The List

So, I've been thinking about a new year and new resolutions. Looking back, I realized that I didn't do one thing that I wanted to do last year. NOT ONE THING!! Let's face it, last year I was just trying to survive and that I did. Things have changed the last couple months and I no longer feel like I'm just trying to survive--now I'm ready to thrive. I've been thinking about what goals would help me do just that and I couldn't pin point just one goal. I kept thinking that there are a ton of different things I could choose to do, so I did just that--I made what I like to call "The List." It has over 100 little things on it that I really want to do. I thought I'd try to blog about all the items on my list as a way to keep me motivated and accountable. I have to say that nothing on the list is very exciting (unless you consider scrubbing the oven or eating on your china dishes exciting), but I am very excited to work on and complete "The List."
Here's to a new year, a better me, and my one resolution the "The List."

My Hubby

August 17, 2009

So, I'm a cougar!! I married a younger man. I'm 2 whole months older than Case and he loves it.

I don't know which picture I find sexier. This one where Case has just changed a poopy diaper...

or this one where he's finishing the dishes. Yes, you should all be jealous of me because he does this kind of stuff ALL the time!! Lucky Lucky me!

Today is Casey's 34th birhday, so in honor of that I'm going to do all the husbands tags that have been thrown my way the last few months. I'm combining them in to the biggest tag ever. So, here is everything you probably never wanted to know about Case.......

1. How did you meet? A blind date---set up by one of his former flames

2. When is your engagement anniversary? December 5th

3. When is your wedding anniversary? March 9, 2001

4. How long have you known your spouse? 9 years

5. How long did you date before you got engaged? 5 months before we set the date, 7 months before it was "official" with a ring

6. What is your spouses full name? Casey R.A. Smith (yes, he has initials for a middle name)

7. Who said I love you first? Me

8. Do you have any kids? Yes--4

9. What do you like to do together? Watch sports and travel

10. Do you have a favorite vacation spot? Um...we wish we traveled enough to actually have a favorite spot!

11. Where did you go for your honeymoon? Kauai--it was so fun.

12. Where were you married? SLC Temple

13. What is your favorite feature of his? His smile

14. What is your favorite quality of his? His optimism, that he's a hardworker, his priorities, he's very nonjudgmental and that he rarely says anything negative about anyone.

15. Does he have a nickname for you? Babelicious, Lish, Sweetie

16. What is his favorite food? Pizza or anything that is so freakin hot I can't even look at it. Note: Neither one of his choices are things that I cook!

17. What is his favorite sport? Golf, but he loves to play all sports

18. When and where was your first kiss? On the couch at his parents house--one month after we started dating-.

19. Does he have a hidden talent? He can sing Rubber Duckie like noone else and my kids love it

20. What's his favorite type of music? 80's rock--yea baby!!

21. What do you admire most about him? That he takes such good care of our kids. He always wants to spend time with them. He's a FABULOUS daddy and that means the most to me.

22. Who is taller? Him--unless I have on a great pair of heels then I am

23. Who is smarter? That depends on the subject!

24. Who is more sensitive? ME ME ME

25. Who does the laundry? Both of us. If I get behind he'll keep on switching loads for me and dump them into my folding pile. I do all the folding and all the ironing except his--he's too picky and I get so nervous I railroad track his sleeves and stuff. He also helps me put the laundry away because I LOVE to do the wash and fold the clothes, but I hate hate hate to put it away.

26. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Case

27. Who pays the bills? Me

28. Who cooks more? ME--although Case is getting really good at pancakes, peanut butters, and mac n cheese.

29. Who is more stubborn? We both are that's for sure

30. Who is the first to admit they are wrong? Me--he would never admit to anything unless I do it first. That took me a couple years to figure out, but now even if I KNOW I'm right and I know he KNOWS I'm right, I still apologize first. I guess that makes him more stubborn!

31. Who is more clean? Is there such a thing with 4 kids??

32. Who wears the pants? I think we have a very equal partnership. That's one of the things I love best about our relationship

33. Who eats more sweets? ME

34. Guilty pleasures? Ben and Jerry's half-baked ice cream!

OK--if you actually read all that I'm impressed. Now I don't have to feel guilty about all these lingering tags.

