MILESTONES

Is anyone starting to notice a trend in my blogs? I sure am. I don't do it when I need to and fall behind then I am busting with information.
I really need to be more consistent with my updates.
What can I say, I get busy. AS WE ALL ARE! Blogging starts to take a back seat.
So I am going to focus on MILESTONES!

MILESTONE ONE:

As mentioned in a previous blog.

At the end of December Brian and I went on a vacation alone! Not only our first non-family event planned vacation. BUT without kids for 7 days! FUN FUN FUN!!
San Diego was great! Sea world for two-days, Dinner/dance cruise, USS Midway,and Wild Animal park! We stayed at a very nice resort called the Catamaran.
It was located on Mission Bay and with a hop, skip, and a jump we were able to walk on the beaches and watch the waves. SO RELAXING!

MILESTONE TWO:

Eleanor cut her hair. (This was in January)
Not trim...NO, a cut.
10 Inches! We were able to donate her hair to locks of love but she just grew up before our eyes. I have to admit I shed a lot of tears while at she got it done and then a few the next day.
BUT she loved it she didn't stop smiling for days. It was a BIG deal to us all!

MILESTONE THREE:
Owen is Finally walking ( In December!)

He was incredibly fast when crawling and really

didn't want to take the next step! (Pun intended!) But once he started he didn't stop.
He was already so busy I wasn't in a hurry for it. But he can keep up with the girls and has so much fun now. It is amazing how fast he is growing!

MILESTONE FOUR:
Madi Looses another Tooth (In December)

It is amazing how grown up she feels every time she looses one.
She is so excited and just bubbles over!

MILESTONE FIVE:
I painted the Girls' room (In January)

I finally put to use the paint I had purchased about 6 months ago!

-To match their quilts.

Then I finally finished the quilts. (In February)

I had been working on them for almost two years-Off and On.

The bunk beds finally went up. (Two weeks ago)

Now that the painting is done.

MILESTONE SIX:

We have been talking about a tire swing.

Also up. (Two weeks ago)

MILESTONE SEVEN:

UPDATED MY BLOG! (TODAY)

*pat myself on the back!*

Brian and I just got back from San Diego this last week. It was so fun to spend some time together without kids.
Although,I did go through a few moments of guilt as I was watching all the shows at Sea World. UNTIL... I heard a child asking for food or whining for a toy. Or Complaining about how they where tired of walking. Or a mother rushing to the potty with her kids.
It was nice to not have to deal with that.
I have no pictures of the whole wonderful week. Due to the regrettable fact that my usb cable to my Camera has yet to be found. I have one in the mail-on it's way.
Then if anyone is interested I'll post some.
Although it is after all my blog... so you will see them soon.

I have added to my other blog a wonderful video...take a look at my blog Diaries of an at Home Mom. It is inspiring! To say the least.

Loving the snow for now!

Because I hadn't updated for so long, there are three posts to read in a row....None of which are too long. So, to have the maximum reading pleasure don't just stop here.

We have had a few really big snow storms and so our yard is a winter wonderland.

What we didn't realize is that we have a perfect hill to sled on right in our own front yard!

What a fun discovery...after building a snow man we went sledding in front of our house.

After all of that Owen got too cold after taking off his gloves and I had to bring him in.

Meanwhile, Brian and the girl's stayed outside to play in the snow. They built snow forts and had a snowball fight. It was so funny to watch the girls try to throw snow balls and end up dropping them above their heads. Once in a while one would fly and nail Brian in the head.
So for NOW I love the snow. After Christmas it can go! BRRRR!

Squeezing Pennies for Food.

READ THIS POSTING---IT IS WORTH IT!
A couple of note worthy things for all who live in Arizona, Idaho, Utah, and Washington State.
I have been a part of a couple of food co-ops that have really saved us money.
I was introduced to these by family and friends, I hope that these will do you some good in your area.
I have been getting a lot of food, mostly fruits and vegetables.
One is the Food Co-op and the other Bountiful Baskets.(Are in the above mentioned states.)
Each is a volunteer program that works with the public and local food markets to get the best deal on food. It is not something you have to do each month.
It is not just for poor people, though it can be.
It is not a sales job.....or anything trying to make money.
It is a service to the community.
I have really loved the amount of food I have gotten and it has been a real gift to us.
I hardly need to go the store anymore.
I have so many healthy choices of food that I have had to be creative and plan my meals around the healthy foods I already have, or will receive each time.

The Food Co-op https://www.foodco-op.net/ (For Utah)

This cost me $23 + The nutty guy nut packages were 10$.
Totaling $33.
This includes fruit, vegetables, 1 lb of rice, loaf of artisan bread, and 4 kinds of meat. There are options to add on all sorts of different things to your order. You can order as much or as little as you want, it is quite adjustable to your family size.
This is nearly 50 to 60 percent off of what it would cost in the grocery store.
This is once a month, order is due at the beginning of the month and picked up at the end of the month. Also, the more people that participate the cheaper it is.

Bountiful Baskets http://www.bountifulbaskets.org/

This cost me $15.
This is 50% Fruit and 50% Veggies.
This is twice a month and there are options to add a lot of different breads and other items to be added to your order. These orders are placed the week of.

I have found that almost each order takes us a week and a half to get through it.
With this said, I have been doing both of these in a month.
Some months I only get one Bountiful Basket and the Co-op, and other months I have been able to get it every weekend, save one.

You realize that this means on an average month if I do Bountiful Baskets twice a month and I do the co-op once a month I spend $53 on healthy food, and only really need a few things to supplement what I don't get. I think it is well worth it.
It saves us money, it gets expensive to buy produce so this is the way to go.
Plus, it is easy at home, on-line shopping---That part is nice.

