Hughes Hideaway

The Creative Side of Me :)

2012-01-17T00:23:00.003-07:00

In my art class we were given the assignment of creating a paper of Aesthetic Moments in our life. The teacher asked for a list type of format that could always grow. This is my creative take on my assignment :)

The Real Take on Romance

2011-02-20T18:53:00.001-07:00

Romance is nice. But it is biological in origin. That dizzy head-over-heels feeling is a species of losing your mind, and most of the time it lasts only as long as the chase. What we keep forgetting is that in marriage, as opposed to romances, you aren't marrying the thrilling wonderful perfect Someone you're looking at right now. You're marrying the man who decides not to have the dazzling career with the high salary, refusing promotions and transfers so the kids don't have to change schools. You're marrying the woman whose body doesn't bounce back after the third baby, so she's no longer slim and attractive by the standards of the magazines. You're marrying the migraines and the hemorrhoids and the heart attack and the cancer; you're marrying the irritable, forgetful, lazy, thoughtless, sarcastic, distracted, too-busy days as well as the Kodak-happy ones.

You're marrying the one who works with you to raise the crippled child, or stands with you at the graveside of the child who dies. You're marrying the one who can't find work after the company folds or he's laid off; you're marrying the early Alzheimer's, the diabetes, the obesity, the pain of conflict and the struggle of forgiveness. The foundation of that isn't some ideal of romantic love. It's a commitment based on the goals you share. And real love, married love, is not what you start with--it's what you create together along the way.

--Orson Scott Card

1000 Card Pick Up Anyone?

2011-01-31T09:20:00.000-07:00

This is why I'm the meanest mom. My kids ask to play games all the time, and I use the age old line "Not right now." There are times, when I've had a moment of insanity, I say yes, but then I remember why I always put them off.

Sign Language

2011-01-25T17:53:00.002-07:00

I recently received this article. I am pro-signing for children, it has saved me countless heartaches and tantrums because my children were able to sign for what they needed instead of doing the screaming thing, which nobody wins in that situation. Please read the following, it is interesting and I believe very helpful.

Sign Language As An Addition To Child Care Curriculum

One of the keys to surviving in a tilted economic system in which opportunities to achieve a decent standard of living will be limited is versatility – and the ability to communicate articulately in a variety of ways with the widest possible audience. This includes bilingual ability as well as the ability to communicate in non-verbal ways for the benefit of the disabled – primarily the deaf.

At the same time, a growing shortage of qualified interpreters fluent in American Sign Language has led to more career opportunities – and if current trends continue, it's likely that skilled ASL interpreters will have little problem securing lucrative employment in a society where such a commodity is destined to be in short supply.

Signing Before They Can Speak

A great deal of research has clearly demonstrated that the early years – ages 2 to five – are the best time to educate children in different modes of communication and language. This teaching can be done at home or can be found as a part of child care curriculums. Going beyond the spoken word (though it is an optimal time for children to learn a second language); many young children have an aptitude for signing as well.

As you may know, many indigenous peoples around the world, including American Indian nations, have used sign language for centuries to facilitate communication with other tribes with whom they do not share a language. Some paleontologists and anthropologists theorize that Neanderthals – who apparently lacked the vocal mechanism to produce many spoken words – depended a great deal upon hand gestures to communicate.

In fact, recent research suggests that sign language is innate. An article published in the Boulder Daily Camera in 2003 presented strong evidence that babies as young as six months old communicate with their hands:

"...by 6 to 7 months, babies can remember a sign. At eight months, children

can begin to imitate gestures and sign single words. By 24 months, children

can sign compound words and full sentences. They say sign language reduces

frustration in young children by giving them a means to express themselves

before they know how to talk." (Glarion, 2003)

Also cited it the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development study that demonstrates that young children who are taught sign language at an early age actually develop better verbal skills as they get older. The ability to sign has also helped parents in communicating with autistic children; one parent reports that "using sign language allowed her to communicate with her [autistic] son and minimized his frustration...[he now] has an advanced vocabulary and excels in math, spelling and music" (Glarion, 2003).

The Best Time To Start

Not only does early childhood education in signing give pre-verbal youngsters a way to communicate, it can also strengthen the parent-child bond – in addition to giving children a solid foundation for learning a skill that will serve them well in the future. The evidence suggests that the best time to start learning ASL is before a child can even walk – and the implications for facilitating the parent-child relationship are amazing.

Co-written by Emily Patterson and Kathleen Thomas

Emily and Kathleen are Communications Coordinators for the network of Texas child care facilities belonging to the AdvancED® accredited family of Primrose child care schools. Primrose Schools are located in 16 states throughout the U.S. and are dedicated to delivering progressive, early childhood, Balanced Learning® curriculum throughout their preschools.

A Glimpse Into the Future? I HOPE NOT!!

2011-01-23T18:29:00.002-07:00

I wonder if I should be worried that the following pictures are a glimpse into my children's future....

A Burglar and a Homeless Person

Please tell me this is just a phase!

Relief Society Lessons- GP 26 Sacrifice

2011-01-16T14:15:00.005-07:00

I have decided to start posting my lessons on Relief Society....Keep in mind that I add things and sisters add their comments. But this can maybe help get an idea what to do for lessons in the future? Some of the words come from the manual, some come from the ensign, most come from me. So plagerism is not exactly going to be correct, but don't hold that against me. I also may have grammar eorrors, remember, this is for my lesson not for an English Assignment.

Gospel Principles 26: Sacrifice

I am going to do something a little different to start out this lesson. I’m going to tell you the story of one of my descendants Benjamin Jones Redd. I felt strongly that I need to use a story to begin with. At first I was going to do the Prophet Joseph Smith, and then I was reading a talk by Elder M. Russell Ballard and he started talking about the overwhelming sacrifices the founders of the Church made to establish the kingdom of God in this last dispensation, and then it hit me. I knew I needed to do a personal story. Yes I may not have known this ancestor, but I was recently able to type up his story and I knew that all of our ancestors showed faith when they followed the prophet’s words.

BENJAMIN JONES REDD

Benjamin Jones Redd

Benjamin Jones Redd, the youngest son of John Hardison Redd and his wife, Elizabeth Hancock, was born after the family left their old home in North Carolina and settled in Rutherford County, Tennessee. He was born June 20, 1842, and was just four years younger than his brother, John, Holt, and six years younger than Lemuel Hardison.

We know little about him as a child. He grew up on the plantation in Rutherford County and lived there until he was eight years old, when he went with his parents to Utah. Because he was the baby of the family, he probably rode or walked as he chose, and I don’t think he was even asked to help in any way with the chores of traveling and camping every night. On second thought, idleness was never tolerated among the settlers of early Utah; neither was it tolerated in the Redd family, and so he may have done as much as any other youngsters of his age—maybe even more. He came across the plains with three older sisters and two older brothers. They went directly to Spanish Fork to settle.

By the end of 1853, only Benjamin and his brother, Lem, were at home with his father. Then Lem left when he married in January of 1856. Benjamin, fourteen years old, was then the only child at home. Just two years later, in May 1858, Benjamin’s father died, and Benjamin went to live with Lemuel and his family. Early in 1862 they were called to settle southern Utah. Benjamin, then 20 years old, left for the south with Lemuel. Benjamin and Luke were the cattle herders, tenders, and drivers on the trip south.

The next year, 1863, at 21 years of age Benjamin answered a call from Brigham Young. New Harmony was asked to send three outfits, wagons, oxen, and provisions back to Florence, Nebraska in order to help bring poor immigrants from foreign countries who were unable to come themselves. The townspeople donated the outfits, and the drivers donated their time. George W. Sevy, Lemuel H. Redd, and GeorgeHill agreed to raise a team and a wagon and outfit it with provisions for Benjamin J. Redd to drive. Other drivers were M.H. Darrell and George Woolsey.

They were set apart and blessed for their mission on March 26, 1863. When asked if they had anything to say, Benjamin spoke up to ask for a community dance before they left. (It was the custom for all missionaries to be given a farewell dance before leaving home.) Benjamin’s request was granted, and it was reported that they all had a good time. At 10:00 a.m. on Sunday March 29, 1863, the three teams rolled out “in good spirits and well fitted out.”

The immigrants in the Nebraska camps must have rejoiced when they saw the ox teams coming for them. It means that their anxious longing to come to Utah was to be realized. It was a long trip for the volunteers to make, in all nearly four thousand miles round trip by ox team. It was really an act of brotherly love to take that long, slow, dangerous trip to bring in those poor immigrants. Apparently, the strain of the long trip did not go completely unnoticed, for on Sunday, November 22, 1863, it is reported that “President Lee proceeded to settle some differences arising among M.H. Darrell, George Woolsey, and Benjamin J. Redd, teamsters who crossed the plains that season to aid immigration. All difference settled.”

The Indians of the southern Utah area were not yet reconciled to having settlers on their lands. They stole many horses and cattle and it became necessary to place guards over the live-stock for the first few years. The story is told that Benjamin was on his way home one night after spending the evening with his sweetheart, when a guard called, “Throw up your hands.” Benjamin kept silent for a moment because he recognized the guard and thought it was a joke. But the guard had mistaken him for an Indian, and was aiming his rifle to fire when Benjamin finally spoke, just in time to save his life.

On the day Benjamin was 23 years old, June 20, 1865 he married Clarissa Alvira Taylor at New Harmony. The ceremony was performed by William Pace. After his marriage, Benjamin bought a lot and built a log house on it just across the street from the present residence of Roy Grant. That would be on the lower street on the south side and at the west end of it. It would also be just next west of his sister, Ann Elizabeth.

In that little home their first child, Sarah Elizabeth, was born. She remembers some of the early circumstances of the little pioneer town. One of her earliest remembrances is that fear of Indians, who were dangerous enemies then. The men had to sit up nights to guard their loved ones and their belongings. Even then, the Indians would slip in and steal cattle, horses, and anything they could lay their hands on. Some of the settlers hobbled and staked their animals so the Indians couldn’t steal them. Often, the Indians would be so enraged by this that they would kill the animals with poisoned arrows.

Sarah was a jolly, sweet, laughing, happy child. She had the jolliest laugh of anyone. An Indian took a liking to her, and one day he came into the house, threw a sack of money on the table, and grabbed Sarah by the hand. “Me pay for papoose,” he said, “take white papoose to wickiup.” Sarah’s mother was powerless, and the Indian was nearly to the door when Benjamin came to the rescue. He gave the Indian his money back and pushed him out of the house.

In those early days there was bran and cornmeal bread. The cornmeal was ground between two rocks, and the flour was milled at Kanarraville. There were vegetables, fresh and dried, corned beef, fresh and cured pork, part of the time milk, butter, and eggs, and always molasses for desert, made from sugar cane raised by Sarah’s father. The delicacies of today were unheard of then, of course. Sarah said:

How well I remember the first can of honey I ever saw. My father traded for it at Pioche for my mother, who was ill. I slipped in and got a spoonful and hid while I ate it in tiny tastes—so it would last as long as possible, feeling guilty all the time. And it was the best of anything I had ever tasted.

The shoes Sarah wore were made by her father from beef hides tanned in Salt Lake City. It took a month or two to get them tanned and back. The shoes were not good looking but they were comfortable and lasted a long time. The pioneer children went barefooted in the summer to save their shoes for winter. Sarah said: “I remember how the hot earth burned my fee; the shade trees were too small to help much. I’d run from one sage brush to the next. Then I’d sit on the ground and hold my feet in the air to cool them off.”

Vivid in Sarah’s memory are the cards and spinning wheel her mother had to card and spin the thread to make their clothes, jean pants and hickory shirts for her father, made with tiniest stitches by hand. Her mother taught her to sew. She had to piece a quilt before she was seven years old.

They didn’t live long in the little log house, because a big flood almost destroyed the structure. The location was abandoned for a location in the center of town now owned by Reese Davis. It is diagonally across the street from the meeting house. At the new home, Benjamin Franklin was born on April 6, 1868. He was affectionately called “Benny.”

Later, the parents and their two children made the trip to Salt Lake City by wagon and ox teams to be sealed for eternity. It took about three weeks each way to make the journey. When they were all dressed in their Sunday best and ready to go, Benny filled a hat with mud and put it on his head. He was surely a discouraging sight to his mother with the mud running all over his head and down his only Sunday suit. Heartsick, his mother sat down and cried. The only thing she could do was put Benny to bed while she washed, dried and ironed his suit before they could go to Salt Lake. They did their temple work March 11, 1869.

Benny was a lovely baby, very cute, but he contracted measles and died at the age of two years. Thus, death had entered into their family for the first time.

Shortly thereafter, Benjamin purchased a farm north of town. In order to be close to his work, he made a house there and moved his family into it. On July 22, 1871, their third child was born, Mary Catherine. Farm life was difficult in those days—and dangerous. The Indians were savage and mean, and Clarissa was in constant fear. She learned to shoot a gun so she could protect herself and her babies. It was strictly for protection and not for sport. On one occasion she killed a wildcat, and another time she slew a skunk. But life was hard, and the fact that Clarissa was never at ease because of the Indians induced her husband to buy a house in town. Their third home was a new adobe house on the lot owned by Orson Hammond today. It was on the upper street, just back of Lemuel’s home. The house was unfinished, so Benjamin fixed and plastered it, then moved his family in before it was thoroughly dried. His wife wasn’t strong, and the cold she contracted in the damp house weakened her. She never fully recovered.

Shortly afterward, August 3, 1873, she gave birth to a baby girl, Anna Maria Vilate, their fourth child. The little mother was not strong enough to take care of her baby, so Mrs. Ella Sawyer took her and cared for her until her death at the age of four months, the second death in the family. Clarissa never recovered, and on January 18, 1874, she was called to her eternal home, leaving behind her husband, Sarah, seven years, and Mary (Molly), two years to struggle through the pioneer days without a mother.

It was a hard lot for Benjamin to do the work in the fields and care for his house and family. When there is no mother, it seems that grandmother comes next, and Sarah and Molly lived with their Grandmother Taylor most of the time for the next two years. At the age of nine, Sarah went home to keep house for her father. She was a willing worker. As soon as her father left for work she did the washing. She well remembered how her father’s garments looked stretched lengthwise on the fence, a worse color than tattle tale gray. And in winter when they were contrasted with the white snow, they were tattle tale black, Sarah said.

Sarah said: “Father would give us our baths on Saturday afternoon, then take Mary and me by the hand to visit Mother’s grave. I can still remember how he would cry during those visits.”

Sarah heard her father swear only once. He was plowing the garden when the horse balked and he called it a “son of a bee.” Benny, who was not yet two at the time, hit his stick horse and repeated, “Get up, you son of a bee.” That was enough to hurt his father. He took the little fellow in his arms and cried. Then he said, “I am sorry, and I promise you’ll never hear me say anything like that again.”

Sarah was much older than Aunts Luella and Alice, and so she could remember the cloth Clarissa made for them. That first quilt she pieced was done before her mother died. Their home was like all other pioneer homes where everything had to be done by hand, the hard way.

Benjamin was a hard worker and good provider, and after four years of managing the inside and the outside of the home, he married again. He and Nancy Luella Workman were married February 8, 1877, in the St. George Temple. To this union were born Benjamin Jacob, Robert Edward, John Hardison, Lemuel Wilson, Harvey Cornelius, Nancy Rebecca, and Oliver Arthur. The seventh child was born shortly after Benjamin died. Four of these boys lived and grew to maturity. Nancy moved out to Colorado but came back to New Harmony on visits. The boys came oftener and stayed with their sister Sarah Redd Prince.

Benjamin loved his church and was a willing worker, faithfully performing the tasks that fell to him. He held offices in some of the ward auxiliary organizations. For one year he donated work to help the St. George Temple, and according to reports in the ward records he frequently made cash donations.

He responded with other patriots to fight the Indians and was a member of the Jacob Hamblin expedition. He was a great peace maker. He would never allow his family to tear down another’s character. His motto was, “Blessed is the peacemaker.” His advice to his family was to always do right. He acquired the habit of punctuality, and he was orderly and systematic in his routine habits.

Benjamin’s life record was closed September 16, 1887. Typhoid fever was the cause of his death. A beautiful tribute was paid him by his brother, Lemuel H. Redd, at his funeral. He said: “No one knew his heart and inner desires as I did. He never wronged or hurt anyone intentionally in his life. He was goodness itself. To me who knew him so well, I can truthfully say he was the best man I ever knew.”

