Crowns or Dentures.. the verdict is in

Well I saw my Dentist today and expressed my concerns about my teeth. He sat there and patiently listened to my list of questions. After I was done, he told me he would in no way consider gettin dentures for me, especially being as young as I am. Also I don't have any serious disease with my teeth.

He said that after $5000 for braces and $20,000 in Crowns in the next 5 or so years I will have perfect teeth! He told me that I had strong roots and a good bone structure.

It was nice to hear this.. all except the expenses of course! I am grateful for the prayers in behalf of the situation.

How to make $25 go a LONG ways!

I love to hear about great deals... especially when I can take advantage of them! I have never really known how to take advantage of the coupons like you hear so much about, but I think I am starting to figure it out. I hope by what I post can help others save money.. as the old adage goes "A penny saved is a penny earned."

A friend had given me some coupons for Post Select Cereals. Buy 2 get a dollar off. She called me on friday and told me the sale goes until tuesday at Albertsons. I got off the phone with her and asked Ross if he would like to go on a date with me to the store to buy cereal. You should have seen the look on his face! It was only 10 pm... so off to save some money we went!

We spent $17 dollars that night and got 36 boxes of cereal. You buy 4 boxes at $10 and it takes an automatic $4 off plus spits off a $3 Catalina coupon. It tastes so good and is very low in sugar.

The next morning my friend gave me more coupons and it turned out we needed to go to Boise for school supplies for my new jr high student... Jerry. Off went Raelene, Brayden and I on our quest. I stopped by the Albertsons on State and 16th and I was sooo impressed with their hospitality and customer service!! There is another sale going on with cold cereal. Spend $25 in certain cereals (Rice Krispies, Corn flakes...) and you get 2 $5 coupons to spend on your next order. I had $3 coupon left over from the night before, used that on the $25 in cereal. Brought it down to $23.. need tax.. then was able to use my $5 Catalina's on my next two transactions on the Post Selects. Plus my $1 off 2 boxes coupons and ended up having them owe me so I needed to purchase something for .70. I got 16 boxes of cereal and 4 bottles of Propel water and a box of snack bars for .80! I ended up getting 26 boxes of cereal for what it would have cost me for the 10! I thought it was a pretty awesome deal so I went and did it again at another Albertsons on the way home except I ran out of coupons for the last 8 boxes.

I feel so blessed to have found this amazing deal! I want others to have the same blessings.

Crowns or Dentures?

I have been so thankful lately that I have hardly seen the dr this year. It has been such a blessing. However, I feel that I have made up for it in dentist bills! One would tend to think that with 2 crowns in the last year and more dental work to be done that I eat a ton of sugar, drink soda or juices or such. That is far from what I do. I brush, don't floss as much as I should though.

Last week in a yearly exam, after they try to get the pictures taken in my ever so small mouth.. The Dentist says... and Just what I want to hear! "I have bad news for you." A tooth in front of the one I had crowned just over a year ago needs a crown and has a large cavity under the big filling that is already there. Then the tooth next to the one I had crowned over a month ago needs a crown. In fact, he says, as you get older most of your teeth will require crowns because of all the large fillings that I have.

When I was 16 I only had 2 mild cavities. Then I get married and get pregnant at 19 and almost all my teeth had cavities. That was before I knew to take calcium supplements...

Now most of my teeth will need to be crowned. That will cost more than an arm and a leg.. about all of them plus maybe some blood??... lol. I was talking to a good friend the other day about this and she said have you ever considered dentures? She said that her father in law was facing the same thing and just went with the wonderful dentures. Then a friend of hers was 35 when they did the same thing. In talking with Ross he said that it is a lot to think about and discuss it with the dentist. Granite, I will be trading one thing for another.. and I am definately not saying that I want them... just a thought. A single crown costs over $800 and insurance never covers very much on them. Multiply that by 10 or more teeth and unfortunately, a crown lasts between 10-15 yrs the dentist says. So every 10 years or so have 10 or more crowns replaced at $800 per tooth.. you get the idea! Can I say that I just don't like the sounds of either option. Maybe everything will be fine and I can get metal teeth... wouldn't that look nice! j/k. It is a lot to think about and I am thankful that I have teeth, even if they aren't great. Will see what he says next week...

Pressure Cooker Roast

I have heard about cooking a roast in a pressure cooker and that it was sooo tender and fast. I like everyone I know was nervous about using one. But once you use it it is very easy to work. We put a large Arm Roast in the pressure cooker, it was thawed and seasoned and most of it was done to perfection in just 20 min. It was so tender and juicy and flavorful. I am excited that it turned out delicious and easy and that it cooked fast and also that it didn't BLOW UP on me!!

If I had a camera I would have taken a picture for it turned out looking so nice! Eventually I will get one... But I am thankful for the moments that I have to blog about.

Its times like these I wish I had a camera!

I miss my camera! Today amongst our cleaning, Brayden decided it would be fun to be gellin'! He put a large amount of gel on top of his head...came out and said look at hair mommy! Sure enough it is gel. Don't think his hair will be going anywhere for a long time!!

