January

We had a great start to 2013. Despite a few bouts with vomiting and some colds, we had a decent month. A few highlights from the month…

Bailey started nursery. Technically she isn’t supposed to go in until she turns 18-months on February 6th, but I decided that it was time for her to go in anyway. She was a total champ, and loves it in there. It doesn’t hurt that David is now in there with her. The boundaries of some wards in our stake were rearranged the 2nd Sunday of this month. We are in a brand new ward that was created, called Creekside ward. We meet in a new building, and our boundaries are much smaller, but we love the ward. We didn’t really gain any new families, and we pretty much have all of our friends (minus a few) in our ward still. So we are hoping to be able to find a house in the ward boundaries to buy when the time is right. Tucker sill loves church and Primary which makes David and I happy. I have the same calling that I had in our old ward, Ward Music Chairman. I was a little hesitant at first, but I am excited now to get things going. The third Sunday this month Tucker started throwing up in the morning, so I stayed home with him. David and Bailey went to church. Then, that evening David’s best friend, Scott, was up in Portland visiting family. So David took Bailey and headed up there to visit for awhile.

We put our first ever offer on a house this month. Unfortunately we didn’t get it. When we put our offer in, there were no other offers on the table. Within 2-days of submitting our offer, we found out that more offers had come in. It turned out that the bank wanted us all to submit our highest/best offer. So we submitted our best, and someone beat us out. So, it just wasn’t meant to be. However, it was an interesting process to go through. Now that we have done it once, we know what to expect for the next one.

The kids and I headed down to California on the 25th to spend the weekend with my brother and his family for my nieces baptism. My Dad was also in town taking care of some health insurance stuff that he had to do in person. My Dad and my brother, Mike, picked the kids and I up from the airport. It made me so happy that Tucker gave Grandpa a big hug right away, and Bailey went right to him. We enjoyed spending time with Mike and his family, and my brother BJ and his family. On Saturday, Katherine, Mike’s second daughter, got baptized. I was so glad that we could be there to support her. It was so cute after she got baptized, Tucker’s response was, “Wow, that was awesome!” Sunday Bailey woke up really sick. She had a fever and was throwing up. So, Tucker went to church with Mike and Tory and the girls. They said he did really well in Primary, so that made me happy. Bailey and I stayed at the house and just got some rest. Poor girl had a rough go on Sunday, but Grandpa came over after Sacrament and Bailey was all sorts of ready to snuggle on him. Despite her being sick, we were able to enjoy some more family time on Sunday.

So, all in all, January was a good month. I am excited for February to see what it has in store for us. Most importantly we will get our tax returns so that could make for some fun stuff.

New Years Resolutions

Every year, I try and make resolutions. For the most part, I fail! This year I decided to really figure out why I fail, and change it. I realized that it is because I never do baby steps, I always set the highest of goals, and then fail immediately. So, here are my resolutions for 2013…

 

Lifestyle: I have done really well this last year of exercising regularly. I go to the gym at least 4 times a week. That is why I made this a 2-part resolution. Along with exercising regularly, I need to eat better. Just because I am working out, doesn’t mean that it will totally compensate for all of the crap I tend to eat.

 

 

 

Finance: The goal this year is to get and keep our finances in order. Find a budget that works for us, and stick to it. Wherever this year takes us, we want to be able to afford it and enjoy it.

 

 

 

Spiritual: This year I would like to read my scriptures more. Included in that I would like to read more of the ensign. In addition to reading my scriptures, David and I have made a goal to attend the temple at least quarterly, if not more. I also need to be more regular at my own personal prayer.

 

 

 

Productivity: I need to be way more productive with my time. Be it that I am on a better cleaning schedule, or I am being more proactive with doing schools stuff with Tucker. I need to make better use of my time.

Santa and the Carousel

Bailey’s first ride on a carousel.She loved it. When the horse started moving she got a little uneasy, but quickly got over it and enjoyed it.

  

Bubba loved it as always…

Bailey would have nothing to do with Santa unless we were sitting with her.

