1-800-TURKEYTALK

So my sister wishes there was some sorta hotline or something for stressed out cooks, but hey I warned her it wasn't going to be pretty and lets just say i delivered I think I averaged about 10 calls the day before thanksgiving.

So i don't consider myself a dynamite cook but even those like us can deliver a dang good Thanksgiving Feast!

I thought it would be funny to take pictures of my journey pretty much just cause I thought it was funny that i was actually doing all of this - so not me!!

Turkey not defrosted by day two - so it's bathing

Rolls round two I was determined to get them right and it was worth it!

My sister's got a tutorial on making them - Look for the " NO MORE FLOUR" Post

The Turkey was AMAZING!! I brined it for about 15 hours - don't know what brining is just ask williams and sonoma they have a tutorial. Didn't think I had the right equipment but as i was dreaming about it the night before i remembered i had these oversized ziploc bags and an ice cream bucket - they were both perfect!!

We had a little thanksgiving with Mark and Celeste and it was great, Celeste and I said we were happy it was small because we got to experiment and so glad she did everything she brought was amazing!!!

It was a perfect day except for the little fact that my two girls were up puking last night. I finally brought in reinforcement at 1:30 since the baby had been throwing up ever 30 minutes since 9:30 and Eiley about every hour - so just a small glitch in my perfect thanksgiving plans - good thing I had everything done - thankgoodness for that hotline!

Happy Thanksgiving!

apple turkeys

Our first family horse ride

It was a little bumpy at first, Carter and I were arguing over who would hold the reigns i didn't feel all that comfortable handing them over to him, but tim informed me he would probably trust Carter over me - whatever!

Bree - loved it she totally fell asleep and no she was not choking it just kinda looks like it

Halloween

So I didn't quite get around to decorating for Halloween so I tried to make up for it with a little halloween dinner for the kids and some pumpkin carving

RARR Monster Jaws

Mummy Dogs

Cheesy Fingers

All my kids costumes were multifunctional

Carter not pictured

Rambo

An Army Guy

Supposed to be GI Joe

Bree

Raggedy Ann

Dog

Lion

Supposed to be Rag Doll

Eiley

pirate

Heidi

Supposed to be Little Red riding Hood

Disneyland

Our 3rd Annual Disneyland trip and this was our best yet. I think we keep getting better every year. Thanks of course to my father who kinda has a nack for putting these things together. We all had luggage tags printed out - i forgot mine - I was in trouble, laminated schedules and we were color coordinated for all 3 days! Can't wait for next year!

Bree with her schedule

Our happy little runner doesn't look so happy at the happiest place on earth - Thanks JAce you rocked!

Love this shot Megan doing her thang!

My mom just happened to be sitting in "the seat" you know the one that got soaked during the grizzly rapids ride- we couldn't help but laugh - she was drenched

I must explain the goofy picture. Eiley was completely terrified of this thing. She loved pluto but Goofy just freaked her out - no kidding she burst into hysterics everytime she saw him, it was kinda funny

Good Times

We had a fun sleepover with our Young Women a couple of weeks ago lots of Candy, Hide and Go seek in the dark, some other crazy games and reading scriptures -fun fun!

Telluride

So we did this great trip to telluride a little while back with our friends Josie and Jonathan and their boys. We stayed in an awesome hotel only because we had a killer friends and family discount. Tons of fun and Telluride was beautiful. On the way home we did a little fishing and I had to add in the pictures of Tim and the beard - the beard that is now thankfully gone!

What a Week

What a wonderful wonderful week - somehow I have to figure out how to bring the happiness I feel at the beach back home with me - I feel like I belong their it's hard to leave.
We did the beach on Tuesday then Disneyland the rest of the week.
My heart is warm just looking at these pictures ultimate bliss - how i long to be back there, okay i'll stop but really it's snowing right now if I stop I'll just get depressed so im going to just sit here and stare at these pictures

No beach toys No Worries a capri sun straw will do

Wicked

I never got to post our trip to see WICKED! I didn't have a camera so i'll rely on my cousins camera phone at least it's documented and can I just say one of the most amazing musicals ever!!!

Waiting to get in.

Legally Blonde

So we headed down South for the day to hang out
and rock out to Legally Blonde. We went with my mom,sister, aunts and
cousins. It was a blast of course- Tim was like wow you could probably play in that don't you think. No - well maybe but I could totally relate to the part in the musical where she talks about loving the smell of a department store - I soo relate to that - (sorry tangent)
It was fun, but needs to be a little longer!

Flower party

A while back we had a little flower making party down at my sisters house and I've been dying to make these flowers. I think they turned out all right but lets just say in the four hours we were making flowers I literally got 2 flowers made - im so productive so came home and finished up the rest

I made Eiley's little friend sammy pose with them so I could practice my shots, I still got a lot of work to do - good thing I have a great teacher!!

Im loving the tongue lately it's out all the time and she's got four honkers on top that came out

Red Light Green Light

The second Carter gets in the car I grab his green folder open it up and look to see what color he got for that day.



I love this system I love it because I really want to know and need to know how is doing every day. I've become a little less neurotic this year, Kindergarten has forced me to because the teachers just don't have the time to talk to you every day after school so I have to rely on this and it's been good for me. During the parent teacher conference I talked to his teacher and she said just make sure you check his folder every day and thats how we will communicate and Im thinking are you kidding me - heck yes I check it - just be glad im not waiting outside your door everyday read to talk!



So this month he has gotten 2 yellow lights and 1 red. It's been a good month - im happy.



