HOBBY LOBBY

Oh my heck, I've been waiting for this store to get to AZ, and it has FINALLY arrived!! It is so wonderful; I just love it so much. I spent an hour wandering around and got the cutest plant for 50% off!! It's great, on top of their unbeatable prices they ALWAYS have good sales. They have the cutest stuff in there- plants, wall decor, frames, craft supplies, pictures, pillows, fabric, furniture, etc.. Anything you need for your house, they have it. If you haven't been you've got to go. It puts Michael's and Joann's to shame. It is amazing, my words cannot do it justice. : )

Tagged...

How To Play This Game of Tag:Post these rules on your blog.List: 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 random surprising facts about yourself.Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog!
JOYS:
1. My children and husband- what else? I was just thinking today about how sad I will be when my kiddos move out and I no longer have babies. How sad! I guess that is what grand kids are for but, is it really the same?
2. Sisters, mothers, girlfriends- I love having all of these great women in my life to lift me up and teach me things. I am lucky to have my mom and so many sisters/sister in laws and friends they are all great!!
3. FOOD!!! Need I say more???
FEARS:
1. Losing a child/hubby either by death, kidnapping, or any other horrendous thing that happens to the poor kids in this world.
2. Having my house getting broken into while we are inside.
3. Drowning
I'm adding a fourth... having a democrat put in the white house!!
GOALS:
1. Being able to sing well and/or play the piano well.
2. Get my masters in some area of the counseling field. I plan to do this when all of my kids are in school : )
3. Have all of my children married in the temple.
CURRENT OBSESSIONS/COLLECTIONS:
1. I am currently obsessed with Connor. pathetic
2. As much as I hate to admit it I am also currently obsessed with online shopping. Oh who am I kidding, I'm obsessed with all shopping right now. I go through phases where for a while I won't buy anything and then for a few weeks I can't stop buying. It's fun but I hate that I always feel guilty- like do I really need this? No but I really want it! I'm currently shopping for the softest/pretties bath mats I can find. How bizarre.
3. I've collected Disney movies since my senior year of high school.
RANDOM SURPRISING FACTS:
1. I hate the feel of cotton balls; it gives me the chills.
2. I love to play in the mud, especially if I'm on a quad. (even though I haven't been able to this for a long time it's one of my favorite things to do)
3. I sometimes confuse my lefts and rights. HA HA!! It's so dumb and my entire family makes fun of me! I don't know why- sometimes I just don't pay attention to what I'm doing : )

I tag... Caroline, Aimee, Bre, Julie, Elisa, and Jenni

A sling for two?

I went to go buy a hotsling the other day, which by the way is the best baby tool I've ever purchased. I had both of my kiddos so in we go to this little mom/pop owned store a few miles east of us. We stroll inside and there is another little girl in there about Kinsey's age, maybe half a year older, who is the owners daughter (I'm assuming). For some reason Kinsey and this little girl just are not getting along. They are fighting over shoes, colors, toys, etc. Although Kinsey is a little, what's a nice way to put it, mischievous- this was definitely a two sided fight. Both girls were acting naughty.
At first the store owner and I were both trying to get the girls to stop until we just decided to ignore them. So I'm asking her about the slings and what size I need as the girls are continually bickering back and forth. Then she looks at me and says, "Looks like you need a sling for her, too!" What?? Come on lady, your kid is being a brat too! She just all of a sudden decides it's all Kinsey's fault and starts talking all sweet to her kid. It was so rude.
As one of my best friend's Bre pointed out, people are constantly saying things like this to me. Next time I might just turn around and say, "up yours!!" Which I'm even embarrassed to write just in case my sweet mother in law reads this : ) . But seriously people, give me a break! I can't remember if I wrote about the last time this happened. I was 8 months pregnant with Connor and carrying Kinsey into Costco. There were some recliners in the front so I walk up and plop Kinsey down in one of the chairs, and it wasn't hard- she even laughed. The lady next to me pipes up and says, " you know, you really need to be careful with her." OH PLEASE! Whatever, she's not glass she's not going to break, unlike my back at the time! I've had people tell me to buckle her in the cart before she falls out and ask me what I'm going to do when she's four. They are usually old women who are just flat out rude about it too. I won't even get into the worst one I've had in K Mart. I almost knocked out the old lady.
What is it about me? Do I just look so incapable that everyone thinks I need all the advice they have? (Everyone reading excluded... : ) ) Anyway, I'm really not mad I just thought I'd share...

Favorites...

1. Our Favorite Toy: This is the latest addition to the Larsen household and our summer salvation... It has gotten it's money's worth already; we have played on this just about everyday for a week and a half. It's a blast and I'm not afraid to admit I love it just as much as Kinsey! It's so much fun! Who wants to come and play with us?

