A New Trade

My sweet friend Rachel has convinced me to learn a new trade! Yes, as I was running on the treadmill the thought came to me, that I really needed to do more for myself. I thought back on M. Russel Ballard's talk to young mothers where he encouraged us to have some things just for us that we enjoyed. Anyway, I have been blogging a little more and responding to blogs. I've become more politically active, hopefully, in a polite manner. I need to exercise more and I am working on that. Anyway, I wanted to learn more about photography. So, last night I pulled out the pamphlet on our camera that has some manual controls. Then I googled on the internet and found a great site with some wonderful tutorials. Voila. I am so excited. I know know how to take a picture with manual controls. This will be a way that I can be more creative, as Pres. Deiter Uchdorf counseled us to do to add more happiness and fulfillment to our lives. Also, when Jeana came, we played the piano and sang a lot and as a part of this I also commit to playing the piano and singing more. These are my new goals and I think that they also fit the mantra to "get as much education as you can". After all, we should never stop learning.

A Clean House

As I mentioned in my previous blog, my sis-in-law Jeana is coming to visit with her family.  As a result we have been motivated to do a little deeper cleaning.  All the blinds and windows are now sparkling, and we're almost done with the baseboards.  The state of our carpets, especially the family room and the den, were atrocious so I called in the carpet cleaners.  He came and took one look at those two areas and asked if I wanted to pay a little more for restoration.  They were really bad, so I agreed.  Anyway, it took a little longer to dry but now we have beeootiful carpet again!!  My sisters came over and said it looked as good as new to them and I feel like I am living in a new house!!  Now if I dare to take on the grout in the master bathroom!!  Anyway, I told my Mom once that if you really want a new car, clean it out and wash it up and you'll probably be okay with what you have.  So, if you really want a new house, really, really clean it up, paint it if you really need to and you'll probably feel happier with it.  (By the way, I don't actually want a new house, just how clean it is when you move in!)

The Best Workout Ever

Curtis' parents are leaving on a mission to Germany in a week.  They are going to spend a little time right before they leave with the families in Utah, and Jeana, Curtis' sister who finally lives close to us (only 4 hours away) has Fall Break, so they are making the trip to Utah to see Grandma and Grandpa off and to hang out with our family for a few days.  My Mom has been bothered by the atrocious state of our blinds all summer, so with Jeana's impending visit, she suggested that we should clean the blinds....all of them and all the windows.  We started early Saturday morning and pulled down the blinds one by one where we would wipe them.  We made it a team effort with my Mom on one side and me on the other.  I just sat in indian style and would lean over to get my half of the blind over and over again.  Anyway, today I woke up sore, and figured out that the tedious cleaning of blinds is the best workout ever!!  So, if you want a 2 for 1 you can have sparkling clean windows and blinds and be in good shape too!

Rachel tagged me to go to my fourth folder and choose the fourth picture and tell about it...Well, my sister Rebecca was at my house and started taking pictures of her baby. Brianna decided to grab Cameron and do a little pose. I am so happy to see her happy with Cameron, because lately she has started to grumble a little bit about babies...Cameron is very active and is always getting into her stuff. He's on the table trying to eat erasers and throwing their pencils off when they are trying to work. He also likes trying to wrestle Brianna while she is watching movies. The more she screams, the more he goes after her. I can just see the teasing already! Anyway, this darling picture reminds me that Brianna really does love Cameron!