So im sure you are all wondering what the red was for, well I just happen to be helping at Eiley's class when it all went down. This little girl in Carter's class has a tiny little crush on him and she kept telling him she loves him - well if I had known that i would have helped the girl by telling her umm ya I wouldn't be saying that If I were you. Anyway he finally had enough when they were sitting at circle time he had a pencil in his hand and kinda jabbed her in the leg with it. It didn't really go that deep but he had to go to the principal's office and I was just on my way up to go check on him and all the kids yelled Carter's in the principles office - so that was special. So it wasn't too bad the principal is amazing, very loving and very kind and she kept telling Carter if you were'nt so darn cute she wouldn't be saying those things. So when we left I wanted to turn around and say see ya next week - ha ha but I didn't. So all in all he got a lot of green lights

Parent Teacher Conference Report

The day every parent dreads - okay maybe just me. We had Carters parent teacher conference last week and it went great! She said Carter had a little trouble controlling his body at the beginning of the year but he has gotten much better. Controlling his body - hmmm what do you think she means - it could be a number of things- keeping his mouth closed - keeping his hands and his feet to himself - keeping dangerous objects from impailing those around him. Im sure it was a combination of things but the words I held onto were - he's doing much better. I hope she's telling me the truth and not lying to me just so I can go home and get a good nights sleep. I have been in his class twice already to help out so I have seen him interacting and he is doing pretty darn good!



Oh yeah Eiley is doing great - she runs up and hugs me when I pick her up from class, skips out of the room and when I ask What did you do today she says Umm we did centers and we sang and i played with my friends and sometimes she says John did want to play with me today. And the craziest thing is I never ever talk to her teachers about her day thats just really really nice.



(Why does Carter always get more written about him?) I know she's going to ask me that soon but some day she'll understand!

new friends

oh we love new friends yes we do - so we had this cute new family move into our ward and our kids are exactly the same age - so they are all insta friends yay! And let me just say Im in love with this little girl maybe because this is what I pictured my daughter to look like and her name is Sammy so cute right? Instead I got a little chub of love with a head full of red two in fact!

Turning the Big 60 in Style

Oh yes she made it and since she doesn't blog her daughters will document it for her! With threw my mom a surprise party you know cause she's sooo in to party's and surprises. It was great and soo fun to do and totally went off smoothly. We had the kids draw pictures of Grandma those were really special. Anyway she was sooo surprised and it made her smile - so mission accomplished!

Snaps for me

This is what we did the other day - aren't I such a good mom - ya well I felt bad because the day before I was on the computer all day long and I kept telling Eiley to leave and be quiet so when she kept breaking down in tears at random moments i thought it was time for a tea party - i figured that keeps her good for a couple of days so I can get back to my computer J/k - kinda.

So my sister's friend asked her if i was sending my pictures to get her to get photoshopped I was so flattered but no I got a new camera - well really used from Ebay but new to me so I've been playing around with it a bit and let me just say I have a whole new respect for those photographers, cameras are tricky tricky little things.

Smile

This made me laugh this morning

Working at the Carwash

So we had the greatest activity the other day for mutual - a service carwash for our ward. It was awesome, the kids loved it had tons of fun and the parents and leaders loved their clean cars!

Farewell my love

Oh how I have been dreading this, the end of summer. I don't want it to go - please stay a little longer. Now I have to start posting reasons to love winter - somehow willing myself to be happy about it - you know therapeutic posting. Sure I like it I really do - not!

Anyway I've been wanting to do this all summer and finally got a reason to throw a little party for a friends birthday. I never do cute things anymore and this gave me a reason to it was fun and we wanted to lay out and read magazines all day with the kids playing in the pool - but we got rained out so we moved the party inside - still had tons of fun with great food!

6 Months

Thanks Meg!

1st Day of Freedom

So I bet you're all sitting around wondering if I was running around my house naked - well not yet but I can tell you what I have been doing. I plucked my eyebrows uninterrupted, I folded laundry on my couch watching the today show ( that was fun) - no clothes were being thrown at each other and no yelling or screaming in the background. I nursed the baby and I posted this all at 10:00 WITH NO INTERRUPTION. All I can say is my kids are going to get a big kiss and a thank you for going to school!!

The little red head turns 4

She turned 4 on wednesday and we celebrated family style a little cake with some princess figurines stuck in it from last year -no pictures of that little beauty I couldn't bear to take one. She was thrilled with everything she got but then again when is she not. She is easily pleased - what a wonderful quality to have. We love you Eiley, we couldn't imagine life without you!

Beat it

So we got a little tip they would be playing MJ videos all night so I thought hey lets try it and see if carter can hang.



David here he is.

By the way he wanted to stay up all night watching these videos he couldn't get enough, except Thriller he kinda got a little scared

We've been doing dance offs lately hence the "your turn" at the end of the video there - and no you will be seeing none of my moves. I just get the privledge of totally embarrasing carter - dang this is good stuff.

Grandpa Wade

Just hanging out

So I've had a similar picture up on my board behind my office to remind me of the sweetness of summer - last summer this didn't happen because I was preggo. But this year I wasn't going to let it pass by my mom came up a couple of weeks ago and we did this. We planted flowers, dahlias, cosmos and I don't really know what else but I love it! My mom saw this genius way of recovering pillows and making them into slipcovers - you really just sew up the sides, genius I tell you and so much easier than sewing the whole pillow. She recovered my lounger which was a dirty white and now I can take it off if I need to wash it!!

White Trash Easter Egg Hunt

Here's our version of an easter egg hunt

Of course my kids wouldn't do this unless there was a prize, so I grabbed what I could find - good thing we have a never ending supply of chocolate bars.

Sitting down for a few

So I got a few minutes to sit down. Isn't it funny that when there are more kids at your house you actually get more free time or more time to do laundry really. Anyway I'll take it!

So I was remembering when Tim told me we were moving out here and how I wanted to scream, I loved my little neighborhood and I had noooo desire to move. But I didn't really have a choice - if you knew my husband you would understand!

Anyway a couple of hundred campfires later - lets just say I'm a happy hillbilly. I started thinking about this, because we had a priest/laurel activity last week and it was simple - capture the flag, a campfire and speaker. There is something about a campfire that just makes you listen better. It was wonderful low key and simple - thats how it is out here and I kinda like it. If you go to our ward you might find someone knitting in Relief Society and a pair of jeans in sacrament meeting but the people are just good old timers. Carter has been obsessed with campfires lately so we have a constant supply of smores on hand and we've been lighting up a fire close to once a week.

LIFE IS GOOD!

More Easter

Easter dresses

Eiley looks like Curley sue don't ya think?

