Nov 04
Everyone,
When you give a boy a camera
He’s going to take a lot of pictures of the entry way rug.
And when he’s taken pictures of the rug,
he’s going to notice the door.
And when he’s taken pictures of the front door,
he’s going to want to take the camera outside.
Once he’s outside, he’s going to take pictures of the sky.
When he’s done looking up, he’s going to look down
and take pictures of his feet.
Those feet are leading him to the van.
He’s going to get in the van with the camera.
While his mom drives him to watch his sister’s swim lessons,
he’s going to take pictures of his siblings.
He’s going to take pictures of his knees.
When he arrives at swim lessons, he’s going to take pictures out the window.
Which reminds his Mommy that he has the camera and the camera gets taken away.
Which causes him to cry.
He cries during swim lessons, which makes Mommy forget to take pictures of his sister.
So if you want pictures of Sister swimming,
You should give the boy a camera.
Safire
Hosted by Cecily and Lolli
SafireGMYBS, NaBloPoMo, picture taking, Pirate pictures, Pirate
Nov 02
Everyone,
What is NaBloPoMo? If you haven’t been with my blog for awhile, NaBloPoMo stands for National Blog Posting Month. I started it maybe 3 years ago to help me jump start my writing. Here’s a description taken from the NaBloPoMo website:
“National Blog Posting Month is the epicenter of daily blogging! People who want to set the habit of blogging by doing it every day for a month, including weekends, can come here for moral support, inspiration, and the camaraderie that only marathon blogging can provide.”
Now here’s a bit of a secret. Well, it’s not that big of a secret. Last NaBloPoMo I didn’t stop after 30 days in November. I wrote through the end of the year. And then I just kept writing. And today, I have written 367 days in a row.
Okay, yes, I know I haven’t writing them EVERY SINGLE DAY. Especially this month. But I have gone back and back filled those days. So really, on paper (can I use that phrase here?) I have a post for every single day.
Ta da! A whole year written!
Now what should I do?
Safire
SafireNaBloPoMo writing
Dec 01
Everyone,
So how did everyone like my 30 days of posting? Do remember that I challenged myself to write every day of December too so you won’t stop hearing from me yet!
Juice is in Chicago this week for his annual trip for some trade show. I get to get take out for a week while he’s gone. Tonight was Mexican food. Yum! Of course, I seemed to be the only one that ate it…the boys and Butterfly only ate apple sauce and then threw the rest around the kitchen. Not my idea of fun!
I ran about 10 errands today. Some early in the morning after I dropped Juice off at the train station. Some during Butterfly’s dance class. Some even after! It just seemed like I had a ton of little tiny things to do. Things that would have been easier without 3 little tag-a-longs. But we made it work. With a lot of bribing. My kids LOVE chocolate. I can get them to do anything with a promise of that stuff. Professor even knows how to say it.
Speaking of Professor, he is my little talker! He says several things now.
Shoes
Cracker
Mama
Chocolate
What’s that?
Noodles
Socks
Snowman
Tree
Lights
Pretty
Dog
Woof
Kitty
Meow
Roar
oh no!
No
Block
Baby
Pirate, on the other hand, is still stuck with “uh-oh”. He does now say, “uh-uh” when he wants to say no. But other than the few times he’s said Daddy, nothing else. I think we always knew at first that Professor would be the talker and Pirate the thinker. For a long time I wondered if I had named them correctly. I wonder if other mothers of twins worry about that. Sometimes I think of how their lives might be different with different names. I don’t regret the names they got, it’s just something I think about.
Safire
SafireJuice's Travel, NaBloPoMo, names, Pirate talks, Professor talks
Nov 26
Everyone,
A list of 20 things I am thankful for in no particular order:
1. A healthy body. These kids keep me running full tilt and I’m grateful I can keep up with them.
2. A healthy husband. Juice is my right hand, my partner in life, family, and love. Can’t do anything without him! Plus, he spent this morning playing football with the guys in the ward and is limping around and I kind of miss having a big physical helper around. 
