I was the perfect parent BEFORE I had kids!

I have realized lately that I am not the parent I always thought I would be...when I didn't have kids, I was the perfect parent! Jenna would always have her hair neatly done in an eccentric hairstyle, we would never go in public with dirty clothes, they would wear cute trendy matching outfits, the kids would go to bed at 7:30 on the dot nightly, our house would stay tidy daily, I would never just put the kids in front of the TV so I could get things done...I was the mom who would have it all together! I would bake bread, always make a homecooked meal, scrapbook every milestone, and have one on one time with each child daily. There was a long list of accomplishments I was sure would take place as I raised my children.

I have realized more and more though that all those "ideals" just aren't how things are really unfolding. We are lucky to even get Jenna's hair BRUSHED each morning, she refuses to wear the cute winter clothes I have bought and instead picks the summer shorts and shirts that are looking rather "worn" (even though I have hid them--she somehow finds them again and again!), and while bedtime is usually around the same time, it isn't planned out exactly how I wanted.

Our house is "livable" until the kids go to bed and I can officially declare a disaster zone and work on pickup, TV has become a dear friend when I am desperate for some time alone, and I feel as though I live day to day on trying to keep things together! Forget the homemade bread--I have 12 boxes of garlic bread (already sliced and ready for a 5 minute cooking) in my freezer, ready to accompany a meal at any given time! :) My cutesie scrapbook has really turned into an electronic attempt to record some of the things I notice every day--my blog. :)

One on one time with the kids? As hard as I try, we fall short of that goal...I was at the Dr today and she was asking why Spencer wasn't trying to roll over. It then occurred to me that now is the time he should start doing that. My answer to her (which I am sure she thought was totally ridiculous!) was that he doesn't really lay on the floor all that much because he would be mauled in seconds. He is either in the swing, the bouncer, on the couch, in our arms or on our bed--far away from little hands. He hardly has time to just lay on the floor and practice! She told me to work more one on one with him...and that is when it hit me that I was failing in that area.

It isn't that I think I am a horrible mother--I am much more patient that I imagined I would be, and we try to do fun things together. And most of all, I love my children. That has to make up for at least SOME of the imperfect areas in my mothering.

I disdain the feeling of being judged...watched...and feeling that all my flaws as a mother are illuminated. And maybe this is just guilt that I should do more, be more, and give more...either way, I just see that the idea I had BEFORE was far different that the reality I live right now. And in many ways I am glad...I am glad my kids can choose what they wear--even though it doesn't always match and isn't what I would pick for them myself. And I am glad we don't live a life of complete structure--it gives way for creativity and spontaneity...so how does one balance being content with certain things and wishing to be so much more?

Any ideas?

Christmas Traditions

I've been tagged with a new Christmas tag, so here goes (thank to Sarah for doing this first so I can copy most of your answers! Benifits to growing up together!!)

1-First, list some of your most memorable holiday traditions from your childhood that just make you go all warm and fuzzy because they were just so much fun or made you feel your Savior's love.

2-Secondly, tell about your holiday traditions now, because we frequently will pick up new traditions from our other half when we get married, or drop old ones because they don't fit with who we are now.

CHRISTMAS PAST

Christmas is SO fun because of all the tradition. In my family we always did:

-The 12 days of Christmas for another family (giving them a piece of a nativity each night with a scripture, finishing with baby Jesus on Christmas morning)

-reading Christmas stories from the big Christmas book and always reading Luke 2 on Christmas Eve

-giving a gift to Christ on Christmas Eve. We write down our gift to Christ (something that we want to do to be more Christlike that year) and put it in a little lantern ornament that each of us have

-We always open our sibling gift on Christmas Eve. We either drew names or rotated and that is the one present we opened early.

-Each of us get a box of cereal for Christmas and then eating it for breakfast that day. That tradition started when cereal was a big deal and we didn't get it often...we always got the good sugary stuff that was a treat!

-We always get a new ornament each year. Mom usually picked them out and they represented us or something we had done that year.

-We almost always decorate gingerbread houses the day after Thanksgiving (or shortly after).

-We always had to open the presents one at a time from youngest to oldest...

CHRISTMAS PRESENT (NOW)

Because most of the traditions in my family were Christmas Eve activities, we have stuck with many of them because we have always had Christmas Eve with my family. This year we will be with Brandon's brother, and I am not sure how that will go with traditions...but it will be a new and fun adventure. We haven't had much time to establish many of our own unique traditions, but I will share a few things we are doing!