**Check the above websites. You'll find it might be just what you were looking for to help you save money and eat right.

**If you do not live in these states there is a way to find out if you have one -(look for it --I am sure they have one)- and if you know that your area doesn't have one,there is a way to start one.

Let me know if this posting was helpful to you or if you have any questions by posting a comment.

Fall Fun!

I love the fall and I never really updated the events of the season.
So I added a few pictures from Halloween.
My kids had a fun time.
However, only a day later each child was sick.
MY FAMILY GOT H1N1...we are all better now.
It did take us all quite a while to get over the cough though.
I am glad that is behind us.

A Corn Maze, not so Amazing!

This weekend was quite fun. We went to Logan to celebrate my niece's first birthday.
We spent the day at American West Heritage Center with all the fall festivities. There was so much to do, I don't even think we did it all. Everyone had a great time, for the most part.

But I really did not want to do the Cornmaze, alas, I was talked into it.
Brian really wanted to go so I conceeded, everyone was tired, and hungry, that only compounded it for us.
I don't mean to be a bad sport, But I don't like the feeling of being lost. That is how I felt the first time I did a corn maze and I felt the same way the second time. I really tried not to complain, but I was hungry, tired and thirsty...One should not top that off with the frustration of a never ending maze.
After wandering for what seemed to be an eternity we saw the road, and cut through the corn. We did not find our way through the Maze, never finished it. What can I say?
I am a grown woman and in this situation I felt like screaming, I did not scream. I tried not so say much, I didn't want my kids to hear my frustration, though I am sure they did.
I know there are some who like corn mazes...I am not one of those.
I love fall and pumpkins, the falling leaves, the chilly days and the warm soups. BUT I DON'T LIKE BEING LOST. I don't understand how that is fun.
Come to think of it, I never really like hide and seek as a kid. I guess I am kind of strange that way.

Anyway, Happy Fall to you all.
I hope you enjoy it before the SNOW covers us all.

The many events of our lives.

THIS HAS BEEN ONE CRAZY MONTH.

OWEN'S ORDEAL!
HOLD YOUR FAMILY TIGHTER TODAY!

The day before Madi's birthday I had a horrible incident that landed my little Owen in the Hospital. He started chocking on a cracker and stopped breathing and went unconscious, I did all I could and called 911. He started breathing while I was on the phone with the operator. When the paramedics arrived he was breathing but was very lethargic and weak. His breathing was labored and the rushed him to the ER. When I arrived at the ER he was stable but was not responsive to anything around him. I found out that he had had a seizure in route to the hospital.
They had given him medication to avoid another seizure, and it had also made him very sedated.
I was in shock, and overcome with emotion, My baby was hooked up to all sorts of wires and lights. As the meds started to wear off he was not as responsive as they needed him to be and felt it necessary to take him to primary children's hospital where they were better equipped to handle any situation that may occur concerning Owen. I rode down with him in the ambulance. We stayed overnight to make sure that he would be okay. Everything was Okay. By morning he was trying to get all the wires off of him and wanted to get going.
He was happy and playing with the nurses. He is home and is getting into as much trouble as before. I am so glad that he is still with us.
While all of this was happening I was indeed being cared for by many people. Brian was out of town so my in-laws came up to be with me ,while my girls were at a very gracious friend's house.
The ward has received word of this ordeal and began to pray for my little baby's life.
I have never seen or heard of so many people who loved my family and were anxious to help and pray for us. That is what a ward family is all about. How grateful I am to be apart of something so wonderful. I knew that God was indeed aware of me and my needs. He comforted me and kept me strong during this time. I know He loves me.
I do need to add that a week before this my husband was in an accident that he was very lucky to have come from unharmed. In a matter of a week I had come close to loosing my son and my husband. I am so blessed to have had both of their lives spared.

Hug your family tighter and love them more today! I know that I do I see now how precious each moment is. I have seen the mercies of God on my family and I am grateful for them.

NOW to move another direction....I know, how do I continue from here?
The truth is I had planned to put these pictures here a while ago.

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE!

MADI TURNED 6 YEARS OLD
I have been holding onto a Madeline Doll since she was only a baby.
Now that she is old enough to appreciate the meaning of it, I gave her the doll.
We also had a Madeline hat cake and she got Madeline books. She really likes her doll and has been very excited about it.

MY KIDS EATING STUFF!

Owen and Spaghetti (don't we all have a picture of this!)

Nori and the Sucker!

Yes that is exactly what it looks like:
Nori is eating a sucker with a scorpion in it. (EWWWW!)

Brian brought it home from El Paso Texas to show the girl's!

It was banana flavored and the scorpion was not poisonous any longer!

Madi and I were beside ourselves, it really gave me the creeps.

Before: After:
Owen Got a real big boy hair cut.

Apparently, Owen is going to be a tech guy. (Yes, He got up there by himself.)

THE LIFE OF OUR DEAR SQUASH BOTTLE ROCK!

This is Squash Bottle Rock. Yes, this squash has a name. This squash was adopted one Sunday out of a box in the hall way at church by Nori. She selected it and was holding it like a baby. I told her to rock it and she did. I asked her what its name was and she said "Squash bottle rock".

For the following reasons: 1- It is a squash. 2- it is shaped like a bottle. 3-I asked her to rock it.

After a few days with our new addition Nori asked if we could eat it. (I know, cannibalistic! I thought so too.) So we did. Here is the pictures of the short life of our dear Squash Bottle Rock.
How we loved you so. He was tasty too.