I am not 5-years-old...I'm not, I'm not, I'm not!!!

It it 4:19 am...no lie, check the time stamp on the post. Well, it may say when I actually finish and hit the publish button, but believe me it is 4:19 am. Why am I blogging at 4 am you ask? Well let me tell you (Oh yeah warning, this is a complaining post btw). My friend Kristen & her neighbor Donna go running every Saturday morning at 5 am. A LONG time ago they invited me to go with them. While I am NOT a morning person I have wanted to go with them, but just about EVERY Saturday morning at about 5 am Kent is getting out of bed to go to work so going running is not an option. Well this week Kent has been "on vacation" from Midgley so I told Kristen that I would go running with them. Last night I tried to get to bed at a good time, but I'm just not used to an early bed time & I always struggle with going to bed early because I feel like there is so much I have to do before I go to bed. Finally I tucked myself into bed and then the winds started up. Crazy fast winds that make you nervous that the roof is going to blow off. I texted Kent, from bed, to ask if the new playhouse would be ok since it hasn't been anchored down with sand. He checked on it & said it was fine. So finally about 12 or 12:30 am...ish I got to sleep. That doesn't leave a whole lot of time for sleeping when you're planning on waking up at 4:40 am. Well just before 4 am Kent's alarm goes off and he tells me, "there's your alarm babe." I'm thinking, "WHAT? My Alarm? That was your phone. I have my very own alarm and I set it for when I need to wake up. I am a big girl I don't need your alarm. I'm going back to sleep." That would have worked, maybe, if Kent hadn't hit snooze. Five minutes later his alarm goes off again and by this point I am so annoyed that there is no way I am going to fall back asleep. So I throw back the covers, jump out of bed and head for the bedroom door when I hear, "good luck babe." I know that he is trying to be a helpful and supportive husband. I get that, but seriously, I am not a 5-year-old. I don't need help getting up when I am already so nervous about waking up in time that I can't even sleep. AGHHHH! So what am I supposed to do for 45 minutes while I am ready to go & waiting for them to come get me? Fine I'll complain on my blog because there isn't enough room for this on facebook & no one else is up to listen to me at 4 am. The worst part is as I sit down here & blog I keep hearing alarms go off. Either turn the alarm off and go to sleep or turn it off & get up but you don't need it to keep going off. I'M UP!!!!! UGH! Ok now that I have that out of my system and in cyberspace never to be recalled so it can be used as evidence against me in the courts of heaven (note that I am diffusing my anger so that, hopefully, I don't take it on my run with my thank you). I am a married woman I have the right to be bugged every now & then. Ok  now I am going to go find a quick project to do for the last 15-20 minutes before I go for my run. Wish me luck that I don't blow away before the storm hits. :)

LOVE my husband!

I am trilingual in love languages. My main love language is Quality Time, my secondary love language is Words of Affirmation, and my last language is Physical Touch. Well it's very hard to communicate love through physical touch if you are not physically together. That rules out one love language. Kent is also NOT a Words of Affirmation kind of guy. Kent will not give you fluffy happy comments to make you feel good so my love language is usually not filled by that. That leaves us with Quality Time but when you husband works a ton he usually doesn't have a ton of energy to do things with the family when he is home. Having said all this I am in LOVE with my husband this week. I got most of his time on Friday. All of his time on Saturday. The majority of the day on Sunday and all day today. Spending time with him makes me want to make more money so I can pay him to stay home. Being with him let's me know how much I miss him when he's gone, but for now I am sure happy to have a full love bucket. I wish you all a full bucket too! 

Love,

   Marlies

Santa Found our New House...

Christmas day is here and gone and all in all it has been a nice day. As excited as I was about Christmas morning it sure started off for me with a struggle. Around 3 am I woke up to Cort crying. I went in to check on him & pulled the blankets up over him and told him to go back to sleep. To my delight he did go back to sleep. Then about 4 am Kent's alarm went off by accident and I was really not happy to be woken up by it. I was able to again fall back asleep until a little before 6 am when I woke up from a dream of me being so angry with Braxton that I dreamed I was yelling at him. At that point I decided it wasn't going to get any better so I may as well get up & try to spend time getting myself ready for church. Maybe working on making myself beautiful on the outside would help to change my inside.

