you are what you eat.

For some time now, my sisters have been trying to get me to watch a documentary called Food Matters. I finally listened and started it last night at 10 PM. Aaron came home just after 11 PM and we watched it again. It is incredible... and has got me so excited about eating healthier (raw!)

I am changing up my homeschool routine today and heading to the health food store for some goods. I don't know enough about what I need to tell y'all (yet) but I think it would be in your best interest (as well as your families) to get a hold of this documentary. (It's free on Netflix, btw.) Watch it and tell me what you think!

PS. I gladly welcome anyone's feedback on this subject. nutritionists, out there... what are vital supplements/vitamins/super foods that you swear by?

PPS. I love all of my doctor friends! Don't be offended because the movie bashes on the medical "industry". There are GREAT doctors out there, but the key is educating yourself and making healthy (simple) food choices.

the graffiti artist

Last week, I was happily washing dishes when I looked out the window and gasped. Someone had spray painted a black target on our brick wall in the back yard.
I went outside to get a better look and found a few other paintings. I quickly came inside and sat down next to Ben and said, "I can't believe you graffittied our walls out back." He said, "Huh? I didn't do it." I took him out to show him his name written in bright red letters.
He saw it and said, "Mom! Someone framed me! It wasn't me." Luke and Zack were close by and I could tell by the look on Luke's face that he didn't have anything to do with it. Zack happily looked at us and exclaimed, "Do you like it? I even painted an arrow in Sunny's corner so she knows where to go poop!"
After 5 long years, Zack continues to pull surprises out of his hat. He has quite the extensive career in mess making and doesn't seem to want to retire any time soon. I guess I should be grateful he didn't paint the dog...

Anyone have a pressure washer we can borrow?

my handsome Valentine

I always write about Dad on Valentine's day and skip being mushy about my man. There are several reasons for this, the main one being that he won't read it here. So I spent the majority of today cleaning the house, changing the sheets on our bed from white cotton to red satin, placing a personal Valentine card with homemade coupons under his pillow and making a yummy dinner for the family. Aaron had to work late (which is okay because we over-celebrated this past weekend) but he still came home with a bouquet of flowers. I always tell him not to buy roses for me on Valentine's day because they are so overpriced. But he never obeys. He walked in with the mail in one hand and the flowers in another. His tie was loose and he looked tired from working too hard... which is just so--- attractive.

I love Aaron for a thousand and one reasons. Many of which I don't even realize or appreciate now. If he ever died, I don't know if I could manage living a single day without him-- and that is saying something because I have always been Mrs. Independent (and proud of it). But being married to him has changed me, most definitely for the best.

I love Aaron because even when he comes home from a long day, he clears the table after dinner and plays with the crazy baby and listens to ALL of the older boys go on and on about their exciting day even though I know he has other things to worry about. I love him because he stays up late and watches movies with the dog. He feels bad that he doesn't get to spend time with her and I love how cute he is with our little "girl". I love him because he goes home teaching every.single.month even when he already spends so much time serving others. I love him because he changes the screensaver to say things like, "Janet is HOT" and doesn't say a word about it. I love him because he is kind and caring and never gets mad (ever) not at me or the kids, even though we give him plenty of opportunities to lose his temper. I love him because he's practical and frugal and he doesn't care what other people think about him.

Our first kiss was Feb 3, 2000. Ten days later, we were spending our first Valentine's weekend together and were discussing which day in June to tie the knot. I was at school in ID, but drove down for the weekend to be with Aaron (and formally introduce him to my family). My parents were sly and threw a "birthday party" for my dad, but everyone knew it was so they could check out my soon-to-be husband. Aaron drove to my house in one of the ugliest cars I had ever seen. It looked like it had just come from the junk yard (and funny enough... it ended up there about 2 weeks later.) Aaron affectionately called this car "The Nig" even though it was a pretty blue color. He pulled up and brought in two bouquets of flowers... one for me and one for my mom. The men in the family told him it was a sweet move and he said that he'd "better start sucking up sometime." The dinner went great and my family fell in love. Afterward we exchanged Valentine gifts. I gave him a new laundry basket full of groceries. I had previously seen what was in his kitchen at his apartment and knew he needed a little help getting his cupboards stocked.

