Black Friday!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving... and I hope everyone is having a crazy Black Friday!!! I was one of those crazy ladies who got up before the crack of dawn to go shopping... at Jo Anne's Fabric and Craft! I have to say I rocked today!!! My mom and I split up and fulfilled our duties! I walked out of there with about 30 different kinds of fabric! And that was just the beginning... we shopped in seven different stores in four hours and four of those stores were before the sun came out... what a great morning! Now I'm just really, really tired and want to sleep the rest of the day. Too bad, the girls are awake. Maybe they'll take naps today so I can sleep, too. (Yeah, right!) Happy shopping to all, and to all a restful night!
I have to add the funniest thing Sammy said. We were at my mom's house and her father-in-law called. He asked over the speaker phone if we had a turkey for the big day. Sammy so innocently said, "The turkey's takin' a bath!" (It was thawing in the bathtub.) Everyone in earshot got a good laugh!

Oh, the dinner with the missionaries...

We had the missionaries over for dinner tonight and they learned there is never a dull moment in the Wyne house! I made enchiladas which my girls usually love and don't argue about eating... Well, not today!!! Sammy decided to throw a tantrum and refused to eat! While Sammy was up in her room throwing a fit Ashley thought it would be funny to rub her dinner all over me! Not funny!!! Katie was being a good eater and finished her food. Andy got her out of her chair, cleaned her off and turned to take the dishes over to the sink. Katie is a fast little critter these days and climbed on the chair. And before I could run over and get her down she fell. The fall was not the thing that took her breath away... it was the pitcher of ice cold water that fell after her and drenched her from head to toe. She was soaked and started to scream because it was freezing water! Do you think she learned her lesson? Probably not... and before the water was cleaned up she ran toward the kitchen barefoot and slipped in the water. She bonked her head and of course started to cry yet again. Needless to say the missionaries didn't stay long. I thought, "Okay, it's time for pajamas."... It was only 6:45!!! Man, it's been a long, long day!

I've been tagged... yet again!

Shiloam invited me to bold what I've done so far...
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (school)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity (tithing)
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (twice)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (well, helped my mom as a child)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch-hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (so cool)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (didn't last too long)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted (sort of... it was a self portrait project in world crafts art class)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (sadly, once... never again)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
I tag anyone else who wants to share...
Just paste this list into your blog and bold the ones that you HAVE done, and unbold any I have done that you have NOT...

Called To Serve...

Thursday evening Brother Keller called and asked to meet with me. When I told Andy he said, "You're getting a calling"... well, he sang it. He asked me who again it was that called, and I told him. He said, "Primary!" I immediately thought, "I knew I shouldn't have answered that call. I just got out of primary!" Sure enough, I was called to be the second councilor in the Primary Presidency. I told Brother Keller I needed to think about it. My last experience in primary was not pretty... it resulted in me asking to be released, and I've never asked to be released from a calling before. After much deliberation I walked up to the front of the chapel on Sunday to give my answer. I told Brother Keller, "I was waiting for a sign... and last night the Utes beat BYU!" (Andy told me to say that.) He said, "Ah, I'm a big BYU fan... don't rub it in!" We had a little chuckle and I reluctantly told him I would accept the calling. I'm really nervous about this calling and would love to have words of advice/encouragement. I mostly don't want to feel frazzled and frustrated all the time. I know I do okay with kids one on one, but when it comes to a big group I don't do so well. Going to Relief Society I felt I got a break from kids and had "me" time to regroup. And now my Sundays I'll be engulfed in kids! Ah! I'm so not excited about this and I'm really hoping that I will be pleasantly surprised with my calling.

Ward Talent Night Anyone?

My friend, Kelsey, had this posted on her blog and I got a pretty good laugh. Cindy, this is all you, baby (wink-wink)! Enjoy!

Awesomely Delicious Strawberries!

I went to Costco and saw some beautiful strawberries and decided to get some to dip in chocolate. After eating a lot and dipping some for my sister there were still a bunch left over. So I thought I would make some for the girls I visit teach. I told my mom about them and she wanted some for her girls as well. Today I was feeling a little creative and this is what I came up with. What do you think? (Thank you Costco! That was the best batch of strawberries I've ever bought. I only had to throw out three... and that was after several days.)

The flowers are really easy and quick... and I think they turned out cute.
But the butterflies were my favorite. They did take a little more time but they look so cool... like they are ready to take flight. (Obviously some turned out better than others... the chocolate started to cool before I was finished so it started to clump just a little.) If you ever want to try this for a bridal shower or anything I'm here to help. They were a lot of fun to make!


Awesomely delicious strawberries!!!

Love This Girl!

