gotta support the team

This is what Mark got me for my birthday. I love it!
(P.S. Not usually a fan of taking pics of myself but sometimes the situation calls for it.)

christmas highlights

We had a great Christmas this year. We were able to visit with both of our families and have time at our own house. It was perfect. Here are a few highlights:

* Christmas Eve at the Meros - awesome dinner, letting all the grandkids rip into their presents pretty much at the same time, Mom's face when she opened the present I made her, a very loud game of apples to apples and relaxed fun all the way around.







* Christmas morning at our own house for the first time. Yummy breakfast that I whipped up on my new griddle. Kid's faces when going through their stockings. Mark getting The Hangover from me because it's the funniest dang movie ever and we needed to have it in our house.

(gotta love x-mas morning just woke up pictures)

* Singing along to my new Glee soundtracks on the way to Cedar. Mark even joined in on a few of them. Who can pass up singing to Sweet Caroline? Seriously.

* Kids excitement once they realized they both got scooters from Gma Janie. They are in love with them.



And I just need to throw my birthday highlights in here too...it's the day after Christmas and the days just seem to blend together.

* Getting a much needed manicure by myself. Ah, peace and quiet.
* Clothes shopping - a treat from my mother-in-law.
* Dinner date with Mark to my favorite little mexican restaurant. Yummy! I ate so much I thought I was going to be sick.
* Hanging out with some of our treasured friends. Brownies, games, laughing, laughing & and more laughing. Loved it!
* And, I'm going to add last Monday into my birthday highlights. Our friends in Salt Lake took me to sushi and a movie, Up in the Air. Perfect.

Turning 30 wasn't so bad after all.

just a phase, right?

I think I'm going through a 'can't ever get to the gym' phase. And I'm really frustrated by it. I used to go to the gym every day, no matter what. Always. Now it's maybe a few times a month. I used to work at a gym for heavens sake! Maybe having my third baby is the reason. Maybe being busier than ever before is the reason. Something has to be done though. I'm not even thinking about my weight so much, although it's starting to come back now that I'm not nursing. I need to feel like I'm doing something for myself. To better myself. To strengthen myself. Mark made the comment to me that I'm just happier when I'm working out regularly.

So true!

Maybe I should take a class. Which class? Yoga? Spinning? Zumba intimidates the heck out of me. But maybe I should try it. I would love to start running again. I was doing really well a while back. Maybe I should pick a 5K and just do it. But then there's the choice between doing this super early in the morning or late in the evening. Who wants to exercise at either of those times? I can do it though. I need to do it. So I will.

engaged

My brother, Evan, proposed to his long time girlfriend, Jessica, over the weekend and she, of course, said yes. I'm really excited for them! If ever two people just went together it's them. I'm excited for Jess to officially be apart of the family, since it seems like she's always been anyway. I think they are planning a May wedding. Congrats guys!


I just thought this was a cute picture of them walking out of Cam's wedding a few weeks ago.

music video

A friend of mine, Dara, made one of these for their family Christmas card. Hers was longer and cooler but I just wanted to test it out. Here's our little family music video...

Not too shabby.

a grateful thought

Even amid this holiday season I've been feeling a bit grumpy and ungrateful. I'm not even sure why. Actually, that's not true. I could name off a list of things I would like to change, things that aren't changing fast enough and things that probably won't ever change in my life but let's not go there...

The point of this thought is that just this morning I had an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my little family, especially Mark. He left for work at 630am. I got to stay home. I always get to stay home. And I went back to bed and enjoyed a little more sleep.

So for this I am grateful.

snacks

My sister got me hooked on these, the peanut butter filled pretzel covered in chocolate that is. I don't know whether to thank her or be upset. I'm addicted. I was awake with the baby last night at 2am and found myself munching on a few of them. Not good. However, if you love the chocolate/peanut butter flavor I say these are worth every calorie!

our little family

While visiting Mark's family for Thanksgiving over the weekend, Mark's brother, Aaron, took a few family pictures for us. The last time we had a proper family picture taken was a few years ago. If you look at the pictures in our house there's no indication that Izzy is apart of our family. So we fixed that.










This last one of Izzy is my favorite! She has a funny thing going on with her hair but she is adorable just the same.

the wedding

Here are a few pics from Cam and Rachel's wedding on Nov. 12. It was a really beautiful sealing. And it was especially cool that all of my siblings except little Joe were in the sealing room together. It was a sweet day.

