I hit my goal!

I did it.. I reached my goal of posting everyday this month. Now I can go back to normal again.... I am grateful for everything in my life. I am grateful for family and friends who love me and my family and who love reading the blog. Sometimes things are a little boring around here and you have stuck by me through those times. Thank you for all you do.

I am a blessed wife

My dear sweetheart texts me every day telling me he loves me and that I am beautiful, hoping that someday I will see what he sees. He is too good to me! He is always complimenting me and building me up. And I am pretty sure he doesn't have to worry about it going to my head!

He kisses me in front of the kids and of course they make funny comments and say eew...daddy that is gross! He is teaching our oldest son to get the door for me. He serves me my plate of food first, reminds me of the things I shouldn't be doing if I attempt them, he clips my toenails, will paint them if I want them painted(which is not very often at all), massages my back frequently, when I am physically down he will take over for me when he can, shave my legs, do the laundry and all this he does without being asked. He is the greatest example our children could ever ask for.

I am truly blessed to be called his wife. I know that others are probably tired of hearing about what all my husband does and how much I honor and admire him, but I want my children and their children to know what kind of a person their dad and grandpa was and is.

Answer to yesterday's trivia

Dad, you guessed it right! It is Habit. That is the hardest thing in the world to break. That is why they say you can't break a habit, you just replace it with a new one. It takes just 21 days to create a habit. And according to what is chosen to become a habit will determine what outcome you get. I have many many habits that I need to replace. All it takes is mere baby steps to do this. May each of us develop those habits we wish to take with us through the rest of our lives and longer.

Can you guess who I am?

I want to see if anyone can guess who this is. I will reveal the answer in the next post which will be tomorrow. Hope you have fun with this! Maybe you will be better at guessing it than I was....

I am your constant companion.
I am your greatest helper or heaviest burden

I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.
I am completely at your command.

Half of the things you do you might as well turn over to me

And I will do them-quickly and correctly.
I am easily managed but you must be firm with me.

Show me exactly how you want something doneand after a few lessons,

I will do it automatically.

I am the servant of great people,and alas, of all failures as well.

Those who are great, I have made great.

Those who are failures, I have made failures.
I am not a machine though

I work with the precision of a machine

plus the intelligence of a person.

You may run me for profit or run me for ruin-

it makes no difference to me.
Take me, train me, be firm with me

andI will place the world at your feet.
Be easy with me and I will destroy you.

Who am I?

Technology... can't live without it, sometimes can't live with it!

Have you ever had one of those times when you thought to yourself... have they really come so far in technology? For all the advances they have made sometimes I think we are going backwards. I remember going over to someone's house when I needed something or to talk. Or how we used to actually take the time to talk to our neighbors. Or even pick the phone up to say hi. Now we text.. text and text. I am guilty of texting. It has its conveniences. Like when you call your hubby at work and he isn't supposed to answer the phone but he can read the text message. Or if someone is in a meeting. I think we will see some thumb problems later down the road...lol

Ross was waiting for me to get adjusted this afternoon and was bored so he decided to take the back off his cellphone and noticed a bunch of lint and dirt inside. So he did the logical thing and blew it out. Next thing that happened when he turned it on was the screen was all messed up and you couldn't see anything but fuzz all over it. I teased him and said that the dirt and lint was what was holding it together! So of course now he needs a new phone. Technology!

How about them DVD's huh?! I miss the VHS! You can play a dvd for a few times but if it gets scratched (now how would that happen?? oh if you have a 2 yr old who loves to get them out and then put them in the dvd player, or rub them across the hearth or the floor or better yet, lick the crazy things!) That could be how! We have all these gadgets to supposedly save us time and yet we have less time now than what we did 20 yrs ago... figure that one out!

I do appreciate technology, don't get me wrong. I would definately take driving to Boise over walking it all day long. I just think that sometimes we need to slow down and take the time for those things that are most important in our lives. Building relationships with our families and friends is worthy of our time. Especially with our Savior. I am grateful for all my many blessings and for the advances we have in technology. I wouldn't be able to walk or move if it weren't for the medical advances we have been blessed with. I for sure would have died in the first childbirth I experienced if it weren't for technology. I enjoy the fruits of it, I just want to keep things in their proper perspective.