1-We collect an ornament for each person representing their year.
2-We want to act out the Nativity each year (we did this growing up for a while, but it kind of faded as we got older. I was one rockin' angel!)
3-We do Mrs. Clause (thanks mom and dad Holloway for that idea)--she comes on New Years Eve and brings a new movie or two (family movies only!), a game, and tons of treats...all to enjoy on New Years day together as a family. I LOVE this tradition! It is so much fun!
4-We are trying to find something to fill in for the sugary cereal tradition--I love having SOMETHING we get each year like that, but we have SO much cereal right now that i don't know how I could justify buying more without finishing what we have...
5-I collect a new nativity each year--though right now my focus is making it through collecting the Willow Tree Nativity...set by set.
6-We go out the Monday before Christmas for a family night to see the lights.
7-Two Words....PEANUT BRITTLE. Christmas is not the same without it! :)


I normally would say if you read this, you're it. But, it has been a while since I have seen a post from a few people....so, I am tagging:
Cousin Michelle , Randee Mecham, Valerie Waters, Cindy McArthur, Lauren Davis (mainly you because I am curious!!).
Let's see it ladies! :)

Thinking about my boy...

I am really amazed at how much Kaden picks up on. He follows every little thing that Jenna does and is so independent in his own little way! :) I always wonder what he is thinking...what goes on his his curious little mind all day that he just doesn't talk about?!?!

Last night, Brandon heard Kaden making noises after he had been put down to bed. Then came little tunes from the little xylophone in his room...Brandon went in to see what happened and there was Kaden, bedding all over the floor, with the light on playing with all his toys. What we think happened was this:
Kaden throws all his bedding out (pillow and all). Tries to climb over the bar and ends up falling on the pillow (there was never crying...) found his way through the darkness, climbed up on a little table and turned the light on. :) Now, this is only a theory as to HOW he did...all I know is that he is one smart cookie!

There is also something else I have noticed about Kaden. He is so kind...he is always trying to give kisses (unfortunately he is an incredibly rough kisser and has taken a small chunk of skin of Spencer's head TWICE now!), he loves to giggle and snuggle and play...and Kaden loves to share. I have caught him several times taking his Little People toys over to the baby Jesus and leaving them there...I call them his gifts to Jesus. It is so touching to see him--such a symbolic offering. It has really made me think about what MY gifts to Jesus are...what am I willing to share with Him...to give Him?

I love my little boy for making me think about the really important things in life...

Going to the dentist...

For fear of looking completely ridiculous, we only got one picture of Jenna at the dentist--I felt like the dentist would think I was out of control if I were snapping pictures while she was trying to clean gunk off my kid's teeth...not a pretty picture. Camera at the dentist??? It was a milestone...Jenna's FIRST time to the dentist. I know, I know...I am officially a bad parent for waiting until she is 3 1/2 to go to the dentist. I had these horrible fears of what it would be like trying to get her teeth cleaned and having her be terrified. I was wrong...she was a CHAMP!
She let them count her teeth, do x-rays, a cleaning...she just did SO well! She blew away my expectations! How is it that my children cease to amaze me?? They are so much stronger, more resilient, and incredible than I can fathom! I really am so proud of her!

Our little bear-

It has been a while since I posted pics of Spencer--here he is--our cute little guy.

It was a blustery day, so I put Spencer in his new winter hat, which of course is a super cute little bear hat! :) He is getting so good at holding his head up, smiles like crazy, and we think he is a pretty special little guy!

The difference between Idaho and Ohio--

I have noticed several differenced between Idaho and Ohio since moving here--for one, it is almost December 1st and people are still mowing their lawns! :) The weather is different, the people are different, and the scenery is different. Each have their strong points. But I ran into a rather peculiar difference that really surprised me...banking.

When we moved here, we couldn't find a single place to cash our checks without having an account. When I finally DID set up an account, they wouldn't even let me cash a check of Brandon's without him being there and presenting his I.D., even though we are clearly both on the account. When I insisted that I had done that numerous times in the yeras of being married, I was scoffed at--NO bank would EVER let you do that! Hmmm....Rexburg, Idaho must have NO bank. :)

Anyway, we are still missing one of Brandon't paychecks--it got lost in the shuffle of things and I have been trying to contact someone about getting it paid. I finally got a hold of someone in Rexburg today. She never made any comment about him having to call and prove it was him...nothing. It was, "okay, I will research it and get a new one out to you!" SO trusting...so small town....so different from the bigger city business dealing I am now subject to. :)

So much rest...

