On Friday I went to my mom's house to hang out. My mom watched the kids while I went and got a haircut. We decided to go to Black Island Farms and go on a hayride to get pumpkins like we do every year. The kids LOVED the slides and Austin kept cracking me up watching him have so much fun. Hannah would wait until he came out of the slide ok before she would take a try. We had a great time!!

Last Monday morning I heard Faith screaming in the hall. I ran in there but there was nothing for her to have hit to be screaming holding her foot. I thought it was her ears since she has had an ear infection since August and the meds don't work. She goes in for tubes in two weeks. I held her all day long, rubbing her head just thinking she wasn't feeling well. Later that day I took the kids to Walmart and came home. I put Faith down on the floor and watched her fall, scream, and grab her foot. It hit me that something has to be wrong with her foot. I drove back to town and took her to the dr. We waited for three hours. Luckily they had a tv so the kids were pretty good. Trent of course was out of town working at the MAnti Temple (Doesn't it always happen when the other is out of town?) They X rayed her foot and said she was fine. I Took her home and the next day she wouldn't even crawl. I drove her back in and even though they were a little put out, I made them x ray the WHOLE leg. Of course she had broken her tibia! THey put her in a splint that went up to her diaper. SHe HATED It. She couldn't move, but try to drag her leg with an army crawl. On Thursday we went in and got her real cast. People have been asking me how she broke it. I kept asking my kids if they dropped her out of the crib or something. I Figured that was they only way it could have happened. Well last night we found out how! SHe has learned to get out of her crib on her own. THere is a time out chair under the crib and she must have hit that on the way down. Even with her *cast she tries to get out!!!

Hannah is student of the week this week. We made her a cute little poster and then some fun "Mummy" candy bars where the kids have to guess how many are in the bucket. I hope she has a good week!

We exist today, so lets make a difference for tomorrow

For years I have wanted to do something that makes me happy. AS a young woman I had the opportunity to go visit the Ronald McDonald House. I saw many families who were suffering the pain of having a loved little one in the hospital with cancer. I knew that one day I would want to help those beautiful kids. Every year when Christmas comes around I tell everyone my idea and if I had enough money what I want to do . Enough with the excuses, just because I don't have a lot of money doesn't mean I can't make a difference. I EXIST for heaven's sake, therefore I can do whatever I can to make a difference and Never give up. I have thought it would be fun to dress up in Disney princess outfits and visit the cancer patients. Then I decided what a treat it would be to buy cute hats for the children at the hospital and give them out to them. I decided that this Christmas I am going to start my own charity called "EXIST" meaning that we are all here in this world together. Let's not just worry about ourselves but let's help those in need. TO often depression sweeps in our lives, and the only way to get rid of it is to indulge in service. We exist today, so lets make a difference for tomorrow. I am going to be calling stores to help donate items and what not to see if I can get this going. IF you have any ideas other than hats please let me know. IF you have any stories of loved ones with cancer I would love to hear about it. If you would like to donate a dollar for this charity so I can purchase hats for the children there is a paypal button. You can donate how little or much you want. Otherwise if you would love to help out and make hats, or have cute brand new hats you can email me and I will send you my address so you can send me them. I will deliver all the items and record about it with pictures and if they allow it, video by December. I am so thankful for having my health and having my children's health. I can't imagine the pain, agony, and expense of seeing your little one suffer with cancer or any disease for that matter. AS a mother I would be appreciative to know others do care.
"Never, never, never give up." ~Winston Churchill


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zitIpX4-ano

Find these awesome Jars HERE at patino style!

Getting back into the groove of things since my trip has been crazy! Sat. Night I got sick from something I ate and felt like crap. Then Monday and Tuesday was spent all in the Instacare. Faith broke her foot. I think it was because one of my kids got her out of her crib and dropped her on accident. I am not to give her Motrin for two weeks because she has to have tubes put in her ears. I called the dr to reschedule but he said she can up till three days before. I wasn't going to let her suffer I would rather change the tube date. Tomorrow I go in for her real cast that she gets to wear for four weeks. Poor baby! Here are some of my decorations for Halloween (yes we were cheap this year and made bats and silhouettes out of black cardboard ) Also here are ideas I would love and might do:

Love this idea of Frankenstein cups, if you look on the other how to video's you will find a Frankenstein Milk Jug!! LOve it!

http://familyfun.go.com/utilities/global/feature/fftv-archive-video-player/fftv-archive-video-player.html?dl_section=channel&dl_channel=Halloween

for the life of me I can't find the things I wanted to share, one was a modge podge pumpkin with leaves on it. Another was a white pumpkin with BOO and EEK on it. I will find it and post it later!

