Christmas 2009

While I am here I might as well do Christmas too. Christmas was great this year. Today Reagan asked me if Santa was going to come again. The kids were excited for Christmas but I think I was the one who had Christmas jitters as I did not sleep the night before very well at all. We spent time with both families. We were thinking that it is nice to live where we do so that we don't have to travel for Holidays. How grateful I am for the spirit of Christmas and the joy that it brings to all no matter what faith. It is a magical time of year and am always sad to see the whole magic go away. I wish we could bottle it up and open it every time we need to have that feeling again. Christmas in a child's eyes is not the same as an adult. I can feel it as a parent though just feeling how excited they are.

Reagan learned throughout the month at preschool more about Christmas, Santa, reindeer. I threw her reindeer that she made away and she pulled it out of the garbage today very sad. Jaxon loved the tree and hardly bothered it all.

We went to SLC for a quick cold trip through Temple square to see the lights. Reagan loved swimming at the hotel. Jaxon was terrified, which surprised me. It was fun and we enjoyed it. We are looking forward to the new year and everything that comes with it. It is always good to look back over the last year's goals and look forward to something new.

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and hope you all a Happy New Year.

the happiness project

I was just reading on msn.com and there was a link to the happiness project. It is kind of cool. This lady posts on a blog about how she learned to be a happier person. She came up with happiness project toolbox which gave me a lot of good ideas. Because happiness is a state of mind I think that I am going to keep a happiness blog or something like it. I will let you know what it is exactly. I haven't quite got it figured out yet. If you have any suggestions please pass them a long.

grateful

1. We had fun in SLC even though we didn't do much
2. We got home safely
3. We slept great last night

happiness

In an effort to be a happier person I will attempting to blog three things everyday that I am grateful for. Here gies:

1. A nice bed we are kinda sick right now
2. the opportunity to stay home with my kids
3. A computer to stay in touch

Christmas to follow at a later date.

Lame-o

I know this is really lame but it may have to do. Blogger Christmas card. I have realized that the only pictures I take are for ebay or craigslist. So I really don't have any pictures to add to this. I may still send out a Christmas card and if you get one in the mail feel lucky. I usually send them out to family and friends if I have your address if not this will have to do.

As you probably have read already, we have had a busy year. Building houses, making bags among other things, preschool, crawling, walking, talking, and doing lots of other things too. Whatever it is we seem to stay busy. We like busy I guess because it is weird to not have something to do. Life is a race and I am always in the back. Better to finish than to not have tried right?

Brian is transitioning to a medical sales rep for Big Bear Medical and we are both hoping that it goes really well. Change is good most of the time and I think we are ready for it. He has been to training a lot recently and still has some more coming up. He is looking forward to the Fiesta Bowl and cheering on the Bronco Blue. We hope it truly is a fiesta with a big win.

Brooke is driving herself and everyone crazy making candy the last couple of days. Caramel, pecan brittle, fudge, frosted almonds, and peppermint bark. Yum. She is trying to keep up in the race and somedays does better than others. She has been sewing many Christmas projects and making bags for Rod and Vinyl in hopes that they sell. She does carpool for preschool and tries to get in quick shopping trips with only one kid while Reagan is in preschool.

Reagan is loving preschool and learns a lot. I am kind of surprised at how much she really takes with her. She is a good sister most of the time and in the right moment likes to play with Jaxon as long as it is on her terms. No touching my stuff. That kind of thing. She is very helpful and loves to play Candy Land. She likes to help Brooke cook and wants to get right in on the action for dinner. She is a great aerobics instructor and tells me how to exercise. We love her to pieces.

Jaxon is really a happy boy after a while. He has been great after he went off medicine for acid reflux as a baby. He is running, talking, and tries to keep up with all of us. He loves to chase Reagan around. He loves to watch movies in the car. He gives really great hugs and sometimes loves to cuddle. It is a chance moment if you get one. We love to make him laugh and are so happy he is in our family.

We are so grateful for the knowledge that the gospel brings in our lives. We really have so many things to be grateful for and to be happy about. As Christmas approaches closer and closer we try to teach our children about the Savior's birth. We are grateful for the sacrifice the Lord made for us and we hope that everyone can remember the true joys of Christmas.

Merry Christmas,

The Crandall,
Brian, Brooke, Reagan, and Jaxon

Things

The Things I am very grateful for today:

1. a clean kitchen
2. the laundry being almost done
3. A little girl who sings
4. a little boy who sleeps
5. a warm house to live in
6. a plethora of eyedrops to treat my infected eyes
7. rs lessons that go well
8. Christmas is almost here
9. being done with houses
10. enjoying my time at home with the kiddos


There are really many more things that I am grateful for but those top the list today.

