top ten ways your life isn't like a reality show.

i saw this in one of my parenting magazines and thought it was cute. i hope you enjoy it!!

1. your morning weigh-ins are mercifully private.

2. no hope of trading up to a multimillionaire, housecleaning husband who lives to give foot rubs in wacky wife-swap episode.

3. you drive a ford, shop at target, and drink diet coke all the live-long day, but no one gives you a damn dime for product placement.

4. you endure hours of grueling photo shoots- but they're all at sears and come out in wallet size with a faux-nature background.

5. the only extreme home makeover you're getting is courtesy of a 5-year-old with markers.

6. you'd like to see top chef make three different dishes (one kid food, one vegan for your tween, and one that actually tastes good for you) every single night.

7. you really did marry you big fat obnoxious fiance. (and what's worse, no one paid you.)

8. you never get voted off- even if you beg.

9. you're surrounded by "real" housewives- but like you, they haven't shaved their legs in days.

10. you know what not to wear, but nothing else fits since you've had kids.

now how is it i can't remember dr's appointments???

Here you go mommies - a different kind of survey for a change - it's all about your children!

Let's see how much you remember!

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED? yes, but it happened really fast.

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? yes, for 2 years

3.WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION? excitement, curiosity.

4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU? no way!

5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 27....did i say that out loud??

6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? missed periods and then puking then dr's.

7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? brad, of course. then my mom.

8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? no, i wanted to be different.

9. DUE DATE? july 15 2003

10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? everyday, even on the delivery table.

11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? salads, snickers and dr pepper.

12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? i worked for jenny craig...... need i say more?

13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX? girl

14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING? nope, totally okay with it.
15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? 30

16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? my mother in law had one for me in utah, and my auntie meg had one for me in calgary.

17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? my mother in law's was a surprise.

18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? no.

19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? timpanogous regional hospital.

20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? i was induced at 5pm, needed to push at 9pm and she was born at 9:15pm. 4 and a half hrs.

21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? brad and my mom.

22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? my mom was there right until i had to push then she had to leave, so brad was there.

23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? natural

24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? no. my fear of needles is bigger than my pain tolerance.

27. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? 8lbs 4oz

28. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN? july 15 2003

29. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? hannah isabelle

31. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY? 5

Let's see how much you remember!

1. WAS YOUR SECOND PREGNANCY PLANNED? yes, but took almost a year.

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? yes, for six years.

3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS? excitement, but i was distracted with a 2 year old.

4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU? no way.

5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 29

6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? same old. missed periods, puking...

7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? brad

8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? nope. i like the surprise.

9. DUE DATE? august 11 2006

10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? of course, but it only lasted 16 weeks this time.

11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? homemade chocolate cake. i made one every other day.

12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? i worked part time and needed my mother in law to babysit. that never went smoothly.

13. WHAT WAS YOUR SECOND CHILD'S SEX? girl, but we were so convinced it was a boy. everything was opposite, everything!

14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING? not at all. i'm so blessed to be able to have children.

15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? 60. remember the chocolate cake??

16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? no. another girl in the same season.

17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? total shock!

18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? she was posterior and the dr had to turn her. ouch!!

19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? cottonwood hospital.

20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? my labor started at 6am, was at the hospital at 7:30am and she was born at 1o:55am. so about 5 hrs.

21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? brad

22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? brad

23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? vaginal

24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? nope. fear of needles.

27. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? 8lbs 7oz

28. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN ? august 11 2006

29. NAME? ainnsley mae.

30. WHAT IS YOUR CHILD'S AGE TODAY? 2

be...

Back in the day, I had a “frenemy” who, as it turned out, was pretty hell-bent on taking me down. This person really did what they could to hurt me. I was deeply upset, I was angry, I was all of those things you feel when you find out that someone you thought you liked was venomous and dangerous. I restrained myself from fighting back. I tried to take the high road. But one day I heard that something unfortunate and humiliating had happened to this person. And my reaction was deep relief and…happiness. There went the high road. So, why does it feel so good to hear something bad about someone you don’t like? Or someone you DO like? Or someone you don’t KNOW? I once asked the editor of a newspaper why all of the stories had a negative bent. He said that when the headline was positive, the paper didn’t sell. Why is that? What’s wrong with us? I asked the sages to shed a little light.

Here’s to washing our mouths out with soap...

Love,

Bethany

The wait is over!!

At long last we have some answers. First off, Brad has worked so hard for us and we are so grateful for him. He has tried numerous times to have the dates of his trainings etc. to cater to us and our children's needs. It's been wonderful having him working so close and being home for dinner every night, no homework or papers to run to, coming home for lunch and just having more time as a family. I can't get to comfortable with this.

It's looking like the first of his training is May 10th, five days before our baby's due. We've talked about inducing and are a little on the fence. He may be able to come home for a day, he may not. Regardless I have a wonderful, supportive family that is willing to come down and help out. It sucks to maybe have him gone, but if it needs to be done, what can we do?

The second of his training starts June 1st. This is in Kentucky and will be about five months. We just learned today that we will not be going with him. I will go home for a bit, and he'll have weekends off so we can go and visit. It will be hard however I will have a newborn that will take all my attention. This is the part of an Army wife I am not looking forward to. Needless to say, no more kids!!

The best news is where we will be living. I'm anxious to get settled and get our girls happy in their new life. And we will be doing that by the end of November at Fort Hood Texas. This is exciting for me because my sister lives near Dallas so it's only 4 hours away. I have not lived close to my family for nine years and am thrilled to be close to her. Hannah has never lived near cousins and I am excited to have her close to Madeline. Although I will ensure she is not brainwashed with High School Musical!!! JK

It's a relief to have answers, however one thing that is the same with the Army is it's always changing. So lets keep our fingers crossed that it will all work out.

