Remember when....

.... you always had well manicured toes because you had the time to paint them as soon as they started chipping?

.... you could actually paint your finger nails because you had time to let them dry instead of being asked to put on barbies new outfit?

.... you could go out with your husband and you didn't feel rushed because you have a babysitter waiting at home?

.... you could listen to any song you wanted to in the car because you didn't have kids in the car that could hear the inappropriate language (I know what your thinking mom).

....you could clean the house and it stays that way for days, maybe even weeks?

.... you could take a shower or bath without an audience?

.... you were on time to things?

.... you didn't have slobber all over your shirt?

.... you could take a shower whenever you wanted?

.... you could sleep in past the morning and wake up around noon?

.... you opened your car door and toys didn't fall out?

.... you could eat a piece of chocolate without having to hide it from the kids?

.... you could go shopping and actually look through all the sales racks?

.... you didn't have to be home by 1pm and again at 7pm for nap time?

.... you could take hours getting ready if you wanted to?

.... you could run all your errands within a couple of hours?

.... you could lay out at the pool and take a nap?

.... you could catch a late movie at the theaters?

.... you could live lavishly on two incomes and not have to spend money on diapers, formula, shoes, clothes, etc?

.... you could lay in bed all day if you wanted to?

.... you could sleep through the whole night without any interruptions?



but most importantly do you remember when....

.... you didn't have these little children that bring sooooo much joy to your life and instead you had to work full time at a job that was no where close to being as rewarding as being a mother?


I'm sooooo grateful to be a mom and for my wonderful children. Even if it means sacrificing all those things I once enjoyed so much.

I have OCD.....

That's right errrrrbody OCD. I never thought that it was that bad and I still don't (until I just read this over), but I have noticed how over time it can/has progressively gotten worse.

Sooooo at night I have to shut down the house. Sometimes because Chad has already passed out on the couch or in bed, but mostly because I have to go through behind him and make sure it's all done right anyways.....

First, I have to check the garage
-make sure the garage door is down
-make sure the washer and dryer are off
-then I have to turn off the kitchen light and the garage light to make sure that all the car lights are off (Cache likes to turn them all on).
-then I lock the door
-then I have to push on the door to make sure it latched all the way.
From there I go through the kitchen
- I usually have to have the house totally clean before I can go to bed so I have to make sure that the sink is clean of any dishes
- and then turn off the lights
I then go into the Living room
-I check the front door. Usually opening it and making sure the security door is locked.
- then I check to make sure nothing was left on the doorstep
- shut the door
-lock it and give it that extra push just to make sure it latched all the way
- then I check the sliding door. I have to check the top lock and make sure it is tight
- check that the bottom sticks are in place
- check and make sure the sliding door lock is locked (even though I'm pretty sure it doesn't work anyway.
- some nights I also have to go out and feed Tuff
- Then I straighten the living room pillows
- and turn off the light and fan
From there I have to check on the kids
- check to make sure they're blankets are on them
- smile and think of how blessed I am to have these sweet little kids
- close the door and then FINALLY I can get ready for bed.
If I question whether or not I checked one of the locks I have to go through and double check all of them.
So there it is. I'm officially CrAAAAAzyyyy! I think it's progressively gotten worse over the years. It's like if I think of something new I have to add that to my nightly routine. It's terrible at times because I dread getting ready for bed. Partly for that reason and because I have to go wash my face and brush my teeth. Sometimes I wish I could just plop into bed, but my nightly OCD routine gives me peace of mind at the end of the day instead of sitting in bed thinking over and over in my head "is the garage door down or am I gonna wake up to stolen cars and my children gone?" I think I'll take the peace of mind.

"Pun,ctu'ati.on?

Okay okay so Im sure you all have noticed it. I am terrible at punctuation. For that reason Im choosing not to use any of it except for a period in this post so that I dont make it that much more noticeable as you read this. So next time you read a post email letter text from me keep that in mind and try not to let it bother you. I put punctuation in wherever I think it looks good. Lets keep it at that.

