Phone fast

I've realized I am addicted to my phone and I am not proud of it. As soon as I'm not doing anything I turn my phone on and mindlessly click to some form of social media: instagram, blogs, Facebook, email,  or pinterest.

It's time for an intervention.

yesterday I deleted all the apps on my phone I constantly open. I deleted my email so I couldn't access it. Pretty much the only apps I open now are the Gospel Library app and my photos one. I did actually keep instagram on but in a less accessible spot and I only allow myself to check it in the evening once the kids are asleep.

Just today, I can't believe how many times I picked up my phone to "just quickly" check IG, Facebook, blogs etc. I'd read a text from someone, exit out of that app and immediately try to open IG. I want to be so much more present with my children. I want to have time to just ponder life and not always be entertained by something. Sure when I'm nursing I can't do much so I'd always flip through my phone. Now I sit there watching Max play more, thinking of activities I can do with him, what household chores need to be done, reflecting on the scriptures I had already read that day.

For me, my phone is so constantly accessible. It's not always in my pocket and it is often lost, but it does find its way into my hands more often than I'd like to admit and I'm sick of it, I'm sick of the addiction that I have encouraged.

I still get on these various forms of social media, but only on my computer, and let me tell you, as a mother of 3 children less than 2 years apart, finding time to physically open my computer is pretty much never found, literally it only gets opened at night and once the kids are in bed or maybe at nap time.

I don't think all these apps I love are a bad thing though, in many ways they are super awesome: connecting with friends that are good influences inspiring you to be better about x, y, or z, blog posts/pins about being a better wife, mother, friend, or homemaker. Facebook helps me plan events with friends and get advice on raising twins. I need these mediums of social media on my life, just less of it constantly throughout my day. Media can be a tool for good but I've let that "good" become to excessive and it's turned into evil I believe.

I want to be more overall present in MY life, not looking at my phone and interested in other people's lives continually. Of course I need breaks, but I've given myself too many. I want more time to just sit and think to listen to my thoughts, to be able to be quiet and still enough during me day to listen to the spirit, not reading about what someone ate for lunch or pictures of what my friends are doing all day long.

So, we'll see how this week goes. At the end of it I will re-evaluate, do I want those apps on my phone or even my life? Will I put them back on? Am I happier with myself? I will let you know.

Join me?

Aspen Grove friends.

6 girls.

5 states.

3 kids.

3 fetuses.

1 new job.

1 new husband.

A lot changes when you haven't all talked in a year.

But even though we all haven't been together in 5 years, we can still talk and laugh for a good hour and a half on google hangout before the 3 hour time difference gets in the way of our fun. Wish we all lived closer. Love you ladies.

ps- one of these ladies is the brilliant creator of andyoverthinks.com.
Go take a looky for a good laugh, it's one of my faves

A little of life lately

Here's a few small cute/funny moments I actually caught on camera recently. It's so hard for me to a) get my lazy bum up and actually take a picture of the situation b) my phone is usually much more convenient c) catching the cute moment before he becomes more interested in my phone or the camera is getting difficult. I digress, he are the cute moments:

We have this little duck game, the water moves in a circle moving the ducks around, he decided to put goldfish on it one day, very entertaining for him and I

a) Cute messy boy eating yogurt, he loves  yogurt

b) his very serious intent face while playing on my phone. I'd say about 90% of the time when he gets ahold of a phone he goes straight for the photo album and just wants to watch videos of himself and point out people he recognizes in pictures. His favorite thing to watch by far is the little videos I make of our family. 

 Pedal training. He loves riding this bike around so much. As soon as we walk out our back door he jumps on it, rides it down the driveway, onto the street, around the corner, down that sidewalk. It's definitely one of his favorite activities.

 Casey's first day of his 3rd Dental school year! This was lunch time on his way back and he didn't want to take a picture, but somehow I got him to jump in excitement for me. He is enjoying his 3rd year  a BILLION times better already than his 1st and 2nd years. He's in the clinic actually doing stuff 60-70% of the time finally doing real dental work. I'm happy that he's happier.

 I've dealt with this mess before…I should have been smarter...

 He loves the song "Let it Go" along with every other child in America. When I start singing it to encourage him to sing it (he does and it's freaking adorable) he starts searching for the actual movie within our DVD's to watch the whole movie, ha. At this point. I don't feel like I need him entertained by movies (he'll probably get enough of that while I nurse in the coming months, let's be honest) so instead I've gotten in the habit of letting him watch a you tube clip of that song part of the movie to appease his wishes. He watches it with full attention and then goes around the house singing "Dohhhhhh! (pause) Dohhhhhhh!" it's one of my favorite things.

 Being woken up up by mom and dad from his nap. Such a sweetie. I love his glazed eyes and sleep marks all over his face.

 Nose picking and snuggling usually ensue post naps too

I'm trying so hard to slow down the days I have with just Maxson. I know my attention and time with just Max is coming to and end real quick. I find myself reading more books to him at each going to bed moment when he literally has a pile of 8 to read. When he begs for more and more songs at bedtimes I oblige and keep singing and rocking and snuggling him not at all wanting to disagree with him (except after like 6 songs). Although it's really uncomfortable to sit on the ground and bend and reach for things, I stay for longer periods than I used to building towers for him to knock down and making other random toys come to life (granted his attention span and play time is getting longer too). I just find myself lingering longer at all my activities with Maxson. I'm sad for our time together, just him and I, to be ending so soon, but I'm so excited to be adding more babies to our family too. It will be hard, but it will get easier with time and everything will feel right again 3 kids. 

birthday party via internet

the newest and last SIL to join the woodruff family, whitney, had her birthday a few days before casey,

and we were lucky enough to join in on the celebration!

via facetime of course.

although we weren't there in person, we felt apart of the fun indeed.

it's so different than just being on the phone because you can see what's happening, expressions and all.

this night for instance,

we watched my brother, scott, put tons of marbles up his 2 year old, tristan's, pant legs while sitting down.

tristan thought it was a hoot and joined in on putting marbles in.

after a few minutes he stood up and all the marbles gushed out of his pants and fits of laughter followed.

at another point, the almost 1 year old, ruthie, get ahold of the phone we were facetiming on and was crawling with it, taking it where she wanted to go.

the screen was jumbling everywhere, at times we would catch glimpses of her face.

then she tried looking at the screen with the stone cold face wondering what it was,

meanwhile we're loudly saying "ruthie! ruthie! look at the phone!"

it was as if we were in a movie where the adults turn itty bitty and the little babies, who barely understand things, have all control and are the big ones throwing the adults around like king kong.

luckily no one (or phone) got hurt :)

later, whitney was talking with us while holding the oober chubby cute baby, evolett, who gave us the biggest little baby pouty/kissy face when she realized it was not her mother holding her.

it's these small moments that don't matter in the grand scheme of things that make you miss family.

since we're talking about technology, the other day casey was texted a picture by his brother, cody, showing us how mr 3 year old jaden put his underwear on backwards.

we busted up laughing thinking about what it would have been like seeing that in person.

we love technology.

there's so much good that can come from it from sharing pictures/videos with family to emails and video chatting.
although there's lots of not good stuff everywhere because of technology, much good can come from it.