Nothing interesting going on...

For the first time since I started blogging I really don't have anything to blog about today. I made a goal of blogging every day this month so I want to stick to it. I wish I had something spectacular to blog about my sweetheart and children but I have expressed my feelings in earlier posts. I am blogging for the purpose of my family history yet I don't have anything going on right now that is that exciting to write about. Hopefully my grand and great grand children won't be too bored with what I have written already and they will find us "old folk" to be interesting and can relate to us.

Until the next post...(when something exciting happens...)Although exciting to me and to someone else can be 2 totally different things. I will say that I am grateful for the beautiful weather we have been having lately. Our garden is doing amazing! We planted our first pumpkin this year and it is growing like crazy. Our fruit trees we planted last year had a few cherries on the one tree until the birds came and got to taste them before we did! I am grateful for good friends who have offered to help me this week due to ...complications. Just when I feel alone I get a phone call asking what can be done to help and then I am reminded again of my Heavenly Father's love for me as he has worked through his children to show it. I am thankful for their love and kindness and for my family and husbands family for concern and love. My children are a huge help to me and I love them dearly. My husband loves me more than anything and I want to continue to be worthy of that love.

Thought of the day

I just really liked this picture... might not have anything to do with the quote...


I bargained with Life for a penny,
And Life would pay no more,
However I begged at evening
When I counted my scanty store;

For Life is a just employer,
He gives you what you ask,
But once you have set the wages,
Why, you must bear the task.

I worked for a menial's hire,
Only to learn, dismayed,
That any wage I had asked of Life,
Life would have paid!


-Jessie Rittenhouse

Hard work paid off

The weekend before last (on our Anniversary) Ross ran a dog in a NAVHDA hunt test in Notus. He had a dog that he had been training for 4 months for this specific event. He spent the three weeks prior to the test training every night. He also said a prayer for this dog to run to the best of her abilities and to her training every night in his prayers.

The big deal behind getting a high score is that in NAVHDA, you cannot breed a dog unless they get a certain score. Their goal is to keep the breed pure and to make sure that you are getting the highest quality hunting dog you are able to get.

Finally the big day was here. This was very important to Ross because this wasn't his dog. He was training her for Bob. Bob has done so much for Ross. If she would score a high score than that would be a blessing for him establishing a name for himself instead of going off of Bob's credentials. Also, if he were to get high scores on the dogs he trains he could charge more for the fees of dog training. He was most nervous about her duck search for just a few days before the test she did a horrible job due to coming in heat... for some reason she had her mind else where...

She did great on the other tests that day. I waited anxiously most of the day to call and find out how she was doing. I couldn't wait any longer and I called Ross to see what the results where. Nope, not yet he said. Finally a couple of hours later he called with the end results. The highest a dog can score is a 204 prize 1. She scored a 202 prize 1!!! What an answer to prayers. We are so grateful for the blessings Heavenly Father has given us. I know that Heavenly Father is working through my dear husband and he has humbled himself to be an instrument in the Lord's hands. We pray continually that Ross will be able to keep doing his best and we are constantly thanking Heavenly Father for these bountious blessings.

ps...he took her from 0 experience in hunting and training ti a 202 prize 1. That was quite an accomplishment for him.

I have laundry that breeds... do you?

I have come to the conclusion that I have breeding laundry. That is the only logical explanation I can come up with. I do laundry, do laundry and DO LAUNDRY! Yet no matter how much I do, fold and put away, even though I might get caught up on it for a day... there somehow still remains more laundry to do! Where does it come from? I get the laundry room all nice and clean and then to my utter surprise I find dirty laundry on the floor... can you explain this phenomenon? I just decided that it has to be breeding. Except this one doesn't have a "season" where it only breeds once a year. Now if I could just figure out which one is the female....

this is how I feel when I am behind...

