We're getting there...slowly.

We finally got our cabinets last week and Jerry has almost finished putting them in. We only lack two more cabinets. I love this part of building because now I'm making the decisions. :)

This picture is closer to the actual color of our cabinets. (They are a bit brighter because the sun is shining right on them) Our camera is messing up so the next picture isn't all that great. You get the idea though...

This is a bad picture of what our kitchen kinda looks like. (The cabinets do look darker here because the sun was going down in this pic and our camera messed up.)

Our cute little helper...or demolisher...

Our other cute helper...or fit thrower...

We also started moving this past week. This is our 2nd truck full of food storage...I must say, I'm pretty proud of our food storage supply, even though we are encouraged not to be "proud."

We have taken 4 truck loads plus a trailer load of "stuff" and it doesn't even seem like we've put a dent in our moving. Oh boy...I didn't realize we had so much stuff. When we moved into this house it was just Jerry & I. We've since had two kids thus causing us to accumulate a lot more junk. The kids were worth it though! I do wonder how I am going to fit all of it in our next house?? Oh boy it is going to be crammed...but oh so worth it when there is no mortgage!!!!

It's gooey...

On Thursday Kaysen had a fieldtrip to the Willis Farm Pumpkin Patch. He LOVED it. I made the mistake though of telling him he was going to the Pumpkin Patch a whole week before he actually got to go. Every morning he would wake up and say, "I'm awake from my nap. Now it's time for the pumpkin patch!!!" And each day I had to say, "Not yet." He was bummed out until the morning he said it and I said, "Yeah!!! We're going to the pumpkin patch today!" He was so excited to get to school that day he ate ALL of his breakfast super fast. (which NEVER happens)

On Friday when Jerry woke up from his nap (he worked the night before) we carved our pumpkin.

Kaysen was so excited to reach inside the pumpkin because at school this week he learned what was inside. He did such a good job of pulling all of the "gooey" stuff out of it. He did 90% of it all by himself.

Here is Daddy carving the pumpkin. Kaysen kept saying,"Momma, I be careful with dat knife. Let me do it. I won't cut myself." Then would flash me a cheesy little smile. Don't worry, I didn't let him do it. Even though that smile was pretty darn cute.

I wanted a picture of all of my boys but as soon as we put the pumpkin in front of Gage he pulled the top off and stuck his hand down in it. He loved the feel of it too.


Finally...a CHEESY picture of ALL my boys.

Kaysen's B-day Party

This year Kaysen wanted a dinosaur themed birthday party with a Green Dinosaur cake to match his new Dinosaur Green bedroom.

Luckily I was able to find a pinata at last minute that fit in perfectly with the theme. All of the kids loved it. They of course went crazy when the candy started to fly out.

I video taped the whole party but somehow forgot to take picture of everything too. So I missed getting pictures of singing him Happy Birthday and blowing out his candles.

Most of our family was able to come and celebrate. He absolutely loves when all of the kids come over to play. I think that is what he'll love most about Joseph City...he'll never get bored with 17 cousins to run around with!!

Luckily Ms.Nikki let him blow out a candle at school and she took a picture of it. Here he is with his birthday crown and cake.

Here he is opening his new dinosaur coloring book. She couldn't have gotten him a more perfect gift. Thank you Ms.Nikki!!!

no measure

Every now and then (almost daily), I catch myself comparing myself to others. I've really tried hard not to do this because in the end, I'm never "up there" with whoever it is I am comparing myself to.

Last night I laid in bed reading the October Ensign and I came upon this quote. Here Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explains how loving our Heavenly Father is.

“He does not mercilessly measure [His children] against their neighbors. He doesn’t even compare them with each other. His gestures of compassion toward one do not require a withdrawal or denial of love for the other. … I testify that no one of us is less treasured or cherished of God than another. I testify that He loves each of us—insecurities, anxieties, self-image, and all. He doesn’t measure our talents or our looks; He doesn’t measure our professions or our possessions.”

Once again, I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father has established a church where he leads and guides men that teach us the truths of the world. He wants nothing more than for us to know how much he loves us and wants us to return to him. His loves is perfect. Thank goodness I am able to feel this love. If he doesn't compare me to others than why do I do it???

I'm going to stop. It's going to be hard and won't happen over night. But with His help, I will stop.

If you want to be uplifted too click HERE.

Did I ever tell you....

Kaysen -

Did I ever tell you about the first time I saw you??

The first time I saw you I couldn't believe how PERFECT you were. You were the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. You had perfect coloring, beautiful blue eyes and the cutest little fingers and toes. For days I would just look over every part of you body, in awe at how perfect you were. It still amazes me.

Did I ever tell you how much you were instantly loved and how much we prayed for you to come to our home?


When I say that you were instantly loved I mean INSTANTLY! Your dad and I prayed and yearned for you for quite a while before we were blessed to have you come to our home. The instant I found out I was pregnant with you I loved you. I've heard people say that they instantly love thier children but I didn't know just how much until this moment. I didn't care about anything but your health and safety. I wanted so badly to just hold you in my arms...but I had to wait 8 more months before I got that chance.

Did I ever tell you what I love most about you??

I love how you come in my room in the morning and say, "Wake UP, MOM!!!" and jump on me.