I was up yesterday at 3:30 in the morning and never made it back to bed...and all day I was exhausted! I don't remember much of what happened, except that Brandon said I was asleep before 10 p.m. and I slept until 7:00 this morning. Kids slept all night, I was snuggled warm in that blissful perfect temperature---it felt wonderful. I feel SO refreshed for today!!! If only I always got this much rest! :)

Our Shinto video...

Shintos--

Every Tuesday night the student's wives (and any other female who wants to come) get together for our "girl's night". This has become SO wonderful for me--I don't ever miss a time. It is never an option as to IF I will go...I LOVE it! Good conversation, good friends, good fun!

Tonight, we did something a little different and went to a Japanese place called Shinto. To be honest, I was mainly there for the chatting, to take pics, and eat a little dessert...but everyone's food looked SO great. I might have to try it sometime when we can splurge.

All the gals! It was a really fun group to go with!!
It was also Casey's birthday--Happy Birthday!!
Our tables were really great big grills with a counter around the edges. So, our hibachi chef came and cooked up all the food right in front of us. He did all sorts of neat tricks and was SO fast working with the food!


left to right--Sarah, Caysie, Rachel, Casey, and Cindy
left to right (sorry for any misspellings!) Lexi, Jamie, Lacy, Brittany, Laura, Casey
same group--but there is me (needing some SUN)
Yum!

THE SAVING GAME

I am a real bargain hunter...love the deals! I just found CHEAPER tickets than what we had before, and was able make changes to our reservations and save another $40 off our trip cost...we are now at $370 for all our tickets RT to Dallas at Christmas. WOO-HOO!!!!

We have a Ghost--

I think we have a "kitchen" ghost-- :) You see, Jenna has a play kitchen in her bedroom that makes boiling water noises and other crackling cooking sounds. Every time we start our stove/oven, her kitchen automatically starts up! I thought it was her at first, but I started to notice it happening even when she was gone, asleep, or out of the room...kind of creepy! :) It is proving to be quite an annoyance because if I cook anything before she wakes up, her kitchen sounds off as an alarm.

So, is our house really haunted? Probably not...I really think it is just some kind of current jumping through the wall, but a "ghost story" sounds so much more intriguing! :)

Too many brothers---

I posted this on my "out of the mouths of babes" section on the side of my blog, but thought I would put it here too just in case you don't see it there. It was VERY funny...

When I took Jenna to preschool today, we had quite the conversation!

TEACHER: How many brothers and sisters does she have?

ME: Two

TEACHER: and they are both younger, right? (shaking her head in disbelief...)

Me: Yes--

JENNA: Yep! I have TOO many brothers! :) (don't think she meant the MANY part in there, but we both were laughing SO hard!)

I have a feeling she is going to put in an order for a sister should there be another baby in the distant future...

The Catapult...

For Christmas, we bought Spencer a bouncy seat...I know, sounds lame...but we really couldn't think of anything else he needed and were trying to be practical since he won't notice. Well, I couldn't wait any longer. He was READY for it--and since we will be travelling on Christmas day, we figured we might as well open it early. :) He LOVED it!!! HOORAY--that was the best part...
The worst part is that Kaden thinks he should lean on the upper part and then quickly let go--yep, catapult stlye! If Spencer weren't buckled in, he would have flown accross the room. Definitely need to figure out how to manage this situation! :)

Bells

It was this time of the year 2 years ago that I was pregnant with Kaden and ended up with numerous weird diseases...one being bells palsey as a result of shingles (at least that is what I was told). It started out as a severe stinging/burning feeling on the right side of my face and spread, eventually going numb. I was able to take some medicine and get it under control really quickly, and eventually it went away and I was fine.

Until now...I have had this horrible stinging come back a few weeks ago, but just briefly. Today has been really bad though. It seems that my entire right side (arm, torso, face, head) has this awful stinging... I have no idea why. I am just hoping it goes away...

Anyone else ever had this happen??

UPDATE: It is the next day and the stinging has subsided quite a bit. There is still a numbness, but not as bad as yesterday. I still would love to know if anyone else has ever had this happen.

Cold Water Thoughts...