2. I am so in love with Connor right now. He is in my favorite stage so far. He's so happy and smiley and snugly; I just can't get enough of those chubby cheeks. I could just kiss him all day long! He's scrumptious!
3. Leg rolls: What is it about naked babies that is so dang cute! I wish this picture showed off those rolls a little more... For Kinsey's sake I won't post a picture of her cute little legs and rear end but I swear babies are just so cute from behind. Trav thinks it's inappropriate but whatever.
4. This is Kinsey's favorite spot lately and claims it is her "castle"- she climbs into the pillows on my bed with her Cinderella dress on, princess phone in hand, and thinks it is her castle. Lucky for me she decided to take a little snooze : )

Disneyland

We went to disneyland for my birthday last weekend. Here are a few select photos of the millions we took; I seem to get a little camera happy lately. We really had a great time and it was nice to get away for a while. Kinsey just loves all of the princesses right now, especially Cinderella- so she really enjoyed herself. Little Connor was such a trooper and didn't cry much at all despite the torturous heat, what a champ! (above pic excluded...ha!).

Hmm... so many choices!! This looks like Kinsey in her dream world- surrounded by pink princess toys.
We always love to eat at the breakfast places where all of the characters come out and talk to you. We saw quite of few of them and Kinsey just ate it up.

"The Host"

Well Connor has been up since about 4:30, and just went to sleep, it's' 6:15, but it's too late to go back to bed bc Kinsey will be up soon. Last night I had girls night out and saw a movie so I didn't get to bed until midnight-that is late for me. So the one time I stay up he gets up early. Bummer. Go figure :). I'm so excited, my mother in law bought me "The Host" for my birthday, I can't wait to read it! If it's anything like the "Twilight" series it's going to suck me in for sure. When I read I just can't stop until I'm done, especially if it's good. I've heard great things about this book so far so I'm just dying to find time to read it.

Travis and I started a parenting class on Tuesday based on the love and logic technique. I've read the first book and it sounds pretty good and I've heard a lot of really good things about it. It's all about giving your kids choices and letting them learn from their mistakes early on in life when the consequences aren't as substantial as they would be when their older. Also, you're supposed to show a lot of empathy before the consequence comes. This way you are not the bad guy, you are showing you understand that it is hard for them. It's just hard for me to be consistent, but I'm trying. It is a 3 hr course that lasts for six weeks. It was so good and made so much sense I was just trying to soak up as much info as I could and I can't wait to go back for more. When this course is over I think I'll take another one. I feel like it's coming just in the nick of time. Kinsey and I need it so badly right now and yesterday we actually had a great happy day. We only had to go to "bedroom time" twice and she got her fit out in her room and came out when she was happy and it was over. After that we had a great day playing. I'm so glad!! You are supposed to leave them in their room until they are done with their fit plus a few minutes so they can actually think about why they are in there. The first time I had a hard time with that because it breaks my heart to listen to her cry for so long, and trust me she will scream for hours. Hopefully she will learn to calm herself down in a shorter amount of time so she can come out of her room. I mean, isn't that what life is about- learning to control ourselves and learn from our mistakes so we can perfect ourselves? So we are working on that for now. And I wanted to add a list of reasons why I love Kinsey just for my benefit:

1. She hates it when I cry. If she sees me cry she comes and hugs me, plays with my hair, asks me whats wrong, and tells me it will be okay and not to cry.

2. She is a lot of fun, when she is happy- which really is most of the time

3. She is FULL of energy and keeps me on my toes

4. She will eat a tomato like it's an apple and pronounces the word like she's English

5. She loves chocolate just like me

6. She is feisty, which is frustrating but I love because I know she is just like me

7. She is very tender hearted

8. She is very smart and amazes me everyday with the things she does/says.

9. She has daddy wrapped around her little finger and I think it's so cute

10. She is a very good communicator and will tell me if I have hurt her feelings or made her sad.

11. I love that she knows how to use the potty but won't because it's easier to use her diaper because that sounds like something I would do

12. She always wants to help me. If she is doing something I don't want her to do all I have to do is give her a job and she'll jump at the chance to help.

13. She loves to play in the dirt and never cares about her clothes or hair

14. I love the way she snuggles with me at bedtime and wraps her little arms around my neck so tight

15. I love the way she prays- when I help her and pray for someone she will add her own little list of people she wants to pray for

16. I LOVE to watch her dance it is hilarious

17. I love that she is always excited about everything. She jumps up and down excitedly even just waiting for me to get her a drink

18. She always looks at life like it's an adventure; she wants to try everything

19. She is not afraid of anything, which is scary sometimes but at least she is brave

20. She is mine and she loves me- no matter how mad I have gotten at her she will still give me hugs and kisses like it never happened.

Okay, I just want to go find her now and love her up!!

Terrible Two's...and probably three's... and fours

I've been feeling really bad because I'm having such a hard time with Kinsey lately. She has entered this phase where she whines ALL the time and NEVER listens. Everything is a fight. I have really been struggling with my patience and it makes it hard for me to enjoy her so I feel guilty. Anyone else ever feel like this or am I the worst parent ever? I'm sure she is struggling with having a new baby around and not getting my undivided attention but it's driving me crazy!! We used to have so much fun together and play and laugh, but now even when we are playing she wants to fight and/or whine. She is so incredibly independant and has to do everything on her own including buckling herself into the carseat. So everytime we want to go anywhere or are leaving it'll take 20 min just to get into the car not to mention the half hour it took just to get her to put on her dang pants. Everytime we go somewhere I have to tell her I'm going to leave without her if she doesn't come on. Sorry for the complaining but today I'm feeling the need to vent so I don't take it out on my precious children. Don't get me wrong I love her with all my heart but there are just those days...