Sweet & Simple

Stolen Moments

2012-02-23T15:36:00.000-07:00

Lately, when I'm making dinner, Brody will waddle into the kitchen holding a couple blocks or his favorite truck. Before long, he'll plop down on the floor and start jibber-jabbing about his day. I always bend down to give him a little lovin' before I have to return to what I was doing. Our kitchen rendezvous is just one of the stolen moments I look forward to each day. I've realized that with Kid #3, I've got to look for these opportunities and not take them for granted. Sure, while Brody and I are relishing in our stolen moment, I'm also dealing with my girls, guarding my snack pantry from random neighborhood children, setting the table, making tacos and tripping over the dog but, that's okay, because Brody gets it. He gets that I'm busy, he gets that he's got two older sisters, he gets that dinner has to get made. And, you know what? In the middle of all this chaos, I'll catch his eye and he'll give me the cheesiest grin ever to let me know he's okay. And, let's be honest, watching me juggle all of the above has got to be some top notch entertainment for a toddler.

2012-01-29T21:35:00.002-07:00

It happened so quickly that if you blinked you would have missed it. For a couple magical minutes, these two realized that they don't have to be mortal enemies. They could, in fact, share a little giggle. Of course, it ended when Ella pushed Brody off the couch. But, I'm telling you, for those couple minutes I was in maternal bliss! As I've mentioned before, one of my main goals as a Mom is to foster great sibling relationships between my kids. These two I worry about just a bit. Being so close in age, they find themselves as inadvertent rivals more than I'd like. Whether it's a sippy cup, Mommy's lap or the last graham cracker, they always seem to want the same thing at the same time. For at least the first year of Brody's life, Ella refused to even acknowledge his presence. And, now that Brody is bigger and badder, he's been getting WAY more physical. He loves to grab a big chunk of Ella's hair and just yank! Then he just squeals with delight as she's crying and thrashing. Nice. Real nice. This is all a totally new experience for me since Hannah and Ella are soul mates in the purest sense...kinda like Khloe and Kourtney. Ladies, I would love to hear any tips all you other Moms have on helping siblings, not just get along, but actually thrive in their relationships. Please share! :)

A Case of the Mondays

2012-01-23T16:08:00.000-07:00

I woke up on this Monday morning feeling blaaahhhh! One glance at the clock tells me I slept through my alarm and missed my morning trip to the gym. Double blaaahhh! When I look out the window, I see nothing but grey clouds hovering over a snow white sky. Triple blaaahhhh! A definite case of the Mondays.

I've been at home raising my kids for almost six years now. Recently, when picking up my kids from Grammy and Pops' house, my dad asked me with crazy seeping out of his eyes, "Is this what you do everyday?" Um, yeah, it totally is. How do I stay sane on a day when all I want to do is pull the covers over my head and hope Tuesday comes really fast? The little kids giggling in the next room need breakfast, clothes, hugs, etc. so I know sleeping until tomorrow really isn't an option. Lying under the covers, I make a plan.

1. GET DRESSED. Although, the urge is great, I force myself to NOT pull on my favorite sweats and, instead, reach for my Sevens. I know it's totally superficial but getting dressed kinda cute helps me feel better. It really, really does. I feel more productive, more apt to leave the house, talk to people, etc. Plus, on days like today I like to wear some fierce eye makeup. Why? Kardashian-esque eye makeup makes me feel powerful like I can take on the world or, maybe, even start an empire.
2. GET ORGANIZED. You know those days where you never get dressed and end up wandering around your house aimlessly checking Facebook and Pinterest until you realize your kids are about to come home from school and you've got nothing to show for it. It happens. It sucks. I pull out my trusty planner and start planning my week. I'm a nerd so that always gets me going. My planning session includes my personal goals, family night, my exercise routine and our daily meals. (F.Y.I. We are talking about our ancestors tonight for Family Home Evening. Here is the link to the lesson I'm using. This gal has lots of great ideas.)

