A Very Special Day

Ashlyn turned three yesterday - can you believe it?! Brian took the day off work and we had such a fun day together. Ashlyn's day started with a brief stop to aunt Mindy's house. Mindy, Madi, and Maya greeted Ashlyn with a "Happy Birthday" sign, balloons, and a "Happy Birthday to you...". Then it was off to preschool. For most people, going to school or work on your birthday is no fun, but it's a different story for a three year old. She was the VIP for the week and was so happy to be the "special helper" on her special day. I also sent a yummy birthday treat for her class - zingers. Ashlyn later informed me that she did not like them. Crazy kid. Serioulsy, what kid doesn't like zingers?

After preschool we met up with some cousins at Chuck E. Cheese. Good times had by all.

After Chuck E. Cheese, we headed home so Ashlyn could finally see her "big surprise". She had been locked out of her room since Saturday and couldn't wait to finally see what was going on in there. This is what we had been up to:

Since I didn't find out the sex of my baby when I was pregnant with Ashlyn, we had painted the room a neutral green and I had planned on decorating accordingly after the baby was born. Well, after three years, I was tired of the green and I really hadn't done much with the room. I decided that it was high time Ashlyn to had a "little girl room" and what better time to do it than for her birthday.

I took "before" pictures, but can't seem to locate them. So just believe me when I say that her room before was BLAH!

We did the project as cheaply as we could. The daybed is my old bed that we freshened up with a new coat of paint. Even the bed spread is an old one of mine, but I did add some new pillows. I got the idea for the tent from here, but I didn't want to spend the $$$, so I made my own for 1/2 the price. The only thing I had to buy for the button butterfly pictures was the fabric. And the butterflies that we hung from the ceiling I had purchased two years ago for Ashlyn's first birthday party. I did also buy new curtains and the shelf above her dresser. Even though we reused/recycled and handmade most of her new room, I think it turned out pretty cute. And what did Ashlyn think?

Yep, she was pretty happy with it - even though her big surprise wasn't a "new blue pony" like she had guessed.

We had 'breakfast' for dinner - Ashlyn's favorite - and then, thanks to uncle Marty, we went to see some horses! This was probably the highlight of her entire day and she wasn't shy at all. She feed them carrots and rode on one by herself!

Brian and I have a small 2nd job on Wednesday nights, so we sadly had to leave Ashlyn for an hour with Grandpa - she didn't mind at all. When we came back, we had cupcakes and milk, and Grandmom gave her a couple presents. Finally, at the end of her special day, Ashlyn got a "new blue pony". Lucky girl.

We are having her party tomorrow night - can you guess the theme?

Bring It On!

Having lived in Utah for 30 years, I've come to accept the reality of winter. In fact, I enjoy it. Hot chocolate, sledding, softly falling snow, the warmth of a fire, comfort foods, the holidays, snuggling up under a warm blanket, a big bowl of homemade soup - what's not to love?

Most people are sick of winter once Christmas is over, but not me. I love those relaxing days in January when there isn't much to do but sit indoors and spend time with family. I wouldn't say I love February (even though it is the month of love), I have just come to accept that February is cold and I try to have a positive attitude about it. Let's face it folks - it's not changing. Global warming? It certainly doesn't feel like it.

But now it is officially March and it is time for some serious sunshine!! Spring fever is in the air. We are definitely ready to say goodbye to the two things I don't like about winter - icy roads and sickness. All in all, I think we fared pretty well this winter, except for Trent. He suffered through pink eye, viral croup, runny noses, fevers, ear infections, and lots of sleepless nights due to the break-through of four molars. Poor guy!

Come on spring, we are ready and waiting!

Smurf

Madi, Ashlyn & I took advantage of a little sunshine and two napping babies and headed outdoors. I broke out a new box of sidewalk chalk and the girls came up with some mighty fine modern art - I just hope that someday my daughter will be able to at least draw a circle :) Of course, Madi had to have the pink chalk and Ashlyn had to have the blue chalk - thank goodness they don't have the same favorite color.

