Bird Watching

So the other day Cinderella and I noticed a bird outside out window. Now this isn't rare, there are many birds in our area. But one thing I learned from our year in Virginia, is that you need to document the way things are in the areas where you live, because sometimes you never know when you will be leaving.
So I pulled out our new camcorder and we did some birdwatching.
One thing I learned about myself is that sometimes I am quite unobservant. Take a look at this video and see if you can figure out what I am talking about.



So it wasn't until I watched the video that I saw the bird in the planter. Did you notice that Cinderella saw it the whole time, and I was just clueless. It makes me wonder how many other things in my life I am so clueless about.

Snack Time

OK so something that seems to be a recurring problem for me is trying to think of healthy snack ideas that don't take much work. And that don't present a choking hazard for a 1 year old.

I seem to remember having this same problem when Cinderella was about a year old too. The problem is I don't remember what solutions I came up with. So I want to ask you.

If you were making snacks for a 3 and 1 year old, and you wanted it to be healthy and balanced what would you serve?
Or what do you give your kids as snacks?

Potty training progress

We are making progress potty training. This morning Cinderella came in and said, "I can wear these." And she held up 6 pairs of her big girl panties. Then she said, "Just one though, not all of them."

At the time we were getting ready to head out the door, and my husband started to tell her that she could wear them when we got home if she wanted. Then she took one and did this.....

We were able to get her to wear them the right way later in the day, and she made it through 3 pairs, and not once in the potty, but hey it's progress.

Tag I'm it.

My friend Kirsten just tagged me. This one is a little different than the last one, so here goes.

10 years ago I was: A junior in high school

Things on my to-do list for today:

• go to the library
• make a shopping list
• finish the laundry
• clean the bathroom (we'll have to see if this one really happens or not)
  

4 things I would do if I became a billionaire:

1. Pay tithing
2. Get out of debt
3. Save some to pay for me to finish my education
4. Buy a house

3 bad habits:

1. Let my house sit in messy abandon while I check my e-mail and write blogs.
2. Don't do my hair and makeup most days
3. Don't reach out to others very much.
   

5 jobs that I have had:

1. Mom (and every thing that is included in that).
2. Microfilm reproductionist (this wasn't the official title, but it is basically what I did.)
   
3. Custodian
4. I was the aid for the language department in college
5. Custodian. (I know I already mentioned that, but in actuality I have had at least 4 separate custodian jobs.)
   

6 things most people don't know about me:

1. I spent all of my life living in Utah (I had only left 3 times for vacations even) before I went to college. Since I got married I've only lived in Utah for two months, in separate one month blocks.
2. I'm a perfectionist. To the point that I don't even try things a lot of the time, because I know I won't be happy with the way it will turn out.
3. I used to have a TERRIBLE temper. I would yell all the time, really loud. I still get upset at times, and sometimes yell, but not as badly as I used to.
4. I love to read. Particularly Historical, and religious fiction or any combination of those three.
5. I love to cook, if I don't have to. I have a hard time mustering up enough enthusiasm some times when cooking is a necessity however.
6. I sell USBORNE Books, kind of. I signed up to sell them, because now I can get their books for wholesale prices, and I think their books are some of the most awesome books I have seen. The best part is, I don't have to sell them, I don't have to turn in any required amount of sales to keep my account active. If I want to sell I can, and maybe I will put some effort into it when my kids are older, but right now I get a good deal on the books. So I don't really sell them, but I am a consultant.
   

3 people to tag next: I don't really want to tag anyone so if you read this and want to be tagged, consider yourself tagged.

Now I'm convinced.....

So in the 1800's and probably even before that there was a plague known to farmers. Crickets. When the "Mormon Pioneers" were first settled in the Salt Lake Valley, they had their moment of this trial. For them it was just one more trial to deal with after facing horrible persecution as they immigrated West. These people dealt with this trial the only way they knew how, they turned to the Lord. Then a miracle happened. Hundreds of seagulls appeared in the sky and came and started eating the crickets, and continued until they were all gone and the crops were saved.

In my teenage years the congregation that I belonged to put together a skit depicting this event. My mother was in charge of costumes. Maybe not all, but I do remember that she was making seagull and cricket costumes. To make the seagull costumes, if my memory serves me right, she took some white fabric, spray painted the ends gray, and then totally starched them so that they were stiff.

This was the only exposure that I can remember in my lifetime to starch. I am not much of an ironer, something that would most likely apall my grandmother. I'm not sure why I don't iron. I could blame it on the way I was raised, but I don't know that that is the case. My father wears a white shirt to work every morning, and most mornings he irons it. But other than that, I don't remember much ironing going on. I iron when I sew, and that is why I have an iron and ironing board.

And, well I'll admit it. I'm lazy. If I don't have do more work in an area, I won't. If my family members will wear shirts the way they look when they are put on hangers, why take the time to get all the wrinkles out?

Well all of that may have changed this weekend. Last Christmas I made some clothes for my kids. The fabric that I used for Guy's shirt is one that wrinkles, badly anytime that it is washed. I'm not sure what gave me the idea, but I decided to get some starch and try it on his shirt. I have to say I am totally amazed at how well the wrinkles came out when I ironed withe the starch, and how unwrinkled the shirt looked at the end of today. The shirt was covered in food, but didn't have very many wrinkles. I think I am sold. The only trick now is finding the time to iron, without kids skirting around my feet.

Sorry I didn't get any pictures of his nicely pressed shirt, somehow that didn't happen today. Maybe next week.