Magic is Everywhere!

Of the many things that I have learned from my children, it is that magic can be found in the craziest of places! Awhile ago, I was curling my hair when Ethan came running into the bathroom exclaiming that the garbage man had just picked up our garbage. "MOM! The garbage truck just came and it was shiny and blue and white! And it picked up our garbage and dumped it into its back! (Sigh) It was so magical!"

With this, I realized that magic can be found everywhere. So, I have been collecting my "magic" moments and am posting them for the world to see.


EASTER-
The Easter bunny hid eggs in our back yard this year. Now, I don't think it can get more magic than finding eggs in grass!!! Notice the look of surprise on the faces of these beautiful children! See......magic.


Next, I have always wondered how food can make it's way from a plate to a person and yet, NEVER make it inside the mouth.....must be magic.

We have told Ethan that he can go to Disneyland for his 5th birthday. Since his birthday is in October, this gives us a good 4-5 months of GREAT leverage. Ethan wanted to make his room like Disneyland to prepare himself for the experience. So we made a paper chain to countdown the days to "Disney Magic." We hung it up in his room and now every time he enters through the door he shouts...."Welcome to Disneyland!!!" It's magic for him, and excites him each night as we take a "link" off of our chain to become yet, one day closer!

Last, we decided to make cookies! As I walked into the kitchen, I found Ethan and Isaac peering through the oven door watching the cookie balls, turn into actual cookies! As much as this was magic for them, I realized that it was magic for me as well....see, they ACTUALLY turned out to be the most perfect cookies that I have ever made! Woo Hoo!!!

I am going to try and post more "magic moments" as they occur. It helps me to see the great things in my life.

Spring brings new life!

I have decided that I am setting a goal to change my life for the better. Don't get me wrong, my life does not stink-by any means. However, we are put here on the earth to constantly make ourselves better and more like our Heavenly Father. I have also heard that if you tell people about goals that you are making in your life, you are much more likely to achieve those goals. Here we go:

1- Physically. I have been doing Weight Watchers for over a year now. And, I have lost 35 lbs. Hooray for me! This seems to be working for me....when I do it. So, it is my new goal to "get back on the band wagon." Also, I find that when I look nice, I feel better about myself, and I eat less, and also get the urge to......yup, you guessed it....EXERCISE! My theory is that if I can do all of these things, I should be in pretty good shape for this summer.

2- Mentally. I have many "new" hobbies that I am going to do more of. I have spent most of my life singing and doing theatre. I love these "hobbies" however, I think I am ready to move on. So, I am taking a break from theatre this summer and I am replacing it with....
* Gardening
* Geneology
* Quilting
* and Creating the "Irvine Chronicles" which are sort of like scrap books that you create online, and then have them printed. I came up with this idea that I would like to go year by year and create a book of highlights for our family. That way, the boys can read them and watch our family grow.

Don't laugh by some of these ideas. I am actually quite good with all of these things! SO THERE! However, my other talents have been overshadowing these smaller talents. Now, those that know me may say "Cindy, you are not the quilting type" and to this I say- BAH! I am going to make myself a mother's quilt out of all of the baby blankets and baby clothes that I have left from the boys. See, a great idea that just needs a little follow-up.

3- Spiritually. I suppose that this one should have been first. So, let me make the statement now that these are in no particular order. My spiritual goal is to let my testimony of the Gospel shine through my example and spirit. I have a very strong testimony, and yet I am not sure that people know this about me. SO- they will now. From now on when you see me, you will be able to tell through my actions that I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

4- Emotionally. This one is a tender spot for me. Living with parents is very hard on a family. Jeff and I have been through some very tough times. I have perhaps spent too much of my time away from home instead of in the home. This Spring, is going to change all of that. I have a better attitude toward living with my in-laws. With times the way they are, I am very grateful to have a roof over our head at all. Also, I know that neither Jeff nor I are perfect people. We both have our downfalls. But one of the things that makes us perfect is that we fill each other's gaps. Where I am weak, he is strong and vice versa. I am set to be a better wife and mother. My boys complete me. They make me laugh every day- which I am sure adds more time to my life with them. We are not perfect individuals, but together we are perfect for each other. It is my goal to make sure that my small family knows that I love them and that they will ALWAYS come first.

Ok, so, those are my goals. I am certain that I can obtain them, but I might need help from my wonderful family and friends. That is where you come in. I NEED moral support. So, I would like to thank all of you in advance for that!

To my wonderful friends and family- I am so grateful for you! I love you all. And I promise to continue to become better every day so that I might be worthy of your love and friendship that I have aquired over the years.

Cindy

Ethan the Wise

I learn so much from my 4 year old! Every single day, he comes up with something new...over time, I will post some of the funny and yet, quite smart and insightful, things that he says. A while back, Ethan was sitting on Grand-pa's lap and I happen to overhear their conversation. It goes as follows:

G: Ethan if Heavenly Father gave us two eyes, and two ears, why do we only have one nose???

E: I THINK HEAVENLY FATHER JIPPED (sp) US!!!

The latest one just gets me...

Ethan, from the back seat of the car....: Mom, you have the BIGGEST little bum in the whole world! (Good thing I am doing Weight Watchers!)

Setting up my blog

So, I have joined the unknown world of blogging. I am a little afraid to admit that it took me about 30 minutes just to get this thing set up. Part of that time was spent trying to come up with a clever name for my blog. I chose " 3 Men and a Lady" for a few reasons.

1. Of course, there was the movie. I figure if the title was good enough for Hollywood, it was good enough for my blog.

2. Of course, I have three men in my life- Jeff (my husband), Ethan (my oldest), and Isaac (my youngest). We also have a dog- Jasper. However if I include him, I can't use the clever title.

3. This is probably the only time in my life that I can ever be referred to as a "Lady." I wish that I were the sort of person that people could say "Oh! She is so elegant. What a lady!" or perhaps "What a FINE lady she is!" But, lets face it, I am probably FAR from what most consider a "lady" to be, and really, people just don't talk that way anymore. So, I am 0 for 2!

There are my arguments as to WHY I chose this title. I am sure now you all agree that I am pretty clever. Well, sort of clever, considering it took me 30 minutes to come up with it.