Curse you Pinterest

So I have discovered pinterest. Check it out if you haven't ever heard of it...but beware, it is addicting.
I have found so many ideas I just don't know where to begin. I have tried some of the recipes I've found though and I'm so happy to have yet another source for new recipes. Thank goodness for my iPhone! I don't have to waste hours on my computer, I can look at pinterest while I wait for kids to get out of school, at the drs office, while in line at the grocery store, etc. What did I ever ever do without my loverly iPhone?! Thank you Steve Jobs, may you rest in peace knowing you have made my life, and countless others, more fulfilled because of our iPhones; you should have a direct ticket into heaven. (I'm not even joking)

Okay, so I have some random thoughts. When I lay in bed at night, as I try to fall asleep, I don't usually think about normal things, like bills. I usually have the odd and, like I said before, random thoughts. Such as this beauty.

I'm laying down, Lars is snoring already, Sam is snuggled in my arms. I'm thinking about all the fun times we have as a family, how much I enjoy watching my kids play. Lilli has just learned to ride a two wheeler, no training wheels. I should be photographing this moment, but instead I want to run along side of her, cheering her on. My thought goes something like this, "Should I be taking more pictures/videos of my kids? What will I do someday when I don't have those?" Then I think "That's just silly, I will have my kids, I will have my memories" This leads to my anxiety laden thought, "What if I don't have my memories, what if I get dementia or Alzheimer's?" So my question is this: When all is said and done, when I am nearing the end of my life, or even just when my kids are grown, will I be sad if I don't have pictures depicting each and every event and moment of our lives? Or will I be happy I enjoyed being involved in those events rather than on the sidelines taking pictures, always behind the camera? I'm not saying I don't love photos and capturing moments and memories, but what if I don't get every vacation, every cake, every moment? Will I feel I missed out on something or will I feel I captured it more fully by participating instead of photographing? I realize it isn't always an either or thing, you can have both...to an extent. As I have had more kids and as the older ones have started to grow up a little, I find myself taking less pictures of every event. I take some spontaneous pictures here or there, and of course Christmas, Disneyland, and the like. But not as many and not as often. There is just too much to see, do, and enjoy to stop and take a picture every time. I don't know, I haven't decided though. Maybe I'll start taking more pictures, maybe I'll take less. I'll have to mull it over a little more. When all is said and done, I can't take them with me, and once a moment has passed, it has passed and I can't do anything about it if I haven't taken a picture, I just have to be happy with the moments wether or not I have a photo of it.
Yup, that was how it went. And eventually I fell asleep and dreamt I was taking pictures. Such is the stuff of late night musings.

There are more midnight random thoughts I could share, but I think I have rambled enough for one post. ;)

We are getting so close to getting our new house!!! And may I say once again, I L-O-V-E my iPhone! (I started this post last week and am just getting around to finishing it.) I don't know how I could have done all I needed to do, such as sending, finding, signing paperwork, without my iPhone and the internet. Ok, I know it can, and I have before, be done but it is so much better this way.

Can't wait to move into my house so I can start doing some of my Pinterests! :)

I think I may move to Disneyland

Car breakdowns, Dr appointments, parent teacher conferences (and somebody's first, and last, F), good news, waiting, and new tires. If it wasn't for the good news thrown in I probably wouldn't be blogging right now, I'd be in Disneyland (debt be DA...nged!) 

