Dane's Birthday

Yesterday was Dana's birthday and the kids were SO excited!! We decorated the house while he was at work and when he got home the kids jumped out and yelled "Souprise!" it's was totally their idea:) The second Dane got home the kids wanted him to open his presents, lucky for me I had dinner all ready, so we had dinner and then it was time for cake and presents!

Even Ellie joined in on the fun!!Doesn't she just look thrilled!?

The kids had a blast, and Dana loved his presents and special (1 a.m.) cheesecake, even though Kaleb told him what they were before he opened them!:)

Special Cheese Cake and 1 a.m.

Yes that's right it's after 1 a.m. and I am still awake not by choice though, no it's not because of the kiddos, it's because of the hubby, I will get back to that in a minute but first I will go through the kind of day I had yesterday!

First I woke up late and was rushed to get Kaleb on the bus on time (what a shocker right!?). After that I had tons of energy so I cleaned the kitchen(cause I didn't have the energy to do it last night!), and the living rooms, fed the girls did Ryne's hair. Once Ryne was gone ,Kaleb was home and Ellie was asleep I decided to cook up the 2 pumpkins that we never carved for Halloween, since they were starting to get a little soft, instead of baking bread and rolls, and zucchini bread. I spent my whole afternoon turning this......

into this, 26 cups of pureed pumpkin, I know your jealous right!?!Kaleb was helping but he got a little tired and decided to take a nap...

Yup! he's laying on the arm of the couch and he covered himself with the couch cushions!

During each batch of pumpkin, I was on-line researching, and comparing car top carriers for our trip to Idaho for Christmas, then I ordered one. After all the pumpkin was done, I started the preparations for dinner, part of it had to cook for 30 mins in the oven so I figured if I timed everything right, I could put it in the oven then take the kids to go get the rest of Dana's birthday presents and then be back by the time it was done and then finish it up. Well that didn't go as planned, Dane got home later than I expected so I decided to go ahead and get started on dinner, we could eat then go do the shopping. Well that didn't go as planned either, I made Roasted Cauliflower soup today, so the first step is to roast the cauliflower, onion and garlic, once that's done ya add your liquid cook on the stove for 20 mins then your suppose to puree the soup (in small batches) in the blender, well all was goin well until the second batch this little guy decided he wanted to be apart of the soup.... this goes into.........this and this is the lid to the blender, well some how that little thing above fell into the blender while I was blending the soup!!Needless to say we had to eat our soup VERY carefully!! We did sift out most of it, but yea that's all I'm gonna say.

Kaleb decided he wasn't going to eat dinner cause it wasn't "green or purple soup" like he wanted, so the decision was made that "if ya don't eat your dinner then you can't got shopping with mommy" which was fine by me cause it wouldn't take me as long with just 1 child(that listens) instead of 2 that don't! Kaleb was very upset with this decision!! Ryne and I left to do the birthday shopping at 6 and got home around 7:30 ish (after we went to 2 Wal-Marts to find what we were looking for!!)Once home, the kids and I wrapped the birthday present (which was a chore in and of it's self). Once that was done it was bedtime, after the kids were in bed I thought I would be able to relax! I was wrong, Dane reminded me of the low carb cheese cake that I needed to make for his birthday tonight so it had time to set and what not. I thought no big deal, until I read the directions and found out it's one you have to bake for an 1 1/2 then let cool in the oven for an hr then let finish cooling on the counter for another 20 to 25 mins!! By the time I got the kitchen cleaned up it was 9:30 and then we began making the cake. Dane was helping at first but then he got tired....HMM now I know where Kaleb gets it from!!

All I have to say is that he better be pretty thankful that I love him enough that I stayed up past 1 a.m. making this.........

for him, knowing darn well I have a full day ahead of me which includes, laundry getting kids off to school, mopping the floors and decorating the house cause "it's not a birthday wif out, bawoons, and hats, and stuff hanging up!"and I still need to make that bread and stuff, I will let you know how things go hopefully better then yesterday! What I was thankful for yesterday was the privilege of being a wife and mother, even though it can really suck at times it is the most wonderful gift I can ever receive!!

Ruts and new chair!