3. PRAY. Probably the simplest thing you can do to shake off a bad mood and yet, very often, totally overlooked. Praying to have a better attitude works...it really does. I know because I'm prone to being a big, old grump and I often use prayer to help lift my mood. I just read a quote by George Albert Smith in which he uses the term "developing happiness." That term has really stuck with me because it implies that being happy is a talent...something I can practice and achieve. I like that.
4. DIET COKE AND CANDY. Getting in the car and running to McDonalds always helps. I get some fresh air, a bit of perspective and a little sip of heaven. The secret candy stash I have in my desk drawer doesn't hurt either.
5. BE CREATIVE. I love writing, scrapbooking and journaling so those are my favorite outlets. It helps me clear my thoughts, focus on my blessings and just feel like I'm accomplishing something outside of homemaking. Doing laundry is important but I don't really feel that awesome sense of accomplishment when I'm finished. You know how it is.

Happy Monday!!!

The Best Present EVER

2012-01-16T20:47:00.003-07:00

Our holiday season flashed by in a whirl of twinkle lights, candy canes and some serious holidazzle. The parties, shopping, butter and fun seemed endless. Those things were all great...really. But, do you want to know what the very best thing about our Christmas was? The thing I will never, ever forget?

Ella finally found her words!!! {APPLAUSE}.

Ella is my most spirited child. She's bright, hilarious and totally irreverent. She has a "giggle" that you would expect to belong to a burly trucker. Her face and eyes express more emotion than most people feel in a lifetime but, until recently, she was silent. How could this be? No baby noises. No Mama or Dada. Just this awful silence. Was I worried? I was frantic! Ella, who charms everyone she meets with her mile-wide grin and a warmth that literally just oozes, had nothing to say! I just couldn't accept that. Not knowing what was going through that adorable little noggin of hers was torture. But, it was also really, really hard for me to acknowledge that my beautiful baby was struggling. I knew I had to do something when I realized that she realized she couldn't communicate like the other kids. Social situations where she was expected to speak became absolute nightmares for her. Luckily, we found the most amazing therapist in the entire world, Kristine Hatch. She is like the toddler-whisperer. Seriously. Ella loves her so much and I do too. She helped Ella find her words and that was the absolute best Christmas present in the history of Christmas presents.

2012-01-14T20:28:00.000-07:00

WANTED: Ten Lousy Minutes

2011-11-07T10:29:00.001-07:00

I needed ten lousy minutes to edit some pictures I wanted to include in, what was sure to be, the most epic blog post ever crafted. Scott was home from work so I seized the moment to sneak upstairs. I could hear Dora singing and the scuffle of little feet in the kitchen for breakfast. Ten minutes. That is all I needed.

Within two minutes of my not-so-stealth escape those little feet were coming my way...fast. Only, this time it wasn't a little scuffle. It had transformed into an elephant stampede. Ten lousy minutes. That is all I needed.

CRASH!!! That is how my children open doors...anytime, anywhere. With Herculean strength.

It was then I made my critical mistake. As the herd entered my quiet little domain, I should have just waved my white flag. Obviously, I was beat. But, for some reason, I was determined to fight. Bad idea.

Ella comes cruising in half-naked because, well, she hates wearing pants and thinks panties are optional. (I don't get out that much anyway.) Hannah follows and is soon coughing all over me while wondering if she is healthy enough to go to school today. (Oh, she's sooo going.) But, it was Brody who sealed the deal as soon as his sticky little finger found the bright blue power button on the computer. I watched my pictures disappear. Oh, and, Scott was there too. (Not exactly sure what he was doing but we'll save that for another day.)

Done.

What happens next bothered me for the rest of the day. Instead of saving my pictures for another time and giving my children the attention they were looking for, I threw a temper tantrum. I'm pretty sure that is frowned upon in the realm of respectable grown-ups. I stamped, I yelled, I threw a royal fit. I truly hate when my kids see me lose my cool. I really do. Don't you? Because the truth is I love being a stay-at-home Mom. I relish the fact that my kids (usually) enjoy being with me and that I get to spend my days with them. It is a tremendous blessing that I wouldn't trade for the world. But, sometimes Mommy just needs a couple minutes. Is that okay?

Fun According to Kids

2011-10-26T21:50:00.000-06:00

Mom Lesson #583: Kids have a very simple definition of FUN.

We had nothing planned for Fall Break, so I asked the kiddos if they wanted to do something super-duper-amazingly fun. I told them we could do anything in the world as long as it was in Utah. I was thinking we could hit The Zoo, Discovery Gateway, Treehouse...let's paaaarty!