His granddaughter, Juanita wrote:

It is important that a state should remember its pioneers, not merely because they were outstanding in the performance of work, in the endurance of hardships, and in difficulties and experiences which are woven like a web into the historic fabric of our nation and state. It is fitting that we give honor to those noble pioneers for the heritage they bequeathed to us, their descendants. To this worthy group Benjamin Jones Redd belongs.

Benjamin Redd and other pioneers showed humble obedience. They heeded the prophet’s words. And as Elder Ballard states in the Oct. 1998 Ensign, “their humble obedience focused my mind on the eternal nature of the law of sacrifice, a vital part of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Over time the practice of Sacrifice changed during the New Testament period, the purposes of the law of sacrifice remained in place even after the Atonement of Christ fulfilled the law of Moses. Often times when we hear “law of Moses” we tend to think of animal sacrifices. Sometimes it is hard to wrap your mind around something so gruesome as being connected to the gospel of love. However, if we take into consideration the two major purposes of the law of sacrifice that has been applied to Adam, Abraham, Moses, and the New Testament Apostles, and even to us in these latter days, we can better understand, accept and live the law of sacrifice.

The two purposes are:

1. To test and Prove Us

2. To Assist us in Coming unto Christ

SCRIPTURE #1 (D&C 98:14–15)

“I have decreed in my heart, saith the Lord, that I will prove you in all things, whether you will abide in my covenant, even unto death, that you may be found worthy.”

“For if ye will not abide in my covenant ye are not worthy of me”

QUOTE #1 ELDER M. RUSSELL BALLARD

The law of sacrifice provides an opportunity for us to prove to the Lord that we love Him more than any other thing. As a result, the course sometimes becomes difficult since this is the process of perfection that prepares us for the celestial kingdom to “dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever” (D&C 76:62)

Sacrifice means giving to the Lord whatever He requires of our time, our earthly possessions, and our energies to further His work. The Lord commanded, “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Our willingness to sacrifice is an indication of our devotion to God. People have always been tried and tested to see if they will put the things of God first in their lives.

Sometimes it’s easier to look at the past and give recognition to those that came before us. Their struggles and sacrifices seem so big and so important. Yet, while we sit here, we seem to have it so much worse than them. We may not have to have the physical hardships of crossing the plains, of fighting for our lives, or of burying our loved ones in unmarked graves. But daily we are fighting a battle. A battle that Satan wants to win, and he is constantly ranging this war. We fight for ourselves and we fight for our children. How often to get down on our knees and ask for help, how often do we sacrifice doing something fun because we know that is not what the Father would have us do. How often are our kids sacrificing “popularity” to stand up for what they believe in? We may not be passing the plains but we are fighting drugs, pornography, language, movies, and books that are filled with evil and yes sometimes we falter but we are trying. We are being tested and we are proving to our Heavenly Father that we want to come unto Christ.

Sorry, I got off on my soap box. Let’s redirect. We know the purpose of sacrifice, but what is the significance behind it?

Christ’s atoning sacrifice marked the end of sacrifices by the shedding of blood. Such outward sacrifice was replaced by the ordinance of the sacrament. The ordinance of the sacrament was given to remind us of the Savior’s great sacrifice. We should partake of the sacrament often. The emblems of bread and water remind us of the Savior’s body and of His blood, which He shed for us.

From the time of Adam and Eve to the time of Jesus Christ, the Lord’s people practiced the law of sacrifice. They were commanded to offer as sacrifices the firstlings of their flocks. These animals had to be perfect, without blemish. The ordinance was given to remind the people that Jesus Christ, the Firstborn of the Father, would come into the world. He would be perfect in every way, and He would offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. (See Moses 5:5–8.)

Jesus did come and offer Himself as a sacrifice, just as the people had been taught He would. Because of His sacrifice, everyone will be saved from physical death by the Resurrection and all can be saved from their sins through faith in Jesus Christ.

We do not sacrifice by the shedding of blood anymore, but we are still asked to sacrifice. He has said, “Ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood,…and your burnt offerings shall be done away…And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit” (3 Nephi 9:19-20)

A “broken heart and a contrite spirit” means that we offer deep sorrow for our sins as we humble ourselves and repent of them.

How does sacrifice help us come unto Christ?

QUOTE #2 ELDER M. RUSSELL BALLARD

No one will ever accept the Savior without having faith in Him first. Hence, the first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Accordingly, the Prophet Joseph Smith explained an important relationship between the principle of faith and the principle of sacrifice:

“Let us here observe, that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation; … it is through the medium of the sacrifice of all earthly things that men do actually know that they are doing the things that are well pleasing in the sight of God. When a man has offered in sacrifice all that he has for the truth’s sake, not even withholding his life, and believing before God that he has been called to make this sacrifice because he seeks to do his will, he does know, most assuredly, that God does and will accept his sacrifice and offering, and that he has not, nor will not seek his face in vain. Under these circumstances, then, he can obtain the faith necessary for him to lay hold on eternal life” (Lectures on Faith [1985], 69).

To summarize: we must know what we do is pleasing before God and understand that this knowledge comes to us through sacrifice and obedience. Those who come unto Christ in this way receive a confidence that whispers peace to their souls and that will eventually enable them to lay hold upon eternal life.

Through sacrifice we are able to learn something about ourselves—what we are willing to offer to the Lord through our obedience.

I want you to take a second and ponder the trials you have had in your life. Think now about the commandments you have followed. Some of us are still going through trials, some of us are in the peaceful times of our lives. We are all at different places, yet we have all been tried and tested. We have all been given commandments. All of us have been asked by the Lord to do something. Now think, when the Lord asked you to do something, did you follow through? When you found yourself on the other side of a struggle did you feel good about the decisions you made through the process. Did you find out who you are and who you became? Are you happy with the lessons you learned and took from the experience. Every choice we make through these times, or through our peaceful times when we are following the Lord, are they bringing us closer to Him? What are you learning about yourself? We aren't here to be puppets as Satan would have us be. We are here to have free agency and have Eternal Life, and the only way we can do that is by being tried and tested, by following His commandments and by sacrificing all we can to return back to him.

Only through sacrifice can we become worthy to live in the presence of God. Only through sacrifice can we enjoy eternal life. Many who have lived before us have sacrificed all they had. We must be willing to do the same if we would earn the rich reward they enjoy.

We may not be asked to sacrifice all things. But like Abraham, we should be willing to sacrifice everything to become worthy to live in the presence of the Lord.

The Lord’s people have always sacrificed greatly and in many different ways. Some have suffered hardship and ridicule for the gospel. Some new converts to the Church have been cut off from their families. Lifetime friends have turned away. Some members have lost their jobs; some have lost their lives. But the Lord notices our sacrifices; He promises, “Every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life” (Matthew 19:29).

As our testimonies of the gospel grow, we become able to make greater sacrifices to the Lord.

A few examples from the manual of sacrifices people have made:

· A member of the Church in Germany saved his tithing for years until someone with priesthood authority could come and accept it.

· A Relief Society visiting teacher served for 30 years without missing an assignment.

· A group of Saints in South Africa rode for three days, standing up, to be able to hear and see the prophet of the Lord.

· At an area conference in Mexico, members of the Church slept on the ground and fasted during the days of the conference. They had used all their money just to get to the conference and had nothing left for food and shelter.

· One family sold their car to get the money they wanted to contribute to a temple building fund.

· Another family sold their home to get money to go to the temple.

· Many faithful Latter-day Saints have very little to live on, yet they pay their tithes and offerings.

· One brother sacrificed his job because he refused to work on Sunday.

· In one branch, the youth gave freely and willingly of their time to care for the young children while their parents helped build the meetinghouse.

· Young men and women give up or postpone good job opportunities, education, or sports to serve as missionaries.

We may not have a wagon or a handcart but we do have our own struggles and we are just as strong, if not stronger than the pioneers ahead of us. There’s going to be a time when our great-great-great grandchildren are going to look back at our times and see the struggles and sacrifices we made and they are going to pay us tribute, they are going to stand in relief society lessons and give our stories. What will your story be?

I would like to have one last quote from Elder Ballard read:

QUOTE #3 ELDER M. RUSSELL BALLARD

As in all things, our Lord and Savior manifested the supreme example of sacrifice. His divine mission was culminated as He gave His life for our redemption. Through His personal sacrifice, He provided a way for us to have our sins forgiven and return to the presence of our Father.

I stand as a special witness today of this most singular event of all time. I testify of the far-reaching effects of this most holy of all offerings. In a future day of another life when our finite reasoning will be expanded, we will more fully understand the penetrating powers of the Atonement and feel moved even more with gratitude, admiration, worship, and love toward our Savior in ways not possible in this present state.

If I have a fear, it is that the principle of sacrifice may be slipping away from us. This principle is a law of God. We are obliged to understand it and practice it. If being a member of this Church becomes too easy, testimonies will become shallow, and the roots of testimony will not go down into the soil of faith as they did with our pioneer forefathers. May God grant each of us an understanding of the law of sacrifice and a conviction that it is necessary today. It is vitally important that we understand this law and live it.

No Explanation Needed

2011-01-04T22:27:00.001-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ8NGCFOSpI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgLF5IFmWCw

They Say a Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

2011-01-03T17:04:00.000-07:00

My little 3.5 year old is being a huge help. She volunteered to vacuum the couch for me. I had to grab my camera and take a picture of my Sweet Pea. Little did I know, when I would be taking the picture, my 2 year old would be taking a sacrifice for the team. Do not ask how old the piece of Eggo was that he is shoveling into his mouth. Just be happy that he is still alive after eating it.

Ouch!

2010-11-08T15:36:00.005-07:00

This is not the call you want to get.

I was in Fillmore for a Girl's weekend of Scrapbooking when I received a call, "Have to go, they are calling Jayden for an X-Ray."

Not a lot of information to go off of before being hung up on.

Come to find out, Aspen and Jayden were riding a horse in St. George and got bucked off, and the end result:

Pumpkin Carving

2010-10-26T21:07:00.004-06:00

When we returned home from Vegas today, we had two beautiful pumpkins greeting us on the doorstep (thank you Misty!) With Grandma and Grandpa visiting, we figured, what better way to celebrate Grandpa's Birthday?

Giving "Papa" Hugs

No fear of Getting Dirty Here

Happy Little Boy

Teaching Mom How It's Done

Happy Halloween!!!

The Lure of Romance

2010-10-21T02:09:00.000-06:00

What is it about the 19th century in England that cries romance? The beautiful dresses, the glamor, the titles, the handsome young suitors wooing the woman of his dreams? The Mr. Darcy's in their stern appearances that calls for every woman to fall at his feet. Why? What dreams do we live in that we would actually want to have a man such as this asking for our hand in marriage? Why do our hopes and daydreams bring us there? Why do we find men rushing off to their mistresses so fascinating? A time when marriages were made for a price and titles sought for? Why do we dream that life back then was so romantic?

BECAUSE DREAMS ARE SO MUCH BETTER!!!!!

I must admit, I am one of those that dreams of those times. I dream of having servants doing my hair and having them at my beck and call. The laughter, the glamor the beautiful mansions and castles. The lush green gardens and mazes, the art of learning to flirt behind a fan, who knew that was an art? Best of all, I dream of the love that radiates between couples. Dancing the waltz with the man of my dreams. Heck, if I'm dreaming I might as well make him the Duke. Why not live in Jane Austen's world? Mr. Darcy may be stern but he was made for Elizabeth Bennet. Why not live in a world where romance comes true? Emma and Mr. Knightley? To be in the shoes of these women. Why not have those dreams? Why not fancy yourself in that world? Daydreams are an escape from reality, and even if they never come true, you can live in your dreams. We can't let Persuasion slip through our fingers, a story of hurt and forgiveness with Anne Elliot and dear Captain Wentworth. Captain Wentworth pouring out his heart to Anne:

"You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight and a half years ago. Dare not say that a man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant."

Persuasion

Pride and Prejudice

Emma

I find myself lost in my books and movies, I live as a daydreamer, in a world not reality. In my world romance wins, in my world I win.

Men and women treat each other with utmost respect, love, and devotion. Never a strong word against the other and never violence. Only peace, love, and kindness. A place where a man knows how to woo his woman. Forget the games, bring the romance. What's wrong with this world? Nothing, that's why I keep it.

I know this goes out of my realm of Jane Austen, but on my mission to find the man of my dreams I came across another dreamer, and I must admit I am liking her choice in men (http://sylviamauren.blogspot.com/2009/11/finding-mr-right.html) Of course, I'm going to say she left out the most obvious one: Hugh Jackman in Australia, okay let's not get picky, Hugh Jackman in any movie :)

What's not to Love???

With that Smile, He Deserves Two Pictures

A Need to Confess

2010-10-19T17:08:00.000-06:00

They say the first step to fighting an addiction is admitting you have a problem. This is very hard for me, but here is my confession: I am a Book Addict. There is something terribly wrong with me. I collect and collect and collect BOOKS. Garage Sales, Thrift Stores, Used Book Stores, Amazon, there isn't a place that I am safe from. I have even been known to shop on E-Bay. Growing up I have gotten rid of a box of books here and there, but that doesn't help my addiction. I get rid of a box and then I replace it with three boxes. I can't get rid of my books, they are my obsession. Do I have time to read them? No. The reason I keep them? If the world were to end, everybody else would have food storage, but they would be bored out of there mind. I on the other hand will be set until the second coming. Do I want a cure of my addiction? DEFINITELY NOT!! I love books way too much!! I just need to calm down and not buy so many. In my defense, I don't just buy books for myself. My children are also set for life, and I also buy books to read to the classes that I substitute teach, see I'm not entirely selfish. Those that judge me.....I'll have the last laugh when you have nothing better to do but read the back of your cereal boxes when the world ends.

My Books: (Keep in Mind this doesn't show you what I have on my Kindle or what I have on my Computer)

Bookshelf #1

Bookshelf #2
There are books stacked behind these ones

Bookshelf #3

Yet to find a Bookshelf

Bookshelf #4

I have not taken pictures of my kids books, found in Bookshelf #5. The ones you see are strictly mine, and you didn't think I had a problem.

Random Thoughts

2010-10-18T17:20:00.000-06:00

Now that I have actually opened a new post, I have no clue what to write about, imagine that.

I have decided that I don't blog near enough. Every day I watch my children grow, and it saddens me that their pictures are stuck in the computer collecting dust. Contrary to my reader's beliefs I am still very much alive and enjoying this journey through life. I am going to back track and kind of bring you up to speed on my life, boring to you? Maybe. But this is my life, and this is for my children.

Last November, during the Divorce process, I was court ordered to get a job, turns out nobody wants to hire someone over educated and under qualified. I have my MBA, but have only done secretarial work. After I had Aspen I worked from home, cold calls for a Realtor and did mail outs, baby sitting two 2 year olds, a 4 month old on top of my 2 year old and baby, and eventually I owned an appraisal company. Other than this I didn't have any other experience, so in other words no job. The judge told me to get a job as a substitute, after jumping through some hoops, I am now qualified to substitute teach in Clark County School District as well as Iron County School District. I love my job!! My main goal is to raise my children, and as a substitute I choose when I take a job. With substituting no two days are alike, and it gives me an appreciation of teachers. I get a brake, but these people give so much to the leaders of tomorrow on a daily basis, my hat goes out to them.

In May, I was given permission from the courts to move to Cedar City, UT. I received primary custody of the kids and felt that this was the place I needed to raise them. Heavenly Father knows what he is doing when he prompts us. In my new ward I was welcomed and found a great friend that lives a few doors down. I was given the calling of Relief Society Teacher. I came down off the mountain from camping to go to church. Imagine my surprise when they called out my name and sustained me for the new calling, I had no prior knowledge, it was so funny when they apologized to me later. I think Heavenly Father didn't want me to have a chance to say no. I love my calling!!! I can not explain the feeling I have after I have completed a lesson. I can just say that I know I'm not by myself when I'm teaching the ladies in my ward, the Spirit is so strong.

After moving to Cedar, I took a course in Belly Dancing with my little sister. That was an experience, let's just say I'm better of dancing where no one can see me, but learning to dance was on my bucket list, so I can now say "Been There, Done That." I've also ran two 5k's, pretty cool, seeing that I never trained for them.

