Elleigh was tagged!

All About My Mommy: (These are Elleigh's answers)

1. What is something mom always says to you? "I love you!"
2. What makes mom happy? "Like cleaning up the house."
3. What makes mom sad? "Not cleaning up the house."
4. How does mom make you laugh? "By telling funny things like when you ate Carly's sandwich. "
5. What was mom like as a child? "You had some of Grandpa's jewelry because he had lots of it."
6. How old is your mom? "29"
7. How tall is your mom? "Uh good question...90 pounds I think."
8. What is her favorite thing to do? "Stay at home."
9. What does your mom do when you're not around? "Let Sophie have a nap and clean up the house."
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? "Cause you're a teacher and you help people dance and do vocal lessons."
11. What is your mom really good at? "You're good at singing."
12. What is your mom not very good at? "Unscrewing stuff"
13. What does your mom do for her job? "Make money."
14. What is your mom's favorite food? "You like different kinds of chicken like at Panda Bears."
15. What makes you proud of your mom? "Making lots of money."
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? "Like Jasmin or something."
17. What do you and your mom do together? "Go to the park and have some fun together."
18. How are you and your mom the same? "We both have strawberry hair."
19. How are you and your mom different? "You are big and I am little."
20. How do you know your mom loves you? "Cause you say that everyday!"

Sophie wanted to answer too!

All About My Mommy: (These are Sophie's answers)

1. What is something mom always says to you? "Um... I can't tell you"
2. What makes mom happy? "Me!"
3. What makes mom sad? "Um Daddy...No I can't tell you because I don't know who makes you sad." (I am sure she means when daddy is away. Not when he is here.)
4. How does mom make you laugh? "Um... I got to think about it for awhile."
5. What was mom like as a child? "You were like me and I was a mama like you"
6. How old is your mom? "5...yeah just like Elleigh"
7. How tall is your mom? "This taller! (with her hand shot up in the air)"
8. What is her favorite thing to do? "Play with games"
9. What does your mom do when you're not around? "Be mad....cause I am not there with you."
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? "Makeup"
11. What is your mom really good at? "Pigs" (Maybe pigging out!)
12. What is your mom not very good at? "No Pigs...uh uh...no pigs"
13. What does your mom do for her job? "Teach me dance and computers."
14. What is your mom's favorite food? "Jelly"
15. What makes you proud of your mom? "Um... you!"
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? "I will be Ruby but not Max." (Anyone who has Noggin will know the Max and Ruby show)
17. What do you and your mom do together? "I want to say that we read stories!"
18. How are you and your mom the same? "We like lipstick"
19. How are you and your mom different? "You are a mommy!"
20. How do you know your mom loves you? "You just tell me all the time!!"

The Host

So Matt is always telling me that I don't post enough because he likes to get on here and read about us since we have crazy schedules right now. So I was excited to have the next two weeks off teaching during the day so that I could organize the pictures and create some posts and all that....however, I was also excited to dive into my book I had been saving to read when I had more time. It has completely taken over my life! I have to convince myself to close the book because it is 3:30 in the morning!! I also have to set goals for myself during the day so that my children actually get dressed and hair done as well as me. My goal today was to get my car all cleaned out from the crazy weeks we have had and all the clothing and old food that resulted. As well as enough toys to fill a toy box I am sure....thank you Elleigh and Sophie! It was all I could do this morning to start on that instead of the book! It is so funny that a good book can take over your life and call to you from across the room when you are trying to focus on other things!! So to my husband....I am sorry that I have been a little preoccupied the last few days and I hope that I can finish soon! I am at work right now wondering when I can read again!! More posts will come soon hopefully!!

Cutest Chef Ever!

Dance Pictures

So the girls had their big dance recital last Saturday and I will be posting more on that soon but I first had to send everyone this link. You must go and see this photographer was at the concert taking action photos of the dancers and he got a great one of Sophie that he made his Banner picture at the top!! It is to die for! There is one of Elleigh but it isn't quite as centered on her. It is under the Matinee performance #15. She is on the left!! Go check it out!

http://www.khoggie.blogspot.com/

Sophie's Future Love (and more birthday pictures)!

Sophie informed me that she is not going to marry Jesus anymore but now it is going to be Chase! Our friends little boy and Sophie have always hit it off. Chase told his mom a while back the Sophie was "hot" I think that we are in trouble with these two.....who knows but they sure are cute! We would be great in laws guys! We just laughed at their little conversations that night! Cutest kids alive! And here are some more pictures from the party!

