You know your a mom when...

* You find yourself breaking out in song and dance in the kitchen when you hear "yeah we just built a word" while your lil one is watching "word world" on the T.V. and you stop and realize what you just did as you strike a pose...seriously happened people!

* All the bodily fluids you find rather disgusting, you can handle with your own child

* Your taste in music changes, because you notice EVERY WORD they say in the songs now and fear for your childs ears

* Instead of being excited about going out to ice cream, your more excited to stay home and have NAP TIME!

* You find stickers on your clothes in all sorts of random places, sticky stuff in your hair, your toothbrush in the toilet...etc

* You are excited to go to bed at night

* Finger foods are the way to go!

* You have a stronger stomach now, then before having a child...throw up doesn't effect you quite the same

* You are about broke from the cost of diapers

* You carry a training potty around from room to room with you

Those are some of my adventures of being a mom, somedays you wanna pull your hair out (er at least I do) but for the most part, I love the little imp. She's a sweetie!

And a big shout out to one of my very best friends CHARLOTTE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIRL!!

Heading back to school - Pointers please!

So I have been out of college life for 3 years now, and I decided to go back and finish my degree. I am double majoring in Graphic Arts and Photography. My councelor told me it would be tough...well, all I've learned so far is that:

* It is TOUGH if you do not get on and sign up for classes EARLY! Those classes fill up SO quickly!

* It is TOUGH to know how the heck to do a portfolio (that has to be turned in February 1st!!) if you have never taken any art classes before. (I started out a psycology major...dumb du dumb du dumb! - not the major - just to start out and then quit and change directions!) Any suggestions, PLEASE tell me!! I am at a loss at how to even do a portfolio!!! Any art majors out there want to share some tips or show me there's??

* It is TOUGH to want to go back to school and finish my math class I have to take because I know I'm going to have to take a bunch before it, because I know didly squat when it comes to math.

*It is TOUGH to figure out how to go full time to school and be a mom at the same time...

* It is TOUGH to go back to school when you feel stupid from being out so long

* It is TOUGH going back to school...

* It is TOUGH to balance everything and the 3 hour long classes I have to take...

So what I am learning is she was right...it's going to be TOUGH. We'll see if I make it through alive. Wish me luck!

I know I haven't posted pics for a LONG time. And I will. When I figure out how to balance everything in my life...so it might be a few years. Hang in there!

My Favorite Poem

This poem was introduced to me by two of the greatest teachers I ever had in school. Mrs. Carroll and Mrs. Giove. I have no idea where these teachers are now...They were my teachers in 8th grade. I believe they both quit teaching at Cedar Ridge after that year though...I could be wrong. I haven't seen them again. But I have never had ANY teachers have a REAL impact on my life, and change the way I think and feel like these two did. I have NEVER forgotten them. When trials come up in my life, I've thought about them, because they truly cared about there students and they taught us how to handle things that came up in life. I have never had another teacher (Or teachers) that made me feel like they truly cared about me like these two did. I am appreciative of them, for the love and kindness they shared, and for opening my eyes, and making me feel worthwhile. I have memorized this poem, and when trials or hard decisions come up, I find myself saying this poem in my mind. It has helped me on a number of occassions to just be okay, just know that everything is for a purpose and will turn out okay in the end. I thought I'd share it with you. I'm very fond of poetry, or words to songs, etc. I believe I got the love of this from my father, who got it from the greatest person in the world...his Mother; my wonderful Grandma Peck. And to Mrs. Giove and Mrs. Carroll wherever you are...If my arms were big enough to reach wherever you are, I'd wrap them around your neck and say "THANK YOU FOR CARING!"

The Road Not Taken By Robert Frost


TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

41st Ward FHE & My little girl

We had a little Family Home Evening get together at Bishop Cooks' house tonight. It was a lot of fun. The food was great, and we got to play Volley Ball (I know...those of you who were there are laughing at me I'm sure.) I seriously suck at Volley ball, but I get such a kick out of playing. I think it's so fun. Although my finger got bent backwards and hurts tonight, but it was so much fun I don't even care. Thanks to Lyndi and Josh for letting me tag along with them. I absolutely LOVE the 41st ward! It's actually the first ward I've felt at home with in a long time. They are a great group of people, and we have a great Bishoprich. I'm thankful for such an awesome ward!

Then tonight I was helping Ashton get ready for his army physical by helping him do his situps and pushups. I held his feet while he did his situps. Then after he was done, Aspen came over, laid down by me, and said "Hold my feet" ha ha! After laughing at her, I held her feet, and she proceeded to try doing "Sit up's like daddy" It was very cute, and Ashton snapped a picture. I'm super sad we didn't have a video camera handy. She made it to "40" (She didn't exactly really pull up, but she tried super hard) it was the cutest thing! I'm thankful for this little bundle of crazy energy!

Memory Lane

This came from Aubrey's blog, so I am just playing here...

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember! (Shanda or Ashton)

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

EVERYBODY PLAY! I want to see what memories you have!!
(especially since mine is failing me)

It's nice to be appreciated

In my line of work, I don't often get much praise. For the most part, I get "you missed this, you didn't do this, you are taking too long, can't you do it faster, can't you charge less, etc. etc." and I don't often feel appreciated. Most the time I ask myself why I'm keeping going with it. I mean, I know that most my clients must like me (Or at least like how cheap I am) because they stay with me, and when I've tried to quit in the past they have complained about it and wanted me to keep going, but they don't often tell me they are thankful for me.