I will have to take a picture on the day that I happen to get it all caught up and laundry room clean so that I have proof I accomplished the life long task! But just so you don't think I am only just complaining, I am grateful for the laundry to do, that means we have clothes to wear... just wish I could get on top of it all!

this is how I would like it to look....

Happy Father's Day!/ Anniversary to Tammy and Tom!

I just wanted to say Happy Father's Day to the Sweetest Husband I know. Our children couldn't have been blessed with a better father. There is a quote that says "The greatest thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother." I know he lives by this every day and he has learned from his greatest example, his father. I love you , Ross with all my heart. Thank you for being the father to our children that your father was and is to you.

I also want to say a happy father's day to Dad. That would be Ross' dad. He has been the father I have always prayed for and needed. There are not sufficient enough words to express my love and gratitude. I love you Dad and wish you a very special day!

Also, happy father's day to all of the brother's and brothers in laws. You are all just as special and we wish you a happy day. Thank you for being an example to all of us. We love you so much! Also, happy father's day to all our dear friends! We love you!

A special Happy Anniversary to our dear Sister and her Husband who share a special day today! We love you with all our hearts! You are a sweet couple and I can tell you love one another just as much, if not more than the day you first met. Thank you for you loving example for us to follow!

Poor guy!

This weekend was my husband's family reunion on his grandparents side. We were looking forward to all of us going... probably the last one his grandma will be there. We know that there were a family members who could not attend due to sickness and what not and we miss them deeply.

Friday morning brought a not so pleasant surprise. Brayden layed down on the floor (something he just doesn't do) so I picked him up and he felt warm. He had a temp. so I layed him down for a nap hoping that would help. He woke up 2 1/2 hours later with a fever of 104. Two of our sweet nieces went to the store for me and picked up some children's ib and some gatorade and brought it to us. I gave it to him and a hour later he was better. Brayden and I stayed home last night so we wouldn't get anyone sick and to give him time to get better. Later that night he threw up ALOT and his fever got even higher. Grandpa Stevens and Uncle Craig came by to assist in a Blessing. I am so thankful for the Priesthood! He finally went to sleep late last night and woke up this morning feeling a little better.

He took a 3 1/2 hour nap today and felt cooler. He even played for a couple of hours with me today. Yesterday, last night and first thing this morning he just wanted me to hold him constantly. I don't mind him being cuddly... just don't like the circumstance that causes it. But the fever is back high again tonight. This is the sickest he has been. I hate seeing him like this. I know we are supposed to have trials, but it isn't fun watching your children be so sick. I know he will be better soon and I thank my dear family and friends for their prayers and concerns.

A Barrel of Fun! OR monkeys in a barrel...

A couple of weeks ago (when the weather was more like summer than it is now) Jerry had a friend over and they came up with their own idea of staying cool. They got the 55 gal. drums that are supposed to be for the dogs... and filled them up with nice, cold water. Then they decided to get in them and roll each other around, minus the water inside of course. They had a blast and enjoyed the sunshine and their ingenuity!

I think the pictures speak for themselves... the old addage "a picture is worth a thousand words" and in this case it holds true!

Enjoying Emmett

For all the years we have lived here in Emmett, I

don't think I have ever taken a picture of the valley from over by the Butte. This first picture is just that. I love it here in Emmett. You always get what you are looking for and I am thankful that we choose to find beauty.

I don't like this picture of me but I love it of my husband. They had 2 of the 3 Spillways open that day we were there. Although the water is still quite green it was fascinating to watch it come out that fast.

You can see a better view of the Spillways. Not sure why Rae was hiding behind me...

Maybe I can get some more pretty pictures of Emmett soon.

Let's Twist and Shout...

Thanks to Ross' sweet sister from middleton coming over Saturday to show us how to make cinnamon twists, Jerry is now able to go to Scout Camp in July! This was our first time ever making them..(Jerry, Rae and I) and we have had fun ever since.


This was the first dozen we made. They turned out beautifully.