Getting Ready for Christmas

We have our house all decorated for Christmas. Well, at least as decorated as it will be this year with a 1-year old who wants to climb on everything, and pull anything down! It makes for some interesting days here. Anyway, the house looks pretty and festive. We decorated the tree after Bailey went to bed. Shortly after she woke up the next morning, we moved all of the lower decorations to the top half of the tree. Notice the gate in the background of the picture… That gate was surrounding the tree, and she still managed to get ornaments off. I must say, her face was very proud and priceless when she walked into my room hold 4 bulb ornaments in her hands. It’s a good thing she is cute.

Today I decided to do some holiday baking. The kids were all to willing to help me, and extremely anxious! We made hot chocolate stirers (spoons dipped in chocolate and then candy canes or marshmallows), cookies and hot chocolate.

 

As I was finishing up cleaning the kitchen, the kids were very quiet. As much as I wanted to just relish the moment, I thought I should check on them. I was pleased to find this. They were playing so well together. It made me smile!

Missed the boat this year

Well, it wasn’t for a lack of things to be grateful for. It was more for a lack of time to sit down every day and take the time to blog. However, I am extremely for so many things, always. A few of them would be…

Bailey Murphy Mize

This little girl of mine is a wee bit Crazy! But I love her to pieces. She is so full of life, love, laughter and sunshine. She absolutely loves her Daddy. Whenever he walks in the door from work, she can hardly contain her excitement. She is becoming very girly and loves to carry her purse all over the house and talk on her “cell phone”. While she is a happy baby, she is also very quick to flip when she doesn’t get her way. While I shouldn’t laugh at her when she does it, it cracks me up when she pitches her fits. She is so dramatic! She is quite the mischeivious little bug. But I can’t imagine how different our family would be without. We definitely hit the baby jackpot with Tucker and Bailey!

1-Year Anniversary

If you know me well, then you will have a hard time believing what 1-year anniversary I am celebrating. Well, believe it or not…

That’s right… I have not had a caffeinated soda, more specifically Diet Coke, for 1 whole year! INSANE!

I have turned my attentions to…

 

I didn’t really have much of a choice in the matter. After getting released from the hospital with my clots, a week later I was diagnosed with vertigo when I went back into the ER after having terrible dizzy spells and nausea. Accompanying that shortly after was terrible ringing of the ears. I went and saw an E.N.T. specialist and he diagnosed me with meniers. My brother Mike had a severe case of meniers. So severe that he had to have a surgery that was very invasive. His Dr. told him that he should stop drinking caffeine and that would stop the symptoms. Because mine wasn’t as severe I didn’t think it would affect me in the same way. Well, on November 28th, 2011 I had a quite a bit of soda but didn’t think much of it. The next day, I dropped Tucker off at pre-school and wasn’t feeling well. I had to go in and get my blood checked for my coumadin, so I called and they were able to get me in earlier in the day. I had Bailey with me and when I got to the hospital I went right in to use the restroom. My stomach was kind of upset but I didn’t think too much of it. When I went to the check in desk I gave her my information, and then I remember calmly asking the nurse if she would watch Bailey for me because I needed to go throw up. She was very helpful and I ran to the bathroom and got sick a few times. It was awful. The staff was AMAZING though! As soon as I came out of the bathroom there were nurses there to help me to a room in the back, they were taking care of Bailey, and made sure that I was as comfortable as they could make me. They were great. Once I got my blood checked and they got me some juice, I started to get better. Once I was feeling well enough they helped me out to the car so I could go home. Looking back, I should have been more honest with them and should have had David come and get me. Heavenly Father was definitely with me as I was driving home from the Hospital. I called David and told him that he needed to pick Tucker up from Pre-school and I was too sick to take care of the kids. So David had to come home and take care of the kids all day while I was laying in bed sick as could be. That day was the final draw. I couldn’t do that to David anymore and I couldn’t compromise my ability to take care of my children anymore. So, I decided that I would stop. The next day my Mom was flying into town and I was worried that I would get a headache driving up to the airport to get her. Well, I think Heavenly Father knew that I had been through enough, and he knew that I was ready to quit caffeine, because I have not had a withdraw headache once since quitting caffeine. It is amazing to me because I had tried so many times before. But I am grateful that Heavenly Father made it easy for me. In addition to being healthier for me, it is easier on the pocket book because I rarely get soda when eating out since I don’t like non-diet soda.  So now caffeine and alcohol are on the same page in my book. I avoid them on equal levels.