Perspective is Everything!

I just wanted to share this funny little thing with you. I first read this on my mission and it seriously cracked me up. I remember I couldn't stop laughing. One of the sisters I was sharing an apartment with had it. I don't know if I was just really in need of some laughs at the time, but I've never forgotten about this. A couple of years later, I was telling my roommate Shara about it and she said that she had a copy of it and emailed it to me. I just remembered it the other day, so I thought I would share it. Enjoy!

Perspective is everything!

I did not provoke the fight so I feel no remorse for what I was forced to do. We were arguing, and seeing that I was right and he was wrong, he decided to fight to cover for his stupidity. He swung as me first, but being in top of condition, I was able to act quickly and block the punch neatly with my head. Where upon, I jumped to the ground, knocking him down on top of me. Then I placed my ear in his mouth and poked his finger several times with me eyes. His teeth hurt so much from the strength of my ear that he became irate and tried to kick me, but I cleverly blocked the onslaught with my ribs and face. I scrambled to my feet and ran to my car in hopes that I would get away and save this man from my deadly hands. Before I could start the car he pulled me from the still open door… That was the last straw… I lost all control. There would be no mercy. Taking him in my death grip, I pounded him in the knee with my stomach, then hit him two or three times hard in the fist with my teeth. He had had it! I could tell, after that, he didn't even try to pick me up off the ground. He was too chicken.

Christmas!

I know I'm a little behind, but let's talk about Christmas! So, I feel like a horrible parent, but I only took one picture of Anna on Christmas. We did however, film her opening her gifts. Christmas was fun, especially because Anna understood more of what was going on. The morning of Christmas I went to get her from her room and the first thing she said was, "I'm so excited to open presents!" It was so cute. She tore right into her presents and loved them all. My brother was kind enough to buy all his nieces and nephews presents. I've been wanting to get Anna a table and chairs for a while, but just haven't yet, so I let her uncle get her one! She loves it and was so excited to color on it. I made sure to get a gender neutral table, so when Alex gets bigger, he can use it too. I also got Anna her own backpack, so she'll stop stealing Logan's. :)

Anna on Christmas morning with some of her gifts!

I got Anna a really cute Christmas dress last year on clearance at target for like $9! This picture doesn't do justice to how cute she really looked. Unfortunately, her hair looks pretty bad. She loved wearing it. I had a santa suit for Alex, but never got any pictures. :(

I really wanted to make Christmas cookies with Anna and finally got around to it AFTER Christmas. I had made Halloween cookies with Anna a few months ago, so the whole time she kept saying how she wanted to make Halloween cookies. I had to keep telling her they were Christmas cookies, not Halloween. We also got to wear out matching aprons my mom made for us a while ago.

Anna had so much fun pressing the cutters into the dough.

She also discovered how good cookie dough is. I gave her a little bite and she kept wanting more and more.

Dan's parents and brother and sister came out for Alex's baby blessing a few days after Christmas. We left his parents' gifts under the tree and all Anna wanted to do was open them. We had to tell her she had to wait, but she could help open them when they came.

Here she is helping grandpa open his gift.

And helping Grandma open hers, while she holds Alex.

Her Aunt Becky got her this little Pikachu hat. It looks so cute on her!

Grandma and Grandpa got her a little train set, that she love so much!

We made gingerbread houses when everyone was here. I had Anna on my lap and all she wanted to do was eat the candy (surprise, surprise).

We had fun with them while they were here and were glad they could make it out to see us!

Free printable kids art!

I just saw this on my friend's facebook status. There is this cool website offering some freebies today. I can get the Noah's Ark file folder games and Build a Church for FREE! You can too! Go to http://greenjellowithcarrots.com for more details about how you can get this too.

I can't wait to print these for Anna. Maybe now she'll be quiet during Sacrament meeting! :)

A New Resolution!

I've never been one to make New Year's Resolutions and I've never felt bad about it at all. However, while I was working out at the gym last week, the TV's were out of service due to the snow, and I had some time to just think. And I thought of one that I wanted to work on. You ready for it? Not to get mad at my husband! Now, before you start laughing, let me explain a little.

Lately, I'm a little ashamed to admit, it seems that we've been more upset with each other than normal. I love Dan with all my heart. He is a wonderful husband, an excellent father and overall a wonderful man. I couldn't ask for a better person to be my eternal companion. As we all know though, we're human, we make mistakes. We say things we don't mean, we get impatient, frustrated, etc. Things don't always go our ways, our kids get cranky and that can make life more hectic, etc. We've all been there.

I think the problem with us was going through the transition of having two kids now. Plus, Anna wasn't napping anymore, and would get so incredibly cranky. Alex would be crying and our nerves would be shot and unfortunately, we would take it out on each other. Of course, later we would apologize and get on with our lives, but there's always that part of you that wishes it had never happened. And it just seemed to be happening more and more frequently.

So, as I was working out, I decided that would be my resolution-be more patient and not get mad at Dan. Later that day, I told him about it and asked him for his help. I told him I didn't like that we were getting so mad and frustrated with each other lately, and that I had made this resolution and would he like to do it with me. He agreed and I love what he said next, "Let's not make it a New Year's Resolution, but rather just a resolution." This is so much better because it's more of a permanent change, rather than something to work on for a few months and then forget about.

That was on Wednesday and it's really amazing the change that took place after that. There were plenty of times to get mad at each other, but since I had mentally decided not to get mad, it was like it wasn't even an option for me anymore. It's kind of hard to explain, but I just felt more patient and changed how I would normally act in a situation. I felt happier towards Dan as well. I felt like I was joking more with him and being happier around him, which in turn, had a positive effect on him. I asked him a few days after we made this decision if he noticed a change in me and he said yes. I asked him if he felt better too and he said yes.

Now, I do not have a perfect marriage and I'm not trying to say I do and that suddenly the skies are always sunny, birds are always chirping and life is just bliss. However, our relationship is better and I know it will continue to be better as we keep with our resolution and make a concentrated effort to get along better and not get mad at each other. This in turn, will make our home a happier place.

Dan and I on our honeymoon.

We took a cruise to Mexico