Happy Birthday Sweetie!! I love your guts!!!

ME

Monday, July 6th

Tonight I went for a run around the Bountiful temple. I was so caught up in the beauty of the sunset. The deep oranges and purples reflecting off the lake just took my breath away.

I remembered A LOT of things while I was on my jog. I remembered that I need to mail the car payment, I remembered that I need to post something nice about myself, I remembered why I missed Bountiful so much and why I spent seven years longing for it's beauty, I remembered a family home evening with the kids, and I remembered what it feels like to be ME. After 2 long years, there have been several times that I've wondered if I would ever have that feeling again. Tonight I did.

It was fantastic, brilliant, wonderful, happy, motivating, and energizing. It was...ME!

I was so excited that I felt like I needed to reintroduce me to me and I did--over and over again. I kept telling myself--"This is you...this is you...this is you!" I hope I got the point because I really like having ME around.

A few weeks ago, we had FHE on the grounds of the Bountiful Temple. We talked about eternal families and told the kids how we met, fell in love, what we love about each other, and how wonderful it is to be sealed in the temple.

When it was Casey's turn to tell the girls about meeting me and what he liked about me, I was listening very eagerly to hear all the nice things about me. Unfortunately, I spent more time trying to keep the boys IN the temple gates, but OUT of the water fountains. I did manage to hear a few tidbits and this is what he said.

The first time he came to my house to get me, Case remembers me walking across the landing and coming down the front stairs. As I came floating down the stairs he thought I was so tall and gorgeous with my dark hair and dark eyes. I had to smile when he said he thought I was tall because I remember thinking he was so short--which he can't believe. After meeting his dad and brothers, I can understand why he "thinks" he's tall. The girls just thought this was so "romantic" and were beaming with smiles from ear to ear. I've always liked my brown hair and hazel eyes and even more since that is what got me my handsome man.

So, here are 3 nice things about myself

1. I'm tall--but not too tall

2. I have dark eyes--just wish they were bigger

3. I have dark hair--good thing too because I couldn't handle the root thing

So, here's to the tall, dark-eyed, dark-haired ME--who actually showed up this week. I'm so glad to have ME back!

My Little Get Away

Case had a conference in Vegas this week. They were putting him up in a 5 star hotel, so he thought I could get away and relax for a few days. He actually told me to bring some work from the office because he thought I'd be bored hanging out by myself all day. Who is he kidding?? 4 days just to relax...they flew by!!!


I slept in every morning (if you can call 7 or 8 sleeping in). I would head to the gym for a couple hours, then head to the pool and read.
Then I would come back and take a nap in the most comfortable bed I've slept in, wake up for dinner and snuggle up in bed to read some more.

It may not seem like fun to you, but it was so fun for me to be so relaxed.

It was also fun to spend a little time with Case. Thanks Sweetie for letting me tag along. I had a fabulous week doing absolutely nothing!! And thanks Grandma and Nick & Annie for taking care of my little treasures.

Did I mention that I slept and read---A LOT!?!?!

And then, I returned to Paradise!!

My Vision

One day I was telling Casey about vision boards (as seen on Oprah of course). He has been on me for months to get some boards to put our "visions" on. I'm hoping that posting this blank board will actually motivate me to fill it up with things I hope to happen.

(See Melissa, I really was painting and sanding)

Coupon Geek!!

I have turned into the BIGGEST coupon geek!!

He Remembered!!

He remembered!! Case actually remembered my "mom" day. He had an early tee time for a tournament at Valley View this morning. When I came up to make breakfast, there were 2 boxes of doughnuts sitting on the counter!! He hasn't been the most sensitive soul this week, so I am more than thrilled he remembered--and made the trek to the grocery store at 6 am. I guess it balances out the week!! Even better was hearing Livie ask Hallie if she was going to have another doughnut and Hallie saying "No, there's way too much sugar in these. I'll have something healthy." Too bad Diddy didn't get the memo--he can't shovel the doughnuts in fast enough!! I gotta run--I don't need to waste the day doing this.