Easter Pictures

This year for Easter I used my Blood money to get K.C. and Craig matching ties. Every sunday when Craig gets ready for church he tries to match his tie to K.C.'s it doesn't work out very well because none of them do match. But now it will!

I took them to the tie store here in town and let Craig pick the ties he wanted. He did awesome! Both K.C. and I loved them!

When we got home from Church I wanted to take pictures of them matching and it inspired a little photo shoot.

Craig decided he needed to take a picture. He did awesome!

Then we set the camera on a timer and let him go push the button. You can tell by his smile that he's pretty pleased with himself!

It was especially awesome because I flipped the display on my camera out so while we were sitting in front of it I could see how we looked and if we were centered and if anyone needed to move... It was AWESOME. I loved it.

A God of Miracles

I believe in miracles! See I'm going to be taking pictures at my sister-in-laws wedding in a few weeks but due to my recent camera upgrade (the warranty replaced my 50D with a 60D!!!!!) All of my accessories like the remote shutter control, battery grip, extra batteries, etc don't fit my new camera.

These are not necessities but they sure do make a photo shoot a lot easier. I decided that I would try to sell all of my old equipment and my Rebel camera to try and get enough money to buy the new pieces. I have NEVER had any luck selling things but this was kind of important to me so I tried it.

They had been on Craigslist and in a local camera store for weeks and I was starting to get worried because I had to order the new stuff if I wanted it to get here before the wedding. But there wasn't even anyone who was interested.

So yesterday I said a prayer and told Heavenly Father that it would really mean a lot if I could sell my stuff soon. Not a big deal right? But at the same time, to me it was.

Well today I woke up from putting Craig down for a nap (haha) to K.C. telling me someone was asking about my battery grip. He said he'd think about it and as soon as I hung up with him I got a text about my rebel and then a call from someone who said they'd pay cash for my rebel if I could meet them in 20 minutes! I was a little shocked! ME? Actually selling something from Craigs list? Wonder of wonders it actually happened!

But the neatest part was I was able to use the money to replace every single piece that no longer fit! It was enough with some left over! AND it will even get here before we leave for AZ. You can't tell me that my prayer wasn't answered!

It's so powerful to me when I have an experience like that where something so insignificant and unimportant, in the grand scheme of things, works out so perfectly and so completely. I feel so loved and it reminds me that God isn't there only for the BIG things. And that He really does want us to be happy, not just surviving but happy. I don't know it's almost more impacting to me when a personal and non-essential request is answered than the big ones, because then it's even more obvious that he loves ME and that He cares about what I feel. I'm so blessed.

What a wonderfully good day.

Wanda's Boyfriend

As you may know, my sister Wanda just turned 18! Happy birthday Wand! And she got the best presest ever! A Boyfriend!

He came to her birthday party and we all loved him. He was fun, and made everyone laugh! He even gave wanda a Candy-Gram that was so cute....

He signed it "Oh Henry."

But then he started doing things like hanging out on the stairs and scaring people. Or hiding in wanda's closet to freak her out (no idea how he got there!... :) Or in the bathroom with the light off waiting for the next unsuspecting visitor. In each case screams and "Oh Henry!" could be heard through out the house!


In the end we decided that he was great and wanda decided that he was a real nussance and even exclamed "I hate my boyfriend!"

Haha! It was a great day. And K.C. was like a kid in a candy store thinking up the next place to stash him and then waiting to see Wanda's reaction. Oh it was good times.

Conference Efforts and the Fun Box

This year I wanted Conference to be more pleasant than it has the last couple of times. So I came prepared. My friend sent me an awesome conference packet that I printed off and had ready for Craig to use. And I got a Box of simple projects prepared that I call the "Sunday the Fun Day Box" This is the special box full of delightful things that is only allowed to be opened on Sunday. Hopefully this will increase Craigs opinion of the day!

Well I think the over all result was a success. I can't say that I was able to listen with undivided attention to every talk, but I was able to be in the same room without frustrations rising. I was able to help Craig get excited about it and I was able to come away feeling encouraged and uplifted. For this point in my life and what I have to work with, I'm feeling pretty good about it.