Thanks for your support, we love you all, and we'll keep you posted.

Love,

The Herkimers

Waiting Game

Those of you who read this, all three of you, know what we're still waiting for. We were told that we would know our post three months ago. We still know nothing, and I've made peace not knowing. At first we tried to stand back and not really get involved with a lot because I thought we'd be gone sooner. Well it's hard in our neighborhood. The four months we've been here I've been given two callings in our ward, joined a book club, was walking with a friend, and gone to several Enrichment activities. That's more involvement since Draper which was three years ago. So my plan backfired, but I couldn't be more grateful. The friends I have made in this short time will always be remembered. In fact, me and my friend Kathryn did so much we ended up with the same due date!!

With this in mind it got me thinking of everyone I've dealt with since I've moved here. This year is my ninth year here. I can't believe it. When you first move away you think it will never be the same. You'll always miss home, you think everyone's lost without you and you're counting down to every visit. I have been lucky enough to go home a lot, and I do love going home. There is a point where you are just content visiting those closest to you. I have come and gone without telling any of my old friends I've been, and do feel terrible, but there is only so much one can expect. With the kids, schedules, plus everyone still does there own thing without you, you just can't visit everyone.

So my life will consist of moving and I'll have to deal with making friends and leaving friends. I think that's why I enjoy Facebook more than my husband. I enjoy friendships but he can take it or leave it. He always says "why do I need friends when I have you, my best friend." Barf!! Sorry honey. I need friends.

Thank you friends, for being my friends. Understanding the chaos of my life, seeing me when I visit, understanding when I can't. Here's to all of you, and the friends in my future. I wouldn't be who I am without you!!

Love Bethany xoxo

Holiday Bliss

Well they've been and gone. As quick as a flash. The Holidays. As I get older the season goes faster, so this year I'd thought I'd make it last and my decorations up early. It didn't work. It still went just as fast. And I was ready to take them down on the 1st.

I was really excited to wake up Christmas morning in our own place this year. One of the little things you take for granted when you live with others and travel for Christmas. This year we had alot of Christmas festivities planned thanks to Crazy Granny. Some cities re-enact The Polar Express on some old trains. The city Heber does that here. However Heber is just south of Park City, and the night we had tickets a blizzard blew into town. They had closed down the canyon and we were unable to go. We were disapointed. We were able to go last year so we knew what we were missing. Hopefully we will be able to make that a Christmas tradition where ever we end up.

The next on our list was The Nutcracker. We got tickets to the local theater and it was kid friendly, the important part. It was put on by a local dance company so the dancers ranged from 3 to about 60! It was really well done and would make that a tradition for sure. I made the mistake by recording Nutcracker on Ice that was on TV so Hannah could see it seeing she really enjoyed the play. Well she watches/ dances to it about 5 times a day and begging anybody to dance with her!! Bittersweet.

Another highlight this season was finding out what we are having. I was so excited but Brad was not. I felt that because of our uncertainty it was best for me to be better prepared. Brad likes the surprise, as do I, but I've done that twice. This time I can know without the hours of excrutiating pain!! So pull out the pink, it's another girl!!!

New Years for us consists of the TV, remote, and couch as it does every night, but this time we tried to stay awake to see the ball drop. I know. We're lame.

We are always reminded this time of year about our loved ones near, far and gone ahead. You all were missed dearly and are constantly in our hearts. We love you all and hope to see you soon.

All our love, Pots and Pans, etc.

B&B

Goodbye Student Life!!

Some of you already know the story, but about two years ago Brad came home from work one day and stated that he was quitting his job, going back to school and joining the Army. He had worked his way up in the Hotel industry and we were simply working to gain experience to manage a hotel. You can imagine my shock, anger, frustration, confusion and every other feeling imaginable. I had just had Ainnsley, and we were changing everything?? But as anyone who's married knows they need to have a happy husband in the home. And honestly I was very side-tracked by being a new mommy of two. I trust my husband and I said I would support him.

Well in those two years it has been full of ups and downs. The biggest down was having to move in with his family for a year. It was necessary and we were very fortunate to have a family that was willing to help us. I went home about every three months it seemed, which was great, and did what I could tho keep myself sane. I am so lucky to be close to my husband and knew that when I needed to vent, which was very often, he would listen with understanding. The year was tough on both of us, and it was important to remain close to each other. Now looking back, we're even closer.

Now the biggest up just happened this weekend. On Friday Brad graduated Summa Cum Laude from Weber State University with a Bachelor of Science. That means a 3.9 GPA for the four year degree. (I had to look that up.) Then we rushed over to see Brad commission as an Officer in the US Army. He commissioned with DMG, Distinguished Military Graduate, that's in the tenth percentile of all commissioning Officers in the US. Needless to say he worked extemely hard.

We couldn't have accomplished all this without the love and support of our family. To make the day even better we were blessed to have Mom and Dad and Auntie Meg and Uncle Wayne come all that way to celebrate with us. With them here it made the day perfect. Well it would have been perfect if all our family could come, but we understand of course.

Now Brad started his "real " job today with the Army. "Real" health insurance, "real" income, now we're "real" grown-ups. It's nice to be at the end of student loans, final exams and term papers. I'm sure it's nicer for Brad.

It's been a wonderful journey. Would I do it again??? I'll have to "real"ly think about it!!!

We miss all your faces, and we hope to see everyone soon.

Pots and Pans, All our love,

Bethany