1. Bahamas - OK, so it isn't really the US, but it's VERY close! Love the sun, love the crystal clear blue water, love the crazy taxi driver that almost killed me with his driving skills. LOVE the beach.
2. Florida - What can I say, I am a theme park enthusiest. Just DisneyWorld alone is enough to make my blood run quicker, but throw in Sea World and Universal Studios. I'm SO there!!!
3. Yellowstone/Tetons - Besides the fact that Scott and I honey-mooned here, I just LOVE this place. I love all the natural wonders and all the wildlife - and NO I have never seen a bear, dang-it!
4. Washington DC - I love the history in our nation's capitol. I love visiting the Smithsonians - you could spend a lifetime there. But don't go there in the summer - so freakin' humid (and crowded).
5. Southern Utah - Yeah, I don't have to go very far for this one. I love where I am this weekend - Lake Powell. Love our national parks - Arches, Bryce and my fav: Zions. Love hiking through these awesome formations. So incredible.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!!!

Friday FIVE

This week's five is a list of the top five things I always check when I log on...

1. MSN - I must know what's going on in the world. This is my homepage and I can quickly see any breaking news (which I also have e-mailed to me), national headlines, world news, entertainment gossip, sports headlines, and most recently - current Olympic coverage. Must be informed!!!

2. My e-mail - I can log onto my work e-mail over the internet and I check it often. I use it as a personal account as well. I probably should get a hotmail account, but I'm too lazy to check TWO accounts. Through my email, I also keep track of a yahoo chat group I belong to and I have each post e-mailed to me.

3. eBay - Gotta watch, bid, buy & sell!!! Those of you who follow my blog know that I love eBay. I am addicted and I don't care. It is such a rush to win a really good auction for next to nothing. I have scored the cutest clothes for my girls for fall and I just won a Batman costume for Dallin for Halloween - he's so excited!

4. Facebook - I'm pretty new, but it amazes me how many people I have reconnected to through this networking site. It's fun to build your profile and put fun and quirky things that represent your likes and interests. For example, I get daily quotes from The Office and from Friends. It makes me smile.


5. Blogger - Duh - I love to check on my favorite blogs and see the comments made on my entries. I also use my blog to connect to some of my other favorite links and websites. Technology is awesome.

Friday FIVE

Today's five are my favorite things to do in my spare time - what, spare time? - yeah I don't even know what that is anymore. Anyway, here's my wish list of things I would do if I had a moment to myself!

1. Reading. I am almost done with Breaking Dawn and next on my list is Uglies and then Pretties. I'd also like to FINALLY read the Harry Potter series since we have them ALL and I have never picked them up.


2. Scrap booking/Card making. I am SO far behind, but I sincerely love sitting down and losing myself in this activity. I did get all of my pictures in complete order so all I have to do is get going, but it's a little overwhelming when you are five years behind. Still, I have so many cute ideas, so maybe this weekend I'll get on it. I at least need to finish Hallie's baby book and get STARTED on Audrey's book. Plus I need to make a memory book about my dad (one for me and one for my mom). And I owe Dallin a book of his first 8 years (he was baptised in March). See, overwhelmed!


3. Cooking. I love to cook and bake. I love to try new recipes. I even cleaned out most of my pantry cupboards yesterday and threw out things that have expired or I have never used. My little girls love to cook with me, so we have a good time. Night before last, we made fondue with the new fondue maker they gave me for my birthday. It was so yummy.


4. Taking naps. I love naps. I wish we had them mandatory every day. When I am chosen to be queen, it will be my first ruling. Seriously though, there is nothing like taking a time out and laying down in a soft comfy bed (or couch), pulling a blanket over yourself and closing your tired little eyes. Oh, love that. Until the little ones wake up and tiny sticky fingers are trying to pry your eyes open, "Mom, are you awake? Audrey's poopy."


5. "Working" on the Computer. Obviously. I always love to check 5 things when I sit down to the computer - you'll have to check back next Friday to see what they are...

Friday FIVE

1. Cereal Sales. We eat a ton of cold cereal in our house so getting name brand cereal for $1.oo a box is sweet savings. Thank you Albertsons (last week) and Smiths (today).