I was so caught up in getting our tickets bought and things settled for our Christmas trip that I never really got a shower or did my hair, etc. today. I felt pretty gross as the end of the day. Brandon let me go take what should have been a hot bath while he got the kids in bed. Unfortunately, our little "helper" turned down the water heater--(I really need to remember to lock that closet when I am done using it!) and my bath was lukewarm. So, what did my sweet husband do? He started boiling water for me on the stove. Did this catch me off guard? Nope...instead it took me back to the "good ol' days" when we were managing at BYU-Idaho and weren't allowed to have our water heater above a certain temperature. So, I would only get 1/3 off the bathtub filled with hot water before it turned icy cold on me. So, Brandon would always start 3 pots of water boiling so he could fill the rest of the tub with warm water for me.

That may seem like such a small and silly act, but just thinking back on that "memory" made me love him all over again--he is so selfless and caring, and so very considerate...

What a guy!

Christmas--TEXAS style

Our Christmas plans have changed...we are going to be celebrating the Christmas season

TEXAS STYLE!

I can really tell Brandon misses family--he might not admit it openly, but I see it. What gave it away? Well, maybe suggesting he call his family every half hour during Thanksgiving break (okay, a small exaggeration, but not by much) or the fact that he has brought up how maybe we could make it work to go home or to visit his brother...several hints here and there. :) Well, we aren't going home. Things ended up being too expensive to do that--but I found AWESOME tickets to Dallas (the airport closest to Brandon' brother and sister-in-law) this morning online. I bought a few airline credits on Ebay, took the special deal on tickets, and TA-DA--5 people flying to Texas for about $400 round trip for Christmas!

Brandon is SO excited...he says he feels selfish doing something that he wants to do. What do I think? I am ECSTATIC that I can do something for him. We will have to be really tight with money before we go, but I think it will be SO worth the trip--

Now...on to figure out how on earth we are going to pack 3 carseats, our luggage, a double stroller, 3 kids, carry-ons, and a pack n' play through the airport...

Spicy

Jenna got this new little toy when we were at the store the other day. We had no intention to buy anything for her, but she loved it, and it was $1, so we figured it would be a fun bath toy or something. Kind of crazy looking...but she was hooked!

Brandon suggested we call him "Spikey"...and somehow that was lost in translation and Jenna was calling this new little guy SPICY!

So, our family now consists of:

Brandon, Rachel, Jenna, Kaden, Spencer, Tomtom the GPS, pink baby (the little bear and sometimes the 1 1/2 inch dinosaur), a little beanie baby dog named Sarge and a rubber spikey thing named Spicy. Doesn't get more exciting than this! :)

It's over...

It's over...we made it through. This was seriously one of the longest days of our lives! :) I was SOOOOO glad Brandon was home today. I don't know if I could have handled this alone. Everyone went to bed okay last night, but Kaden was up at midnight for about an hour, and then woke up again at 3:00 a.m.--his screaming woke up Jenna who joined the party with Kaden and Brandon until 5:00 a.m. when Brandon called it quits and made Kaden go back to bed, happy or not. Spencer was the only one who slept through the night. :) Go figure...

Everyone, but me, woke up late--which was MUCH needed due to the wacky sleep schedule. But when Kaden DID wake up he had a really bad rash all over his face with bumps...not sure what to think. Bites? Allergic reaction? If it doesn't go away tomorrow, we will go on Monday to see a Dr. Anyway, he was incredibly grumpy all day, Spencer cried and cried...teething? gas? Jenna whined...3 year old syndrome?? I don't think there was a moment of silence all morning. It was rough!

We added a new addition to our family though--Tomtom...our new GPS. No, it wasn't a necessity...but it was SUCH a great deal (and I really mean GREAT deal!) and we knew we would use it tons! We live in a much bigger area than we ever have, and the freeways here aren't a quick off and on if you miss your exit. I have gone through many reams of paper and ink cartridges printing off maps from mapquest and then much more money on wasted gas from getting lost when the mapquest map doesn't work out right. :) We figured this would pay for itself in the first few weeks of ownership. :)
At lunch time, we piled everyone in the car and went for a drive with to try out the GPS and see if it was all we hoped for (And to get the kids to go to sleep) :) So we literally got lost together...drove out into the middle of somewhere and then typed our address in and saw if it would take us back. With an electronic search for a place to eat on the way home and a grocery store en route to our house, we took care of a few errands. This is going to revolutionize the way we drive! :) Pretty excited about it (and pretty excited that Kaden slept for about half an hour!)

When we got home, we filled the time by helping Kaden take a bath--he loves baths! :) When he got out, we decided to attempt our gingerbread house for the year. I used a Halloween gingerbread house I bought for .99 cents at Michaels--so, it doesn't look traditional, but it saved me $8.00...