Some of the things we did were look for hidden music notes when the songs were playing, color pictures of the apostles when the spoke and later make them into a paper chain. We made clay animals. K.C. wrestled with Savannah. We colored pictures and so much more.

Look at that face! There's something really neat about seeing such joy in a child's eyes. Especially when it's your child. And it's a result of something nice that you're trying to do. Makes it so worth it!

 

I usually try to do my own form of Craft during conference because strangely this helps me remember the talks. So I did prepare all the things I would need if I ever had the chance to use them. And although they sat, ready and waiting... and waiting... and waiting... I only felt down about the lost opportunity a few times. I guess the portrait of Craig that I've been working on for the last year will just have to wait some more! It was different but it was good.

2 Wheels

Between sessions Craig decided he wanted to try and ride his pedal bike (we got it a while ago from DI but it's always been too big for him to even touch the ground on.) So in my flip flops we headed out the door.

He took off down the side walk and just rode it! It's heavier than his other bike so he's a little more swervy and and trying to stay on the sidewalk next to me... well that was a trick all by itself. But he did great. He went as fast as I could go in my flip flops and he loved it. On the way up the hill he did have to get some pushes because lets face it. that hill is even hard for me to ride up. Not such a good learner spot.

Did I take a picture? No. Video? Yes! I'm getting better about that. But alas. I'm not getting better about getting them from the video camera to the computer. So I guess you'll just get to imagine how fun it was.

Fun with the kids.

 This picture makes my heart happy!

Wonderful daddy, adorable daughter, yes, it makes me very happy.

Savannah Loves to get rides on this bike. She'd ride it for hours if we would push her that long.

Her busy little feet are never still. Seriously, NEVER still.

She likes to stand up while she rides too. 

Two tired buddies

I love this face! Look at her hair!

Good friends. (Even though she's not quite sure about the hug ;)

Things aren't always easy as pie, but having these two around to brighten my day and give me sweet hugs and kisses is totally worth all the ups and downs. 

Purple day!

Craig tried his hand at the Hula Hoop the other day. He actually did a really good job. Especially considering the fact that the hula hoop is twice his size! He got it going pretty good, I did get some fun videos of it, but have I retrieved them from my camera? No. So will I be posting them soon? probably not. But the thought was definitely there.

Today I told Craig to wash his hands and after going in and once he came back for a check I told him to go back and get under his fingernails some more. He got all excited and said "Mama will you come with me!? I'd love it if you came with me because you're my special friend!"

See what I mean? Melt my heart!
Family really is the best. And my family is so perfect for me!

First Words

Savannah love to make noise. She's babbling and talking all the time. But in and amongst her babbles there are a few words that have made them selves distictly and repeatedly clear.

"Mama" was the first, she loves to call me when I'm not paying her enough attention.
"Daddy" (more like dada) was soon to follow.
And "Bye Bye" (accompanied with a wave.)

She signs "Please" ALL the time. 

{ Note: this is our personal version of please. An open hand held out palm up, as if waiting for something to be placed in it...}
 
 She likes to do it with both hands. One up by her face the other reaching toward her goal. In this case me, and the unhappy look is because I was too busy trying to take a picture of "please" that I wasn't picking her up.

Any time she wants something she has very quickly learned she's more likely to get it if she says please. But this is dangerous because it's really hard to say no to her cuteness!

But surprisingly she's just about as good at giving something back as she is about asking for it. Craig and her will pass something back and forth quite amiably (in 3 second increments) as they both say please in sign as fast as they can. and hand it back and forth. It's cute. And she is delighted that he will play this game with her.

"More" 

 { Side angle, hard to see, but she is signing 'more' }

This sign is less common but if we're just not getting the message she will resort to using it. And usually it has to do with an action like swinging or tickling her (or in this case Craig hula hooping). not so much food.


Speaking of food. Can I just say that NOTHING yummy escapes her notice! It's actually pretty amazing and funny. And you can't fool her either. If you try to fool her and give her a decoy or distract her with something else, she adamantly refuses and insists with all manner of body language, leaning, pointing, saying please, whatever it takes but she knows what she wants!

From the Mouth of Craig: ...Ful

These days craig has found a new and creative use of words. When you can't think of a word that describes how you're feeling, just make one up!

