Pampered

 This is what happened when Morgan went to go run errands with dad. 

 This little girl LOVES her nails done, loves to dress up, loves all the super girly stuff!  So I thought this was so special for Mike to go and spoil her like this.  She is a total daddy's girl and it made me almost want to cry when I saw that he had gone and done this for her..totally out of the blue.

Here is the finished product.  She was more than happy to show them off to everyone too! 

The Christmas Desk

 So this is the little beauty I found on KSL for $20.00.  Cole gave us a list of 17 items that he was requesting for Christmas.  They were things like paper, scissors, envelopes, pencils...basically anything that was office related or craft related.  To my pure delight after gathering these items and purchasing them his budget was only half way used.  So I thought it might be fun to give him something that would house all of his "stuff". 

I found the desk and Mike went and picked it up.  To my surprise he said he wanted to fix it up!

 I am so glad that he did because I wouldn't have even come close to how good this looks.  On the side that Cole will sit at he painted on a dry erase section.  (I didn't even know you could do that!)

He put such detail and care into it I was totally jealous that it wasn't going to be mine.  Cole of course was in heaven when he found out it was his. 

I love these DIY projects that don't cost that much! And I love that my incredible husband would take such time and attention to detail and do this for our son.  I'm in love with the desk and my hubby!

Chistmas Roundup of 2011

For some crazy reason I always get the bug to get crafty around Christmas. I found the cutest idea for a family advent calendar of fun things to do together.  So I was able to hunt down the tools I needed (thanks mom and Audra) and put one of these together.

One of the nights was to put your kids down as usual but then after you tuck them  in tell them to get up and get their coats on.  We had hot chocolate waiting, the car running, and Mike drove us around while we listened to Christmas music and looked at the lights. 

 Here is a picture of our ward Christmas party.   (As usual I forgot to bring my camera...had to use my phone one)  Cole and Morgan were angels and Carson was a wise man.  It was cute...anything with your kids in it is cute! 

 We went to Idaho and spent a few days there with family.  We first stopped at my Aunt Kathleen's to have a little get together with Paul and Shana's family.  So fun as usual!

Here is Morgan with her cute little cousins roaming around outside. 

 Morgan was pretty amused with this talking Santa Paul was holding.  You could ask it questions and it would answer you back. 

 Carson decided to play with Shana's hair.  She was in heaven and he thought it was pretty funny she was letting him have free rein.

 I have always been really close with these guys.  I spent a lot of great weekends out at my Aunt Kathleen's when I was growing up.  It was fun and it still is so fun to get together with them.  Family is the best!!
 (As a side note, I am around 27 weeks in these pictures and this is why I try and avoid pictures towards the end....my nose and face starts to swell!  I am vain!)

 We stayed in a hotel while we were home this time and it was really fun. We had Cass and her family come over one night and we all went swimming. 

Bella and Morgan are sooo cute together..I LOVE seeing them play! I'm not sure why Morgan has the pouty face though.

 Here we are exchanging gifts at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  Cole decided to give Grandma one of his teddy bears because he knows how much she loves them. 

 Here is my beautiful little sis Cassie.  It was sure fun to see her and her kids. 

 Christmas Eve

 We had just finished opening our new Christmas P.j.'s.

 We had little elves come over this year and do the 12 days of Christmas on us.  The kids loved it and looked forward to the door bell ringing those nights.  Here is some of the loot from the elves they are modeling so enthusiastically.

 There is a story to this desk here. We got this off KSL for $20 and Michael totally fixed it up.  (Post on that to come.) This was Cole's Christmas present. 

 Christmas Morning

I think we had a super successful Christmas.  The kids got what they wanted, we stayed in budget and paid in cash, and everyone was happy.  This year was a little different because we had to get up and go to church at 9 am.  So we let the kids open their stockings and one present and then we all got ready and went to church.  It was a nice Christmas. 

Thanksgiving

 This year was probably one of my most favorite Thanksgivings ever!  I really focused on making it special and meaningful and to my complete surprise it worked! 

I got up early that morning and read scriptures, really pondering all the great things I have in my life, big and small.  Once the rest of the family got up we said our grateful prayers and got to work on this little tree here.  We all thought of the top five things we were grateful for, wrote them down and stuck them up.  It was such a great start to the day, it really set the tone beautifully.

Here is what our modest little table looked like. 

I have never been one to be into nice settings and things but I think I wouldn't mind now to get some nice settings for occasions such as this. Yes, we ate on paper plates and drank out of paper cups.  I had little prep work to do that day because it all had been pretty much done the days before and clean up was a breeze.  I didn't feel stressed at all.

