Humbled..

Today I have an overwhelming sense of being overwhelmed! It was one of those days that my brain feels like it will explode any minute. Not because I am mad, but because I am thinking so hard that it hurts. I have this talent/curse to care for people so deeply that I want to help them solve all of their problems. This isn't possible of course. But for some reason I keep trying. Sometimes I wonder why each of us get the individual problems that we have to face. I am sure they are hand picked for our growth. That is why you can never look at someone else and compare. I am sure someone may look at my life and say that I have never had any trials, but that isn't true. They just don't know me well enough to know what bag of problems I got. It always looks from the outside that someone else has it easier than you do. I went to another funeral today of a girl named Linnie. She and her twin sister were handicap and lived life together fighting side by side. These girls never spoke, walked, ran, or anything we all take for granted every day of our lives. Even though they both had extreme limitations, they affected hundreds for good. I heard story after story of their good sense of humor and friendship. They are living proof that you can fight every day for the basics to live, and still smile and be an example to people around you. They truly chose their attitude. The other twin is still alive, but is in the hospital. When she comes home I am sure she will have an unbearable time living with the fact that her sister is gone. They supported each other for 20 years through hospital visits, sickness, and I am sure frustration. I do not have the same problems that these sweet girls have. It kind of makes me feel like a wimp when I look at it like that......I could handle more. Then I remind myself that I have different problems. Whenever I am feeling like it is too much to handle, all I have to do is look around for a minute and find someone like Linnie. I pray that I can preserver like she did. I want to always come out smiling even on the toughest day. We all have tough days, it's how we choose to deal with them that makes the difference.

Things that make me cringe....

Any of you that don't know what a breather is listed on my cringe list.....this is a major case of the breathers! It was named by my brother Scott. It is whenever you are breathing and you feel something moving in your nose, but you can't find it. This poor boy could obviously find it but needs some help!

I thought because I don't feel like talking about my life right now, I would post a picture from my list of things that make me cringe! Ostriches are right up there with Llamas! They are not as nasty, buy they come closer than a lot of things. I think it is the eyes that get me!  The teeth are pretty horrific also. Am I weird? What do you think?

Most of these aren't really important, but some of them are 

(like Llamas).

Llamas
The texture of oatmeal
Judgemental people
Installing car seats
Making dinner
Dry Skin, especially at night
Zits on my nose
Ostriches
Paperwork needing to be filed
Laundry that multiplies
When people don't wear color
Maggots/Flies
Being sick
Red stop light runners
Cherubs
Bad smells
Fighting
Annoyingly huge Christmas decorations
When my dog finds a poo diaper
Saying things over and over
Watching people sleep with their socks on
Getting 6 kids ready for church
Mannequins
Sticker residue
Getting lost
When my phone and ipod battery run out
Stubbing my toe so hard the nail comes off
Bangs hanging in my kids eyes
Putting important things in special places that I can never find again
Anything service industry on the phone
Taking anything in pill form
Forgetting things
Feeling like I AM blond
Feeling week or crying
People that are fake
When someone needs to cough and they talk through it
When food tastes gross but you have to lie
Running out of time to exercise
Controlling kinds of people
Frostbitten ice cream
When people talk REALLY slow
Jagged fingernails
Gargoyles
Wanting to drive fast, but can't
Unpacking after going somewhere
Sinus problems (yes Dave, you included!)
People that are always in a bad mood
Breather's :)
Eating too fast
Those "Ground Hog" kind of days
Homework..I do more now than ever
Sleepy seeds left in peoples eyes
The shock of freezing cold water
Never being able to get everything done
When I feel like I should be able to talk to animals and I can't.