When I told him it was time to take a nap he said "Mama, I'm not sleepful, I'm playful!"

Wanting to read a story: "I'm not restful, I'm bookful!"

"Can I have some paper and a crayon? I'm wordful." (after which he wrote BUG and HAT all by himself!)


"I want to play the Wii mom! I'm wiiful!"

Feeling hungry? Try "I'm snackful"

Coming in from playing outside "I'm drinkful."

"Let's go on a ride mom! I'm bikeful."

These are just a few of our favorites. I have to hand it to him though, I never would have thought of them, But they sure make me smile!

Let it be said

When you look around my life you might find a spotless house, decorated with good taste, clean children, fashionably clothed and well behaved, cute crafts everywhere, laundry always done, toys always put away and lovely aromas of beautiful yummy masterpieces cooking in the kitchen. And of course myself showered, dressed (also very fashionably) make up done, hair done all poised and confident, ready for anything!

Well that's what you might see, but then again maybe not. Actually there's a very slim chance of you seeing any of that. For although I get up and earnestly keep myself very busy all day long doing everything I can think of to be a good wife, mother, home maker and friend... when night comes and I look around at the fruits of my day, (sigh) well the cold hard truth is they look more like unorganized chaos.

Laundry dutifully started and with great intentions of this time getting from start to finish in one single day... still folded on the floor from several days ago. But wait, helpful hands and feet have not let it lay there in peace. No. Now it's just a pile of once clean clothes mingled with a random shirt here or there that was stripped off of a busy son on his way in from the back yard, dirty and of course not suitable to wear anymore.

Dirty diapers left in a pile, never quite making it to the garbage. Toys and games strewn from one end of the house to the other. Once again lunch will just be sandwiches, and dinner, well hamburger helper will have to do. My 'poised and ready self' consisting of sweats and T-shirt hair pulled hastily into a ponytail and yesterdays makeup still smearing around my eyes.

And the children, oh the children! The clothes that were clean 15 minutes ago now have a variety of things clinging to them. Dust and dirt, yogurt, apple juice, the remains of a strawberry, chocolate, don't forget to change that dirty diaper again...too busy to hold still the dirty little faces rush off in search of the next adventure, messy hair flying atop their heads.

I can't keep up and before I know it the day is gone.

There are so many things that I'd like to be. So many talents I'd like to have. I would love to have the energy and ability to somehow master a lifestyle that constantly evades me! And try as I might to become the person in my picture perfect imagination, well, I always fall short. It's such a depressing feeling sometimes!

It's about the time that I'm looking around the house at my many many evidences of yet another day full of failures that K.C. comes and gently reminds me.

"The laundry was left laying there because you stopped working to play with the kids."
"Food on faces is evidence of well fed happy children."
"The toys are reminders of happy times playing and laughing."
"When I look around our home (which he tells me isn't as bad as I seem to think it is) I don't see failures. I see evidences of busy happy people leading happy lives."

So my friends. It may not be said of me that I'm a great home maker. It may not be said that my children are always clean and well dressed. It may not be said that I am fashionable or trendy or that my home is always clean.

But I hope that if there is something to say that it can be said of me that I love my children. That I would do anything for my family and that we have made some wonderful memories as we have laughed, worked and played together.

So let it be said that my joy is my family, my life is my husband and folding laundry will just have to wait because I've got some memories to make!

Let it be said

When you look around my life you might find a spotless house, decorated with good taste, clean children, fashionably clothed and well behaved, cute crafts everywhere, laundry always done, toys always put away and lovely aromas of beautiful yummy masterpieces cooking in the kitchen. And of course myself showered, dressed (also very fashionably) make up done, hair done all poised and confident, ready for anything!

Well that's what you might see, but then again maybe not. Actually there's a very slim chance of you seeing any of that. For although I get up and earnestly keep myself very busy all day long doing everything I can think of to be a good wife, mother, home maker and friend... when night comes and I look around at the fruits of my day, (sigh) well the cold hard truth is they look more like unorganized chaos.