Anyway??

It has been 5 weeks since I have posted a thing. Well today, I thought I would post my Halloween pictures since it is almost Christmas and much to my dismay they are no longer on my camera. They are not on my computer either. Where did they go? I have no idea. Slightly frustrating. So this makes year 2 that I have no pictures of my costumed children. Where is the mother of the year award when I need it. This did not just happen to the Halloween pictures but every picture on my camera. Since I am really not tech savvy I don't know what to do.

Here is a recap:

Reagan wanted to be a ladybug for Halloween since way back when. She talked about and talked so I got her a lady bug costume because well I am too lazy to make one. So Halloween came and she was a monkey. She wouldn't put the lady bug on and it really wasn't worth the fight and so the monkey came out from last year. Jaxon was a chicken. He thought it was pretty funny and thought it was funnier when Reagan bocked at him chasing him around the house.

Brian's birthday was great. He got a toilet. He asked for it. Such a practical guy. He has been working super hard on the houses we are finishing up. That means early mornings and really late nights. Yuck! But he does it cause he loves us soo much and well because he has too.

Me: There is really not too much going on. I colored my hair dark a while ago but now it is mostly normal again. I haven't lost any weight, but there is still next year right? I make bags and just got them put in a store called Rod and Vinyl. They are smaller scripture bags and bigger bags for me. Like a diaper bag or church or really just a freaking cute purse. Use it for whatever. The small ones sell for $15 and the larger ones for $25. I am working on a website and I need a name so if you have any great names for a website let me know. I will post some on etsy as well and my etsy link is to the side called lebois chic. I don't have any up yet. The camera thing. So I am busy sewing away. I have been slowed due to the breaking of my sewing machine. though. Still have a lot of sewing to do. I will figure it out. Who knows maybe I will use my sister A's machine. That way it could get some use for the year. Ha! Almost got the Christmas shopping done. Obsessing over what I got Reagan slightly too much. Here, give me another opinion. Got Reagan a dollhouse for Christmas. Should I keep it for later and give it to her. I am overanalyzing this entirely too much. Apparently, I have a lot of time on my hands.

Jaxon has a string of words he has been saying. Look, ball, daddy, doggie, those sound the same mostly, and a few others. He can get into mischief faster than anyone I know. He brushes his teeth for at least an hour a day. Grandpa would be proud. Loves to read books and has no bottle anymore.

We are doing well despite never posting. I will try to be more frequent I just have lots going on.

GOod THings
1. Having so much to be grateful for
2. Brian coming home at night
3. Good food

lack of title

So October has gone by fairly fast. Last week we had our ward party and super saturday, they call it simple Saturday only because they are in some serious denial. It seemed that last week all I did was Run and I am not so fast. Go here, go there, go everywhere. So here is to a new week.

This week should be less hectic although today since 3 I have ran to 2 banks, 2 visiting teaching visits and am currently waiting for my Alison's Pantry truck to show up and then we are going to Grandma's for dinner and to carve pumpkins. Tomorrow I think I will sleep til noon and let the kids mother themselves. Right!

For our ward party, I dressed up in the 80's. I had the hottest costume. It consisted of leopard print tights worn under my poorly tried acid wash jeans with slits cut down the front of them, hot pink legwarmers and a sweat band which I made myself. I pink necklace, jelly bracelets and hoop earrings courtesy of DI, don't worry I sanitized, an off the shoulder sweatshirt with a knot like thing, blue eyeshadow, glossy lips, and of course crimped side ponytail. I was smoking. But I didn't win the tickets. Oh well, better luck next year. I really think it was a flashback for most people. When my hair gets crimped it multiplies a lot. Anyway, it was a lot of fun. I don't have pictures but you can probably imagine what it would look like.

We have Halloween on Saturday, Brian's birthday on Sunday and hopefully can avoid the flu for at least a week.

Good Things:
1. Wanting to crawl into my heated bed
2. Hot chocolate
3. Fun things like dressing up every now and again.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day and a Happy Halloween.

Chocolate Chips

This is really boring oh well.

I am ordering Chocolate chips through Guittard.
The prices are as follows:

25 lbs. Semi-Sweet Chocolate Baking Chips 0138C25 1ct s/s chips $ 57.00
25 lbs. Real Milk Chocolate Maxi Baking Chips . 0145C25 350ct Milk Maxi chips $70.00
25 lbs. Gourmet White Chocolate Baking Chips 9730C25 900ct Gourmet White chips $48.00
25 lbs. Green Mint Baking Chips 9702C25 700ct Green Mint chips $45.00
25 lbs. Butterscotch Baking Chip9818C25 1ct Butterscotch chips $48.00


If you are interested or know someone that is let me know. I need to have 20 boxes at least to make an order.

