All Dressed Up and Ready To Go!

Today I was working and after hearing what was a bunch of noise behind me, I turned around and found Hailey looking like this:


Apparently she was "getting ready to go" as she explained when I asked her why she was all dressed up. She told me she had to go to the store to get some "groceys" (or groceries for the rest of us). She was all dressed up complete with two purses, her bear backpack, a tool belt, and her tigger slippers. She kept walking around the family room telling everyone goodbye and that she was going to the store and going to be back in a little bit. It was the cutest thing, I just had to take a picture!

July 24th - Pioneer Day

This year's Pioneer Day Celebration was really fun. Every year Uncle Bubby does a firework extravaganza affectionately entitled "The Big Show." This year we decided to do it at our house and the kids had a blast! Even though the older "kids" though they were too old for fireworks, they really got into it. Although if you ask them, they were just getting the sparklers ready for the kids.

Our kids had the most fun with the sparklers. Hailey was a bit hesitant at first, but once we got her to hold one, she was having a blast moving it around in the air. She kept saying, "Look Mom, I'm making circles" as she twirled it in the air. Zach loved it too and was running around swirling and twirling his sparkler.














After the pops and the sparklers were gone, Uncle Bubby put on his firework show. The kids were happy that there was really only 1 really loud one - our kids are not big on loud noises. Zach had a fun time picking out the next one with Aunt Afton for Uncle Bubby to light.

Meanwhile, Hailey spent the whole time on Papa's lap, nice and wrapped up in a blanket.

Thanks Uncle Bubby and Aunt Afton for all the time and money in putting on The Big Show - the kids are still talking about it today and they can't wait for next year.

Explanations of Spreadsheets and Drawings

Ok, since Genny asked I'll explain my references in my last posting. You see, I have this spreadsheet. Actually, just calling it a spreadsheet seems like less than adequate, although that's really all it is - a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet. But, it contains all of my finances - not only that but has a list of all of the gifts we've given people since we've been married (birthdays, anniversaries, chrismas', etc.) and a whole lot more. My brother likes to tease me about having my whole life programmed into that spreadsheet. I usually take offense, but to be honest, he's probably right. I have lists of things I want to do, things I have to pay, even a schedule of the family christmas lists for the past 5 years in that one file! It's sad to be honest, but it's a handy place for me to keep track of everything I need to. There are few things that would really put me into a panic if I lost and I have to say that this spreadsheet ranks in the top 10.

As far as the drawing in CT goes. Jeremiah and I were walking through the mall one day not long after we were married and we were flagged down by one of those guys with the clipboard - you know the ones I'm talking about. They wander around the center section of the mall where they get your attention (if you're stupid enough to make eye contact) and then beckon you over to have you listen to the latest spiel about some new, fancy product. Well, we fell into the trap and found ourselves being talked into entering a drawing for a free home security system. Thinking that we never win anything, we entered just to get the guy to let us go and get on with our shopping. We didn't think anything about it, but low and behold, 2 months later we got a phone call out of the blue stating that we had won a complete security system with service paid for like 6 months or something. That was fine and dandy, except that we were renting and had a clause in our rental contract stating we could not make any structural changes to the condo we were renting. After explaining to the person on the phone that we couldn't use it, she was completely surprised and asked us why we even entered the drawing in the first place. We explained that we were being polite and that their sales person would basically not take no for an answer. We told her to go ahead and give the prize to the next drawn person. She was less than enthusiastic, but agreed to pass it to the next person. So basically, that's the only thing we have ever won and of course, we couldn't even use it!

Tagged ...