Tonight one of my clients that lives here in Providence had a "Formal awards night dinner" at Hamiltons. She text me today and asked me if my husband and I would like to come to it and I could take pics for her. So I got to get all dressed up (Which I LOVE to do, and miss high school ONLY for the Proms) and Ashton got dressed up and looked very handsome and sharp. We went and ate great food, and visited with some funny people who kept me laughing, and then I took pics as my client handed out awards to her team members. One of the awards is a prestigious "Go-give" award, awarded to someone who has been especially thoughtful of others, and gone the extra mile. I was getting ready to take the pic of who ever it was when she called my name! My jaw dropped and I said "WHAT?" Because I'm just in the background, no one really knows me on the team or anything, and I didn't expect to be a part of it. When I went up to get my roses and a prize, three of my clients all stood up and gave me a hug and "gushed" about me and how great they think I am. (Now don't go thinking that I think I'm that great, because I really don't, but it was nice to have some people giving me positive feedback instead for a change.) So I left with warm fuzzies in my tummy, and feeling a little bit of why I DO do my business. I really do like to see others succeed, even if I don't get much from it. From time to time, I have given of my time for no cost. I spent 2 days at her house a couple weeks ago at no charge to her, just to help her finish out some of her "Year-end" goals, just because I knew she was working her butt off to accomplish her goal, and I really wanted to see her succeed. Anyway, I like to do little things like that once in a while, makes me feel good, so really it's selfish on my part. I think most the time service can come off selfish, because we the givers end up with a good feeling for doing it. Ha ha.

Thanks for letting me share. I have lots and lots of pics I need to post to catch everyone up, but for some reason they are having a hard time loading off my comp, so I will have to try later.

AHHH!!!!

That's all I have to say lately. We have a house full with 4 adults, 7 kids, 1 dog, all living in 3 bedrooms. So that's all you are going to hear from me today. It's one of those months...when everything just seems to be going wrong. Maybe next month...as my sister in law has been singing all week "The sun will come out, tomorrow, all you gotta do is hang on till tomorrow, come what may..."

4th of July

I'll have lots of pics to post later...(I just am too lazy to put them onto my comp right now.) It's been a fun week. Wednesday was my brother in laws Open House. Congrats to Ches and Elizabeth! Then on Thursday we went to the Fireworks up by the Stadium with Ashtons family (Where if you read the post below, you will see I lost Aspen) Then on Friday Aspen and I spent the day out in Lewiston with my family. It's a tradition for the Pecks to go out to my Dad's Nephews house every year, and spend the day just relaxing and playing. It was a lot of fun. Shamayne and her famiily came, Sharik and his family, Shad and his family, Shiloh and Kami, Shenla, Donny and her kids, Shalee and Jill, and I. So most of us were there with Mom. It was fun. At least until Aspen got so tired from playing all day and wouldn't take a nap. Then we came home for an hour and Aspen slept, then we went up with Ashton to his family's Bar-B-Q, then I went with my friend Michelle and her family to the STYX concert. It was my firts Rock Concert I've been to, so it was fun. My favorite song was "Come Sail away" I really liked the lyrics to it. So I thought I'd post them here. Anyway, Happy 4th to you all. Hope you enjoyed your family and had lots of fun. I'm proud to be an American, and for our Freedom. A big thanks to our Military who defend our freedom!

Come Sail Away lyrics

I'm sailing away
Set an open course for the virgin sea
For I've got to be free
Free to face the life that's ahead of me
On board I'm the captain
So climb aboard
We'll search for tomorrow
On every shore
And I'll try, oh Lord, I'll try
To carry on
I look to the sea
Reflections in the waves spark my memory
Some happy, some sad
I think of childhood friends
And the dreams we had
We lived happily forever
So the story goes
But somehow we missed out
On the pot of gold
But we'll try best that we can to carry on
A gathering of angels appeared above our heads
They sang to us this song of hope and this is what they said
Come sail away
Come sail away
Come sail away with me
I thought that they were angels
But to my surprise
We climbed aboard their starship
And headed for the skies

Lyrics by: Dennis De Young
Music by: Dennis De Young

Worst feeling in the world?

Losing your 2 year old. Tonight we went to watch the fireworks by the stadium. We were sitting out on the lawn where we always do every year, just getting settled in, and Aspen was playing with her cousin Kristen. My sister called me for directions to where we were, and in the amount of time I turned to answer my phone and talk for a minute, she dissapeared. I have never felt so panicked. We were all looking for her, and my brother in law Jon asked me what color her shirt was, and my mouth dropped open. I felt like a horrible mother, because I could not clear my mind enough to remember what color shirt I had put on her that morning. This is when the tears started, and I admit, I cussed. For those who know me, you know I do not swear unless something really bad happens. I've just never been a cusser. Anyway, I started freaking out bad about the time that my sister in laws dad came walking over with Aspen in his arms. He'd seen her in some womans arms. The woman said Aspen had walked up to her and said "mom?" so she'd picked her up, and Aspen was just content to be held. The little stink. I was so glad she didn't make it far. There were LOTS of people, and LOTS of kids, so I'm glad nothing worse happened. I just kept thinking...this is how kids get stolen. I'll have to remember how fast the little stink is and keep a better eye on her. I use to hate those child leashes...but I don't so much anymore. They just make sense. So here's to my eye opener about being a better mom and keeping my eyes wide open.