On Thursday my sisters, mom, and I flew into Indianapolis Indiana to visit my brother and his sweet family. While flying we got to watch the movie that Trent said he would not see with me. "My sister's Keeper" We also flew through a lightning storm and kept seeing the coolest flashes of light as we hit turbulence. Call me crazy but I love turbulence (as long as we don't crash into anything) I find it fun! Mom on the other hand didn't think so! We got in late Thursday and rented a key less car (pretty cool) On Friday we woke up early and headed to the Lincoln museum in Springfield. It was a very neat museum with wax figures, narrations, and holograms of Abraham Lincoln. I was really impressed and wished we could have stayed longer in Springfield where there was so much to see. On Friday night we drove next to the Mississippi River (Which seemed to be as wide as our lakes in utah!) We drove into Nauvoo and checked into our log cabin. I kept scaring my mom and sister Erin saying the lady who used to live here named Mary (from Wyoming) was haunting the place. We went to the temple (Which is 98% as it was except for the angel Moroni and the 2002 symbol.) Nobody was at the temple so the temple president took us on a tour. The next day we woke up early and went to Carthage Jail. I never thought I would ever be able to see it, but always wished I could. What a humbling spiritual experience it was there. I had no idea about the Jail keeper and his family, and how they tried to keep them safe. It was very interesting, and once again got a tour all to ourselves. We were able to stay in the room Joseph smith died in and we sat and just felt the spirit. THe missionary said to go to all the sites in Nauvoo and I was very curious of the community of Christ Church (Re-organized church) as I am always interested in other religions. The Community of Christ was very interesting tour. They own all of the Joseph Smith properties and graveyard. The lady was very informative and interesting to learn about Joseph Smith's and Emma's descendants. We went to the Red Brick Store also owned by them. The lady was very nice, knew her history and was a wonderful place to be. However something was missing. We went up to the LDS sites, and the instant I walked into the home of John Taylor I felt the spirit back with me. I am a critique when people say it's a "different feel, spirit" in the other homes the COC owns compared to the LDS owns. I said it was bogus. But that day to me was a testimony of the spirit that was there, was missing and kind of a gloomy sad feeling in JS's properties. I enjoyed them both, but felt at home at the other. Maybe that's something I shouldn't share, but this is my journal and I always want to remember the feelings I had in Nauvoo. We took pictures at the temple, the shops, the homes and it amazes me that 12,000 people once lived there. They all had to leave their homes, families, friends due to the mobs. I can't even imagine. What a wonderful experience to have been at Martin's Cove last month and then to come here to Nauvoo. It felt like a lovely town here and what a beautiful place to live, however there were many hardships and sadness here. I have never been to a place where Joseph Smith had been until now. As I looked at the statue of Joseph and Hyrm smith I wondered how they felt knowing this was probably the end and the saints had many trials ahead of them. TIme really does go fast. We walked down parley's street to see the stories of the pioneer's as they left. Many of them had to leave everything they had, their beautiful homes and such. That night we went to a show put on by the couple missionaries. It was a fun thing to see. What a fun mission it would be. They even get to live in the old pioneer homes. We went on a ox cart and MAN was it bumpy. I am not sure how women had babies in those things. That night we went to dinner at HOTEL NAUVOO and bought some souvenirs for our kids. Today we woke up took pictures and looked around once more. We crossed the Mississippi river and came back to Indiana. I am so grateful for this experience and feel that one day I personally will be back for some reason. I love how the temple had these beautiful lanterns on the outside, reminded me of pioneer times and how beautiful it would be to take bridal pictures there. While at the Lincoln Memorial we saw Bruce Lindsay and his family from channel 5.

Ahh, The Joys of Motherhood~!

"In the store, with the hand sanitizer, my child." I need to get a clue already that just because I tell my child "No" Doesn't mean they are always going to listen. SO it happened the other day, I was at the store trying to get my shopping done with all three kids as usual. One of my children wanted to buy hand sanitizer (Why ? I have no idea) I told this child "No" Well fast forward an hour later I am bringing in the grocer's, this child is hididng something behind their back. I ask what it is. "Nothing" They say. Finally I grab their hands and see hand sanitizer. My child shoplifted the first time. (I hope it was the firs time.) While I was disappointed, deep down I thought it was going to be a great learning experience for this child. My husband on the other hand thought it was funny they took hand sanitizer instead of a toy or treat like most kids would steal. So I told this child they would have to work off 9 quarters, pay tithing first, and when daddy got home they would go apologize to the store manager. My child and husband marched down to the store, paid for the sanitizer and apologized. We told our child how serious it is to steal. Hopefully this child learned their lesson. While being a parent can bring a bunch of emotions, it is nice to be able to teach your child when they make a mistake, it makes me love them even more for being human and trying to learn to be a better person.

