Crazy Day at the Zoo

Saturday I decided that I would take Raelene and Brayden and go with my sister and her husband and daughter to the Zoo for the Easter egg hunt.  I felt like I was in Disney Land!! There were sooo many people there it was absolutely nuts!  The best part of the whole experience was the animals and watching them get their own Easter Baskets!  That is what this Lion was watching and waiting for and was so fun to watch.

There was lots to do at the Zoo... and face painting was one of them.  What a cute lil' dragon.

Raelene was really excited about getting her face painted... she is so pretty.

She taught Brayden how to roll down the hill for the first time.  I think they enjoyed that as much as the Zoo!

Is anyone steering this stroller?  Brayden insisted on pushing it and was so fun to watch!!

We had a fun time that day despite the crowd.  I didn't get any pictures of the Easter Egg Hunt... that was ridiculous!! A swarm of parents and kids went out to collect the eggs and it was over in about 45 seconds!!  Brayden didn't get an egg so Katelin shared one of her 2 with him.  I won't be doing this again for Easter Egg Hunts.  Too crazy for my liking!  We ended up parking at one of the BSU campus parking lot which left us with a 10 min walk to the Zoo.  I got lots of exercise that day.. 3 hours of walking!!  It will be nice to go back on a day that is not quite so crazy!!

Birthday Girl!

I can't believe how fast time has gone!!  Just yesterday I was holding you in my arms and now you are officially a Young Woman!  12 is such a special time in your life in so many ways.  Your birthday fell on Sunday and the Bishop called you up to present you with your Certificate of Advancement into Young Women's from Primary.  There are so many fun adventures you will have over the next few years.  I encourage you to listen to your heart and the Spirit that you may always be guided by truth and light and continue to be such a sweet example to your family and friends.  May you look back on these years with joy and learning, knowing that you are a Special Daughter of God!

It has been a while since we have had a family picture taken!

You wanted Shephard's Pie for your Birthday dinner... looks yummy!

You have been waiting for a long time to have your pumpkin pie so we decided to have it as your "birthday cake".  Fun to start new traditions!!  But I wasn't fast enough in taking the picture when you blew out your candles!!

Your daddy had fun catching this for you at the Hockey Game!!!

Don't look too happy there Rae!!  But you did enjoy your gifts!!

You are such a beautiful young lady!!  WE love you soooo much and hope that your day was a special one!  We are so blessed to have you as our daughter!!!

How 3 year olds entertain themselves...dogs and all!

The other night Kato was by the window and Brayden went up to him and the next thing I knew, he had grabbed Kato's ears and said "look Mom, Kato is a rabbit"!  I laughed so hard!! I couldn't believe that he had thought of that all on his own!  So I had him do it again so I could take a picture, then he folded Kato's ears and said, "look, Kato is a girl!"  Where do they come up with these things?  It is so stinkin' cute!!

During Raelene's Birthday party last friday, Brayden thought he would have some fun on his own, so he went over to the neighbor's and hopped right on their little 4 wheeler and drove it like he was a pro!  I couldn't believe what I was watching, he steered around things like this was second nature to him!

Then while we were at Walmart the other day I had put popcorn boxes in the cart.. Brayden wanted to hold it and the next thing I heard was him singing "popcorn popping on the apricot tree".  It was soo cute!

He sang I am a child of God later that day in the van.  I am so thankful for Primary and the things that he is picking up on!

Birthday Party

Raelene wanted to have her party just over a week before her birthday so friends and cousins could attend.

I stressed and stressed over the cake, I decided last minute what I was going to do and put off decorating it just before they piled in.  With some minor alterations.. this is how it turned out.


The one is supposed to be an artist's palatte and the other is a painting from the paints.  It was fun even though it is not professionally done and the girls all enjoyed it so that is what counts!

I do have to say that it is nice having your kids be older.. they plan and are in charge of the party and games and I just supervise!  This game is called Fruit Basket.  Every girl picks a fruit and you are to remember what you are.  Then the one in the middle goes around and picks a person and they are to call out a different fruit then their own or the person in the middle.. if they do then they are it.. or if you get hit before you call out a different fruit you are it.  It was fun to watch!!

I think we might be seeing the dentist soon...

Spur of the moments are sometimes the best!

Once in a while it pays to not have any plans!  They say if you are flexible you won't break and we were definitely flexible last night!   We headed over to friends house last night in Boise to discuss some upcoming business plans..(which I am so excited about can hardly stay in my skin!!) and we have been trying to get together for quite some time.  On the way, Al called and asked if we wanted to go to a Hockey game...sure we said, we have never been to one before!  They have 4 Season Tickets, right on the blue line next to the glass and penalty box.. what sweet seats!!

