I Love Goo Gone!

So today I was doing my normal laundry. I pulled out of the DRYER a load of pajamas and ten pairs of khaki school pants.....all covered in ink! I mean COVERED, not just a few ink spots on each of them. It was like someone had exploded a pen in their hands and then wiped the ink EVERYWHERE. I saw this and actually didn't cry...yea for me! I did call Jared and say I wanted to cry though. Anyway, I pulled down the Goo Gone from the shelf and started squirting. I honestly went through 6 ounces of the stuff. I threw everything back in the washer and hoped for the best.

Forty-five minutes later I had prepared myself for the worst. At least I would have two weeks to find all new uniform pants for my kids to wear to school. But guess what.....almost all of the ink came out!!!!! There are still a few big thick spots left, but I will try Goo Gone again. Does anyone have any ideas on what to do if Goo Gone doesn't get the rest of the ink out??????? Also, I can't find an ink pen anywhere in the washer or dryer or in pants pockets. Where could it be?????

Five pairs of pants are saved....no ink at all left on them. HOORAY!!! Merry Christmas to me! THANK YOU GOO GONE!!!!!!

FYI: My family of six went through 56 pairs of socks in seven days. Emily and Lizzie win the prize with 13 and 12 pairs of socks each! If only they could clean their rooms as often as they change their socks..........

My Favorite

When I decorated for Christmas, I wanted to do a post about my favorite Christmas decoration, but I haven't taken the time to do it until now.

Two years ago we went to Glenn and Lance's for dinner and Temple Square. I mentioned to them that if they ever went to Guatemala again to please buy me a corn husk nativity. I told them if theirs ever disappeared to come look at my house. I loved it because it is so unique. I collect nativities. Glenn has given me several and I love the ethnic variety of them. The day after Christmas Glenn and Lance appeared on our doorstep with a package for us. I was so surprised when I opened it and it was the corn husk nativity. Lance said that to them it was just a nativity, but to me it was something special. I cried of course. Since them I am always so excited to get it out. This year I had to move it off the piano into the curio cabinet because the cat was also interested in it. This nativity reminds me not only of Christ's birth, but the thoughtfulness and generosity of some people. Thank you Glenn and Lance for this special decoration! Did you buy another one in Guatemala?

A few years ago I only used nativities to decorate our house for Christmas (besides the tree) in an effort to not have so much extra "stuff" out. I loved the feel of it and have continued every year since. I have two of the Fisher Price Little People nativities; one for me and one for my kids. Last year I bought an embroidered sign that says "Children Need a Stable Background." It has a Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus on it too. I love to have these reminders of the real reason for Christmas surrounding me. Too often I get stressed and not take time to reflect on our Savior's birth. Sometimes I will just sit and look at my nativities to ponder and relax.

I love this time of year. Not only for all the joy and visiting, but for the special meaning of the birth of our Savior!

Its Festival Time!

I LOVE FESTIVAL OF TREES!!!

Nothing gets me more in the Christmas spirit than Festival of Trees. This year I got the opportunity to help Tyler's class decorate four trees...for the four seasons. I think I mainly volunteered for helping in the class so that I could help on decorating day. I love decorating day. The whole South Towne Expo Center is filled with people decorating Christmas trees. Can you think of a happier setting? The generosity of so many people always amazes me. I love that every single penny raised from festival goes to Primary Childrens.

Yesterday Tyler's class was going on a field trip to see their trees. I checked the girls out of school and we all went. Of course they all complained of aching feet after awhile, but they kept plodding along. Somehow we planned it right and the gingerbread houses were at the opposite end of where we started.....this kept them walking. They are always amazed at the things people can do with candy.

Ainsley's preschool decorated a tree also. We had to go find it first thing and check back on it several times. One time when we were walking away she asked if we could just stand and look at her tree for a long time. I am excited that my kids get to participate through their schools in this wonderful event!

If you have a chance this week, go to Festival of Trees. It is open from 10-10 thru Saturday. I promise that you will love it too!!

I'm a Believer!