My little girl is 5!!

As you can see Elleigh had the time of her life at her birthday party!! She insisted on having curly hair for her party so dad brought her to me at work the night before so that I could put curlers in her hair for her party since I wouldn't be home until after she was in bed. She looked so cute and you could tell that she felt special. Her party was at Kangaroo Zoo and they have these party rooms with this special chair in the front for the birthday girl. She loved it! She had a lot of fun with her friends and family. They basically ran and jumped for 2 hours and then we did presents and cake and pizza and stuff. They were all very work out by the end of the night but in a good way.
I was so happy for Elleigh since she has been looking forward to this day for a long time....but for some reason my heart actually hurts thinking about the fact that my little girl is 5! I really don't know how that happened. I feel many different emotions about it. I don't really remember life without her and yet I don't know how she could be 5 already! Have I documented everything enough? Have I written down her hilarious statements? Does she have any idea how much we love her and how life would be meaningless without her and little Sophie? Will she ever know how some one so little could impact so many lives in so many ways?
I really have so much to say about this little joy in my life. I just hope that she wants me in her life forever.
She told me after the party that it was the best day of her life and that I was the best mom ever! Great comment I must say!
Thank you to all of you that came and made this little girl feel important and for all your love and support to all of us since she was born! The world really is a better place because this little bouncing beauty is in it!

Wow! What a difference a Weekend Can Make!

Ok so my last post was a little depressing and I got a lot of phone calls about it. Which I appreciate it more than you will ever know! However, things have taken an interesting turn! On Friday last, Matt called me out of now where saying that he got a raise at his job! It seriously came out of nowhere and it is going to help take some of the pressure off! It was not the promotion he had been hoping for but the company is struggling a little right now and it was what they could do for now and there may be more to come! This was an unbelievable surprise and I cried a lot out of gratitude that day. It doesn't really take us out of situation but it does help. Sooooo then I had a performance this weekend in St. George with this Celtic Choir called Citrine that I am in. It was a lot of fun and a good girls trip with late night talks and fun girly movies! Also, the performance went really well and people went nuts and wanted to buy our CD's and stuff! If we had our CD's yet that would have been great! We will have to get on that.
Anyway, so then I get a text early Sunday morning from Matt that says "Call me!" So since it was Sunday, I wasn't sure what to expect! So I call and he tells me that he has been accepted to the Officer program with the Airforce! I have no idea why they chose to call him on a Sunday but this was huge news!!! He was so excited and I was to but it made me want to throw up. He has no more information than this....just that he is accepted and they will give him more information in the next week. He will have to go to Officer Training School for 12 weeks and then Tech School after that. Unfortunately, we don't get to go with him to OTS. This is that hard part. However, if we can get through that then we can really move on to some good things and a better career! I was sad that I was in St. George and I couldn't scream and jump up and down with him but it was a great thing to come home to! It feels really nice to be accepted!!
So for now this doesn't really change anything. We don't have any idea when he will leave or where we will go after he is done but it gives us something to look forward to and a real path that we are excited about. There are so many benefits to being an officer like officer housing and no house payment (yeah yeah yeah) and food allowance and full health insurance with no copay and life insurance and lots and lots of other benefits! I am sure that we will find it worth it. Moving will be hard but I am also excited to experience new places and the experiences that will come with it!
So I will keep you all updated on when he goes and when I will be a single mother for awhile. We are still dealing with the here and now but it changes everything to know that finally some of the work has paid off!!!!
I love you all!

Jobs Anyone or Babysitting?