I am sure there will be other things that will happen that I will want a camera for, until then...

De'javu... Broken Camera...

Again I find myself with a broken camera. You would think that I had learned my lesson... not to leave the camera with the kids. This time Raelene had it in her hands and with it open she tripped and fell on the camera.

Of course this happens with an event coming up..lol! Oh well, such is life. If this was the worst thing that ever happened things are great! And of course things are great no matter what!

Back to school classes

Tonight was a fun-filled night at our R.S. Enrichment. The committee does an amazing job and I want to thank them for all their hard work that goes on behind the scenes!

We started off with a school lunch for dinner... hoagie sandwhiches which were very yummy!

Then we broke into classes to get some good, wholesome learning in. There was the Science class which Callie did a great job I was told, on haircutting tips.. then there was a Math class I think was taught on finances, Shop class by several of the brothers, one taught on plumbing, electricity and one on general things for the house, Seminary and Home-Ec--Bread making.

I taught the one on bread making with the wonderful and amazing help of a great friend! I couldn't have done it without her and seeing how I forgot a couple of the most important ingredients and she was so kind to go to my house twice to get them!! Since those who taught were unable to attend the other classes I heard that everyone did an awesome job!! Thanks to all those who shared their talents with everyone and gave great tips!! I wish I could have taken those classes! This was my first time teaching a class at an Enrichment and I think it went ok. I am grateful that I am doing as good as I am. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve. I am also thankful for everyone who participated and gave of their time and talents to bless our lives tonight.

Celebration continues...

Saturday and Sunday were filled with fun events. We had went to his cousin's wedding and there we got to see family. Sondra showed up and was so nice to see her and Tammy and Tom was fun to spend time with them!


Sunday we had dinner at a friends and I made this pineapple upside down cake and put raspberries on top since Ross doesn't like the marashino cherries. I thought it turned out pretty and everyone loved it!

Happy Birthday Ross!!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful Husband! Just 36 years ago you were born to an amazing family. Now you have a family of your own. We are blessed by you and love you more than words could every express!

This is one of my favorite pictures of you! Picking flowers... I always knew there was a softer side to you! You have won my heart and I love you dearly!



I wish you a very special day today and may you be blessed with your hearts desires!



Last night we went out to dinner as a family and had a wonderful time. Today you get to go train dogs... your kids made you pancakes, and we get to finish it off by going to your cousin's wedding here in Emmett and enjoying a catered dinner! What a way to celebrate your birthday!

Happy Birthday Dad Love u! You are an awesome Dad!!---Jerry

Happy Special Happy Birthday Dad!! Hope you are having a fun time!! Love you soo much!! Your the best! Love, Raelene

Happy Birthday Daddy! You are special and fun. I love you--Brayden

Firsts...

On Saturday August 1 we took the kids and some friends with us to Cascade to pick Huckleberries. It was their first time picking them. It was a beautiful day, hot but pretty and it was so relaxing to just sit in one spot for a half hour and just pick away. Once every few years the huckleberries come on thick and big and this happen to be one of those years. As you can see the ones in Raelene's hands they are very pretty and good sized. Ross and I picked for 5 hours and got almost 2 gallons that day. I did amazingly well considering and would have done better had I not tripped and fell on logs but I saved the berries!!

We went to Ross' parents house afterwards and Ross was able to help his dad with one of the Shire's hooves that night. And write this one down in history... Ross did not get hurt helping with horses that night! We enjoyed new potato and pea soup (which came from his parent's beautiful and LARGE garden) and then had homemade huckleberry ice cream for dessert. It was wonderful to see them and our nephew, David.




This was my first time making apricot-pineapple jam. My sweet neighbor gave us some apricots and so I wanted to make jam with them. I was thrilled that I was able to do it all on my own. I am enjoying canning (most definately the results) and the fruits of my labor... no punn intended..lol. This was our first purple bell pepper from our garden. I think they are beautiful.

These were our first tomatoes out of our garden, but I thought they looked better with other produce...

With the help of my kids we made Zucchini relish last friday for the first time. I used Ross' Mom's recipe. I am not a relish fan but I enjoy this recipe. It is yummy on meat and also as a tartar sauce. My neighbor made Macaroni Salad with zucchini relish and I had 4 helpings of it!

Then we made Huckleberry-Rhubarb jam yesterday for the first time. Ross' parents were so kind to give us some rhubarb and I wanted to make jam out of it. Also I made Huckleberry- Strawberry freezer jam for the first time yesterday. They all turned out so pretty and tasted so good too.

I am most grateful for all produce that Heavenly Father is blessing us with. I know I won't need to by jam for at least a year and I want to bless other's lives with this blessing too.

45 lessons life taught me...

Sure, this might be a little lengthy, but sometimes good things do come in big packages...

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio ..
To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me..
It is the most-requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will. Stay in touch
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

There you have it. Hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I do.