Let's Roll

Little did I know that picking up a book from the library on Sept 11 2009 would help inspire me to be a better person and be the woman I know I am/can be. I went to the library with Austin and thought it was so neat they had 9/11 books out in memorial. I picked one up called " Let's Roll" a book by Todd Beamers wife. Todd was one of the men on flight 93 that said the now famous "let's Roll." This book reminded me a lot of my own life in the aspect that they were college sweethearts, had fun loving families, visited nursing homes and so forth. It talked about their lives and how they lived. Some are eerie of the things said the last couple days before Sept 11 01. This woman has faith that could move a mountain. What an uplifting book to bring you closer to God. She not only lost her husband in the 9/11 attacks, she had also lost her father when she was 15 and from that she knew she always wanted to have life insurance when she got married. It is a beautiful book with a standpoint of what is most important in our lives and a review of what happened that day. Many times we think these people are imaginative, or someone you will never connect with,or something that happened in history. These people are real people with lives like yours and mine. So real in fact I emailed her on facebook to thank her for writing it, if for nothing else but for me to remember You are never truly alone, and God does love you.

Oh say can you see....

I used to write in my journal. Every night before I went to bed I would write everything important that happened that day. I wrote between my Jr- Sr. year of high school until when I got married. I wish I hadn't stopped writing in it. It seemed like all the important things happened in my life after I had gotten married and had kids. I would have loved to remember fun times of being a newlywed and being a mother for the first time. I always think I will remember the cute things my kids say and sadly they seem to disappear faster than I can write them down. However, on Tuesday Sept 11, 2001 was when I was a freshmen in college. I had written down all my feelings and everything I had done that day. I need to pick up the goal of writing my history down . I once wrote all my memories of childhood and somehow it erased. Instead of checking email or cleaning the house, I should write down my life.

I remember being in biology at Dixie College when a guy came and told us that the twin towers had been hit. I was so busy that day from going to school to work and back to school that I wasn't able to watch the news. Later that night I used to babysit for my apartment manager and was able to watch the news then. I remember seeing all the people crying in the streets fighting for a turn to ask if their loved one had been seen, the newscaster had to try to calm everyone down and tell them they would all get a turn. That night I went with my boyfriend (now husband) Trent to a candle light vigil. I will never forget Sept. 11, 01. Many people forget important things in history, let's not forget this. The sad thing is look how fast many are forgetting in only 8 years. I just got a book from the library today called "Let's Roll" from Todd Beamer's wife it should be interesting. I think as horrific as it was for me to hear about it (my family is very patriotic and I remember in the 3rd grade standing so proud while singing "Proud to be an American" I would get so mad when others didn't care.) It would have been harder for me had I been a mother. If something where to happen now, I would freak out as a mom

For Some must Push and Some Must Pull...

Trent wanted us to take a picture of how it would have been back then. It took so long for the camera that nobody would smile...