3. Brown boxes from home! My parents sent (well, they left it with us) some things to start off our Christmas season. And my Nana, great lady that she is, sent us a box of fun little things.
4. Web cams and Internet. I was able to talk to my family this morning, and Juice is talking to his family now. I love being able to see the person and show them the kids and how big they’ve gotten! Although, Juice’s family won’t see the kids because they are sleeping.
5. Friends. We were able to spend the afternoon/evening with my good friend Lolli and her family. We had such a good time and such good food. Thanks Lolli!
6. Music. I love turning on music to suit my moods. I also really miss being able to play my instruments and think I should get out my violin more often.
7. Unlimited long distance. I love being able to call anyone I want any time I want. Awesome!
8. Juice’s job. They have been very good to him and I’m so grateful he has stability in it.
9. Soot the puppy. What a cute dog we have. She does great with picking up all the spills and is very gentle with the kids. She plays with me, sits on my lap, has cute puppy dreams, and obeys me. It’s great!
10. Family. We have the greatest kids. Our extended family is pretty great too! I love being an aunt, a sister, a daughter, a sister-in-law, a niece, and a granddaughter. I love how all these different titles tie me to different people.
11. Our house. It’s tiny. It’s often dirty. There are crayons and markers on the walls (thanks Professor) and we don’t have a yard or a play room. Or a basement. But it’s ours and it keeps us warm.
12. My church. I love knowing where I came from, who I am, and where my life is going. I love the peace that the gospel brings. I love having a relationship with my Heavenly Father.
13. Internet shopping. I really love to Internet shop. In fact, most of my Christmas is from my Internet shopping. I love that I get different points for shopping online and can get free stuff from it. Also, I love not having to take my kids into the store because that’s a pain.
14. Cameras. I really like taking pictures. Even though I haven’t taken a whole lot lately because my computer crashing because of my 12,000 plus pictures kind of killed my desire to put ANY more pictures on my computer. I still really like taking them. I love looking back on them and remembering how small the kids were, or how small I was!
15. Books. I love to read. I think it’s the best kind of entertainment. I don’t nearly have enough time to do it.
16. Movies. Sometimes it’s nice to just veg out and watch something.
17. Bob the stroller. Seriously, I think I am doing so well with the whole twin thing because of this stroller. What an awesome piece of equipment. It hauls kids and stuff, is warm, easy to turn, and goes through sand amazingly well.
18. Chocolate covered raisins. Yum!
19. Hot hot showers and no water bill. Our HOA pays our water bill. I can take as long of showers and I have time/hot water. This is probably why the kids get into so much trouble while I shower.
20. Diapers. Enough said.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Safire
SafireNaBloPoMo, Thanksgiving 2009
Nov 26
Everyone,
I stayed up late talking to my mom tonight for our weekly chat (hi mom! Great to talk to you!) so tonight’s entry will be things I did today.
All four of us up, dressed, fed, and exercised. The kids love to do my exercises with me (and get in the way sometimes) and it’s very cute. You should see them try and do push ups!
All four of us out at the mall exchanging too small pajamas for not too small pajamas. And seriously, for a children’s store, the Ch*ildren’s Pl*ace is really NOT stroller friendly.
All four of us out at Ikea on an errand for Daddy. He needed a new lamp. I go there to get the $8 lamp and leave minus $50. Why is that? Butterfly had a grand old time in the kid’s play area and then we had lunch there. Yum!
All four of us drive home in horrible rush hour traffic. The kids napped…I did not. The kids were awake when we got home. I was tired. They refused to come inside. We ended up playing outside for over an hour. In this hour the following happened: Pirate made himself a mud puddle and promptly sat in it. I spent at least half of the time trying to wrangle both boys down the street to get the mail while Butterfly fought the remaining leaves off the tree out front. I finally managed to get everyone inside when the sun started to set. It was not without some tears.
All four of us rejoiced when Daddy came home. We had dinner, the kids had baths and then to bed. I braved the store for a few things for tomorrow and a free redbox movie rental. Now to find time to watch it!