So life has handed us a lot of interesting cards in the last few years. Unexpected deaths, sudden changes in career paths, disappointment in many forms.... all surrounded by a really happy marriage and wonderful little girls to make it all ok. However, things are hard for me as I am not able to stay home with my children as much as I would like. With my two degrees, you would think this wouldn't be a problem but if I were to go back to teaching full time then I would pay more for day care then I would be making. It just isn't cost efficient. Also, the commitment is hard for that. As any teacher would tell you, it is really hard to find a sub and any time your kids are sick or anything goes on, it is almost impossible to get out of work. It is hard for me to commit to that again with little kids at home. So what do I do? I work a lot of small teaching jobs and use my other degree - music and dance - to help out and I can usually take the girls with me. Then work part time at night at Prosper so that Matt can take the girls. Well that has recently changed because he has had to help out at his dad's business so that they can stay afloat while his dad is focusing on his health. So now we are looking for babysitters at night as well. I am considering taking on more hours at my night job to help compensate as well but that would mean that I need someone to watch my kids even more. Like from 2 or 3 in the afternoon until 5:30 until Matt can come and pick them up and take them to another babysitter or until about 9pm when Matt could come and pick them up to take them home to bed. What a crazy life it is right now for us! The only reason why I talk about this at all is because I have learned that I am surrounded by very creative and intelligent people who often have wonderful solutions or at least very encouraging words that keep me going for a little bit longer. The more I talk things out with my friends and family, the more I see a pathway. So if anyone has a wonderful epiphany while reading this please let me know. There are a lot of things that could happen that might change our lovely situation but it is always a waiting game. The Airforce might actually step up and offer Matt the position he deserves and has earned, He might find a better civilian job in his job search, I might get a flood of new vocal students and be able to drop the night job, who knows....anything would be a nice change. Heaven knows we are ready for one. Sorry to vent and pour my heart out to all of you but I am feeling like that is what this blog is for sometimes. I really thought that both of us finishing college and doing exactly what we were supposed to do would put us in a different position at 29. But the more I talk to people, the more I realize how many of our lives have taken many turns along the path. I am glad I am not alone.

Elleigh, Elleigh, Elleigh

She is so funny to me. All children come up with the funniest things but I have to share some of Elleigh's latest ones. Whenever she meets a new friend, at the park or at "the inside park" as she calls Carl's Jr. or McDonald's, instead of saying that she made a new friend, she says that she made up a new friend. I could fix her small error but it makes me smile ever time I think about it. I am not ready for it to change.
She has also been obsessed with her birthday lately since it is in a few weeks. She wants to know who can come and what they will be wearing. She is also constantly trying to feed everyone that comes to our house and she loves to "cook" Sophie dinner all of the time. So she is very worried about what people will be eating at her party and if she will have enough food.

(Little side story about my little chef: At Christmas time we were going to see Santa at the Festival of Trees. She was so excited and was telling me every hour what she was going to say to Santa. She would also ask me over and over how it was going to work. Where would Santa be sitting? How does he know that we want to talk to him? Is he wearing a red suit? All sorts of things. So a few minutes before we were leaving I asked Elleigh what she had in her hands. She had a plastic grocery sack full of things. She showed me that she had put together a lunch for Santa so that he wouldn't go hungry. She had put a piece of bread, a handful of marshmallows, a hand full of raisins, a little pack of fruit snacks and a small orange. She said to me with all of the concern she could muster that she didn't want Santa to go hungry because he would be waiting all day to see all of the kids and he wouldn't have time to eat. I just couldn't tell her that Santa wouldn't want her snack so I let her bring it. When we got there at reached the beginning of the line, I explained to one of the elves the lunch situation. He thought it was sooo cute. He told Santa about it and the cute man couldn't have been cuter! Santa took the lunch from her and expressed his extreme gratitude for her thoughtfulness. He told her that she was the first child all day to think of him in that way. You should have seen her beam at that! When they were taking the picture of Santa and the girls, the elf took the sack from Santa's hand so that it wouldn't be in the picture but Santa told him to make sure that he didn't lose it because he was looking forward to eating it later. Which of course made Elleigh beam all over again! Anyway, sorry about the Christmas story in April but I didn't have a blog at Christmas time)

So Elleigh is always worried about people being hungry....I promise I feed her often. I don't know where the worry comes from. I promised her that everyone would be fed. So lately when I ask her what she wants for her birthday, after makeup she has informed me today that she wants a 5 year old husband. She wants me to give him a ring so that he can ask her to marry him. When I told her she couldn't get married at 5 years old, she came back with, "Yes I can mom, I am old enough now!" and there was no changing her mind! She just wants someone her size to go to the ball with and dance any time she wants. She doesn't understand why this is such a hard request and was a little frustrated when I was laughing. Most of the time I can keep a straight face at the time only to laugh really hard with Matt later but this one was too much.

I Stole This From Sarah - Love It!!

So there's this job, it's supposed to be one of the most sought-after positions in the nation. I looked into it. Here are the details: You go to an orientation for the company. You meet with the directors and they tell you the basics. How many days you work, what effect the job has on your daily life, the demands of the position, etc. They do not mention pay (compensation) at this time.

The most interesting aspect of this job is they have a computer program where you can create your own manager. Once you create your manager, you have no say in how that manager fits with your personality. It can be difficult considering this manager, even if you stand your ground, almost always wins control. You are stuck with this person (or people, depending on how many managers you request) forever and there is no option to change once one is assigned. This job is demanding, and a GOOD day with your new manager consists of 5,000 more tasks than you ever had with previous managers! Job compensation is still not discussed at this time.