Getting ready to walk out of the temple as husband and wife

The entire Mero gang

The boys trying their best to pull of some super cool poses

The freezing cold bridesmaids

create

I love having little crafty projects to work on. It makes me happy. Keeps me relaxed. Focused. It can be a small dose of therapy. Mark's cousin once said that craft projects for his wife, Amy, who is super crafty and talented, made her more loving. I totally get that.
So I went into Roberts last night in order to find some paper for my craft night with my mom & sis tonight and this is what I walked out with.

Buying cute paper is addicting! Who knew.

I also really love this video. So true.


Also, I'm just waiting for a few pictures from other people so that I can post more about my crazy family filled week last week. It was fun from beginning to end.

welcome home

Tessa ran up to give Brig his first welcome home hug.

bijou market

I went to the Bijou Market on Saturday. I had so much fun walking around admiring everyone's craftiness. And I found this little gem.

It's made by a lady named Debbie Thompson. Her etsy store name is tom jewelry design.

family fun

Grandma & Grandpa Arntson

They arrive on Monday

Elder Brigham Mero

He gets home on Tuesday

Cam & Rachel

They get married on Thursday.

It's going to be a busy week and I'm looking forward to every minute!

the best

I know I'm a few weeks behind but I just saw this again and wanted to share.



This is why The Office is the BEST.

accessories

Thanks to Forever 21 my sister, my madre and I are all stocked up on fun little accessories. I am a little obsessed with their hair clips at the moment.

now what?

Lately I haven't been feeling 100%. I couldn't put my finger on it for a while but then it occurred to me that my thyroid might be off. I have hypothyroidism that doesn't like to stay balanced. Almost every six months it changes on me. Annoying. So I took myself to the doctor, with my list of annoying little symptoms, and asked for some blood to be drawn. I even asked if they would check my iron because I've been feeling anemic.

Done.

I was convinced (strongly convinced) that I would have to change the dose of my meds and be good for another six months. I was wrong. Everything is fine. Iron. Thyroid. All fine. Again, annoying. Something is wrong but I can't put my finger on it. Hopefully I get to the bottom of this soon. I know my husband and children would appreciate having me back.

And so would I.



On another note, does anyone know how I can make my header centered? I've been messing with it but it's just not moving.

sweet reward

Enjoying her reward for getting her second flu shot

halloween '09

a fairy, a baby chick and capt america

my baby chick. people LOVED her costume.

This Halloween was a lot of fun. Our neighborhood is made up of young families and a lot of them went all out with decorations and spook alleys. Unfortunately, my kids were scared by all of that (I think they get that from me!) but it was still fun to walk around and see everything. We went trick or treating with the kid's friends, a family in our ward. I forgot to take pictures of all of them together but I managed to remember to snap a few of my three.

the cut

Yes, I chopped my hair off. I'm am having major regrets at the moment. However, I've been told it will grow back. The majority of my married life has been with short hair (Mark likes it shorter) so I'm used to short hair but something about getting it cut this time was kind of sad. It needed to be done though. Change is good. I will admit that it's nice to not feel overwhelmed with hair and I really like the color so I guess it's fine. I just need to get used to it.

lovely flowers

I think I will have to get myself some of these darling earrings. Thanks to Forever 21 I won't have to spend a bundle either.

to whom it may concern

for the thoughtful gift left at my front door Wednesday night!

fall star

A few weeks ago I went up to my mom's for a girl's night. I wish I had taken a picture of all of us but, of course, I forgot. Next time. We made adorable fall stars. They were super easy and you can make them for just about any occasion. I'm actually thinking about making one with girl themed paper for my girl's room. Get a metal star from any craft store, scrapbook paper and mod podge...so easy!

a good life

old picture. diggin the flash.

I've been thinking a lot lately about what makes me happy, grateful, hopeful. What makes ME me.


I laugh when Isabelle dances.

I am grateful that I was raised to see more good than bad.

I am blessed to have had 3 pregnancies, 3 births and 3 healthy kids.

I am fulfilled when I get to the end of the day and I've done my best - no matter the task, especially when it involves teaching my kids.

I am strengthened by my testimony that started with knowing Joseph Smith was a prophet.

I am proud that I started a book club - going on four months now.

I am comfortably ME in my pajamas late at night watching a movie and eating a bowl of cereal.

I love Mark who lets me be me and loves me the same.

I wish I could move like Beyonce.

I am glad it didn't take me too long to realize that a face covered in freckles and curvy hips are good things.

And, I am happy because of all of these things.

early morning

What do you get when your normally not so early bird son wakes up at 6:45am and insists on watching a movie before starting school?

A tired boy out like a light by 9am.