I'm enrolled in an institute class for singles, 25-30. It's really nice being able to be involved with a class in the middle of week to bring the Spirit. I love the feeling of having the spirit in my life. I really don't know how I lived my 27 years without truly appreciating this great blessing and gift from my Heavenly Father.

The two most important gifts my Heavenly Father has given me light up my life. Jayden is picking up words left and right and Aspen is so smart and is ready for Sunbeams and Preschool. I love these kids more than anything. I can't explain the joy and love that they bring to my life.

Living in Vegas

Living in Cedar

Friends, Family, and Belly Dancing

Surprise!!!

2010-08-30T21:18:00.000-06:00

This is what greeted me on my front door after picking up my kids from Vegas. Not only did I pick up my kids, but I picked up my Divorce papers!! I'm officially divorced!!!! Once again my friend Misty gave me the greatest surprise ever!!! I love that lady :)

Stick it Notes:

Party

Psalms 122:7 (Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.)

Shake it!

U R Awesome

Look Out!

Kiss -n- Tell

HOT MAMA

Wahoo!!

Spicy

Congrats!

Super Woman

Cheers

Hottie on the Loose!

Freedom

Wink, Wink

Blessed with Best Friends Anyone Could Ever Ask For

2010-08-23T15:24:00.001-06:00

Survival Kit

Contents:

Marbles: to replace the ones you will lose
Shampoo: to wash that man right out of your hair
Rubber Balls: to help you "bound" back
Lifesaver Candy: for when you feel like you are drowning
Skittles Candy: to remind you that there is a rainbow at the end of every storm
Paper Clip: to help you hold it all together
Piece of String: when you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot to this and hang on
Eraser: to remind you that you can start all over with clean slate
Pack of Gum: to remind you that your friends will "stick" by you
Candle: to light up the dark times
Deodorant: so you don't have to keep those stinkin' "secrets" anymore
Lemon Heads: to remind you that "when life give you lemons, you make lemonade"
Tissues: to dry any tears that may come
A penny: to give you the extra cents (sense) to know which battles are worth fighting, and which are better ignored
Hugs: whenever you need them

Today, I received this gift from my friend Misty. I met Misty and her family about 2 months ago, they have become my family's lifesavers since we moved to Utah. The move was hard for my little family. With the changes that we have gone through, the Lord knew that we would not be able to get through this time without great friends.

I have so many friends in Vegas that have helped us get through the past year.

Many have suspected, but many don't know: Dusty and I are divorcing. We filed for Divorce Sept. 30, 2009 and the papers are finally on the judges desk.

This past year has been full of tears, heartache, fear of the unknown, and blessings from my Heavenly Father. I don't think I could ever put into words how much I love Heavenly Father for blessing me with the faith and strength to get through this. Along with the faith and strength he has given me so many friends that have stood by me, have given me their shoulders to cry on, and have cared for and loved my babies.

To all my friends and family who have stood by me and given me the strength--I thank you and my children thank you. I pray that I will be as good a friend as you have been to us. I love you all!!

Publish Post

Sleeping Babies

2010-07-17T16:38:00.000-06:00

All day today I tried over and over to get me children to take naps. The result: clothes pulled out of drawers, blankets pulled off beds, the little pitter patter of feet that could be heard downstairs. After 3:00 if they have not gone to bed then a nap is out of the question, it will be too late and they won't sleep until midnight tonight. Against my better judgement I put in the movie Spirit at 4:15 at 4:30 I get this:

Hard Work and Family Bonding

2010-04-18T18:56:00.000-06:00

I'm having trouble with placement of the pictures. As you can see below this was a lot of work and a lot of fun. The sprinklers work and the sand box is done, and there is a beautiful block wall. Of course don't forget cat #2 that I caught :)

My Backyard

2010-04-15T22:57:00.000-06:00

When I was first pregnant with Aspen, I knew a condo was not going to hack it. I needed a place that didn't have stairs and would be good for a little baby to run, grow, and have fun. I wanted nothing less than a yard. Long story short, we got a house with a huge bare backyard. It stayed bare for several, several, several months. Until we decided that we could start with some trees.

November 2007 we decided to start landscaping. We started with trees. We followed later with some bushes. The ground was hard and it took several days to dig holes deep enough for the trees and bushes.

Needless to say, we never got any further.

Fast forwarding to today, April 14, 2010. The second counselor in my ward has taken it upon himself to see that my little family has a place to play. With his help and with a lot of hard work we are transforming my backyard into a place that my children will be able to play and be safe.

Little piles of rock that need to be sifted to get the big stuff out and leave the little stuff behind.

Yes, this is the same little girl that is in the first pictures. Aspen has grown sooooo much!!!

Aspen wanted to help Mommy so I got her this little hoe to work along side me.

These are my beautiful, girly gloves. However, beauty does come with sacrifice, so even with the gloves I am now sporting four blisters.

The rocks that I sifted out with the sifty thing-a-bob.
The trench I'm starting to dig for the water lines, I will have more pictures tomorrow, from what I accomplished today :)
Some more before pictures, before the drastic change of more trenches. This area will be full of bark come tomorrow morning :) YAY!!! I am so thankful to the members in my ward that are taking their days off to help my little family.

The second counselor made this sand box, and we'll be putting sand in it tomorrow. I'm sooooo excited. I was able to sand and spray paint it so it is ready to go.

This is the cat that has been leaving me presents in the area that is going to be the sand box. Animal control was nice enough to lend me the trap and took Mr. Kitty away. Hopefully we can keep the new sandbox kitty litter free.

Head Shoulders Knees and Toes

2010-04-01T11:29:00.000-06:00

Don't pay attention to my lovely singing, it's all about the little boy!!

I'm a Winner!!!!!

2010-03-05T10:17:00.000-07:00

http://3boysandadog.com/2010/03/winners-rainbow-brite-cd-rom-sets/

Just so you all know, I know I'm behind on blogging. Life happens and we take it one day at a time. We are alive, I'll update you when I get two second :)

My little boy is Walking

2010-01-11T16:56:00.000-07:00

Big Helper

2009-12-05T20:38:00.001-07:00

This video is from Thanksgiving week/weekend. Aspen is such a big helper she knows how to set the table now. I just love this little girl.

My Little Boy Is ONE

2009-12-05T20:33:00.000-07:00

On November 20, 2008 a Star was Born!

On November 20, 2009 he turned ONE!!!

My friend Brooks made the Alligator cupcake(s).......

Santa

2009-12-05T20:18:00.000-07:00

This is our visit with Santa Clause. Aspen was petrified so Santa said I could hold her in my lap and sit on his lap so she wouldn't be so scared. Jayden was very curious as to what was going on and couldn't keep his eyes away from the man in the red suit. Now as to the white bow in my hair....Aspen had it on all morning and then just decided to take it off and say, "Mama's Turn" so there you have it. Unfortunately you can't see the tree, this was my contribution to the Ward Christmas Party.

My Little Elf

2009-12-05T20:05:00.000-07:00

I set up the Christmas tree after we had brought it home from the Ward Christmas Party where it had been used for family pictures and decoration for Santa. I hadn't planned on decorating this year, but Aspen kept saying, "Christmas Tree, Christmas Tree." Since the box was semi-opened I decided it wouldn't hurt to make my little girl happy. So I set it up, luckily it is pre-lit. However, when I plugged in the lights one strand wasn't working so I got frustrated and left to play on Face book. I had brought in all the Christmas decorations and left them in the middle of the living room. When I came out to check on Aspen she had already put several bulbs on the tree. Upon closer inspection I noticed that they didn't have the hooks on. She had painstakingly put them on Christmas lightbulbs to hang. My little girl is soooooo cute.

My Testimony

2009-11-25T01:30:00.000-07:00

I feel so strongly to sit and write my words. Whether for myself or for my children or for those seeking comfort. The past couple months I have had the opportunity to encounter adversity. I say the word opportunity because without adversity I would not be sitting here tonight feeling so strongly that the Lord is my Savior and that my Heavenly Father loves me SO much. So much that he sent his only begotten son into this world to suffer and die for my sins. I know with without a doubt that the Savior took upon himself the sins of this world and through the Atonement has made it possible for me to return back to Heaven and be in the presence of my Father in Heaven. The peace I feel knowing that my trials and tribulations will pass, and I know that these tribulations are part of life's great lessons. As President Henry B. Eyring states,

"The very opportunity for us to face adversity and affliction is part of the evidence of Their infinite love. God gave us the gift of living in mortality so that we could be prepared to receive the greatest of all the gifts of God, which is eternal life. Then our spirits will be changed. We will become able to want what God wants, to think as He thinks, and thus be prepared for the trust of an endless posterity to teach and to lead through tests to be raised up to qualify to live forever in eternal life."

"It is clear that for us to have that gift and to be given that trust, we must be transformed through making righteous choices where that is hard to do. We are prepared for so great a trust by passing through trying and testing experiences in mortality. That education can come only as we are subject to trials while serving God and others for Him."

"In this education we experience misery and happiness, sickness and health, the sadness from sin and the joy of forgiveness. That forgiveness can come only through the infinite Atonement of the Savior, which He worked out through pain we could not bear and which we can only faintly comprehend."

"It will comfort us when we must wait in distress for the Savior’s promised relief that He knows, from experience, how to heal and help us. The Book of Mormon gives us the certain assurance of His power to comfort. And faith in that power will give us patience as we pray and work and wait for help. He could have known how to succor us simply by revelation, but He chose to learn by His own personal experience."

I know that were it not for these trials and tribulations I would not feel the closeness that I do with my Heavenly Father and my Savior. To be able to kneel and pray and know that I am being listened to and that the feeling of peace can wrap around my whole being, a warm blanket comforting me in my times of need. My Heavenly Father has put me in a special place to be able to handle what is coming my way, I am not alone. I have my friends, I have my family and I am not as Job,

“My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

“And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

“Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.

“Thou art not yet as Job; thy friends do not contend against thee, neither charge thee with transgression, as they did Job.”

I know without a doubt that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church. I know that President Monson is a prophet called of God, to see us through these troubled times. I know that with the Lord's help there is nothing that we cannot accomplish. I feel the Savior's love, and I pray my children will feel his love and can look to me as an example and will continue on a path of righteousness, so they too may return back to our Heavenly Father. I pray that I will have the strength to continue to be the example they need me to be. I know I am not a true scholar when it comes to the scriptures or the Gospel, with faith I know that they are true. I pray that that you may feel the Savior's love and feel the peace that He so freely offers.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Lesson 41-Bookmarks

2009-11-15T09:08:00.001-07:00

I made these bookmarks for my sunbeam class. I will have them color them and then I will bring my little laminater in and laminate them so they can have a bookmark for reading the scriptures.

Humpty Dumpty

2009-11-04T21:29:00.000-07:00

Well my little Humpty-Dumpty had his own great fall. While doing a little Christmas shopping with my friend, Jayden was buckled in the two seater stroller and my little Houdini (or is it Copperfield) did a little escape move and end up head planting on the ground. My friend can testify that Jayden was securely fastened, but nothing man made can keep that little man grounded for long. So look closely at his forehead and you will see a nice bruise forming on my little man. Last week he was sporting a nice slice by his ear thanks to his little sister scratching him. The hard life of an active little boy.

This is Aspen's best friend. They have been friends since Aspen was 6 months old and Archer was 9 months old. Archer's younger sister is 3 months older than Jayden as well. I kept trying to keep up with my friend, but when she had her third one 10 months after her little girl I told her she was on her own:) They have a great relationship, Aspen bosses him and he says, "Okay."

A shot of Aspen and Mom at the mall.

I have a new filing system for my videos, it's called "Aspen and Jayden." As you can see the system requires all movies to be pulled off the shelves and out of their boxes.

Lions, Pirates and Poodle Skirts "Oh My!"

2009-11-01T16:29:00.000-07:00

Life has been hectic these past few months, but here are some pictures. I can't get them to work on Face book.

What happens when you leave sister's lunch out on a short table

Hanging Tight to Pirate's Booty

"Luke" and "Lady Pirate"

The Crazed candy Eyes

Quick Get the Candy before Mom changes her mind

Aspen did throw some big fits on Halloween, she woke up in one of those moods where she should have just stayed in bed. We went to a Halloween party and she seemed to calm down quite a bit once we got some sugar in her system. Jayden was having a blast, that little boy won't sit still for two seconds. After the Halloween party we went over to a neighbor's house for some pizza and then we did some trunk-or-treating with them at the church. The poodle skirt I'm wearing I borrowed from a dear friend that made it herself. We had so much fun. I can't believe that this was Aspen's 3rd Halloween, time is just flying. Jayden is starting to stand for longer period of times unassisted and has actually taken a few steps. He is saying "Uh-oh" and "hi" along with waving and clapping. Aspen's vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds. However it's pretty sad that when I put a movie in just by the different way Disney draws the castle in the title frame she can say what movie I put in, "No, not Bolt Mom" "No, not Nemo"

Jesus (Hey-Suse) and Susy

2009-09-07T22:08:00.000-06:00

Dear sweet romantic Jesus (Hey-Suse), 15, had the biggest crush on little Susy, 13, who was three lockers down. Jesus wanted to show his dying love for Susy so he scribbled a note to Susy asking if she would be his girlfriend. Susy had been dying for Jesus to ask her on a date, she just admired his accent and instantly replied yes. The next note Susy had found in her locker asked her if she would like to go hike Mt. Charleston with him on July 21, 2007? She was so happy she replied back with a yes and kissed her note with her bubble gum flavored lip gloss.

The big day arrived. Antsy and so excited because his mom had said she would drive the couple to Mt Charleston, Jesus arrived at Susy's driveway and his mom honked her horn. Susy opened the door and smoothed down her mini-skirt and did one last look down at her heeled-sandals to make sure that her outfit was perfect. It didn't matter that she would be hiking she wanted to look her best for her boyfriend. She was a little tired, because she had stayed up late the night before writing her future name, "Susy Sanchez", "Mrs. Susy Sanchez," and playing MASH to find out that she would be married to Jesus, honeymooning at The Best Western, and living in a shack in Mexico with 12 kids . She was going to be with Jesus for forever. Quietly they made their way to Mt. Charleston. Once in a while Mrs. Sanchez would break the silence with a question to Susy, but Jesus and Susy were content making eye contact every few minutes. Pulling into their destination, Mrs Sanchez reminded them to be careful and have fun, Jesus glared at his mom grabbed his backpack and hopped out of the car practically running up the trail. Susy scrambled out of the car and tried to catch up, only tripping once. They made the trek up the trail towards Little Falls. As they got closer Jesus pulled various items out of his backpack and there on the rocks declared his undying love to Susy. In big black and red hearts he wrote his name and hers. They would be forever. Shyly they held hands and kissed and then turned and went down the hill driving off into the sunset.

The next day Susy and Jesus broke up.

Please make note of said hearts in the pictures below. Forever ruining nature's beauty and our family photos!

My monkey:

Jayden is not taking after his sister, he has decided that he will be a climber. Aspen never really got into that stage, and to this day her idea of jumping is standing on a flattened movie case and slipping off of it. Not Jayden. After we hiked Mt. Charleston's Little Falls, with my oldest brother, Kevin, and his girls, we went to a wildlife perserve to walk around. Dusty placed Jayden on the sign while he read and Jayden proceeded to start climbing.

On Sunday we were laying around and Jayden climbed up on Aspen's rocking chair, not a care in the world, and with the biggest grin. He's going to give me a heart attack one of these days, and he's only 9 months old!!! What to do with little boys?