He gave me a sweet card and some chocolates and took me for a ride in The Nig. We went up to a shopping center just a few blocks from my parents home (Jordan Landing). We walked around for a little while in the cold and tried to avoid saying goodbye because we only got to see each other on the weekends. As we headed back to the car, there was a couple in front of us walking out of the movies. They were holding hands and headed to their car as well. Sure enough, just steps in front of us, the gentleman pretends to open the passenger door of The Nig and his date kind of stares in disbelief. Then he backs up and says, "Ha! Just kidding! As if I would ever be driving that car!" Aaron saw the whole thing happen and we laughed so hard about it... (and are still laughing). He never let it bother him or felt the least bit self-conscious when he bent down to open the passenger side door for me (and it almost fell off, jk.) He was never out to impress. He has always been himself and that is exactly what makes him so darn adorable. He sweeps me off my feet without even trying.

We've spent 12 Valentine's weekends together so far. He's written me a dozen cheesy poems over the years and spent more money on flowers than I want to add up. But things are not perfect. We are still sleeping on an old creeky bed-- one that was given to us for our wedding. And it aint a bed of roses, I can testify to that. Most of our candlelight dinners are spent with four silly (obnoxious) boys. We take moonlit walks at night, holding hands, but both of us are usually telling the dog to pee so we can get back inside. We have bills to pay and a minivan that needs to be taken to the junk yard. But we're happy and in love and that's the only thing that matters on Valentine's day. So even though he'll never read this, I want the world to know that I love and appreciate my man. He was handpicked for me and I am so glad he's mine. forever.

My Dad, the Valentine baby

Some may wonder how God could love each and every one of His children. There are billions of us and we are all so different. Growing up in the home that I did, I developed a personal testimony that God is aware of me and that He knows me on a personal level. My parents helped me understand this, not just by explaining it to me but by showing me what it feels like to be loved.

Dad turns 63 today. He is, and has always been, the best Dad I could have ever hoped for. When I was a child (and into my teenage years) my friends would tease me and ask how my parents could keep track of ten children and how they could tell us apart. From a very young age, I learned that not only could they tell us apart, but they had very personal, individual relationships with each one of us. Dad was always there for us, no matter what. He didn't miss a single sporting event or inauguration or academic award or assembly that any of his kids were involved in. He was there (next to Mom) to explain the birds and the bees. He made the time to take us out and talk to us about what was going on in our lives. He trusted us to make wise decisions and held us accountable when we fell short. He supported us financially as well as emotionally and physically. He stayed up late explaining Calculus. He always made sure we felt special on our birthdays. He is always available to talk whenever I need him. He gives the.BEST.advice and never criticizes or judges. He is so easy-going and loves to shoot the breeze. And although it rarely happens, he is so much fun to beat in a game of cards.

I don't know how Dad developed such a deep, personal relationship with each of his children, but he has. He has taught me so much over the years. He has given me a little taste of what if feels like to be unconditionally loved by a Father who knows me personally and only wants the best for me. On this special Valentine's day, I want to say Happy Birthday to the man with the biggest heart. My wonderful Dad.

If you want proof that each of his children feel the same way about him as I do, you can check out his birthday blog HERE.

hot & spicy

Our Valentine's party went fabulous tonight. Thanks for asking. My husband wrote a poem comparing me to a Cafe Rio burrito (hot & spicy). I would post it here for all to read, but then I would have to kill you.

We had another couple in the ward host the party at their home so ours could be the babysitting drop off. It made it much easier, and a little more difficult having to transport all the goods. I went over early to help set up and brought a big bowl of freshly made salsa. I put it in my handy pampered chef bowl and snapped on the tight-fitting lid. Guess what happened on the drive over...? The tight-fitting lid wasn't so tight fitting... and it emptied all over my van. Obviously I had nothing better to do today than spend an hour cleaning up a gallon of salsa. And conveniently enough, I had just lent out my carpet cleaner to a neighbor yesterday. Thank goodness for the trusty shop vac. Seriously, why do things like this always happen to me?


Dear Pampered Chef,

Don't say your lids are spill proof when they clearly are not. You better watch out because my husband is an attorney. (and he knows how to sue.) We're going to claim irreparable damages because the carpet in my van was spotless before today.

Sincerely annoyed,

Mrs. Hot & Spicy