Perspective

It is amazing what a new day will do for your mood. I feel much better about life today. It also helps to look outside your own life and realize how lucky you really are. There are so many people out there that have way more struggles than I do. I can't complain. I have a cousin that her husband needs a major back surgery that they only do in Germany. It costs $40,000 dollars and insurance won't cover it, he is in so much pain that he can hardly walk. I guess that the FDA is in the process of approving it in the U.S. but it takes time, and then once it is approved here none of the U.S. doctors have been trained on how to do it. So they really need to go and do it. When I look at things from that point of view I need to quit feeling sorry for myself for silly little miner things.

Not a great weekend

I don't know what the deal is, if it the weather or what, but we haven't had a great weekend at our house. We are all a little bit down in the dumps.

For starters Savanna went to Salt Lake with her grandparents. I am not happy about it.

Reid is depressed because he hasn't sold his truck yet (it has been all of about a week, since he put it up for sale.) Yes, he found another one that is such a great deal that he has to have it, and how rude that I asked him to please wait until he sells this one first.

Treyton has been having temper tantrum after temper tantrum. He is definately 2, and our bedtime routine with him is a joke. (Supernanny anyone!)

Plus my maternity shirts are starting to not cover my maternity pants panels. That is just great- I still have over 2 months left.

Sorry for my complaining, I'm sure another night of no sleep will make me feel better.

Family Home Evening

I just have to tell the cutest thing about Family Home Evening tonight. First of all, Savanna reminded us all during dinner that tonight we were supposed to have Family Home Evening. We do try to do it regularly, but we aren't perfect at it. So I thought that it was good of her to remind us. Then while Reid and I were cleaning up after dinner she went and got the gospel art kit and found a picture of Adam and Eve and told us that she wanted to give the lesson. So once we were finished with clean up we went into our front room (which we only use for FHE-we don't even use it for Visiting and Home Teachers like we thought we would.) We sang Jesus Wants me for a Sunbeam, had a prayer and then Savanna proceeded to teach us about Adam and Eve. She told us that they lived in the garden with Jesus, and they had lots of yummy fruit to eat, except they couldn't eat this yucky fruit that Heavenly Father told them not to eat. And then Satin tempted them to eat the yucky fruit so they had to leave the garden, and they were sad. It was so cute to listen to her tell it, she was so serious about it.

After she was done, I tried to explain that it was actually a good thing that Adam and Eve ate the fruit and were kicked out of the garden because they wouldn't have been able to have children if they hadn't done it. She just looked at me like I don't get it- they did wrong by disobeying. I guess it is kind of a hard concept for a 6 year old to understand. So I just kind of left it at that, I guess you learn precept on precept.
Thank you good primary teachers that teach my children!

Fun Bridal Shower

Some of the girls at the shower

Linda, laughing so hard she cried.

Leah answering some questions about Tony

Leah and some of her gifts.

Tonight I hosted a Bridal Shower for my sister Leah for all the girls that work at Koala Kids. We had a great turn out, and she got lots of fun gifts. It was a fun evening. She was really worried about getting any embarrassing gifts, but everyone was nice to her. It is so nice to have great friends that are so supportive. As part of the bridal shower we had everyone write down a piece of advice on a card and give it to Leah, it I think one of the best pieces of advice given was to make sure and let your spouse know at the very beginning of the marriage that they need to help out around the house, make sure not to spoil them during the newlywed stage because that is what they will come to expect. I thought that was good advice.

My cousin Alex came to the shower, and after everyone left she stayed and visited for a couple of hours. It was fun to chat with her, it great to see that she has turned into such a nice young lady.

Clarification on the coupon class

I just need to let you all know that the class I took on using coupon's was very informative and great, but I still have a lot to learn and I am going to see if it works for me over the next few weeks. But when I took the class I signed a waver that I wouldn't share too much information because the lady that teaches the class does this for a living, and we each had to pay $35 to take the class. I feel that it was very much worth it, and that the class paid for itself in one shopping trip, and hopefullly I will continue to use what I learned. Also as part of the fee I get access to her blog for 1 month and her blog gives you all kinds of tips of when to use your coupons, what is on sell where and where to find coupons on line.

If you are interested in taking the class her name is Amanda and her email address is stretchingyourdollars@hotmail.com. I'm not trying to be rude, by not giving out tips, but I don't feel that it would be very ethical.