It was just our little family together.  We did crafts,played a few games and watched lots of movies.  I LOVE my little family.  I have so much to be thankful for! 

Round 4

Michael and I found out a few weeks back what we are having.  I am very sad to type its a boy, but not as sad as I was when I first found out.  I am warming up to the idea.  I never thought I was having a girl I JUST WANTED A GIRL!  But alas, it is not to be. 

I am so thankful that I understand that the universe is not out to get me but that I have a wonderful Father in Heaven who knows what I need and what is best for me and my family.  He seems to think it is a boy and I will not argue with that. 

I am almost 23 weeks along and have gained around 10 - 12 pounds and am feeling really good.  I am really starting to show and it won't be long now before I will be forced to put maternity clothes on.   I am still rigging my current clothes to make it work but even that is getting uncomfortable.  I had a little girl tell me in church yesterday that everyone knows I am pregnant now.  I asked her why and she replied, "because you are so big now and its just going to get bigger."  Such sweet little children...I remind myself.

I pulled out all the baby stuff last week and washed them and set them up.  I think this is the earliest I have done this but I like it.  I think it helps me visualize and see that very soon we will be having another one...plus, I think it helps the kids transition better too.  Instead of hitting them with a lot that last few weeks they will have plenty of time to get used to all the baby paraphernalia laying around.

The kids are doing so good.  Cole and Carson are both pulling all A's and loving school.  I am so pleased with them and how they are developing.  Morgan is starting to get a little more feisty but she still shows so much love and affection that its okay. 

Halloween 2011

Halloween was fun this year!  We were busy. 

 We kicked off our celebrations this year with going to the zoo a week before Halloween to experience a night tour.  That was definitely interesting and I would do it again.  The kids liked it too.  The highlight was hearing the lions start roaring, which was a little unnerving for sure!  (I LOVE this picture everyone has a cute expression. )

 The following weekend was the Excelsior's trunk or treat for the scholars.  It was held at the drive-in and was FREEZING!  We were lucky enough to get to park by our friends the Anderson's. 

I had to post this of Cole because doesn't it just show such emotion and drive.  I can almost see him saying in his mind "I am going to get so much candy and nobody is going to stop me !"
As a side note he was something different each night we dressed up. 

This is from our ward's Halloween trunk of treat on Monday.   Here is Morgan, our little princess, with her friend Brinley.  Are they not so adorable?!

 Morgan and I trying to stay warm at the ward's party. 

Right after the ward trunk or treat we ran out to our friends house and went door to door with them.   Where we live our neighbors are too far apart so this is not possible.  I think next year we will not do so much candy I am still picking up wrappers all over the place!

We did a ton this year for Halloween and the kids had so much fun. And to me that is really what it is all about. I LOVE my kids and I LOVE the holidays. I hope they can remember the fun we had together as a family. 

And now we get to focus on Thanksgiving and then Christmas!!! Too much fun I can't wait.

Family Fun

It is either a feast or famine over here when it comes to visitors and this particular trip was a FEAST!  It was awesome!  We had my Grandma Clydene and Grandpa John come with Harley and stay till Sunday. Then Cass and the kids came that same day and stayed till Saturday AND my parents even came over for a few hour visit...all on the same day! 

The kids picture just makes me laugh...I really tired to find one where all the kids looked normal but this was as close as I could get.....(I would make those faces too if Cass was my mom....I don't fault
Bella or Maddie!)

 It was fun having them come before Halloween so we could do fun crafts together.  The girls made really cute pumpkins.

I have never had my grandparents come and visit for a few days so this trip was really special for us.  Grandma and I tried to keep the kids busy and Mike and Grandpa managed to get golfing in.   It was a little tricky without our kitchen up and running but Grandma and Grandpa were so easy going it didn't even matter.  And the kids played so good with each other.  I love seeing all the cousins running around and having a good time.  We will miss them till we see them again.



Conference

General Conference
 I had the kiddos by myself that day and really hoped that I could make it a special, spiritual, experience for us all to listen to the prophet.  I want more than anything for the kids to really gain a testimony of Heavenly Father and what his plan is for us down here.  So I thought by making them conference books, bribing with candy, building our own "tent", and getting a special breakfast prepared this would equal their cooperation and attentive listening during conference.  How do you think that went??

As expected.....down in flames!   I really need to be more realistic and plan more strategically if I want them to gain the objective (a testimony). 