After discussing their options over Cinnamon Toast Crunch, they decided they wanted to spend Fall Break 2011...Are you ready?....drum roll, puh-leeze... feeding the ducks, going to the library and making cookies. Their only stipulation was the cookies had to have orange frosting and Halloween sprinkles. No wiggle room on that.

Seriously? Yep.

NOTE TO SELF: Stop stressing about planning all kinds of nonsense and going a zillion places!! Sometimes little kids totally dig just hanging out with good-ole-Mom. P.S. That's totally you! Are you blushing? ;)

According to my kids Fall Fun is:

riding in a wagon

stomping through a gigantic pumpkin patch

finding the ugliest, wartiest pumpkin EVER

zooming through a miniature hay maze about a zillion times

hitting the McDonald's for strawberry sundaes

xoxox

Spooky {Decorating Ideas}

2011-10-21T13:57:00.011-06:00

Have I mentioned I LOVE Halloween? LOVE! I think it has something to with the creative aspect of the whole day. You get to dress up, use your imagination, wear glittery makeup. Amazing! We've been hard at work transforming our space into our own little slice of fright and relishing in our spooky family traditions. Happy Decorating!

Subway Art from The Girls at Eighteen 25.

Crow Printable from The Blooming Homstead.

Halloween Garland adapted from UCreate With Kids.

Today I am linking up with Skip to My Lou.

For more spooktacular ideas, check out my SPOOKY Pinboard by clicking on this cute little icon==>>

A Planner Mom

2011-10-19T15:27:00.000-06:00

I had to get a planner. GASP!

Those who know me well know I’m not much of a planner. (See Below: Child #3) But, the chaos of life has made it necessary for me to morph into a Planner Mom.

Why?

TRUTH: The first month (or so) of Hannah being a “school kid” was a absolute blur of crazy. After five years of chillin’ like villains, the whole concept of needing to be somewhere at a certain time everyday (bathed and dressed) kinda threw me for a loop. Soccer, playdates, doctor appointments, volunteering…and all just for Kid #1!

Knocked me on my toosh.

I would like to report that I’ve fully recovered but that would be a complete fabrication. I’m doing my best though. Taking one day at a time and holding onto my planner for dear life. Hopefully, I’ll get the hang of things before Hannah graduates from high school. Hopefully.

LOVE

2011-09-06T14:32:00.002-06:00

LOVE:
the way your hair sparkles in the sun
how genuine your smile is
seeing your fat feet dangle off the potty
that delightfully dirty look you give your brother
when you say,"Oh, yeah?"
the way you cuddle with Hannah
when you feel pretty
the belly laugh
hearing your prayers each night
and, pretty much everything else about my Miss Ella Boo

Two Perspectives, One Event

2011-09-05T17:04:00.003-06:00

That morning she felt excited and, oh, so big.
I felt heart-thumping anxiety.

She was worried she would fart in class.
I was worried she would feel lost in a sea of kids.

She was smiling for real.
I was barely smiling at all.

She was going to miss her little sister.
I was going to miss my little buddy.

She wanted to be nice to everyone...no matter what.
I wanted her to punch anyone that was mean to her.

She was wondering what beautiful skirt Ms. Liddell was going to wear that day.
I was wondering if I had prepared her for the real world.

She said, "Mom, just keep your arm around me till the bus comes."
I said, "Okay."

What is your secret to capturing multiple perspectives while documenting those "big" events?

A School Kid

2011-08-26T15:08:00.003-06:00

I've never had a full blown panic attack until yesterday. The reason? Back-to-school night. I thought my heart was going to explode. And, I was sweating! Really sweating. Granted, it was super hot outside but STILL!

I'm not that Mom!

At least, I like to think I'm not that Mom.

I had so many questions swirling through my head about volunteering, t-shirts, that dang bus, PTA... Luckily, I happened to stumble upon my cute neighbors (hi!) who also happen to be veteran school-kid parents. I attached myself onto them like a parasite. They had all the answers. Buy this t-shirt not that one, that fee is optional, volunteer here. You get it. They rocked. I was still totally sweating but at least my heart regained a normal rhythm.

Hannah and her teacher, Miss Liddell. Hannah told her she was pretty during her kindergarten assessment. No joke.