I was proud of myself yesterday, I actually kind of got out of my rut! We had to be up early yesterday for an appointment, I had all the kids dressed, fed and ready to go by 8:00 a.m. and I looked pretty smokin too(meaning, I had regular clothes on and a little makeup). After we got home from the appointment, Ryne was off to school, while she was gone Kaleb and I cleaned the house, I made some hair bows, when Ryne and Dane got home we loaded everyone up and went grocery shopping(that was tons of fun!). Just as we were leaving to go food shoppin Sister Holyoak showed up with my little chair that she re-upholstered and it turned out so good I love it, I'll post a picture at the bottom. After shoppin we had dinner, and then I went and played volley ball so much fun although for some reason it really kicked my butt this week, I am all sore and everything! Any who after that I came home and chatted with a friend on-line till about 1, and YES I am exhausted this morning. I woke up at 7:30 this morning which is usually when Kaleb is suppose to be on the bus luckily for me it's Friday and the bus doesn't get here till nearly 8 so I hurried and got him dressed, and fed(he had a piece of toast with cinnamin and sugar on it) and then onto the bus. So my day yesterday was very productive and it felt nice to be busy, today I need to accomplish the laundry! We will see if I can stay out of my rut today! :)

Ok here is a pic of my chair isn't it loverly!!

Today's Thanks

So it's been a couple of days since I posted what I am thankful for, and it's not been cause I haven't been thankful I swear!! I have actually been in one of those BLECK moods, ya know what I am talkin about were ya just don't feel like doing ANYTHING. I haven't been sleeping well the last 2 nights and I am not sure why, I'm sure if I analyzed my feelings and stuff I would know why, but honestly I just don't want to! Have you ever felt like that!? Yeah I thought so :) Besides not sleeping well I have been waking up with terrible headaches and a stomach ache and although I know the cause it still doesn't make it any easier. I have so much to do before our trip to Idaho in like 5 weeks, like sewing, sewing and more sewing did I mention sewing? My kids have next to no winter clothes suitable for Idaho weather, and since every dime we have right now is going towards the trip and we literally have none to spare I am making the kids clothes which I love to do don't get me wrong it's just that I am not in the mood. I just don't seem to be able to or want to shake this rut, and I seem to be content with that for some reason.

As I have been pondering about all the headaches and other crap, it has made me more aware of the little things to be thankful like:

A lock on my bedroom door, so I can take a well deserved, much needed, long awaited hot bath!

Movies especially Toy Story 2 and Iron Giant they allowed me to take the hot bath!

Breakfast for dinner, and a hubby who stayed up late to help clean up the mess

Sweet kids that actually listened to me (without having to yell) and were quiet cause my head hurt and they actually cleaned up the house without being asked!(this was yesterday, it was the opposite today)

Long distance! So can talk to my mother, sister in-law, sisters, brothers anyone who will listen to me and put up with me! I really don't know what I would do without it, really my daily phone calls keep me sane!

Mac and cheese with hot dogs! Really if I can't think of or don't have the stuff for a recipe that I really want to and don't feel like cooking something else, mac and cheese never fails!

For kids that are easily satisfied

Time with my kids, Ryne and Kaleb didn't have school today because of Veterans Day and even though we really didn't do anything special, we laughed and goofed around and went to the park were I took pictures of the kids (cause I needed some updated group shots.). I had a great day with them even though I didn't feel that good!

To all the those past and present that serve our country and give us our freedoms, and also to the families and their sacrifices. I am truly thankful to you all.

A husband who didn't mind fending for himself for dinner after a long day of work.

Ellie! Yesterday I really felt like crap all I wanted to do was lock myself in my room and hide under the blankets, but one look at her and her smiling face and that all changed all I wanted to do was be around her and soak in her happiness and laughter. She really boosted my spirits.

Memories. Dana remembers his mom singing " You are my Sunshine" to him and his brothers growing up. He started singing it to the kids and it kinda stuck. Every morning Ryne, Kaleb and I all go into the girl's room to get Ellie up and we sing "You are my Sunshine" to Ellie and she loves it and so do the kids and I love the memories and feelings we are creating, the ones that will be with us forever.

Even though the last few days haven't been going as planned, I am more thankful than ever for the little things that don't go as planned but matter the most.:)

Giving Thanks

Since November is the "Give Thanks Month" I have really enjoyed reading the different things people are thankful/grateful for and it got me to thinking, why is it that (and I know I am totally guilty of this) that most of us ONLY give thanks during this month!? Although last month I decided to notice more of my blessings and to be thankful for them, I have been guilty in the past for not really being thankful. So I am going to join in and be write down something everyday that I am thankful for and I am really going to try hard and continue it indefinably, I am not going to end with just this month.

