One milli-second of snow.

see those teeny tiny white pieces? Thats 10, maybe 12, pieces of snow that fell from the sky on this December of 2010 in Mesa, AZ.

Prettay Pretty

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True Grit

True Grit  was awesome. Loved the dialog. We sure have gone backwards in our civil speaking. .


ps. chipped on my tooth on caramel corn yesterday on Christmas. Getting tooth fixed soon.

It really is in the blink of an eye

This year has gone by so incredibly fast. I can't believe we put up another Christmas tree for another Christmas! We just took the last one down! Now Santa has two little munch-kins to deliver to at our house. Here's the new and improved Gardner clan!

Merry Christmas!


p.s.- Also just started blog for the babies. hmsisterstories.blogspot.com

fearless

Lady Gaga - Alejandro: "The Fame Monster"

Happy me, Happy you.

Today I felt a sense of happiness and content that I usually don't take the time to enjoy. It wasn't an overly indulgent day, in fact; it was nothing out of the ordinary.

Sky and I woke up with cleaning in mind; we did all our chores until one or more bottles of cleaning solution were empty. We had placed Harper on the couch in front a of the computer for a Netflix show. Great parenting!

I can't exactly remember where the tone of the day changed, or if it wars just my attitude. Was there something in the air?

We shopped online for maternity, we ate a frozen pizza, we took a walk to the grocery store; we needed buns for the burgers. After watching sky and Harper get dirty from digging in sand and dirt, we ate.

The burgers were perfect. The asparagus was perfect. The Baked Lays were perfect. Yes, my diet coke was perfect as well.

I offered a deal to Sky in which if he did bath duty, I would clean the kitchen. He took the deal, who wouldn't? I cleaned, packed, wiped, and put away.

Time for night night involves 2 books and a prayer. We read, I saw my daughter fold her arms in prayer, exchanged I love you's, and laid her down. She is so..... is there a word?

My hubby and I sat down for a movie, as always, I dozed off. I can never sit still.

I love my family and absolutely adore my life.

new fav place; the have maternity!

ASOS.com

huge tumbleweed. did i post this?
my cat bites his nails (ahem claws). makes funny snapping sound.

Memories

Check out this link for a slideshow of our family pictures on our photographers blog.

Her name is Kelly Kennedy; she's taken our wedding pictures along now with our very first family portrait. She will be capturing our memories for a long time to come.

http://one3photography.blogspot.com/2010/05/gardner-family.html

updating

March 18th-April 18th was No Spend Month

I focus on WAS because, honestly, I failed after day 3.

It was tragic,and so so very hard!

Easter was fantastic! Harper loved her Easter basket(s). She got spoiled with 3! One from both grandmas, and of course from her loving parents!

Sky and I exchanged baskets also. Nothing ridiculous, just some little gifts.

I'm going to IL in a couple weeks to be with my dad's side of the family.

Other than that, I'm 20 weeks along, belly is growing.......things are progressing!

I'm preparing myself for a busy few months!

April 23rd-May 7th ------IL

May 15th-May 31st-------moving

June7th-July 8th --------Harper's swimming lessons 3x a week

August ---------------BABY MARGOT ARRIVES & harper also turns 2!!

pictures are due but our USB is wacky.

Day 5; and sky's beeee-day!!!!

We're on day 5 of No Spend Month. Its awful. We needed things right off the bat!!! Tank of gas, laundry detergent, groceries! ah! So we only have $160 left until April 18th! Hopefully now that we had our stock up day we'll be alright until then.

Today is Sky's 22nd birthday!!!!!! So th day is as planned!

10 am: ultrasound!!!!!

12 pm; lunch made by me!!!

then waiting......

630 pm: bday dinner party!!!!!!!!!!! WOO!

I'd post pics of my lame decorating....but, its really lame.

Frivolous

I have become very frivolous in my spending lately; something must be done.

Therefore, starting tomorrow we will be having a No Spend Month. I got the idea from that cute little blog I read; smallnotebook.org. We will give ourselves $250 for the month; this will go towards gas, grocery, household items, etc. Not included in the budget is bills, savings, gifts, etc.

Hopefully this well help us snap back into action and realize how blessed we are.

No Spend Month Start: March 18th

End: April 18th

How much is too much?

So, I want to do something special soon. I want to go on a "Babymoon".

But how much money is too much when it comes to something very special?

We never really had a honeymoon and we're craving this time for ourselves.

We really need a reconnection and some bonding time.

Update: 3/4/10: We're staying the night at the Hotel Valley Ho with the bed & breakfast package.

We're also spending a few hours together at the Dolce Spa.

Surprisingly, it didn't cost have of what I thought it would, although I did test reserve the room at the hotel each week for 2 months until the lowest price came up. ha ha. Hey, we don't want to spend all our money!

ps- the salad dressing. Its Western. I asked my cousins.

A Short Story; If you have the time

I have been long searching for a particular salad dressing I always used to eat at my Grandmother Irene's house. I never use salad dressings, but I always loved this one. The last time I tasted the dressing was my last visit to my G-ma's house in the Summer of '09. My sweet grandmother had made me a delightful salad; and did not fail to place the so famous dressing in front of me.