Kaden went CRAZY over the frosting. I didn't care...it kept him quiet and occupied. :)


Our house actually turned out pretty lame...the frosting didn't come out right and was sliding. :) So, our door was wrinkly and things weren't staying in place. It didn't get as decorated as we usually get it--we are pretty devoted decorators! :) Oh well--
I found these really cute little hand decorated marshmallows--they were the perfect touch to our less than perfect house.
We made everyone go to bed at 7:00 p.m...after 2nd baths, cleaning rooms, and anything else we could do to make the time pass. :) I am SO glad this day is over...the funniest thing of all is that Brandon said to me tonight (while the kids were all screaming) "Can you imagine if we were in Indianapolis right now?" It hadn't crossed my mind, but it would have been a disaster! Things really do work out how they need to...just have to believe. :)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

It truly is beginning to look a lot like Christmas--we had a light snowfall, which the kids wanted DESPERATELY to play in! So, this morning after breakfast, out they went! It didn't take long to realize we still were lacking snowboots and gloves (we checked those off our list after a quick trip to Target tonight!) and Kaden didn't make it long out there! He was SO cold! :)

Brandon helped Jenna build a snowman...unfortunately, this is as tall as he got today!

Jenna LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the snow falling!!
Kaden wasn't so sure about it...

After the kids finished playing, we came in and decorated our house...our first Christmas tradition every year is to reveal our new Christmas ornament. I have always picked something out for each person (mainly because the kids were too young to understand), but this year we went as a family to let each person pick the one that was representative of their life or something they love that year.

Brandon got a Cleveland Cavaliers ornament...not so much because he is into their team...but more because we are here in Cleveland for him. :) (and he wouldn't buy the Cleveland BROWNS ornaments. :)

Me...I chose a gift. I feel that I have been given so much this year, in so many ways. Plus, it made me think of the Ultimate Gift--that movie we watched. Sorry to go back to that again, but it really was touching and made me realize how much of our life goes back to one point...becoming the best we can be.

Jenna chose Diego--always up for an adventure! And she is really into Dora and Diego. :)
Kaden got this adorable truck--he is really getting into cars and seems to have been born with a built in engine in his voice box...he doesn't talk, but he can make a car go vroooommmmm....
This is Spencer's little bell ornament...much cuter in person, I have to admit.
Our stocking are up! (though I am bummed that I have 2 Santas together at the end...I loved the one we bought for Spencer when I was pregnant with him last Christmas and forgot that Kaden's was a Santa too...oh well.)
Our tree is on it's last leg, but will make it through one more Christmas--if Kaden doesn't touch it too much. Several pieces of our tree broke in our move (don't ask me how that happened, but it did) and we kind of pieced it together in hopes it would make it through one more year. We really, REALLY debated putting one up with him around. But it just wouldn't be Christmas without the tree. He is SO funny with it...walks up to it, takes an ornament off, laughs, lays it in the braches, and goes for another one. :) But he has been better than I thought.

Our tree may not be all coordinated and matching, but this is the most beautiful tree to me! It has our "life story" hanging on it's branches...ornaments from our vacations, the ones we collect each year, etc. It is truly special to me.

The most wonderful part of my Christmas so far, is my new Nativity...I had the main part of the Willow Tree Nativity that Brandon gave me a few years ago. But there are several more pieces to collect. I still don't have them all, but was able to get 3 more this Christmas because a friend of mine worked at a store where she got them at half off--So, I don't have room to put them all up yet (they will stay in boxes) but I got to expand some...which I was SOOOO excited about.
This was the Nativity I got from a silent auction a few years ago--
it is taller than Kaden, which he thinks is pretty fun.
This is the BEST part of the decor...although it would be much more romantic if it weren't right over the threshold of a baby gate... :)
The top of our desk--we have TONS AND TONS of garland and lights, that all had to be store. No room to put them up. I don't dare put anything around the doorways like I have in the past because little fingers tug and pull...it was an accident waiting to happen.

I just love having everything set up and warm and cozy...It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and I love that!!

