Fun giveaway.

My cute friend is doing a 12 days of Christmas giveaway on her blog. The stuff is super cute and who doesn't love a giveaway, especially this time of year. Go check it out by clicking HERE. You'll be glad you did!!!

the way things really are

***Warning*** not the most upbeat post. I need to vent. haha :)

I am one of those people who does not do good with stress. Like not at all. Knowing that about myself I do as much as I can to avoid a stressful situation. I am a list maker. I set goals and then list ways that I am going to achieve said goals. I try and keep an open mind that things may not go as planned, but for the most part if I have it in writting I feel like it'll be ok when those little hiccups come along. Well lately I feel like there are no hiccups. It's just one really LOUD loooooong stinky burp.

I could go on and on about all the little details of things I am stressed out about. Like everytime we set a goal for an X amount of money in savings....EVERYTIME we hit the mark, something comes up and down the savings goes.

Our car died.
We had to do some repairs to the house that were unexpected.
Saturday my camera was dropped on the tile and it will NOT even turn on. This is especially stressful to me because I have a photoshoot scheduled everyday from now until Dec 9th. I am sick about the "christmas money" we will now be out as well as feeling horrible about letting my clients down and putting them out.

This all happened within two weeks of each other. I could feel the panic and stress start to creep up. I'm not sleeping well, and super worried about how I am going to get those goals on my list met. It's been a bit overwhelming.

This morning at like 2:30 a.m. when I once again could not sleep. I started my plan B list. When without even meaning to it turned into a growing experience for me. I first listed all the things that went wrong and needed to be fixed. My thinking was I would list those and then on the other side put the solution. What ended up happening (don't know if I was just super tired or if it was just the tender mercy I needed right now) I listed why each of those trials have helped me to grow and trust in my Heavenly Father.

We have not had a car payment in over 8 years. We definately need a bigger car. Kyle is waaay to tall to be sitting in the back seat of the truck. Ryan and I are following the Dave Ramsey financial peace program and know we do not want to have to finance a car. We have been saving to put cash down on a car big enough for all of us to fit in. Having to dump a big chunk of that saving into repairing the car was a big blow. But we felt like we had to do the quick fix so that he can get to work and a bigger car will just have to wait a month or two. The good side of it....We have the money to make the repairs so it didn't hurt our day to day living funds. Ryan is still able to go to work and provide for us, taking extra off duty jobs to help build up the savings that we had to dip into.

The repairs to the house are just annoying....but I will feel much better knowing that everything is in tip top shape for the new owners of our cute little home. Plus, we will enjoy the benefits of having it finally taken care of. Isn't it funny how moving can make you get the things done that you always planned on doing. haha

My camera breaking is still really frusterating/disappointing to me. I am sad I have no birthday pictures from Ryan and I's birthday weekend. BUT....thankfully I took the money from my first photoshoots and got all of our gifts for friends and family purchased. I had all of the kids get there Christmas shopping for each other done and we have presents under the tree. Kind of freaked out about what Santa will bring...but I know it will all work out in the end. My kids really are easy to please and have so much gratitude for everything. They have no idea what was on the list, so I don't think/hope they won't feel too disappointed.

We decided to prepay preschool, dance lessons and sports the beginning of the school year and for that I am truely grateful for. Other wise we would probably have to pull our kids out of stuff.

I am very blessed that we have not had to use any of our living expenses to cover all of the unexpected events and although it is disappointing to not have the extra cash flow where we want....at least we have it. So grateful to Dave Ramsey and the wisdom of his plan. It scares me to think what we would do with out a nice big emeregency fund.

As I looked back at my list I had a overwhelming feeling of peace. I'm still not sure how I will make things work, but I know that it will. I am so blessed to have a hard working husband who never complains and has provided solely for our family all these years. I am glad I get to raise my kids, and that I don't have to work outside the home.

I am blessed and I know that everything will work out...it always does. Even though I wish I didn't have to deal with things not going according to plans, I am glad I have Ryan by my side to keep my laughing and reminding me that he will take care of everything. What a lucky lucky girl I am indeed!