I will post other things later.

Good Things For Today

Good Things
1. Trips to Utah to see friends
2. Pumpkin chocolate chip muffins. Yum
3. A full night's sleep It's a beautiful thing.
Have a great day.

ARGH!

Is that how you spell that? Jaxon is 14 months old learned to climb today. I am not very happy. I never believed in baby proofing the house. Well, I have never had a Jaxon before. Reagan got into stuff but it was the measuring cups and the lids to my containers. And occasionally the sugar and the flour. That has been moved. Jaxon plays in the toilet and the paper, pulls everything out from under the bathroom cabinet, throws things in the toilet and tub. He gets out the pan lids and everything off the lazy susan, opens the drawer beneath the oven and stands in it, climbs onto the couches, rocking chair and today he discovered he can crawl onto Reagan's bed, the table chairs and once on the chairs onto the table and once on is King of the house. He was really pleased with himself...until he fell off. But he did not learn quickly. He is a determined child and got right back up there. I was hoping I had a few more months before the madness began but it is here. And...I have gone mad myself I think. Hopefully the crib is not next and he can live there for a long more time. So tomorrow while Reagan is at school I will be helping Ashlee while she gets a massage and going to Wally's to invest in some hopefully childproof cupboard locks. I am not sure what to do about the table. Hopefully I don't end up making trips to the dreaded ER. I have already been there once with him and I didn't like it and I don't want to do it again. The trip there last time was unrelated. Anyway, I hope you all had a great day.

Good things
1. Bedtime (my favorite time of day)
2. Jaxon did get up and climb again I guess
3. I am really struggling for three things today is just a 2 good thing day and that is pushing it.

Reagan's funny

While driving down the road today, Reagan saw some hay and said to me " Look it's hay, horses eat hay. We don't eat hay we just eat dinner.

Silly girl.

Good Things

I forgot to post the Good Things

1. Fresh vegetable from our garden and our neighbors
2. Chocolate zuccini cake
3. Having a fun time

It's been an eternity..well almost

I know, it has been forever since I have posted. Lets see. We have had family reunions, meetings galore, first day of preschool, jury duty notices, and a variety of other happenings going on since the last time I posted.
I have been busy preparing RS lessons, gathering super saturday stuff , taking care of the kids, bookkeeping, and whatever else I deem worthy to do. I have not exercised though and I am not proceeding with my goal of losing weight. I decided I needed to make myself a chart like I make for Reagan and every time I exercise continuously I get to put a sticker. Sounds ridiculous and it is. My goals I have set aside for myself are: the first 10 pounds, the cutest pair of boots with fur on top, the 2nd 10 pounds, skinny jeans. I know it is definitely out on the limb a little. If they make me look 16 then I will wear them once with my boots and never look back. But the boots will stare at me from my closet saying please love me and wear me. After that I have something else to look forward to but we will see how the first 20 goes.

Jaxon is cutting molars right now and is he ever a nightmare. Grumpy X 2. He likes it when Reagan is at preschool because he can do whatever he wants. He currently weighs 2 oz less than Reagan wears about the same size shoe and is 3-4 inches shorter. He is only 13 months old. I think I birthed a giant. Normally he is happy and doesn't mind getting beat on too much by Reagan.

Reagan started preschool and she loves it. We carpool with 3 other friends in our ward. She cannot wait to go. It is 3 times a week for 2 hours. She anticipated the driver of the day to pull by looking out the window, If I let her she would wait outside everyday. Last week I asked her what she did in school and she said she made a puppet. A little while later I asked her what else she did at school and she looked at me and said " I said a puppet, I told you like 50 times already" Welcome the 14 year old attitude on the 3 year old. See what I have to look forward to. Yikes!

Brian has been really busy trying to finish some houses. We always have new adventures and are awaiting the next adventure always. They keep us busy.

Brian and I got to go to Boise to watch the Boise State/ Oregon game. We smoked them. We hope they continue to do well and BCS here we come! Go Broncos!

I will try to post more frequently.

Fun in the sun

It has been a fun summer. We have played outside, swam, rode bikes and just had a good time. Here are some new pictures of stuff.

Funny Story:

One day not so long ago I was updating my blog and when I went upstairs to see what my children were doing (it was very quiet) I found that Reagan had dumped a bottle of baby powder all over Jaxon and the floor. What a mess! On the upside he did smell good.