This was the third day making them. Sure, they aren't perfect but they are delicous and fun to make. We are now getting the hang of it. Our niece has come over two mornings in a row to help us. Today we made 16 dozen and just got done delivering them! I am having a blast making them with my children and with my niece today and yesterday and it was wonderful to have Sondra and her family over on Saturday. There is no way we could have done what we did with out them! And thank you to all our dear friends for buying them and supporting Jerry! Thank you for the amazing recipe, Mom, especially Great-Great Grandma! Thanks for making it all possible. You are all great! I love you all soo much!

Good, Better, and even Better yet...practice practice practice!

Good...

Wow! I have been quite busy this past week. I will make a different post about the twists with pictures attached. I think I finally found something that I really enjoy doing and want to improve upon. I love to create things, not always good at it but enjoy it nonetheless... I have started making homemade bread. You know, healthier, cheaper... So last week I gave a loaf to a friend and she loved it so much she suggested I start selling them. I have never thought of doing that since I just enjoy baking them for our family and also for friends. Well, this week is Cherry Festival and this person has a booth and I am to bring some bread down to sell. I have sold 3 loaves already and have requests for 4 more this week, outside of the festival.

Better...

I have been practicing at getting the shape of them nicer and have them be a lighter texture. My wonderful sister in law tried a small piece the other day and said the texture, taste and shape were wonderful.. That meant so much to me because I know she has been making homemade bread for many, many years. That was a compliment. I will not say much about my bread, but I do know that others like it and that means a lot to me. I love to cook and bake and to serve others and this is one way I can do all 3. Thank you to all who are encouraging me and supporting me. I couldn't do it with out you! I have taken a couple of pictures of the work in progress of the loaves. Hope you enjoy.

even better! still not perfect but not too bad !

( i know for those of you who have been making homemade bread for a LOT longer than me, there are some obvious flaws, but you have to start somewhere... and thank you for your kind words of encouragement! I am always up for ways to improve!

Reminiscing....

As an Anniversary gift, Ross' Mom and Dad gave us a beautiful card in the mail, but what was inside the card was even more special. She took the time to put together some of the family's thoughts they wrote in a newsletter the month we were married and the month after. It was so fun to read and go back in time so to speak! My favorite part was what you will see here from Ross. It was so sweet to read what was on his mind at that time but I want you to pay special attention to the editors notes at the bottom of the letter! I laughed so hard when I was reading this part of the letter (the editors notes) out loud to Ross on our Anniversary! Ross and I chuckled while reading it. It was fun to read and go back in time. Thanks Mom and Dad for this precious gift! (you might have to click on the page to view it... don't worry it's not that long!)



(I teased Ross saying it had been about that long since I had gotten a love letter from him!) So he said this counts as one... He might not write to me very often but he tells me every day how much he loves me and how beautiful he thinks I am so that counts for sure! I love him so much!!

Happy Anniversary!

I remember the day that I met you as if it were yesterday. It was a Saturday night on March 9 1996. I was on a date (which of course didn't work out!) My friend, Aleen had told me about this cute guy from Cascade just a couple of months prior to meeting you. During the dance, she pointed you out to me and I thought to my self(wow! he is really cute!) Then my next thought was how would someone like me ever end up with someone like him?! You see, I had just had my heart broken pretty bad a few months before that and I was at the point that I didn't want a serious relationship for a long time. I didn't want to get hurt like that again!

After the dance was over I walked to where Aleen and a couple of friends were to say hi. Just as I was about to get to them, I managed to trip on absolutely nothing but the floor itself and ran right into Ross! I was so embarrassed and his cousin didn't help the matter! I must have not looked that bad because Ross came down from Cascade 2 weeks later to see if I was at the dance.

We ended up dating for 3 weeks and then you asked me to marry you and were sealed in the Boise Temple a month and a half later!! I cannot begin to tell you how blessed and enriched my life has been with you as my husband. When people ask me where my other half is, I correct them and say you are my better half. You are a blessing in my life. I can't believe it has been 13 years already. I look forward to 60 more with you! I don't have a card for you but I want you to know that I love you more each day than the day I first ran into you. I am blessed to be called your wife. I am honored to have your last name as mine. I love you more than words could ever express. I will better myself each day so that I may be half as honorable as you are. I commit myself to treating you like the Special Son of God you are. May you know how special you are. I love you Ross Quinn Stevens and thank you for asking me to marry you 13 years ago!

