Piano lessons

 My dear friend Harmony teaches piano lessons.  She is an incredible musician but their was just no way I could afford to have my kids in her class.  She charges more than most, but I know she is worth every dime.  I mean come on her name is Harmony, her Mom is Melodee and her daughter Lyric.  :)  but seriously, they are an amazingly talented family.  Well...I decided I was going to teach Miss {B} myself.

She LOVED it and is such a natural.  The only problem was I was not so good about being consistent with her lessons.  Well...One day Harmony called and said I heard you were doing child care now days?  She told me she was going back to school and wanted to know if I could watch her baby 2 days a week and what I charge.  I told her what I charge, but that I would love to trade child care for babysitting.  She was super excited about that and we started lessons/child care swapping that week.   

  Miss {B} has done amazing with her and I just adore listening to her practice.  Her baby is such a sweet heart and he gets along so well with little Miss and the other kids I watch.  I feel so grateful to be able to swap and have her with such an amazing teacher while she is at the perfect age for this sort of thing.

Our Hero!

What a joy it is to be married to such a hands on Dad.  The kids definitely prefer to have him help them with their homework, and he is always so sweet and cute with them.  I am always amazed at all of the different balls he juggles in the air at one time and manages it all so well.  Daddy/husband duties, his calling at church, his job and many off duty jobs and making time for hometeaching and fellowshiping So lucky to have him in our life.  Proud of this great man!   

If ye are prepared ye shall not fear

This makes me happy!

I kind of sort of have this big obsession with food storage.  I was feeling very overwhelmed and feeling strongly that I need to get things in order.  I just didn't know how.  I got on my knees and prayed for a way to make this happen as I knew it is so important.  I have cut way back on unnecessary purchases and we have cut back in every possible way to get out of debt. Within the hour I received a text from a dear friend who was trying to get rid of 26 perfectly good #10 cans of food.  What a blessing and answer to prayers.   This week I have been really working on a new menu plan.  Focusing on how to build our 3 month supply.  I'm planning 12 weeks worth of menus that I plan on buying the dry ingredients for.  Ways to use left overs from one meal and transform in into another meal on another day.  Its been quite fun and I'm excited at the thought of keeping menus and grocery lists for any week of the year.  It makes sense in my head, hers hoping it turns out how I picture.  :)

We now have a teenager!

I kind of can't believe it but....

 We finally have a....

 teenager in the house!  

 My how the years have flown! 

We started the day out with presents.  

 He got a huge one with smaller gifts inside

 it was fun watching him unwrap each layer

 He got his favorite treats 

 I think mom and dad were more excited for his reaction

 He didn't have a clue what was coming.  

 He finally got his own ipod.  

 It was a huge hit.  

For dinner he picked manicotti and garlic toast.  

I made him a paintball cake 

The frosting was supposed to be the paint splatter  

The M&M's were the paintballs.

  The inside of the cake was full of color too.  

 Here he is leading the music as we sang happy birthday.  hahaha, I love this kid! 

 And blowing out the candles.  

 I sure hope all of his wishes come true.  I have really been trying to focus on my relationships with each of my kids and I must say, I sure adore the sweet bond we are building.  He is such am amazing kid with so much potential and will do great things!  

new years

We rang in the new year with the Dunn's, Milkazarecks, Moselys and Francis Families.

The kids kept busy out side on the swings, trampoline and all the other fun things in the Dunns backyard.  

It got a little cold so we finally made the kids come inside.  

 They got out the video games, board games and of course the big kids got out phones/ipods.

 It was really fun to hear them goof off and be silly with each other.

The night flew by and it was time to welcome the new year.

 

Never in my life have I seen such an amazing home firework show.  

 The guys really outdid themselves.  It was amazing!  

 and a little too intense for some of the little buddies.  :)  He watched from inside.

 We sure had fun and I am just so grateful to have such wonderful friends in our daily lives.

 This has been a rollercoaster of a year! Definitely one of the hardest no doubt.  A year full of change and loss, some good and some that still brings me to my knees.  I lost tons of weight which I never thought I'd do, as well as letting go of other things I never in a million years would have imagined I would loose.  I've laughed, I've cried, I've been embarrassed and angry and have felt all alone. But as sappy and cliché as it sounds, I've grown into a stronger, happier, more confident person. So I guess what I'm trying to say is thank you 2013 and everyone who has affected this year both in a good and bad way. I've enjoyed the ride and I'm excited and ready for what 2014 has in store for me.

blankie

Little Miss has this blankie that she absolutely LOVES.

Of all the soft frilly blankets we have for her, this one is her favorite.  

 She can always be found rubbing the corners of the blanket.  I love to watch her do this.  

 What a sweet little babe she is.  Wish I could bottle her up at the age and keep her small forever!  

Daddy does my hair

My morning run went longer than usual one morning and Ry did Miss {B}'s hair, complete with a braid AND a head band.  I adore it when he does her hair.  It doesn't get cuter then this my friends!