Madi got quite a coughing spell so we had to cut it short, coming back inside after a meager 15 minutes. And since my daughter can't do anything without making a mess of herself, this was inevitably the end product of our little outdoor retreat:

Gimmy A Break

I made Ashlyn step away from her morning cartoons today so I could get her dressed and ready for the day. Half way through the process, she said (and these are her exact words), "Mommy, could I possibly take a break?" What?! Apparently getting ready is pretty hard work for a toddler. Either that or she really didn't appreciate the cartoon interruption and needed to get back to her show pronto, so she could see what was happening to Aurthur, or Clifford, or George, or whomever was on at the time. Oh to be a kid again!

All the hard work paid off though, because we were getting ready for a playdate at Kangaroo Zoo.

Last winter I made it a point to take the kids somewhere fun once a week. I have felt like such a slacker this year because I have been so wrapped up in my studies that we just haven't done as much. Today was much needed and fun break for not just the kids, but for me too. Thanks Heather, Ava & Tate!!

Brain Overload

I'm not sure the exact number of bones and bone markings in the human skull. But I do know it is more than 59, since I don't have to memorize them all for my first anatomy lab test. Phew. Thank goodness they cut back (can you hear the heavy sarcasm?).

But that's not all folks. I haven't even counted the other bones and bone markings in the body. Take for example the scapula - 15 markings. The humerus? 14 markings. Pelvis? 22. Hand? 28. Foot? 27. There are also 82 muscles I have to memorize and the actions they perform. And yet, that is still not all. Anatomic terminology. Histology. The integument. And all their respective components.

I figure there are well over 300 things to know. Do you know what the worst part is? The test is only 60 question! I have to memorize 300 things and I am only tested on 1/5 of them.

So, in case you are wondering where the external acoustic meatus of the temporal bone is, or the intercondylar fossa of the femur, you better ask me soon. Because once I take this test, I'm letting all this information leave my short term memory - hopefully I retain some of it!

I have 10 days to get it all down. 10 DAYS!! Why am I blogging? I needed a little sympathy, that's why. Okay, enough complaining, gotta get back to work.

Things I Love

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, here are 25 things (not people) that I love -
in no specific order:

1. Hot, hot, melt the skin off your back showers.
2. Pizza - seriously, I could eat it at least twice a week, every week.
3. Baking bread.
4. Having a clean home - I can't truly relax if my house is a mess.
   
5. ALL four seasons - call me crazy, but it makes me so happy right now to look out my window and see the snow falling.
6. Fruit - except cantaloupe. Peaches and oranges are tied for 1st.
7. A girls' night out.
8. Movies that make me cry.
9. Pottery - even though I don't get to do it nowadays. There is nothing more relaxing and therapeutic. Someday I will have my own wheel...someday.
10. Holding one of my babies while they sleep.
11. Planning a party.
12. My electric blanket - while I do love all four seasons, I don't like being cold.
13. Pedicures.
14. THE mountains - meaning my Utah mountains, the ones I have looked at almost every day for almost 30 years.
15. A clean car - it was ALWAYS clean before I had kids.
16. Sleep.
17. Family vacations
18. Laughing until it hurts.
19. Chillin' around a campfire, roasting a mellow.
20. Candy - I once went for 3 1/2 years without any...what was I thinking?!
21. Reading a good book.
22. Plays.
23. Fresh flowers - but not on Valentine's Day; too much $$$.
24. Sunsets - there is nothing better.
25. Handmade gifts - both the ones I have given away and the ones I have recieved. Priceless.

Happy ♥ Day everyone! Spread a little love, give someone a hug, or simply enjoy a few of the things that you love most.

Weird.

So, after I posted that I was going private, I got an email from Brian Smiley - but not my husband. He said he was from Dallas and he came across my blog while searching for his sister-in-law's blog, who apparently also has a son named Trent. He said that he had added me to his goggle reader and wanted to be added to my private list.

Um, I don't think so.

Now, maybe he is a nice guy. And then again, you just never know. His real name might not even be Brian Smiley. Who can you really trust in this world? His email pretty much confirmed my desire to go private. I just want family and friends that I know personally to be viewing the details of my life and family. The idea that someone who I don't know has been reading all about my family, just because of a few similarities in names, well that just makes me a little uncomfortable. Like I said, it may all be innocent and he may be a nice guy, but I just don't think I can be too safe when it comes to my kids and the internet.

Poll: Am I overreacting? Would you have added "Brian Smiley" to your private list?

I know that private blogs are just not as convenient as those open to the public, so thank you for your patience and support.

I hope you continue to read Smiley headlines :)