We're in Business!!

These are my dear husband's first business cards for his Dog Training Business! I am so excited for him for now it seems more official. Ross asked me if I could design them for him and with a couple of pointers from a friend and Ross, this is what I came up with. Not too shabby for my first time! This happens to be our dog Kato on point. Ross absolutely loves this picture of him... he is right, he is a good looking dog!

I ate what?!?!

For a few years now whenever we have been out and about and knew we wouldn't be home in time for dinner or had to leave as soon as Ross got home from work, we would eat at Costco's food court. It is the least expensive way to feed all of us.

The past couple of days I have been keeping track of everything I have been eating and how much water I drink during the day. Until you write everything down that you take in, you have no idea what you are really eating! Yesterday was my first day doing so and I thought that I worked hard to get enough of the right calories in. However, when you choose to eat healthy it is harder to get the recommended calories in that you need to maintain your weight or when you are active. At the end of the day I only had just over 1400 calories in... what?! I thought I had eaten more than that!!

So I start all over today and as we were out getting necessary supplies for the cinnamon twists, we ate at Costco, something that I personally haven't done in quite a while. I get home to write down what I have ate so far and I look up the info on the jumbo slice of pizza you get. After all, it is only $2 for one slice! How bad could it be?? Just that One slice had almost 1400 calories in it!!! That is a Combo slice. Over 1800 mg of sodium and the daily limit is 2400! Over 45 g of fat and almost 100 mg of cholesterol!! I got in one meal what it took me all day to get yesterday!!

I think I will be packing my own meals from now on to take with us on the road. Smarter.. Maybe not exactly cheaper but in the long run it will be (health wise)! Didn't mean to spoil your taste for Costco's food court. I know that it is probably similar to other Fast Food places, I just rarely ever eat there. There are some healthier choices I am sure. For those that are health conscience it matters. Once in a great while is ok... hmmm... moderation in all things? Think I heard that somewhere... Anyway, will get off my soap box now! Have a great day!

Fundraiser for Scout Camp in July

Jerry is needing to raise money for his first Scout Camp next month. We decided on making homemade Cinnamon Twists. Our nephew has had great success with this the past few years and we are hoping for the same results. They are $10 a dozen and we are taking pre-orders. We will start making them in a couple of weeks and then deliver them fresh. If anyone is intersested in helping him please let us know and we would be most appreciative of your kindness!!

APC Camp

Well, I just dropped Jerry off at the Church and the buses should be on their way to Cascade right about now. This is Jerry's first time to Aaronic Priesthood Conference Camp and I am excited for him and a little sad at the same time. Sad because my boy is growing up too fast. But I am grateful that he will have this experience to come closer to his Savior.

We got him all packed yesterday and even got him a disposal camera. Depending on if he actually uses it will determine if I get to post pictures later! I sure hope he does, I would love to see some of what he gets to see up there. Every year in Sacrament after the Camp is over, boys who attended always get to speak about their personal experience while up there. These boys always come back incredibly fed spiritually and they have a stronger testimony because of it. I am looking forward to hearing all about Jerry's experience when he gets back. I love him as I do each of our children.

My Husband's Hobby

I haven't posted yet about what Ross has been doing the last 3 months. He has taken up dog training and absolutely loves it! It all started with our first Pudel Pointer (not what you might think), Kato. We got him as a young puppy 2 years ago May. The breed is a pure-bred that was started in the late 1800's. They are a german breed taken from a French Poodle and an English Pointer. They are beautiful and are the best hunting and family dogs in our personal opinion! Ross took the time to train him and at the age of 16 months got him Utility tested and received a high score. The guy we got him from is the largest Pudel Pointer Breeder in the nation and has been for the last 30 years and he lives right in Boise. He has taken Ross under his wings and is mentoring him and treating him like a son. We are most grateful for his kindness and service to Ross

Ross with Kato at Bob's Swamp in Notus

Jerry's puppy Kreitn at 10 weeks old. He is a great Pup and we love everything about him!