Waking up from a flying dream

Fading memories

Comb overs

Force feeding

O.C.D. Behaviors

Missing people I love

The smell of Clorox

Celebrating holidays ahead of the previous one
People who complain like I am right now :)

My Top Ten

Today we were talking about gratitude, because of the season of course. Everyone helped list things that made them happy and grateful. I brought up my coping mechanism for hard times... which is my top ten. It sounds cheesy, but it really works. I always keep my top ten things that make me happy close by. Whenever I feel frustrated, I will pull out the list and start picking things to focus on. Everyone has their top ten, and I think it is worth writing it down. So here are mine... in no particular order :)

Top Ten

1. Family
2. Gospel
3. Music
4. Nature
5. Exercise
6. Reading
7. Dancing
8. Laughing
9. Writing
10. Friends

Here is a long list of things that make me happy...

Dancing in the rain
Laughing so hard my stomach aches
Jumping on the trampoline
Water skiing on water that looks like glass
Sledding in the dark down a steep powdery hill
Staying up so late, I have a Mabey Meltdown
Creating with my hands
Random thoughts
Watching my 6 girls play together
Having a snowball fight
Halle's crusties

Reading with my kids at the end of the day
Pico de gallo

Driving and singing to music really loud
Painting my house
The first snow storm of the year
Being a little bit sarcastic
Cafe Rio and Rocky Mountain Carmel apples
Snuggling with Jon at the end of a long day
Watching fire
Having girls night ALL the time
Hair
Johnny Depp

Holding puppies
Telling old stories that make me laugh
Hiking up a mountain...rain, sun, or snow
Watching a good movie with my family
Watching Jon laugh really hard
The way strawberry shortcake smells

Boating with my family and friends
Making faces
Feeling the "runner's high"
Birds on a wire all in a row
Tickling my kids
Prayer and getting answers in the scriptures
Snowmobiling with all of the family
Laying on the beach and listening to waves

New shoes
Watching a stream
Watching babies dance to the beat of Music
Hearing babies laugh really hard
Making goals that scare me
My imagination

Nice Jeeps
Reading a really good book
Ipods :)
Down comforters and bedding
Sandwiches
Risk
The smell of the rain
Collecting good quotes
Being sore after a good workout
The smell of Cologne mmmm
A clean house that smells good
Flying somewhere out of Utah
Four wheeling up a steep hill
A selective memory

Camping somewhere new
When I finally get the campfire started
Stretching
When I figure out a problem
Getting an answer to a prayer
Good friends that you can relax with
Making plans to travel somewhere
Competing in Triathlons for fun, not to win
Learning new customs
Meeting unique people
Taking pictures and recording them on my blog
Building people up
Playing the piano and violin
Creating new things for my business

Helping others hope

Funny thoughts that make me smile

Watching a toddler experience life for the first time

Writing down things that make me happy!

Red Eye

Well, once again I am awake too late! After a day of kids running everywhere, it is so nice to have it quiet. Unfortunately that only happens when everyone is asleep. It is a beautiful time when I can actually hear myself think! I will fight it until my eyes are burning, and my back aching from the work of the day! The problem is that when morning comes and the kids jump out of bed ready to conquer the world again, I want to stay in bed! With six kids, and a niece living with us that just isn't an option. Some say the way to solve this problem is to go to bed on time, and wake up extra early.....hmm that doesn't sound logical to me. It is so natural to sleep in the early morning, especially when it is cold outside like it is right now. In the summer, it is much easier for me to get up and exercise before the sun is even up because it is warm. The funny thing about that is that there is no reason to rush in the summer to get the work out done because the kids are home all day and I could go any time. I have been hiking all summer and have taken Halle quite a few times. This isn't really an option when it starts snowing. I don't mind going in the snow because I warm up pretty quick, but it is too cold for Halle and I don't want to slip. SOOOOO, somehow I need to learn to wake up and have quiet time in the morning. I used to be able to trick the kids into going to bed earlier because they couldn't tell time, but that has long since past. :) Maybe I should start changing the clocks ....? Why is it that when we are young and have the option to sleep as much as we want....we scream and kick when it is time for a nap, and when we are old we would give anything to be able to sleep and we can't? Kind of a cruel life trick that is played on us. Kind of like, when we are young we have tons of energy to travel and play but we can't for various reasons like time, money, work etc. Later in life we have more money, time, and we are retired but our bodies would rather sit and watch the price is right! Hog wash!