2. Anticipating a night out, minus children. Scott and I are going out for my birthday and since I let Kesley have a sleepover with her friend last night, she owes me and is babysitting her siblings. If things go REALLY well,we might even go see Batman - let's not get CrAzY though.


3. Orbit gum. I love the fruity-mint flavors the best.


4. Ban deodorant - ok this one is a little weird, but seriously try this new scent they have out: Island Falls. I love it (as far as deodorants go anyway). This picture is a different scent, but it's SO new, I couldn't find a new one.


5. Cold Stone Creamery - Pleeeeease take me there tonight Scott!!! Cake batter ice cream with brownie chunks is calling to me!

Friday FIVE

1. Nectarines. I should start a weekly favorite fruit - it seems like every week I name a different fruit I love. This is one of my favorite fruits though. I wish we had a nectarine tree so I could eat them more - they are SO dang expensive at the store. I am going to the farmer's market this fall to hopefully buy enough to make freezer jam. Mmmm... good.

2. Birthday Treats at Work. We had two this week and I love it. It makes an ordinary boring day so much nicer. Not only do we get a fun treat, but we stand around chatting forever. Love that. One of the treats was Raspberry Chocolate Chunk ice cream - Private label brand from Smiths. Not only was it SO good, but 1/2 the fat of regular ice cream.

3. This cute skirt from Down East basics. They have been out of my size forever, but finally have it available. I am ordering it for my birthday. I love all of their clothes.

4. Finding money in forgotten pockets. Must have been my lucky week because I found $5 in a purse I haven't used in awhile and $2 in the pocket of my jeans I haven't worn in months. Great surprise.

5. Storytime. I love reading with my kids, especailly Audrey. I love how she backs into my lap and plops herself down epecting me to read to her. And it's never enough - she'd sit their all day reading book after book. Her favorite right now is Dr Seuss's ABCs. Kesley had this entire book memorized when she was 2.

Friday FIVE

1. Penelope. This was a really cute movie. Scott complained rather loudly when it arrived in the mail from netflix, but even he agreed it was good. Great moral about accepting everyone no matter what they look like on the outside - its inside that really counts. A clean, feel good movie.

2. Free Bakery Cookie (for the kids, of course!). This is a wonderful bribery tool when kids are freaking out at the grocery store. It ends hitting, pushing, whining, sassing, and just plain meltdowns. We always make the bakery the very last stop on our list. Shame on stores who don't do this!


3. Target clothing dept. Why am I always drawn to the clothing section at Target? And I always find cute items for a great price - sometimes even on clearance for next to nothing. So convenient to shop for toothpaste, cereal and stylish clothes at the same place. Love the kids clothes too!


4. Dried blueberries. I especially love these spinkled on kashi cereal with yogurt. But I can eat them out of the bag like candy too. So yummy and so good for you. Costco's Kirkland brand are my fav.

5. Blanket/Quilts. Even in the summer I love to curl up with a warm soft blanket. We have many blankets with various thickness, weights, material, etc... so you can always find one to suit just how you are feeling. And many are handmade by various people we love and mean a lot to me.

Friday FIVE

1. Fresh fruit. And I'm eating a ton of fresh fruits an veggies (new healthy eating plan - love it). My favs right now are strawberries and kiwis. Costco has both right now and they are beautiful - YUM!


2. Mary Englebright. Her characters are so cute. I have a little box designed by her that hold my rubber bands at work and it is so sweet - makes me smile.

3. OFF! mosquito repellant. I hate mosquito bites - I am allergic and swell up like mad - plus the itch, who enjoys that? OFF! is the best. And it comes in some other more pleasant smelling fragrences that aren't half bad. AND they have a new non-greasy spray that is even more wonderful. I live by a "great" big stagnant lake - gotta have OFF!

4. Sleeping in. This doesn't happen very often - especailly with Hallie/Audrey, but when it does it is HEAVEN. I wish I could be a teenager like Kesley and sleep until noon. I hate mornings.


5. Wipies. They aren't just for babies you know. And they are great to keep in the kitchen to wipe off messy hands and faces. We have them in every bathroom, the girls room, the kitchen, in the car and each diaper bag. My favorites are Kirkland (from Costco) and Parents Choice (Walmart brand). Both are thick enough to get it done, but thin enough to manuver. Oh, and I love the disinfectant wipies many stores have to wipe off your cart with. Yeah, wipies are good.