I love how before bed at night I say, "How much do I love you?" and you reply saying, "SOOOO Much...i mean...THISSSS much." all the while stretching your arms to the max.

I love how you are always wanting to help me. You love to help cook, clean, cut coupons, do laundry, make my bed, do my hair...everything. You are the best helper.

You are such a good big brother. You are always watching out for Gage. Making sure he doesn't get hurt and always making sure he has a toy...especially if you just took his away.

I love how you love to pray. You want to pray at every meal and bedtime and especially when you get an owie. You tell me that Heavenly Father will make it feel better...at this young of an age you are already a good example to me.

I love your imagination. You can think of anything. You always come up to me, tools in hand and say, "Let's build something Mom." I love it. I know that I need to do it with you more often too.

I love your laugh, your smile and your sweet hugs and kisses. Please don't quite giving them just because you are getting older....


Did I ever tell you how full you make my life?

Before I was your mom, I worked. I really thought that I would got back to work, at least part time, after you were born. I thought to myself...my mom did it with me... I can do it too. However, all it took was one look at you and I knew where I was supposed to be...at home, with you. I love being able to stay home with you. Some might say it is a boring job...but not with you. You keep me on my toes. There is never a dull moment with you around. I really, honestly could not and do not want to imagine where my life would be without you. Just having you has made me strive to be a better person. I want so badly to be with you forever so that the rest of this life and my life to come can be as full as it is now!

I want you to know how much your dad and I love you. You are a crazy little boy that we are a little hard on at times but I know that you really are trying to be good. We wouldn't change anything about you. All of the hard days are worth it. We can't wait to watch you grow and yet are so sad at how fast you are already growing. Always remember how much we love you. You have blessed our lives in oh so many ways.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAYSEN!!

Love,
Mom & Dad

Okay...so I've decided that I do love fall. At least the colors and the holidays that come with it. Not necessarily the cold that comes with it. I'm not just meaning the cold weather. I'm meaning the COLDS....


Jerry and I had a weekend getaway planned. Lo and Behold, on Thursday I got a fever of 102.6 and a cough from you know where. Kaysen also had a fever but luckily I got his to break and Jerry and I still went along with our plans. If anything, at least I could just relax and get better right???


Well I woke up Saturday morning feeling pretty dang good. That is until I decided to go Mountain Biking. My lungs were on fire after the first mile.




But I didn't want to stop. Not when I have a scene as beautiful as this...




After a couple miles on this road I decided I had to turn around if I wanted to live. So we headed back to the lodge and took a much needed nap.

This was part of our oh so comfy room. I have made a resolution to get a bedspread like this one. Maybe not the exact one, but one that FEELS like this one.



After the nap, which I woke up from WAY before Jerry did.( I'm the sick one, and he's the one that just wants to rest the weekend away...) we took a walk to the local ice cream shop. I got a snickers waffle cone and Jerry got strawberry. It was delish!

We took a walk around the ponds behind our lodge. We watched a 4 year old little boy catch a trout and I instantly thought of Kaysen and how much he would have LOVED to come with us. Sorry son, we'll take you next time. Dad was all mine this weekend.




We went for a drive in the afternoon so that we could listen to the afternoon session of conference.

Speaking of conference...I remember a time when my mom would tell me to come listen to conference with her and I would roll my eyes and STOMP up to the living room. Now I love conference. I get so excited to hear the words of the men and women who are lead by the spirit to say exactly what we need to hear.

This happened to me during this conference. We came in during the middle of conference and heard Elder Kent D. Watson's talk on temperence. The words he said came at me like a force. "Being temperate is to use moderation in all things, or to exercise self control." I am not a temperate person. Right then I resolved myself to doing better, being better. If you want to hear this talk or any others click HERE.


This weekend was a much needed weekend. We haven't been alone overnight since Kaysen was 6 months old. Jerry and I were able to converse without children climbing on us, screaming or any distractions. We talked and realized things that we need to do better. We made goals and know that we can achieve these goals because we will work together to do it. We realized that even though we loved being alone, we love and miss our children and really couldn't imagine life without them. It was an amazing weekend and we can't wait to do it again.

p.s. Thank you mom & dad for watching the boys so this weekend could be possible. We love you!

10/2/09 Weekly Wow

Safeway

3 boxes Pillsbury cake mix @ .79each
2 boxes Pillsbury brownie mix @ .79 each
80ct Glad trashbags @ $4.99
3 gallons Whole Milk @ $1.39 each
12 Yoplait Yogurts @ .25 each
1- 16oz Daisy Cottage Cheese @ $1.99
1- Ovenjoy Wheat bread @ $1.59
4- Tyson Anytizers @ $1.99 each
2- Hillshire Farms Lunchmeat @ $2.00 each
2- 4lb bags Frozen boneless skinlesss chicken breasts @ $6.66 each
1.68lb oranges = .84
4 avocados @ .99 each
1 stalk celery @.99
3.27lb Gala apples =$4.22
.82lb tomatoes =1.63
Iceberg Lettuce @1.49

Total Spent $62.91(including tax) Total Saved: $52.04 (58% savings)


I'm keeping a record of all of my hot buys HERE if you ever want to look....