Last week I went to Salt Lake and I found my new favorite thing to do down there. There is a really great DI in Centerville. The best and cleanest I have ever seen. There were 5 of us and we spend a combined total of $150. That much at DI. Who would have thought. We were there for about 2 and a half hours. I know it is slightly pathetic but there is nothing wrong with finding a deal. I bought a skirt for $4.00 with a new tag on it. It was Ann Taylor and the new price was $108.00 totally worth the whole purchase. So the next time you are in the neighborhood check it out. Well worth your time.

GOOdthings
1. Being away
2. Finding a great deal
3. Having fun

Is this a Problem?

So I discovered yesterday that I have a problem.. Well, I have several but this one I just found out yesterday. I was in my food storage room trying to clean it so I could actually open the door and I store way too much food. At least I do what I am told. On Monday I canned cherry pie filling and I have no where to put it. I know that this is a very odd problem. Today, I went grocery shopping and I just kept thinking that I need to stock up. I went to grab a couple cans of pineapple and thought to myself, "seriously like I need to store one more thing. Apparently this is where my pack ratness comes into play. It is not the things from the childhood it is food. It is almost a little embarassing because I must thing that I am going to shrivel up and die. The other ironic thing is that yesterday I was out of milk and had been since Monday.

Good Things
1. I store food and lots of it.
2. Knowing I will have a variety to choose from
3. I will not starve.

I will take a picture of my storage room and post it on my next post.

Updates

So I have decided that I probably should update my blog since it has almost been a month. June was a busy month but we made it through. All of Brian's family came the last week and we headed to Island Park for a reunion for the firstish of July. We went to Wade Lake and West Yellowstone. It was enjoyable. We didn't go to the parade for the 4th but did go over with Brian's family to have a dinner and a small fireworks show before the big one. I took the kids home and put them to bed and Bri went to the fireworks. We are trying to decide what we need to do with jobs and such with the market the way it is. Right now we have 2 houses we are building but after November we don't have anything. We have been looking for jobs trying to know what is best for us and our family.

We have been busy working on our projects and they are moving along. As I began mowing the lawn the other day the strawberry net got caught in 3 yes 3 blades of the lawn mower. That was a mess to get out. But while I was thinking about how to get it out I cleaned the garage. A project that I had been putting off for a long time. My garden is coming right along. Today I picked peas and the second batch of strawberries this week. Reagan is out swimming and just picked my green tomatoes. Little Turkey.

Jaxon started walking with a few steps on June 18th and now he is off and running. He always has to be carrying something as he walks. I am not for sure if it is for balance or what? He is a funny boy and loves to throw balls and chase them. He also loves to through his food a trait I am not so fond of. A few weeks ago I painted part of his room chocolate brown and I love it.

Reagan has a mind of her own and told me she wanted to say the prayer by herself. I got her started and then she kept going. Bless Ellie and Jacob, Ryan and Joyce, Grant, Tyson, Krissy, Grandpa and Grandpa (she get confused when she says them together) the tape, the wall and the light, moms nose and so on. Finally I said okay finish. After she looked at me and said "mom, were you being silly during the prayer" I was smiling because of her interesting things to bless. She is going to preschool in the fall and I think I am looking forward to it. I think she might soak up all the learning. She wants me to tell her what every letter is and all the words that start with it.

July is busy for us as Brian is helping build a garage at the cabin, a girls vaca, high adventure, and Carter reunion. I am loving summer but think it just got warm and it will end so fast. But with fall comes school, anniversary, Boise State games, and probably job hunting.

Good Things
1. FAMILY FUN
2. BEING PRODUCTIVE (GROWING A GARDEN)
3. THE FUTURE WHATEVER IT MAY HOLD

Summer is here...I think!

I am so glad that summer is here. Although it has been raining for the past 3 weeks I think that it might start warming up soon. With summer brings family reunions, trips to the lake or pool, yard work, allergies, and of course sun burns. We are looking forward to them all. Last weekend was free fishing day so we went out to the gravel ponds to do some fishing. We thought Reagan would like it. She did but we didn't catch a thing or even get a bite. They claimed the pond was stocked but I think it was stocked with goldfish crackers and not the real fish. I have cute pictures but they are on my phone and I need to figure out how to get them off.

Also last weekend Reagan took a spill out of the wagon and cut up her lip pretty good. She is fine. It looked pretty bad on Saturday when she woke up but looked better Sunday. So she is on the healing.