Bob, seeing what Ross did with Kato, encouraged him to start training dogs and has been referring people all over the nation to him to train their dogs. Ross is naturally good at what he does and is grateful for this humble gift. I am so proud of him for pursuing something that he loves to do and has something to look forward to each day. I am thankful for friends and family for supporting him in his goals and dreams. I love him dearly and love to see him so happy out there training. We now have 3 dogs that he is training with one going home this weekend after he runs his first dog in the hunt test that he has been training the last couple of months. Then he has 3 more coming by the end of this month! I feel like we are truly being blessed by our Heavenly Father and I know that he is watching over us.

100th Post!

Yes folks, this is my 100 Th Post! I love to blog and it shows. I am always posting something. And I would even post if no one in the world saw it but me. This is my personal family history and I love to have something for our posterity to read. I want them to know that I wasn't just a boring old Grandma, Great-Grandma and so forth. Life wasn't always just a bliss and a bowl full of cherries! Of course if it had to be a bowl of fruit I would want it to be fresh, garden picked strawberries or raspberries. I want my posterity to know that there were struggles, challenges, sorrows, trials and tribulations, yet that even through it all, we made it through each one with a deeper faith and conviction in our Savior. Life is what you make it, not what happens to you.

I want my children to know that I love being a mother and that I will work hard each day to over come my weaknesses and have them become my strengths. I don't always know exactly what I am doing and how to love but I want to learn each day by asking my Heavenly Father what is just 1 thing that I can work on to improve my relationship with my children who are His children. I have a lot of growing to do.

I want my husband to know that being his wife is one of the greatest privileges I could have ever asked for. He is my best friend and I love being around him. I am grateful he is patient with me for this is my first and only time being a wife. Wouldn't it be nice sometimes if our spouses and children came with a manual? Like dog training. But I suppose that would take the fun out of it and the spontaneity of it all! I pray each day that I will be a better wife for my husband and help him to become the person he is intended to become.

I love being here on this earth and the adventures that I have had and are to come. I love my family, extended family and friends more than words could ever begin to express.
Until the next post I hope all are well and happy.

The dog ate my homework... in this case my bread!

They say that the best way to get rid of frustrations is to vent. To talk/type your way through it. Although you may not feel that this is a valid subject to vent about... it would help anyway.

Last night I took the time to make a loaf of bread. We have been out of it for a while and I have been wanting to make my own. I usually just bake it in the bread machine but this time I wanted to do something different. I let it rise in the bread machine and then I took it out and shaped it into a loaf to fit the pan. I had never shaped one before, usually just do the jelly roll. But for my first attempt It turned out fairly pretty. It sunk a little in the center but the rest was nice.

I was so looking forward to eating it today after church. I got home with sweet anticipations of eating a delicious slice of homemade bread. My taste buds were all prepared for this moment. Then I saw that Kato was loose in the house. I followed the trail of food to the side of the table in the dining room and that's when I realized that my taste buds would be let down. Kato had gotten my loaf of bread and ate part of it through the sack. I can't tell you how disappointed I was!! I was so frustrated I wanted to cry. I know, to you it is a mere loaf of bread but to me it was something I had been wanting to do for a long time. I put time into it. Oh well, what do you do?? I am starting to feel a little better just by typing this. I will get over it. I love our dog but I don't love it when he eats the food we prepare. At least he got to have the first taste and it was good for him.. ok good for us!

Toothless

In this picture Brayden had just got woke up from his nap on the way there.

On thursday the fourth, Brayden got to have a very pleasant experience. We took him into the Kids Dentist to get his left front tooth pulled. He was given a mask to practice at home and did great while here but as soon as Ross sat down with him in the chair at the Dentist's office things didn't go as smoothly. He fought everything that was done on him. Instead of breathing through his nose like he was supposed to, he breathed through his mouth. So the mask was placed over his mouth for a while to get him to settle down. He did great on the hardest things and not so great on the simplest things. Which worked out best anyway. However, due to him breathing the laughing gas on Ross and watching the needle go in Brayden's mouth and the fact that he was watching his son go through a little trauma... Ross ended up almost passing out right after he was done. I can't blame him. I wouldn't have made it that far. In fact, I had to leave as they were placing the mask on Brayden. I am weak when it comes to those things.

