This is a commonly occuring scene at our house. Everytime that I vacuum, Sam drags his vacuum out, turns it on and vacuums with me. What a guy! He loves vacuums, he can take the front off my vacuum and pull the bag out in two seconds flat. So, he got his own vacuum for Christmas and it is one of his favorite things!

Stella loves to be my big helper around the house. She is not so fond of the vacuum, due to the noise, but she loves my steam mop. Any chance that I will give her, she'll give the floors a good wipe down. Too bad she wears out fast!

I wish that I could say that I have the same enthusiasm for house cleaning as they do. . .I do actually enjoy cleaning the floors more now that I have a good vacuum and steam mop, they do shorten the work and make me happier. I love carpet that has that just vacuumed look to it. So, floors are one of my more favorite jobs

What are yours?

Debie tagged me last week, and here it goes. . .

1.} 10 years ago, I was graduating from BYU with my education degree, I got my first job teaching in Santaquin, Ut. I lived in Provo and commuted down to school with 4 other new teachers. I was feeling WAY to young to be working full time and to be responsible for all of those student. . .but I DID IT!

2.}5 things on my to do list today. Laundry, laundry, laundry (you get the idea) that could take my whole day, but I also need to grocery shop, make dinner for my dinner group, tackle the family room (which has been turned into a giant tent), find Sam's bedroom floor. It's doubtful thats the last one will happen today. . .

3.}My favorite Snacks. Well, it's been made known already, that I have a huge weakness for CHOCOLATE! I love peanut m&m's and chocolate covered raisins. I also love FRUIT, nectarines, peaches, cantaloupe, apples, pomegranates.

4.} Three bad habits. Do I have bad habits? hmmm. . .probably too many to count. Depends who you ask. I like to drink Diet Coke, I take my clothes off and usually drop them on the floor at night, which means I just have to pick them back up in the morning, I talk a lot (my phone is busy and it's hard for people to get through)

5.}If I was suddenly a billionaire. I would take all of our family on a great vacation and then I would pay off my house and student loan and probably just save for retirement, I love the peace of mind that would give me.

6.} Places that I have lived. Washington, Alaska, Arizona, Utah

7.} Jobs that I have had. Ran a concession stand in high school, clerk at Battelle, yearbook at Ricks, video store, fish cannery, Jacob Lake Inn, teaching, mom

8.}Things people don't know about me. This is a tricky one because I talk too much and so everyone knows too much about me. I belly dance (used to) and have fun dancing costumes, I had one semester at Ricks when I thought I should change my major and not teach, I LOVE to find great deals, I always have cold, cold feet.

This is all probably more than anyone wants to know about me, but oh well.
I tag Ben, Sara, and Adrienne

Happy Valentines Week !!



What is his name? Kyle Carter thus, KC

How long have you been together? 6 years since we met

How long did you date? about 9 mos.

How old is he? just turned, 37

Who eats more? usually him, but I've got him beat in the treat dept.

Who said I love you first? I think it was him, yes, I'm sure!

Who is taller? Well, if you know him, you realize that he is a good 8 or 9 in. taller

Who can sing better?him, by far! He gets invited to choir (not me)

Who is smarter? I'd want him around if there was an accident or injury for sure, he's very cool headed and can assess damage very well. My expertise is more in the child development area. . .PLUS he has an AMAZING memory for details.

Who does the laundry?I do

Who pays the bills? ME, unfortunately--it's my least favorite job

Who sleeps in the right side?I sleep on the side closest to the door, so I can assist crying kids in the night(though he does his fair share of that too)

Who mows the lawn? We kind of take turns, unofficially

Who cooks dinner? I cook, because I'm home, but he is a GREAT cook and takes over on the weekend (I'm lucky that way)

Who is more stubborn? ME

Who kissed who first? He did, but after I said, "don't even think that I'm going to kiss you first!" So, he stepped up. . .

Who asked who out first? BLIND DATE

Who proposed? he did

Who has more friends?well, we realize when we sent out Christmas cards this year that he has many friends, but nowdays we have lots of friends together

Who is more sensitive? Depends on the issue, he very compassionate

Who has more siblings? I have 5, he has 3

Who wears the pants? He would probably say me, but I think he has his own pair of pants too!



O.k. Meredith and Carrie, you're up next!

This morning was going along quite nicely until about 8:50, when it was time to head out the door for pre-school. I grabbed my purse and coat and then reached for the keys--only to find NONE!

I searched all the usual spots but to no avail. Thinking that perhaps one of the shorter people in our house had "helped" me to lose the keys, I sent them on a search too.

Still, NO KEYS! At this point, we are late and I am frazzled and sweaty from my exertions (and wondering why we have so darn much junk in our house and vowing to begin my de-junking tonight).

I said to Stella, "Sweetie, without keys we CAN'T get to school."
She replied, "It's o.k. Mom, just use Dad's keys."
This says 2 things about us; 1)this obviously isn't the 1st time this has happened, 2)Dad can fix ANYTHING in her eyes!

I then said,"That would work except Dad has his keys at work."
To which she replied, "Well then, just call my Nana and Papa and they will come and get me!"

The moral to this story: grandparents are the BEST!, and (like KC says)always put your keys back in the same spot!

p.s. we did make it to pre-school using a spare key and the said keys were later located in THE VAN!

Stella and Sam are animal lovers! They have been around Nana and Papa's dogs since they (the kids) were babies. Their dog is pretty docile, he lays and he sits and he eats. The kids have always followed him around thinking he is their best friend.


When Stella was about 2, KC decided it was time for a dog of our very OWN. One that we had to feed (and feed and feed), and play with and scoop poo! Some friends of ours breed golden retreivers and so, well you get the idea. . .


Before Stella's second birthday we got her all hyped up for a dog of her own. She was VERY excited and couldn't wait. KC brought home a dog (at 8 weeks)who was almost as big as her. We named him Sherman (after the tank) He licked her, jumped on her, nipped at her and soon, he wasn't her dog anymore!




Fast forward two years and here we are, with THE SHERMANATOR ! 80 lbs. of dog. Thankfully, he now sits, comes, kennels, fetches etc. If he only scooped his own doo, he would be perfect. Because as Stella tells everyone, "Sherman poops 40 lbs. of POOP!"



The kids love him and he loves them. There are still lots of licks involved on his part and some fur pulling on theirs. But we can see a long and happy future for our kids and their furry friend.


All in all, we're glad he's ours! We're glad he's stuck around through the move, no grass, no kennel for a while, the fur pulling etc. He's a pretty good sport and we love him.