An AH-HA moment

I've always felt that most people probably see me as an underachiever. I'm fine with it. I agree for the most part. I have always had big plans for myself but I keep putting them off saying I will do them soon and then feel guilty that I've done so little. I see people in my ward that are doing all these things that make me feel like I'm so far behind. I have friends that have gone back to school, graduated and have now applied for masters programs. I have friends that are hyper-organized and work out daily. I have friends that have 5 kids, a full time job and still manage to seem happy and relaxed. You name it I have a friend that can do it. Then, there's me. I want to go back to school, I want to start my own Catering business, I want to be a photographer, I want to be a glass blower, I want to be on a roller derby team, and I want to be a great mom. All these things stress me out on a daily basis. Then the other morning while blog-stalking while feeding Ewan, I read this.

AH-HA!

Why should I feel guilty not doing all of these things NOW? I am so blessed and happy to have such wonderful kids and a husband that makes it possible for me to put off everything else and just be their mom. So I've decided to be happy with where I am. To all of you over-achievers out there, more power to ya. I'm going to be happy just being a mom.

Hunter's Birthday

It's official...I'm a horrible mom.


Hunter turned 9 LAST month. There was no "Happy Birthday Hunter!" post with all the cute baby pictures (he was a CUTE baby). There was no "Hunter's birthday party" post when he had his party 4 days later. all because I am lazy and I didn't want to walk to the car and get the camera. So here it is a month later...


just pretend that it's his birthday -k-


Hunter had been so excited to have his birthday party. He had been counting down for months! All he wanted to do was play laser tag again. We told him he could invite 4 friends. 3 showed up (RSVP PEOPLE!!!)and I was tempted to call one of the other 30 friends he wished he could invite, but they just opened presents and as soon as Greg and Grandpa arrived, they headed off to Classic Fun Center in Sandy. I stayed home with Red and Ewan. Hopefully next year I can go and enjoy the chaos. They had so much fun! Hunter repeatedly if we could go for a "fun family night" there some time. It was a great easy party and I think even Kirk, Greg , and Ralph had fun!

Traditional birthday breakfast

Cool rubber band gun from Kobe

Nerf gun from Josh and Ethan

Killing time playing Connect 4x4

His gift from us

I love his reactions! He usually pretends to faint.

Thanks for the birthday cake Kathryn!

I think this was Hunter's favorite part

Go Ralph!

And the stockings were hung...

on a window with flair. This year I decided that we needed new stockings. I never was really happy with our old ones so it was about time I got on it. I had made an ornament out of felt years ago and I loved how it turned out. I thought I would try the same technique on a stocking. and I actually thought ahead and took pictures while I was doing it! Just in case you want to see close up pictures of my hands...maybe you're into that kind of thing. Whatever floats your boat.

I started by making a pattern and cutting out the basic stocking...

I then sewed together the stocking, a contrasting felt and the pattern...

after ripping off the pattern I cut away the excess...

more cutting....

Cassia's finished stocking (my favorite)

Red's

Ewan's (my least favorite. Maybe I'll have to redo this one next year)

Hunter's


Overall I love them. I even made black glitter chipboard letters to go on each one with their initials. I haven't decided it they made the cut... What do you think? Add the initial?

______Sucks!

Most of you know that I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer back in August but I haven't said much about it. Well, here comes the rant. I have just started down the road of treatment. The treatment is a lot better than a lot of other cancers but I think it still sucks. About a week and a half ago I stopped taking my synthroid (which will make me hypothyroid and cause side effects: possible weight gain, sensitivity to hot or cold weather, and feeling very tired) and started a low iodine diet. I never realized how many things have iodine in them!

I can't have:

iodized salt and sea salt

all dairy products

Margarine

Egg yolks

Seafood (I'm not too upset about that one!)

Foods that containcarrageen, agar-agar, algin or alginate (o...k...)

Cured and corned foods (ham, bacon, sausage, corned beef, tuna, etc)

Marinated chicken or turkey

dried fruit

canned vegetables

bread products that contain iodate dough conditioners (what is that?)

Chocolate (kill me now)

molasses

soy products (soy sauce, soy milk, tofu)

Foods that contain red dye #3

I can have:

egg whites

fresh chicken, turkey and beef

black pepper and herbs

homemade bread made without iodized salt and milk

most fresh fruits and veggies

frozen veggies

canned peaches, pears, and pineapple

unsalted nuts

unsalted matzo crackers and unsalted rice cakes (I know you're jealous)

clear sodas

coffee or tea

popcorn popped in an air popper

sorbet

Basically I can't have any processed food. That kinda sucks! I have to make everything from scratch. I'm not a make everything from scratch kinda person! I like my life easy and yummy. Not happening.

I have to be on this diet till my TSH levels get to 20-30. I just called and got the results of my latest blood work....drum roll please.....0.3....SUCK!!!!! I asked the nurse how long she thought it would be till my levels were right. She said some peoples changes rapidly others...well...you know...but she guessed about 2 1/2 weeks. THAT SUCKS! I am going out of my mind here. I want to be able to pick up pizza when it's been a crazy day! I want to start the day off with a donut and a diet coke! I want ice cream! I want a sandwich! *calming breath*

Once my TSH levels are right I will have a I-131 scan. I will ingest radioactive iodine and been isolated for about 3 days. We are shipping the kids off to the grandmas. I will go back in and hopefully the RAI has killed all the thyroid tissue.

I am just so ready for this whole SUCKY situation to be over. I don't want to have cancer anymore. I want to eat and drink what I like. I want to plan a week in advance and not need to wonder if I will be radioactive at the time. I want to plan the rest of my life without the fear of it coming back...but we don't always get what we want because, well you guessed it....sometimes life SUCKS.

Ewan's Quilt

I'm so excited to get Ewan's quilt! I had picked out the fabric and a pattern but was stressed about getting it done. So, my sister-in-law Amy did it for me. We had a whole trade/pay it forward thing going. As "payment" for catering and photographing her daughter's birthday party, she pieced it for me. As payment to her mother, Shari, for the quilting, she made her mom's ornaments. I love how it turned out! I am a little disappointed in one of my fabric choices but I still love it!

See his name? I love that!

Can you tell which fabric I don't like?

I've always machine quilted my quilts myself. Never again! Shari is amazing! I need to start thinking of a "payment" for the quilting on the next quilt!

Ornament Exchange

I am part of an ornament exchange. It's a group of 12 family and friends, and their family and friend, and their..well you get the point, that get together once a year, have dinner, talk for hours and exchange home made ornaments. I look forward to this every year! It's such a fun group of women. It is always fun to see the ideas people come up with!

Here is the bounty:

sorry some of them are hard to see

And here is the one I made:

I got the idea here

Aren't they all so cute? Which one is your favorite?

A Name and a Blessing

We blessed Ewan on November 1 (I'm a little behind). I was so great to see him blessed by his dad! Kirk did great job. We had a great time with family after. But too bad I didn't get many pictures!