When I met with the Dentist a week prior he asked me to have the parent who was the strongest emotionally and I told him that would be Ross. I am never good with those kind of things.

We were all kind of sickened by the whole situation. Just one year ago we had Brayden undergo surgery on his mouth to save his top 2 front teeth. In fact, we are still paying on that bill. Unfortunately, Brayden is more top heavy and tends to fall on his mouth instead of his bottom! In one of the many falls he managed to break the root and knock his front left tooth loose. Infection started to set in and it was inevitable that the tooth and root would need to be removed. It is better than the alternative. We are grateful that he could get it taken care of. Now he will just be a little toothless until the permanent one grows in in about 2-3 years. He looks so cute though. I wanted before and after pictures and I did the best I could.

Since Brayden was only allowed something really soft and preferably cold that night, we got him his favorite treat. A smoothie from Costco. He enjoyed it very much.

Here he is with his missing tooth. You can tell he is still a little drugged up.

He did a great job considering. We are proud of him and love him dearly.

Pictures of Baby Nathan

Here are the pictures I promised earlier. My sister is doing well considering. Nathan is growing and quickly changing as you know as parents. Enjoy!

Here is little Nathan... 8lbs 2 oz and 21" long. Isn't he beautiful?!

BIg Sister, Katelin is holding her new baby brother. I just love this picture!

Cousins Raelene and Jerry get a turn to hold their newest cousin in the family

Having fun on a budget/A shocking experience!

So what do you do to have fun when things are a little tight?? You get creative! That's what you do! Called Cheap Entertainment. NOw what you do is you first get a shock collar. Then you convince your 2 year old that it would be fun to touch the probes on it. Of course you don't actually shock him, you just put the controller on vibrate and so all it really does is tickle! As you can see from the pictures below... Dad and the rest of us I think had more laughs and fun then Brayden... but he still came back for more!

I trust you dad...

but I still got a laugh out of it!

Stay tuned for more creative ways of having good, wholesome fun while on a budget...

Happy Birthday Jennica!

Happy 17th Birthday to my niece Jennica!! We love you and think that you are a very special Daughter of God. Thank you for your sweet example to all of us and to Wonderful Parents who teach by example! We love you Jennica!

Which one are you?

A dear friend reminded me of this saying that I had read in a book a while ago. I think it is worth repeating...

Do-er vs Feeler.

Someone who is a Do-er does things because it needs to be done not because they only feel like it. Therefore, they are the ones that get results.

A Feeler is someone who only does something when they feel like doing it. Therefore, they don't get the results...

So which one will you be today? I choose to be a do-er this morning. THat is if I feel like it! LOL

I have a goal...Bubbles, Bubbles Everywhere!

Ok, so I have a goal to post something everyday for the month of June. Not sure if it will happen , I hope you enjoy the posts.

Bubbles Bubbles Everywhere!

Raelene and Brayden had a blast blowing bubbles last saturday! It was fun watching them enjoy something so simple. And I wonder why I don't buy him toys... they are more interested in the simple things in life.. you know, the boxes, wrapping paper, pots and pans, not the expensive toys. Maybe we can all learn from them!

Enjoy the slideshow!

Recipe of the Week... Honey Wheat Buns

1 1/4 cups warm milk
1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1/4 cup honey
3 c whole wheat flour
1 c white flour
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 teaspoons yeast
(i like to put a couple of tablespoons of flax seed flour in my mix, it is flavorful and has many health benefits!)

Place ingredients as listed in bread machine or mixer
cover and let rise to double in size
roll 3/4 in thick on floured surface and use 3-4" cutter or 3-4" round item to cut dough, place on lightly oiled baking sheet, cover and double in size
bake at 350 10-15 min until light golden brown.
slice in half for buns or use in place of bread... use your imagination and enjoy!