They invited us for dinner so we could talk about future plans and we had our first Irish Dinner of Corned Beef, Cabbage, Potatoes and Carrots.  I always pictured Corned beef looking completely different but boy was it yummy!!  I went back for seconds on the beef and cabbage, it was so good and something I could actually eat without severe pain!

We then went to the game and found our seats.  It was quite the experience... fast paced yet slow.. Fights... wow there were fights!  Ross said it is part of the game, I can't help but wonder if it isnt part of pleasing the crowd and just a show.. but interesting to watch!  They slammed one another against the glass, I of course jumped in my seat a couple of times.  We ended up leaving just before the last quarter to get home, as we were leaving the area they came out on the ice and started launching t shirts into the crowd.  I am thankful that we stayed long enough because Ross caught one!! Wahoo! How fun!

I am so thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who wants us to enjoy life and to look for the blessings, beit small or great.  We enjoyed ourselves last night and are thankful for the memories that were created.

St. Patty's Day Fun

Last week Brayden and I went over to my sisters and we did some St. Patty's Day crafts.  Like anytime you are ready to do crafts.. you find out that you don't have everything you need, so you go to the store to get that missing item, then you get back and get started only to discover that you are yet missing another crucial ingredient to your masterpiece, so back to the store you go!  Third time's a charm! 

In this picture we took ordinary household items to make a Leprechaun Trap...

Here is the Leprechaun Trap.  It is not professionally done and I am sure that there are alot better ones out there, but we had so much fun making them!  There is supposed to be a ladder leaning against it and then a warning sign right next to it... we didnt get that far.  But the Leprechaun sees the gold nugget on top of the hat, sees the warning sign and they love to ignore warning signs! So they climb the ladder to get to the gold, only to find that the top of the Hat gives way (we cut a hole in the top and disguised it with the felt) and they are trapped inside.

Brayden and Katelin are painting their Pots of Gold.  They really had  a great time doing so.

Looks like the Leprechaun is trying to steal Brayden's Pot of Gold... well they are greedy!

This Morning I think that the Leprechaun tried to surprise us with Green Pancakes...

As you can see, Raelene was thrilled and surprised to find that the Leprechaun left a green pancake on her plate...

Brayden wasn't sold on the idea of green pancakes... he tried them very reluctantly.. only to find out that he really loved them!

Here you can see that the sneaky Leprechaun got away with the gold, and a bite of my pancake!! But he was so thoughtful in making them.. look how pretty my plate is!!

We wish you all the Luck of the Irish today!!

When life gives you Lemons....

Without challenges in our lives we don't appreciate the blessings we enjoy.  Not saying that I am looking forward to more challenges, but when I know that the blessings are just on the other side of the obstacles, I can endure them with a lighter heart.

Alot of things have been going on that I have not really talked about.. simply because you get what you focus on and I want to focus on the good things in my life.. but I also realize that it is unrealistic to just write only about the positive experiences and that noone can really relate to you.  I hope however that this doesn't seem depressing for I will most surely talk about the blessings in correspondence with the obstacles.

Ross' work hasn't been outstanding for quite some time.  I am asked continually if he is going to find another job or why I am not working outside the home.  Frankly, it is none of their business why I am not working... but I do understand where they are coming from.  Ross would not be able to find a job out there.. even with a college degree that would pay what he makes at the Mill, especiallly with the hours he is working.  Even though he only works 3 days a week this Month, we are most grateful that he IS working!  Doesn't cover all the bills, food and etc.. however, my faith has increased as well as my testimony about Tithing and Fast Offerings.  We have what we need and some doors will be opening here very soon that we are most EXCITED about!!

Our dishwasher went capooey on us last November and we were able to get one from a Appliance Repair guy for only $90 for a 2 year old Whirlpool!  What a wonderful blessing we received in Feb! Next our Washer and dryer were going out on us as well and we found a set for a great price.  However, after not long of having it home, the dryer wouldn't dry right, so Robert came out and fixed it for only $20 and the Washing machine for $10.  Another blessing from Heavenly Father.  Now the Washer has a big hole in it and is leaking everywhere so He is bringing us a nice used one that he warranties all of his appliances and the washer is only $65!  I really am convinced that he doesn't think that I know how to do laundry because there are mountains of laundry in the laundry room!!