So we mixed things up a little and did rice krispie eggs. They were interesting they looked gross but whatever - they were pretty easy and I like that - the kids liked them but Carter got sick of them after he ate one and proceeded to take them outside and hit them with a bat -so hey at least they got some kind of use.

We ended our Easter with an egg hunt down in Beaver Creek with some friends the weather was beautiful and we had a great time!!

The Easter bunny delivered yet again!

Tears that is...

Tears of Joy and

well just plain tears - lots of them - more than last year in fact.

We were sitting in the baby's room as the bunny came walking up and Eiley looked up and said

"look mom it's the Easter bunny," she was happy for a moment and then proceeded to lock herself in the baby's room and Tim had to try and pry it open - think she's going to be scarred - guess we'll have to wait for next year!

Love the bunny pose

We love the easter bunny!!!

Even though Carter was staring at him the whole time trying to figure out who and what he was - he didn't really care - he just wants the candy. Oh yeah and the really cool alligator that expands in water and grows to be like 10 feet or something - he's loving that!

Reverence Tent

After a quick text from my sister. We promptly put up the reverence tent for conference, it worked great I got about an hour out of the kids - not too shabby!

Im loving this baby

I can't get enough of her.
She's 2 Months already and 10.9 lbs.

5 Year old Driving Bobcat

Oh the stuff you learn living out here

He drove it from the side of the house around a tree and up the drive way, then reversed back out.

Carter got new socks!

It Finally Happened

I fell back in love with my redhead.


Here's one of the reasons


Tim can't get enough of it. It is pretty dang funny!


She sings about anything and everything usually whatever she's looking at at the moment.

This piece is titled I Know You

Dedicated to the Grandparents

Tagging

So Tim swears he did this all the time - funny I don't remember writing my name all over my walls and sidewalk with permanent marker - hmmmn

Oops forgot a "t"

Thought twice about it here

Resumed here

and here

What is he going to be?

Sometimes I think he might be a architect or an engineer.

Please don't call CPS on this one, we just have to let some things slide

(supposedly his dad hid knives all over his house - his dad said he found them everywhere)

Other times I think he's just going to be a hoarder.

Then I just stop thinking.

This is just one of the many junk piles i find around my house, as i write i can think of about three more - im just too lazy to take pictures. One by the tree house - one by the wood pile and one in the garage.

Bree's Blessing

We blessed Bree on March 1st. Everything was great we had a wonderful weekend complete with a pizza party thrown by my Dad - he doesn't do anything half way so every topping you could imagine was there. Anyway it was great company and we had a wonderful time. The guys all went on a horse ride here's my dad doing his cowboy thing!

OOH I hate Jason

Feeling a little cooped up?

Sick of hearing your kids fight?

Need to see them actually playing together?

Just had a baby and need to get out of the house before someone gets hurt?

Sick of talking to your 3 year old?

Wanna pretend it's summer outside?

Then head on over to the Aquaplex.

* It's Cheap

* 2 Hours of entertainment for your kids

* 2 Hours of watching your kids like each other

* 2 hours of you being able to read a book or talk on the phone!

* Being able to go back home and like your kids again!

We love the AQUAPLEX!!!

Carter A.K.A Survivorman

So there's a debate going on who is better Survivorman or Man Vs. Wild. Well originally I was going for survivorman I thought he was tougher and had it harder now I agree with my sister and brother in law, he's boring Man vs. Wild is way more entertaining.

Needless to say Carter is obsessed - so I thought I should start documenting his obsession.

If Carter was CAUGHT in a RAGING RIVER he would survive

Here is his fishing line and hook made out of tin foil, gum a toothpick and thread.

He had a great one the other day after watching man vs. wild survive the artic. He made a tobaggan and a knapsack it was pretty dang funny.

Picture this

Try and visualize but this is what my house looks like lately at 8PM. Me holding the baby in one arm nursing while the other arm is holding the door shut on a screaming 3 year old for about an hour and half. So this was at my mothers house, luckily my doors lock!

Sorry no pictures my hands were tied!

I've decide it hits a 3 year old pretty darn hard especially a little girl when you bring a baby home - who knew.

More pics

Check out my sister's blog for more pics.

www.megaphotoblog.blogspot.com

What a difference a day Makes

One day your like this and the next....

(Face has been cropped in order to protect the identity of the subject

actually I look pretty good, I think megan photoshopped me)

Sorry no after shot because um my stomach looks exactly the same

You have this.

We ended up having her at St. Josephs down in Phoenix and everything went wonderful we saved around 7,000 by going down there, not bad!



The week before I was feeling some contractions but luckily my sister talked me out of going down there early. Good thing were so different and she's there to tell me your not in labor I can hear it in your voice. However I would like having it a little earlier, you get a little anxious when your two hours away from where your going to deliver.


But everything went perfect it's always nerve racking knowing your being wheeled back to a surgical room and 45 minutes later your coming out with a baby a very different labor experience.


Bree and I got to spend 3 days in the hospital just hanging out with each other. And now that Im home Im thinking can I go back? Just kidding but it was nice and quiet.

I posted this picture of Carter cause he's been amazing with her and he deserves a little kudos!

Eiley has been a different story but I've already posted on that so I'll say no more.

Times are tough and I feel extremely blessed to have this new baby in our home

Sneak Peek

This is just one of the many pictures of Bree that we got from her little photoshoot today

Thank you Megan!

Looking at this just makes me think of how much I want her to stay like this, I mean really it doesn't get more perfect than this.

Especially since they grow up and turn into a red headed monster - Just kidding Eiley. But her 3 year old sister is driving me bonkers right now, it's not that she doesn't love her but maybe just a little too much. Didn't think it was possible OH YES IT IS - Trust Me. If you thought Carter was going to be the hard one think again, the little RED HEAD is taking the cake. Wouldn't you say about a thousand kisses to the head and about a million head rubs is a little much I'd say so!

Really lets freeze time and just let you be perfect a little longer

She's Here

Finally home from the hospital.

Bree LaNae Palmer 7.78 oz

19 inches.

Hair color ?

Eye color?

She's perfect!

Proof that Santa came

Thanks to Grandpa Wade we got this cute little package in the mail. I did everything Christmas eve so all the proof was there in the morning.