After Kent woke up and we talked for a bit I was feeling better. My morning was totally turned around when I heard Braxton from the top of the stairs say in the most delighted high voice, "Oh (ha ha ha) it's Christmas!" I LOVE that kid. He is so delighted by the smallest things. He was enjoying going through everyone's stocking to inform us all of what Santa had brought us. He then enjoyed searching through the presents reading all the names on the packages, handing out gifts, and opening them.

We all made out like bandits this year. Kent got new shoes, a space heater, a sleeping bag, a thermos set, child locks for the drawers & cupboards (this was his favorite stocking stuffer I am sure he he he), & mixed nuts. I got new boots (except when I put them on first thing they broke...SO not happy about that!), running shoes, a new printer/scanner/copier, headphones, jewelry, body spray, new rubbermaid/tupperware type items. Santa brought Braxton a new rocket & a Transformer toothbrush & a Flynn Missile car (cars 2) & from everyone else he got a dresser, a puzzle, some books, a U of U sweatshirt, and a hooded towel . Cort was also on the nice list and received a Hammer Away (boat you hammer balls into), Working Trio (cute Discovery Toys set of three trucks), a new coat, and a hooded towel as well as his first toothbrush. The family got a couple of DVD's.

One of the best gifts ever was from Kent's co-worker Troy. He built a nice outdoor playhouse with his boys when they were younger that as 12 and 14-year-old's they have outgrown. He decided to give it to us (lucky, lucky us!!!). Braxton has already been outside loving his new playhouse. He enjoys playing in it, but I think soon he'll need more friends to play with him in it (hint, hint). As Kent and Troy dropped it off on Friday Troy was telling Braxton he can get his sleeping bag and sleep in there, and he needs cookies and soda to put in the little cupboard. Braxton takes off for a bit and as soon as he is back it is with sleeping bag in tow. After being told he couldn't really sleep out there he ran back in the house to put the bag away and came out asking for cookies. He is such a funny kid. We have really enjoyed this weekend.

It's interesting to me that sometimes we forget that it doesn't take a lot of money to make a happy home. It's those little moments of delight that make us feel that sense of love, security, home & family and those moments are the ones that make life worth living. My hope is that with Kent off of work this week he'll realize the importance of spending time at home with his family. I know he feels the burden of providing for this family, but I believe that if you have priorities straight the finances will always work out in the most miraculous ways. I love my life and as this year comes to a close I feel so abundantly blessed. I have more than my heart could ever want or imagine. Merry Christmas to all of my friends & family and a Happy New Year too!
Love,
 Marlies

Top ten signs there is a 1-year-old in your house...

10. Baby gates are camping out in front of the stairs.
9. Anything that can be used as a latter or stool is hidden somewhere where a child can not use it as a latter or
    stool.
8. Garbage can is sitting upon a bucket in order to keep its contents secure inside the receptacle.
7. You can never find what you are looking for because the baby has found a new place to store it.
6. No need to bother with cleaning the floors the baby will find anything you happen to miss.
5. Somewhere there is a diaper bin making a fabulous collection.
4. Any drawer not latched has had it's contents removed and dumped on the floor...10 times a day.
3. Bathroom door is constantly closed...
2. Actually any door that can be closed is!
1. Your Christmas tree is only decorated from 4' tall & up.

End of 2011 Review

Well here we are nearing Christmas and the New Year and I am finding that I haven't written this year like I want to. While this year is very eventful there are only a few very big events and that is about it. This last year has been wonderful! With the new addition of Cort to our family in 2010 I can honestly say that I enjoyed Cort's first year much more than I imagined. I guess there is something to say for having been there before. While having a baby in November wasn't the best timing with a toy business I have to admit I loved every minute of being home during the holidays with a new baby. I would do it again in a heartbeat. It was just a nice time of year to be slowed down.