We always have projects going on in our house or yard. We have so many that I think are about 3/4 of the way finished and I am sick of it. I keep nagging Brian to get them finished. Today I took it upon myself to finish the electrical outlets upstairs and I got them done. The next thing I am working on is the hallway sheetrock and finish painting. I really want to attempt to be organized and feel like I can't until everything is put together. Someday...hopefully soon. Brian, if you are reading this I am not trying to nag through a blog.

I have been sewing some super cute things for Reagan. She doesn't really like them or even try to like them. She is such a stinker she won't even try to put them on. I don't know why I make her stuff sometimes. I have had a fun time sewing them. She did wear a dress to church on Sunday though. Now I just got new stuff for pjs for both kids and dresses at some point in the future.

Good Things
1. Progress on anything really
2. Reclamation of the counters....again
3. Enjoying time for myself

Why we become Mothers...Part 2

A few months maybe years ago I wrote a post on the very topic and now I want to add to it. You know after the 2nd child has come along.

Motherhood is not the most glamorous title of work. We do it because we love it and are supposedly to find joy in it. Here is my side of the story. Everyone has a different view.

At the beginning of May, I gave a lesson in RS on the 2nd Article of Faith. The Fall. The end result of the Fall is the joy we find because of the result of the Fall. That morning Reagan scribbled all over my lesson with marker, red, blue, and black. I was frazzled. That is one joy of the fall. Anyway, at the end of the lesson, I found a talk by a guy that was saying how proud and amazed he always was at his wife soon after she gave birth. He said the aches and pains of labor and giving birth quickly changed into smiles and happiness and newfound joy at the new baby. I thought that was a very interesting comparison and have thought a lot about it since I read it.

When I had Jaxon, we were very busy with Parade of Homes. Brian with building and I was in charge of decorating, curtains, bedding, you know that stuff. For some reason I thought I was going to be able to manage it all. About 5-6 weeks after I had him was when Parade of Homes started and was also when Jaxon started to bawl. And bawl he did. All the time, all night, he never took naps, always ate, and acted in pain all of the time. I took him to Dr after Dr, naturpath, chiropractor to no avail. I just kept thinking that there is something wrong with him. Finally, someone said he probably had acid reflux and put him on medicine but it really didn't make a difference. When he was about 3 months old I finally got him on some good meds to take care of the problem. During all this time, I was so miserable. Thinking back on it now, it makes me cry. It made me cry then too. Brian would come home at night and I would be crying because I couldn't handle it. Jaxon crying all the time and Reagan was way more than I could handle. I was so overwhelmed by it all and there were so many days I did nothing but hold a crying baby. It was very hard not to lose my temper and I am sure I lost it a lot and would scream at the kids. I got on medication as well and things as slowly returned to normal whatever that is. We are both off all meds now. Jaxon is a really happy baby now and doesn't let too many thumps from Reagan bother him. Jaxon was very hard on both Brian and I and Reagan I am sure suffered as well. It continues to get better everyday. I have someone in the ward watch my kids on Thursdays and that has been the biggest lifesaver. Grandmas pitch in a lot of help too. So many people always told me that there kids cried all the time too but it just didn't seem to be the same. I felt like they really didn't understand what I was dealing with. Lots of people also said "oh it is just a stage or colic".


The point to all of this is this: President Monson has told us to Enjoy our Journey. At times, the journey may seem like Mt. Everest and for me it was. I really wasn't enjoying my journey and sometimes I still don't. It seems like I am always looking forward to if he was 6 months or I can't wait til he is 2. But no matter what the age he is I still have a journey to complete. I need to be reminded constantly that there are stopping points to refuel after the hard climb. Scripture study, prayer, fasting are those refueling stations. It is hard but I feel like I am starting to enjoy my journey more on some days. Life doesn't happen without them. I just thought of a saying, I don't even know who it goes something like...how we dance in the rain. Do we look up and see the thunder clouds and have it be a determining factor in how our day is going to be or do we look at the clouds and think of the opportunities the day could bring. One thing I realized in all of this though is that I am the Mother and I need to take care of myself first because I need to be well to take care of children and they need someone strong. My kids rely on me and need me. I need them too, sometimes it just takes a while for me to get that. I hope I don't look back at this experience in 5 years and say that I really missed out on things because I wasn't enjoying my journey. I hope in all of this we all can realize what a blessing motherhood is and what a God given power each of us as women have. It is a divine sacred thing that we really should hold very close to our hearts and souls and thank Heavenly Father everyday to be able to be a Mother. We really should capture each of the precious moments that happen with our kids whether they be great or sad and cherish them. I am learning to enjoy my journey as a mother and I really hope it gets better with each day.