Park City with the Lindahls

Last Friday Jon and I stayed up in Park City with our friends Spencer and Melinda. We ate at Zoom's restaurant. It was delicious. We all ordered something different. We ordered halibut, ribs, steak, and orange sesame chicken. We shared with each other because they were all so good. Any of you that know Jon know that he just had to taste each of the deserts they had to offer. He ordered one of each so we could all share and experience them all!

Later that night we watched the movie " The Great Outdoors" and got some treats and Bubble Tape to snack on when we played games. The bubble tape was hilarious because I kept laughing, and then I would worry about chocking and drooling on the nice furniture, so I had to try and focus on chewing! Just watching Melinda try not to get lock jaw was enough to die laughing! I put half in my mouth first and never thought we would succeed with all of it, but we worked really hard at it, and finally managed! I love this kind of cheap entertainment! It is the kind you never forget. Jon and Spencer are so supportive and fun to be with. They go along with any crazy idea we get. We played games and watched the movie until 12:30 and then sat in the hot tub chatting until 2:00 am. I couldn't bare the thought of going to sleep and wasting my time sleeping when I was at an amazing condo relaxing with friends! It's one of those once in a while kind of things!

What a Team!

This is my amazing mom and dad. Dave and Nancy Gourley. I love them more than anything! I was so blessed to be raised by such amazing people. My mom gave tirelessly to the five kids while we were growing up. She painted ceramics to pay for our braces, and ran me around to 8 million lessons. She is a great snowboarder and loves to waterski. She rides horses as often as she can and teaches elementary. My dad is a master communicator. He has a great sense of humor and understands me on a level nobody else does. Together they are a great team and built a family unit that will never be broken.

Girls Just Want to Have Fun!

These are the kind of things you end up doing if you have a house full of girls! Pedicures and manicures are a must! Brighton and Ella painted Mandy's and my toes while we watched a movie. They were multicolored and beautiful!

Shmonae

Yes, yes I know, Jon did it again. He spoils me rotten. I have tried to teach him for years that it is healthy to want things that you are not able to get. I always have to be careful about letting him know what I want. When he knows, he doesn't take it off the list until I get it! I am not complaining, I am simply worried about my soul. :) We have been without before, and it changed the way I look at everything.

Jon surprised me with this car he bought from Spencer Lindahl. It couldn't be more perfect! It only had 35,000 miles on it, and was well taken care of. It is a 7 series and very fun to drive. Too fun I am finding out as I look at my speeds flying down the road. If you can't find me, check the police station for driving too fast! I can't even feel it, and it is dangerous! I drive it every time I don't have all the kids with me. When the kids are all with me, I have to drive the Suburban. It is a necessary evil to get all the kids around. It also does well with pulling the boat or four wheelers. I grew up driving a Suburban since I was 16! I would take my friends to dances etc. in the burb. I can't even park the bmw because I turn the wheel like the big car and end up crooked every time!

Four Chicks

This was a dance Sydney went to with her friends.

 I can't help but laugh at their outfits that are screaming 80's!!! 

I wore these exact things an have been teased for it for years! Now they are asking for advice and wanting to wear my Senior Ball dress that is shiny turquoise with sequins on it!

Surprise Cheese

My girls love to take pictures of me in my bathroom while I am getting ready. Sometimes they are pretty, and sometimes they are not and I have to tackle them and rip the camera away! I decided to post an alright one to remember the ritual they love!

Space Monkey's

We went to Clark Planetarium last Monday for FHE. It was a lot of fun! The best thing was the laser light show that went with none other than U2! The kids reaction was so funny. Ella was dancing with me on my lap the whole time, Halle was on Jon's lap oooing and ahhhing. It was interesting to look at all of the facts about space etc. Shauntyl went with us. She is now living with us until she goes to college in the summer. What's girl number 7? :)

Let's Raise Some Money!

