The newest addition...

Meet Cody. He's new. I can't wait to hold him! I just wish they didn't move so far away!

My sister, Ashley, went in last night for induction. They did started her this morning at 6am and he made his entry at 10:03 AM! No time for an epidural. I know she didn't want it that way but she rocks! She did it. My oldest said she was a "beast" for doing so (she means it in the nicest way possible!)

If you feel like it, stop by and say congrats to her and her sweet little family! I wish I could be there to help!

Take me out to the ball game...

It's that time of year again. But only 2 out of 4 are playing this year, which is a good things since I still can't drive. We're off today for a tournament for Andrew. He's playing travel ball this year.

Katelynn is on the JV softball team and I have enjoyed watching her play up at the next level, for sure! She's awesome and is learning about taking your turn as a freshman on the JV team. 

I love watching my kids play ball and I miss watching my little girls play. Next year for sure.

 

Now off to work on my tan!

( and by no means is this in favorites order :)

Bridal Show

I know I promised pictures of the Wedding event last weekend, but I didn't get to them before. But I am now! With out further adue.....

Me and my mom!

This the candy bouquet. My mom's favorite

Table centerpiece - we were going in a totally different direction with colors

 until we found these chocolate orchids. Amazing!

Our table display

My girls got to have a hand in the creating. 

They always want to help during a wedding, but it's a little too crazy to let them. 

This was low pressure and we were able to teach them a thing or 2. 

This one was made by Emma (6)

This one was made by Rebecca (9) 

In no time we'll be able to sit back and let them do it all ;)

This is a before picture. I pulled all these flowers together....

And created this! Spring at it's finest!

Another beautiful bouquet.

We drove for 1.5 hrs to get there, so we left @ 6:30am. 

This masterpiece had to be finished at the site. A little too big for the car!

 My mom is so very talented!

These are the bouquets I made. I used to hate this.

 I am so grateful to love this artwork, now.

 I learned at the foot of my mother.

 I hope that my children are learning something at the foot of me.

This was the favorite of the show. Every bride loved this one! 

It's funny how the colors change from year to year. 

I have so many more pictures. Which is your favorite? I'd love to know. It was so much fun. A few friends from the area showed up and it was so fun to see them. I love being a part of God's creations. Being able to add to the beauty of the world around us. I love the time I get to spend with my mom when we do a wedding. We are truly best friends, and I am so grateful for her.

I'm off...

I'm running down to Los Angeles this morning and I'll be back tomorrow. It's spontaneous, I know!

Enjoy until then...

Spring is here!!!

just seeing if this works

DOES ANYONE KNOW ANY TRICKS TO GETTING YOUR VIDEOS TO WORK?????

I have tried several times to post videos taken with my camera. But I finally loaded all the videos from our video camera into the new imovie we have. SO I'm hoping it works. This was from our trip to Hawaii last year. We saw so many whales. We were surrounded by them. 

Enjoy!

Home Zones

So my blog friend, Christina, asked about chores around the house and how do others do it. We have 4 kids. We don't pay allowance, much to their dismay. Their pay is room and board, and all the things they do, like sports and birthday parties and such. I think they are ok. Hard work never killed anyone, but don't ask my kids!

About a year or so ago I decided to break up our home into ZONES. 

There is the Kitchen Zone:

KITCHEN DUTY

DISHES – unload dish washer in am

          help load dinner dishes

 COUNTERS – make sure counters are

           cleared and wiped off

           by the end of the day

 TABLE – clear table after dinner

        wipe off table after dinner

 FLOORS - sweep every other day

          Mop 2 times a week

             (wed/sat)

 GARBAGE – take out garbage 

          whenever full

 

The Bathroom Zone:

BATHROOM DUTY

 

COUNTERS & SINKS –make sure counters are

         clear (ok to ask others

         to put things away)

         wipe counters and sink

         daily with wipes

         clean mirrors with windex

 TOILETS – wipe seat daily

           Use toilet bowl cleaner

            & brush 1x week

 FLOORS – shake out rug

          Sweep floor

          Wipe floor with wet rag

               (all 1x week)

 Vacuum hall every other day

 Bring recycle/green waste up on Tuesdays

The Family Room Zone:

FAMILY ROOM DUTY

 Make sure room is picked up by 7pm daily.

 Straighten couch and chair daily

 FLOOR – vacuum every other day

         sweep front hall every

         other day

         mop front hall 2x week

 RECYCLING – take out when full

             take outside can to

             curb Monday pm

 CATS – clean littler box daily

 

The Den Zone:

DEN DUTY

Room picked up by 7pm daily

 Empty trash can

 Vacuum every other day

 DESK – straighten daily

 Laundry- help fold daily

          have others put own

          clothes away

          help with washing/drying

 Take trash can out to curb Monday pm – bring up can Tuesday

 Feed cats daily

So, this is what we do. The kids rotate on Sundays, so that means they are in charge of the ZONE for a week. It works pretty well, cause it's all written down and they can't argue with me because it's in hard copy, not just my head. Obviously you would make it to fit your home and your kids.  Emma (6) is in charge of the same things as everyone else. She does a pretty good job. We help her with her jobs, especially the kitchen!, but she loves to clean the bathroom. If we have an off week of nothing getting done, then we have a big clean on Saturdays before any one goes anywhere. 

Even if they do a half patooty job, at least I know who I can ask to help me in certain areas. As for their rooms. If they can shut the door, I don't really care. It seems like and endless battle. I try to pick my battles carefully. Jut yesterday my oldest had finally had it with her room and clean it up very nicely! 

That's it. I shared. I'd love to know what works for others! Now to fold the laundry!!!!!

Wedding Fair

My mom and I are going to be in a wedding show 

tomorrow in Clayton CA. We spent a good part of today creating some of the most beautiful wedding bouquets and centerpieces. It's like painting, only better. I will post pictures of everything this weekend. 

I am so grateful to be able to share this with my mom and to have found a talent that I hated when I had to help her when I was a teenager. It's like working with your best friend. We finish each others thoughts and create things the other has visioned.

It will be a long and fulfilling day. Something I need to experience to get back into my life and who I am. I share with you soon!

Check out her website

Still broken

9 weeks later....

I'm still broken. Trip to Dr yesterday... xray says... still broken. i could see visibly on the xray that the big long screw in my bone is holden the broken part together. Still no driving, but I'm getting around fine.

Some random pics for your viewing pleasure....

Road show just happened. Don't they look like they are having the best time? And the family resemblance is scary!!!

If you can't find the right swim suit for your little ones this year, have no fear, Emma has her own line of swim suits....

They're disposable, too!

would you share?

If you were introduced to a product that could change our bodies and the way they work (for good), and quite possibly change the world, would you share it?

Sanctify

Marriage. Today the supreme court of CA is reviewing the vote that we, the people of CA, passed to maintain in the constitution that marriage is defined between a man and a woman. I pray that their hearts may be softened to and listen to their spirits and do what is right before the Lord.

I know not every one may agree and that's ok. But it is what I stand for and what I believe. I know this fight will not be over, no matter what the outcome, but I know who's side I am on!

too funny

Thanks Jan for sharing this. He is very funny. Thanks for a good laugh today! 

Facebook is fun, but it's more of a spying tool for me :) I love that I have reconnected with friends from my childhood. I'm thinking we need to have a YV ward primary class of 90 reunion! And my kids are getting to know my husbands family in MI. Other than that.....