Friday FIVE

I just realized today is Friday - I have completely lost track of time this week and it felt like a Saturday today because Scott is home. He's off tomorrow too, so it is really strange to have him home 3 days in a row. Anyway, I'm getting distracted...


This week's Friday FIVE:


1. FIREWORKS. We went to our hometown fireworks last night and since out girls were exhausted tonight, we stayed home. BUT, our neighbors had a TON of illegal mortar fireworks, so it was quite the show again tonight - from our own front porch.



2. RAINBOW SLUSHIE. Paces Dairy Ann is one of those greasy spoon places that just makes great food. I love their signature Popsicles, greasy onion rings (and fry sauce) and their rainbows - your choice of peach, lime, cherry or grape slush with vanilla soft serve ice cream in the middle. YUM!



3. GARDENING. I weeded my front flowerbeds this morning and I love the satisfaction of completing that task. Plus it is nice to get outside on a beautiful (although hot) day. Tomorrow I'm on to the backyard beds.




4. SCENTSY. I love my scentsy wickless candles. They smell so yummy, I could just sit and inhale them all day long. Right now I have "sugar cookie" in my jar. Heaven.



5. SUMMER NIGHTS. I love the calm, warm summer nights. It is so fun to take a late walk or cruise around in Scott's jeep. Even just sitting on the front porch enjoying the stars is so nice. Love that!

Friday FIVE

1. As referenced in a post earlier this week, I am in love with my new nail polish color... "turned up turquoise". I think I've mentioned before that I hate feet - they are just gross, but it's a must to have my toenails looking fabulous.

2. Cooking with my kids, especially my 3-year-old Hallie. She is a budding Betty Crocker. She loves to pour in the ingredients and watch the mixture go round and round. And yes, she's turned it on full blast and we've scraped cookie dough off the ceiling before. And her favorite part is of course licking the beater, the spoon, the bowl and whatever else she can weasel out of me. By the time our cookies are baked, she's usually full from eating dough.


3. My new swim suit. Who would have thought I would love a swim suit (they are mostly evil), but I found the cutest suit - I love the print, the colors, the style, how it fits, the whole shebang. I almost can't wait to go out in public and lounge around the pool. Below are a picture of my actual suit and a picture of one the same style, but different fabrics. Love the whole line: hapari swimwear.


4. Morning exercise time. I have been getting up early and walking/running at the park track next to our house. I am really enjoying having a half hour or so to myself before starting my busy day. It has made me more patient with my kids and since I am up early, I am getting more things done - and I have more energy with exercising! I missed this morning (cause I got woken up more than half a dozen times last night by every one of my 4 kids - what the heck???) and I am feeling real off!

5. Costco. This is a love/hate relationship actually. I love going in and finding all the great buys, new products, must-have food and of course - the samples! But, let's face it... checking out sucks. My bill is always WAY more that I intended to spend. Still, I love buying 5 pounds of tortilla chips, gallons of mouthwash and that ginormous bottle of vitamins.

Friday FIVE (almost!)

Dang, I missed it by 12 minutes - better late than never...

1. M&Ms Dark Chocolate candies. Very rich, so I can't eat very many, but totally fills the chocolate craving. Fewer eaten = fewer calories!

2. Clean sheets. I love the clean crispness of just washed cotton sheets. They smell so clean and seem colder than usual. I always sleep so well when I have fresh sheets on the bed.

3. A mini vacation. I had a work training in Denver this week, just 2 nights away, but it was nice to get away and be by myself for 48+ hours. I actually slept through the night twice in a row - bliss! I was ready to come home today though and my kids were glad to have be back - it's nice to be missed!

4. Old-fashioned tin advertising signs. I collect these for my kitchen and they make me happy. I love the variety I have accumulated and hunting for a new unique one is a lot of fun!

5. Our new mouse. Not the furry rodent kind, the new one for our computer. Why we put up with that old tempermental one for SO long, I have no idea. This one is quick and precise. I just really like it right NOW.