Recently, as of February 20th, '10, my family has decided to have salads readily available in the fridge. My husband; obsessed with Ranch dressing. Me? I immediately thought of that delicious dressing that reminded me of my youth. Why shouldn't I bring this dressing to the present times if it meant not having dry salads and reigniting my youthful cheer? So I began the search for the mysterious dressing.

Every time I went to the grocery store, it was always too late to call my Grandmother in Illinois and ask her the name of the dressing. I only knew 2 facts about the dressing; 1) it was red, and 2) I know how it smells although I cannot put it into words. How was I to distinguish the particular dressing I was looking for apart from the others??? There were more than several red dressings! Catalina, French, Zesty French, Russian, etc. What was it? I would buy them one at a time until I found the dressing!

Later that night... after buying French.

So, it wasn't French.

To be Continued.

In Other News:

Concerning my earlier blog entry of October 7th, 2009,( http://lannanislookingformore.blogspot.com/2009/10/more-things-i-need-countdown.html), there was a bracelet I had on my list. The Natasha Accessories bracelet. I got it on super sale for $5.40, in a lovely cream color.

New Seams

I got these jeans a few days ago from 6pm.com. I needed at least one pair of maternity jeans, and now I'm looking for a pair of shorts or two. None of my stuff from harper fits because I got so chubby with her!

These jeans are great and I got them for over 60% off! I got them from UPS today and I"m really happy. They fit perfect on my legs and so comfy with my growing belly.

Jeans by Elly B from 6pm.com

I'm Buying This Today

I saw it a week ago. I've been dreaming about it ever since. So, I'm letting myself buy it. Plus, Sky said I could.

check this out

My Aunt told me about this blog, and I just can't get enough of it. I've literally been on it the past 48hrs straight. I've been on the computer 3x as much, and my phone hasn't gotten a break from the internet.

smallnotebook.org

It's just fantastic. I love everything about it. My favorite thing is that I can relate to her! Her family of 4 lives in a 2 bedroom apartment, she is so crafty, and constantly looking for ways to enrich her and her family's life.

Today she posted a picture of her beautiful nursery that her 5 month old son and her 3 month old daughter share. I am completely excited because with out other little one coming along, I was dreading having Harper and ??? share a room; this blog entry has completely turned my attitude around and inspired me. http://smallnotebook.org/2010/02/19/lane-toms-shared-nursery-tour/

I love her decor ideas; living in apartments usually, if not always, means WHITE WALLS, and she shows me how to completely make it beautiful and affordable!

I am just overjoyed.

check it out.

In Need

Skyler and I are moving into a new apartment complex in May. I can't wait. I like this new apartment complex so much more than the one we are currently in. Although it is more pricey than we are used to, it seems well worth it.

So, triggered by the excitement of a new place to live, I am actively looking for furniture and decor ideas. Its stressful and overwhelming. I refer to thethenest.com a lot though; they have great ideas and lots of DIY projects that aren't too pocket emptying. Also, who doesn't love etsy.com?

I just found out my sister-in-law is having a girl for her 2nd! We won't know the gender until April, but I'm hoping I have another girl too. Although, I don't want to leave my nephew chillin alone, being overtaken by pink bows and nail polish. Lord knows it'll be a couple of years (knock on wood) before either of us do this again. ( I can only really speak for myself.)

I keep finding little things at Anthropolgie that I would die for. Bedding, pictures, shelving, and the list goes on. I'll just keep dreaming.

Can I finish anything?

I am so scatterbrained! I just have so much I want to do and learn, but not enough time or space in my brain! I'm only 5 months into school and I'm bored and life just isn't working with the demanding school schedule!

I LOVE doing hair, but I'm not learning and its not exciting, my instructors seem as bored as I do which isn't inspiring one bit. I feel like I'm losing myself in the walls of Regency.

With Sky having a bizay schedule working long days, I can't stand to be in school all day and all week without spending time with baby girl. As lame and over protective as it seems I don't think I can part with Harper and leave her to some stranger for bundles of money. Sacrificing time with baby harper AND sacrificing large amounts of cash money. Doesn't make sense.

If I'm gonna spend thou$ands on something, I want it to be designer, not a babysitter.

So what am I going to do with myself?

LEARN SOME HOBBIES, GET SOME SKILL, AND KNOW MY KIDS.

i want to be "that" mom. the super mom.

2nd time around

I am pregnant...again. This kids already giving me a challenge! Always sick, always something going wrong with my body. I keep hearing things about twins.....I hope not....

School is becoming a challenge. First I was excited to wake up and spend the majority of my time there. Now it's becoming a burden. I have to push through and get past this rut.

I have a recent experience I can add to my testimony. I won't spare the gory details, but I believe that if you choose the right, Heavenly Father will bless you in return.

Harper-girl is getting too big. She's such a sweet smart girl and I am so lucky to have her.

I really don't have much else to report! I've been so busy lately, I just haven't had time to notice or think about things. Just felt I needed to unload a bit.

Any thoughts on Heidi Pratts surgeries?