Water Heaters

2009-08-26T19:26:00.000-06:00

Sunday I came home and my water heater was leaking all over. I turned everything off and the next morning I made calls. The water heater was under warranty, but the cost to have a technician come and and replace our old one was $500 or more. Looking at home depot a new water heater was $700 and to have them install was $400. What's the point of having something under warranty if it costs so dang much to replace it? I got a hold of a wholesaler that told me I could get a new water heater for $50, for the handling fee if I gave sufficient proof that I had a water heater that was under warranty. I did and Dusty went and picked our new one up. How to install it? Our water heater sits up on a ledge and the gas line sits in the way of pulling it out, several calls to my Dad who happened to be working in Mesquite, a mere hour away, I begged and promised a lemon meringue pie. I also had to beg my mom, but he showed up and with determination and several supplies later I got my new water heater. I only had to boil water twice to do dishes:) However, I did stink a little bit without a shower and my kids were a little messy not being able to have their baths. But thanks to the water heater I got to get this cute shot of Aspen and Grandmark (that's what she calls her grandparents) getting ready for bed. And now she has a house to play in as well.
Jayden's second tooth has popped through, this is a good picture of his first tooth:)

Quick Name that Movie

2009-08-19T22:16:00.000-06:00

We got the movie Little Mermaid from a garage sale last week, and my daughter learned really quick the proper grooming techniques while dining out.

My Kids Don't Take Pacifiers?

2009-08-12T10:51:00.001-06:00

My children have never taken pacifiers, Aspen sucked her thumb all of one month when she was 2 months old. But it looks like weaning has its side effects. He needed this to take his nap today and now he's carrying it everywhere. Should I be worried, or is this just a toy for him?

Anniversary

2009-08-11T22:13:00.000-06:00

Dusty and I made it to our 5 year!! What did we do to celebrate? He is in Utah with his family and I'm here in Vegas trying to wean my teething baby and take care of a teething two year old.

Well it's 9:15 p.m. and I have not breastfed my baby since 10:00 this morning. We are on a roll. I have given him 3 sippy cups of breast milk and he actually drank some formula tonight when he woke up looking for some comfort nurse. I am quite excited. Jayden has not taken anything but breast milk straight from me. I have been on a short leash. I am sad at the same time I wasn't ready to wean my baby until at least a year, like Aspen. However, last week he decided to start biting, I thought I could get through it, however he drew blood. I was ready to wean him then, but I couldn't stick to it he was my baby. During the night last night during a comfort nurse he bit both sides. I woke up to two bleeding nipples. Needless to say I am not allowing for anymore nursing due to self preservation. My child has a very sharp tooth he got ahold of my index finger and got a good slice out of it. So please don't take pity on my child he has brought this on himself, due to his choices of turning to cannibalism.

True Story

2009-08-10T00:13:00.001-06:00

While conducting Music Time, the Music leader asked the junior primary, "Who is our new prophet?"

A young voice shouts from the back, "Obama!"

Aspen's Dentist Visit

2009-08-02T16:37:00.001-06:00

Aspen visited the dentist for the first time on Saturday. I have tosay how jealous I am of her. I had a nightmare visit and her visit consisted of:

She gets to sit on Mom's lap
She gets to watch cartoons
They baby talk her
Treat her like queen
She gets yummy flavored tooth paste
It took all of two seconds
She gets, "Her teeth are beautiful and white, no decay."

And the number one reason I'm jealous:

She gets a goody bag complete with toothpaste, toothbrush and a lip gloss necklace!!

Nightmare on Elm meets The Mask

2009-07-28T20:09:00.000-06:00

What do "Nightmare on Elm Street", "The Mask", and "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" have in common? They're DENTIST!

A trip to the dentist is a trip down nightmare lane. Nightmare on Elm Street move aside. Who would have thought that a civilization as advanced as ours still has to deal with the sounds of teeth drilling, grinding, and mouth stretching. Seriously if the dentist told me one more time to open my mouth wider I was going to take the grinder and show him where to grind it. Oh, and what is with the asking questions that are not answered with a yes or no, just to yell at you to open your mouth when you try to answer. How reassuring is it when he asks you several times if you are numb while drilling telling you not to move and if you feel anything raise your hand, not just any hand but your left hand. I guarantee if I were to feel something the last thing I’m going to think about is what hand is my left hand. I’m going to scream and kick some serious booty. And why can’t I go to a dentist that I can understand their accent. When I hear the word “close” from a dentist I’m going to assume he means my mouth, I had no clue the third word was “eyes”, silly me for misunderstanding. I think dentist have the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde complex. They may be sweet and caring, but as soon as that mask goes on, I hear the evil laughter escape from their lips. Those that sell candy are in on it, the Dentist give the candy makers a kick back for every patient that comes in with cavities. It’s an evil evil cycle. It doesn’t matter how much you brush your teeth because I swear they put sugar in your tooth paste. Oh and don’t get me started on mouth wash, I consider my tongue very sensitive, why the heck would I use a mouth wash that feels like liquid fire. Aargh, all this time that I’ve had a fetish for looking at people’s teeth has come back to me full circle. I will never again judge someone by the way their mouth looks, because from now on I’m on a dentist strike. They will never take me in again until my death bed; no man will look upon this mouth.

Until Thursday when I go in for my free teeth whitening. Hey I got to get something out of the $1,200 that the dentist just billed. Thank goodness for insurance.

**This blog does not represent the opinions of Kris Hughes on friends that are currently studying to be Dentist, however, I do pray for their souls that the mask does not take them**

Crawling, Teething, Fit Throwing and Family Reunions

2009-07-10T18:35:00.000-06:00

In my idiotic state of thinking, something I don't plan to do again in a long time, I volunteered to head a first ever Bob Groke Family Reunion. In my mind we are a happy go lucky family and how hard could this be???

The Goals:

To reunite my family to have a wonderful day of carefree fun.

To hear the sweet music of cousins laughing and playing and siblings reminiscing.

To have professional photos taken.

The Obstacles:

A sister that lives in Spokane, WA

A brother going to Med school in Salt Lake City

A brother in St. George

Myself in Vegas

Two sisters in Cedar

A Mom that works

A Dad that works

Small budgets

And my husband's sacred Bundy Family Reunion

Sibling rivalry

Who's going to do the photography

The Outcome:

After many phone calls and much complaining to my husband a lovely family reunion took place on the third.

On Friday, the reunion started early. I chose to go with Natasha, http://photographyalamode.blogspot.com/, she had done a great photo shoot with my kids and she was very inexpensive. We met in St. George and had a great time photographing everybody, the pictures I have posted below are of my dad's camera, I will post Natasha's when I receive them. That's another great thing about Natasha, I get the CD and can do whatever I want with them. It is great!!! After the pictures we played in the water area near the St. George tabernacle. After that we went to my Aunt and Uncles house in Santa Clara and played in their pool and had a potluck. All in All it was a great day and it ran very smoothly. When we were tired out we went back to New Harmony and helped my Dad put together his new swing set he had bought for all his grand kids. Dusty and I went on a date, to yummy Pizza Factory in Cedar and went to Walmart to get a real present, Dusty is now officially married to me. He now wears a wedding band, and I must admit it looks very sexy!!!!!!

My sister drove up with her three kids from Spokane and her husband, Duane flew down to Vegas to drive up with my husband. I went to Spokane earlier in the week to hang out with Anngela, since I hadn't seen in her in a year and a half, and had yet to meet her beautiful daughter. We went camping in the beginning of the week where everyone was able to meet up on Cedar Mountain (excluding Dusty and Duane-they didn't come until Thursday night). I roughed it one night on the mountain but after a sleepless night with two screaming kids I left the next night to sleep in the comfort of my parents house. On Thursday, yes my lovely birthday, I took off with my mom, my sisters and my sister-in-law to see the movie Proposal, it was my second time (and I loved it just as much as the first time). My mom was sobbing because she had always wanted to do something like that with all of us girls, she just blubbered (see the movie Saturday's Warriors for reference). Dusty had come with Duane just in time for me to leave Aspen with him. His birthday present to me left him in hot water, it included a card that said I was the best (no I love you) and a printed off coupon book good for 5 dog walks, we don't own a dog. But at least I had fun at the movies.

On Saturday Dusty took Aspen to the Bundy reunion, he was not going to miss that worth anything and they stayed until Sunday night. The rest of us went to New Harmony's Fourth of July Celebration. Parades and yummy food. I can't say enough how gorgeous New Harmony is!!! We went back to St. George and watched fireworks after dinner at Kevin's and Megs. I didn't leave until Monday night, I couldn't fathom coming back to Vegas after being in paradise. I actually was able to get off my lazy butt and work, and I loved it. My dad changed my oil in exchange I mowed his beautiful back lawn and helped do the finishing touches to a swing set, and thinned apples from his trees. I love being outside there, and then I come back to Vegas.....

I know there are more pictures out there, but I didn't have a camera, I left it with Dusty. So if any of my siblings have pictures they would care to share with me please send them my way:) Thanks!!!!

Casualties

2009-07-07T00:03:00.000-06:00

My little man went from sitting up on his own to crawling like a caterpillar, up on all fours slam down to belly, up to all fours slam down to belly, to actually crawling everywhere. Our blinds are not safe, they have suffered many casualties since his new found freedom. A video will be posted at a later date.

Guess What??

2009-06-27T00:49:00.000-06:00

My baby brought himself to the sitting position from his tummy, all on his own!!

Indoor pools and Water Slides

2009-06-22T22:37:00.000-06:00

As many of you know I have come into some money from a wealthy relative. I must admit it was great hearing that out of all my family I was chosen to receive this inheritance from a person I didn't even know. I have always dreamt what I would do with so much money and now the chance to live my dreams out has come true. I have decided that with Vegas' unforgiving sun its hot dry summers that a pool is not a bad idea. Dusty and I have had many conversations about having a pool, and to tell you the truth it scared the begezzies out of me. With young children it isn't very good to have a pool that they could fall into without me knowing. My way around this little dilemma was to have a pool in an area that I had constant supervision over. I am in my living room 99.9% of the time, the other .1% is spent in the bathroom. So I came up with the brilliant plan of building a pool in our living room. Yes it seems a bit unorthodox, but it is one of the biggest rooms in my house, and there would be constant supervision. Since I have inherited so much money I was able to put a rush on the job, and show you the completed project.

The instructions for the pool states:

The ground surface must be compacted and firm enough to withstand the pressure and weight of a fully set up pool. Do not set up the pool on mud, sand, soft or loose solid condition, deck, platform, concrete, asphalt or any other hard surfaces.

Which translates into, do not place pool in my backyard. So the living room was the best I could get.

Okay so I didn't get an inheritance, but the dream is still there, if there is a rich family member out there that is reading my blog please don't forget about me. Heck, you don't even have to be family to send money my way, I'll take real good care of it I promise:) Since I didn't receive an inheritance I had to stick with a blow-up pool, minus the manual hand pump, so I even had to use up all my hot air. Wanting to stay out of Dusty's hair so he could work, I ignored the pool's instructions and moved the pool outdoors, the kids loved it.

Especially after I added the water slide.

Warm Springs

2009-06-14T22:01:00.001-06:00

This weekend several families from the ward traveled to warm springs. Other than going camping and removing all the items from the van only to find you forgot your tent, meaning that your family of four now gets to sleep cozily in your van. And besides the fact that at 1:00 in the morning the sprinklers come on and start blasting away at the side of your vehicle and another vehicle, and you jump out to save your items that you had removed from your van only to get sprayed full blast by sprinklers. And not mentiong the fact that it later rained. It was a very fun and uneventful trip.

It was much more exciting than Dusty's 10 year class reunion. Whoever invented those things, really didn't know what they were doing. What is the purpose of the reunion? Let's re-live the nightmare of highschool. Let's see all the people that were popular football players are now overweight and balding, no one remembered who the prom queen was, and who was the lead cheerleader. We didn't care in highschool why would we care 10 years later. We spent $30 on spaghetti, yes it was good, but so is my spaghetti that I can buy for less than a $1. Word to the wise, forget the highschool reunions they are just plain dumb:)

On a happier note. Since my son is sitting up now he has moved to sitting up in the cart and he loves it. I recently purchased a costco card and they have double seats. He loved it. Aspen put her arm around him throughout the store and when it wasn't around him they were holding hands. My children are the best, I love them completely!!! And I'm so excited because I get to have professional pictures taken of them, for free, yes my faithful readers, I won the photo shoot:)

My son has started to rock on his knees, he will be crawling very very soon:)

Photo Shoot Giveaway

2009-06-05T17:35:00.000-06:00

The last and only time I've had professional pictures taken was when my two year old was 7 months old. I now have a 6 month old. So yes I am trying to win another contest:) One day I will win, I see the heaven's opening up now.

http://photographyalamode.blogspot.com/2009/06/photo-shoot-giveaway.html

Ode to Brain Cells

2009-06-04T17:12:00.000-06:00

I have decided that as much as I love Heavenly Father, he can do cruel tricks sometimes, I think he gets a little bored in Heaven. (I say this looking out the window hoping that I don't get struck down by lightening). I say this because after having two kids I have absolutely no brain cells left in my little noggin. Upon talking to other women with children they seem to be in the same predicament. So the way I see it, Heavenly Father sends these beautiful children down to earth to us, and he knows that they are beyond cute and figures that it would be entirely too easy for us to raise them with the knowledge that we had up to the point of pregnancy. So to mix things up, and to add a little humor, each of month of pregnancy along with each month the child is old he sneakily takes away the brain cells until we are eventually are able to laugh at a child sticking raisins up their noses letting them get stuck until they rehydrate and turn into grapes (true story, happened to one of my friends), or we start counting the days when our child last poops and are truly excited when they have a blow out. What about when we start leaving the house and stop looking at the mirror, ignorant of the fact that are shirt is covered with burgers, snot, throw up, and yes even poop. Before pregnancy I would have freaked out at the thought of being peed on, now it's an every day occurrence, and it doesn't really even bother me. Seriously, if we had all our brain cells in tact and were acting the way we used to before children would we really be able survive these years......I don't know where I'm going with this but I just keep thinking that I really would love to have my memory back. I would like to have conversations with people without my mind totally drawing a blank right in the middle of it. However, at the same time I wouldn't give up the poopy diapers or the slobbery kisses for anything.

Alright speaking about being excited for poop, my son has been dealing with constipation and I count the days for a poo. A nurse has given advice:

1. Prune juice...doesn't work, my son only takes breast milk from the breast.

2. Bath with 2 Oz of Baking Soda, supposedly helps their bum to relax and poop, didn't work but my son had fun, I was soaked by the time he was done, and Aspen wanted a bath with him too. After a little while of being is the same mixing bowl, she wanted her own and her favorite grandpa consented

3. Last but not least was the suppository, once again the whole brain thing applies. When did I ever think I was going to place something in someones bum and not get grossed out by it. That did work but for extra measure we gave him just a little root beer flavored laxative (he did spit it out, but with grandpa's help we got some in. And I was SO excited to get poop:)

As you can tell during this we were hanging out in Utah. I love New Harmony, it is absolutely gorgeous. That is Zion! The weather was perfect and Aspen, Jayden, and I were able to be outside. While there we fed the horses and visited Aspen's Great Grandma and Grandpa. Aspen, Jayden, and I had traveled up with my brother-in-law who was picking up his van that he bought from Mike's Auto Shack (Car Auction Guy), and Dustin traveled down on the weekend to spend the weekend and the holiday. We were able to help Grandpa outside. Aspen was such a big help. But there were times that Aspen just got plum wore out.

This past week Jayden has started to sit up by himself. He still falls every once in a while, but for the most part he does really good. Aspen is get more and more addicted to T.V. So I finally killed the main power switch and told her absolutely no more T.V. Today has been the first day and she hasn't watched it once, course I went to the library and picked up some Dora movies among others, I figure she can watch 1 movie a night. But I won't put it in until she asks (which I'm sure she will).

Okay so I just went to investigate, it's a little too quiet.....Dad is watching a movie with Aspen, well there's her movie for the night *sigh*

I had to post this, he always has a grin on his face. Isn't he adorable.

Jayden sitting up on his own.

This is Aspen with Gel in her hair. Grandma wanted to do a post about curly hair.

http://deannasdoings.blogspot.com/2009/05/only-her-hair-dresser-knows-for-sure.html

Okay now almost a week has past I will post my confession for all to see, it still nags at me. This is the true sign of lost brain cells.

Last weekend we all went and ran some errands, Dusty needed to find a replacement for something and so we went to Walgreen's. While there we didn't find what we wanted so we were leaving and Aspen saw bubbles, and had to have bubbles. I must confess, I do spoil her sometimes when I go shopping, besides they were only .79. So I went to the check out and I saw Dusty walk out with Jayden and Aspen, or so I thought. When I finished paying I walked out the door and to the car, Dusty asked "Where's Aspen." Stupidly I looked around, thought he was teasing me, "She's not with you." "No." We both immediately started towards the store, a lady walked out not looking very happy with my little girl in front of her, "Is this your baby?" Needless to say I cried for a while after that, I didn't forget my girl I thought Dusty had her. We learned our lesson that day, never assume anything. What kind of mom was I?