Happy Thanksgiving Eve!
Safire
Safiredaily list, NaBloPoMo, shopping
Nov 23
Everyone,
Where else can I go with my good friend Lolli on a rainy Monday morning and come home with 2 horses, 2 electrical outlet covers, one book and 7 movies (2 of which haven’t even been opened yet!) and spend less than 20 dollars? Our favorite thrift store Unique of course!
Pretty basic day for me. Seriously, I’m at a loss of what to write about today. Juice’s input is that I should make a list of some kind. Of how many times I said no. Okay…
I tried…I just can’t get ALL of them down. It’s too many to say. Butterfly had a rough morning, and Pirate had a rough evening. Professor has been my sunshine for awhile now. He’s so cute with his big dimple and happy face. Butterfly this morning didn’t want to go to the store and Pirate had a fascination with the dog food this evening. And the dog water. And shoes. Yeah… He also go a time out for whipping Butterfly with a toy, and then another time out for getting out of the time out spot. Poor kid.
Anyone have one of those cool meme things that were floating around last year? Anyone?
Safire
Safiredaily stuff, kids in trouble, NaBloPoMo, thrift store, time outs
Nov 20
Everyone,
We all had one DRY night. Last night, I told Butterfly that she could get a book at the used book store today if she was dry last night. This morning, she was so put out and grumpy that she declared she did not want to get a new book. EVER. Never ever ever!
Okay then. No book today.
How much do you want to bet that she will remember it in a few days at the most inconvenient time and demand that we go get the promised book that second. And then there will be another fit because I won’t be able to.
Good times in my house let me tell you!
On a totally unrelated note, I do feel rather accomplished today. I cleaned my living room and vacuumed with my new vacuum! (Yay for early Christmas presents) I did two loads of dishes. I went to a doctor’s appointment with just my book for company. (Thanks Juice! That’s an awkward appointment to take kids to.) I even went out and saw a movie with my friend Lolli! I haven’t seen a movie in about 6 months, and then we only go to the kid movies. Although this movie may as well have been a kid’s movie. It was okay, but not great.
And now, I’m exhausted. Time for an early bed!
Safire
SafireButterfly firsts, daily list, movies, NaBloPoMo
Nov 01
Everyone,
Today we did all the fun stuff I meant to do in the week leading up to Halloween. I didn’t get to that because of my awesome adventure out of state (without kids or a hubby!) but I will talk about that later on this week. (Remember, a month of writing starts today!)
Yesterday we were able to go to a pumpkin patch and Butterfly went trick or treating with her dance friend. Today after church and naps we carved our pumpkin, made homemade doughnuts (yes I did! They are tasty!) and drank cider. It’s been a good Halloween this year.
Today was the boys’ first day in nursery. Yay! Guess where I spent most of my church time? Yep, in nursery. Professor was a champ. He walked right in and played great all 2 hours. Pirate, on the other hand, was upset. He cried and cried and cried until I couldn’t take it anymore. Poor thing. He sat on my lap sucking his thumb doing the after sobbing breathing. This transition is going to be fun. Ugh. Juice came in a little later and we switched off. I really hope the boys learn to like nursery because I could use the break.
Pictures to brighten your day!
Safire
Safirecooking, Halloween, NaBloPoMo, pumkin patch
Oct 26
Everyone,
I have been enjoying my forced hiatus from the blog this month. I say forced because the kids and Juice have been sick. Oh so sick too. Pigs have been mentioned but never fully diagnosed. I remained above it all (amazingly enough! Knock on wood.) but I have been buried under needy kids and a very cranky hubby. He is not a good sick person, FYI. I, in turn, have been eating too much of the Halloween candy and craving doughnuts.
What I have not been doing is checking my blog. Or really anyone’s blog lately. I’ll get back onto the band wagon next month. Why next month? Well, first off because it starts on Sunday! (Also, daylight savings time, yay for another hour of sleep.) And then there is this:
That’s right. It’s my 3rd year doing this (I think?) and I’m looking forward to it again. If anything, November will be my best documented month ever. Look for me every day in November and December because I need to challenge myself a little. I know a few people that’s going to make very happy (hi Nana!) so this should be fun.