monument of the men who helped others across the river
Martins Cove

Sweetwater River

I had such a good time, I didn't want to come back to reality. We went to Martin's Cove up in Wyoming to visit Trent's parents. I have been on two treks when I was a teenager. However, it was really neat to see the place where so much grief, pain, and strength the pioneers had to endure. On Friday when we got there we hiked up Devil's Gate. We missed Gina, Steph, and Vicki's family. Then on Sat we got in our pioneer clothes and went for the hike with the handcarts. We had to tie Faith's car seat in the handcart and she actually did great!! We hiked up to the handcart parking lot, my kidneys were hurting by then and I didn't want to over do it, so trent pulled me in this little seat looking thing up the cove. Funny but those where harder to pull than the handcart themselves. I kept getting out because I felt bad that Trent had to pull me. It made me wonder how when someone was sick or hurt how guilty they must have felt to make their loved one pull them in the snow. We went to the cove, which for some reason I was thinking would be more like a cave but it wasn't. At that cove, to get out of the wind, the pioneers that left England to come to Zion where in life and death situations. They told us 50 something people died in the cove. They would put the dead bodies on the other side of the cove, and because the ground was so hard they tried to bury them in the snow. However, by the time they started walking back they could hear the wolves devouring their loved ones. One story I really thought was interesting was a lady whose fiancee died and she couldn't bare allowing the wolves to eat him, so they tied him in a tree and hoped by spring that his body would still be there so they could bury him. Going to the Cove at this time of year we really don't understand the hardships of a severe winter storm. We also did a women's pull when the men got pulled off to the "Mormon Battalion" it was good. I really have always thought that everyone should go on a real trek if they ever have the chance. It was different going as a teen than it was now. I will always have good, spiritual, physical, and emotional memories as a teen. I think every Teen needs to go on one. The one I went on was the needlepoint mountains where Brigham Young got really sick on his first time out to the west. It was interesting to take my kids this time, and think of me as being a single mother with her three children and having to try to cross. Many of the men died from giving up their rations to their children, and loosing their strength. I honestly don't know how they pulled through. There were angels on earth sent to help them and help them cross the freezing river. I really enjoyed going and hope that in the future I will have another chance to do it again. On Sunday after church (which I actually loved Sunday school because they taught out of the Heritage Manual. I love history and pioneer stories, it has gotten me so ready to go visit Nauvoo) we stopped to visit the visitors center, and we went to Independence Rock and that was really neat to see all the signatures as well. After driving 6 hours back home yesterday, I had fever blisters pop all on my upper lip. I look like I just had some botox done!

Ok I have been waiting for the clear until I could leak the news and I am so excited! You all know my friend Lyndee, I have talked about her on here many times with pictures of her and Faith. She is a second mom to Faith and we love her. A while back she was making hats to help for her IVF fund to try and have a baby. The dr. told her it was 1 in a million to get pregnant, well lo and behold on Faith's birthday she found out that she was pregnant without IVF !!! I am so excited for her little family and know she already is and will be a great mother! I'm excited for you too Lyle! You are a good dad! That's the fun news in a nutshell but read her blog about it, it's an uplifting story of hope and "faith" She doesn't know this but it has even strengthened me within and I know that Heavenly Father does look out for our needs. They may not turn out the way we want, but he does care and its not until after the trial do we see he has been there all along.

Summer is almost over!! What have we been doing? Well we had a lot of plans to do just that.. A LOT but it went by too fast! June- It rained. July- we were sick. August we finally were able to get out and do some stuff. We went in the mountains for marshmallows and to play in the river. We went on motorcycle rides up the canyon. We played with friends and went swimming at my aunts pool! We were able to go boating with my sister in law Sheryl's family (hope she doesn't mind I took her picture off her blog, all of them are takin by her) Which was a blast! Hopefully in two more weeks we are going up to Martin's Cove to visit Trent's parent's on their mission. We also went to Lagoon Thanks to Holly. I am busy getting ready for preschool. I am so excited!! Hannah started first grade and loves it.

No, I am not dead, nor will I be in the next couple months (At least I hope not) We have gotten rid of our Internet which will be weird to leave the "wired society" of facebook, email, chat, blogs, and so much more!!! But it will leave me the chance to play with my kids more, exercises, read, cook, (we will see about cooking.) So just a heads up if you don't see me here or anywhere on this online world, it's because I am being forced to live in the "real world" now. However, when I get the chance I will try to update

On August 8th Faith turned 1! I can't believe how fast time has flown. It seems like since we moved to our home 2 1/2 years ago Life has flown by and has been good. I have met so many wonderful people here that are dear to my heart and I truly believe I was lead to this home. Ok so my friend Lyndee once agian took wonderful pictures of little faith. Lyndee wrote a wonderful tribute and said it better then I could, but Faith has been such a "faith" for many people. She has warmed herself to many hearts and I am so blessed to have her in my life.
I did a seasme street cup cake for her and made a video of her first year. TiME SLoW DoWN!

Love ya Faitha~!

Faith has a new friend... Little Olivia. She was trying so hard to hug Olivia and poor Olivia just bright eyed can be didn't even cry. Faith kept grabbing Olivia and pulling her down with her so she could give a big hug. Everytime Olivia's dad would look at Faith, Faith would push his face away!

Today while talking with a woman, I learned that there are many women out there struggling. We are not alone! She had said how Satan will try to destroy the family and that was when it hit me that if Satan can destroy the mother the rest falls. You know how they say if the mom is in a bad mood everyone is? Well it's so true. If Satan can get the mother the whole corner stone of the family has fallen and soon the rest will fall. It made total sense to me. So if you are reading this and feeling alone, down, and just depressed, realize your never alone and your stronger then what is trying to get you down.