After you have agreed to most details, you are then asked to go through a company initiation process. Not all have to do the initiation, but 95% of incoming employees do. This is rigorous, and something that this company is known for! Access to their hiring systems reveal the truth about this process. A new employee is to lay down on her back on a padded table. She is tied with hand and foot restraints. A weight is lowered from the ceiling and gently placed directly on her hip and pelvic area. The weight starts out at 5lbs. Throughout the initiation, more weight is added, until the harness above the pelvis weighs 30lbs. When the process comes to an end is when the initiation takes a painful turn. The weight harness is finally lifted off the pelvic area and then lowered several times in rapid succession until the employee can hardly stand or walk. Welcome to the company! You are given your job task directly after the initiation and expected to perform well.

After you are hired and you meet your manager, you begin to realize that the directors glazed over a lot of details in the orientation! The actual demands of the job are as follows:

7 day work weeks.
3 days off per year maximum (days may NOT be taken off in succession, but are a cumulative of hours and minutes taken for oneself. Many times the job is too demanding to take even 1 day off. Spouses may or may not be understanding of your need for time off).
The job is physically demanding, even after the initiation.
More initiation sessions may be required, some planned, some a total surprise.
You will wear the scars of this job your entire life which include but are not limited to, weight gain, bad skin, saggy boobs, brain malfunction, emotional strain, some psychotic behavior, laughter at all things morose, longing for more, constantly being needed for something and an eternal case of cabin fever.
This job is met by the public with several different reactions including but not limited to, disdain, admiration, jealousy, fascination, pity, disgust, annoyance, judgement and intolerance.

Pay will either be handed out in undetermined and unannounced increments, or in many scenarios, may not be determined until the end of your tenure (up to 60 years later).

Elleigh the dance teacher!

Elleigh the dance teacher. Elleigh has been coming with me to teach the two year old toddler dance classes since October. Well I had laryngitis a few weeks ago and was unable to find a sub for these classes so I went anyway but I was not feeling well at all! The parents were talking to me about upcoming pictures and other events and so I was going to start class a little late because of it. But Elleigh decided to step in and save the day. She had me turn on some music while I finished talking to the parents and then she took control! She got all the girls lined up and stretched them all out almost exactly how I do every week! The girls were so attentive to her! It was hilarious! I came in and took some pictures of the whole thing. Sophie had a little trouble at the end and I had to include that picture cause it was so funny! Elleigh will make a great teacher one day!!

Sophie the Rock Star!

Sophie loves to play her new guitar and act like a rock star! She has recently watched mom and dad play rock band at Aunt Carly's house and she has got the bug for sure! She makes me laugh all the time and I am sure that she will be a star one day!

Easter was a lot of fun this year and what a beautiful day! The weather was perfect and the girls had a lot of fun getting all dressed up and going to church! Elleigh is loving that mom is in primary with her now. I have recently been called as the primary chorister. Lots of fun! After church we were able to go to Aunt Elise's house and see all the cousins and family. My girls are the only ones that are easter egg hunting age that live in the state. A little boring but they made out like bandits! Love Sophie's glasses!

Beauty is painful

Getting ready for Easter! Elleigh thought it was really funny that she could put the towel on her head like mommy does! She has also decided that curly hair is better right now than straight so she is obsessed with curlers. Of course she has hair like her mom that won't curl with anything else but the old 80's sponge curlers. I must say that both of the girls are very good at keeping their curlers in at night and they don't even wake up a lot. They know that beauty is painful sometimes! However, curlers all night equal incredibly bouncy Shirley Temple hair. It doesn't seem to calm down until late that night after everything is over. Oh well. They looked perfect right before bed Sunday night! We also spent all Saturday night painting nails just the right color of pink to match our dresses! Lots of good girl fun with my beautiful daughters!

GIRLS IN MY CIRCLE

When I was little,
I used to believe in the concept of one best friend,
and then I started to become a woman.
And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up,
God would show you the best in many friends.

One friend is needed when you’re going through things with your man.
Another friend is needed when you’re going through things with your mom.
Another will sit beside you in the bleachers as you delight in your children and their activities.
Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.
One friend will say, ‘Let’s cry together,’
Another, ‘Let’s walk away together.’

One friend will meet your spiritual need,
another your shoe fetish,
another your love for movies,
another will be with you in your season of confusion,
another will be your clarifier,
another the wind beneath your wings.

