I saw a link on my friend's blog for this food storage calculator and thought I'd try it out. I learned that I don't have as much food storage as I thought I did! But hey, I'm working on it, right? Seriously, it is so rewarding to know that I can prepare my family for an emergency situation. I am woman! See me dehydrate! haha Anyway, go ahead and try out this calculator. It is pretty cool, and seems very accurate.

I walked into the nursery at church today to hear one of the leaders call Porter a maniac. I am not the type to be offended, but it's harder when it has to do with one of your kids. I realize he's a crazy kid, but I just love him. Maybe he'll need to go to montesorri school. Soon. Experience with wild almost-two-year-old boys? I'd love some tips on how to help his attention span, and on how to teach him to be nice to the poor scared little boy in the nursery that he likes to pick on. help.

I have had a lot of people ask what I ended up doing with Ivy's room, and I haven't answered until now becase I just barely finished it! I painted and bought the comforter a long time ago, but I just finished getting the shelf hung, and organizing it the way I wanted. The butterfly pictures above Ivy's bed were painted by her (stole that idea from a creative friend :). I still have one print that I need to get framed to hang on the wall above the bed, and I have some cute butterfly stencils that I am going to paint around the shelf. Other than that, it's done. So, here's decorating on a shoestring!

Mom: Liv, Mya and Avery are going to have a new baby boy come to their family. They need a baby boy because they have lot of girls in their family, and Uncle Ryan is the only boy.

Ivy: But we already have a baby boy named Porter.

Mom: Yep- and now Uncle Ryan and Aunt Melanie will have a baby boy too.

Ivy: Well, maybe I could give them Porter. Maybe they will like Porter.

We had a bit of snow here in Indy, so I went out to buy some sleds on Saturday moring, and what do you know- all of the stores were sold out of sleds! What?! I had already promised Ivy we were going sledding, so I knew I would be in BIG trouble if I didn't deliver. So, we had to improvise. I tied some rope to the garbage can lids and we pulled the kids around the yard in them. They thought it was great fun! I felt it in my thighs later that night :)

I really don't want this blog to be a pity party, and I am not fishing for compliments (although they are always appreciated!) I'm really just venting. However, I am sad! I was going through some paperwork and organizing files today and came across an old driver's lisence from Utah from right after I got married. I looked fabulous (sorry to brag a bit)! I had great tan skin, long cared-for hair, and looked young and pretty. And this is a driver's license photo! Pathetic. I have got to find a way to feel pretty again :( How vain of me, right? Maybe this is just life as a mommy and bags under the eyes are the price we pay! I think a vacation to somewhere warm and tropical might help!

John, kiddos and myself went out to dinner last night for my 27th birthday! I'm really feelin' it this year. I think I even found a gray hair a few days ago. Just one year closer to 30, and I haven't accomplished half of what I thought I would by this point. I still feel like I have a lot of growing up to do. Am I really mature enough for this life I've created for myself? Well either way, I had a great birthday full of yummy food and treats, lots of emails, phone calls, and texts. I felt like a very popular lady when I looked at the time last night and realized it was midnight and I was still up texting! haha So thanks for all of the rememberances!