Lesson's Learned
 Lesson #1:   do not give candy to small children and expect them to sit, color, and play nice with each other. 

Lesson #2:  I can not expect the Spirit to be there if I am threatening them within an inch of their life!

Lesson #3:  Bring down my expectations by 1000% and maybe I won't be so disappointed if it doesn't go my way. 

Lesson #4:  I cannot control the Spirit and when He wants to show....so I need to just do my best to create the enviroment (working with the people and things around me) that would be conducive for a special experience to happen.

Besides all that, I got what I could out of conference with the attitude I had.  I started out strong..failed in the middle and ended strong.   However, the Lord still saw fit to give me answers to some questions I had going into conference.   A few days later in my personal study I felt the answers come and then was just filled with such gratidue that he would even bother with me after my "little explosion" over the weekend. 

My testimony is strengthed on the fact that we all have the most loving, most forgiving, and most gracious God!  He is really there to teach us and help us if we will let Him.  I love him and believe with everything in me as long as I keep picking myself up and really trying, I will be with Him again someday.

Happy

We have had our kitchen back for two full days now.  Meaning we have all modern conveniences up and running.  I can't even describe how happy that makes me.  Last night I happily made a home cooked meal and tonight we had friends over and Mike and I just made some fun and yummy dishes.  Is it sick that I am having this much fun ?

Its not just my kitchen contributing to my over all joy there are other factors such as feeling well, this time of the year, and trying to stay close with the Lord.  All of these together with a kitchen  makes me so happy to be alive and strive to be better.  I wish these good feelings could always last but I know trials will inevitably come again. In the mean time I'm going to try and milk this moment for everything its worth. 

I am happy!!!

Garden Highlights of 2011

 

Gardening is so hard, rewarding, incredible, exhausting, frustrating and fulfilling all in one.  This year has been the best year for me ever at growing things.  Finally, persistence has paid off!  I still had plenty of failures but the small wins out weighted the losses. 

 I even made furrows and tried my hand at corn again.  It was successful in the fact that I actually was able to harvest some corn. I bet if I watered it more next year I will get that one down.  It was not as successful as I wanted but still a good second attempt.

 Here I started some pumpkins, honeydews, watermelons, beans, winter squash and cucumbers.  They were incredible...and still are. 

 This is what things looked like at the height of the growing season. 

 Here is one picking.  Mike has been super helpful.  He had to step up because when I didn't feel well I checked out of the garden completely.  So thanks to him we still have one.  It has really been fun doing it together.  We will go out in the mornings on the weekend and just pick.  I can't explain how fun it is to reap a good harvest.  Not to mention the awe I have for Heavenly Father...He is amazing!

 This is one of our watermelons on the scale weighing in at 25 pounds!  We were really happy to find that we can grow watermelons.  Man, they sure take up a lot of room though!

 These were crimson watermelons and they were super sweet.  The kids loved them! 

 Mike and I canned some of our tomatoes together.  It was so much easier than I thought it would be!  We have probably got at least 40 quarts off our tomato plants so far.  We have an incredible neighbor who cans the tomatoes we bring her and then she halves them with us. 

On the subject of canning I finally was able to not only do some but do lots of it.  In our 4-H group we did peaches and pears.  Those were lots of work but I love seeing those beautiful jars filled downstairs instead of empty. 

Final story...that is Carson way off in the back ground riding Chance.  Just minutes after this picture was taken the poor little guy got bucked off.  He is such a little trooper. I guess he got right back on but was definitely shook up. 

This summer growing season has been great.  Lots learned and I totally look forward to next year. Now that Mike has caught the gardening bug it won't be such a hard sell to get him to make me more raised beds. 

Things to note..

 This gorgeous place is Park City.   Mike surprised us all with a weekend getaway back in August.  It was so beautiful there.  If I remember correctly it was the weekend before the kids started school. 

 Here is what the view looked like from our bedroom...we had a hot tub on our deck!  Unfortunately, I was not the funnest vacationer to be around I was still feeling horrible so all I wanted to do was lie in bed and watch TV. 

And that is what I did!

 Here is my little baby girl turning 3!  She loves everything Dora and everything girly!   I absolutely love it and enjoy her beyond words. 

 Now that I have a clear head again and the sickness is gone I am fully enjoying my kids again.  They are the best and they have to put up with so much from me.  I am so glad they are forgiving else I would be in trouble. 

 Morgan and Cole drawing together on her new Dora table.

She got her Dora cake so she was set!