After a few months of having my boys crowded in their bedroom I realized it was time for our family to move on. After prayer and inspiration I knew it was time for us to look at buying our first home. It was a long process that started in February in Utah County and happily ended in West Jordan in July. It has been a wonderful experience working with my cousin (our Realtor) and having that confirmation that the Lord is aware of us and our needs and He can make even the smallest details work out for us. The only thing the Lord didn't give me was the extra

50 sq. feet I asked for. I think that was just His
sense of humor. When I struggle to adjust to this new area I take comfort in knowing that this really is where the Lord wanted us to be.

Just before the move Braxton graduated preschool. He had his 5th birthday. He also learned to ride a two-wheel bike without training wheels and started T-ball for the first time. He has had a great summer!

It's amazing how quickly kids grow up. This fall was the start of his first year in grade school and he has loved Kindergarten. He has the best teacher. I have enjoyed being his room mom and getting to go help in his classroom for the holidays.

The next big highlight of 2011 was in July I took my first trip to the Discovery Toys convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was a blast and I learned so much about how to better my business and myself. I love being a mom, but it really was nice to take a weekend to be called by my first name...it's Marlies, by the way. It even helped Kent and I to have a better understanding of each others roles. It was nice for him to understand the frustrations of sitting at home waiting for someone to get home while dealing with two kids and for me to understand how hard it is to hurry to get home when someone is waiting. 

In August Braxton, Cort, and I ended up on an
impromptu trip to see my friend Becca in Mesa, Arizona. Her friend, Amy from Riverton, was headed there and she allowed me to go with her on the trip. While I enjoyed seeing a new place I think I would like it SO much more when the temperature isn't above 100 degrees. That trip has since helped me stop begging Kent to move to Arizona when the snow flies. Now I just think I'd like to start vacationing there in the winter. :)

In November we celebrated Cort's first birthday. I still can't believe he's one year old. It's amazing to me still that he was climbing stairs at 8 months and just before his birthday he felt it was time to get up and start walking. He's even getting really good at walking now. He is so much fun. He loves to growl with us for fun and he's even starting to try to talk. He says, Da Da Da all day long. He'll now say yeah and he loved to make a Ba ba ba sound. He gives Braxton the best hugs. It's fun to see their friendship grow and develop. He LOVES pushing anything he can around on the floor. That includes cars, bottles, cookware, hot pads, etc. He is one happy baby. I swear that he thinks we go to church or the store so other people can see him. I don't ever remember Braxton being this social. I love it.

All in all we are well and enjoying life in the new house. I hope for Kent to find a Saturday at some point in his life to help me with some home improvement projects, but for now I may have to make do or do it myself. I'm still debating which way to go. With managing a household, taking care of children and running a business I am finding myself pretty busy. I'm secretly looking forward to winter coming because maybe we'll all slow down just a little for a month or two...maybe. I look forward to starting the new year and hope to share a little more of my life in my blog next year than I have this year. For now I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love,   Marlies