An Incredible Family

I want to start off by congratulating everyone reading this for participating in a historical event. This is the first time in the history of the planet that Brandon is posting something on the blog. That's right, you didn't read incorrectly, This is Brandon writing and I've decided that I'm not very good at it. I have now been staring at the computer for three hours eighteen minutes and forty-three seconds and have not thought of anything creative to say so I will have to rely on my backup plan of sharing a story of one of my children. I was watching the movie The Incredibles, and I realized that the character Dash was based on Kaden. That boy can move!!!! This morning Rachel was in the kitchen making a peanut-butter pie; the kids were in the living room and I decided I would have enough time to slip into the kitchen to chat with my wife for a little bit. I went to close the baby gate behind me and felt a breeze blow past me. I thought that it may have been the heater blowing so I ignored it, but as soon as I turned around I saw that it was not just wind but somehow Kaden had cruised right on by, climbed on the table and was about to offer a helping hand with the pie. I tried to stop him but before I could he stepped his little foot right in the middle of the pie that Rachel had just finished. This was not an oh-no-something-doesn't-feel-right-so-I'll-pull-up-step, this was an I'm-trying-to-get-food-on-the-ceiling-stomp, and I think he succeeded. As with all typical Kaden stories and bath soon followed.

It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without Giving Thanks!

It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without a "thankful" blog--

Last night, Brandon and I settled in to watch a movie after the kids went to bed. We ended up renting "The Ultimate Gift". HIGHLY RECOMMEND! I can't wait to read the book. I decided to do this blog based on the "gifts" they talk about--while I know I have so much more to learn to be able to completely embrace each gift, I feel that I have been blessed in each area...

The gift of Family:
I am so, SO thankful for family...not only my little family, but my extended family, and the "family" we have come to have here through the friends and people we have met. I feel blessed to be a mother and wife. The experiences I have had in the past 4 1/2 years of marriage have been such treasures! I am gratefu for Brandon for being such a support to me and a great companion and for my kids for making me realize I know much less than I thought--and then teaching me more than I ever thought they could! I am grateful for the family I grew up in, and for my parents sticking it out with me while growing up!!! :)

The Gift of Love:
To love, and to be loved are SUCH important things. I feel so blessed, especially during this season, to feel such love towards mankind and to feel the love of my Savior while thinking of His birth, life, and resurrection.

The Gift of Dreams:
In this day and age, we are so blessed to be able to not only dream, but to accomplish dreams. I feel so blessed watching Brandon work towards his dream, and to be a part of that--and I am so grateful to him for always supporting MY dreams and ambitions.

The Gift of Laughter:
Oh, how we laugh in this house!! Between an extremely silly husband and some very funny kids, we seem to always have something making us chuckle!! The kids played hard today at our Thanksgiving feast--and when it came time for bed, Jenna said to me "Mom, I'm not tired...I am just going to rest my eyes..." THAT made me laugh! :) I love the joy laughter brings and the way it draws us close together...

The Gift of Giving:
We don't have a lot to give in the financial aspect, but I am discovering more and more that it isn't always the monetary gifts that matter. Giving of our time and talents can be just as welcome and needed. I have felt lately that I LONG to find ways to help others--to give in SOME way. I think giving truly does heal our souls and help us to feel closer to God.

The Gift of Friends:
Today when I looked around, it was so wonderful to realize that while we weren't with our families, we were surrounded by friends. People who accept and love us--even with our shortcomings. I am so grateful for each one--and I am grateful to BE a friend. The talents we have and ways we enhance each other's lives is a really special thing to me.

The Gift of Learning:
First and foremost, I am grateful that Brandon promised my dad when we got married, that he would make me finish my degree. It was SO hard to do...I wanted to quit so many times. But I am so thankful to have finished. It has given me that much more desire to KEEP learning and devloping talents.

The Gift of Work:
I am grateful to know how to work--to problem solve, and dedicate time, and to give an honest day for honest pay. And I am especially glad that I have a husband who is a hard worker--who has gone through school taking classes full time and working almost full time to support us. He is a great example of enduring no matter how hard it is...

The Gift of Money:
I am grateful that I don't feel entitled to things in life, but that I can see the value in earning/working towards things. I am grateful that I know how to find bargains and cut coupons to use our money the best way I can.

The Gift of Problems:
WOW...this one is HUGE for me. :) But, I can say with all honesty, I am grateful for problems. It has made me stretch and grow and increase in my faith. And in the end of each problem, there is always something so much better than I could imagine waiting...such blessings...I truly am grateful for the gift of problems.

The Gift of Gratitude:
I know I probably ask for too many things, for too much help, etc....but I truly hope I somehow am able to show my gratitude with even the smallest part of how I sincerely feel. It is nice to feel thankful, and to show others that.

