Confessions

David puked twice today!

I fell asleep putting him down for his nap, before he did.

I hate vacuum lines.

The lotion I wear has nothing to do with how well I like the scent.

I am only slightly obsessed with chocolate. (some days I am totally obsessed!)

I am completely jealous of anyone who has a house bigger than mine.

(that's pretty much everyone!)

I am more than a little proud of my kids.

I am totally and completely obsessed with my Husband.

(Superman, I have no idea how I got so Blessed to have you!)

I love holding little babies. Will I ever get past this stage?

I didn't excercise one day this week.

(I thought about it...does that count?)

And I look really HOT today!

Classic Moments

Jacob started basketball practice this week. He is so pumped to be playing basketball. He really is an amazing athlete. He was so sore and tight after practice yesterday though. This morning was a 2 hour school delay due to hazardous road conditions. So I had Winslow take him over to his office to adjust him and have his massage therapist work on Jacob's shoulders. He gets SO TENSE and then gets headaches. So I was anxious to avoid that. Then Winslow tells me that tonight when he was taking Jacob to practice again he looked over at Jacob and realized his shoulders were all tense and he looked anxious. "Relax, you don't have to be the best at suicide runs." He told him. And then Jacob's shoulders relaxed and he started breathing evenly again. "I can't believe he really gets that stressed over this stuff." Winslow said. But he does. He really does worry so much. He wants to be the best. Cracks me UP! It's 4th grade basketball for heavens sake!
Then there is Rachel. As Jacob is going over all the fantastic details of his practice at dinner time, Rachel very excitedly asks, "did you see any CHEERLEADERS?" Ha ha ha ha ha.
I have no idea where this fixation on cheerleaders comes from, but it's what she wants to be when she grows up. And she sooo wishes she was the same age as her sister. All the time asking when her birthday is so she can be older.
And of course I had to have a very spastic moment tonight. Sunday, our Primary counselor called to set up a Baptism fireside, what time would be good for me, etc. They have it every year for the kids turning eight and I assumed she wanted me to lead or to play the piano since I am the primary chorister. The other day I was thinking, why hasn't she told me what songs she wants me to play. Oh well, I can play any of them so no problem. Well Tonight, I get a call at 6:25pm...

"Hi Melissa, this is Amanda."

" Hi, how's it going?"

"Good, um are you going to come to the fireside tonight?" (It started at 6pm!)

"Oh yeah, crud I forgot, It's right here on the calendar and I totally forgot. Have you started yet?"

"No, come on down to the church."

So I throw on a skirt and tell Winslow he has to take the other kids to go get Jacob from practice. Abby asks if she can come. "Not this time." (I'm thinking I don't have time to wait for her to get into any church clothes.) I grab my primary book and run out the door. I keep thinking as I drive.

"Seriously, could they not have just sung a cappella. Why did they wait for me? I feel so bad forgetting about this, but really they didn't need me bad enough to wait to start the meeting."
I get to the church and there are very few cars. Hmmm, this is different. I go inside.
"Where is Abby? Aren't you going to bring her?" Amanda asks
"Why?" I ask.
"Isn't she turning 8 this year?" asks Amanda.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! I'm such a dork! So then I race off to get Abby and then come back to the church so my Daughter who is going to be baptized this year can go to the Baptism Fireside!!!

In Review

So...

David learned how to climb out of his crib and his high chair on the same day. YIKES!! His bed was immediately converted to a toddler bed, in order to save us any broken bones or the need for stitches.

I completely rearranged the boys room. And I LOVE IT! There is room for their toys and they have a place to play that is not my front room.

The kids and I went thru all their toys and threw out a whole bunch and are donating 6 grocery bags of toys to the Childcare center for use in the treasure box.

Winslow hiked in the grand canyon and loved it...pictures and post narrated by him below.

Abby has found an amazing talent of clay shapping.

She got a polymer clay set for Christmas from Gma & Gpa McNeill. And she is so good.

Rachel is now adding and writting her #'s to 10.

She can already write the whole alphabet.

Every day she asks me how to spell something new.

David is on a Wheat Free diet to help improve his respritory distress. (it hasn't officially been diagnosed as asthma.) That's been a new challenge. Although I am finding lots of things he can eat.

Abby is one of only 3 students to recieve her AR shirt. She got to call me on the phone and tell me at work. It was a very happy moment.

My new dishwasher is amazing. Have I said that already? Well it is And I can't believe how nice it is not to have to double wash the dishes!

Winslow made killer sloppy joes tonight and remains forever my Superman.

Jacob is terrified of Winslow's driving and My driving...which is ridiculous. I am the safest driver I know. He gets all freaked out.

Jacob is excited for basketball season to start. Practice begins this week.

We got around 18inches of snow this week. Lots of fun snowmen made by the kids. Good thing I bought carrotts this week. And of course, Mud everywhere!

One of the 7 Wonders of the World

The hike started early (well before dawn) as recommended by park publications. About 2 feet of snow near the Bright Angel trailhead. I was the first one (beside the bobcat which lift tracks) on the trail Jan. 21 2010!

Somewhat fuzzy picture due to low light and lack of tripod (even the light ones might be too much weight for a serious hike)

Descending the canyon wall the snow started giving way to slush and mud.

Less slush and more mud.

Nearing Indian Gardens.

It reminded me of a rainy morning in Southern AZ.

This picture overlooks Jacobs ladder on our way back out. It is a strenuous portion of the trail.

Another hour of hiking gave way to snow. This Oak is having a hard time figuring out what time of year it is.

Bishop had poked his hiking pole into the snow to see how deep it was, we estimate this at nearly 3 feet.