I know my cousin Jeni blogged about this already, but I have to share my experiences also. This really works...either that or Ainsley got over her horrible night cough suddenly! This is an email my mom sent me.
VICKS VAPOR RUB - INTERESTING
During a lecture on Essential Oils, they told us how the foot soles can absorb oils. Their example: Put garlic on your feet and within 20 minutes you can 'taste' it. Some of us have used Vicks Vapor rub for years for everything from chapped lips to sore toes and many body parts in between. But I've never heard of this. And don't laugh, it works 100% of the time, although the scientists who discovered it aren't sure why. To stop night time coughing in a child (or adult as we found out personally), put Vicks Vapor rub generously on the bottom of the feet at bedtime, then cover with socks. Even persistent, heavy, deep coughing will stop in about 5 minutes and stay stopped for many, many hours of re lief. Works 100% of the time and is more effective in children than even very strong prescription cough medicines. In addition it is extremely soothing and comforting and they will sleep soundly. Just happened to tune in A.M. Radio and picked up this guy talking about why cough medicines in kids often do more harm than good, due to the chemical makeup of these strong drugs so, I listened. It was a surprise finding and found to be more effective than prescribed medicines for children at bedtime, in addition to have a soothing and calming effect on sick children who then went on to sleep soundly. My wife tried it on herself when she had a very deep constant and persistent cough a few weeks ago and it worked 100%! She said that it felt like a warm blanket had enveloped her, coughing stopped in a few minutes and believe me, this was a deep, (incredibly annoying!) every few seconds uncontrollable cough, and she slept cough-free for hours every night that she used it. If you have grandchildren, pass this on. If you end up sick, try it yourself and you will be absolutely amazed at how it works.
Good luck to all of you suffering from colds like we are!

Blog Slacking!

I am not really a slacker....at least most of the time. Life has been crazy lately, and I can barely find time to read other's blogs, let alone update mine. Unfortunately, I don't predict things will calm down until February.
Here is what has been going on at the Startups......
WE FINALLY GOT A PIANO!!!! The all caps are because we are all ecstatic about this. Emily has been taking lessons for four years on a keyboard. HOORAY!!! The only downfall is that a piano doesn't have a volume control button like a keyboard does. However, I love that our house is always filled with some sort of "music." I use the word music loosely because Tyler and Ainsley love this new toy also!
TYLER FINALLY LOST HIS FIRST TOOTH! This is also all in caps because is was big time exciting!!!!! The poor kid is seven. When he told me about the loose tooth a couple months ago I said "About dang time!" Tyler then told Jared I said "About damn time!" Needless to say, Tyler got teased plenty about the d*!m tooth. Maybe another tooth will get loose sometime in the next year.
While Jared and Tyler went camping with the young men last weekend, my neighbor Jenny and I decided to take our daughters out for a girls night. If you read her post you will learn that small children don't like to be dragged out of bed at midnight to go out to breakfast. However, I did learn that small children do enjoy toilet papering! The girls learned a valuable lesson...always make sure you go to bed with matching cute jammies because you never know when you will be dragged out of the house.
In response to the thankful tag....I am so thankful for all that I have. I am so blessed in all aspects of my life. If I were to list everything I would turn into a blubbering mess. Maybe later I will be able to type my list without losing all emotional control.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!

Tagged!

OK, I have been tagged several times in the last two months, but as KK said, "Who wants to think while they are blogging?" It has been bothering me that I haven't responded to them. Well, it's learn all about Misty day. I will respond to every tag (at least I think I am....sorry if I forgot one somewhere). Here goes:

Husband Tag (from Nichole)

1. Where did you meet? At Oceans Restaurant. His brother was dating my aunt. They took me there for dinner on a night he was working so we could meet.
2. How long did you date before you got married? 11 months
3. How long have you been married? Almost 14 years
4. What does he do that surprises you? Randomly helps me with different things around the house.
5.What is your favorite feature of his? His eyes, I love their color. I still wish one of our kids had hazel eyes.
6. What is your favorite quality of his? His work ethic, he won’t stop until a job is done, at home or at work.
7. Does he have a nickname for you? Wubby
8. What is his favorite color? He doesn't have one. I had to ask him.
9. What is his favorite food? Seafood
10. What is his favorite sport? Paintball!
11. When and where was your first kiss? I know it was inside my house by the front door, and I think it was on our second date.
12. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? Snuggle or have "date night"- take out and a rented movie after the kids are asleep.
13. Do you have any children? Three daughters and one son
14. Does he have a hidden talent? No, he hides nothing!
15. How old is he? 34
16. Who said "I love you" first? He did, and I must admit it frightened me a little, I was still in high school.
17. What do you admire most about him? His playfulness with me and our kids. He loves to tease, but this shows me how much he enjoys us and life.
18.Do you think he will read this? Eventually

Eights (from Jeni)