His license

A thankyou card







A piece of his cloak






Reindeer hoof prints






And some reindeer food - that apparently the dog ate.










The kids got a kick out of it.

Christmas PJ's

We had a great Christmas. Our first in our own house - then we headed down to my parents house christmas day where the real chaos took place. We had a great time and the kids were in heaven. I decided I don't even need to get them anything next year we'll just head down to Yuma!

For Grandma and Grandpa Palmer

Sorry it's short but they wanted to show you what they got Christmas morning

A Simple December

I don't know if it was the fact that I was forced to make things simple this December but anyhow it happened and it was wonderful.



I was in charge of the Jt. Activity, the combined Activity and we had our Christmas lesson last Sunday. Everything ended up going wonderful. For the Jt. Activity we went and volunteered at the Toys for Tots toy drive - it was really fun and really nothing from me which was great! Then for our combined activity we were supposed to go to the nursing home and read christmas books, but we got snowed out. I was bummed because It know it would have been easy and fun. Then for our Christmas lesson we watched the tabnernacle choirs narration of A Christmas Bell For Anya,




we read the living Christ, had someone sing This is The Christ and had cinnamon rolls and milk. I made these for the girls to drink their milk out of, not quite cute as cute as the picture I found but luckily the girls are easily impressed. Megan these are snowman





I feel so bad it's like they never get anything cute they went kinda crazy over them, sorry girls don't get too excited there's not a whole lot of that coming for quite a while! Compared to last year this year was so simple and soo much better. Simple always is. I rembering starting to feel stressed this month when I felt like I had to do something really cute or put together something creative, then I stopped myself and did something else, something that required less effort. Something has got to give and I don't want it to be my sanity.



Less stress means more time with the kids enjoying the simple things like roasting marshmellows around the fire, dancing to christmas music and some other fun things. I finally got my advent calendar done a week before Christmas so it will be already for next year. I do have one more calendar I want to put together but it's so easy it's ridiculous.

At 9 months pregnant Im usually such a disaster, don't get me wrong I feel tired and very ready to be done but I've really tried to be better this pregnancy and I've prayed for it, really asked for help and I have felt that help and am very grateful for my savior this season, for my family and for my testimony.

Merry Christmas!

A little riddle

Whats purple, pink, yellow and chewed on all over.

Can't guess - Oh it's Eiley's blanket. Never thought I would have a kid with a blanket but it happened. I even tried to cut off a corner of it so she wouldn't drag it all around, that didn't help. So she takes the dang thing every where but it doesn't leave the car so I guess I can't complain!

Getting a little wierd

So this has been on in our house 3 times a day everyday for the last two weeks. It's getting a little old and a little wierd. Finally I told her no more - she has taken it surprisingly well, but she still wakes up asking for it. Thank goodness she's getting Dalmatians II for christmas.

Mom I think you got this for her - it was a winner!

Hurry

go open the December friend. We officially love the Friend and have done every craft in there. Great ideas!!

Smile

Just got this fabric in for Eiley's room and some other projects for the baby. Doesn't it make you smile - Go buy some fabric even if you don't sew it's just fun to look at.

A little bling

So I added just a few things to my christmas decorations. Glitter. i've been wanting to try martha's glitter for a while now and let me just say it's addicting. I glittered anything I could get my hands on - good thing you can go a little overboard during christmas!

So I glittered and sprayed my branches from Halloween and Thanksgiving - good thing I spent so much time on these cause they totally didn't turn out how I wanted them to. OH well you win some you lose some!

My sister had these on her tree and I thought I could do them myself. I just die cut the letters and glued them together and of course glittered them. These I was happy with!

Polar Express

So the story behind these cute pictures.

Be prepared it's a doozy

Im not even sure why Im telling this story, maybe I just want you all to feel sorry for me!

So we had been planning this for a while now and invited cousins to go with us. Tim got asked to go pack out an Elk earlier that day. I told him I didn't think it was a good idea and ofcourse that didn't stick. He said he would be back in time. So we waited and waited until the last possible minute about 5:45 no phone call or nothing. I kept thinking he's coming he's coming. I didn't really know what to do cause I was positive unless something really horrible happened he wouldn't have missed this. So I was worried and totally upset. After a pep talk from my sister I decided to leave without him. I raced to Williams at a ridiculous speed - thinking we would make it, both kids were saying prayers in the back. So we pulled up and raced across the parking lot and...... watched the train pull away. Carter and I both burst into tears. After another pep talk from my sister I pulled myself together and tried to figure out what to do next. I remembered that they had another train later that night so I went up to the ticket counter to try and get us on the next train, which she did. Im sure it helped that I was 8 months pregnant alone with two kids crying (bring on the sympathy). So we killed about an hour in the gift shop and some other fun little places around the train station.

We finally boarded the train and the kids ended up having a wonderful time. (In Tim's defense he was really really sorry and knows he made a big mistake!) In the end I wasn't even that angry I was just happy that my kids got to go and thats really all that mattered. So what started as a horrible night ended up with smiles all around!

What a night!!

Beaver Creek

We took the kids fishing down at Beaver Creek the other day. The kids had a great time and the trees were still full of color.

Carter's really been into Survior Man lately and he was dead set on living down at Beaver creek with just a knife and some clothes. It was fun to watch it's like letting a little animal out of his cage and watching him run wild - sorry no pictures of that!

Grateful For

Words of Apostles

It's been a while since I've written a long post - so I figured today is a perfect day for that. I've just finished reading this book by Richard G. Scott - Peace, Joy, and Happiness. I love this book. I LOVE how the spirit can pour out of words from the pages of a book - especially those from an apostle. The book touches on alot of different things - but what stood out to me was finding peace amid the trials in your life. This has always been hard for me and I find myself being swallowed up by some of the trials I go through, not being able to focus on other things until I get through or fix whatever is happening at the time. So obviously not the smartest way to go. I don't want to be like this because how do I know when that trial is going to end and I want to find peace throughout the trial not let it take over my life but endure it with strength and peace of mind. As I have worked on it and prayed for it constantly the peace comes. I still have those moments of despair but they move quickly and that underlying peace that Richard G. Scott talks about is there. He talks about keeping yourself busy with things that make you smile, things you enjoy and so I try to do little projects every now and then, just enough to keep my mind off of things.