People die of heat exhaustion and dehydration every year in the Grand Canyon. That was a little hard to imagine on a day like this.

Spectacular!

I really like the new camera!

This might be my favorite photo of the day. I let Bishop walk out ahead and caught this picture of him from about 100 yards back.

He said he didn't want to wear either of the 2 beanies he had packed. We really were warm hiking back out. I had to shed a heavier outer layer towards the bottom of the hike.

The end of a wonderful hike and an unforgettable experience! All we had to do now was make it home!

This week...YES THIS WEEK with all the SNOWthat has been falling. My husband and our Bishop decided to go hiking in the Grand Canyon. I thought they were a little crazy. I also got a little stressed that he might get stuck in the Grand Canyon and have to build himself a snow cave and sleep in it. Winslow had no such worries. I said a lot of prayers (so did his mother I am sure!) and watched him leave on his crazy adventure!

I am going to let him narrate his pictures. He took a lot of Super Awesome pictures with our Camera I got for Christmas. (This is the camera we upgraded to when the 1st camera we bought on Black Friday turned out NOT to be in the BOX!)

The NEW Plan

So I really, really want to be able to have some more room in my house. It's definitely cozy. We have been planning to add on for quite some time. Of course, our plan is to pay for the addition in cash.
Step 1-pay off All extra debt (doesn't include student loan or house)
Stpe 2- save for addition
Step 3- Have room to BREATHE!

So, Step one is comming along rather nicely. And we have been discussing what and how we want to do our addition. Then we had the idea to sell of our neighboring lot that we have. Well, it gets a bit complicated because it's part of our mortgage, etc. But these thoughts led us to the NEW Plan.

If we are going to save a big chunk of money to do an addition, why not just save for a 20% down payment on a new house and build it on the lot we already have. It would allow us to get rid of our PDMI on our mortgage, and have almost double the size of house. Nothing to big. Less than 1700 sq ft. But that would be such a huge house to me right now. 4 bed, 2bath, big living room. I am loving the idea.

(READ THE TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER by Dave Ramsey...it is so like the One For the Money Pamphlet.)

I am excited. So excited. The big thing is though we will have to be very strict on what we buy and where our money goes. And I will have to survive (and enjoy) living in our current house a while longer. Especially since I plan to only work until we have achieved Step 1. But I will work at home again. So in the mean time I was so excited to read my friend Mary's blog and read her ideas on how to have MORE LIFE. (She is so awesome at this!) I'm gonna do it! You should too.
http://jeremynmary.blogspot.com/2010/01/more-life.html

Fun in the Snow

So the girls had fun making a snowman. Winslow had to teach us the proper way since I didn't grow up in snow. I've decided its silly that all of our kids have snow pants and boots, but Winslow and I do not. Especially since we aren't going to grow out of them like our kids will! But they definitely have a better time when they stay dry and warm. Superman and his little woodsprite getting ready for the plunge down the hill. Thoughtful in the snow. I think this is one of the only times Jacob slowed down. He had so much fun tearing down the slope. What an athletic kid! The girls were all about eating the snow! My sister Emily. I miss her. I loved having her live with us for a month last summer. I think she'd love to come back. She made lots of friends here. We sure miss her! My kids love to be read to. I loved watching my parents read to my girls. I amazed constantly at how much fun I have with my husband. He is such a good dad. Oh, we have our moments of strife...how can you not with two very stubborn people. But we compliment each other in so many ways. I Know I Love him more now than I did when we first got married. Ahh, the camera found me. I love her smile. Just like her mother!! My sister Stephanie, he he he. She'll kill me for putting up this photo. But I love it. I love spending time with her. She's just stinkin' CUTE!

Prayers for Ella and Sandy

Some of you may remember my childhood bestfriend Sandy. Recently she moved from AZ to Utah. She was 7 months pregnant. Sandy ended up in the hospital with Placenta Abruptia. After a few days she gave birth to a precious little girl. Ella is 3lbs 5oz and 7 weeks early. I would ask that you remember then in your prayers. I know many premmie babies who have done quite well as they grow, but I also know that the early stages can be hard. So if you would, for me, pray for Sandy and Ella.

The Measure of our Creation

"The Good Shephard said 'Feed my Lambs.' John 21:15
So a woman feeds her loved ones, providing succor and sustenance just as the Savior would do. Her divine gift is to nurture, to help the young, to care for the poor, to lift the brokenhearted.
In Partnership with God, her divine mission it to help spirits live and souls be lifted. This is the 'measure' of her creation. It Is ENOBLING, EDIFYING, and EXALTING." --Russell M. Nelson

My visiting teacher brought me this and I love it!

For the Love of A Woman

So this last year we have been dedicated to paying off debt and buying everything in Cash. We've done rather well. This has meant some sacrifice, including my going to work. But it is something we are trying very hard to achieve. Winslow's birthday is comming up and he has been saving to buy a flat screen tv for our bedroom. Twice, we almost bought one. And then this week. my dishwasher finally gave up the ghost. It makes the dishes dirtier than when you put them in. Yuck. We've been struggling with it for a couple of months. I've cleaned out all the parts, run CLR thru it. And it would get marginally better. But this last week it just wasnt' worth it. They would come out with grit and grime they didn't have going in. The dishwasher is 7 years old so it's about time to replace it anyway. So my loving husband gave up his Flat Screen $ to buy me a dishwasher. Now that's LOVE!
I have a large supply of paper goods on hand to get me thru the next 2 weeks until the dishwasher comes in.
Saturday night the DVD player died (our second one in a year...although we have had this one since we lived in Texas forever ago.)
Maybe I'll get a new one for valentines!