The Gift of a Day:
I am grateful for each day I live...but I am especially grateful for the days that end in "happily ever after"...the ones that you have no other word to describe but PERFECT...the ones you know Heavenly Father has been watching over you and filling every possible wish and desire--just because you are LOVED.


It was a great Thanksgiving...made my turkey without any issues...

The pie didn't have the same story...Kaden got into it while my hands were full...it was a slow-motion NOOOOOOOOOO! :)
We got together at the church with many of the other students and had a WONDERFUL dinner. Tons of food and friends. It was great!! Can you tell Kaden enjoyed his meal??

BLACK Friday

It seems to me that "after" Thanksgiving sales are starting earlier and earlier. Some stores are even opening on Thanksgiving day with huge sales! That seems so shameful to me seeing as how that should be a day for families...not shopping. I have to admit, I used to be among those standing in -10 degree weather the day after Thanksgiving waiting for a store to open it's doors and unlock all the "treasures". I enjoyed it...or so I thought.

Then, my first Thanksgiving married (2003), we went to Brandon's aunt's house (which, I hate to say it, is in the boonies of Paul, Idaho...no shopping gonna happen there!). I anxiously flipped through the ads on Thanksgiving day planning what I could possibly buy--(which was nothing because we were dirt poor)...just loved dreaming about all these great deals.

And then the next year (2004), we stayed with Brandon's family to be close to shopping...I got up SO stinking early and went out and bought tons of great things that were SUPPOSED to have great REBATES making them almost free...but really, I never got most of them back and wasted the money I DID spend on silly things that I ultimately thought would be free...

And then 2005, I was through...finished. No more early morning shopping for me....until I saw they had Cabbage Patch dolls for $10. I was somehow SUCKED in to trying my hardest to get this doll for Jenna, but decided not to worry about it after all...until I woke up incredibly sick at 4 a.m. (was pregnant with Kaden) and decided since I was up, I might as well go. What a disaster. It was freezing (which made the naseau even WORSE) and when I got there, the whole store was full of greedy hoarders---FULL shopping carts of this Cabbage Patch dolls, toys, games, electronics, etc. with discussions using words like EBAY and saying things like "someday you will have a child and you will WANT to have this for them" (yes, that is a direct quote)...I left in tears without my Cabbage Patch Doll...

I really was devestated at how black Friday had become...truly BLACK. That was my last time doing the whole early morning shopping...I have not missed it since.

Last year, I skipped it. I slept in, we had a nice breakfast...I went later in the day to use a coupon for an ornament I really wanted, but that was about it. I LOVED it! No stress, no freezing cold lines, no mean people punching employees, screaming and fighting...I just cherished being with my family and enjoying a break from the normal life schedule.

And that brings me to this year...there is still a part of me that longs to look at the ads...the BARGAIN hunter in me that wants to see what I could possible find that would be a steal of a deal. But this year it really IS about family and friends, and the things I don't have to buy to be truly happy. I literally don't set foot in a retail store in the month of Decemeber unless ABSOLUTELY necessary. My shopping is all done. I did it at my leisure throughout the year--and THAT gives me something no SUPER deal can give...PEACE. I feel like I can start the Christmas season and focus on the things that really matter the most.

A rough start to the day...

It all started at an unheard of hour this morning...Kaden, squeeling and screaming ready to play. Brandon so kindly got up with him so I could try to keep sleeping, but Kaden can be a loud child...loud while eating, loud while waiting to get out of the booster seat, loud while finding things to play with. I finally just got up.

Brandon left for school and I was hurrying to nurse Spencer before taking Jenna to preschool. I heard a HUGE crash and SCREAMING from Kaden's room. I ran back to find our little Kaden smashed underneath the dresser laying in a puddle of water. I have NO idea what he was doing (my guess would be trying to climb the dresser--except he was laying face down...hmmm?) but the dehumidifier (which is BRAND NEW) was on the dresser and fell off, cracking in half and pouring water EVERYWHERE...all over the toys, his shelves, his clothes, etc. What a mess...

So, now I am down one new dehumidifier and trying to dry out all the other things (wet lampshades and all!) to see if I can salvage them...

I am aiming for a more successful remainder of the day... :)

Feeling Freedom

This week, Spencer graduated to a new bed in a new room...a room that isn't OURS. I feel FREEDOM! Freedom to turn on the light and read before bed, to talk without whispering, to sleep deep because I don't hear little noises in the night. I feel freedom to move the cradle out and put a nice potted plant in it's place...freedom to...I don't know...just feels nice to have my space back!