There are many things for me to be thankful for everyday, but it would be impossible for me to write them all down, but I will do my best.

The last week I have been really frustrated with the kids and their rooms, they pull out every single toy, or piece of clothing until they find their "favorite one" leaving the room a complete war zone! I have tried many methods to get them to clean up the latest one was "If you don't keep your rooms clean I will get rid of every single toy you own! I will give it to someone who doesn't have any, cause they would be very grateful I am sure to have just one toy!!", Marryne stopped cold in her tracks and I thought "good I am getting through to her" and then she looked at me and asked "Mom? Other kids don't have toys or t.vs like we do?" I was very surprised at the concern and soberness in her little voice, I told her that was right and I talked to her a little bit about how some people don't have jobs and have families and that they can't afford luxuries like toys and t.v.'s. After we were done cleaning her room she asked me if we could go through her toys and give some of them to the kids that don't have them "so that they can be happy", this brought tears to my eyes she is even willing to give up her favorite stuffed animal so that someone else can be happy. Marryne has always been a nurturer if she sees someone that is sad, or hurt she is always wanting to help them feel better. I am so thankful for Marryne and her sweet, gentle and caring little spirit, I learn so much from her I am thankful to have the privilege of being her mom I love her with all my heart.

Today I felt a little short changed by my hubby, while I worked really hard today and had the house clean and some much needed laundry done, all I heard was the complaint that I hadn't hung up his pants that he needed for work tomorrow. Now the first thing I did with my "I'm annoyed" voice was retort with "THANKS HUNNY FOR WASHING MY PANTS,I REALLY APPRECIATE IT" and he spouted back "THANKS HUNNY FOR PICKING A FIGHT WITH MY WHILE I AM REALLY TIRED" and of course I very loudly said "AND I"M NOT?I AM JUST AS TIRED AS YOU,BUT IF YOU THINK I AM GOING TO LET YOU TREAT ME LIKE THAT WAY YOU ARE CRAZY!" and to that he went to the bedroom and slammed the door. I did stew about it for a few minutes and even shed a few tears, but just as I feel under appreciated I realized he probably does too. I mean he works all day to support our family, on Mondays and Wednesdays he donates plasma just so we can make ends meet, and tonight after he donated he had to run some errands before finally coming home. He didn't get home till after 6 and the kids and I had already eaten, I figured he could fend for himself, and then I reminded him that there was something wrong with the computer mouse cause the curer wouldn't move and he needed to check it out, WOW!! How selfish was eye to see only what I wasn't given credit for instead of realizing him that I never really told him thank you for everything he does or did today! I am truly thankful for my husband and EVERYTHING he does little or big. And tomorrow after he is rested, I will make sure to tell him and yes I will apologize cause sometimes we ( mean us women) can be wrong and this is one of the "special" times that I am willing to admit it and truly mean it ;)

I am also very thankful for the new neighbors that moved in across the street about a month ago, their older kids love playing with my kids and it helps me get much needed work done. They come over and entertain the kids while I am cleaning or just trying to relax, they are so wonderful. We have also stepped out of our over protective box and made new friends and so I am very thankful for that as well.

And I will leave you with how truly grateful I am to have a nice warm bed to crawl into cause as Marryne reminded me "Some people don't have beds. NOPE they don't". I may not have everything I WANT but I do have everything I NEED.

Kaleb

Here are some pic's of Kaleb's first day to school from back in September:) He was so excited and he had such a great day! He LOVES school now especially the bus rides to and from school.

These last 2 were when he got home from school, cause I forgot to take the camera when we dropped him off!!

Better late than NEVER!

I am finally able to download pictures!!! HOORAY!!! Here are some of the kids on Halloween night, they were taken after we got back from Trick or Treating Ellie was already asleep so I didn't get any of her that night, but I have some from the ward party with her and I will post those when I can.

Dane and I carved our pumpkins the on the 30th, this is Dana's Monster!

I decided to do something a little different this year and stacked 3 pumpkins on top of each other and it turned out pretty cute. The bottom pumpkin says Trick or Treat sorry it's a little blurry due to the night time camera setting.
I love how Ryne is posed in this one!!She is showin off her muscles and her "pretty skirt" LOL.Home from Trick or Treating. They got so much candy, but they were so tired by the end of the night they just wanted to go to bed. :)

Superman and Super Girl to the RESCUE!!