One down, One to go.

Kyle finished up all of his cub scout requirements and is now ready for 11 year old scouts. Here earned his Weblos patch and was able to recieve his arrow of light.

He was presented with his patches, pins, award and best of all his Arrow to help point him in the way he should go. Love it!

Here he is about to cross over from cubs to boy scouts. Sniff sniff....my baby is growing up. :)

Brother Bodden is going to be his new leader, and I am very excited. He use to be Jaden's primary teacher and he is a wonderful guy.

These are his two amazing weblos leaders. He will miss them, but I know he's excited to start boy scouts.

Way to go Kyle. We are proud of you for all of your hard work, and doing it an entire month before your birthday. Good job!!!

*update...
ooops....I forgot to explain about these little turkeys. I was asked to bring the refreshments so I made coaco rice krispy treats and rooled them into balls. The feathers are made from fruit rolls ups cut to look like feathers.

Letter H

Becca learned about the letter H at preschool this week. It was our turn to take treats so we came up with Ham and cheese Hand sandwiches in little Heart ziplock baggies. Becca seemed very please with her treats. :)

She also got to have CrAzY Hair day, and she thought it was great!

Here she is being crazy with crazy hair! :)

Friday Fun!

The boys invited some friends over for a Friday night pizza party. They had fun making their own individual pizzas. I LOVE these pans my sister Christy gave us a while back. They have been so much fun to have.

Mmmm....the first batch is done.

It was a lot of fun to have everybody over. The kids played video games, watched a movie while they ate their pizzas and then had a big game of Ghost in the Graveyard. The weather is perfect here for night games. It was fun to listen to them play. Makes me think of all fun kick the can neighborhood parties I had growing up.

Thanksgiving FHE

Since we are now officially in the busiest time of year. (Halloween-New Years) I decided I would sit down while the boys were at school and B in preschool and plan out all of the FHE for the rest of the year. There are always soooo many things I want to do and if I am not on top of it all then it just becomes overwhelming and I don't enjoy it.

I planned out all the traditional things, from carving pumpkins (already posted about) to making and delivering Christmas goodies to friends and neighbors. I am excited, it will be fun.

We had our first Thanksgiving FHE this week. B did the lesson. I had her draw on 5 different sheets of paper things she is thankful for. She did GREAT! I wish I would have taking a picture of them. My favorite was the family picture she drew. She also traced her hand. I thought that was great that she came up with it all on her own and even told them some of the things she does with her hands that she is Thankful for. She did a great job on the lesson. Then we tossed a small ball to someone and told one thing about them that we are thankful for.

K was in charge of the activity. We found a turkey online at LDS.org and he cut it out. It had a little poem on it that said right now I am brown (his body) but take one of my feathers color it in and write one thing you are thankful for. Then we glued it together on a piece of paper. It turned out cute. Here he is reading it to all of us when it was complete.

J came home from scouts the other day and asked if he could be in charge of the refreshments at our next FHE. I thought it was a good idea and was excited to see that it went perfectly with our theme.

There cute little turkey cookies are what we made.

He was a GREAT teacher.

Gotta love dads single feathered turkey. (we ran out of candy corn) and as always dad was a good sport to go without.

I LOVE my cute family. As you can see by the look on little B's face we had a GREAT night.

For Sale

We put our house on the market a little over a week ago. Its such an exciting yet scary feeling. We have had a few people stop by, but nothing serious.

We sat the kids down and told them we really need them to pitch in and keep the house clean. They have been great. Everyone has a room or "territory" that they are in charge of along with taking care of their own belongings.

Now when the phone rings and someone wants to come look at the house Becca jumps right up, grabs the vacuum and gets to work.

She is getting quite good.

I feel very blessed to have such happy good little workers!

Getting my craft on.

I have done a lot of crafts lately, but haven't done much blogging.
I thought today I would post some of the things I've worked on.