The day before all this happened I returned home from an outing and had Jayden in his baby carrier on my arm. I went to go take him off my arm and place him on the floor, don't ask me how but somehow I ended up missing him and throwing him to the floor (yes he was still buckled in the carrier) but it still scared him and I'm sure it didn't feel good either.

So there are my two confessions to all you mom's out there. I am human, I do make mistakes. So when you are feeling down and you feel that your brain cells are gone, don't worry they are gone for a reason and you probably won't get them back. Just thank the Lord everyday for our precious children, and ask him for his help in raising them in one piece.

My Big Brother

2009-05-31T19:03:00.000-06:00

I have felt for some time now that I needed to pay tribute to someone very dear to me, okay so that sounds really mushy, but that's what you get from someone that is still unsure of their mood swings:)

My big brother, Kevin, is the biggest sweetheart you'll ever meet. All growing up I remember him being my favorite sibling. Only once do I remember him ever getting mad, and the one time that he did get mad I truly feared for my life:) I learned a valuable lesson in life that day, never ever ever kick a boy in the unmentionables--I came to regret it when I looked into the wild eyes of a boy ready for revenge. I also learned that day to make sure that there aren't any hangers around:) In all fairness to him, he didn't lay a hand on me, or a hanger, he got his wits about him and told me in a semi-high voice that you don't do that to boys.

My brother would be the first to give someone a shirt off his back. He's always making those around him laugh and making them feel like they are the most important person. I have never seen him treat his wife with anything but respect and his children adore him. I know if I were to take a poll among my siblings he would rank the highest as the most understanding and best big brother any of us could ever ask for.

I love you Kevin. Don't ask me why I did this, I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate all you do for us and how much we love you.

I'm Famous!

2009-05-29T12:34:00.001-06:00

http://kaycesdoulajourney.blogspot.com/2009/05/pregnant-bellies.html

I LIVE!!

2009-05-27T23:08:00.000-06:00

Okay so I haven't posted in a long long time.....

Aspen has had her 2nd birthday, Jayden is 6 months old, another mother's day come and gone, and I'm blond again:)

I haven't posted in forever because Dusty's new job dominates my computer and I don't have access like I would like to.

Jayden's 6 month check up results from today:

Weight: 14 LBS 7 OZ (5th Percentile)
Height: 25 (5-10 Percentile)
Temperature: 98.0
Head Circum: 41 (Less than 3rd Percentile)

Aspen's 2 Year Well-Check

Weight: 22 (3rd Percentile)
Height: 32 3/4 (10 - 25 Percentile)
Temperature: 97.1
Head Circum: 47 (25-50th Percentile)

Jayden's rolling and getting more mobile, Aspen's new phrase "Stop it!" or "Stop it now!" She has stopped saying Grandpa and instead says "Marka". I have given in and cut Aspen's bangs so now she can see when she pulls her pony tails out, however, I cut them again tonight and have gone a little too short, oops, they grow out right:) Jayden has refused to eat anymore babyfood and is sticking to breastfeeding, ugh, but thanks to baby food I am now dealing with him being constipated.

Bound to Win

2009-04-20T10:07:00.000-06:00

Okay, I keep trying, but here it goes again:)

http://themeanestmom.blogspot.com/2009/04/mothers-day-giveaway.html

Now onto dirtier subjects.....yesterday Aspen made a poop in the toilet. I say "a poop" because it was just a pebble. I was so excited for her. I think I confused her though. Because she proceeded to fill her diaper with poop two more times within a matter of minutes after the potty incident. How do you tell your daughter that I'm excited about the potty not the poopy?

She is taking up words left and right. Now is the time we really have to watch what we say or it will bite us in the butt when she goes to Nursery and starts saying words we don't want her to say:)

Jayden has taken up rice cereal as of this weekend. My little boy is growing up.

San Diego or Bust

2009-04-14T07:37:00.000-06:00

It was official, after many months of worrying, Wachovia let Dusty go after 6 years of hard work on March 31st. However, he began a new job on April 6th. On April 5th he flew from the Las Vegas Airport to San Diego and took a shuttle to the Country Inn & Suites. He then spent the next week training. He is some kind of Appraisal Reviewer, it still is a mystery to me what he actually does. I was left that week to my own defenses, not a big deal except for the tantrums that my lovely daughter is getting so good at throwing. Does anybody have any suggestions on how to stop ear splitting screaming? I don't mind the crying but I have to put a stop to that screaming it really kills the ears. Back to the story at hand, we kept ourselves busy with Easter Egg Hunts, Play dates, and hanging with the neighbors. Aspen and I still missed her daddy.

On Wednesday night my parents drove my sister, MaLynda to Vegas so she could help me drive around the scary California roads. On Thursday morning, around 6:00 MaLynda, Aspen, Jayden and I drove to sunny California (I say this tongue in cheek, I have yet to be there when it was sunny). The drive wasn't bad at all Jayden slept all the way until Riverside, about 4 hours, we stopped used the restrooms and continued on our journey. By then the kids were gettting a little tired of being couped up, to let it be known so was I. We made it to San Diego, which is amazing seeing how much I dreaded the thought of driving in California, and drove straight to Dusty's work. It wasn't quite his lunch time so we just kissed him hello and then found the hotel. After getting some rest and eating some PBJ's we took off to the sandy beaches of sunny California.

We ended up in La Jolla. It was pretty, except for the seals that lined the shores, I am going to have to say they are not very pretty when they sun bathe. I think they look better in the water. I guess this was their pupping grounds. After watching them for a little bit, we walked down to the water. Aspen did not have to be told twice, she saw me scream when the water came up and hit me and from then on she screamed every time the water came up, she was loving it! I didn't get her swimming suit on and before you know it she was completely drenched. At one point she fell all the way in, I had to stand behind her while trying to get her up because the current kept pulling her. Poor MaLynda's camera got wet as we tried to get her up. Aspen didn't seem to care, that just gave her more incentive to get wet. Notice her never ending smiles in the pictures. Meanwhile, Jayden just hung out in the Mai Tei taking it all in. After a while of being wet, poor little Aspen was shivering, it was time to brave the fit and take her to dry land, she wasn't happy, and MaLynda had to carry her getting herself soaked, diapers don't hold water from the outside very well, it doesn't matter what brand you have.

Once again our poor children found themselves locked up in the car. I have not mentioned this before but Jayden, HATES being in the car. So having an unhappy baby and toddler we tried finding our way back to the hotel. It took us a little bit because we seemed to take a wrong turn and ended up on the wrong freeway. After a little bit of frustration we found the right road and went back to the motel, only to meet up with Dusty and his coworkers and get back in the car and go back to La Jolla for dinner. In La Jolla they have these cows all over the place that are painted. I guess they are a fund raiser, they are posted all over and then they are auctioned off. One of Dusty's coworkers said they did this back in his hometown and one went for $50,000, I think that's what he said. We got to the restaurant, however Jayden got hungry and trying not to make Dusty uncomfortable in front of his coworkers I hiked back to the van from the restaurant and fed the baby (times like this I really don't like breastfeeding). After dinner Dusty drove and we found ourselves lost again, we would have been okay if Dusty would have turned around when I asked but his words were, "I don't turn around I go left or right." We ended up getting home an hour later with a very mad Jayden.

Friday we enjoyed the really good continental breakfast and piled back in the car. We went to the USS Midway, tide pools (those were a bust), and then a mall which was once again in La Jolla. We were a bit tired when we got back to the hotel. We found Dusty got back in the car and went to PF Changs and then we went to the San Diego Temple. I stayed in the car with Jayden because as soon as we got out of the car it started raining, and I must admit since moving to Las Vegas I have become a pansy for cold weather.

Saturday we went to Sea World. Aspen loved it. When we saw the Dolphin and Shamu show she kept asking, "Where'd it go" and when it popped out of the water she would scream. She kept getting dirty looks but I wasn't going to discipline my child for having fun. When we first got there we saw Big Bird and Elmo and got our pictures taken with them. Big Bird tried to get close to Aspen, she was fine until he got his beak right in her face, she freaked out, it was pretty sad. We also got to see some pretty big Clydesdales. Sea World wasn't as fun as I remembered from when Dusty and I went there on our Honeymoon, course it was a lot colder Saturday and we didn't go on rides. MaLynda and Dusty went on one but it was at the very end, and there were so many people. Aspen did love the children's play area. There was a water pad-a-ma-thing that shot up water and she got drenched. I'm surprised she didn't get pnemonia. After that we packed up the kids and headed home. We got home at midnight after having to stop and try to get Jayden asleep because he just screamed and screamed. He's a really good baby but he really hates the car.

(Notice her hands, this is her asking, "Where'd it go?")

Aspen screaming with excitement

Sunday, the Easter bunny visited and got baskets for Aspen, Jayden and MaLynda. We were only a tad bit late for church. Much to Jayden's delight right after church we headed to St. George to bring MaLynda back and to visit family. It was fun we got to see the St. George Tabernacle and Aspen got to play in Water again. She also got to go on an other egg hunt. We left St. George only to get a call that we had forgot my purse, we got the call in the Gorge, we can't turn around until you are halfway through. Jayden cried the whole time. We got back to my brothers and stayed for a couple hours and put Jayden asleep then we tried it again. This time Jayden and Aspen slept the whole way home. Needless to say, I won't be traveling for a while. At least not until next time.

Easter Time

2009-04-07T17:17:00.001-06:00

EASTER EGGS

On Sunday we went over and colored eggs with our neighbors. Their son is three months older than Aspen and they have a daughter three months older than Jayden, and have another one on the way, no I'm not following their example on the last one. They are on their own. Anyway, Aspen and her friend (no names to protect the innocent) love each other. They play very well since they have been playing together since Aspen was 6 months old. Aspen had a lot of fun actually coloring her eggs as opposed to sticking them in the dye. It was pretty fun.

THE HUNT

Today we had playgroup with my ward. I went with my neighbors and hid the eggs while they helped to watch Aspen and Jayden. My neighbor's father-in-law is moving to Vegas and is really good with the kids. We just call him Grandpa so as not to confuse the kids.
He had to help with the see-saw because the little boy weighs a good deal more than my little girl (she is wearing 6/9 month shorts).

When it came to finding the eggs, we didn't have to tell Aspen twice how to do it. It was pretty funny though, when she first started she would pick up an egg, put it in her basket and then she would bend over to pick up another one and the first one would fall out. I'm sure she thought she was making bank with all the eggs she was picking up, even though it was the same one over and over:) I finally took pity and helped her out some. As you can tell I can never get a face shot of my daughter, I don't think they make cameras fast enough. She is always on the go.

Jayden just hung out the whole time, he loved watching the kids. He eventually fell asleep. Isn't he just too cute.

Those Windy Days

2009-04-07T16:54:00.000-06:00

On April 3, 2009 (I know I'm a little behind) it was extremely windy. It might as well have been tornado weather, not quite but close enough. So I took pictures to give some people an idea of what to do on a windy day....

Go through Mom's DI pile (Stuff I'm giving away) and cover it on top of little unsuspecting brother.

Get your hair done (for the second time that day) for lunch

Help Mom rotate food storage

Take Naps

Eat raw eggs in the form of very yummy cookie dough

Get rid of some pent up energy

Milestone

2009-04-06T10:51:00.000-06:00

Last time Jayden rolled over it was front to back. Today he just did back to front. When I told the Dr. at his last apt. she said he's two months ahead of schedule. Yeah Jayden!!!

Swimsuit Body

2009-03-30T23:43:00.001-06:00

Okay, once again I'm trying to win.......so here I am trying to get another chance. I'd like to get a new swimsuit, the last time I was in one was when I was very pregnant with Jayden. Now I must show off my very sexy body:)

http://themeanestmom.blogspot.com/2009/03/swimsuit-giveaway.html

The Mystical Creature

2009-03-29T07:52:00.000-06:00

This story takes place many years ago, the time when a man, who was missing one rib, roamed the earth. Created from the dust and generously giving his rib to create a woman for his loneliness. A man, we will call Adam, and a woman, Eve, ate a forbidden fruit. Their punishment? Cast from the land of Eden and made to produce children.

At first this the only punishment seemed to be that they were no longer able to dwell in the land of Eden. They could no longer pet the lions or play with the rattlesnakes. And the most awful, they could no longer speak with their father in a face to face meeting. Those were the punishments, but producing children?

After living on their own for several days, weeks and months. A curious thing began to happen to Eve. She started to gain weight. At first it was gradual, but then it came at a increasingly alarming rate.

Adam concerned with his wife, and the fact that he could no longer put his arms around his beloved exclaimed, "Eve, are you feeling well. Should we go on a walk, perhaps a 3 mile run?"

Eve weeped, which she seemed to be doing more and more, "Oh Adam, do you not love me anymore? Do these leaves make my butt look big?"

Adam, not quite learned in his responses, "Yeah, your butt looks big. You never answered my question. Do you want to go for a run?"

Eve, busily throwing up, "I really don't feel like running anywhere except to the latrine. If I were to start running now I would pee my fig leaves."

For nine months this conversation seemed to fill their time. They were at a loss to what was happening to Eve. They just chalked it up as a late allergic reaction to the forbidden fruit that Eve was so happy to eat. Just when Even didn't think she could bare it any longer. The sleepless nights the sharp pains in her ribs, what she wouldn't do to give Adam back his rib to have one less ache and pain. She was also dealing with the constant back aches. One night she felt a gush of water run down her legs. "Aw, now I have to go change my leaves." Starting to rise, she immediately bet back down with extreme pain. She was frightened, sure this was not a good thing.

"Adam!" She screamed.

Adam, sleeping peacefully, "Quiet, can't you see I'm trying to sleep?"

"Adam, this is all your fault. If you would have been with me instead of swimming with the piranhas I would never have eaten that forbidden fruit and I wouldn't be in this pain. It is all your fault. I hate you! Take it back now!" Other names that can't be mentioned streamed out of Eve's mouth. Adam was confused, he had never heard his sweet woman utter such foul language. He was really regretting the forbidden fruit now.

Adam, now fully awake jumped up and screamed, "Eve, there is something coming between your legs. That can't be normal." Promptly he fainted. Eve in extreme pain felt the urge to push. Push she did. Out shot a curious looking being. Not knowing why, but Eve felt a strong attachment and knew that she would love it forever, and would call it her child, it would be named Cain. Adam woke from his faint, and felt a strong urge to protect his family. The months and years went by. Cain learning to roll in the dirt, and crawl, walk and talk. He was a joy in their lives. However, when the moon had set and the sun had risen a million times, two years to be exact, Cain seemed to change overnight. He turned into a mystical creature.

Adam and Eve could not put their finger on it. They just could not seem to figure out what this child had turned into. He screamed for everything, they tried to assure him that they could hear just fine, but it was no use. When he did not get what he wanted when he wanted he would do this miraculous stunt of throwing himself to the ground. Kicking his feet and pulling his hair. Often times Adam and Eve had to plug their ears the screaming would get so loud. They knew for sure that this was the ultimate punishment that they would receive for eating the forbidden fruit. A punishment that would be handed down for generation to generation regardless of:

"We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression."

This was the Lord's way of being sure that men would obey. For the child mysteriously turned into a mystical evil creature at the age of two. Man's job was to learn how to deal with this child for a whole year. To this day no one knows what to make of the mystical creature, because during this time, they are no longer a child but something entirely different. When, not if, you find yourself approaching this time than the only advice that I can give you. "Pray my child, for you are in for the long hall."

A Note from the Author:
It is the popular opinion after reading this story that I am mad at my daughter. There can be nothing further from the truth. I am a Creative Writing minor, and I saw a chance at a story and I expanded on it. I love my daughter, and yes she is approaching the Terrible Two's, but we will get through it.

The World's Worst......

2009-03-25T23:36:00.000-06:00

Warning: This is not for those that want a Up-Lifting Story.

Here I sit at 10:37 at night after being up since 6:00 in the morning watching 2 two-year olds, a 6 month old and my own almost 2 year old and 4 month old. In other words I am Tired, with a capital T. So why am I writing this? Because I can't sleep because I've been the world's worst...

