My First Mary Kay Meeting + Rain = Car Accident

So I was on my way to my first Mary Kay training meeting, thinking about how she wanted me there 10  minutes early but it looked like I was only going to be about 3 minutes early...imagining that if she were disappointed that I was not "on time" I'd have to bring up that I'd rather drive safely and not get in an accident than be a few minutes earlier than I was...when lo and behold, I still rear-ended someone.  I wasn't speeding, and I didn't feel like I was following too closely, but the car in front of me (a cop car, too) swerved  to miss a stopped car in the lane.  I slammed on my breaks and tried to swerve too, but the car didn't react.  It just skidded and there was nothing else I could do.  (Mark later told me that when he was driving last night he felt that the tires weren't getting good traction in the rain and that they'd need to be replaced soon.  Now he tells me!!)

So our Alero is probably totaled.  The hood is folded up like a paper airplane, and the headlights are all smashed.  The guy that towed the truck thinks the frame has some damage too, so it won't be just an easy cheap fix.  I crashed into a GMC Jimmy, and she had minor damage to her bumper.  I think she got whip-lashed, so she will need some medical attention to that for a little while.  Poor thing!  I got out without an ache or a scratch...just a stab to the wallet knowing that we will now be looking for yet another vehicle and deal with insurance claims. *sigh*  At least we just bought the minivan, so Mark had a way of getting to me, and we still have a way to get around like we did before we bought the Sienna. This next car will just have to be a cheap commuter car, for sure!

So now, with all the rewards that I can earn through Mary Kay, I am really hoping that I can earn a car, and there are certain goals that I have to meet.  One of those goals is to have a certain number of ladies (I guess guys could do it too, there's no discrimination here!) be willing to talk to my director (Feather Medley) about an opportunity with Mary Kay.  You don't have to be interested in actually becoming a consultant, but just willing to let her talk to you about it.  The phone conversation would take about a 1/2 hour of your time, she'd explain how it would be beneficial for you, and then it would be over.  Would you be willing to help me earn a car?  If you considered saying "yes", then please respond with a comment so that I can get your number to Feather.  You can later decide if Mary Kay is a good choice for you or not.  There's no obligation with this phone call, but it would help me out a ton.

GUESS WHAT!!!

#1- What can this be?

My Starter Kit and first inventory shipment for Mary Kay. 

 Yep!  I'm a brand spanking new Independent Beauty Consultant with Mary Kay.  I'm excited for this positive change in my life, an opportunity to widen my circle of influence, and do something that helps women feel good about themselves inside and out!  Any of you who live here in Utah want a chance to have a girls' night out to pamper yourself, have fun, and possibly win some FREE stuff?

Check out this cute bag that my starter kit came in! :)

#2- What is this beautiful vehicle in my parking spot?

It's our new car- a 2011 Toyota Sienna.  It's an 8-seater minivan.

Beginning Mary Kay, it would be great to be able to get around for each showing, with Canon having started Joy School, and wishing again and again to have room for more than just our little family in the car, we decided it was in our best interest to have another vehicle.

We bought it on Monday night...and I've used it everyday since we got it!

I even took Canon to the children's museum, along with his friends John and Emma and their moms...and we all fit in one vehicle.  IT WAS AWESOME!!  I love my new Sienna! 

Just some fun pictures of the kids

she's looking like she's gaining some weight...happy girl!

In the baby gym...having a grand ol' time!

taking a snooze at Great Grandma Dahl's house

my two kiddos in the living room...hamming it up

Canon playing with my handbag, Take 1

...Take 2...

...Take 3...

at the playground behind our apartment building

Canon thinks it's funny to take a picture of his "monster face."

At the Treehouse Museum "Participlay"
He was a baby owl.

"Look, Mommy!  I made a frowning face."

One of his favorite poses for pictures these days!

  

my handsome little man

Toddler Tales

A couple days ago Canon and I were playing on my bed.  He sat on the foot board facing me and held out his hands like he was holding a book.  He told me had had a story he was going to "read" me.  I can't remember it word for word anymore, but it went something like this:

   "Once 'pon time, there was a mommy. And there was a monster.  A big monster that scares mommy.  Then there's a ghost, the Holy Ghost.  And there was no more monster. Amen."


