what a beautiful mess

It's been one of those nights where I sit on the couch and stare lovingly at my Diet Dr. Pepper. A girls got to get her enjoyment somewhere, especially after a week like this. Oh wait...it's only Wednesday? It feels like it's been a whole lot longer than that. The week started with us getting dumped on with snow on Monday. So much so that we got stuck trying to drive out of our driveway and I had to have my neighbor drive my kids to school. For some reason, our house gets snow the worse on our street. After my kids got off to school, I spent the next hour and a half shoveling snow until my neighbor brought over her snow blower and let me use it on what I hadn't gotten shoveled. Shoveling is such a good workout though that I never needed to get on the treadmill that day. However, I woke up Tuesday with an extremely sore forearm. I must have strained a muscle much like I did in my foot last summer. And today, it hurts even worse! I can't pick things up and it mak...

The baby of our family! What is your favorite food? Spaghetti and Meatballs What is your favorite color? Black and brown and blue and gray Who is your best friend? Hazen What is your favorite thing to do? Play with my friends and with mom (ahhh.) What do you want to be when you grow up? An astronaut and a skydiver What are you scared of? Breaking bones and Michael Jackson  What do you think is the best thing about you? I'm smart.  What is your favorite song? "Every Storm (runs out of rain)" Gary Allan What is your favorite scripture story? Jesus being crucified What is your quote; something you say a lot? " Awkward silence..." (He is always repeating lines to movies. He remembers them so well.) Joshua is so much fun.  Maybe it's because he's the baby of the family but he always brings a smile to everyone's face. He is a sweet boy and calls me his girlfriend... which is kind of weird but I like it.  Some days...

And now it's Stephens turn! What is your favorite food? Nachos What is your favorite color? Black Who is your best friend? Tel What is your favorite activity? Reading What do you want to be when you grow up? An author What are you scared of? Werewolves What is your best quality? I'm nice. What is your favorite song? I Am a Child of God What is your quote; something you say a lot? "I finished a book." I know I just recently did a post about what an amazing kid Stephen is, but it's worth doing it twice... He's really, really great.  Obviously he loves to read.  He also loves to talk which we knew he did at home but found out at parent teacher conference that he also loves to talk at school.  We remedied that by sending him to school with the words "DON"T TALK" written on his hands.  So far, so good.  He is such a hard worker and loves to help Trevor out with whatever it is he's doing.  It does...

Emily has matured leaps and bounds this week.  I swear in a one weeks time, she has gone from being a little girl to a full blown tween.  But I am happy for her to be maturing and growing.  And I think she looks so dang cute in her braces!

It's Annabanana's turn! What is your favorite food?   Pizza and salad What is your favorite color? Green, blue, and purple Who is your best friend? Sidney What is your favorite activity? Playing the viola and drawing.  What do you want to be when you grow up? A veterinarian and an artist What are you afraid of? The dark and being alone What is your favorite quality? My hair (I tried to explain to her that hair was not a quality but ended up having to move on with "hair" remaining her answer. I told her the other morning that her hair looked cute and she replied "I know, right..." I think she was joking.) What is your favorite song? "Stay, Stay, Stay" Taylor Swift.  What is your favorite scripture story? The Good Samaritan  What is your quote; something you say a lot? "I know, right?" Annabelle is my goofiest child.  She loves to be silly and have fun.  She never stops moving and never walks. It's always hop...

This is the first of six interviews of the Haslem family  (this was not my original idea; I've seen it before, I just can't remember where...) What is your favorite food? Chocolate What is your favorite color? Yellow Who is your best friend? Savannah (I could tell that Annabelle's name was on the tip of her tongue but she decided against saying it....okay, not really, just my hopeful thinking.) What is your favorite activity? Playing the violin and volleyball What do you want to be when you grow up? A professional volleyball player (this is news to me. We will have to do something about that). What are you scared of? The Haunted Mill What do you consider to be your best quality? I'm a good friend. What is your favorite song? Any song sung by Taylor Swift. What is your favorite scripture story? The sermon on the mount. What is your "quote"; something you say a lot? "J/K!" Emily is amazing.  She is fun, kind, funny, and she...

is fun, smart, hard working, creative and an all around great kid. I am now his Cub Scout leader and today was our first den meeting together. I am really proud of this kid. I always knew he'd be great but he's surpassed my expectations (and at the age of 8...amazing!)! You want to avoid kissing him right now though since he has a very unfortunate cold sore...

When I look outside all I see is white and I am. so. tired. of. it. I am trying hard to see the beauty in it and Trevor even reminded me yesterday of some reasons why snow is good but still I struggle. At least the sun is out today. And the sun makes everything (even snow) more beautiful. How's the weather where you' re at?

If heaven has a taste I imagine it would taste like a pomegranate. I love food. Although lately I've had to cut out most forms of bread and I feel so much better. I'm not sure when the last time is that I've had a slice of bread or a sandwich. Breakfast is 2 hard boiled eggs, lunch is a salad and dinner is whatever I've made for everyone else with no bread/carbs and on lettuce. And tomorrow I'll eat some heaven...

I'm so neglectful of my dear blog. I do miss getting on here each night but I find myself using my internet time in other ways, like getting lost on youtube through musicians and practical jokers. Ah well...a time and a season for everything. And any way I don't have any good pictures and what's a blog without pictures? So here you go: Yes, it's wonky and weird but it's a picture. Tomorrow is our date night and we can't wait. Seriously. I've been sick all week, josh has been sick, it's been snowy and windy and we need a break. Six o'clock is not coming fast enough! Have I mentioned how fast my kids are growing up? No? Well, I will tomorrow. Until then....

For Christmas this year, Trevor gave me a certificate for voice lessons. And tomorrow is my first lesson. To say that I'm nervous is an understatement. However it's a great way to start the New Year; by trying to learn something new. Speaking of the New Year, we had a great January 1st 2013. The night before we had friends over to watch a movie with their projector (we are so getting one of those!) and to eat lots of yummy snacky foods. And then the next day we took the kids shooting, went to see Here Comes the Boom (excellent!) and out to eat at their favorite restaurant: Pizza Pie Cafe. Like I said, a great way to start the New Year.  Except today is the coldest day I have ever experienced. I checked the weather at one point and it was -2. That's not good at all. Our poor heater is working overtime.  I'm praying for warm weather tomorrow!