Seriously, how did this happen? Is she ready? It seemed like just yesterday I brought my little Hannah Bug home from the hospital all swaddled up in a pink blankie and now she's wearing sneakers and riding a bus (to school only). As I begin to wax poetic, I realize I'm totally that Mom. Uggghhhh!

Savoring Summer

2011-08-03T07:53:00.002-06:00

In just a couple days, Hannah's class list will be posted at our elementary school. A sure sign that this magical summer is winding down. I'm not going to lie...I'm having massive panic attacks about the prospect of my baby navigating the tricky social arena that is elementary school. Is she ready? What if someone is mean to her? What if she gets lost? And, the bus?! Don't even get me started on the bus! Oh. Em. Gee.

So, as these last weeks of summer start to slide by, my goal is to savor them with my kids...to slow down a little bit and just take time to play. Take time to giggle. Take time to imagine right along with them. See you again in a few short weeks. xoxo

2011-06-28T13:17:00.001-06:00

Lots of light. That is this photo and that is Ella. I'm so glad she's mine forever.

Ideas for Summer Fun

2011-06-10T16:06:00.002-06:00

Do you remember all the fun you had last summer? I don't. I didn't have any fun at all. I was hugely pregnant and wildly cranky. I, seriously, didn't do anything....

My goal for this summer is simple. I want to play with my kids. My baby is going to kindergarten in the fall and I want to savor every lazy, lovey summer moment with her. So, I created a list of fifty things I want to do with the munchkins (when we aren't cruising around the lazy river, of course) that are both sweet and simple. Happy Summer!!!!

Bored and Batten

2011-06-06T22:40:00.000-06:00

When I suggested that Scott install board and batten in our family room, I was only half-serious. All my other requests have fallen on deaf ears (except I know he's been hearing me because he rolls his eyes every time). But, after a month of "vacation", I think the boredom got to him. It took a couple days of chaos but I LOVE the way it turned out. He did a perfect job! Absolutely, perfect! I knew he had it in him. And, his bum is pretty cute too, isn't it?

And, in the spirit of keeping it real, I also included a picture of our gorgeous playroom. Remember when I thought this was a good idea? I think that was last week. What a mess?! WOW!

Kids in the Hood

2011-05-29T22:43:00.002-06:00

I hear a little knock at the door and the scurry of tiny feet running up the stairs. They haven't even hit the landing and they are already giggling and planning their afternoon adventure. Should they be princesses? Should they play restaurant? Or should they be teachers, doctors or acrobats? It's a typical scene at our house and one that warms my heart every time. There is something so magical about a neighborhood where kids are running from house to house with their imaginations on fire.

I grew up in a magical neighborhood just like that. My sister and I would run up and down Hepworth Street until we would, finally, hear my Mom yell that dinner was ready. We would come in exhausted, hungry and dirty but, also, completely happy. I vividly remember putting on about a million "shows" and catching fireflies in my backyard with Ricky and Lisa until it was almost dark. Those are precious memories of a time when everything was just so simple. And, it's a sweet luxury I'm grateful my kids can experience in their own neighborhood.

Chillin' Like Villians

2011-05-23T12:40:00.006-06:00

I haven't blogged in awhile because, well, I just haven't been in the mood. No biggie. The Longneckers have been doing quite a bit of chillin' lately. Lots of wearing sweatpants, taking long walks, watching movies, working around the house and, of course, cuddling on the couch.

All this chillin' came about when Scott was offered a position as an Operations Manager with Union Pacific Railroad. Awesome!!! And, we even have about a month of downtime with Daddy before that starts. At first, it was kinda weird having Scott home during the day staring at me, but now I don't know how I'm going to manage without him. The munchkins have loved every second of this unexpected, little slice of heaven in our usually hectic lives. Enjoy the zillion pics I included of my kids doing a whole bunch of chillin'!

Ella's Discovery Book: Hello Day!!