Good Things
1. Realizing you really are blessed
2. People who can empathize
3. Motherhood, it really is good

Happy Spring

I just wanted to tell everyone that today was such a beautiful day. My garden is planted and growing. I have planted perennials in my flower beds, the tulips, daffodils, hyacinths are blooming, the trees are starting to leaf out and bloom, my strawberries are blooming which means fruit soon, the lawn is green and I love to mow it, for some reason it is very therapeutic and of course....the weeds are in full rage too. Anyway today was just a beautiful day. I got a lot of things done. I took Jaxon to the DR again. It is starting to be really a part of my life. The antibiotics weren't really working and his ear infection is worse. We are trying to figure out if Jaxon has allergies too.

Well first, I was up at 5:30 because the boy was awake. I fed him a bottle and he went to sleep for about 3 minutes. I finally got up and put him in the truck, went and cleaned the office and went to Home Depot to get burning bushes and mulch. After the dr I spent the afternoon mulching my flowerbeds and planting flowers. Still more to plant. I love warm weather.

Good Things
1. Beauty of the Earth
2. Insurance
3. To know that God loves me.

Lately I have been feeling very unsettled. I am not sure why. Angst is a great way to describe it. So I have decided that I need to be doing more scripture reading, temple attending, and really just appreciating what I have and being genuinely thankful for it. Sometimes I get so obsessed with the things I am looking for and want that I don't really take the time to look around at what I have and be grateful for it. Happiness is a state of mind, it is not on the other side of the fence. I really am so blessed in my life to live where I do, married to who I am, and have so many opportunities in life that I should be really and truly grateful because so many have so much less. So I am trying to focus on a new attitude of appreciation. Life may not be great and blissful at all times but we have so many experiences to glean from when the times are tough. So here is my new mantra about the whining and to just be grateful for the everyday blessings. Recently in RS they gave a monthly calendar. At the end of each day we are supposed to right something down in the corresponding date how the Lord have blessed us that day or how we have the love of the Lord that day. It really makes you think. I encourage you all 2 viewers of my blog to get a calendar and do it. At the end of the month look back and see how the Lord loves and blesses us.

Happy Mothers Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there. I hope your day was great.

This last weekend I went to SLC with all of Brian's sisters. Five of them to be exact. I had a lot of fun. We shopped, went to a museum, shopped, hiked ensign peak, shopped, went to Nielsen's custard twice and shopped some more. It was great to see everyone and I hoped enjoyed themselves as much as I did. Brian watched the kids at night and Saturday and then farmed them out the other days. Thanks, mom. Jaxon came down with a case of croup while I was gone and Brian had to deal with that. So when I got back Saturday I first took him to a doctor's office and they sent me to the ER. I waited for a very long time 3 hours and then got in and was there waiting for 2. They gave him a decadrone orally and a breathing treatment and we finally got home about 20 minutes to midnight. We were all very exhausted. He is doing much better today. Along with all of that he has a ear infection and a really runny nose.

Yesterday, I stayed home with the kids from church and then went to Brian's parents for a great Mother's Day dinner of shish kabobs. Delicious.

Yesterday Reagan told me some funny things. She comes into the kitchen crying and said she was running as fast as a horse and fell down and hurt herself. Then later I was listening to Sounds of Sunday and a song came on with an organ and she comes running over to me and tells me that sounds like church music. And then asks if we are going to go to a new church. Funny girl.

Today, I am left with running errands, finishing planting the garden, planting my pots for the front and back, cleaning, laundry at some point and whatever else seems to come flying my way.

Good Things
1. glad Jaxon is breathing better
2. To be home
3. A very loving family

any ideas?

I am giving a lesson in RS in a couple of weeks on the 2nd Article of Faith. Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas on how to do this? It is a hard one and I can't really come up with anything. Pass along all your knowledge. Thanks.

Bragging Rights

I just wanted to tell everyone that Brian and I filled out our March Madness Brackets and I won. YOOHOO!

Other news:

The weather is so nice today and yesterday. I spent some time out in my yard working to clean some stuff up and hopefully will get some lawn thatched today. I need to replace the lawn mower battery today and change the blades. I hope it starts after I do that. I love the springtime at least when it is nice outside.

Jaxon is full on crawling and has 2 teeth now. He puts everything in his mouth and can fit and entire golf ball in his mouth. He screeches which I don't love at all and Reagan only makes it worse. She growls at him and it makes him cry.