I am: Jerilyn Downs Hawks
I think: the best sound in the world is the sound of my children laughing
I know: I am blessed far more than I deserve
I want: to organize and keep track of everything (ask me about my spreadsheet sometime)
I have: a wonderful husband and two beautiful children
I wish: my husband was home with us all the time (he's off of school for the summer and we're getting spoiled)
I hate: not having my house clean, especially when we have company
I miss: having time to sit and read
I fear: I won't be good at things I do (especially at being a wife and mother)
I feel: blessed to have everything we do
I hear: Little Einsteins and Barney (my kids like to watch different things)
I smell: Goldfish (which are sitting right next to me as Hailey is snacking)
I crave: cheese and fruit
I search: for easier ways to do things
I wonder: when my kids will quit fighting with each other
I regret: yelling at my kids (I obviously do this a little too often)
I love: spending time with my family, organizing anything, and blogging
I care: about my family
I always: worry about being prepared for the future
I believe: that with a little hard work you can accomplish anything
I dance: never - I hate too left feet!
I sing: only to the kids and when no one else is around
I don't always: clean my oven as often as I should (this is on my mind because I just did it after going forever with it dirty)
I fight: with myself about letting things go (I'm a perfectionist and always want to do everything perfectly, even when it's not physically possible)
I write: on my blog more than anything else
I lose: hardly anything - my motto is everything has a place and everything in it's place
I win: only things I can't use (ask me sometime about the drawing we entered in CT)
I never: leave my house messy, even if I'm just going to the store
I listen: to country music (when I get a chance)
I am scared of: snakes and not living up to my full potential
I need: enough time in the day to get everything done
I am happy about: the fact that my family is healthy and happy
I tag: Holli Downs, Afton Downs, and Kylie Downs (soon to be Cherry)

Home Improvement and Organization

I am usually laughed at by my family (immediate and extended) when I get excited about organizing things. No one can seem to understand it (I don't understand it myself to be honsest). But I love to organize things - whether in the house, out in the garage, outside in the flower beds, or even my sock drawer - I am addicted to organizing. I even jumped at the chance to organize the primary manuals and pictures we have in our ward primary. Now who in their right mind would get excited about doing that??? Sadly, I have to admit it would be me.

Well, the last couple of months I have been making a list of home improvement projects I wanted to tackle this year (hey, at least it wasn't a spreadsheet!). We always try to do some sort of improvement to the house every year. Instead of a big thing, which we have typically done in the past, I decided it would be a good year to do a bunch of little things. Since Jeremiah is home this summer, I thought it would be a good time to get a bunch of them done (I think Jeremiah might have had other thoughts). So we've been working hard getting some of these things checked off our list (yes, I'm a list person too, but that's another story). Anyway, today we decided to hang cupboards in the pantry and put up a pegboard and work surface for Jeremiah's tools in the garage. Thank goodness my Dad, brother Taylor, and soon to be brother-in-law Jedd offered to help us with the pantry cupboards while they were down watching Zachary's t-ball game today. I can only imagine how crazy it would have been for Jeremiah and I trying to do it all ourselves. Thanks to all of you that helped, we really appreciate it! I have to say that both projects turned out great. Here are a few pictures:












For those of you who don't know or might not remember, we only had one wimbly little wire shelf above our washer and dryer - so these cupboards are a definite improvement. Not only do we get more storage, but they look a lot nicer too. And the garage is a bit more finished now with the pegboard and work surface.

I do have to say though, that the best part of both projects was being able to organize everything into the cupboards and on the pegboard. My wonderful husband was just more than happy to let me do it all by myself. I think he's learned that I thrive on organizing and that letting me do it myself is more of a gift to me than trying to help. And he's even smarter than that - he's realized that when I'm all done and pull him over to show him what I've done, he acts very excited and praises me for my good job - even if he could care less and doesn't care how it looks. Is he good to me or what?

"GIRLS ONLY" Special Day with Aunt Kylie

Today was Hailey and Aunt Kylie's special day together. They have been planning it for over a month now. Aunt Kylie came down and just she and Hailey went out for a fun afternoon. They went to lunch and then to Build-a-bear where Hailey got to pick out her very own bear. She was able to see it made - as she likes to explain, she watched them put the fluffy white stuff inside and then sew it up. She also got to pick out an outfit for the bear. Of course the outfit she chose would have something to do with princesses since she is so into that right now. Aunt Kylie helped her find an outfit that had princesses on the shirt and boy was she in heaven. I don't think she put the bear down all day or quit smiling all afternoon and evening. In fact, during dinner, she had to sit the bear on the floor next to her chair so that she could keep an eye on her bear the whole time she was eating. Hailey is such a girl and she loves to spend time with her aunts. Thanks Aunt Kylie for taking her out for a special girly day - she had a blast!

Just like Dad

Our kids look up to their Dad so much, they are always wanting to do what he does, go where he goes, and now wear what he wears. This morning when they got up and came downstairs, Daddy gave them each a piece of his clothing to wear. Even though the clothes drowned them, they were so excited and kept running around saying they were just like Daddy.