6 TV Shows (I couldn't think of eight)
*Grey’s Anatomy
*ER
*Amazing Race
*American Idol
*Sesame Street
*Friends

8 Restaurants

*Bajio
*Cafe Rio
*Olive Garden
*Spaghetti Factory
*California Pizza Kitchen
*McDonalds breakfast
*Anything Mexican
*Anything Italian


8 Things I did yesterday
*Took Ainsley to story time at the library across town in a blizzard
*Babysat
*Shopped at Jo-Anns for Festival of Trees
*Bought lunch for Ains and me
*Watched Barbie as the Island Princess with Ains
*Helped Lizzie with fractions
*Tried to go to the Conference Center with the YM/YW. (we left because of no empty seats)
*Snuggled with Jared


8 Things I'm looking forward to:
*Going to Olive Garden and shopping with Nichole and Jared's Mom tonight
*Candlelight dinner and watching Amazing Race with my family on Sunday
*Disneyland (someday)
*Spring
*Paying off braces
*Being done with braces
*Pioneer Trek (if I get to go)
*Friendship Night tomorrow

8 Things on my wish list:
*Disneyland
*A clothes shopping spree for me
*Emily's transition to Jr. High to go smoothly
*Patience
*A piano
*An empty night on the calendar
*Painting the upstairs
*A cleaning person to come twice a month

Six quirks about me (from Jeni)
*I love to watch the weather every night. I watch the seven day forecast, but forget the next night what the next days forecast was, so I have to watch it again.
*I love to mow, rake and shovel snow, but hate to weed eat, blow leaves, and use the snow blower.
*I love soup; a quirk only because nobody else in my family likes it.
*I can't sing. When I am sitting by people at church I only mouth the words so they can't hear me.
*Unlike Jason, I like piles on the counter. If I hide the piles in drawers they get forgotten and lost forever. Piles are my never ending to-do list.
*I hate cough syrup. I will stay up all night coughing rather than take cough medicine. However, I will gladly make my kids take cough medicine when they are sick so I can sleep better.

Seven Random or Weird Facts About Me (from Jenny) I am also combining this one with Five Things You Don't Know About Me (from Nichole)
*I love to listen to classic rock....Beatles, the Doors, Journey.......
*I hate scrapbooking. However, I do organize ALL of my pictures in chronological order in photo albums.
*Our family has been doing Family Home Evening once a month with Danny and Nichole for 4 1/2 years. We take turns doing the whole night: dinner, dessert, and a lesson. I love knowing that once every other month I don't have to do anything. I also love the memories and closeness this brings.
*I am a bargain shopper, but hate thrift stores and the DI. They stink.
*I got my first cavity when I was pregnant with Lizzie. I should have known then she would be trouble.
*I come from a long line of gardeners on both sides of my family, but I hate gardening.
*For some reason, my body doesn't tolerate sugar. It gives me a migraine. I have learned to eat my treats before bed so I don't feel the headache.

There, maybe I won't feel tagged guilt anymore. I am tagging nobody, however, if you would like to respond by tagging yourself with one of these...feel free!

Freckles

I heard this song a few weeks ago, and it made me cry. I have always hated my freckles, but loved them on other people. A friend burned the song "Freckles" for me to listen to after complaining about my freckles. I LOVED IT!!!!! It is a song that I hope my daughters will take to heart. To often we hate the things that we can do nothing about. I'm trying to grow up, and not care about ANY of my imperfections. As I taught the Young Women last Sunday, Heavenly Father doesn't make junk!
I posted the words to this song because I can't ever understand the words on a song until I hear it several times. Scroll down to my music player (at the bottom). Make the song start over, and enjoy your freckles!!!!!

I used to care so much about what others think about

Almost didn't have a thought of my own

The slightest remark would make me embark

On the journey of self doubt

But that was a while ago

This girl has got stronger

If I knew then what I know now

I would have told myself don't worry any longer it's OK

[Chorus:]

'cause a face without freckles is like a sky without stars

Why waste a second not loving who you are

Those little imperfections make you beautiful, lovable, valuable,

They show your personality inside your heart

Reflecting who you are

Who you are

Who you are

Who you are

I wondered if I could trade my body with somebody else in magazines

Would the whole world fall at my feet?

I felt unworthy and would blame my failures on the ugliness I could see

When the mirror looked at me

Sometimes I feel like the little girl who doesn't belong in her own world

But I'm getting better

And I'm reminding myself

[Chorus]

Reflecting who you are

Reflecting who you are