Reagan is into the tv and I really shouldn't let her watch as much but it helps me keep my sanity. She is very independent and super feisty. I know....the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Good things
1. reevaluating
2. conference
3. warm weather

It happened again

Jaxon slept two nights in a row all night long. It felt so nice but yet I am still tired. Today I am trying to get an order together for Alison's Pantry so if you need anything let me know. Hopefully my kids will be well for the rest of forever. I need to be cleaning and I just keep hoping that Brian will hire a maid but just scoffs when I say anything like it. Also I need to go get some buttons to finish off some sewing projects for Etsy. Hope they go well. Sounds like a pretty uneventful day. WE will see how that goes. I remembered the other thing from the last post. JAXON IS CRAWLING. YIKES! That means he can get anywhere and into anything. On the first kid you can't wait til they crawl and the second you dread it. The things first times don't know or understand. It is funny when you look back on it.

Good Things
1. Health
2. Warmth
3. Sewing

News

The most amazing thing happened the other night. Jaxon slept from 8:30 to 5:00 without any interuptions. It felt so nice. I am like a new woman. Have no fear it didn't happen last night though. 2 nights in a row is way too much to ask.

I got my hair colored and I really like it. I was supposed to post a picture but my camera has issues right now and so do I...not knowing how to use the camera.

I had one more thing to share but I can't remember it so it really must not have been news at all.

Good THings
1. Sleep
2. Good haircut and color
3. Feeding the missionaries

The New Mantra...hopefully

I have decided that my cup is currently half empty or spilled. When Reagan starts whining I tell her "if you are going to whine go sit on your bed" I need to take my own advice and go sit on my bed. I get so overwhelmed with everything negative that I really don't take the time to think of the good things. So this week I am going to try to have a half full cup and stop whining.

Good Things
1. roof over my head
2. Sisters
3. a nice soft bed to lay in

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Today is the day of green. Last night we had friends over for dinner and had Corned Beef and cabbage with potatoes and carrots. We had green jello too with green punch and green cupcakes and lime sherbet with 7up for dessert. Yummy. We talked about St. Patrick and then the 1st article of Faith. It was fun. So...what have had green today.


Another exciting thing is that is has been raining and the snow is almost gone. Reagan has some issues with not being able to play in the snow. I tell next Christmas she can. I am trying to tell her it is much more fun to play when it is warm and we can go swimming and jump on the trampoline and play on the swingset. You know all those fun summertime things. But she goes back to her sad face and say oh no the snow is all gone. The temperature has gotten slightly warmer but downstairs in our basement it still feels like winter because there is a significant lack of heat.

So all you out there with spring fever, it theoretically should be getting warmer and we should be able to go outside and ride bikes, plant flowers, and whatever else there is the dream about during the warm weather.

Happy Spring!

Good Things
1. Things to celebrate
2. Sleeping Boys
3. buying garden seeds

Slow Going

My 5K or anything workout has been slow this week. I started with a sore throat on Tuesday I think. We all have been sneezing and coughing but nothing big and then it happened. It got worse and worse until I finally went in to get swabbed today and yep it strep. So we are all on antibiotics. Let the healing begin. Reagan is on antibiotics because she has the worst ingown toenail I have ever seen. It is nasty. So I haven't quite got to the gym this week. I was up to about 6 minutes of running before I thought I was really going to die though. Slower than any training schedule. I don't really think I am much of a runner I would rather cycle but we will see where this gets me. I am really hoping any of it will make me lose weight. No luck so far. I guess I will have to work harder and sweat more. Yuck! You have to just love what having babies does to you.

Good Things:

1. Amoxicillin
2. My soft bed of which I don't spend near enough time on
3. Signs of spring

Hurray!

Today is a beautiful day. The snow is melting and that makes me happy. I like winter but I really like spring and summer by far the best. Spring gives the chance to renew. The sun is shining and it is kind of raining which only makes the snow melt faster. I just heard thunder.

We all kind of have colds right now. It is not too bad since I am plagued the worst. The kids cough at night. Reagan has an ingrown toenail I guess. It is really yucky looking but doesn't seem to bother her too much. She was crying today because she said it hurt and I told her we would get it fixed at the Dr. She says about 5 minutes later. It feels all better, it doesn't hurt anymore.

I am starting to get spring fever. I am thinking about the garden and yard but not the work that comes along with either of those things. Brian is looking forward to golfing but still has a ways to go to get on the course. I am also looking forward to the kids playing outside. Yeah

I Hate...

I hate that I can fit into regular jeans my normal size at 25 weeks pregnant but can't fit into them 6 months later and is not even close. So I went to the gym yesterday and today and went running. Boy, am I out of shape. I can go to spinning class and be fine but as soon as I start running I am in pain. Different muscles I hope. That is my progress on the 5K. I am still looking for recruits. I am also looking forward to a better day of running and 5 minutes and feeling like I am going to die. If you wanna, let me know the ways to best train and how your training is going.