2011-05-05T11:16:00.006-06:00

I just wanted to share the Discovery Book I made for Ella last week. Miss Munchkin has been struggling with language development for quite some time now. It has been a very frustrating situation for everyone but mostly for Ella. She just can't seem to find the words and she has so much to say. But, thanks to our amazing therapist, Kristine, she is doing much, much better and has even started to say Mom. LOVE IT! A couple weeks ago, Kristine gave me the idea of creating a little book highlighting situations Ella encounters daily. My first attempt was Hello Day!! which focuses on her morning routine. What makes a discovery book so cool for the kiddies is that it incorporates real objects. I included a piece of a shiny, red balloon, an oatmeal packet, a piece of soap and a diaper. This book really worked! First of all, she loves being the "star" of her own story. She just can't get enough of seeing her pretty face. Secondly, including familiar objects into her story has really solidified those words into her vocabulary. This was an awesome project!

I got the page protectors from Office Max and many of the supplies from Scrapbook Circle. I also used Photoshop to write the story directly on the pictures. Worked great.

Royal Wedding Recap

2011-05-02T15:23:00.003-06:00

The Royal Wedding happened and it was glorious. It actually exceeded my expectations. I've watched it three times and every time I see Kate walk down the aisle, I tear up. I really do. She is the perfect Princess. In honor of this historical event, I decided to throw a fabulously, frivolous party on Friday night so I could revel in the festivities with my family. We ate English scones, finger sandwiches, fruit tarts and sugar cookies. I decorated the house a bit but my family took it to a whole other level. A silly, magical, wonderful, girly-girl, never-to-be-forgotten level. They, of course, all arrived in style wearing awesome hats they made. Phillip Treacy needs to watch his back. Seriously...our hats were absolutely stunning. My cousin, Alyse, even made a replica of William's Groom's Cake which was basically a big slab of fudge with cookie bits in it. Can't argue with that, can ya? It was scrumptious. But that's not all...my cousin Kylie and my Aunt Kathi made commemorative plates to give out as party favors with William and Kate's picture on them. The cuteness rendered me speechless. Thanks to everyone who came and made it so memorable. I had so much fun and it was exactly what I needed right now. Life has been crazy. My family has had a lot of "stuff" going on lately and it was really, really wonderful to just dive into a fairytale for a couple days. Thanks again!!!!!

P.S. Jenn Jenn and I have decided that whenever Harry decides to make an honest woman out of Chelsea, we are going to London. End of story. We will be those lunatics camping out on the street and storming the gates of Buckingham Palace and we will be proud of it. If you want to come with us just let us know.

P.P.S. I'm being completely serious.

Royal Wedding Inspiration and a Free Printable

2011-04-27T14:27:00.006-06:00

I feel it is my duty as an official HRH (Heather Renee Hoeke) to remind everyone that the Royal Wedding is quickly approaching. Wills and Kate...TOGETHER FOREVER!! Sigh..... Obviously, this event has taken over my life and the lives of those people who I consider kindred spirits. You know who you are.

Now, because this my blog, I am now going to take a moment to express how happy I am for Kate. I love this girl. I really, really do. She has incredible hair. I've been obsessively googling her for two years now. Such style and class! And, after putting up with Wills & Co. for the best years of her life, this gal definitely deserves a crown and a castle. She did it! Girlfriend is becoming a Princess. I love fairytales. Sigh....

Here are a couple ideas to help you make the most of this amaaaazzzing event. Sigh...

Free Royal Wedding Party Printables from Design Editor

Cupcake cuteness provided by....

Cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com

I couldn't find the source for these adorable top hats and crowns but I'm thinking they would be fairly simple to make and, oh so, fun!

A picture perfect Royal luncheon. Double sigh...

If you are looking for a fun party game to play while you watch, feel free to download my Royal Wedding Bingo Cards by clicking here. It's the perfect thing to keep your party moving and grooving. My download includes ten BINGO cards. Have fun!!!

On a serious note, just remember...

Today I am linking up with Blue Cricket Design.

2011-04-26T15:23:00.005-06:00

I have had these pictures uploaded into Blogger for about a day now. I have been thinking about what I wanted to write. I don't have a funny story or anything really inspiring to share. But, as I look over these pictures of our Easter weekend, I'm filled with peace and contentment.

