I was tagged

for a Stylish Blogger award. Thanks Devri! I'm not so stylish and certainly not the best blogger, but part of the tag was to tell you seven facts about me. So, here you go.

1. I cannot keep a secret. True story.
2. I love to read. I try to read every day.....sometimes instead of keeping up my house.
3. I don't like being late for things. Sometimes I am late, but I don't like it, and I try really hard to be early.
4. I've never dyed my hair.
5. I cannot do a cartwheel.
6. I love to cook. It doesn't matter what: sauteing, frying, baking, I like it all. Although I'm currently partial to carbs.
7. I have been in more than half of the 50 states in our country (and lived in 4 of them).

I know, I know, cruise posts and pictures are coming, but I am waiting for some more pictures that should be coming soon.

Cruise (pre-cruise really)

Our goal (Clint and I) was to get up early Friday morning, drive to Blackfoot, spend a few hours with the kids and then leave for our drive to San Diego with my brother and sister and their spouses. Thursday night about 12:30, Chani woke up puking. She threw up a few more times in the night (only getting the bedding the first time) and when we woke in the morning, she and I were both sick. Emery threw up once as well (but it was just sympathy sickness). We got on the road a little later than we planned, and I didn't do a great job of remembering everything. The kids didn't have winter coats (sorry, Grandma), but I did remember the kids and the buckets and baby wipes. Chani threw up 7 times in the car, and I was so worried about leaving her sick with Grandma and Grandpa. I was also sick in the car, but Emery was fine. As we pulled into the driveway, Chani woke from a 2 hour nap. I asked how she was, and she said, "I feel pretty great and my tummy doesn't hurt at all." I was so relieved. Phew! No throwing up for Grandma. We got some dinner (toast and applesauce) and Clint went for a run. We put the kids to bed and headed to Salt Lake with my sister Sally and her husband Kevin. We arrived in SLC about 11 PM. We had a bathroom break and then back in the car. We stopped at the outskirts of Las Vegas for gas, and then again in Victorville for breakfast. We arrived in San Diego at the pier with only a bit of GPS trouble (the parking garage was not where the dang GPS told us it was). We were on the ship by 11:30 AM. Our luggage didn't arrive to our stateroom until after 4 PM though, so it was a fast dash to be ready for dinner.

A family pic (or a sneak preview of the cruise pictures)

I love this picture. Everyone is smiling, with their eyes open, and looking at the camera. And, we all look so sharp. It was a hilarious photo shoot, and the poor photographer--let's just say we're nearly impossible. In this picture there are 2 sons and 6 daughters. Can you tell which are originals and which married in?



It's funny that Jason is the tallest one in the picture. He must be standing on the pillow.

PS this is the dress I made especially for the cruise.

50 years

My parents celebrated 50 years of marriage last Thursday (March 17). These pictures ran in the paper with this little blurb. (cruise posts will come later....when my world stops rocking.)



Cordell and Judy Stewart were married on March 17, 1961 in Salt Lake City , Utah . They are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on their way to being forever together. Along the way they’ve lived in 7 states, and have 11 children. They now have 26 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. They still like each other enough to celebrate this milepost on a cruise to the Mexican Riviera accompanied by their children along with their spouses. Congratulations Grammy and Papa, we love you!

Am I crushing Chani's potential?

Remember this post?

Chani always wants to take the harmonica in the car when we go places. I won't let her. My sister tells me that if I'd let her practice, she could become this talented.

Help me!

Apparently, I have not done a good job of keeping my head ducked in this new stake. I just got a call from a member of the Stake Relief Society Presidency. They are doing some stake classes and want me to teach one. I need some help, though. The class is about Healthy dips and snacks. I have a few tricks up my sleeve, but any tips or recipes you have, I would love for you to share. Healthy snacks and healthy dips. Got it? Thanks a million!

When you've been married for 10 years......

The other day, Emery was folding some towels for me. He pulled out one of my flour sack towels, and told me it needed to be thrown in the trash. He said, "Look mom, it's all full of holes. Why do you still have it." I think this might be because I said the same thing about his favorite Scooby Doo t-shirt the other day. To be fair, I don't wear the dish towel, and Emery did just get a new super cool pirate shirt.



When you've been married for 10 years, this is what some dish towels look like. They don't all look like this. My sister made me some very nice (huge) ones a couple of years ago, and they don't have any holes. And, I only use these towels for covering yeast dough. They're not so effective for drying things.

Chani's haircut

Chani's hair has been getting longer and longer. She keeps asking for a haircut (since I do the boys hair every few weeks). It also gets scraggly very often, and she tells me (instead of wanting me to do it) "I want to look ragamuffin today." So, today she got a trim. It was probably a 3 inch trim. It's a very cute bob, which I love on her.

BEFORE:


AFTER:

The final countdown.......

In one week we're headed to Mexico. Well, almost. Next Friday we drive to Idaho to drop Emery and Chani off with Grandma and Grandpa (Clint's parents) and then drive to California to board our cruise ship that will take us to Mexico. Yay! My parents are celebrating their 50th anniversary, and all of my siblings and their spouses (living) will be with them.

I feel like I'm running out of time to get things done. And, because I'm pregnant, I keep having bad dreams. In the first one, we showed up at the dock with our kids. In the second dream, I dreamed we got to the port and we had missed the boat. In the third, we made it to the boat without the kids, and without my luggage. 7 days in the sun and sand, and I didn't even have a bathing suit. The dreams aren't much worse than the reality that 1-nothing fits, and 2-I'm in that in between stage, not big enough pregnant to be cute, just pudgy and frumpy.

I've started making piles and started a sanity list for Clint's parents, but I am behind. My house is a DISASTER and I have at least 3 appointments to squeeze in before next Friday gets here. I need to get to the library to return the books that will be due, and fill my reading bag for the boat. I wonder if 8 books is enough? In addition to 2 days of preschool and 2 days of babysitting, how will I make it? I also need some "non-beach" flip-flops to wear to dinner, and a few more summery shirts.

On the flip side, I have enough capris and shorts to wear (thanks Kaynel), and I finished my formal dress. I know what size shorts Clint needs, and just have to pick them up (and hope they have his skinny size). I have all day tomorrow to run around trying to get things picked up and dropped off.

I'm so excited. I'm looking forward to the food, the warm summery sun, and spending time with my family. I will miss the kids terribly, but they are thrilled to get a whole week with Grandma and Grandpa. I just hope that Grandma and Grandpa still love us when this is over.

Tips and tricks? Please share anything you've got!

dinner?

We're feeding the missionaries tomorrow night. What should I fix? Please don't say pasta, my husband is pasta-ed out.

Because I'm keeping it real......

Today I'm "the really meanest mom there ever was."