The time I spend....

I spend a ton of time being so darn hard on myself. I have always said that we are our own worst critic but sometimes even I take that to a whole new level. Then there are times where things happen and I feel a presence so strong and sure that I know there is someone looking out for me. I love my Heavenly Father so much and I honestly feel that love when I am least expecting it.

I need to let things go. A friend told me tonight that sometimes we don't look at the big picture and get caught up in the moments of the hear and now. I need and want to look at the big picture and be happy for today.

We never know what each of us struggles with and I pray that we will realize that what seems perfect on the outside, may be completely different on the inside.

Here are little pieces of heaven that were given to me here on earth:

Today was Baylee's first day of Middle School and man do I feel like she is so flippin grown up! I mean, look at her, she is just so flippin gorgeous, grin. She was a little nervous, but excited too. I'm not sure how Nathan and I feel about our oldest being in school with 8th graders but I am sure we will learn to adjust. Here are a few pics. from this morning....

First Day of Preschool... yikes!

Jersey Lynette Leavitt had her first day of preschool on August 17th, 2010! Time flies by... she was so flippin excited. Ever since her cousin Maverick went to his preschool last year, all I have heard is "me want to go to school mommy". It just so happens that she attends her preschool with her best cousins... Logan, Maverick and Maddox. I am sure they give their teachers a fun ol' time.

Below... Sweet little Ava... she was so sad when her "Gigi" left. They have always went everwhere together and now, Jersey is going to school with out her and she just didn't understand. It almost broke my heart, but I know it's good for them to do their own thing every once in awhile.

Happy 89th Birthday Great Granny...

August 2010

This was at my Granny's 89th Birthday. I love this lady like no other. She has always been so thoughtful and loving with me and I just love that we were able to party with her, grin. Here is my crazy little family at her party at her house.

Baylee and I decided to be twins-ers and wear our hair the same. Actually, in all truth, we both just didn't want to do it.

{J} is our little princess. She loves to dress herself and sometimes I let her because I love to see what she puts together. Here is one of her creations... not that bad, eh'?

Here are my mama and her mama. My mom is the planner behind all the party. She is so awesome to my Granny and does so much for her. I hope I can be half as good of a daughter as she is. These two ladies are amazing and I am so grateful that they are mine, grin.

Toddler Date Night...

Nathan and I took Jersey to her 2nd movie ever, Toy Story 3. Her first movie was The Princess and the Frog and she did pretty good. However, the first movie she ever watched all the way through was the first Toy Story. It was so cute... she used to call it "Buzz". Okay, well it was really cute to me, grin.

I am thankful for...

Mothers. I never knew what it meant to be a mother until. of course, I was one. I look back at my mom and can't help but think what an amazing mother she was... and is, grin. My sisters and bro are my best friends. I remember her telling me, "Friends come and go but your sisters and Dane will always be here". Of course there were times where I really didn't care a flip about them, but the fact that we are so close now is totally because of my mom (and dad of course, grin) and how she raised us. Lynette has had an amazing life so far: She went to New York (AFTER having had three babies) and was in a modeling competition and won, she has raised 5 incredible children (if I do say so myself, grin), has an incredible work ethic, it's truly scary, the best laugh (it's one of those that makes you want to laugh) and one of my most favorite things about her is she makes friends where ever she goes. Seriously, we go to the park, the mall, hiking, ect., and this woman talks to everyone! She makes them feel important, gets to know them by asking a few questions and poof... BFF'S for life! You should see these people's faces after they are done talking with her. Their faces are just so darn happy. This is a quality that I can hope to have one day. My mom is also beautiful. Now, if you tell her that, she will look at you with a crazy expression like, "oh, you're just being nice". But for reals, this lady's got the looks, grin. I am a little biased though. I just wanted to pay tribute to what a fabulous gal she really is. Love ya mommy-dearest, grin.

Now onto this beautiful woman, grin. When I married Nathan, I knew I was getting the best guy in the world. But what I didn't know, is that I would be getting a two for one deal. Melanie Leavitt is the most wonderful mother-in-law a girl could ask for. She is so thoughtful, complimentary, and genuine. From the first moment that I met her, I knew she would be so easy to get along with. Mel is so dang good with my girls too... they just love their "Nana" to bits and pieces. What you may not know about Melanie is that she at one time owned her own catering company! Yep, this lady can cook. What big shoes I have to fill in that department, grin. Mel also took the time to get her Bachelors degree and graduated in 08'. I saw the long hours she spent and the determination she had to finish it. What an inspiring woman she is. Not only has she raised her four beautiful boys, wink, wink, but she also was like a second mom to Baylee in those early years and you can tell with the relationship they have with each other. With Melanie, talking to her is so comfortable and easy. She is so beautiful and I am so honored to have her as a second mommy to me.