I just love that one of my friends hosted an Easter egg hunt in her yard so that all the buds could be together. I'm glad my kids have that memory. And, my heart laughs every time I look at my three munchkins huddling around an Easter basket in their pajamas. Does it get any cuter? I think not. I was only going to share one picture of Brody but, of course, I couldn't resist posting another. With those curly, blond locks and angelic expression, he reminds me so much of his Daddy. And, my little girls in their Easter dresses. I love when the chicks know just how cute they look. I'm adorable, no apologies. That attitude coming from a two year-old is simply hilarious! But, most of all, I'm grateful for the sweet spirit Easter brings as we reflect on the Savior and His love for each of us.

Cake Mix Cookies

2011-04-22T17:04:00.002-06:00

Cake mix cookies are one of my absolute favorite recipes because they are just so easy to make and the possibilities are endless. The original recipe called for a chocolate cake mix and semi-sweet chocolate chips but I did a little switcheroo and created these Red Velvet Cake Cookies using red velvet cake mix and white chocolate chips. Scott is a Red Cakeaholic so these cookies were a big hit in my house.

Here is the basic recipe:

1 18.25 oz cake mix

1/2 cup butter

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1 cup chips or candy pieces.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In medium bowl, combine cake mix, butter, vanilla and eggs. Beat on medium until well blended. Stir in chips or candy. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 11 minutes. Cool for one minute on cookie sheet, and then remove to wire rack.

Now try these yummy variations or make your own! Happy Baking!!

strawberry cake mix with white chips and sprinkles
chocolate cake mix with chocolate chips and shredded coconut
devils food cake mix with peanut butter or mint chips
yellow cake mix with heath bar chips and coconut
spice cake mix with quick cooking oats and raisins

I am partying with the fabulous ladies of Whipperberry today!!!

My Fight with Procrastination

2011-04-21T16:37:00.000-06:00

Today my goal was to write a blog post about embellishing Easter dresses. But, before I did that I had to run to the bakery, blow dry my hair, sweep the floor, get lost in a conversation, check Facebook three times and USmagzine.com twice, grab a Diet Coke, pluck my eyebrows, feed Brody, pull Ella out of the kitchen sink (still not sure what she was doing in there), stare angrily at a gigantic pile of laundry, yell at Hannah for destroying my broom for no good reason, load the dishwasher, run around my yard trying to save the top of our turtle sandbox from a wind wizard, boil Easter eggs and take three Tylenol. All those things kept me from writing a blog post about Easter dresses because I’m a procrastinator. Finally, when I got a moment to sit at the computer, I ended up researching procrastination for about a half-hour. How's that for irony? I’m going to share two simple ideas I found to combat procrastination that struck me as things I might be able to actually do.

Hit Reset. This was by far my favorite suggestion. Sometimes, as a SAHM, I feel like I’ve run a marathon by 2:00 p.m. and I haven’t even really done anything. But, I also haven’t had a second to myself either. A very frustrating realization and the perfect time to take a deep breath and start again. Reset your day, everyday at 2:00 p.m. Grab a Diet Coke, fix your makeup, brush your teeth, say a prayer and write a new to-do list. Don’t worry about what you haven’t done yet and just hit reset. I kinda like that.
First comes first. What I should have done this morning is get up and write a blog post about Easter dresses. It seems simple enough and, yet, I NEVER do that. I’ve actually tried this (like once) and it does work. When I do that thing I really need to do first my whole day seems exciting and wide open. My stress levels go down and my confidence goes up. It’s awesome and I’m totally going to do it…tomorrow. ;)

I am a "Collector"

2011-04-19T22:39:00.001-06:00

When it comes to picture frames, I could be featured on an episode of Hoarders. I don't even know where they all come from. Honestly... I don't!! Every closet in my house has at least one frame hiding in its recesses and I don't even want to discuss the garage. So, when I decided to create a gallery wall for my front room, I had one solid goal in mind...spend zero dollars. By the time I was done digging through my house, I had found more frames than I even care to admit. Granted, they were all totally random but a little black craft paint fixed that in jiffy and...

VOILA! My gallery wall was born!

Now comes the hard part...filling those frames with pictures worthy of a wall. I, initially, put the

H & S up as a temporary solution to the no-picture-problem but now I'm kinda digging it. It reminds me of when I would doodle my crushes name all over my notebook except this is on my living room wall for all to see. Kinda silly, kinda romantic...you decide.

Today I am partying at Get Your Craft On hosted by Todays Creative Blog. Give her a clickity, click, click. She'll make you smile...