My testimony

I want my children to know how much I love the gospel, that it means everything to me. My testimony is one of the most sacred and personal things in my life. I have never before yearned for the gospel like I do in my life today. I've had to work hard for this. Like alot of things that are worthwhile it takes work. I have found this to be true with my testimony of the gospel and also that of being a mother. I've been reading this book on motherhood and the author was talking about how girls are being raised to look down on motherhood, maybe not intentionally - society wants strong independent women with careers. I'm sad to say I completely fit into this category. I wanted the career and I wasnt' raising my hand in YW's saying I wanted to be a mom when I grew up.
So it came down to being unhappy and unfulfilled or searching and praying for a testimony on motherhood. Within the last two years I can say I finally have a strong testimony of both of these things. I want nothing more than being at home raising my children. I really don't desire anything else in life - I've always searched for something something that I was good at, something that could make me great. And one day I stopped and realized I was searching for the wrong thing. I started praying to be content with who I was and where I was in life. I prayed for a testimony on motherhood. I needed to know how important it was that it was really the most important thing in this world, and finally I got it. It's funny but I kinda look at it as my project, that might sound wierd but this is how I have to view things If I want to do it right. It's my mission it's my task - it's the only thing that matters - well that and my marriage. But if I look at it this way I know will do everything in my power to do it RIGHT. So okay I mess up everyday, pretty much every hour but I am determined now more than ever to get better. I have never longed for this but I do now. I am so excited for this baby that is about to come to bring a child into this world and to love and hold it. I don't remember always feeling this strongly about my pregnancy and my babies - more apprehension than anything. But I really am truly excited and that feels really good. It feels really good to finally be at peace about alot of things in your life and this is what I am grateful for.

Whose kids are those?

Whose little white trash kids are those outside at the end of november in their underwear??

On a Scale from 1 - 10

I think Im about a 6 when it comes to the Twilight madness. However I love a good excuse for a girls night and I love movies - I honestly think I could go to the theatre every day. I think I did when I was in college and would sneak in the back of the theatre - how horrible!!

Anyway it was a fun night - the movie was pretty good and the whole theatre was reserved for twilight crazed fans. The movie was at 7:30 and they had some show up at 3:00 - we got there about 6:30 and got second row seats! They had raffles, ladies were dressed up and I wished I took pictures of the cute shirt that one of my Young Women had on it was soo cute!

Family Home Evening

Our monday night consisted of apple turkeys and writing out what each of us were thankful for. Don't know if you can read but Eiley's says dollhouse and Carter's says Dad. Im glad they have their priorities straight!

Eiley put more candy in her mouth than the apple and my thankful lesson and leaves lasted a good 2 seconds. I ended up just making some up so we could have more leaves up there- but the effort was there!

Hmmm

Just when you thought life was getting a little mundane Carter comes walking along with a bb gun.

It's been like 6 months since he's gotten to use it, he got it taken away last time for shooting Eiley, so I thought hey we'll give it a try.

WHATS WRONG WITH US.!!! SERIOUSLY we absolutely won't be satisfied until our house is burnt down!

What else we've been up to

Sorry bud this will humble you some day.

Why I don't post

So i came up with 3 reasons why some of us don't post.

A. Too busy

B. Too lazy

c. Nothing too exciting going on

d. All of the above

I choose d. All of the above.

However really there has been alot going on we spent Halloween in Disneyland, pictures to come and we had a wonderful time!!

Getting ready for Thanksgiving - just painted my branches brown wishing I would have gone a little lighter. Switched out the black bowls for clear ones and then hung some leaves, also Im thinking a little more leaves. Im digging these banners lately sooo easy and way cute. I've decided this is how im getting my creative outlet lately, this is about all my brain will allow me lately but it's just enough!!

For Grandpa Wade

I could watch this all day, This is Carter at his best

Eiley

I do have another child - poor forgotten soul. Not really I would feel bad if she was this quiet shy neglected child but she's not she's loud and pretty dang crazy. But lucky for her she's cute as can be and Tim and I just eat her up. This is what we do when Carter is gone. I think this story was about Jeb - yeah pretty sure cause really they all are .

.

Homemade Halloween

Goal:

Not to spend any money of course! So I did buy a bag of pumpkins for 6 bucks at safeway but thats it!. Im such a faker when it comes to decorating, so I had to force myself to use what I had and try to be creative - it was hard!

Branches spray painted black so easy! Pumpkins from the garden and hay from the horses.

Carter's contribution to all of this =

I know some of you might be saying wow look at his creativity he's just bursting with it!

Sorry different and very inappropriate words were going through my head at the time.

You would think I would learn to hide the spray paint - but honestly he just needs to mark his territory and then it's on to the next thing.

The Perfect Day

So I've though about MY PERFECT DAY many times.

A Pedicure, followed by a a Massage ending with a Facial.

Lunch and Shopping with my sister and mom all

done somewhere near the Ocean.

So now that I've officially had MY PERFECT DAY here it is.

Woke up put on something cute (Sure im big and pregnant but I've decided it is worth it to still try and look cute).

Head over to Carter's school and spend the morning helping out in his class. Watching Carter get through his day with

no major problems,

no major fights,

lots of wiggling and alot of moving,

a little pushing here and there,

a few choice words

but a total SUCCESS in my eyes.

Walking out of his classroom with a HAPPY child and a HAPPY mom.

Next dropped Carter off with Tim where he got to work the rest of the afternoon with his dad. Then off to eat lunch with just the girls. Eiley had a grilled cheese and I ate a cheeseburger a big fat cheesburger with mushrooms and onions and we shared a chocolate carmel milkshake mmmm... it was good.

Next we headed home and had a long NAP.

My day is not yet over but now I know these are the days I long for, sure the first might be nice broken up here and there, but I know my prayers are being answered through days like these.