BTW Im not the best speller either so if you cant read what I wrote just guess.

Ouch....

...as Emily would put it.

Last night I was talking to Chad about how I've tried making friends with people and they just dont seem interested.

His response........

"Well you've got three kids........... and you're OLD."


Well there you have it. I'm officially old. So old that people dont want to be my friend. No one wants to hang out with grandma over here when they can hang out with kids there own age.

(By the way.... this is not a post saying that I dont think I have friends. I have the best friends a girl, or grandma, could ask for.)

I have a real problem..

First off I'm blogging when I should be getting my kids ready for their doc appointment, but that is a different problem for a different post.

I have (and have had for a long time) a problem of finding a shirt that I like and then buying EVERY color in it. Okay, maybe not EVERY color, but I can't buy just one. for example I just bought 5 shirts (a splurge I know, but it was a deal). Three of them where the same style in different colors while the other two were the same style in two different colors. Maybe it's because I don't get to go shopping like I use to. So instead of shopping regularly for myself and settling on one color in each style I shop less frequently and only find one style that I really like with a million colors I can't choose from. Some of you may have noticed this before. You may have thought to yourself "Didn't Janae just wear that shirt?? Only in blue?" Well you would be correct. You're not going delusional.

Does anyone else have this problem?

Costume results....

The results are in and...

55% of people voted that they dress up for Halloween and
44% say they dont

I'm not someone who dresses up. Well let me take that back because I did wear Chad's Raiders Jersey, but that's about where it ends. I dont care to dress up as an animal, clown, witch, ect.... I feel uncomfortable the entire time I wear it. Oddly enough I wouldn't mind wearing a wig. In fact for years I wanted to shave my head and just wear wigs everyday. I mean serioulsy I could have gorgeous, thick, long hair and it could be any color I wanted it without damaging my own hair. Plus maybe by shaving my head my hair would grow in nice and thick. So wigs dont bother me, but getting all dressed up in a costume does.

Who of you likes dressing up? Did you dress up this Halloween and if so what did you dress up as? What about dressing up do you like?

My thoughts on being the Activities Chairman..

Chad and I have been our ward's Activities Chairman for the past year. I have to say that this is the perfect calling for me. I LOVE parties, I LOVE planning parties, and I LOVE being incharge. However, I know that I have issues. I like things done MY way. Knowing this about myself I had to try and put my thoughts aside and make group decisions. It's no fun being in Activities Committee if you're just being told what to do and you aren't able to help plan them. So when the decorations aren't perfect I just turn my head. No really it wasn't that bad. However, I know that not everyone cares for decorations like I do so they may not make such a big deal about making it perfect. I do have to say that I think I had some WONDERFUL people in my committee. I couldn't have done it without them. Luckily, they were able to put up with me because I can be VERY demanding.
Anyways, being the chairman was exciting, exhausting, stressful, rewarding, and soooo much more. I am a stressful person. It works for me though because when the activiy is over with it makes it that much more rewarding. I often lose a lot of sleep the nights before an activity because I'm thinking about every little detail. I want the activities to be ones that people look forward to coming to. So it always feels great when I've put in a lot of effort and the activity was a success.
Sooooooo our calling is now over. It's so weird to think that I don't have to start planning a Ward Thanksgiving party and that the next activity I go to I'll actually be able to enjoy the activity.
I have to say the hardest thing about being in charge is seeing how it effects my kids. For example our activity on Saturday went a little like this....
Chad was on parking lot duty so the kids just followed me around as I found our game people and got them set-up. Luckily, my wonderful friend Camille offered to take Aeden so that he could get some food. (Shay didn't want any.) Then she continued following me around until Chad got a break and could take them to play some games. All the other kids were already playing games. Then Chad went to go hang out at our car for the trunk or treat while the kids stood with me at the prize station. Until another wonderful friend took over my spot so I could take the kids trunk or treating. By this time some of the cars were already leaving. Then we cleaned up while Kaelyn screamed and the kids finally got in bed around 10pm.
All in all it was a great gig, but it will be nice to enjoy some future activites with my kids!