More Pictures...

Here are some more of our pictures. I am really pleased with how they turned out. This first one is my most favorite.

Cool Website

Okay - I am not sure if I have mentioned this before - but I found this great site for menus - www.e-mealz.com It has been advertised lately on the local radio stations, however, my family has been using this site for over a year. I love it!! It gives you menus based on the ads in your grocery store. It has a menu for Wal-Mart as well as one for Smiths. It also has a general menu that you can use anywhere. I use this menu for my off weeks in the CO-OP. Using this menu has helped us save a great deal of cash when it comes to our food bill. I think on average (this is including baby food and formula) we are spending about $95.00 a week to feed a family of 5. The menus are easy and they are different so you are not eating the same thing time and time again. They also have a regular menu (for 4-6 ),weight watchers menu, a low-carb menu, a low-fat menu, and menus for 2-3 people. So... if you can beat that price for groceries - let me know how you do it- because I am very interested. Also, the CO-OP(http://www.crossroads-u-c.org) for November has some great stuff - with no fish (I put that in there because some of you were worried there is always fish - btw-there is hardly ever fish )! If you are interested in the e-mealz website - let me know and I will send you my log-in and password so you can see for yourself. Also, I don't know if I have any out-of-staters who read this - but you don't have to be a Utahn to use this site - it is for everyone!

Things I am greatful for...

First and foremost - I am thankful for my family. We had a rough weekend this week. Andy ended up in the hospital for observation due to pneumonia. He has been sick for over a week and was not getting better. His doctor finally told him that since he was not responding to two coursed of antibiotics - something else could be wrong. Thank goodness - nothing else was. They said most likely it was viral and would just take longer to get over. I am so grateful for the family that stepped in this weekend to help us out. We got the kids taken care of and I was able to spend the time at the hospital with Andrew.

Next - I am grateful for the idea that all good things must end.. I know that is weird but, I have been working very hard over the last several months to put together my agency Annual Meeting - and it is finally over!! YEAH! Life will be much less stress and more relaxed for the next several months (until I start planning for the next one). This was probably the best one I did - I received so many compliments about the workshops and awards - it was great to know all that hard work was appreciated. But again - I am SO glad it is over.

Finally - I am grateful for children! Today was our ward's primary program. Thomas and Kate did their part as well as my little class of five and six year olds. They all did great. The spirit was strong and the members in the congregation were obviously touched. There is something great in a child's testimony and I felt very honored to be a part of this. Again - thanks to the grandparents who came to support my children in their program.

Well - this week was a tough one - and we still survived! It is funny in life how when you are in the midst of "stuff" you think - how am I ever going to get through this... But when it is over, and you can look back - you think, "this wasn't so bad - and I am grateful for the experience!"

Some pictures!

Some pictures of our cute kids!

We had our family pictures taken the other day. Above are just a few of what was posted on her blog - http://www.tamdeephoto.blogspot.com/ Thanks to Marcie who had her website on her blog. She was so reasonable ($75) and the best part is we got the rights to all our pictures. I am still waiting for our CD - as soon as I get that, I will post more pictures!

It's Over!!!!

Today was the last football game of the season - can I shout HURRAY!!! Not that I didn't enjoy going -it was fun - but getting everyone up and dressed(warmly) and out the door by 7:30 on a Saturday was getting a bit much. That being said - Thomas was awesome! He was the only one who scored on his team and he was thrilled!! His coach came up after and said that kid belongs in sports because he is so fast (I know I am bragging just a little - but I am just being a proud parent for one second!). He is fast - I think because he is so thin but muscular - he can just whip right past everyone. Anyway, the season is done and we have a new favorite sport in our family. Andrew did get to help coach the team this last game because the coach was out of town. He had so much fun out their running with the kids - I think we may have found a new prospect for a coach next season - I guess we'll see! That being said - to everyone who kept asking to know when his games are - SORRY! I didn't mean to not tell you - I just forgot. This season was so fast - that I blinked and it was over. Next year - I will be sure to post the schedule!!!

Thomas has our quote for today...

Preface: We are driving home from the game and Thomas is watching the streets go by and says: "Streets go in every direction don't they mom?"
Mom: "Yes, honey - there are streets that lead everywhere"
Thomas: "Mom, the world is like a giant Maze!"

I have decided that kids can be very profound and not even realize it. How true is that statement. The world is like a maze. We are put here to find our way. We have been given resources (the Gospel, prayer, parents, friends, others, etc.) to help us through this maze. Some people choose to use it and find the finish quickly and successfully - others choose to ignore their resources, and take so much longer to reach the finish (and sometimes don't even reach that finish point). The finish can be whatever you need it to be: happiness, contentment, spirituality, etc. Hmm - maybe that is a stretch and maybe I am not saying it right. But for some reason - his statement really meant something to me today. Kids are awesome!

My proudest moment?????

Here is a conversation I had with Kate yesterday.

Kate: Mom (calling from the bathroom) - I need you to come wipe my bum
Mom: Ok - I will be right there
Kate: (After Mom is Finished) Thanks Mom - I sure needed your help
Mom: No problem Bug - don't forget to wash your hands
Kate: Mom, I love you so much - you are the best "wiper" I know!
Mom: Thanks???

Hmm - there is nothing else to say...

And it rained and rained and rained

So on Saturday it became very clear to me why I was trying to get Thomas to play something besides football - they play in rain, snow, or sunshine. Baseball - it rains, you delay the game. Soccer, it rains - you delay the game. Football - it rains - it's 35 degrees - THE GAME MUST GO ON!! I have not been that cold for a very long time. I thought we were going to miss the rain and have to deal with just the cold - but no - 15 minutes into the game the downpour began. I was very glad to have remembered our umbrellas and our VERY WARM outdoor ware - because we needed it. But, again, even with saying that - it was so fun to watch. Yes, our little team can be compared to "The Bad News Bears" but they sure try hard and they have lots of fun - after all, that is what counts! I decided with all of this that I am not a quiet sports mom - I like to yell...a lot! ( A trait I can say that I definitely got from my mom.) You have to cheer these little guys on - they need to know they have support out there - even when the weather stinks. I should give a big nod to my parents and to Andrew's mom - they all showed up for his 8:00 am game (who has games at 8 - please!!!) in the freezing rain. Ahh - the joys of parenthood!!

More Pictures

I found some cute pictures of the kids so I thought I would post them...


I am not sure why I like this so much - but this is Thomas doing homework. Can you believe it?? He is old enough to do homework - Way cool !

We went to the dollar store the other day and let the kids pick one thing - Thomas got a police "set" which included these silly little binoculars and badge.

My pretty Kate - all ready for dance! If you look close, you can see her first casualty by her eye.

MMM - Chips!! Mattie loves her teeth. Gives her a whole new variety of things to experience - including biting her brother (hahaha) !

Andrew said "smile for the camera" and this is what he got. She was getting very bored at the football game and at this point was really ready to be done.

Mattie's newest talent = SPITTING! Yep, she spits all the time - especially when you are trying to feed her cereal. It is so great (Jen says in a very sarcastic tone)!