Deep Breath

So I feel like I can barely catch my breath lately. You know those times when it's hard to just take a deep breath. Anyways nothing cures that better than Yoga, scriptures, prayer and a fun movie with some friends. So lately I have been turning every chance I can get into some girl time. Maybe it's because I live out here by myself and it gets lonely or maybe it just makes me smile. All I know is when things feel a little rough nothing makes it better than sometime with friends. I love that you can call friends up at the last minute and go to the movies 2 weeks in a row or that somehow I turned a presidency meeting into a pig fest at Village Inn with 3 pregnant women. Yes all 3 in my presidency are pregnant and we are all a month behind each other. It was definetly a sight watching all of us eating full meals at 10:00 at night. I got no shame and if you saw me you could tell!

Happy Birthday Mom

If I were with you today we would be having a fabulous day together! We would go to lunch at Josephines and look at all the pretty flowers then we would go see a great movie together like that new one with Meg Ryan. Then we would go and buy you a really great outfit at one of your favorite stores. We would try to make the day all about you, even though that is an extremely hard thing to do because you only ever think about us. But I would try really hard!! I love you Happy Birthday. I hope my present made you smile :)

It's a ......

GIRL! So I tried to show some real emotion since I am the only one excited in my family. Okay Eiley is too, but she doesn't really care. Anyway I guess the boys will just have to get over it. I keep explaining to Tim, Carter is like 3 boys in one. So it was wierd cause I was right - I just knew there were some extra hormones in there somewhere!

If you blink you'll miss it

Honestly thats how few and far between these creative moments have been lately. But I thought I would throw one in just for the heck of it.

These clips are for a friend of mine, she's a little more bling than me hence the toole and big ole' jewel in the middle but I thought they turned out cute. Made me want to throw a little more bling into my life!

Im not the only one being creative around here. Look what my cute little ADD son made. He was carving a pumpkin from our Garden and decided to add some hair plugs. I thought that was dang creative!

Carters' prayer

Heavenly Father please help me to be nice, help me to be like Jesus. Im trying to be nice I just don't know how to.

This is what I overheard this morning as I waited in the hall for him to say his prayers. I needed to hear this I really wanted to hear this, Thank you.

Carter when you read this someday I want you to know I Love You, I really really love you!

I wish I could say that he went to school and had a really great day but he didn't he had a really bad day.

But I've been reading a really great book lately and his prayer cemented in my mind the fact that if he Could do better he Would. He is obviously having trouble figuring out how to do just that and that it's my job to teach him.

Once I start these I can't stop

So beware Im sure there will be more:

Here are the church pants that Carter cut

Here is the bucket that he peed in. Didn't quite get a picture of the before picture this is after he cleaned it out

And oops I don't have a picture of the basement floor with burn marks on it and a little burnt grass and a burnt stick. Thats what you get for leaving a candle downstairs with a 5 year old - or is it just mine?

Bargain Baby Shopping

ATTENTION: Anyone looking for great deals on OB packages, look no further I've done all the hard work for you.

So maybe not everyone is paying cash for their babies but if you are I've gone bargain hunting and can tell you the lowest prices out there.

First Flagstaff sucks- Im having a c-section so these prices are obviously for c-sections but just know if your having a regular delivery the prices are waaayyy cheaper. Flagstaff your estimating a good 15,000 thats without the anesthesiologist and a couple other things.

Next lowest is Banner Gateway at around $6,100.

John C. Lincoln: who knows I talked to some lady who told me that don't know those prices until the baby comes out - I asked " so your telling me you can't tell someone how much it's going to cost to have a baby at your hospital " and she said yah sorry.

The winner is: St. Joseph's at a killer price of $3,900, excluding of course the anesthesiologist and Pediatrician.

Okay anyway I felt like I was shopping for the best deals on cars, but nope just trying to have a baby and not go broke.

So I will be having my baby down in Phoenix, this is where a c-section comes in handy just have to schedule it and drive down and have it.

This is also where I do not support flagstaff. Can anyone say RIDICULOUS!

Carter's 300 something day of Preschool

So it's been awhile since I've done a post on my dear sweet lovely one. I thought it was about time. So I wanted to make sure I wrote this down as well as my thoughts cause I know one day I will look back and think geez Tia what was the big deal look at the amazing kid he's turned into, you really didnt' have to be such a physcho crazy worrier:) Anyway after a little trouble in preschool last year and the year before we decided that he wasn't ready for kindergarten. Okay so intellectually he's definetly ready but thats not all the matters in school right? This was a tough decision cause if someone asked me a year ago there was no way in HE** I was going to keep him home another year. So we went ahead and made the decision. I'm not sure If I thought some miracle was going to happen and he would start preshcool again and just do amazing - REALITY CHECK not going to happen. This is a work in progress and we pretty much just take it one day at a time, or pretty much one hour at a time. So yes on the first day his teacher came to me and said - "um Carter was a little crazy today and we had a couple of issues and I was just wondering if you had any suggestions" I wanted to say NO I don't even know what to do with him!! So after having a major melt down (not right there in front of the teacher - later at the gym on the phone with my sister) I regrouped got my act together, said a prayer and said to myself

YES you do know what to do you have read a billion books on this subject you're practically a therapist at this point!

That little pep talk helped, so I went in the next day volunteered to help at his school and talked to his teacher. I feel much better and now Im back to reality - just trying to recognize the positives. For instance he had a great day today and did pretty darn good!!

Graduation

So um this is a little late.

But here are two of my 3 Laurels that graduated. They are now gone and I am long forgotten but I miss them so dang much they were great and saved me in my first year! Thanks girls!

Garden

Sorry Megan had to post this

Our garden did not look like this last year but this year we scored.

We've got green onions, lot of lettuce, tomatoes

watermellon

Squash and zuchinni of course!!

Corn, pumpkins, carrots, green Beans and Peas

Anyone is welcome to some fresh vegetables but you have to come over and visit to get some!!

Redneck or Whitetrash can't decide

Your daughter feeds your dog food out of her mouth - sorry don't have a picture that one


but it's not like i let her do it!!



Your kids refuse to wear shoes and when they do they're dirty.



Every time we are in public your kids clothes are stained or really really dirty.