One thing I have been obsessing about lately has been a website called Swagbucks. Basically it’s a search and earn site where you use their search engine and they reward you with bucks. Then you can turn in those bucks for prizes. What kind of prizes you ask? Things like electronic stuff, mp3s, gift cards, and more. I am loving the amazon gift cards. I get about $5 a week from amazon and it’s been buying part of Christmas this year. Seriously, sign in here and start earning easy money!
So, let’s recap. We have been sick. Everyone is feeling better (it’s almost 9pm and I hear the boys and Butterfly saying, “uh-oh! uh-oh!” and laughing. They are feeling better!) and I will be writing every day soon. Also, sign up with swagbucks and earn some dough!
Everyone up to date?
Good.
Safire
Safirefree stuff, NaBloPoMo, sickness 2009
Nov 30
Everyone,
30 days have come and gone. I feel like there should be some kind of rhyme at the end of that sentence but there isn’t. So. 30 days. Yay to Laura, my Dad, Zuke and Melissa, Roommate Julia, Karen, and Valinda who all made it with me!
The last 2 years of doing NaBloPoMo has been good. This year was the easiest yet. And because I always go through blog withdraw after November, I don’t want you to suffer the same fate. I intended to push myself just a little harder this year and write for another month. Yes people, every day you can come back here and see me.
I have always been a voracious journal writer (ask my parents) and I have found that writing in my paper journal isn’t as fun anymore. Frankly, I feel like I never find the time to do it. When I do, Butterfly wants to color in it and crosses out whole sentences. (True story.) So I just gave up. I don’t even think I’ve journaled the boys birth in there. I may have to put that one down.
I have about 30 journals. My first one was an early Christmas present from my Nana when we were living in Colorado. I was 7. It was white puffy plastic with little hearts and fairies on it. And it had a lock and a key. This made the book really indescribably important. I HAD to write in it. And I did. Off and on until I was 12. Mostly it was drawings of my room, the fish in my fish tank dying and how mad I was at my friends. Then when we moved to Utah and got all of our stuff out of storage and into our house in North 4o, I found that little book unpacking. I sat down right then and there and wrote about how upset I was moving to Utah and how much I missed Colorado.
I think from that journal entry on until Butterfly was born I wrote almost every day. I took my journal to camp, on trips, to college, even on my honeymoon. I even have a picture of Juice on our honeymoon writing in his own journal. I think he has about as many as I do. Yes, I have read them. No, he has not read mine because I think he gets bored or frustrated with me and stops. I even get bored and frustrated with myself and stop when trying to read them.
While people my wonder what the point is of journaling, I have one practical application for it. Right after Butterfly was born, we got a letter from the dmv. It said we owed over 1000 dollars in parking tickets and fees. We were dumbfounded. We had never even seen the ticket. Or any notices. We were over a year late pay and they were going to start putting a collection agency on us. Ouch. They stated where and when our car was cited, and I knew someone had to have made a mistake. Out come my journals, and I have a detailed account of what we did that day. (Mostly I was ill with being newly pregnant and went to work and came home that day.) Juice had to fax that over to the dmv to prove that this was an error. I think they might have been a little impressed that I would journal what I did on some random day. Either that or they were bored or frustrated with me because I moaned a lot about how ill I was. Ticket problem no longer a problem.
When we move from Maryland (which we always say we are going to but haven’t actually done anything about it), I will shut this site down and open a new one for our new area. I intend to have this one published for my family history and my journal. I’d love to have both of these months on file. Who knows, I may even make it a habit and blog every day.
Then again, probably not. But I’d like to take this small step and hopefully get next month on the books as well. Hope you come along for the ride and maybe cheer me on a bit?
Thanks! See you tomorrow!
Safire
Safirejournals, NaBloPoMo
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