As for Spencer, he is actually sleeping in the toddler bed we got for Kaden (who won't leave the crib yet). But Spencer fits right in laying accross the bed (where the bars are--his head at one side bar, his feet at the other) and doesn't roll yet...so we are hoping by the time he reaches that point, Kaden will be ready to move.

Just being kids...

Today was unseasonably warm...like 60 degrees warm! And where were the kids most of the day?? Just being kids...

Much of the day they raced around outside...Kaden without shoes (like always) and Jenna in her shorts. I just can't get that girl to wear clothes! The love being outside...investigating, raking the leaves with their hands, running, and being silly.



The kids and I made oreo pudding and ate out of fancy ice cream dishes...and gave "cheers" with our glasses. And then they ran off to play again. And they played so nicely, that I went to lay down on the couch. I have a confession...I laid there for almost a whole episode of Oprah just doing NOTHING but watching TV...and it was really quite nice. I never thought this day would come...the day that they would actually play TOGETHER and keep each other company. :) Though it may not always be successful, I think they will be nice buddies! :)

It was SO quiet for SO long that I had to go check on them. They had DEFINITELY been playing...here is what I found!

A change of plans...

There have been a lot of changes over the past 24 hours that seem to be "life-altering"...things will continue to unfold and we will figure it out. Perhaps I will write about them as I come to have some resolution for how life will go on...

But for now, our "littlest" change of plans has been that we are not going to make it on our trip to Indianapolis. It really bothered me yesterday--but I couldn't shake the feeling that we shouldn't go. I asked Brandon what he thought when he came home, and he said he had thought about it during the day as well. There are several reasons TO go, but the reasons for why NOT to all of a sudden seem far more logical and right than why TO go. We are sad for this change of plans...but we feel like it is more important to listen to the promptings we had. Hopefully we will come up with some other fun things to do over Thanksgiving.

I am trying to really have faith right now that things will work out how they need to. It is hard to go through uncertain times--being human I see the need to try to plan things out, color code, and file away... :) But there are things to be learned--things that we must somehow need to learn.

Always a new twist and turn on this roller coaster of life...

The coolest invention ever

I really think I invented this many years ago--I just didn't do anything with my brainstorming...okay, really I am sure ANYONE who has travelled with kids has thought of this at one point. Either way, here is it...the absolute COOLEST invention ever!

http://www.gogobabyz.com/products/gogo_kids.html

One more day...

It is bedtime and I realized I hadn't written today...we had a great night last night playing games with some friends. I had to be retaught the ways of Settlers of Catan...but I am geared up and ready to play again! Maybe next time I will actually seem like competition. Ha! :)

Today was a pretty good day. If nothing else, I feel like Brandon and I are recharged enough as parents and as a couple to face another week and really take on some new goals together. I love talking through things and being on the same page so we can really face challenges together. I couldn't ask for a better husband. He really is my everything...

Goal #1...go to bed earlier this week....so, signing off for now. :)

Sneak Peak--

Thought I would give a sneak peak of our Christmas card this year...still fine tuning it, but you get the idea! :)

A cozy day...

It is a great cozy day...the weather is a little bit nippy, so we are bundled up inside. The kids are all snuggled up and napping in their beds. I have a roast in the crockpot, rolls rising on the stove, and yummy spiced vanilla candles burning and filling our house with that delectable warm scent of the holidays. The dishes are all done, the house tidied up, and I am sitting down to design some more Christmas cards--tis the season. :)

I love cozy days like this...no where to go, no obligations to fulfill...just a day to be where I love to be with the people I love the most.

Winter Wonderland

Yesterday, I spent the day doing outside cleanup--weeding, cleaning out the garage, moving all the "outside" stuff to the inside of the garage, etc. I set things up so that the kids can still play on all their toys and have an area to ride bikes in the garage once we start seeing the workings of Jack Frost. The are SO excited about it--and I am hoping it will give us some kind of relief to being indoors all day through the winter.


The kids were out playing while I was finishing things up out there, and I hear Jenna yell, "MOM, That's CRAP!" I was startled---my daughter, saying such words at such a young age?? The rest of our conversation went like this:

ME: Jenna, what are you talking about?

JENNA: You know mom, right there (pointing). It's a big crap!

ME: laughed HYSTERICALLY--

Really, no crap here, just a big CRACK in the garage floor that she took great concern over. :)