We need a new windshield in our van.. pretty pathetic looking, especially when complete strangers tell you it needs replaced.. yep I just say.  Of course that takes money.. however I have faith that something will come up!!

I found out that I am not able to have gluten and starches.. potatoes.. and so forth.  But since cutting it out I feel 100% better and my blood sugar has been alot more stable.  Just have to realize that I don't have to explain myself to others. 

Ross is getting a 8 dog trailer built for him for trading dog training.. worth about $13,000 dollars! Another huge blessing!  I keep telling him he needs to find a good Orthodontist who needs hunting dogs trained he he!!

Brayden got his front tooth knocked out almost 2 weeks ago at Ross' basketball game.. . so he is toothless on top.. at least his 2 front teeth are missing.. oh well.. he is sooo cute that way!!

Things are awesome and I am so grateful for our struggles.. they make us better people.  I know that there is always a positive to every negative and I look for those more and more in the negatives. 

Blessings

I had the privlege of going over to my sisters today to spend time with her and work on our crafts that we wanted to do.  The kids had so much fun.. Brayden and Katelin that is.  I am so thankful that I have a sister that I can visit and do things with.  As I get the finishing touches done I will add pictures.

I am also thankful for a car to get me to where I want to go.  I couldn't imagine having to walk everywhere... I think I would have given up at the very beginning. 

I am thankful for the good food that I am able to eat... it is amazing what we take for granted.  I am thankful that I CAN eat and enjoy what I do eat.

I am thankful for computers and that I am able to post this.. my own journal so to speak.  I am thankful for those who like to read about what is going on in our lives... that they find us to be of interest is wonderful.

200th Post!...Gratitude

Wow, in just over a year I have posted 200 times now... hmmm must have alot to say about not much..lol!

I have been thinking alot about Gratitude... seeing how I just got done reading a good portion of this month's Ensign and how it talked alot about Gratitude.  It really got me thinking...

Those who have a grateful disposition have great things happen more often in their life.  And I am not sure if it really happens more or you are just more aware of the blessings that you are given.  But if the saying holds true, that you get what you focus on, then I could see how that would hold true.

I have come to realize that complaining does nothing other than, 1.. bring you down even more,
2. Bring those around you down to your level of thinking
3. Repels others
4. Makes matters worse and you feel worse
5. Brings more negative in your life

So.. that being said.. I want to have only positive words leave my mouth.

I am thankful for a loving husband who puts up with me on a daily basis with my "neediness", physical challenges, run a way mind, corkiness... who is always willing to help and easily sees a need and jumps right in to help.  He provides for our physical needs and helps with our other needs.  Loves me unconditionally and laughs at my not so funny jokes.

I am thankful for friends who love me inspite of me.  Who put up with me being emotional, flaky, self centered, and just being weird at times.  Who would drop anything at anytime to help in a heart beat.  For being such sweet examples of the word Self-less and help me to be a better Mom.

I am thankful for family who loves me unconditionally and makes me feel a part of the family.  For Parents who take the good with the not so good and see me for who I can be.  For setting the example for us to be righteous parents and strive to be like them and our Savior.  Who would give anything at anytime without reward or thoughts of themselves to help in anyway they can.  For praying for their children and grandchildren for their temporal and spiritual welfare.

I am most thankful for My Savior and my Heavenly Father.  Without them I wouldn't be here and be able to work at coming back Home again to live with them forever.  I wouldn't have the opportunity to forsake my sins and repent and be better each moment.  They love me unconditionally with a Perfect Love that only They can give.  I wouldn't have the blessings that I enjoy without Them.  I love Them more than words could ever express.

I am thankful for my challenges in life for they have shaped me into the person I am today and wish to become better each day with each new challenge.

This is my short gratitude list and hope to add to it each night on my own paper at home.

FIrst Scrapbook page...Digital that is...

I have been playing around as much as my wrist will let me and this is what I have come up with.  Not too shabby for my first time, although there are very many more talented people out there who digital scrapbook... I think with more practice I will get better.

Jerry had a great season of Basketball this year.  He had never played any sports prior to Basketball.  He did a great job and most importantly had fun.  We loved watching him play this year and seeing his improvements from one game to the next.

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa (Ross' parents) I now have pictures to Scrapbook and post for family to enjoy!!  Thanks Mom and Dad!!

Thank you to all who came and supported Jerry... Tammy..hmm..the only 2 games he lost were the ones you and your family came to...SMILE!! I just had to laugh and thought it was sooo funny!!! But please keep coming!!!  We love you all dearly!!!