Extreme Makeover: Blog Edition

Yeah! So after months of envying other people's cute blog layouts, and feeling like I must be getting way old—because I had no clue how to do it when apparently the rest of the world does (I now know how my grandma feels when she doesn't know how to do some simple things on the computer…), I gave our blog a little makeover. Thanks to my friend Tiana who got me through the hoops (or is it loops?). I still have a lot to learn about Photoshop though—it took WAY too long figuring out how to resize and input pictures onto a new page. Anyways, enjoy—I'm still experimenting so it's likely to change many more times. If anyone out there wants in on this custom-blog layout stuff, let me know and I'll pass on what little I know!

Oh What a Beautiful Baby

Last week while Ethan was hanging out in his pack-n-play during dinner, he kept cracking Brian and I up with his little faces. Introducing: Ethan "Pig-Face" Cheney!

Family Ties

Today was my first Mother's Day. I love being a wife and mother--Brian and Ethan are amazing. Since becoming a mother, I've really had a chance to realize how much my own mom sacrificed to have and raise her children. She really worked endlessly to teach us to be good citizens, good neighbors, and to live more Christlike lives. I feel so blessed to be able to have my own family now and to try to follow my mom's example by taking care of my family so selflessly. "All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother." --Abraham Lincoln. Thanks mom!

The Best Two Years

So when I first made my blog, I created this little "Page Element" not knowing what that was. So the following was supposed to be a post so I could just have it recorded in this little "digital journal" and not have it constantly on my sidebar. So feel free to ignore it...

The Best Two Years: Why it"s been so great (or interesting...)

• 4th of July at the Nation's Capitol (2xs)
• Arches National Park
• Aspen Grove Reunion
• Baltimore
• Drive across the country--twice
• Getting our car stolen
• Gettysburg
• Girls Camp (Chelsea)
• Graduated BYU together
• Grandma's Marathon (Brian)
• Have ETHAN!! Whoopie!
• Hawaii "Honeymoon"
• Hiked Mount Timp
• Infestations (millipedes, box elder bugs, and rolly pollies) Yuck!
• Meet President Monson
• Minneapolis
• Move to Coralville, IA
• Move to Washington DC
• New York City
• Niagara Falls
• Palmyra Pageant
• Philadelphia
• Salt Lake Marathon (Brian)
• See "Wicked"--Best anniversary surprise EVER
• Shenandoah valley--Skyline Drive
• Start Medical School (Brian)

Survivor

I did it, I survived! I spent the last 7 days being mommy to 6 kids. Ethan and I got to stay with a family of 5 kids while their parents were out-of-town. I was pretty nervous about it, but I guess if it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger, right? The week started off kind of hard because I had a cold and felt like I needed a rest, but this lifestyle doesn't allow for sitting down to catch your breath. As the days went on, it became easier, the kids seemed to get along better with each other, and I got a little attached to my little 2-year-old Amelia. She is such a doll.

My favorite moment was when I took Ethan and Amelia to the grocery store and all the workers kept talking to her about what a good big sister she must be and what does she like to do with her little brother , and she must like to help mommy do things. She was shy and didn't say anything. After correcting the first person that I was only babysitting, I decided to smile and nod at the other people making comments to avoid explanations. When we left I said, "Amelia, everyone thought I was your mommy, wasn't that silly?" To which she responded, "I wish you were, then I would have 2 mommies!"
Here are a few lessons learned:

• Moms are TOUGH! From chauffeuring to orchestra, soccer practice, soccer games, band concerts, band practice, early-morning seminary, storytime, grocery shopping, etc. to cleaning, doing laundry, making dinner, and doing dishes, the background work of running a family is exhausting!
  
• I'm still young enough to remember strategies used to get out of responsibilities and was able to call the kids on them—reading with a flashlight in bed instead of sleeping, watching a movie instead of homework but turning it off really quick when someone comes downstairs, "forgetting" facts about altercations that happened at school…
  
• Kids are so forgiving. Whether they get sent to their rooms or fight with a sibling, they can forgive-and-forget within 15 seconds.
• Don't ask to hear a joke or you'll hear this and other fabulous jokes for the next few hours: "Did you hear the joke about the procrastinator? Oh, I'll tell you later"J
• It's easier to catch bees with honey than vinegar (symbolic of course).
  
• Don't forget to make sure the little ones go potty before bedtime! (hey—accidents happen)
  
• Kids can be the most eager helpers ever! "Be-e Efan" was spoiled and smothered with constant attention and love.
  
• Ahh, "Charlie bit me!" (check it out, we loved it: http://youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlgSz8sSM)
  
• Heavenly Father sends us one child at a time for a reason….. (starts with an "S" and ends with an "anity")
  
• As hard as it was, it didn't scare me away from having a big family (much to the dismay of Brian), I hope I have great kids like the Stevens.
• I shouldn't complain when Ethan gets up at 7:15 am each day. It could be a 5:45 beginning to each day.