Prayer Time

We have family prayer before dinner each night. When the food is ready, Devin or I let the kids know by saying something like, "K, it's prayer time." When we hear this, we know it's time to head to the couch in the front room to kneel for family prayer. Some nights we have to carry Jaxon in there if he won't stop playing and usually we just grab Henry on the way.

Last night we announced it was prayer time and Henry put his toys down and walked into the front room and put his head down on the couch all by himself! It was the sweetest thing! He was the first one in there, so he wasn't just mimicking someone else. He did it all on his own! It was adorable!

Tonight I said it was prayer time and he went to the couch all by himself again! I love that little guy!

Catch 22's

As I was thinking the other day, I realized there are some situations that you can't really win...

1. Going to school & getting student loans

Okay, you go to college to get a good job and make good money. BUT going to college requires getting student loans and then you have that bill to pay when you graduate.

So, my question is, would it be cheaper to skip college and get a regular job without the greatest pay so you don't have student loan payments? Probably not, but I wonder...

2. Teaching & getting a second job

One reason we decided Devin would be a teacher, besides the fact that he loves it, is the great schedule teachers have. You know, Monday-Friday, 7:00-3:30, with all holidays and summer off. But, because the pay is so little, Devin has started working a second job after school. So now he doesn't get home until 7:30 two nights during the week and he works a few hours on Saturdays. That's not exactly how we planned it...

Fulfilling

I love the feeling of having a clean house, healthy kids (bonus: asleep at their bedtime), and happy husband. It's very fulfilling. It's moments like these where I think,

"I am doing a good job--not perfect, but good enough."

It puts a smile on my face. I love being a wife and mommy. Both roles are so fulfilling and though things aren't always perfect, I wouldn't have it any other way. I am so blessed!

Fudge

I love fudge.

My favorite kids are milk chocolate and chocolate walnut. Yum!

Last weekend we went to the family cabin outside of Payson and stopped at a cute little place called The Sugar Shack. Let me tell you, they just might make the best fudge on earth! They are comparable to the fudge at my favorite shop in Seaport Village, San Diego, California. Both fabulous!

Devin tried to make fudge. Wasn't one of his most successful recipes, let's just put it that way.

I am Blessed

Recently I have discovered that I have been incredible ungrateful for many of the blessings in my life. I believe being ungrateful is the first step to unhappiness.

"There's no sense in making life seem like it's a struggle, because that doesn't make anybody feel better." --Ashton Kurtcher

Not that I really admire Ashton Kurtcher, I just thought it was a pretty good thought. I read it the other day and it made me think.

This is what I came up with...

He's not saying there won't be struggles. He's just saying don't complain about them all the time. Constantly being negative does not make anyone happy (or the people around them). Nor does it make "things," whether it is health, financial situation, or a relationship, improve. Everyone has struggles. Especially now.

I agree with him, but at the same time, I also think it's very important to let others know when you are struggling. Like family and friends who love you care and want to help. Isn't that what we're supposed to do, serve others? Yep.

But anyway, I am going to be more thankful for the things I have as well as don't have. Thanks Ashton.

Little Duckling

Last night after dinner Jaxon was playing in the toy room while Devin and I talked at the table. Jaxon put his toys down came over to me and said, "Mommy, hold me." My little almost-3-year-old doesn't want to cuddle very often so it was so sweet!

Then, while I held him he said to me, "Mommy, you are my little duckling." I about melted! It was so cute! I don't know where he got that, but maybe from the Ugly Duckling movie he likes, only he calls it the Hungry Duckling!

Jaxon Quotes

September 6, 2009

When I left a lamp on...

"Mommy, that will waste. It will waste lectricity."

September 8, 2009

"Did you put brown salt in there?"

"Brown salt? Yes."

"Then did you stir the brown salt to in the chocolate milkies?"

"Yep."

Bed for Sale

We are selling our king size bed. Both mattress & box springs for $500. It's only about 18 months old. Please let me know if your interested!

Sometimes I Wonder about this stuff too...

Kids lifting weights?

I absolutely love lifting weights. Not like I want to be huge or super strong. I just want to be toned. There is nothing like looking in the mirror and loving the way your body looks (especially as a woman) and lifting wights, along with running, help me be able to do that...

...But when I go to the gym and see young kids lifting weights I get worried. There is this one kid who goes with his dad and he (the kid) never looks like he is enjoying himself. I'm pretty sure his dad is making him go to turn him into a man or something stupid like that. I wanna go up to the dad and tell him, "Don't you know you can actually stunt your kid's growth by making him do this kind of exercise when he is so young? Do him a favor and let him go outside and play tag like the other kids his age. When he gets into high school, that's the time for him to lift weights."

I like change.

Not big changes like moving, but little changes like new furniture or rearranging a room or putting different pictures up. I guess I spend everyday at home and enjoy mixing it up a little. When I like the way a room is decorated, every time I walk into it it makes me happy:) I recently redid our kitchen and want to post pics, but there is one little thing I have left to do first.

Does anyone else have guilt if they litter?

I remember this one statement one of my leaders said in Young Women when I was younger. She said, "We can show our gratitude to Heavenly Father for our beautiful planet by not littering." From that moment on, I have never littered. Not only that, but if I accidently drop something and almost don't pick it up, I feel so guilty! Wow, that sounds prude...

Stinky Garbage=Stinky Car

This equation is a disgusting phenomenon. It's true though. I can say goodbye to the nice new car smell in my van when it sits in the garage along with stinky van. Ew.

More to Love Mom

Yes, I watch this show. Not religiously like the Bachelor(ette) but is was created by the same people. I actually have a lot to say about this show, but I'll stick to the subject here...

This is what one of the girls said when asked if she saw herself as a career mom or a stay at home mom: "I definitely see myself as a career mom. I have to keep myself busy, you know?"

Wow. I was making Devin watch it with me and he laughed out loud when she said that. He said, "What is she thinking? Moms aren't busy?" I was pretty proud he's the one who said that because it's pretty much what I was thinking. It's so funny that women actually think being a mom won't keep them busy.

More to Love Luke

K, so the guy actually said one of the best things a guy could say, "I think the biggest mistake a man can make in a relationship is not appreciating his lady enough and showing her and making her feel appreciated." How sweet is that? I was really impressed!

That's all for now.

Henry's Birthday

We had a family party to celebrate. It was fun, but Henry cried when we tried to give him cake!

Granny & Henry

Also, Henry does the sounds for doggie, cow, horse, pig, monkey, fish, and bird.

He only signs music, water, and please. (I know he knows more though because he has done them, but since I usually know what he wants, I don't really make him do the sign. He's pretty easy going, so it's rarely a problem where he wants something and he can't communicate to figure it out.)

Oh, and his first word is Pooh (as in Winnie the Pooh). Not mommy or daddy, but Pooh.