just in time for spring cleaning

Because spring is already full blown here in the AZ.  In fact most trees have already blossomed and the blossoms are gone now.  So if you're enjoying the 78 degree days with the windows open, cleaning everything out, here's a recipe for an all purpose cleaner that's easy on the budget.  

(this is what we use in the temple, and if it's good enough for the temple, it's good enough for my house!)

Miracle Mix:

13 1/2 C water

2 C Rubbing alcohol

1/3 C Dawn (just the regular dish soap)

1/3 C Ammonia

Stir to combine, and you'll have about a gallon of cleaner.  Pour in a spray bottle and get to work!

blissful monday

Seriously, today was so much fun just hanging out with my babies. We had so much fun running errands, eating breadsticks at Target, washing the car...ourselves!!, making cookies and dinner, and laughing our guts out.

Among the things I learned from Gwen today, was that she has a new friend at school who has the same valentine shoes that Gwen has. So they planned to both wear their valentine shoes and pink shirts and blue pants on Wednesday so they can match. Do you remember doing that!? So funny. I remember I would frequently call my best friend ,Julie Kenney, before school and plan what we could wear to match that day. So I asked Gwen who her friend was, and Gwen said she doesn't know. Apparently just wearing matching clothes is more important than remembering her friend's name.

This evening Gwen was watching Extra with me, and when Mario Lopez came on, Gwen excitedly asked me, "is that Shane?!?!"

Maybe, if Mario lost the dimples, muscles and std's. ;)

one more day

until this boy comes home from his mission!!!

Shane has been serving the people of Costa Rica for the last two years and will be home tomorrow evening, and we can't wait to see him!  

We also are going to have Tara and the kids in town until Ethan's wedding.  Fun times to come!

goonie valentine

Today I had an appointment at the MAC counter to get some make up.  I picked up my own valentine's day gift.  Ryan's finding out with you.  Thanks Ryan!  (oh it's too late?  you already got me a gift?  oh how sweet!)  I also had Drake as my play buddy while Gwen was in preschool.  Well let me tell you that Drake won the hearts of all the ladies working there!  While I was getting my make up put on Drake was dancing around singing, "goody stuff, goody stuff, for me.  I yI yI yI YI".  We were all laughing at Drake's singing and dancing.  He even took off his shirt!  (he knows how to get the ladies)  Well it wasn't until the ride home and he was still singing that I realized that he was singing this:

Drake's a Cyndi Lauper fan!  He's just so silly I love it!!!!

Love to you all this Valentine's day!!

I guess we're d-backs fans

They were having their annual fan day, so we took the kids down to Chase Park (I still think of it as BOB) and let the kids play, or more like wait in line to play on all the fun bouncing things there. 

Ryan just has this funny love for ball park stadiums, so he was excited just being down on the field.  It reminded me of in FeverPitch (funny movie) where Drew Barrymore jumps down on the field and runs across during a game and is getting chased and runs to Jimmy Fallon, and the first thing he says is "how's the grass in the outfield, soft and spongy?" or something like that.  Okay, I did a bad job recreating it, so just go rent the movie.

I tell the kids to say cheese, so Gwen throws up the jazz hands, and Drake pulls up his shirt.  I guess if you got it flaunt it huh?

And this was just too funny not to be posted.  I came down stairs and heard Drake making motorcycle sounds like vroooommmmm, so I walk over to see that he's wedged the motorcycles between cushions so that he could get on and straddle these little motorcycles like he's really riding them.  Has his hands on the handle bars and everything!  And who doesn't love riding a motorcycle with out pants on?

soap box

Last month's first presidency message hasn't left my mind since I read it.  Especially this part where President Eyring says, "at some moment in the world to come, everyone you met in this life will know what you know now. They will know that the only way to live forever in association with our families and in the presence of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, is to choose to enter into the gate by baptism at the hands of those with authority from God. They will know that the only way families can be together forever is to accept and keep sacred covenants offered in the temples of God on this earth. They will know that you knew. And they will remember whether you offered them what someone had offered you."  

To anyone reading this who hasn't already heard, if I have not told you about this, it's because I've been scared to be pushy, or annoying, or offensive.  But I do know, and I would love to share.  I'd love to have you come to church with my family.  I'd love to share with you what brings me the most joy in my life.   Please ask, and I'll share.