SISTER:

My brother and his wife welcomed there little son Skylar into the world last week, and I haven't even called to say congrats. I don't even know his middle name. How awful am I. I sit here writing it, because it's too late to call. I can't do anything about it tonight. It makes me sick that I've sunk that low that I can't even see anyone past my own nose lately.

My sister called and it's her birthday on Sunday and she's having a little dinner. I thinking of all the reasons I want to go, and the reasons why I can't go. It shouldn't matter, she's made everything important in my life. Since when do I put family down at the bottom of the list? It doesn't matter that I've been working on her birthday present for a good 2 months, it matters that I see her for her birthday. But will I?

I call and bug my other sister on a daily basis sometimes several times a day because I miss her (brownie point for me), however, I always bug her to come visit me, giving her the guilt trip when she can't. But how many times have I made the trip just to visit her? Once. I can't even count on two hands how many times she's made the trip to Vegas. I can't count times that I've been to Utah and seen her. I can only count when I've made the trip to Cedar and stayed at her house, oh wait I just remembered one, so I've been twice.

For all the times I've been in St. George last month staying at my in-laws who live five minutes away (I've timed it) from my brother, I've only been to my brothers house once in that time.

Daughter

My parents make it a point to call on every body's birthday and anniversary and sing to them. So that has become tradition in our family for everybody to do the same thing. My parents anniversary came and went on the 17th (St. Patrick's Day). They had a great day, every one of their kids called, oh wait not me. As you will soon see a running theme in this blog, I forgot. They called me the next day and mentioned how they loved hearing from their children on their anniversary, so they let me sing to them a day late. Sorry Mom and Dad.

Mom

I don't change my son every time he wakes up at night....my reasoning, he's not really awake, he just is hungry.

I bribe my daughter with smarties and t.v. for some alone time

I have eaten out/ordered in food once a week now for the past 3 weeks.

I went to CVS pharmacy right before Jayden's Dr. Appointment and picked up Tri-Vi-Sol and gave some to Jayden. That way when the Dr. asks if I've been giving it to him (like she's done at every other appointment) I could say yes.

I only do my daughters hair once a day. She looks awful after nap time. Today she didn't have a nap but she played outside in the wind and dirt. I took her to Smith's with me on my way to pick up pizza, and she looked like...well she didn't look very well kept. In all fairness to me, I looked as good as she did. It just happened to look worse because the first thing that greeted us as we walked into Smiths was a well groomed father and a little girl (about 6) with a bow in her hair nice clean blue shirt and clean slacks, and a little boy (about 3 or 4) with a collared shirt all tucked in nice and neat. Did I feel awful then.

Friend

I have a friend that moved from Cedar to Henderson recently, my husband just reminded me that it has been 6 months. She has been on my side of town twice, just to visit me. How many times have I been to see her? Zip. I am awful, awful. I still love you!

Visiting Teacher

Here I sit and it's the end of the month and I have yet to call and schedule to visit teach the sisters in my ward. One recently had a new baby and I haven't gotten anything for her. I told my partner 3 weeks ago that I would call and set something up, and I totally and completely forgot. I've become the person I can't stand, I say I'll do something and I don't follow through.

Home Taught Family

Our home teacher made an appointment on the 1st to come see us on the 8th. Of course we said it would be great and even invited the whole family. The 8th came around and I get a call on my cell phone asking where were we? "In Utah" As soon as I heard his voice it dawned on me, I forgot all about them coming. And this following him telling us we were his easiest family to home teach (Brooks tell Josh how sorry I am.)

Misc.

I got a call from a sister in our ward in charge of food storage. I had ordered some powdered eggs and imitation ham and they had come in. I told her I would be by her house to pick them up that afternoon. A week later she called me, points for me as soon as I heard her voice I immediately remembered what I should have remembered the week before.

Same sister, different week. I was out weeding since we had gotten a nasty gram from our HOA about having a jungle of weeds in our front yard. Regardless of what people say about Vegas being a desert and my black thumb, we can still grow weeds. Sorry I digress. I was out weeding and Dusty took the call. He told me later that she had called to see if I would say the opening prayer at church on Sunday. For those that don't know, this completely terrifies me. Several months ago Dusty had told me that I was asked to give the closing prayer and he said that I would. I broke down in tears, I couldn't do it. I cried all day that day, that night he proceeded to tell me he was joking. So when he told me this I knew he wouldn't dare joke twice about that. He told me that he had told her I probably wouldn't do it. He told me that she said she would call back. The good me wanted to call her back, but the evil me kept saying that she would call me back if she wanted me to do it. She never called, and I didn't either. The next day at church I picked up a program just to make sure I wasn't saying the prayer. I wasn't. But when closing prayer came and no one was getting up to say the prayer my heart was beating very wildly, luckily the person whose name was on the program to give the prayer went up to the front she was just pausing for my benefit, I just know it.

The sister whose been mentioned twice under this category is one of the ladies I'm supposed to visit teach.

Well I think I've gotten the worst stuff off of my chest. For today anyway. If I have wronged you in any way please let me know. And I will follow up on a blog for you. I don't mean to be the worst, so please don't take offense if I have wronged you.

The Numbers Don't Lie

2009-03-23T20:30:00.000-06:00

It was Jayden's 4 month check-up today.

My Tiny Little Boy:

Weight: 12 Lbs 8 Oz. (5-10%)

Height: 23 1/4 (3-5%)

Temp: 99.3

Head Circum: 39 (<3%)

Yes my children are petite, but they are so cute!

Oh the Excitement

2009-03-22T22:11:00.000-06:00

I am a posting fool:)

Today on my way to my way to Uncle Gary's the weather was horrific. Say goodbye to the nice spring weather and hello winter freezing cold weather. I don't know what it is about drivers in Vegas, but when the weather is anything other than sunny the driving goes south. Not that Vegas is well known for it's driving abilities and that's why I pay out the wazoo for insurance-but that's not what this post is about. Anyway we were dodging traffic left and right, literally. One guy was pulling a trailer of stuff and stopped in the middle of the road because he had lost some stuff off the trailer and ran back to get it so traffic was pulling into our lane, so we were dodging them and then not a half mile later, we were dodging traffic to the right, another car was stopped in the middle of road and those cars were again pulling into our lanes. Between cars slowing down and speeding up we were not having a fun trip. We commented on how when we go to Gary's on Sundays there is always excitement. Little did we know, traffic was the least of our worries.

I looked over to my left and yelled, "Dusty's there's a fire"

Dusty quickly did a u-turn and pulled into the parking lot of a senior citizen home. We noticed a gold car slowly driving by the fire so pulled out Dusty's cell phone as I watched the smoke billowing in front of the building. There were two people not ten feet away and were smoking that hadn't even noticed it yet (duh). I jumped out of the car and the lady that had been in the gold car came up to me and said I don't have a phone there's a fire, I was on the phone with 911 dispatcher and asked the smokers what the address was. The told me and I gave it to the dispatcher and she stated it had not been called in yet and said there would be fire fighters immediately. I went into the building and asked for a fire extinguisher and the lady at the desk looked at me stunned. "There's a fire, the fire department is on there way, but I need a fire extinguisher." She didn't know where one was, in the mean time a little old lady hooked up to an oxygen tank in a wheel chair asked, "What's going on." I told her there was a fire. The front desk lady called for someone on the intercom and took off I took it upon myself to find a fire extinguisher. I found one in one of the hallways and tried to open the door, it was locked. Then the fire alarms went off. One of the smokers was behind me and when the alarms went off we was able to open the case and grab the extinguisher he went out and proceeded to put the fire out. Just then the fire department showed up. It had been a bush, but it was a terribly windy day and who knows what damage that could of caused. The little old lady from the gold car and told Dusty that her husband was in there and couldn't move. She was so scared she was clasping her purse to her chest, and kept saying I didn't have a cell phone to call 9-1-1. After the fire engine pulled up I took off. I felt like I had done my good deed for the day. However, it does irk me that the staff didn't have an idea where to find a fire extinguisher. This place is full of old people that are not easily moved and has oxygen tanks everywhere. I believe there needs to be some training done because that is ridiculous. And come on for that much smoke to be billowing out (it was a ton) how could you not notice that 10 feet away. How are people so dense????

However, the excitement wasn't over. We took a different street home and noticed lights flashing everywhere and saw that there was a down power line. Okay it wasn't as exciting but hey I'm from a small town, it doesn't take much to excite me.

Vote for Ned Thomas

2009-03-21T13:31:00.000-06:00

Ned Thomas is running for mayor and he has my vote. So this Saturday was time for early voting at our Smith's. We did our duty and decided it was our time to help. For a while Aspen rode around in a wagon but when it was about time to go she got her baby out and started walking like mom. It took a little longer with her walking because she literally had to stop and smell the flowers. She tried to pick every dandelion on the way. At one point when we were crossing the street her hat blew off and she freaked out, I had to carry her to the other side and Dusty ran back for the hat. I think some people got mad at us because they had to wait for us. Big deal we are pedestrians and it only happened once. The only reason I think that is because we were on our way to vote and then we were going to leave. One of the voting ladies mentioned that code enforcement was called over the people holding signs outside of Smith's (that would be us again). But when code enforcement got there the people weren't there (that would be us again.) How hard is it for this world to slow down and wait for a little family to cross the street?

Some Family Time

2009-03-20T21:35:00.000-06:00

Not to be outdone by my mom's amazingly awesome blog:) It is time for some more updates and pictures, I love pictures. I just can not seem to take enough of them especially when my children are the subjects. I have decided that Dusty and I are pretty good at making kids (can I say that on public computer?) It looks like Aspen likes taking pictures as well, I have to try to teach her that it's better to take a picture when the camera is not pointed at the ground.

My handsome little boy is getting more of a personality each day, even if he is gnawing at everything in sight--have to love teething. As stated in an older blog he did learn to roll over, however, it seems that he must be nude to do so. He loves being naked. Because the weather has been so beautiful I have been letting him have some more onesie and naked time. I've taken a picture with his first short sleeve onesie, say goodbye to long sleeves. Every time he gets his pants off he just kicks and grins. Jayden's also found his feet, which is another reason he wants to be out of his clothes. Today I swear he had two blowouts on purpose, just to get his naked time. He's talking more and more and just loves to watch his big sister. Aspen just loves him. She tries to hold him every chance she gets, and clucks her tongue at him.

I've lost my boys to basketball. Usually I don't like sports on in the house, but amazingly I've found out that while Dusty watches basketball he lets me scrapbook without making me feel guilty. If you come to my house be warned it is trashed. The last two days in my house have been cleaning free (except for one load of dishes-a girl has to have her standards.) But it's been nice and relaxed. It seems to take me longer to recoup after watching two 2 year olds, a six month old, alongside my own 2 year old and 4 month old.

Dusty took Aspen to the park this morning, and I've been playing with them more and more. The last two Thursdays has found us at the story time at Centennial Hills Library. It's so fun. Jayden just sits there and grins and looks at all the babies, it's for 0-18 months, but Aspen still likes it as well. The first time she was a little shy during singing time, but this last time she was giggling and having a ball.

St. Patricks Day, happy anniversary Mom and Dad, found us at a party at our friends house. Ned Thomas is running for North Las Vegas Mayor. It was exciting, the food was delicious. I was volunteered to help sort of watch the kids (it's hard to watch kids hyped up on sugar and more sugar.) There was a balloon making lady there and she was amazing. She made Aspen a horse, of course the picture shows only one eye, Aspen bit and popped the other eye. They also had a lady there giving free 15 minute massages.

With the gorgeous weather we've been able to go on our walks. I love Vegas at this time of year the weather is absolutely perfect. The walks are fun, however, Jayden is not like Aspen when it comes to walks. He doesn't like being buckled in. He hates the car and he hates walks, but other than that it has been quite fun.

Have you heard of desert landscaping? My little daughter is quite the green thumb. She has taken it upon herself to water our rocks. It is a very important job. Without her, our rocks would shrivel up and die.

Milestone

2009-03-15T22:22:00.000-06:00

Jayden just rolled over!!! I got it on video, however, he was showing a lot of skin. I was giving him naked time so I won't be posting it on the blog:)

Surprise!!

2009-03-09T20:36:00.000-06:00

This is hard for me to write, I am shaking with excitement. After many many years of trying I am proud to announce I am the proud mother of twins. I can't express how excited this has made me. Dusty on the other hand is a bit overwhelmed by the whole thing, however, whether he likes it or not it has happened. I must admit it is a scary time for us, something so new as two at a time. If Jayden and Aspen were a little bit older I'm sure they would share in our excitement, but as it stands they are too young to understand how much of a surprise this is for us. I know some of you are thinking that this is a little soon to be making an announcement, but when something like this happens you just can't hold back. It was their time to come to this earth, and I am glad that they chose us to share in their lives. As a proud new mommy and daddy we would like to name the twins, but to add to this special time I thought it would be great if we could get help from our readers. Please review the ultrasound prayerfully and get back to me on what we should name our little bundles of joy. Please remember that the name you give them will stay with them throughout their lives.

The Wheels on the Bus

2009-03-09T15:49:00.000-06:00

For a while Aspen has been singing songs to herself, and I've been having a heck of a time trying to figure out what she is singing so I can sing with her. There is one she sings that she rolls her arms, I thought it was "Do as I'm Doing". However, when I went to visit my sister February 18th she started singing "The Wheels on the Bus" with her, and that's when I had my aw-ha moment. I think she was taught the song in Nursery, but she sure is cute doing it.

Our Crazy Life

2009-03-04T16:06:00.000-07:00

Dusty's sister is very talented at making bows for her daughter. Her daughter is pretty much hairless and many people mistake her for a boy, even when she is wearing pink or even something more obvious, a dress. One day while visiting my in-laws my dear sister-in-law thought my little boy needed something done to spruce up his image, what do you think?

This is our handsome little boy smiling. Just look at the smile!!! (Don't pay any attention to the fact that he is still in his pajamas)

On the 21st, while at the Stampin' Up thingy, I had laid him out and he started just staring out his hands. I wish I would've got the camera out. It was so cute, you could just see him concentrating on these cool new toys. I can lay him down now and he plays with his toy that dangles over him. I can't believe that he is already 3 months old. Time is just flying.

This last week Aspen has picked up the word, "Mine," from the kids we babysit and the word has taken up her vocabulary. It's as if the world has revolved around this one word and everyone must listen to her. But I have to say the cutest thing that she has taken up is signing the word "more". It is so cute!! I finally want to start learning more sign language just to see her sign. She also can put up her pointer finger and thumb when I ask her how old she is, "du". It doesn't take much to amuse this mom. I think the most important word that she has learned is the word "sippy cup." One less thing she screams about that we have to try to guess what she is saying.

This is a picture of Aspen in her sealing/blessing dress. We got her, and her two cousins dressed up in their dresses that their Aunt Jeannine made for them. It was quite funny, because when one wasn't crying the other would. My mother-in-law was definitely making a fool of herself jumping up and down trying to get the kids to smile. It was pretty funny, maybe it was one of those things you had to be there. The dresses were beautiful.

I know I didn't do very many stories. I feel like my energy is zapped, and while the kids nap I know I should be napping, but I have felt so guilty not posting in a long time. Every day my kids are getting older and I'm not writing things down like I should. Before I know it they will be grown and gone. I wish I could remember everything, unfortunately our brains don't work that way. It's so funny how the little things in life are so important to us. Just like today, it was nap time and I filled up Aspen's sippy and she walked right to her bed pointed up to it (she sleeps in a big adult bed), and I put her on it and she was ready for bed. She's been sleeping by herself now at night for at least 3 weeks. Now I have to work on getting Jayden out of the bassinet and into his crib, which means it's time to redecorate the nursery and make it for Aspen and Jayden.

Last Saturday I went garage selling for an hour (I had to come back and help at a primary activity). It wasn't the best of days, most of the garage sales weren't up yet so when I'd follow their signs I'd get a dead end. However, I did find a couple. We have gotten to the end of hand-me-down clothes for Aspen so now we are on our own. I found some for her, but she will have to grow into them. She seems to be in the in between stage. She is in 2T+ shirts but she is still struggling in pants. She can wear some 18 mth but she is so skinny they just seem to fall off, while the 12 month she is too tall for. However, the best thing I found at a garage sale was a little stroller for her baby. When we went to the primary activity I had Jayden in the big stroller and she followed me everywhere with her stroller. It was the cutest thing, once again I wish I had my camera.