Most days your daughter's hair looks like a stringy mess - Ask my sister this I SWORE I would never let happen

Otter pops are a regular part of their diet

You catch tadpoles in big red plastic cups for fun then proceed to dip your otter pop in muddy water and then put it into your mouth



Oh the list could go on. This is all I could think of at the moment. I'll post more when they come





I love it all if this hasn't made me relax a little in life I don't know what will!!

Happy Happy Birthday Eiley Dear!

So here's my one picture I got from your Birthday but then again isn't that all you really need! We had a great and simple party, picked up a little cake and stuck some princess figurines in and you were happy! We ended the day with some pizza at Peter Piper Pizza, what else could you ask for? Happy # 3

You are one beautiful girl and I love you!!!

Im Alive!

So yes I've survived and Im back. Thanks for all the comments I love reading everyone's advice on having 3 it didn't scare me at all!! Anyway I credit my comeback to this amazing vacation we just got back from in Carlsbad, CA.


Thanks to my photographer for the great pictures.

Carter got boogie boarding down this year he was loving it.





By the way this is the only pregnancy picture you'll be seeing from me so enjoy.

Can't wait for next year!!!

So I was thinking about how funny it is that during that awful first trimester you feel like your going to die and the world is going to fall apart ( okay maybe just for me) and then it's over and Im thinking what was the big deal I feel fine. Was it really that bad? So Im determined to take advantage of feeling good and try try try to have a great pregnancy. If I just didn't have to get fat!

My really good excuse

So this has been my excuse for not posting. Im about 10 weeks and feeling pretty crappy. So don't know if I will be posting for at least another couple of weeks. And in another couple of weeks I will be excited!

I did have to throw this in there. Carter turned 5 last week and had the greatest little birthday party a big waterslide and bunch of boys with water guns. Happy Birthday bud!

Dad this is for you!

Vegas Baby

Wow what a trip, I never talked so much in my life, okay okay thats a lie. Anyway we had a great time and we were fully refreshed when we came home. Thanks girls for a fabulous trip!!

The Bodies exhibit was amazing -












The pool was great

and we got our makeup done at MAC!

These are for the Grandparents

Not that Carter needs a whole lot of praise filling his head, but here are a couple of things that he's pretty darn proud of lately. I love the basketball one it does look pretty cool!

so this middle one I just thought was funny

So what do you think Tim will say when he comes home

This is what a 4 year old can do with paint balls

So I'll tell you what my lovely husband said.

"So hey Tia this is what the kids are doing when your not watching them" Gotta love him!

So Tim Im wondering if you and Brett still think it's funny to shoot paint balls at the dumpster, house, and your truck cause I know your son does now!

What the X 2

Kicking off summer!

We took advantage of the warm weather and headed to the pool on Monday. The kids loved it and I got to just sit there and soak it all in. Funny how it was snowing just a week ago. I love summer!!!

Do you ever just laugh?

So I had one of those nights. It started off with Eiley coming in hysterically screaming and her hand scraped up by you guessed it her brother. He pushed her cause supposedly she lost his grasshopper - grassy. Anyway so she is screaming I put a bandaid on her and let her wail away. I was making scalloped potatoes so I had potatoes everywhere and the kitchen was a mess. So Carter comes in and I decide to give Eiley a popsicle and let carter watch just a tip from my genius uncle! Anyway it works he gets mad and goes away and cries hysterically too. Eiley is still screaming im trying to console her but I got to get these potatoes in the oven so I can go to mutual. So Carter says he wants to call dad so we call him I put it on speaker phone carter goes to grap the phone and I burn him on the hand with a really hot pot. So he's on the floor screaming and Eiley is still going at it. So im standing there looking around at the situation and I just laugh. I mean it is kinda funny that it can get this bad right? So I gave them both a popsicle they quiet down and I finish up dinner. I just thought of this and wish i could do it more. Im usually the one that you would call social services on for yelling and screaming at her kids and kicking them in the behind. But it felt good to laugh for once and will continue to keep a stock of popsicles in the freezer. By the way Tim wasn't at work he was riding horses :)

What the?

Yah okay so remind me of the date again? Anyway I thought I would post a picture of what was going on outside today. I know Tim will want to remember this, I however want to completely forget it ever happened and keep working on my tan.

So here it is:
It snowed around 6 inches on May 13th 2008

Carter's Fish

Im not sure who caught it and Im not sure who was more proud but Tim and Carter had a great time fishing and they caught these babies right in our very own Ashurst Lake!

Sleepover!

So we had a sleepover at my house for all the YW on friday it was so much fun. Hello something about being in YW's makes you feel like a kid again! I remember when I first got called to Young Women's and the emotions were let's say slightly overwhelming and I wasn't exactly thrilled about it. I thought that I would never be able to do it. All you need is a little time and it makes a world of difference, it has just become a part of my life and I can already feel the tears welling up in my eyes when they release me. Funny how dramatically your feelings can change over a year. I remember the Bishop saying to me when I got called was all you need to do is love these girls, and at the time that is the only thing I thought I was capable of doing. I do love these girls and Im so proud of them for being strong girls with strong standards in the middle of all this filth and temptation around them.

College Rocks!

Oh man we had some good times back then! Honestly some of the best years. Why don't I see you guys more? It was so dang fun hanging out with some of my friends and roomates from college. Brittney thanks for bringing all those pictures I had forgotten how much fun we all had! Lets do it again in a year, and next time we want everyone there - Kymi, Kellie - Becca!

LOVE THESE GIRLS!!

Back to life Back to reality

Okay no more songs I promise but honestly thats how I felt driving back from a dreamy weekend in La Jolla for my cousins wedding. I would like to thank all my cousins for getting married in California! I was thinking to myself how interesting to go from smelling the ocean air to manure in less than a day, if that doesn't yank you back into reality real quick im not sure what does. For Tim that manure smell is like the ocean. Oh how different we are!!

Anyway my idea of the perfect vacation is a little of this

Meg - I needed the food picture!

and a little of that.

The Perfect lobby 20 different couches to sit down on and read a book!

4 days without kids on the beach PERFECTION.

We were totally out of our league in this hotel

So next time we do this trip will be staying at something a little more affordable but man was it swanky!!!