5K anyone??

So, I decided to make it my goal to run a 5K this year for better or worse. Anyone interested in doing the St Lukes Women Celebration in September with me? Comment and let me know.

Why I love....

Since it is close to Valentines Day I thought I would post Why I love....

Why I love Reagan
1. She is funny
2. She pretends to be the mom
3. She loves to help in the kitchen
4. She loves to have a job
5. She mimics me.
6. She makes Jaxon laugh
7. She makes Brian and I laugh
8. She has ear in her wax
9. She is opinionated (can you be at 2)
10. She goes along with what I do
11. She is into to TV and movies
12. She is potty trained
13. She is beautiful
14. She likes to cook
15. Because she loves me and she is my daughter

Jaxon
Jaxon went to the doctor this week and this is all about why I love him...

1. He is 29.5 inches tall (99%)
2. He weighes a whopping 20lbs
3. He is now a much better baby
4. He rolls all over the place
5. He eats anything I feed and that is a lot
6. He has the best kissing cheeks
7. He has 18 month pjs on (He is only 6 months old)
8. He is so ticklish
9. He eats his feet
10. He has the cutest round head
11. He sleeps in his crib now
12. He is super wiggly
13. He has a cute smile
14. He will lay on the floor is and moving on from the momma boy syndrome
15. He loves me.

I love Brian for so many reasons.

1. He is supportive
2. He is home when I need him
3. He holds the priesthood
4. He keeps me warm
5. He puts the kids to bed
6. He gives me "me time"
7. He plays with the kids and makes them laugh
8. He is handy
9. He is a hard worker
10. He eats what I fix
11. He doesn't complain
12. He loves me for me
13. He keeps my side of the bed warm when I get up with Jaxon
14. He helps me and lifts me when I need lifted
15. He loves me.

I sure do love my husband and kids. My life may be crazy and I may think some days I live in the zoo, but I love and wouldn't change anything about it.

Cold and Snowy

It has been really cold and snowy here and I am always freezing. Down in the office it really is like going to the Artic I think. I just wanted to post some pictures. Today I painted our hallway downstairs, talk about a 2 year project. Things like this are finally getting to me so I am managing to do them. It is a really nice feeling to get things done. I also made Reagan a new bed set but I can't take a picture right now so I will have to do that later. It is cute.

Crazy?

So...I am a little crazy but that is not what this is all about.  Call it crazy, a goal, resolution or whatever you like but I am going to make more of an effort to save money and change my spending habits in any way that I can.  

Yesterday, Brian came home from his basketball game and I was in bed cutting coupons.  He said he had never seen me do that before.  I really haven't.  The only time I would clip a coupon was if I saw a diaper coupon or whatever.  I am really serious.  I am going to see what I can do over the next few months and I will report later.  I have added a link called saving money if you want to look.  I think that it will show a blogger profile and then give a list of different blogs you can look at.  Some of them are a little obsessed.  Who knows, I may become one of them.  Anyway,  you can leave your thoughts  or ideas.

They are in bed!

My kids are in bed so lucky you I am going to post.  Christmas was super fun.  We went to the cabin with Brian's family on Christmas Eve.  On our way their it started snowing  and didn't stop until the day after Christmas.  A total of 31 inches.  It was so fluffy that we went to sled and the sled sinked so that was no fun.  Reagan had fun.  On Christmas morning everyone was awake except for Reagan so we woke her up.  She took a minute to warm up and the first thing she said was "Grandpa has scary hair".   She was really fascinated with just one gift and then would slowly move to the next present.  Jaxon really could have cared less.  So...he got formula, baby food, bibs, and shirts.  Pretty exciting huh?  

Jaxon is doing a lot better.  He is happier at lots of moments and still loves to be held.  He despises Reagan a lot because she torments him.  Every now and again he gets the best of her and pulls her hair.  It makes her really mad but I encourage it to get even.

Life is busy as always.  Brian is the YM President and he keeps busy almost too busy with that and basketball.  I told him he has too many nights that he is gone.

I decided that this year is a year of reclaimation.  Meaning, I am reclaiming my counters...basically just cleaning them off!  I have lots of goals and am starting to get  back to the gym.  Today I decided I am my own worst enemy.  I went to Spinning class, came home complained to Brian that it took my forever to finally break a sweat after adding lots of resistance cause it was all old guys who could look at a bike and break a sweat.  Then after I complained I had fudge and crackers and starchy chicken pot pie.  Hello  Brooke that is really going to help you lose weight.  But yet I didn't stop, I had another piece of fudge.