Have to run, kids are starting to wake up.

I want to Win!!!

2009-03-02T19:48:00.000-07:00

I will pass on this information, but I demand a percentage if you win:) Let's say 50-50.

http://themeanestmom.blogspot.com/2009/02/march-madness.html

Just go to the above website, yes there seems to be a running theme in my blogs, but I do what I have to.

The Meanest Mom

2009-02-27T21:07:00.000-07:00

I like to see good people win. So please visit The Meanest Mom Blog at http://themeanestmom.blogspot.com/ and get to know her.

Your Mission:

1. Read her blog
2. Laugh until you pee
3. Change your underwear
4. Visit http://www.scholastic.com/parents/blogcontest/ and vote for The Meanest Mom.

Seriously, this lady is funny and she deserves our vote.

The Vent II

2009-02-12T21:41:00.000-07:00

Okay, I’m soooo mad right now. I didn’t even wait to write this before Survivor was over. It is the season premier for the new survivor and it comes with the new set of problems and people that you either love or hate. I’ve picked out the “easy” looking girls and I’ve picked out the ones that I want to cheer on to the end. However, one has made my hitlist. He’s a bicyclist from Utah, and the first thing he does is go to the water and shed his clothes including underwear, and in his little speech he states, “Yes I’m from Utah, but I’m not your typical Mormon, I’m more free spirited.” That peeved me off more than anything, so just because you are free spirited what right do you have to muddy the name for the rest of us Mormons. Going naked on national TV is more than free spirited. I made a few wrong choices but to sit there, flaunt it in front of the world, and act like that is the “Mormon” way without a care in the world……I cannot express how much this sickens me.

Romance in the Air

2009-02-02T18:18:00.000-07:00

We found this outside our front door on Saturday, I think Dusty ordered it for me:)

Blessing

2009-02-02T15:19:00.000-07:00

February 1, 2009

My babies were blessed!!!!!

Dusty blessed Aspen and Jayden. We held it at our home and it was beautiful. I have to admit I was a little stressed out, but I couldn't have done it without my Mom and Dad and my little sisters. Mom and Dad went to Costco and got all the food and were up bright and early to prepare for the festivities, while my sisters came and cleaned my house several times:) Church starts at 9:00 so they went to Sacrament with us (Dusty's Aunt Illona and Uncle Dan showed up with his sister Bryndy and their family). Mom, Dad, Brenda, Caleb, MaLynda, and Rebecka went home to clean and finish the preparations while Dusty and I stayed at church (I have been moved to a different Sunbeam class and Dusty is now teaching with me). We got home and had a good turn out by Dusty's family, not to many on my side, but that's okay it's a long drive for just a couple hours.

Left to Right from Top to Bottom:

Grandpa Ferrell Hall, Grandpa Den Hughes, Dusty, Grandpa Robert Groke, Uncle Richard Hall, Uncle Kelby Dannelly, Uncle Joe Hughes, Aspen Hughes, Jayden Hughes, Brother Sellers, Uncle Dennis Hughes, and Cousin Jordan Hummell.

Grandpa holding Aspen to get blessed

Grandma Blake Made this Outfit for Jayden (It was a little Snug)

Our little happy family

My children

Now You Know the Rest of the Story

2009-01-26T15:24:00.000-07:00

Back by popular demand, I have decided to retell the story of our encounter with the jerk that broke into our home...And the reason why I still sleep with my children.

January 2008 found us traveling home from a very long Christmas vacation in St. George. We pulled into the driveway and Dusty hit the button to open the garage. We watched the garage door slowly open and continued to look at the empty garage before us. Wait-a-second, I thought, something doesn't feel right, something is missing.

"Where's the truck," Dusty asked?

"Your kidding right, you let someone borrow it?" I asked dumbly. Dusty had just been home the weekend before for a couple days to clean out the condo so they could rent it out again. So in my mind while he was at home he let someone borrow the truck and was yanking my chain.

"Where's the truck," he asked again, as if he didn't hear me.

"Please say your kidding," I asked again this time getting butterflies in my belly, I knew he wasn't kidding.

"No I'm not kidding, where's the truck?"

I picked up Aspen from her car seat and followed Dusty in the house through the garage door. It was odd, as we walked into the laundry room our extra box of tile was laying there in the way, odd because I don't remember ever putting that there, it usually was in the garage. We continued into the house and that's when it hit me, cupboard doors and drawers were open in every room. In the bathrooms the vanities were open and had been gone through (little did the robber know that I don't have any medicine and if I did they wouldn't be kept in the medicine cabinet.) Things were thrown around the house. I know I'm not clean, but I know I didn't leave the house that dirty either. I was sick to my stomach and I was shaking. I immediately dialed 9-1-1, we had been robbed. The operator asked if the intruder was still there, and I immediately got even more frightened at the thought, but after going through the house we were able to say no. She than gave me a non-emergency number to call and we hung up. After calling the non emergency number, I reported that our house was broken into and that our Truck was stolen. She asked us not to touch anything and assured us that they would be sending an officer out when one became available.

Three hours later we finally had someone show up. They took down a report, and since I'm a garage sale freak we didn't have much to steal:

Fire Box and Contents: Credit cards, social security cards, marriage certificate, birth certificates and $1700 cash we had been saving
Truck and our spare set of keys holding our mailbox key and a house key
Ladder
Wiggle cars that we had just gotten for a Christmas present
Dusty's Appraisal Camera

I know there was a couple other stuff, but I can't think of it right now. He did look for our Wii since we had the box for it in the living room, but our Wii fortunately was at a friends house being modified, so it saved us there. The cops brought in the CSI, and they fingerprinted our house. The poor CSI had to deal with me taking pictures of him and his equipment, he probably thought I was a nerd.

After calling and canceling credit cards, I made calls to find out if any purchases had been made and of course there had been. Two of the credit cards had been used to purchase gas at two different gas stations. I was able to get the addresses and found out that one of the gas stations had video of my truck pulling in and someone getting out and giving something (our credit card) to the person behind them. Of course when I told the Detective about this video she didn't want it because there was no proof that it was the guy that broke into our house, the only thing they could have him on was possession of a stolen vehicle. I wasn't too happy about that, and she told me I would have to take it up with Metro since that's where the gas stations were located in their jurisdiction.

We received a call and found out that they had retrieved our truck, it had been wrecked, and that it was in impound. The guy, Jaime Sandoval, was arrested after evading a police officer and driving under the influence. However, when we retrieved our truck and brought it home, we discovered all of our credit cards and fire safe, but of course no social security cards or birth certificates/marriage certificate. And we found a loaded gun under the seat. I called the police on the gun and we had to bring the truck back to the police station to have another CSI run the "scene". It turns out the arresting officer forgot to search the vehicle before it was impounded.

Needless to say, this whole thing was a nightmare. Our North Las Vegas Police detective said that when she called to find out who had possession of the truck that the arresting officer was on holiday and they didn't have any paperwork to tell her who it was so that she could go and interview the guy. She found out the name later but he had given a false address so there was nothing to link him to breaking in to my house, even though he had a lot of our stuff sitting next to him when he was arrested.

But long story short, we received a subpoena and now the guy will rot in Jail.

CSI Dusting for Fingerprints

CSI Kit

Dusty and Aspen Freezing outside the Police station while we wait for the CSI to process our Truck and the Loaded Glock

Colors of the Wind and other Rantings of a Crazed Mom

2009-01-25T21:26:00.000-07:00

Aspen loves to color. She gets a pen and no paper/book is safe. I told Dusty that we need to keep the pens away from her after I gave yet another book to DI because of the drawings that have found there way to the covers of books. We have a little table that Dusty's Grandpa made for us, complete with little chairs. I got a coloring book out and put crayons on the table, hoping Aspen would soon learn that she is to only color there and not on every piece of paper that she comes in contact with. It has to be confusing, yes she can color on this book but she can't color on that book....I wish Mom would make up her mind! At least my walls are safe, that is my biggest pet peeve, when I see walls colored. I hope I never have that problem, knock on wood. Any who, Aspen was playing and then I watched her walk into the kitchen, sit on her chair, pick out a crayon and started coloring away, it was sooooo cute. Dusty said that when he picked her up from nursery she was sitting at the table coloring like her life depended on it, while all the other kids ran around wild. So we have her first coloring page posted on the refrigerator.

I walked in on my little family watching TV. They are so cute!!

"My group", got together yesterday, and I bit the bullet and held the gathering at my humble abode. That is where I've decided that my lifestyle is quite embarrassing.

I could not give the tour of my house, because all of my junk has taken up refuge in my "extra" bedrooms.
My table chairs are probably not the most comfortable for sitting longer than 20 minutes.
My children demand my attention when I am home, therefore no quiet time for the ladies who wanted to get away from the crazy kid scene, for that I apologize.
When I am home, my daughter will not sleep unless I am in bed with her. I am sorry my dear friends for making you feel like you had to leave earlier than planned. I really look forward to these nights of carefreeness and long nights of talking. However, my daughter scared them out the door with her loud crying. Needless to say I was embarrassed, not at my daughter, but at the fact that I have trained her to sleep only with me and not by herself.
And my son, who I boast about that never cries, has taken up crying and unfortunately may be quite gassy. Needless to say I was up all night with him, my days of him sleeping all day are now gone:(...Therefore, not only did we have a crying Aspen, but also a crying Jayden.

I have learned my lesson and will not be hosting another craft night until I have trained myself and my daughter into our own separate beds.

"Picture" Perfect

2009-01-23T23:48:00.000-07:00

My sleeping Angel

The Purse I won at a Close to My Heart Open House

It turns out Aspen loves to sing into a microphone

Look at his smile!

My little Gangsta'

Off the subject of pictures. I'm so excited. Dusty received a subpoena to be a witness against the guy that stole our truck. We also know he was the guy that broke into our house, but due to the awful police system here in Las Vegas, they can only get him for the stolen vehicle. Even though all of our credit cards and fire safe was strewn all over the cab of the vehicle they say that can't link him to the house because there was no proof that he was in here, and the arresting officer that pulled him over for the DUI never searched the vehicle to show that all that stuff was there. Not to mention that when we got the truck out of impound we had to take it back to the police station because there was a loaded gun under our seat. I hate the police system here. But anyway the guy is pleading guilty to all charges (Possession of drugs, DUI, evading a police officer, Possession of stolen vehicle) and they are felonies so the attorney says he will be locked up for a while. YEAH!!!

I Love My Pediatrician

2009-01-20T12:33:00.001-07:00

My Children's Stats as of today:

Jayden

Weight: 10 Lbs 8 Oz (Percentile: 25th)
Height: 21 3/4 (Percentile: 5-10th)
Temperature: 98.5
Head Circ: 37 (Percentile: 5th)

Dr's response: He's normal but a shorty:)

Aspen

Weight: 19 Lbs 13 Oz (Percentile: Less than 3rd)
Height: 31 (Percentile: 10th)
Temperature: 99.1
Head Circ: 45.5 (Percentile: 10th)

Dr's response: (This is the part I love)
She's always been small, yes she has only gained one pound since August, and she is only in the 3rd percentile. But it is okay. Her body is proportionate.

I love my Dr. I was dreading going today because I was sure the child protective services would be all over me because of Aspen. But I finally have a Dr. that understands that my children will be small, due to their genes. I have heard many stories where the Dr's are so concerned about the percentiles of children, but I have one that understands that all children and families are different. Yes world, my daughter is small, but she is still healthy. Just ask my pediatrician.

The Vent

2009-01-13T17:47:00.000-07:00

What is it about parks that calls to the teenagers of America? Is it the little slides that when they sit on them at the top their feet drag at the bottom? Or is it the teeter-totters that allow them to extend their legs completely and still be touching the ground? What is so enticing that they must come and "hang-out" with their boyfriends suck face? I am so confused, one moment teenagers are wanting the "respect" of adults and want to be permitted to act older, but they still are wanting to grasp their inner youth and play along side my daughter. It wouldn't be a problem if they didn't insist on using their great knowledge of the English language consisting of 4 letter words shouting it at the top of their lungs, they are so proud they learned that word and can use it in other contexts than what it means. Yes, I want my little girl's first word to be learned from these delightful kids. Not only are our ears accosted when we are at the park, but then today I get to see male anatomy artfully drawn onto the slide my daughter loves going on. Thank you for the generation that is stuck in their youth. Can't they hang somewhere else????!!!???

My Little Aspen

2009-01-08T19:49:00.000-07:00

Stories that crack me up....

We were cleaning up after dinner tonight and Aspen was playing in the living room. Dusty went to throw something away and the garbage can was gone. It was there not two seconds beforehand, it just simply disappeared. This isn't a garbage can that is small that you find in a bathroom, this is a garbage can that is waist high. Not that it matters what size it is, no garbage can simply disappears.

Dusty, "Where's the garbage can"

Kris, "It was right there a second ago"

It was ludicrous. Who has that kind of conversation about a garbage can. I guess you do when you have a little daughter. We walked into the living room and she had dragged it in there (luckily it was a clean bag), but it was still standing up so she was careful with it. I guess this is going to be her new thing because she dragged Daddy's garbage can from his office yesterday. So if you have a missing garbage can, ask Aspen.

This week we have been extremely ill. Yesterday, I didn't move from the couch once, okay maybe when it was necessary to feed and change kids (which felt like way too much, but I did it so don't call CPS on me.) Back to the story at hand, about 4:00 Aspen grabbed my hand and pulled me off the couch, supposedly to get her brother Jayden (he was crying so it was time to feed him), little did I know she had a more sinister plan. No sooner had I left my spot, she climbed up in it. I guess I had made it look so inviting. I was fighting the chills all day so my spot had 3 or 4 blankets, she usually hates blankets, but there she was mocking me. Laying in my spot with my blankets on her, laying on my pillow and she actually had the nerve to smile about it. She played in that spot for an hour, up and down up and down. She would cover her baby doll and uncover it, over and over. After an hour she finally got bored of it, maybe I talked it up more than was needed but I got it back. However, after getting dressed this morning I come out to find her smiling laying down on my pillow on my couch. I think she was mocking me, or it proves I'm an awful mom. Because before yesterday she never plays on the couch.

This week with sickness and laziness nap times have been off, not just scheduled wrong, but completely gone, unless you call 5 or 6 at night 20 minutes cat naps as naps. Today, trying to make up for the past few days of late cat naps I put Aspen in bed, shut the door and proceeded to make phone calls. She screamed a few minutes, normal, and was quiet. 15 minutes later she was crying again I went to check on her an her sippy cup was completely empty, "Good you drank it all, but why aren't you sleeping?" Upon closer inspection, she was drenched, the sippy cup didn't leak. My daughter has this thing to drink and then let it drool out, I think she wanted to get back at me so she did it with the whole thing, I wasn't there but that's what I'm assuming happened.

Same time frame. I picked her up out of bed and put her on the floor so I could get clean clothes and a diaper. She got extremely mad and started screaming, I tried to explain to her what I was doing, and besides she has two feet, right? I walked out of the bedroom and she slammed the door on me, I was stunned. I tried opening the door and she pushed it shut, I guess she was mad at me, she proved her point.

Easy suppers for Mom's

2009-01-08T18:21:00.000-07:00

My group, I Love saying that it makes me feel loved, is starting this site to help us Mom's in the kitchen. Take a look:)

http://yummysuppers.blogspot.com/

Always Behind

2009-01-03T13:06:00.000-07:00

Well a new year has come and I've seem to have started it a little behind. We celebrated the new year with my friends near the strip. It was really fun because my friends that moved last year flew in for the New Year. Not good with passing off the kids to babysitters they tagged along with us. Poor Aspen didn't really have a nap that day, but she was determined to meet the new year. As I mentioned before my friends have a place near the strip so we were able to view the (awful) fireworks from their porch. This year the city decided to cut cost by placing fireworks from street level as opposed to rooftops, there fore the fireworks display left a lot to be desired. Of course luck hit, Jayden was sleeping the night away but he decided to get hungry at 11:55, no big deal except I went into a back room for privacy and he takes 10 minutes to eat not counting the diaper change. So I was able to get the tail-end of the fireworks (I don't think I missed much), but I did miss the New Years Kiss from my hubby. At least Aspen was able to welcome in the new year for us.

