to do

1.
read this
....for the first time.

like those who have gone before

with only a "little" help

2.
of course i'll fit in lots of "visiting" with dallin

and make sure to offer easy access to the cheerios, ricemilk and straws. 3.
oh...and i should take care of this too.

wish me luck.

i'm hanging on the bandwagon for dear life

for this:


not that i'm a twerd...

just a wannabe.


i'm just thankful for this newly greenified spot:


....and 75 degree weather in NOVEMBER!


now to decide what to bring for potluck...any bright ideas?

when a bloody nose is funny...

i always have a sticky note handy. when the funny words come flying out of Justin's mouth i want to be ready to catch them. today, i did.

while in time-out (an unfortunate frequent thing for Justin...his mommy is just picky about not being talked to in a meanie way) anyways, while Justin was in for it...

he was being "picky" in his very own way.

the yucky kind of picky. i didn't see it, but i made a few assumptions. when he called out in desperation for a band-aid, i ignored him. yup. i assumed it was the typical distraction tactic of a boy in time out or pathetic plea for early release. plus, i didn't hear any crying. i imagined a sad hangnail or paper cut or something of the sort. there he remained. eventually he was freed. it was then that i saw the reason for the desired band-aid. justin got his first bloody nose (which i am NOT going to note in his baby book...which is mostly blank anyways.) he had wanted a band-aid for his nose....but had since changed his mind about wanting a band-aid, which i can only assume.

i noted, "justin, you had a bloody nose. can you go to the bathroom and wash it off?

then, he replied in the most genuine tone,

"can i leave this until halloween?"

"why," i quizzed.

then, he expounded,

"because, I want to be a vampire for halloween!
then i could suck my own blood."

i hope not to have scarred him for life, but, i laughed. a lot. hard.

after taking his bi-monthly bath, his childhood dream was washed down the drain with the the dirty bathwater. but, now that he knows how to painlessly produce blood, this is probably NOT going to be the end of the yucky tale.

so, i thank justin for adding some enjoyment to my day. a day when i got to: dance with two of my lovely children, waste nap time on the computer, prepare food for all, listen to lovely music on KZION, read wonderful blogs, smooch Dallin's chubby body, read stories to little anna, feed the mom juice to dallin many times, mop the filthy floor, run numerous loads of laundry and stare out my sliding glass door and enjoy the NEW scenery....and i'm NOT talking about the rapidly reproducing fingerprints!


isn't life beautiful...
and wonderfully hillareous in a gross kind of way!?!?

(photography courtesy of Justin Morris.)

i did something hard today....

i was thinking.

well, at least Ralph said it was hard. i just think it was fun.

"What is the hardest thing in the world? To think."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have been thinking about the power of our thoughts/how we think about things and what we can create in our lives. Basically,
I have been thinking about thoughts.

This is mainly regarding to the power of our thoughts to create satisfying and wonderful circumstance. I can't remeber the exact quote but it basically said, You can't always change your circumstances, just the way you think about them. I've been trying this lately and have LOVED the results...less drugery, more pleasant feelings about daily things like laundry, changing diapers, mounds of dirty dishes and waking up at 6a.m. to workout. Just for fun I thought I would record what has been going on in my brain.

I just wish I had a thinking chair like Steve and could project my thoughts above my head.

From this point on I share nothing deep here, just a random sampling of what I thought about today. I present to you: thoughts from me, mom of 3, having a regular day...full of RANDOM thoughts.

My random thoughts:
9:30 Will this be interesting to anyone but me? Well, at least sometime in the future I'll enjoy knowing what was going on today in my mind today.

10:30 I just finished nursing and hugging Dallin. I just wish I could preserve the smell of Dallin's milk breath in a jar to smell later when I really miss it. I just love to constantly smell his warm little breath. wierd, i know. :)

I LOVE Ether chapter 4 (which is what I read today) and think Moroni is a stud!

I got a calling last week in our newly formed ward as primary secretary in my ward...I already enjoy it probably because I really love creating documents and routines... and I love the kids too.

2:30 I just got back from a 2 hour primary presidency meeting and I'm thinking about the many documents I need to create and modify before Sunday...and I need to create the roles...I also think I need to wear more comfortable shoes to church on Sunday. I had no Idea all of the running around that would be required. I see visions of white sneakers, socks over nylons and a knee length skirt. I'm not serious...but it sure sounds comfy.

I was just realizing that Dallin is wearing the pj's I put on him Sunday night. That's probably gross to you. I'm just amazed that his diaper hasn't leaked in 2 full days.

I'm wondering whether or not I should buy that kids kitchen set at the Pickled Peppers consignment sale. (Which I LOVE to frequent when they have their bi-annual sale...and I LOVE the location. )Its a cute wood one, the type they use in a preschool for only 60 bucks. If I do, I should sell some stuff to clear out space and earn the money to justify the purchase...

I wonder what else I can sell and how much to charge for several things I've already gathered to sell. I can just hear it now..."mommy, why are you taking all of my toys to that big garage sale!?!?.

3:45 How much longer Dallin will be sleeping...he's been asleep for an hour.

I marvel at the fact that mopping the floor was 1st on my to-do list and it still hasn't gotten done...yet.

I'm wondering what I am going to make for dinner....something with rice since it's already cooked. Maybe stir fry...again. I really wish I had some salmon to cook for tonight.

Weather or not I'll give our parents calendars w/ my kids on them for Christmas this year.

3:55 I was thinking how the back door is wide open! That means that Fall weather has finally blown in! I'm so excited. I think I am even ready to put out fall decorations.

I'm wondering when I'm going to get around to organizing the office...that's been on my to do list for months.

Where I'm going to get my hair cut next. I wish I had a regular hair lady!

I wonder when I'm going to finish handing out the thank you notes from my baby shower from a month ago1!?! (sorry to all you out there.)

4:00 Should I pick Anna up or feed her since she is tapping and clawing at my leg and saying deet (eat) in her saddest voice?

O.K., she's crying on my leg now I guess I'd better ....wait, she gave up, walked away, got a stool and has found a kiwi. I wonder how that will go. yum.:0} One bite out of the kiwi. She just brought me a bag of pitas instead. Smart girl.

I just remembered that I need to change over the laundry from this morning. I thought I was going to run laundry all day. Oops.

4:20 How I need to get off of the computer and start on dinner, use the restroom, mop the floor, change the laundry over, price my stuff and turn off t.v. I looked over at Justin who is completely absorbed in Arthur. I'm thankful it has occupied him for 20 minutes so far.

10:00 p.m Final thoughts: I'm just so happy I get to go to bed...and do it all over again tomorrow. Oh...and I think it's wonderful how Patrick just changed over the laundry from this morning without me even asking...I thought I was going to get to that. I guess not. Oh well.

I leave you with a thought from dear Buddha.
“What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow: Our life is the creation of our mind.” Buddha.

So...what's been on your mind lately???

by the way, i did get the fun kitchen set. i have the perfect spot for it and am excited to set it up.

Fun For All!

Justin and Afton Larkin. A perfect pair on the teeter totter!

There's lots and lots of fun to be had by all at the "cowboy park" in Mountains edge.
It was our first time there and we absolutely loved that park!
It was definitely worth the drive to be there with Angie (my bestest best friend), Katina(Angie's sis) and her ward play group!

While at the "cowboy park" I looked over to see several of the little girls we were with joined around Anna, teaching her colors with their lolly pops as visual aids. It was so precious. This doesn't stop when girls turn into women, does it!?!?