I just love this look on his face. ha ha ha

50 Things I am Thankful for...

1. My relationship with my Heavenly Father
2. My Savior Jesus Christ who atoned for all my sins & transgressions who has endured all my challenges & struggles so he can know how to help me.
3. My loving husband who works so hard for our family.
4. Kent's employment that has been secure for so many years now.
5. Braxton and his sweet & willing spirit whose desire is to listen & obey.
6. Cort and his little cheeky smile that almost keeps him out of trouble.
7. The parents who raised me well & did their best despite their shortcomings & imperfections.
8. My brother Brian & my ability to understand that even though he may pretend to be hardened & calloused he really cares about his family & wants so much for us to succeed.
9. My sister Cheryl who is willing to listen to me anytime I need a big sister or a best friend to talk to.
10. My brother Erik who always makes me feel like I it was great to have me for a big sister.
11. My brother Devin who teaches me so much about how to see the best inside of others.
12. My sister Liesel who is always happy & overly willing to help me out whenever I need her.
13. My dad who taught me to love the great outdoors.
14. My mom who taught me how to clean well.
15. My brother-in-law Erik, & my sister-in-laws Shanalea & Mariel.
16. My home that I have waited at least 8 years to own.
17. The heater that was recently purchased for my home.
18. The healthy food on my table every day.
19. My knowledge of the benefits of exercise even when I don't utilize that knowledge.
20. The relationships I have with every one of Kent's family members.
21. The gospel of Jesus Christ that has been restored to the earth & my knowledge of it.
22. The scriptures that have been saved for our time.
23. Personal prayer & revelation.
24. My hair.
25. My positive self-image especially regarding my body most of the time.
26. Each & every one of my friends
27. Beautiful flowers
28. The beauty of the earth after a fresh snow fall
29. A warm coat to keep me warm in the cold of winter.
30. My clothes
31. Shoes to keeps my feet warm in the winter & cool in the summer.
32. My neighbors & the opportunity I have to get to know them.
33. My ward family & their warmth & acceptance.
34. Having a yard even when I am the only one mowing it.
35. A car to get me where I need to go.
36. My Discovery Toys business that offers me the opportunity to help my family out financially & still have a flexible schedule that allows me to stay home with my boys.
37. The furniture I have.
38. A computer that allows me to stay connected to the world outside.
39. The nice dishes I have for eating Thanksgiving Dinner yesterday.
40. My education
41. My sons education
42. The many tools within my home that I use everyday.
43. The Holy Ghost the leads & guides me through all of the challenging decisions I have to make.
44. A piano in my home & my ability to make music with it.
45. A television that I have to provide entertainment when I want it.
46. The many options I have to choose different stores to shop in.
47. Musical hymns especially the ones that remind us to count our many blessing.
48. Airplanes that allow us to see people far away more often.
49. Beautiful animals that dot the earth & teach us so much.
50. The freedom I have because I live in the United States of America!

Time in the Day

Apparently I don't have enough time in the day. I find that as much as I want to sit down & blog it is at the end of a long to do list & I just don't have it in me to sit down & write like I'd like to after everything else is done. So this post is going to have a lot of pictures from the last 6 months...or maybe the past year since I just checked and saw the last time I really posted pictures was a year ago. :( I hope you enjoy!

For Braxton's 5th birthday we had a pirate water party

Elijah & Noah gave him connect 4

Bailee gave him a super race car

Dylan gave him a pirate ship

Hyrum gave some books & a nerf gun

We didn't want a ton of toys at our house so we invited his close friends to the first part & invited the apartment friends to join in for cake & ice cream as well as a water fight.

Kent brought home his pressure washer & the kids had a great time getting him wet.

Somer Davidson took care of Cort while I took pictures...

...and joined Kent in the fun.

We were all pretty wet.

Chooche had a BIG water gun

Ikaikah gave Braxton a transformer after the water fight

I made a treature map for the kids to find the treasure at the beginning of the party.

On the way home from Fish Lake we saw this cool Mater in Salina (I think)

July 2, 2011 We purchased our first home. It has been a great place to live so far!

The proud occupant

Braxton's challenge has been to keep himself out of the water

The end of July I had the opportunity to go to Las Vegas for the first time with the Discovery Toys  Summit. These are the ladies from our team.

We stayed at the Rio. This was one of the cool light fixtures.

The Venetian was an amazing hotel

Posing at the Venetian

A river on the 2nd floor? Crazy cool.

Michelle & I feeling good

Not sure what our pose is

Cool sights

Leslie, Dawn & I ran into Whoopi.

The Belagio is by far my FAVORITE part!

Glass ceiling

Amazing indoor garden...I can't want to come back with Kent.

My cute baby

Told you he was cute

Braxton & Cort love this game

Nice brothers

This year Braxton started Kindergarten. 

I'm still amazed that I have a 5-year-old...even if he does think he's 6.

Itchin' to go in

First in line for class

Our friend Kristen invited us to go check life sized cars characters so we posed the kids with the big truck

As part of the fun there was a bounce house. 

First Halloween this year Braxton was OB Wan Kanobi

Many of the teachers at the school dressed up as Minions with the principle as the guy with the Minions
(don't recall his name)

Apparently the 6th graders perform Michael Jackson's Thriller every year & these guys did a great job!