Men in Black

Calvin Klein Pose

This is Rich, I'd Like to say he's not usually this weird, but that would be lying:)

Matt and Myself

Aspen hanging with her boys

Rich and Alli visiting from back east

Backtracking a little as I unload pictures off of my camera.

Our ward held a Christmas Brunch so I dressed the kids in Christmas clothes and they got to see Santa. Jayden could have cared less, but Aspen wanted nothing to do with it. She only wanted the candy cane after visiting him, unfortunately she ended up dropping it on the ground shattering it. So she didn't even get that after her efforts of standing in the longest line ever.

We celebrated Christmas in New Harmony. What a Winter Wonderland. It was the dream snow I always wished for when I was living up there. We were snowed in several times. The icicles around my Dad's house were huge, some almost touching the ground. We don't have the necessary winter clothes so we had to borrow from my in-laws for Aspen. The clothes were a little big on her, but she looked so adorable. Dusty loved taking her outside, he brought her in the snow fort my brother had built earlier, he taught her to eat snow from her hand, and then straight to the source (i.e. the picture of her face down on the snow, licking it). We brought her on a couple sled rides. She helped shovel out my sister, who decided to see if her car could drive through 2+ feet of snow. She didn't know what to think of Christmas. She wouldn't leave her Grandpa's side the whole time. She would get fascinated with a toy and not want to open another present, it wouldn't have mattered but we go in order on person at a time, so we had to keep skipping her, my sister didn't mind since she was right after her in line. Her favorite present happened to be a present that Grandma had actually given Jayden, a truck and horse trailer complete with horse:) She played with that the entire weekend.

This would be eating snow from Dad's Hand

And this would be eating directly from the ground

And the best picture for eating off the ground

And the numb tongue after eating lots of snow

This would be Mish stuck in the Snow

This is Aspen helping Aunt MaLynda

From the movie, Spirit

Just to Prove I was there, and not just behind the camera:)

Lots of Catching Up

2008-12-13T00:42:00.000-07:00

First item of business, this picture represents a item from a past blog....Don't get "distracted by the half-masticated cow rolling around in my wide-open trap" (miss congeniality), but pay attention to the man in the background. If you see this guy at the buffet, do not, I repeat, do not ask for water. It will only bring heartache and grief. See past blog for more detail. Now that I have that item of business out of the way, moving on to a happier note.....I have to admit, having two kids has been really hard for me emotionally and mentally. However, the other night I was in the living room and got a real good look at my little family, and it hit me, this is what it is all about. When I get low and think I'm failing, I just need to look at this and know how much my family means to me.

It is a toss up between Aspen and Jayden who the best baby was. I used to get so scared about number 2 child because my first was amazing. You always hear people tell horror stories about get spoiled by the first and the second coming along and totally giving you a run for your money. I am blessed, I think Heavenly Father knew that I needed another great baby to be able survive. The only difference that I'm seeing, is that Jayden is definitely more cuddly than Aspen was. Jayden loves to cuddle, whereas Aspen had to always be face out and see what is going on. To this day she is always in the mix of things.

Alright next subject.....I will admit I am a Christmas Scrooge. I hate the whole commercializing of it. I refused this year to decorate. I had bought a fake tree last year and went all out decorating (a first for me). This year I figured I had an excuse, I just had a baby and I have two kids that take my time. Who has time for all the hub-bub. I was glad enough to get most the presents wrapped. However, my sweet husband had other plans. On Monday night, I looked in the living room and he had pulled out all my decorations. I wasn't happy. But I was quickly put in my place when he answered that it was family night and this is what we were going to do, who can argue with that. I never had to decorate though, I was feeding the baby, but him and Aspen went to town. Aspen would pull things out of the box and say "ta-da" and then go put them on a branch, all of her decorations ended up on the same branch. Needless to say the Christmas tree has no decorations from her size down:)

I think that catches me up for the most part. I know there is something else that I wanted to get on here. But it is 12:11 in the morning and I keep telling myself that if I go to bed that Jayden is just going to wake up any minute, so I stay up. Watch tonight be the night he sleeps through the night:) Wishful thinking.

Oh yeah,

Tonight I went to the best Christmas party ever.. Thanks Brooks!!!!

Oh wait,

I have to go find a blog that has something to do with the meanest mom???

More Pictures

2008-11-26T20:47:00.000-07:00

Jayden Edward

2008-11-22T16:57:00.000-07:00

11/20/2008
7:19 AM
6 Lbs 10 Oz
18"
Out in 2 Pushes-(Not bragging or anything)

Aunt MaLynda

Daddy
Dr. Michaels, Daddy, Mommy
Mommy

Jayden

Jayden Eve

2008-11-19T09:50:00.001-07:00

Alright, I'm sitting here at the computer for the last time as a mother of one:) Tomorrow morning at 2:00 (a little early I know, but I won't be able to sleep anyways) I will be going to Mountain View Hospital to be induced. Once again, like Aspen, I am having growth restrictions. The baby is measuring small, so in order to be safe than sorry we will get him early (not that I'm complaining). I'm so excited. I will keep everyone updated once I get home. I hope to have lots of pictures to pass along!! For those of you that are worried, it's not that early. Saturday would have put me at 39 weeks, so I am only a week and 2 days early.

Catch Up

2008-11-18T19:42:00.000-07:00

My family was in town this weekend, and I loved every minute of it. However, there is a lot of catching up to do. First and foremost, I have to tell a story that would make everybody mad. Saturday night rolls around and my family wants to have a night on the town, meaning a buffet. I figured that the Aliante casino would be a great place to try since it just opened (I didn't realize that everybody else in Las Vegas thought the same thing that night.) We finally were seated after a long line.

However, they were told it was a party of 6 which was correct since you don't really count Aspen, however, it was supposed to be a party of 6 plus a highchair. They were so busy that when they offered another table I told them not to worry about it, that we loved eachother and could squeeze in, and that's exactly what we did. We started off just ordering water since everyone had already went to get food and we didn't know what they wanted. (I know I'm long winded when it comes to telling stories). They all got back, and seeing that it was steak and shrimp night, many of them had steaks. We asked the waiter for some A1 sauce, while we waited for that we continued to eat and drink, and drink, and drink. Our glasses were empty save one. So when the waiter walked by, without the A1 sauce in hand we again asked for A1 and some water (we had one water that we were busily passing around the table sharing with one another). When my Dad asked for a couple of waters, the waiter looked at him and calmly asked how many a couple was, because to him it meant 2. I looked at him and asked for 7. He glared back at me and said that he only counted 5 and that the baby didn't count. So looked at him again and said, okay than 6 (because there were 6 adults) he said again, the baby doesn't count. And I said, there are 6 adults, can we please have 6 waters. He stormed off. I was ticked!!!!!! I looked at my Dad, stunned, and asked if the waiter had just argued with me over water? Dad calmly looked back at me and said, "there goes his tip."

I can't believe it!!!! Wouldn't it have been easier just to bring an extra water, and that way he didn't have to worry about us for that much longer. Where in the heck is good help these days. My dad went out of his way and brought us to dinner that night (and it wasn't cheap) and we couldn't even get water out of the deal. Not to mention that the place didn't even have steak knives, here we are trying to cut our steaks with butter knives. Needless to say, it will be a long time before I eat there again.

Back to my family trip. I asked my very talented sister to bring stuff to do a photo shoot, since I really don't have that many pictures of myself pregnant with Jayden. So we had fun.....

Jayden Update

2008-11-13T11:55:00.001-07:00

I had an appointment with an Ultrasound Tech (whatever their title is?)

Baby is doing great and growing like a weed. Right now she estimates him at 6 lbs 5 oz. She estimates him to be maybe 7 lbs at birth. As you can see, my son is still definitely a son:) He is not shy about it at all. I think she said his feet are measuring 3 inches. (We'll see how close she is when I have Jayden) She says that I'm only measuring about 36 weeks, but they will still go off my due date (I'm 37 Weeks and 4 Days as of right now) and I refuse to be less than that. For those that don't know compared to Aspen this is a perfect pregnancy. With Aspen I had started shrinking at this point and had to be induced. As of last Friday I was 3 centimeters bigger than I was when I had Aspen. When Aspen was born she was all of 5 lbs 9 oz. So I don't know what I'm going to do with such a big baby:)

I will go in tomorrow and have the actual Dr. Apt. and we will be discussing baby and due dates. Hopefully we can get my little boy out by Thanksgiving, since my family will be in town. Fingers crossed.....I wouldn't mind this weekend either since they will be here as well. (YEAH, I GET TO SCRAPBOOK WITH MY SISTER)

Mommy's Little Helper

2008-11-11T23:03:00.000-07:00

Tonight was laundry night and my little girl decided that she wanted to help. It was pretty cute. Usually when she helps with laundry I hand her clothes from the wash and she places it in the dryer (with a little grunt when I give her a big handful) and then when we are done she puts in the dryer sheets and then hits the button to start the machine. Tonight, she has gone the extra mile, which puts a huge smile on my face. I put her on the bed next to the hangers, and at first she was content to hand me the hangers so I could put the clothes on them (whether they needed to be hung up or not.) However, this moved into wanted to take the clothes that were on the hanger and actually hang them up in the closet. Next she started grabbing the folded clothes and after I showed her how to open up a drawer to put my pj's in she was off and running. She would grab clothes off the bed and put them in the pj drawer, even if they didn't go there. Some were her clothes so I showed her how to put them in the nursery, next thing you know all the wash cloths were disappearing after I folded them, I didn't follow her to find out where she put them. But my guess is, when I go to dress her in the morning I think I will find them:) It just makes my day that my little girl already loves helping Mommy with chores. She always has to put the dishwashing soap in the dishwasher and start it. She's such a good little girl, I have been so lucky to have her. I had to write this down or I knew I would forget.

Oh, for those of you who don't know. I am the biggest procrastinator, especially when it comes to Christmas. However, you'd be pleased to know that I already have 5 gifts wrapped and ready to go. Two more are just a few steps away from being ready to be wrapped. I am on a roll. Course it helps that I've been going crazy wondering what to do with my time (when I'm not running after kids all day) that I've been getting christmas stuff done. I even plan to use and abuse my family this weekend when they come to visit and hope they can help me get my christmas decorations up, that way I don't have to worry about it when the baby comes...hint, hint.

Bringing Home a Baby Bumble Bee

2008-11-04T15:13:00.001-07:00

Money Scam

2008-10-28T05:05:00.000-06:00

I just received a check for $3990 in the mail. It looks real. However, a little further searching uncovered a little scam.

http://www.tech-linkblog.com/2008/10/scam-alert-nationwide-marketing.html/?disqus_reply=3339969#dsq-alerts

I received this same letter. It's not real, don't buy into it!!!!! I just wanted to pass it on, because it seems that I'm not the only one that has received this. I must admit I was extremely excited, I was going to get a chance to be a secret shopper at Walmart (my dream come true). Ha, ha, guess again. Please pass this on, I know money is hard in this day of age, and this check seems to be the answer to prayers, but it could be a nightmare in sheeps clothing for the unexpected.

Happy Little Girl and a Whale Hula-Hooping :)

2008-10-26T21:35:00.000-06:00

So I can't hula-hoop normally, but add pregnancy onto it and my daughter thinks it's hilarious. Dusty ran for the camera, which is not like him. He felt that we don't get to hear Aspen laugh like this very often and started video taping. The giggle is so addictive.

Here I am in frumpy comfortable clothes. At this point of pregnancy it's very important that clothes are comfortable. I went through 4 outfits this morning for church. Dusty kept telling me I looked good. But I started crying in one particular outfit stating that I couldn't breath. It fit, but I could feel it all over my body and felt so claustrophobic. Dusty didn't know what to say, I think he was just happy that we were able to get to church on time:) I am now 35 weeks and 1 day pregnant.

So I just turned around and saw my little sweet girl has pulled off all the toilet paper and is running around the house with her trophy!! Never a dull moment.

So now I guess I better go salvage what TP I can salvage. I think this is the first time my house has been TP'd:)

You had to be there.....

2008-10-22T21:07:00.001-06:00

I figured it's been a long time since I've posted anything. I am getting pretty lazy, so I thought I would put a few stories in to help pass the time. The stories were hilarious at the time, but maybe they are ones that you had to be there to appreciate:)

My poor little girl is right at "bum" level. What does this mean you ask? And why would you care for this little piece of "TMI" (Too Much Information). Because it's hilarious! That's why. I was standing in the kitchen and she ran into my backside, and for you that don't know it, my backside is a fairly big target, especially when I'm 34 1/2 weeks pregnant. So the problem with running into the rubbery target, you get the "bounce off" effect, and that's exactly what happened. Poor little Aspen bounced right off and landed on her little behind. The moral of this story, have a video camera ready at all times:)

In church we were talking about how Jesus brought Lazarus back to life and one my little sunbeam girls (age 3-4) was so amazed because her cat, "Was dead all day long."

I can't think of any other story, but hey, I had to start somewhere. I guess next time I'll remember to write it down so I don't forget. Because it's either placenta or brain, you can't have both.

Who I Am

2008-10-07T11:16:00.000-06:00

1. I am 16 months old

2. I wave and give kisses to mommy and daddy

3. I love looking for airplanes

4. I brush and floss my teeth

5. I woof like a dog

6. Angel

7. Sweet Pea

8. Sweetheart

9. I wash and dry my hands

10. I cock-a-doodle-do like a rooster

11. My favorite movie is Spirit

12. Baby girl

13. Pretty girl

14. Loves

15. Cute Girl

16. Cuddle bug

17. I neigh and vibrate my lips like a horse

18. I say "What's that", "Hi", "Dad", "Mom", "Set", "Shoe", "Eye", "Teeth", "Baby", "Beep" (nose)

I Forgot to put on this page that she can Quack like a duck, and that her favorite Song is: 5 Little Ducks went out to play

Recipes

2008-10-05T20:33:00.000-06:00

Chocolate Butterscotch Krispies

1 Cup Corn Syrup
1 Cup Peanut Butter
1 Cup Sugar
6 Cups Rice Krispies
6 Ounces Chocolate Chips
6 Ounces Butterscotch Chips

Directions:
In large saucepan, cook corn syrup and sugar over medium heat, stirring frequently, until mixture begins to boil. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter.

Mix in cereal. Press in buttered 9x13 pan. Melt chocolate and butterscotch chips in microwave, stir until smooth. Spread over cereal mixture. Chill until firm, about 15 minutes.

(I accidentally left mine overnight in the fridge, but I took it out first thing in the morning and left it on the counter until the dinner that night, this allowed them to get a little gooey again, and not so hard, I think they taste better soft)

Grandma Blake's Cookie Salad

2 Cups Buttermilk
1 Large pkg. Instant Vanilla Pudding
2 Cans Drained Mandarin Oranges
1 Large Can Drained Pineapple Tid-Bits (I use crushed)
1 16 oz. Cool Whip
1 pkg. Fudge Strips (Save 4 to 5 for top)

Mix buttermilk with instant vanilla pudding. Fold in cool whip. Fold in mandarin oranges and pineapple (I added fresh strawberries last time I made this). Break in pieces 1 pkg. fudge strip cookies. (If you can't serve immediately wait until the last minute to put the cookies in, that way they don't get soggy). Serve immediately.

Jan Grant

2008-10-04T18:06:00.000-06:00

My morning started out at 5:30, my family had a mission. My Mom's bestfriend, Jan, was diagnosed with breast cancer. When she went to have an x-ray after having the lumps removed, I don't know all the technical terms, she found out the cancer had spread all over her body. So today my little family of 3 joined our team from Bigelow Aerospace, The Asteroids, and walked 4 miles. Jan my family did this walk for you!

The beginning of the walk we were in the middle of the pack.

Aspen got tired of being in the stroller the whole time so here she is playing on Dad's shoulders.

Being 32 weeks pregnant I wasn't very fast and people quickly passed us up.

We made it to the end, with only one bathroom break!!! Aspen fell asleep right at the end, it was way too much excitement for her.

WE LOVE YOU JAN!

OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!!