So, my car had started making a scraping sound whenever I would brake. I told Lars and he got on in right away, or at least within a few days. The problem started though, when he thought it was the front brakes and not the back. He bought all the parts to fix the front and spent a few hours working on it, only to find that the front brakes were in great condition. Time for a new plan. Lars planned on fixing the car a couple days later since he had parent teacher conferences for his own students and then we had parent teacher conferences for our kids the day after that. Sadly, the car had other plans for us. I had dropped kids off at school as usual. First the Jr high kids and then off to the elementary school where, since we aren't living at our new house yet so we commute, we wait 30 minutes until school starts. Today I had to leave right away and get back to the Jr high, often I spend the first part of the morning in Lilli's class helping out. Today, however, 7th grade parents had a SEOP presentation to attend. So I headed back down the hill to BJH. Went to the presentation, learned...well, not a lot. Went back to the car and decided to nurse Sam before running some more errands and getting Lilli from kindergarten. After a few relaxing minutes of nursing I put Sam into his car seat, move up to the front, start the car, check behind me and start backing out when...CLUNK! There was a horrible noise and the car shook. I was sure I had backed into something but since I was looking behind me I was quite confused. I quickly pulled back into the parking spot, nearly hyperventilating and absolutely trembling. I shakily get out of the car and make sure I was right and nothing was there. I was, of course, (haha) right. I got back in the car and took a few long deep breaths to try to get my adrenaline levels back to normal. Once I could no longer hear my heart beating loudly in my head my thoughts turned to the only logical explanation of what had happened. My once easy brake repair had just turned into a complicated expensive job. Plus I was stuck at the Jr high with only an hour before I needed to pick up Lilli. I finally got ahold of Lars and told him about our problem, then I called my childhood hero, the person I can always count on, my Grandpa. He drove 20 minutes to come to my rescue. We went and waited for Lilli to get out and took care of a few phone calls Grandpa needed me to make (address changes for bills etc.) Then we got lunch and went back to the car so I could go exchange the brake parts and see what else I might need. When we got to the car my heart sank even lower, there was fluid leaking from the back...brake fluid...A LOT of it. I took a picture and sent it to Lars. (I love technology!) Then I went to Auto Zone in Bountiful. There I met the most helpful guys around. They listened to my woes, helped me figure out the right parts, and commiserated with me. Then they helped me carry my rear brakes and rotors to the car. I seriously love these guys and just want to bake them cookies or something. If any of you out this way ever need car parts go see these guys, it was a bright spot in an otherwise cloudy morning. (Figuratively speaking. Literally speaking it was far too hot for a late September day) To finish up the story, Lars was able to fix it and it didn't cost nearly as much as feared. We only had to buy one additional part, a rear caliper. (Whatever that does)

On to the good news...the bank counter-offered on the house and it is within the price range we had decided on for ourselves!! We are getting close now. Fingers crossed and prayers being said that the loan goes through quickly so we can close and move in! Any and all prayers, chants, finger-crossing, or whatever you do for good luck would be greatly appreciated. :-)

Poor Lilli had to get 7 cavities filled. She, unfortunately, has inherited the Andersen teeth. She did so amazing though! She was so good and laid there so quiet and let them do the work without complaint. Afterwards though she was quite upset, she HATED the feeling of being numb. I definitely felt for her, I dread that feeling when I need work done too. She has vowed to brush her teeth "Lots during the day, every day" so she doesn't have as many cavities next time.

Oscar goes in tomorrow for dental work, thank goodness he has matured a bit since he was Lilli's age. He was AWFUL to take to the dentist. 

Last but certainly not least is....Samuel the Great! Sam had his four month check up. He is off the charts in height (or length, depending on how you look at it) and 90 something in weight. Official stats are:

28 inches long

16.8 pounds

He is doing perfect, which we already knew, but it is nice to have the Dr agree. 

Sam's various nicknames as of this moment are (In order of most used to least used, or newest)

Stink

Agent stink

Champ

Sammy boo (That one is Lilli)

Little man

Agent S

Stinkaroo

Perhaps you've noticed a theme amongst most of those. Sam is a champion farter. It's true. He is truly amazing. And it makes him so darn happy. ;-)

So I think I covered most of our news for now. I have more to say but Lars keeps giving me dirty looks for clacking away on the keyboard as he tries to sleep so I shall sign off for now.

Until next time, remember to cross your fingers, eyes, toes and nose that we get into our house soon.

I'd appreciate it, THANKS! :)