I could never survive in La Jolla I would shop constantly and debt collectors would be knocking at my door. It's impossible not to want to spend money. The stores were literally calling my name. Ask my sister we went to 5 stores looking for sunglasses. Oh yes it's difficult being my sister.

Being with my whole family this summer will be incredible but Tim and I needed a getaway and in just a few short hours we remembered that we actually liked each other. It was definetly needed!!

Im in love with this place and hopefully we will do it once a year, this could be a permanent anniversary trip.

Come a little closer baby

I feel like laying you down..

Okay Dierks I feel like laying you down too!

Great night freezing cold please someone stop me next time I decide to wear flip flops in 22 degree weather!

The songs were amazing listening to music live is just about the best thing ever - Thanks for inviting me Sara it was way fun!

Summer

I don't know but I think Im more excited about summer this year than ever before!! Im loving this weather - honestly doesn't this make you just want to Jump up and down, Jump in a pool and have a party!


Today we were out getting the yard ready for flowers and I am totally feeling it.

Summer Plans

** Parties, BBQ's anything outdoors **

** Learn how to garden **

Im horrible at this but im determined to make something beautiful out of

my backyard and Im sick of spending money on flowers

** Play with my kids **

If your trying to get a hold of me I'll be at the pool!

** Girls Camp **

** Birthday Parties**

** Soccer games (Carter is very excited) **

** Soak in every last ounce of sunshine I can **

Back to life Back to Reality

Okay no more songs I promise but honestly thats how I felt driving back from a dreamy weekend in La Jolla. I was thinking to myself how interesting to go from smelling the ocean air to manure in less than a day, if that doesn't yank you back into reality real quick im not sure what does. For Tim that manure smell is like the ocean. Oh how different we are!!

Anyway my idea of the perfect vacation is a little of this

Meg - I needed the food picture!

and a little of that.

4 days without kids on the beach PERFECTION.

We were totally out of our league in this hotel

So next time we do this trip will be staying at something a little more affordable but man was it swanky!!!

I could never survive in La Jolla I would shop constantly and debt collectors would be knocking at my door. It's impossible not to want to spend money. The stores were literally calling my name. Ask my sister we went to 5 stores looking for sunglasses. Oh yes it's difficult being my sister.

Being with my whole family this summer will be incredible but Tim and I needed a getaway and in just a few short hours we remembered that we actually liked each other. It was definetly needed!!

Im in love with this place and hopefully we will do it once a year, this could be a permanent anniversary trip.

Getting caught up

So this was awhile ago, but I wanted to remember what we did for New Beginnings this year! I love using things for YOUNG WOMENS that I did when I was in highschool and this was one of those things. We had each of the Young Women be in charge of presenting a value, so they were responsible for decorating their room and coming up with a short 5 minute presentation about what that value meant. It went fabulous!! Nothing better than watching these girls take charge and do a really wonderful job - it's what makes me love my calling and I think they loved it too!

Thanks to Camille for putting it all together and for the yummy dessert, and thanks MOM for giving me such great ideas to work with!

Girls all I really want is Girls!

Okay so total inside joke to these girls I got to hang out with a little while back. Do you remember singing BeaSTie BOYS before our Choralair performance? We switched the song to Boys all I really want is BOYS - we were so retarded.

ANYWAY I love you guys and honestly nothing feels better than being with friends that know you inside and out and still LOVE you! I really wish I could be around you 24-7!

THANKS for the fantastic weekend!

I had to add these in they were too good not to post!

So....

this morning I woke up to THIS

and then THIS



and then THIS

umm I'm confused who tapes evidence to the DOOR. Theres just too many good experiences not to share!

Potty Training

So potty training this child was a breeze. She's been potty trained for about 2 months now! She just decided she wanted to do it and then did, she's had a couple of accidents here and there but nothing major. The reason why I can gloat about this and not sound snotty, is because lets now tell the story of her brother.

I tried Carter at about 2 1/2 with much warning from my mother. But noooo I didn't listen I went right ahead and did it anyway. So we did pretty good for about the first week and then all hell broke loose after that. He started peeing and pooping everywhere including the Garage floor. Yeah cleaning poop off the garage floor makes for one pissed off mom! So I started throwing underwear out left and right. I tried washing them in the toilet a couple of times that was sick so I just started throwing them out. We had every sort of award system set in place. We tried the Dr. Phil approach calling the super hero. So Tim would get some random phone call from me: "okay act like your superman, hurry". I got back on the phone a couple of times before he stopped - yeah that was funny! Anyway we did grab bag toys everything, until I finally wised up put him back in pull ups and called it a day. Then about a week before he turned 3 he wanted to do it. And it took like 2 days. Talk about a strong willed child - I should have known by the potty training what I was in for!

Motherhood moment

So cheesy name if anyone can think of a better less cheesy name let me know. But I had been thinking about this lately and then during confernce Elder Ballard's talk on motherhood kinda reaffirmed it for me. He said to some effect that your joys from motherhood will come in moments and isn't that the truth and when we are able to reflect on these moments we will find true happiness from being a mom. So Im thinking if I can write them down when they happen you know like once a week and try to post them alot maybe I can make myself think they happen all the time! No but really I know I need to be more positive especially about my precious 4 year old so I think this might help!! I still won't be able to keep out the wonderful stories like for instance his suspension from preschool 2 weeks ago and then a close second last week. It was just one day and we talked it over with the teacher and they let him come back. He just got into a small scuffle with another kid. It turned out fine and lucky Im feeling pretty tough lately so I didn't cry as I was talking to her about it. Oh shoot this post was supposed to be positive.

Motherhood moment

We were out on the lake and I was backing the boat into the water which by the way Tim says I did a really bad job at anyway whatever I looked back and saw Carter and Eiley really excited about going into the lake and they were holding hands. Lets just say that was huge any tenderness is BIG! It made me very happy to be a mother at that MOMENT!

So I wrote this like a week ago. Im not sure if I have had one since - okay obviously im not looking hard enough. Ya think im being tested I mean I really am having to search hard for these moments. So im determined!

Boys vs. Girls

So this is why Tim thinks we should have all boys

And this is why I think we should have all girls!

Okay really they both have their pros and cons and their good days and their bad days!