I also wanted to write down Canon's prayers.  Frankly, he says practically the exact same thing every time until he needs a little prompting to end his prayer, or to add something a little more substantial to the prayer...but this is how it goes:

    "Fah-ver, thank you for dis day. Thank you for dis food.  Please bless Mommy to feel better.  (sometimes needing a prompting to bless the food- which he says he already did) Please bless the food, and the food. (Usually we need to prompt him here to end, but sometimes he'll continue with: Please bless God, and the Holy Ghost.)  In the name, Jesus Christ, AMEN."

If we leave Canon to say the family prayer, and he decides to go on blessing more and more people, his favorite list is the following...usually in this order too:  Tiffany, and Cameron and Megan, and Teddy, and Lily, and Brian...sometimes followed by Grandma and Grandpa.  Granted, we do help him when he gets stuck and can't really think of much else to say.  Hopefully he'll learn soon that there are other things that we can pray for...but at least he knows that we can pray for others when we are thinking about them.  I almost wish that he would be happier to listen to us praying instead of always wanting to be the one to do it himself.   Almost!  :)

Canon's Imaginary Friend

Every since Halloween time last year, Canon has been talking about ghosts.  First it started with a story that he requested to read almost daily, "Paddy Dog Sees a Ghost."  Then his imaginary play began with saying there was a ghost in a room.  I taught him that if he ever saw a ghost all he had to do was to say, "Go away, Ghost!" (He loves to yell that every chance he gets too!)  Then it evolved to a game of "hiding" from the ghost, or trying to scare the ghost.

Then one day Canon seemed to be a little confused about what the Holy Ghost was, so I told him that He was our friend because he can comfort us when we're sad, or afraid, or worried.  So Canon started saying that the ghost we were hiding from was the Holy Ghost.

A couple weeks ago we were trying to gather for family scriptures and prayer, but Canon was insisting on showing me the "ghost" in my room and how he wasn't afraid of him.  So we went to my room:
     Canon: See?  I not scared!
     Me: Oh, well that's good!
     Canon: Yeah, 'cuz it's the Holy Ghost.
     Me: Oh?  It's the Holy Ghost?
     Canon:  Yeah.
     Me:  Well, ok you showed me you're not scared.  Now c'mon; it's time to go read scriptures.
     Canon:  Okay.  C'mon, Holy Ghost, let's go.

Then he proceeded to hold his hand out, grasping the air like he was holding someone's hand.  Then he took my hand and we walked to the living room where Mark was waiting.  I told Mark what Canon said in the bedroom and got ready to sit on the couch next to him...when Canon screeched out, "No, don't sit there!  The Holy Ghost is there!"  I quickly stood back up, "Oh, was the Holy Ghost sitting there?"  So then I politely asked the Holy Ghost to move over, closer to Canon, so that I could sit by Daddy.  I told Mark then that I don't mind if Canon's imaginary friend is the holy Ghost.  I think it's kinda cute, actually!  :)  It made us laugh, and we still laugh about it now.

Potty Hiatus

So we tried with the potty-training for Canon, but after about a month Canon decided he had enough and still wanted diapers.  I was giving him the choice between diapers and underwear...so that if he chose underwear he would realize that he's choosing to use the potty and therefore not have as many accidents.  Well, after 3 mornings in a row with a "traumatic" accident, he decided that he preferred the diapers.  Since then I've been able to get him to wear underwear 2X, I think.  So, I guess we'll just wait until he's good and ready.  :(  He HAS used the potty a few more times, but mostly when I ask he tells me he doesn't want to. He actually told me that he likes pooping in his diaper.  Ok, whatever you say!  *rolling eyes*

Just over the past couple days I've noticed that he's been waking up with dry diapers, so I hope that the time is not too far off. (He turns 3 years old in 1 month. Mark wants him to be potty-trained once he goes into Sunbeams.)  I didn't notice dry diapers before, but I knew he was going to bed with a sippy cup of water or a drink not too long before bed, so I didn't really think the dry diaper would be possible anyway.