Dancing While Cleaning

Hi, my name is Ashlie Leavitt and I don't like to clean. I know, admitting it is the first step. Out of all my sisters, I was the only one who did not inherit the cleaning gene. I don't know why, but I just didn't. I've never liked to clean. I was the child who would put it off and put it off until you could barely open the door without hitting an article of clothing, shoe, magazine, my tackle box of make-up (whole other story), trash, ect. Later in life I was the roommate who didn't clean (I don't know how my apartment girls put up with me, Jazz in particular, grin). When I got married I was the wife and mother who would just let things go and not really care. Nathan, my mom and sisters were amazed at how I could look at a big pile of crap and just look away and not get the crazy cleaning bug like they would. I could go into greater detail, however I think you get the picture.

All my sisters and my mom keep a nice, clean and organized household. This was something that used to just blow my mind. Oh, did you notice that? The few words that are used in past tense? Well ladies and gentlemen, I have turned over a new leaf. Ok, not completely but I have recognized a few things over the past few years that I need to change and this is one of them. I have also learned a few things about myself and what will help me over come this obstacle in my life. I made you all a list (I know, you're so happy right, grin)

1. As you can see below, my little monsters... oops I mean angels, grin, can definitely make the rooms that they are in, well let's just say, a little more colorful. It is amazing how one minute a room can look spotless and then the next my girls can turn it into a beautiful disaster. Now, what I have learned is that I have to be okay with letting my house get a little messy every once in a while. Meaning, if I want a clean and spotless house, then I would have to follow my girls around ALL day. I'm sorry, that is just not something I can do. So I have my times where I know I will be able to "pick up and put up" (one of my mom's sayings that I love) and my times where I can clean in peace, grin.

2. When I do clean, and I mean with my vacuum and bucket of cleaning products, I know that I clean best with music on. Some of my favorites to clean to is Lady Gaga, Brittany Spears Greatest Hits, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift and Fergie (just to name a few). Obviously, the more upbeat music I can shake my booty to, the better I clean, grin. Finding this out about myself has really helped me out in this department.

3. Know the best times to clean. What that means to me is if it is 5 pm at night, or "witching hour" as I like to call it, I know that my girls are going to want attention and that I need to make dinner. So obviously this would not be the most opportune time to dust a shelf or sweep the floor. The best times for me are right after breakfast when my girls are fed and watching a show, after lunch when they are fed and watching a show and when they are in bed. Do you see a pattern? Basically when the girls are fed and outta the way, grin! I know that I can get so much more done at these times than any other time during the day.

4. Have cleaning products that you love. Last year Nathan and I splurged on a Dyson vacuum. We actually got it on sale at Big Lots for about $175.00 cheaper than the normal price. All I can say is that I am in lust with this vacuum. I can see all the crap that gets sucked up and how fun is that! Plus there are all sorts of doo-dads that come with it. I can get into every crevice and crack in my house. Ever since we bought this wonderful piece of machinery I vacuum about once everyday. Sometimes even twice! I know, crazy right? I also have my cleaning bucket with my favorite cleaning products that make it easy to go from room to bathroom. About 2 years ago I realized that I love having a toilet brush in every bathroom so I wouldn't have to carry a dirty one around with me. Oh, and I also have my favorite scrubber from Walmart that doesn't scratch your paint or tile but gets the job done. So, what I learned is, gotta love your cleaning products!

5. My last a-ha moment for today is, know your schedule and what you can get done. It took me a while to realize that I have kids, a husband, two jobs and a house hold to take care of (just to name a few). As women, sometimes we think that we need to do it all and get it all done, day in and day out. At least, that's how I felt. Until I realized my own limitations and what works best for me and my house.

Early to Bed, Early to Rise...

Makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. We have all heard this saying before (right?). My question to you all, is how many people actually follow this? It is something that has been plaguing my mind for quite some time now. Mostly because I am like a grizzly bear coming out of hibernation most mornings. I beg Nathan to "please, please, just 10 more minutes... just get the girls up and get them a bowl of cereal" (making breakfast is a whole different matter). Now, I must say, Nathan is really awesome to work with me on this most mornings. However, do those 10 minutes really make a difference? Hmm.... not sure on that one.

I am tired most days and I'm just not sure if I am going to bed early enough or even getting the amount of sleep my body so obviously desires. It's not that when bedtime comes I'm not tired. It's just I finally have time to do what I want to do (work, exercise, catch up on my shows, read, ect.) and then before I know it, it's midnight and I'm thinkin, "Geez, I should have gone to bed like, two hours ago".

I have also been thinking that if I was able to get up an hour before the girls do, gosh, just think of how much I could get done! We all know how much more we can get done when our little kid-letts are fast asleep, grin.

So, friends, family, neighbors, what is your opinion on this matter?? Because I am starting to believe that this ol' sayin just might be true, grin.