Coupon Class

Last night I went to a class where we learned about using coupons and how to shop for the best deals. The lady that taught the class was so smart, and she says that she only spends $100 a month on groceries, and that includes everything they eat, adding to her food storage, all their hygene items, Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, shower gifts and she said that she has over a years worth of food storage. Just by shopping the adds, taking advantage of coupons, and taking a little bit of time figuring it all out before you go shopping.

I don't know if I will ever get as good at it as she is, but I figure if I can just save a little it will be worth it. The class was a lot longer than I had planned, it went from 3:00 pm until 8 pm. That included a shopping trip to Albertsons. I bought over $90 worth of groceries for $35.00, but she was there helping us. I'm going to give it a real try and see how I do.

Almost sandal and flip flop weather

I am very excited for spring to come this year, but for a different reason that most people. I can't wait to not have to put regular shoes on. I am getting to the point in my pregnancy that it is difficult to have to put on shoes and socks, and I can't wait to be able to just slip on some sandals or flip flops and head out. I am also excited because I have several pairs of maternity capris that I will be able to wear. I know it is silly, but that is what I am excited about right now.

I also am in desperate need of a hair cut! I have been thinking about growing out my hair, but I don't think I can stand it. I will be getting it cut, I wanted to wait another week or two so that the hair cut will be fresh for my sisters wedding in April. I know, I am a dork.

Happy Birthday Mom!

My Mom's birthday was on Saturday, and we celebrated it last night. I just wanted to wish her a happy birthday and tell her how lucky I am to have her as my Mom! She is not only my Mother, but she is also my friend, hardly a day goes by that I don't see or talk to her. She is constantly helping me with my kids, my sewing projects, and just being a great sounding board for when I need to talk to someone. I love you Mom!

Fun and crazy weekend in Utah

Mitch rolling down the hill

Treyton thinking he is pretty cool

Me getting some hot chocolate- looking really pretty (no shower)

Savanna, Emily and James- so proud of their snowman

Reid and the kids going down the hill on the 4-wheeler

Savanna, Alex, Emily and McKinley in the ice fishing hut

Savanna and Emily with the fish Savanna caught

Emily, James and Savanna

Savanna and Emily getting ready for bed

Mitch and Treyton getting ready for bed

We went down to Utah this weekend to go to our Brother in law's cabin in Park City. To get to the cabin you have to go quite some distance on a dirt road and then you come to a point where you can't drive in any further and so we took 4-wheelers the rest of the way. In years past before children we used to snow shoe in. But we have turned soft in our old age. The kids absolutely loved spending time with their cousins and ice fishing. Savanna actually even caught a fish. I mostly just sat in the cabin and visited with my sister-in-laws and was lazy.

When we went to leave yesterday afternoon Reid realized that when he was coming in, in his truck one of the chains that he had on his tires flew off and cut the brake line and so we had no brakes. He was able to get out on the dirt road by just driving really slow in a really low gear. Then once we got to Park City, he went with his brother Danny and found something that that made it possible for him to have some brakes into Salt Lake. Luckily I have a very handy husband and this morning he was able to go to a salvage yard and get the part that he needed to fix his brakes for cheap. I was just glad to be able to make it home to Idaho Falls safe and sound.

Last night we celebrated Aaron and Lori's birthday, Happy Birthday! We were all really ready for bed after our weekend at the cabin. Thanks Corri and Brad for having us and for being such great hosts- I don't think I would be that patient with having all those people and kids staying at my house.

(Mitchel was really cute, at bed time he would get sad and tell me that he just wanted to come home. I told him that I wanted to go home also, but we had to stick it out.- He is just like me, a home body.)

Thanks Albertson's

Something kind of funny happened today at work. The power went out because of all the high winds. Our cook Samera who we all love, was right in the middle of making bread sticks for the kids snack. The oven was on and ready to cook the breadsticks when the power went off. We had no idea how long the power would be off, so I called Albertson's on Broadway and told them our situation and asked them if we could use their oven. They so graciously let us come and cook our breadsticks in their oven. It was quite the adventure, Samera and I hauling 8 pans of breadsticks into Albertsons. We had a guy say to us, "Hey I didn't know they sold those here." We just said, "It is a long story." And left it at that. Of course by the time we got back to Koala Kids the power was back on.