My kids love this show "Cricket on the hearth" It is a Charles dickens story. They sing and dance to it. In one part a man comes home from the war and tells his girlfriend how he missed his "darling" woman. Austin turns to me and says " Are you daddy's darling?" too cute!

Whu hoo, I am addicted to this thing. I got ten bottles of Kraft bbq sauce, three ketchup's, two mustard's, three Colgate toothpastes, & three packs of gum. For a whopping $3.02

Freebies Friday

Go here for a free children's book- Peta


Free Read it Forward books. I got the one written by the lady about forgivness and a child. My friends if they want to get the other two we can borrow each others. Here it is Free
Click Here for free veggie meal

Click here for free 30 day Dave Ramsey Total Money Makeover

Hurry at 9 o'clock today go get your free choc late here

Ashlie Party Free supplies Here

Free BBQ sauce at Albertsons. Purchase 10 for 99 cents each. Receive 5 dollars off instantly. Then 5 dollar Catalina coupons will print out making your purchase pretty much free.

Smiths in AF is closing so things are 20% off. Many times stores will up prices to make it look reduced so be careful when shopping at stores going out of style. Thanks for the tip Brea

wow I am loving this couponing, I am also glad that I just ran into this website tonight!! I will be going shopping tomorrow again thanks to her ideas. I didn't know you could even buy coupons on ebay! SW E E T! Here is her website Thank you Fabulously frugal!!

My new favorite game!

Today was a busy day. I went to the dr and since was out I decided to stop by Albertsons since I hate having to drive in to town another time. This was what I got:

2 ragu

2 ALbertson's pastas

4 Kraft mac and cheese

3 dish detergent gel packs
1 pack Hershey bars
1 honey graham crackers

4 kraft bbq sauce

4 jet puff marshmallows

11 boxes of General mills cereals

3 boxes of capri suns

1 Large Eggs

2 Albertsons cheese

3 crest toothpastes

4 oscar Meyer hot dogs

bananas

six peaches

iceburgh lettuce

all for : $59.98 I saved a total of $112.71



For more info go to grocery guru, savvy shopper, and Grocery Smarts. You can look online under coupon deals on the side of my blog and find coupons to print off at other's blogs.Happy Shopping! The great sale of buy 10 take 5 dollars off instantly ends July 21st!
While Driving home I saw a little AF carnival. I decided since Austin has never really been to Lagoon nor has he had any fun this summer much I let him ride a couple rides. IT was cute!! Then my phone died so I couldn't take pictures of him on the cutest monster truck ride. My eye was about dying from the sun so we didn't stay too long. All in all it was a good day.

In Memory

To those who love showing others great ideas, we have lost a great woman who showed us just that. Stacie Wolfley better known as "The Thrifty Chick" passed away from a stroke. She just had her youngest 14 days ago. HERE is her blog. Her sister has written some things for her on there. Rest in Peace I am sure many people who knew you directly and indirectly through the blog world, will miss you dearly. My heart goes out to her family and friends at this time.
You can find her obituary HERE

Faith-a

she almost has her top two teeth in as well, making it four~!

(Finally getting some hair!)
(WAtching her show)
(From Kelli)
(From Lyndee)
Today Faith is 11 months old! Man where did all the time go?! Last I remember it was December!! She has been one busy little bee. She loves to pull all my shoes out, sit and stare at all the food when I open the fridge. She loves watching "The Cricket in the Hearth". I taught her how to sign "Milk", "more", and she has learned to blow a kiss. She loves looking in my purse and pulling everything out. She loves to "help" with the dishes and adores her siblings!She does these cool little tricks with her tongue, and when she hears anything clicking, she clicks her tongue. She has learned to climb up the stairs. She has learned that she can climb .. ANYTHING!

Fourth of July Weekend ended with a BOOM! First we went to a friend's baptism. Then we went and had a BBQ at my sisters and played some badmitten. We then headed over to the crowded library to watch fireworks. Needless to say my son got lost and after about a half hour or so looking for him my brother in law found him at a church. We then let my son and daughter sleep over at grandmas house. I got a call the next day and my son was so sick. So here we are today, my baby, son, and I are not feeling too well... Ahh the joys of motherhood!

I stumbled across this blog LOVE, ACTUALLY from Craigslist.org!! How cute is it?! I love the "BOOT CAMP" one!! Check out my other blog "The Junk Box" for more on this and cute wedding gift ideas!