My sister-in-law, Maria, has this awesome website! If you ever get a chance to look at it you're in for a treat. I love all of her ideas and tips for organizing and making life simple. She has four kids so you can imagine how busy her schedule is. Her talk to me Tuesday was one I thought everyone should know about... Thanksgiving tips! Hope it helps those that are doing any preparation for the big feast!

Non Smoking Area...

I'm usually pretty tolerant to those that smoke. I feel it's their own choice to smoke and I can't get in the way of agency (although I don't promote it). Most of the time I hold my breath when I walk pass someone who is smoking and go on without a second thought. However, when I am with my children or I see a woman who is pregnant and smoking, I tend to be less tolerant. Still, I usually don't say anything... Well, you have to love those kids that are so innocent! Today we were walking out of a public place and within 8 feet of the door some people were smoking, one of which a pregnant lady! I of course was irritated but didn't say anything. Sammy on the other hand didn't hesitate one bit! She plugged her nose and yelled, "Mommy that stinks!!!" She started coughing and making it known to those few people that it was bothersome to her little nose. Shortly after they put out their cigarettes and left the area. I have to admit that I was pretty proud of my daughter today! We got in the car and I said, "Sammy... I love you!" Way to go Sammy for enforcing smoking laws!

What am I to do with my kids?

It's official... I gave up on potty training. After five days of potty training I've had enough. I kept telling myself, "One more day." Ashley does not seem to care one bit! She does not tell us if she needs to go to the bathroom... and what's worse, she doesn't tell us if she's had an accident. That present is for me to find on my own! I figure she is not truly ready and I will just be frustrated the whole time. So for now, we continue changing diapers for two!

Katie, that crazy little child likes to eat Desitin! I hide it and when she finds it she pops open the top without hesitation! You would think it would taste horrible! Maybe she's lost her sense of taste lately with her cold? With all that mess she also cut another tooth! She is finally starting to get teeth on bottom. For a long time she's had a lot of teeth on top and only two visible teeth on bottom. We're glad she's finally starting to look normal in the mouth... minus the Desitin!

In the midst of potty training we've been trying to reintroduce the "marble jar." The jar represents good choices. Sammy has started a jar of her own and when she makes good choices she gets to put a marble in her jar (cleaning her room, going to bed nicely, and doing things that I ask without a fuss.) For every bad choice she makes she gets a marble taken out. Lately her tantrums have been unbearable! So we told her that for every tantrum she throws she takes more than one marble out of her jar. The reward is that when the jar is full she gets to go to the dollar store and pick out whatever she wants. This week has been a very slow start for her. We started this on Monday and she only has one marble left in the jar, or maybe it's empty. Needless to say it's been a rough week for all of us!

I'm Still Alive...

I talked to my sister-in-law the other day and she said, "You're alive! I haven't talked to you in awhile and you haven't updated your blog. I was starting to think you fell off the face of the earth." So, I'm back to say I'm still alive. We went to Idaho Falls for Halloween and had a great time... the drive there and back... well I can't post those naughty words. Anyway, we got home and that night were asked to speak the following Sunday. We got through that and now I'm in the middle of potty training. Can I just say I HATE POTTY TRAINING!!! To all those mothers who have potty trained before... HELP! I've tried several things with Ashley and she is not getting this down. I know it's only the third day, but she's 3 and she should be able to at least tell me when she's had an accident. But, no! She waits till I find it! We've tried setting the timer, giving potty treats, having a goal reward, and a "potty marble jar"! The list seems endless. If there are mothers out there who actually know the secret to potty training please let me know. I promise I will delete your comment and keep it a secret... I just want to get this child out of diapers. I've been changing two children in diapers for three years and I'm done!!! In the midst of all this guess who actually went pee and poop on the toilet? Katie! She's just over a year and she's done it! I know she's not ready but she made her poopy face so I thought, "Why not?" Much to my surprise... she did it.

Okay, so this is random. I was walking through the toy section at Walmart and you know how they sometimes have Barbie dolls that represent someone from a movie or TV series? Well I think the one I saw the other day tops the list of creepy! I've seen Grease, I Love Lucy, High School Musical, Sound of Music, and many more. Well, have you ever seen the movie The Birds? It's on the top ten list of scariest movies of all time. I just saw it for the first time last month and actually thought it was pretty dumb. But, if I had seen it in the 60's when it was made I probably would have tinkled a bit in my pants. Anyway, there was a doll that represented the girl from The Birds!!! It even had two black birds on her and one was on her forehead! Is it just me or does that seem like a bad idea? Some poor girl is going to get that for Christmas and have nightmares! There's the real nightmare before Christmas.