This was a fundraiser that Jon and I were invited to for Women in Philanthropy. I am excited to join and help where I can. We went with Barbara Leavitt, which is a friend that may as well be family! It was fun to get dressed up and go out. Women in Philanthropy is a group of women that raise money to donate to organizations in Utah County. We bid on a trip that we won, we don't know yet if we will give it away at our Christmas party or use it ourselves.......:) I am sure some of you may have a vote on that one!

Superman!

I simply had to put this picture of my nephew David James on my blog because ......well there are no words. A picture paints a thousand words!! I grew up with his dad flying around all of the time too. Sometimes I was jealous. Once he was getting a running start down the sidewalk by our first house in Bountiful and he tripped and skid. It was a sad thing to watch, it is still engraved in my mind. But as you can see, his offspring has it all right. I am sure Dave is proud!

Aloha

These are my beautiful girls in Maui! All but Halle anyway! We had so much fun. We experienced everything from surfing and boogie boarding to sleeping on the beach and learning to Hula dance!

This was on the boat going out to Snuba, and snorkel. It was lots of fun. We were hooked up to an air tank that let you go down 20 feet into the water. I was a good next step before scuba diving. I bumped into a coral reef and screamed into my mask. It made me laugh and I had to come up for air. It was fun. Jon, Ella, Brighton, and Whitney stayed on top of the water.

Brighton posing for us on the beach!

The kids went boogie boarding for hours and hours.

What a cute smile Kinley has when she doesn't put grapes above her upper lip. She almost did for her school pictures! I told her she could next year as long as she took retakes also so we had both :)

Ella loved playing in the sand. She made castles until it was dark!

Whitney, just hanging loose!

Brighton, Ella, and Jon snorkeling about me.

Surfing was a blast with all of the kids. Everyone got up and surfed. Ella made sandcastles of course.

Mandy and the girls. Mandy wasn't in enough pictures because she was always taking them!

This was on the boat going out to Snuba, and snorkel. It was lots of fun. We were hooked up to an air tank that let you go down 20 feet into the water. I was a good next step before scuba diving. I bumped into a coral reef and screamed into my mask. It made me laugh and I had to come up for air. It was fun. Jon, Ella, Brighton, and Whitney stayed on top of the water.

Brighton posing for us on the beach!

The kids went boogie boarding for hours and hours.

What a cute smile Kinley has when she doesn't put grapes above her upper lip. She almost did for her school pictures! I told her she could next year as long as she took retakes also so we had both :)

Ella loved playing in the sand. She made castles until it was dark!

It's Llama Time!

 Insufferable is the first thing that pops into my mind when I hear the word Llamas. 


Any of you that know me well are probably laughing because you know my history with these hideous creatures. Let me start off by posting a few pictures so you can visualize what I am talking about:

Alright.


 I worry about anyone who doesn't see something wrong with this animal. 


 I have always been freaked out by Llamas. It started when I was young. We have a cabin that we visited quite a bit in the summer time. There was a nearby home that always had Llamas in their yard. I would look at them as we drove by and get the chills. In my opinion, the Llama knows what you are thinking
 {like it or not.}    


Their bulging eyes bare down on me and make me want to crawl away!  Next time take a closer look...I dare you.


 Their eye lashes and crooked teeth make me shudder! 

Yuck! 


 I have always felt like Llamas are bad people that have been punished and are living the rest of their life in total exile. One day I was with Jon looking for a house to buy and they had Llamas in their yard. Being the naive person I can be, I decided to go make peace with the Llama species.  I slowly walked up to one and looked into it's eyes. It simply stared at me for about a minute and then proceeded to retract it's neck back and let everything loose that was in it's stomach! 


That's right, it spit on me! 


I should have known.   Living a lifetime trapped in Llama body would canker my soul to such an extent also.  Sometimes when I feel like rebeling as a mother..a responsible citizen...


Picturing a Llama is all lit takes to put me back on track.

 I have never smelled something so horrid in my life, and being a mother of six I have smelled some pretty miserable smells! It was all in my hair, down my shirt, and on my face. I stomped over to Jon and the home owner and informed them that we were leaving! 


 Jon was laughing of course, so I couldn't keep a straight face but I swore to never give another Llama the time of day.

And I haven't.