Becca got invited to a birthday party. When I took her to the store to pick his gift she wanted to give him a cape. I got the idea that we should make him his own with his initial on it. She was on board so we gave it a go. The best part is I had all the supplies at home. I had this green material.

Years ago I bought this cute star fabric. I have a lot of it, so I was excited to finally have a good use for it. I wanted the cape to be cute on both sides.

We cut his letter and symbol out on felt and hand stitched it to the cape.

My cute little model.

Next project....

Years ago my mom taught me how to make these twisty balloon flowers and they still come in handy. All my YW LOVE them. Well I was invited to the birthday party of one of my sweet primary girls and I thought this would be a fun gift for her. She seemed to like it. I was the only adult invited. How cute is that???? It totally made my day!

I've been trying to clean out my garage and in doing so I came across this old dinged up mail holder I bought a year or so ago at goodwill. It was up on a shelf and I completely forgot about it. I also forgot to get a before and after picture. Don't you just hate that. It was a red brown color and had scratches EVERYWHERE.

I spray painted it black and added some cute black and white paper. I love how it turned out. Cute, practical and cheap. I have the perfect little spot for it above our printer and I just love it.

I also found this Lazy Susan at goodwill. It spins great but as you can see it's scratched. All growing up Ryan's family had lazy Susan on their table to keep condiments and other things you use all the time. I remember as a teenager thinking it was such a great idea. I spray painted it black and then covered it with some more of that cute paper.

My kids loved spinning it around for what they need. We keep the napkins and salt and pepper on it all the time. We also put salad dressing and ketchup or whatever else we may need. I LOVE our cute little Lazy Susan, and it cracks me up every time I call it that because I remember my cute Mom being bugged by that name because she is NOT lazy. hahaha. And boy is that true, She is amazing!!!

I do not have very many Thanksgiving decorations. When I was in Utah last I went to my favorite store with my favorite person. :) Amy and I got to go to the Wood Connection. They have the cutest wood projects. I bought this pilgrim set and was so excited to get it done.

I also bought these adorable Indians.

Becca is definitely her brothers sister though. She keeps calling them our Indiana Jones dolls. :)

Here is a cute little turkey I made.

I have the perfect place for them to sit in my three kitchen windows.

I LOVE crafting and have to make time for it. It's my favorite me time!

Disneyland again.

I've been working hard to organize our garage which seems to be a never ending battle around here. I noticed Becca had been standing in the middle of the garage for a very lond time. Doing nothing, but just standing there. I watched her a little closer about every 30 seconds to a minute she would take one small step forward.

Finally I asked her what she was doing. Her reply??? "I'm playing Dinsneyland and this is my loooooong line" haha.

FINALLY....she made it to her ride. Here she is locking herself in.

Now she's ready to go on the "Fastest biggest ride"

Hands up for the ride of your life!

The next day she managed to rope all of us in on her Disneyland adventures.

What a good sport her daddy is.

And her brothers.

Oh little Becca, you really are a little light to us all!

Trick or Treat

This year we were able to go to the Trunk or Treat at the church and then a few days later trick or treating. The kids got a TON of candy.

Kyle was an army guy again. He really wants to be a Soldier. It makes my nervous and proud. :)

My cute little batman. I just love watching Jaden in his costumes. He's got some pretty awesome moves!

Our beautiful little witch. Becca kept telling everybody that she is a nice witch. :) she orginally wanted to be a princess AGAIN, but then we found this cute dress that had a button to make it light up. She LOVED it. It was adorable on her.

Oh how I love my three little tricksters.

They were all very excited about their loot. And to be honest so was I. Ryan had to work the night of the trunk or treat. The boys ran off with friends and so it was just Becca and I. I loved every second of it, yet I couldn't help but think of and miss Christy and Amy. They always made Halloween SO.MUCH.FUN. when they lived here and it is definitely not the same.

Thankfully Ryan had taken Halloween off and all was well in my little world again. We had yummy nachos with orange and black chips then headed out to trick or treat. Kyle and his friends led the way and we hit the neighborhood hard. I just love being together with my little crew, they really bring me my greatest joy!