Laundry dutifully started and with great intentions of this time getting from start to finish in one single day... still folded on the floor from several days ago. But wait, helpful hands and feet have not let it lay there in peace. No. Now it's just a pile of once clean clothes mingled with a random shirt here or there that was stripped off of a busy son on his way in from the back yard, dirty and of course not suitable to wear anymore.

Dirty diapers left in a pile, never quite making it to the garbage. Toys and games strewn from one end of the house to the other. Once again lunch will just be sandwiches, and dinner, well hamburger helper will have to do. My 'poised and ready self' consisting of sweats and T-shirt hair pulled hastily into a ponytail and yesterdays makeup still smearing around my eyes.

And the children, oh the children! The clothes that were clean 15 minutes ago now have a variety of things clinging to them. Dust and dirt, yogurt, apple juice, the remains of a strawberry, chocolate, don't forget to change that dirty diaper again...too busy to hold still the dirty little faces rush off in search of the next adventure, messy hair flying atop their heads.

I can't keep up and before I know it the day is gone.

There are so many things that I'd like to be. So many talents I'd like to have. I would love to have the energy and ability to somehow master a lifestyle that constantly evades me! And try as I might to become the person in my picture perfect imagination, well, I always fall short. It's such a depressing feeling sometimes!

It's about the time that I'm looking around the house at my many many evidences of yet another day full of failures that K.C. comes and gently reminds me.

"The laundry was left laying there because you stopped working to play with the kids."
"Food on faces is evidence of well fed happy children."
"The toys are reminders of happy times playing and laughing."
"When I look around our home (which he tells me isn't as bad as I seem to think it is) I don't see failures. I see evidences of busy happy people leading happy lives."

So my friends. It may not be said of me that I'm a great home maker. It may not be said that my children are always clean and well dressed. It may not be said that I am fashionable or trendy or that my home is always clean.

But I hope that if there is something to say that it can be said of me that I love my children. That I would do anything for my family and that we have made some wonderful memories as we have laughed, worked and played together.

So let it be said that my joy is my family, my life is my husband and folding laundry will just have to wait because I've got some memories to make!

January Review - My Birthday

Oh yeah. I had a birthday. Funny I posted pictures from my birthday but they were about Savannah and her scrunch. I'm not quite sure I didn't post a thing about my birthday... So I'm going to change that. I had a birthday!

It started off by opening my last birthday board present (a wipes case so I could cover it for Fabriza!)

Then Wanda came and kidnapped me. It was so much fun. We got a massage, manicure, makeover... basically we had a blast. 

Then she went and took pictures of me. It was so much fun.

Then we went out to my parents when K.C. had been busy making my cake. (Which was a delicouse recipe that my friend Shannon inspired me to try. A from scratch chocolate cake! Thanks Shannon.)

He also made a chocolate cheese cake from scratch. (Another friend inspired recipe!) They were both fabulous.

Savannah and grandpa helped.

My family had decorated the house.

 

I had to find all my presents on the wall.

My yummy cake. It kind of fell apart so K.C. turned it into a lava cake.

 

K.C. had fun bouncing on the couch! hahaha.

Craig helped me open all my pressents

(yay for body wash!)

Played and laughed with Savannah.

It was a great birthday.

January Review - My Birthday

Oh yeah. I had a birthday. Funny I posted pictures from my birthday but they were about Savannah and her scrunch. I'm not quite sure I didn't post a thing about my birthday... So I'm going to change that. I had a birthday!

It started off by opening my last birthday board present (a wipes case so I could cover it for Fabriza!)

Then Wanda came and kidnapped me. It was so much fun. We got a massage, manicure, makeover... basically we had a blast. 

Then she went and took pictures of me. It was so much fun.

Then we went out to my parents when K.C. had been busy making my cake. (Which was a delicouse recipe that my friend Shannon inspired me to try. A from scratch chocolate cake! Thanks Shannon.)

He also made a chocolate cheese cake from scratch. (Another friend inspired recipe!) They were both fabulous.

Savannah and grandpa helped.

My family had decorated the house.

 

I had to find all my presents on the wall.

My yummy cake. It kind of fell apart so K.C. turned it into a lava cake.

 

K.C. had fun bouncing on the couch! hahaha.

Craig helped me open all my pressents

(yay for body wash!)

Played and laughed with Savannah.

It was a great birthday.