But whatever their assignment in your life,
on whatever the occasion,
on whatever the day,
or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back,
or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself …
those are your best friends.

It may all be wrapped up in one woman,
but for many, it’s wrapped up in several..
one from 7th grade,
one from high school,
several from the college years,
a couple from old jobs,
on some days your mother,
on some days your neighbor,
on others, your sisters,
and on some days, your daughters.

I've Been Tagged

10 YEARS AGO: I was getting my music degree and waiting for Matt to come home and not dating anyone else and being completely serious and not a crazy 19 year old. I was also in Romania with a performing group this month if we are being specific.

5 THINGS ON MY TO DO LIST: Laundry (the never ending chore, Kami I agree), figure out how to get more time with my family, also find more time to exercise. I need one more day in the week where no one can schedule me for anything. You think I could petition the prophet for another Saturday? He could talk to the big man and do something about that right? I also need to unpack more stuff in the house and read my scriptures more.

5 SNACKS I ENJOY: Kettle corn, mini eggs (right now), Dr. Pepper, carrots and ranch, and nuts.

3 Bad Habits: Wow! I have too many! I bite my nails and not just normal but really really bad. They look like I have a disease. Gross! Dr. Pepper. I am trying to slow down with that one. Chocolate. I am not sure that this one can be helped.


5 PLACES I'VE LIVED: American Fork, Utah. Lehi, Utah. Pleasant Grove, Utah. Saratoga Springs, Utah. Lehi, Utah again. Some of these places have repeated themselves a lot lately. Long story.


WHAT I WOULD DO IF I SUDDENLY BECAME A BILLIONAIRE: Pay my tithing first of all (thanks Kami). Pay off everything like house and cars but then I would have to buy new cars because mine is so awesome! Although I am grateful for it! Then I would buy my husband a motorcycle and his own plane and all the flight hours he wanted so that he could realize his dream. Then I would make sure my kids were taken care of for life and anyone else in my family who needs it. Then I would open a performing arts school that offered all of the things I loved and I would charge very little, if anything, and give out a lot of scholarships to kids who couldn't normally afford lessons.

5 JOBS I'VE HAD: Wendy's for a year (yes everyone have their laugh), The Juice Press (like Zuka juice or Jamba) Then I have taught dance and singing lessons for 11 years now. Applebee's, The Buckle, Dance Academy, Clayton Productions, Musical Arts teacher at Whittier Elementary in Downtown Salt Lake and music teacher at Westfield Elementary in Alpine. Prosper in Draper and then in Provo (currently). And recently I am teaching private voice lessons, group voice lessons and toddler dance classes at Center Stage in Orem!

5 THINGS YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME: Hmmm....I am a pretty open book so I am not sure what people wouldn't know. I like alone time more and more the older I get. It doesn't come very often but I do love the peace I get from it and then I feel like coming back to the madness and I am rejuvenated.
I secretly want to play the bongo drums. Not the little ones either but big ones in a sexy red dress (don't ask).
I find true happiness in singing (bet you guys didn't know that one). It makes me feel like I am alive and like their is a lot of beauty in the world.
I don't like cheese. Some times I can tolerate it on certain things but mostly I can do without. I am not talking about good quality cheese but mostly orange American cheese that people seem to love so much....cheddar you can go far far away!
If I could have my way we would move to a small small town somewhere, probably in Wyoming and live on a ranch with horses and dogs and lives miles from everything and enjoy the quiet. Then we could just use Matt's plane to get back to civilization when we felt like it because the only was we could move there anyway is if we were billionaires and could afford the land!!

Now I tag...Chelsea Grubbs, Sarah Smylie, Carlie, Shantiell Mendenhall, Danielle Hayles and Jenni Royster!

Many Faces of Sophie

I have a certain middle sister that thinks she was jipped in life (typical middle child stuff) So I am proving to her that I take a TON of pictures of Sophie the second child. I won't go into what each child feels no matter what order they are in. Let's just say that we all see what we want to see and our perspectives on things are maybe very different from reality. Now that I am the mom, I feel very different than i used to about the order of things. I just hope that my children will come and visit when they are grown and not run for their lives!

Fun with the Camera

Benefit Concert

I thought that some of you might want to check out this benefit concert on Friday. A group that I am in (called the Anne-Marie Hildebrandt group until we choose a name) is performing in it with some big names like Peter Breinholt! It should be a lot of fun and it is to help out this family that needs a new home so their boys can get healthy!





http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695255816,00.html